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☆ Japan Launches Rocket Carrying Moon Lander SLIM After Three Delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Kantaro KomiyaTOKYO (Reuters) -Japan launched the H-IIA rocket carrying the national space agency's moon lander on Thursday morning, after unfavourable weather led to three postponements in a week last month. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said the rocket took off from Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan as planned. The rocket is carrying JAXA's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) spacecraft, dubbed the "moon sniper" for its experimental precision landing technology. SLIM's lunar landing is scheduled for early next year. Political Cartoons on World Leaders View All 226 ImagesTwo earlier attempts by Japan to land on the moon failed in the past year.

Persons: JAXA's Smart Lander, Kantaro Komiya, Tom Hogue, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Tanegashima Space, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, NASA Locations: TOKYO, Japan, India

☆ Jill Biden positive for COVID, President Biden tests negative, White House says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden walk to Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., September 2, 2023. "This evening, the First Lady tested positive for COVID-19," her communications director, Elizabeth Alexander, said in a statement. "Following the First Lady’s positive test for COVID-19, President Biden was administered a COVID test this evening," the White House said. "The President tested negative. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Biden’s foreign travel could be affected.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Ken Cedeno, Elizabeth Alexander, Biden, Biden's, Ismail Shakil, Matt Spetalnick, Trevor Hunnicutt, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: White, REUTERS, Rights, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, India, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, Delaware, New Delhi, Hanoi

BEIJING, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Kweichow Moutai (600519.SS) and coffee brand Luckin Coffee (LC0Ay.MU) on Monday launched in China a latte advertised as containing the fiery Chinese spirit baijiu, as the Chinese luxury liquor maker aims to pull in younger consumers. The companies said the latte alcohol content was lower than 0.5% of its volume. By Monday afternoon in Beijing and Shanghai, Luckin's app showed that the drink had sold out at several stores. "Moutai and Luckin are the leading enterprises in the domestic liquor and coffee sectors, respectively," Zhu said. ($1 = 7.2640 Chinese yuan)Reporting by Sophie Yu and Brenda Goh; Editing by Gerry DoyleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Moutai, Kweichow Moutai, Zhu Danpeng, Zhu, Luckin, Sophie Yu, Brenda Goh, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Monday, Weibo, Luckin, Nasdaq, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, China's, Guizhou, Beijing, Shanghai

☆ Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy reschedules moon rocket launch for Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is seen at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan December 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T) said on Monday it planned to launch its H-IIA rocket carrying a moon lander on Thursday morning, after unfavourable wind conditions led to a postponement last month. The new schedule was announced a week after the previous launch attempt, which would have carried Japan's first spacecraft to land on the moon, was suspended because of high winds. H-IIA, jointly developed by JAXA and MHI, has been Japan's flagship space launch vehicle, with 45 successful launches in 46 tries since 2001. After JAXA's new medium-lift H3 rocket failed on its debut in March, the agency postponed the launch of H-IIA No.

Persons: Kim Kyung, JST, Rocky Swift, Mariko Katsumura, Christian Schmollinger, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, REUTERS, Rights, Japan Aerospace Exploration, JAXA, Yomiuri, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ South Korean teachers to rally after colleague's death
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Soo-Hyang Choi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The South Korean teachers union is not involved in organising the demonstrations on Monday, said the group leading the protests, Everyone Together As One. President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday ordered officials to listen to the teachers' demands and work to protect their rights, his office said. In July, an elementary school teacher was found dead at school after reportedly expressing anxiety over complaints from a parent over a dispute among students. One hundred public school teachers committed suicide in South Korea during the past six years as of June. The education ministry has vowed to prevent incidents of teachers' being punished for legitimate educational activity, and improve communication between teachers and parents.

Persons: Kim Hong, Yoon Suk, Soo, hyang Choi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, . Government, Authorities, South, Monday, Teachers, National Assembly, World Health Organisation, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, Korea

☆ Russia says Ukraine launched drone attacks on Kursk region
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 4 (Reuters) - Ukraine launched drone attacks on the Kursk region of Russia overnight from Sunday to Monday, with the Russian defence ministry saying its forces had shot down two drones after midnight on Monday. The drone attack on the Kursk region, which borders Ukraine to its west, began around 1 a.m. Monday (2200 GMT Sunday), the defence ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. This followed a report Sunday evening by the governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, that debris from a downed drone sparked a fire at a non-residential building in the city of Kurchatov. Drone attacks on Russian targets, especially in Crimea - annexed by Moscow in 2014 - and in regions bordering Ukraine, have become almost a daily occurrence since two drones were destroyed over the Kremlin in early May. Ukraine rarely takes direct responsibility for such drone strikes but says destroying Russian military infrastructure helps a counteroffensive Kyiv began in June.

Persons: Starovoit, Russia's, Lidia Kelly, Diane Craft, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kursk, Russia, Kurchatov, Crimea, Moscow, Melbourne

☆ Russia recognises first crew to use hypersonic missile in Ukraine, TASS reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, shows Kh-47 Kinzhal Russian hypersonic missile parts, shot down by a Ukrainian Air Defence unit amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine May 12, 2023. "The Su-34 aircraft used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile during the special military operation," TASS cited an unnamed military source as saying. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation". Moscow has said very little so far about the Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, but Ukraine's military Kyiv says Russia uses them frequently. TASS did not say when Russia used the Kinzhal missiles for the first time in Ukraine.

Persons: Oleksandr Ruvin, Valentyn, Vladimir Putin, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Kyiv Scientific Research, Forensic, Ukrainian Air Defence, REUTERS, Russian TASS, TASS, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Moscow, Russian, Melbourne

☆ Russia strikes Ukraine grain port ahead of Putin-Erdogan talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 4 (Reuters) - Russia launched an overnight air attack on one of Ukraine's major grain exporting ports, Ukrainian officials said, hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan, were due to hold talks. Ukraine's air force urged residents of Izmail port, one of Ukraine's two major grain-exporting ports on the Danube River in the Odesa region, to seek shelter after midnight on Monday. Putin and Erdogan were to meet on Monday in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi as Ankara and the United Nations seek to revive a Ukraine grain export deal that helped ease a global food crisis. After quitting the Black Sea grain deal, Moscow has launched frequent attacks on the ports of the Danube River, which has since become Ukraine's major route for exporting grain. Monday's attack - the scale of which was not immediately known - followed Russia's strikes on Sunday on the other major Danube port of Reni, in which the port's infrastructure was damaged and at least two people injured.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tayyip Erdogan, Putin, Erdogan, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Turkish, United Nations, United, Thomson Locations: Russia, Izmail, Odesa, Ukraine, Russian, Sochi, Ankara, United Nations, Turkey, Moscow, Reni, Melbourne

☆ Russia Recognises First Crew to Use Hypersonic Missile in Ukraine -TASS
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - The first Russian crew to use hypersonic, air-launched Kinzhal missiles during Moscow's military operation in Ukraine has been presented with state awards, the Russian TASS state news agency reported on Monday. "The Su-34 aircraft used the Kinzhal hypersonic missile during the special military operation," TASS cited an unnamed military source as saying. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special military operation". Moscow has said very little so far about the Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missile, but Ukraine's military Kyiv says Russia uses them frequently. TASS did not say when Russia used the Kinzhal missiles for the first time in Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, Russian TASS, TASS Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Moscow, Russian, Melbourne

☆ Country Garden: How bad are Chinese property developer's debt problems?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Xie Yu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A view of closed shops in a mall at Country Garden's Forest City development in Johor Bahru, Malaysia August 16, 2023. Who is Country Garden and why do people care about its debt woes? How bad is Country Garden's financial situation? It faces 108.7 billion yuan ($14.9 billion) worth of debts due within 12 months, while its cash levels are around 101.1 billion yuan. It said Country Garden was facing tight liquidity and recovery prospects for bondholders could be weak.

Persons: Edgar Su, Will, Moody's, Xie Yu, Sumeet Chatterjee, David Holmes, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, HK, China Evergrande, Thomson Locations: Garden's, City, Johor Bahru, Malaysia, HONG KONG, China, Evergrande, Will Beijing, Beijing, Guangdong, Caa1

☆ Australian delegation heading to Beijing for dialogue, government says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Sept 2 (Reuters) - An Australian industry, government, academic and media delegation will travel to Beijing for dialogue with Chinese counterparts on Thursday, another step in stabilising ties, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday. Australia's former Labor trade minister Craig Emerson will head the Australian delegation, which will include former Liberal foreign minister Julie Bishop, to show bipartisan political support, a statement from Wong's office said. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Jan Adams, who attended the last dialogue in Beijing as Australia's ambassador to China, will also be in the delegation. "This is first time the Dialogue has been held since early 2020 and it represents another step towards increasing bilateral engagement and stabilising our relationship with China," Wong's statement said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to visit Beijing this year, although a date has not been set.

Persons: Florence Lo, Penny Wong, Craig Emerson, Julie Bishop, Li Zhaoxing, Jan Adams, Emerson, Anthony Albanese, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Labor, Australian, Liberal, Trade, Department of Foreign Affairs, Australia, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Australian, Beijing, Sydney

☆ Gauff storms back, setting up Wozniacki clash at U.S. Open
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

After some exchanges of breaks early in the second set Gauff seized the momentum for good when she broke for a 4-3 lead, pumping her arms and pointing to her ear when her backhand winner leveled the contest at a set apiece. The third set was all one-way traffic as Gauff's speedy defense, pinpoint serving and terrific play at the net overwhelmed former two-time quarterfinalist Mertens. "It's a matchup I never thought I'd have to play," Gauff said of former world number one Wozniacki, who retired in 2020 to start a family and returned to the game last month. "When she retired I remember saying that I wish I could have played her. "I don't know if it's a battle of generations," she said of the matchup between Gauff, 19, and the 33-year-old Dane.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Shannon Stapleton, Elise Mertens, Caroline Wozniacki, Mertens, Arthur Ashe, Gauff, quarterfinalist Mertens, Wozniacki, Jennifer Brady, I'd, Dane, Rory Carroll, Gerry Doyle, Miral Organizations: U.S, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belgian, Gauff's, Gauff, Los Angeles

☆ Belgian Origi joins Forest on loan from Milan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 1 (Reuters) - Belgian international Divock Origi has joined Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan from AC Milan, the Premier League side announced on Friday. "Divock returns to the Premier League to further add strength to our squad. Origi joined Milan on loan from Liverpool last summer after making 36 appearances in all competitions, including eight in the Champions League. During his eight-year spell he won an FA Cup, League Cup and Premier League title with Jurgen Klopp's side, as well as scoring in semi-finals and final of Liverpool's 2019 UEFA Champions League-winning campaign. Forest visit Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Persons: Divock Origi, Origi, Andrew Omobamidele, Ibrahim Sangare, Callum Hudson, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Nicolas Dominguez, Nuno Tavares, Divock, Ross Wilson, Jurgen Klopp's, Angelica Medina, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Divock, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan, Premier League, Forest's, Milan, Liverpool, Champions League, Merseyside, League Cup, UEFA, League, Chelsea, Thomson Locations: Belgian, England, Argentine, Portuguese, Belgium, Mexico City

☆ Premier League clubs spend record 2.36 billion pounds in transfer window
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The transfer window, which was open from June 14 to Sept. 1, exceeded last year's record 1.92 billion pounds, with the top-flight clubs spending 255 million pounds on deadline day alone, it said. Premier League clubs were responsible for 48% of the spending across Europe's top five leagues including Spain's LaLiga, Italy's Serie A, Germany's Bundesliga and France's Ligue 1. "Nearly three-quarters of Premier League clubs (14) spent more this summer than the last, reflecting the increased intensity of competition. Champions Manchester City signed midfielder Matheus Nunes for 53 million pounds this week, having brought Jeremy Doku for 55 million pounds, defender Josko Gvardiol for 77 million and midfielder Mateo Kovacic for 25 million earlier. According to the report, almost half of the transfer fees received by Premier League clubs from overseas came from the Saudi Pro League club (SPL), which has the fourth-highest transfer spend of any league globally.

