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☆ The Future of Rap Is Female
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Niela Orr | Photographs Adrienne Raquel | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +22 min

The Future of Rap Is Female As their male counterparts turn depressive and paranoid, it’s the women who are having all the fun. In the mid-’80s, the dynamics shifted slightly, when UTFO released “Roxanne, Roxanne,” a comical torch song dissing a woman who rejected the men’s advances. Like good sex, raunchy rap is only fun if all parties are completely enthusiastic, and this music provides necessary female perspectives to match what the men make. In Miami one weekend in late July, Rolling Loud, one of the biggest annual hip-hop festivals, made itself into a microcosm of the rap world. There’s a relentless gender pessimism in the air, too — on the street, on dating apps, in the Supreme Court and, of course, in rap music.

Persons: Sackler, Drake, Foley, Yung Miami, Wu, Da, Tupac Shakur, Nicki Minaj, Cardi, Megan Thee, there’s, ”, There’s Latto, Jung Kook, “, Diana ”, Boy’s, Red’s, Munch, Rodney Dangerfield, munch, ” MAIYA, “ We’re, Lil Baby, Flo Milli, —, ” Flo Milli, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire —, Debbie D, Lisa Lee, Mercedes Ladies, UTFO, Roxanne, Lolita Shanté Gooden, Gooden, ” FLO MILLI, Roxanne Shanté, Clover Hope, M.C, Brian Coleman, Lyte, Ruff Ryders, it’s, Missy Elliott, Lauryn Hill, Kash Doll, SKODI LOLA BROOKE, Lil ’ Kim, “ I’m, I’m, ” That’s, Lolita Gooden, Greta Gerwig’s “ Barbie ”, James Harden, P.J, Tucker, KENTHEMAN “, I’ve, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, Grace Jones, Benzino, blowin, ignorin ’, Berry hairdo, Grandmaster Flash, It’s, ” —, ” Leray, VETTE, CHANEL, ” Flo, Cartier, “ Lyte, Flo Organizations: YouTube, Girls, City Girls, Public, Down Productions, Wu -, Digital, City, Memphis, Brooklyn Locations: Miami, Wu - Tang, “, Bronx, Mobile , Ala, y’all

Companies Standard Chartered PLC FollowJuly 31 (Reuters) - China's Ant Group and Standard Chartered (STAN.L) said on Monday they will work together in green finance and global fund management, broadening their existing partnership. The deal is the first high-profile tie-up between Ant and a major foreign bank since authorities cancelled a planned mega-IPO by the fintech giant in 2020. StanChart will help Ant build "an industry-leading global liquidity and foreign exchange management structure", they said in a joint statement. They also plan to enhance collaboration in environmental, social and governance, digital innovation and inclusive finance, the statement said. Ant also hired StanChart as one of the lead arrangers and book runners for the $6.5 billion sustainability-linked syndicated loan it took out last year.

Persons: StanChart, Ant, Roxanne Liu, Selena Li, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Chartered, Standard Chartered, Thomson Locations: China

☆ Explainer: What's next for Ant after its nearly $1 bln fine?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After the fine, the next step would be to obtain the financial holding license, which is crucial for reviving any listing plans by Ant. A second license Ant is waiting to procure is one for a personal credit reporting company. IPO PROSPECTSThe resolution of Ant's regulatory woes has revived talk of whether the company's listing could be back on the cards. Alibaba, which has a 33% stake in Ant, said on Sunday it was considering whether to participate in the buyback. Ant's major shareholders, Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership and Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership, have voluntarily decided not to participate in the repurchase.

Persons: Ant, Ant ., Jack Ma, Warburg Pincus, Ant's, Roxanne Liu, Brenda Goh, Christina Fincher Organizations: Ant, Financial Regulatory Administration, State Council, Reuters, Ant Group, Shanghai's STAR, Hangzhou Junhan Equity Investment Partnership, Hangzhou Junao Equity Investment Partnership, China Life Insurance, China Pacific Life Insurance, Plan Investment, Yunfeng, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Canada

☆ Five Minutes That Will Make You Love Avant-Garde Jazz
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Marcus J. Moore | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Lately The New York Times has asked jazz musicians, writers and scholars to share the favorites that would make a friend fall in love with Herbie Hancock, New Orleans jazz, Sun Ra or Mary Lou Williams. Now we’re putting the spotlight on avant-garde jazz, a challenging subgenre born out of the desire to do something that wasn’t as prescribed as bebop or post-bop, a sound carried by the fire of spontaneity by players who weren’t considered to be in the upper echelon of jazz. The definition of avant-garde jazz has been a point of contention since its inception. Perhaps its biggest public advocate was the saxophonist and bandleader John Coltrane, who took an interest in free jazz — a subset of avant-garde jazz — in the mid-1960s and pushed for the saxophonists Albert Ayler and Pharoah Sanders to release their music on the mainstream label Impulse! Today, the rules for what is and what isn’t avant-garde are still being written.

