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☆ Biggest security benefits, risks with new Meta, Twitter verified identity subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Cheryl Winokur Munk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

As Twitter and Meta Platforms move to paid subscriptions for social media identity verification and security, the battle to stay safe online continues. With social engineering and phishing the primary sources of social media account compromise, it's unlikely verified accounts will actually be more secure. "Twitter is only eliminating the SMS-based two-factor authentication capability, and does offer two additional methods for two-factor authentication that are stronger and more reliable than SMS-based authentication," Ramzan said. When signing on for a social media account, try to give away as little personal information as possible, Buzzard said. Aura recommends social media users disable third-party apps that are connected to their social media accounts.

[1/5] Eldery people who use the free subway service to deliver parcels gather in Seoul, South Korea, February 8, 2023. "But honestly, I wouldn't be doing it if subway rides weren't free because there wouldn't be much left over for me." Free rides have been a perk enjoyed nationally by those 65 and older for four decades and are credited with keeping senior citizens active. In the greater Seoul area, where almost 3.7 million people are 65 or older, more than 233 million free rides were taken last year. Sixty percent of Koreans support raising the minimum age for senior citizen benefits including free subway rides to 70, according to a Gallup poll released last week.

☆ Former VMWare CTO turned VC Steve Herrod has left General Catalyst to join the firm Juxtapose. Here's where he sees opportunity in building enterprise and AI startups.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( April Joyner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Herrod, the former CTO of VMWare, will build enterprise startups in areas like AI and cybersecurity. Herrod is joining the venture studio Juxtapose, where he will focus on creating enterprise software startups, he told Insider exclusively. Though Juxtapose's portfolio includes a range of industries such as fintech, insurance, and healthtech, the firm hasn't had a long reach within enterprise software. He told Insider he sees ample opportunity within segments such as cybersecurity, open-source software, software supply-chain management, and artificial intelligence — several of which are receiving a hefty amount of attention from VCs right now. Now the venture world is full of former tech executives who have made the switch to backing startups.

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☆ China expands IPO reform to help companies raise capital
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SHANGHAI, Feb 1 (Reuters) - China published draft rules on Wednesday to broaden the registration-based initial public offering (IPO) system, marking a big step towards reforming the world's second-biggest stock market. Expanding the U.S.-style IPO mechanism to all corners of China's stock market will speed up listings and corporate fundraising, as Beijing seeks to revive a COVID-ravaged economy. The fresh reform will also benefit investment banks and private equity funds, though some fear a flood of listings could drain market liquidity. The registration-based IPO system, first adopted by the tech-focused STAR Market, was later rolled out to start-up board ChiNext and the Beijing Stock Exchange. The CSRC will consolidate IPO rules for Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing bourses.

SHANGHAI/HONG KONG, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Chinese brokerages are in a race to raise billions of dollars in capital to meet regulatory requirements, jumping on a market upturn to bolster operations as they brace for tougher competition from Wall Street banks on their home turf. The brokerages need fresh capital to meet Chinese risk management rules, and finance capital-intensive businesses such as margin financing and market-making, having weathered volatile markets in the last couple of years. Chinese brokerages raised just 77 billion yuan via follow-up share sales last year, Refinitiv data showed. "Securities firms need capital to transform their business model by reducing reliance on traditional businesses." Chinese brokerages face stiffer competition after Beijing allowed Western banks, including Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Goldman Sachs (GS.N) and Credit Suisse (CSGN.S), to take full control of their China brokerage units.

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

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

China is likely to nominate Xie Feng , a vice foreign minister and a U.S. specialist, as its new ambassador to Washington, according to people familiar with the matter, continuing a gradual tempering of the abrasive “Wolf Warrior” style that has defined Chinese diplomacy in recent years. Beijing has been recalibrating its foreign policy in a bid to stabilize fraught ties with Washington and mitigate damage done to China’s global standing by its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and forceful pursuit of security, industrial and territorial interests, according to people working inside the Chinese Foreign Ministry. The hard-charging ethos that took hold among Chinese diplomats during the Trump administration, when Beijing saw itself as being under assault from the West, needs to be adjusted to reflect a changing international environment, they said.

For most of the past two years, foreign officials and business executives grappled with paramount leader Xi Jinping ’s unflinching insistence on a zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19. Now they are struggling to make sense of Beijing’s decision to scrap those pandemic controls virtually without warning. The whiplash from China’s about-face on its zero-Covid strategy exemplifies the uncertainties that businesses, foreign governments and academics face in dealing with a black-box political system that has become increasingly impenetrable as Mr. Xi has accumulated more power.

