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☆ Taiwan urges progress on EU investment deal as bloc courts chip firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Ben Blanchard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin poses during an interview with Reuters in Taipei, Taiwan, April 23, 2021. Taiwan has repeatedly pushed for the conclusion of a Bilateral Investment Agreement (BIA) with the EU, saying it would help encourage more Taiwanese investment, especially from chip companies. The EU identified Taiwan as a candidate for a BIA in 2015, but no talks have taken place on the issue. "On the basis of this mutual trust... can you tell EU headquarters, on the BIA, can it start, effectively moving it forward?" A Taiwanese government official said last month that Taiwan is seeking other trade agreements with the EU given the BIA is a "long shot".

Persons: Taiwan National Development Council Minister Kung Ming, hsin, Ben Blanchard, Development Council Minister Kung Ming, Tsai Ing, Tsai, John Stonestreet Organizations: Taiwan National Development Council Minister, Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, European Union, BIA, European, EU, Development Council Minister, Trade Organisation, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, chipmaker, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Rights TAIPEI, EU, Europe, Asia, China, Beijing, Germany

☆ Some soft commodity prices are surging, adding to consumer woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Futures contracts on orange juice, live cattle, raw sugar and cocoa each hit their highs for the year this month. The higher prices add another layer of pain to consumers' wallets at a time when stubborn core inflation, excluding food and energy, stood at 4.3% in August. The juice futures market reached a record $3.50 per pound this month. Meat prices have been driven by shrinking U.S. cattle herds, continued beef demand, plus higher input costs for labor and fuel. Shoppers are bearing the brunt of the higher prices as the world's largest food companies try and pass along their rising input costs.

Persons: Paul Caruso, It's, Darwei Kung, Kung, François, Xavier Roger, Grame David Pitkethly, Ben, Jerry's, Pitkethly, We've Organizations: Ancora, U.S, U.S . Department of Agriculture, Shoppers, Barclays Consumer Staples Conference, Barclays, Unilever Locations: Florida, Brazil, Mexico, India, Thailand

☆ Hong Kong shuts schools as it issues heavy rain warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Hong Kong closed schools on Thursday after authorities issued the second-highest rain signal and warned of extensive flooding, just days after the Asian financial hub was drenched by the heaviest rain since records began 140 years ago. The city's weather observatory issued the "red" signal before 6 a.m. local time, saying rain exceeding 50 millimetres in an hour is falling and likely to continue. "Heavy rain will bring flash floods and flooding is occurring or expected to occur in watercourses," it said. Hong Kong's stock market will remain open unless the highest "black" signal is issued. The heavy rain comes as the city is still repairing damage caused by torrential rain linked to typhoon Haikui which passed nearby in recent days.

Persons: Hong, Tsueng Kwan, Sai Kung, Farah Master, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Tai Tam, British

☆ Hong Kong Shuts Schools as It Issues Heavy Rain Warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong closed schools on Thursday after authorities issued the second-highest rain signal and warned of extensive flooding, just days after the Asian financial hub was drenched by the heaviest rain since records began 140 years ago. The city's weather observatory issued the "red" signal before 6 a.m. local time, saying rain exceeding 50 millimetres in an hour is falling and likely to continue. "Heavy rain will bring flash floods and flooding is occurring or expected to occur in watercourses," it said. Hong Kong's stock market will remain open unless the highest "black" signal is issued. The heavy rain comes as the city is still repairing damage caused by torrential rain linked to typhoon Haikui which passed nearby in recent days.

Persons: Hong, Tsueng Kwan, Sai Kung, Farah Master, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Reuters Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, Tai Tam, British

☆ I'm a black belt-turned-professional pillow fighter who used my winnings to start a dojo in the tough Miami neighborhood where I grew up
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Master Tarrago said, "Matter of fact, I'm gonna be here tomorrow at such and such time to pick you up." I remember, Master Tarrago, he got some Ace bandages and wrapped it up and told me to go out there and fight. And I just feel like I'm really the best and then the PFC — that just came. I heard people laughing, making jokes like, "This guy says he's gonna win the whole thing. AdvertisementAdvertisementI've got a great support systemOne of my teachers that's great friends with Master Tarrago — he owns this facility.

Persons: Hauley Tillman, Tillman, Steven Tarrago, Tarrago, I'd, Kevin Kleeblatt, I've, Krav Maga, I'm, we've, — everybody's, it's, —, he's, Joshua, He's, That's Ms, Brenda, Tarrago —, — he's, we're Organizations: Service, Miami - Dade Schools Police Department, PFC, PFC —, MMA, UFC Locations: Miami, Wall, Silicon, Liberty City, Twin Dragons, Spain

Taiwan's constitution states that the Republic of China is a sovereign state, and that has been a consensus shared by all Taiwan's main political parties. The Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, who set up the People's Republic. "It is because if he is elected as the leader of Taiwan, he may come to advance his goal of Taiwan independence, which will provoke a crisis across the Taiwan Strait." China's Taiwan Affairs Office said his comments were "weird" and "deceitful" given that his "Taiwan independence nature" had not changed. China has demanded Taiwan's government accept that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to "one China," something Tsai and Lai have refused to do.

