--- South Asian News, November 25, 2002 --- (Weekend International)

In Pakistan, President Musharaff assures full support to the new cabinet that took oath. In India, the Prime Minister discusses the situation following the temple siege by militants in Jammu even as a Pakistan-based militant outfit claims responsibility. A landmine blast in Kashmir kills nine people in Kashmir. Sri Lankan negotiators embark on a landmark meeting to end the civil war in the country. In the editorial section, read about India's position on Iraq. The business news focuses on the opportunities for Indian BPO companies to tap the market in Canada.

Africa
------

* New Pakistani prime minister sworn in (SABC News)
* Twelve killed in Indian Kashmir (SABC News)
* Quake leaves 15 000 homeless (News 24)
* Four soldiers feared dead in Kashmir land mine blast (SABC News)

Americas
--------

* Islamic militants storm Hindu temple in Kashmir; 10 killed, 50 injured (Canada.com)

Asia-Pacific
------------

* Pakistan's new PM and cabinet take oath (Australian Broadcasting) (Xinhuanet) (Malaya Star)(ABC News)
* Musharraf assures fullest support, cooperation to new government (Xinhuanet)
* Pakistani new premier vows to adopt welfare-of-people policy (Xinhuanet)
* Indian PM discusses situation after Temple attack in Jammu (Xinhuanet)
* Suspected terrorists storm Raghunath temple in Jammu (Xinhuanet) (People Daily)
* 30 killed as bus falls into river in India (East Day) (Channel News Asia)
* Twelve die in fresh surge of Kashmir violence (Australian Broadcasting)
* Islamic militant behind temple blast in India shot dead (Australian Broadcasting)
* Seven Indian troops killed in landmine blast in Kashmir (Australian Broadcasting) (Australian Broadcasting)
* India, Russia should increase trade ties: minister (Asian Times)
* Veil lifted on defense procurement (Asian Times)
* India, Bhutan to cooperate in glacier studies (Asian Times) (Asian Times)
* Rebels suspected of killing 9 in Kashmir landmine blast (Australian Broadcasting)
* Indian judge in govt corruption probe quits (Australian Broadcasting)
* Fifty Maoists killed in Nepal army attack (Australian Broadcasting)
* Dhaka seeks ADB supports on measuring earthquake (East Day)

Europe
------

* Pakistan Swears in Legislators (Guardian) (Ananova) (BBC)
* Pakistan denies N Korea nuclear deal (BBC) (Reuters)
* Pakistan and N.Korea swapped arms expertise (Swiss Info)
* Pakistan Group Claims Kashmir Temple Raid -Police (Reuters)
* Ten Die in Kashmir Temple Attacks, Rebels Warn Govt (Reuters)
* Kashmir rebels say blast is a message (Swiss Info)
* Indian soldiers killed by landmine (BBC) (Ananova)
* Indian state gives in to bandit (BBC)
* G-20 promises to tackle trade (BBC)
* Bangladesh rejects EU rights criticism (BBC)
* S.Lanka PM, Rebel Negotiator Hold Landmark Meeting (Reuters)

Middle East
-----------

* Pakistan returns to civilian rule (Arab News)
* Quake hits Pakistan, kills 23 (IRNA)
* UN: 1,800 Pakistanis die from pollution each year (IRNA)
* Musharraf says he is pleased with transfer of power (IRNA)
* EU resolution on polls disappoints Pakistan (IRNA)
* US on war path against Islamic states: Kashmiri leader (IRNA)
* Five Indian army men killed in explosion in Jammu and Kashmir (IRNA)
* India's Kashmir Committee agree to find lasting solution (IRNA)
* India, China to hold next meeting on border row in January (IRNA)
* New political party launched in Kashmir (IRNA)
* India reinforces support for Lankan peace process (IRNA)

Editorial
---------

* India not yet prepared to ditch Iraq (Asian Times)

