Category: Other
Sri Lanka in talks with Russia to lower tea import duties
June 09 (LBO) – Sri Lanka is in talks with Russia to lower import duties on tea, as Russia begins freeing up trade in a bid to enter the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Russia, Sri Lanka’s largest market for tea, has offered to lower tariffs of 20 percent on value added black and green tea exports […]
Time not ripe yet for Indian mangoes to hit US
WASHINGTON, June 8, 2006 (AFP) – Americans have to wait probably another year before they can relish succulent Indian mangoes. More than three months after President George W. Bush told Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that “the United States is looking forward to eating Indian mangoes,” Washington has still not decided to open the doors […]
Cinnamon trees sprout again in tsunami-hit Sri Lanka village
HIKKADUWA, Sri Lanka, June 8, 2006 (AFP) – Eighteen months after the tsunami uprooted centuries-old cinnamon plantations in a country where the golden cash crop is a vital source of income, the trees are sprouting “like magic”. Part-time cinnamon planter Wimalawathi Mendis thought her modest plot was doomed when much of her village, Malawenna, just […]
Sri Lanka’s tea crop dips 5% in April
June 7, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea crop for the four-months to April grew to an all time high of 2.9 percent or 108.52 million kilos, helped on by good rainfall, a commodity brokering house said Wednesday. Black tea production for April however, slipped 5-percent to 30.59 million kilos, Asia Siyaka Commodity brokers said. […]
‘s tea crop dips 5% in April
June 7, 2006 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s tea crop for the four-months to April grew to an all time high of 2.9 percent or 108.52 million kilos, helped on by good rainfall, a commodity brokering house said Wednesday. Black tea production for April however, slipped 5-percent to 30.59 million kilos, Asia Siyaka Commodity brokers said. […]
‘s human trafficking woes
WASHINGTON, June 6, 2006 (AFP) – The shattered dream of an Indonesian domestic maid, who lost her fingers and toes, following torture by her employer in the Middle East is being used by the US State Department to illustrate the seriousness of the human trafficking problem. Nour Miyatis dream was simple: To provide a brighter […]
Thailand waives fees to attract budget carriers to new airport
BANGKOK, June 6, 2006 (AFP) – Thailand is offering to waive landing fees at Bangkok’s new international airport to attract low-cost airlines to the facility which is expected to open in late September, officials said Tuesday. Thailand’s civil aviation chief Chaisak Angsuwan said budget carriers could begin running test flights with some passengers at the […]
Missing fingers, toes highlight Asia’s human trafficking woes
WASHINGTON, June 6, 2006 (AFP) – The shattered dream of an Indonesian domestic maid, who lost her fingers and toes, following torture by her employer in the Middle East is being used by the US State Department to illustrate the seriousness of the human trafficking problem. Nour Miyatis dream was simple: To provide a brighter […]
In Indian zoos, life can be brutal and short
NEW DELHI, June 5, 2006 (AFP) – Visitors to Indian zoos often throw stones at animals, many of whom are already in pain and enclosed in filthy, concrete boxes, officials and animal rights groups say.Deteriorating conditions prompted rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals last month to sue states running zoos and the […]
Asia proves hip for designer wallets: global survey
SINGAPORE, June 5, 2006 (AFP) – Asians buy more designer wallets than any other region but luxury-brand loyalty varies from country to country, a global consumer survey revealed Monday.The survey of 21,000 Internet users in 42 countries conducted by research firm ACNielsen showed that the most popular designer brand globally is Ralph Lauren followed by […]
Indian bookies raking in millions thanks to heavy monsoons
NEW DELHI, June 5, 2006 (AFP) – Bountiful early monsoon rains are raking in millions of dollars for Indian bookies taking bets on the amount of rain that will drench the country between June and September, a report said Monday.The weather office has predicted a below normal monsoon this year but bookies have stacked the […]
Bangladesh city introduces polygamy tax
DHAKA, June 5, 2006 (AFP) – A Bangladesh city will impose taxes on polygamists to deter the “outdated” practice of marrying more than one wife, an official said Monday. The tax will come into force from July 1 in northern Rajshahi, Bangladesh’s fourth-largest city, mayor Mijanur Rahman Minu told AFP. As part of the city’s […]