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☆ China’s double whammy: Exports fell for the first time in 7 years, as domestic demand dips
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Exports for the year as a whole fell for the first time since 2016 as global demand for Chinese-made goods (other than cars) slowed, according to customs data released on Friday. Exports measured in US dollar terms stood at $3.38 trillion in 2023, down by 4.6% compared to the year before. The last time China registered a decline in overseas shipments was in 2016, when exports fell 7.7%. “Sluggish external demand has hit China’s exports.”He expects China will continue to face “difficulties” on export markets as global demand is likely to remain weak and “protectionism and unilateralism” hinder growth, he added. The United States remained China’s largest single-country trading partner in 2023, accounting for 11.2% of total trade.

Persons: ” Lyu, ” Goldman Sachs, Price, won’t, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Bureau of Statistics, Imports, Administration of Customs, Bloomberg, Getty, PPI, Capital Economics, AFP, ASEAN, European Union Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Russia, United States, Washington, Taicang Port, China's, Jiangsu, Southeast Asia, That’s, “, Japan

That’s what forensic experts in Peru said Friday about two doll-like figures and an alleged three-fingered hand that customs authorities in the South American country seized last year from a shipment heading to Mexico. The forensic experts with Peru’s prosecutor’s office said the objects were made with paper, glue, metal and human and animal bones. "They are not extraterrestrials; they are not aliens.”The prosecutor’s office has not yet determined who owns the objects. Officials on Friday would only say that a Mexican citizen was the intended recipient of the objects before they were seized by customs agents in October. Meanwhile, an alleged three-finger hand was subjected to X-ray examinations.

Persons: Peru’s, ”, Flavio Estrada, ” Estrada, José Jaime Maussan, Maussan, Estrada Organizations: American Locations: LIMA, Peru, Mexico, Mexican, Peruvian

U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the hostage situation in Gaza during a meeting about fentanyl in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, Washington, U.S., November 21, 2023. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spoke with President Joe Biden about border security Wednesday, according to Johnson spokesman Raj Shah. "Speaker Johnson spoke with President Biden today," Shah said in a statement. A senior Biden administration official said the White House has not closed the door to an in-person meeting between Biden and Johnson, but no such meeting has been scheduled. Congress must pass some spending bills by Jan. 19 and others by Feb. 2 to avoid a government shut down.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Raj Shah, Biden, Shah, Jan Organizations: White House, Biden, White, Republicans Locations: Gaza, Washington , U.S, U.S, Canada

☆ Everything you need to know about Republicans moving forward on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

House Republicans are rallying around a push to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. On Wednesday, House Republicans are set to consider the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. As Homeland Security secretary, Mayorkas oversees a vast agency that includes U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Homeland Security Department notes that for all these reasons apprehending a migrant on the watchlist is extremely rare. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement that there is simply "no valid basis" to impeach Mayorkas.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, —, Joe Biden, Mayorkas, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Virginia Foxx, Anthony D'Esposito, Mike Johnson, Mark Green, Green, Troy Miller, Politifact, Biden, Trump, Johnson, Mia Ehrenberg, Bennie Thompson of, Thompson, William Belknap, Grant, Belknap, Ulysses S, Donald Trump, It's, Ken Buck, Buck, Greene, Tom McClintock Organizations: Republicans, Homeland, Service, House Republicans, House Democrats, Biden, CNN, Freedom Caucus, Republican, New York, Homeland Security, Mayorkas, U.S . Customs, GOP, CBS, Democratic, White, Protection, Washington Post ., Customs, Post, NPR, New York Times, Homeland Security Department, Capitol, Politico, Department of Homeland Security, Russia, Twitter, Supreme Locations: Georgia, Rep, North Carolina, New, House, U.S, Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, United States, Ken Buck of Colorado, California

☆ My family has traveled to 20 states and 20 countries. My young kids have been everywhere from Colombia, to Turks and Caicos, to Florida.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Taryn White | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

My parents introduced me to traveling with road trips, and I've done the same with my kids. AdvertisementAs a child, I eagerly awaited the annual road trips across the US with my parents and two siblings. On our trips, we've learned everything from the art of lei-making in Maui to the Black history of Cartagena. In 2018, Taryn White and her family went to Medellin, Colombia, and stopped to enjoy some colorful street art. Taryn White and her family have been all over the world together, from Aspen to Turks and Caicos.

