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REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoNov 25 (Reuters) - The Biden administration has banned approvals of new telecommunications equipment from China's Huawei Technologies (HWT.UL) and ZTE (000063.SZ) because they pose "an unacceptable risk" to U.S. national security. "These new rules are an important part of our ongoing actions to protect the American people from national security threats involving telecommunications," FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. ZTE, Dahua, Hytera and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FCC said in June 2021 it was considering banning all equipment authorizations for all companies on the covered list. That came after a March 2021 designation of five Chinese companies on the so-called "covered list" as posing a threat to national security under a 2019 law aimed at protecting U.S. communications networks: Huawei, ZTE, Hytera Communications Corp Hikvision and Dahua.

☆ U.S. Expands Bans of Chinese Security Cameras, Network Equipment
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Drew Fitzgerald | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Hikvision is the top worldwide seller of professional security equipment and ranks No. 5 in the U.S. The Federal Communications Commission voted 4-0 to ban sales of new telecom and surveillance equipment made by several Chinese companies, arguing that their ownership and practices threaten U.S. national security. The rule change affects 10 companies already subject to other restrictions and prohibits them from marketing or importing new products. They include security-camera makers Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Hytera Communications Corp. and Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. and telecom equipment makers Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp.

☆ Hikvision: UK bans Chinese surveillance cameras from 'sensitive' sites
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —Hikvision, a leading Chinese surveillance company, has denied suggestions that it poses a threat to Britain’s national security after the UK government banned the use of its camera systems at “sensitive” sites. Dowden cited “the threat to the UK and the increasing capability and connectivity of these systems,” without specifying further. The minister added that departments could review whether sites not deemed sensitive should also be taking similar measures. The United States in 2019 placed Hikvision and other Chinese companies on a trade blacklist, prohibiting them from importing US technology over similar allegations. Hikvision, in its statement, said its cameras were compliant with UK laws and “subject to strict security requirements.”Dahua did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

☆ Exclusive: China set to fine Ant Group over $1 billion, signalling revamp nears end-sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Julie Zhu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The central bank has been in informal communication with Ant about the fine over the past few months, said three of the sources. It plans to hold more discussions with other regulators about Ant's revamp later this year and announce the fine as soon as the second quarter of next year, said a source. Ant's fine would be the largest regulatory penalty imposed on a Chinese internet company since ride-hailing major Didi Global was fined $1.2 billion by China's cybersecurity regulator in July. The fintech firm's affiliate, e-commerce titan Alibaba Group (9988.HK), last year received a record fine of 18 billion yuan ($2.51 billion) for antitrust violations. The PBOC, however, is unlikely to formally disclose the application till Ant wraps up its revamp, added the sources.

☆ Alibaba’s Revenue Misses Forecasts as China’s Covid Policy Weighs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Shen Lu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. reported one of its weakest revenue expansions since going public, underscoring the persisting weight of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy on domestic consumption and business activities. The Hangzhou-based company said Thursday that its July-September quarter revenue rose 3% from the same period year earlier, marking a return to growth from the slim dip in the previous quarter when widespread pandemic lockdowns disrupted supply chains and logistics.

☆ Alibaba Posts Slow Growth as China’s Covid Policy Weighs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Shen Lu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Nov 17 (Reuters) - Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) said on Thursday it would suspend most Blizzard game services in mainland China once its current licensing agreements with NetEase (9999.HK) end in January. California-based Blizzard said new sales would be suspended in the coming days and players would receive further details. The absence of Blizzard games could cause a 6-8% drop in NetEase's revenue next year, analysts from Daiwa Capital Markets wrote in a research report on Nov. 9. The estimate is founded on the basis that licensed games account for around 10% of NetEase's total revenue and Blizzard accounts for 60-80% of licensed games. "We are looking for alternatives to bring our games back to players in the future," Blizzard President Mike Ybarra said in the statement.

☆ Blizzard will pull ‘World of Warcraft’ from China as NetEase deal ends
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Blizzard Entertainment said Thursday it will no longer offer games such as ‘World of Warcraft’ and ‘Hearthstone’ in China from next year once its deal with NetEase (NTES) ends, prompting shares in the Chinese internet giant to tumble. The games to be suspended include “World of Warcraft”, “Hearthstone”, “Warcraft III: Reforged”, “Overwatch”, the “StarCraft” series, “Diablo III”, and “Heroes of the Storm.”According to NetEase, the recently published “Diablo Immortal,” co-developed by NetEase and Blizzard, is covered by a separate long-term agreement, allowing its service to continue in China. The absence of Blizzard games could lower NetEase’s revenue by 6-8% next year, Daiwa Capital Markets wrote in a research report on Nov. 9. Blizzard Entertainment said upcoming releases for “World of Warcraft: Dragonflight,” “Hearthstone: March of the Lich King,” and season 2 of “Overwatch 2” will proceed later this year. “We are looking for alternatives to bring our games back to players in the future,” Blizzard President Mike Ybarra said in the statement.

