Taliban denies UN accusations about violating women's rights
Taliban denies UN accusations about violating women’s rights
Kabul: Taliban authorities on Tuesday condemned U.N. allegations that they are violating women’s rights to work in Afghanistan, insisting that thousands of people are employed in the country’s public sector.
But Sharafuddin Sharaf, chief of staff at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, said many women were paid despite not attending work, as the offices were not set up for proper segregation of the sexes.
“Working together in an office is not possible in our Islamic system,” she said, a day after a United Nations human rights expert said there had been a “staggering regression” in women’s rights since the Taliban’s return to power in August.
He could not offer any figures on the number of women working but insisted that “not a single employee has been fired” from the civil service.
However, there have been several protests by women for losing their jobs and demanding the right to work, some of which have been forcibly quelled by the Taliban.
Sharaf said some women only went to work “once a week to their relevant offices to sign their assistance, and their salaries are paid at home.”
This takes place in offices where “gender-based segregation has not yet been done,” she said, adding that women were working in the ministries of health, education, and interior where they were needed.
Sharaf said it was up to the Taliban’s male leadership to decide when women “can come to the rest of the offices where they don’t currently come.”
Her comments come after a UN human rights expert said women’s freedoms had deteriorated significantly since the Taliban returned.
“There is no country in the world where women and girls have been so quickly deprived of their fundamental human rights simply because of gender,” said Richard Bennett, special rapporteur on the situation of rights in Afghanistan in Geneva. Government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Bennett’s report was biased.
“There is no threat to women’s lives in Afghanistan now, or no one dishonors Afghan women,” she said in a statement late Monday, adding that they are still enrolled in public and private universities.
Still, most girls’ high schools across the country have been ordered closed, meaning this generation of female college students could be the last.
Several Taliban officials say the ban is only temporary, but they have also laid out a litany of excuses for the closure, from a lack of funds to the time needed to reshape the curriculum along Islamic lines.
On Monday, the education minister was quoted by local media as saying it was a cultural issue, as many rural people did not want their daughters to attend school.
Brother of Former Coinbase Manager Pleads Guilty in Cryptocurrency Insider Trading Case
Brother of Former Coinbase Manager Pleads Guilty in Cryptocurrency Insider Trading Case
The brother of a former Coinbase product manager has pleaded guilty in a cryptocurrency insider trading case. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), he faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
DOJ’s First Crypto Insider Trading Case
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday that Nikhil Wahi, brother of a former product manager at Coinbase Global Inc. (Nasdaq: COIN), “pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to commit insider trading in cryptocurrency assets.” The Justice Department calls it the “first cryptocurrency insider trading case.” Nikhil Wahi was arrested in July.
His brother, Ishan Wahi, worked at Coinbase as a product manager assigned to the cryptocurrency trading platform’s asset listing team as of October 2020.
The Justice Department explained that on multiple occasions between July 2021 and May 2022, Nikhil Wahi benefited from the use of “confidential Coinbase information about which crypto assets were scheduled to be listed on Coinbase.”
After receiving advice from his brother on what crypto assets Coinbase planned to list on its exchanges, Nikhil Wahi “used anonymous Ethereum blockchain wallets to acquire those crypto assets shortly before Coinbase publicly announced the listings,” the Justice Department detailed, elaborating:
“Following Coinbase’s public listing announcements, on multiple occasions, Nikhil Wahi sold the crypto assets for profit.”
The Justice Department explained that to hide his purchases, Nikhil Wahi “used accounts on centralized exchanges held in the name of others, and transferred funds, crypto assets, and profits from his scheme through multiple anonymous Ethereum blockchain wallets.”
Nikhil Wahi “also regularly created and used new Ethereum blockchain wallets without any prior transaction history to further conceal his involvement in the scheme,” the Justice Department added, noting:
“Nikhil Wahi, 26, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.”
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also slapped the two brothers and their friend with insider trading charges. Nikhil Wahi and the friend “allegedly bought at least 25 crypto assets, at least nine of which were securities, and then usually sold them shortly after the ads to make a profit. The long-standing insider trading scheme generated illicit profits totaling more than $1.1 million,” the SEC detailed.