Persons: Chris Radburn, Spain's LaLiga, Tim, Todd Boehly, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice, Rasmus Hojlund, Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes, Calum Ross, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Martyn Herman, Gerry Doyle, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Soccer Football, Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion, West Ham United, American Express, Premier League, Deloitte, Serie, Bundesliga, Ligue, Deloitte's Sports Business, Chelsea, Clearlake Capital, Champions Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Saudi Pro League, Thomson Locations: Brighton, Britain, London, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBANGKOK, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn endorsed a new cabinet, including real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin as the country’s new prime minister and finance minister, according to a Royal gazette published on Saturday, months after the May elections. Srettha's Pheu Thai party, backed by the billionaire Shinawatra family, will oversee defence, transport, commerce, health and the foreign ministry portfolios. The second-place Pheu Thai broke off an alliance with Move Forward and brought on rival parties aligned with army generals that ousted Shinawatra-linked parties in 2006 and 2014 coups. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The new cabinet has Pheu Thai controlling ministries overseeing the economy ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Maha Vajiralongkorn, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha's, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Srettha, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

☆ Star-struck Gauff uses Bieber as motivation for comeback win
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Gauff dropped the opening set at Arthur Ashe Stadium but rallied, sealing a 3-6 6-3 6-0 win and reaching the fourth round with Bieber and his wife, Hailey, watching. "I definitely saw who was there," Gauff said on the ESPN broadcast after the match. "I thought, 'I cannot lose in front of Justin Bieber'. "I got a little tight when I first saw him, then I remembered President (Barack) Obama and Michelle Obama were at my first-round match." Sixth seed Gauff, who is chasing her first Grand Slam title, said she was honoured to have celebrities in the stands during her matches this year.

Persons: Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Coco Gauff, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Shannon Stapleton, Elise Mertens, Gauff, Arthur Ashe, Bieber, Hailey, Barack, Obama, Michelle Obama, Jimmy Butler, Katie Holmes, it's, Justin, Caroline Wozniacki, Shrivathsa Sridhar, gErry Doyle Organizations: Tennis, U.S, ESPN, Miami Heat, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Bengaluru

☆ Gemini tries to line up other creditors in new Genesis bankruptcy plan -The Information
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks past the logo of Gemini Trust, a digital currency exchange and custodian, during the Bitcoin Conference 2022 in Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. April 6, 2022. REUTERS/Marco Bello Acquire Licensing RightsSept 1 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini is trying to rally other creditors behind a plan to wring more money out of bankrupt crypto lending firm Genesis' parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG), The Information reported on Friday. DCG, Genesis and Gemini did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. Genesis filed for bankruptcy in January owing at least $3.4 billion to creditors and reached an agreement in principle on a restructuring plan, supported by DCG, and its primary creditors, including Gemini, in February. Genesis and DCG on Tuesday reached an in-principle agreement with Genesis' creditors to resolve claims brought during the crypto lender's bankruptcy.

