Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India is going to spend around 1.3 trillion dollars on modern infrastructure.

"In the coming years, we are going to spend around 1.3 trillion dollars on modern infrastructure in India. Also, lakhs of crores of rupees are being spent on the social infrastructure of the country," the Prime Minister said during his address at the Global Business Forum.

Prime Minister Modi also outlined the government's recent decision of slashing corporate tax rates and reiterated his government's commitment to improving the business environment in the country.

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Watch | PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a>'s big <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Investment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Investment</a> pitch in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewYork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewYork</a> 
Watch his keynote address at the <a href="https://twitter.com/business?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@business</a> Global Business Forum <a href="https://t.co/NlJep9oh7s">pic.twitter.com/NlJep9oh7s</a>
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"Today, there is a government in India that is working towards improving the business environment in the country. India's decision to cut corporate tax has sent a positive message", he said.

He also extended an invitation to the global business community to come and invest in the country and said, "If you want to invest in a market where there is scale, come to India. If you want to invest in one of the largest infrastructure ecosystem and urbanisation, then come to India."

He also met former Mayor of New York City, Michael R Bloomberg ahead of his address at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum. He served as the 108th Mayor of New York City, holding office for three consecutive terms.

After the summit, Prime Minister Modi will take part in an investment round table which will see the participation of more than 40 major US companies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India is going to spend around 1.3 trillion dollars on modern infrastructure. "In the coming years, we are going to spend around 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India is going to spend around 1.3 trillion dollars on modern infrastructure. "In the coming years, we are going to spend around 1.3 trillion dollars on modern infrastructure in India. Also, lakhs of crores of rupees are being spent on the social infrastructure of the country," the Prime Minister said during his address at the Global Business Forum. Prime Minister Modi also outlined the government's recent decision of slashing corporate tax rates and reiterated his government's commitment to improving the business environment in the country. Watch | PM @narendramodi's big #Investment pitch in #NewYork Watch his keynote address at the @business Global Business Forum pic.twitter.com/NlJep9oh7s — WION (@WIONews) September 25, 2019 × "Today, there is a government in India that is working towards improving the business environment in the country. India's decision to cut corporate tax has sent a positive message", he said. He also extended an invitation to the global business community to come and invest in the country and said, "If you want to invest in a market where there is scale, come to India. If you want to invest in one of the largest infrastructure ecosystem and urbanisation, then come to India." He also met former Mayor of New York City, Michael R Bloomberg ahead of his address at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum. He served as the 108th Mayor of New York City, holding office for three consecutive terms. After the summit, Prime Minister Modi will take part in an investment round table which will see the participation of more than 40 major US companies.

India to spend 1.3 trillion dollars on modern infrastructure: PM Narendra Modi

With upscaling infrastructure investments to Rs 100 lakh crore over the next five years and measures to rejuvenate the rural and urban economy, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/budget-2019-here-is-what-favours-you-and-what-does-not-233308">Union Budget for 2019-20</a> sets a clear action plan for making India a five trillion dollar economy by 2025, according to leading industry chambers.

"Directionally the budget is good and it takes forward the plan that was laid out by the government during the interim Budget. There are several positives in the budget, and it provides a set of benefits for most segments of the society," said FICCI President Sandip Somany.

"We see a clear action plan for realising the vision of making India a five trillion dollar economy over the next few years with a focus on ease of living," he said appreciating the Budget's focus on infrastructure development. "We are also encouraged by the focus on promoting public-private partnership for modernisation and upgradation of the nation's railway infrastructure."

So many said the announcement to further provide Rs 70,000 crore for capital infusion into public sector banks along with measures to strengthen the governance processes within the banks should help in improving the credit flow to the industry.

CII President Vikram Kirloskar said the adherence to fiscal consolidation path while providing the necessary boost to consumption, investment and special emphasis on agriculture and rural sector steps in the right&nbsp;direction to take the economy to five trillion dollar mark.

"The measures are expected to debottleneck the economy and create a healthy eco-system for the revival of business sentiment. The Budget did well to bring all companies having turnover upto Rs 400 crore under the 25 per cent corporate tax rate ambit from the erstwhile limit of Rs 250 crore. This is a good beginning and as it is expected to provide a fillip to the corporate sector earnings which could be ploughed back in investments," he said.

Kirloskar said measures, like strengthening of logistics infrastructure and stepping up efforts in rural housing, are likely to provide a significant impetus to investment spending and consumption in the economy. Apart from boosting growth in the near to medium term, they will also help generate jobs in the economy.

Budget 2019-20: What Will Become Costlier &amp; Cheaper Now

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/budget-2019-20-what-will-become-costlier-cheaper-now-233474/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

ASSOCHAM President B K Goenka said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nirmala-sitharaman-delivers-longest-ever-budget-speech-of-2-hours-17-mins-233293">Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman</a>'s maiden budget is a mega investment-oriented initiative with a strong focus on scaling up rural infrastructure and demand along with slew of tax simplification measures.

"The disinvestment target of Rs 1.05 lakh crore along with the commitment to disinvest Air India will be good efforts to enhance the fiscal stability with fiscal deficit being pegged lower at 3.7 per cent of GDP," he said adding that initiatives like e-assessment, inter-changeability of PAN and Aadhaar, digital payment will make a big difference to taxpayers.

The next phases of affordable housing, national highway projects should also be growth drivers, said Goenka. "The focus on Make in India is visible as also emphasis on sustainable development by measures like electric vehicles and renewable energy. Boost to high-technology manufacturing like semi-conductor and commercialisation of space technologies are innovative measures."

With upscaling infrastructure investments to Rs 100 lakh crore over the next five years and measures to rejuvenate the rural and urban economy, the Union Budget for 2019-20 sets a clear action plan for making India a five trillion dollar economy by 2025, according to leading industry chambers.

With upscaling infrastructure investments to Rs 100 lakh crore over the next five years and measures to rejuvenate the rural and urban economy, the Union Budget for 2019-20 sets a clear action plan for making India a five trillion dollar economy by 2025, according to leading industry chambers. "Directionally the budget is good and it takes forward the plan that was laid out by the government during the interim Budget. There are several positives in the budget, and it provides a set of benefits for most segments of the society," said FICCI President Sandip Somany. "We see a clear action plan for realising the vision of making India a five trillion dollar economy over the next few years with a focus on ease of living," he said appreciating the Budget's focus on infrastructure development. "We are also encouraged by the focus on promoting public-private partnership for modernisation and upgradation of the nation's railway infrastructure." So many said the announcement to further provide Rs 70,000 crore for capital infusion into public sector banks along with measures to strengthen the governance processes within the banks should help in improving the credit flow to the industry. CII President Vikram Kirloskar said the adherence to fiscal consolidation path while providing the necessary boost to consumption, investment and special emphasis on agriculture and rural sector steps in the right direction to take the economy to five trillion dollar mark. "The measures are expected to debottleneck the economy and create a healthy eco-system for the revival of business sentiment. The Budget did well to bring all companies having turnover upto Rs 400 crore under the 25 per cent corporate tax rate ambit from the erstwhile limit of Rs 250 crore. This is a good beginning and as it is expected to provide a fillip to the corporate sector earnings which could be ploughed back in investments," he said. Kirloskar said measures, like strengthening of logistics infrastructure and stepping up efforts in rural housing, are likely to provide a significant impetus to investment spending and consumption in the economy. Apart from boosting growth in the near to medium term, they will also help generate jobs in the economy. Budget 2019-20: What Will Become Costlier & Cheaper Now ASSOCHAM President B K Goenka said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's maiden budget is a mega investment-oriented initiative with a strong focus on scaling up rural infrastructure and demand along with slew of tax simplification measures. "The disinvestment target of Rs 1.05 lakh crore along with the commitment to disinvest Air India will be good efforts to enhance the fiscal stability with fiscal deficit being pegged lower at 3.7 per cent of GDP," he said adding that initiatives like e-assessment, inter-changeability of PAN and Aadhaar, digital payment will make a big difference to taxpayers. The next phases of affordable housing, national highway projects should also be growth drivers, said Goenka. "The focus on Make in India is visible as also emphasis on sustainable development by measures like electric vehicles and renewable energy. Boost to high-technology manufacturing like semi-conductor and commercialisation of space technologies are innovative measures."

Budget sets clear action plan for making India $5 trillion economy: FICCI, CII

Prime minister Narendra Modi focused on terror, healthcare and disaster infrastructure during his intervention at G20 Summit and sideline trilateral and bilateral meets, Suresh Prabhu, India's sherpa for G20 said at a presser at the end of G20 summit.

"India played a proactive, positive, forward-looking role. PM Modi raised many issues of global concerns", he said.

During his intervention at G20 session on "Inequalities: Realising an Inclusive and Sustainable World", PM Modi highlighted "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas" policy aimed at building an inclusive society.&nbsp;

On disaster resilient infrastructure, PM Modi said, "Disaster resilient infrastructure is required not only for development, but it is also necessary to combat natural calamities. In this regard, I stressed upon the need of an international coalition in the G20 Conference of Buenos Aires. I invite the G20 countries to join this coalition and share their experience and expertise."

Healthcare was also one of PM Modi's focus at G20 with he talking about India's "Ayushman Bharat - world's largest health insurance scheme" and "AYUSH - Alternate and Traditional System of Medicine".

PM Modi also presented his vision of maximising digital technology for society during his intervention at G20 on Digital Economy &amp; Artificial Intelligence. He gave, 5 'I's which are - "Inclusiveness, Indigenization, Innovation, Investment in infrastructure and International cooperation."

Asked why India did not join the Japan led pact on data free flow, Suresh Prabhu said, "PM Modi has communicated the reason to Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe."

During his bilaterals and BRICS, PM Modi raised the issue of terror.&nbsp;

On prime minister's idea of an international conference on terror Ministry of external affair spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "It is an issue which impacts mankind.. whenever PM has raised the topic with world leaders and in a multilateral format, there has been considerable interest and enthusiasm."

Prime minister Narendra Modi focused on terror, healthcare and disaster infrastructure during his intervention at G20 Summit and sideline trilateral and bilateral meets, Suresh Prabhu, India's sherpa for G20 said at a presser at the end of G20 summit.

Prime minister Narendra Modi focused on terror, healthcare and disaster infrastructure during his intervention at G20 Summit and sideline trilateral and bilateral meets, Suresh Prabhu, India's sherpa for G20 said at a presser at the end of G20 summit. "India played a proactive, positive, forward-looking role. PM Modi raised many issues of global concerns", he said. During his intervention at G20 session on "Inequalities: Realising an Inclusive and Sustainable World", PM Modi highlighted "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas" policy aimed at building an inclusive society. On disaster resilient infrastructure, PM Modi said, "Disaster resilient infrastructure is required not only for development, but it is also necessary to combat natural calamities. In this regard, I stressed upon the need of an international coalition in the G20 Conference of Buenos Aires. I invite the G20 countries to join this coalition and share their experience and expertise." Healthcare was also one of PM Modi's focus at G20 with he talking about India's "Ayushman Bharat - world's largest health insurance scheme" and "AYUSH - Alternate and Traditional System of Medicine". PM Modi also presented his vision of maximising digital technology for society during his intervention at G20 on Digital Economy & Artificial Intelligence. He gave, 5 'I's which are - "Inclusiveness, Indigenization, Innovation, Investment in infrastructure and International cooperation." Asked why India did not join the Japan led pact on data free flow, Suresh Prabhu said, "PM Modi has communicated the reason to Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe." During his bilaterals and BRICS, PM Modi raised the issue of terror. On prime minister's idea of an international conference on terror Ministry of external affair spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, "It is an issue which impacts mankind.. whenever PM has raised the topic with world leaders and in a multilateral format, there has been considerable interest and enthusiasm."

PM Modi focused on terror, healthcare and infrastructure at G20 Summit in Osaka: Suresh Prabhu

Infrastructure development, including the construction of roads, bridges, ports, power plants and water supply, are key drivers of economic growth. It facilitates developing countries to boost their manufacturing, services as well as trade.

The fast-paced infrastructure development in India has not only helped the country in becoming one of the fastest growing economies of the world, but also aided in bringing in substantial investment.&nbsp;

Smart Cities Mission has given a boost to infrastructure development. With infrastructure geared towards Smart Cities, the focus is on sustainable infrastructure, which also becomes the need of the hour considering the fact that the planet is suffering from eco-anxiety — due to climate change and diminishing natural resources.

Sustainable infrastructure not just protects the environment, but also adds long-term value to the facilities. It enhances the quality of life for citizens of the country.

Sustainable growth helps in protecting vital natural resources along with promoting efficient use of financial resources.

Pollution is one of the major problems dogging India, whose air quality in India is horrendously bad right now. The problem became so intense that the government had to stop construction at almost all sites.

An increasing number of vehicles, along with industrialisation and a decreasing number of trees, have added to carbon emission.&nbsp;

Sustainable infrastructure can play a role in reducing energy consumption, which helps in minimising carbon dioxide emission. The usage of renewable energy sources directly helps in improving air quality.

Sustainable infrastructure also helps in reducing solid waste. Since the focus has now shifted to solid waste management, companies manufacturing construction materials are coming up with renewable building materials which are easy to recycle.&nbsp;

Various solid waste reduction practices such as construction byproduct management, recyclable management, recycled material usage and waste mitigation have been incorporated. &nbsp;

Owing to rampant exploitation of natural resources, it is high time that we switch to sustainable infrastructure development. This will help reduce dependence on natural resources.&nbsp;

Through building re-purposing, sustainable infrastructure projects will help save natural resources.&nbsp;

Sustainable projects also help to reduce soil erosion as well as water runoff. They assist in preserving indigenous wildlife and open land.

While developing a sustainable infrastructure project, the focus is on less energy consumption. Although the cost of sustainable engineering is higher as compared to traditional building methods, the developer can recover the initial cost due to reduced utility and maintenance expenses.

Apart from bringing down energy consumption, there is a reduction in water consumption too owing to the fact that civil engineers practising sustainable infrastructure design also incorporate water saving- technologies. These projects have water-free urinals — no flush toilets and low flow shower heads.

It also comes with the benefit of improved community health. With improved air quality, reduction in carbon emission, less energy consumption and usage of renewable energy sources, sustainable infrastructure has tremendous health benefits.&nbsp;

Sustainable infrastructure also reduces the risk of damages through unforeseen natural disasters.&nbsp;

Apart from this, the developer of a sustainable project might get insurance discounts through preventive disaster measures, which further offsets emergency equipment expenses.&nbsp;

Structural life spans of the project that are designed keeping in mind sustainability also goes up. This helps developers in cutting down on construction costs. It is safe to say that any sustainable project should remain safe and functional for 200 to 300 years.

Minimalist designs allow property owners to add features as and when needed. The design of sustainable projects is such that it facilitates future additions. The floor plans of sustainable projects ensure that space lends itself to multi-purpose utility.&nbsp;

Sustainable projects also include framework, which includes additional floor levels, as well as accessible wiring conduits that facilitate future improvements.

