In Thursday's South Asia papers

15 October 2009 05:00 [Source: ICIS news]

Front page

Record 1bn go hungry, says UN
Parents in some of Africa's poorest countries are cutting back on school, clothes and basic medical care just to give their children a meal once a day, experts say.

Obama seeks light and knowledge from Diwali
In an expansive gesture to Indians worldwide as much as to showcase his – and America’s - multi-cultural affections, US President Barack Obama on Wednesday lit a ceremonial Diwali lamp at the White House to ''symbolise victory of light over darkness''.

Business

Gold at record high, so is Dhanteras sale
Mithai may have been replaced by fine chocolate and oil lamps have made way for coloured bulbs, but there are some things about Diwali that do not change.

Sensex soars to 17-month high
With the festival of lights nearing, stock prices lit up investors' faces ahead of Diwali, with a smart 204-point or 1.2% spurt by the BSE sensex.

THE ECONOMIC TIMES

Front page

Top 50 cos lend weight to rebound
The early results for the second fiscal quarter may have removed any remaining doubts about the ‘India rebound’ story, with a majority of companies posting their best performance in the past four quarters helped by a fall in raw material costs, wage bills and interest rates.

Citigroup looks to sell internal technology platforms
Having sold its back office and IT captives to TCS and Wipro last year, Citigroup is now exploring sale of its internal technology platforms, bundled with outsourcing contracts worth almost $350m, as the bank seeks to exit non-core businesses and outsource more processes.

THE BANGLADESH TODAY

Front page

Father of Nation Family Members Security Bill passed by Parliament
Amid huge table-thumping, parliament on Tuesday passed a bill in about five minutes on lifetime security for independence architect Sheikh Mujubur Rahman's surviving family members, which includes prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana and their children.

PM asks ministry to form trust fund to make education free
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the Ministry of Education to work on forming a trust fund in an effort to ensure free education in the primary and secondary level.

Business

Economy shows mixed trend
The economy showed mixed trend until the end of July 2009 when some major indicators increased and some others declined.

No world trade accord without ‘solid’ services deal: US
The United States has said it would not endorse any new global trade accord unless it contained a "solid" deal on services, urging Asian nations in particular to liberalise the lucrative sector.

DAILY MIRROR

Front page

Tamil Nadu MPs return to India and handover report
A 10-member team of Tamil Nadu MPs from the DMK, Congress and VCK returned to Chennai this evening after a five-day tour of Sri Lanka and handed over a report on the visit to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi who received them at the Chennai airport, IANS reported.

I know how to face any disciplinary inquiry - Muthuhettigama
UPFA Southern Provincial elected member Nishantha Muthuhettigama speaking to Daily Mirror Online said he is ready to face any disciplinary inquiry by the party against his recent conduct and further added that he knows how to face such an inquiry as well.

Business

SL in $500m, 5-yr bond sale
Sri Lanka is opening orders for only its second global bond ever, aiming to raise $500m after investor sentiment towards the South Asian country improved sharply with the end of a 25-year civil war.

Fitch Rates Sri Lanka's Upcoming Benchmark Bond Issue 'B+'
Fitch Ratings has assigned a 'B+' rating to Sri Lanka's upcoming USD-denominated international bond issue, which matures in 2015.

DAWN

Front page

Sardar Yaqoob resigns as prime minister of AJK
Prime Minister of AJK, Sardar Yaqoob Khan announced that he had resigned as prime minister in order to avoid a political controversy in the Legislative Assembly.

US strike on suspected militant hideout kills four
A US drone missile attack on a suspected militant hideout in a remote tribal area in northwest Pakistan on Thursday killed at least four people, security officials said.

Business

Pakistan may seek $874m more from IMF
Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has said that Pakistan may have to seek additional $874m from the IMF in case the grant under the Kerry-Lugar Bill is jeopardised.

Cotton prices rise on panic-buying
Cotton prices on Wednesday maintained their upward drive and were quoted further higher by Rs25 as spinners and mills were not inclined to take even a technical breather amid fears of short supply.

BUSINESS RECORDER

Front page

Unreasonable to say Taliban do not exist in Quetta: US CG
Terrorism anywhere needs to be eliminated. This was stated by US Consul General Stephen Fakan while speaking to newsmen here on Wednesday.

90,000 flee South Waziristan fearing anti-Taliban push
Tens of thousands of civilians have fled South Waziristan region fearing an imminent army offensive against Taliban militants, officials said on Wednesday.

Business

Agriculture sector, bourses to be taxed within three years, National Assembly told
Minister of State on Finance Hina Rabbani Khar has said that the government would bring agriculture sector and stock exchanges into the tax net within the next three years under the plan to broaden the tax base.

NFC settles decade old pending issues: Tarin
Minister of Finance Shaukat Tarin said here on Wednesday that the National Finance Commission (NFC) has been able to resolve pending issues like Net Hydel profit for NWFP, Gas Development Surcharge (GDS) for Balochistan, General Sales Tax on Services for Sindh and additional security expenditures borne by the provinces.

By: Staff Reporter
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