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☆ Japanese restaurant owners in Hong Kong brace for Fukushima seafood ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Japanese restaurant owners in Hong Kong are grappling with a looming ban on seafood imports from 10 Japanese prefectures because of Tokyo's plan to release treated water from the crippled Fukushima plant into the sea from Aug. 24. Hong Kong is Japan's second largest market, after mainland China, for agricultural and fisheries exports. Although the details of Hong Kong's ban remains unclear, Halry Yu, 42, owner of Japanese restaurant Hassun, said more than 90% of seafood sent to Hong Kong is gathered in Tokyo. “If they ban imports that come via Tokyo, I think all sushi restaurants in Hong Kong will be in trouble. Advertising executive Hilda Lee, 30, said she enjoys eating Japanese seafood, and dines at Japanese restaurants two to three times each month.

Persons: Hong, Halry Yu, ” Yu, barbecued, Yu, Hong Kong, Hilda Lee, dines, Lee, Jim Smith, there's, Smith, Dino Leung, Leung, Edmond Ng, Joyce Zhou, Farah, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Japan, Hong, University of Portsmouth, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Tokyo, Osaka, Hong, Fukushima, Chiba, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Miyagi, Niigata, Nagano, Saitama, Wan Chai

☆ Indonesia, Boeing sign deal for sale of F-15 fighter jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Indonesia's defence ministry and U.S. planemaker Boeing (BA.N) have signed an agreement on the sale of 24 F-15EX fighter jets to help modernise the Southeast Asian country's ageing fleet, the ministry and the company said. Boeing and the defence ministry did not provide details on the deal's value. This year, Jakarta bought 42 Dassault (AM.PA) Rafale fighter jets for $8.1 billion. It has also purchased 12 used Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets in an $800 million deal that drew criticism as the aircraft were considered too old. "After Rafale, the F-15 will make Indonesia a strong nation as we keeps building a mature defence diplomacy," the defence ministry spokesperson said.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Lloyd Austin, Sukhoi Su, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo, Gerry Doyle Organizations: planemaker Boeing, Boeing, Boeing's St, Indonesian Defence, U.S ., Dassault, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Boeing's, Louis , Missouri, U.S, Jakarta, Indonesia

☆ Moon landing anticipation builds for India after Russia's crash
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Nivedita Bhattacharjee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The mission - Chandrayaan means "moon vehicle" in Hindi and Sanskrit - is India's second attempt to land on the south pole of the moon. Rough terrain makes a south pole landing difficult, but making a first landing would be historic. India's moon mission blasted off on July 14, and the lander module of Chandrayaan-3 separated from the propulsion module last week. For India, a successful moon landing would mark its emergence as a space power as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government looks to spur investment in private space launches and related satellite-based businesses. A successful mission would make India only the fourth country to successfully land on the moon, after the former USSR, the United States and China.

Persons: Russia's Luna, ISRO's, Narendra Modi's, Manish Purohit, Sivan, Pawan Chandana, Nivedita, Gerry Doyle, Mark Potter Organizations: ISRO, Handout, REUTERS, Rights, Indian Space Research, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Russian, Russia, India, Hollywood, USSR, United States, China, Bengaluru

"We have waited for this moment for many years," said Carlos de Leon Samayoa, 27, as he celebrated on the streets of Guatemala City. Arevalo unexpectedly emerged out of political obscurity to build a large anti-graft movement with his Semilla party, after many other opposition candidates were barred from running. [1/9]Guatemalan anti-graft presidential candidate Bernardo Arevalo, of the Semilla political party, poses for a photo during the presidential run-off election, in Guatemala City, Guatemala August 20, 2023. "The ruling pact will likely continue to target electoral officials and Arevalo’s Semilla party with investigations ahead of January’s change in government," she said. POLITICAL TENSIONSBeyond his anti-graft policies, Arevalo said he wants to expand relations with China alongside Guatemala's longstanding allegiance with Taiwan.

Persons: Bernardo Arevalo, Arevalo, Sandra Torres, Alejandro Giammattei, revel, Guatemalans, Arevalo's, Carlos de Leon Samayoa, Torres, Guatemala's, Pilar Olivares, Risa Grais, Arevalo’s, Eladio Loizaga, Giammattei, Ana María Méndez, Cassandra Garrison, Sofia Menchu, Herbert Villarraga, Diego, Drazen Jorgic, Stephen Eisenhammer, Miral Fahmy, Stephen Coates, Gerry Doyle Organizations: GUATEMALA CITY, Central, Twitter, REUTERS, Eurasia Group, Organization of American States, Central America, Diego Ore, Thomson Locations: GUATEMALA, Guatemalan, United States, Guatemala, Americas, Guatemala City, June's, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Honduras, America

☆ China investigates citizen accused of spying for CIA, security ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Security cameras are seen at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, China July 26, 2018. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Aug 21 (Reuters) - China is investigating a Chinese national accused of spying for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the country's state security ministry said on Monday. The 39-year-old Chinese national, surnamed Hao, was a cadre at a ministry and had gone to Japan for studies, which was where the spying recruitment occurred, the ministry said. The statement came less than two weeks after the ministry said it uncovered another national also suspected of spying for the CIA after being recruited in Italy. Relations between the United States and China have soured in recent years over a range of issues, including national security.

Persons: Damir Sagolj, Hao, Ted, Li Jun, Li, Liz Lee, Elaine Lies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Central Intelligence Agency, CIA, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Japan, Italy, The U.S, Tokyo, United States, Washington, Shanghai

☆ North Korea's Kim directs cruise missile test as South Korea, US begin drills
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees a strategic cruise missile test aboard a navy warship in this undated photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency. The latest missile test came as South Korea and the United States began the Ulchi Freedom Shield summer exercises on Monday, designed to enhance their joint responses to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. "North Korea talks about preemptive nuclear strikes and preparations for an offensive war, but we will immediately and overwhelmingly retaliate for any provocations." Over the past two years, North Korea has been testing what it calls "strategic cruise missiles," which some analysts have said could be tipped with nuclear warheads. While modernising and bolstering its naval power, North Korea showcased a new, nuclear-capable underwater attack drone in March.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, KCNA, Kim, Yoon Suk Yeol, Yoon, Choi Il, Hyonhee Shin, Gerry Doyle, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, United States, Command, National Security Council, Thomson Locations: Rights SEOUL, South Korea, Pyongyang, Korea, United States, Japan, North Korea

☆ Canada to deploy military in British Columbia to tackle fast-spreading fires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Nia Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Summary British Columbia declares state of emergency after wildfiresFlames have led to evacuation orders for more than 35,000 peopleAQI of some British Columbia cities at 'hazardous' levelsREVELSTOKE, British Columbia, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Canada is sending the military to tackle fast-spreading wildfires in British Columbia, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday, as the western province deals with flames that have led to evacuation orders for more than 35,000 people. In some cities in British Columbia, the air quality index (AQI), which measures major pollutants including particulate matter produced by fires, was above 350, a "hazardous" level, IQAir, a real-time air quality information platform showed. West Kelowna fire chief Jason Brolund said he saw some hope after battling "epic" fires for the past four days. Since 2009, Canada has been spending more on fighting and suppressing wildfires than on maintaining its firefighting personnel and program. In British Columbia, the TransCanada highway was closed near Chase, about 400 km (250 miles) northeast of Vancouver.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Jason Brolund, that's, Brolund, Trudeau, Krista Flesjer, Kip Lumquist, Lumquist, Nia Williams, Dan Whitcomb, Nilutpal, Denny Thomas, Mark Porter, Matthew Lewis, Lisa Shumaker, Gerry Doyle, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Columbia, Flames, British Columbia, Kelowna College, ., Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Reuters, U.S ., Canadian, REUTERS Acquire, Government, Thomson Locations: Columbia, REVELSTOKE, British Columbia, Canada, British, Kelowna, U.S, U.S . Pacific Northwest, Washington, Oregon, Squilax, Kamloops, New York, U.S . East Coast, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Chase, Vancouver, Craigellachie, Los Angeles, Bengaluru

KCNA via Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreSEOUL, Aug 17 (Reuters) - North Korea may launch an intercontinental ballistic missile or take other military action to protest a summit between the United States, South Korea and Japan, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday, citing the country's intelligence agency. North Korea has criticised deepening military cooperation among the three nations as part of a dangerous prelude to the creation of an "Asian version of NATO". Yoo said there was a chance the North would launch the satellite to celebrate its founding anniversary on Sept. 9. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has made it a priority to conduct a launch during the second half of this year, Yoo noted. The United States has accused North Korea of providing weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine, which it calls a "special operation", including artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets and missiles.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim Ju, Joe Biden, Camp David, Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida, Yoo Sang, Yoo, Kim Jong, Kim, hyang Choi, Edmund Klamann, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, Korean Central News Agency, KCNA, South, Camp, South Korean, NATO, National Intelligence Service, United, Thomson Locations: Pyongyang, North Korea, SEOUL, United States, South Korea, Japan, South Korean, Seoul, Tokyo, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

By accepting an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report last month that greenlit Japan's Fukushima water release, Yoon could encourage fresh dissent that China will try to amplify, analysts say. On Monday, Park Gu-yeon, vice minister of government policy coordination at the prime minister's office, said both sides have made "substantial progress" on the water release issue. A senior South Korean official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of diplomatic sensitivity, said the government did not see it as a source of friction. "China absolutely will try to exploit Fukushima to drive a wedge between South Korea and Japan," said David Boling, a director at consulting firm Eurasia Group. In July, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Japan had shown selfishness and arrogance, and had not fully consulted the international community about the water release.

Persons: Rafael Mariano Grossi, Kobayakawa, Joe Biden, Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida, Biden, David, Yoon, Japan Rahm Emanuel, Moon Jae, Christopher Johnstone, Antony Blinken, they've, David Boling, Joshua Kurlantzick, Wang Wenbin, Hirokazu Matsuno, Tim Kelly, Sakura Murakami, Hyonhee Shin, Josh Smith, David Brunnstrom, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ekaterina Golubkova, Lun Tian, Yoshifumi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: International Atomic Energy Agency, Tokyo Electric Power Co, Japanese, Reuters, U.S, IAEA, Biden's National Security Council, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Japan, South Korean, South, Gallup, Eurasia Group, Council, Foreign Relations, Global Times, Thomson Locations: Futaba, Japan, TOKYO, SEOUL, South Korea, Tokyo, China, Washington, East Asia, Taiwan, Beijing, Russia, North Korea, United States, Australia, Britain, Seoul, Seoul . U.S, Fukushima, Korean

☆ Dollar shines on US economic resilience; Aussie tumbles after employment data
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Rae Wee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Australian dollar tumbled after the country's July employment unexpectedly fell while its jobless rate ticked up more than expected. The Aussie sank nearly 1% after the release of the figures, dragging the New Zealand dollar alongside it. The yen bottomed out at 146.565 per dollar in early Asia trade, its lowest level since November, having come under renewed pressure as a result of interest rate differentials between the U.S. and Japan. "We've got the U.S. staying really resilient still, under the weight of high interest rates," said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). "We expect 25-basis-point rate hikes in both September and November, for a peak policy rate of 5.75%," said Wells Fargo economist Nick Bennenbroek of the Bank of England's monetary policy outlook.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, homebuilding, We've, Carol Kong, Kong, Wells, Nick Bennenbroek, Matt Simpson, there's, CBA's, Rae Wee, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, dovish Bank of Japan, Aussie, New Zealand, U.S, Federal Reserve, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Fed, FX, Bank of England, Bank, Zealand, Reserve Bank of Australia, People's Bank of China, The U.S, Thomson Locations: Asia, Japan, China, CBA's Kong, The

☆ ESA chief sees Ariane 6 debut launch delayed to next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A worker of Ariane Group stands in front of a Ariane 6 rocket's Vulcain 2.1 engine, prior to the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, in Vernon, France January 12, 2021. Christophe Ena/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The first launch of Europe's new Ariane 6 rocket has slipped into 2024 after an incomplete recent ground test, the head of the European Space Agency suggested in remarks to Reuters. Ninety percent of July's objectives were met and further tests are scheduled for September, it added. "After this series of tests we plan to consolidate a launch date for Ariane 6," ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher told Reuters. Asked whether it was fair to assume that plans for a test launch before the end of the year were now out of reach, Aschbacher told Reuters, "This is fair to say, yes".

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Christophe Ena, Safran, Josef Aschbacher, Aschbacher, Guillaume Faury, Tim Hepher, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Ariane, Rights, European Space Agency, Reuters, ESA, Airbus, Paris Air Forum, Thomson Locations: Vernon, France, Guiana, Germany, European

☆ Australia to set up Pacific Championship in rugby league diplomacy play
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Australia said it would commit A$7 million for a Pacific rugby league championship, in a "football diplomacy" move seen as boosting Australia's soft power amid competition for influence with China. Women's and men's teams from seven countries will compete in the Pacific Rugby League Championships, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday. About half of players in Australia's National Rugby League competition are of Pasifika heritage, said Pat Conroy, the minister for international development and the Pacific. The Australian government has funded a PNG team in the Queensland state rugby competition, and a Fijian team in the NSW state competition, he said. Albanese said that the Pacific Championship will showcase women's rugby league, and that the Matildas had shown how women's sport can inspire nations.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Albanese, Pat Conroy, Conroy, Mary Fowler, Kirsty Needham, Gerry Doyle Organizations: SYDNEY, Pacific, Pacific Rugby League, Pacific Islands Forum, New, Australia's National Rugby League, rugby, Fijian, league, Thomson Locations: Australia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, New South Wales, Queensland, Pacific, NSW

☆ Travis King: who is the US soldier who crossed into North Korea?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Sarah Leslie/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - North Korea confirmed for the first time on Wednesday that it is holding American soldier Travis King, saying he crossed the border last month to escape racism and mistreatment in the U.S. military and society. WHY DID HE CROSS TO NORTH KOREA AND WHERE IS HE NOW? KCNA said he was held by the North Korean army after he crossed, but did not elaborate. Roughly 24 hours after leaving the airport, he sprinted into North Korea while touring the Joint Security Area, which sits astride the border. King spent time in a South Korean prison, however, in lieu of paying the fine.

Persons: Travis T, Sarah Leslie, Handout, Travis King, King, KCNA, King's, Myron Gates, Carl Gates, Josh Smith, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Security Area, REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., WHO, U.S . Army, Korean, Force, U.S . 1st Armored Division, 4th Infantry Division, National Defense Service, Korean Defense, Overseas Service, North Korean, Pentagon, ABC News, Daily, Airport, American Airlines staff, Reuters, Security, Court, Thomson Locations: Panmunjom, South Korea, Rights SEOUL, North Korea, U.S, Racine , Wisconsin, Korean, New Zealand, Seoul

SEOUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - North Korea's claim on Wednesday that U.S. soldier Travis King fled racism and abuse in America comes as Pyongyang pushes back on Washington's criticism of the North's human rights record. King has not been directly heard from, but an uncle in United States told media this month his nephew said he experienced racism during his military service. During the protests after the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, North Korean officials cited "extreme racists" in America and criticised authorities' response for threatening to "unleash even dogs for suppression". North Korean state media has its own history of issuing racially charged statements. A landmark 2014 U.N. report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chiefs - and possibly leader Kim Jong Un himself - should face justice for overseeing a state-controlled system of Nazi-style atrocities.

