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☆ Opinion | I’m the Mayor of Dearborn, Mich., and My City Feels Betrayed
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Abdullah H. Hammoud | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Dearborn doesn’t sleep,” I recently told an out-of-state visitor to my hometown. It was a reference to the celebratory time of Ramadan, when our city breaks bread together for iftar at sunset and suhoor, before sunrise, each day. Dearborn does not sleep. Our entire city is haunted by the images, videos and stories streaming out of Gaza. Many of us lived it, and still bear the scars of life under occupation and apartheid.

Persons: “, ” Organizations: “ Dearborn Locations: Dearborn, Gaza

☆ Barclays jumps 8.6% after announcing major strategic overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON — Barclays on Tuesday reported a fourth-quarter net loss of £111 million ($139.8 million) as the British lender announced an extensive strategic overhaul, boosting its shares more than 8.6% through the day. For the full year, net attributable profit came to £4.27 billion, down from £5.023 billion in 2022 and below a consensus forecast of £4.59 billion. Credit impairment charges were £552 million, up from £498 million in the fourth quarter of 2022. The business will now be divided into five operating divisions, separating the corporate and investment bank to form: Barclays U.K., Barclays U.K. Corporate Bank, Barclays Private Bank and Wealth Management, Barclays Investment Bank and Barclays U.S. Consumer Bank. Barclays is targeting total gross cost savings of £2 billion and an RoTE of greater than 12% by 2026.

Persons: C.S, Venkatakrishnan, Mariva Rivas, DBRS Morningstar, Rivas Organizations: Citigroup Inc, State Street Corp, Barclays Plc, HSBC Holdings Plc, LONDON, Barclays, Reuters, Momentum, Corporate Bank, Barclays Private Bank, Wealth Management, Barclays Investment Bank, Barclays U.S . Consumer Bank, CNBC, U.S Locations: Wharf

☆ Singapore trims 2023 economic growth to 1.1% as manufacturing sector contracts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE — Singapore lowered its full-year growth for 2023, as official data on Thursday showed the economy grew 1.1% last year compared to an earlier estimate of 1.2%. Growth in 2023 was largely driven by "other services industries" which grew by 3.9% year-on-year. Information and communications, as well as transportation and storage sectors also drove growth,"All sectors except for the manufacturing sector recorded full-year expansions," the Ministry of Trade and Industry reported. Last year, the manufacturing sector — a key driver of the economy — contracted by 4.3%, reversing from the 2.7% growth in 2022. The construction sector grew by 5.2%, an improvement from the 4.6% expansion in 2022.

Organizations: Singapore Central Business District, ArtScience Museum, Ministry of Trade, Industry Locations: Sands, Marina Bay, Singapore, SINGAPORE — Singapore

☆ Palestinian women describe terror of 12-mile escape on foot from Gaza City
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Abeer Salman | Mohammad Al Sawalhi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City has been devastated by Israel’s intense bombing campaign, launched in response to Hamas’ deadly attacks in Israel on October 7. “We heard their screams because they were beating them up.”Al-Ashkar said that Israeli forces had placed explosives in the buildings where people had been sheltering. They didn’t let us take anything,” al-Ashkar said, referring to their journey from the building in Gaza City. Al-Ashkar said that the walk had been longer than eight hours and said that Israeli forces were firing towards them as they walked. “All the streets are destroyed.”Al-Arbeel provided a very similar account of their interaction with Israeli forces.

Persons: Abu Eskandar, Abdallah Wael, Wael, Israa Hassan Ahmed al, Ashkar, Mohammad Al Sawalhi, Volker Türk, Rimal, Khader Al Za’anoun, ”, ” Hoda Harb, “, Walla Abdul Rahim Shabaan, Arbeel, Mina, Balah, doesn’t, ‘, ’, who’s, “ didn’t, ” Harb, ’ ” Harb, Tala, ” Tala Harb, CNN Tala, Fadeel El Helw, Harb’s, couldn’t Organizations: CNN, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, CNN UN, Human, WAFA, of Health, Israeli, ” CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Deir Al, CNN CNN Locations: Gaza, Al, Aqsa, Deir Al, Gaza City, Rimal, Israel, Rafah, Palestine, Deir

