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☆ A millennial couple moved from Arizona to China to teach at an international school. The cost of living is much cheaper, though the language barrier is challenging.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

His wife, a teacher, had been to China before and realized she could get a visa to teach at an international school there and bring Scott along. The school that hired her also hired Scott, and the two put their lives in the US on hold and relocated to China. His wife got a job as a teacher at an international school, and the two moved to China on her visa. Related storiesBefore moving to China, the couple paid $1,900 a month in rent in Arizona. He said their internet bill was $130 a month, their cellphone bill was $70, and their electricity bill was $100.

Persons: Scott Vleeschouwer, weren't, Scott, Vleeschouwer, it's, they've, China Vleeschouwer, DiDi —, He's, they're Organizations: Service, China's, Business Locations: China, Shenzhen, Maryland, Roanoke , Virginia, San Antonio, Phoenix, Mexico, Beijing, Shanghai, India, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, Kenya, Southeast Asia, Arizona, They've

☆ 6 luxury brands, from Coach to Gucci, that have gotten into the restaurant game
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Here are six luxury brands that have opened restaurants around the world. Gotham/GC Images/Getty ImagesCoachIn March, Coach opened its first-ever restaurant, called The Coach Restaurant, in Jakarta, Indonesia. The brand opened a second location in Tokyo in 2021, in its seven-story flagship in Ginza. Dior also has the Mediterranean restaurant Dior des Lices in Saint Tropez. At its Paris flagship, the French luxury fashion house has La Pâtisserie Dior and the restaurant Monsieur Dior.

Persons: —, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren's, Z, Osmud Rahman, Rahman, what's, Jessica Chastain, Louis Vuitton, Café, Ginza . Louis Vuitton, Arnaud Donckele, Maxime Frédéric, Dior Dior, Dior, Monsieur Dior, Anne, Sophie Pic, Dominique Maître, Gucci Gucci, Gucci Osteria, Massimo Bottura, Tiffany, Daniel Boulud Organizations: Service, Business, Toronto Metropolitan University's School of Fashion, Canadian, Globe, Michigan, Polo, Polo Bar, New, New York, Ginza . Louis, Louis, Dior, Kansai International Airport, Dior des Lices, Paris, Michelin, Penske Media, Getty, Tiffany, Co, South, Harrods Locations: Chicago, millennials, New York City, York, Miami , Virginia, New York, Milan, Paris, Chengdu, China, Midtown, Jakarta, Indonesia, Jakarta's Grand, Osaka, Japan, Tokyo, Ginza ., Saint Tropez, Bangkok, Thailand, Europe, US, Asia, Seoul, Miami, Florence, Italy, Italian, Beverly Hills, The Florence, Tiffany, South Coast, Costa Mesa , California, London

☆ Boeing is under FAA investigation after disclosing some employees didn't perform safety tests on the wings of a 787 but recorded that they did anyway
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The FAA said on Monday that it's probing Boeing amid reports of employees not completing 787 checks. AdvertisementThe Federal Aviation Administration is investigating whether Boeing employees may have falsified plane safety records for the 787 Dreamliner, adding to the manufacturer's woes as it faces regulatory scrutiny. "The FAA is investigating whether Boeing completed the inspections and whether company employees may have falsified aircraft records," the statement said. Several former Boeing employees who became company whistleblowers have raised concerns about 787 Dreamliner production, alleging that the manufacturer was prioritizing profit over quality. AdvertisementAnother ex-employee, John Barnett, slammed 787 production for years and said he observed issues with oxygen mask deployment in the jets, which he felt weren't properly addressed.

Persons: —, Scott Stocker, " Stocker, Stocker, Max, Dave Calhoun, Sam Salehpour, John Barnett, weren't, Barnett, Joshua Dean, Spirit AeroSystems Organizations: FAA, Boeing, Service, Aviation Administration, Business, American Airlines, Spirit Locations: Charleston, South Carolina, Indonesia, Ethiopia

☆ U.S. automakers like GM are rapidly losing ground in China, once an engine for growth
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +13 min

China was once a profit engine for GM, and its top sales market from 2010 to 2023. GM revealed several vehicles last week in China, including plug-in hybrid versions of its Buick GL8 minivan, a best-seller in China, and the Chevrolet Equinox crossover. "We think clearly that market has shifted and the landscape has shifted … with the capability of the Chinese [automakers]," Barra said. But it has had to aggressively cut prices to compete against Chinese automakers such ay BYD, Nio and others. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares earlier this year called Chinese automakers his company's "No.

