Podcasts about Alipay

In this episode of Corporate Treasury 101, we discuss the intricacies of operating a treasury function in China, one of the most highly regulated and misunderstood markets in the world. Damian Glendinning, former Group Treasurer of Lenovo and founder of Complex Countries, helps us unpack the challenges of treasury management in China, from regulatory ambiguity to the unique roles of Alipay and WeChat Pay. We cover how foreign companies can navigate this distinct financial landscape, including legal workarounds like entrustment loans, limitations around cross-border flows, and the impact of China's evolving global strategy.Damian shares insights from decades of hands-on experience, having led treasury operations in China during his time at IBM and Lenovo. He offers a nuanced, practical perspective on how treasurers can operate effectively in a market where the rules are complex and constantly changing.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeHow China's banking sector transitioned from state-run distribution to commercial bankingWhy are regulations in China often interpreted and enforced in flexible waysHow companies navigate cash pooling with tools like entrustment loansThe rise of tech giants like Alipay and WeChat Pay in filling banking gapsWhat treasurers need to know about China's efforts to reduce reliance on USD and SWIFTEpisode Breakdown with Timestamps [00:00] – Introduction & AFP Certification Promo [01:50] – Why China Is a Focus for Corporate Treasurers [03:19] – Misconceptions About China's Culture and Structure [15:31] – Evolution of the Banking System: State to Commercial [20:56] – WeChat Pay, Alipay & Financial Innovation [28:02] – Foreign Companies and Banking Limitations [33:41] – Entrustment Loans & Cash Pooling Workarounds [46:02] – Cross-Border Lending and Capital Flows [49:58] – Renminbi, SWIFT, and De-Dollarization Strategies [56:26] – The Bigger Picture: Global Integration vs. IsolationFollow Damian Glendinning & Complex Countries: Website: https://www.complexcountries.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-glendinning-089b44b/ Follow Corporate Treasury 101:Website: https://corporate-treasury-101.com/ LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/86645197/admin/dashboard/ Follow Hussam & Guillaume:Hussam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hussam-ali-6bb69186/ Guillaume on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-jouvencel/ Gha Marketing Website: https://ghapodcast.com/ #CorporateTreasury #InterestRates #Derivatives #CrossCurrencySwaps #FXRisk #DebtStructuring #CapitalMarkets...

Unser Whatsapp-Kanal. https://bit.ly/oaws-whatsapp Ohne Aktien-Zugang ist's schwer? Starte jetzt bei unserem Partner Scalable Capital. Alle weiteren Infos gibt's hier: scalable.capital/oaws. Lieber als Newsletter? Geht auch. https://bit.ly/oaws-nl Das Buch zum Podcast? Jetzt lesen. https://amzn.to/48nDGbv SAP ist wertvollste Firma Europas. BYD macht mehr Umsatz als Tesla. Alipay setzt auf China-Chips. Sonst so: Bayer leidet unter Strafe, Beiersdorf leidet unter Nivea, 23andMe ist insolvent. Dafür sind Trumps Zölle wohl entspannter und Elliott mag RWE. Family Offices, ein mächtiger Aktionär und Steuervorteile. Das alles spricht für Singapore Exchange (WKN: 590379). Handys wie Apple. Autos wie Tesla. Das ist der Claim von Xiaomi (WKN: A2JNY1). Was ist mit der Aktie? Diesen Podcast vom 25.03.2025, 3:00 Uhr stellt dir die Podstars GmbH (Noah Leidinger) zur Verfügung.

This is Part 1 of 2 with Zi Yong Chua, Carro COO on his journey driving Gen AI transformation in the pan-Asia used car platform.Timestamps(01:19) How Zi Yong joined Carro after PayPal, Alipay, and his own ventures;(04:41) Zi Yong's first order of business as COO, refining Carro's internal data processes for better productivity;(08:20) How Zi Yong linked productivity gains to end business results; (12:59) Zi Yong's three principles on leveraging Gen AI;(19:18) Stay tuned for part 2 on how these principles impacted Carro's Gen AI journey and the ROI of their Gen AI transformationAbout who you are on call with Zi Yong is the Chief Operating Officer at Carro. He drives the "People, Process, Technology" transformation within Carro, ensuring that Asia Pacific's fastest growing automotive marketplace remains at operational excellence as it continues to grow rapidly. He is focused on digitising workflows, enabling automation and data-driven insights within the organisation.Zi Yong brings more than 15 years of experience from the Internet and e-payments industry, with roles in global giants like PayPal and Ant Group. In his 5 years in Ant Group, he led Product teams and projects with Paytm and Touch N Go Digital, helping them become ‘super app' in their respective markets. He was also the principal inventor of a patent for payment system decision making during his time in Ant. Back in 2009 while still in university, he founded his own venture-backed mobile payment company, and was one of the early drivers of the Android developer scene in Singapore.Connect with Zi YongFollow us on LinkedIn for more updates: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insignia-ventures/Check out Insignia Business Review for more insights: https://review.insignia.vc/Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for all the news and resources: https://insignia.vc/newsletterDirected by Paulo JoquiñoProduced by Paulo JoquiñoThe content of this podcast is for informational purposes only, should not be taken as legal, tax, or business advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security, and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insignia Ventures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fund. Any and all opinions shared in this episode are solely personal thoughts and reflections of the guest and the host.

Des centres d'escroquerie en Asie du Sud-Est, notamment en Birmanie, au Cambodge et au Laos, exploitent des milliers de personnes pour mener des arnaques en ligne, générant des milliards de dollars. Après l'enlèvement d'un acteur chinois en Thaïlande, une coopération entre la Thaïlande, la Chine et la Birmanie vise à démanteler ces réseaux, qui utilisent les plateformes sociales pour piéger leurs victimes, notamment via des fraudes aux cryptomonnaies. Xu, l'un des rescapés, attiré sous un faux prétexte près de la frontière birmane puis emmené de force dans un centre d'escroquerie, raconte. Xu débute son récit en racontant qu'il a été attiré, avec trois autres personnes, à la frontière, sous un faux prétexte pour du travail. Mais une nuit, plus d'une douzaine de personnes en uniforme de camouflage, avec des couteaux à la taille, les ont forcés à escalader la montagne qui les séparait de la Birmanie. À ce moment-là, dit-il, il était trop tard pour partir, et c'est là qu'il a compris que quelque chose n'allait pas :« Pendant 48 heures, nous avons traversé de nombreux endroits en Birmanie, mais je ne me souviens plus de quels villages il s'agissait. À chaque poste de péage, il y avait des fonctionnaires birmans en service. Ils comprenaient et parlaient chinois. Ils étaient tous complices. Tant que vous leur donniez des yuans, ils vous laissaient passer. »À lire aussiEscroqueries en ligne: la Thaïlande intensifie ses actions contre les réseaux criminels frontaliersOrdinateur, plusieurs téléphones, outils de traduction « pour communiquer »...Une fois arrivé dans le centre, Xu explique qu'il travaillait sans arrêt tous les jours de 10h30 à 2h00 le lendemain, et que tout était étroitement contrôlé. « Chaque personne recevait un ordinateur et quatre téléphones Apple équipés de cartes SIM birmanes avec des numéros commençant par +95, tous d'occasion. Là, on créait des comptes Gmail, puis Facebook, Instagram. On gérait 20 comptes chacun », se souvient-il.Il poursuit : « Parfois, les clients voulaient discuter. Il était essentiel de créer un lien émotionnel. Au début, on utilisait l'anglais, mais si le client parlait une autre langue comme le thaï ou le malais, on se tournait vers des outils de traduction pour communiquer dans la langue du client. L'objectif ultime restait de guider le client dans son investissement. Il n'y avait pas de script fixe, juste quelques tactiques générales. »« Le lien menait à un faux site web d'imitation très réaliste »Xu reprend son récit : « Le centre s'étendait sur sept étages, chacun travaillant sur des projets de fraude différents, à chaque étage. Au total, il y avait 14 équipes et projets de fraude. L'équipe dont je faisais partie se concentrait sur la cryptomonnaie, en particulier l'USDT.Plus tard, j'ai appris que des personnes de nombreux pays pouvaient transférer leur monnaie locale sur la plateforme d'échange OKX, qui est reconnue internationalement, sauf en Chine continentale où elle n'est pas autorisée. Après avoir transféré de l'argent, elles pouvaient utiliser des dollars américains pour acheter des cryptomonnaies.Une fois que quelqu'un avait acheté de la cryptomonnaie, même pour une valeur de seulement 500$, il recevait un lien qui semblait être une plateforme de trading légitime, comme un site de bourse. Cependant, le lien menait à un faux site web d'imitation très réaliste. La première fois, l'équipe d'escrocs manipulait le backend pour s'assurer que la victime ''gagnait''. Tout était contrôlé par les chefs de l'équipe d'escrocs en coulisses, et la victime gagnait inévitablement au début pour gagner sa confiance. »À lire aussiAsie: la lutte s'intensifie contre les centres d'arnaques en ligneUne exploitation humaine jusqu'au bout Xu raconte que de nombreux Chinois étaient enfermés dans ces camps, et que le flot d'arrivées ne cessait jamais. Tous les jours, dit-il, on venait sélectionner certains individus : « Nous devions porter des menottes et ils nous donnaient deux repas par jour, juste des restes de nourriture dans des boîtes en papier. »La violence était omniprésente : « Ils frappaient ceux qui résistaient, car beaucoup de gardiens étaient des mercenaires armés de fusils et de matraques électriques. Toute résistance était vaine, et ceux qui essayaient mais qui échouaient étaient enchaînés.Si vous n'étiez pas choisi dans les 30 jours, ils vous emmenaient dehors dans un véhicule, à Myawaddy ou à la frontière thaïlandaise, pour se faire prélever les organes. Deux reins pouvaient se vendre 500 000 yuans (plus de 63 000 euros). Si vous étiez jugé ''qualifié'', ils vous exploitaient au maximum.Si vous n'étiez pas sélectionné, ils vous forçaient à déverrouiller votre téléphone en scannant votre visage. Ils chargeaient votre téléphone, le connectaient au Wi-Fi et utilisaient votre visage pour accéder à des applications chinoises telles que WeChat, Alipay et des cartes bancaires, pour transférer le plus d'argent possible. »Des méthodes d'intimidation à la punition physiqueCeux qui résistaient étaient sévèrement punis, raconte-t-il. « Le premier jour, les gardes ont tiré sur 11 personnes dans la cour. Quatre sont mortes sur le coup. Sept d'entre elles étaient encore en vie. Là, ils ont trouvé une autre victime qui prétendait être vétérinaire en Chine continentale et lui ont demandé de déterrer les balles sur leurs corps. Le processus était diffusé en direct sur Telegram.Ils nous montraient aussi des vidéos d'autres centres d'escroquerie pour nous montrer des gens se faire punir. Ils utilisaient de l'eau bouillante pour la verser sur les orteils de quelqu'un, puis pliaient les articulations en arrière, et tout était diffusé en direct via des comptes Telegram et WeChat.Ils utilisaient cela comme une forme d'intimidation, en particulier sur ceux qui venaient d'être vendus. C'était une façon de donner l'exemple, à la fois pour les personnes sur place et pour les autres qui participaient à différentes opérations frauduleuses et qui regardaient la diffusion en direct. C'est ce genre de choses qui fait que les gens craquent complètement après y avoir passé un certain temps. »La famille de Xu a réussi à négocier son retour en Chine, après avoir en tout payé, en plusieurs étapes. Une liberté recouvrée pour un montant de près d'un million de yuans, soit près de 130 000 euros.À lire aussiDes centaines de «cyberesclaves» libérés d'un centre d'escroquerie en Birmanie

Des centres d'escroquerie en Asie du Sud-Est, notamment en Birmanie, au Cambodge et au Laos, exploitent des milliers de personnes pour mener des arnaques en ligne, générant des milliards de dollars. Après l'enlèvement d'un acteur chinois en Thaïlande, une coopération entre la Thaïlande, la Chine et la Birmanie vise à démanteler ces réseaux, qui utilisent les plateformes sociales pour piéger leurs victimes, notamment via des fraudes aux cryptomonnaies. Xu, l'un des rescapés, attiré sous un faux prétexte près de la frontière birmane puis emmené de force dans un centre d'escroquerie, raconte. Xu débute son récit en racontant qu'il a été attiré, avec trois autres personnes, à la frontière, sous un faux prétexte pour du travail. Mais une nuit, plus d'une douzaine de personnes en uniforme de camouflage, avec des couteaux à la taille, les ont forcés à escalader la montagne qui les séparait de la Birmanie. À ce moment-là, dit-il, il était trop tard pour partir, et c'est là qu'il a compris que quelque chose n'allait pas :« Pendant 48 heures, nous avons traversé de nombreux endroits en Birmanie, mais je ne me souviens plus de quels villages il s'agissait. À chaque poste de péage, il y avait des fonctionnaires birmans en service. Ils comprenaient et parlaient chinois. Ils étaient tous complices. Tant que vous leur donniez des yuans, ils vous laissaient passer. »À lire aussiEscroqueries en ligne: la Thaïlande intensifie ses actions contre les réseaux criminels frontaliersOrdinateur, plusieurs téléphones, outils de traduction « pour communiquer »...Une fois arrivé dans le centre, Xu explique qu'il travaillait sans arrêt tous les jours de 10h30 à 2h00 le lendemain, et que tout était étroitement contrôlé. « Chaque personne recevait un ordinateur et quatre téléphones Apple équipés de cartes SIM birmanes avec des numéros commençant par +95, tous d'occasion. Là, on créait des comptes Gmail, puis Facebook, Instagram. On gérait 20 comptes chacun », se souvient-il.Il poursuit : « Parfois, les clients voulaient discuter. Il était essentiel de créer un lien émotionnel. Au début, on utilisait l'anglais, mais si le client parlait une autre langue comme le thaï ou le malais, on se tournait vers des outils de traduction pour communiquer dans la langue du client. L'objectif ultime restait de guider le client dans son investissement. Il n'y avait pas de script fixe, juste quelques tactiques générales. »« Le lien menait à un faux site web d'imitation très réaliste »Xu reprend son récit : « Le centre s'étendait sur sept étages, chacun travaillant sur des projets de fraude différents, à chaque étage. Au total, il y avait 14 équipes et projets de fraude. L'équipe dont je faisais partie se concentrait sur la cryptomonnaie, en particulier l'USDT.Plus tard, j'ai appris que des personnes de nombreux pays pouvaient transférer leur monnaie locale sur la plateforme d'échange OKX, qui est reconnue internationalement, sauf en Chine continentale où elle n'est pas autorisée. Après avoir transféré de l'argent, elles pouvaient utiliser des dollars américains pour acheter des cryptomonnaies.Une fois que quelqu'un avait acheté de la cryptomonnaie, même pour une valeur de seulement 500$, il recevait un lien qui semblait être une plateforme de trading légitime, comme un site de bourse. Cependant, le lien menait à un faux site web d'imitation très réaliste. La première fois, l'équipe d'escrocs manipulait le backend pour s'assurer que la victime ''gagnait''. Tout était contrôlé par les chefs de l'équipe d'escrocs en coulisses, et la victime gagnait inévitablement au début pour gagner sa confiance. »À lire aussiAsie: la lutte s'intensifie contre les centres d'arnaques en ligneUne exploitation humaine jusqu'au bout Xu raconte que de nombreux Chinois étaient enfermés dans ces camps, et que le flot d'arrivées ne cessait jamais. Tous les jours, dit-il, on venait sélectionner certains individus : « Nous devions porter des menottes et ils nous donnaient deux repas par jour, juste des restes de nourriture dans des boîtes en papier. »La violence était omniprésente : « Ils frappaient ceux qui résistaient, car beaucoup de gardiens étaient des mercenaires armés de fusils et de matraques électriques. Toute résistance était vaine, et ceux qui essayaient mais qui échouaient étaient enchaînés.Si vous n'étiez pas choisi dans les 30 jours, ils vous emmenaient dehors dans un véhicule, à Myawaddy ou à la frontière thaïlandaise, pour se faire prélever les organes. Deux reins pouvaient se vendre 500 000 yuans (plus de 63 000 euros). Si vous étiez jugé ''qualifié'', ils vous exploitaient au maximum.Si vous n'étiez pas sélectionné, ils vous forçaient à déverrouiller votre téléphone en scannant votre visage. Ils chargeaient votre téléphone, le connectaient au Wi-Fi et utilisaient votre visage pour accéder à des applications chinoises telles que WeChat, Alipay et des cartes bancaires, pour transférer le plus d'argent possible. »Des méthodes d'intimidation à la punition physiqueCeux qui résistaient étaient sévèrement punis, raconte-t-il. « Le premier jour, les gardes ont tiré sur 11 personnes dans la cour. Quatre sont mortes sur le coup. Sept d'entre elles étaient encore en vie. Là, ils ont trouvé une autre victime qui prétendait être vétérinaire en Chine continentale et lui ont demandé de déterrer les balles sur leurs corps. Le processus était diffusé en direct sur Telegram.Ils nous montraient aussi des vidéos d'autres centres d'escroquerie pour nous montrer des gens se faire punir. Ils utilisaient de l'eau bouillante pour la verser sur les orteils de quelqu'un, puis pliaient les articulations en arrière, et tout était diffusé en direct via des comptes Telegram et WeChat.Ils utilisaient cela comme une forme d'intimidation, en particulier sur ceux qui venaient d'être vendus. C'était une façon de donner l'exemple, à la fois pour les personnes sur place et pour les autres qui participaient à différentes opérations frauduleuses et qui regardaient la diffusion en direct. C'est ce genre de choses qui fait que les gens craquent complètement après y avoir passé un certain temps. »La famille de Xu a réussi à négocier son retour en Chine, après avoir en tout payé, en plusieurs étapes. Une liberté recouvrée pour un montant de près d'un million de yuans, soit près de 130 000 euros.À lire aussiDes centaines de «cyberesclaves» libérés d'un centre d'escroquerie en Birmanie

