Category: Other
Sri Lanka rubber prices, cultivation rising: trade official
July 08, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan natural rubber prices will remain high on strong demand while cultivation and production is increasing, the chairman of the Colombo Rubber Traders’ Association Anura Edirisinghe said. Global natural rubber consumption will continue to outstrip supply through 2009, resulting in prices maintaining current high levels or increasing even above […]
Matsushita Electric Works says it has developed eco-friendly lamp
TOKYO, July 8, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s Matsushita Electric Works Ltd.said Tuesday it had developed a fluorescent lamp that does not use mercury or a gas-discharging process. The enviromentally friendly device, which uses processed silicon, could be 50 percent brighter than a conventional fluorescent lamp while consuming the same amount of electricity, the company said […]
Sri Lanka tea exporter sees lifestyle trends expanding market
July 08, 2008 (LBO) – Changing consumer tastes and a willingness to pay a premium for a superior product should help tea producers, who until recent years had faced stagnant prices, a top Sri Lankan exporter says. Anslem Perera, managing director of Euro Scan, says tea producers and exporters were making use of traditional consumption […]
Toyota to equip Prius with solar panels: report
TOKYO, July 7, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp.plans to add solar panels to its popular Prius hybrid early next year to power the vehicle’s air conditioning, a newspaper report said Monday. As part of a complete design makeover, the Prius will be fitted with rooftop solar panels on its high-end models, the Nikkei […]
Loose money US believes in strong dollar
TOYAKO, July 6, 2008 (AFP) – President George W.Bush on Sunday reaffirmed the United States’ “strong dollar” policy, saying the US economy’s fundamental strength would ultimately support the flagging currency.“The US believes in a strong dollar policy and believes that the strength of our economy will be reflected in the dollar,” he said ahead of […]
Sri Lanka tea exports up to May at new high
July 07, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lanka has earned half a billion dollars from tea exports in the first five months of the year, with volumes also hitting a new record of 129.4 million kilograms, brokers Asia Siyaka Commodities said. But tea bag exports fell from 8.5 million in the 2007 period to 7.6 million […]
Iran inflation tops 26-pct amid 40-pct money growth
TEHRAN, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – Iran’s inflation rate, which has provoked intense criticism of the government, topped 26 percent in June, according to a central bank statement published in the press on Saturday.“During the Iranian month of Kordad (to June 20) inflation reached 26. 4 percent compared with the same month a year ago,” […]
Airlines shed weight as fuel costs soar
TOKYO, July 6, 2008 (AFP) – Next time you take to the skies you may find there are fewer pages in your in-flight magazine, your fork is slimmer and your plate feels different.Blame it on soaring oil prices. The seat you are sitting on may be lighter. Perhaps there’s less water on board for the […]
World oil markets to remain tight until 2013: IEA chief
BERLIN, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – International Energy Agency chief Nobuo Tanaka has predicted that world oil markets will remain tight until 2013, according to an interview with the German economic daily Handelsblatt.The market will initially relax from now until 2009/2010 due to a foreseeable increase in supply brought about by new production sites, said […]
Sri Lanka tea exporters bemoan lack of funds for promotion
July 04, 2008 (LBO) – Sri Lankan exporters of tea, the island’s top export commodity, say they not getting enough funds for marketing even though the government charges a tax on shipments which is meant for tea promotion.But the government subsequently decided to consolidate at the Treasury all cess funds collected on exports of tea, […]
Southern Africa coastal states get tough on illegal fishing
WINDHOEK, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – Eight southern African coastal states have agreed to set up a regional task force to deal with illegal fishing in their waters and save dwindling fish stocks, fisheries ministers said.A three-day ministerial conference held in Namibia decided to implement the plan which would ban trans-shipment of catches at sea […]
EU airline pollution plan could spark trade wars: industry officials
GENEVA, July 5, 2008 (AFP) – A plan by the European Union to impose a carbon dioxide emissions quota for all airlines flying into and out of the bloc could spark trade wars, aviation industry officials warned.The so-called emissions trading scheme, which is to be voted on by the EU lawmakers next week, aims at […]