AFP Asia

India’s wild elephant population estimates have dropped sharply by a quarter, a government survey incorporating a new DNA system has found, marking the most accurate but sobering count yet.India is home to the majority of the world’s remaining wild Asian elephants, a species listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and increasingly threatened by shrinking habitat.The Wildlife Institute of India’s new All-India Elephant Estimation report released this week puts the wild elephant population at 22,446 — down from nearly 29,964 estimated in 2017, a fall of 25 percent.The survey drew on genetic analysis of more than 21,000 dung samples, alongside a vast network of camera traps and 667,000 kilometres (414,400 miles) of foot surveys.But researchers said the methodological overhaul meant the results were “not comparable to past figures and may be treated as a new monitoring baseline”.- ‘Gentle giants’ -But the report also warned that the figures reflect deepening pressures on one of India’s most iconic animals.”The present distribution of elephants in India represents a mere fraction of their historical range,” it said, estimating they now occupy only about 3.5 percent of the area they once roamed.Habitat loss, fragmentation, and increasing human-elephant conflict are driving the decline.”Electrocution and railway collisions cause a significant number of elephant fatalities, while mining and highway construction disrupt habitats, intensifying man-wildlife conflicts,” the report added.The Western Ghats, lush southern highlands stretching through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, remain a key stronghold with nearly 12,00 elephants.But even there, populations are increasingly cut off from one another by commercial plantations, farmland fencing, and human encroachment.Another major population centre lies in India’s northeast, including Assam and the Brahmaputra floodplains, which host more than 6,500 elephants.”Strengthening corridors and connectivity, restoring habitat, improving protection, and mitigating the impact of development projects are the need of the hour to ensure the well-being of these gentle giants,” the report said.

A well-known US scholar on India who advised the US government was charged with retaining classified information and allegedly met Chinese officials, prosecutors said Tuesday.Ashley Tellis, 64, who has worked in or advised the US government for more than two decades, was found to have kept more than 1,000 pages of top-secret or secret documents in his home, a criminal affidavit said.Late in the evening of September 25, Tellis entered the State Department, where he served as an unpaid advisor, and appeared to print from a secret document on US Air Force techniques, the affidavit said.It said Tellis met multiple times with Chinese government officials at a restaurant in the Washington suburb of Fairfax, Virginia. At one dinner, Tellis entered with a manila envelope but did not appear to leave with it, and on two occasions the Chinese officials presented him a gift bag, the affidavit said.Tellis faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted on the charges of unlawfully holding documents, the Justice Department said. “The charges as alleged in this case represent a grave risk to the safety and security of our citizens,” said Lindsey Halligan, the US attorney for Virginia’s eastern district who has become known for pursuing charges against critics of President Donald Trump.The State Department confirmed that Tellis was arrested Saturday — the same day the affidavit said he was due to fly to Rome — but declined further comment due to the ongoing investigation.Tellis, a naturalized US citizen originally from India, is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and served in senior positions under former president George W. Bush. He helped negotiate the Bush administration’s civil nuclear deal with India that was seen as a landmark in building ties between the world’s two largest democracies.But in recent years, Tellis has become known as one of the most outspoken contrarians in Washington on the US courtship of India.In a recent essay in Foreign Affairs, Tellis said India was often pursuing policies at odds with the United States, pointing to its relations with Russia and Iran, and doubted that India would match China’s strength anytime soon.Trump in August slapped major tariffs on India over its purchases of oil from Russia.Lawyers for Tellis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Brazil, India, Italy and Japan vowed Tuesday to quadruple their production and consumption of renewable fuels, hoping other countries will join the pledge during UN climate talks in November.”We hope to have a good number of signatories” by COP30, Brazilian foreign ministry official Joao Marcos Paes Leme told reporters in the capital Brasilia.”Other European countries are also interested,” he added.Paes Leme was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of representatives from 67 countries in the run up to COP30 climate talks in the Amazon city of Belem next month.The pledge involves quadrupling the production of sustainable fuels such as biofuels, hydrogen and some synthetic fuels by 2035, compared to 2024 levels.Paes Leme noted that these fuels can be used to replace planet-harming fossil fuels in sectors such as aviation, maritime transport, or the cement and steel industries.”These are sectors where decarbonization is difficult,” because electrical energy has not yet succeeded in replacing fossil fuels.Sustainable fuels are already used in these industries “but they are not produced in sufficient quantities,” he said.The massive use of coal, oil, and fossil gas for energy since the industrial revolution is the primary driver of human-induced global warming.The commitment to sustainable fuels “is something we love to hear,” said Francesco La Camera, director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). However, he warned that some biofuels can be harmful due to the vast expanses of land required to produce raw materials such as sugarcane, soy, or corn. “We have to be serious about what we say: sustainable fuel also means sustainable from the perspective of land use.”For the first time, the world pledged to “transition away” from fossil fuels at COP28 in Dubai in 2023.However many of the largest fossil-fuel producing nations — including Brazil — are planning to increase production in the coming years.

