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☆ We spend most of our extra money traveling. We believe it's the best education for our kids.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Melissa Noble | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

I've continued traveling with my own family, and we prioritize spending money on trips. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . We've decided to prioritize travel over spending money on private schooling for our children. Noble and her family prioritize spending money on travel. Courtesy of the authorThese kinds of experiences repeatedly reaffirm our decision to prioritize travel for our children .

Persons: I've, —, we'd, Petra, Abu, Noble, we've, He's marveled, He's, We've, you'd, St, Augustine Organizations: Service Locations: Bali, Indonesia, Mexico, East, Asia, Africa, Europe, Jordan, Abu Simbel, Egypt, Canada, London, Cape Town , South Africa, France, Rocamadour, hysterics, Borneo

☆ Factbox-Policy Pledges of Indonesia's Presidential Candidates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

(Reuters) - Three candidates are running in Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14. The following is a summary of policy objectives they have pledged while campaigning. ANIES BASWEDAN- Target 5.5%-6.5% average annual economic growth from 2025-2029- Create 15 million jobs, including 'green' jobs- Raise the tax-to-GDP ratio from 10.4% in 2022 to 13%-16% by 2029- Target annual inflation of 2%-3% from 2025-2029- Offer incentives for renewable energy projects- Impose a carbon tax with proceeds to be used as an endowment fund to finance development of renewable energy- Increase the 'village fund' to 5 billion rupiah ($317,965) for each village, from the current 1 billion rupiah. - Widen access to global markets for palm oil farmers- Strengthen free trade agreements and Indonesia's role in international financial institutions- Minimise imports of staple foods- Create 2 million new affordable housing units, including for informal workers, youth- Expedite forest conservation and rehabilitation projects- Limit new construction of, and retire existing coal-fired power plants, especially in Java, Bali islands- Review debt of state-owned enterprises, continue debt restructuring programme- Revise Jobs Creation Law with goal to ensure fair wages for workers- Evaluate the $32 billion new capital city project- Evaluate food estate programme, replacing it with contract farming, a scheme to ensure farm products will be sold- Impose a wealth tax on Indonesia's 100 richest people- Audit the nickel industry with focus on its impact on the environment and ensuring welfare of domestic workers- Strengthen the anti-corruption agency by revising the law that regulates it- Ease permitting requirements for building places of worshipGANJAR PRANOWO- Continue programmes of outgoing President Joko Widodo's administration- Target average annual economic growth of 7%- Create 17 million new jobs- Expedite construction of new capital city- Increase the defence budget as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) to between 1%-2%, from about 0.8% presently. Modernise military hardware- Target 30% share for renewable sources in energy mix by 2029- Allow more renewable energy producers to use electricity grids of state utility firms to boost green energy adoption- Set up a dedicated ministry for the palm oil sector- Maintain moratorium on deforestation, accelerate reforestation programmes- Create digital tax collection system under the new tax agency separated from finance ministry- Limit permit issuance of new nickel smelter to avoid a further oversupply- Expand social welfare to cover 15 million families, up from 10 million currently- Provide funding to ensure at least one member of a poor family receives education until college- Strengthen national anti-corruption agency- Maintain foreign policy of non-alignment- Strengthen Indonesia's commitment to support fight of Palestinian people- Revitalise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its decision-making process, especially regarding South China Sea disputes.

Persons: ANIES, GANJAR, Joko Widodo's, PRABOWO, Joko, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Bernadette Christina Munthe, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Java, Bali, South

☆ Biden stands by comment that Xi is a 'dictator' hours after their first meeting in a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

WOODSIDE, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 15: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at a news conference at the Filoli Estate on November 15, 2023 in Woodside, California. The news conference follows a meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' week, their first since meeting at the Indonesian island resort of Bali in November 2022. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)U.S. President Joe Biden has again called his Chinese counterpart a dictator — a move that could potentially unravel the progress made between the world's two leading powers. Shortly after his first meeting with China President Xi Jinping in a year, Biden responded to a question on whether he stood by his June comment labeling Xi a dictator. "Well, look, he is," Biden said Wednesday after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in San Francisco.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Xi Jinping, Kent Nishimura, —, Xi, He's Organizations: Economic Cooperation, APEC, China Locations: WOODSIDE , CALIFORNIA, Woodside , California, Asia, Indonesian, Bali, San Francisco

