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☆ This bitcoin miner and Nvidia AI cloud partner's stock could go up 50%, Berenberg says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Frankfurt-based tech company Northern Data , prominently known for bitcoin mining, has recently transformed its business model into cloud solutions and data center infrastructure. Listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Northern Data has three core divisions: Peak Mining for bitcoin mining, Taiga Cloud for cloud computing and Ardent Data Centers for data center infrastructure. The company's Taiga Cloud division is certified as an "Elite" partner of Nvidia , making it one of the largest providers of Nvidia-based cloud services in Europe. The investment bank forecasts annual revenues of around 400 million euros and adjusted profits of about 290 million euros from Taiga Cloud from 2026 onward. Northern Data's cloud computing platform is expected to have 20,000 Nvidia AI chips, worth 730 million euros, by the third quarter of 2024, the note said.

Persons: Gerhard Orgonas, Jenna Xu, Aroosh Thillainathan Organizations: Northern Data, Frankfurt Stock Exchange, Data, Mining, Ardent, Healthcare, Northern Bitcoin, Northern, Nvidia, Data's Locations: Frankfurt, Italy, United States, Northern, Pittsburgh, North Dakota, Texas, Europe

☆ Julian Assange’s mission was to change the world - but at what cost?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Claudia Rebaza | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

Julian Assange leaves a Melbourne court after facing charges of computer hacking in 1995. WikiLeaks/ReutersUnder a global spotlightAs WikiLeaks continued its disclosures, Assange found himself the latest cause célèbre – his every movement intensely scrutinized. … He liked the fuss that (the disclosures) caused but he was oddly incurious actually about the documents.”Others offer alternative explanations for Assange’s eccentricities. There were mounting calls for Assange to leave WikiLeaks and, when he didn’t, many cut ties with it. Outside the confines of his diplomatic shelter, the world questioned whether Assange was trying to circumvent justice.

Persons: London CNN — Julian Assange, ”, He’s, Chelsea Manning, Joe Biden, Assange’s, Anthony Albanese, Assange, “, ” –, Julian Assange, Ian Kenins, Sarah Palin’s, Atika Shubert, Shubert, ” Shubert, célèbre, Fidel Narvaez, “ Assange, ” Narvaez, James Ball, Joe Raedle, ” Ball, Ball, …, Narvaez, Hans Crescent, Lenin Moreno, Moreno, Abu Hamza al, Masri, Stella Assange, Daniel Leal, Stella, “ I’m, Nick Vamos, It’s, Alice Jill Edwards, Agnès Callamard, El País, Der Spiegel, Jameel Jaffer, Xiaofei Xu, Alex Stambaugh Organizations: London CNN, WikiLeaks, Court, Ecuadorian, Army, Australian, Pentagon, NASA, University of Melbourne, Fairfax Media, of Scientology, Republican, CNN, Chelsea, Apache, Reuters, Guardian, Ellingham, Hans, London’s Metropolitan Police, US Justice Department, of Justice, Britain's, Getty, Peters & Peters, Prosecution Service, Human Rights, UN, Amnesty, The New York Times, Columbia University Locations: United States, Australian, London’s, Australia, Townsville, Queensland, cybercrime, Melbourne, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq, London, Afghanistan, ”, Sweden, Ecuador, UK’s, Belmarsh

☆ Toyota and Nissan pair up with Tencent and Baidu for China AI arms race
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japan's Toyota Motor will pair up with China's Tencent while Nissan will team up with Baidu , the companies said on Thursday, cross-border partnerships that highlight the importance of artificial intelligence for carmakers. Both Tencent, a gaming and social media giant and Baidu, China's leading search engine, have been leaders in the country's generative AI race. The companies will offer services through Tencent's strengths in big data, AI and cloud computing, Xu said. Nissan said it and Baidu had signed a memorandum of understanding to carry out research on AI and so-called "smart cars". Nissan will use Baidu's generative AI on its platform to study the feasibility of future tech development, it said.

Persons: China's, BYD, Toyota's Yiming Xu, Xu, Nissan Organizations: Beijing Auto, Toyota, Nissan, Baidu Locations: Beijing, China

☆ Slide Over, Auntie: Young Chinese Find Tasty Meals in Senior Canteens
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-23 | by ( Alexandra Stevenson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Ms. Xu ignored her. “If you come at 12 o’clock, the aunties will give you less food,” Ms. Xu said, speaking softly. Ms. Xu is familiar with the rhythms of the Tongxinhui Community Canteen because she eats there every day to save money. “Only when you save money will you feel safe,” she said. A devastating crash in the value of real estate, where most household wealth is tied up, has heightened a feeling among young working professionals like Ms. Xu that their situation is precarious, too.

