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[Asia Round-up] Universities can boost China’s ‘soft power’
Universities can boost China’s soft power [China, China Daily, 25-09-2013] China’s leading educational institutions Peking University (Beida) and Tsinghua University have joined the Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-created EdX online educational consortium by providing six courses online free of charge. China has now officially entered the movement known…
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Business
World Bank pledges more funds for poverty reduction in fragile nations
World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Tuesday pledged to increase funds for poor people in fragile and conflict-affected states, as part of a new strategy for the global development institution to end poverty. In a speech at George Washington University, Kim said the fiscal uncertainty in the United States,…
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South Asia
India passes $20 bln law to expand food welfare
India plans to subsidize wheat, rice and cereals for some 800 million people under a $20 billion scheme to cut malnutrition and ease poverty. The Food Security Bill, sent this week by India’s parliament to the president for approval, guarantees citizens a legal right to food. India has some of…
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East Asia
TPP free trade talks make strides forward as sensitive issues still remain
Japan, as one of the 12 countries involved in the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks, wrapped up the 19th round of talks in Brunei on Friday, while advances seemingly have been made on mutually- acceptable trade packages between the members, some pertinent issues still remain. Last month marked…
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West Asia
Asia stocks fallen after US Federal Reserve hints at stimulus phaseout
Asian stock markets fell Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve made it known that its top officials were leaning toward phasing out its massive stimulus program. The Fed released minutes of its July policy meeting Wednesday that showed most members want to slow down the pace of a massive bond-buying…
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South Asia
India’s gov’t struggles to halt rupee slide as financial crisis deepens
Indians returning from abroad bring nearly 3,000 flat screen televisions into the country a day, turning airport luggage belts into revolving electronics displays. A stiff new customs duty aims to sink that popular trade as officials scramble to halt a dizzying plunge in the rupee. The 36-percent TV tax is…
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West Asia
Israel-Palestine to make “dramatic decisions” to reach final agreement
Israel will make “dramatic decisions” to reach a final peace agreement that will end the conflict with the Palestinians, Israel’s chief negotiator said Tuesday while warning that hawks inside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition are making her job more difficult. Tzipi Livni’s remarks came as a senior Palestinian official said…
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East Asia
China-Kenya sign US$ 5 billion funding agreement for development projects
The state visit to China by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has effectively helped unlock billions of dollars to finance several Vision 2030 Flagship projects, officials said on Tuesday. The Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat (VDS) Director General Mugo Kibati said the funding commitments extended by the Chinese government and related development…
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South East Asia
Fast growing population, a challenge for Bangladesh’s capital city
DHAKA – Bangladesh’s capital city Dhaka is going to face a tough challenge with its fast growing population, now expected to hit over 20 million by 2025. According to official statistics, Bangladesh’s population at this moment is about 150 million out of which 15 million live in Dhaka city. Experts…
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South Asia
India launches first home-built aircraft carrier, bolstering naval capabilities
India has launched its first home-built aircraft carrier, marking another milestone in its efforts to bolster its maritime presence. Defense Minister A.K. Antony said Monday that India needs a strong navy to defend itself, and that it will press ahead with developing its maritime capabilities. India joins the U.S., Russia,…
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