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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. trade body sounded an alarm Thursday that global trade is being disrupted by attacks in the Red Sea, the war in Ukraine, and low water levels in the Panama Canal. Since November, the Iranian-backed Houthis have launched at least 34 attacks on shipping through the waterways leading to the Suez Canal. Total transits through the Panama Canal in December were 36% lower than a year ago, and 62% lower than two years ago, Hoffmann said. Hoffmann said ships transporting liquified natural gas have stopped transiting the Suez Canal altogether because of fears of an attack. “Here you see the global impact of the crisis, as ships are seeking alternative routes, avoiding the Suez and the Panama Canal,” Hoffmann said.

Persons: Jan Hoffmann, Yemen’s Houthi, Hoffmann, Yemen’s, ” Hoffmann Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Conference, Trade, UNCTAD, Suez, U.N, Ships Locations: Red, Ukraine, Panama, Suez, Asia, Europe, Iranian, Saudi, Israel, United States, Britain, Geneva, Russia, East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Hope, Africa, Shanghai, U.S

☆ Ayodhya temple: India’s Narenda Modi hails a new ‘divine India’ as he inaugurates Ram Mandir ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Helen Regan | Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

By moving ahead of building the temple, now we all take the oath of building a national, capable, successful, beautiful, and divine India,” Modi said. His promise to build the Ram Mandir helped spur that initial election success. A devotee gets anoint the name of Lord Ram on his forehead ahead of the Inauguration of the Ram Mandir Temple on January 20, 2024 in Ayodhya, India. Ritesh Shukla/Getty Images“I have come here to seek blessings from Lord Ram and Sita, I am very happy today,” she said. “I have come here to seek blessing from Lord Ram, Modi has done so much,” he said.

Persons: Narendra Modi’s, Lord Ram –, Ram, ” Modi, “ Ram, Modi, Lord Ram, Rafiq Maqbool, Pran Pratishtha, Mohan Bhagwat, ”, Yogi Adityanath, Acharya Mohanjodaro Bharadwaj, Babar, Money Sharma, Maulana Badshah Khan, “, ” Khan, weaponizing, Modi “, Modi fasted, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Chandravanshi, Ritesh Shukla, Sita, Lal Singh Khushwa Organizations: CNN, “, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Getty, Human Rights, AP, YouTube Locations: India, India’s Ayodhya, Babri, Ayodhya, Vedika, India's, Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, New York, Square, South Asia, Sarayu, New India, US, Tamil Nadu, “, Chhattisgarh

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is taking center stage in the Democrats' renewed push for abortion rights during this year's election and she will mark the 51st anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling on Monday in Wisconsin. The White House has repeatedly turned to Harris, the first woman to serve as vice president, to make its case. Although he is a longtime supporter of abortion rights, he mentions less often and sometimes avoids using the word abortion even when he discusses the issue. Abortion has reshaped Harris' tenure as vice president after earlier struggles when dealing with intractable issues like migration from Central America. “The president and the vice president appeal to different parts of the party," Simmons said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Roe, Wade, Harris, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Doug Emhoff, Donald Trump, Biden, that's, “, —, ”, Jen Klein, “ We’ve, ” Harris, Timmaraju, ” McEnany, Kamala, Nikki Haley, Trump, Ron DeSantis, ” Trump, Jamal Simmons, Simmons Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Republican, Democrats, National Abortion Rights, Trump, Fox News, GOP, South, Gov, Central America Locations: Wisconsin, Virginia, Washington, South Carolina, Central

☆ Trump seeks to crush Haley’s 2024 dreams and put a lock on nomination this week
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Manchester, New Hampshire CNN —Donald Trump is demanding far more than a win in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary. That’s what we are here to tell you what we in South Carolina want,” 76-year-old Gov. It was also a clear attempt at intimidating Haley into folding her campaign if she loses Tuesday, before the race even gets to South Carolina. In the CNN poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire, Trump has expanded his lead with 50% support among likely GOP voters while Haley stands at 39%. The former South Carolina governor suffered a similar enthusiasm gap in Iowa, and after Sunday, she has only a day to turn it around in New Hampshire.

