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☆ Taiwan president: China too 'overwhelmed' to consider invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - China's leadership is too "overwhelmed" with its internal problems to consider an invasion of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-wen said in an interview with the New York Times. But Tsai, in a transcript of the interview her office published on Thursday, said China had too many issues at the moment. And my thought is that perhaps this is not a time for them to consider a major invasion of Taiwan," she said. Tsai and her government have repeatedly called for talks with China but been rebuffed, as Beijing views Tsai and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as separatists. The DPP's Lai Ching-te, currently vice president, is the frontrunner to be Taiwan's next president according to opinion polls.

Persons: Tsai Ing, Ann Wang, Tsai, Lai Ching, Lai, Hsiao Bi, Chen Binhua, Chiu Tai, Chiu, Ben Blanchard, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, New York Times, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, Mainland Affairs Council, Thomson Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, China, Beijing, United States, Taipei, Lincoln

☆ My husband and I spent Thanksgiving on a cruise ship with friends. It cost us $3,800, but we'd do it again for other major holidays.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Katrina Wilson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

I spent Thanksgiving on a, eight-day Carnival Cruise with my husband and 12 of our friends. We booked an eight-day Carnival Cruise over the Thanksgiving holiday to celebrate our friends Tai and Darien's wedding anniversary. My husband and I spent about $3,800 to book the tripThe cruise cost $2,050 for the two of us. AdvertisementThe ship didn't satisfy our Thanksgiving cravings, but we still had nice mealsThe ship's Thanksgiving dinner, unfortunately, didn't tickle our fancy. But it felt good to lay in bed on the cruise and watch films I hadn't seen in years.

Persons: —, Tai, fanny, Katrina Wilson, à, Stevie Wonder, we're, Lawrence, Whitney, I'd Organizations: Service, gratuities Locations: Florida, formalwear

☆ Hong Kong’s pro-democracy leaders to give final defense as landmark national security trial nears an end
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Chris Lau | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Those on trial say that plan was simply part of the pluralistic, oppositional politics that has long been permitted in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms. They hail from multiple generations and a wide political spectrum - from moderate democrats to those who advocate for Hong Kong’s self-determination. Known as “Grandma Wong,” the 67-year-old had been a fixture of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. No national security cases in the city have been heard in front of a jury.

Persons: Hong, ”, Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, Claudia Mo, Alexandra Wong, Grandma Wong, Hong Kong’s, ” Alexandra Wong, Noemi Cassanelli, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, ISAAC LAWRENCE, John Lee, ” Lee, –, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Prosecutors, Hong, Kowloon Court, CNN, Getty, Communist Party, city’s, Hong Kong’s Legislative Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Hong, Kowloon, Britain, China, AFP, Hong Kong’s

Owen Chow Ka-shing, one of the 47 pro-democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law, arrives at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building, in Hong Kong, China November 29, 2021. On the first day of closing submissions, one of the handpicked national security judges, Andrew Chan, said a verdict would "tentatively" come in three to four months, with 10 days set aside for closing submissions. Beijing says the national security law brought stability to the city after monthslong pro-democracy protests in 2019. "Communication with the public is much easier, (it's) easy to manipulate those means in order to endanger national security," he added. Thirty-one of the 47 charged have pleaded guilty - which could qualify them for reduced sentences.

Persons: Owen Chow Ka, Lam, Andrew Chan, Hong, Jonathan Man, Man, Gwyneth Ho, Owen Chow, Gordon Ng, Leung Kwok, Helena Wong, Benny Tai, Joshua Wong, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Hong, Thomson Locations: Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, HONG KONG, United States, Beijing

☆ Biden Trade Policy Breaks With Tech Giants - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Farah Stockman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

“We have warned for years that either the United States would write the rules for digital trade or China would,” Senator Mike Crapo, a Republican from Idaho, lamented in a press statement. That paper explains how U.S. trade officials came to champion a digital trade policy agenda that was nearly identical to what Google, Apple and Facebook wanted: No restrictions on the flow of data across borders. No laws that would curb monopolies or encourage more competition — a position that is often cloaked in clauses prohibiting discrimination against American companies. Many smaller tech companies complain that big players engage in monopolistic behavior that should be regulated. A group of smaller tech companies called the Coalition for App Fairness thanked Ms. Tai for dropping support for the so-called tech-friendly agenda at the World Trade Organization.

