Malaysia warns jail for text-messaging behind the wheel
KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (AFP) – Malaysian motorists who read or send SMS text messages while behind the wheel face going to jail, authorities warned in a …
World
Japanese “device art” brings technology to life
LAVAL, France, May 2 (AFP) – From virtual water that you stir in a real bowl to little digital dwarves to play with, the latest trend from Japan is …
Asia Pacific Breweries expands into India
SINGAPORE, May 2 (AFP) – Singapore-listed Asia Pacific Breweries, which makes Tiger beer, said Tuesday it has acquired 76 percent of Indian brewer …
AirAsia records surge in passenger traffic for first three months of 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (AFP) – Low-cost carrier AirAsia Tuesday announced a big increase in passenger traffic in the first three months of this year …
Press freedom body names five new ‘predators’
PARIS, May 2 (AFP) – Reporters sans Frontieres (RSF) is to mark international press freedom day Wednesday by naming five new “predators on the …
Asian governments among the worst enemies of Internet freedom
BEIJING, May 2 (AFP) – Governments in Asia are considered among the world’s worst “enemies” of Internet freedom, as they increasingly …
Bhutan gets first private newspaper
GUWAHATI, India, May 1 (AFP) – The first edition of Bhutan’s only privately-owned newspaper sold out within hours of hitting the stands amid …
India retires its ageing spy planes
NEW DELHI, May 1 (AFP) – The Indian Air Force Monday retired its four ageing spy planes and said military satellites will take over the role of the …
India “at peak of global attractiveness” for global retailers: study
NEW DELHI, Apr. 30 (AFP) – India has emerged as the most attractive global retail destination for a second straight year, ahead of rival China which …
London police hunt firebomber targeting SAsian businesses
LONDON, April 30 (AFP) – Police in London said Sunday they were hunting a racist serial firebomber after three apparently motiveless petrol bomb attacks …
Indonesia’s Mount Merapi acts up but no eruption yet
JAKARTA, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Volcanic rocks have tumbled down from the peak of Indonesia’s rumbling Mount Merapi volcano but its “standby” …
India’s Jet Airways yearly profit jumps 15 percent
MUMBAI, Apr. 29 (AFP) – Jet Airways, India’s largest private airline, said Saturday full-year net earnings rose 15 percent on air-traffic growth …
Forget tea leaves, Indian fortune teller sees life in a coffee cup
BANGALORE, India, Apr. 28 (AFP) – Tucked away in a nondescript building in india’s high-tech city, Nawal Gani sits in her drawing room drying …
Indian regulator cracks down on alleged IPO manipulation
MUMBAI, Apr. 28 (AFP) – Indian shares staged a knee-jerk plunge Friday, then rallied after the stock market regulator cracked down on two dozen …
Disappearing tattoos offer help for lovelorn
PARIS, April 26, 2006 (AFP) – Embarrassed by that tattoo with the name of that former lover? Or those characters in Chinese that you believed meant …
Chinese car lust drives battery boom, bust in Kenya
ATHI RIVER, Kenya, April 27, 2006 (AFP) – China’s rapid expansion into Africa in search of fuel to feed its booming development needs is leaving a …
Mission possible — Britain’s secret service trawls for new talent
LONDON, April 27, 2006 (AFP) – Britain’s secret service, famed for lurking in the shadows, launched its first overt recruitment operation on …
Air ticket prices rising on back of oil price spike
PARIS, April 27, 2006 (AFP) – Air France-KLM, Singapore Airlines and a string of other carriers are increasing the fuel surcharge element in their …
Indian court rules domestic whisky not “Scotch”
NEW DELHI, Apr. 24 (AFP) – An Indian court has ordered domestic whisky makers not to use the words “Scot” or “Scotch” for their …
Maldives fishermen bring police record hashish haul
COLOMBO, Apr. 23 (AFP) – Fishermen in the Indian Ocean tourist paradise of the Maldives gave police their biggest catch of illegal drugs after an …