8:00 am, Kr 36 | Xibei Secures New Financing; Yonghui Has Applied for Multiple "Fat Little Hui" Trademarks; World's Largest Diamond Producer Announces Price Cut
Today's Hot Topics Guide
- Douyin E-commerce refuted rumors that it has not developed "Doushengxing"
- Wenxin App to enter the social media field? An insider at Baidu said: There are no plans to create a WeChat alternative
- Yonghui has applied for multiple trademarks for "Pang Xiaohui"
- Is the Shuibei market banning the sale of copper bars? Some shopping malls responded that there is no such notice yet
- Apple Inc.: The service interruption issues with App Store and other services have been resolved
TOP 3 Big News
Inner Mongolia Xibei Catering Group Increases Capital to 102 million RMB
36Kr learned that the Aiqicha App shows that on January 20th, Inner Mongolia Xibei Catering Group Co., Ltd. underwent industrial and commercial changes. New shareholders such as Taizhou Xinrongtai Investment Co., Ltd., Hohhot Collective Co - creation Enterprise Management Center (Limited Partnership), and Hangzhou Zhouxuan Equity Investment Management Partnership (Limited Partnership) were added. At the same time, the registered capital increased from approximately 89.903 million RMB to approximately 102 million RMB, an increase of approximately 13%.
Inner Mongolia Xibei Catering Group Co., Ltd. was established in October 2017, with Jia Guolong as the legal representative. Its business scope includes catering services, food production, food online sales, food sales, catering management, enterprise headquarters management, and investment activities with self - owned funds. Shareholder information shows that the company is jointly held by Beijing Xibei Enterprise Management Co., Ltd., Jia Guolong, Hohhot Life Joy Enterprise Management Center (Limited Partnership), etc.
Yonghui has applied for multiple "Fat Xiaohui" trademarks
36Kr learned that according to the Aiqiicha App, in June 2025, Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd. applied to register multiple "Fat Xiaohui" trademarks. The international classifications involve tobacco and smoking accessories, food and beverage services and accommodation, food, wine, etc. Currently, the status of the above trademarks is "trademark application in progress". In addition, in November 2024, Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd. applied to register multiple "Fat Yonghui" trademarks. The international classifications involve bed linens, chemical raw materials, transportation and storage, etc. Currently, the above trademarks have been successfully registered.
The world's largest diamond producer announces price cuts after previously refusing to do so
De Beers, the world's largest diamond producer, recently announced a reduction in diamond prices. As the world's largest diamond production and sales company, De Beers' turnover once accounted for 90% of the world's diamond supply market and still controls 60% of the world's rough diamond trade. In 1947, De Beers launched the well - known advertising slogan - "A diamond is forever", which became a turning point in the industry, and diamonds became the top choice for engagement rings.
In January and December 2024, affected by the decline in demand and the rise of synthetic diamonds, De Beers cut diamond prices by a cumulative 25%. This move marks a major shift in the diamond market. Since the company had previously refused to cut prices, it also reflects that the diamond industry is facing many common challenges, including the shrinking demand in core markets such as China, Europe, and the United States. (Yicai Global)
Big Companies/Big Events
Black strawberries are priced as high as 300 yuan per catty
Following imported cherries, a type of black strawberry has become the "new darling of the fruit world". On January 20, Jiemian News checked e-commerce platforms and found that a kind of "black strawberry" priced as high as 300 yuan per catty is gradually gaining popularity.
Page information from multiple Taobao stores shows that the main variety of "black strawberries" is the Shinbeni black strawberry, which is hailed as the queen of the strawberry world. Some merchants call this variety the Rolls-Royce of the strawberry world, while others call it the Hermès of the strawberry world.
