Tag: coronavirus

China fails to tackle flooding problem, billions of dollars at stake
1Oct By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

China fails to tackle flooding problem, billions of dollars at stake

Over the last several years, China has built many reservoirs, levees, dikes and dams on its seven major river systems, however, it is still struggling with a spike in crippling floods, which has destroyed huge agricultural and industrial land, and millions of homes.Flooding in cities is a worrying trend and it is a clear sign of rising populations and failure to execute urbanisation policies.In August, flooding in the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric dam, on the Yangtze River peaked and officials feared it could overflow. Authorities elsewhere have blown up barriers that were creating more damage than help.According to China Water Risk, a research firm based in Hong Kong, over 40 per cent of China’s population lives in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and accounts for nea...
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Thailand delays US$724m China submarine deal after public anger
25Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, China

Thailand delays US$724m China submarine deal after public anger

Facing heat from the public, Thailand has delayed its controversial US$724 million purchase of two submarines from China as the kingdom's economy flatlines due to the coronavirus pandemic.Under a 2015 deal, Thailand was one of the first countries to buy Chinese naval hardware and finalised its purchase of three submarines in 2017, with the first one expected to be delivered in 2023.An order for two more for 22.5 billion baht (US$724 million) was approved in August by a parliamentary sub-committee - a move which drew public outrage as Thailand struggles with a freefalling economy.Angry citizens took to social media to criticise the deal, and the hashtag "People don't want submarines" trended on Twitter.Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri later announced that Prime Minister Prayut Chan...
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Srinagar bizman develops hands-free sanitizer dispensing stand
17Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia, Market

Srinagar bizman develops hands-free sanitizer dispensing stand

To tackle the spread of coronavirus, a young Kashmiri businessman has come up with the concept of a sanitiser stand which dispenses the liquid with the use of one's foot and the equipment also carries corporate advertisements.The Srinagar-based businessman, Harris Ahmad, developed this sanitiser stand after his previous business was hit by the impact of COVID-19. The fear of COVID-19 infection is minimised as one does not touch the bottle with one's hands."At the time of COVID-19 pandemic, there was heavy demand for anti-COVID-19 essential products. The entire country was under lockdown. Our corporate advertisement business was affected as markets were closed," said Ahmad.Ahmed said that as demand for sanitisers increased, he and his team decided to add value to their products. The sanitis...
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The rise of new India as PM Modi fulfils his promises
9Sep mmBy Brian ThompsonNo Comments
Market

The rise of new India as PM Modi fulfils his promises

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on the country’s 74th Independence Day came with the credibility of six previous speeches in which all promises made by him have been kept. For example, in 2014, PM Modi promised a bank account for every Indian. Then, from 58% Indians in 2014, almost 400 million new accounts have opened now.A billion plus scale financial inclusion has since been used along with Aadhaar (biometric countrywide data base) to affect the largest and most successful Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) policy in the world.Now, during the recent coronavirus induced lockdown, while many developed countries struggled to give out some cash in the hands of the poor, India did it instantly within days of the lockdown utilizing the DBT regime.In the 2015 speech, Modi made the prom...
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Nepal relies on India for life-saving Remdesivir drug
6Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Nepal relies on India for life-saving Remdesivir drug

In order to fight the coronavirus pandemic, Nepal has been relying on India for the supply of life-saving Remdesivir drug, which is being used for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Though the drug does not cure the virus, it has played a crucial role in treating patients at the critical medical stage.In Kathmandu, Sapana's (name changed) father is admitted to a private hospital and undergoing treatment at intensive care unit (ICU), as he was confirmed to have contracted the virus. She asked her chemist, who had contacts in India, to order Remdesivir as it was not available in Nepal."As my chemist had contacts in India, he was able to bring it to Nepal. Now, my father is doing well and is out of danger. If the medicine was not available in India, his condition would have become worrisome,...
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India-Nepal review implementation of projects in Oversight Mechanism meeting
5Sep By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

India-Nepal review implementation of projects in Oversight Mechanism meeting

In the eighth round of Oversight Mechanism meeting, India and Nepal discussed and reviewed the implementation of India-assisted projects in the last one year.A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal said: "The Eighth Meeting of Nepal-India Oversight Mechanism was held in Kathmandu through Video Conferencing under the co-chairmanship of Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra. The meeting made a thorough review of the implementation of the projects under bilateral cooperation.”During the meeting, the release said, discussions were held on the status of implementation of the ongoing projects under Nepal-India bilateral cooperation covering terai roads, crossborder railways, Arun-III hydropower project, petroleum products pipeline...
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Government revives floriculture center in Srinagar destroyed in 2014 floods
31Aug By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Government revives floriculture center in Srinagar destroyed in 2014 floods

A floriculture center in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar that got damaged due to floods which had hit the region in 2014 has been revived with the help of substantial steps taken by the Indian government.“Nursery is the backbone for the landscaping work because all the initial plant material is prepared here. Because of the floods, several kinds of bulbs, ornamental bushes etc were destroyed. After the floods, the government took substantial steps to build this nursery again. We are also improving the quality of the soil by doing the maneuvering process,” Imran Ahmad, Assistant Floriculture Officer Gardens and Parks said.“Before 2014 floods, people use to visit the center to buy flowers and saplings. The earth filling is now been done. The carnations would be planted too,” Farooq Ahmad, an Em...
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Nepal still banks on Indians to revive its tourism sector
31Aug By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Nepal still banks on Indians to revive its tourism sector

According to Nepal Tourism Board officials, despite the COVID-19 induced economic slowdown, Nepal is expecting to host about 2 lakh foreign tourists in the ongoing fiscal year 2020-21, that is set to end in mid-July 2021, of which majority will be Indians.This statement comes even after ties between India and Nepal have strained over the Himalayan nation's controversial map incorporating the Indian territories of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, tourists from India continue to be the mainstay for Nepal's tourism industry."We still have 10 months of this fiscal year and flights may not resume before September. We have estimated that over 200,000 tourists will visit Nepal during this period. We have also finalized our policy and programmes that mentions the target," Deepak Mahat, a membe...
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India announces $500 million connectivity project, cargo service to boost trade ties with Maldives
31Aug By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

India announces $500 million connectivity project, cargo service to boost trade ties with Maldives

India has said that it will fund the implementation of the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP) to revitalize the Maldivian economy through a $400 million Line of Credit (LOC) and $100 million grant linking its capital Male with Gulhifalhu Port and Thilafushi industrial zone.A new cargo ferry service will also be launched between the two countries, which will help India replace other countries to become the Maldives’ top trade partner. The measures were announced during a virtual meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and his Maldives counterpart Abdulla Shahid.“Happy to announce the start of regular cargo ferry service between India & Maldives to boost trade and commerce. We are also starting an air travel bubble with Maldives to sustain and promote the dynamic peo...
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Kashmiri student develops Covid -19 tracker to help residents of Valley
28Aug By Joe RodriguezNo Comments
Asia

Kashmiri student develops Covid -19 tracker to help residents of Valley

In an effort to spread accurate information about coronavirus and how to contain it, a Kashmiri student has developed a web page (COVID-19 Kashmir Tracker) that provides information about COVID-19 cases in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).Haider Ali Punjabi, a Srinagar resident, developed the page (covidkashmir.org) with the help of his friends on the lines of covidindia.org and other informative websites on coronavirus."Barely minutes after the idea came up, we started working on the project. We decided to make a full-fledged website that will provide adequate information to the people. District-wise break up of COVID-19 cases, map, and the daily updates on coronavirus cases are the main features of the tracker," Ali said.Ali said he relies mostly on the information provided by the official so...
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