☆ The mayor of Minneapolis joked that remote work turns you into a 'loser' with a 'nasty cat blanket'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Sawdah Bhaimiya | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Minneapolis' mayor Jacob Frey took aim at remote workers during an address, saying WFHe turns you into a loser. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementMinneapolis mayor Jacob Frey made a jibe about remote workers being 'losers' while touting the benefits of visiting the city's business district. "When they stay home, sitting on their couch with their nasty cat blanket, diddling on their laptop. And as remote work continues to persist, the demand for traditional office spaces is also decreasing.

Persons: Jacob Frey, WFHe, —, Frey, It's, We're Organizations: Service, Minneapolis Downtown Council's, Minneapolis, Fox, CBS Locations: Minneapolis

☆ ‘Zombie Offices’ Spell Trouble for Some Banks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Jeanna Smialek | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Graceful art-deco buildings towering above Chicago’s key business district report occupancy rates as low as 17 percent. Office buildings remain stuck in a slow-burning crisis. Prices on even higher-quality office properties have tumbled by 35 percent from their early 2022 peak, based on data from the real estate analytics firm Green Street. Those forces have put the banks that hold a big chunk of America’s commercial real estate debt in the hot seat — and analysts and even regulators have said that the reckoning has yet to fully take hold. It is whether they will prove to be a slow bleed or a panic-inducing wave.

Organizations: Trepp, Washington , D.C, Employees Locations: Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington ,

☆ 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

☆ Rising crime risks turning Oakland into a ‘ghost town.’ Newsom is sending in reinforcements
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The aim: to crack down on crime, including vehicle theft, retail theft and violent crime. The Oakland NAACP branch demanded elected leaders take action to ensure public safety, especially in predominately Black neighborhoods. Denny’s is shuttering its only location in Oakland after more than 54 years, citing public safety concerns. Motor vehicle theft increased by 29% and, since 2019, motor vehicle theft has shot upward by 105%, the study found. This variation “suggests local factors are becoming more significant.”There’s no easy answer to explaining why crime has increased in Oakland.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, ” Newsom, Nigel Jones isn’t, Jones, restauranter, there’s, ”, Shari Godinez, it’ll, ” It’s, Justin Sullivan, Kaiser Permenente, Kaiser, Clorox, Adam Gelb, Cindy Varela, “, she’s, Sheng Thao, Nigel Jones, “ I’m, Veronica Miracle, Jack Hannah, Kevin Flower, Jeffrey Kopp, Elizabeth Joseph Organizations: New, New York CNN, Oakland, San, Patrol, Kingston, Oakland NAACP, CNN, Criminal, Police, Zona Latina, . Solutions Police, Business Locations: New York, America’s, Oakland, San Francisco Chronicle, California, United States, Jamaica, Calabash, ”, Black, downtowns, Koreatown Northgate, American, “

☆ Asia markets poised for mixed open as they kickstart holiday-shortened week; central bank decisions in focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jade Gao | Afp | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific stocks were set for a mixed open as they kickstart a holiday-shortened trading week for some markets. Investors will watch out for key central bank decisions this week, especially from the Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday and the Reserve Bank of India on Thursday. On Monday, private surveys on service sector activity will be released from China and Hong Kong. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index is also set to fall, with futures at 15,412 compared to the HSI's close of 15,533.56. China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong will all see shortened trading weeks as the Lunar New Year approaches.

Persons: Jade Gao, Hong Organizations: Central Business District, Afp, Getty, Investors, Reserve Bank of Australia, Reserve Bank of India, Nikkei Locations: Beijing, Asia, Pacific, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Chicago, Osaka, Taiwan, South Korea

The annual ritual is a point of local pride even as Eagle Pass draws wide attention for a showdown between Texas Gov. A few hours later, about 200 advocates were in a festive mood in the nearby town of Quemado ahead of a “Take Back Our Border” rally on Saturday. U.S. Border Patrol agents are denied entry. Eagle Pass, with about 30,000 people, has become a major corridor for illegal crossings in recent years, making it a target for Abbott's enforcement. The Biden administration told the Supreme Court that “Texas has effectively prevented Border Patrol from monitoring the border” at Shelby Park.

