Current Events

[Randy W]

Tibet Airlines plane in flames, passengers evacuated before take-off in southwestern China

• Flames and billowing smoke seen from fuselage as people run from the aircraft on Thursday morning
• 36 people were taken to hospital with minor injuries sustained during their evacuation from the stricken Airbus A319-100

 

from the SCMP

Flames and smoke billow from the aircraft. Photo: Weibo

Quote

Fire sent black smoke billowing storeys high after a plane carrying 122 people veered off a runway in southwestern China as it tried to take off on Thursday morning, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The crew of the Tibet Airlines plane aborted the departure for the Tibetan city of Nyingchi when the aircraft ran off the runway at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport at around 8am.

 

Edited May 13, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

This is getting a little bit of attention - it happens when a bright colored light is shining in fairly thick air.

Night sky turns blood red in Chinese city

The sky turned blood red at night in a city in eastern Zhejiang province.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/540750894087869/

 

[Randy W]

To combat telecom fraud from abroad, China Mobile will soon restrict users in the eastern Zhejiang province from receiving international phone calls, raising concerns that such a move is likely to further disconnect the country from the rest of the world.

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/posts/3228313990820772

Chinese Telecoms Block Incoming Int’l Calls, Texts to Fight Scams
Subscribers have the choice to opt out of the feature that is being rolled out or already in place.

Quote

 

To combat telecom fraud from abroad, one of China’s largest telephone service providers will soon restrict users in the eastern Zhejiang province from receiving international phone calls, raising concerns that such a move is likely to further disconnect the country from the rest of the world.

Those subscribed to China Mobile in Zhejiang will have their incoming international calls suspended, unless users text back to continue receiving them. Zhejiang residents with China Mobile plans told Sixth Tone on Monday that they had received a text message asking them to activate the overseas call service by May 20.

 

 

 

[Randy W]

China Eastern Black Box Points to Intentional Nosedive

from the WSJ

Quote

 

“The plane did what it was told to do by someone in the cockpit,” said a person who is familiar with American officials’ preliminary assessment, which includes an analysis of information extracted from the plane’s damaged flight-data recorder.

There is also a possibility that someone else on the plane could have broken into the cockpit and deliberately caused the crash, these people said.

 

 

[Randy W]

Perfectly preserved hadrosaurus embryo fossil discovered in China

A rare intact dinosaur embryo fossil has been uncovered in southern China.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/552900069556869/

[Randy W]

It's another . . .

Happy Valentine's Day!
Today is 5/20, a number that in Chinese language sounds like "I love you". In the recent years May 20th became an other occasion to celebrate love!🥰

📍 Hangzhou, Zhejiang
📷 @herman.h.0520

 #visitchina #discoverchina #chinesearchitecture #hangzhou #chinatrip #chinaphotography #chinahighlights #China #travelchina #chinatravel

from China Highlights on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/ChinaHighlights/posts/10159815764247964

[Randy W]

Airbnb plans to shut down its domestic business in China after struggling to both compete with local apps and rebound from pandemic lockdowns. The move highlights a growing divide between China’s internet and that of the rest of the world.

from the NY Times on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/nytimes/posts/10152933658579999

Airbnb shuts down its local business in China.
The home rental service is the last remaining large U.S. internet business in China.

Quote

 

Airbnb, which has operated in China since 2016, is retreating from the country after struggling to compete with local “superapps” that charge lower fees and less per night on average than in other regions, said a person with knowledge of the situation. The pandemic compounded Airbnb’s business woes, the person said, as China’s “zero-Covid” policy sent millions into strict lockdown.

Airbnb’s move highlights a growing divide between China’s internet and that of the rest of the world. Many U.S. internet companies have left China after Beijing emphasized domestic businesses, exercised censorship and made other demands of companies. LinkedIn, the only remaining U.S. social network to operate in China, pulled out of the country in October, citing a lack of success with its social media and information features. Airbnb is the last remaining big U.S. internet company in China.

Airbnb, based in San Francisco, will continue to operate a business serving Chinese tourists who were traveling outside of China, the person with knowledge of the situation said. It will keep its Beijing office open with a few hundred employees, the person added.

As part of its retreat, Airbnb will remove roughly 150,000 listings in China, out of six million around the world. Stays in the country have accounted for roughly 1 percent of Airbnb’s business in recent years, the person said.

