Sri Lanka stocks end 2012 down 7.1-pct

Sri Lanka's stocks closed up 0.6 percent Monday, down 7.1 percent for the year, on top of an 8.5 percent loss in 2010, though the market has gained from mid 2012, brokers said.

"This is the fastest adjustment period in our history," Central Bank governor Nivard Cabraal said."So we can look that at the New Year with a lot of confidence."

Sri Lanka targets 1.2mn tourist in 2013

Sri Lanka is targeting 1.2 million tourist arrivals for 2013 after welcoming a million tourists in 2012 more than it target of 950,000, the state tourism promotion office said. On December 30, officials led by deputy economic development minister Lakshman Yapa had welcomed Jiang Ying from China as the millionth tourist when she landed in Colombo with her husband Yang Bo.

Foreign inflows to the country are on the rise

Foreign inflows to the country are on the rise as per Central Bank data released on Friday.
It said that with respect to the services account and current transfers in the BOP, earnings from tourism and workers’ remittances continued to grow at a healthy rate.

Sri Lanka's Dialog launches 4G-LTE broadband services

Sri Lanka's Dialog Axiata, a unit of Malaysia's Axiata said it had launched fourth generation commercial broadband services starting with the capital Colombo targeting home and office markets.

The cellco said it was using TD-LTE (Time Division - Long Term Evolution) standard technology, with the service offered by its Dialog Broadband Networks (DBN) unit.

Ratan Tata retires

WSJ: MUMBAI– Ratan Tata, one of India’s most respected corporate leaders and the driving force behind the world’s cheapest car, retired Friday with words of caution for the Tata Group’s nearly half a million employees.
The difficult economic environment is likely to continue for most of next year and will need a dramatic cut in costs, Tata wrote in a farewell message to employees of the $100 billion Tata Group.

How McDonald's makes its fries

this video explains you the process of How McDonald's makes its fries

Sri Lanka foreign reserves at US$6.54bn in Nov

Sri Lanka's official reserves fell 56.9 million US dollars to 6,490 million US dollars in November 2012 from a month earlier, but is still up 968 million US dollar from a February low of 5.52 billion US dollars.

Sri Lanka floated the currency in February 2012 ending contradictory monetary and exchange rate policies leading to the rupee falling from around 110 to 118 to the US dollar.

Janet Jackson secretly engaged to Doha billionaire Wissam Al Mana, plans a Qatari wedding

The couple plans a $20m Qatari wedding which is likely to take place in Doha during spring next year

Janet Jackson and her fiancé Wissam al Mana. (GETTY/AFP)

Singer Janet Jackson secretly got engaged to Qatari billionaire Wissam Al Mana.  The couple now plans to get married during spring in Doha, Qatar in 2013.

Janet Jackson has been dating Wissam Al Mana since 2010  and now the businessman has finally popped the question.

According to Us Weekly, The 37-year-old businessman 'gave her a huge, expensive ring' and the 46-year-old pop star is so afraid it will get lost, 'she keeps it locked up'.

Another report claims that Janet and Wissam allegedly got engaged last year after Wissam, a billionaire whose family has extensive reaches in the real estate and media spheres, proposed to her with a stunning 15 carat diamond ring.

UK Resort has biggest house price rise

Southend in Essex recorded the biggest rise in house prices among major UK towns and cities over the past year, according to research by Halifax.

The average selling price in the seaside resort was 14.8% higher than the previous year, rising to £198,418 by the end of 2012, compared with an improvement of 2.1% on average across the whole of Essex.

Basingstoke in Hampshire experienced the second biggest rise in house prices with a 14.7% gain, while three more towns within commuting distance of London - Rochester, St Albans and Dartford - make up the top five.

Sri Lanka farmers earn US$31mn from Nestle

The Sri Lanka unit of Nestle, a Swiss-based food group said it had paid 4 billion rupees (31 million US dollars) to dairy and coconut farmers in the island to buy milk and coconuts during 2012. The firm has a network of 23,000 dairy farmers and 5,000 coconut farmers supplying raw materials.

Most popular movie stories of 2012

With another year chalked off, it’s time for reflection.  Some people re-examine their relationships or career, maybe ask ‘where is my life going?’. For us, it means re-reading through stories about bloated ex-child stars, ninja turtles and Oscar dresses.
 

Making Ideas Happen

 

Here is a bit of a different post, one of productivity.  I know it may not be as sexy as the latest marketing tactic, but productivity will allow you to accomplish more and help get you focused.  If you are like me and I suspect like plenty of other internet marketers, you suffer from the “shiny object” syndrome.  You have tons of great ideas and spread yourself too thin chasing the next shiny object.

How to Buy a Website Already Making Money

There are plenty of ways to make legitimate money online. Instead of starting your own website, it might be easier to buy one already established. Doing this can open up your opportunities in a niche or industry you know little about. There is a process to learning how to buy a website already making money. We’ll show you how to do it to keep your costs low and the profits high. Some people find that the investment it takes to start your own website can be more expensive than buying one ready to go.

Our Top 5 Outsourcing Websites

Making money online is a great thing. Producing a steady stream of income from the products or services that you sell is an amazing. One of the secrets that successful Internet marketers use has nothing to do with SEO, click-through ratios or building landing pages. Outsourcing is a great way to get a lot of work done for a small investment. You can be great at time management, but the income that you generate online could be so much more if you have a lot of help. Good help is easy to find and we are giving away our top 5 outsourcing websites to help kick start your Internet or offline business into high gear. You can forget about working long hours when you have a team of experts where you can outsource of all your work.

How to Get People to Like Your Facebook Page

Remember high school when popular guys and girls were “liked” by everyone? That’s kind of how Facebook is now. It’s no coincidence that Facebook was created as a semi-popularity contest online. The more likes that your profile or fan page has then the more people trust you. As an Internet marketer or business owner, branding your image and reputation online is a big deal. If you know how to get people to like your Facebook page, you can play the popularity game and make everyone pay more attention to you.

