Latest news with #Chau
The Star
19 hours ago
- Science
- The Star
Young inventor offers smart 'vision' to the blind in Mozambique
When Armando Ernesto Chau straps on the futuristic smart glasses that a young Mozambican robotics student is developing in the family dining room, he has a vision of a life less confined to his modest home. Chau is the prototype tester for Joao Antonio Rego, a 24-year-old robotics and electronic engineering student driven to provide visually impaired Mozambicans with assistance that goes beyond a simple cane. Since he lost his sight 20 years ago, the 45-year-old father has not worked and rarely leaves his home in Matola, outside the capital Maputo. Rego's electronic glasses – battery-powered devices embedded with sensors that scan for obstacles ahead and emit warning vibrations – offer the promise of new possibilities. "It is vibrating... it is those bushes," Chau said, demonstrating Rego's Vision Hope 0.2. "Maybe, there is a window here... yes. Because of these obstacles, it vibrates. So I go back. It stopped. See? Then it says there is something on this side... When I turn, it is quiet." Resembling a virtual reality eye mask, this is Rego's latest prototype since he launched his Vision Hope project in 2021, winning Mozambique's Young Creative Award for technological innovation the following year. New features include a larger 120-degree range and more accurate sensors, said Rego, a student at Eduardo Mondlane University. The battery, attached to a strap that is worn over a shoulder, is on a smart system that saves power and warns when it is running low. A GPS allows others to know the whereabouts of the user. (2nd) Chau (left), who is visually impaired, sits next to a pair of smart glasses invented by Rego. Inspired by an incident Rego is already working on improvements in his dining room workshop. "I want the next version to have sensors capable of detecting very thin obstacles like wires and threads," he said. "The coating also needs to be waterproof." Slim and serious, Rego was inspired to help when, years ago, he saw a visually impaired woman fall in a busy street in downtown Maputo, said his mother, Helena Inacio. "Seeing that woman on the ground disturbed him. He vowed that he would create glasses," she said. "'So that blind people can see?'" she asked him. No, to give them directions, he replied. "I thought it was fantasy," Inacio said. Rego moved his lab out of his bedroom for better ventilation after a health scare led a doctor to warn about the risks of fumes from his soldering work. "I had health problems and after an X-ray, they said there were some spots on my lungs which might have been caused by chemical fumes, like tin. It was temporary, but I must always take precautions," he said. Smart glasses prototypes invented by 24 years old robotics student Joao Antonio Rego (R) are displayed at his house in Matola on June 14, 2025. This prototype is the latest in a series since Rego launched his Vision Hope project in 2021, earning Mozambique's Young Creative Award for technological innovation the following year. The device resembles a virtual reality eye mask and is embedded with sensors that scan for obstacles. Vibrations increase in intensity the closer an object features include a larger 120-degree range and more accurate sensors, explained Rego, a robotics and electronic engineering student at Eduardo Mondlane University. (Photo by Amilton Neves/ AFP) A sense of independence Rego's dream is to secure partnerships that will allow him to one day produce and distribute his glasses across his impoverished country, where nearly 2.7 million people suffer vision loss, according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. Chau, who lost his sight after falling ill in 2005, has made some suggestions for the next iteration. "I told him to first improve the roadside verification system," he said. He would also like a sensor that can detect the pools of stagnant water that are common in his area. And, if possible, a way for detected obstacles to be identified. "A system that communicates... about what kind of obstacle is in front of me, if it is a human being, a car," he said. "If the glasses are made the way I suggest, it will help us a lot, me and many other visually impaired people out there," said Chau. When they are in production and he can get his own pair, the glasses will give Chau a new lease of life, said his wife, Felizarda Nhampule. "Sometimes he stays here at home alone while I go out and do my errands. Sometimes he wants to go out somewhere but can't," she said. "With the glasses, he will be able to visit his friends... And in an emergency, he can go and seek help from neighbours," she said, flashing a smile. "So these glasses will be a great help to him and to us as a family." – AFP
HKFP
14-07-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong court urged to ‘reverse' democrat's acquittal in landmark subversion case
Hong Kong prosecutors have urged the Court of Appeal to 'reverse' the acquittal of barrister and former district councillor Lawrence Lau in a landmark national security case involving 47 pro-democracy figures. Government prosecutors on Monday challenged the High Court's decision in May last year to clear Lau of conspiracy to commit subversion in connection with an unofficial primary election held in July 2020. Lau was one of two defendants acquitted of the charge after standing trial for 118 days. Fourteen democrats were convicted after trial, while 31 others pleaded guilty earlier. The 45 democrats were eventually jailed, with sentences ranging from four years and two months to 10 years. Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Anthony Chau told judges Jeremy Poon, Anthea Pang, and Derek Pang that the trial court 'erred' by failing to find that Lau agreed to a scheme, which aimed to veto the government's budget once elected as lawmakers, ultimately forcing the resignation of the chief executive and a government shutdown. The trial judges also made a mistake when they ruled that Lau did not have an intention to subvert the state power, the prosecutor said. Chau argued that there was 'overwhelming evidence' showing that Lau knew the objectives of Project 35+, a plan put forward by former legal scholar Benny Tai to help the pro-democracy camp achieve majority control in what was then a 70-seat legislature. Citing Lau's attendance in the first coordination meeting among democrats running in the Kowloon West constituency, his signing of a nomination form to join the primaries, and his Facebook post on July 14, 2020, admitting his defeat in the polls, Chau said the 'overall conduct' of Lau was 'consistent to the scheme.' 