THE VICUNA, South America's graceful camelid coveted for its soft, silky hair, is falling prey to well-organised gangs of international rustlers "working for brokers within Latin America who then

THE WORLD'S largest exporter of hardwood plywood, Indonesian tycoon Prajogo Pangestu, is having to defend himself against criticism that he has close links with President Suharto. Prajogo has

MALAYSIAN authorities, still irked by the costly campaign they had to wage in the US to revive their palm oil export trade (Down To Earth, August 15, 1993), are livid because the Food and Drug

Malaysian palm exports to the US have increased dramatically after Malaysia retaliated against attempts to portray the product as being dangerous to health

Under pressure from importers and voluntary groups, traders are acknowledging the need to regulate the employment of children.

The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act of 1986 prohibits the employment of children in 14 sectors, but regulates it only in the slate, gem and durri making industries.

Microsoft Corp of USA has launched a Japanese version of the Windows 3.1 software package, which is expected to grab for it control of Japan's personal computer market.

Indian-made autorickshaws may be taken off roads in Kathmandu as a pollution-control measure. Vehicular exhaust fumes from automobiles get trapped in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu valley, which is