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☆ Margaret Zhang, Australian-born editor of Vogue China to step down
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Vogue China editorial director Margaret Zhang has announced that she is stepping down just three years after becoming the youngest person to lead any of the fashion bible’s 28 editions. Zhang’s appointment as Vogue China’s editorial director in 2021 came as something of a surprise. But she also won praise for modernizing Vogue China and championing diversity at the title. In her resignation announcement, Zhang said the publication had enjoyed “record growth in video” and the “highest engagement events in the history of Vogue China” during her editorship. The Ghanaian-born fashion editor unexpectedly stepped down last June after more than six years at the helm.

Persons: Margaret Zhang, ”, Zhang, —, Condé, — Anna Wintour, ” Zhang, Ik, “, Anna Sui, Edward Enninful, Condé Nast, Roger Lynch Organizations: CNN — Vogue China, Vogue, Vogue China, US, Milan, Condé Locations: China, Australian, Sydney —, Mulberry, Vogue China, Ghanaian

☆ In China’s battle of the lattes, Luckin Coffee keeps beating Starbucks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Luckin, which already calls itself China’s biggest coffee chain, says it had surpassed Starbucks in mainland China by number of outlets in 2019. By the end of 2023, Luckin had 16,218 stores in China, nearly double its 2022 count of more than 8,200. Starbucks’ outlets in China are entirely company-owned. The number of branded coffee shops in China jumped 58% in the past twelve months, reaching 49,691 outlets, according to a December report by World Coffee Portal. Making a comebackBy 2019, the company had outnumbered Starbucks stores in China, with more than 4,500 outlets, according to the company.

Persons: Luckin, ”, Jinyi Guo Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nasdaq, Starbucks, CNN, International Coffee Organization, Daxue Consulting, Visual China, Centurium, US Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Xiamen, United States, Beijing, New York, American

☆ Zong Qinghou, self-made billionaire founder of top Chinese beverage brand Wahaha, dies
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The self-made billionaire, who was once China’s richest man, died of an illness on Sunday at the age of 79, his company Hangzhou Wahaha Group said in a brief statement, without providing further details. Victory in that bitter battle boosted Zong’s wealth to $8 billion, making him China’s richest man in 2010 and again in 2012, according to Forbes. He was nicknamed “the richest man in cloth shoes” for always sporting plain black shoes, complete with a dark jacket and slacks. That year, Zong founded the Hangzhou Wahaha Group after acquiring a failing state-run canned food factory. The dispute was eventually settled in 2009, with Danone selling its stake for about $500 million and ceding all control to Wahaha.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN — Zong Qinghou, Zong, Forbes, Jack Ma, Lei Jun, Zong Fuli, Mao Zedong’s, ”, Deng Xiaoping, Wahaha, Danone Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hangzhou Wahaha, Danone, Forbes, Getty Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, “, Guangzhou, Beijing

☆ Nvidia names Huawei a top competitor in major areas including AI chips
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Nvidia has named Huawei a top competitor in a number of areas, including in the crucial production of processors that power artificial intelligence (AI) systems. Other companies also listed as its rivals in some areas include AMD, Amazon (AMZN), Microsoft (MSFT) and Broadcom (AVGO). In October 2022, the Biden administration imposed sweeping curbs designed to curtail China’s access to advanced computing chips. In July, it imposed export controls on two strategic raw materials, gallium and germanium, that are critical to the global chipmaking industry. Data centers, which includes the graphics cards that are widely use in generative AI, are Nvidia’s biggest source of revenue.