Some of us know it for its highly discounted items on Taobao, others recognize it as the owner of the world's largest mobile payment platform, Alipay. Be it e-commerce or the internet, it’s no doubt that Alibaba has dominated and revolutionised the tech space as we know it today. Join Dan Koh and Ryan Huang on this tour of Alibaba’s latest earnings report, as they find out if the Chinese firm is living up to its name as the world's leading wholesale online marketplace, and if it pays to continue shopping with and on them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, this is the show for you. This is your host Leonardo, welcome to the international business podcast.   Today, we dive into the world of HR, exploring it from both a recruitment and company culture perspective. Automation and AI are ubiquitous in today's business landscape. What should job seekers be wary of? Companies are facing significant challenges in China, with layoffs continuing to occur. What is driving these changes? Furthermore, what are the most significant challenges and opportunities for HR professionals as businesses transition to digital operations? This and more will be discussed.   Use the promo code 8D1E2 to get 50% off your first month on Patreon. This offer is valid until February 28th. Join Leonardo on Patreon for:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Archive: 102 episodes (40+ hours). Podcast Bonus Episodes: New exclusive content. Early Access: Upcoming YouTube videos and newsletters. Thinking Process Journal: Insights into Leonardo's content preparation, including a curated reading list and personal reflections. Q&A: Submit questions for future episodes, and receive a shoutout when they are answered. Miriam Wickertsheim is a German national and holds a double degree in Asia Studies and Economics from Germany and Tsinghua University. She is General Manager at Direct HR, one of China's largest German speaking recruitment firms. She has spent a decade and a half living and working in China. She is a well-recognized senior leader in the HR Service industry and a frequent speaker at various prestigious organizations here in China. She speaks German, English and Chinese. She also wrote the book “Overcoming Superwoman Syndrome: a 10 step guide to inner peace and success”. You can purchase her book (Amazon) here. Ben Eden is an international bestselling author of "How We See Ourselves" and a sought-after leadership coach, speaker, and HR strategist. With over a decade of experience in organizational development, employee retention, and executive coaching, Ben has guided leaders across industries to overcome challenges, build high-performing teams, and achieve transformational success. As the creator of the Eden Model for personal and professional fulfillment, Ben empowers HR professionals to align their self-perception with their goals, unlocking their full potential as leaders. Known for delivering engaging presentations and actionable insights, Ben inspires audiences to cultivate impactful relationships, foster trust, and lead with authenticity. His work is grounded in a deep understanding of the evolving HR landscape and a passion for helping others succeed. You can purchase Ben's book (Amazon) here. Chloris Liu is an experienced International Executive Headhunter with over a decade of expertise. She recruits senior to executive-level positions in the general manufacturing and consumer technology sectors across East China for Michael Page, a UK-listed company. Her notable achievements include successfully placing over 30 senior positions (from manager to VP) for local and multinational companies such as Walmart, Alipay, Samsung, IKEA, and others, primarily in the APAC region.   Chloris has over six years of experience with a Singapore-listed recruitment agency, focusing on commercial function placements in the tech and industrial sectors. Her international experience spans five years in Guangzhou, four years in Europe and the US, and she currently resides in Shanghai. If you work across time zones, borders, and cultures, come on the show to share your story. ⁠Connect with the host Leonardo Marra

Despite their dominance in China's payments sector, the duo faces global challenges due to a lack of transparency Note: The conversation segment of this episode was generated using AI and has been edited for accuracy. It is based on the Caixin story: In Depth: China's Booming Cross-Border E-Commerce Pits Alipay, WeChat Pay Against the World Subscribe now to unlock all coverage from Caixin Global and The Wall Street Journal for just $200 a year, enjoying a 66% discount. Group discounts are available — contact us for a customized plan.

Episode Topic In this insightful episode, Kevin Rosenquist welcomes Rufei Qian, CEO of NihaoPay, a company revolutionizing cross-border payments by bridging the gap between global merchants and Chinese consumers. They explore critical topics like regulatory challenges in entering the Chinese market, adapting to cultural differences, and the evolving trends in consumer behavior. Rufei shares how Chinese consumers have shifted towards local brands and the widespread adoption of digital wallets, contrasting it with Western reliance on credit cards. The discussion highlights the transformative impact of technology on global transactions and the unique opportunities in cross-border commerce. Lessons You'll Learn Discover actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of China's regulatory landscape while delivering a seamless user experience. Rufei delves into how merchants can adapt to the distinct consumer habits in China, such as the mobile-first approach and preference for digital wallets like Alipay and WeChat Pay. Learn how innovation, a global-local strategy, and talent development drive success in the fintech space. Gain insights into the potential of blockchain in payments and how AI can complement, rather than disrupt, established industries. About Our Guest Rufei Qian is the visionary CEO of NihaoPay, a leader in cross-border payments that connects global merchants with Chinese consumers. With over a decade of expertise in fintech, Rufei has spearheaded innovative solutions that simplify transactions, ensuring regulatory compliance and cultural adaptability. Her leadership has driven NihaoPay's groundbreaking initiatives, including a new card issuing platform tailored for seamless global shopping. Rufei is a passionate advocate for using technology to enhance financial ecosystems and foster meaningful connections between diverse markets. Topics Covered This episode dives into how global merchants can navigate China's regulatory landscape, highlighting key challenges and strategies for compliance. Rufei sheds light on evolving consumer trends, including the rise of digital wallets and the shift toward local brands in Chinese markets. She also explores the transformative role of technological innovations, such as AI and blockchain, in shaping the future of payments. Additionally, Rufei discusses NihaoPay's latest initiative, a card issuing platform designed to simplify cross-border transactions for global consumers. The conversation concludes with insights into cultural and operational shifts, emphasizing the importance of innovation, localization, and talent development in driving growth

Send us a textIn this episode of Money Majlis recorded in front of a live audience of CEOs and fintech leaders in Singapore, we look at the differences in the growth paths of fintechs in Asia versus the Middle East. In a debate with two senior leaders from Mastercard, J K Khalil, Division President of East Arabia and Yunsok Chang, EVP of Market Development, Asia Pacific, Suvo Sarkar compares the origins and future of fintechs from the two regions. How did Kakao Bank and Wio Bank achieve profitability so fast? What are the challenges Grab is facing? How have Alipay and Paytm transformed payments? What is the runway for fintechs like Careem Pay, STC Pay and Tabby? In a rich debate full of facts and anecdotes, JK and Yunsok debate wallets versus neobanks, scale versus profits, local versus global and B2B versus B2C. Tune in to join the debate with the experts.

In questa puntata parliamo dell'ecosistema delle applicazioni cinesi come WeChat, Baidu e AliPay, che consentono di effettuare pagamenti, riconoscere individui e venire incontro alle necessità dell'utente in base alla sua posizione o alle sue attività. Come funzionano queste applicazioni? E perché si sono sviluppate proprio in Cina? Ne parliamo con Antonio Capone, docente di telecomunicazioni al Politecnico di Milano.

In questa puntata parliamo dell'ecosistema delle applicazioni cinesi come WeChat, Baidu e AliPay, che consentono di effettuare pagamenti, riconoscere individui e venire incontro alle necessità dell'utente in base alla sua posizione o alle sue attività. Come funzionano queste applicazioni? E perché si sono sviluppate proprio in Cina? Ne parliamo con Antonio Capone, docente di telecomunicazioni al Politecnico di Milano.

A new visa waiver policy has been released, allowing citizens from 9 additional countries to enter China with ease! Is your country on the list? Check it out and get ready to embark on an exciting adventure in China! / Alipay's Ant Forest has been a hit for rewarding sustainable actions, but some users are apparently finding shortcuts to earn rewards without doing the eco-friendly work. Why would they cheat (16:28)? On the show: Heyang, Niu Honglin & Fei Fei

Alipay+ continues to develop and grow it's payment solutions, and recently announced some new options for it's digital wallets. This work has focussed on the WorldFirst and Antom, fintech offerings. Strategically they have identified 11 million possible users and also SMEs in Asian market who could benefit from these improved services. Initially Southeast Asia and South Asia have been targeted for the first wave of potential users for these fintech products. Ant International aims to continue to grow by leveraging AI aided business solutions in these areas, as well as across the three prime businesses in their portfolio. Ant International expands WorldFirst and Antom Payment Ecosystems With a series of organisational and strategic upgrades in 2024, Ant International, a leading global digital payment and financial technology provider, reported robust growth over the past year among all its four pillar businesses, Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst and Embedded Finance. Alipay+ expanded its vibrant wallet-based payment and digtalisation space that further strengthens WorldFirst and Antom, the two business fintech services. The new Embedded Finance segment deepens Ant International's ecosystem by offering a rich array of FX, treasury management, inclusive lending and other AI-powered fintech solutions to clients and partners across the other three main businesses. "2024 has been a transformative year for Ant International," said Peng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International. "We are committed to advance inclusive growth through AI-powered innovation and collaboration on cross-border travel, trade, commerce and inclusive finance." Based in Singapore, Ant International provides partners across industries and markets a comprehensive range of digital payment and financial technology solutions. It is committed to driving inclusive growth through open collaboration and continuous innovation. Among Ant International's notable progresses in 2024 so far: Alipay+: Ant International's cross-border mobile payment and digitalisation technology solutions. Alipay+ leads the industry in collaboration with 35 leading mobile payment partners, including e-wallets, banking apps and BNPL apps, etc., connecting over 90 million merchants in 66 markets to 1.6 billion user accounts. It has also formed strategic partnerships with national standardised QR schemes, such as Singapore's SGQR, Malaysia's PayNet, South Korea's ZeroPay, Cambodia's KHQR, Nepal's NepalPay QR and Sri Lanka's LankaPay. Among the global merchants accepting QR code payments via Alipay+, over 90% are SMEs, reflecting Ant International's focus on inclusive digital transformation. Cross-border transactions of global payment partners together (excluding Alipay) via Alipay+ registered three times year-on-year increase in 2024, where Alipay maintains the leadership. Alipay+ builds a broader digital payment and digitalisation ecosystem for other pillar businesses of Ant International. Antom: a leading merchant payment and digitisation services provider, offering one-stop, vertical-specific digital payment solutions to merchants of all sizes. Total payment volume (TPV) of Antom's direct acquiring services nearly doubled between January and November 2024 over same period of 2023. Antom continues to strengthen its payment processing capabilities across all payment channels. Antom's card processing volume grew over 10 times from that of previous year, while delivering top notch authorization rates to its global enterprise merchants. Antom continues to launch tech-driven innovative solutions to provide more secure and efficient services at lower cost to its customers. Antom Copilot helped enhance operational efficiency for merchants by reducing the payment channel integration time from 5 to 10 days to only a few minutes. Antom EasySafePay streamlined digital wallet payments procedures, eliminating the need to redirect from merchant checkout page to the user's wallet app, and offers full acco...

China im Fokus bei echtgeld.TV – Wirtschaft, Aktien und Megatrends! In unserer ersten Folge von „Let's Talk“ begrüßt Tobias Kramer Frank Sieren – einen der führenden deutschen China-Experten. Gemeinsam sprechen sie über die chinesische Wirtschaft und die Chancen und Risiken chinesischer Aktien. Frank Sieren, selbst seit über 30 Jahren in China ansässig, gibt dabei exklusive Einblicke in die chinesische Technologie und Gesellschaft – von den rasanten Innovationen im E-Commerce bis hin zur Rolle Chinas in der Elektromobilität und Automatisierung. Was steckt hinter der Dynamik von Unternehmen wie Alibaba, Baidu und Tencent?

Nos visita de nuevo Ricardo Miranda, nuestro amigo, especialista tech y creador de Miravision, para hablar sobre su fascinante viaje a China.  Exploramos cómo funciona la tecnología en ese país, desde el impacto de las super apps como Alipay y WeChat, hasta su doble cara: funcionalidad impresionante vs control gubernamental.  Además, compartimos formas increíbles de usar ChatGPT para facilitar tu experiencia cuando viajas a un país distinto. Desde recomendaciones hasta traducciones, ¡Un must para techies y viajeros curiosos!

In dieser Spezialfolge unseres Cheftreff Podcasts nimmt Host Sven Rittau Dich mit auf eine faszinierende Reise durch die innovative E-Commerce-Landschaft Chinas. Gemeinsam mit dem China-Experten Ed Sander berichtet er von der K5 X-PEDITION nach Shanghai, Hangzhou und Peking und teilt wertvolle Einblicke in die dynamische Welt des chinesischen Online-Handels. Ed und Sven diskutieren die Dominanz von Plattformen wie WeChat, Alipay und Meituan und erklären, wie diese Apps das tägliche Leben der chinesischen Verbraucher prägen. Sie beleuchten außerdem die unterschiedlichen Strategien, mit denen chinesische Tech-Giganten ihre Ökosysteme aufbauen, analysieren die Entwicklung von Live-Commerce in China und sprechen über die rasante Expansion chinesischer Plattformen in neue Geschäftsbereiche. In der Folge mit Ed Sander und Sven Rittau lernst Du:

