Channel News Asia
중도 성향
기타
Taipei Zoo welcomes a pair of red pandas from China, first in over a decade
Taipei last received red pandas from a zoo in China's Fujian province in 2014.
"DECADE" · 총 1,054건
필터 보기현재 지수
50.3
0 = 부정 우세
50 = 중립
100 = 긍정 우세
최근 7일 기준 86,943건을 분석한 결과, 뉴스 심리지수는 50.3(균형)입니다. 긍정 4,381건(5.0%)·중립 80,514건(92.6%)·부정 2,048건(2.4%)이며, 중립 비중이 뚜렷하게 높습니다. 성향 지수는 종합 15.0(중도 균형)입니다.
Taipei last received red pandas from a zoo in China's Fujian province in 2014.
UK faces its ‘most dangerous period’ in decades as Moscow ‘risks crossing a line’, chief of the air staff says
Plus: Hackers use Meta’s AI bots to hack Instagram accounts, Anthropic helps NSA hackers, a decades-long GPS satellite mystery may have been solved, and more.
Armenia's upcoming parliamentary elections, which could reshape the country's ties with Russia and the West, mark a "historic moment" for the country, according to Ulrich Schmid, Professor of Eastern European Studies at the University of St Gallen. Incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is seeking to normalise relations with Turkey and neighbouring Azerbaijan, with which Armenia has been locked in conflict for decades.
India once depended on foreign grain shipments to manage shortages. Decades later, under PM Modi, it runs one of the world’s largest food security programmes.
For nearly a decade, India's carmakers chased the sport utility vehicle (SUV) dream.Higher margins, aspirational buyers and a growing appetite for larger vehicles pushed manufacturers to flood showrooms with sport utility vehicles and compact SUVs, steadily relegating hatchbacks — once the backbone of India's passenger vehicle market — to the sidelines.Also Read: Tata Motors PV launches next-gen Tiago from Rs 4.69 lakh, Tiago.ev from Rs 6.99 lakh with lifetime battery warrantyThe strategy worked. Utility vehicles now account for well over half of all passenger vehicle sales in India and contributed nearly two-thirds of the 4.3 million vehicles sold in FY25.But as economic pressures mount, vehicle prices climb and first-time buyers struggle to enter the market, India's biggest automakers are beginning to acknowledge a reality they may have overlooked: the country's next wave of growth could come from the very segment they left behind.From Maruti Suzuki's renewed commitment to entry-level cars to Tata Motors' ambitious reinvention of the Tiago, hatchbacks are once again finding themselves at the centre of boardroom conversations.Also Read: Small cars strike back: Maruti Suzuki bets on mass mobility while costs squeeze fourth quarter profitsAnd this time, carmakers are betting that small cars no longer have to feel small.The forgotten customerThe shift is being driven by a growing recognition that India's passenger vehicle market cannot rely indefinitely on premiumisation.While SUVs have transformed the industry's revenue mix, they have also pushed average vehicle prices steadily higher, making car ownership increasingly difficult for millions of households.Maruti Suzuki Chairman R. C. Bhargava recently signalled the company's intent to rebalance its portfolio."We are planning to develop both small cars and SUVs. The small car market is growing. India is a country where small cars have a long-term future," Bhargava said.The comments mark a notable shift in tone from an industry that spent years focusing on larger and more expensive vehicles.For Maruti, which built its dominance on models such as the Alto, WagonR and Swift, the renewed emphasis reflects confidence that affordability will remain central to India's mobility story."A large part of the population… need small cars" for basic mobility, Bhargava said.Industry analysts say the opportunity remains substantial."In the small cars segment, there is a much bigger conversion pool that carmakers can navigate. Hence, there is this renewed push towards small cars and that segment," said Hemal Thakkar, Senior Director, Crisil Intelligence."India is a price sensitive market and hence, small cars will stay and customers are looking for upgrades within vehicles. If carmakers can provide small cars with new features and upgrades, then there will be more customers for the small car space," he added.Making hatchbacks aspirational againIf Maruti is signalling a strategic return to small cars, Tata Motors is attempting something more ambitious — making hatchbacks desirable again.The company this week unveiled the next-generation Tiago and Tiago.ev, positioning them as technology-rich products aimed at reviving a segment many in the industry had effectively written off."Hatchbacks remain the gateway to personal mobility for millions of Indian families and yet, for far too long, this segment received scarce attention from the industry, when it genuinely deserved far