Persons: Jensen Huang, Biden, ” Colette Kress, CNN’s Rob McLean, David Goldman Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Nvidia, Huawei, AMD, Microsoft, Broadcom, CNN, Micron, “ Locations: China, Hong Kong, Santa Clara, Singapore, Shenzhen, Beijing, Washington, Japan, Netherlands, ”, “

☆ Major companies in China are setting up their own volunteer armies
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Hong Kong CNN —Chinese companies are doing something rarely seen since the 1970s: setting up their own volunteer armies. According to China’s Military Service Law, male militia members should be 18 to 35 years old. It was latest in a slew of militias established by major Chinese companies in the past year. After 1949, when the party took control of mainland China, the units were eventually embedded into governments, schools and companies. This can, in the long run, save the PLA resources by delegating some duties to militia forces to care for,” Heath said.

Persons: Xi, ”, Neil Thomas, Nuo Nuo, Huang Zhiqiang, Qilai Shen, Liu Jie, Mao Zedong, Mao, Timothy Heath, homebuyers, Heath, ” Heath, Willy Lam, Sam Yeh, ” Lam, China’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, People’s Armed Forces Departments, America’s National Guard, Communist, Asia Society, Center for, Communist Party, China Labour Bulletin, Foxconn, Yili, Armed Forces Department, China’s Military Service Law, People’s Liberation Army, PLA, government’s Communist Party, Inner Mongolia Autonomous, Bloomberg, Getty, Shanghai Municipal Investment Group, Construction Investment, Development, Defense Ministry, People’s Armed Police, Armed, Rand Corporation, Jamestown Foundation, Party, Taiwan Locations: China, Hong Kong, Center for China, Beijing, Zhengzhou, Henan, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, Yili, Shanghai, Mengniu, Nantong city, Jiangsu, Huizhou city, Guangdong, Wuhan, Hubei province, People’s Republic, United States, Taiwan, Fangchenggang City, Guangxi, ”, PLA, Taiwan's, AFP

☆ HSBC 2023 results: $3 billion China writedown hits annual profit
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Of the total, $3 billion was related to BoCom, one of China’s biggest banks, while $2 billion was from selling its retail banking business in France. Separately, HSBC made $3.4 billion in provisions to cover expected credit losses and other charges related to its exposure to the commercial real estate sector in mainland China. The property market has since entered a prolonged slump, marked by an ongoing decline in real estate investment and sales of property. The charges reported by HSBC cast a shadow over its record annual profit, which came in at $30.3 billion, up 78% from 2022. In October, rival Standard Chartered reported a $186 million credit impairment charge related to commercial real estate in the country.

Persons: “, Matt Britzman, Hargreaves Lansdown, Mark Tucker, — Hanna Ziady Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — HSBC, China’s Bank of Communications, HSBC, HSBC isn’t, Chartered Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, France, BoCom, Mainland China

☆ Starbucks releases pork flavored coffee in China for Lunar New Year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Who doesn’t like a little braised pork with their coffee? Starbucks (SBUX) is betting on that unusual combination with a new drink released in China to mark the Lunar New Year. The drink combines Dongpo Braised Pork Flavor Sauce with espresso and steamed milk, with extra pork sauce and pork breast meat for garnish, according to the Starbucks delivery app. And while the foods served at New Year feasts vary by region, braised pork makes a frequent appearance. The Starbucks pork latte has quickly gained traction on Chinese social media, with the topic viewed more than 476,000 times on Weibo by the time of publishing.

Persons: Savory Latte, Su Dongpo, it’s, “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Shanghai Starbucks Reserve, Starbucks Reserve, United, Starbucks, Luckin, Shanghai, Weibo Locations: China, Hong Kong, Weibo, Asia, People, United States, Wuhan

☆ LPR: China makes biggest-ever cut to key mortgage rate to support housing market
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —China’s central bank has cut its key mortgage reference rate by a record amount, as it ramps up efforts to stem a prolonged property crisis. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced Tuesday that it would cut its five-year loan prime rate (LPR) from 4.2% to 3.95%, while keeping the one-year LPR unchanged at 3.45%. The 25 basis point cut to the five-year LPR is the biggest reduction the central bank has made since it revamped its LPR system in 2019. The latest cut was also the first reduction to the five-year LPR since June 2023. “Today’s 25 (basis point) cut to the five-year LPR is clearly aimed at supporting the housing market,” analysts from Capital Economics said in a note on Tuesday.

