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☆ Asia fintech MoneyHero slides on first day of trading after merger with Peter Thiel-backed SPAC
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Bymuratdeniz | E+ | Getty ImagesAsian fintech firm MoneyHero on Friday fell on its first day of trading on the Nasdaq, following the completion of its merger with special purpose acquisition company Bridgetown Holdings . The deal with Bridgetown valued MoneyHero at approximately $310 million, according to an announcement on Thursday. Across five markets, MoneyHero operates personal finance websites Singsaver and Seedly in Singapore, Moneymax in The Philippines, MoneyHero in Hong Kong, Money101 in Taiwan and CompareHero in Malaysia. MoneyHero Group has yet to become profitable. In November, MoneyHero Group, or Hyphen Group before the rebranding, laid off employees and saw the departure of its CEO.

Persons: MoneyHero, Peter Thiel's, Richard Li, Prashant Aggarwal, Aggarwal, Kroll Organizations: Getty, Nasdaq, Bridgetown Holdings, Thiel Capital, PayPal, Pacific Century Group, Bridgetown Holdings's, CNBC, The, MoneyHero, SEC, Visa, American Express Locations: Bridgetown, –, Hong Kong, U.S, Asia, Southeast Asia, MoneyHero, Singapore, Seedly, Moneymax, The Philippines, Money101, Taiwan, CompareHero, Malaysia, Thailand

☆ Samsung, SK Hynix get indefinite waivers to ship U.S. chip equipment to their China factories
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Samsung Electronics Co. 4GB Double-Data-Rate (DDR) 3 memory module, top, and 8GB DDR 3 memory modules are arranged for a photograph in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. South Korean chip giants Samsung and SK Hynix will be allowed to ship U.S. semiconductor manufacturing equipment to their China factories indefinitely without separate U.S. approvals, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday. Previously, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix obtained one-year waivers from the U.S. to continue importing advanced tools for their China plants. "The U.S. government's decision means that the most significant trade issue of our semiconductor companies has been resolved," said Choi. The latest development quells concerns Samsung and SK Hynix have about their chip production in China, which partly relies on U.S. equipment.

Persons: Choi Sang, Seoul's, Choi Organizations: Samsung Electronics Co, Samsung, SK Hynix, Yonhap News Agency, Samsung Electronics Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Korean, China, U.S

☆ Singapore's digital economy – from e-commerce to social media – nearly doubled in five years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The study, published Friday, revealed that the economic contribution of the digital economy to Singapore's GDP nearly doubled to 106 billion Singapore dollars ($77.5 billion) in 2022, up from SG$58 billion in 2017, according to CNBC's calculations. The digital economy is divided into two parts: the information and communications sector; and digitalization in the rest of the economy. One-third of the digital economy was driven by the information and communications sector and two-thirds by digitalization in the rest of the economy. "The expansion of the digital economy has come on the back of increasing adoption of digital technologies by enterprises, which in turn contributed to the robust growth of tech manpower," IMDA said in the report. Comparatively, Singapore's digital economy performed better, contributing to 16.7% of its GDP in 2020.

Persons: Joseph Nair, IMDA Organizations: Central Business District, Getty Images, Media Development Authority, Singapore, digitalization Locations: Marina, Singapore, SINGAPORE, Estonia, Sweden, United Kingdom

☆ Alibaba's Lazada is courting sellers affected by Indonesia's e-commerce ban on social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lazada is the third-largest e-commerce player in Indonesia, after Sea Limited's Shopee and Tokopedia, according to Momentum Works. Lazada, a Southeast Asian e-commerce marketplace owned by Alibaba , is courting sellers affected by Indonesia's latest e-commerce regulation, its Indonesia CEO James Chang told employees in a town hall meeting on Friday. In recent weeks, Indonesia has cracked down on social media platforms facilitating e-commerce, such as TikTok, in a bid to protect domestic businesses. Indonesia banned social media purchases and set a one-week deadline last week for TikTok to become a standalone app, without any e-commerce feature, or face closure. In response, TikTok Indonesia said Tuesday that it will comply with local laws and stop facilitating e-commerce purchases.

