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☆ Race to finish Indo-Pacific trade deals hit snags ahead of APEC summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A sign advertising the upcoming APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit in see as the city prepares to host leaders from the Asia-Pacific region in San Francisco, California November 8, 2023. Instead it promised cooperation on supply chains and clean energy along with higher standards for labor, environment and regulatory practices and digital trade. Negotiations on digital trade standards -- once seen as a marquee feature of the IPEF trade pillar -- are largely frozen as the Biden administration has suspended discussions on key rules after reversing longstanding U.S. positions on e-commerce. By adopting these fringe views on digital trade, USTR really brings the main substance on digital trade to a halt," said John Murphy, senior vice president for international policy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. One of the sources familiar with the talks said that early enthusiasm on the IPEF trade pillar -- which excludes India -- has given way to frustration over the difficulty and complexity of issues involved.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Biden, Joe Biden, IPEF, Wendy Cutler, Cutler, Trump, USTR, John Murphy, David Lawder, Sharon Singleton Organizations: APEC, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, FRANCISCO, Pacific, Prosperity, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Asia Society Policy Center, Commerce Department, U.S . Trade, Big Tech, U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Asia, Pacific, San Francisco , California, San Francisco, U.S, China, Washington, IPEF, Australia, Brunei, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, United States, TPP

☆ Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna: Long-lost mammal rediscovered in Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Scientists have rediscovered a long-lost species of mammal described as having the spines of a hedgehog, the snout of an anteater and the feet of a mole, in Indonesia’s Cyclops Mountains more than 60 years after it was last recorded. Attenborough’s long-beaked echidna, named after British naturalist David Attenborough, was photographed for the first time by a trail camera on the last day of a four-week expedition led by Oxford University scientists. A different echidna species is found throughout Australia and lowland New Guinea. Kempton’s team survived an earthquake, malaria and even a leech attached to an eyeball during their trip. They worked with the local village Yongsu Sapari to navigate and explore the remote terrain of northeastern Papua.

Persons: David Attenborough, James Kempton, ”, “, ‘, ” Kempton, Kempton’s, Yongsu Organizations: CNN —, Oxford University Locations: British, Dutch, Australia, New Guinea, Papua

☆ Indian scientists hope cloud seeding can clean Delhi's toxic air
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Shivam Patel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Air quality dips in Delhi ahead of winter every year, when cold air traps pollutants from a variety of sources including vehicles, industries, construction dust, and agricultural waste burning. The project, estimated to cost 10 million rupees ($120,000) for 100 square kilometres (38.6 square miles), would involve spraying into clouds a mix of salts that include silver iodine, Agrawal said. "We don't expect that big a cloud that will cover entire Delhi, but a few hundred kilometres would be good," he told Reuters. The air quality index in the city was 506 early on Thursday, which is categorised as "hazardous" by Swiss group IQAir. Several countries have used cloud seeding to produce rain, improve air quality and water crops in time of drought, including Mexico, the United States, China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Persons: Anushree, Manindra Agrawal, Agrawal, Gufran Beig, SAFAR, Beig, Shivam Patel, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Indian Institute of Technology, Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Kanpur, Punjab, Haryana, Mexico, United States, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Mexico

☆ Indonesia president will convey to Biden that "Hamas-Israel war should be stopped"
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesian President Joko Widodo greets U.S. President Joe Biden upon his arrival for a mangrove planting event at Ngurah Rai Forest Park, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia November 16, 2022. Dita Alangkara/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Indonesia's leader Joko Widodo said on Thursday he would convey to United States President Joe Biden in their meeting on Monday that the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas should be stopped. Jokowi, as the leader of the world's largest Muslim-majority country is popularly known, is set to fly to Riyadh for an international summit about the war on Friday, the outcome of which he said he will convey to Biden. "I will be delegated to tell President Joe Biden that the Hamas-Israel war should immediately be stopped," he said, declining to provide further details. A White House spokesperson previously said Jokowi and Biden would also discuss ways to uphold international law and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Joe Biden, Dita Alangkara, Biden, Jokowi, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Rights, Thomson Locations: Rai Forest, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Israel, Riyadh, Gaza

Instead, ongoing exercises in Hawaii, which conclude Friday, highlight part of a new American approach to Pacific defense and deterrence, with a focus on small groups of mobile land forces operating from islands like those off China's coast. As part of its “Operation Pathways” revamp of Pacific defense set in motion nearly a decade ago, the U.S. has been increasing its number of exercises with partners in the Indo-Pacific. “And that helps the U.S. to overcome its numerical disadvantages as China's navy is continuing to expand. The exercises provide experience in technical and procedural interoperability and also build human bonds that can be critical in times of crisis. Austin’s travels overlap with Secretary of State Antony Blinken ’s own visits to Tokyo, Seoul and New Delhi.