Jiemian News checked the product information of a Taobao store and found that the post-coupon price for 500 grams of carefully selected large-sized Shinbeni black strawberries delivered by SF Express air freight is 315 yuan. If you buy 2 units, the unit price is 297.1 yuan per unit. Sales records show that this type of strawberry has sold more than 3,000 units across the network. Another type of Shinbeni black strawberry from Fujian, also delivered by SF Express air freight, is priced at 208 yuan for 500 grams. If you buy 2 units, the unit price is 197.6 yuan per unit. (Jiemian News)
Is the sale of copper bars prohibited in the Shuibei market? Some shopping malls responded that there is no such notice yet
It is reported that when some media visited the Shuibei market in Shenzhen on January 20th, some merchants said that the shopping mall had notified them to stop selling copper bars. On the morning of January 21st, the person - in - charge of Shuibei International and Shuibei Golden Seat, as well as the merchants in Shuibei Wanshan, learned that the above - mentioned shopping malls had not issued or received such a notice yet. It is understood that there are more than 20 professional shopping malls in the Shuibei market. (21st Century Business Herald)
Apple: Service outages on App Store and others have been resolved
On January 21st, the update on Apple's system status page showed that the outages of multiple Apple services, including the App Store, Apple TV, and the iTunes Store, have been resolved. Photos, iMessage, and iWork for iCloud have also returned to normal. (Jiemian News)
Beijing's GDP Breaks Through the 5-Trillion-Yuan Mark for the First Time
Data released by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics on January 21 showed that Beijing's gross regional product reached 5.20734 trillion yuan in 2025, a year - on - year increase of 5.4%. Following Shanghai, Beijing has become the second Chinese city with an economic scale exceeding 5 trillion yuan. (Xinhua News Agency)
Ford to Recall Over 119,000 Vehicles in the US Due to Fire Risk of Engine Block Heaters
On January 21st, it was reported that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States stated that Ford Motor Company will recall more than 119,000 vehicles in the US due to the fire risk of engine block heaters. The heater may crack, causing coolant leakage. If a short - circuit occurs during power - on use, it will increase the fire hazard. This recall involves the engine heater components of some models. It is recommended that relevant vehicle owners contact the dealers immediately for free maintenance. (Jiemian News)
Is the Wenxin App venturing into social networking? A Baidu insider: There are no plans to create a WeChat alternative
The Wenxin App is set to revamp its interactive interface soon, introducing a new "multi - person, multi - Agent group chat" feature to enhance user interaction in a more social and engaging way. Currently, the group chat function of the Wenxin App is in the internal testing phase. A Baidu insider stated, "We've never considered creating a WeChat - like app or replacing WeChat. There are no such plans at present, and I believe everyone can see that it's not realistic. We focus on the actual needs and tasks. If people have specific tasks, such as family health management, group assignments, travel planning, or some complex decision - making processes, we hope to provide a platform where users can collaborate with colleagues and friends, leveraging AI capabilities to better accomplish these tasks." (Sina Tech)
Douyin E-commerce Debunks Rumor, Says It Has Not Developed "Dou Shengsheng"
36Kr learned that it was rumored that Douyin launched "Dou Shengsheng", an e-commerce product focusing on discounts and savings. Douyin E-commerce debunked the rumor, saying that it has not developed this product. A person familiar with the matter revealed that it was a small exploration of Douyin's group-buying in-store business, aiming to focus on convenience, and the final name may not be "Dou Shengsheng".
