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☆ I'm a working mom who enjoys solo travel. I've learned how to keep myself from spiraling into mom guilt while I'm away.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Spriha Srivastava | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I'm a working mom who incorporates solo trips into my business travel. a working mom who incorporates solo trips into my business travel. My heart skipped a beat, and my not-so-new best friend, "mom guilt," walked through the door. AdvertisementBut while traveling with children is fun, I missed the spontaneity and the flexibility of solo travel. The sense of calmness was a feeling I rarely find as a working mom, and I loved it.

Persons: I'm, —, we've, I've, Spriha Srivastava, Lean, he'll Organizations: Service, British Psychological Society, Pew Research, Metropolitan Museum of Art Locations: New York, Manhattan, China, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Singapore

☆ Young Chinese are trading Shanghai for small cities. Brands like KFC are following them with thousands of stores.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . They're struggling to make it in big cities as the world's second-largest economy suffers from a flailing property market and slow post-pandemic consumption recovery. Going big on smaller citiesChina's smaller cities aren't exactly an untapped market. KFC and Pizza Hut operator Yum China, which plans to add 6,000 stores in China by 2026, is also betting big on small cities. AdvertisementThe cost of living crisis driving young people out of China's big cities is a trend that echoes across continents.

Persons: —, MetroDataTech, They're, Joey Wat, DPC, Canyandata Organizations: Migrants, Service, KFC, Bloomberg, Starbucks, Yum Locations: megacities, Shanghai, Shenzhen, MetroDataTech, China, Beijing, —, Yum China, Local, Fuzhou, Korea, New York City, London

☆ After my brother tragically died, I knew I wanted to pursue adventure. Now my family and I live on a catamaran.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

We're pretty sure Kerry was executed there exactly two months later, in October 1978. So we had a memorial for Kerry, and then a few months later, John took his life. Rob Hamill rowing. Rob Hamill with Phil Stubbs, his teammate in the inaugural Atlantic rowing race in 1997. We got married about six months later, in 2001.

Persons: —, Rob Hamill, Pol Pot, Kerry, Kerry Hamill, Rob Hamill Kerry, Stuart Glass, Stuart, John Dewhirst, John, Hamill, who'd, Phil Stubbs, Phil, Comrade Duch, Pot, Rachel, Finn, Declan, Ivan, Rob Hamill's, Renee Whitaker, Hamill's, Finn didn't, We've Organizations: Service, Business, Navy, Atlantic, New Zealand, Pacific Locations: New Zealand, Khmer Rouge, Communist, Cambodia, Australia, Darwin, Khmer, Malaysia's, Kerry, Phnom Penh, Asia, Tenerife, Barbados, Ireland, New, Thailand, Angkor Wat

☆ China is trying to connect Southeast Asia by high-speed rail. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Imagine jumping on a train in southwestern China, traveling some 2,000 miles and arriving in Singapore – less than 30 hours later. Southeast Asia is the “obvious” choice because of its “proximity to China,” Bowerman adds. “Beijing, I think, ultimately wants to see Southeast Asian countries within its sphere of geopolitical influence. A staff member waits for passengers to board the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train during a week-long public trial phase at the Halim station in Jakarta on September 17, 2023. “In the example of a high-speed railway line between Malaysia and Singapore, Singapore would likely have just one stop – Malaysia would have more,” Wong told CNN.

Persons: China’s, Gary Bowerman, ” Bowerman, ”, Pon Souvannaseng, Peerapon Boonyakiat, Bowerman, Pan Wenbo, Pan, Mei Wei, Wei, “ I’m, Xi Jinping’s, Souvannaseng, Hong Kong –, Hong Kong’s, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Wong Muh Rong, ” Wong Organizations: CNN, Initiative, China Railway, Reuters, East Japan Railway Co, Malaysian, Bentley University, of, Communist Party, Laos Railway, Laos Railway cumulatively, Orient Express, Getty Locations: China, Singapore, Asia, Laos, Kunming, Vientiane –, Indonesia, Jakarta, Bandung, West Java, Thailand, Bangkok, Thai, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Southeast Asia, “ China, Peerapon, Cities, Penang, Malacca, Phuket Old Town, Beijing, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Wat, Siem Reap, ”, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Halim, AFP, “

☆ Thousands, Some in Trance, Pay Homage to Sacred Thai Tattoo Master
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( March | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The gathering at Wat Bang Phra Buddhist temple is part of a Thai Wai Khru ritual where devotees pay homage to Luang Phor Pern, the temple's formal abbot, who died in 2002. He had a reputation for refining and popularizing the temple's Sak Yant tattoo style. The idea that tattoos confer magical powers has existed in many parts of Asia for thousands of years. The tattoos' magical power were on display during the ceremony where some devotees were in a trance state, or were shouting, running and had to be held back. "I was almost shot once, but the bullet didn't come out," he said, adding that the incident made him a believer of the tattoo's magical power.

