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☆ Ancient DNA reveals what famed Chinese Emperor Wu may have looked like
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Ancient DNA recovered from the remains of a sixth century Chinese emperor who ruled during the country’s dark ages has shed some light on what the leader may have looked like. Emperor Wu ruled China as part of the Northern Zhou dynasty from 560 to 580 and is credited with unifying the northern part of ancient China during a particularly chaotic period. “Our analysis shows Emperor Wu had typical East or Northeast Asian facial characteristics.”The authors said they hoped ancient DNA might shed light on Wu’s cause of death. The genetic analysis showed that Emperor Wu intermarried with ethnically Han Chinese, China’s dominant ethnic group today. “It’s interesting to see the genetic study, but none of the findings of this genetic study are surprising at all,” Miller said.

Persons: Emperor Wu, Wu, ”, Shaoqing Wen, Tobias Houlton, University of Dundee , Houlton, Jeong Hoongwon, Jeong, ” Jeong, Franks, Bryan Miller, Miller, wasn’t, ” Miller, “ Organizations: CNN, Fudan University, University of Dundee, Seoul National University’s School of Biological Sciences, Han, Central, University of Michigan Locations: China, Mongolia, Shanghai, Seoul, North

☆ Apple to launch Vision Pro in China this year, Tim Cook says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In a video posted on one of CCTV's accounts on Chinese social media site Weibo, Cook was heard responding "yes," when asked if the Vision Pro would launch in China this year. In China, Apple will compete against local headset players such as Pico, which is owned by TikTok's parent company ByteDance. Cook has been in China for the past few days, touring a new Apple store in Shanghai and attending the China Development Forum in Beijing. "I am very confident in it (China)," Cook said, according to news package posted on one of CCTV's Weibo accounts. "I love China, I love being here, I love the people and the culture.

Persons: Cook, China Organizations: Apple, China Development Forum, Huawei Locations: U.S, Weibo, China, Pico, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ North Korea's Kim vows to 'faithfully' fulfil agreements made with Russia's Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny ?osmodrome in the Amur Oblast of the Far East Region, Russia, September 13, 2023 in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. Kim took a rare trip to Russia last month during which he invited Putin to Pyongyang and discussed military cooperation, including over North Korea's satellite programme, and the war in Ukraine. He was referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 'FIRST TARGET OF DESTRUCTION'Russia and North Korea have been seeking to forge closer ties in the face of what they see as a hostile and aggressive U.S.-led Western camp. Those assets would be "the first targets of destruction" if signs of any attack on North Korea were detected, it said, adding the country has already enacted "the policy of nuclear force which allowed the necessary procedures of action."

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Kim, Putin, Lavrov, KCNA, Choe Son Hui, Pyongyang's, Hyonhee Shin, Diane Craft, Sandra Maler Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS, Rights, Russian, DPRK, Democratic People's, North Korean Foreign, U.S, Thomson Locations: Amur Oblast, East Region, Russia, Rights SEOUL, Pyongyang, Ukraine, North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North, Northeast Asian, Seoul, Washington, Moscow, Japan, U.S, ' Republic of Korea, DPRK, South Korea

TASS news agency cited Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov as saying the government "at all levels" had been discussing partial permission for fuel exports. Europe could also fill some of the gap left by the Russia gasoline ban. Northwest European suppliers, which lost market share in West Africa to Russian supplies this year, could step in, FGE said. Since banning Russian fuel imports, Europe has been seeking suppliers elsewhere, including from the Middle East. As a result, traders said they expected Northeast Asian refiners in China and South Korea to boost diesel exports to Europe.

Persons: Tatiana Meel, Alexander Novak, Vortexa, Nikolai Shulginov, JP Morgan, FGE, Edmund Blair, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Traders, Kremlin, Kommersant, TASS, Analysts, FGE Energy, WHO, BE, European Union, Gulf, Diesel, Northwest, Competition, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka Bay, Nakhodka, Russia, LONDON, SINGAPORE, Soviet, United States, Ukraine, Europe, Brazil, Turkey, North, West, East, Gulf, gasoil, India, Africa, Kpler, U.S, Gulf Coast, America, West Africa, China, South Korea

The diesel ban will have the biggest impact because Russia is the world's top seaborne exporter of the fuel, just ahead of the United States. Europe could also fill some of the gap left by the Russia gasoline ban. Northwest European suppliers, which lost market share in West Africa to Russian supplies this year, could step in, FGE said. Since banning Russian fuel imports, Europe has been seeking suppliers elsewhere, including from the Middle East. As a result, traders said they expected Northeast Asian refiners in China and South Korea to boost diesel exports to Europe.

Persons: Alexey Malgavko, Vortexa, JP Morgan, said.Turkey, FGE, Edmund Blair Organizations: Traders, Kremlin, FGE Energy, WHO, BE, European Union, Gulf, Diesel, Northwest, Competition, Thomson Locations: Omsk, Russia, LONDON, SINGAPORE, Soviet, United States, Ukraine, Europe, Brazil, Turkey, North, West, East, Gulf, gasoil, India, Africa, Kpler, U.S, Gulf Coast, America, West Africa, China, South Korea

☆ Investors are getting bearish on China — but see other upside opportunities in Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Hakyung Kim | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

However, some investors believe a bearish China story is shifting the spotlight onto investment opportunities in other Asian markets. Morgan Stanley downgraded the iShares MSCI China ETF (MCHI) to equal weight from overweight in early August, citing lower earnings growth expectations and structural challenges. Opportunity in Japan Japan currently stands out as a "particularly attractive" investment play, according to Horizon Investments chief investment officer Scott Ladner. Investors can get access to the Japanese market through the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) , which has an expense ratio of 0.5% and more than $13 billion in assets. Ways to play the space include the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) , the Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF (FLKR) and the iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT) .

