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These areas, which we've dubbed " jump zones ," span the globe, covering 6% of Earth's land mass. That's 57% more people living in jump zones than two decades earlier, increasing the odds that a deadly bat virus could spill over. The world's jump zones have lost 21% percent of their tree cover in almost two decades' time, double the worldwide rate. Almost one-third of that expansion would be in existing jump zones, where spillover risk is already high. Though those countries require mining companies to assess potential environmental harms that new concessions might cause, none require companies to evaluate spillover risk.

☆ How Reuters pinpointed bat-virus risk zones worldwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Areas where conditions are similar are more prone to spillover, scientists say. The Reuters analysis, which assessed spillover risk through 2020, has proven to have some predictive power. Similar statistical models are used widely to analyze data in ecology, and researchers use them to understand spillover risk. More than one of every five people on the planet is living in areas where the risk is highest for spillover. Using epidemic modeling software called GLEAMviz, the news agency simulated a worldwide pandemic originating from the spillover of a theoretical novel virus.

☆ We may never know where the COVID pandemic originated
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

LONDONIt’s the enduring mystery of the COVID-19 pandemic: Where did the virus come from? They also mostly agree that many of the earliest known infections and deaths clustered around a wildlife market in Wuhan, China. Others suspect the pathogen somehow leaked from a Wuhan laboratory, 27 km from the market, where researchers study bat viruses. One concentration of jump zones includes a region of mountains and lakes about 175 km southeast of the Wuhan market. In late 2002, the SARS-CoV-1 virus emerged in Guangdong province, in southern China, and became the SARS pandemic of 2003.

☆ Bat lands worldwide are besieged, seeding risk of a new pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +16 min

This collision – bats and humans competing for resources on territory long the domain of the bats – could trigger the next pandemic. As people destroy bat habitats worldwide, they are unwittingly helping bat-borne viruses mutate, multiply, and infect other species, including homo sapiens. For millennia, bat viruses lurked across the forests of West Africa and in other undisturbed parts of the world but posed little threat to humanity. They’re potent proliferators: Some roost tightly together and in close quarters with other bat species. Each of the bat viruses analyzed by Reuters has epidemic potential, according to the World Health Organization.

☆ What’s a President to Do When a Nation’s Capital Is Sinking? Move It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Hannah Beech | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +38 min

A new capital city for a place with such disparities and diversity presents both a challenge and a chance for reinvention. Moving the Seat of Power From Java to Borneo Detail area Malaysia Nusantara Borneo Java Sea Indonesia Jakarta Java Indian Ocean Detail area Malaysia Nusantara Borneo Java Sea Indonesia Jakarta Java Indian Ocean Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, will be about 800 miles from the current capital, Jakarta. It cannot be overnight, it’s not like Aladdin comes with his genie,” said Bambang Susantono, the head of the Nusantara Capital City Authority. We have to prove that this will be a self-propelling city.” — Bambang Susantono, head of the Nusantara Capital City AuthorityCritics of I.K.N. Indonesia’s capital city faces sinking land and rising seas.

☆ US regional banks rise in attempt to shake off crisis of confidence
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

... Read moreMay 15 (Reuters) - Shares of U.S. regional lenders gained on Monday led by a rebound in PacWest Bancorp (PACW.O), as investors tried to look past the crisis of confidence brought on by the collapse of three banks in a span of two months. PacWest rose 8.4%, while Western Alliance Bancorp (WAL.N), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB.O), Comerica Inc (CMA.N) and KeyCorp (KEY.N) were up between 2% and 6%. The KBW Regional Banking Index (.KRX), which had lost 13.7% so far this month, rose 2%. Then in May First Republic collapsed, creating a vicious cycle that put pressure on regulators to intervene. However, investors have remained wary of any reassurances from analysts and regulators on the stability of the regional banks despite deposits rising.

☆ Military object found in Polish forest was Russian missile - media
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, May 10 (Reuters) - The military object found in a Polish forest in April was a Russian CH-55 missile, Polish private media outlets RMF FM and Polsat News reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. The area where the object was found is hundreds of kilometres from Poland's borders with Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Private broadcaster RMF FM reported on Wednesday without naming its sources that the preliminary findings of Poland's Air Force Institute of Technology was that the object was a Russian CH-55 missile. Private broadcaster Polsat News also reported without naming its sources that the object was a CH-55 missile. A Polish government spokesman and the Air Force Institute of Technology could not immediately be reached for comment.

☆ Fed says banking sector looks set to weather recent turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. banking sector overall appears well-positioned to weather recent industry turmoil, but the experience could still weigh on credit conditions in the future, the Federal Reserve said on Monday. In aggregate, it said banks remain well-capitalized. DEBT LIMIT CONCERNSThe Fed released the report shortly after a separate central bank survey found banks were tightening credit standards amid weaker loan demand. Beyond banks, the Fed said pressures on various market sectors remained within historical norms. Banking sector stresses were identified as a risk by more than half of respondents, up from 12% in the November report.

