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☆ Two giant pandas are moving to a California zoo in a rare loan from China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Taylor Romine | Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —China is sending two giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo – the first time it has granted new panda loans to the United States in two decades. His comments came shortly after the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, DC sent its three pandas back to China – marking the end of more than 50 years of Chinese pandas being housed at the zoo. The National Zoo was the first US zoo to showcase pandas, and the end of its program had left Zoo Atlanta as the only other US zoo to feature pandas. San Diego Zoo returned its last two pandas to China in 2019, after its loan agreement ended. According to Xinhua, discussions are ongoing for “a new round of cooperation” with the National Zoo and a zoo in Austria.

Persons: Xi Jinping, ” Xi, Xi, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington , DC, Zoo, Zoo Atlanta, China Wildlife Conservation Association, Xinhua, Washington, Smithsonian, National Zoo, World Wildlife Fund Locations: China, United States, Washington ,, San, Europe, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Qatar, Xinhua, Austria

☆ The odds of no interest-rate cuts in 2024 are growing
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today’s big story, we’re looking at the chances of there being no rate cuts this year, and how the markets would react. What's on deck:This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. The big storyCuts are canceledAaron Schwartz/Xinhua via Getty ImagesDon't count your chickens before they hatch and don't price in your rate cuts before they materialize. Last December, Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled that three cuts were on the table for 2024, which he reiterated earlier this month. AdvertisementBonds could struggle, though, with further delays on rate cuts raising the risk that debt markets suffer another meltdown like they did last fall.

Persons: —, Mark Zuckerberg, Aaron Schwartz, ”, won’t, Jerome Powell, Phil Rosen, There's, BI’s Yuheng Zhan, NYCB’s, Ark's Cathie Wood, Paul Judge, Tessa Flippin, Claude Grunitzky, Gayle Jennings O'Byrne, Black VCs, Masayoshi Son, OpenAI’s, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover, Grace Lett Organizations: Service, UFC, Business, Xinhua, Getty, Federal, Paramount, Fed, Big Tech, JPMorgan Private Bank, Discover, Discover Financial, Nvidia, Opportunity, Equity Alliance, Wocstar Fund, Opportunity Fund, Equity Alliance Wocstar, Google, Walmart, Pandora, Home Locations: Japan, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Fox, New York, London, Chicago

☆ Europe is nervous about a potential Trump win. China sees an opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

China – which has not condemned Russia’s invasion and claims impartiality in the conflict – has also emerged as a key lifeline for the sanctions-hit Russian economy. In Europe, this has galvanized concerns about China’s own global ambitions and played a role in the European Union’s ongoing push to recalibrate its policy toward China. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated the EU’s “expectation that China refrains from supporting Russia,” in a meeting with Wang Friday. “As long as war in Ukraine continues, EU policies toward China will move into closer alignment with the US. As president, Trump not only voiced skepticism of the system of US alliances in Europe, but leveraged tariffs on European steel and aluminum, sparking retaliatory measures on US goods from Europe.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Wang Yi, Wang, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Wang, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, “, ”, Noah Barkin, Maxym Marusenko, Putin, Xi Jinping, –, Jens Stoltenberg, Josep Borrell, Christoph Heusgen, Dmytro Kuleba, Xi, hasn’t, It’s, Kuleba, Vladimir Putin, Xie Huanchi, Yu Jie, ‘, Liu Dongshu, “ Wang Yi, China …, ” Liu, Emmanuel Macron, GMF Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Munich, Washington, NATO, German Marshall Fund of, Communist Party, Wang Friday, Bloomberg, CNN, China’s, Ministry, ”, Ukrainian, Security, Beijing, Peace, Getty, ’ Observers, US, Chatham House, City University of Hong, “, White Locations: China, Hong Kong, States, Europe, Ukraine, Beijing, Munich, Moscow, Russia, United States, Russian, Ukraine's Kharkiv, West . China, Taiwan, EU, ”, China’s, Asia, Pacific, ” Beijing, Switzerland, Xinhua, London, Spain, France, City University of Hong Kong’s, Washington, York

