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☆ 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.

☆ Want a Tesla alternative? Analysts and fund managers reveal their top EV stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Now, a precipitous plunge in its share price in 2022 puts its value well under $400 billion. At the end of last week, the EV maker cut prices in the U.S. and throughout Europe in what's being viewed as an effort to boost sales volumes. But there have also been some self-inflicted pains too: the long-running Twitter saga ; Musk's massive sale of Tesla shares ; and a capacity expansion in the face of slowing demand. Tesla alternatives For Deutsche Bank, Chinese EV maker Nio is the only pure-play name among its top automotive picks for 2023. Nio shares ended Friday at $11.81, down over 60% over the last year.

☆ China consumer inflation accelerates in Dec; PPI falls with soft demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lam YikBEIJING, Jan 12 (Reuters) - China's annual consumer inflation rate accelerated in December, driven by rising food prices even as domestic demand wavered amid restrained economic activity during the month. The consumer price index (CPI) was 1.8% higher than a year earlier, rising faster than the 1.6% annual gain seen in November, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Thursday. The producer price index (PPI) showed an annual drop for a third straight month. In December it was down 0.7% from a year earlier, falling less than an annual contraction of 1.3% seen in November. read moreReporting by Liangping Gao, Joe Cash and Liz Lee; Editing by Bradley PerrettOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'M3GAN' is an internet star thanks to her TikTok-esque dance. Director Gerard Johnstone calls the viral reaction 'unbelievable.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kahlan-Rosenblatt.Jpg | Kalhan Rosenblatt | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Before she ever hit the big screen, M3GAN was a social media icon. The killer android doll is the star of the film "M3GAN," which released nationwide Friday. Models perform the viral dance at a special screening of "M3GAN" in New York on Wednesday. Like other viral phenomena before it, M3GAN’s social media success was a happy accident — something Johnstone didn't see coming. "That’s incredible”He credits some of the film's early praise to social media buzz.

The most chilling moment in Gerard Johnstone’s new horror film, “M3GAN,” comes early. Its wildly popular — and immediately viral — trailer seems to give away the entire story, beat by beat, but what it can’t convey is the picture’s delightfully oddball tone, which is poised at a peculiar juncture of slasher horror and self-aware satire. Gemma, dressed in flannels, so you know she’s an antisocial nerd, has developed M3GAN, short for Model 3 Generative ANdroid. As a character, M3GAN is a marvel of design, combining body actor (Amie Donald), voice (Jenna Davis), animatronics, makeup and special effects. (“Humanity kills every day, just to make its existence more bearable,” M3GAN cackles, presumably after doing some online reading about Apple and Foxconn’s Longhua facility.)

☆ Hong Kong residents rush to get vaccinated ahead of China border reopening
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People queue at a community vaccination centre, ahead of an expected border reopening with China, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Hong Kong, China, January 4, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone SiuHONG KONG, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Hong Kong residents have swamped clinics to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the expected reopening of the city's border with mainland China, which some people fear will bring a surge of infections to the financial hub. The number of people getting a fourth shot jumped more than 100% this week from a week earlier. Many mainlanders have been asking on social media about how to get an mRNA vaccine in Hong Kong. A Hong Kong resident surnamed Tsoi said she was relieved to have made a booking for BioNTech's second-generation booster.

☆ Five Chinese startups that survived a tough year of Covid lockdowns
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesBEIJING — In a year of Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions, some Chinese startups that survived found growth online and overseas. The startup avoided significant impact from China's Covid lockdowns since it could deliver its products virtually, Jiang said. The company aggressively pushed overseas in 2022 – launching subsidiaries in Tokyo, Seoul, Germany, Dubai, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, Wan said. Previously, Wan said that Keenon had seen revenue at least double or more every year from a lower base, when the China market was growing. The company has a staff of 100 people in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong and Los Angeles, Lin said.

