Posts tagged ‘Chindiapedia’

« Older Entries  |  
18/04/2012

* India to test fire long-range missile

BBC News: “India is due to test fire a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The locally-developed Agni-V missile has a range of more than 5,000km 3,100 miles and is expected to be launched in the eastern state of Orissa.

Visual description of the approximate range of...

Visual description of the approximate range of the (Indian) Agni ballistic missile series. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Analysts say the Agni meaning “fire” in Hindi and Sanskrit missile family is to be the cornerstone of Indias missile-based nuclear deterrent. The missiles are among India’s most sophisticated weapons. In 2010, India successfully test-fired Agni-II, an intermediate-range ballistic missile with a range of more than 2,000km 1,250 miles.

Defence analyst Rahul Bedi says the successful test flight of the Agni-V missile, which is capable of delivering a single 1.5-ton warhead deep inside nuclear rival China’s territory, will strengthen India’s nuclear deterrence once it comes into service by 2014-15. It is 17.5m-tall, solid-fuelled, has three stages and a launch weight of 50 tons. It has cost more than 2.5bn rupees $480m; £307m to develop.

Only China, Russia, France, the US, and Great Britain have such long-range missiles. Israel is thought to possess them.”

via BBC News – India to test fire long-range missile.

Let’s hope this doesn’t start a military space race between India and China. Both countries must surely haev better things to invest their money in than nuclear missiles!

Related articles

Posted in Chindia Alert, Defence, GeoPolitics, India alert, Military | 2 Comments »

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
18/04/2012

* Who’s Returning to India and Why?

WSJ: “A recent front page article in the New York Times documented the migration of second generation Americans back to their ancestral countries, including India, China, Brazil and Russia.

India’s faltering growth may be disappointing, but it’s still much more rapid than the continued stagnation of the U.S. economy. In certain fields, at least there are still opportunities to be seized in India by those with a taste for adventure.

Labor economists call this kind of migration the “reverse brain drain.” Ironically, the migrants are often the kids or sometimes grandkids of the original “brain drain,” skilled workers and professionals who left India and other developing countries in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s to seek opportunities in the booming U.S. economy.

In fact, a more accurate term for the highly mobile skilled workers of today, favored by labor economists, is “brain circulation.” These people are agile and will seek out opportunities wherever they exist. So if things don’t work out in India, they might return to the U.S. or try their luck somewhere else.”

via Economics Journal: Who’s Returning to India and Why? – India Real Time – WSJ.

Posted in Economics, India alert | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , ,
17/04/2012

* Irish horses to race in China as Magnier wins €38m stud deal

Independent.ie: “HUNDREDS of Irish horses are set to race regularly in China after bloodstock giant Coolmore announced a ground-breaking deal. The agreement is part of a plan that will see Ireland help set up a horse racing industry in Tianjin, China’s fourth largest city.

Horse racing in Sligo, Ireland

Horse racing in Sligo, Ireland (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Top Irish stud farm Coolmore – owned by racing tycoon John Magnier and based in Fethard, Co Tipperary – will help China set up a similar operation. The planned equine centre will be the first of its kind in the country.

It is due to open for business next year. The contract is worth more than €38.5m to Ireland over three years.

via Irish horses to race in China as Magnier wins €38m stud deal – Irish, Business – Independent.ie.

A sure sign that China is liberalising. As far as we know gambling is illegal in China. Though, behind closed doors …  

But now we are going to see real horse racing in China. Or will the races be run without any betting?!

Posted in Affluence, China alert, Consumer, Good news, Social & cultural | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
16/04/2012

* Violence breaks out at Indian beef-eating festival

BBC: “A beef-eating festival at a university in the Indian city of Hyderabad has led to clashes between rival sets of students, police say.

They say that Hindus who regard cows as sacred fought with low caste Dalit groups who organised the event. About 1,500 people were fed beef biriyani as part of the festival late on Sunday evening. Dalit groups want beef on the campus hostel menu.  Right wing Hindu groups say eating beef is not Hindu practice.

Last year’s event at Osmania University also ended in violence. The BBC’s Omer Farooq in the city says that says there has been tension for a few days now on the campus. Our correspondent says that has been the case ever since organisers announced that the festival – held over the weekend – would go ahead. Right wing Hindu groups soon afterwards declared their intention to stop it.”

via BBC News – Violence breaks out at Indian beef-eating festival.

Related articles and pages

Posted in India alert, Social & cultural | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , ,
16/04/2012

* US Alert as China’s Cash Buys Inroads in Caribbean

New York Times: “A brand new $35 million stadium opened here in the Bahamas a few weeks ago, a gift from the Chinese government. The tiny island nation of Dominica has received a grammar school, a renovated hospital and a sports stadium, also courtesy of the Chinese. Antigua and Barbuda got a power plant and a cricket stadium, and a new school is on its way. The prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago can thank Chinese contractors for the craftsmanship in her official residence.

China’s economic might has rolled up to America’s doorstep in the Caribbean, with a flurry of loans from state banks, investments by companies and outright gifts from the government in the form of new stadiums, roads, official buildings, ports and resorts in a region where the United States has long been a prime benefactor.

