AFP Asia

The EU’s top team is to embark on an “unprecedented” visit to India this week, as the bloc seeks to broaden its commercial and diplomatic ties to hedge against souring relations with the United States.EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and her college of commissioners are to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government in New Delhi during a two-day trip, starting Thursday.The trip is the latest sign of a Brussels push to diversify ties away from the United States and position itself as a reliable partner for others looking to do business.”In this era of intense geostrategic competition, Europe stands for openness, partnership, and outreach,” von der Leyen said ahead of the trip, hailing India as one of the EU’s “most trusted friends and allies”.Almost all the EU’s 26 commissioners are to join the 66-year-old German politician in what the bloc’s executive is billing as the first visit of its kind to the South Asian giant — and the first outside Europe for the new college that took office in December.It comes as US President Donald Trump has upended Brussels’s traditionally close partnership with Washington, berating EU tech laws, threatening tariffs, and undercutting European allies by launching Ukraine talks with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. The European Union has been left “looking for friends” and India, the world’s most populous country, is a “natural candidate”, said Andre Sapir, of Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.- Trade call -Brussels has been working to broaden its horizons since Trump won back the White House in November.In recent months it has announced a strengthened trade deal with Mexico, the resumption of talks with Malaysia, a new agreement with the South American bloc Mercosur and the “first-ever” EU-Central Asia summit. It has also struck a more conciliatory note towards China, which however “remains a significant strategic challenge for Europe”, said James Crabtree, of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) think tank.”Building stronger ties with India — a democracy with increasing global influence — offers both greater economic opportunity and political appeal,” he said.Trade will be high on the agenda.The EU is India’s largest trading partner, accounting for 124 billion euros ($130 billion) worth of trade in goods in 2023 — more than 12 percent of total Indian trade, according to the EU.India’s expanding market offers key opportunities for sectors ranging from defence to agriculture, automobiles and clean energy. Yet, protected by high tariffs, it currently accounts for only 2.2 percent of EU trade in goods.Negotiations for a trade deal were relaunched in 2022 and could get a boost from a White House bent on slapping tariffs on friends and foes alike, said a European diplomat.”The case for a free trade agreement has never been stronger,” the diplomat said.- AI and defence -Trump feted Modi in Washington vowing to ramp up trade this month, but India is also seeking renewed relationships elsewhere as a “hedge against a newly capricious America”, said Crabtree.The European Commission’s trip comes hard on the heels of a visit by British trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds aimed at restarting stalled trade negotiations.  “In the shadow of US tariff, India back to table for trade talks with UK, EU”, a headline in The Indian Express daily read on Tuesday.One of the biggest challenges for New Delhi in recent years has been creating millions of new jobs for its young and rapidly expanding skilled workforce. India’s government has for years also pushed for Europe to grant quicker visas for its businesses and students.Cooperation on technology and artificial intelligence, where Europe and India are eager to play a larger role, will also be on the table. So will security and defence, the EU diplomat said, adding Brussels was eager to “join forces” with New Delhi. The supply of defence equipment, enforcement of EU sanctions against Russia and peace talks over Ukraine were likely to be discussed.India has long pursued a policy of strategic autonomy in foreign affairs.Historically close to Russia, its traditional supplier of military hardware, it has resisted Western pressure to distance itself from Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.The commission’s visit is not expected to result in the signing of any deal, but should pave the way for an EU-India summit to be held in India later this year. 

