CHINAsia Update 14 is out and can be downloaded here:
http://sites.google.com/site/chinasiaupdate/magazine/issue-14
Our focus for this issue is Global Terrorism
Some key articles are:
- Communist Party of Nepal Maoists
- India Reviews Security Apparatus to Fight Naxal Rebels
- Nuclear Security Summit
- How dire is the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism?
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Images From Around Asia April
A martial arts performance held in Kaifeng, CentralChina’s Henan province, April 3, 2010. [Photo/CFP]
Little India is an ethnic neighborhood found in
Singapore that has Indian cultural elements. Little
India lies to east of the Singapore River—across f
rom Chinatown, located west of the river—
and north of Kampong Glam. The Little India area
is reported to have developed around a former
settlement for Indian convicts. Its location along
the Serangoon River originally made it attractive
for raising cattle, and trade in livestock was
once prominent in the area. Eventually, other
economic activity developed, and by the turn
of the 20th century, the area began to look like an Indian ethnic
neighbourhood. Photo by FlickR User williamcho
Singapore that has Indian cultural elements. Little
India lies to east of the Singapore River—across f
rom Chinatown, located west of the river—
and north of Kampong Glam. The Little India area
is reported to have developed around a former
settlement for Indian convicts. Its location along
the Serangoon River originally made it attractive
for raising cattle, and trade in livestock was
once prominent in the area. Eventually, other
economic activity developed, and by the turn
of the 20th century, the area began to look like an Indian ethnic
neighbourhood. Photo by FlickR User williamcho
SHANGHAI, April 30, 2010 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on
April 30, 2010 shows the fireworks show of the
opening ceremony for the 2010 World Expo
held in Shanghai, east China.
April 30, 2010 shows the fireworks show of the
opening ceremony for the 2010 World Expo
held in Shanghai, east China.
ANQING, April 11, 2010 (Xinhua) -- The pupils enjoy
their happy leisure time during the classes interval,
at the Sinopec Elementary School of Project Hope,
sponsored by the China Petrochemical Corp.,
inside the landlocked mountainous Shuikou Village,
Toutuo Town, Anqing City, east China’s Anhui
Province, April 8, 2010. There are 4 teachers in the
school teaching some 44 pupils at 7 grades in this school.
Project Hope is a Chinese program aiming at financing
education for poverty-stricken students. (Xinhua/Yang Xiaoyuan)
Photo Editor: Ingmar Zahorsky
their happy leisure time during the classes interval,
at the Sinopec Elementary School of Project Hope,
sponsored by the China Petrochemical Corp.,
inside the landlocked mountainous Shuikou Village,
Toutuo Town, Anqing City, east China’s Anhui
Province, April 8, 2010. There are 4 teachers in the
school teaching some 44 pupils at 7 grades in this school.
Project Hope is a Chinese program aiming at financing
education for poverty-stricken students. (Xinhua/Yang Xiaoyuan)
Photo Editor: Ingmar Zahorsky
First day of indefinite strike in Nepal peaceful
KATHMANDU, May 2 (Xinhua) -- People’s life all over Nepal was affected by indefinite general strike and shutdown on Sunday.
The strike was called by UCPN (Maoist) as part of its agitation demanding the step down of the incumbent government.
General lives of people were affected by the strike. Local shops, private offices, industries, factories, education institutions, transportation all came to a halt due to the strike.
Few cars, ambulances, hospital buses, journalist’s motorcycles could be seen on the road.
The party workers were staging demonstrations at major thoroughfares, chanting slogans calling for the government to step down.
The Home Ministry on Saturday had issued directives to all the concerned people and professionals to carry out their general lives as it were as the security was beefed up.
However, few shops and markets are open.
The Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) postponed all examinations of Grade 12 ( High School ) for an indefinite period on Sunday due to the Maoist’s strike.
Security personnel were deployed at the various places in the capital city and around the country as well.
The indefinite strike Sunday ended peacefully without any re- ports of violence. The Maoist cadres were singing songs and merry making by gathering in the streets.
Ram Bahadur Chettri, 53, a farmer from Sindhupalchowk, was a little furious, saying he is ready to sacrifice his life for the country.
“We are fighting for constitution, we want our constitution and we want this government to be down at any cost,” he exclaimed.
Kanchi Maya Tamang, a tenth grader, told Xinhua that she came all the way from Sindhupalchowk, some 40 kilometers away from the capital, to participate in the strike and demonstration.
Kumar Lama, an icecream seller, was very happy that his business was up compared to other day. Talking to Xinhua he told that his business rose as many people on the streets are eating his ice-creams.
Apart from blocking roads the Maoist cadres were singing and dancing singing anti-governmental songs and merry making.
The roads in the Kathmandu valley were crowded with people dancing and singing in all the joyful ways.
The announcement of the general strike was made on Saturday following a mammoth rally in Kathmandu valley on the occasion of the 121st International Labor Day.
The strike was pretty much peaceful and there were no reports of violence. Enditem
The strike was called by UCPN (Maoist) as part of its agitation demanding the step down of the incumbent government.
