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☆ Myanmar junta leader says armed organisations must solve their problems 'politically' - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Myanmar's junta leader General Min Aung Hlaing, who ousted the elected government in a coup on February 1, 2021, presides over an army parade on Armed Forces Day in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, March 27, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 5 (Reuters) - Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has called on armed ethnic groups involved in an offensive against the country's ruling military to solve their problems "politically", state media reported on Tuesday. "(He) warned that if armed organisations keep on being foolish, residents of the relevant regions will suffer bad impacts. So, it is necessary to consider the lives of the people, and those organisations need to solve their problems politically," the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. A parallel civilian government backing some of the armed rebel groups dismissed Min Aung Hlaing's call for dialogue.

Persons: General Min Aung Hlaing, Stringer, Min Aung Hlaing, Min Aung, Kyaw Zaw, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Armed Forces, REUTERS, Myanmar, National Unity Government, Reuters, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Shan State, China, Rakhine, Chin States

☆ Myanmar Junta Leader Says Armed Organisations Must Solve Their Problems 'Politically' - State Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Myanmar's junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has called on armed ethnic groups involved in an offensive against the country's ruling military to solve their problems "politically", state media reported on Tuesday. "(He) warned that if armed organisations keep on being foolish, residents of the relevant regions will suffer bad impacts. So, it is necessary to consider the lives of the people, and those organisations need to solve their problems politically," the Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported. A parallel civilian government backing some of the armed rebel groups dismissed Min Aung Hlaing's call for dialogue. Tens of thousands of residents have been displaced by the fighting, according to the United Nations.

Persons: Min Aung Hlaing, Min Aung, Kyaw Zaw, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Reuters, Myanmar, National Unity Government, United Nations Locations: Shan State, China, Rakhine, Chin States

Finally Souza, an innkeeper and community leader in Bela Vista do Jaraqui, said he rallied two dozen neighbors to drill a 60-meter well in the heart of the world's largest freshwater basin. With rivers forming the backbone of transportation across the Amazon region, the drought has disrupted access to food and medicine in dozens of cities. The Amazon, the world's largest rainforest, is regarded by scientists as a bulwark against climate change because its dense vegetation absorbs carbon and emits oxygen. The five researchers predicting a 2026 recovery said the effects of the drought could endure even longer if El Nino is prolonged. That would release huge amounts of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change and wiping out a wealth of plant and animal species found only in the Amazon.

Persons: Bruno Kelly, Raimundo Leite de Souza, Souza, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Michael Coe, we're, El Nino, Coe, El, Philip Fearnside, Henrique Barbosa, Eduardo Taveira, Taveira, Paulo Brando, Brando, Barbosa, Brad Haynes, Jake Spring, Ana Mano, Andre Romani, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Rio, cobras, United, Reuters, Research Center, National Institute of, Research, University of Maryland, Honda, LG, Positivo, GIANTS, Yale University, Sao Paulo, Thomson Locations: Tefe, Amazonas, Brazil, Rights MANAUS, caimans, Bela Vista, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, United Nations, U.S, South America, South, Pacific, North America, El Nino, University, Baltimore, Western Europe, Brazil's Amazonas, Manaus, Itacoatiara, Madeira Rivers, Sao Paulo, Sao

☆ China's Xi visits financial hub Shanghai
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the Leaders Retreat at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Nov 29 (Reuters) - China President Xi Jinping visited Shanghai, where he went to several venues and learned about the city's efforts to strengthen its competitiveness as an international financial centre, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. Xi made the trip on Tuesday and Wednesday and he inspected the Shanghai Futures Exchange, an exhibition on Shanghai's sci-tech innovations and a government-subsidized rental housing community, the report said. Vice Premier He Lifeng, Shanghai's Communist party secretary Chen Jining and Mayor Gong Zheng also accompanied his visit. It was his first visit to the city since November 2020 and comes a year after historic street protests against China's zero-COVID policy broke out in Shanghai.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Xi, Cai Qi, Chen Jining, Gong Zheng, Xi's, Premier Li Qiang, Brenda Goh, Bernard Orr, Ella Cao, Ethan Wang, Mark Potter, Louise Heavens, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai Futures Exchange, Communist Party of China Central Committee, CPC, Communist, Shanghai Free, Trade, Disney, L'Oreal, Premier, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, Shanghai, Xinhua, Minhang