Chinese consumers have exhibited robust purchasing power for high-quality and intelligent products containing innovative technologies during the Singles Day shopping extravaganza.在“双十一”购物狂欢节期间，中国消费者对包含创新技术的高品质和智能产品表现出强劲购买力。Experts said this has played a vital role in promoting the recovery of consumption and shoring up economic growth in the country.专家表示，这对促进国内消费复苏和支撑经济增长起到了重要作用。Major Chinese e-commerce platforms have extended the promotional period, and adopted a simple and more pragmatic approach by canceling presale campaigns this year.中国的主要电商平台都延长了促销期，并采取简单务实的做法，取消了今年的预售活动。Instead, direct price cuts have become the preferred strategy to attract price-conscious customers and bolster sales during China's biggest online shopping event. 直接降价反而成为吸引价格敏感型顾客的首选策略，在中国最大的网购活动期间助力促售。Experts also said that unlike in the past, when record-smashing gross merchandise volume, or GMV, through discount-led sales had come to characterize the 11-11 or Double Eleven promotional campaign, chasing high GMV is no longer the focus now.专家们还表示，以往通过折扣带动销售来创造破纪录的商品交易总额（GMV）是双十一促销活动的特点，而现在，追求高GMV已不再是重点。Chinese shoppers are becoming more rational and carefully reviewing their needs, with an emphasis on the quality and value of commodities, they added.专家补充，中国购物者变得更加理性，他们会仔细思考自己的需求，注重商品的质量和价值。Data from Tmall, Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group's business-to-customer platform, showed that in the first four hours after the shopping carnival officially kicked off at 8 pm on Oct 21, 174 brands saw their sales surpass 100 million yuan ($14 million).中国科技巨头阿里巴巴集团旗下B2C平台天猫的数据显示，在“双十一”于10月21日晚8点正式拉开帷幕后的四个小时内，有174个品牌的销售额超过了1亿元人民币（约1400万美元）。During this period, the turnover of more than 12,000 brands surged over 100 percent year-on-year and the sales of nearly 6,000 brands skyrocketed more than 500 percent compared with the same period last year.在此期间，12000多个品牌的营业额同比增长超过100%，近6000个品牌的销售额同比增长超过500%。The transaction volume of Apple Inc's products on Tmall exceeded 1 billion yuan within five minutes, while sales of domestic smartphone brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi and Vivo all surpassed 100 million yuan in the first four hours of the promotional event, according to Tmall.天猫数据显示，苹果公司产品在天猫上的交易额5分钟内就突破10亿元，而华为、小米、vivo等国产智能手机品牌在促销活动的前4个小时内销售额均突破1亿元。Consumers preferred to snap up bargains via livestreaming on e-commerce platforms, with sales from some top-tier livestreamers on Taobao Live, Alibaba's livestreaming arm, surpassing 100 million yuan within a short period.消费者更喜欢通过电商平台上的直播抢购特价商品，阿里巴巴旗下直播平台淘宝直播上一些头部主播直播间的销售额在短时间内就突破了1亿元。JD, another major Chinese e-commerce player, has launched a subsidy campaign worth 10 billion yuan, and given discounts for commodities included in the consumer goods trade-in program, such as home appliances and computers. It has also stepped up efforts to upgrade supply chains and logistics services.中国另一家大型电商平台京东推出了价值100亿元的补贴活动，并为家电、电脑等以旧换新计划中的商品提供折扣。京东还加大力度升级供应链和物流服务。JD said it recorded a double-digit year-on-year growth in transaction volume, orders, and user numbers between 8 pm on Oct 14, when its promotional gala opened, and 9 pm on Oct 31.京东称，从10月14日晚8点促销活动开始至10月31日晚9点，其交易量、订单数和用户数量均实现了两位数的同比增长。More than 16,000 brands saw their sales surge over threefold year-on-year, while the number of brands exceeding 100 million yuan in turnover increased over 400 percent compared with the same period last year. More than 17,000 merchants witnessed their order volumes soar over five times from a year earlier.16000多个品牌的销售额同比增长超过3倍，营业额超过1亿元的品牌数量同比增长超过400%。17000多家商户的订单量比去年同期激增5倍多。New users who bought apparel and cosmetics via JD's online marketplaces skyrocketed over 140 percent year-on-year, while JD's livestreaming channel saw a 245 percent year-on-year increase in order volumes.通过京东网上商城购买服装和化妆品的新用户同比激增超过140%，而京东直播频道的订单量同比增长245%。Consumer electronic devices witnessed robust growth during the shopping extravaganza.电子设备消费在购物节期间实现了强劲增长。The transaction volume of gaming laptops rose 120 percent year-on-year during the shopping spree, and AI smartphones and 4K projectors experienced 100 percent growth in turnover, while the sales of AI learning devices and 3D printers surged over 10 times from the same period last year, JD said.京东表示，“双十一”期间，游戏笔记本电脑的成交量同比增长120%，AI智能手机和4K投影仪的成交量增长100%，AI学习设备和3D打印机的销售量比去年同期激增10倍以上。Furthermore, a series of products that represent scientific and technological innovations achieved by Chinese enterprises have been made available on e-commerce platform Taobao. These products cover fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, aerospace, new energy and quantum technology. 此外，代表中国企业科技创新成果的一系列产品已在电商平台淘宝上进行销售。这些产品涵盖信息技术、人工智能、航空航天、新能源和量子技术等领域。For example, consumers can directly purchase the country's independently developed AS700 civil manned airship and enjoy discounts. The airship can be used for sightseeing, emergency rescue and geophysical exploration of the skies, among other things.例如，消费者可以直接购买中国自主研发的AS700民用载人飞艇，并享受折扣优惠。该飞艇可用于观光旅游、紧急救援和天空地球物理勘探等。The Double Eleven festival was just a 24-hour event on Nov 11 when it was unveiled by Alibaba in 2009, but has stretched into a weekslong shopping spree lasting from mid-October to mid-November this year. Online retailers initiated the promotional event one week earlier this year than previously.阿里巴巴在2009年推出“双十一”活动时，该购物节还只是一个在11月11日举行的24小时活动，但今年的“双十一”已发展成从10月中旬持续到11月中旬的长达数周的购物狂欢节。与以往相比，今年的促销活动提前了一周。"Consumption has become the main driving force boosting China's economic growth, and the Singles Day shopping carnival is pivotal to unleashing consumers' purchasing potential, bolstering domestic demand and promoting consumption recovery," said Wang Yun, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research.中国宏观经济研究院研究员王蕴表示：“消费已成为拉动中国经济增长的主要动力，‘双十一'购物狂欢节对于释放消费者购买潜力、拉动内需、促进消费复苏具有举足轻重的作用。”More stimulus policies are needed to stabilize and expand employment, improve household incomes, and boost people's ability and willingness to spend, so as to further perk up consumption, Wang added.王蕴补充，需要更多的刺激政策来稳定和扩大就业，提高家庭收入，增强人们的消费能力和意愿，从而进一步刺激消费。China's retail sales, a significant indicator of consumption strength, rose 3.3 percent year-on-year in the first three quarters of this year, said the National Bureau of Statistics. Online sales remained a bright spot, rising 8.6 percent year-on-year during the January-September period. 国家统计局数据显示，作为衡量消费实力的重要指标，今年前三季度，中国社会消费品零售总额同比增长3.3%，线上消费仍是一大亮点，网上零售额1-9月同比增长8.6%。Based on a survey by global consulting firm AlixPartners in early October, consumers still view Singles Day as the most important shopping festival. Most consumers are likely to maintain their spending levels from the previous year, with 25 percent of interviewed shoppers saying that there would be an increase in their overall spending, the consultancy said.根据全球咨询公司艾睿铂10月初的一项调查，消费者仍将“双十一”视为最重要的购物节。咨询公司称，大多数消费者可能会保持去年的消费水平，25%的受访购物者表示他们的总体消费会有所增加。Most of the increased spending based on the survey would be in apparel, daily necessities and cosmetics. Consumers are likely to remain sensible in their spending given the current economic backdrop, it added.根据调查，大部分增加的支出将用于服装、日用品和化妆品。该调查补充，在当前的经济背景下，消费者可能会保持理性消费。Online retailers have made promotional methods simpler this time, with a key focus on improving user experience and seeking high-quality and long-term growth, as Chinese consumers are more prudent and rational about potential purchases, said Jason Yu, managing director and vice-executive president of CTR Media Convergence Institute.央视市场研究（CTR）总经理、CTR媒体融合研究院执行副院长虞坚认为，随着中国消费者对潜在购买行为更加谨慎和理性，网络零售商此次将促销方式变得更加简单，重点放在提升用户体验、寻求高质量和长期增长上。Yu said retailers hope to roll out new products to attract consumers and build brand image during the shopping spree.虞坚表示，网络零售商希望在购物热潮中推出新产品来吸引消费者，并树立品牌形象。High-quality and intelligent commodities are crucial for stimulating the purchasing appetite of consumers and unleashing new consumption potential, he said.他说，高品质、智能化的商品对于刺激消费者的购买欲、释放新的消费潜力至关重要。"A series of pro-consumption policies, such as the consumer goods trade-in program, have played a significant role in bolstering the sales of consumer electronic products and household appliances on major online marketplaces," Yu added. 虞坚补充：“消费品以旧换新等一系列有利于消费的政策，对促进电子消费品和家用电器在主要线上市场的销售发挥了重要作用。”Meanwhile, Taobao and Tmall have officially integrated JD's logistics during this year's shopping carnival as sellers on these platforms can choose JD Logistics as the delivery method. JD has accepted the mobile payment option from Alipay, which is operated by financial technology company Ant Group.与此同时，淘宝和天猫在今年“双十一”期间正式整合了京东物流，这些平台上的卖家可以选择京东物流作为配送方式。京东已接入由金融科技公司蚂蚁集团运营的支付宝提供的移动支付方式。Industry insiders said these moves signify a key step in breaking down barriers between the two leading internet companies, enhancing interconnectivity of different platforms, and elevating the online shopping experience of users.业内人士表示，这些举措标志着两家先进互联网公司在打破壁垒、加强不同平台互联互通、提升用户在线购物体验方面迈出了关键一步。Mo Daiqing, a senior analyst at the Internet Economy Institute, a domestic consultancy, said major e-commerce platforms have ramped up efforts to offer steep discounts and shopping subsidies as well as simplify promotion methods during the prolonged shopping carnival to rev up sales.网经社电子商务研究中心高级分析师莫岱青表示，各大电商平台已加大力度，在持续很久的购物狂欢节期间提供大幅折扣和购物补贴，并简化促销方式，以刺激销售。"The policy measures to encourage trade-ins of consumer goods have not only stimulated consumers' desire to purchase, but also bolstered the sales and upgrades of household appliances, and propelled the popularity of green and energy-saving products," Mo said.“消费品以旧换新的政策措施不仅刺激了消费者的购买欲望，还促进了家电产品的销售和升级换代，推动了绿色节能产品的普及。”莫岱青说。She noted that Chinese consumers have become more value-conscious and are paying more attention to the quality and cost-effectiveness of commodities. Mo also emphasized that online retailers should launch new products and upgrade supply chains to attract a new breed of young shoppers.她指出，中国消费者变得更加注重价值，更加关注商品的质量和成本效益。莫岱青还强调，线上零售商应推出新产品并升级供应链，以吸引新一代年轻购物者。It is noteworthy that generative artificial intelligence technology has witnessed a ramp-up in China's retail industry during this year's 11-11 promotion.值得注意的是，在今年的“双十一”促销活动中，生成式人工智能技术在中国零售业迎来了爆发期。According to a report from consultancy Bain & Company, Chinese retail players are investing in generative AI to boost sales and Singles Day could be the perfect opportunity.根据贝恩咨询公司的一份报告，中国零售商正在投资发展生成式人工智能技术，以期拉动销售额，今年的“双十一”成为生成式AI大显身手的好机会。The report said 52 percent of the surveyed merchants have used at least one generative AI-enabled tool. More than half of them have used generative AI-powered customer service chatbot tools, while about one in three have used AI to generate content. The survey interviewed over 500 merchants trading on China's major e-commerce platforms.报告称，52%的商家使用过至少一种生成式AI工具，其中超过50%的商家使用过AI智能客服机器人，还有约1/3的商家利用AI生成内容。这项调查访问了中国主要电子商务平台上的500多家商户。It stated that the era of high double-digit increases in the GMV during the Singles Day shopping spree has come to an end, forcing retailers to focus more on sustainable growth, profitability and customer loyalty, rather than a win-at-all-costs obsession with the top line amid current economic headwinds.该报告指出，“双十一”期间GMV以两位数高速增长的时代已经结束，这迫使零售商更加关注可持续增长、盈利能力和客户忠诚度，而不是在当前的经济逆风中一味追求最高利润。Kelly Liu, partner at Bain & Company's Greater China retail and performance improvement practices, said AI's increasing prominence across Chinese retail sector offers a timely boost to a maturing industry that is facing challenges such as slower retail sales growth.贝恩公司全球合伙人、大中华区零售和绩效提升业务领导团队成员刘洋表示，人工智能在中国零售业的影响力和作用与日俱增，这为面临零售销售增长放缓等挑战的成熟行业提供了及时的推动力。Generative AI gives Chinese retailers access to a powerful tool for increasing sales and lowering cost, Liu said.刘洋认为，生成式人工智能为中国零售商提供了促进降本增效的强大工具。"It is vital that Chinese retailers deepen their customer engagement. AI tools can energize customer retention efforts, enabling e-commerce players to hyper-personalize their engagement with consumers and create bespoke shopping experiences for them," said James Yang, head of Bain & Company's Greater China retail practice.贝恩公司大中华区零售业务主席杨大坤表示，“中国零售商必须加强与顾客的互动。AI工具可以优化顾客挽留措施，帮助电商平台打造高度个性化的顾客互动方式，为顾客带来量身定制的购物体验。”Chinese retailers need to transition faster from AI experimentation to deployment at scale. The retailers that master generative AI in three key areas — deepening customer engagement, turbo-charging productivity and cost savings, and finding new growth beyond trade — could build a lasting strategic advantage, according to the report.中国零售商需要加快从AI实验过渡到大规模部署的步伐。报告指出，零售商如果能掌握生成式AI技术，并利用其成功强化顾客经营、推动降本增效、找到新增长点，就能建立长久的战略优势。Singles Day shopping extravaganza“双十一”购物狂欢节price-conscious customers价格敏感型顾客appareln. 服装gross merchandise volume商品交易总额

De halve wereld was bijeen in Kazan. Waar? Ja, in de hoofdstad van het Russische Tatarstan aan de Wolga. De zestiende topconferentie van de BRICS bracht gastheer Vladimir Poetin samen met Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, Recep Tayyip Erdogan en tal van leiders van het mondiale Zuiden en Oosten. Zelfs António Guterres, de secretaris-generaal van de Verenigde Naties, kwam zijn vredesboodschap brengen.Jaap Jansen en PG Kroeger verkennen de BRICS en al hun onderlinge spanningen.***Deze aflevering is mede mogelijk gemaakt met donaties van luisteraars die we hiervoor hartelijk danken. Word ook vriend van de show!Heb je belangstelling om in onze podcast te adverteren of ons te sponsoren? Zend een mailtje naar adverteren@dagennacht.nl en wij zoeken contact.Op sommige podcast-apps kun je niet alles lezen. De complete tekst plus linkjes en een overzicht van al onze eerdere afleveringen vind je hier***Poetin bracht zijn collega's van China, India en Brazilië bijeen in New York toen hij begon als president van Rusland. Hij was wél lid van de G8 en zij voelden zich door de Westerse machten buitengesloten. Zij kregen entree, hij kreeg status.in 2009 begon het pas echt. Na de inval in Georgië kon Rusland alternatieve diplomatieke podia en coalities goed gebruiken. Het Westen zakte weg in de krediet- en eurocrisis en Barack Obama trad aan. Daarmee leek de tijd rijp voor een gedurfd alternatief en rivaliserende aspiraties. De vier BRIC-staten kondigden de start van een nieuwe wereldwijde reservevaluta aan die 'divers, stabiel en voorspelbaar' zou zijn.China verbond Zuid-Afrika eraan zodat het 'BRICS' ging heten en de grootste economieën van de niet-Westerse continenten verenigde. Maar de concrete uitwerking in nieuwe mondiale instellingen bleek moeizaam en traag. De Nieuwe Ontwikkelingsbank, het vermogen daarvoor en het idee van een mondiale munt als concurrent voor dollar en euro werden al snel een strijdperk, waarin China domineerde.De nieuwe leider Xi draaide er niet omheen. Los van die bank - die in Shanghai moest komen! - begon hij zijn strategische droom van de Zijderoute buiten de BRICS om te realiseren. Vervolgstappen tegen Westerse dominantie klonken ambitieus - BRICS Cable voor onderzeese cybercommunicatie netwerken, een BRICS 'Erasmus' en R&D-alliantie - maar het bleven maquettes.De Covid-pandemie trof de nieuwe alliantie zwaar. Ze bleek een papieren tijger en premier Modi van India claimde nadrukkelijker een leidende rol, ook tegenover XI. Zuid Afrika sloeg een eigen pad in. Het nodigde tientallen naties uit, te participeren als een schil van belangstellenden zonder veel impact. De Saoedi's en Argentinië haakten al snel af. Gretig was vooral het geïsoleerde Iran.Nu het afgelopen week Poetins beurt was om gastheer te zijn, zag hij dit als buitenkans voor zijn zwaar gehavende rol en positie in de wereldgemeenschap. De keuze voor Kazan in Tatarstan was een mooie schaamlap voor wie feestjes in het Kremlin toch wat al te opzichtig zou vinden.Modi en Xi gebruikten de topconferentie voor hun bilaterale problemen. Na vijf jaar ijstijd bereikten ze een soort wapenstilstand in hun grensconflict op de gletsjers van de Himalaya.Poetins voorzet van een alternatief betalingssysteem dat het Westerse SWIFT zijn monopolie zou ontnemen klonk leuk: 'BRICS Pay'. Maar het land dat via Alipay zijn eigen burgers en buitenlandse gasten tot vazallen maakt, gaf niet thuis. Poetins verklaring na afloop was fascinerend.Vooral de 'sideshows' bepaalden de sfeer en uitkomsten van Kazan. Poetin zat voor, maar heerste niet. Er was wel een soort Olympiade met veel medailles, maar tijdens de top moest de Centrale Bank in Moskou ingrijpen om de roebel niet te laten klappen. Reken maar dat vooral Xi die coïncidentie nauwkeurig noteerde.De EU kreeg van zowel Erdogan als Servië's Aleksandar Vučić een impliciete waarschuwing mee uit Kazan. We zijn loyale partners, maar we hebben ook alternatieven als jullie ons niet laten meedoen. EU-handelspartner Viëtnam deed het subtieler. Het kwam graag voor het eerst naar de BRICS, maar besloot verder tot niets.Poetins persconferentie aan het slot was er een voor de fijnproevers. De BBC ontlokte hem een ellenlange tirade over hoe het Westen Rusland kleineerde, in de hoek dreef en zijn soevereiniteit als natie ondermijnde. Hij was even openhartig als gefrustreerd.Maar waarom Kazan? De fascinerende historie en cultuur van die stad vertellen hun eigen verhaal. PG herinnert aan het grote Moslimimperium wat daar tussen 700 en 1552 onder meer de bonthandel door heel Azië en Europa beheerste. Hoe Kazan door de Mongolen werd overheerst en in 1552 door Tsaar Ivan IV 'de Verschrikkelijke' belegerd en verwoest werd. Poetin wist wat hij deed.***Verder luisteren339 – De geopolitiek van de 19e eeuw is terug. De eeuw van Bismarck258 - De kille vriendschap tussen Rusland en China455 - De bufferstaat als historische - maar ongewenste - oplossing voor Oekraïne253 - Poetins bizarre toespraak: hoe de president de geschiedenis van Oekraïne herschrijft453 – 75 jaar Volksrepubliek China, waar is het feestje?306 - De gevoelige geopolitieke relatie met China220 - China's nieuwe culturele revolutie24 - Ties Dams over China's nieuwe keizer Xi Jinping262 - Waarom India - ook voor Nederland - steeds belangrijker wordt409 - Nederland wereldwijd handelspartner, ook van communistisch Vietnam347 - Turkije: de belangrijkste verkiezing van 2023413 - "Eensgezind kunnen we elke tegenstander aan." Oana Lungescu over Poetin, Trump, Rutte en 75 jaar NAVO***Tijdlijn00:00:00 – Deel 100:28:18 – Deel 200:47:12 – Deel 301:20:31 – Einde Zie het privacybeleid op https://art19.com/privacy en de privacyverklaring van Californië op https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Day in Legal History: Volstead Act SignedOn October 28, 1919, the United States Congress passed the Volstead Act, formally known as the National Prohibition Act, over President Woodrow Wilson's veto. Named after Congressman Andrew Volstead, who championed it, the Act provided the legal framework to enforce the 18th Amendment, which had been ratified earlier that year. This amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors, marking the start of the Prohibition era in the United States.The Volstead Act defined "intoxicating liquor" as any beverage containing more than 0.5% alcohol, which was stricter than many Americans had anticipated. Though the Act aimed to curb alcoholism and reduce crime by eliminating the consumption of alcohol, it had some unintended consequences. A significant black market for alcohol quickly emerged, and illegal establishments known as "speakeasies" flourished in cities nationwide. Organized crime syndicates, most notably those led by figures like Al Capone, capitalized on the demand for alcohol, leading to a rise in criminal enterprises.Law enforcement agencies found it challenging to control the widespread defiance of Prohibition, and corruption among officials became rampant as many officers accepted bribes to look the other way. Public sentiment gradually turned against Prohibition as the social costs, including loss of tax revenue and an overwhelmed criminal justice system, began to outweigh the intended benefits. By 1933, the 21st Amendment was ratified, effectively repealing the 18th Amendment and ending Prohibition. The Volstead Act remains a critical historical example of how complex societal problems cannot always be resolved through restrictive legislation alone, highlighting the challenges of enforcing morality laws on a resistant population.A federal jury in Delaware awarded Apple $250 in damages, ruling that Masimo Corp.'s original smartwatch designs infringed on Apple's patents for the Apple Watch. The verdict reflects a limited win for Apple, as the jury found that only Masimo's discontinued designs—not its current products—infringed Apple's design patents. Apple's minimal damages request was a strategic move to secure a jury trial rather than a bench trial, emphasizing its desire to stop Masimo's alleged copying of Apple Watch features, not to seek financial compensation. Apple's legal team highlighted its innovation in smartwatch design, while Masimo's attorneys argued that Masimo's products were built around its pulse-oximetry technology, unrelated to the design patents at issue.Masimo countered Apple's claims by defending the novelty of its blood-oxygen measurement features and asserting that its designs prioritize functionality over aesthetics, unlike Apple's approach. Masimo attempted to avoid a jury trial by offering Apple a $900 cash payment, which Apple rejected, and the court ruled the case must proceed. The jury ultimately found that Masimo intentionally infringed two Apple design patents related to earlier product models but ruled out any infringement related to Masimo's current items, undermining Apple's case for an injunction.Apple Wins $250, But Little Else, at Trial on Watch Patents (2)Alibaba Group has agreed to pay $433.5 million to settle a securities fraud class action filed by investors in Manhattan federal court. The lawsuit, which began in 2020, accused Alibaba of misleading shareholders about its competitive practices and the failed initial public offering (IPO) of Ant Group, its financial technology affiliate known for the digital payment platform Alipay. Shareholders claimed Alibaba misrepresented its business practices and failed to disclose that it faced a significant $2.8 billion antitrust fine from Chinese regulators for allegedly pressuring merchants to sell exclusively on its platform.Though Judge George B. Daniels previously dismissed the claims related to the Ant IPO, he allowed the antitrust allegations to proceed. The $433.5 million settlement ranks among the largest 50 securities class-action settlements in U.S. history under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Alibaba maintains its denial of wrongdoing, stating it settled to avoid the costs and burdens of prolonged litigation. The settlement requires court approval, with Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP representing the shareholders and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP defending Alibaba.Alibaba to Pay $433 Million to Settle Antitrust Investor SuitAlibaba to pay $433.5 million to settle shareholder lawsuit over monopoly claims | ReutersAs the U.S. presidential election nears, Republicans aligned with Donald Trump have faced multiple legal setbacks in battleground states, hindering their push for tighter election restrictions. Over the past three weeks, courts in Georgia, Virginia, Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, and Michigan have blocked Republican-backed initiatives, such as attempts to purge voter rolls and mandate hand-counting ballots. Notably, a Georgia judge invalidated seven rule changes proposed by Trump's allies, ruling them unlawful and too close to Election Day to implement. Virginia also halted the removal of allegedly non-citizen voters, with the judge citing federal laws against voter roll purges within 90 days of an election.In contrast, Republicans recently succeeded in enforcing stricter mail-in ballot deadlines in Mississippi. Despite setbacks, the party maintains its legal strategy aims to ensure election integrity, though experts suggest these efforts might instead be designed to spread doubts about the election's legitimacy. Analysts speculate that if Trump loses, these legal actions could fuel claims of fraud, casting doubt on the outcome.Republican battleground-state legal blitz falters ahead of election | ReutersA divided 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) overreached by ordering Tesla CEO Elon Musk to delete a 2018 tweet about unionization. The tweet implied Tesla employees could lose stock options if they unionized, which the NLRB previously determined was an unlawful threat. However, the court's 9-8 decision held that Musk's tweet was protected under the First Amendment, as it was “speech on a topic of public concern,” making the NLRB's deletion order excessive.The majority opinion, supported by Republican-appointed judges, did not address whether Musk's tweet itself violated labor law, focusing instead on free speech rights. The ruling also instructed the NLRB to reconsider its mandate that Tesla reinstate a pro-union employee who was terminated. In a dissent, Judge James Dennis, joined by Democratic-appointed judges, criticized the decision as lacking substantial legal and factual grounding.Tesla Wins Challenge to NLRB Decision on Musk Union Tweet (1) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

In today's episode of STR Daily, we explore two major advancements reshaping the travel landscape. First, we dive into the growing impact of mobile payments, from Alipay+ to the rise of cashless transactions, and how they are driving seamless experiences for travelers across the globe. Next, we take a look at how mapping technology is evolving, with platforms like Google Maps and new innovations in travel planning offering more personalized, integrated services for modern-day explorers. Tune in for insights on the technologies shaping the future of travel! Are you new and want to start your own hospitality business? Join our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Boostly and join the discussion: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Want to know more about us? Visit our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Stay informed and ahead of the curve with the latest insights and analysis.

