Talks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit major hurdles, mainly because Beijing will not agree to Colombo's demand for a review of the deal after 10 years, Sri Lanka's top negotiator said.

China has invested billions of dollars building ports and roads and power stations in the Indian Ocean island nation just off the southern toe of India as part of its Belt and Road Initiative to increase its trade and other connections across Asia and beyond.

But concerns have grown in recent months that such investments can drive the country of 21 million people deeper into debt and undermine its sovereignty, prompting greater scrutiny of deals with China.

China's exports to Sri Lanka dwarf the trade that goes in the other direction, leaving Colombo with a big deficit with Beijing.

Sri Lanka's chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghe said this week that Colombo was insisting on a right to review the free trade pact after ten years, but China was not ready to agree that.

Ministerial-level discussions about an agreement have not been held since March last year. Lower-level discussions between officials have made little progress, according to Weerasinghe.

"The talks have come to a standstill. China wants to remove the review clause," Weerasinghe told Reuters. Beijing was opposed to such an option because it wanted longer-term stability, he said.

China’s commerce ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

The review clause that Sri Lanka wants would allow it to change some of the deal terms if they were hurting the island nation’s local businesses.

ANOTHER CONTENTIOUS ISSUE

Weerasinghe said another point of contention was that China wanted zero tariffs on 90 per cent of goods the two countries sold to each other as soon as an agreement is signed while Colombo would rather it started with zero tariffs on only half of the products concerned and expanded gradually over 20 years.

China has been pushing for free trade pacts with countries in the region and last year sealed an agreement with the Maldives that drew criticism from opposition political groups in the tropical islands' nation. They said it had been rushed through parliament with less than an hour of debate.

Sri Lanka has previously said it wanted more time to negotiate the free trade deal with China as it is concerned about the economic impact of a rushed deal on its economy.

Sri Lanka imported $4.2 billion worth of Chinese goods in 2016, mostly raw materials for garments, machines and electronics, metals, transport equipment and chemicals. Its exports to the world's second-largest economy were just $211 million the same year, which included textiles, tea and vegetables, footwear and rubber.

The 2017 figures for China trade have still not been released by the Sri Lankan authorities.

The trade deficit with China accounted for nearly half of the nation's total deficit in 2016, adding pressure on the country’s current account deficit, central bank data showed.

Sri Lanka’s foreign debt rose nearly 17 per cent to 4.72 trillion rupees ($30 billion) last year, a fifth of that coming from loans from China to finance the massive construction programme across the island.

Colombo is separately negotiating a trade pact with India, but that is also moving slowly because Sri Lankan businesses fear they will face competition from a flood of cheap goods made by Indian firms. &nbsp

China has invested billions of dollars building ports and roads and power stations in the Indian Ocean island nation just off the southern toe of India as part of its Belt and Road Initiative to increase its trade and other connections across Asia and beyond

Talks between China and Sri Lanka for a free trade agreement have hit major hurdles, mainly because Beijing will not agree to Colombo's demand for a review of the deal after 10 years, Sri Lanka's top negotiator said. China has invested billions of dollars building ports and roads and power stations in the Indian Ocean island nation just off the southern toe of India as part of its Belt and Road Initiative to increase its trade and other connections across Asia and beyond. But concerns have grown in recent months that such investments can drive the country of 21 million people deeper into debt and undermine its sovereignty, prompting greater scrutiny of deals with China. China's exports to Sri Lanka dwarf the trade that goes in the other direction, leaving Colombo with a big deficit with Beijing. Sri Lanka's chief trade negotiator K.J. Weerasinghe said this week that Colombo was insisting on a right to review the free trade pact after ten years, but China was not ready to agree that. Ministerial-level discussions about an agreement have not been held since March last year. Lower-level discussions between officials have made little progress, according to Weerasinghe. "The talks have come to a standstill. China wants to remove the review clause," Weerasinghe told Reuters. Beijing was opposed to such an option because it wanted longer-term stability, he said. China’s commerce ministry did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. The review clause that Sri Lanka wants would allow it to change some of the deal terms if they were hurting the island nation’s local businesses. ANOTHER CONTENTIOUS ISSUE Weerasinghe said another point of contention was that China wanted zero tariffs on 90 per cent of goods the two countries sold to each other as soon as an agreement is signed while Colombo would rather it started with zero tariffs on only half of the products concerned and expanded gradually over 20 years. China has been pushing for free trade pacts with countries in the region and last year sealed an agreement with the Maldives that drew criticism from opposition political groups in the tropical islands' nation. They said it had been rushed through parliament with less than an hour of debate. Sri Lanka has previously said it wanted more time to negotiate the free trade deal with China as it is concerned about the economic impact of a rushed deal on its economy. Sri Lanka imported $4.2 billion worth of Chinese goods in 2016, mostly raw materials for garments, machines and electronics, metals, transport equipment and chemicals. Its exports to the world's second-largest economy were just $211 million the same year, which included textiles, tea and vegetables, footwear and rubber. The 2017 figures for China trade have still not been released by the Sri Lankan authorities. The trade deficit with China accounted for nearly half of the nation's total deficit in 2016, adding pressure on the country’s current account deficit, central bank data showed. Sri Lanka’s foreign debt rose nearly 17 per cent to 4.72 trillion rupees ($30 billion) last year, a fifth of that coming from loans from China to finance the massive construction programme across the island. Colombo is separately negotiating a trade pact with India, but that is also moving slowly because Sri Lankan businesses fear they will face competition from a flood of cheap goods made by Indian firms.

China's free trade talks with Sri Lanka hit major hurdles

The volume of U.S. crude oil arriving in Asia is expected to hit a new high in July as Asian refiners sought arbitrage supplies to replace Middle Eastern crude after prices for Gulf grades rose, traders said on Wednesday.

U.S. crude arriving in Asia hit an all-time high of close to 25 million barrels in May with cargoes discharging in China, South&nbspKorea, Singapore, India and Malaysia, according to trade flows data on Eikon.

The volume dips to about 19 million barrels in June, but is set to rebound again in July after U.S. crude futures slipped to the widest discount in three years against Brent this week, according to traders and Eikon data.

The drop in U.S. crude prices coincides with rising values for Middle East oil in Asia and has opened the arbitrage window, traders said.

Close to 10 supertankers, each carrying 2 million barrels of crude, have been lined up to load oil in the U.S. Gulf Coast for Asia, two of the traders said. These are expected to arrive in July, they said.

"WTI Midland is coming across," a third trader said, adding that refiners such as JXTG Nippon, SK Energy and Cosmo Oil have bought U.S. crude.

Last week, Indian state-refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC) bought 3 million barrels of U.S. crude for loading in June.

Some of the popular U.S. grades in Asia such as WTI Midland, Mars and Southern Green Canyon can now compete with Middle East grades such as Murban and Oman in Asia, traders said.

WTI Midland crude delivered to&nbspNorth&nbspAsia are priced at a premium of close to $5 a barrel to Dubai quotes, comparable with Abu Dhabi's Murban, while Mars crude cargoes are being offered at $1.50 a barrel above Dubai quotes, competitive with Oman, they said.

Light sweet WTI Midland comes from the Permian basin, a region which was a key contributor to record shale oil production in June. The grade's cash discount hit the lowest in four years earlier this month.

"The value for Midland is better than Murban for cargoes landing in China," a trader with a Chinese company said, adding that the influx of U.S. oil supplies may put some downward pressure on Middle East crude prices.

The Middle East crude market has been underpinned by supply cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, peak summer demand and as fears of disruption in Iranian supplies after the United States withdrew from a global nuclear pact fueled sentiment.

U.S. crude arriving in Asia hit an all-time high of close to 25 million barrels in May with cargoes discharging in China, South Korea, Singapore, India and Malaysia, according to trade flows data on Eikon

The volume of U.S. crude oil arriving in Asia is expected to hit a new high in July as Asian refiners sought arbitrage supplies to replace Middle Eastern crude after prices for Gulf grades rose, traders said on Wednesday. U.S. crude arriving in Asia hit an all-time high of close to 25 million barrels in May with cargoes discharging in China, South&nbspKorea, Singapore, India and Malaysia, according to trade flows data on Eikon. The volume dips to about 19 million barrels in June, but is set to rebound again in July after U.S. crude futures slipped to the widest discount in three years against Brent this week, according to traders and Eikon data. The drop in U.S. crude prices coincides with rising values for Middle East oil in Asia and has opened the arbitrage window, traders said. Close to 10 supertankers, each carrying 2 million barrels of crude, have been lined up to load oil in the U.S. Gulf Coast for Asia, two of the traders said. These are expected to arrive in July, they said. "WTI Midland is coming across," a third trader said, adding that refiners such as JXTG Nippon, SK Energy and Cosmo Oil have bought U.S. crude. Last week, Indian state-refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC) bought 3 million barrels of U.S. crude for loading in June. Some of the popular U.S. grades in Asia such as WTI Midland, Mars and Southern Green Canyon can now compete with Middle East grades such as Murban and Oman in Asia, traders said. WTI Midland crude delivered to&nbspNorth&nbspAsia are priced at a premium of close to $5 a barrel to Dubai quotes, comparable with Abu Dhabi's Murban, while Mars crude cargoes are being offered at $1.50 a barrel above Dubai quotes, competitive with Oman, they said. Light sweet WTI Midland comes from the Permian basin, a region which was a key contributor to record shale oil production in June. The grade's cash discount hit the lowest in four years earlier this month. "The value for Midland is better than Murban for cargoes landing in China," a trader with a Chinese company said, adding that the influx of U.S. oil supplies may put some downward pressure on Middle East crude prices. The Middle East crude market has been underpinned by supply cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, peak summer demand and as fears of disruption in Iranian supplies after the United States withdrew from a global nuclear pact fueled sentiment.

US oil shipments to Asia may hit new high in July, cool Mideast crude prices

I thought landing in Istanbul would be an experience. It turned out to be a banal exercise. Routine and well-practised.&nbsp;

I reached my hotel quickly. A hotel belonging to the same chain exists in NOIDA too.&nbsp;

In Turkey, a narrow strip of water — the Bosphorus Strait — divides Asia from Europe.&nbsp;

I was amused to find later that the two sides also reflects the cultural differences between the two sides. As my guide confessed to me, alcohol is served more widely on the European side. (I had packed a bottle to be on the safe side but fortunately, my hotel was on the European side.)&nbsp;

The Asian side seemed older and traditional, the European more cosmopolitan.&nbsp;

 
A vague idea of India

Istanbul has a vague idea of India.&nbsp;

At a posh eatery near the waterfront, I met a man at lunch who spoke about the late filmmaker Raj Kapoor, and the bane of Hindi cinema.&nbsp;

When I enquired about the "bane", he said "length".&nbsp;

"Either you are a Pakistani or an Indian,” he said as we started to chat.&nbsp;

I wasn’t pleased. But the conversation quickly veered to vegetarian food, a big concern for my wife.&nbsp;

On the one hand, I savoured the moment of being identified as Indian while on the other, I was miffed for being clubbed with the Pakistanis. But then these are the small and beautiful mercies of globalisation, when it becomes difficult for the other to treat you like an alien.&nbsp;

 
'Dikkat', which means 'difficulty' or 'to stop' 
 
The word "dikkat", which means "difficulty" in Hindi and Urdu, means "to stop" in Turkish.&nbsp;

The word was not alien to me. I understood what it meant. It was in front of a kebab shop and I didn’t feel too "nationalistic" about ownership of it.&nbsp;

Deep down, I knew that like chocolate, potato, biryani and many other things, this too came from faraway lands but we made them our own by spicing them up.&nbsp;

We bettered them.&nbsp;

<img alt="istanbul3.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/istanbul3.jpg" width="770" />

<img alt="istanbul2.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/istanbul2.jpg" width="770" />

<img alt="istanbul4.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/istanbul4.jpg" width="770" />

 
Who are we, and how did we become this way?&nbsp; 
The news on TV was filled with talk about Syrian immigrants, the Iran deal and oil. Some of it was inward-looking.&nbsp;

With liberalism in retreat throughout the world, "strong" leaders have emerged through the ballot box who are now asserting their economic and cultural nationalism. Turkey is one example. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Similar debates pepper the popular media in India.&nbsp;

Most of the debates are about who we are without understanding how we became this way because of constant interaction with the world. We are becoming insular. Inward looking.&nbsp;

A case in point is whether India became modern under the Marathas or the Mughals? Absolutely not. Would we have been richer without cultural interaction or poorer? Obviously poorer. 
&nbsp; 
Turkey stands at the confluence of two continents. Did it become poorer by cultural intercourse or richer? Absorbing all those influences made them prosperou.&nbsp;

Though their transition to modernity was preceded by the collapse of the Ottomon empire, a nation with a wider worldview was already shaping up under Ataturk.

Today, debate in India is only about who we are.&nbsp;

Who are we? What makes us a nation? Is it culture or constitution?&nbsp;

The debate continues.&nbsp;

The debate is polarising and insular.&nbsp;

Despite nations being the most workable system, they are not cast in stone. They can wither away. 
&nbsp;

Indebted to globalisation

So, to not be treated as an alien in Istanbul, I truly felt indebted to globalisation. 
&nbsp; 
Today, globalisation is a maligned word. In this world of economic and cultural nationalism, it was good to be culturally acknowledged and accepted as different.&nbsp;

With all due respect, Istanbul's Spice Market looked like an upgraded version of Palika Bazar but the fact that 10 percent of the shopkeepers there knew Hindi was good enough for me.

In an ever-changing world, we are becoming more and more culturally insular. Our quest is not to discover the other but to find sameness in a faraway land. &nbsp;&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
At a time like this, if India turns insular, then it should not aspire to be a world leader.&nbsp;

More initiatives were taken under a Nehru when India’s economy counted for nothing on the world stage. 
&nbsp; 
The question to be debated is whether political and cultural insularity will help India?&nbsp;

Doesn’t this country need to be intellectually connected with wider world issues, rather than worrying about who we are, who we&nbsp;were and what are the purest elements of the Indian identity.

In Turkey, a narrow strip of water — the Bosphorus Strait — divides Asia from Europe. Cultural differences show up on either side

I thought landing in Istanbul would be an experience. It turned out to be a banal exercise. Routine and well-practised. I reached my hotel quickly. A hotel belonging to the same chain exists in NOIDA too. In Turkey, a narrow strip of water — the Bosphorus Strait — divides Asia from Europe. I was amused to find later that the two sides also reflects the cultural differences between the two sides. As my guide confessed to me, alcohol is served more widely on the European side. (I had packed a bottle to be on the safe side but fortunately, my hotel was on the European side.) The Asian side seemed older and traditional, the European more cosmopolitan. A vague idea of India Istanbul has a vague idea of India. At a posh eatery near the waterfront, I met a man at lunch who spoke about the late filmmaker Raj Kapoor, and the bane of Hindi cinema. When I enquired about the "bane", he said "length". "Either you are a Pakistani or an Indian,” he said as we started to chat. I wasn’t pleased. But the conversation quickly veered to vegetarian food, a big concern for my wife. On the one hand, I savoured the moment of being identified as Indian while on the other, I was miffed for being clubbed with the Pakistanis. But then these are the small and beautiful mercies of globalisation, when it becomes difficult for the other to treat you like an alien. 'Dikkat', which means 'difficulty' or 'to stop' The word "dikkat", which means "difficulty" in Hindi and Urdu, means "to stop" in Turkish. The word was not alien to me. I understood what it meant. It was in front of a kebab shop and I didn’t feel too "nationalistic" about ownership of it. Deep down, I knew that like chocolate, potato, biryani and many other things, this too came from faraway lands but we made them our own by spicing them up. We bettered them. Who are we, and how did we become this way? The news on TV was filled with talk about Syrian immigrants, the Iran deal and oil. Some of it was inward-looking. With liberalism in retreat throughout the world, "strong" leaders have emerged through the ballot box who are now asserting their economic and cultural nationalism. Turkey is one example. Similar debates pepper the popular media in India. Most of the debates are about who we are without understanding how we became this way because of constant interaction with the world. We are becoming insular. Inward looking. A case in point is whether India became modern under the Marathas or the Mughals? Absolutely not. Would we have been richer without cultural interaction or poorer? Obviously poorer. Turkey stands at the confluence of two continents. Did it become poorer by cultural intercourse or richer? Absorbing all those influences made them prosperou. Though their transition to modernity was preceded by the collapse of the Ottomon empire, a nation with a wider worldview was already shaping up under Ataturk. Today, debate in India is only about who we are. Who are we? What makes us a nation? Is it culture or constitution? The debate continues. The debate is polarising and insular. Despite nations being the most workable system, they are not cast in stone. They can wither away. Indebted to globalisation So, to not be treated as an alien in Istanbul, I truly felt indebted to globalisation. Today, globalisation is a maligned word. In this world of economic and cultural nationalism, it was good to be culturally acknowledged and accepted as different. With all due respect, Istanbul's Spice Market looked like an upgraded version of Palika Bazar but the fact that 10 percent of the shopkeepers there knew Hindi was good enough for me. In an ever-changing world, we are becoming more and more culturally insular. Our quest is not to discover the other but to find sameness in a faraway land. At a time like this, if India turns insular, then it should not aspire to be a world leader. More initiatives were taken under a Nehru when India’s economy counted for nothing on the world stage. The question to be debated is whether political and cultural insularity will help India? Doesn’t this country need to be intellectually connected with wider world issues, rather than worrying about who we are, who we were and what are the purest elements of the Indian identity.

Istanbul diary: Small mercies of globalisation

Demand for physical gold barely changed in major Asian hubs this week even as global prices weakened, while a correction in local rates in India prompted retail consumers and jewellers to start purchases.

In India, gold futures were trading at around 31,011 rupees per 10 grams, after rising to their highest since August 2016 at 31,620 rupees last month.

"Demand has been improving. Retail buyers are making purchases for weddings," said Harshad Ajmera, the proprietor of JJ Gold House, a wholesaler in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.

Dealers were charging a premium of up to $1.5 an ounce over official domestic prices this week, compared with a premium of $1 last week. The domestic price includes a 10 per cent import tax.

"Jewellers are comfortable making purchases around $1,300. They are making purchases as their inventory has already been depleted due to thin buying in last few weeks," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a private bullion importing bank.

In the March quarter, Indian gold demand fell 12 per cent from a year earlier to 115.6 tonnes, as jewellery demand dropped to the second-lowest level in 10 years, the World Gold Council said on Thursday.

But demand may improve through the year as positive monsoon rains and government efforts to raise farmer incomes could boost rural purchases enough to offset higher prices because of the weak rupee.

Meanwhile, benchmark spot gold prices eased on Friday, weighed down by a firmer dollar ahead of US&nbspjobs data, and were headed for a third consecutive weekly decline.

"The movement in gold is not too much. People seem to be waiting around these levels," said Ronald Leung, chief dealer at Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong.

In China, premiums ranged $8-$9 this week, unchanged from last week.

The public holiday period earlier this week saw a pick-up in jewellery sales, though overall investment demand remained quiet in the world's top consumer.

"China's 65 percent of annual consumption comes from the jewellery sector. Based on our reviews, jewellery sales during the public holiday (April 29- May 1) was quite well due to seasonality, but sales plummeted after the holiday," said Samson Li, an analyst with Thomson Reuters GFMS.

Premiums charged in Hong Kong were also unchanged from last week, at 50 cents to $1.50.

In Singapore, premiums were marginally higher at about 80 cents this week, compared with 60 cents-70 cents last week.

Physical demand, at least in Southeast Asia, was good this week because of lower prices, said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore.

