In Wednesday's South Asia papers

17 June 2009 05:00  [Source: ICIS news]

THE TIMES OF INDIA

Front page

Obama-backed bill on Pakistan passed by Senate panel
Backed by the Obama Administration, the bill, which triples non-military assistance to Pakistan to $1.5bn per annum for the next five years, has been passed by a US Senate committee.

Cops say Shiney admits ‘mistake’
While the Mumbai police said on Tuesday that actor Shiney Ahuja has admitted he made a ‘‘mistake’’ by having ‘‘consensual sex’’ with the maid who has levelled allegations of rape against him, they also said the teenaged girl has described a ‘‘violent’’ and traumatic scene.

Business

Tougher disclosure norms in offing
Taking a cautious approach in view of the recent surge in stock markets, the government has decided to increase the vigil over companies by enhancing corporate disclosures and making their decision-making more transparent, while keeping a watch on whether funds raised are used for stated purposes.

Equity mutual funds dole out dividends
Equity schemes are giving back goodies to their investors. In the last one month, more than 30 equity schemes have declared dividends up to 40%, with schemes from SBI MF, Principal MF, UTI MF and Sundaram BNP Paribas MF leading from the front.

THE ECONOMIC TIMES

Front page

We need consolidation, not stimuli
Critics may find such a budgetary approach unexciting. But the times call for dull solidity, not flashy excitement.

Govt may join battle on KG gas to defend policy
Govt, which will be earning close to $9bn from RIL, is likely to intervene in the RIL vs RNRL case yet again.

THE BANGLADESH TODAY

Front page

EC seeks SQ Chowdhury’s ouster from Parliament
The Election Commission will ask the Speaker to strip opposition BNP’s Salauddin Quader Chowdhury of parliamentary membership for giving false information in his affidavit ahead of last December’s elections, a senior election official said on Tuesday.

Budget pro-people, but it will be difficult to implement: BEA
Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) has termed the proposed budget pro-people but warned that people will not be able to avail of the facilities provided in it if the Annual Development Programme is not implemented properly.

Business

Asia’s economic growth bolsters climate change: ADB
Asia’s rapid economic growth in recent years has contributed significantly to climate change and environmental pollution, the head of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) warned on Tuesday.

United Airways to fly Dubai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Kathmandu from July
United Airways, one of the three private carriers in Bangladesh, will start operation on Dhaka-Dubai-Dhaka route from 10 July with a view to carrying mainly migrant workers from Bangladesh.

DAILY MIRROR

Front page

Three Thai men arrested over LTTE links
Three Rohingya men have been arrested and found to have been involved in arms trade with the Tamil Elam rebels in Sri Lanka and the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

Sri Lanka enters Twenty20 world cup semis
Sri Lanka qualified for the Twenty20 world cup semi finals in England after beating New Zealand by 48 runs a short while ago.

Business

Monetary policy relaxed to support economy: CB
The Monetary Board has decided to further relax its monetary policy stance by reducing policy interest rates of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka by 50 basis points each.

BOC cuts lending rates by 2% for the third time
The Bank of Ceylon (BOC) has reduced its lending rates by a further 2% with immediate effect for the third time this year.

DAWN

Front page

Mild criticism of budget in National Assembly
The new budget faced only muted criticism at the start of a debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday, with the government promising to be open to opposition suggestions for ‘positive changes’, in a reflection of a consensus of the mainstream parties in the war against Taliban rebels.

Hotline likely between Beijing and New Delhi
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh claimed on Tuesday that his country enjoyed excellent relations with all the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) but Chinese reports suggested that Beijing had backed a hotline between the prime ministers of the two countries, possibly to avert dangerous miscommunications between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Business

Three-pronged strategy to lift Sindh economy
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that the budget 2009-2010 would boost industrial activity, enhance agriculture output and encourage public-private partnership for development of infrastructure in the province.

T-bills yield to drop by 80 basis points
Cut-off yield is expected to decline by 80 to 100 basis points as the inflation fell sharply last month, while expectations are high for a further cut.

BUSINESS RECORDER

Front page

Zardari, Manmohan meet; agree on foreign-secretary level talks
The eight-month long Pakistan-India stalled peace process got a fresh lease of life as President Asif Ali Zardari and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met here on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

No new tax in Rs489.9bn Punjab budget
Punjab Finance Minister Tanvir Ashraf Kaira presented Rs489.8bn budget for 2009-2010 in the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday, terming it as tax-free and poor-prone in his speech, which was his second in a row.

Business

Foreign investment declines by 47% in 11 months
Net foreign investment has declined by 47% during the first 11 months of the current fiscal year mainly due to massive outflow of the portfolio investment and poor law and order situation.

Rs4bn PEF budget approved
Chairman Board of Governors of Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) Raja Muhammad Anwar has said that the foundation has approved a budget of Rs4bn for the financial year 2009-2010 against the Rs3bn for the current financial year.

By: Staff Reporter
+44 20 8652 3214

< previous article(VIDEO - ICIS news Europe Lunchtime Bulletin 27 October 2009)

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly