Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on aviation management, disease control, Russia, Ukraine, U.S., CCP, Taiwan
News (1)
South Korean antitrust agency approves merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines
Images : Researcher's Pictures
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), South Korea’s anti-monopoly enforcement agency, said on 22 February 2022 that it had conditionally approved the acquisition of 63.88% of Asiana Airlines by Korean Air. This is the first airline acquisition during the covid pandemic.
The Fair Trade Commission decided to approve the merger of the two companies but required the two airlines to transfer their respective airport slots and transportation rights to other airlines, limiting the increase in freight rates. Accordingly, Korean Air must implement the above-mentioned structural measures within 10 years after the acquisition of Asiana Airlines shares.
Specifically, for 26 international routes and 8 domestic routes, the Justice Committee of FTC requires Korean Air and Asiana Airlines to return the airport time slots owned by them to the airports when a new airline opens a route or an existing airline increases the number of flights. For the 11 routes that require transportation rights, if the new airline opens a route or the existing airline increases the number of flights, the two companies should also return the transportation right.
For all international routes, when new airline entities requests to transfer or sell foreign airport time slots, sign a freight consolidation agreement, jointly use domestic airport facilities, and obtain the right to use airspace, the two airlines must not refuse without justifiable reasons.
The Justice Committee also decided to require the two companies to implement "action measures", that is, after the merger of the two companies, the freight rate increase on each route shall not exceed the rate of price increase in 2019. Compared to 2019, the mileage regime must not be more disadvantageous to passengers, and the two airlines must submit a mileage merger proposal within six months of the merger.
The Justice Commission held that when the two airlines and their five subsidiaries merged, a total of 119 routes overlapped, and analyzed the extent to which they restricted competition. The 119 routes include 65 international passenger routes, 22 domestic passenger routes, 20 international cargo routes, 6 domestic cargo routes, and 6 routes including aircraft maintenance routes. Among them, 40 passenger routes may have problems restricting competition.
The acquisition of Asiana Airlines by Korean Air is the first merger of a major Korean airline, and it is also the first time that the Justice Committee has asked the two companies to implement structural and action measures for the merger. Cho Sung-wook, chairman of the Justice Committee, said the move will resolve the uncertainty of the airline industry as soon as possible, prevent the merger of the two companies from affecting consumers, and will lay a solid foundation for the consolidation of the Korean air transport market competition system.
So far, Thailand and other countries have completed the review of the acquisition, and the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, the European Union, Japan and China are reviewing it.
News (2)
China Eastern Airlines becomes the first Chinese airline to join IATA Pay
Image : Researcher's Picture
China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd. signed an agreement with the International Air Transport Association (IATA), becoming the first Chinese airline to join IATA Pay. Through IATAPay, China Eastern expands the payment methods for passengers, improves cash flow, and achieves the business goal of cost reduction and gain.
Developed by IATA, IATA Pay is an innovative payment method for travelers to purchase airline products and services online. Based on the Open Banking framework, IATA Pay is an instant, secure and cost-competitive payment option. In the post-epidemic era, IATA Pay provides new ideas for China Eastern to reduce payment costs and strictly control transaction risks, as well as new solutions for the recovery of international flights.
For airlines, the benefits of IATA Pay include:
Service fees are lower than other payment methods, saving airlines up to 93% of payment costs;
More secure, IATA only cooperates with Class A banks in the local market to provide IATA Pay services, in line with and abide by local laws and regulations;
Faster cash transfer, airlines can receive payments from passengers instantly/nearly instantly;
The simple and fast payment process reduces the lost order rate during the passenger payment process.
On the passenger side, get new payment options for simple, fast and secure payments for air tickets and related products and services via online or mobile banking, including direct payments from personal bank accounts to airline bank accounts.
IATA Pay has been implemented in 11 markets (Germany, UK, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, Hong Kong and India). This year, IATA will continue to expand the deployment of IATA Pay in Asia, Europe and the Americas, helping airlines access more cost-effective and secure payments in more markets. Emirates is the first airline in the world to launch the IATA Pay service.
IATA understands that new technologies and digitalization will drive changes in the way air tickets are distributed and paid.
With a global vision and keen insight into the development trend of the industry, IATA continues to launch "New Distribution Capability" (NDC), "New Generation IATA Settlement System" (NewGen ISS), "OneOrder", "Payment Transparency". "(TIP) and other initiatives and projects to actively serve and meet the needs of airlines, sales agents and air passengers.