Persons: ”, Marcus Evans, Euan Graham, ” Graham, Evans, ” Evans, Defense Lloyd Austin, Antony Blinken ’, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Graham Organizations: 25th Infantry Division, U.S . Air Force, Wheeler Army, U.S . Department of Defense, U.S . Navy, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, U.S, United States Army, Defense, ” Aircraft Locations: BANGKOK, Taiwan, U.S, Beijing, China, Israel, Iran, Hawaii, American, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Britain, Oahu, United States, Mariana Islands, Guam, Pacific, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Australia, India, Tokyo, Seoul, New Delhi, Solomon Islands, Washington

For the first time, Indonesia accounted for more than 50% of global thermal coal exports during the January to October window, data from Kpler shows, indicating its success in wresting share from rival exporters. Indonesia coal exports by destinationIndia was the second largest buyer of Indonesian coal, grabbing a roughly 20% share of the total (82 million tons). Indonesia vs Australia thermal coal pricesThat compares to an average $184 per ton for the roughly 6,200 kcal/kg coal shipped from Newcastle in Australia. Indonesia coal export price vs Indonesia coal exports to ChinaThe price to ship a ton of coal from Indonesia to China is currently around $8-$10, compared to $14-$15 a ton for the Australia to China voyage, according to Shanghai Shipping Exchange data. And that means Indonesia's full-year coal exports will smash previous records for 2023 as a whole.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Tom Hogue Organizations: Russia, TOP, China, Australia, Indonesia, Shanghai Shipping Exchange, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Cilegon, West Java, Indonesia, LITTLETON , Colorado, South Africa, Colombia, United States, Hong Kong, India, Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia, LSEG, Newcastle, Mozambique, Russia, Indonesian, Asia

☆ China has a sweeping vision to reshape the world — and countries are listening
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

All this coincides with longstanding calls from countries across the developing world for an international system where they have more say. Beijing, he added, sees the US as merely “paying lip service” to the “liberal order” to hurt other countries. Sergei Savostyanov/Sputnik/ReutersIn recent years, even some countries that have for decades embraced a close partnership with the US have drawn closer to China and its vision. “Is China really trying to promote multipolarity — or does China just want to (become a) substitute (for) US influence over the world?” he asked. They also raise questions about how a more militarily and economically powerful China would behave globally, if left unchecked.

Persons: Xi Jinping, —, Xi, Vladimir Putin, General Antonio Guterres, ” Xi, , Shen Hong, they’d, ”, Yun Sun, liberalize, Sanjit Das, Shen Dingli, ‘, ’ ”, Russia’s Putin, Bashar al, Assad —, Assad’s, Sergei Savostyanov, Ali Sarwar Naqvi, “ We’ve, James Marape, ’, Rubens Duarte, Li Zhiquan, “, Tong Zhao, Zhao, Ted Aljibe, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Zhang Youxia, Beijing’s, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, BRICS, Weeks, Joe Biden, Sergio Lima, ” — Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United Nations, Forum, China, Communist, CNN, Beijing, Washington, Getty, Stimson, Bank, World Trade Organization, . Riot, Bloomberg, Initiative, Asian, Global, Sputnik, Reuters, Center for International Strategic Studies, Papua New Guinea, multipolarity, China News Service, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Global Security Initiative, NATO, Russia, Philippine Defense, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, United, New, Seven, Ministry, Global Security, Group, UN, Communist Party Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, Gaza, Russian, Xinhua, Washington, South, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, America, Shanghai, West, Hangzhou, Israel, Pakistan, Pakistani, Islamabad, Papua New, Brazil, Indonesia, Europe, Asia, Scarborough, South China, AFP, Moscow, Russia, “, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Palestine, India, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates, New Delhi, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, ” Beijing

☆ A modern etiquette guide for group chats
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Michael Venutolo-Mantovani | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

A recent poll of 1,005 US adults found the average American spends 26 minutes a day reading and responding to group chats. For us to survive and thrive as humans, it's time to agree on the Definitive Etiquette of the Group Chat. The ultimate appeal of group chats — their necessity, really — is that they've become the only social media that's actually social. Group chats can become overwhelming, of course, especially as they creep into other apps and especially as they often duplicate participants. Don't talk about the group chat outside the group chat.

