Asian leaders from Pakistan to Japan have all condemned Israel’s deadly attack on Gaza which began a week ago and has killed about 500 civilians. Reiterating the need for peace in the region, Asia’s leaders publicly called for a ceasefire. Mass protests in Islamic nations Pakistan and Indonesia had demonstrators burning the Israeli flag and asking the government to send in troops.

Calling for an immediate end to the violence, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told the AFP - “There should be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We should stop the loss of life and property there. What has happened is unjustified.”

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In an interesting discovery while digging into Asia’s varied architectural styles, i found amazing similarities between Kerala’s (South Indian State) traditional Nalukettu houses and traditional Japanese temples. Its a strange fact, endorsed by several architects in the region who have compared the layout, usage of space and shape of the houses and temples, but it is believed that the Nalukettu houses are influenced by the Japanese, history of how they were influenced however remains ambiguous.

The Nalukettu houses is quadrangular building constructed within a large compound usually the center of family life. Originally the abode of the wealthy Brahmin and Nair families, this style of architecture has today become a status symbol among the well to do in Kerala. The four wings surrounding the quadrangle courtyard follow the tenants of Vastu Shastra - specifically placed rooms to house a large joint family and their guests. Created using wood and tiles, the interior of the house is decorated with antiques made from teak, sandalwood, mahogany. However it is the traditional exterior of carved and slotted wood and has a close resemblance to East Asian gabled and thatched structures.

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Asian governments have used every trick in the book to push consumers to buy more goods, to keep the economy healthy and kicking. With the industry faltering and exports slowing to seven year lows, all Asian governments have taken some precautionary measures - reduced interest rates and pumped money into the economy. Nonetheless, many have gone a step further in promoting consumer spending. Recession hit Japan is distributing cash payments to households, China is giving tax breaks on purchases of cellphones and washing machines and India which has already reduced fuel prices is handing out raises to four million public servants.

However, these governments have failed to overlook a problem culturally intrinsic to Asia. Asians are the world’s most-dedicated savers. Known to diligently pay back credit card debt at the end of every month, and only recently wager on large loans, Asian’s are savers. Their thriftiness having being reinforced by the Asian financial crisis, its getting increasingly difficult for governments to persuade consumers to loosen their purse strings when times are weary. As a result, Asian governments are themselves spending more to rejuvenate industry and jump start the economy.

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Thailand’s stock market rose almost three percent closing at 437.06, up 12.27 points, in trade worth 19.48 billion baht (US$560 million) on news that the political deadlock plaguing the country since the past six months was resolved.

As England born Abhisit Vejjajiva head of he opposition Democrat Party was declared the winner in a parliamentary vote, business leaders throughout the country welcomed the decision. The challenge they now feel is for the new political party to form a strong team and improve the economy while keeping society and politics in harmony. Agriculture, small businesses, tourism and labor are the four sectors that need the most government support.

“The faster [the Democrats] are able to restore confidence, the more public support and trust there will be in their team. I want to see the new government pass the 100-billion-baht stimulus package as soon as possible,” Mr Santi Vilassakdanont, the chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) told the Bangkok Post.

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The thousands of anti government protesters occupying Suvarnabhumi International Airport Thailand’s main tourist gateway, since the past eight days, roared in happiness when they heard the court ruling banning Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat from politics for five years and dissolved the ruling party over a case of voting fraud. Mr. Somchai’s People Power Party is Thailand’s largest party in Parliament and he was Thailand’s third prime minister this year.

With news of the turn around, the Thai baht edged up against the dollar and the stock market rose as optimism spread.

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UPDATES: As of 4pm India time (+5:30 hrs GMT)

- Large quantity of RDX found at two locations.
- 148 hostages released after Commando raid on Trident Oberoi Hotels.
- Fighting continuing between remaining terrorists and Military.
- Jewish Hostages at Nariman Point still incarcerated.

