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It has supported mine development by taking stakes in mining companies to help battery materials makers that do not have mines overseas like those owned by China's top lithium producers Ganfeng Lithium (002460.SZ), (002460.SZ) and Tianqi Lithium (002466.SZ). Separating lithium from lepidolite can cost as much as 100,000 yuan per metric ton, compared to 40,000-50,000 yuan for brine and 50,000-60,000 yuan for spodumene, analysts said. 'NATURAL RESOURCES CHAOS'Further dimming the outlook for lepidolite, environmental damage is a growing concern. As it gets stricter now, lithium resources in Yichun will lose their competitiveness with the higher costs for environmental protection," Ma said. UBS analysts see China's supply of lithium from lepidolite tripling to 280,000 metric tons, or 13% of global supply, between 2022 and 2025, well short of Yichun's target.

Persons: YICHUN, Yang Yaohua, Yang, Wu Wei, Eric Norris, Norris, Yongxing, Yichun, Ma Jun, Ma, Vicky Zhao, Li Qi, Siyi Liu, Dominique Patton, Ernest Scheyder, Tony Munroe, Sonali Paul Organizations: Australia, Guosen, Macquarie, Gotion High Tech, CRU, Xiamen University, Energy, Corp, Reuters, Materials Technology, Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs, UBS, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Beijing Newsroom, Thomson Locations: China, Yichun, lepidolite, Beijing, Sichuan, Qinghai, Tibet, Shanghai, Jin, U.S, Jiangxi, Houston

☆ Glenda Jackson, Oscar-Winning Actress Turned Politician, Dies at 87
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Benedict Nightingale | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

But she did not flourish there and left at 16. (Ms. Jackson remained convinced that she was plain, even ugly — a belief later reinforced by the academy’s principal, who told her that she could become only a character actress and “shouldn’t expect to work much before you’re 40.”)The schooling prepared her for what became six years in provincial repertory. In 1958 she married Roy Hodges, a fellow actor. Regional stage work meant periods of unemployment, odd jobs and poverty for the couple, and Ms. Jackson later admitted that she had shoplifted food and other essentials that she could conceal under her coat. Her big break came in 1964, when the director Mr. Brook brought her into an experimental group he was assembling for the recently formed Royal Shakespeare Company.

Persons: Glenda, Albert Finney, Peter O’Toole, Jackson, “, Roy Hodges, Brook, “ Marat, Sade, Tony, Jackson’s Charlotte Corday Organizations: Navy, West, West Kirby County Grammar School for Girls, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal Shakespeare Company, Broadway Locations: West Kirby, London

☆ UN in talks about possibly handing over Afghan teaching projects to Taliban
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Charlotte Greenfield | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aid officials say that the Taliban had signalled international organisations could no longer be involved in education projects, in a move criticised by the U.N. but not yet confirmed by Afghan authorities. A spokesperson for the Taliban did not respond to request for comment. International organisations have been heavily involved in education projects, and UNICEF made an agreement with the Taliban to run community classes before they took over the country. Two humanitarian sources told Reuters this month that aid agencies had been told provincial authorities had been directed to stop the involvement of international organisations in education projects, possibly within weeks. The Taliban took over Afghanistan after a 20-year insurgency against U.S.-led forces with a speed and ease that took the world by surprise.

Persons: Afghanistan's, Samantha Mort, Charlotte Greenfield, Nick Macfie Organizations: UNICEF, REUTERS, Afghan, de, Ministry of Education, Reuters, Education, United Nations, Taliban, U.S, Thomson Locations: Jalalabad, Afghanistan, New York

Islamabad and New Delhi CNN —Tens of thousands of people are being evacuated as India and Pakistan brace for the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, which is expected to make landfall in densely populated areas across the subcontinent Thursday, putting millions of lives at risk. Mass evacuations have started in Pakistan’s Sindh province, with about 60,000 people sent to temporary shelters, according to local authorities. Residents evacuate from a coastal area of Keti Bandar before the expected arrival of Cyclone Biparjoy in Pakistan's Sindh province on June 13. In India’s Gujarat state, about 21,000 people have been evacuated from coastal areas, according to the state’s relief commissioner, Alok Kumar Pandey. People gather near the shore before the arrival of Cyclone Biparjoy at Clifton Beach in Karachi, Pakistan, on June 13.

