Thai starts e-ticketing

KATHMANDU: Thai Airways International Public Company Ltd is starting e-ticketing from June 1, in accordance with International Air Transport Association regulations. Thai also confirmed that paper tickets that have already been issued can still be used until the expiry date of the ticket. “Paper tickets will be issued for flights involving travelling with an airline that does not have e-ticketing,” states a press release. It plans to go for 100 per cent e-ticketing. — HNS

MSS condemns attack

KATHMANDU: Marwadi Sewa Samiti (MSS) has strongly condemned the attack on Dr Bishwanath Bhagat, leading entrepreneur and social worker. Dr Bhagat was shot by an unidentified gang at his Birgunj residence on Thursday night, states a press release. He has already been brought to Kathmandu by Nepal Army’s night vision helicopter and he is undergoing treatment in B&B Hospital at Gwarko, Lalitpur. MSS has asked the government to thoroughly investigate the incident and take severe action against the culprits. — HNS

India’s economy rises

NEW DELHI: India’s economy grew by 8.8 per cent in the January-March quarter from a year ago, driven by growth in the services and construction sectors. But growth was slower than the same quarter a year ago, when the economy expanded by 9.7 per cent. The government also revised up its initial gross domestic production (GDP) forecast for the fiscal year through March to nine per cent from 8.7 per cent. — AP

Inflation hits Asia

SINGAPORE: Soaring energy and food prices will help push the Asia Pacific inflation rate to a forecast 3.6 per cent this year from 2.7 per cent last year, a regional think-tank said. At the same time, growth is tipped to slow to 3.7 per cent from 4.9 per cent in 2007. — AFP