Category: Other
Sri Lanka tea trade sees strong demand
July 17, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices are likely to stay strong on good demand from consuming countries and possible shortages caused by disruption of production at key origins like India, officials said. Tea Exporters Association chairman Jayantha Keragala said Sri Lankan tea prices were attractive right now. “At the moment we’re enjoying […]
BP stops Gulf oil flow for first time since April
NEW ORLEANS, July 16, 2010 (AFP) – British energy giant BP stopped the oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday for the first time in three months as it began key tests hoping to stem the spill for good. Shortly after BP engineers shut down the last of three valves on a giant […]
South Korea unveils new measures to attract foreign tourists
SEOUL, July 15, 2010 (AFP) – South Korea Thursday unveiled new measures such as development of ecological attractions to attract more foreign tourists, especially from China. Six new quays for cruise ships will be created on the southern resort island of Jeju and in the western port city of Incheon and other coastal towns, the […]
India Assam tea output to fall on pest attack: report
July 15, 2010 (LBO) – Tea output in India’s Assam region, the country’s top production region may fall 30 to 40 percent in the second half of 2010, leading to higher prices, a media report said. Last year India had produced 979 million kilograms of tea. Assam is said to produce more than half of […]
India says Pakistan intel oversaw Mumbai attacks: report
NEW DELHI, July 14, 2010 (AFP) – India has accused Pakistani intelligence services of overseeing the 2008 militant attacks on Mumbai, a report said Wednesday ahead of a major meeting between the rival nations. Home Secretary G. K. Pillai told the Indian Express newspaper that the level of involvement of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had […]
‘s double-digit inflation inches higher
NEW DELHI, July 14, 2010 (AFP) – India’s double-digit inflation edged higher in June, touching an annual rate of 10. 55 percent, official data showed Wednesday, stoking pressure for another interest rate hike this month. April’s inflation reading was revised higher to 11.23 percent — a 19-month peak, the data showed. But the central bank […]
” awaits appeal verdict in Nepal
KATHMANDU, July 13, 2010 (AFP) – Nepal’s Supreme Court is set to rule Wednesday on an appeal by a Frenchman linked to a series of grisly backpacker killings across Asia in the 1970s who is contesting his murder conviction. Charles Sobhraj, a balding 65-year-old dubbed the “Bikini Killer,” could walk free if the court overturns […]
New Charge
July 13, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lankan police have filed a new case against former army chief and defeated presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka for allegedly employing military deserters, his party said Tuesday. Fonseka led the Sri Lankan army to a spectacular victory against Tamil Tiger rebels in May last year, ending the island’s 37-year separatist […]
Bangladesh police bust extortion town
DHAKA, July 12, 2010 (AFP) – Bangladesh’s elite security forces said Monday they had made a major breakthrough in the fight against extortion with a raid on town where nearly every resident was involved in racketeering. A series of raids on Lundhi, 90 kilometres (60 miles) south of the capital Dhaka and home to 2,000 […]
Australia backs away from Timor refugee plan
SYDNEY, July 9, 2010 (AFP) – Australia’s new prime minister Julia Gillard appeared Friday to be backing away from a controversial proposal to process asylum seekers bound for its shores in impoverished East Timor. Gillard Tuesday launched her bid for a regional processing centre with assurances she had discussed the plan with East Timor’s President […]
Security Change
July 08, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is rapidly removing military checkpoints and transferring public security to the police to return the country to normalcy after the end of a 30-year war, defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said. He said in the eastern province the change-over was being successfully carried out. “In Colombo we are gradually […]
Bangladesh sex workers plump up on cow steroids
FARIDPUR, July 7, 2010 (AFP) – Whenever Bangladeshi brothel owner Rokeya, 50, signs up a new sex worker she gives them a course of steroid drugs often used to fatten cattle. For older sex workers, tablets work well, said Rokeya, but for younger girls of 12 to 14 — who are normally sold to the […]