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TOKYO/BEIJING, April 2 (Reuters) - Japan's foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said he called on Beijing for the early release of a detained Japanese national during a meeting with Chinese diplomat Qin Gang held on Sunday. The visit comes a week after a spokesperson of Astellas Pharma Inc (4503.T) said its employee was detained in China for unknown reasons. Although Japan and China have their differences, both agreed to restart trilateral talks with South Korea, Hayashi said, calling the agreement "an important achievement" from his meeting with Qin. "We agreed to continue communicating closely on various levels, including the foreign ministerial and leadership levels," Hayashi added. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit last November, marking the first leadership-level talks in almost three years.

☆ Who is Evan Gershkovich, the American reporter arrested in Russia?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich appears in an undated handout image taken in an unknown location. The Wall Street Journal/Handout via REUTERSSummary Gershkovich has been reporting on Russia for six yearsFluent Russian speaker joined Wall Street Journal in early 2022His reports examined fallout of Russia's Ukraine campaignDetained for alleged espionage on trip to YekaterinburgMarch 30 (Reuters) - Evan Gershkovich, a correspondent for the Wall Street Journal arrested in Russia on espionage charges, is a 31-year-old American who has reported on Russia for various outlets for six years. "He is a brave, committed, professional journalist who traveled to Russia to report on stories of import and interest." Russia announced the start of its "special military operation" in February 2022, just as Gershkovich was in London, about to return to Russia to join the Journal's Moscow bureau. "Evan Gershkovich is a highly respected, excellent journalist, detained by Russia for doing his job," the Washington Post's Moscow bureau chief Robyn Dixon said.

☆ Xi and Putin share a deep resentment of the US, but China's new dominance over Russia could eventually shatter the alliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia and China have formed closer ties to counter the power of the US. But China is the dominant one in the partnership, with Russia weakened by the Ukraine war. At last week's summit, Xi proposed a peace plan in Ukraine that critics said mainly reflected Russian demands. Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. But despite such tensions, the Russia-China alliance will likely persist because of the deep resentment Putin and Xi share over the US' status as the world's top superpower.

☆ Pressured to Cut Plastic Use, McDonald’s Aims to See What Works and What Doesn’t
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

The McDonald’s report will draw on those experiences and others to assess the opportunities, risks and environmental impact of reusables, a McDonald’s spokeswoman said. PREVIEWMcDonald’s commissioned an industrywide study on reusable packaging in Europe that published in February. Write to Dieter Holger at dieter.holger@wsj.comCorrections & AmplificationsMcDonald’s Corp. doesn’t put individual burgers in reusable containers for meals served in its French outlets. Separately, in Germany, reusable containers are available on request for drinks and ice cream. An earlier version of this article didn’t specify which items were available in reusable packaging in Germany.

☆ McDonald’s to Study Pros and Cons of Reusable Packaging
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

The McDonald’s report will draw on those experiences and others to assess the opportunities, risks and environmental impact of reusables, a McDonald’s spokeswoman said. PREVIEWMcDonald’s commissioned an industrywide study on reusable packaging in Europe that published in February. “Reusable packaging is one potential solution when applied correctly, but sustainable packaging is complicated,” said John Blake, senior director analyst at Gartner Inc.’s supply chain practice, who wasn’t involved in the report. Although no large-scale reusable packaging laws exist in the U.S., a handful of states including California and Colorado have placed producer-paid fees on disposable packaging to boost recycling rates. “We continue to learn from our reusable packaging system pilots and are focused on implementation of our policy to address this important issue,” a Yum spokesman said.

Police sprayed protesters with water cannons on a highway in Tel Aviv. ReutersCivil unrest broke out in Israel’s major cities as protesters opposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to overhaul the country’s judicial system. Tel Aviv: Protesters block highway and clash with policeThousands of protesters blocked Ayalon highway, the main highway in Tel Aviv, for several hours overnight, lighting bonfires along the road until the early hours of Monday morning. Yehuda Bergstein/EPA, via ShutterstockIsraeli police cleared the highway overnight, but protesters blocked it again on Monday as widespread protests continued. Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York TimesProtesters scuffled with police outside the parliament as the rally grew on Monday.