India’s Kumbh Mela festival wraps up Wednesday, with final ritual river bathing ceremonies ending six weeks of celebration that organisers say have been attended by hundreds of millions of devotees.Despite two deadly stampedes that killed dozens, the festival in the northern city of Prayagraj has been hailed as a triumph by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, bolstering its carefully cultivated image as a steward of Hindu resurgence and national prosperity.Both Modi and his ally, firebrand Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath — chief minister of India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh where the festival is held — say the millennia-old festival has been the “grandest” yet.The Kumbh Mela is rooted in Hindu mythology, a battle between deities and demons for control of a pitcher containing the nectar of immortality.The festival, which opened on January 13, ends Wednesday, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri, in honour of the deity Shiva.According to eyebrow-raising figures from Adityanath’s state government, more than 620 million devotees took part in the festival, a staggering statistic even for the world’s most populous nation of 1.4 billion people.Millions more people seeking salvation are expected to shrug off stomach-churning faecal matter measurements to immerse themselves in sacred river waters on Wednesday.Authorities say the estimates have been calculated using artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras, but the figures are impossible to independently verify.The festival was marred by a deadly stampede on January 29 that killed at least 30 people and injured 90 others.Officials insisted for hours that no one was seriously injured, despite graphic television footage from the scene.Earlier this month, another 18 people died during a stampede at the main railway station in New Delhi when surging crowds scrambled to catch trains to Prayagraj.The deaths have taken the sheen off the government’s claims of stellar management of the event.But the twin tragedies failed to deter millions who continued to pour into the temporary township along the banks of the river.

Pacific microstate Nauru is selling citizenship to fund its retreat from rising seas, President David Adeang told AFP, opening a contentious “golden passport” scheme as other climate financing runs dry.The low-lying island nation of around 13,000 residents is planning a mass inland relocation as creeping seas start to eat away at its fertile coastal fringe.It will drum up funding by selling passports to foreigners for US$105,000 each, despite fears such schemes are ripe for criminal exploitation.”For Nauru it is not just about adapting to climate change, but about securing a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come,” Adeang said.”This is about more than survival. It is about ensuring future generations have a safe, resilient and sustainable home. We are ready for the journey ahead.” The island republic sits on a small plateau of phosphate rock in the sparsely populated South Pacific.With a total landmass of just 21 square kilometres (eight square miles), it is one of the world’s smallest nations.Unusually pure phosphate deposits — a key ingredient in fertiliser — once made Nauru one of the wealthiest places, per capita, on the planet.But these supplies have long dried up, and researchers today estimate 80 percent of Nauru has been rendered uninhabitable by mining.What little land Nauru has left is threatened by encroaching tides — scientists have measured sea levels rising 1.5 times faster than global averages.- Golden passports -Existing climate funding efforts are “not sufficient” to address the challenge, said Edward Clark, who runs Nauru’s new Economic and Climate Resilience Citizenship Program.”Debt financing places an undue burden on future generations and there is not enough aid,” he told AFP.Nauru’s government expects to reap US$5.7 million in the programme’s first year, equating to around 66 successful applications, Clark said.It hopes this will gradually increase to US$43 million -– or about 500 successful applications — which would account for almost 20 percent of total government revenue.Nauru officials believe 90 percent of the population will eventually need to move to higher ground.The first phase of this mass relocation is estimated to cost more than US$60 million.To pay the bill, Nauru has pinned its hopes on the new citizenship-by-investment programme.Clark said it was a kind of “innovation”.”It is well known that developing climate-vulnerable countries are disproportionately impacted by climate change, and there is therefore an urgent need to ensure they disproportionately benefit from climate innovation,” he said.Nations such as Nauru “have both a need and a right to be prosperous”, Clark added.Nauru claims its passport will provide visa-free entry into 89 countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong.- A ‘pioneering’ fix? -More than 60 different nations offer some form of migration for investment schemes, Australia’s Lowy Institute has found.Pacific nations such as Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga have all dabbled in selling passports, according to the think tank.Australian National University expert Henrietta McNeill said while these schemes helped bolster government revenue, they were also prone to exploitation.She said criminals could use these documents to evade law enforcement, launder money or exploit visa-free entry rules.A previous Nauru attempt to sell passports ended in disaster.In 2003, Nauru officials sold citizenship to Al-Qaeda members who were later arrested in Asia, according to Australian broadcaster ABC.Clark said this time Nauru would only offer passports to like-minded investors that passed “the strictest and most thorough due diligence procedures”.”This programme isn’t just about acquiring another passport,” he said.”It’s about joining a community dedicated to pioneering solutions for global challenges.”Nauru has accepted millions of dollars from the Australian government since 2012 for housing migrants who had sought asylum in Australia.But the scheme was gradually scaled back following 14 detainee deaths, multiple suicide attempts and at least six referrals to the International Criminal Court.Nauru still held 87 people as of August 31, 2024, according to latest Australian government figures.