Virtusa wins 2012 WITSA Global ICT Excellence Award

Virtusa Corporation, a global IT services company that offers a broad range of information technology services including IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing, has announced that it has been named a winner of the 2012 WITSA Global ICT Excellence Awards for its Àkura School Management System.

Psy’s Gangnam Style makes YouTube history with 1 billion views

Reuters: South Korean rapper Psy’s infectious viral hit song, “Gangnam Style,” made history on Friday as the first ever video on YouTube to reach 1 billion views, adding yet another record to the song’s juggernaut journey into mainstream pop.

Sri Lanka Kotagala Plantations buys tea exporter

Sri Lanka's Kotagala Plantations Plc, a tea plantations firm said it had bought Union Commodities (Pvt) Ltd, a tea exporter for 1,575 million rupees (12.4 million US dollars).

No details were given how the purchase would be financed.

places to visit in colombo Sri Lanka Part 2

McCallum Road

 

Was at McCallum road, browsing second hand books and was pleasantly surprised with the collection. Also, the second book stores at McCallum are where all Sweet Valley books go to die. Just saying.

The books there aren’t exactly cheap, but if you look hard enough you tend to unearth some gems. Found some interesting reads but didn’t buy anything. Kept telling myself that I’d go back but right now I’m sitting here in Delhi wearing four layers of clothing, a hot water bottle and a quilt draped over my legs so as you can guess, I didn’t have time to make that second trip. If you head there and spot a hardback copy of Carol Anne Duffy poems for 350 bucks, please buy it and keep it for me. Thanks in advance or as the cool kids say it – kthnxbai

places to visit in colombo Sri Lanka

 Dehiwala Zoo

 

Dehiwala Zoological Gardens is one of the oldest zoological gardens in Asia founded in 1936. The entire zoo covers an area of 10.1 ha / 0.10 km², with well landscaped gardens and foliage to provide a more natural habitats to its animals.

It’s a home to a wide variety of animals and birds that can be found around the world. All the animals are spread out in a number of houses.

•    The Reptile House - The Reptile House of Colombo Dehiwala Zoo has a collection of crocodiles, tortoises, snakes and oth- er reptiles.
•    The Mini Medura - The Mini Medura has a display of more than 500 varieties of fish and is considered as one of a kind in Asia.
•    The Nocturnal House - This house contains the nocturnal birds and animals like owls, bats, rodents, and lemurs.

The highlight of the zoo is the elephant circus which takes place daily at 5.15 p.m. with extra shows on Sunday and holidays at 3.15 p.m.

Nutrients for beautiful skin

Antioxidants for a youthful complexion

For a naturally beautiful complexion, you need to nourish skin from the inside by choosing the right foods. Antioxidants serve to neutralise those tiresome free radicals which accelerate the skin’s ageing. These toxic molecules are a by-product of the cells’ activities in the body. Their production is increased by smoking, stress and sun exposure.

You should up your intake of betacarotene in summer and also make sure you get more vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, zinc and polyphenols in your diet. Most of these nutrients can be found in fruit and vegetables. By eating your five a day, you'll maximise the benefits for your health and beauty! These nutrients are essential in both summer and winter.

A healthy scalp for beautiful hair

As long as you haven’t treated the root of the problem - in other words at the scalp level - your hair problems will continue! This is true for all hair-related issues, from greasy to dry hair complaints through to hair loss.

Caring for your scalp type

• Nourish dry scalps: Like a tree that lacks the water to nourish its roots, trunk and branches, a dry scalp is likely to cause dry and brittle hair. That’s why it’s so important to nourish and moisturise your scalp first to rebuild its hydrolipidic film. You can apply a mask for dry scalps weekly and then use serums and suitable hair care products rich in phospholipids (containing Shea butter, avocado, copra oil, etc.) applied every day to protect the scalp and moisturise it throughout the day. Don’t forget daily massage.

Hair loss don’t let it get you down

Name me a man who isn’t worried about seeing his hair disappear as the years go by. Worrying about your appearance, though, has a greater impact that you think...

Like Samson, men’s self-assurance seems to disappear along with their hair. That’s the conclusion of a study carried out on men suffering hair-loss. Becoming bald has a direct impact on your self-esteem! It would also seem to harm your powers of seduction. But you can hold on to your self-confidence! Read on to find out how to stop your bad mood in its tracks and brush your ego the right way.

A hard loss to bear...

 

Give your hair a workout

In just three simple steps, you can get glossy locks again. These key massage techniques are designed to make the scalp supple and release muscle tension, encouraging blood flow. We all shed hair in autumn and scalp massage will stimulate healthy regrowth. A little workout can work wonders!

Your three-step hair workout

These three steps cover your whole head, following the direction of the blood flow from the nape of your neck and your ears to the top of your head.

• Concentrate on the front part of your head and the base of your skull.


• Lean your elbows on a table so you can exert more pressure with your hands.

1 Mobilisation massage
Place your fingertips slightly apart on your scalp and exert pressure on the skin. Make small circular movements and massage back and forth. Move your fingers to a new part of the scalp and repeat. Your whole head should take around a minute to massage.

Perfect party feet

Scrub and moisturise

Protecting your feet is all about good hydration and regular exfoliation. Moisturising your feet is essential, as it ensures the corneal cells won’t dry out and build up causing painful little calluses to appear. Foot scrubs help to smooth any rough patches of skin. Make sure you scrub for at least three minutes when you exfoliate. To keep your feet looking polished, exfoliate once a week and moisturise every night before bed. Simply massage foot cream into your skin for three minutes.

Beauty trend The X Factor hairdresser reveals why plaits are the big trend for 2013

Step away from the straightening irons as it’s plaits we should be wearing next season, according to The X Factor hairdresser.

