China in grip of debunked coup rumours as Xi Jinping house arrest reports grow with all eyes on General Li Qiaoming Reports across Asia today Social media across China and the rest of Asia continues to be in overdrive today as persistent rumours that president Xi Jinping has been removed in a coup refuse to die down. Local and regional media speculate China’s long-standing leader was removed when he was away in Samarkand while attending the recent SCO summit, on [...]
Willie Walsh: China’s Covid policy cost Hong Kong aviation hub status WILLIE WALSH China’s zero-Covid policy has cost Hong Kong its status as an aviation hub, according to veteran Willie Walsh. A former chief executive of BA’s owner IAG, Walsh is now at the helm of airline trade body the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The director general blamed China’s Covid policies for “devastating” the Hong Kong aviation [...]
China blocked from attending Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state UK-China relations A Chinese government delegation has been blocked from attending Queen Elizabeth II’s lying in state. House of Commons speaker Lindsey Hoyle has refused a request for Chinese officials to be allowed access to Westminster Hall, where Queen Elizabeth II will lie in state until her funeral on Monday, Politico first reported. The refusal comes after [...]
EY’s Greater China business opts-out of global split September 11, 2022 EY’s Greater China practice, which covers mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Mongolia, has confirmed it will not be taking part in the Big Four firm’s global split. EY’s China segment said it is “unable to participate” in Big Four accounting firm’s ground-breaking plans to separate the firm’s audit business from its consulting arm. [...]
World heading towards a ‘perfect’ cybercrime storm, cybersecurity experts warn September 6, 2022 THE COMBINATION of mounting geopolitical tensions, the looming economic downturn and the push to digitalise business processes is creating a “perfect storm” for hackers, cybersecurity experts told City A.M. NCC chief executive Mike Maddison said the digitisation agenda on the back of the global pandemic has created new opportunities for hackers in opening up new [...]
Chinese using state-backed hackers to attack energy projects in South China Sea August 30, 2022 China is using state-backed hackers to launch cyberattacks against energy projects in the South China Sea, according to new research from cybersecurity firm Proofpoint and consulting firm PwC. Hacking group Red Ladon, also known as TA423, is using a simple phishing scam to attack politically significant targets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, including defense [...]
Prudential shares continue to slide as Covid hits insurer’s profits August 25, 2022 Shares in Asia-focused insurer Prudential continued to slip over the previous day as investors maintained their scepticism towards the firm’s claims its recent losses are simply the result of Covid. The London listed firm’s shares have lost more than 30 per cent of their value since the start of 2022, as stringent Covid policies across [...]
China banks cut key interest rate in bid to revive stalling economy August 22, 2022 China’s banks have slashed a key interest rate in a token gesture to revive the world’s second-largest economy. The country’s central bank said yesterday the one-year loan prime rate offered by banks was cut to 3.65 per cent from 3.7 per cent, while the five-year rate dropped to 4.3 per cent from 4.45 per cent. [...]
PwC to face Hong Kong probe over Evergrande audit August 15, 2022 Hong Kong’s audit watchdog has launched an investigation into PwC over its audit of embattled Chinese real estate developer Evergrande. The city-state’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) today said it had opened an investigation into the Big Four accountancy firm’s audit of the heavily-indebted property firm’s 2020 results. The probe comes after PwC signed off [...]
China economy wilts under weight of ‘zero Covid’ restrictions and soft demand August 15, 2022 Strict adherence to blunt restrictions on daily life to deal with Covid-19 outbreaks is sending a chill through the Chinese economy, a raft of data released today showed. Beijing’s blanket lockdowns across some of the country’s economic powerhouses, including Shanghai, one of the world’s top trade hubs, are weighing on output. Retail sales growth in [...]