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☆ Goldman Sachs strategist discusses China's equity outlook for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailGoldman Sachs strategist discusses China's equity outlook for 2024Kinger Lau, chief China equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, discusses the firm's underweight position on China property and banks, and its overweight position on tech and services.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Kinger Lau Locations: China

☆ Ahead of Indonesia’s elections, critics slam Jokowi for nepotism and ‘dynastic politics’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nyshka Chandran | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Ulet Ifansasti | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesA year before stepping down as Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo is facing serious allegations of establishing a political dynasty through nepotism. The constitutional court, which was helmed by the president's brother-in-law Anwar Usman at that time, was widely criticized for changing the law, which enabled Jokowi's son to contest the election. Kompas Research and DevelopmentAccording to a poll in mid-October by Kompas Research and Development, 60.7% of respondents consider the participation of Jokowi's eldest son Gibran in the election as a form of dynastic politics. Son-in-law, Bobby Nasution Adding to Jokowi's political chessboard is also his son-in-law Bobby Nasution, the current mayor of Medan. The 'Jokowi effect'Analysts are now expecting what they call "a Jokowi effect" for the PSI and Gerindra parties.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Ulet Ifansasti, Joko, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Prabowo Subianto, Gibran, Anwar Usman, Anwar, Kompas, Kaesang, Kaesang Pangarep, Bobby Nasution, Julia Lau, – Yusof, Jokowi's, Andi Widjajanto, Andi, Jokowi, Vedi Hadiz, Iriana Widodo, Gibran Rakbuming Raka, Lau, bode, Julia Lau ISEAS – Yusof Ishak, didn't, ISEAS – Yusof Organizations: Getty, Defence, Gerindra Party, Solo, Research, Kompas Research, Development, Indonesia Solidarity Party, PSI, Indonesia, Reuters, National Resilience Agency, Asia Institute, University of Melbourne, Afp, CNBC, Asia, Central Java, Indonesian Democratic Party of Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Ulet, Medan, Jokowi, Central Java, Afp, Southeast Asia, Ganjar

☆ Philippines bans American traveler for life, accusing him of writing profanities on immigration form
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Philippines has banned for life an American traveler whom it accused of writing “profane words” on a digital immigration form and being rude to immigration officers. Anthony Laurence, 34, was refused entry and put on a blacklist permanently following his allegedly “disrespectful” behavior, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement last week. Laurence, who told CNN he is a property investor who lives in the country intermittently, disputes the immigration authority’s account. He did not respond to CNN’s questions about what he wrote on the form and whether it included any profanities. But he said, “I immediately apologized and the immigration officer wasn’t interested.”“I even hand-wrote an apology to the immigration officer which he wasn’t interested in as well,” Laurence added.

Persons: Anthony Laurence, Norman Tansingco, Laurence, ”, Tansingco, “, wasn’t, ” “, ” Laurence Organizations: CNN, Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Ninoy Aquino, Airport, Air, Cebu – Locations: Philippines, Manila, Bangkok, Thailand, Air Asia, Philippine, Cebu

☆ Tencent shrugged off a new US AI chip ban, saying it's stockpiled enough Nvidia processors for 'a couple more generations'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Tencent president Martin Lau said on Wednesday the company is holding a vast stockpile of chips. Its inventory is enough to last its AI development a "couple more generations," Lau said. The US issued a new AI chip export ban to China in October, sparking fears that Tencent could be hit. But Lau also said Tencent will eventually have to pivot toward China-made AI chips. "Going forward, we have to figure out ways to make usage of our AI chips more efficient," Lau said.

Persons: Martin Lau, Lau, —, Tencent, Biden Organizations: US, Service, Nvidia, Baidu, Financial Times Locations: China