Jamie Stevens says plaits are a quick and easy way to jazz up a simple hairstyle and the trend is set to be huge in SS13.

Plaits on the Pucci, Fendi and Mulberry AW12 catwalks © Rex“There is no getting away from plaiting and braiding this season as it emerged as a key trend on the A/W’12 catwalk at shows including Pucci, Fendi and Mulberry,” Jamie Stevens of Jamie Stevens Hair told Yahoo! Lifestyle.

Top recipes for better Brussels sprouts this Christmas

Brussels sprouts really are the king of superfoods, which makes the fact that so many of us don’t like them even more of a shame. And though every person in the UK will eat an average of 15 sprouts this Christmas, according to one survey, they’re the most hated vegetable in Britain.

But we reckon trying out these delicious Brussels sprout recipes will change your mind on this nutritious seasonal vegetable forever…Give sprouts a chance this Christmas ©Rex

How to recharge this Christmas

As everyone gets ready for their Christmas break and those few precious days off grow tantilisingly close, things can get even more manic than usual.

And though you’ve set December 25th as the finishing line, organising family and elderly relatives, Christmas drinks and parties, present buying and wrapping and making sure you’ve got enough food in for everyone can mean you’re even closer to a meltdown than usual.

Recharge over Christmas so you're ready to hit the grown running after New Year ©Rex

But if you do have a few days off over Christmas, it’s the perfect time for a much-needed recharge of worn down batteries so make sure you head into he New Year ready to take it on.

 

Foreigners rushing into stocks locals still turning a deaf ear Broker

Softlogic Stockbrokers is lamenting that locals are continuing to turn a deaf ear to record-breaking net inflow as foreigners are rushing into Lankan equities.
It said last week’s highlight was the aggressive accumulation by the foreigners into the steady lot, which has continued throughout 2012, taking the year-to-date net foreign inflow to over Rs. 38 billion.

Google working on X Phone X tablet to take on rivals WSJ

REUTERS: Google Inc is working with recently acquired Motorola on a handset codenamed ‘X Phone,’ aimed at grabbing market share from Apple Inc and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd., the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.
Google acquired Motorola in May for $12.5 billion to bolster its patent portfolio as its Android mobile operating system competes with rivals such as Apple and Samsung.

Mobitel and Janashakthi partner to provide novel insurance cover for Mobitel customers

Positioned as the National Mobile Service Provider that ‘Cares Always’, Mobitel once again expresses the brand’s commitment to support and empower its customers and the nation by providing insurance covers to their customers.

Sri Lanka to list state firms: deputy finance minister

Sri Lanka will list more state firms in the Colombo Stock Exchange as well as encouraging more privately owned companies list, international monetary co-operation and deputy finance minister Sarath Amunugama said.

Listing more companies "both private and public" are among a series of initiatives that the state will pursue in the next two to three years, minister Amunugama said in a speech at a award ceremony held by Sri Lanka's Securities and Exchange Commission.

Top 10 Best Fashion Moments Of 2012

It's been a momentous year in style.

Thanks to big red-carpet events, fashion designers pulling out all the stops and the celebrity elite all debuting some amazing looks throughout the last year, it's been a truly fashionable 2012.

Kristen Stewart, Angelina Jolie and Kate Middleton © Rex
So to celebrate - and relive the glamour all over again - we've picked our Top 10 fashion moments from 2012...

How to teach your child to share

Young children have difficulty sharing – but with a bit of patience and practice, you can help your little one’s ability to share become second nature.

Sharing is one of life’s most vital skills, but it’s not something that comes naturally to us as children.

Project Management Processes, Process Groups and Knowledge areas

Project management as explained by PMBOK (Project Management Body of Knowledge) is accomplished by the appropriate application and integration of 42 logically grouped project management processes. These processes are spread across 5 process groups and 9 knowledge areas.

The five process groups are:

1. Initiating


2. Planning


3. Executing


4. Monitoring & Controlling


5. Closing

The nine knowledge areas are:

1. Project Integration Management


2. Project Scope Management


3. Project Time Management


4. Project Cost Management


5. Project Quality Management


6. Project Human Resources Management


7. Project Communication Management


8. Project Risk Management


9. Project Procurement Management

The processes that belong in each process group, what they do and which knowledge area they represent can be confusing. This post (based on the info in PMBOK) discusses about each process group and briefly explains the processes that belong in each process group. The knowledge area they represent is indicated in brackets after the process. This post could serve as reference for project managers and also help someone preparing for PMP certification.

How to avoid gaining weight over Christmas

Eat Before You Greet

If you’re going to a drinks party, dinner party or even just a works lunch have a small snack before you get there and never be tempted to fast before your fiesta – you’ll only end up eating and drinking even more.  Something as simple as a few mixed nuts and banana, a couple of oatcakes and hummus or a handful or dried fruit and a yogurt can make all the difference to your blood sugars helping to keep hunger levels in check and the temptation to overeat at bay.   Be savvy when you hit the buffet table to avoid diet no-nos

The Christmas Sleepover Workout

Keeping to your fitness and weight loss goals over Christmas can be tough.

 

There's so much temptation with all sorts of delicious festive food around, that we often forget how hard we worked to fit into that Christmas party dress.
 
But just how we can fit in some exercise over the holiday period? Luckily, there are ways you can stay healthy and in shape, without spending hours of your much-needed time off in the gym.

 

Try this top workout, that uses your own body weight - perfect for a good 'sweat and burn' session. I've dubbed it 'The Christmas Sleepover Workout' as you can do it wherever you are this Christmas.

 

What you'll need: A bit of space, a chair and a timer if you have it.

 

What to do: Do each exercise consecutively and only have 10-15 seconds rest in between each one to catch your breath and keep the opportunity for fat burning at maximum. Do the entire workout for a total of three sets. Perform the first set of exercises for 20 seconds each for the first round, 30 seconds for the second round and then 40 seconds for the last. It's a real holiday climber of a workout done in record time. It's your body vs the timer!

