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☆ Long before rescue talks, Country Garden struggled to build homes, pay bills
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/3] The company logo of Chinese developer Country Garden is pictured at the Shanghai Country Garden Center in Shanghai, China August 9, 2023. "Nobody believed that Country Garden would fail. Country Garden declined to comment. In July, only weeks before it skipped debt payments, Country Garden launched a campaign on its WeChat channel titled “Beautiful Delivery”, showcasing newly built apartments and happy homeowners. Country Garden did not respond to questions about the payment or delivery disputes.

Persons: Aly, Ping, COVID, Economist Intelligence Unit's Xu Tianchen, EIU’s Xu, it’s, ”, Qiao Jingjing, Qiao, Clare Jim, Liangping Gao, Amy Lv, Laurie Chen, Antoni Slodkowski Organizations: Shanghai Country Garden, REUTERS, Rights, China's, Garden, Ping An, Economist Intelligence, Reuters, Observers, Jujiang, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, HONG KONG, Beijing, Chongqing, Xinzheng, Henan Province, Lincoln

☆ China expected to achieve 2023 GDP growth target -c.bank governor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People's Bank of China (PBOC) Vice Governor Pan Gongsheng speaks at a news conference in Beijing, China March 3, 2023. FollowBEIJING, Nov 8 (Reuters) - China is expected to achieve its annual gross domestic product growth target of 5% this year and will maintain prudent monetary policy to revive real economic growth, the central bank governor was quoted saying by state media on Wednesday. Beijing has set an economic growth target of around 5% for this year. China is scrambling to revive growth after a brief post-COVID-19 bounce faltered amid a protracted property market slump and local government debt risks. Economic indicators released on Tuesday showed imports unexpectedly swung to growth in October while exports contracted at a quicker pace.

Persons: Pan Gongsheng, Florence, Pan, Liangping Gao, Ellen Zhang, Ryan Woo, Tom Hogue, Sam Holmes Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Rights Companies Shenzhen Securities Times Co, Securities Times, Thomson Locations: People's, Beijing, China, BEIJING, Pan

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Fifteen U.N. peacekeepers in a convoy withdrawing from a rebel stronghold in northern Mali were injured when vehicles hit improvised explosive devices on two occasions this week, the United Nations said Friday. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said eight peacekeepers injured Wednesday were evacuated by air and “are now reported to be in stable condition.”He said seven peacekeepers injured by an IED early Friday also were evacuated by air. JNIM, an extremist group with links to al-Qaida, claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks, in which at least two peacekeepers were injured. An employee with MINUSMA earlier told The Associated Press that the peacekeepers left Kidal in convoys after Mali’s junta refused to authorize flights to repatriate U.N. equipment and civilian personnel. That deal was signed after Tuareg rebels drove security forces out of northern Mali in 2012 as they sought to create an independent state they call Azawad.

Persons: U.N, Stephane Dujarric, ”, Dujarric, Gao, António Guterres, MINUSMA, “ Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, . Security, Associated Press, Analysts Locations: Mali, Kidal, Gao, Niger

An armored vehicle escorting a MINUSMA logistic convoy from Gao to Kidal, is parked as trucks pass by, Mali February 16, 2017. Shortly after the last U.N. convoy rolled out, the ethnic Tuareg rebels announced they had taken over the base. The Tuareg rebels signed a 2015 peace agreement brokered by MINUSMA but maintained control of much of the north from Kidal. The first sign of trouble came in early August, when fighting broke out between Mali's army and Tuareg rebels around the U.N.'s camp in Ber in the north. As in Kidal, peacekeepers destroyed equipment before leaving that could have been transported in trucks earlier, if the government had allowed.