Persons: Artorn Pookasook, Sak Yant, Luang, Petcharat Mothin, Monk Tuk, Napat Wesshasartar, Panu, Clelia Oziel Locations: PATHOM, Bangkok, Thai, Asia, Cambodia, Laos

☆ Yum China CEO says consumers are growing more 'rational' as rising costs cut dining budgets
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Amelia Lucas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

While economists and investors fret over China's low consumer confidence and sluggish growth, Yum China CEO Joey Wat says the Chinese consumer is growing more rational — and has been for years. Weighed down by investors' concern about the broader Chinese economy, shares of Yum China have fallen 27% over the past year, dragging its market value down to $17.51 billion. Despite Wall Street's worries, Yum China's sales are growing. "I think the Chinese consumer has become more rational over the last few years," she told CNBC. But in lower-tier cities, such as Chengdu, Yum China is seeing stronger sales growth because housing is cheaper and consumers have more cash to spend.

Persons: Joey Wat, Wall, Yum, Wat Organizations: Yum, Yum Brands, CNBC Locations: China, Yum China, Shanghai, Beijing, Wat, Chengdu, Cities

☆ A mega restaurant chain is on a mission to get half of China to eat KFC and Pizza Hut by 2026
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Currently serving just one-third of China's population, our ambitious goal is to extend our reach to half of the population by 2026," Yum China CEO Joey Wat said in the company's latest quarterly results report. Yum plans to fuel its growth through restaurants in China's "lower-tier cities," which host over half of the firm's stores, Wat said. That's more than twice the number of KFC restaurants in the US, which has 4,293 stores, though only half of the around 6,750 Pizza Huts in the US. Both restaurant brands also have 470 million members in China, Yum said, though it didn't say if this number accounted for any overlap. "2023 was a pivotal year for Yum China," Wat said.

Persons: —, Joey Wat, Yum, China's COVID, Wat Organizations: Service, China Holdings, Business, KFC Locations: China, China's, Cities, Shanghai, Beijing, Xiamen, Harbin

☆ 8 more of our stocks report earnings next week. Here's what we want to see
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

The three major averages posted gains for the fourth week in row, lifted by strong quarterly earnings results for most of the Big Tech companies and a strong jobs report. A weaker ADP Employment report on Wednesday provided no read-through to the monster January jobs report Friday. Here's what we're keeping an eye on in the coming week: 1. Earnings: It's another big earnings week head for the portfolio, with 8 more of our companies reporting. Consistency is what we appreciate most from nat gas giant Linde , so we're hoping for another quarter of solid earnings growth Tuesday.

