8:00 AM, 36Kr Flash News | Starting from January 1st next year, it will be illegal to send pornographic messages to friends. Multiple platforms have responded to the rumor about the unblocking of Chen Zhen's account. Japan's largest nuclear power plant, which was shut down due to the Fukushima nuclear accident, is going to restart.
Today's Hotspot Guide
- Kuaishou: Attacked by cybercriminals, has reported the case to the police
- The last oil price adjustment of this year
- Geely Auto announces the completion of Zeekr's privatization
- Italian regulator fines Apple over hundreds of millions of dollars
- Porsche to shut down all self - built charging stations
- Sam's Club responds to the automatic beautification of review photos on its APP
Top 3 Big News
It will be illegal to send pornographic messages to friends starting from January 1st next year
Starting from January 1st, 2026, the newly revised "Law of the People's Republic of China on Penalties for Administration of Public Security" (hereinafter referred to as the "Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security") will officially come into force. Among them, Article 80 clearly refines the penalty provisions for the dissemination of pornographic information and increases the penalty for such acts.
In the past, there was a cognitive misunderstanding among the public that "the private dissemination of pornographic information is only a moral issue." The new regulations clearly correct this perception. Article 80 of the new "Law on Penalties for Administration of Public Security" clearly includes "using information networks, telephones, and other communication tools to disseminate pornographic information" in the scope of public security penalties. Whether the dissemination occurs in a public WeChat group or a private chat, as long as the evidence is conclusive, the offender can be detained for not less than 10 days but not more than 15 days and may also be fined not more than 5,000 yuan; if the circumstances are relatively minor, the offender will also face detention of not more than 5 days or a fine of not less than 1,000 yuan but not more than 3,000 yuan.
It is worth noting that even if one sends indecent photos or videos in a private chat, once reported and verified, legal sanctions will be imposed. (Southern Daily)
Some platform accounts of online car reviewer Chen Zhen unblocked? Weibo, Bilibili, and Xiaohongshu issued statements to refute the rumor
On December 22nd, in response to the rumor that some platform accounts of online car reviewer Chen Zhen had been unblocked, the official account of Weibo Community Observer, Weibo Hero, issued a statement to refute the rumor: After verification, the Weibo secondary account has not been unblocked. Paying taxes in accordance with the law is the obligation and responsibility of every taxpayer. The Weibo platform fulfills its main responsibility as a platform and has taken measures against "Student Chen Zhen" and "Classmate of Student Chen Zhen" in accordance with relevant regulations. Therefore, his Weibo secondary account is still in the suspension period and has not been unblocked. On the same day, Bilibili and Xiaohongshu also provided explanations regarding the blocking status of Chen Zhen's accounts. The official account of the Bilibili community released "Bilibili's Explanation on the Blocking of the Account 'Radish Student Chen Zhen'", stating that the account "Radish Student Chen Zhen" is still in the blocking period. Xiaohongshu stated in its statement that accounts such as "Student Chen Zhen" have always been in the suspension state, and the relevant functional restrictions are strictly implemented in accordance with laws, regulations, and platform rules. (Jiemian News)
Japan's largest nuclear power plant to restart after being shut down due to the Fukushima nuclear accident
On December 22, the Niigata Prefectural Assembly in Japan passed a vote of confidence in Niigata Governor Hanae Tsuneyoshi amid protests, effectively approving the restart of Japan's largest nuclear power plant - the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. A month ago, Hanae Tsuneyoshi announced that "on the premise of meeting specific conditions, he agreed to restart Units 6 and 7 of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant", and immediately requested the prefectural assembly to conduct a vote of confidence on whether he "should continue to serve as the prefectural governor". This will be the first restart of a nuclear power plant under Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011. TEPCO is considering restarting a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant on January 20 next year. (CCTV World News)
Big Companies/Big Events
Kuaishou: Attacked by Cybercriminals, Police Reported
At around 22:00 on December 22nd, the Kuaishou platform was attacked by cybercriminals and is currently under emergency repair. Kuaishou responded to a reporter from Shanghai Securities News, stating that the platform firmly opposes illegal content. The relevant situation has been reported to the relevant authorities, and the police have been notified. (Shanghai Securities News)
Weight-loss version of semaglutide approved for cardiovascular indication
On December 22, the marketing application for the cardiovascular indication of the weight-loss version of semaglutide injection (trade name: Wegovy) was approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China. It is indicated for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adult patients with a confirmed cardiovascular disease and a body mass index (BMI) of ≥27 kg/m², becoming the first GLP-1-based weight-loss drug approved for cardiovascular indication in China. (Yicai Global)
The last price adjustment this year: You can save $6.5 by filling up a tank of gas
At 24:00 on December 22, the domestic refined oil price adjustment window opened. Affected by the decline in international oil prices, domestic gasoline and diesel prices will be reduced. Starting from 24:00 on December 22, domestic gasoline and diesel prices will be reduced by 170 yuan and 165 yuan per ton respectively. On average across the country, the price of No. 92 gasoline will be reduced by 0.13 yuan per liter, the price of No. 95 gasoline will be reduced by 0.14 yuan per liter, and the price of No. 0 diesel will be reduced by 0.14 yuan per liter. You can save $6.5 by filling up a 50-liter tank with No. 92 gasoline. (CCTV Finance)
Lu Weibing Confirms Price Hike for Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Says Pricing Pressure Is Extremely High
Lu Weibing, the President of Xiaomi Group, clearly stated in a recent live interactive event that the price of the new-generation flagship model, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, will be increased. When talking about the impact of the soaring memory prices on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Lu Weibing said, "This is a problem that has been giving me a headache lately." He mentioned that in the past three years, AI has experienced explosive growth, causing a lot of production capacity to be used for HPC (High-Performance Computing). In the past, mobile phones were the main demanders in the entire memory market, but now the demand for high-performance computing power has exceeded that of mobile phones. "There has actually been no new production capacity in recent years, and it may not start producing until the end of 2027." (Sina Finance)
Geely Auto Announces Completion of ZEEKR Privatization
36Kr learned that Geely Auto announced the completion of ZEEKR's privatization. All the pre - conditions for the transactions (including the privatization and merger) under the merger agreement have been met, and the relevant transactions were completed on December 22, 2025. In accordance with the privatization arrangement, the Company has acquired all the issued and outstanding ZEEKR shares and ZEEKR American Depositary Shares. Under the merger, the merger subsidiary has merged with ZEEKR, and ZEEKR continues to operate as the surviving entity. As a result, ZEEKR has been privatized and become a wholly - owned subsidiary of the Company and delisted from the New York Stock Exchange.
Italian Regulator Fines Apple Over $100 Million
On December 22, Italy's antitrust regulator said it has fined Apple and two of its subsidiaries 98.6 million euros (about $115.53 million) for allegedly abusing their market dominance and having a leading position in the distribution of iOS mobile apps. (Yicai Global)
Porsche to Shut Down All Self-Built Charging Stations, Approximately 200 in Total
On December 12th, Porsche China confirmed that the company's self-built charging network will gradually cease operations starting from March 1st, 2026, with a total of approximately 200 charging stations. A "User Notice on the Cessation of Porsche Premium Charging" obtained by reporters shows that the Porsche Premium Charging service (including all high-power DC charging stations self-built by Porsche) will stop being provided and will be gradually removed from the charging maps of the Porsche App and the Porsche WeChat Mini Program. Porsche China stated that starting from March 1st, 2026, Porsche will orderly dismantle the premium charging service facilities. Thereafter, Porsche will shift towards in-depth cooperation with leading charging operators in the industry. (Yicai Global)
Sam's Response to the Automatic Beauty Filter on APP Review Photos
