Category: World

MEXICO CITY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – It was a sacred liquid to the Aztecs and consumed for centuries in Mexico, but the traditional pulque drink seems to be fading in popularity despite its historic roots.“At first, I didn’t like the texture,” said 21-year-old Saria Fuentes, “then I got used to the taste and now, […]

FRANKFURT, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Until recently, Germany has maintained an air of serenity as the euro spiked higher against other major currencies, even though exports are the motor of growth for the eurozone’s biggest economy. That has begun to change however, as seen in particular through comments by Chancellor Angela Merkel, who told […]

SYDNEY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – By revamping itself behind a fiscal conservative, Australia’s Labor Party has overcome big business fears that its election victory could set back the country’s economic boom, analysts say.Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout said Labor leader Kevin Rudd brought energy, a sense of social justice and an understanding […]

AMTOLA VILLAGE, Bangladesh, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) – Nearly 20 years ago when small loans from the Nobel peace prize winning Grameen bank first became available in her village, Bilkis Begum wasted no time in signing up.“The Grameen Bank has made profits from the interest we pay.We have also benefited, (but) I am telling the […]

SYDNEY, Nov 25, 2007 (AFP) – Centre-left leader Kevin Rudd stormed to victory in Australia’s election Saturday, ending conservative Prime Minister John Howard’s 11-year rule with pledges to change course on climate change and the Iraq war.Howard, US President George W. Bush’s closest ally in the Iraq war, conceded defeat in Sydney and admitted it […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 24, 2007 (AFP) – Malaysia and India will begin negotiating a free trade agreement in January 2008, a report said Saturday. Rafidah Aziz, Malaysia’s trade minister was quoted as saying a bilateral trade pact could boost Malaysia’s exports to India by 1.3 times, or 12 billion dollars, by 2012. The talks would […]

KAMPALA, Nov 22, 2007 (AFP) – A Commonwealth ministerial committee Thursday decided to suspend Pakistan from the 53-nation bloc pending the return of the rule of law following the imposition of emergency earlier this month. The CMAG comprises Britain, Canada, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. A Commonwealth heads […]

TOKYO, Nov 23, 2007 (AFP) – An ambitious international project to dig deeper into the Earth’s surface than ever before has made a good start with scientists saying they have gained clues about how large earthquakes and tsunami occur. The deep-sea drilling project is a part of the 21-nation Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, which is […]

NEW YORK, Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) – The dollar slumped to a fresh record low against the euro Wednesday as weaker US growth projections and the prospect of another cut in interest rates hurt the greenback. The European single currency struck a record peak of 1.4870 dollars — the highest since the euro’s creation in […]

Nov 22, 2007 (AFP) – Maldivian authorities are searching for a second bomb believed to have been part of a plot by Islamic extremists to attack the country’s vital tourism industry, police said Thursday. Police are also investigating possible links with foreign militant groups after the Indian press reports highlighted that some of the suspects […]

Jakarta, Indonesia (AFP) – An Indonesian villager dubbed “Tree Man” for massive bark-like warts growing on much of his body may be barred from travelling to the United States to receive treatment, a report said Tuesday. Woody growths entirely cover 32-year-old Dede’s hands in long, root-like tendrils that leave him unable to work — except […]

SINGAPORE, Nov 21, 2007 (AFP) – Oil prices rose above 99 US dollars per barrel in Asian trade on Wednesday, within striking distance of the 100-dollar level as the greenback slumped further, dealers said. Concerns over tight global supplies was also helping push prices up, they said. In early morning trade New York’s main contract […]