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‘s Orange in deal to roll out iPhone to Europe and beyond
PARIS, May 16, 2008 (AFP) – French wireless carrier Orange announced a deal Friday to bring Apple’s iPhone to more than a dozen countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.The deal was announced some 10 days after British mobile phone carrier Vodafone said it would distribute the handset to customers in 10 […]
‘s inflation edges toward 8 pct as hits 44-month high
NEW DELHI, May 16, 2008 (AFP) – India’s inflation rate accelerated to a 44-month high of nearly eight percent on Friday, dealing a fresh blow to the government which fears a voter backlash.Annual inflation climbed more than two-tenths of a percentage point to 7.83 percent for the week ended May 3 from 7.61 percent the […]
Sri Lanka tsunami film wins recognition at Cannes
CANNES, France, May 17, 2008 (AFP) – A small flick went from refugee camp to red carpet Friday as Sean Penn, backed by rock star Bono and film-maker Michael Moore, brought an Australian aid worker’s tsunami film to the Cannes fest.Thompson, who had basic first aid training, took care of the wounded as the team […]
Sri Lankan stocks fall on profit taking, earnings fears
May 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan stocks ended lower Friday with investors taking profits, ahead of a four day holiday, amid continuing worries about future corporate earnings, brokers said, as a suicide blast occurred a block away from the stock exchange. A Tamil Tiger suicide bomber rammed a police bus killing nine people and […]
Mortgage Strength
May 16, 2008 (LBO) – A mortgage backed security issued by Sri Lanka’s HDFC Bank retained its enhanced credit, three notches higher than the issuer, as Fitch Ratings Lanka confirmed an ‘AA-(lka)’ rating on the securities. However, loans overdue for 6-months increased marginally to 2.4 percent from 2.0 percent and defaulted loans over 12 months […]
Sri Lankan tea prices ease on higher volumes
May 16, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices fell at this week’s auction because of seasonal factors such as bigger volumes and lower quality, brokers said. A larger than usual volume of 8.2 million kilos came under the hammer this week with the quantities inflated by a backlog of teas held over from the […]
Nine dead, scores wounded in Sri Lanka suicide blast
May 16, 2008 (AFP) – At least nine people were killed and 95 others wounded Friday in a Tamil Tiger suicide bombing near the official residence of Sri Lanka’s president in the capital Colombo, officials said. Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said seven police officers and two other people — plus the attacker — died […]
Sri Lanka police bus blasted in suicide attack
May 16, 2008 (LBO ) A Sri Lanka police bus was targeted by a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber in the capital Colombo Friday, killing 8 persons and injuring 90, defence officials said.The blast went off at a busy roundabout near Colombo’s Hilton hotel. Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber […]
Sri Lanka capital rocked by bomb
May 16, 2008 (LBO) – A bomb blast shook the Sri Lankan capital Colombo just before noon Friday, defence officials said. The blast occured near the Sambhodi temple next to the Hotel Hilton, near which there is an army checkpoint. No details of casualties or damage were immediately available.
‘s inflation edges toward 8-pct
NEW DELHI, May 16, 2008 (AFP) – India’s inflation rate accelerated to a 44-month high of nearly eight percent on Friday, dealing a fresh blow to the government which fears a voter backlash.India’s industrial production rose at the slowest pace for six years in March as tighter credit to stem rising inflation hit manufacturing, according […]