Persons: I've, —, we've, they're, Taryn White, it's, We've, Hvar's Organizations: Service, Virginia, Virginia Aquarium Locations: Myrtle Beach, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Maui, Cartagena, Portugal, Bahamas, Medellin, Colombia, Aspen, Bend, Shenandoah, Virginia Beach, Bradenton , Florida, Caicos, Grace Bay, Douro, Algarve, Turks, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Prague, Budapest, Hvar

☆ My last New Year's resolution was never to make one again. But my son asked to start making them, and I said yes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-31 | by ( Tonilyn Hornung | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Had I done him a disservice — parenting him according to the holiday tradition I'd created on my own? AdvertisementAs grade school went on, I noticed one of these traditional traditions didn't leave me feeling cozy like the others: New Year's Resolutions. AdvertisementI chose never to make another resolution againBeginning in my early 30s, I resolved never to make another resolution. I finally had a New Year's tradition I felt good about — until my son got into the car as confused and claustrophobic as I'd felt in my childhood. My son made his first New Year's Resolution last year, and to keep it old school, he also set an intention.

Persons: I'd, Jane Austin, icky, —, He's Organizations: Service Locations: Brussels

☆ How to Survive Long-Haul Flights
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Katie Robertson | More About Katie Robertson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“Purchase a ‘Do Not Disturb’ eye mask if you plan on sleeping through meal service,” she said. You can look ahead on the airline’s website to see what in-flight entertainment will be available on your flight. Move when you canMany people prefer an aisle seat so they are able to get up frequently without disturbing their seat neighbor. Ahead of booking, research the layout and model of planes on websites like SeatGuru to find the most legroom. “But it makes a huge difference to how quickly you adjust to the new time zone.”

Persons: ”, Patrick Quade, Nathan Weinrich Locations: New South Wales, Australia, United States, New Jersey

He touted on the 2016 campaign trail that the wall along the U.S. Mexico border would be 1,000 miles long. The Trump administration ended up building 453 miles of border wall, the bulk of which went towards reinforcing or rebuilding existing portions of the wall. Trump also said the border wall would cost between $8 billion and $12 billion, costs Mexico would cover. And the survey showed Republicans with an 18-point lead on immigration — a number that’s higher than at any point during the Trump administration. Encounters at the southern border have steadily increased since June, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, “, ”, Angie Garcia, Garcia, it’s, Denise Eason, ” Eason, That’s, Biden, Myra Banks, I’m, ’ ”, Banks, “ We’re, we’ve, ” Trump Organizations: Republican Party —, Trump, Republican, NBC, Democrat, U.S . Customs, Border Locations: EDINBURG , Texas, U.S, Mexico, Edinburg , Texas, McAllen , Texas

☆ Lawmakers ramp up scrutiny of Shein, call for proof it doesn't use forced labor after retailer files for IPO
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lawmakers are ramping up their scrutiny of Shein after it confidentially filed to go public last week. "Urge the SEC to apply maximum scrutiny to Shein's business and management before letting it anywhere near our capital markets," Luetkemeyer said in the video, viewed by CNBC. They include legislation that would block Shein from trading in the U.S. or bar its shipments from coming into the country. Gallagher is also interested in pursuing reforms to the trade loophole known as the de minimis provision and expanding enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the aide said. The committee is investigating Shein over its use of forced labor and de minimis — probes that are ongoing, Luetkemeyer said.

Persons: confidentially, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Shein, Luetkemeyer, let's, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange, CNBC, SEC, Chinese Communist Party, Uyghur, Labor Locations: U.S

LAUNCESTON, Australia, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The two main spot prices for iron ore diverged last week, with Singapore-traded contracts gaining but China's domestic futures posting a decline. The exchange said on Nov. 30 that it will continue to strengthen its supervision of iron ore futures to maintain what it termed the safe and stable operation of the market. But despite the travails of the property sector, China's iron ore imports have been relatively robust so far in 2023. In the same week last year iron ore stockpiles were 137.5 million metric tons and were 155.4 million in the same week on 2021. History suggests that the authorities can cool iron ore prices, but only for a relatively short period, especially if the market conditions are supportive for stronger prices.