☆ Tender sale of Evergrande's Hong Kong headquarters fails again -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( Clare Jim | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly SongHONG KONG, Jan 3 (Reuters) - A tender for the sale of embattled China Evergrande Group's (3333.HK) headquarters in Hong Kong has lapsed again, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday, because the offer prices and terms fell short of requirements. The tower had been pledged against a loan of HK$7.6 billion from lenders led by the Hong Kong subsidiary of Chinese state-owned China Citic Bank Corp Ltd (601998.SS). Evergrande and Savills, the agent for the tender sale, declined to comment. ($1=7.8102 Hong Kong dollars)Additional reporting by Ziyi Tang in Beijing; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Lenders fail to sell Evergrande's Hong Kong headquarters by tender - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The company logo is seen on the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China September 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly SongHONG KONG, Jan 3 (Reuters) - The tender sale of embattled China Evergrande Group's (3333.HK) Hong Kong headquarters has lapsed again, two sources with knowledge said, because the offer prices and terms did not meet requirements. Chinese state-owned China Citic Bank Corp Ltd (601998.SS), whose Hong Kong subsidiary leads the lender group, did not immediately respond to request for comment. Evergrande and Savills, agent for the tender sale, declined to comment. ($1 = 7.8102 Hong Kong dollars)Reporting by Clare Jim; Additional reporting by Ziyi Tang in Beijing; Editing by Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Even home remedies such as canned peaches are being snapped up by people looking for ways to fight Covid. Macao is another special administrative region of China, while Zhuhai is a southern mainland Chinese city which it borders. Current rules don’t allow medicines to be mailed directly from Hong Kong to mainland China, according to the salespersons. Sending agents directly from Hong Kong, which also shares a land border with the mainland, isn’t feasible due to a lack of available agents, Simon said. In Macao, the drug regulator ordered pharmacies last week to limit purchases of pain relievers, fever medicines and antigen test kits.

☆ 23 major brands suspected of illegally sourcing products made by forced labor in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-17 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

And more ...Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderThese companies have also been suspected of having direct or indirect ties to Chinese forced labor in the aforementioned reports. Bosch"Bosch is committed to ensuring that its products are not produced wholly or in part by forced labor. "Compliance with human rights, labor rights and environmental standards is a top priority at PUMA and has been specified in our Codes of Conduct for over 20 years." As stated in our Business Conduct Guidelines, we reject all forms of oppression, forced labor and participation in human rights violations. We will continue to respect human rights and take a strong stand against forced labor."

China's health authority did not immediately respond to a request for comment on infections among medical staff. A few nurses at the fever clinic were tested positive, there aren’t any special protective measures for hospital staff and I believe many of us will soon get infected," Li added. A post on the Weibo social media platform recounted a recent experience at the emergency ward at Beijing Hospital. "Those who have not been to the emergency department of Beijing Hospital don't know what a mess it has become," wrote a Weibo user called Moshang. Beijing Hospital did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment.

☆ China scraps tracking app as it relaxes strict 'zero-Covid' rules
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

China will drop a travel tracing requirement as part of an uncertain exit from its strict “zero-Covid” policies that have elicited widespread dissatisfaction. It’s part of a package of apps that includes the health code, which has yet to be disabled. Facing a surge in Covid-19 cases, China is setting up more intensive care facilities and trying to strengthen hospitals’ ability to deal with severe cases. At midnight on Monday, the smart phone app will cease to function, meaning residents’ travels will not be traced and recorded. Many believed Covid-19 restrictions may have impeded rescue efforts.

☆ A year only lasts 17.5 hours on the ‘hell planet’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

One year for this planet lasts about 17.5 hours on Earth. A team of researchers used a new tool known as EXPRES, or the EXtreme PREcision Spectrometer, to determine the precise nature of the planet’s orbit. But the hell planet is not the only planet orbiting Copernicus. An illustration shows just how closely the planet Janssen (left), depicted as an orange dot, orbits its host star Copernicus. Once Janssen moved in closer to Copernicus, the hell planet became even hotter.

☆ 'Andor' almost dropped the first F-word in 'Star Wars' franchise history, actress says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

"Andor" is the best-reviewed "Star Wars" live-action series yet, and feels more gritty than previous shows. "Fiona's voice was over all of us," Gough told Empire, referring to actress Fiona Shaw's monologue in the episode. "Andor" could be described as a "gritty" "Star Wars" series. It's received glowing reviews from critics, with the first season receiving a 96% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the best of any of Disney+'s live-action "Star Wars" series. But the three-episode premiere lagged behind other "Star Wars" debuts in viewership, according to Nielsen data.

☆ Top 25 roundup: 17-0 surge carries Rutgers past No. 10 Indiana
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Aundre Hyatt chipped in 11 for Rutgers, which survived shooting 36.7 percent and a quiet showing from Clifford Omoruyi. Miller Kopp scored 21 points for Indiana (7-1, 0-1) but the rest of the Hoosiers experienced frustrating showings against Rutgers' varied defenses. Logan Johnson recorded 17 points, six rebounds and five assists for Saint Mary's (6-3), which lost its third straight game. Matthew Cleveland added 11 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, with Jalen Warley and Caleb Mills each scoring seven points. Alex Arians finished with (17 points, six rebounds), followed by William Kyle III (eight points, six rebounds, five assists) and Zeke Mayo (12 points, seven rebounds).