Apart from providing a better place to live, sustainable infrastructure development also adds to employment prospects. Employment opportunities are created at every step. Job opportunities are aplenty — right from construction to its maintenance. Apart from being the direct source of employment for local labour, it is also a source of income generation for small businessmen who supply materials for construction.

Sustainable infrastructure attracts investment, which ropes in companies providing employment opportunities to local labour and help in controlling rampant inter-state migration.&nbsp; 
 
(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-sustainable-infrastructure-the-way-ahead-for-india-2760490">original article)</a>

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Infrastructure development, including the construction of roads, bridges, ports, power plants and water supply, are key drivers of economic growth. It facilitates developing countries to boost their manufacturing, services as well as trade.

Infrastructure development, including the construction of roads, bridges, ports, power plants and water supply, are key drivers of economic growth. It facilitates developing countries to boost their manufacturing, services as well as trade. The fast-paced infrastructure development in India has not only helped the country in becoming one of the fastest growing economies of the world, but also aided in bringing in substantial investment. Smart Cities Mission has given a boost to infrastructure development. With infrastructure geared towards Smart Cities, the focus is on sustainable infrastructure, which also becomes the need of the hour considering the fact that the planet is suffering from eco-anxiety — due to climate change and diminishing natural resources. Sustainable infrastructure not just protects the environment, but also adds long-term value to the facilities. It enhances the quality of life for citizens of the country. Sustainable growth helps in protecting vital natural resources along with promoting efficient use of financial resources. Pollution is one of the major problems dogging India, whose air quality in India is horrendously bad right now. The problem became so intense that the government had to stop construction at almost all sites. An increasing number of vehicles, along with industrialisation and a decreasing number of trees, have added to carbon emission. Sustainable infrastructure can play a role in reducing energy consumption, which helps in minimising carbon dioxide emission. The usage of renewable energy sources directly helps in improving air quality. Sustainable infrastructure also helps in reducing solid waste. Since the focus has now shifted to solid waste management, companies manufacturing construction materials are coming up with renewable building materials which are easy to recycle. Various solid waste reduction practices such as construction byproduct management, recyclable management, recycled material usage and waste mitigation have been incorporated. Owing to rampant exploitation of natural resources, it is high time that we switch to sustainable infrastructure development. This will help reduce dependence on natural resources. Through building re-purposing, sustainable infrastructure projects will help save natural resources. Sustainable projects also help to reduce soil erosion as well as water runoff. They assist in preserving indigenous wildlife and open land. While developing a sustainable infrastructure project, the focus is on less energy consumption. Although the cost of sustainable engineering is higher as compared to traditional building methods, the developer can recover the initial cost due to reduced utility and maintenance expenses. Apart from bringing down energy consumption, there is a reduction in water consumption too owing to the fact that civil engineers practising sustainable infrastructure design also incorporate water saving- technologies. These projects have water-free urinals — no flush toilets and low flow shower heads. It also comes with the benefit of improved community health. With improved air quality, reduction in carbon emission, less energy consumption and usage of renewable energy sources, sustainable infrastructure has tremendous health benefits. Sustainable infrastructure also reduces the risk of damages through unforeseen natural disasters. Apart from this, the developer of a sustainable project might get insurance discounts through preventive disaster measures, which further offsets emergency equipment expenses. Structural life spans of the project that are designed keeping in mind sustainability also goes up. This helps developers in cutting down on construction costs. It is safe to say that any sustainable project should remain safe and functional for 200 to 300 years. Minimalist designs allow property owners to add features as and when needed. The design of sustainable projects is such that it facilitates future additions. The floor plans of sustainable projects ensure that space lends itself to multi-purpose utility. Sustainable projects also include framework, which includes additional floor levels, as well as accessible wiring conduits that facilitate future improvements. Apart from providing a better place to live, sustainable infrastructure development also adds to employment prospects. Employment opportunities are created at every step. Job opportunities are aplenty — right from construction to its maintenance. Apart from being the direct source of employment for local labour, it is also a source of income generation for small businessmen who supply materials for construction. Sustainable infrastructure attracts investment, which ropes in companies providing employment opportunities to local labour and help in controlling rampant inter-state migration. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Sustainable infrastructure the way ahead for India

Pakistan said on Friday it expected economic growth of 6.2 per cent as it announced a 2018/19 budget ahead of national elections expected in July.

Newly appointed Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced the annual budget, while the opposition called for a budget covering only the remaining two months of the federal government`s tenure.&nbsp

Here are the highlights of the budget from the official federal budget document for the fiscal year starting on July 1.

Growth/fiscal deficit

GDP growth in 2018/19 growth seen at 6.2 per cent.

Finance minister Ismail said, "We have taken GDP to 5.8 percent. This progress we have made. We will not interrupt it, but the incoming government will have the right to modify the budget."

2018/19 fiscal deficit seen at 4.9 per cent of GDP.

Expenditure

Total expenditure for 2018/19 seen at 5.9 trillion rupees ($51 billion)

Opposition reaction

Two main opposition parties said it is improper to make a full-year budget with just months to go before the elections.

Taxation

Budget estimates tax revenue of 4.9 trillion rupees.

Minister Ismail said the government is using data mining and other technologies to track tax evaders.

Infrastructure

Government to spend on a large-scale desalination plant in Karachi city to end the city`s water woes.

Agriculture

Loans to the agriculture sector to increase.&nbsp

Health

Package for children`s health announced.&nbsp

Education

Government to pay for the transportation of female students to school.

Newly appointed Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced the annual budget, while the opposition called for a budget covering only the remaining two months of the federal government's tenure

Pakistan said on Friday it expected economic growth of 6.2 per cent as it announced a 2018/19 budget ahead of national elections expected in July. Newly appointed Finance Minister Miftah Ismail announced the annual budget, while the opposition called for a budget covering only the remaining two months of the federal government`s tenure. Here are the highlights of the budget from the official federal budget document for the fiscal year starting on July 1. Growth/fiscal deficit GDP growth in 2018/19 growth seen at 6.2 per cent. Finance minister Ismail said, "We have taken GDP to 5.8 percent. This progress we have made. We will not interrupt it, but the incoming government will have the right to modify the budget." 2018/19 fiscal deficit seen at 4.9 per cent of GDP. Expenditure Total expenditure for 2018/19 seen at 5.9 trillion rupees ($51 billion) Opposition reaction Two main opposition parties said it is improper to make a full-year budget with just months to go before the elections. Taxation Budget estimates tax revenue of 4.9 trillion rupees. Minister Ismail said the government is using data mining and other technologies to track tax evaders. Infrastructure Government to spend on a large-scale desalination plant in Karachi city to end the city`s water woes. Agriculture Loans to the agriculture sector to increase. Health Package for children`s health announced. Education Government to pay for the transportation of female students to school.

Pakistan government presents annual budget two months before term ends

India&#39;s infrastructure output grew 6.7 percent in January from a year ago, government data showed on Wednesday.

The growth in output compares with an upwardly revised 4.2 percent year-on-year growth in December.

During April-January, the annual output growth was 4.3 percent, data showed.

Infrastructure output, which comprises eight sectors such as coal, crude oil and electricity, accounts for nearly 40 percent of India`s industrial output.

During April-January, the annual output growth was 4.3 percent, data showed

India's infrastructure output grew 6.7 percent in January from a year ago, government data showed on Wednesday. The growth in output compares with an upwardly revised 4.2 percent year-on-year growth in December. During April-January, the annual output growth was 4.3 percent, data showed. Infrastructure output, which comprises eight sectors such as coal, crude oil and electricity, accounts for nearly 40 percent of India`s industrial output.

Infrastructure output grows 6.7% in January

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress for the underdevelopment of the union territory Puducherry.

While addressing a public rally in the Union Territory, PM Modi said Puducherry has poor infrastructure and transport system and is a victim of Congress culture.

&quot;Puducherry has all resources and will-power but why is its development not up to the mark?&quot; he asked.&nbsp;

Accusing the Congress of doing injustice to the people of the state, the PM asked, &quot;Why is it not number one? Are women and youth getting opportunities to move ahead? Are the industries prospering here?&quot;&nbsp;

PM Modi asserted India was far behind&nbsp;several countries who gained freedom much later in India&#39;s comparison.&nbsp;

&quot;We need to ask ourselves what did we lack in our political culture, our system that we are still lagging behind several nations,&quot; he said.

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This one family has governed the nation for almost 48 years directly &amp; indirectly. Our govt is going to complete 48 months in this May. You will have to think what did you gain or lose during those 48 years of one family as compared to 48 months of our govt: PM Modi <a href="https://t.co/CBeFhjN9QB">pic.twitter.com/CBeFhjN9QB</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/967694215881920513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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PM Modi also took a jibe at the Gandhi family for&nbsp;having governed the nation directly or indirectly.&nbsp;

During his address, PM Modi attacked Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and said the Congress would exhibit him as a specimen after June. &nbsp;

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I want to congratulate CM of Puducherry because Congress is going to exhibit him as a specimen after June: PM Modi in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Puducherry?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Puducherry</a> <a href="https://t.co/HJzjEFhg6l">pic.twitter.com/HJzjEFhg6l</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/967689305715105792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Velu Narayanasamy is a senior Congress leader who has been serving as the Chief Minister of the south Indian Union Territory of Puducherry since June 2016.

The prime minister said that Puducherry has poor infrastructure and transport system

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took a swipe at the Congress for the underdevelopment of the union territory Puducherry. While addressing a public rally in the Union Territory, PM Modi said Puducherry has poor infrastructure and transport system and is a victim of Congress culture. "Puducherry has all resources and will-power but why is its development not up to the mark?" he asked. Accusing the Congress of doing injustice to the people of the state, the PM asked, "Why is it not number one? Are women and youth getting opportunities to move ahead? Are the industries prospering here?" PM Modi asserted India was far behind several countries who gained freedom much later in India's comparison. "We need to ask ourselves what did we lack in our political culture, our system that we are still lagging behind several nations," he said. This one family has governed the nation for almost 48 years directly & indirectly. Our govt is going to complete 48 months in this May. You will have to think what did you gain or lose during those 48 years of one family as compared to 48 months of our govt: PM Modi pic.twitter.com/CBeFhjN9QB — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2018 × PM Modi also took a jibe at the Gandhi family for having governed the nation directly or indirectly. During his address, PM Modi attacked Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and said the Congress would exhibit him as a specimen after June. I want to congratulate CM of Puducherry because Congress is going to exhibit him as a specimen after June: PM Modi in #Puducherry pic.twitter.com/HJzjEFhg6l — ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2018 × Velu Narayanasamy is a senior Congress leader who has been serving as the Chief Minister of the south Indian Union Territory of Puducherry since June 2016.

'Parties who governed Puducherry did injustice to people', says PM Modi

A Chinese national, the managing director of a shipping firm in Pakistan, was killed in Karachi after being shot in the head by unidentified gunmen here in what police are calling a targeted attack.

Chen Zhu, who was hit in the head and later died in hospital.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/china-urges-pakistan-to-solve-chinese-citizens-killing-31996">China urges Pakistan to solve Chinese citizen&#39;s killing</a>

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/chinese-national-shot-dead-in-karachi-31862">Chinese national shot dead in Karachi</a>

The incident highlights China&#39;s increased concern about its money invested and people working on projects in Pakistan.

The incident comes nearly two months after China warned its citizens in Pakistan to be on alert after receiving intelligence reports about possible attacks targeting Chinese.

Pakistan is becoming more dependent on China as relations with the US have hit a low.&nbsp;

China is ramping up investment as part of a $54 billion project known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, upgrading infrastructure, power and transport links between its far-western Xinjiang region and Pakistan&#39;s Gwadar port.

Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in the development of infrastructure projects under Beijing&#39;s &#39;Belt and Road&#39; initiative.&nbsp;

The port and road-building projects have come under frequent attacks in Balochistan.

Protecting employees of Chinese companies, as well as individual entrepreneurs who have followed the investment wave along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has been a concern for Chinese officials.

Last year, two Chinese nationals, believed to be Christian missionaries, were abducted from Quetta and killed by the Islamic State group in the restive Balochistan province.

The couple had reportedly been &quot;preaching&quot; in Balochistan under the garb of learning Urdu.

Pakistan faces an &quot;unprecedented situation whereby growing foreign direct investment is accompanied by a significant increase in the physical presence of foreign nationals,&quot; said a researcher of a security consultancy.&nbsp;

Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in the development of infrastructure projects under Beijing's 'Belt and Road' initiative.

A Chinese national, the managing director of a shipping firm in Pakistan, was killed in Karachi after being shot in the head by unidentified gunmen here in what police are calling a targeted attack. Chen Zhu, who was hit in the head and later died in hospital. Also read: China urges Pakistan to solve Chinese citizen's killing Also read: Chinese national shot dead in Karachi The incident highlights China's increased concern about its money invested and people working on projects in Pakistan. The incident comes nearly two months after China warned its citizens in Pakistan to be on alert after receiving intelligence reports about possible attacks targeting Chinese. Pakistan is becoming more dependent on China as relations with the US have hit a low. China is ramping up investment as part of a $54 billion project known as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, upgrading infrastructure, power and transport links between its far-western Xinjiang region and Pakistan's Gwadar port. Thousands of Chinese workers are employed in the development of infrastructure projects under Beijing's 'Belt and Road' initiative. The port and road-building projects have come under frequent attacks in Balochistan. Protecting employees of Chinese companies, as well as individual entrepreneurs who have followed the investment wave along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, has been a concern for Chinese officials. Last year, two Chinese nationals, believed to be Christian missionaries, were abducted from Quetta and killed by the Islamic State group in the restive Balochistan province. The couple had reportedly been "preaching" in Balochistan under the garb of learning Urdu. Pakistan faces an "unprecedented situation whereby growing foreign direct investment is accompanied by a significant increase in the physical presence of foreign nationals," said a researcher of a security consultancy.

Concerns rise in China over CPEC after murder of its citizen in Pakistan

As the Seine River in Paris continued to swell on Friday (January 26), quayside commerce and infrastructure have increasingly been affected.

The rising water level, expected to reach 6 metres (19.7 feet) over the weekend, have inundated parts of Paris, prompting officials to suspend part of a commuter line, close a part of the Louvre museum, and ban water traffic.

As of Friday, the water level was measured at 5.63 metres (18.47 feet) at the Austerlitz bridge, compared to 5.5 metres (18 feet) on Thursday (January 25).

The Seine reached 6.10 metres (20 feet) in 2016, a level not reached since 1982. The grand flood of 1910 saw the level reach 8.62 metres (28 feet) at the Austerlitz bridge.

The Zouave statue, an indicator of levels, was covered up to its knees.

The Seine swallowed its own quayside walkways earlier in the week and rose too high for Paris&#39;s riverboats to pass underneath the ancient bridges that ring Notre Dame cathedral.

Firemen and the Brigade Fluviale, Paris&#39;s river police, have been mobilised for potential rescue operations. They especially monitor boats stranded near the Seine&#39;s riverbanks.

Tourists and locals were advised to steer clear of the banks for fear of being caught by swirling water, and barges moored to the submerged quaysides appeared as if stranded in the middle of a vastly wider river.