Persons: Estee Lauder, Eli Lilly, Mounjaro, Nelson Peltz, Estée Lauder, Tyson, CARR, Jacobs, Willis Towers Watson, Edwards, Walt Disney, Oscar Health, Philip Morris, Armour, BAX, BILL, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, George Frey Organizations: Big Tech, Dow Jones Industrial, Nasdaq, PMI, Apple, Starbucks, Procter, Gamble, GE Healthcare, DuPont, Linde, Ford, General Motors, Trian Partners, Disney, ESPN, Wynn Resorts, Wynn, Vegas, Prix, Estée Lauder Companies, Caterpillar, McDonalds Corp, Allegiant Travel, Bowlero Corp, Tyson Foods, TSN, Air Products & Chemicals, IDEXX Laboratories, CNA Financial Corp, CNA, Timken Company, Graham Corporation, Mesa Laboratories, Sphere Entertainment, Loews Corp, Technologies, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Semiconductors, Simon Property Group, Amkor Technology, FMC Corporation, FMC, BellRing Brands, Crown Holdings, ChampionX Corporation, Golub Capital BDC, Flexsteel Industries, Kilroy Realty Corp, Gladstone Capital Corp, Unibanco, S.A, Snack Foods Corp, Kimball Electronics, Skyline Corp, Cabot Corporation, Simpson Manufacturing Co, Varonis Systems, Co, GE HealthCare, Linde plc, LIN, Spotify Technology S.A, BP, Hertz Global Holdings, AeroSystems Holdings, Toyota Motor Corp, Cummins, CMI, Software Technologies, AGCO Corporation, Carrier Global Corporation, Lear Corp, CONSOL Energy, Centene Corporation, Gartner, Arcbest Corp, CTS Corporation, Energizer Holdings, Hamilton Lane Incorporated, KKR, Precision Drilling Corporation, Frontier Group Holdings, Waters Corp, Alfa Laval, Aramark Holdings Corp, FirstService Corporation, Garden Sports Corp, New Jersey Resources Corp, nVent Electric plc, PJT Partners, Resources, Sensata Technologies, Ford Motor Company, Enphase Energy, Grill, VF Corp, Edwards Lifesciences Corp, Gilead Sciences, Lumen Technologies, Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp, Weatherford International plc, Amcor plc, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Advanced Energy Industries, Uber Technologies, CVS Health, Roblox Corporation, Ares Capital Corp, Bunge, XPO Logistics, Scotts Miracle, Gro Company, Berry Global, Flex LNG, Equinor ASA, Griffon Corporation, OneMain Holdings, Brookfield Asset Management, Emerson Electric Co, Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Reynolds Consumer Products, Silicon Laboratories, Brands, Sciences, CDW Corp, Fox Corporation, WYNN, PayPal, Arm Holdings plc, ARM, Axcelis Technologies, Mattel, Paycom, Annaly Capital Management, McKesson Corp, Health Corporation, O'Reilly Automotive, Allstate Corp, Fluence Energy, Power Systems, Digital Turbine, Blue Bird Corp, Everest Group, Omega HealthCare, Coty, COTY, ConocoPhillips, Cameco Corp, Philip Morris International, Spirit Airlines, Hershey Company, Lightspeed Commerce, Aurora Cannabis, Lincoln National Corp, P, Tenet Healthcare Corp, Asbury Automotive Group, Arrow Electronics, Baxter International, PetMed, Boyd Gaming Corp, FirstEnergy Corp, Motorola Solutions, Terex Corp, PepsiCo, Growth, AMC Networks, Owl, American Pipeline, TELUS International, Magna International, Newell Brands, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Bloomberg, Getty Locations: U.S, China, Macau, Wynn Macau, Valvoline, VVV, ALFVY, Madison, New Jersey, Gilead, Ceridian, ORLY, Paycor, Aurora, Provo , Utah

☆ How KFC won over China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

KFC is one of the world's largest restaurant chains, with more than 29,000 locations and a new outlet opening every three and a half hours, according to Yum! But while much of the brand's early success came from the U.S., today the majority of its growth is in China. KFC China recently celebrated the opening of its 10,000th store in the city of Hangzhou, about an hour outside of Shanghai. So how did KFC overtake other fast food chains like McDonalds , Starbucks and Taco Bell in China, and can the business continue to grow? CNBC traveled to Hangzhou, China, and got an exclusive interview with the CEO of Yum China, Joey Wat, to find out.

Persons: Joey Wat Organizations: KFC, ! Brands, Starbucks, Taco Bell, CNBC, Yum Locations: U.S, China, KFC China, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Yum China

☆ ‘Bone biographies’ reveal what life was like for medieval commoners
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Ashley Strickland | Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“An osteobiography uses all available evidence to reconstruct an ancient person’s life,” said lead study author John Robb, a professor at Cambridge University, in a statement. “Our team used techniques familiar from studies such as Richard III’s skeleton, but this time to reveal details of unknown lives — people we would never learn about in any other way.”An illustration shows a typical marketplace in medieval Cambridge. Mark Gridley/After the PlagueThe bone biographies are available on Cambridge University’s After the Plague project website. Together, the bones tell a collective story about a cross section of people living in medieval Cambridge and the hardships they faced. “Everyday diseases, such as measles, whooping cough and gastrointestinal infections, ultimately took a far greater toll on medieval populations,” Robb said.