The Chinese have flexed their economic prowess in nearly every corner of the world. But planting a flag so close to the United States has generated intense vetting — and some raised eyebrows — among diplomats, economists and investors. “When you’ve got a new player in the hemisphere all of a sudden, it’s obviously something talked about at the highest level of governments,” said Kevin P. Gallagher, a Boston University professor who is an author of a recent report on Chinese financing, “The New Banks in Town.”

Most analysts do not see a security threat, noting that the Chinese are not building bases or forging any military ties that could invoke fears of another Cuban missile crisis. But they do see an emerging superpower securing economic inroads and political support from a bloc of developing countries with anemic budgets that once counted almost exclusively on the United States, Canada and Europe.

China announced late last year that it would lend $6.3 billion to Caribbean governments, adding considerably to the hundreds of millions of dollars in loans, grants and other forms of economic assistance it has already channeled there in the past decade. Unlike in Africa, South America and other parts of the world where China’s forays are largely driven by a search for commodities, its presence in the Caribbean derives mainly from long-term economic ventures, like tourism and loans, and potential new allies that are inexpensive to win over, analysts say.

American diplomatic cables released through WikiLeaks and published in the British newspaper The Guardian quoted diplomats as being increasingly worried about the Chinese presence here “less than 190 miles from the United States” and speculating on its purpose. One theory, according to a 2003 cable, suggested that China was lining up allies as “a strategic move” for the eventual end of the Castro era in Cuba, with which it has strong relations.

via U.S. Alert as China’s Cash Buys Inroads in Caribbean – NYTimes.com.

While the US is trying to encroach on China’s backyard with military alliances with Australia and other South Pacific nations, China is encroaching the US backyard too, but with stadiums, roads and other civilian projects.

Related articles and posts

Posted in China alert, Economics, GeoPolitics, Infrastructure | 1 Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
15/04/2012

* US says China making progress on currency, urges more

Reuters: “A senior White House aide said on Saturday that China had made some progress toward easing restrictions on its currency but stressed the United States wanted to see more actions taken.

At a briefing with reporters in Colombia, where President Barack Obama is attending a summit with Latin American leaders, White House adviser Ben Rhodes said the Obama administration was closely reviewing Beijing’s announcement that it was doubling the size of its yuan’s trading band against the dollar. “It comes in the continuum of us wanting to see the Chinese take more of these steps to see their currency appreciate to come in line with market value,” Rhodes said. “They’ve made some progress. We’d like to see more movement.”

“The Peoples Bank of China said on Saturday it would allow the yuan to rise or fall 1 percent from a mid-point every day, effective Monday, compared to its previous 0.5 percent limit. Currency experts said the move reflected a belief in Beijing that the currency is near its equilibrium level and that China’s economy, although cooling, is sturdy enough to handle long-promised structural reforms.

China’s currency is a sensitive topic in the United States, where many business leaders believe an undervalued yuan gives Chinese exports an unfair price advantage on global markets.”

via U.S. says China making progress on currency, urges more | Reuters.

Posted in Banking, China alert, Ecology, GeoPolitics | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , ,
14/04/2012

* Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khans detention: US apologises, India talks tough

Cover of

Cover of My Name Is Khan

Times of India: “The US customs and border protection authorities have expressed “profound” apologies for the Shah Rukh Khan detention incident. However, taking the incident seriously, external affairs minister SM Krishna has asked the Indian ambassador to US, Nirupama Rao, to take up the matter with the authorities. Reacting strongly to the detention, Krishna said it has become a policy of detention and apology by the US which cannot continue.

Earlier, Shah Rukh Khan was detained at a New York airport for over two hours by immigration officials after arriving from India in a private plane with Nita Ambani, to address students at Yale University here. While Nita, wife of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, and the rest of their group were cleared immediately, Khan was stopped and was given immigration clearance only after about two hours, sources told PTI. 46-year-old Khan was to address a press conference at 2pm and deliver his lecture at 4pm at the Yale University. However, he arrived for the press meet three hours behind schedule and his hour-long lecture started at about 6pm.

“Whenever I start feeling too arrogant about myself, I always take a trip to America. The immigration guys kicked the star out of stardom,” Khan said with some sarcasm addressing the students at the University. He added that he always has his “small victories” even in such circumstances. “The immigration officials always ask me how tall I am and I always lie and say 5 feet 10 inches. Next time I am going to get more adventurous. If they ask me What colour are you, I am going to say white,” Khan said.”

via Shah Rukh Khans detention: US apologises, India talks tough – The Times of India.

Life imitates art. Shah Rukh Khan starred in a film called “My name is Khan” – which was subtitled and I’m not a terrorist – is mainly about him being stopped at US airports after the 911 Twin Towers terrorist action.