Persons: Rolando Salinas, Greg Abbott, Biden, ” Salinas, Connie Hinton, Valeria Wheeler, Alejandro Mayorkas, Mayorkas, Del, Jorge Barrera, ” Barrera, Ken Paxton, “, Donald Trump, MAGA, ” Julio Vasquez, Iglesia Luterana, ” Alicia Garcia, Shelby, ”, Garcia, Elliot Spagat, Paul Weber Organizations: PASS, ” Cowboys, San Antonio Stock, Texas Gov, La Cabalgata Internacional, Border, Republican, Democratic White House, Border Patrol, . Homeland, Associated Press, Visitors, of Commerce, ”, Texas National Guard, Supreme, Patrol, Eagle Locations: Texas, Eagle, Piedras Negras, Mexico, United States, La Cabalgata Internacional La Grande, Quemado, Austin , Texas, Virginia, Rio Grande, U.S, Del Rio , Texas, Del Rio, Tucson , Arizona, San Diego, California, Shelby Park, “ Texas, Shelby, Iglesia Luterana San Lucas

☆ Asia markets poised for a stronger start as Wall Street rebounds from Fed day sell-off
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In a photo taken on November 4, 2019 a subway train crosses a rail bridge over the Han river, before the skyline of the Yeouido business district of Seoul. Asia-Pacific markets were set to rise early Friday in Asia, mirroring Wall Street's rebound from the sell-off earlier this week after Chairman Jerome Powell indicated the U.S. Federal Reserve was unlikely to cut rates in March. In Asia, investors will wrap up the week with January inflation figures out of South Korea and producer prices from Australia. South Korea's consumer price index grew 2.8% year on year, slightly below the 2.9% expected in a Reuters poll of economists.

Persons: Jerome Powell Organizations: U.S . Federal Locations: Seoul . Asia, Pacific, Asia, South Korea, Australia

Today, remote work has declined from its levels of the pandemic but is still – depending on how broadly one measures it – three to four times as prevalent as it was in 2019. And remote work tends to be dominated by higher-educated employees, with nearly 40% of those holding advanced degrees hybrid or fully remote. In early January, LinkedIn’s Global State of Remote and Hybrid Work study found that at its peak, in April of 2022, the share of job postings that offered remote work reached 20.3%. The more enduring feature of remote work is now hybrid.”There are also substantial differences within industry and among countries. “You’re moving to where the housing is cheaper.”Not that it is all rosy when it comes to remote work.

Persons: ”, Kory Kantenga, Sandra Moran, Julia Pollak, Nick Bunker, Layla O’Kane, Lightcast, Morris Davis, Andra Ghent, Jesse Gregory, ” Goldman Sachs, Boyer, Brad Case, “ That’s, Software’s Moran Organizations: LinkedIn, Workforce Software, LinkedIn’s Global, Labor Statistics, North, “, Oxford University Press, Economic Studies, Rutgers University, Andra, University of Utah, University of Wisconsin, Ivory, Google, NASA, Middleburg Communities, Green Mountain Locations: U.S, Israel, Ghent, Real Estate, Santa Ana , California, LLC.org . New York, Huntsville , Alabama, Huntsville, Glendale , Arizona, Phoenix, Arlington , Texas, Dallas, Middleburg, San Francisco, New York, Charlotte, Raleigh , North Carolina, Orlando, Jacksonville , Florida, Houston, San Antonio , Texas, Florida, Texas, Vermont, Green Mountain State, California

☆ 'It's really bad': China strategist warns of deflation and rock-bottom consumer confidence
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

BEIJNG, CHINA - NOVEMBER 13: Illuminated skyscrapers stand at the central business district at sunset on November 13, 2023 in Beijing, China. The economy here is bad, it's pretty ... it's really bad. In December, depressed prices for pork — which makes up around a fifth of China's CPI basket — heralded the possible advent of deflation. The decision comes amid infectious expectations among investment banks that China's economy will expand at a more sluggish pace in 2024. Despite this, the International Monetary Fund in November outlined a forecast for China's growth to slow in 2024 to just 4.6%.