Persons: Biparjoy, ”, Leela Ram Kohli, Alok Kumar Pandey, Rashmi, Sherry Rehman, Cyclone, Akhtar Soomro, Tauktae Organizations: New Delhi CNN, India Meteorological Department, Cyclone, AFP, Getty, PIA, Livestock, CNN, Authorities, Twitter, Shenzhen Institute of Meteorological, Chinese University of Hong, World Meteorological Organization Locations: Islamabad, New Delhi, India, Pakistan, Pakistan’s Sindh, Karachi – Pakistan’s, Keti Bandar, Pakistan's Sindh, Sindh, Badin, India’s Gujarat, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Balochistan, People, Clifton Beach, Karachi, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Asia, India’s

CNN —At least 46 people, including 23 children, were killed and six were wounded at a displacement camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to network of observers based in the country. The Kivu Security Tracker said the incident happened in the Djugu territory following an attack by the militia group ‘Codeco,’ on Monday. “At least 46 civilians were killed and six wounded on Monday 12 June at the #Lala displaced persons camp (Djugu territory, #Ituri) following an incursion of #CODECO,” Kivu Security said on Twitter. Kivu Security added that the attack was the deadliest experienced in the area in more than a year. “MONUSCO has reinforced its security presence in the area, in liaison with the provincial authorities,” a statement by MONUSCO chief said.

Persons: ’, “, Monusco ’, “ MONUSCO, MONUSCO, LUCHA Organizations: CNN, Democratic, ” Kivu Security, Twitter, Kivu Security, UN, ADF Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Kivu, Ituri, ” Kivu, North Kivu, Congolese, Kasindi

☆ Residents in for months-long displacement as Philippine volcano spews lava, gases
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Lava flows from Mount Mayon volcano, in Daraga, Philippines June 11, 2023, in this picture obtained from social media. Incandescent lava was seen flowing slowly from the mouth of the 2,462-metre (8,077-foot) Mayon volcano, which was placed on a high alert level last week following seismic tremors and hundreds of rockfall events. Authorities said people living further away from the volcano should also be ready for possible evacuation, with the police placing checkpoints to prevent residents from returning. Dorothy Colle, a provincial tourism official, said while the no-go zone was being enforced, people were still flocking to observation stations to witness lava flows, which appear particularly bright at night. Its most destructive eruption came in February 1841when lava flows buried a town and killed 1,200 people.

Persons: Nehemiah Manzanilla Sitiar, Bacolcol, Larry Llenaresas, Westrimundo Obinque, Mayon, Dorothy Colle, Neil Jerome Morales, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Mount Mayon, Daraga, Philippines, REUTERS MANILA, Albay

☆ Severe cyclone likely to hit India's west coast, south Pakistan on Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Rajendra Jadhav | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MUMBAI, June 12 (Reuters) - A storm off India's west coast has strengthened to become a powerful cyclone and could hit India's western state of Gujarat and southern parts of Pakistan this week, the weather department said. India's weather office has advised fishing communities to halt operations and the evacuation of people from the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch regions of Gujarat. Officials from the Sindh provincial government also said they are preparing to evacuate people from three districts likely to be affected. A 1998 cyclone killed at least 4,000 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Gujarat. Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav, writing by Sakshi Dayal; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bhupendra Patel, Biparjoy, Rajendra Jadhav, Sakshi Dayal, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: India Meteorological Department, Reliance Industries, Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited, Force, State, National Disaster Management Authority, Thomson Locations: MUMBAI, Gujarat, Pakistan, Mandvi, Karachi, Saurashtra, Kutch, India, Gulf, Saurashtra ., Gujarat Pipavav Port, Sindh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

CNN —The Philippines’ most active volcano began spewing lava and sulfuric gas Sunday, prompting the evacuation of nearly 13,000 residents in the southeast of the country’s main island, authorities said. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recommended everyone within a 6-kilometer (3.7-mile) radius or “danger zone” of the Mount Mayon volcano be evacuated due to the danger of rockfalls, landslides and ballistic fragments. Within the past 24 hours, the Mayon Volcano Network recorded 21 weak volcanic earthquakes, and 260 rockfalls, as well as lava flow activity from the crater, according to Phivolcs. Albay province was placed under a state of calamity on Friday allowing the government to release response funds to support affected residents, CNN affiliate CNN Philippines reported. “Lava flows are slow moving and effusive eruptions are generally less violent and produce less ash and volcanic gases than explosive eruptions,” he told CNN Philippines.