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi warned England on Tuesday that memories of their famous 2023 World Cup win over the then holders gives them the confidence to pull off a Champions Trophy surprise.Both teams need a win on Wednesday in Lahore to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals in the 50-over tournament after losing their respective openers.Afghanistan shocked England in 2023 when they humbled the defending world champions by 69 runs in New Delhi.Afghanistan’s rise in white-ball cricket has been rapid.”We worked hard to achieve at this level and are ready to play every game in a positive way,” Shahidi said on the eve of the pivotal Group B clash.”We will take that confidence with us what happened in the 2023 World Cup. But at the same time, tomorrow is a new day and we will try our best to beat them again.”Afghanistan started the eight-nation Champions Trophy with a 107-run hammering by South Africa in Karachi.Their bowlers took a beating in South Africa’s impressive total of 315-6. Ace spinner Rashid Khan went wicketless and leaked 59 runs from his 10 overs of leg-spin.In turn Afghanistan were bowled out for a meagre 208. Shahidi, however, expects a much better show from his side at the Gaddafi Stadium and believes the Afghan spinners could be the difference on what he expects to be a turning pitch.”When we bat first that gives us more chance. At the same time in the last World Cup we beat teams batting second,” Shahidi told reporters.”But in the South Africa game the wicket was supportive for fast bowling and there was no support for spinners. I didn’t see even one ball turn. “The world knows we have quality spinners. Hopefully we have some support for our spinners in tomorrow’s game.”England came under pressure from British politicians to boycott Wednesday’s game over the treatment of Afghan women by the ruling Taliban.The England and Wales Cricket Board resisted the demand but said they would not schedule a bilateral series against Afghanistan.Shahidi batted away questions about it on the eve of the match.”We are cricket players, we are sportsmen,” said Shahidi.”What we control is what we do on the ground, we don’t worry what is happening off the ground. So our confidence is good.”

Gloom and demands for wholesale change engulfed cricket-crazy Pakistan on Tuesday after the hosts crashed out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage, barely a week into celebrating the return of a major tournament.The title-holders lost their opening game to New Zealand by 60 runs in Karachi last week before Sunday’s six-wicket defeat to arch-rivals India pushed them to the brink of an early exit.Pakistan needed Bangladesh to beat New Zealand on Monday to keep their slim hopes of a place in the semi-finals alive, but the result went the other way.Thursday’s match with Bangladesh in Rawalpindi has been reduced to a dead-rubber.”We have been backing these players for the last few years but they are not learning nor improving,” former captain Wasim Akram told AFP.”It is time for a major shake-up. We need to improve our system of domestic cricket so that we can produce quality cricketers, not ordinary ones.”A lack of competitiveness in domestic cricket and low-quality pitches have been blamed for not preparing players for the international stage.The sport in Pakistan is also held back by frequent changes to the cricket board, coaching teams and selection panels, critics say.Such changes are driven by politics and not merit, according to observers.”I feel very despondent with the state of Pakistan cricket,” former captain Rashid Latif told AFP. “We have to follow merit and bring in professionals in the administration of the game and not people on a political basis.”Frequent changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board, selection committee and captains have failed us in forming a proper set-up and team.”- ‘No fight’ -The early elimination stings for a country that had relished hosting its first major cricket tournament in 29 years, after significant improvements in security. “We were thrilled that an international event had finally returned to our country, but the joy was short-lived,” said 26-year-old Umar Siraj, a pharmacist in Rawalpindi.”The hardest part of being a Pakistan fan is that you end up praying for other teams to lose,” he chuckled. “It’s painful. I’m gutted.”Pakistan’s Champions Trophy flop is nothing new. They also crashed out of the 2023 ODI World Cup in the first round in India.It was followed by their exit at the same stage in the Twenty20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies last year — a tournament won by neighbours India.Pakistan last month finished ninth and last in the World Test Championship after drawing a home series with the West Indies.The latest debacle, and on home soil, represents a new low.”It is disappointing that they didn’t even put up a fight,” said Naseem Satti, a 46-year-old government servant.”We have no quality bowlers, no reliable batters and it seems cricket is dead in Pakistan.”Asma Batool, a 52-year-old housewife, underlined just what cricket means to people in Pakistan.”Cricket is the only source of entertainment for our youth,” she said.”Our nation finds solace in this game.”

