Unhygienic Practices in Chinese Five-star Hotels
A Chinese whistleblower revealed a series of unprofessional practices in more than 100 hotels in China. Hidden cameras captured video footage showing the hotel cleaning staff is not following hygiene protocols, including actions such as using the same towel to wipe both toilets and drinking cups.
Ep. 29: Alibaba Singles’ Day $30.8Bn Extravaganza – The Real Deal or Not?
In Episode 29 of TechBuzz China, co-hosts Ying-Ying Lu and Rui Ma talk about China’s version of “Black Friday,” the biggest ecommerce shopping festival of the year which Alibaba invented out of thin air in 2008 and now falls yearly on November 11.
Mobike Partners with Louis Vuitton to Provide Location-Based Services
On Nov. 15, Mobike announced that it has struck a partnership with Louis Vuitton, the French luxury brand, in launching location-based services.
Alipay Launches Social Innovation Challenge with NUS Enterprise
On Nov. 16, Alipay, the mobile and online payment platform Ant Financial, teamed up with NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore, to launch a new initiative aimed to support digital technology innovation throughout Southeast Asia.
Renren, the Faded Facebook of China, Disposed at $60 million
Four years after my last post on renren.com in 2014, the Facebook of China, I logged in to check back on my friends but got nothing but disappointment in return. Among stereotypical selfies of online celebrities are the ashes of my burned-out college memories.
Chinese Co-working Giant Ucommune Raises $200 Million for Further Global Expansion
China’s coworking space provider Ucommune announced on Nov. 14 that it will close a $200 million Series D round of funding three months after its previous one, making it the largest single round financing for the unicorn.
Global Smart Speaker Shipments Grew by Nearly 200%
The global shipments of smart speakers grew 197 percent year-over-year in Q3 of 2018, reaching a record-breaking amount of 22.7 million, according to Strategy Analytics’ quarterly report. Chinese companies Alibaba, Baidu and Xiaomi were among the top five brands.
New HTC Budget Phone Hit WiFi Alliance
Last week, a new budget smartphone model numbered HTC 2Q72XXX with a Snapdragon 435 chipset, received Bluetooth certification and was unveiled at Wifi Alliance on Nov. 12.
Faraday Future Eyes a Potential IPO in 2020
Faraday Future (FF), the electric car start-up aiming to challenge Tesla, held an “Evolution Strategy Communication Meeting” at the Los Angeles headquarters on Nov. 12.
NetEase Cloud Music Raises Over $600 Million
NetEase, one of China’s top internet and online game services providers, announced on Nov. 12 that NetEase Cloud Music, the company’s music streaming platform, has completed its round of financing with investors. The total amount raised exceeded $600 million.
Alibaba’s Shopping Festival Breaks Sales Record
Alibaba announces new sale record after the tenth anniversary of Double Eleven, the global shopping festival that came to a close on November 11.
JD.com’s First Fully Automated Robot Restaurant Now Open in Tianjin
JD.com opened its first fully automated robotics restaurant named “XCafe” on Nov. 10 at the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city, an emerging environmentally friendly and resource-conserving area of Tianjin City.
The Louis Vuitton of Cakes: Exclusive Interview with Founder of Lady M
Imagine this: After a long walk on Robertson Road, you’re dying to find something to satisfy that sweet tooth of yours. What better choice is there than to drop in and take a break at the patisserie Lady M, the Louis Vuitton of Cakes?
Alipay and UEFA Strike Partnerships in National Team Football Competitions
Union of European Football Association (UEFA) and Alipay announced in Shanghai their global partnerships on Nov. 9, for all UEFA national team football competitions from 2018 to 2026, including UEFA Euro 2020 and Euro 2024.
Lenovo’s Mobile Business Achieved Profit in Ten Years’ Time
For the first time in ten years, Lenovo Holdings’ mobile business has achieved profit, mainly because its mobile business has withdrawn from 70 to 80 markets overseas.