Asia

Israel’s foreign policies won’t change much even as a new coalition looks set to take power, ambassador says
10Jun By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, USA, World

Israel’s foreign policies won’t change much even as a new coalition looks set to take power, ambassador says

A new coalition may soon take power in Israel, but that doesn't signal a change in the country's foreign policies, according to Israel's ambassador to Singapore. "As far as foreign policy is concerned, we're about to see a continuation of previous policies of the government," Sagi Karni told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Wednesday. That means Israel will still want to maintain and expand the Abraham Accords, engage with the rest of the world, and "see a change" in Gaza, he said. Israel's parliament, the Knesset, will be voting on a new government on Sunday. If successful, the coalition led by opposition party leader Yair Lapid will feature tech millionaire Naftali Bennett as prime minister, replacing Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving head of government. The coalition includes a...
Read More
Indian rupee rose to 73.81 paisa.
7May By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia

Indian rupee rose to 73.81 paisa.

As decline in new Covid-19 cases over the past few days. The India rupee rose 14 paise to 73.81 against the US dollar on Tuesday morning.The India rupee opened at 73.83 at the interbank forex market then strengthened to 73.81, gaining 14 paise from its Monday’s close.The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) opened 0.13 per cent higher at 48,781 points in early trade, while the NSE Nifty rose 0.08 per cent to 14,646 points on Tuesday morning.Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers in the capital market on Monday, as they sold shares worth Rs 2,289.46 crore, as per exchange data.India’s total Covid-19 cases crossed 20 million (m) after 3,57,229 new infections were reported on Monday. The cumulative death toll due to Covid-19 rose to 2,22,408 after 3,449 new fatalities were reported, ...
Read More
India taking steps for economy growth.
6May By Mike TrudellNo Comments
Asia

India taking steps for economy growth.

India’s exports in April jumped took a high jump from $10.17 billion, according to commerce ministry’s preliminary data released on Sunday. Imports too rose to $45.45 billion last month as against $17.09 billion in April 2020. “India is thus a net importer in April with a trade deficit of $15.24 billion, which increased by 120.34 per cent over the trade deficit of $6.92 billion in April 2020,” the ministry said in a statement. The three-fold jump in exports came amid signs that India’s economy may shrink in the current quarter ending in June as Covid-19 cases surged. Sonal Varma, India chief economist at Nomura, said the country is “clearly going to see a sequential growth hit” in its first quarter. India’s fiscal year begins in April and ends in March the following year. She pre...
Read More
Ola to oncrease 100,000 scooter chargers in India
1May By Michael SmithNo Comments
Asia, Market

Ola to oncrease 100,000 scooter chargers in India

MUMBAI – As Indian ride-hailing startup Ola the company launches two wheeler charging points nationwide, to 100,000 to accommodate the company’s scooter slated for launch.The Ola Hypercharger Network will start out with a first-year push to install 5,000 charging stations in 100 cities -- "more than double the existing charging infrastructure in the country," the company says.Plans are for 100,000-plus charging points in 400 cities in five years. They will be compatible with Ola two-wheeler products, including the Ola Scooter due out in the coming months.Backed by Japan's SoftBank Group, Ola offers a ride-hailing app serving mostly India. In 2020, it announced the acquisition of Dutch manufacturer Etergo with the aim of building electric two-wheelers. Talent hailing from General Motors an...
Read More
Huawei may have been listening to all the phone calls on Dutch mobile network
20Apr By Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Asia

Huawei may have been listening to all the phone calls on Dutch mobile network

Amsterdam, Netherlands: According to the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant the Chines telecom equipment supplier Huawei was able to monitor all the conversations made through the Netherlands's largest mobile networkHuwaei was able to listen in to conversations made by government ministers and also had access to a database of phones which were being tapped, according to a Capgemini report dating from 2010.Former state company KPN dominated the mobile phone market in 2009, with 6.5 million subscribers and Huawei was an integral part of its technological base.Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have called for a government statement about the role of Chinese telecoms company Huawei in the KPN mobile phone network.Looking to cut costs further, the company asked Capgemini to draw up a risk a...
Read More
Under construction China Town sparks anti-Beijing sentiment
12Apr By TheGreenZoneNo Comments
Asia