Among them, China BSP has realized the real-time BOP settlement of NDC and GDS omni-channel, the punctuality rate and accuracy rate of China BSP ticket settlement are as high as 100%, and the over-guarantee arrears rate is zero. China's domestic freight settlement services, CASS and CASS Associate, help airlines improve cash liquidity, reduce operating costs, prevent operating risks and expand sales capabilities.
News (3)
Spring Airlines launches the world's first NFT digital collection
Image : Researcher's Picture
On 22 February 2022, Spring Airlines released the first batch of limited-edition NFT digital collections in the aviation industry on the NFT China platform, with 5 models of 20 pieces each, and a global limit of 100 pieces.
Spring Airlines explores in various directions such as digital innovation, brand rejuvenation, and product value delivery, and communicates with users through short videos, live broadcasts and other means. The launch of "99 series air tickets", "fly when you want to fly", etc. have become brand characteristics.
Spring Airlines said that it will actively respond to the "14th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Shanghai Electronic Information Industry" to "promote the development of new terminals that deepen perception and interaction and the construction of systematic virtual content, and explore industry applications".
The launch of the digital NFT is the first step in the exploration of digital art and digital economy in the aviation industry. Relying on its own technology research, brand IP, etc., Spring Airlines will continue to explore informatization, dataization, and intelligent innovation in the aviation industry, and start a journey of digital product transformation.
The digital collections released by Spring Airlines this time are created with "love" as the original intention, and choose 22 February 2022, Tuesday, the 22nd day of the first month of the lunar calendar, with a total of 8 pieces 2. Because "2" sounds like "love", this day is regarded as the most "loving" day in two thousand years. At the same time, Spring Airlines launched a limited digital collection for the Year of the Tiger on the most loving day. The playful and lovely Spring Airlines mascot "Paile Monkey" wears a cute tiger hat, which is very memorable. Choosing the most "loving" days shows Spring Airlines' friendly and loving service image; at the same time, it combines ice and snow sports to promote sports spirit, showing Spring Airlines' beautiful vision of always pursuing excellence.
Spring Airlines said that all the proceeds from the sale of the digital collection will be donated to the Shanghai Charity Foundation Spring and Autumn Let Love Fly Special Fund for charity projects. Spring Airlines and Spring and Autumn Let Aifeixiang Charity Fund are committed to ecological and environmental protection, education poverty alleviation, employment poverty alleviation and other public welfare projects that are integrated into national and urban strategies.
The airline says it continues to practice public welfare activities and shoulder social responsibilities.
News (4)
Spring Airlines Xi'an Branch Company was officially unveiled
Image : Web Screenshot
On 22 February 2022, Spring Airlines Xi'an Branch Company was officially unveiled. In the future, Spring Airlines will use Xi'an as its base to increase aircraft deployment and build a major air passage for domestic and international routes flying through Xi'an, so as to help build Xi'an "China's Best Transit Airport".
Xiong Jie, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Northwest Regional Administration of Civil Aviation; Chen Bo, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Western Airport Group Co., Ltd.; Wei Zhaochang, Deputy General Manager of Western Airport Group and General Manager of Xi'an Xianyang International Airport Company, and customs, border defense, public security and other units, as well as Spring Airlines Chairman Wang Yu and President Wang Zhijie attended the unveiling ceremony.
Since 2007, Spring Airlines has made its maiden flight to Xi'an. Since then, it has taken root in Xi'an and has flourished in Xi'an. It has 15 domestic destinations and 11 flights per day. Since 2020, Spring Airlines has overcome the adverse impact of the epidemic, and the passenger throughput at Xi'an Airport has increased by 27% and 14.3% respectively against the trend in two years, and the utilization efficiency per unit time is 77.9% higher than the industry average. This year, Spring Airlines will also add the Xi'an-Tonghua-Harbin routes at Xi'an Xianyang.
Spring Airlines actively implements the work requirements of the Civil Aviation Administration on transfer facilitation. With the full support and cooperation of Xi'an Xianyang, it officially joined the transfer guarantee system of Xi'an Xianyang Airport in January last year, realizing the transfer within the Spring Airlines passenger isolation area, enjoying luggage transfer and free accommodation, free catering and other high-quality transit services.
