February | 2014 | CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

10/02/2014

THE WORLD’S TOP 10 MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES IN CHINA

From: http://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/2014/industry/china

THERE’S A STUBBORN MEME THAT CLAIMS CHINA HAS NO CULTURE OF INNOVATION. IN ACTUALITY, IT’S SHAPING GLOBAL BUSINESS TRENDS, MOST NOTABLY IN SOCIAL MEDIA. MAMMOTH NETWORKS SUCH AS TENCENT‘S WECHAT, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE NOT SIMPLY FACEBOOK COPYCATS–THEY’VE SPARKED THE MESSAGING WARS OCCURRING ON AMERICAN SOIL AMONG APPS LIKE SNAPCHAT AND KIK, AND CONTRIBUTE BILLIONS TO THE WORLD’S RICHEST COUNTRY.

BY FAST COMPANY STAFF

1. XIAOMI

For launching low-cost, high-quality smart TVs and -phones to steal market share from industry stalwarts.

2. BEIJING GENOMICS INSTITUTE

For making DNA sequencing mass-market.

3. CHINA’S LUXURY BRANDS

For greeting its booming middle and upper classes with distinctly native offerings.

4. HAIER

For letting its 80,000 employees self-organize and oust ineffective leaders—a bold approach to innovating the fridge and microwave business.

5. TENCENT

For pummeling the Chinese social-networking competition and sending chills through Silicon Valley with a 10-terabyte storage offer.

6. GEAK

For making wearable tech closer to vogue with a ring that syncs to phones and shares contacts via fist bump.

7. PHANTOM

For clearing the air in Beijing homes with the app-controlled EcoTower. .

8. BAIDU

For moving from search to smart cameras, giving users their own Internet-enabled monitoring devices.

9. YY

For letting anyone become a star in the world’s most-crowded country.

10. COOTEK

For tapping into user demand for faster typing.

Posted in China alert, Economics, innovation, Technology | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Beijing, China, GLOBAL BUSINESS TRENDS, HAIER, Silicon Valley, Social media, TENCENT, Tencent Holdings, WeChat, Xiaomi Tech

10/02/2014

China leads int’l wildlife crime bust – China – Chinadaily.com.cn

Tonnes of illegal animal products have been seized and over 400 suspects arrested in an China-led sting against international wildlife crime, authorities said on Monday.

China leads int'l wildlife crime bust

The operation cleaned up over 350 cases, capturing more than 3 tonnes of ivory and its products, over 1,000 hides, 36 rhino horns and a large number of other wildlife products, said the China Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office.

The operation, codenamed Cobra II, was co-organized by China, the United States, South Africa, the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, and the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network.

The global crackdown was supported by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the World Customs Organization, and Interpol. A total of 28 countries participated between December 30, 2013 and January 26, 2014.

China’s authorities, including forestry, customs, police, judiciary and quarantine departments, put more than 100,000 staff on the operation, and uncovered over 200 cases involving more than 250 suspects.

China sent enforcement staff to Kenya for the first time, to arrest an ivory trafficking suspect and host lectures on wildlife protection.

via China leads int’l wildlife crime bust – China – Chinadaily.com.cn.

Posted in China alert, Economics, Good news, wild life | Leave a Comment »

Tags: ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network, China, CITES, Cobra II, Import and Export, international wildlife crime, Kenya, Lusaka Agreement Task Force, United States, wildlife crime, wildlife products, World Customs Organization

10/02/2014

Chinese Startup Oppo Ropes In Bollywood Stars for India Launch – India Real Time – WSJ

As competition intensifies in the global smartphone market, major players including Samsung Electronics and Apple have been spending heavily to market their latest devices through ads and celebrity endorsements. Now, even some startups in China are getting in on the action.

After enlisting famous Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio to star in television commercials to promote its smartphones in China, Oppo is trying to expand in India by using a similar tactic. It is featuring Bollywood actors Hrithik Roshan and Sonam Kapoor in its latest TV commercial as it tries to expand in the fast-growing country.

Oppo started as a manufacturer of MP3 players, Blu-Ray players and feature phones in Dongguan, southern China in 2005. It released its first smartphone in 2011, selling mainly in China, but it is now trying to expand in emerging markets such as India, Indonesia and Vietnam that have a young population and rising purchasing power.

via Chinese Startup Oppo Ropes In Bollywood Stars for India Launch – India Real Time – WSJ.

Posted in China alert, Chindia Alert, Economics, India alert, Technology | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Bollywood, China, Dongguan, Hrithik Roshan, India, latest devices, Leonardo DiCaprio, Oppo, Samsung Electronics, Sonam Kapoor

10/02/2014

UAE-led group expects to sign $2 bln India power deal soon -sources | Reuters

TAQA, majority-owned by the Abu Dhabi government, is buying two hydropower plants owned by Jaiprakash Power Ventures in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

The plants have a total capacity of 1,300 megawatts. TAQA plans to take a majority stake in the plants while India’s IDFC Alternatives and PSP Investments, a Canadian pension fund manager, will hold minority stakes, the sources said.