Persons: Maggie Xu, Xu, Ms Locations: Shanghai, Tongxinhui, China

☆ A 6-month Chinese-food festival is bringing authentic and flavor-packed cuisine to New York City's masses
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Xintian Tina Wang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

At New York's Dragon Festival, authentic Chinese brands and restaurants excite locals' taste buds. Its founder shared some of her favorite vendors of soup dumplings and candies at the opening event. "This doesn't taste like home," said Xu, a 31-year-old entrepreneur and the creator of New York City's Dragon Festival, the biggest Chinese-food festival in the metropolitan area. Jessie YuChen for BIChen said that confectioners in her home province of Fujian, China, caught her attention when she was younger. In 2006, inspired by the soup dumplings made popular by Shanghai's Nanxiang district, Ma opened his first New York City storefront.

Persons: —, Xu, Jessie YuChen, she's, Mila, Tang Hulu, I'm, Bu Tong, Ivy Chen, Dragon Lulu, Chen, Vivian Cao, confectioners, Emperor Guangzong, Michael Ma, Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, Ma, Nan, bartenders, Coco, Xibei Yang Organizations: Service, Park, Dragon, Prospect, lollipop, Michelin, Chi Forest, Haidilao, BI Locations: New York, SoHo, Chinatown, Flushing, York City, Koreatown, Union, Chelsea, Washington, Kwa, Henan, Queens, Prospect Park , Brooklyn, Beijing, Fujian, China, Shanghai, York, Nanxiang, New York City, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Chi, Thai, Bangkok, Sichuan, Manhattan

☆ Airlines That Offer 'Stopover' Programs, Some With Free Hotels
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Airlines capitalize on this trend with "stopover" programs, some even offering free hotels and food. Airlines have jumped on this growing trend with built-in "stopover" programs, which can come with free or discounted hotels, excursions, transportation, and food at the layover destination. Essentially, you can't intentionally book a longer layover to quality for the free stopover hotel. Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty ImagesSingapore Airlines' stopover program is available via the multi-city tool, similar to other carriers, where travelers can add hotels, transfers, and activities. Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesTurkish Airlines' stopover program gives economy travelers a one-night free hotel stay and business flyers a two-night free stay if the period between their connecting flights in Istanbul exceeds 20 hours.

Persons: —, Robert Smith, Markus Mainka, Liang Xu, Nicolas Economou, Thomas Mukoya, Suparat, Finnair, Shutterstock Icelandair, Marcio Rodrigo Machado, Bauer, Griffin, Alexi Rosenfeld, CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, Massimo Insabato, It's, Matheus Organizations: Service, Airlines, Travelers, An Air Canada Boeing, Getty Images Air, Air France, KLM Air France, KLM, Air, China Southern Airlines, China Southern Airlines Airbus, Getty Images China Southern Airlines, Copa Airlines AP Copa Airlines, Copa, Emirates, Emirates Airbus, Getty Images Emirates, Dubai Connect, Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopian Airlines, Reuters Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Etihad Airways Airbus, Shutterstock.com Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways Fiji Airways, Shutterstock Fiji Airways, Iberia Airbus, Japan, Japan Airlines Boeing, Japan Airlines, Latam Airlines Boeing, Latam Airlines, Hotels, An Oman Air, Getty Images Oman Air, Qantas, Getty, JAL, Oneworld, Qatar Airways, Qatar Airways Boeing, Getty Images Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines Royal Jordanian Airlines Boeing, Getty Images Royal Jordanian Airlines, Air Lines, Swiss International Air Lines Airbus, Getty Images Swiss, Singapore Airlines, Airbus, Getty Images Singapore Airlines, Portugal, TAP Air Portugal Airbus, TAP Air Portugal, Turkish Airlines, Turkish Airlines Airbus, Getty Images Turkish Airlines Locations: Getty Images Air Canada, Canada, Air France, Xinhua, Panama, Panama City, Emirates, Dubai, UAE, Addis Ababa, Abu Dhabi, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, Pacific, Helsinki, Iberia, Iberia Airbus Iberia, Madrid, Icelandair, Reykjavik, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, São Paulo, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife, Manaus, Curitiba, Belem, Oman, Muscat, layover, Bangkok, San Francisco, AFP, Switzerland, Singapore, Lisbon, Porto, Portuguese, Azores, Madeira, Istanbul