☆ Take Five: Sell in May?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The services component of the price data can gauge demand, but consumer and producer price data broadly paint a picture of deflation. April inflation data is out Thursday. At 10.1%, UK inflation is the highest in Western Europe. Reuters Graphics Reuters Graphics4/ SELL IN MAYConventional wisdom has it that May is the ideal point to take profit on equities and lay low until later in the year. "Sell in May and go away" is based on the premise that the best six-month period of the year for stock market returns is November to April, while the leanest is May to October.

☆ IMF sees uncertainty over Japan's monetary policy, spillover globally
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While most Asian central banks must keep tightening monetary policy, Japan remains an exception with inflation still moderate - though this could change. "There is uncertainty around the direction of monetary policy in Japan, amid a rise in inflation," Srinivasan said. "Changes in Japan's monetary policy that lead to further increases in government bond yields could have global spillovers through Japanese investors, who have large investment positions in debt instruments abroad," Srinivasan said. With inflation exceeding its 2% target, markets are rife with speculation the Bank of Japan (BOJ) could modify its bond yield control policy in coming months. The BOJ kept ultra-low interest rates on Friday but announced a plan to review its past monetary policy moves, laying the groundwork for new governor Kazuo Ueda to phase out his predecessor's massive stimulus programme.

☆ Opinion | Why Does Bad Science on Covid’s Origin Get Hyped?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( David Wallace-Wells | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

This pattern does not apply only to research purporting to show evidence of a natural origin. Perhaps, if you staked a lot on that initial raccoon-dog report, it does make sense to turn your dial a bit in the opposite direction. Across a pandemic in which the public was desperate for new information, we have probably gotten too used to treating hurriedly prepared reports as definitive science. “It is really important to try to understand the origin of Covid-19,” Bloom says. I think part of science, and part of critical thinking in general, is supposed to be a high level of comfort with uncertainty and unknowns.

☆ IMF raises Asia's economic forecast on China recovery, warns of risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"Asia and Pacific will be the most dynamic of the world's major regions in 2023, predominantly driven by the buoyant outlook for China and India," the IMF said its regional economic outlook report. "As in the rest of the world, domestic demand is expected to remain the largest growth driver across Asia in 2023." Asia's economy is expected to expand 4.6% this year after a 3.8% increase in 2022, contributing around 70% of global growth, the IMF said, upgrading its forecast by 0.3 of a percentage point from October. "The costs of failing to bring inflation below target are likely to outweigh any benefits from keeping monetary conditions loose," the IMF said. "Insufficient tightening in the short term would require disproportionately more monetary tightening later to avoid high inflation becoming ingrained, making a larger contraction more likely."

☆ Premarket stocks: Why a US recession is probably coming
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That would catapult the United States into recession during the second half of 2023 (Europe and the UK will feel it even earlier). It’s possible that the economy sees disinflation in a way that it hasn’t in previous cycles.”Has the gig economy peaked? So is the height of the gig economy behind us? “It hasn’t changed anything about the odds of a recession,” the chief executive said in response to a question from CNN during a press call. “Down the road, rates going way up, real estate, recession — that’s a whole different issue.

☆ IMF raises 2023 economic outlook for Asia, sees China and India making up half of global growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

This comes as the rest of the world braces for slower growth from tightened monetary policy and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The two largest emerging market economies of the region are expected to contribute around half of global growth this year. International Monetary FundThe IMF's upgraded outlook would mean the region would contribute around 70% of global growth, it said. "Asia and Pacific will be the most dynamic of the world's major regions in 2023, predominantly driven by the buoyant outlook for China and India," the IMF said in its report. On a country-basis, the organization raised its growth outlook for China, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Laos to 5.2%, 4.5%, 6%, and 4% respectively.

☆ 'Military object' found in Poland probably not fired from abroad, broadcaster reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WARSZAWA, April 27 (Reuters) - A military object found in a Polish forest was probably not fired from abroad and most likely belonged to the Polish army, private broadcaster RMF FM reported on Thursday. The defence and justice ministries did not identify what had been had found near the city of Bydgoszcz, beyond describing it as a "military object". RMF said that its sources had noted that fighter jets were repaired near the site, which was near an airport used by the military. "The Military Department of the District Prosecutor's Office in Gdansk, under the supervision of the National Prosecutor's Office, initiated proceedings regarding the remains of an aerial military object found in a forest several kilometres from Bydgoszcz," Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro said on Twitter. The military police, regional police, the mayor of the village of Zamosc, the Gdansk prosecutor's office and a government spokesman all declined to comment further.

The euro rose 0.8% against the crown to 11.401, set for its biggest one-day gain since early March. The dollar, which traded down 0.7% against the crown before the Riksbank's decision, was up 0.4% at 10.347. Elsewhere, the euro rose 0.4% against the dollar to $1.1019 and the pound rose 0.38% $1.2457 both rebounding from slightly larger falls a day earlier. However, "the broader spillover impact looks limited - other regional bank shares have held up better - and the market sees it as an isolated incident. The dollar slid 0.2% against the yen to 133.45.

