China-News.org: Latest Updates & Insightful Analysis on China's Events and Trends

 On August 13th, it was a weekend. Ms. Cheng and her husband in Beijing felt their throats itch, thinking it was due to the air conditioning being too cold and didn't think much of it. However, the next day, both of them started experiencing symptoms such as coughing and body aches. Her husband even had a fever for three consecutive days and tested positive for the antigen on August 16th. Ms. Cheng mentioned that this is the third time she has tested positive for the antigen, following instances at the end of last year and before May this year. By August 19th, Ms. Cheng and her husband had tested negative for the antigen, but she still experienced intermittent eye socket pain and coughing. Is the "Third Wave" coming so soon? In response to this, some interviewed doctors told Red Star News reporters that based on the hospital's cases, "First Yang" and "Second Yang" cases are more common, and "Third Yang" cases are very rare. In most cases

According to a report from the Urban Times citing a video from Feidian Video, on August 23rd in Shanghai Metro Line 4, a woman named Zhao offered her seat to an elderly man and was gifted two boxes of blueberries as a gesture of appreciation, attracting attention. Zhao explained that she had offered her seat to an elderly man with gray hair while on the subway after work. The old man patted his shoulder and took out two boxes of blueberries from his bag to thank her. Zhao mentioned that they were pulling and tugging in the aisle for a while, and her face turned red. Fortunately, she had a box of mangoes in her bag, so she gave it back to him. She felt that encountering such a thing in our fast-paced life is heartwarming. When she got off the train, she saw the old man waving goodbye, and Zhao expressed regret, realizing that they probably wouldn't have a chance to meet again. Netizens responded with warm-hearted comments, saying, "What a good young person." "The olde

 On July 21, 2021, the stock price of "Pien Tze Huang" reached a historical high of 491.88 yuan, and its market capitalization reached nearly 300 billion yuan. Reporter: Yao Qian Engaging in unauthorized business and failing to fulfill responsibilities correctly... More than two years after retiring, the former chairman of "Pien Tze Huang," Liu Jianshun, suddenly faced news of expulsion from the Communist Party. On the afternoon of August 22, the Zhangzhou Discipline Inspection Commission in Fujian Province released this news. During his tenure from 2014 to 2020, the stock price of "Pien Tze Huang" increased by about 10 times, and revenue soared from 1.45 billion yuan in 2014 to 6.5 billion yuan in 2020. It was during this period that Liu Jianshun proposed the development strategy of "One Core, Two Wings" for "Pien Tze Huang," which aimed to strengthen the cosmetic, daily-use, and health product sectors while solidifying the foundation

 On August 23rd around 17:30, a traffic accident occurred in the Fenghuangling Tunnel of the Cangyu Expressway, located within the jurisdiction of Wutai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. A long-distance bus collided with the tunnel wall during its travel. Following the accident, local fire departments, highway patrol, and other relevant authorities mobilized personnel for rescue efforts. It's reported that this accident resulted in 5 fatalities and multiple injuries. The cause of the accident is under further investigation. (CCTV reporter: Yue Xuhui, Kang Xiaoyu) (Source: CCTV News App)

On August 24th, there was an online report about a villager in Donghai County, Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, who was engulfed in flames and fell from a building. The "Donghai County Micro Platform" issued a situation report: On the morning of August 24, 2023, the Anfeng Town Government organized the demolition of illegal construction. At the scene, an individual set themselves on fire and self-inflicted injuries before falling from the roof of a one-story building. The on-site personnel promptly transported the injured person to the hospital, and the injured person is currently receiving medical treatment. After the incident, the county committee and county government attached great importance to the matter and have formed an investigation team. Further investigation into the situation is currently underway.

 In recent days, reports have indicated that some patients attempting to book appointments with specialist clinics have found that scalpers are reselling appointment slots on internet platforms, marking up the registration fees by several hundred yuan. This phenomenon has sparked discussions about the "hidden rules" within the medical system and their impact on society. The emergence of medical appointment scalpers highlights some problems within the healthcare system. Firstly, the availability of specialist appointment slots is limited, leading to a demand that outstrips supply. This leaves some patients in urgent need of medical attention struggling to secure appointments, thereby creating a market for appointment scalping. Secondly, there may be unfair internal distribution within hospitals or among doctors, with certain appointment slots being hoarded by scalpers, further exacerbating the scarcity of specialist appointments. Lastly, for patients, paying additional fees mi