Persons: Mary Barra, Jeff Kowalsky, we're, Barra, Paul Jacobson, GM wasn't, John Murphy, Michael Dunne, Dunne, Mark Fulthorpe, They'll, they've, Tesla, lockdowns, Elon Musk, Tingshu Wang, Reuters Tesla, Morgan Stanley, Adam Jonas, Musk, Junheng Li, Stellantis, Carlos Tavares, Zhu Jiangming, We've, We're, Ford, John Lawler, Lawler Organizations: General Motors Co, Bloomberg, Getty, General, GM, U.S, Chevrolet, SAIC, GM Pan, Asia Automotive Technology Center, Nurphoto, PSA Groupe, Chrysler, EVs, GM's, Buick, Wuling Motors, Motors, Bank of America Securities, China, Hummer, Durant Guild, America's, Detroit, P Global Mobility, Ford Motor, Tesla, Reuters, EV, Baidu, Warren Capital, Ford, Guangzhou Automobile Group, India & Asia, Lincoln, Lincoln Nautilus Locations: Detroit , Michigan, China, Barra, Beijing, Asia, Shanghai, Russia, India, Thailand, Australia, North America, South Korea, Brazil, Europe, GM's U.S, Qingdao, East China's Shandong, Indonesia, U.S, Nio, Greater China, South America

☆ Travel news: Living the Italian dream just got easier, thanks to a new visa
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In travel news this week: submersible superyachts for billionaires, the megahub airport that could be the world’s busiest, plus new digital nomad visas in Turkey and Italy. New digital nomad visasPacking up your life and making a fresh start abroad is a dream for many, and new visa programs and tax incentives are making it a bit more achievable. Portugal, Spain and Costa Rica are some of the countries with popular digital nomad visas, and now there are two new options for remote workers. Turkey’s vibrant cities and glorious coastline can be enjoyed with its new digital nomad visa which is open to citizens of 36 countries, including the United States, Canada, France and the United Kingdom, ages 21 to 55. Italy’s long-anticipated digital nomad visa is also now accepting applications.

Persons: you’re, Hopper, he’d, “ It’s, ”, Latronico, there’d Organizations: CNN, European Union, European Economic, KSL, Mount Fuji Locations: Turkey, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Costa Rica, United States, Canada, France, United Kingdom, Italian, Italy London, Texas, Costa, Los Angeles, Basilicata, Austrian, Utah, Indonesia, Caicos, Mull, Kintyre, Miami

Great Barrier Reef, Australia CNN —As the early-morning sun rises over the Great Barrier Reef, its light pierces the turquoise waters of a shallow lagoon, bringing more than a dozen turtles to life. CNN witnessed bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in mid-February, on five different reefs spanning the northern and southern parts of the 2,300-kilometer (1,400-mile) ecosystem. “It’s a die-off,” said Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, a climate scientist at the University of Queensland in Australia and chief scientist at The Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Our destination is Lady Elliot Island, a remote coral cay perched on top of the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef. — Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort Guano miners once stripped Lady Elliot Island of its topsoil.

Persons: Elliot Island, ”, Kate Quigley, “ We’re, Ove Hoegh, I’m, Guldberg, ‘, Elliot, Peter Gash, “, ” Gash, Lady Elliot, ” Peter Gash, CNN Gash, Derek Manzello, Peter Harrison, “ We’ve, ” Harrison, ” David Ritter, ” Ritter, David Wachenfeld Organizations: Australia CNN —, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, CNN, Minderoo, University of Queensland, Eco, Reef Watch, Southern Cross University, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Greenpeace, Australia CNN Scientists, AIMS Locations: Australia, El, Brisbane, Queensland, Red Sea, Indonesia, Seychelles, Caribbean, Florida, “, New South Wales, Greenpeace Australia, Briggs, Elliot Island

☆ New mission could reveal secrets of the moon’s ‘hidden side’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

In one lunar region, Japan’s “Moon Sniper” mission has beaten the odds and survived three long, frigid lunar nights since its sideways landing on January 19. The Tianwen-2 mission will visit the space rock later this decade. But first, China has set its sights on returning to the moon’s “hidden side.”An illustration depicts the far side of the moon, with Earth behind it. Since the Chang’e 4 mission in 2019, China remains the only country to have landed on the moon’s far side, sometimes called the “dark side” of the moon. Scientists hope that returning samples from the far side could solve some of the biggest remaining lunar mysteries, including the moon’s true origin.