Muse hosts the 105-Mile Trade Zone and has the greatest volume of trade with China. It is the fourth border crossing seized by the alliance forces in a month of intense fighting. Social media sites associated with the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army displayed photos and video of what they said were its forces at the border gate. Fighting has been raging in the region since the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, calling themselves the Three Brotherhood Alliance, launched a coordinated offensive on Oct. 27. The Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army has made common cause with Beijing by declaring elimination of the cyberscam operations to be one of its goals.

Persons: Le Kyar, “, ” Le Kyar Win, couldn't, hasn't, Zaw Min Tun, Aung, Suu Kyi, Myanmar's, beseiging Laukkaing Organizations: Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, Associated Press, Muse, Trade, Social, Arakan Army, National Liberation Army, Brotherhood Alliance Locations: BANGKOK, China, Muse, Myanmar, Shan, Maj, Zaw, Arakan, Suu, Laukkaing, Beijing

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday pledged to continue deepening reforms, expand free trade zones and relax market access for foreign investment while seeking to generate excitement around a largely lackluster economy. China's economy expanded at a 4.9% annual pace between July-September, beating analysts’ forecasts of about 4.5%, official data show. The expo being held through Friday is an annual event launched by President Xi Jinping in 2018 with the theme of promoting China’s image as being in favor of free trade. This year’s expo brought Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, currently paying an official visit to China which is largely focused on restoring trade links blocked for years due to economic and political tensions. Despite that, Li said China would continue to “actively pursue the accession to the CPTPP and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement and negotiate for the conclusion of more high standard free trade agreements.”

Persons: Li Qiang, Li, Xi Jinping, ” Li, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, ” Albanese, Yang Hengjun, “ Organizations: 6th China, Sunday, Trans, Pacific Partnership, Digital Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, Shanghai, China, Beijing, Australia, Australian

"There's increasing evidence that the cyclical upturn in the global electronics sector is driving a bottoming-out of global trade and China's trade data is the latest sign," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Reuters GraphicsSouth Korean exports to China, a leading indicator of China's imports, fell at their slowest pace in 11 months in September. Semiconductors make up the bulk of their trade, signalling improving appetite among Chinese manufacturers for components to re-export in finished goods. However, Lv Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs, said at a press conference on Friday that China's trade still faces a complex and severe external environment. Overall, though, total merchandise imports fell at a slower pace, down 6.3%, reflecting a gradual recovery in domestic demand.

Persons: Smart, David Kirton, Xu Tianchen, it's, Julian Evans, Pritchard, Zou Lan, Premier Li Qiang, Li, Robert Carnell, Kevin Yao, Albee Zhang, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Economist Intelligence Unit, Reuters Graphics South, Semiconductors, Administration of Customs, ASEAN, Federal Reserve, China Economics, Capital Economics, People's Bank of, Premier, Bloomberg, ING, Thomson Locations: Qianhai, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, BEIJING, United States, Europe, Stocks, People's Bank of China, Beijing, Asia, Pacific

"There's increasing evidence that the cyclical upturn in the global electronics sector is driving a bottoming-out of global trade and China's trade data is the latest sign," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Reuters GraphicsSouth Korean exports to China, a leading indicator of China's imports, fell at their slowest in 11 months in September. Global trade activities, represented by the Baltic Dry Index, also reported notable growth in September. However, Lv Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs, said at a press conference earlier on Friday that China's trade still faces a complex and severe external environment. China's crude oil imports in September grew nearly 14% from a year earlier, while copper imports fell 5.8% year-on-year.

