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” acts
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2008 (AFP) – In a rare Sunday action aimed at heading off fresh market upheaval, the Federal Reserve cut a key rate for direct loans to certain financial institutions and said it would offer immediate liquidity to the brokerage system.“Today’s moves by the Federal Reserve are the desperate acts of failing men. […]
‘Indies Bravo cleared to play against Sri Lanka
PORT OF SPAIN, March 16, 2008 (AFP) – Dwayne Bravo has been cleared to play for West Indies in the first Test against Sri Lanka, starting on Saturday in Guyana. Bravo was sidelined with a discomfort in his back for the sixth round of matches in the West Indies first-class championship, when his native Trinidad […]
Sri Lanka police gets hi-tech anti-terror boost from United States
Mar 17, 2008 (LBO) – The United States Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security will donate 220,000 dollars worth of antiterrorism equipment to Sri Lanka’s national police, a U.S. embassy statement said Monday. . “The purpose of the equipment is to sustain and enhance the critical capabilities of the security forces of Sri Lanka […]
Sri Lanka says 33 killed in weekend fighting
COLOMBO, March 17, 2008 (AFP) – At least 31 Tamil Tiger rebels and two security personnel were killed in weekend clashes in Sri Lanka’s north, the defence ministry said Monday. Sri Lanka pulled out of a six-year truce with the LTTE in January, saying it had gained the upper hand militarily in the decades-long conflict. […]
” over worker attacks
Mar 17, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s state-run Rupavahini television station was running with a skeleton staff Monday after the management declared a ‘holiday’ overnight to avert a strike, union workers said. Sri Lanka Rupavahini Workers Union, whose president Anurasiri Hettige was attacked by club-wielding thugs last week, said only a few selected workers were […]
Sri Lankan study sees politics, non-tariff barriers constraining South Asian trade
March 17, 2008 (LBO) – Politics and non-tariff barriers are likely to constrain trade among South Asian nations even if import tariffs are removed, a new study on the benefits of a regional trade pact had said. The study on the benefits of the South Asia Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) says estimates show that the […]
Sri Lanka central bank is creating inflation: economist
Mar 17, 2008 (LBO) — Sri Lanka’s central bank is accountable for inflation and claims of ‘cost push’ factors for rising prices cannot be accepted when well managed countries are reporting single digit price increases, an economist has said.“Inflation is a purely monetary phenomenon,” lead economist of LirneAsia Harsha de Silva, who is a strong […]
India Sri Lanka power cable can be built in 40 months: report
March 16, 2008 (LBO) – An India state-run firm that is preparing a feasibility study on an undersea power cable to Sri Lanka has said the project could be completed in 40 months if given the go ahead, a media report said. India’s The Hindu Business Line newspaper said a detailed report is being prepared […]
Suicide vest now weapon of choice for Qaeda in Iraq: US
BAGHDAD, March 16, 2008 (AFP) – The explosive vest has become the weapon of choice for Al-Qaeda in Iraq, with most jihadists nowadays wearing the lethal garment and the number of suicide attacks on the rise, the US military said Sunday. “There has been an increase over time in the use of suicide vest bombers,” […]
” killed in Tibet unrest: govt-in-exile
DHARAMSHALA, India, March 16, 2008 (AFP) – Eighty people have been “confirmed” killed in unrest in Tibet, the India-based Tibetan government-in-exile said Sunday.“Regarding bodies, it’s 80. We have 80 unidentified bodies,” said Thubten Samphel, the spokesman for the Tibetan administration in Dharamshala. He said the toll had been established from “calls made from Tibet” by […]