LNG shipments shift to India, Southeast Asia as European demand sags

Nikkei Asia , TOKYO — More exports of liquefied natural gas are heading to India and Southeast Asia as soaring temperatures and a push toward decarbonization stoke demand for cheaper, lower-emission fuel.

LNG trade flows to India and the rest of South Asia increased 9% on the year to 33.27 million tonnes in 2023, data from LSEG shows. The figure is on pace to grow in 2024 as well, with the January-July tally coming to 23.06 million tonnes.

July flows to South Asia totaled 3.51 million tonnes, outpacing shipments to Europe on a monthly basis for the first time since the autumn of 2021.

Traveler adiviesd to consider vacillation 

BBC , Travellers should consider getting vaccinated against mpox if they will be visting affected areas in Africa, new advice says.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has updated its recommendations in response to outbreaks of a new strain of the virus. Other continents, including Europe, can expect some cases too, it says.

ECDC says the risk of it spreading everywhere is low, despite the World Health Organization recently declaring the mpox situation a global emergency.

The disease – formerly known as monkeypox – can be passed on by close contact with anyone with the infection.

Scammers prey on young Chinese desperate for jobs in bleak economy

BEIJING, Aug 16 (Reuters) – A Chinese mother went on television to seek justice for her 19-year-old intellectually disabled son after scammers tricked the desperate jobseeker into having breast augmentation surgery, in an incident that has sparked widespread outrage.

The teenager hoping for a job at a cosmetic surgery clinic in the central city of Wuhan was told the procedure would help him earn money, by winning followers through livestreaming.

01:50The clinic even convinced him to borrow 30,000 yuan ($4,180) to pay for the surgery, his mother told a television station last week.

“For the sake of money, one can give up one’s humanity,” said one of more than 2,600 comments on China’s Weibo social media platform where posts on the boy’s plight have drawn more than 27 million views.

“Worse than beasts!” said another.

The mother managed to get the loan cancelled, with the help of the TV station and lawyers, but the breast surgery had already been done.