Shopper spending trends this season

December 15, 2024 | 7:46 pm

IN BRIEF:

• According to EY research, 69% of global consumers will participate in this year’s value hunt, with one-third indicating they will spend more than last year.

• Smart, savvy, and shrewd consumers are willing to switch between channels for what they want, intensifying shopping channel fragmentation.

Despite low consumer confidence, shoppers eagerly anticipate this year’s holiday sales. According to the EY Future Consumer Index, which surveys 13,000 respondents, 69% of global consumers intend to participate in this year’s value hunt. The data also reveal subtle yet significant shifts in consumer shopping plans, expectations, and values — trends that are expected to influence consumer behavior well beyond the holiday sales.

Shoppers are considered “smart” for utilizing a full range of channels and technologies to obtain what they want; “savvy” for their ability to evaluate marketing and promotional offers; and “shrewd” for being more discerning about what value means to them.

ANTICIPATING DEALS AND STRETCHING BUDGETS
The value hunt began earlier this year, with companies initiating seasonal sales in September or October partly in response to the US Thanksgiving holiday falling at the end of November, shortening the traditional five-week spending period by a week. Despite this, 52% of global consumers will delay spending for the holidays, anticipating better deals. Most global consumers plan to only purchase products on sale this year, with 67% actively tracking market offers — rising to 73% among consumers with children.

In the Philippines, two online shopping platforms have seen year-on-year growth surges, with customers anticipating monthly deals such as 11.11 and 12.12 sales. One shopping platform saw a nine-fold increase in customer engagement throughout its 11.11 sale as customers earned discounts by participating in daily check-ins and challenges. One food and beverage corporation observed strong consumer Christmas spending based on the sales of their gift packages, pointing to an increase in sales from the previous year.

Shoppers are also more deliberate about when and how they spend, often due to cost concerns. Nearly half will be using loans, credit cards, and buy-now-pay-later solutions to defer shopping costs. However, not all consumers are borrowing; about half report having saved for the festive season. Regardless of the source of their funds, more consumers are determined to spend wisely this year, preferring to purchase items with lasting value and invest more in technology.

For many consumers, festive shopping behavior is not driven by bargain hunting, with 48% of global consumers stating they will purchase the ideal gift regardless of whether it is on sale. Additionally, 64% of consumers often question the real value of promotions they encounter in festive sales, while 58% believe that their preferred items will not be on sale anyway.

To optimize value, consumer products companies and retailers should concentrate on digital promotions and messaging. They should continuously refine digital promotions to match the consumer quest for value, and create distinctive sales promotions to quickly broaden audience reach and enhance perceived value. In addition, ensure that messaging remains current, integrated, and easily accessible throughout the holidays.

BALANCE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMERCE
A physical store remains the primary shopping destination for 68% of consumers, but they are willing to switch between channels for what they want, intensifying ongoing fragmentation of shopping channels. The value of physical stores extends beyond the holiday atmosphere they provide, with many consumers preferring to physically experience a product before purchasing.

Nevertheless, platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram are set to become significant sales channels this season, particularly among Chinese consumers. In China, 50% of consumers plan to purchase through social media, compared to 24% in the US and 17% globally. According to a TikTok-commissioned study conducted by research company Kantar Profiles, which looked into shopping behaviors in Southeast Asia during the festive season, 81% of Philippine TikTok users rely on TikTok to find new brands and products for the holidays while 77% of users use the platform for their Christmas shopping. Notably, 84% of Philippine TikTok users participated in its mega sales events last year, and they are 2.3 times more likely to increase spending in 2024.

Global consumers will increasingly adopt social sales channels as new capabilities enable brands to replicate the in-store experience. Leading brands are already using livestreams to create competitor-free spaces where consumers can ask about a product in real-time and click to purchase.

While the range of channels might seem overwhelming, data indicate that consumers are adept at selecting the right one for their needs. Consumers are now prioritizing price over product, a shift from the norm as the value from promotions becomes a key differentiator in deciding where to shop. Although this approach works for shoppers, it exacerbates the ongoing challenge of channel fragmentation.

To navigate the increasingly complex brand experience, companies must adopt a holistic approach to actively analyze, prioritize, and support the channels delivering the most value. Experiment with shoppable social content to accelerate the purchase journey and take advantage of impulse buying, then incorporate these insights into planning for next year.

