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☆ Alibaba rolls out latest version of its large language model to meet robust AI demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of the Alibaba office building is seen in the Huangpu District in Shanghai, June 16, 2023. Alibaba Cloud said on Thursday it released the latest version of its large language model after more than 90,000 deployments by companies. Alibaba Cloud said the latest version of its Tongyi Qianwen model, Qwen2.5, possesses "remarkable advancements in reasoning, code comprehension, and textual understanding compared to its predecessor Qwen2.0." Large language models power artificial intelligence applications like OpenAI's ChatGPT. The latest Qwen model fares better than OpenAI's GPT-4 model in language and creation capabilities, but fell short in other categories like knowledge, reasoning and math, according to a March analysis by large language model evaluation platform OpenCompass.

Persons: Alibaba Cloud, Zhou, Alibaba, OpenAI's Locations: Huangpu District, Shanghai

☆ EU opens probe into Alibaba's AliExpress over illegal content, pornography on platform
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of the Alibaba office building is seen in the Huangpu District in Shanghai, June 16, 2023. The Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, opened the probe into AliExpress under its landmark Digital Services Act, which came into effect this month. The European Commission on Thursday said it opened a formal investigation into AliExpress, an international e-commerce website run by Chinese tech giant Alibaba , over concerns surrounding the dissemination of illegal content. Other areas of the probe include how AliExpress recommends products to users and whether the e-commerce site complies with a rule that allows a searchable repository of ads that are provided on the platform. This is the third formal probe under the DSA, following those opened into TikTok and social media platform X.

Persons: AliExpress Organizations: European Union, Digital Services, European, DSA Locations: Huangpu District, Shanghai

☆ Alibaba bets on overseas e-commerce unit amid sluggish growth in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Sheila Chiang | In Sheilachiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Costfoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesChinese tech giant Alibaba Group is betting on its overseas businesses while domestic consumption growth remains sluggish. James Dong, CEO of Southeast Asian e-commerce giant Lazada Group, was named as Daraz's acting CEO. Dong took over as Lazada Group CEO from Chun Li in June 2022, after running the company's Thailand and Vietnam operations. Intense competitionThe e-commerce business that once propelled Alibaba to success has run into challenges with upstart competitors such as PDD, while consumption growth in China remains sluggish. Alibaba posted 9% year-on-year revenue growth in the third quarter to about $31 billion.

Persons: Eddie Wu, Yinglan Tan, AliExpress, Bjarke Mikkelsen, Jan, James Dong, Lazada, Tan, Alibaba, Zhang, Dong, Chun Li, Li, Pierre, Lucy Peng, PDD Organizations: Nurphoto, Getty, Digital Commerce, Tmall, Tmall Group, Alibaba, Ventures, Lazada, CNBC, Ventures Partners, Alibaba Group, PDD Holdings, Hong Kong, HK Locations: Huangpu District, Shanghai, Taobao, monetization, Alibaba, Pakistan, Asia, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong

☆ Louis Vuitton stages dramatic runway show in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Stephy Chung | Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Many of the looks were completed with naval accessories, like raffia bucket hats and Louis Vuitton Keepall 25 bag hand-embrodiered with seashells. Musician Ma Siwei and actor Dylan Wang at the Louis Vuitton Men's fashion show in Hong Kong, China. Louis Vuitton opened its first boutique in Hong Kong in 1979. Many of the looks were completed with naval accessories, like raffia bucket hats and Louis Vuitton Keepall 25 bag hand-embrodiered with seashells. “I definitely knew I wanted Hong Kong to be my second stop after Paris,” he said of his Louis Vuitton show schedule.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Louis Vuitton’s, Pharrell Williams, Pont, Hong, Anson Lo, Song, ”, Williams, ” —, —, Louis Vuitton, Ma Siwei, Dylan Wang, Billy H.C, Kwok, Virgil Abloh, Louise Delmotte, “, Louis Vuitton’s, junkboat, Dior, Louis Vuitton's, Lam Yik, Tyrone Siu, Reuters Louis Vuitton’s, Lorraine Schwartz, it’s, ” Williams, “ You’re Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hollywood, CNN, Louis, Paris, Vuitton, National Security Law, Hong Kong Tourism Board, ”, Bloomberg, Getty, K11 Group, Stars, Victoria, Reuters, Reuters Louis Vuitton’s womenswear Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Hong, Victoria Harbour, American, Paris, Hawaii, China, Victoria Dockside, Huangpu, Shanghai, South Korea

☆ Nomura reassesses mainland China business plan as losses mount
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Nomura Securities is seen at the company's Head Office in Tokyo, Japan, November 28, 2016. Nomura's majority-owned joint venture has struggled to grow since its launch in 2019, dragged down by the pandemic and a slowing economy. In 2022, the joint venture lost 225 million yuan ($30.75 million), after losing 84 million yuan in 2021, according to Nomura's filings. Nomura's China joint venture headcount has dropped to 259 from 281 in July, far short of the original target of increasing it to 500 by this year. The joint venture is 51% owned by Nomura, 24.9% by Orient International Holding, and 24.1% by Shanghai Huangpu Investment Holding Group.

