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Nov 20 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) said Monday that 64% of workers at the Detroit Three automakers voted to ratify new record contracts after a six-week targeted strike, as the union turns its attention to organizing foreign-owned and Tesla auto plants. The UAW for decades has unsuccessfully sought to organize auto factories operated by foreign automakers. In recent weeks, Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), Toyota Motor (7203.T) and Honda Motor (7267.T) have all announced they would hike U.S. factory wages after the UAW contract. Fain told Reuters last week that the UAW was getting expressions of interest in organizing from many Tesla (TSLA.O) workers. Automakers, looking to trim costs as they make the shift to electric vehicles, face higher hourly labor costs.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, Joe Biden, Biden, ”, Jim Farley, Farley, Mary Barra, Gerald Johnson, Mark Stewart, David Shepardson, Chizu Nomiyama, Sriraj Kalluvila, Jonathan Oatis, Aurora Ellis Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit Three, Hyundai Motor, Toyota, Honda, Reuters, “, Tesla, Ford, General Motors, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington

☆ When people move out, wildlife moves in: 10 abandoned places reclaimed by nature
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Arya Jyothi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

The temple and surrounding forested areas were abandoned three centuries later, when the king moved the capital of the empire away from Angkor. People started moving out in the 1990s and by 2002, the village was completely abandoned. People started moving out in the 1990s and by 2002, the village was completely abandoned. The Whanganui River holds 18 fish species including eels, freshwater crayfish and black flounders. Graham Harries/ShutterstockLocated off the Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales, stands a time capsule in the form of a long-abandoned island fort.

Persons: Prohm, King Jayavarman, Alexander Arndt, Angelina Jolie’s, “ Lara Croft, pileated gibbons, silvered, Johannes Eisele, Leo Francini, Marcio Martins, University of São Paulo, Martins, “, Al Madam, Giuseppe Cacace, Yasuyoshi Chiba, James Beasley, allan wright, Kilda, Graham Harries, Shutterstock, Nicholas Mueller, ”, Mueller Organizations: CNN, Wildlife Alliance, ., Steam, SS, Titanic, Cyclone, University of São, Google Arts & Culture, National Institute of Ecology, Al, Getty, United Arab, Japan Earthquake, University of Georgia, TED, UNESCO Locations: CNN —, Europe, Ta Prohm, Cambodia, Angkor Thom, Khmer, Angkor, Shengshan Island, China, AFP, Houtouwan, Shengshan, Zhoushan, Mangapurua, , New Zealand, Nowhere, Mangapurua Valley, New, Whanganui, North, Australia, Grande, Brazil, Sao Paulo, Marcio, Korea, South Korea, Al Madam Village, UAE, Al, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sharjah, Fukushima, Japan, St Kilda, Scotland, Scotland’s, Kilda, Atlantic, Soay, Boreray, Fort, Wales, Pembrokeshire

☆ The Holiday Gifts Buy Side Staffers Are Buying This Black Friday
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Buy Side Staff | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +12 min

By Buy Side StaffThe Buy Side staff shops for a living, which also means we spend an inordinate amount of time scrutinizing gift options. To help you shop for nice prices, we limited our list to our favorites that are on sale now for Black Friday. She asked for compression socks, so I’m buying her these pretty ones in blue chevron to help her with recovery. It would make a great gift for a college student, new grad or really anyone who could use a travel gear upgrade. It’s a great set to update your kitchen or give as a gift this holiday season.” —Emily Welsh, VP and general manager

Persons: We’ve, cocotte, Staub, ”, Astrid Stawiarz, Nick Guy, ” — Ian Salisbury, Cashmere hoodie, I’ve, Jessica Woodbury, PJs, ” — Emily Welsh, Charming, Madeline Diamond, ‘ Broom ’, I’ll, Samantha Sharf, Mario, ‘, Cozy, she’s, ” — Leslie Yazel, it’s, Susan “, Susan, Anaya, There’s, we’ll, Philip Asquith, It’s, ” — Bellamy Richardson, Buddy, I’m, nutcrackers, ” — Aly J, they’re, Brittany Nguyen Organizations: Side, Black, Bluetooth, Apple, PlayStation, Mario Kart, New, Olive Oil, Amazon, Yale, Walmart Locations: Naadam, New York City, Los Angeles, Olive, Ojai , Calif, Europe, The

