Category:
China forex reserves set to keep growing past 1 trln dollars
BEIJING, Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – Boosted by a huge and growing trade surplus, China’s forex reserves have shot past the one-trillion-dollar mark and nothing is likely to stop them rising even further, analysts said Tuesday.“They have grown by 200 billion dollars a year over the past three years …and they will continue to grow […]
Vietnamese give cautious welcome to do-or-die era of WTO
HANOI, Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – Most Vietnamese appear to welcome their country joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but many also fear they must step up the pace or fall behind as the country enters the fast lane of globalisation.A recent international Gallup poll found that the communist ruled and so far McDonalds-free country […]
‘s software giant Infosys aims for Nasdaq 100 index
BANGALORE, India, Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – Shareholders of Indian software major Infosys Tuesday approved a plan for converting 30 million local shares into its US counterpart in a bid to list the firm on the Nasdaq index, officials said.N.R. Narayanamurthy, chief mentor of Nasdaq-listed Infosys technologies said the price of the American Depository Shares […]
How the Ashes were born
LONDON, Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – As England get set for the defence of the Ashes in Australia later this month, it’s worth recalling that one of the oldest prizes in sport was actually born out of a satirical newspaper article.Cricket’s oldest rivals had been playing one another for five years before there was any […]
World Cup final ball sells for 2.4 million dollars
DOHA, Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – The ball used in this year’s World Cup final between Italy and France has sold at auction for a staggering 2.4 million dollars. Signed by the Italian team which beat France on penalties, it was snapped up by Qatar’s emir-in-waiting Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, who will display it […]
Five civilians hurt as Sri Lanka troops, rebels exchange mortar fire
Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – Five civilians were wounded after Tamil rebels and troops in eastern Sri Lanka traded mortar fire Tuesday, the defence ministry claimed and police found three bullet-riddled bodies in the region.Mortars fell near a temple, church and a railway station in the Morakotanchenai village and wounded at least five civilians, the […]
UN seeks international panel to probe Sri Lanka killing fields
COLOMBO, Nov 7, 2006 (AFP) – The United Nations Tuesday welcomed Sri Lanka’s move to probe the killing of hundreds of civilians by troops and Tamil Tigers, but said a broader international mechanism was needed to check rights abuses. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said in a statement that Monday’s […]
No Cash
Nov 07 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is to ask Reliance Industries of India and Petronas of Malaysia for extended credit on fuel purchases, to ease recent pressure on the exchange rate. Meanwhile, the government is also considering offering targeted subsidies for kerosene to Samurdhi beneficiaries, while allowing Ceypetco to sell at market rates, an official […]
Flying High
November 6, 2006 (LBO) – Dubai’s Emirate Airlines Monday reported a steady profit growth as the carrier flew more passengers and carried more cargo to offset historically high fuel prices. For the six months ended Sept 30, net profit was up 29 percent to 323 million dollars over the same period last year. Emirates’ operating […]
Private Property
Nov 06, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Monday announced measures to charge a royalty fee on the commercial use of local artists™ creations and penalties for violators, in a bid to tighten the misuse of copyright laws. Mooted by the national Intellectual Property Office or NIPO and the Collective Societies of Sri Lanka, the law […]
Southern Link
November 6, 2006 (LBO) – Asiri Hospitals Ltd, currently at the centre of a takeover battle, announced plans on Monday to invest and develop a hospital in Matara. “The Company has entered into an agreement with Central Dispensary & Nursing Home Ltd, Matara to lease the premise for a period of 20-years,” Asiri Hospital’s Company […]
Sore Eyes
BERLIN, Nov 6, 2006 (AFP) – Haiti, Myanmar and Iraq are perceived as the most corrupt countries in the world while Finland is seen as the cleanest, a respected global graft watchdog reported Monday.Transparency International (TI) said in its annual Corruption Perceptions Index covering 163 countries that some of the world’s poorest nations were also […]