DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Vietnam to Hold Arms Fair in December as Its Seeks to Diversify Supplies
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's defence ministry said on Friday it will organise an international arms fair in December, as it seeks to diversify its arms supplies and expand cooperation in arms production and exports. Vietnam held its first international arms fair in December 2022, which attracted 174 exhibitors from 30 countries, including all large arms-making nations except China. The ministry on Friday said "several deals were reached" at that arms fair, without giving further details. The Southeast Asian country has an annual military expenditure of above 2% of its gross domestic product, according to the ministry. Vietnam is producing among other weapons small weapons, ammunitions, drones and armoured vehicles.

Persons: Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio, Michael Perry Locations: HANOI, Gia Lam, Hanoi, China, Vietnam

Opinion writer Michelle Cottle watched last night’s New Hampshire Primary results come in alongside supporters of Nikki Haley. She says the battle of head versus heart has just started. In this audio interview, Cottle speaks with Opinion’s deputy editor, Patrick Healy, to break down the primary polls, voter “vibes” and the feeling of déjà vu from 2016. (A full transcript of this audio essay will be available within 24 hours of publishing.)

Persons: Michelle Cottle, Nikki Haley, Cottle, Opinion’s, Patrick Healy, ” Organizations: New Locations: New Hampshire

☆ Despite being a film about female empowerment, 'Barbie' Oscar nominations heavily favored men (and Ken)
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

For example, Ryan Gosling received a best supporting actor nomination, but Margot Robbie was snubbed. These include a few pleasant surprises, like best picture and best supporting actress for America Ferrera, who delivers a moving feminist monologue at the movie's climax. But Ryan Gosling nabbed a nomination for best supporting actor as Ken, the heroine's sidekick who becomes obsessed with the power of patriarchy. Related storiesThis might feel like déjà vu for Gerwig, who was similarly snubbed for her direction of best picture nominee "Little Women" in 2020, despite the film being nominated for best picture, best adapted screenplay, best actress, best supporting actress, best original score, and best costume design. Last week, "I'm Just Ken" won best song at the Critics Choice Awards, beating "What Was I Made For?"

Persons: Oscar, Barbie, Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, —, America Ferrera, Ryan Gosling nabbed, Ken, Greta Gerwig, Justine Triet, Gerwig, Guillermo del Toro, Jon Kopaloff, Noah Baumbach, who's, Greta, Ken's, Billie Eilish, Gosling, Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt, would've, Ronson, Wyatt Organizations: Service Locations: Lipa

☆ These charts show how much traffic has plunged in the Suez and Panama canals — and the potential impact on inflation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Aruni Soni | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewThe number of vessels passing through the Suez Canal and Panama Canal have dropped 50% from normal levels, according to Apollo Management's top economist. AdvertisementSuez Canal slowdownAbout 12% of global trade passes through the Suez Canal, according to an estimate from the US Naval Institute. Related stories"Normally, 200 ships travel through the Suez Canal from south to north over a week, but that number has recently declined to 100," Sløk wrote. Suez Canal traffic is down 50% APThe trouble in the Suez Canal has been ratcheting up as Yemen-based Houthi rebels have been launching attacks against ships in the Red Sea, forcing some ships to take longer — and costlier — detours. And although goods inflation has been tumbling, higher shipping costs could send that back up again if they continue to follow recent trends.

Persons: —, Torsten Sløk, Sløk, Thierry Wizman Organizations: Service, Business, US Naval Institute, Apollo, Container, Shipping, Apollo Management, Macquarie Locations: Suez, Panama, Yemen, Red, Shanghai, Rotterdam, Drewry

Last November, a state judge threw out the results of the Sept. 12 Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport and ordered a new primary to take its place. Here’s a look at what to expect on election night:PRIMARY DAY, PART 2The special do-over Democratic primary for mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, will be held on Tuesday. WHAT’S ON THE BALLOTThe Associated Press will provide coverage for the special Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport. It was 17% of registered party members in the Sept. 12 Democratic primary, down from 21% in the 2019 primary. Turnout for the first Democratic mayoral primary on Sept. 12 was about 17% of registered Democrats in Bridgeport.

