The following is excerpted from IRG's weekly stock report as found on SeekingAlpha:

Internet
• The9 Limited (NCTY) reported that its chief financial officer and senior vice president Hannah Lee will resign at the end of February 2008. T

• Microsoft (MSFT) MSN announced the launch of the Chinese-version of its Live Map search in a bid to further promote its Live Search Internet strategy in China. Microsoft's Map Search is a response to the demands from the market, and contains information on 114 Chinese cities, with a focus on bus transfer routes during the initial period.

• Baidu.com Inc. (BIDU) announced that it has initiated the offering of Japanese-language services, marking the first overseas venture of the China’s leading Internet search company. Baidu’s market share in China is about 70 percent, surpassing No. 2 Google (GOOG), with an advertisement driven business model. Baidu said it is in talks with Japanese businesses in the mobile phone industry. The company’s CEO, however, did not give specific company names.

Media, Entertainment and Gaming
• According to media sources, Dentsu, the largest advertisement company in Japan, is seeking to cooperate with Focus Media of China (FMCN) to establish an online advertising firm in the country. Sources said the joint venture is going to be named Dian Zhong Digital.

• CDC Games announced the promotion of John Huen to chief operating officer of CDC Games. CDC Games is a business unit of CDC Corporation (CHINA).

• ROK Entertainment announced its acquisition of a strategic stake in Matchday Entertainment Limited, a China-based subsidiary of Asia Poker Limited, to deploy the first 3D online poker in China.

• China Finance Online Co., Limited [CFO] (JRJC), a leading financial information, data and analytics provider in China, announced its entering into an alliance agreement with China Telecom (CHA), the largest wireline telecommunications and broadband services provider in China.

Mobile/Wireless
• Shanghai announced that it has entered into a wireless city agreement with Jiading District. Dubbed the Shanghai Jiading Wireless City Cooperation Agreement, the agreement is considered the first wireless city program signed by the government. I

Software
• RedHat (RHT), one of the leading open source solution providers, announced its opening of an R&D center in China, and of the Open SystemC Initiative, the company’s new program.

Hardware
• IBM and Lehman Brothers jointly announced that they have invested some US$20 million in VeriSilicon, a Shanghai-based original equipment manufacturer for integrated circuit design.

• Intel announced that it has entered into an agreement with Shenzhen-based Founder Microelectronics on equipment sales and technology transfer. Under the agreement, Intel will provide the second-phase manufacturing equipment and technology to Founder's round silicon chip factory located in Shenzhen.

• Some 300 electronics manufacturers announced their setting up of an alliance at the same time, jointly issuing a call for upgrades in the electronics manufacturing industry. The alliance includes Foxconn (FXCNF), Huawei and ZTE.

Telecommunications
• China Telecom announced that for the year 2008, it aims to organize a series of organizational reforms. The reforms will begin with the review and approval of an agreement regarding its merger with 20 wholly-owned companies.

• ZTE Corp. announced that it will issue 4 billion yuan (US$555 million) worth of convertible bonds in a bid to raise funds for 11 projects. The projects include the development and production of TD-SCDMA equipment. With the plan, ZTE will offer 40 million five-year bonds, each with a nominal value of 100 yuan (US$13.8), to existing A-share holders, and will offer warrants to bond subscribers.

Disclaimer: IRG is not responsible for the accuracy of the news compiled within this article, which is based on publicly available information.