Russia and China are ready to sign an historic deal to build the first lunar base. The two countries will cooperate in creating an international lunar structure that China developed. The information was released on the Russian government’s official site. The lunar base can be seen as part of a second space race against America.
Category: Asia
US and EU — United Against Russia?
This week, European Union High Representative Josep Borrell spoke at the conference organized by the US. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the conference was held in the online format. Recently, Mr. Borrell visited Russia and the topic of Alexey Navalny came up. It should be noted that Mr. Borrell did not meet with Mr. Navalny during his visit.
Russia — 2021 Could Be Dark Year for Women
This year could end up being one of the worst years for women in Russia. Perhaps it couldn’t get worse for women than when domestic violence was decriminalized in Russia, in June of 2016, making it an administrative offense, punishable by a fine or detention. Many fines imposed as a result of domestic violence are nominal.
Foxconn, Fisker Team Up on EVs
Taiwan’s Hon Hai (also known as Foxconn) and electric vehicle manufacturer Fisker signed a memorandum of cooperation, it was reported on Wednesday. The two parties will work together to build an electric vehicle under the Fisker brand, which is expected to be mass-produced in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Secret Places to visit in Himachal Pradesh
Do you want a peaceful escape? Do you long for new experiences, in remote fairy-tale landscapes? Do you truly want to discover places, people, and cultures? If yes, then enrich your wanderlust with the following offbeat travel destinations in Himachal.
We have handpicked these hidden gems from the exotic landscapes of Himachal Pradesh. Offbeat in spirit, we promise this list of offbeat places in Himachal-doesn’t mention Shimla and Manali. As many words boast of their beauty already!
Russia — New Gremlin Hypersonic Missile Slated for Testing
Russia announced that the new Gremlin (GZUR) air-launched hypersonic missile testing is scheduled for 2023. The Gremlin will be considerably smaller in comparison to the previously-adopted X-47M2 Dagger. Furthermore, due to the smaller size of the Gremlin, it will not limit the use with the heavy bombers and MiG-31 interceptors.
Alibaba — China Deploys Ant Traps
Chinese authorities have, in recent months, clamped down on Alibaba Group, which is arguably the biggest e-commerce B2B platform in the country. The move came after founder Jack Ma’s controversial utterances about Chinese regulators stifling growth by implementing unfavorable rules.
EU Imposes New Sanctions on Venezuela, Russia
The European Union on Monday approved new sanctions against Venezuela and added 19 officials in the government of President Nicolás Maduro to its list of people subject to restrictive measures for their role in “acts and decisions that threaten democracy” in the country after the fraudulent elections held in December.
The Poor Kid That Resembles Jack Ma is Home
The kid that looks like Jack Ma is finally back home. On February 19, Fan Xiaoqin’s father, Fan Jiafa, told journalists that his youngest son, after four years of fame, would come back to continue the 4th grade at a local primary school. The man that hired Xiaoqin, Liu Changjiang, terminated the contract earlier this year.
HSBC Exits U.S. Retail Banking Business
HSBC Holdings will announce its 2020 annual results on Tuesday, and the investment community is concerned about the results of its strategic review. The British Financial Times quoted a person familiar with the matter as saying that HSBC will revisit its “pivot to Asia” business strategy and withdraw from retail banking in the United States.
Russia — Putin Focuses A Full Day of Negotiation with Lukashenko
The president of Russia Vladimir Putin and the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will hold the talks in Sochi this week. The talks are on the eve of the February 23rd, which traditionally is the holiday that honors men in Russia. Lukashenko arrived in Sochi well an advance and this is the first time, Lukashenko left Belarus after the beginning of the protests.
PSL 2021 Update – Time to Explore the Real Thrill
PSL or Pakistan Super League will be the best one in the year 2021. It was formed in the year 2015 by the Pakistan Cricket Board. This league has opened great opportunities for the players to establish themselves in the best possible manner. Most of the players will also get an option to prove them. If you get a chance you should try to perform it in a better way. It is seen that only lucky people get a chance in this type of leagues. They don’t want to miss the chance which is common and obvious.