GEN Z AND SUSTAINABLE CHOICES
Younger consumers are expected to be the most active shoppers this festive season. Gen Z, in particular, plans to increase spending across nearly every category, including clothing, technology, and experiences. These consumers can be particularly demanding, as they are impatient, seek convenience, and value sustainability, indicating trends that more consumers will likely adopt in the coming years.

Gen Z is prioritizing organic or sustainably sourced products, actively seeking brands that align with their values. A third plan to purchase second-hand goods as gifts, either to stretch their budgets or invest in higher-quality items they couldn’t afford if new.

The rise of second-hand shopping and gifting could significantly impact categories such as fashion, while popular resale platforms offer Gen Z opportunities to find unique, affordable, and environmentally friendly gifts. Some brands already capitalize on this trend by establishing or investing in resale platforms for their own goods. These platforms boost sales while helping brands, especially luxury ones, maintain a high-quality experience and limit counterfeit sales.

As digital natives, younger consumers prefer using online channels with access to peer reviews and influencer content about potential purchases. Seeing someone relatable unboxing and using items eliminates the need to see them instore.

Companies can focus on meeting Gen Z’s expectations for convenience, as they value having more control over deliveries and are likely to choose faster options, free shipping, and flexible delivery windows. For instance, 40% of Gen Z consumers value same-day delivery, compared to just 25% of Baby Boomers.

While these expectations are challenging to meet profitably, data show that 47% of younger consumers are willing to buy extra items to qualify for free shipping, compared to 35% of consumers over the age of 60. Companies that optimize their delivery logistics to meet this demand can drive additional purchases and increase their margins simultaneously.

Moreover, themes of self-care and self-reward resonate more deeply with younger consumers. Gen Zers are more interested in beauty and personal care products than clothing, possibly because they are more discerning towards what needs to be new and what can be bought used.

To connect with them during the holiday season, rethink product mixes and business models to incorporate preloved items, private labels, and emerging brands aligned with Gen Z values. Companies can create cost and distribution strategies that address their desire for control and convenience, and collaborate with influencers to enhance brand transparency and showcase value.

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR SHIFTS BEYOND THE HOLIDAYS
Despite global economic uncertainty, most consumers are enthusiastic about this year’s festive sales while also becoming more strategic, concentrating on value, utilizing various shopping channels, and being selective with promotions.

These trends signify a consumer behavior shift that will persist beyond the holidays. As consumers become more discerning, tech-savvy, and intentional towards deals, retail and consumer product companies must note how this influences their future strategies.

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional advice where the facts and circumstances warrant. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of SGV & Co.

Maria Kathrina S. Macaisa-Peña is a business consulting partner and the consumer products and retail sector leader of SGV & Co.

NU defeats UST 78-73 to reclaim UAAP title

December 15, 2024 | 7:02 pm

UAAP87-WBB---NU-9637 — NATIONAL UNIVERSITY LADY BULLDOGS — UAAP

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IT did not take long for National University (NU) to reclaim its lost glory in the UAAP basketball queendom.

The Lady Bulldogs ascended back to their rightful throne that they surrendered after seven straight seasons of reign by quickly unseating the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tigresses, 78-73, in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 87 women’s basketball finals yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

It wasn’t an unblemished march like the school had at the pinnacle of its dynasty with a lone scar in Game 2, 78-68, after a 15-0 slate until the finals but NU still fulfilled the bigger goal and a dream title after only a year of futility.

NU’s empire at one point featured 108 straight victories for nine years and now, it hoisted its eighth title in nine seasons to re-establish its stronghold as the country’s best women’s team.

Rookie Cielo Pagdulagan stood the tallest in NU’s sweet redemption, hauling a near double-double of 21 points and nine rebounds on top of three assists and three steals in only 26 minutes of play to clinch the Finals Most Valuable Player plum.

Graduating ace Camille Clarin added 14 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals, including three big free throws in the waning seconds to preserve the Lady Bulldogs’ five-point lead heading home.

Angel Surada chipped in the same output, Karl Ann Pingol contributed 10 points and nine rebounds as Aris Dimaunahan captured his second UAAP title since taking over from dynasty architect Pat Aquino, who steered NU to six straight crowns.

“I’m very satisfied with how we conducted our year. These players were on it since Day one of our training camp. Today is the fruit of our labor the entire year,” said coach Aris Dimaunahan, who dedicated the championship to his late first-born child back in 1998 on its death anniversary.