Persons: MINUSMA, Sylvain Liechti, jeopardising U.N, couldn't, Fatoumata Sinkoun Kaba, Yvan Guichaoua, Edward McAllister, David Lewis, Michelle Nichols, Mahamat, Alexandra Zavis, Daniel Flynn Organizations: UN, DAKAR, United Nations, U.N, Reuters, Authorities, Security, Islamic State, Department of Peace Operations, Department of Operational, Wagner Group, MINUSMA, University of Kent's Brussels School of International Studies, Thomson Locations: Gao, Mali, Kidal, West Africa, Malian, al Qaeda, Algeria, Mauritania, Ber, Tessalit, Algerian, Bamako, Dakar, Nairobi, New York, N'Djamena

☆ Philippine police hunt for six kidnapped Chinese nationals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Philippine authorities were trying to track the whereabouts of six Chinese nationals who were abducted in the capital region this week, police said on Thursday. Police anti-kidnapping chief Cosme Abrenica said authorities were investigating the abduction of nine people on Monday in an upscale neighbourhood in southern Metro Manila. Six of the victims were Chinese, who remain missing, and three were Filipino who were released shortly after they were abducted. Abrenica did not disclose the identities of the victims or give any details on their status in the Philippines. The Chinese embassy in Manila said it had noted a request from Reuters for comment.

Persons: Carlos Dominguez, Gao Hucheng, Damir Sagolj, Cosme Abrenica, it's, Abrenica, Philip Aguilar, Mikhail Flores, Robert Birsel Organizations: Philippine, China's, REUTERS, Rights, Police, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights MANILA, Metro Manila, Philippines, Calauan, Manila

[1/3] The Chinese flag at a gate to the Zhongnanhai leadership compound flies at half-mast in memory of late former Chinese premier Li Keqiang, in Beijing, China November 2, 2023. REUTERS/Mark Chisholm Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 2 (Reuters) - China lowered the national flag at Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Thursday amid an outpouring of grief online as the country cremated former premier Li Keqiang, known as "the people's premier" for his down-to-earth, hands-on leadership. "In memory of comrade Li Keqiang, flags were flown at half-mast at Tiananmen Square in the capital," state media said. "Personally, I still feel a bit unreal (about his death) because I feel like he's a good premier and suddenly he's gone. Some businesses such as international coffee chain Starbucks (SBUX.O) turned their app interface black and white in mourning for Li.

Persons: Li Keqiang, Mark Chisholm, Li, Xi Jinping, Han Zheng, Hu Jintao, Gao, Xi, he's, Wan, Zhang Shijun, Liz Lee, Xiaoyu Yin, Ryan Woo, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Communist Party's, Xinhua, Weibo, China's, Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Shanghai, Weibo

☆ Philippines accuses China of intruding into its waters
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Acquire Licensing RightsMANILA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - The Philippine foreign ministry on Thursday accused China of intruding into its waters after an incident involving the two countries' military vessels at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea earlier this week. "It is China that is intruding into Philippine waters," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "The Philippines has consistently demanded that Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc leave the area immediately," the foreign ministry said. The shoal, located 200km (124 miles) off the Philippines, was part of an arbitration claim filed by Manila at an international tribunal. The court ruled in 2016 that Beijing's claim to 90% of the South China Sea had no basis under international law, but China has refused to recognise the ruling.

Persons: Carlos Dominguez, Gao Hucheng, Damir Sagolj, Masinloc, Mikhail Flores, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: Philippine, China's, REUTERS, Rights, South China, of Foreign Affairs, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights MANILA, Philippine, South, Scarborough, Philippines, Manila, Bajo

☆ Haze lingers in Beijing as fog blankets parts of north China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Vehicles move on a street in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD) as the city is shrouded in smog, in China November 1, 2023. REUTER/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Hazy weather hung over Beijing on Wednesday with conditions in other parts of north China possibly worsening, forecasters said, although cold air sweeping in from the northwest is expected to help dissipate the smog. Experts attributed the haze in Beijing, which has lasted for several days, to poor atmospheric diffusion because of unseasonably weak cold air currents from the north. Visibility in most parts of Beijing dropped to less than 500 metres (546 yards), the China Meteorological Administration said. But from Thursday night, cold air is expected to push temperatures lower, possibly to new lows.

Persons: REUTER, Tingshu Wang, Gao, We're, Liu, Liz Lee, Ethan Wang, Xiaoyu Yin, Robert Birsel Organizations: Business, Rights, Beijing, China Meteorological Administration, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Hebei province, Tianjin, Hebei, Jinan, Zhengzhou, Shijiazhuang

☆ US military hints it could use laser and microwave weapons to fend off attacks on its bases near Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Pentagon official hinted that "directed energy" weapons could be available to protect US bases. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Pentagon has hinted that it could use laser and microwave weapons to fend off attacks on its bases near Israel. Directed energy weapons are defined as those that use high amounts of concentrated energy, usually laser or microwave, that are directed at targets to destroy or damage them. A UK Dragonfire laser directed energy weapon system is seen on day one of the DSEI arms fair at ExCel on September 10, 2019 in London, England. "The US military has tested a variety of DEW (directed energy weapon) prototypes since 2014, primarily for counter-drone missions," it said.

Persons: —, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Leon Neal Organizations: Pentagon, Service, of Defense Press, ExCel, US Navy, NBC News Locations: Israel, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, London, England

☆ Iran is stepping up its shadow war with Israel to boost its clout — but it could backfire
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

But it appears wary of provoking a wider, regional war. As part of this covert war, Iran has funded and trained a network of militias stretching across the Middle East. Iran has threatened Israel with the prospect of a wider regional war if it invades Gaza, reported Al Jazeera. But Iran faces a dilemmaIranian officials have told Reuters that Iran faces a dilemma in its response to the Israel-Hamas war. "Iranian behavior is a key factor in whether this remains contained or spreads into a wider regional war.

Persons: —, Gaza Ilia Yefimovich, Israel, Trump, Trump administration's Abraham, Iran —, Tobias Borck, Al, Alex Vatanka, Abraham, Mahmud Abbas, Xi Jinping, Jade Gao, it's, Jonathan Fulton Organizations: Service, Hamas, CNN, dpa Israel, St, The New York Times, Trump administration's, Trump administration's Abraham Accords, Royal United Services Institute, Israel, Hezbollah, Reuters, US, West Bank, East Institute, Abraham Accords, of, People, The Atlantic Council Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, Tehran, Saudi, Al Jazeera, China, Beijing

☆ China's massive navy is only getting bigger, and the US is looking overseas for help keeping its warships in action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

For years, the US Navy has struggled to complete repairs of its ships on time. To reduce workload at domestic shipyards and keep ships at sea, the US is looking for help overseas. That number has improved, but delays persist amid other challenges at Navy shipyards. Salvor was the first ship repaired in India following the signing of a Master Ship Repair Agreement with L&T Shipyard. "It's all hands on deck within the free world right now, and I think something like that would simultaneously enhance our ability to repair ships more quickly and also be a deterrent in the Pacific."

Persons: —, MCS3 Brandon Roberson, Biden, USNS Charles Drew, USNS Matthew Perry, Salvor, Fitzgerald, Leonard Adams, Carlos Del Toro, Charles Drew, Del Toro, Joel Garcia Japan, Rahm Emanuel, Emanuel, Harry Harris Jr, Harris, Paul, Wendy Hallmark, Rob Wittman, Wittman, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher Organizations: US Navy, Service, Pentagon, Navy, MCS3 Brandon Roberson Public, Maritime Sealift Command, USNS, Larsen & Toubro Shipyard, USNS Salvor, T Shipyard, Military Sealift Command, Mazgaon, Goa Shipyard, Getty, US, White, National Press, Nikkei Asia, US Military Sealift Command, Pacific Command, USS, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Republican, House Armed Services Committee, Capitol, Strategic Competition Locations: Western, Washington, China, Norfolk, India, Chennai, Shipbuilders, Mumbai, Goa, Japan, Asia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, extremis, USS Minneapolis, St, United States

☆ China's quiet campaign to win over Middle Eastern countries has run into a problem Beijing isn't really ready to deal with
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Until recently, 2023 looked to be a major year for Chinese outreach in the Middle East. Until this month, 2023 looked to be a landmark year for China's outreach to the Middle East. Zhai, China's Middle East envoy, began a tour of the region last week, stopping in Qatar first on October 19. "It's the kind of role we've played for the last half-century in the Middle East. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist and columnist who writes about Middle East developments, military affairs, politics, and history.