HOUSTON: Oil prices fell 2 percent on Tuesday, reversing previous gains as U.S. consumer prices rose in August. Price giving cover for the U.S. Federal Reserve to deliver another sharp interest rate hike next week.
Brent futures for November delivery fell $2.05, or 2.2 percent, to $91.95 a barrel at 11:38 a.m. ET (1638 GMT). U.S. crude fell $1.73, or 2 percent, to $86.05 a barrel.
The consumer price index gained 0.1% last month after remaining unchanged in July, the U.S. Labor Department said. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast a 0.1% drop.
Fed officials will meet next Tuesday and Wednesday, with inflation well above the U.S. central bank’s 2% target.
“The Fed may have to raise rates faster than expected, which could cause a ‘risk pullback’ sentiment in crude and further strength for the dollar,” said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president of operations at BOK Financial.
Oil is usually priced in U.S. dollars, so a stronger dollar makes the product more expensive for holders of other currencies.
Renewed COVID-19 restrictions in China, the world’s second-largest oil consumer, also weighed on crude prices.
The number of trips made during China’s three-day Mid-Autumn Festival holiday fell. The tourism revenues also fell showed by official data. The Covid-related restrictions discouraged people from traveling.
Both contracts rose by more than $1.50 a barrel earlier in the session, supported by concerns about tighter inventories.
“The structural outlook for the oil market remains one of rigidity. This is offset by cyclical demand headwinds,” Morgan Stanley said in a note.
Global Stocks Fall Extends to Asia After the US CPI
Global Stocks Fall Extends to Asia After the US CPI
Asian stocks, bonds, and currencies fell in the wake of the widespread sell-off on Wall Street after warmer-than-expected inflation data fueled bets on jumbo interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.
Stock indexes in Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia plunged after U.S. stocks had their biggest drop in more than two years, with the S&P 500 falling more than 4% and the Nasdaq 100 falling more than 5%. European stock futures fell while U.S. contracts rose.
Japan’s 10-year bond yield rose to 0.25%, the upper end of the central bank’s policy band, while the yen fluctuated below the key level of 145 against the dollar. The finance minister warned that Japan would not rule out any response if current trends in the yen continued and those options included entering markets.
Swap traders are confident that the Fed will raise interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point next week and some bets will appear for a full-point move. That leaves investors weighing the possibility of tighter conditions in a swath of markets after returning to risk-sensitive assets in recent days in hopes that inflation will cool further.
The two-year Treasury yield, the most sensitive to policy changes, rose further in Asia after jumping as much as 22 basis points, pushing it more than 30 basis points above the 10-year rate and deepening an inversion in what is usually a recession warning. Australia’s benchmark 10-year yield rose 10 basis points.
“The markets had desperately tried to turn a bullish case and fight the Fed, basically, and that’s a dangerous place to be,” said Carol Schleif, deputy chief investment officer at the BMO Family Office at Bloomberg TV. Looking ahead, he pointed to “a lot of fiscal stimulus on its way to the market to take part in the place of the monetary stimulus that’s being withdrawn.”
The U.S. consumer price index rose 0.1% from July after it was unchanged in the previous month, Labor Department data showed. Compared to the previous year, prices rose by 8.3%, a slight slowdown, but even more than the median estimate of 8.1%. The so-called core CPI, which eliminates the most volatile food and energy components, also exceeded forecasts.
The reversal in the markets casts a dark shadow over the debate over the outlook for the global economy and markets. The latest Bank of America Corp. survey showed that the number of investors expecting a recession has reached the highest level since May 2020.
A dollar gauge fluctuate after rising more than 1% in the CPI report. The greenback’s strength weighed on Asian currencies, with the Korean won falling about 1.5%. The People’s Bank of China set the daily benchmark rate for the Yuan at the strongest bias on record compared to the average estimate in a Bloomberg survey of analysts and traders.
“Many emerging markets are feeling the heat of the strength of the U.S. dollar,” said Chi Lo, senior market strategist for the Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Asset Management, citing its greenback debt loads. “Only China can afford to challenge this global trend of rising rates by maintaining its easing policy stance.”
