Page 4 - Asia

Harris to travel to Asia, Mideast, Europe during her final week in office

Vice President Kamala Harris plans to close out her term with an around-the-world trip making stops in Singapore, Bahrain and Germany, her office said. The trip, which is scheduled to last from Jan 13 to Jan 17, will be a final opportunity for Harris to address US foreign policy challenges before Donald Trump takes office. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff is expected to join the vice president. Although she has not disclosed her next steps after losing the presidential election, the expansive travel suggests that Harris might want to continue playing a role on the global stage. There's also speculation that Harris could run for governor of her home state of California. Dean Lieberman, Harris' deputy national security adviser, said in a written statement that "the vice president felt it important to spend some of her final days in office thanking and engaging directly with US service members deployed overseas, which as she has said, has been one of her greatest privileges as vice ...

Asia's middle-class growth slows, keeping the 'Asian Dream' out of reach

There is no concrete definition of what such a dream with Asian characteristics means, but inspiration could come from the American Dream, a term coined by writer James Truslow Adams in 1931

'Embers of the Hands': Barraclough uncovers untold stories of history

People love the blood-soaked sagas that chronicle the deeds of (actual) Vikings. They love what Barraclough calls the "soap opera lives" of Norse gods

Blinken heads to Asia, Europe on last expected trip as top US diplomat

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will embark on what is expected to be his final overseas trip in office this weekend, travelling to South Korea, Japan and France. The State Department announced Friday that Blinken would visit Seoul, Tokyo and Paris beginning Sunday. He will return to Washington early Thursday in time to attend the funeral services for former president Jimmy Carter, officials said. In South Korea, which is in the midst of a political turmoil following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japan, Blinken intends to highlight the expansion of US cooperation with both nations as part of the Biden administration's Indo-Pacific strategy. That strategy is primarily intended to blunt Chinese ambitions in the region but also to deter the nuclear threat from North Korea. Political developments in South Korea, however, after Yoon declared martial law and was later impeached, have raised questions about the stability of Washington-Seoul relations. The US has tak

Europe, Asia's factories end 2024 on weak footing as Trump 2.0 risks mount

U.S. President-elect Trump has pledged to impose tariffs across the board, with bigger barriers on imports from three major trading partners - Mexico, Canada and China

Asia's factories end 2024 on weak footing as Trump 2.0 risks loom large

US President-elect Trump has pledged to impose big tariffs on imports from three major trading partners Mexico, Canada and China

Asian LNG prices set to increase after Russia-Ukraine transit ends

Ukraine hopes increased supply of gas from the US and other producers to Europe will make prices more comfortable

Syngenta signs $ 4.5 bn sustainability-linked loan, Asia's largest in 2024

Borrowers in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan have raised $57 billion-equivalent of such facilities so far this year, a 19% jump from the same period in 2023, Bloomberg-compiled data shows

KKR backs Rebel Foods for its latest growth equity investment in India

Deal part of KKR's to support 'innovative and disruptive companies' in Asia

India shifts motor fuel exports towards Asia amid reduced European demand

Lower import orders from Europe, reduced exports by China behind the shift

WHO tells South East Asian nations to intensify efforts to prevent drowning

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries in the South-East Asia region to strengthen measures to prevent drowning, which it says disproportionately affects children and vulnerable populations. According to WHO's first Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention, South-East Asia reported 83,000 drowning fatalities in 2021, accounting for 28 per cent of the global drowning burden. This contributes substantially to the nearly 30 lives lost to drowning every hour globally. Nearly 43 per cent of drowning fatalities in the region involved children aged 14 years or younger, the report said. Drowning is the third leading cause of death for children aged 5-14 years and the fourth leading cause of death for children aged 1-4 years, the WHO report said. "To save lives and ensure equitable safety for all, expanding and scaling up proven drowning prevention interventions across the region is not just essential, but a moral imperative," said Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director

Korean Air completes Asiana takeover to form one of Asia's biggest airlines

Korean Air acquired a 63.88 per cent stake in Asiana on Thursday, making it a subsidiary three years later than the smaller airline had initially anticipated

Oppn tried to destroy country; I will fight to the end: South Korea's Prez

South Korean President said the opposition was "dancing the sword dance of madness" by trying to drag a democratically elected president from power

South Korea opposition party plans to pass government budget bill today

The opposition-controlled parliament last month cut 4.1 trillion won from the government's proposed 677.4 trillion won ($473 billion) budget

India's aid gradually shifting beyond Asia, extending to new regions

These projects span a wide range of sectors like water, power, railways, roads, agriculture, education and health care

India, Vietnam hold 3rd security talks, boost ties against terrorism, crime

Two sides exchanged views on global and regional security and the implementation of aspects of the Action Plan for the India - Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

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