Gold continued to be sold at par with the global benchmark for the fifth consecutive week in Japan.

In India, gold futures were trading at around 31,011 rupees per 10 grams, after rising to their highest since August 2016 at 31,620 rupees last month

Demand for physical gold barely changed in major Asian hubs this week even as global prices weakened, while a correction in local rates in India prompted retail consumers and jewellers to start purchases. In India, gold futures were trading at around 31,011 rupees per 10 grams, after rising to their highest since August 2016 at 31,620 rupees last month. "Demand has been improving. Retail buyers are making purchases for weddings," said Harshad Ajmera, the proprietor of JJ Gold House, a wholesaler in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. Dealers were charging a premium of up to $1.5 an ounce over official domestic prices this week, compared with a premium of $1 last week. The domestic price includes a 10 per cent import tax. "Jewellers are comfortable making purchases around $1,300. They are making purchases as their inventory has already been depleted due to thin buying in last few weeks," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a private bullion importing bank. In the March quarter, Indian gold demand fell 12 per cent from a year earlier to 115.6 tonnes, as jewellery demand dropped to the second-lowest level in 10 years, the World Gold Council said on Thursday. But demand may improve through the year as positive monsoon rains and government efforts to raise farmer incomes could boost rural purchases enough to offset higher prices because of the weak rupee. Meanwhile, benchmark spot gold prices eased on Friday, weighed down by a firmer dollar ahead of US&nbspjobs data, and were headed for a third consecutive weekly decline. "The movement in gold is not too much. People seem to be waiting around these levels," said Ronald Leung, chief dealer at Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong. In China, premiums ranged $8-$9 this week, unchanged from last week. The public holiday period earlier this week saw a pick-up in jewellery sales, though overall investment demand remained quiet in the world's top consumer. "China's 65 percent of annual consumption comes from the jewellery sector. Based on our reviews, jewellery sales during the public holiday (April 29- May 1) was quite well due to seasonality, but sales plummeted after the holiday," said Samson Li, an analyst with Thomson Reuters GFMS. Premiums charged in Hong Kong were also unchanged from last week, at 50 cents to $1.50. In Singapore, premiums were marginally higher at about 80 cents this week, compared with 60 cents-70 cents last week. Physical demand, at least in Southeast Asia, was good this week because of lower prices, said Brian Lan, managing director at dealer GoldSilver Central in Singapore. Gold continued to be sold at par with the global benchmark for the fifth consecutive week in Japan.

Weaker gold prices fail to revive demand in Asia; Indian premiums widen

*By:&nbsp;Olivier Telle

Human societies have seen a significant decrease in mortality from infectious diseases over the past century.

However, we must still struggle with ongoing pathologies we once thought were under control (cholera, tuberculosis, plague, etc.) as well as the new ones that have emerged over the last 30 years (HIV/AIDS, Ebola, dengue, West Nile virus, H1N1, etc.).

The vast scale of the global epidemics provoked by these viruses forces us to look more closely at the territories where they emerge.

In India, there has been an accelerated spread of dengue and chikungunya, both transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which is particularly well adapted to urbanised areas.

For example, the annual number of new dengue cases is estimated at more than 30 million, while the number of chikungunya cases is believed to have increased by 390 per cent over the last three years.

Recent estimates indicate that India is the country with the highest prevalence of these two diseases.

Cities, and disease, on the rise

The rise of these infectious diseases is often described in terms of biological processes, but they cannot be reduced to just this dimension.

A range of factors plays a role, in particular, increasing urbanisation and human mobility. The trains connecting Mumbai to its periphery move more than 7 million travellers a day, and New Delhi’s metro system caters to 2.5 million daily commuters.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ty-cnbsV7sg" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<h6>Daily life for millions of Mumbai’s inhabitants.</h6>

The growing attention paid to the epidemiology of these viruses can hence be clearly seen as a direct result of the urban transition taking place in India over the last 30 years.

Collaborative studies conducted by the CNRS, the Institute Pasteur and the National Institute of Malaria Research show that nearly 40 per cent of the population of New Delhi have been infected by the dengue virus at least once in their lifetime.

In addition, we were able to highlight an epidemiology of the virus. Because all parts of the city are now hyper-connected, emerging diseases such as dengue affect both privileged and more deprived areas, be they in the centre or peripheral or rural zones.

The social and spatial ubiquity of the disease demands a reevaluation of the geographical models that we use to understand public health problems, as no one knows how, or even where, to counter these diseases that affect not just countries such as India, but the entire planet.

<img alt="file-20180312-30969-1v7gdg5_0.png" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="257" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/sports/file-20180312-30969-1v7gdg5_0.png" width="754" />

<h6>Density of dengue cases recorded in New Delhi in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (Telle et al., 2016). Olivier Telle, Author provided.</h6>

While urban development is the matrix for emerging infectious diseases, one also expects these territories to be resilient to these new viruses, with better communication, sanitation and healthcare, among other attributes. But they do not seem to have been able to adapt: not only do the pathogens continue to spread, but they also emerge and spread more quickly.

How to tackle an invisible disease

The problem of managing these diseases arises along with the practices that have led to this lack of resilience. What we mainly find is an inequality in disease management, particularly in large cities and the zones between them.

In New Delhi, more than 35 hospitals record the number of patients suffering from dengue or chikungunya. Based on the data compiled, New Delhi is officially the most affected city in India due to higher numbers of hospitals that register the diseases. Because of the careful record-keeping, the numbers are seven times higher than in Mumbai or Chennai, which – officially at least – are little affected.

New Delhi’s monitoring network functions most efficiently at the city’s core, and thus infectious diseases are far better managed there than in peripheral municipalities, which are nonetheless an integral part of the metropolitan fabric. Despite the fact that 40 per cent of the urban population lives in towns with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, small- and medium-size towns are excluded from this monitoring system.

Territories and infectious diseases are thus caught in a sort of “local globalisation” that requires us to question the concepts of borders, mobility and a spread of the specific urban model.

This process works against an effective management of epidemics: the more widespread diseases become, the more fragmented their management, and the greater their dependence on national, regional and urban health policies.

Adaptability and a reduction of inequalities

At present, the question of the management of infectious diseases is relatively absent in health/urban studies, all the more so when they are approached from a municipal perspective.

While local municipalities are at the forefront of efforts to contain the spread of infectious diseases, they are largely ignored by scientists and international organisations when it comes to adopting effective solutions.

While the emergence of these new diseases is the result of complex phenomena – including the rise in local and international mobility, accelerating climate change and the emergence of new viruses – the resilience of the territories lies precisely in their ability to maintain a measure of spatial and social equity.

Indeed, dispersed management efforts inexorably lead to these viruses spreading locally, regionally and internationally, even in what should be less-vulnerable spaces. The main challenge for India, and all the countries that face these risks, is thus to make the diseases that are currently invisible more visible where they exist. At the international level, the only way to do this is through sustainable cooperation.

Innovating with the cities

The other challenge is scientific. After having studied all the factors that affect the disease – from a pluridisciplinary perspective, necessarily – methods to contain them need to be developed that take into account the complexity of the cities. In particular, it is impossible to act everywhere in megalopolises.

<ul>
	<li>In India, an emerging project associating virologists, entomologists, geographers and political scientists, supported by the CNRS, the Centre for Policy Research and NIMR proposes a twofold action plan.</li>
	<li>First, suggest and develop innovative methods to control mosquitoes that can be implemented by municipalities.</li>
</ul>

Second, using big data, analyse the mobility patterns of millions of citizens and comparing them with the spread of viruses, and thus identify the spaces that need to be monitored. By closely targeting such systems, they may well have an impact beyond the local level. Nonetheless, containment only seems viable in the short term.

To control these diseases in a more sustainable manner, the health of the inhabitants has to become a key factor in urban development. This involves reforming the management of diseases, and hence of urban centres, developing more equitable urban infrastructures, and most of all, developing inclusive cities. In short, investments are required.

However, if the task is important, new approaches and new programmes – for example, smart cities or sustainable towns – may be a means of better containing these epidemics.

It is essential to ensure that these programmes do not remain concentrated in the most privileged areas, as they will have only a limited impact. These epidemics are a scourge, but also an opportunity: in a context where these infectious diseases do not recognise administrative frontiers, much less social ones, they may finally have a positive impact on urban development and encourage the development of more inclusive cities

*Olivier Telle is a Research scientist at CSH, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)

(This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/emerging-infectious-diseases-in-india-the-scourge-that-could-boost-urban-development-95076">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Nearly 40 per cent of the population of New Delhi have been infected by the dengue virus at least once in their lifetime

*By: Olivier Telle Human societies have seen a significant decrease in mortality from infectious diseases over the past century. However, we must still struggle with ongoing pathologies we once thought were under control (cholera, tuberculosis, plague, etc.) as well as the new ones that have emerged over the last 30 years (HIV/AIDS, Ebola, dengue, West Nile virus, H1N1, etc.). The vast scale of the global epidemics provoked by these viruses forces us to look more closely at the territories where they emerge. In India, there has been an accelerated spread of dengue and chikungunya, both transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which is particularly well adapted to urbanised areas. For example, the annual number of new dengue cases is estimated at more than 30 million, while the number of chikungunya cases is believed to have increased by 390 per cent over the last three years. Recent estimates indicate that India is the country with the highest prevalence of these two diseases. Cities, and disease, on the rise The rise of these infectious diseases is often described in terms of biological processes, but they cannot be reduced to just this dimension. A range of factors plays a role, in particular, increasing urbanisation and human mobility. The trains connecting Mumbai to its periphery move more than 7 million travellers a day, and New Delhi’s metro system caters to 2.5 million daily commuters. × Daily life for millions of Mumbai’s inhabitants. The growing attention paid to the epidemiology of these viruses can hence be clearly seen as a direct result of the urban transition taking place in India over the last 30 years. Collaborative studies conducted by the CNRS, the Institute Pasteur and the National Institute of Malaria Research show that nearly 40 per cent of the population of New Delhi have been infected by the dengue virus at least once in their lifetime. In addition, we were able to highlight an epidemiology of the virus. Because all parts of the city are now hyper-connected, emerging diseases such as dengue affect both privileged and more deprived areas, be they in the centre or peripheral or rural zones. The social and spatial ubiquity of the disease demands a reevaluation of the geographical models that we use to understand public health problems, as no one knows how, or even where, to counter these diseases that affect not just countries such as India, but the entire planet. Density of dengue cases recorded in New Delhi in 2008, 2009 and 2010 (Telle et al., 2016). Olivier Telle, Author provided. While urban development is the matrix for emerging infectious diseases, one also expects these territories to be resilient to these new viruses, with better communication, sanitation and healthcare, among other attributes. But they do not seem to have been able to adapt: not only do the pathogens continue to spread, but they also emerge and spread more quickly. How to tackle an invisible disease The problem of managing these diseases arises along with the practices that have led to this lack of resilience. What we mainly find is an inequality in disease management, particularly in large cities and the zones between them. In New Delhi, more than 35 hospitals record the number of patients suffering from dengue or chikungunya. Based on the data compiled, New Delhi is officially the most affected city in India due to higher numbers of hospitals that register the diseases. Because of the careful record-keeping, the numbers are seven times higher than in Mumbai or Chennai, which – officially at least – are little affected. New Delhi’s monitoring network functions most efficiently at the city’s core, and thus infectious diseases are far better managed there than in peripheral municipalities, which are nonetheless an integral part of the metropolitan fabric. Despite the fact that 40 per cent of the urban population lives in towns with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, small- and medium-size towns are excluded from this monitoring system. Territories and infectious diseases are thus caught in a sort of “local globalisation” that requires us to question the concepts of borders, mobility and a spread of the specific urban model. This process works against an effective management of epidemics: the more widespread diseases become, the more fragmented their management, and the greater their dependence on national, regional and urban health policies. Adaptability and a reduction of inequalities At present, the question of the management of infectious diseases is relatively absent in health/urban studies, all the more so when they are approached from a municipal perspective. While local municipalities are at the forefront of efforts to contain the spread of infectious diseases, they are largely ignored by scientists and international organisations when it comes to adopting effective solutions. While the emergence of these new diseases is the result of complex phenomena – including the rise in local and international mobility, accelerating climate change and the emergence of new viruses – the resilience of the territories lies precisely in their ability to maintain a measure of spatial and social equity. Indeed, dispersed management efforts inexorably lead to these viruses spreading locally, regionally and internationally, even in what should be less-vulnerable spaces. The main challenge for India, and all the countries that face these risks, is thus to make the diseases that are currently invisible more visible where they exist. At the international level, the only way to do this is through sustainable cooperation. Innovating with the cities The other challenge is scientific. After having studied all the factors that affect the disease – from a pluridisciplinary perspective, necessarily – methods to contain them need to be developed that take into account the complexity of the cities. In particular, it is impossible to act everywhere in megalopolises. In India, an emerging project associating virologists, entomologists, geographers and political scientists, supported by the CNRS, the Centre for Policy Research and NIMR proposes a twofold action plan. First, suggest and develop innovative methods to control mosquitoes that can be implemented by municipalities. Second, using big data, analyse the mobility patterns of millions of citizens and comparing them with the spread of viruses, and thus identify the spaces that need to be monitored. By closely targeting such systems, they may well have an impact beyond the local level. Nonetheless, containment only seems viable in the short term. To control these diseases in a more sustainable manner, the health of the inhabitants has to become a key factor in urban development. This involves reforming the management of diseases, and hence of urban centres, developing more equitable urban infrastructures, and most of all, developing inclusive cities. In short, investments are required. However, if the task is important, new approaches and new programmes – for example, smart cities or sustainable towns – may be a means of better containing these epidemics. It is essential to ensure that these programmes do not remain concentrated in the most privileged areas, as they will have only a limited impact. These epidemics are a scourge, but also an opportunity: in a context where these infectious diseases do not recognise administrative frontiers, much less social ones, they may finally have a positive impact on urban development and encourage the development of more inclusive cities *Olivier Telle is a Research scientist at CSH, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Emerging infectious diseases in India — the scourge that could boost urban development

According to reports, at least 17 people were killed on Saturday in China after two dragon boats capsized. The accident happened in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The accident happened while the boats were practising for a race in the Taohua River in Guilin.&nbsp;

The boats overturned owing to strong current. Another dragon boat, which arrived at the scene, also capsized.

Reports suggest close to 60 people tipped into the water. Rescue operations deployed nearly eight boats and over 200 people.

Dragon boat race is popular in parts of Asia. China's Dragon Boat Festival is one of the main attractions in the country. Nationwide races are held during China's traditional holidays.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

Dragon boat race is popular in parts of Asia

According to reports, at least 17 people were killed on Saturday in China after two dragon boats capsized. The accident happened in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The accident happened while the boats were practising for a race in the Taohua River in Guilin. The boats overturned owing to strong current. Another dragon boat, which arrived at the scene, also capsized. Reports suggest close to 60 people tipped into the water. Rescue operations deployed nearly eight boats and over 200 people. Dragon boat race is popular in parts of Asia. China's Dragon Boat Festival is one of the main attractions in the country. Nationwide races are held during China's traditional holidays. (With inputs from ANI)

China: 17 dead as dragon boat capsizes

The increasing temperature across parts of Asia have made records for the month of March&nbsp;already.&nbsp;

At least seven countries set monthly high-temperature records at the end of March, according to national weather authorities and tracking by Etienne Kapikian, a meteorologist with MeteoFrance, along with climatologist Maximiliano Herrera.&nbsp;

However, Pakistan made the highest record with the hottest weather in March end.&nbsp;

On March 30, the temperature Nawabshah, in Sindh Province peaked at 45.5 degrees Celsius beating its old record of 45 degrees Celsius in March 1991.&nbsp;

Moenjo Daro, southwest of Nawabshah, also saw a temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius on March 31. That is noteworthy since that community holds the all-time high-temperature record for the country, of 53.3 degrees Celsius, set in 2010.

Iraq and Qatar also saw record high temperatures during last March at 43.8 and 40 degrees Celsius respectively. Iraq beat its old record of 42.4 degrees Celsius in 2010 and Qatar last saw its highest temperature of March in 1998 at 39 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;

These types of heat events are expected to become more frequent and severe as the world continues to warm due to human emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels.&nbsp;

As the overall climate gets warmer, it becomes easier to set warm temperature extremes, even in months that didn't use to see such hot and potentially deadly weather.&nbsp;

As parts of Asia roast in springtime heat, the eastern US&nbsp;is in a very cold pattern. At the very least, these new records are a reminder that - global warming is on the rise- when one part of the world is exceptionally cool, another part must be exceptionally hot. Cerveny says these pronounced variations suggest the weather pattern will remain interesting for potential all-time records.

On March 30, the temperature Nawabshah, in Sindh Province peaked at 45.5 degrees Celsius beating its old record of 45 degrees Celcius of March 1991

The increasing temperature across parts of Asia have made records for the month of March already. At least seven countries set monthly high-temperature records at the end of March, according to national weather authorities and tracking by Etienne Kapikian, a meteorologist with MeteoFrance, along with climatologist Maximiliano Herrera. However, Pakistan made the highest record with the hottest weather in March end. On March 30, the temperature Nawabshah, in Sindh Province peaked at 45.5 degrees Celsius beating its old record of 45 degrees Celsius in March 1991. Moenjo Daro, southwest of Nawabshah, also saw a temperature of 45.5 degrees Celsius on March 31. That is noteworthy since that community holds the all-time high-temperature record for the country, of 53.3 degrees Celsius, set in 2010. Iraq and Qatar also saw record high temperatures during last March at 43.8 and 40 degrees Celsius respectively. Iraq beat its old record of 42.4 degrees Celsius in 2010 and Qatar last saw its highest temperature of March in 1998 at 39 degrees Celsius. These types of heat events are expected to become more frequent and severe as the world continues to warm due to human emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels. As the overall climate gets warmer, it becomes easier to set warm temperature extremes, even in months that didn't use to see such hot and potentially deadly weather. As parts of Asia roast in springtime heat, the eastern US is in a very cold pattern. At the very least, these new records are a reminder that - global warming is on the rise- when one part of the world is exceptionally cool, another part must be exceptionally hot. Cerveny says these pronounced variations suggest the weather pattern will remain interesting for potential all-time records.

Heatwave sweeps South Asia, Pakistan hottest at 45.5 degrees

Sri Lanka on Monday destroyed $108 million worth of cocaine in public, seized by authorities in the port of Colombo which is increasingly becoming a transit hub favoured by drug smugglers in Asia.

The authorities destroyed 928 kg (more than 2,040 lbs) of the drug, the largest cocaine haul in Asia, which was found in a container of timber on a Colombian ship bound for India in December 2016, and represented part of more than 1,700 kg of drugs seized in the past three years.

The drug haul was destroyed under a special facility in a cement factory close to the country&rsquo;s main airport.

&quot;We are very serious about the zero-tolerance&nbsp;policy on this ... we have a long way to go,&quot; said Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayaka attending the event.

&quot;Sri Lanka is being used as a transit hub. This haul would have been for transit purposes and some parts of it come into Sri Lanka. There is a distribution process and we are tracking the network and the peddlers.&quot;

Through August last year, Sri Lankan customs seized six shipments of high-quality South American cocaine in 14 months, including Asia&#39;s largest-ever haul of the drug in December 2016, at its main port.

On that occasion, about 1,770 kg of cocaine, with a value of $140 million, was seized, of which 840 kg was found in sugar shipments from Brazil.