Persons: “, ” Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, People’s Bank of China, Capital Economics, Zhongrong Trust, State Administration of Foreign Exchange Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Europe is nervous about a potential Trump win. China sees an opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

China – which has not condemned Russia’s invasion and claims impartiality in the conflict – has also emerged as a key lifeline for the sanctions-hit Russian economy. In Europe, this has galvanized concerns about China’s own global ambitions and played a role in the European Union’s ongoing push to recalibrate its policy toward China. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell reiterated the EU’s “expectation that China refrains from supporting Russia,” in a meeting with Wang Friday. “As long as war in Ukraine continues, EU policies toward China will move into closer alignment with the US. As president, Trump not only voiced skepticism of the system of US alliances in Europe, but leveraged tariffs on European steel and aluminum, sparking retaliatory measures on US goods from Europe.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Wang Yi, Wang, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Wang, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, “, ”, Noah Barkin, Maxym Marusenko, Putin, Xi Jinping, –, Jens Stoltenberg, Josep Borrell, Christoph Heusgen, Dmytro Kuleba, Xi, hasn’t, It’s, Kuleba, Vladimir Putin, Xie Huanchi, Yu Jie, ‘, Liu Dongshu, “ Wang Yi, China …, ” Liu, Emmanuel Macron, GMF Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Munich, Washington, NATO, German Marshall Fund of, Communist Party, Wang Friday, Bloomberg, CNN, China’s, Ministry, ”, Ukrainian, Security, Beijing, Peace, Getty, ’ Observers, US, Chatham House, City University of Hong, “, White Locations: China, Hong Kong, States, Europe, Ukraine, Beijing, Munich, Moscow, Russia, United States, Russian, Ukraine's Kharkiv, West . China, Taiwan, EU, ”, China’s, Asia, Pacific, ” Beijing, Switzerland, Xinhua, London, Spain, France, City University of Hong Kong’s, Washington, York

☆ Despite strong Lunar New Year holiday data, consumer spending in China isn’t roaring back just yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Laura He | Marc Stewart | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

But according to CNN calculations based on official data, the average tourism-related spending per trip was below pre-pandemic levels, as consumer confidence remains weak amid deflationary pressure. However, the most recent holiday season took place over eight days from February 10 to February 18, which was one day more than previous periods. On average, 59.25 million domestic trips per day were made during this holiday period, slightly lower than the 59.29 million trips per day taken in 2019. Movie ticket sales reached a record 8 billion yuan ($1.11 billion) during the eight-day holiday season, according to data released on Sunday by China Film Administration. “The headwinds to growth remain severe and it will take more than a bump in holiday travel for market sentiment to recover,” said Neumann.

Persons: ” Nomura, ”, Frederic Neumann, Neumann, “ Organizations: Beijing CNN, CNN, Ministry of Culture, Tourism, Hangzhou East Railway, National Immigration Administration, China Film Administration, HSBC, China Index Holdings, Shenzhen Component Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Hangzhou, China's Zhejiang province, Macao, Asia, Shanghai, Shenzhen

☆ Comac C919: China’s homegrown passenger aircraft makes international debut
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

China calls the C919, which can carry just under 200 passengers, its first large homegrown passenger jet. It s certified to carry passengers only within mainland China and flies with China Eastern Airlines. The C919’s overseas debut comes at a time when Boeing is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. “There is a lot of interest to see the actual aircraft, how it performs and how it is in flight,” he said. “It will become a competitor in a small way, but it won’t be in the same league as Airbus and Boeing,” he said.

