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☆ What’s at stake for the global economy as Taiwan goes to the polls
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

That pushed Taiwan’s trade surplus with China to an enormous $80.5 billion in 2023. For Taiwan, China has been its favorite investment stop for decades. China imports electronic components or precision machine tools from Taiwan, assembles them and exports the finished products to global markets. China may respond to a DPP victory by putting military and economic pressure on the island, Vest said. In 2022, China retaliated after Pelosi’s visit by banning imports of a range of food products from Taiwan.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Lai Ching, Lai, ”, Charlie Vest, Nancy Pelosi’s, Tsai Ing, Kevin McCarthy, they’re, ” Vest, Mike Kai Chen, Vest, there’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, US, Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Imports, Hsinchu Science, Bloomberg, Getty, Capital Economics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Apple, Foxconn, Analysts, Atlantic Locations: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, California, United States, Europe, Japan, South Korea, “ Taiwan, Hsinchu, Hsinchu Science Park

☆ Vote counting begins in closely watched Taiwan election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

With China intensifying its rhetoric on its claim over Taiwan, global observers are billing this Taiwan election as highly pivotal for security in the Asia-Pacific at a time of testy U.S.-China relations. If Lai and Hsiao win the Jan. 13 vote for the Taiwan presidential office, it would mark the first time any political party has stayed in office for more than two consecutive terms since Taiwan introduced direct presidential elections in 1996. Campaign posters for various legislative member candidates in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. China's Taiwan affairs office has characterized the self-ruled island's election as a choice between "peace and war, prosperity and decline." "China has always meddled whenever there is an election in Taiwan, but this time, it's the most serious."

Persons: Hou Yu, Hei Leung, Ko Wen, policymaking, Tsai Ing, Ko, Cynthia Wu, Jing Bo, jiun, Sam Yeh, Jing, Tsai, Lai Ching, Hsiao, United States —, Lai, Timothy S, Rich, Jaw Shaw, kong, Hou, Kevin Luo, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Rong Xu, Democratic Progressive Party Lai Ching, Yasuyoshi Chiba, DPP's Lai, Weeks Organizations: ih, Anadolu, Getty, Democratic Progressive Party, Kuomintang, Taiwan People's Party, China, Local, KMT, Taiwan Studies, University of Oxford, AFP, Taiwan, Rich Western Kentucky University, Taiwan's National Police Agency, New, DPP, University of Minnesota, Western Kentucky University, U.S, China -, APEC, CNBC, Former U.S, Bloomberg, Taiwan's DPP, Beijing, Cross Straits Service Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, Taipei, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Hsinchu, United States, Overconfidence, New Taipei City, China - U.S, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Kaohsiung

CHANNELVIEW, Texas — For nearly 20 years, Texas environmental regulators have kept a disturbing secret. AdvertisementTexas Community Health News; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality"Any exposure to a carcinogen increases your risk of developing cancer. AdvertisementTim Doty, a former TCEQ mobile air monitoring expert, at the industrial edge of River Terrace Park in Channelview, Texas. In fact, the agency rarely fines companies that violate Texas air pollution laws. Mark FelixHoneycutt's toxicology division soon took an even more dramatic step to weaken Texas' benzene guidelines.