 On the 22nd, a news item claiming "A real estate company in Zhuhai launches the first shot of '50% off' property sales – a well-known project in Jinwan District has a registered price of 28,000 RMB/sqm, and the developer is selling it for 14,000-15,000 RMB/sqm" gained widespread attention on social media. First Financial News learned from multiple sources that the mentioned project refers to "Jinwan·Baolong City," located in the Jinwan District of Zhuhai's Aviation New Town. This project is jointly developed by listed property companies Baolong Real Estate and Yageo Property. It mainly targets first-time homebuyers, with unit sizes ranging from approximately 68 to 110 square meters. In 2020, the project obtained its presale permit, and some of the units are expected to be delivered by June of next year. "(The developer) recently adjusted the registered price. The initial registered price was around 24,000 to 28,000 RMB/sqm, and the actual average s

 Cover News reporters Shi Wei, Lin Jueyao, intern Peng Jingwan On August 18th, a set of chat screenshots caused widespread attention on social media. The chat screenshots claimed that a Myanmar phone scam gang had issued more than 20 rewards for those who had fled the gang, with the highest reward amount reaching 600,000 yuan. In the rewards, the identity information of three individuals was complete and clear. Cover News reporters separately contacted the registered residences of these three individuals and learned that one of them had gone missing in Myanmar three years ago and is currently one of the "persuasion to return personnel" in Myanmar. The situations of the other two individuals are being verified locally. Rumors spread that more than 20 people fled the phone scam group and were rewarded, including 3 Myanmar women Many netizens introduced that the above-mentioned chat screenshots are from a foreign chat software called "飞机" ("Airplane"), also k

 As of August 24th, at 11:00 AM, the movie "Ran Dong" released during the Qixi Festival has been in theaters for three days. It has received a rating of 6.2 on Douban and a box office revenue of only 17.944 million RMB. In the summer when movies like "The Disappearance of My Mother" and "All In" have successively crossed the 3 billion mark in box office, "Ran Dong" seems to be less popular. The phrase "The box office of 'Ran Dong' is like douzhi'er (a traditional Chinese drink made from fermented mung beans), relying entirely on netizens' curiosity" has gained attention and become a hot topic on Weibo. Directed by Chen Zheyi (Singaporean), the film stars Zhou Dongyu, Liu Haoran, and Qu Chu Xiao. It tells the story of three young people who meet briefly in Yanji and unlock their dormant desires. The characters in the film are intertwined in ambiguity and delicate emotions. Each pair of characters engages in emotional exch

 Recently, a surprisingly successful film is "All In." The box office champion of this summer's movie season is expected to be this film, with an estimated total box office in the mainland exceeding 3.8 billion, possibly even surpassing "The Disappearance of Her." The outstanding performances of the actors are crucial, but it's precisely the captivating story and plot of "All In" that have captured the audience's attention, even without the involvement of A-list celebrities. Jin Chen's outstanding performance in this film, particularly her splendid portrayal, has added a touch of brilliance to the entire movie, earning her widespread acclaim for her acting skills. Many netizens praise Jin Chen as a "gem of acting" in the domestic entertainment industry, and some even consider her an "unexpected talent" in this film. However, just as Jin Chen was beginning to shine, she unexpectedly got caught up in public debates. Her ex

 Japanese Government Announces Discharge of Fukushima Nuclear Wastewater Today (24th). Concerned about food safety risks from imported aquatic products, both the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special Administrative Region have announced bans on water product imports from 10 Japanese prefectures and cities. The question arises whether Taiwan will follow suit. According to Taiwanese media reports, Taiwan's "Food and Drug Administration" (FDA) has indicated that it currently doesn't see any risks and will not follow the ban. Lin Jin-fu, Deputy Director of Taiwan's FDA, stated that last year, they had already tested 25 aquatic products, including mackerel, saury, oysters, scallops, and eels. The remaining products will be tested after Japan's discharge. Lin Jin-fu further mentioned that, as of now, no changes indicating risks have been observed, so there won't be any changes in the regulatory measures for Japanese food for the time bein

 On August 23rd, according to a report from BaiLu Video, a woman in Zhongshan, Guangdong, claimed that on August 22nd, when a shopping mall was not open, she went to a community service station nearby to use the restroom. However, she was informed that outsiders were not allowed to use it. In the video, the woman asked to use the restroom, and the staff member said, "We don't have a restroom on the first floor, you can use it if there is one, but you can't use the restroom on the second floor." The woman then questioned, "I want to know why I can't use it." The staff member responded, "You are an outsider." The person involved, Ms. Liang, mentioned that the front desk staff member said the restroom on the 2nd floor was not for public use. She couldn't tolerate it and wanted them to make an exception, but they refused. They even suggested she find another restroom, which she found unreasonable and frustrating. She asked for a reasonable expl

