Page 2 - Views Flash News Today

South Korea’s LGES, China’s CATL and partners plan to build comprehensive battery supply chains in the country. That’ll please Jakarta, whose bold electrification goals need industry buy-in. With supply chains stressed, it’s a well-timed boost for the wannabe production hub.

Brutal lockdowns in the financial centre are testing the elites confidence in the Communist Party. The tacit contract in which citizens traded political rights for rising living standards is fraying. Revolt is unlikely, but China can ill-afford a sulking intelligentsia.

City officials have called on food delivery apps from $123 bln Meituan and rivals to help feed 26 mln residents under strict lockdowns. It’s a chance for the companies to win political brownie points and new users. But the logistical challenges risk putting both out of reach.

Soaring gas prices are making products of crop nutrient producers like Norway’s Yara and Austria’s Borealis unaffordable for farmers. Subsidising the companies might be the least bad way to avoid a food inflation crisis. Waiting for grains to fail will store up bigger problems.

After months of fumbling, the Italian operator hung up on the U.S. fund’s 10.8 bln euro takeover approach. Stiff opposition in Italy had dampened KKR’s interest. For CEO Pietro Labriola, revamping the hard-pressed group under intense market scrutiny will be twice as hard.

Shares in Engine No. 1-backed Gogoro have jumped 16% since this week’s debut, adding zip to the Taiwanese battery-swapping scooter maker’s valuation. Yet it trails most car-charging outfits. There are risks, but Asia’s reliance on two-wheelers warrants a narrower gap.

The island is in turmoil after the war in Ukraine sent prices surging, leading to crippling shortages. Its foreign debt is now heading for a harder restructuring. Years of mismanagement make Sri Lanka an extreme case, but it’s a warning on the risks even for sturdier economies.

U.S. states coffers did surprisingly well during the pandemic and federal aid helped them build big fiscal buffers. Now many, like California, plan tax cuts. That may fuel even more inflation and prove unsustainable as more than $900 billion of support from Washington winds down.

Investors rebuked CEO Börje Ekholm for not disclosing possible payments to Islamic State by stripping him of legal protections. The telecoms-kit maker kept voting details quiet, and its dual-class share structure means Ekholm looks safe. Investors have more reason to steer clear.

The country that claims the second-largest Ukrainian diaspora has already done more than its southern neighbor to help those fleeing war. Unlike trade, immigration is one area where Ottawa has clout. Canada could prove an example to countries far removed from the crisis.