Category:
G7 to meet amid fading hopes of joint action on economy
TOKYO, Feb 5, 2008 (AFP) – Slumping global stock markets and fears of a US recession are set to dominate a weekend meeting here of the world’s top finance chiefs, but analysts see little chance of any coordinated action. Although the fallout from the US subprime loan woes is spreading around the world, with the […]
Chinese named World Bank chief economist
WASHINGTON, Feb 4, 2008 (AFP) – The World Bank named Monday Justin Lin Yifu, who defected from Taiwan to China and rose to become a top economic strategist for the communist country, as its chief economist, the first time a Chinese has held the job.World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Lin, the founding director of […]
India 267 against Sri Lanka with Gambhir century
BRISBANE, Australia, Feb 5, 2008 (AFP) – A magnificent Gautam Gambhir century and an unbeaten 88 from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India’s recovery in their one-day international against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday.India finished their 50 overs on 267 for four at the Gabba after slumping to 83-4, losing three wickets for just three […]
Sri Lanka stages mass funerals after Freedom Day bloodshed
Feb 5, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka staged mass funerals for bomb blast victims on Tuesday after independence day festivities were marred by a string of attacks blamed on Tamil Tiger rebels.Scores of civilians have also died during the same period, according to both sides. No independent verification of the tolls is possible as the […]
Seven Sri Lankan sailors missing after sea battle: military
Feb 5, 2008 (AFP) – Seven Sri Lankan sailors and their craft were missing on Tuesday following a sea battle with suspected Tamil Tiger guerrillas off the island’s northwest coast, military officials said. The clashes erupted when two navy speedboats moved to push back a fleet of poaching fishermen from neighbouring India, a military official […]
Overlooked
Feb 05, 2008 (LBO) – None of the world’s major petroleum companies has bid for the offshore exploration blocks offered by the Sri Lankan government in the Mannar Basin, despite initial interest, officials said. “We knew from the beginning that the opportunity in Sri Lanka in relative terms was small – considering that globally they […]
Sri Lanka inflation to remain high in 2008 first half?
Feb 05, 2008 (LBO) — Sri Lanka’s central bank has warned that inflation may remain high around 16 to 20 percent in the first half of 2008 and blamed “low supply” of domestic foods for the sudden price jump of 3.0 percent in January. Eighty percent of the price increases was due to food, the […]
Google concerned over Microsoft bid for Yahoo
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 3, 2008 (AFP) – Internet giant Google said Sunday it finds “troubling” Microsoft’s multi-billion-dollar bid to acquire rival Yahoo and urged US and international regulators to strenuously vet the proposed deal. “Microsoft’s hostile bid for Yahoo raises troubling questions,” read a statement by David Drummond, Google’s senior vice president for corporate development […]
Sri Lanka to take leaf from Indian cricket book
Australia, Feb 4, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene said his team were looking to copy India and take the attack to Australia on their own turf during the triangular one-day cricket series. Sri Lanka play their first game in the tournament when they take on India at the Gabba here Tuesday, weather […]
Sri Lanka president kicks off independence celebrations
Feb 4, 2008 (AFP) – Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse kicked off independence celebrations at a sea-front promenade in the capital Monday under tight security following a string of Tamil Tiger attacks. The president hoisted the national flag to signal the start of official ceremonies marking the island’s independence from Britain 60 years ago. Officials […]
Second bus bomb attack kills 10 in Sri Lanka: military
Feb 4, 2008 (AFP) – A powerful roadside bomb killed at least 10 civilians and wounded several others Monday in northeastern Sri Lanka, the day’s second attack against a bus on the island, a military official said.Hours earlier, a similar mine attack against a military vehicle in the south left one soldier dead and three […]
Bomb attack Buttala, southern Sri Lanka, one dead: police
Feb 4, 2008 (AFP) – A powerful roadside bomb killed at least one soldier and wounded three others in a town in southern Sri Lanka Monday as the country marked 60 years of independence, police said. The attack came as the country was on red alert for possible attacks by separatist Tamil Tiger guerrillas, who […]