Persons: Travis King, King, Lim Eul, Donald Trump, George Floyd, Harrison Kim, Eldridge Cleaver, ”, Barack Obama, gaunt, Obama, Kim Jong Un, Josh Smith, Soo, hyang Choi, Gerry Doyle Organizations: U.S . Army, United Nations Security, U.S, North, Korea's Kyungnam University, University of Hawaii, NK News, Black Panther Party, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, America, Pyongyang, Korea, United States, North Korea, U.S, Charlottesville , Virginia, Seoul, North Korean, African, China

☆ Striking Hollywood writers expected to respond to studios' proposal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SAG-AFTRA actors and Writers Guild of America (WGA) writers walk the picket line during their ongoing strike outside Sunset Bronson studios and Netflix offices in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 11, 2023. Writers went on strike May 2 over an impasse on compensation, minimum staffing in writers' rooms, residual payments and other issues. Officials familiar with the specifics of the studios' proposal declined to provide details. The AMPTP had rejected as a "hiring quota" the WGA's demand for minimum staffing of writers' rooms. Writers have proposed curbs on the generative artificial intelligence, a complex topic the studios saw as requiring "a lot more discussion."

Persons: Mario Anzuoni, Writers, AMPTP, Dawn Chmielewski, Mary Milliken, Cynthia Osterman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Writers Guild of America, Netflix, REUTERS, Companies Comcast Corp, Paramount, Writers ' Guild of America, Alliance, Television Producers, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Discovery, Reuters, Bloomberg, WGA, Screen Actors Guild, Thomson Locations: Sunset Bronson, Los Angeles , California, U.S, Los Angeles

Construction workers take a nap in front of a wall of a construction site during their lunch break in Beijing, China, May 5, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon /File PhotoAug 15 (Reuters) - China suspended publication of its youth jobless data on Tuesday, saying it needed to review the methodology behind the closely watched benchmark, which has hit record highs in one of many warning signs for the world's second-largest economy. Fu Linghui, a spokesman for the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), said the release of data would be suspended while authorities look to "optimise" collection methods. "The declining availability of macro data may further weaken global investors' confidence in China," said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura, adding that youth unemployment was expected to have risen in July. The most recent NBS data on youth unemployment, published last month, showed the jobless rate jumping to a record high of 21.3% in June.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Fu Linghui, Fu, Ting Lu, Tuesday's, Laurie Chen, Albee Zhang, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Sam Holmes, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Nomura, China News Service, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Weibo

☆ Taiwan sees no Chinese military response to VP's US trip
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Yimou Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoTAIPEI, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday it has not seen large-scale exercises or any other action by the Chinese military near the island after China condemned a brief U.S. visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai. When asked at a press conference about Chinese military activity in response to Lai's trip, defence ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang, said it was the responsibility of the armed forces to track any Chinese activities near Taiwan. However, Taiwan had not seen any "relatively large-scale" drills or actions by China's military, he said. Beijing has launched almost daily military incursions into Taiwan's air defence zone in recent years seeking to pressure Taipei to accept Chinese sovereignty. Both Taiwan and the United States are aiming for Lai's U.S. stop-overs to be as low-key as possible, saying that such transits are routine.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, William Lai, Lai, Sun Li, Sun, Su, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, Taiwan Premier Chen Chien, jen, Chen, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Taiwan, Lai's U.S, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, China, U.S, William Lai . China, Paraguay, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, San Francisco, California, United States, New York, Taiwan Premier, Lai's

☆ Taiwan presidential frontrunner says no plans to change island's formal name
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, Aug 15 (Reuters) - The leading candidate to be Taiwan's new president, Vice President William Lai, said in an interview on Tuesday that he has no plans to change the island's formal name, but reiterated that Taiwan is "not subordinate" to China. It is not part of the People's Republic of China," he said in an interview with the Bloomberg news agency. "The current name, according to our constitution, is the Republic of China," Lai said, according to a transcript published by his campaign team. "And in respect to unifying Taiwanese society, President Tsai has used the term Republic of China (Taiwan) to describe our country. President Tsai Ing-wen cannot run again after serving two terms in office.

