Azizullah Haidari

What drove Aziz Haidari to return to his native Afghanistan to witness the final agony of the Taliban regime in November 2001 was his unshakeable belief that reporting the news, accurately, faithfully, truthfully, can make all the difference. It was that same belief that made Aziz’s nine-year association with Reuters such a profound one, and…

India aide says Pakistan missile triggered n-tests

New Delhi, May 13 (Reuters) – Pakistan’s test launch of its longest-range missile last month triggered this week’s series of underground nuclear tests by India, a senior Indian official said on Wednesday.  

In a briefing for Western news agencies hours after India stunned the world with two more underground nuclear blasts, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, set forth the rationale for the tests in unambiguous terms.  

“No more tests are planned,” he said.

MANILA PHONE LOAN MARKS MAJOR CREDITOR INITIATIVE.

MANILA, March 15, Reuters – A 288 million dollar syndicated loan for the Philippines Long Distance Telephone Co marks a major initiative by Manila’s commercial bank creditors to recycle existing debt, bankers said.  BOT International (HK) Ltd, Citicorp International Ltd and the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corp are lead­ managing the loan. Syndication started…

EUROPEAN INVESTORS SHY AWAY FROM PHILIPPINES 

16 February 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, Feb 16 – A stream of unsettling news from the Philippines has held back many potential small and medium-sized European investors, European Chamber of Commerce secretary-general Christian Roehr told Reuters.  Roehr said several large European multi-nationals had long been in the Philippines and “are…

India says China has surveillance base in Myanmar

3 May 1998 Reuters News English (c) 1998 Reuters Limited NEW DELHI, May 3 (Reuters) – India’s defence minister said on Sunday China had built a sophisticated electronic surveillance base in Myanmar’s Coco Islands and was beefing up airfields in Tibet to take supersonic fighters. “China has installed sophisticated electronic surveillance equipment in the Coco…

FEWER SIESTAS, LEANER STAFF BOOST MANILA TAX REVENUES

9 March 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, March 9, Reuter – Fewer staff members taking fewer siestas may help the Philippines boost South-East Asia’s poorest tax-collection effort, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Bienvenido Tan said on Wednesday.  Tan told Reuters the country’s tax revenues as a ratio of gross national product…

Aquino Again on Defensive After Honasan Escape

3 April 1988  Reuters News  English  (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, April 3, Reuter – Coup leader Colonel Gregorio Honasan’s escape from captivity on Saturday has dramatically revived threats to Philippine President Corazon Aquino’s power, analysts said.  “Honasan’s escape couldn’t have occurred at a less convenient moment for Aquino,” an Asian diplomat said.  Aquino is…

BUSINESSMEN LASH OUT AT MANILA DEBT/EQUITY PROGRAM

18 April 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, April 18, Reuter – Filipino and foreign businessmen have launched a sharp attack on the Philippines’ 20-month-old debt/equity swap program, charging it is too restrictive and arbitrary and actually deters investors.  “Disillusioned investors are the worst possible advertisement for the Philippines,” said a statement…

AQUINO SAYS ADB LEADERSHIP SHOULD REMAIN ASIAN

28 April 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, April 28, Reuter – The Asian Development Bank’s annual meeting opened with a call from Philippine President Corazon Aquino to keep the bank’s leadership Asian and to temper its policy prescriptions.  “(The bank) must continue to view banking, especially development banking, as a relationship…

Japanese says Indian bureaucracy very “inflexible” 

24 July 1997 Reuters News English  (c) 1997 Reuters Limited  NEW DELHI, July 24 (Reuters) – Japan is keen on expanding investment in India but finds its bureaucracy extremely inflexible, a senior Japanese official said on Thursday.  Nobuaki Tanaka, deputy director-general in Japan’s Foreign Ministry, said India accounts for a minuscule 0.25 percent of Japan’s…

U.S. BASES IN PHILIPPINES STIR UP WAR OF WORDS 

13 May 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, May 13, Reuter – The U.S. bases in the Philippines have sparked a superpower slanging match and stirred passionate debate about self-respect, alms-giving, sovereignty and subservience.  Since April 5 when Manila-Washington talks on the future of the bases began, Philippine talk shows and newspaper…

PHILIPPINE BANKS SEEN LOSING OUT ON CURRENCY DEALS 

18 May 1988 Reuters News English (c) 1988 Reuters Limited  MANILA, May 18, Reuter – Philippine banks are missing opportunities by restricting foreign exchange trading to U.S. dollars and not dealing in stronger currencies like the yen, Central Bank Governor Jose Fernandez said.  He told Reuters in an interview that technically, commercial banks could buy or…