Senior police officials have told Reuters some gangs are seeking to mask their shipments to Australian and European markets by bringing them into Sri Lanka, then sending them on to Sri Lankan containers.

The drug haul was destroyed under a special facility in a cement factory close to the country’s main airport.

Sri Lanka on Monday destroyed $108 million worth of cocaine in public, seized by authorities in the port of Colombo which is increasingly becoming a transit hub favoured by drug smugglers in Asia. The authorities destroyed 928 kg (more than 2,040 lbs) of the drug, the largest cocaine haul in Asia, which was found in a container of timber on a Colombian ship bound for India in December 2016, and represented part of more than 1,700 kg of drugs seized in the past three years. The drug haul was destroyed under a special facility in a cement factory close to the country’s main airport. "We are very serious about the zero-tolerance policy on this ... we have a long way to go," said Minister of Law and Order Sagala Ratnayaka attending the event. "Sri Lanka is being used as a transit hub. This haul would have been for transit purposes and some parts of it come into Sri Lanka. There is a distribution process and we are tracking the network and the peddlers." Through August last year, Sri Lankan customs seized six shipments of high-quality South American cocaine in 14 months, including Asia's largest-ever haul of the drug in December 2016, at its main port. On that occasion, about 1,770 kg of cocaine, with a value of $140 million, was seized, of which 840 kg was found in sugar shipments from Brazil. Senior police officials have told Reuters some gangs are seeking to mask their shipments to Australian and European markets by bringing them into Sri Lanka, then sending them on to Sri Lankan containers.

Sri Lanka destroys $108 million haul of cocaine

MS Dhoni is expanding the reach of cricket around the world. He is teaming up with the men and women&rsquo;s cricket teams of Singapore to open a cricket academy.

The&nbsp;initiative intends&nbsp;to promote cricket at the grassroots level.&nbsp;

The former Indian skipper will be in Singapore on January 20 to officiate the opening ceremony and will also interact with the students who have signed up to the academy.

Dhoni aims to establish up to 12 other academies in Asia. Recently he inaugurated his first cricket academy in UAE.

&quot;Sports should be an essential driver for the development of a child&rsquo;s character. Apart from being fit, you can learn leadership and other important aspects of life via sports. Every kid should play an outdoor sport. MS Dhoni Cricket Academy is not only about producing cricket talent but our academy&rsquo;s vision is to guide a kid to become a champion in life via sports,&quot; said MS Dhoni.

The MS Dhoni Cricket Academy is the second academy outside of India and gives children and adults the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the game.

The academy will follow a structured curriculum developed by Dhoni while Singapore cricket legends, Chetan Suryavanshi, Chaminda Ruwan and Diviya GK, will work with Dhoni to implement his curriculum.

Dhoni has one of the best records as captain of India, having won International Cricket Council (ICC) trophies in all formats of the game: World Cup in 2011, World T20 in 2007 and ICC Champions trophy in 2013.

Josh Ghosh, CEO, Academia7, said, &quot;Cricket as a truly global sport is in its infancy. The popularity of cricket in the Indian subcontinent parallels a religious fervour and it is just starting to gain broader recognition elsewhere. We are very excited to begin this journey and bring cricket development to Singapore and progressively to the rest of Asia.&quot;

&quot;Cricket is not just a sport, it teaches leadership, trust, determination and a lot more. MS has, time and again, demonstrated how cricket can positively shape personal development. The MS Dhoni Cricket Academy in Singapore will bring skill development beyond just the technical aspects of cricket&quot;, said Mihir Diwakar, CEO, Aarka Sports. Diwakar represented India in the U-19 World Cup.

&nbsp;

Dhoni aims to establish up to 12 other academies in Asia to promote cricket at grassroots level

MS Dhoni is expanding the reach of cricket around the world. He is teaming up with the men and women’s cricket teams of Singapore to open a cricket academy. The initiative intends to promote cricket at the grassroots level. The former Indian skipper will be in Singapore on January 20 to officiate the opening ceremony and will also interact with the students who have signed up to the academy. Dhoni aims to establish up to 12 other academies in Asia. Recently he inaugurated his first cricket academy in UAE. "Sports should be an essential driver for the development of a child’s character. Apart from being fit, you can learn leadership and other important aspects of life via sports. Every kid should play an outdoor sport. MS Dhoni Cricket Academy is not only about producing cricket talent but our academy’s vision is to guide a kid to become a champion in life via sports," said MS Dhoni. The MS Dhoni Cricket Academy is the second academy outside of India and gives children and adults the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the game. The academy will follow a structured curriculum developed by Dhoni while Singapore cricket legends, Chetan Suryavanshi, Chaminda Ruwan and Diviya GK, will work with Dhoni to implement his curriculum. Dhoni has one of the best records as captain of India, having won International Cricket Council (ICC) trophies in all formats of the game: World Cup in 2011, World T20 in 2007 and ICC Champions trophy in 2013. Josh Ghosh, CEO, Academia7, said, "Cricket as a truly global sport is in its infancy. The popularity of cricket in the Indian subcontinent parallels a religious fervour and it is just starting to gain broader recognition elsewhere. We are very excited to begin this journey and bring cricket development to Singapore and progressively to the rest of Asia." "Cricket is not just a sport, it teaches leadership, trust, determination and a lot more. MS has, time and again, demonstrated how cricket can positively shape personal development. The MS Dhoni Cricket Academy in Singapore will bring skill development beyond just the technical aspects of cricket", said Mihir Diwakar, CEO, Aarka Sports. Diwakar represented India in the U-19 World Cup.

MS Dhoni to open cricket academy in Singapore

Bitcoin tumbled more than 12 percent in volatile Asian trading on Friday, dropping below the $15,000 level after touching a record high above $16,000 earlier in the session.

Bitcoin was down 12.6 percent on the Bitstamp exchange at $14,500.76 as of 0530 GMT, after rising to a record $16,666.66.&nbsp;

It was still up more than 30 percent for the week, as investors debated about whether the cryptocurrency was in a bubble that was about to burst.

Bitcoin has gone down more than 12 percent from a record high of $16,666.66 to $14,500.76. The drop came after volatile Asian trading on Friday

Bitcoin tumbled more than 12 percent in volatile Asian trading on Friday, dropping below the $15,000 level after touching a record high above $16,000 earlier in the session. Bitcoin was down 12.6 percent on the Bitstamp exchange at $14,500.76 as of 0530 GMT, after rising to a record $16,666.66. It was still up more than 30 percent for the week, as investors debated about whether the cryptocurrency was in a bubble that was about to burst.

Bitcoin plummets more than 12 per cent to below $15,000

The International Union for Conservation of Nature announced on Tuesday that the number of Irrawaddy dolphin and finless porpoise, residing in Asian waters have considerably dropped, moving to the &quot;endangered&quot; category from &quot;vulnerable&quot;.

According to the Red List of threatened species, the&nbsp;Australia&#39;s western ringtail possum has also moved from &quot;vulnerable&quot; to the &quot;critically endangered&quot; category.&nbsp;

&quot;In the Mekong River, for example, the majority of Irrawaddy dolphin deaths in recent years have been caused by entanglement in gill nets. These nets hang like curtains of deaths across the river,&quot; Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the group&#39;s Red List unit said.

Currently there perhaps less than 70 Irrawaddy dolphin alive in the Mekon river.&nbsp;

The decline in number comes as the number of Irrawaddy dolphin&#39;s halved in the last 60 years. The finless porpoise has also halved in the last 45 years, the group declared.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Irrawaddy dolphin usually occurs in Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao People&#39;s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam.&nbsp;

The finless porpoise is mostly found in&nbsp;coastal&nbsp;waters&nbsp;Southeast&nbsp;and East Asia, Yangtze River and its adjacent lake systems, according to sources.&nbsp;

&quot;These species live in shallow waters near shore and both have populations confined to freshwater systems, and that makes them extremely vulnerable to human activities. The threats pushing species to extinction come from us, from humans ... This also means that we can do something about it&quot; Taylor said.&nbsp;

Due&nbsp;to Australia&#39;s dry and humid climate, it has lead to the massive decline in the western ringtail possums of more than 80% in the last 10 years.&nbsp;

The decline in number comes as the number of Irrawaddy dolphin's halved in the last 60 years. The finless porpoise has also halved in the last 45 years, the group declared

The International Union for Conservation of Nature announced on Tuesday that the number of Irrawaddy dolphin and finless porpoise, residing in Asian waters have considerably dropped, moving to the "endangered" category from "vulnerable". According to the Red List of threatened species, the Australia's western ringtail possum has also moved from "vulnerable" to the "critically endangered" category. "In the Mekong River, for example, the majority of Irrawaddy dolphin deaths in recent years have been caused by entanglement in gill nets. These nets hang like curtains of deaths across the river," Craig Hilton-Taylor, head of the group's Red List unit said. Currently there perhaps less than 70 Irrawaddy dolphin alive in the Mekon river. The decline in number comes as the number of Irrawaddy dolphin's halved in the last 60 years. The finless porpoise has also halved in the last 45 years, the group declared. The Irrawaddy dolphin usually occurs in Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam. The finless porpoise is mostly found in coastal waters Southeast and East Asia, Yangtze River and its adjacent lake systems, according to sources. "These species live in shallow waters near shore and both have populations confined to freshwater systems, and that makes them extremely vulnerable to human activities. The threats pushing species to extinction come from us, from humans ... This also means that we can do something about it" Taylor said. Due to Australia's dry and humid climate, it has lead to the massive decline in the western ringtail possums of more than 80% in the last 10 years.

Asian dolphins close to extinction: Report

Donald Trump&rsquo;s Asia tour was his first overseas trip as the American president and also his longest. Also, it was the most anticipated as it happened at a time when Asia was passing through a politically volatile phase. In the context of belligerent war threats from North Korea, the intensification of geopolitical conflicts among dominant players and the ensuing power realignments, the visit was significant not only for Asian politics but for global peace and security.

While the jury is still out as to whether Trump succeeded in protecting America&rsquo;s politico-economic interests in the region and assuaging the concerns of &lsquo;allies&rsquo; like Japan and South Korea, the American President clearly signaled his intent to work towards initiating a &lsquo;new security order&rsquo; in Asia by strengthening Washington-Tokyo-New Delhi partnership as a counter to the developing Beijing-Pyongyang-Islamabad axis.

It was significant that Trump decided to combine his visits to Japan, South Korea and Vietnam with three major regional summits - the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East Asia and ASEAN Summits-that involved all the major powers around the Indo-Pacific.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Trump did not broach contentious issues like trade imbalances, human rights violations, and China&rsquo;s control over the South China Sea or its support to North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear program.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Trump did not broach contentious issues like trade imbalances, human rights violations, and China?s control over the South China Sea or its support to North Korea?s nuclear program." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

During his tour, contrary to expectations, Trump did not broach contentious issues like trade imbalances, human rights violations, and China&rsquo;s control over the South China Sea or its support to North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear program. Also, he failed to extract tangible commitments from China to intensify pressure on North Korea. Again, what was most noteworthy that at no point, either in his speeches or comments, he made any reference to the American leadership in the region.

It was a major departure as all the previous presidents had tried to push the U.S. into the driver&rsquo;s seat as the guarantor of peace and stability in Asia. It might be construed as Trump&rsquo;s strategy to put &lsquo;America First&rsquo; in foreign policy that signifies a conscious attempt to disengage America from different global crises-gradually withdrawing from conflict zones-and focus primarily upon augmenting its own national power and security.

Trump&rsquo;s rather moderate and conciliatory approach was quite apparent during his China visit where he received a grand welcome and described Chinese President Xi Jinping as &lsquo;a very special man&rsquo;. During his visits to Japan and South Korea, where the focus of meetings was on containing North Korea, his tone was on the whole measured and resolute than expected. In South Korea, Trump talked about strengthening bilateral partnership belying Seoul&rsquo;s fears regarding any disruption in relations. There was a sense of relief that Trump made no further threats of unilateral strikes against North Korea and pointed towards the possibility of exploring diplomatic options to normalise the situation and establish peace.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Praising India&rsquo;s role, the American President offered a &ldquo;renewed partnership with America&rdquo; to strengthen the cooperation, regionally and bilaterally, in the interest of Indo-Pacific.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Praising India?s role, the American President offered a ?renewed partnership with America? to strengthen the cooperation, regionally and bilaterally, in the interest of Indo-Pacific." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

Amidst all these, Trump did outline his broad vision for Asia as he floated a new framework for the region-the &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo;, in his speech on November 10 at APEC Summit at Danang in Vietnam. The idea, centered around the notion of a &ldquo;free and open Indo-Pacific&rdquo;, is considered as Trump&rsquo;s alternative to Obama&rsquo;s &lsquo;Pivot to Asia&rsquo; strategy&rsquo;, at least in form, if not completely in substance. Praising India&rsquo;s role, the American President offered a &ldquo;renewed partnership with America&rdquo; to strengthen the cooperation, regionally and bilaterally, in the interest of Indo-Pacific.

For Donald Trump, the basis of this cooperation should be built on free and fair trading and commerce environment. What is important to note is that Trump&rsquo;s repeated referral to Indo-Pacific was not merely rhetorical in nature, but rather was part of a grand strategy to forge the strategic coalition between the U.S. India, Japan and Australia that could counter growing power and influence of China in Asia. In this context, one of the most important strategic takeaways from Trump&rsquo;s trip was the revival of the Quadrilateral Dialogue comprising the four countries, which met at the level of senior officials on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila almost after a decade.

The United States, of late, has enhanced its military operations both in the South China Sea and the&nbsp;Korean peninsula,&nbsp;emphasising freedom of navigations and resisting Chinese assertions. These issues were discussed throughout Trump&rsquo;s Asia trip and are likely to remain on top of his Asia agenda for some time.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Trump&rsquo;s speech castigating Asian nations for &ldquo;chronic trade abuses&rdquo; and strident stand against Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) did not help in creating confidence among his partners.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Trump?s speech castigating Asian nations for ?chronic trade abuses? and strident stand against Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) did not help in creating confidence among his partners." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

Still, doubt prevails over Trump&rsquo;s sincerity in pushing this strategy as the American President neither devised any concrete roadmap for its implementation nor suggested what exactly would be America&rsquo;s role in the proposed regional order. Also, Trump&rsquo;s speech castigating Asian nations for &ldquo;chronic trade abuses&rdquo; and strident stand against Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) did not help in creating confidence among his partners. It is believed that Trump&rsquo;s rigid stance on &lsquo;economic unilateralism&rsquo;, in the form of &lsquo;America First&rsquo;, would hamper its economy in long-term and also affect its standing in important multilateral forums.

Shunning America, the remaining eleven signatories of the TPP chose to carry forward the initiative and work towards mutually beneficial economic exchanges. The Danang Declaration reflected the mood as it referred to &ldquo;importance of non-discriminatory, reciprocal and mutually advantageous trade and investment frameworks&rdquo;.

Thus, there is more continuity than change in Trump administration&rsquo;s approach towards Asia. Rhetoric is replaced by realism as America braces for a new world order where the American supremacy as a dominant player is fading away rapidly. Trump, much to the dismay of his supporters, is treading a cautious path on contentious issues without attempting any radical shift. This is quite apparent as he tones down his diatribe and tries to introduce a credible and coherent policy on Asia that would bear his unique stamp and at the same time protect American interests.

It is really difficult to predict as to whether the Trump Administration would push for a new security order in Asia by promoting the framework of &lsquo;Indo-Pacific&rsquo; or would rather choose to strategically disengage itself from the regional quagmire engulfing the continent.

However, America&rsquo;s determination to counter China&rsquo;s growing assertions, both in economic and strategic spheres and the emergence of the &lsquo;Quad&rsquo; as a dominant block might usher in new power equilibrium in Asia, changing the contours of existing power relationships. Trump&rsquo;s Asia tour has signalled a new beginning or at least a step forward in that direction.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

America?s determination to counter China?s growing assertions is changing the contours of existing power relationships

Donald Trump’s Asia tour was his first overseas trip as the American president and also his longest. Also, it was the most anticipated as it happened at a time when Asia was passing through a politically volatile phase. In the context of belligerent war threats from North Korea, the intensification of geopolitical conflicts among dominant players and the ensuing power realignments, the visit was significant not only for Asian politics but for global peace and security. While the jury is still out as to whether Trump succeeded in protecting America’s politico-economic interests in the region and assuaging the concerns of ‘allies’ like Japan and South Korea, the American President clearly signaled his intent to work towards initiating a ‘new security order’ in Asia by strengthening Washington-Tokyo-New Delhi partnership as a counter to the developing Beijing-Pyongyang-Islamabad axis. It was significant that Trump decided to combine his visits to Japan, South Korea and Vietnam with three major regional summits - the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the East Asia and ASEAN Summits-that involved all the major powers around the Indo-Pacific. Trump did not broach contentious issues like trade imbalances, human rights violations, and China’s control over the South China Sea or its support to North Korea’s nuclear program. × During his tour, contrary to expectations, Trump did not broach contentious issues like trade imbalances, human rights violations, and China’s control over the South China Sea or its support to North Korea’s nuclear program. Also, he failed to extract tangible commitments from China to intensify pressure on North Korea. Again, what was most noteworthy that at no point, either in his speeches or comments, he made any reference to the American leadership in the region. It was a major departure as all the previous presidents had tried to push the U.S. into the driver’s seat as the guarantor of peace and stability in Asia. It might be construed as Trump’s strategy to put ‘America First’ in foreign policy that signifies a conscious attempt to disengage America from different global crises-gradually withdrawing from conflict zones-and focus primarily upon augmenting its own national power and security. Trump’s rather moderate and conciliatory approach was quite apparent during his China visit where he received a grand welcome and described Chinese President Xi Jinping as ‘a very special man’. During his visits to Japan and South Korea, where the focus of meetings was on containing North Korea, his tone was on the whole measured and resolute than expected. In South Korea, Trump talked about strengthening bilateral partnership belying Seoul’s fears regarding any disruption in relations. There was a sense of relief that Trump made no further threats of unilateral strikes against North Korea and pointed towards the possibility of exploring diplomatic options to normalise the situation and establish peace. Praising India’s role, the American President offered a “renewed partnership with America” to strengthen the cooperation, regionally and bilaterally, in the interest of Indo-Pacific. × Amidst all these, Trump did outline his broad vision for Asia as he floated a new framework for the region-the ‘Indo-Pacific’, in his speech on November 10 at APEC Summit at Danang in Vietnam. The idea, centered around the notion of a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, is considered as Trump’s alternative to Obama’s ‘Pivot to Asia’ strategy’, at least in form, if not completely in substance. Praising India’s role, the American President offered a “renewed partnership with America” to strengthen the cooperation, regionally and bilaterally, in the interest of Indo-Pacific. For Donald Trump, the basis of this cooperation should be built on free and fair trading and commerce environment. What is important to note is that Trump’s repeated referral to Indo-Pacific was not merely rhetorical in nature, but rather was part of a grand strategy to forge the strategic coalition between the U.S. India, Japan and Australia that could counter growing power and influence of China in Asia. In this context, one of the most important strategic takeaways from Trump’s trip was the revival of the Quadrilateral Dialogue comprising the four countries, which met at the level of senior officials on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Manila almost after a decade. The United States, of late, has enhanced its military operations both in the South China Sea and the Korean peninsula, emphasising freedom of navigations and resisting Chinese assertions. These issues were discussed throughout Trump’s Asia trip and are likely to remain on top of his Asia agenda for some time. Trump’s speech castigating Asian nations for “chronic trade abuses” and strident stand against Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) did not help in creating confidence among his partners. × Still, doubt prevails over Trump’s sincerity in pushing this strategy as the American President neither devised any concrete roadmap for its implementation nor suggested what exactly would be America’s role in the proposed regional order. Also, Trump’s speech castigating Asian nations for “chronic trade abuses” and strident stand against Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) did not help in creating confidence among his partners. It is believed that Trump’s rigid stance on ‘economic unilateralism’, in the form of ‘America First’, would hamper its economy in long-term and also affect its standing in important multilateral forums. Shunning America, the remaining eleven signatories of the TPP chose to carry forward the initiative and work towards mutually beneficial economic exchanges. The Danang Declaration reflected the mood as it referred to “importance of non-discriminatory, reciprocal and mutually advantageous trade and investment frameworks”. Thus, there is more continuity than change in Trump administration’s approach towards Asia. Rhetoric is replaced by realism as America braces for a new world order where the American supremacy as a dominant player is fading away rapidly. Trump, much to the dismay of his supporters, is treading a cautious path on contentious issues without attempting any radical shift. This is quite apparent as he tones down his diatribe and tries to introduce a credible and coherent policy on Asia that would bear his unique stamp and at the same time protect American interests. It is really difficult to predict as to whether the Trump Administration would push for a new security order in Asia by promoting the framework of ‘Indo-Pacific’ or would rather choose to strategically disengage itself from the regional quagmire engulfing the continent. However, America’s determination to counter China’s growing assertions, both in economic and strategic spheres and the emergence of the ‘Quad’ as a dominant block might usher in new power equilibrium in Asia, changing the contours of existing power relationships. Trump’s Asia tour has signalled a new beginning or at least a step forward in that direction. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Opinion: Does Trump's Asia Tour sidelines China?