Bitcoin had a drop of more than 10% overnight, the biggest decline since cryptocurrencies plummeted in June.
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Apple's Latest Products and Services are all About Loyalty to Apple
Apple’s Latest Products and Services are all About Loyalty to Apple
Apple on Wednesday unveiled the iPhone 14 lineup, the Apple Watch Ultra, and the new AirPods. The big theme of the day was keeping users more locked in the company’s ecosystem. Also: CEO Tim Cook reveals his biggest debate with Steve Jobs.
The Starters
The iPhone 14 Pro
Apple Inc.’s biggest event of the year delivered some dazzling updates and some ho-hum products. At Wednesday’s Far Out launch show, the tech giant released updates for the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch. He also emphasized the issue of Apple’s product ecosystem more than ever.
Most of the major changes were expected, but Apple revealed some smart touches, in particular, the dynamic island of the iPhone 14 Pro. The feature is a real feat. There’s nothing more “Apple” than taking the ugliest part of the iPhone (the notch) and disguising it as one of the most impressive hardware-software built-in features in years.
The Pro improvements contrast with those of the standard iPhone 14, which has not changed since the iPhone 13. It follows the same playbook as the iPhone XS in 2018: you can get a larger screen in the form of the iPhone 14 Plus, like the XS Max. Otherwise, there is little reason to upgrade.
It’s fair to say that the regular iPhone 14 is the least impressive year-over-year update in product history. Apple didn’t even bother to give the standard iPhone 14 its newest chip, which was an unprecedented move.
New AirPods Pro
Meanwhile, the second-generation AirPods Pro responds to many long-time user requests. It improves noise cancellation, bass, and sound, better background noise blocking, and longer battery life. It has the ability to slide headphone rods to control playback and volume.
For consumers new to the AirPods, the latest Pro model seems to be a great option. If, like me, you bought the first AirPods Pro in October 2019, now is a good time to upgrade, especially if your batteries are dwindling.
If there’s a knock on the AirPods, it’s that they don’t support Apple’s new lossless audio feature. That technology enables the playback of music. It is “virtually indistinguishable from the original studio recording,” according to the company. The feature isn’t yet compatible with any AirPods model. The launch of the new Pro headphones could have been an opportunity to change that.
The problem with bringing lossless audio to AirPods is Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a wireless protocol that doesn’t have enough power to stream such high-quality audio. It’s no secret that Apple has been cooking up a solution. A replacement for Bluetooth would bring the feature to future AirPods.
The Apple Watch Ultra
Then there’s the Apple Watch. As I indicated several months ago, we are receiving the broadest set of changes to this product since its launch in 2015. For the first time, Apple introduced three distinct models: a new low-end SE, the standard 8 Series, and the exclusive Ultra.
There is not much to say about the new SE. The company developed a different production process and gave the device a cheaper back cover to help reduce the price by $30: $249 instead of $279. That was a necessary move with the discontinuation of the $199 Apple Watch Series 3. If you have a 2020 SE, I see no reason to upgrade to a slightly faster processor.
The 8 Series model isn’t a dramatic upgrade either. It has a body temperature sensor for women’s health, something that could benefit millions of people. But the model lacks design changes, additional health sensors like a blood pressure monitor, a faster processor, better speakers, or better battery life (aside from the new low-power mode).
It’s also worth noting that Apple won’t allow users to determine their actual body temperature with the new sensor. It helps customers replace thermometers as they have done with blood oxygen readers.
The Ultra, so, is one of Apple’s most impressive new pieces of hardware in years. Its programmable side button, giant screen, and oversized battery life will be appreciated by anyone who wants the best Apple Watch, not necessarily just divers or marathon runners.
With that in mind, I’m not sure Apple should have exclusively focused its Ultra marketing on extreme sports athletes. Instead, it could also have highlighted how the features appeal to non-athletes and released a plethora of daily-wear bands. An update to the link bracelet in titanium, for example, would have been great.