Persons: New Hampshire CNN — Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Trump, Haley’s, Haley, It’s, ” Trump, Henry McMaster, baying Trump, ” McMaster, Russell Fry, Mr, Donald Trump, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, “ I’m, ” Scott, CNN’s Dana, “, ”, Biden, ‘, Trumper, …, Chris Sununu, credibly, “ I’ve, ” Sununu, Ron DeSantis, Bill Clinton, Sen, John McCain’s, George W, Bush, Hillary Clinton’s, Barack Obama, She’s, Joe Biden, America, Kim Jong, Nancy Pelosi, ” Haley, Judith Sheindlin, Judy, Viktor Orban, Edward Young –, – Organizations: New Hampshire CNN, Republican, CNN, GOP, Republicans, Spice, . South Carolina Rep, Trump, South, Republican Gov, NBC, Carolina showboating, University of New, Florida Gov, Iowa, New Hampshire –, Capitol, Hungarian, “ YMCA ”, Village People, “ Trump Locations: Manchester, New Hampshire, Tuesday’s New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa, Carolina, Southern, British, ., Myrtle Beach, China, Carolinians, “ State, New Hampshire Trump’s, University of New Hampshire, Keene , New Hampshire, Brick , New Jersey

☆ Stuart Seldowitz gets plea deal in NYC hate crime case
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Zoe Sottile | Artemis Moshtaghian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A former National Security Council official has reached a plea deal on hate crime charges after going on racist, anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic rants against a food cart vendor in New York in November. Stuart Seldowitz, 64, pleaded not guilty in November to two counts of fourth-degree hate crime/stalking and one count of second-degree aggravated harassment, court records show. In another video, Seldowitz tells the vendor, “We’re going to put big signs here saying this guy believes in Hamas.”In another video, Seldowitz asks the man whether he’s familiar with Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, better known as the Mukhabarat. Mohamed Attia, of the Street Vendor Project, told CNN the vendor said he did not instigate the conversation with Seldowitz. His family’s landlord was charged in what police are calling a hate crime and has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder.

Persons: CNN —, Stuart Seldowitz, Seldowitz, ”, Afaf Nasher, We’re, “ Mukhabarat, ” Seldowitz, Barack Obama’s, hasn’t, Mohamed Attia Organizations: CNN, National Security Council, Manhattan, Attorney’s Office, Islamic Relations, CAIR’s, ” CNN, Egypt’s General Intelligence Service, National Security Council South, Directorate, Gotham Government Relations, New, CAIR Locations: New York, York, Egypt, New York City, Israel, Chicago, Vermont

☆ Ayodhya Ram Mandir: A decades long Hindu nationalist dream is about to be achieved. What does this mean?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Ahead of the event, Modi has been fasting and praying in an 11-day ritual steeped in Hindu religious symbolism. But many Hindus believe the Babri Masjid was built on the ruins of a Hindu temple, allegedly destroyed by Babar, the first Mughal emperor of South Asia. The site is significant to them because they believe it’s the birthplace of Lord Ram, now honored with the construction of the new Ram Mandir. Hindu nationalist groups had for years campaigned to demolish the mosque to build a temple in its place. Muslims pray for peace ahead of verdict on a disputed religious site in Ayodhya, inside a mosque premises in Ahmedabad, India, November 8, 2019.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Lord Ram, ”, ” Modi, Babar, Douglas E, Curran, “, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Amit Dave, “ Young, Asaduddin Owaisi, Sudhanshu Trivedi, Larsen, Toubro Organizations: CNN, country’s, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, YouTube, India’s, AP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Indian National Congress Locations: Indian, Ayodhya, India, Babri, South Asia, Uttar Pradesh, Ahmedabad

HYDERABAD, India (AP) — India’s newest airline will buy 150 Boeing 737 Max aircraft, in the first major announced sale for the manufacturer since a panel blew out of another Max model in midflight earlier this month, the airline announced Thursday. Akasa Air CEO Vinay Dube announced the order of the Boeing 737 Max 10 and 737 Max 8-200 planes at an airshow in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. It currently operates a fleet of 22 Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 8-200 planes. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“This milestone demonstrates the strength of our partnership with Akasa Air," Boeing Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Pope said in a statement. Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Vistara, Air India Express and Akasa Air are among India's main airlines.

