Category: Other
Warm winters distress reindeer herders in Russian Arctic
LOVOZERO, March 2, 2010 (AFP) – In a billowing cloud of white, Russia’s Arctic herders drive thousands of panting and wild-eyed reindeer through the knee-deep snow to the first slaughter this year. But warm winters in recent years have forced herders here in the far northern Kola Peninsula to delay for months the rounding up […]
Sri Lanka dry zone eco activists offered World Bank grant
Feb 27, 2010 (LBO) – Community organizations in Sri Lanka’s dry zone could get apply to get a grant of up to 9000 US dollars under a program that promotes environmental friendly agriculture, water and waste management, the World Bank has said. The lender’s Colombo office is calling application to give grants under its Civil […]
Huge quake kills more than 300 in Chile, triggers Pacific tsunami
SANTIAGO, February 28, 2010 (AFP) – One of the largest earthquakes on record killed at least 300 people in Chile on Saturday and sent giant waves roaring across the Pacific Ocean that forced Japan on tsunami alert almost a day later. In an address to the nation, President Michelle Bachelet said two million Chileans had […]
Chile tsunami to reach Asia Sunday: warning centre
Feb 27, 2010 (LBO) – A tsunami generated by a large earthquake in Chile could reach the coasts of several Asian countries on Sunday, with Indonesia first in line at around 0300 Greenwich time followed by Japan and Philippines, a US government warning said. A Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) message says waves could reach […]
Weak monsoon hits Indian growth
NEW DELHI, February 26, 2010 (AFP) – India’s economic growth slowed sharply in the final quarter of 2009 to 6. 0 percent year on year, hit by lower farm output after the weakest monsoon in 37 years, data showed Friday. The figure for the October-December period, the third quarter of India’s fiscal year, compared with […]
Sri Lanka tea prices fall
Feb 26, 2010 (LBO) – Sri Lankan tea prices at the Colombo auctions fell for the second week running this week on bigger volumes and lower quality, although production was recovering, brokers said. Asia Siyaka Commodities said Sri Lanka’s January output indicated a recovery in the island’s production, especially among small farmers cultivating the low […]
‘s biggest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India announced Tuesday it has recalled 100,000 of its best-selling A-Star hatchback cars due to a fuel leakage problem
Maruti, majority owned by Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp, said it launched the recall last November to fix the fault. The A-Star cars are being recalled both locally and internationally, mainly in Europe, as a “proactive” step, the company said in a statement. “We decided to check all vehicles from the lot, around 100,000 units including […]
Sri Lanka gets UN agency loan to help farmers
Feb 24, 2010 (LBO) – A United Nations agricultural development agency said it will give Sri Lanka a loan of 25 million dollars to help small holder farmers increase incomes. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), based in Rome, said the loan will directly benefit small producers, women, landless households and young people in […]
Sri Lanka January tea crop back to normal
Feb 23, 2010 (LBO) – Production of tea, Sri Lanka’s main export crop, showed a return to normal levels in January as the industry recovered from the effects of drought and labour action that sharply reduced output last year. The Tea Board has said it expects annual tea production this year to be more than […]
‘s Maruti recalls 100,000 A-Star cars over fuel leakage
MUMBAI, February 23, 2010 (AFP) – India’s biggest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India announced Tuesday it has recalled 100,000 of its best-selling A-Star hatchback cars due to a fuel leakage problem. “No problem has been reported by customers. ” The recall covers those A-Stars made between November 2008 and August 2009. The company, the leader in […]
‘s stock frenzy raises fear of new crash
DHAKA, February 21, 2010 (AFP) – In a run-down office in downtown Dhaka, excited investor Mizanur Rahman has just spent his life savings of 3,000 dollars on shares despite knowing nothing about market fundamentals. Everyone in this unofficial trading room, one of hundreds across the country, is glued to a screen showing share price movements […]
Normal Life
February 19, 2010 (AFP) – Sri Lanka said Friday it plans to release all detained Tamil Tiger child soldiers by the end of May and re-unite them with their families. Government forces defeated the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May last year, ending their 37-year fight for a Tamil homeland in the […]