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VIENTIANE, Laos — Women and racial diversity are vital to the strength of U.S. armed forces, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an exclusive interview with NBC News as he prepares to shortly exit the top military post after four years. “I would tell you that, you know, our women are the finest troops in the world. Our military is going to remain a diverse military," Austin said. Austin did not weigh in on what he thinks about Trump's choice of Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. Austin, a four-star general who was previously commander of U.S. Central Command, was appointed as Secretary of Defense by President Joe Biden and was sworn in on Jan. 22, 2021.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, “, ” Austin, Donald Trump’s, Pete Hegseth, Hegseth, ”, Austin, Trump, Biden, Vladimir Putin, —, we've, Joe Biden, Lester Holt Organizations: NBC News, Defense, Army National Guard, Pentagon, Senate, Republicans, Department of Defense, ., Korean, U.S . Central Command, NBC Locations: VIENTIANE, Laos, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Russia's Kursk, Jan

☆ Earnings season kicks off after a blowout jobs report upended investors' hopes of another interest-rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Tech: Amazon's Prime Day kicks off tomorrow, and there are some deals on surprising items . Amazon's Prime Day kicks off tomorrow, and there are some deals on . Getty Images; Jenny Chang-RodriguezWe've already got one indication companies are in good shape: Friday's blockbuster jobs report . But another blowout report — 250,000 jobs added and at least 4% wage growth — could lead the Fed to reconsider its easing policy. In addition to the usual Prime Day gadgets, like TVs and Airpods, Amazon is dishing out deals on tents, pocket knives, and chainsaws.

Persons: —, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Matthew Fox, we'll, Rodriguez We've, there's, Philipp Carlsson, Chelsea Jia Feng, haven't, Donald Trump's, Tyler Le, John Tomac, that's, boomers, They're, Gen Xers, Gen Zers, Kamala Harris, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, Grace Lett, Amanda Yen, Milan Sehmbi Organizations: Business, Service, . Tech, Amazon's, Pfizer, Wall Street, JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Big Tech, Getty, Fed, Boston Consulting, Trump Media, Microsoft, BI, pharma, CBS, ASEAN Locations: Israel, fintech, Vientiane, Laos, New York, London, Chicago

☆ Blinken chides Beijing's 'escalating actions' at sea, concerned over Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticised Beijing's "escalating and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea at a summit on Saturday, while his Russian counterpart said Washington has stoked anxiety with its plan for a nuclear deterrence with ally Seoul for the Korean peninsula. Blinken singled out China over its coast guard's hostile actions against U.S. defense treaty ally the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Philippines' small troop presence on a grounded former U.S. navy ship at the Second Thomas Shoal has angered China for years. Blinken discussed Taiwan with Wang and concerns about Beijing's recent "provocative actions", included a simulated blockade during the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, a senior U.S. State Department official said. Wang told Blinken that although communications had been maintained between China and the United States, Washington had not stopped its containment and suppression of Beijing and had even intensified it.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Wang Yi, Beijing's, Blinken, Thomas Shoal, Wang, Lai Ching Organizations: China's, 57th Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Washington, Seoul, U.S, ASEAN Regional Forum, EU, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Foreign, Taiwan, U.S . State Department Locations: Vientiane, South, China, Philippines, South China, Manila, Russia, India, Australia, Japan, Gaza, Ukraine, North, U.S, Laos, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Washington

☆ As Trump Looms, Blinken Aims to Reassure Allies on U.S. Commitment to Asia
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-26 | by ( Edward Wong | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For three and a half years, President Biden and his aides have insisted that the United States is a Pacific power, and that its allies and partners in the region need not worry about Washington’s commitments. Now Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken plans to deliver assurances in person across six nations, his most ambitious trip in the region. Mr. Biden’s announcement last Sunday that he is no longer running for re-election sent shock waves around the world. Many of America’s allies are especially concerned about a second Trump presidency, given that former President Donald J. Trump has constantly declared that those allies are conning the United States into providing military support. They are uncertain if Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee, can beat him in November.

Persons: Biden, Antony J, Blinken, Donald J, Trump, Kamala Harris Organizations: U.S, Trump, Democratic Locations: United States, Pacific, Vientiane, Laos

☆ China is trying to connect Southeast Asia by high-speed rail. Here’s how that’s going
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Imagine jumping on a train in southwestern China, traveling some 2,000 miles and arriving in Singapore – less than 30 hours later. Southeast Asia is the “obvious” choice because of its “proximity to China,” Bowerman adds. “Beijing, I think, ultimately wants to see Southeast Asian countries within its sphere of geopolitical influence. A staff member waits for passengers to board the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed train during a week-long public trial phase at the Halim station in Jakarta on September 17, 2023. “In the example of a high-speed railway line between Malaysia and Singapore, Singapore would likely have just one stop – Malaysia would have more,” Wong told CNN.

