Category: Other
Sri Lanka to encourage cashew cultivation, consumption
Sept 06, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has started a programme to encourage the cultivation and consumption of cashew nuts, saying it is good for health and has a good export potential. “Cashew is a crop that will help eradicate poverty as it grows in difficult areas and is easy to grow, not needing much […]
Massive Myanmar quake, tsunami could kill millions around Bay of Bengal
PARIS, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – The northern tip of the Bay of Bengal, home to tens of millions of people, faces a potential double whammy from an earthquake and tsunami, a scientist warned on Wednesday.He says the peril does not appear to be immediate but says there are many unknowns and further work is […]
West worried India would tip APEC power balance: official
SYDNEY, Sept 6, 2007 (AFP) – Western countries are behind moves to keep India out of an Asia-Pacific grouping because they are concerned that its entry would tip the balance of power towards Asia, an official said Thursday. India was among a group of nations frozen out after foreign and trade ministers of the group […]
‘s central bank leaves rates on hold
SYDNEY, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – Australia’s central bank Wednesday left interest rates on hold for another month despite building price pressures, but analysts said another rise by year-end remained on the cards.The government’s handling of the booming economy is seen as one of its top vote-winners, but high interest rates are likely to hit […]
Official banquet for China but Taiwan dines alone
SYDNEY, Sept 5, 2007 (AFP) – When Chinese President Hu Jintao sits down to smoked chicken, prawns and lamb at a formal state banquet in Australia, it will be in stark contrast to the Taiwanese delegation’s APEC dinner.The Taiwanese held their dinner at a famous dim sum restaurant in Sydney’s Chinatown on Tuesday night and […]
EU commissioner tell governments to keep out of Central Bank decisions
MADRID, Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) – EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia on Monday called on EU states to respect the independence of the European Central Bank (ECB) over monetary policy and setting interest rates.Also Monday, Almunia said he believed the current crisis in the US subprime mortgage market would not have a […]
Men and women look for different qualities in a mate: study
CHICAGO, Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) – The face of dating may have changed down the years, but the laws of attraction have not changed since the days of the Neanderthals, a study released Monday suggests.The women’s movement and the sexual revolution aside, it seems that men still seek out the most attractive women and women […]
Maldives battles with rising drug abuse among young
VILINGILI ISLAND, Maldives, Sept 4, 2007 (AFP) – The Maldives, known as a holiday haven for the rich and famous, is grappling with a growing drug abuse problem among its young people including pre-teens.Around 20 percent of the island nation’s residents under the age of 15 are using banned substances, according to the National Narcotics […]
Unilever suggests two-tier tea market instead of supply controls
Sept 03, 2007 (LBO) – Tea producing countries should aim to produce better quality, certified tea and not try artificial supply controls to raise prices, an official from the multinational Unilever said. Ian Neathercoat, Senior Resident Manager, Supply Chain Compliance Controller, Unilever Supply Chain Company, Europe, advocates the creation of a two-tier tea market producers […]
Sri Lanka to tender exploration blocks in October; estimated one billion barrel deposit
September 03, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is tendering three off-shore oil exploration blocks in October and exploration firms are expected to begin work in 2008, petroleum minister A H M Fowzie said. Sri Lanka has identified eight off-shore exploration blocks in the north eastern Mannar basin of which two had been reserved for China […]
Agriculture minister quits
TOKYO, Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) – Japan’s farm minister resigned Monday over a money scandal, a week after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe re-shuffled his cabinet in a bid to clean up the government’s image.Endo is the fifth person to leave Abe’s cabinet, besides those removed in the reshuffle, since Abe took the premier’s seat nearly […]
Chinese airline to launch inflight cell phone, Internet service
HONG KONG, Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) – Shenzhen Airlines said Monday passengers will soon be able to use their mobile phones and connect to the Internet during flights. Airlines have previously provided onboard air-to-ground fixed telephones on some seats at a premium charge. But until now they have banned the use of mobiles.Swiss-based technology firm […]