Persons: Marco Bello, Gemini, DCG, Genesis, Kanjyik Ghosh, Sandra Maler, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Gemini Trust, REUTERS, Digital Currency Group, DCG, Gemini, Thomson Locations: Miami Beach , Florida, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ China will widen market access for the service industry - President Xi
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seen on a screen during a video address for the Global Trade in Services Summit, at the media centre for China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 2, 2023. REUTERS/Florence Lo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/SHANGHAI, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that China would widen market access in the service industry and promote cross-border services trade. Speaking via video at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, Xi said China would focus on expanding the domestic market, increasing imports of high-quality services and reforming the country's basic data system. Xi said China will promote the integrated development of high-end manufacturing and modern service industries. Reporting by Jing Xu and Ryan Woo in Beijing and Jason Xue in Shanghai.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Florence Lo, Xi, Jing Xu, Ryan Woo, Jason Xue, Gerry Doyle, Miral Organizations: Global Trade, Services, China, Fair for Trade, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, SHANGHAI, Shanghai

Reviving Thailand's economy will be one of the biggest tasks for political newcomer Srettha, who became prime minister last month following prolonged uncertainty after a May election. On the day of the vote, Pheu Thai figurehead Thaksin Shinawatra returned to Thailand in a dramatic homecoming after living abroad for 15 years in self-exile to avoid an 8-year prison sentence. Srettha's rapid ascent to power, Thaksin's smooth return and a coalition between Pheu Thai and former rivals fuelled speculation about an agreement between Thaksin and his foes among the country's powerful conservative and royalist army. Thaksin and the Pheu Thai party say that is not the case. The Pheu Thai will control key economic ministries, which will be crucial in implementing its policies, including a 10,000 baht ($285.63)handout in the form of digital currency.

Persons: Pheu, Thailand's, Athit, Srettha Thavisin, Srettha, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Thaksin Shinawatra, Thaksin, Bhumjaithai, Chayut Setboonsarng, Miral Fahmy, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pheu, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Rights BANGKOK

A man walks at the headquarters of Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan, January 18, 2023. The central bank would take time to determine whether it can raise interest rates as it waits for evidence that a sustained economic recovery will eradicate Japan's deflationary mindset, he said. "The key is for the economy to keep recovering," Nakamura told a news conference, when asked about the conditions for ending negative interest rates. We therefore need more time before shifting to monetary tightening," he said, adding the key was to determine whether companies' growth expectations were heightening. Markets are divided on whether the BOJ could remove the yield cap before raising short-term rates, ditch both simultaneously, or keep the yield cap when ending negative rates as a precaution against an abrupt rise in long-term yields.

Persons: Issei Kato, Nakamura, Toyoaki Nakamura, Japan's, we're, Naoki Tamura, Kazuo Ueda, Leika Kihara, Christian Schmollinger, Navaratnam, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Hitachi Ltd, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, GIFU, Gifu

☆ Australia regulator sues Qantas alleging sale of tickets on cancelled flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Qantas aircraft are seen on the tarmac at Melbourne International Airport in Melbourne, Australia, November 6, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble//File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Qantas Airways Ltd FollowSYDNEY, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Australia's competition regulator sued Qantas Airways (QAN.AX) on Thursday, accusing it of selling tickets to thousands of flights after they were cancelled, putting the airline at risk of huge fines and reputational turbulence. The airline kept selling tickets for an average of 16 days after it had cancelled flights for reasons often within its control, such as "network optimisation", the ACCC added. Qantas kept selling tickets to one Sydney-to-San Francisco flight 40 days after it had been cancelled, the regulator said. At the Senate hearing, Joyce confirmed Qantas had written to the federal government in 2022 asking it to deny a request from Qatar Airways, a Qantas competitor on international routes, to increase flights to Australia.

Persons: Phil Noble, Rico Merkert, Alan Joyce, Joyce, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Byron Kaye, Poonam, Shailesh Kuber, Rashmi Aich, Gerry Doyle, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Qantas, Melbourne International Airport, REUTERS, Rights Companies Qantas Airways Ltd, SYDNEY, Qantas Airways, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, ACCC, Sydney University's Institute of Transport, Logistics Studies, Australia, Senate, Qatar Airways, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, Sydney, Francisco, Bengaluru

☆ China hones anti-submarine capabilities amid South China Sea tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 31 (Reuters) - China's military said it had recently held intensive anti-submarine exercises in the strategically important South China Sea as part of efforts to hone its capabilities amid rising maritime tensions with its neighbours and their allies. It was one of several such drills this year and was part of broader activities the Chinese military has conducted in the Indo-Pacific region. The United States and its allies have also stepped up military activities, especially in the South China Sea, most of which is claimed by Beijing. Last week, the U.S. and Indonesian defence chiefs said China's territorial claims in the South China Sea were "inconsistent with international law". "Japan and the United States have frequent submarine activities in the region," said Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping, but those activities were not disclosed.

