IN BRIEF (Page 19)

New rules released on online map services

China introduced a set of new regulations for online map services as part of a broader update on Dec 14. The document, signed by Premier Li Keqiang and taking effect on Jan 1, upholds the basic principles of safeguarding national sovereignty and geographic information security, as well as improving public services, according to the State Council.

Rules concerning market entry, data security management, user information protection, and supervision and registration of Internet map services have been specified in the new chapter. The new regulations seek to strengthen policy support and supervision over the relatively young industry.

Alibaba, Disney team up for service

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and the world's largest media company, The Walt Disney Co, have launched an over-the-top service through an Internet television setting that offers Disney entertainment content to local consumers as well as Disney resort ticket booking systems.

The service, DisneyLife, is a TV box set resembling Mickey Mouse. It is priced at 799 yuan ($124; 114 euros) and is available at Tmall, the online retail unit of Alibaba, from Dec 15, inclusive of a one-year subscription to DisneyLife.

Sinopec gets nod to buy 20% of Russia's Sibur

China Petrochemical Corp, better known as Sinopec, has got the green light from the Russian government to buy a 20 percent stake in Russian petrochemical and gas company Sibur.

The takeover involves two stages - Sinopec will acquire 10 percent of Sibur for about $1.34 billion and buy the other 10 percent within the next three years, according to Russian media reports.

The value of the second stage has not been disclosed due to the fluctuation in value of the company's shares in the next three years, it said.

Alibaba acquires Hong Kong newspaper

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has spent HK$2.06 billion ($266 million; 241 million euros) to acquire the media assets of SCMP Group, including the South China Morning Post, according to a statement announced by SCMP on Dec 14.

Hong Kong-based analysts said it is probably another step in Alibaba's quest to build a media empire.

Statistics show that at least 24 media organizations, from mainland financial news outlet China Business Network to online video giant Youku Tudou Inc, are owned or invested in by Alibaba and its affiliate companies.

Steel output in China declines yet again

Steelmakers in China, the world's top supplier, are cutting output yet again as faltering demand and a rout in prices show no signs of abating. Crude steel production fell 1.6 percent to 63.32 million metric tons in November from a year earlier, while supply for the first 11 months dropped 2.2 percent to 738.38 million tons, according to data from the statistics bureau on Dec 12.

Wuhan Steel says it won't lay off workers

Wuhan Iron and Steel Co plans to make employment changes although it doesn't intend to lay off staff, a spokesman for the Chinese steelmaker's parent company said on Dec 14 in response to a report that it could cut jobs.

The company is planning a "human resources optimization", said Sun Jin, spokesman for state-owned company. The changes will differ from layoffs, as they won't alter workers' "salaries or organizational relationships" with the company, and the company will still fund their insurance and pension payments, Sun said.

Shell takeover of BG cleared by authorities

Royal Dutch Shell Plc has received clearance from antitrust authorities in China for its takeover of BG Group Plc, removing the final regulatory hurdle for the company's biggest-ever deal. The clearance from China's Ministry of Commerce follows similar approvals from authorities in Brazil, the European Union and Australia, the companies said on Dec 14.

BG Group and Shell will now seek assent from their shareholders and plan to complete the transaction early next year.

Yangtze River Airlines starts passenger flights

Yangtze River Airlines Co Ltd, the Shanghai-based freight subsidiary of HNA Group, launched a passenger service on Dec 15.

The airlines' first passenger traffic route is from Shanghai to Sanya, Hainan province, and it also plans another two routes, from Shanghai to Zhuhai in Guangdong province, and Guiyang in Guizhou province, said Yang Zhihua, passenger traffic president of Yangtze River Airlines.

The carrier received its second Boeing 737-800 aircraft for passenger traffic on Dec 13, and more Boeing 737 aircraft will be delivered next year. It currently runs 26 air freighters on more than 40 domestic and international routes.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 12/18/2015 page19)