Persons: Mike Crapo, Biden, Tai, Wendy Li, Ms, Li, Henry Gao Organizations: Republican, Facebook, Google, University of Wisconsin, Trump, Microsoft, Apple, Coalition, World Trade Organization Locations: China, United, Idaho, Madison, United States, Mexico, Canada, Washington, Singapore

"We hoped and prayed today would come," Liz Hirsh Naftali and Noa Naftali, Edan's great aunt and cousin, said in a statement, thanking Biden and the Qatari government for their work in getting Abigail released. Her siblings were already there, Noa Naftali said, and the family can provide "the love and support that they need after losing their parents." According to Noa Naftali, Abigail had been held captive in Gaza with neighbors also taken from the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where the toddler, her parents and her siblings lived. Biden said he expects Hamas to release other U.S. hostages as well, and that he wants the pause in the fighting to be extended as long as prisoners are being released. "We will not stop working until every hostage is returned to their loved ones," Biden said.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Joe Biden, Abigail Edan, Abigail, Israel, Biden, Liz Hirsh Naftali, Noa Naftali, Edan's, Carmel Edan, he's, Aza, —, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jeff Mason, Andy Sullivan, Moira Warburton, Jason Lange, Steve Gorman, David Goodman, Alexander Smith, Mark Porter, Josie Kao Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, CBS, Qatari, Reuters, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Ofakim, Israel, Rights NANTUCKET , Massachusetts, Israeli, Palestinian, United States, Nantucket, Washington, Buffalo , NY

Twelve of those newly released were among the roughly 75 people who had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. Keren Munder, 54; Ohad Munder Zichri, 9; Ruth Munder, 78Image From left, Keren Munder, Ohad Munder Zichri and Ruth Munder. Ruth is a retired hairdresser and seamstress, according to Kibbutz Nir Oz. She was kidnapped from her safe room in Kibbutz Nir Oz after her husband, Sa’id Moshe, was killed during the Hamas assault. Doron Katz Asher, 34; Raz Asher, 4; Aviv Asher, 2Image From left, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher.

Persons: —, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Keren Munder, Munder, Ruth Munder, Munder Zichri, Avi Zichri, Ohad Munder, Ruth, Abraham Munder, Nir Oz, Abraham’s, Roee, Ohad, Abraham, Keren, Danielle Aloni, Amelia Aloni, Amelia, Aloni’s, Sharon Cunio, Sharon, David Cunio, Emma, Yuli, ”, Aloni, Adina Moshe, Adina Moshe Credit, Moshe, Sa’id Moshe, Naama Ben, Moshe’s, ” Yaffa, Adar, Tamir Adar, Hanna Katzir, Hanna, Katzir, Katzenellenbogen, Elad Katzir, Rami, Hanna Peri, Hanna Peri Credit, Peri, Ms, Margalit Moses, Margalit Moses Credit, Moses, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher, Katz Asher, Raz, Katz, Yoni Asher, Asher, Khan Younis, ” Mr Organizations: Nirim, Reuters, Associated Press, Associated, Credit Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, Ruth Munder ., Kfar Saba, Palestinian, Nirim, South Africa, Norway, Mozambique, “

Twelve of those newly released were among the roughly 75 people who had been kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. Ruth is a retired hairdresser and seamstress, according to Kibbutz Nir Oz. Danielle Aloni; Amelia Aloni, 5Danielle Aloni and her daughter Amelia were taken hostage while visiting Ms. Aloni’s sister, Sharon Cunio, a resident of Kibbutz Nir Oz. She was kidnapped from her safe room in Kibbutz Nir Oz after her husband, Sa’id Moshe, was killed during the Hamas assault. Hanna Katzir, 76Ms. Katzir helped oversee child care in Kibbutz Nir Oz for many years, according to a niece, Dalit Katzenellenbogen, who lives in Tel Aviv.