☆ China's fiscal stimulus is losing its effectiveness, S&P says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's fiscal stimulus is losing its effectiveness and is more of a strategy to buy time for industrial and consumption policies, S&P Global Ratings senior analyst Yunbang Xu said in a report Thursday. The analysis used growth in government spending to measure fiscal stimulus. "In our view, fiscal stimulus is a buy-time strategy that could have some longer-term benefits, if projects are focused on reviving consumption or industrial upgrades that increase value-add," Xu said. The head of the top economic planning agency said in March that China would "strengthen macroeconomic policies" and increase coordination among fiscal, monetary, employment, industrial and regional policies. High debt levels limit how much fiscal stimulus a local government can undertake, regardless of whether a city is considered a high or low-income region, the S&P report said.

Persons: Yunbang Xu, Xu Organizations: Global Locations: Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang, China, BEIJING, Shenzhen, Bazhong, Sichuan

☆ The spike in VIX this month hasn't been unexpected, says CBOE's Mandy Xu
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe spike in VIX this month hasn't been unexpected, says CBOE's Mandy XuMandy Xu, CBOE Global Markets head of derivatives market intelligence, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the latest CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) trends, the potential for rates volatility spilling into equity markets, earnings season, and more.

Persons: Mandy Xu Mandy Xu Organizations: CBOE

☆ A billionaire helped bring ‘3-Body Problem’ to Netflix. His business partner ensured he never lived to see its premiere
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Hong Kong CNN —Lin Qi, a billionaire fan of “The Three-Body Problem,” had big plans to bring his favorite Chinese sci-fi novel to TV, cinema and video-game screens across the world. Xu was sentenced to death for murder by a court in Shanghai on March 22 - the day after the much-anticipated debut of “3 Body Problem” on Netflix. 3 Body Problem. Soon, he was sidelined, with key projects handed to another executive, Zhao Jilong, one of the executives who would later have his drinks poisoned by Xu, according to Caixin. When Netflix announced its adaptation project of “The Three-Body Problem” in September 2020, Lin and Zhao were listed as executive producers, with Xu’s name conspicuously missing.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Lin Qi, ”, Lin, Lin’s, Xu Yao, Xu, Caixin, John Bradley, Jack Rooney, Jess Hong, Jin Cheng, Mark Gatiss, Isaac Newton, Reece Shearsmith, Alan Turing, Jenson Cheng, Kublai Khan, Netflix Xu, China’s, Liu Cixin, Zhao Jilong, Zhao, Yoozoo, “ Xu Yao’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, “, Netflix, Lin’s Yoozoo, Yoozoo Games, Phoenix News Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, pufferfish, Japan, France, United States

☆ The executive on Netflix's '3 Body Problem' who murdered its super-rich producer practiced by poisoning cats and dogs: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Former Yoozoo Games executive Xu Yao received a death sentence for murdering his boss. Lin Qi died in 2020 after ingesting poison, The New York Times reported. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAn executive who worked on Netflix's "3 Body Problem" practiced killing cats and dogs before fatally poisoning his boss, the Chinese outlet Caixin reported.

Persons: Xu Yao, Lin Qi, Xu, Caixin, — Organizations: Yoozoo Games, New York Times, Service, The New York Times, Business

☆ 3 people died after being ripped from their high-rise apartments by freak wind storms in China, local reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewThree people died on Sunday in China's Jiangxi province after being torn from their high-rise apartments by heavy winds, local media reported. A neighborhood chat group message published by Jimu News and other regional media identified three of the deceased as a 64-year-old woman, her 11-year-old grandson, and another 60-year-old woman. Reporters from both outlets published photos of the neighborhood that showed apartments with missing glass facades and only mangled frames remaining. AdvertisementThe affected high-rise neighborhood in Nanchang was completed in 2015, per property listings of the area.