 Recently, a netizen posted an article stating that Dr. Zhang, a Ph.D. student from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was deceived into going to Myanmar on August 16, 2022. She was forced to work 18 hours a day and was closely monitored. On August 24, Zhang's brother informed Red Star News that, through concerted efforts, Zhang has been successfully rescued from Myanmar's Myawaddy Zone and will be returning to the country soon. He told reporters that they confirmed it was her through a video call and she is unharmed. Previous reports: On August 17, according to a video report from Jiupai News, a netizen claimed that their friend, a Ph.D. student, was deceived into going to Myanmar on August 16, 2022, and has been there for a year. She was forced to work 18 hours a day and was closely monitored. On August 17, the reporter contacted the Ph.D. student's girlfriend, Ms. Yang, who stated that her boyfriend graduated from the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy o

 Recently, in the variety show "Let's Skewer Together," a special eating segment featuring Du Haitao sparked widespread discussion. In the video, he daringly ate a centipede, repeatedly putting it in and out of his mouth, bringing unexpected surprise and shock to the audience. This scene quickly spread across the internet, generating discussions and attention from numerous netizens and viewers. As a star in the entertainment industry, Du Haitao has been loved by the audience for his humor and quirky image. However, his act of eating a centipede on the variety show has triggered different reactions. Some viewers see it as a brave and amusing attempt, praising his boldness and unique approach. They believe that such innovative performance can bring a sense of freshness to the audience and enhance the show's entertainment value. Nevertheless, some viewers have questioned and criticized Du Haitao's behavior. They find such performance to be excessively disgusting and

 On August 23rd, the Jack Ma Foundation released an official video showing that Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, participated in the "Principal's Appointment" Rural Principal Program 2022 Selection Meeting organized by the Jack Ma Foundation in Hangzhou through a video link. During the event, he shared insights he gained from agriculture in terms of education. "In recent years, I have been learning how to do agriculture well, whether it's planting grass, tea, grapes, or studying fish farming, cattle breeding, and winemaking. I found that successful agriculture doesn't necessarily happen in resource-rich areas, but often in places with unique thinking and imaginative people," said Jack Ma during the video link. He revealed his recent experiences in learning about agriculture and expressed that the lessons from agriculture have made him look back at rural education, emphasizing the importance of nurturing children's imagination and unique thinking. The

 August 24th News: Staying up late is harmful to one's health, but due to various reasons, many people still choose to stay up late. However, doing so for an extended period can lead to a weakened immune system and an increased risk of various diseases. According to reports, recently in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, a woman was diagnosed with allergic purpura due to her prolonged habit of staying up late, which resulted in a weakened immune system. The woman, who is 32 years old this year, mentioned that for the past two to three years, her sleep has been poor, and she typically goes to bed around 1 AM. In July, she noticed spots on her legs accompanied by itching. By August 10th, the symptoms recurred, and she sought medical attention, leading to a diagnosis of allergic purpura. Fortunately, timely discovery and treatment prevented significant harm to her body, with the main manifestation being skin-related symptoms and mild pain in her finger joints. The long-term impact of continuo

 In recent times, some major real estate companies have faced liquidity crises, once again raising concerns about the real estate market. The rapidly growing real estate market, which has seen years of expansion, is now facing serious challenges. At the same time, data from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that real estate investment decreased by 8.5% year-on-year in the first seven months of this year, remaining in negative growth for several consecutive months. The real estate industry continues to slump. How will this affect economic growth? Why do regulatory policies keep evolving but with unsatisfactory outcomes? What kind of differentiation might the real estate market experience in the future? Can buying property still lead to appreciation? On August 22nd, Yao Yang, the Dean of Peking University's National School of Development, provided insights on the recent real estate market in the "Insightful Perspectives" column. He believes that real estate is still a

 Several low-income individuals without fixed jobs frequently visited banks to withdraw cash, with an average withdrawal exceeding 30 million yuan per person, triggering anti-money laundering alerts by the banks. Recently, the High-tech Sub-Bureau of Xi'an Public Security Bureau solved this major money laundering case. On August 24th, the investigators informed reporters that the police had arrested 10 suspects in the case, involving a total sum of 503 million yuan. In early April, the Economic Investigation Brigade of the High-tech Sub-Bureau of Xi'an Public Security Bureau received reports from a certain bank about abnormal transactions involving large cash withdrawals. The police immediately established contact with the Anti-Money Laundering Office of the People's Bank of China Xi'an Branch and conducted an investigation into the relevant illegal activities. Initial investigations by the police found that the 7 individuals involved had no fixed jobs and relatively lo

 Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 19th - Title: Injecting New Momentum into BRICS Cooperation, Creating a New Situation for South-South Cooperation - The International Community Looks Forward to President Xi Jinping's Attendance at the 15th BRICS Summit and State Visit to South Africa Xinhua News Agency Reporter At the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa, President Xi Jinping will attend the 15th BRICS Summit of the BRICS leaders in Johannesburg, South Africa from August 21st to 24th, and pay a state visit to South Africa. During his stay in South Africa, President Xi Jinping will also co-chair the Leaders' Dialogue between China and Africa with President Ramaphosa. The international community is highly concerned about President Xi Jinping's visit. Overseas individuals from all walks of life expressed their anticipation to hear President Xi Jinping's important propositions on strengthening BRICS cooperation, promoting South-South c