Persons: Joe Ganim, Ganim, John Gomes, Gomes, David Herz, Lamond Daniels, Sen, Marilyn Moore, Joe Biden, Ganim eked, it’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, Voters, Bridgeport, Press, WHO, AP Locations: Bridgeport , Connecticut, Bridgeport, City Hall, Connecticut

☆ Japan markets are hitting multi-decade highs — will Nikkei scale its all-time peak?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Employees work at the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE), operated by Japan Exchange Group Inc. (JPX), in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAfter a tumultuous start to the year, Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 broke past the 35,000 mark for the first time since February 1990 and has been scaling new 33-year highs. The rally in Japan's equity market, which started on Jan. 5, has also seen the broad-based Topix hitting 33-year highs. Speaking to CNBC, Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG Asia struck an optimistic tone, saying that "all stars seem to be aligned for Japan's stock market." In a note last week, the Bank of America called the Japan rally a "déjà vu," comparing it with the Nikkei's rise between April and June 2023.

Persons: Yeap Jun Rong, Yeap Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, Japan Exchange Group Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, Nikkei, CNBC, IG Asia, Bank of Japan, TSX, Bank of America Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ ‘Bad case of déjà vu’: Oil industry veteran to lead next round of UN climate talks in Azerbaijan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-08 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Azerbaijan's Minister for ecology and natural resources and formerly an executive at state oil company SOCAR Mukhtar Babayev (C) visits at the Norm cement plant in Baku, on February 23, 2023. Azerbaijan named on January 5, 2024, Mukhtar Babayev minister to preside over the November 2024 COP29 meeting, in Baku, on January 6, 2024. A former executive of Azerbaijan's state-owned oil and gas firm SOCAR has been picked to lead U.N. climate talks in Baku later this year, prompting critics to decry a "bad case of déjà vu." It means that a minister with vast experience in oil and gas will lead negotiations at the U.N.'s biggest and most important annual climate conference for the second consecutive year. Campaign group Global Witness said Babayev's appointment as the person to lead COP29 discussions was a "bad case of déjà vu."

Persons: SOCAR Mukhtar Babayev, Mukhtar, decry, Mukhtar Babayev, Babayev, Jaber, COP28, Alice Harrison, Harrison Organizations: Norm, United, Emirates, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Global, United Nations, CNBC Locations: Baku, Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan's, Sultan Al, Dubai, Abu Dhabi

☆ Vietnamese companies eye the U.S. IPO market amid a lull in Chinese listings
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

While not strictly an IPO, the listing was soon followed by Vietnamese tech unicorn VNG's filing to list on the Nasdaq. As local companies grow, "they are outgrowing the ability of those markets to provide the capital that they need," said Drew Bernstein, co-chairman of accounting firm MarcumAsia. Since the fallout over Didi in the summer of 2021, regulation and a tepid U.S. IPO market have stalled most Chinese listing plans. She said given the success of Southeast Asian ride-hailing company Grab , more Vietnamese companies are starting to look beyond the domestic market to regional business. George Chan, global IPO leader at EY, expects "a lot" of companies from Southeast Asia will reach the IPO stage in the next 12 to 18 months, and might also consider the Hong Kong exchange.

Persons: Scott Mlyn, VinFast, Johan Annell, VNG, Drew Bernstein, It's, Bernstein, who'd he'd, Didi, Gary Dvorchak, Blueshirt, Nguyen Nguyen, Vu Van, ELSA, Van, George Chan Organizations: New York Auto Show, CNBC BEIJING, U.S, Spade, Nasdaq, ARC Group, China -, Renaissance Capital, Investor, CNBC, World Bank, Southeast Asia — Locations: Asia, U.S, Vietnam, Beijing, Cayman Islands, Malaysia, China, China - U.S, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong

☆ Walmart and Target borrowing ideas from each other shows we're in a new economic landscape
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In today's big story, we're looking at the rising similarities between Target and Walmart. Dominick Reuter/Business InsiderIf imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Walmart and Target are embarking on some serious tributes to each other. AdvertisementTwo of the country's largest retailers are taking pages from each other's playbooks as they adjust to a changing economic landscape. And Walmart founder Sam Walton openly admitted he stole borrowed plenty of ideas from Sol Price, the originator of the wholesale club model. That's led Walmart to see an increase in higher-income clientele, a trend they're leaning into.