☆ Tencent says it stockpiled Nvidia AI chips but seeks Chinese replacements
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Tencent rushed to build up “one of the largest inventories of AI chips in China” before US export restrictions took hold, an executive said Wednesday. It is one of the chipmaker’s advanced AI chips designed for use in data centers, the physical facilities used to store troves of electronic information. In late October, Nvidia disclosed that the just-announced restrictions had come into effect “immediately,” weeks earlier than scheduled. “Going forward, we will have to figure out ways to make … the usage of our AI chips more efficient,” namely by working to retain most of the company’s high-performance chips for training the model, he added. The bot was developed specifically for corporate users, allowing them to catch up on meetings by viewing automated summaries or put together documents more efficiently, Lau told analysts.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Tencent, Martin Lau, ”, ” Lau, Tencent, “, Biden, Kai, Fu Lee, Lau Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nvidia, Bloomberg, Sinovation Ventures, Huawei, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation Locations: China, Hong Kong, China ”, United States, Beijing, Washington, Shenzhen

☆ Tencent says has Nvidia AI chip stockpile but seeking to buy domestic
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Tencent has enough Nvidia chips to continue development of its "Hunyuan" AI model "for at least a couple more generations", so the curbs will not affect near-term AI capability, Lau said. "We will have to figure out ways to make the usage of our AI chips more efficient," he said. "And we will also try to look for domestic sources for these training chips." "We feel that the chip ban does actually affect our ability to resell (use of) these AI chips through our cloud services," he said. Nvidia plans to market new China-bound AI chips, with an announcement on Nov. 16 at the earliest, industry newsletter SemiAnalysis reported last week.

Persons: Aly, Martin Lau, Lau, We'll, SemiAnalysis, Josh Ye, Jane Merriman, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Tencent Holdings, HK, Nvidia, Huawei Technologies, Reuters, Baidu, Huawei, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, U.S

☆ It's increasingly unlikely Amazon will ever catch up to Walmart in online groceries
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Alex Bitter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon is continuing to lose market share to Walmart in the online grocery space, per new data. Amazon has spent 2023 reevaluating its grocery strategy, particularly for its Amazon Fresh stores. AdvertisementAfter years of trying to get shoppers to order groceries online, Amazon is still losing ground to Walmart. Walmart's grocery sales online have eclipsed Amazon's by increasingly wide margins since 2019, according to data from Insider Intelligence. By the end of 2024, Walmart will have 26.9% of online grocery sales, while Amazon will have just 18.5%, according to the data.

Persons: —, Brian Lau, Andy Jassy, Amazon, Lau Organizations: Walmart, Intelligence, Amazon, Service, Insider Intelligence, Business, Insider Inc, Whole Foods, Axios, Foods, Bloomberg Businessweek, Bloomberg

☆ Tencent to seek domestic AI training chip supplies after latest US curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Josh Ye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We will have to figure out ways to make the usage of our AI chips more efficient," he said, "And we will also try to look for domestic source for these training chips." Lau's comments come as Chinese companies with AI ambitions are scrambling to cope with the United States' ever-expanding AI chip export restrictions to China. But now a growing number of Chinese tech firms are turning to homegrown chipmakers like Huawei Technologies [RIC:RIC:HWT.UL] for AI chip supply. As such, the new chip curbs will not affect the development of Tencent's AI capability in the near term. The Nvidia H800 chips were AI chips Nvidia developed specifically for China late last year in response to an earlier US curb on AI chips to China.

Persons: Aly, Martin Lau, Baidu, Lau, Tencent, We'll, Josh Ye, Toby Chopra, Jane Merriman Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, REUTERS, Tencent Holdings, HK, Nvidia, Huawei Technologies, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, United States

☆ Iceland declares state of emergency, evacuates over threat of volcanic eruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Teele Rebane | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Iceland has declared a state of emergency, with police officials urging residents to evacuate the coastal town of Grindavík following an intense wave of earthquakes in the southwest of the country linked to a possible volcanic eruption. In statements Friday, Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency said a magma tunnel that is forming could reach Grindavík. Its progress is being closely monitored,” the Civil Protection Agency said. But we also want to reiterate that this is not an emergency evacuation, there is plenty of time to prepare, secure things and drive out of town calmly,” the Civil Protection Agency said. We faced that together, we will face this together and we will not lose heart,” the Civil Protection Agency added.