Persons: —, Wan, Liu, Xu, Li Mengping, Li Organizations: Service, Jimu, Business, CCTV, Red Star News, Nanchang Emergency Management Bureau, Weibo Locations: China's Jiangxi, Nanchang, Hubei, Beijing, Weibo, Chengdu, China

☆ Zelensky signs law expanding draft age as Ukraine struggles to beef up its military
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Xiaofei Xu | Yulia Kesaieva | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The Ukrainian Parliament passed the measure in May 2023 but Zelensky had not signed it into law until Tuesday. Firstly, men are drafted into military service. The law signed by Zelensky on Tuesday lowers the age they can be drafted to 25, but leaves the mobilization age at 27, However, the Ukrainian Parliament is also considering a bill that would reduce the mobilization age to 25. Disagreement regarding the draft age is believed to be one of the reasons why Zelensky fired Zaluzhnyi in February of 2024. But Zelensky previously said he would agree to a law to mobilize younger Ukrainian men, if it was “really” needed.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ”, –, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhnyi, ” Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Zelensky, United Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia

☆ The Bizarre Chinese Murder Plot Behind Netflix’s ‘3 Body Problem’
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( David Pierson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The video game tycoon had wanted to turn one of China’s most famous science-fiction novels, “The Three-Body Problem,” into a global hit. He had started working with Netflix and the creators of the HBO series “Game of Thrones” to bring the alien invasion saga to international audiences. But Mr. Lin did not live to see “3 Body Problem” premiere on Netflix last month, drawing millions of viewers. Sidelined at work, Mr. Xu reportedly exacted vengeance with meticulous planning, including by testing poisons on small animals in a makeshift lab. (He not only killed Mr. Lin, but also poisoned his own replacement.)

Persons: Lin Qi, “, Lin, Xu Yao, Lin’s, Xu Organizations: Netflix, HBO Locations: Shanghai

Banners at the protests called on the Prime Minister to resign and for Israel to hold new elections. Thousands gathered in Jerusalem on Sunday to call for Netanyahu to step down. “They stood outside the Kirya (the Israel Defense Forces headquarters in Tel Aviv), screamed their souls out, and nobody heard. Sunday’s demonstration outside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem was dispersed by force, but protesters appear to be readying themselves for more protests. The US and Israel are set to hold a virtual meeting on Rafah today, a US official told CNN.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, “ You’ve, ”, Ilan Rosenberg, Ronen Zvulun, Israel, Aviva Siegel, ” Siegel, Yair Lapid, “, ” Lapid, Israel papered, Benny Gantz, CNN’s Xiaofei Xu, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Gul Tuysuz, Arlette Saenz Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Hamas, Reuters Police, Aviva, Israel Defense Forces, CNN, Israel’s, Israeli Locations: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza, United States, Washington, Rafah, Gaza’s, Egypt

☆ An executive who worked on '3 Body Problem' was sentenced to death for fatally poisoning the Netflix show's producer
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Eve Crosbie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Lin Qi, who helped bring "3 Body Problem" to screens, died before the series aired. He was poisoned in 2020 by Xu Yao, who headed up a subsidiary which oversaw adaptations of the book. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA former Yoozoo Games executive has been handed a death sentence for the murder of a producer on Netflix's sci-fi show "3 Body Problem." According to The New York Times, the Shanghai First Intermediate People's Court found Xu Yao guilty of fatally poisoning Lin Qi, who was dubbed China's "billionaire millennial."

Persons: Lin Qi, Xu Yao, Xu, —, Lin Organizations: Service, Yoozoo Games, The New York Times, Shanghai

☆ China will further enhance capital account opening, FX official says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Xu Zhibin deputy administrator of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange attends a sub-forum during the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024 on March 26, 2024. China will make it easier to move capital in and out of the country and promote financial market deregulation, a senior forex regulator said on Friday, as Beijing seeks to woo foreign investors amid heightened geopolitical tensions. "We will steadily push forward two-way capital market opening, and strengthen the connectivity between domestic and overseas financial markets," Xu Zhibin, deputy head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), said at the annual Boao forum for Asia. "We will expand the variety and scope of investments to attract more investors to invest in China's financial markets." Meanwhile, overseas listings by Chinese companies have slumped, thanks to tighter scrutiny over national and data security by both Chinese and Western governments.