more," said Shailesh Chandra, Managing Director and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles.Calling the new Tiago "not an evolution but a full reinvention", Chandra said the vehicle brings substantially upgraded design, connected technologies and safety features that were once largely reserved for more expensive categories.The next-generation Tiago gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless smartphone connectivity, a dual-screen dashboard, wireless charging and a segment-first 360-degree surround-view camera."The feeling of wow shouldn't be reserved for expensive cars," Chandra said."Today hatchback customers want far more than mobility, they want design, tech, safety and pride of ownership. A car they want to flaunt."The company has also positioned the Tiago.ev as an affordable electric mobility option, offering a lifetime battery warranty and fast-charging capability that can add up to 100 kilometres of range in 18 minutes."Tiago will make EV more accessible," Chandra said.Why affordability is back in focusThe renewed interest in hatchbacks comes as affordability re-emerges as a key concern across the industry.Vehicle prices have risen sharply in recent years because of stricter regulations, higher commodity costs and the addition of new safety and technology features.That has increasingly pushed first-time buyers out of the market.According to Srikumar Krishnamurthy, Senior Vice President and Co-Group Head, Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited, hatchbacks continue to play a critical role in expanding the customer base."Hatchbacks remain a preferred segment, particularly for first-time buyers and households seeking a second vehicle, as affordability and comfort are key purchase considerations," he said."From an original equipment perspective, a presence across segments also helps improve reach, especially in Tier 2/3 cities."Krishnamurthy added that rising vehicle costs are forcing manufacturers to revisit their entry-level offerings."With input costs rising and vehicle prices expected to increase further, affordability is becoming even more important, especially in the mass-market segment. In response, OEs are looking to reposition entry-level hatchbacks and compact SUVs through new launches and refreshed variants that offer a stronger value proposition to consumers."Beyond SUVsThe industry's renewed focus on hatchbacks does not mean SUVs are going away.Far from it.Utility vehicles remain India's dominant passenger vehicle category and continue to drive growth and profitability for manufacturers.What is changing, however, is the recognition that growth cannot come solely from moving customers up the value chain.To sustain volumes, carmakers need to bring new buyers into the market.That is especially important as India adds millions of young consumers entering the workforce, many of whom are seeking their first personal vehicle but remain highly sensitive to price.Affordable electric hatchbacks could further strengthen the segment's appeal in coming years."Affordable EV hatchbacks could become an attractive proposition as charging infrastructure improves, range-anxiety concerns ease, and the financing environment becomes more supportive," Krishnamurthy said.For much of the past decade, India's hatchbacks were treated as yesterday's story while SUVs became the industry's obsession.Now, as automakers search for their next growth engine, the segment that once put millions of Indians behind the wheel is beginning to look relevant again.The future of India's auto market may still be taller, bolder and SUV-shaped. But increasingly, carmakers are recognising that the road to scale may once again begin with a hatchback.
Peruvians will elect their new president Sunday with polls suggesting a polarized but tight race between hard-right candidate Keiko Fujimori and leftist Roberto Sánchez.
Los Angeles is shrinking. About 10,000 people are leaving the city every year, and another 50,000 leave the surrounding county. This has been going on for over a decade. And yet over that same time frame, rents have nearly doubled. How is this possible? Shouldn’t fewer people mean lower demand for housing? Even if the […]
The Negroni, the Old Fashioned, the Daiquiri — these drinks have been around for decades and are still made badly more often than not. Here is how to get them right
Cases of intimidation, hatred and violence reached an alltime high in 2025, a German newspaper reported. Meanwhile, Germany is to work with Mexico to tackle drug gangs and organized crime. DW has the latest.
GEORGE TOWN, June 6 — After nearly two decades of being recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site...
SpaceX's valuation will set the bar for what the must achieve going forward to reward investors.