The Seine swallowed its own quayside walkways earlier in the week and rose too high for Paris's riverboats to pass underneath the ancient bridges that ring Notre Dame cathedral.

As the Seine River in Paris continued to swell on Friday (January 26), quayside commerce and infrastructure have increasingly been affected. The rising water level, expected to reach 6 metres (19.7 feet) over the weekend, have inundated parts of Paris, prompting officials to suspend part of a commuter line, close a part of the Louvre museum, and ban water traffic. As of Friday, the water level was measured at 5.63 metres (18.47 feet) at the Austerlitz bridge, compared to 5.5 metres (18 feet) on Thursday (January 25). The Seine reached 6.10 metres (20 feet) in 2016, a level not reached since 1982. The grand flood of 1910 saw the level reach 8.62 metres (28 feet) at the Austerlitz bridge. The Zouave statue, an indicator of levels, was covered up to its knees. The Seine swallowed its own quayside walkways earlier in the week and rose too high for Paris's riverboats to pass underneath the ancient bridges that ring Notre Dame cathedral. Firemen and the Brigade Fluviale, Paris's river police, have been mobilised for potential rescue operations. They especially monitor boats stranded near the Seine's riverbanks. Tourists and locals were advised to steer clear of the banks for fear of being caught by swirling water, and barges moored to the submerged quaysides appeared as if stranded in the middle of a vastly wider river.

Parts of Paris on standstill, as flood waters rise along Seine river

President Donald Trump will unveil his second budget on Monday - seeking to make good on his promise to bolster military spending and requesting funds for infrastructure, construction of a wall along the border with Mexico and opioid treatment programs.

The budget plan, which is viewed largely as suggestions by Congress, which has the constitutional authority to decide spending levels, will likely draw criticism from conservatives who worry that Republicans are embracing deficit spending.

The proposal will include $200 billion for infrastructure spending and more than $23 billion for border security and immigration enforcement, Mick Mulvaney, who heads the administration`s budget office, said in a statement on Sunday night.

It will also provide &quot;for a robust and rebuilt national defense,&quot; he said.

But the statement added that the proposal would recommend cuts that would lower the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years.

&quot;The budget does bend the trajectory down,&quot; Mulvaney told the &quot;Fox News Sunday&quot; program earlier on Sunday. &quot;It does move us back towards balance. It does get us away from trillion-dollar deficits.&quot;

The budget request will be delivered to Congress only days after Trump signed off on a bipartisan spending agreement hammered out by lawmakers that will increase domestic spending by $300 billion over two years - including $165 billion in defense spending and $131 billion in non-military domestic spending.

The White House plans to amend its request to take into account the higher spending levels in the agreement that passed on Friday, a senior official in the Office of Management and Budget said.

Mulvaney said on Sunday all that money did not need to be spent.&nbsp;

&quot;These are spending caps,&quot; Mulvaney said. &quot;They are not spending floors. You don&rsquo;t have to spend all that.&quot;

The spending deal will add to the annual budget deficit, which will now exceed $1 trillion in 2019, said the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget watchdog group.

Trump`s previous budget was criticized for recommending cuts to spending to achieve deficit reduction that ultimately even members of his own Republican Party thought were untenable.&nbsp;

&quot;I hope the budget that we see is workable and recognizes the landscape we`re in,&quot; said Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican member of the Appropriations Committee. &quot;A lot of times, what you have is a budget that even the Cabinet secretaries can`t defend.&quot;&nbsp;

Deficit debate

&quot;The president`s budget is always a list of pretty good suggestions. It`s not `the` budget,&quot; said Senate Budget Chairman Mike Enzi.&nbsp;

This year`s budget is likely to stoke debates about deficits that began when Congress passed a tax overhaul in December. The tax cuts in the legislation contained no corresponding reductions in spending and instead relied on arguments that the lower rates would stoke economic growth.

Trump`s budget will include a number of economic forecasts and is expected to rely on estimates that the economy will keep growing at a rapid pace for the foreseeable future.

Such forecasts could obscure the level of deficit spending, said Robert Greenstein, president of the progressive Center for Budget Policy and Priorities.&nbsp;

&quot;It`ll essentially be another budget gimmick, alongside rosy economic assumptions, to make the deficit smaller than it will actually be,&quot; Greenstein said.&nbsp;

The budget proposal will include two key elements - $18 billion over two years for Trump`s long-promised border wall and $200 billion in federal funds to spur $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next 10 years with state, local and private partners, Mulvaney`s statement said.

Trump promised during the 2016 campaign that Mexico would pay for the border wall, which the Mexican government has insisted it will not do.

Democrats oppose the wall, which Trump has said is aimed at keeping out illegal immigrants and drug smugglers.&nbsp;

The budget will also seek some $13 billion in new funding over the next two years to combat the opioid epidemic.

In addition, it will request $85.5 billion for veterans` health, the administration said.

President Donald Trump will unveil his second budget on Monday

President Donald Trump will unveil his second budget on Monday - seeking to make good on his promise to bolster military spending and requesting funds for infrastructure, construction of a wall along the border with Mexico and opioid treatment programs. The budget plan, which is viewed largely as suggestions by Congress, which has the constitutional authority to decide spending levels, will likely draw criticism from conservatives who worry that Republicans are embracing deficit spending. The proposal will include $200 billion for infrastructure spending and more than $23 billion for border security and immigration enforcement, Mick Mulvaney, who heads the administration`s budget office, said in a statement on Sunday night. It will also provide "for a robust and rebuilt national defense," he said. But the statement added that the proposal would recommend cuts that would lower the deficit by $3 trillion over 10 years. "The budget does bend the trajectory down," Mulvaney told the "Fox News Sunday" program earlier on Sunday. "It does move us back towards balance. It does get us away from trillion-dollar deficits." The budget request will be delivered to Congress only days after Trump signed off on a bipartisan spending agreement hammered out by lawmakers that will increase domestic spending by $300 billion over two years - including $165 billion in defense spending and $131 billion in non-military domestic spending. The White House plans to amend its request to take into account the higher spending levels in the agreement that passed on Friday, a senior official in the Office of Management and Budget said. Mulvaney said on Sunday all that money did not need to be spent. "These are spending caps," Mulvaney said. "They are not spending floors. You don’t have to spend all that." The spending deal will add to the annual budget deficit, which will now exceed $1 trillion in 2019, said the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget watchdog group. Trump`s previous budget was criticized for recommending cuts to spending to achieve deficit reduction that ultimately even members of his own Republican Party thought were untenable. "I hope the budget that we see is workable and recognizes the landscape we`re in," said Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican member of the Appropriations Committee. "A lot of times, what you have is a budget that even the Cabinet secretaries can`t defend." Deficit debate "The president`s budget is always a list of pretty good suggestions. It`s not `the` budget," said Senate Budget Chairman Mike Enzi. This year`s budget is likely to stoke debates about deficits that began when Congress passed a tax overhaul in December. The tax cuts in the legislation contained no corresponding reductions in spending and instead relied on arguments that the lower rates would stoke economic growth. Trump`s budget will include a number of economic forecasts and is expected to rely on estimates that the economy will keep growing at a rapid pace for the foreseeable future. Such forecasts could obscure the level of deficit spending, said Robert Greenstein, president of the progressive Center for Budget Policy and Priorities. "It`ll essentially be another budget gimmick, alongside rosy economic assumptions, to make the deficit smaller than it will actually be," Greenstein said. The budget proposal will include two key elements - $18 billion over two years for Trump`s long-promised border wall and $200 billion in federal funds to spur $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next 10 years with state, local and private partners, Mulvaney`s statement said. Trump promised during the 2016 campaign that Mexico would pay for the border wall, which the Mexican government has insisted it will not do. Democrats oppose the wall, which Trump has said is aimed at keeping out illegal immigrants and drug smugglers. The budget will also seek some $13 billion in new funding over the next two years to combat the opioid epidemic. In addition, it will request $85.5 billion for veterans` health, the administration said.

Trump budget plan to seek funds for border wall, infrastructure, opioid treatment

BJP chief Amit Shah on Thursday said the Union Budget would ensure that development touched all sections of society and help the government realise its dream of a &quot;New India&quot; by 2022.

Speaking to the media here, Shah highlighted various budget provisions, especially those aimed at weaker sections, and said it was a pro-people Budget that would take the country ahead on the path to development.

The Budget gives &quot;new wings&quot; to the aspirations of the poor, he said, citing measures aimed at giving a boost to farmers, infrastructure, rural sector and small and medium enterprises.

Shah also posted a number of tweets as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented his fifth straight budget today to highlight the significance of the measures, especially those for the weaker sections.

This is the last full-fledged budget of the BJP-led NDA government before the next Lok Sabha polls, scheduled for 2019, and the ruling alliance hopes that its emphasis on the rural sector will help it connect with the masses as the elections approach.

The BJP president said the &quot;record allocation&quot; to the rural sector and agriculture would lead to the unprecedented rural development and agricultural growth and asserted that the consistent focus on these sectors had been a hallmark of the government.

He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaitley for the &quot;historic&quot; step of raising MSPs to 1.5 times the costs incurred by farmers and said it showed the government&#39;s commitment to farmers and resolve of doubling their income.

&quot;This budget gives new wings to the aspirations of the poor, farmers and the middle class. The #NewIndiaBudget will truly empower all sections of society to attain prosperity,&quot; he tweeted.

There was a &quot;tremendous stress&quot; on improving the ease of living for the common man and this was happening by improving affordability and access and would give a boost to the aspirations of the common man, Shah added.

He also termed the government&#39;s &quot;Ayushman Bharat&quot; scheme an unparalleled initiative to ensure &quot;health insurance as well as health assurance&quot;.

Protecting 10 crore families, which is about 40 per cent of India&#39;s population, with a health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family, was a global first, he said.

The scheme had received a good response from the people, who were calling it &quot;ModiCare&quot;, he added.

The proposed &quot;Eklavya Schools&quot; in tribal blocks reflected the govt&#39;s resolve to uplift tribal communities and help them secure a better future, he said.

The &quot;significant benefits&quot; to the MSME sector would not only give relief to small and medium entrepreneurs but also help them achieve new heights of development, he added.

&quot;I thank the government for the budgetary allocation of Rs 3 lakh crore under the &#39;Mudra Yojana&#39; for the year 2018- 2019 that will boost employment generation. This will especially benefit women, OBC, SC &amp; ST, as so far 76 per cent of loan accounts are of women and more than 50 per cent belong to SC, ST &amp; OBC,&quot; Shah said.

Building a solid Infrastructure for a &#39;New India&#39; has always been the focus of the government and the BJP welcomed and appreciated the record allotment to infrastructure and hastening the pace of completion, Shah said.

Reducing corporate tax to 25 per cent was a major initiative towards creating a competitive environment for doing business in India and was in line with global standards, he said.

&quot;The Modi government has continuously improved fiscal deficit since its first budget. The target of 3.3 per cent for 2018-19 is another effort in the same direction and will certainly improve investor confidence in the Indian economy,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

"This budget gives new wings to the aspirations of the poor, farmers and the middle class. The #NewIndiaBudget will truly empower all sections of society to attain prosperity," he tweeted.

BJP chief Amit Shah on Thursday said the Union Budget would ensure that development touched all sections of society and help the government realise its dream of a "New India" by 2022. Speaking to the media here, Shah highlighted various budget provisions, especially those aimed at weaker sections, and said it was a pro-people Budget that would take the country ahead on the path to development. The Budget gives "new wings" to the aspirations of the poor, he said, citing measures aimed at giving a boost to farmers, infrastructure, rural sector and small and medium enterprises. Shah also posted a number of tweets as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley presented his fifth straight budget today to highlight the significance of the measures, especially those for the weaker sections. This is the last full-fledged budget of the BJP-led NDA government before the next Lok Sabha polls, scheduled for 2019, and the ruling alliance hopes that its emphasis on the rural sector will help it connect with the masses as the elections approach. The BJP president said the "record allocation" to the rural sector and agriculture would lead to the unprecedented rural development and agricultural growth and asserted that the consistent focus on these sectors had been a hallmark of the government. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaitley for the "historic" step of raising MSPs to 1.5 times the costs incurred by farmers and said it showed the government's commitment to farmers and resolve of doubling their income. "This budget gives new wings to the aspirations of the poor, farmers and the middle class. The #NewIndiaBudget will truly empower all sections of society to attain prosperity," he tweeted. There was a "tremendous stress" on improving the ease of living for the common man and this was happening by improving affordability and access and would give a boost to the aspirations of the common man, Shah added. He also termed the government's "Ayushman Bharat" scheme an unparalleled initiative to ensure "health insurance as well as health assurance". Protecting 10 crore families, which is about 40 per cent of India's population, with a health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh per family, was a global first, he said. The scheme had received a good response from the people, who were calling it "ModiCare", he added. The proposed "Eklavya Schools" in tribal blocks reflected the govt's resolve to uplift tribal communities and help them secure a better future, he said. The "significant benefits" to the MSME sector would not only give relief to small and medium entrepreneurs but also help them achieve new heights of development, he added. "I thank the government for the budgetary allocation of Rs 3 lakh crore under the 'Mudra Yojana' for the year 2018- 2019 that will boost employment generation. This will especially benefit women, OBC, SC & ST, as so far 76 per cent of loan accounts are of women and more than 50 per cent belong to SC, ST & OBC," Shah said. Building a solid Infrastructure for a 'New India' has always been the focus of the government and the BJP welcomed and appreciated the record allotment to infrastructure and hastening the pace of completion, Shah said. Reducing corporate tax to 25 per cent was a major initiative towards creating a competitive environment for doing business in India and was in line with global standards, he said. "The Modi government has continuously improved fiscal deficit since its first budget. The target of 3.3 per cent for 2018-19 is another effort in the same direction and will certainly improve investor confidence in the Indian economy," he said.

Budget gives new wings to aspirations of poor, says Amit Shah

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered his first State of the Union address and provided his assessment of his first year in office with a look ahead at his agenda as he continues to work towards fulfilling his campaign promise to &quot;make America great again.&quot;

In the hour-long address, Donald Trump spoke about the American economy and the tax cuts undertaken by his government. He also talked about &quot;decades of unfair trade deals&quot;, &quot;immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American Workers and American Families&quot;, &quot;what kind of nation&quot; America will be, and America&#39;s &quot;fight until ISIS is defeated&quot; among others.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-state-of-the-union-speech-full-text-31279" target="_blank">Full text of Donald Trump&#39;s State of the Union speech</a>

The State of the Union Address is an annual message presented by President of United States to a joint session of the United States Congress after the president completes one year of his term.&nbsp;

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US President Trump said that &quot;together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a> <a href="https://t.co/FOEqVUyHho">pic.twitter.com/FOEqVUyHho</a>
&mdash; AFP news agency (@AFP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFP/status/958533775742328832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2">https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958524829233184768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America.&nbsp;

As Trump took the stage, amid cheer and jubilation, he talked about issues of prime importance and utmost significance to the country, its prosperity and its ties with allies. Here is a quick look at some of the key points from Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-state-of-the-union-address-31215">What is the State of the Union Address?</a>

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&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958523660683415554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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United America&nbsp;

&quot;Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of nation we are going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family.&quot;

Trump emphasised the importance of a &quot;united America&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;As we rebuild America&rsquo;s strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad,&quot; Trump noted.&nbsp;

A staunch believer and propagator of the idea of the &quot;American dream&quot;, Trump further added, &quot;This is our New American Moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American dream.&quot;

Trump noted that the citizens of America love their country and deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return.&nbsp;

&quot;Tonight I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens, of every background, color, and creed,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America. (WION)
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Fight until ISIS is defeated

Reinstating America&#39;s zero tolerance on terrorism, the US President noted that as he assumed office last year, he had pledged to work with allies to extinguish ISIS from the face of the earth.

