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☆ Venture capitalists are betting on a part of China’s chip industry safe from U.S. bans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The U.S. this month imposed new restrictions to maintain a lead over China in advanced chip technology. That gap leaves a large market opportunity far more insulated from U.S. restrictions — and one that Chinese startups can tap, some venture capitalists said. He claimed WestSummit-backed GigaDevice Semiconductor is one of the Chinese companies well-positioned to capture the mature market. "However, chip-making is a mature technology that has been developed many years. Looming risksDespite the large market opportunity, early-stage investment in Chinese chip startups still face risks from potential lawsuits and the complexity of the technology itself, Vertex's Tay said.

☆ Temasek shifts president, CFO in management shuffle
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Oct 26 (Reuters) - Singapore's Temasek Holdings said on Wednesday President Tan Chong Lee will resign to take up the role as chief executive officer at its fund management firm 65 Equity Partners. In a slew of management changes announced by the investment giant, Leong Wai Leng will step down as the chief financial officer after 16 years to lead the Singapore market team as president. The company's deputy CFO Png Chin Yee will replace Leng from Jan. 1, 2023, it said in a statement. It has in recent days seen stock markets tumble in the face of higher interest rates and inflation. Reporting by Savyata Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Ben Feigin, ‘Schitt’s Creek’ executive producer, dies at 47
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Ben Feigin, an award-winning producer on “Schitt’s Creek” and founder and CEO of Equation Unlimited, LLC, died Monday of pancreatic cancer. Feigin served as executive producer on “Schitt’s Creek,” serving as a key force in the series’ development and launch. For the final season of “Schitt’s Creek,” Feigin received an Emmy for outstanding comedy series, a Producers Guild Awards for outstanding producer of episodic television for a comedy and a Golden Globe for best musical or comedy television series. Feigin also received a GLAAD Media Award for best comedy series in 2020 and 2021. Feigin joined Anonymous Content in 2006, founding their comedy and enterprise divisions, in addition to continuing work as a producer.

☆ There are 'big opportunities' in China's tech sector: VC partner
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThere are 'big opportunities' in China's tech sector: VC partnerTay Choon Chong, Managing Partner of Vertex Ventures, explains why he is optimistic on China's tech sector despite U.S.-China competition in the semiconductor industry.

Three of the four new Standing Committee members owe their political rise to Xi, and the fourth is believed to be closely aligned with him. All but Guangdong party chief Li Xi worked under Xi in the 2000s, either in affluent Zhejiang province or in Shanghai. By excluding Li Keqiang and Wang Yang, both 67, from the party Central Committee and Standing Committee, Xi broke with the "seven-up/eight-down" rule that those aged 67 or under would remain for another five years. No woman has ever made it onto the Standing Committee. NOT TROUBLE-FREEThe run-up to the party congress was hardly smooth, with China facing sharp economic slowdown, frustration over zero-COVID and worsening relations with the West.

☆ China says it's running on a new version of democracy that doesn't rely on elections. Experts say it's just another mind game.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-22 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

He first introduced the term "whole-process democracy" to China in a 2019 speech. However, by November that year, "whole-process democracy" was mentioned in 128 People's Daily articles, per CMP. "China's whole-process people's democracy integrates process-oriented democracy with results-oriented democracy, procedural democracy with substantive democracy, direct democracy with indirect democracy and people's democracy with the will of the state," says China's white paper on the subject, per CGTN. Semantics aside, a key point to note is that "whole-process democracy" plays down the need for elections. Even so, Chong said, whole-process democracy might still help the CCP give the impression that it cares about the average citizen.

☆ Temasek-backed Vertex set to raise nearly $500 mln for new China-focused fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/HONG KONG, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Venture capital firm Vertex Ventures, backed by Singapore state investor Temasek, is set to raise nearly $500 million for a new fund that will invest in efforts to step up China's domestic tech development, a senior executive said. The new fund's size will exceed an initial target of $400 million, compare with an earlier, similar fund that raised $275 million, said Tay Choon Chong, managing partner at Vertex Ventures China. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"China is pivoting from relying on imported technologies to its own tech know-how," Tay said. The latest Vertex fund comes amid a slowdown this year in U.S. dollar-denominated fundraising by China-focused venture capital and private equity firms. While looking for investment opportunities involving companies developing advanced technologies, Vertex will also look for firms that have potential in reducing Beijing's reliance on foreign suppliers, Tay said.