☆ Hong Kong's Hang Seng had its best month since 1998, but remains in bear market territory
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Strategists at Goldman Sachs said from February 2021 to October 2022, the Hang Seng index saw a "systemic correction," which the firm defines as a fall of 40% or more. Next key levelsAnalysts at Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisers said, "November may, in hindsight, be viewed as a key turning point for Chinese equities," noting the Hang Seng China Enterprise index and the property sector saw significant gains. After its November gains, the Hang Seng index hovered around 18,600 – a level of resistance according to market watchers. "With the 18,600 level of resistance being overcome for the Hang Seng Index, that could seem to place the key psychological 20,000 level on watch," IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said in a Thursday note. The HSI last fell below the 20,000 level in August, and analysts expect to see a continued rebound in the equity market on further signs that the nation will shift away from zero-Covid.

An armed robber fatally shot a Northern California gas station clerk but won't be charged with murder — presumably because the gunman could claim self-defense, police said Wednesday. The DA's office on Thursday did not immediately explain its rationale against charging Jackson with murder. "I totally disagree with this," a tearful Matamoroz told NBC News. 'Why are we bending over backward to not charge an armed robber with the murder of an innocent store clerk who is protecting his premises?' Matamoroz was in the bathroom when Williams told her to stay put.

☆ Taiwan president resigns as party leader after election loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen resigned as head of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party following local election losses on Saturday suffered by her party. Tsai had spoken out many times about “opposing China and defending Taiwan” in the course of campaigning for her party. “Faced with a result like this, there are many areas that we must deeply review.”Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen casts her ballot at a polling station in New Taipei City, Taiwan on Nov. 26, 2022. They’ve raised a local election to this international level, and Taiwan’s survival,” said Yeh-lih Wang, a political science professor at National Taiwan University. At an elementary school in New Taipei City, the city that surrounds Taipei, voters young and old came early despite the rain.

☆ Malaysia's new prime minister Anwar Ibrahim vows to unify the country and fight corruption
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Su-Lin Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

watch nowNew prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to make "Malaysia for all Malaysians," fight corruption and reiterated that he won't be taking a salary as Malaysians battle rising costs of living. International relationsCongratulations poured in from leaders from all over the world including Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim takes his first press conference after being appointed prime minister. Perikatan Nasional won 73 seats and was runner-up to Anwar's Pakatan Harapan which won 82 seats. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim swron in by Malaysia's King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Thursday Mohd Rasfan | Afp | Getty Images

☆ NFL roundup: Joe Burrow helps Bengals get revenge vs. Steelers
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Both of Herbert's touchdown passes were caught by Joshua Palmer, who finished with eight catches for 106 yards. Quarterback Marcus Mariota paced Atlanta's offense with 131 passing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Hurts finished with 190 passing yards and 86 passing yards. Saints 27, Rams 20Andy Dalton threw three touchdown passes as host New Orleans defeated Los Angeles, which lost Matthew Stafford to a possible concussion. Kirk Cousins was ineffective in the passing game, totaling 105 yards through the air while completing 12 of 23 passes.

☆ Meet a 26-year-old tech entrepreneur who says starting a company is 'an art and creative process'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Gili Malinsky | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The 26-year-old, Toronto, Canada, native co-founded her first company, Ranomics, at 18. She founded her second company, Locke Bio, a "Shopify" for pharmaceutical and other companies selling FDA approved drugs, at 23. For Tie, art and creativity is not exactly as on-the-nose as writing in iambic pentameter or dancing at Lincoln Center. "That's, I think, more of an art and creative process than something that is technical." Here's how the entrepreneur, now based in Los Angeles, has leaned into her creative, big-picture thinking to find success in fields like tech and science.

☆ 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%.

☆ Top 25 roundup: No. 11 Texas thrashes No. 2 Gonzaga
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Mark Gleeson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Nov 16, 2022; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns guard Tyrese Hunter (4) reacts after scoring a three pointer during the second half against the Gonzaga Bulldogs at Moody Center. 11 Texas connected on 13 3-pointers in a 93-74 blowout of No. Marcus Carr added 16 points and seven assists for the Longhorns (3-0), while Dylan Disu netted 12 points. Trevon Brazile registered 13 points and 10 rebounds and Davonte Davis also added 13 points for the Razorbacks (3-0). Florida Gulf Coast (2-2) was led by Zach Anderson, who had 11 points and five rebounds, while Dahmir Bishop added nine points.

☆ A man disparaging Jews and someone pretending to be H.R. McMaster just created federal campaign committees. It may be weeks before regulators do anything about it.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Two recently established political committees appear to violate FEC regulations. McMaster at the Richmond Forum in Virginia, a man says he found himself so inspired that he formed a political committee to support McMaster for president in 2024. Federal regulations generally prohibit committees from using the name of a prospective candidate in their committee's name. Then, two days after the McMaster filing, another man filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to form a committee with completely different — and hostile — intentions. As for Liu's antisemitic committee name, the FEC has a process for dealing with that — but it's a protracted one.

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