News Headlines - 03 November 2020

▽Ant Group: China halts the world's biggest IPO after dust up with Jack Ma - CNN

Ant Group's highly anticipated IPO has been suspended following a meeting between the company's billionaire co-founder Jack Ma and regulators in China, an abrupt move that threatens what was due to be the largest share sale in history.
The Shanghai Stock Exchange said in a statement on Tuesday that it had postponed the company's listing, less than two days before its shares were due to begin trading, because of "major issues" that might cause it "not to meet the listing conditions or disclosure requirements."
The IPO has also been suspended in Hong Kong, according to a statement from Ant Group, which referenced the meeting between Ma and Chinese officials as well as "recent changes" in regulations. In a statement on its official WeChat account, Ant Group apologized to investors for "any inconvenience caused by this development."

▽Hong Kong Police Arrest Documentary Producer Over Mob Attack Program | Voice of America

Police in Hong Kong arrested a producer Tuesday who made a documentary for government broadcaster RTHK about a July 21, 2019, mob attack on train passengers in Yuen Long.
Bao Choy, who worked on an investigative documentary showing how police were present as baton-wielding men in white T-shirts began to gather in Yuen Long ahead of the bloody attack on passengers and passers-by, was arrested at her home, RTHK reported.

▽Former SMAP member Katsuyuki Mori wins auto race national championship - The Mainichi

Katsuyuki Mori, a former member of superstar pop idol group SMAP, won the national championship Tuesday in auto race, a Japanese version of motorcycle speedway which allows gambling on races.
The 46-year-old -- who left the immensely popular, now-disbanded group in 1996 -- was in tears after winning his first top-level event in the 5,100-meter race, comprising 10 laps of the Kawaguchi Circuit in Saitama, north of Tokyo.

▽Thai King addresses protesters in rare public comments, saying he 'loves them all the same' - CNN

As mass anti-government protests build across Thailand and calls for reform of the monarchy grow, King Maha Vajiralongkorn has called his country "the land of compromise," suggesting there may be a way out of the months-long political impasse.
The Thai King made his first public comments on the pro-democracy demonstrations that have gripped the country for more than four months in an exclusive rare joint interview with CNN and Channel 4 News during a royal function at the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Sunday.

▽In Chechnya, newborns named after Prophet Muhammad will receive 100 000 rubles

The Akhmat Haji Kadyrov Regional Public Foundation will pay 100 000 rubles to each family that names children born between October 28 and October 29 after Prophet Muhammad, as well as after his family members or closest associates. The charity event is scheduled to coincide with the Prophet’s birthday, Chechnya’s Minister for Press and Information Akhmed Dudayev said to TASS on Wednesday.