Chinese social media and video game giant Tencent became more valuable than Facebook on Tuesday as investors sent the company soaring into the top five of the world&#39;s biggest firms.

Tencent&#39;s Hong Kong-listed shares have doubled in value this year, and on Monday it became the first Asian company with a market capitalisation of half a trillion dollars.

By the end of the trading day on Tuesday, Tencent&#39;s outstanding shares were worth a combined 4.08 trillion Hong Kong dollars ($523 billion), surpassing Facebook&#39;s $519 billion.

Despite its stratospheric climb, Tencent is still some way behind the world&#39;s most valuable company, Apple, which is currently valued at $873 billion.

Last week, Tencent said profit had grown nearly 70 percent in the third quarter, when compared with the same period last year, well outpacing expectations. Its accelerating growth has sent its shares shooting higher in recent days.

Critics say many of China&#39;s tech companies copy the latest idea seen in the US. That has not been the case for Tencent, which has transformed its WeChat smartphone app into a product wholly unlike other social networking applications seen around the world.&nbsp;

&quot;Tencent is an enterprise that focuses on innovation,&quot; said Huang Hao, an associate researcher at the National Academy of Economic Strategy of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. &quot;Its product ideas are not simple emulations of those of foreign businesses.&quot;

But it also has a distinct advantage over some of its western peers: Facebook and Twitter are blocked in China, cutting off a market of up to 1.3 billion people.

Cashless society&nbsp;

The nearly one billion users who flock to Tencent&#39;s WeChat app, and older platform QQ, can chat, post photos, play games, transfer money and pay for a variety of services in China. They exchange 38 billion messages each day.

WeChat has revolutionised China&#39;s tech industry and even daily life for millions of Chinese.&nbsp;

WeChat&#39;s QR codes, which look a lot like a bar code, are ubiquitous in China&#39;s shops and restaurants, and even fruit hawkers and some beggars carry around the scannable codes, allowing them to accept mobile payment.

The Wepay service, along with its competitor made by Alibaba, has helped China jump from a cash-based society to one at the global forefront of mobile payments.

Even the media and publishing sectors have seen changes to how Chinese consume and pay for content, with millions of WeChat accounts publishing content directly to their followers.

That has rubbed up against Chinese censors, who shut down dozens of accounts publishing the latest tidbits of celebrity gossip over the summer.&nbsp;

Another key to Tencent&#39;s success has been its top game, the multi-player online battle &quot;Honour of Kings&quot;, which has been a smash hit that helped Tencent&#39;s revenue from smartphone games surge by 84 percent in the third quarter.

Tencent&#39;s disruption of industries traditionally dominated by the state has also angered a number of behemoths - from the publishing to telecommunications to banking sectors.

These powerful enemies could pose a problem for the tech giant in the future, analysts say.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;Most of its profits are obtained by foreign investors,&quot; said Huang of the government research institute.&nbsp;

&quot;The government should face up to this issue and consider the ways to promote the development of entirely national enterprises in the future,&quot; he said.

By the end of the trading day on Tuesday, Tencent's outstanding shares were worth a combined 4.08 trillion Hong Kong dollars ($523 billion), surpassing Facebook's $519 billion

Chinese social media and video game giant Tencent became more valuable than Facebook on Tuesday as investors sent the company soaring into the top five of the world's biggest firms. Tencent's Hong Kong-listed shares have doubled in value this year, and on Monday it became the first Asian company with a market capitalisation of half a trillion dollars. By the end of the trading day on Tuesday, Tencent's outstanding shares were worth a combined 4.08 trillion Hong Kong dollars ($523 billion), surpassing Facebook's $519 billion. Despite its stratospheric climb, Tencent is still some way behind the world's most valuable company, Apple, which is currently valued at $873 billion. Last week, Tencent said profit had grown nearly 70 percent in the third quarter, when compared with the same period last year, well outpacing expectations. Its accelerating growth has sent its shares shooting higher in recent days. Critics say many of China's tech companies copy the latest idea seen in the US. That has not been the case for Tencent, which has transformed its WeChat smartphone app into a product wholly unlike other social networking applications seen around the world. "Tencent is an enterprise that focuses on innovation," said Huang Hao, an associate researcher at the National Academy of Economic Strategy of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. "Its product ideas are not simple emulations of those of foreign businesses." But it also has a distinct advantage over some of its western peers: Facebook and Twitter are blocked in China, cutting off a market of up to 1.3 billion people. Cashless society The nearly one billion users who flock to Tencent's WeChat app, and older platform QQ, can chat, post photos, play games, transfer money and pay for a variety of services in China. They exchange 38 billion messages each day. WeChat has revolutionised China's tech industry and even daily life for millions of Chinese. WeChat's QR codes, which look a lot like a bar code, are ubiquitous in China's shops and restaurants, and even fruit hawkers and some beggars carry around the scannable codes, allowing them to accept mobile payment. The Wepay service, along with its competitor made by Alibaba, has helped China jump from a cash-based society to one at the global forefront of mobile payments. Even the media and publishing sectors have seen changes to how Chinese consume and pay for content, with millions of WeChat accounts publishing content directly to their followers. That has rubbed up against Chinese censors, who shut down dozens of accounts publishing the latest tidbits of celebrity gossip over the summer. Another key to Tencent's success has been its top game, the multi-player online battle "Honour of Kings", which has been a smash hit that helped Tencent's revenue from smartphone games surge by 84 percent in the third quarter. Tencent's disruption of industries traditionally dominated by the state has also angered a number of behemoths - from the publishing to telecommunications to banking sectors. These powerful enemies could pose a problem for the tech giant in the future, analysts say. "Most of its profits are obtained by foreign investors," said Huang of the government research institute. "The government should face up to this issue and consider the ways to promote the development of entirely national enterprises in the future," he said.

China social media giant Tencent becomes more valuable than Facebook

Asian energy firms extended a global sell-off Wednesday, dragging regional equity markets, as oil prices continued to tumble on the back of warnings of slowing demand and rising stockpiles.

Both main contracts were down more than one percent as investors were spooked after the International Energy Agency (IEA) cut its forecast for crude consumption, saying recovering prices and a mild early winter were weighing on purchases.

The Paris-based group said the sector would likely be oversupplied in the last three months of the year and 2018, while the US industry body announced a huge jump in stockpiles last week.

The news comes after recent gains in crude fuelled by a production cut by the OPEC cartel and a brewing crisis in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

&quot;The long-awaited short-term correction in oil prices finally occurred overnight,&quot; said OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley.

&quot;Given the bullish run and extended long positioning across commodities in general in recent times, it was only going to (take) one straw to break the camel&#39;s back.&quot;

The losses in oil prices which follow Tuesday&#39;s 1.9 percent fall in WTI and 1.5 percent drop in Brent battered Asian energy firms.

Among the biggest losers, Tokyo-listed Inpex dived 3.7 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration tumbled 4.2 percent, while PetroChina and CNOOC in Hong Kong each plunged around three percent. Woodside Petroleum sank 1.4 percent in Sydney, while Rio Tinto was 2.7 percent lower.

US tax worries :

The sell-off filtered through to wider stock markets, which have been on a broad decline since hitting multi-year highs last week.

Tokyo plunged 1.6 percent, with a stronger yen and a slight slowdown in Japanese economic growth adding to the waning optimism. The Nikkei had ended at a quarter-century high last Thursday.

Hong Kong lost one percent, Shanghai shed 0.8 percent, Sydney was 0.6 percent off and Singapore gave up 0.8 percent. Seoul eased 0.3 percent, Manila dropped 1.4 percent and Taipei was 0.5 percent lower.

In early European trade, London fell 0.4 percent, Paris sank 0.2 percent and Frankfurt gave up 0.7 percent.

The retreat followed fresh losses on Wall Street, where all three main indexes have succumbed to profit-taking after last week hitting record highs.

US dealers are also concerned about Donald Trump&#39;s tax cuts as Republican lawmakers struggle to agree on a unified plan, which has led to speculation the legislation could fail in a similar way to the healthcare overhaul.

On currency markets, the euro held most of its gains after surging on Tuesday in response to better-than-expected German growth figures. The single currency briefly broke above $1.18 in early trade before easing back slightly.

The pound, however, remains weak on uncertainty about the political future of Britain&#39;s Prime Minister Theresa May as her government struggles along with Brexit talks.

Among the biggest losers, Tokyo-listed Inpex dived 3.7 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration tumbled 4.2 percent

Asian energy firms extended a global sell-off Wednesday, dragging regional equity markets, as oil prices continued to tumble on the back of warnings of slowing demand and rising stockpiles. Both main contracts were down more than one percent as investors were spooked after the International Energy Agency (IEA) cut its forecast for crude consumption, saying recovering prices and a mild early winter were weighing on purchases. The Paris-based group said the sector would likely be oversupplied in the last three months of the year and 2018, while the US industry body announced a huge jump in stockpiles last week. The news comes after recent gains in crude fuelled by a production cut by the OPEC cartel and a brewing crisis in the Middle East between Saudi Arabia and Iran. "The long-awaited short-term correction in oil prices finally occurred overnight," said OANDA senior market analyst Jeffrey Halley. "Given the bullish run and extended long positioning across commodities in general in recent times, it was only going to (take) one straw to break the camel's back." The losses in oil prices which follow Tuesday's 1.9 percent fall in WTI and 1.5 percent drop in Brent battered Asian energy firms. Among the biggest losers, Tokyo-listed Inpex dived 3.7 percent and Japan Petroleum Exploration tumbled 4.2 percent, while PetroChina and CNOOC in Hong Kong each plunged around three percent. Woodside Petroleum sank 1.4 percent in Sydney, while Rio Tinto was 2.7 percent lower. US tax worries : The sell-off filtered through to wider stock markets, which have been on a broad decline since hitting multi-year highs last week. Tokyo plunged 1.6 percent, with a stronger yen and a slight slowdown in Japanese economic growth adding to the waning optimism. The Nikkei had ended at a quarter-century high last Thursday. Hong Kong lost one percent, Shanghai shed 0.8 percent, Sydney was 0.6 percent off and Singapore gave up 0.8 percent. Seoul eased 0.3 percent, Manila dropped 1.4 percent and Taipei was 0.5 percent lower. In early European trade, London fell 0.4 percent, Paris sank 0.2 percent and Frankfurt gave up 0.7 percent. The retreat followed fresh losses on Wall Street, where all three main indexes have succumbed to profit-taking after last week hitting record highs. US dealers are also concerned about Donald Trump's tax cuts as Republican lawmakers struggle to agree on a unified plan, which has led to speculation the legislation could fail in a similar way to the healthcare overhaul. On currency markets, the euro held most of its gains after surging on Tuesday in response to better-than-expected German growth figures. The single currency briefly broke above $1.18 in early trade before easing back slightly. The pound, however, remains weak on uncertainty about the political future of Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as her government struggles along with Brexit talks.

Asia's stock falls as oil prices continue to tumble

President Donald J. Trump is wrapping up a whirlwind tour of Asia, visiting five countries in 12 days. The trip revealed much about Trump&rsquo;s style of diplomacy &ndash; one that focuses more on his personal relationships with world leaders than diplomatic relations between countries.

Both democratic and authoritarian leaders have been wooed by Trump&rsquo;s charm offensive. He has highlighted his warm feelings toward China&rsquo;s President Xi Jinping and tweeted that he tries &ldquo;so hard to be [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&rsquo;s] friend.&rdquo;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me &quot;old,&quot; when I would NEVER call him &quot;short and fat?&quot; Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/929511061954297857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Trump&rsquo;s relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, one of the first leaders welcomed to Trump Tower after the election, is &ldquo;extraordinary,&rdquo; according to the president.

This style of diplomacy certainly has its limitations, but could it actually improve the United States&rsquo; relationship with the Philippines &ndash; a key Southeast Asian ally?

Why we need our allies in Asia

On the campaign trail and in office, Trump has often criticised many of America&rsquo;s allies for taking advantage of Washington&rsquo;s generosity and not contributing more to their own national security. However, my research with Queen&rsquo;s University political scientist Stefanie von Hlatky demonstrates that even when allies fail to share as much of the military burden as the United States would hope, they still make meaningful contributions to our military efforts overseas.

Our alliance relationships in Asia are based on a series of mutual defense treaties negotiated in the aftermath of World War II. The U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense treaty signed in 1951 focuses on the countries&rsquo; shared history of resistance against Japan&rsquo;s &ldquo;imperialist aggression&rdquo; in the Pacific. It commits the two nations to mutual aid in defending against an external armed attack as part of a comprehensive system of regional security. Given the possibility of a future confrontation with China over the South China Sea, alliances with countries like the Philippines matter. After all, the Philippines provides access to regional bases and other logistical support.

New leaders, unexpected directions

Since the election of the populist Duterte in May 2016, the U.S.- Philippines alliance has been on rocky ground.

The Obama-Duterte relationship was full of tension stemming from the Obama administration&rsquo;s criticism of Duterte&rsquo;s violent war on drugs, which some claim has now led to approximately 13,000 deaths. Duterte showed no hesitation in calling out the United States for treating the Philippines like a colony, insulting Obama and musing that he might shift his foreign policy toward China and Russia and &ldquo;break up with America.&rdquo;

Trump&rsquo;s election and his overtures to Duterte have helped get the strained relationship back on the right track. The two men bonded over their countries&rsquo; mutual struggle with drugs. They claimed a shared understanding of the importance of protecting one&rsquo;s country. In fact, the administration signaled that Trump&rsquo;s heavily criticised invitation to Duterte to visit the White House was a sign of the &ldquo;very positive direction&rdquo; of the U.S.-Philippines relationship under his leadership.

It is, therefore, no surprise that the two leaders met privately during Trump&rsquo;s Asia visit. Topics on the table included terrorism &ndash; especially the Philippine military&rsquo;s recent success against militants linked to Islamic State in the southern region of Mindanao &ndash; trade and their respective anti-drug campaigns.

Can Trump revive the relationship?

The extent to which the topic of human rights came up in their conversation is unclear. Trump has already been criticised for failing to press harder on this issue. However, it is possible that Trump rightly understands that pushing Duterte on human rights would continue to move Duterte away from the West and toward China.

Trump&rsquo;s comments in China mingled criticism of China&rsquo;s trade practices with praise of President Xi. However, in the Philippines, Trump chose to forgo this more nuanced approach, leaving diplomatic opportunities on the table. In praising Duterte&rsquo;s handling of an Islamist insurgency, Trump could have pushed for an end to martial law in Mindanao. In highlighting how the United States helped in the battle against Islamist militants, Trump could have laid out how much more we can do to improve security and help to rebuild the city of Marawi, which was devastated by the Philippines&rsquo; bombing campaign.

Trump&rsquo;s style of diplomacy and his foreign policy agenda are a radical departure from his predecessor&rsquo;s. In the Philippines, this shift is largely welcome. Sixty-nine percent of Filipinos surveyed by Pew Research Center in late September of this year had confidence that Trump would do the right thing in world affairs.

On his first official visit to the country, Trump praised his treatment in the Philippines as &ldquo;red carpet like nobody, I think, has probably ever received.&rdquo; In turn, he was officially declared &ldquo;a friend of the Duterte administration.&rdquo;

Ultimately, a positive change in the direction of U.S.- Philippines relations may come down to whether Trump and Duterte&rsquo;s mutual admiration is enough to shift the Philippines&rsquo; foreign policy back toward the United States. Doing so will likely require avoiding discussion of human rights, leaving Filipinos to bear the costs.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/did-trumps-charm-offensive-work-in-the-philippines-87235" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

The Obama-Duterte relationship was full of tension but Trump?s election and his overtures to Duterte have helped to get the strained relationship back on the right track

President Donald J. Trump is wrapping up a whirlwind tour of Asia, visiting five countries in 12 days. The trip revealed much about Trump’s style of diplomacy – one that focuses more on his personal relationships with world leaders than diplomatic relations between countries. Both democratic and authoritarian leaders have been wooed by Trump’s charm offensive. He has highlighted his warm feelings toward China’s President Xi Jinping and tweeted that he tries “so hard to be [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s] friend.” Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?" Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2017 × Trump’s relationship with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, one of the first leaders welcomed to Trump Tower after the election, is “extraordinary,” according to the president. This style of diplomacy certainly has its limitations, but could it actually improve the United States’ relationship with the Philippines – a key Southeast Asian ally? Why we need our allies in Asia On the campaign trail and in office, Trump has often criticised many of America’s allies for taking advantage of Washington’s generosity and not contributing more to their own national security. However, my research with Queen’s University political scientist Stefanie von Hlatky demonstrates that even when allies fail to share as much of the military burden as the United States would hope, they still make meaningful contributions to our military efforts overseas. Our alliance relationships in Asia are based on a series of mutual defense treaties negotiated in the aftermath of World War II. The U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense treaty signed in 1951 focuses on the countries’ shared history of resistance against Japan’s “imperialist aggression” in the Pacific. It commits the two nations to mutual aid in defending against an external armed attack as part of a comprehensive system of regional security. Given the possibility of a future confrontation with China over the South China Sea, alliances with countries like the Philippines matter. After all, the Philippines provides access to regional bases and other logistical support. New leaders, unexpected directions Since the election of the populist Duterte in May 2016, the U.S.- Philippines alliance has been on rocky ground. The Obama-Duterte relationship was full of tension stemming from the Obama administration’s criticism of Duterte’s violent war on drugs, which some claim has now led to approximately 13,000 deaths. Duterte showed no hesitation in calling out the United States for treating the Philippines like a colony, insulting Obama and musing that he might shift his foreign policy toward China and Russia and “break up with America.” Trump’s election and his overtures to Duterte have helped get the strained relationship back on the right track. The two men bonded over their countries’ mutual struggle with drugs. They claimed a shared understanding of the importance of protecting one’s country. In fact, the administration signaled that Trump’s heavily criticised invitation to Duterte to visit the White House was a sign of the “very positive direction” of the U.S.-Philippines relationship under his leadership. It is, therefore, no surprise that the two leaders met privately during Trump’s Asia visit. Topics on the table included terrorism – especially the Philippine military’s recent success against militants linked to Islamic State in the southern region of Mindanao – trade and their respective anti-drug campaigns. Can Trump revive the relationship? The extent to which the topic of human rights came up in their conversation is unclear. Trump has already been criticised for failing to press harder on this issue. However, it is possible that Trump rightly understands that pushing Duterte on human rights would continue to move Duterte away from the West and toward China. Trump’s comments in China mingled criticism of China’s trade practices with praise of President Xi. However, in the Philippines, Trump chose to forgo this more nuanced approach, leaving diplomatic opportunities on the table. In praising Duterte’s handling of an Islamist insurgency, Trump could have pushed for an end to martial law in Mindanao. In highlighting how the United States helped in the battle against Islamist militants, Trump could have laid out how much more we can do to improve security and help to rebuild the city of Marawi, which was devastated by the Philippines’ bombing campaign. Trump’s style of diplomacy and his foreign policy agenda are a radical departure from his predecessor’s. In the Philippines, this shift is largely welcome. Sixty-nine percent of Filipinos surveyed by Pew Research Center in late September of this year had confidence that Trump would do the right thing in world affairs. On his first official visit to the country, Trump praised his treatment in the Philippines as “red carpet like nobody, I think, has probably ever received.” In turn, he was officially declared “a friend of the Duterte administration.” Ultimately, a positive change in the direction of U.S.- Philippines relations may come down to whether Trump and Duterte’s mutual admiration is enough to shift the Philippines’ foreign policy back toward the United States. Doing so will likely require avoiding discussion of human rights, leaving Filipinos to bear the costs. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Did Trump's charm work in Duterte's Philippines?

