Category: South Asia

NEW DELHI, July 10, 2011 (AFP) – India’s wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani on Sunday criticised Western philanthropy as counter-productive and said his own country’s approach to charity gave more self-respect to the needy. Ambani, who heads petrochemical giant Reliance Industries, said that rapidly-growing India could create a more sustainable model in which businesses were an […]

NEW DELHI, July 10, 2011 (AFP) – Not long ago it was the toast of investors, but India’s appeal has taken a hit, with bearish sentiment building thanks to worries over stubbornly high inflation and widespread political corruption. “If we had the right supportive economic ecosystem and big-ticket reforms, 10 percent growth would not have […]

NEW DELHI, July 8, 2011 (AFP) – The head of a former Indian royal family renounced Friday any personal claim to billions of dollars’ worth of ancient treasure discovered in a Hindu temple in the kingdom his ancestors once ruled. On Friday, the Supreme Court directed that the opening of the final vault be deferred […]

JOHANNESBURG, July 7, 2011 (AFP) – Indian giant Tata will start building an auto assembly plant in South Africa in July for production which is likely to target the local and African market, Business Day reported on Thursday. In May Tata reported a nearly fourfold increase in annual profit, boosted by booming sales and strong […]

NEW DELHI, July 4, 2011 (AFP) – Feuds over property and deadly clashes over land are as much a part of India’s economic rise as call centres and the foreign acquisitions made by its leading companies. “I wonder if this amoral energy (which Shah possesses) is what it takes to start a new nation,” Adiga […]

NEW DELHI, July 2, 2011 (AFP) – British mobile phone giant Vodafone is taking full control of its Indian joint venture by buying out its local partner Essar Group, a statement said Saturday, ending a troubled relationship. Vodafone, which has sought to make India a crown jewel in its expanding emerging markets portfolio, said it […]

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, July 2, 2011 (AFP) – A treasure trove of gold and silver jewelry, coins and precious stones said to be worth billions of dollars has been found in a Hindu temple in southern India, officials said on Saturday. A necklace found on Thursday was 18 feet (six metres) long. Thousands of gold coins have […]

DHAKA, June 29, 2011 (AFP) – Bangladesh will allow billions of dollars of untaxed money to be invested in shares under a new tax amnesty designed to prop up the volatile Dhaka Stock Exchange, an official said Wednesday. The new legislation, which was approved by parliament late Tuesday, offers an amnesty on so-called “black money” […]

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2011 (AFP) – A stink bug from Asia is chomping up US vegetable fields, orchards and vineyards, causing experts to scramble through an arsenal of weapons to try and halt this stealthy, smelly predator. Pesticides, parasites and traps have all been tried but none have succeeded in killing off the brown marmorated […]

NEW DELHI, June 25, 2011 (AFP) – Indians will have to pay more for fuel from Saturday after the government announced a hike in the price of some petroleum products, increasing inflationary pressures in the fast-growing economy. Petroleum minister Jaipal Reddy late Friday raised the price of diesel by 3 rupees (7 cents) per litre, […]

WASHINGTON, June 24, 2011 (AFP) – India’s commerce minister called Thursday for more cooperation with the United States on nuclear energy and brushed aside talk of scrapping ambitious plans in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima crisis. On a visit to Washington, Commerce Minister Anand Sharma said he has faced questions on whether India should rethink […]

PARIS, June 21, 2011 (AFP) – French auto group Renault announced on Tuesday the launch in India of its low-cost four-wheel drive “Duster” vehicle built by its Dacia subsidiary. Duster, a model first introduced in 2010, will be especially adapted for the Indian market, the statement said. Before the end of the year, Renault hopes […]