Persons: William Lai, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Lai, Tsai Ing, Mao Zedong's, Wu Xinbo, Joseph Wu, George Yin, Yin, Tsai's, Lai ., Xi Jinping, Taiwan's, Tsai, Meng Chih, cheng, Ben Blanchard, Sarah Wu, Martin Pollard, Casey, Sonali Paul Organizations: International Airport, REUTERS, Rights, Shanghai's Fudan University, National Taiwan University, Taiwan Affairs Office, Cheng Kung University, Casey Hall, Thomson Locations: United States, New York, Paraguay, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, Taiwanese, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, The Republic of China, Republic, Republic of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai

☆ Switzerland defend team time trial mixed relay crown at worlds despite crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 8 (Reuters) - Switzerland successfully defended their team time trial mixed relay crown at the world championships on Tuesday despite a crash for Marlen Reusser. Stefan Bissegger, Stefan Kung and Mauro Schmid had a good start before they handed it over to the women's team consisting of Reusser, Elise Chabbey and Nicole Koller, when Reusser lost valuable time after a crash. Reusser is one of the favourites for the individual time trial but she did manage to quickly get back on her bike to continue. The crash did little to hurt their chances as Switzerland eventually finished with a time of 54 minutes and 16.20 seconds, a full seven seconds ahead of France while Germany were third. Britain were fourth, more than a minute behind, while Italy were fifth after Silvia Persico lost time due to a mechanical.

Persons: Stefan Bissegger, Stefan Kung, Mauro Schmid, Elise Chabbey, Nicole Koller, Reusser, Silvia Persico, Rohith Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Britain, Thomson Locations: Switzerland, Swiss, Glasgow, France, Germany, Italy, Bengaluru

☆ Project Wild Earth: This family of four has just embarked on a 5-year adventure around the world
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Kate Springer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

They instantly connected and maintained a long-distance relationship for a year after his road trip ended before moving to Hong Kong to start a life together. During the project, dubbed “Project Wild Earth,” they will also share stories on their website and social media accounts about inspiring rangers, support organizations, government officials and entrepreneurs they work or come in contact with. Leah, an American, worked as a primary school teacher and helped establish a Sudbury school in Hong Kong that empowers children to direct their own education. The Priors found themselves stuck in Hong Kong, which had some of the strictest pandemic restrictions in the world due to its “zero-Covid” approach. “When these things unfolded in Hong Kong, we had to reconsider everything.

Persons: we’re, Matt, Leah Prior, Leah, Zapp, Graham, Paige, “ Leah, ” Matt, ”, “, AdventureX, Jack, Matt couldn’t, “ Jack, Sai Kung, “ It’s, Dr, Jane Goodall, Tompkins, Allen, –, Reinhard Dirscherl, Charlotte, they’ll Organizations: CNN, The Explorers Club, Sumy Sadurni, Getty, Allen Coral Atlas, Jane, Jane Goodall Institute and, Bank Locations: Charlotte, Laos, London, South Korea, Hong Kong, Europe, Central Asia, China, Southeast Asia, Asia, Pacific, Africa, Americas, American, Sudbury, British, Indonesia, Hong, New Territories, AFP, Patagonia, agroforestry

HONG KONG, July 20 (Reuters) - Fans from Hong Kong and around the world gathered at the feet of a Bruce Lee statue on Thursday to pay tribute to the late kung fu legend on the 50th anniversary of his untimely death. Those who traveled to Hong Kong for the anniversary included people from mainland China, Asia and Europe. "I have loved Bruce Lee since I was very young," said Bruce Shin from South Korea who sported a brush cut and large framed sunglasses, imitating Lee. HKTB2016 REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File PhotoLee's contributions to martial arts and popular culture have inspired legions of global fans. said Wong Yiu-keung, the chairman of the local Bruce Lee Club.