There&rsquo;s been precious little good news from Asia these days. Washington and Pyongyang continue to trade threats of war. Right-wing nationalist Shinzo Abe won re-election as prime minister in Japan last month. Major storms have hammered several countries in the region, most recently Typhoon Damrey in Vietnam.

And now, in the wake of those typhoons comes a mighty wind from the United States. Donald Trump, in the longest foreign trip of his presidency, is currently visiting South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. The silver lining on this Ugly American Tour: Trump probably won&rsquo;t start a war in a region where he&rsquo;s currently travelling.

Lost among all this bad news has been some very good news out of Asia. It hasn&rsquo;t received much media attention here, probably because it only peripherally involves the United States. Last week, South Korea and China ended a yearlong spat over the deployment of a US missile defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). China, believing the system to be designed to eliminate its nuclear deterrent, punished South Korea economically for welcoming THAAD. Now a new government in Seoul, led by liberal president Moon Jae-in, has announced that it would not add to the existing THAAD system or participate in the proposed regional missile defence that Washington wants to set up. That was enough for China to re-engage economically.

It&rsquo;s a delicate balance for South Korea, to maintain its alliance with the United States and yet repair relations with China. The Trump administration is much happier with the passive-aggressive attitude of Tokyo - passively accepting US hegemony while aggressively pursuing an offensive military posture - than with Seoul&rsquo;s somewhat more independent position. Witness the time Trump lavished on Abe on this current trip including a round of golf. South Korea, meanwhile, had to make due with a brief stopover and a strident lecture by the president before the national assembly.

Here&rsquo;s a radical idea for China and South Korea: Forget Donald Trump, forget the United States and forget the Cold War divide in Northeast Asia. The two countries ought to build on their newly repaired relationship. They can make like Germany and France after World War II. But instead of a new regional order based on coal and steel, Beijing and Seoul should establish something completely new: An Asian Environmental Community that promotes renewable energy and sustainable growth.

A new geopolitical moment

Much has been made of Trump&rsquo;s reeling in of American influence around the world, at least on the soft-power side of things, and China&rsquo;s eager efforts to capitalise on the new global opportunities. Perhaps future historians will look back at this moment as the time when China began to replace the United States as the anchor of the international community. Or perhaps they will identify this era as the moment when everything began to unravel, from the EU to the UN.

But let&rsquo;s imagine a different scenario in which the threat of climate change plays the same integrative function as alien invaders in Hollywood films. The planet is at risk: Let&rsquo;s all fight the common enemy together!

True, the world so far hasn&rsquo;t gotten the message. This week the latest round of meetings began in Germany to discuss the commitments made in the Paris Climate Agreement two years ago. The Trump administration, aside from a few token representatives, has been conspicuously absent. Also, absent was any real hope that the agreement would achieve its goal of keeping the rise in global temperature from hitting a 2 degrees Celsius increase above pre-industrial levels.

Reports The New York Times: &ldquo;No major industrialised country is currently on track to fulfil its pledge, according to new data from the Climate Action Tracker. Not the European Union. Not Canada. Not Japan.&rdquo; Even if they do meet their commitments, it still won&rsquo;t be enough. According to a recent Nature study, even if humans stopped all use of fossil fuels immediately, the planet would still register a 2 C degrees increase by 2100.

Not even the announcements that both Syria and Nicaragua will join the Paris Agreement, leaving Trump&rsquo;s America as the only outlier, can alleviate this grim news. The Maldives, Mumbai and Miami are sinking: It&rsquo;s time to make plans to move to Mongolia.

Room for improvement

Enter South Korea and Japan. Here are two economic powerhouses - in the most economically dynamic region of the world - with great PR on climate change.

&ldquo;Tackling climate change is a shared mission for mankind,&rdquo; Chinese Premier Xi Jinping said at the launch of the Paris Agreement. &ldquo;Let us join hands to contribute to the establishment of an equitable and effective global mechanism on climate change, work for global sustainable development at a high level, and bring about new international relations featuring win-win cooperation.&rdquo;

Sounds good. And China has pushed forward with impressive investments into renewable energy - $360 billion by the end of the decade - along with stopping the construction of over 100 new coal-fired power plants. Although China is set to reach peak emissions a decade or more before its 2030 goal, the country remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, having surpassed the United States in 2007. In 2015, it released nearly twice as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as did the United States, and coal still supplies two-thirds of its energy needs. In other words, China has a long way to go before it can claim substantive leadership in stopping global warming.

South Korea has also talked a good game. Former president Lee Myung Bak created the Global Green Growth Initiative, now a multilateral body based in Seoul, to promote sustainability. In 2009, Lee told the UN: &ldquo;To proactively respond to climate change, Korea adopted &lsquo;Low Carbon Green Growth&rsquo; as a guiding vision for our nation and a strategy for further development. We are currently working to enact a Framework Law on Green Growth and establish a Five-Year Plan for Green Growth. Thereby, we will not only transform our economic and industrial structures but also change our very lifestyles to become more future-oriented.&rdquo;

In reality, however, South Korea backtracked from the pledges made during the Lee era. Under his successor Park Geun-hye, now awaiting trial on charges of corruption, Korea made a U-turn on greenhouse gas emissions and decided to rely even more heavily on coal for energy generation. As a result of this change of policy, the Institute for Climate Change Action declared South Korea one of four global &ldquo;climate villains&rdquo; at the end of 2016.

In other words, both China and South Korea have made impressive commitments to lower the global thermometer even as they continue to be a big part of the problem. But let&rsquo;s focus on the future. There&rsquo;s a new government in Seoul and China has a chance to replace the United States as the global leader on this issue. So, let&rsquo;s take it to the next level.

Asian environmental community

When France and Germany formed a new partnership in 1950, the architects had much grander ambitions than simply coordinating the production of coal and steel. They wanted to ensure a peaceful Europe. In his famous declaration that year, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman made the case for cooperation with former enemy Germany:

<q><cite>Five years, almost to the day, after the unconditional surrender of Germany, France is accomplishing the first decisive act for European construction and is associating Germany with this. Conditions in Europe are going to be entirely changed because of it. This transformation will facilitate other action which has been impossible until this day.</cite></q>

There are good arguments for including Japan in a new Asian Environmental Community from the very beginning. Particularly, at the municipal level, Japan has made great strides in reducing its carbon footprint. However, there&rsquo;s considerable resistance in Korea to greater foreign policy coordination with Japan. Japan has outstanding territorial disputes with both China and South Korea. And the Abe administration is focused on breaking out of its constitutional restraints on fielding an offensive military. For all those reasons, it would be best to focus first on achieving consensus between Seoul and Beijing.

So, what would this new Asian Environmental Community do? Both South Korea and China set rather unambitious targets under the Paris Agreement. Their first task would be to establish a more ambitious agenda for cuts in carbon emissions. There&rsquo;s no reason why both countries can&rsquo;t follow the example of Uruguay, which has managed to wean itself almost entirely from oil imports over the last two decades. The economic benefits should be attractive to both Seoul and Beijing: The cost of electricity has dropped considerably in Uruguay, the sustainable energy sector generates more jobs than the oil sector and the country now exports its (clean) energy to its neighbours. Both China and South Korea have traditionally relied on imported oil and gas; this kind of import substitution should appeal to both liberals and conservatives.

Next, the two countries could partner on a much more thoroughgoing greening of OBOR, not just incorporating some sustainable elements but ensuring that the new transportation lines, ports and power plants are carbon neutral. Yes, the massive undertaking has already started, with nearly 1,700 projects over the last three years. But it&rsquo;s still at the beginning stages, with plenty of future investment to green. But a new Asian Environmental Community could be more ambitious still.

Just as Robert Schuman imagined that the coal and steel agreement between France and Germany would bring a broken Europe back together, at least the western half of it, the partnership of China and South Korea could offer a way for Asia to sidestep its myriad disagreements and come together around the one thing that all countries can support. As with early European cooperation, the environmental partnership would be mutually beneficial. Coordinated production of renewable energy - solar panels, wind turbines - could take advantage of economies of scale to bring down prices even more. Generation of clean energy for export could help energy-poor countries go beyond their Paris commitments.

And all this cooperation might just spill over into other realms, making resolution of territorial disputes, economic disagreements, and even North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear program that much more likely. Never has Northeast Asia been more in need of a virtuous circle of engagement.

Asia set the standard for electronics, internet connectivity and formind-blowingly telescoped economic development. Now it&rsquo;s time for China and South Korea to establish a new global green benchmark. The world is desperate for mind-blowingly telescoped environmental development. Let Asia lead the way again.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/region/asia_pacific/china-south-korea-climate-change-paris-agreement-news-01990/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">article</a>&nbsp;has been originally published in Fair Observer.

Image Credit: testing / Shutterstock

China and South Korea could be game changers on climate, creating a more peaceful region in the process by establishing a new global green benchmark

There’s been precious little good news from Asia these days. Washington and Pyongyang continue to trade threats of war. Right-wing nationalist Shinzo Abe won re-election as prime minister in Japan last month. Major storms have hammered several countries in the region, most recently Typhoon Damrey in Vietnam. And now, in the wake of those typhoons comes a mighty wind from the United States. Donald Trump, in the longest foreign trip of his presidency, is currently visiting South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. The silver lining on this Ugly American Tour: Trump probably won’t start a war in a region where he’s currently travelling. Lost among all this bad news has been some very good news out of Asia. It hasn’t received much media attention here, probably because it only peripherally involves the United States. Last week, South Korea and China ended a yearlong spat over the deployment of a US missile defence system called Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD). China, believing the system to be designed to eliminate its nuclear deterrent, punished South Korea economically for welcoming THAAD. Now a new government in Seoul, led by liberal president Moon Jae-in, has announced that it would not add to the existing THAAD system or participate in the proposed regional missile defence that Washington wants to set up. That was enough for China to re-engage economically. It’s a delicate balance for South Korea, to maintain its alliance with the United States and yet repair relations with China. The Trump administration is much happier with the passive-aggressive attitude of Tokyo - passively accepting US hegemony while aggressively pursuing an offensive military posture - than with Seoul’s somewhat more independent position. Witness the time Trump lavished on Abe on this current trip including a round of golf. South Korea, meanwhile, had to make due with a brief stopover and a strident lecture by the president before the national assembly. Here’s a radical idea for China and South Korea: Forget Donald Trump, forget the United States and forget the Cold War divide in Northeast Asia. The two countries ought to build on their newly repaired relationship. They can make like Germany and France after World War II. But instead of a new regional order based on coal and steel, Beijing and Seoul should establish something completely new: An Asian Environmental Community that promotes renewable energy and sustainable growth. A new geopolitical moment Much has been made of Trump’s reeling in of American influence around the world, at least on the soft-power side of things, and China’s eager efforts to capitalise on the new global opportunities. Perhaps future historians will look back at this moment as the time when China began to replace the United States as the anchor of the international community. Or perhaps they will identify this era as the moment when everything began to unravel, from the EU to the UN. But let’s imagine a different scenario in which the threat of climate change plays the same integrative function as alien invaders in Hollywood films. The planet is at risk: Let’s all fight the common enemy together! True, the world so far hasn’t gotten the message. This week the latest round of meetings began in Germany to discuss the commitments made in the Paris Climate Agreement two years ago. The Trump administration, aside from a few token representatives, has been conspicuously absent. Also, absent was any real hope that the agreement would achieve its goal of keeping the rise in global temperature from hitting a 2 degrees Celsius increase above pre-industrial levels. Reports The New York Times: “No major industrialised country is currently on track to fulfil its pledge, according to new data from the Climate Action Tracker. Not the European Union. Not Canada. Not Japan.” Even if they do meet their commitments, it still won’t be enough. According to a recent Nature study, even if humans stopped all use of fossil fuels immediately, the planet would still register a 2 C degrees increase by 2100. Not even the announcements that both Syria and Nicaragua will join the Paris Agreement, leaving Trump’s America as the only outlier, can alleviate this grim news. The Maldives, Mumbai and Miami are sinking: It’s time to make plans to move to Mongolia. Room for improvement Enter South Korea and Japan. Here are two economic powerhouses - in the most economically dynamic region of the world - with great PR on climate change. “Tackling climate change is a shared mission for mankind,” Chinese Premier Xi Jinping said at the launch of the Paris Agreement. “Let us join hands to contribute to the establishment of an equitable and effective global mechanism on climate change, work for global sustainable development at a high level, and bring about new international relations featuring win-win cooperation.” Sounds good. And China has pushed forward with impressive investments into renewable energy - $360 billion by the end of the decade - along with stopping the construction of over 100 new coal-fired power plants. Although China is set to reach peak emissions a decade or more before its 2030 goal, the country remains the largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, having surpassed the United States in 2007. In 2015, it released nearly twice as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as did the United States, and coal still supplies two-thirds of its energy needs. In other words, China has a long way to go before it can claim substantive leadership in stopping global warming. South Korea has also talked a good game. Former president Lee Myung Bak created the Global Green Growth Initiative, now a multilateral body based in Seoul, to promote sustainability. In 2009, Lee told the UN: “To proactively respond to climate change, Korea adopted ‘Low Carbon Green Growth’ as a guiding vision for our nation and a strategy for further development. We are currently working to enact a Framework Law on Green Growth and establish a Five-Year Plan for Green Growth. Thereby, we will not only transform our economic and industrial structures but also change our very lifestyles to become more future-oriented.” In reality, however, South Korea backtracked from the pledges made during the Lee era. Under his successor Park Geun-hye, now awaiting trial on charges of corruption, Korea made a U-turn on greenhouse gas emissions and decided to rely even more heavily on coal for energy generation. As a result of this change of policy, the Institute for Climate Change Action declared South Korea one of four global “climate villains” at the end of 2016. In other words, both China and South Korea have made impressive commitments to lower the global thermometer even as they continue to be a big part of the problem. But let’s focus on the future. There’s a new government in Seoul and China has a chance to replace the United States as the global leader on this issue. So, let’s take it to the next level. Asian environmental community When France and Germany formed a new partnership in 1950, the architects had much grander ambitions than simply coordinating the production of coal and steel. They wanted to ensure a peaceful Europe. In his famous declaration that year, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman made the case for cooperation with former enemy Germany: Five years, almost to the day, after the unconditional surrender of Germany, France is accomplishing the first decisive act for European construction and is associating Germany with this. Conditions in Europe are going to be entirely changed because of it. This transformation will facilitate other action which has been impossible until this day. There are good arguments for including Japan in a new Asian Environmental Community from the very beginning. Particularly, at the municipal level, Japan has made great strides in reducing its carbon footprint. However, there’s considerable resistance in Korea to greater foreign policy coordination with Japan. Japan has outstanding territorial disputes with both China and South Korea. And the Abe administration is focused on breaking out of its constitutional restraints on fielding an offensive military. For all those reasons, it would be best to focus first on achieving consensus between Seoul and Beijing. So, what would this new Asian Environmental Community do? Both South Korea and China set rather unambitious targets under the Paris Agreement. Their first task would be to establish a more ambitious agenda for cuts in carbon emissions. There’s no reason why both countries can’t follow the example of Uruguay, which has managed to wean itself almost entirely from oil imports over the last two decades. The economic benefits should be attractive to both Seoul and Beijing: The cost of electricity has dropped considerably in Uruguay, the sustainable energy sector generates more jobs than the oil sector and the country now exports its (clean) energy to its neighbours. Both China and South Korea have traditionally relied on imported oil and gas; this kind of import substitution should appeal to both liberals and conservatives. Next, the two countries could partner on a much more thoroughgoing greening of OBOR, not just incorporating some sustainable elements but ensuring that the new transportation lines, ports and power plants are carbon neutral. Yes, the massive undertaking has already started, with nearly 1,700 projects over the last three years. But it’s still at the beginning stages, with plenty of future investment to green. But a new Asian Environmental Community could be more ambitious still. Just as Robert Schuman imagined that the coal and steel agreement between France and Germany would bring a broken Europe back together, at least the western half of it, the partnership of China and South Korea could offer a way for Asia to sidestep its myriad disagreements and come together around the one thing that all countries can support. As with early European cooperation, the environmental partnership would be mutually beneficial. Coordinated production of renewable energy - solar panels, wind turbines - could take advantage of economies of scale to bring down prices even more. Generation of clean energy for export could help energy-poor countries go beyond their Paris commitments. And all this cooperation might just spill over into other realms, making resolution of territorial disputes, economic disagreements, and even North Korea’s nuclear program that much more likely. Never has Northeast Asia been more in need of a virtuous circle of engagement. Asia set the standard for electronics, internet connectivity and formind-blowingly telescoped economic development. Now it’s time for China and South Korea to establish a new global green benchmark. The world is desperate for mind-blowingly telescoped environmental development. Let Asia lead the way again. This article has been originally published in Fair Observer. Image Credit: testing / Shutterstock

Let Asia lead the way on climate change

Singapore&#39;s&nbsp;passport&nbsp;has been announced as the most powerful in the&nbsp;world&nbsp;as it secured the top spot in the Passport&nbsp;Index&#39; most powerful ranking with a&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;score of 159.

This is the first time an Asian country has been announced as having the most powerful&nbsp;passport, according to the Passport&nbsp;Index&nbsp;developed by global financial advisory firm&nbsp;Arton Capital.

The index says that&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holders enjoy&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;access to 173 countries.

The ranking has come after Paraguay eased its visa requirement for&nbsp;Singaporean&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holders.

Germany&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sweden&nbsp;ranked second and third, with a score of 158 and 157, respectively.

The Passport&nbsp;Index&nbsp;developed by&nbsp;Arton Capital&nbsp;ranks national&nbsp;passports by the cross-border access that they bring by assigning a &quot;visa-free&nbsp;score,&quot; according to the number of countries a&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holder can visit&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;or with visa on arrival.

The&nbsp;passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories were considered.