New Zealand — Standard and Poor Upgrades Rating
S&P Global Ratings upgraded New Zealand’s foreign currency and local currency sovereign credit ratings by one notch to AA+ and AAA, saying that New Zealand is recovering from the impact of the new crown epidemic faster than most advanced economies.
Boeing — “Suspend Flights and All 777-Type Aircraft”
The Boeing Company of the United States said that it is recommended that airlines suspend flights and all 777-type aircraft that use the same engine as the United Airlines aircraft that occurred recently. Previously, the Japanese aviation regulatory agency had requested domestic airlines to suspend the service of aircraft of the same model with the same engine.
Chinese Internet Troll Arrested for Defaming National Heroes
Since the imprisonment of the provocative Spanish rapper Pablo Hasél on February 16, violent street protests have been going on every night across Spain despite the Covid-19 nightly curfew imposed by the Spanish government. For his “lyrics and tweets that compared Spanish judges to Nazis and called former King Juan Carlos a mafia boss,” among other accusations, Pablo was given a nine-month prison sentence.
Russia — Judge Sentences Navalny Despite European Court of Human Rights Appeal
Russia has decided that Vladimir Putin’s main rival, Alexei Navalny should remain behind bars. International pressure and the request of the European Court of Human Rights that the politician be set free with immediate effect apparently fell on deaf ears as the Putin led administration failed to be convinced to free the Russian firebrand opposition politician.
Russia — ‘NATO Threat to Whole World’
The Russian Gosduma made a statement pertaining the NATO actions, which pose political and military threats not only to Russia, but also to the whole world. Moscow naturally wants to weaken the alliance. The statement was made by the First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on the International Affairs Dmitry Novikov.
Burma — Protesters Riot, Two Killed, Disbelieve Army’s Promise to Hold Elections
The crackdown on a demonstration in Burma’s second largest city, Mandalay, left two dead. For two weeks, protesters in various parts of the country have protested the military coup that overthrew the de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and are calling for her return to power.
Russian Opposition Locked Away
On February 20th, Alexey Navalny had two court hearings. Alexey Navalny returned to Russia in January 2021 and has been detained at the Moscow airport. Subsequently, he was given a prison sentence of the 2.8 years. Navalny legal team appealed the sentence and on February 20th, his appeal was heard.
6 Best Cruises Around the World for a Memorable Journey
Are you ready to sail the waters and indulge in the new cruising adventure? Exploring the world on a cruise ship is the best way to get around and get to know the culture and country. You’re comfortably sitting on the deck with the mild wind blowing in your face while having the perfect sight of the buildings and people on the land.
Russian’s Third Vaccine Utilizes Whole Virus
Russia registered third coronavirus vaccine. Coronavirus continues to be a serious barrier for the world economies. Currently, there over 111 million infected and over 2.4 million deaths around the globe. The new vaccine was developed by the Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences.
German Russian Dual Citizen Charged Treason
Russia announced Demuri Voronin has been charged with treason. Voronin is a dual citizen of Russia and Germany. It would be imperative for Germany to take a pro active approach to aid him. Clearly, the Russian citizen Alexei Navalny was aided by Germany, including providing him with the German security services proaction, during Navalny stay in Germany.
Coronavirus — Sputnik V Gaining Popularity
The Coronavirus pandemic continues to be at the forefront of major news around the globe. Currently, there are over 110 million cases and over 2.4 million deaths around the world. The Russian Sputnik V vaccine is becoming very popular in Latin America and the demand for the vaccine continues to increase.
Facebook Unfriends Australia Over Media Pay Bill
Facebook has blocked the option of viewing and sharing news on its platform within Australia in opposition to a proposed law in the country. The decision, which affects both the media and users who use the platform in Australia, was communicated by the social media platform via a blog post on Wednesday.