US enterprise forging revolution amid state interventions: Sally in Sri Lanka lecture

Private enterprise in the United States is transforming its economic structure using available economic freedoms despite excessive state interventions that has delayed a recovery, a top economist has said.

"It intervened far too much and misguidedly at home," Razeen Sally, a former London School of Economics professor who is now with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, said in Colombo.

The real cost of being Batman

Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy dealt with the emotional and physical cost of parading around a city fighting crime dressed as a bat, but not so much the financial cost.

Enter Moneysupermarket.com, who have had their top boffins calculate how much Bruce Wayne had to delve into his piggy bank to on his quest for justice.

Covering everything from a periscope to his butler Alfred's salary, the infographic below details how much you'd have to spend to become the caped crusader...

Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka rated AAA(lka): Fitch

Fitch Ratings said Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka Plc, has been rated AAA(lka) with a stable outlook helped by its market leadership in spirits, steady demand and entry barriers to new entrants.
"Fitch views the high and frequent increases in top-line taxes on spirits as a regulatory risk, which has created a large illicit spirits market," the rating agency said in a statement.

Instagram under fire for plan to use people's photos in adverts

Photo-sharing social network Instagram has come under fire for new 'terms of service' which allow it to use people's own photos in adverts, without paying them.

Photo-sharing social network Instagram has come under fire for new 'terms of service' which allow it to use people's own photos in adverts, without paying them.

The new terms of use have been described as a 'suicide note' by Clayton Cubitt, a New York-based photographer.

Twitter users have expressed outrage - "Good bye instagram. Your new terms of service are totally stupid. Good luck playing with the big boys," said one.

The new terms of use - a legally binding document which is 'agreed' to by all users of the site - allow Instagram to use photographs in advertising, without warning users.

 

How to make money doing something you love

Do you dream of doing something you love and making money from it? Micro-businesses - run by sole traders or with a handful of employees - are the lifeblood of an entrepreneurial revolution that is gaining pace across Britain. So how can you join their ranks?

There has been a surge in start-ups over the last few years as the recession and redundancies have taken hold. According to the Start Up Britain campaign, more than 460,000 businesses were set up in 2012 alone.

But while the glamour tech companies grab the headlines, it is the hundreds of thousands of micro-business that are the real story. The figures are stunning. 95% of British businesses are micro-businesses - employing more than 7 million people and generating a combined annual turnover of £600 billion.

London 2012 - 'Olympic family' got 97 per cent of tickets for event

Newly released figures show just how difficult it was for fans to buy tickets for the London Olympics.

For one tennis match there were just 73 tickets made available to the public, while for the final night of cycling at the Velodrome a paltry 322 were available at the cheapest price of £50.

For the tennis at Wimbledon, a first round clash between Novak Djokovic and Fabio Fognini saw only three per cent of the tickets made available to the public, with the rest going to the 'Olympic family' of VIPs, media and sponsors.

What's more, only two of the tickets were at the low level price of £40, three were sold at £55, with the rest in the higher price bands.

How school bullies led Julie Deane to create a multi-million pound firm

In four years Julie Deane has gone from stay-at-home mum to international trendsetter, while her company has gone from a kitchen table to sales of more than £1 million a month. And it all started with a list…

“It was awful when my daughter was being bullied [at school] and I thought ‘how can I fix this?’” Dean explained. “I saw a great school for her and needed school fees.”

“It gave me passion and energy and a purpose, and that’s what you need to be driven, rather than just thinking that you’d like to be an entrepreneur.”

Deane sat down and wrote a list of 10 things she could do to raise the money to send both her children (Emily and Max) to a different school and escape the bullies.

The best budget tablets this Christmas

This Christmas people up and down the UK people will be getting tablets - with retailers reporting that a tablet is selling every second in Britain.

Just two years ago the choice would have been Apple or Apple, however 2012 has been a watershed in the tablet market, and there are plenty of great tablets for under £200 - and not all of them have the Apple logo on the back. Budget doesn’t necessarily mean poor quality any more. Here’s our pick of top five best budget tablets.

1: Google Nexus 7
From £159

The Google Nexus 7 is made by Asus, it’s a well designed-tablet with some great specs - and unlike Kindle, it has a forward-facing camera for Skype. The 7-inch screen is excellent for movies and the quad-core processor ensures it’s exceptionally quick, ably handling 3D games.Google Play Store now has a great selection of music, apps, books and videos.

Running the latest of Android Jelly Bean, as a flagship Nexus device you can buy the Nexus 7 safe in the knowledge it is guaranteed at least two more significant software updates from Google, adding new features.

Considering the feature set here, starting at £159 for the 16GB version, the Nexus 7 is great value, although it’s worth noting the Nexus 7 has a front (rather than rear-facing) camera, so isn’t a great choice for shooting movies and there’s no way of expanding the memory so choose between 16GB, 32GB and 64GB versions.

Reasonably priced, powerful, with a great app selection and the latest version of Android’s operating system, the Google Nexus 7 is the best budget tablet

How the world's Mayan apocalypse believers are waiting for the end

Around the world, believers are preparing for Doomsday this Friday - with a senior Chechen politician saying, "Candles won't help you," to a panicky populace.

In China, dozens of believers have been arrested, and DVDs of 'apocalyptic propanda' seized.

Hotels near a Serbian mountain have seen hundreds of booking requests from believers who think a buried UFO might save them from doom on Friday.

In America, 'doomsday preppers' have fled to underground shelters - while TGI Friday is offering a 'Rib Eye to End All Rib-Eyes' as part of a special 'End of the World' menu.

In Britain, of course, most people have kept calm - with the AA advising motorists to allow extra time for their journeys as the end of the world approaches.

Here's how countries around the world have prepared for 'the end'.