'We invite the court to reverse the verdict,' Chau said, adding Lau's case should be referred back to the lower court for a retrial. In response, Lau, who acted as his own legal representative, told the court that he had never advocated for the 'five demands' stemming from the 2019 protests nor for the resignation of the chief executive. He also never advocated vetoing the government budget indiscriminately, the barrister said. 'The verdict of the trial court should not be casually interfered [with],' Lau said. The challenge to Lau's acquittal is part of a 10-day appeal proceeding, which also involves appeals against the convictions and sentences of democrats jailed in the subversion case that began in 2021. On Monday, lawyers for some of the appellants began to make a joint submission, arguing that the act of vetoing government bills, including the budget, was not an abuse of a lawmaker's power. The trial court had sided with the prosecution and ruled that voting against the government budget indiscriminately was in breach of the powers and functions of the Legislative Council. Representing former legislators Helena Wong and Lam Cheuk-ting, barrister Erik Shum said lawmakers who take into account political agendas when they vote for a bill 'could not possibly' be seen as abusing their power. He said legislators had 'no duty' to explain their votes, adding that in any democratic society, the function of lawmakers includes the power to disapprove – a mechanism the lawyer described as 'cannot be argued against.' Shum's arguments were echoed by Trevor Beel, barrister for journalist-turned-activist Gwyneth Ho. Beel told the court that the word 'indiscriminate' was never used by the defendants, but rather was a term adopted by the prosecutors in the case. Those who took part in the primaries only stated openly that they would 'proceed with a mandate,' which Beel said was 'clearly given to the people.' 'If their mandate was not considered by the government, then they would proceed to vote against the budget. That's not an abuse of their power. That's an exercise of their power,' he said. Monday's hearing saw a last-minute withdrawal from former district councillor Michael Pang, whose lawyer confirmed with the judges that he had signed an agreement to abandon the appeal. Pang was escorted away from the dock by a corrections officer shortly afterwards. The remaining 13 jailed democrats were in the dock on Monday. They waved, nodded, and made hand gestures to the public gallery, where their family, friends and supporters were seated. Among the court attendees was Lee Yue-shun, the other democrat cleared of the subversion charge last year. His co-defendant, ex-district councillor Henry Wong, who was released from jail in May, was also present. The appeal proceeding will continue on Tuesday morning.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
VinFast India expansion: EV maker signs 13 dealer pacts, targets 35 showrooms by 2025-end across 27 cities
AI image VinFast Auto India, the domestic arm of Vietnam-based electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast, on Saturday announced that it has signed agreements with 13 dealer groups to open 32 dealerships across 27 cities. The company aims to expand this footprint to 35 dealerships by the end of 2025, according to a statement. The move is part of VinFast's broader strategy to establish a robust pan-India presence as it prepares to launch its electric SUVs in the Indian market, PTI reported. The company said these partnerships will help lay the foundation for a comprehensive 3S network — comprising sales, service, and spare parts — ahead of the upcoming pre-booking of its VF 6 and VF 7 models on July 15. 'These collaborations underscore VinFast's commitment to establishing a strong and responsive EV retail and support infrastructure in India,' the company said. As per the company's plans, the first batch of showrooms will come up in key urban and emerging EV hubs including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh, and Lucknow. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Das entspannendste Spiel des Jahres 2025. Ohne Installation Taonga: Die Inselfarm Jetzt spielen Undo 'These cities have been strategically selected based on their growing EV adoption, supportive infrastructure development, and strong demand potential for new-energy mobility solutions,' the company added. VinFast Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau said the tie-ups represent a major milestone for the company's India entry, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the market. 'The partnership reinforces our focus on delivering an elevated EV experience backed by reliability, customer trust, and service excellence. As we prepare to bring our electric SUVs to Indian roads, we are focused on ensuring that customers across key cities have seamless access to VinFast's world-class products and support infrastructure,' Chau said. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Ottawa Citizen
07-07-2025
- Ottawa Citizen
Defence calls on Vietnamese culture expert in Lam sisters' murder trial