Persons: Loren Hopkins, Hopkins, Mark Felix, TCEQ, AirToxScreen, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee, Menefee, Tim Doty, Doty, Solv, He'd, Glenn Shankle, Kelly Keel, Todd Riddle, Riddle, Lopez, Joe Lopez, Dora, Joel Lopez, Randy Lopez, It's, Joel, Felix Benzene, wildcatters, Houston —, Forbes, Lorenzo de Zavala, Alison Cohen, Cohen, Tim Doty's, Houston Mayor Bill White, Shankle, Michael Honeycutt, Valerie Meyers, Meyers, Mark Felix Meyers, Richard Hyde, John Sadlier, Ryder, Hyde, hadn't, Russell Allen, Matt Baker, Jacintoport, Cloelle Danforth, Public Health Watch —, Danforth, Mark Felix Honeycutt's, Eric Schaeffer, Schaeffer, Honeycutt, Jim Tarr, polluters, upended, Mark Felix Fracking, Barnett, Glenn Shankle —, —, Rick Perry, Perry, Sadlier, David Bower, misstep, Baker, Bower, Michael Burgess, Greg Abbott, Abbott, Mark Felix Meanwhile, Randy, That's, Carolyn Stone, Stone, Carolyn Stone's, Mark Felix The, Cynthia Benson, Benson, Mark Felix Tim Doty, Mark Felix K, Jordan Gass Organizations: Public Health Watch, Texas Commission, Environmental, American Petroleum Institute, Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, U.S . Navy, Geospatial - Intelligence Agency, General, Health, Public Health, Rice University, Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Community Health, AirToxScreen Harris County Attorney, polluters, Mark Felix Public Health, TCEQ, Solv, Mark Felix Public Health Watch, myelodysplasia, Houston, Oil, Gas Watch, Texas, Houston Ship, University of California, Houston Mayor, ., . Texas Community Health, NASA, Exxon Mobil, Public, Watch, Environmental Defense Fund, Management, Civil, Air Alliance Houston, Republican, Fort, United, Texas toxicologist, EPA, Texas Tribune, Google, Land Office, . Geological Survey, National Oceanic, Firefighters, U.S . Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Channelview, Improvement Coalition, Health Watch, San Jacinto, K, Texas Legislature, Solv Group, Services Locations: , Texas, Texas, Houston, Channelview's Jacintoport, San Jacinto, California, Jacintoport, Channelview , Texas, AirToxScreen Harris County, Channelview, Harris County, United States, North Channelview, Gulf, Terrace, Joel's, Houston , Texas, Spindletop, Mexico, Republic of Texas, Port of Houston, San Francisco, . Texas, That's, polluters, lacquers, Dallas, Fort Worth, Fort Worth City, Austin, Round, Minnesota, Galveston, U.S

☆ Earth's core may be coated in a layer of crystals created by water leaking from the surface: study
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Water leaking into the Earth may be wrapping the core in crystals, a study has suggested. "For years, it has been believed that material exchange between Earth's core and mantle is small. We still don't know everything about our planet's insidesThe Earth's core is only about 1,800 miles under our feet, but it's more inaccessible than Mars. Dan Shim/ASUTo support their hypothesis, the scientists simulated the high-pressure conditions of the outer core in the lab. He added that his calculations show that he can explain the E-prime layer "reasonably well" with a range of water transportation scenarios.

Persons: Dan Shim, Shim, haven't, Jon Wade, Wade Organizations: Service, Arizona State University, Geosciences, ASU, Materials, Oxford University

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is heading to Mexico this week to promote her agency's new strike force to help combat illicit fentanyl trafficking as the U.S. and China step up efforts to stop the movement of the powerful opioid and drug-making materials into the United States. “Combating the flow of deadly fentanyl into communities across the United States is a top priority for President Biden as well as the Treasury Department,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a statement. Many of the GOP presidential candidates have said they would use military force against Mexico in response to the trafficking of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Nelson will co-chair the strike force with IRS Criminal Investigations Chief Jim Lee. Nelson said the strike force "will act quickly and decisively with the top specialists from across the department to nimbly respond to the newest threats.”

Persons: Janet Yellen, —, Biden, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, ”, Brian Nelson, Nelson, Jim Lee Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Strike, Treasury, IRS, Drug, Treasury Department, Disease Control, GOP, Banking, Armed Services Committees Locations: Mexico, China, United States, Mexico City, Yellen, California, America, U.S

☆ Morgan Stanley fund manager names 4 top stocks to buy 'on the cheap’
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

That was exacerbated as interest rates went up," Aaron Dunn, portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley's U.S. Value Fund, told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia" on Friday. When pressed on what stocks make good plays, Dunn responded with four names, adding: "There's a lot of opportunities out there to pick up really good companies on the cheap." It made up 2.4% of his U.S. Value Fund as of Oct. 31. Dollar Tree Elsewhere, the value investor is bullish on value store, Dollar Tree , which made up almost 3% of the U.S. Value Fund holdings, as of Oct. 31. Year-to-date shares are now up nearly 1% but this is " well under its intrinsic value," Dunn said.