 

 

[Randy W]

Russian and Chinese bombers flew near Japan during Quad summit in Tokyo
Chinese and Russian jet bombers carried out joint flights near Japan on May 24, during meetings in Tokyo involving US President Joe Biden and the leaders of three major Asia-Pacific countries.

from the SCMP on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/840191283606939/

Edited May 25, 2022 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

People wait at Hongqiao Railway Station in Shanghai, May 27, 2022. Thousands of university students were allowed to leave Shanghai yesterday after more than two-months locked down on campuses. Jiang Jin for Sixth Tone
Related read: http://ow.ly/Bviu50Jjg60

https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/photos/a.1604152706570250/3237051159947055

With Bittersweet Memories, Students Leave Shanghai in Droves
While some are being welcomed in their hometowns with free quarantine, others are not having it so easy.

Passengers at the Hongqiao Railway Station, May 22, 2022. IC

Quote

 

Most of Shanghai’s 25 million residents have been confined to their residential compounds since April 1. But some apartment complexes and most universities had been locked down from as early as mid-March after some schools detected infections.

Students have since described a multitude of lockdown-related issues, with their health codes often determining their movements within the campus. Some complained of a lack of privacy while others said they faced problems ordering food.

“It was draining to live a life of just taking online classes, eating, and sleeping,” Huang said, adding that she was not even allowed to get a shower during this difficult time.

Several universities have now issued guidelines, allowing students to leave the campus as long as their residential buildings have been free of COVID-19 cases for the past 14 days. One screenshot claiming to be an official notice listed 52 major cities as key destinations and railway networks increasing capacity to ensure the homecoming process and has been widely circulating among university students.

In response, several cities have announced free centralized quarantine for returning students. On Monday, Chengdu in the southwestern Sichuan province became the latest city to exempt accommodation fees during quarantine for students coming from areas with COVID-19 surges.

 

 

[Randy W]

In 2021, China initiated a sweeping crackdown on rising telecom and internet fraud cases across the country. The campaign sparked privacy concerns when it utilized controversial methods such as an app aimed at tracking potential fraudsters or restricting international phone calls and texts.

Since last September, Chen Guoping, a 44-year-old police officer from the northern Hebei province, has been the campaign’s poster boy online. Armed with over seven million fans on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, Chen often dropped into popular livestreams unannounced in police uniform, taking both the streamer and audience by surprise before explaining the dangers of online scams.

But about six months later, he suddenly quit the police force, and the livestreams. On April 8, in a short video message, Chen only said he was tired of being wrongly accused of the very scams he had so sought hard to prevent.

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/posts/pfbid02PbN74MKPh1bT7rvEf1p5vFt9tmrRb7hdoq2oGpQHQcBucwYm9je4yt7Kma83TSTDl
 

Why China’s Influencer Cop Is Turning in His Verified Badge
When an officer builds an online persona, the pressures are invisibly overwhelming

Chen Guoping at work in Qinghuangdao, Hebei province, Sept. 5, 2021. China Newsweek

Quote

 

Armed with over seven million fans on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, Chen often dropped into popular livestreams unannounced in police uniform, taking both the streamer and audience by surprise before explaining the dangers of online scams.

But about six months later, he suddenly quit the police force, and the livestreams. On April 8, in a short video message, Chen only said he was tired of being wrongly accused of the very scams he had so sought hard to prevent.

The trigger event was a Douyin livestream Chen hosted on March 27 to raise funds for COVID-19 prevention and control. That evening, one fan sent him 333 of the platform’s most expensive gifts — in all, it totaled close to one million yuan ($150,000).

Combined with similar gifts from other fans, the event raised around 1.2 million yuan. It left Chen speechless. On air, he just managed to mutter, “In the whole nation, this is today’s greatest... uh...”

As always, he donated the entire amount to charity, keeping nothing for himself. He also uploaded the donation certificate and details of all the transactions on his online profiles.

For some online users, however, the transparency alone wasn’t enough. His ability to gather astronomical sums of money in a matter of moments only fueled controversy.

 

 

[Randy W]

On 5/12/2022 at 8:21 PM, Randy W said:

新华报业网 > 首页 > 正文

国家移民管理局：从严限制中国公民非必要出境活动

 

2022/05/12 17:27  中国新闻网  

 

　　中新网5月12日电 据国家移民管理局微信公众号消息，5月10日下午，国家移民管理局党组召开会议专题研究加强疫情防控等工作，会议要求，要严格执行从严从紧的出入境政策，从严限制中国公民非必要出境活动，严格出入境证件审批签发。

　　会议要求，要从严从实从细落实疫情防控各项措施，巩固拓展疫情防控战略成果。要全力配合打赢大上海保卫战，加强对上海边检总站和公安机关出入境管理部门的指导，调动全系统力量全力以赴支持配合上海实现社会面动态清零。要把北京作为重中之重，严格执行北京联防联控机制要求，大力支持北京疫情防控工作。要督促吉林边检总站落实精准防控措施，持续巩固吉林疫情防控成果。