Persons: Vinay Dube, Max, Dube, Stephanie Pope Organizations: Boeing, Max, Akasa, Alaska Airlines Boeing, Air, Air India Express Locations: HYDERABAD, India, Indian, Hyderabad, Portland , Oregon, South Asia, Air India, Vistara

☆ Trump’s New Hampshire strategy – insults and court histrionics
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The former president publicly fulminated against Judge Lewis Kaplan as “nasty” and a “Trump-hating guy” and bucked courtroom etiquette. Trump accused Kaplan of being heartless for not suspending the trial so that he can attend the funeral of his mother-in-law. But Haley has only implicitly criticized Trump’s assault on democracy, false claims of electoral fraud and tumultuous term in office. This attitude is consistent with Trump’s apparent belief that rules that apply to other Americans don’t constrain him. “That aside, it’s just remarkable how much the former president has gotten away with in court.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley –, Trump, Jean Carroll –, Carroll, Judge Lewis Kaplan, Kaplan, –, Haley, who’s, doesn’t, Joe Biden, he’d, Barack Obama’s, “ Hussein, “, ” Haley, “ I’ve, that’s, CNN’s Dana Bash, she’s, hasn’t, Biden, he’s, don’t, Sen, Mitt Romney, ” Romney, CNN’s Manu Raju, —, ” Carroll, Carroll’s, ”, ” Trump, ” Kaplan, Ty Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “ He’s, ” Cobb, Arthur Engoron’s, Elliot Williams, it’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, Republicans, Social Security, South, White Locations: New, Manhattan, New Hampshire, New York, he’s, Florida, American, South Carolina, Rochester , New Hampshire, Iowa, Utah, Granite, United States

☆ Factbox-Who Are the Separatists Targeted by Pakistan's Strikes in Iran?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Here are some facts on the group Pakistan targeted and the restive province at the heart of the tension. WHICH GROUP DID PAKISTAN TARGET IN IRAN? The Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), which an intelligence official called the target of Pakistan's strikes in Iran, seeks independence for Pakistan's western province of Balochistan. They also attack Chinese projects, and occasionally kill Chinese workers despite Pakistan's assurances that it is doing all it can to protect the Chinese projects. It borders Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province where Pakistan carried out its strikes.

Persons: Xi, Charlotte Greenfield, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Ethnic Baloch, China Pakistan Economic, Barrick Gold, Barrick Locations: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Iran, Balochistan, restive, PAKISTAN, IRAN, Baloch, Balochistan province, Afghanistan, Iran's Sistan, Baluchestan, Islamabad, China Pakistan, China, Gwadar, province's, Chagai

☆ I went to school for architecture but realized I hated it. Here's how I found my dream career as a writer.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Meehika Barua | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewWhen I first started college, I knew I wanted to study architecture and become an architect. But at 19, I was in the middle of my second year of studying architecture as an undergrad, and I realized that I hated the coursework. Though I graduated with a degree in architecture, I decided to become a freelance writer instead. I eventually realized I wanted to write about anything and everything — from fashion and lifestyle to tech and social issues. AdvertisementBy the time I finished my architecture degree, I had successfully carved out a career as a freelance writer for my dream publications.

Persons: —, I'd, Rachel Green, Susan Shapiro Organizations: Service, Business

☆ I went on a $1,000, 5-day budget trip to the Maldives. Here are 5 things I did to save money.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Marielle Descalsota | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewThe Maldives is a dream destination for many travelers, including honeymooners, wealthy families, and even budget explorers like me. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The plan was to spend five days in the Maldives and stick to a $1,000 budget — this had to include flights, accommodation, activities, and everything in between. Flights to the Maldives can be pricey, even when flying from Singapore, the city-state in Southeast Asia where I'm based. AdvertisementHere are five things I did to save money and not break the bank:

Persons: —, South Asia — Organizations: Service, Business, Henley Locations: Philippines, Maldives, South Asia, Singapore, Southeast Asia

☆ ‘Starling’: Photobook shows stunning images of the bird migrating through Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Rebecca Cairns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The phenomenon, known as a starling murmuration in English or “black sun” in Danish, lasts just minutes, or even seconds. But it left a lasting impression on Danish photographer Søren Solkær, who first witnessed the spectacle when he was 10 years old. “The first thing that came to mind was starling murmurations … this big piece of calligraphy in the sky,” he told CNN. Solkær’s latest photobook, “Starling,” published last month, charts this migration journey, and with it, he hopes to inspire a closer relationship with nature. In Rome, Solkær included architecture in his compositions.