Persons: Smart, David Kirton, Xu Tianchen, it's, Robert Carnell, Albee Zhang, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Economist Intelligence Unit, Reuters Graphics South, Semiconductors, Global, Administration of Customs, ASEAN, Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, ING, Thomson Locations: Qianhai, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, BEIJING, United States, Europe, Stocks, Beijing, Asia, Pacific

☆ Tesla signs lease to open vast sales and service centre in Shanghai industrial park
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Tesla logo is seen at a groundbreaking ceremony of Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory in Shanghai, China January 7, 2019. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSHANGHAI, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) has signed a leasing contract with Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone Group (600648.SS) to open a massive sales and service centre in an industrial park in the city, its biggest one in China, the government-owned company said. The company, the world's biggest electric car manufacturer, has nearly 300 stores across China. Reuters reported last year that it was considering closing some showrooms in flashy malls in cities like Beijing. Reporting by Zhang Yan and Brenda Goh; editing by Clelia OzielOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tesla, Aly, Elon Musk's, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Clelia Organizations: Tesla Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai Waigaoqiao, Trade Zone Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Xin Park, Shanghai's Pudong, Beijing

☆ Shanghai, Beijing capital controls relaxed as China entices badly needed foreign investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Shanghai’s free trade zone is one of China’s largest and is slightly bigger than the city of Seattle. The policies are aimed at attracting foreign investment to build an open economy, the government said. Thursday’s measures are the latest effort by Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s government to woo foreign capital and stabilize ties with the West. China has made a series of moves recently to stabilize foreign trade and investment, including cutting a tax on stock trading for the first time since 2008. The latest relaxation in capital controls is part of a policy package announced by Beijing and Shanghai, the country’s two biggest cities, to facilitate foreign trade and investment.

Persons: Tesla’s Gigafactory, Stringer, Xi Jinping’s, JP Morgan, Tesla Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, HP, AstraZeneca, Getty, State Administration of Foreign Exchange, American Chamber of Commerce, People’s Bank of, HSBC Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Seattle, BlackRock, AFP, People’s Bank of China, Macao, Taiwan

☆ Australia urges China to remove all trade restrictions after barley tariffs lifted
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Don Farrell Australian trade minister"We always saw the barley application and the suspension of the barley application before the [World Trade Organisation] as a template for dealing with the wine issue," he said. "And of course, we're extremely confident that the 220% tariffs that were applied to Australian wine will be removed." Thawing tensionsIn April, Australia agreed to "temporarily suspend" its World Trade Organization complaint against China for its 2020 decision to impose 80.5% duties on Australian barley trade that was once worth about 1.5 billion Australian dollars ($988.1 million). Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesOn Monday, Farrell said a "range of factors" were at play, with Chinese beer consumers and barley importers "very strongly in favor" of reintroducing Australian barley. Since then, Australia's foreign minister Penny Wong and trade minister Farrell have visited Beijing and have had direct meetings with their direct counterparts.

Persons: Don Farrell, Farrell, Xi Jinping, Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong Organizations: World Trade, World Trade Organization, Chinese Commerce Ministry, Nantong, Trade Zone, Visual China, Australian Locations: Australia, China, Beijing, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, Bali

☆ Focus: Key trade loophole keeps cheap Chinese products flowing to US
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Katherine Masters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that de minimis shipments into the U.S. rose to 685.5 million in 2022, up nearly 67% over 2018. That equals roughly two to three million packages a day, Robert Silvers, Under Secretary for Policy at the Department of Homeland Security, told lawmakers in July. A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers in June introduced bills that would ban de minimis shipments from China upon enactment. Rival U.S. retailers also have grown increasingly concerned about the exemption as Shein and Temu have gained market share. In 2015, Congress raised the cap on de minimis shipments to $800 from $200, making the U.S. threshold one of the highest in the world.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Shein, Peter Pernot, Robert Silvers, minimis, Jason Smith, Temu, Steve Story, They're, Erik Autor, Katherine Masters, Anna Driver Organizations: REUTERS, PDD Holdings, U.S, Reuters, American Apparel and Footwear Association, de, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, Republican, Columbia, Apex Logistics International, UPS, FedEx, Barlow & Company, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Beijing, Mexico, Canada

