Will ABN Amro end up in Belgian hands?

Brussels-based lender KBC Group is exploring a takeover of Dutch peer ABN Amro. We spoke with editor Pieter Couwenbergh to understand why KBC is eyeing ABN Amro, and he explained how this fits into the broader consolidation trend in the European banking sector.

The court ordered Booking.com to join a pension fund this year, but the company believes this isn't necessary for all its business units. As a result, over 2,500 employees are accruing less pension. This is causing unrest in the workplace. Editor Jasper Houtman explains how the pension dispute at Booking.com has returned to a full-blown state. After the Supreme Court ruling in March, this seemed to have been resolved.

Xiong'An, or "the city of the future," is China's answer to the housing shortage. The city is being built according to President Xi'an's strict guidelines. Among other things, he wants to prevent speculation, create a model society with strict camera surveillance, and only sell houses after construction is complete. Once state-owned enterprises have established themselves there, private entrepreneurs should quickly follow suit. We asked our correspondent in China, Roland Smid, whether the project has a chance of success.