BEIJING (AP) — The former chairman of the Bank of China has been indicted on bribery charges, prosecutors said Monday, adding to a long list of business and government officials who have been brought down by Chinese leader Xi Jinping's yearslong anticorruption drive. Liu Liange is accused of taking advantage of his positions at the Bank of China and previously as president of the Export-Import Bank of China, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate said in a statement posted on social media. The state-owned Bank of China, one of the country's “Big Four” banks, has a major overseas presence. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced last month that Tang Shuangning, the former chairman of China Everbright Group, another state-owned bank, had been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement and bribery. Beyond finance, the former chairman of the Chinese Football Association was tried last month on charges of taking 81 million yuan ($11.2 million) in bribes.

Persons: Xi Jinping's, Liu Liange, People’s Procuratorate, Liu, Xi, Tang Shuangning Organizations: BEIJING, Bank of, Bank of China, Export, Import Bank of China, Xinhua News Agency, of, China Everbright Group, Xinhua, Chinese Football Association Locations: Bank of China, Jinan, China’s Shandong province, of China

☆ Happy New Year of the Dragon - or Loong?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This year, it’s the Year of the Dragon, or more accurately, the “Year of the Loong,” says Chinese state media, using its preferred term for the mythical beast. The Chinese “loong” conjures positivity, nobleness and fortune and therefore should be distinguished linguistically from its Western cousin, state media argues. Chinese media has dedicated coverage and airtime to promote the new nomenclature over the past week or so, though both “dragon” and “loong” are being used interchangeably in English-language reports. “Transcribing long into English ‘loong’ would cause more problems and confusion than translating it as ‘dragon’,” he wrote. He noted that “some patriotic and political sources in the Sinosphere” have been peddling the concept that the Western dragon is fearful.

Persons: ”, Loong ”, it’s, loong, “ loong, Xi Jinping, Loong, John Lee, Wong Tai, Alex Chan Tsz Yuk, Elliott, Bradford Lee Eden, Eden, Eduardo Leal, ‘, Weibo, Victor Mair, Mair, “ loong ”, ” Eden, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Disney, Xinhua, of Library Services, Valparaiso University ,, Tolkien Research, Getty, University of Pennsylvania, Valparaiso University Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Valparaiso University , Indiana, Macau, Weibo, West

☆ Migratory species are in a shocking state of decline, landmark UN report shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Angela Dewan | Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Migratory species include some of the most iconic animals on the planet, like elephants. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty ImagesBaby Leatherback sea turtles head to the sea at sunset on Indonesia's Lhoknga Beach in February 2023. Those activities also fragment migratory species’ pathways, sometimes making it impossible for them to complete their journeys. Around 58% of the monitored locations recognized as important for migratory species are facing what the CMS says are unsustainable levels of pressure from humans. “Migratory species have a special role in nature as they don’t recognize political boundaries,” said Anurag Agrawal, professor of environmental studies at Cornell University.

Persons: They’ve, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Chaideer Mahyuddin, Didier Brandelet, Kristin Laidre, Amy Fraenkel, Scott Gibbons, Zheng Yuanjian, Carl de Souza, Sergio Pitamitz, Wolfgang Kaehler, ” Inger Andersen, ”, Anurag Agrawal Organizations: CNN, UN, Convention, Animals, Getty, McCormick, United Nations Environment, Cornell University Locations: Asia, Alaska, Kimana, Kenya, AFP, Beach, Greenland, Elsehul, South Georgia, longline, Chicago, Lake Michigan, Xinhua, Mongolia, UN, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

☆ Why do people keep uninsured money in banks?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Somehow, the same issue plaguing last year’s failed banks is back in focus at the latest bank in crisis: massive loads of uninsured deposits. To be sure, the risk isn’t anywhere close to that of the banks that failed last year: About 94% of domestic deposits at Silicon Valley Bank were uninsured and 90% of Signature Bank’s deposits were uninsured, according to the Federal Reserve. The money is guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which is funded by fees paid by major US banks. About 40% of all money in the US, or $8 trillion, sitting in banks is uninsured, said Lawrence White, a professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business. “It also risks violating the FDIC’s statutory requirement to resolve failed banks and protect insured depositors in the least expensive way possible.”Sometimes, he said, rescuing those uninsured depositors may be the cheapest way to protect insured depositors at banks.