After a year of operation, the number of passengers transferring to the Spring Airlines' flights in 2021 increased by 328% year-on-year, giving full play to the function of Xianyang as a gateway hub.
At the same time, Spring Airlines has continued to increase the number of overnight flights in the northwest region, from 9 aircraft in 2020 to the current 13, with a passenger throughput of 4.72 million, a year-on-year increase of 23%. It is expected to continue to expand to 15 this year. Spring Airlines has opened 8 branch routes in the northwest region, including Yulin, Yan'an, and Ankang. During the epidemic, 5 new northwest branch routes were opened, with a transportation volume of 750,000, a year-on-year increase of 63%, which effectively promoted the development of the northwest branch market.
Spring Airlines also resolutely implements the spirit of the Northwest Regional Administration of Civil Aviation Administration's "Send warmth and ensure smooth flow for first-time passengers", and implements sincere services.
For 62 northwest routes, the airline Xi'an Branch Company has launched 99 special air tickets for the head of state to benefit the people of northwest China.
Xianyang Airport has created rich first-passenger experience activities such as the first-passenger counter, the first-passenger service, and the first-passenger popular science flight; the "warm first-passenger" theme month event was launched, during which the number of Spring Airlines passengers for the first time reached about 50% of the total number of passengers guaranteed by the airport.
Spring Airlines adheres to the original intention of "making more ordinary people affordable to fly", benefits the common people through affordable fares, serves warm passengers with sincerity, and sends invitations from the blue sky to more people in Northwest China and Xi'an.
In the future, Spring Airlines will take the third phase of the construction of Xi'an Xianyang Airport as an opportunity to continuously increase capacity, improve the route network, and promote the construction of Xi'an Xianyang Airport as an international hub.
While basing itself on the northwest and expanding its main business, Spring Airlines Xi'an Branch Company adheres to the integration and coordinated development of aviation and tourism, and makes full use of the advantages of "travel agency + airline" to deeply integrate with the development of the red tourism market in the northwest region.
News (5)
Infected during training in Wuhan, Wuchang and other districts under closure
Reporters : Chen Jie, Li Shanshan and Zhou Tian / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/22/a103354405.html / Image : Video Screenshot
There was another outbreak of local covid cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province. The 3 positive cases have now participated in training activities for 40 people for 4 consecutive days since the 17th, causing local panic. The areas involved in the positive cases include Wuchang District and Jiang'an District, and the closure and control are urgently implemented.
Online video shows that at night of 21 February, Wuhan went to block off the community overnight, and residents lined up for nucleic acid testing.
According to official reports, in the afternoon of 21 February, 3 people who came to Wuhan from other places and 1 close contact had positive nucleic acid test results. Three foreigners came to Wuhan from Beijing on the 17th to participate in the training of a cosmetic company. The locations were located in a hotel in Wuchang District and a community in Jiang'an District. At present, the authorities have implemented a closure and control of the relevant area.
Mr. Liu, a merchant near Huaqing Garden in Jiang'an District, Wuhan: "(Huaqing Garden) that community is closed, and that community is mainly for people from outside to visit relatives, come here, yes, close contacts. That person came, in Wuhan After turning around, he went to Wuchang. He went to many places, and he was investigating. He came back from Beijing. I did it (nucleic acid), I did that (nucleic acid) yesterday, and I will do it today."
A hotel staff member in Wuchang District said, "Our side has been requisitioned by the government, and now it is a quarantine hotel. We can only enter but not exit. Now. Our neighborhood is relatively serious, and the traffic in other areas is OK. There is (traffic control) because there are no people on the streets right now."
It is understood that three people who came to Wuhan from other places will need nucleic acid testing when they return to Beijing on the 20th, and they were confirmed to be positive on the 21st. There are about 40 training personnel in this company. At present, positive cases have been found among the personnel returning to Beijing and Qingdao.
Wuhan citizens revealed that some communities in Hankou District were also closed.
Mr. Li, a citizen of Wuhan, said, "There are some communities that seem to be closed. There are one or two communities in Hankou (closed). It seems that several communities next to the community where I live are all subject to nucleic acid testing."
Local cases broke out again in Wuhan, causing panic among citizens. A doctor from Union Hospital posted on Weibo that he came to work this morning, and before the ward round, several family members of patients came to ask for early discharge, saying they were afraid that they would not be able to go back after being quarantined. Some of them were even hospitalized the day before yesterday.
