Qatar Airways ‘remains committed’ to expanding global network: Al-Baker

Gulf News: Qatar Airways “remains committed to expanding our global network and taking our passengers anywhere in the world they wish to go”, said Group Chief Executive Akbar al-Baker as the national carrier celebrates a successful year of tremendous growth, network expansion and record-breaking award wins.

Macau casinos post first annual revenue gain in 3 years`

REUTERS: Gaming revenue in the Chinese territory of Macau rose for the first time in three years in 2017 as high-end punters’ appetite for gambling recovers after a protracted government campaign against shows of wealth among public officials and slowing economic growth. 

President Maithripala Sirisena’s opportunity ahead in 2018

January 8, 2018 will mark three years since Maithripala Sirisena was elected as the Sri Lankan President, after defecting from the cabinet of his predecessor, Mahinda Rajapaksa. 

Forget globalization; Internetization sums up our global economy better

The word globalization has lost its relevance and lustre with the emergence of the new global economy of the 21st century. In fact, it’s become an anachronism.

IIT students win accolades for innovative software products

Students from leading private higher education institute and pioneer in private tertiary education in Sri Lanka, Informatics Communication Technology (IIT), recently participated and performed exceptionally at both TADHACK Sri Lanka 2017 and National Best Quality ICT Awards (NBQSA) 2017. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s 2017 pay jumped 47%, to US $ 12.8mn

Variety.com: Tim Cook took home a much sweeter pay check this year -- thanks to Apple exceeding its financial targets for 2017.

Amazon hits Christmas jackpot as ‘tens of millions’ of Echo devices sold

Siliconvalley.com: Amazon enjoyed its ‘biggest’ Christmas yet, powered by a holiday sales surge for its Amazon Echo products, the company said last week.

Cybercriminals successfully use common exploits, ‘swarm’ tech to attack at speed, scale: Fortinet

Fortinet, the global leader in high-performance cybersecurity solutions, announced the findings of its latest Global Threat Landscape Report. 

Vietnam unveils 10,000-strong cyber unit to combat ‘wrong views’

REUTERS: Vietnam has unveiled a new, 10,000-strong military cyber warfare unit to counter “wrong” views on the Internet, media reported, amid a widening crackdown on critics of the one-party state.

WhatsApp messaging service returns after global outage

REUTERS: WhatsApp, a popular messaging service owned by Facebook Inc., suffered a global outage for about an hour on Sunday before the problem was fixed.

Management of step-in risk in banks

The growth of the global banking system is a function of synergy between banks and non-bank entities. They coexist and complement the role to support the growth of the economy. As a result, many times, banks have to enter into dealings even with less regulated/unregulated financial entities. 

China to cap overseas withdrawals using domestic bank cards

REUTERS: China’s foreign exchange regulator will cap overseas withdrawals using domestic Chinese bank cards at 100,000 yuan (US $ 15,370) per year in an effort to target money laundering, terrorist financing and tax evasion, it said 

CB extends deadline for exchange of mutilated currency notes

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), considering the immense requests from the public and the difficulties that the public is facing in exchanging wilfully defaced currency notes at licensed commercial banks (LCBs), has decided to extend the time period for such exchange of currency notes at LCBs up to March 31, 2018.  

NDB Good Life credit cards offer savings at leading bookstores, shoe shops

Going back to school after the December holidays is always an exciting affair, especially when all your stationery and books are brand new. The NDB Good Life credit cards now offer massive discounts for all purchases from leading bookstores and shoe shops for products that will give your child all the more incentive to go back to school. 

MTI’s reflections for the New Year

Humanly, on an on-going basis, we can only be awake about 16-17 hours in a day. This has not changed much with time. But the choice of things we can do a day, be it food, entertainment, socializing, travelling etc. (and the sub choices within each of these) have exploded.  This has several implications for the way we live today: We are over-consuming almost everything and we have so much of idling / low utilization assets, from cars to wardr

Cyaniq partners Islander to unveil flavoured water-based beverages

Islander, the newest lifestyle brand to be introduced to the local market unveiled its brand identity and range of beverages in collaboration with Cyaniq, the premier marketing and communications consultancy. 

David Pieris Racing to host Sri Lanka’s first international Go-karting event

David Pieris Motor Company Ltd (DPMC) has come out with an innovative idea to offer discerning motorsport enthusiasts, both local and foreign, the chance to witness and partake in an event that would otherwise be difficult for most to attend, as it takes place in other countries.Extending its arms into the leisure/tourism 

Market looks to govt. for impetus in 2018

The performance of the Colombo bourse in the year 2018 will depend a lot on the execution of the plans already proposed by the government, including the listing of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), the stock market stakeholders opine.

November vehicle registrations slow

Vehicle registrations in November 2017 were subdued owing to the regulatory limitations placed on the automotive industry, with 37,412 vehicles registered during the month, according to a market report by JB Securities (Pvt.) Ltd.

Make reforms while sun shines on world economy: Lagarde

AFP: International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde has urged France and other countries to push through reforms “while the sun is shining” on the global economy.

Global stock markets will have a good 2018

Global stock markets had a good spurt in 2017. But as the old saying goes, every party has to end sometime. That’s the troubling thought that’s been nagging at many investors this year, even as they’ve continued to profit from global stock markets. Positive economic trends and transformative changes in technology are helping many companies deliver standout returns. 

Japan’s Nippon Life eyeing M&A for foreign boutique bond and alternative funds

REUTERS: Japan’s Nippon Life Insurance Co , which recently struck a deal to buy about a quarter of U.S. investment firm TCW Group, is scouting for opportunities to buy boutique managers of bonds and alternative assets, its president said.

Theagarajah assumes duties as Cargills Bank MD/CEO

Cargills Bank Limited yesterday announced the appointment of Rajendra Theagarajah as its Managing Director (MD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from January 1, 2018.  

Crown Royal Security Services Wins Excellence Merit Award at the Social Dialogue & Workplace Coopera

Crown Royal Security Services (Private) Limited, a member of the Crown Royal Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, recently received a merit award in the large scale of the service sector category at the Social Dialogue & Workplace Cooperation Awards 2017 organized by the Ministry of Labour, Trade Union Relations and Sabaragamuwa Development held at BMICH on 14th December, 2017

CB wants resources at govt.’s statistics office beefed up

The Census and Statistics Department (DCS) requires more resources if the new economic measurements introduced are to be followed properly, the Central Bank said last week.

WiLAT Sri Lanka celebrates fourth anniversary of ‘Ignite’ mentoring programme

Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) Sri Lanka celebrated the fourth anniversary of its flagship mentoring programme on November 16th at The Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo.

USAID-funded YouLead! programme holds first leadership forum

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s initiative to strengthen youth employability and skills development project, YouLead!, concluded a four-day youth leadership forum on December 9th, 2017 at Trace Expert City, Colombo.

Pathfinder Foundation Director addresses Second International Blue Economy Dialogue

As much as 40 percent of the world’s oceans are adversely affected by human activities, including pollution, depleted fisheries and loss of coastal habitats, stated Pathfinder Foundation Center for Indo-Lanka relations Director Admiral Dr. Jayanath Colombage attending the second International Blue Economy Dialogue in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Central Bank sets record straight on CIFL

The Central Bank last week defended itself against the accusations of misconduct made by the stakeholders of the troubled financial institution, Central Investment and Finance PLC (CIFL), saying that the banking and finance sector regulator has acted according to the regulations in this particular case.

INSSSL launches Annual Memorial Lecture Series in honour of Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa

The Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL) launched an Annual Memorial Lecture Series in honour of Lieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa.