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‘s SAARC nations
August 3, 2008 (LBO) – Bhutan and Bangladesh, tried to fan the flame of free trade in South Asia as dismantling trade barriers went off the agenda, when leaders of seven nations that make up a South Asian regional grouping met in Colombo.The agenda of the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation (SAARC) was dominated […]
‘s Proton develops new hybrid car: reports
KUALA LUMPUR, August 3, 2008 (AFP) – Malaysia’s state-owned carmaker Proton is developing a new, fuel-efficient hybrid car to beat rising costs and address environmental concerns, reports said Sunday.Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told the state Bernama news agency he had already test-driven the car and urged the company to continue researching energy-saving technologies. “The […]
Iran expects OPEC to control quotas: minister
TEHRAN, August 3, 2008 (AFP) – Iran, the number two oil producer in OPEC, expects the cartel to discuss ways of controlling the quotas of member countries at its next meeting in September, the official news agency IRNA said.“In case of the continuation of a downward trend in oil price, one of the serious discussions […]
Japan Inc suffers 15 percent profit fall in April-June: report
TOKYO, August 3, 2008 (AFP) – The pre-tax profit of major Japanese companies fell 15 percent year on year in the April-June quarter, weighed down by the US economic slowdown and price hikes, a survey showed on Sunday.The survey was conducted by the Nikkei business daily, covering 685 companies that had reported their quarterly earnings […]
Thousands of workers strike in inflation-battered Vietnam
HANOI, August 3, 2008 (AFP) – Thousands of workers have gone on strike in Vietnam, demanding higher wages to match the rising cost of living after inflation surged 27 percent year-on-year in July, media reported Saturday. Nearly 5,000 labourers downed tools from Friday at the Kingmaker footwear plant in the Vietnam-Singapore industrial zone in southern […]
Sri Lanka lose to India
GALLE, August 3, 2008 (AFP) – Skipper Anil Kumble on Sunday lauded opener Virender Sehwag and teenage paceman Ishant Sharma for playing key roles in India’s series-levelling victory against Sri Lanka here.India, who lost the opening match of the three-Test series by an innings and 239 runs in Colombo, came back strongly to win the […]
Veteran Olympians still at the top
PARIS, Aug 03, 2008 (AFP) – Time and tide wait for no man, or do they? Beijing-bound athletes Jeannie Longo, Haile Satayin, Hiroshi Hoketsu, Dara Torres, James Tomkins and Susan Nattrass have shown getting older does not rule out Olympic participation at the highest level. French cyclist Longo, Ethiopian-born Israeli Satayin, who runs in the […]
Sri Lanka rattled by Indian pacemen
GALLE, August 3, 2008 (AFP) – Indian pacemen Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan shared three early wickets to boost India’s chances of winning the second Test against Sri Lanka here on Sunday. India earlier failed to cope with Sri Lankan spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis as they were bowled out for 269 after resuming […]
‘ summit highlights action against terrorism
Aug 02, 2008 (LBO) – South Asian leaders have called for tough action against terrorism at their summit in Colombo this weekend where they are to sign an accord on co-operation in criminal matters. Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh said terrorism continues to “rear its ugly head” in the region. “It remains the single biggest […]
Sri Lanka leader calls for lower international phone tariffs in south Asia
Aug 02, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa called for lower international direct dial (IDD) tariffs to better integrate the people of south Asia when he opened a regional summit in Colombo Saturday.But the international regime was dismantled from 2003, though its remnants seems to be still alive within SAARC. Last month he […]