Category: Other
” opportunities
Oct 02, 2008 (LBO) – Growing consumer demand in Western markets for environmentally-friendly products provide new opportunities for Sri Lankan businesses, a European Union official said. To receive instant alerts from LBO on your Dialog mobile type ‘lbo’ and send to 678 The opportunities arise through increasing EU efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions that […]
US Senate approves economic bailout plan
WASHINGTON, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – The US Senate on Wednesday approved a 700-billion-dollar Wall Street bailout package by a vote of 74-25 amid a widening global crisis sparked by the collapse of the US housing market.Earlier in the day, Democratic House Majority leader Steny Hoyer sounded a note of caution, appearing to indicate the […]
Oil prices at 99.76 in Asian trade
SINGAPORE, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – World oil prices were up more than one dollar in Asian trade on Thursday shortly after the US Senate approved a revised government proposal to bail out the US financial sector. New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for November delivery, was 1.23 dollars higher at 99.76 dollars a […]
‘s arms-trafficking trade
KIEV, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – The pirate hijacking of a Ukrainian cargo ship loaded with tanks off Somalia has refocused attention on arms-trafficking by the former Soviet republic, one of the world’s 10 biggest arms exporters.Experts say Ukraine has greatly improved arms-export controls after a string of scandals but remains a potential source of […]
Belgian customs seize record haul of fake pills, from India
BRUSSELS, October 2, 2008 (AFP) – Customs authorities at Brussels airport have seized over two million counterfeit medical pills from India which were bound for Africa, the biggest such seizure ever in Europe, officials said Thursday. Blister packs of the fake medications — copies of Tramal, a strong analgesic made by German pharmaceutical company Grunenthal, […]
US Senate to vote Wednesday on bailout package
WASHINGTON, October 1, 2008 (AFP) – The US Senate will vote Wednesday evening on a revised 700 billion dollar Wall Street bailout, after the House of Representatives sparked economic turmoil by rejecting the original package. A Democratic Senate aide speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the surprise vote would go ahead and the bill is […]
Coral-killing starfish turns out to be four species, not one
PARIS, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – The crown-of-thorns starfish, a notorious threat to coral in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, comprises four species, not one, biologists reported on Tuesday. The spiny predator, known by its Latin name of Acanthaster planci, has been a worsening peril to reefs for at least three decades, latching onto coral […]
” accounting rules amidst illiquid markets
WASHINGTON, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – US regulators Tuesday offered new guidelines aimed at easing accounting rules blamed by some analysts for worsening the crisis for banks with heavy losses from mortgage securities The Securities and Exchange Commission made the announcement offering clarification to companies preparing to report their financial results for the third quarter, […]
Sri Lanka to introduce energy efficiency laws
Oct 01, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s government plans to introduce new laws to make energy efficiency improvement measures mandatory that may even extend to private homes, a senior official said.Wickramasinghe said the government aims to encourage supply side and end-use energy efficiency and the Energy Conservation Act will be amended. The authority will prepare […]
French PM says banks vulnerable, but state will step in
PARIS, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – French Prime Minister Francois Fillon has warned in an interview to appear Wednesday that the country’s banks are vulnerable given the global financial crisis, which he compared to the Great Depression.Fillon, however, said in the interview with Les Echos business newspaper that the state would not allow any banks […]
Privatization of first US airport could bank 2.5 billion dollars
CHICAGO, September 30, 2008 (AFP) – The privatization of the first major US airport could net the city of Chicago 2.5 billion dollars, officials said Tuesday. The 99-year lease of Chicago’s secondary airport, Midway, must still be approved by the city council and federal regulators but officials expressed confidence it would pass. “With this agreement […]
Legal Action
Sept 30, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s lawyers are to protest in front of the main court complex in the capital Colombo while condemnation poured in, after an attack on the residence of a top anti-corruption activist and fellow attorney. “We fear that we cannot ignore this situation any further and allow it to escalate […]