Persons: —, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Keren Munder, Munder, Ruth Munder, Ohad Munder, Ruth, Abraham Munder, Nir Oz, Abraham’s, Roee, Ohad, Abraham, Keren, Danielle Aloni, Amelia Aloni, Amelia, Aloni’s, Sharon Cunio, Sharon, David Cunio, Emma, Yuli, ”, Aloni, Adina Moshe, Moshe, Sa’id Moshe, Naama Ben, Moshe’s, ” Yaffa, Adar, Tamir Adar, Hanna Katzir, Katzir, Katzenellenbogen, Elad Katzir, Rami, Hanna Peri, Peri, Ms, Margalit Moses, Moses, Doron Katz Asher, Raz Asher, Aviv Asher, Katz Asher, Raz, Efrat Katz, Katz, Yoni Asher, Asher, Khan Younis Organizations: Nirim Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel, Kfar Saba, Palestinian, Nirim, South Africa, Norway, Mozambique

☆ Sudan refugees detail second wave of ethnic purge by Arab forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

After seizing swathes of Khartoum, it has forced retreats by the Sudanese army in parts of the Darfur and Kordofan regions. When they were ambushed by Arab militiamen and came under fire along the route, the vehicle’s occupants scattered. In return, the Arab forces would guarantee the safety of the camp’s occupants and allow safe passage out of El Geneina for those who wanted to leave. He said he watched the Arab forces from his hiding place behind a wall at his home. Multiple eyewitnesses said that RSF and Arab militia forces rounded up hundreds of Masalit men, some of whom were executed.

Persons: Ardamata, Josep Borrell, ”, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Dagalo, Abdullah Omar Abdullah, Al Fadhl Abdullah, Khamis Hassan, ” Ibrahim Youssef, “, Youssef, Gamareldin Mohammed, Mohammed Ahmed Goma, ” Goma, Goma, Abdelrahim Hamdan Dagalo, Abdul Rahman Juma, ” Dagalo, RSF, El Geneina, Hussein Fayez, Hassan, Hussein, Yassin Ahmed, Abdu Mohammed Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Reuters couldn’t, Adam Mohammed, Mohammed, Ibrahim Youssef, didn’t, Ben Lesser, Grant Smith, Maggie Michael, Ryan McNeill, Mohammad Kawoosa, Han Huang, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai, Peter Hirschberg Organizations: UNICEF, United Nations, European Union, UNHCR, Diplomats, South, Sudanese, Sudanese Alliance, Army, Reuters, Planet Labs Locations: El, Chad, El Geneina, Darfur, Adre, Chad’s, Sudan, Ardamata, “, West Darfur, Khartoum, Sudanese, Kordofan, Nyala, Port Sudan, South Sudan, U.S, Al Mashtal, El Geneina’s, New York

☆ Nearly Seven Weeks of War in Gaza Between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

The following is a timeline of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement which controls the Gaza Strip. Oct. 7: Hamas gunmen launch a surprise attack on southern Israel, crossing over from Gaza and rampaging through towns. Hamas military commander Mohammad Deif announces on Hamas media that the attack has started and urges Palestinians everywhere to fight. The two women were kidnapped from Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel with their husbands, who are still held by Hamas. Israel says the hospital sits atop tunnels housing a headquarters for Hamas fighters using patients as shields, which Hamas denies.