☆ The Science Behind Controversial New Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

E35The Science Behind Cold Plunges, Explained in Four Minutes Cold plunges and ice baths are all the rage, but does research actually back up claims that they have health benefits? WSJ’s Daniela Hernandez explains what’s known (and what’s not) about the science of cold exposure. Photo: Kerem Yucel/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

☆ Why Fungi Are the Next Big Global Health Threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Daniela Hernandez | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Summary Ruling has implications for oil, mineralsNon-EU Norway has sovereignty over Svalbard Arctic islandsState can sue Norway -expertOSLO, March 20 (Reuters) - Norway's Supreme Court ruled on Monday that EU ships cannot fish for snow crab off the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic in a case also deciding who has the right to explore for oil and minerals in the region. At stake was whether EU vessels had the right to catch snow crab, whose meat is considered a delicacy by gourmets in Japan and South Korea, in the same way as Norwegian vessels did. But what is valid for the snow crab, a sedentary species living on the seabed, is also valid for oil, minerals and other resources, the Supreme Court ruled in a 2019 case. "The company does not have the right to catch snow crab on the continental shelf outside Svalbard," the Supreme Court said in its verdict, which was unanimous. "It is a domestic court decision, (so) an international court can also hear this question at a later stage."

☆ China warns against travelling out of Central African Republic capital after killings
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, March 20 (Reuters) - China's embassy in the Central African Republic has urged its citizens to avoid travelling outside the capital, Bangui, after a report that nine Chinese nationals were killed in an attack by militants at a gold mine outside the city. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for "severe punishment" of the perpetrators in accordance to the law, and said the safety of Chinese citizens must be ensured, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday. The security risk level in the Central African Republic, apart from the capital, was "red", or very high, the Chinese foreign ministry added. The ministry said it would work with governments and guide Chinese embassies and consulates to take further effective measures to fully safeguard Chinese citizens and enterprises in Africa. There have been several attacks on Chinese nationals abroad in recent months, prompting embassies to issue warnings and safety alerts and conduct evacuations.

☆ Courts Side With Big Companies Including Amazon and Experian in Privacy Appeals
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Catherine Stupp | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

Big companies are winning appeals to overturn regulatory decisions that allege they violated European privacy rules, potentially carving out a path for more businesses to challenge similar sanctions. Courts in the U.K., Spain, Italy and Germany sided with companies including Experian PLC, Amazon. The court rejected the regulator’s argument that collecting personal data to create profiles for marketing purposes intrudes on privacy rights. The court said the regulator had “fundamentally misunderstood” the implications of how Experian used data, and that there were no negative effects for individuals. These recent wins will likely embolden other companies to appeal GDPR violations, said Mr. Machin of Ropes & Gray.

☆ EU Draft Law Sets Out Moves to Secure Critical Energy Transition Materials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

According to draft legislation seen by The Wall Street Journal, the Critical Raw Materials Act aims to set standards and promote policy designed to ensure Europe has the metals and minerals it deems necessary for its energy transition and defense and energy security. The Critical Raw Materials Act will also make it easier to mine and process the materials within the bloc; establish a European Critical Minerals Board; identify strategic projects to mine, process and recycle the materials; and work to ensure those projects have quick permitting and sufficient funding. It also said the EU should be able to extract 10% and process 40% of its strategic raw material needs while also expanding recycling capacity so that 15% of consumption can come from secondary sources by 2030. Other countries such as Japan have put in place similar plans to secure raw materials. Raw materials projects could also be labeled as being in the public interest or as strategic, which could further streamline funding.

