Knowledge Update

​Beijing, Dec 24 (IANS) China began construction of its first high-speed railway network line under a private-public partnership, officials reported on Saturday.

The 269 km line will connect Hangzhou and Taizhou, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, among China's most prosperous provinces and one where the private sector is

​Beijing, Dec 24 (IANS) After 28 years of talks between Beijing and Moscow, construction has finally started on a modern highway bridge connecting China and Russia across the Heilongjiang river, the first between the two countries.

Amman, Dec 22 (IANS/WAM) Japan has signed an agreement for a $254 million grant to Jordan to enhance its financial situation and support development policies to reform public services in the country.

​Brussels, Dec 22 (IANS) The European Police Office (Europol) has signed an agreement with EURid, the European Commission-appointed internet registry manager, to enhance internet security cooperation.

Beijing, Dec 22 (IANS) China's State Council has passed a plan on healthcare and medical system reform for the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).

Health care development is basic to the drive for a "Healthy China" and crucial to addressing people's needs, said a statement on Wednesday released after a State Council

Tokyo, Dec 22 (IANS) Japanese car manufacturer Honda has begun negotiations with Waymo, a Google subsidiary that builds self-driven vehicles, to collaborate on developing the technology further, the company said on Thursday.

A group of international academics has condemned the UN convention banning child labour as "harmful", saying the policy ignores benefits and reflects Western prejudice.

​New Delhi, Dec 17 (IANS) Finnish health care technology company Health Care Success (HCS) on Saturday said it entered into an agreement with New Delhi-based Immpetus Enterprises LLP to launch a wide range of fitness bands in India under the brand name Tango.

​Beijing, Dec 14 (IANS) Video bloggers in China must register their real identities before publishing anything online from January 1, the Ministry of Culture announced Wednesday.

​The Asian Development Bank on Tuesday lowered India's growth forecast for this year from 7.4 per cent to 7 per cent due to a slight slowdown in the economy following the central government's demonetisation move.

The Manila-headquartered ADB's review said the shortage of cash after the demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and 500 notes was one of the reasons for the decline in India's economic growth in 2016, Xinhua news agency reported.

ADB highlighted weak investments and slow down in the agricultural sector in the country among other reasons for the fall, Efe news cited the report as saying.

However, the report said Indian economy will recover next year with an estimated growth of 7.8 per cent.

For the Asian continent, the ADB forecast growth from 5.7 to 5.6 per cent, and said the growth for 2017 would remain unchanged at 5.7 per cent.

The growth is expected to remain stable in the coming year, ADB Deputy Chief Economist Juzhong Zhuang said.

"Asian economies continue their robust expansion in the face of global economic uncertainties," said Zhuang.

"Structural reforms to boost productivity, improving investment climate and supporting domestic demand can help maintain growth momentum," he added.

"Growth in China, the world's second largest economy, is expected to hit 6.6 per cent this year, driven by strong domestic consumption, solid wage growth, urban job creation, and public infrastructure investment," the report said.

The bank's forecast for China in 2017 was maintained at 6.4 per cent.

Manila, Dec 13 (IANS)