South Korea’s central bank on Tuesday slashed interest rates and its annual growth forecast as it looks to bolster the economy in the face of US tariffs and the fallout from President Yoon Suk Yeol’s brief declaration of martial law last year.Asia’s fourth-largest economy expanded less than expected in the final three months of 2024 as Yoon’s martial law move hit consumer confidence and domestic demand.That compounded fears over US President Donald Trump’s hardball trade policies that have seen him impose a broad range of levies on some of his country’s biggest economic partners since taking office in January.An official at the Bank of Korea told AFP it expected gross domestic product to expand 1.5 percent in 2025, down from its initial estimate of 1.9 percent in November.The benchmark interest rate would also be lowered by a quarter of a percentage point, the official said.In a statement released after the meeting, the bank said it projected a “slower recovery in domestic demand and export growth than initially expected”.It blamed “the effects of weakening economic sentiment and the US tariff policy” as well as political uncertainty stemming from the “martial law situation”.”There is a high level of uncertainty regarding the future growth path, including major countries’ trade policies, (and) the direction of the US Federal Reserve’s monetary policy,” it added.Trump warned last week that he would impose tariffs “in the neighbourhood of 25 percent” on auto imports and a similar amount or higher on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals.South Korea is home to the world’s key chipmakers, Samsung and SK hynix, and was the fourth-largest exporter of steel to the United States last year.Governor Rhee Chang-yong said South Korea would continue to face challenges with tariffs unless it develops new industries.”What our government should feel most painfully about the past 10 years is that no new industries have been introduced during this time,” he told reporters.”If we don’t address this issue, these problems will keep recurring,” he added.- ‘Weak’ data -South Korea’s trade ministry last week said it had asked Washington to exclude it from planned US tariffs on steel and aluminium.The country’s steel industry was already facing intense pressure in recent years as it grappled with oversupply — particularly from China — and a decrease in global demand.The US tariffs are likely to intensify those challenges.Analysts warn that should cheap Chinese steel which has been barred from the US market begin to flood regions such as Southeast Asia and Europe, South Korean steel producers will face deepening price competition.The Bank of Korea also said Tuesday that employment had continued to slow.”The data for early 2025 have been weak amid signs the political crisis is weighing on the economy,” Gareth Leather, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics, said.But he added that even if the crisis is resolved soon, growth is likely to remain weak because of a “downturn in the property sector and tight fiscal policy weighing on demand”.Dave Chia, associate economist at Moody’s Analytics, said he expected at least one more rate cut this year.”The boom in artificial intelligence should sustain shipments of advanced memory chips,” he wrote in a note. But a “slowdown in other major categories” stands to limit South Korea’s export growth, he added.