☆ Indonesia says arrests militants suspected of plotting to disrupt election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An armed police officer stands guard following a blast at a district police station, that according to authorities was a suspected suicide bombing, in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia, December 7, 2022. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Indonesia's counter-terrorism unit has arrested 59 suspected militants including some loyalists of the Islamic State-inspired Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) suspected of planning to disrupt an upcoming election, a unit spokesperson said on Tuesday. Aswin Siregar, spokesperson for the Densus 88 counter-terrorism taskforce, said the JAD militants were suspected of plotting attacks to disrupt Feb. 14 presidential and legislative elections. It relates to their main goal which is to cancel the election," he added without giving any more detail of the suspected plotting. However, security analysts say the militant threat has diminished significantly in recent years, largely because of successful security force operations.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Ansharut, Aswin Siregar, Aswin, Ananda Teresia, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Islamic, Islamic State, JI, Thomson Locations: Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, al Qaeda, JAD, United States, Bali

The Commerce Department, which oversees export controls, is working on an update of export restrictions first released last year. "The PRC has been expecting an update around the one year anniversary, based on conversations with administration officials," the U.S. official said, using the abbreviation for People's Republic of China. U.S. officials provided the information to Chinese counterparts in recent weeks, the official said, which Reuters is reporting for the first time. The Biden administration has also sent a series of high-level officials to China, including Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in August. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also gave Chinese officials a warning in July about restrictions on U.S. investment in China released in August.

Persons: Florence Lo, Biden, Gina Raimondo, Jake Sullivan, Wang Yi, Liu Pengyu, Peter Harrell, Janet Yellen, Xi, ASML, Alexandra Alper, Karen Freifeld, Chris Sanders, Anna Driver Organizations: REUTERS, Beijing, U.S, Commerce Department, People's, Reuters, National, Foreign, of Commerce, White House, Economic Cooperation, Thomson Locations: China, WASHINGTON, People's Republic of China, Beijing, U.S, United States, Washington, Asia, San Francisco, Bali, India, Netherlands, Japan

☆ Instagram is making you a worse tourist. Here’s how to travel respectfully
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Lauren A. Siegel | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Now, travelers also look to social media for proof of how others behave. If their peers from home are throwing caution to the wind while on vacation, this can cause a domino effect of bad behavior. I’ve identified other bad travel attitudes and habits that have emerged as a result of social media-driven tourism. The Instagram effectWhen people travel to a beautiful place, the temptation to post photos and videos to social media is high. This speaks to the role of social media as part of the problem when it comes to bad tourist behavior.

Persons: I’ve, David Silverman, Bali, Vienna –, Finland’s, Finn, aren’t, you’ve, Lauren A, Siegel Organizations: CNN, Getty, influencers, Research, University of Greenwich Locations: Rome, geotags, Italy, Florence, Bali, Iceland, Hawaii, Palau, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Vienna, Netherlands, Amsterdam, London

☆ Australia urges China to remove all trade restrictions after barley tariffs lifted
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Don Farrell Australian trade minister"We always saw the barley application and the suspension of the barley application before the [World Trade Organisation] as a template for dealing with the wine issue," he said. "And of course, we're extremely confident that the 220% tariffs that were applied to Australian wine will be removed." Thawing tensionsIn April, Australia agreed to "temporarily suspend" its World Trade Organization complaint against China for its 2020 decision to impose 80.5% duties on Australian barley trade that was once worth about 1.5 billion Australian dollars ($988.1 million). Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty ImagesOn Monday, Farrell said a "range of factors" were at play, with Chinese beer consumers and barley importers "very strongly in favor" of reintroducing Australian barley. Since then, Australia's foreign minister Penny Wong and trade minister Farrell have visited Beijing and have had direct meetings with their direct counterparts.

Persons: Don Farrell, Farrell, Xi Jinping, Anthony Albanese, Penny Wong Organizations: World Trade, World Trade Organization, Chinese Commerce Ministry, Nantong, Trade Zone, Visual China, Australian Locations: Australia, China, Beijing, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, Bali

☆ When a tourist in Bali gets arrested, this is the woman they call
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

When it comes to misbehaving tourists in Bali, Niluh Djelantik has seen and heard it all. “There is no shortage of bad tourists in Bali – I’m losing count, to be honest,” she told CNN Travel. “She’s probably the most important person in Bali, after the governor (Wayan Koster),” the woman said. “We will no longer welcome mass tourism,” Bali governor Wayan Koster said at a conference in May. Bali needs tourists and this is about (getting foreigners) to respect our laws… and not take our hospitality for granted.”