Persons: NYCB, Brian Snyder, James Lee, David Wessel, Lawrence White, University’s, Banks, Ting Shen, ”, Kori Suzuki, JPMorgan Chase, Michael Ohlrogge, Maxine Waters, Elizabeth Warren, “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York Community Bancorp, Investors, Silicon Valley Bank, Federal Reserve, Bank, Xinhua, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, FDIC, Reuters, Brookings Institution, International Monetary Fund, University’s Stern School of Business, US Treasury, Bloomberg, Getty, Securities and Exchange Commission, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, JPMorgan, Bank of America, Citigroup, First Republic Bank, New York University’s School of Law, Financial Services, Banking Committee, CBS, Bank Coalition of America Locations: New York, Silicon, United States, New, ”, Washington , DC, San Francisco , California, Sen

☆ Women in China Aren't Having Kids. 3 of Them Told Us Why.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Read previewWhen it comes to settling down and having children, 26-year-old Bihan Chen views the choice in simple terms: It's a bad investment. Falling birth rates saw China's population shrank in 2022 for the first time since the early 1960s. "When it comes to having children, I don't have a shred of desire, only fear. AdvertisementOthers cited the loss of personal freedom as a key obstacle to having children. Having children remains a deeply personal decision that can't be evaluated by finances alone.

Persons: —, Chen, Emily Huang, Huang, Xi Jinping, Xi, Zhu Zheng, haven't, Dudley L, Poston Jr, Rich, we've, Lanjie Wang, Wang, Collin Meisel, might've, Yi Organizations: Service, Business, Women's Congress, Getty, Texas, M University, Weibo, University of Denver's, Center for International Futures, Publishing, University of Wisconsin, Project Syndicate Locations: China, Beijing, Weibo, Xinhua, Japan, Korea, America, Madison

He replaced Yi Huiman, who presided over months of turmoil as share markets slumped, losing trillions of dollars of value. Earlier this week, the CSRC said that it was cracking down on insider trading, market manipulation and other crimes and would protect small investors. A state investment fund pledged to step up buying of exchange-traded funds and regulators also imposed limits on short-selling. Prolonged weakness in the property market and share prices has dented consumer confidence, hindering that transition. Given the selloff in the stock market, “many could be tempted to take their loss and walk away in the slightest recovery.

Persons: Wu Qing, Yi Huiman, Swissquote, Wu, “, Xi Jinping, ” Ozkardeskaya Organizations: Shanghai Stock Exchange, Communist Party, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Xinhua News Agency, Investors, ”, Authorities Locations: BANGKOK, Wu, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing

☆ Social media chatter helps draw 3 million tourists in 3 days to a frigid city in northern China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Yulia Jiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"He said he was happy to see so many southern visitors in Harbin." The plump, bundled-up appearance of Harbin tourists, many hailing from southern China, led to locals calling them "Little Southern Taters" — a nickname that was widely discussed on Chinese social media. Tourists new nickname for Harbin — the shorter "Rbin" — has swept across Chinese social media too, representing their newfound affection for the city. A larger plan to use social media to publicize Harbin and the larger province of Heilongjiang may be at play. He Jing, head of Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, told China Central Television that his department has been focusing on using social media "since the beginning of 2023."