Persons: William Lai, Lai, Mao Zedong's, Tsai, Tsai Ing, Ben Blanchard, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Bloomberg, ROC, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Republic of China, People's Republic of China, ROC, Paraguay, Taipei, New York, San Francisco

☆ Central Japan braces for Typhoon Lan arrival with air, rail cancellations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Heavy rain during Typhoon Lan as it passes over Chichijima Island in Ogasawara, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan August 11, 2023 in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. Instagram@Ghost_Ryohei/via REUTERS/File photoTOKYO, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Japan braced for Typhoon Lan to make landfall, with airlines and railways cancelling services in central areas of the country's main island, where it is expected to strike on Tuesday. Japan Airlines (9201.T) and ANA Holdings (9202.T) cancelled many flights in the path of the storm. West Japan Railway (9021.T) announced the suspensions of Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train routes between Nagoya and Osaka all day on Tuesday, as well as the Sanyo Shinkansen between Osaka and Okayama. Typhoon Lan threatens to disrupt one of Japan's busiest travel seasons during the Obon summer holiday, when many people take vacations and return to their hometowns.

Persons: Lan, Khanun, Typhoon Lan, Rocky Swift, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Japan Meteorological Agency, JMA, Japan Airlines, ANA Holdings, West Japan Railway, Sanyo, Universal Studios Japan, Thomson Locations: Chichijima, Ogasawara , Tokyo Prefecture, Japan, TOKYO, Wakayama prefecture, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Okayama, South Korea, China, Russian, Typhoon

☆ California grid warns heat wave will stoke power demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

High tension power lines with winter storm clouds behind them are seen in Sacramento County following multiple winter storms in Sacramento, California, U.S. January 9, 2023. REUTERS/Fred GreavesCompanies California Independent System Operator Corporation FollowAug 13 (Reuters) - California's Independent System Operator (ISO) warned of high temperatures and increased electricity usage during the coming week as the grid operator prepares for tight conditions works to ensure adequate supply. In a notice released on Saturday, ISO said it is closely monitoring the power grid as widespread heat waves can cause supply shortages, with resources stretched thin across multiple Western states. But if weather or grid conditions worsen, it may issue emergency notifications to secure additional resources, and prepare for potential shortages and conservation. Current demand stood at 35,472 megawatts as of Sunday evening in California, compared with an available capacity of 43,873 MW, the ISO website showed.

Persons: Fred Greaves, Anushree Mukherjee, Swati Verma, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Fred Greaves Companies, Thomson Locations: Sacramento County, Sacramento , California, U.S, Fred Greaves Companies California, California, Bengaluru

☆ North Korea warns of flood damage after tropical storm drenches South
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Rescue workers take part in a rescue operation at a town submerged by typhoon Khanun in Daegu, South Korea, August 10, 2023. Yonhap via REUTERSSEOUL, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Heavy downpours continued to soak South and North Korea on Friday as tropical storm Khanun swept over the peninsula after pummelling Japan, putting Pyongyang on high alert for flood damage. The storm weakened into a tropical depression as it crossed into North Korea overnight, and military and ruling party officials were mobilised to minimise its impact on the country's fragile economy. In some parts of South Korea, cumulative rainfall has topped 400 mm (15.8 inches) since Thursday with maximum wind speeds of 126 km per hour (78 miles per hour), flooding villages, schools and roads. With a lack of infrastructure and deforestation exacerbating flood risks, North Korea has been bracing for the storm, scrambling to head off damage and salvage crops.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Hyonhee Shin, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Yonhap, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Daegu, South Korea, REUTERS SEOUL, North Korea, Japan, Pyongyang

That includes a $35 million government procurement program for carbon removal credits, and funding for 14 feasibility studies and 5 engineering and design studies for earlier-stage hub projects. Worsening climate change and inadequate efforts to cut emissions have thrust carbon removal into the spotlight. Although most environmental activists acknowledge that carbon removal will be needed for global climate targets to be met, they are concerned companies could use carbon removal development to give fossil fuel companies cover to maintain production, especially in minority and low-income areas. Erin Burns, director of carbon removal advisory firm Carbon180, said the United States is positioning itself as a leader in this technology. "This is the first major federal investment from any country on carbon removal at this level," Burns said.