Persons: —, Aaron Dunn, CNBC's, Dunn, Morgan Stanley, – they've, Clorox Organizations: Morgan, Value, Agricultural, FMC Corporation, . Value, FMC, Alcoa Corp Aluminum, Alcoa, . Value Fund Locations: Morgan Stanley's, Alcoa, China

☆ The 5 supplements scientists recommend for longevity
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Hilary Brueck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Supplements like vitamin D or magnesium may be in order. Vitamin D is essential for our bone density, helping us convert calcium into strength. Generally, we absorb most of our vitamin D from the sun, so many people choose to supplement their vitamin D intake in the wintertime, when we aren't getting as many rays outside. AdvertisementLongevity doctor Peter Attia pops several different kinds of magnesium every day, to promote healthy aging. Fine-tune your diet and exercise routine before you try supplements, experts sayLongevity experts recommend adding more vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds into your diet.

Persons: —, Nir Barzilai, Dr, Andrea Maier, Angelo Cavalli, immunologist Anthony Fauci, Bryan Johnson, Barzilai, it's, nicotinamide, Ivan, Paul Robbins, Peter Attia, Maier, that's, Kate Hull Organizations: Service, Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Healthy Longevity, National University of Singapore, US Food and Drug Administration, Getty, FDA Locations: Singapore

☆ Scientists made tiny living 'robots' from human cells that may one day help treat diseases
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Scientists from Tufts and Harvard created microscopic robots from human cells. AdvertisementScientists have created tiny biological "robots" from lung cells that they hope could one day travel around our bodies, regenerating damaged tissues and treating disease. Their research, published Thursday in the journal Advanced Science, raises new questions about how human cells assemble and work together. The same research team had previously created similar tiny robots, or xenobots, from cells sourced from embryos of the African clawed frog. AdvertisementAlhough they're created from human cells, Levin said the anthrobots didn't have a full life cycle and so aren't considered as fully-fledged organisms.

Persons: —, TuftsNow, Michael Levin, they're, Levin Organizations: Tufts, Harvard, Service, CNN, US Food and Drug Administration

☆ Here are Friday's biggest analyst calls: Tesla, Boeing, Amazon, Delta, Spotify, Alibaba, Johnson & Johnson and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Here are the biggest calls on Wall Street on Friday: Stifel initiates Boeing at buy Stifel said it sees a "favorable" setup for Boeing shares. Citi downgrades Spotify to neutral from buy Citi said in its downgrade of Spotify that the risk/reward is less compelling. Jefferies initiates Arcos Dorados as a buy Jefferies said the Latin American McDonald's franchisee is a "consistent compounder." Jefferies initiates CSG Systems as buy Jefferies said in its initiation of the software-as-a-service company that it sees burgeoning growth. Jefferies initiates Amdocs as buy Jefferies said it sees opportunity for the Israel-based software and systems integration supplier. "

Persons: Stifel, TD Cowen, Morgan Stanley downgrades Alibaba, Morgan Stanley, it's, Alibaba, Tesla, Cantor Fitzgerald, Cantor, Jefferies, Piper Sandler, TXRH, Wells, Wells Fargo, Emerson, Oppenheimer, Goldman Sachs, Bonnie Herzog's, MarketWise, Redburn, Johnson Organizations: Boeing, Delta, Air Lines, Citi, Spotify, RBC, Western Alliance, Novo Nordisk, Arcos, American, Crescent Energy, Fortrea Holdings, ISI, Aspen Technology, Emerson, JPMorgan, Constellation Brands, Constellation, UBS, Bank of America, Norfolk Southern, of America, Norfolk, CSG Systems, Communication Service, Financial Services, Technology, Healthcare, Westinghouse, Johnson, Innovative Medicine, Pharmaceutical Locations: Europe, China, Arcos, 4Q24, reaccelerate, Aspen, Norfolk, Israel