Persons: Lazada, James Chang, Chang, Joko Widodo Organizations: Works, CNBC, TikTok Locations: Indonesia, TikTok Indonesia

☆ Toyota, LG Energy Solution sign $3 billion battery supply deal in U.S. EV push
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The deal will support Toyota's expanding battery EV line-up, which includes a new model that will be assembled at a manufacturing plant in Kentucky — its largest globally — starting in 2025. LG Energy Solution also supplies other automotive giants such as America's General Motors , South Korea's Hyundai, and Japan's Honda . Less than five months ago, LG Energy Solution said it will build a $4.3 billion EV battery plant in the U.S. with Hyundai, in a bid to leverage tax credits. LG Energy Solution will invest about 4 trillion Korean won ($3 billion) "to establish new production lines for battery cells and modules exclusively for Toyota, with completion slated for 2025." Chinese competitionLG Energy Solution is currently the world's third-largest EV battery producer after Chinese EV player BYD, according to data from South Korean energy market research firm SNE Research.

Persons: Youngsoo Kwon, Kwon, Toyota's, Japan's Organizations: Korea's LG Energy, Toyota, LG Energy, CNBC, America's, Motors, Hyundai, Japan's Honda, U.S, Lexus, LG, EV, BYD, SNE Research Locations: U.S, Kentucky, Toyota's Tokyo

☆ TikTok halts e-commerce service in Indonesia following ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

TikTok Indonesia said it will end transactions on its e-commerce marketplace by Thursday, in order to comply with new local regulations. The announcement comes after the Indonesian ministry of trade last week set a one-week deadline for TikTok to become a standalone app, without any e-commerce feature, or risk being shut down. "Our priority is to remain compliant with local laws and regulations," said TikTok in a statement on Tuesday. "As such, we will no longer facilitate e-commerce transactions in TikTok Shop Indonesia by 17:00 GMT+7, October 4, and will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities on the path forward," it said. He said the influx of such platforms has contributed to a sales decline for domestic businesses by flooding the market with foreign imports.

Persons: Joko Widodo Organizations: TikTok Locations: TikTok Indonesia, Indonesian, TikTok Shop Indonesia

☆ Cartoon elves and scrolls visualize Chinese military’s goal of Taiwan ‘reunification’
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

It has long vowed to “reunify” Taiwan with the Chinese mainland, by force if necessary. The Chinese painting "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" displayed in its entirety in the National Palace Museum Taipei on June 1, 2011. As a result, the scroll has long been seen as a living symbol of the division between China and Taiwan. Visitors look at "Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains" at the National Palace Museum Taipei on June 1, 2011. The “Escape from the British Museum” series “has struck a chord in people’s hearts and reflects the deep patriotic sentiments,” said one article in the state-run tabloid Global Times.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, “, Patrick lin, Huang Gongwang, —, Shi Tang, Xi Jinping, ” Xi’s, Chiang Kai, Mao Zedong’s, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Eastern Theater Command, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, Communist Party, Theater Command, Palace Museum, Getty, National, Museum, Zhejiang Provincial Museum, National Palace Museum, Taiwan, World Health Organization, Olympic Games, Asian, British Museum ’, British Museum, Beijing’s, Nationalist, Global Times, British Locations: Hong Kong, Taiwan Strait, People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Palace Museum Taipei, AFP, Taipei, Hangzhou, China, National Palace Museum Taipei, Beijing, Ukraine, Fujian, London, Mao Zedong’s Communist, Greater China

☆ Ripple obtains full license to operate in Singapore as it expands in Asia-Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Brad Garlinghouse, chief executive officer of Ripple Labs Inc., speaks during the Token2049 conference in Singapore, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. Cryptocurrency company Ripple said on Wednesday that it has obtained a major payments institution license in Singapore, a strategic step toward growing its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. With the full license, Ripple will continue to provide regulated crypto payment services in Singapore. Ripple said it will continue to prioritize the region for adoption of its crypto payment services. The country's Payment Services Act — which regulates payment services and the provision of crypto services to the public — has been in effect since January 2020.