Persons: Tyrone Siu, Song Zhongping, Albee Zhang, Ryan Woo, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Community Emergency, Team, REUTERS, Rights, Southern Command Theatre, China's, Liberation Army, Beijing, U.S . Navy, Seventh Fleet, Thomson Locations: Hong Kong, China, Rights BEIJING, South China, United States, U.S, Philippine, Japan, Australia, Britain

People represent different countries during seminars on conflict scenarios with China, organised for youth by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Taipei, Taiwan May 21, 2023. Younger voters are again playing a role - but this time they are gravitating to dark horse candidate who has become the DPP's closest challenger. Ko Wen-je, a 64-year-old former Taipei mayor, has won over many younger voters with plain talk on issues such as high housing costs rather than focusing on the China threat. Some younger voters may show their hands late, so Ko's appeal to that demographic could close the gap with Lai. Although it may have a healthy lead in opinion polls, the DPP is acutely aware of the dangers of losing younger voters.

Persons: Ann Wang, Tsai Ing, William Lai, Ko Wen, Ko, Lai, Terry Guo, Chen Kuang, Chen, Hou Yu, Mao Zedong's, Ho Chih, yung, Ho, Zheng De, Zheng, Sarah Wu, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, John Geddie, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, REUTERS, Rights, United States, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwanese Public, DPP, Apple, Chung Cheng, Taiwan's, ih, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, Beijing, United, Hong Kong, Lai, Chung Cheng University

☆ Japan makes record defence spending request amid tension with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Sakura Murakami | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The plan, announced last year, seeks to double defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product by 2027 as it faces an increasingly assertive China and an unpredictable North Korea. The defence ministry plans to set aside more than 900 billion yen for ammunition and weapons, including new ship-based air-defence missiles, according to the budget request. Some 600 billion yen will be used to strengthen logistics capabilities to deploy weapons and resources to southwest island chains during an emergency. Japan will also put 75 billion yen towards jointly developing interceptor missiles with the United States to counter hypersonic warheads, and 64 billion yen for building next-generation fighter jets with Britain and Italy. The record defence spending by the staunch U.S. ally comes after decades of pacifist policies.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk, Camp David, Evelyn Hockstein, Fumio, Sakura Murakami, Robert Birsel, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S, South, REUTERS, Rights, Ministry of Finance, Thomson Locations: Camp, Thurmont , Maryland, U.S, China, North Korea, Japan, United States, Britain, Italy, Taiwan, Ukraine, Asia

☆ After Chandrayaan-3: India's upcoming and past space missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here are highlights of Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) upcoming and past missions:ADITYA-L1Slated for launch on Sept. 2, the Aditya L1 (Aditya is a name for the sun in the Hindi language) is the first Indian space mission to study the sun. PAST MISSIONS:* Chandrayaan-3 - On August 23, India became the first country to safely land a craft in the moon's south pole region. * Chandrayaan-2 - In 2019, ISRO launched its second moon mission, its first attempt to study the lunar south pole. * Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) - In 2013, ISRO became the fourth space agency to put a spacecraft in the Mars orbit. * Chandrayaan-1 - India's first mission to the Moon was launched successfully in 2008.

Persons: GAGANYAAN, Vikram, Jitendra Singh, Nivedita, Gerry Doyle, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: ISRO, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Indian Space Research, Centre, NASA, Mars Orbiter, Thomson Locations: India, Bengaluru

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