☆ Chinese investors burnt by bond slump urged to have 'serene heart'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We deeply understand your anxiety in a volatile market," HZBank Wealth Management, a unit of Bank of Hangzhou (600926.SS), told investors in a letter on Wednesday. The Bank of China's (601988.SS) asset management unit also asked investors not to worry. Investors need faith and a serene heart," BOC Wealth Management said in a public letter to investors, suggesting clients view volatility "from a rational and long-term perspective." A slew of other asset managers that sell banks' wealth management products to risk-averse investors, including Nanyin Wealth Management and CIB Wealth Management, wrote similar letters of good cheer. Xu forecasts the end of Chinese bonds' bull market, with the 10-year yield rising to a one-year high around 3%.

☆ Ant's consumer finance unit to more than double capital to $2.62 bln
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG, Nov 14 (Reuters) - The consumer finance unit of China's Ant Group will increase its registered capital to 18.5 billion yuan ($2.62 billion) from 8 billion yuan previously, and take on new investors, an exchange filing released on Monday said. Ant, which will retain its 50% stake in the unit, Chongqing Ant Consumer Finance Co Ltd, will invest 5.25 billion yuan as part of the capital injection, according to the filing made by the unit's minority shareholder Yuyue medical (002223.SZ). Hangzhou Jintou Digital Technology Group, a company controlled by the local government, will invest 1.85 billion yuan and become the second biggest shareholder with a 10% stake, according to the filing. ($1 = 7.0662 Chinese yuan renminbi)Reporting by Julie Zhu; Editing by Toby Chopra and Susan FentonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's real estate crisis could be over with new rescue plan. Property stocks are soaring
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN Business —Chinese authorities are making their biggest effort yet to end a crisis in the country’s vast real estate sector that has weighed heavily on the economy over the past year. Tao Wang, chief China economist at UBS, described the package of measures as a “turning point” for China’s property sector. Along with other policies announced earlier this year, it could inject more than 1 trillion yuan ($142 billion) into real estate, she estimated. In October, sales by the 100 biggest real estate developers contracted 26.5% from a year ago, according to a private survey by China Index Academy, a top real estate research firm. “Beijing’s zero-Covid strategy, despite some latest fine tuning, will continue to weigh on the property sector,” they added.

Summary China may miss typical November-December export surgeExports unexpectedly dropped in October as global demand ebbedFall in exports broad-based, from toys to appliancesBEIJING, Nov 10 (Reuters) - China's usual year-end export surge is in doubt as weak global demand dims a rare bright spot for the world's second-biggest economy, already hurt by COVID-19 lockdowns, a frozen property sector and ebbing domestic consumption. Analysts expect global recession risks and China's disruptive COVID curbs will further drag on exports in coming months, dashing hopes for an economic rebound this quarter. Qi was not sure of the scale of orders that overseas customers would place in December. A closely watched private-sector survey focussing on small manufacturers shows export orders contracting since August. Buyers usually book orders for Christmas and Black Friday around August, but weak demand already sapped any lift this period.

☆ Chinese automaker Geely's new energy brand Farizon raises over $300 mln
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/HONG KONG, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Chinese automaker Geely's new energy vehicle subsidiary on Wednesday said its brand Farizon has raised over $300 million from a funding round led by Asian logistics firm Global Logistics Properties' (GLP) investment arm Hidden Hill Capital. The new capital raise, which involves other investors such as Chinese logistics and chemical group Transfar and an investment firm backed by major Chinese investment bank CITIC Securities, came as Geely stepped up its new energy vehicle development. Hangzhou-based Geely Holding Group, owner of Zhejiang Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group which sells Farizon, is known globally with its investments in Volvo Cars and Mercedes-Benz. Farizon will use much of the funding "for research & development and ecosystem development, in order to further consolidate its market-leading position in new energy commercial vehicles," Zhejiang Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group said in a statement. Geely New Energy Commercial Vehicle did not disclose Farizon's valuation in the statement.

☆ U.S. FCC set to ban approvals of new Huawei, ZTE equipment- document
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is set to ban approvals of new telecommunications equipment from China's Huawei Technologies and ZTE (000063.SZ) in the United States on national security grounds, according to a document posted by the agency. The companies would not be able to sell new equipment in the United States without equipment authorizations. In June 2021, the FCC voted to advance the plan to ban approvals for equipment in U.S. telecommunications networks from Chinese companies deemed national security threats, including Huawei and ZTE. ... We have left open opportunities for (Huawei and other Chinese equipment) use in the United States through our equipment authorization process. The FCC action would prohibit all future authorizations for communications equipment deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to national security.