On December 22nd, in Guangdong, netizens posted videos on social platforms to complain, which sparked a heated discussion: When opening the Sam's App to view the product review section, after clicking on the real - shot pictures uploaded by users, the saturation would automatically increase, showing an obvious difference from the original pictures before clicking. Netizens bluntly said, "Sam's has learned to cheat." To rule out the interference of mobile phone color optimization, Midu Finance conducted actual tests on multiple devices and found that there were indeed relatively prominent color difference problems in the review pictures of products such as "crab roe noodles". After calling Sam's customer service, the staff responded that they had received a large number of relevant feedbacks from netizens. The picture adjustment of the App this time is a test function launched in August this year, which is part of a long - term testing and optimization process. They will continue to improve it in the future to display the real appearance of the products. (Midu Finance)
After a seven-year hiatus, Luo Yonghao restarts the "Tech Gala", and all tickets are sold out within two hours of sale, with the highest ticket price reaching 1,000 yuan
After a seven-year break, Luo Yonghao's annual "Tech Gala" is making a comeback. The tickets for this event are divided into six price tiers: 300 yuan, 400 yuan, 500 yuan, 600 yuan, 800 yuan, and 1,000 yuan. The service instructions state that ticket refunds are not supported, tickets are sold and entry is based on real-name registration, and seat selection is not available. The tickets were snapped up soon after they went on sale. A reporter checked the ticketing platform and found that just a few minutes after the tickets were released, the lower-priced tickets such as those at 300 yuan and 400 yuan were already marked as "out of stock, registration available". Approximately two hours after the tickets went on sale, all tickets at all price levels were sold out, and the platform showed a "no tickets available" status. (Blue Whale News)
China's First Open Robot Rental Platform "Qingtianzu" Launched in Shanghai
On December 22nd, China's first open robot rental platform "Qingtianzu" was launched in Shanghai. It is understood that the platform currently covers 50 core cities across the country and has over 600 service providers. It offers robot rental services for multiple brands and various models, with rental prices ranging from 200 yuan to over 10,000 yuan. It is estimated that by 2026, the platform's rental services will cover over 200 cities across the country, and users can place orders directly through mini-programs, online malls and other channels. China's first open robot rental platform marks the transformation of robot rental services from a fragmented state to an ecological one, converting high - threshold robot usage scenarios into a convenient rental model similar to shared power banks. (CCTV Finance)
The Xiaomi channel version of NetEase's mobile game "Egg Party" will cease operation in February next year
36Kr learned that NetEase's mobile game "Egg Party" announced that due to the adjustment of the cooperative operation strategy with the Xiaomi channel, the Xiaomi channel version of the mobile game "Egg Party" will cease operation on the Xiaomi platform at 15:00 on February 23, 2026, and the service for retrieving character assets has been launched simultaneously.
Deng Taihua of ZHIYUAN ROBOTICS: This year's sales revenue is expected to exceed 1 billion yuan
On December 22nd, at the National Robot Leasing Ecosystem Summit and the Launch Ceremony of the Qingtian Rent Platform, Deng Taihua, the founder, chairman, and CEO of ZHIYUAN ROBOTICS, revealed that the company is expected to ship 5,000 robots this year, and its sales revenue is expected to exceed 1 billion yuan. Starting from next year, the robot shipment volume and sales revenue are also expected to maintain several - fold growth each year. In his view, the market space for embodied intelligence is expected to exceed the number of mobile phones and then be multiplied by the price of a single unit. In the future, it will become the largest single product in the industrial products field. (Securities Times)
BYD Responds to "Pay Raise for R & D Staff": The Situation Is True
In response to the rumor about "pay raise for BYD's R & D staff", BYD replied on December 22 that "the situation is true". However, BYD did not comment on the details in the rumor such as "most employees getting a pay raise of 500 - 1000 yuan and a small number getting a raise of 2000 - 3000 yuan". It is understood that in 2024, BYD issued a notice to conduct salary increases, promotions, and bonus distributions based on employees' work performance and performance. The company has set up two salary adjustment opportunities and one promotion opportunity each year to ensure that employees' efforts can be rewarded in a timely and fair manner. (Cailian Press)
Guo Degang Responds to the Complaint for the First Time
On December 21st, Guo Degang talked about the controversy of his cross - talk being complained about at an event. He said it was all a misunderstanding and had no impact on him. He also said, "Bad guys are leading the muddled to attack good people." He added that he had a clear conscience as he had been performing cross - talk earnestly.