☆ Explainer: What's at stake in the Netherlands' Nov. 22 election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte attends a joint news briefing with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured), amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine February 17, 2023. REUTERS/Viacheslav Ratynskyi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAMSTERDAM, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The Dutch will elect a new parliament on Nov. 22 in an election that will bring the Netherlands its first new prime minister in over a decade, and determine how conservative the country's new cabinet may be. Outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte's centre-right government collapsed in July over differences in how to reduce the flow of asylum-seekers entering the country. Rutte, the country's longest-serving prime minister, has lost popularity and promised not to stand again. Dilan Yesilgoz, who leads Rutte's conservative VVD Party, herself a Turkish immigrant who would be the Netherlands' first woman prime minister.

Persons: Mark Rutte, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Viacheslav, Mark Rutte's, Dilan Yesilgoz, Rutte's, Frans Timmermans, Pieter Omtzigt, Geert Wilders, Rutte, Toby Sterling, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Dutch, Conservative, Union, Party, Labour and Green Left, Democrat, NOS, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Ukraine, Kyiv, Dutch, North, Rutte, Turkish

☆ Eating plant-based foods instead of meat may cut diabetes and heart disease risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Replacing animal-based food such as red and processed meat or eggs with plant-based options such as nuts or legumes may reduce the risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes, a comprehensive review has found. Previous studies have already indicated some health benefits from plant-based diets. Simply switching animal-based products for plant-based products doesn’t automatically result in a healthy diet. “We need to be cautious about words like plant-based, which can be used by food manufacturers,” Mellor said. “Just because the statistics say a swap reduces risk, does it make culinary and cultural sense?

Persons: ” Sabrina Schlesinger, Schlesinger, Duane Mellor, ”, Mellor, wasn’t, ” Mellor, “ Organizations: CNN, BMC Medicine, German Diabetes Center, Aston Medical School, World Health Organization, US Department of Agriculture Locations: Düsseldorf, Birmingham, UK

Fusion could have an important advantage over today's nuclear fission plants that split atoms, as it does not produce long-lasting radioactive waste. The former secretary of state will announce his plan to lay out the strategy - which foresees commercialization within years, not decades - on Monday on a tour of fusion company Commonwealth Fusion Systems near Boston. "I will have much more to say on the United States’ vision for international partnerships for an inclusive fusion energy future at COP28," Kerry said in a statement. Some critics say fusion will be too expensive and take too long to develop to help in the fight against climate change in the foreseeable future. In 2023, international fusion companies have garnered about $1.4 billion in investments for a total of about $6.21 billion in mostly private money, the Fusion Industry Association said, down from about $2.83 billion in new investment last year.

Persons: John Kerry, Kerry, Claudio Descalzi, Valerie Volcovici, Timothy Gardner, Jan Harvey Organizations: Eni, WASHINGTON, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, Fusion, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Commonwealth, United, U.S, National, Fusion Industry Association, FIA, Thomson Locations: U.S, Dubai , U.S, Boston, California, United States, COP28, Germany, Japan, China, Australia

☆ A Harvard professor claimed balls found in the ocean were alien tech. They may have just been industrial waste.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementA Harvard professor's claims that metallic balls discovered under the ocean may have been made by aliens have been called into question yet again. Spheres from industrial wasteUniversity of Chicago research fellow Patricio Gallardo analyzed the chemical composition of coal ash, a waste product left behind by the combustion of coal in power plants and steam engines. He also said that the spherules have more iron than coal ash. We are bewildered that the association of our spherules with coal ash was even suggested," he told BI. Advertisement"It is surprising that anyone would state decisively that the spherules are coal ash without having access to the materials," he told BI.

