Current Events

[Randy W]

Shenzhen's famous COCO (Shopping) Park Bar Street is currently being demolished. According to one of the bars, the government has instructed to upgrade the area with immediate effect. No time of resumption has been provided. Check out the video in the link to see the lively bar street a while back!

from Shenzhen Pages on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/shenzhenpages/posts/pfbid03osnGmeQQaH7UQ2XqfCUBS8exHssRVquzGzvku2ByhMnkZrYh3WmWPBoun8MrNFsl

 

Edited November 28, 2023 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Popular Chinese drink brand HeyTea pulled its collab with Jingdezhen China Ceramics Museum over the weekend after regulators determined it violated national regulations on the utilization of religious elements for commercial purposes.

https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/posts/pfbid02ZcEmz5wPum4h57Xf1Qm4ChNByNaBWAMzK9qZ8Yt34K5PZLo93Vmd2sHurUjdaFG4l

 

 

[Randy W]

Chinese logistics services have shipped over 120 billion packages this year, a record. Annual shipping volumes have now surpassed 100 billion parcels for three straight years.

Check out more Daily Tones: https://ow.ly/1XJk50QfmcC

https://www.facebook.com/100064582276939/posts/pfbid02R1uugYisbgHQDL12e57F9oaQoGJ8ZvxZ3sSsFzPE5nvMNkfWo1v6U6cCBh8MHcdwl/?mibextid=Nif5oz

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook

 

 

 

[Randy W]

Today we have a very different view of history and a very different set of values. People in the past did not believe in equality and would not recognize ordinary people as having rights. Today, we believe that people are, or at least should be, equal. This is perhaps the biggest difference between us and the people of the past. And this difference has led to a change in how historians think about the past. We are more willing to pay attention to ordinary people and understand their lives.”

from the Sixth Tone on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/sixthtone/posts/pfbid02LB8jviwQbhmcRUJvk5QC2zXnQKMF5A3vFsb818B47kx4QLgGLu4LBqZ9UNpRGN1Rl

 

 

 

[Randy W]

US visa fees could soar from early 2024 – early filing if possible is being advocated

from the Times of India

Quote

 

MUMBAI: In January 2023, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), had issued an exhaustive document, running into 469 pages, relating to fee proposal hikes across a wide spectrum, including H-1B visas.

According to immigration attorneys during the two-month comment period for the proposed rule, over 6,00 individuals and organizations criticized the proposed fee increase.

Fee hikes proposed in January 2023 could become reality in early 2024

Category	Current	Proposed (%hike)
H-1B E-registration fee	$10	$215 (2050%)
Petition (application) for a H-1B visa	$460	$780 (70%)
Petition for a L visa (intra-company transfer)	$460	$1,385 (201%)
Petition by an EB-5 investor (investment-linked green card)	$3,675	$11,160 (204%)
Petition by EB-5 investor to remove conditions on permanent resident status (with biometric services)	$3,835	$9,525 (148%)
Application for Employment Authorization (online) - Online	$410	$555 (35%)
Application for Employment Authorization (paper filing)	$410	$650 (59%)
Application to adjust to green card status (with biometric services)	$1,225	$1,540 (26%)
Application for citizenship (online or paper filing)	$640	$760 (19%)

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

'Spectacular' growth in renewables in 2023 keeps COP28 pledge within reach, says IEA

Global renewable energy capacity grew by the fastest pace in the last 20 years in 2023, which could put the world within reach of meeting a key climate target by the end of the decade, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The Paris-based agency said rapid growth of solar in China was the main driver as the world added nearly 510 gigawatts - enough to power nearly 51 million homes for a year - with Europe, the United States and Brazil also seeing record growth.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said renewable energy is on course to increase by 2 1/2 times by 2030. That would fall short of the tripling that nations agreed on at last month's annual United Nations climate talks in Dubai, but Birol said the goal is reachable. Increasing funds for clean energy in developing countries is the biggest challenge to getting to 11,000 gigawatts from the nearly 3,400 gigawatts of 2022, he said.

Renewable energy surge of 50% driven by China, IEA says

https://ground.news/article/renewables-grew-rapidly-in-2023-but-must-grow-faster-still-to-meet-climate-change-target-iea-says_405a46

 

Edited January 11 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

US urges China don't interfere in Taiwan elections

• The United States opposes any outside interference or influence in Taiwan's upcoming elections, signaling displeasure towards China
• The US plans to send an unofficial delegation to Taiwan after the elections for direct communications.