News (6)
The epidemic hits Wuhan again, Beijing and Qingdao are affected
Image : Video Screenshot
The CCP virus spreads everywhere in mainland China. On 21 February 2022, new outbreaks broke out in Wuhan, Beijing, and Qingdao, Shandong. All the infected persons were associated with training courses held by Nu Skin Cosmetics in Wuhan.
According to mainland media reports, Nu Skin Cosmetics Co., Ltd. held employee training classes from February 18 to 20 at the Kailai Xi Hotel in Wuchang District and Huaqingyuan Community in Jiang'an District. There were 66 participants, of which 24 had already left Wuhan.
Wuhan officials said that as of 12 pm on the 22nd, 14 confirmed cases had been found in the local area, 13 of which were students of this training class and 1 was a family member of the trainee. After identification, the virus infected by the patient is Omicron variant.
The epidemic involved Kailai Xi Hotel in Wuchang District, Huaqingyuan Community in Jiang'an District, Tongxin Garden in Jiang'an District, and Tianyue Community in Poly Times in Donghu High-tech Zone.
At present, these hotels and communities are closed, and large-scale nucleic acid testing is being carried out in relevant areas.
On the 22nd, Beijing officials also reported that there were many new local confirmed cases in Beijing that day. The infected people lived in Haidian, Xicheng, and Fengtai districts, and the cases were also related to this training class in Wuhan.
On the same day, Qingdao, Shandong also reported a confirmed case. It is said that the case was confirmed by going to the hospital on his own after finding out that he had a positive patient at his activity venue in Wuhan.
In addition to Wuhan, Beijing and Qingdao, cases have also been found in more than a dozen regions including Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Sichuan, and Yunnan. However, because the CCP has always concealed the truth, it is difficult for the outside world to know the real number of infected people.
News (7)
The number of confirmed covid cases in Hong Kong has increased exponentially. Experts speculate that the daily increase may be as high as 180,000 in March
Reporter : Zhu Ying / Editor : Hu Long / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/22/a103354785.html
Image : On 22 February 022, the interior of the Hong Kong subway was empty with only a few passengers. As the Covid-19 outbreak continues to soar, the number of people travelling in Hong Kong has dropped sharply and people are staying at home as much as possible. (Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images)
The epidemic situation in Hong Kong, China continues to intensify. There have been more than 6,000 new covid cases in a single day in a row, and the number of new deaths is also increasing rapidly. According to an epidemiological model, the daily number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong may reach 180,000 by March 2022, and the daily death toll may exceed 100. Some experts are concerned that new mutations have emerged in the Omicron mutant strain (Covi29).
The Centre for Health Protection of the Hong Kong Department of Health announced on 22 February that as of 12 am that day, there were 6,211 new confirmed cases in Hong Kong and 8,013 preliminary positive cases, and 32 confirmed patients died that day.
Zhang Zhujun, Director of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Center for Health Protection, said at a press conference that there were only 126 confirmed cases on 1 February 2022, and now the number of confirmed cases has increased by more than 6,000, reflecting that in the past 20 days, the number of confirmed cases has increased in "geometric progression".
Zhang Zhujun reminded the public that this upward pattern of the epidemic is still continuing, and hoped that Hong Kong citizens should stay at home as much as possible, and companies should try their best to let their employees work from home.
The research team of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong estimates the development trend of the epidemic based on epidemiological models. The latest analysis shows that the epidemic in Hong Kong may peak at the beginning of next month. At that time, the number of new infections in Hong Kong will exceed 180,000, and the average daily death Cases will peak at the end of next month, when the daily death toll could exceed the 100 mark.
In addition, Liu Yulong, a chair professor of the Department of Child and Adolescent Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, disclosed on the Radio Television Hong Kong program on 22 February that in the past 10 days, three children under the age of 5 in Hong Kong have died due to infection with the CCP virus. All had symptoms of cerebral edema, upper respiratory tract infection and acute encephalitis, and he was worried that the Omicron BA.2 virus had a new mutation.
According to Hong Kong media reports, as of now, at least 30,000 confirmed patients in Hong Kong have been stranded at home and cannot be admitted to hospital for treatment. The Hong Kong government said it was working on building square cabin hospitals to accommodate confirmed patients stranded at home.
