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Singapore increases budget to strengthen digital resilience

SINGAPORE, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Singapore will invest 2.1 billion Singapore dollars (1.55 billion U.S. dollars) this fiscal year to enhance digital infrastructure, the Government Technology Agency said Tuesday.

The budget represents a 60-percent increase from the previous fiscal year.

The agency vows to re-engineer existing infrastructure to reduce complexities and modernize aging systems to guard against evolving cybersecurity threats.

It is crucial for the government to strengthen the resilience of digital infrastructure to minimize disruptions and uphold public trust, the agency noted. ■

2024-05-14 17:02:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Preview: Wednesday promises key survival battles in La Liga

MADRID, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Wednesday is a key day for the future of three (and perhaps four) clubs battling to avoid relegation from La Liga.

The key game is in Seville, where third-from-bottom Cadiz, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, visit a Sevilla side with little more than pride to play for.

A 1-0 win at home to Las Palmas at the weekend kept Cadiz's survival chances alive and a win would take them to within just two points of Celta Vigo, who kick off their match at home to Athletic Club shortly after Cadiz's game ends.

If Cadiz can take all three points, it would put a lot of pressure on Celta against Athletic Club who have a mathematical chance of still finishing fourth.

Athletic welcome back defenders Yeray Alvarez and Aitor Paredes after suspension for the game, which comes 48 hours after the club bid an emotional 'goodbye' to captain Iker Muniain, who is leaving at the end of the season.

Rayo Vallecano are also in the relegation mix and go into their match at home to already-relegated Granada, with a six-point lead over Cadiz, meaning a win would almost certainly assure their survival thanks to a better goal difference than the side from the south coast.

Granada's relegation has been confirmed ahead of their 4-0 weekend defeat to Real Madrid, but Rayo shouldn't be overconfident after losing to relegated Almeria less than a fortnight ago.

Wednesday's final match is a Madrid derby between Getafe and Atletico Madrid, with Atletico traveling to the south of the city knowing a win would confirm their place in next season's Champions League. ■

2024-05-14 17:04:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
IT promotion to play pivotal role in Pakistan's economic uplift: minister

ISLAMABAD, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said that promotion of information technology would play a pivotal role in the country's economic uplift.

"Pakistan has a lot of potential to boost its IT exports to 25 billion dollars in two to three years, the government has been taking all necessary measures to achieve the important target," the minister said while addressing a conference on IT.

She said that technology has a very important role in every field as no section can progress without technology, adding that bottlenecks are being removed as part of the government's efforts for increase in IT exports.

Talking about the role of Pakistani youth in promoting IT in the South Asian country, the minister said that Pakistan has a young, tech-savvy population, a dynamic startup ecosystem and growing appetite for digital solutions.

Highlighting the need of digitalization, Khawaja said that the digitization process has started in the country, underlining that collaborative efforts are needed to build a digital future that is inclusive, sustainable and secure.

"By harnessing the power of digital transformation, we can unlock immense potential for a robust digital economy and create new jobs, foster innovation and attract foreign investment," she said. ■

2024-05-14 17:09:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Laos launches e-commerce platform to support agriculture sector

VIENTIANE, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Industry and Commerce launched an e-commerce platform for Lao agricultural products, aiming to help local farmers access buyers and increase sales.

The launching ceremony was co-chaired by Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaythong Kommasith, and Charge d'Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Laos Wang Chang.

Speaking at the ceremony on Monday, Vithoun Sitthimolada, director of Trade and Handicraft Promotion Department under the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce said that the platform was supported by the Chinese government.

He added that the e-commerce platform is implemented by a grant aid agreement signed on November 19, 2020.

The creation of a platform that is a source of information for Lao agricultural products as a public service website is part of an initiative to create an information technology and communication infrastructure in the field of trade and services in Laos. ■

2024-05-14 17:21:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
FLASH: WHITE HOUSE UNVEILS NEW TARIFF HIKES ON CHINESE EV, IN A PROTECTIONIST MOVE TO IMPERIL U.S. COMPETITIVENESS, CARBON REDUCTION

FLASH: WHITE HOUSE UNVEILS NEW TARIFF HIKES ON CHINESE EV, IN A PROTECTIONIST MOVE TO IMPERIL U.S. COMPETITIVENESS, CARBON REDUCTION

2024-05-14 17:22:00
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Israeli army begins entering center of Rafah: sources

GAZA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army tanks on Tuesday started to enter the center of the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, local sources said.