☆ Scientists create tiny living robots from human cells
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Scientists have created tiny living robots from human cells that can move around in a lab dish and may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue, according to a new study. The scientists used adult human cells from the trachea, or windpipe, from anonymous donors of different ages and sexes. Earlier studies had also shown that the cells can form organoids — clumps of cells widely used for research. “Nothing happened on day one, day two, day four or five, but as biology usually does, around day seven, there was a rapid transition,” she said. They are not made from human embryos, research that is tightly restricted, or genetically modified in any way, he said.

Persons: Harvard University’s, ”, Michael Levin, Vannevar Bush, “, Levin, Gizem Gumuskaya, Gumuskaya, Falk Tauber, Tufts University Tauber Organizations: CNN —, Tufts University, Harvard, Harvard University’s Wyss, Tufts ’ School of Arts & Sciences, Tufts, Freiburg Center, Interactive Materials, Bioinspired Technologies, University of Freiburg Locations: “, Germany, —

☆ ADNOC German oil deal has bad timing, good logic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Karen Kwok | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), the state-owned Abu Dhabi oil giant he runs, is considering a bid for BASF-owned (BASFn.DE) Wintershall Dea, at a potential $11 billion valuation. The UAE firm is already in talks to buy chemical company Covestro (1COV.DE), Wintershall’s German compatriot, for $12 billion. Abu Dhabi's oil riches mean the UAE firm has the wherewithal to pay 5.5 billion euros for BASF’s Wintershall stake. Any deal could value Wintershall Dea at more than 10 billion euros ($11 billion), Bloomberg reported. BASF holds a 72.7% stake in Wintershall Dea.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Wintershall, Jaber, It’s, Austria’s, Abu, LetterOne, George Hay, Streisand Neto Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, BASF, The, Shell, Russian, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Abu, National Oil Company, Bloomberg, Wintershall Dea . Investment, Thomson Locations: Gastech, Chiba, Japan, Abu Dhabi, The UAE, Germany, Norway, UAE, Europe, United Kingdom, Abu, Russia, Wintershall Dea

REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCOLOMBO, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will likely approve on Monday a proposal from Chinese state refiner Sinopec to build a $4.5-billion-dollar refinery, the South Asian island nation's energy minister said on Saturday. Sri Lanka, trying to recover from its worst economic crisis in more than 70 years, is hungry for new investment and local fuel supplies. The investment will add to Sinopec's recently started fuel retailing business, the third international company with a foothold in Sri Lanka, with a license to operates 150 petrol stations. Sinopec's fuel oil division, which runs the retail business there, began in 2019 supplying marine bunker fuel at Hambantota, another Sinopec official said. Sri Lanka's refinery at Sapugaskanda, commissioned in 1969, can process 38,000 barrels of oil a day.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Kanchana Wijesekera, Wijesekera, Vitol, Uditha Jayasinghe, Chen Aizhu, Krishn Kaushik, William Mallard Organizations: China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, REUTERS, Rights, and Energy, Reuters, Sri, China Merchant Port Holdings, Initiative, China Merchants, Thomson Locations: Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, Sri Lanka, China's, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Colombo, Sinopec, Hambantota, Europe, Asia, Lanka's, Sapugaskanda

☆ Solid state batteries promise to radically change EVs. But they may not be the only answer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Car companies including Stellantis, Hyundai and Volkswagen have also teamed up with firms working on solid state batteries. But solid state technology has its own challenges, and it’s not the only way automakers could achieve lighter, cheaper and faster charging electric vehicles. In a solid state battery, the electrolyte is, well, a solid. That solid electrolyte is one reason that solid state batteries might be safer than lithium-ion batteries. Ultimately, there probably will never be one battery technology used in all EVs, GM spokesperson Phil Lienert said.