Persons: Toru Hanai, Nomura, headcount, Goldman Sachs, Makiko Yamazaki, Selena Li, Sonali Paul Organizations: Nomura Securities, REUTERS, Rights, Nomura Holdings, Bloomberg, Reuters, Citigroup, Nomura Orient International Securities, Nomura, Orient International Holding, Shanghai Huangpu Investment Holding Group, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Asia

REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHONG KONG/AMSTERDAM, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Global investors fleeing China have one simple message for the country's leadership: put prudence aside for a short while, and start spending big. "At this point there is confusion and, as long as there is confusion, then there's lack of credibility and that means investors are more likely to stay away," said Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Global Investors in London. Prominent examples are heavy Chinese government spending during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and its swift intervention during the 2015 market crash. But the subsidies need to come from local governments, many of which are cash-strapped or even drowning in debt and unable to pay their civil servants. The lack of concrete stimulus measures now is prompting many China watchers to downgrade their growth estimates for the next few years.

Persons: Aly, China's, Seema Shah, Chen Zhao, Zhao, hasn't, Frederik Ducrozet, Ducrozet, Principal's Shah, Yan Wang, Xi Jinping's, we’ve, Lorraine Tan, Dhara Ranasinghe, Davide Barbuscia, Yoruk, Xie Yu, Ankur Banerjee, Tom Westbrook, Li Gu, Vidya Ranganathan, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, Global, Global Investors, policymaking Politburo, Pictet Wealth Management, Local, UBS Bank, Federated Hermes, Foreigners, Asia, Morningstar, Thomson Locations: Huangpu, Shanghai, China, HONG KONG, AMSTERDAM, London, Beijing, Japan, United States, New York, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, Singapore

With equipment idling as construction slows and dwindling exports curb manufacturing, diesel demand is likely to ebb. Rystad Energy lowered its forecast for China's diesel demand for July to December this year to 3.81 million barrels per day (bpd) from an earlier outlook of 3.9 million bpd, though the new forecast is up 3.8% from the first half of 2023. "Diesel demand is still growing, but at a lower-than-expected rate," said Lin Ye, a Beijing-based downstream analyst at Rystad, citing the ailing property sector and deteriorating trade environment. An uptick in Chinese diesel demand earlier this year, driven by resurgent road freight transport in the first quarter, has lost momentum. August diesel exports are estimated at 650,000 to 800,000 tons, down from July's estimate of 1 million tons, data compiled by consultancy Longzhong and China-based trading analysts showed.

Persons: Aly, Lin Ye, Xia Shiqing, Wood Mackenzie, Mia Geng, Andrew Hayley, Trixie Yap, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Energy, International Energy Agency, IEA, Reuters, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: Huangpu, Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Asia, Longzhong, Singapore

The logo of the Alibaba office building is seen in downtown Huangpu District in Shanghai, China, June 16, 2023. Alibaba Group said in a surprise announcement Tuesday Eddie Wu will succeed Daniel Zhang as its chief executive, a move that will free Zhang to focus on the company's cloud intelligence business. "As everyone is well aware, the development of core technologies such as cloud computing, big data and AI will lead to a tremendous transformation of our society and is of utmost strategic significance," Zhang said in an internal memo to Alibaba staff. "Cloud Intelligence Group is now full speed ahead on its spin-off plans and we are approaching a crucial stage of the process, so it is the right time for me to dedicate my full attention and time to the business," he added. Alibaba shares pared losses after the announcement and were trading down 1% in Hong Kong on Tuesday afternoon.

Persons: Eddie Wu, Daniel Zhang, Zhang Organizations: Alibaba, Cloud Intelligence Group Locations: Huangpu District, Shanghai, China, Beijing, Hong Kong

☆ How China planted an FBI mole who was discovered only after gutting the CIA's vast spy network
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( James Bamford | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

At the time, four years after the handover from Britain to China, much of Hong Kong remained a world of neon and noise. "Five years ago, everyone looked down on you if you spoke Mandarin," said a Beijing executive living in Hong Kong. As soon as the Hong Kong Arts Festival ended, the Hong Kong International Film Festival began. In February 2006, Alex Ma, China's mole in the FBI, sent David photos he received from his handlers of five suspected human sources. Born in Hong Kong like Alex, Lee grew up in Hawaii and became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

☆ China’s population drops for the first time in decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING — China's population declined in 2022, the National Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday. Mainland China's population, excluding foreigners, fell by 850,000 people in 2022 to 1.41 billion, the statistics bureau said. The country reported 9.56 million births and 10.41 million deaths for 2022. In 2021, China's population grew by the slowest increase on record. The mainland China population, excluding foreigners, rose by 480,000 to 1.41 billion people at the end of 2021, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

☆ As China abandons zero-Covid, what will the economy look like in 2023?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

And with the global economy now facing significant challenges, including energy shortages, slowing growth and high inflation, China’s reopening could provide a much-needed and timely boost. China’s historic property downturn and a potential global recession could also cause more headaches in the new year, they added. They expect China’s economy to contract by 0.8% in the first quarter of 2023, before rebounding in the second quarter. Trade had powered much of China’s economic growth earlier this year, as exports were boosted by rising prices of the country’s goods and a weaker currency. “But a looming global recession means they probably have further to fall over the next few quarters.”

☆ Shanghai island to host 3,250-bed COVID quarantine facility
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Shanghai plans to build a 3,250-bed COVID-19 quarantine facility on a small island close to its city centre as China stands by its stringent zero-COVID controls, rather than relaxing curbs as many other countries have done. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe Shanghai government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Shanghai, like other Chinese cities, has continued to battle sporadic outbreaks with repeated mass testing and targeted lockdowns. The southern metropolis of Guangzhou has a 5,000-bed quarantine centre that is mainly meant for travellers entering China from abroad. ($1 = 7.2236 Chinese yuan renminbi)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Kenneth MaxwellOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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