Persons: —, Avi Loeb, Loeb, Patricio Gallardo, Gallardo, Caleb Sharf, Dr Jim Lem, BeLaU, Stein Jacobsen, Roald Tagle Organizations: Service, Harvard, University of Chicago, NASA's Ames Center, Department of Mining Engineering, University of Technology, The New York Times, US Space Command, Times, CBS News, Business, Harvard University, Bruker Corporation Locations: Papua New Guinea, Germany

☆ Nissan Motor hiking wages at US auto plants after UAW deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor (7201.T) will hike top wages for workers at U.S. manufacturing plants by 10% in January after the United Auto Workers union reached new contracts with the Detroit Three automakers, a company spokesperson said on Monday. The Japanese automaker said the wage hike takes effect Jan. 8 for production technicians, maintenance, and tool & die technicians. Nissan said it is also eliminating wage tiers for U.S. production workers. Nissan said the pay hikes reflect its commitment to its employees in the United States "and enhancing our competitiveness." The UAW for decades has unsuccessfully sought to organize auto factories operated by foreign automakers.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Joe Biden, David Shepardson, Franklin Paul, Grant McCool Organizations: Nissan, United Auto Workers, Detroit Three, Workers, Hyundai Motor, Toyota, Honda, UAW, Tesla, General Motors, Ford Motor, Thomson Locations: U.S, United States, Washington

☆ UAW says 64% of workers vote to ratify Detroit Three contracts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 20 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) union said Monday that 64% of workers at the Detroit Three automakers voted to ratify new contracts. Despite the opposition from workers at some major facilities, UAW members voted to ratify the contract by a near two-third margin. Automakers, looking to trim costs as they make the shift to electric vehicles, face higher hourly labor costs. About 55% of votes cast by GM members were in favor of the new deal, while about 69% of Ford members and 68% of Stellantis workers who voted supported the agreement, according to a UAW vote tracker. Reporting by David Shepardson and Shivansh Tiwary; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Sriraj KalluvilaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Ford, Jim Farley, David Shepardson, Chizu Nomiyama Organizations: United Auto Workers, UAW, Detroit Three, U.S, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Thomson Locations: Michigan , Kentucky, Illinois

☆ Argentine farmers: Milei victory an opportunity for 'radical change' for grains sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Maximilian Heath | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Soy plants are seen in a farm near Pergamino, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires in Argentina April 27, 2021. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUENOS AIRES, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Javier Milei's election as Argentine president offers an opportunity for "radical change" in policy for the grains sector, the country's main rural associations said late on Sunday, offering to work "side by side" with the libertarian. He also wants to eventually close the central bank and dollarize the economy - more radical ideas that he may struggle to implement. "A great opportunity has opened up to work together to make radical change to the current policies," the Argentine Rural Society (SRA) said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Argentine Rural Confederations (CRA) called for Milei to work with the farm sector and demanded tax deregulation.

Persons: Agustin Marcarian, Javier Milei's, Milei, Maximilian Heath, Adam Jourdan, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Argentine Rural Society, Argentine Rural Confederations, Thomson Locations: Pergamino, Buenos Aires, Argentina, BUENOS AIRES

☆ Exclusive: Venezuela close to approving offshore gas license with Trinidad, Shell
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Curtis Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The installations of liquified natural gas producer Atlantic LNG are pictured in Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago, December 10, 2022. REUTERS/Andrea De Silva/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - Venezuela is close to approving a license for Shell (SHEL.L) and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago to develop a promising offshore natural gas field and export its production to the Caribbean country, two people close to the matter said. The license could set in motion a long-running effort by Trinidad to boost its gas processing and petrochemical exports, while providing Venezuela with a much-needed extra source of cash. Venezuela, which holds Latin America's biggest gas reserves, and neighboring Trinidad, the region's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter, would complement each other's needs to produce and export gas. Trinidad and Tobago has the capacity to process 4.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) into LNG, petrochemicals and power, but its gas production is about 2.7 bcfd.

Persons: Andrea De Silva, PDVSA, Stuart Young, Curtis William, Marianna Parraga, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Atlantic, REUTERS, Shell, National Gas Company, U.S, Trinidad's Energy, NGC, Thomson Locations: Point Fortin, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Caribbean, Trinidad, U.S, Venezuela's, Caracas, Trinidad ., Guiria, Houston

☆ How Electricity Is Changing Around the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Fossil Clean Fossil CleanWorld electricity generationHow Electricity Is Changing Around the WorldCarbon-free electricity has never been more plentiful. Where Fossil-Fueled Power Is Still Growing Today trend Over Last Decade Declining fossil power Mostly clean already Plateau or other trend Rising fossil power Circles are sized by the amount of total power generated by each country in 2021-22. trend Over Last Decade Mostly clean already Declining fossil power Plateau or other trend Rising fossil power Circles are sized by the amount of total power generated by each country in 2021-22. Note: Total generation data is shown through 2022 for the countries that have power generation data available through that year. (The country’s per person electricity generation is still much lower than America’s.) “But the upfront cost is a barrier.”Millions of people around the world also continue to go without access to any form of electricity.