But even if the Ultra watch and iPhone 14 Pro are worthy upgrades, the biggest issue of the day was making it as difficult as possible to get away from Apple’s ecosystem.
This goes beyond how well the various products work together. The company is increasingly touting the iPhone and Apple Watch as devices that can save your life. The watch already offers the ability to detect heart problems or a bad fall. Now Apple is introducing car accident alerts and emergency satellite services.
The iPhone 14 Pro marketing (Source: Apple)
The idea of Apple products saving your life will surely be ingrained in people’s minds by the company’s marketing department in the coming months and years. That will leave many consumers with the distinct impression that getting rid of their iPhone or Apple Watch is an irresponsible move.
Of course, Apple’s rivals like Samsung Electronics Co. have their security features. And companies like T-Mobile US Inc. are trying to open up satellite connections to all mobile phone users, not just the iPhone crowd.
But Apple is hard to beat to make its technology seem like the safest bet. Other changes, such as the company’s shift to virtual eSIM cards in the United States, could make it even harder to ditch the iPhone (though it can create complications for customers traveling internationally and using carriers that don’t support the standard).
The issue of locking users into Apple’s ecosystem has been important to the company in recent years. These days, the ability of Apple products to play well together is more of a competitive advantage than ever and key to expanding the company’s user base, generating more recurring revenue, and most importantly, preventing defections to rival platforms.
I attended the Code Conference on Wednesday night, where Cook, Laurene Powell Jobs, and Jony Ive were interviewed by Kara Swisher about Steve Jobs’ legacy. Before the night concluded, an audience member asked Cook why the iPhone hasn’t adopted RCS, or rich communication services, a Google-spearheaded messaging replacement.
He told the questioner, “I don’t hear our users asking us to put a lot of energy into it right now” and suggested that he buy his mother an iPhone if he wants to message her more fluidly. That says it all.
The Bench
Tim Cook speaks during an event at the Steve Jobs Theater
Tim Cook reveals his biggest disagreement with Steve Jobs. Here’s another fun fact from the Code Conference: Tim Cook discussed the biggest debate he’s ever had with Steve Jobs. For the original iPhone, Cook wanted carriers to subsidize the device to make it cheaper for consumers. Jobs wanted carriers not to subsidize him and instead give Apple a revenue share of the carrier’s plans.
The original iPhone launched at $499 without subsidy. Jobs got away with it, but not for long. A year later, the iPhone 3G was priced at $199 and customers received subsidies instead of Apple getting a share of the revenue. Cook said the subsidy approach helped drive the device’s massive growth and called the debate with Jobs a multi-year discussion.
Wristcam’s new iPhone to Apple Watch video chat feature
The Wristcam update promises video calls without an attachment. Wristcam, a niche accessory that adds a video chat camera to the Apple Watch, will get a small update along with WatchOS 9 next week. For the first time, the third-party Wristcam app on the Apple Watch will allow users to receive video calls from an iPhone without the Wristcam accessory. That means Apple Watch users can send audio and receive video without sending video.
The Schedule
The line at an Apple store in New York (Source: Bloomberg)
September 12: Apple’s iOS 16 will be released to all users before the new devices arrive later in the week.
September 16: The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max go on sale, along with the Apple Watch Series 8 and the second-generation Apple Watch SE.
September 23: The Apple Watch Ultra and second-generation AirPods Pro hit stores.
October 7: And finally, the iPhone 14 Plus goes on sale.
King Charles III has Proclaimed Britain's New Monarch
King Charles III has Proclaimed Britain’s New Monarch
King Charles III is now the world’s newest monarch. He has officially proclaimed sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The monarchy ceremony was held on Saturday morning in a constitutional ceremony dating back hundreds of years. There are Nearly 700 members of the current Accession Council. They are the oldest functioning part of Britain’s government. All of them were called to meet Saturday at St James’s Palace in London. St James’s Palace is the official residence of the UK’s kings and queens for centuries.
The council is composed of Privy Counsellors, a select group of high-ranking politicians, including the new Prime Minister Liz Truss, religious figures from the Church of England, the Lord Mayor of London, and a group of other senior public officials from across British society and the other 14 “kingdoms” or nations, for which the monarch serves as the official head of state.