Persons: —, Dominick Reuter, Insider's Dominick Reuter, Dominick, Christina Hennington, it's, Sam Walton, Sol Price, That's, Charlie Flanagan, Management's Bryan Kelly, Li Deng, Mike Schuster, Sam Altman Andrew Caballero, Reynolds, Daniel Ek, Slaven Vlasic, Rebecca Zisser, Elon, Zers, Xochitl Gomez, Alyson Hannigan, Jason Mraz, Charity Lawson, Ariana Madix, Dan DeFrancesco, Naga Siu, Hallam Bullock, Lisa Ryan Organizations: Service, Target, Walmart, AQR, Investments, AQR Capital Management, Vatic Investments, Sigma, Investment, Barclays, ING, MSCI Israel, Tel, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, Israel Securities Authority, Reuters, Broadcom, VMware, The New York Times, Inc, Adobe, ABC, Major, Baseball, MLB Network Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, New York City, San Diego, London, New York

Vietnam has already rail connections to China, but the system is old with limited capacity on the Vietnam side. The upgraded railway would pass through the region where Vietnam has its largest deposits of rare earths, of which China is by far the world's biggest refiner. Chinese and Vietnamese rare earths industry experts discussed last week stronger cooperation on processing the minerals, according to Vietnamese state media. It is unclear how much China would contribute to the upgraded railway track in Vietnam and whether Hanoi would accept sizeable financing from Beijing on this. A strengthened railway link could also boost Vietnam's export to China, mostly of agriculture products, boost Chinese tourism to northern Vietnam and further integrate the two countries' manufacturing industries, which experts already consider as symbiotic, with factories in Vietnam largely assembling components produced in China.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vietnam's, Wang Yi, Tran, Pham Minh Chinh, Wang Wentao, Francesco Guarascio, Khanh Vu, Phuong Nguyen, Stephen Coates Organizations: Vietnam's, China's Commerce, Initiative, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hanoi, China, Haiphong China, Vietnam, HANOI, United States, Tran Luu Quang, Kunming, Haiphong, Beijing, China . China, Hong Kong, Washington, South

☆ Stock trading platform Robinhood to launch in UK after two failed attempts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Features include the ability to choose from 6,000 U.S. stocks and 24-hour trading five days a week. Robinhood currently offers 24-hour trading in the U.S., allowing trades to happen outside 9:30 a.m. Robinhood won't offer U.K. stocks to begin with but will look to add them as it brings more products into the platform. Jordan Sinclair, Robinhood's U.K. chief, said he expects 24-hour trading to be popular, as it will let users trade on market-moving news. Dan Moczulski, U.K. managing director of EToro, a rival stock trading platform, said the arrival of more competition in the retail trading market marks "an exciting time for the industry."

Persons: Rafael Henrique, Robinhood, Jordan Sinclair, Sinclair, Tenev, Dan Moczulski, Moczulski, Vlad Tenev, We've Organizations: Getty, Robinhood's, CNBC Locations: U.S, British, England

☆ China, Vietnam Consider Rail Link Through Rare Earths Heartland
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Francesco Guarascio and Khanh VuHANOI (Reuters) - China and Vietnam are working on a possible significant upgrade of their underdeveloped rail links to boost a line that crosses Vietnam's rare earths heartland and reaches the country's top port in the north, senior officials and diplomats said. Vietnam has already rail connections to China, but the system is old with limited capacity on the Vietnam side. The upgraded railway would pass through the region where Vietnam has its largest deposits of rare earths, of which China is by far the world's biggest refiner. Chinese and Vietnamese rare earths industry experts discussed last week stronger cooperation on processing the minerals, according to Vietnamese state media. It is unclear how much China would contribute to the upgraded railway track in Vietnam and whether Hanoi would accept sizeable financing from Beijing on this.

Persons: Francesco Guarascio, Khanh Vu, Xi Jinping, Vietnam's, Wang Yi, Tran, Pham Minh Chinh, Wang Wentao, Phuong Nguyen, Stephen Coates Organizations: Vietnam's, China's Commerce, Initiative Locations: Khanh, Khanh Vu HANOI, China, Vietnam, Hanoi, United States, Tran Luu Quang, Kunming, Haiphong, Beijing, China . China, Hong Kong, Washington, South

Parliament approved the higher tax rate as part of a global tax reform, and said the government would work on specific incentives in 2024. "The National Assembly is not issuing a separate resolution on investment incentives at this time," said Le Quang Manh, head of the assembly's financial commission. Vietnam's corporate income tax is already set at 20%, but it has offered for years much lower effective rates to large foreign investors. The Korean Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam said members were concerned about the new tax rate, but "none have expressed their intention to alter their investment in Vietnam". However, Thang Vu, a tax expert at consultancy Dezan Shira, said Vietnam could see a drop in foreign investment if it did not offer "adequate alternative economic benefits" to those affected by the new tax.