Persons: Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple, Monica Long, headcount Organizations: Ripple Labs Inc, Monetary Authority of, CNBC Locations: Singapore, Asia, Pacific, Monetary Authority of Singapore, U.S

☆ Mid-Autumn Festival holidays: Millions of Chinese tourists are going on holiday again -- many headed for Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Kathleen Magramo Kocha Olarn Berry Wang Carina Cheng | Kathleen Magramo | Kocha Olarn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Only 2.2 million Chinese travelers arrived between January and September 10 this year, according to data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin greeted travelers on the first day of the government's visa-free scheme for Chinese tourists. “Competition is really intensifying in the region to attract Chinese tourists amongst all countries, and you have to make it as easy as possible,” said Bowerman. Chinese tourists pray in front of Thai dancers at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, Thailand on September 22, 2023. Rumors, film complicate efforts to lure back touristsPrior to the announcement of the visa-free policy this month, Chinese tourists had been slow to return to Thailand.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, It’s, ” Sretta, “, Chiang, Wang Wenbin, Peerapon Boonyakiat, pare, Gary Bowerman, ”, Bowerman, Huang, “ I’ve, coronavirus, Trip.com, Jin Junhao, Joanna Lu, Anusak, Wolfgang Georg Arlt, “ There’s, Thailand ”, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn Organizations: CNN, China’s, Tourism Authority of, Thai, Civil Aviation Administration, China Railway, Asia, Tourism Research Institute, Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Thai Travel Agents Association Locations: China, Shanghai, Bangkok’s, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, ”, Beijing, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Asia, Sichuan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom, Erawan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Weibo

☆ TikTok's Southeast Asia ambitions to take a major hit with Indonesia ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Aditya Aji | Afp | Getty ImagesTikTok's Southeast Asian ambitions will take a major hit after Indonesia bans shopping transactions on social media apps, analysts told CNBC. Indonesia has banned e-commerce transactions on social media platforms such as TikTok Shop and Facebook . Even if it can secure a separate license to operate, operating as a standalone app may still be challenging. "Even if it can secure a separate license to operate, operating as a standalone app may still be challenging," said Mittal. New social media rulesOn Saturday, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo called for social media regulations, saying such platforms impact micro-, small- and medium-sized companies and the economy.

Persons: Aditya Aji, Jonathan Woo, Sachin, Sachin Mittal, TikTok, Mittal, Joko Widodo Organizations: Facebook, Afp, Getty, CNBC, Phillip Securities Research, Sachin Mittal DBS Bank, U.S, DBS Bank, BMI, Momentum Works Locations: Bogor, West Java, Indonesia, Jakarta, China, Southeast Asia, U.S, Singapore, Montana, India

☆ Why Thailand's having second thoughts about decriminalizing cannabis
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Little more than a year after cannabis decriminalization, following an election that saw a more conservative coalition government come into power, there are signs Thailand’s laws on cannabis could be rewritten once again. Most cannabis dispensaries like his he says, have been responsible and diligent from the start in checking buyers’ IDs and educating customers about cannabis rules. “Thousands of cafes, stores, and other cannabis businesses have sprouted and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent by tourists in a short amount of time,” Zaytsev said. The debate comes just as the quality of domestically produced cannabis in the country was improving, she added. “The quality of Thai cannabis has gotten better and better.

Persons: “, ” Iemvijan, –, Nitikrist Attakrist, ” Attakrist, Chiang Mai, Srettha Thavisin, ” Thavisin, Iemvijan, Cannabis, ”, Wisawa Mcintyre, Anutin Charnvirakul, Athit Perawongmetha, hasn’t, Ley Singdam, Ley, ” Ley, Kitty Chopaka, Chopaka, Michael Zaytsev, LIM, ” Zaytsev, Gloria Lai, ” Lai, ” “, Thavisin, Manan Vatsyayana Organizations: CNN, Thai, Bloomberg, Thailand’s Public, Thai Health, Staff, Reuters Observers, ” Farmers, Thais, International Drug Policy Consortium, Bhumjaithai Party, Getty Locations: Thai, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, San, Thonglor, Phuket, ‘, ”, Athit, New York, Asia, Singapore, Indonesia, AFP

☆ VinFast aims to sell up to 50,000 EVs in 2023 — but it has only hit 23% of its target so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Lisa Baertlein | ReutersVietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast's ambitious plan to deliver as many as 50,000 vehicles this year is "unrealistic," according to one analyst. VinFast said it expects to deliver 40,000 to 50,000 vehicles in 2023 despite a weak global economy. In April, Green SM launched a pure EV taxi service in Vietnam with VinFast models. "VinFast's ambitious EV plan seems unrealistic. For example, VinFast's VF9 model is priced from $83,000 whereas the Tesla Model X is priced from $68,590 after federal tax credit and gas savings.