Persons: who's, Sam Bankman, Fried, siphoning, Emily Post, they've, Mark Zuckerberg, Twitter, Hua Hsu, e Organizations: Bank, Democratic, Street, Wall, Mets, New York Giants, Facebook, Adidas, Nazi, Yorker Locations: Bankman, Silicon, Indonesia, American, Business, Politics, Netherlands, Rome, Tucson, le

☆ Campi Flegrei: Next door to Vesuvius, another Italian volcano is waking up
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Barbie Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

The most dangerous volcanic threat in Italy right now is one you’ve probably never heard of: Campi Flegrei, or the Phlegraean Fields. The last major eruption of Campi Flegrei was in 1538, and it created a new mountain in the bay. So far in 2023 Campi Flegrei has recorded more than 3,450 earthquakes, 1,118 of which occurred in August alone. There are two hypotheses as to what could be causing the current increase in seismic activity at Campi Flegrei, according to De Natale. Vesuvius and the Campi Flegrei area.

Persons: Rome CNN —, Campi, Flegrei, Campi Flegrei, Carlo Doglioni, ”, ” Doglioni, What’s, Giuseppe De Natale, De Natale, ” De Natale, Ivan Romano, Benedetto De Vivo, ” De Vivo, Rosa Russo Iervolino, Luigi di Magistris, of Serapis, bradyseism, Christopher Kilburn, “, Stefano Carlino, ” Carlino, Salvatore Laporta, Natale, ” Natale Organizations: Rome CNN, National, of Geophysics, University of Naples, CNN, Geological Survey, Environment, volcanology, University College London Locations: Rome, Italy, Naples, Capri, Ischia, Pisciarelli, Vesuvius, Yellowstone, Long, California, Toba, Indonesia, Roman, Pozzuoli, Campi, L’Aquila, vulcanology

☆ Ukraine. Israel. Can America Support Two Wars and Still Handle China?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Damien Cave | More About Damien Cave | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

America’s long-promised pivot to Asia was finally gathering momentum — new security deals with the Philippines and India, expanded military exercises, and plans with allies to stay ahead of Chinese technology. But the Middle East, like a vortex, has pulled Washington back in. “What concerns us most is the diversion of the U.S. military’s resources from East Asia to Europe, to the Middle East,” Akihisa Nagashima, a lawmaker and former national security adviser in Japan, said at a strategy forum in Sydney, Australia, last week. “We really hope that conflict is completely finished pretty soon.”American military commanders have said that no equipment has left the Indo-Pacific. And two top cabinet officials, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, will be crisscrossing Asia this week with messages of reassurance, making stops separately or together in India, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.

Persons: Akihisa Nagashima, “, Lloyd J, Austin III, Antony J, Blinken Organizations: Pentagon, Defense Locations: Asia, Philippines, India, Washington, United States, Beijing, Gaza, Israel, East Asia, Europe, Japan, Sydney, Australia, South Korea, Indonesia

☆ Germany Accused of Silencing Pro-Palestinian Voices at U.N. Rights Forum
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sarah MarshBERLIN (Reuters) - Germany faced accusations from Muslim countries of silencing pro-Palestinian voices and failing to do enough to tackle Islamophobia in a United Nations review of its human rights record on Thursday. German authorities have cracked down on pro-Palestinian groups since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, and refused to authorize many pro-Palestinian protests, saying the curbs are to stop public disorder and prevent public antisemitism. Germany's Commissioner for Human Rights Policy Luise Amtsberg said there were limits on the right to peaceful demonstration in connection with criminal acts. Separately, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier on Thursday that the country that perpetrated the Holocaust could not tolerate antisemitism. All 193 U.N. member states are subject to scrutiny as part of the review process established in 2008.