Persons: CNN —, Søren Solkær, ” Solkær, Solkær, Amy Winehouse, Metallica, Paul McCartney, starling, “ Starling, ”, “, Søren Solkær “, falconer, Diviners, that’s, “ I’ve, — Organizations: CNN, “, starlings, University of Copenhagen, Museum Locations: Denmark, Europe, Ireland, Italy, Wadden, North Africa, Rome, Danish, Søren Solkær “ Rome, North America, ”, Socotra, Bhutan, South Asia, Australia, Sardinia

☆ Top economists predict global growth will weaken this year as geopolitical rifts grow
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Katrina Bishop | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The majority of economists surveyed by the World Economic Forum expect the global economy to weaken this year, saying that geopolitical fragmentation around the world will deepen. "Global economic prospects remain subdued and fraught with uncertainty," WEF's report, published Monday, said. The International Monetary Fund, meanwhile, expects global economic growth to fall slightly in 2024 to 2.9%, from 3% last year. WEF's survey shows significant divergence among economists' expectations for different economies, with the experts most bearish on Europe's prospects. Some 77% of those surveyed expect growth in the region to weaken this year — that's almost double the figure recorded in September's survey.

Persons: that's Organizations: World, Monetary Fund, U.S, East Locations: South Asia, East Asia, China

☆ A fashion creator and videographer share the media kits they each use to get brand deals and how they negotiate joint projects as a couple
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Here's Patel's 7-page media kit:Page one of Shagun Patel's media kit. Page four of Shagun Patel's media kit. Page five of Shagun Patel's media kit. Page six of Shagun Patel's media kit. Page seven of Shagun Patel's media kit.

Persons: videographer, Sukhjot Singh, Singh, Patel, they've, She's, He'd, she'll, She'll, Shagun Patel, shagunpatel.business@gmail.com, TikTok, Here's, shotbusiness@gmail.com Organizations: York, Business, Nike, YouTube, Meta, Patel, Creative, Kia Motors, NYFW Locations: Asian, Instagram, Singh, Hawaii, Morocco, Paris

☆ Why ISIS has unleashed its suicide bombers against Iran
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

By the day's end of the day, scores of supporters of the rulers of Iran were dead, and hundreds were injured in a twin suicide bombing. AdvertisementHe was considered a hero, she said, by many in Iran for driving ISIS out of Iraq and helping to defeat them in Syria. Stringer/Anadolu via Getty ImagesIt was the latest in a string of attacks by the ISIS affiliate that has been targeting Iran for five years. The Iranian intelligence ministry sought to blame its old enemy Israel for the atrocity and said one of the bombers had Israeli citizenship, the Times of Israel reported. AdvertisementThey will continue to attempt attacks against Iran "no matter what," Washington Institute for Near East Policy expert, Aaron Zelin, told the VoA.

Persons: Qassem, —, Qassem Soleimani, Kerman, Barbara Slavin, Soleimani, Stringer, Khomeini's, Abdollah Tajiki, Slavin, It's, it's, White, John Kirby, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Saudi King Salman, Prophet Mohammed, Salvin, Donald Trump, Aaron Zelin Organizations: Sunni, Service, Revolutionary, Reuters, The Stimson Center, Iran Initiative, Asia Center, ISIS, Anadolu, Getty, Iranian, Ministry of Intelligence, Revolutionary Guard, Saudi, US, UK, Red, Quds Force, The Stimson, Washington Institute for Near East, VoA Locations: Kerman, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Asia, Kerman City, Tehran, Tajik, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Hormuz, Soleimani, Iranian, Fars, Republic, Yemen, Iran's, United States, al Qaeda, American

☆ China is producing vast undersea maps for submarine warfare, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewChina is mapping vast areas of the Indian Ocean under the guise of civilian research — and it could be to plan submarine warfare, a think tank said. The CSIS said that while much of the research was in the western Pacific and South China Sea, Chinese research vessels increasingly focused on the Indian Ocean. AdvertisementUsing data from Windward, a maritime AI-data company, the think tank said it found Chinese research boats had conducted "hundreds of thousands of hours of operations globally over the past four years." AdvertisementThe Indian Ocean is a vital area for China's "strategic and economic interests," Matthew Funaiole, a senior fellow at CSIS who worked on the report, told The Washington Post.