Korean culture has expanded far beyond its borders over the past decade: K-pop is a global phenomenon, while Korean films, television, food, fashion and beauty products continue to attract growing international audiences. Comedian Kim Dong-ha hopes Korean comedy can follow. Kim recently completed the first North American stand-up tour by a Korean comedian, performing in Washington, Toronto and Vancouver under the banner "Made in Korea." The shows were performed entirely in Korean and drew largel
Kuno has undergone extensive habitat management over the past several years
Pakistan and India again traded barbs at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) — this time on occupied Kashmir — with Islamabad slamming the other side for “misleading” the council. Speaking during the presentation of the UNSC’s Annual Report to the General Assembly on Friday, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute, according to a press release. Pakistan coordinated and drafted the introduction to the annual report. Subsequently, in his statement, India’s UN envoy, Harish Parvathaneni, accused Pakistan of misusing the UN platforms for its so-called “divisive political interests”. He also asserted that the occupied region of Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India”. In turn, Political Coordinator at the Pakistan Mission Gul Qaiser Sarwani, utilising the right of reply, pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir “remains an internationally recognised dispute on the agenda of the Security Council”. “No amount of obfuscation can alter the historical, legal and international character of this dispute. Jammu and Kashmir never was, neither is, and nor will ever be so-called an integral part of India,” the official declared. “I would advise the Indian representative to carefully read the report, rather than denying facts, deflecting attention and misleading the august Assembly,” Sarwani said, highlighting facts stated in the Annual Report. He continued: “Nearly eight decades after the Council’s resolutions, calling for a UN-supervised plebiscite, the Kashmiri people continue to be denied their inalienable right to self-determination. “Meanwhile, arbitrary detentions, restrictions on fundamental freedoms, demographic engineering and other human rights violations continue in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The gravity of the situation was reflected in the Joint Communication issued by United Nations Special Procedures on 16 October 2025.” Sarwani emphasised that “by refusing to implement Security Council resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir, India continues to disregard its obligations under the UN Charter, including Article 25, which requires member states to accept and carry out” the UNSC’s decisions. He then went on to shed light on New Delhi’s “troubling record: sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan, perpetrating state terrorism in the IIOJK, conducting state-backed assassination campaigns in foreign countries, stoking violence against minorities, support for destabilising activities in the region and disregard for international law, including its unlawful attempt to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance”. Continued relevance of Kashmir, Palestine issues In his remarks, Ambassador Ahmad said the UNSC’s Annual Report for 2025 highlighted the continued relevance of long-standing disputes on the council’s agenda, including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and the Question of Palestine. “Pakistan believes that durable peace in South Asia requires a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, who must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination promised to them by the Security Council and the international community,” he said. Ahmad highlighted that more than 20 communications concerning the India-Pakistan Question were brought to the attention of the UNSC during the reporting period, adding that the council also held closed consultations under this agenda item in May 2025. This, he said, underscores that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, which has remained on the UNSC’s agenda for more than seven decades, continues to engage its attention. Ambassador Ahmad also raised the Palestine question, calling for the implementation of the UNSC’s Resolution 2083, which was adopted in November 2025 and endorsed US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. He noted that the continuing tragedy in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in Gaza, remained high on the UNSC’s agenda. Referring to the unanimous adoption of Pakistan-sponsored Resolution 2788 in July 2025, Ambassador Ahmad said that it reflected a shared commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes and the fuller utilisation of the UN Charter’s mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution. The envoy noted that Pakistan coordinated and drafted the introduction to the UNSC’s 2025 Annual Report in its capacity as the Council President in July 2025. “As a penholder, Pakistan’s objective was to make the report comprehensive, objective, analytical, and consensus-based, while recognising that further improvements remain possible,” the press release noted. Underscoring the importance of a more democratic and accountable multilateral system in light of current global challenges, the envoy expressed Pakistan’s concern over the use of veto among the member states and called for reforms within the UNSC. Ahmad opposed the expansion of permanent seats and veto powers, arguing that such measures would undermine the objectives of reform. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to comprehensive UNSC reform that serves the interests of the wider UN membership, encapsulated in its position: “Reform for all, privilege for none.”
In a heartwarming video, actress Neelam Kothari took her followers on a nostalgic tour of 'Le Chalet,' her family's beloved bungalow in Lonavala that's been standing for three decades. With its charming two-storey design, whitewashed walls, rustic wooden details, and timeless furnishings, this vintage gem is a tribute to her parents' vision.
Think of all the long, empty, disappointing nights going back to 1973. Think of all the terrible bounces, awful breaks, horrible decisions that have plagued the Knicks like a virus whenever the lights were brightest.
For about two decades, the northern part of the country has been ravaged by terrorism characterised by sacking of entire communities, mass killings, looting, destruction and kidnappings for ransom. The post Revealed: Hideouts of terrorists in Yorubaland appeared first on Vanguard News.
Japan hosted more than 400,000 international students in fiscal 2025, hitting a record high and achieving a major government enrollment target nearly a decade ahead of schedule.