Persons: Bruce Lee, Hong, Lee, Bruce Shin, Shin, Mei Zhiyong, HKTB2016, Tyrone Siu, Chun, Kung Fu, Ip, Wong Yiu, Bruce Lee Club, Sophie Uekawa, James Pomfret, Emma Rumney Organizations: Harbour, South Korea, HKTB2016 REUTERS, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Asia, Europe, South, San Francisco, British, Japan

☆ $13 billion hedge fund Schonfeld loses several senior technology and recruiting personnel
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Alex Morrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Several leaders in Schonfeld's technology and recruiting teams have recently exited. Several leaders of multi-strategy hedge fund Schonfeld Strategic Advisors' technology and recruiting operations have exited the firm, according to people familiar with the matter. Steve Kordik, who headed up a team in North America responsible for supporting the trading technology platform, left in May. Tom Burdo, director of front-office technology talent acquisition, left in June. Schonfeld, which manages about $13 billion in outside money, grew from some 600 employees in mid-2021 to around 860 at the end of 2022, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Persons: Vincent Aniello, Schonfeld, Steve Kordik, Renee Kenas, Radhika Arora, Tom Burdo, Point72, buildout, Colin Lancaster, Mitesh, It's, Toby Kung, Derry Herlihy, Goldman Sachs, Riccardo Riboldi Organizations: Advisors, Securities and Exchange Commission, LinkedIn, Citadel, Derry, Delta Locations: North America, Macquarie

☆ Bruce Lee's legacy squares up to modern life in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Tyrone Siu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Filed: July 17, 2023, 11 p.m. GMTFifty years after the death of Bruce Lee, who galvanised the imaginations of generations of young people worldwide with feats of kung fu immortalised on screen, it sometimes seems as if his legacy of the martial art he practiced is fading in Hong Kong. Born in San Francisco but brought up in the Asian financial hub which would make him famous, Lee died of brain edema aged 32 on July 20, 1973, just six days before the release of “Enter the Dragon”, his most popular film. “He was exceptionally talented and it’s a shame he passed away at such a young age,” said 60-year-old Dorothy Tam, whose hair is now graying, as she punched a sandbag in a small martial arts school covered with bamboo scaffolding in western Kowloon.

Persons: Bruce Lee, Lee, ”, Dorothy Tam Locations: Hong Kong, San Francisco, Kowloon

☆ Tai Chi Is a Workout for the Brain and Body
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Cindy Kuzma | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Rather, they’re the deceptively complex movements of tai chi. With around 250 million practitioners around the globe, tai chi is often cited as one of the world’s most popular physical activities. Unlike karate or taekwondo, tai chi focuses on quiet strength rather than combat, which makes it more accessible to older adults or those who have been injured. The former financial professional, who was born in New York and spent her childhood in Taiwan, also found tai chi beneficial in managing stress and conflict. After about two years, she began teaching, and eventually took over Aiping Tai Chi, the Connecticut school where she had trained.

Persons: Horse’s, Rather, Shirley Chock, Tai Chi Locations: China, New York, Taiwan, Tai, Connecticut

☆ New Hong Kong Movies Kick Kung Fu to the Curb in Favor of Introspective Dramas
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Wenxin Fan | Elaine Yu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/ant-man-gets-squashed-as-hong-kongs-movie-revival-follows-covid-protests-6f466922

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ Opinion | Beyond the ‘Matrix’ Theory of the Human Mind
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Ezra Klein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

“We can produce more information,” Mark said. Our processing capability is the bottleneck.”Email and chat systems like Slack offer useful analogies here. Few have thought through the costs that will impose on those who are supposed to respond to all this new text. Our societywide obsession with speed and efficiency has given us a flawed model of human cognition that I’ve come to think of as the Matrix theory of knowledge. But that misses much of what’s really happening when we spend nine hours reading a biography.

☆ New survey finds the lives of Chinese Americans are heavily impacted by racism and puts renewed focus on Asian hate crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A study by Columbia University spoke to 6,500 Chinese Americans. According to data from the Department of Commerce, 5.4 million Chinese Americans live in the US. The COVID-19 pandemic fuelled this surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans, with a study from the Anti-Defamation League finding that the pandemic corresponded with a rise in hate speech and harassment on social networks aimed at Asian Americans. The suspects in both shootings were later revealed to be Asian men, diminishing fears that the attacks were hate crimes, but advocates say the violence adds to the dread that Asian Americans have experienced the past several years. On May 2022, the Department of Justice released a new report to raise awareness of hate crimes during the pandemic, citing a "surge of hate crimes and hate incidents against Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities."

The TV series, an action-comedy-drama combination, is based on the 2006 graphic novel of the same name by Gene Luen Yang and premieres on Disney+ streaming service on Wednesday. He changed his mind, however, after being reassured by show producer Melvin Mar and series creator, Kevin Yu, and seeing the dedication of the Asian-led cast. The TV series follows high school student Jin Wang, played by Ben Wang, who struggles with his identity as he navigates both school and home life. “American Born Chinese” draws from Chinese folklore and Chinese and Japanese animation that is based on the 6th century Chinese novel “Journey to the West.”Beyond the kung fu action story, the show focuses on the challenges of Jin understanding his Chinese and American identities, while also going through the tribulations of being a teenager. "So, you feel really impotent, really powerless,”Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Rollo Ross Editing by Mary Milliken, Marguerita Choy and Aurora EllisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong tests positive for Covid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's Prime Minister, said Monday he has tested positive for Covid-19 after recently returning from state visits to South Africa and Kenya. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has tested positive for Covid-19, days after returning from official visits to South Africa and Kenya. "I am generally feeling ok but my doctors have advised me to self-isolate until I am asymptomatic," Lee said Monday in a Facebook post. Lee is 71-years-old and has been serving as prime minister of the Southeast Asian city-state since 2004. He was in South Africa and Kenya May 14-19, according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

