CNA – China’s Geely said its premium electric mobility brand, Zeekr, will make electric vehicles for Waymo, Alphabet’s self-driving unit, to be deployed as fully autonomous ride-hailing vehicles across the United States (US).
The vehicles will be designed and developed at Zeekr’s facility in Sweden, and later integrated with Waymo’s self-driving technology, Geely said on Tuesday.
Waymo said it would introduce the vehicles to US roads “in the years to come”.
Concept images Waymo published on Tuesday show a roomy, low-to-the-ground minivan with seating for about five riders and sliding doors on each side serving as the lone entryways.
Waymo is the first and only fully driverless taxi service in the United States. It has driven thousands of people since launching the service a year ago in Phoenix.
The partnership with Zeekr will help Waymo expand its driverless ride-hailing service in the face of increased competition, and also create inroads for Chinese brand Geely into the US market.
A security guard passes by the logo of Geely’s Zeekr at its factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China. PHOTO: CNA
WATFORD, ENGLAND (AP) – West Ham ended a five-match winless run in all competitions by securing a 4-1 victory in the Premier League on Tuesday over a depleted Watford team that was playing its first game in 16 days because of coronavirus cases.
Responding to going behind to Emmanuel Dennis’ fourth-minute goal, West Ham scored twice in 110 seconds – through Tomas Soucek and Said Benrahma – to lead at halftime.
A penalty by Mark Noble and substitute Nikola Vlasic’s first club goal for West Ham completed the win at Vicarage Road.
Jarrod Bowen had a hand in three of West Ham’s goals, including winning
the penalty.
Watford’s last three games were postponed because of COVID-19 outbreaks.
Games against Burnley and Palace were called off because Watford had coronavirus cases, while Sunday’s match at Wolverhampton was postponed after an outbreak at Wolves.
Watford came into the match on the back of only one full training session in two weeks and West Ham players’ match fitness and sharpness was evident as they grew into the game.
Making matters worse for Watford, defender Kiko Femenia was forced off through injury in the first half.
West Ham climbed to fifth place, a point ahead of Tottenham having played two games more.
West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal controls the ball during the match against Watford. PHOTO: AP
WASHINGTON (AP) – United States (US) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a US Navy aircraft carrier strike group to stay in the Mediterranean Sea region rather than move on to the Middle East, amid worries about the buildup of thousands of Russian troops near the Ukraine border.
A defence official said on Tuesday that the change in the schedule of the USS Harry Ss Truman, and the five American warships accompanying it, reflects the need for a persistent presence in Europe.
It is necessary in order to reassure US allies and partners in the region, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military deployment details.
The US and Western allies have watched as the buildup of Russian troops near the border grew to a peak of an estimated 100,000, fueling fears that Moscow was preparing to invade Ukraine.
Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and shortly after threw its support behind a separatist rebellion in the country’s east.
Aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman. FILE PHOTO: AP
Over more than seven years, the fighting has killed over 14,000 people and devastated Ukraine’s industrial heartland, known as the Donbas.
Russia has denied any intention of launching a new invasion and instead has accused Ukraine of hatching plans to try to use force to reclaim control of the territories held by Moscow-backed rebels. Ukraine has rejected that claim.
The Truman strike group includes five US ships – the cruiser USS San Jacinto and the guided missile destroyers USS Cole, USS Bainbridge, USS Gravely and USS Jason Dunham.
The Truman left its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia, on December 1, and entered the Mediterranean Sea on December 14.
Media representatives got behind the wheels of the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross during a test drive hosted by authorised distributor GHK Motors Sdn Bhd.
The compact coupe SUV features a sporty appearance with improved comfort.
Eclipse Cross’ front end adopts an evolved version of Mitsubishi’s signature dynamic shield design suggesting strength and security.
The new front bumper guard and refreshed light layout gives the car a bold, dynamic look.
The redesigned hatch and rear window give off a more sophisticated, contemporary styling with improved rear visibility.
The test drive took place at Mulia Hotel where GHK Marketing Executive Ahmad Fa’ezul Imtiaz Adam assisted by Digital Marketing Eddy Muqri gave a presentation on the new vehicle.
Following the briefing, GHK Sales Consultants Rahman and Asmah accompanied the media on two Eclipse Cross for the test drive.
The new Eclipse Cross is available at GHK Mitsubishi showrooms and for test drives.
The car was launched in September during a digital event and available for test drive since the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
The new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
AP – Much of Asia has largely managed to keep Omicron at bay even as the variant rages in other parts of the world, but the region that is home to most of the globe’s population is bracing for what may be an inevitable surge.
Strict quarantine rules for arrivals and widespread mask wearing have helped slow the spread of the highly contagious variant in Asia. Countries such as Japan, South Korea and Thailand quickly reinstated entry and quarantine restrictions in recent weeks after relaxing them in the fall.