US authorities on Tuesday unsealed an indictment against Chen Zhi, a UK-Cambodian businessman accused of running forced labor camps in Cambodia where trafficked workers carried out cryptocurrency fraud schemes that netted billions of dollars.The 37-year-old, known as Vincent, founded Prince Holding Group, a multinational conglomerate that authorities say served as a front for “one of Asia’s largest transnational criminal organizations,” according to the US Department of Justice.The Justice Department also filed the largest forfeiture action in its history, seizing approximately 127,271 Bitcoin worth around $15 billion at current prices.”Today’s action represents one of the most significant strikes ever against the global scourge of human trafficking and cyber-enabled financial fraud,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.Chen allegedly directed operations of forced labor compounds across Cambodia where hundreds of trafficked workers were held in prison-like facilities surrounded by high walls and barbed wire.Under threat of violence, they were forced to execute so-called “pig butchering” scams — cryptocurrency investment schemes that build trust with victims over time before stealing their funds.The schemes targeted victims worldwide, causing billions in losses.Scam centers across Cambodia, Myanmar and the region use fake job ads to attract foreign nationals — many of them Chinese — to purpose-built compounds, where they are forced to carry out online fraud under threat of torture.Since around 2015, Prince Group has operated across more than 30 countries under the guise of legitimate real estate, financial services and consumer businesses, prosecutors said.Chen and top executives allegedly used political influence and bribed officials in multiple countries to protect the operation. Proceeds were laundered in part through the Prince Group’s own gambling and cryptocurrency mining operations.The stolen funds financed luxury purchases including watches, yachts, private jets, vacation homes and a Picasso painting bought at a New York auction house, authorities said.Chen faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted on wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges.In coordinated action, British authorities on Tuesday froze 19 London properties worth over £100 million linked to Chen’s network, including a £12 million mansion in North London.The sanctions also target Chen’s associate Qiu Wei Ren, a Chinese national with Cambodian, Cypriot and Hong Kong citizenship.An AFP investigation on Tuesday found that scam centers in neighboring Myanmar were expanding rapidly just months after a crackdown there. China, Thailand and Myanmar forced pro-junta Myanmar militias who protect the centers to promise to shutter the compounds in February, freeing around 7,000 people — most of them Chinese citizens.But the brutal call center-style system is flourishing again in Myanmar, now using Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system for internet access.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand were forced to share the points in their Women’s World Cup fixture after heavy rain had the final say in Colombo on Tuesday, washing out play after the innings break.The hosts had done the hard yards, posting a competitive 258-6 and fancying their chances with a spin-heavy attack on a pitch made for the slow bowlers. The total was also the highest in the Colombo leg of the competition so far.”I thought Sri Lanka batted particularly well,” said New Zealand captain Sophie Devine.”It was a good cricket wicket… Shame that the weather had to play its part in it. It would have been a really exciting chase.” The innings belonged to lower order dynamo Nilakshika Silva, who threw caution to the wind to smash the fastest half-century of this World Cup. Coming in at number six, she turned the tide with a whirlwind knock, reaching her fifty in just 26 balls, bettering the previous mark of 34 deliveries set by Bangladesh’s Shorna Akter earlier in the week. It was also a new Sri Lankan record, eclipsing Nilakshika’s own milestone of 28 balls.It was her fourth half-century in ODIs and she crossed the 1,000 run mark in the process, becoming only the eighth Sri Lankan to do so.For once, the hosts didn’t have to lean solely on Chamari Athapaththu’s broad shoulders. However, the captain returned to form with her 20th ODI fifty and stitched together an opening stand of 101 with Vishmi Gunaratne, who made a fluent 42.That solid foundation allowed Hasini Perera (44) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (26) to consolidate before Nilakshika’s late fireworks took the innings from steady to sizzling. Sri Lanka plundered 80 runs in the last 10 overs, with 16 coming off the final over as they finished with a flourish.”We played good cricket. Unfortunately, we can’t complete the game,” Sri Lanka skipper Athapaththu said.”Nilakshika is an experienced player. Last 12 months, she has been playing good cricket.”New Zealand captain Devine picked up three wickets, but may have missed a trick by under bowling left-armer Bree Illing, who extracted lively bounce and pace to claim two scalps in just seven overs.The Kiwis will stay in Colombo to face Pakistan on Saturday while Sri Lanka take on an in-form South Africa on Friday.