☆ Russia says regional free trade pact with Iran possible by year-end
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 19 (Reuters) - A free trade zone agreement between Iran, Russia and several countries that cover the vast Eurasian region spreading from the borders of Eastern Europe to Western China is possible by the end of the year, Russia's TASS news agency reported on Monday. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told the state TASS agency in an interview that talks between the Eurasian Economic Union - which comprises Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia - and Iran are in their final stages. The regional agreement with Iran would replace and expand an interim pact that already provides a reduction in customs duties on hundreds of categories of goods. In November 2022, Russia started swapping oil products with Iran and in March, Tehran said it counts on "huge volumes" of both oil and gas swaps with Moscow. Overchuk also told TASS, without providing much detail, that negotiations among the Eurasian Economic Union countries on creating a common gas market continue.

Persons: Alexei Overchuk, Overchuk, Lidia Kelly, Michael Perry Organizations: TASS, Eurasian Economic, Kremlin, Moscow, Thomson Locations: Iran, Russia, Eastern Europe, Western China, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Europe, Moscow, Tehran, Russian, China, Melbourne

☆ Analysis: Struggling China local governments find a fundraising loophole, lifeline in "pearl bonds"
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, May 31 (Reuters) - China's cash-strapped local governments have suddenly rushed to an unusual corner of the debt market in Shanghai where ambiguous rules offer ways to skirt restrictions on onshore borrowing. LGFVs accounted for about two-thirds of the issuers and 60% of the debt sold this year nation-wide, according to Reuters' calculations. Among all the newly-issued FTZ bonds this year, 55, or two-thirds of all 82 issuers, were LGFVs, according to Reuters' calculations. The "pearl" or free trade zone (FTZ) bonds have been around since 2016 but are only now becoming popular as tighter central government supervision on LGFV debts starts to bite. AMBIGUOUS POSITIONING"Pearl bonds" differ from other offshore bonds as trades are cleared by the state-owned China Central Depository & Clearing Co, rather than a global clearing house.

Persons: Shi Xiaoshan, Fitch, Royston Quek, Tim Fang, Pearl, Zhang Hong, Georgina Lee, Tom Westbrook, Kim Coghill Organizations: U.S, Haitong International Securities, China Central Depository, Industrial, Group, Credit Agricole CIB, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, Bank of Communications, Pudong New, Financial, Reform Commission, Reuters, The, Administration of Foreign Exchange, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, HONG KONG, Shanghai, Beijing, U.S . Federal, Hong Kong, China, Zhejiang, Pudong, SINGAPORE

☆ Brazil's Lula proposes common South American currency at UNASUR meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Stefano Pozzebon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva proposed creating a common currency in the region during a meeting with South American heads of state in Brasilia on Tuesday. Talk of creating a common currency there has periodically cropped up since its founding in 1991. Lula also argued that regional development banks like the Andean Development Corporation (CAF), the Bank of the South and Brazil’s development bank BNDES should do more to finance social and economic development in the region. It’s not the first time that regional leaders have floated the idea of creating a common currency in South America. “If we compare the Eurozone, discussions over the common currency started back in the 1950s.

ISTANBUL, March 20 (Reuters) - Turkey halted the transit of Western-sanctioned goods to Russia this month after a year of war in Ukraine and mounting U.S. and European pressure on Ankara for action, a top export official and a diplomat said. "Any goods on that list are blocked from Russia no matter which country they come from," he said. "There was a list of restrictions on re-exports from free trade zones to Russia beginning in March, and an instruction was given," he said. However goods produced in Turkey even with components from other countries can still be shipped to Russia without restrictions, he said. At least $777 million of these products were made by Western firms whose chips have been found in Russian weapons systems.

☆ Candice Beaumont of $1.5 billion family office says 'worst is yet to come' for stocks, real-estate
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Robert Frank | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Stocks and real-estate face the end of a nearly 20-year bull run and many family investors are poorly prepared for the "tough times ahead," said Candice Beaumont, chairman of the Salsano Group family office. Beaumont, who oversees more than $1.5 billion in assets from Miami, said surging interest rates are setting the stage for a prolonged correction in stocks, office real-estate and sectors of private equity. Like many family offices, Beaumont said she is holding "significant" amounts of cash to prepare for possible distressed sales — especially in real-estate. Family offices, like many large investors, are struggling to navigate the new financial landscape of higher interest rates. That's the best example of why family offices need diversification."