Persons: —, Matthew Funaiole, Andrew Scobell Organizations: Service, Business, Center for Strategic, International Studies, China's People's Liberation Army, CSIS, Washington Post, United States Institute of Peace, Associated Press Locations: China, Pacific, South China, Windward, Beijing, India, New Delhi, Sri Lanka

☆ Climate change has forced millions to flee their homes — and Asia is 'not prepared'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-04 | by ( Chelsea Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Fida Hussain | Afp | Getty ImagesAs the number of climate disasters increase, more people are being forced to flee their homes, especially in Asia. South Asia most at riskIn the region, South Asia is likely to have the most people displaced by climate change due to the density of its populations and its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, he added. According to the World Economic Forum, 10% to 18% of South Asia's GDP is at risk due to climate disasters. Some have nothing to return to, Oberoi explained, as climate change may have hurt their crop production at home. While we are talking and discussing and quibbling, the millions of climate migrants are the forgotten casualties of climate change.

Persons: Fida Hussain, Vinod Thomas, Thomas, Vinod Thomas ISEAS, Yusof Ishak, Tamara Wood, Pia Oberoi, Oberoi, Wood Organizations: Afp, Getty, ISEAS, Yusof, Institute, Economic, Kaldor, International Refugee, CNBC, OECD Locations: Pakistan, Asia, Philippines, China, South Asia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, South, America, Europe, Australia, Tuvalu, Southeast Asia, UNHCR

☆ I took psyllium husk, a cheap fiber supplement that eases indigestion and constipation. I was amazed by how quickly it helped.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Rachel Hosie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Psyllium husk is a cheap fiber supplement that can boost gut health and aid digestive issues. I took psyllium husk for three weeks and was shocked by how big an impact it had and how fast it worked. My digestive symptoms settled down in week twoIn my second week of taking psyllium husk, everything settled down a bit. The texture of psyllium husk was too hard to overcomeIt's been a couple of weeks since I stopped taking psyllium husk and my body has returned to its previous state. I definitely think I was benefitting from taking psyllium husk, so I still plan on finding a way to incorporate it into my diet.

Persons: —, Kate Hull, Emily Porter, Porter, Rachel Hosie, constipated, It's, I'm Organizations: Service, Business Locations: South Asia

KHAVDA, India (AP) — Rising from the bare expanse of the large salt desert that separates India from Pakistan is what will likely be the world's largest renewable energy project when completed three years from now. The solar and wind energy project will be so big that it will be visible from space, according to developers of what is called the Khavda renewable energy park, named after the village nearest to the project site. Shifting to renewable energy is a key issue at the ongoing COP28 climate summit. Once completed, it will supply 30 gigawatts of renewable energy annually, enough to power nearly 18 million Indian homes. Given this, Virmani said there is enough land in Kutch for various renewable energy projects.

Persons: ”, KSRK Verma, Khavda, Verma, “ It’s, Vneet Jaain, Adani, Gautam Adani, Adani Green, ” Ajay Mathur, Mathur, Abi T Vanak, Vanak, Sandip, Virmani, Hirelal Rajde, “ Organizations: Associated Press, Adani Green Energy Limited, Adani, Adani Group, Hindenburg, Group, International Solar Alliance, Ashoka Trust for Research, Twitter, AP Locations: KHAVDA, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Rann, Kutch, India’s Gujarat, China, United States, Bengal, Ahmedabad, Jaain, U.S, Mundra, Gujarat, Europe, Africa, Bengaluru, Denmark, Khavda

☆ Pakistan's top court begins hearing challenge to expulsion of Afghans
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

More than 370,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan since Oct. 1, after Pakistan vowed to expel more than a million undocumented refugees, mostly Afghans, amid a row with Kabul over charges that it harbours anti-Pakistan militants. Children born to Afghan families in Pakistan could not be sent back due to their birthright, Gilani said. Pakistan is home to more than 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, about 1.7 million of whom are undocumented. Islamabad has not heeded calls from international bodies and refugee agencies to reconsider its deportation plans. Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: I've, Umar Ijaz Gilani, Gilani, Asif Shahzad, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: REUTERS, Western, South, Thomson Locations: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Balochistan Province, Chaman, ISLAMABAD, Kabul, Taliban, U.S, Karachi, Islamabad

☆ Move aside, China. India will drive Asia's growth in the next few years, S&P Global says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

India's GDP growth is expected to reach 6.4% in 2024, and will hit 7% in 2026, according to S&P Global. India's economy is expected to power ahead in the next three years, leading growth in the region. Similarly, other emerging markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are set to see positive GDP growth this year and the next due to strong domestic demand, the report said. S&P lowered India's growth outlook to 6.5% in fiscal 2025 — down from their previous prediction of 6.9%, but expects GDP growth to jump to 7% in fiscal 2026. In comparison, China's growth is predicted to come in at 5.4% in 2023, 0.6% higher than S&P's previous forecast, while growth in 2024 is expected to be 4.6% — higher than the previous forecast of 4.4%.