 

Justin Bieber faces ban from Philippines for Pacquiao jibe

Justin Bieber appears to have finally found a way to win over the 18-30 male demographic.

Unfortunately for the 18-year-old pop singer, it may come at the cost a ban from entering the Philippines.

Following Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao’s emphatic KO at the fists of perennial rival Juan Manuel Marquez earlier this month, the Canadian teen took to his Instagram account and posted photoshopped images of the unconscious fighter.

Sri Lanka's Colombo Land says wraps up purchase

Sri Lanka's listed Colombo Land and Development Company Plc has wrapped up a deal to buy an adjacent property, which it had earlier said cost 221 million rupees, and a hotel project has been delayed.

The firm owns Sri Lanka's Liberty Plaza shopping mall in the up market Kollupitiya suburb of Sri Lanka's capital Colombo.Colombo Land said in April 2012 that it had entered in a agreement with owners of a block of land of undisclosed size, next to its southern car park for 221 million rupees.

Beyond 2012: Why the World Won't End

Dec. 21, 2012, won't be the end of the world as we know, however, it will be another winter solstice.

Contrary to some of the common beliefs out there, the claims behind the end of the world quickly unravel when pinned down to the 2012 timeline.

Below, NASA Scientists answer questions on the following 2012 topics:

End of the World'Prediction' OriginsMayan CalendarTotal BlackoutPlanetary AlignmentNibiru/Planet X/ErisPolar ShiftMeteor StrikeNASA ScienceSolar Storms

Question (Q): Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012.

Answer (A):The world will not end in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.

Will the world end on 21 Dec 2012: Five doomsdays that never happened

According to internet conspiracy theorists, the world will end this Friday - a prediction based on an incorrect interpretation of Mayan theology, and a strange mix of New Age beliefs.

December 21 marks the end date in the civilisation’s “Long Count” calendar - and this date has become associated with wild predictions of alien visitations and apocalyptic events.

"December 21 will be just another Friday morning," says Dr Andrew Wilson, a University of Derby academic who has studied the origins of the December 21 myth.

But this bizarre theory is not the first to have people believing their days are numbered. Here are some of the other predicted doomsdays that never happened:

Rapture, May 21, 2011

Those terrified by this Friday’s predicted doomsday would do well to remember last year’s flop forecast of the Rapture by Evangelical preacher Harold Camping.

The now notorious 91-year-old American radio broadcaster was so certain that Jesus Christ would return to Earth and that billions of apparent ne’er-do-wells would perish in flames that he spent $100million advertising the event.

Former New York Subway worker Robert Fitzpatrick, 61, even sank his $140,000 life savings into warning that only 200million faithful - or 2.8% of the world’s population - would be saved

When May 21 last year passed and nothing happened, Camping revised the date of the Rapture and end of the world to October 21. Again, the date passed without infamy.

After months of silence, Camping, who had also once predicted the same fate for September 1994, “humbly” admitted: “We were wrong.”

       

Coming to Britain - plastic banknotes

The Bank of England is preparing to introduce plastic banknotes as part of its new £1bn tender to produce sterling from as early as 2015.

The tender process, details of which were first revealed by The Sunday Telegraph last weekend, demands that potential bidders are able to cope with changes from paper bank notes to plastic or polymer notes from the start of the contract.

This is understood to be the first time the Bank has put a timescale on the introduction of plastic notes. The benefit of plastic is length of life, although there are cost implications.

Harsha raises fresh poser on Krrish deal in Sri lanka

Asks if Indian firm will pay $ 500 m by 31 December as per revised agreement; warns failure must force Govt. to cancel lease

UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva yesterday raised a fresh poser on Krrish Group’s mega project, asking if the Indian firm would pay the $ 500 million by 31 December 2012 as per the revised agreement, adding that if not the Government should cancel the lease.

It was recently revealed in Parliament that the Government had entered into an agreement with a relatively unknown entity called Krrish Group of India to lease out the four-acre prime Transworks Square property for a period of 99 years for US$ 450 million or approximately Rs. 59 billion for a commercial development.  According to a statement made by the Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament in early November, even though Krrish Group was to have made a 20% down payment of the total sum within seven days of establishing the company in Sri Lanka and the remaining 80% on signing the lease agreement, these monies had not been deposited in any bank account of the Government.

Mövenpick CEO upbeat on Sri Lanka tourism

Leading Swiss hospitality brand in the world Mövenpick is upbeat on Sri Lanka’s tourism industry’s prospects, giving it confidence about its first-ever hotel in the city, whilst looking for opportunities in a beach resort.
In partnership with Softlogic Holdings Plc., the Swiss giant is busy rolling out the first hotel in Sri Lanka – the 200-room five-star property at Colpetty.

NSB among sellers of Chevron shares

National Savings Bank (NSB) was among major sellers of Chevron Lubricants Lanka Plc (LLUB) to foreign investors last week as the price of the multinational gained for the second consecutive week.
NSB sold around 250,000 shares for Rs. 50 million, whilst JB Cocoshell was the other major seller, shedding 200,000 shares. As at September 2012, NSB held 1.15 million shares in LLUB, down from 1.27 million shares a year earlier.

The best apps to keep your smartphone safe from thieves

A dark-haired woman became an internet celebrity this week after an iPhone app, iGotYa, took a picture of her as she tried to unlock a stolen phone.
By Rob Waugh

A woman became an internet celebrity this week after an iPhone app, iGotYa, took a picture of her as she tried to unlock a stolen phone.

The app covertly took an image of the woman outside a Brighton nightclub - her name is unknown, and it's not clear whether she stole the phone or knew if it was stolen - and sent it to its rightful owner.

The app, iGotYa, isn't available through Apple's official store - but there are a lot of free and paid-for security apps that can offer peace of mind when a device is lost.