Persons: Graziano Ranocchia, Ranocchia, Plato, Emma Pomeroy, “ She’s, ”, Pomeroy, Armas Rakus, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Kevin Bacon, Ashley Strickland, Katie Hunt Organizations: CNN, Engineers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NASA, Apollo, Platonic Academy of Athens, University of Pisa, Netflix, University of Cambridge, Norton Disney, Archaeology Group, Roman, International Space, CNN Space, Science Locations: China, Kurdistan, Gunung Leuser, South Aceh, Indonesia, Morocco

☆ Cairo is bursting at the seams, so Egypt is building a new $58 billion capital 30 miles away. Take a look.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

The city, which already holds Africa's tallest building, is expected to cost $58 billion to build. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementLike Indonesia, Egypt is building a new capital — although in this case, it's responding to the challenge of overcrowding. The existing capital, Cairo, is home to about 22 million people, making it one of the world's most densely populated metropolitan areas. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, New, Business Locations: Cairo, Indonesia, Egypt

☆ Indonesia volcanic eruptions: Government to permanently relocate almost 10,000 residents
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —The Indonesian government will permanently relocate almost 10,000 residents after a series of explosive eruptions of the Ruang volcano has raised concerns about the dangers of residing on the island in future, a minister said on Friday. “As instructed by President Joko Widodo, we will build houses that meet disaster-standards,” he said, adding that the site was located about 200 km (125 miles) from Ruang island. A view of Mount Ruang volcano on Wednesday, the day after it erupted three times, forcing authorities to issue evacuation orders for 12,000 locals. The volcano had not erupted on Friday but Manado’s Sam Ratulangi Airport remained closed until the evening due to the spread of volcanic ash. Indonesia straddles the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire,” an area of high seismic activity where multiple tectonic plates meet.

Persons: Muhadjir Effendy, “, Joko Widodo, ”, Ronny Adolof, Ruang, Sam Ratulangi Organizations: Reuters, Human Development, Getty Locations: Indonesian, North Sulawesi, Manado, Ruang, AFP, Manado . Roads, Tagulandang, Indonesia

☆ Scientists witnessed an orangutan treating his wounds with medicinal plants, showing human-like behavior
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Ellyn Lapointe | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They believe it was caused by a neighboring male in what's known as a "long call battle," Laumer told Business Insider. Adult male orangutans like Rakus shout out "long calls" to attract females and let rival males know that this is their territory. Rakus may have unintentionally touched his leaf-mush-covered finger to his face, and instantly felt the pain-relieving properties of the plant, Laumer explained. But, because this is the first time this behavior has ever been observed in orangutans, scientists can't say for sure why or how Rakus did it. More alike than we are differentRakus's behavior reminds us a lot of our own behavior with medicinal plants, which could help us understand where our knack for medicinal treatment first evolved.

Persons: —, Caroline Schuppli, Isabelle Laumer, Laumer, Rakus, liana, Akar, Saidi, seng chye teo Organizations: Service, Institute of Animal, Business, Suaq Locations: Gunung Leuser, South Aceh, Indonesia, Gabon

☆ A Boeing 737 was transformed into a luxury villa in Bali. Take a look inside.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Samantha Grindell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Geometrium Studio converted a Boeing 737 aircraft into a luxury villa in Bali. Private Jet Villa has two bedrooms, a patio on a wing, and a hammock attached to a window. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The design team at Geometrium Studio turned a former Boeing 737 plane into a rental property, which now has all the trappings of a high-end hotel. It's called the Private Jet Villa, a luxury accomodation in Bali, Indonesia.

Persons: Jet Villa, —, It's Organizations: Boeing, Service, Michelin, Geometrium, Business Locations: Bali ., Bali , Indonesia

☆ Opinion: I’ve seen too many young journalists pay the ultimate price. It’s them I’ll be thinking of today
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Opinion Jon Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

When a journalist is killed, it is not just their voice that is silenced: Press freedom is your freedom. Over 30 years ago, the United Nations recognized May 3 as World Press Freedom Day: a global reminder of the importance of press freedom and an opportunity to assess its health around the world. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) found that at least 100 journalists and media workers have been killed since we last marked World Press Freedom Day. Tragically, on this World Press Freedom Day, our work is needed more than ever. On this World Press Freedom Day, the fallen who gave their lives for the truth should serve as a reminder as to why press freedom is really your freedom.