&quot;One year later, I&rsquo;m proud to report that the coalition to defeat ISIS has liberated almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria. But there is much more work to be done,&quot; he shared.

&quot;We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated,&quot; Trump exclaimed.&nbsp;

Economically strong America

&quot;We want every American to know the dignity of a hard day&rsquo;s work; we want every child to be safe in their home at night, and we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we love,&quot; said Trump noting that the key to a stronger nation is closely tied to economic growth and prosperity.&nbsp;

&quot;I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve,&quot; he noted.&nbsp;

Trump furthered his statement by talking about tax relief provided to the US citizens.&nbsp;

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&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958525971765907456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Just as I promised the American People from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reform in American history.&quot;

He shared that since the tax cuts were passed, roughly 3 million workers have received tax cut bonuses &ndash; thousands of dollars per worker for many.

&quot;&Uuml;nemployment has hit a 45-year low,&quot; Trump shared.

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Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>: <a href="https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb">https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb</a> <a href="https://t.co/lZeqog5Zd3">pic.twitter.com/lZeqog5Zd3</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958525610141343744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Trump also touched upon issues like the immigration policy and trade practices, among others.&nbsp;

&quot;America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs and our nation&rsquo;s wealth,&quot; Trump shared.&nbsp;

Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday delivered his first State of the Union address and provided his assessment of his first year in office with a look ahead at his agenda as he continues to work towards fulfilling his campaign promise to "make America great again." In the hour-long address, Donald Trump spoke about the American economy and the tax cuts undertaken by his government. He also talked about "decades of unfair trade deals", "immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American Workers and American Families", "what kind of nation" America will be, and America's "fight until ISIS is defeated" among others. Also read: Full text of Donald Trump's State of the Union speech The State of the Union Address is an annual message presented by President of United States to a joint session of the United States Congress after the president completes one year of his term. US President Trump said that "together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong." #SOTU pic.twitter.com/FOEqVUyHho — AFP news agency (@AFP) January 31, 2018 × "So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong." #SOTU: https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America. As Trump took the stage, amid cheer and jubilation, he talked about issues of prime importance and utmost significance to the country, its prosperity and its ties with allies. Here is a quick look at some of the key points from Trump's first State of the Union address. Also read: What is the State of the Union Address? #SOTU: https://t.co/nJF9j414YL pic.twitter.com/9akH7raQta — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × United America "Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of nation we are going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family." Trump emphasised the importance of a "united America". "As we rebuild America’s strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad," Trump noted. A staunch believer and propagator of the idea of the "American dream", Trump further added, "This is our New American Moment. There has never been a better time to start living the American dream." Trump noted that the citizens of America love their country and deserve a government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return. "Tonight I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens, of every background, color, and creed," Trump said. Broadcast live across the country, the address serves as a platform for the President to directly communicate to the people of America. (WION) × Fight until ISIS is defeated Reinstating America's zero tolerance on terrorism, the US President noted that as he assumed office last year, he had pledged to work with allies to extinguish ISIS from the face of the earth. "One year later, I’m proud to report that the coalition to defeat ISIS has liberated almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria. But there is much more work to be done," he shared. "We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated," Trump exclaimed. Economically strong America "We want every American to know the dignity of a hard day’s work; we want every child to be safe in their home at night, and we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we love," said Trump noting that the key to a stronger nation is closely tied to economic growth and prosperity. "I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve," he noted. Trump furthered his statement by talking about tax relief provided to the US citizens. #SOTU: https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb pic.twitter.com/Ppd1dRB6Hm — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × "Just as I promised the American People from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reform in American history." He shared that since the tax cuts were passed, roughly 3 million workers have received tax cut bonuses – thousands of dollars per worker for many. "Ünemployment has hit a 45-year low," Trump shared. Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low.#SOTU: https://t.co/nT5Y9ywiwb pic.twitter.com/lZeqog5Zd3 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 × Trump also touched upon issues like the immigration policy and trade practices, among others. "America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs and our nation’s wealth," Trump shared.

Never been a better time to start living the American dream, says US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged the Congress to pass a legislation that promotes merit-based immigration, a move that would benefit hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trumps-state-of-the-union-speech-full-text-31279" target="_blank">Full text of Donald Trump&#39;s State of the Union Speech</a>

He proposed a pathway to citizenship for almost 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought in the US by their parents at a young age.

&quot;It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system -- one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country,&quot; Trump said in his first State of the Union address.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/state-of-the-union-address-us-president-donald-trump-bids-for-safe-strong-and-united-america-31271" target="_blank">US President Donald Trump bids for &#39;safe strong and united America</a>

The State of the Union address is a traditional annual speech of the US president to a joint session of the Congress where he gives an account of the situation in the country.

He proposed four pillars of his immigration reform.

This includes building a wall, and ending chain migration and diversity visa.

Trump said that his proposal should be supported by both parties (Republican and Democratic) as a fair compromise -- one where nobody gets everything they want, but where the country gets the critical reforms it needs.

&quot;The first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age -- that covers almost three times more people than the previous administration.

&quot;Under our plan, those who meet education and work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the United States,&quot; Trump said.

The second pillar fully secures the border, that means building a wall on the Southern border, and it means hiring more people to keep the communities safe.

&quot;Crucially, our plan closes the terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country -- and it finally ends the dangerous practice of &#39;catch and release&#39;,&quot; Trump said.

Trump said the third pillar ends the visa lottery -- a programme that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of Americans.

The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration, he said, ruing that under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives.

&quot;Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. This vital reform is necessary, not just for our economy, but for our security, and our future,&quot; he said.

Trump said in recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration.

In the age of terrorism, these programmes present risks we can no longer afford.

&quot;It is time to reform these outdated immigration rules, and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;These four pillars represent a down-the-middle compromise, and one that will create a safe, modern, and lawful immigration system. For over 30 years, Washington has tried and failed to solve this problem. This Congress can be the one that finally makes it happen.

&quot;Most importantly, these four pillars will produce legislation that fulfils my ironclad pledge to only sign a bill that puts America first. So let us come together, set politics aside, and finally get the job done,&quot; Trump urged the lawmakers.

Trump proposed four pillars of his immigration reform

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged the Congress to pass a legislation that promotes merit-based immigration, a move that would benefit hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals. Full text of Donald Trump's State of the Union Speech He proposed a pathway to citizenship for almost 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought in the US by their parents at a young age. "It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system -- one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country," Trump said in his first State of the Union address. Also read: US President Donald Trump bids for 'safe strong and united America The State of the Union address is a traditional annual speech of the US president to a joint session of the Congress where he gives an account of the situation in the country. He proposed four pillars of his immigration reform. This includes building a wall, and ending chain migration and diversity visa. Trump said that his proposal should be supported by both parties (Republican and Democratic) as a fair compromise -- one where nobody gets everything they want, but where the country gets the critical reforms it needs. "The first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age -- that covers almost three times more people than the previous administration. "Under our plan, those who meet education and work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the United States," Trump said. The second pillar fully secures the border, that means building a wall on the Southern border, and it means hiring more people to keep the communities safe. "Crucially, our plan closes the terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country -- and it finally ends the dangerous practice of 'catch and release'," Trump said. Trump said the third pillar ends the visa lottery -- a programme that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of Americans. The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration, he said, ruing that under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives. "Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children. This vital reform is necessary, not just for our economy, but for our security, and our future," he said. Trump said in recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration. In the age of terrorism, these programmes present risks we can no longer afford. "It is time to reform these outdated immigration rules, and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century," Trump said. "These four pillars represent a down-the-middle compromise, and one that will create a safe, modern, and lawful immigration system. For over 30 years, Washington has tried and failed to solve this problem. This Congress can be the one that finally makes it happen. "Most importantly, these four pillars will produce legislation that fulfils my ironclad pledge to only sign a bill that puts America first. So let us come together, set politics aside, and finally get the job done," Trump urged the lawmakers.

Donald Trump for legislation that promotes merit-based immigration, move to affect Indians

President Donald Trump declared Tuesday in his State of the Union address to Congress that what he calls America&#39;s &quot;open borders&quot; had allowed drug gangs to pour into US communities.

Pointing out a guest &mdash; a mother who lost two daughters to murder &mdash; Trump urged Congress to come together to &quot;close the loopholes&quot; that he said allow in groups like El Salvador&#39;s MS-13.

&quot;Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes and our laws to enter the country as illegal, unaccompanied, alien minors,&quot; Trump claimed, laying out his immigration plan.

If the president wins congressional backing for his immigration plans they will include four pillars tightening what he and his populist supporters see as weak links in current law.

The first pillar, and one that might not find immediate support with the most vocal members of Trump&#39;s anti-immigrant base, is a &quot;path to citizenship&quot; for undocumented migrants who arrived at a young age.

The second pillar, Trump said, &quot;fully secures the border&quot; by building a huge wall on the Mexican frontier and hiring more immigration agents.

The third pillar would end America&#39;s Green Card lottery, and replace it with a so-called merit-based system for migrants with skills needed by US businesses.

And the fourth pillar &mdash; an idea that drew protests from Democrat lawmakers during the speech, would end &quot;chain migration&quot; policies that allow migrants to bring in family members.

Trump urged Congress to come together to "close the loopholes" that he said allow in groups like El Salvador's MS-13

President Donald Trump declared Tuesday in his State of the Union address to Congress that what he calls America's "open borders" had allowed drug gangs to pour into US communities. Pointing out a guest — a mother who lost two daughters to murder — Trump urged Congress to come together to "close the loopholes" that he said allow in groups like El Salvador's MS-13. "Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes and our laws to enter the country as illegal, unaccompanied, alien minors," Trump claimed, laying out his immigration plan. If the president wins congressional backing for his immigration plans they will include four pillars tightening what he and his populist supporters see as weak links in current law. The first pillar, and one that might not find immediate support with the most vocal members of Trump's anti-immigrant base, is a "path to citizenship" for undocumented migrants who arrived at a young age. The second pillar, Trump said, "fully secures the border" by building a huge wall on the Mexican frontier and hiring more immigration agents. The third pillar would end America's Green Card lottery, and replace it with a so-called merit-based system for migrants with skills needed by US businesses. And the fourth pillar — an idea that drew protests from Democrat lawmakers during the speech, would end "chain migration" policies that allow migrants to bring in family members.

'Open borders' promote guns, gangs and cost lives: Donald Trump

<p content="Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility." data-reactid="22" type="text">US President Donald Trump announced today he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama&#39;s lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility.

<p content="&quot;I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay,&quot; Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise." data-reactid="23" type="text">&quot;I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay,&quot; Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise.

<p content="Under president George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 attacks." data-reactid="24" type="text">Under President George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

At first, inmates were held in cages and fenced in with razor wire, and conditions for the orange-jumpsuit-clad detainees provoked a global outcry in 2002.

<p content="That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings." data-reactid="26" type="text">That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings.

At the height of its operations after 9/11, the facility held 780 people, detained mostly for their alleged ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Since then, hundreds have been transferred back to their home countries or other places.

<p content="Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial." data-reactid="29" type="text">Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them, accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial.

<p content="Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered &quot;unprivileged enemy belligerents&quot; -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee." data-reactid="30" type="text">Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered &quot;unprivileged enemy belligerents&quot; -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee.

Of the 41 inmates remaining at Guantanamo, about 26 are trapped in legal purgatory.

These so-called &quot;forever prisoners&quot; have never been charged -- yet they have been deemed too dangerous to release.

Some were cleared for release under Obama, but have been stranded at Guantanamo under the Trump administration.

- &#39;Bad dudes&#39; -

<p content="On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with &quot;bad dudes,&quot; and said it would be &quot;fine&quot; if US terror suspects were sent there for trial." data-reactid="35" type="text">On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with &quot;bad dudes,&quot; and said it would be &quot;fine&quot; if US terror suspects were sent there for trial.

In 2009, soon after he was sworn in, Obama ordered the prison to be closed within a year, and no new inmate has been sent there since early 2008.

<p content="Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies' reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch." data-reactid="37" type="text">Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies&#39; reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch.

Since becoming president, Trump has toyed with the idea of sending Americans to Guantanamo, though federal judges would likely bar any such attempt.

<p content="In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea." data-reactid="39" type="text">In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea.

<p content="Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group." data-reactid="40" type="text">Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group.

The man, whose name has not been released, is apparently being held in Iraq.

<p content="The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas." data-reactid="42" type="text">The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas.

That would allow time for the ACLU to mount a legal challenge.

Trump announces he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the facility

US President Donald Trump announced today he would keep Guantanamo Bay open, breaking from his predecessor Barack Obama's lengthy and ultimately failed efforts to shutter the maligned detention facility. "I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantanamo Bay," Trump said, in his State of the Union address to Congress, in keeping with a campaign promise. Under President George W. Bush, the US military hastily constructed a prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, located on the US naval base on the eastern tip of Cuba, in the months following the US-led invasion of Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001, attacks. At first, inmates were held in cages and fenced in with razor wire, and conditions for the orange-jumpsuit-clad detainees provoked a global outcry in 2002. That early facility, known as Camp X-Ray, was soon replaced with more permanent structures and today, Guantanamo Bay consists of numerous high-security prison buildings. At the height of its operations after 9/11, the facility held 780 people, detained mostly for their alleged ties to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Since then, hundreds have been transferred back to their home countries or other places. Some of the most notorious inmates, including several alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, among them, accused mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are still awaiting trial. Their cases have been beset by legal woes at Guantanamo, where a bespoke criminal justice system grants detainees -- who are considered "unprivileged enemy belligerents" -- only some of the legal rights that US federal courts guarantee. Of the 41 inmates remaining at Guantanamo, about 26 are trapped in legal purgatory. These so-called "forever prisoners" have never been charged -- yet they have been deemed too dangerous to release. Some were cleared for release under Obama, but have been stranded at Guantanamo under the Trump administration. - 'Bad dudes' - On the campaign trail, Trump famously vowed he would load Guantanamo with "bad dudes," and said it would be "fine" if US terror suspects were sent there for trial. In 2009, soon after he was sworn in, Obama ordered the prison to be closed within a year, and no new inmate has been sent there since early 2008. Political bickering, vehement Republican opposition and foreign allies' reluctance to take in the prisoners meant Obama could not close Guantanamo, though the population dropped from 242 to 41 under his watch. Since becoming president, Trump has toyed with the idea of sending Americans to Guantanamo, though federal judges would likely bar any such attempt. In October, he suggested that the man accused of carrying out a deadly truck attack along a bike path in New York could be sent to Guantanamo, but he later backed off the idea. Another case that could potentially bring Guantanamo into legal focus is that of a US citizen who was captured in Syria and had allegedly been fighting for the Islamic State group. The man, whose name has not been released, is apparently being held in Iraq. The American Civil Liberties Union has taken up his case and a federal judge has ruled that the US must give it advance notice before transferring the man overseas. That would allow time for the ACLU to mount a legal challenge.