Persons: Herbie Hancock, Sun Ra, Mary Lou Williams, weren’t, Amiri Baraka —, John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders, ◆ ◆ ◆ Ana Roxanne, “ Longview, Barre Phillips, John Surman, I’ve Organizations: New York Times, Association for, Advancement of Creative Musicians, Area Locations: Herbie Hancock , New Orleans, “ Longview ”, France, Longview, ”

☆ Opinion: The Supreme Court rewrites American society once again
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Opinion Cnn Contributors | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +25 min

But learning the facts - that affirmative action is critical for fostering equal access and opportunity in our academic institutions -cemented my belief that affirmative action is necessary if we want to create an equitable nation. The court’s decision Thursday is consistent with its view that race-based preferences should and would have a limited shelf life. Jon Wang, who revealed himself as a plaintiff in this Supreme Court case, was rejected by Harvard but was accepted at and is now attending Georgia Tech. Affirmative action enabled my ability to experience different ways of thinking and to form the lasting friendships I have made. Affirmative action has been a tool used by many countries to ensure underrepresented communities are included in areas they normally are not.

Persons: who’d, Tan, ”, Ana Fernandez, Richard Kahlenberg, Peniel Joseph, Peniel Joseph Kelvin Ma, Kelvin Ma, retrenchment, Bakke, Shelby, Holder, John F, Barry Goldwater, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Peniel, Joseph, Barbara Jordan, “, ” Lanhee Chen, Bollinger, Sandra Day O’Connor, Lanhee Chen Lanhee J . Chen, J, Chen, David, Diane Steffy, Romney, Ryan, Roxanne Jones, Andrew Johnson, Jones, WURD, Richard Sander, –, Richard Sander Fiona Harrison, Jeff Yang, Ed Blum’s, Jon Wang, Michael Wang, Williams, Jian Li, Bruce, Hudson Yang, Natasha Warikoo, Ketanji Brown Jackson, ” Natasha Warikoo Alonso Nichols, John Roberts, Brayden Rothe, Biden, can’t, Joe Biden, Brayden Rothe Patrick O'Leary, Pell Organizations: CNN, Fellows of Harvard College, Harvard, Harvard College, Cuban, American Council, Education, Wellesley College, Renaissance Studies, Black, Tufts University, Blacks, Ivy League, Federalist Society, John Birch Society, Trump, Democratic Party, GOP, Center, LBJ School of Public Affairs, University of Texas, Racial Justice, University of North, University of North Carolina Chapel, Public Policy, Hoover Institution, California State, Republican, Democratic, White, Fair, Supreme, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN, New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, The University of California, UCLA, University of California, UC, Georgia Tech, Department of Education, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Princeton University, Institute for, Digital Intelligence, Harvard University, College, Social Sciences, of Sociology, Equity, University of Minnesota Locations: today’s, Philippines, Taiwan, Los Angeles, Portland, White, American, United States, West Linn , Oregon, Cuban American, Miami, Havana, Cuba, Miami , Florida, America, Austin, University of North Carolina, California, lockstep, Berkeley, Asian America, Florida, Texas

☆ China Dragon Boat Festival tourism trips above pre-COVID levels -ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] People and children enjoy themselves by the lakeside at a park during the Dragon Boat festival holiday, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Beijing, China June 4, 2022. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File PhotoBEIJING, June 25 (Reuters) - Trips for tourism in China during last week's three-day Dragon Boat Festival climbed 32.3% from a year earlier to an estimated 106 million, 12.8% above the pre-pandemic level in 2019, the ministry of culture and tourism said. Revenue from domestic tourism trips during the Dragon Boat Festival rose 44.5% on year to 37.31 billion yuan ($5.20 billion), recovering to 94.9% of the 2019 level, the tourism ministry said. The comparison between the 2023 and 2019 figures were made "according to comparable standards", the tourism ministry said on its website, without providing details about the metrics. The Dragon Boat Festival tourism rebound is smaller than that during the five-day May Day holiday, when domestic tourism trips surged 70.8% on year and were 19.1% above those of 2019，with revenues up 128.90% on year and on par with 2019, according to tourism ministry data last month.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Roxanne Liu, Ryan Woo, William Mallard Organizations: REUTERS, National Immigration Administration, NIA, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, BEIJING, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau

☆ Opinion: Trump, the hoarder in chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. Photos included in the 38-count indictment of former President Donald Trump and his aide Walt Nauta show bankers boxes stacked in a bathroom and other parts of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. Trump has always hung onto news clippings, documents and other mementos,” The New York Times reported. “Trump is chaotic and unpredictable in a way that could lead other Republicans to believe that there is a chance he won’t make it to the convention. As Zelizer noted, “Trump has denied wrongdoing, claiming he is being unfairly targeted.”But “given this unusual context, Republicans have legitimate reasons to think that there could be an upset.

Persons: Harry Fellowes, Fellowes, Harry Fellowes couldn’t, Donald Trump, Walt Nauta, Trump, Kim Jong, Mr, Jack Smith’s, Peter Bergen, ” Bergen, Nick Anderson, David Zurawik, “, ” Zurawik, ” Clay Jones, ” Trump, Jill Filipovic, ” Dana Summers, John Avlon, MAGA hasn’t, Gautham Rao, Donald Trump’s, Dean Obeidallah, Hillary Clinton, Phil Hands, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Julian Zelizer, “ Trump, ”, Facebook Trump, Zelizer, Republican Alice Stewart, Joe Biden, Mike, Pence, Agency Stewart, I’m, that’s, Chris Christie, Christie, Cupp, ’, Frida Ghitis, Mucutuy, –, Cristin, Tien Ranoque, ” Ghitis, David Andelman, Ruth Ben Ghiat, Brett Bruen, Sébastien Roblin, Michael Bociurkiw, Father’s, Edward S, Feldman, Harrison Ford, David G, Allan, Tom Hanks, ” Allan, I’ve, Ford, Indiana Jones, Steve Majors, Young, Joyce M, Davis, Pete Buttigieg, ” Davis, Buttigieg, Don’t, Tom Stiglich, Syndicate David Culver, Opal Lee, Dion Sims, Black, Juneteenth Scott Hodge, Roxanne Jones, LeBron James, NBA Joshua Douglas, Samuel Huneke, Jere Hester, they’re, Sir Paul McCartney, John Lennon’s, Yoko Ono, Lennon’s, McCartney Organizations: CNN, White, The New York Times, West Wing, Tribune, Agency, US, Trump, Miami Mayor, Republican, Twitter, Facebook, intel, New, New Jersey Gov, Paramount Pictures, “, Syndicate, NBA, Central Press, Hulton, Beatles, BBC Locations: Trump’s, Mar, Miami, New Jersey, China, Philadelphia, Atlanta , Georgia, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania, Jamaica

☆ China Kunlun Tech subsidiary set for AI firm stake buy, $400 mln capital boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 15 (Reuters) - Kunlun Tech (300418.SZ) is planning a $400 million capital boost for a subsidiary expected to buy a stake in an artificial intelligence firm via a share issue, as Chinese tech firms ramp up efforts to develop rivals to Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT. Kunlun Tech said late on Wednesday its holding subsidiary Star Group Interactive Inc has agreed to acquire the entire equity in Singularity AI Technology Limited, which is working with Kunlun on a large language model, via share issue. After the acquisition, Star Group will receive another $400 million from its biggest shareholder, a wholly owned unit of Kunlun Tech, the filing showed. Singularity AI reported a net loss of 23.7 million yuan ($3.32 million) in the first three months of 2023 and 10.9 million yuan in full year 2022, the filing showed. ($1 = 7.1470 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Kane Wu; Editing by Toby ChopraOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: ChatGPT, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Toby Chopra Organizations: Kunlun, Microsoft, Alibaba, Huawei, Tech, Star Group Interactive Inc, AI Technology Limited, Singularity AI Holdings, Star Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Kunlun Tech