Business/Technology
-------------------

* China's exports to India zoom 34.4% (Asian Times)
* India's Hindu medicinal product exports up (Asian Times)
* Nearshoring: India's hot new IT opportunity (Asian Times)

Africa
------

* New Pakistani prime minister sworn in

November 23 -- Pakistan's newly elected prime minister was sworn into office today as the country returned to civilian rule after three years of military government. Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali of the pro-military Pakistan Muslim League (PML) repeated the oath after President Pervez Musharraf, who with the power to dismiss parliament and five more years in office could dominate the new leadership.

http://www.sabcnews.com/world/asia1pacific/0,1009,47935,00.html

* Twelve killed in Indian Kashmir

November 24 -- Twelve people, including six soldiers, were killed in Indian Kashmir when a bus in which they were traveling ran over a landmine planted by militants. More than 20 other were injured in the explosion. Police say the dead included the bus driver, three women and two children, all relatives of the soldiers.

http://www.sabcnews.com/world/asia1pacific/0,1009,47990,00.html

* Quake leaves 15 000 homeless

November 24 -- The number of people facing a bleak, tented winter in Pakistan's northern Karakoram mountain range following earthquakes last week has risen to 15 000, a government official said Sunday. "It appears to be higher than we originally thought. We now believe around 15 000 people are affected," joint secretary of the Kashmir affairs department Jahangir Khan said.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/0,1113,2-10_1289254,00.html

* Four soldiers feared dead in Kashmir land mine blast

November 23 -- At least four Indian soldiers were feared dead and many injured in Kashmir today when a bus in which they were traveling ran over a land mine. An Indian army spokesperson said the mine was probably planted by militants. The attack came a day after two guerrillas stormed a security camp in the heart of Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir, and killed six soldiers before being gunned down.

http://www.sabcnews.com/world/asia1pacific/0,1009,47942,00.html

Americas
--------

* Islamic militants storm Hindu temple in Kashmir; 10 killed, 50 injured

November 24, 2002 -- Security forces used rocket launchers Monday to end the siege of two Hindu temples by Islamic militants in India's Jammu and Kashmir state, police said. Twelve people, including two rebels, were killed.

http://www.canada.com/news/story.asp?id={FAE12AF9-16B5-456E-A14F-A976BEF698BF}

Asia-Pacific
------------

* Pakistan's new PM and cabinet take oath

November 23 -- A loyalist of President Pervez Musharraf, Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, took oath Saturday as Pakistan's first civilian prime minister in three years. General Musharraf administered the oath to Mr Jamali at around 10:20am (4:00pm AEDT) in a ceremony at the presidential palace attended by members of parliament, military brass and diplomats.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s733327.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-11/23/content_638676.htm
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/archives/story.asp?ppath=\2002\11\24&file=/2002/11/24/asia/paksworn&sec=asia
http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20021125_205.html

* Musharraf assures fullest support, cooperation to new government

November 23 -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf on Saturday assured fullest support and cooperation to new government. Musharraf made the commitment during a meeting with Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, federal ministers, ministers of state and advisors to the prime minister when they called on him after their oath taking ceremonies, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-11/23/content_638745.htm

* Pakistani new premier vows to adopt welfare-of-people policy

November 24 -- Pakistani new prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali said here on Saturday that his government will adopt workable policies promising welfare of the people. Able and honest people have been inducted in federal cabinet on the basis of merit, the prime minister told PTV, the country's No.1 TV giant.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-11/24/content_639044.htm

* Indian PM discusses situation after Temple attack in Jammu

November 24-- A high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Sunday night discussed the terrorist attack on Raghunath temple in Jammu. Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani said that seven people, including a policeman, were killed and 28 others injured in the terrorist attack on the temple in Jammu Sunday night.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-11/25/content_639244.htm

* Suspected terrorists storm Raghunath temple in Jammu

November 24 -- Suspected terrorists stormed Raghunath temple in Jammu after triggering a land mine blast near the crowded Harinagar market area. An eyewitness Sonali said at least two terrorists were involved in the attack which began around 7 p.m. Sunday evening. The temple was packed with hundreds of devotees.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-11/25/content_639232.htm
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200211/25/eng20021125_107392.shtml