Persons: Lisa Baertlein, VinFast, Vingroup, Green, David Byrne, Tesla, XPeng, Lê Thị Organizations: Reuters, Smart Mobility, Green SM, EV, LightStream Research, P Global Mobility, CNBC, Nasdaq, Our U.S, Tesla Locations: Los Angeles, Vietnam, U.S, North America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Our, North Carolina

☆ Meet the families who are ditching America to travel abroad as digital nomads
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Simone Stolzoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

At just shy of 400,000 inhabitants, Sintra is also big enough to absorb the 25 Boundless families without the expats dominating all the local haunts. At school, kids are fed organic meals made by a local chef. After school, kids from different families entertained themselves in the cobblestone streets and parks under light adult supervision. But despite some early success, Boundless Education, like the organization itself, is still very much a startup. On my last night in Sintra, the Boundless families gathered together at Praia de Maçãs, a beach 20 minutes from downtown.

Persons: Shirly, Erez Weinstein, Shirly Weinstein, Ella, Mauro Repacci, Simone Stolzoff, Edward, Jessica, —, Rekha Magon, I've, Repacci, Marcos Carvalho, Rolf E, Carvalho, Lona Alia, Alia, Elina Zois, it's, Andreas Wil Gerdes, Penguin Random Organizations: Khan Academy, Green School, Nordic Baccalaureate, North America, Penguin Locations: United States, Israel, Atlanta, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Portugal, Indonesia, Italy, Greece, Bali, Dominican Republic, Sintra , Portugal, Lisbon, Sintra, Ohio, Seattle, Italy's Tuscany, Montreal, Costa Rica, Europe, Southeast Asia, North, Praia, Maçãs, America, San Francisco

☆ European castles, private chefs, and a startup school: These families are ditching the US to live the American dream abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Simone Stolzoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

☆ Indonesia to ban purchases on social media like TikTok, says it will further regulate e-commerce
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Indonesia's ministry of trade said Tuesday it is working to further regulate e-commerce, adding that the country does not allow transactions on social media platforms. "One of the things that is regulated is that the government only allows social media to be used to facilitate promotions, not for transactions," the ministry said in an official release. The government said it will also bar social media companies from doubling as e-commerce platforms to prevent misuse of public data. Indonesia also said it would also regulate which overseas goods can be sold, adding these products would receive the same treatment as offline domestic goods. The move comes as foreign goods become increasingly available in Indonesia through social media platforms.

Persons: Zulkifli Hasan Organizations: Facebook Locations: Indonesia

☆ Carousell says it's 'on track' to profitability, plans to reduce losses this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Secondhand goods marketplace Carousell expects to "healthily" reduce its losses this year, putting it on track to profitability, the firm's CEO told CNBC. And I think in a very promising sign, we actually are going to be healthily reducing our losses this year as well," said Quek Siu Rui, co-founder and CEO of Carousell said Monday, adding that the firm is "on track" with its plan to profitability. In 2022, the Singapore-based company posted $82.5 million in revenue, a 67% jump from the year before, according to regulatory filings. The Singapore-based firm was founded in 2012 as an online classified advertisements marketplace where users can list and sell their used goods for money. Research shows that the global circular economy — which seeks to reduce waste and promote recycling and reusing — could generate $4.5 trillion in additional economic output by 2030.

Persons: Siu Rui, Carousell, Quek Organizations: CNBC, Research Locations: Singapore

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin handed out gifts and posed for pictures as his tourism minister and other VIPs greeted about 300 travelers from Shanghai. He said that the government plans to promote Thailand’s smaller cities as destinations for Chinese tourists to encourage them to stay longer and spend more. Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said there has been about a 30% surge in accommodation and flight bookings since the policy was announced. Chai Wacharonke, a spokesperson for the prime minister, earlier said that Thailand received 15 million international visitors in the first seven months. He said the government aims to draw 28 million tourists and generate 1.4 trillion baht ($39.2 billion) in revenue in 2023.