☆ Temasek-backed firms buy stake in VIVA Biotech unit ahead of listing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VIVA Biotech said it will use the net proceeds to redeem convertible bonds in a bid "to settle its outstanding liabilities without occupying its internal resources." The deal included capital injection into VIVA Shanghai by new investors and sale of existing interest in VIVA Shanghai from Viva Investment, another unit of VIVA Biotech, the filing showed. Ltd, will altogether hold 17.55% stake in VIVA Shanghai after the deal, according the filing. HLC SPV and Qingdao Hongyi, both linked to HighLight Capital, will obtain a total of 6.66% stake from the transaction. VIVA Biotech has initiated a restructuring which will transfer all assets and personnel related to its early-stage drug discovery business to VIVA Shanghai, and move out of the Shanghai unit any assets and personnel related to drug development and manufacturing service, the filing showed.

Persons: Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Stephen Coates Organizations: Singapore's Temasek, Capital, VIVA Biotech Holdings, HK, VIVA, VIVA Shanghai, VIVA Biotech, Viva Investment, Daxue Investments, Temasek Holdings, Temasek, Ltd, SPV, Qingdao Hongyi, Investors, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Viva

Economic challenges and geopolitical tensions have made fundraising and investment difficult, and eaten into global venture funds' returns. "It has become increasingly complex to run a decentralized global investment business," Sequoia said in the statement. Sequoia China will retain its current Chinese name and adopt the name HongShan in English, while Sequoia India and Southeast Asia will become Peak XV Partners, the firm said. Sequoia started to invest in local companies in China, India and Southeast Asia more than 15 years ago, according to the statement. Sequoia China, founded and led by former entrepreneur and investment banker Shen, has invested in more than 1,200 companies in sectors ranging from technology to healthcare.

Persons: Sequoia, Roelof Botha, Neil Shen, Shailendra Singh, Shen, Biden, Weiheng Chen, Wilson, Steven Yu, Yu, Trump, we've, Singh, Oyo, Kane Wu, Julie Zhu, Sriram, Roxanne Liu, Krystal Hu, Bernadette Baum, Mark Potter, Paul Simao Organizations: Sequoia Capital, Economic, Investment, Sequoia, XV Partners, HK, PDD Holdings, Reuters, Global Law, China -, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, China, India, Southeast Asia, COVID, Sequoia China, Sequoia India, Shanghai, U.S, China - U.S, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Beijing, San Francisco

☆ China's top investment bank CITIC cuts base salary by up to 15% -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HONG KONG/BEIJING, June 5 (Reuters) - China's CITIC Securities is cutting pay across its investment banking division, lowering base salaries by up to 15%, two sources said, in a rare move in the country's financial sector as Beijing pushes to bridge income disparity. The country's top investment bank by market value has also yet to pay bonuses to bankers for work done last year, the two sources close to the matter said. China's well-heeled financial dealmakers over the past year have been getting a crash course in austerity with pay cuts and perks reined in as their state-owned employers respond to the "common prosperity" drive. CITIC Securities' domestic rival China International Capital Corp (CICC) (3908.HK) last month cut this year's bonuses for investment bankers by 30%-50% from a year earlier, said two separate sources with knowledge of the matter. Besides remuneration cuts, some investment banks have asked staff to avoid displays of wealth such as uploading photographs to social media of expensive meals or overseas trips, industry sources have said.

Persons: China's, CICC, Julie Zhu, Selena Li, Roxanne Liu, Louise Heavens, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: CITIC Securities, China International Capital Corp, HK, Reuters, China's, Thomson Locations: HONG KONG, BEIJING, Beijing, China, CICC, Hong Kong

☆ Sudan fighters take over Khartoum museum, director says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

KHARTOUM, June 3 (Reuters) - Sudanese paramilitary fighters have taken over the national museum in Khartoum, its deputy director said on Saturday, urging them to protect precious artefacts from the nation's heritage that include ancient mummies. Members of the Rapid Support Forces group that has been fighting the army since mid-April for control of Sudan entered the museum on Friday, said deputy director Ikhlas Abdellatif. Museum staff do not know the situation inside the museum because they halted work there after the conflict suddenly erupted on April 15, forcing police guarding the facility to quit, Abdellatif said. The RSF released a video filmed inside the museum grounds showing a soldier denying that they had done any harm to the museum or would do so, and inviting any individuals or organisations to visit the museum to check. The video also showed RSF fighters covering up exposed mummies with sheets and closing the plain white boxes in which they were contained.

