Author: AFP

Rare Assam tea bags world record at auction

A rare Assam tea has sold for a world record price at auction in India, highlighting a boom for speciality teas while the industry as a whole is in crisis. A two kilogramme lot of Maijan Orthodox Golden tea sold for US$2,035 on Wednesday. An unidentified Belgian trader bought the

Tandoori chai heats up Pakistan

It’s a cuppa like no other.Every evening in Islamabad a crowd arrives at Sanaullah’s street stall to taste his “tandoori chai” — milk tea served in terracotta mugs, still hot from his traditional oven. The old-fashioned cups are placed directly inside the tandoor, where they are baked at high temperatures.

Hongkies use utensils to battle tear gas

As a tear gas canister clatters onto a street in Hong Kong, a pro-democracy protester wearing heat-proof gloves and carrying a traffic cone sprints from the crowd to put it out. Police have ramped up their use of the crowd control measure as two months of rallies in the global

Modi’s high-stakes gamble with Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong-arm move to tighten control on Muslim-majority Kashmir is a gamble that could trigger conflict with Pakistan and re-ignite an insurgency that has already cost tens of thousands of lives. Revoking Kashmir’s special status, stripping away constitutionally guaranteed privileges to land and jobs, is widely

Venezuelan assets frozen

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Monday ordered a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States and barred transactions with its authorities, in Washington’s latest move against President Nicolas Maduro. The announcement came a day ahead of a major conference in Lima on the Venezuelan crisis, where the

Singaporeans make messy art to de-stress

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans dressed in overalls squirted paint onto walls and canvases using water pistols and syringes at a new pop-up art studio where people get messy to relieve stress. For Sg$39, guests at Splat Paint House get a package including canvas, paint, gloves and overalls. There are no rules and

Taliban threaten Afghan presidential elections

KABUL: The Taliban warned Afghans yesterday to keep away from election rallies and ordered its fighters to “stand against” the planned September vote. The Taliban and other insurgent groups conducted frequent attacks during previous elections, and this year’s campaign season has already been rocked by deadly violence. The presidential election

Belgian cyclist Lambrecht dead after Poland crash

WARSAW: Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht died in hospital on Monday at the age of 22 after crashing at the Tour of Poland, his team announced. “The biggest tragedy possible that could happen to the family, friends and teammates of Bjorg has happened… Rest in peace Bjorg,” Lotto-Soudal tweeted. Polish news

Ferrari struggling on high down-force tracks: Team boss

BUDAPEST: Team boss Mattia Binotto said Ferrari’s strengths and weaknesses are more exposed at slower and high down-force circuits, explaining why they finished more than a minute adrift of triumphant Lewis Hamilton in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix. Sebastian Vettel came home third ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc, but both conceded

Pearson retires over persistent injuries

SYDNEY: Australia’s reigning worldchampion hurdler Sally Pearson announced her surprise retirement yesterday, as persistent injuries sank her dream of regaining the Olympic title in Tokyo next year. Pearson, 32, the Olympic goldmedallist in 2012 and a two-time world champion over 100 metres hurdles, said after years of injuries her body