Ten ways to save on your mobile contract

Don't pay out more than you have to - these tips can cut your monthly bills, and even find 'hidden' deals.
Mobile phones are  an expensive necessity - but whether you sign up to a monthly contract lasting years or decide to travel the pay as you go route and stump up for the cost of a handset in advance, there are ways to save, although your network may not always be keen to share these secrets.
Ten money-saving tips

1. Go SIM only
SIM only is the lesser-known sibling of pay monthly and pay as you go mobile phone contracts. As the name suggests, it doesn’t come with a handset so you’ll need to buy a phone upfront or use one you already have.

But you can then tailor what you buy to the calls and texts you make and the data you use, which over the course of an equivalent 24-month contract can save you hundreds of pounds.

SIM only also has the advantage of offering 12-month and one-month rolling contracts, which makes it easy to change tariff and usage options more often, or opt out altogether.

For example a typical iPhone 5 contract costs £36 a month for 1GB internet, equating to £888 over two years. Buy the phone upfront for £529 from Apple, and opt for a £10 SIM-only deal from Virgin Media and over two years you’ll spend £769, a saving of over £100. And because you are on a rolling contract you can swap networks with just 30-days notice.

Don't fall for the shopping rip-off at the checkout

By Simon Ward

If you buy any electrical products in the run-up to Christmas or January sales, chances are you'll be offered an extended warranty. The same thing will probably happen if you buy a car.

The salesperson will tell you they offer “peace of mind” should the product develop a fault during the warranty period. But, more often than not, you’re paying a very high price for that peace of mind.

Manufacturers' warranties and guarantees

Many products come with a free guarantee or warranty from the manufacturer, and these generally promise to give a free repair or replacement if the product goes wrong within a specified time, usually one year.

However, if you buy something that is faulty you have statutory rights against the retailer under the Sale of Goods Act 1979. These state that if something goes wrong with the goods, within a reasonable time frame, then you are entitled to request a repair, replacement or refund.

How Karren Brady made £82 million

She might be a footballer’s wife, but Karen Brady’s fame and fortune are entirely her own doing.

Emma Lunn  

Known as the first woman of football, Karren Brady shot to fame when she was appointed managing director of Birmingham City Football Club in 1993 aged just 23. She took the club from the brink of bankruptcy to being a viable business.

Twenty years later with an estimated net worth of £82 million, she’s one of the UK’s best known female entrepreneurs. At the moment as well as being vice-chairman at West Ham, she’s also a regular on our TV screens, appearing on ‘Young Apprentice’ as one of Sir Alan Sugar’s sidekicks and has also appeared as an advisor on ‘The Apprentice’.

How to buy the perfect perfume this Christmas

By Nicola McCafferty

We all love to find a bottle of perfume under the tree at Christmas.

And with a staggering £790 million expected to be spent on perfume sales in the UK alone this year, many of us will be waking up to a fragrance gift this festive season.

How to buy perfume for your loved one this Christmas ©RexBut with the choice of scent being such a personal decision, how do you know which one to choose for a loved one?

Here Emma Leslie, Beauty Editor and Fragrance Expert at Escentual.com, reveals her top tips on fragrance buying exclusively to Yahoo! Lifestyle.

 

The first point to consider before you arrive at the perfume counter this Christmas is the recipient's personality.

How to Avoid Scams on eBay

How to Avoid Scams on eBay. Like any other business, eBay is not without its scams. If you are cautious, you should have no problems using eBay. Follow these steps to avoid scams on eBay.

How to Grow Teak Wood

Teak is a tropical hardwood used in high-end products such as yacht decks and luxury flooring. The wood is golden when cut, eventually fading to reddish-brown. Teak is extremely durable and weather-resistant. It is a fast-growing tree, but it must be allowed to mature for 10 to 15 years before it achieves its value. It can be grown from seed.

Instructions

Germination

• Purchase teak seeds from your local garden center or online. You may have better luck ordering the seeds online since teak is native to India and Asia. Purchase 20 to 30 seeds to improve the chances of germination.

 

• Put your seeds in a burlap sack and soak them underwater for 12 hours. Soak the seeds in running water if possible.

Angry Birds film for 2016

'Angry Birds' is to be made into a movie, its maker Rovio Entertainment has confirmed.

Rumours that the game app was to be optioned for a feature film have been circulating for some time, but now a 3D release is planned for summer 2016.

 

It also has personell involved, with 'Despicable Me' and 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' producer John Cohen on board and David Maisel, ex-Marvel Studios chairman as executive producer.

Monetary Board wishes Merry X’mas early-Sri Lanka cuts interest rates to boost credit

Akin to playing Santa, though a bit earlier than Christmas, the Monetary Board yesterday announced two major moves to support the economy in realising its growth potential in 2013 and beyond.

 

Surprising markets, the Monetary Board reduced policy rates by 25 basis points, the first-ever cut in 23 months. This move was topped up by lifting by year-end the 18% growth ceiling on lending by commercial banks.
The rate cut came amidst a Reuters poll of 13 analysts on Tuesday, which showed widespread expectations that the Monetary Board stance would remain unchanged.
The two moves, though keeping to the season’s festive mood, were however based on solid reasoning – success from recent policy measures aimed at cooling the economy and laying the ground for a quicker recovery next year. The Central Bank previously had kept rates steady since April, following two hikes made earlier in the year.
The Central Bank said yesterday that the Monetary Board at its meeting held on 11 December was of the view that the current developments provide some space to ease monetary policy while maintaining overall macroeconomic stability.
“Therefore, in order to induce a downward adjustment in market interest rates, the Monetary Board decided to reduce the policy rates of the Central Bank by 25 basis points each while allowing the ceiling on rupee credit extended by banks to expire at end 2012.

HSBC to pay largest ever bank fine HSBC To Pay £1.2bn In Money Laundering Case

HSBC (LSE: HSBA.L - news) has confirmed it will pay $1.92bn (£1.2bn) to settle a money-laundering probe by US authorities - the largest penalty of its kind ever paid by a bank.