While King Charles III immediately became king following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday after a record 70 years on the throne. The council’s role was to recognize the passing of a monarch and then proclaim the new one on behalf of the British government. It is part of Britain’s constitutional process.
Around 200 of the current privy councilors attended the proceedings in London on Saturday. It included many former prime ministers and other high-ranking politicians. The Privy Council is the oldest operating part of Britain’s government. The Privy Council dates back nearly 1,000 years. For the first time in the long history of the Accession Council, the two-part ceremony was broadcast live on television on Saturday.
In the first part of the ceremony, British lawmaker Penny Mordaunt, lord president of the council, announced the death of Queen Elizabeth II. After that secretary of the council, Richard Tilbrook, read aloud a proclamation of accession.
The council members signed the proclamation.
For the second part of the council, King Charles joined the meeting at St James’s. The Privy Councilors watched as the new monarch read statements relating to his mother’s death, and then swore to serve his kingdom.
Charles promised to follow his mother’s “inspiring example”. Charles said he was “deeply aware of this great heritage and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty that have now passed on to me.”
“I know how deeply you and the whole nation are, and I think I can say that the whole world sympathizes with me in this irreparable loss that we have all suffered,” he said of the Queen’s passing.
Iran Calls the Statement on Nuclear Talks Unconstructive
Iran Calls the Statement on Nuclear Talks Unconstructive
Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday described it as “unconstructive” and “regrettable”. Germany, France, and Britain issued a joint statement. A statement was on negotiations aimed at reviving a 2015 nuclear deal.
“It is surprising and regrettable that, in a situation where diplomatic interactions and exchanges of messages continue… to complete the negotiations,”. The three European sides would issue such an “unconstructive” statement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said this.
The comments came after the trio of nations raised “serious doubts” about Iran’s sincerity in pursuing a revived nuclear deal and warned that the Islamic Republic’s position was jeopardizing prospects for a deal. The so-called E3 also warned that Iran “continues to escalate its nuclear program far beyond any plausible civilian justification.”
“The three European countries are advised to play a more active role in providing a solution to end the few remaining disagreements rather than entering the destruction phase of the diplomatic process,” Kanani said.
The three European parties to the deal said Saturday that Tehran “has chosen not to seize this critical diplomatic opportunity,” adding that “instead, Iran continues to escalate its nuclear program far beyond any plausible civilian justification.”
Tehran has also reopened issues related to its legally binding obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty that was concluded with the UN’s atomic energy watchdog, the IAEA, they added.
Iran has demanded that the International Atomic Energy Agency close its investigation into several undeclared nuclear sites, a starting point for Western powers.
Kanani said it was “regrettable that the three European countries have taken a step on the path of the Zionist regime to defeat the negotiations with this ill-considered statement,” referring to Israel, a staunch opponent of the deal.
“If such an approach continues, they must also accept responsibility for their results,” he said.
The 2015 deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA, gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for restricting its nuclear program.
But in 2018, then-US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal and began reimposing scathing sanctions, prompting Tehran to reverse its commitments under the deal.
Negotiations in Vienna since April 2021 have aimed to restore the deal by lifting sanctions against Tehran once again and pressuring Iran to fully comply with its obligations.
Last month, the European Union, which acts as a mediator for the talks, presented a “final” draft of the agreement.
Iran and the United States then took turns responding to the text, with Washington saying Friday that Iran’s latest response was a step “backwards.” Kanani said Saturday that “threats and sanctions” would not “prevent the Iranian people from pursuing their rights and securing their interests.”
Top 14 Best Motivational Quotes from Queen Elizabeth II
Top 14 Best Motivational Quotes from Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom passed away on Thursday, September 8, 2022, after more than 70 years as monarch.
The 96-year-old queen, who ruled Britain for the longest time, has been queen since 1952.
Here are the top 10 inspirational quotes from Queen Elizabeth II:
“People are moved by events that have their roots all over the world.”
“Sport has a wonderful way of bringing people and nations together.”
“When life seems hard, the brave does not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are even more determined to fight for a better future.”