At least 16 people were killed Tuesday when a fire tore through a chemical and garments factory in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, officials said.The blaze began in the factory’s warehouse before spreading to a nearby multi-storey garments facility, said Tajul Islam Chowdhury, director at the Fire Service Department.All the bodies were recovered from the garments factory, Chowdhury told reporters, confirming the toll.Outside the factory, distraught relatives searched for loved ones. Abdur Rahman, 19, said he was looking for his brother Robin.”I found one of his colleagues, who escaped by breaking a window. He saw my brother Robin inside,” Rahman told AFP. “He didn’t make it.”Several others held up pictures of missing loved ones, pleading for information.”The deceased appeared to have suffered severe inhalation injuries from the chemicals, as there were highly flammable materials stacked inside,” Chowdhury told reporters.Authorities have yet to enter the chemical warehouse.Tahmina Sharmin, 34, a witness, said she heard a loud explosion before the area was filled with flames and smoke.”People were startled and didn’t know what to do at first,” she told AFP. She said she was among the first to respond before fire crews arrived.More than 26,500 fires were reported last year alone in Bangladesh, where safety standards are lax and often ignored. In 2021, at least 52 people were killed including many children when a fire swept through a food processing factory.Bangladesh’s worst fire took place in 2012, when a blaze ripped through a garment factory on Dhaka’s outskirts, killing at least 111 people and injuring more than 200 others.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday lifted its outlook for global growth this year, flagging a milder-than-expected economic hit from President Donald Trump’s tariff policies while warning of risks ahead. In its flagship World Economic Outlook (WEO) report — compiled before the most recent US-China tariff spat — the IMF hiked its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.2 percent, up from 3.0 in July, while leaving its prediction for 2026 unchanged at 3.1 percent. The global inflation rate is expected to remain elevated at 4.2 percent this year, and 3.7 percent in 2026, underpinned by elevated inflation in several countries including the United States. “The tariff shock itself is smaller than initially feared,” IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas told reporters in Washington on Tuesday, adding that the private sector had also supported growth by responding to Trump’s tariffs in an agile way.Other factors, including the AI boom and fiscal policies in Europe and China had also helped to prop up the global economy, he said.But, he warned, “the tariff shock is here, and it is further dimming already weak growth prospects.”Since returning to office, Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on top trading partners including China and the European Union in a bid to reshape US trading relationships and boost domestic manufacturing. Over the weekend, the US president threatened fresh tariffs of 100 percent on China, on top of current steep levies, criticizing Beijing’s recent decision to tighten export controls on the rare earth minerals crucial to the defense and high-tech sectors. “Everything is very fluid,” Gourinchas told AFP in an interview. “But I think it’s a very useful reminder that we live in a world in which this kind of increase in trade tensions, increase in policy uncertainty, can flare up at any time.”- US upgraded, China unchanged -The IMF raised its prospects for economic growth for the United States, the world’s largest economy, by 0.1 percent this year and next, to 2.0 percent in 2025, and to 2.1 percent in 2026. However, this still represents a marked slowdown from 2024, when US growth hit 2.8 percent.Despite the trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies, the Fund still expects China’s economy to slow to 4.8 percent this year from 5.0 percent in 2024, before cooling sharply to just 4.2 percent in 2026, in line with previous estimates. China’s slowdown has been driven by a reduction in net exports, which have been at least partly offset by growing domestic demand fueled by policy stimulus, the Fund said. Elsewhere in Asia, the IMF raised India’s 2025 growth forecast to 6.6 percent from 6.4 percent in the last outlook update in July, and hiked its prediction for growth in Japan to 1.1 percent — up 0.4 percentage points.  – Europe’s growth troubles continue -The outlook for Europe has improved slightly from July, with the Eurozone now expected to grow by 1.2 percent this year and by 1.1 percent in 2026. But despite the upgrade, Europe’s growth trajectory still significantly lags the United States.Germany’s economy is expected to bounce back from recession to register growth of 0.2 percent this year, up 0.1 percentage point, before picking up to 0.9 percent next year. And France, which is in the midst of a prolonged political crisis, is expected to see growth cool to 0.7 percent this year, before rising slightly to 0.9 percent in 2026.The one market exception in the Eurozone is Spain, which saw an upgrade and is now expected to see growth remain resilient at 2.9 percent this year and 2.0 percent in 2026.Growth in the United Kingdom is now expected to hit 1.3 percent this year and next. As the war in Ukraine continues, the Russian economy is likely to see a marked slowdown in growth this year to just 0.6 percent this year from 4.3 percent in 2024, the IMF said, cutting its outlook by 0.4 percentage points.