However Karen Grepin, an assistant professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Hong Kong, believes that Hong Kong is already a city with limited space and housing, and it is difficult for her to imagine how the authorities can provide enough space for all confirmed cases to be quarantined in designated facilities.
Grey Ping said that in the next few weeks, the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong will exceed the maximum load range of the entire Hong Kong medical system, and the proportion of critically ill patients will increase. If many medical staff are also infected, it will make the situation even worse.
As of 21 February 2022, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of the CCP virus in Hong Kong has exceeded 60,000, and it will continue to soar.
According to a Bloomberg report on the 22nd, a person familiar with the matter said that a few days ago, Chinese officials suggested that the Hong Kong government should take stricter measures to curb the surge in infection cases but the Hong Kong government believes that it is not feasible to completely block the entire city. The Hong Kong government said that if the pandemic continues to get out of control and the number of infections continues to rise sharply, it will consider adopting some targeted home restrictions or restricting areas with particularly severe new cases.
News (8)
Singapore reports local increases of 26,032 new covid cases on 22 February, 20,312 new cases on 23 February 2022, total breaking 640,000
Image of Changi Airport Terminal 1 during the pandemic : Researcher's Picture
The local surge of 26,032 new covid cases not only broke the 20,000 cases in a single day for the first time, but also set a record high since the covid outbreak. In addition, the cumulative number of cases also exceeded 620,000.
On 23 February, the total number of covid cases in Singapore has reached 642,605, an increase of 20,312 new cases.
News (9)
The number of new additions in a single day nearly doubled from 21 February 2022
In addition, the number of new covid cases of Singapore reported on 22 February 2022 has nearly doubled from 13,623 of 21 February 2022.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health's website, as of noon of 22 February 2022, a total of 25,731 new local cases have been detected, including 3,096 positive Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) cases, compared with 21 February by 1139 from 1957. In addition, there were 22,635 positive Antigen Rapid Test (ART) cases on 22 February while the figure on 23 February is 17,322.
There were 301 inbound cases, 231 PCR positive cases and 70 ART positive cases, respectively.
This is the first time that more than 20,000 new cases have been reported in a single day in Singapore. The previous record was 19,420 cases reported on 15 February 2022.
News (10)
87% are low-risk cases
Among the new covid cases on 22 February, 22,705 were low-risk cases detected through ART testing, accounting for about 87.2% of the total. On 23 February, the number of confirmed new covid cases detected through ART testing is 17,322.
The weekly infection growth rate as of 22 February is 1.57. On 23 February, this has dropped to 1.49.
News (11) to (17) / Reporter : Morgan Phillips / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10540419/Trump-says-Putins-invasion-plan-GENIUS.html
News (11)
Trump praised Putin's plan to invade Ukraine as "genius" and called Putin "savvy"
Donald Trump praised Vladimir Putin's plan to invade Ukraine as 'genius' and called the Russian leader 'very savvy' on Tuesday, hours after he put out a statement saying Russia would have never invaded Ukraine under his watch.
Speaking with conservative podcaster Buck Sexton, the former president said, "I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, "This is genius,"' Trump recalled. 'Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine — of Ukraine -- Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that's wonderful."
"No, but think of it. Here’s a guy who’s very savvy," Trump went on. "I know him very well. Very, very, very well. Had I been in office, not even thinkable, this never would have happened."
Trump added, "But here’s a guy that says, you know, 'I’m gonna declare a big portion of Ukraine independent,' he used the word 'independent' and 'we’re gonna go out and we’re gonna go in and we’re gonna help keep peace.' You gotta say that’s pretty savvy."
News (12)
Trump believes Putin is keeping peace in Ukraine
The former U.S. president continued, "I said, 'How smart is that?' And he’s gonna go in and be a peacekeeper. That’s the strongest peace force… We could use that on our southern border. That’s the strongest peace force I’ve ever seen. There were more army tanks than I’ve ever seen. They’re gonna keep peace all right."
News (13)
Trump: Biden "has no concept of what he's doing"
Trump also called President Biden "a man who has no concept of what he's doing." He commented, "And you know what the response was from Biden? There was no response. They didn’t have one for that. No, it’s very sad. Very sad."