  On the morning of August 24th local time, President Xi Jinping attended a special press conference during the 15th BRICS Summit held in Johannesburg. During the conference, it was announced that Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Iran, and Ethiopia were formally invited to join the BRICS family. In his important speech, Xi Jinping pointed out that BRICS countries are all nations with significant influence, bearing important responsibilities for world peace and development. During this summit, we engaged in in-depth discussions on the current international situation, BRICS cooperation, and other issues, reaching broad consensus and issuing the summit declaration, achieving fruitful outcomes. Xi Jinping emphasized that the leaders of the five countries unanimously agreed to invite Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Iran, and Ethiopia to become members of the BRICS family. China congratulates these countries and highly appreciates the effort

 Reference News Network reported on August 24th that according to Reuters, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Agency announced on August 24th that the Ukrainian Navy and the Army Intelligence Department conducted a "special operation" during the night, and Ukrainian military forces landed on the Russia-controlled Crimean Peninsula. The report states that this operation, which Reuters cannot independently confirm, indicates that the Ukrainian military has the capability to launch ground operations in Crimea. The report mentions that a brief video released by the Ukrainian side shows a small speedboat sailing near the coastline at night. Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Agency stated that the landing took place on the western end of the Crimean Peninsula, near the settlements of Olenivka and Maiak. According to a statement from Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Agency, "The special forces traveling on the boat landed in the areas of Olenivka and Maiak." The stateme

 On August 24th, a large number of sea shrimps suddenly appeared on a beach in Guangdong, which attracted the attention of netizens. As for what exactly happened, it's not clear, but the online discussions were certainly heated. Some netizens joked, "Is Mount Fuji about to erupt? Do these shrimps sense danger?" Other netizens commented, "They'd rather go into my stomach than into the sea. It's not necessary to say it's dangerous. They might not reach China so quickly, but after 200 days, who knows." At 1:00 PM local time on August 24th, Japan started discharging nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea, with the contaminated water flowing into the Pacific Ocean through a 1-kilometer underwater tunnel. The safety issues related to discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea have sparked controversy. Now, the question arises: Will you still eat seafood in the future?

 According to South Korean Yonhap News Agency's report on the 24th, on the day Japan started discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the sea (Thursday, 24th), several seafood markets in South Korea were almost deserted, and fishermen expressed concerns about their future livelihoods. Yonhap News Agency reported that the famous Jagalchi Market in Busan, known for seafood, and the nearby Moraeshigetang Town (famous for its many raw fish restaurants), were almost devoid of people on Thursday. The Dongmun Fish Market in the southern part of Jeju Island also had few customers. According to the report, a seafood merchant who had been in business for over 20 years at the Dongmun Fish Market on Jeju Island said, "In the past, around 10 AM and 5-7 PM (these two time slots), even during slow business periods, the market used to be busy. But these days, the market is like an empty highway with no customers." He added, "Business was better even during the COVID-19 pandemic.&

 China National Salt Industry Group Statement on Ensuring the Supply of the Salt Market Due to the impact of Japan's discharge of radioactive-contaminated water into the sea, some regions in China have experienced a phenomenon of panic buying of table salt. As the only state-owned central enterprise in China's salt industry, ensuring the supply and quality safety of the salt market is our top priority. In response to the current market fluctuations, we hereby make the following statement: China implements designated production management for table salt. The sources of table salt in China mainly consist of three types: rock salt, lake salt, and sea salt. Currently, the proportion of table salt product structure in China is 87% rock salt, 10% sea salt, and 3% lake salt. Both rock salt and lake salt production are unaffected by Japan's nuclear pollution. China National Salt Industry Group is the world's largest producer of table salt, with an annual production capacity of

 Recently, a sudden mudslide brought endless sorrow and pain to the villagers of Fengqing County, Lincang City, Yunnan Province. This irresistible natural disaster claimed the lives of three elderly people, plunging the entire village into mourning. At the moment the mudslide occurred, villagers were quietly spending an ordinary day at home. Suddenly, violent torrents and rolling mud and rocks swept away their homes, trapping the three elderly people in danger. Young Ming witnessed it all and bravely shouted for the neighboring elderly people to flee quickly, but they were carried away by the torrent, passing away from this world. This tragedy shook the entire village, and everyone felt boundless pain and regret for losing loved ones. The three elderly individuals who were lost were important pillars and wise figures in the village, playing significant roles. They were always willing to help and care for others, serving as role models and sources of support for the villagers. Yet now,