Science & Technology

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Americans prefer a space program that focuses on potential asteroid impacts, scientific research and using robots to explore the cosmos over sending humans back to the moon or on to Mars, a new poll shows.

New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) IT services major HCL Technologies Wednesday said it has signed a multi-year deal with Cricket Australia (CA) to deliver digital experiences to fans, players and employees.

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

HCL Tech will help the Australian cricket's governing body provide an elevated and immersive digital experience to cricket fans, players, partners, employees, and volunteers across the country and around the world, through CA's digital offerings, HCL Technologies said in a statement.

New Delhi, Jun 19 (PTI) Scientists have developed a compact and portable sensor that detects explosives like DNT and TNT in real time, and can be used to monitor public spaces to counter terrorism.

Nitroaromatic explosives like DNT, TNT and TNP pose a serious threat to civilian and military safety. These chemicals are also recognised as toxic contaminants that pollute the environment.

The device, described in the the journal Scientific Reports, paves the way for light weight and compact explosive sensor for field use as well as for environmental monitoring.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook is getting a taste of the regulatory pushback it will face as it creates a new digital currency with corporate partners.

Just hours after the social media giant unveiled early plans for the Libra cryptocurrency, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire insisted that only governments can issue sovereign currencies. He said Facebook must ensure that Libra won’t hurt consumers or be used for illegal activities.

“We will demand guarantees that such transactions cannot be diverted, for example for financing terrorism,” he said on Europe-1 radio.

Tehran, June 18, IRNA – Iranian Intelligence Ministry has identified and dismantled a big spy network affiliated to Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday.

The director of anti-espionage department of the Intelligence Ministry said that the department adopted advanced professional approach to identify spies inside the country with full command and superiority over any spy networks.

18 June 2019; DW: Germany, France and Spain on Monday signed a deal for a next-generation European fighter plane.

The framework was agreed between the defense ministers of each nation with French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, just north of the French capital.

The arrangement will include a joint air combat system that could also control drones and satellites.

LE BOURGET, June 17. /TASS/: Two commercial launches with the Proton carrier rocket are planned for 2019, Glavkosmos Director General Dmitry Loskutov told TASS on Monday on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget.

"Later this year, the Proton will deliver two commercial spacecraft in the framework of the contract with the International Launch Services, whose board of directors includes representatives of Glavcosmos," Loskutov said.

SINGAPORE (AP) — Stocks in Asia mostly advanced Tuesday ahead of interest rate decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks.

The Kospi in South Korea gained 0.5% to 2,101.43, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng picked up 0.9% to 27,471.19. The Shanghai Composite index jumped 0.2% to 2,892.53, while Australia’s S&P ASX 200 added 0.4% to 6,559.50. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 0.3% to 21,067.95. Shares rose in Taiwan and Singapore but fell in the Philippines.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. businesses are imploring President Donald Trump not to expand his tariffs to $300 billion in goods from China that have so far been spared in his trade war with Beijing.

These companies warn that the additional tariffs would drive up prices for consumers, squeeze profits and leave U.S. companies at a competitive disadvantage to foreign rivals that aren’t subject to higher taxes on the components they buy from China.

CAIRO, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Huawei, world's major network equipment supplier, "could serve Egypt in making a leap-forward development for its technology industry," said Xiao Junzheng, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Cairo, on Monday.

"Huawei could provide valuable opportunities for developing countries to adopt the latest technology achievements and accelerate industrialization," Xiao said in his speech at the fifth Euro-Mediterranean Finance Conference, titled "MEDA Finance."