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☆ Dentons: Global law firm splits off Dacheng, its China business
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Dentons, the world’s biggest law firm by number of employees, is distancing itself from its business in China in response to intensifying regulation in the country. The firm notified clients of the move this week in an internal memo shared with CNN Tuesday. Dentons said that starting this month, its China unit would operate as a standalone legal entity. Its China business operates independently under its Chinese name Hongshan. Leaders of the Silicon Valley firm said at the time that it had “become increasingly complex to run a decentralized global investment business.”

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Dentons, Dentons, ” Dentons, Bain, “ who’s, ” Michael Hart, “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Hong, Dentons, Group, American Chamber of Commerce, British, of Commerce, European Union Chamber of Commerce, Sequoia Locations: Hong Kong, China, Dentons, ”, Shanghai, New York, Beijing, Europe, United States, India, Southeast Asia

☆ HSBC executive apologizes after calling the UK 'weak' for following US lead over China
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —A top executive at HSBC has apologized after reportedly calling the UK government “weak” over its dealings with China, in another sign of the political tightrope the British bank has to walk. He also said the British government would often concur with US demands, calling it “weak,” the publication reported. Several conservative UK lawmakers seized the occasion Monday to criticize Cowper-Coles and HSBC (HSBC). Meanwhile, Hong Kong and mainland China combined made up nearly 40% of profit, according to its most recent financial report. In 2020, HSBC’s top executive in Asia publicly declared support for a controversial national security law that Beijing introduced in Hong Kong, inviting fierce backlash from Western government officials and investors.

Persons: Sherard Cowper, Cowper, Coles, Washington, Britain shouldn’t, —, “, “ Sherard, Tim Loughton, ”, Iain Duncan Smith, Sir Sherard Cowper, Stephen Chung, Noel Quinn Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, HSBC, Bloomberg, CNN, Cowper, China - Britain Business Council, Chatham, Coles, Former Tory, Getty, Hong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Coles, United Kingdom, United States, London, British, Beijing, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Chatham, Asia, Xinhua, East

New York/Hong Kong CNN —Yellow Corp., a US trucking company that was once dominant in its field, has filed for bankruptcy as it winds down the 99-year-old business. The Nashville-based logistics provider announced Sunday it had filed for Chapter 11 relief in the US Bankruptcy Court for the district of Delaware. “It is with profound disappointment that Yellow announces that it is closing after nearly 100 years in business,” CEO Darren Hawkins said in a statement. “Today, it is not common for someone to work at one company for 20, 30, or even 40 years, yet many at Yellow did. The filing comes more than a week after the trucking company halted operations, putting 30,000 people out of work.

Persons: Darren Hawkins, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Yellow Corp, Court, Teamsters Locations: New York, Hong Kong, Nashville, Delaware, “

☆ What Japanese potato chip maker Calbee learned from a potato shortage
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —What happens when Asia’s biggest potato chip maker runs out of potatoes? Pepsi (PEP) controls about 24% of the region’s potato chip market, while Calbee has about 12%, according to data from Euromonitor International. But the area was ravaged by drought in 2021, and the firm’s domestic potato supply fell by 8% and 14% in the 2021 and 2022 fiscal years, respectively. Calbee tried to make up for the shortfall by importing more from the United States, which normally accounts for the remaining 10% of its potato supply. “Staying available on shelves is essential, not just to compete with other potato chip brands but also with other types of snacks.”

Persons: ”, Makoto Ehara, Noriko Hayashi, Calbee, Ehara, it’s, Keiei Sho, Sho, Emil Fazira Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Bloomberg, Getty, Pepsi, Euromonitor, United Nations, Food, Agriculture Organization, FAO, Walmart Locations: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Asia, Brazil, Ukraine, Japan, Hokkaido, United States, Pacific Northwest, ”, America, Europe, China, Indonesia, Asia Pacific

☆ Bud Light controversy cost AB InBev about $395 million in lost US sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —The world’s largest brewer is counting the costs of being swept into a controversy over Bud Light in the United States. AB InBev said Thursday that US revenue fell 10% in the second quarter as sales of its top brand slumped. AB InBev responded by saying it took its responsibilities to investors seriously. “Most consumers surveyed are favorable towards the Bud Light brand and approximately 80% are favorable or neutral,” the drinks maker added. Like many other businesses, AB InBev has rolled out cost-cutting measures this year, as it seeks to defend its global lead.