Persons: Ikhlas Abdellatif, Abdellatif, Hatim Alnour, Roxanne Trioux, Omar al, Bashir, Abdel, Fattah, Burhan, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Hemedti, Sami, Khalid Abdelaziz, Adam Makary, Angus McDowall, Giles Elgood, Frances Kerry Organizations: Sudanese, Rapid Support Forces, Museum, . Security, Thomson Locations: KHARTOUM, Khartoum, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, United States, Omdurman, Bahri, Washington, Riyadh, U.S, Dubai, Cairo

MiniMax was founded in 2021 by some former employees of SenseTime (0020.HK), including Yan Junjie - a former vice president at the Chinese AI firm, two other people said. Wang Huiwen, co-founder of on-demand service giant Meituan (3690.HK), said he has founded a new AI company called Beijing Lightyear Technology with $50 million from investors. Google China's former chief, Kai-Fu Lee, has unveiled his new startup - Project AI 2.0. Wang Xiaochuan, founder of China's No.2 search engine Sogou, said in April that he had founded Baichuan Intelligence with a startup capital of $50 million. Its other early investors include China's Yunqi Partners and Future Capital, statements from the venture capital funds show.

Persons: MiniMax, Yan Junjie, Wang Huiwen, Kai, Fu Lee, Wang Xiaochuan, China's, MiHoYo, Charlie Chai, ERNIE Bot, Chai, Roxanne Liu, Josh Ye, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Microsoft, HK, Huawei, Baidu, Beijing Lightyear Technology, Google, Baichuan Intelligence, China's Yunqi Partners, Future, 86Research, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, HONG KONG, China, Beijing, miHoYo, Hong Kong

☆ Sex-assault survivors unleash firestorm after CNN let Trump try to re-victimize E. Jean Carroll at town hall
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Laura Italiano | Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A day after a jury found Trump sexually violated E. Jean Carroll, he mocked her as a "whack job" on CNN. CNN let Trump try to re-victimize his own sex-assault victim in front of millions, victim advocates said. Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has said she is a survivor of sexual assault, slammed CNN's town hall with Trump as "shameful." "As a sexual assault survivor I'm disgusted with @CNN," tweeted @Irishrygirl. She explained how for many survivors of sexual assault the "pain" that comes with being disbelieved "is deeply harmful over and above the harms of sexual assault itself."

Summary Manufacturing PMI 49.2 in April vs 51.9 in MarchNon-manufacturing PMI 56.4 vs 58.2 in MarchBEIJING, April 30 (Reuters) - China's manufacturing activity unexpectedly shrank in April, official data showed on Sunday, raising pressure on policymakers seeking to boost an economy struggling for a post-COVID lift-off amid subdued global demand and persistent property weakness. That missed expectations of 51.4 tipped by economists in a Reuters poll, and marked the first contraction since December last year, when the official manufacturing PMI was at 47.0. China's economy grew at a faster-than-expected pace in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth. The manufacturing sector, which provides jobs to about 18% of those employed nationwide, remains under pressure due to slack global demand. The composite PMI, which includes both manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 54.4 from 57.0.

☆ Opinion: What happens when you knock on a door
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. In Kansas City, Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old White homeowner shot Ralph Yarl, a Black teenager who rang his doorbell. And, “with Trump as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican nomination, Fox has resumed coverage of him which often veers into the free-advertisement category. Neither Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who announced his candidacy last week, nor Marianne Williamson represents a serious threat, Axelrod noted. “The calendar reads 2023,” wrote the Republican former lieutenant governor of Georgia, Geoff Duncan, “but it feels like 2016 all over again.

☆ Cash stuffing budgets are all the rage right now. 2 women explain their polar-opposite experiences.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But then she decided to try "cash stuffing," a budgeting trend she'd heard about on YouTube two months earlier. Cash stuffing involves using envelopes to divide up cash for rent, groceries, gas, and other things. Vera KentCash stuffing isn't a good fit for everyoneNot everyone is a huge fan of cash stuffing, however. The video took off, racking up over 166,000 views, but Kent said she didn't take to cash stuffing and quit only three weeks after she started. Have you tried cash stuffing and are willing to share your story?

