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 China has blasted US tariffs on solar panel imports, filing a complaint at the World Trade Organization in the latest salvo of the trade battle between the world's two economic giants. 

US President Donald Trump approved steep tariffs on solar panel imports in January to protect US producers, triggering an outcry from China, South Korea and even protests from the US solar industry. 
China's commerce ministry accused Washington of erecting trade barriers while subsidising its domestic industry. 

"While taking protectionist measures against imported photovoltaic products, the US provided subsidies to domestically produced photovoltaics and other renewable energy products," the ministry said in a statement. 
China lodged its challenge at the WTO on Tuesday, the statement said.

The US subsidies have given an unfair advantage to domestic companies and "damaged the legitimate rights and interests of China's renewable energy companies," it said. 

Beijing said the US measures are suspected of violating trade rules and that it would turn to the WTO's dispute resolution mechanism to protect its interests. 

Trump's tariffs were not popular with the US solar industry, which claimed the rising cost of imports would cause the loss of thousands of jobs.Imports of cheap Chinese panels helped triple US annual solar electricity generation between 2012 and 2016.

But they also drove prices down by 60 percent, causing most US producers to stop production or declare bankruptcy, the US Trade Representative said in January. 

The USTR accused China of using state incentives, subsidies and tariffs to increase production and said manufacturers had evaded US tariffs by repeatedly shifting production to new countries.The United States and China have slapped tit-for-tat tariffs on tens of billions of dollars worth of goods from each country, with another round of levies scheduled to being next week. AFP

Austria's capital Vienna has beaten Melbourne to be ranked the "world's most liveable city" in a new annual survey released Monday, ending the southern Australian city's seven-year reign. 

It is the first time a European metropolis has topped the annual chart compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit which identifies the best urban playgrounds to live and work in. 

Each year 140 cities are given scores out of 100 on a range of factors such as living standards, crime, transport infrastructure, access to education and healthcare, as well as political and economic stability. 
Vienna scored a "near-ideal" 99.1, beating Melbourne into second place on 98.4. Japan's Osaka took third place. 

Australia and Canada dominated the top ten, each boasting three cities. Australia had Melbourne, Sydney (fifth) and Adelaide (10th) while Canada had Calgary (fourth), Vancouver (sixth) and Toronto (joint seventh). 

"Those that score best tend to be mid-sized cities in wealthier countries," researchers said in their report. They noted that several cities in the top 10 had relatively low population densities which fostered "a range of recreational activities without leading to high crime levels or overburdened infrastructure". 

Australia and Canada, researchers said, have an overall average population density of 3.2 and four people per square kilometre respectively, compared to a global average of 58. 
Japan, which alongside Osaka boasted Tokyo in the top ten (joint seventh), is the glaring exception to that rule with a nationwide average of 347 people per square kilometre but its cities are still famed for their transport networks and living standards. Copenhagen was the only other European city in the top ten at ninth place. 

Researchers said wealthy financial capitals such as Paris (19th), London (48th) and New York (57th) tended to be "victims of their own success" with higher crime rates and overstretched infrastructure dampening their appeal.At the other end of the spectrum the five worst cities to live in were Damascus at the bottom of the table followed by Dhaka, Lagos, Karachi and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. 

The survey also looked at cities where long-term improvements had been made. Abidjan, Hanoi, Belgrade and Tehran saw the largest improvements in liveability over the last five years -- more than five percentage points. 

Ukraine's Kiev, the capital of a European country wracked by political violence, civil war and the loss of Crimea to Russia, saw the largest drop in its liveability over the last five years (-12.6 percent). Puerto Rico's San Juan -- which was devastated by a hurricane last year -- as well as Damascus and Caracas also saw steep drops over the same period. AFP
 

At least 16 people injured in a bus-truck collusion this morning. The Kathmandu-bound bus (Na 4 Kha 5491) from Damauli and a truck (Na 6 Kha 3293) coming from opposite collided each other at Belbhanjyang in Byas municipality along the Prithvi Highway. 