Persons: It’s, ”, Dave Jones, —, Faran Rana, Nancy Haegel Organizations: Nuclear, Wind, Oil Gas Coal United States European Union United, United, Oil Gas Coal, Energy, International Renewable Energy Agency, United States, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United Locations: China, India, United States, Europe, London, Oil Gas Coal United States European Union United Kingdom Australia, Australia, Oil Gas Coal China India Indonesia Malaysia, Asia, Indonesia, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine, Oil Gas Coal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Czechia Denmark Ecuador Egypt Finland France Germany Greece Hungary India Indonesia Iran Ireland Italy Japan Kazakhstan Kuwait Malaysia Mexico Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Russian Federation Saudi Arabia Serbia Singapore Slovakia South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Vietnam

☆ Ben Foldy — Reporter at The Wall Street Journal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Ben Foldy | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Ben FoldyBen Foldy is an investigative reporter in The Journal's finance section, based in New York City. He often writes about fraud, financial crime, cryptocurrency and corporate malfeasance. Before this role, Ben covered the automotive industry from Detroit, with a focus on safety, federal policy, startups and the electric transition. In 2022, Ben reported and hosted the second season of The Journal's "Bad Bets" podcast, focused on the rise and fall of Nikola founder Trevor Milton. Ben worked for Bloomberg News and the Financial Times before joining the Journal in 2019.

Persons: Ben Foldy Ben Foldy, Ben, Nikola, Trevor Milton, Craig Newmark Organizations: Bloomberg News, Financial Times, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, City University of New, McGill University Locations: New York City, Detroit, multibillion, Carvana, City University of New York

The Pantanal holds thousands of plant and animal species, including 159 mammals, and it abounds with jaguars, according to the World Wildlife Fund. In the dry season, wildlife enthusiasts flock to see the normally furtive jaguars lounging on riverbanks, along with macaws, caimans and capybaras. Political Cartoons View All 1256 ImagesMuch of the Encontro das Aguas (Meeting of the Waters) park, located at the border of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul states — known for its large jaguar population — had turned from emerald green to dark brown. “This is so atypical,” said Renata Libonati, who coordinates the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro's alert system for fires in the Pantanal. The neighboring state of Mato Grosso said it had also strengthened its workforce, with about 200 federal and state firefighters on the ground.

Persons: —, they’ll, Leonisio da Silva, ”, Renata Libonati, ” Libonati, Angelo Rabelo, Mato Grosso, Enderson Barreto, “, ” Barreto, Barreto Organizations: — Firefighters, Facebook, Federal University of Rio, Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, World Wildlife Fund, Mato Grosso, Associated Press, ” Jaguars, Firefighters, El, Environment, Federal Highway Police, Waters, ” Locations: POCONE, BRAZIL, Brazil's, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Waters, Mato Grosso, Mato, Sul, Brazil, Porto Jofre

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A United Nations team said Sunday that 291 patients were left at Gaza’s largest hospital after Israeli troops had others evacuate. Those left included 32 babies in extremely critical condition, trauma patients with severely infected wounds, and others with spinal injuries who are unable to move. The team was able to tour Shifa Hospital for an hour after about 2,500 displaced people, mobile patients and medical staff left the sprawling compound Saturday morning, said the World Health Organization, which led the mission. It said more teams will attempt to reach Shifa in coming days to try to the evacuate patients to southern Gaza, where hospitals are also overwhelmed. “We left at gunpoint,” Mahmoud Abu Auf told The Associated Press by phone after he and his family left the crowded hospital.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, ” Mahmoud Abu Auf, Ahmed Radwan, Yassin Sharif, ” Radwan, Khan Younis, …, Brett McGurk, Yoav Gallant, ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, —, ___ Magdy Organizations: United Nations, Shifa Hospital, World Health Organization, Shifa, Hamas, AP, WHO, Associated Press, “, White House, White, National Security, UNRWA, Defense, The Washington Post, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Israel Locations: Gaza, Gaza’s, Israel, gunpoint, ”, Shifa, United States, Persian, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Gaza City, The Washington, The Washington Post , U.S, Palestinian, Cairo, ___, israel