Persons: Le Quang, Thang, Dezan Shira, Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio, Miral Organizations: Samsung, Assembly, Korean Chamber of Commerce, Thomson Locations: Vietnam, Hanoi, HANOI, Korean

☆ Vietnam set to raise effective tax rate on multinationals as part of global deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HANOI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Vietnam's parliament is set to approve on Wednesday a top-up tax for multinationals, which will raise the effective rate of the corporate levy to 15% from January in line with a global agreement. But it has eventually added it back to its schedule, with the vote on the tax expected now at the last day of its month-long session. Vietnam's corporate income tax is already set at 20%, but the country has offered for years effective rates as low as 5% and lengthy zero-tax periods to large foreign investors. With the new top-up tax, 122 foreign companies will face a steep increase in their tax costs in Vietnam, according to a document prepared by the Vietnamese government which estimated the additional intake for the state at 14.6 trillion dong ($601.05 million) a year. Reporting by Khanh Vu and Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio, Stephen Coates Organizations: Samsung Electronics Co, chipmaker Intel Corp, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Thomson Locations: HANOI, Vietnam, Korean

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the retreat session of the 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia, September 5, 2023. The document, known as Resource Mobilisation Plan, has to be agreed with investors ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) which begins on Thursday in Dubai. Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend the COP28 from Nov 30 to Dec 3, the government portal said, raising expectations that the plan could be announced there. A second foreign official said there was no major issue pending, and approval of the final version "is very nearly there." There is no certainty that Vietnam would actually take the loans on offer, and the communist government has been reluctant to take foreign loans in the past.

Persons: Pham Minh Chinh, Mast, Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio, Khanh Vu, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Vietnam's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, Change, Reuters, of, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights HANOI, Vietnam, Dubai, Hanoi

☆ Vietnam upgrades ties with Japan to highest level
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Vietnam's President Vo Van Thuong speaks as he attends the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Leaders event at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHANOI, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Vietnam and Japan on Monday officially upgraded their relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" during a visit by Vietnamese president Vo Van Thuong to Tokyo. Vietnam has designated five other countries as comprehensive strategic partners, including China, India, Russia, South Korea and the United States. Japan is Vietnam's third-largest source of foreign investment and its fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $50 billion last year. Vietnam and Japan, both embroiled in separate maritime disputes with China, in 2020 reached a $348 million Japanese loan agreement for Vietnam to build six patrol vessels.

Persons: Vo Van Thuong, Brittany Hosea, Vo Van, Thuong, Khanh Vu, Ed Osmond Organizations: Economic, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Japan, Honda, Panasonic, Bridgestone, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Rights HANOI, Vietnam, Japan, Tokyo, China, United States, India, Russia, South Korea

☆ China pledges deeper trade ties with Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pledged to deepen bilateral trade ties with Vietnam during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, China's commerce ministry said. China and the United States have been jostling for influence among Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, which in September elevated its ties with Washington to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting its one-time enemy on par with Beijing and Moscow. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong held "frank and friendly talks" on bilateral ties, land borders and maritime issues with Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu in Hanoi earlier this month. Wang also met Ho Chi Minh City's Vietnamese Communist Party secretary Nguyen Van Nen on Saturday, the Chinese commerce ministry said. Reporting by Laurie Chen; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Wentao, Pham Minh, Wang, Sun Weidong, Nguyen Minh Vu, Xi Jinping, Ho, Nguyen Van Nen, Laurie Chen, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Commerce, Vietnamese, Beijing, Foreign, Vietnam's, Reuters, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, China, United States, Washington, Moscow, Hanoi

☆ China Pledges Deeper Trade Ties With Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao pledged to deepen bilateral trade ties with Vietnam during a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday, China's commerce ministry said. Wang said China-Vietnam trade cooperation had already achieved "fruitful results" and would include strategic areas such as the digital economy, green development and cross-border e-commerce, according to a readout published late Saturday by the Chinese ministry. China and the United States have been jostling for influence among Southeast Asian nations including Vietnam, which in September elevated its ties with Washington to a comprehensive strategic partnership, putting its one-time enemy on par with Beijing and Moscow. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong held "frank and friendly talks" on bilateral ties, land borders and maritime issues with Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu in Hanoi earlier this month. Wang also met Ho Chi Minh City's Vietnamese Communist Party secretary Nguyen Van Nen on Saturday, the Chinese commerce ministry said.

