This $550M fund is bringing green tech from the West to China, despite trade tensions

Escalating trade frictions between the U.S. and China have a range of businesses and investors in both countries sweating, but some believe there remains a bright spot where the antagonists can find common ground — fighting environmental issues. One of them is the U.S.-China Green Fund, which does exactly as the name suggests — financing […]

View More This $550M fund is bringing green tech from the West to China, despite trade tensions

Tiger Global and Ant Financial lead $500M investment in China’s shared housing startup Danke

A Chinese startup that’s taking a dorm-like approach to urban housing just raised $500 million as its valuation jumped over $2 billion. Danke Apartment, whose name means “eggshell” in Chinese, closed the Series C round led by returning investor Tiger Global Management and newcomer Ant Financial, Alibaba’s e-payment and financial affiliate controlled by Jack Ma. […]

View More Tiger Global and Ant Financial lead $500M investment in China’s shared housing startup Danke

Reddit says government data requests more than doubled in 2018

Reddit has said the number of government requests for user data has more than doubled in 2018 than on the previous year. The news and content sharing site said in its latest transparency report, posted Wednesday, it received a 752 requests from governments during the year, up from 310 requests a year earlier. Broken down, […]

View More Reddit says government data requests more than doubled in 2018

A government propaganda app is going viral in China

Besides binge-watching TikTok videos and battling enemies in the magical land of mobile games, many Chinese people may also pass time during the upcoming Lunar New Year on Xuexi Qiangguo, a news and chat app developed by the country’s top ideology officials. The app managed to top the Chinese App Store between January 22 and […]

View More A government propaganda app is going viral in China

China is cracking down on the country’s Twitter users

TwitterFacebook

“Twitter jail” has a different meaning in China.

In most of the Western world, if a Twitter user tweets too much, the user’s account gets locked in what has become known “Twitter jail.” If a Twitter user in China tweets, they face actual jail time.

China is ramping up its crackdown on the country’s Twitter users, according to a report by The New York Times. Police in China are questioning and detaining those who use the service in increasing numbers. 

In interviews conducted by the Times, China’s Twitter users shared experiences of hours long interrogations and threats made to them, their families, and even their unborn children. Read more…

More about Twitter, China, Activists, Human Rights, and Xi Jinping

View More China is cracking down on the country’s Twitter users

Alibaba replaces video streaming boss amid anti-corruption probe

A top-level reshuffle is sending shockwaves across one of China’s biggest online video businesses. Yang Weidong has stepped down as the president of Alibaba’s video streaming unit Youku, the ecommerce operator confirmed to TechCrunch on Tuesday. Yang is understood to be assisting the police with an investigation into “an alleged case of seeking economic benefits,” […]

View More Alibaba replaces video streaming boss amid anti-corruption probe

Tesla plans ‘rapid build out’ of China factory as tariffs weigh down automaker

Tesla plans to speed up construction of a factory in Shanghai as tariffs, shipping costs and missed incentives continue to drive up the price of the company’s electric vehicles and dampen demand. Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have led to 40 percent tariffs on Tesla vehicles compared to 15 percent duties placed on […]

View More Tesla plans ‘rapid build out’ of China factory as tariffs weigh down automaker

‘Christopher Robin’ release denied in China, possibly because Pooh looks like Xi Jinping

Winnie the Pooh may be a lovable star of the big screen, but that’s not stopping China from being petty as hell.
China’s film authorities have denied a release to the new live action Winnie the Pooh movie, Christopher Robin, according to The Hollywoo…

View More ‘Christopher Robin’ release denied in China, possibly because Pooh looks like Xi Jinping

Google is quietly formulating a new strategy for China

Google is slowing piecing together a strategy for China to ensure that it doesn’t miss out on the growth of technology in the world’s largest country. It’s been months in the making through a series of gradual plays, but further evidence of those plans comes today via a product launch. Files Go — a file manager for […]

View More Google is quietly formulating a new strategy for China

China banned the letter ‘N’ from Weibo and WeChat

TwitterFacebook

In some sort of Sesame Street ‘Letter of the Day’ nightmare situation, the letter N was temporarily banned on many of China’s most popular social platforms.

On Sunday, China’s Communist Party announced that it was planning to abolish the presidential two-term limit, which would enable Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely.

Some Chinese citizens weren’t too keen on the plan. Apparently, many started criticizing it on popular messaging apps Weibo and WeChat, referencing dystopian novels like 1984, and poking fun at Jinping by invoking the popular (and hilarious) comparison of Jinping to — wait for it — Winnie the Poo.  Read more…

More about China, Censorship, Xi Jinping, Tech, and Social Media Companies

View More China banned the letter ‘N’ from Weibo and WeChat

China banned the letter ‘N’ from Weibo and WeChat

TwitterFacebook

In some sort of Sesame Street ‘Letter of the Day’ nightmare situation, the letter N was temporarily banned on many of China’s most popular social platforms.

On Sunday, China’s Communist Party announced that it was planning to abolish the presidential two-term limit, which would enable Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely.

Some Chinese citizens weren’t too keen on the plan. Apparently, many started criticizing it on popular messaging apps Weibo and WeChat, referencing dystopian novels like 1984, and poking fun at Jinping by invoking the popular (and hilarious) comparison of Jinping to — wait for it — Winnie the Poo.  Read more…

More about China, Censorship, Xi Jinping, Tech, and Social Media Companies

View More China banned the letter ‘N’ from Weibo and WeChat

China serves Trump a very Americanized Chinese meal at its official state dinner

TwitterFacebook

For China’s official state dinner hosting U.S. President Donald Trump, the Asian superpower decided on a Chinese menu that looks…kind of American.

The Thursday evening affair, hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, was a glitzy event, attended by the country’s business leaders.

Thanks to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun who was present, and posted the menu on Weibo, we know what they ate.

Image: lei jun/weibo

The Menu

Starter: 

  • Hors d’Oeuvres

Main:

  • Coconut Flavored Chicken Soup

  • Seafood Chowder

  • Kung Pao Chicken

  • Stewed Beef Steak in Tomato Sauce

  • Braised Vegetables in Premium Broth

  • Grouper Fillets in Hot Chili Oil Read more…

More about Food, China, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and International Relations

View More China serves Trump a very Americanized Chinese meal at its official state dinner