Persons: Jon Williams, Rory Peck, Read, Jon Williams Rory Peck, Bayeux, ”, Simon Cumbers, Simon, Al, Louise, Cumbers, Johnny Green, Thomas Jefferson, ” Jefferson, it’s, Dom Phillips, Phillips, Aldeia Maloca, Bruno Pereira, Joao Laet, don’t Organizations: Rory Peck Trust, BBC News, ABC News, CNN, 1st Cavalry, Canadian, BBC, The Washington Post, United Nations, Protect Journalists, Getty, United, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Bayeux, Northern France, France, Omaha Beach, Europe, Nazi Germany, Normandy, Paris, “, Saudi Arabia, Al Qaeda, Saudi, Riyadh, Ireland, London, South, Indonesia, Turkey, India, Madrid, Irish, Kabul, Afghanistan, Gaza, Ukraine, Honduras, Sudan, Philippines, Brazil, Aldeia, Roraima, AFP, Britain, United States, Israel, Egypt

☆ Orangutan observed treating wound using medicinal plant in world first
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Jack Guy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Scientists working in Indonesia have observed an orangutan intentionally treating a wound on their face with a medicinal plant, the first time this behavior has been documented. ArmasThe team believe that Rakus intentionally used the plant to treat his wound as he applied it repeatedly in a process that researchers say took several minutes. “This possibly innovative behavior presents the first report of active wound management with a biological active plant in a great ape species,” she said. As for how Rakus would have learned how to treat a wound, one possibility is “accidental individual innovation,” said Laumer. Another possible explanation is that Rakus learned how to treat a wound from other orangutans in the area where he was born, said Laumer.

Persons: Kuning, Rakus, Isabelle Laumer, Armas, Laumer, ” Organizations: CNN, Max Planck, Animal Locations: Indonesia, Gunung Leuser

☆ Mount Ruang: Indonesia volcano eruptions force thousands to evacuate as airlines cancel flights
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Mount Ruang, a 725-meter (2,400-foot) volcano on Ruang Island, North Sulawesi, has been erupting in spectacular fashion on and off since mid-April, posing a growing threat to those living nearby and to air traffic in the region. Nearby schools have also been shut to protect children from volcanic ash, BNPB said. Video Ad Feedback Indonesia's Mount Ruang volcano continues to shoot volcanic ash 02:29 - Source: CNNMount Ruang is a stratovolcano, which are typically conical and relatively steep-sided due to the formation of viscous, sticky lava that does not flow easily. Volcanic ash from Ruang has reached eastern Malaysian airspace, Malaysia’s meteorological department said. Mount Ruang previously erupted in April, disrupting more than 200 flights on April 18 and 19 and affecting tens of thousands of passengers, officials said.

Persons: Mount Ruang, Ruang, Sam, BNPB, ”, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah Organizations: CNN, Reuters, National Disaster Management Authority, International, Met Malaysia, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah Regional, Air Asia, “, Malaysia Airlines Locations: Mount, North Sulawesi, Manado, Ruang, Malaysian, Malaysia, Indonesia, Asia

☆ We're raising our price target on Apple after its big earnings beat and raise
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Earnings per share rose 1% to $1.53, a March quarter record, and exceeded the LSEG consensus estimate of $1.50. This resulted in stronger-than-expected free cash flow, which is more important than operating cash flow because it is cash Apple can ultimately return to shareholders via buybacks and dividends. During the reported quarter, Apple paid over $27 billion to shareholders, including $3.7 billion in dividends and equivalents and another $23.5 billion via the repurchase of 130 million shares. Quarterly results Apple's services sales notched another record, which offset a slight miss in product sales and led to beats on gross and operating income. iPad sales are expected to gain double digits year over year, much better than the 5.9% expected on Wall Street.

Persons: Tim Cook, Cook, we're, Apple, Luca Maestri, Maestri, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Apple, Management, MacBook, MacBook Air, Apple Watch, Fortune, Apple Vision, KLM Airlines, CNBC, Apple Inc, Visual China, Getty Locations: China, Greater China, America, East, Canada, India, Spain, Turkey, Indonesia, WWDC, U.S, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Shanghai

☆ First Tim Cook, now Satya Nadella is also wooing Indonesia — the world's 4th most populous nation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Microsoft plans to invest $1.7 billion in cloud and AI infrastructure in Indonesia. CEO Satya Nadella visited Indonesia this week The investment is the largest in Microsoft's 29-year history in the country. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. This week the company said it would invest $1.7 billion over the next four years in cloud and AI infrastructure in Indonesia. "This new generation of AI is reshaping how people live and work everywhere, including in Indonesia," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said on Tuesday.