34 hours after terrorists struck the heart of south Mumbai, national security guards have almost flushed out the terrorists from the Taj hotel. Armed men and helicopters continue in their quest to drive out the terrorists holed up in a Jewish center the Nariman House and the Oberoi-Trident. While fierce gun battle still persists, 125 have been declared dead, including 14 policemen and six foreigners, 327 are injured.

While the terrorists are most probably out to make an international statement by targeting tourist hot spots, the mass number of Indian casualties too cannot be discounted. Of the 125 already declared dead 119 were Indian nationals, a majority of the injured are also Indians, casual by-standers who were killed in random firing at public places that are usually very crowded.

Sources say a majority of the Indian’s who were killed were innocent people going home after a day’s work from the center of the city from Mumbai’s biggest railway station to their homes in the suburbs, or patients in hospitals and their relatives and staff at the targeted hotels. What is disheartening is that the Indians that are believed to have been killed hail not from the affluent part of south mumbai where they worked but probably from smaller towns and cities outside the city. Being a service centered city, Mumbai is known as the melting pot of Mumbai where millions come to make it big. Many of them end up working as waiters in hotels, nurses in hospitals and everyday clergymen.

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Even as news of Japan’s trade deficit due to falling Asian exports trickled in and Asian companies slashed jobs across the board, APEC leaders decided the financial crisis would end by 2010, within 18 months.  Prudent or not,  the leaders decided to strike an optimistic note “We are convinced that we can overcome this crisis in a period of 18 months,”a joint statement said.

Hedging himself on emerging Asia, Bob Buckle, chairman of the APEC Economic Committee told the AFP “If China and India come through this crisis with very good growth rates that would be very important for the rise of global economy.”

The IMF added that emerging economies, which include China and India — will account for approximately 2.2 percent of global growth next year. According to the AFP, it estimates rich nations’ economies will together grow by just 0.1 percent this year while the developing world will grow by 5 percent.

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Post the G20 summit last weekend which heightened the status of Asian countries on the global platform, Asia-Pacific leaders will meet again this weekend in Lima, Peru to discuss regional solutions to the international problem. A main moot point of the 21 member APEC congress will be to increase global trade and consumption.

As Asian regional clout increases at global conferences such as these,  the world is looking towards them and listening. Asian nations have been trying to persuade global economies to maintain if not increase current levels of trade. Fearing a total collapse of financial order, economies worldwide acting in the interest of emerging Asian nations  are now more effectively looking at ways to continue if not bolster international trade.

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Non-violence a central tenant of the Tibetan faith is slowly losing ground to frustration that breeds antagonism. In an effort to douse the young flames of frustration spreading like wildfire across the globe, the aged Dalai Lama called a week long gathering of Tibetans in exile commencing on Monday. The meeting which is taking place in Dharamshala, North India, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile seeks to usher in a more radical approach to their long struggle against Chinese rule in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama, a Nobel peace laureate, who has been campaigning for Tibet’s “meaningful autonomy” from China, now fearing age and a prolonged stalemate situation is seeking advice in his people. Meanwhile, many in the exiled community feel that “meaningful autonomy” and its de facto recognition of Chinese sovereignty should be replaced by a more aggressive pro-independence position. China has dismissed this week’s meeting as meaningless, saying the participants do not represent the views of most Tibetans.

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Thaksin Shinawatra, the deposed Thai Prime Minister facing corruption charges and an imposed two year jail sentence in his own country, has arrived in Beijing following a decision by the British authorities to revoke his visa. Thaksin has been in the UK seeking political asylum since the coup that saw him deposed. His British visa was revoked as soon as he left the UK on a business trip, further confirming concerns that his asylum request was based more on avoidance of corruption charges than political differences.

Thaksin, who earlier in the year had purchased Manchester City football club, was forced to sell it to an Arabic consortium after the bulk of his assets were frozen by Thai prosecutors. Passing by China was originally a stop over en route to the Philippines, were he has also applied for asylum, a move that the Philippine government has said would be rejected if requested. This leaves Thaksin holed up in Beijing until he can find an alternative sanctuary or is unable to renew his Chinese visa.

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