Persons: Sarah Marsh BERLIN, Luise Amtsberg, Olaf Scholz, Sarah Marsh, Bill Berkrot Organizations: United, NSU, Germany's, Human Locations: Germany, United Nations, Israel, Gaza, Geneva, Turkish

☆ SingTel profit jumps 83% in first half on Indonesia gain
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Singtel booth is pictured at the Money 20/20 Asia Fintech Trade Show in Singapore March 21, 2019. Telkomsel, the Indonesian associate of Southeast Asia's largest telecom firm, had agreed to merge with its parent's IndiHome broadband arm in an effort to expand into Indonesia's fixed broadband market. SingTel owns a 29.6% stake in the enlarged integrated mobile and fixed broadband company. SingTel said its net profit for the six months ended Sept. 30 was S$2.14 billion ($1.58 billion), compared with S$1.17 billion a year earlier. The company declared an interim dividend of 5.2 Singapore cents per share, higher than the 4.6 Singapore cents per share declared a year earlier.

Persons: Anshuman, SingTel, Archishma Iyer, John Biju, Shilpi Majumdar, Shounak Dasgupta, Subhranshu Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Asia, Singapore, Indonesian, Southeast, Telkomsel, Bengaluru

☆ Sri Lanka, Argentina top list of most vulnerable economies -study
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka and Argentina remain very vulnerable amid a worsening in global financial conditions while China has suffered a sharp deterioration in financial resilience since pre-COVID times, a think-tank study found on Wednesday. The study also showed that debt sustainability has declined over the last four years across emerging market economies. "In 2019, only Tunisia, Pakistan, Argentina, and Sri Lanka had ratios of external financing needs above 100%. The study calculated external financing needs by measuring short-term external debt plus current account deficits as a proportion of international reserves. Bolivia, Egypt, Turkey and El Salvador are also on the list of vulnerable countries, while the study shows that Indonesia, Peru and Bulgaria are the most resilient countries in the group.

Persons: Liliana Rojas, Suarez, Rojas, Jorgelina, Karin Strohecker Organizations: Washington -, Global Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, U.S, Thomson Locations: Sri Lanka, Argentina, China, Washington, Ukraine, Lanka, Britain, Tunisia, Pakistan, Bolivia, Egypt, Turkey, El Salvador, Indonesia, Peru, Bulgaria, Rosario, Lincoln

☆ Blinken to visit South Korea as North Korea, Russia deepen ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Seoul visit comes as the United States and South Korea, along with Japan, have condemned what they say is the supply of arms and military equipment by North Korea to Russia. North Korea is preparing to launch a spy satellite after having failed twice this year to put one in orbit. South Korea's spy agency said last week North Korea was in the final stages of preparations for the launch after apparently receiving technical assistance from Russia. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is also due to visit South Korea this week on a trip that will include Indonesia and India. In Washington, U.S. and South Korean officials held talks on North Korea's illicit cyber activities that they say fund its unlawful weapons programs, South Korea's foreign ministry said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Toshifumi, military's Vandenberg, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Soo, Choi, Ed Davies, Michael Perry Organizations: Japanese, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, South Korean, SpaceX, U.S, Defense, Blinken, United, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Rights SEOUL, Seoul, Russia, Blinken's, Asia, India, Israel, United States, South Korea, North Korea, Washington, North, Ukraine, Pyongyang, Korea, Moscow, Russia's, South, Indonesia, North Korean, Pacific, Washington , U.S, United Nations

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, November 14, 2022. "This is going to overshadow anything that happens at APEC," said Oriana Skylar Mastro, a Stanford University China expert. Biden will welcome other APEC leaders - including from Vietnam, the Philippines, Canada and Mexico - and both he and Xi will be playing to the gallery. "Our door is open to any country or economy facing PRC (People's Republic of China) economic coercive threats," Melanie Hart, a senior China policy adviser at the State Department, said on Monday. That would include "companies flocking to meet with Xi Jinping and have dinner with him," he said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Oriana Skylar Mastro, Xi, Biden, Victor Cha, Washington, Matthew Goodman, Goodman, Janet Yellen, Melanie Hart, Donald Trump, Jude Blanchette, Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom, Trevor Hunnicutt, Laurie Chen, Michelle Nichols, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, San, Economic Cooperation, U.S, APEC, Stanford University China, Biden, Beijing, Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, China, Protesters, White, Treasury, Washington, People's, State Department, Pew Research, Prosperity, CSIS, Thomson Locations: Bali , Indonesia, San Francisco, Asia, Bali, Beijing, China, China . U.S, Washington, Taiwan, South China, Vietnam, Philippines, Canada, Mexico, U.S, People's Republic of China

