Where debating everything under the sun is only the beginning

Things are just great in Crimea! And the Eurasian plate is moving away from the North American plate, so I'm farther away from Belfrager today than I was yesterday. 

It's a round world...  

I've broken a tooth. Another one...

It's a round world... 

India and China have signed 12 agreements in Delhi, one of which will see China investing $20bn (£12.2bn) in India's infrastructure over five years.

At a news conference with Chinese President Xi Jinping, India's PM Narendra Modi said "peace on the border" was important for progress.

Talks came as India accused China of fresh territorial incursions in Ladakh.

China is one of India's top trading partners but they vie for regional influence and dispute their border.

NEW DELHI: Bollywood is not even a blip on the film market in China that is adding 10-11 movie halls every day to its 22,000 screens (India has 11,000). That could be about to change with the two nations signing up for joint ventures.

PM Modi's pitch for joint ventures between the leading Indian movie industry and its Chinese counterpart is significant as China allows only 34 foreign movies annually to be screened in the country — and it's mostly Hollywood fare. Joint ventures aren't considered foreign movies: making space for Bollywood.

Buzz is that the pitch followed on a cue from Xi's wife Peng Liyuan. Modi told Xi that Peng shared with him how much she liked watching Raj Kapoor's classic Awaara and that the Bollywood following in China was growing. Of late "3 Idiots" and "Dhoom 3" have been rare box office successes in Chinese, but that's about it.

Chinese leaders are visiting Belgrade to advance projects such as their plan to turn Greece's port of Piraeus into a hub for China's trade with Europe. The talks involve 16 heads of central and eastern European nations.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang began a rare visit to Serbia on Tuesday for a two-day regional summit to finalize plans for a new transport and shipping hub on Europe's eastern flank.

His visit coincides with economic troubles for Russia, the Balkan's traditional power broker, stemming partly from Western sanctions over Moscow's role in Ukraine.
Traveling with Li are 200 Chinese business executives. Another summit item is to be the signing of a deal for a high-speed train link between Budapest and Belgrade.

Among the European leaders who met Li was Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar (pictured with Li, above).

China seeks 'rapid' route

Ahead of the summit Li told Serbian media that the concept was a "rapid land and maritime route" created by expanding Piraeus' port facilities and linking it by railroad.

"We will set a mid-term agenda to define our future cooperation and present financial measures that will facilitate it," Li said referring to China's abundant cash reserves.
The Chinese shipping giant Cosco has a 35-year concession to expand two container terminals at Piraeus.

Greece, despite its deep economic crisis, retains one of the world's largest merchant marine fleets, with China being one of its key customers.

BELGRADE -- Two agreements on cooperation between the Serbian and Hungarian railways and customs authorities were signed on Wednesday in Belgrade.

The agreements are part of a deal to modernize the Belgrade-Budapest railway and were signed in the presence of prime ministers of China, Serbia, Hungary and Macedonia.

The prime ministers told a joint press conference that they were glad about the high-speed railway project "now being certain," adding that it would benefit the countries of central and eastern Europe, the EU, and overall cooperation between China and this part of the world.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expects that the railway will be completed in two years and that it will prove to be of benefit to both China and the countries of central and eastern Europe and the EU.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said that it was an important day for Serbia, which would contribute not only to the development of industry and railways, but also enable greater connectivity with Hungary, Macedonia, and far faster transportation of passengers and goods.

The Serbian prime minister said that the travel time would be shortened from eight to 2.4 hours and that the great infrastructure project would bring new jobs.

The Serbian prime minister thanked his counterparts for the understanding and cooperation they were showing, stressing that everything would be done to have the project realized in time and as soon as possible.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that it was a lucky day for Hungary and that the project would enable the country to use the potentials of its "positive geographical position."

He said that the railway would prove of great importance to the countries of central and eastern Europe, adding that he was confident that cooperation between China and Europe was progressing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Macau to mark the 15th anniversary of the former Portuguese colony's return to China.

He urged people in the territory to respect the "one-China" principle.

Like neighbouring Hong Kong, Macau is a special autonomous region and has experienced protests by pro-democracy activists this year.

Correspondents say officials in Beijing do not want to the territories to become hotbeds of dissent.

"We must both adhere to the 'one China' principle and respect the difference of the two systems," Mr Xi said at the inauguration of Macau's Chief Executive Fernando Chui.

"This is the only way leading to sound and steady progress," Mr Xi added. "Otherwise a misguided approach from the beginning, just like putting one's left foot into the right shoe, would lead us nowhere."

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was the fifth of his brothers to take the throne and became king in 2005, reports Caroline Hawley

Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has died in hospital, royal officials have announced.

A statement early on Friday said his half brother, Salman, had become king.

Before the announcement, Saudi television cut to Koranic verses, which often signifies the death of a senior royal.

King Abdullah, who was said to be aged about 90, had been in hospital for several weeks suffering from a lung infection.

Abdullah came to the throne in 2005 but had suffered frequent bouts of ill health in recent years.