　　要指导各边检总站和出入境管理部门，支持配合地方打好疫情防控歼灭战、阻击战。要严格执行从严从紧的出入境政策，从严限制中国公民非必要出境活动，严格出入境证件审批签发。要严密边境口岸管控，严防滞留境外人员抵边聚集、非法入境带入疫情，确保人、物、环境同防同控，问题隐患动态清零。要严打非法出入境活动，全面深入开展“獴猎”行动—2022，深入推进“三非”突出问题整治，切断边境地区非法出入境主要通道，严防疫情循违法犯罪渠道输入传播。

　　要统筹推进疫情防控和服务经济社会发展，坚决贯彻“疫情要防住、经济要稳住、发展要安全”的要求，积极研究推出便民利企、助企纾困政策措施，助力“六稳”“六保”，保证口岸畅通，为必要的人员往来提供优质高效服务。要强化内部防疫，严格防护标准，严密防护措施，确保队伍安全稳定。要压实工作责任，加强组织领导，强化党建引领，改进综合保障，严肃工作纪律，切实把疫情防控和服务经济社会发展任务落到实处。

　　会议要求，要认真履行移民管理职责任务，始终胸怀“两个大局”、心系“国之大者”，坚持正风肃纪反腐与服务经济社会发展一体推进，为稳住经济基本盘作出积极贡献。要加快推动便民利企政策措施落地，全面贯彻以人民为中心的发展思想，进一步深化移民管理领域“放管服”改革，深入开展 “我为群众办实事”实践活动，加快落实各项便民利企政策措施。

　　要严密防范化解重大风险，持续深化专项严打整治，严厉打击跨境违法犯罪、整治重点地区“三非”问题，不断净化边境辖区社会治安秩序，为经济社会发展提供良好的移民管理环境。要规范权力运行，全面实行行政许可事项清单管理，完善政务服务事项基本目录及实施清单，严格执行执法执勤“六个严禁”，始终做到严格公正规范文明执法，坚决惩治群众身边腐败和不正之风。要严格落实“过紧日子”要求，大力推进节约型机关创建，严格落实节能减排指标要求，严格规范公务用车管理，严控“三公”和会议、差旅、培训等经费，切实把宝贵的财政资金用在发展紧要处、基层急需上。

Xinhua Newspaper Network  >  Home  > Text

National Immigration Administration: Strictly restrict non-essential outbound activities of Chinese citizens

 

2022/05/12 17:27   China News Network  

 

　　China News Service, May 12. According to the WeChat public account of the National Immigration Administration, on the afternoon of May 10, the party group of the National Immigration Administration held a special meeting to study and strengthen epidemic prevention and control. The entry-exit policy strictly restricts the non-essential outbound activities of Chinese citizens, and strictly approves and issues entry-exit documents.

　　The meeting called for the strict and practical implementation of various measures for epidemic prevention and control, and the consolidation and expansion of the results of the epidemic prevention and control strategy. It is necessary to fully cooperate to win the battle to defend Shanghai, strengthen the guidance of the Shanghai General Inspection Station and the exit and entry management departments of the public security organs, and mobilize the entire system to support and cooperate with Shanghai to achieve a dynamic social zero. We must make Beijing a top priority, strictly implement the requirements of the Beijing joint prevention and control mechanism, and vigorously support Beijing's epidemic prevention and control work. It is necessary to urge the Jilin Frontier Inspection Station to implement precise prevention and control measures, and continue to consolidate the achievements of Jilin epidemic prevention and control.

　　It is necessary to guide all frontier inspection stations and entry-exit management departments, and support and cooperate with local governments to fight the war of annihilation and blockade of epidemic prevention and control. It is necessary to strictly implement strict and strict entry and exit policies, strictly restrict non-essential exit activities of Chinese citizens, and strictly approve and issue exit and entry documents. It is necessary to strictly control border ports, strictly prevent stranded overseas people from gathering at the border, and illegal entry into the epidemic, ensuring that people, objects, and the environment are prevented and controlled simultaneously, and hidden problems are dynamically cleared. It is necessary to crack down on illegal entry and exit activities, carry out the "Meerkat Hunting" campaign in an all-round and in-depth manner - 2022, further promote the rectification of prominent "three non-existent" problems, cut off the main channels for illegal entry and exit in border areas, and strictly prevent the spread of the epidemic through illegal and criminal channels.