Persons: —, Xi Jinping, Bashar Assad, Benjamin Netanyahu, Kim Kyung, Yoav Gallant, Ariel Hermoni, Zhai Jun, Wang Yi, Chuck Schumer, Xi, Nicholas Burns, Burns, Michael Singh, Abraham, Singh, Mahmud Abbas, Jade Gao, Alexus Grynkewich, Grynkewich, Abu Dhabi, ATTA KENARE, it's, Zhai, we've, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Initiative, Israeli, REUTERS, Saudi, UAE, Israeli Defense Ministry, Getty Images, Washington, The Washington Institute, White House, Israel, US Air Forces, Defense Writers, Huawei, Getty Locations: East, Beijing, Israel, China, Iran, Syria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, Anadolu, Getty Images Beijing, Saudi, Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Iraq, Abu, AFP, Qatar, Palestine

Much of the easing policies have lowered the buying costs, but done little to create new demand, realtor Centaline China CEO Andy Lee said. "The overall size of the pie is still the same," Lee said, referring to the market demand, adding some of the September purchase was delayed from the previous two months due to market expectations of stimulus policies. Nomura also said it is too early to call the bottom for the property sector. The moderate recovery in top-tier cities could continue to drain housing demand in low-tier cities," it said. S&P Global Ratings this week revised down its forecast for China's property sales to drop by 10%-15% this year from 2022, compared to its earlier forecast of a mid-single digit percentage drop.

Persons: Daniel Song, Andy Lee, Lee, Nomura, Doris Dong, Clare Jim, Gao, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: China Evergrande, HK, Demand, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, Beijing, Shenzhen, China, Shanghai, Guangzhou

☆ China's new home prices extend declines, defying broader recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Liangping Gao | Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoNew home prices fell 0.2% month-on-month but narrowed from a 0.3% drop in August, according to Reuters calculations based on National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data. Of the 70 cities in the home price data, 54 reported declines in prices last month, up from 52 in August. New home prices in tier-three cities fell 0.3% month-on-month after a 0.4% drop in August. However, demand remained lukewarm in smaller cities struggling with excess supply while nationwide the property sector remains in a deep slump. Ma attributed the fall to the fact that Guangdong province is home to many private developers with liquidity problems.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, ”, Ma Hong, Goldman Sachs, Ma Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Zhixin Investment Research Institute Locations: BEIJING, Beijing, China, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Guangdong

☆ China seeking quick end to Israel-Hamas conflict - Xi
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Chinese President Xi Jinping makes a speech during a reception dinner at the Great Hall of the People ahead of China's National Day in Beijing, China on September 28, 2023. Xi also said a ceasefire was "imperative" as soon as possible to prevent the conflict from expanding, or spiralling out of control, the state media said. China supports Egypt's efforts to let in humanitarian aid to Gaza, state media quoted Xi as telling Madbouly. Separately, Xi also said China was willing to work with Egypt to strengthen cooperation in infrastructure, agricultural technology, and renewable energy, adding that he will also encourage capable Chinese enterprises to invest there. Reporting by Liz Lee and Beijing newsroom; Editing by Kim Coghill and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Jade Gao, Xi Jingping, Xi, Mostafa Madbouly, Liz Lee, Kim Coghill, Miral Organizations: of, Rights, Hamas, United, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Egypt's

☆ Shein, the fast fashion darling mulling a U.S. IPO, opens up about forced labor, data privacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