Five critically injured including bus drive, Subas Rai, are being treated at Pokhara-based Manipal Hospital, informed the District Police Office. 

Other injured are undergoing treatment at Laxmi Hospital in Dumre. Police held truck driver for investigation and action. RSS

Immediately following the participation in the first One Day International (ODI), Nepali cricketers are availing of being acknowledged in the ICC ranking. 

According to the ranking unveiled by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, Nepali cricketers Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami and Gyanendra Malla have been enlisted for assessment. 

As per the ranking results, Sadeep has been able to secure 217th position in the global ranking followed by Sompal in 229th and Gyanendra in 236th. 

Gyanendra and Sompal delivered scintillating performance with half century each in the ODI series against the Netherlands. Sandeep also had taken four wickets in the series. 

Earlier, in the ICC-unveiled T-20 ranking, Nepal national team captain Paras Khadka, Sharad Veswakar, Basanta Regmi and Sompal Kami were assessed below 100 lackluster performers. RSS

 A mass shooting in the British city of Manchester wounded 10 people Sunday morning, local authorities said. 

Greater Manchester Police said at around 2:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) it received a report of gunshots heard on Claremont Road in the Moss Side area. 

Detective Superintendent Debbie Dooley said: "We currently have a number of people in hospital all being treated for different injuries but thankfully most do not appear to be life-threatening at this time." 
She said officers are trying to establish exactly where this incident took place and who is responsible for such a "dangerous" attack. 

Dooley said the Caribbean Carnival was held in the area but was finished several hours prior to this incident occurring, which is why there were still a lot of people. 

The event, which has been held every summer since 1972, usually draws thousands of people. "Those living or visiting the area will understandably be concerned by this incident and we will have extra officers patrolling the area throughout the morning and into the coming days," she said. Enditem 

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Nepal Idol, the first ever international franchise reality show in Nepal, is today the most popular reality show in the country. Nepal Idol unearths hidden singing talents from all over the coun­try. Watch Nepal Idol Season 2 as the audition round unfolds, followed by theater, piano and gala rounds. The judges are Kali Prasad Baskota, Nhyoo Bajracharya and Indira Joshi. Tune in to AP1 HD every Thursday and Friday exactly at 8:30 pm. Are you ready to embark on the excit­ing journey to discover the winner of Nepal Idol Season 2 among the 114 contestants?

The owl population in Nepal is in danger. Their smuggling has greatly increased in recent times owing to the belief in parts of Central Asia, China, India and Vietnam that they bring good luck. Experts are worried that owls may completely dis­appear from Nepal. Among 225 species of owls in the world, Nepal has 22. “Nepal government has not paid any attention toward its conser­vation,” says Raju Acharya, who conducts studies about owls in Nepal. By contrast, he points out, South Africa has taken many steps to protect its owls.

According to a study by Friends of Nature Nepal, an NGO, around 2,000 owls are smuggled alive from Nepal every year. They are mostly used for medical purposes. Magicians also use them. In China and Vietnam, owls are even used for making alco­hol. There is a superstitious belief in China that drinking alcohol made with owls kept in a bottle for 10 years cures arthritis. “In India, religious priests purportedly use it to cure various illnesses, which is also why smuggling of owls out of Nepal has increased in recent times,” says Acharya, who has visited 46 districts to study Nepali owls.

Owls are used to kill rats in Africa and Malaysia, he informs. An owl, in the pro­cess of giving birth and tend­ing to its offspring, can con­sume as many as 3,000 rats. This is one good reason why Nepal should also conserve its owls, Acharya says.

Though exact statistics on owls in Bardiya are missing, locally, owls are mostly found in community forests and the Bardiya National Park, says the park’s Chief Conservation Officer Manoj Shah. “Thieves and smugglers pose a big threat to conservation of owls. They take the offspring away from the nest, raise them and sell them,” he informs. If a person is found killing, raising or harming owls, they can be fined Rs 50,000, be jailed for three months to two years, or get both the punishments.