Category: Other
Feeling peckish? British council bans biscuits to beat the birds
LONDON, Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) – They are an integral part of British tea-time, but councillors in one city are having to forgo biscuits with their daily cuppa to deal with the growing problem of aggressive seagulls.Bristol City Council in the west of England has calculated it could save 25,000 pounds (37,000 euros, 47,500 dollars) […]
Asian workers missing out on stellar growth: ILO
BUSAN, South Korea, Aug 29, 2006 (AFP) – Asian workers are missing out on the region’s stellar growth, facing longer hours and lower pay than elsewhere and this imbalance has to be addressed, the UN Labor agency said Tuesday.International Labor Organization (ILO) Director General Juan Somavia told a regional meeting here that the gains of […]
” over global warming
KUMAMOTO, Japan, Aug 27, 2006 (AFP) – A Japanese bank is doing its bit to raise interest over global warming, in more ways than one. The Kumamoto Family Bank on the southern island of Kyushu has taken eco-consciousness to a new level by basing its interest rate on the average temperature, giving customers a reason […]
WSJ to team up with new Indian business newspaper
NEW DELHI, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – The Wall Street Journal said Friday some of its pages will appear in a business newspaper soon to be launched in India by the country’s second-largest print media company, HT Media.HT Media Ltd earlier this year announced plans to launch a national business newspaper aimed at “global Indian […]
Oil prices spike, nickel and coffee hit peaks
LONDON, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – Crude oil prices rebounded, while nickel hit a historic peak and coffee futures in London reached their highest level in seven years in a volatile trading week for commodities. On Friday, the Commodities Research Bureau’s index of 17 commodities finished at 336.20 points, up from 330.62 points the previous […]
Malaysia calls for “toilet revolution”
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – Malaysia’s deputy premier has called for a “toilet revolution” in the country, saying dirty facilities frighten away tourists and reflect poorly on the country.Opening the nation’s first ever “toilet expo” on Thursday, deputy prime minister Najib Razak said the cleanliness and beauty of a country’s toilets were a […]
Indian Hindus, Muslims find miracles, but some sceptical
NEW DELHI, Aug 24, 2006 (AFP) – Barbara Rao, an American software designer of Indian descent, relies on reason in her job, but, like tens of thousands of other Hindus, is now seeking answers of a different nature.“Hey man, this is faith,” said the Santa Fe resident, as she offered milk to a statue of […]
Sri Lanka reports record tea sales from Jan-July
August 24, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka shipped a record 185.9 million kilos of tea to overseas buyers for the seven months to July, a commodity broker said Thursday. However, a strike at the Colombo port in July crimped export targets, with the island shipping 27.4 million kilos as against 28.0 million over the corresponding period […]
The planetary A-list: will Pluto make the cut?
PRAGUE, Aug 24, 2006 (AFP) – Suspense was deeper than a black hole Thursday as the world’s top astronomers prepared to announce whether lonely, little Pluto — ninth rock from the Sun — would be ejected from the planetary A-list. “We have to accept that the universe changed because the knowledge we have of it […]
Marlboro Lights to go up in smoke?
WASHINGTON, Aug 23, 2006 (AFP) – They are the world’s best-selling cigarettes, a fashion prop for celebrities, an icon of marketing and the preferred smoke of millions.But if a federal judge has her way, Marlboro Lights will soon be no more in the United States. Already banned in the European Union and Brazil, so-called descriptor […]
Scrabble goes pink for charity
LONDON, Aug 23, 2006 (AFP) – The famous board game Scrabble is to change colour for the first time in its history, to raise money for research into breast cancer, its makers Mattel announced Wednesday.Letter tiles, racks, boards and boxes will be tinged pink, with 1.50 pounds (2.20 euros, 2.83 dollars) from each 15-pound sale […]
‘s economic woes
HARARE, Aug 22, 2006 (AFP) – Zimbabwe converted to a new currency Tuesday in a move aimed at stemming runaway inflation but analysts said it would do little to halt a downward spiral in the southern African country’s economy.The Reserve Bank slashed three zeros from its currency on July 31 and set a 21-day ultimatum […]