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WASHINGTON/PARIS, May 17 (Reuters) - The longest shadows at the Group of Seven (G7) leaders' summit this week will be cast by two countries that weren't even invited to the Hiroshima gathering: China and Russia. The G7 countries -- the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Italy -- are all closely tied economically to China, the world's second-largest economy and a key global manufacturing base and market. "Everything is part of the great power competition that is taking place between the United States and Russia, and the United States and China." A woman walks past a “G7 Hiroshima” flower installation near the Peace Memorial Museum, ahead of the G7 summit, in Hiroshima, Japan, May 17, 2023. The United States is at the forefront in pushing for stronger investment controls, yet Germany is more cautious, given its heavy reliance on trade with Beijing.

The G7 countries -- the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada and Italy -- are all closely tied economically to China, the world's second-largest economy and a key global manufacturing base and market. "Everything is part of the great power competition that is taking place between the United States and Russia, and the United States and China." A woman walks past a “G7 Hiroshima” flower installation near the Peace Memorial Museum, ahead of the G7 summit, in Hiroshima, Japan, May 17, 2023. The G7 is looking to draw closer to members of the "Global South" to counter China's role on the global stage. The United States is at the forefront in pushing for stronger investment controls, yet Germany is more cautious, given its heavy reliance on trade with Beijing.

☆ Elon Musk's private jet emitted 132 times as much carbon as the average American does in an entire year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Elon Musk travels more by private jet than nearly anyone else in the US. His annual carbon footprint — just from flying private — is 132 times that of the average American. Musk's carbon footprint from his 171 private flights in 2022 was 132 times the size of the average US resident's total annual footprint from all activities, the report found. His private plane burned about 221,358 gallons of jet fuel and emitted about 2,112 metric tons of carbon emissions last year, the report found. It notes that Musk purchased an additional private plane last year — a $78 million Gulfstream G700, the world's largest purpose-built private jet — that's expected to replace his G50ER model.

☆ Meet the typical private jet owner: 'Overwhelmingly male,' over 50, with a net worth of $190 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Private jet use has become more popular than ever. Members of the "jet-owning oligarchy" have a median net worth of $190 million, a new report says. The typical private jet owner is a North American male over 50 who works in finance or real estate. The report describes typical private jet owners as "overwhelmingly male," North American, and over the age of 50. Full private jet owners have a median net worth of $190 million while fractional jet owners have a median net worth of $140 million, the report says, citing data from Credit Suisse and Wealth-X.

☆ The ultra-wealthy who fly private are costing average flyers who won't ever use a private plane a lot of money
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Private jet travel has surged in the US over the last few years and accounts for one in every six flights. But private flyers pay just two percent of the taxes that fund the Federal Aviation Administration. Commercial flyers must pay a tax on every ticket equivalent to 7.5% of the fare price. But private flyers only pay a jet fuel tax. Private airplane travel is significantly worse for the environment than commercial flight travel, since private jets carry far fewer people.

WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden and South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol are expected to agree on Wednesday to deepen collaboration meant to deter nuclear escalation by North Korea amid heightened anxiety about its growing arsenal of missiles and bombs, U.S. officials said. The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name. The officials stressed that no U.S. nuclear weapons would be returned to the peninsula, and South Korea would continue not to have control over the U.S. nuclear arsenal. South Korea will also reaffirm its commitment to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and its non-nuclear status, they said. It is only the second state visit Biden has hosted since he took office two years ago - the first such guest was France's president.

☆ S.Korea's Yoon to meet Biden as doubts grow over nuclear umbrella
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

More than 64% supported South Korea developing its own nuclear weapons, with about 33% opposed. Yoon has been pushing to boost South Korea's say in operating the U.S. extended deterrence but exactly what that might entail has not been spelt out. A senior U.S. official said on Friday that Biden, during the summit with Yoon, would pledge "substantial" steps to underscore U.S. commitments to deter a North Korean nuclear attack. South Korea, a major producer of artillery shells, says it has not provided lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its relations with Russia. South Korea tries to avoid antagonising Russia, due chiefly to business interests and Russian influence over North Korea.

WASHINGTON, April 21 (Reuters) - At a summit next week with South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol U.S. President Joe Biden will pledge "substantial" steps to underscore the U.S. commitment to deter a North Korean nuclear attack on South Korea, a senior U.S. official said on Friday. In a poll released on April 6 by the Asian Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, 64.3% of South Koreans supported developing nuclear weapons with 33.3% opposed. The survey showed 52.9% of South Koreans were confident the United States would use nuclear weapons to defend South Korea in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea. A second official said the United States welcomed the role South Korea had played in supporting Ukraine and would "welcome additional steps (It) might be willing to take." Biden will also commend huge South Korean tech investment in the United States since he took office, which was now approaching $100 million, the official said.

