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Swiss prosecutors file charges against Credit Suisse and UBS over ‘tuna bonds' scandal
The Guardian· 2025-12-01 14:23
Core Points - Switzerland's federal prosecutor has filed charges against Credit Suisse and UBS over the "tuna bonds" loan scandal that significantly impacted Mozambique's economy nearly a decade ago [1][2] - The charges include money laundering against an unnamed Credit Suisse employee, with accusations of "organizational deficiencies" in both banks that allowed wrongdoing to occur [2][5] - The scandal involved $2 billion in loans arranged by Credit Suisse for Mozambique, with funds misappropriated and kickbacks totaling at least $137 million [3][4] Summary by Sections - **Charges and Accusations** - The Swiss attorney general's office has accused Credit Suisse and UBS of failing to implement necessary organizational measures to prevent money laundering during 2016 [5] - UBS has stated it will vigorously defend its position against the attorney general's conclusions [2] - **Background of the Scandal** - The tuna bonds scandal originated from loans intended for government-sponsored projects, including maritime security and a state tuna fishery [2] - A contractor was found to have arranged significant kickbacks, including $50 million for Credit Suisse bankers [3] - **Regulatory Settlements** - Credit Suisse settled with US and UK regulators in 2021, paying $275 million to American authorities and £147 million to the UK's Financial Conduct Authority [4] - UBS agreed to settle with Mozambique in October 2023, just before a trial was set to begin in London [4] - **Impact on Credit Suisse** - Credit Suisse was sold to UBS in March 2023 amid a banking crisis, with UBS acquiring the bank for 3 billion Swiss francs [5][7] - The crisis of confidence in Credit Suisse was exacerbated by its largest shareholder, Saudi National Bank, ruling out further funding [6]
Airbus finds problem with fuselage panels after fixing software glitch
The Guardian· 2025-12-01 14:15
Airbus has fixed most of its jets affected by a software glitch after a technical problem grounded thousands of its planes, but its shares tumbled on Monday after it discovered a separate issue with its fuselage panels.Airlines around the world cancelled and delayed flights over the weekend after the French plane manufacturer ordered immediate repairs to 6,000 of its A320 family of jets, more than half of its global fleet.Airbus said on Friday that analysis of a recent incident had revealed “intense solar r ...
Expect a tale of two holiday seasons as the well-off spend and the rest pull back | Gene Marks
The Guardian· 2025-11-30 15:00
Core Insights - The 2025 holiday season is expected to be divided into two distinct segments, influenced by varying consumer spending behaviors based on income levels [1] Group 1: Consumer Spending Trends - Higher-income individuals are likely to have a decent holiday season, with average salaries rising between 4.5% and 6.7% depending on job stability [2] - The top 10% of earners account for 50% of consumer spending, while the remaining 90% are expected to spend less due to high credit card debt and economic uncertainty [5][6] - Retail sales growth is projected at 4% for the holiday season, but much of this increase will be due to inflation rather than volume, leading to relatively flat real spending [7] Group 2: Economic Indicators - Deloitte forecasts holiday retail sales growth between 2.9% and 3.4%, significantly lower than last year's 4.2% and the 10-year average of 5.2% [8] - The economic landscape is characterized by high inflation, tariffs, and uncertainty, impacting consumer confidence and spending [8][9] Group 3: Impact on Small Businesses - Small businesses, which rely heavily on holiday sales for revenue, may face challenges unless they cater to affluent demographics or are located in wealthier areas [10][11] - The disparity in consumer behavior suggests that while some businesses may thrive, others will struggle due to reduced spending from lower-income consumers [9][11]
Airbus issues major A320 recall after mid-air incident grounds planes, disrupting global travel
The Guardian· 2025-11-29 10:17
Core Viewpoint - Airbus has initiated a significant recall affecting 6,000 A320 family jets, leading to widespread flight cancellations and delays globally, as safety concerns arise from a recent incident involving the aircraft [1][11]. Group 1: Recall Details - The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandated immediate repairs for the A320 aircraft, emphasizing that "safety is paramount" [1]. - The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive requiring specific software modifications for certain Airbus planes [2]. - Airbus indicated that while most fixes involve simple software changes, a subset of jets will require more extensive hardware modifications, with the number needing extensive fixes being lower than initial estimates of 1,000 [3]. Group 2: Impact on Airlines - Major airlines such as Delta, United, and American Airlines reported varying impacts, with American Airlines stating that 209 of its 480 A320 aircraft would require fixes, expecting completion by Saturday [5]. - In Australia, Jetstar cancelled 90 flights due to the issue, affecting a significant number of passengers [6]. - ANA Holdings in Japan cancelled 65 flights, indicating potential further cancellations [7]. - Other airlines, including Lufthansa, IndiGo, and easyJet, also reported disruptions but some had already completed necessary updates [8][10]. Group 3: Incident Background - The recall was triggered by an incident involving a JetBlue flight that experienced a sudden drop in altitude, resulting in injuries to passengers [12]. - The problem was traced to the elevator and aileron computer (ELAC), which is critical for flight control [13]. Group 4: Industry Context - The recall represents one of the largest in Airbus's history and comes at a time when airline repair shops are already facing capacity shortages due to other maintenance demands [14]. - There are approximately 11,300 A320-family aircraft in operation worldwide, with 6,440 being the core A320 model [14].