Trump vows to keep Guantanamo Bay prison open

Each test has forged new American heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be

Donald Trump's State of the Union Speech: Full text

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to move beyond the angry partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans in his State of the Union address to Congress.

&quot;Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve,&quot; he said.

The speech marked Trump&#39;s first year in office and came as his opinion poll approval numbers touched new lows, despite promising economic data and the president&#39;s frequent boasts of historic victories.

&quot;So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong,&quot; Trump said.

&quot;And together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong.&quot;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
&quot;I am asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOTU</a>: <a href="https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2">https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2</a>
&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/958531462126546946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

President Donald Trump gives his first official State of the Union Address from the United States Capitol in front of a joint session of Congress

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to move beyond the angry partisan divide between Democrats and Republicans in his State of the Union address to Congress. "Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve," he said. The speech marked Trump's first year in office and came as his opinion poll approval numbers touched new lows, despite promising economic data and the president's frequent boasts of historic victories. "So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our union is strong because our people are strong," Trump said. "And together, we are building a safe, strong and proud America. The state of our union is strong, because our people are strong." "I am asking both parties to come together to give us safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve." #SOTU: https://t.co/Njo52YOlc2 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 31, 2018 ×

President Donald Trump urges US parties set aside differences

President Donald Trump, battling a probe into his campaign&rsquo;s alleged ties with Russia and struggling to sell Americans on his leadership abilities, will take credit for US economic gains in the past year in an address to Congress on Tuesday night.

Facing a deadline on an immigration controversy and strong Democratic opposition, Trump will also call for a bipartisan compromise of the type that has eluded him during the first year in office marked by heated political battles.

Trump will visit Capitol Hill to deliver his first State of the Union speech at 9:10 pm&nbsp;(0210 GMT on Wednesday).

In preparing for the event, Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-state-of-the-union-address-31215">What is the State of the Union Address?</a>

&ldquo;I would consider it a great achievement if we could make our country united,&rdquo; he told the anchors during a lunch, according to comments released by the White House.

Aides said the Republican president would use the televised speech to tout the benefits of a tax overhaul approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in December that was his first major legislative victory.

&ldquo;The economy will be front and centre,&rdquo; White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told NBC News on Tuesday.

The atmosphere in the House of Representatives chamber where Trump will speak could be tense. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they will boycott the event. Some Democratic women who will attend plan to wear black in support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.

Ahead of Trump&rsquo;s speech, Republicans and Democrats were deeply divided over immigration, which has been linked to congressional efforts to pass a spending bill. Lawmakers face a Feb. 8 deadline to reach a compromise on the issue and pass a new budget measure to avoid a second government shutdown after a brief closure earlier this month.

To attract Democratic votes for an immigration deal, Trump has said he is open to letting &ldquo;Dreamers,&rdquo; a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States.

In return, he has demanded to fund for his long-proposed wall along the border with Mexico and measures to curb family sponsorship of immigrants, proposals that have failed to gain traction with Democrats in the past.

US Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said the two sides had made little progress so far in bridging differences on immigration.

&ldquo;We didn&rsquo;t agree on anything,&rdquo; Durbin said after a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Monday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/what-to-expect-from-trumps-first-state-of-the-union-speech-31225">Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address</a>

Russia probe

Trump will also promote a $1.7 trillion plan to rebuild America&rsquo;s ageing roads and other infrastructure, but he is not expected to offer many details.

Trump is expected to address the various global issues that have preoccupied his administration, such as the challenge posed by North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear and weapons programs, and Iran&rsquo;s clout in the Middle East.

The speech comes as the president is buffeted by a series of headlines about US Special Counsel Robert Mueller&rsquo;s investigation into whether Trump or his aides colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election.

US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in Trump&rsquo;s favor. Russia has denied meddling. Trump, who has called Mueller&rsquo;s probe a &ldquo;witch hunt,&rdquo; has denied any collusion with Russia or that he has obstructed justice in his actions related to the federal investigation.

Americans, at the same time, are voicing concerns about Trump&rsquo;s fitness for office. Opinion polls show his job approval ratings are about 40 percent, a number that is alarming to Republicans as they seek to maintain control of the US Congress in midterm elections in November.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-to-deliver-first-state-of-the-union-address-tomorrow-indian-techies-widow-among-guests-31233">In Trump&#39;s first State of the Union address, Indian techie&#39;s widow will be among guests</a>

Leaders of the two parties had sharply different expectations for the speech. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was &ldquo;excited&rdquo; to hear a State of the Union speech when things were so promising.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really encouraging to be able to come and hear an upbeat tone at a State of the Union,&rdquo; Ryan told reporters. &ldquo;Economic confidence is coming back to America.&rdquo;

Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Trump&rsquo;s theme of a &ldquo;safe, strong and proud America&rdquo; did not reflect reality.

&ldquo;That may be the theme, but that&rsquo;s not what has happened over the last year,&rdquo; he said, adding that Trump had alienated US allies, hollowed out the diplomatic corps and increased the national debt with tax legislation.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump should thank his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, for the strong economic outlook. &ldquo;Like many things in life, he inherited the healthy economy,&rdquo; Schumer said of Trump.

Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president

President Donald Trump, battling a probe into his campaign’s alleged ties with Russia and struggling to sell Americans on his leadership abilities, will take credit for US economic gains in the past year in an address to Congress on Tuesday night. Facing a deadline on an immigration controversy and strong Democratic opposition, Trump will also call for a bipartisan compromise of the type that has eluded him during the first year in office marked by heated political battles. Trump will visit Capitol Hill to deliver his first State of the Union speech at 9:10 pm (0210 GMT on Wednesday). In preparing for the event, Trump told US television network anchors that he would offer a message of unity, in what would be a rarity for the politically polarizing president. Also read: What is the State of the Union Address? “I would consider it a great achievement if we could make our country united,” he told the anchors during a lunch, according to comments released by the White House. Aides said the Republican president would use the televised speech to tout the benefits of a tax overhaul approved by the Republican-controlled Congress in December that was his first major legislative victory. “The economy will be front and centre,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told NBC News on Tuesday. The atmosphere in the House of Representatives chamber where Trump will speak could be tense. Several Democratic lawmakers have said they will boycott the event. Some Democratic women who will attend plan to wear black in support of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment. Ahead of Trump’s speech, Republicans and Democrats were deeply divided over immigration, which has been linked to congressional efforts to pass a spending bill. Lawmakers face a Feb. 8 deadline to reach a compromise on the issue and pass a new budget measure to avoid a second government shutdown after a brief closure earlier this month. To attract Democratic votes for an immigration deal, Trump has said he is open to letting “Dreamers,” a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States. In return, he has demanded to fund for his long-proposed wall along the border with Mexico and measures to curb family sponsorship of immigrants, proposals that have failed to gain traction with Democrats in the past. US Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said the two sides had made little progress so far in bridging differences on immigration. “We didn’t agree on anything,” Durbin said after a meeting with Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Monday. Also read: Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump's first State of the Union address Russia probe Trump will also promote a $1.7 trillion plan to rebuild America’s ageing roads and other infrastructure, but he is not expected to offer many details. Trump is expected to address the various global issues that have preoccupied his administration, such as the challenge posed by North Korea’s nuclear and weapons programs, and Iran’s clout in the Middle East. The speech comes as the president is buffeted by a series of headlines about US Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether Trump or his aides colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential election. US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign using hacking and propaganda to attempt to tilt the race in Trump’s favor. Russia has denied meddling. Trump, who has called Mueller’s probe a “witch hunt,” has denied any collusion with Russia or that he has obstructed justice in his actions related to the federal investigation. Americans, at the same time, are voicing concerns about Trump’s fitness for office. Opinion polls show his job approval ratings are about 40 percent, a number that is alarming to Republicans as they seek to maintain control of the US Congress in midterm elections in November. Also read: In Trump's first State of the Union address, Indian techie's widow will be among guests Leaders of the two parties had sharply different expectations for the speech. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan said he was “excited” to hear a State of the Union speech when things were so promising. “It’s really encouraging to be able to come and hear an upbeat tone at a State of the Union,” Ryan told reporters. “Economic confidence is coming back to America.” Representative Steny Hoyer, the No. 2 House Democrat, said Trump’s theme of a “safe, strong and proud America” did not reflect reality. “That may be the theme, but that’s not what has happened over the last year,” he said, adding that Trump had alienated US allies, hollowed out the diplomatic corps and increased the national debt with tax legislation. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Trump should thank his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, for the strong economic outlook. “Like many things in life, he inherited the healthy economy,” Schumer said of Trump.

After turbulent year, Trump to tout strong economy in speech to Congress

US president Donald Trump is all set to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, an hour-long speech to Congress and the nation.&nbsp;

The speech marks the ceremonial kickoff of Trump&rsquo;s second year in office and is traditionally a president&rsquo;s biggest platform to speak to the nation.&nbsp;

The State of the Union speech is expected to focus on &ldquo;building a safe, strong, and proud America,&rdquo; and will touch&nbsp;on topics such as the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and trade. &ldquo;The tone will be one of bipartisanship. It will be very forward-looking,&rdquo; officials say.

What will be a surprise is if Trump talks at all about Robert Mueller&rsquo;s Russia investigation and, in turn, congressional Republican efforts to respond with their own probe of the government &ldquo;deep state.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Here is what Trump is expected to talk about in his first State of the Union speech:&nbsp;

<ins>Trade and Infrastructure&nbsp;</ins>

President Trump will likely urge Democrats for their support on an infrastructure bill to rebuild the nation&#39;s crumbling roads, bridges and airports. White House aides have said they will propose $200 billion in federal spending, but they haven&#39;t said where the money will come from.&nbsp;

Trump has pledged to rebuild the nation&rsquo;s ageing infrastructure but has provided few details on his $1.7 trillion plan, but most of that would be state and local spending, not federal dollars, reports said.&nbsp;

Trump also said that his speech will cover his efforts to lower trade barriers around the world for American exports. &ldquo;We have to have reciprocal trade. It&rsquo;s not a one-way deal anymore,&rdquo; an official&nbsp;said.

He is also likely to discuss the US trade imbalance with China during his State of the Union speech and may&nbsp;consider&nbsp;retaliation over intellectual property issues.&nbsp;

<ins>Immigration&nbsp;</ins>

The most controversial part of his speech is likely to be when he talks about immigration.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump said on Monday he will address his proposed immigration overhaul in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday and will seek Democratic support for it.

Trump said his immigration overhaul will have to be bipartisan &ldquo;because the Republicans don&rsquo;t really have the votes to get it done in any other way.&rdquo;

Republicans and Democrats have been long arguing over the future of some 1.8 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.&nbsp;

Trump has vowed to protect the so-called &quot;Dreamers&quot; (a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States) from deportation but is also calling for changes to legal immigration that are controversial with both parties - &nbsp;in return for $25 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and other tougher border security measures as well.

He will also insist lawmakers to agree to curb immigrants&rsquo; ability to sponsor family members.&nbsp;

Some Democratic lawmakers have invited &ldquo;Dreamers&rdquo; as guests to hear the speech in person.

<ins>Jobs&nbsp;</ins>

The path towards&nbsp;lower unemployment and higher growth began during Trump&#39;s administration. Trump argues that the tax overhaul he signed late last year has boosted business confidence and will lead companies to reinvest in the United States.

With unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics and women at record lows, in his speech on Tuesday, Trump will &ldquo;make clear that all groups are benefiting under this presidency,&rdquo; officials said.

He may also talk about some of first lady Melania Trump&rsquo;s guests for the speech, who are expected to include people who have benefited from the tax cuts.

<ins>Mid-Term polls&nbsp;</ins>

Republicans might want to check in on the state of its own party as we inch closer to the fall midterm elections. On paper, the GOP remains in the strongest position, it&rsquo;s been ahead of the elections since before the Obama administration. There are more than two times as many Republican governors as Democrats this time around.

But there are warning signs that the party&rsquo;s time may be coming to an end ahead of the midterm elections in November.

While Republicans in Congress are eyeing the exits, a growing number of Democrats are looking for a way in.&nbsp;

<ins>Unfiltered Moments&nbsp;</ins>

This could be an opportunity for the audience to see the unfiltered Trump for 60 minutes, and an opportunity for Trump to try to boost his approval ratings which have sagged in the mid- to upper- 30s.

The White House often struggles to maintain momentum on policy when Trump&rsquo;s tweets and off-the-cuff remarks upstage his scripted speeches.&nbsp;

He can be captivating at a campaign rally when his speech is an unpredictable stream of consciousness. He can be straight and authentic on Twitter, the unfiltered mode of communication that he says is &quot;MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL.&quot;

 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SH1KZ7nw_L8" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The theme of the speech will be: 'Building a safe, strong and proud America'

US president Donald Trump is all set to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, an hour-long speech to Congress and the nation. The speech marks the ceremonial kickoff of Trump’s second year in office and is traditionally a president’s biggest platform to speak to the nation. The State of the Union speech is expected to focus on “building a safe, strong, and proud America,” and will touch on topics such as the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and trade. “The tone will be one of bipartisanship. It will be very forward-looking,” officials say. What will be a surprise is if Trump talks at all about Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation and, in turn, congressional Republican efforts to respond with their own probe of the government “deep state.” Here is what Trump is expected to talk about in his first State of the Union speech: Trade and Infrastructure President Trump will likely urge Democrats for their support on an infrastructure bill to rebuild the nation's crumbling roads, bridges and airports. White House aides have said they will propose $200 billion in federal spending, but they haven't said where the money will come from. Trump has pledged to rebuild the nation’s ageing infrastructure but has provided few details on his $1.7 trillion plan, but most of that would be state and local spending, not federal dollars, reports said. Trump also said that his speech will cover his efforts to lower trade barriers around the world for American exports. “We have to have reciprocal trade. It’s not a one-way deal anymore,” an official said. He is also likely to discuss the US trade imbalance with China during his State of the Union speech and may consider retaliation over intellectual property issues. Immigration The most controversial part of his speech is likely to be when he talks about immigration. President Donald Trump said on Monday he will address his proposed immigration overhaul in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday and will seek Democratic support for it. Trump said his immigration overhaul will have to be bipartisan “because the Republicans don’t really have the votes to get it done in any other way.” Republicans and Democrats have been long arguing over the future of some 1.8 million immigrants living in the United States illegally. Trump has vowed to protect the so-called "Dreamers" (a group of immigrants brought into the country illegally as children, stay in the United States) from deportation but is also calling for changes to legal immigration that are controversial with both parties - in return for $25 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and other tougher border security measures as well. He will also insist lawmakers to agree to curb immigrants’ ability to sponsor family members. Some Democratic lawmakers have invited “Dreamers” as guests to hear the speech in person. Jobs The path towards lower unemployment and higher growth began during Trump's administration. Trump argues that the tax overhaul he signed late last year has boosted business confidence and will lead companies to reinvest in the United States. With unemployment for African Americans, Hispanics and women at record lows, in his speech on Tuesday, Trump will “make clear that all groups are benefiting under this presidency,” officials said. He may also talk about some of first lady Melania Trump’s guests for the speech, who are expected to include people who have benefited from the tax cuts. Mid-Term polls Republicans might want to check in on the state of its own party as we inch closer to the fall midterm elections. On paper, the GOP remains in the strongest position, it’s been ahead of the elections since before the Obama administration. There are more than two times as many Republican governors as Democrats this time around. But there are warning signs that the party’s time may be coming to an end ahead of the midterm elections in November. While Republicans in Congress are eyeing the exits, a growing number of Democrats are looking for a way in. Unfiltered Moments This could be an opportunity for the audience to see the unfiltered Trump for 60 minutes, and an opportunity for Trump to try to boost his approval ratings which have sagged in the mid- to upper- 30s. The White House often struggles to maintain momentum on policy when Trump’s tweets and off-the-cuff remarks upstage his scripted speeches. He can be captivating at a campaign rally when his speech is an unpredictable stream of consciousness. He can be straight and authentic on Twitter, the unfiltered mode of communication that he says is "MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL."

