Chinese philanthropist offers to build cross-strait undersea tunnel - CNA ENGLISH NEWS

Chinese philanthropist offers to build cross-strait undersea tunnel - CNA ENGLISH NEWS: "Taipei, Jan. 30 (CNA) China's best-known philanthropist said in Taoyuan Sunday he would be willing to spend his entire fortune to build an undersea tunnel and high-speed railw"

BBC News - World food prices at fresh high, says UN

BBC News - World food prices at fresh high, says UN: "The recent floods in Australia, which also accounts for 11% of global exports, has compounded the problem, he said.

The price of corn has also risen, because of greater support for biofuels in the US and the increased price of oil, which makes biofuels more attractive.

Droughts in Argentina, the world's second biggest exporter of corn behind the US, have also pushed the price up, Mr Torero said.

'The situation is very tight. If we have more natural disasters, we could have a problem,' he said."

Scientists fear mass extinction as oceans choke - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Low oxygen levels, which have been found along south-eastern

 Australia, are known to increase stress on fish. (Reuters: Ho New)

Scientists fear mass extinction as oceans choke - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Australian scientists fear the planet is on the brink of another mass extinction as ocean dead zones continue to grow in size and number.

More than 400 ocean dead zones - areas so low in oxygen that sea life cannot survive - have been reported by oceanographers around the world between 2000 and 2008.

That is compared with 300 in the 1990s and 120 in the 1980s."

Kuala Lumpur - Plan to double public transport

Consolidating public transportation: "KUALA LUMPUR: The National Public Transport Policy Framework (NPTPF) and the Greater Kuala Lumpur – Klang Valley public transport master plan will be ready by September next year, Land Public Transport Commission (LPTC) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar recently said and this would be followed by sub-plans to focus on other regions such as Penang and Johor.

“Currently, the Commission is holding consultations with various stakeholders, users and experts,” said Syed Hamid.

He also said currently, the modal share of public transportation in Greater KL was at 12% and the government is aiming to increase it to 25% by 2012."

Hong Kong’s Expanding Metro a Model of Development-Funded Transit « The Transport Politic

Hong Kong’s Expanding Metro a Model of Development-Funded Transit « The Transport Politic: "As one of the densest places on earth, it is no surprise that Hong Kong is a transit city, with over 90% of journeys made by public transportation. This concentration ensures high ridership on the city’s extensive MTR metro system. Yet it also increases the cost of line expansions, since building new projects in places that are already packed with people necessitates the creation of tunnels and requires expensive environmental and social remediation.

Hong Kong, however, is going about constructing new projects at a steady pace. At the end of last month, the MTR transit agency approved the construction of the 4.3-mile South Island Line, which will provide service to Aberdeen and other sections of the south side of Hong Kong Island. In addition, the agency will complete a 1.6-mile extension of the Kwun Tong Line to Whampoa. Both will open for operations by 2015, with ground breaking scheduled for next year. The city already has a 2-mile metro extension to the West Island under construction."

Cars emit carbon dioxide which causes climate disruption

Thailand Makes Its Slow Recovery From The Flood Disaster. | Pattaya Daily News - Pattaya Newspaper, Powerful news at your fingertips: "Thailand is taking stock as the worst of the flooding subsides and the nationwide relief effort strengthens. The Chao Phraya River still presents a threat, though, with further high tides imminent."

Asia tops climate change's 'most vulnerable' list - environment - 20 October 2010 - New Scientist

(Image: Farjana K. Godhul/AFP/Getty)

Asia tops climate change's 'most vulnerable' list - environment - 20 October 2010 - New Scientist: "SEEKING to escape the worst effects of climate change? A comprehensive vulnerability index suggests you move to Scandinavia, Ireland or Iceland. And although Africa is often regarded as the most vulnerable continent, it finds that the teeming plains of Asia are at greater risk in the next 30 years. Ten of the 16 most vulnerable countries are in Asia (see map)."