Persons: Satya Nadella, Tim Cook, — Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Business Locations: Indonesia

☆ Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet are doubling down on AI for the cloud — and it seems to be paying off
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Over the last two weeks, major cloud providers Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet have reported quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street's expectations. Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet's shares also climbed after earnings were reported, evidence that doubling down on their AI strategies seems to be paying off. Davidson Companies analyst Gil Luria told Business Insider regarding Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet. Microsoft Cloud generated $35.1 billion in revenue — up 23% year-over-year — that CEO Satya Nadella credits partly to investments into AI tools like Microsoft Copilot. Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet didn't immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider before publication.

Persons: —, D.A, Gil Luria, Claude, Andy Jassy, Satya Nadella, Nadella, Ruth Porat, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Luria, doesn't, Jassy, Sundar Pichai Organizations: Service, Microsoft, Business, Davidson Companies, Amazon, Web Services, Google Cloud, Google, Gemini, Research, Capital Locations: Indonesia

☆ 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

☆ Covid caused a ‘massive spike’ in yacht sales — now some of those boats are back on the market
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Poonam Binayak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The pandemic spurred a "massive spike" in yacht sales, said Richard Allen, chief operating officer of the Hong Kong-based yachting company Simpson Marine. "We've seen a lot of those people, that had their boats for two years, sort of now wanting to travel," he told CNBC. Prices in the pre-owned marketEnthusiasm for yachting remains high, even if sales have fallen since 2021, said Casani. Casani and Allen, who spoke to CNBC on April 26 while attending the second annual Singapore Yachting Festival, agreed that the continent's yachting market is growing. "We need to do a lot of lobbying with governments to make it easier to import boats," said Allen.

Persons: Richard Allen, we've, Paolo Casani, Allen —, Allen, Casani Organizations: Simpson, CNBC, Singapore Yachting Festival, International Council of Marine Industry Associations Locations: Hong Kong, Monaco, Asia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam

☆ One of the world's biggest cities is sinking, so they're spending $35 billion to build a new capital from scratch. Take a look at Nusantara.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesia plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to the new city of Nusantara. The new city will cost $35 billion and won't be finished until 2045. The climate crisis has prompted the move, with Jakarta at risk of sinking due to rising sea levels. Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest on the culture & business of sustainability — delivered weekly to your inbox. The Indonesian government plans to move the capital to Nusantara, a new city being built on the eastern coast of Borneo, about 870 miles north of Jakarta.

Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Indonesia, Jakarta, Nusantara, Java, Indonesian, Borneo

They call it an encirclement of their nation and say the United States is trying to constrain its main economic and military rival. The United States also has a new security agreement with Papua New Guinea. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden signed a $95-billion supplemental military aid and spending bill that Congress had just passed and that includes $8.1 billion to counter China in the region. In addition, the United States continues to send weapons and Green Beret trainers to Taiwan, a de facto independent island and the biggest flashpoint between the United States and China. A swarm of Chinese militia and Coast Guard vessels chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last year.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Biden, Antony J, Blinken, Yuri Gripas, ” Ely Ratner, Xi, ” Kurt Campbell, Joseph Wu, ”, “, Samuel J, Paparo Jr, Mr, Paparo, Carl Vinson, Richard A, Brooks, Trump, Lloyd J, Austin III, Chen Jining, Jes Aznar, David H, Berger, Obama, Tony Mcdonough, United States —, Admiral Paparo, China’s “ revanchist, we’re Organizations: Australian, U.S, Marines, United, Pentagon, Corps, Mr, White House, White, The New York Times, American, Marine, Green, China’s, Liberation Army, Seoul SOUTH, Pacific Command, People’s Liberation Army, Agence France, Nuclear Forces Treaty, Defense, Communist Party, Tokyo Okinawa, U.S . Navy, Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army, Philippines Luzon Partner, Australia Darwin Potential, NATO, Tomahawk Locations: Beijing, United States, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Shanghai, South China, South Korea, Guam, Washington, Manila, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Palau, West Papua, Seoul, Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong, GUAM philippines MALAYSIA INDONESIA JAPAN CHINA TAIWAN, philippines GUAM, INDONESIA Seoul, GUAM philippines, MALAYSIA INDONESIA, Philippine, Moscow, Tokyo, Ryukyu Islands, South, Philippines Luzon, Luzon, Spratly, Australia, Canberra, Singapore, Darwin, Australia’s, . North Carolina, Virginia, Perth, United Kingdom, Navy’s, America