Persons: Mohammad Deif, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie, Nurit Cooper, Yocheved, Nir, shalom, Netanyahu, General Antonio Guterres, Al Shifa, Al, Alexandra Hudson, James Mackenzie, Timothy Heritage Organizations: Reuters, Hamas, Arabi Baptist, Gaza, Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza's Hamas Locations: Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Gaza City, al, Ahli, Arabi, Palestinian, Jordan, Nahal, Rafah, Gaza's

The deal also involves the entry of hundreds of trucks carrying aid relief, medical supplies and fuel to all parts of Gaza, the Hamas statement said. Three Americans could be among the 50 women and children freed as part of the deal, senior US officials said. While the deal stipulates the release of at least 50 hostages it “incentivizes the release of everybody,” according to the official. “The hostages deal, as it is structured, includes a pause, a humanitarian pause over a number of days, four to five days at least. Soon after, two Israeli women, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, were also released.

Persons: CNN —, –, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Anat Moshe Shoshany, Nir Oz, ” “, ” Shoshany, “, ” Liz Hirsh Naftali, Abigail Edan, Abigail, ” Naftali, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie Raanan –, Nurit Cooper, Yocheved Lifshitz, Israel Organizations: CNN, Hamas, US, Qatar, American, Palestinian Prisoners Locations: Gaza, Israel, Nova, Qatar

☆ What do we know about the Israel-Hamas hostage deal?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Since then, more than 12,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel began airstrikes on the enclave, according to Palestinian authorities. The deal will see the release of 50 women and children held captive in Gaza by Hamas, according to Qatar, which mediated negotiations between Israel and the militant group. In return, Israel will grant a “humanitarian pause” in its assault of the enclave and release some Palestinian prisoners. The deal also allows hundreds of trucks carrying aid relief, medical supplies and fuel to enter Gaza, it said, echoing details in Qatar’s statement. More details of the release deal will be sent to families later today, said the Israeli government.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Jonathan Conricus, Joe Biden, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie Raanan, –, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Israel, Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel Locations: Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Hamas

CNN —Tensions are boiling over in Israel as frustrated families of hostages demand answers from the government about the fate of their loved ones and a deal for their release. Wenkert spoke to media on Monday, before he and other relatives met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet in Tel Aviv. So far only a handful of families have met with Netanyahu – infuriating hundreds of other relatives of hostages who say the government isn’t doing enough to free them. But many hostage families accuse Ben-Gvir of endangering their loved ones further, arguing that Hamas could be less willing to release hostages if there is suggestion that Israel might execute Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu has repeatedly expressed two goals of the war – the release of all hostages, and the destruction of Hamas.

Persons: ”, Shai Wenkert, Omer, Wenkert, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Goren, Tal Chaimi, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Judith Tai Raanan, Natalie Raanan –, Nurit Cooper, Yocheved Lifshitz, Lifshitz, “, Itamar Ben, Ben, Gil Dickmann, Avigdori, Almog Cohen, ” Cohen, Gvir’s, Ismail Haniyeh, ” Haniyeh, Haniyeh, Israel Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, West Bank, National, Jewish Power Locations: Israel, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Qatar, United States, Gulf, –

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nurturing economic ties this week with Asia, but he's not signing any trade deals at a regional summit in San Francisco. This fact — no trade deals — reveals a lot about the status of U.S. politics, the evolving global economy and the Biden administration's own ambitions. The trade pillar is being overseen by U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, while the other three are under Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. WHY TRADE DEALS ARE UNPOPULARIt's simple: Voters say past trade deals caused the loss of factory jobs that hollowed out their hometowns and the Biden administration agrees. In a June speech, Tai criticized past trade deals.