The committee is investigating Shein over concerns that Uyghur forced labor is being used in its supply chain and has gone undetected because of the de minimis provision. The committee has not yet drawn conclusions about forced labor in Shein's supply chain. When asked about claims of forced labor in Shein's supply chain, Claure told CNBC he doesn't "believe those allegations are correct." However, forced labor can still show up in other parts of the supply chain, said Chloe Cranston, the head of thematic advocacy programmes at Anti-Slavery International. In 2022, 11% of audits turned up "zero tolerance violations," including child labor, forced labor and wage violations, and 28 suppliers were terminated as a result, according to the company.

Persons: Elham Ataeiazar, Shein, Donald Tang, Matt Kennedy, they're, they've, Mike Gallagher, Elise Stefanik, Steve Scalise, Chip Somodevilla, we're, Marcelo Claure, Claure, Ralph Lauren, Rupert Hodges, Oritain, Chloe Cranston, Cranston, It's, it's, Shang, Jin Wei, Wei, Austin Knudsen, Chris Xu, Jade Gao, Knudsen, Gary Gensler Organizations: Wall, Bear, Chinese Communist Party, U.S, Renaissance Capital, CNBC, Bloomberg, Nike, Adidas, Republican National Committee, Washington , D.C, D.C, Target, Costco, Visual China, Getty, Workers, Columbia University's, Communist, CCP, Microsoft, AFP, U.S . Securities, Exchange Locations: Bear Stearns, U.S, China, Beijing, Xinjiang, Washington ,, Washington, Singapore, Nanjing, United States, Chinese, Guangzhou, Brazil, Turkey, India, Mexico, Montana

REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Property sales, investment fall at double-digit paceProperty slowdown remains drag on economic growthBEIJING, Oct 18 (Reuters) - China's property sales and investment posted double-digit declines as efforts to support big cities failed to bolster confidence in an industry struggling to emerged from crisis, although the pace of contraction slowed. Property investment fell 18.7% from a year earlier after a 19.1% drop in August, according to Reuters calculations. "S&P Global Ratings expects that the low number of construction starts, an inventory overhang in lower-tier cities, and ever-tightening escrow restrictions will keep property sales depressed," S&P's credit analysts said in a note on Monday. Property investment in the first nine months of 2023 fell by 9.1% from a year earlier, after slumping 8.8% in January-August, according to NBS data. Funds raised by China's property developers were down 13.5% year-on-year after a 12.9% slide in January-August.

Persons: Jason Lee, Zhou Hao, Liangping Gao, Ella Cao, Ryan Woo, Christian Schmollinger, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, National Bureau of Statistics, Country Garden Holdings, HK, Monetary Fund, Property, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING

☆ China's measures to shore up its indebted property sector
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The following is a list of recent measures for the sector which accounts for roughly a quarter of the world's second-largest economy. Sept. 14 - China's central bank said it would cut the amount of cash that banks must hold as reserves for the second time this year to boost liquidity. Aug. 31 - China's central bank and financial regulator ease some borrowing rules for homebuyers, including lowering existing mortgage rates for first-home buyers and the down payment ratio in some cities. July 10 - China's central bank extended until the end of 2024 some policies in a November rescue package to shore up the real estate sector. June 20- China's central bank cut its key lending benchmarks, or loan prime rates (LPRs), for the first time in 10 months.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Liangping Gao, Ryan Woo, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Xinhua, Thomson Locations: Tianjin, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, megacities

☆ Meta's unique approach to developing AI puzzles Wall Street, but techies love it
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +18 min

If the world's leading AI researchers use Llama, Meta could have an easier time hiring skilled technologists who understand the company's approach to development. Spisak helped oversee PyTorch and other open source AI projects when he worked at Meta from 2018 until January 2023. Although a number of open source LLMs are available, Lambert said Llama 2 is by far the most popular. "Facebook was not and that's sort of how they move forward and democratizing this, giving sort of broad access to open source. However, open source doesn't always win, and Padval acknowledged that "in this case, I don't know how it's going to evolve."

