Soon, Indian garments to be made in Bangladesh
Dhaka, Sep 2 (IANS) Fabric from India, made in Bangladesh. That is the deal several Indian apparel makers are hoping to stitch up.

Indian shirt-maker NSL Textile, for instance, is trying to import readymade shirts from Bangladesh that would be marketed under the brand name Constello. The Rs.15 billion enterprise is among the many Indian brands eyeing import of shirts from Bangladesh as local suppliers can offer competitive prices and quality.

"Several Indian brands, including NSL, ... Read More

World Bank increases Pakistan flood support to $1 bn
Washington, Sep 2 (DPA) The World Bank said Wednesday it was raising its support for flood relief in Pakistan to $1 billion, from $900 million.

The announcement came after a meeting in Washington between World Bank president Robert Zoellick and Pakistani Finance Minister Hafeez Shaikh.

"As the surging Indus river devastates Pakistan, the country needs the world's support to meet urgent humanitarian needs: Food, clean water, sanitation facilities, medical and nutritional supplies, and vaccines," said Zoellick. ... Read More

Pakistani Taliban added to US terror list
By Arun Kumar

Washington, Sep 2 (IANS) The United States has designated the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, linked to the botched Times Square bombing attempt by a Pakistani American, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Wednesday also designated two senior TTP leaders Hakimullah Mehsud and Wali Ur Rehman as specially designated global terrorists as the US imposed financial and travel sanctions on the Pakistan based group that trained Times Square ... Read More

Lahore wears deserted look a day after serial blasts
By Awais Saleem

Lahore, Sep 2 (IANS) A day after three back-to-back blasts by militant outfit Lashkar-i-Islami in a Shia congregation in Lahore killed at least 35 people and wounded over 200, the city in Pakistan's Punjab province wore a deserted look Thursday while traders have declared a three-day mourning.

A mass funeral of the dead would be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, officials said.

Almost all parts of the city and particularly the area near Lower ... Read More

India reassures Sri Lankan Tamils of speedy resettlement
Colombo/New Delhi, Sep 2 (IANS) India Wednesday rejected reports that it was bringing Indian nationals to Sri Lanka for reconstruction work in the war-ravaged northern districts and underlined its determination to speed up the resettlement of the Tamil civilians in the island nation.

India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who touched down in Colombo Monday on a three-day visit, called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa Wednesday at his Temple Trees residence.

She told Rajapaksa that India would expedite ... Read More

India asks Sri Lanka to find political solution
Colombo/New Delhi, Sept 2 (IANS) India Thursday asked Sri Lanka to look beyond the resettlement of war-displaced Tamils and start a political process that would meet the needs and aspirations of the country's minorities.

"The focus on development and rehabilitation is welcomed but a long-term perspective that also includes the issues relating to the political settlement that would meet some of the needs of the minorities should also be kept in mind," Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao ... Read More

India partners Nepal to spread Krishna's voice
By Sudeshna Sarkar

Kathmandu, Sep 2 (IANS) The Bhagvad Gita - containing Lord Krishna's teachings and regarded as the essence of the Hindu religion and philosophy - is one of the most influential books in the world, but not much is known about its sequel, the Anugita.

Janmashtami, Lord Krishna's birthday, is perhaps the perfect occasion to remember this less known sequel that will be available to a wider readership, thanks to a partnership between Nepal and ... Read More

Nepal posse seizes gold smuggled from India
Kathmandu, Sep 2 (IANS) Nepal's security forces have seized gold worth over NRS 10 million that was being smuggled by road from India and arrested two men, an official said Thursday.

According to the Nepal Armed Police Force authorities in Kathmandu, a Hyundai car that had crossed into Birgunj city in southern Nepal Wednesday evening was found to be carrying a small amount of gold.

The posse under Deputy Superintendent Krishna Prasad Koirala detained the car, ... Read More

Cultural spotlight is on South Asia: ICCR chief
By Madhusree Chatterjee

New Delhi, March 25 (IANS) South Asia is fast emerging as the key focus area of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) with four major events taking place in a span of four months since December 2009.

The 33rd SAARC Festival of Literature hosted jointly by the Foundation of SAARC Writers' and Literature and ICCR will begin March 26.