“They are working to finalise it before the end of this quarter, reinforcing TAQA’s confidence in the Indian market to complement its existing power generation business there,” an Abu Dhabi source familiar with the matter said.

“The deal value is estimated to be slightly over $2 billion. The consortium is likely to take over the debts of the seller,” a second source said.

via UAE-led group expects to sign $2 bln India power deal soon -sources | Reuters.

Posted in Economics, Electricity, India alert | Leave a Comment »

Tags: environment, hydropower plants, IDFC Alternatives, India, Jaiprakash Power Ventures, northern Indian state, PSP Investments, TAQA

10/02/2014

China considers new powers for pollution watchdog as part of government shakeup | Reuters

China could grant its undersized environment ministry new powers over resources, possibly allowing it to veto future projects, and more muscle to punish polluters as part of a government shake-up to tackle decades of unchecked growth.

Sources with ties to the leadership told Reuters that the government was considering a sweeping reorganization of cabinet ministries next month that will dissolve the Ministry of Land and Resources and transfer some powers to the Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), long regarded as too weak to punish law-breaking polluters.

Amendments to China’s 1989 environmental law, likely to be rubber-stamped at the annual session of the country’s legislature next month, are expected to also give the environment ministry the powers to impose unlimited penalties on firms that fail to rectify problems and allow regulators to suspend or shut down persistent offenders.

A nationwide monitoring system will be established to force industries to disclose exactly how much pollution they cause, and it will become a criminal offence to misuse or switch off pollution control technology and misreport emission levels.

via China considers new powers for pollution watchdog as part of government shakeup | Reuters.

Posted in China alert, Economics, Environment, Pollution | Leave a Comment »

Tags: China, environment ministry, Environmental law, Government, List of environmental ministries, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Land and Resources of the People's Republic of China, pollution, powers, the Ministry of Land and Resources

10/02/2014

East China Sea: What Do China and Japan Really Want?

Very worrying. China and Japan seem to be sleep-walking into military conflict, with the US not awake at all!

Posted in China alert, GeoPolitics, History, Military, Neighbour conflict, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Asia, China, East China Sea, Japan, Philippines, South China Sea, United States, War

09/02/2014

Five jawans injured in landmine blast by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh – The Times of India

Five security personnel were on Sunday critically injured in a landmine blast triggered by Naxalites in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The incident took place this morning in the forest near Bodhrajpadar village under Bhejji police station limits, Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Chandrakar said.

A joint squad of Central Reserve Police Force, its specialized unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) and district police was engaged in an anti-Naxalite operation in the region, which is around 500 km away from the state capital Raipur, for the past few days.

Maoists triggered a landmine blast and opened fire on the security personnel, Chandrakar said.

Five jawans were critically injured, he added. Maoists retreated as the security personnel retaliated and began to encircle them. Two helicopters have been sent to retrieve the injured jawans.

via Five jawans injured in landmine blast by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh – The Times of India.

Posted in Dissident, India alert, Insurgency, Politics, terrorism | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Central Reserve Police Force, Chhattisgarh, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action, Jawan, Land mine, landmine blast, Maoism, Naxalite, Naxalites, Police station, sukma

09/02/2014

India may produce record 263.2 MT foodgrains this year: Pawar – The Hindu

Foodgrain production is likely to touch a record 263.2 million tonnes (mt) this year, beating the previous high of 259 mt achieved two years ago, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said on Sunday.

Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. File photo

“The country is likely to achieve record 263.2 mt foodgrain production this year. This would be about 4 mt higher than the record of 259 million tonnes achieved two years ago,” Mr. Pawar said at an agricultural exposition here.

The foodgrain production fell marginally to 255.36 mt in the last crop year (July-June) due to drought in some parts of the country.

A good monsoon along with improved sowing of both kharif (summer) and rabi (winter) crops have improved prospects of a better foodgrain production this year.

India has now emerged as the world’s top rice exporter and second-top exporter of wheat and cotton. The country is also the top producer of milk and horticultural crops, Mr. Pawar said highlighting progress made in the farm sector.

via India may produce record 263.2 MT foodgrains this year: Pawar – The Hindu.