Persons: CNN — Influencers, Djelantik, ”, Bali – I’m, – I’ve, ” Djelantik, I’ve, Bali Agung, ” ‘, She’s, Wayan Koster, you’ll, Yuri Chilikin, Mount Agung –, Chilikin, Garry Lotulung, “ Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Bali, Tourists, ” CNN, Tourism, Visa Locations: Bali, Bali –, Jakarta, Canggu, Indonesia, Germany, “ Bali, Russian, Mount, Instagram, Mount Agung, Denpasar, Moscow, Russia

Beijing CNN —US Secretary of State Antony Blinken sat down with China’s top diplomat on the final day of a high stakes visit to Beijing aimed at stabilizing relations, with all eyes on whether Washington’s envoy will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping later in the day. Blinken and China’s top diplomatic counterpart Wang Yi began talks Monday morning, posing for photos at Beijing’s Diaoyutai State Guesthouse before heading into closed door discussions. Whether Blinken also meets with Xi will be a key indicator of China’s interest in taking steps to rebuild that rapport. “Profound differences” between the US and China, however, were also clear during the meeting, the official added. While Qin holds the title of foreign minister, he wields less power than Wang, who directs China’s foreign policy through his position among the party’s core leadership.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Blinken’s, Qin Gang, Blinken, Xi, “, Qin, ”, Wang, ” Blinken’s, Joe Biden, China’s Xi, –, Nancy Pelosi Organizations: Beijing CNN —, Chinese Foreign, United, United States ’, State Department, Communist Party, senior State Department, US Locations: Beijing, loggerheads, China, Moscow, Washington, United States, Taiwan, Bali

☆ Indonesia's Bali considers banning mountain climbing following spate of bad tourist behavior
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Dubbed the “island of the Gods,” Bali is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, regularly ranking high on global travel polls. The new rules will apply to Bali’s 22 mountains, which have now been closed indefinitely for climbers. Mountains and volcanoes are popular among many visitors who flock to Bali to enjoy its beaches, jungles and rice paddy fields. Guides and local agencies told CNN that it was still business as usual but heavily lamented the ban. “Bali is only starting to bounce back from the pandemic, now is not a good time to be choosing which tourists we want.

Persons: CNN —, ” Wayan Koster, ”, Wayan Koster, Batur, Che, Mount Agung, “, Sandiaga Uno, it’s, Tjokorda Bagus Pemayun Organizations: CNN, CNN — Bali’s, Foreigners, Police Locations: Bali, Indonesia, Mount Agung, Bali’s, Russian, Seminyak, Mount, Jakarta

U.S. officials said Blinken would push to establish open communication channels to ensure competition with the Chinese does not spiral into conflict. Chinese state media said Blinken would visit on June 18 and 19. Kritenbrink said Blinken would hold a series of meetings with senior Chinese officials. The two sides did not say which officials Blinken would meet. "I believe Secretary Blinken will advocate strongly that these lines of communication are necessary.

Persons: Antony Blinken's, Qin Gang, Joe Biden, Blinken, We're, Daniel Kritenbrink, Kritenbrink, Xi Jinping, Matthew Miller, Xi, Kurt Campbell, Blinken's, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Campbell, Biden, Qin, Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis, Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama, William Maclean Organizations: Wednesday, U.S, Blinken, State, U.S . State Department, Washington, Treasury, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Beijing, U.S, East Asia, Taiwan, Ukraine, Blinken's, Bali, North Korea

Blinken's long-delayed visit is aimed at stabilizing relations between the world's two largest economies and strategic rivals. Chinese state media said Blinken would visit on June 18 and 19. Kritenbrink said Blinken would hold a series of meetings with senior Chinese officials. The two sides did not say which officials Blinken would meet. "I believe Secretary Blinken will advocate strongly that these lines of communication are necessary.