　　It is necessary to coordinate the promotion of epidemic prevention and control and serve economic and social development, resolutely implement the requirements of "epidemic prevention, economic stability, and development safety", actively research and introduce policies and measures to facilitate the people, benefit enterprises, and help enterprises to help the "six stability" "Six guarantees" to ensure smooth ports and provide high-quality and efficient services for necessary personnel exchanges. It is necessary to strengthen internal epidemic prevention, strict protection standards, and strict protective measures to ensure the safety and stability of the team. It is necessary to consolidate work responsibilities, strengthen organizational leadership, strengthen the leadership of party building, improve comprehensive security, strict work discipline, and effectively implement the tasks of epidemic prevention and control and serving economic and social development.

　　The meeting called for conscientiously fulfilling the responsibilities and tasks of immigration management, always keeping in mind the "two big picture" and "the big one in the country", insisting on the integrated promotion of upright conduct, discipline and anti-corruption and serving economic and social development, and making positive contributions to stabilizing the economic fundamentals. . It is necessary to accelerate the implementation of policies and measures to facilitate the people and benefit enterprises, fully implement the people-centered development philosophy, further deepen the reform of "decentralization, management and services" in the field of immigration management, carry out in-depth practice activities of "I do practical things for the people", and speed up the implementation of various conveniences for the people. corporate policy measures.

　　It is necessary to strictly prevent and defuse major risks, continue to deepen the special crackdown and rectification, severely crack down on cross-border crimes, rectify the "three illegal" problems in key areas, continuously purify the social security order in border areas, and provide a good immigration management environment for economic and social development. It is necessary to standardize the operation of power, comprehensively implement the list management of administrative licensing items, improve the basic catalogue and implementation list of government service items, strictly implement the "six prohibitions" on law enforcement duties, always implement strict, fair, standardized and civilized law enforcement, and resolutely punish the corrupt and unjust people around the masses. wind. It is necessary to strictly implement the requirements of "living a tight life", vigorously promote the establishment of energy-saving institutions, strictly implement the requirements for energy conservation and emission reduction indicators, strictly regulate the management of official vehicles, strictly control "three public affairs" and funds for conferences, travel, training, etc., and effectively put valuable The financial funds are used in the development of critical areas and the urgent needs of the grassroots.

 

 

good news! The Chinese Immigration Bureau has released a white list of "essential entry and exit"!

CIIC International IEBC 2022-05-26 09:50 Posted onTianjin

On the afternoon of May 23, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference at which the Chinese Immigration Bureau officially announced three major contents.

• Not encouraged to travel abroad

• Try not to leave the country if it is not necessary or urgent

• A specific list of "essential and urgent" reasons for leaving the country is given

 

The list of "essential exit" and "non-essential exit" was officially announced at the press conference.

 

"Necessary departure" list↓

 

 

Aspect 1: Anti-epidemic transportation and medical care

1. Participate in anti-epidemic

2. Medical Assistance

3. Deliver disaster relief supplies

4. Transportation of production and living materials

 

The second area: employment and labor

5. Participate in key engineering projects

6. Organize labor dispatch

7. Employment

 

The third aspect: academic research

 

8. Business

9. Research

10. Study Abroad

11. Exam

12. Academic exchange activities

 

Aspect 4: Personal Special Circumstances

13. Seek medical attention

14. Care and visit of critically ill patients

15. Dealing with bereavement of relatives

16. Caring for the elderly, children, pregnant women

17. Attend a relative's wedding graduation ceremony

18. Family Reunion

19. Necessary matters such as handling overseas emergencies

20. Other handling of urgent personal matters.

 

 

For particularly urgent situations ,

There will also be a "green channel" facility .

 

"Non-essential departure" situation↓

1. Group travel abroad

2. Personal travel abroad

3. Visiting friends

3. Go to war and turmoil,

Countries and regions with tense situation and unstable security

(Strengthen reminder and persuasion, it is recommended to leave the country temporarily)

4. Possessing false or fraudulent certificates, etc.,

(Prohibit leaving the country according to law and deal with it according to regulations)

[Randy W]

Math books outrage China with 'ugly, sexually suggestive, pro-American' images

from CNN

Some Chinese internet users have criticized the pictures of children with small, drooping, wide-set eyes and big foreheads as ugly, offensive and racist.
 

Quote

 

China has ordered a nationwide review of school textbooks after illustrations deemed ugly, sexually suggestive and secretly pro-American caused public uproar.