☆ Ex-BOJ chief Kuroda tapped for job at university in Tokyo
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, April 12 (Reuters) - Former Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda has received a job offer from a prestigious university in Tokyo, days after retiring from the helm of the central bank, a university official told Reuters on Wednesday. Kuroda will become a senior academic fellow at National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), a job aimed at making use of his rich experience for teaching students, many of whom are from Asia, the official said. "We have commissioned the post of senior fellow to Kuroda as of yesterday. His job is based on basic research, but he will also give lectures from autumn, as per his intention," Takahiro Okamoto, a GRIPS official told Reuters, adding that details have not yet been decided. Kuroda served as BOJ governor from March 2013 to April 8, after having been the Asian Development Bank president and Japanese vice finance minister for international affairs.

☆ In hard times, Corporate America looks out for its CEOs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

See here: Recent filings illustrate the way CEOs are still lavishly compensated even when massive screw-ups happen on their watch. A Southwest representative told CNN that the December cancellations did factor into the bonuses paid out to employees. The boards that make decisions on CEO pay are usually stacked with executives or former executives from other companies who benefit from the system. Often, CEOs of distressed companies — rather than seeing pay cut — receive so-called retention bonuses to encourage leaders not to flee the sinking ship. “When all the numbers are crunched, 2022 is going to be a flat year for CEO pay,” said Reda.

SEOUL, March 20 (Reuters) - North Korea's presumed use of a silo in its latest missile test was aimed at boosting the speed and reliability of launches, and could be used in future flights of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), analysts said on Monday. "And without launch preparations being detected in advance, you can just press a button." Unlike the KN-23, liquid-fuelled missiles such as North Korea's Hwasong-17 ICBM require time for fuelling. With a silo that can take place underground, out of sight. North Korea typically relies on mobile launchers, but the country's lack of infrastructure could make launches from such trucks challenging, Yang said.

☆ North Korean leader Kim calls for intensified drills in case of 'real war'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A general view of fire assault drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea March 10, 2023 in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile off its west coast on Thursday, South Korea's military said, adding it was analysing possibilities the North may have launched multiple missiles simultaneously from the same area. North Korea has long bristled at the allies' drills as a rehearsal for invasion. North Korean leader Kim's sister, Kim Yo Jong, said earlier this week any move to shoot down one of its test missiles would be considered a declaration of war and blamed the joint military exercises for growing tensions. Yang Uk, a research fellow and defence expert at Seoul's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said North Korea has been increasingly claiming that its smaller missiles are nuclear-capable, in apparent threats to South Korea.

SEOUL, March 8 (Reuters) - South Korea's government approved export licenses for Poland last year to provide Ukraine with Krab howitzers, which are built with South Korean components, a defence acquisition official in Seoul told Reuters on Wednesday. The comments are the first confirmation that South Korea officially acquiesced to at least indirectly providing weapons components to Ukraine for its war against Russia. Seoul officials have previously declined to comment on the Krabs, fuelling speculation over whether South Korea had formally agreed or was simply looking the other way. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said at the time that South Korea, a U.S. ally, had not provided any weapons. Kim said Poland would need further South Korean permission to provide any of those new weapons to Ukraine.

☆ Deadlier and more media savvy, separatist rebels evolve in Indonesia's Papua
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] Egianus Kogoya, young West Papuan rebel commander, sits on a captured plane piloted by New Zealand national Philip Mehrtens in Indonesia's Papua region in this undated picture released on February 14, 2023. Separatist rebels kidnapped New Zealand pilot Philip Mehrtens, 37, after he landed his small plane in the remote Papuan highlands on Feb 7. An estimated 500 fighters identify as members of the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPNPB), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM). Cahyo Pamungkas, a researcher from the National Research and Innovation Agency, said the separatists are using social media to get their message out. "Social media is a tool of resistance to deliver the stories from Papua because national media is mainly dominated by perspectives from Jakarta," he said.

☆ North Korea-South Korea ties: Tension shouldn't be avoided but managed, think tank says
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNorth Korea-South Korea ties: Tension shouldn't be avoided but managed, think tank saysDu Hyeogn Cha of The Asan Institute for Policy Studies discusses two ways to manage those tensions.

☆ U.S. food benefits for poor to shrink as pandemic provisions end
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Leah Douglas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives may also pursue further cuts to food assistance to shrink the U.S. deficit. “It’s going to put millions of households at risk of hunger,” said Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger. The changes mean cuts of about $82 a month beginning in March for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, said Ellen Vollinger of the Food Research & Action Center, an anti-hunger group. But in December’s spending bill fight, Congress negotiated a compromise to end them in February in exchange for a new summer food program for children. More than 76% of the current farm bill’s $428 billion price tag went to food assistance programs that serve 41 million people annually.

The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives may also pursue further cuts to food assistance to shrink the U.S. deficit. "It’s going to put millions of households at risk of hunger," said Eric Mitchell, president of the Alliance to End Hunger. The changes mean cuts of about $82 a month beginning in March for recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, said Ellen Vollinger of the Food Research & Action Center, an anti-hunger group. But in December's spending bill fight, Congress negotiated a compromise to end them in February in exchange for a new summer food program for children. More than 76% of the current farm bill's $428 billion price tag went to food assistance programs that serve 41 million people annually.

