Forum set up to promote security of US ventures in Asia

WASHINGTON, October 19, 2008 (AFP) – The United States is to launch a forum to promote security of largely American businesses in Asia amid concerns on issues ranging from copyright piracy to terrorism threats, officials said.The forum, pushed for by US companies in the region, will be inaugurated this week under the Overseas Security Advisory […]

Japan to give 4.5 billion dollar loans to India rail project: report

TOKYO, October 18, 2008 (AFP) – Japan will provide India with 450 billion yen (4.5 billion dollars) in loans to help build a freight railway between New Delhi and Mumbai, a newspaper reported Saturday.The assistance will be Japan’s largest ever loan for a single construction project overseas, topping the 260 billion yen provided to India […]

Social networking sites told to warn users of weak privacy controls

STRASBOURG, October 17, 2008 (AFP) – Social networking websites were urged Friday to warn users about the low level of protection given to their profiles at a Council of Europe-organised conference on the issue. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 The European Union […]

Indian PM concerned over civilians caught in Sri Lanka conflict

NEW DELHI, October 18, 2008 (AFP) – Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday told Sri Lanka he was deeply concerned about the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in the war-torn island and urged it to protect Tamil civilians caught in the conflict.Rajapakse assured Singh “all necessary measures” were being taken to keep civilians from harm’s way in […]

Recession fears haunt commodity markets

LONDON, October 17, 2008 (AFP) – World commodity prices tumbled this week, with oil striking a 17-month low point under 66 dollars a barrel in London, as fears of a global recession weighed on demand for raw materials. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to […]

‘s LIOC draws interest as share trading dries up

Oct 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended almost flat after fluctuating in thin trading Friday with petroleum retailer Lanka Indian Oil Corp (LIOC) drawing interest on weaker oil prices, brokers said. The stock ended down two percent (1.50 rupees) at 72.50 rupees with 589,500 shares traded. Dialog Telekom gained 25 cents to end […]

Sri Lankan tea prices slump at Colombo auction

Oct 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices fell on lower demand at the Colombo auctions this week, continuing a downward trend that mirrors the slump in global commodities, brokers said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘act (space) lbo’ and send to 678 The lower prices means lower […]

LBR-LBO ICT Forum

Oct 17, 2008 (LBO) – Advances in ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) could help companies, especially mid-sized ones, to improve and gain competitive advantage, Sri Lankan experts say. HP said it hopes to do more such projects to help deploy ICT effectively and efficiently in medium sized organizations. The University of Colombo School of Computing […]

Sri Lanka seeks to avoid spat with India over military drive

October 17, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka’s government said Friday it would send a delegation to India to defuse mounting tensions over the escalating war against Tamil Tiger rebels.Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils share close cultural and religious links with the 55 million Tamils in the nearby South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Colombo’s military drive […]

Sri Lanka military captures rebel-held town: govt

October 17, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lankan troops captured a rebel-held town in the island’s north following heavy fighting that killed a “large” group of guerrillas, the defence ministry said Friday. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 Security forces took the town of Maniyakkulam, 25 […]

Sri Lanka bans 60 food products on melamine fears

Oct 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s health ministry has banned the import and sale of 60 food products as a precautionary measure following the melamine Chinese milk contamination scandal.Many countries have pulled melamine-contaminated sweets and drinks from supermarket shelves amid the widening scandal over Chinese milk products tainted with the toxic chemical. Melamine, which […]

Philippines warns shipping as more Filipino crew kidnapped off Somalia

MANILA, October 17, 2008 (AFP) – The Vice-President of the Philippines has confirmed the hijacking of a Filipino-manned ship off Somalia and appealed to shipping companies to sail within areas patrolled by a multinational coalition.“We are still awaiting further developments on the latest Somali piracy case,” Noli de Castro said in a statement that named […]

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