“We kept our steps very cautiously. Our focus day-to-day was to get better and better. We had our 1^st loss of the season in Game 2. This is for the NU community. And today was that day.”

The Lady Bulldogs, who capped an overall 15-1 slate this year, absorbed a backbreaking 71-69 defeat off a Nikki Villasin game-winner for Santo Tomas last year to lose the throne in the thrilling Game 3.

It’s same scenario but a different result for NU this time around, bouncing back from a tough Game 2 loss for its first and only defeat this season.

That single scratch only made the Lady Bulldogs a fiercer creature when it mattered most, taking command of the winner-take-all duel in second half to lead by as many as 15 points.

NU was still in cruise control at 72-57 with six minutes to go after Ms. Clarin’s jumper before needing to hold fort amidst a fiery comeback attempt by the Tigresses, who moved to within 70-75 off a trey by Tacky Tacatac to cap a 13-2 uprising.

Ms. Clarin then brought the Lady Bulldogs home with a steal on the other end to ice the game at 77-70 as Ms. Sierba’s trey in the last 13.5 seconds hardly mattered.

Ms. Clarin split her next freebies for the final tally, signaling NU’s title celebration once again like it did for almost a decade.

Rookie Karylle Sierba, who fired 18 points in Game 2 to deny NU a perfect campaign, had 20 points, Ms. Tacatac scored 14, Brigette Santos and Angelika Soriano added eight while Mythical Team member Kent Pastrana settled for only seven points for the Tigresses. — John Bryan Ulanday

The Scores:

NU 78 – Pagdulagan 21, Clarin 14, Surada 14, Pingol 10, Cayabyab 5, Fabruada 4, Konateh 4, Betanio 3, Canuto 3, Villanueva 0, Bartolo 0.

UST 73 – Sierba 20, Tacatac 14, Santos 8, Soriano 8, Pastrana 7, Maglupay 7, Bron 5, Danganan 4, Serrano 0, Ambos 0.

Quarterscores: 17-17, 38-38, 65-50, 78-73.

Abris leads National Juniors chessfest after fifth round

December 15, 2024 | 7:00 pm

CEDRIC KAHLEL ABRIS gained the upper hand after pulling the rug from under Phil Martin Casiguran in the fifth round of the Philippine National Juniors Chess Championships at the Philippine Chess Academy for Excellence over the weekend.

Thanks to the win, the 17-year-old De La Salle-Greenhills 12^th grader bumped Mr. Casiguran, the fourth-round solo leader, from the pedestal while assuming the post himself with 4.5 points.

Mr. Casiguran dropped to No. 2 along with fellow four-pointers FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo and Mar Aviel Carredo in this eight-round meet bankrolled by the NCFP and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Mr. Abris, a former ASEAN rapid gold winner who recently copped four golds in last month’s Batang Pinoy in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is on course of claiming the title for Under-20 players, the top purse worth P20,000 and the spot to next year’s World Juniors in Petrovac, Montenegro.

In the juniors’ girls’ class, Lexie Grace Hernandez bested Karol Jozef de Guia to catch up on the latter at the helm with four points each.

In hot pursuit of the co-leaders were a four-player group of 3.5-pointers composed of reigning national women’s champion and Olympiad veteran Ruelle Canino, Kayla Lorraine Aurelio, Jersey Marticio and Daren dela Cruz. — Joey Villar

Bucks beat Hawks, advance to NBA Cup final match

December 15, 2024 | 6:58 pm

LAS VEGAS — Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Cup final with a 110-102 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.

Damian Lillard added 25 points for the Bucks, making 8 of 21 attempts from the field and 5 of his 14 attempts from three. Trae Young led the Hawks with 35 points and 10 assists on 9-of-18 shooting. Young fell three rebounds short of a triple-double with seven, all of which came in the first half.

Milwaukee will face either the Oklahoma Thunder or Houston Rockets in Tuesday’s title game.

The Bucks outscored the Hawks 28-19 in a highly defensive fourth quarter to secure their trip to the final after losing an eight-point lead in the third. Antetokounmpo scored 10 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter to push the Bucks over the hump.