Persons: Bud Light, Bud, influencer Dylan Mulvaney, Kid Rock, Ron DeSantis, ”, Mulvaney, Michel Doukeris, Stella Artois, — Juliana Liu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, InBev, Revenue, Florida, Bud Light, Modelo Locations: Hong Kong, United States, North America, Canada, Belgian, Corona, China, Brussels, South Africa, Colombia

☆ HSBC raises outlook as profits nearly double
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —HSBC’s profits have soared as it continues to cut costs and cash in on high interest rates around the world. The strong performance led the London-based lender to raise its outlook for the rest of the year, citing the current consensus for global interest rates. HSBC (HSBC) now projects a return on tangible equity — a key measure of profitability — “in the mid-teens for 2023 and 2024, which excludes the impact of material acquisitions and disposals,” it said. On Monday, a UK regulator said banks needed to do more to share the benefits of high interest rates with their customers as critics point out that many savings rates haven’t kept up with interest rates. “The pace and scale at which firms pass through higher interest rates to savers needs to improve … especially at a time of higher cost of living,” said the agency.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Noel Quinn, haven’t, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Revenue, HSBC, Silicon, Bank, Financial, Authority, Barclays, NatWest Locations: Hong Kong, London, London’s, Canary

☆ Heineken’s profit hit by drop in beer sales in Asia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —People in Asia aren’t guzzling as much beer as they used to. Best known for its eponymous beer label, Heineken is home to more than 300 brands, including Tiger beer, Amstel Lager and Strongbow cider. Heineken branded beer did continue to see growth in the first half, both overall and within Asia Pacific. The brewer also blamed a drop in premium beer sales on a decline in Russia, a market the company has said it’s trying to exit. Heineken now expects “stable to mid-single-digit” growth in operating profit for the full year, compared with the “mid- to high-single-digit” growth it outlined in April.

Persons: Dolf van den Brink, Strongbow, ” Heineken, Vladimir Putin’s, Heineken, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Asia aren’t, Heineken, Asia Pacific, Lager, Yale, CNN Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Dutch, Asia Pacific, Vietnam, Korean, Nigeria, Amsterdam, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Premarket stocks: Markets and consumers are in an upbeat mood. Here's why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Krystal Hur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Stocks and consumer sentiment are rising in tandem after slumping last year, in another sign of growing optimism that the economy could dodge a recession. Consumer sentiment tracked by the University of Michigan jumped 13% in July, notching its second consecutive month of improvement. That comes after stocks and consumer sentiment tumbled in 2022 as sticky inflation and the Federal Reserve’s aggressive pace of interest rate hikes spurred fears that the US economy would tip into a recession. “Consumer sentiment reached levels consistent with the lows of some past recessions last summer,” wrote Lori Calvasina, head of US equity strategy at RBC Capital Markets. Still, consumer sentiment could decline if more people lose their jobs, paychecks and spending power.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Lori Calvasina, Ed Moya, Moya, Jon Ekoniak, Pete Muntean, Vanessa Yurkevich, Robert Travis, “, ” Read, Michelle Toh, Kan, Read Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, University of Michigan, RBC Capital Markets, OANDA, JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bordeaux Wealth Advisors, UPS, Teamsters, United Parcel Service, Independent Pilots Association, Brotherhood of Teamsters, South, Starbucks Asia Locations: That’s, BlackRock, Wells Fargo, South Korean, Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Philippines

☆ Starbucks teams up with Blackpink, betting on the power of K-pop
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —Starbucks is teaming up with Blackpink, one of the world’s hottest musical acts. The centerpiece of the lineup is the Blackpink Strawberry Choco Cream Frappuccino, a drink that is an aptly hued blend of black and pink. Like other major global brands, Starbucks is leaning into the frenzy around K-pop, hoping that it will translate to a boost in sales. The company has partnered with Blackpink before, launching a collection of merchandise in Thailand two years ago. In 2022, the group was named Time magazine’s Entertainer of the Year, becoming just the second K-pop group to receive the title.

Persons: ”, Blackpink, Emma McIntyre, Kan, they’ve, —, Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé —, Dior, Bang, Hyuk, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Starbucks, Coachella, Blackpink, South, Netflix, BTS, Disney, CNN, HYBE Locations: Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, Philippines, Indio , California, Asia, Thailand, South Korean

☆ Shein and Temu’s battle for US bargain shoppers is getting nasty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Temu has sued Shein in the United States, accusing its rival of violating antitrust laws by trying to monopolize suppliers and engaging in other allegedly illegal behavior. It follows another complaint from Shein, which sued Temu in December for allegedly mobilizing social media influencers to disparage Shein online. Shein has also “forced” exclusivity deals on clothing manufacturers to prevent them from working with Temu, the complaint states. A new ‘war’In its lawsuit filed last week, Temu claimed its recent entry into the United States had rattled Shein. It claimed that Temu had required them to make statements such as: “Shein is not the only cheap option for clothing!

