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Soaking storms will shift east on Friday and target more of the Gulf Coast after rumbling to life Thursday afternoon in parts of Texas. Floods deluge roads: Several roads closing in northern and eastern Bosque County, Texas due to water over crossings or bridges. More than a dozen school districts closed: The Houston Independent School District has announced campuses will be closed on Friday and will reopen next week. Schools will reopen on Monday, May 20,” the school district said in a message on Facebook. A handful of Houston-area school districts announced they would close Friday as well, including Aldine Independent School District, Channelview Independent School District and Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.

Persons: Mary Benton, Samuel Peña, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Houstonians, Seth Waller, Bell County . Organizations: CNN, Houston Fire Department, Texas -, Florida Panhandle, National Weather Service, Hyatt, CenterPoint Energy, Houston Mayor, Houston, College Station, Houston Independent School, HISD, City of, Facebook, Aldine Independent School District, Channelview Independent School District, Fairbanks Independent School District Locations: Texas, Louisiana, Houston, Gulf, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas - Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, New Orleans, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Hyatt Regency, Bryan, College, Bosque County , Texas, Bell County, Bell County . McLennan, Falls, City of Houston, Cypress

☆ At least 4 deaths in Houston, official says, as storms bring ‘life-threatening’ flood risk to Texas and Louisiana
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Joe Sutton | Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

More than 100,000 are also in the dark in Louisiana as storms batter the state, as well. Parts of Texas and western Louisiana are under a rare Level 4 of 4 high risk of excessive rainfall Thursday, the Weather Prediction Center said. Major flooding has prompted water rescues in at least one Texas city. Texas and Louisiana have been in the bull’s-eye of seemingly unrelenting rounds of torrential, flooding downpours since the start of April. A tornado warning had been issued earlier Thursday evening in Harris County, including downtown Houston, according to the National Weather Service.

Persons: Samuel Peña, John Whitmire, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Houstonians, what’s, Hurricane Harvey Organizations: CNN, Houston Fire, Hyatt, Weather Prediction, WPC, National Weather Service, Houston, KPRC, Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, Houston Mayor, Centerpoint, METRO, Training, Florida Panhandle, Regional Climate Center ., Hurricane Locations: Houston, Hyatt Regency, Texas, Louisiana, Bryan, United States, Georgia, Waco, Mississippi, Lake Charles , Louisiana, Harris County, Harris, city’s, Gulf, Alabama, Florida, Shreveport , Louisiana

☆ China's imports jump 8.4% in April, exceeding expectations as purchases from the U.S. grow
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Aly Song | ReutersBEIJING — China's customs agency released data Thursday that showed exports rose in-line with expectations in April, while imports surged ahead of forecasts. Worldwide, China's exports rose by 1.5% year-on-year in April in U.S. dollar terms, while imports climbed by 8.4%, the data showed. China's exports to ASEAN rose by 8% in April from a year ago, while imports rose by 5%. In April, China's imports and exports of integrated circuits rose from a year ago, the data showed. By volume, China's exports of cars, LCD panel displays and home appliances rose, while exports of cellphones fell slightly.

Persons: Aly Song Organizations: Reuters, CNBC, U.S, Association of Southeast, ASEAN Locations: Yangshan, Shanghai, China, Reuters BEIJING, U.S, Union, Russia, Nations, Vietnam, Mexico

☆ UOB reports first-quarter profit fell less than expected, maintains 2024 growth outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's United Overseas Bank, or UOB, reported a smaller-than-expected decline in first quarter net profit on Wednesday, squeezed by net interest margins, and maintained its outlook for income growth in 2024. Singapore's United Overseas Bank reported a smaller-than-expected decline in first-quarter net profit on Wednesday, squeezed by net interest margins, and maintained its outlook for income growth in 2024. "Despite heightened geopolitical tensions, our home region of Southeast Asia is relatively resilient," UOB CEO Wee Ee Cheong said in a statement. "We continued to see ongoing shifts in global supply chains and sustained tourism activities," he added. UOB, which is also Southeast Asia's third-largest bank by assets, also maintained its guidance for low single-digit loan growth and double-digit fee growth, according to Wee's presentation slides accompanying the results.

