Top Asian News 6:19 a.m. GMT
Top Asian News 6:19 a.m. GMT
May 31, 2023 GMT
North Korea spy satellite launch fails as rocket falls into the sea
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Koreas attempt to put the countrys first spy satellite into space failed Wednesday in a setback to leader Kim Jong Uns push to boost his military capabilities as tensions with the United States and South Korea rise. After an unusually quick admission of failure, North Korea vowed to conduct a second launch after learning what went wrong with its rocket liftoff. It suggests Kim remains determined to expand his weapons arsenal and apply more pressure on Washington and Seoul while diplomacy is stalled. South Korea and Japan briefly urged residents to take shelter during the launch.
China warns of artificial intelligence risks, calls for beefed-up national security measures
BEIJING (AP) Chinas ruling Communist Party is calling for beefed-up national security measures, highlighting the risks posed by advances in artificial intelligence. A meeting headed by party leader and President Xi Jinping on Tuesday urged dedicated efforts to safeguard political security and improve the security governance of internet data and artificial intelligence, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Xi, who is Chinas head of state, commander of the military and chair of the partys National Security Commission, called at the meeting for staying keenly aware of the complicated and challenging circumstances facing national security. China needs a new pattern of development with a new security architecture, Xinhua reported Xi as saying.
Australian Parliament takes step toward holding a referendum on Indigenous Voice this year
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Australias House of Representatives voted overwhelming Wednesday for a referendum to be held this year on creating an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, an advocate aiming to give the nations most disadvantaged ethnic minority more say on government policy. While the Voice would advocate for Indigenous interests, it would not have a vote on laws, and debate for and against the elected body has become increasingly heated and divisive. The 121-to-25 House vote that approved the referendum being held does not reflect the level of lawmakers support for enshrining the Voice in the constitution. The opposition conservative Liberal Party voted in support of giving Australians a choice at a referendum but is also campaigning for the Voice to be rejected by the public.
Chinas industry minister, Teslas Musk meet, discuss electric cars
BEIJING (AP) Chinas industry minister met Tesla Ltd. CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday and the two discussed development of electric and intelligent networked vehicles, the ministry said. The ruling Communist Party is trying to revive investor interest in Chinas slowing economy. Foreign companies are uneasy following raids on consulting firms and given the strained Chinese relations with Washington. Jin Zhuanglong and Musk exchanged views on the development of new energy vehicles and intelligent networked vehicles, said a statement by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. It gave no details. China accounts for half of global electric vehicle sales and is the site of Teslas first factory outside the United States.
New Zealand airline is asking passengers to weigh in before their flights
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) New Zealands national airline is asking passengers to step on the scales before they board international flights. Air New Zealand says it wants to weigh 10,000 passengers during a monthlong survey so pilots can better know the weight and balance of their planes before takeoff. But the numbers from the scales wont be flashing up for all to see. There will be no visible display anywhere, the airline promised, and the weigh-in data will remain anonymous even to airline staff. We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft from the cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold, said Alastair James, a load control improvement specialist for the airline, in a statement.
US military complains of unsafe, aggressive move by Chinese fighter jet
WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. military said Tuesday that a Chinese fighter jet flew aggressively close to a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, forcing the American pilot to fly through the turbulent wake. The Chinese J-16 fighter pilot flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135, which was conducting routine operations in international airspace last Friday, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. It called the Chinese move an unnecessarily aggressive maneuver. U.S. defense leaders have complained that Chinas military has become significantly more aggressive over the past five years, intercepting U.S. aircraft and ships in the region.
Rights group says Uyghur student it reported to be missing in Hong Kong did not travel to city
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Amnesty International acknowledged Tuesday that a Uyghur student who it had said was missing in Hong Kong after being interrogated did not travel to the city, easing concerns over his safety but raising questions over how the allegations first emerged. The human rights group said last Friday that Abuduwaili Abudureheman, who was born in Xinjiang in western China, had traveled to Hong Kong from South Korea to visit a friend on May 10 and had not been heard from since he texted his friend about being questioned at the citys airport. But Amnesty International said the student told the group on Tuesday that he did not travel to Hong Kong, contrary to previous information received. We are pleased that Abuduwaili Abudureheman is accounted for, it said.
Crowd in China clashes with police over plans to demolish mosque
BEIJING (AP) Chinas government is calling on protesters to turn themselves in after a crowd clashed with police over plans to demolish a mosque in the countrys southwest as President Xi Jinpings government tightens control over religion and society. Protesters threw water bottles at officers with helmets and shields outside the blue-domed Najiaying Mosque in Yuxi, a city in Yunnan province, according to videos on social media. One punched a police officers helmet but little other violence was shown. The Associated Press confirmed the location of the protest. Videos showing the protests were removed from Chinese social media. Police called on criminal suspects to turn themselves in following Saturdays incident and said those who do might receive lighter punishment.
China launches new crew for space station, with eye to putting astronauts on moon before 2030
BEIJING (AP) China launched a new three-person crew for its orbiting space station on Tuesday, with an eye to putting astronauts on the moon before the end of the decade. The Shenzhou 16 spacecraft lifted off from the Jiuquan launch center on the edge of the Gobi Desert in northwestern China atop a Long March 2-F rocket just after 9:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) Tuesday. The crew, including Chinas fi
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 4:20 am