☆ When Chinese protesters came up against Xi's security machine
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Martin Quin Pollard | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Handout via REUTERSBEIJING, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Jack Yao, a Chinese Communist Party member, never wanted to be an activist. It offers a glimpse of the lengths some frustrated citizens will go to in taking on the world's most powerful security state. China's Ministry of Public Security, the Henan and Anhui local governments, and police departments in those provinces and Beijing didn't respond to requests for comment for this article. Chinese authorities say social stability is the foundation for a prosperous future and dismiss human rights complaints as Western propaganda and interference in internal affairs. Protesters chanted: "Henan banks, give us back our deposits."

☆ LGBT Couples From China Say ‘I Do’ in Utah Over Zoom
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Shen Lu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Same-sex marriages aren’t recognized in China, so for some Chinese couples, Utah weddings have served as a welcome solution. In a balloon-filled apartment in Hangzhou, China, Baird Zhu looked Justin Gong in the eyes as he read his wedding vows. On the computer screen were two friends who served as their witnesses—and Ben Frei , a deputy county clerk in Provo, Utah. In China, it was well past midnight; in Utah, it was 11 a.m. After Messrs. Zhu and Gong had said their “I do’s,” Mr. Frei pronounced them married. Their witnesses clapped, and Mr. Frei, in his dark blue officiant robe, grinned.

☆ Same-Sex Couples From China Say ‘I Do’ in Utah Over Zoom
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Shen Lu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ HSBC extends Chinese private banking network to lure new digital millionaires
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Selena | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: Pedestrians wearing face masks following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, walk past a HSBC bank branch in Hong Kong, China February 22, 2022. HSBC sees robust demand for wealth management in Chengdu, capital of the western province of Sichuan with more than 21 million people. The bank has already launched private bank services in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. “As a new class of HNW and ultra HNW individuals emerges from the vigorous development of Hangzhou’s digital economy, demand for international wealth management has also grown significantly,” Jackie Mau, head of global private banking at HSBC China, said in a statement. Beijing launched in late 2020 a crackdown that effectively halted Ant’s initial public offering that could have created more millionaires keen for wealth services.

☆ China EV maker Leapmotor set to raise $800 million in Hong Kong IPO
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Scott Murdoch | Thomson Reuters | Scott Murdoch Has Been A Journalist For More Than Two Decades Working For Thomson Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HONG KONG, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Zhejiang Leapmotor Technology is set to raise $800 million by pricing its shares at HK$48 ($6.12) each in its Hong Kong initial public offering (IPO), said two sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Hong Kong IPO volumes have fallen nearly 90% as global markets remain roiled by China regulatory uncertainty, rising interest rates, high inflation and the Russia's war in Ukraine. Despite the Leapmotor and CALB deals, plus China Vanke's property services unit Onewo Inc raising $733 million, dealmakers are cautious there will be a solid rebound in new share sales in Hong Kong and overseas before 2023. "It feels that these IPOs are kind of one-off transactions and think the Hong Kong market is not yet fully opened up," said Shifara Samsudeen, LightStream Research analyst who publishes on Smartkarma. ($1 = 7.8493 Hong Kong dollars)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Scott Murdoch; Editing by Himani Sarkar and William MallardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ China's 'Lipstick King' returns to live-streaming show after mysterious three-month disappearance
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Laura He | Cnn Business | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

On Tuesday night, Li Jiaqi reappeared on Alibaba's Taobao Live, a live-streaming platform for the e-commerce giant. His show immediately attracted thousands of viewers within the first few minutes, despite no prior notices on his social media accounts. The 30-year-old livestreamer, also called Austin Li, was one of China's biggest internet celebrities, with 64 million followers on Alibaba's Taobao. He once sold 15,000 lipsticks within five minutes in a sales competition against Alibaba founder Jack Ma, winning himself the nickname "China's lipstick king." E-commerce livestreamer Austin Li Jiaqi attends a public-welfare livestreaming ceremony on September 23, 2021 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China.

☆ China’s ‘Lipstick King’ returns to live-streaming show after mysterious three-month disappearance
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

On Tuesday night, Li Jiaqi reappeared on Alibaba’s Taobao Live, a live-streaming platform for the e-commerce giant. By the end of the two-hour show, 63 million viewers had watched his live-stream, higher than most of his previous shows. The 30-year-old livestreamer, also called Austin Li, was one of China’s biggest internet celebrities, with 64 million followers on Alibaba’s Taobao. Just before the abrupt ending, Li had shown his audience a multi-layered ice cream treat decorated with Oreos and wafers. In June, just two weeks after Li disappeared, Beijing intensified its crackdown on the the country’s booming livestreaming industry.