After the adjustment of the welfare lottery rules, billion-yuan jackpots may disappear
A significant change is about to take place in the lottery industry. On January 16th, the China Welfare Lottery Distribution and Management Center and the Sports Lottery Administration Center of the General Administration of Sport of China respectively issued announcements regarding the rule changes of the Double Color Ball and Super Lotto. The new rules are expected to be implemented starting from February this year. According to the information from the Ministry of Finance and the two official lottery authorities, for the Double Color Ball, the main changes involve adding a prize level during special periods, adjusting the total amount of floating prizes, and modifying some textual descriptions. For the Super Lotto, the core changes focus on aspects such as fund extraction, prize level setting, prize distribution, fixed prize amounts, and textual descriptions. In the view of many industry insiders, this adjustment can be regarded as the biggest change in the development of China's computerized lottery lotto games in nearly 30 years. Some experts even told China Newsweek bluntly: "After the new rules are implemented, jackpots of over one billion yuan will directly disappear." (China Newsweek)
Jensen Huang Says Blue-Collar Workers Are More Popular in the AI Era, Plumbers and Electricians Can Earn Six-Figure Salaries
As artificial intelligence threatens to disrupt job markets around the world, Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, has downplayed concerns about the long-term outlook, emphasizing that the demand for skilled tradespeople is rising at present. Huang said on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that plumbers, electricians, and construction workers will be able to earn "six-figure salaries" because building data centers is required to run and train artificial intelligence. He added that the technology will bring about one of the largest infrastructure construction booms in history, driving trillions of dollars in new investments. (Sina Finance)
New Oriental Launches "Retirees' Club" and Recruits Retirees Aged 50 - 75
Recently, an account named "Beijing New Oriental Retirees' Club" has posted recruitment information on various social platforms, inviting uncles and aunts aged 50 - 75 who have retired in Beijing to join. The recruitment post introduces that the retirees' club organizes local activities in Beijing and offers interest courses. Throughout the process, young people born in the 1980s and 1990s will be the activity companions. There will be two small gatherings organized every month and three free interest courses.
In the course introduction on the account's homepage, it currently shows that online courses can be claimed for free, and the experience price for offline courses is 19.9 yuan. The courses include self - media, handicrafts, baking, dance, Baduanjin (an ancient Chinese fitness routine), tea tasting, fishing, calligraphy, etc. Some courses have material fees ranging from 100 yuan to 500 yuan. (Blue Whale News)
Glory executives shout at Xiaomi regarding battery life comparison from afar: The correct way to use a large-capacity battery in an e-sports phone is to let the phone fully unleash its performance, rather than making it like a feature phone for the elderly
Li Yunpeng, the Head of the E-commerce Department of the Chinese region at Glory Terminal Co., Ltd., posted on Weibo on January 20th, saying, "The correct way to use a large-capacity battery in an e-sports phone is to let the phone fully unleash its performance and enjoy high-definition graphics and high frame rates, rather than making it like a feature phone for the elderly." Judging from the discussions in the comment section, Li Yunpeng's remarks are expected to be a response from afar to the battery life test previously conducted by rival REDMI. According to the test results, the REDMI Turbo 5 Max with a 9000mAh battery outlasted the "rival with a 10000mAh battery" by 43 minutes in the "battery life endurance race."
It's worth mentioning that Lin Lin, the Head of the Smart Life Business Department of Glory's Chinese region, also responded to the rival's live battery life comparison (here it is presumably referring to the Glory WIN phone), saying, "Finally, someone is taking us as a benchmark." (Sina Technology)
Shanghai Tax Authorities Impose Penalty on "Pinduoduo" in Accordance with the Law
Reporters learned from the Changning District Tax Service of the State Taxation Administration in Shanghai on January 21 that Shanghai Xunmeng Information Technology Co., Ltd. (the operating entity of the "Pinduoduo" platform) failed to submit tax - related information as required by the "Regulations on the Submission of Tax - related Information by Internet Platform Enterprises" and was ordered by the tax authorities to make corrections within a specified time limit. Although the enterprise has carried out rectification, it failed to complete it within the specified period. The bureau has, in accordance with laws and regulations, made a decision to impose a fine of 100,000 yuan on "Pinduoduo". (Xinhua News Agency)
Restart of Japan's Largest Nuclear Power Plant
On January 21 local time, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) restarted Unit 6 of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, Japan's largest nuclear power plant, is operated by TEPCO. It has been shut down since the "3·11" Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Previously, the local approval procedures required for restarting the nuclear power plant had been completed, but the restart was postponed due to the discovery of a setting error. (CCTV News)
"Angry Birds" Officially Announces Return to the Chinese Market
On January 21st, Angry Birds officially announced its return to the Chinese market. The "Angry Birds" series was developed and published by Rovio. Since its launch in 2009, with its unique gameplay and distinct character images, it quickly became popular worldwide. As of 2022, the global downloads of the "Angry Birds" series have exceeded 5 billion times, making it one of the most influential game IPs.