Persons: —, ”, John Robb, “, Richard III’s, Mark Gridley, Sarah Inskip, osteoarchaeologist, John the, ” Robb, Anne, Eudes, Edmund, John, Wat, Robb, Christiana, Dickon, Maria, infirmity Organizations: CNN —, Cambridge, Cambridge University, University of Leicester, Cambridge’s Hospital of St, St, John’s, Stourbridge Fair, University of Cambridge, “, Cambridge Archaeological, Hospital of St Locations: Cambridge, Cambridge’s, Wat, Christiana, Norway, Stourbridge, England, ”, Europe

☆ Travel news: UK airport’s ‘bus shelter’ prayer room ridiculed online
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. “It still gives me butterflies in my stomach,” Zahn tells CNN Travel today. Ski seasonNumerous ski resorts around the world are facing the reality that in these times of climate crisis, there just isn’t enough snow to carry on. Turkey is a famous choice for beach destinations, but it’s also home to a number of under-the-radar ski resorts. With reports of chair hogs, food fights and booze guzzlers, CNN Travel asks if cruising etiquette has been lost at sea.

Persons: Love, Ilona Zahn, Ian Duncan’s, ” Zahn, Zahn, it’s, They’d, you’re, There’s Organizations: CNN, Pan, CNN Travel, Thai Airways Locations: Rome, Peter’s, Cambodia, Angkor, “, Tabasco, Tehran, United States, Bangkok, New York, French, Bellagio, Italy, Turkey, States, Alaska, Istanbul, Nevada's Valley, Vegas, Fire, Prague, Loch Ness

☆ 'We are very committed to China,' Yum China CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email'We are very committed to China,' Yum China CEO says"We are very committed to China," Yum China CEO Joey Wat tells CNBC amid the company's bullish outlook at the Morgan Stanley Asia-Pacific Summit.

Persons: Joey Wat, Morgan Stanley Organizations: Yum China, CNBC, Morgan, Pacific Locations: China, Morgan Stanley Asia

☆ These 4 stocks report quarterly results next week. Here's what we hope to see
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

The major averages rebounded strongly this week as quarterly earnings came in largely better than expected and interest rates fell on softer economic data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than 5% for its best week since October 2022. The big theme next week is earnings and the four portfolio companies delivering their quarterly results. Here's the full rundown of all the important domestic data in the week ahead as we consider a number areas of our portfolio for trades next week. ET: Treasury budget statement for October (See here for a full list of the stocks in Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust.)

Persons: FactSet, we'll, Hulu —, Krystal, Horton, Zimmer, LEV, Armour, Ralph Lauren Corporation, CRON, Patterson, Walt Disney, MARA, Ginkgo, FREYR Battery, FREY, Arcelor Mittal, Wynn, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Dow Jones, Nasdaq, ISM, Services, Coterra Energy, Emerson Electric, Wall, National Instruments, Disney, Hulu, CNBC, Comcast, ESPN —, Wynn Resorts, WYNN, Asia that's, Wynn, Wynn's, Wynn Interactive, United, Brookfield Asset Management, Axsome Therapeutics, Network Corporation, Krystal Biotech, Ceragon Networks, Kosmos Energy Ltd, TreeHouse Foods Inc, Air Lease Corporation, Inc, Eversource Energy, Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc, Graham Corporation, Aereas Inteligentes, Hilton, Energy, Realty Income Corp, Semiconductors, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc, Clover Health, Contura Energy, Diamondback Energy, FS KKR Capital Corp, Celanese Corp, Eos Energy Enterprises, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, WEN, Pall Corp, TransMedics, Emerson, Uber Technologies, Holdings, Melco Resorts, Entertainment, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, ACM Research, Lion Electric Company, Emerson Electric Co, Vertex Energy, Waters Corp, Air Products & Chemicals, Esperion Therapeutics, Fidelity National Information Services Inc, Bowlero Corp, Hotels, KKR, Co, Devon Energy Corp, Occidental Petroleum Corp, Dutch Bros Inc, Gilead Sciences, ContextLogic Inc, Akamai Technologies, Viatris Inc, Technologies, Corsair, Enovix Corporation, eBay, EBAY, DaVita Inc, Pan American Silver Corp, Roblox Corporation, Fisker Inc, Warner Bros ., Nuvei Corporation, Farms, Akebia Therapeutics, Biogen Inc, 3D Systems Corporation, Gray Television Inc, BlackSky Technology Inc, Cronos, EVgo Inc, Lumentum Holdings Inc, Nexstar Media Group, UTI Energy, Starwood Property Trust, AMC Entertainment Holdings, Marathon Digital Holdings, IonQ Inc, Digital Turbine, Virgin Galactic Holdings , Inc, Arm Holdings plc, ARM, Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Suncor Energy, AppLovin Corporation, B2Gold Corp, Luminar Technologies, MGM Resorts International, MGM, Bloom Energy Corporation, Li Auto Inc, Oatly, Kopin Corp, Fiverr International, YETI Holdings, YPF S.A, Ship Lease, Himax Technologies Inc, Dickinson, CommScope Holding, RBC, Agile Therapeutics, Apyx Medical Corporation, Grab Holdings, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Profire Energy, Flags Inc, Stereotaxis Inc, TransDigm, US Foods Holding Corp, Utz Brands, Valvoline Inc, Weibo Corporation, Wix.com Ltd, Trade, Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras, Growth, Aurora Cannabis Inc, Navitas Semiconductor Corp, Archer Aviation Inc, Semiconductor, Energy Fuels Corp, Illumina Inc, Spike Investment Corp, Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp, AngloGold, Central Puerto S.A, Hudson Global, AirSculpt Technologies, Partners, Soho House, Jim Cramer's Charitable, Handout, Getty Locations: U.S, Macao, Asia, China, Las, Singapore, Wynn's Vegas, Boston, United Arab Emirates, Gilead, VVV, Central, Soho

