World

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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US calls for release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan
31Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, World

US calls for release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has called for the release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan who was detained in May for her live stream reporting from Wuhan over Covid-19 and later sentenced to four years of imprisonment."The United States strongly condemns the People's Republic of China's (PRC) sham prosecution and conviction of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan on December 28. We call on the PRC government to release her immediately and unconditionally," Pompeo said in a statement.This comes after a Shanghai court sentenced Zhang to four years in prison on charges of disseminating information that provokes conflict.Pompeo said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has shown once again that it will do whatever it takes to silence those who question its official line, even regarding c...
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EU and China to sign investment deal amid unease over rights
29Dec mmBy Mike TrudellNo Comments
China, Market, World

EU and China to sign investment deal amid unease over rights

Despite rising concerns about the human rights situation in Xinjiang, the European Union (EU) and China are set to sign a business investment deal, which, EU hopes will help correct an imbalance in market access and create new investment opportunities for European companies in China by ensuring they can compete on an equal footing.According to an EU official with direct knowledge of the talks, the provisional agreement is set to be announced on Wednesday.The deal was sealed after China committed to pursuing ratification of the International Labor Organization's rules on forced labor, according to the unnamed official.The EU previously said the agreement, known as CAI, which includes provisions for settling disputes, should increase the transparency of Chinese state subsidies and make susta...
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