Persons: Srettha Thavisin, ” Srettha, Srettha, Dai, Chiang Mai, Peng, Wan Yi, Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Chai Wacharonke Organizations: Bangkok’s, Central, Tourism, Tourism Authority of, Ministry of Tourism Locations: BANGKOK, Shanghai, Thai, Thailand, Bangkok, Phuket, Wan, Wat Arun, Chinatown, Central Asian, Kazakhstan, China, Tourism Authority of Thailand

☆ Foodpanda confirms layoffs, says it's in talks to sell part of Asia food delivery business
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A courier for Foodpanda, a meal-delivery service operated by Delivery Hero AG, checks his smartphone while sitting on a motorcycle at the company's operations center in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, March 16, 2018. Bangkok's famed love affair with food is spilling over to meal-delivery apps, a fledgling sector that Foodpanda projects will surge in 2018 as competition intensifies. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesSingapore-headquartered food delivery service Foodpanda on Friday confirmed to CNBC that it is conducting its latest round of layoffs as the need to be "more agile remains critical." "Our company priority right now is to become leaner, more efficient and even more agile. This is Foodpanda's third round of layoffs since job cuts in February and September last year amid macroeconomic headwinds, according to media reports.

Persons: Bangkok's, Brent Lewin, Jakob Sebastian Angele Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty Images Singapore, CNBC Locations: Bangkok, Thailand

☆ Xi says China, US 'should and must' achieve peaceful co-existence
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the plenary session of the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 23, 2023. GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told two US Flying Tigers veterans who fought for China during World War II that China and the US "should and must" achieve peaceful co-existence, offering further cues for both sides to lower persistent tensions. "Looking to the future, China and the United States, as two major countries, bear more important responsibilities for world peace, stability and development," Xi said. "They should and must achieve mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation." Reporting by Ryan Woo; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Harry Moyer, Mel McMullen, Xi, Chiang Kai, Han Zheng, Antony Blinken, Han, Ryan Woo, Michael Perry Organizations: Rights, US Flying Tigers, Japan, American Volunteer Group, Flying Tigers, US, shek's Kuomintang, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights BEIJING, China, United States, Republic of China

☆ Ethereum co-founder says 'clear heads will prevail' in the SEC's legal battles with crypto firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The co-founder of Ethereum, Joseph Lubin, said "clear heads will prevail" as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission continues to dispute with crypto firms in court over whether crypto tokens are considered securities. "I anticipate that, with previous technologies like the internet, the web and cryptography, clear heads will prevail," Lubin told CNBC's "Capital Connection" on Thursday. Crypto firms such as Binance, Coinbase and Ripple are fighting lawsuits with the SEC, which has accused them of law violations. The SEC sued Ripple and its co-founders in 2020 of violating securities laws by selling its native cryptocurrency XRP without first registering it with the SEC. In the same month, Binance was charged for several securities law violations.

Persons: Ethereum, Joseph Lubin, Lubin, CNBC's, Binance Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, ConsenSys, SEC Locations: America

☆ Ripple says it will fight the SEC lawsuit 'all the way through'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

In 2020, the U.S. SEC accused Ripple and its co-founders of breaching securities laws by selling its native cryptocurrency XRP without first registering it with the SEC. U.S.-based cryptocurrency company Ripple says it's planning to fight the ongoing lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission "all the way through." "We are planning to continue to fight the case all the way through," Monica Long, Ripple's president, told CNBC on Monday. The lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC has stretched for nearly three years. In 2020, the SEC accused Ripple and its co-founders of breaching securities laws by selling $1.3 billion of its native cryptocurrency XRP without first registering it as a security.