☆ Why Apple, Google and Microsoft are spending more time on TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Mikaela Cohen | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

ReutersThe explosion of TikTok's popularity has pushed the app into the biggest technology companies' focus. Google, Apple and Microsoft all have TikTok accounts, with over 8.5 million likes between the three. While Apple has more than 1.3 million fans on the platform, Google and Microsoft have 403,000 and 143,000, respectively. Big tech companies are finding success on TikTok by not only creating personable content, but by creating content that follows trends already on TikTok — often related to corporate humor and professional advice. While more users are flocking to TikTok, Easter said big tech firms could miss out if they don't invest in content creation.

☆ U.S. agency adds China Unicom, Pacific Networks to national security threat list
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-20 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Andrew KellySept 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) named Chinese telecom companies Pacific Networks Corp, its wholly-owned subsidiary ComNet (USA) LLC and China Unicom (Americas) as threats to U.S. national security, the regulator said Tuesday. The designations are under a 2019 law aimed at protecting U.S. communications networks. The FCC said the companies are subject to the Chinese government's exploitation, influence and control, along with the associated national security risks. Earlier this year, the U.S. regulator voted to revoke China Unicom's U.S. unit, Pacific Networks and ComNet's authorization to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns. In March, the FCC added Russia's AO Kaspersky Lab, China Telecom (Americas) Corp (0728.HK) and China Mobile International USA (0941.HK) to the covered list.

China's 'zero-COVID' policy – including stringent lockdowns, travel restrictions and mass testing - has taken a heavy toll on the country's economy. The government's crackdown on big technology companies has also had an outsized effect on the young workforce. Chinese households overall added 10.8 trillion yuan ($1.54 trillion) in new bank savings in the first eight months of the year, up from 6.4 trillion yuan in the same period last year. China is the only leading economy that cut interest rates this year, in an effort to spur growth. Fu said she switched her makeup powder brand from Givenchy to a Chinese brand called Florasis, which is about 60% cheaper.

☆ The world's fastest trains -- from China to France
▼ + stars: | 2021-12-10 | by ( Ben Jones | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Chogo/Xinhua/Getty ImagesAs well as boasting the longest network of high-speed lines in the world, China now has the fastest scheduled trains on the planet. A statement of intent by China’s booming railway technology industry, the Fuxing trains have been developed from previous generations of high-speed trains, which were based on technology imported from Europe and Japan. The design also forms the basis of the Siemens “Velaro” family of high-speed trains, which has been sold to Spain, Russia, Turkey, China and to Eurostar for its second generation international trains. Europe’s first dedicated high-speed network is still its best known and most successful, reaching out well beyond France’s borders. Frecciarossa services operate across Italy’s T-shaped high-speed network, linking Turin, Milan and Venice in the north with Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples.

Persons: Germany's, Philipp von Ditfurth, Thomas Coex, Europe’s, Kiyoshi Ota, Al Boraq, Morocco's Al Boraq, ‘ Al, Boraq, Oriol, Iryo, Frecciarossa, Ed Jones, Alessandro Rota, sandstorms don’t, HHR Organizations: CNN, Japan’s, Vitesse, Getty, Germany's Inter, City Express, Express, Siemens, Eurostar, Bloomberg, JR, Japan Railways, Tohoku, TGV Euroduplex, Alstom, Flickr, Images Spain, Alta Velocidad, Ouigo Espana, Italian State Railways, Alitalia, Arrows, Spanish National Railways, Railway, Haramain, Speed Railway Locations: Scandinavia, Europe, Asia, France, China, Spain, Germany, Italy, Belgium, England, Africa, Morocco, Egypt, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Russia, United States, Shanghai, Shanghai’s Pudong, Hangzhou, Chogo, Xinhua, Japan, Beijing, Hong Kong, Harbin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Turkey, AFP, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Strasbourg, Lille, London, Switzerland, Tokyo, Shin, Aomori, Hokkaido, Honshu, Tsugaru Strait, Tangier, Casablanca, Kenitra, Rabat, Oriol Paris, Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Valencia, Galicia, Barcelona, Alta Velocidad Espana, Korea, South, Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Mokpo, Pyeongchang, Turin, Milan, Venice, Bologna, Florence, Rome, Naples, Saudi, Bandar Aldandani, Mecca, Medina

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