☆ Japanese troops drill on island seen as vulnerable to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Tim Kelly | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKUNOSHIMA, Japan, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Japanese marines in amphibious assault vehicles stormed an island beach at the edge of the East China Sea on Sunday in a simulated attack to dislodge invaders from territory that Tokyo worries is vulnerable to attack from China. Other troops arrived in semi-inflatable rubber boats, with heavy equipment carried to shore on military hovercraft. [1/5]A Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB) soldier takes part in a marine landing drill as a part of the country's nationwide 05JX military exercises at Tokunoshima island, Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan, November 19, 2023. Kishida has warned that East Asia could be the next Ukraine, if China, emboldened by Russia's assault on its neighbour, attacks Taiwan. But the yen's sharp decline this year has forced Japan to cut back on some planned purchases, including new models of the U.S.-made Chinook helicopters that Japan's military used in the Tokunoshima drill.

Persons: Yoshihide Yoshida, Issei Kato, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Tim Kelly, William Mallard Organizations: Self - Defence Forces, Joint Staff, Defence Force, Defense Force, Defense, Rapid Deployment Brigade, REUTERS, U.S, Thomson Locations: TOKUNOSHIMA, Japan, East, Tokyo, China, Russia, North Korea, Tokunoshima, Kagoshima prefecture, Taiwan, Asia, Ukraine, U.S, Beijing

Ustrell is one of scores of European winemakers struggling to grow enough grapes as extreme and unseasonable weather becomes more commonplace. Falling prices, rising costsAcross the border, French winemakers are grappling with the opposite problem: Too much wine. Many French winemakers have suffered as retail prices have fallen this year. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty ImagesFrench winemakers struggling to sell their own produce have taken out their anger on imports from Spain. The supply of French wine has exceeded waning demand in France and abroad this year.

Persons: New York CNN — Jordi Ustrell, “, Celler, Ustrell, Giogio Delgrosso, Delgrosso, Greg Jones, ”, hasn’t, pip Italy, ’, Charly Triballeau, Rouanet, Michael Baynes, they’ve, Baynes, Arnaud Finistre, John Mitra, Penelope, It’s, Penelope Mitra, Faure Haut Normand, John Mitra More, Mitra Organizations: New York CNN, CNN, International Organisation for Vine, European Union, Getty, European Commission, Vineyards, Estate, “, Burgundy Wine Company Locations: Paris, New York, Spanish, Gratallops, Italy, Spain, Australia, South Africa, Chile, United States, an Oregon, Oregon, Barcelona, Sauvignon, France’s Bordeaux, France, French, Toulouse, AFP, Aude, Bordeaux, Argentina, Burgundy

☆ Japanese Troops Drill on Island Seen as Vulnerable to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Tim KellyTOKUNOSHIMA, Japan (Reuters) - Japanese marines in amphibious assault vehicles stormed an island beach at the edge of the East China Sea on Sunday in a simulated attack to dislodge invaders from territory that Tokyo worries is vulnerable to attack from China. Other troops arrived in semi-inflatable rubber boats, with heavy equipment carried to shore on military hovercraft. Unlike many of the beaches along Japan's southwest island chain stretching toward Taiwan, the one on Tokunoshima does not have a coral reef that would make military operations more difficult. Kishida has warned that East Asia could be the next Ukraine, if China, emboldened by Russia's assault on its neighbour, attacks Taiwan. But the yen's sharp decline this year has forced Japan to cut back on some planned purchases, including new models of the U.S.-made Chinook helicopters that Japan's military used in the Tokunoshima drill.