* 30 killed as bus falls into river in India

Thirty passengers, including four women and an equal number of children, were killed when a private bus in which they were traveling fell off from a bridge into the Sone River in Sidhi district of Madhya Pradesh in central India Sunday evening, a senior district official said. The Rewa Division commissioner, Manoj Goyal, told local media that the bus, on its way from Hanmana to Behri, fell off the bridge after its front right tire got burst.

http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper1/734/class000100003/hwz98981.htm
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/southasia/view/25432/1/.html

* Twelve die in fresh surge of Kashmir violence

November 24 -- Three security men and nine others were killed in overnight clashes on Sunday in Indian-controlled Kashmir in a fresh surge of militant-linked violence belying the promised healing touch by the region's new leader. Suspected Islamic militants overnight shot dead two policemen in two busy markets of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir state.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s733552.htm

* Islamic militant behind temple blast in India shot dead

November 23 -- Police in India say they shot dead an Islamic militant responsible for a bombing outside a Hindu temple in southern India in which one person was killed and more than 20 others injured. Police said the man, identified as Azeem, belonged to the pan-Islamic movement Lashkar-e-Taiba and was shot while trying to flee custody.

http://abc.net.au/asiapacific/news/GoAsiaPacificBNA_733362.htm

* Seven Indian troops killed in landmine blast in Kashmir

November 23 -- At least seven Indian troops have been killed and 20 others injured in a landmine explosion in Indian-administered Kashmir. The troops' convoy hit the landmine placed by suspected Islamic rebels at Lower Munda, south of the summer capital Srinagar.

http://abc.net.au/asiapacific/news/GoAsiaPacificBNA_733363.htm
http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s733370.htm

* India, Russia should increase trade ties: minister

November 23 -- India yesterday expressed hope that its trade ties with Russia would flourish in the future and acquire its right place in the strategic partnership. "Economic reforms in both the countries haved up considerable opportunities and I am confident that our trade ties will flourish in the years to come," Junior Minister for External Affairs Digvijay Singh said.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DK23Df03.html

* Veil lifted on defense procurement

The procurement procedure of the Indian armed forces would no longer remain a secret, and to ensure greater transparency the details of the entire procurement process would be put up in a web site soon, says Subir Dutta, Defense Secretary. He was addressing a seminar on "Army-Industry Partnership in Frontier Technologies: A Way Ahead organized jointly by CII and Indian Army".

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DK23Df08.html

* India, Bhutan to cooperate in glacier studies

November 23 -- India and Bhutan on Thursday agreed to step up cooperation in the study of the depletion of glaciers in the Himalayan kingdom, which has huge potential for generating water-resource revenue for Bhutan. The issue was discussed at a meeting between the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, K C Pant and a Bhutanese delegation led by Foreign Secretary Dasho Ugyen Tshering. Official sources said the two sides agreed on the need to cooperate in closely watching the depletion of glaciers, particularly to see if the same was periodic or on account of global warming.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DK23Df04.html
* India, China to meet again on border dispute

India says it will hold more talks with China early next year to try to narrow differences over their border that sparked a war 40 years ago and have soured their relations ever since. Diplomats from the world's two most populous countries, which fought a border war in 1962, met on Thursday local time, to try to resolve the dispute over their 4,500 kilometers frontier.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s733237.htm

* Rebels suspected of killing 9 in Kashmir landmine blast

November 23 -- Indian officials say nine people, including women and children, have been killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, after an army bus ran over a landmine. They say 18 more people were injured in the incident, 100 kilometers south of the summer capital, Srinagar, on the main highway to the winter capital, Jammu.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s733378.htm