☆ Magnitude 6.9 earthquake strikes Banda Sea in Indonesia; no tsunami warning
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 8 (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck the Banda Sea region in Indonesia on Wednesday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. The quake was 370 km (229.9 miles) southeast of Ambon, Indonesia and estimated at a depth of 146 km, EMSC added. There was no tsunami threat from the earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PWTC) said. EMSC had initially reported it as magnitude 6.8. Reporting by Shubhendu Deshmukh in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: EMSC, Shubhendu Deshmukh, Jamie Freed Organizations: Mediterranean Seismological, Tsunami Warning, Thomson Locations: Banda, Indonesia, Ambon, Bengaluru

☆ Beijing is ready to improve ties with US, says Chinese vice-president
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Beijing is ready to improve ties with Washington, a senior Chinese official said Wednesday, days before a highly anticipated potential meeting between leaders Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in San Francisco. Ahead of that potential meeting, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has invited Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, known as the country’s “economic tsar,” for a two-day meeting starting Thursday. Washington has sent four cabinet officials to Beijing since June, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Climate Envoy John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “The foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, and the source of strength lies in people-to-people friendship,” Xi added. Biden and Xi last met face-to-face in November 2022 for a three-hour talk in Bali, Indonesia, at a G20 summit.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, ”, Han Zheng, ” Han, Biden, Xi, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, John Kerry, Gina Raimondo, Wang Yi, Jake Sullivan, Xi Han’s, ” Xi, Yellen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Washington, Bloomberg, Economy, Economic Cooperation, US National, Getty, Sister Cities Conference, Relations, China, Treasury Department Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Beijing, San Francisco, Singapore, United States, Asia, . Washington, Beijing, Washington, Bali , Indonesia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Indonesia says Gaza hospital for Palestinians after Israel accusations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People take part in a rally supporting Palestinians in Gaza, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, at the National Monument (Monas) complex in Jakarta, Indonesia, November 5, 2023. "Indonesia Hospital in Gaza is a facility built by Indonesians fully for humanitarian purposes and to serve the medical needs of Palestinians in Gaza," said the ministry said in a statement, adding the hospital is run by Palestinian authorities, helped by a few Indonesian volunteers. Sarbini Abdul Murad, the chairman of MER-C, a voluntary group which funded the Indonesia hospital, told Reuters on Tuesday the hospital had run out of fuel, and had "collapsed". On Monday, Sarbini denied Israel's accusations, adding that it was a "precondition so that they can attack the Indonesian hospital in Gaza". Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, has called for an immediate ceasefire and has sent humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, military's, Sarbini Abdul Murad, Sarbini, Stanley Widianto, Miral Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Indonesia, Palestinian, Reuters, Health, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA

☆ Exclusive: Biden expected to meet with Indonesia president as soon as Monday -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Joko Widodo, Joe Biden, Dita Alangkara, Trevor Hunnicut, Paul Grant Organizations: Rights, Indonesian, White, Thomson Locations: Rai Forest, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia

☆ An ancient missing continent was finally rediscovered 155 million years after it vanished
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A chunk of land that broke off from Australia 155 million years ago seemed to have vanished. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe continent of Argoland, which seemingly vanished after splitting from Australia 155 million years ago, has finally been discovered, according to a new study. The discovery could help explain something known as the Wallace line, which is an imaginary boundary that separates Southeast Asian and Australian fauna. With this work, they were finally able to bring Argoland's journey over the past 155 million years back to life. A map shows an approximate location of the Wallace line.