Persons: Yuying Zhang, Zhang, Zhang Zhang, Zhang Tao, she's, —, Andrea Verdelli, Jing, Jiang, Yuetong Jiang Organizations: Harbin Cultural Broadcasting, Tourism Bureau, CNBC, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Street, Bloomberg, Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Culture, China Central Television, Harbin Locations: Harbin, China, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Tourism, Changchun, China's Jilin

☆ China appoints 'Broker Butcher' Wu Qing as new chairman of securities regulator
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJNG, CHINA - NOVEMBER 13: Illuminated skyscrapers stand at the central business district at sunset on November 13, 2023 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Gao Zehong/VCG via Getty Images)China's cabinet on Wednesday appointed markets veteran Wu Qing as chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, state media Xinhua said, replacing Yi Huiman to navigate Beijing through the turbulent waters of a market downturn. Nicknamed the "Broker Butcher" for his crackdown on traders, Wu was previously the acting vice mayor of China's major financial hub Shanghai and served nearly two years as chairman of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. His predecessor Yi took the mantle of the CRSC in 2019, tasked to undertake a spate of sweeping capital markets reforms. Wu's appointment comes on the footsteps of the CSRC over the past two weeks announcing new supportive policies to stabilize and revitalize China's stricken stock market, which has become a casualty of volatility in the property sector and widespread investor pessimism over the outlook for the world's second-largest economy.

Persons: Gao Zehong, Wu Qing, Yi Huiman, Wu, Yi Organizations: Getty, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Xinhua, Shanghai Stock Exchange Locations: BEIJNG, CHINA, Beijing, China, Shanghai

☆ China expresses concerns to U.S. over tariffs, sanctions in Beijing talks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

China's financial officials expressed concerns to visiting U.S. Treasury officials about U.S. tariffs, investment restrictions and sanctions set up to "suppress" Chinese companies, the Chinese finance ministry said on Tuesday. China's financial officials expressed concerns to visiting U.S. Treasury officials about U.S. tariffs, investment restrictions and sanctions set up to "suppress" Chinese companies, the Chinese finance ministry said on Tuesday. Both sides had "in-depth, frank, pragmatic and constructive" exchanges on their macroeconomic situation and policy, and developing countries' debt, among other issues in the meetings this week in Beijing, the ministry said. They agreed to continue to maintain communications, it added. In a separate meeting, China's vice premier He Lifeng also met with U.S. Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs Jay Shambaugh on Tuesday, China's official Xinhua news agency reported.

Persons: Lifeng, International Affairs Jay Shambaugh Organizations: U.S, Treasury, International Affairs, China's, Xinhua Locations: Beijing

☆ China replaces head of securities regulator after stock market meltdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Laura He | Wayne Chang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has replaced the head of its securities regulator, as public anger over the meltdown in the stock market grows. Wu, 59, was also the chairman of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange in mainland China, between 2016 and 2018. Chinese stock markets have stabilised this week but they had a dire 2023 and have been the world’s worst performer this year. By Monday, about $6.1 trillion in market value had been wiped from the Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets since their recent peaks in February 2021. On Wednesday, mainland Chinese stock markets logged a second straight day of gains.

Persons: Wu Qing, Yi Huiman, Wu, “, Evergrande Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Xinhua, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Embassy, Central Huijin Investment, Shenzhen Component Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, United States

BEIJING (AP) — China replaced the head of its market watchdog Wednesday in an apparent attempt to restore confidence in financial markets following a prolonged downturn. Official media said Wu Qing, a former chairman of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, would replace Yi Huiman as chairman and Communist Party chief of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Chinese stocks have been trading near 5-year lows despite various measures to stabilize the markets. Earlier this week, the CSRC said it was cracking down on insider trading, market manipulation and other crimes and would protect small investors. The appointment came during a week that has seen wild swings in share prices and despair among investors who have seen their investments evaporate.

