Visit Japan in a few years, and you might be surprised that the trains don’t have drivers! On September 11, 2024, East Japan Railway announced it would launch self-driving trains by 2028. Japan Times said its driverless locomotive will make operations more efficient and sustainable. JR East explained it will install autonomous trains for the Joetsu Shinkansen line between the Tokyo and Niigata stations. Later, the public transportation firm will take incremental steps to automate bullet trains. The project aligns with its Transformation 2027 vision, “Move Up.” How will the self-driving trains roll out? JR East will deploy driverless trains…
Author: Asia News Network
Telegram is like the third largest state in the world, not by land or borders, but by the sheer number of users over 100 crore globally. With more than 50 lakh users in India alone, Telegram has become a digital powerhouse, rivaling the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook. However, as its user base swells, so do the concerns surrounding its use – or rather, misuse. Recent events, particularly the arrest of Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov in Paris, have thrust the app into the global spotlight, sparking heated debates about its impact on national security, especially in India. Telegram’s meteoric rise…
Hyundai Motor Group and General Motors have joined forces to explore collaboration in vehicle development, supply chain and clean energy technology, officials announced Thursday. According to the announcement, the top leadership from each auto giant — including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun and GM CEO Mary Barra — recently met at Genesis House New York and signed a memorandum of understanding to seek future collaboration across key strategic areas. Hyundai Motor and GM — the world’s third and fifth largest auto brands by sales last year, respectively — said they will look for ways to leverage their complementary…
As Malaysia is set to assume the Asean chairmanship in 2025, a key event next year will be the expected conclusion of negotiations for the Asean Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA). A panel discussion at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Public Forum 2024 highlighted that DEFA will help to reduce fragmentation of digital policies in the region. One of the speakers, Nextrade Group founder and chief executive officer Kati Suominen also said a survey found that about 40% of businesses in Asean struggle with digital policy landscape, data privacy, consumer protection and others. “DEFA would address the regulatory fragmentation. “Also,…
In the Bagan Nyaung U area, a new rainfall record was set in 60 years, and some of the walls of some of Bagan’s ancient pagodas were reported to have collapsed. September 12, Nyaung Oo City According to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, 8.51 inches of rain fell, the most in 60 years since the camp was established in 1964, according to records. Nyaung Oo City Daw Khin Hla Nu, Head of the Meteorology and Hydrology Office, said, “We have never experienced such rainfall. Unexpected rainfall. At that time, the maximum rainfall was just over 6 inches. South China…
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) will soon use artificial intelligence (AI) in weather forecasting, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) said on Wednesday. Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. made the remarks during the Senate deliberations on the 2025 proposed budget of the DOST and its attached agencies, which includes the state weather bureau. “Soon we will [use], through our research program, artificial intelligence in weather forecasting. So instead of every three hours computation, our target is to provide a forecast every 15 minutes,” he said. READ: AI beat conventional weather forecasting for the…
The US and China have agreed to expand military-to-military contact and hold a second round of talks on artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation, even as disagreements on core issues remain. A possible call between US President Joe Biden and his counterpart Xi Jinping “in the coming weeks” was also discussed between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi at their two-day talks in Beijing which ended on Aug 28. Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges, while continuing to cooperate in areas such as drug control, law enforcement, climate change and the repatriation of illegal immigrants,…
Australia is proud of the mutual support with Vietnam as they face modern challenges in an intertwined future, said Australian Senate President Sue Lines at the Vietnam-Australia Forum 2024 on Wednesday morning. Following the success of the first forum between the two countries in 2023, this year’s event centred on enhancing economic engagement and a shared vision for prosperity between the two countries. “Global issues have local effects, and our leaders need to be able to grapple with these,” she said. Among these challenges is the pace of change, evident in the need for immediate response to climate change, navigating…
Hundreds of motorbike driver partners for ride-hailing and delivery apps are slated to hold a peaceful demonstration in Jakarta on Thursday to demand better work conditions and a firm legal standing. The Two-Wheeler Action Movement (Garda) advocacy group announced in a statement on Wednesday that a rally was to begin at midday at the Merdeka Palace in Gambir, Central Jakarta, and move from there to the Gojek office in Petojo, Central Jakarta and then to the Grab office in Cilandak, South Jakarta. Gojek and Grab are the two biggest providers of ride-hailing and food delivery services with super-apps that also…
The level of the Mekong reached an alarming point in Vientiane yesterday, leading authorities to advise riverside communities to be prepared for flooding. According to a notice issued by the Meteorology and Hydrology Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, residents of Nongda village in Sisattanak district and Hom village in Hadxaifong district, and others living in low-lying areas near the river, should be on the alert for flooding in the coming days as more rain is forecast from August 28-30. The level of the Mekong in Sisattanak district is currently 11 metres and 68cm, at the point where the…