Starting Friday, consumers shopping on Alibaba's Taobao platform can now use Tencent's WeChat Pay for transactions, according to an official statement from Taobao.根据淘宝的官方声明，9月27日开始，消费者在阿里巴巴淘宝平台购物时，可以使用腾讯的微信支付进行交易。The new payment option allows users to complete purchases with WeChat Pay, and subsequent updates will enable users to access transaction records and bills directly within the WeChat app, WeChat Pay said.微信支付方面表示，新的支付选项允许用户使用微信支付在淘宝购物，后续更新将会支持用户在微信内查询相关支付凭证、用户账单等操作。Additionally, Taobao and Tmall are set to officially integrate JD Logistics, with the service expected to be available by mid-October. Once live, sellers on Taobao and Tmall will have the option of selecting JD Logistics for shipments.此外，淘宝天猫平台预计将于10月中旬正式接入京东物流服务。上线后，淘宝天猫平台上的卖家即可选择使用京东物流发货。JD.com will also introduce services from Cainiao's delivery network, including Cainiao Express and Cainiao Post, which offers parcel pickup points.京东还将接入菜鸟配送网络的服务，包括菜鸟速递和菜鸟驿站，后者可提供包裹自提点。JD.com is also preparing to add Alipay as a payment option, expected to launch ahead of the Nov 11 shopping festival. Both companies have confirmed that their logistics and payment cooperation agreements are now in place.与此同时，京东也将正式接入支付宝支付，预计将在双11购物节前夕推出。两家公司都确认，他们的物流和支付合作协议现已签订。The collaboration indicates that Chinese tech companies are moving toward more efficient resource integration and enhanced user experiences, said Liang Qiang, dean of Shantou University's School of Business.汕头大学商学院院长梁强表示，此次合作表明中国科技公司正朝着更高效的资源整合和增强用户体验的方向发展。The partnership is also aligned with China's macro policies to advance digital infrastructure and facilitate the dual circulation of domestic and international markets while enhancing the competitiveness of Chinese e-commerce platforms in the global supply chain, he added.梁强补充，这一合作顺应了中国的宏观政策，即推进数字基础设施建设，促进国内国际双循环，同时增强中国电子商务平台在全球供应链中的竞争力。transactionn. 交易；买卖logisticsn. 物流；后勤dual circulation双循环

Chinese tech heavyweight Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's online marketplaces Taobao and Tmall announced on Thursday that they will accept mobile payment options from Tencent's WeChat Pay gradually from Sept 12, a significant step in breaking down payment barriers between the two internet companies, enhancing interoperability and interconnectivity of different platforms and improving user experience, experts said.中国科技巨头阿里巴巴集团控股有限公司旗下的在线市场淘宝和天猫于9月5日宣布，将从9月12日起逐步接受腾讯的微信支付作为移动支付选项，专家称这是打破两家互联网公司支付壁垒的重要一步，这将增强不同平台之间的互操作性和互联互通，提升用户体验。They added the move is conducive to elevating payment convenience, invigorating the vitality of consumption, and bolstering the innovation and development of payment modalities.他们补充说，这一举措有助于提高支付便利性，激发消费活力，并促进支付方式的创新发展。Taobao and Tmall said in a statement on Wednesday that they had issued notices on their platforms to solicit feedback from merchants about accepting WeChat Pay as an additional payment method, as part of a broader push to improve the shopping experience.淘宝和天猫在9月4日的一份声明中表示，他们已在平台上发布通知，征求商家关于接受微信支付作为支付方式的反馈，这一举措将有助于改善购物体验。The two platforms said they are upholding the concept of openness and cooperation and actively exploring interoperability and partnerships with various platforms to enhance user experience and make consumers' shopping activities more convenient, enjoyable and efficient.这两个平台表示，他们坚持开放和合作的理念，并积极探索与各种平台的互通性和合作伙伴关系，以提升用户体验，使消费者的购物活动更加方便、愉快和高效。Alipay, a popular mobile payment tool launched by Chinese fintech company Ant Group, said in a statement following the announcement, "Openness, collaboration, innovation and sharing are fundamental principles of the internet and the driving force behind the industry's development."由中国金融科技公司蚂蚁集团推出的流行移动支付工具支付宝在公告后发表声明称，“开放、合作、创新和共享是互联网的基本原则，也是行业发展的驱动力。Alipay said it will continue to deepen cooperation with Taobao and Tmall, and step up innovation in technologies and products. Apart from payment products, the company will further expand open cooperation in broader ecosystems such as internet technology and artificial intelligence to create more business opportunities, it added.支付宝表示，它将继续深化与淘宝和天猫的合作，并加强技术和产品的创新。除了支付产品，该公司还将在更广泛的生态系统（如互联网技术和人工智能）中进一步扩大开放合作，创造更多商机。As the main rival to WeChat Pay, Alipay is a major payment service provider for Taobao and Tmall. WeChat Pay said it is always open to collaborations, and is actively exploring interoperability with various sectors, adding it plans to continue exploring new partnerships and improving convenience for users on the basis of ensuring transactional security.作为微信支付的主要竞争对手，支付宝是淘宝和天猫的主要支付服务提供商。微信支付表示，它始终对合作持开放态度，并积极探索与各个行业的互操作性，同时计划在确保交易安全的基础上，继续探索新的合作伙伴关系并提高用户便利性。Pan Helin, a member of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Expert Committee for Information and Communication Economy, said the move is a win-win result for the two Chinese tech giants as both Taobao and Tmall could attract WeChat users by adding WeChat Pay as a payment option and help bolster their business performances, while WeChat Pay will greatly expand its application ecosystems via its access to e-commerce platforms.工业和信息化部信息通信经济专家委员会成员潘和林（音）表示，这一举措对两家中国科技巨头来说是双赢的结果，因为淘宝和天猫可以通过增加微信支付作为支付选项来吸引微信用户，帮助提升他们的业务表现，而微信支付则可以通过接入电商平台大大扩展其应用生态系统。Pan said Taobao and Tmall have access to several mobile payment tools — such as Cloud QuickPass of payment giant China UnionPay — and digital renminbi, so accepting payments from WeChat Pay will not affect the current digital payment landscape.潘和林（音）表示，淘宝和天猫已开通包括支付巨头中国银联的云闪付在内的多种移动支付工具，以及数字人民币，因此接受微信支付不会影响当前的数字支付格局。"It is foreseeable that there will be more frequent and closer cooperation among different platforms and payment companies," Pan said, adding that allowing users to transact through WeChat Pay on Taobao and Tmall will help the platforms gain more users from smaller cities, where WeChat Pay has a higher penetration rate than Alipay.潘和林（音）说“可以预见，不同平台和支付公司之间的合作将会更加频繁和紧密”，他还表示，允许用户在淘宝和天猫上通过微信支付进行交易，将有助于这些平台吸引更多来自小城市的用户，那里的微信支付渗透率高于支付宝。Industry statistics show that WeChat Pay and Alipay together control 90 percent of China's mobile payments market. Experts said the acceptance of WeChat Pay on Taobao and Tmall is a landmark event in enhancing the interconnectivity of payment methods.行业统计数据显示，微信支付和支付宝共同控制了中国移动支付市场90%的份额。专家表示，淘宝和天猫接受微信支付是一个增强支付方式互联互通的里程碑事件。Wang Pengbo, a senior analyst at market consultancy Botong Analysys, said the move will allow consumers to choose their preferred payment methods freely, enhance their shopping experience, unleash consumption potential as well as provide more possibilities for bolstering the innovation of payment technology.市场咨询公司博通分析的高级分析师王鹏博（音）表示，此举将允许消费者自由选择他们偏好的支付方式，提升他们的购物体验，释放消费潜力，并为支付技术的创新提供更多可能性。Alibaba and Tencent have been taking measures to integrate services since 2021 after Chinese authorities urged tech companies to tear down their so-called walled gardens that block competitors' products.自2021年中国当局敦促科技公司打破所谓的“封闭平台”，即封锁竞争对手产品这一行为以来，阿里巴巴和腾讯就已开始采取联合服务措施。Alibaba has incorporated WeChat Pay into its on-demand food delivery app Ele.me, video-streaming platform Youku and online ticket booking platform Damai. Tencent, which once limited the sharing of links to Alibaba stores on WeChat, has gradually allowed users to open a variety of links and content from rival platforms within its messaging app.阿里巴巴已经将微信支付整合到了其即时配送应用“饿了么”、视频流媒体平台“优酷”以及在线票务预订平台“大麦网”中。腾讯曾经限制在微信上分享阿里巴巴店铺链接，但如今已经逐渐允许用户在其消息应用中打开来自竞争对手平台的各种链接和内容。Moreover, Meituan, a popular on-demand services platform, has launched its food delivery and hotel booking services as Alipay's mini programs, offering exclusive coupons and merchant discounts.此外，美团已经使食品配送和酒店预订服务进入了支付宝的小程序，并提供独家优惠券和商家折扣。Interoperabilityn.互用性，协同工作的能力upholdv.支持，维护，拥护

Like this? Get AIDAILY, delivered to your inbox, every weekday. Subscribe to our newsletter at https://aidaily.us Agentic AI: Revolutionizing Business with Autonomy and Innovation Agentic AI, the next evolution of artificial intelligence, promises greater autonomy and problem-solving capabilities. It can make decisions, plan actions, and adapt to new information. With potential applications across healthcare, cybersecurity, finance, and more, agentic AI is poised to transform industries while raising ethical and privacy concerns. Critics Underestimate the Creative Potential of AI Art Generative AI can be a valuable tool for artistic creation, despite skepticism from critics like Ted Chiang. While AI lacks human-like thought, its capacity to discover patterns across vast datasets offers unique creative possibilities. AI shouldn't be dismissed but rather embraced as a tool for enhancing human creativity. California Seeks AI Solutions for Housing and Homeless Crisis Governor Gavin Newsom announced a call for developers to create AI tools to tackle California's homelessness and housing issues. The tools would identify real-time shelter availability and streamline housing permits. The state also seeks AI solutions for budget analysis to improve efficiency. Tech partnerships include OpenAI and Anthropic. Harvard Develops AI Tool for Cancer Detection and Prognosis Harvard Medical School researchers have developed a groundbreaking AI tool that diagnoses cancer with nearly 94% accuracy across 19 types, including lung, breast, and colon cancer. The AI can also predict patient survival, surpassing current models. If validated, this tool could transform cancer diagnosis and treatment predictions. Ant Group Launches AI 'Life Assistant' App Amid Market Shift China's Ant Group, backed by Alibaba, introduced the Zhixiaobao AI-powered "life assistant" app. The app integrates with Alipay to assist users in everyday tasks such as ordering meals, booking taxis, and discovering entertainment. The app leverages Ant's BaiLing foundation model and is part of the firm's business overhaul after regulatory challenges.  The AI Super Cycle: NVIDIA's Dominance and Apple's Next AI Move Despite recent market volatility, the AI super cycle is far from over. NVIDIA leads with its $3 trillion market cap, driven by AI infrastructure, while companies like Apple are poised to enter the AI race, with Siri expected to play a pivotal role in driving consumer demand during upcoming product launches.

CBDC WATCH - @Rogerh1991 #487 What countries have piloted a CBDC and what has been the result? $ BTC Block Height. Today's guest on the show is @Rogerh1991 who joins me to explain what is happening around the world with Central Bank Digital Currencies. Why did @Rogerh1991 write the book ‘Would Mao Hold Bitcoin' and what response did he get? When did @Rogerh1991 start looking into CBDC's and why is he so committed to raising awareness and education about this subject? Should we be skeptical of companies such as Alipay and why were they such a big sponsor of the Euros 2024 Football tournament? A huge thank you to Roger for all of his hard work on this subject. Learn about rogers book here: https://store.bitcoinmagazine.com/collections/books/products/would-mao-hold-bitcoin Follow Roger on Forbes here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerhuang/ ALL LINKS HERE - FOR DISCOUNTS AND OFFERS -  https://vida.page/princey - https://linktr.ee/princey21m Pleb Service Announcements. @orangepillapp That's it, that's the announcement. https://signup.theorangepillapp.com/opa/princey Thank you: @swan @relai_app @BitBoxSwiss @ZapriteApp @mempool @OnrampBitcoin for your trust and support.  Support the pods via @fountain_app  -https://fountain.fm/show/2oJTnUm5VKs3xmSVdf5n  Shills and Mench's: ONRAMP - https://onrampbitcoin.com/?grsf=bitten - Bitcoin Financial and inheritance Services built on Multi-Institutional Custody.  Save $250 using code BITTEN Listen to the Onramp Podcast here - https://fountain.fm/show/fnaiifAYNlixGUPfBwXH  ZAPRITE - https://zaprite.com/bitten - Invoicing and accounting for Bitcoiners - Save $40  ORANGE PILL APP - https://signup.theorangepillapp.com/opa/princey - find your plebs, meet-ups and conferences. SWAN BITCOIN -  www.swan.com/bitten  RELAI - www.relai.me/Bitten Use Code BITTEN BITBOX - https://bitbox.shop/?ref=BITTEN Use Code BITTEN HODL HODL - https://hodlhodl.com/join/BITTEN  WASABI WALLET - https://www.wasabiwallet.io/ MEMPOOL - https://mempool.space/ + https://mempool.space/sponsor BITCOIN ADVISOR - https://content.thebitcoinadviser.com/bitten KONSENSUS NETWORK - Buy bitcoin books in different languages.  Use code BITTEN for 10% discount - https://bitcoinbook.shop?ref=bitten  SEEDOR STEEL PLATE BACK-UP - @seedor_io use the code BITTEN for a 5% discount. www.seedor.io/BITTEN STACKING SAT http://stackinsat.com/signup/?r=Bitten SATSBACK - Shop online and earn back sats! https://satsback.com/register/5AxjyPRZV8PNJGlM  HEATBIT - Home Bitcoin mining - https://www.heatbit.com/?ref=DANIELPRINCE - Use code BITTEN. CRYPTOTAG STEEL PLATE BACK-UP https://cryptotag.io -  USE CODE BITTEN for 10% discount.