☆ A student-loan borrower was promised a $5,000 refund on payments after Biden's broad debt relief. Months later, she's still waiting — and no one is picking up the phone to help.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Roxanne Dougherty, 31, is waiting for a $5,000 refund on her student-loan payments. The Education Department directed Insider to guidance on refunds posted on Federal Student Aid's website. "No one is taking the time to help me or to listen to me when it comes to MOHELA," Dougherty said. "It just seems like there's something in it for them to not help," Dougherty said. Are you still waiting for a refund on your student-loan payments?

Chinese start-ups and fund managers said they are still looking to move their money out of SVB once they can. Such banks have offered account services similar to those of SVB, but found it hard to crack the U.S. bank's dominance among early-stage start-ups in China, where SVB has operated for more than two decades and has a local joint venture. STILL HUNTINGSome venture funds said they were in a quandary as SVB had certain advantages and was especially friendly to early-stage start ups. "Not a lot of banks are friendly to venture capital." "But the market space left by SVB will be filled by the next bank, which is an opportunity," said Chen, whose company counts Sequoia Capital China and Wu Capital among its investors and banks with SVB.

Warburg has approached a number of Chinese investors including local government-backed entities and state-backed financial institutions for the new yuan fund, the people with knowledge of the matter said. The U.S. private equity (PE) firm plans to primarily focus on the healthcare and industrial technology sectors in China with the yuan fund, one of the people said. "RMB (yuan) funds are relatively independent and self-sustainable," he said. Sensitive sectors will remain closed to global private equity groups even if they raise yuan funds, she added. Emerging markets-focused Affirma Capital is also targeting a 2 billion yuan raising in its debut fund and reached first close at 1.5 billion yuan by end-2022, a person close to the situation said.

☆ NBA, Ant Group launch strategic partnership in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

SHANGHAI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Chinese fintech giant Ant Group (688688.SS) said on Tuesday it has entered a strategic partnership with the NBA league in China that will see the two cooperate in areas such as video content, program broadcasting and membership. Ant made the announcement on its official WeChat account. Reporting by Brenda Goh and Roxanne Liu; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Chinese chip design company Unisoc (Shanghai) Technologies Co is seeking to raise 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) in a new funding round that will value the firm at about 70 billion yuan ($10.3 billion), three people with knowledge of the deal told Reuters. Unisoc has approached several state-backed investment funds for the round, tapping increased local investor interest in China's domestic chip industry, which is gearing up to be more self-sufficient in the face of U.S. pressure, the people said. Unisoc is controlled by private equity firm Wise Road Capital, which took over the company in 2022 after Tsinghua Unigroup, its former parent company, faced bankruptcy. In its statement from Feb. 8, it added it had reached revenue of 14 billion yuan in 2022. A statement in July 2022 said it had revenue of 11.7 billion yuan in 2021.

SYDNEY/SINGAPORE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - China's reopened borders and renewed focus on boosting the sagging economy have brightened the deals outlook, with bankers starting to field interest for mergers, acquisitions and fundraising involving the world's second-largest economy. Chinese companies' capital markets deals slipped 44% in the same period, according to Refinitiv data. That slump crimped the fees earned by Wall Street banks and forced some of them to cut jobs, mainly those linked to Chinese deals, in the past few months. Chinese private equity activity was worth $24.1 billion in 2022, down from $57.8 billion a year before, Pitchbook data showed. "Because of opening up, we expect an uptick in overseas disposal of private equity to Chinese buyers."

☆ Tips to Navigate Networking As an Introvert Without Getting Drained
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Roxanne Klein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Therefore, I utilize several tips to assist me in making networking events as successful and painless as possible. Having exciting news to discuss during the networking event will be highly beneficial. Although you're probably not interviewing for a job, it's good to think of networking events as if you are. The mindset of asking questions and actively listening assists me tremendously during networking events. My final suggestion is to not plan networking events back-to-back.

☆ Ant-linked firms' shares rise after news of Jack Ma ceding control; Alibaba jumps
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Shares of listed Chinese companies that count Ant Group as a major shareholder rose on Monday after announcements that Ant founder Jack Ma is giving up control of the fintech giant following an overhaul. Ant indirectly owns stakes ranging from more than 20% to slightly more than 5% in those companies. Ant said over the weekend that founder Jack Ma will give up control of the company. China's domestic A-share market requires companies to wait three years after a change in control to list. read moreLi Nan, professor of Finance at Shanghai Jiaotong University, however said Ant's inherent problems remain after its change of control.

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