Persons: Phivolcs, Teresito Bacolcol, Bacolcol, Mayon Organizations: CNN, Philippine Institute of, Philippine Provincial Information Office, CNN Philippines Locations: Philippines, Luzon, Manila, Mayon, Albay

☆ Explainer: Why is the Canadian economy strong despite record pace of rate hikes?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Analysts are betting on another rate hike in July, to help the Bank of Canada bring inflation back down to its 2% range. Here are some factors that are keeping demand robust in the Canadian economy. The savings rate has halved to 2.9% in the first quarter from the fourth quarter of last year, Statistics Canada said. The central bank says the fiscal spending is not adding to inflation, but it is not helping bring it down either. ($1 = 1.3347 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Steve Scherer; Additional reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Randall Bartlett, Bartlett, Steve Scherer, Nivedita Balu, Paul Simao Organizations: OTTAWA, Bank of Canada, Desjardins, Statistics, Thomson Locations: Canadian, Statistics Canada, Provinces, Toronto

☆ Western Canada covered in smoke as wildfires loosen grip on Quebec
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Smoke billows upwards from the Donnie Creek wildfire (G80280) south of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada June 11, 2023. Wildfire Service/Handout via REUTERSOTTAWA, June 12 (Reuters) - Smoke shrouded Western Canada on Monday as wildfires flared again in the main oil-producing province of Alberta, while firefighters in Quebec doused some of the worst early season blazes, allowing thousands of evacuees to return home. "If you look at western Canada, it's completely covered by the smoke and that continues into Tuesday," federal meteorologist Gerald Cheng told reporters on Monday. "The risk for smoke is very high because the winds are really transporting the smoke throughout Alberta today and even into Tuesday." (Click here to read what health experts say about wildfire smoke.)

Persons: it's, Gerald Cheng, Cheng, Anita, Ismail Shakil, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Wildfire Service, REUTERS OTTAWA, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, TC Energy, Health, U.S ., Canadian Defence, Thomson Locations: Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, Alberta, Quebec, Netherlands, Europe, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Edson, Edmonton, McMurray, U.S . East Coast, Alberta , Nova Scotia, Ottawa

REUTERS/Carlos OsorioWINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 11 (Reuters) - The number of wildfires raging out of control across Quebec dropped on Sunday as firefighters in the Canadian province gained the upper hand in some areas, a provincial minister said on Sunday. Quebec Natural Resources Minister Maite Blanchette Vezina said told reporters that the number of out-of-control fires in the eastern province dropped to 44 from 72 on Saturday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported. By Monday, around 1,200 firefighters, including more than 100 from France and some from other provinces, are expected to be battling blazes across Quebec. A federal government meteorologist forecast on Saturday that Quebec could receive light rain on Tuesday in some burning areas. "Last Wednesday, we thought we could close down our emergency control center and come Friday, that idea went out the door when the fires went out of control very drastically," said Luc Mercier, chief administrative officer for Yellowhead County.