Beijing's public transportation system is set to become more foreigner-friendly, with the Chinese capital testing the feasibility of introducing an all-in-one city travel pass.进入暑期，北京各大景区的外国游客明显增多。为了方便外籍乘客出行，北京计划推出一卡通国际卡Beijing Pass。未来，外籍人士可持Beijing Pass卡在北京轨道交通刷闸乘车。For starters, the Beijing Pass will enhance the convenience of subway travel for foreign visitors, who will be able to use their international bank cards to purchase the pass at the city's seven railway stations and two airports that have integrated subway lines.为配合一卡通国际卡Beijing Pass顺利上线，地铁车站正在进行现场测试，后续预计在“七站两场”（七大火车站、两座机场）地铁站内面向外籍人士发售，方便外国朋友持卡在北京轨道交通刷闸乘车。To facilitate the smooth launch of the Beijing Pass, subway stations are currently undergoing on-site testing, the city authorities said on Wednesday.7月31日，北京市政府表示，地铁车站正配合其上线进行现场测试。Wu Liyun, a professor at the China Academy of Culture and Tourism of Beijing International Studies University, said the Beijing Pass will allow foreign visitors to explore the city at their convenience, without having to worry about payment hurdles while using public transportation."If the pass can be integrated with Alipay, a widely used Chinese digital payment platform, it will also save time and make it easier for foreigners to use public transportation," Wu said.北京第二外国语学院中国文化和旅游产业研究院教授吴丽云表示：“如果Beijing Pass与支付宝合并，也将节省时间，外国游客更容易上手。”Beijing Pass将让外国游客在其空闲时探索北京，免受乘坐公共交通工具时的付款障碍。Beijing's new foreigner-friendly move comes at a time when the city is witnessing a rapid increase in the number of overseas visitors. The capital has already introduced several facilities to serve them better.这两年，交通行业推出一系列措施，服务来京的外国游客。For example, all 335 stations across the 17 lines managed by Beijing Subway have been equipped with point-of-sale machines as of June 1. These machines allow foreign passengers to purchase tickets using international bank cards. The authorities plan to introduce additional services, such as allowing foreigners to use their international bank cards directly at the platform gates.为提升外籍乘客地铁出行支付便利性，6月1日起，北京地铁所辖17条线路335座车站完成了POS机铺设，外籍乘客可通过POS机，使用外国银行卡支付购票乘车。Ronan, a French international student in Beijing, said the plan to introduce an all-in-one public transportation card is a welcome move.在北京的法国留学生罗南（Ronan，音译）表示，引入一卡通国际卡是一项十分受欢迎的举措。"My friends who visited Beijing couldn't use Alipay for public transportation because they didn't have Chinese phone numbers. Alipay is quite convenient for foreigners who have lived in big cities for a while, but for foreign tourists, the new option (Beijing Pass) will be better," he said.他表示：“我的朋友之前去北京时没有中国电话号码，也不会使用支付宝乘坐公共交通工具。对于在大城市生活很长时间的外国人来说使用支付宝也许很方便，但对于外国游客来说，（使用）一卡通国际卡更简单。”In addition to taking steps to streamline payment services, Beijing Subway has piloted the installation of multilingual translation devices at eight stations that foreign travelers frequently visit, such as Tian'anmen West on Line 1, to offer them more accurate and detailed information about subway schedules.北京地铁公司在1号线八通线天安门西等8座车站试点配置了多语种翻译机，支持多国语言翻译，为外国游客提供更准确的地铁信息。Furthermore, bilingual announcements in Chinese and English have been started at major railway stations, the two airports, and subway stations near tourist attractions.此外，在“七站两场”及景点周边车站，增设中英文个性化广播，车站适时启用或切换中英文个性化广播，有效减少外籍乘客问询次数。According to data from the Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, as of Monday, the number of entries and exits at Beijing's ports exceeded 10 million this year, surpassing the total number for the whole of last year.北京出入境边防检查总站数据显示，截至7月29日15时30分，北京口岸2024年以来出入境人员量已突破1000万人次，是2023年同期的2.5倍，已超2023年全年出入境人员总量。Among these people, more than 1.2 million were inbound foreign visitors, a year-on-year increase of 210 percent.其中入境外国人120.3万余人次，同比增长210%。Apart from Beijing, other major cities in China such as Shanghai and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, are also making public transportation more accessible for international visitors by introducing similar passes and allowing taxi fares to be paid with international credit cards.除北京外，中国其他一线城市如上海和广州，也计划推出类似的一卡通，并支持使用外国银行卡支付购票乘车，方便外国游客出行。China Academy of Culture and Tourism of Beijing International Studies Universityn.北京第二外国语学院中国文化和旅游产业研究院Beijing General Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspectionn.北京出入境边防检查总站

#10 DBN – Juni-News / Paydirekt & Teo

Alipay+ Partner E-Wallets Transactions in Germany Rose by 67% One Week into UEFA EURO 2024 as Young Asia Embraces Sports Tourism Across Europe, over 400,000 Alipay+ merchants of all sizes benefit from UEFA tourism. Visitor spending via Alipay+ partner wallets grew by 29% in the opening week YoY. Alipay+ transactions in Germany have increased by 67% during the opening week of UEFA EURO 2024 over the previous one, as the country becomes a top destination for international football fans celebrating the tournament. Alipay+ and E-Wallets grow in usage at UEFA EURO 2024 Alipay+ acceptance extends across Germany's top tourism destinations, including the historic Farina Duftmuseum in Cologne. As international football fans travel to Germany for UEFA EURO 2024, Alipay+ announced that transactions in the country have increased by over two-thirds (67%) during the opening week of the tournament (Thursday 13th June 2024 - Wednesday 19th June 2024). Alipay+, an official sponsor of UEFA EURO 2024, is a suite of cross-border mobile payments and digitalization technology solutions that now supports 30 global e-wallets and banking apps. The number of customers paying with Alipay+ partner wallets in the opening week increased by 59% (WoW). Total value per transaction increased by 56%, benefiting local SMEs across food & beverage, retail, travel and other segments. Beyond Germany, as fans congregated in pubs, bars and hotels across the continent to watch the opening matches, overall European Alipay+ transactions rose by 13% during the opening week (WoW). Over a quarter (29%) more tourists to Europe are paying with Alipay+ than in 2023, and 11% more compared with the previous week, given an increase in international tourism from China and other Asian countries, as well as the growing popularity of Europe as a travel destination since the pandemic. Cologne's Farina Duftmuseum was established in 1709, making it the oldest perfume house in the world and a popular attraction for international tourists. Ninth-generation owner, Louise Farina, commented on her experience trading during the tournament, "It's so exciting to experience the electric energy of Cologne as football fans congregate from all around the world and visit our museum. Offering Alipay+ as a payment solution is a great convenience for tourists from Asia, which are an important demographic for us, when purchasing our renowned fragrances". In Düsseldorf, Zhang Liang Malatang Spicy Hot Pot hosts international guests for lunch and dinner service daily, offering hot pot and a wide selection of Asian cuisine. Muxin Guo, owner of the restaurant, commented "Every day we host guests from China and many other countries in Asia, who enjoy being able to pay with their preferred home e-wallet. Being located in a city recognised for its excellent Asian dining, offering a range of international payment methods via Alipay+ makes us stand-out as an attractive destination for visitors". Alipay+ has now enabled over 400,000 merchants in Europe, with over 120,000 in the DACH region alone. Among the 15 Alipay+ mobile partners in Germany are Alipay (Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), MPay (Macao SAR, China), Touch 'n Go eWallet and MyPB by Public Bank Berhad (Malaysia), Hipay (Mongolia), GCash (The Philippines), OCBC Digital and Changi Pay (Singapore), TrueMoney (Thailand), Tinaba (Italy), Bluecode (Germany and Austria) and Kakao Pay, Naver Pay and Toss Pay (South Korea). Ilaria Limelli, a 22-year-old creative from Italy who uses the Tinaba app to make payments via Alipay+, added: "It's been amazing to support the Italian team as they compete in the EUROs - but what's a match without drinks and snacks? Paying with my Tinaba e-wallet via Alipay+ was simple and convenient at the stadium, and I was also able to pay for local souvenirs at nearby stores effortlessly". Pietro Candela, General Manager of Europe at Alipay+, commented: "The EUROs is just one testimonial to the rising interest in m...

Could the mainstream media be steering you wrong about the stock market? In this episode, we cut through the noise and debunk myths that have been holding you back from achieving your financial goals. We'll start by highlighting the impressive returns of our portfolio, demonstrating the effectiveness of our tried-and-true investment strategies. Get ready for a detailed breakdown of the RSI momentum indicator, and let's tackle the fears surrounding market extremities head-on. We also take a close look at NVIDIA's stock price in relation to its profits, showing you why it's not overvalued. Plus, we discuss the role of substantial cash reserves in U.S. companies and how they influence stock buybacks and dividends. Learn about the potential for upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate cuts and how an economic slowdown, as evidenced by Walmart's recent earnings call, might affect your investments.Shifting gears, we delve into the complexities of stock market resistance and support. You'll gain insights into the regulations around company buybacks and the rationale behind them. Ever wondered how payment processors make their money? Discover how PayPal profits from merchants rather than transfer fees, and hear our analysis on Elon Musk's ambitious vision for X, comparing it to China's WeChat and Alipay. We also explore how Musk's strategy could impact PayPal in the future. Then, we turn our focus to Palantir's stock performance and the significant technical indicators around the $25 mark. Don't miss our discussion on the importance of closing above this threshold for future trading signals. This episode is packed with valuable insights to help you navigate the stock market with confidence.Support the Show.

China is building a more positive tourism image globally, with more foreign visitors sharing their good travel experiences online and not unfairly stereotyping the country.中国正在全球范围内建立更加积极的旅游形象，越来越多的外国游客在网上分享他们美好的旅行经历，而非不公正的刻板印象。Two Mad Explorers from Ireland, a video blog channel on YouTube with more than 160,000 subscribers, has recorded the experiences of two travelers from the European country who started their trip to China two weeks ago from Chengdu, the capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province. They describe Chengdu as "clean, beautiful, very modern and an affordable place to visit".来自爱尔兰的两位疯狂探险者是油管上一个拥有超过16万订阅者的视频博客频道，他们记录了两位来自欧洲国家的旅行者在中国之行的经历。这两位旅行者于两周前从中国西南部四川省的首府成都开始他们的旅程。他们描述成都为“干净、美丽、非常现代化，而且是一个价格实惠的地方”。Two visitors from Italy, Sydia and Mica, told Douyin blogger Broke Laowai, who has over 600 followers, that they have traveled to Beijing, Pingyao in Shanxi province and Xi'an in Shaanxi province.来自意大利的西迪亚和米卡在抖音上拥有600多粉丝的博主“破产老外”的直播中表示，他们已经前往北京、山西平遥和陕西西安等地旅游。Sydia said she found the people in China to be very kind and thoughtful. They try to help foreigners even if the latter don't speak Chinese and they themselves don't speak fluent English, she said.西迪亚表示，她发现中国人非常善良体贴。即使外国人不会说中文，中国人也会尽力帮助他们，即使他们自己的英语说得并不流利。The two visitors from Italy also praised mobile phone applications such as Alipay and WeChat, calling these "very cool" apps for ordering coffee, hailing rides and making payments.来自意大利的两位游客还称赞了支付宝和微信等移动应用，称这些应用是“非常酷”的应用，可以用来点咖啡、叫车和付款。China's inbound tourism recorded a good performance after the nation announced its visa-waiver policies for residents of some European and Asian countries and regions in late 2023.2023年底，中国宣布对部分欧洲和亚洲国家和地区的居民实行免签政策后，中国入境旅游表现良好。Starting in December, China offered visa-free entry to ordinary passport holders of six countries — France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia — allowing them to stay on the Chinese mainland for up to 15 days for tourism, business and family visit purposes, and also allowing them to transit without a visa.从12月开始，中国向法国、德国、意大利、荷兰、西班牙和马来西亚等六个国家的普通护照持有者提供免签入境，允许他们在中国大陆停留最多15天，用于旅游、商务和探亲，也可以无需签证过境。The policy was extended to another six countries, including Switzerland and Ireland, in March, with its expiration date extended to Dec 31. 该政策在3月份又扩展至包括瑞士和爱尔兰在内的六个国家，有效期延长至12月31日。The National Immigration Administration issued 466,000 visas to international travelers in the first quarter of 2024, up nearly 120 percent year-on-year, data from the administration showed. Nearly 2 million visits were made to the mainland by visa-exempt foreign nationals in the first quarter, up 266 percent year-on-year.国家移民管理局数据显示，2024年第一季度共向国际旅客发放了46.6万份签证，同比增长近120%。第一季度免签外国国民来大陆的次数接近200万次，同比增长266%。The boom in inbound tourism continued during the May Day holiday. Around 1.76 million inbound trips were made to the mainland over the five-day break, which started on May 1, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said.文化和旅游部表示，五一假期期间，入境旅游继续保持繁荣态势。从5月1日开始的五天假期内，约有176万外国游客来大陆旅游。Travel portal Trip.com Group said that inbound travel bookings grew 130 percent year-on-year on the platform, while airport pickup services surged 342 percent year-on-year during the holiday.在线旅游平台同程旅行集团表示，该平台上的入境旅游预订量同比增长130%。同时，五一假期期间机场接送服务同比增长342%。Zhang Jinshan, a researcher on tourism planning and development at Beijing Union University, said that China's visa "openness and accessibility" was key to its inbound tourism growth. 北京联合大学旅游规划与发展研究所研究员张金珊表示，中国签证的“开放性和便利性”是入境旅游增长的关键。"China has made efforts to optimize its visa issuing procedures and made some groundbreaking changes in its visa policies starting in 2023. The inbound tourism market has embraced rapid recovery since earlier this year, with the growth of international travelers from some countries exceeding our expectations," he said.“中国一直在努力优化签证发放程序，从2023年开始在签证政策方面做出了一些突破性的改变。自今年年初以来，入境旅游市场已经实现了快速复苏，一些国家的国际游客数量增长速度超出了我们的预期。”Zhao Jing, director of customized tours at travel portal Tuniu, said that international travelers like planning their trips in advance, and China's optimized entry policies will give them more time to prepare for their trips as well as boost their confidence in getting to know the country better.途牛定制游总监赵京表示，国际游客通常喜欢提前规划行程，中国优化的入境政策将给他们更多时间准备行程，并增强他们更好地了解中国的信心。The relaxed entry policies have also cheered up domestic tourism companies, prompting them to channel more resources into launching new products and improving services, Zhao said.赵京表示，宽松的入境政策也提振了国内旅游企业，促使他们将更多资源投入到推出新产品和提升服务中。"The inbound tourism (market) has great potential yet to be tapped. I think the optimized policies will also attract more people to work in the sector," she added.“入境旅游市场还有巨大的潜力有待挖掘。我认为优化的政策也将吸引更多人投身这一行业。”Zhang, the tourism researcher, suggested that China expand its visa-free policy to some neighboring countries, and also to countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, in order to gain a larger share in inbound tourism.旅游研究员张先生建议，中国可以扩大免签政策，向一些邻国以及“一带一路”参与国家和地区开放，以在入境旅游市场中占据更大的份额。In addition to improving payment, network and accommodations services for international travelers, China can channel more resources to deepen reform, enhance openness and improve the nation's image to secure the stable and sustainable development of inbound tourism, he added.他补充说，除了改善国际游客的支付、网络和住宿服务外，中国还可以将更多资源用于深化改革、扩大开放和提升国家形象，以确保入境旅游的稳定和可持续发展。inbound tourism入境旅游sustainable development可持续发展

pro-cannabis rally, teen gang arrest, murder cover-up, durian scam sentence, Alipay tourism boost, and torrential rains. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thaigerpodcast/message

today's tech briefing podcast - monday, may 6th join wally for an insightful journey into the latest happenings in the tech industry. in today's episode, we delve into a range of topics that are stirring conversations and setting the stage for future developments. here's what we cover: - apple's surprising announcement: discover details about apple's unexpected event scheduled for tomorrow morning, including the anticipation surrounding their ipad lineup expansion and the introduction of an m4 chip. understand how this moves against the backdrop of microsoft's third-party silicon rumors. - biden administration invests in semiconductor innovation: learn about the $285 million investment under the chips act aimed at employing digital twins for semiconductor manufacturing. this initiative represents a significant push towards reducing costs, enhancing collaboration, and securing the u.s. leadership in advanced manufacturing technologies. - ant group's global expansion via alipay+: explore how ant group is broadening its horizons with alipay+, aiming to unify mobile payment apps globally amidst the changing financial landscape due to covid-19 and regulatory pressures in china. - stack overflow and openai partnership: uncover the implications of stack overflow teaming up with openai to enrich generative ai models, potentially transforming the developer experience and indicating a broader trend of ai-enhanced innovation across technology platforms. - trolling the lockbit ransomware gang: delve into the novel tactics employed by law enforcement to combat and undermine the notorious lockbit ransomware gang by resurrecting and trolling their dark web site, highlighting the ongoing battle against cyber threats. stay ahead of the curve with these crucial updates and insights into the evolving world of technology and digital transformation. we'll see you back here tomorrow for your next tech briefing

On the 54th episode of Business English Power, ALsensei goes over the following business news article:"China's Ant Group doubles down on global expansion with cross-border payments offering Alipay+"Have you heard about Alipay, the digital payment wallet from Alibaba? If not, it may be coming to your country soon as Alipay+! Check out this episode to keep up to date on all the latest news.Link to article: "China's Ant Group doubles down on global expansion with cross-border payments offering Alipay+"Here are useful vocabulary from the article:to double downofferingfintechglobal presencee-walletglobal arminroadsmerchantto pull the plugto restructureconcurrentlygeopoliticalinteroperabilityPlease subscribe to Business English Power in Apple Podcasts, iTunes, Spotify, and everywhere you listen to podcasts.If you have any questions and/or suggestions for the show please e-mail me directly at:AL at BUSINESSENGLISHPOWER dot COMOn Business English Power, I help you express yourself more naturally and smoothly. We talk about how to make your Business English sound more natural, attain a Global Mindset, and apply powerful Success Principles.Level up your LearningLevel up your Life

