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Oil prices breach 99 dollars
SINGAPORE, Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) – Oil prices rose above 99 US dollars per barrel in Asian trade on Wednesday, within striking distance of the 100-dollar level as the greenback slumped further, dealers said. Concerns over tight global supplies was also helping push prices up, they said. In early morning trade New York’s main contract […]
Sri Lanka hammer England in tour opener
Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) – England’s bowlers got a taste of the perils that await them in the upcoming Test series as Sri Lanka’s second-string battered them in a practice match here on Wednesday.The Sri Lanka Cricket XI batted through the second consecutive day to take their overnight total of 218-3 to 500-5 declared by […]
Sri Lanka editor says torching of press is cowardly
COLOMBO, Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) – Unidentified gunmen stormed a pro-opposition newspaper office in Sri Lanka on Wednesday and set fire to the printing presses, police said.More than a dozen armed men started the blaze after breaking into the Sunday Leader newspaper building — which is within a high-security air force complex on the edge […]
Sri Lanka independent newspaper press set on fire; rights body outraged
Nov 21, 2007 (LBO) – An armed group wearing masks that entered the premises of an independent Sri Lankan newspaper house has set on fire and destroyed its printing press early Wednesday morning.“FMM urges civil society and political society who uphold freedom of expression to come forward at this time in defence of people’s right […]
Most Preferred
Nov 20, 2007 (LBO) – A Sri Lanka government panel has decided to start negotiations with the front runner for a new container terminal in Colombo with a Port of Singapore Authority and Aitken Spence bid being hot favourites to win the deal, officials said. The cabinet appointed negotiating committee (CANC), which made its decision […]
Investment Grade
Nov 20, 2007 (LBO) – Senkadagala Finance (SF) has seen slower lending and faster growth in higher purchase loans, Fitch Ratings Lanka said, confirming the finance company’s ‘BBB+(lka) investment grade rating. . “The rating reflects SF’s strong profitability and comfortable capitalisation as well as its medium sized asset base and limited revenue and funding diversity,” […]
Airline passengers prefers more self-service: IATA
Nov 20, 2007 (LBO) – Airline passengers increasingly prefer to do their own ticketing and checking in at airports, according to a global survey by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The preference for self-service was revealed in IATA’s annual Corporate Air Travel Survey of over 10,000 active travellers, which shows passengers are demanding more […]
British television sweeps international Emmy awards
NEW YORK, Nov 19, 2007 (AFP) – Britain swept the international Emmy awards for excellence in television late Monday, picking up seven top awards at a gala ceremony in New York that also honored former US vice president Al Gore. The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is the largest organization of broadcasters in […]
World stocks wilt on US economic fears
NEW YORK, Nov 19, 2007 (AFP) – World stocks took a pounding Monday as investor fears about the US economy mounted with consumers and the banking system both facing woes from the collapse of the high-risk mortgage market. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.66 percent to 12,958.44, dropping below the psychological barrier of 13,000. […]
” Chinese lending in Africa: Zoellick
BRUSSELS, Nov 19, 2007 (AFP) – World Bank president Robert Zoellick said Monday the development body was encouraging China to be a “responsible” lender in Africa amid European concerns about its growing role on the resource rich continent. “We are starting to work with both the Africans and the Chinese … about encouraging responsible lending […]