POLITIC AND ECONOMY

Weighing The Impact Of Losing The UK For Europe

The impact of losing UK for European Union has become hot topic in many open discussions recently. Center for European Reform, London-based research center highlighted the risk of EU as powerful political leverage declining. In 2015, the other research institution, Global Counsel points out that the absent of UK in the European Union would make illiberal measures more difficult to block. However, according to Global Counsel, Brexit could make the EU to liberalize its policies to win competition with UK investment. London might not be the best destination for investment and some financial center could take up the position. London also would deal with new EU regulations that unable to serve European market either for retail banking or euro trading. (PE01/BL/22/Apr/16)

HIGH DIPLOMACY

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Welcomed Obama With Unusual Reception

King Salman received President Barack Obama's tense visit in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (20/4/16). A CNN reporter said that he saw at the airport King Salman and senior members of the royal family did not greet President Obama. Obama’s visit in the Gulf States was overshadowed by Middle East issues that disappointed Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries concerning president policy on pulling out US military from the region and the US-Iran negotiation on nuclear weapons. King Salman specifically was disappointed with the US initiation to unseal the 28 documents which proposed to sue Saudi Arabia on involvement of the 9/11 attacks. The documents mentioned about fifteen of 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens even the attacks were not legally proved. Some reporters who covered King Salman meeting with President Obama at the opulent Erga palace have seen the meeting as an awkward reception. (HD01/AO/20/Apr/16)

POLITIC AND ECONOMY

Saudi Government’s Anxious On Congress Decision Related With 9/11 Attacks

Saudi Arabia has asked Obama administration to stop Congress passing the law related with 9/11 attacks. The White House reportedly to release decision on Saudi government involvement in 9/11 attacks followed by Saudi reaction to sell billions of dollars in U.S. financial assets. Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Foreign Minister according to New York Times, has sent message to Congress that his country to consider selling as much as US$750 billions if Washington legally passed the law.  Saudi connection in terror attacks included in 28 pages documents will be sent to Congress for approval to declassify in 60 days. The deadly terror attacks allegedly conducted by al Qaeda killed almost 3,000 people on Sep. 11 2001. The 9/11 commission initially found no evidence on Saudi involvement, however they suggest to include either institution or senior officials get involved in the attacks. (PE01/FO/16/Apr/16)

Electric Cars To Replace Gasoline Cars In The Next Decade

Electric car associated with costly battery that makes gasoline car still on top of demand. According to Bloomberg analysis, battery prices fell significantly 35 percent last year could drive producer start of mass production for electric cars. With low cost battery, industry will sets up more affordable price such as for long-range car less than US$22,000. Some companies like Tesla and Ford Model T Cruise forecast their sales rise 60 percent by 2020, the number that Electric Vehicle worldwide sales grew last year. In the next few years, Tesla, Chevy and Nissan plan to release new model with tag price around US$30.000. Battery essentially is not an issue because after 2030, the costs predicted to be lower as materials used in the battery chemistries less than 1 percent of lithium, nickel, manganese and copper reserves. Moreover, the next technology revolution expected to make the units becoming more sophisticated, cheaper and smaller. (PE02/CB/17/Apr/16)

    

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Start Your Day With Sending Message To Alien In Space

If you ever wanted to explore space on your own, now you can. Arizona State University developed a tiny spacecraft called The SunCubeFemtoSat. The cube size is 3cm2, weighs 35g and costs US$1000, beneficial to perform functional check on damaged spacecraft. The femtosats enables individual like having GoPro camera and front-seat view in space. Jekan Thanga, Assistant professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration works with his professor Erik Asphaug to launch prototype into space next year in a mission to explore and examine asteroids composition in space. (TI01/WI/08/Apr/16)

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Google DeepMind Robot Can Learn By Itself

Google bought DeepMind from University College London that capable of learning for itself. The machine is not pre-programmed and it learns automatically. DeepMind algorithms system would be working to improve many well-known Google products. Many Google products would work with DeepMind such as image recognition, text identification and scription and speech recognition. The reason Google interested in DeepMind, besides accuracy issues, Google said to consider sense of generality, flexibility and adaptiveness. Having seen DeepMind learning without human intervention, should we be scared of Artificial Intelligence in the future. (TI01/TE/15/Mar/16)

  

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Amazon Dash Button Makes Order Fast and Simple

Amazon customers can now order from home over hundreds items with the push of a button. Dash button is helpful particularly to get everyday needs delivered regularly. It’s convenient not only to store up items on your cupboard when you're lazy to go around but also to list monthly order of paper towel roll etc. Dash button comes for free as it would be refunded when customer grab his pocket 5 dollars for using first time. (TI01/WI/31/March/16)