General lives of people were affected by the strike. Local shops, private offices, industries, factories, education institutions, transportation all came to a halt due to the strike.
Few cars, ambulances, hospital buses, journalist’s motorcycles could be seen on the road.
The party workers were staging demonstrations at major thoroughfares, chanting slogans calling for the government to step down.
The Home Ministry on Saturday had issued directives to all the concerned people and professionals to carry out their general lives as it were as the security was beefed up.
However, few shops and markets are open.
The Higher Secondary Education Board (HSEB) postponed all examinations of Grade 12 ( High School ) for an indefinite period on Sunday due to the Maoist’s strike.
Security personnel were deployed at the various places in the capital city and around the country as well.
The indefinite strike Sunday ended peacefully without any re- ports of violence. The Maoist cadres were singing songs and merry making by gathering in the streets.
Ram Bahadur Chettri, 53, a farmer from Sindhupalchowk, was a little furious, saying he is ready to sacrifice his life for the country.
“We are fighting for constitution, we want our constitution and we want this government to be down at any cost,” he exclaimed.
Kanchi Maya Tamang, a tenth grader, told Xinhua that she came all the way from Sindhupalchowk, some 40 kilometers away from the capital, to participate in the strike and demonstration.
Kumar Lama, an icecream seller, was very happy that his business was up compared to other day. Talking to Xinhua he told that his business rose as many people on the streets are eating his ice-creams.
Apart from blocking roads the Maoist cadres were singing and dancing singing anti-governmental songs and merry making.
The roads in the Kathmandu valley were crowded with people dancing and singing in all the joyful ways.
The announcement of the general strike was made on Saturday following a mammoth rally in Kathmandu valley on the occasion of the 121st International Labor Day.
The strike was pretty much peaceful and there were no reports of violence. Enditem
Chinese Ambassador Qiu guohong Attends the Inaugura- tion Ceremony of Nepal-China Friendship Center
On March 24, 2010, Mr. Qiu Guohong, Ambassador of
the People’s Republic of China to Nepal attended the In-
auguration Ceremony of Nepal-China Friendship Center.
Together with Mr. Bajracharya, the Chairman of the
Nepal-China Friendship Center and all the members, as
well as the distiguished guests from Nepal, the Ambas-
sador expressed his congratulations and hope for the
newly-established center as an NGO to promote people-
to-people exchange and cooperation between China and
Nepal.
Reacting to Climate Change: Vision, Action Plans & Media Involvement
BEIJING, April 8 (China Daily )The 2010 ANN Annual Meeting and Asia Forum co-organized by China Daily and the Asia News Network was held at the Kempinski Hotel, Beijing on April 8th.
The forum covered progress on battle against climate change in Asia. It was joined by top Chinese environment officials and their international counterparts, business leaders and chief editors of 21 leading newspapers in 19 Asian countries.
Climate change is the biggest threat to the world today. Asia, as the fastest developing and the most populated region, will need to respond appropriately to this greatest challenge.
After the Copenhagen meeting, the role of Asia will be one of the most important in deciding how the world will develop. How will Asian governments act in building a sustainable and energy efficient society? What will Asian companies do in meeting the challenges and develop a sustainable model? What roles should the media play in building a more environmental friendly world?
The conference was not only a gathering of government officials, business people, academics and media to share their works and ideas with 120 participating audience, but will serve as the start of a series of efforts to promote united actions against climate change which Asia has a crucial role to play. Asia News Network, an alliance of 21 newspapers in 18 Asian countries, hopes to be pivotal in this endeavor.
The conference is designed to share knowledge of climate change trends among Asian countries and the future of green Asia, look at the policies and action plans, and efforts from the various organizations.
Edited by: Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update Reacting to Climate Change: vision, Action Plans & Media Involvement
The forum covered progress on battle against climate change in Asia. It was joined by top Chinese environment officials and their international counterparts, business leaders and chief editors of 21 leading newspapers in 19 Asian countries.
Climate change is the biggest threat to the world today. Asia, as the fastest developing and the most populated region, will need to respond appropriately to this greatest challenge.
After the Copenhagen meeting, the role of Asia will be one of the most important in deciding how the world will develop. How will Asian governments act in building a sustainable and energy efficient society? What will Asian companies do in meeting the challenges and develop a sustainable model? What roles should the media play in building a more environmental friendly world?
The conference was not only a gathering of government officials, business people, academics and media to share their works and ideas with 120 participating audience, but will serve as the start of a series of efforts to promote united actions against climate change which Asia has a crucial role to play. Asia News Network, an alliance of 21 newspapers in 18 Asian countries, hopes to be pivotal in this endeavor.
The conference is designed to share knowledge of climate change trends among Asian countries and the future of green Asia, look at the policies and action plans, and efforts from the various organizations.
Edited by: Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update Reacting to Climate Change: vision, Action Plans & Media Involvement
India reviews security apparatus to fight Naxal rebels
RANCHI, India, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Indian government is reviewing the security apparatus in Naxal-infested states including Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, following the deadliest Naxal rebel attack on security forces in central India on April 6, said high level sources of the Home Ministry on Monday.