Organizations: CNN, Iceland, Icelandic Meteorological, Civil Protection Agency, North Locations: Grindavík, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, Iceland’s, Reykjavik, North America, Eurasia

☆ Snake pizza on the menu in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —American company Pizza Hut has teamed up with a century-old Hong Kong restaurant to put a modern spin on a traditional dish, or more simply, snake on a pizza. Some diners in Hong Kong and around southern China have long enjoyed snake stew, especially during the colder months. Hong Kong resident Mabel Sieh, a self-described foodie who loves to try different pizzas, said, “I think it’s scary. And Hong Kong’s Pizza Hut locations have other plans for new menu items. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut in Japan created a pizza topped with Tonkotsu ramen (pork bone soup ramen).

Persons: they’ve, Ser Wong, –, Mabel Sieh, foodie, “, Rachel Wong, Karen Chan, ”, Dominos, boba Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Hong, CNN, Pizza Locations: Hong Kong, China, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Thailand, Central Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan

☆ China’s ‘most inconvenient convenience store’ hangs off the side of a cliff
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A tiny wooden shed perched on a steep cliff in a scenic southern Chinese region has earned the nickname of “most inconvenient convenience store” in the country. It’s also home to Haohan Qiao, or “Brave Men’s Bridge,” which, upon opening in 2015, was China’s first glass-bottomed bridge. The convenience store is located along an 800-meter via ferrata route. It returned to the spotlight this month following recent reports on state media, captivating Chinese social media users. “The most inconvenient convenience store,” a popular military blogger, who has more than 889,400 fans, quipped on Chinese social network Weibo last week.

Persons: It’s, Haohan Qiao, –, Huizhou, Shiniuzhai, James Cameron’s, ” Organizations: CNN, China Daily, Weibo, China Daily . Staff, Beijing Youth Daily Locations: Chinese, Hunan, ”, China

☆ Gay Games: Sporting and cultural LGBTQ event faces a conservative backlash in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I have no idea how it managed to reach Hong Kong,” he said. Gay Games organizers hit back at the opposition from Hong Kong lawmakers and have vowed the event will be a proud, non-political, celebration of inclusivity. A spokesman did not answer the first part and replied on the latter: “Any activity that takes place in Hong Kong must not contravene any laws of Hong Kong. One of Hong Kong leader John Lee’s top advisers and also a lawmaker, Ip has been one of the few Hong Kong politicians vocally supportive of the games. Meanwhile Chan Kwan-on, one of the Gay Games ambassadors in Hong Kong, urged critics not to jump to conclusions and come see for themselves.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, –, ”, Junius Ho, Peter Shiu, Lisa Lam, Alan Lang, Hong, Tyrone Siu, Xi Jinping, Hong Kong, ” Wayne Morgan, ‘, Lang, Regina Ip, John Lee’s, Ip, Chan Kwan, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Gay Games, Wednesday, firebrand, Beijing, CNN, Reuters, Gay, Valencia, Hong, Gay Sports and Movement Association, China’s Communist Party, ’ Gay Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Mexican, Guadalajara, Beijing, China, Hong, Australian, Taiwan

☆ Yemen's Houthi rebels are using the Israel-Hamas war to show off their growing arsenal, and US warships are in the crossfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US Defense Department later confirmed that the Houthi missiles had a range of no less than 2,000 kilometers, or about 1,240 miles. AdvertisementAdvertisementUSS Carney fires on Houthi missiles and drones over the Red Sea on October 19. A third incident, on October 31, saw Israel's advanced Arrow air-defense system intercept a Houthi ballistic missile and an Israeli F-35 stealth fighter shoot down a cruise missile. Houthi ballistic missiles "have long proven" inaccurate, and the group likely doesn't have a very large stockpile of advanced long-range missiles and drones, Bey added. Sailors in USS Carney's Combat Information Center during an operation to defeat Houthi missiles and drones on October 19.

Persons: Yemen's Houthi, —, Carney, MCS2 Aaron Lau, Houthis, Khaled Abdullah The, Matthew Bey, RANE, Khaled Abdullah, Bey, wasn't, Mason, ANDREW CABALLERO, REYNOLDS, Bryan Clark, Clark, Paul Iddon Organizations: US Navy, Service, Hamas, US Defense Department, REUTERS, Saudi, Ballistic, Houthi, Tomahawk, Patriot, Getty, Hudson Institute Locations: Israel, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Taba, Nuweiba, Israeli, Gaza, Sanaa, Iran, Tehran, Riyadh, Yemeni, Mandeb

☆ Live updates: Israel admits airstrike on ambulance in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Chris Lau | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Aliza Samuel, 24, returned to the site of the deadly Nova festival attack by Hamas militants, in southern Israel, on October 7. But Samuel and her friend didn’t want to take any chances, so they started running. Panicking, the pair sprinted across the open farmland surrounding the festival site and dived into a ditch behind a line of large trees. Others were also hiding behind the trees, “trying not to breathe,” she said. “I saw Hamas take a bunch of people and went to their commander, and asked if to kill them or to take them,” she said.