The series of games will be exclusively published and operated by Kingsoft Games. Two core "Angry Birds" IP works are soon to be launched for the Chinese market, including "Angry Birds: Classic Returns" and "Angry Birds: Dream Blast". (Nanfang Daily)
Second-hand Market Premium of Year of the Horse Commemorative Banknotes Reaches Up to 200%
On January 20th, the first exchange day for the Year of the Horse commemorative coins and banknotes arrived. Reporters checked on second-hand trading platforms and found that the asking prices from users for a set of Year of the Horse commemorative banknotes were generally between 800 yuan and 1000 yuan. Compared with the issue price (20 yuan per note, 400 yuan per set), the premium rate was between 100% and 150%.
An employee at the Madian Stamp and Coin Market in Beijing told reporters that currently, the recycling price of Year of the Horse commemorative coins in the stamp and coin market is 14 yuan per coin, and the recycling price of ordinary Year of the Horse commemorative banknotes is 35 yuan per note. For Year of the Horse commemorative banknotes with no "digit 4" and "digit 7" in their serial numbers, the selling price for ten consecutive notes is about 50 yuan to 60 yuan per note, with a premium rate between 150% and 200%. (China News Service)
In 2025, the State Administration for Market Regulation Recalled 1.3977 Million Problematic Power Banks
Reporters learned from a press conference of the State Administration for Market Regulation on January 21st that the administration has strengthened the work of recalling defective problematic power banks. In 2025, it urged power bank manufacturers to conduct 10 recalls, involving a total of 1.3977 million units.
Shi Xinzhang, the deputy director of the Quality Development Bureau of the State Administration for Market Regulation, introduced that in 2025, there were multiple cases of fires and explosions of power bank products across the country. The State Administration for Market Regulation attached great importance to this and carried out a concentrated rectification of power bank quality and safety. It legally conducted defect investigations on the safety issues of power bank products and urged manufacturers to fulfill their main responsibilities for product safety and recall defective products. At the same time, it urged manufacturers to promptly respond to consumers' reasonable demands and properly solve the problems encountered in the recall process. Currently, the number of complaints about power banks on relevant complaint platforms has decreased by 85% compared with the peak in July 2025 and shows a continuous downward trend. (Jiemian News)
L'Oréal Plans to Invest $383 Million to Set Up a Technology Center in India
French cosmetics company L'Oréal said on Wednesday that it will set up a technology center in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad, with an initial investment of more than 35 billion Indian rupees (approximately $383.41 million). (Sina Finance)
NIKE, Inc.: Appoints Cathy Sparks as the New Vice President and General Manager of Nike Greater China
36Kr learned that NIKE, Inc. announced on January 21st that Dong Wei, the current leader of Greater China, will officially step down on March 31st. Meanwhile, Nike announced the appointment of Cathy Sparks as the new Vice President and General Manager of Nike Greater China.