"The SAARC Festival of Literature scheduled March 26-28 has the highest priority in ... Read More

Tata Motors to set up heavy truck plant in Myanmar
Kolkata, March 22 (IANS) Tata Motors Monday signed a turnkey contract with Myanmar Automobile & Diesel Industries Limited, a government enterprise, to set up a heavy truck plant at Magwe, around 480 km from Yangon.

The project has been funded by a line of credit from the Indian government.

The facilities planned at the plant include a flexible chassis and frame assembly line along with a cab manufacturing, painting and trimming setup, a company statement here ... Read More

Iron Lady of Manipur re-arrested for refusing to eat
Imphal, March 11 (IANS) Human rights activist Irom Sharmila, jailed since 2000 for resorting to a hunger strike against alleged rights violations by the security forces in Manipur, was once again arrested by police on charges of attempted suicide. The activist continued her refusal to eat a single morsel of food.

Sharmila, who earned the sobriquet Iron Lady of Manipur and is now in her 10th year of judicial custody, was arrested Wednesday night and was ... Read More

Jihad Jane : Charged with plotting terror in South Asia
By Arun Kumar

Washington, March 10 (IANS) An American woman, nicknamed as "Jihad Jane" and "Fatima LaRose," has been indicted for conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists to wage violent jihad in South Asia and Europe.

Colleen LaRose, 46, who was arrested in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oct 15, has also been charged with making false statements to a government official and attempted identity theft, the Justice Department announced Tuesday.

No arraignment date has been set for LaRose, ... Read More

'Jihad Jane', the woman who plotted terror in South Asia via internet
By Arun Kumar

Washington, March 10 (IANS) A middle-aged American woman, nicknamed "Jihad Jane", has been charged with using e-mail, YouTube videos, phony travel documents and a burning desire to kill "or die trying," to help terrorists in South Asia and Europe.

Colleen LaRose, 46, who also went by the name of "Fatima LaRose," has also been charged with helping to recruit a network for suicide attacks and other terrorist strikes to wage violent jihad, according to ... Read More

11 killed, 68 hurt in Lahore suicide car bombing
Lahore, March 8 (IANS) Eleven people were killed and 68 injured when a bomber rammed a car stuffed with explosives into a building housing an investigative agency in this Pakistani city, the police said.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building, located in the upmarket residential Model Town neighbourhood, was teeming with employees when the deafening blast shattered it.

"It was a car bomb. The terrorists detonated the explosive-laden vehicle at the main gate," DPA quoted ... Read More

Eight dead, 45 hurt in Lahore blast
Lahore, March 8 (IANS) Eight people were killed and 45 injured Monday when a suicide bomber struck at a building housing an investigative agency in this Pakistani city, police said.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) building, located in the upmarket residential Model Town neighbourhood, was teeming with employees when the massive bombing took place.

"It was a car bombing. The terrorists detonated the explosive-laden vehicle at the main gate of the building," DPA quoted Tariq ... Read More

Germany launches fellowship to boost South Asian culture ties
New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) The South Asian Network of the German government's Goethe-Institut Sunday announced a fully funded fellowship to further boost cultural relations with India and create cultural leaders.

The fellowship, named ARThinkSouthAsia, in its first edition has selected 17 fellows from across the region, the Goethe-Institut said.

The fellowship is designed to help develop skills, knowledge, networks and experience of potential leaders in the cultural sector which includes museums, the visual and ... Read More

Top UN official to visit India, Nepal
United Nations, March 6 (IANS) A top UN official will visit India and Nepal next week to discuss regional and international issues with officials and political parties in both the countries.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe will be in India March 9 to hold discussions with government officials on a range of regional and international issues, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said Friday.

Pascoe will travel to Nepal from March 10-12, Nesirky told reporters.

He ... Read More

EU asked to set up larger embassies in India, Pakistan
Brussels, March 6 (IANS) Britain and Sweden have asked the European Union to set up larger diplomatic offices in India, Pakistan, China, Indonesia and Brazil with a view to "deepen and broaden" relationship with these countries.

British foreign secretary David Miliband and his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt have sent a joint letter to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton urging the bloc to create "larger and more political" delegations in the capitals of India, Pakistan, China, ... Read More