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Temu, Shein, Temu, Tomas Stevens, ”, Michael Felice, ” Temu, influencers, “, Shein “, Felice Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Temu, Consumers, AP, PDD, CNN Locations: Hong Kong, United States, Massachusetts, Shein, Paris, China, Zara, Illinois

☆ Indian tech giant Wipro will invest $1 billion in AI, including training all staff
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Hong Kong CNN —Wipro, one of India’s top providers of software services, wants everyone on staff to know how to use artificial intelligence. The IT giant announced Wednesday it would spend $1 billion on improving its artificial intelligence capabilities over the next three years, including training its entire staff of 250,000 people across 66 countries in the fast-moving technology. Its move comes as generative AI, the technology that underpins popular platforms such as ChatGPT, has taken the world by storm. “With the emergence of generative AI, we expect a fundamental shift up ahead, for all industries,” Wipro CEO Thierry Delaporte said in the statement. Businesses are increasingly using AI to either bolster or replace tasks usually carried out by humans.

Persons: Thierry Delaporte Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Wipro, Wipro Locations: Hong Kong

Hong Kong CNN —A corruption investigation in Singapore has expanded to include Ong Beng Seng, a hotel tycoon best known for bringing the Formula 1 Grand Prix to the wealthy city state. The agency had earlier launched an investigation into a case involving the transport minister, in a rare corruption probe involving a cabinet-level official. Ong’s company said he had posted bail of 100,000 Singapore dollars ($76,000) after being given a notice of arrest. Ong is also the sole shareholder of the Singapore Grand Prix, organizer of the marquee sporting event, his spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Rare caseThe news about Ong emerged just days after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asked the transport minister to take a leave of absence.

Persons: Ong Beng Seng, Ong, “, Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, CPIB, Lee, Eugene Tan, Bernie Ecclestone, Hoch, Lawrence Wong, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hotel Properties, Practices, Transport, Singapore, Prix, CNN, Singapore Management University, Party Locations: Hong Kong, Singapore, Properties, Maldives, Malaysia, London, Bangkok, Abu

☆ Jack Ma loses more than half of his wealth after criticizing Chinese regulators
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Ma, who also co-founded e-commerce firm Alibaba (BABA), has a 9.9% stake in Ant, according to Bloomberg. Chinese regulators pulled the plug on Ant’s $37 billion IPO in November 2020 and ordered the company to restructure its business. In recent years, he has reportedly spent time in Japan, home to his friend and Alibaba investor, SoftBank (SFTBF) CEO Masa Son, and in Hong Kong. In January, Ma gave up control of Ant after it spent two years revamping its business from consumer lending to insurance products at the behest of regulators. Ant and its units were also fined $984 million by Chinese financial regulators last week, for allegedly breaking rules related to consumer protection and corporate governance.

Persons: Jack Ma’s, Ant, Ma, Masa Son, Alibaba Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Bloomberg, Ant Group, CNN Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shanghai, Japan, Tokyo

Bangkok CNN —Burger King is causing a stir in Thailand with its new offering: a burger with no meat and a jaw-dropping amount of cheese. This week, the Thai operator of the fast food chain introduced what it calls the “real cheeseburger,” a bun filled with as many as 20 slices of American cheese. This is for real,” Burger King said in a Sunday social media post. At one Burger King branch in Bangkok on Tuesday, a shift manager was overheard saying the outlet had to stop taking delivery orders so they could have enough stock left for walk-in diners. In Thailand, cheese is especially popular among young customers, and it is common for the dairy product to be sprinkled on all kinds of dishes.

Persons: Bangkok CNN — Burger, ” Burger King, CNN she’d, ”, angus, Alisa Chuengviroj, Burger Organizations: Bangkok CNN, Burger, CNN, Minor International, Dairy Locations: Bangkok, Thailand, Thai, United States

☆ Foxconn pulls out of chipmaking project with India's Verdanta
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Foxconn says it is exiting an ambitious project to help build one of India’s first chip factories. The news was seen as a blow to the Indian government’s plans to turn the country into a tech manufacturing powerhouse, even as officials have sought to counter that view. In a followup statement Tuesday, Foxconn reaffirmed its commitment to invest in Indian chipmaking. The project had been hailed as a milestone in India’s campaign to attract more investment in manufacturing, a sector sorely needed to help ease unemployment. Prime Minister Modi had framed the project as a significant boost for the economy and jobs.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Foxconn, Foxconn, Vedanta, Narendra Modi, “, Young Liu, Ashwini Vaishnaw, ” Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Modi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Vedanta, CNN, Apple, Indian, News18, Micron Locations: Hong Kong, Asia’s, India, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, China, Taipei, Mumbai, Gujarat