Persons: Sonali Paul Organizations: Singapore Exchange, Dalian Commodity Exchange, National Development, Reform, it's, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LAUNCESTON, Australia, Singapore, Beijing, Dalian

☆ South Korea to consult China over urea export delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Hyonhee Shin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SEOUL, Dec 4 (Reuters) - South Korea on Monday said it will consult China to prevent disruption to urea supplies after Korean companies reported the fertiliser and emissions reducing chemical was taking longer to pass through Chinese customs on its way to the peninsula. South Korea imports over 90% of its urea supply from China. In late 2021, a new Chinese export requirement aimed at increasing domestic supplies triggered panic buying among South Korean drivers of diesel cars and trucks who are required to use urea solutions to cut emissions. South Korea resorted to government rations while trying to secure alternative suppliers. Diesel cars account for about 40% of registered vehicles in South Korea.

Persons: Choi Nam, Ahn Duk, geun, Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee, Ed Davies, Christopher Cushing, Miral Organizations: Ministry of Trade, Industry, Energy, South, Diesel, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Beijing, Australia

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Human rights lawyers went to court in the Netherlands on Monday to call for a halt to the export of fighter jet parts to Israel that could be used in attacks on Gaza. The organizations allege that delivery of parts for F-35 jets makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes being committed by Israel in its war with Hamas. The rights lawyers want The Hague District Court to issue an injunction banning the exports of F-35 parts that are stored in a warehouse in the town of Woensdrecht. “The state must immediately stop the delivery of F-35 parts to Israel,” lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld told the court. “Israel must be able to respond to threats from the region.

Persons: Khan Younis, Liesbeth Zegveld, Zegveld, Reimer Veldhuis, “, ” Veldhuis, ___ Organizations: Hamas Locations: HAGUE, Netherlands, Israel, Gaza, The Hague, Khan, Hague, Woensdrecht, United States, “ Israel, israel

☆ Here’s why some bond traders care so much about the US government’s budget deficit nowadays
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

And as the mountain of debt keeps piling up, and the government’s budget deficit remains massive, some bond traders are now joining politicians in decrying the government’s ever-growing financial obligation. Those bond traders are seemingly up in arms over the government’s gaping budget deficit — something that occurs when the government’s spending outstrips revenues — which currently stands at roughly $67 billion so far for the current fiscal year. For the full 2023 budget year, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the deficit stood at a staggering $1.5 trillion. How do we manage the budget deficit? Our interest rate team is looking at the 10-year (US Treasury) yield to be closer to 4% than 5% next year.

Persons: ”, Jerome Powell, Bell, Joe Quinlan, It’s, it’s, what’s, You’d, Powell, ” Powell, they’re Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, DC CNN, Treasury Department, Congressional, Office, Federal, Merrill, Bank of America Private Bank, Treasury, Spelman College, US Labor Department, Institute for Supply Management, US Commerce Department, University of Michigan Locations: Washington, Atlanta

☆ Ukraine set off 4 explosive devices on a freight train operating on the only major railroad connecting Russia and China: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine targeted a freight train with four explosive devices, an unnamed source told CNN. It is the only major railroad connecting Russia and China for military supplies, per Russian media. "The explosion is yet another successful special operation by the SBU," the source told CNN. AdvertisementUkraine set off four explosive devices on a freight train operating on the only major railroad connecting Russia and China, CNN reported , citing an unnamed Ukrainian defense source. AdvertisementThe railway line, the source added, is the "only major railroad connection between Russia and China."

Persons: —, Sovetskaya Gavan Organizations: CNN, Service, Ukraine's Security Services, Siberian Travel Company, Trade, Kremlin, Telegraph, Politico Locations: Ukraine, Russia, China, Buryatia, Baikal, Amur, Russian, Tayshet, Sovetskaya, Itykit, Politico Europe

☆ Trump’s avalanche of dishonesty: Fact-checking 102 of his false claims from this fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +111 min

