Money Talks

Over the past year, ransomware attacks have shut down large sectors of the US and global economies, as hackers cripple IT networks for a payoff. Kyoko Gasha takes a look back at this growing threat, including some of the biggest cyber security breaches of 2021.

Max Hashem Eiza is senior lecturer and researcher in cybersecurity at Liverpool John Moores University. He explains why so many businesses from different sectors have been targeted this year.

#Cybersecurity #2021Cyberattacks #RansomwareAttack

In China, a sweeping regulatory crackdown that's targeted everything from high tech to the property sector and beyond has calmed in recent weeks following a year-long roller-coaster ride, which saw more than a trillion dollars wiped off the value of Chinese companies globally. But it's left businesses uncertain about the future and raised fears over China's economic outlook. Patrick Fok reports from Beijing.

Jeffrey Halley is a senior market analyst for the Asia Pacific region at OANDA. He told us how China's regulatory crackdown affected its economy.

#ChinaRegulation #ChineseTechFirms #PropertyMarket

Global economic conditions have improved steadily over the past year, thanks to the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Most nations, particularly the richest ones, are on track to regain all the ground they lost during the height of the pandemic. But that progress has not been a straight line. Power shortages and supply chain bottlenecks have led to a surge in prices of several goods and services.

Christian Lawrence is a senior cross-asset strategist at Rabobank in New York. He tells us how the global economy regained its footing over the past 12 months, and what prospects are like for 2022.

#WorldRecovery #GlobalEconomy #2022Outlook

- Japan's industrial output jumps record 7.2% in November

- Didi reportedly blocks employees from selling shares

- Riot Games to pay $100M in gender discrimination case

#JapanIndustry #DidiLockUp #RiotGames

- Kaga Electronics to build new factory in Turkiye

- Cathay suffers pilot exodus due to quarantine rules

- New Spider-Man movie tops $1B at global box office

#KagaElectronics #CathayPacific #SpiderMan

It wouldn't be Christmas without cheesy pop songs. And one singer who's become synonymous with the holiday is Mariah Carey. She might not want a lot for Christmas, but her song of the season has definitely helped make some of her dreams come true.

#TheQueenofChristmas #MariahCarey #AllIWantForChristmasIsYou

Moving on to Spain, where the government has held the world's richest lottery, which contributes billions of dollars to charity every year. The pre-Christmas raffle has taken place without interruption since the early 19th century. And this year, just like in 2020, it offers a welcome respite for a nation that's seeing COVID-19 cases rise to record levels.

#ElGordo #SpanishLottery #ChristmasLottery

In New York City, nothing says it's Christmas quite like fir trees for sale on the streets. This year though prices are high, and supply is limited. Kyoko Gasha visits a local vendor to find out if people are buying.

#NewYork #ChristmasTrees #FirTreePrices

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without its traditional markets - at least in Germany. By now, the famous stalls selling German treats have been exported to spots all over the world. But so has the Coronavirus, which has dampened the festive mood for both sellers and visitors. Sibel Karkus reports from Berlin.

#Germany #ChristmasMarket #2GRules

While millions of people around the world will be unwrapping physical presents this Christmas, many will be receiving theirs digitally. Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, took the world by storm this year and are one of the hottest gift choices this festive season. Backed by Ethereum blockchain technology these digital assets are being used to trade art, music and an ever growing array of digital content. And as Mobin Nasir reports, analysts expect this market to continue mushrooming.

Jessica Walker is a content creator at cryptocurrency tracking site CoinMarketCap in Dubai. She told us why N-F-Ts have become popular among both artists and a new generation of collectors.

#NFTGifts #NonFungibleToken #DigitalArtworks