Persons: it’s, William Kephart, Kephart, ”, Siyu Huang, Quantumscape, That’s what’s, Phil Lienert Organizations: CNN, Toyota, Stellantis, Hyundai, Volkswagen, P3, OneD, Sciences, GM

☆ Forget Big Tech? Fund manager names 6 lesser-known tech stocks to buy instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

One portfolio manager, however, is shifting his focus to other tech players — particularly small mid-cap names. His comments come despite the sharp gains registered by big tech stocks which pushed the price-to-earnings ratio of the S & P 500 index to around 20 times. By contrast, the ratio is trading below 14 times when the seven Big Tech stocks are excluded, he noted. Another stock in Kharmandarian's AI and Robotics Fund fund is cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike . Electronic Design Automation Another theme on Kharmandarian's watchlist is electronic design automation — specifically companies designing the latest generations of semiconductors.

Persons: Karen Kharmandarian, Kharmandarian, bullish, Splunk Organizations: Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, Thematics Asset Management, CNBC, Robotics Fund, Cisco Systems, Cadence Design Systems, Pharmaceuticals, BioXcel Therapeutics

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas attorney has been accused of using work-related visits to a county jail to smuggle in legal paperwork laced with ecstasy and synthetic marijuana to inmates over the past several months, authorities announced Monday. Ronald Lewis, 77, was arrested on Friday after arriving at the Harris County Jail in Houston to visit an inmate, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at a news conference. Other attorneys are also suspected of smuggling drug-laced paperwork into the jail but “we don’t think it’s actually widespread,” Gonzalez said. We’re going to make sure we investigate it fully and hold them accountable.”Gonzalez said the county jail is like others around the country that have seen an increase in overdoses. The county jail has had at least 18 inmate deaths this year, some of them believed to be drug-related.

Persons: —, Ronald Lewis, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Lewis, Gonzalez, Jay Wheeler, Wheeler, “ We’re, ” Wheeler, ” Gonzalez, “, “ There’s, ___, Juan, Lozano Organizations: HOUSTON, Harris County Sheriff, State Bar of, Investigations, Security Division, Authorities, Texas Rangers Locations: Texas, Harris, Houston, Harris County, State Bar of Texas

☆ 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

☆ After U.S. Fentanyl Deal, China Warns Against Selling Chemicals Used in Narcotics
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's narcotics control agency has warned against the manufacture and sale of substances that can be used to make illegal drugs, a day after President Xi Jinping said China would stem the export of items used to make the opioid fentanyl. In a circular issued on Thursday, the office of the China National Narcotics Control Commission also cautioned against the risk of running into the "long-arm jurisdiction" of foreign law enforcement agencies. The United States has long sought China's cooperation to stop an illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is increasingly mixed with other drugs, often with lethal results. Under the agreement, China will go directly after specific chemical companies that make fentanyl precursors, a senior U.S. official said. U.S. officials say small chemical businesses in China make precursor chemicals that are shipped to Mexico to produce illicit fentanyl.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Miral Fahmy Organizations: China National Narcotics Control, United Locations: BEIJING, China, United States, San Francisco, U.S, Mexico

☆ After U.S. fentanyl deal, China warns against selling chemicals used in narcotics
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An undated handout picture released by Guardia di Finanza shows tools that were seized as a part of an operation against fentanyl trafficking from China to U.S., in Piacenza, Italy. In a circular issued on Thursday, the office of the China National Narcotics Control Commission also cautioned against the risk of running into the "long-arm jurisdiction" of foreign law enforcement agencies. The United States has long sought China's cooperation to stop an illicit flow of precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, which is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and is increasingly mixed with other drugs, often with lethal results. Under the agreement, China will go directly after specific chemical companies that make fentanyl precursors, a senior U.S. official said. U.S. officials say small chemical businesses in China make precursor chemicals that are shipped to Mexico to produce illicit fentanyl.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Miral Organizations: Guardia, Finanza, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, China National Narcotics Control, United, Thomson Locations: China, U.S, Piacenza, Italy, Rights BEIJING, United States, San Francisco, Mexico