The sources told Xinhua that "Israeli army tanks arrived in the Al-Geneina neighborhood in the city of Rafah and were heading towards the city center amid heavy gunfire." ■

2024-05-14 17:25:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
White House unveils new protectionist tariffs on Chinese-made EVs

WASHINGTON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The White House unveiled on Tuesday new tariffs on imports of electric vehicles, solar cells and other clean-energy products from China, in a protectionist move widely believed to imperil the American ambition to enhance competitiveness and slash carbon emissions. ■

2024-05-14 17:27:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
China's railway passenger trips surge 22.9 pct in Jan-April

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- China recorded 360.15 million railway passenger trips in April, up 9.6 percent year on year, the National Railway Administration said Tuesday.

During the first four months of the year, railway passenger trips amounted to 1.37 billion, surging 22.9 percent from a year ago, the administration said.

Last month, 407.59 million tonnes of goods were transported by railways, down 1.9 percent year on year.

From January to April, China's railway cargo delivery volume reached 1.65 billion tonnes, a fall of 1.4 percent year on year.

China's fixed-asset investment in railways totaled 184.9 billion yuan (about 26.02 billion U.S. dollars) during the four-month period, up 10.5 percent year on year, according to the administration. ■

2024-05-14 17:35:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Economic Watch: Sino-U.S. cooperation in green shift benefits both and beyond

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Partnership in green transition between China and the United States needs to be consolidated as it creates shared benefits for both countries and serves the global bid for green and low-carbon development, according to a high-level forum held on Monday.

Addressing climate change is a shared responsibility for everyone, Zhang Shaogang, deputy director with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), said at a forum of the Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit 2024 held on Monday afternoon.

With the theme of "Mutual Trust and Cooperation: Navigating through Profound Changes," the summit was organized by the CCPIT, featuring the participation of over 750 representatives from international organizations, economic institutions, trade and investment promotion agencies and business communities.

"China and the United States, as the world's largest developing country and developed country respectively, have the obligation to work together to prevent further warming of the climate and promote the development of a green and low-carbon economy," Zhang added.

Noah Fraser, senior vice president of China operations with the US-China Business Council, echoed Zhang's proposal, saying that the two countries share a lot of cooperation opportunities in sustainable and inclusive development, which will not only be beneficial for both countries, but also contributes to the well-being of the entire planet.

China has been a leading driver of the global economy's green transition, whose advanced technologies and low-cost products in fields like new energy have facilitated industrial upgrading.

U.S. new energy vehicle (NEV) giant Tesla is a beneficiary and an example of enhanced Sino-U.S. cooperation. It has put its first gigafactory outside the United States in east China's Shanghai, which contributed to over half of the company's global output last year.

Over the past decade, Tesla has witnessed a remarkable transformation from solely selling imported vehicles in China to gradually recognizing the immense potential of this market, which has led the company to invest significant resources in the Chinese market, according to Tesla vice president Tao Lin.

...

2024-05-14 17:44:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Vietnam's seafood exports hit 2.7 bln USD in 4 months

HANOI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's seafood exports hit 2.7 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of 2024, surging by 6 percent year on year, Vietnam News Agency reported Tuesday, citing the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

In April alone, the country's seafood export revenue reached 770 million dollars, up 4 percent year on year.

Exports of tuna, tra fish, crab, and shellfish of all types in April all recorded positive growth over the same period last year, said the report.

Shrimp export revenue in April reached 285 million dollars, recording the highest value since the beginning of this year.

Seafood exports to Japan and South Korea witnessed slight increases, and exports to China decreased by over 22 percent.

Vietnam is aimed at exporting 9.5 billion to 10 billion dollars of seafood this year, said the association. ■

2024-05-14 17:55:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
White House unveils new protectionist tariffs on Chinese-made EVs

WASHINGTON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The White House unveiled on Tuesday new tariffs on imports of electric vehicles, solar cells and other clean-energy products from China, in a protectionist move widely believed to imperil the American ambition to enhance competitiveness and slash carbon emissions.

According to the plan, the tariffs on Chinese EV imports will jump from some 25 percent to 100 percent. And with an additional 2.5-percent tariff on all vehicles imported into the U.S. market, the total levies on Chinese EVs will be an astounding 102.5 percent.

The newly announced tariff hike is mostly a symbolic gesture as the Biden administration is trying to look tough on China amid the increasingly fierce presidential election battle.

The current levies, first launched by former U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and reviewed by the Biden administration, have effectively kept Chinese vehicles out of U.S. auto market. ■

2024-05-14 18:15:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
China guides college graduates in supporting western development

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities have pledged further guidance and support for college students participating in a voluntary service program in China's less-developed western region.

During a national video conference discussing the "Go West" program for the period of 2024 to 2025, the Central Committee of the China Communist Youth League (CCYL) emphasized the importance of enhancing the high-quality development of western China.