* Indian judge in govt corruption probe quits

November 24 -- An Indian judge heading a probe into a bribery scandal involving ruling party politicians and military officials has quit his job following a political storm after he accepted another plum assignment from the Government. Former Supreme Court judge K. Venkataswami resigned his posts both as investigating judge and as chairman of a powerful financial committee to which he was appointed only recently.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s733490.htm

* Fifty Maoists killed in Nepal army attack

November 24 -- About 50 Maoist rebels were believed dead when Nepal's army attacked a guerrilla hideout in the west of the kingdom, a newspaper reported on Saturday. Officials in Katmandu confirmed the battle on Friday in Lamjung district, some 125 kilometres from the capital, but said they were awaiting details from the remote area.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s733307.htm

* Dhaka seeks ADB supports on measuring earthquake

Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf Sunday sought supports and cooperation from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to set up necessary modern equipment for measuring earthquakes in the country. Yusuf made the proposal before the bank's country director Toru Shibuichi when the latter called on him at his office in Dhaka, according to the official Bangladesh News Agency.

http://english.eastday.com/epublish/gb/paper1/734/class000100003/hwz98932.htm

Europe
------

* Pakistan Swears in Legislators

Legislators from a coalition of radical Islamic groups were sworn in as the dominant party in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province on Monday, the first time that the anti-American religious right has managed to take control of a provincial legislature. The ascension to power of the religious bloc, called the United Action Forum, has caused concern in Washington, which counts Pakistan as a vital ally in the war against terror.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2197242,00.html
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_714757.html?menu=news.latestheadlines.worldnews
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2505547.stm

* Pakistan denies N Korea nuclear deal

November 24 -- Pakistan says there is "no truth whatsoever" in a US newspaper report that says it has been co-operating with North Korea on nuclear weapons technology. I do not know where the New York Times gets its information from. I am convinced that they need to update their intelligence gathering system The New York Times said on Saturday that North Korea had given Pakistan missile parts to enable its nuclear arsenal to reach "every strategic site in India".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2508173.stm
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=1795376

* Pakistan and N.Korea swapped arms expertise

November 24 -- Pakistan has been helping North Korea's nuclear weapons program in return for missile technology that would strengthen its hand against India, the New York Times has reported. The paper, quoting unnamed officials and experts in Washington, Pakistan and South Korea, said the relationship between North Korea and Pakistan "now appears much deeper and more dangerous than the United States and its Asian allies first suspected".

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1474763

* Pakistan Group Claims Kashmir Temple Raid -Police

November 24 -- A banned Pakistan-based guerrilla group has claimed responsibility for an attack on two temples in Indian Kashmir and threatened more such attacks, the state police chief said on Monday. Jammu and Kashmir Director-General of Police A.K. Suri told reporters a caller claiming to be from the Lashkar-e-Taiba group rang his house and said the group had carried out the attack on two Hindu temples in which at least 11 people have died.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=1797729

* Ten Die in Kashmir Temple Attacks, Rebels Warn Govt

November 24 -- At least 10 people died when suspected Islamic rebel gunmen attacked two Hindu temples in Indian Kashmir on Sunday as rebels warned a new state government the long anti-Indian revolt was not dead. Nearly five hours after the first temple was attacked in the 150-year-old Raghunath temple complex, gunfire continued at another temple 218 yards away in the heart of Jammu, winter capital of Jammu And Kashmir State.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=1796750

* Kashmir rebels say blast is a message

November 24 -- Muslim rebels fighting Indian rule in disputed Kashmir say a landmine blast that killed 12 people was their message to the state's new leader who has promised to bring a healing touch to the region.

http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=143&sid=1475006

* Indian soldiers killed by landmine

November 23 -- At least 12 people, including six soldiers, have been killed after a bus hit a landmine in Indian-administered Kashmir, local police say. Another 36 people including 19 soldiers or more were reported injured - some critically - in the blast, which happened about 75 kilometers (45 miles) south of the city of Srinagar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2505733.stm
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_714809.html?menu=news.latestheadlines.worldnews