Historically, the top 10 most powerful&nbsp;passports in the&nbsp;world&nbsp;tend to be European, with&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;in the lead for the past two years, according to a press release issued on October 25.

Since early 2017, the top position was shared with&nbsp;Singapore, which was steadily moving up the ranks.

Other Asian&nbsp;passports in the top 20 include those of South Korea, Japan and Malaysia.

On the other hand, the United States&nbsp;passport&nbsp;has fallen in the ranking since President Donald Trump took office, according to the index.

Turkey and the Central African Republic revoked their&nbsp;visa-free&nbsp;status to the U.S.&nbsp;passport&nbsp;holders, recently.

Singapore&nbsp;was also fourth this year in the Visa Restrictions&nbsp;Index, another ranking of travel freedom, which uses a different method of calculating how &quot;powerful&quot; a&nbsp;passport is.

The list is as follows:

1.&nbsp;Singapore&nbsp;(159)

2.&nbsp;Germany&nbsp;(158)

3.&nbsp;Sweden, South Korea (157)

4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Japan, United Kingdom (156)

5. Luxemburg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal (155)

6. Malaysia, Ireland, Canada, United States of America (154)

7. Austria, Greece, New Zealand (153)

8. Malta, Czech Republic, Iceland (152)

9. Hungary (150)

10. Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia (149

This is the first time an Asian country has been announced as having the most powerful?passport

Singapore's passport has been announced as the most powerful in the world as it secured the top spot in the Passport Index' most powerful ranking with a visa-free score of 159. This is the first time an Asian country has been announced as having the most powerful passport, according to the Passport Index developed by global financial advisory firm Arton Capital. The index says that Singapore passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 173 countries. The ranking has come after Paraguay eased its visa requirement for Singaporean passport holders. Germany and Sweden ranked second and third, with a score of 158 and 157, respectively. The Passport Index developed by Arton Capital ranks national passports by the cross-border access that they bring by assigning a "visa-free score," according to the number of countries a passport holder can visit visa-free or with visa on arrival. The passports of 193 United Nations member countries and six territories were considered. Historically, the top 10 most powerful passports in the world tend to be European, with Germany in the lead for the past two years, according to a press release issued on October 25. Since early 2017, the top position was shared with Singapore, which was steadily moving up the ranks. Other Asian passports in the top 20 include those of South Korea, Japan and Malaysia. On the other hand, the United States passport has fallen in the ranking since President Donald Trump took office, according to the index. Turkey and the Central African Republic revoked their visa-free status to the U.S. passport holders, recently. Singapore was also fourth this year in the Visa Restrictions Index, another ranking of travel freedom, which uses a different method of calculating how "powerful" a passport is. The list is as follows: 1. Singapore (159) 2. Germany (158) 3. Sweden, South Korea (157) 4. Denmark, Finland, Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Japan, United Kingdom (156) 5. Luxemburg, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal (155) 6. Malaysia, Ireland, Canada, United States of America (154) 7. Austria, Greece, New Zealand (153) 8. Malta, Czech Republic, Iceland (152) 9. Hungary (150) 10. Slovenia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia (149

Singapore passport is world's 'most powerful'

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 requires every country to make pledges to tackle climate change. North Korea is no exception.

Given that air pollution doesn&rsquo;t recognise borders, there are already several emissions-reduction projects underway that will require cooperation between Asian nations.

To meet its obligations, South Korea has pledged to buy emissions credits on the international market, offsetting 11.3 per cent of its business-as-usual emissions in 2030. That is 96.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions &ndash; already more than North Korea&rsquo;s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2013 (78 million tonnes).

Because North Korea has its own obligations now, foreign countries including South Korea can no longer earn carbon credits from their carbon-offsetting projects in the country.

But if South Korea provides technical assistance such as satellite monitoring of North Korea&rsquo;s reforestation progression and then can obtain the country&rsquo;s &ldquo;informed consent&rdquo;, a mutual effort to generate carbon credits could be discussed.

Air pollution

Addressing transboundary air pollution is the latest development in regional cooperation. North Korea has been an inaugural member (since 1993) of the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), one goal of which is to mitigate transboundary air pollution.

A recent study by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (written in Korean) revealed that 38 per cent of pollution particles in the city&rsquo;s ambient air come from China and another 7 per cent from North Korea.

A Japanese air-transport model estimated that more than 45 per cent of ambient PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) concentration in Nonodake (350km north of Tokyo) is from China. Although reducing this pollution in a coordinated way will be a difficult task, real-time data exchange (as proposed by NEASPEC) might be relatively easier.

If the Northeast Asian countries share real-time emissions data as well as the currently available meteorological data, they could generate more reliable pollution forecasts and help people prepare for high-pollution events. The harder task of particle pollution mitigation will be better addressed when the level of negotiating partners is upgraded from the current ministerial level to head of state level.

Developing neighbour-friendly energies

If Northeast Asia is to have a sustainable energy future, more regional cooperation will be required.

The trilateral Russia-China-Korea natural gas pipeline is bringing Russian natural gas to South Korea. Natural gas is not a sustainable energy source, but it can be a &ldquo;bridging fuel&rdquo; to help countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by replacing coal until their renewable energy technology and systems evolve. Then, a natural gas pipeline is an attractive option for South Korea, the world&rsquo;s second-biggest LNG importer after Japan.

Currently, South Korea&rsquo;s natural gas imports consist entirely of more expensive LNG. In the early 2000s, the Trans-Korean natural gas pipeline proposal was planned to supply Russian natural gas to South Korea using a shortcut pipeline passing through North Korea.

Reportedly, South Korean President Moon has shown interest in the project too. However, the project is not possible until the nuclear crisis in the Korean Peninsula is resolved.

Instead, there is an alternative for South Korea to seek a regional d&eacute;tente with a natural gas pipeline. Russia&rsquo;s &ldquo;Power of Siberia&rdquo; pipeline is planned to connect into the capital region of China. If this happens, extending the supply chain to South Korea via an undersea pipeline between China&rsquo;s Shandong peninsula and Korea&rsquo;s Incheon will be simpler. The pipeline would enhance the three countries&rsquo; economic ties and political cooperation.

Asia clean grid connections

The other energy option, the Asia international grid connection, is a project promoted by South Korea, Japan, and Mongolia. The basic idea is that vast solar and wind energy potential of Mongolia&rsquo;s Gobi Desert can be utilised by South Korea and Japan. A super grid would connect the countries in Northeast Asia.

This option&rsquo;s most prominent supporter is Masayoshi Son, chief executive of SoftBank, Japan&rsquo;s third-largest public company. Several research institutions and the Korea Electric Power Corporation, South Korea&rsquo;s only operator of the national grid, have been studying its feasibility.

The Asian Development Bank is conducting a technical feasibility assessment, at Mongolia&rsquo;s request. In April, the Renewable Energy Institute, an organisation founded by Mr Son in Tokyo, found the project will benefit all participating countries, citing many successfully operating international grid connections. But it lacks China&rsquo;s active participation.

If further research can find evidence that the project will significantly improve China&rsquo;s air quality by reducing coal consumption, national governments of the region might help make it happen.

Of course, true green d&eacute;tente in Northeast Asia cannot happen without North Korea&rsquo;s support and participation. However, if any of the reviewed four options become reality, it will give North Korea a strong incentive to cooperate.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tackling-climate-change-could-bring-north-and-south-korea-closer-and-help-stabilise-the-region-82046" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

&nbsp;

Green d?tente options could help South Korea ease the diplomatic tensions in the region

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015 requires every country to make pledges to tackle climate change. North Korea is no exception. Given that air pollution doesn’t recognise borders, there are already several emissions-reduction projects underway that will require cooperation between Asian nations. To meet its obligations, South Korea has pledged to buy emissions credits on the international market, offsetting 11.3 per cent of its business-as-usual emissions in 2030. That is 96.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions – already more than North Korea’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2013 (78 million tonnes). Because North Korea has its own obligations now, foreign countries including South Korea can no longer earn carbon credits from their carbon-offsetting projects in the country. But if South Korea provides technical assistance such as satellite monitoring of North Korea’s reforestation progression and then can obtain the country’s “informed consent”, a mutual effort to generate carbon credits could be discussed. Air pollution Addressing transboundary air pollution is the latest development in regional cooperation. North Korea has been an inaugural member (since 1993) of the North-East Asian Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), one goal of which is to mitigate transboundary air pollution. A recent study by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (written in Korean) revealed that 38 per cent of pollution particles in the city’s ambient air come from China and another 7 per cent from North Korea. A Japanese air-transport model estimated that more than 45 per cent of ambient PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) concentration in Nonodake (350km north of Tokyo) is from China. Although reducing this pollution in a coordinated way will be a difficult task, real-time data exchange (as proposed by NEASPEC) might be relatively easier. If the Northeast Asian countries share real-time emissions data as well as the currently available meteorological data, they could generate more reliable pollution forecasts and help people prepare for high-pollution events. The harder task of particle pollution mitigation will be better addressed when the level of negotiating partners is upgraded from the current ministerial level to head of state level. Developing neighbour-friendly energies If Northeast Asia is to have a sustainable energy future, more regional cooperation will be required. The trilateral Russia-China-Korea natural gas pipeline is bringing Russian natural gas to South Korea. Natural gas is not a sustainable energy source, but it can be a “bridging fuel” to help countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by replacing coal until their renewable energy technology and systems evolve. Then, a natural gas pipeline is an attractive option for South Korea, the world’s second-biggest LNG importer after Japan. Currently, South Korea’s natural gas imports consist entirely of more expensive LNG. In the early 2000s, the Trans-Korean natural gas pipeline proposal was planned to supply Russian natural gas to South Korea using a shortcut pipeline passing through North Korea. Reportedly, South Korean President Moon has shown interest in the project too. However, the project is not possible until the nuclear crisis in the Korean Peninsula is resolved. Instead, there is an alternative for South Korea to seek a regional détente with a natural gas pipeline. Russia’s “Power of Siberia” pipeline is planned to connect into the capital region of China. If this happens, extending the supply chain to South Korea via an undersea pipeline between China’s Shandong peninsula and Korea’s Incheon will be simpler. The pipeline would enhance the three countries’ economic ties and political cooperation. Asia clean grid connections The other energy option, the Asia international grid connection, is a project promoted by South Korea, Japan, and Mongolia. The basic idea is that vast solar and wind energy potential of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert can be utilised by South Korea and Japan. A super grid would connect the countries in Northeast Asia. This option’s most prominent supporter is Masayoshi Son, chief executive of SoftBank, Japan’s third-largest public company. Several research institutions and the Korea Electric Power Corporation, South Korea’s only operator of the national grid, have been studying its feasibility. The Asian Development Bank is conducting a technical feasibility assessment, at Mongolia’s request. In April, the Renewable Energy Institute, an organisation founded by Mr Son in Tokyo, found the project will benefit all participating countries, citing many successfully operating international grid connections. But it lacks China’s active participation. If further research can find evidence that the project will significantly improve China’s air quality by reducing coal consumption, national governments of the region might help make it happen. Of course, true green détente in Northeast Asia cannot happen without North Korea’s support and participation. However, if any of the reviewed four options become reality, it will give North Korea a strong incentive to cooperate. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Tackling climate change could bring North and South Korea closer

The Nifty hit an all-time high on Monday, joining a rally in Asian shares, with banks, diversified conglomerates and automobile firms leading the gains.

Asian shares hit decade highs as investors regained confidence after the weekend passed with no new provocation by North Korea.

&quot;There seems to be a global rally where liquidity is driving all markets. Markets have become very overbought,&quot; said Sanjiv Bhasin, executive vice president of markets and corporate affairs at IIFL.

Trade deficit touched 2.4 percent of gross domestic product and inflation is rising, which means the Reserve Bank of India may not cut rates at its next meeting, he added.

Data released late on Friday showed India&#39;s trade deficit widened to $11.64 billion in August from a month ago.

The broader NSE Nifty was up 0.72 percent at 10,157.90 as of 0555 GMT, with almost all sectors in the green.

Earlier in the session, it gained as much as 0.81 percent to a record high of 10,167.15. The benchmark BSE Sensex was 0.63 percent higher at 32,474.86.

The Nifty auto index gained as much as 1.4 percent, with Tata Motors Ltd rising as much as 2.8 percent and Bajaj Auto Ltd climbing up to 3.5 percent.

&quot;There is a feel-good factor as there could be more spending because of the ongoing festival season,&quot; Bhasin said.

Larsen and Toubro Ltd rose as much as 2.7 percent and Eicher Motors Ltd gained up to 1.9 percent on bargain-hunting after three consecutive sessions of decline.

Bharti Infratel Ltd climbed as much as 3.7 percent, making it the top percentage gainer on the NSE index.

Bharti Infra is dependent on annuity income from cellular towers, which have been in a fine space after Bharti Airtel reduced its stake in the company, according to Bhasin.

The NSE bank index rose as much as 1 percent, with top gainer IndusInd Bank Ltd up as much as 2.5 percent.

Electronics manufacturer Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd surged as much as 70 percent on its trading debut, while Bharat Road Network Ltd rose as much as 6.8 percent on its first day of trading.

Asian shares hit decade highs as investors regained confidence after the weekend passed with no new provocation by North Korea.

The Nifty hit an all-time high on Monday, joining a rally in Asian shares, with banks, diversified conglomerates and automobile firms leading the gains. Asian shares hit decade highs as investors regained confidence after the weekend passed with no new provocation by North Korea. "There seems to be a global rally where liquidity is driving all markets. Markets have become very overbought," said Sanjiv Bhasin, executive vice president of markets and corporate affairs at IIFL. Trade deficit touched 2.4 percent of gross domestic product and inflation is rising, which means the Reserve Bank of India may not cut rates at its next meeting, he added. Data released late on Friday showed India's trade deficit widened to $11.64 billion in August from a month ago. The broader NSE Nifty was up 0.72 percent at 10,157.90 as of 0555 GMT, with almost all sectors in the green. Earlier in the session, it gained as much as 0.81 percent to a record high of 10,167.15. The benchmark BSE Sensex was 0.63 percent higher at 32,474.86. The Nifty auto index gained as much as 1.4 percent, with Tata Motors Ltd rising as much as 2.8 percent and Bajaj Auto Ltd climbing up to 3.5 percent. "There is a feel-good factor as there could be more spending because of the ongoing festival season," Bhasin said. Larsen and Toubro Ltd rose as much as 2.7 percent and Eicher Motors Ltd gained up to 1.9 percent on bargain-hunting after three consecutive sessions of decline. Bharti Infratel Ltd climbed as much as 3.7 percent, making it the top percentage gainer on the NSE index. Bharti Infra is dependent on annuity income from cellular towers, which have been in a fine space after Bharti Airtel reduced its stake in the company, according to Bhasin. The NSE bank index rose as much as 1 percent, with top gainer IndusInd Bank Ltd up as much as 2.5 percent. Electronics manufacturer Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd surged as much as 70 percent on its trading debut, while Bharat Road Network Ltd rose as much as 6.8 percent on its first day of trading.

Nifty hits record high, auto stocks gain

A knife attacker stabbed eight people on the street in Russia&#39;s far northern city of Surgut before being shot by police, investigators said Saturday.

The male attacker &quot;carried out attacks on passers-by, causing stab wounds to eight&quot; while &quot;moving along central streets of the city&quot; at around 11:20 am local time (0620 GMT) said Russia&#39;s Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes.

It said that armed police then arrived and used their weapons on the attacker and &quot;liquidated&quot; him.

The incident took place in a city some 2,100 kilometres (1,330 miles) northeast of Moscow in the oil-rich Khanty-Mansi region.

Two of those stabbed are in a serious condition while five more are in a stable condition, the government of the Khanty-Mansi region said in a statement, calling the attacker so far &quot;unidentified&quot;.

It called for calm over the incident, saying that &quot;in the interests of public calm and also of the investigation, citizens and media are recommended to use reliable information in assessing the situation until all the circumstances are established&quot;.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Asian stocks advanced on Friday, once again shrugging off a sluggish day on Wall Street

A knife attacker stabbed eight people on the street in Russia's far northern city of Surgut before being shot by police, investigators said Saturday. The male attacker "carried out attacks on passers-by, causing stab wounds to eight" while "moving along central streets of the city" at around 11:20 am local time (0620 GMT) said Russia's Investigative Committee, which probes major crimes. It said that armed police then arrived and used their weapons on the attacker and "liquidated" him. The incident took place in a city some 2,100 kilometres (1,330 miles) northeast of Moscow in the oil-rich Khanty-Mansi region. Two of those stabbed are in a serious condition while five more are in a stable condition, the government of the Khanty-Mansi region said in a statement, calling the attacker so far "unidentified". It called for calm over the incident, saying that "in the interests of public calm and also of the investigation, citizens and media are recommended to use reliable information in assessing the situation until all the circumstances are established".

Asia stocks resilient, dollar up before Yellen, Draghi speeches

It&#39;s lower cost has made it popular in commercial food production, but after being blamed for deforestation in Asia, palm oil plantations are now getting a similar rap in Africa.

The sheer scale of land required is having an impact in Gabon, Cameroon and the Congo Basin, environmentalists say.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The production process accelerates deforestation, contributes to climate change and threatens fauna and flora in vulnerable areas, opponents argue</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The production process accelerates deforestation, contributes to climate change and threatens fauna and flora in vulnerable areas, opponents argue" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

With financing coming from American, European and Asian agri-businesses, palm bunches are cultivated then cut from trees and sent to factories where oil is extracted by hot pressing.

But the production process accelerates deforestation, contributes to climate change and threatens fauna and flora in vulnerable areas, opponents argue.

However, the companies say that palm oil is not only less expensive than soya or sunflower oil but requires much less land to produce and provides much-needed jobs.

Gabon -- where forest covers 80 percent of the territory -- is feeling the brunt.

Brainforest and Mighty, two environmental groups, investigated the activities of Olam, an agri-business from Singapore, which said it has planted 58,000 hectares of palm trees in Gabon.

&quot;It is estimated that Olam has deforested 20,000 hectares in its Gabonese concessions of Awala et Mouila since 2012,&quot; the groups said in a report released in mid-December. &quot;Investigators on the scene witnessed and filmed bulldozers knocking down huge trees en masse.&quot;

Olam said palm trees had been planted on 25,000 hectares of land which had previously been forested, but that this had been &quot;highly logged and degraded secondary forest&quot; and represented just 0.1 percent of Gabon&#39;s forests.

In response to the report, Olam published advertisements touting the almost 11,000 jobs it has created, the 1,100 hectares of food crops planted and 251 kilometres (150 miles) of roads built.

A wider impact

But the impact appears wider. In their report, the environmental groups expressed fears that the Congo Basin, considered the lung of Africa, could go the same way as forests in Sumatra, Indonesia and on Borneo.

&quot;A few decades ago, these places were almost entirely covered with forests, a paradise for orangutans, rhinos, elephants and exotic birds. Today, only 20-30 percent of the forest cover exists.&quot;

The report was released in Libreville when an environmental film festival honoured the French documentary &quot;Et Maintenant Nos Terres&quot; (And Now Our Land).

Its directors, Julien Le Net and Benjamin Polle, chronicled how villages in Cameroon and Senegal were being affected by what they called &quot;land grabs&quot; by multinational companies.

In south-west Cameroon, 244 farmers have filed a trespassing complaint against a company that intends to plant 20,000 hectares of palm trees.

Hearings in the case against Sustainable Oils Cameroon, formerly a subsidiary of American company Herakles Farms, were postponed after reports of unrest in the area in November.