The total number of electric vehicle charging infrastructure (chargers) in China has exceeded 20 million
The National Energy Administration released the data on the national electric vehicle charging facilities in December 2025. According to the data from the national charging facilities monitoring and service platform, as of the end of December 2025, the total number of electric vehicle charging infrastructure (chargers) in China reached 20.092 million, a year-on-year increase of 49.7%, exceeding the 20 million mark. Among them, there were 4.717 million public charging facilities (chargers), a year-on-year increase of 31.9%. The rated total power of public charging piles reached 220 million kilowatts, with an average power of about 46.53 kilowatts. There were 15.375 million private charging facilities (chargers), a year-on-year increase of 56.2%. The reported power capacity for private charging facilities reached 134 million kilovolt - amperes. (People's Daily)
Netflix Plans to Increase Investment in Film and TV Production This Year
Netflix announced on January 20th local time that it plans to increase its spending on film and TV production by 10% in 2026, while continuing to pursue the acquisition of Warner Bros.' studio and streaming business. This deal would merge two of the world's largest entertainment giants. Last year, Netflix spent approximately $18 billion on program production, and its user base grew by nearly 8%, exceeding 325 million. Netflix said that the company is ramping up investment to seize "highly attractive investment opportunities." Netflix has obtained the streaming rights for movies from Universal Pictures and Sony Pictures, is expanding into live events and video game businesses, and will launch a brand - new mobile user interface later this year. (Jiemian News)
Ryanair Hits Back at Musk, Announces "Big Fool" Promotion
On January 20 local time, Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Ryanair, announced that a press conference would be held on the 21st to respond to Musk's latest Twitter farce. "Musk knows less about airline ownership rules than he does about aircraft aerodynamics," O'Leary said. To counter Musk, Ryanair also announced a "Big Fool" seat promotion, with 100,000 one - way seats available for just €16.99. (Jiemian News)
Elon Musk Responds to Tesla Cybercab's "5-Second Car Manufacturing" Claim
Electric vehicle analyst Sawyer Merritt posted on X, saying, "A Cybercab can roll off the production line in less than 10 seconds, while it takes 34 seconds for a Model Y. The long-term goal is to shorten the production cycle to about 5 seconds." Elon Musk responded, "It's important to note that the initial production phase is usually very slow and follows an 'S'-shaped curve development pattern. The speed of production ramp-up is inversely proportional to the number of new components and processes. For the Cybercab and Optimus, almost everything is new, so the early production speed will be extremely slow, but it will eventually reach an astonishing pace." (Sina Finance)
On the Way to Market
Haitai Biotech
36Kr learned that Haitai Biotech announced that the company intends to issue foreign shares for overseas listing (H shares) and apply for listing on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. This is to further enhance the company's comprehensive competitiveness, improve its international brand image, and better utilize the international capital market to diversify financing channels. This matter still needs to be submitted to the company's shareholders' meeting for deliberation and requires the record-filing, approval, and/or verification of relevant government agencies and regulatory authorities.
The Cutting - Edge of AI
OpenAI and the Gates Foundation to Invest $50 Million in Africa's Medical AI Field
On January 20th local time, OpenAI announced the launch of the pilot project "Horizon 1000" in collaboration with the Gates Foundation. The initiative aims to support medical leaders in African countries (starting with Rwanda) in advancing the application of artificial intelligence in the health sector. The Gates Foundation and OpenAI will jointly contribute $50 million in funds, technology, and professional support, striving to cover 1,000 primary healthcare institutions and their surrounding communities by 2028. (Jiemian News)
Apple Considers Transforming Siri into Its First Chatbot, Likely to Launch in September
It is reported that Apple plans to upgrade and transform Siri later this year, turning it into the company's first artificial intelligence chatbot, codenamed "Campos". Apple intends to unveil this technology at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June and officially launch it in September. (Jiemian News)
OpenAI: To Bear the Energy Costs of the "Stargate" Project Itself
OpenAI announced that one year after the launch of the "Stargate" project, it plans to expand the artificial intelligence infrastructure in the United States to 10 gigawatts by 2029. OpenAI said that it has already exceeded half of its planned capacity target. The first batch of sites in Texas have started training and providing services, and multiple "Stargate" sites are under development in Texas, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and Michigan. OpenAI stated that in all "Stargate" community programs, it is committed to bearing the energy costs itself to ensure that the project's operations will not drive up electricity prices. Each community and region has unique energy needs and grid conditions, and OpenAI promises to customize solutions according to specific regions.
OpenAI May Launch Advertising Service for Chatbots in February
OpenAI may launch an advertising service for chatbots in February, charging based on the number of ad impressions. (Cailian Press)
Lenovo Group and NVIDIA jointly launch the "Lenovo AI Cloud Super Factory"
36Kr learned that Lenovo Group and NVIDIA recently jointly announced that the two companies will further deepen their cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence infrastructure and jointly launch the "Lenovo AI Cloud Super Factory". At the same time, Lenovo China officially released the overall solution of the "Lenovo AI Factory", aiming to help enterprise data centers transform intelligently from traditional "computing power centers" to efficient "AI factories" and promote the application practice and full implementation of full-stack AI technology in China.