But the theme of the event is continuity — of President Xi Jinping as leader, and with that the likelihood of friction with the U.S.-led West. Xi, China’s most powerful leader in decades, is poised to secure an unprecedented third term at this week’s twice-a-decade National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in Beijing. “Those achievements have certainly strengthened the president’s leadership.”Under Xi, China’s gross domestic product has more than doubled to $17.7 trillion. Born in Beijing in 1953, Xi enjoyed a privileged youth as the second son of Xi Zhongxun, a Chinese communist revolutionary. “The long-term goals of President Xi, as well as general attitudes in the West, will make it very difficult for us to have more cooperation during his third term,” she said.

"Given the economic and social strain caused by sticking to an increasingly unpopular COVID zero policy, Xi's speech might sound defensive to many Chinese citizens, insisting that the Party has their best interests in mind. ALFRED WU, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE"It is obvious that security is Xi's greatest concern. ZHIWU CHEN, PROFESSOR OF FINANCE, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG"One significant change is to de-emphasise economic development and economic reform. BATES GILL, PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF SECURITY STUDIES AND CRIMINOLOGY, MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY, SYDNEY"This speech said 'continuity' and full speed ahead. "But this was not intended as a policy speech.

☆ We expect the U.S. Fed to hike rates by 75 basis points in November, says JPMorgan
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWe expect the U.S. Fed to hike rates by 75 basis points in November, says JPMorganSoo Chong Lim of the investment bank says it expects the U.S. Federal Reserve to increase interest rates again by 50 basis points in December, and have another 25 basis point hike early next year.

☆ 'Interview With the Vampire' review: AMC pumps fresh blood into Anne Rice's story
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-30 | by ( Review Brian Lowry | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Desperate to replace “The Walking Dead,” AMC might have completed an improbable baton pass from zombies to another kind of undead. In that sense, this seems to have been produced at least as much with AMC+ in mind as the linear network AMC. Sam Reid as Lestat Du Lioncourt and Jacob Anderson as Louis De Pointe Du Lac in "Interview with the Vampire." “Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire” premieres October 2 at 10 p.m. ET on AMC and AMC+.

☆ Here's how 4/20 became the go-to holiday for marijuana lovers
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-20 | by ( Jeremy Berke | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

4/20, every marijuana consumer's favorite holiday, started with a group of high school kids in California. 4:20 p.m. is considered an optimal time to light up for smokers, and spaces where you can smoke marijuana are often labeled "420 friendly." "I was sittin' on our hangout spot — the wall — at San Rafael High School," Capper told host Phoebe Judge. "We'd remind each other in the hallways that we were going to meet at Louis at 4:20," Capper said. The evidence, according to "The Criminals" host Phoebe Judge, is a clipping from a San Rafael High School newspaper from 1974.

☆ In LA's Koreatown, coffee-shop owners gather to swap business strategies. It's acted as a pandemic lifeline.
▼ + stars: | 2021-11-15 | by ( Linda Chong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Several of the business owners take on the role of mentor and trainer, helping newcomers to the area build connections in Koreatown. Through the circle, Kim is well acquainted with more than 12 coffee businesses, some outside Koreatown. Through Yon, Kim also met dozens of business owners and baristas. "It wasn't difficult finding this business circle," Jo, who's only been in the business for a few years, told Insider. "You would think business owners are competing more during these tough times," she said, "until I met these business owners."

☆ Needy families slept on hospital floors until one doctor started a shelter
▼ + stars: | 2018-05-31 | by ( Laura Klairmont | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

“I couldn’t get the picture of the families sleeping on the floor out of my mind,” Pun-Chong said. Pun-Chong: The shelter is a very special place. In the shelter we don’t have TV because I prefer to talk to the kids and teach them how to create things. I want each and every one of them to feel special. We try to give these kids special things and special experiences.

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