Persons: Wee Ee Cheong Organizations: Singapore's United Overseas Bank Locations: Southeast Asia

☆ Hundreds of thousands of fish died in a single reservoir in Vietnam, another sign of how climate change is strangling the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Meghan Morris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A prolonged drought in southeast Asia contributed to massive fish deaths in southern Vietnam. The climate crisis and human development threaten the Mekong Delta, a key global agricultural center. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . In Vietnam, the maze of wetlands that comprise the Mekong Delta is called the country's "rice bowl" because of the vast agriculture it supports. Related storiesMeanwhile, in southern Vietnam, hundreds of thousands of fish died in a reservoir last month as temperatures peaked over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and no rain fell for weeks, the AFP reported.

Persons: —, El Niño, they're, Ksor Phung, VnExpress Organizations: Service, Mekong Delta, country's Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, World Bank, AFP, Residents, Business, Getty, Commission Locations: Asia, Vietnam, Delta, El, Mekong

A nearly 60-foot segment of an expressway in a rural area of southeastern China collapsed before dawn on Wednesday after days of heavy rain, killing 24 people and injuring 30 others. Photos released after the incident appeared to show that a landslide had begun under two lanes of an expressway that ran along the side of a hill. A wide, brown scar of mud ran down the side of the hill between bright green foliage, leaving a large gap in the expressway. Vehicles lay jumbled at the base of the hill below the hole, blackened and still smoking from a fire that had burned vigorously during the night, drawing a large number of fire trucks to the area. The state news media said that many of the survivors were seriously injured, with drivers and passengers alike suffering severe bone fractures and injuries to internal organs.

Organizations: Vehicles Locations: China

☆ Philippine dam: A 300-year-old settlement resurfaces as severe drought dries up a reservoir
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Emily Blumenthal | Monica Garrett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A nearly 300-year-old settlement once submerged beneath a major dam in the Philippines has reemerged as sweltering heat and drought dry up the reservoir. Ezra Acayan/Getty ImagesSome visitors brave the extreme heat to see the dam, where parts of damaged structures still stand. But a drought currently affecting about half of the country’s provinces has pushed the dam’s water levels down, according to AFP. The town of Muñoz near the dam has seen heat index over 41 degrees (106 degrees Fahrenheit) the last five days. On Sunday the temperature felt like 47 degrees (117 degrees Fahrenheit) because of other contributing factors.

Persons: Marlon Paladin, Ezra Acayan, Paladin, climatologist Maximiliano Herrera, ” Organizations: CNN, National Irrigation Administration, PAGASA, AFP, Prediction Locations: Philippines, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija, Philippine, Southeast Asia, Muñoz, Luzon, El

☆ Microsoft to invest $1.7 billion into AI infrastructure in Indonesia, CEO Satya Nadella says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (C) arrives for a meeting with Indonesia's President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on April 30, 2024. The announcement came as CEO Satya Nadella met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the same day. "This new generation of AI is reshaping how people live and work everywhere, including in Indonesia," Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft, said in a statement. Microsoft also said it will partner with governments, organizations and communities to provide AI skilling opportunities for 2.5 million people in Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states by 2025. Nadella met with Jokowi in Jakarta on Tuesday to discuss topics including technological and AI breakthroughs that will help Indonesia progress, according to Indonesian news agency Antara.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Joko Widodo, ISMOYO, Nadella Organizations: Getty, Microsoft, Indonesian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Jokowi, Antara Locations: Jakarta, AFP, Indonesia, Golden Indonesia

☆ Goldman Environmental Prize: This saltwater lagoon is legally a person. Here’s why that could help it survive
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Mar Menor, Europe’s biggest saltwater lagoon, sits on the coast of southeastern Spain. Three years later, following an intense campaign, Mar Menor became the first ecosystem in Europe to be designated legal personhood rights. Today, Vicente was awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize – an annual award given to six grassroots environmental leaders, each working in a different continent. Teresa Vicente, 61, has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her successful campaign to grant Mar Menor legal personhood rights. “Right now, Mar Menor is in intensive care,” she says.

