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India and Nepal to revise Kosi Treaty

Decision by both the countries to review the Kosi treaty is welcomed especially after the utterly futile mud slinging match that ensued between India and Nepal following the devastating floods in river kosi. The treaty signed in 1956 gives India the entire responsibility for design, construction, maintenance and repair of the kosi barrage leaving Nepal with little or no role to play in the project within its own territory. Yet, India continues to blame Nepal for the annual deluge conveniently forgetting the corrupt politician ? engineer ? contractor nexus within its borders that siphons million for repair and construction of embankments works that are never done. When Nepal next sits with India to discuss the Treaty, it must ensure that we get fair right to decide upon the matters which affect the people within our borders. It is for both the countries to ensure that any revised water agreement between both successfully prevents the reenactment of current tragedy.

Satellite channels becoming popular in Egypt

The fasting month of Ramadan is raining profits for broadcasting companies in the Middle East. 30 days of fasting in the month of Ramadan have transformed the long hours of darkness into prime viewing time. The month takes up as much as half the annual production budgets of some networks and generates a similar proportion of advertising revenue. Competition for airtime in the season also grows fiercer. The variety of programs aired is bewildering than ever. It includes fresh drama serials, score of religious Ramadan specials, celebrity chat-fests and reality shows etc. Satellite television has taken off in the region like nowhere else. In wealthy Gulf States, some 95% of households own digital receivers; even in poorer countries, such as Jordan and Morocco, the satellite penetration rate now tops 75%. Not surprisingly, the number of free-to-air channels availabl