Persons: Wu Qing, Yi Huiman, Wu, “, Butcher ”, Swissquote, ” Ozkardeskaya, Yi, monthslong Organizations: BEIJING, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Communist Party, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Xinhua News Agency Locations: China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Beijing

☆ A Goldilocks economy could be coming, but a key piece of the puzzle remains elusive
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at why investors are eyeing an even better outcome for the market than a soft landing . The big storyMarket's sweet spotPiotr PowietrzynskiForget about a soft landing, some market watchers want something just right. For months, investors hoped the Fed's tightening policy would culminate in a soft landing: lowering inflation while avoiding a full-blown recession. But why settle for a soft landing when you can get it all? Liu Jie/Xinhua via Getty ImagesA Goldilocks economy still hinges on the Fed cutting rates, which has proved fleeting for investors.

Persons: —, hasn't, Piotr Powietrzynski Forget, Matthew Fox, Solita, Marcelli, Jerome Powell, Liu Jie, we'll, Powell, Banks, Kenneth Rogoff, Jensen Huang, Rick Wilking, Goldman, Goldman Sachs, Savita Subramanian, Gen, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Fintechs, VCs, Sam Altman, Altman, didn't, Scott Winters, Alyssa Powell, Travis Kelce, Experian, It's, EVs, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb Organizations: Service, Apple, Business, Getty, Bank of America, Harvard, Nvidia, CES, Kansas City Chiefs, US Treasury, New York Times, UBS, FAA, Boeing, Max Locations: Americas, Washington ,, Xinhua, Jensen, Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S, China, New York, London

☆ Mortgage rates jump back over 7% as stronger economic data rolls in
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Mortgage rates have been on a wild ride since the summer, briefly crossing to a 20-year high of 8% in October. Mortgage rates do not follow the Fed directly, but they follow loosely the yield on the 10-year Treasury, which is heavily influenced by the central bank's impression of the economy at any given time. As mortgage rates fell over the past two months, buyers seemed to be returning to the market. Mortgage applications to purchase a home had been rising steadily, but fell back in the last few weeks, as mortgage rates edged higher. "If we see more data like last Friday's jobs report, rates will have a hard time getting back below 7%.

Persons: Li Jianguo, Matthew Graham, Michael Fratantoni, Graham Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Getty, Mortgage News, Federal, Treasury, Fed, Mortgage, Association . Mortgage, CNBC PRO Locations: Millbrae , California, United States, Xinhua

☆ Red Sea tensions risk significantly higher inflation, OECD warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

watch nowElevated shipping costs as a result of ongoing tensions in the Red Sea could impede the global fight against inflation, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said Monday. The Paris-based group estimates that the recent 100% rise in seaborne freight rates could increase import price inflation across its 38 member countries by nearly 5 percentage points if they persist. That could add 0.4 percentage points to overall price rises after a year, the OECD said in its latest economic outlook. Clare Lombardelli, chief economist at the OECD, told CNBC on Monday that a sustained increase in inflation as a result of the latest crisis is a risk, but not the group's base case. "It's something we're watching closely ... we have seen an increase in shipping prices, if that were to continue for for an extended period, then that would feed through into consumer price inflation.

Persons: Ahmed Gomaa, Clare Lombardelli, Lombardelli, Tiemen Meester, it's, Meester Organizations: Organisation for Economic Co, Development, OECD, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, CNBC Locations: Paris, Suez, Europe, Asia, Iran, Yemen, United States, Ismailia Province, Egypt, Good, Africa, Dubai

☆ Mark Zuckerberg has had quite the week
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In today's big story, we're recapping earnings from three tech giants: Meta, Apple, and Amazon. The big storyMeta's mega-winMark Zuckerberg is smiling: Its profit margins are much improved — and that's partly because of a shrinking headcount. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images ; Isabel Fernandez-Pujol/ BIMark Zuckerberg has had quite the week. It lost $16 billion on the Metaverse in 2023, and Zuckerberg indicated more pain for years to come.) Following the success of Meta's "Year of Efficiency," Zuckerberg said that the company may never go back to large-scale hiring.