Persons: Gao Zehong, it's, I've, Shaun Rein, CNBC's, Rein, Li Qiang, Li Organizations: Getty, China Market Research Group, CPI, People's Bank of China, Economic, International Monetary Fund Locations: BEIJNG, CHINA, Beijing, China, Davos, Switzerland

☆ SocGen issues 10-mln-euro digital green bond on a public blockchain
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A logo of French bank Societe Generale is seen on the company's skyscraper at the financial and business district of La Defense near Paris, France September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Societe Generale , France's third-biggest listed bank, said on Monday it issued its first so-called digital green bond on a public blockchain, as the lender seeks to build expertise in crypto services. AXA IM made the investment in the digital green bond by acquiring and then spending 5 million euros worth of SocGen's euro-denominated stablecoin, EUR CoinVertible (EURCV). SocGen's bond issuance, made on the Ethereum public blockchain, follows the launch last week by the European Investment Bank (EIB) of its second euro-denominated digital bond on a private blockchain, in partnership with Goldman Sachs Bank Europe, Santander and SocGen. SocGen's digital green bond issuance was made via its crypto unit, Forge.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Generali, SocGen, Blockchain, Mathieu Rosemain, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Societe Generale, La Defense, REUTERS, Rights, AXA Investment, AXA, Generali Investments, European Investment Bank, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe, SocGen, Thomson Locations: La, Paris, France, Santander

☆ Wordline shares surge on report Credit Agricole could take stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of payments company Worldline is seen at the company headquarters in the financial and business district of La Defense, near Paris, France, October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Shares in Worldline (WLN.PA) surged almost 12% on Friday after a media report said Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) was considering acquiring a stake in the French payment processing company. Other French financial institutions could also look at playing a role in Worldline's future, Bloomberg added, citing some of the people. Italian payments company Nexi (NEXII.MI) last month confirmed its guidance while the Netherlands' Adyen (ADYEN.AS) reassured the market with its "more realistic" medium-term guidance. Worldline shares have fallen more than 58% this year.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Piotr Lipinski, Sharon Singleton, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: La Defense, REUTERS, Rights, Bloomberg, Credit, Thomson Locations: La, Paris, France, Worldline, Germany, cybercrime, Netherlands

The logo of payments company Worldline is seen at the company headquarters in the financial and business district of La Defense, near Paris, France, October 26, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON/PARIS, Dec 1 (Reuters) - French digital payments company Worldline (WLN.PA) is considering options including asset sales as part of efforts to reassure shareholders after a sharp drop in its share price, three people familiar with the matter said. Another said assets sales may come from its software businesses but suggested these might not be sizeable enough to revitalise its shares. Other French banks could also partner with Credit Agricole for a role in Worldline's future, this person added. Bloomberg first reported Credit Agricole's interest in buying a stake in Worldline, prompting its shares to soar by almost 12% earlier on Friday.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Worldline, Adyen, Tommaso Nieddu, Amy, Jo Crowley, Mathieu Rosemain, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Diana Mandiá Álvarez, Gaëlle Sheehan, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: La Defense, REUTERS, Worldline's Mobility, Worldline, Credit Agricole SA, Credit Agricole, Bloomberg, Credit, Thomson Locations: La, Paris, France, PARIS, Germany, appeasing, Worldline's, U.S, Worldline