☆ EU AI law: Top companies raise alarm over Europe's proposed rules
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In an open letter sent to EU lawmakers Friday, C-suite executives from companies including Siemens (SIEGY), Carrefour (CRERF), Renault (RNLSY) and Airbus (EADSF) raised “serious concerns” about the EU AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI rules. “Such regulation could lead to highly innovative companies moving their activities abroad” and investors withdrawing their capital from European AI, the group wrote. Race to regulateTech experts have increasingly called for greater regulation of AI as it becomes more widely used. The EU rules are the world’s “first ever attempt to enact” legally binding rules that apply to different areas of AI, according to the European Parliament. The Act also outlines transparency requirements for AI systems.

Persons: Yann LeCun, Hermann Hauser, “, France Valeria Mongelli, Sam Altman, ERIC, ”, Dragos, ” Brando Benifei, CNN “ Organizations: Germany CNN, EU, Siemens, Carrefour, Renault, Airbus, Meta, British, ARM, “, Bloomberg, Getty, US, Tech, SAP, Ericsson, CNN Locations: Dortmund, Germany, Europe, Strasbourg, France, United States, China, Romanian

☆ Anglo-French deal could create Europe’s biggest lithium producer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A French minerals company is buying a British startup in a tie-up that could produce enough lithium carbonate to power 500,000 electric vehicles a year. That year is important as Britain is set to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2030, forcing manufacturers to switch to electric vehicles. The combination of the new facility and an existing one in France “would make Imerys the largest integrated lithium producer in Europe, representing more than 20% of the announced European lithium output by 2030,” the company said. They will require that 45% of the value of electric vehicles traded between Britain and the European Union are sourced from one of the two regions in order to avoid costly tariffs. The deposit of lithium being developed there is set to be the largest in the country, according to Imerys.

Persons: that’s, Imerys, France “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, European, Peugeot, Fiat, Industry Locations: Hong Kong, Paris, British, Cornwall, England, Britain, France, Europe, European Union, English

☆ Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy and sues Taiwan's Foxconn
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Lordstown Motors filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday, put itself up for sale, and announced a lawsuit against Foxconn, accusing its biggest shareholder and former partner of setting out to “destroy” its business. Officially called Hon Hai Technology Group, Foxconn is best known for making iPhones for Apple (AAPL), but has recently made moves toward building electric vehicles. In 2021, it purchased an Ohio factory that Lordstown Motors had itself bought from General Motors in 2019. Lordstown Motors headquarters seen in Lordstown, Ohio in 2021. As of December, Lordstown Motors had just a fraction of that headcount, with 260 full-time employees, according to its latest annual report.

Persons: CNN —, Foxconn, Edward Hightower, Lordstown, ” Foxconn, ”, “ Foxconn, Lordstown’s, Dustin Franz, It’s Organizations: CNN, CNN — Lordstown Motors, Foxconn, Hai Technology, Apple, Lordstown Motors, General Motors, Bloomberg, Getty, GM Locations: Delaware, Taipei, Ohio, Lordstown , Ohio, California, North America

☆ HSBC is downsizing its headquarters and leaving London’s Canary Wharf
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —HSBC is halving the size of its global headquarters and moving out of Canary Wharf, a business district built in the abandoned docklands of east London in the 1980s. It follows similar moves by other big companies to get rid of expensive office space in cities around the world. The bank has long been a mainstay of Canary Wharf, where it occupies 1.1 million square feet of office space. HSBC is a key tenant in Canary Wharf, and its planned departure raises questions about whether other companies will also think about leaving. Canary Wharf Group, which manages real estate in the area, declined to comment when asked about the matter Monday.

Persons: San Francisco —, Knight Frank, Noel Quinn, Quinn, Jones Lang, Elizabeth, — Hanna Ziady Organizations: CNN, HSBC, Europe’s, Panorama St, City of, San, Canary, Canary Wharf Group, Lloyds, Standard Chartered, Barclays, BCS, Jones Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Panorama, City, City of London, Asia, Wharf, Canada, San Francisco, Canary, Jones Lang LaSalle .

☆ Why PwC is selling part of its business in Australia for less than $1
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —PwC, one of the world’s big four consulting firms, is selling its government advisory business in Australia for just cents after a scandal left its reputation there in shreds. As a result, PwC will sell its government consultancy practice in Australia to Allegro Funds, a private equity firm, for just 1 Australian dollar ($0.7), PwC said in a statement. The business accounts for about 20% of the firm’s revenue in the country. PwC Australia has taken steps to try to regain trust. The firm also ordered nine partners to go on leave as it carried out an investigation “into who may have shared or misused confidential information,” acting CEO Kristin Stubbins said in an open letter in May.

