Category: South Asia

PATNA, July 16, 2013 (AFP) – Indian police investigating bomb blasts at one of Buddhism’s holiest sites released sketches of a suspect on Tuesday and offered a reward for information about the attacks.Buddhists are rarely targeted in India but there have been tensions in the wider region recently following clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in […]

KABUL, July 15, 2013 (AFP) – In Kabul, many streets have no name and houses often have no number, meaning that postmen already braving the constant threat of suicide bombings must play detective to deliver mail. Such hard work is not well-rewarded in Afghanistan, which has 900 postmen nationwide with 100 in Kabul. Agha earns […]

NEW DELHI, July 13, 2013 (AFP) – India is ready for talks with the United States on a bilateral investment treaty to reinvigorate commercial ties between the world’s two biggest democracies, a report said Saturday.The announcement comes days after neighbouring China and the United States agreed to relaunch talks on a similar bilateral investment treaty. […]

THIMPHU, July 13, 2013 (AFP) – The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan concludes its second-ever election on Saturday, with the race to form a government too close to call as voters give their verdict on five years of democracy.The incumbent Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) party is up against the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the […]

NEW DELHI, July 11, 2013 (AFP) – Sixty-six years ago, Santosh Sharma saw her mother sell gold bangles to feed and clothe her family of six and then dispatch telegrams to her brothers urging them to leave newly-created Pakistan and gather in New Delhi. “Eventually the telegraph system had to face defeat.” “Come, we will […]

MUMBAI, July 8, 2013 (AFP) – India’s rupee slid to a new record low against the dollar Monday as the greenback was boosted by stronger than expected US jobs numbers. The rupee has fallen nearly 12 percent against the dollar this year, making it the worst performing currency among major Asian economies. The Reserve Bank […]

NEW DELHI, July 9, 2013 (AFP) – India’s financial markets regulator on Tuesday sought to halt the slide of the rupee by restricting speculative trading in the currency — a day after the unit hit a new lifetime low against the dollar.The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said it was taking the action […]

COLOMBO, July 7, 2013 (AFP) – Maldivian President Mohamed Waheed pledged Sunday to work with the main Islamic party ahead of upcoming elections, and rejected opposition fears it would lead to increased radicalisation in the luxury tourist destination.Waheed described most Adhaalath members as moderate, while some had “extreme views”. “I don’t worry too much about […]

PATNA, July 8, 2013 (AFP) – Indian police arrested a man on Monday over the weekend attacks at the historic Bodh Gaya Buddhist temple complex and were studying CCTV footage that appeared to show two men planting explosives at the site.The Bodh Gaya complex also houses multiple shrines marking the places where the Buddha is […]

PATNA, July 7, 2013 (AFP) – Indian police reported multiple low-intensity blasts at the Bodh Gaya Buddhist temple complex on Sunday, saying two people had been wounded but the temple was safe.It houses the holy bodhi tree as well as the giant Mahabodhi statue of Buddha, and multiple shrines marking the places where he is […]

NEW DELHI, 2013 (AFP) – India’s state-run banks will open 10,000 branches this year as part of a drive to extend formal financial services to the estimated 40 percent of the country without them, a minister said Wednesday.Spreading banking services is a key part of the government’s new cash transfer programme, that sees welfare beneficiaries […]

KABUL, June 29, 2013 (AFP) – British Prime Minister David Cameron made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Saturday, backing talks with the Taliban after his top general said the West missed a chance to strike a peace deal 10 years ago. “The attack that was organised near the presidential palace will not deter us […]