Persons: CNN —, Teresa Vicente, Mar Menor, Vicente, Jose Guerrero, “, ”, Jose Miguel Fernandez, Menor Organizations: CNN, University of Murcia, Goldman, Mar, Goldman Environmental, University of Reading’s Centre of Justice, AFP Locations: Spain, Europe, AFP, Murcia, Colombia, New, Whanganui, Spain’s

The top US diplomat landed in Shanghai where he is expected to meet local officials and business leaders, and he will then travel to Beijing for meetings with senior Chinese officials. “We are in a different place than we were a year ago when the bilateral relationship was at an historic low point,” a senior State Department official said. “Russia is no longer kind of on its back foot,” a second senior State Department official said. Blinken will make the case that China should weigh in “more directly” with Iran to be less provocative in the region, the second senior State Department official said. “In both cases the Chinese have taken some early steps,” said the second senior State Department official, adding that there is still “much more” that needs to be done on both fronts.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Janet Yellen, Biden, Xi, ”, “, ” Blinken, Matthew Miller, Leah Millis, China’s, ” Xi, Blinken, ” Miller, it’s, Mark Swidan, Kai Li, David Lin Organizations: CNN, State Department, Ukraine, US, Foreign Ministry, of, People, Biden, Chinese Foreign Ministry, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Beijing, Party, Taiwan, Communist, Taiwan Relations, White Locations: China, Ukraine, Shanghai, Beijing, California, Russia, Moscow, Italy, “ Russia, ”, Europe, United States, South China, Philippine, Washington, Philippines, South, Taiwan, Taiwan Strait, East, Iran

☆ Miami shows how a new kind of gentrification is coming to US cities
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Miami has one of the hottest real estate markets in the country. Real estate developers are promoting new housing in drier parts of the city as an escape from regular flooding, researchers have found. And Miami is far from alone — coastal flooding, extreme heat, and other climate impacts are affecting cities across the country. And Miami residents are spending a larger share of their income on housing these days. The rent-to-income ratio in Miami has risen from 35.9% in 2019 to 37.0% at the end of last year, according to Moody's.

Persons: Moody's, Pedro, — Organizations: Service, Business, Liberty, Dade, McKinsey & Company, Miami Locations: Miami, South Florida, Little Haiti, Liberty City, — Miami, Florida, Dade County

☆ U.S. loses its spot to China as Southeast Asia's most favored ally, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This is the first time Beijing has edged past Washington since 2020 when the annual survey first posed the question. China's aggressive behavior in the South China Sea is the Philippines' (90.2%) and Vietnam's (72.5%) top concern, the region's two frontline South China Sea claimant states. The Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Bloomberg last month that his government's claims on certain parts of the South China sea should not be viewed as provoking China. Vietnam has also asserted sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea though Beijing has brushed aside those claims. ASEAN should build up its resilience and unity to fend off pressures from the two major powers, the U.S. and China, nearly half of the survey respondents said.

Persons: ISEAS – Yusof, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Kenddrick Chan Organizations: ASEAN Studies, Jan, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, China, Bloomberg, Philippines, U.S, LSE, London School of Economics, Political Science Locations: China, U.S, Washington, Beijing, Singapore, ISEAS, Indonesia . China, Japan, South China, Philippines, Vietnam, Southeast Asia

The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. Kosuke Okahara/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets were set to fall Tuesday as the U.S. market took a breather following a rally sparked by optimism over the Federal Reserve's interest rate stance at its latest meeting. "We're coming off of a post-FOMC high," he told CNBC, referring to the U.S. Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee meeting last week. "The market is getting more and more vulnerable to a market decline or a pullback in prices." Investors in Asia also await economic data out of Southeast Asia, including Singapore's manufacturing output and Thailand's trade balance.

Persons: Kosuke Okahara, Sam Stovall Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan Exchange Group Inc, Bloomberg, Getty Images, Federal, CFRA Research, CNBC, U.S, U.S . Federal Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Getty Images Asia, Pacific, U.S, U.S ., Asia, Southeast Asia

☆ Malaysia's $100 billion ghost town really wants to draw in tourists. It's not working.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Forest City, a luxury development in Malaysia, is banking on tourism to shed its ghost town image. AdvertisementWendy Noble lives 15 minutes away from Malaysia's Forest City, across the border in Singapore. Country Garden, the largest developer in China, spent $100 billion building Forest City. "Forest City is able to attract the weekend tourists," Adilah said, referring to tourists like Noble and Nemis. Forest City Golf Resort's lobby, with a miniature figure of the development.