☆ Is FOSO the new FOMO? How the 'fear of switching off' could affect your vacations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | Harriet Akinyi | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The nagging feeling which keeps travelers tethered to their devices has been coined the fear of switching off, or FOSO. It's loosely similar to the fear of missing out (FOMO), commonly denoted as the worries of not being included in exciting experiences or activities that others are a part of. FOSO can be seen as an extension of FOMO, said Handcock. "The fear of disconnecting from devices partially stems from a fear of missing out on work and home updates," he elaborated. Gideon Mendel | Corbis Historical | Getty ImagesAccording to the survey by Priority Pass, FOSO is more prevalent among younger travelers.

Persons: Jasper Chan ambled, Chan, Collinson, Tan De, Todd Handcock, Cortney Warren, FOSO, Warren, Gideon Mendel, Gen Z, boomers, Tovah Klein, Klein, Zs, Collins, Jefferson Low, Tan De Xun, Tan, Young Organizations: CNBC Travel, CNBC, Barnard College, Jefferson, Bank of Japan, Vw, Getty Locations: Wat Arun, Bangkok, Tan De Xun, FOMO, Niseko, Bank, Singapore, Lesotho, Africa

A weeklong hearing on one lawsuit to bar Trump from the ballot in Colorado begins Monday, while on Thursday oral arguments are scheduled before the Minnesota Supreme Court on an effort to kick the former president off the ballot in that state. Whether the judges keep Trump on the ballot or boot him, their rulings are likely to be swiftly appealed, eventually to the U.S. Supreme Court. Then last year, it was used by CREW to bar the head of “Cowboys for Trump” from a county commission seat in rural New Mexico. The judge overseeing Greene’s case ruled in her favor, while Cawthorn’s case became moot after he was defeated in his primary. Free Speech For People filed the case in Minnesota, where challenges to ballot appearances go straight to the state supreme court.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, “, “ We've, Barack Obama, Ted Cruz, John McCain, ”, Derek T, Muller, they're longshots, ” Muller, ” Trump, hasn't, —, ’, Salmon Chase, Marjorie Taylor, Greene, Madison Organizations: DENVER, White House, U.S, Supreme, Trump, Minnesota Supreme, Notre Dame, U.S . Capitol, United States Capitol, Republican, Citizens, Representatives, “ Cowboys, Trump ”, Madison Cawthorn Locations: Colorado, Minnesota, United States, Washington, New Mexico

☆ A Treehouse Builder Who Celebrates Impermanence
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Tom Vanderbilt | Josh Robenstone | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The sensation is a bit unnerving and invokes one of the laws of treehouse building: Heights you wouldn’t think twice about in a concrete structure suddenly become imposing when you’re on a branch. Taka, as everyone calls him — or sometimes Koba-san — is Japan’s best-known treehouse builder. He’s built treehouses for affluent Chinese clients and treehouses for preschools — draws for parents anxious about their children’s detachment from nature. The most modest of his structures, he says, is four square feet; the largest, about 270 square feet. He’s sometimes referred to as a “treehouse architect,” but he doesn’t care for the phrase — “architect” connotes not only degrees and building codes but other constraints, too, like permanence.