Persons: Wang Wentao, Pham Minh, Wang, Sun Weidong, Nguyen Minh Vu, Xi Jinping, Ho, Nguyen Van Nen, Laurie Chen, Edmund Klamann Organizations: Commerce, Vietnamese, Beijing, Foreign, Vietnam's, Reuters, Communist Party Locations: BEIJING, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, China, United States, Washington, Moscow, Hanoi

☆ Remote mountain Kingdom of Bhutan is operating secret, state-owned Bitcoin mining facilities, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Forbes said it had identified the sites of four secret, state-owned Bitcoin mining facilities in Bhutan. El Salvador is the only other country known to operate state-owned Bitcoin mining facilities. AdvertisementThe Kingdom of Bhutan has secretly developed a series of bitcoin mining facilities, a Forbes investigation has revealed. Other images also show high-capacity power lines and transformers running from Bhutan's hydroelectric plants to the mining sites, Forbes reported. The Dochula Pass is a Bhutanese mountain pass located on the road from Thimphu to Punakha, near where one of the mining facilities has been discovered.

Persons: Forbes, —, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Organizations: Service, Forbes, Labs, Google, Education, VW Locations: Bhutan, El Salvador, Dochula, Trongsa, Thimphu, Punakha, India, Salvador

Now, hundreds of migrants from the Middle East and Africa have appeared at Finland's border from Russia, seeking entry into the Nordic country. They accuse Russia of driving the migrants to the border to sow discord as payback for Finland's membership in NATO. Finnish authorities quickly closed four checkpoints and then three more, leaving just one Arctic crossing point open for asylum-seekers. Finland also asked for help from EU border agency Frontex, which said it would send dozens of officers and equipment as reinforcements to the Finnish border. The Kremlin denies encouraging the migrants, and says it regrets the Finnish border closures.

Persons: Elina Valtonen, Petteri Orpo, Maria Zakharova, Valtonen, Russia’s, ”, Klaus Dodds, ” Dodds, Ylva Johansson, Sauli Niinistö, Alexander Lukashenko, Evika Siliņa, Siliņa, Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, “, Geert Wilders, Orpo’s, Vanessa Gera Organizations: HELSINKI, —, NATO, Nordic, Associated Press, HOW, EU, Frontex, Russian Foreign Ministry, Royal Holloway, University of London, VU EU Home Affairs, Belarus —, Latvian, AP, Poland’s, Guard Locations: Finland, Russia, East, Africa, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Finnish, FINLAND, Helsinki, Belarus, Europe, Moscow, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Baltic, Netherlands, Finns, Lapland, Murmansk, Warsaw

☆ Vietnam to Extend Anti-Graft Drive as Police Reveal Real Estate Fraud Worth 3% of GDP
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Khanh Vu and Francesco GuarascioHANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's top leader vowed to extend "for the long-term" an anti-corruption campaign that has had a chilling effect on the economy, after police revealed financial scandals in the real estate sector worth more than 3% of gross domestic product. Trong's remarks came after the police announced the outcome of months-long investigations into two financial scandals, revealing for the first time the scale of the fraud, worth a combined $12.8 billion, or 3.2% of the economy. The case had been widely publicised when My Lan was arrested in October last year and led to a crisis in the real estate sector and the market for corporate bonds, which she has been accused of issuing illegally in large amounts. The huge scale of the fraud had not been known until this week and has raised concern among financial experts about the impact on the banking sector. In September, the Asian Development Bank warned of potential spillover into banking from the crisis in the real estate sector as the ratio of non-performing loans increased.

Persons: Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio HANOI, Nguyen Phu Trong, Trong's, Truong My Lan, Van Thinh, Lan, Morgan, Moody's, Tan, Francesco Guarascio, Robert Birsel Organizations: Communist Party's, Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, Stock Commercial Bank, Morgan Research, Asian Development Bank, Group Locations: Communist, Saigon, China

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Nasa Hataoka had a strong start and Amy Yang had a hot finish, finishing with a share of the lead in the CME Group Tour Championship with 18 holes left and $2 million on the line. Hataoka set the pace early with five birdies in her first 11 holes and finished with a 65. I think the best is to just concentrate on my round and just keep that out of my mind and just do my golf.”Alison Lee, who came into the LPGA finale with a Ladies European Tour win and two runner-up finishes on the LPGA Tour, tried to keep pace. Hataoka has six LPGA titles, all within the last five years, and the 24-year-old from Japan rode a hot putter to give herself a chance. Nelly Korda tried to stay close, making her first hole-in-one on the LPGA Tour at the par-3 eighth.