Former high-ranking American officials may be included. Washington wants to maintain the self-ruled island's status quo and stresses the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

[Randy W]

Chinese Billionaire ls Second-Biggest Foreign Owner of US Land 

Chinese billionaire Tianqiao Chen, known for his success in online gaming, is now the second-largest foreign landowner in the US, with 198,000 acres of Oregon timberland Chen's investments also include philanthropy, with donations to the California Institute of Technology and ownership of luxury properties in New York and California. Chen purchased the land in 2015 for $85 million, becoming the 82nd-largest property owner in the US. The average value of US cropland increased by 8.1% in 2023

https://ground.news/interest/china_da80d0

 

 

 

 

Edited January 11 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 China coal mine accident kills at least 8, rescue ops underway Xinhua  Rescue operations were underway after eight people died an 15 missing following an accident in a coal mine in the city of Pingdingshan, central China's Henan Province on Friday , stat news agency Xinhua reported  

https://ground.news/article/multiple-workers-missing-after-com -mine-accident-in-central-china

BEIJING, January 12./TASS/. Eight people died and another 15 are missing following an accident at a coal mine in central China's Henan Province, Xinhua reported citing local authorities Rescuers have established contact with the remaining 22 individuals. Earlier, the news agency reported that the incident occurred in the city of Pingdingshan at around 2 p.m. Beijing time (6 a.m. GMT). According to preliminary data, it was caused by a coal and gas outburst in the outer section of an intake airway. Local authorities have launched a rescue operation. The details of the incident are being clarified, and an investigation is underway. TASS

[Randy W]

 China coal mine accident kills at least 8, rescue ops underway Xinhua  Rescue operations were underway after eight people died an 15 missing following an accident in a coal mine in the city of Pingdingshan, central China's Henan Province on Friday , stat news agency Xinhua reported   BEIJING, January 12./TASS/. Eight people died and another 15 are missing following an accident at a coal mine in central China's Henan Province, Xinhua reported citing local authorities Rescuers have established contact with the remaining 22 individuals. Earlier, the news agency reported that the incident occurred in the city of Pingdingshan at around 2 p.m. Beijing time (6 a.m. GMT). According to preliminary data, it was caused by a coal and gas outburst in the outer section of an intake airway. Local authorities have launched a rescue operation. The details of the incident are being clarified, and an investigation is underway. TASS

[Randy W]

Microsoft tops Apple as world's valuable public company Microsoft surpassed Apple as the most valuable publicly traded company, with a market cap of $2.89 trilion, compared to Apple's $2.87 trillion. Redburn Atlantic Equities analyst downgraded Apple, citing limited iPhone growth and anticipated underwhelming March quarter. Microsoft's Al capabilities have boosted its market value, with a $1 trillion increase in the past vear

[Randy W]

 

 

China’s runaway hit TV drama “Blossoms Shanghai” concluded Tuesday, drawing curtains on its dazzling portrayal of the city in the 1990s. 

 

In this era of rapid development, the city’s residents saw the skyline transform as high-rises began dotting the landscape. It was also marked by significant lifestyle changes — people embraced new fashion styles, started using mobile phones, and began investing in the stock market.

 

Sixth Tone presents a selection of photos from the 1990s that showcase the city’s evolution: https://ow.ly/FNTW50QqmG9

[Randy W]

The eruption was the second in four weeks on the Reykjanes peninsula, and the fifth since 2021. 

from the SCMP

https://fb.watch/pB-9nD0yo0/?mibextid=Nif5oz

[Randy W]

About 1,000 tourists trapped in China's Xinjiang after avalanches

 

Around 1,000 tourists remain stranded in a remote holiday village after avalanches hit China's northwestern Xinjiang region with meters-high snow and fickle weather impeding evacuation, state TV reported on Tuesday.

 

Road access to Hemu village, a scenic destination near the borders of Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia where the tourists were trapped, has been cut off by avalanches for several days now. The village is situated in Xinjiang's Altay Prefecture where continuous snowfall in some areas has lasted 10 days, it said.

 

About 1,000 tourists trapped in China's Xinjiang after avalanches

https://ground.news/article/about-1-000-tourists-trapped-in-chinas-xinjiang-after-avalanches

https://ground.news/article/about-1-000-tourists-trapped-in-chinas-xinjiang-after-avalanches

 

[Randy W]

https://fb.watch/pCxfm8TVmZ/?mibextid=Nif5oz   Beijing UFO  'UFO' spotted by Beijing residents Description A mysterious 'glowing object' was spotted flying over Beijing and other parts of China on Sunday evening. An astronomer suggested it could have been a SpaceX rocket launching the latest Starlink satellites  Read more: https://sc.mp/jir8

 

https://sc.mp/jir8