Indian mangoes in US

WASHINGTON: The first shipment of mangoes from India in 18 years arrived in the US under a deal to end a long ban on the fruit. India has been pushing for years to export its mangoes to the US since they were banned in 1989 over problems with pests. Ceremonies in Washington featured officials and restaurateurs presenting mangoes to US officials. — AFP

Emirates for Lanka

ABU DHABI: Dubai-based Emirates Airline will resume flights to Colombo from May 4, after suspending service to the Sri Lankan capital following the recent air raid by LTTE rebels. “Following a review of the situation in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, Emirates is to resume normal operations to and from the city from May 4,” a statement by the airline was quoted as saying by Gulf News. — Xinhua

German jobless rate

FRANKFURT: Unemployment in Germany continued to decline, with the rate reaching 9.5 per cent in April with fewer people out of work as firms sought to fill vacancies amid an economic turnaround. 3.967 million people were without work in April, 1.1 million less than two years ago and less than a month before when 4.1 million were without a job. — AP

Thai inflation eases

BANGKOK: Thailand’s inflation rate in April eased to 1.8 per cent, the lowest in 39 months, due to falling food prices and easing energy costs. Year-on-year inflation fell from two per cent in March as meat prices dropped by 8.5 per cent. — AFP

Raid spray launched

KATHMANDU: Diamond Nepal Enterprises has introduced insect and pest killer spray Raid in the market. Manufactured by AC Johnson & Sons Inc, the spray is useful to control flies, mosquito, cockroach and other domestic pest, states a press release issued here today. The Raid spray comes with a smell of lemon and works as a room freshener, too. The product is available in 300 ml and 600 ml can bottle. — HNS

ADBL stops loan

ILAM: The transactions of Agriculture Development Bank Ltd (ADBL) in Ilam is about to stop, as the bank has not been able to recover loan disbursed worth over Rs 107.5 million for tea farming. The bank has stopped sanctioning new loan, which has affected the new tea-farmers. The bank had provided loans to 2,331 farmers through its branch and sub-branch officers in order to promote tea farming. But the debtors have not paid their loans. — RSS

Protests in Momento

BHADRAPUR: 811 workers of Momento Apparels Pvt Ltd in Jhapa have complained that their salary worth Rs 30 million have yet not been released. The operation of the country’s largest garment factory has come to a halt, as the workers have been agitating for sometime. In the past, they have organised Chakkajam, gherau and sit-in protest at district administration office, seeking its intervention to provide them salary. — RSS