The investigation of Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURUSD - news) 's largest bank has focused on the transfer of billions of dollars on behalf of nations such as Iran and the movement of money through the US financial system from Mexican drug cartels.

The bank is expected to pay $1.25bn (£778m) in forfeiture - the biggest such amount in any case involving a bank - on top of $655m (£408m) in civil penalties.

Under what is known as a deferred prosecution agreement, the bank will be accused of violating the Bank Secrecy Act and the Trading With The Enemy Act.

Recession-beating jobs: The UK's fastest-rising salaries

The green shoots of recovery may still be few and far between, but the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) reveal that some professions have enjoyed rising salaries over the last year. We take a look at the fastest pay risers - and the routes into them - and the jobs which have seen the biggest drops.

Smiths and forge workers - Up 35.9 per cent (average pay £24,549)
Pay for smiths and forge workers saw the biggest rise of all the career categories defined by the ONS in the year ending April 2012. Salaries in the sector went up by more than one third - taking the industry average to a whisker below the national average full time pay packet.

How the 'Mayan Apocalypse' came from a New Age magic mushroom trip

People who are expecting the world to end on December 21 - the so-called 'Mayan Apocalypse' - should be in for a pleasant disappointment.

The 'prophecy' does not stem from the Mayans at all - or date from thousands of years ago.

Instead, the beliefs come from two New Age books in the Seventies and Eighties.

The two books predict outcomes as surreal as a 'upgrade' to human consciousness predicted by a spirit from the seventh century. The date itself comes from a prophecy based on a magic mushroom trip.

“December 21st will be just another Friday morning,” said Andrew Wilson, Assistant Head of Social Studies at the University of Derby. “A hippy guru called Jose Arguelles associated the date with the Mayan calendar in a book called The Mayan Factor in 1987. But it's an obsolete form of the calendar, which had not been used since the year 1100AD.”

 

Willie Walsh wagers Sir Richard Branson a 'knee in the groin' that Virgin Atlantic won't survive

British Airways and Iberia boss Willie Walsh said he would be happy to wager Sir Richard Branson a “knee in the groin” that Virgin Atlantic won’t exist in its current form in five years’ time.

The aviation boss, who is chief executive of International Airlines Group (IAG), was responding to a challenge by Sir Richard that he would pay BA staff £1m if the Virgin Atlantic brand name has disappeared in five years’ time .

A public spat broke out between the two rivals after Mr Walsh suggested earlier this week that the Virgin Atlantic brand would be consigned to the history books if US giant Delta buys a 49pc stake in the carrier set up by Sir Richard in 1984.

The furious Virgin chief responded by challenging Mr Walsh to a £1m wager.

What To Do To Get A Better Salary And Be Recognized

I'm working for a company where I am undervalued and my hard work is not appreciated. I like what I'm doing, but I think I should be paid more for the work I do. What should I do to get a better salary and be recognized?


EVALUATE YOURSELF
Prior to asking for a raise, the first thing you want to do is evaluate for yourself, whether you feel that the work that you're doing is either solving a problem or at least filling a void or a need.

Far too often, people feel like they want a raise because they’ve been working hard. Guess what? Everybody does that. Or everybody should be doing that. Similarly, people often feel like they deserve a raise because they’ve been at their company or in their job for a long time or longer than a colleague, and those days are over.

CSE ‘Emerging Bull’ in the world of Bears

NDB Stockbrokers in a special research report that is likely to move investor sentiments for the better is upbeat of a revival in the currently-bearish stock market as well as a rebound in corporate earnings from next year onwards.
Boldly titled ‘Emerging Bull in the World of Bears,’ the NDBS stated: “In view of the stabilising economic conditions, we remain positive on the profit growth prospects over the next two years.

Delgoda Land for sale Rs 6.75 Laks

Delgoda Land for sale Rs 6.75 Laks contact 077 33 03 959

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Top tips to combat stress and stay relaxed all day

The most stressful time of the day has been revealed, and it’s not long after our alarm clocks go off.

New research has found our stress levels peak first thing in the morning, at precisely 8.13am.

And for parents it’s even earlier, with them feeling frazzled eight minutes earlier than the rest of us thanks to organising the kids for school tool. And all this is before we even think about the school run, commuting and tackling that overflowing inbox.

Top 5 tips to combat computer eye strain

Eyesight is our most valued sense, beating smell, touch taste and hearing in a recent poll. But despite this, 17 per cent of Brits admit they haven’t had an eye checkup in the past three years.

Staring at a computer screen all day can hurt your eyes

Foods That Boost Male Fertility

 

Almost 40% of the current male population is reported to suffer from problems relating to infertility.

This has been credited to the lifestyle that men nowadays lead accompanied by a not so healthy dose of fertility busting foods like junk food, caffeinated drinks and alcohol. Instead of indulging in such harmful foods here are foods that will increase your odds of becoming a parent.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds contain a good dose of zinc which is said to increase the sperm count. They also contain essential fatty acids like Omega-3 which enhance the blood flow to sexual organs. Other good sources of Omega-3 acids are almonds, sardines, salmon and flaxseed.

Men advised to start early if they want healthy babies

Mutations in sperm increase with the age of the potential dadFertility researchers have traditionally focused on the impact of the mother's age on children's health, because sons and daughters of older women are known to be at higher risk of Down's syndrome and other, rare disorders.

 

Sales of vitamins are falling, but do we need them?

Sales of vitamin supplements have fallen dramatically according to new figures, with millions of us feeling they’re an unaffordable luxury in today’s tough times.Millions of people still take vitamin pills, but are they losing their appeal?

New research from Mintel revealed that the number of people taking vitamins has dropped by three million compared to four years ago.

It seems many of us are foregoing vitamins by opting for fruit, vegetables and foods that claim to be packed with essential nutrients instead.

