Hong Kong: First person charged under national security law sentenced to nine years July 30, 2021 The first person to be charged under Hong Kong’s national security law has been sentenced to nine years in prison. Tong Ying-Kit was arrested following a pro-democracy protest in the city last July in which he rode a motorbike into three police officers flying a flag with the phrase “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our [...]
New frontier: UK renews outdated space policies as giants seek commercial travel July 29, 2021 The UK is set to start regulating commercial space travel from today, as an increasing number of companies look to capitalise on the race to the stars. Before appointing its first-ever space travel regulator, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), the global legal framework surrounding commercial space travel appeared a relic of the Cold [...]
Astrazeneca mulls offloading Covid vaccines unit even as total revenues soar above $15bn July 29, 2021 UK-listed Covid vaccine maker Astrazeneca today admitted it’s considering offloading its vaccines unit even as it cheered a 23 per cent revenue rise to $15.5bn for the first half of 2021 – boosted in part by orders for the preventative measure. A senior executive confirmed to Reuters that it is reviewing the future of the [...]
Chinese billionaire sentenced to 18 years in prison for ‘picking quarrels’ July 29, 2021 A Chinese billionaire has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being charged with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” in China, according to reports. Pig farming mogul Sun Dawu, a prominent figure in China, was also fined nearly $500,000 under the charge that has previously been used against activists and dissidents. Around 20 family [...]
McDonald’s: Global sales and profit surge past Wall St targets as restaurants reopen July 28, 2021 Global sales and profit for McDonald’s surged past Wall Street targets today as restaurants reopened despite staffing shortages and consumers lapped up a wildly popular celebrity meal inspired by South Korean pop band BTS. Watch the full report.
Rio Tinto pays out $9.1bn in dividends following record earnings July 28, 2021 Rio Tinto logged a record first half performance today, underpinned by soaring iron ore prices on strong demand from China, which led the global miner to pay out a bonanza of $9.1bn in dividends. Watch the full report.
Nissan: Strong US demand and weak yean result in surprise profit July 28, 2021 Nissan posted a surprise profit in its latest quarter, helped by a weaker yen and stronger U.S. demand. Watch the full report.
Watch: North Korea’s Covid lockdown is ‘harsh as war’ July 28, 2021 North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un says that prolonged lockdowns to prevent coronavirus has forced the country to face hardships “no less harsh” than a wartime situation. Watch the full report.
Watch: CCTV images show Cuban embassy in Paris being attacked July 28, 2021 Cuba’s foreign ministry has released surveillance footage of a petrol bomb attack on their embassy in Paris. Watch the full report.
UK foreign secretary: Entire world should be vaccinated by middle of next year July 28, 2021 British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned today that the world would not be vaccinated until 2024 under current rates and urged other countries to join Britain in donating shots to poorer nations to bring that date forward to the middle of next year. Watch the full report.