Category: Other

PARIS, May 4, 2008 (AFP) – Researchers in China have pinpointed an elusive gene that plays a linchpin role in determining the harvest potential of rice, according to a study released on Sunday by the journal Nature Genetics.The productivity of a rice plant is determined by several traits — the number and size of its […]

PHNOM PENH, May 5, 2008 (AFP) – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday that a proposed OPEC-style rice cartel in Southeast Asia would ensure global food security, rejecting concerns that it would increase hunger and poverty. Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said last week that his country had agreed in principle to form a […]

SHANGHAI, May 5, 2008 (AFP) – A Chinese government watchdog has warned major state-owned enterprises to brace for tough times given the likelihood of a worsening global economic slowdown, state media reported Monday. Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) must pay more attention to their financial position to avoid a potential capital crunch, the Economic Observer reported, […]

SYDNEY, May 5, 2008 (AFP) – From the rice paddies of Asia to the wheat fields of Australia, the soaring price of food is breaking the budgets of the poor and raising the spectres of hunger and unrest, experts warn.A billion people in Asia are seriously affected by the surging costs of daily staples such […]

TOKYO, May 5, 2008 (AFP) – Japan’s ruling party is considering plans to encourage foreign workers to stay in the country long-term, a daily reported Monday after the birth rate fell for the 27th successive year. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has proposed setting up an “immigration agency” to help foreign workers — including providing […]

MADRID, May 5, 2008 (AFP) – The head of the Asian Development Bank announced on Monday the establishment of a Climate Change Fund to combat the impact of global warming, which he termed a “fundamental threat” to the region.“We will substantially increase our attention to the environmental consequences of growth, including climate change,” Haruhiko Kuroda […]

BRDO PRI KRANJU, Slovenia, May 5, 2008 (AFP) – Europe’s truckers would have to pay for the pollution, traffic jams and noise they cause if the European Commission gets its way.The European Union’s executive arm is putting the finishing touches on proposals that would hit road hauliers with special new toll fees for the environmental […]

MADRID, May 4, 2008 (AFP) – India’s inflation rate, which jumped to a more than three-year high last month, is a “big concern” for the government as it heads towards a general election due by May 2009, Indian Finance Secretary Subba Rao said Sunday in Spain.“I must say inflation has been a concern, inflation is […]

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2008 (AFP) – Microsoft on Saturday yanked its proposal to acquire Yahoo, saying the struggling Internet pioneer refused to budge on price despite the software giant upping its offer to nearly 50 billion dollars.Talks aimed at resolving corporate dueling that began with Microsoft’s offer on February 1 to buy Yahoo for […]

MADRID, May 3, 2008 (AFP) – India must boost infrastructure spending and reform its labour market as China has done if it wants its economy to grow as fast as that of its Asian neighbour, participants at the Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting in Spain said Saturday.“The Chinese manufacturing success story has a lot to […]

KUALA LUMPUR, May 4, 2008 (AFP) – Malaysia’s prime minister is not yet prepared to introduce a minimum monthly wage despite mounting pressure from trade unions amid inflationary fears, reports said Sunday.The country’s top union chief on Thursday called for pay of at least 1,200 ringgit (379 dollars) to help workers cope with soaring food […]

HONG KONG, May 4, 2008 (AFP) – Rationing, subsidies, price-fixing cartels, export curbs — you name it, governments across the world are trying it out as they seek to shield their populations from the soaring price of rice.Wary of the political risk of millions of hungry people on their doorstep, some governments — notably in […]