According to previous reports, on the evening of December 7th, the news that cross - talk actor Guo Degang "was summoned for a talk" spread rapidly on the Internet. Reporters noticed that an article mentioned that "the Cultural and Tourism Bureau of Xicheng District, Beijing officially summoned Deyun Society on December 5th, 2025, and determined that the cross - talk 'The More Skillful, the More Timid' performed by Guo Degang and Yu Qian at the Beizhan Theatre contained vulgar content and inappropriate implications about state - owned theater troupes, and required immediate rectification."
The Ai Qicha App shows that Guo Degang is associated with 9 enterprises, covering the fields of film, television and media. Six of them are in operation, including Beijing Deyun Society Film and Television Production Co., Ltd., Beijing Deyun Society Qilin Theatre Troupe Co., Ltd., and Deyun Society (Tianjin) Co., Ltd. In the above - mentioned operating enterprises, Guo Degang serves as the legal representative, supervisor and shareholder. (China Newsweek)
Reports say Samsung is developing a wide-foldable phone
According to ETNews, Samsung is expected to launch a wide-foldable phone next year, aiming to compete head-on with Apple's first foldable-screen phone, the iPhone Fold. Industry insiders say that Samsung's wide-foldable phone is expected to be equipped with a 7.6-inch inner screen and a 5.4-inch outer screen, both made of OLED material, and the aspect ratio after unfolding will be 4:3. (Cailian Press)
Report: OpenAI's Calculated Profit Margin for Paid Products Increased This Year
According to reports, while OpenAI is striving to maintain its leading position in the field of artificial intelligence, the profit margin of its paid products has increased this year. It is reported that OpenAI has improved its "calculated profit margin", an internal indicator that represents the proportion of revenue after deducting the costs of running models for paying users of its enterprise and consumer products. The report cited a person familiar with the matter as saying that as of October, OpenAI's calculated profit margin reached 70%, up from 52% at the end of 2024 and twice as high as in January 2024. A spokesperson for OpenAI said that the company does not disclose these figures and declined to comment further. (Sina Finance)
Japan to Impose New Taxes on Electric Vehicles: The Heavier the Vehicle, the Higher the Tax
Recently, it was found from the "Proposed Tax System Reforms for the 8th Year of Reiwa" published on the official website of Japan's Ministry of Finance that the tax burden related to the weight of electric vehicles will be included in Japan's "Greening of Vehicle Taxation" reform. In May 2028, Japan will impose a new tax on privately - purchased electric vehicles (including electric cars and plug - in hybrid vehicles), adopting a stepped mechanism where "the heavier the vehicle, the higher the tax". It is understood that Japan's move aims to make up for the shortfall in fuel tax caused by the popularization of electric vehicles and to let heavy - duty electric vehicles, which place a greater burden on roads, share the road maintenance costs. The relevant detailed rules will be included in the tax system reform outline for the fiscal year 2026. (Yicai Global)
Civil Aviation Administration Releases Two Mandatory National Standards for Drones
Recently, the "Requirements for Real - name Registration and Activation of Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles" and the "Operating Identification Specifications for Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems" compiled by the Civil Aviation Administration of China have been approved and released by the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration). These two mandatory national standards will be officially implemented on May 1, 2026, promoting the industry to develop in a safer, healthier, and more orderly manner. (Jiemian News)
The Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China Decides to Implement a Pilot Reform on the Style and Application Requirements of CCC Marks for Products Such as Power Banks
The Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China decides to implement a pilot reform on the style and application requirements of CCC marks for products such as power banks, including mobile power sources (power banks), electric bicycles and their safety accessories, gas-burning appliances and their safety accessories within the scope of the compulsory product certification catalog. Starting from March 1, 2026, products in the pilot product fields that newly obtain CCC certification certificates shall be marked with the CCC traceability QR code in accordance with the requirements of this announcement before they can be manufactured, sold, imported or used in other business activities. Starting from March 1, 2027, all certified products corresponding to the pilot product fields shall be marked with the CCC traceability QR code in accordance with the requirements of this announcement before they can be manufactured, sold, imported or used in other business activities. For certified products in the pilot fields that have been marked with the CCC mark in accordance with the current requirements and have been manufactured, sold, imported or used in other business activities before March 1, 2027, there is no requirement for mark change. (Jiemian News)
Mercedes-Benz Reaches $120 Million Settlement with Multiple U.S. States over Emissions Scandal
Mercedes-Benz said on Monday that it will pay $120 million in settlement funds to multiple U.S. states to resolve cases related to the installation of emissions-cheating software in its vehicles. The German automaker said that this move will resolve the remaining legal lawsuits in the United States related to the "Dieselgate" issue. (Sina Finance)
Did Xiaomi Give Car Dealers a "Red Envelope" Worth Over 100 Million Yuan? Official Response: Only for "Car-Integrated Stores"
Recently, there were reports that Xiaomi provided subsidies to car dealers, with the total amount distributed across national stores exceeding 100 million yuan. "There is indeed such a policy, which is only applicable to 'car-integrated stores,'" a relevant staff member of Xiaomi Group said on December 22. A car-integrated store refers to a Xiaomi store that sells both cars and mobile phones as well as large home appliances. It is reported that Xiaomi's dealer subsidies this time are mainly distributed in two categories: Stores built in 2024 will receive a subsidy of 100,000 yuan per store; stores newly built from January 1 to December 15, 2025, will receive a subsidy of 500,000 yuan per store. Official data shows that as of November 30, Xiaomi had 441 stores in 131 cities across the country, and 249 service outlets covered 144 cities. (Daily Economic News)
The three major U.S. stock indexes closed higher collectively, while large technology stocks showed mixed performance
36Kr learned that at the close on December 22, the three major U.S. stock indexes rose collectively. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.47%, the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.52%, and the S&P 500 Index rose 0.64%. Large technology stocks showed mixed performance. Tesla and Nvidia rose more than 1%, while Amazon, Google, and Meta rose slightly. Netflix fell more than 1%, and Apple and Microsoft fell slightly. Most popular Chinese concept stocks rose. Pinduoduo and iQiyi rose more than 2%, Bilibili rose more than 1%, and Alibaba, JD.com, Baidu, and NetEase rose slightly. Weibo and Li Auto fell slightly.
Uber, Lyft to Collaborate with Baidu for Robotaxi Trial in the UK Next Year
Uber and Lyft said on Monday that they will collaborate with Baidu to launch a self-driving taxi trial in the UK next year, solidifying the UK's position as a leading testing ground for robotaxi commercialization in Europe. (Sina Finance)
Going Public in Progress
Brilliance Technology
36Kr learned that Brilliance Technology announced in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that it plans to issue 248 million H shares in the Hong Kong listing (subject to the exercise of the offer adjustment right and the over-allotment option), with the pricing range between HK$17 and HK$19.6 per share. It is expected that trading of the H shares will commence on January 2 next year.
MiniMed
Recently, MiniMed, a spin - off entity of Medtronic focusing on diabetes management devices and technologies, officially submitted relevant documents to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, planning to raise up to $100 million in funds through an IPO. (Jiemian News)
Juhe Materials
36Kr learned that Juhe Materials announced that the company intends to issue H-shares and list on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Beijing Zhipu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd.