☆ Biden removes sanctions from Chinese institute in push for fentanyl help
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Washington put the institute on the list in 2020 over alleged abuses against Uyghurs and other minority groups, effectively barring it from receiving most goods from U.S. suppliers. Former Chinese ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang in an interview last year described it as "shocking" the U.S. would sanction the institute, which he described as essential to controlling fentanyl. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As part of the meeting, the men agreed to cooperate on addressing the source of the opioid fentanyl, with China promising to go directly after specific chemical companies that make fentanyl precursors. Reporting by Paul Grant and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama and Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joshua Roberts, Biden, U.S . Qin Gang, Xi Jinping, Paul Grant, Alexandra Alper, Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama, Josie Kao Organizations: of Commerce, REUTERS, Rights, Ministry of Public Security’s Institute of Forensic Science, U.S . Qin, Reuters, Economic Cooperation, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Federal Register, Commerce, Defense, Energy, Treasury, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Beijing, United States, Washington, U.S, San Francisco, Asia, China, State

Experts say new steps China has agreed to will eventually reduce the flow of the deadly opioid fentanyl into the U.S., but that alone will not stem the overdose crisis killing Americans at a record rate. Synthetic opioids are now the biggest killers in the deadliest drug crisis the U.S. has ever seen. More than two-thirds of those deaths — more than 200 per day — involved fentanyl or similar synthetic drugs. It's in counterfeit pills and cocaine, in some cases causing overdoses in people who have no idea that they're using fentanyl. A growing number of places are allowing drug screening kits so users can find out if their drugs include fentanyl.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, ”, Adam Wandt, “, Wandt, Kevin Roy, ” Roy, Rahul Gupta, it’s, Donald Trump, It's, Xi, ” Biden, Xi’s, Wang Wenbin, they're, we’re, Regina LaBelle, Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez, LaBelle, Didi Tang Organizations: John Jay College of Criminal, of National Drug Control, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, San Francisco Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry, International Narcotics, U.S, Georgetown University’s O’Neill, Associated Locations: China, U.S, California, America, Mexico, U.S . China, San Francisco, United States

TAIWANThe two leaders had a "substantial" discussion on Taiwan, with Xi telling Biden that Taiwan was the biggest, most dangerous issue facing the two superpowers, a senior U.S. official told reporters. LEADER TO LEADER TALKSBiden said he and Xi agreed to high-level communications. "He and I agreed that each one of us can pick up the phone call directly and we'll be heard immediately," Biden told reporters after the meeting. China and the United States should set an example for other countries, Xi told Biden, according to Chinese media, and promote cooperation on trade, agriculture, climate change and artificial intelligence. FENTANYLBiden and Xi agreed to cooperate on addressing the source of the opioid fentanyl, a leading cause of drug overdoses in the United States, the U.S. official said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, China's Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, Nancy Pelosi, Defense Lloyd Austin, we'll, Jeff Mason, Trevor Hunnicutt, Andrea Shalal, Heather Timmons, Stephen Coates Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Taiwan, U.S, Defense, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, San Francisco, TAIWAN, Taiwan, China, Beijing, United States, IRAN, Iran

These are then smuggled into the United States, the officials say. Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on 28 people and entities involved with the international proliferation of illicit drugs, including a large China-based network. Biden is also due to meet with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in San Francisco. In San Francisco, state and local officials have tried to clean up drugs from the city's streets, with limited success. "We know San Francisco - and cities across the United States - will benefit from more targeting of the trafficking and production of fentanyl worldwide," a spokesperson for Breed said in a statement.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Biden, Xi, Mike Odeh, Jake Sullivan, Washington, General Merrick Garland, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Alicia Barcena, Brooke Jenkins, Mayor London Breed, Breed, Michael Martina, Sayantani Ghosh, Michelle Nichols, Josie Kao Organizations: Customs, Port, U.S . Customs, FRANCISCO, U.S, Economic Cooperation, United, city's, APEC, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, . National, Washington, Biden, Institute of Forensic Science, China's Ministry of Public Security, Commerce, San Francisco . Mexican Foreign, Mayor London, Thomson Locations: Arizona, Mexico, Nogales , Arizona, U.S, Asia, Pacific, San Francisco, United States, China, CHINA, MEXICO, Washington, San Francisco . Mexican, Francisco's

