Page 4 - Asia

Sony Pictures Networks India secures ACC media rights for eight years

Sony Pictures Networks India on Friday said it has bagged the exclusive media rights for all Asian Cricket Council tournaments from 2024 to 2031. This will make the company's cricket calendar even more robust over the next eight years adding to the existing rights for England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPNI) MD & CEO, Gaurav Banerjee told PTI. In a statement, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) said the deal with SPNI "marks more than a 70 per cent increase from the previous media rights cycle, highlighting the growing global stature and appetite for ACC Asia Cup tournaments". According to industry estimates, the previous media rights cycle rights for 2016-2024 period was valued at USD 62 million. Both SPNI and ACC did not disclose the value of the new cycle. ACC said the deal with SPNI encompasses all editions of the men's and women's Asia Cups, men's and women's Under-19 Asia Cups, and the men's and women's emerging teams Asia Cups. "This partnership ..

Tata Power, ADB ink pact for $4.25 bn finance for key energy projects

Tata Power on Thursday said it has signed an initial pact with Asian Development Bank (ADB) to evaluate financing worth USD 4.25 billion for its several strategic projects. A memorandum of understanding has been signed with ADB at Baku, Azerbaijan, Tata Power said in a statement. "The MoU has been signed evaluate financing for its several strategic projects aimed at enhancing India's power infrastructure and promoting renewable and clean energy," it said. The total estimated project cost is about USD 4.25 billion, Tata Power said. The MoU outlines the evaluation of financing for several key ongoing projects such as the 966-MW solar wind hybrid project and pumped hydro storage project and other projects in the pipeline around energy transition, decarbonisation, and battery storage as well as ongoing financing for capex towards strengthening the distribution networks. Tata Power CEO and Managing Director Praveer Sinha said, "Collaboration with ADB is a crucial step as we explore ...

Relief for Asian peers may slightly aid rupee but portfolio outflows weigh

A rally in the dollar and the rise in US bond yields following Donald Trump's victory in the US election has weighed on Asian currencies over the last two weeks, including the rupee

Philippines braces for another typhoon, fifth major storm to hit in 3 weeks

The fifth major storm in three weeks approached the Philippines on Thursday, prompting more largescale evacuations and a United Nations request for emergency funds to help the government ease the plight of hard-hit villagers. Typhoon Usagi had sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers (115 miles) per hour and gusts of up to 230 kph (143 mph) and was forecast to strengthen further before slamming Thursday afternoon into the coast of Cagayan province at the northern tip of Luzon, the country's most populous agricultural region. Another storm was brewing in the Pacific and may hit the northern Philippines this weekend, according to forecasters. The country's weather agency warned of life-threatening tidal surges of up to three meters (nearly 10 feet) in coastal areas of Cagayan and seven other nearby provinces and clusters of islands, and urged all ships to remain in port or immediately take shelter. Typhoon Toraji blew away from the northern Philippines just two days ago after unleashi

Targets unchanged a year after deal on tripling renewables by 2030: Report

A year after countries agreed to triple global renewable energy capacity to 11,000 gigawatts by 2030, a new report on Tuesday revealed that national targets still only aim for a collective doubling of capacity in the next six years. The report by global energy think tank Ember showed only eight countries have updated their renewable targets in the last 12 months, resulting in just a four-GW increase in overall renewable energy targets globally. The report analysed national 2030 renewable capacity targets for 96 countries and the EU as a bloc. These countries collectively account for 96 per cent of the world's renewable capacity, 95 per cent of global electricity sector demand and 94 per cent of global power sector emissions. Of the 96 countries, 83 have renewable capacity targets for 2030. At the UN's climate conference in December 2023 in Dubai, world leaders reached a historic agreement to triple global renewables capacity by 2030. The International Energy Agency (IEA) and ...

India's aircraft fleet set to increase by over 5 times in 20 yrs: Report

This growth will boost Indian airlines' share of the Asia-Pacific passenger fleet from the current 8 per cent to 18 per cent by 2043, according to a Cirium report

Asia needs to spend more to adapt to climate change, limit damage: Study

Countries in Asia will suffer worse damage from the climate crisis than other regions and are falling far behind in spending on improvements to limit the damage and adapt to changing weather patterns and natural disasters, the Asian Development Bank said in a report released Thursday. The report said financing needs in developing Asian countries to cope with climate change range from USD 102 billion to USD 431 billion a year. That far exceeds the USD 34 billion committed to those purposes in 2021-2022, the Manila, Philippines-based regional development bank said. Developing Asia accounted for nearly half of all global emissions in 2021, the latest year for comprehensive data, with China accounting for two-thirds of that and South Asia nearly 20 per cent, the report said. That's because even though emissions per person remain far lower than in Europe, Japan and North America, it is the world's most populous region, home to about 70 per cent of all human kind. Most countries in the ..

