In Thursday's South Asia papers

22 November 2007 04:30  [Source: ICIS news]

MUMBAI (ICIS news)--These were the top stories at 4:00GMT in the following South Asia newspapers’ online versions on Thursday. ICIS has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. To go to the individual websites, click the links below:

The Times of India
Front Page

As IAEA talks begin, China offers support
As DAE chief Anil Kakodkar started formal talks with the director-general of the IAEA, Mohammed ElBaradei, in another part of the world, China indicated for the first time that it was not averse to the India-US nuclear deal.

Vadra is not frisked but top Generals are
Generals might rule the roost across the border but here they are steadily getting downgraded. Robert Vadra may figure on the list of VIPs exempt from security checks at airports but the army, navy and IAF chiefs are simply not considered important enough to be granted this privilege.

Business

'Rising rupee hits salaries in IT sector'
This could take the smile off the Indian techies face. The sector, which has seen some of the highest salary hikes for several years now, has suddenly slowed down.

No solution at DoT-telcos meet
A meeting of telecom CEOs with DoT secretary DS Mathur on Wednesday to negotiate a settlement on spectrum remained inconclusive with rival factions trading charges. "No decision has been taken, but we hope to reach a settlement soon. We have called for another meeting in the next few days," a senior DoT official told TOI .

The Economic Times
Front Page

No consensus between mobile firms & DoT
Leading GSM operators are learnt to have told the Department of Telecom (DoT) that they are willing to consider tightening of the exisiting subscriber-linked spectrum allocation norm.

Reckitt hopes to rake in top dollars from India
Bart Becht may get into trouble with his wife again, but did you know that the global chief of Reckitt Benckiser--maker of Dettol and Harpic--personally test markets his new cleaning products at his home in Slough, UK, before they are launched in worldwide markets? He has often rejected products on the basis of inconvenient packaging or inappropriate presentation.

The Bangladesh Today
Front Page

Lakhs of Sidr victims under open sky without food, water
Many of the 6056087 people living in 200 upazilas under 30 districts in the southwestern region affected by Thursday night?s severe cyclonic storm SIDR are now passing inhuman lives under the open sky without food, shelter, pure drinking water and medicine.

President calls for sincere efforts to realize dreams of Liberation War
President Professor Dr Iajuddin Ahmed Wednesday called for sincere efforts by all from their respective position to realize the long-cherished dreams of the Liberation War.

Business

EU likely to help shrimp farmers recover cyclone loss
EU, a major buyer of frozen food, is likely to help shrimp farmers recover their losses caused by the devastating cyclone that washed away hundreds of shrimp farms.

Wall Street slides as oil nears $100
US stock markets opened sharply lower Wednesday as crude oil prices threatened to smash $100 a barrel and as the ailing dollar slumped to another record low against the euro.

Daily Mirror
Front Page

CC deadlock : PM blames minority parties
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake blamed the minority parties in the opposition for the delay in appointing the Constitutional Council, and said it would not be set up till the minority party representative was named.

TNA MP turns aggressive
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.K. Sivajilingam took the centre-stage in Parliament yesterday when he stormed into the Well of the House and ran towards Deputy Speaker Geethanjana Gunawardena in an aggressive manner.

Business

High demand from faltering markets expected to warm up cold winter season
Sri Lanka Tourism has pushed forward to obtain a higher demand from the UK travel market at the recently concluded World Travel Market (WTM).Addressing a media briefing yesterday Hemas Holdings Group Director Abbas Esufally said that there was a high demand for Sri Lanka among the UK traveler during this year’s ‘World Travel Market’ (WTM) which got underway in London.

Southern hoteliers ride on high expectations
Sri Lanka's Southern hoteliers expressed confidence yesterday in the upcoming winter season which is expected to show some resilience despite a downfall of 21% in tourist arrivals experienced in the first nine months of this year.

Dawn
Front Page

Blanket indemnity for president
President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday amended the Constitution through an executive order which legal experts said was essentially aimed at providing constitutional cover to all actions taken during the period of emergency and to clear the path for the lifting of emergency if and when he desired to do so.

Court order on deposed CJ has lost its efficacy
Defending President Pervez Musharrafs proclamation of the state of emergency, senior counsel Sharifuddin Pirzada argued before the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the courts short order restoring deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in July had lost its efficacy because the detailed verdict was not issued within three months.

Business

Increase in utilities prices unavoidable: Inter-corporate debt surges
Pakistan’s inter-corporate circular debt has crossed over Pakistan rupees (PRs)180bn ($3bn)and hike in the prices of three major utilities in a quick succession has become inevitable owing to the failure of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz-led economic team to resolve the problem, it is learnt.

FBR members strength scaled down to seven
The government has, in principle, decided to scale down the number of tax members to seven from the existing 11 under the World Bank-funded reforms project of the tax administration.

Business Recorder
Front Page

Soomro urges Commonwealth to delay suspension decision
Pakistan urged the Commonwealth to delay a decision on suspending it from the organisation over its state of emergency and to send a delegation to Islamabad, the foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Hearing of petitions against emergency, PCO adjourned
Supreme Court adjourned hearing of the petitions challenging the imposition of emergency and promulgation of Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) till tomorrow (Thursday).

Business

India wants 448 more items on positive list
New Delhi has handed over another list, of 448 items, to Islamabad for inclusion on the positive list, which currently stands at 1802 items, official sources told Business Recorder.

Putting customers first policy stressed
Chief Executive of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Tariq Ikram has urged to follow 'putting customers first' policy, adding that recent survey on customer service satisfaction would help business community to improve quality of services and make reachable to all.

ICIS Copyright © Reed Business Information 2009

Author: Staff Reporter
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