C-phone distribution

BIRGUNJ: Nepal Telecom, regional directorate, Birgunj has resumed wireless telephone (C-phone) services in Birgunj from Friday. According to the directorate, the users have to pay Rs 8,530 to receive the service. The directorate is planning to distribute around 8000 C-phone connections in Narayani and Janakpur zone within this fiscal year, said Jaya Prakash Nayak, engineer at the directorate. The distribution would be extended to other districts also. — RSS

Oil price hurts dollar

LONDON: The dollar fell sharply on Friday amid fears that the US economy is buckling under the weight of rising interest rates and the threefold increase in oil prices. Wall Street was urging the Federal Reserve to hold back from a rise in interest rates after the commerce department reported that growth rate more than halved in second quarter of 2006. — The Guardian

US tries to restart talks

RIO DE JANEIRO: US trade representative Susan Schwab, in Rio de Janeiro to discuss with Brazil the collapse of WTO talks, appeared skeptical that international negotiations could resume in the few months. — AFP