But cases are mounting, and experts say the next few months will be critical. Those fears have been amplified by doubts about the effectiveness of the Chinese-made vaccines used in China and much of the developing world.
“Once the pace picks up, its upsurge would be extremely fast,” said Dr Shigeru Omi, a top medical adviser to Japan’s government.
In India, which has been getting back to normal after a devastating COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year, Omicron is once again raising fears, with more than 700 cases reported in the country of nearly 1.4 billion people.
People queue for coronavirus testing at a makeshift testing site in Seoul, South Korea. PHOTOS: APA policeman directs pedestrians towards a COVID-19 testing booth at a market in Jammu, IndiaA medical technologist performs a COVID-19 test on a patient in Manila, Philippines
The capital, New Delhi, banned large gatherings for Christmas and New Year’s, and many other states have announced new restrictions, including curfews and vaccination requirements at stores and restaurants.
At the crowded Chandni Chowk market in New Delhi, many people were shopping without masks this week. Cycle rickshaw driver Mahesh Kumar said he is afraid of passengers who don’t wear masks.
“There are many people who don’t believe in this disease. They think it doesn’t exist. But I am very scared. I have children and a family,” he said. “If something happens to me, who will take care of them?
Australia is already dealing with multiple COVID-19 surges, with a state leader saying yesterday that “Omicron is moving too quickly.”
Elsewhere, Thailand has topped 700 cases, South Korea has more than 500 and Japan, over 300.
China, which has some of the strictest virus controls in the world, has reported at least eight.
Only four cases have been reported in the Philippines, where people flocked to shopping malls and to mass in the biggest Roman Catholic nation in Asia. Some hospitals have even begun dismantling COVID-19 wards in a move experts say could prove to be premature.
Japan managed to delay the spread of the new variant for about a month largely thanks to its reimposition of entry restrictions, mandatory COVID-19 tests for all arrivals and the isolation of all passengers on a flight if anyone tested positive for Omicron.
But the barrier was broken last week when the first locally transmitted cases were confirmed in the neighbouring cities of Osaka and Kyoto.
Experts are urging the government to prepare for an imminent wave of infections by increasing testing, speeding up booster shots and preparing more beds at hospitals.
“We want to believe the omicron cases could be mild, but its fast-paced infections could quickly multiply the number of patients and could still overwhelm hospitals,” Omi said.
Taiwan, where wearing a face mask is near universal in major cities, has started to offer booster shots of the Moderna vaccine and is urging people get a third shot before an expected influx of people returning home for Lunar New Year at the end of January.
Preliminary research has shown that booster shots of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines offer continued, though diminished, protection against Omicron.
Meanwhile, China’s attitude toward the virus, Omicron or not, is to stop transmission in its tracks, and the country appears to be getting even tougher with the approach of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.
Officials locked down the city of Xi’an, a city and administrative area of 13 million people last week, amid a delta outbreak that has infected hundreds of people. On Monday, they ordered everyone to stay at home until another citywide round of testing was completed.
Residents complained on social media about the sudden ban. Many were relying on instant noodles and other packaged food. Some worried how they would get enough food in the coming days, especially fresh vegetables.
NEW YORK (AFP) -Eyeing an Omicron surge that has exacerbated United States (US) labour stress especially in frontline industries, US President Joe Biden’s administration is betting shorter Covid-19 quarantine times will lessen the economic hit from the latest variant.
The announcement on Monday to cut isolation times in half was cheered by airlines and hospitality industries, but sharply criticised by labour unions who question whether public health concerns have been short-changed.
Economists generally offered muted praise as they analyse the Omicron impact, which caused staff shortages that led to thousands of flight cancellations over the holiday weekend, halted theatre performances and professional sports competitions, and is expected to slow growth in the first quarter of 2022.
The new guidance cuts the isolation period for asymptomatic Covid-19 cases in half to five days followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others.
It is a relief to business that already had been struggling to fill open positions and return to normal.
Houston restauranteur Dimitri Fetokakis, whose three-restaurant chain employs about 120, welcomed the announcement both because of the tight labour pool and as a sign of progress in navigating the pandemic.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to make 3,000 career three-pointers on Tuesday night in a game where the Denver Nuggets barely held off the NBA-leading Golden State Warriors 89-86.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic blocked a potential game-tying shot by Jonathan Kuminga in the final seconds to preserve the win after his team nearly blew a 24-point halftime lead.
The Warriors got one more chance to tie the game, but Andre Iguodala missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I thought Will Barton, down the stretch, made a couple of big, big plays.”
Barton had 21 points, while Jokic led Denver with 22 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and
four steals.
“Nikola having 18 rebounds, 22 points and making a key, key play down the stretch is why he’s a great player,” Malone said.
