Showing posts with label Asia. Show all posts

27 January 2024

China's Qinwen sets up Australian Open final against Sabalenka

China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates victory against the Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska in Thursday’s Australian Open semi-final in Melbourne Photo: AFP

Zheng Qinwen Secures Historic Victory, Advances to Australian Open Final

In a remarkable display, Zheng Qinwen breezed past Ukrainian qualifier Dayana Yastremska on Thursday, making history as the first Chinese finalist at the Australian Open in a decade. The 12th seed, poised to enter the top 10 in the upcoming rankings, showcased a controlled performance on Rod Laver Arena, claiming victory with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4 in just one hour and 42 minutes.

Qinwen's achievement marks the first time a Chinese player has reached the final at Melbourne Park since Li Na, her idol, who clinched the tournament in 2014. The 21-year-old, who had never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in a Grand Slam before, expressed her excitement, stating, "I'm super excited to have such a great performance today and arrive in the final."

In the evening clash, Yastremska initially broke serve but struggled with four double faults in the next game, surrendering her advantage. Backed by strong support from the Chinese crowd, Zheng secured another break in the seventh game, taking the first set. Yastremska left the court for apparent treatment of a stomach issue during and after the set.

The Ukrainian, aiming to become the second qualifier to reach a Grand Slam final in the Open Era after Emma Raducanu in 2021, faced challenges in the second set. Zheng broke her serve in the third game, and although Yastremska managed to level at 2-2, Zheng's decisive break in the seventh game secured her advancement to the final.

Zheng Qinwen will now face defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in Saturday's final, setting the stage for an enthralling conclusion to the women's singles competition.

In the earlier semifinal, world No. 2 Sabalenka secured her spot in the final by defeating US fourth seed Coco Gauff with a score of 7-6 (7/2), 6-4. Sabalenka remains on track for a title defense in Melbourne.

China's Qinwen sets up Australian Open final against Sabalenka

January 27, 2024

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Photo shows a health worker inside a kiosk is collecting nasal swab from a potential patient. Photo: Collected

Mask Mandates to be Reinstated as New Covid-19 Variant Surfaces in Bangladesh

Experts are urging the return of mask mandates in Bangladesh as the country grapples with a surge in Covid-19 cases linked to the spread of a new variant. On January 18, the government's disease monitoring arm, IEDCR, confirmed the presence of the sub-variant JN.1, a strain of Omicron, just a month after it was labeled a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organization.

The JN.1 variant is characterized by its rapid spread but is reported to cause less severe illness. Out of six samples tested, five were positive for JN.1, prompting health authorities to encourage increased testing by instructing relevant stakeholders to submit samples.

Dr. Tahmina Shireen, the director of IEDCR, emphasized the importance of wearing masks and avoiding crowds as mandatory measures for Covid-19 prevention. Encouragingly, she noted that the existing vaccine remains effective against the new variant, prompting the government to initiate a vaccination campaign, including a fourth dose for those who had received the booster.

Despite initial success in managing the pandemic, with over two million people testing positive and nearly 30,000 deaths since March 2020, the country is witnessing a resurgence of cases with the emergence of the new variant. In the last 24 hours alone, 34 new cases were reported, with a case detection rate of 8.7%.

Medical specialist Dr. Rashedul Hassan Kanak advised the public to resume wearing masks, citing observations of patients recovering from Covid-19 symptoms. Although the new variant's impact appears mild, he stressed the importance of not ignoring the situation.

The government has announced a new Covid-19 inoculation campaign with the ambitious target of administering 25 million shots in 2024 and 2025. Dr. M Mushtaq Hussain, an advisor to IEDCR, emphasized the need for masks, especially in hospitals, and urged adherence to health and hygiene rules, including handwashing and social distancing.

While it remains unknown if the JN.1 variant produces different symptoms than other variants, the US CDC suggests that Covid-19 symptoms generally remain similar across variants. Dr. Hussain reassured the public that the new variant is mild but cautioned that elderly individuals and those with chronic diseases may still be vulnerable.

The CDC noted the constant evolution of the virus causing Covid-19, with the emergence of new variants potentially impacting transmission. While JN.1's continued growth suggests increased transmissibility, there is currently no evidence indicating an elevated risk or severity compared to other circulating variants, according to the CDC.