Persons: Xu Zhibin, Xu Organizations: State Administration of Foreign Exchange, Asia Locations: China, Beijing, Asia, U.S

☆ As cocoa prices soar this Easter, chocolatiers consider alternatives
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( John Towfighi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Cocoa prices are surging so high, the Easter Bunny might want to hoard its chocolate. Poor climate and crop diseases in West Africa – home to 70% of global cocoa production – have tightened supply and caused prices to skyrocket. As prices rise, some chocolatiers are exploring cost-cutting alternatives, like diversifying their products to depend less on cocoa. Yet mining often destroys farms and the possibility of a livelihood in cocoa production, Issaka said. “Given the persistently high cocoa prices, it may be necessary for us to make responsible adjustments to pricing in the future,” the spokesperson wrote in an email.

Persons: Hershey’s, Shaquille O’Neal, Michele Buck, Billy Roberts, Roberts, ” Roberts, Issaka, Will Kletter, Kletter, “, Peng Xu, Christopher Taylor, Li, Taylor, ”, “ We’re, “ It’s, ” Taylor Organizations: CNN, Cadbury, NCA, “ Brands, Industries, International Cocoa Organization, Rabobank, US, ”, Euromonitor Locations: West Africa, North Region, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Silicon, Washington ,, Manhattan

☆ Paris waiters compete in race to get a coffee and croissant across the capital
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Xiaofei Xu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“I tried holding the tray, it’s pretty heavy!” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told journalists shortly before the race started. Waiters start the Course des Cafes race on March 24, 2024. The “Course des Garçons de Café” (cafe waiters race) was first launched in 1914 to highlight the cafés and restaurants of the French capital, according to French historian Laurent Bihl. Throughout the years, it found popularity not only in Paris but across France in cities such as Nice, Belfort and Calais. Back on the streets of Paris, the quickest entrants completed Sunday’s Course des Cafés race – the name of the revived version has been shortened, dropping the ‘garçons’ – in less than 14 minutes.

Persons: Paris, “, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, Dimitar Dilkoff, ’ It’s, ”, Ariel Weil, Pierre Rabadan, Nicolas Bonnet Oulaldj, Café, Laurent Bihl, Pauline Van Wymeersch, Samy Lamrous Organizations: Paris CNN, Paris Mayor, France, Getty, Paralympic Games, Petit Pont, La Contrescarpe Locations: Paris, AFP, France, Nice, Belfort, Calais, Hong Kong, Yokohama, La

☆ Evergrande: China accuses troubled property developer of committing financial fraud in $78 billon case
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Chinese regulators have accused Evergrande and its founder of inflating revenues by $78 billion, putting the insolvent property developer at the heart of the country’s biggest ever financial fraud case. Xu Jiayin, founder and chairman of the Evergrande Group, was fined 47 million yuan ($6.5 million) for the overstatement and other alleged violations. The regulator said Hengda had fabricated 214 billion yuan ($30 billion) in sales for 2019, which accounted for half of that year’s revenue. Another 350 billion yuan ($48.6 billion) in sales for 2020, accounting for 78% of revenue, were also falsified. “Xu Jiayin had made decisions, organized, and implemented the financial fraud … Xia Haijun had organized, arranged and prepared the falsified financial reports… their means were really bad and the circumstances were grave,” the regulator said.

Persons: Evergrande, Xu Jiayin, ”, Hengda, Xu, Xia Haijun, “ Xu Jiayin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Evergrande Locations: China, Hong Kong

☆ Beijing says Evergrande and its tycoon founder committed a $78 billion fraud. That would rank it as one of the biggest financial frauds ever.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-19 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Beijing has accused Evergrande of inflating revenue by $78 billion in 2019 and 2020. Regulatory authorities have fined Evergrande's founder and banned him from the securities market for life. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementIt just seems to get worse and worse for fallen Chinese real-estate giant Evergrande.

Persons: —, it's, Hengda, Hui Ka Yan, Xu Jiayin Organizations: Service, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Business Locations: Beijing, China —

☆ A devastating fried chicken shop explosion in China has killed 7 people and injured 27 others, the authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The intense blast seized national attention in China and drew controversy when frontline staff blocked local reporters. AdvertisementA suspected gas leak explosion in a fried chicken store has killed seven people and injured 27 others in Yanjiao, a town just east of Beijing, state media and authorities said on Thursday morning local time. Another state media reporter, Xu Mengzhe, was seen physically struggling with a group of policemen who surrounded her and two colleagues. She wore a jacket with a logo for China Media Group, a state-owned broadcasting company. "They must not control public opinion, simply and crudely obstructing media reporters from performing their duties," the association said.