☆ EU Draft Law Sets Out Moves to Secure Supply of Critical Energy Transition Materials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

According to draft legislation seen by The Wall Street Journal, the Critical Raw Materials Act aims to set standards and promote policy designed to ensure Europe has the metals and minerals it deems necessary for its energy transition and defense and energy security. The Critical Raw Materials Act will also make it easier to mine and process the materials within the bloc; establish a European Critical Minerals Board; identify strategic projects to mine, process and recycle the materials; and work to ensure those projects have quick permitting and sufficient funding. The purchasing system would negotiate with global sellers but will be structured to comply with EU competition law. Other countries such as Japan have put in place similar plans to secure raw materials. Raw materials projects could also be labeled as being in the public interest or as strategic, which could further streamline funding.

☆ Paul Ryan Says Even MAGA Diehards Believe Trump Can’t Win in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( David Marchese | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +23 min

Photo illustration by Bráulio Amado Talk Paul Ryan Says Even MAGA Diehards Believe Trump Can’t Win in 2024For a good long time during the George W. Bush and Obama presidencies, Paul Ryan was considered one of the intellectual leaders and shining stars of the Republican Party. Get out of this race.” But I don’t think Trump is going to get the nomination. I don’t think we want the lack of liberty that comes with government-made equality. Where I part company with the left is I don’t believe in socialism. I don’t believe in equality of outcomes.

☆ American-made cheese can still be called 'gruyère,' a court ruled, and cheese makers in France and Switzerland aren't happy
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

"Gruyère" can be used for cheeses produced in the United States, an appeals court ruled. It's a victory for dairy groups in the US, but cheese-makers in Switzerland and France aren't happy. Gruyère is a firm yellow cheese named after the town of Gruyères in Fribourg, Switzerland, where it originated. "Cheese consumers in the United States understand 'gruyère' to refer to a type of cheese, which renders the term generic." Krysta Harden, president of the US Dairy Export Council, called the ruling an "outstanding result for manufacturers and farmers here in the United States," per Reuters.

☆ U.S. Importers Seize on New Shipping Rules to Fight Late Fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Paul Berger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

U.S. importers are fighting millions of dollars in fees imposed by the world’s largest ocean carriers with the help of a new federal law and a newly emboldened regulator. He said his company, Lion Energy LLC, which imports about 800 containers a year, felt it had little power to dispute the charges. Now, Mr. Frey and hundreds of shippers like him are turning to rules set out in the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which passed Congress in June. The new shipping law endorsed an FMC rule published in 2020. But shippers are still able to challenge fees that predate the law under earlier FMC rules.

☆ The celebrities that are still defending Putin — and those that have turned their backs on him
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Another former showbiz pal, French actor Gérard Depardieu, has since criticized Putin for his "crazy excesses" and was critical of the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) greets French actor Gérard Depardieu (L) in Sochi, Russia, on January 5, 2013. Mikhail Klimentyev/RIA Novosti/Pool via ReutersIn 2013, Putin signed an executive order making Depardieu a Russian citizen. The actor wanted to become a Russian citizen to save taxes in France, The New York Times reported. In a letter to Russian state television at the time, he said: "I love your president, Vladimir Putin, very much and it's mutual," according to The Times.

[1/3] Greta Thunberg is carried away as activits demonstrate outside the Ministry of Finance entrance and several other ministries in protest that the wind turbines at Fosen, which the Supreme Court has said are illegal, have not been demolished. Alf Simensen/NTB/via REUTERSOSLO, March 1 (Reuters) - Norwegian police on Wednesday briefly detained environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg during a demonstration in Oslo, removing her and other activists from the finance ministry. The campaigners are demanding the removal of wind turbines from reindeer pastures on Sami Indigenous land in central Norway. Thunberg, holding a red, blue, yellow and green Sami flag, was lifted and carried away by police officers while hundreds of demonstrators chanted slogans. Activists on Tuesday said they had raised close to $100,000 in recent days to help individual demonstrators pay police fines.

CNN —A pre-Hispanic mummy, estimated to be between 600 to 800 years old, was discovered in a food delivery cooler bag by Peruvian police over the weekend. Police told CNN that the mummified remains were found with three men who were drinking in a deserted park in the Peruvian city of Puno on Saturday afternoon. “A 26-year-old man had a delivery bag labeled ‘Pedidos Ya.’ Inside they found a mummy,” senior agent Marco Antonio Ortega, who is a spokesperson for Puno region’s National Police, told CNN. Images of the discovery showed the mummy in a fetal position inside the red delivery bag. Images of the discovery showed the mummy in a fetal position inside the red delivery bag.