Denver Nuggets forward JaMychal Green dunks the ball. PHOTO: AP
“You need those types of plays to pull out wins like this.”
Andrew Wiggins had 21 points and eight rebounds for Golden State in his first game back from the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Curry, who scored 21 of his 23 points in the second half, made a corner three-pointer late in the third quarter to give him 157 consecutive games with a three-point field goal. It ties his own NBA record, which he set from 2014-16.
The Warriors trailed 60-36 at the half, but kept Denver down offensively while opening the third quarter on a 17-5 run to cut Denver’s lead to 65-53. They pulled within five on a Curry step-back three-pointer with 7:20 remaining in the fourth quarter before he made back-to-back three-pointers to cut the Nuggets’ lead to 84-82 with 2:08 left.
Golden State tied the game at 84 on a dunk by Gary Payton II with 1:04 remaining. Barton put the Nuggets back in front 86-84 with a tip-in on the ensuing possession and Denver held on to win despite scoring just 29 points in the second half.
“They were the aggressor from the start,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.
“I loved the way we fought back in the second half and gave ourselves a chance… Really proud of the guys for the effort, but obviously we’ve got to play better.”
The Nuggets started the game on a 10-0 run and built a 31-16 lead after the first quarter.
Curry remained scoreless deep into the first half, finally getting his first points with 2:08 remaining in the second quarter.
BRUSSELS (AP) – In a setback for the Belgian government, an advisory body on Tuesday suspended a Cabinet-ordered closure of part of the cultural sector- saying that new coronavirus restrictions imposed on theatres are unreasonable.
Under new restrictions that took effect last Sunday, movie houses, concert halls and art centres were ordered to shut their doors.
Some stayed open in protest. The order came despite the assessment of the scientific committee advising the government that going to such places poses no extra risk to
public health.
In an emergency procedure, the Council of State ruled that measures concerning theatres were “not proportionate”, and didn’t provide enough motives to “understand why going to cultural sector performance venues was particularly dangerous for public health.”
The Council of State is an advisory body that has legal powers to overturn government decisions it considers unlawful.
The ruling came after a member of a production company launched an urgent appeal against the government decision to ensure that an end of year play could go ahead in suburban Brussels. It’s expected to impact on the entire sector.
Protest over closure of cinemas and theatres in Belgium. PHOTO: AP
Brunei Darussalam detected four new COVID-19 cases yesterday, with three local and one import case. This brings the national tally of confirmed COVID-19 cases to 15,465.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar revealed these details during the daily press conference yesterday.
The minister said the cases were detected from 2,675 laboratory tests conducted in the past 24 hours. The rate of positive cases yesterday was 0.1 per cent.
One case recovered yesterday, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Sultanate to 15,265 while the total active cases is 100. Meanwhile, the bed occupancy rate at isolation centres is 2.7 per cent.
The minister said, “One case is still in Category 5 receiving treatment at the intensive care unit requiring artificial ventilation and an additional heart-lung machine (ECMO).”
The minister said as of December 28, 94.5 per cent of the population have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine while 93.2 per cent were administered two shots. Some 17.9 per cent have received three doses of the vaccine.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah were also present.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah during the daily press conference. PHOTO: JAMES KON
SINGAPORE (CNA) – The cub born to giant pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia has been named after the results of a public vote were announced yesterday.
The winning name – Le Le – garnered more than 31,000 votes. Overall, more than 64,000 votes were submitted in the online poll held from November 3-7 to decide the name of the first Singapore-born giant panda.
The word ‘Le’ comes from ‘Shi Le Po’, which is an ancient Chinese name for Singapore and in use since the country’s beginning as a trading port, Mandai Wildlife Group said in a press release.
The term is also a transliteration of the Malay term selat, which means straits, indicative of Singapore’s geographical location, it added.
Other names shortlisted for the vote were Hong Hong, Xin Le, Xin Yang and Xin Yuan.
The giant panda cub Le Le in its nursery. PHOTO: CNA
Guests heading to River Wonders will be able to visit Le Le in its new glass-fronted nursery at the Giant Panda Forest from today, Mandai Wildlife Group added.
“The viewing periods coincide with Jia Jia’s feeding and exercise sessions when she is comfortable to leave little Le Le on his own,” the group said in the press release.
“Each viewing window, which ranges between 20 and 30 minutes, may vary depending on the comfort level of both mother and son, and will be reviewed and adjusted over the next few weeks.”
“We are overjoyed that our panda cub now has a name, and one that is proudly indicative of his birth city,” said Mandai Wildlife Group’s Deputy CEO of Life Sciences and Operations Dr Cheng Wen-Haur.
The announcement was made by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng at a virtual ceremony after the 17th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) meeting between Singapore and China.
