China’s top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas

Several of China's top universities have announced plans to expand their undergraduate enrolment to prioritise what they called "national strategic needs" and develop talent in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI). The announcements come after Chinese universities launched artificial intelligence courses in February based on AI startup DeepSeek which has garnered widespread attention. Its creation of AI...

Scientists struggle to explain record surge in global heat

The world has been getting hotter for decades but a sudden and extraordinary surge in heat has sent the climate deeper into uncharted territory -- and scientists are still trying to figure out why. Over the past two years, temperature records have been repeatedly shattered by a streak so persistent and puzzling it has tested the...

World’s captive panda population hits 757

BEIJING: The global population of giant pandas in captivity has increased to 757, a senior government official said on Tuesday (Nov 26), lauding China's conservation efforts over the years. Guan Zhi'ou, head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, made the remark at the Global Panda Partners 2024 conference held in Chengdu, Sichuan province. China has established...

Govt invites public input on 13th Malaysia Plan, says Rafizi

SHAH ALAM: The government seeks to gather ideas and opinions from the public to formulate the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which is scheduled to be presented in Parliament next July, says Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli. To facilitate this, he noted that smaller engagement and discussion sessions are being held, in contrast to the previous approach of...

Donald Trump Dealt a Blow in Classified Documents Case

The judge overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case in Florida denied one of the former president's motions to have his federal charges dismissed. Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, said in a two-page order on Thursday that the questions at the heart of the case are best decided in "connection with jury-instruction briefing." Trump's defense team had argued that the first...

After Anwar’s remarks, M’sia urged to stop fuel ships to Myanmar

The government has been urged to block ships carrying fuel from Malaysian ports to Myanmar, in a bid to weaken the military junta. This was following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s condemnation of the “barbarism and depravity inflicted upon the people of Myanmar” in his United Nations General Assembly address, said the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar president U...

Senegal navy intercepts migrant boats as more risk perilous journey

SAINT LOUIS, Senegal (Reuters) - The Senegalese Navy said on Sunday it had stopped two more boats carrying 262 would-be migrants late the previous night, taking the total to five boats intercepted and over 600 people rescued by a navy patrol boat since Thursday. Those rescued included 26 women and 13 minors, the navy said in...

Tough issues to clear for start of EU membership talks with Ukraine -PM Orban

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday that several "very difficult questions" would need to be answered before the European Union could even start membership talks with Ukraine. EU countries are due to decide in December whether to allow Ukraine to begin accession negotiations, which would require the unanimous backing of all...

US opposes Trump request to remove judge in federal election case

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith on Thursday opposed Donald Trump’s request to remove the federal judge overseeing the criminal case accusing the former U.S. president of attempting to subvert the results of the 2020 election. Smith, whose office is prosecuting the case against Trump, said there was "no valid basis" for U.S. District...

India’s Nipah virus trackers gather samples from bats, fruit

New Delhi (Reuters) - Experts have fanned out in India's southern state of Kerala to collect samples of fluid from bats and fruit trees in a region where the deadly Nipah virus has killed two people and three more have tested positive. The state is battling its fourth outbreak since 2018 of a virus for which...