The news has alarmed some experts and parents who fear the campaign is turning into a political witch hunt and represents an unnecessary tightening of the country's already stringent censorship of cultural publications.
The drawings, found in a series of math textbooks that have been used by Chinese primary schools for nearly a decade, are controversial for various reasons.

 . . .

But the campaign is not only about aesthetic and moral values -- there is an ideological component as well. Textbooks have been front and center in Chinese leader Xi Jinping's efforts to tighten ideological control over the country's youth and fend off the influence of "Western values."

Under Xi, the Chinese government has banned foreign teaching materials -- including textbooks and classic novels -- in all public primary and secondary schools, stating that all teaching materials "must reflect the will of the party and the country."

The criticism of the textbooks has also turned into personal attacks on the illustrators.

Wu Yong, whose art studio designed the illustrations, was accused of being a spy for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Even Wu's alma mater, the Academy of Arts & Design of China's prestigious Tsinghua University, was not spared the wrath of suspicious nationalist users.

 

 

[Randy W]

 

Chinese pig breeders go hi-tech after calls from President Xi Jinping to boost food security

China’s pig breeders are going hi-tech to develop pigs that grow faster, need less feed and produce bigger litters

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/1245410342661955/

[Randy W]

On 3/2/2020 at 9:18 PM, Randy W said:

from the SCMP

 

https://www.scmp.com/business/companies/article/3064550/hong-kongs-iconic-jumbo-floating-restaurant-feted-queen-tom

 

 

 

Hong Kong’s iconic Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurants that feted the Queen, Tom Cruise, to close ‘until further notice’ as viral outbreak dents revival efforts

 

Hong Kong’s iconic Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurants will close their doors this week ‘until further notice’ as the coronavirus outbreak slams the food and beverage industry already reeling from social unrest last year.

 

Both restaurants, located in Aberdeen Harbour on the south side of Hong Kong Island, are collectively known as Jumbo Kingdom.

 

Built in the style of a Ming dynasty palace, the red, gold and green building floats in the middle of the harbour, adorned in dragons and pagodas, as a snippet of ancient Chinese architecture in Hong Kong.

 

Guests are ferried by wooden sampan boats over to the restaurants that are lit up at night, making them one of the city’s iconic tourist attractions.

Why Hong Kong's Jumbo Floating Restaurant could leave the city in a few weeks

Hong Kong could lose its iconic Jumbo Floating Restaurant as early as June 2022, after its owner said it was running out of money to fund its upkeep. The restaurant has been closed since early 2020, with its owner reporting an accumulated loss in excess of HK$100 million (US$12.7 million) after the Covid-19 outbreak devastated the tourism and catering industries already under strain since the social unrest in 2019. On May 31, part of the structure began to sink in Aberdeen Harbour. (Photo: SCMP / Sam Tsang) Related story: Hong Kong leader rejects calls to aid struggling Jumbo Floating Restaurant https://sc.mp/k9h3

 

 

[Randy W]

On 5/20/2022 at 3:49 PM, Randy W said:

Perfectly preserved hadrosaurus embryo fossil discovered in China

A rare intact dinosaur embryo fossil has been uncovered in southern China.

from the SCMP on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/scmp/videos/552900069556869/

 . . . and the Nat Geo

An unknown event buried the egg before the small creature ever took its first breath, preserving the unhatched animal for tens of millions of years in what is now southern China. Happy International Dinosaur Day!

from the NatGeo on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/NGM/posts/pfbid0w8rbt5NiCujcpSakM4zF71g64eVYgzAYb3VGg7bbxGLKhjsPwf3xmjkPS98zGbz1l

See a rare baby dinosaur curled up in its fossilized egg
One of the most complete dino embryos ever found shows the ancient infant tucked into a position that's strikingly similar to today’s unhatched chickens.

Quote

 

The stone mining company Yingliang Group discovered the egg in 2000, but another 15 years passed before anyone realized the significance of the find, when a few fragile bones exposed by a crack in the egg's surface hinted at the prize inside.

As scientists report this week in the journal iScience, nestled under the fossil egg's dimpled surface is one of the most complete dinosaur embryos ever found.

"I couldn't believe my eyes because it is so perfectly preserved," says study author Darla Zelenitsky, a paleontologist at the University of Calgary who specializes in dinosaur eggs.

Dubbed Baby Yingliang, the infant dino comes from rocks estimated to be roughly 70 million years old, though its precise age remains uncertain. The embryo is a type of oviraptorosaur—a group of beaked therapod dinosaurs closely related to modern birds that lived about 130 million to 66 million years ago. These creatures share many traits with their avian relatives, and the embryo hints at one more: a curled pre-hatching position.