Organizations: P Locations: Asia, Pacific, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines

☆ Nepal registers its first same-sex marriage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters —Local authorities in a village in Nepal registered the Himalayan nation’s first same-sex marriage on Wednesday, officials and activists said, five months after the Supreme Court issued an interim order clearing the way for such marriages in the largely conservative country. “We have issued the marriage registration certificate to the couple in consideration of the Supreme Court order and instructions from relevant government authorities,” said Hem Raj Kafle, chief administrative officer of the Dordi rural municipality. In June, the country’s Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing same-sex couples to register their marriages pending a final verdict. “It will open the door for them to jointly open bank accounts, own and transfer property like just any other couples.”Taiwan is the only other place to legalize same-sex marriage in Asia, where societies remain largely conservative. Hindu-majority Nepal has become increasingly progressive since a decade-long Maoist insurgency ended in 2006.

Persons: Ram Bahadur, Gurung, Surendra Pandey, ” Pandey, ”, Hem Raj Kafle, Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal’s, Pant Organizations: Reuters, Local, Blue Diamond Society, Maoists, Nepali Congress Locations: Nepal, Lumjung, Kathmandu, South Asia, Taiwan, Asia

☆ IMF says Sri Lanka debt deal could help board clear first bailout review
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. The deal comes about a month after Sri Lanka's agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China covering about $4.2 billion of outstanding debt, while clearing the IMF review could trigger a second tranche of about $334 million in funds. "These understandings pave the way for the IMF Executive Board to consider completion of the first review of Sri Lanka's four-year Extended Fund Facility Arrangement," Peter Breuer, IMF's mission chief for Sri Lanka, said in a statement. "We look forward to the Executive Board taking up this review by mid-December and the continuation of our productive collaboration with Sri Lanka in the period ahead." Sri Lanka plunged into its worst financial crisis in seven decades last year after its foreign exchange reserves dwindled to record lows.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Lanka's, Peter Breuer, IMF's, Nandalal Weerasinghe, Uditha Jayasinghe, Sudipto Ganguly, Clarence Fernandez, Steohen Coates Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Rights, International Monetary Fund, Sri, Export, Import Bank of, IMF, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Import Bank of China, Sri Lanka's, Sri Lanka

Neither Washington nor Tehran wants the conflict in the Gaza Strip to trigger a wider war in the region, officials in both capitals say. But in the seven weeks since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Iranian-backed militias have launched more than 70 rocket and drone attacks against U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria. The Pentagon, for its part, has responded with four rounds of airstrikes, killing as many as 15 people, U.S. officials say. So far, none of the U.S. reprisal attacks have provoked an escalation, even the one last week in Iraq that killed several militants with Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group. The Pentagon said on Tuesday that the attacks had subsided at least temporarily — the most recent being on Nov. 23, the day before an operational pause in the Gaza war began.

Organizations: U.S, Pentagon, Hezbollah Locations: Washington, Tehran, Gaza, Israel, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, United States, East, South Asia

☆ Nepal registers first same-sex marriage; 'historic', say activists
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Gopal Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Participants take part in an annual LGBTQ+ Pride parade, in Kathmandu, Nepal June 10, 2023. "We have issued the marriage registration certificate to the couple in consideration of the Supreme Court order and instructions from relevant government authorities," said Hem Raj Kafle, chief administrative officer of the Dordi rural municipality. In June, the country's Supreme Court issued an interim order allowing same-sex couples to register their marriages pending a final verdict. "It is historic," said Pant, a former lawmaker, noting that it was the first such registration in South Asia. Taiwan is the only other country to legalise same-sex marriage in Asia, where societies remain largely conservative.

Persons: Navesh, Ram Bahadur, Gurung, Surendra Pandey, Pandey, Raj Kafle, Sunil Babu Pant, Nepal's, Pant, Gopal Sharma, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Richard Chang Organizations: REUTERS, Blue Diamond Society, Maoists, Nepali Congress, Thomson Locations: Kathmandu, Nepal, Lumjung, South Asia, Taiwan, Asia

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