Title-holders and hosts Pakistan crashed out in the group phase of the Champions Trophy after losing to New Zealand and arch-rivals India.They still have a match to play, against Bangladesh on Thursday, but their tournament is over — a disappointing end to their first hosting of a major international cricket event in three decades.AFP Sport looks at where it all went wrong for Mohammad Rizwan’s men in the 50-over tournament: Rizwan was appointed white-ball skipper in October last year and led Pakistan to an impressive 2-1 ODI win over world champions Australia — their first series victory in 22 years in the country. They also won in Zimbabwe and inflicted on South Africa their first home whitewash, with a 3-0 scoreline. But fast-rising opener Saim Ayub injured his ankle during a subsequent Test in South Africa.Pakistan delayed the announcement of their Champions Trophy squad until the deadline to wait on Ayub’s fitness but the left-hander failed to recover. To add to the home team’s woes, fellow opener Fakhar Zaman was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after the first match — a 60-run defeat to New Zealand — with a muscle injury. Pakistan’s much-vaunted pace attack of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf — rested from the Test series to keep them fresh — looked rusty and failed to control the death overs.Pakistan selectors resisted calls from former players and pundits to include a second spinner in the 15-man squad and instead chose only one in Abrar Ahmed. They relied on part-time spinners Salman Agha and Khushdil Shah, who have managed just one wicket between them in two matches.   Pakistan also erred by not selecting a regular opener and took the risky step of promoting out-of-form Babar Azam to partner Zaman. When Zaman was ruled out they brought in Imam-ul-Haq as a replacement. He made just 10 as Pakistan were crushed by title favourites India by six wickets. In a surprise move they included in the squad all-rounders Khushdil and Faheem Ashraf on the basis of their performances in Bangladesh’s Twenty20 league. Ashraf had not played an ODI for two years and Khushdil for three.Former Pakistan captain and television pundit Rashid Latif called it a “political selection”, blaming outside influence.Former Pakistan captain and popular all-rounder Shahid Afridi accused Pakistan of playing outdated cricket. “In 2025 Pakistan was playing the cricket style of the 1980s and 1990s while other teams had progressed well to adopt an aggressive and modern style,” he told AFP.”The ailment of playing too many dot balls also hurt our game.”Pakistan played 152 dot balls against India in scoring 241 in 49.4 overs, including a record 28 balls with no scores in the first six overs. Their total of 260 in 47.2 overs in the defeat to New Zealand had 162 dot balls. “The mindset of Pakistan players does not match with modern-day cricket,” said Afridi.”We need a complete overhaul of the system so that we can produce players with an aggressive mindset.”

Transgender activists often shunned by society say they have found rare acceptance at India’s Hindu Kumbh Mela festival by giving blessings to pilgrims attending the world’s largest religious gathering.Among the many millions who have attended the six-week-long Hindu celebration of prayer and bathing held every 12 years is a unique “akhada” — or religious order — a camp of transgender individuals.Surveying crowds from her lion throne, Vaishnavi Jagadamba Nand Giri showers blessings on pilgrims standing in long queues to her colourful tent.”It is very difficult to survive as a transgender person in society, since most people cannot understand how we feel,” Giri said, one of around 100 members of the group at the festival.”As visibility increases for us, the acceptance will also increase.”South Asia has a long history of people designated as male at birth but who identify as female — known as kinnar or hijra.In India’s last census in 2011, more than 487,000 people were members of the third gender.India recognised a third gender in 2014, but members still face severe discrimination.- ‘Very auspicious’ -The festival in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj, which ends Wednesday, is a sea of humanity.Enthusiastic officials say that more than 560 million Hindu devotees have attended — numbers impossible to verify independently.That includes naked naga sadhus, wandering monks who walked for weeks from the remote mountains and forests where they are usually devoted to meditation.It also includes the transgender Kinnar Akhada.Traditionally, Hinduism had only 13 religious akhada groups which only included men.The transgender Kinnar Akhada changed that when they were accepted as the 14th member in 2019.Hindus believe that those who immerse themselves in the river waters at the Kumbh Mela cleanse themselves of sin, breaking free from the cycle of rebirth and ultimately attaining salvation.After bathing, pilgrims come to the camps of religious orders seeking blessings.”A blessing from a kinnar is considered very auspicious,” said 38-year-old pilgrim Mangesh Sahu, queueing for a bead from the group.”I will tie the bead around my daughter’s neck to keep her protected from the evil eye — the kinnar prayers are powerful,” he said.But challenges to full acceptance still remain.”They seek blessings from a transgender person, but they will shun an individual like me in their family,” Giri said. 