According to an official statement issued on Tuesday, volunteers are called upon to contribute to key areas such as technological innovation, rural revitalization, green development, social services, and border defense.

Efforts should be made to foster a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation through exchanges among youth of various ethnic groups, the statement notes, which also called for enhanced support and care for volunteers.

Launched in 2003, the "Go West" program is a collaborative endeavor that aims to send university graduates to volunteer in education, health, agriculture and social management sectors in the country's western region for a period of one to three years.

According to the CCYL Central Committee, the program has played a crucial role in bolstering development in the western and northeastern parts of China. It has also assisted the country's efforts to promote prosperity and stability in border areas, and facilitate the employment of university graduates. ■

2024-05-14 18:24:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Several hospitals in Indian capital receive bomb threat

NEW DELHI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Several hospitals in the Indian capital territory Delhi Tuesday received bomb threat calls, prompting the administration to call the police, officials said.

The threat received over emails claimed that explosives were planted on the hospital premises.

Police immediately swung into action and dispatched multiple bomb disposal squads to these hospitals to conduct massive searches. However, nothing suspicious was found.

"Thorough checking of the hospital premises is underway. Police and bomb squad are present here," V. K. Sharma, security in charge at Hedgewar Hospital told media. "We have tightened our security and intensified the checking."

On Sunday Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and several hospitals in the national capital received similar bomb threats over emails.

Earlier this month over 100 schools in Delhi received similar messages triggering a massive scare. ■

2024-05-14 18:31:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Myanmar welcomes over 430,000 foreign tourists in first 4 months of this year

YANGON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar welcomed over 430,000 foreign tourists in the first four months of this year, with the majority coming from China, followed by Thailand, through visa arrangements, Tin Zaw Myint, director of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told Xinhua on Tuesday.

This marks an increase of over 70 percent in tourist arrivals compared to the same period last year, when over 250,000 foreign tourists visited, he said.

"The reopening of border areas and efforts by our department have made travel easier for international visitors, leading to an increase in foreign tourists this year," Tin Zaw Myint said.

Additionally, domestic tourism is thriving, with over 2.5 million locals traveling within Myanmar from January to March, he added. ■

2024-05-14 18:33:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Rangers patrol at Changtang National Nature Reserve in Xizang

[Media]

Rangers pose for a group photo on a pile of snow and ice at the Changtang National Nature Reserve in Nyima County of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 7, 2024. Nyima County launched a two-week intensified patrol of the core areas of the Changtang National Nature Reserve, starting from May 7.

Located in the northern part of Xizang, the nature reserve is home to over 30 kinds of wild animals listed on China's national-level protection catalogue, including Tibetan antelopes and wild yaks. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

[Media]

Rangers take a rest at a deserted hot spring pool at the Changtang National Nature Reserve in Nyima County of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 8, 2024. Nyima County launched a two-week intensified patrol of the core areas of the Changtang National Nature Reserve, starting from May 7.

Located in the northern part of Xizang, the nature reserve is home to over 30 kinds of wild animals listed on China's national-level protection catalogue, including Tibetan antelopes and wild yaks. (Xinhua/Tenzin Nyida)

[Media]

Rangers patrol the Zangser Kangri Glacier at the Changtang National Nature Reserve in Nyima County of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, May 11, 2024. Nyima County launched a two-week intensified patrol of the core areas of the Changtang National Nature Reserve, starting from May 7.

Located in the northern part of Xizang, the nature reserve is home to over 30 kinds of wild animals listed on China's national-level protection catalogue, including Tibetan antelopes and wild yaks. (Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

[Media]

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2024-05-14 18:40:51
[新华网] [Full Text]
Israeli tanks march towards center of Rafah: source

GAZA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Israeli tanks on Tuesday marched towards the center of Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, as tens of thousands of residents fled to evade an Israeli ground offensive, a local source reported.

The source told Xinhua that the tanks had reached the Al-Geneina neighborhood and were advancing towards the city center "amid heavy gunfire."

Nearly 450,000 people have been forcibly displaced from Rafah since May 6, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said in a statement on Tuesday.

"People face constant exhaustion, hunger and fear. Nowhere is safe. An immediate ceasefire is the only hope", the statement added. ■

2024-05-14 18:46:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
China to hold expo to boost trade, investment in central region

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The 13th Expo Central China will be held in Hunan Province, as part of efforts to facilitate trade and investment in the country's central region, the Ministry of Commerce said.

The expo, scheduled from May 31 to June 2, will feature more than 20 activities, including exhibitions, project matchmaking and investment promotion, Vice Commerce Minister Ling Ji told a press conference Tuesday.