Persons: Nasa Hataoka, Amy Yang, Yang, Hataoka, ”, ” Hataoka, ” Alison Lee, “, Lee, ” Xiyu Lin, Ruoning Yin, Minjee Lee, ” Yin, ” Tiburon, Jin Young Ko, Nelly Korda, Lilia Vu, Brooke Henderson, Atthaya Thitikul, ” Korda, “ It’s, Celine Boutier, Boutier, ___ Organizations: Nasa, European, LPGA Tour, LPGA, Tiburon Golf, Women's, Hataoka, PGA, ” Locations: NAPLES, Fla, Tiburon, America, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Canada

☆ Take Five: Black Friday is (almost) here
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. retailers are gearing up for Black Friday, marking the start of the shopping season that follows the Thanksgiving holiday, while business activity data should gauge the temperature elsewhere. 1/ BARGAIN HUNTINGThe crucial holiday shopping season kicks off with Black Friday on Nov. 24 at a time when investors are questioning whether the consumer-driven U.S. economy can remain resilient. This year's Black Friday comes as Americans grapple with soaring interest rates and inflation that, while easing, remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Already, data for October showed U.S. retail sales fell, pointing to slowing demand, although the decline was less than expected. As long as that's not the case, pressure is on the Kishida cabinet since a weak yen is unpopular politically.

Persons: Kamil Krzaczynski, Lewis Krauskopf, Kevin Buckland, Naomi Rovnick, Dhara Ranasinghe, Karin Strohecker, There's, PIMCO, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, bode, Sergio Massa, Javier Milei, Pragmatist Massa, Prinz Magtulis, Sumanta Sen, Kripa Jayaram, Pasit, Mark Potter Organizations: Walmart, REUTERS, Black, Nvidia, Insider Intelligence, European Commission, PMI, Fed, European Central Bank, Reuters Graphics Reuters, DOWNING STREET, Labour, gilts, Natwest, Reuters, Bank of Japan, Peronist, Thomson Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Argentina, Lewis, New York, Tokyo, London, Britain, Japan, Egypt, Taiwan, South Africa, India

☆ Vietnam ramps up South China Sea island expansion, researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Vietnamese naval soldier stands quard at Thuyen Chai island in the Spratly archipelago in the South China Sea on January 17, 2013. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all claim territory in the sea, which covers important shipping routes and is thought to hold untapped oil and gas reserves. China claims sovereignty over vast swathes of the South China Sea, including the areas where Vietnam has been building up islands. China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have lodged competing claims for some or all of the Spratly Islands. In August, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam rejected a map released by China that denotes its claims to sovereignty including in the South China Sea.

Persons: Thuyen, Khanh Vu, Robert Birsel Organizations: Washington's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CSIS's, Transparency, Thomson Locations: Thuyen Chai, Spratly, South, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, HANOI, South China, U.S, Spratly Islands, CSIS's Asia

NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — Alison Lee birdied four of her last five holes Friday to extend a hot streak that stretches from Saudi Arabia to South Korea to Florida. Her 8-under 64 gave her a share of the lead with Nasa Hataoka in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. The 28-year-old Californian has never won in her nine years on the LPGA Tour, but no one brought as much momentum. Xiyu Lin, who like Lee is trying to win for the first time on the LPGA Tour, had a 66 and was another shot behind. 1 amateur a decade ago and then struggled on the LPGA Tour and her confidence took a beating.

Persons: — Alison Lee birdied, Nasa Hataoka, Hataoka atoned, Lee, Annika, ” Lee, Hataoka, Ruoning Yin, Minjee Lee, Amy Yang, Xiyu Lin, “, ” It's, Fred Couples, Couples, “ He’s, He’s, ”, Lilia Vu, Celine Boutier, ___ Organizations: Nasa, LPGA, BMW Ladies, Aramco, Ladies European, Tiburon Golf, Globe, LPGA Tour Locations: NAPLES, Fla, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Florida, China, New York

Search resuls for: "vu"

25 mentions found