Category: Other
In US, struggle against snake-head ends on plates
MARBURY, July 15, 2013 (AFP) – The snakehead is an invasive species of fish from Asia that is threatening the delicate ecosystem of the Potomac River that flows through Washington into the Atlantic Ocean.“It was delicious,” he said. “Very flaky, and it did not have any kind of unusual taste.I had it fried and broiled; […]
India ready for bilateral investment treaty talks with US
NEW DELHI, July 13, 2013 (AFP) – India is ready for talks with the United States on a bilateral investment treaty to reinvigorate commercial ties between the world’s two biggest democracies, a report said Saturday.The announcement comes days after neighbouring China and the United States agreed to relaunch talks on a similar bilateral investment treaty. […]
Bhutan cements democracy with tight election race
THIMPHU, July 13, 2013 (AFP) – The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan concludes its second-ever election on Saturday, with the race to form a government too close to call as voters give their verdict on five years of democracy.The incumbent Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) party is up against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the […]
Indians remember telegram heyday as service stops
NEW DELHI, July 11, 2013 (AFP) – Sixty-six years ago, Santosh Sharma saw her mother sell gold bangles to feed and clothe her family of six and then dispatch telegrams to her brothers urging them to leave newly-created Pakistan and gather in New Delhi. “Eventually the telegraph system had to face defeat.” “Come, we will […]
Sri Lanka tea crop hit by heavy rains
July 09, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea crop has been hit badly by heavy rain in June with some estates seeing production falling to less than half and losses in some firms mounting to 100 million rupees, an industry association said.The Ceylon Planters’ Association of Ceylon, representing about two dozen large firms said due […]
Indian rupee tumbles to new record low
MUMBAI, July 8, 2013 (AFP) – India’s rupee slid to a new record low against the dollar Monday as the greenback was boosted by stronger than expected US jobs numbers. The rupee has fallen nearly 12 percent against the dollar this year, making it the worst performing currency among major Asian economies. The Reserve Bank […]
Sri Lanka grows rubber in new areas
July 09, 2013 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has expanded rubber cultivation into the non-traditional dryer regions of the island™s Eastern and Northern regions with the crop showing high yields in several pilot projects, a senior official said. “We have introduced rubber into the Eastern and Northern region,” Gamini Seneviratne, director, Rubber Research Institute of Sri […]
India market regulator seeks to halt rupee slide
NEW DELHI, July 9, 2013 (AFP) – India’s financial markets regulator on Tuesday sought to halt the slide of the rupee by restricting speculative trading in the currency — a day after the unit hit a new lifetime low against the dollar.The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said it was taking the action […]
Maldives president pledges to work with Islamists
COLOMBO, July 7, 2013 (AFP) – Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed pledged Sunday to work with the main Islamic party ahead of upcoming elections, and rejected opposition fears it would lead to increased radicalisation in the luxury tourist destination.Waheed described most Adhaalath members as moderate, while some had “extreme views”. “I don’t worry too much about […]
India police make arrest, study CCTV over temple bombs
PATNA, July 8, 2013 (AFP) – Indian police arrested a man on Monday over the weekend attacks at the historic Bodh Gaya Buddhist temple complex and were studying CCTV footage that appeared to show two men planting explosives at the site.The Bodh Gaya complex also houses multiple shrines marking the places where the Buddha is […]
‘s holiest sites: India police
PATNA, July 7, 2013 (AFP) – Indian police reported multiple low-intensity blasts at the Bodh Gaya Buddhist temple complex on Sunday, saying two people had been wounded but the temple was safe.It houses the holy bodhi tree as well as the giant Mahabodhi statue of Buddha, and multiple shrines marking the places where he is […]
Gulls feasting on whales? In Argentina, yes
ALDES PENINSULA, July 6, 2013 (AFP) – It’s a weird, lopsided fight if ever there was one: seagulls divebombing to attack and feed on the fat of 50-ton whales and their babies.And the birds are winning. The battle, new in recent years, is playing out in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina’s Patagonia […]