Persons: China’s, Gary Bowerman, ” Bowerman, ”, Pon Souvannaseng, Peerapon Boonyakiat, Bowerman, Pan Wenbo, Pan, Mei Wei, Wei, “ I’m, Xi Jinping’s, Souvannaseng, Hong Kong –, Hong Kong’s, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Wong Muh Rong, ” Wong Organizations: CNN, Initiative, China Railway, Reuters, East Japan Railway Co, Malaysian, Bentley University, of, Communist Party, Laos Railway, Laos Railway cumulatively, Orient Express, Getty Locations: China, Singapore, Asia, Laos, Kunming, Vientiane –, Indonesia, Jakarta, Bandung, West Java, Thailand, Bangkok, Thai, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Southeast Asia, “ China, Peerapon, Cities, Penang, Malacca, Phuket Old Town, Beijing, Vietnam, Philippines, Cambodia, Wat, Siem Reap, ”, Kowloon, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Halim, AFP, “

☆ I traveled to 4 European countries via train, and I made 3 major mistakes along the way
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In early February, I went on a two-week trip to Europe, on a mission to travel to six countries — including four of them by train. Here are three major mistakes I made along the way, and what you can do to avoid them. While some train rides — like the one from Venice to Rome on the Italian train company Trenitalia — were empty, others were packed. Many European train routes have multiple stops, and passengers simply get on and off the train. At boarding, hundreds of passengers scrambled for a seat, while I struggled to hoist my massive bag up the train.

Persons: —, Marielle, Trenitalia Organizations: Service, Union, China Railway, SBB, Swiss, Südtiroler Platz Locations: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Europe, Zurich, Rome, Freiburg, Breisgau, Innsbruck, Venice, Thailand, Laos, China, Vientiane, Swiss, Buchs, Southeast Asia, Budapest

LUANG PRABANG, Laos (AP) — Landlocked Laos doesn't have the famous beaches of its neighbors to attract tourists, but instead relies on the pristine beauty of its mountains and rivers and historical sites to bring in visitors. The crown jewel is Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where legend has it that Buddha once rested during his travels. Nestled among the mountains of northern Laos, Luang Prabang was the capital from the 14th to the 16th century before it was moved to Vientiane. “This dam won't generate a lot of power for Laos, it's going to power new shopping malls in Bangkok,” Eyler said of the Luang Prabang project. “In isolation, the potential transboundary harmful effects due to the Luang Prabang hydropower project may not be substantial," the river commission said.

Persons: Buddha, it's, ”, Brian Eyler, Stimson, Eyler, ” Eyler, Philip Hirsch, “, you've, ” Hirsch, Vietnam —, Barbara Curti Organizations: UNESCO, Asia Program, Sustainability, ” UNESCO, Associated Press, Ministry of Information, Foreign Ministry, Heritage, Monitor, Sydney University, CBA, Commission Locations: LUANG PRABANG, Laos, Prabang, Southeast Asia, Washington, Luang Prabang, Luang, Paris, New Delhi, Vientiane, Vietnam, China, Kunming, Thailand, Stimson, Bangkok, British, Cambodia, Asia, asia

☆ I traveled to over 7 countries in 2023. Here are 4 of the most affordable cities I visited.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dominique Mills | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I traveled to over seven countries in 2023, and some places stood out for being budget-friendly. Porto, Portugal, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, offered affordable accommodations and fun activities. Here are the four most affordable places I visited in 2023. Chiang Mai, Thailand, was culture-rich and inexpensiveChiang Mai, Thailand, was inexpensive but beautiful. Dominique MillsNestled in the lush greenery of Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is one of my favorite cities to visit.

Persons: Chiang, —, Dominique Mills, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Dominique Mills I've Organizations: Service, UNESCO, US Department of State Locations: Porto, Portugal, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Hanoi, Vietnam, Douro, Northern Thailand, Bangkok, Old City, Soi, Prabang, Laos, Luang Prabang, Asia, Vientiane, Indochina

☆ I traveled to 7 countries this year. Here are 3 places I'd love to return to in 2024.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Dominique Mills | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I traveled to seven countries this year, and some experiences convinced me to book a return trip. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Here are the three countries I'd love to visit again in 2024. I'd never sailed before, and it was one of the best challenges I'd taken on all year. Laos exceeded my expectations, making it one of my favorite countries to dateLaos was even better than I expected, and I hope to return in 2024.

Persons: —, Dominique Mills, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, I'd, Don Det Organizations: Service, Volkswagen, I'd Locations: Thailand, Laos, Bangkok, Krabi, Northern Thailand, Portugal, Porto, I'd, Lisbon, Camino, Santiago, Spain, Dominique Mills Laos, Luang Prabang, Vang, Vientiane

☆ Laos is spiraling toward a debt crisis as China looms large
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An alarming debt crisis has unfolded in Laos in recent years, raising worries about the tiny nation's obligation to its biggest creditor — China. China became the largest foreign investor in Laos in late 2013 and since then, its influence has only continued to skyrocket. Laos borrowed billions from President Xi Jinping's government to finance railways, highways and hydroelectric dams, depleting its foreign reserves in the process. It's widely feared the country may be on the brink of economic collapse if the economic crisis spins out of control. But without a clear-cut debt reduction deal with China, Laos' financial hardships will not likely ease, analysts warn.