Persons: Aliza Samuel, Rebecca Wright, Samuel, didn’t, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Nova Music, Hamas Locations: Israel, Re’im, Gaza, Panicking

☆ This city never slept. Now with China tightening its grip, is the party over?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

China’s message at the time was that even if change was coming to Hong Kong, its spirit of “anything goes” would be staying put. People gather outside a restaurant on a near-empty street in the Soho area of Hong Kong. Officials say they were “fluorescent.”A Hong Kong government spokesman told CNN this week that the activities were “well-received by local residents and tourists”. Under Hong Kong’s pandemic restrictions, live music was all but banned in small venues for more than 650 days. Months before the virus emerged, China had been tightening its grip on Hong Kong in response to pro-democracy protests that had spread throughout the city.

Persons: Hong Kong, Boy George, Grace Jones, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, China’s, Deng Xiaoping, China –, Deng, Deng’s, –, Noemi Cassanelli, Hong, John Lee, “, ”, Gary Ng, Covid, Benson Wong, Wong, Lan Kwai Fong, Cassanelli, Hong Kongers, Kongers, Ng, Yan Wai, ” Yan, hasn’t, Billy H.C, Kwok, Richard Feldman, Feldman, Becky Lam, ” Lam, “ They’ll, ” Feldman, Kwai Fong, Marco Chan, Chan, ” Allan Zeman, Allan Zeman, Lan, CNN “ They’ll, they’ll, Lam, Hong Kong’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, East, West, Britain, Occupy Central, National Security, Michelin, CNN, Hong, Tai Hang, National, Hong Kong Wine, HKSAR, Immigration Department, Chinese University of Hong, Soho Association, Netflix, “, Lan Kwai Fong Group, Hong Kong, Shady Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, Hong, Soho, Japan, Singapore, Tai, Thailand, Lan Kwai, expats, Britain, Canada, Australia, Natixis, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lan, revelers, California, Central, Shenzhen, Hong Kong’s Central, Bangkok, Shanghai, Taipei, Petticoat

☆ K-pop: Blackpink’s Lisa face suspension on Weibo
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

On Wednesday afternoon, the Thai star’s verified account @lalalalisa_m was no longer searchable on Weibo, one of China’s most popular social media networks. The suspension of her account comes after Lisa performed five shows at the Crazy Horse Paris in September. Why did she choose the Crazy Horse show?,” one Weibo user wrote. “She was still very high-profile on Weibo after attending the Crazy Horse show,” the user wrote. “I may have also criticized her for the Crazy Horse show.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, @lalalalisa_m, Lisa, – Jisoo, Jennie, Rose –, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Lisa –, Lisa’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Weibo Community Management, Horse, CNN, YG Entertainment, Weibo Locations: Hong Kong, Weibo, Paris, Horse Paris, Asia, China

☆ Israel's missile ships are joining US combat power in the Red Sea as more Iran-backed militants fire weapons its way
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Israel said it deployed missile ships to the Red Sea, where they'll join US Navy vessels in the area. AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter a series of attacks from Iran-backed militants, Israel has deployed several ships capable of launching missiles to the Red Sea, where they will join US Navy vessels already there. The IDF said "all aerial threats were intercepted outside of Israeli territory," with some of them downed by Israeli fighter jets around the Red Sea to the south. Israel Defense ForcesIsraeli Navy ship in the Red Sea. US Missile Defense AgencyThe Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) transits the Suez Canal, Oct. 18.

