For an overview of global financial news, it is all in "Global Financial Dynamics". This column selects banking, insurance and other financial news from all over the world for you every day to help you expand your international vision, keep up with international trends, and let the global financial market reach the end of the world!
Japan plans to revise the tax-free shopping system for tourists.
According to the Nikkei Shimbun, Japan** is discussing revising the consumption tax exemption system for inbound tourists (foreigners visiting Japan), considering revising the tax exemption system to a model of paying consumption tax at the sales stage and refunding it after leaving the country.
According to the report, at present, foreign tourists visiting Japan can purchase goods directly at duty-free shops, which are exempt from consumption tax. The main reason why Japan** is considering revising this system is that it is suspected that tourists are using this system to buy goods and then resell them in Japan.
The handover ceremony of the BRICS presidency was held in Durban, South Africa
Recently, the handover ceremony of the BRICS presidency was held in Durban, South Africa, and South Africa's Special Envoy for Asia and BRICS Affairs, Sukral, delivered the report on the handover of the BRICS presidency to Russia on behalf of South Africa.
South Africa's presidency of the BRICS will end on December 31, 2023. Russia will take over the rotating chairmanship of the BRICS on January 1, 2024.
Bitcoin is back to $40,000
CoinMarketCap** shows that at 11:24 Beijing time on December 4, Bitcoin's intraday gain expanded to 358% at 40807$75 piece. Bitcoin trading** has risen by more than 140% so far this year.
Previously, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had allowed high-risk Bitcoin ETFs to be listed, but due to concerns about manipulation and fraud in bitcoin transactions, the agency never approved the transactions related to bitcoin spot ETFs and rejected the relevant applications several times.
A landslide in Tanzania has killed 47 people
According to Tanzania National Television (TBC), in recent days, heavy rains in northern Tanzania triggered landslides. As of the evening of December 3 local time, heavy rains and landslides have killed at least 47 people and injured 85 others, local ** said. The Tanzanian People's Defence Force (TNDF) has sent a special rescue team to join the search and rescue operation, and the search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.
Hassan** of Tanzania, who is attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, expressed his condolences to the victims of the disaster and instructed relevant departments to take immediate response measures and provide assistance to the affected areas.
South Korea's online shopping transaction volume exceeded 20 trillion won in October
According to data released by Statistics Korea a few days ago, South Korea's online shopping transaction volume increased by 11 percent year-on-year in October, driven by rising demand for travel services8%, up to 2009 trillion won (about $15.5 billion), a record high.
The data shows that as restrictions on the pandemic are eased globally, online shopping sales in the travel and transportation industry increased by 28% compared to the same period last year6%, up to 209 trillion won. Sales of online purchases via smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices increased by 6% year-over-year8%, up to 147 trillion won, accounting for 73 percent of the total online shopping transactions in October2%。
Amazon signs SpaceX Falcon 9
Recently, Amazon Inc. said that it has signed a contract with SpaceX to entrust it to carry out three satellite launches with the "Falcon 9" rocket to support the deployment of Amazon's satellite Internet "Kuiper Project".
Amazon Inc. said that launching satellites through SpaceX's rockets will provide additional boost to existing launch contracts to keep Project Kuiper on track, with cooperation between the two companies starting in mid-2025.
South African border inspectors have detected a major human trafficking case
The South African Border Agency (BMA) recently reported that the bureau successfully detected a major transnational child trafficking case on the evening of December 2, local time, and a total of 443 Zimbabwean children were rescued.
The commander of the South African Border Force, Michael Masiapato, said that the children have been properly housed and that South Africa** will return the children to Zimbabwe to reunite with their families as soon as possible in accordance with legal procedures.
Hong Kong, China and Thailand launched cross-border payment interconnection services
On 4 December, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank of Thailand** announced the launch of the FPS x PromptPay cross-border payment interconnection between Hong Kong and Thailand, providing convenient and secure cross-border retail payment services for visitors visiting the two places.
Visitors from Thailand and the Hong Kong SAR can use the mobile payment app to scan the FPS*** of Hong Kong merchants and the promptpay*** of Thai merchants respectively for retail payment, providing them with a convenient payment option and enabling merchants to receive the relevant payments instantly. This connectivity service provides greater convenience to travellers and helps boost tourism and benefit economic activities in both the HKSAR and Thailand.
Editor, audio production Xu Ning.
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