Persons: Cindy Koh, Shukor Yusof, ”, Edgar Su, Yusof, TransNusa Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Boeing, Airbus, Singapore Airshow, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, China Eastern Airlines, Singapore’s Economic, Board, Sunday, Max, Air, Endau, Singapore, Reuters, Center for Strategic, International Studies, American Locations: China, Hong Kong, Western, Air Alaska, United States, Washington, Hong, Victoria, Beijing, Southeast Asia, Africa, Central Asia, Indonesian

☆ Happy New Year of the Dragon - or Loong?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This year, it’s the Year of the Dragon, or more accurately, the “Year of the Loong,” says Chinese state media, using its preferred term for the mythical beast. The Chinese “loong” conjures positivity, nobleness and fortune and therefore should be distinguished linguistically from its Western cousin, state media argues. Chinese media has dedicated coverage and airtime to promote the new nomenclature over the past week or so, though both “dragon” and “loong” are being used interchangeably in English-language reports. “Transcribing long into English ‘loong’ would cause more problems and confusion than translating it as ‘dragon’,” he wrote. He noted that “some patriotic and political sources in the Sinosphere” have been peddling the concept that the Western dragon is fearful.

Persons: ”, Loong ”, it’s, loong, “ loong, Xi Jinping, Loong, John Lee, Wong Tai, Alex Chan Tsz Yuk, Elliott, Bradford Lee Eden, Eden, Eduardo Leal, ‘, Weibo, Victor Mair, Mair, “ loong ”, ” Eden, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Disney, Xinhua, of Library Services, Valparaiso University ,, Tolkien Research, Getty, University of Pennsylvania, Valparaiso University Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Valparaiso University , Indiana, Macau, Weibo, West

☆ MSCI China Index: 66 stocks cut from benchmark amid stock market rout
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Global stock index compiler MSCI is deleting dozens of companies from its benchmark China Index, which could further exacerbate fund outflows from Chinese equities after a massive stock market rout. The index provider announced this week that it would drop 66 securities from the MSCI China Index, one of its flagship China indexes, as part of the company’s latest quarterly review. The MSCI China Index is the compiler’s key index tracking the Chinese stock market, covering about 85% of the total market capitalization of Chinese companies listed globally. On Monday, MSCI also announced changes to its other China-related indexes, including deleting dozens of stocks from MSCI China A Onshore indexes and MSCI China All Shares indexes. Hong Kong’s stock market reopened on Wednesday after a long holiday weekend, with the benchmark Hang Seng Index up 0.9%.

Persons: MSCI, ”, Luca Paolini, Hong Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Global, Investors, Greentown China Holdings, Gemdale Corp, Uni, President, China Southern Airlines, Lufax Holdings, Genomics, Midea, MGI Tech, Management Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Fuyang, China's, Anhui, AFP, Hangzhou, President China, Beijing, Geneva, Mainland

☆ Super Bowl 2024: Online superstore Temu doubles down with TV ad and $15 million in giveaways
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A year after making its advertising debut at the Super Bowl, Chinese-backed online shopping platform Temu is redoubling efforts in its most important market with a second ad on America’s biggest stage and $15 million in coupons and other giveaways. The Boston-based firm — owned by PDD (PDD), the group behind Chinese online shopping giant Pinduoduo — paid for three ads during the game and two after the game. Commercials for the 2024 Super Bowl sold for higher rates than for last year’s game, with a range of $6.5 million to $7 million per 30-second spot broadcast on TV channel CBS, two individuals familiar with this year’s advertising sales told CNN. “The commercial marks the highlight of a Super Bowl campaign that featured more than $15 million in coupons and giveaways,” Temu said in a statement. As a result, PDD’s market capitalization soared that month, eclipsing that of older e-commerce rival Alibaba (BABA) for the first time.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, ”, ” Temu, Seema Shah, ” Shah, “, Temu, spender, Earnest Analytics, PDD, Alibaba, Alibaba’s, Jack Ma Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Super Bowl, PDD, CBS, CNN, Bowl, Amazon, Super, Facebook, Dollar Locations: China, Hong Kong, Boston, United States, United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany, Australia