Persons: Joe Biden, he's, —, Biden, “, ”, Robert Holleyman, ” Biden, Katherine Tai, Gina Raimondo, Matthew Goodman, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Brown, ” Brown, Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump, Tai Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Economic Cooperation, Biden, U.S . Trade, ., Greenberg Center, Geoeconomic Studies, Council, Foreign Relations, White, Republican, Democrat, Pacific, China . Trade, Trump, ” Trade, South Locations: Asia, San Francisco, IPEF, U.S, Tokyo, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Ohio, Canada, Mexico, China

☆ Gold eases as firm dollar counters bets on peak US rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Anushree Ashish Mukherjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. gold futures fell 0.2% to $1,961.10 . Denting bullion's appeal, the dollar index (.DXY) was up 0.4%, while benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields rebounded after a revision of retail sales data showed strong gains in September. Bullion gained over 1% in the previous session after data showed that U.S. consumer prices were unchanged in October. U.S. producer prices fell by the most in 3-1/2 years in October, the latest indication of subsiding inflation pressures. While gold is considered an inflation hedge, rising interest rates dull non-yielding bullion's appeal.

Persons: Bullion, David Meger, Tai Wong, Anushree Mhukerjee, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Companies, U.S . Federal, Treasury, CPI, PPI, High, Investors, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Microplastics may affect the weather, new study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Now, scientists have found that these tiny particles might even be able to influence the weather. Microplastics form when larger plastics break down, either by chemically degrading or physically wearing down into smaller pieces. The authors of Wednesday’s study found microplastics affect cloud formation, and clouds are of huge importance to the weather we experience. According to the study, microplastics can now be added to that list. Once the first water droplets cling to microplastics and other tiny particles, more water droplets are pulled together and clouds form.

Persons: CNN —, They’ve, Judith Enck, ” Enck, Microplastics, Albert Gea, microplastics Organizations: CNN, Science, Technology, Beyond Plastics Locations: China, Barcelona, Spain, Tai

☆ Russia relishes divisions between China and the U.S., pouring cold water on Xi-Biden talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his press conference at the Konstantin Palace on July 29, 2023 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Russian media have already reveled in pouring cold water on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit where Xi and Biden are due to meet Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin was not invited due to U.S. sanctions so Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk is representing Russia at the summit. A range of Russian newspapers including Kommersant, Izvestia, Argumenty i Fakty, Nezavisimaya Gazeta and Komsomolskaya Pravda did not feature any news on the APEC summit or Xi-Biden talks. China's President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden at the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian island of Bali on Nov. 14, 2022.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Konstantin, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Katherine Tai, Tai, David Paul Morris, Xi's, Alexei Overchuk, Dmitry Peskov, Kamala Harris, Kent Nishimura, Komsomolskaya, Putin, — Xi, Sergei Guneyev, Ian Bremmer, Saul Loeb Organizations: Getty, U.S, Economic Cooperation, Novosti, APEC, U.S . Trade, Russian Federation, San Francisco International Airport, American, Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Israel, Kremlin, SAN FRANCISCO, Merchant Exchange Club, Tass, Kommersant, Izvestia, Gazeta, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Sputnik, AFP, West, Analysts, Eurasia Group, China's, Afp Locations: Saint Petersburg, Russia, Russian, San Francisco, China, Beijing, Washington, Moscow, Asia, United States, San Francisco , California, Ukraine, Pacific, U.S, CALIFORNIA, Taiwan, Nusa Dua, Indonesian, Bali

☆ China objects to US proposal for APEC trade and investment policies -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai speaks during an APEC Ministerial Meeting (AMM) Opening Session in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small Acquire Licensing RightsSAN FRANCISCO, Nov 15 (Reuters) - China is objecting to a U.S. proposal for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation members to incorporate sustainability and inclusivity into their trade and investment policies, a source briefed on the negotiations said on Wednesday. Talks on the issue were continuing at the APEC summit in San Francisco to try to find language that the group's 21 member states could agree on, the source said. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai told a trade-focused plenary meeting she hoped the proposal, dubbed by the Biden administration as the "San Francisco Principles for Integrating Inclusivity and Sustainability into Trade and Investment Policy" could be still be finalized. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic that economies will finalize the San Francisco Principles soon."