Persons: smokey, Carlos Osorio, Maite Blanchette Vezina, Blanchette Vezina, Luc Mercier, Karley, Rod Nickel, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Carlos Osorio WINNIPEG, Quebec Natural Resources, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Edmonton, Wildfire Service, Thomson Locations: Ontario, Quebec, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Carlos Osorio WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, France, New Brunswick, Alberta, Edson, Yellowhead County, Pacific, British Columbia, Tumbler, Winnipeg, Manitoba

BRITISH COLUMBIA/OTTAWA, June 9 (Reuters) - Wildfires spread in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on Friday, while hundreds of fires continued to burn on the other side of the country in Quebec, sending wildfire smoke billowing across North American cities. Around 2,500 people were told to evacuate the community of Tumbler Ridge in northeastern British Columbia on Thursday afternoon. Temperatures in parts of British Columbia soared to more than 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) this week, nearly 10 degrees above the seasonal average. [1/2] Smoke rises from a wildfire in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, in this screen grab taken from a video, June 8, 2023. Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Albertans, François Legault, Nia Williams, Stephen Coates Organizations: British Columbia, BC Wildlife Service, REUTERS, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Thomson Locations: BRITISH COLUMBIA, OTTAWA, Canadian, British, Quebec, North, Tumbler, British Columbia, Peace, Alberta, Ridge, Canada, United States, Ottawa, Toronto , New York, Washington, Ontario, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, U.S

☆ Canadian province changes LGBT policy in schools to 'recognize role of parents'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Sam Jabri-Pickett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TORONTO, June 9 (Reuters) - Ruling conservatives in the Canadian province of New Brunswick this week made changes to rules for schools as they sought to "recognize the role of parents" in questions around gender identity, but have faced pushback from within their own party. On Thursday, provincial Education Minister Bill Hogan announced changes to that policy. Another change to the policy removes a reference to students being allowed to participate in activities "consistent with their gender identity". Indiana has enacted a law requiring teachers to tell parents when students ask to be called by a new name or different pronoun. Reporting by Sam Jabri-Pickett in Toronto; editing by Steve Scherer and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Bill Hogan, Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs, Higgs, Justin Trudeau, Sam Jabri, Steve Scherer, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: TORONTO, New, Progressive Conservative Premier, Pickett, Thomson Locations: Canadian, New Brunswick, Toronto, Brunswick, United States, Indiana, Dakota

☆ Pakistan's Imran Khan formally named in 'abetting' lawyer's drive-by murder
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Gul Yousafzai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

QUETTA, Pakistan, June 7 (Reuters) - Pakistani police on Wednesday formally named former prime minister Imran Khan in connection with the murder by unknown gunmen of a lawyer seeking sedition proceedings against him. Khan, who has not been charged in connection with the lawyer's murder, has dismissed all the cases against him as concocted by his opponents. Provincial government spokesman Babar Khan said Khan could face formal charges if and when the murder case goes to trial. It was not immediately clear how the link between unknown gunmen and Khan was made. Khan has accused the military and its intelligence agency of openly trying to destroy his party, saying he has "no doubt" he will be tried in a military court and thrown into jail.

Persons: Imran Khan, Khan, Rauf Hasan, Babar Khan, Abdur Razaq, Razaq, Razaq's, Siraj Ahmad, Asif Shahzad, Nick Macfie Organizations: Wednesday, Police, Reuters, Thomson Locations: QUETTA, Pakistan

CNN —For nearly 13 million high school students across China, Wednesday marks a day that could make or break their plans for college and the increasingly competitive job market beyond. A high score in the two-day “gaokao” college entrance exam is the only way to get into the country’s top universities, and most Chinese students only get one shot at the grueling test, unlike US students who can take the SAT several times. A user on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, recalled taking the gaokao in 2000 when there were only about 3.75 million other test takers. The urban unemployment rate for 16- to 24-year-olds hit a record high of 20.4% in April, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. And the rate could increase further, as a record 11.6 million college students are set to graduate this year.

Persons: gaokao, ”, TikTok, Fu Linghui, Xi Jinping’s Organizations: CNN, Getty, Authorities, Times, National Bureau of Statistics, NBS Locations: China, Shenyang, honking

☆ BA, BBC and Boots caught up in file transfer hack
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BA, the BBC and Boots said the breach occurred at their payroll provider, Zellis. The provincial government of Nova Scotia, in Canada, was also hit by the breach. The data from Zellis and the Nova Scotia government was exposed through their use of the MOVEit file transfer software, both organizations said in separate statements. The Nova Scotia government did not immediate return a request for comment. Boots, part of Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA.O), said the attack had included some of its employees' personal details.