Persons: it's, —, Wendy Noble, Ree Nemis, Noble, Marielle, Nemis, Adilah Zain, Adilah, Sultan Ibrahim, Shawn, Gary, We've, Chandran Organizations: Forest City, Service, Malaysia's, MARA Technological University, Garden, Bloomberg, BI, Forest, Challenge, Hotel Locations: Forest, Malaysia, Malaysia's Forest City, Singapore, Forest City, China, Johor —, Malaysian, Monaco, Challenge Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

☆ With eyes on China, US special operators are back to battling the jungle
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

With the potential for a conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific looming ever larger in the background, the US special operations community is focusing more and more on jungle operations. A Marine Raider with Marine Forces Special Operations Command traverses a river during a jungle mobility course, Aug. 4, 2023. A Marine Raider with Marine Forces Special Operations Command navigates a single rope bridge during a jungle mobility course, Aug. 4, 2023. A history of jungle operationsUS commandos have a long history of conducting jungle operations. AdvertisementToday, as the US attempts to redirect its focus to the Indo-Pacific amid steadily rising tensions between the US and China, it looks like jungle operations are back on the menu for the US special operations community.

Persons: —, Cpl, Henry Rodriguez, skillsets, Cody Carroll, I've Organizations: Service, Pacific, Marine Raiders, Business, Tactical Tracking, Raider, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, . Marine Corps, Marine Forces Special, Command, Alamo Scouts, Military Assistance Command Vietnam, MACV, SOG, North, Vietcong, White, Pentagon, Green Berets, Navy, Force Recon, Air Commandos Locations: East, China, Oahu, Hawaii, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Vietnam, Asia, Laos, Cambodia, South Vietnam

☆ What the US Army should learn from Ukraine's hasty retreat from a Russian assault
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

And it should be a wake-up call for the US Army, which could find itself in the same situation, according to a US Army intelligence officer. With the potential for large-scale ground operations against well-armed Chinese or Russian forces, it's a topic that the US military cannot afford to neglect. The Ukrainian retreat suffered from poor coordination between the 110th Mechanized Brigade that had been defending the city, and the newly arrived 3rd Assault Brigade that was supposed to cover the 110th's withdrawal. The other lesson of Avdiivka is ensuring adequate support for a retreat, especially for the covering force that screens the withdrawal of the rest of the army. AdvertisementTo their credit, and despite a lack of ammunition, Ukrainian commanders were able to provide some fire support for the retreat.

Persons: It's, Ryan Forte, —, Forte, Corbis, Avdiivka wasn't, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, US Army, Business, Modern, Institute, 3rd Assault Brigade, Zenit, US, Union Army, Army, Marine Corps, 110th Mechanized Brigade, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Avdiivka, West, Donetsk, Russian, Russia, Moscow, Tunisia, Bull, Korean, America, Korea, Ukrainian, Forbes

STR | AFP | Getty ImagesIn the race against Tesla for the global electric car market, Chinese automaker BYD is pushing hard overseas despite rising barriers to the U.S. market. Given policy uncertainty around Chinese EV exports to major markets like the U.S. and Europe, BYD is seeking to bolster overseas sales by moving production to regions perceived as more friendly. The U.S. has tried to support adoption of electric cars domestically, but sales penetration is well below that of China. EY predicts the electric car market in the region will grow exponentially to at least $80 billion a year in sales in the next decade. The rapid growth of BYD and other Chinese electric car companies has other automakers worried.

