China's Ministry of Culture has published announcements on its official website stating that it has issued the first batch of four licenses for operating Internet cafe retail chains in China.

Information from a communication meeting for a cooperation project between Microsoft and Internet cafes in Yunnan province revealed that since the launch of the project in 2009, over 200 Internet cafes in Kunming, capital of Yunnan, have realized software legalization.

The Shanghai Internet Cafe Industry Association and Bank of Hangzhou have reached an agreement to launch a joint guarantee loan program for Internet cafe operators in Shanghai, according to information from the official website of Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture (Radio), Film & TV.

China's Ministry of Culture has just promulgated a new rule to strengthen the management of netcafes and to promote the development of netcafe enterprises.

China's Internet cafe industry associations in 30 provinces and cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shaanxi, Dalian, Xiamen, and Guangzhou, have jointly published a self-discipline declaration on "Internet cafe industry purification".

China Telecom Guandgong, the company's largest branch in China, has announced plans to further support the development of China's online game industry.

From July 1, 2009, China will launch a nationwide special campaign focused on netcafes and computer games that help spread "cultural irregularities".

Beijing's technology industry oversight agencies will ask website publishers, editors and webmasters of websites that are registered in the city to register their real names in an effort to prevent unhealthy online content from being published.

Hainan's Cultural Bureau is carrying out a program jointly with local media to expose illegal netcafes in the southern Chinese province.

According to a measure on unified outsourcing of legitimate Microsoft products by netcafes in Dongguan, Microsoft aims to push netcafes in Dongguan to use legitimate software within five years.

To set up a long-term effective system for the management of Internet information, China's Hubei province now plans to promote the real-name system for users wishing to create websites and blogs.

Shandong-based China Broadband has signed an agreement to acquire Beijing's AdNet Media Technologies Company Limited for an undisclosed amount of stock, but the real value in the company seems to be off the table.

Foxconn, the Chinese original equipment manufacturer that was embroiled in controversy about working conditions two years ago at its factory that manufacturered Apple iPods, is rumored to be reducing its electronics manufacturing staff without formally declaring the cuts.

The Beijing government has launched an enhanced Internet cafe monitoring rule which states that people who visit Internet cafes for the first time need to have their picture taken and have their identification cards scanned.

Microsoft (MSFT) says it will increase its investments in China next month by donating two fully equipped InfoWagons, open a Partners in Learning school, launch a Family Education PC program for rural communities in Miyun county outside Beijing, and provide digital literacy content and training in libraries and iCafes across Xinjiang.