Under construction China Town sparks anti-Beijing sentiment

A Chinatown in South Korea expected to be completed in 2022 has sparked anti-Chinese sentimentwith a petition calling for an end to its construction.“An online petition has been filed on the Cheong Wa Dae [government] website recently, calling foran end to the ongoing construction of a Chinatown and Legoland in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province,”reported an English-language newspaper The Korea Times.The petition has gained more than 415,000 signatures until now.“The petitioner wrote that Koreans do not understand why Korea should provide culturalexperiences from China, or why there should be a ‘little China’ in Korea.”Korea-China Culture Town will feature “a range of facilities and attractions”, including traditionalChinese gardens, and will be 10 times the size of South Korea’s only “official”...
Read More
US blacklists Pakistan-based human smuggling organization
12Apr By TheGreenZoneNo Comments
Asia

US blacklists Pakistan-based human smuggling organization

The United States has slapped sanctions on a Pakistan-based human smuggling organization, whichhas been accused of being involved in smuggling migrants to the United States, including foreignnationals.The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Pakistaninational Abid Ali Khan and the Abid Ali Khan Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) of being “aprolific human smuggling organization,” as well as three people and one entity associated with theorganization.“According to court documents, between January 2015 and December 2020, Abid Ali Khan, 40,allegedly organized, led, and worked, with others in his Pakistan-based smuggling network tofacilitate the travel of undocumented individuals to the United States,” the Justice Department saidin a release...
Read More
H&M forced to shut 20 stores in China over remarks on Xinjiang cotton: Report
10Apr By TheGreenZoneNo Comments
Asia

H&M forced to shut 20 stores in China over remarks on Xinjiang cotton: Report

Soon after giving out a statement on forced labour in Xinjiang, Swedish fashion retailer H&M wasforced to close 20 stores in China.Recently, several companies including H&M and Nike are facing pressure after they said that theywere concerned about allegations that forced labour has been used to produce cotton in Xinjiang.The ruling Communist Party lashed out at H&M, Nike and other shoe and clothing brands last weekafter the United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada imposed travel and financialsanctions on officials accused of abuses in Xinjiang in China’s northwest.H&M has shut down about 20 of its 500 outlets in the communist country. Some of the closuresmight have been the result of Chinese landlords forcing out the shops, while local consumers vowedto boycot...
Read More
10Apr By TheGreenZoneNo Comments
Asia

Chinese companies mum as international companies condemn Myanmar’s growing violence

Even though several multinational companies have publicly condemned the military coup inMyanmar, China has remained silent.According to media reports, Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) a Yangon-basedrights group, has called for companies to sign a joint statement of concern for the coup, butcompanies from China are absent.A total of 216 companies have signed the statement yet there has been no participation fromChinese companies.This comes in the backdrop of several Chinese companies being the targets of arson attacks, whichhave increased public scrutiny over the stance of these companies on the coup. “China won’t allowits interests to be exposed to further aggression… If the authorities cannot deliver and the chaoscontinues to spread, China might be forced into taking more d...
Read More
Pak High Commission funding Hefazat-e-Islam to protest against Indian PM: BangladeshChhatra League chief
10Apr By TheGreenZoneNo Comments
Asia

Pak High Commission funding Hefazat-e-Islam to protest against Indian PM: BangladeshChhatra League chief

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) president Al Nahean Khan Joy has alleged that Pakistan HighCommission in Dhaka is “secretly funding” hardline Islamist organisation Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladeshto stage protests against India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Taking to Twitter, Joy, the president of BCL, the student wing of Bangladesh ruling Awami League,said: “Pak Flag of Pakistan HC #Dhaka’s #SecretFunding for @HIBofficial @Hefazot to protest againstIndia Flag of India & its PM @narendramodi. We, #secular & #democratic people of #Bangladeshcondemn this attempt by Pak agency #ISI. #Shame on @GovtofPakistan, protector of #Terroristsaround the globe”.Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, a massive rally was taken outon Friday in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka. ...
Read More