Persons: —, Phil doesn't, Zuck, Mark Zuckerberg, Josh Edelson, Isabel Fernandez, Sarah Jackson, Meta, Zuckerberg, BI's Peter Kafka, Peter, Richard Drew, Wall Street's, Rufus, BI's Eugene Kim, Amazon, Aaron Schwartz, Diem, Dan DeFrancesco, Hallam Bullock, Jordan Parker Erb Organizations: Service, Apple, Business, Getty, Pujol, Meta, Amazon, Xinhua, Microsoft, Chevron Corporation, ExxonMobil, Cigna Locations: AFP, China, New York, London

☆ China executes couple for murder of toddlers that shocked the nation
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has executed a couple for throwing two toddlers out of a high-rise apartment window, in a case that provoked nationwide outrage. Ye saw Zhang’s two children as an “obstacle” to them getting married and a “burden on their future life together,” the court heard. She repeatedly urged Zhang to kill the toddlers and threatened to break up with him if he didn’t. His study shows that Chinese people who express political views online tend to show greater support for the death penalty. Wednesday’s execution also brought into focus the main method used in China to carry out the death penalty: lethal injection.

Persons: Zhang Bo, Ye Chengchen, Ye, Zhang, “, ”, John Zhuang Liu, It’s, Kenneth Smith Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Xinhua, Weibo, University of Hong Kong, CNN, Amnesty Locations: Hong Kong, China, Chongqing, Weibo, Alabama

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) assists Palestinians in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank, as well as in Gaza. Some $440 million of funding has been suspended, according to UNRWA, which has 13,000 staff in Gaza. The agency said the severe humanitarian needs of Palestinians in Gaza would likely deteriorate further if the funding is not restored. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday called for UNRWA to be dismantled and replaced by other aid groups. And we have discovered in the last few weeks that UNRWA officials were complicit in the massacre,” he said.

Persons: –, Philippe Lazzarini, Khan Younis, Thomas White, ” White, ”, Khaled Omar, Lazzarini, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, “, Yoav Hallant Organizations: CNN, United Nations, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, West Bank, UNRWA Affairs, Training Center, UNRWA, Getty, ”, International Court of Justice, Israel, UN Locations: Gaza, Israel, East, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, United States, Rafah, Amman, Xinhua, South Africa, Israeli, The Hague

☆ China ousts top rocket scientist from key political body in widening military purge
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has expelled a leading rocket scientist from its top political advisory body, the latest sign of a widening purge in the Chinese military’s missile force and aerospace contractors. Wang, 54, until recently led the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT), a prestigious state-run institute known as the birthplace of China’s aerospace industry. Wang spent his nearly three-decades-long career designing rockets at the CALT, a subsidiary of the main contractor of the Chinese space program, the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. In December, three aerospace executives, including the chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation – were stripped of their roles in the CPPCC. In July, the Rocket Force abruptly replaced its two leaders, the commander and the political commissar, with no explanation.

Persons: Wang Xiaojun, Wang, Xi Jinping, Xi, ” Wang, Qian Xuesen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Political Consultative, Xinhua, China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, China Aerospace Science, Technology Corporation, People’s Liberation Army, Rocket Force, Communist Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, “, Hunan

☆ A change to this one clause could be the most important part of the Fed meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jeff Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"We heard at the December meeting that no official expected to raise rates further as a baseline outcome. And we've heard that Fed officials are beginning the discussions around rate cuts," Matthew Luzzetti, Deutsche Bank's chief U.S. economist, said in an interview. Now, there's considerably more uncertainty as multiple statements from Fed officials point to a more cautious approach about declaring victory over inflation. The inflation rate judged by core personal consumption expenditures prices, a U.S. Department of Commerce measure that the Fed favors, indicates the real funds rate to be around 2.4%. Fed officials figure the long-run real rate to be closer to 0.5%.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Liu Jie, we've, Matthew Luzzetti, Luzzetti, He'll, Bill English Organizations: Federal, Washington , D.C, Xinhua News Agency, Getty, Federal Reserve, Deutsche Bank, Bank's, Fed, U.S . Department of Commerce, Yale School of Management Locations: Washington ,