Young scored 14 points in the third quarter, helping the Hawks erase Milwaukee’s lead. Onyeka Okongwu buried a 3-pointer to tie the game at 78 and the Hawks regained an 80-78 lead on a Jalen Johnson dunk with 32.6 seconds remaining in the quarter. However, Johnson was awarded a technical foul for his response to the basket and Lillard went to the line for a free throw that trimmed Atlanta’s lead to 80-79. Johnson, who was fouled, then made his free throw.

Lillard promptly put the Bucks back ahead 82-81 on their next possession, draining a 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining in the third. Johnson made up for his transgression and put the Hawks ahead 83-82 with a tip-in in the quarter’s closing seconds.

The Hawks led 28-26 after the first quarter, but Milwaukee outscored them by eight points in the second quarter to take a 55-49 lead to halftime. Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 14 points in the first half, shooting 5-of-8 from the field while scoring seven points in each of the first two quarters. Young led the Hawks with 12 points in the first half and was already nearing a triple-double at halftime with seven rebounds and seven assists.

Milwaukee shot 39-of-86 (45.3%) from the field for the game, making 14 of its 45 attempts from 3-point range. They outscored the Hawks 22-15 in fast-break points and had a 47-44 outrebounding edge. Atlanta shot 42.7, making 10-of-24 attempts from beyond the arc. — Reuters

After losing in NBA Cup Western final 4, Mavs, Warriors square off

December 15, 2024 | 6:58 pm

TWO teams disappointed to be in San Francisco rather than Las Vegas this weekend go head-to-head Sunday night when the Dallas Mavericks visit the Golden State Warriors.

The Mavericks and Warriors, both of whom advanced to the West final four of the NBA Cup out of the same group, suffered first-round defeats in the single-elimination portion of the event. Dallas fell to the West’s top seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-104, on the road on Tuesday, then Golden State was eliminated at Houston, 91-90, on Wednesday.

The Cup format called for the two Western losers to square off in a contest added onto the regular-season schedule, giving each an 82^nd game to match the other teams in the league.

The result was a rematch of the Cup opener, which grabbed the national spotlight not because of the tournament but rather because it was Klay Thompson’s return to San Francisco after having left for Dallas in a sign-and-trade in the offseason.

Thompson successfully turned back the clock on his big night, thrilling his old fans with 22 points in his homecoming, a game the Warriors won 120-117. — Reuters

Ten-man Liverpool salvages draw; Arsenal held scoreless at home

December 15, 2024 | 6:58 pm

PREMIER LEAGUE leader Liverpool salvaged a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham despite trailing twice and having Andy Robertson sent off after 17 minutes on Saturday as chasing Arsenal were left to rue being held to 0-0 stalemate at home to Everton.

On what turned out to be a good day for second-placed Chelsea, who face Brentford on Sunday, Liverpool would have been far happier with their draw than title rivals Arsenal.

Diogo Jota scored an 86^th minute equalizer at Anfield as Arne Slot’s side avoided a second league defeat of the season.

They have 36 points from 15 games, five more than Chelsea, while Arsenal’s failure to score at home for the first time this season left them still six points off the pace having played one game more than the two sides above them. — Reuters

Young leads the charge

December 15, 2024 | 6:57 pm

For the first time this month, Trae Young finally hit half his shots. Prior to yesterday’s outing, he managed to can a mere 34 of his 95 field goal attempts in December — remarkably atrocious for a three-time All-Star. At any other time, the numbers could be explained away by the small sample size; after all, even the best of the best find themselves swooning on occasion. Not in his case, though; a third into his 2024-25 campaign, his 30.8% and 38.4% clips from three-point territory and on aggregate stand as the worst of his career. And, considering that he has invariably leaned on the wrong side of efficiency since being drafted fifth overall in 2018, that’s saying a lot.

The irony, of course, is that the Hawks are winning despite Young’s depressed stats. They may have elephant-walked the start of their season in claiming just seven of 18 games, but they somehow turned it around thereafter even as he continued to put up bricks. In part, it’s because his threat level remains respectable; he leverages his willingness to keep hoisting as opportunities to feed teammates the ball for the score. Not for nothing is he likewise norming an all-time-high 12.2 dimes per contest. In short, he’s the engine propelling the cause of the red and yellow.

Significantly, the Hawks’ defeat at the hands of the streaking Bucks counts as an irony as well. Young may have put up a monster line (35, seven, and 10) while playing decent defense, but they found themselves eight short all the same at the buzzer. And so they bowed out in the Round of Four of the National Basketball Association Cup even as he got to make nine of a judicious 18 shots. They came close to booking a spot in the final, though; they actually led the contest early in the fourth quarter, but could not quite stick the landing.