* Indian state gives in to bandit

The authorities in the Indian state of Karnataka have decided to withdraw all charges against a jailed Tamil activist to facilitate talks with bandit Veerappan about freeing the kidnapped former minister H Nagappa. Veerappan: Latter-day Robin Hood. Veerappan had, in his fifth recorded message sent to the authorities on Thursday, set a deadline of 12 days to release the activist and send him to the jungle to begin talks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2506311.stm

* G-20 promises to tackle trade

Leaders from both rich and poor countries have vowed to speed up the removal of trade barriers and unfair subsidies. They have also promised to choke off funding for groups they see as responsible for terrorism. But neither vows emanating from the Group of 20's annual meeting in New Delhi contained much detail.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2508303.stm

* Bangladesh rejects EU rights criticism

November 23 -- The Bangladeshi Government has dismissed a European parliamentary resolution critical of alleged human rights violations during the current army-led operations against violent crime. Thousands of soldiers have been deployed. A Foreign Office spokesman in Dhaka said the resolution was one-sided and did not reflect the realities on the ground.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2506605.stm

* S.Lanka PM, Rebel Negotiator Hold Landmark Meeting

November 24 -- Sri Lanka's prime minister and the chief negotiator of the Tamil Tiger rebels met on Sunday in the highest level contact between the two sides since they signed a truce in February after nearly two decades of war. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and rebel negotiator Anton Balasingham smiled and shook hands for the cameras after discussing the way forward for the Sri Lanka peace process on the eve of a donor conference in the Norwegian capital.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=1796604

Middle East
-----------

* Pakistan returns to civilian rule

November 24 -- After three years of military rule, executive power returned to civilian hands in Pakistan yesterday with the swearing-in of Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali as prime minister and his 21-member Cabinet. President Pervez Musharraf administered the oaths. Jamali, from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), was elected prime minister on Thursday by a razor-thin margin from the hung National Assembly that resulted from the October polls. His votes came from a combination of pro-military parties, independents and 10 dissenters from the PPP. Six of the PPP dissenters were rewarded with positions in Jamali's new Cabinet.

http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=20600

* Quake hits Pakistan, kills 23

November 24 -- Twenty three people have so far been confirmed dead and some 15,000 displaced in the Astor valley, Pakistan, officials said on Sunday. Pakistan Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Sunday sent a minister to earthquake-hit northern areas to assess the losses, officials said.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* UN: 1,800 Pakistanis die from pollution each year

November 24 -- An estimated 1,800 people die every year due to air pollution in Pakistan, says a United Nations report. According to the report, about 6.4 million hospital admissions and 418,000 cases of minor sickness occur every year due to diseases caused by air pollution in the country.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Musharraf says he is pleased with transfer of power

November 23 -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf has said he is very pleased with the fulfillment of his promise of handing over government to elected representatives. He was replying to questions from newsmen at Aiwan-e-Sadr Saturday after administering the oath of office to the new prime minister and cabinet ministers. "I am glad to be handing over the responsibilities of chief executive to the new prime minister who is a very honorable, efficient and experienced person," General Musharraf said.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Pakistan names Khurshid Kasuri as foreign minister

November 23 -- Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Saturday named Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri as the country new foreign minister. Mian Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, belonging to Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), has won National Assembly election from eastern Punjab province. Kasuri will have additional charge of the Ministry for Law Justice and Human Rights.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* EU resolution on polls disappoints Pakistan

November 23 -- Pakistan has expressed its disappointment at what it called biased and unbalanced resolution moved by John Cushnahan and adopted in the European Parliament on Thursday concerning the process of revival of democracy in Pakistan. A foreign Office spokesman in a statement in Islamabad said it is most unfortunate that Mr. Cushnahan persists with the deeply flawed conclusions of his report on the EC Election Observer Mission, which mentioned the recently concluded general elections in Pakistan.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* US on war path against Islamic states: Kashmiri leader