Immigration, jobs, trade: What to expect from Trump's first State of the Union address

Many observers of China&rsquo;s escalating global program of foreign investment and infrastructure development are crossing their fingers and hoping for the best. In an ideal world, China&rsquo;s unbridled ambitions will improve economic growth, food security and social development in many poor nations, as well as enrich itself.

Such hopes are certainly timely, given the isolationism of the US Trump administration, which has created an international leadership vacuum that China is eager to fill.

But a close look reveals that China&rsquo;s international agenda is far more exploitative than many realise, especially for the global environment. And the Chinese leadership&rsquo;s claims to be embracing &ldquo;green development&rdquo; are in many cases more propaganda than fact.

To help steer through the maze, I provide here a snapshot of China&rsquo;s present environmental impacts. Are China&rsquo;s assertions reasoned and defensible, or something else altogether?

Predatory force?

For a start, China is overwhelmingly the world&rsquo;s biggest consumer of illegally poached wildlife and wildlife products. From rhino horn&nbsp;to pangolins, to shark fins, to a menagerie of wild bird species, Chinese consumption drives much of the global trade in wildlife exploitation and smuggling.

Over the past 15 years, China&rsquo;s rapacious appetite for ivory has largely driven a global collapse of elephant populations. In response to growing international criticism, China promised to shut down its domestic ivory trade by the end of 2017.

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The author examining a Forest Elephant gunned down by ivory poachers in central Africa. (Others)
</div>
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But even before China&rsquo;s ban has taken full force, a black market for ivory is developing in neighbouring Laos. There, Chinese entrepreneurs are churning out great quantities of carved ivory products, specifically designed for Chinese tastes and openly sold to Chinese visitors.

China is also the world&rsquo;s biggest importer of illegal timber, a trade that imperils forests while defrauding developing nations of billions of dollars each year in timber royalties.

China claims to be working to reduce its illegal timber imports, but its efforts are half-hearted at best, judging by the amount of illegal timber still flowing across its border with Myanmar.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/terrorism-fashion-and-illegal-animal-trafficking-20996">Also read: Terrorism, fashion and Illegal animal trafficking</a>

Infrastructure tsunami

More damaging still are China&rsquo;s plans for infrastructure expansion that will irreparably degrade much of the natural world.

China&rsquo;s One Belt One Road initiative alone will carve massive arrays of new roads, railroads, ports, and extractive industries such as mining, logging, and oil and gas projects into at least 70 nations across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Chinese President Xi Jinping promises that the Belt and Road initiative will be &ldquo;green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable&rdquo;, but such a claim is profoundly divorced from reality.

As my colleagues and I recently argued in Science and Current Biology, the modern infrastructure tsunami that is largely being driven by China will open a Pandora&rsquo;s box of environmental crises, including large-scale deforestation, habitat fragmentation, wildlife poaching, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

China&rsquo;s pursuit of natural resources is also escalating across Latin America. In the Amazon, for example, big mining projects &ndash; many of which are feeding Chinese industries &ndash; don&rsquo;t just cause serious local degradation, but also promote widespread deforestation from the networks of roads bulldosed into remote areas to access the mines.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/the-first-ladies-of-conservation-how-the-black-mambas-are-protecting-wildlife-in-south-africa-13178">Also read: How women are protecting wildlife in South Africa</a>

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Overall, China is the most aggressive consumer of minerals on the planet and the biggest driver of tropical deforestation.

Beyond this, China is pushing to build a 5,000km railroad across South America, to make it cheaper for China to import timber, minerals, soy and other natural resources from ports along South America&rsquo;s Pacific coast. If it proceeds, the number of critical ecosystems that would be impacted by this project is staggering.

A World Bank study of more than 3,000 overseas projects funded or operated by China revealed how it often treats poor nations as &ldquo;pollution havens&rdquo; &ndash; transferring its own environmental degradation to developing nations that are desperate for foreign investment.

Finally, much has been made of the fact that China is beginning to temper its appetite for domestic fossil-fuelled energy. It is now a leading investor in solar and wind energy, and recently delayed construction of more than 150 coal-fired electricity plants in China.

These are unquestionably pluses, but they need to be seen in their broad context. In terms of greenhouse-gas emissions, China has exploded past every other nation. It now produces more than twice the carbon emissions of the United States, the second-biggest polluter, following the greatest building spree of coal, nuclear, and large-scale hydro projects in human history.

Despite its new post-Trump role as the world&rsquo;s de facto climate leader, China&rsquo;s overall agenda could scarcely be described as green.

<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<figcaption>
Iceberg ahead

Some would say it&rsquo;s unfair to criticise China like this. They would argue that China is merely following a well-trodden path of exploitative development previously forged by other nations and colonial powers.

But China is not the same as any other nation. The astounding growth and size of its economy, its dangerously single-minded vision for exploiting natural resources and land internationally, its intolerance of internal and external criticism, and its increasingly closed media and official myopia all combine to make it unique.

President Xi admits that many Chinese corporations, investors and lenders operating overseas have often acted aggressively and even illegally. But he says his government is powerless to do much about it. The most notable government response to date is a series of &ldquo;green papers&rdquo; containing guidelines that sound good in theory but are almost universally ignored by Chinese interests overseas.

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<div class="media-description">
Indigenous forest people in the Congo Basin become increasingly poor and marginalised as foreign miners, loggers and poachers invade their lands. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Are Xi&rsquo;s assertions of powerlessness believable? He increasingly rules China with an iron hand. Is it really impossible for China to guide and control its overseas industries, or are they simply so profitable that the government doesn&rsquo;t want to?

Of course, China&rsquo;s huge international ambitions will have some positive effects, and could even be economically transformative for certain nations. But many other elements will benefit China while profoundly damaging our planet.
</figcaption>
</figure>

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/chinas-growing-footprint-on-the-globe-threatens-to-trample-the-natural-world-88312" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

(Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity).

Image Credit:&nbsp;Bill Laurance and&nbsp;Mahmoud

Chinese investment is driving an unprecedented investment boom in global infrastructure. But despite its claims to be pursuing green development, China's building bonanza is harming the planet

Many observers of China’s escalating global program of foreign investment and infrastructure development are crossing their fingers and hoping for the best. In an ideal world, China’s unbridled ambitions will improve economic growth, food security and social development in many poor nations, as well as enrich itself. Such hopes are certainly timely, given the isolationism of the US Trump administration, which has created an international leadership vacuum that China is eager to fill. But a close look reveals that China’s international agenda is far more exploitative than many realise, especially for the global environment. And the Chinese leadership’s claims to be embracing “green development” are in many cases more propaganda than fact. To help steer through the maze, I provide here a snapshot of China’s present environmental impacts. Are China’s assertions reasoned and defensible, or something else altogether? Predatory force? For a start, China is overwhelmingly the world’s biggest consumer of illegally poached wildlife and wildlife products. From rhino horn to pangolins, to shark fins, to a menagerie of wild bird species, Chinese consumption drives much of the global trade in wildlife exploitation and smuggling. Over the past 15 years, China’s rapacious appetite for ivory has largely driven a global collapse of elephant populations. In response to growing international criticism, China promised to shut down its domestic ivory trade by the end of 2017. The author examining a Forest Elephant gunned down by ivory poachers in central Africa. (Others) × But even before China’s ban has taken full force, a black market for ivory is developing in neighbouring Laos. There, Chinese entrepreneurs are churning out great quantities of carved ivory products, specifically designed for Chinese tastes and openly sold to Chinese visitors. China is also the world’s biggest importer of illegal timber, a trade that imperils forests while defrauding developing nations of billions of dollars each year in timber royalties. China claims to be working to reduce its illegal timber imports, but its efforts are half-hearted at best, judging by the amount of illegal timber still flowing across its border with Myanmar. Also read: Terrorism, fashion and Illegal animal trafficking Infrastructure tsunami More damaging still are China’s plans for infrastructure expansion that will irreparably degrade much of the natural world. China’s One Belt One Road initiative alone will carve massive arrays of new roads, railroads, ports, and extractive industries such as mining, logging, and oil and gas projects into at least 70 nations across Asia, Europe, and Africa. Chinese President Xi Jinping promises that the Belt and Road initiative will be “green, low-carbon, circular and sustainable”, but such a claim is profoundly divorced from reality. As my colleagues and I recently argued in Science and Current Biology, the modern infrastructure tsunami that is largely being driven by China will open a Pandora’s box of environmental crises, including large-scale deforestation, habitat fragmentation, wildlife poaching, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. China’s pursuit of natural resources is also escalating across Latin America. In the Amazon, for example, big mining projects – many of which are feeding Chinese industries – don’t just cause serious local degradation, but also promote widespread deforestation from the networks of roads bulldosed into remote areas to access the mines. Also read: How women are protecting wildlife in South Africa × Overall, China is the most aggressive consumer of minerals on the planet and the biggest driver of tropical deforestation. Beyond this, China is pushing to build a 5,000km railroad across South America, to make it cheaper for China to import timber, minerals, soy and other natural resources from ports along South America’s Pacific coast. If it proceeds, the number of critical ecosystems that would be impacted by this project is staggering. A World Bank study of more than 3,000 overseas projects funded or operated by China revealed how it often treats poor nations as “pollution havens” – transferring its own environmental degradation to developing nations that are desperate for foreign investment. Finally, much has been made of the fact that China is beginning to temper its appetite for domestic fossil-fuelled energy. It is now a leading investor in solar and wind energy, and recently delayed construction of more than 150 coal-fired electricity plants in China. These are unquestionably pluses, but they need to be seen in their broad context. In terms of greenhouse-gas emissions, China has exploded past every other nation. It now produces more than twice the carbon emissions of the United States, the second-biggest polluter, following the greatest building spree of coal, nuclear, and large-scale hydro projects in human history. Despite its new post-Trump role as the world’s de facto climate leader, China’s overall agenda could scarcely be described as green. Iceberg ahead Some would say it’s unfair to criticise China like this. They would argue that China is merely following a well-trodden path of exploitative development previously forged by other nations and colonial powers. But China is not the same as any other nation. The astounding growth and size of its economy, its dangerously single-minded vision for exploiting natural resources and land internationally, its intolerance of internal and external criticism, and its increasingly closed media and official myopia all combine to make it unique. President Xi admits that many Chinese corporations, investors and lenders operating overseas have often acted aggressively and even illegally. But he says his government is powerless to do much about it. The most notable government response to date is a series of “green papers” containing guidelines that sound good in theory but are almost universally ignored by Chinese interests overseas. Indigenous forest people in the Congo Basin become increasingly poor and marginalised as foreign miners, loggers and poachers invade their lands. (Others) × Are Xi’s assertions of powerlessness believable? He increasingly rules China with an iron hand. Is it really impossible for China to guide and control its overseas industries, or are they simply so profitable that the government doesn’t want to? Of course, China’s huge international ambitions will have some positive effects, and could even be economically transformative for certain nations. But many other elements will benefit China while profoundly damaging our planet. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. (Disclaimer: The author writes here in a personal capacity). Image Credit: Bill Laurance and Mahmoud

Opinion: China's growth is harming the planet

We tend to think that nature and cities are polar opposites. Yet this is not true. As my research on Bangalore or Bengaluru &ndash; India&rsquo;s IT hub &ndash; shows, for centuries, the population of this region grew because of nature, not despite it.

In my book Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present and Future, I take a deep dive into the ecological history of an Indian city, going way back in the past to the 6th century CE.

Inscriptions on stone and copper plates show that the starting point for a new village was often the creation of a tank, or lake, to collect rainwater &ndash; essential and life-giving in this unfavourable low-rainfall environment. These inscriptions provide fascinating insights into the close relationship that these early residents had with nature. They describe the landscape as consisting of the lakes, the surrounding irrigated and dry land, the &ldquo;wells above&rdquo;, and the &ldquo;trees below&rdquo;. This three-dimensional view of the landscape, consisting of two major resources, water (lake) and food (agriculture), nourished by nature below (in the form of wells) and above (in the form of trees) is a remarkably holistic conception of nature.

Unfortunately, in today&rsquo;s urbanised India, we have lost all trace of this three-dimensional vision.

Declining sources of water

The&nbsp;central areas of Bangalore had 1960 open wells in 1885; today, there are fewer than 50. Bangalore also lost many of its lakes, which were considered to be filthy breeding grounds for malaria, and converted to bus stands, malls, housing, and other built spaces.

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Sree Kanteerava stadium was built in 1997, where Sampangi lake used to be located before. (Others)
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The city&rsquo;s central Sampangi lake, which supplied water to many parts of Bangalore in the 19th century, was transformed into a sports stadium by the 20th century, leaving behind only a tiny pond for ceremonial religious purposes. As long as lakes and wells supplied water, essential for the activities of daily life, they were worshipped as sacred and protected as life-giving.

Rituals celebrating the overflowing of lakes during the monsoon by paying homage to the lake goddess kept the importance of lakes in the forefront of people&rsquo;s imaginations. But once the piped water began to be provided in the 1890s, these water bodies began to decay. By the end of the 19th century, wells and lakes began to be polluted with garbage, sewage, and even corpses during times of epidemics and disease.

Citizens nurturing nature

What transformed this centuries-long, strong relationship between people and nature? When Bangalore shattered its local loop of dependence by importing water from outside, people forgot the importance of their local sources of water.

Yet, as our research has shown, Bangalore still needs water just as badly for its resilience. The city has grown so large that piped water from distant rivers can no longer supply all its needs.