Persons: —, Argoland, Wallace, Eldert Advokaat, Advokaat, Douwe van Hinsbergen, CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN, van Hinsbergen Organizations: Service, Utrecht University, Google Locations: Australia, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Netherlands, South East Asia, Africa, South America, Argoland, Myanmar, Utrecht

☆ Malaysia drops plans for proposed transborder haze pollution bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FILE PHOTO:The sun rises above Kuala Lumpur's skyline on a hazy day in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Malaysia will not proceed with a proposed bill to prevent transborder haze pollution, its environment ministry said, citing difficulties in obtaining the necessary information for prosecution purposes. "To enable the enforcement of a transboundary haze pollution bill, clear evidence that transboundary haze originates from neighbouring countries must be supported by sufficient data such as location maps, coordinates, landowner information and companies operating in the location of fires," the ministry said. It said such information was difficult to obtain as it involved matters of confidentiality, security and national sovereignty. Malaysia last month called on Indonesia and a grouping of Southeast Asian nations to take action as air quality worsened across the country due to fires in Indonesia.

Persons: Hasnoor Hussain, Danial Azhar, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur's, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR, Indonesia

☆ Top Biden administration officials head to Asia to show China remains a top priority amid Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —The Biden administration’s senior-most national security officials are traveling this week to the Indo-Pacific, signaling that the administration’s China strategy remains a priority as it grapples with an increasingly volatile Middle East. Blinken and Austin will both travel to India for a 2+2 Dialogue with their counterparts. Meanwhile, talks between US and Chinese officials stalled until this summer when Blinken met with senior Chinese officials in Beijing. Asked by CNN on Monday if Austin would be meeting with any PRC officials during his travel, Pentagon spokesman Brig. The senior officials’ travel also comes as the White House is preparing for a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month in San Francisco.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Antony Blinken, Defense Lloyd Austin, CQ Brown, Brown, Austin, Blinken, —, Nancy Pelosi’s, Ely Ratner, John Aquilino, “, ”, Li Shangfu, Pat Ryder, Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink, ” Kritenbrink, Blinken —, Israel —, ’, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, “ It’s, Karine Jean, Pierre said, Jennifer Hansler Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden administration’s, Defense, Joint Chiefs, Staff, West Bank, Security, Relations, US Air Force, US, East, Military, Pacific Command, ASEAN Defense, China’s, CNN, Pentagon, East Asian, Pacific Affairs, State Department, Hamas, Israel Locations: China, East, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Israel, Jordan, Turkey, Japan, Taiwan, Chinese, South China, Beijing, Pacific, Iranian, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, San Francisco

Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 4.94% annually in the July-September quarter, compared with 5.05% predicted by economists surveyed by Reuters. Growth was 5.17% in the second quarter. In the July-September period, household spending growth decelerated to 5.06%, from 5.22% in the previous three months. A bright spot in the GDP breakdown came from investment, which recorded a 5.77% growth in the third quarter, versus 4.63% in the second quarter. On a non-seasonally adjusted, quarter-on-quarter basis, gross domestic product expanded 1.60% in the July-September period.

Persons: Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Gross, Reuters, Growth, Bank Indonesia, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Asia's, Ukraine, Middle

☆ Indonesia President Scheduled to Meet U.S. President Biden This Month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's President Joko Widodo is scheduled to meet U.S. President Joe Biden this month, "most likely" at the White House, a spokesperson for the Southeast Asian country's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. Jokowi, as the president is known, is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco from Nov. 15-17. Earlier on Tuesday, Jokowi, leader of the world's largest secular Muslim-majority country, said Indonesia's support for Palestine would "never waver". Indonesia has joined a chorus of international condemnation of Israel's invasion of Gaza following Hamas' attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and has called for an immediate ceasefire. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

Persons: Joko Widodo, Joe Biden, Jokowi, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: U.S, White, Economic Cooperation, Palestine Locations: JAKARTA, Asia, San Francisco, Indonesia, Gaza, Israel

An electronic board shows stock indexes at the Lujiazui financial district in Shanghai, China, March 21, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 7 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets from Jamie McGeever, financial markets columnist. This is their best run in a year, powered by easing financial conditions in the form of lower U.S. bond yields and a weaker dollar, and renewed faith in the U.S. economic 'soft landing' scenario. Having under-performed global and developed market benchmarks last week, Asian stocks could be set to outperform this week. Skeptical foreign investors will need more than one month of slowing imports and exports decline though.

Persons: Aly, Jamie McGeever, Goldman Sachs, Deepa Babington Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Korea, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Shanghai, China, U.S, India, Asia, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Australia

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