Essential Tips for Scoring Higher in the IELTS Listening Section
For enrolling in an international university, mostly in Canada, the US, Uk and New Zealand, etc., students from Pakistan need to appear in the IELTS exam and submit their band score to the university they want to enroll. No matter how good your academic career is, not having the IELTS result may reduce your chances of getting admission to any of the countries mentioned above unless the university gives you an IELTS exemption.
Could Russia Lose Belarus?
The President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, and the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, have a scheduled meeting in Sochi next week. It is expected that the talks will include discussions regarding the financial and economic spheres. There is also a possibility to unify the credit operations between Russia and Belarus.
Indian Summer — S&P Expects Economic Rebound
In its latest report, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) anticipates that India’s economy will rebound 10% in the next two years. This comes as a major relief for the many Indian professionals who had to deal with cutbacks and job cuts at the lowest level in their lives. The current recession has affected every sector of the Indian economy.
Updates on the European Union and Russia
Last week, very strong statements were made by the Kremlin regarding the possibility of ending all ties with the European Union. The tensions between Russia and the European Union are ongoing. Nevertheless, the recent events with Alexey Navalny, and the response by the West, is pushing Russia too far.
Chinese Young People Rush Into National Civil Service Examination in Hope of Stability
Having graduated from one of the best universities in China, Na still hasn’t found a job in six months. “Sometimes I even think about becoming a waitress. But my family wouldn’t allow me. It’s a disgrace for their reputation. But here in Xinjiang, there are barely any good job offers.” Finding no better way out, she signed up for the next National Civil Service Examination (NCSE), which led to a second problem: should she sign up for a training course?
Amazon India Launches Services in Marathi
Amazon has launched seller registration in Marathi, India. It is an experimental program that will allow merchants and resellers access to Amazon’s global marketplace. Amazon services in the Marathi language are available now only to registered members of the Amazon India Solutions.
Turkey — Propaganda Machine at Work
The president of Turkey Recep Erdogan is actively pushing his agenda and falsely claiming that Turkey has geopolitical, economic, scientific and technical prospects. The PR machine constantly produces “new” publications and social media posts to cater to the wide range of audience.
Russia — Putin May Disable Foreign Internet Service Providers and Social Media
The Russian president Vladimir Putin stated on February 14th that he does not rule out disabling all foreign internet service providers and the social media. The measures could come into effect, if there will be disguised attacks on Russia and the new sanctions.
Putin — West Is Using Navalny As “Containment Policy”
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday accused Western countries of using the country’s currently imprisoned opposition politician, Alexeï Navalny as part of Russia’s “containment policy.” “The stronger we become, the stronger the containment policy”, he argued.
The Hague —Karim Khan Elected ICC Chief Prosecutor
A majority of the 72 signatory countries of the Rome Statute on Friday elected the British Karim Khan as the new chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) to replace Fatou Bensouda, who took office in 2012. The new chief prosecutor will be the third to hold this position in the history of the organization.
Top 5 Benefits of Taking Business and Management Courses
When you have dreams and desires of becoming a business owner, taking up the Business Management Courses will be an excellent idea for you. The things you will learn through the course will help you establish an enterprise of your own. Apart from that, the course will also be highly beneficial for you if you want a job at a high-level financial company or a corporation.
EU — Russia Threatens to Cut Ties if New Sanctions
Russia threatened to break ties with the European Union on Friday if it dares slam it with new sanctions. The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, assured that Moscow is ready to break relations with Brussels if the umbrella body, comprising of 27 member states, introduces new sanctions that cause risks in sensitive sectors of the Russian economy.
TV Models Explained with Excellent Visuals
The Indian television market is anticipated to reach an estimated value of 13.6 billion US Dollars in 2021. Advanced high-speed internet technology, the rise of disposable income, market demand, etc., are a few significant factors, responsible for this remarkable growth.
Since modern buyers started finding their inclination towards digital platforms, renowned brands focused on incorporating new technologies to meet their demands. Consequently, several new models equipped with advanced technologies have been launched over the years, which have also influenced the price range.
