Beijing
Self-driving car companies’ first step to making money isn’t robotaxis
A WeRide robotaxi with health supplies heads to Liwan district on June 4, 2021, in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. Southern Metropolis Daily | Visual China Group | Getty Images BEIJING — While governments may be wary of driverless cars, people want to buy the technology, and companies want to cash in. It’s a […]
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China has signaled easing of its tech crackdown — but don’t expect a policy U-turn
China has shown signs of easing its crackdown on the technology sector which has wiped billions of dollars of value from its most prominent companies. But analysts said Beijing’s recent positive rhetoric should not be mistaken for a reversal of policy. “I think the big tech companies will have a grace period for maybe the […]
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Goldman names the Chinese tech stocks it says will weather the supply chain crisis
Investors worried about the supply chain shocks from China’s Covid lockdowns can look to these tech stocks, according to Goldman Sachs. Goldman analysts said in a note on May 3 that the share price slump in the sector has likely “priced in the lockdown impact.” On top of the supply chain disruptions from Beijing’s strict […]
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SoftBank Vision Fund posts record $27 billion loss as tech stocks plummet
SoftBank Founder Masayoshi Son said there is “confusion in the world” and in the markets due to a number of factors including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, high inflation and central bank moves to raise interest rates. These factors have contributed to a record annual loss at SoftBank’s Vision Fund. Kentaro Takahashi | Bloomberg | Getty […]
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China’s Xi urges officials to ‘resolutely fight’ those who question zero-Covid policy
Xi Jinping seen giving a speech during the centenary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party, in Fuyang on July 1, 2021. From a political perspective, 2022 is a particularly critical year for China, as Xi is expected to gain an unprecedented third term this fall at the 20th National Party Congress, alongside a […]
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As Beijing tightens Covid curbs, hard-hit Shanghai sees signs of life
Major luxury goods mall Beijing SKP said Friday it would close — with no reopening date specified — after the city confirmed three Covid cases in an apartment community nearby. Kevin Frayer | Getty Images News | Getty Images China’s capital Beijing tightened Covid restrictions on Sunday as it battled an outbreak, while Shanghai let […]
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These scientists bonded over toilet tech. Now they’re working on carbon-free cement
Hugo Leandri (Left) and Cody Finke, the co-founders of Brimstone Energy. Photo courtesy Brimstone Energy Cars and electricity get a lot of attention in conversations about decarbonization, and they should. But building materials like cement and steel also need to be scrutinized. The production of cement is responsible for about 8% of global carbon dioxide […]
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Shanghai reports first Covid deaths since the start of its latest lockdowns
Shanghai, China’s largest city and the one hit hardest by the latest Covid outbreak, announced another round of mass virus testing that’s set to end Thursday, April 21. Str | Afp | Getty Images BEIJING — Shanghai city reported Monday its first Covid-related deaths since the latest wave of lockdowns began in earnest in late […]
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Chinese EV maker Nio says it’s gradually resuming production after Covid halt
In February 2020, Nio got a lifeline of financing support led by the government of Hefei city, where the electric car start-up has established its China headquarters. Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images BEIJING — Chinese electric car company Nio said Thursday it is gradually resuming production at a facility several hours’ drive west […]
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Billionaire founder of China’s JD.com steps down as CEO as Beijing’s tech crackdown continues
Richard Liu, the founder of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, will step down from his role as CEO. His departure comes after a number of high-profile technology founders exited their leadership positions amid Beijing’s regulatory crackdown on its domestic tech sector. VCG | Visual China Group | Getty Images JD.com’s billionaire founder Richard Liu has stepped […]
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