☆ North Korean Parade Puts Missile Production Prowess on Display
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Dasl Yoon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

North Korea has never showcased that many nuclear missiles at one time. The Wednesday parade suggested North Korea was expanding its stockpile of nuclear missiles that threaten the U.S. and its allies’ missile defense systems. North Korea has been developing solid-fueled ICBMs that require less preparation time to launch. North Korean state media didn’t report on any remarks by Mr. Kim, who has skipped speeches at previous military parades. “The main objective of Wednesday’s military parade is to show North Korea’s growing missile capability to strike the U.S. mainland,” said Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University.

"As the United States deepens its relationship with the Philippines, it's important for regional security that Japan join in," a Japanese defence ministry source with knowledge of internal discussions on national security told Reuters. At a press briefing last week, Neil Imperial, the Philippines Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs, said Marcos wanted to "facilitate closer defence, security, political, economic and people-to-people ties" while in Japan. That sentiment is shared in Tokyo, which has been deepening security ties with nations that view China with concern. Those deals provide a framework for how Marcos and Kishida could also forge deeper military ties to counter their common adversary, say experts. "The Philippines is a critical security partner for Japan," said Narushige Michishita, a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo.

JAKARTA, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Separatist fighters in Indonesia's Papua region have taken a New Zealand pilot hostage after setting a small commercial plane alight when it landed in a remote highland area on Tuesday, a pro-independence group said in a statement. A police spokesperson in Papua province, Ignatius Benny Adi Prabowo, said authorities were investigating the incident, with police and military personnel sent to the area to locate the pilot and five passengers. The plane operated by Susi Air landed safely early on Tuesday morning, before being attacked by rebel fighters, authorities said. The TPNPB made no mention of the passengers, but said this was the second time the group had taken a hostage. Susi Air founder and former fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti said on Twitter she was praying for the safety of the pilot and passengers.

☆ Betsy DeVos and former GOP lawmakers who helped construct versions of the legislation Biden is using to cancel student debt just told the Supreme Court his plan 'obviously violates' the law
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-05 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Both briefs criticized the legal path Biden used to cancel student debt, saying relief requires Congressional approval. The Supreme Court is hearing the two lawsuits challenging Biden's relief on February 28. After two conservative-backed lawsuits late last year paused the implementation of Biden's debt relief, the Supreme Court agreed to take up both of the cases on February 28. Per the brief, McKeon was the original author of the HEROES Act of 2001 in response to 9/11, and Kline authored the HEROES Act of 2003. So did former Rep. George Miller, a top Democratic lawmaker on the House education committee who helped construct the HEROES Act of 2003.

☆ US-China Tech War: How Money for Semiconductor Factories Costs Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Taylor Dorrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

If the first Cold War was defined by the development of nuclear weapons, this Tech Cold War is defined by the computer chip. The massive Intel plant in Ohio is a key part of the race with China for the future of tech. Even before the Intel plant, the Columbus area was well acquainted with these sorts of trade-offs. But, the Ohio State study found, Columbus' residential tax-abatement programs did little to meaningfully address the housing problem, while draining the city's funds. Federal, state, and local subsidies add up to billions of dollars that Intel is saving on its new Ohio semiconductor factory.

☆ Kyrsten Sinema was doing the GOP a favor by blocking Democrats' taxes on the wealthy. Now a Republican-controlled House will have to fight that battle.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema repeatedly threw cold water on Democrats' plans to raise taxes on the wealthy. Now that Sinema is officially becoming an independent, Democrats still likely won't be able to pass anything. However, the House — which has to pass any legislation that would include hikes — will soon be controlled by Republicans. Raphael Warnock's reelection in the Georgia runoff also gave Democrats an opening to work around Sinema. Republicans are very tax averse, already mounting opposition to a 15% minimum tax on big multinational corporations like Amazon and Facebook.

☆ America is a new tax haven for the ultra-wealthy — and 13 states are holding billions in hidden assets
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Right now, billions of dollars of assets are held in secretive trusts across the country. In those states, billions of dollars remain untouched and untaxed. "Wealthy people from around the world are bringing their assets and wealth to the United States to park it and avoid responsibility." "We can safely say we're talking hundreds of billions of dollars a year, trillions probably, that are not being subject to tax," Collins said. "It's costing the rest of us taxpayers billions and hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenue," Collins said.

☆ Indonesia parliament passes long-awaited data protection bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( Stanley Widianto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the bill, which authorises the president to form an oversight body to fine data handlers for breaching rules on distributing or gathering personal data. The legislation stipulates individuals can be jailed for up to six years for falsifying personal data for personal gain or up to five years for gathering personal data illegally. Communications minister, Johnny G. Plate, said the bill's passage "marks a new era in the management of personal data in Indonesia." "One of the obligations for electronic data organisers, whether public or private, is to ensure protection of personal data in their system," he told reporters. Wahyudi Djafar, who researches data protection for the Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy, questioned whether the penalties were strict enough to force government bodies to improve their data handling.

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