Over Q1 2020, COVID-19 has developed from an emerging threat to a transformational reality with potentially long-lasting effects on economic growth. All optimism for commodity markets at the start of the year was quickly extinguished as the coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China. Prices have been dragged down further by dire market fundamentals which were a result of government-imposed lockdowns in the major global economies. Both supply and demand have been lowered across the board, but demand has been harder hit and will be slower to make a recovery. Most commodities have further to fall from here. There has been a profound human cost to the pandemic and the economic fallout of governments’ responses is just starting to be counted. Read more
Tag Archives: Country: China
Sogou Introduces World’s First 3D AI News Anchor
Sogou Inc. (NYSE: SOGO) (“Sogou” or “the Company”), an innovator in search and a leader in China’s internet industry, today jointly launched the world’s first 3D AI News Anchor with Xinhua News Agency, a national news agency in China. The 3D AI News Anchor features the latest generation of the Sogou AI Vocational Avatar technology, which employs 3D modeling and cutting-edge AI technologies to create true-to-life avatars of human beings. The breakthrough demonstrates comprehensive improvements in movement and flexibility, interaction capability, and applications, which will further drive innovation in the news industry. Read more
CRU: China to Announce More Than RMB 5tn of Stimulus
China will set out its major economic objectives and policy goals for 2020 at the National People’s Congress. We expect fiscal stimulus of 5-8% of nominal GDP to be announced, half the size of the stimulus that followed the GFC. Most of this stimulus will come in the form of bond issuance (e.g. special treasury bonds and local government special bonds). The biggest beneficiary of this stimulus will be the transport and infrastructure sectors. On monetary policy, we do not expect aggressive interest rate cuts or QE; but efforts will continue to ensure financial markets remain liquid, through lending targets and RRR cuts. Read more
New EIA Report, Mukula Cartel
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A new report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Mukula Cartel, exposes how associates connected to Zambian President Edgar Lungu, including his daughter Tasila Lungu, onetime resident of the United States of America, are reportedly involved in the plunder of valuable, increasingly scarce, mukula rosewood trees; and hence the destruction of Zambia’s vulnerable forests. The investigation shows that despite public pledges to end the illegal mukula trade, several politicians are repeatedly named as key actors in an influential timber trafficking network that bypasses existing national bans on mukula harvest and export.
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China says its people can contact the outside world, after Trump skirted country’s firewall to tweet on trip
BEIJING, CHINA (NOVEMBER 9, 2017) (REUTERS) – Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hu Chunying said on Thursday (November 9) there were plenty of channels for people in China to communicate with “the outside world”. Hua’s comments were a response to a journalist’s question about whether China sees U.S. President Donald Trump’s open use of twitter during his trip in Beijing to be in breach of Chinese law. Continue reading
New glass skywalk offers tourists stunning experience in north China
China Central Television (CCTV)- A newly-opened glass skywalk in the East Taihang Scenic Area in Handan City, north China’s Hebei Province, offers tourists a chance to get a stunning experience when strolling over it. Continue reading
McDonald’s new Chinese name mixed in translation
McDonalds has chosen a new name in China, but as Anita Li reports that’s not going down well in the country. Continue reading
Cooking pancakes on computer cover: Chinese ‘office chef’ becomes internet sensation
CHENGDU, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (MS YEAH) – In what looks like a typical office setting, a woman takes apart the central processing unit of a computer and uses it as a hot pan to make Chinese pancakes. Continue reading
China launches world’s largest ore carrier
China Central Television (CCTV)- China launched the world’s largest ore carrier on Tuesday in Qingdao City of east China’s Shandong Province.
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China’s Bitcoin trading platform BTCChina to stop trading
China Central Television (CCTV)- One of the largest Bitcoin trading platforms in China, BTCChina, announced on Thursday that it will stop all trading from September 30. Continue reading