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will now sanction more Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to the rebel-affected areas of the country. In Raipur of Chhattisgarh and Midnapore of West Bengal, the security forces will be redeployed to take on the Naxals, said the sources.
Meanwhile, special commandos will be in charge to tackle Naxalites in these places who are found to be armed with state-of- the-art weapons and ammunitions.
Although there have been talks of roping in the Army and the Air Force to crush the rebel, both Army Chief General V.K. Singh and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik have declared that the military has been trained to fight the enemy from across the border and not launch offensive operations against the citizens of the country.
Air Chief Marshal Naik said on Monday that any use of Indian Air Force against Maoists should avoid collateral damage. “We have the capability to conduct strikes with utmost precision. If at all a situation arises where the use of Air Force becomes inevitable, there has to be clarity on the magnitude of the force we are supposed to use,” he said in the national capital of New Delhi.
“After all, we are dealing with our own people in our own terri- tory. So far we have not been approached by the Home Min- istry for any type of help in combating Naxalites,” he added.
However, the Indian Air Force has deployed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to track the rebels. “We had deployed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the tribal areas of the states a couple of years ago and provided inputs at that time. The Air Force is not conducting any reconnaissance in the region at the moment,” said the air chief.
But he said it also needs to be understood that the reconnaissance by UAVs will have some limitations.
“UAVs can give information about a number of people gath- ering at a spot but it cannot tell you whether it is a group of armed insurgents or ordinary tribals and villagers,” Naik said. “Aerial survey may not be possible in dense jungles as the devices cannot see through a canopy of trees, bushes and shrubs.”
At least 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men and one local police official were killed in the Dantewada massa- cre of April 6. Editor: Lin Zhi
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government will now sanction more Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel to the rebel-affected areas of the country. In Raipur of Chhattisgarh and Midnapore of West Bengal, the security forces will be redeployed to take on the Naxals, said the sources.
Meanwhile, special commandos will be in charge to tackle Naxalites in these places who are found to be armed with state-of- the-art weapons and ammunitions.
Although there have been talks of roping in the Army and the Air Force to crush the rebel, both Army Chief General V.K. Singh and Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik have declared that the military has been trained to fight the enemy from across the border and not launch offensive operations against the citizens of the country.
Air Chief Marshal Naik said on Monday that any use of Indian Air Force against Maoists should avoid collateral damage. “We have the capability to conduct strikes with utmost precision. If at all a situation arises where the use of Air Force becomes inevitable, there has to be clarity on the magnitude of the force we are supposed to use,” he said in the national capital of New Delhi.
“After all, we are dealing with our own people in our own terri- tory. So far we have not been approached by the Home Min- istry for any type of help in combating Naxalites,” he added.
However, the Indian Air Force has deployed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to track the rebels. “We had deployed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles in the tribal areas of the states a couple of years ago and provided inputs at that time. The Air Force is not conducting any reconnaissance in the region at the moment,” said the air chief.
But he said it also needs to be understood that the reconnaissance by UAVs will have some limitations.
“UAVs can give information about a number of people gath- ering at a spot but it cannot tell you whether it is a group of armed insurgents or ordinary tribals and villagers,” Naik said. “Aerial survey may not be possible in dense jungles as the devices cannot see through a canopy of trees, bushes and shrubs.”
At least 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men and one local police official were killed in the Dantewada massa- cre of April 6. Editor: Lin Zhi
Earthquake rocks Tibet
Yushu ,Tibetan Autonomous Province APR 14 - On April 14, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Yushu County of the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in Qinghai Province, causing huge casualties and losses of property. The quake so far has left at least 2000 dead, 294 missing, 11,486 injured, 15,000 residential buildings toppled and 100,000 residents to be relocated.
Most dwellings in the region collapsed due to the poor con- struction of the tenement-style mud-and-timber houses that most Tibetan’s in the region live in.
The Chinese President Hu Jintao cut short a trip to South America and traveled to the disaster site to console the surviving victims.
Many international aid agencies pledged to send supplies and mergency teams into the region to support the Chinese aid workers already in place.
Hundreds of monks and nuns were led by the Dalai Lama in prayer in Dharamsala, India. The exiled Tibetan leader ex- pressed a desire to travel to affected region which he has not visited for over 50 years. - Edited by Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update
Most dwellings in the region collapsed due to the poor con- struction of the tenement-style mud-and-timber houses that most Tibetan’s in the region live in.
The Chinese President Hu Jintao cut short a trip to South America and traveled to the disaster site to console the surviving victims.
Many international aid agencies pledged to send supplies and mergency teams into the region to support the Chinese aid workers already in place.
Hundreds of monks and nuns were led by the Dalai Lama in prayer in Dharamsala, India. The exiled Tibetan leader ex- pressed a desire to travel to affected region which he has not visited for over 50 years. - Edited by Ingmar Zahorsky / CHINAsia Update
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