☆ Inflation, operating costs had the biggest impact on Asian firms last year, survey shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Higher costs had the biggest impact on Asian businesses in 2023, even as they continued to grapple with a global economic slowdown and rising borrowing costs, according to a survey by UOB. Of those polled, 32% said they were impacted by high inflation, another 32% said they faced increased operating costs, while 24% said rising labor costs hurt their business, UOB's 2024 Business Outlook Survey reported. Still, about four out of 10 companies said they felt "very positive" about the business environment in 2023, while 32% said they were "somewhat positive," the survey showed. Some 35% of the companies polled said the business environment in 2023 declined compared to the previous year. To combat future headwinds, 30% of the companies said reducing business costs will be their top priority in the next one to three years.

Organizations: UOB, Survey Locations: Southeast Asia, Greater China, China , Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia

☆ America's Plastic Catastrophe: Most Waste Can't Be Recycled
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Taylor Dorrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

It's an urgent question — what do we do with the 40 million tons of plastic waste we produce annually? One year of plastic waste is roughly enough to smother the entirety of Manhattan a meter deep, and it has to go somewhere. For decades, America sent its plastic waste to countries like China and Indonesia. Unlike aluminum or glass, the plastic that can be recycled rarely results in replacing one recycled water bottle with another. By downcycling a tiny portion of plastic waste, companies can genuinely reuse a relatively small share of plastic, while convincing consumers that the industry has created a circular economy of infinitely recycled plastic.

Persons: Kartik Byma, they're, Tim Miller, Susan Freinkel, Nestlé, Lea Suzuki, Larry Thomas, what's, Taylor Dorrell, Biden, that's, Taylor, Miller, Kelley Sayre, Vicky Abou, it's, Mike Bloomberg, Bloomberg, Espen Barth Eide, Norway's, Abou, It's Organizations: Getty, America, Chevron, Exxon, Paper Stock, Plastics Industry Association, Organization for Economic Co, San Francisco, NPR, International Energy Agency, ExxonMobil, Alterra Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Royal Paper Stock, Akron, Buckeye Environmental, Business, Eastman Chemical Co, American Chemistry Council, New, Beyond Plastics, UN, Buckeye Environmental Network Locations: America, Manhattan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, AFP, Ohio, American, San Francisco, Akron, Taylor Dorrell Akron , Ohio, United States, Oregon, New York City

☆ Indonesia's central bank delivers surprise rate hike to support rupiah
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesia's central bank delivered a surprise rate hike on Wednesday, stepping up efforts to support the rupiah currency which has fallen to four-year lows on rising risk aversion and a delay in the expected timing of any U.S. policy easing. Bank Indonesia (BI) raised the 7-day reverse repurchase rate, opens new tab by 25 basis points (bps) to 6.25%, its highest since the bank made the instrument its main policy rate in 2016. BI also increased the overnight deposit facility, opens new tab and lending facility rates, opens new tab by the same amount to 5.50% and 7.00%, respectively. "This hike in interest rates is to strengthen the stability of the rupiah exchange rate against the risk of a worsening global risks," BI Governor Perry Warjiyo told a briefing where the rate hike was announced. The rupiah extended gains after the announcement and was up 0.45% against the dollar at 0736 GMT at 16,140.

Persons: Perry Warjiyo Organizations: Bank Indonesia, Reuters, BI

☆ Indonesia volcano: How Ruang eruption could impact weather and climate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And the day-to-day weather conditions near Mount Ruang – things like temperature, clouds and rain – probably won’t be influenced by the volcano for long, Huey told CNN. Mount Ruang, a 2,400-foot (725-meter) stratovolcano on Ruang Island in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, has erupted at least seven times since Tuesday night, the country’s volcanology agency said. Mount Ruang spewed lava and and ash on April 17, seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi. Once in the stratosphere, sulfur dioxide and water vapor combine to form sulfuric acid aerosols that create a layer of hazy droplets, according to UCAR. In 1991, Mount Pinatubo – another stratovolcano – erupted in the Philippines and produced the largest sulfur dioxide cloud ever measured.

Persons: Greg Huey, Huey, Ruang, ” Huey, Mount Pinatubo, wouldn’t, CNN’s Kathleen Magramo Organizations: CNN, Georgia Tech’s School of, Atmospheric Sciences, NASA, Volcanology, Getty, United States Geological Survey Locations: Ruang, Indonesia, Mount, Indonesia’s North Sulawesi, Sitaro, North Sulawesi, Philippines

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