News (14)
Trump: If he were 46th President, Putin would never have invaded Ukraine
"If properly handled, there was absolutely no reason that the situation currently happening in Ukraine should have happened at all,' Trump said in a statement Tuesday. 'I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump Administration what he is doing now, no way!"
News (15)
Trump hit out against Biden's "weak sanctions"
Trump hit out against Biden's "weak sanctions".
"The weak sanctions are insignificant relative to taking over a country and a massive piece of strategically located land. Now it has begun, oil prices are going higher and higher, and Putin is not only getting what he always wanted, but getting, because of the oil and gas surge, richer and richer.'"
News (16)
Gas prices escalate
Gas prices have already surged to an eight-year high, and are expected to rise even more as the crisis between Russia and Ukraine escalates.
Biden promised his administration was using "every tool at our disposal" to limit the effect on gas prices back at home, but acknowledged that Americans would see price rises at the pump.
News (17)
Biden announced sanctions on Russia
Image : Daily Mail
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (21 February 2022) sent troops into the pro-Russian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as he declared those regional republics Donetsk and Luhansk independent and no longer a part of Ukraine.
On Tuesday (22 February 2022), Biden announced his "first tranche" of sanctions that included new financial restrictions on two of Russia largest banks, VEB and the military bank, specific Russian oligarchs, and cutting the nation off from Western financing.
Biden imposed some new sanctions on Monday prohibiting trade with the Kremlin-backed regions, but administration officials initially refused to call Putin's move an "invasion". The Biden administration has insisted that it uses sanctions as leverage and is trying to stave off a full-blown invasion.
However on Tuesday, the administration admitted that Putin's move constitutes an "invasion", the red line Biden said would result in severe sanctions on Moscow.
"We think this is, yes, the beginning of an invasion, Russia's latest invasion into Ukraine,' said Jon Finer, principal deputy national security adviser, said in an interview on CNN. 'An invasion is an invasion and that is what is underway."
Republicans and Democrats urged Biden to use every sanction in his arsenal before Putin fully invades.
News (18)
Ukraine declares state of emergency as war draws near
Ukraine has today declared a state of emergency across the entire nation - the first direct acknowledgement by Kiev that a Russian invasion could now come anywhere at any time.
Ukraine's border guard service restricted movement around border zones, prohibited video recordings of its forces and banned the use of drones, while reservists aged 18 to 60 were called up.
Ukrainian citizens were given the power to bear arms - effectively activating civilian brigades who have been training the national guard in recent weeks. It came after Vladimir Putin gave a sabre-rattling address to his troops to mark Defender of the Fatherland Day, praising their "battle readiness" while saying he is assured that they will fight to defend Russian security interests - which he called "non-negotiable".
UK Defence Secretary Liz Truss warned that Putin is now "hell-bent" on a full-scale invasion of Ukraine with a direct attack on the capital of Kiev "highly likely" to be in his plans.
Ukraine war looms
The Ukrainian-Russian war has broken out. Russian state TV broadcast the latest speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin at 6.00 am local time on 24 February 2022. He said in his speech, "Russia has no chance to protect itself by other means, and I have decided to conduct a special military operation in Donbass."
Putin said further NATO expansion and NATO use of Ukrainian territory was unacceptable.
He also said that Russia's military action was aimed at protecting the people and that "the situation requires us to act decisively and swiftly."
Putin said Moscow would "demilitarize and dazify" Ukraine and end an eight-year war in eastern Ukraine, where government forces in Kiev have been battling pro-Moscow separatist militants.
Putin said Russia does not intend to occupy Ukraine, while urging Ukrainian troops to lay down their weapons and go home. He added that Russia would not allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons.
The CNN team in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city in northeastern Ukraine, reported hearing "a steady stream of loud explosions."
CNN correspondents on the ground also reported that explosions were heard near the capital, Kiev.
UN was holding meeting when Putin declared war
Putin's impromptu speech aired shortly after 5.30 am local time, the exact same time the UN Security Council was meeting in New York, and representatives of member states publicly asked Putin not to attack.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told an emergency meeting: "We are here tonight because we share the belief with Ukraine that Russia is on the verge of a further full-scale invasion of Ukraine."
"Tonight we saw the Russians close their airspace, move troops into the (Ukrainian) Donbass region and move troops into combat readiness. It's a dangerous time."