Liza LinLiza Lin covers Asia technology news for The Wall Street Journal from Singapore, focusing mostly on China, the internet, supply chains and surveillance. In 2021, Liza was part of a team at the Journal that was named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting, for their coverage of Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Liza, alongside other Journal reporters, won the Gerald Loeb Award for International Reporting in 2018 for a series of stories on China's surveillance state. Liza is the co-author with Journal colleague Josh Chin of the book "Surveillance State: Inside China’s Quest to Launch a New Era of Social Control." A Fulbright scholar, she has also worked for Bloomberg News in Singapore and China.

Persons: Liza Lin Liza Lin, Liza, Xi Jinping, Gerald Loeb, Josh Chin Organizations: Wall, New York Press Club, Society of Publishers, Social Control, Bloomberg News Locations: Asia, Singapore, China, Shanghai

☆ China reopens borders in final farewell to zero-Covid policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-08 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Travelers began streaming into mainland China by air, land and sea on Sunday, many eager for long-awaited reunions, as Beijing opened borders that have been all but shut since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the abrupt policy reversal has triggered a massive wave of infections that is overwhelming some hospitals and causing business disruptions. China on Sunday also resumed issuing passports and travel visas for mainland residents, and ordinary visas and residence permits for foreigners. Beijing has quotas on the number of people who can travel between Hong Kong and China each day. I’m thrilled, I can’t believe it’s happening,” said a business woman surnamed Shen, 55, who flew in from Hong Kong.

Long queues formed at the Hong Kong international airport's check-in counters for flights to mainland cities including Beijing, Tianjin and Xiamen. Hong Kong media outlets estimated that thousands were crossing. Beijing has quotas on the number of people who can travel between Hong Kong and China each day. I'm thrilled, I can't believe it’s happening,” said a businesswoman surnamed Shen, 55, who flew in from Hong Kong. The World Health Organisation said on Wednesday that China's COVID data underrepresents the number of hospitalisations and deaths from the disease.

☆ China's 'great migration' kicks-off under shadow of COVID
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-07 | by ( Casey Hall | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

BORDER REOPENINGSunday marks the reopening of China's border with Hong Kong and the end of China's requirement for inbound international travellers to quarantine. More than a dozen countries are now demanding COVID tests from Chinese travellers, as the World Health Organisation said China's official virus data underreported the true extent of its outbreak. In Shanghai, for example, the city government on Friday announced an end to free PCR tests for residents from Jan. 8. China has relied on nine domestically-developed COVID vaccines approved for use, including inactivated vaccines, but none have been adapted to target the highly-transmissible Omicron variant and its offshoots currently in circulation. China reported three new COVID deaths in the mainland for Friday, bringing its official virus death toll to 5,267, one of the lowest in the world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pledged to strengthen strategic cooperation between Moscow and Beijing, highlighting their bond as their nations stand increasingly at odds with the U.S. and its allies. In introductory remarks from a videoconference between the two leaders broadcast on Russian state television Friday, Mr. Putin said the two countries aimed to expand their military ties as part of the effort to deepen their partnership, days after completing joint naval drills in the East China Sea.

☆ China Asserts Military Power Against U.S. With Naval Drills, Air Intercept
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—China’s military has flexed its growing capacity to challenge the U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific in recent weeks, intercepting an American spy plane in what Washington criticized as a risky manner and sending an aircraft carrier in the direction of Guam. On Thursday, the U.S. military said a Chinese jet fighter conducted an unsafe maneuver while intercepting a U.S. Air Force RC-135 in international airspace over the South China Sea on Dec. 21. The J-11 fighter, operated by a Chinese navy pilot, flew “in front of and within 20 feet of the nose” of the RC-135, forcing the reconnaissance plane to “take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said.

☆ Beijing Calls for Measured, Science-Based Response to Its Covid Outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—Beijing called on foreign governments to abide by scientific principles in setting travel protocols, after the U.S. joined a growing group of countries that are imposing Covid-screening measures on travelers from China. On Wednesday, the U.S. said it would require travelers arriving from China to show negative Covid test results or documents proving their recovery from a recent infection. Federal health officials cited concerns over a lack of accurate data from Beijing that can be used to detect new coronavirus variants that may be emerging from the outbreaks now raging across the Chinese mainland.

☆ American Spy Plane Has Uncomfortably Close Encounter with Chinese Jet Fighter
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Video footage provided by the U.S. military showed a close encounter with a Chinese fighter carrying what appeared to be air-to-air missiles. HONG KONG—The U.S. military said a Chinese jet fighter conducted an unsafe maneuver while intercepting an American spy plane in international airspace over the South China Sea last week. During the Dec. 21 encounter, a J-11 fighter operated by a Chinese navy pilot flew “in front of and within 20 feet of the nose” of a U.S. Air Force RC-135, forcing the reconnaissance plane to “take evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Thursday.