Persons: Katherine Tai, Brittany Hosea, Biden, Tai, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, David Lawder, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: . Trade, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, San Francisco, Trade, Investment, European Union, Thomson Locations: San Francisco , California, U.S, China, San Francisco

[1/7] Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives at San Francisco International Airport to attend the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 14, 2023. He is due to meet U.S. President Joe Biden at an undisclosed location in the San Francisco Bay Area on Wednesday morning and then attend the annual summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, who with Blinken opened the APEC ministerial session, said the San Francisco meeting came at a time of "great uncertainty and challenges" for the region. As Biden arrived in San Francisco, shortly before Xi was due to land, dueling demonstrators greeted the U.S. president's motorcade from the airport. Earlier on Tuesday, a small aircraft flew circles over the APEC summit venue in downtown San Francisco, trailing a banner that read "END CCP FREE CHINA FREE HK FREE TIBET FREE UIGHUR," referring to China's treatment of Uyghurs, which the Biden administration calls "genocide."

Persons: Xi Jinping, Brittany Hosea, Antony Blinken, Xi, Joe Biden, Biden, Janet Yellen, China Nicholas Burns, Blinken, Katherine Tai, John Kirby, Nancy Pelosi, Michael Martina, Ann Saphir, David Brunnstrom, Trevor Hunnicutt, David Lawder, Chris Reese, Josie Kao Organizations: San Francisco International Airport, APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, U.S, San Francisco Bay Area, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Air China, . Trade, San, White House, Biden, China, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, United States, Beijing, San Francisco Bay, Air, China, Washington, San Francisco, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Taiwan, Tibet, Hong Kong, CHINA, TIBET

☆ UK Minister to Sign Trade Pact With Florida Governor DeSantis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Andrea Shalal and Alistair SmoutWASHINGTON (Reuters) - British Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said she will sign a memorandum of understanding with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Tuesday to boost trade and investment with the fourth largest U.S. state. Badenoch said the Florida deal was Britain's seventh with U.S. states, and Britain was also making progress in talks with the U.S. federal government on a broader trade agreement. Badenoch and DeSantis, a Republican presidential hopeful, will sign the deal in the Port of Jacksonville around midday (1700 GMT) Tuesday. Trade between Britain and Florida is already worth more than 5 billion pounds ($6.14 billion) a year, but could expand under the new memorandum. Together with Florida, they account for a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.3 trillion pounds ($4 trillion).

Persons: Andrea Shalal, Alistair Smout WASHINGTON, Kemi Badenoch, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Badenoch, Katherine Tai, Rishi Sunak, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, DeSantis, Trump, Alistair Smout, Edwina Gibbs, Mark Heinrich Organizations: Business, Trade, Florida Governor, U.S, Reuters, . Trade, British, Britain, Republican, Trump, NASA Kennedy Space Center Locations: Florida, Britain, China, Badenoch, DeSantis, Port of Jacksonville, London, Indiana , North Carolina, South Carolina , Oklahoma , Utah, Washington, Texas , New York , California, Colorado, Illinois

☆ U.S., Indonesia to discuss potential for deal on EV minerals: Reuters, citing sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

NORTH KONAWE, SOUTHEAST SULAWESI, INDONESIA - AUGUST 03: In this aerial view - A view of nickel mining site on August 3, 2023 in North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) showed that global nickel production grew 21% in 2022 alone. Indonesia holds the world's largest nickel reserves and leverages those reserves to attract investment in the battery supply chain, a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies said. Indonesia alone will account for roughly half of global nickel supply growth through to 2025. As of 2020, Indonesia has 292 nickel mining permits, mostly in Sulawesi, as the island hosts most of the national nickel reserves, the same CSIS report said.