Greenpeace has asked Cameroon not to renew the company&#39;s concession which expired at the end of November, and it cited &quot;six years of illegal foresting, trampling of locals&#39; rights, unfulfilled investments and destruction of forest&quot;.

A petition signed by 180,000 people against renewal of the contract was sent last week to Cameroon President Paul Biya, Greenpeace said.

The government has not yet made a decision but Greenpeace said it hoped it would hear the voices of &quot;thousands of Cameroonians&quot;.

Meanwhile, the plantations of Socapalm, a subsidiary of the Luxembourg company Socfin in which the family firm of French businessman Vincent Bollore owns a large minority stake, were targeted by protests in November.

&quot;No to pollution and massive environmental destruction&quot; read one banner, while another urged the company to open a dialogue with residents.

&quot;More than 5,000 hectares has been used,&quot; a resident called Ebeneser Ekango told AFPTV at the time, complaining there wasn&#39;t enough land to plant the staple crop cassava. &quot;What do we eat?&quot;

Greenpeace, which has complained that Socfin concessions have included old-growth forests, applauded the company publishing in December a responsible management policy commits to &quot;eliminating deforestation&quot;.

(AFP)

The sheer scale of land required is having an impact in Gabon, Cameroon and the Congo Basin, say environmentalists

It's lower cost has made it popular in commercial food production, but after being blamed for deforestation in Asia, palm oil plantations are now getting a similar rap in Africa. The sheer scale of land required is having an impact in Gabon, Cameroon and the Congo Basin, environmentalists say. The production process accelerates deforestation, contributes to climate change and threatens fauna and flora in vulnerable areas, opponents argue × With financing coming from American, European and Asian agri-businesses, palm bunches are cultivated then cut from trees and sent to factories where oil is extracted by hot pressing. But the production process accelerates deforestation, contributes to climate change and threatens fauna and flora in vulnerable areas, opponents argue. However, the companies say that palm oil is not only less expensive than soya or sunflower oil but requires much less land to produce and provides much-needed jobs. Gabon -- where forest covers 80 percent of the territory -- is feeling the brunt. Brainforest and Mighty, two environmental groups, investigated the activities of Olam, an agri-business from Singapore, which said it has planted 58,000 hectares of palm trees in Gabon. "It is estimated that Olam has deforested 20,000 hectares in its Gabonese concessions of Awala et Mouila since 2012," the groups said in a report released in mid-December. "Investigators on the scene witnessed and filmed bulldozers knocking down huge trees en masse." Olam said palm trees had been planted on 25,000 hectares of land which had previously been forested, but that this had been "highly logged and degraded secondary forest" and represented just 0.1 percent of Gabon's forests. In response to the report, Olam published advertisements touting the almost 11,000 jobs it has created, the 1,100 hectares of food crops planted and 251 kilometres (150 miles) of roads built. A wider impact But the impact appears wider. In their report, the environmental groups expressed fears that the Congo Basin, considered the lung of Africa, could go the same way as forests in Sumatra, Indonesia and on Borneo. "A few decades ago, these places were almost entirely covered with forests, a paradise for orangutans, rhinos, elephants and exotic birds. Today, only 20-30 percent of the forest cover exists." The report was released in Libreville when an environmental film festival honoured the French documentary "Et Maintenant Nos Terres" (And Now Our Land). Its directors, Julien Le Net and Benjamin Polle, chronicled how villages in Cameroon and Senegal were being affected by what they called "land grabs" by multinational companies. In south-west Cameroon, 244 farmers have filed a trespassing complaint against a company that intends to plant 20,000 hectares of palm trees. Hearings in the case against Sustainable Oils Cameroon, formerly a subsidiary of American company Herakles Farms, were postponed after reports of unrest in the area in November. Greenpeace has asked Cameroon not to renew the company's concession which expired at the end of November, and it cited "six years of illegal foresting, trampling of locals' rights, unfulfilled investments and destruction of forest". A petition signed by 180,000 people against renewal of the contract was sent last week to Cameroon President Paul Biya, Greenpeace said. The government has not yet made a decision but Greenpeace said it hoped it would hear the voices of "thousands of Cameroonians". Meanwhile, the plantations of Socapalm, a subsidiary of the Luxembourg company Socfin in which the family firm of French businessman Vincent Bollore owns a large minority stake, were targeted by protests in November. "No to pollution and massive environmental destruction" read one banner, while another urged the company to open a dialogue with residents. "More than 5,000 hectares has been used," a resident called Ebeneser Ekango told AFPTV at the time, complaining there wasn't enough land to plant the staple crop cassava. "What do we eat?" Greenpeace, which has complained that Socfin concessions have included old-growth forests, applauded the company publishing in December a responsible management policy commits to "eliminating deforestation". (AFP)

After Asia, palm oil faces backlash in Africa

Asian stocks inched up on Friday, after a surge in oil prices helped propel Wall Street to record highs overnight, while Chinese economic indicators that missed expectations did not dent gains in mainland shares. 
 
MSCI&#39;s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan nudged up 0.2 per cent. It was on track to gain 1.9 per cent for the week. 
 
Both China&#39;s CSI300 index and the Shanghai Composite rose about 0.5 pe rcent after fixed asset investment, retail sales and industrial output all rose but were below expectations. Both indexes were headed for gains of about 1.4 per cent for the week. 
 
Fixed asset investment from January to July increased by 8.1 per cent from a year earlier, the slowest rate in more than 16 years, compared with expectations for 8.8 per cent. 
 
July retail sales increased 10.2 per cent, versus 10.6 per cent the previous month and a forecast 10.5 per cent. Industrial output rose 6.0 per cent from a year earlier, slowing from June&#39;s 6.2 per cent and just missing forecasts of 6.1 per cent. 
 
Hong Kong shares rose 0.7 per cent and were at their highest in more than eight months. 
 
Japan&#39;s Nikkei rose 0.7 per cent on a slightly weaker yen, and is poised to end the week 3.7 per cent higher. 
 
South Korea&#39;s Kospi, which touched the highest level since July 2015, was little changed. Australian stocks gained 0.3 per cent. 
 
The S&amp;P 500, the Dow and Nasdaq all closed at historic highs on Thursday for the first time since 1999 on higher crude oil and upbeat corporate results. 
 
The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 stock index also jumped, climbing 0.85 per cent to its highest close since late May. 
 
MSCI&#39;s 46-country All World index held close to a one-year high touched overnight. 
 
Supporting investor appetite for risk, oil prices climbed more than 4 per cent overnight after a Saudi oil minister hinted at possible action to stabilise prices and triggered a round of buying. 
 
They retained that momentum on Friday, with US crude futures up 0.5 per cent at $43.72 a barrel, on track to gain 4.5 per cent on the week. 
 
Global benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.3 per cent to $46.18, set to end the week 4.6 per cent higher. 
 
&quot;Asia Pacific markets are set to finish the week on a high following strong leads from European and US investors,&quot; wrote Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets. 
 
&quot;Industrial commodities rose, led by oil, and overnight trading displayed &#39;risk on&#39; characteristics despite the lack of an obvious trigger. Important data from China may change the course of the trading day.&quot; 
 
Global markets will also sift through the string of US data, notably retail sales, due later in the session for latest cues about the world&#39;s largest economy and whether it is robust enough to withstand further monetary tightening. 
 
US retail sales are expected to show a 0.4 per cent monthly increase in July, according to the median estimate of 64 economists polled by Reuters. 
 
In currencies, the dollar rose after San Francisco Fed President John Williams told the Washington Post that the US central bank should raise rates this year because of improving labour market conditions and the likelihood that inflation is heading higher. 
 
The greenback inched up 0.1 per cent to 102.035 yen after gaining 0.7 per cent on Thursday, and is heading for a 0.25 per cent weekly rise. The euro was steady at $1.11375 after losing 0.3 per cent overnight. 
 
The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major peers, rose 0.1 per cent to 95.924, but was on track for a loss of 0.3 per cent for the week. 
 
The New Zealand dollar slipped 0.1 per cent to $0.7202 after surging on Thursday to $0.7351, its highest in more than a year after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut rates by 25 basis points to 2.0 per cent, a smaller cut than some investors had expected. 
 
The Australian dollar dipped 0.3 per cent to $0.7678 . 
 
(Reuters) 
 
 
&nbsp;

Hong Kong shares rose 0.7 per cent and were at their highest in eight months,?Japan's Nikkei rose 0.7 per cent on a slightly weaker Yen

Asian stocks inched up on Friday, after a surge in oil prices helped propel Wall Street to record highs overnight, while Chinese economic indicators that missed expectations did not dent gains in mainland shares. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan nudged up 0.2 per cent. It was on track to gain 1.9 per cent for the week. Both China's CSI300 index and the Shanghai Composite rose about 0.5 pe rcent after fixed asset investment, retail sales and industrial output all rose but were below expectations. Both indexes were headed for gains of about 1.4 per cent for the week. Fixed asset investment from January to July increased by 8.1 per cent from a year earlier, the slowest rate in more than 16 years, compared with expectations for 8.8 per cent. July retail sales increased 10.2 per cent, versus 10.6 per cent the previous month and a forecast 10.5 per cent. Industrial output rose 6.0 per cent from a year earlier, slowing from June's 6.2 per cent and just missing forecasts of 6.1 per cent. Hong Kong shares rose 0.7 per cent and were at their highest in more than eight months. Japan's Nikkei rose 0.7 per cent on a slightly weaker yen, and is poised to end the week 3.7 per cent higher. South Korea's Kospi, which touched the highest level since July 2015, was little changed. Australian stocks gained 0.3 per cent. The S&P 500, the Dow and Nasdaq all closed at historic highs on Thursday for the first time since 1999 on higher crude oil and upbeat corporate results. The pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 stock index also jumped, climbing 0.85 per cent to its highest close since late May. MSCI's 46-country All World index held close to a one-year high touched overnight. Supporting investor appetite for risk, oil prices climbed more than 4 per cent overnight after a Saudi oil minister hinted at possible action to stabilise prices and triggered a round of buying. They retained that momentum on Friday, with US crude futures up 0.5 per cent at $43.72 a barrel, on track to gain 4.5 per cent on the week. Global benchmark Brent crude climbed 0.3 per cent to $46.18, set to end the week 4.6 per cent higher. "Asia Pacific markets are set to finish the week on a high following strong leads from European and US investors," wrote Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets. "Industrial commodities rose, led by oil, and overnight trading displayed 'risk on' characteristics despite the lack of an obvious trigger. Important data from China may change the course of the trading day." Global markets will also sift through the string of US data, notably retail sales, due later in the session for latest cues about the world's largest economy and whether it is robust enough to withstand further monetary tightening. US retail sales are expected to show a 0.4 per cent monthly increase in July, according to the median estimate of 64 economists polled by Reuters. In currencies, the dollar rose after San Francisco Fed President John Williams told the Washington Post that the US central bank should raise rates this year because of improving labour market conditions and the likelihood that inflation is heading higher. The greenback inched up 0.1 per cent to 102.035 yen after gaining 0.7 per cent on Thursday, and is heading for a 0.25 per cent weekly rise. The euro was steady at $1.11375 after losing 0.3 per cent overnight. The dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six major peers, rose 0.1 per cent to 95.924, but was on track for a loss of 0.3 per cent for the week. The New Zealand dollar slipped 0.1 per cent to $0.7202 after surging on Thursday to $0.7351, its highest in more than a year after the Reserve Bank of New Zealand cut rates by 25 basis points to 2.0 per cent, a smaller cut than some investors had expected. The Australian dollar dipped 0.3 per cent to $0.7678 . (Reuters)

Asia rises on Wall Street's record highs while China data misses forecasts

Oil edged higher to near $42 a barrel in Asia today, but analysts said the increase was unlikely to last as the commodity remains under pressure by a supply glut and a strong dollar. 
 
Prices have been fluctuating since entering a bear market last week, falling more than 20 per cent and closing below $40 a barrel for the first time since April. 
 
Initially recovering as US commercial crude inventory data showed an unexpected draw in gasoline, prices tumbled again later in the week after robust hiring numbers from the US government pushed the dollar higher.&nbsp;A stronger greenback typically makes dollar-priced oil more expensive for consumers using other currencies, denting demand. 
 
Weekly rig count data released Friday also showed that US drillers added seven rigs that week, up for the sixth straight week and indicating higher production activity amid an oversaturated market. 
 
&quot;Modest short covering has probably given oil some boost,&quot; said IG Markets analyst Bernard Aw, adding however, that the bounce was unlikely to last.&nbsp;&quot;Rising US rig additions, low probability of The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to revive... freeze output talks, and weakening demand present a great barrier for oil prices to move higher,&quot; he told AFP. 
 
At around 0630 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in September was up 28 cents to $42.08 and Brent crude for October gained 29 cents to $44.56 a barrel. 
 
&quot;Upbeat jobs data from the US showed that the jobs growth was much higher in July than estimates, and helped to push the US Dollar (higher), applying pressure on crude prices,&quot; said EY Services oil and gas analyst Sanjeev Gupta. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

Analysts said increase was unlikely to last, as the commodity remains under pressure by a supply glut

Oil edged higher to near $42 a barrel in Asia today, but analysts said the increase was unlikely to last as the commodity remains under pressure by a supply glut and a strong dollar. Prices have been fluctuating since entering a bear market last week, falling more than 20 per cent and closing below $40 a barrel for the first time since April. Initially recovering as US commercial crude inventory data showed an unexpected draw in gasoline, prices tumbled again later in the week after robust hiring numbers from the US government pushed the dollar higher. A stronger greenback typically makes dollar-priced oil more expensive for consumers using other currencies, denting demand. Weekly rig count data released Friday also showed that US drillers added seven rigs that week, up for the sixth straight week and indicating higher production activity amid an oversaturated market. "Modest short covering has probably given oil some boost," said IG Markets analyst Bernard Aw, adding however, that the bounce was unlikely to last. "Rising US rig additions, low probability of The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to revive... freeze output talks, and weakening demand present a great barrier for oil prices to move higher," he told AFP. At around 0630 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in September was up 28 cents to $42.08 and Brent crude for October gained 29 cents to $44.56 a barrel. "Upbeat jobs data from the US showed that the jobs growth was much higher in July than estimates, and helped to push the US Dollar (higher), applying pressure on crude prices," said EY Services oil and gas analyst Sanjeev Gupta. (AFP)

Oil prices rise in Asia

The Aral Sea,&nbsp;once the fourth largest lake in the world,&nbsp;has shrunk to less than 10 per cent in&nbsp;size over the years,&nbsp;National Aeronautics and Space Administration&nbsp;(NASA) says.&nbsp; 
 
Nestled between the countries Uzbekistan,&nbsp;Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan,&nbsp;the lake has receded drastically turning the eastern basin of the lake into a desert, called the Aralkum Desert. 
 
In&nbsp;a timelapse video, NASA has captured the&nbsp;lake&rsquo;s disappearance spanning from the year 2000 to 2016. 
 
A 16-year old trajectory shows how the lake went from being a healthy waterbody to a victim of human interference. It&nbsp;started with the Soviet Union intervention that&nbsp;redirected the lake&#39;s&nbsp;tributaries to irrigate the nearby desert. As the desert bloomed,&nbsp;Aral Sea&nbsp;suffered&nbsp;severe damage that led to its&nbsp;waterline receding over the years. 
 
The communities living by the lake&nbsp;lost their livelihood and had to eventually move out.&nbsp;The water body saw further damage when the Kazakhstan government built a dam between northern and southern part of the lake, leaving it irreparable.&nbsp; 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="400" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gt4HbRqeve8" width="100%"></iframe>

?A 16-year old trajectory shows how the lake went from being a healthy waterbody to a victim of human interference

The Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake in the world, has shrunk to less than 10 per cent in size over the years, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) says. Nestled between the countries Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, the lake has receded drastically turning the eastern basin of the lake into a desert, called the Aralkum Desert. In a timelapse video, NASA has captured the lake’s disappearance spanning from the year 2000 to 2016. A 16-year old trajectory shows how the lake went from being a healthy waterbody to a victim of human interference. It started with the Soviet Union intervention that redirected the lake's tributaries to irrigate the nearby desert. As the desert bloomed, Aral Sea suffered severe damage that led to its waterline receding over the years. The communities living by the lake lost their livelihood and had to eventually move out. The water body saw further damage when the Kazakhstan government built a dam between northern and southern part of the lake, leaving it irreparable.

NASA's timelapse video captures shocking disappearance of the world's fourth largest lake Aral Sea

<div style="text-align: justify;">An ambitious project to awaken a sleeping giant of Asian soccer looks like confirming Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen&#39;s famous remark that India pricks up its ears only when comparisons with China are made. 
 
With China embarked on a multi-billion dollar mission to become a soccer superpower by 2050, India looks set to follow suit with its own plan to raise its status in the game to match its burgeoning economic power. 
 
Come&nbsp;October, India,&nbsp;most famously described as soccer&#39;s sleeping giant by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in soccer-related activities. 
 
All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials will not share details of the FIFA-backed programme yet, but according to a government statement, &quot;Mission 11 Million&quot; will be launched in about 30 cities across the country. 
 
As in China, where the soccer revolution was inspired by President Xi Jinping, the desire to improve India&#39;s standing in the world game goes to the very top. 
 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March lamented India&#39;s decline from one of Asia&#39;s top soccer nations in the 1960s to its current position at 163rd in the FIFA rankings, sandwiched between the Comoros and Tajikistan. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Unfortunately, over the decades we have slipped to the lowest rungs,&quot; Modi said in his weekly radio talk. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Today our ranking in FIFA is so low that I feel reluctant even to mention it.&quot; 
 
With India hosting the under-17 World Cup next year, states have been asked to promote football in a pattern similar to the trend across the border in China. 
 
The world&#39;s most populous nation plans to engage 30 million school children by 2020 as the first step towards achieving Xi&#39;s &quot;three wishes&quot; for China - to qualify for a second World Cup finals, to host a World Cup and to eventually win one. 
 
TARGETING DIASPORA 
 
And while the AIFF are looking to engage as many of the country&#39;s 1.3 billion people as possible, they have also cast their net wider with a global scouting programme to identify talent in the Indian diaspora. 
 
&quot;The idea is to increase the talent pool,&quot; former India captain and head of the scouting programme Abhishek Yadav told Reuters. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;We can&#39;t guarantee that we can unearth 20 players overnight. It&#39;s an attempt, which we believe might work. There&#39;s no harm in trying.&quot; 
 
The programme encourages anyone under 16 with an Indian passport to post, on a soon-to-be-launched portal, a two-minute video from a competitive match. 
 
&quot;We wanted to give the message that if you&#39;re talented, location should not be a problem. All you need is a passport and potential,&quot; said the former forward, who played 67 matches for India between 2002-2011. 
 
Yadav and his team are now focusing on the Gulf States, where a large number of expatriates still hold Indian passports. 
 
&quot;Maybe we can then expand it to U.S. and Australia, where we have many Indian students as well as parents who recently migrated there. We will also look at South Africa and Germany.&quot; 
 
While this has added to the buzz in the country around the hosting of the under-17 World Cup, not everyone believes India is standing on the cusp of a soccer resurgence. 
 