Persons: Worley, Jennifer Granholm, Vicki Hollub, Erin Burns, Carbon180, Burns, Valerie Volcovici, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Occidental Petroleum Corp, WASHINGTON, U.S . Department of Energy, Department of Energy, DOE, Battelle, Climeworks Corporation, Carbon, Inc, South, South Texas DAC, Occidental 1PointFive, Carbon Engineering Ltd, DAC, Energy Department, United Arab, Occidental, Thomson Locations: Handout, Texas, Louisiana, Cypress, South Texas, Kleberg County , Texas, United Arab Emirates, United States

A Midea company sign is seen at the Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE) in Shanghai, China March 23, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoAug 9 (Reuters) - Chinese home appliance maker Midea Group (000333.SZ) said on Wednesday it is studying a potential listing in Hong Kong as part of its global strategy. The new shares to be issued would account for no more than 10% of enlarged capital, Midea, already listed in the Shenzhen stock exchange, said in a filing. Midea's market capitalisation was $56.47 billion before the listing plan was made public, meaning a deal of up to 10% would be one of the largest listings in Hong Kong since 2021. The initial filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange would be made this year, with a likely share sale sometime in 2024, one of the sources added.

Persons: Aly, Midea, Scott Murdoch, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Jason Neely, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Appliance, Electronics, REUTERS, Midea, Bank of America, China International Capital Corp, HK, Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Hong Kong, Midea, Shenzhen, Sydney

☆ Japan's struggling Rakuten to combine credit card and mobile payments business
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Sam NusseyTOKYO, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Japan's Rakuten Group (4755.T) will fold its payments and points businesses into its credit card unit, it said on Thursday, a move that could set the struggling e-commerce company up to eventually list the card business. It has turned to listing some of its units - including its popular internet banking business, Rakuten Bank (5838.T) - to generate cash. The company said on Thursday it plans to consolidate its payments and points businesses and fold them into Rakuten Card, its credit card and loans unit. Rakuten Card will become the "driving force" behind its integrated payments business and may form strategic partnerships with other companies as well as "raising its own capital as necessary", Rakuten said in a statement. Users accumulate points by using Rakuten credit cards, shopping and insurance services.

Persons: Sam Nussey TOKYO, Rakuten, Tareq Amin, Anton Bridge, Jamie Freed, David Dolan, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rakuten Bank, Rakuten, Public, NHK, Refinitiv, Thomson Locations: Rakuten, Tokyo, Japan

☆ Japan ex-PM Aso's 'fight for Taiwan' remark in line with official view, lawmaker says
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Kantaro Komiya | Thomson Reuters | Kantaro Writes About Everything Japan'S Economic Indicators To North Korea'S Missiles To Global Regulation On Ai Companies. His Previous Stories Have Been Published In The Associated Press | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's Former Prime Minister and current Vice-President of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Taro Aso, speaks during the Ketagalan Forum in Taipei, Taiwan August 8, 2023. Aso's speech angered China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. Keisuke Suzuki, an LDP lawmaker who accompanied Aso's Taiwan visit this week, told the BS Fuji talk show on Wednesday that Aso had discussed the issue with Japanese government officials, indicating that Aso's view did not deviate from the official position. "The comment was not lawmaker Taro Aso's personal remark, but a result of arrangements with government insiders", Suzuki said. Aso's visit, which marked the most senior Japanese political official to visit Taiwan since 1972, when Japan normalised diplomatic relations with China, came as tensions have risen over democratically governed Taiwan amid China's increasing military pressure on the island during the past three years.

Persons: Taro Aso, Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Taro Aso's, Aso, Keisuke Suzuki, Aso's, Suzuki, Joe Biden, White, Hirokazu Matsuno, Kantaro Komiya, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Liberal Democratic Party, REUTERS, Japanese, Beijing, Fuji, United, Taiwan, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, TOKYO, Japan, United States, China, Aso's Taiwan, U.S

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