Persons: Mark Zuckerberg, Josh Edelson, Mark Zuckerberg's multibillion, Joseph Spisak, that's, Zuckerberg, Meta, Andrew Bosworth, Yann LeCun, isn't, Susan Li, Spisak, Cai GoGwilt, GoGwilt, OpenAI's, Ahmad Al, Dahle, he's, Jim Fan, Arjun Bansal, Jensen Huang, Nathan Lambert, Lambert, Critics, Umesh Padval, " Lambert, Nvidia's, Fan, Meta's, Taka Ariga, Ariga, Claude, Elon Musk, Tesla, Nur Hamdan, OpenAI's GPT, Sam Altman, Guido Appenzeller, Thomvest's Padval, Padval Organizations: Meta, AFP, Getty, Microsoft, Industry, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Facebook, Twitter, Finance, Google, AI Research, FAIR, Apple, Nvidia, Web Services, Thomvest Ventures, TC Cowen, United, United Arab Emirates, U.S, Government, AWS, Bloomberg, Amazon, VMware, Intel, Red Hat Locations: Menlo Park , California, Taiwan, United Arab, Washington, Elon, Hamadan, Seoul, South Korea

☆ Esports made their 'tense and exciting' debut at this year's Asian Games
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Esports, or professional video gaming, were an official sport at the Asian Games for the first time. AdvertisementAdvertisementEsports, or competitive video gaming, debuted as an official event at this year's Asian Games in Hangzhou, China that concluded earlier this month. Due to the event's popularity, esports tickets were sold on a lottery basis, with more than five million entering the ballot, according to Hangzhou Asian Games data. We're excited to see the landscape of esports events around the world expand," said John Robinson, president of US esport organization 100 Thieves. The Olympic Esports Series is "a global virtual and simulated sports competition created by the IOC, and in collaboration with International Federations and game publishers."

Persons: —, esports, Chris Liu, Liu, Esports, JADE GAO, John Robinson, Kim Gwanwoo, WANG ZHAO, Matt Woods, AFK, Grant Rousseau, " Rousseau Organizations: Asian Games, of, EA Sports FC Online, Singapore, Service, Professional, EA Sports FC, South Korea, Team Malaysia, China, Xinhua News Agency, South, Associated Press, Fighter, Getty, Olympic, IOC, International Federations, Guardian, Team Falcons Locations: Hangzhou, China, Thailand, Wuxi, esports, Asia, Pacific, US, South Korea, AFP, Los Angeles

"There's increasing evidence that the cyclical upturn in the global electronics sector is driving a bottoming-out of global trade and China's trade data is the latest sign," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Reuters GraphicsSouth Korean exports to China, a leading indicator of China's imports, fell at their slowest pace in 11 months in September. Semiconductors make up the bulk of their trade, signalling improving appetite among Chinese manufacturers for components to re-export in finished goods. However, Lv Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs, said at a press conference on Friday that China's trade still faces a complex and severe external environment. Overall, though, total merchandise imports fell at a slower pace, down 6.3%, reflecting a gradual recovery in domestic demand.

Persons: Smart, David Kirton, Xu Tianchen, it's, Julian Evans, Pritchard, Zou Lan, Premier Li Qiang, Li, Robert Carnell, Kevin Yao, Albee Zhang, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Economist Intelligence Unit, Reuters Graphics South, Semiconductors, Administration of Customs, ASEAN, Federal Reserve, China Economics, Capital Economics, People's Bank of, Premier, Bloomberg, ING, Thomson Locations: Qianhai, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, BEIJING, United States, Europe, Stocks, People's Bank of China, Beijing, Asia, Pacific

"There's increasing evidence that the cyclical upturn in the global electronics sector is driving a bottoming-out of global trade and China's trade data is the latest sign," said Xu Tianchen, senior economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. Reuters GraphicsSouth Korean exports to China, a leading indicator of China's imports, fell at their slowest in 11 months in September. Global trade activities, represented by the Baltic Dry Index, also reported notable growth in September. However, Lv Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs, said at a press conference earlier on Friday that China's trade still faces a complex and severe external environment. China's crude oil imports in September grew nearly 14% from a year earlier, while copper imports fell 5.8% year-on-year.