Below is a fact check of 102 of Trump’s false claims from the 12 speeches. But contrary to Trump’s claim, it’s not true that people had been attempting for decades to create such an initiative. Trump’s aid to farmersIn speech after speech, Trump claimed that he had given US farmers $28 billion from China. Even if the poll result is off, it’s clear that Trump’s claim that “nobody wants them” is not true. He said he was an airline pilot.”Facts First: Trump made a false claim while mocking Biden for making false claims.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, “, ”, Mexico’s, ‘ Trump, Defense Department –, ” Theresa Cardinal Brown, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, ” Trump, I’ve, Todd Harrison, Harrison, It’s, Trump’s, ” Ben Cahill, Nobody, Jimmy Carter’s, Barack Obama, isn’t, El Salvador –, Obama, we’d, Obama’s, Webster, Covid, Wuhan ”, They’d, they’d, you’d, Scott Gottlieb, ” Gottlieb, Trump Trump, it’s, Abraham, Aaron David Miller, Miller, Dana El Kurd, Qasem Soleimani, they’ve, we’re, We’re, ’, Iran haven’t, ” Matt Smith, Biden’s, Smith, Ali Vaez, Kpler, Biden Trump, Iran “, Democrats ”, that’s, Jimmy Carter, Carter “, Carter, ‘, Hillary Clinton, Kari Lake, Bill Gates, Gates, ” Chris Wallace, Chris Wallace, Hunter Biden, “ Chris Wallace, ‘ He’s, ‘ ” Trump, Wallace, “ you’re, “ Biden, ‘ You’re, Wallace interjected, Rather, you’ve, ’ ” Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James &, ” Molchanov, Tim Woody, Woody, autoworkers, CNN’s Ella Nilsen, Joe Biden’s, Erin Mellon, Gavin Newsom, Mellon, ” Vonette Fontaine, Biden “, CNN’s Matt Egan, Egan, ” Biden, Europe Trump, United Kingdom “, Brent, Pavel Molchanov, Raymond James, Patrick De Haan, GasBuddy, De Haan, Matt Smith, Matt Egan, Afghanistan Trump, we’ve, Krista Wiegand, Wiegand, ” Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Qasem, Bibi, Netanyahu, Soleimani, Asad, Mark Milley, Hezbollah Trump, Steven Cheung, John Kirby, Cheung, Kirby, Iran’s, ” Ali Vaez, Joseph Amon, Washington –, Faiq Zidan, Zidan’s, Zidan, Abu Mahdi al, China Trump, Ukraine Trump, Letitia James, James, Attorney Alvin Bragg, Matthew Colangelo, You’re, Bragg, Colangelo, Tanya Chutkan, I’m, Jack Smith, Bill Clinton, That’s, everybody’s, Letitia James –, Al Capone’s, Al Capone, Capone, Brad Schwartz, CNN couldn’t, Schwartz, Eliot Ness, MAGA, “ MAGA, …, White, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, Inflation Trump, Bacon, Joe, PolitiFact, Trump . Howard Gleckman Organizations: Washington CNN —, CNN, Republican, Trump Trump, Republican Jewish Coalition, Department, ISIS, Trump’s, Democratic, Congress, Defense Department, former Defense Department, Center, US Customs, Trump, American Enterprise Institute, Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Energy Security, Center for Strategic, International Studies, US, IHS, Islamic, The State Department, Customs Enforcement, Policy Institute, ICE, El Salvador, ”, Merriam, The New York Times, Food and Drug Administration, FDA, Abraham Accords, United Arab Emirates, West Bank, Hezbollah, State Department, Carnegie Endowment, International, Arab Center Washington DC, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, Obama, US International Trade Commission, Washington Post, U.S . International Trade Commission, New England lobstermen, England lobstermen, Americas, Crisis, government’s Energy, Administration, Washington Free Beacon, Energy Information Administration, Democrats, Biden, Electoral, Georgia, Michigan, Carter, Democrats can’t, Republicans, Alabama, Arizona, Fox News, ” Energy, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, Wildlife, Alaska Industrial Development, Export Authority, Raymond James & Associates, Wilderness Society, Cox Automotive, Pew Research Center, New York Times, National Oceanic, California Gov, California, American Petroleum Institute, Union, West, Energy, American Automobile Association, AAA, GasBuddy, New Hampshire, Houston, Keystone XL, Obama administration’s State Department, –, Foreign, Military, DoD, Afghan, Defense, Policy, Taiwan News, “, University of Tennessee’s Center for National Security, Foreign Affairs, Israeli, NBC, Jerusalem Post, Yahoo, Pentagon, ” CNN, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Post, National Security, Group, US government’s Defense Intelligence Agency, Narcotics Bureau, Global Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Justice Department, Washington, Judicial, Popular Mobilization Forces, Customs and, Middle East, Customs, Protection, CBP, Border Protection, Kiel Institute, European Union, New York, New, ExxonMobil, Trump University, Trump Foundation, Manhattan, Attorney, federal Justice Department, Department of Justice, Washington DC, Presidential Records, Presidential, Mar, Biden White, MAGA Republicans, Inflation, Heritage Foundation, Trump ., Brookings Tax, Urban Institute Locations: New Hampshire, New York City, Saudi, Florida, al Qaeda, New York, Texas, Iowa, Mexico, “, U.S, Houston, Iraq, Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nord, Germany, Russian, Trump’s, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, El, Washington, ”, ” In Texas, Covid, China, Wuhan, Italy, France, Abraham, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Afghanistan, Somalia, Pakistan, New England, England, Kpler, Malaysia, Oregon, Alabama, Maricopa County, Arizona, Arizona’s, Moscow, Alaska, East, South Carolina, California, “ California, West Virginia, Virginia, United Kingdom, West Texas, “ U.S, Los Angeles, Venezuela, Mississippi , Louisiana, Canada, United States, Paris, Taiwan, “ China, Iranian, that’s, –, Singapore, Iraqi, San Diego, Kiel, York, Manhattan, York’s, Chicago, Philadelphia, Georgia, Qaeda