Persons: Tim Kelly TOKUNOSHIMA, Yoshihide Yoshida, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Tim Kelly, William Mallard Organizations: Self - Defence Forces, Joint Staff, Defence Force, Defense Force, U.S Locations: Japan, East, Tokyo, China, Russia, North Korea, Tokunoshima, Taiwan, Asia, Ukraine, U.S

☆ This corn was down to its last two cobs. Now it could help farmers grow food in the climate crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Jeremy Harlan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

What he saved he delivered to his only Jimmy Red customer two hours down the road in Charleston. “Not only was I counting on it, but High Wire Distilling was absolutely counting on it,” explained Coxe. A local moonshiner – and the last known grower of Jimmy Red corn – had just died, and the family no longer wanted to grow corn for whiskey distilling. Campbell Coxe harvests 50 acres of Jimmy Red corn on his Darlington, South Carolina, farm in September. This year, the distiller used 1.1 million pounds of Jimmy Red corn in its bourbon whiskey production.

Persons: Campbell, Coxe, ”, Red, moonshiners, Jimmy Red, “, sobered, ‘, Jimmy Red’s, Florence, Ted Chewning, Chewning, Campbell Coxe, Peter Frank Edwards, Brian Ward, it’s, Ward, ” Ward, Carolina Gold Rice, Ann Marshall, Scott Blackwell, Marshall, It’s, We’re Organizations: CNN, Hurricane, High, Clemson University, Carolina, Jimmy Locations: Hurricane Florence, Darlington County , South Carolina, Charleston, Florence, Colleton, Darlington, South Carolina, Island , South Carolina, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico, Charleston , South Carolina

☆ Dubai’s Costly Water World
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Arielle Paul | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

At Deep Dive Dubai, the equivalent of six Olympic-size swimming pools of water fills an underwater city shaped like a giant oyster, inspired by the emirate’s pearl-diving heritage. At the foot of the building, the 30-acre Burj Lake and its five dancing fountains use a wastewater reclamation system by Hitachi that reuses the Burj Khalifa’s sewage water to replace fountain water lost each day. The construction of Dubai’s artificial islands also strains the Gulf’s water resources. One study found that the average water temperature around Palm Jumeirah island, designed by HHCP Architects, increased by roughly 13 degrees over 19 years. “Developing close to the water is much more preferred than developing in the desert landscape, and you are increasing the coastline,” Dr. Alawadi said.

Persons: Adrian Smith, Alawadi, Smith Organizations: Dive, Emaar, Hitachi, HHCP Architects Locations: Dive Dubai, Burj, Burj Lake, Persian, Dubai

Workers at Ford voted 69.3% in favor of the pact, which passed with nearly a 15,000-vote margin in balloting that ended early Saturday. Earlier this week, GM workers narrowly approved a similar contract. They also agreed in principle to bring new electric-vehicle battery plants into the national union contract. This provision will give the UAW an opportunity to unionize the EV battery plants plants, which will represent a rising share of industry jobs in the years ahead. Contracts with the auto companies should also lead to higher wages at auto-parts supply companies and in other industries, Wheaton said.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Fain, ”, Wheaton, United States —, Hyundai —, Mark McGill, ” McGill, he'll, Ford, John Lawler, Michelle Krebs, Krebs, Joe Biden, Cornell's Wheaton, Biden, didn't Organizations: DETROIT, United Auto Workers, Ford, General Motors, Workers, UAW, Cornell University, United States — Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, Tesla, Foreign, GM, Chrysler, Bronco, Cox Automotive, Cox Locations: Stellantis, United States, Wheaton, Wayne , Michigan, U.S, Detroit, Belvidere , Illinois, Scranton , Pennsylvania

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ” plant hardiness zone map ” was updated Wednesday for the first time in a decade, and it shows the impact that climate change will have on gardens and yards across the country. One key figure on the map is the lowest likely winter temperature in a given region, which is important for determining which plants may survive the season. It's calculated by averaging the lowest winter temperatures of the past 30 years. Winter temperatures and nighttime temperatures are rising faster than daytime and summer temperatures, Primack said, which is why the lowest winter temperature is changing faster than the U.S. temperature overall. “There are a lot of downsides to the warmer winter temperatures, too,” said Theresa Crimmins, who studies climate change and growing seasons at the University of Arizona and was not involved in creating the map.