Persons: Tesla, BYD, Xiao Feng, Biden, it's, EY, Alvin Liu, Liu, BYD's, Sime Darby, Stella Li, Reuters BYD, Bill Russo, CNBC's, Li Organizations: AFP, Getty, Toyota, Counterpoint Research, Tesla, Sime, Americas, Reuters, Alliance for American Manufacturing, U.S Locations: Taicang Port, Suzhou, China's, Jiangsu, U.S, Shenzhen, Europe, Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Hungary, Uzbekistan, China, Marklines, Southeast Asia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Mexico, Americas, North America, United States, Canada, Washington

☆ Standing Up to China, Philippine Leader Courts New Network of Partners
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | Camille Elemia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With China aggressively asserting its claims on the South China Sea, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines spent his first year on the job beefing up Manila’s alliance with its oldest ally, the United States. Mr. Marcos is adding a new intensity to his muscular foreign policy at a critical moment in his country’s territorial dispute with Beijing. In January, Mr. Marcos and the leaders of Vietnam, another country fighting off Chinese claims to the crucial waterway, pledged closer cooperation between their coast guards. This month, Mr. Marcos clinched a maritime cooperation deal with Australia. “It has to be recognized that the South China Sea handles 60 percent of the trade of the entire world.

Persons: Ferdinand R, Marcos Jr, Marcos, it’s, Mr Organizations: Maritime, Australia, South China, ASEAN, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: China, Philippines, United States, Beijing, Vietnam, Europe, South, Berlin

☆ I visited the ExploreAI summit in Singapore. Here's how AI is helping businesses solve real-world problems.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Sponsor Post | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I attended the ExploreAI summit on January 29, which marked the successful conclusion of the AI Trailblazers initiative. Minister Josephine revealed AI Trailblazers 2.0 to advance Singapore's National AI Strategy 2.0 and deepen AI use across Singapore. The event marked the successful conclusion of the AI Trailblazers initiative — an effort to help Singapore-based organizations develop 100 generative AI (GenAI) solutions over 100 days. Minister Teo announced plans to build on the success of the first AI Trailblazers program with AI Trailblazers 2.0. This collaboration between AI Trailblazers and Google exemplifies Singapore's dedication to using AI for the betterment of everyone, from residents to businesses.

Persons: Josephine, Kris LeBoutillier, he's, I'm, Mark Micallef, John Ang, Temus, Ang, Tan, Keow, —, Long Yin, What's, Josephine Teo, Teo Organizations: Google Asia Pacific, Singapore's Ministry of Communications, Information, MCI, Digital Industry Singapore, Smart Nation Group, Enterprise Singapore, Google, Southeast, of Information Technology, Nanyang Polytechnic, People's Association, AI, Ministry of Communications, Insider Studios, Singapore Economic Development Board Locations: Singapore, Asia, ExploreAI, Southeast Asia, Temus

☆ The captain and copilot of an A320 fell asleep for 28 minutes during a flight to Jakarta, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe captain and copilot of a domestic flight in Indonesia carrying 153 people fell asleep for nearly 30 minutes, a report published by Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said. Around 45 minutes later, the captain woke up and offered to let the copilot, 28, rest, but they declined, and the captain fell back asleep. AdvertisementThe first officer spent roughly the next 20 minutes communicating with air traffic controllers and flight attendants before they "inadvertently" also fell asleep, per the report. After waking them, the captain answered another pilot's call and air traffic controllers, claiming they had suffered a "radio communication problem." According to the KNKT report, the second in command had not rested sufficiently the night before the flight.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Indonesia's National Transportation Safety, Business, Air, Indonesian Locations: Indonesia, Kendari, Indonesian, Southeast Sulawesi, Jakarta

☆ China's 5% GDP goal is 'attainable' but it won't be easy, says Hong Kong's financial secretary
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

China's GDP target of 5% for 2024 is possible, but it won't be easy to achieve, Hong Kong's financial secretary told CNBC Tuesday after Beijing set a growth target of "around 5%" for this year. I think this is attainable, although it's not easy," Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Paul Chan told CNBC's Emily Chan, highlighting bright spots in China's export sector and domestic consumption. So this represents also a huge market for China's export," Chan said, adding that "we expect the export situation of the mainland will improve particularly into developing Asia." Domestic consumption is also a key driver for the city's growth in the short term, said the financial secretary. Hong Kong's GDP is projected to grow 2.5% to 3.5% this year.