 Related pages: http://watchnewmoviesonline.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/my-name-is-khan-2010-watch-movie-online.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Name_Is_Khan – “Upon its release, the film broke many box office records.[9] My Name is Khan was the highest-grossing Bollywood film overseas at the time. Within four weeks, the film crossed the INR70 crore (US$13.97 million) mark in India and became the first film of 2010 to do so. In the overseas markets, the film grossed INR110.34 crore (US$22.01 million).[10] My Name is Khan is currently the sixth highest grossing Bollywood film with a worldwide gross of 200 crores.[11] The film was released in India on DVD on 28 April 2010. Blu-ray in India, plus a DVD release worldwide followed on 10 August 2010.[12]“

Posted in China alert, GeoPolitics, India alert | Leave a Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
14/04/2012

* Police reinvestigate death of Neil Heywood according to law

Xinhua: “Chinese police have set up a team to reinvestigate the case that British citizen Neil Heywood was found dead in Chongqing on Nov. 15, 2011, which was alleged by Wang Lijun who entered, without authorization, the U.S. general consulate in Chengdu on Feb. 6 and stayed there, Xinhua learned from authorities.

Police authorities paid high attention to the case, and set up the team to reinvestigate the case according to law with an attitude to seek truth from facts. According to investigation results, Bogu Kailai, wife of Comrade Bo Xilai, and their son were in good terms with Heywood. However, they had conflict over economic interests, which had been intensified. According to reinvestigation results, the existing evidence indicated that Heywood died of homicide, of which Bogu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun, an orderly at Bo’s home, are highly suspected. Bogu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun have been transferred to judicial authorities on suspected crime of intentional homicide.”

via Police reinvestigate death of Neil Heywood according to law – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

Note that Xinhua prefixed Bo to Mme Gu’s surname, which is not usual in mainland China, but common in Hong Kong and elsewhere where the wife has a business profile of her own, but wants to be associated with her husband. One wonders if this is the authorities subtle way of linking Mme Gu to Bo, who is in political disgrace.

Related post: https://chindia-alert.org/2012/04/05/deciphering-chinese-names/

Posted in China alert, Politics, Rule of law | 1 Comment »

Tags: , , , , , , ,
14/04/2012

* China ejects Bo from elite ranks, wife suspected of murder

Reuters: “China’s Communist Party has banished the country’s brashest and most controversial politician from its top ranks and detained his wife in connection with the murder of a British businessman, the most tumultuous upheaval in the nation’s leadership in decades.

The decision to cast out Bo Xilai from the party’s Central Committee and its Politburo effectively ends the career of the former high-flyer, widely seen as pressing for a top post in China’s next leadership to be decided later this year.

The official Xinhua news agency confirmed a Reuters report several hours earlier on Tuesday that Bo had been suspended from his party posts, and separately reported that his wife, Gu Kailai, was suspected in the murder of Briton Neil Heywood.

“Comrade Bo Xilai is suspected of being involved in serious disciplinary violations,” said Xinhua, citing a decision by the central party leadership to banish Bo from its top ranks.

“Police set up a team to reinvestigate the case of the British national Neil Heywood who was found dead in Chongqing,” the news agency said, referring to the sprawling southwestern municipality where Bo was party chief until he was dismissed in March as a scandal surrounding him unfolded.

It was the most dramatic convulsion in China’s secretive leadership since 1989, when Jiang Zemin was plucked from obscurity to head the Communist Party after the bloody crackdown on democracy protests in Beijing.

Jiang replaced Zhao Ziyang, who was toppled by hardliners for supporting the student movement centered on Tiananmen Square that was crushed by the army with heavy loss of life.

Xinhua said evidence indicated Heywood’s death was a homicide and Gu Kailai and Zhang Xiaojun, an assistant in Bo’s household, were “highly suspected.” It cited a dispute over unspecified “economic interests” between Gu and Heywood that “constantly intensified”.

Gu and Zhang had been “handed over to the judicial authorities”, it said – meaning they have been detained.”

via China ejects Bo from elite ranks, wife suspected of murder | Reuters.

Posted in China alert, Politics | 4 Comments »

Tags: , , , , , ,
06/04/2012

* China’s import tariffs cut praised by WTO

China Daily: “China’s decision to cut import tariffs, against the backdrop of lurking protectionism in “too many” countries, has been hailed by the World Trade Organization.”

At a time when too many governments are reverting to trade restrictive measures, news of China’s market-opening initiative is most welcome,” WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell said in an interview with China Daily in Brussels. Rockwell was speaking after China announced a package of measures cutting import tariffs last week. The measures will see duty reduced on “some energy products, raw materials, consumer goods closely related to peoples lives, and key items that China does not produce”. And Beijing will encourage more purchases from countries and regions that have signed free trade agreements with China. Boosting imports will entail a more open market for a range of goods, Rockwell said.  The Ministry of Commerce will announce details of the measures soon.”

via Chinas import tariffs cut praised|Economy|chinadaily.com.cn.

Related page: 

Posted in China alert, Economics | 1 Comment »

Tags: , , , , ,
« Older Entries  |  
CCChang

Law of Unintended Consequences

continuously updated blog about China & India

ChiaHou's Book Reviews

continuously updated blog about China & India

What's wrong with the world; and its economy

continuously updated blog about China & India