☆ How did the zebra get its nicely patterned stripes? The answer may come from mathematician Alan Turing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Ankur Gupta | The Conversation | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Researchers have proposed an explanation for how the patterns form based on the "Turing patterns." A question naturally arises: How can distinct color patterns form in the presence of diffusion? Our work suggests that combining the conditions that form Turing patterns with diffusiophoresis could also form the basis of artificial skin patches. Just like adaptive skin patterns in animals, when Turing patterns change — say from hexagons to stripes — this indicates underlying differences in chemical concentrations inside or outside the body. Besides animal skin patterns, Turing patterns are also crucial to other processes such as embryonic development and tumor formation.

Persons: —, Ben Alessio, Alan Turing, Turing, diffusiophoresis, Keld, Ankur Gupta Organizations: Service, Getty Images, micron, University of Colorado Locations: Denmark, University of Colorado Boulder

Kenya's President William Ruto called the treaty “the first domino” in a shift away from plastic pollution. The U.N. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution is charged with developing the first international, legally binding treaty on plastic pollution on land and at sea. Kenya is a global leader in fighting plastic pollution, and in 2017, the country banned the manufacture, sale and use of single-use plastic bags. Nonetheless, he said, it is evident that negotiations have moved beyond plastic waste and into addressing plastic production and toxic chemicals used to make plastic. “The focus is on ending plastic pollution, not plastic production," he said.

Persons: Gustavo Adolfo Meza, Cuadra Velasquez, William Ruto, ” Graham Forbes, ” Eirik Lindebjerg, Björn Beeler, haven't, IPEN, Chris Jahn, Karen McKee, Jahn, ___ McDermott Organizations: United Nations Environment, Global, reconvening, Intergovernmental, UNEP, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Plastics, Industry, International Council of Chemical Associations, ExxonMobil, Solutions Company, AP Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Kenya's, Nairobi, Paris, Punta del Este, Uruguay, Norway, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Iran, China, Russia, United States, Baytown , Texas, Baytown, Providence , Rhode Island

☆ Here are Monday's biggest analyst calls: Apple, Amazon, Oracle, Eli Lilly, Airbnb, Meta, Southwest & more
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Michael Bloom | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Jefferies initiates PepsiCo as buy Jefferies called PepsiCo a defensive stock. " Jefferies initiates Procter & Gamble as buy Jefferies said in its initiation of the stock that it's a top and bottom line growth leader. Jefferies initiates Colgate-Palmolive as buy Jefferies said it sees a "reinvigorated" brand lineup for Colgate. Citi reiterates Amazon and Meta as buy Citi said it's bullish on the partnership between Amazon and Meta. Citi reiterates Eli Lilly as buy Citi said it's standing by its buy rating on the stock.

Persons: Piper Sandler, Stifel, CrowdStrike, KBW, it's, Bernstein, buybacks, Airbnb, BTIG, Raymond James, Natera, Hewlett Packard, Jefferies, Colgate, Morgan Stanley, Edward Jones, Olin, it's bullish, Truist, Citi, Eli Lilly, Lilly, Melius Organizations: UBS, Barclays, Apple, Piper, Capital Holdings, Guardant, Citi, Hewlett, PepsiCo, Pepsi, Procter, Gamble, G, Constellation Brands, Constellation, Colgate, Palmolive, Mirum Pharmaceuticals, Oracle, North America, Amazon, Social Commerce, ~$

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