Persons: Xi Jinping's, kip Organizations: Initiative, U.S ., Asian Development Bank Locations: Vientiane, Laos, China, Beijing

☆ Russia's Medvedev: Energy cooperation with EU is pointless
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Russia's Deputy head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a news conference in Vientiane, Laos, May 23, 2023. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 29 (Reuters) - Russia's former President, Dmitry Medevedev, was quoted as saying on Sunday that cooperation with Europe in energy matters was frozen or pointless as European countries had fallen on hard times and had poor growth prospects. "Europe has castrated itself in bloody fashion and without anaesthesia by walking away from energy cooperation with our country," Russian news agencies quoted Medvedev, now Deputy Secretary of the Security Council, as saying on social media. "This cooperation is either spoiled or frozen for some time." Medvedev, president from 2008 to 2012, has positioned himself as one of Russia's most vocal hardliners.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Dmitry Medevedev, Medvedev Organizations: Sputnik, Security Council, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Vientiane, Laos, Europe, Russian

☆ An empty station, a burning countryside, soot raining from the sky: This is what it's like to ride Laos' gleaming new $6 billion railway in April
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Laos is one of the few remaining communist countries in the world. But a shiny new railway funded by China now cuts through the countryside. It's a massive 1,000-kilometer, or 621-mile train network that aims to connect Laos with Thailand and Kunming in southern China. Despite being one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia, Laos took on a $1.8 billion loan from China to build the railway. I flew to Laos from Singapore in early April to experience first-hand how the historic railway is developing.

☆ China, birthplace of COVID, lays tracks for a new global health crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Bat viruses have been the source of multiple health crises besides those related to coronaviruses, including recent outbreaks of Ebola, Nipah, and Marburg. Partners in risk The total area at high risk for bat viruses to infect humans more than doubled in size in Laos between 2002 and 2020. The animals, known to be susceptible to bat viruses, included raccoon dogs, bamboo rats and porcupines. As China boomed in recent decades, global demand for rubber also skyrocketed, leading to further development and deforestation here. Already, scientists have found local bats bearing viruses closely related to those responsible for the 2003 SARS and COVID-19 pandemics.

☆ These maps show how far China's freight railways are stretching across Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — In the last two years, China has announced the opening of new freight train lines, while cross-border railways have become a feature in President Xi Jinping's meetings with regional leaders. Here's a look at where the rail lines are being built across the Asian continent. In the last six months, China also opened freight train lines to Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, according to state media. Those freight lines are in addition to China's relatively older rail network through central Asia — connecting Yiwu in eastern China to London. While it's difficult to verify how operational all the rail lines are, official reports offer a glimpse at how China's Belt and Road ambitions are panning out.

☆ Vietnam and Laos record hottest temperatures ever as heat wave grips Southeast Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Temperature records tumbled across Southeast Asia over the weekend as the region swelters under a weekslong heat wave that has brought misery to millions. Scientists have long warned that heat waves are set to get worse as the impacts of the human-caused climate crisis accelerate. In neighboring Laos, the city of Luang Prabang hit 43.5 degrees Celsius (110.3 Fahrenheit) on Saturday, breaking the national record of 42.7 degrees Celsius (108.9 Fahrenheit) that was only set last month, Herrera said. The Laotian capital Vientiane also broke its all-time record this weekend with a temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius (108.5 Fahrenheit). Meanwhile in Thailand, Saturday saw the hottest ever temperature recorded in Bangkok – 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit).

☆ This California city asked where its recycling went. The answer wasn’t pretty.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Saqib Rahim | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

In recent years the global plastic trade has shrunk amid new controls by rich and developing countries alike. U.S. plastic waste exports to Asia fell to 330 million pounds in 2021, according to government data, half their 2017 level. But even these reduced volumes, environmental groups charge, can overwhelm developing countries that lack the facilities to manage them. In May, city staff asked to divert some of Palo Alto’s waste streams to facilities in Louisiana and Southern California. The second lesson, City Manager Ed Shikada said, is that Palo Alto can’t transform the global recycling system alone.

Prima victimă a pandemiei din această țară asiatică este o angajată a unui club de karaoke din capitala Vientiane, au anunțat autoritățile din Laos, duminică. Femeia suferea de diabet și mai avea și alte probleme medicale. Laos se confruntă cu o creștere a numărului de cazuri. În total, țara a raportat 1233 de cazuri de la începutul pandemiei, dintre care 1.184 au fost raportate luna trecută, conform datelor Universității Johns Hopkins. În Laos au fost administrate, până acum, 184.387 de doze de vaccin anti-Covid, la o populație de 7,28 milioane, potrivit CNN.

Organizations: Universității Johns Hopkins, CNN Locations: Vientiane, Laos

Organizations: Universității Johns Hopkins, CNN Locations: Vientiane, Laos

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