Tuesday 13 October 2015

Beijing LASHES out at Asia's richest man Li Ka-shing via party mouthpiece

Tuesday, 22 September 2015 07:20

Beijing LASHES out at Asia's richest man Li Ka-shing via party mouthpiece 

 

 The mouthpiece newspaper of China's Communist Party has blasted Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing as "ungrateful" for selling assets on the mainland with the world's second-largest economy facing headwinds.
The 87-year-old, nicknamed "Superman" for his sharp business acumen, has been offloading major property investments in China - where growth slowed to a 24-year low last year and has continued to weaken this year - after investing heavily there in the 1990s.
The move, combined with his selling of assets in Hong Kong, has fuelled speculation that the richest man in Asia is losing confidence in the Greater China region.
The People's Daily said on a verified social media account that China's opening up, vast market and favourable policies had been "the key cornerstone" of Li's success, yet he was now leaving his benefactor in the lurch.


"He shared the prosperity while we had good times but could not beat the odds together with us now that we have difficulties. This is indeed unacceptable emotionally," it said in a commentary Sunday on its account on China's mobile messaging application WeChat, a less formal platform than the printed newspaper itself

No 10 Chen Haibin, 46, Zhejiang DIAN Diagnostics Co Ltd No 9 Lv Bo, 52, DHC Software Co Ltd No 8 Jia Yueting, 42, LeTV Holdings Co Ltd No 7 Zhang Yan, 46, Himile Science and Technology No 6 Yang Hongbing, 47, Harbin Gloria Pharmaceuticals Co Ltd No 5 Han Gang, 47, Beijing Jetsen Technology Co Ltd No 4 Li Zhongchu, 52, Beijing Shiji Information Technology Co Ltd No 3 Liu Xianghua, 52, Hunan CHINASUN Pharmaceutical Machinery Co Ltd No 2 Ao Xiaoqiang, 51, Beijing SDL Technology Co Ltd No 1 Liu Chengyan, 51, ChinaNetCenter

While admitting Li's move may have a "negative impact" on confidence in China, the article sought to downplay concerns.

"China's economy accounts for more than 12 per cent of the world's total... Can the withdrawal of a single businessman affect the fundamentals?" it said.

"We don't need to worry that no investors will come after Li Ka-shing.
"What we can do is not to condescend to persuade him to stay or to hurl invectives out of outrage, but to build the country better to make today's departure tomorrow's regret," it said.

Li, who is currently worth US$32.9 billion (S$46 billion) according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index, started out in business as a plastic flower-maker.

He has been reshuffling his business empire since the start of this year and earlier this month announced the merger of his utilities firms, part of an overhaul seen as paving the way for him to hand over the reins to his eldest son Victor, 51, after he retires.

In one of his recent overseas purchases, Li in March acquired British telecom giant O2 from Spain's Telefonica for $15.2 billion.-BusinessAsiaOne

Segway bought by China company

Segway bought by China company

HONG KONG — Segway, the iconic but struggling U.S. maker of self-balancing personal electric scooters, has been bought by a Chinese rival.
Beijing-based Ninebot, which makes a range of short-distance motorized transport devices, said Wednesday that it bought Segway Inc. for an undisclosed amount. It said it received $80 million from a group of investors to finance the purchase.
Ninebot's purchase of New Hampshire-based Segway is the latest example of a Chinese company acquiring foreign brands or technology. It's also the latest chapter for Segway, which has passed through several owners and generally failed to live up to the great hype surrounding its launch in 2002.
Segway founder Dean Kamen famously promised that his invention would revolutionize transportation, claiming it "will be to the car what the car was to the horse and buggy." But sales of the two-wheeler failed to take off and it earned a goofy reputation thanks to some high-profile mishaps, including President George W. Bush toppling over on one in 2003.
The acquisition comes five months after the U.S. International Trade Commission agreed to investigate Segway's claim that Ninebot and other Chinese companies were infringing on its patents and copyrights.
Segway wanted to block imports of competing scooters into the United States but the deal appears to signal a resolution.
In a statement issued by Ninebot, Segway President Rod Keller said the "strategic alliance with Ninebot will enable us to provide more intelligent and valuable products for our customers."
Ninebot, which was founded in 2012, said it received the $80 million investment from a group including U.S. venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, the Shunwei Foundation and Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi.
Segway was sold in 2009 to British millionaire entrepreneur James Heselden, who died a year later when he accidentally rode one off a cliff. The company was bought by Summit Strategic Investments LCC in 2013.

 http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/04/15/segway-china/25810851/

Wednesday 12 August 2015

10 Weird Mobile Apps You Won't Believe You Can Download

10 Weird Mobile Apps You Won't Believe You Can Download

cuddlr1) Cuddlr

A location-based social networking app called Cuddly lets you find people in your area to cuddle with. Cute or creepy? You be the judge.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS only, Android coming soon
Download here for iOS.

detivational2) Demotivational Pics

Keep that frown upside down. Make a bad day worse with an app that reminds you just how crappy things can be.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

matey3) Carrr Matey

Forgot where you parked your car? This app can tell you -- in a pirate voice.
Cost: Free, matey.
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

bathroom4) Places I've Pooped

I mean ... the name really says it all. Mark your territory, literally and digitially, with this map of where you've done your business.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

runpee5) Run Pee

Wondering whether now is the time to relieve yourself of that red slushy you just sucked down? Run Pee will tell you when you can run and pee without missing anything big in the movie. Incredibly weird. Incredibly useful.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

catpaint6) Cat Paint

You know what this picture needs? More cat. Cat Paint helps you add more cat.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS
Download here for iOS.

pimplepopper7) Pimple Popper

If you find pimple-popping therapeutic, this app makes a gross little game out of it.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

yo8) Yo

An app that does one thing: says "Yo" to someone else. #yolo
Cost: Free (thankfully)
OS: iOS & Android
Download here for iOS; here for Android.

spirit9) Spirit Story Box: Ghost Hunting Tool

This app speaks ghost. Use it to get a translation of what the ghosts that are definitely around you right now are saying.
Cost: Free
OS: iOS
Download here for iOS.

paper10) Paper Racing

You know what would make bathroom activities more fun? Competition. Race your friends to see who runs out of toilet paper first. There are no winners in this game.
Cost: Your dignity; but it's otherwise free.
OS: Android

Download here for Android.