Persons: Boots, Zellis, Nova, Colton LeBlanc, MOVEit, extortionists, Raphael Satter, Sarah Young, Muvija, Eva Mathews, Paul Sandle, Bill Berkrot Organizations: British Airways, BBC, Nova, Security, Digital Solutions, IAG, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Progress Software, Microsoft, Reuters, Britain . British Airways, Thomson Locations: Nova Scotia, Canada, Zellis, Britain, Washington, London, Bengaluru

CNN —Nearly 80 primary school students, mostly girls, are suspected to have been poisoned over the weekend and taken to hospital in Afghanistan’s Sangcharak district, Mohammad Rahmani, the head of Education Department in the northern Sar-e-Pul province, told CNN. “After reaching school in the morning, the students suddenly started feeling dizzy, headache, and nausea,” Rahmani said. A doctor at Sar-i-Pul hospital confirmed to CNN that some of the girls were admitted to hospital and he believes they were poisoned based on their symptoms. Following international pressure, the Taliban kept primary schools open for girls until around the age of 12, Reuters reported. In 2012, more than 170 women and girls were hospitalized after drinking apparently poisoned well water at a school.

Persons: Mohammad Rahmani, Rahmani, ” Rahmani, schoolgirls Organizations: CNN, Education Department, Reuters Locations: Afghanistan’s Sangcharak, Pul, Afghanistan

☆ 4 children dead after getting caught in tide while fishing in Quebec, police say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( Celina Tebor | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Four children were found unresponsive on a beach in Quebec Saturday morning and later pronounced dead after a group of people on a fishing trip got caught in the tide, police said. A spokesperson for the Quebec provincial police told CNN that emergency responders were called at 2 a.m. on Saturday to Portneuf-sur-Mer, a riverside municipality on the northern shore. Eleven people went missing after leaving by foot for a fishing trip and being caught by the tide, the spokesperson said. A man in his 30s is still missing, according to Quebec provincial police, and a search for him with divers, boats, and helicopters is ongoing. Quebec provincial police are investigating the circumstances of the incident, the spokesperson said.

Organizations: CNN, Quebec, Police, police Locations: Quebec

☆ Opinion: Ambitious, tech-savvy and jobless. Why India’s young people could reshape the internet
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Opinion Snigdha Poonam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Her book, “Dreamers: How Young Indians Are Changing Their World,” was longlisted in 2019 for the PEN America Literary Awards. Unlike China, which leveraged its demographic dividend through large-scale factory employment, India’s economic growth does not rely on young workers manufacturing goods. Catering to a market of 750 million smartphone users, India’s fast-growing gig economy is attracting young workers in great numbers. As incidents of abuse and exploitation pile up, many of India’s gig workers are questioning their career choice. Feeding the social media monsterThere are other ways in which India’s young people are shaping the future of technology.

Persons: ”, Raju Rai, Rai, “, ” Rai, Dhiraj Singh, Mithun Kumar, Kumar, hyperlocal, Jewel Samad, Mohit Yadav, Monu Manesar Organizations: PEN, CNN, Delhi CNN, Facebook, Catering, Bloomberg, Getty, YouTube, Big Tech, Twitter, New York Times Locations: Delhi, India, Thailand, Indian, Varanasi, Bangkok, Myanmar, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Southeast Asia, Europe, China, Mumbai, Bihar, Covid, AFP

[1/3] A man looks at job information at an employment fair beside a street in Zhengzhou, Henan province, February 19, 2014. REUTERS/Jason LeeHONG KONG, June 1 (Reuters) - China's Henan province has unveiled a 100-day plan to "dynamically clear" youth unemployment as concern grows over record levels of joblessness among young adults, with millions more students due to graduate this year. The goal is to ensure "zero-dynamic clearing" for long-term unemployment and the "smooth employment of college graduates", the provincial Department of Education said in a social media post this week. Economists expect youth unemployment to become increasingly common in coming years as graduates enter the job market. The "dynamic zero clearing" term the education department used is reminiscent of the language authorities used in the fight against COVID, reflecting the level of concern about unemployment.