☆ China plans to merge 3 bad debt asset managers with its largest sovereign wealth fund, state media reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The plan to put China Cinda Asset Management , China Orient Asset Management and China Great Wall Asset Management under the jurisdiction of one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds by assets will happen "in the near future," Xinhua added, without providing any further details. Beijing's actions follow a stock market rout amid burgeoning financial risks stemming from a debt crisis in its real estate sector. Last week, China's central bank announced its largest cut in mandatory cash reserves for banks since 2021. The property market slumped after Beijing cracked down on developers' high reliance on debt for growth in 2020, weighing on consumer growth and broader growth in the world's second-largest economy. China's real estate troubles are closely intertwined with local government finances since they typically relied on land sales to developers for a significant portion of revenue.

Persons: Beijing's Organizations: China Investment Corp, Xinhua, Asset Management, China Orient Asset Management, Wall Asset Management Locations: China, Xinhua, Beijing

☆ Paris Couture Week: The most eye-catching looks from the haute couture shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Fiona Sinclair-Scott | Nicole Mowbray | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —How do you begin to talk about something as seemingly frivolous as haute couture fashion against the tumult of today? The bi-annual couture shows in Paris are a showcase of bold ideas from the best fashion designers working today, crafted by some of the world’s most skilled artisans. Practical pockets, but make it Chanel coutureA delicate sheer pocket seen at Chanel's haute couture show. ValentinoWhile there was razzamatazz on the front row courtesy of Stormi Webster, Kylie Jenner’s five-year-old daughter, who made her front row debut, Valentino’s couture collection incarnation was relatively understated. Raw elegance at Maison MargielaJohn Galliano's couture collection for Maison Margiela was fantastical and theatrical, fittingly taking place under the first full moon of the year.

Persons: Chanel, ”, Schiaparelli, Giovanni Giannoni, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya, Pat McGrath, Pascal Le Segretain, Margaret Qualley, Pieter Mulier, Valentino, Stormi Webster, Kylie Jenner’s, Gaurav Gupta Gaurav, Thomas Samson, Guarav Gupta, Kim Jones, Karl Lagerfeld's, Peter White, Karl Lagerfeld’s, Victor Virgile, Maison, Maison Margiela John Galliano's, Maison Margiela, Gao Jing, John Galliano, Gwendoline Christie, John Galliano's, Martin Margiela, Gwendoline Christie sauntering Organizations: CNN, Paris Couture, Spring, Petit Palais, Maison Margiela, Zuma Press Locations: Paris, Chanel, AFP, Xinhua

☆ China says US military makes region more dangerous after Navy ship sails through Taiwan Strait
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —China accused the United States military of “abusing international law” and continuing a pattern of “dangerous provocations” in East Asia Thursday, after a US Navy destroyer made the service’s first transit of the Taiwan Strait of 2024. The USS John Finn (DDG 113) conducts routine operations in the East China Sea, on January 24, 2024. John Finn’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle,” Greene said. While the John Finn’s transit of the Taiwan Strait was the first of 2024, US warships and warplanes regularly travel through and over the waterway. Aquilino told a defense forum in Hawaii that he expected a show of force from China against Taiwan in the wake of the election result.

Persons: ”, John Finn, Xi Jinping, reunify, Justin Stack, Cmdr, Meagan Greene, John Finn’s, ” Greene, John, Collin Koh, Washington, Wu Qian, “, John Aquilino, Aquilino, ” Aquilino, ” Koh Organizations: South Korea CNN, United, US Navy, Democratic Progressive Party, Party, Taiwan, Taiwan Relations, U.S . Navy US Navy 7th Fleet, Coast Guard, Rajaratnam, of International Studies, China’s Defense Ministry, Xinhua, China -, Defense, Pacific Command, Communist Party, Clinton, CNN, Pacific Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, United States, East Asia, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan, Beijing, East China, State, States, Singapore, China - U.S, U.S, Hawaii, Honolulu ., Washington

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