New Delhi, India — As Myanmar becomes more influenced by the Chinese, New Delhi has dropped the much-hyped Myanmar-Bangladesh-India gas pipeline project, intensifying the energy battle in Southeast Asia."Myanmar is taking India for a ride on gas supply from its fields des

Beijing, China — China's State Administration of Taxation announced that, effective July 1, the tax on vehicles and vessels would more than double. No explanation was given for this increase.

Hong Kong, China — Rights groups and Western governments often slam the ruling military junta in Burma for atrocious human rights abuses and rampant corruption. However, its Asian neighbors and foreign energy firms are increasingly willing to ignore such records as focus sh

Washington, DC, United States — An undervalued yuan offers Beijing great advantages but imposes significant costs on the U.S. economy.

Goa, India — In the present age, international exposure is a requirement for an increasing number of jobs. This trend is likely to expand in view of the ongoing globalization of the world's economy, transnational movements of people and the emergence of strong regiona

Tokyo, Japan — Japanese companies have begun introducing bioethanol fuel to the market in hopes of significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Domestic production of the biofuel, particularly out of edible materials, appears to be a distant goal.

Hong Kong, China — Indonesia has announced it will stage a "Visit Indonesia Year" in 2008 -- but tourist packages may not include visits to its once pristine tropical forests, savanna grasslands, and lowland forests, as unprecedented deforestation threatens to wipe out thes

Varanasi, India — People living in Uttar Pradesh province of India are highly divided on the basis of caste and subject to age-old prejudices. The police and other government institutions are not immune to this social menace.

Beijing, China — China cautioned the U.S. Senate against politicizing economic and trade issues ahead of proposed legislation to slap tariffs on Chinese goods because the country's currency exchange rate doesn't follow market mechanisms.The country's surging trade surpl

Seoul, South Korea — U.S. President George W.

Beijing, China — China's clout in the world's geopolitical economy was one of the most important features to emerge during the June 6-8 Group of Eight summit held in Heiligendamm, a German resort town on the Baltic Sea. Annual meetings involving the heads of state fro

Hong Kong, China — Singapore may be short on land, but it is big on water. Promoting itself as a "global hydro hub," the country hopes to become a leading center for the development of water and environmental technologies.

Seoul, South Korea — Multinational companies have exerted their influence as major players in world economics and politics since the 1960s. Their role in the petroleum crisis of the 1970s raised the alarm over their capability to shape world affairs and possibly create a geop

Washington, DC, United States — U.S. efforts to persuade China to be a responsible player in the international community have failed.

Hong Kong, China — Nepal's King Gyanendra is in arrears to the tune of 30.5 million rupees (US$462,000) in unpaid electricity bills, making him the Himalayan nation's biggest power defaulter, agencies reported last week.The king, who owes money for electricity supplied to

Washington, DC, United States — India's economic growth is driving increasing energy ties with the Middle East, at a time when China, the United States and Japan are all ramping up efforts to lock in access to oil and natural gas in the region.India has shown explosive growth over the

Colombo, Sri Lanka — There are two sides to almost every issue, and globalization is no exception. On the dark side of globalization there are several issues that the world must take note of, such as human trafficking and the international drug trade.Attempts to curtail hum

TORONTO, Canada — The reliability of China's economic statistics has repeatedly come into question in light of wild data the country has published -- such as US$65 billion received in foreign direct investment, 11 percent growth, and gross domestic product of US$2.5 trilli

Beijing, China — Is China's economy overheated? Should the government take stricter measures to regulate and control it?

Seoul, South Korea — On the back of the recent conclusion of a free-trade agreement with the United States, South Korea started negotiations Monday for a similar deal with the European Union in hopes of making Seoul an FTA hub, linking Europe, Asia and North America. By secur

Tokyo, Japan — Investing in renewable energy sources is a sound financial move as much as it is beneficial to the environment, the Japanese government says. As a result, the country said it will provide up to US$2 billion in low-interest loans over the next five years t

Seoul, South Korea — China has sharply expanded its business ventures in North Korea in recent years, tapping into the country's natural resources as it seeks to boost its leverage over the communist state, South Korea's state-run think tank says. What's more, China will expl

Seoul, South Korea — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has declared his country's withdrawal from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, claiming this move would guarantee its economic independence. Nothing could be more ridiculous than this assertion.The world

Nagercoil, India — Ian Malcolm is not exactly a lovable character in the novel "Jurassic Park." Even though he may be considered the alter-ego of the book's author, Michael Crichton, he comes across more as a doomsday prophet.