Persons: Takashi Kobayashi, He’s, preschools —, ” Organizations: CAN, Treehouse Creations Locations: Tokyo, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Covid

☆ Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport: Cambodia’s newest and biggest airport opens to commercial flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Cambodia’s newest and biggest airport opened to commercial operations in the province of Siem Reap in the country’s northwest this week. The China-funded Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport is now the main gateway to one of the country’s most popular tourist sites, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Complex. Using the International Air Transport Association-designated code SAI, it replaces Siem Reap International Airport (REP), which first opened in 1932 and is only a few kilometers away from the Angkor complex. Located in Siem Reap province, the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park is one of Cambodia's most famous sites. The country is on track to receive approximately 4.5 to five million international tourists by the end of this year, says the ministry.

Persons: Ashit Desai, Angkor Thom Organizations: CNN, UNESCO, Thailand’s Bangkok Airways, International Air Transport Association, SAI, Initiative, REP, Economic, Office, Embassy, Yunnan Aviation Industry Investment Group, Construction, Getty, Cambodia’s Ministry, Tourism Locations: Siem Reap, China, Angkor, Siem, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, Khmer, Angkor Wat

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Commercial operations began Monday at Cambodia’s newest and biggest airport, designed to serve as an upgraded gateway to the country’s major tourist attraction, the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple complex in the northwestern province of Siem Reap. A Bangkok Airways flight from Thailand was the first to land, with 16 additional flights scheduled for the first day of operations at the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport. The new airport can handle 7 million passengers a year, with plans to augment it to handle 12 million passengers annually from 2040. Another Chinese-funded airport is being constructed at a cost of $1.5 billion to serve the capital Phnom Penh. The new Phnom Penh international airport, formally known as the Techo International Airport, is set on 2,600 hectares (6,425 acres) and scheduled for completion in 2024.

Persons: Vongsey Vissoth, Hun Manet Organizations: —, Bangkok Airways, Angkor International Airport, Ministry of Tourism, Phnom, Techo Locations: PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Wat, Siem Reap, Thailand, Angkor, Angkor Wat, China, Tourism, Phnom Penh

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin handed out gifts and posed for pictures as his tourism minister and other VIPs greeted about 300 travelers from Shanghai. He said that the government plans to promote Thailand’s smaller cities as destinations for Chinese tourists to encourage them to stay longer and spend more. Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said there has been about a 30% surge in accommodation and flight bookings since the policy was announced. Chai Wacharonke, a spokesperson for the prime minister, earlier said that Thailand received 15 million international visitors in the first seven months. He said the government aims to draw 28 million tourists and generate 1.4 trillion baht ($39.2 billion) in revenue in 2023.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, ” Srettha, Srettha, Dai, Chiang Mai, Peng, Wan Yi, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Chai Wacharonke Organizations: Bangkok’s, Central, Tourism, Tourism Authority of, Ministry of Tourism Locations: BANGKOK, Shanghai, Thai, Thailand, Bangkok, Phuket, Wan, Wat Arun, Chinatown, Central Asian, Kazakhstan, China, Tourism Authority of Thailand

☆ China's AI applications are coming — where it matters for monetization
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Around the same time, Tencent announced it is integrating its AI model into advertising content creation, and its own Zoom-like video conferencing app. It's also not clear how powerful China's AI applications currently are, beyond demos and select business partnerships. "Overall we see generally Chinese language model[s] still lag behind the most advanced ChatGPT version 4," CLSA's Tony Zhang said in a phone interview in the last week. Now with Beijing's green light, public-facing AI applications such as Baidu's Ernie bot can be widely used in China. Generative AI and large language model-related revenue contributed to 20% of SenseTime' s revenue in the first half of 2023, Nomura analysts said, citing company management.

Persons: Nomura, Tencent, Coffee, Luckin, Joey Wat, It's, Tony Zhang, –, Ernie, Oliver Wyman's David Xie Organizations: Baidu, KFC Locations: Beijing, China, Taobao, TikTok

Rahm Emanuel, Washington's outspoken ambassador to Japan, wrote in a post on X: "1st: Defense Minister Li Shangfu hasn't been seen or heard from in 3 weeks. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. On the trip, Wat met with China's navy commander, Dong Jun and other navy leaders, Singapore's defence ministry said on its website. Singapore's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Military observers and diplomats are closely watching whether China will go ahead with plans to hold the Beijing Xiangshan Forum - an annual international security summit normally hosted by China's defence minister - in late October.