Notwithstanding the defeat, the Hawks are in a good place. They’re seventh in East standings, and can boast of having upended the league-leading Cavaliers twice along with important triumphs over the Celtics, Bucks, and Knicks. In other words, they have proven their capacity to stand toe to toe with the established elite. It’s not an inconsequential feat, and they have used their victories to further build confidence. Clearly, they were right to abandon the Dejounte Murray experiment in the offseason. But are they also justified in keeping Young, decidedly undersized at 6’1” and 165 pounds? Only time will tell. Meanwhile, he has them exceeding themselves — exactly why he’s around and leading the charge.

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Korea’s acting president moves to reassure allies

December 15, 2024 | 5:27 pm

SEOUL — South Korea’s acting president, Han Duck-soo, moved on Sunday to reassure the country’s allies and calm financial markets a day after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and suspended from his duties over a martial law attempt.

Han spoke with US President Joseph R. Biden by phone, the White House and Mr. Han’s office said.

“South Korea will carry out its foreign and security policies without disruption and strive to ensure the South Korea-US alliance is maintained and developed steadfastly,” Mr. Han said, according to a statement from his office.

In a further attempt to stabilize the country’s leadership, the main opposition party announced it would not seek to impeach Mr. Han for his involvement in Mr. Yoon’s Dec. 3 martial law decision.

“Given that the prime minister has already been confirmed as acting president and considering that excessive impeachments could lead to confusion in national governance, we have decided not to proceed with impeachment procedures,” Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung told reporters.

Mr. Han, a longtime technocrat picked by Yoon as prime minister, was elevated to acting president in accordance with the constitution while Mr. Yoon’s case moves to the Constitutional Court.

NORTH KOREAN THREAT
Mr. Yoon’s surprise martial law declaration and the ensuing political crisis spooked markets and South Korea’s diplomatic partners worried over the country’s ability to deter nuclear-armed North Korea.

Biden told Han the ironclad U.S.-South Korea alliance remained unchanged and Washington would work with Seoul to further develop and strengthen the alliance as well as trilateral cooperation including neighbor Japan, Han’s office said.

The White House said in a statement that the US president “expressed his appreciation for the resiliency of democracy and the rule of law in the ROK and reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of the United States to the people of the ROK,” using the abbreviation for the country’s formal name, the Republic of Korea.

“President Biden expressed his confidence that the Alliance will remain the linchpin for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region during Acting President Han’s tenure.”

Han convened his cabinet and National Security Council shortly after Saturday’s impeachment vote and vowed to maintain military readiness to prevent any breach of national security.

South Korea’s partners wanted to see a credible and constitutional temporary leadership put in place as soon as possible, said Philip Turner, a former New Zealand ambassador to South Korea.

“They will be pleased to see Prime Minister Han take over as acting president,” he said. “He is capable, experienced and well respected in foreign capitals.”

But even with an acting president in place, international partners face months of uncertainty before a new president can be elected and a new government established, Mr. Turner added.

The Constitutional Court has up to six months to decide whether to remove or reinstate Mr. Yoon. If he is removed or resigns, a new elections will be held within 60 days.

“During that time Korea’s highly competent professional bureaucracy can be relied on to keep the country’s foreign policy running, but they will find it hard to provide clear direction,” Mr. Turner said.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT
South Korean shares rose for a fourth straight session on Friday on hopes that the political uncertainty would ease after the impeachment vote in parliament, which followed a failed vote a week earlier.

Democratic Party leader Mr. Lee said the most pressing issue is a slump in consumption caused by insufficient domestic demand and the government’s reduction of its fiscal role.

He called for a National Stability Council for Governance comprising the government and parliament to discuss finance, economy and public livelihoods.

“To address this, I believe it is necessary to promptly discuss a supplementary budget,” Mr. Lee said, adding that a supplementary budget could include funding to support small businesses and investments related to artificial intelligence and infrastructure to try to head off energy shortages.

Parliament, controlled by Mr. Lee’s party, passed a 673.3 trillion won ($470.6 billion) 2025 budget bill on Tuesday that cut the government’s 677.4 trillion won proposal, without reaching agreement with Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party and the government.