Persons: Antony Blinken's, Qin Gang, Joe Biden, Blinken, We're, Daniel Kritenbrink, Kritenbrink, Xi Jinping, Matthew Miller, Antony Blinken, Faisal Bin Farhan, Ahmed Yosri, Xi, Kurt Campbell, Blinken's, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Campbell, Biden, Qin, Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Simon Lewis, Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama, William Maclean Organizations: Wednesday, U.S, Blinken, State, U.S . State Department, Saudi Foreign, Intercontinental, REUTERS, Washington, Treasury, Thomson Locations: United States, China, Beijing, U.S, East Asia, Taiwan, Ukraine, Blinken's, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Bali, North Korea

WASHINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - Efforts to build a floor under U.S.-China relations have yet to be successful and coming months will determine if it is possible to reestablish constructive diplomacy with Beijing, a top White House official said on Thursday, stressing the need for "Cold War"-era hotlines and other crisis mechanisms. Campbell said the U.S. was in the early stages of a new phase of competitive relations with China. Campbell said the United States was stepping up its focus on the Indo-Pacific in spite of the war in Ukraine and this would been seen in its budgets, engagements, aid and assistance. He pointed to India, which is due to take part in another summit of the so-called Quad countries in Australia expected in May, and said he believed its relationship with the United States was the most important of the 21st century. Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Michael Martina; Editing by Leslie Adler and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Blinken says G20 meeting in India marred by Russia-Ukraine war
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Simon Lewis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

This year’s host India has declined to blame Russia for the war, seeking a diplomatic solution and sharply boosting its purchases of Russian oil. The G20 should repeat calls – agreed upon by most G20 nations’ leaders in Bali in November - for Russia to end the war and withdraw for the sake of international peace and economic stability, Blinken said. Blinken said Russia has yet to agree to renew the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which facilitates the export of Ukraine's agricultural products, before it expires on March 18. "It is imperative the G20 speak up on behalf of extending and expanding the (Black Sea) grain initiative to strengthen food security for the most vulnerable," Blinken added. Reporting by Simon Lewis and Sudipto Ganguly; Editing by Krishna N. Das and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Lockheed (LMT) Martin Corporation and Raytheon (RTN) Missiles & Defense, a subsidiary of Raytheon (RTN) Technologies Corp, will be added to China’s sanctions list, its Ministry of Commerce said in a Thursday statement. That move came after American forces downed what it called a Chinese surveillance balloon that entered its airspace late last month. Thursday’s Chinese commerce ministry statement made no mention of the downed balloon, nor the US sanctions on Chinese entities. Instead, it cited “national sovereignty” as the catalyst for the penalties while highlighting both companies’ sales of arms to Taiwan. China maintains that the balloon found over the United States was a civilian research aircraft accidentally blown off course.

JAKARTA, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Indonesia plans to send a top general to Myanmar to talk to its junta leaders in the hope of showing Myanmar's military rulers how Indonesia made a successful transition to democracy, President Joko Widodo said on Wednesday. We have the experience, here in Indonesia, the situation was the same," the president, who is widely known as Jokowi, told Reuters in an interview in his offices in Jakarta. The military took over in Myanmar in 1962, isolating the country and suppressing dissent for decades until a tentative opening up began in 2011. Other members have appeared increasingly frustrated with the Myanmar military and are keen to maintain a ban on its top officials taking part in ASEAN forums. Managing rifts over Myanmar, and escalating tension in the disputed South China Sea, will be among the main challenges for Indonesia in its role as ASEAN chair.

If everyone in the world expertly utilized credit card rewards to travel for free, there wouldn't be such amazing travel opportunities out there. Identify your travel goalsBefore you begin collecting credit card rewards, you should first identify your travel goals. Amex Membership Rewards points Capital One miles Chase Ultimate Rewards points Choice Privileges points Citi ThankYou points Hilton Honors points Hyatt points IHG Rewards points Marriott Bonvoy points Wyndham Rewards pointsYou travel with a large family Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Recommended credit card strategies for beginnersThe best practice for anyone new to credit card rewards is to invest in flexible points. You'll need: An annual fee-incurring Hilton credit card One of the greatest deals in credit card rewards is the free night certificate that comes with select American Express Hilton credit cards.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 17 (Reuters) - China welcomes foreign investment and will continue to open up to the world, the country's Vice-Premier Liu He told the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on Tuesday. "China will always promote all-round opening up, and improve the level and quality of opening up," he said. "Foreign investments are welcome in China, and the door to China will only open up further." Its Davos turnout also contrasts with the conspicuous absence of Russia, a key ally and whose invasion of Ukraine China has refused to condemn. At Davos, Liu will meet leaders from other countries and members of the business community including CEOs from finance, tech, consumer and industrial companies, a Chinese official familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Others, like China, have criticized the war without meaningfully reducing ties with Russia. The war prompted condemnation in the United Nations and saw Russia booted from the UN Human Rights Council. Beijing has walked a careful line since the invasion began, at times exhibiting impatience with Russia's war in Ukraine. Putin in September acknowledged that China had "questions and concerns" about the war while meeting with Xi in Uzbekistan. "Putin's allies are not 'turning on him,' only expressing dissatisfaction at the difficulties his war in Ukraine is causing them," he added.