Thus resurgent citizen movements across Bangalore have begun to focus on protecting and restoring lakes in their neighbourhoods, which will also recharge the water below ground. In some low-income settlements, where adequate water supply is a constant challenge, community wells, once ignored, are now being assiduously protected and maintained as well.

The same pattern &ndash; of an early, close relationship with nature, followed by a break, and later a resurgent interest in the connection &ndash; is also playing out when it comes to trees. Early residents did not only focus on water but also &ldquo;greened&rdquo; this dusty, hot landscape of the dry Deccan plateau. Successive rulers from the 16th century onwards and common citizens planted millions of trees over centuries.

Each settlement was greened with a gundathope&nbsp;&ndash; a woodlot commonly planted with fruiting trees, jackfruit, mango and tamarind &ndash; which provided shade, fruits, firewood for cooking, grazing material for cattle, and occasionally timber as well.

When one tree was chopped down, another was planted to ensure continuity. New areas of the city were assiduously greened by administrators, who planted trees, and residents, who watered and cared for them, benefiting from the services they provided. This practice of greening continued during the British colonial period of governance, and later into the 20th century, after Indian independence. Because of the cool climate of Bangalore &ndash; in part due to its location on a plateau, but also because of its lakes and trees, created, planted and nurtured by local residents and rulers over centuries &ndash; the city became a chosen location for the British army, and later as a science and industrial hub in south India.

It is no accident that Bangalore, once called India&rsquo;s lake city and garden city, became the country&rsquo;s IT capital.

Soaring temperatures and rising air pollution

By the late 20th century, this relationship had begun to fray. With rapid growth, roads and other built infrastructure gained importance in the minds of planners. As a consequence, trees were disregarded and felled in their thousands for development projects in Bangalore.

Inevitably, with more private vehicles on the road, and fewer trees, the city became hotter, and the air severely polluted. Citizens soon realised this connection. So did academics. Our research, for instance, demonstrated that trees cool the air by 3 to 5&ordm;C, and reduce the temperature of the road surface by as much as 23&ordm;C, as well as significantly reducing air pollution.

Social media to the rescue

Yet citizen movements did not fade. In the early 21st century, the nonagerian Honnamma Govindayya has become an epitome of struggles to protect Bangalore&rsquo;s environment.

She fought against real estate developers who wanted to convert a local park that her children played in, taking a case all the way to the Supreme Court of India. She won and saved a tiny but very important patch of green from destruction.

Mass citizen protests in recent years have continued and gained significant victories for the city&rsquo;s green cover, including the reversal of a controversial decision to build a steel flyover, which would have destroyed thousands of trees.

Today these movements are strongly supported by social media. In the flyover case, the twitter tag #steelflyoverbeda (&ldquo;beda&rdquo; meaning &ldquo;no&rdquo; in the local language, Kannada) went viral, attracting hundreds of followers.

Social media has provided an easier way for once-isolated groups of people to connect and coordinate, and often to ratchet up public pressure on nature-blind administrators. Who knows how many would have supported Honamma Govindayya if she had a Twitter account then?

Understanding the history of nature reveals a very different picture from the preconceived idea that, at least in countries like India, where the pressures of development and growth are so large, nature and cities cannot coexist.

Today, this perspective on the ecological history of Bangalore can help city-dwellers worldwide understand why nature in the city is not just important for the metropolis&rsquo;s past, but also essential for its resilient future.

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This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-cities-were-natures-haven-a-tale-from-bangalore-85411" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" target="blank">original article</a>.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia
</figure>

With the pressures of rapid growth and development cities in India are losing its ecological balance

We tend to think that nature and cities are polar opposites. Yet this is not true. As my research on Bangalore or Bengaluru – India’s IT hub – shows, for centuries, the population of this region grew because of nature, not despite it. In my book Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present and Future, I take a deep dive into the ecological history of an Indian city, going way back in the past to the 6th century CE. Inscriptions on stone and copper plates show that the starting point for a new village was often the creation of a tank, or lake, to collect rainwater – essential and life-giving in this unfavourable low-rainfall environment. These inscriptions provide fascinating insights into the close relationship that these early residents had with nature. They describe the landscape as consisting of the lakes, the surrounding irrigated and dry land, the “wells above”, and the “trees below”. This three-dimensional view of the landscape, consisting of two major resources, water (lake) and food (agriculture), nourished by nature below (in the form of wells) and above (in the form of trees) is a remarkably holistic conception of nature. Unfortunately, in today’s urbanised India, we have lost all trace of this three-dimensional vision. Declining sources of water The central areas of Bangalore had 1960 open wells in 1885; today, there are fewer than 50. Bangalore also lost many of its lakes, which were considered to be filthy breeding grounds for malaria, and converted to bus stands, malls, housing, and other built spaces. Sree Kanteerava stadium was built in 1997, where Sampangi lake used to be located before. (Others) × The city’s central Sampangi lake, which supplied water to many parts of Bangalore in the 19th century, was transformed into a sports stadium by the 20th century, leaving behind only a tiny pond for ceremonial religious purposes. As long as lakes and wells supplied water, essential for the activities of daily life, they were worshipped as sacred and protected as life-giving. Rituals celebrating the overflowing of lakes during the monsoon by paying homage to the lake goddess kept the importance of lakes in the forefront of people’s imaginations. But once the piped water began to be provided in the 1890s, these water bodies began to decay. By the end of the 19th century, wells and lakes began to be polluted with garbage, sewage, and even corpses during times of epidemics and disease. Citizens nurturing nature What transformed this centuries-long, strong relationship between people and nature? When Bangalore shattered its local loop of dependence by importing water from outside, people forgot the importance of their local sources of water. Yet, as our research has shown, Bangalore still needs water just as badly for its resilience. The city has grown so large that piped water from distant rivers can no longer supply all its needs. Thus resurgent citizen movements across Bangalore have begun to focus on protecting and restoring lakes in their neighbourhoods, which will also recharge the water below ground. In some low-income settlements, where adequate water supply is a constant challenge, community wells, once ignored, are now being assiduously protected and maintained as well. The same pattern – of an early, close relationship with nature, followed by a break, and later a resurgent interest in the connection – is also playing out when it comes to trees. Early residents did not only focus on water but also “greened” this dusty, hot landscape of the dry Deccan plateau. Successive rulers from the 16th century onwards and common citizens planted millions of trees over centuries. Each settlement was greened with a gundathope – a woodlot commonly planted with fruiting trees, jackfruit, mango and tamarind – which provided shade, fruits, firewood for cooking, grazing material for cattle, and occasionally timber as well. When one tree was chopped down, another was planted to ensure continuity. New areas of the city were assiduously greened by administrators, who planted trees, and residents, who watered and cared for them, benefiting from the services they provided. This practice of greening continued during the British colonial period of governance, and later into the 20th century, after Indian independence. Because of the cool climate of Bangalore – in part due to its location on a plateau, but also because of its lakes and trees, created, planted and nurtured by local residents and rulers over centuries – the city became a chosen location for the British army, and later as a science and industrial hub in south India. It is no accident that Bangalore, once called India’s lake city and garden city, became the country’s IT capital. Soaring temperatures and rising air pollution By the late 20th century, this relationship had begun to fray. With rapid growth, roads and other built infrastructure gained importance in the minds of planners. As a consequence, trees were disregarded and felled in their thousands for development projects in Bangalore. Inevitably, with more private vehicles on the road, and fewer trees, the city became hotter, and the air severely polluted. Citizens soon realised this connection. So did academics. Our research, for instance, demonstrated that trees cool the air by 3 to 5ºC, and reduce the temperature of the road surface by as much as 23ºC, as well as significantly reducing air pollution. Social media to the rescue Yet citizen movements did not fade. In the early 21st century, the nonagerian Honnamma Govindayya has become an epitome of struggles to protect Bangalore’s environment. She fought against real estate developers who wanted to convert a local park that her children played in, taking a case all the way to the Supreme Court of India. She won and saved a tiny but very important patch of green from destruction. Mass citizen protests in recent years have continued and gained significant victories for the city’s green cover, including the reversal of a controversial decision to build a steel flyover, which would have destroyed thousands of trees. Today these movements are strongly supported by social media. In the flyover case, the twitter tag #steelflyoverbeda (“beda” meaning “no” in the local language, Kannada) went viral, attracting hundreds of followers. Social media has provided an easier way for once-isolated groups of people to connect and coordinate, and often to ratchet up public pressure on nature-blind administrators. Who knows how many would have supported Honamma Govindayya if she had a Twitter account then? Understanding the history of nature reveals a very different picture from the preconceived idea that, at least in countries like India, where the pressures of development and growth are so large, nature and cities cannot coexist. Today, this perspective on the ecological history of Bangalore can help city-dwellers worldwide understand why nature in the city is not just important for the metropolis’s past, but also essential for its resilient future. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Photo Credit: Wikimedia

When cities were nature's haven: A tale from Bangalore

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today acknowledged <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-us-japan-set-for-malabar-naval-drill-in-bay-of-bengal-china-deploys-surveillance-ship-17774">India and Japan&#39;s military cooperation citing the Malabar</a> military exercise undertaken by the two countries including the US in July.

PM Abe in the joint statement said: &quot;It (joint naval exercise in Malabar) will further deepen cooperation between India, Japan, and the US.&quot;&nbsp;

He further added that &quot;India, Japan, and the US conducted joint maritime exercise Malabar for the first time, based on strong ties of trust between PM Modi and President Trump&quot;.&nbsp;

PM Modi<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-ahmedabad-to-mumbai-bullet-train-route-20170"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-ahmedabad-to-mumbai-bullet-train-route-20170">emphasised</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-ahmedabad-to-mumbai-bullet-train-route-20170"> on employing Japanese technology </a>to help India grow economically. &nbsp;

&quot;I urge Japanese business community to open a maximum number of Japanese restaurant chains in India,&quot; Modi said. 
 
Here is a look at the two countries and their military and economic alliance.&nbsp; 
 
Indian and Japan: Military ties 
 
The two nations have a history of close military ties. They have a&nbsp;common motive of maintaining security in sea-lanes in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region.

The two countries often hold cumulated military exercises and co-operate on technology.&nbsp;India and Japan concluded a security pact in 2008.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is frequently termed as an &quot;Indophile&quot; is taking closer security cooperation measures with India, in response to the rising tensions in territorial disputes with Japan&#39;s neighbour North Korea.

In July 2017, the Indian Navy took part in a week-long military drill&nbsp;with the Japanese and US navies called the Malabar naval exercise, realigning their common vision on the Indo-Pacific maritime security apparatus.

The move&nbsp;came amid&nbsp;the standoff between India-China over the Doklam issue&nbsp;and Japan&#39;s growing anxiety over North Korea&#39;s missile tests.

Indo-Japan ties turned into a &quot;substantial&quot;&nbsp;friendship on July 20 last year&nbsp;with the signing&nbsp;of the India-Japan civil nuclear agreement. The pact was signed in 2016&nbsp;during PM Modi&#39;s three-day visit to Japan.

This was the first time that Japan had signed a&nbsp;deal with a non-signatory of Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Indian and Japan: Economic ties

The agreement between India and Japan to build a bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai using Japan&#39;s Shinkansen technology was signed in December 2015.

The two nations are also working on Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), which was unveiled on May 23, 2017.&nbsp;Japan also&nbsp;provided assistance and know-how for the first phase of Delhi Metro.

The Japanese are also involved in other mega infrastructure projects, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor started a decade ago.&nbsp;Over the last fifteen&nbsp;years, investments from Japan have played a symbolic part in India&rsquo;s progress.

Over a span of seventeen years, beginning 2000, Japan has invested more than $25 billion across various sectors in India.&nbsp;Japan is among the top four largest investors in India, and investment from Japan increased substantially during 2016-17.

Japan invested 4.7 billion in 2016, which is 80 per cent higher than 2015-2016.

In fact, Japan has promised to invest roughly $35 billion for the period between 2014-19 to boost India&rsquo;s manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oRe_4gOM8dk" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Japanese government even specially employed Mizuho Financial Group for discovering investment opportunities in India

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today acknowledged India and Japan's military cooperation citing the Malabar military exercise undertaken by the two countries including the US in July. PM Abe in the joint statement said: "It (joint naval exercise in Malabar) will further deepen cooperation between India, Japan, and the US." He further added that "India, Japan, and the US conducted joint maritime exercise Malabar for the first time, based on strong ties of trust between PM Modi and President Trump". PM Modi emphasised on employing Japanese technology to help India grow economically. "I urge Japanese business community to open a maximum number of Japanese restaurant chains in India," Modi said. Here is a look at the two countries and their military and economic alliance. Indian and Japan: Military ties The two nations have a history of close military ties. They have a common motive of maintaining security in sea-lanes in the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region. The two countries often hold cumulated military exercises and co-operate on technology. India and Japan concluded a security pact in 2008. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who is frequently termed as an "Indophile" is taking closer security cooperation measures with India, in response to the rising tensions in territorial disputes with Japan's neighbour North Korea. In July 2017, the Indian Navy took part in a week-long military drill with the Japanese and US navies called the Malabar naval exercise, realigning their common vision on the Indo-Pacific maritime security apparatus. The move came amid the standoff between India-China over the Doklam issue and Japan's growing anxiety over North Korea's missile tests. Indo-Japan ties turned into a "substantial" friendship on July 20 last year with the signing of the India-Japan civil nuclear agreement. The pact was signed in 2016 during PM Modi's three-day visit to Japan. This was the first time that Japan had signed a deal with a non-signatory of Non-Proliferation Treaty. Indian and Japan: Economic ties The agreement between India and Japan to build a bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai using Japan's Shinkansen technology was signed in December 2015. The two nations are also working on Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), which was unveiled on May 23, 2017. Japan also provided assistance and know-how for the first phase of Delhi Metro. The Japanese are also involved in other mega infrastructure projects, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor started a decade ago. Over the last fifteen years, investments from Japan have played a symbolic part in India’s progress. Over a span of seventeen years, beginning 2000, Japan has invested more than $25 billion across various sectors in India. Japan is among the top four largest investors in India, and investment from Japan increased substantially during 2016-17. Japan invested 4.7 billion in 2016, which is 80 per cent higher than 2015-2016. In fact, Japan has promised to invest roughly $35 billion for the period between 2014-19 to boost India’s manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

Joint naval exercise in Malabar will further deepen cooperation between India, Japan & US: PM Abe

At least eighteen people were killed when a bus plunged into the Black Sea in southern&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;early on Friday, Interfax and TASS news agencies reported, citing emergency ministry officials.

Eight more people were injured, five of them seriously, Interfax said, quoting the emergency ministry which carried out rescue works.

There were more than 40 people on the bus, which fell from a pier, several meters high and part of oil shipment infrastructure on the Black Sea coast.

The crash was likely caused by a failure in the vehicle&#39;s braking system, said Oteko Port service company, which runs the shipment facility.

A picture from the scene, published by the emergency ministry on its website, showed divers on two boats searching waters underneath the pier.