[1/2] Migrants, most from Venezuela, stand near razor wire while surrendering to authorities after wading across the Rio Grande river into the United States from Mexico, in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. October 5, 2023. REUTERS/Adrees Latif/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Texas to block federal immigration authorities from destroying razor wire fencing that the state placed along the border with Mexico to deter illegal border crossings. Moses denied the state's motion to block federal officials from destroying the wire fencing pending the outcome of the state's lawsuit filed in October. The judge last month had ordered the federal government to temporarily refrain from cutting or removing the razor wire while she considered the state's motion. A federal judge at the Biden administration's request in September ordered the 1,000-foot (305-meter) barrier removed, but an appeals court allowed it to remain in place temporarily while Paxton's office pursues an appeal.

Persons: Adrees Latif, Alia Moses, Biden, Moses, Ken Paxton, “, ” Paxton, Greg Abbott, Daniel Wiessner, Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Department of Justice, Republican, Texas National Guard, Lone Star, Republican Texas, Customs, Border Protection, Biden, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Rio Grande, United States, Mexico, Eagle Pass , Texas, U.S, Texas, Del Rio , Texas, Rio, Albany , New York

☆ Australian sheep, cattle prices slump as El Nino scorches pastures
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Peter Hobson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

After three years of plentiful rain and rising livestock numbers, dry weather has withered pastures across Australia. The extreme change in conditions has helped trigger the fastest plunge in cattle and sheep prices in decades, threatening livelihoods in Australia's A$75 billion ($50 billion) red meat and livestock industry. While farmers suffer, falling livestock prices have brought some relief to Australian households hurting from high inflation. Falling U.S. beef production means demand for Australian beef should rise, helping support livestock prices, said Angus Gidley-Baird, an analyst at Rabobank in Sydney. Agricultural consultants Episode 3 estimate that Australian beef processors are reaping their best profits in at least two decades thanks to low local cattle prices and high sale prices in export markets.

Persons: Angus Hobson, Peter Hobson, Angus, Hobson, Stuart Austin, Wilmot, Angus Gidley, Baird, Teys, Mat Larkings, gaunt, haven't, they'll, Sonali Paul Organizations: Livestock, New, REUTERS, Beef, Livestock Australia, Woolworths, Data Monitor, Rabobank, Meat packers, Teys Australia, Farmers, Thomson Locations: Delegate, New South Wales, Australia, Angus Hobson's, Australia's, United States, El Nino, Japan, China, Sydney, Walcha

☆ North Korean special economic zone poised for revival in new Russia trade
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Ju-Min Park | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

China accounted for 97% of North Korea's overall trade in 2022, according to South Korea's Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). But Russia resumed oil exports to North Korea in December 2022 and had exported 67,300 barrels of refined petroleum to North Korea by April, United Nations data shows, the first such shipments reported since 2020. "Assuming North Korea and Russia's honeymoon period becomes a long one, North Korea could get Russian support on food, energy and infrastructure through Rason," Cho said. Those ships are suspected of military supplies from North Korea to Russia, the reports said. From Rason's port, North Korea has sent Russia an estimated 2,000 containers suspected of carrying artillery shells, and possibly short-range missiles, South Korean military officials have told reporters.