Contact Ron Efron on LinkedInVisit BluOceanFollow Asia Business Podcast on LinkedIn Full show Transcript below Summary and Timestamps Security in an Evolving Asia Business EnvironmentIn this episode of the Asia Business Podcast, host Art Dicker interviews Ron Efron, the director of BluOcean Security, about the comprehensive security services they offer multinational clients across the Asia Pacific. Ron shares insights into the origins and rapid growth of BluOcean Security, detailing their specialization in physical security systems like electronic security components and access management. He discusses the unique security needs of Fortune 500 companies, the impact of COVID-19 on security definitions and practices, and the increasing shift towards cloud-based security solutions. Ron also addresses the challenges and opportunities arising from geopolitical changes and migration strategies of multinationals out of China. The conversation touches on the complexities of navigating regulations, the adoption of facial recognition technology, and the importance of being agile and prepared for the future in the security industry.Introduction Welcome readers to an in-depth exploration into the realm of BluOcean Security, a premium security firm reshaping the landscape of security services across Asia Pacific. In this blog post, we delve into an exclusive conversation with Ron Efron, the director at BluOcean Security, shedding light on the company's journey, services, and the evolving dynamics of security in today's interconnected world. The Genesis of BluOcean Security Ron Efron, with a rich history in the security industry dating back to the late nineties, leads the charge at BluOcean Security. Founded in the end of 2018, the company swiftly established itself as a trusted partner for multinational clients seeking top-notch security solutions in the Asia Pacific region. Unraveling BluOcean Security's Offerings BluOcean Security stands out as a physical security systems integrator, specializing in safeguarding clients' assets and facilities through a wide array of security solutions. From electronic security components to comprehensive security consulting, the company caters to clients who prioritize security and compliance with international standards. Navigating Security Risks and Client Needs In the quest for fortified security measures, BluOcean Security collaborates closely with clients, especially Fortune 500 companies with operations spread across Asia Pacific. The company aligns its offerings with the unique security risks and compliance requirements of each client, ensuring a tailored approach to security solutions. Adapting to the Shifting Security Landscape As the world witnesses monumental shifts in how businesses operate post-pandemic, BluOcean Security underscores the significance of staying ahead in the security domain. From remote working challenges to the surge in cloud migration, the company emphasizes the crucial role of evolving security practices to meet the demands of a changing world. Embracing Technological Advancements and Privacy Concerns In the era of emerging technologies like facial recognition and AI, BluOcean Security remains vigilant towards the sensitivities surrounding data collection and privacy. The company navigates the fine balance between leveraging advanced security technologies and respecting privacy boundaries, showcasing a nuanced approach to modern security challenges. Navigating Global Security Standards and Regional Dynamics With a firm foothold in multiple Asian markets, BluOcean Security is adept at tackling diverse security challenges across borders. The company's agility and expertise shine through as they assist clients in navigating the complex web of security standards, compliance regulations, and regional nuances prevalent in the dynamic security landscape. Embracing Growth Opportunities in the Security SectorAs the security sector witnesses continued growth and transformation, BluOcean Security stands poised to embrace new opportunities and expand its footprint across emerging markets. By offering cutting-edge security solutions and unparalleled expertise, the company positions itself as a trusted partner for clients seeking to fortify their security measures in an ever-evolving world. Conclusion In conclusion, BluOcean Security, under the leadership of Ron Efron, exemplifies a beacon of innovation and reliability in the realm of security services. With a commitment to excellence, a keen eye on emerging trends, and a penchant for navigating complex security landscapes, the company continues to carve a niche for itself as a leading security solutions provider in the Asia Pacific region. Stay tuned for more insights and updates from BluOcean Security as they continue to redefine the contours of security in a rapidly changing world. TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to the Episode and Guest00:44 Exploring Blue Ocean Security with Ron Efron02:19 The Core Services and Clientele of BluOcean Security06:31 Adapting to Security Needs in the COVID-19 Era09:22 The Shift Towards Cloud-Based Security Solutions13:43 Navigating Data Security and Compliance Challenges18:59 Emerging Technologies and Privacy Concerns25:49 Global Trends and the China Plus One Strategy30:41 Closing Remarks and Contact Information TRANSCRIPTArt Dicker: Welcome, everybody, to another episode of The Asia Business Podcast. I'm your host, Art Dicker. Art Dicker: Today, we have the wonderful pleasure of having Ron Efron join us. Ron is the Director at Blue Ocean Security, a premium security firm offering comprehensive services including security consulting, systems integration, and security management to multinational clients throughout the Asia Pacific. Art Dicker: Ron, welcome. Ron Efron: Thank you, Art. It's good to be here. Art Dicker: Yeah, and you have a podcast of your own, which we'll give you a chance to talk about in a minute and tell us a little bit about. For the audience, what Blue Ocean Security does, what it's about, and you're relatively new, but I know you've grown quickly and had quite a lot of success right off the bat. Art Dicker: So give us a little bit of an intro about the company. Ron Efron: Sure. Blue Ocean Security is what you would call a physical security systems integrator, and we provide services that revolve around that. So what it basically means is that when you walk into a building today, you'll see electronic security components such as cameras, turnstiles, or various access locks to doors. We're essentially protecting the perimeter, the facilities, and access to those facilities in various ways. That's what we're doing for multinational clients in Asia Pacific. To be more specific, we focus on clients that take their security seriously. Not all companies prioritize security, and we specialize in those that do. We serve clients with facilities across the Pacific, and we've been quite successful at that. Blue Ocean is relatively new. We started at the end of 2018. Personally, I've been in this business since the late nineties, started my first business in Beijing, and grew that business across Asia Pacific. I sold that and exited in 2015. Then we started Blue Ocean Security with a group of my ex-employees, and myself. We decided to get back into the business because we saw that there were still opportunities. So, we got the band back together, so to speak. Art Dicker: Yeah, and like I said, you've done very well and you've expanded rapidly to different locations throughout the region. Can you, now that you've given us a nice introduction of what the company does, what are clients looking for when they're coming to you? At a high level, can you walk us through some of those chief security risks? You mentioned physical security and stuff like that, but what's often a trigger point when a client comes to you? What's usually the first thing that they're worried about? Ron Efron: First of all, we focus a lot on multinationals, primarily Fortune 500 companies that have operations around Asia Pacific. For most of these companies, they not only have concerns about security, but they also have certain standards they need to comply with—internal standards or otherwise. They generally know what their needs are and they need to tailor-make those needs to the facilities in different countries. So, they take a standard that may have originated in North America or Europe and adapt it to comply with the standards in New Delhi, Jakarta, or China. Maintaining an international level of expertise and service across Asia Pacific is really our specialty. Additionally, we merge those local risks into the design. When we start working with a client, they'll come to us with a new facility. We'll work with them to do a full design and list of equipment needed, then procure the various components and move on to installation, programming, and commissioning. Every project is different, and risks and needs vary as well. Art Dicker: How do you handle cases like the ones where, let's put it amusingly, cameras need to survive explosions? Do you ever encounter such non-routine requests and wonder where to find such specialized equipment?Art Dicker: Are you tapping into a similar set of suppliers and vendors you usually work with, or do you sometimes need to find very specialized ones, like in that example?Ron Efron: Yeah, we've been in the business for a long time, so we know where to find that. Occasionally, we have to resort to custom-made solutions. But even then, we work with suppliers who can meet the required standards. Take, for instance, explosion-proof housing for cameras. That's a very unique product type that needs to comply with specific standards. There are various levels of explosion protection, similar to bulletproof glass, with standards dictating thickness and capability.Art Dicker: We talked about this before recording, but as with any business, COVID has changed things. One of the most obvious examples is remote and hybrid working, but other aspects have been affected too, including supply chains. How has COVID impacted your industry, particularly regarding the multinational clients you serve? What changes have been most notable?Ron Efron: COVID has significantly broadened the definition of security, encompassing issues such as pandemics and business continuity planning. It's raised questions about the responsibility for employee safety when they're working remotely. Also, concerns emerged about safeguarding data when employees are working from home, ensuring the same level of security as in-office setups. There's also a growing trend around employee well-being intersecting with security. Security departments are now collaborating more closely with HR, legal, and cybersecurity teams, even occupying a seat at the C-suite table to advise on navigating this new landscape.Art Dicker: You mentioned some of the data and security aspects. Obviously, there's been a huge trend, speaking of COVID, changing the way we work and so forth. There's been a huge trend towards migrating everything to the cloud. Is that something that you've been dealing with as well with your customers and some of the security challenges there?Ron Efron: For sure. Yeah, and we can talk for hours just about this subject alone. Yes, and it is the normal evolution of technology. If you think about it on the IT side, there's already been a lot of migration to the cloud. A lot of the tools we use everything from Microsoft Office to Teams or your ERP system, be it Salesforce or NetSuite or anything else, it's already on the cloud. Security being a bit more conservative, it's just taking them longer to adapt to a lot of those cloud technologies. And that's normal. We've seen it also in the past when there is a change between analog video to digital video back in the early 2000s, for example, there's the same kind of transition process. With the cloud, a lot of it really comes down to people's perception that it is perceived to be less secure than having everything hardwired in your facility. And in most cases, that's just a perception and in most cases, that's not true. So you have to deal with that. And there's a lot of education around that as well, but we're seeing a lot of trends of companies moving more and more into the cloud. It's starting with smaller companies and slowly being adopted by those larger multinationals as well. And there's no way around that. You cannot not make that move to the cloud. We also see some real challenges, for example, like in China with the great firewall and how companies deal with that sometimes, and there's ways to deal with that, but that trend is here and it's pretty much here to stay and we embrace it. We are always recommending it or at least components or parts of security to be more cloud-based. And basically what this means is that companies can avoid having a server on their premise. Server is actually in Azure or AWS and Amazon or some other cloud facility. And another part of it is the database is maintained on the cloud. And in many cases, video is being more and more recorded and stored on the cloud as well. That's where you're seeing that.Art Dicker: Which I guess from what I'm hearing, it's all much more secure and actually than anything that server is sitting in the office is actually, it's actually a prime liability or vulnerability.Ron Efron: Exactly. So if you're a medium-sized company there's pretty much no way that your cybersecurity is a higher level than Amazon and AWS or Microsoft Azure. Or the amount of money they spend on security on their data centers. The physical security around data centers and their cybersecurity around data centers and all the tests and penetration tests and everything to do around that. There's really no way most companies can have that same level of security. And then it comes down to people engineering, right? So people try to get through that through other ways like phishing scams otherwise you can't get you. You're right. So you can't the degree of cybersecurity will never be at the same level. Therefore, and then you need to, so it is worth it to move down to the cloud from that point of view, actually more secure in many cases. It's also cheaper. And it's just becoming more and more cheaper but there's other things around cybersecurity that you can be more worried about and concerned about, and that's more around the human elements.Art Dicker: Yeah, you mentioned though that, that, it started that trend of the cloud started with small companies and that really was, AWS, right? That was why should I pay for, you pay what you use as far as software licenses and. And storage and computing power and so forth. Interesting that and I imagine security, right? People probably were educated and recognize that, um, and speaking of security, cybersecurity and data security are obviously very important and as the kind of the value of data increases what it can be used for and so forth. How has the importance of data to a company increased the demands for your business from a security perspective?Ron Efron: It depends on the company in many cases as well. So some companies, they take their data, they're more data-centric, they take that more seriously than other companies, but there are two trends here. One is the general security trend where we're seeing more and more hacking and ransomware attacks and other types of phishing attacks, which are real practical risks that companies of all sizes have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. You also have an increase in regulations and compliance needs that companies also need to be increasingly complying with. And in your world as known on the law side, on the legal side of things, we're seeing that pretty much every country in the world, everything from Europe's GDPR to China's PIPL. And so you have to have certain measures in place that have some basic safeguarding of data. So even if you're not worried about it too much, there's an increasing need to be compliant with those regulations. A third part is that if you're working with other companies that take their data seriously, if you have any contractual relationship with them, you'll likely see more and more increased incidents where there are cyber-related clauses in your contract, things that you need to do and insurance that you need to buy, and it's not cheap to have an extra layer of security there so those are all multiple forces that are pushing people to take this issue more seriously.Art Dicker: I do. And I see that in contracts. You're absolutely right and whether it's a rep and warranty or specifically calling out sys, standards that need to be met or requirements for reliability and both from the server being up and standpoint and so forth. And that's the world we live in. And maybe 10 years ago, people didn't pay nearly as much attention to it, but they do. And I wanted to I wonder in your world, how much you have to stay on top of that, right? Even maybe even thinking a step ahead, right? Regulations coming out that are starting to slowly come out, for example, on artificial intelligence or obviously, for the longest time we saw in China that, we, the legal world goes to China doesn't have a comprehensive data, data privacy law. Now it does. And we saw it coming. So I imagine that's probably a big part of what you're, you don't want to be reacting to a trend right on the regular regulatory side. So how much do you have to stay on top of that, see regulations coming out and say, Oh, that's a compliance challenge that they're gonna have to come to us for. Right.Ron Efron: Look, it's just smart business, to be honest, we want to be. Within our organization, we have people that are constantly looking at the future in terms of trends and technology. So that's one side of things like what's evolving around technology. What are things going to look like in the future? How can we be a better consultant to our customers where we're offering them a system that's. What we try to say future-proof that it won't be obsolete in a couple of years and have to buy a new one. So that's one side. The other side is, of course, the regulation side. It's not just the regulations around data, but it's also other types of regulation that any business would be interested in. But of course, we want to understand that and then be ready for the other side to your question is that it helps us to be more ready when we're being pulled in that direction by our customers as well. So when a customer comes to us and says, Hey, we're worried about this. We don't want to start stumbling over ourselves to try to answer that. We want to be ready with an answer. I said no, this is what we're seeing. This is what some of our other customers are doing that is some of our partners are are telling us, for example, in China, around the PIPL, we do have some existing relationships with some law firms that specialize in this as well, that we can refer clients to if we need to work with them together, to be honest, a lot of our larger customers, they have large legal teams in place and what we do is we help educate the security teams around that so that they are being able to work better with their internal legal departments. And when they need to put something together, that they're better prepared for that. So for example, in the security world, if you have a global database of your employees and you're, that's moving digitally between China and other countries, there are certain legal processes that you need to go through now in China with their new with their new privacy laws. So that's something that we can try to help adapt the system to better suit their needs in their specific situation.Art Dicker: And speaking of it, it certainly touches on China to some extent, but not exclusively to China. Are there sensitivities speaking of sort of personal data, one of those personal data is facial recognition, right? At least indirectly. Are there any sensitivities you've encountered with this or other emerging technologies where you're it may for your clients? And I imagine it's a sensitive issue, not just for you, but for your clients as well, where it might enhance these things from a security perspective. But again, you have to be cognizant of sensitivities around some of the data you're collecting and your system is collecting, right?Ron Efron: Yes, for sure. And again, different companies have different cultures and different backgrounds and different ways of dealing with that. Excuse me. So for example, European countries and companies are going to be more sensitive to such issues, whereas Asian companies might be less sensitive to that just culturally. And the U.S. is somewhere in the middle. We have some international schools as clients that are also very worried about that, and there are various ways of dealing with that. So the facial recognition technology is not necessarily keeping your record of people's faces. It keeps other signatures. So there are other ways to deal with that and be sensitive to people's privacy and all that. But in terms of adoption and in terms of perception, that it really comes down to those their home culture biases. In many ways, but it's, that's not the only type of technology that's out there, but it is becoming more and more widespread. Another thing is that it's not cheap. It's actually quite expensive to have facial recognition. So that's also another inhibitor to its widespread adoption, but it's just one more technology out there. Like here in Asia and Singapore, for example, the airport is full of it. You, every gate that you pass, every inspection point is done with facial recognition today. It's not done with people looking at your passport and your. You're seeing it more and more in office buildings as well. That being said, in China, it is pretty much everywhere. Oh yeah. So every visitor management system, if you go into a building and you're visiting a client or a supplier, you're going to go through a process where they scan your passport, they take a photo of you and everything, and then to get into the actual elevator bank, you have to pass through a turnstile that's probably looking at your face. And it captures that. For Chinese citizens, it's even a step more where it's all linked to their Alipay accounts and sometimes they can do a transaction just by looking into a camera without even using their phone at all, which is pretty scary.Art Dicker: You beat me to it, butRon Efron: what we are seeing though, is that some of these technologies that are in China are evolving within China and not outside of China, even to a point that we, once we approached a Chinese facial recognition product company, and they told us straight out that they're not selling outside of China, that they're just, there's not doing that market.Ron Efron: Yeah.Art Dicker: It's big enough market in China, for that anyway but yeah, maybe I can see why not.Ron Efron: That is true, but I am worried that longer term, there might be dual standards in the world. There's going to be a China standard and a global standard for various things, not just security, you see it also, there might be on communication network protocols. There might be other aspects that the China, Chinese government are going to try to have their own for various reasons.Art Dicker: Does that present a challenge for your clients? Having to be on both sides of the Great Firewall, for example, and having dual standards for things?Ron Efron: It hasn't got to the point where you need to, at the protocol level, that things are different.Ron Efron: No, I haven't seen that yet. But I think at a larger global geopolitical element, China is trying to be more of an influencer on global standards. And, due to their size, they, you can understand that, most of our customers, they're trying to be compliant with like international norms.Ron Efron: So a way you might have seen this in news recently were in the past where some CCTV products were banned in the U.S. government, at least. So that has trickled down to some companies as well. And we're not trying to push that one way or the other. If a client comes to us and says they don't want, they want to exclude certain brands from their design, that's okay. And others, that's not an issue for them. They want to see all the options. So we cater to them and based on their needs.Art Dicker: That begs the question. And to, to what extent. Obviously, because so much so many things are manufactured in China, right? What extent.Art Dicker: I'll use that extreme example, in here, and I'm sure you caught this in the port up in Long Beach. They're talking about tearing down the cranes system that I think it's a real story because of this perceived security risk with the, the operating system, essentially, for the cranes is the part or all the cranes are made in China, including that operating system, and that's seen as a national security risk.Art Dicker: So they're thinking of ripping out the cranes and replacing them with American made cranes. I don't know if America even makes those kinds of cranes for docking and transporting the things on and offshore. But that's an example of where Chinese hardware, right? Or, and I guess software as well is. is seen as less trustworthy.Art Dicker: Has that been an issue with your, with any of your clients so far?Ron Efron: Only for those specific brands that have been added to that formal list of products, that's really to the extent of it. Other than that, if a product is owned by an American company, but made in China like an Apple phone, for example,Art Dicker: we don't really see.Art Dicker: Everything is made in China, right?Ron Efron: That is changing to, to, to a degree but yes that, that's less of a concern than it just comes down to that brand and their reputation and all that. Yeah, what you touched on, who knows if that's, it could be true, is it based on true security risk or not, that might be a different question.Ron Efron: There are certain things that, it's, would be legitimate for governments to be worried about. And there are certain things that it might, there might be other interests involved, paranoiaArt Dicker: there, yeah.Ron Efron: Or other business interests, maybe there's a local crane company that that's, a benefit to getArt Dicker: that business.Art Dicker: That's hard.Ron Efron: It's harder to unpack.Art Dicker: Yeah, that's fair. Yeah. Who has lots of motivations, potentially. Um, speaking of China, and I wanted to, This is a big question, so I wanted to, to. To end on this 1 I imagine you've got a team working with a lot of multinational companies in China, but as we all know, when we talked in this podcast before there's a bit of a migration or a de risking.Art Dicker: From China. It's been there for a while. The whole China plus one strategy. But that seems to be accelerating quite a bit in the last few years, especially coming out of COVID going to Vietnam or elsewhere, especially in, those other countries where you're operating. And I wonder to what extent you're continuing to work with those clients as they move and help them with that planning from a security perspective.Art Dicker: How has that trend impacted you and your business and how you're serving your clients?Ron Efron: So the trend is definitely clear out of all the countries who work within Asia. We're seeing the least amount of growth actually in China and a lot more activity in countries like Vietnam, like the Philippines, like India, for sure.Ron Efron: Even here in Singapore and even in Japan, which kind of surprised me last year. Yeah. It's understandable due to the geopolitical sort of wins that are happening and COVID a lot of boardrooms around the world are saying, wait, we don't want to have all our eggs in one basket. We need to have some contingencies in place.Ron Efron: What if something happens again? What can we do? So due to that, you're seeing strategies where the supply chains are less centralized, in China, and it is a bit more thinking going on. On top of that, you also have their own domestic markets in Asia, also in high growth mode. So India obviously is the big, the bigger one, but Vietnam, the Philippines Indonesia, all of these are potential new markets as well for consumers, not only to manufacture, but also to sell.Ron Efron: And for example, with Apple. Not only are they starting to make phones in India, but they just opened their first Apple store in India. So if that trends continue, there'll be a lot more growth there as well. And that's also due to the government in India have changed some of their regulations around retail laws.Ron Efron: And they're a bit more pro business, or business friendly compared to the past. But the bottom line is for us, that just means more opportunities. Yeah. So companies are growing, building more facilities, building more factories around the region. And that's business that we like to help our customers with in terms of challenges.Ron Efron: It's what we know from the past that we know how to operate in Asia. So it's the normal challenges of building your capacity, hiring good people, making sure they know, how to do their job well and having all the infrastructure in place so that you can grow with your customers. The challenge that actually becomes a challenge.Ron Efron: And it's much harder than you think, like doing a project or simultaneously doing projects in Tokyo, Sydney, Jakarta, and in Bangalore is not that easy. And because you're dealing with very different environments, very different people and different challenges, but that's, No, that's what we know. And that's what we we're pretty good at actually.Art Dicker: I was going to say, that's probably, that's gotta be your advantage, right? That you can seamlessly work across different geographies like that. That's gotta be a selling point for you and a competitive advantage for you guys.Ron Efron: For sure. And then our largest competitor in this space is is my old company.Art Dicker: Yeah. So you've got, But, and I imagine too, you're also quite, you know, you're easy to open up in new markets and it's because you're, you're a private company, right? You're young in your DNA, right? You're experienced in your, in the management team, but as a company, you're young in your DNA.Art Dicker: So you're probably more, more nimble, right? I guess is what I should say.Ron Efron: I would hope so. And the fact that COVID started pretty much after, when we started our company, we were, even when we started, we had, we envisioned that would be more spread out and take advantage of the newer technologies at the time to be able to work across a region in a very efficient way.Ron Efron: And then COVID came, it just really forced that even faster upon everybody, but we were ready for that in some way. And that helped us. To even sharpen our skills further. So that we ended up coming out stronger from that. I think,Art Dicker: yeah, no, I can tell. And and I think the audits can tell just listening to you that, that, that.Art Dicker: That you're that's a challenge that's actually been good for your business and you've met that challenge. Oh, Ron if people listening in the audience want to reach out to you for maybe they have they're at a multinational company and they're looking, they're going to a new country like India, Indonesia, or one of these other markets that you're in, how is the best way for them to reach out to you, LinkedIn or another way or the website or, What's the best way?Ron Efron: Sure. Our company website is blueoceanssecurity.com. Blue is B L U, ocean security. And you can find my LinkedIn as well. And I'm sure you can add a email in your show notes. Yep,Art Dicker: absolutely. FeelRon Efron: free to reach out to me. It's funny, we just when we came up with our name today, when you're starting new companies or new domain names It's getting harder and harder.Ron Efron: Yeah. You have to drop valve. It does getArt Dicker: harder. Yeah. But I like it. It's a little more,Ron Efron: unique.Art Dicker: It's a little, it not edgy, but it's, it's a little more unique. But you have to be unique, as you said, to for these days. Registering company or a, or website. It's aRon Efron: bit.Ron Efron: It's a bit play on the words of that book, The Blue Origin Strategy, where we're trying to not work in a very competitive environment, but come up with products and services that, you we're not competing directly on with competitors. And that's part of the vision there.Art Dicker: Okay. Hey, Ron, it was a real treat to have you on and and I'm sure the audience will love listening to this.Art Dicker: It's a topic that I think is not talked about enough. And so that was definitely a reason why we had to do this episode. I thank you, want to thank you for joining us and I'm sure the audience got a lot out of this. Thanks Ron for coming on.Ron Efron: Thank you https://www.asiabusinesspod.com/