Persons: Israel, they'll, —, Yemen's, Carney, Arleigh Burke, we've, Pat Ryder, Aaron Lau, Hezbollah —, Lloyd Austin Organizations: US Navy, Service, Navy, Israel Defense Forces, US, IDF, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces Israeli Navy, IAF, Aerial Defense, Pentagon, Air Force, Interceptor, US Missile Defense Agency, Hezbollah, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, U.S Locations: Yemen, Israel, Iran, Israeli, Israel's, Eilat, Red Sea, Red, Suez, Saudi, Tehran, Iraq, Syria

☆ Chinese authorities crack down on dogs after a Rottweiler mauls a toddler. But some say they’ve gone too far
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —A shocking video of a Rottweiler mauling a 2-year-old girl in China has prompted a crackdown by local authorities on stray dogs that some argue has now gone too far. Since then, local authorities in a raft of provinces including Shandong, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, Anhui have stepped up law enforcement, some more heavy-handed than others. Stray dogs are the main targets, but pets who are unleashed can also be subject to control measures. The country is home to 40 million stray dogs, according to the 2021 China Pet Industry white paper. In defense of stray dogsThis is not the first time Chinese authorities have been accused of being heavy-handed with animals.

Persons: netizens, ”, Kevin Frayer, Xiao Huang, Shepherd, Cya Liu, “, Bo Ai Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Authorities, Weibo, Industry, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bo Ai Animal Protection Locations: Hong Kong, China, Chongzhou, China’s, Sichuan, Shandong, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, Anhui, Beijing, Yanzhou, Chongqing, Weibo, Shanghai, Guangyuan

☆ How Posters of Kidnapped Israelis Ignited a Firestorm on American Sidewalks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Katherine Rosman | More About Katherine Rosman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

“As a matter of free speech, people who oppose the ‘kidnapped’ posters could erect posters of their own, expressing their views,” Professor Zick said. “I don’t think they’re ripping down posters of ‘Dan Smith Will Teach You Guitar,’” he said. The posters “don’t include Palestinians, so are they concerned about missing people?” he asked. At the corner of Broadway and West 96th Street last weekend, half-ripped posters were covered with small fliers that said: “Why are the posters of kidnapped Israelis being ripped down? With friends and relatives, he has gone door-to-door through the towns of Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence and Woodmere and asked store and restaurant owners to display the “kidnapped” posters inside windows that face the street.

Persons: Nitzan Mintz, ”, “ I’m, Tim Zick, Zick, Mike Mishkin, Mishkin, “ I’ve, they’re, ‘ Dan Smith, ’ ”, Israel, Miles Grant, New York “, “, Grant, ” “, ’ ” Ms, Mintz, Dede Bandaid, Rafael Shimunov, you’re, listserv, Rabbi Amichai Lau, Lavie, Councilwoman Julie Menin, “ Ella Elyakim, Ms, Menin, Guy Tsadik, Woodmere, ” Mr, Tsadik, Alain Delaquérière Organizations: Boston University, The New, William & Mary Law School, Broadway, Twitter, West, Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation Locations: Gaza, Boston, South Florida, Queens, The New York, Manhattan, Williamsburg, Va, New York, Israel, Brooklyn, York, Palestinian, Israeli, Broadway, Long, Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, New Jersey, Florida

☆ Hong Kong property sales could surge after easing measures — but don't expect prices to pop
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Vivian Kam | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Residential buildings in Hong Kong, China on October 23, 2023. He doesn't expect the move to reverse downward trend in Hong Kong's property prices as interest rates remain high. He expects the policy address will give property prices "a chance to stabilize" and for volumes to pick up. HIBOR refers to the interest rate for interbank borrowing, while prime rate is determined by individual banks. Risks for Hong Kong property

Persons: Vernon Yuen, John Lee, Ken Yeung, Buggle Lau, KC Mok, Mok, Kitty Yiu, Yiu, Eugene Law, Law Organizations: Getty, Hong, Midland Realty, CNBC, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, China, Hong

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea’s Constitutional Court has upheld a law banning same-sex relations in the military, citing a threat to combat-readiness, in a judgment decried by the local LGBTQ community as a disappointing setback. “Even if sexual acts are consensual” they risk “causing serious harm to preserving the fighting power of the nation’s armed forces, if committed (while on duty),” it added. But the group said it was encouraged by the comments of the dissenting judges, who warned against deeming sexual acts between same-sex couples as abnormal. The dissenting judges said there is “no reason” to differentiate between consensual sexual acts by same-sex soldiers and heterosexual ones. With a mandatory military service imposed on almost all able-bodied men between the age of 18 and 28, South Korea has one of the world’s largest active armies.