Persons: Rason, Jeong Eunlee, Jeong, Lee Chan, Cho Sung, Cho, Alexander Kozlov, Chung Songhak, Chung, Kim Jong Un, Kozlov, Kim Il Sung, Abraham Choi, Choi, Rason . Lee, Lee, Josh Smith, Gleb Stolyarov, Gerry Doyle Organizations: North, South, Korea Institute for National Unification, Russian Federal Customs Service, South Korea's Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency, United, Teikyo University, North Korean, Korean, Kremlin, Korea Institute for Security, South Korea's National Institute for Unification Education, Thomson Locations: SEOUL, Korean, Russia, Ukraine, China, North Korea, Rason, Korea, South Korea’s, Russian, South Korea's Korea, United Nations, Tokyo, South Korean, Pyongyang, Rason's, Soviet, North, South

☆ Fact Check: The Telegraph video on Body Worlds using Ukrainian military corpses is fake
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A video using The Daily Telegraph’s branding, which reports a Body Worlds exhibition was cancelled in London when it was found to be using illegally acquired bodies of Ukrainian soldiers, is fake. Body Worlds exhibitions are the brainchild of German anatomists Gunther von Hagens and his wife Angelina Whalley, and they showcase real human bodies preserved through “plastination”, a preservation process invented by von Hagens in 1977. But Georgia Gomez, the director of development at Body Worlds and von Hagens Plastination, told Reuters in a Nov. 16 email that the claims made about the company were false. Body Worlds exhibitions rely exclusively on body donations to the Institute for Plastination body donation programme and they have never received any body donors from Ukraine. No Body Worlds exhibit is planned or scheduled in London or any other part of Britain and quotes in the video attributed to von Hagens are “completely bogus,” Gomez added.

Persons: anatomists Gunther von Hagens, Angelina Whalley, plastination, von Hagens, ”, Andy King, “, Georgia Gomez, Hagens Plastination, ” Gomez, Gunther von Hagens, Read Organizations: Twitter, Facebook, The Daily Telegraph, British, Heathrow Airport, Reuters, Telegraph, Institute, Ukrainian Center, Office, Border Force, Thomson Locations: London, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Britain

☆ China's Xi Urges Stronger Rule of Law Overseas Amid 'External Risks'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - President Xi Jinping has called for stronger rule of law related to foreign affairs given "external risks and challenges" as China opens up to the outside world, state media reported on Tuesday. Xi, speaking during a study session of the Communist's Party's powerful political bureau, said that to protect its overseas citizens and interests, it was necessary to deepen international cooperation on law enforcement, strengthen consular protection and assistance, and build strong rule of law. To facilitate economic and trade exchanges, authorities say Chinese law firms have set up 180 overseas offices in 35 countries and regions, an increase of nearly 50% since 2018. China needs to actively develop foreign-related legal services and cultivate world-class arbitration institutions and law firms, Xi said. China says such centres are meant to help its citizens renew expired driving licences, and are run by Chinese volunteers, not law enforcement officers.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Ryan Woo, Robert Birsel Organizations: Tencent Holdings, Alibaba Locations: BEIJING, China, Nepal, U.S, Canada, Britain, Netherlands, Beijing, Ukraine, Sudan

The Singapore-based company has not determined the size of the deal or the valuation at IPO. The online fast-fashion retailer, which manufactures most of its merchandise in China, faces criticism that Uyghur forced labor is used to make its low-priced apparel and home goods. Earlier this year, the congresswoman led a bipartisan call for the SEC to halt Shein’s IPO until it verifies that the company does not use forced labor within its supply chain. Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company has previously told Reuters it has “zero tolerance for forced labor” and has no contract manufacturers in Xinjiang. Shein's IPO is "going to be raising issues (for the SEC) that may later be applied across the board to all China-based or China-related companies that are going public," Penick said.

Persons: Chen Lin, Shein confidentially, Shein, Jennifer Wexton, Megan Penick, Robinson, Penick, Republican Sen, Marco Rubio, ”, Rubio, Chris Smith, Smith, ByteDance's TikTok, Group's, Katherine Masters, Arriana, Michael Martina, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Beijing, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Capitol Hill, Republican, Congressional, Commission, Oritain, U.S, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, New York, U.S, Beijing, Washington, China's Xinjiang, Xinjiang, India

Today, they facilitate the connection to the spiritual world she needs to help fellow refugees and their American-raised children who seek restoration of lost spirits. Male heads of households who embrace traditional animist practices perform soul-calling ceremonies, venerate ancestor spirits and invoke the protection of good spirits. On a farm north of St. Paul, Moua Yang runs the hog butcher shop he started working on with his father when he was a child. “It’s ingrained in me,” said Vue, who was born in St. Paul. “Spiritual world is confusing, but once you find a path, everything is natural,” Chad Lee said.