“THOSE who gorge themselves on usury behave but as he might behave whom Satan has confounded with his touch; for they say, ‘Buying and selling is but a kind of usury’ — the while God has made buying and selling lawful and usury unlawful. … If, however, [the debtor] is in straitened circumstances, [grant him] a delay until a time of ease… .” — Surah Al-Baqarah, translation by Muhammad Asad. Islamic banking started in Pakistan in 1979 and by 1985, commercial banks had stopped using the word ‘interest’ and used ‘mark-up’ instead. But with time it was apparent this kind of ‘Islamic’ banking wasn’t really Islamic and was just a name change from ‘interest’ to ‘mark-up’. Pakistan’s modern Islamic banking began in 2002 when the first new fully Islamic bank started working. Since then Islamic banking has rapidly grown and now there are many Islamic banks. Islamic banks have turned out to be more profitable and there is considerable demand among Pakistanis to conduct their banking as prescribed by Islam. Islamic banks now have Sharia boards that rule whether any banking facility is Sharia-compatible and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) also has a Sharia advisory committee. We have also progressed from merely banking and now the government issues sukuks (long-term bonds backed by assets), we have Islamic leasing, called Ijara, and Islamic insurance, called Takaful. We should examine how close to Quranic edicts is Islamic banking. Next year as we celebrate the silver jubilee of the Islamic banking industry, we should examine how close to Quranic edicts is Islamic banking and whether it has grown closer to Islamic ideals. A company can borrow from a secular commercial bank running finance for its working capital needs and long-term finance for its project financing needs. From the Islamic bank it will get Musharakah financing or Murabaha and Istisna financing. For an example of Istisna financing assume a company wants a loan for buying cotton. The bank will buy cotton for Rs10 million and sell it to the company for Rs11m with payment due in one year, or for Rs10.5m for payment due in six months. The bank doesn’t actually buy the cotton or sell it to the company. There is, however, paperwork to pretend this has taken place. The profit the bank makes depends entirely on the policy rate set by the SBP. When the policy rate is high, the bank’s profit is also equally high. In Musharakah financing, the profit an Islamic bank charges the company also depends on the SBP’s policy rate. Typically, if the interest rate charged by commercial banks is two per cent above the SBP’s policy rate, the profit rate required by Islamic banks is also the same. If during the tenor of the loan the policy rate is increased by the SBP, the profit rate is increased by Islamic banks by a similar amount. Just as commercial banks get their interest from the client whether the company is incurring a profit or a loss, Islamic banks also have no downside when a client loses money. Except for default or restructuring, no Islamic bank has ever made a loss because its borrower was losing money. This then seems distinct from trade-based, risk-assuming lending that Islam envisions. For instance, a priori people would think that under Islamic banking’s Istisna financing if a company borrows money for buying 1,000 bales of cotton, it should return the money for a 1,000 bales of cotton, no matter what the new price of cotton is. If the value of cotton has increased, the bank will make a profit and if it has decreased, it will lose. But it will not get a fixed interest-based ‘profit’ no matter what happens to cotton prices. Similarly, under Musharakah financing people would think that if the company is making profits, Islamic banks should also make a profit but not if it’s losing money. Otherwise, it is just like secular banks with Arabic names for loans. With the current practice of Pakistani Islamic banks, the benefits of having trade-based Islamic banking are lost and banks don’t have an incentive to seek and give loans to companies that have great ideas and products. If the profit is fixed at exactly the rate of interest, like it is in commercial banks, then we lose the barkat of Islamic banking. Up until last year, the SBP required banks to give a minimum interest to depositors. But Islamic banks objected that giving fixed profits to depositors would violate Islamic principles. However, the same Islamic banks are quite happy to charge their customers fixed profits based on the SBP’s policy rate. This dichotomy meant that customers of Islamic banks were getting less profits on their deposits than those given by commercial banks even as Islamic banks made more profits than others. Islamic banks were increasing people’s cost for being good Muslims. Even today, Islamic banks give lower profits to their depositors. This goes against the Islamic admonition of exploitation. When a borrower is late in paying loans or interest/ profit, both Islamic and commercial banks charge you penal interest (which is against the ayat I quoted above) but whereas commercial banks keep this profit, Islamic banks give up that profit as charity. One has to say that the difference between Islamic and commercial banks is more in nomenclature and less in substance. Bankers and economists know this but don’t say it in the hope that Islamic banks will eventually inch closer to true Islamic banking. However, it is unfortunate that even after decades this migration is non-existent. Perhaps it’s because ‘Islamic’ banks are more profitable and don’t want to exit a comfortable business model. Islamic bankers give the example of eating beef to justify Islamic banks. They say if you eat non-zabiha beef it is wrong but the same beef is halal if slaughtered properly. The example is powerful but not applicable as Islam has not prohibited eating beef, it has just prescribed a way of slaughtering cattle. The prohibition of interest is more like the prohibition of drinking wine. It doesn’t matter whether it is consumed out of a teacup or a wineglass; the prohibition stays. Similarly, while trade is allowed in Islam, interest is prohibited even if you give it Arabic names. We must endeavour to bring Islamic banking closer to the tenets of Islam — variable profits and risk sharing. The writer is a former finance minister. Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2026