Persons: CNN —, PwC, Peter Collins, Tom Seymour, Kristin Stubbins, Stubbins, Collins, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Allegro Funds, Australian Treasury, Australian Senate, Police, PwC, Mr Locations: Australia, PwC, PwC Australia

☆ Bill Gates meets privately with Xi Jinping as US-China tensions rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —Bill Gates and Xi Jinping met Friday, marking the Chinese leader’s first known one-on-one meeting with a Western business figure in years. During their meeting, Xi called on Gates to help promote US-China relations, greeting the tech tycoon warmly. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. Pang Xinglei/Xinhua/AlamyThe billionaire’s latest visit comes at a precarious time for US-China relations. Tense timesBut US-China relations have soured recently.

Persons: Bill Gates, Xi Jinping, Gates, Xi, “, ” Xi, I’ve, ” “, Pang Xinglei, ’, Howard Schultz, Gates ’, ”, —, Steven Jiang, Simone McCarthy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Microsoft, Starbucks, Gates Foundation, Covid, Asia Pacific, FBI, National Security Agency, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tesla, JPMorgan, Apple, Samsung, Aramco, Volkswagen Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, China, Taiwan, United States, Asia, US, Guam, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand

☆ AIIB will investigate claims of Chinese Communist Party control after Canada suspends ties
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A Beijing-based multinational lender is launching an internal review after Canada suspended its ties with the regional development bank, citing explosive claims that the Chinese Communist Party had infiltrated the institution. Alexander’s comments Friday were in response to a freeze on activity ordered by Ottawa this week, pending its own review of claims about Chinese government control. She said Canada would discuss the matter with allies and partners, raising the specter of more AIIB members suspending their ties. Alexander told CNN that the AIIB isn’t concerned about losing members, which number 106 including the United Kingdom, Germany and France. “Those are independent people appointed by different constituencies of our members,” Alexander added.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Danny Alexander —, —, Alexander, Bob Pickard, ” Picard, Chrystia Freeland, Pickard, ” Alexander, Picard, Xi Jinping Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Canada, Chinese Communist Party, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, World Bank, UK Treasury, CNN, Communist Party, Canadian Finance, Asian Development Bank Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Ottawa, Canadian, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Washington ,, Japan, United States, China

☆ Harry and Meghan's Spotify podcast deal: Spotify and Archewell Audio have 'mutually agreed' to part ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ AIIB: Canada freezes ties after Bob Pickard's allegations that bank is 'dominated by' Chinese Communist Party
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The allegations were made by Bob Pickard, a Canadian citizen who resigned as global head of communications for the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) earlier this week. But the United Kingdom was first to break ranks, announcing in 2015 that it would apply for membership. Despite initially being seen as a rival to the World Bank, the two institutions have since partnered together, providing joint financing for dozens of projects. In March, AIIB President Jin Liqun met with new World Bank President Ajay Banga in Beijing to discuss deepening ties. Overall, the organization has disclosed $100 billion in capital, with sizable commitments from the United Kingdom, France and Germany and others.

Persons: Bob Pickard, Chrystia Freeland, Pickard, ”, ” Pickard, Xi Jinping, Freeland, “, That’s, Pickard “, China “, Jin Liqun, Ajay Banga Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, World Bank, Chinese Communist Party, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Canadian, Canadian Finance, Twitter, Communist Party, Asian Development Bank, China Canada, AIIB Locations: Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Canada, Beijing, Canadian, China, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ottawa, Washington ,, Japan, United States, Canada, Taiwan, Washington

☆ China cuts medium-term lending rate as youth unemployment hits new record high
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The People’s Bank of China lowered its key policy rate — the medium-term lending rate — from 2.75% to 2.65%. It was the first such rate reduction since last August, and largely expected following a surprise cut by the central bank Tuesday to China’s seven-day reverse repo rate. The trimming of the repo rate — also by 0.1 percentage points to 1.9% — marked its first since August. Urban youth unemployment — already at record levels — hit another new high in May, reaching 20.8%. “They need [economic] growth.”The youth unemployment rate could get even worse when a record 11.6 million college students enter the job market this summer, as estimated by the education ministry earlier this year.

Persons: —, Jamie Dimon, “, ”, Larry Hu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of, Urban, JPMorgan, Bloomberg Locations: Hong Kong, China, People’s Bank of China, China’s

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