World

Japan to play placeholder role in Asia as Biden gets his house in order
11Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Singapore, World

Japan to play placeholder role in Asia as Biden gets his house in order

When U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy gets the boot on Jan. 20, it will be replaced by Joe Biden’s more outward-looking and cooperative approach in Asia — one in which Japan is widely expected to play an integral part. As Washington looks warily at China’s rise, it will aim for Japan to play a placeholder role as the Biden White House focuses immediately on reining in the coronavirus pandemic that has left about 340,000 dead in the U.S. “They’ll have no choice but to take care of that damage first,” a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said on condition of anonymity. “This will be less about (the Asia-Pacific region) being lowered in priority than about repairing that damage.” In the meantime, Tokyo “will continue to act as a ‘placeholder’ for the incoming adm...
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World shares down from record highs as COVID-19 cases top 90 million
11Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, China, Market, World

World shares down from record highs as COVID-19 cases top 90 million

Asian shares took a breather on Monday while Treasury yields were at 10-month highs as "trillions" in new U.S. fiscal stimulus plans were set to be unveiled this week, stoking a global reflation trade. LONDON: World shares slipped from record highs on Monday as caution over rising coronavirus cases saw some profit-taking from investors, while Treasury yields remained close to 10-month highs, indicating expectations for global reflation from anticipated U.S. fiscal stimulus. Worldwide coronavirus cases surpassed 90 million on Monday, according to Reuters tally. European shares dipped in early trading, with rising coronavirus cases across the continent and China dragging down commodity stocks. Germany's DAX lost 0.75per cent, Britain's FTSE 100, Italy's FTSE MIB, and France's CAC 40 f...
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Alphabet unit Wing blasts new US drone ID rule, citing privacy
8Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Alphabet unit Wing blasts new US drone ID rule, citing privacy

Alphabet Inc's drone delivery unit Wing criticized Trump administration rules issued this week mandating broadcast-based remote identification of drones, saying they should be revised to allow for internet-based tracking. WASHINGTON: Alphabet Inc's drone delivery unit Wing criticized Trump administration rules issued this week mandating broadcast-based remote identification of drones, saying they should be revised to allow for internet-based tracking. On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued rules that will allow small drones to fly over people and at night in the United States and mandate remote identification technology for nearly all drones. The rules eliminate requirements that drones, known formally as unmanned aerial vehicles, be connected to the internet to...
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Trial to import electricity from Malaysia a ‘useful first step’ as Singapore prepares to connect with regional grid: Experts
8Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
Asia, Market, Singapore, World

Trial to import electricity from Malaysia a ‘useful first step’ as Singapore prepares to connect with regional grid: Experts

SINGAPORE: A trial which will see Singapore import electricity from Peninsular Malaysia will be a "useful first step" in preparation for further moves to connect to the regional power grid, said experts. Announced in late October, the trial will see Singapore import 100 megawatts (MW) of electricity from Malaysia for two years. This will make up about 1.5 per cent of Singapore’s peak electricity demand. The move is part of Singapore's plan to strengthen the "regional grid architecture", said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing in a keynote speech delivered at the opening of the Singapore International Energy Week in October. “This will allow the region to share the clean energy sources that different countries may have, and we’ll start this with Malaysia," he said. "Once ...
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China makes representation to UK over meddling in Hong Kong Affairs: Foreign Ministry
7Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

China makes representation to UK over meddling in Hong Kong Affairs: Foreign Ministry

A day after the United Kingdom slammed China for the arrest of over 50 pro-democracy politicians and activists, Beijing on Thursday said that Hong Kong was a territory of China and any interference in its domestic affairs amounted to an “infringement on its sovereignty.“In response to UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab’s statement, China made a strong representation to the UK side,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday.Hua claimed that Hong Kong was a territory of China and, therefore, any interference in its domestic affairs amounted to an “infringement on Chinese sovereignty.”“The United Kingdom should abandon its colonizer mentality and illusions about the continuing colonial influence on Hong Kong. It should as well abandon hypocrisy and double standards, ...
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China slams latest top-level US official visit to Taiwan
7Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

China slams latest top-level US official visit to Taiwan

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement on Thursday of the latest visit by a top-level US official to Taiwan has irked China with Beijing calling it “extremely wrong”.US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had announced earlier that Kelly Craft, the US ambassador to the UN, would soon travel to the island, calling it "a reliable partner and vibrant democracy that has flourished despite CCP (Chinese Communist Party) efforts to undermine its great success"."Taiwan shows what a free China could achieve," he added.Pompeo announced the trip by Kelly Craft condemning the mass arrests of 53 democracy activists – including former lawmakers and an American lawyer – in Hong Kong.He said the arrests were an “outrage and a reminder of the Chinese Communist Party’s contempt for its own people and t...
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Ssslow down! Sleeping snakes stall Tesla’s German gigafactory
7Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Ssslow down! Sleeping snakes stall Tesla’s German gigafactory

related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. 5 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery. FRANKFURT/BERLIN: Hibernating snakes are complicating Elon Musk's plans for a gigafactory near Berlin. A German court has told the U.S. billionaire's electric vehicle company Tesla to suspend clearing of a forest at the site of the proposed factory after environmentalists said that cutting down more trees could endanger hibernating snakes. "The Landesumweltamt (state environmental authority) and Tesla will now be consulted, they need to make submissions by this afternoon and then we assess the situation," a spokesman for the administrative court in Frankfurt an der Oder in eastern Germany said on Tuesday. Tesla declined to commen...
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Cricket-India land first blows on day one of Boxing Day test
7Jan By Desk TeamNo Comments
World

Cricket-India land first blows on day one of Boxing Day test

MELBOURNE: India proved there is life without captain Virat Kohli as they bowled Australia out for 195 then weathered a fierce pace assault in the late afternoon to dominate the opening day of the second test in Melbourne. India were 36 for one at stumps, with debutant Shubman Gill 28 not out and Cheteshwar Pujara on seven after the loss of opener Mayank Argarwal for a duck. With soon-to-be-dad Kohli having returned home after the calamitous defeat in Adelaide, stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane called on his bowlers to respond and they duly delivered on a glorious day at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After Australia won the toss and elected to bat, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah grabbed four wickets and seamer Mohammed Siraj took two on an emotional test debut little more than a month ...
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US values India as multilateral partner: Pompeo
6Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

US values India as multilateral partner: Pompeo

Citing cooperation between the United States and India, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said that Washington values India as a multilateral partner.“Pompeo said the US values India as a multilateral partner, whether it is through the Quad, through new cooperation on Mekong regional issues, making Afghan peace negotiations successful, or working together during India’s upcoming term on the United Nations Security Council,” the US Department of State said in a tweet.On Wednesday, Pompeo had praised External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for his role in making US-India ties stronger.Earlier on Monday, India’s flag was installed at the UNSC stakeout as the country begins its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the powerful UN body for the 2021-22 period.
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UN chief condemns killing of 11 coal miners in Balochistan
4Jan mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
World

UN chief condemns killing of 11 coal miners in Balochistan

A day after 11 coal miners in the Balochistan province of Pakistan were brutally killed, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Pakistan to bring perpetrators of the terrorist act to justice.In a statement, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said Guterres trusts that Pakistan will bring perpetrators of the terrorist act to justice.“The Secretary-General strongly condemns the terrorist attack and killing of at least 11 coal miners in the Balochistan province of Pakistan yesterday. He extends his sincere condolences to the families of the miners and the people and government of Pakistan,” the statement read.“He trusts the Pakistani authorities will do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of this terrorist act to justice,” it added.Eleven ...
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