☆ Wanda Properties says extension on $600 mln bond repayment gains early consent from holders
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A sign of Wanda is pictured at the headquarters of Dalian Wanda Group, in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD), China August 8, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Chinese real estate firm Wanda Properties International [RIC:RIC:WPIC.UL], a unit of conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group, said on Thursday it had received early consent approval from bondholders to extend the repayment on a $600 million guaranteed bond due 2024. The regulatory filing in Hong Kong said those voting in favour of the extension represented more than 99.3% of the aggregate principal amount of the bonds. Wanda Properties is still seeking final approval to extend the payment date of its $600 million 7.25% note to Dec. 29, 2024 from the current maturity date of Jan. 29, at a meeting of bondholders on Dec. 13 this year. Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wanda, Tingshu Wang, Wanda Properties, Liz Lee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Dalian Wanda Group, Beijing's, Business, REUTERS, Rights, RIC, Dalian Wanda, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Hong Kong, Beijing

NEW YORK (AP) — Most drivers would pay $15 to enter Manhattan’s central business district under a plan released by New York officials Thursday. Officials say that in addition to funding needed transit improvements, congestion pricing will result in improved air quality and reduced traffic. Opponents include taxi drivers, who had pushed for a full exemption. Phil Murphy criticized the traffic mobility board's proposal after some news organizations reported on it Wednesday ahead of its official release. The MTA board will vote on the plan after a series of public hearings scheduled for February 2024.

Persons: ” Carl Weisbrod, Bhairavi Desai, Phil Murphy, George Washington, Murphy Organizations: New, Revenue, Traffic, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Government, MTA, New York City Taxi Workers Alliance, ” New, ” New Jersey Gov, George Washington Bridge Locations: New Jersey, United States, Manhattan, London, Stockholm, New York City, U.S, New York, ”, ” New Jersey

☆ Australia Oct inflation slows more than expected as goods prices fall
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

For the month, CPI fell 0.3%, driven by declines in petrol, rent and holiday travel. A closely watched measure of core inflation, the trimmed mean, rose an annual 5.3% in October, easing from 5.4% the previous month. "It's hard to find bad news in Australia's October inflation print," said Harry Murphy Cruise, an economist at Moody’s Analytics. Prices for tradable goods fell 1.6% in October from a month earlier. It also left the door open to further tightening if necessary to meet its annual inflation target of 2-3%.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Harry Murphy Cruise, Jonathan Kearns, Wayne Cole, Stella Qiu, Lincoln, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., Australian Bureau, Statistics, Moody’s, Reserve Bank Board, Reserve Bank of Australia, Challenger, Thomson Locations: Australia

☆ How China's Shein became a fast-fashion giant
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A Shein logo is pictured at the company's office in the central business district of Singapore, October 18, 2022. REUTERS/Chen Lin/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 28 (Reuters) - China-founded fashion company Shein has confidentially filed to go public in the United States, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Monday. Shein says the approach has helped it consistently achieve average unsold inventory rates in the low single digits. At that valuation, Shein would still trail Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing's (9983.T) $80 billion valuation and Zara owner Inditex's (ITX.MC) $126 billion. Shein moved its headquarters to Singapore from Nanjing, capital of China's eastern Jiangsu province, around late 2021, a shift that analysts said helps the firm circumvent China's tough new rules on overseas listings.

Persons: Chen Lin, Shein, Chris Xu, PDD, Inditex's, Miyoung Kim, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, WHO, Shein, Walmart, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, United States, Europe, Asia, U.S, Swedish, Zara, Nanjing, China's, Jiangsu

☆ Australia Oct retail sales slip as consumers hold off for Black Friday sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Women shop for clothes on a store in a shopping mall in Sydney's central business district (CBD) Australia, February 5, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Australian retail sales unexpectedly slipped in October as consumers cut back on everything but food, though analysts believe many were merely saving some money to splurge on Black Friday sales that took place this month. Retail sales fell 0.2% from September to A$35.77 billion, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) showed on Tuesday. "This is a pattern we have seen develop in recent years as Black Friday sales grow in popularity." Data from e-commerce firm Shopify also showed that point-of-sale sales made by its merchants in Australia during this year's Black Friday sales grew 27% from a year ago.