Persons: Li Shangfu, Li, Rahm Emanuel, Washington's, Li Shangfu hasn't, Mao Ning, Qin Gang, Qin, Emanuel, Barack Obama, Matthew Miller, Sean Wat, Wat, Dong Jun, Lloyd Austin, Yew Lun Tian, Laurie Chen, Martin Pollard, Yukiko Toyoda, Xinghui, John Geddie, Neil Fullick, Lincoln, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Defence, Financial Times, U.S, Street Journal, Defense, Navy, Liberation, Rocket Force, . State Department, Reuters, Military, Beijing Xiangshan, U.S . Defence, Australian National University, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, TOKYO, U.S, Beijing, Japan, Vietnam, Tokyo, States, China, Singapore, United States, Xinghui Kok

☆ Yum China says tech investments let it open more stores without needing more staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Pedestrians walk past a Pizza Hut restaurant and a KFC restaurant, both operated by Yum China, in Beijing, China, on Sept. 5, 2020. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Yum China is spending more on tech, an investment that's allowed it to open more stores without having to hire more staff, CEO Joey Wat told CNBC in an interview Friday. Yum China operates KFC and Pizza Hut stores in China, among other brands. With technology, she said staff can be promoted to manage multiple stores and support the opening of new locations. This year alone, the company plans to spend about $700 million to $900 million.

Persons: Joey Wat, Wat Organizations: KFC, Yum, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Yum China, U.S, Companies, Walmart Locations: Yum China, Beijing, China, BEIJING, Yum, Alibaba

☆ U.S. Diplomat Questions Whether Chinese Defence Minister Under 'House Arrest'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Rahm Emanuel wrote: "1st: Defense Minister Li Shangfu hasn't been seen or heard from in 3 weeks. Now: He’s absent from his scheduled meeting with the Singaporean Chief of Navy because he was placed on house arrest???" China's foreign and defence ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters exclusively reported on Thursday that Li had abruptly pulled out of a meeting with Vietnamese defence leaders last week. These moves have raised questions from analysts and diplomats about a lack of transparency and unpredictable decision-making in China's leadership.

Persons: Yukiko Toyoda, Tian, Rahm Emanuel, Li Shangfu hasn't, William Shakespeare's, Li, Singapore Rahm, Sean Wat, Dong Jun, Qin Gang, Lun Tian, Martin Pollard, Xinghui, John Geddie, Neil Fullick Organizations: Twitter, Defense, Navy, Reuters, Financial Times, Singapore, PLA Navy, Liberation, Rocket Force Locations: Tian TOKYO, BEIJING, U.S, Japan, Vietnam, Denmark, Tokyo, Beijing, Singapore, China, Xinghui Kok

☆ Family of late U.S. billionaire return looted artifacts to Cambodia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The family of late American pipeline billionaire George Lindemann has agreed to return 33 looted artifacts to Cambodia, according to the US Attorney’s Office, a decision described as “momentous” by the Southeast Asian country. In a statement it said the family’s decision to return the artifacts was voluntary. Lawyers for the Lindemann family did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He said he understood the Lindemann family had paid more than $20 million for the artifacts. US authorities have spent more than a decade working on locating artifacts from Cambodia and have so far repatriated 65.

Persons: George Lindemann, Koh Ker, Lindemann, Bradley Gordon, Hun Manet, ”, Douglas Latchford Organizations: US, Office, Southern, of, Lawyers, Attorney's, Southern District of, United, Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, American Chamber of Commerce Locations: Cambodia, Angkor, of New York, Koh Ker, Southern District, Southern District of New York, United States

☆ Family of late U.S. billionaire return looted artefacts to Cambodia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The family of late American pipeline billionaire George Lindemann has agreed to return 33 looted artefacts to Cambodia, according to the US Attorney’s Office, a decision described as “momentous” by the Southeast Asian country. In a statement it said the family’s decision to return the artefacts was voluntary. Lawyers for the Lindemann family did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He said he understood the Lindemann family had paid more than $20 million for the artefacts. US authorities have spent more than a decade working on locating artefacts from Cambodia and have so far repatriated 65.

Persons: George Lindemann, Koh Ker, Lindemann, Bradley Gordon, Hun Manet, ”, Douglas Latchford Organizations: US, Office, Southern, of, Lawyers, Attorney's, Southern District of, United, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, American Chamber of Commerce Locations: Cambodia, Angkor, of New York, Koh Ker, Southern District, Southern District of New York, United States

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