Category: South Asia

KOLKATA, March 25, 2010 (AFP) – A tiny island at the centre of a territorial dispute between India and Bangladesh has disappeared beneath the waves due to rising sea levels and erosion, scientists say. At its height, it was never more than two metres (about six feet) above sea level. Hazra said a larger island, […]

KOLKATA, March 23, 2010 (AFP) – India has launched its most luxurious and expensive train service yet, seeking to attract well-heeled foreign rail enthusiasts prepared to pay the minimum 800-dollars-a-night price tag. For most visitors, rail travel in India is an indispensable part of any holiday, although an ability to overlook the often filthy toilets […]

MUMBAI, March 21, 2010 (AFP) – India’s central bank looks set to tighten monetary policy further after raising interest rates for the first time in nearly two years as it bids to check spiralling inflation, economists say. In a move that surprised experts, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiked short-term rates from record lows […]

NEW DELHI, March 8, 2010 (AFP) – India faces a water crisis with availability in decline and demand rocketing, and the profligate agricultural sector is in the firing line. Farmers’ wasteful use of water is unsustainable in a country with a fast-growing population and rapidly industrialising economy, says Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal. Agriculture […]

NEW DELHI, March 4, 2010 (AFP) – The European Union expects to clinch a free trade pact with India by October, the EU’s trade chief said Thursday, as the 27-member trading bloc pushes to secure new markets across Asia. “The deal should be done by the next summit between the EU and India in October,” […]

DHAKA, March 4, 2010 (AFP) – A Dhaka-based Facebook stocks tipster with over 10,000 followers has been arrested on charges of illegally manipulating Bangladesh’s overheated stock exchange, police said Thursday. Mahbub Sarwar, 26, a prolific blogger who provided online stock tips through the popular social networking site, will be charged with market manipulation, Mohammad Sohel, […]

NEW DELHI, March 3, 2010 (AFP) – Japanese auto maker Nissan is in talks with India’s Ashok Leyland to develop a small car for the fast-growing Indian market, a report said Wednesday. The Business Standard newspaper quoted Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn as saying the group was looking for a new low-cost alliance in India […]

NEW DELHI, March 3, 2010 (AFP) – Indian telecoms tycoon Sunil Bharti Mittal may be known for his Midas touch, but investors are questioning if his multi-billion-dollar bid to gain a foothold in Africa is a step too far. Mittal, chairman of Bharti Airtel, has seen shares of India’s biggest mobile firm tumble since he […]

Mar 03, 2010 (LBO) – Reducing visa restrictions and non-tariff barriers, and improving customs procedures are among a host of steps South Asian countries can take to boost private sector-led growth, the Asian Development Bank said. The report also highlights the need for South Asia to remove barriers to intra-regional investment, and to promote cross […]

NEW DELHI, February 26, 2010 (AFP) – India’s economic growth slowed sharply in the final quarter of 2009 to 6. 0 percent year on year, hit by lower farm output after the weakest monsoon in 37 years, data showed Friday. The figure for the October-December period, the third quarter of India’s fiscal year, compared with […]

Maruti, majority owned by Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp, said it launched the recall last November to fix the fault. The A-Star cars are being recalled both locally and internationally, mainly in Europe, as a “proactive” step, the company said in a statement. “We decided to check all vehicles from the lot, around 100,000 units including […]

MUMBAI, February 23, 2010 (AFP) – India’s biggest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India announced Tuesday it has recalled 100,000 of its best-selling A-Star hatchback cars due to a fuel leakage problem. “No problem has been reported by customers. ” The recall covers those A-Stars made between November 2008 and August 2009. The company, the leader in […]