Ukraine has closed its airspace to civilian aircraft in anticipation of a full-scale invasion by the Russian leader.
A NOTAM on Wednesday night warned civilian aircraft that Ukrainian airspace was closed due to a "potential danger to civil aviation."
ABC News comes after a cyber attack on Ukraine is underway and Russian military leaders have returned to their command centres in what could be a potential sign of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared war on Wednesday night, ending weeks of diplomatic stalemate and plunging Eastern Europe into a nightmare of violence and bloodshed not seen since the darkest days of World War II.
Putin announced that Russia is undertaking a “special military operation” claiming his goal was to demilitarize the country.
Explosions could be heard as Russian forces were spotted moving into Ukraine at – despite repeated claims by the Kremlin that their troops would not encroach on Ukrainian territory.
The invasion follows frantic diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and its Western allies to find a middle ground with Moscow after rejecting the Kremlin’s insistence that Ukraine be kept out of NATO, as well as that the alliance draw back its forces from Eastern Europe and not deploy missile systems inside Ukraine.
Video
Biden announces sanctions against Russia; China greenlights billion-dollar coal mines
News (19)
Russia's march into Ukraine, the CCP is embarrassed, flashes 14 questions at the press conference
Reporter : Zheng Gusheng / Editor: Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/22/a103354705.html
Russia suddenly announced that it recognized the "independence" of the two regions of Ukraine and sent "peacekeeping troops". The CCP's position towards this issue was embarrassed. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China was asked about this matter 14 times at the press conference but he only repeated empty words and avoided a positive answer.
According to CNN, at the regular press conference of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 22 February 2022, as many as 14 questions from the media were related to the situation in Ukraine, including whether the CCP would recognize the independence of the two regions of Ukraine and whether it would try to prevent further Russian aggression. Ukraine, etc. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin has always avoided direct answers, repeating the same Mandarin answer every time, claiming to "respect any country's legitimate security concerns" and urging all parties to "exercise restraint."
According to CCP media reports, questions raised by foreign media reporters also include: Tthe CCP has always advocated the so-called "non-interference in internal affairs" and "respect for the sovereignty of all countries", so whether Russia has violated Ukraine's sovereignty; whether Russia's actions violated the new Minsk agreement ; How does the CCP view the international sanctions that Russia will face, etc.
When asked by reporters whether the CCP believes that Ukraine and Taiwan are similar, Wang Wenbin did not respond positively, but repeated the "standard answer" of "there is only one China".
CNN quoted expert analysis and pointed out that on the one hand, Beijing is trying to deepen relations with Russia, and on the other hand, it has to maintain the so-called "non-interference in internal affairs" foreign policy, trying to strike a balance between the two, so it is in an awkward position.
The analysis also pointed out that, on the other hand, the CCP is afraid of being regarded as an accomplice of Russia by Europe and the United States. So it does not want to make a statement that is too strong and it is now walking with trepidation.
On 21 February, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the recognition of the "independence" of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, and then sent troops to station as "peacekeepers". Both areas are currently occupied by pro-Russian militants.
Russia's dispatch of troops has sparked international condemnation. The White House immediately announced sanctions would be imposed on the two regions but initially denied that Russia had "invaded" Ukraine.
On the 22nd, both White House officials and British officials stated that Russia has begun to "invade" Ukraine and will impose sanctions on Russia.
Putin has announced that the Minsk agreement on eastern Ukraine no longer exists and warned that Ukraine must abandon its membership in NATO in order to defuse the crisis. The CCP has previously claimed that it advocates a "peaceful settlement" of the issue, requiring all parties to return to the Minsk Agreement.
News (20)
Trump warns Taiwan is next after 'Ukraine disaster'
Reporter : Chen Chengliang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3838993
Image : Former U.S. President Donald Trump warned on the 22nd that after the "Ukraine disaster", Taiwan will be next, as Chinese leader Xi Jinping will take Russia's actions against Ukraine as a signal to invade Taiwan. (Reuters, Associated Press, LTN newspaper combined)
Trump made the remarks during an interview with the right-wing conservative talk show "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" at his private club Mar-a-Lago in Florida. He also believes that Putin "declared that most of Ukraine is independent, which is too powerful", which means that Putin sent troops to "peacekeeping" rather than traditional invasion, which is a very "savvy" move. He also argued that the U.S. could follow Russia's lead on the U.S.-Mexico border but he did not elaborate.