Persons: Jason Lee HONG, Farah Master, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Department of Education, COVID, Thomson Locations: Zhengzhou, Henan province, Jason Lee HONG KONG, Henan, China, Beijing

☆ Canada sends military to help battle blazes in Nova Scotia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Steve Scherer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Smoke from the Tantallon wildfire rises over houses in nearby Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada, May 28, 2023. Nova Scotia is battling two large fires that are threatening communities on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Halifax. The armed forces would provide equipment and personnel to relieve firefighters "who have been working tirelessly around the clock to protect communities right across Nova Scotia", Blair said. The federal government sent the military to Alberta last month to help battle blazes there and Canada is also getting help from other countries. Some 800 U.S. firefighters have come to battle the blazes, mostly in Alberta, with another 100 are scheduled to arrive in Nova Scotia over coming days, officials said.

Persons: Eric Martyn, Bill Blair, Blair, Justin Trudeau, Steve Scherer, Anirudh Saligrama, Sharon Singleton, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, OTTAWA, CBC News, CBC, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Bedford , Nova Scotia, Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax, Alberta, Quebec, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa

☆ Argentina curbs provinces' FX access to pay back foreign debt
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BUENOS AIRES, June 1 (Reuters) - In a bid to safeguard its dwindling hard currency reserves, Argentina's central bank issued a new regulation on Thursday to require provinces with foreign currency debt to obtain their own financing for 60% of capital repayments. Argentina has 23 local governments known as provinces. The new regulation aims to make provincial debt payments "compatible" with the bank's need to manage its foreign currency reserves, the country's monetary authority said in a statement. According to the regulation, provinces must submit a proposal for the repayment of 40% of their foreign currency debt to the central bank in which they can access the government's official exchange rate, but then tap alternative financing methods for the rest of their hard currency debt load, according to the statement. The measure will go into effect Friday, and is designed to protect the bank's scarce foreign currency reserves, which are needed to pay down government debt and finance some imports.

Persons: Eliana Rasewski, David Alire Garcia Organizations: Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES, Argentina

☆ 'Granary of China' braces for more wheat-damaging rain
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Known as the "granary of China", the south of Henan had been struck by higher-than-normal rainfall in the last week of May days ahead of the harvest of wheat planted in the last winter. Medium to heavy precipitation can be expected in the south of Henan on Saturday, national weather forecasters reported on Thursday. China's winter wheat accounts for the majority of the country's annual wheat output. China, including important grain-growing provinces like Henan, is no stranger to floods and droughts. But abnormal weather patterns such as excessively heavy rain still risk devastating key crops and squeezing supplies.

Persons: Ryan Woo, Sonali Paul Organizations: Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Henan, China, Zhumadian, Nanyang

May 29 (Reuters) - United Conservative Party (UCP) leader Danielle Smith's election victory in Canada's main oil-producing province Alberta on Monday is likely to herald further friction with Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, particularly over climate change. The populist premier's win signals a further rightward shift in the traditionally conservative province, and comes despite a series of controversies and gaffes from Smith, 52, since she first became premier in October. In her victory speech, Smith was quick to take aim at Trudeau and what she described as the federal government's "harmful policies". "As premier I cannot under any circumstances allow these contemplated federal policies to be inflicted upon Albertans. In early 2022 she announced plans to run for leadership of the United Conservative Party, which was born in 2017 from a merger of the Progressives Conservatives and Wildrose Party.

The apparent alteration of a mosque belonging to the Hui ethnic group in Najiaying village, Yunnan province comes amid a sweeping campaign unleashed by China’s leader Xi Jinping to “sinicize” religion. Ma Ju, a prominent Hui activist who now lives in the United States and has kept close contact with Najiaying residents, said about 30 people were arrested. Clashes broke out between police officers and Najiaying residents outside the mosque. In 2018, thousands of Hui residents in Ningxia, in the country’s northwest, staged a sit-in protest for three days to prevent authorities from demolishing a newly constructed mosque. “After they trampled on your dignity, they will suppress you step by step, and assimilate the Hui ethnic group completely into the Han, generation by generation.

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