By law parliament cannot increase government budgets, and at the time the Democratic Party said a supplementary budget could be needed to address spending for people’s livelihoods.

The party said its cuts were mostly in reserve funds for the government, interest costs and funds allocated to the presidential office, prosecutors and auditors for classified operations. The government accused parliament of delaying projects for small businesses with the cuts.

Deadlock over budget issues was one of the justifications Yoon cited for imposing martial law. — Reuters

Britain joins CPTPP in biggest post-Brexit trade deal

December 15, 2024 | 5:26 pm

The British union flag flutters on the Victoria Tower at the Houses of Parliamen, in London, Britain Dec. 30, 2020. — REUTERS/TOBY MELVILLE

LONDON — Britain officially became the 12^th member of a trans-Pacific trade pact which includes Japan, Australia and Canada on Sunday as it seeks to deepen ties in the region and build its global trade links after leaving the European Union.

Britain announced last year it would join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in its biggest trade deal since Brexit.

The accession means Britain will be able to apply CPTPP trade rules and lower tariffs with eight of the 11 existing members from Sunday — Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The agreement enters into force with Australia on Dec. 24, and will apply with the final two members — Canada and Mexico — 60 days after they ratify it.

The pact represents Britain’s first free trade deals with Malaysia and Brunei, but while it had agreements with the other countries, CPTPP provisions go further, especially in giving companies choices on how to use “rules of origin” provisions.

The CPTPP does not have a single market for goods or services, and so regulatory harmonization is not required, unlike the EU, whose trading orbit Britain left at the end of 2020.

Britain estimates the pact may be worth 2 billion pounds ($2.5 billion) a year in the long run — less than 0.1% of GDP.

But in a sign of the strategic, rather than purely economic, implications of the pact, Britain can now influence whether applicants China and Taiwan may join the group.

The free trade agreement has its roots in the US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership, developed in part to counter China’s growing economic dominance.

The US pulled out in 2017 under then-President Donald J. Trump and the pact was reborn as the CPTPP.

Costa Rica is the next applicant country to go through the process of joining, while Indonesia also aims to do so. — Reuters

Scandal-hit Prince Andrew back in the UK headlines over alleged Chinese spy

December 15, 2024 | 5:22 pm

LONDON — Britain’s Prince Andrew was facing intense media scrutiny on Saturday after revelations that a close Chinese business associate of the scandal-hit younger brother of King Charles was thought by the British government to be a Chinese spy.

In a court ruling on Thursday, it was disclosed that the businessman, known only as H6, had been banned from Britain on national security grounds because the authorities suspected he was working clandestinely for Beijing to forge close contacts with prominent British figures.

Late on Friday, Andrew, the Duke of York, issued a statement to the BBC and other media in which he said he had “ceased all contact” with the individual, described in the court documents as a “close confidant”, once concerns were raised.

“The duke met the individual through official channels, with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed,” the statement said.

However, questions about the case have continued to dominate British front pages and news broadcasts.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the British intelligence agency MI5 was investigating Chinese money given to Andrew, while the Times said the prince had invited the businessman to the royal properties Buckingham Palace, St. James’ Palace and Windsor Castle.

The Mirror reported that King Charles had been briefed by MI5 and was “truly exasperated” by the situation. A royal source told Reuters that Buckingham Palace had been kept informed of the situation in the appropriate ways and at the appropriate junctures.

ESPIONAGE ACCUSATIONS
While British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sought to thaw ties with China since taking office in July, London and Beijing have repeatedly traded spying accusations, with British security services warning of Chinese attempts to infiltrate political, business and academic spheres.

The Chinese embassy in London described the H6 case as another attempt to smear China and sabotage normal working relationships.

The case also shines a light on the finances of the 64-year-old prince.

Andrew, once a dashing naval officer who served in the military during the Falklands War with Argentina in the early 1980s, has now become a royal pariah over his friendship with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

He was forced to step down from a roving UK trade ambassador role in 2011, before quitting all royal duties in 2019 and then being stripped of his military links and royal patronages in 2022 amid allegations of sexual misconduct which he has always denied.

British media have reported that Charles had cut off his allowance and wanted to oust the duke from his Royal Lodge home on the Windsor estate.

