Low water footprint food

‘INTERNAL THREAT’ AT KHADAKWASLA DAM Taking advantage of lockdown, the chowpatty on Sinhagad Road has further expanded into the catchment area, creating hygiene issues as well as being in constant danger of collapse; authorities promise to look into complaints Despite specific leads from security agencies and intelligence bureaus over the years that the major drinking water resource of Pune city — Khadakwasla dam — is on the radar of terrorists, the water resources department and civic authorities have been largely casual towards the safety of this utility. And now, it has emerged that this lax attitude also seems to extend to a threat that has turned out to be internal in nature. Over the past year, a major portion of the reservoir has been encroached upon by rapidly multiplying food stalls, in the name of creating a chowpatty. stall owners have taken advantage of Unlock weeks and allegedly occupied the bank of the reservoir right beside the busy Sinhagad … [Read more...] about New illegal stalls encroach on only reservoir supplying water to the city

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s imports of Thai rice can be easily met by alternative sources, said the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in response to CNA queries about recent reports of severe droughts in Thailand that had affected rice production there. “Singapore’s demand for rice is very small compared to total global rice production. For example, we account for only 1.2 per cent, 1.2 per cent and 0.6 per cent of Thailand, Vietnam and India’s total rice exports in 2018 respectively,” an MTI spokesman told CNA. “Over the years, we have been deliberate in our diversification strategy. Besides Thailand, Vietnam and India, we also import rice from Myanmar, Cambodia, Japan and the US. Some of these source countries, such as the US, are less affected by domestic shortages and will alleviate any shortages from other source countries.” READ: When the rain doesn’t come: Thailand in grip of severe drought as monsoon season fails to deliver WATCH: Thailand’s rice producers look to … [Read more...] about Singapore’s imports of Thai rice ‘easily met’ by alternative sources but climate change could affect food security

LONDON: This will be a discomforting, defining week for the global economy. That is not because the US Federal Reserve has cut interest rates. Rather it is because of the strikingly low level of rates from which the Fed started from: A range of just 2.25 per cent to 2.5 per cent. THIS IS AS HIGH AS THEY WILL GO After more than a decade of economic expansion, and despite everything from tariffs to tax cuts, it seems this is as high as US interest rates go. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank is debating whether to reduce its negative rate still further. Until this month, it was possible to imagine that pre-financial crisis levels of 4 per cent to 5 per cent might eventually return. No longer. According to their own projections, Fed officials believe rates will settle at 2.5 per cent in the long run. Subtract their 2 per cent inflation target and the real reward for capital is going to be a miserable 0.5 per cent. The equivalent rate in Europe and Japan will almost … [Read more...] about Commentary: These low interest rates around the world are here to stay

LONDON: European equities trod water on Wednesday (Sep 18) as investors stuck to the sidelines ahead of a crucial US interest rate decision, while keeping an eye on developments in the Middle East after the attack on Saudi oil facilities. Expectations are running high for the US Federal Reserve to deliver the year's second interest rate cut later on Wednesday. Frankfurt and Paris stocks closed marginally higher, but London lost ground and Wall Street was lower, as dealers awaited fresh rates guidance from Fed chief Jerome Powell after a key monetary policy meeting. "European markets are mixed ... as investors wait patiently for the first major interest rate decision of the week and the most important," said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam. "There seems to be little question that the Fed is going to cut interest rates again. The real question is whether they will stick to the mid-cycle adjustment message and refuse to explicitly signal more cuts or give up the fight and acknowledge … [Read more...] about European stock markets tread water before Fed rate call

SINGAPORE: Over the past few months, investors in Hyflux have been anxiously observing the unfolding of events. When white knights in the form of a consortium comprising Salim Group and Medco Group (SM Investments) entered into an agreement in October last year to invest S$400 million for 60 per cent of Hyflux’s equity and to grant S$130 million in loan, things started looking up. Then in March, national water agency, PUB, issued a default notice giving Hyflux some time to remedy defaults arising from a water agreement, failing which PUB will take over its subsidiary, Tuaspring, “as whole, or the desalination plant alone”. A few weeks later, PUB said it will assume control of only Tuaspring Desalination Plant (TSDP) at zero dollars, and waive off the compensation sum which it is entitled to under the water agreement. This caught many by surprise. The future of Hyflux looked gloomier than ever on Apr 4 when Hyflux cancelled the restructuring agreement with SM investments … [Read more...] about Commentary: Hyflux after the perfect storm