&quot;The fundamental difference between the neighbours is that China woke up long ago and played in World Cup finals before veering slightly off-track,&quot; soccer writer Jaydeep Basu told Reuters. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;With state support, they are now trying to get back on track. In contrast, India, I&#39;m afraid, is still in deep slumber,&quot; added Basu, who has written an anecdotal history of Indian soccer. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;&#39;Mission 11 Million&#39; has a nice ring to it but with only 3,000-odd certified coaches around, who&#39;ll teach these kids to play soccer?&quot; 
 
&nbsp;As well as the lack of qualified coaches, Basu cites a fast-shrinking number of pitches - China plans to build 70,000 around the country by 2020 - and paucity of infrastructure as the major handicaps for Indian soccer. 
 
MESSY MERGER OF LEAGUES 
 
The AIFF is also preoccupied with a messy merger of two Indian leagues, which jeopardises the future of several sides, including a couple of century-old clubs in Kolkata. 
 
The franchise-based India Super League (ISL), which is promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani&#39;s Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch&#39;s Star India TV, looks set to supplant the I-League. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;I&#39;m afraid the ISL franchises have no soccer pedigree and I doubt if they have any long-term commitment to the game either,&quot; Basu said. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Who can guarantee they won&#39;t switch to another business if they suffer losses in ISL?&quot; 
 
&nbsp;There is, however, no denying the ISL&#39;s spectacular success in gaining a foothold in India&#39;s cricket-dominated sporting landscape since the 2014 launch of the league with celebrity owners. 
 
&nbsp;The ISL debuted as the fourth biggest soccer league with an average attendance lower only than Germany&#39;s Bundesliga, the English Premier League and Spain&#39;s La Liga. 
 
&nbsp;The government hopes next year&#39;s under-17 World Cup will further consolidate football&#39;s popularity in India, attracting kids who would otherwise be picking up bats and heading to the neighbourhood cricket academy. 
 
&nbsp;&quot;Our youth, the children in our schools, should be drenched in sweat just playing football,&quot; Modi said in his radio talk. 
 
&quot;If that happens, we shall have real fun playing the host. So, all of us should make the effort to ensure football reaches every village, street and alley.&quot; 
(Reuters)</div>

The country will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in activities related to the sport

An ambitious project to awaken a sleeping giant of Asian soccer looks like confirming Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen's famous remark that India pricks up its ears only when comparisons with China are made. With China embarked on a multi-billion dollar mission to become a soccer superpower by 2050, India looks set to follow suit with its own plan to raise its status in the game to match its burgeoning economic power. Come October, India, most famously described as soccer's sleeping giant by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will launch a programme to engage more than 11 million children in soccer-related activities. All India Football Federation (AIFF) officials will not share details of the FIFA-backed programme yet, but according to a government statement, "Mission 11 Million" will be launched in about 30 cities across the country. As in China, where the soccer revolution was inspired by President Xi Jinping, the desire to improve India's standing in the world game goes to the very top. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March lamented India's decline from one of Asia's top soccer nations in the 1960s to its current position at 163rd in the FIFA rankings, sandwiched between the Comoros and Tajikistan. "Unfortunately, over the decades we have slipped to the lowest rungs," Modi said in his weekly radio talk. "Today our ranking in FIFA is so low that I feel reluctant even to mention it." With India hosting the under-17 World Cup next year, states have been asked to promote football in a pattern similar to the trend across the border in China. The world's most populous nation plans to engage 30 million school children by 2020 as the first step towards achieving Xi's "three wishes" for China - to qualify for a second World Cup finals, to host a World Cup and to eventually win one. TARGETING DIASPORA And while the AIFF are looking to engage as many of the country's 1.3 billion people as possible, they have also cast their net wider with a global scouting programme to identify talent in the Indian diaspora. "The idea is to increase the talent pool," former India captain and head of the scouting programme Abhishek Yadav told Reuters. "We can't guarantee that we can unearth 20 players overnight. It's an attempt, which we believe might work. There's no harm in trying." The programme encourages anyone under 16 with an Indian passport to post, on a soon-to-be-launched portal, a two-minute video from a competitive match. "We wanted to give the message that if you're talented, location should not be a problem. All you need is a passport and potential," said the former forward, who played 67 matches for India between 2002-2011. Yadav and his team are now focusing on the Gulf States, where a large number of expatriates still hold Indian passports. "Maybe we can then expand it to U.S. and Australia, where we have many Indian students as well as parents who recently migrated there. We will also look at South Africa and Germany." While this has added to the buzz in the country around the hosting of the under-17 World Cup, not everyone believes India is standing on the cusp of a soccer resurgence. "The fundamental difference between the neighbours is that China woke up long ago and played in World Cup finals before veering slightly off-track," soccer writer Jaydeep Basu told Reuters. "With state support, they are now trying to get back on track. In contrast, India, I'm afraid, is still in deep slumber," added Basu, who has written an anecdotal history of Indian soccer. "'Mission 11 Million' has a nice ring to it but with only 3,000-odd certified coaches around, who'll teach these kids to play soccer?" As well as the lack of qualified coaches, Basu cites a fast-shrinking number of pitches - China plans to build 70,000 around the country by 2020 - and paucity of infrastructure as the major handicaps for Indian soccer. MESSY MERGER OF LEAGUES The AIFF is also preoccupied with a messy merger of two Indian leagues, which jeopardises the future of several sides, including a couple of century-old clubs in Kolkata. The franchise-based India Super League (ISL), which is promoted by billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries and Rupert Murdoch's Star India TV, looks set to supplant the I-League. "I'm afraid the ISL franchises have no soccer pedigree and I doubt if they have any long-term commitment to the game either," Basu said. "Who can guarantee they won't switch to another business if they suffer losses in ISL?" There is, however, no denying the ISL's spectacular success in gaining a foothold in India's cricket-dominated sporting landscape since the 2014 launch of the league with celebrity owners. The ISL debuted as the fourth biggest soccer league with an average attendance lower only than Germany's Bundesliga, the English Premier League and Spain's La Liga. The government hopes next year's under-17 World Cup will further consolidate football's popularity in India, attracting kids who would otherwise be picking up bats and heading to the neighbourhood cricket academy. "Our youth, the children in our schools, should be drenched in sweat just playing football," Modi said in his radio talk. "If that happens, we shall have real fun playing the host. So, all of us should make the effort to ensure football reaches every village, street and alley." (Reuters)

'Mission 11 Million' to kickoff as India follows China's lead

Taiwan&#39;s Investment Commission said today it is set to order Uber Technologies Inc to exit the domestic market, saying the global ride-hailing giant misrepresented its business as an internet-based information technology platform, rather than a transportation service. 
 
Emile Chang, executive secretary at Taiwan&#39;s Investment Commission, said a final decision will be made by August 11. The commission oversees Taiwan&#39;s inbound and outbound foreign investments. 
 
The move comes amid a major strategic shift at Uber that will see its operations in China taken over by a mainland firm. Earlier this week, Uber said it was selling its China business to rival Didi Chuxing after a bruising two-year price war in a challenging market. 
 
Taiwan&#39;s decision adds to a string of official complaints aimed at the fast-growing US start-up. It has faced similar legal scrutiny in markets across Asia, including both in Hong Kong and China. 
 
&quot;Taiwan&#39;s government has communicated many times with Uber...The worst scenario is to order (it) to leave the market,&quot; Chang said, adding Uber can appeal the decision to Taiwan&#39;s cabinet. 
 
Uber officials in Taiwan could not be immediately reached for comment. 
 
The company entered the Taiwan market in 2013, triggering anger from domestic taxi drivers, who staged a massive protest against Uber as recently as July. 
 
(Reuters)

Taiwan's decision adds to a string of official complaints aimed at the fast-growing US start-up

Taiwan's Investment Commission said today it is set to order Uber Technologies Inc to exit the domestic market, saying the global ride-hailing giant misrepresented its business as an internet-based information technology platform, rather than a transportation service. Emile Chang, executive secretary at Taiwan's Investment Commission, said a final decision will be made by August 11. The commission oversees Taiwan's inbound and outbound foreign investments. The move comes amid a major strategic shift at Uber that will see its operations in China taken over by a mainland firm. Earlier this week, Uber said it was selling its China business to rival Didi Chuxing after a bruising two-year price war in a challenging market. Taiwan's decision adds to a string of official complaints aimed at the fast-growing US start-up. It has faced similar legal scrutiny in markets across Asia, including both in Hong Kong and China. "Taiwan's government has communicated many times with Uber...The worst scenario is to order (it) to leave the market," Chang said, adding Uber can appeal the decision to Taiwan's cabinet. Uber officials in Taiwan could not be immediately reached for comment. The company entered the Taiwan market in 2013, triggering anger from domestic taxi drivers, who staged a massive protest against Uber as recently as July. (Reuters)

Taiwan set to order Uber's exit from market after accusing it of 'misrepresenting' business

India said today it is negotiating with authorities in Saudi Arabia to repatriate thousands of migrant workers after they lost their jobs, leaving them destitute and with no money to return home. 
 
Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament she was sending a junior minister to Riyadh after reports that around 10,000 workers had lost their jobs and been left to starve. 
 
Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses including non-payment of wages, with no channels for redress. 
 
Many of the companies employing them have suffered from the drop in oil revenues from falling prices, prompting a downturn in construction and layoffs. 
 
The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been providing free food for its nationals since their plight came to light last week, but Swaraj said the situation could not be allowed to continue. 
 
&quot;This can&#39;t be a permanent solution, we will have to bring them back,&quot; Swaraj told the lower house of the parliament Monday. 
 
However that is being hampered by a Saudi requirement that workers provide a no-objection certificate from their employers before they can leave the country, she said. 
 
Junior minister VK Singh will travel to Riyadh on Tuesday to try to sort the situation out, she said. 
 
Among those stranded are some 2,450 workers laid off by Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon&#39;s billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri. 
 
&quot;No jobless Indian will sleep hungry. If they want to come back home, the government will ensure their safe return...we have a collective responsibility towards our citizens,&quot; Swaraj said. 
 
Nearly three million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia, according to the foreign ministry, one of the largest populations outside of India. In November 2014, Gulf and Asian labour ministers agreed on a series of initiatives aimed at boosting protection and improving conditions of employment for foreign workers in the Gulf. 
 
(AFP)

Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses

India said today it is negotiating with authorities in Saudi Arabia to repatriate thousands of migrant workers after they lost their jobs, leaving them destitute and with no money to return home. Foreign minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament she was sending a junior minister to Riyadh after reports that around 10,000 workers had lost their jobs and been left to starve. Indians are among millions of poor Asians working in the Gulf states, where human rights groups say many suffer exploitation and abuses including non-payment of wages, with no channels for redress. Many of the companies employing them have suffered from the drop in oil revenues from falling prices, prompting a downturn in construction and layoffs. The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been providing free food for its nationals since their plight came to light last week, but Swaraj said the situation could not be allowed to continue. "This can't be a permanent solution, we will have to bring them back," Swaraj told the lower house of the parliament Monday. However that is being hampered by a Saudi requirement that workers provide a no-objection certificate from their employers before they can leave the country, she said. Junior minister VK Singh will travel to Riyadh on Tuesday to try to sort the situation out, she said. Among those stranded are some 2,450 workers laid off by Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Lebanon's billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri. "No jobless Indian will sleep hungry. If they want to come back home, the government will ensure their safe return...we have a collective responsibility towards our citizens," Swaraj said. Nearly three million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia, according to the foreign ministry, one of the largest populations outside of India. In November 2014, Gulf and Asian labour ministers agreed on a series of initiatives aimed at boosting protection and improving conditions of employment for foreign workers in the Gulf. (AFP)

India plans to bring back thousands of migrant workers stranded in Saudi

Nine persons have been killed along with hundreds of yaks and sheep after an avalanche hit southwest Tibet, officials said today. 
 
The residents were of Dungru Village in Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture, more than 1,000 kilometers from the Himalayan region&#39;s capital Lhasa. 
 
According to the prefectural government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, more than 350 sheep and 110 yaks were also buried in yesterday&#39;s avalanche that shifted snow up to eight meters deep on to grazing land. 
 
Cracks have since appeared on the surrounding glaciers, and rescuers are concerned that more avalanches may occur, according to local officials. 
 
The officials confirmed the deaths without giving additional details. 
 
Rutog County is in the northwest of Tibet, with an average elevation of 4,500 meters (about 14,800 feet). 
 
Rising global temperatures are blamed for speeding the melting of glaciers in Tibet. 
 
China is also grappling with floods and landslides. 
 
At least 83 people have been killed and 19 others are still missing after typhoon Nepartak struck east China&#39;s Fujian Province last week, taking the death toll in recent rains and floods in the country to 309.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Rescuers are concerned that more avalanches may occur, according to local officials

Nine persons have been killed along with hundreds of yaks and sheep after an avalanche hit southwest Tibet, officials said today. The residents were of Dungru Village in Rutog County, Ngari Prefecture, more than 1,000 kilometers from the Himalayan region's capital Lhasa. According to the prefectural government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, more than 350 sheep and 110 yaks were also buried in yesterday's avalanche that shifted snow up to eight meters deep on to grazing land. Cracks have since appeared on the surrounding glaciers, and rescuers are concerned that more avalanches may occur, according to local officials. The officials confirmed the deaths without giving additional details. Rutog County is in the northwest of Tibet, with an average elevation of 4,500 meters (about 14,800 feet). Rising global temperatures are blamed for speeding the melting of glaciers in Tibet. China is also grappling with floods and landslides. At least 83 people have been killed and 19 others are still missing after typhoon Nepartak struck east China's Fujian Province last week, taking the death toll in recent rains and floods in the country to 309. (PTI)

Avalanche kills 9 in Tibet, rescue operations underway

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) lowered its 2016 growth forecast for developing Asia on Monday, citing the slowing US economy and near-term shocks from Britain&#39;s decision to leave the European Union (EU). 
 
Developing Asia, which groups 45 countries in the Asia Pacific region, is now expected to expand 5.6 per cent this year, slightly weaker than a March forecast of 5.7 per cent, the ADB said in a supplement to its Asian Development Outlook 2016. 
 
The shock British vote in June to secede from the EU has chilled already tepid growth in the euro area and has shaken global financial markets. 
 
The Manila-based multi-lateral lending agency kept its 2017 growth estimate for the region at 5.7 per cent, however. 
 
&quot;Although the Brexit vote has affected developing Asia&#39;s currency and stock markets, its impact on the real economy in the short term is expected to be small,&quot; said ADB chief economist Shang-Jin Wei. 
 
&quot;However, in light of the tepid growth prospects in the major industrial economies, policy makers should remain vigilant and be prepared to respond to external shocks to ensure growth in the region remains robust.&quot; 
 
The ADB believes China is still on track to grow 6.5 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent in 2017, with government plans to cut excess industrial capacity in the world&#39;s second-largest economy expected to weigh on growth next year. 
 
China&#39;s economy expanded slightly faster than expected in the second quarter but private investment growth shrank to a record low, suggesting future weakness which could pressure the government to roll out more support measures. 
 
India&#39;s economy is still forecast to grow 7.4 per cent this year and 7.8 per cent in 2017, the ADB said. 
 
Growth forecasts for Southeast Asia were also left unchanged at 4.5 per cent this year and 4.8 per cent next year. 
 
(Reuters)

Brexit chills already tepid growth in the euro area and has shaken global financial markets

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) lowered its 2016 growth forecast for developing Asia on Monday, citing the slowing US economy and near-term shocks from Britain's decision to leave the European Union (EU). Developing Asia, which groups 45 countries in the Asia Pacific region, is now expected to expand 5.6 per cent this year, slightly weaker than a March forecast of 5.7 per cent, the ADB said in a supplement to its Asian Development Outlook 2016. The shock British vote in June to secede from the EU has chilled already tepid growth in the euro area and has shaken global financial markets. The Manila-based multi-lateral lending agency kept its 2017 growth estimate for the region at 5.7 per cent, however. "Although the Brexit vote has affected developing Asia's currency and stock markets, its impact on the real economy in the short term is expected to be small," said ADB chief economist Shang-Jin Wei. "However, in light of the tepid growth prospects in the major industrial economies, policy makers should remain vigilant and be prepared to respond to external shocks to ensure growth in the region remains robust." The ADB believes China is still on track to grow 6.5 per cent this year and 6.3 per cent in 2017, with government plans to cut excess industrial capacity in the world's second-largest economy expected to weigh on growth next year. China's economy expanded slightly faster than expected in the second quarter but private investment growth shrank to a record low, suggesting future weakness which could pressure the government to roll out more support measures. India's economy is still forecast to grow 7.4 per cent this year and 7.8 per cent in 2017, the ADB said. Growth forecasts for Southeast Asia were also left unchanged at 4.5 per cent this year and 4.8 per cent next year. (Reuters)

ADB lowers its 2016 growth forecast for developing Asia

Messaging app Line kicks off a dual New York-Tokyo stock listing later Thursday after one of the year&#39;s biggest initial public offerings.&nbsp;Here are a few things to know about the chatting service that has taken Asia by storm. 
 
What is Line? 
 
Smartphone and other mobile gadget users can use the app to make free calls, send no-charge instant messages, and post photos or short videos, along with a host of other paid services. 
 
It is a mix of rival messaging service WhatsApp and China&#39;s WeChat with a dash of Skype and a pinch of Facebook. Games and a mobile payment service are also on offer. 
 
Sticker success 
 
What has set Line apart so far, and driven its huge success in home market Japan, are the cutesy cartoon &quot;stickers&quot; that friends can send to each other while chatting online. Some are free, some cost a few dollars. 
 
Line&#39;s sticker shop sells thousands of stickers, from Hello Kitty pop-ups and Super Mario to Manga and Disney characters. Line&#39;s homegrown stable of stickers include sad-face bear Brown and friends Cony, a rabbit, and yellow duck Sally. 
 
Where did it come from? 
 
The service, owned by South Korean Internet giant Naver, launched in 2011 as a tool for people to communicate in the aftermath of Japan&#39;s quake-tsunami disaster, which damaged telecom services. 
 
It has since mushroomed into Japan&#39;s most popular messaging app and spread across Asia and to some Spanish-speaking countries. 
 
The share sale comes two years after the firm initially announced plans to list that were later shelved, reportedly because of disagreements over the sale between Line and Naver. 
 
(AFP)

Smartphone users can use the app to make free calls, send no-charge instant messages, and post photos or short videos

Messaging app Line kicks off a dual New York-Tokyo stock listing later Thursday after one of the year's biggest initial public offerings. Here are a few things to know about the chatting service that has taken Asia by storm. What is Line? Smartphone and other mobile gadget users can use the app to make free calls, send no-charge instant messages, and post photos or short videos, along with a host of other paid services. It is a mix of rival messaging service WhatsApp and China's WeChat with a dash of Skype and a pinch of Facebook. Games and a mobile payment service are also on offer. Sticker success What has set Line apart so far, and driven its huge success in home market Japan, are the cutesy cartoon "stickers" that friends can send to each other while chatting online. Some are free, some cost a few dollars. Line's sticker shop sells thousands of stickers, from Hello Kitty pop-ups and Super Mario to Manga and Disney characters. Line's homegrown stable of stickers include sad-face bear Brown and friends Cony, a rabbit, and yellow duck Sally. Where did it come from? The service, owned by South Korean Internet giant Naver, launched in 2011 as a tool for people to communicate in the aftermath of Japan's quake-tsunami disaster, which damaged telecom services. It has since mushroomed into Japan's most popular messaging app and spread across Asia and to some Spanish-speaking countries. The share sale comes two years after the firm initially announced plans to list that were later shelved, reportedly because of disagreements over the sale between Line and Naver. (AFP)

Things to know about Japan's most popular messaging app Line

asia

Asia, News on Asia, stories on Asia, articles on Asia, Asia stories at Wion, Asia news, Asia latest news