Starbucks’ £20m gift 'makes joke’ of tax system

Starbucks (NasdaqGS: SBUX - news) has taken the “unprecedented” step of pledging to pay £20m corporation tax, even if it makes no profit only for the move to appear to backfire and fuel the fiasco surrounding its UK operation.

In a bid to end the pressure on the coffee chain, the US giant dramatically broke off talks with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to offer to “pay or pre-pay somewhere in the range of £10m in each of the next two years”. Starbucks has paid just £8.5m corporation tax in 14 years, despite UK sales of £3bn a tax rate of less than 1pc.

Apple To Peel Mac Production Away From China

One of Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL - news) 's existing Mac lines will be built exclusively in the US next year, CEO Tim Cook has announced.

He made the revelation in an interview with  Rock Center's Brian Williams , who asked him: "Why can't you be a made in America company?"

The iPad, iPhone and iPod are currently made by Taiwanese company Foxconn, with actual manufacturing taking place in China.

Aston Martin announces deal with Italian private equity firm

Aston Martin has announced that an Italian private equity firm has taken a 37.5 per stake in the company.

Aston Martin has announced that it has a new shareholder, and with it plans to invest £500 million in product development and technology over the next five years.Investindustrial, an Italian private equity firm which used to own Ducati, has acquired a 37.5 per cent stake in Aston Martin thanks to an investment of £150 million. Production of Aston Martin cars will continue at the company's headquarters at Gaydon, Warwickshire, which currently has a workforce of 1,600 people.

Facebook's privacy vote - what the email actually means

Unless 300 million people (a third of Facebook’s users) vote ‘against’ by Monday, the networking giant will no longer allow users to vote on policy changes.

Facebook has sent all its users an email this week about a vote on its proposed changes to Data Use Policy - the site's term for its privacy policy.

The dry, quietly worded email is more significant than it sounds.

Unless 300 million people (a third of Facebook’s users) vote ‘against’ by Monday 8pm GMT, the networking giant will no longer allow users to vote on policy changes.

The move has caused concern among privacy groups, who say it’s “impossible” for 300 million to vote in the time period, and that users are worried that their “voices will no longer be heard”.

Sri Lanka urges finance companies to consolidate, no new licenses

Sri Lanka will not issue new finance company licenses in the next two years but is urging weaker lenders to consolidate with larger stronger ones, Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal said.

"The Monetary Board (the Central Bank's decision-making body) has taken a decision not to give new license in the next two three years unless they are absolutely necessary," Cabraal told a forum of finance company executives in Colombo."We will encourage mergers and consolidation. Weak companies cannot remain as weak companies.

"If they are weak they will have to be swallowed by the strong. Or they will have to become strong."

Expert tips for making the perfect curry

An estimated 23 million of us tuck into a curry at least once a month. And if you're a curry fan, you don't need to rely on pre-packed jars and ready-meals. To mark National Curry Week (8-14th October), we asked three experts to reveal their secrets for making the perfect curry at home.

Stir in garam masala towards the end of cooking
While some spices are best added to the pan at the start of cooking, there are benefits to stirring garam masala in at the end. We asked The Ambrette's Michelin-rated chef Dev Biswal. "Generally, it's better to add garam masala at the end of the cooking process, as it works on an aromatic level, raising the whole nature of the dish," he told us. Stir a little into your dish just before you serve it to release all those fresh, vibrant aromas.

Use natural thickeners for a silky texture
Sometimes, a home-made curry doesn't have the thick, silky sauce you often get in restaurants. Indian chef and food writer Maunika Gowardhan suggests stirring in natural thickeners to give your dish the right texture. "Tomato purée, coconut milk/cream and yoghurt all work as perfect thickening agents for a curry", she told us. Some recipes also call for ground nuts, such as almonds or peanuts which thicken the sauce and add sweetness.

Quick and easy recipes for dinner in 10 minutes

Chicken Milanesas

Chicken milanesas with salad
Chicken breasts cook quickly - but even quicker when they're sliced in half.  Serve with a green salad and lemon wedges for squeezing over. Serves 2.

Ingredients
small handful freshly chopped parsley
55g Panko breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp plain flour
1 chicken breast, sliced in half along the depth to make two thinner breast steaks
sunflower oil, for frying
sea salt flakes

Top 10 winter soup recipes

Soup makes a cheap, filling and healthy meal, but it can be easy to rely on the same old favourites. We've put together 10 soup recipes to help see you through the winter. All serve 2.

Spicy Sweet Potato and Chipotle Chilli Soup
Spicy Sweet Potato and Chipotle Chilli Soup © Jo RomeroSweet potatoes are a great source of vitamin C - vital for keeping our immune systems in top condition, as well as vitamin A, which is good for our skin. This soup is spiced up with chipotle chilli paste for extra warmth.

Ingredients
2 tbsp olive oil
quarter tsp of chipotle chilli paste
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
400g sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly diced
400ml chicken stock
salt and pepper
single cream and chopped parsley, to serve

Can the DASH diet make you thinner and healthier?

The DASH diet is the latest weight-loss craze to make it across the pond, but unlike many of its predecessors it’s actually considered to be healthy - while still promising to help you drop a dress size before Christmas.

DASH has won the coveted ‘healthiest diet’ accolade in the US for two years running and the eating plan, which stands for ‘Dietary approaches to Stop Hypertension’, was initially created to help people tackle high blood pressure with what they eat.

Singapore Airlines In Virgin Sell-Off Talks

Singapore Airlines (SES: C6L.SI - news) confirms it is in talks to sell its 49% stake in British carrier Virgin Atlantic.

SIA (SES: E1:C6L.SI - news) did not name the interested parties, but the Reuters news agency reported that Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL - news) had held recent talks to buy SIA's stake.

Delta (BSE: DELTACORP.BO - news) , the second-largest US airline by operating revenue, has been looking to acquire a stake in Virgin Atlantic for more than two years in an effort to expand its access to London's Heathrow airport, sources said.