Eight more people were injured, five of them seriously

At least eighteen people were killed when a bus plunged into the Black Sea in southern Russia early on Friday, Interfax and TASS news agencies reported, citing emergency ministry officials. Eight more people were injured, five of them seriously, Interfax said, quoting the emergency ministry which carried out rescue works. There were more than 40 people on the bus, which fell from a pier, several meters high and part of oil shipment infrastructure on the Black Sea coast. The crash was likely caused by a failure in the vehicle's braking system, said Oteko Port service company, which runs the shipment facility. A picture from the scene, published by the emergency ministry on its website, showed divers on two boats searching waters underneath the pier.

Bus plunges into Black sea in southern Russia, 18 killed

Taiwan announced a T$882.4 billion ($29 billion) stimulus package on Thursday to boost its export-driven economy in the face of uncertainty from its two largest trading partners, the United States and China.

Taiwan&#39;s trade-reliant economy is showing signs of recovery, but it is highly vulnerable to protectionist policies from US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers, as well as political tensions with Beijing.

In a bid to make the economy more balanced, Taiwan&#39;s government is looking for domestic growth drivers that dovetail with President Tsai Ing-wen&#39;s push to roll out green energy, improved utilities, better transport and telecommunications networks, and innovative technology.

The stimulus package is expected to focus on infrastructure, with spending to be spread over eight years.

Premier Lin Chuan told reporters the plan could add nearly T$1 trillion to the island&#39;s gross domestic product (GDP), while conceding that growth will remain largely export driven.

&quot;But I must admit that when economic growth is not solid, it&#39;s still necessary to take this action to bolster the economy. It&#39;s better to do this sooner rather than later,&quot; the premier added.

Taiwan&#39;s central bank is widely expected to hold interest rates steady later in the day as the government turns to fiscal stimulus to keep the economic recovery on track.

Taiwan&#39;s export orders grew at their fastest pace in six-and-a-half years in February on strong global demand for electronics that&#39;s bolstering makers of memory chips, flat panels and smartphones.

&quot;It would be appropriate to expand consumption at home,&quot; central bank Governor Perng Fai-nan said in a statement earlier in the day, saying that would provide some cushion from external risks.

&quot;China has been upgrading its supply chains. President Trump is also asking for manufacturers to go back to the US,&quot; the governor said.

The stimulus package is subject to legislative approval.

(Reuters)

The stimulus package is expected to focus on infrastructure, with spending to be spread over eight years

Taiwan announced a T$882.4 billion ($29 billion) stimulus package on Thursday to boost its export-driven economy in the face of uncertainty from its two largest trading partners, the United States and China. Taiwan's trade-reliant economy is showing signs of recovery, but it is highly vulnerable to protectionist policies from US President Donald Trump and increasing competition from Chinese manufacturers, as well as political tensions with Beijing. In a bid to make the economy more balanced, Taiwan's government is looking for domestic growth drivers that dovetail with President Tsai Ing-wen's push to roll out green energy, improved utilities, better transport and telecommunications networks, and innovative technology. The stimulus package is expected to focus on infrastructure, with spending to be spread over eight years. Premier Lin Chuan told reporters the plan could add nearly T$1 trillion to the island's gross domestic product (GDP), while conceding that growth will remain largely export driven. "But I must admit that when economic growth is not solid, it's still necessary to take this action to bolster the economy. It's better to do this sooner rather than later," the premier added. Taiwan's central bank is widely expected to hold interest rates steady later in the day as the government turns to fiscal stimulus to keep the economic recovery on track. Taiwan's export orders grew at their fastest pace in six-and-a-half years in February on strong global demand for electronics that's bolstering makers of memory chips, flat panels and smartphones. "It would be appropriate to expand consumption at home," central bank Governor Perng Fai-nan said in a statement earlier in the day, saying that would provide some cushion from external risks. "China has been upgrading its supply chains. President Trump is also asking for manufacturers to go back to the US," the governor said. The stimulus package is subject to legislative approval. (Reuters)

Taiwan unveils US$29 billion stimulus amid uncertainty over China, US

The official opening of the Olympic Village in Rio turned into a fiasco on Sunday with the discovery of blocked toilets and leaky pipes, prompting Australia to call the facility &quot;not safe or ready&quot;. 
 
Even Brazilian athletes who were meant to have started taking up lodgings in the brand-new complex from Sunday were being kept in hotels instead.&nbsp;Britain&#39;s delegation said it, too, had encountered some &quot;maintenance difficulties&quot;, but added it was staying in the Village as planned. 
 
Rio&#39;s Olympic organisers said such teething problems plagued all Olympic Games. They promised that &quot;adjustments&quot; were being made to resolve the problems. 
 
The Olympic Games, the first to be held in South America, are to open on August 5, less than two weeks away.&nbsp;The lack of preparedness in the Olympic Village was another embarrassing blow for host Brazil, which is struggling to show all will be well with the Olympiad. 
 
It is already facing low ticket sales, general public apathy amid a deep recession, fears over the Zika virus, and a spike in street crime as police complain of lack of resources. 
 
Australia&#39;s delegation highlighted the poor state of the Village, 31-building complex located in the Barra da Tijuca district in the west of Rio de Janeiro designed to house more than 18,000 athletes and coaching staff over the coming weeks. 
 
&quot;Problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed, and dirty floors in need of a massive clean,&quot; the head of the Australian team, Kitty Chiller, said in a statement. 
 
During a test involving taps and toilets being turned on in apartments on several floors, &quot;water came down walls, there was a strong smell of gas in some apartments and there was &#39;shorting&#39; in the electrical wiring&quot;. 
 
Chiller later told reporters: &quot;This is my fifth Olympics Games, I have never experienced a Village in this lack of state of readiness at this point in time.&quot;&nbsp;She added that, &quot;in our mind, our building is not habitable&quot;, and the Australian team would stay in nearby hotels. 
 
But she said a team of plumbers was already at work to fix the problems, and &quot;I am reasonably confident that we will be able to enter the Village on Wednesday&quot;.&nbsp;The rest of the Village, she said, &quot;is one of the best&quot; she had seen.&nbsp;A spokesman for the British delegation confirmed similar problems but noted &quot;this is not uncommon with new-build structures of this type&quot;. 
 
Rio&#39;s mayor, Eduardo Paes, tried to laugh off the matter, according to Brazilian media reports.&nbsp;&quot;We are going to make the Australians feel at home here. I&#39;m almost putting a kangaroo out front to jump for them,&quot; he said.&nbsp;He also boasted that the Village was &quot;more beautiful and better&quot; than the one in Sydney in the 2000 Olympics. 
 
New Zealand Olympic committee chef de mission Rob Waddell said the village was not completely ready when he arrived last week, but the issues had been resolved, and Kiwi athletes were beginning to move into their allotted accommodation. 
 
&quot;We were disappointed the village wasn&#39;t as ready as it might have been when we arrived, and it hasn&#39;t been easy. Our team has had to get stuck in to get the job done,&quot; he said in a statement. 
 
 
Russia to participate 
 
As dire as the Australian description of the Village sounded, one of the 207 delegations was relieved on Sunday to find out its athletes would be able to make it to Rio at all. 
 
Russia, whose participation had been uncertain following revelations of state-run doping, hailed a decision by the International Olympic Committee to not impose a blanket ban on all its sportsmen and women.&nbsp;The IOC ordered individual sports federations to decide whether Russian competitors should take part in the Rio Games. 
 
 
Boosted security 
 
Security, naturally, will be high around the complex, and around Rio generally.&nbsp;The arrest on Thursday of 10 Brazilians suspected of planning attacks during the Olympics revived memories of the Munich Games in 1972, when an armed Palestinian group took Israeli athletes hostage and killed 11 of them. 
 
Brazilian justice minister Alexandre de Moraes said the suspects were &quot;absolutely amateur&quot;, &quot;disorganised&quot; and had no specific targets. 
 
But recent attacks, such as the one on July 14 in Nice, France that killed 84 people, have prompted officials to bolster their security plans, notably by reinforcing checks and screenings. 
 
From Sunday, some 50,000 police and soldiers are being deployed in Rio to protect sports venues, tourist spots and key transport areas. 
 
(AFP)

Australians leave 'not safe or ready' Rio Village, while Russian athletes are just grateful the IOC let them in

The official opening of the Olympic Village in Rio turned into a fiasco on Sunday with the discovery of blocked toilets and leaky pipes, prompting Australia to call the facility "not safe or ready". Even Brazilian athletes who were meant to have started taking up lodgings in the brand-new complex from Sunday were being kept in hotels instead. Britain's delegation said it, too, had encountered some "maintenance difficulties", but added it was staying in the Village as planned. Rio's Olympic organisers said such teething problems plagued all Olympic Games. They promised that "adjustments" were being made to resolve the problems. The Olympic Games, the first to be held in South America, are to open on August 5, less than two weeks away. The lack of preparedness in the Olympic Village was another embarrassing blow for host Brazil, which is struggling to show all will be well with the Olympiad. It is already facing low ticket sales, general public apathy amid a deep recession, fears over the Zika virus, and a spike in street crime as police complain of lack of resources. Australia's delegation highlighted the poor state of the Village, 31-building complex located in the Barra da Tijuca district in the west of Rio de Janeiro designed to house more than 18,000 athletes and coaching staff over the coming weeks. "Problems include blocked toilets, leaking pipes, exposed wiring, darkened stairwells where no lighting has been installed, and dirty floors in need of a massive clean," the head of the Australian team, Kitty Chiller, said in a statement. During a test involving taps and toilets being turned on in apartments on several floors, "water came down walls, there was a strong smell of gas in some apartments and there was 'shorting' in the electrical wiring". Chiller later told reporters: "This is my fifth Olympics Games, I have never experienced a Village in this lack of state of readiness at this point in time." She added that, "in our mind, our building is not habitable", and the Australian team would stay in nearby hotels. But she said a team of plumbers was already at work to fix the problems, and "I am reasonably confident that we will be able to enter the Village on Wednesday". The rest of the Village, she said, "is one of the best" she had seen. A spokesman for the British delegation confirmed similar problems but noted "this is not uncommon with new-build structures of this type". Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, tried to laugh off the matter, according to Brazilian media reports. "We are going to make the Australians feel at home here. I'm almost putting a kangaroo out front to jump for them," he said. He also boasted that the Village was "more beautiful and better" than the one in Sydney in the 2000 Olympics. New Zealand Olympic committee chef de mission Rob Waddell said the village was not completely ready when he arrived last week, but the issues had been resolved, and Kiwi athletes were beginning to move into their allotted accommodation. "We were disappointed the village wasn't as ready as it might have been when we arrived, and it hasn't been easy. Our team has had to get stuck in to get the job done," he said in a statement. Russia to participate As dire as the Australian description of the Village sounded, one of the 207 delegations was relieved on Sunday to find out its athletes would be able to make it to Rio at all. Russia, whose participation had been uncertain following revelations of state-run doping, hailed a decision by the International Olympic Committee to not impose a blanket ban on all its sportsmen and women. The IOC ordered individual sports federations to decide whether Russian competitors should take part in the Rio Games. Boosted security Security, naturally, will be high around the complex, and around Rio generally. The arrest on Thursday of 10 Brazilians suspected of planning attacks during the Olympics revived memories of the Munich Games in 1972, when an armed Palestinian group took Israeli athletes hostage and killed 11 of them. Brazilian justice minister Alexandre de Moraes said the suspects were "absolutely amateur", "disorganised" and had no specific targets. But recent attacks, such as the one on July 14 in Nice, France that killed 84 people, have prompted officials to bolster their security plans, notably by reinforcing checks and screenings. From Sunday, some 50,000 police and soldiers are being deployed in Rio to protect sports venues, tourist spots and key transport areas. (AFP)

Rio Olympic Village opening characterised by clogged toilets

The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be different from institutions like the World Bank because it has a greater understanding of the developing world&#39;s needs, officials said on Sunday at its first annual meeting. 
 
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the bank two years ago and it began operations in January, with 57 founding member countries and $100 billion in committed capital, which it plans to invest in projects across the region. 
 
The AIIB, which intends to invest $1.2 billion this year, has said it is aiming to meet international standards of governance, though some members say there is still work to be done. 
 
Speaking on the final day of the bank&#39;s inaugural annual meeting, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said the AIIB needed to establish its niche. 
 
&quot;The AIIB needs to establish its comparative advantage relative to existing multilateral development banks like the World Bank,&quot; Lou said. 
 
&quot;Compared with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other multilateral development banks, the AIIB&#39;s advantage lies in its keener understanding of the successful experience and lessons of developing countries&#39; years of development.&quot; 
 
The AIIB&#39;s board approved its first four deals worth $509 million on Friday, with three projects co-financed with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the European Bank for reconstruction and development. 
 
The co-financed projects are a slum renovation in Indonesia and highway construction in Pakistan and Tajikistan. A power grid upgrade project in Bangladesh will be solely AIIB financed. 
 
AIIB President Jin Liqun said it was the focus on infrastructure that specifically marked out the bank as different and that they were committed to the concept of international best practice. 
 
&quot;The question is, how do you define international best practice? I will not agree to anything which could be considered international best practice unless this kind best practice incorporates the development experience of China and many countries in Asia and elsewhere over the last three or four decades,&quot; Jin said. 
 
&quot;So our bank would like to have the development experience, the so-called international best practice, reflecting the experience of China, India (and) so many countries in Asia. So we should have a different model of development.&quot; 
 
The AIIB is also looking to expand its numbers this year and will take applications for new members through the end of September. 
 
(Reuters)

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's board approved its first four deals worth $509 million for reconstruction and development

The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be different from institutions like the World Bank because it has a greater understanding of the developing world's needs, officials said on Sunday at its first annual meeting. Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the bank two years ago and it began operations in January, with 57 founding member countries and $100 billion in committed capital, which it plans to invest in projects across the region. The AIIB, which intends to invest $1.2 billion this year, has said it is aiming to meet international standards of governance, though some members say there is still work to be done. Speaking on the final day of the bank's inaugural annual meeting, Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said the AIIB needed to establish its niche. "The AIIB needs to establish its comparative advantage relative to existing multilateral development banks like the World Bank," Lou said. "Compared with the Asian Development Bank, World Bank and other multilateral development banks, the AIIB's advantage lies in its keener understanding of the successful experience and lessons of developing countries' years of development." The AIIB's board approved its first four deals worth $509 million on Friday, with three projects co-financed with the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the European Bank for reconstruction and development. The co-financed projects are a slum renovation in Indonesia and highway construction in Pakistan and Tajikistan. A power grid upgrade project in Bangladesh will be solely AIIB financed. AIIB President Jin Liqun said it was the focus on infrastructure that specifically marked out the bank as different and that they were committed to the concept of international best practice. "The question is, how do you define international best practice? I will not agree to anything which could be considered international best practice unless this kind best practice incorporates the development experience of China and many countries in Asia and elsewhere over the last three or four decades," Jin said. "So our bank would like to have the development experience, the so-called international best practice, reflecting the experience of China, India (and) so many countries in Asia. So we should have a different model of development." The AIIB is also looking to expand its numbers this year and will take applications for new members through the end of September. (Reuters)

China praises AIIB's greater understanding of developing world

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