A map of Turkey showing the city of Kahramanmaras in relation to the epicenter of the earthquake. A set of before and after images that show how a block in the downtown Kahramanmaras area was turned to rubble by the earthquake. For days, rescue teams and family members have been working through rubble of collapsed buildings throughout the city. Residential buildings Before Residential buildings After Google Maps Street View from November 2022; Adem Altan/Agence France-Presse, via Getty Images from Feb. 7, 2023On many blocks, only a few buildings remain. A set of before and after images that show another block of residential buildings destroyed, leaving the Clarion Hotel Kahramanmaras standing alone.

☆ 19,000 dead: 'Disaster of the Century' as thousands are still missing in Turkey and Syria's horrific earthquake
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey has killed 19,000 people with thousands more still missing. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We can call it the disaster of the century." And thousands are reportedly still missing under rubble and collapsed buildings. In a brief press conference Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "We can call it the disaster of the century" and said the devastation spans 10 provinces. Rescuers and civilians look for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings in Kahramanmaras, Turkey.

☆ Relief Efforts in Turkey, Syria Face Logistical Hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Paul Berger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Aid groups and logistics operators worldwide are ramping up urgent relief efforts for victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria but say moving supplies through the region’s devastated infrastructure will be a major challenge. Mr. Hovey said Direct Relief plans to fly supplies to airports at Istanbul in northwestern Turkey and at Adana in southeastern Turkey, close to the disaster zone. Many U.S. charities without aid operations in Syria and Turkey are now planning relief efforts, said Kathy Fulton, executive director of American Logistics Aid Network, which coordinates aid efforts among logistics operators following disasters. Aid groups are mostly focused on getting relief to Turkey and Syria by plane. He said the demand for air charters is also starting to make it harder and more expensive to secure space for aid and relief efforts in other parts of the world, such as Ukraine.

☆ Carbon-Credit Raters Aim to Assess a Notoriously Opaque Market
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Shane Shifflett | Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +7 min

Carbon-credit-rating firms aim to give buyers confidence in assessing the unregulated market for carbon offsets, voluntary credits that can help companies fulfill their decarbonization promises. Traders, online marketplaces and corporate sustainability departments are typical customers for carbon-credit ratings, but companies increasingly encounter the scores through intermediaries selling the offsets. Sylvera Ltd., one of the carbon-credit raters, said that less than a third of projects aimed at preventing deforestation are high quality. The market for voluntary carbon credits topped $2 billion in 2022, according to publisher and researcher Ecosystem Marketplace. BeZero has fully rated around 280 projects, Calyx around 260, Sylvera around 115 and Renoster has fully reviewed nine.

☆ Publicis Reports 9.4% Organic Revenue Growth for Fourth Quarter
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Megan Graham | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Publicis Groupe SA said Thursday that organic revenue grew 9.4% in the fourth quarter as its data and technology services continued to capture a shift in client spending. The growth in the quarter ending Dec. 31 brought Publicis’s full-year 2022 organic revenue growth to 10.1%. The results beat the average analyst estimate of 5.3% growth for the quarter and 8.8% for the year, according to FactSet. Publicis said it expects organic revenue growth of 3% to 5% in 2023. Organic growth refers to the change in net revenue excluding the impacts of acquisitions, disposals and currency fluctuations.

☆ France may be the next country to send its tanks to Ukraine, but officials worry they could be 'a poisoned chalice'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

France is also considering sending its Leclerc tanks to Ukraine. A French Leclerc tank during an exercise in Germany in November 2019. Some claim it performed better than the M1 Abrams tanks that Saudi Arabia has used in that conflict. The Leclerc's lighter weight may make it more maneuverable than the other Western tanks headed to Ukraine. But other than Rafale jet fighters, the most powerful weapon — symbolically and militarily — that France could provide would be Leclerc tanks.

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