Disney Takes Substantial Hit, Still Profitable
Disney’s performance in the last quarter was unexpectedly profitable. In the first quarter of this fiscal year, it recorded a profit of $17 million, a year-on-year decrease of 99%. After deducting special items, the profit per share was 32 cents, which was better than the market’s expected loss of 41 cents.
Australia, New Zealand Stocks Close Low
The three major U.S. stock indexes closed overnight and developed individually. The market is concerned about when tourism and aviation and other industries will return to normal. The stock markets in Australia and New Zealand are soft. The Australian common stock index closed at 7,122 points, down 11 points, or 0.16%.
Malaysia Suffers Worst Contraction Since 1997
Malaysia’s GDP contracted by 5.6% in 2020, the worst performance since the Asian financial crisis in 1997, which was also worse than the government’s expected contraction of 3.5 to 5.5%. Taking the fourth quarter of last year alone, GDP shrank by 3.4% year -on- year, the third consecutive quarter of decline.
Poaching vs Protection of Endangered Tibetan Antelope
Tibetan antelope, also known as Chiru, is an animal regarded as elves on the Tibetan Plateau. Chiru Tibetan antelope is unique and rare species in China, and one of the ancient and mysterious ones. Suddenly one day, countless Tibetan antelopes were illegally hunted and killed, and it was only because of soft chiru wool that can be used to produce a shawl called “Shahtoosh”. The Chinese government has stepped up its crackdown on poaching to protect the endangered antelopes. IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) included Tibetan antelope on the protection list too. Let us approach the world of Tibetan antelope.
Tips for Starting a New Life Chapter in Australia
The mysterious Land Down Under has to offer a brand-new start to whoever is seeking it. It’s a great country/ continent that is ideal for new solo or family life. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and fly to this magnificent country full of diversity and versatile wildlife perfect for new beginnings.
However, moving to a completely new country isn’t easy. There’s a wide range of things you need to do and learn before you set your finger into a new life chapter. So, what are the crucial things you need to know that will help you get around?
Baidu Climbs 6% on Investor Speculation
When Baidu stocks began to climb high up to 6%, it did so on a lot of investor speculation. Sponsored ADR Class A currently traded at $295.14, up $18.55, or 6.7%. Many Chinese internet-savvy persons saw the potential of this stock and invested in Baidu stock as a long-term investment.
Coronavirus — Vaccines and Politics
The Coronavirus pandemic continues to be a major factor around the world. Currently, there are over 107 million infected and over 2.3 million deaths around the globe. Many countries are experiencing shortages of the COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 restrictions continue to hurt the global economies.
Coronavirus — WHO Echoes China’s Origin Findings
The World Health Organization (WHO) team investigating the origin of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China, has certified the animal origin of the virus. However, it considers that no sufficiently solid evidence has been found to conclude that it originated from bats or pangolins, which it has identified as “potential candidates.”
Mastercard, SAP Concur Team Up in APAC
Mastercard has partnered with SAP Concur in the Asia-Pacific region. SAP Concur and Mastercard are not competing for customer business, they are actually complementary partners. SAP Concur and Mastercard provide cardholders with discounts and other benefits, such as travel insurance, extended payment terms, and more.
Russia — Social Media Developments in February
Social media has become the main source of political propaganda. According to Statista, the total number of active social media users has been steadily growing year-on-year in Russia, except for 2017, when the audience dropped significantly in volume across the country. By January 2020, there were 70 million active users of social media platforms in Russia.
Myanmar — Pope Calls for Quick Release of Prisoners
Pope Francis called for the “quick” release of political leaders detained in Myanmar Monday, following the military coup that overthrew the nation’s Prime Minister, Aung San Suu Kyi. “The path to democracy undertaken in recent years was brusquely interrupted by last week’s coup d’état,” Pope Francis said.
Australia Drawing Up EV Policy
Australia is now considering whether it should implement a national electric vehicle policy similar to the U.S. Federal Electric Vehicle Policy. In both countries, electric vehicle (EV) penetration is increasing dramatically. While the U.S. has a tax credit and incentives to drive electric vehicles, Australia offers no such policy.
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