Author: LBO
Press freedom body names five new ‘predators’
PARIS, May 2 (AFP) – Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) is to mark international press freedom day Wednesday by naming five new “predators on the freedom of the press” to add to the 32 it has already identified.The names, made available Tuesday, are those of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, armed Tamil […]
Sri Lanka truce ‘alive’ despite violence
May 1 (AFP) – At least 200 people have been killed in the bloodiest month in Sri Lanka since peacebroker Norway arranged a truce four years ago, but the warring parties say their ceasefire is still holding.Sri Lanka’s government said it was committed to upholding the hugely strained ceasefire even as seven more people were […]
Sri Lanka protests monitors’ statement on extrajudicial killings
Apr. 30 (AFP) – Sri Lanka on Sunday protested an allegation by Scandinavian truce monitors that government forces may have been responsible for extrajudicial killings. Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse met Ulf Henricsson, the head of the truce monitoring mission, to demand an explanation for Saturday’s statement, a top government official said. The Sri Lanka Monitoring […]
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi acts up but no eruption yet
JAKARTA, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Volcanic rocks have tumbled down from the peak of Indonesia’s rumbling Mount Merapi volcano but its “standby” status remains unchanged, a vulcanologist said Saturday.The avalanche of rocks created a thin layer of dust that fell on two hamlets located on the western slope of the 2,914-meter (9,560-foot) volcano Friday, said […]
India’s Jet Airways yearly profit jumps 15 percent
MUMBAI, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline, said Saturday full-year net earnings rose 15 percent on air-traffic growth and profit from the sale and leaseback of planes.For the year ended March 31, the airline reported net profit of 4.5 billion rupees (101 million dollars).Full-year revenues rose 39 percent to 61.4 billion […]
Sri Lanka’s April inflation swings up
Apr. 28 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s inflation rate for April rose over consumer demands for bananas, fresh fish, milk foods and vegetables during the traditional New Year season, the Census & Statistics Dept. said Friday. On a point-to-point basis inflation for April rose to 9.2 percent over 6.4 percent reported in March, as the government […]
Standard & Poor’s cuts Sri Lanka’s credit outlook
Apr. 27 (LBO) – International rating agency Standard & Poor’s Thursday lowered Sri Lanka’s credit outlook to negative from stable, amid escalating violence and fears that the island may slip back to war. However, S&P warned: “The country’s external liquidity could come under pressure if war causes reduced foreign exchange inflows from tourism and tourism-related […]
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank calls for better fiscal policies to maintain stability
Apr.27 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has called for better fiscal policies and continued reforms to maintain growth and economic stability, in its annual report on the country’s economic performance.The Bank said Thursday the country grew by 6 percent in 2005, a day after the Finance Ministry said it grew by 6.2 percent last […]
Mission possible — Britain’s secret service trawls for new talent
LONDON, April 27, 2006 (AFP) – Britain’s secret service, famed for lurking in the shadows, launched its first overt recruitment operation on Thursday, calling on men and women who are looking for a challenge.For the first time in its 97-year history, MI6, the country’s foreign spy agency, published an open advertisement in a newspaper. “From […]
Pakistan’s Afridi withdraws retirement from Test cricket
KARACHI, April 27, 2006 (AFP) – Pakistani allrounder Shahid Afridi has withdrawn his temporary retirement from Test cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday.Afridi, 26, shocked his team when he announced earlier this month that he was giving up the longer form of the game until after the 2007 World Cup to concentrate […]
S&P cuts Sri Lanka Telecom’s credit outlook
Apr. 27 (LBO) – US credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s Thursday cut Sri Lanka Telecom’s credit outlook to negative from stable, in the wake of escalating violence, which may result in the country slipping back to war. The cash rich operator posted net profits of 3,093 million rupees, while revenues surged 10 percent to […]
International rating agencies lower Sri Lanka’s credit outlook
Apr. 27 (LBO) – International rating agencies Fitch and Standard & Poor’s Thursday cut Sri Lanka’s credit outlook to negative from stable, reflecting the island’s worsening security situation. Should the violence become more widespread, adversely affecting the economy, public finances and donor inflows, Sri Lanka’s sovereign ratings could be downgraded, both agencies said. – Mel […]