Business

In an instructional television program about table tennis on the state-run sports channel, every ball, paddle and shirt bear the logo of “Naegohyang,” one of North Korea’s most recognizable brands. A documentary about the Pyongyang Maternity Hospital ends with new mothers being handed smartly packaged disposable diapers — with the local brand featured prominently. Has North Korea discovered the art ...

An Indian coffee shop chain rhyming with Starbucks and with a similar logo has agreed to change its name after being sued by the US giant, the Indian firm said Friday.   Starbucks, which entered the vast Indian market in 2012 and now has 125 outlets, began legal proceedings against “SardarBuksh”, which has 25 shops in New Delhi, in July.  ...

Ryanair will cut 150 flights because of strike action across Europe on Friday, as Brussels urged it to respect workers’ rights enshrined in EU law. The Dublin-based carrier said that it would cancel six percent of flights amid the walk-outs in Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. It had previously estimated 190 would be affected.   Germany’s pilots’ union ...

An Apple-I computer, the first product made by the computing giant, has sold at auction for $375,000 (£230,000). The machine was designed by Steve Wozniak, known as Woz, the co-founder of Apple.   His business partner, Steve Jobs, convinced him to package and sell the machine – it went on sale in 1976 for $666.66.   It is one of ...

The inaugural Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA), the most prestigious celebration of South Asian cuisine in the UK, will be taking place on 30th September 2018 at InterContinental London – The O2. ARTA 2018 will welcome a guest list of the nation’s most respected curry restaurateurs alongside MP’s, dignitaries and celebrities as they collectively honour the achievements of the industry. The ceremony will behosted by television ...

Italy’s competition watchdog has opened a inquiry into Ryanair’s decision to charge people to take hand luggage on to the plane. Antitrust said hand luggage was “an essential element of transport” and should be included in the ticket price.   From November, passengers will still be able to take a small personal bag into the cabin, as long as it ...

Colombian cocaine production hit record levels in 2017, according to newly released UN statistics. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says production rose about 31% year on year to some 1,400 tonnes, cultivated on 171,000 hectares.   The agency warned production could harm recent peace-building efforts.   Colombia is the world’s largest producer of cocaine, much of which ...

Coca-Cola said Monday it is studying the use of a key ingredient in marijuana in “wellness beverages,” as a growing number of mainstream companies develop cannabis-infused drinks.   “We have no interest in marijuana or cannabis,” Coca-Cola said in a statement. But iconic soft drink producer is “closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD (cannabidiol) as an ingredient in functional ...

British Steel has announced it is to cut 400 jobs from its worldwide operations.   The company, which employs 5,000 people, said the job losses were part of a “streamlining” process.   Most of the redundancies will be in managerial, professional and administrative roles across its businesses in the UK, Ireland, France and the Netherlands.   The Community trade union ...

Dhaka, September 15 : US-Bangla Airlines is set to add two new Boeing 737-800 aircrafts to their fleet by November, according to a press release issued on Saturday. The new aircrafts will be able to accommodate 167 passengers each, with 8 in business class and 159 in economy class. Currently they have four 164-seater Boeing 737-800 and three 76-seater Dash ...