Beijing called on foreign governments to abide by scientific principles in setting travel protocols, after the U.S. joined a growing group of countries imposing Covid-19-screening measures on travelers from China. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin on Thursday encouraged countries to work together to ensure safe international travel and supply chain stability as they fight the pandemic.

☆ Mike Leach: Mississippi State head football coach has died at 61 from heart condition complications
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-13 | by ( Wayne Sterling | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach died Monday night from heart condition complications, the university announced on Tuesday. “Mike was a giving and attentive husband, father and grandfather,” the Leach family said in a statement via the school. We are supported and uplifted by the outpouring of love and prayers from family, friends, Mississippi State University, the hospital staff, and football fans around the world. Leach compiled a 158-107 overall record in 21 seasons – 10 at Texas Tech, eight at Washington State and three at Mississippi State. Texas Tech said in a statement, “Texas Tech Athletics joins the countless others across the game of football who mourn the passing of Mike Leach.”“Coach Leach will be forever remembered as one of the most innovative offensive minds in college football history.

☆ China Sends Off Late Leader Jiang Zemin With Siren Blasts, Somber Memorial
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

As a military band played, attendees—dressed in black or in service uniforms—bowed their heads toward a large portrait of Mr. Jiang Zemin. HONG KONG—China bade a somber farewell to late former leader Jiang Zemin , with authorities projecting an air of national grief and unity as they tamped down a rare outburst of dissent against the ruling Communist Party. Across the country, horns and sirens across blared for three minutes on Tuesday morning in tribute to Mr. Jiang, who served as party chief for 13 years until 2002 and died of leukemia on Nov. 30 at the age of 96. Mainland stock markets suspended trading for the same amount of time. Public entertainment activities across the country were halted for the day, while Chinese flags flew at half-staff at major public spaces, government premises and commercial buildings.

☆ Man demanded $300K before killing 4 Chinese nationals at Oklahoma pot farm, prosecutors say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Marlene Lenthang | Marlene Lenthang Is A Breaking News Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A man accused of killing four people at an illegal Oklahoma marijuana farm last month opened fire after demanding employees give him $300,000 as a return for his “investment” in the illegal operation, prosecutors said. He is accused of killing Chinese nationals Quirong Lin, Chen He Chun, Chen He Qiang and Fang Hui Lee and injuring Yi Fei Lin, according to charging documents. Police respond to a crime scene where four people were found dead in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, on Nov. 21, 2022. The marijuana farm has since been seized by law enforcement, the filing stated. Law enforcement officials have reported a rise in black market operators using suspected human trafficking victims, including Chinese nationals, to grow and trim marijuana sold in legal dispensaries.

☆ China Loosens Covid Restrictions as Public Anger Simmers
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—Local authorities across China are paring back some of their strictest Covid-19 control measures, just days after public anger spilled over into rare protests against a zero-tolerance approach that has kept the country largely isolated for three years. In recent days, officials in major cities—including Beijing and other areas where protests broke out a week ago—said they were lifting some curbs on residents’ movements, such as by ending mandatory Covid testing for people who want to use public transport or enter parks and other public spaces.

☆ China to Bid Farewell to Jiang Zemin While Tapping Down Public Expression
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Mourners left bouquets outside the old home of former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin in Yangzhou. HONG KONG—China said it would hold a ceremonial send-off for its late former leader Jiang Zemin in Beijing early next week, as authorities enforced a somber tone across online and public spaces as part of the official mourning. In a Thursday notice, an official committee overseeing Mr. Jiang’s death rites said senior Communist Party and government leaders, lawmakers and military officials will conduct a memorial service on the morning of Dec. 6 at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

☆ Director Ang Lee will direct his son, playing Bruce Lee in biopic
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Brahmjot Kaur | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Ang Lee, the Academy Award-winning director of “Brokeback Mountain” and “Life of Pi,” is set to direct an upcoming film about the Chinese American martial arts icon Bruce Lee. Mason Lee, the son of Ang Lee, will play Bruce Lee in Sony’s 3000 Pictures film. At 13, he went on to study wing chun kung fu under the renowned master Yip Man, according to the Bruce Lee Estate. He also developed his own martial art during this time called Jeet Kune Do, the Bruce Lee Foundation's website said. After “The Green Hornet” was canceled, Bruce Lee struggled to find work in Hollywood and returned to Hong Kong to pursue a film career.

☆ Jiang Zemin, Former China Leader, Dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Chun Han Wong | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

HONG KONG—Jiang Zemin, the former Chinese leader who rose to power after the deadly crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protests and presided over his country’s economic rise heading into the 21st century, died Wednesday at the age of 96. Mr. Jiang died at 12:13 p.m. in Shanghai, where he succumbed to leukemia and multiple organ failure, according to a Communist Party communiqué published by the government-run Xinhua News Agency.

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