☆ China foreign minister seeks stronger economic ties with Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Jan 31 (Reuters) - China's new foreign minister Qin Gang wants to build stronger ties with Saudi Arabia and set up a China-Gulf free trade zone "as soon as possible", according to a ministry statement published late on Monday. In addition, Qin pressed for continuously strengthening the China-Gulf strategic partnership and building "the China-Gulf Free Trade Zone as soon as possible". Prince Faisal said that Saudi Arabia regards relations with China as an important cornerstone of foreign relations, and that Saudi Arabia fully adheres to the one-China principle, according to the statement from the Chinese foreign ministry. Qin, who just wrapped up a tour to several African countries, also had telephone conversations with Dutch Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra and Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafierro, according to state media. Reporting by Liz Lee; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thailand to begin construction of $9 bln aviation city this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BANGKOK, Jan 27 (Reuters) - Thailand will begin construction on the 290-billion baht ($8.82 billion) U-Tapao aviation city early this year, a government spokesperson said on Friday. The project will generate 15,600 additional jobs in the first five years and drive growth in Thailand's aviation industry, Tipanan Sirichana said in statement. The investment plan is slated to turn the Vietnam-war era U-Tapao airport into a new international airport linked up with a budget terminal, Don Muang airport, and the country's main Suvarnabhumi Airport. The project named "Eastern Aviation City" will also include a free trade zone for cargo, an aviation training centre and aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities, a government website shows. ($1 = 32.8800 baht)Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat, Writing by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Kanupriya KapoorOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

BEIJING, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Li Qiang, who oversaw Shanghai's grinding two-month COVID-19 lockdown this year as party boss of China's commercial hub, is on track to become China's next premier after President Xi Jinping unveiled a new governing body packed with loyalists. Current Premier Li Keqiang, a more reform-minded voice, will step down in March after the maximum two terms. "We have not seen Li Qiang introduce any market-oriented reforms," said Lam. In 2015, Li accompanied Xi on a visit to the United States to meet then-President Barack Obama. In Seattle with Xi, Li gave a speech calling for more cooperation between Zhejiang and U.S. firms.

☆ Automakers need more time to meet U.S. minerals requirements for EVs -execs
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Ben Klayman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"We believe it's unfair," he added, pointing out that none of the South Korean automaker's EVs qualify for the credit. Munoz said U.S. legislators should offer companies investing in the United States some type of waiver or a longer transition period. Automakers are trying to figure out how their vehicles will meet the new law's requirements to qualify for EV tax credits. Details of the act are still being ironed out and the U.S. Treasury is currently taking comments on how to implement the rules around the EV tax credits. "We're pretty well positioned," he said at the Reuters conference, citing the Detroit automaker's four U.S. battery plants the company has announced and its raw materials supply deals.

☆ 26 May - Independence Day of Georgia
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-26 | by ( ) www.ipn.md time to read: +6 min

26 May - Independence Day of Georgia2021 marks 103 years of the Democratic Republic of Georgia as well as 30th anniversary of the restoration of independence from the Soviet Union. The new chapter of Georgian history is directly linked to May 26, 1918, when Georgia gained freedom from the Russian Empire and established the First Democratic Republic of Georgia. On 26 May 1918, Georgia’s independence was declared by the First Meeting of the National Council of Georgia. Despite the short period of its existence (1918-1921), the Democratic Republic of Georgia had a significant impact on the development of the Georgian statehood in a long run. Since the start of the Russia’s invasion and occupation of Georgia, international community has witnessed unprecedented ethnic cleansing of Georgians and continues violation of human right.

Organizations: Democratic, First Democratic, National Council of, Georgian, Independence, Independent Georgia, Russian Federation, State, EU, NATO Locations: Georgia, Democratic Republic of Georgia, Soviet Union, Russian, First Democratic Republic of Georgia, National Council of Georgia, Russia, Abkhazia, Tskhinvali, Moldova, Republic of Moldova

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