China’s parliament: The smog of war; The prime minister opens parliament by declaring pollution the enemy

China’s parliament: The smog of war; The prime minister opens parliament by declaring pollution the enemy

Mar 8th 2014 | BEIJING | From the print edition

THE annual session of China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, is rarely remarkable for the rhetorical flourishes of the leaders who address it. But at the opening on March 5th of this year’s nine-day meeting the prime minister, Li Keqiang, in his maiden speech, deviated at least a little from the usual stodgy fare. China, he said, must “declare war” on pollution. The blanket of smog that often shrouds much of the country, he said, was nature’s “red light”, warning about the risks of “blind development”. Growing public furore about pollution has at last goaded China’s leaders into admitting the urgency of the problem. Read more of this post

China’s reform just like Whac-a-Mole

China’s reform just like Whac-a-Mole

JoongAng Ilbo, March 4, Page 30
*The author is a Beijing bureau chief of the JoongAng Ilbo.

Mar 06,2014

Those who have played the Whac-a-Mole game know that no matter how hard you hit the moles, more will pop out from other holes. I am concerned that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s strong reforms may end up like a game of Whac-a-Mole.
There is speculation that Xinjiang separatist forces were responsible for a mass stabbing attack that took place Saturday at a train station in the southwestern city of Kunming, resulting in 170 victims. After the area was integrated into China during the reign of Emperor Qianlong, the Uighur armed struggle continued for more than 250 years, and the attack may be a warning that the separatists want to take the fight outside of Xinjiang. Read more of this post

Why China can’t innovate (even though Chinese people can)

Why China can’t innovate (even though Chinese people can)

Published 07 March 2014 16:13, Updated 08 March 2014 00:06

Regina Abrami, William Kirby and Warren Mcfarlan

The Chinese people invented gunpowder, the compass, the water wheel, paper money and long-distance banking. Until the early 19th century, China’s economy was more open than the economies of Europe. Today, though, many believe that the West is home to creative business thinkers and that China is largely a land of rule-bound rote-learners. Read more of this post

Ministry of Manpower cautioned against Singapore producing too many graduates who can’t find enough good jobs – a predicament South Korea and Taiwan find themselves in today

PUBLISHED MARCH 08, 201

MOM flags potential graduate-glut problem

Chuan-Jin says S’pore must ensure that it continues to generate good jobs for its graduate job seekers

CHUANG PECK MING

ACTING Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday cautioned against Singapore producing too many graduates who can’t find enough good jobs – a predicament South Korea and Taiwan find themselves in today. Read more of this post

Why investors should stop buying the biggest funds

Why investors should stop buying the biggest funds

Our analysis of peformance shows why investors should look to smaller funds for the best returns, rather than the bigger, more well-known ones

By Richard Evans, Investment Editor

7:47AM GMT 08 Mar 2014

“Past performance is no guide to the future.” How many investors overlook that ubiquitous warning when they think they have identified a brilliant fund manager? But there may be very good – and unappreciated – reasons why they should take heed. Read more of this post

Are Small Investors a Sell Signal?

Are Small Investors a Sell Signal?

The case for a market top isn’t that clear-cut.

JOE LIGHT

March 7, 2014 1:50 p.m. ET

David Avery used to keep half his 401(k) account in bonds and cash. Last year, the 35-year-old computer programmer moved his entire portfolio into stocks, with one recent purchase being Enanta Pharmaceuticals, ENTA -1.05% a small biotechnology company that posted a loss last quarter. Read more of this post

Missing jet a big blow for struggling Malaysia Airlines

Missing jet a big blow for struggling Malaysia Airlines

POSTED: 08 Mar 2014 20:02
Malaysia Airlines, which was rocked Saturday by the disappearance of one of its planes, has long been a respected name in regional aviation, enjoying an enviable safety record. Read more of this post

lmost all big Chinese cities’ air below standard

Almost all big Chinese cities’ air below standard, says offical

POSTED: 08 Mar 2014 20:42
Air quality was below national standards in almost all of China’s major cities last year, a top environment official said on Saturday, after Premier Li Keqiang pledged to “declare war” on pollution. Read more of this post

Life in the world’s most expensive city

Updated: Saturday March 8, 2014 MYT 7:24:08 AM

Life in the world’s most expensive city

BY SEAH CHIANG NEE

SINGAPOREANS will likely huddle around their TV sets in June to watch World Cup soccer – but only if they pay, once again, a fee higher than anyone else on earth. Read more of this post

Walt Disney, Shanghai Media Group to develop Disney-branded movies

Anti-graft party takes aim at Modi’s economic model

Friday, March 7, 2014 – 21:36

Reuters

NEW DELHI – Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Narendra Modi, who leads opinion polls ahead of next month’s general election, faces pressure from anti-graft Aam Aadmi Party (AAp) attacking his economic model on his home turf, the thriving state of Gujarat. Read more of this post

Korean economic team blasted for inconsistency

Korean economic team blasted for inconsistency

Friday, March 7, 2014 – 10:06

Kim Yon-se

The Korea Herald/Asia News Network

The Park Geun-hye administration appears to be discontented with the economic policies created by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hyun Oh-seok. Read more of this post

Western Businesses in Russia, Watchful and Wary

Western Businesses in Russia, Watchful and Wary

By LIZ ALDERMANMARCH 7, 2014

PARIS — Shortly after pro-Russian troops infiltrated Crimea last weekend, the phone in Alexis Rodzianko’s Moscow office started ringing. He is president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, and local managers for some of the world’s biggest brands were calling to discuss the safety of their operations and the risks that might arise if the West were to impose sanctions. Read more of this post

How Designer Microbes and the Organism Industry Will Reshape Our World

How Designer Microbes and the Organism Industry Will Reshape Our World

By Maxx Chatsko | More Articles
March 2, 2014 | Comments (0)

What would a computer be without transistors? Well, not much. A similar question can be asked of next-generation industrial biotech platforms enabled by synthetic biology: What would Solazyme (NASDAQ: SZYM  ) , Amyris (NASDAQ: AMRS  ) , or any other industrial biotech company be without organisms? And again, a similar conclusion is reached. It may not be obvious from the early days of synthetic biology, but several loose, general terms and businesses used to describe the development of highly optimized custom microorganisms will eventually be combined into one well-defined industry: the organism industry. Read more of this post