Persons: it's, Paul Chan, CNBC's Emily Chan, Chan, Goldman Sachs Organizations: CNBC, Kong's, ASEAN, Association of Southeast, Nations, U.S . Locations: Beijing, China, Asia, U.S, Macao, Hong Kong

☆ Why Australia keeps an arm’s length from South China Sea tensions, even as it draws closer with the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —When Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the Australian Parliament last week there was no mistaking the fighting talk. The Philippines accused China's coast guard of setting up the barrier at the mouth of the disputed fishing ground. That meeting will also be attended by several other nations with territorial disagreements with China – including Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Australia was unlikely to back any tough language at the summit pertaining to the South China Sea or any other hot-button issue. As Bisley put it, “We don’t like what China does, but we’re not going to put ourselves in harm’s way.”

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, ”, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, –, Thomas Shoal, David, China’s, Marcos ’, China –, Scott Morrison, Collin Koh, Penny Wong annouced, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Lukas Coch, Susannah Patton, it’s, ” Patton, China’s aggressions, Wang Wenbin, Nick Bisley, Bisley, we’re Organizations: CNN, Maxar, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, China, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, Australia, Australian, Partners, Reuters, South China, Southeast Asia, Lowy Institute, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, La Trobe University Locations: Philippines, China, South China, Manila, China’s, Philippine, Scarborough, Scarborough Shoal, Hague, United States, Canberra, Australia, Melbourne, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, Beijing, Singapore, South, Penny Wong annouced Canberra, Southeast Asia, Japan, India

☆ Australia bushfires: Victoria orders 30,000 people to evacuate due to ‘catastrophic’ fire risk
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | Morayo Ogunbayo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hot, dry and windy conditions have created “extreme to catastrophic fire dangers” in parts of Victoria and South Australia, according to Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. Around 30,000 people had been ordered to evacuate parts of Victoria before midday Wednesday, when authorities warned it would be too late to leave. Bushfires in Victoria, Australia have been burning since February 22, 2024. AAP Image/David Crosling/ReutersSix homes have already been destroyed and authorities fear windy and dry conditions may fan the flames close to high-density residential areas. More than 100 state forests have been closed, the Forest Fire Management of Victoria said on social platform X.

Persons: Jason Heffernan, we’re, David Crosling, Victoria Organizations: CNN — Firefighters, Meteorology, Fire Authority, CFA, Melbourne, ” Firefighters, Fire Management Locations: Australia, Victoria, South Australia, Casterdon, Hamilton, Kanagulk, ”, Bayindeen, Melbourne, Wimmera

☆ Finding Great Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Seth Sherwood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Other than Brazil, no nation produces more coffee than Vietnam. Introduced by French colonists in the 19th century, the country’s coffee crop is now a $3 billion business and accounts for nearly 15 percent of the global market, making Vietnam the java giant of Southeast Asia. Quality, however, has only recently begun to catch up with quantity, mainly because farmers have begun augmenting Vietnam’s longtime cultivation of cheaper, easy-to-grow robusta beans with a connoisseur’s favorite, arabica. A major beneficiary has been the cafe scene in the country’s largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City (a.k.a. Thanks to direct crop-to-shop supplies, the retail business of coffee is booming as increasing numbers of indie roasteries and specialty coffeehouses sprout up around the city’s French colonial opera house, amid the megamalls and boutiques of fashionable Dong Khoi Boulevard, and in the shadows of the high-rise towers in District 2.

Locations: Brazil, Vietnam, Southeast Asia, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, Dong, District

☆ I'm backpacking the world while working as an online therapist. I have a steady income, but I'm exhausted.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Carolina Villafuerte provides online therapy while traveling the world. AdvertisementThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Carolina Villafuerte, 32, a clinical psychologist who has been backpacking since December 2022. I had studied to be a clinical psychologist and I used their advice to build an online therapy business. AdvertisementThere are some limitations to online therapy — I can't work with children or the elderly. AdvertisementHaving a steady incomeBecause I have a constant stream of income, I'm not dipping into the $10,000 I saved for emergencies.

Persons: —, Carolina Villafuerte, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: Carolina, Ecuador, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Philippines

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