Manila - The Asian Development Bank said Friday that it returned to the US dollar bond market with a 1.25-billion-dollar five-year global benchmark bond issue.

The Manila-based bank said the proceeds of the issue would be used to finance its non-concessional operations.

It added that it plans to raise about 9 billion dollars in 2008.

Thursday's issue was lead-managed by BNP Paribas, JP Morgan and Nomura. The bonds are to mature on September 5, 2013, and were priced at 99.552 per cent to yield 67.25 basis points over the 3.375 per cent US Treasury note.

"We are very satisfied with the transaction and the robust demand from investors, which resulted in an oversubscribed book," bank treasurer Mikio Kashiwagi said.

New Delhi, Aug 29: Nepal's Foreign Affairs Upendra Yadav has said that India has offered to help his country in tackling floods.

Yadav, the chief of the debutant Terai party, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum, discussed issues of mutual importance to both countries with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday and was happy to receive help from India.

"We talked about solving the problem of floods and related problems faced by Nepal. Pranab Mukherjee said the Indian Government will help us in that," Yadav said.

Dhaka, Aug 29: The 9th Home Secretary level talks between India and Bangladesh will begin here today.

The two-day meeting is expected to discuss various security related issues, border management issues as well as ways of enhancing cooperation between the law enforcement agencies of both sides.

The Indian delegation is led by the Union Home Secretary, Madhukar Gupta and the Bangladesh delegation by their Secretary, Ministry of Home Affair, Mohammad Abdul Karim.

The last meeting was held at Delhi on August 2-3, 2007.

Manila - The Philippine military on Friday vowed not to hamper the observance of Ramadan by Muslims in the country's southern region despite rejecting calls to halt an offensive against Muslims rebels during Islam's holy month.

Government troops have been conducting airstrikes and ground assaults against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in various areas in the southern region of Mindanao since earlier in the month when the guerrillas launched a spate of deadly attacks.

Karachi, Aug 29: Taking a note of a large number of Hindus migrating to other places in the Sindh province due to an increase in the number of kidnappings for ransom, robberies and other threats, the Pakistan Government has reportedly asked the Sindh provincial government to submit a report on the displacement of Hindus and other minorities.

The federal Interior Ministry has also directed the Sindh government to take action against the worsening law and order situation, the reason for the migration of the minorities, particularly from Kashmore and Jacobabad, reported the Daily Times.

New Delhi, Aug. 28 : Links between Central Asia and South Asia stand a chance of improving only if the historical linkages of the past are given their due importance and applied in the modern context, a strategic affairs expert has said.