“Everyone is our neighbor, regardless of race, creed, or color.”
“We do too much of what is wrong and too little of what is right. The problem with sadness is that it feeds on itself and depression causes more depression.”
“The birth of a baby brings great happiness, but then the business of growing up begins.”
“He has been my strength and remains all these years, and I, and his entire family, and this and many other countries, owe him a greater debt than he would ever claim, or we will ever know,” said the Queen of her husband, Prince Philip.”
“It is through this lens of history that we must see today’s conflicts, and thus give ourselves hope for tomorrow.”
“Pain is the price we pay for love.”
“Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that sometimes we need to save ourselves from ourselves, from our recklessness, or our greed.”
“In times of doubt and anxiety, the attitudes people display in their daily lives, in their homes, and at work, are of paramount importance.”
“He was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her ability to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness, the queen said after Princess Diana’s death in 1997. “I admired and respected her, for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two children.”
“Our modern world places such heavy demands on our time and attention that the need to remember our responsibilities to others is greater than ever.”
“While we may have more to endure, better days will come back: we will be with our friends again; we will be back with our families; we will meet again.”
Tesla's Battery Supplier in China Operates under Covid Restrictions
Tesla’s Battery Supplier in China Operates under Covid Restrictions
The world’s largest maker of electric car batteries said its largest plant in China is operating a factory bubble to comply with the country’s zero-tolerance restrictions on swine flu.
Yibin’s factory has imposed a closed-loop system. This system will allow it to operate in an orderly manner. It will be complying with measures to contain the spread of Covid. One of the most important markets for the company in China.
To follow China’s strict Covid Zero policy, the plant in southern Sichuan province has imposed many restrictions on the virus. 21 million residents of the provincial capital of Chengdu were locked up for more than a week due to a Covid outbreak.
During the Beijing Winter Olympics, circuits used were closed. The closer was to keep athletes and support staff separate from the rest of the population. Workers are usually required to live on-site and are regularly tested.
The systems were heavily used during the city’s two-month shutdown, with staff sleeping in the factory to maintain production.
Closed circuits have been imposed on factories by companies like Apple Inc.
If electricity shortages continued, manufacturing in the province would be disrupted, and companies like SAIC Motor Corp. would tell government officials that their operations could be affected.
The Yibin factory is the largest of its kind for the production of EV batteries. Doubling what the plant is currently spending.
China is trying to keep Covid out, while other countries are trying to keep it out. This year has seen large cities shut down or disrupted, dragging down the world’s second-largest economy and a key driver of global growth.
The World's Top Airline Stocks are in Asia Despite China's Blockades
The World’s Top Airline Stocks are in Asia Despite China’s Blockades
Asian airline stocks are by far the best performing among their global peers this year. These airlines are racking up gains as most of the region reopens for travel. China even sticks to its Covid-Zero strategy, imposing lockdowns and limiting travel.
Airline stocks in Asia are the only gains in a Bloomberg indicator of global airlines. They are led by Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., which has advanced 31% in 2022. While Cathay has long been hampered by Hong Kong’s Covid rules. It has recovered this year as the city loosens mandatory quarantine requirements at hotels.
Taiwan’s Eva Airways Corp., Japan Airlines Co., and ANA Holdings Inc. are up more than 10% this year, while Australia’s Singapore Airlines Ltd. and Qantas Airways Ltd. have also advanced. The 29-member Bloomberg World Airlines Index is down 15%, with low-cost carrier EasyJet Plc at the bottom of the stack, down 34%.
The World’s Top Airline Stocks are in Asia Despite China’s Blockades (Source: Bloomberg)
“Asia is only at the forefront of its own ‘revenge trip’ period”. It is a trend that has already developed in the United States and Europe, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Tim Bacchus said. The continent “has been the global laggard reopening.”
Airline stocks in Asia have advanced despite China maintaining strict Covid protocols ahead of a key Communist Party congress next month. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has extended a lockdown due to a few hundred infections. The reopening of travel to other parts of Asia is not the only factor driving airlines in the region. The Western world also has more concerns about inflation and recession, Bacchus said