☆ A photographer’s fantastical portrait of rural China during Lunar New Year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —In photographer Zhang Xiao’s images of the Shehuo festival, an ancient celebration still observed in parts of northern China during the Lunar New Year, rural life comes alive with something altogether more fantastical. (Lunar New Year celebrations usually last more than two weeks, with Shehuo festival taking place on the season’s 15th and final day.) “In some villages, virtually the entire population has been mobilized to produce and sell Shehuo props,” the photographer writes in his book. Shehuo performers reenact a battle between China's Eighth Route Army and Japanese forces from the Second Sino-Japanese War. “People are not focused on how to improve product quality and craftsmanship,” said the photographer, who is currently working on a documentary about life in rural China.

Persons: Zhang Xiao’s, ” Zhang, “, …, ”, Zhang Xiao, —, Zhang, Zhang Xiao “, — Zhang, reenact Organizations: CNN, roosters, dreamworld, UNESCO, Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, Eighth Route Army, Aperture, Peabody Museum Press, Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Ethnology Locations: China, Huanghuayu, Shaanxi, Henan, Huozhuang, Henan province, China’s Shandong, Chengdu, Cambridge , Massachusetts

☆ Chinese zodiac fortune predictions for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Maggie Hiufu Wong | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe StockMonkeys are going to have a relatively stable year. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe Stock“This year, you may have to work a bit harder and work longer hours than usual. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe Stock“It isn’t the worst year but there are going to be some challenges. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe Stock“According to ancient Chinese philosophy, Tigers and Dragons have a complicated relationship. Natalie Leung/CNN, Adobe StockAll you Rabbits can give yourself a pat on the back.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, There’s, ”, Chen, “, Thierry Chow, CNN Chow, floristry, “ It’s, Chow, Xuan, Duke, Jupiter, Stringer, VCG, Zhang Yu, Ulet Ifansasti, Johanes, NurPhoto, Zhang Cheng, Wu Wenjun, Axel Miranda, Tai Sui –, Tai Sui, Natalie Leung, Ben Ming Nian, “ Let’s, Ben Ming, “ You’ll, Ma Xing, –, it’s, It’s, there’s, ” Chow, Xing Tai Sui Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Shui, China News Service, Spring, Reuters Workers, Adobe, Adobe Stock, Adobe Stock People, ”, Roosters, Tiger Tigers, Dragons, Tigers Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Xuan Kong, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China, Beijing, Solo City, Indonesia, Dharmayana, Bali , Indonesia, Guangzhou, China's, Guangdong Province, Barcelona, Spain, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province

☆ Huawei’s offices in France raided by financial prosecutors
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Chris Liakos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Paris/Hong Kong CNN —The French offices of Chinese tech giant Huawei were searched this week, the company confirmed Friday, saying it was fully cooperating with the authorities. The Shenzhen-based firm told CNN that the search had taken place Tuesday. While Huawei France does not wish to comment on an ongoing investigation, the company remains confident about its conclusions,” a spokesperson said. Speaking to French public radio in December, Minggang Zhang, deputy general manager of Huawei France, said the factory would begin operations by the end of 2025 in the Alsace region. “Every year, we invest some €80 million or more in research in France,” Zhang told radio network France Inter.

Persons: “, ”, Minggang Zhang, ” Zhang Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Huawei, CNN, “ Huawei, Huawei France, France Inter, “ Locations: China, Paris, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, France, Huawei France, Alsace, “

☆ China gears up to ring in Year of the Dragon with expected record 9 billion trips
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Authorities last month forecast that China’s population of 1.4 billion would take a record 9 billion trips during the 40-day holiday travel period, which began on January 26. Stringer/VCG/Getty Images A man takes photos of blooming plum blossoms at the Summer Palace in Beijing, China on February 5. Johanes P. Christo/NurPhoto/AP Crowds flock to the Spring Festival Light Show in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China on February 3. Axel Miranda/SOPA Images/Sipa/Reuters Workers assemble dragon lanterns at a production workshop in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China on January 24. Two major indexes recorded their worst drops in years capping off a dire 2023 that saw China’s stock markets become the world’s worst performer.