Persons: Smart, David Kirton, Xu Tianchen, it's, Robert Carnell, Albee Zhang, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Trade, REUTERS, Economist Intelligence Unit, Reuters Graphics South, Semiconductors, Global, Administration of Customs, ASEAN, Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, ING, Thomson Locations: Qianhai, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, BEIJING, United States, Europe, Stocks, Beijing, Asia, Pacific

☆ China's Xi spurs efforts in core technologies -state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a reception dinner at the Great Hall of the People ahead of China's National Day in Beijing, China on September 28, 2023. Jade Gao/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 12 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping has called for speeding up efforts to make breakthroughs in core technologies, state media reported on Thursday, amid tensions with the United States. During a speech on promoting the development of the Yangtze River economic belt, Xi also reaffirmed the goal of modernising China's supply chains, developing advanced manufacturing and strategic emerging industries, state media said. Faced with increased technology curbs imposed by the United States, President Xi has repeatedly stressed the need for self-reliance in technology to curb the use of foreign technology. Provinces and cities along the Yangtze River must shoulder the responsibility for food, energy security as well as supply chain security, state media quoted Xi as saying.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Jade Gao, Xi, Kevin Yao, Jason Neely, Sharon Singleton Organizations: of, Rights, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, Provinces

Most of the people participating in the trend are in their 20s, citing various reasons for quitting ranging from low wages to burnout. LiangAccording to China’s LinkedIn equivalent Maimai, out of 1,554 employees across various sectors surveyed from January through October 2022, 28% resigned that year. A similar movement, dubbed the Great Resignation, had taken off in the United States, with almost 50 million people quitting their jobs in two years. Despite the proliferation of higher education degrees, China’s economy doesn’t currently require as many high-skilled workers and it takes time to transform the economic structure, she said. The resignation trend could affect fertility, but it’s not yet clear how, she said.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Liang, “, ”, Nancy Qian, they’ve, Jade Gao, Qian, ” Qian, Yao Lu, Veyron Mai, ” Lu, Young Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, ” CNN, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Getty, Ministry of Education, Columbia University, University Locations: China, Hong Kong, China’s Zhejiang, United States, West, Beijing, AFP, Yibin, Foshan, Taizhou

☆ Mali in meltdown as militants advance and U.N. withdraws
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Edward Mcallister | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] A man walks toward Sankore mosque, also known as the former University of Sankore, in Timbuktu, Mali September 25, 2023. "This conflict is escalating fast," said Ulf Laessing, the Bamako-based head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer foundation. Back in 2012, French forces and the U.N. intervened to halt the advance in Mali. In Mali, fighting began in August between the army and an ethnic Tuareg group called the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) around a base vacated by the U.N. "The problem is Mali has too few troops and too little mobility," said Michael Shurkin, director of global programs at 14 North Strategies consultancy.

Persons: Stringer, Sory Touré, jihadists, Ulf Laessing, Konrad Adenauer, Russia's Wagner, Jama'at Nusrat al, Michael Shurkin, Iyad Ag, Shurkin, Mohamed Massaya, Salaha, Aicha Sababou, Edward McAllister, Alexandra Zavis, Edmund Blair Organizations: University of Sankore, REUTERS, U.N, United Nations, Islamic, Reuters Graphics, CMA, Ghali, Transitional Council, Reuters, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Sankore, Timbuktu, Mali, DAKAR, jihadists, al Qaeda, Islamic State, West, Burkina Faso, Niger, Bamako, France, U.S, Sahara, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Al Qaeda, Gao, Dakar

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