Tokyo, Japan — The United States remains Japan's single most important ally politically and militarily as well as economically, but that is not stopping Tokyo from making greater overtures to the Middle East.For an island nation that imports effectively all of its pet

New Delhi, India — India's Planning Commission asked the government to move progressively toward market-determined gas prices as the country is on the verge of making gas finds and attracting investment in the sector. The panel suggested that the government clearly has doub

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea is still using its funds in a Macau bank, now unfrozen by the United States, as an excuse to delay denuclearization.

Tokyo, Japan — Japan is seeking to reawaken the dynamic, innovative spirit that drove its economic miracle up through the 1980s. Facing domestic demographic shifts and the emerging economic powerhouse of China across the Sea of Japan, the Japanese government is pushing

Beijing, China — China's National Development and Reform Commission recently reduced the retail prices of 188 patented Chinese traditional medicines, as part of an effort to make healthcare more affordable for citizens. It was the 23rd time prices have been cut; the avera

Beijing, China — China's National Development and Reform Commission recently reduced the retail prices of 188 patented Chinese traditional medicines, as part of an effort to make healthcare more affordable for citizens. It was the 23rd time prices have been cut; the avera

Toronto, Canada — Muslims are not to be blamed for mismanaging India's economy from 1200 AD onwards. On the contrary, they allowed it to prosper.

Toronto, Canada — India was never poor throughout the known history of mankind. It has been lush and green, with adequate administrative skills, technology to provide clothing and land to provide food.

Hong Kong, China — Major business deals were clinched at the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami last month -- Oceania Cruises and Silversea Cruises jointly placed US$2 billion worth of new cruise ship orders with Italy's Fincantieri, for example - but overshadowin

Seoul, South Korea — North Korea has vowed to revive its ruined economy and improve the livelihoods of its famine-hit people, and has appointed a transport technocrat as Pyongyang's new economic control tower. The country's leader Kim Jong Il named transport expert Kim Yong I

Washington, DC, United States — Japan remains the second-largest economy in the world, even as it remains poor in natural resources and effectively importing all its petroleum. Indeed, more than 90 percent of its oil comes from the Middle East.

Toronto, Canada — If the India-U.S. civilian nuclear cooperation deal fails, that is bad news for Indian industry and agriculture.

Washington, United States — A global "nuclear renaissance," the cliché for a growth in nuclear power plant construction, is not merely talk, according to a new report by the Cambridge Energy Research Associates. New reactors are in various phases, from planning to construction, and

Tokyo, Japan — East Asia has made a powerful rebound from the financial crisis that devastated the region one decade ago, the World Bank said in a semi-annual report released Thursday in Tokyo. Compared to 1997, the report said the region was "much wealthier, has fewer

Miami, FL, United States — Western countries are constantly criticized for their low level of aid to developing countries. According to this logic, the rich countries are obliged to help the developing world and they fail in their moral duty by not increasing direct financial aid.

New Delhi, India — China and India are the world's largest countries in terms of population. Both are enjoying a high rate of economic growth.

Toronto, Canada — The unfolding prosperity and growth of disposable income in both urban and rural India will ultimately translate into greater acquisition of material goods. These goods will find their way into people's homes only if adequate steps are taken to position r

Toronto, Canada — A tourist of Indian origin arrives in India in late winter. She is here to shop for her forthcoming wedding.

Barcelona, Spain — The most effective way to influence the future of North Korea is through economic development and incentives. The 500 million euro North Korea Investment Fund exists to economically engage the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Seoul, South Korea — The United States and South Korea finally reached a landmark deal Monday on tearing down trade barriers between the two countries, ending 10 months of tough negotiations marred by violent protests. Officials and economists here describe the free trade agr

Toronto, Canada — There are solid reasons for corporate participation in India's second Green Revolution, which aims to boost agriculture and strengthen the economy. First, it may be difficult to find a triumvirate like Indira Gandhi and the two agriculture experts who gua

Tokyo, Japan — Despite the snail-paced progress in the six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear programs, China and North Korea are anticipating major expansion of business across their border along the Yalu River.Japan's semi-official television station, NHK, broad

Seoul, South Korea — With mounting protests Monday, South Korea and the United States launched their final round of free-trade negotiations, which can determine the fate of the proposed deal aimed at tearing down trade barriers between the two countries.High-level negotiato

Tokyo, North Korea — Despite the snail-paced progress in the six-party talks over North Korea's nuclear programs, China and North Korea are anticipating major expansion of business across their border along the Yalu River.Japan's semi-official television station, NHK, broad

Toronto, Canada — India has launched its second Green Revolution with the aim of producing 400 million tons of food grain per year, almost double the 214 million tons expected in 2006-2007. It is unlikely to happen tomorrow or next year, but it may be possible by 2020.

Tokyo, Japan — Metal thieves are a growing menace in Japan, thanks to soaring prices of nonferrous metals, while the country's steel industry is concerned about a glut of iron. Both are essentially results of China's construction boom.