Italy's rightwing government approves a new labour day decree aimed at reducing state benefits and increasing labour market flexibility. The decree includes measures to make it easier to hire workers on short-term contracts and scale back the basic income scheme. #Italy #LabourMarket #BasicIncome

China's involvement in Ukraine could be a game-changer, with President Xi Jinping's call to President Zelenskyy and appointment of an envoy for peace settlement. While wary, Ukraine, Russia, US, Europe, and China have potential interests. Xi has leverage over Putin and a prolonged war is a liability for Beijing's influence in Europe. The US seeks an end to the war and only China can force Russia to make concessions. Will Xi decide it's in China's interest to play a positive role in ending the war? #UkraineConflict #ChinaDiplomacy

US President Biden reaffirms commitment to defend the Philippines against Beijing's harassment in the South China Sea. Mutual defence treaty triggered if any attack on Philippine aircraft or ships. Increased co-operation and military aid provided. Will Manila allow US bases in event of Chinese invasion of Taiwan? #USPhilippinesAlliance #SouthChinaSea #MutualDefenceTreaty #MilitaryAid #BidenAdministration

Lockdowns have disrupted education for many young professionals, leading to weaker teamwork and communication skills. Deloitte and PwC are stepping up to provide extra coaching to their junior staff, highlighting the challenges faced by employers in dealing with the long-term impact of the pandemic. #professionaldevelopment #COVID19 #coaching

The deployment of German soldiers to operate Patriot missile defence systems in Poland has tested the German-Polish relationship, which is at its worst since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Political feuding and accusations have left German officials feeling that winning elections is more important than a constructive relationship with Germany. #Germany #Poland #NATO #EU #foreignrelations

Chinese IPOs have dominated the global market, raising over 5x more than the US this year. The US market has been hit by rising interest rates and inflation, while Europe remains stagnant. Chinese companies have raised over $19.5bn across nearly 80 deals, accounting for 53% of the global total in 2023. However, Hong Kong has not seen the same success, with new listings bringing in less than $1.5bn so far. #IPO #China #US #globalmarket

US regulators took different approaches to the collapses of First Republic and Silicon Valley Bank. The Biden administration's hands-off approach to First Republic's collapse has sparked calls for tougher regulation, including more robust capital and liquidity requirements. #banking #regulation #FDIC #JPMorgan

China's proposed regulations on generative AI have sparked concerns about government control over the technology. Companies must submit a security assessment to the state before using generative AI products, which must not subvert state power or harm national unity. Progress towards China's AI goals has been mixed, with some companies benefiting from public money and enabling state repression. #AI #China #regulations

The rise of AI language tools could lead to the end of human history as we know it. AI's ability to create stories, laws, and religions could trap us in a world of illusions. We must demand rigorous safety checks and regulations before it's too late. #AI #language #regulation

Romania's economy is booming, but its population is shrinking. As a result, the country is experiencing a shift from being a nation of emigrants to one of immigrants. However, bureaucracy and labor shortages are making it difficult for foreign workers to fill the gaps. #Romania #immigration #economy

US small and medium-sized banks face tough competition and rising funding costs, while behemoths like JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America attract deposits with minimal interest. To tempt deposits back, banks will have to pay more, leading to a profits squeeze and likely consolidation. #banking #finance #consolidation

China's post-pandemic recovery may be slower than official stats suggest, but it's still outpacing the rest of the world with only a 0.7% YoY rise in consumer prices. Meanwhile, US prices rose by over 5%. Will China's cautious approach pay off in the long run? #economy #COVID19