Alipay+ continues to innovate and roll out fintech services for travellers and people on the move. For the upcoming beautiful cherry blossom season in Japan it is aiming to connect 2 million merchants in Japan. The goal is to make payments as frictionless as possible. The annual Japanese cherry blossom season returns Key achievements by Alipay+, see more here also. • Transactions powered by Alipay+ in Japan rose over 200% during the first three weeks of March, compared with the same period last year; • Consumption via 16 Alipay+ partner e-wallets and bank apps in is estimated to account for 10% of total spending among users in Japan; • Alipay, AlipayHK, Kakao Pay, Touch 'n Go eWallet, GCash and TrueMoney are among the most popular e-wallets used by travelers to Japan, while MPay, Naver Pay and Toss are seeing rapid growth in transactions; • Alipay+ has been working with over 40 local acquiring partners to connect and service merchants #Japan's sakura season is upon us and the country is again covered in a delicate shade of pink. Here are some of the best places to see the country's cherry blossom away from the city crowds. https://t.co/U3ZCnaUibc pic.twitter.com/wObAuj2S2g Wanderlust magazine (@wanderlustmag) March 27, 2024 As merchants in Japan gear up to receive cherry blossom tourists across from around the world, Ant International announced that its cross-border mobile payment solution Alipay+ has connected two million merchants across the country, enabling businesses, big or small, to better serve global visitors through a seamless payment experience with their home country e-wallets. There are 16 e-wallets and bank apps accepted in Japan via Alipay+, a suite of cross-border digital payment and digitalization technology solutions, namely Alipay (Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR China), MPay (Macao SAR China), South Korea's Kakao Pay, Naver Pay and Toss, Singapore's OCBC Digital, Changi Pay and EZ-Link, Malaysia's Touch 'n Go eWallet and MyPB by Public Bank Berhad, the Philippines' GCash and HelloMoney, TrueMoney (Thailand), Hipay (Mongolia), and Tinaba (Italy). Powered by Alipay+, transaction volume made by e-wallets and bank apps in Japan jumped over 200% in the first three weeks of March, compared with the same period in 2023. Transaction value is estimated to account for about 10% of total spending among users during their stay in the country, Douglas Feagin, President of Ant International, said during a press conference in Tokyo. Among all, Alipay, AlipayHK, Kakao Pay, Touch 'n Go eWallet, GCash and TrueMoney are among the most popular e-wallets used by travelers to Japan, while MPay, Naver Pay and Toss are seeing rapid growth in transactions. Mr. Feagin said, "We are grateful to our over 40 local acquiring partners in Japan, including both big institutions as well as small ones that only have several employees, for their tremendous support to promote a seamless, transparent and efficient experience together for local businesses and international travelers. "By working with these partners, Alipay+ provides global tourists with a seamless digital payment experience that is the same as in their own markets. Without any extra efforts, tourists can make purchases by simply scanning the QR code at merchants of all size, without worrying about foreign currency exchange or any language barriers." In Asakusa, a vibrant neighborhood and popular tourist destination with small souvenir shops and snack stalls, an increasing number of merchants are leveraging the simplicity of QR code to do businesses. PayPay, a leading cashless payment service and partner of Alipay+ in Japan, supports the merchants, facilitating seamless transactions for both locals and tourists alike. In Asakusa, the monthly cross-border mobile transaction volume is more than 5 times higher on average, reflecting the growing trend of cashless payments in the area. At Daimaru Matsuzakaya Department Stores, a flagship department store chain in Japan, ...

Drop 1: BlackRock and Securitize partner to launch regulated tokenized fundhttps://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/03/19/blackrock-creates-tokenized-asset-fund-sec-filing-shows/Drop 2: StanChar stablecoins for cross border paymentshttps://www.ledgerinsights.com/standard-chartered-zodia-markets-stablecoins-corporate-cross-border-payments/Drop 3: Alipay Loyalty on Avalanchehttps://www.ledgerinsights.com/alipay-trialing-web3-discount-program-with-avalanche-blockchain/ More: CoinLedger partners with Metamask to simplify tax reportinghttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coinledger-announces-partnership-with-metamask-to-simplify-tax-reporting-for-users-302090033.htmlPolymesh launches private permissioned implementation https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318946952/en/Polymesh-Association-unveils-Polymesh-Private-a-private-permissioned-blockchain-for-financial-institutions-embarking-on-tokenizationBitso Business Chosen By Chile's Andean Wide for Cross-Border Paymentshttps://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2024/03/222811-cross-border-payments-bitso-business-chosen-by-chiles-andean-wide/EU to ban anonymous crypto transactions through self custodial walletshttps://cointelegraph.com/news/eu-enacts-ban-on-anonymous-crypto-transactions-via-self-custody-wallets . Redes sociais / comunicação.. Instagram.com/blockdropspodcast.. Twitter.com/blockdropspod.. Blockdrops.lens .. https://warpcast.com/mauriciomagaldi.. youtube.com/@BlockDropsPodcast.. Meu conteúdo em inglês twitter.com/0xmauricio.. Newsletter do linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7056680685142454272.. blockdropspodcast@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blockdropspodcast/message

Drop 1: BlackRock and Securitize partner to launch regulated tokenized fundhttps://www.coindesk.com/policy/2024/03/19/blackrock-creates-tokenized-asset-fund-sec-filing-shows/Drop 2: StanChar stablecoins for cross border paymentshttps://www.ledgerinsights.com/standard-chartered-zodia-markets-stablecoins-corporate-cross-border-payments/Drop 3: Alipay Loyalty on Avalanchehttps://www.ledgerinsights.com/alipay-trialing-web3-discount-program-with-avalanche-blockchain/ More: CoinLedger partners with Metamask to simplify tax reportinghttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coinledger-announces-partnership-with-metamask-to-simplify-tax-reporting-for-users-302090033.htmlPolymesh launches private permissioned implementation https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240318946952/en/Polymesh-Association-unveils-Polymesh-Private-a-private-permissioned-blockchain-for-financial-institutions-embarking-on-tokenizationBitso Business Chosen By Chile's Andean Wide for Cross-Border Paymentshttps://www.crowdfundinsider.com/2024/03/222811-cross-border-payments-bitso-business-chosen-by-chiles-andean-wide/EU to ban anonymous crypto transactions through self custodial walletshttps://cointelegraph.com/news/eu-enacts-ban-on-anonymous-crypto-transactions-via-self-custody-wallets . Redes sociais / comunicação.. Instagram.com/blockdropspodcast.. Twitter.com/blockdropspod.. Blockdrops.lens .. https://warpcast.com/mauriciomagaldi.. youtube.com/@BlockDropsPodcast.. Meu conteúdo em inglês twitter.com/0xmauricio.. Newsletter do linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7056680685142454272.. blockdropspodcast@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/blockdropspodcast/message

The Ant International CEO, Yang Peng shared his thoughts on how digital technology and AI innovations can help tourism and trade internationally. Yang Peng, Ant International CEO recently shared these insights at 2024 the Japanese Fintech Festival. Yang Peng explains why cross-border mobile payments aids Japanese tourism Digital payments continue to grow, and Ant International aims to be at the forefront of delivering this service and making it as easy as possible for people to use this service in as many different locations as possible. The cross-border mobile payment and marketing solution of Ant International, now helps users of a total of 16 overseas e-wallets and bank apps to enjoy seamless payment at over 1.5 million local merchants across Japan. Number of transactions and total processing volume has grown significantly, especially from users of Kaokao Pay (South Korea), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), GCash (the Philippines), and Touch 'n Go eWallet (Malaysia). "Japan is the birthplace of the QR code and the mobile revolution," said Yang. "With mobile payment, international travelers are going farther and wider for more unique and immerse experience, spending money at smaller shops, many of whom simply do businesses with a QR code. The transaction volume is growing very fast." This service was first introduced in 2020. Now Alipay+ Cross-Border Mobile Payment Service connects over 88 million merchants in 57 countries and regions to 1.5 billion consumer accounts on over 25 e-wallets and banking apps, allowing consumers to travel and pay worry-free globally, and merchants to build out cross-border consumer engagement and digital marketing. The service builds on Alipay+'s extensive regional partnerships, including those with national QR schemes including Singapore's SGQR, Malaysia's PayNet, South Korea's ZeroPay, and Sri Lanka's LankaPay. Offering secure payment options in real time using AI for international trade With the rise of open-banking and other innovation initiatives, AI will increasingly become center of industry collaboration and product development. Ant International has been working closely with partners to apply AI technology into various areas, such as developing AI-driven FX services, customizing marketing solutions for global brands and enhancing risk management and fighting fraud in cross-border payments and FX operations. Building the talent pool for future digital economy in Asia Asia is a huge market for everyone, with huge population and economic potentials as well as the largest base for SMEs that are hunger for digital transformation, Yang noted. Beyond payment, Alipay+ works with partners to bring an expanding digital toolkit to SMEs. Over 5,000 micro businesses in Southeast Asia have adopted Alipay+ D-store, an all-in-one and cost-efficient ordering solution that aims to revolutionize the checkout experience and enable merchants to leap into digitalization and drive revenue growth. "The key to building a vibrant, sustainable future digital economy is a vibrant talent pool," said Yang. "Ant International has extensive partnerships with regional public and private sectors on training next-gen innovators with technology strength and cross-sector insights. We look forward to working with local partners in Japan to facilitate growth of young talents in the financial and digitalization sectors," Yang added. Ant International CEO Yang Peng shared the company's learnings and insights into the role of digital payment and AI innovation into driving international tourism and trade at the 2024 Japan Fintech Festival on Tuesday. About Ant International Headquartered in Singapore, Ant International powers the future of global commerce with digital innovation for everyone and every business to thrive. In close collaboration with partners, we support merchants of all sizes worldwide to realize their growth aspirations through a comprehensive range of tech-driven digital payment and financial services solution...

China announced on Friday that it will quintuple the transaction limit for foreigners' mobile payments as the country enhances efforts to address payment challenges faced by international visitors.3月1日，中国宣布，将把外国人移动支付的交易限额提高五倍，以此来加大力度解决国际游客面临的支付难题。Zhang Qingsong, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, said it will guide major payment institutions like Alipay to raise the single transaction limit of mobile payment for foreigners in China from $1,000 to $5,000 and lift the annual cumulative transaction limit from $10,000 to $50,000.中国人民银行副行长张庆松表示，将指导支付宝等主要支付机构将外国人在华移动支付单笔交易限额从1000美元提高到5000美元，并提高年度累计交易限额从10,000美元到50,000美元。Also to facilitate foreigners' mobile payments in China, Zhang said at a news conference on Friday that the central bank will support payment institutions to enable foreign users to more efficiently link their mobile payment accounts with foreign bank cards and streamline identity authentication procedures.张庆松在周五的新闻发布会上表示，为了便利外国人在中国的移动支付，央行将推动支付应用允许外国用户将移动支付账户与外国银行卡关联，并简化身份认证程序。The move comes as China intensifies efforts to tackle payment difficulties faced by some foreign visitors who rely on bank cards or cash for payment, whereas mobile payment prevails in China.当下移动支付盛行，中国正在加大力度解决部分外国游客因依赖银行卡或现金支付所面临的支付困难。The central bank has been addressing the issue by facilitating foreign visitors' bank card payments in large transactions, promoting their mobile payment via QR codes in small amounts, and guaranteeing cash payment as the last resort.央行一直在致力于这一问题的解决，为外国游客大额交易银行卡支付提供便利，推广二维码小额移动支付，并保障现金支付作为最后手段。Data from the central bank showed that nearly 4 million foreign visitors used mobile payment in China last year and made more than 70 million transactions with a total value of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion).央行的数据显示，去年有近400万外国游客在中国使用移动支付，并进行了超过7000万笔交易，总价值超过100亿元人民币。Zhang said a guideline, which was approved by the State Council, China's Cabinet, on Feb 23 and will be published soon, promotes the acceptance of foreign bank cards, guarantees the use of cash, improves mobile payment convenience and optimizes account services.张庆松表示，2月23日，中国国务院即将发布已批准的指导意见，推动境外银行卡受理，保障现金使用，提高移动支付便利性，优化账户服务。He added that the PBOC, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, will establish a cross-departmental collaboration mechanism to implement the guideline.他补充道，中国人民银行将会同国家发展改革委、交通运输部、商务部、文化和旅游部建立跨部门协作机制，落实好《意见》。Shi Zeyi, head of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's international exchange and cooperation bureau, said the country will continue to provide offline, manned ticketing services at tourist attractions and optimize foreign tourists' online and offline payment experiences.文化和旅游部国际交流合作局局长石泽一表示，国家将继续在旅游景区提供线下人工售票服务，优化外国游客线上线下支付体验。China's inbound tourism has recovered as the country saw 3.23 million inbound travelers during this year's Spring Festival holiday, the ministry's data showed.旅游部数据显示，今年春节期间，中国入境旅游已恢复至323万人次。Liu Chunsheng, an associate professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics, said China's efforts to make mobile payment services more convenient will improve foreigners' experiences here as mobile payment has become a "daily necessity" in many cases. "This is also a sign that China is devoted to opening its market wider after the COVID-19 pandemic, providing the world with more business opportunities," Liu said.中央财经大学副教授刘春生表示，移动支付在很多情况下已成为日常生活必需品，中国所做的努力将改善外国人在中国的体验。不难看出，新冠疫情以后，中国一直致力于扩大市场开放，为世界提供更多商机。The tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference, held in December, stressed the need to make it easy for foreigners to do business, study and travel in China.12月召开的中央经济工作会议强调，要为外国人来华经商、留学、旅游提供便利。quintuple 英/kwɪnˈtjuː.pəl/ 美/kwɪnˈtuː.pəl/v. 是原来的五倍inbound travelers入境旅游者

The Chinese company Alipay continue to evolve and expand their AI features during one of the busiest times of the year in the Chinese calendar. They continued their annual Five Fortune Chinese New Year campaign. Which, this year ran from the 29th of January through to the 9th of February. This time there were five digital Fortune cards to be colleted. The Alipay app offerd 4 AI-powered experiences for the this New Year's campaign. These were AI Red Packets, Theatre," Fortune Hunt, and Photo Studio. For those using these options they were able to then make the fortune cards generate a video or image, among other functions. Alipay AI launches for Five Fortune Chinese New Year AI Theatre allows users to play as key characters in iconic scenes from classic films In the "AI Theatre," users can upload a photo and take on the role of key characters in iconic classic film scenes, such as works by the comedic genius Stephen Chow. As of February 8th, this feature has been used to generate 2.3 million personalized clips, allowing users to take center stage in their own cinematic moments. AI Fortune Hunt challenge is the most popular means of collecting fortune cards in 2024 The "AI Fortune Hunt" challenge is the most popular means of collecting fortune cards this year. It invites users to decipher over 100,000 images generated by AI, each with the Chinese character "Fu" (Fortune) hidden inside. As of February 8th, users have discovered over 2.9 billion AI-generated "Fu" characters. For a glimpse of the AI Fortune Hunt feature, check out Alipay's TikTok video here. AI Photo Studio brings friends and family together with 16 customizable photo templates The "AI Photo Studio" feature transcends physical barriers by bringing friends and family together in shared moments through AI-generated group photos with 16 customizable photo templates. Using the AI Red Packets feature, users create digital red packets with video covers featuring their own avatars Furthermore, the "AI Red Packets" feature offers users a fun way of sharing best wishes for the new year by utilizing AI voice and video synthesis technology to help users create personalized digital red packets with video covers featuring their own avatars. Launched in 2016, Alipay's Five Fortune campaign quickly became a popular part of people's lives in China during the Chinese New Year holiday period. During the Five Fortune campaign, users can collect digital fortune cards through various means, such as scanning the Chinese character "Fu" through the Alipay app's AR scan function, participating in merchant sub-campaigns, and so on. These cards, which represent good wishes, can be converted into monetary rewards. About Alipay In the digital era, Alipay has evolved from a trusted payment tool to an open platform that connects businesses, institutions, service providers, and other partners with consumers. Alipay enables partners from various industries to offer safe and convenient payment options. It also enables partners to communicate and deliver different digital services to their customers in China through Alipay mini programs, lifestyle accounts and other tools. The Alipay platform connects over 80 million businesses with more than one billion consumers. See more breaking stories here.