Persons: Daniel Munoz, Ben Dorber, Shopify, that's, Marcel Thieliant, Michele Bullock, Stella Qiu, Tom Hogue, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Black, ANZ, Asia Pacific, Capital Economics, Reserve Bank of Australia, Thomson Locations: Australia

The Singapore-based company has not determined the size of the deal or the valuation at IPO. The online fast-fashion retailer, which manufactures most of its merchandise in China, faces criticism that Uyghur forced labor is used to make its low-priced apparel and home goods. Earlier this year, the congresswoman led a bipartisan call for the SEC to halt Shein’s IPO until it verifies that the company does not use forced labor within its supply chain. Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the company has previously told Reuters it has “zero tolerance for forced labor” and has no contract manufacturers in Xinjiang. Shein's IPO is "going to be raising issues (for the SEC) that may later be applied across the board to all China-based or China-related companies that are going public," Penick said.

Persons: Chen Lin, Shein confidentially, Shein, Jennifer Wexton, Megan Penick, Robinson, Penick, Republican Sen, Marco Rubio, ”, Rubio, Chris Smith, Smith, ByteDance's TikTok, Group's, Katherine Masters, Arriana, Michael Martina, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Bloomberg, Beijing, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Capitol Hill, Republican, Congressional, Commission, Oritain, U.S, Thomson Locations: Singapore, China, New York, U.S, Beijing, Washington, China's Xinjiang, Xinjiang, India

☆ China's central bank pledges to support domestic demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 27 (Reuters) - China's central bank on Monday said it would fend off systemic risks to the economy and use forceful and targeted monetary policy to better support domestic demand. "Prudent monetary policy should be precise and forceful, with greater emphasis on cross-cyclical and countercyclical adjustments, enriching the monetary policy toolbox," the bank said. The bank added it would "further unblock the monetary policy transmission mechanism", enhance the stability of financial support for the real economy and keep prices "reasonably stable". China's economy is gaining momentum, but it faces challenges such as an imbalanced global economic recovery and an unstable foundation for domestic economic recovery, the central bank said. "Supply and demand dynamics in the property market have greatly changed," the central bank said.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Liangping Gao, Kevin Yao, Ella Cao, Ethan Wang, Bernard Orr, Toby Chopra, Christina Fincher Organizations: Central Business District, National People's Congress, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING

☆ An afternoon at the popular Chinese coffee chain that should be making Starbucks very, very nervous
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A Chinese coffee chain called Luckin Coffee recently overtook Starbucks in China, beating the international coffee chain in sales in the second quarter of 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. Founded in Beijing in 2017, Luckin Coffee has staged a dramatic turn-around. AdvertisementCurious to see whether Luckin could live up to its Starbucks-killer hype, I headed over to a Luckin Coffee in Singapore's central Chinatown neighborhood on Thursday afternoon. Luckin Coffee and Starbucks did not respond to my requests for comment for this story. Ordering my coffee was machine-like: technical, efficient and impersonalA typical ordering experience on the Luckin Coffee app means you'll never have to interact with a human.

Persons: —, Luckin, Kai Xiang Teo, he'd, weren't, Amanda, didn't dally, Esther, I've, Jeremy Organizations: Service, Starbucks, Wall Street, Google, Singapore Locations: China, Beijing, China . Singapore, Singapore's, Chinatown, Luckin, Singapore, Hong Kong

☆ Australia regulator targets 'carbon neutral' claims in greenwashing crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Office buildings are seen amidst the easing of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in the Central Business District of Sydney, Australia, June 3, 2020. ASIC has filed three lawsuits alleging unfounded environmental claims by two pension funds and a personal finance platform, and named so-called greenwashing as one of its priority enforcement areas for 2024. she added.,The regulator would hold investment distribution platforms accountable for the products they sell. So far, the regulator had issued interim orders to stop the distribution of some 80 investment products which it considered inappropriate. "For a number of those stop orders, the issuers of the products did step back, they've corrected ... and they've reissued it," she said.

Persons: Loren Elliott, Sarah Court, they've, Byron Kaye, Ayushman, Subhranshu Sahu, Miral Organizations: Central Business District of, REUTERS, Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Thomson Locations: Central Business District of Sydney, Australia, Melbourne, Sydney

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