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Wells, Jay Bryson, Scott Ladner, Ladner, Seth Carpenter, it's, Carlos Asilis, China —, Asilis, Franklin Templeton's FLKR, we've Organizations: Horizon Investments, Bank of Japan, Glovista Investments, Korea ETF, Franklin FTSE, Franklin FTSE South Korea ETF, U.S Locations: China, Wells Fargo, Japan Japan, Japan, Asia, Pacific, South Korea, Taiwan, Korea, Franklin FTSE South, Australia, India, Vietnam, Indonesia

☆ South Korea, Japan leaders to meet; Fukushima radioactive water, North Korea missile launch focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japan plans to soon start releasing more than a million tons of treated radioactive water from its tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant, a move which has stirred anger and concern among South Koreans. A South Korean presidential official has said the Fukushima water discharge plan could be discussed at the meeting. But Seoul has said it will decide whether it will agree or not to Japan's release when Tokyo comes up with the final plan. Seoul and Tokyo have in recent years been taking steps to improve ties between the old northeast Asian rivals, especially due to the threat from North Korea. Separately, Yoon also plans hold a meeting with leaders of Japan, Australia and New Zealand while in Lithuania.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Fumio Kishida, Yoon, Soo, hyang Choi, Michael Perry Organizations: NATO, South Koreans, International Atomic Energy Agency, South Korean, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, North Korea, Japan, Seoul, Tokyo, Lithuania, Pyongyang, American, Australia, New Zealand

NEW DELHI/LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) - Global fuel suppliers are turning to longer and costlier routes that produce more carbon emissions to move their diesel and other products as Western restrictions on Russian cargoes have reshuffled global energy shipping patterns. The ban comes on top of a halt late last year on Russian crude sales into the bloc as well as Western price caps. Also in March, Russian clean products shipped to Togo reached 973 million MT-NM, up from zero in November. Conversely, Russian exports to the Netherlands dropped to 238,200 tonnes in February from 1.15 million tonnes in September. Those longer distances are being done at higher costs for Russian products than for typical shipments from Europe.

☆ Hong Kong is offering free flights to tourists across the globe, following years of COVID restrictions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Aidan Pollard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong will offer 500,000 flights to tourists all over the world, the city announced Thursday. The tickets will be distributed by Hong Kong Express, Cathay Pacific, and Hong Kong Airlines starting March 1, according to TimeOut. Hong Kong followed China's zero-COVID policy through most of the pandemic, before loosening rules last year, Reuters reported. As part of the announcement Thursday, Lee said Hong Kong will begin to host sporting and other cultural events, while highlighting its culture, Reuters reported. "We have to let outsiders know that Hong Kong has a unique status, especially when the 'one country, two systems' principles will be implemented in Hong Kong for a long time," he said.

☆ Exclusive: U.S. defence companies in talks to sell Vietnam helicopters, drones -sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A source who was present at the weapons discussions said they involved the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of National Defence. A second person familiar with the matter said talks on drones and helicopters began before the arms fair and have involved more weapons. The U.S. embassy in Hanoi declined to comment, but Ambassador Marc Knapper has said the U.S. stood ready to discuss any military item Vietnam might want to acquire. Sources and analysts said Vietnam is also considering deals with suppliers from Israel, India, and European and Northeast Asian countries. In the last decade, Israel has been the second-biggest seller of weapons to Vietnam after Russia.

☆ Exclusive: U.S. defence companies in talks to sell Vietnam helicopters, drones
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

☆ U.S. calls for U.N. Security Council president's statement on North Korea missiles
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said it was vital the 15-member Security Council respond with one voice and reiterated U.S. charges that China and Russia were "emboldening" Pyongyang by blocking council action. The United States will be proposing a Presidential Statement to this end," she said, referring to North Korea by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He said Washington should take the initiative and put forward realistic proposals to respond to North Korea's "legitimate concerns." A spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the United Nations said a draft president's statement would be shared with the Security Council soon and negotiations would follow. It said the Council must act to limit the advancement of North Korea's weapons programs.

☆ Analysis: Sanctions fail to halt North Korea's accelerating weapons programs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( David Brunnstrom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Biden administration officials concede that sanctions have failed to stop North Korea's weapons programs - but they maintain they have at least been effective in slowing North Korea's nuclear program. The Security Council has imposed sanctions on North Korea since 2006 to choke off funding for it nuclear and ballistic missile programs. However U.N. experts regularly report that North Korea is evading sanctions and continuing to develop its programs. Some critics like sanctions expert Joshua Stanton fault both the Trump and Biden administrations for failing to exert maximum pressure to stop China allowing North Korea's sanctions evasion. He rejected the idea that Washington should recognize North Korea as a nuclear-armed state.

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