China's central region includes the six provinces of Shanxi, Henan, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi. The country has highlighted accelerating the rise of the central region as part of measures to promote the coordinated regional development.

According to Ling, investment promotion at the expo will feature advanced manufacturing industry, including new materials, electronic information engineering and new energy vehicles.

Project matchmaking activities will focus on helping companies with overseas market expansion and promoting cooperation among sci-tech, industrial and financial sectors.

So far, about 60 foreign institutions, chambers of commerce and associations and nearly 100 multinational companies across the world have signed up for the expo, with around 800 enterprises expected to participate in the exhibition, Ling said.

Since it was first launched in 2006, the expo has played an important role in promoting the coordinated development of regional economy and expanding the opening up of the central region.

A total of 433 projects were inked at the 12th Expo Central China, among which 25 were projects with foreign investments, data showed. ■

2024-05-14 18:52:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Laos moves to enact decree on carbon credit trading

VIENTIANE, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Laos' Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Australian government held a multi-stakeholder consultation on the draft decree on carbon credits in Laos.

The event brought together representatives of development partners, non-governmental organizations and private sector entities with an interest in the benefits of carbon credits and markets to support Laos in setting its Nationally Determined Contributions and global climate ambitions, according to a press release issued by the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Tuesday.

Speaking at the meeting on Monday, Lao Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Phouvong Luangxaysana said the decree on carbon credits is important legislation, and Laos can gain benefits from participating in carbon trading by promoting investments that can achieve emission reduction.

"Laos will be able to centralize and ensure the transparency and management of the carbon trading system, which can be a critical tool for the government to manage domestic and international carbon trading effectively in the future," he added.

The input collected during the multi-stakeholder consultation will be used to further improve the draft decree.

The Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is planning to hold additional working sessions with members of the drafting committee to finalize the decree on carbon credits by June 2024, said the report. ■

2024-05-14 18:53:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
GLOBALink | Chinese market a pillar for the company: Kenya Airways CCO

Speaking during a recent interview with Xinhua, Julius Thairu, chief commercial and customer officer at Kenya Airways has said that China is a competitive market with a promising future.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service

2024-05-14 18:57:17
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
Top procuratorate further clarifies standards for criminal arrests, indictments

BEIJING, May 14 (Xinhua) -- China's top procuratorate on Tuesday published four typical cases to guide the lower-level procuratorial agencies' work in deciding criminal suspects' arrests or indictments.

The cases, published by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP), involved reconsideration or review procedures about procuratorial agencies' prior decisions not to approve the arrest of certain criminal suspects or not to indict them.

In one case, it was made clear that when handling cases involving concealment of illegal gains of a crime, prosecutors should carry out comprehensive examinations based on the specific circumstances, consequences, the degree of social harm, as well as the nature and consequences of the prior crime, to determine whether the case is prosecutable.

Other cases involved the determination of prosecutable violations of theft, lodging lawsuit for fraud, and organizing prostitution activities.

It was further stressed in the cases that while dealing with reconsideration and review cases, substantial examination is needed, and the prosecutors should listen to the opinions of the public security authorities, and explain the facts of the case and the reasons as well as the legal basis for their decisions.

According to the SPP, the reconsideration and review procedure of relevant decisions facilitates mutual check and balance between public security and procuratorial authorities, and it is also an internal supervision within the procuratorial system.

Procuratorial agencies should work with public security authorities to build a criminal prosecution system centered around evidence, fully leverage the role of the reconsideration and review procedure in preventing and rectifying errors, to ensure justice in law enforcement and judicial work, the SPP statement said.

According to China's criminal procedure law, procuratorial agencies may decide not to approve the arrest of a suspect or not to indict them for reasons such as insufficient evidence or that relevant action is unnecessary.

However, the police may require or apply for a reconsideration or review of relevant decision if they believe it wrong. ■

2024-05-14 19:05:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]
3 missing in coal mine tremor accident in Poland

WARSAW, May 14 (Xinhua) -- A tremor hit the Myslowice-Wesola coal mine in southern Poland overnight, leaving three miners missing, authorities said Tuesday.

The tremor occurred at 3:30 a.m. local time (GMT 0130), 870 meters underground. The Polish Press Agency (PAP) reported that 15 miners were in the danger zone, 12 of whom were rescued and 10 of whom were taken to hospital.

"The search operation for three miners is ongoing. There is no contact with them at the moment. Rescuers are very close to the missing people," Rajmund Horst, deputy chief of the company that runs the mine, told a press conference.

There have been three fatal accidents in coal mines in Poland so far in 2024, with one at the Myslowice-Wesola mine, according to the PAP. ■

2024-05-14 18:58:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]