Article content Chau said her mother would call her a whore, a prostitute and a 'b–chy c–t' that nobody else would love. Article content Belanger testified on Monday that some Vietnamese parents use strong language and insults to discipline their children. Article content 'There's research indicating that language is a strong tool to educate and to discipline children or adult children. The way this is done is through the use of negative, direct language that will put people down,' she said. Article content 'There is a scholar who worked on the use of insults as a way to discipline or to control, and he specifically worked on mother-daughter relationships in the south of Vietnam. … He showed that the use of powerful language insults is a way to seek compliance or to control.' Article content Shame, or threats of it from the larger community, is also used as a disciplinary tactic, Belanger added. This would include collectively laughing at a kid if they were being insolent, or telling someone that their family will 'lose face' in the community if they did something considered disrespectful. Article content Article content But the threat of shame also means a lot of Vietnamese people hesitate to find care for their parents, Belanger added. Vietnamese children will often avoid seeking help as much as possible because it would not be fulfilling their duty to care for their families, which would bring shame. Article content Previously, the court learned that Kieu was moved to a nursing home so Hue and Chau could escape the abuse. However, the elderly woman only stayed in the nursing home for three days before she was brought back to the sisters due to pressure from their eldest brother. Article content 'The centrality of Confucianism and the emphasis is the duty to care for one's parents, sending parents to a nursing home is is very problematic, because it's seen as a failure to provide to fulfil one's duty,' Belanger explained. Article content 'The second aspect is given this importance and this duty home-based care is really the preferred arrangement.' Article content Article content 'Girls have to acquire value towards parents' Article content Chau also told the jury during her testimony that her mother never showed love towards her and her sister since they were children. Article content She said her mother would say 'con gái là con người ta,' or daughters are other people's daughters. This is an old Vietnamese phrase that describes when a daughter is married, they become the daughter of the husband's family. Article content It is also used as a phrase to describe a preference for sons over daughters among traditional families. Article content On Monday, Belanger said Vietnam is a patrilineal society and families often prefer sons over daughters. Article content 'Obedience towards one's parents is stronger in the upbringing of daughters than in sons,' she said. Article content 'There's a strong inequality in how in the in the sense of responsibility that is instilled in children early on … Sons have intrinsic value because they're male. So they can be naughty, they can be whatever they are. They are fine. Their status is sort of guaranteed.
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Business Standard
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
VinFast set to enter Indian market through service tie-up with myTVS
Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) major and Tesla's global rival VinFast is all set to enter the Indian market through a service collaboration with Chennai-based multi-brand aftermarket chain myTVS, a part of the TVS Mobility group. On Monday, VinFast Auto India, the Indian subsidiary of VinFast, announced a strategic service collaboration signing with myTVS. As part of its commitment to enhancing customer experience, VinFast is planning to establish 120 extended service workshops by partnering with potential service providers to boost its after-sales operations across India. The first phase of its $2 billion facility is expected in the next two months in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi to cater to the domestic Indian market. It also has plans to make India a global export hub, eyeing markets such as West Asia and Africa. In the initial phase, the unit will see investment of around $500 million. In addition to the upcoming VinFast dealership and service network, this collaboration is aimed at significantly strengthening VinFast's after-sales service and charging network across the country, ensuring customers have access to convenient maintenance and support services as the company accelerates its growth in the Indian electric vehicle market. Under this strategic collaboration, myTVS will ensure VinFast customers receive comprehensive service coverage across India. The association focuses on delivering exceptional service quality through workshops equipped with genuine parts, advanced diagnostic and repair equipment, and highly trained technical personnel. 'At VinFast, we are unwavering in our commitment to delivering excellence across three fundamental pillars: high-quality vehicles, inclusive pricing, and exceptional after-sales policies. This strategic collaboration with myTVS to expand our comprehensive after-sales service network demonstrates our long-term commitment to the Indian market and our dedication to customer satisfaction,' said Pham Sanh Chau, Chief Executive Officer, VinFast Asia. 'By establishing this robust service infrastructure, we are not only supporting India's transition to sustainable mobility but also building enduring relationships with our customers through trust, reliability, and exceptional service standards,' Chau added. 'We congratulate VinFast as they bring their innovative electric vehicles to India and are delighted to partner with them. We are confident that this unique partnership will enable VinFast to scale growth backed by our technology-powered after-sales service platform. This partnership also validates the myTVS business model of building and delivering a high-quality, convenient, transparent and digitally powered aftermarket service platform to support the ambitions of India's automobile sector,' said Natarajan Srinivasan, Chief Executive Officer, myTVS. Last week, VinFast had announced plans to showcase its premium electric SUV models, the VF 7 and VF 6, across 11 states and cities in India. Since entering the Indian market, VinFast has been rolling out its comprehensive electric vehicle ecosystem, a model that has already achieved significant success in Vietnam. Key strategic moves include the construction of an EV plant in Tamil Nadu, the development of an expansive dealership network, and partnerships with reputable local companies such as Global Assure to enhance customer service network capabilities. The VF 7, designed with the 'Asymmetric Aerospace' aesthetic, and the VF 6, embodying the philosophy of 'Dualities in Nature', reflect VinFast's commitment to blending elegant design with cutting-edge technology, the company said. Both premium models feature the brand's distinctive V-shaped LED light strip, panoramic sunroof, driver-centric cockpit with a large touchscreen, and an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), setting new standards in the electric SUV segment.