Posted in agriculture, Economics, food security, Good news, India alert | Leave a Comment »

Tags: agriculture, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Foodgrain production, Harvest, India, Pawar, Record producer, Sharad Pawar, Tonne

09/02/2014

* Maoists changing policies, feels villagers – The Hindu

Oyami Podiyami, the Special Police Officer (SPO) turned constable, has a new problem, since his release earlier this week by the Maoists. After spending two months in Maoist custody, while being handed over to his friends – the villagers of Pinnabheji in Sukma district – Mr Podiyami was told to stay in his village. “In case I step out, the entire village will follow me,” said Mr Podiyami. In fact if the 36 year old constable runs away or ever again join the police, the villagers will be questioned by the rebels, which everyone wants to avoid. Hence, half of the village of about 500 Muria Gond tribals, follow Mr Podiyami wherever he goes, even to his soirees.

Oyami Podiyami in his village, among villagers. Photo: Suvojit Bagchi

Oyami Podiyami and his former colleague, Barse Ganga, were kidnapped in November. They were made to walk several hundred kilometers through forests, as is the routine in any Maoist squad, till they were released. The release has surprised Mr Podiyami.

…

Mr Podiyami, who was later promoted as a constable, soon after Supreme Court disbanded SPOs in 2011, joined the Surya Group about six years back. He accepts that he was one of the top fighters and /perhaps/ killed many. “I did several encounters in Golapalli and Kistaram area in extreme south and fired upon Maoists…however, I am not sure if I hit anyone,” said Mr Podiyami. While in custody, Mr Podiyami explained his role as a policeman to the Maoists and confessed that he did “vandalize villages but never raped any woman.” Reaction of the rebels, however, surprised him.

“They interrogated me for several days and then came the shocker. They said, ‘…we changed our policy of killing villagers. We will release you, but after certain conditions are fulfilled’,” said Mr Podiyami. The conditions were explained to the villagers, when nearly 100 local residents met the Maoists, said Podiyami’s brother in law, Poddi, “We were asked to ensure that he never steps out of his village and if he does, then the entire hamlet should follow him…we did,” said Mr Poddi. He hopes rules will be relaxed after few years. “They were also told never to join the police, which also we guaranteed,” he said.

…

“The party has realized that killing, especially locals, is not helping anymore. We said that killing of constables or informers will not help (Maoists) as people are getting alienated,” said the Sarpanch, who is particularly close to the rebels in his area. He has witnessed such policy changes “several times” in last four decades, he claimed.

“May be it is a good time to initiate a talk (by the government) with the rebels, as they are changing their policies,” said the Sarpanch, while preparing his favourite brown rooster for another round of bloody fight in the weekly market.

via Maoists changing policies, feels villagers – The Hindu.

Posted in Dissident, Politics, terrorism | Leave a Comment »

Tags: Hindu, Maoism, Maoist, maoists, Police officer, Sarpanch, sukma, Supreme Court, the villagers, Village

09/02/2014

The party and the media: Learning to spin | The Economist

T WAS not a typical government press conference. A journalist had asked a mayor some pointed questions about the safety of a paraxylene chemical factory planned for her city—the same type of plant that has prompted environmental protests around China. The mayor dodged the question in standard government-speak when the reporter, a portly man in a checked shirt and blue jeans, rudely interrupted her: “Please answer my question directly.” The room erupted with laughter.

This was, it turns out, a class at the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP) in Shanghai—one of five national schools for training Communist Party members. The “mayor” and the “journalist” were both low-level officials from Zhengzhou, an inland city, simulating a real-life situation in a class teaching functionaries how to cope with today’s media.

The party still exerts firm control when it comes to anything sensitive. But outside politics the media landscape has changed completely. Consumer programmes, investigative reporters and a noisy mix of microbloggers and middle-class NIMBYs are holding the party more to account. The classes at CELAP demonstrate that the leadership has understood what is at stake, even if it is still learning how to deal with it. Some of the party’s biggest recent problems have come from mishandling the newly probing media.

The message of the classes is clear: officials must be more responsive to the press and the public even as they toe the party line. Environmental protests, angry villagers talking to global media and spokesmen stumbling in news conferences have become teaching opportunities.

via The party and the media: Learning to spin | The Economist.

Posted in China alert, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: CELAP, China, China Executive Leadership Academy in Pudong, China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong, pointed questions, politics, Shanghai, typical government press conference, Zhengzhou

CHINDIA ALERT: You'll be living in their world, very soon

Chindia Alert: You’ll be Living in their World Very Soon

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Archive for February, 2014

China leads int’l wildlife crime bust – China – Chinadaily.com.cn

Chinese Startup Oppo Ropes In Bollywood Stars for India Launch – India Real Time – WSJ

UAE-led group expects to sign $2 bln India power deal soon -sources | Reuters

East China Sea: What Do China and Japan Really Want?

Five jawans injured in landmine blast by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh – The Times of India

India may produce record 263.2 MT foodgrains this year: Pawar – The Hindu

* Maoists changing policies, feels villagers – The Hindu

The party and the media: Learning to spin | The Economist

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