36Kr learned that the International Cooperation Department of the China Securities Regulatory Commission issued a notice on the record-filing of the overseas issuance and listing of Beijing Zhipu Huazhang Technology Co., Ltd. and the "full circulation" of its unlisted domestic shares. The company plans to issue no more than 43,032,400 overseas-listed ordinary shares and list them on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Haizhi Technology
36Kr learned that according to documents from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, on December 22, Beijing Haizhi Technology Group Co., Ltd. submitted a listing application to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The joint sponsors are China Merchants Bank International, Bank of China International, and Shenwan Hongyuan Hong Kong.
The Forefront of AI
Qianwen App Releases Top 10 AI Prompts for 2025, with Stocks Ranking First
36Kr learned that Qianwen App released the list of "Top 10 AI Prompts for 2025", revealing the top ten high - frequency scenarios in which people will use AI in 2025. "Stocks" ranked first, far surpassing other tool - related, lifestyle, or emotional topics.
Google to Acquire Intersect for $4.75 Billion as AI Investment Plan Continues to Expand
Alphabet, Google's parent company, has agreed to acquire Intersect for $4.75 billion. The company said that the deal will help meet the nearly insatiable energy demand generated to drive the development of artificial intelligence (AI). (Sina Finance)
Kakao is in talks with an AI startup to sell Daum
According to unnamed sources in the investment banking industry cited by South Korea's Seoul Economic Daily, Kakao is in talks with South Korean AI startup Upstage about selling its portal site Daum. Kakao holds all the shares of AXZ, the parent company of Daum. The company may transfer the operational control of Daum through a share - swap deal with Upstage. Upstage is currently preparing for its initial public offering (IPO) early next year. (Sina Finance)
Dreame Launches the World's First AI Health Glasses
36Kr learned that at the annual distributor conference of Dreame Technology, the Dreame AI intelligent hardware team launched the world's first Dreame AI health glasses. It is understood that this AI health glasses take health monitoring as the core entry point and have the function of monitoring health indicators such as heart rate, blood oxygen, and body temperature 24 hours a day. In terms of AI performance, this product is equipped with a self - developed large health model, which can generate personalized health plans.
Alibaba Launches Image Generation Model Qwen-Image-Layered
36Kr learned that on December 22nd, Tongyi Qianwen of Alibaba announced the launch of the image generation model Qwen-Image-Layered. The new model uses a self-developed architecture and can "disassemble" an image into multiple layers. Each layer can be independently manipulated without affecting other content.
Investment and Financing
“Qianjue Technology” Completes Nearly 100 Million Yuan in Pre - A++ Round Financing
36Kr learned that “Qianjue Technology” recently completed nearly 100 million yuan in Pre - A++ round financing. Six investment institutions and old shareholders participated together; Maple Pledge served as the long - term private equity financing advisor. The funds will be mainly used for technology R & D investment, expansion of the core team, and global commercialization expansion.
"Noitom Robotics" Completes Pre-A+ Round of Financing
36Kr learned that "Noitom Robotics" recently completed a Pre-A+ round of financing. This round of financing was led by Qiming Venture Partners, with participation from institutions such as Matrix Partners China and Legend Capital. Matrix Partners and Inno Angel Fund made additional investments, and oversubscription was achieved. After completing the Pre-A round led by Alpha Startup Fund and this round of financing, Noitom Robotics has cumulatively raised hundreds of millions of RMB. The funds from this round of financing will be mainly used for continuous investment in the R & D of technologies for multi-modal data collection, processing, and delivery required for embodied intelligence, to accelerate the construction of a large-scale data production system and an engineering platform, and to further improve the configuration and construction of the core technology and engineering teams, enhancing the productization delivery and service capabilities.
Zhiyuan Pharmaceutical Completes Nearly 300 Million Yuan in Pre-IPO Round of Financing
36Kr learned that recently, "Zhiyuan Pharmaceutical" announced the completion of nearly 300 million yuan in a Pre-IPO round of financing. This round of financing was led by Sinovation Ventures, with institutions such as Cathay Capital participating in the follow-on investment. Lighthouse Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor for this transaction.
Compiled | Bursting Tofu