Browsing Category

International

1924 posts

Canada expels Chinese diplomat, Beijing vows ‘resolute countermeasures’

Ottawa expelled a Chinese diplomat accused of intimidating a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing, escalating tensions and prompting warnings of retaliation. Canada’s Foreign Minister emphasized that defending democracy was paramount, while China accused Canada of sabotaging relations and threatened countermeasures. The move comes amid strained Sino-Canadian relations due to previous disputes and allegations of foreign interference in Canada’s elections. Experts anticipate possible economic reprisals or the expulsion of Canadian diplomats in response.

Australia says ‘deep concerns’ for reporter held in China since 2020

Australia urged China to release journalist Cheng Lei, who has been detained for 1,000 days on charges of “supplying state secrets overseas.” The case is believed to be politically motivated, and there are concerns about the delays and limited contact she has had with the outside world. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed deep concerns and called for Cheng Lei to be reunited with her family.

HSBC faces shareholder vote on splitting bank

HSBC shareholders will vote on Friday on a proposal by Chinese insurer Ping An to split the bank to seek better returns. HSBC has urged its shareholders to vote down the proposal at its annual general meeting. Ping An has argued that the bank lags behind international peers and the recent improvement in performance was tied to rising interest rates, which it claims have peaked. The proposal would allow HSBC to retain control over a separate Asia business.

US authorities probe Goldman Sachs over Silicon Valley Bank collapse

Goldman Sachs is being investigated by US authorities over its work for Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in connection with the events surrounding the California bank’s collapse, according to a securities filing. Goldman has been criticized over its multiple roles with SVB, in which it was both advising the bank and purchasing distressed debt in a deal that ultimately played a central role in SVB’s collapse.

More than 1,000 evacuated as Guatemala volcano erupts

Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupted, spewing thick clouds of ash, and over 1,000 people were evacuated from five nearby communities. The ash column reached over 6,000 meters above sea level, and Conred warns of possible mudslides due to the rainfall forecast. The RN-14 route was closed, and locals and tourists were urged to avoid a restricted area of seven kilometres around the volcano. Guatemala has two other active volcanoes – Santiaguito and Pacaya.

Microsoft expands AI access to public

Microsoft has opened public access to its generative artificial intelligence programs, despite concerns over dangerous technology. The AI-enhanced Bing and Edge services can now work with images, as well as text, with the intention to add video. The move comes amid concerns over the potential for fraud and deep-fake videos, and just months after experts urged a pause in the development of powerful AI systems. However, Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi said the company’s AI principles include working to prevent the promotion of harmful or discriminatory content.

European Central Bank expected to slow pace of rate hikes

The European Central Bank is expected to increase interest rates for the seventh-straight time to tackle high inflation but may opt for a smaller hike at its six-weekly meeting. Analysts predict further rate hikes are “likely to remain in the pipeline.”

UIA-IROL condemns suspension of human rights lawyer M Ravi, urges Singapore to uphold rule of law

UIA-IROL condemned the suspension of Singaporean human rights lawyer M Ravi, calling it a grave violation of UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers. The organization expressed concern over the chilling effect of disciplinary proceedings, urging the Law Society of Singapore to review its practices and implement a moratorium on all disciplinary proceedings pending such a review.

US becomes first country to approve Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine

The US has approved the world’s first vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), with drugmaker GSK’s Arexvy being green-lighted for adults aged 60 and older. RSV is a common virus that can be serious for infants, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems. Other vaccine makers, including Pfizer and Moderna, are expected to follow soon. Rates of RSV and flu fell during COVID-19 lockdowns, but surged when restrictions were lifted, with young children hit hard.

US regulator targets AI ahead of White House confab

US regulators warn about the risks of artificial intelligence ahead of a White House meeting with tech companies. The lack of rules has given Silicon Valley the freedom to put out new products rapidly, raising concerns that AI technologies will wreak havoc on society before the government can catch up. The risks from AI include it being used to “turbocharge” fraud with voice clones, deep-fake videos, and convincing written messages.