Persons: Ulet Ifansasti, Ifansasti, Joko Widodo, Joe Biden, Biden, Katherine Tai Organizations: U.S . Geological Survey, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CSIS, Getty, White, U.S, . Trade Locations: SULAWESI, INDONESIA, North Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, U.S, Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi Province, United States

The Biden administration is still concerned about environmental, social and governance standards in Indonesia and is examining how a deal might work, the sources said. "There's a lot of work to do before we are able to formally announce negotiations on a critical minerals partnership," the person said. Indonesia does not have a free trade agreement with the United States. The only U.S. nickel mine is set to close in a few years, and the country has no nickel smelter, a risk to Biden's goal for the United States to lead in EV manufacturing. Many U.S. miners have said that the Biden administration should focus more on approving domestic projects than seeking international supply.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Joe Biden, Aditya Pradana, Biden, Katherine Tai, EVs, Talon, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ernest Scheyder, Fransiska, Grant McCool Organizations: United, Indonesia G20 Media, White, U.S, . Trade, Talon Metals, Tesla Inc, Thomson Locations: Rai Forest, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Aditya Pradana Putra, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, North America, China, North Dakota, Minnesota, Jakarta

☆ Emails reveal how Amazon and Google tap friends in government to influence policies. Critics say there's too much 'coziness' with Big Tech.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

When you work as a Big Tech lobbyist, there's a good chance you're already friends with someone in government. In 2022, 82.4% of Amazon lobbyists and 81.3% of Alphabet lobbyists previously held government jobs, according to data from OpenSecrets. "Big Tech uses its special revolving door access to furtively push for rigged trade policies," Warren wrote. The emails are limited to correspondence with Amazon and Google lobbyists and do not include communications with representatives of other tech companies. Big Tech critics say this access to policymakers is not granted to the public or civil-society groups, and that's why Warren and others have called for more transparency.

Persons: there's, Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Katherine Tai —, Warren, Tai, Andrea Boron, Mary Thornton, Karan Bhatia, Google's, Byun, Jillian DeLuna, Thornton, Bhatia, Kate Kalutkiewicz, USTR, Maria Langholz, Trump, Biden, Amazon's Thornton, Ethan Holmes, Joe Biden, Jonathan Ernst, That's, José Castañeda Organizations: Big Tech, United States Trade Representative, Google, Amazon, Amazon Web Services, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Spotify, Canada's, Demand, Prosperity, Reuters Locations: Big, Asia, China, Bali, Tokyo

☆ Exclusive: Russian fuel export ban to be lifted next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Russia, the world's top seaborne exporter of diesel, introduced a ban on fuel exports on Sept. 21 to tackle high domestic prices and shortages. The government eased restrictions on Oct. 6, allowing the export of diesel by pipeline, but kept measures on gasoline exports in place. Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov on Wednesday said that Russia was considering lifting the export ban on some grades of gasoline. Another industry source said the ban would be lifted next week. "They promised to lift the exports ban next week.

Persons: Shun, Tatiana Meel, Nikolai Shulginov, Diesel, Alexander Novak, Guy Faulconbridge, David Goodman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Energy, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka Bay, Nakhodka, Russia, Russian

☆ US lawmakers want Biden to hike tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on infrastructure during an event at the Amtrak maintenance facility in Bear, Delaware, U.S., November 6, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers want the Biden administration to hike tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles and investigate taking steps to prevent Chinese companies from exporting to the United States from Mexico. Representative Mike Gallagher, a Republican who chairs a select committee on China, and the panel's top Democrat, Raja Krishnamoorthi and two other lawmakers urged U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai in a letter to boost the current 25% tariff on Chinese vehicles. "It is critical that tariffs on (Chinese) automobiles not only be maintained but also increased to stem the expected surge in (Chinese) imports," they wrote in the previously unreported letter. Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Mike Gallagher, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Katherine Tai, David Shepardson Organizations: Amtrak, REUTERS, Rights, Republican, U.S, Trade, Thomson Locations: Bear , Delaware, U.S, United States, Mexico, China

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