November 24 -- Kashmir's All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on Sunday charged that the United States was pursuing a war path against Muslim nations in the Middle East. "The US possible attack on Iraq will be the start of its aggressive policies against other Muslim countries in the region that it considers could hamper its sinister motives," said a Kashmiri leader.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* Five Indian army men killed in explosion in Jammu and Kashmir

November 23 -- At least five army personnel were killed and several injured when the militants blew up their vehicle by triggering a landmine blast on Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Saturday, police said. The blast which took place at Lower Munda, 90 kms from here, blew up the bus in which Indian army men were traveling from Srinagar to Jammu into pieces, police said.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* India's Kashmir Committee agree to find lasting solution

November 23 -- Kashmir Committee headed by Ram Jethmalani and 23-party conglomerate of All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) have agreed to continue dialogue, to find out lasting solution to Kashmir problem.Hurriyat Conference also gave a 'go ahead' to Kashmir Committee for talks with its Pakistani counterpart, the committee headed by Sardar Qayoom Khan of Azad Kashmir to promote dialogue and involve the relevant parties.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* India, China to hold next meeting on border row in January

November 23 -- India and China, seeking to resolve the thorny boundary dispute, on Friday decided to have the next meeting of diplomatic and military experts in Beijing in January after talks held in a 'positive and forward-looking manner' over two days. According to a press release of India's Ministry of External Affairs, a copy of which is received by IRNA on Saturday said that the issue of exchanging maps on the western sector to discuss and resolve differences over demarcation of boundary would be take up at the Beijing meeting.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* New political party launched in Kashmir

November 23 -- A new political outfit, Socialist Democratic Party (SDP), was launched in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday with its president charging all mainstream parties, including the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP), with indulging in opportunistic politics'. SDP president, Darakhshan Andrabi told reporters here at the launch of the party that 'the old sinners in politics in Kashmir have used people for their own petty interests, which is alienating the masses from politicians and the political process'.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

* India reinforces support for Lankan peace process

November 23 -- India on Friday reinforced its support for the peace process in Sri Lanka and its commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the island nation. India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters Friday evening that India has decided not to have any political or headquarters-level representation in the donor conference in Oslo, in support of the ongoing peace process in the island nation, next week but may ask someone from the Indian mission there to be present.

http://www.irna.com/en/world/.ewo.shtml

Editorial
---------

* India not yet prepared to ditch Iraq

November 22 -- As the crisis over Iraq enters a new phase with the return of the weapons inspectors to that country, India has sent out a clear anti-war signal, distancing itself from the United States' position. In a statement of support to Baghdad, India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said this week that he hoped there would be no war in Iraq. "All issues should be sorted out through discussions under the auspices of the United Nations," he said.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DK23Df07.html

Business/Technology
-------------------

* China's exports to India zoom 34.4%

November 23 -- Even as India-China bilateral trade is set to achieve an all-time high of over US$4 billion in 2002, Chinese exports to India during the first nine months have registered an impressive 34.4 percent growth over the same period last year. While bilateral trade during the January-June period of this year was somewhat lackluster, the momentum has picked up during the third quarter, official sources said on Friday.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DK23Df09.html

South Asia

* India's Hindu medicinal product exports up

November 23 -- Indian exports of indigenous Ayurveda and Unani products to 126 countries has recorded an increase of almost 70 percent, from Rs 1.30 billion in 1998-99 to Rs 2.20 billion (US$45.6 million) in 2000-01. Ayurveda is the ancient Hindu science of health and medicine. Germany stood second in terms of value of the exports after Russia with an increase of 700 percent from Rs 27 million in 1998-99 to Rs 217 million in 2000-01, an Indo-German Export Promotion Project (IGEP) press release said.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DK23Df02.html

* Nearshoring: India's hot new IT opportunity

November 22 -- The global economic slowdown that has resulted in reduced IT spending worldwide has no doubt pushed Indian IT companies towards the offshore advantage, but another new business model that is emerging as a hot opportunity is nearshore outsourcing, or specifically, nearshoring to Canada.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/DK23Df01.html

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