☆ MBA professors say there is a correct way to schedule your day to get more done. Here are 5 research-backed strategies they recommend.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Jessica Love | Kellogg Insight | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

They also say stop jumping around from task to ask and be weary of collaborating with others. Specifically, Maria Ibanez and a colleague have found that inspections that occur later in the day result in fewer violations. Each subsequent hour an inspector conducts inspections during the day results in 3.7% fewer citations per inspection that day, likely due to fatigue. For instance, after an inspection that yielded a particularly high number of violations, inspectors were likelier to spot extra violations at the next joint, too. A study from two Kellogg School professors — Nicola Persico and Rob Bray — tested this idea by altering the way Italian appellate labor court judges schedule court hearings.

☆ Wise’s tougher times raise risk of mission drift
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

He now has 6.1 million customers, results released on Tuesday showed, up 33% from a year ago. Wise’s volumes per retail customer dipped 7% year-on-year during the three months ending on March 31. Raising prices and tacking on other revenue-generating services could help to offset the hit to Wise’s top line. But pulling harder on those levers would arguably undermine one of the appeals of Wise’s business model for investors and customers: simplicity and ever-lower prices. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ “Angry Birds” may finally have found right nest
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, April 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The winning trick of “Angry Birds” is to fire your slingshot at just the right angle to knock out the squadrons of enemy green pigs attempting to steal the birds’ eggs. Japanese gaming company Sega Sammy (6460.T) may have found that position. On Monday, Sega agreed to pay about 700 million euros in cash for Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE), the maker of the “Angry Birds” franchise. The 9.25 offer price is a 63% premium to the closing price of Jan. 19, when rival suitor Playtika (8II.F)made a previous approach. Half the investors have preliminarily accepted the deal, and Rovio shares are near the offer price.

☆ India's HDFC is in fine shape for its big deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HDFC Bank’s (HDBK.NS) net interest income rose 20% year-on-year in the three months to March. The $116 billion financier’s mix of deposits points to some niggles. As interest rates rise, savers tend to move idle funds from low-yielding checking accounts to fixed deposits, where money is locked up for a specific period against juicier interest rates. For now, the hotly watched net interest margin, unchanged at 4.3% for the last nine months, is holding up. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Chegg pitches itself as an AI middleman
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, April 17 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Educational software company Chegg (CHGG.N) is trying to stay one step ahead of artificial intelligence. With its stock down 40% since ChatGPT’s November release, Chegg has a new plan to act as an intermediary between students and AI. To that end, Chegg on Monday announced a partnership with ChatGPT developer OpenAI to build a virtual tutor, CheggMate. With awareness of AI proliferating, schools will face pressure to adapt; Chegg could fashion itself as a safer way to do so. Other companies with domain-specific databases may follow suit, rebranding themselves as middlemen to avoid being made obsolete by AI.

"Financial support is very necessary, as well as military support," he said, acknowledging growing acceptance that the military conflict could drag on. "We should be ready that this war will last longer than we expected,” he said, noting that G7 partners were no longer pushing Ukraine to accept an end to war - as they had last year - but were now signaling their support for a longer conflict. Marchenko said there was also growing openness among donor countries to explore using Russia's frozen assets to pay for Ukraine's reconstruction than even six months ago. "Our partners are thinking about the possibility of using Russian assets as a necessary tool to support Ukraine. Marchenko said U.S. Treasury officials had told him the United States had a low amount of Russian assets, but the issue was of greater concern in Japan, Switzerland and EU countries.

☆ Canadian ETF slipup could have spillover effect
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TORONTO, April 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Canadian regulators have halted trading in 11 exchange-traded funds after their sponsor, Emerge Canada, failed to file audited financial statements by a deadline of March 31, the Financial Times reported. Toronto-based Emerge Canada, which distributes Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest ETFs among other products, failed to find a replacement auditor after announcing in December that it ended its relationship with the previous auditor, BDO Canada. Emerge Canada has been looking for a new auditor ever since. Some investors flocked to invest in Canadian ETFs during the U.S. regional bank turmoil. If Canada wants to build on its new-found safe haven status, it will have to make sure the problems at Emerge Canada are short-lived.

☆ UnitedHealth flexes market and political power
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters Breakingviews) - UnitedHealth (UNH.N) powered on in the first quarter. Revenue grew 15% compared with the same period last year as the firm added about 2 million customers to its insurance arm. The company’s Optum division, which provides medical care among other things, expanded even faster as it keeps adding services. Health insurance is a highly concentrated business, giving UnitedHealth power over markets in which it operates. Further cuts may be a risk, but history suggests UnitedHealth will keep chugging along.

April 13 (Reuters) - The banking stress in the United States and Europe has had a limited impact on Canada's financial system so far, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said on Thursday, adding though that there was a need to actively monitor risks to the system. "You're seeing a little bit of spillover to Canada, but honestly, it's really been quite muted," Macklem said when asked about how the country's financial system had been affected. Macklem spoke at the International Monetary Fund in Washington where he is attending an annual meeting. The failures of U.S. lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, followed by Credit Suisse's rescue, are prompting central bankers to closely monitor the potential for banking stress to trigger a credit crunch. On Wednesday the Bank of Canada (BoC) held its key overnight rate steady at 4.50%.

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