Rachin Ravindra struck a superb 112 to lead New Zealand into the Champions Trophy semi-finals with a five-wicket win over Bangladesh and in turn dump hosts Pakistan out of the semi-final race.The result in Rawalpindi also ensured India’s semi-final berth in the 50-over tournament as Bangladesh became the other team from Group A to be knocked out.Both New Zealand and India have two wins from two matches and will now meet in Dubai on Sunday to decide team one and two from the group.”Feels nice to qualify,” New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said after the win. “Knew Bangladesh would be a challenge.”Pakistan, who won the previous edition of the Champions Trophy in 2017, lost to New Zealand and then India in the first International Cricket Council (ICC) event they are hosting since the 1996 ODI World Cup.India refused to tour Pakistan due to political reasons and instead are playing all their matches in Dubai, which will host the final if the Asian giants go the distance.New Zealand have been the team to beat in this group after they humbled Pakistan by 60 runs in the tournament opener.Coming in as firm favourites in their second match, New Zealand elected to field first and spinner Michael Bracewell returned career-best ODI figures of 4-36 to restrict Bangladesh to 236-9.Chasing 237 for victory, New Zealand slipped to 15-2 and 72-3 before Ravindra and fellow left-hander Tom Latham, who made 55, added 129 for the fourth wicket.Both were dismissed before the end but New Zealand still achieved the target with 23 balls to spare.The Black Caps had a disastrous start when pace bowler Taskin Ahmed bowled first-match centurion Will Young for a duck.Bangladesh’s new pace sensation Nahid Rana took down Kane Williamson caught behind for five with a delivery bowled at 148.8 km/h (92.4 mph).- Ravindra reset and intruder -Ravindra, who returned to the team after recovering from a nasty blow to his forehead in a recent tri-series match against Pakistan, joined Devon Conway to rebuild the innings.Conway hit back with a flurry of boundaries and made 30 before Bangladesh checked the surge and Mustafizur Rahman hurried one on to the left-hander who chopped on to his stumps.Ravindra stood firm and with Latham, another centurion in the opener against Pakistan, waded his way through the chase and after reaching his fifty bossed the bowlers.Ravindra raised his fourth ODI ton — on his Champions Trophy debut — with a single off Rana and raised his bat to soak up the applause.”He’s doing Rachin things I guess,” Santner said of his batter who hit a hundred in his ODI World Cup debut in 2023.”He loves ICC events. Looks like he never left the game. He wasn’t as fluid as he’d have liked but when he gets going he’s tough to stop. His partnerships were good too.”Ravindra’s knock was interrupted by an intruder who barged on to the field to hug the batter before being escorted out of the ground by security.The young boy, wearing a white shalwar kameez, was carrying a photo of a leader of one of Pakistan’s radical religious parties.Ravindra finally fell, caught at long-on off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain, and wicketkeeper-batsman Latham’s run out added some late drama. But Glenn Phillips, 21 not out, and Bracewell, who hit the winning boundary, sealed victory.Player of the match Bracewell set up victory with key strikes that began with his second delivery to dismiss Tanzid Hasan for 24 and end a strong start by Bangladesh.Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto made 77 and Jaker Ali 45 in an attempt to put up a competitive total but Bracewell kept getting wickets.”I thought we started well with the bat but we lost wickets in the middle,” said Shanto. “On this pitch we didn’t bat well.” Bracewell was ably supported by the New Zealand quicks with Will O’Rourke collecting two wickets.