Lex chats with Rachel Lin, the Co-Founder & CEO of SynFutures, a decentralized derivatives trading platform. Lin discusses her background in traditional finance and her transition into the fintech and cryptocurrency industry. She explains her experience working in structured derivative sales and trading at Deutsche Bank, where she interacted with clients such as hedge funds and corporates who used derivatives for speculative purposes, hedging, and arbitrage. Lin then moved to fintech company Alipay, where she learned about blockchain technology and became interested in the potential of decentralized finance. She later joined Matrixport, a centralized platform, before starting her own decentralized derivatives platform, SynFutures. Lin explains that decentralized platforms offer transparency and the ability for anyone to become a market maker or service provider, while centralized platforms require more configuration and rely on market makers. She also discusses the growth potential of decentralized derivatives and the current dominance of speculation in the crypto derivatives market. Lin believes that as digital economies grow, the usage of blockchain and derivatives for economic purposes will also increase.  MENTIONED IN THE CONVERSATION SynFuture's Website: https://bit.ly/3OCDRaa Topics: crypto, digital assets,  investment, blockchain, AMM, DeFi, CeFi, Liquidity, hedging, arbitrage, derivatives, perps, synthetic Companies: Synfutures, Alipay, Matrixport, DYDX, GMX, Synthetix, Deutsche Bank, Uniswap ABOUT THE FINTECH BLUEPRINT 

The Chinese company Alipay+, who specialise in cross-border mobile payments through their digital platform, have just declared a December campaign to promote sustainable cross-border travel. There are a number of opportunities offered to users of five leading e-wallets in Asia, including Alipay (the Chinese mainland), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR, China), Touch 'n Go eWallet by TNG Digital (Malaysia), GCash (the Philippines), and TrueMoney (Thailand). This is the latest offering from Alipay+, who are a spin out from Ant International. Alipay+ and Partner E-Wallets aim for Sustainable Travel This current campaign, runs until December 31. It is first offered for the following locations Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. Participants can access many special offers from a range of companies including ComfortDelGro Taxi, Daimaru Matsuzakaya, Galaxy Macau, King Power, and Lotte Duty Free. There are also other smaller companies such as Durian BB in Malaysia and IJOOZ in Singapore. Promoting sustainable and responsible tourism Ant International and Alipay+ are hoping to deliver an ESG program closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This program has special offers to encourage sustainable travel behaviour. Free overseas mobile data packages, in-app discounts, opportunities for rebates. Digital payments are rewarded over cash, public transport, and visiting diverse locations to support local cultures. Overall 220 leading merchants in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong province joined the campaign to attract AlipayHK and mPay users with various discount packages. This year alone more than 3 million merchants in China, closed their first international transactions on Alipay+. "Our year-end campaign is not just about travel; it's about making a positive impact. By collaborating with partners who share our commitment to sustainability, we are offering travelers the chance to explore the world responsibly." Dr Cherry Huang, General Manager of Alipay+ Offline Merchant Services, Ant International Digital payment increases international tourism revenue to local SMEs. In 2023, while Alipay expanded cooperation with major international card organizations to facilitate foreign cardholders visiting China, Alipay+ brought 10 Asian e-wallets and banking apps into the Chinese mainland to serve their travelling users, a landmark in international expansion of these leading payment methods. To monitor the ESG impact of the campaign, Alipay+ will collaborate with the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and an advisory group consisting of experts from Tsinghua University, Hong Kong University, University of Geneva University and the Northwestern University to measure travelers' carbon footprint reduction, the impact on local businesses, culture and communities, as well as the impact on business best practices in the ecosystem. Bruce Zhang, CEO of IJOOZ, a juice vending machine provider in Singapore said, "Every year, IJOOZ generates huge amounts of orange pulps and peels. We recycle orange waste, turning them into valuable resources for making new products. We are happy to join hands with Alipay+ to promote sustainable travel among global tourists visiting Singapore." Alipay+ in 2023: A Year of Expanded Growth and Partnerships Since its launch in 2020, Alipay+, a suite of cross-border payment and marketing solutions, has expanded to connect over 88 million merchants in 57 markets to 1.5 billion payment accounts of over 25 digital wallets, banking apps and Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) apps. In the second half of 2023, Alipay+ recorded an estimated 30% increase in total payment volume (TPV) compared to the first six months, and over 70% increase in daily average transactions (DAT). Excluding Alipay, the TPV and DAT of cross-border payments of the rest of Alipay+ partner wallets increased by some 280% and 230% respectively in the second half of 2023. In terms of transaction volume in 2023, Al...

Lead photo details, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Ireland's Minister of State at the Department of Finance (six from left), Douglas L. Feagin, Senior Vice President of Ant Group and Head of Alipay+ (fifth from left), and Leiming Chen, Chief Sustainability Officer of Ant International (fourth from left) at Ant Group booth, Singapore Fintech Festival, November 15. Accelerating growth and expanding partnerships across cross-border mobile payment, global merchant payment, cross-border SME digital payment and financial services, and digital banking services Ant International, a digital payment and financial services leader dedicated to building an inclusive and sustainable global commerce ecosystem, today unveils its strategy in digital payment and digital commerce for global merchants at its flagship Voyage Conference, from its headquarters in Singapore. Ant International to scale up Payment and Digitalisation Technologies "Despite the uncertainties in the global economy, trends like evolving financial infrastructure, accelerating digitalization and swift advances on the tech frontier present unprecedented opportunities for merchants all around the world seeking to achieve new growth, especially for small businesses who aspire to overcome the digital divide," said Yang Peng, President of Ant International. "Travel, trade, technology and talent are the cornerstones of global inclusion and prosperity," said Yang. "We will accelerate innovations in digital payment and digital commerce to link up these areas of global collaboration." Digital Payment and Digital Commerce Solutions across 4 Pillars To realize the 4T vision and provide support to merchants, particularly in helping SMEs achieve their growth goals, Ant International has established a robust global compliance and service structure over the years. Additionally, it boasts an extensive coverage worldwide, especially in Asia, deep expertise in digitalization, and a continuously expanding repertoire of cutting-edge technologies. The Company now focuses on 4 areas of innovations: 1.Alipay+ Cross-Border Mobile Payment Service connects over 88 million merchants to 1.5 billion consumer accounts on over 25 e-wallets and banking apps in 57 countries and regions, allowing consumers to travel and pay worry-free across borders, and merchants to build out cross-border consumer engagement and digital marketing. The service builds on Alipay+'s extensive regional partnerships, including those with national QR schemes such as Singapore's SGQR, Malaysia's PayNet, South Korea's ZeroPay, and Sri Lanka's LankaPay. "Alipay+ focuses on bridging various payment methods and promoting mobile interoperability across Asia and beyond. Its aim is to enable people to travel and live worry-free, while offering businesses, both large and small, new digital avenues for growth," said Douglas L. Feagin, Senior Vice President of Ant Group and Head of Alipay+. 2.Antom Merchant Payment Services help global merchants to engage digitally with consumers in Asia and beyond. "With our AI-driven payment and digital marketing engine, we offer our merchants the broadest consumer reach in Asia and globally, and help them collect payments and grow revenue." according to Gary Liu, Head of Merchant Payment Services at Ant International. 3.WorldFirst digital payment and financial services for cross-border trade SMEs has served over 1 million SMEs to grow internationally with its World Account, by connecting small traders to over 120 global marketplaces and conduct secure and fast payment transactions in over 40 currencies. "Today's cross-border trade is led by young entrepreneurs who are digital natives with global ambitions," said Clara Shi, CEO of WorldFirst. "With World Account, we aim to help them acquire next-gen CFO capabilities to sell, manage and grow across marketplaces and regions." Building on its success in China and Singapore, Shi said, WorldFirst plans to expand its SME e-commerce digital finance solutions across...

"Vivian Chang's Bitcoin Journey: A Quest for the Human Side"Introduction:Vivian Chang's journey into the world of Bitcoin, from her roots in Beijing to her current home in Canada. Join us as we follow Vivian's path through key insights and moments in her Bitcoin adventure.1. Early Beginnings in China:Born and raised in Beijing, Vivian witnessed the transition from cash to digital payments like WeChat and Alipay.2. The Debt Dilemma:Digital payments brought challenges, notably easy access to loans and many young individuals found themselves trapped in debt, highlighting the complexities of the digital financial landscape.3. Embracing Bitcoin:In 2021, Vivian delved into Bitcoin despite initial technical hurdles and realized that Bitcoin's true power lay in its human side, offering hope and autonomy.4. Bitcoin as a Beacon of Hope:Vivian noticed that Bitcoin brought hope, especially to those in emerging markets plagued by high inflation.It offered individuals the chance to lead more meaningful lives and act on their beliefs.5. Bridging the Gender Gap:Recognizing the gender imbalance in the Bitcoin community, Vivian aims to become a great moderator.Her goal is to ask insightful questions and make the community more inclusive for all.Contact Vivian: @btcvivhttps://www.youtube.com/@LifewithBitcoinhttps://www.wavlake.comwyb.soTo learn more about Bitcoin: Join the Orange Hatter Women's Reading Club. Visit https://www.meetup.com/womensbitcoinreadingclubwithorangehatterPlease email questions/comments to tali@orangehatter.comHODL UP is available at www.freemarketkids.com.Remember: Knowledge is empowerment!

In this episode of Digital Transformation & Leadership Danny Levy talks to Zennon Kapron the Director of Kapronasia, one of Asia's leading financial technology research and consulting firms. Prior to Kapronasia, Zennon was the Asia Pacific Financial Industry Manager and Global Banking Industry Manager for Intel. At Intel, he helped position and sell Intel-based architecture to financial services firms globally. Before Intel, Zennon worked at Citi at a number of different technology management roles culminating in his role as CIO for Citigroup Portugal. Zennon is a recognised thought leader on fintech in Asia and a regular speaker at financial conferences and shows globally including: Money 20/20, TradeTech, Sibos, SIFMA, Innovate Finance, Future of Fintech in Asia, APFIC and many others. He has testified in front of the U.S. Congress on matters of China Fintech and is regularly quoted in the press and television appearances including CNBC, Bloomberg, The Economist, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times to name a few. Zennon is the author of 'Chomping at the Bitcoin: The Past, Present and Future of Bitcoin in China' published by Penguin as well as countless reports and commentaries on the state of financial technology in Asia. He is also a Top Voice on LinkedIn in Asian finance talking about fintech, payments, digital banking, DeFi, CBDCs. In the episode Zennon shares insights on: The surge in digital payments in Asia and how this is playing out across the entire region. How for more than a decade, the Asian tech ecosystem has been dominated by “super-apps:” platforms such as WeChat, Alipay, and Meituan that offer an enormous network of services all in one integrated app. Something Elon Musk has recently labeled an ‘everything app'. Zennon shares what constitutes a super app. And if are all platforms that are regarded as a super-apps are worthy of the title. If BNPL in Asia will replace traditional credit cards. Government led domestic card networks replacing Mastercard and Visa. A commonly held belief around digital banks in Asia that Zennon passionately disagrees with. Zennon's counter-intuitive, half-crazy prediction about the next five years for the Asian payments industry. To get in touch with Zennon get in touch via LinkedIn here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zennon/ To check out Kapron Asia go to - https://www.kapronasia.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/danny-levy/message

Tech giant Ant Group is one of several companies facing massive fines imposed by the Chinese government. Ant offers loans, credit, investments and insurance to hundreds of millions of customers and small businesses, and is part of the empire of founder Jack Ma. Plus: the end of an era, as Ford stops production of its iconic Fiesta model. Roger Hearing is joined by Toronto based tech journalist Takara Small, and Colin Peacock, host of Mediawatch on Radio New Zealand. Picture: Logos of Alipay and Ant Group (credit CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

One of China's biggest tech firms, the company that runs the mobile payment service Alipay has been hit with a massive fine of almost a billion dollars. But many believe this could this mark the end of a long government crackdown which led to Ant Group and Alibaba founder Jack Ma stepping down. Also tonight, Roger Hearing finds out why Ford is retiring its iconic Fiesta brand. Picture: the Alipay logo at the 2023 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China, credit CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Do you ever wonder why language learning materials are filled with dialogues? In this episode, John and Jared discuss the benefits of dialogues in language learning, such as authentic spoken language, contextual learning, and natural listening comprehension material including possible drawbacks such as outdated or contrived content. Guest interview is with Bohan Phoenix, a Chinese-American hip hop artist who adds a unique perspective on bridging cultures through music. Bohan shares his experiences growing up in China and the United States, pursuing music, and incorporating his Chinese culture into his work.Links from the episode:Bohan PhoenixThe Monkey's Paw | Mandarin Companion Level 1 graded reader Language learning has nothing to do with smarts | TED Radio HourThe usefulness of dialogues [00:02:05]John and Jared discuss the benefits of dialogues in language learning, such as providing authentic spoken language, contextual learning, natural listening comprehension material, speaking practice, vocabulary expansion, and grammar learning.Potential drawbacks of dialogues [00:07:41]John and Jared mention the potential drawbacks of dialogues, such as outdated or contrived content and cramming too much vocabulary or grammar into a single dialogue.Expanding vocabulary and learning grammar [00:08:29]John and Jared explain how dialogues can help learners expand their vocabulary and learn grammar in a natural context.Benefits of Dialogues [00:10:08-00:12:08]Dialogues provide authentic spoken language, contextual learning, natural listening comprehension material, speaking practice, vocabulary expansion, grammar learning, cultural insight, and engagement.Using Dialogues in Stories [00:13:12-00:13:55]Dialogues can be used in stories to break up longer paragraphs of text, provide a break for the reader, and keep the story interesting.Shared Bikes in Shanghai [00:19:04-00:19:40]Shared bikes are here to stay in Shanghai, with the blue Hello bikes and yellow Made Twin bikes being the most popular. They are super convenient and can be unlocked with both Alipay and WeChat apps.Mobike Memories [00:20:21]Jared and John reminisce about the evolution of bike-sharing services in China.Enjoying Language Learning [00:22:22]Jared discusses an article about the importance of enjoying language learning and how it can lead to success.Bohan Phoenix Interview [00:24:20]An interview with Bohan Phoenix, a bilingual and bicultural hip hop artist, about his humble beginnings in China and his journey to becoming a successful musician in the US.Moving to the US [00:30:43]Bohan Phoenix talks about his move to the US from China at 11 years old, his struggles with culture shock, and his experiences in school.Rap music and confidence [00:37:44]Bohan Phoenix discusses how he discovered rap music and how it helped him gain confidence and find his identity in a new country.Supportive mother [00:39:42]Bohan Phoenix talks about his mother's supportive attitude towards his exploration of music and identity, and how it helped him gain confidence.Bohan's music journey [00:40:42]Bohan Phoenix talks about his journey into music, from leaving voicemails with raps to performing in high school and eventually pursuing music full-time.Embracing two cultures [00:44:06]Bohan discusses his journey of embracing his Chinese culture and incorporating it into his music, as well as his experiences of being a "perpetual foreigner" in America.Approach to bilingual songwriting [00:47:53]Bohan talks about his approach to mixing English and Chinese in his music, from starting with just a few lines to experimenting with different rhythms and eventually dialing it back to convey his ideas more effectively.Cross-Cultural Misunderstandings [00:50:42]Bohan Phoenix shares his experiences with cross-cultural misunderstandings between China and the US.Personal Relationships in Music [00:56:25]Bohan Phoenix talks about how his personal relationships, particularly with his mother, influence his music.Teaching English through Chinese Sonics [00:59:38]Bohan Phoenix shares his experience teaching English to his bandmates in China by writing Chinese sonics next to English words.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

马云是国内外家喻户晓的名字。他的淘宝网，支付宝这样的公司更是改变了中国人的生活方式。他的故事也是无人不知：小时候长得不好看，数学成绩不好，年轻的时候做英文老师... … 1995年的一次机会，让他看见了互联网的未来。他打算把互联网带到中国，这个有12亿人口的国家。马云前几年到处公开演讲，而今天却很少露面，这又是为什么？ Jack Ma is a household name in China and abroad. His companies, like Taobao (Alibaba) and Alipay have changed how Chinese people live. His story is known by all: being not good looking as a boy, failing math exams, and later becoming an English teacher… … An opportunity in 1995 gave him a glimpse of the future of the Internet. He decided to bring the Internet to China, a country with a population of 1.2 billion. For many years he gave speeches in the public wherever he went. However, today he rarely appears. What is the reason behind this? ◉ 一个关于马云的小视频 ◉ Read transcript of this episode ◉ Become a member on Patreon ◉ Quizlet flashcards ◉  Find us on YouTube ◉ We are on LinkedIn ◉ Find a Chinese teacher on italki and receive $10