Computer maker HP to cut up to 6,000 jobs by 2028 as it turns more to AI
The Guardian· 2025-11-26 10:54
Core Insights - HP plans to cut between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs globally by the end of October 2028, as it increasingly adopts AI to enhance product development, which has led to a lower-than-expected profit outlook for the coming year [1][2] - The job cuts are expected to result in annualized savings of $1 billion by 2028, although the restructuring will incur costs of approximately $650 million [2] Company Strategy - The CEO of HP, Enrique Lores, emphasized the significant opportunity to integrate AI into the company to accelerate product innovation, improve customer satisfaction, and enhance productivity [2] - Affected teams will include those involved in product development, internal operations, and customer support [2] Industry Context - The announcement of job cuts at HP aligns with a broader trend where companies are citing AI as a reason for workforce reductions, with other firms like Clifford Chance and PwC also adjusting their staffing in response to technological advancements [4][5] - A report from the National Foundation for Educational Research indicated that up to 3 million low-skilled jobs in the UK could be at risk due to automation and AI by 2035, particularly in trades, machine operations, and administrative roles [3] Financial Performance - HP reported better-than-expected revenues of $14.6 billion for its fourth quarter, with demand for AI-enabled PCs making up over 30% of its shipments during that period [8] - However, rising memory costs, which currently account for 15% to 18% of the cost of a typical PC, could impact profits for HP and its competitors [7][8]
US senators call for investigation of scam ads on Facebook and Instagram
The Guardian· 2025-11-24 12:42
US senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal have asked the heads of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to investigate revenue from ads on Facebook and Instagram that promote scams and banned goods.“The FTC and SEC should immediately open investigations and, if the reporting is accurate, pursue vigorous enforcement action where appropriate” to force Meta to disgorge profits, pay penalties and agree to cease running such advertisements, Hawley and Blumenthal ...
Mining giant BHP drops latest bid to buy rival Anglo American
The Guardian· 2025-11-24 08:59
BHP has walked away from another attempt to take over rival miner Anglo American after it was again rebuffed, failing in a last-minute effort to disrupt the planned merger with Canadian mining business Teck Resources.The Australian mining company reportedly became interested in making another offer for FTSE 100-listed Anglo last week, more than a year after abandoning a £39bn attempt to buy the business.The latest failed overture comes as Anglo and Teck shareholders prepare to vote on their $53bn (£39bn) me ...
EU and US to restart trade talks as sticking points on July tariff deal remain
The Guardian· 2025-11-22 12:00
Group 1: Trade Negotiations - The EU and US are set to restart trade negotiations after a two-month pause to address unresolved issues in their tariff deal from July [1][2] - High-level meetings will take place in Brussels involving US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, trade representative Jamieson Greer, EU ministers, commissioners, and industry leaders [1][2] Group 2: Tariff Issues - Washington officials express frustration over the EU's slow implementation of the July deal, which is not legally binding and requires parliamentary approval [3] - Significant outstanding issues include the 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum, separate tariffs on steel-containing products, and food and drink levies [3] Group 3: Member State Concerns - Several EU member states, including France and Ireland, are advocating for the removal of the 15% tax on wine and spirits, which has impacted their exports [4] - The EU's trade commissioner and other officials will discuss the ongoing chip supply crisis from China during the meetings [4] Group 4: Industry Impact - Industry leaders, including those from Volkswagen and TotalEnergies, will participate in discussions, emphasizing the need to address the impact of steel derivatives on the trade deal [5] - The US has listed 407 products with steel elements facing separate tariffs, with plans to add 700 more products, causing significant challenges for exporters [5][6] Group 5: Strategic Alignment - The EU and US will explore aligning their domestic steel industries to protect against cheaper Chinese imports, with hopes that new anti-dumping proposals will lead to reduced tariffs on EU steel [7]
US data agency cancels October inflation report as Fed considers whether to cut rates
The Guardian· 2025-11-21 18:05
Core Insights - The US federal government will not publish official inflation data for October, impacting the Federal Reserve's decision-making on interest rates [1][2] - The cancellation of the consumer price index (CPI) report adds uncertainty to the assessment of the US economy's strength [2][4] - Fed Chair Jerome Powell has indicated a cautious approach in the absence of key economic data, comparing the situation to "driving in the fog" [2][4] Economic Context - Recent CPI releases indicate that price growth remains above typical levels, prompting actions from policymakers to address affordability concerns [2][3] - The Federal Reserve raised interest rates aggressively in 2022 and 2023 to combat inflation, with cautious cuts beginning late last year [3] - Fed officials are under pressure from external demands, including those from former President Trump, to consider further interest rate cuts [3][4] Labor Market Insights - The latest jobs report for September showed mixed results, with 119,000 jobs added but an increase in the unemployment rate to its highest level since 2021 [5] - The September jobs report was delayed due to the government shutdown, and the October report will not be released, with job data for October to be included in the November report [6]
AI bubble fears return as Wall Street falls back from short-lived rally
The Guardian· 2025-11-20 21:04
Fears of a growing bubble around the artificial intelligence frenzy resurfaced on Thursday as leading US stock markets fell, less than 24 hours after strong results from chipmaker Nvidia sparked a rally.Wall Street initially rose after Nvidia, the world’s largest public company, reassured investors of strong demand for its advanced data center chips. But the relief dissipated, and technology stocks at the heart of the AI boom came under pressure.The benchmark S&P 500 closed down 1.6%, and the Dow Jones indu ...