Persons: ”, Boram Jang, scuffles, Hong Joon, pyo Organizations: South Korea CNN, Constitutional, Amnesty, National Health Insurance Service, South Korea’s, Seoul Queer Culture, Christian, Daegu Queer Culture Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Asia, South, Daegu

☆ Hong Kong is paying new parents $2,500 for having a baby but that won’t even pay a month’s rent
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong is to pay new parents more than $2,500 for having a baby in a bid to boost its flagging birth rate, but many residents in the notoriously expensive city say it’s barely enough to cover a month’s rent. In Japan (birth rate 1.3), parents get a monthly allowance of $107 dollars for each newborn until two years of age. For each child between three years old and senior high, parents get $66.7 per month. Hong Kong subsidizes education from kindergarten to senior high, but nursery, the year or two before kindergarten, is not usually covered. “The government should be thinking about how to convince [us] that Hong Kong is conducive to child-raising,” Lau said.

Persons: John Lee Ka, chiu, ” Lee, ”, Ken Lau, Kristy Chan, ” Lau, Kim Yeung, ” Yeung, Paul Yip Siu, Hong, ” Yip, Sze Lai, Sze, Lau, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, HK, CNN, Midland Realty, fai, University of Hong, Society for Community Organization Locations: Hong Kong, East Asia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, University of Hong Kong

Wilson appeared in the Sha Tin Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was granted bail, according to public broadcaster RTHK. Wilson said in the statement that when the plane landed in Hong Kong, he “immediately went to customs officials and called their attention to the issue.”CNN has reached out to Portland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration and the US Consulate in Hong Kong for comment. Wilson faces his next court hearing in Hong Kong on October 30, RTHK reported. Gun violence is very rare in Hong Kong, unlike in the United States where firearms are now the No. Wilson noted in his statement that his pistol was registered in Washington state and that he holds a concealed pistol license.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Jeff Wilson, Wilson, Stephen J, ” Wilson, “, ”, Hong Kong’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Hong Kong International Airport, RTHK, Republican, ” CNN, Portland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Transportation Security Administration, US Consulate, Hong Kong’s Customs, Excise Department, Police Locations: Hong Kong, American, Washington, Sha Tin, Southeast Asia, San Francisco, Portland, United States

☆ 1,000 cats rescued in China from being slaughtered and sold as pork, mutton
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Police in China have rescued some 1,000 cats from a truck en route to a slaughterhouse, state-affiliated media has reported, busting part of an illicit trade that fraudulently sells feline meat as pork or mutton and sparking fresh food safety concerns. The report did not mention whether any arrests had been made, nor whether the cats were strays or pets. CNN has reached out to the Zhangjiagang police and the animal shelter for comment. Images published by The Paper showed rescued cats at the shelter resting in larger cages. Animal rights and environment groups have long campaigned against the use of animal parts – including from many endangered species – for traditional medicine.

Persons: Gong Jian, Han Jiali Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Police, Police, CNN, Local, corgi Locations: Hong Kong, China, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Chinese, Yulin, Guangxi

Hong Kong CNN —China and the Philippines on Sunday accused each other of causing collisions in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the latest in a string of maritime confrontations between the two countries that have heightened regional tensions. In a statement Sunday, the Chinese Coast Guard accused the Philippines of violating international marine law and threatening the navigation safety of Chinese ships. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a landmark maritime dispute, which concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. In September, the Philippine Coast Guard released video of a Filipino diver cutting a Chinese-installed floating barrier in a disputed area of the waterway that had prevented Filipino boats from entering. It came just days after after the Philippine Coast Guard accused China’s maritime militia of turning vast patches of coral near the Palawan island chain into a bleached and broken wasteland.

Persons: Thomas, “, Thomas Shoal Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Coast Guard, National Task Force, West Philippine, BRP, Chinese Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard Locations: Hong Kong, China, Philippines, South China, Philippine, Ayungin, Spratly, BRP Sierra Madre, Manila, Beijing, China’s, The Hague, Palawan

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