Persons: Monica Long, Analisa Torres, Long Organizations: U.S, SEC, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, CNBC, District Locations: U.S

☆ GlobalFoundries opens $4 billion Singapore expansion fab to meet 'demand for essential semiconductor chips'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A robotic arm moves 300 mm silicon semiconductor wafers inside a sorting machine in a cleanroom at a Globalfoundries Inc. semiconductor fabrication plant. Liesa Johannssen | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesU.S.-headquartered GlobalFoundries announced Tuesday the opening of its $4 billion expansion fabrication plant in Singapore as the contract chipmaker expects "growth in demand for essential semiconductor chips." Singapore supplies 11% of the world's semiconductors, according to the Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association. GlobalFoundries acquired Singapore's Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing and took over its fabs in 2010. The following June, the Nasdaq-listed semiconductor manufacturer said its first tool had been moved into the Singapore facility.

Persons: Johannssen, GlobalFoundries, chipmaker, Thomas Caulfield, Caulfield, CNBC's Organizations: Inc, Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC, Qualcomm, MediaTek, NXP Semiconductors, 5G, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association, Partnership, Samsung, Semiconductor Manufacturing, Economic, Board, Nasdaq, CNBC's Sri Locations: Singapore, U.S, Germany

☆ How Luckin Coffee overtook Starbucks as the largest coffee chain in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

SHENZHEN, CHINA - 2020/10/05: Chinese coffee shop chain Luckin Coffee logo seen at a store. Founded in 2017, Luckin Coffee burst onto the Chinese coffee scene to challenge Starbucks through affordable coffee options and mobile ordering. China is Starbucks' second-largest market after the U.S. Luckin Coffee grew to 10,829 stores in China at the end of June, surpassing Starbucks as the largest coffee chain brand in the country following what one analyst calls an "aggressive" expansion. Meanwhile, Starbucks' stores worldwide are company-owned and the American coffee chain does not franchise operations, according to its website. The Chinese coffee chain said that it sold 5.42 million Moutai alcohol-infused lattes on the first day of its launch.

Persons: Alex Tai, Li, Rahul Maheshwari, Luckin, Vivian Leung, Zhang Peng, Price, it's, Jianggan Li, Leung, Kweichow Moutai, Moutai, Shawn Yang, Yang, latte Organizations: Getty, Starbucks, U.S, Luckin, Momentum, Coffee, CNBC, Lightrocket, Brand Finance, Blue Lotus Research Institute Locations: SHENZHEN, CHINA, China, Singapore, Guangzhou, TIANJIN, Asia, Beijing

☆ Climate change adds workplace costs and hazards
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Mark John | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The 57-year-old's death in hospital was announced in late August - just as his trade union was ratifying a deal with UPS on improved heat protections. In a statement to local media, UPS (UPS.N) said it was cooperating with the authorities as they investigated the cause of death. "We train our people to recognize the symptoms of heat stress, and we respond immediately to any request for help," it said. Many European and other usually temperate countries still have no laws establishing maximum work temperatures. "Climate change is such a paradigm shift that all of us need to rethink these legacy economic assumptions," said NELP's Christman.

Persons: patchily, Chris Begley, Halshka Graczyk, Graczyk, Chaya, Anastasia Christman, Owen Tudor, Tudor, Jerome Volle, NELP's, David Stanway, Catherine Evans Organizations: UPS, Teamsters, International Labour Organization, Chiang Mai University, . Occupational Health, Safety Authority, Employment Law, International Trade Union Confederation, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Texas, Paris, Thailand, Myanmar, China, Singapore

☆ North Korean hackers have allegedly stolen hundreds of millions in crypto to fund nuclear programs
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The FBI claims North Korea-linked hackers were behind a $100 million crypto heist on the so-called Horizon bridge in 2022. Budrul Chukrut | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesNorth Korea-linked hackers have stolen hundreds of millions of crypto to fund the regime's nuclear weapons programs, research shows. "In recent years, there has been a marked rise in the size and scale of cyber attacks against cryptocurrency-related businesses by North Korea. And this is just obviously a much more efficient way for North Korea to make money. North Korean hackers' exploitsNorth Korea-affiliated hackers exploit vulnerabilities in the crypto ecosystem in a variety of ways.

Persons: Budrul Chukrut, TRM, Chainalysis, Nick Carlsen, Carlsen, cybercriminals, Mavis Organizations: FBI, Getty, TRM Labs, cryptocurrency, Labs, North, United Nations, UN, Democratic People's, CNBC, Korean, Street Journal, Sky Locations: North Korea, North, New York, Democratic People's Republic, Korea, Chainalysis

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