[Asia Round-up] Singapore named world’s most expensive city
Singapore is now ranked as the most expensive city in the world, according to a new survey by The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) that compares the cost of living between 131 cities using New York as a base city. A 40 percent currency appreciation over the last decade coupled with solid inflation has pushed Singapore […]
[Asia Round-up] British military dog captured by Taliban
TOPICS of the month British military dog captured by Taliban Taliban said on Feb. 7, 2014 that they have captured a military dog belonging to NATO forces in Afghanistan, releasing a video of a sad-looking dog chained by a group of Taliban fighters. “Allah gave victory to the Mujahideen!” one of the fighters exclaims, “Down […]
Nelson Mandela dead at 95: World mourns loss of a ‘giant for justice’
As the news of Nelson Mandela’s death spread across South Africa, residents of the black township of Soweto gathered in the streets near the house where he once lived, singing and dancing to mourn his death and celebrate his colossal life. The people of South Africa reacted Friday with deep sadness at the loss of […]
UN agencies step up relief efforts to typhoon-affected victims in Philippines
UN agencies are stepping up their relief efforts to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan, which buffeted the Philippines a week ago, flattening towns and cities and claiming thousands of lives, a UN spokesman said here Monday. “Nearly 13 million people across nine regions have been affected by Typhoon Haiyan, including more than 4 million people […]
Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch dies at 100
Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch, who headed the country’s order of Buddhist monks for more than two decades, died Thursday. He was 100. Doctors said that Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara (SOM-ded PRA YA-na-SUNG-WORN) died at Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok, where he had been treated since being admitted for an illness more than a decade ago. “(The Supreme […]
Bangladesh’s garment factory collapse survivors attend vigil for victims
Relatives of the missing garment workers gather to attend the vigil for the victims of Rana Plaza collapse at Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Oct. 24, 2013. Survivors and their loved ones on Thursday marked the six-month anniversary of Bangladesh’s worst- ever industrial tragedy, while many families express anger and annoyance due to […]
Bangkok ranked world’s top tourist destination
Bangkok has emerged as the world’s top tourist destination, with 15.98 million visitors projected to visit the Thailand’s capital city this year, according to the 2013 Global Destination Cities Index released by MasterCard on May 27. Bangkok surpassed London for the first time for the most popular destination city in the world. The index ranks […]
Asia-Pacific leaders warn of water conflict threat
Fierce competition for water could trigger conflict unless nations cooperate to share the diminishing resource, leaders from Asia-Pacific nations warned on May 20 at a regional water security forum. From Central to Southeast Asia, regional efforts to secure water have sparked tensions between neighbors reliant on rivers to sustain booming populations. Breakneck urbanization, climate change […]
Vietnam rises as top smartphone producer
Vietnam is becoming a leading smartphone producer in the world as world electronics giants increase investments in Vietnam, Japan’s economic daily Nihon Keizai reports. According to its recent article, with the Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV)’s plan to produce 240 million smartphones in 2013, accounting for 20 per cent of the world market share, Vietnam is […]
Hong Kong ranked world’s most expensive retail space
The Asia’s shopping haven Hong Kong has been ranked again the world’s most expensive global retail market, according to a new report by global property advisor CBRE Group Inc. released on May 12. Hong Kong’s annual retail rent in high-end shopping areas in Hong Kong averaged $4,328 per square foot, which were nearly 150 percent […]