The first Test between Pakistan and South Africa was set for a thrilling conclusion after rival spinners Noman Ali and Senuran Muthusamy wrought destruction on day three in Lahore on Tuesday.Muthusamy took a maiden 10-wicket match haul to help bowl Pakistan out for 167 in their second innings on another day dominated by spin and give South Africa a target of 277 for victory.But Noman, following up his 6-112 in the first innings, dismissed captain Aiden Markram for three and Wiaan Mulder (nought) to keep the visitors down to 51-2 at the close. Ryan Rickelton, 29 not out, and Tony de Zorzi, unbeaten on 16, fought till stumps with South Africa needing another 226 runs.Pakistan need eight wickets for a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.With the threatening spin duo of Noman and Sajid Khan the home team will fancy their chances, especially because no visiting team in Pakistan has ever chased more than the 220-8 Sri Lanka did in Rawalpindi in 2000.Pakistan head coach Azhar Ali was in buoyant mood.”We will definitely defend this target,” said the former Pakistan all-rounder. “The state of the pitch and our spinners make us favourites, despite our batting not up to the mark in the second outing.”De Zorzi, who hit a century in South Africa’s first innings, acknowledged the pressure was on.”These are tough conditions for batting, but hopefully myself and Rickelton can build tomorrow,” he said.”We will definitely give our best tomorrow, knowing that partnerships will be like gold.”As a gripping match approaches its climax, Muthusamy destroyed Pakistan with figures of 5-57 to add to his 6-117 while fellow spinner Simon Harmer took 4-51 as Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 17 runs.The hosts were fairly well placed at 150-4 but Saud Shakeel holed out for 38 off Muthusamy to trigger a collapse in the last over before tea.Harmer bowled Mohammad Rizwan for 14 before Muthusamy ran riot.He dismissed Salman Agha for four, Noman Ali for 11 and Shaheen Shah Afridi for nought to finish with match figures of 11-174, taking four wickets off 21 balls.Harmer ended Pakistan’s sloppy batting display by removing Sajid Khan for one.Earlier, South Africa were dismissed for 269 an hour before lunch, conceding a lead of 109 after Pakistan’s first-innings 378.Noman took 6-112 for his ninth haul of five wickets or more in Tests.- Muthusamy magic -With the Gaddafi Stadium taking big turn, South Africa tossed Harmer the new ball in Pakistan’s second innings. The 36-year-old had Imam-ul-Haq stumped by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne for nought before trapping captain Shan Masood lbw for seven.Muthusamy then had Abdullah Shafique for 41 and pacer Kagiso Rabada trapped Babar Azam leg-before for 42.Azam has now failed to score a hundred in 28 Test innings dating back to December 2022.Earlier, South Africa’s De Zorzi resumed on 81 at the start of the day and carried the fight to Pakistan, completing his second Test century with a six and two singles off Noman.  The left-hander finally holed out for 104 to long-on off Noman, where Shaheen Shah Afridi took a low catch, ending a 208-minute innings containing 10 fours and two sixes.Noman, who bowled a probing 35 overs, also removed Prenelan Subrayen for four during the session.Fellow spinner Sajid took the first wicket of the day when he had Muthusamy caught by Salman Agha for 11. He then wrapped up the innings when he bowled Rabada for nought to finish with 3-98 off 33 overs.

South Africa spinner Simon Harmer took two wickets as Pakistan reached 36-2 at lunch Tuesday in their second innings of the first Test in Lahore, extending their lead to 145.Earlier, South Africa had been dismissed for 269 an hour before lunch, having resumed on 216-6 on day three. Pakistan spinner Noman Ali took 6-112 for his ninth haul of five wickets or more in Tests.It gave Pakistan a 109-run lead after they scored 378 in the first innings, but left their openers with a tricky 11 overs to negotiate against the new ball before the break. The 36-year-old Harmer had Imam-ul-Haq stumped by wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne for nought in his first over before trapping Shan Masood lbw for seven.Abdullah Shafique, 21 not out, and Babar Azam, on one, were the not out batsmen at lunch.South Africa’s Tony De Zorzi resumed on 81 at the start of the day and carried the fight to Pakistan on a turning Gaddafi Stadium pitch as he completed his second Test century with a six and two singles off Noman.  The left-hander finally holed out for 104 to long-on off Noman, where Shaheen Shah Afridi took a low catch, ending a 208-minute innings containing 10 fours and two sixes.Noman, who bowled a probing 35 overs, also removed Prenelan Subrayen for four during the session.Fellow spinner Sajid Khan took the first wicket of the day when he had Senuran Muthusamy caught by Salman Agha for 11. He then wrapped up the innings when he bowled Kagiso Rabada for nought to finish with 3-98 off 33 overs.