☆ Gen Z is forcing fast-food restaurants to change their menus. They're now offering more spicy food and chicken to lure in younger diners.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gen Z diners crave spicy food and chicken more than other generations. Restaurant execs say that younger diners crave spicy food and chicken. "Spice levels generally heat up with younger generations," Fabiola Del Rio, VP of integrated marketing communications at Panda Express, told Insider. And where they can, Gen Zers like to get their chicken spicy, too. Or a restaurant exec who's noticed interesting dining patterns among your Gen Z customers?

Kevin Lambert grew up in North Carolina in the 1980s, and first visited his mother's native South Korea in 2000. Courtesy Kevin LambertIt might seem an odd desire given many have never set foot in South Korea. But life in South Korea brings its own challenges – and many eventually return to the US. For Kim, it’s a relief to be back in South Korea, where the safety is “100% better.”“I plan to live (in South Korea) until I die,” he said. “If South Korea today was as impoverished as it was when I left, why would I return?” he said.

DreamWorks Animation has laid off 33 staffers, or around 2%, in recent days. DreamWorks' parent company, NBCUniversal, has been laying off staff across divisions in recent months. The cuts were confirmed by a spokesperson from DreamWorks Animation, whose parent company, Comcast's NBCUniversal, has eliminated roles across the organization over the past six months. DreamWorks Animation said in a statement that the layoffs were part of an overall cost reduction and that a majority of those affected were in support functions. This person said staffers laid off in this round learned the news several weeks ago, giving those affected some time to prepare.

☆ Researchers just created the largest-ever database of how we interact on Zoom. Here are their tips for making everyone like you on video chats.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

The result is the largest-ever database of one-on-one Zoom conversations. And while the average loudness of speakers didn't change across bad or good conversations, the "good" talkers varied their decibel levels more than the "bad" talkers did. The machine found that women rated as better Zoom conversationalists tended to be more intense. Good conversationalists are those who appear more engaged in what their partners are saying. Studying Zoom calls may help us have better conversations on Zoom.

☆ Science has finally figured out how fast and loud you should talk on Zoom
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Adam Rogers | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

The result is the largest-ever database of one-on-one Zoom conversations. It may shed new light on what we talk about when we talk about talking today — the conversation of the future. And while the average loudness of speakers didn't change across bad or good conversations, the "good" talkers varied their decibel levels more than the "bad" talkers did. The machine found that women rated as better Zoom conversationalists tended to be more intense. Good conversationalists are those who appear more engaged in what their partners are saying.

☆ The debate over banning TikTok has been poisoned by anti-Asian rhetoric
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Paayal Zaveri | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The TikTok CEO's testimony to Congress in March highlighted the anti-Asian rhetoric around the app. And second: The discourse around those issues, particularly talk of banning the app entirely in the US, has been poisoned by a surge in anti-Asian rhetoric, making it difficult to have a national conversation around TikTok in good faith. But what set the hearing with TikTok's CEO apart was the tone and personal nature of the questions, Asian American and Pacific Islander advocacy groups said. That paints a target on the back of Asian Americans, Chinese nationals living in the US, and, by extension, all other Asian populations, advocacy experts said. The rhetoric has consequences for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the US economyAll this has implications for the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US and the global Asian diaspora.

☆ On Malaysia homecoming, Oscar winner Yeoh vows to nurture local film talent
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Yeoh, 60, won the Oscar for her portrayal of Chinese American laundromat owner Evelyn Wang in the science-fiction kung fu comedy "Everything Everywhere All at Once". We have to create platforms that will showcase their talent," Yeoh told a news conference before a fan event. Dressed in loose jeans and a white blouse, Yeoh posed for pictures smiling with her Oscar statuette in front of a sign that said "pride of Malaysia". [1/7] Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh shows her engraved Oscar statuette during a news conference after returning to her home country for the first time since winning her first Oscar for Best Lead Actress, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia April 18, 2023. "I heard the roar of joy, happiness all across the world to Los Angeles," she told fans, recalling when the winner was revealed.

☆ We support the proposal to spin off HSBC's Asia business, says Hong Kong district councilor
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe support the proposal to spin off HSBC's Asia business, says Hong Kong district councilorChristine Fong, councilor for Hong Kong's Sai Kung district, discusses a proposal by an activist shareholder in Hong Kong to spin off HSBC's Asia business.

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