International

China has world’s largest number of top 100 science, technology clusters

For the second consecutive year, China has the largest number of the world’s top 100 science and technology clusters, according to an early release from the 2024 edition of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s Global Innovation Index (GII) on Tuesday.

The figures reflect the nation’s technology innovations on the global stage, despite the ongoing crackdown by the US.

China has 26 of the world’s top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, up from 24 last year, the report said. The US follows with 20, Germany with eight, and India and South Korea with four each.

China and the US are home to the world’s largest science and technology clusters, with shifts among the top 100 showing especially fast growth of innovative activity in certain emerging economies, the report said.

Tokyo and Yokohama in Japan lead as the largest global science and technology cluster, followed by Shenzhen and Guangzhou, South China’s Guangdong Province, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shared second place. They were followed by Beijing in third place, and Shanghai and Suzhou, East China’s Jiangsu Province, which shared fifth place.

The GII list of science and technology clusters identifies local concentrations of world-leading science and technology activity around the globe, according to the WIPO.

The report once again highlights China’s strong position in global technological innovation, experts said. “It showcased the outstanding achievements of the second-largest economy in driving technological innovation and advancing the development of technology clusters,” Wang Peng, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Technology innovation clusters, as a crucial foundation of the national innovation ecosystem, play a significant role in driving economic development and enhancing national competitiveness, the expert said. He said that the development of China’s science and technology also shows that despite the suppression of Chinese technology firm and products by certain countries such as the US, China’s achievements in the field of innovation are still remarkable.

China should continue to increase investment in technological innovation, optimize the innovation environment, and promote the formation and development of more technology innovation clusters, the expert said. (Article from the Global Times)

Caption: Robot Tianyi, white, stands with silver black Tiangong 1.2 MAX robots at the five-day World Robot Conference 2024 in Beijing on August 22, 2024. Tianyi is 163 centimeters tall, and as a service robot it can identify emotions and interact with people. Tiangong 1.2 MAX, 173 centimeters tall, can carry heavier items, walk faster and longer compared with its previous version 1.1 PRO.

International

SECURITY PROTECTION REVOKED FOR FAUCI

President Donald Trump has revoked security protection for former top US health official Anthony Fauci.

Dr. Fauci has faced death threats since leading the country’s COVID-19 response.

Trump also revoked security protections for his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, his former National Security Adviser John Bolton and former envoy Brian Hook, who all faced threats from Iran.

As the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Fauci faced death threats during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as criticism from Republicans over mask mandates and other restrictions.

Dr. Fauci has reportedly now hired his own private security team that he will pay for himself.

Trump has also revoked the security clearances of 51 intelligence officials who had claimed that Hunter Biden’s laptop had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.

International

RECENT KILLINGS COULD AFFECT CEASEFIRE

The United Nations Human Rights office says Israeli operations in the West Bank have killed at least 12 Palestinians since Tuesday and could threaten the newly agreed ceasefire in Gaza.

Reuters is reporting that hundreds of resident in Jenin fled their homes as the military demolished a number of houses on the third day of a major operation in the West Bank city on Thursday.

The operation was launched within days of the start of a ceasefire in Gaza that saw the first exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails since a brief truce in November 2023.

Israeli officials said the Jenin operation was aimed at neutralizing Iranian-backed militant groups in the refugee camp adjacent to the city, a major hub for armed Palestinian groups for years.

But the UN rights office raised the alarm over the killing of what it said were mostly unarmed people, calling for an immediate end of the violence and a halt on expanding settlements.

International

MACRON AND SCHOLZ MEET TO DISCUSS THREATS ON TARIFFS MADE BY PRESIDENT TRUMP

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as he arrives for a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 22, 2025.
The leaders of Europe’s two largest economies are seeking to project unity as the union struggles to respond with one voice to threats of tariffs from US president, Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, Trump said Europe had troubling trade surpluses with the United States and was in for tariffs.

He has also threatened Canada, Mexico and China with heavy duties.

But at a working lunch at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz put on a show of unity.

In statements to reporters, they insisted Europe was strong and the Franco-German tandem solid.

Scholz emphasised that Europe is a large economic area with around 450 million citizens. He said Europe will not duck and hide.

Macron, who has long pushed for Europe to be more self-reliant, said the new administration in the US makes it even more necessary for Europe to be united, strong and sovereign.