Persons: Chris Daly, Richard Primack, ” Primack, Primack, ”, Theresa Crimmins Organizations: WASHINGTON, The U.S . Department, Oregon, Agricultural Research Service, Boston University, University of Arizona, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: Boston, The, U.S

"Coal in North Macedonia represents 40% of the energy source, so it's very big, it's very important," EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters. Both of its coal-fired plants are ageing, outdated and run on lignite, the most polluting type of coal. An IFC spokesperson said the green transition, including in North Macedonia, was one of its key priorities, but that it was not in a position to confirm any plan details. "The world's richest countries need to work with the multilateral development banks to find effective, structural ways to channel significantly scaled up energy transition finance," he said. North Macedonia joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group of countries committed to phasing out coal-fired power, in 2021.

Persons: Odile Renaud, Basso, COP27, REK, Renaud, Leo Roberts, E3G, Kate Abnett, Kirsten Donovan, Louise Heavens Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, World Bank, Reuters, Investment, United Nations, Climate Investment Funds, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Bank, Past Coal Alliance, Union, Thomson Locations: Dubai, wean, Macedonia, North Macedonia, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Senegal, North, Skopje, Europe, Macedonian, Pakistan, Colombia, Ukraine

The deal, which is expected to be announced at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai beginning on Nov. 30, will lay out a plan to close the country's two coal power plants and replace them with 1.7 gigawatts of renewable energy. "Coal in North Macedonia represents 40% of the energy source, so it's very big, it's very important," EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso told Reuters. Both of its coal-fired plants are ageing, outdated and run on lignite, the most polluting type of coal. An IFC spokesperson said the green transition, including in North Macedonia, was one of its key priorities, but that it was not in a position to confirm any plan details. North Macedonia joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group of countries committed to phasing out coal-fired power, in 2021.

Persons: Odile Renaud, Basso, REK, Renaud, Kate Abnett, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, World Bank, Reuters, Investment, United Nations, Investment Funds, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Bank, Past Coal Alliance, Union, Thomson Locations: Dubai, wean, Macedonia, North Macedonia, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, Senegal, North, Skopje, Europe, Macedonian, Ukraine

☆ UN shares its world’s ‘best tourism villages’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Lilit Marcus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

For travelers who want to visit a smaller, more authentic local destination, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released this year’s list of the best tourism villages. For 2023, 55 villages were recognized by the international organization, which focuses on sustainable tourism, up from 32 last year. The list includes small towns and villages from places as diverse as Mexico, China, Ethiopia, and Italy. There’s no ranking of the villages, and they are all listed in alphabetical order in English. Highlights in EuropeEurope’s selections to the UNWTO list represent a mix of cultural and environmental differences.

Persons: Dhordo, Les Falles, Sant, Al Sela, Jordan • Barrancas, Spain •, Peru •, Egypt •, India •, Korea •, Portugal •, Colombia •, Japan •, Italy • Manteigas, Ecuador •, Pisco, Austria •, Uzbekistan •, • Siwa, Portugal • Anton, Arlberg, Tân, Viet Nam, Hungary •, Moldova • Vila, China • Organizations: CNN, United Nations World Tourism Organization, Asia Dongbaek, UNWTO, UNESCO, Reserve, Spain • Ordino, Andorra • Oyacachi, Schladming, Moldova • Locations: Tokyo, London, Mexico, China, Ethiopia, Italy, Asia, South, Jeju, Shirakawa, Japan, Gifu prefecture, Nagoya, Zhejiang, Dhordo, Rann, Kutch, India, Europe, Spain, Sigüenza, Madrid, Slunj, Croatia, Andorra, Ordino, Sant Pere, Peru, Machu Picchu, Lima, Peruvian, Chacas, Chile, La Carolina, Argentina, Biei, Tortel, Cantavieja, Spain • Chacas, Huantar, Peru • Dahshour, Egypt, Egypt • Dhordo, Republic, Korea, Korea • Douma, Lebanon, Ericeira, Portugal, Portugal • Filandia, Colombia, Huangling, Cánovas, Kandovan, Iran, Lerici, Switzerland, Mosan, Juárez, Oñati, Ecuador, Ecuador • Paucartambo, Peru • Penglipuran, Indonesia, Pisco Elqui, Pozuzo, Saint, Saty, Kazakhstan, Austria, Austria • Sehwa, Korea • Sentob, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan • Shirakawa, Egypt • Slunj, Sortelha, Viet, Peru • Tokaj, Hungary, Hungary • Văleni, Moldova, Madalena, Portugal • Xiajiang, China • Zapatoca, Colombia • Zhagana

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