Covid cases are rising as new variant strikes Bangladesh

January 27, 2024

Asia Health

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India is constantly killing people of Bangladesh on the border

The dead body of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sepoy Raishuddin has been handed over through Shikarpur border of Sharsha Upazila of Jessore.

BSF officially handed over the body on Wednesday (January 24) around 11 am. Jessore 49 BGB CO Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Ahmed Jamil and Indian BSF 107 battalion officers of various levels were present at the time.

According to BGB, Raishuddin's body was taken to Jessore General Hospital mortuary after receiving it from BSF. After the autopsy, the body was taken from there to the headquarters of the 49th battalion. Janaza was held there after Zohar. The body was later handed over to his family. Raishuddin's brother Masum Reza Babu accepted the body.

It is to be noted that the BGB soldier Raishuddin was shot dead by BSF in the Dhanyakhola border of Benapole in the early hours of last Monday (January 22).

India is constantly killing people of Bangladesh on the border

January 24, 2024

Asia Law & Crime Politics

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Construction of artificial city in various locations for the shooting of the movie Fighter - Photo: Collected

Construction of artificial city in different places for shooting of fighter movie

Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone action-packed "Fighter" releasing on January 25, the film directed by Siddharth Anand promises breathtaking action scenes in a finely crafted artificial city.

Mumbai, January 15, 2024 – Bollywood enthusiasts are in for a treat as the much-anticipated film, “Fighter”, starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles, will hit the screens on January 25. Directed by Siddharth Anand, the film promises to redefine the action genre with its stunning visuals and innovative approach.

The central theme of the movie revolves around a series of airborne attacks, depicted with extreme realism through the use of a constructed city spread across 500 acres. A source close to the production revealed, "The director conceptualized the air raid scenes with a sense of authenticity from the start. The art department used real air raid footage as a reference to create the dynamic changes. The depiction of a city under attack. A simulated city needed to be built over 500 acres."

Sharing an insight into the construction process, the source added, "For this purpose, they built an artificial city at the SRPF grounds in Yogeshwari, Mumbai, spread over 500 acres. Close-up shots were taken there, a special kind of camel was incorporated with water. Make artificial snow. . The production design team used salt water for wide-angle shots simulating a snowy landscape. The entire set took about a month to build."

The film features action sequences involving various types of aircraft and the source mentioned, "In April 2023, Siddharth shot these action scenes. Hrithik led his team in these sequences, which involved the use of Pilatus trainer aircraft, Sukhoi Su and Mirage 2000. Each aircraft took 15-20 days to design."

With a substantial budget, "Fighter" has an ensemble cast with Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, and Akshay Oberoi in prominent roles. The film promises to deliver a cinematic experience with a combination of star power, cutting-edge visuals and an engaging story to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. As the release date approaches, anticipation builds for this action-packed spectacle that will leave a lasting impression on the audience.

Construction of artificial city in different places for shooting of fighter movie

January 15, 2024

Asia Business Entertainment

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চীন স্মার্টফোনকে 50 বছর ধরে চার্জ রাখতে পারমাণবিক ব্যাটারি তৈরি করেছে

China develops nuclear battery to keep smartphones charged for 50 years - Image Source: Betavolt.tech

Betavolt technology's nuclear battery could end the era of smartphone charging

In a groundbreaking development, Betavolt Technology, a China-based company, is on the verge of changing the smartphone power landscape with its innovative nuclear battery technology. While smartphone chipsets have seen significant advances, battery technology has stagnated for decades. However, Betavolt's radionuclide battery has the potential to revolutionize the industry by offering an astonishing 50-year lifetime.

The technology that Betavolt is pursuing isn't entirely new; It has already been successfully employed in pacemakers and space travel, where small, battery-powered devices require a long-lasting and reliable power source. Previous attempts at nuclear batteries for smartphones faced challenges due to their size and insufficient power supply. The use of radioactive materials such as plutonium has also raised safety concerns. BetaVolt technology is solving these problems with a unique approach.