Persons: ”, Luo, Stringer, VCG, Zhang Yu, Ulet Ifansasti, Johanes, NurPhoto, Zhang Cheng, Wu Wenjun, Axel Miranda, Xi Jinping, ” Xi Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Festival, CNN, Authorities, China News Service, Spring, Reuters Workers, HSBC, Beijing, United States Embassy Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, Fujian, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, Solo City, Indonesia, Dharmayana, Bali , Indonesia, Guangzhou, China's, Guangdong Province, Barcelona, Spain, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, Shanghai

☆ China’s Xi calls for stronger ‘strategic coordination’ with Russia in Lunar New Year call with Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Xi told Putin the two sides should “strengthen strategic coordination” and “safeguard the national sovereignty, security and development interests of their respective countries,” according to a readout from China’s Foreign Ministry. Looking to the future, China-Russia relations face new development opportunities,” Xi told Putin during their call. “Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping specifically stressed that close Russia-China interaction is an important stabilizing factor in world affairs,” the Kremlin readout said. Thursday’s phone conversation between Xi and Putin took place as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. Last year, Xi made his symbolically significant first foreign trip of his third term as president to Moscow last March.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Xi, Putin, “, ” Xi, ’, ”, “ Vladimir Putin, Tucker Carlson, ” Putin, Carlson Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Russia, Foreign Ministry, United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Western, Ukraine, Russia, Kremlin, “, Israel, Gaza, ” Beijing, Beijing, Moscow, United

☆ Messi’s ‘miracle’ return stirs Chinese anger and conspiracy theories
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“(He) played in five of the six preseason games and only missed the game in Hong Kong, China! Don’t come to China, China doesn’t welcome you,” another user wrote in a post liked by 20,000 others. “Why didn’t Messi play in Hong Kong or participate in the handshake with HK (the Hong Kong) chief executive? Messi's no-show sparks an outcry in Hong Kong on February 4, 2024. One social media user noted that it was not only Messi who played in Tokyo, but not Hong Kong.

Persons: Lionel Messi, Messi didn’t, Messi, “ Messi, Hong Kong, Kenneth Fok, Hu Xijin, didn’t Messi, ” Hu, ”, Louise Delmotte, “ Don’t, Hong, David Beckham, Beckham, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, Luis Suárez couldn’t, Philip Fong, “, nimbly, Regina Ip, ” “ Messi, Kenneth Chan, Taylor Swift, ’ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Sunday, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Vissel, Hong, CNN, Weibo, HK, Global Times, Inter, National Basketball Association, Houston Rockets, Soccer, Ardent, Messi, Argentina national, Australia, Inter Miami's, Getty, The Inter Miami, Hong Kong Baptist University Locations: China, Hong Kong, Argentine, Japan, Vissel Kobe, Tokyo, Beijing, State, China’s Sichuan, Argentina, AFP, Asia

☆ Alibaba shares sink after it shelves IPO plans for two units
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Shares in Alibaba sank as much as 7% in Hong Kong on Thursday, after the Chinese tech giant reported disappointing sales figures and announced it would suspend listings plans for two of its units. The news comes at a tough time for the tech giant. In December, the company reshuffled its top ranks after the stellar performance of a competitor caused a stir at Alibaba. The company’s announcement of a $25 billion share repurchase program, which it said demonstrated its confidence in its business and cash flow outlook, also failed to ignite interest among investors. Alibaba shares in New York closed 5.9% lower on Wednesday.

