Here’s a brief summary of today’s noteworthy news from around the world:
1. G20 Summit: Concerns Over Canada’s Accusations
- During the recent G20 summit, US President Joe Biden and other world leaders expressed concerns to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Canada’s accusations of India’s involvement in the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada, according to sources cited by The Financial Times.
2. Chevron Ends Strike at Australian LNG Plant
- Chevron Corp. has reached an agreement with unions to end a strike at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Australia. The strike had been impacting the global fuel market.
3. Moody’s Reviews Credit Ratings of Chinese Real Estate Developers
- Moody’s Investors Service has announced a review of the credit ratings of two major Chinese real estate developers, China Jinmao Holdings Group and China Vanke. Both companies are likely to face credit rating downgrades, highlighting the broader challenges facing China’s real estate sector.
4. JPMorgan Downgrades SCB Investment Rating
- JPMorgan has downgraded the investment attractiveness rating of SCB to “Maintain investment weight” (Neutral). This decision is based on expectations that credit costs may exceed earlier estimates. Credit costs for the first half of the year stood at 1.84%.
5. Rupert Murdoch Passes the Torch to His Son
- Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as chairman of Fox Corp., a US television business, and News Corp., a US newspaper business. His son, Lachlan Murdoch, will take over the reins. This transition comes at a crucial time for the media industry.
6. South Korea Seeks US Cooperation on Chip Exports
- South Korea has requested US cooperation to address uncertainties surrounding US export controls on the chip business, including subsidies for chip investments.
7. Xi’an University Jiaotong Cancels English Proficiency Exam
- Xi’an University Jiaotong in China’s Shaanxi Province has canceled its English proficiency exam, sparking a debate about the role of English in the Chinese education system amidst increasing nationalism in the country.
8. Apple Releases Latest iPhone and Watch Models
- Apple has launched its latest iPhone and Watch models, testing whether the new smartphone design and smartwatch improvements will drive growth for the tech giant.
9. Facebook Introduces Multiple Profiles Feature
- Facebook has introduced a feature allowing users to create up to four additional profiles under one account, similar to the feature that Instagram has been offering for seven years, as reported by techradar.com.