China shuts supply to rebels, backs Myanmar's falling junta in civil war

A year on, rebel forces have ground down the junta, pushing the military out of vital borderlands and making inroads into the contested heart of Myanmar

Sri Lanka's new president faces uphill battle to revive debt-ridden economy

Sri Lanka's new president faces uphill battle to revive debt-ridden economy

Not working on PM's 'Asian Nato' proposal, say Japanese ministers

Shigeru Ishiba made the proposal ahead of his victory in the ruling party leadership election on Friday, arguing that it would bolster security in Asia

Taiwan warns of storm surge from Typhoon Krathon, mobilises 40,000 troops

The rail line connecting southern to eastern Taiwan was closed, though the north-south high speed line was operating as normal, albeit with enhanced safety checks for wind and debris

Strike at Boeing leaves Asian airlines sweating on plane deliveries

Boeing didn't respond to a request for comment on any delays to Max deliveries in Asia

Biden to put personal touch on Asia-Pacific ties in final months in office

President Joe Biden is looking to showcase the Indo-Pacific partnership he has nurtured since taking office as he hosts the leaders of Australia, Japan and India in his hometown Saturday with an eye on his legacy as well. When Biden entered the White House he looked to elevate the so-called Quad, which until then had only met at the foreign minister level, to a leader-level partnership as he tried to pivot U.S. foreign policy away from conflicts in the Middle East and toward threats and opportunities in the Indo-Pacific. This weekend's summit is the fourth in-person and sixth overall gathering of the leaders since 2021. Biden put a personal touch on the engagement potentially the last of the group before he leaves office on Jan. 20 by opening his home in Wilmington, Delaware, to each of the leaders and hosting a joint meeting and formal dinner at the high school he attended more than 60 years ago. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and

Bengaluru's millionaire population soars by 120% over last decade: Report

Home to approximately 13,200 millionaires, Bengaluru has a collective investable wealth of Rs 800 crore, according to Henley & Partners' Centi-Millionaire Report 2024

'Spiked ozone levels stunting tropical forests' growth, Asia affected more'

Ozone pollution is stunting the growth of tropical forests, with the effect being stronger in Asia, where such forests are losing nearly 11 per cent of new growth, research has found. Air quality will continue to play an important, yet often overlooked, part in how forests absorb and store carbon, according to lead author Flossie Brown, a recent graduate of the University of Exeter. While ozone in the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere protects people from harmful ultraviolet radiations from the Sun, ozone closer to the ground level is harmful to plant and human health. The gas is formed when pollutants from human activities combine in the presence of sunlight. The researchers explained that urbanisation, industrialisation and burning fossil fuels and fires have resulted in an increase in 'precursor' gases -- such as nitrogen oxides -- that form ozone. The team found that ozone at the ground level can stunt new growth in tropical forests by over five per cent, translating into

Pope concludes Asia trip, reiterates interfaith tolerance to heal world

Pope Francis wrapped up his visit to Singapore on Friday by praising its tradition of interfaith harmony, closing out his four-nation trip through Asia with the same message of tolerance that he delivered at the start. Francis presided over a gathering of young people from some of the religious traditions that are present in Singapore, where mosques, Buddhist temples and Christian churches stand side-by-side among the city-state's iconic skyscrapers. In a sign he was enjoying himself, Francis ditched his speech and urged the youths to take risks, even if it means making mistakes. But he came back to the topic at hand make his main point about the need for people of different faiths to engage in constructive dialogue rather than insist on the righteousness of their particular beliefs. All religions are a path to arrive at God, he said. They are like different languages to arrive there. But God is God for all. Francis was in Singapore to encourage its Catholics, who make up about 3.5

Red Sea crisis produces winners & losers in Asia as freight rates spike

Chinese shippers including Cosco Shipping Holdings Co. saw earnings lifted by higher revenue from its container shipping business

India to bid for 5th Youth Olympics in 2030: Sports Minister Mandaviya

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said India is set to bid for the 2030 Youth Olympics, a precursor to the country's ambition to host the 2036 Olympics. The 2030 Youth Olympics will be the fifth edition of the international event. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi we are going to bid for the 2030 Youth Olympics but our focus remain on hosting the 2036 Olympics," Mandaviya said on the sidelines of the Olympic Council of Asia's (OCA) 44th General Assembly here. "Under Modiji's leadership we have been able to host multiple international sporting events, including cricket World Cups, football U-17 World Cup," BJP president JP Nadda, who was the chief guest for the event, added. India will fight against Peru, Colombia, Mexico, Thailand, Mongolia, Russia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina to get the hosting rights for the 2030 Youth Olympics.

Randhir Singh set to be elected as first Indian president of OCA

Veteran sports administrator Randhir Singh is set to be elected as the first Indian president of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in the 44th General Assembly of the Asian body here on Sunday. Randhir, a former Indian shooter, will be officially named OCA president in the presence of Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and top sports leaders from all 45 countries of Asia. Randhir, 77, hails from Patiala in Punjab and belongs to a family of sportspersons. His uncle, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh, played Test cricket for India and was an IOC member. His father Bhalindra Singh, also a first-class cricketer, was an IOC Member between 1947 and 1992. Randhir competed in four Asian Games, winning the trap gold in 1978, bronze in 1982 and a team silver 1986. He also competed at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton, Canada. Randhir entered sports administration in 1987 when he was appointed the secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association, a position he held till 2012. He was also ..

Over 300 companies from 20 countries to participate in Didac India 2024

Over 300 firms from 20 countries will showcase over 5,000 products and technologies at the 14th edition of Asia's largest education and skills sector exhibition and conference DIDAC India 2024 here. The 14th edition of Didac India is being organised by global exhibitor Messe Stuttgart India, in partnership with India Didactics Association (IDA), India's only National association for the education and skills fraternity from September 18 to 20 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention & Expo Centre) in Delhi, a statement said. According to the statement, the education industry worldwide is anticipated to reach USD 10 trillion in the next decade. With a CAGR of 4.5 per cent, it is expected to contribute to over 6 per cent of global GDP. India's education and skilling industry is projected to reach USD 313 billion by 2030. India Didactics Association CEO Aditya Gupta said that to support the government's vision and further boost India's education system, DIDAC India 2024 brings ..