Persons: Joseph Tsai, ”, Alibaba, Jack Ma, PDD, Alicia Yap, Ma, —, Laura Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Cainiao, Reuters, Refinitiv, ” Citi Locations: China, Hong Kong, Alibaba, New York

☆ China vows to help its EV champions succeed overseas despite threats of sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

On Wednesday, China’s Commerce Ministry posted a document signed late last year by nine government agencies, including the Foreign Ministry and the central bank, vowing to support Chinese EV makers with their globalization push. It also encouraged Chinese EV companies to cooperate with foreign manufacturers in technology and build supply chains that can benefit everyone. Chinese EV makers are taking the world by storm, even if they are largely locked out of key markets like the United States. Chinese EV makers are seeking alternative growth engines overseas because the picture is gloomy at home. The flood of cheaper Chinese vehicles has triggered trade tensions with some countries.

Persons: “, Biden Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China’s Commerce, Foreign Ministry, Chinese EV, Getty, EV, China Association of Auto Manufacturers, European Commission, Wall Street Locations: China, Hong Kong, Europe, United States, Chinese, China's Shandong, Australia, Southeast Asia, Japan, Shenzhen, Hungary

☆ China gives suspended death sentence to Tian Huiyu, former China Merchants Bank president
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The court said he had used his privileged access to information to make more than 290 million yuan ($41 million) in illegal gains from the stock market. He also leaked inside information about stocks to other people, which yielded more than 8 million yuan ($1.1 million) in illicit profits, it said. In return, he accepted bribes worth more than 210 million yuan ($30 million), it said. In 2013, Tian was promoted to head China Merchants Bank, serving as its president and its Communist Party boss. The Communist Party has stepped up its crackdown on the country’s state-owned financial system since last year.

Persons: Tian Huiyu, Xi Jinping, Tian, Wang Qishan, ”, Li Xiaopeng, Liu Liange, Bao Fan, Bao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, China Merchants Bank, China Construction Bank, China Cinda Asset Management, Beijing, Communist Party, Central Commission, Communist, Adobe, China Everbright Group, Bank of China, China Renaissance Locations: China, Hong Kong, Changde city, Hunan, China’s, Shanghai, Changde

☆ China is pumping money into stocks and markets are loving it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Shanghai Composite, mainland China’s benchmark index for large state-owned companies and blue-chip stocks, ended up 3.2% on Tuesday, ending a six-day losing streak. By Monday, about $6.1 trillion in market value had been wiped from the Chinese and Hong Kong stock markets since their recent peaks in February 2021. Central Huijin Investment, the equity arm of state-owned China Investment Corp, announced Tuesday that it had recently expanded its holdings of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on mainland stock markets. The intensified efforts came after Chinese markets resumed their slide on Monday, when more than 1,800 stocks fell by more than 10% in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Tuesday’s rally in China was in contrast to other markets in the region.

Persons: “, Australia’s, Evergrande, Anna Cooban Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Alibaba, Huijin Investment, China Investment Corp, China Securities Regulatory Commission, Central Huijin Investment, Embassy, Nikkei, Kospi Locations: China, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Europe, Beijing, United States

☆ Chinese Lunar New Year travel chaos as extreme weather leaves drivers stuck in cars
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Marc Stewart | Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Beijing CNN —Blizzards and freezing rain have brought massive disruption to China’s peak Lunar New Year travel rush, leaving drivers stuck in cars on icy highways and passengers struggling to rebook canceled trains and flights. Sections of 90 major highways impacted by snow and ice were closed across China as of Tuesday morning, according to state-affiliated Beijing News. Others show crowds of stranded passengers in train stations, in one case with an announcement blaring: “No trains are leaving today. Tang flipped through his camera, where images showed piles of snow on both sides of the road and a long traffic jam. Another wave of precipitation is forecast through midweek slightly further south than the snow over the weekend, according to CNN Weather.

Persons: Yang Guang, Tang Zitao, Tang, ”, we’d, It’s Organizations: Beijing CNN, Visual China, CNN, Spring, CNN Weather Locations: China, Beijing, Hubei, Anhui, Wuhan, Henan province, Tang

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