Persons: —, VCG, Ng Han Guan, Yang, Xu Mengzhe, Xu, Zhong Ming Organizations: Service, Getty Images, Emergency Management Bureau, Business, Authorities, Firefighters, China Media Group, China Journalists Association Locations: Yanjiao, China, Beijing

☆ Disney shareholders could cash in as investors offer money for their votes amid a bruising proxy battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewThe Disney proxy battle continues to heat up — and ordinary shareholders could cash in. Mom-and-pop investors are also being courted for their votes on a new marketplace called Shareholder Vote Alliance, which runs auctions for shareholders' proxy votes. Xu said Shareholder Vote Alliance doesn't reveal the names of the bidders but confirmed the bid is from a current shareholder. Shareholder Vote Alliance pitches itself as a way for everyday investors to generate income by monetizing their shareholder votes. Shareholder Vote Alliance closes its auctions a couple of days before shareholder votes.

Persons: —, Nelson Peltz's, Ike Perlmutter, Bob Iger, Trian, Blackwells, Donald Duck's, Ludwig Von Drake, Steven Xu, Xu, Blackwell didn't, There's, Iger, we've Organizations: Service, Fund Management, Disney, Blackwells, Business, Alliance, Street, Wall, ValueAct

☆ Analysis-As China's Xi Summons 'New Productive Forces', Old Questions Linger for Economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

By James Pomfret, Kevin Yao and Ellen ZhangHONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - Facing its deepest economic challenges in years, China's leadership has tasked ministries and local governments with implementing a new mantra from President Xi Jinping: unleash "new productive forces". Beijing hopes the “new productive forces” campaign will strengthen China at a time when geopolitical pressures including steps by the United States to “decouple” or “de-risk” have curtailed access to foreign technology. "To support innovation, we should give people more freedom to think and talk, because many innovations result from the collision of ideas. The new mantra was also taken up by China's state planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission. Its annual report on Tuesday pledged support for industries including satellite internet applications, China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and research into nuclear fusion.

Persons: James Pomfret, Kevin Yao, Ellen Zhang HONG, Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Xi’s, Xi, Tianchen Xu, Li, Steve Tsang, Ellen Zhang, Nick Macfie Organizations: Communist Party, Party, Reuters, Economist Intelligence Unit, SOAS China Institute, National Development, Reform Commission Locations: Ellen Zhang HONG KONG, BEIJING, China, China’s, Beijing, United States, London, Pearl

The work report presented Tuesday by Premier Li Qiang to the National People’s Congress outlined plans for modest increases in overall spending and a hefty 7.2% jump in funding for the military. Li's work report is designed to showcase for the nation achievements in the past year and convey the top leadership's priorities for this year. Photos You Should See View All 60 ImagesApart from the ambitious growth target, “There is no reform, no liberalization, no action plan and no messaging of reassurance,” he said. — Another 10.4 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) will go to upgrading industries and modernizing manufacturing. “We will work to build China's self-reliance and strength in science and technology,” the report said.

Persons: it’s, Premier Li Qiang, Li, Xi Jinping's, James Zimmerman, ”, Tianchen Xu, What's, —, Xu, ” Lynn Song Organizations: BEIJING, Premier, National People’s, Communist, American Chamber of Commerce, Economist Intelligence Unit, Baidu, Greater China, ING Economics, — Locations: China, Beijing, Washington, Hong Kong, Greater

☆ France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Joshua Berlinger | Xiaofei Xu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Paris CNN —France became the world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in its constitution on Monday, the culmination of an effort that began in direct response to the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The amendment states that there is a “guaranteed freedom” to abortion in France. While abortion is a highly divisive issue in US politics that often falls along party lines, in France it is widely supported. The measure’s passage is a clear victory for the French left, which has been pushing for years to guarantee abortion rights in the constitution. The vote marks the 25th time the French government has amended its constitution since the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958.

Persons: Roe, ”, Gabriel Attal, ” Attal, Emmanuel Macron, Simone Veil, Emmanuel Macron’s, —, Wade, Eric Dupond, Moretti, perviously, CNN’s Joseph Ataman, Christopher Lamb Organizations: Paris CNN —, Wade, French Senate, National Assembly, ” Lawmakers, France, Health, US, Fifth, Catholic, Pontifical Academy for Life Locations: Paris CNN — France, of Versailles, Paris, France, United States, Europe, Hungary, Fifth Republic

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