OpenAI Reaches Agreement with ServiceNow to Integrate AI Models into Business Software
It is reported that OpenAI has reached a three-year agreement with ServiceNow, a provider of cloud computing and service management solutions, to integrate AI models into the latter's business software. (Jiemian News)
Financial Reports of Large Companies
Netflix's Q1 performance outlook falls short of market expectations
It is reported that Netflix's revenue in the fourth quarter was $12.05 billion, compared with an estimate of $11.97 billion; earnings per share in the fourth quarter were $0.56, compared with $0.43 in the same period last year; and free cash flow in the fourth quarter was $1.87 billion, compared with an estimate of $1.46 billion. Netflix expects its revenue in 2026 to be between $50.7 billion and $51.7 billion, compared with an estimate of $50.96 billion; it expects operating profit in the first quarter to be $3.91 billion, compared with an estimate of $4.18 billion; and it expects earnings per share in the first quarter to be $0.76, compared with an estimate of $0.82. (Caixin)
Burberry's Same-Store Sales Rose 3% in Q3
On January 21st, British clothing and luxury goods group Burberry released its report for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026. Burberry's same-store sales increased by 3% in the third quarter, and all regions achieved flat or positive growth for the second consecutive quarter. The report shows that in the third quarter, the growth in the Greater China region accelerated to 6%, doubling that of the second quarter; the growth rate in the Asia-Pacific region increased to 5%, with the South Korean market performing strongly, up 13% year-on-year, and the Japanese market growing by 2%, the same as in the second quarter. In addition, the Americas region grew by 2%, and the performance in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa remained flat. (Jiemian News)
Tongfei Co., Ltd.: Net profit in 2025 is expected to increase by 56.43% - 74.68% year-on-year
36Kr learned that Tongfei Co., Ltd. released a performance forecast, expecting the net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company in 2025 to be between 240 million yuan and 268 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 56.43% - 74.68%.
Investment and Financing
AI software creation platform Emergent completes $70 million Series B financing, led by SoftBank
AI software creation platform Emergent announced on January 20 (local time) that it has completed a $70 million Series B financing. This round of financing was led by Khosla Ventures and SoftBank Vision Fund 2, with participation from Prosus, Lightspeed, Together and Y Combinator. Since its launch seven months ago, Emergent has raised a total of $100 million. (Cailian Press)
NVIDIA Invests $150 Million in AI Inference Startup Baseten
It is reported that Baseten, a U.S. artificial intelligence infrastructure provider, has completed a $300 million financing round, reaching a valuation of $5 billion. This round of financing was led by venture capital firm IVP and Alphabet's independent growth fund CapitalG, with NVIDIA participating and injecting $150 million into Baseten as part of the deal. (Jiemian News)
Cool Products
Samsung is designing HBM logic chips using a 2nm process technology
According to ZDNet, Samsung is designing logic chips for customized HBM using a 2nm process technology. It had previously applied the 4nm process to the logic chips of HBM4 (the sixth - generation HBM), and the product is expected to be commercially produced this year. (Cailian Press)
Zhipu: Temporarily Limit the Sale of GLM Coding Plan
36Kr learned that on January 21st, Zhipu released a limited - sale announcement for the GLM Coding Plan. It stated that with the launch of GLM - 4.7, the number of GLM Coding Plan users has witnessed rapid growth, leading to a temporary shortage of our computing power resources. We've noticed that recently, some users have encountered issues such as concurrent throttling errors and slower model speeds to varying degrees during peak model - calling hours (15:00 - 18:00 on weekdays). Zhipu will temporarily limit the sale of the GLM Coding Plan. After the limitation, the daily sales volume will be reduced to 20% of the current level, so as to free up more computing power resources for our long - standing users and provide a smoother programming experience. The limited sale will start at 10:00 on January 23rd, and the quota will be refreshed at 10:00 every day thereafter.
Compiled | Chenxi