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PARIS, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) – In a scorching annual report, Reporters Without Borders blamed Wednesday the “impotence, cowardice and duplicity” of some Western countries and top world bodies that it said threatened press freedom.“The spinelessness of some Western countries and major international bodies is harming press freedom,” said Robert Menard, head of the Paris-based […]
US, banks unveil aid for homeowners facing foreclosure
WASHINGTON, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) – US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Tuesday unveiled a new private sector-led program backed by six leading home lenders to help homeowners facing foreclosure in a deepening real-estate slump to keep their homes.The plan would allow borrowers at immediate risk of losing their homes an opportunity to pause the […]
Sri Lanka accuses human rights bodies of bias
Feb 13, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Wednesday accused international human rights groups of being silent in the wake of a string of bomb attacks blamed on the Tamil Tigers that killed scores of civilians including 14 school children. “None of the international human rights organizations have even raised a voice or given a statement […]
Sri Lanka shares end higher as funds return
Feb 12, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan shares ended higher Tuesday with brokers saying there was interest across a range of sectors with institutional buying evident.The All Share Price Index went up 0.36 percent or 9.07 points to 2,494.84 while the more liquid Milanka index ended up 0.52 percent or 16.01 points at 3,123.31 with […]
Aitken Spence Hotels cuts Sri Lanka losses, regional net up
Feb 12, 2008 (LBO) – Aitken Spence Hotels has boosted net profits by 78 percent in the December quarter and slashed its Sri Lanka losses in the first nine months of the current financial year, its latest results show. Pre-tax losses in Sri Lanka fell to 195.6 million rupees from 285.7 million rupees in the […]
Native News
Feb 12, 2008 (LBO) – JNW news, Sri Lanka’s pioneer news provider on mobile networks, has launched a news website using Sinhala Unicode characters, an official said. “We wanted to do Unicode because that is the future of Sinhala on the web,” JNW chief Chamath Ariyadasa said. “Advantages like easily transferring the content to other […]
Sri Lanka to give national honour to Maldives President
Feb 12, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka will confer a national honor on visiting Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom for fostering close relations with the island, the foreign ministry said.Gayoom is scheduled to arrive in the island today with a delegation of senior ministers and officials. “The Lanka Mithra Vibushana” will be conferred on Gayoom […]
How phone operators use SMS for cash transfers
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) – In many poor and emerging countries, the lack of banking infrastructure but widespread use of mobile phones has created a business opportunity that network operators are keen to exploit.On Monday, British operator Vodafone announced at the industry’s annual trade show in Barcelona that it would launch a money […]
‘ funds in Asia
SINGAPORE, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) – A consortium launched in Singapore on Tuesday aims to choke militants’ access to funds in Southeast Asia which one analyst said could reach three million US dollars a month. The Consortium for Countering the Financing of Terrorism aims to strengthen cooperation between banks, government agencies and academia to cut […]
Drought cuts 10 percent off Australian agricultural production
SYDNEY, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) – Drought cut 10 percent off the value of Australia’s agricultural production in 2006-07, official figures showed Tuesday.Poor crop production fuelled the downturn to a total output of 34.2 billion dollars (30.8 billion US), the Australian Bureau of Statistics said. Cotton dipped 46 percent to 514 million dollars, while rice […]
Dollar stable as traders digest G7 meeting
TOKYO, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) – The dollar was steady against the yen in Asian trade Tuesday after world finance chiefs refrained from taking any concrete measures to stabilise markets at a weekend meeting, dealers said.They said the Tokyo market, which was closed on Monday for a national holiday, was still digesting the outcome of […]
Sri Lanka beat India to revive tri-series hopes
CANBERRA, Feb 12, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka hammered India by eight wickets on Tuesday to revive their hopes in the rain-hit tri-series.Set a revised 154 to win from 21 overs, Sri Lanka reached the rain-adjusted target with two overs to spare for their first win of the series. India made 195 for five from […]