☆ Ukraine aims for a peace summit by the end of February, foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s foreign minister on Monday said that his government is aiming to have a peace summit by the end of February, preferably at the United Nations with Secretary-General António Guterres as a possible mediator, around the anniversary of Russia’s war. But Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Associated Press that Russia could only be invited to such a summit if the country faced a war crimes tribunal first. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba during an interview in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday. “Every war ends as a result of the actions taken on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.”Kuleba said the Ukrainian government would like to have a peace summit by the end of February. So we would welcome his active participation.”The foreign minister again downplayed comments by Russian authorities that they are ready for talks.

In this guide, we'll give you a crash course on how to quickly earn credit card rewards and book free travel. If everyone in the world expertly utilized credit card rewards to travel for free, there wouldn't be such amazing travel opportunities out there. Identify your travel goalsBefore you begin collecting credit card rewards, you should first identify your travel goals. Recommended credit card strategies for beginnersThe best practice for anyone new to credit card rewards is to invest in flexible points. You'll need: An annual fee-incurring Hilton credit card One of the greatest deals in credit card rewards is the free night certificate that comes with select American Express Hilton credit cards.

☆ Bali governor says new Indonesia laws pose no risk to tourists
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Visitors to Bali will not be put at risk by Indonesia's newly ratified criminal code, the island's governor said, dismissing concerns that revised laws which include articles criminalising sex outside marriage may scare away tourists from its shores. Seeking to reassure visitors, Bali Governor Wayan Koster in a statement on Sunday noted the new laws, which come into affect in three years, could only be prosecuted if there was complaint by a parent, spouse or child. Those who "visit or live in Bali would not need to worry with regard to the entry into force of the Indonesian Criminal Code", he said. The governor said provisions in the criminal code on this issue had been altered from an earlier, stricter version so "would provide a better guarantee of everyone's privacy and comfortableness." Decades in the making, legislators hailed the passage of the criminal code as a much-needed overhaul of a vestige of Dutch colonial rule.

☆ Zelenskyy's TIME Person of the Year Award is proof that resilience is the most important trait any leader can have
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Marguerite Ward | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

He embodies valor and resilience, traits business leaders should exhibit in tough times. The Ukrainian leader's speaking style is characterized by short sentences, vivid imagery, and empathy, all of which make him effective. A 2021 research paper published in the Academy of Management Journal found business leaders who led by example boosted productivity in their businesses. Some of the most convincing business leaders of our time have leaned into emotion when making key arguments. "President Zelenskyy remains focused on his core assignment.

It was a rare, candid glimpse of the Chinese leader and a reminder of Beijing's testy relations with the West. Besides Biden, Trudeau and Australia's Anthony Albanese, Xi also met the leaders of South Korea, Italy, Argentina, Holland and France for bilateral talks in Bali. Xi was ferried around Bali in his own Hongqi (Red Flag) limousine - Mao Zedong used an earlier model - China's version of the U.S. presidential "Beast" limo. Returning to in-person diplomacy also gives Xi a platform to push Chinese initiatives that further cement its stature as leader of the emerging world. "I think in the coming years you'll see China indeed making a serious effort to implement its major power diplomacy," he said.

Several Biden aides and advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity, gave their assessment of how the president and his team view Trump's entry into the race. Trump made his announcement on Tuesday night as he sought to get a jump on potential rivals for the Republican nomination. Biden, who defeated Trump in the contentious 2020 election, thus far is remaining mum publicly. Biden defeated Trump by more than 7 million in the nationwide popular vote tally and by a margin of 306 to 232 in the state-by-state Electoral College that determines the outcome of presidential elections. A few hours before Trump's announcement, the White House launched a new webpage highlighting the Biden administration's achievements from creating manufacturing jobs and lowering drug prices for seniors to gun reform.

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