Persons: Mee Vang Yang, ”, Tzianeng Vang, Vang Yang’s, He's, Lee Pao Xiong, Paul, haven’t, Xiong, Moua Yang, “, it’s, Yang, Sai Vue, Vue, Janessa Moua, she’s, ” Moua, Txongpao Lee, Lee, Hlee Xiong Lee, they’re, Kevin Lee, Chad Lee Organizations: PAUL, Communist, Center, Hmong Studies, Concordia University, St, Twin Cities, Hmong Cultural, Lutheran, Press, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Laos, Minnesota, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, United States, Thailand, California, St, Southeast Asia, Wisconsin, Paul’s

Prior to the February 2022 invasion, Chinese cars accounted for less than 10% of the Russian market. Russia has jumped from 11th place to become China's largest export market for cars, reaching a value of $9.4 billion in January-October, Chinese customs data showed. Overall, monthly car sales in Russia are now more than double what they were a year ago, Autostat data showed, while separate data from federal statistics service Rosstat showed car production was nearly three times higher in September year-on-year, underlining the sector's partial recovery. 'UNSTABLE, SHAKY' MARKETSanctions against Russia contributed to lower car production and sales most notably in 2022, but also after Moscow annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Meanwhile, the rouble's slide to 100 against the dollar this year has made imports more expensive, depressing purchases of Chinese cars.

Persons: PPK, Sergei Udalov, Udalov, Russia's, Natalia Zubarevich, Zubarevich, Gleb Stolyarov, Alexander Marrow, Zoey Zhang, Vineet Sachdev, Mike Collett, White, Mark Potter Organizations: Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Chery, Geely, HK, West shuns, Autostat, Russia, Western, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Moscow State University, Wages, Lada, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Soviet, Beijing, China, West shuns Russia, Western

[1/3] Chinese Premier Li Qiang (R) and French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna shake hands at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on November 24, 2023. Jade Gao/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/PARIS, Nov 24 (Reuters) - French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna is set to meet the Chinese leadership in Beijing on Friday as she seeks to soothe ties after the launch of a European Union anti-subsidy probe backed by Paris into Chinese-made electric vehicles. France is also concerned about Chinese attempts to force French cosmetics companies to share manufacturing secrets with Chinese parties. Xi insisted that China welcomes investment from French firms in a telephone call on Monday with Macron, who urged fair treatment for foreign companies in China. Macron visited China in April with great fanfare, in an attempt to demonstrate France's strategic autonomy from the United States.

Persons: Li Qiang, Catherine Colonna, Jade Gao, Wang Yi, Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Xi Jinping, Emmanuel Macron, Xi, Macron, Colonna, Laurie Chen, John Irish, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: French, of, People, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, European, European Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, PARIS, European Union, Paris, France, Ukraine, Iran, Gaza, North Korea, United States

☆ Somalia joins east Africa trade bloc as it eyes new opportunities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Abdi Sheikh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOGADISHU, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The East African Community trade bloc admitted Somalia as its eighth member on Friday, a move Somali authorities and businesses hope will boost the country's war-ravaged economy. "Somalia officially joins the East African Community, reinforcing ties and opening new doors for progress and partnership," Daud Aweis, Somalia's minister for information, culture and tourism said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. In turn the bloc's large population and existing customs union and common market are a draw for investors that Somalia can now tap into. Somali businesses said the country's vibrant private sector, which has overcome long odds to stay afloat, would bring a fresh injection of risk-tolerant entrepreneurs into the trade bloc and boost exchanges across the large Somali Diaspora. "It will be simpler for the large Somali Diaspora living across East Africa to access financial services and products," said Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, managing director of Salaam Somali Bank, one of Somalia's major banks.

Persons: Daud Aweis, al, Shuayb Haji Nur Mohamed, Hereward Holland, Elias Biryabarema, William Maclean Organizations: East African Community, EAC, Democratic, East African, Salaam Somali Bank, Thomson Locations: MOGADISHU, Somalia, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Al Qaeda, Shabaab, Mogadishu, al Shabaab, Somali, East Africa

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