“People do look tired, they look exhausted, as if they’re kind of wilting,” the Guardian’s Rome correspondent, Angela Giuffrida, tells Michael Safi. Italy, like many other countries, has been experiencing record-breaking heat. The Guardian’s environment editor, Damian Carrington, explains why we’re seeing these temperatures now and what we can expect in the future if we do not address the climate emergency. “This is the kind of heat that takes the breath out of you,” the Guardian US’s extreme weather correspondent, Gabrielle Canon, says. Canon has been reporting from Phoenix, Arizona,…
Day: July 19, 2023
Foreign investors sidestep China in rush into Asian stocks
Receive free Equities updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Equities news every morning. Foreign buying in Asian emerging equity markets outside China has surpassed inflows to the region’s largest economy for the first time in six years, as investor optimism about Chinese growth wanes. Over the past 12 months net foreign inflows to emerging markets in Asia “ex-China” were more than $41bn, outstripping net inflows of about $33bn into mainland Chinese equities via Hong Kong’s stock connect trading scheme, according to data compiled…
Women’s World Cup Security Heightened Following Shooting in New Zealand
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Security will be heightened ahead of Thursday night’s opening Women’s World Cup game after a gunman killed two people at a downtown construction site in Auckland, roughly 12 hours ahead of co-host New Zealand’s match against Norway. Norway’s team hotel was located within a short distance of the shooting, which occurred in the tourist area of the city near the harbor ferry terminal. Norway captain Maren Mjelde said teammates were awakened by a helicopter hovering outside the hotel. “We felt safe the whole time,” Mjelde said…
Europe Battles Heat, Fires; Sweltering Temperatures Scorch China, US
rome/beijing — Italy put 23 cities on red alert as it reckoned with another day of scorching temperatures Wednesday, with no sign of relief from the wave of extreme heat, wildfires and flooding that has wreaked havoc from the United States to China. The heat wave has hit southern Europe during the peak summer tourist season, breaking records – including in Rome – and bringing warnings about an increased risk of deaths. Wildfires burned for a third day west of the Greek capital, Athens, and firefighters raced to keep flames…
What Taylor Swift tells us about Singapore vs Hong Kong
Receive free Singapore updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Singapore news every morning. Two topics prompt impassioned discussion over inflation at expat dinner parties in Singapore at the moment: how much your rent has increased and Taylor Swift. The first is met with a round of commiseration or begrudging congratulations, depending on whether you are closer to 100 per cent (most people) or a mere 20 per cent (a lucky few). The second sets off fierce debate on a favourite subject: the merits…
A Look at Other Americans Who Have Crossed Into North Korea Over the Years
SEOUL, South Korea — The U.S. and U.S.-led United Nations Command say they are working to resolve the situation involving a U.S. soldier who ran into North Korea at a border village. The incident involving Private Travis King comes at a time of high tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The pace of both North Korea’s weapons demonstrations and U.S.-South Korean military exercises has intensified lately in a cycle of tit-for-tat. Other Americans have crossed into North Korea over the years, including a few U.S. soldiers. Some were motivated by evangelical…
FirstFT: China threatens retaliation against US national security measures
Receive free US updates We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest US news every morning. Good morning. China’s ambassador to Washington has warned Beijing will retaliate against US national security measures targeted at the country, including a mechanism to screen inbound investment being prepared by the White House. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, Xie Feng said China “cannot remain silent” while the US imposes sanctions and export controls that will make it harder for China to secure advanced US technology, including cutting-end chips. “The…
Russia grounds plane, arrests North Korean mother and son on the run
Russian authorities grounded a Moscow-bound flight to arrest a North Korean diplomat’s wife and son who went missing from the far eastern city of Vladivostok last month, residents in Russia familiar with the case told Radio Free Asia. RFA reported on June 6 that Russian authorities announced that they were searching for Kim Kum Sun, 43, and Park Kwon Ju, 15, who had last been seen on June 4 leaving the North Korean consulate in Vladivostok. Kim had been working as the acting manager of two North Korean restaurants in…
Vietnam to let Vatican appoint resident representative
The Vietnamese government will allow the Vatican to appoint a resident representative in the communist Southeast Asian country, following years of negotiations amid the fraught diplomatic relationship between the two states. The development will likely be announced during the visit of President Vo Van Thuong to the Holy See by the end of July, Reuters reported on June 16, citing a senior Vatican official and a Hanoi-based diplomat with knowledge of the matter. Thuong and his wife will pay an official visit to Austria, Italy and the Vatican on July…
Tesla’s Profit Rose in the Second Quarter as Price Cuts Spurred Demand
Tesla reported a rise in profit for the second quarter after the company led by Elon Musk cut prices in response to increased competition and higher borrowing costs for car buyers. The company said on Wednesday that it earned $2.7 billion from April through June, compared with $2.5 billion in the first quarter of this year and $2.3 billion in the second quarter of 2022. Sales rose 7 percent, to $25 billion, from last quarter. Lower average sales prices, as well as the cost to produce a new pickup truck,…