The company's radionuclide battery incorporates a layer of artificial diamond, acting as a semiconductor layer, and uses the decay of nickel isotopes (nickel-63) to generate energy. This design combined with state-of-the-art technology results in nuclear energy batteries boasting 10 times the energy density of contemporary lithium batteries. Remarkably, these nuclear batteries can store an impressive 3,300 megawatt-hours in just 1 gram, with the added advantage of battery depletion or cycle.

One of the hallmarks of BetaVolt's nuclear batteries is their resilience in harsh environments. Stable power generation is not affected by external factors, which distinguishes it from traditional batteries. The company's current working model, the BB100, measures a compact 15 x 15 x 5 mm, delivering 100 microwatts of power. Betavolt aims to scale this technology to a power output of up to one watt in the next two years.

China has developed nuclear batteries to keep smartphones charged for 50 years

China develops nuclear battery to keep smartphones charged for 50 years - Image Source: Betavolt.tech

Importantly, the technology promises security. The system ensures no radiation leakage, and the breakdown of nickel isotopes produces non-toxic copper-like byproducts. This makes Betavolt's nuclear batteries not only powerful but also environmentally friendly.

While this development holds tremendous promise, the question of mass adoption remains. The feasibility of the technology for widespread use in smartphones has yet to be fully determined. We eagerly await further developments, share your thoughts on nuclear batteries in the comments section below. Could this be the game-changer in smartphone power technology we've been waiting for?

China has developed nuclear batteries to keep smartphones charged for 50 years

January 15, 2024

Asia Business Science & Technology

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Back to Salman's companion is the thirst of the south! - Image collected

Trisha Krishnan Returns to Bollywood After 13 Years with Salman Khan in 'The Bull'

Mumbai, January 3, 2024: Renowned South Indian actress Trisha Krishnan is set to make a remarkable comeback to Bollywood after a hiatus of 13 years. The talented actress, who debuted in the Tamil film industry in 1999 with 'Juri', marked her Bollywood entry in 2010 with 'Khatta Mithai'. Despite being offered numerous projects, Trisha had been absent from the Bollywood scene for over a decade.

The exciting news of Trisha's return to Hindi cinema was unveiled with the announcement of her latest project, 'The Bull', where she shares the screen with Bollywood superstar Salman Khan. The official launch of the movie took place on December 29 at Mehbub Studios in Mumbai, creating a buzz among fans and industry enthusiasts.

'The Bull' is directed by Vishnuvardhan, as reported by Tollywood.net, with Trisha Krishnan portraying the central female character alongside Salman Khan. The movie is produced by none other than the prolific Karan Johar, adding further anticipation to the project.

Trisha Krishnan's last release, 'Leo', where she starred opposite Thalapati Vijay, received an overwhelming response at the box office. Currently, Trisha is actively engaged in the filming of three Tamil movies and one in Malayalam, showcasing her versatile acting skills across multiple languages.

Fans and the film fraternity alike are eagerly anticipating Trisha Krishnan's return to Bollywood, and 'The Bull' promises to be a significant milestone in her illustrious career.

Trisha Krishnan Returns to Bollywood After 13 Years with Salman Khan in 'The Bull'

January 03, 2024

Asia Business Entertainment

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Earthquake-damaged roads in Japan - Photo Internet

Japan earthquake death toll rises to 30

On Monday, the death toll rose to 30, according to reports by local authorities and Japan's national news agency Kyodo, after a series of powerful earthquakes struck central Japan and surrounding areas.

The earthquake caused the most devastation in Ishikawa Prefecture, where aftershocks caused buildings to collapse and fire outbreaks, leading to a rising death toll. Additionally, areas such as Niigata, Toyama, Fukui, and Gifu also reported numerous injuries due to building collapses during the earthquake.

Buildings collapsed in various areas, roads were damaged and thousands of homes were left without electricity. Rescue teams are facing challenging conditions to reach these affected areas amid heavy snowfall.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida described the rescue efforts as a race against time to help those affected. The government has already deployed rescue forces to the affected areas, and assistance will continue without interruption.

On Monday evening, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture. Subsequently, 154 more earthquakes hit the country on the same day. Prime Minister Kishida assured that the government is committed to ensuring speedy rescue and relief operations for those affected by the devastating series of earthquakes.