The court documents about H6, who had been authorized to act for Andrew to seek investors in China, referred to a 2021 document listing talking points for a call between him and the prince in which he wrote the duke was “in a desperate situation and will grab onto anything.” — Reuters

Rhode Island hit by data breach as hackers demand ransom

December 15, 2024 | 5:21 pm

hacker-2883632_1280 — STOCK PHOTO | Image by geralt from Pixabay

HUNDREDS of thousands of Rhode Island residents’ personal and bank information, including Social Security numbers, were very likely hacked by an international cybercriminal group asking for a ransom, state officials said on Saturday.

In what Rhode Island officials described as extortion, the hackers threatened to release the stolen information unless they were paid an undisclosed amount of money.

The breached data affects people who use the state’s government assistance programs and includes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and healthcare purchased through the state’s HealthSource RI, Governor Dan McKee announced on Friday.

Hackers gained access to RIBridges, the state’s online portal for obtaining social services earlier this month, the governor’s office said in a statement, but the breach was not confirmed by its vendor, Deloitte, until Friday.

“Deloitte confirmed that there is a high probability that a cybercriminal has obtained files with personally identifiable information from RIBridges,” the governor’s office said in a statement on Saturday.

A representative from Mr. McKee’s office was not immediately available to Reuters for comment.

Anyone who has applied for or received benefits through those programs since 2016 could be affected.

The state directed Deloitte to shut down RIBridges to remediate the threat, and for the time being, anyone applying for new benefits will have to do so on paper applications until the system is back up.

Households believed to have been affected will receive a letter from the state notifying them of the problem and explaining steps to be taken to help protect their data and bank accounts. — Reuters

North Korean troops join Russian assaults in significant numbers, Kyiv says

December 15, 2024 | 5:20 pm

North Korea-Army — Military personnel take part in a parade to mark the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency on April 26, 2022. — KCNA VIA REUTERS

KYIV — Russia has begun using North Korean troops in significant numbers for the first time to conduct assaults on Ukrainian forces battling to hold an enclave in Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.

The Ukrainian leader said the more active use of the troops was a new escalation in the war and called for a global response, as Donald J. Trump’s return to the White House next month fuels speculation of a coming push for peace talks.

“Today, we already have preliminary data that the Russians have begun to use North Korean soldiers in their assaults. A significant number of them,” Mr. Zelensky told Ukrainians in his daily wartime address.

The North Koreans were being used in combined Russian units and only on the Kursk front for now, he said, adding: “We have information suggesting their use could extend to other parts of the frontline.”

Kyiv first said North Korean forces turned up in Russia’s Kursk region in October and later reported unspecified clashes and casualties. It estimates there are 11,000 North Koreans in total, adding to a force of tens of thousands of Russians.

Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Koreans on its side.

Ukraine, nearly a fifth of which is occupied by Moscow’s troops, launched an incursion into Russia’s western Kursk region in August, carving out an enclave that it said could be used as a bargaining chip in any talks to end the war.

Ukraine has battled to hold the area, although some Western military analysts have questioned the incursion’s rationale, arguing it has extended an already-sprawling front line, exposing Ukraine’s manpower weakness as it battles a larger foe.

Kyiv said the operation sought to divert Russian forces, but it has not stopped Moscow notching up its fastest gains in the east since 2022, although Russian forces have taken heavy casualties, according to Kyiv and the West.

POTENTIAL ENDGAME
Ukraine’s General Staff reported a significant increase in the number of Russian assaults on the Kursk front, along with airstrikes, glide bomb raids and more than 200 artillery attacks.

Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, said the North Koreans had taken losses, but provided no numbers.

“The Russians are counting on numbers and are trying to carry out assault operations with the help of the Koreans, when the task of the Koreans is to run under the blows of our forces and occupy certain areas,” Mr. Kovalenko wrote on Telegram.

As Mr. Trump’s return has put the focus on a potential endgame in the war, Kyiv has urged the West to put it into a stronger position and bridled at fears of escalation, a line echoed by Mr. Zelensky as he denounced North Korea’s role in the fighting.

“In essence, Moscow has dragged another state into this war, and to the fullest extent possible. And if this is not escalation, then what is the escalation that so many have been talking about?” Mr. Zelensky said.

He used his address to issue a fresh appeal to his allies to strengthen their support for Kyiv, something he said he would discuss with European powers next week.

Mr. Zelensky plans to attend a meeting with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, NATO, and the EU in Brussels on Wednesday. — Reuters