Author: lbostgadmin
US Senate stays in session to block Bush
WASHINGTON, Dec 24, 2007 (AFP) – The US Senate is holding special one man sessions throughout Christmas and the New Year to prevent President George W.Bush from making appointments without the approval of the Democratic majority. With the bang of a gavel, Democratic Senator Jim Webb declared the first session open on Sunday morning before […]
Wall St. higher as Merrill unveils Singapore investor
NEW YORK, Dec 24, 2007 (AFP) – US stock markets were higher Monday morning as investors tied up their year-end positions and as Merrill Lynch announced it had won sizeable cash infusions of up to 6.2 billion dollars. Merrill, which has seen its finances stricken by multibillion dollar mortgage market losses, said Temasek Holdings Pte. […]
Satellite Maps
Dec 23, 2007 (LBO) – A mapping programme using satellite pictures will help Sri Lanka’s government do better planning and rebuilding in the tsunami-hit eastern and southern provinces, officials said. The French-funded Geographical Information System (GIS) project using high resolution satellite imagery costs almost a billion rupees. The detailed digital maps that can be prepared […]
Sri Lanka Tiger key front line taken: defence ministry
Dec 22, 2007 (AFP) – Government forces captured a key defence line of Tamil Tiger guerrillas in northern Sri Lanka Saturday in fighting that killed six rebels and one soldier, the defence ministry said.Norwegian-brokered 2002 truce began to unravel in December 2005. Security forces smashed five bunkers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) […]
England fall to fifth in Test rankings despite Sri Lanka draw
DUBAI, Dec 22, 2007 (AFP) – England might have been scrambled to a rain-affected draw against Sri Lanka on Saturday, but the result could not prevent them from slipping three places to fifth position in the ICC Test Championship table.When time was called on the match in Galle on Saturday, England had battled to 251-6 […]
Asteroid could hit Mars next month: NASA
LOS ANGELES, Dec 21, 2007 (AFP) – An asteroid hurtling towards Mars has a one in 75 chance of chance of scoring a direct hit on the red planet next month, NASA experts said in a statement Friday.“Normally, we’re rooting against the asteroid (if it is threatening Earth),” Chesley said. “This time we’re rooting for […]
Singapore to spend 1.4 billion US dollars to expand port: report
SINGAPORE, Dec 22, 2007 (AFP) – Singapore is set to spend two billion dollars (1.41 billion US) to increase its port’s annual capacity by about 40 percent, a newspaper reported Saturday. The project is scheduled for completion by 2013 and is expected to allow Singapore’s port to handle higher volumes from increased global trade, the […]
Money printing, oil subsidizing Iran, increases petrol ration
TEHRAN, Dec 22, 2007 (AFP) – Iran on Saturday started to allow motorists an extra 20 litres (5.2 gallons) of petrol a month under a rationing scheme aimed at cutting back on frenzied consumption, state television said. Many consumers in Tehran are obtaining additional petrol on the black market, paying three to five times the […]
Emirates braces for worst in Sri Lanka air talks
Dec 22, 2007 (LBO) – Emirates Airlines, managing shareholder of SriLankan Airlines, has indicated that it is preparing for a possible breakdown in contract renewal talks over an ongoing row where its top manager has been ordered out of the island. The chief executive officer of Sri Lankan airlines, Peter Hill, an Emirates appointee has […]
Sri Lanka claims killing 12 Tamil Tiger rebels
Dec 21, 2007 (AFP) – Clashes across frontlines in northern Sri Lanka have left at least 12 Tamil Tiger rebels dead, the defence ministry said Friday.Artillery duels took place on the Jaffna peninsula, and in Weli Oya, Vavuniya and Mannar, the military said, placing their own losses at two soldiers injured and one missing during […]
” England play in Sri Lanka
LONDON, Dec 21, 2007 (AFP) – After a dismal performance at the crease on Thursday in Galle, Sri Lanka, where they were bowled out for just 81 in the final match in the three-Test series, England’s cricketers will not want to eye the British newspapers. Described as “pathetic” and “spineless”, England were blasted in Friday […]
Cook keeps England afloat in Sri Lanka Test
GALLE, Sri Lanka, Dec 21, 2007 (AFP) – Alastair Cook hit an unbeaten half-century as England began a long vigil to avoid defeat in the third and final Test against Sri Lanka here on Friday.The tourists, following on 418 runs behind after being dismissed for a new low of 81 against Sri Lanka in the […]