Trump also blamed President Biden for his "disastrous" performance on Ukraine, stressing that such a thing would never happen under his administration. "Now that the Olympics are over, look at your stopwatch, right? That's exactly what Xi Jinping wants," he said of the CCP government.
Trump said Xi and Putin were the same, they were like "twin sisters" and Xi would use Russia's actions against Ukraine as a signal to retake Taiwan. "The Republic of China will be next," he said. "Of course. If I were there, they wouldn't have a chance."
News (21)
"China Women's Daily" called the trafficking of women "global" public opinion overturned
Reporter : Xue Fei / Editor : Hu Long / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/22/a103354815.html
When the explosion of the "Chain Woman" in Fengxian County, Xuzhou exploded, the All-China Women's Federation, whose duty was to protect women's rights, not only did not speak out for the "Chain Woman", but instead took responsibility for it. Leaving the world aside, it caused outrage among mainland netizens.
On 22 February 2022, the All-China Women's Federation published an article in its official newspaper, China Women's News, signed by Qi Jianjian, an associate researcher at the Institute of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The article discussed how to prevent and combat the crime of trafficking in women. The article begins by writing that "trafficking of women is a global problem", and focuses on the issue of "trafficking and trafficking of women" on an international scale.
"Trafficking of women is a global problem" mentioned in the article was reported by some media and websites as a headline, causing heated discussions on Weibo.
Image : Web Screenshot
It is worth noting that in the Xuzhou "Chain Woman" incident, the CCP Women's Federation organization was the most obliged to speak up for the victimized women, but the organization not only did nothing, but also revealed that the Xuzhou Women's Federation spent a budget of "30 million RMB" in one year. On the "Chain Woman" scandal. Peking University professor Wu Bihu once strongly condemned the insensitiveness of the All-China Women's Federation in the "Chain Woman" incident, and demanded that "the All-China Women's Federation apologize and the Xuzhou Women's Federation be dissolved." Immediately, his Weibo was blocked.
The article by China Women's Daily was published on the Internet, and it immediately detonated dissatisfaction on the Internet: "If he doesn't speak out about the incident of the Chain Woman, it's a global issue now." "Don't talk about global issues, just say you do it yourself. Is it okay?" "And talking about other countries' problems, why don't you study when other countries have high welfare?"
"It's too far, I just want the women and children in China to be safe [angry]." "I still don't thoroughly investigate the chain in my own home, and spread the problem to the whole world. Is this a shirk?"" Next time, throw the pot directly to the alien forces!"
Many people compared the punishment measures imposed on criminals in a trafficking case in the United States with the experience of a large number of "chain women" who were abducted and trafficked in China, and denounced the article as "shameless".
Weibo netizen "luofaner" left a message, "Then you can list a few places like Xuzhou for me to take a look at? I'm also curious to know which other countries are such vicious places? And their laws are for what kind of punishment do these people get?"
"Xiaohui doesn't add a V": "Do you want face? @China Women's Daily asks if you want face???? At this time, we are talking about global issues? Then do you want to look at the sentencing of trafficking in women in other countries??"
"A Milky Way full of stars": "No, if you have a little shame, you won't see the people of the whole country watching them lie, and still be confident without blushing and heartbeats!"
"Cherryyoko_Cherryyoko": "I will give an example. In the same case in California, USA, the victim was imprisoned for 18 years. The criminal was sentenced to more than 400 years in prison, and the victim also received 20 million US dollars (specific figures). Can't remember amount of compensation."
"R_ish": "Other countries have been sentenced for more than 400 years for not learning, and the California government has paid tens of millions of dollars for not learning. Bah. I despised you, I used to think that it was a big country. It has the demeanor of a big country but it is blind. "
News (22)
The implementation of the vaccine passport is imminent and the Hong Kong government tightens the threshold for issuing exemption certificates
Reporter : Zhu Ying / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/22/a103354853.html
Image :Two passers-by pass by in front of a large Hong Kong government advertisement promoting covi vaccines. (Bertha Wang/AFP via Getty Images)
As Hong Kong is about to implement the "Vaccine Pass", the Hong Kong government has ordered a significant tightening of the threshold for issuing exemption certificates, and even breastfeeding women cannot be issued vaccine exemption certificates. Cai Jian, president of the Hong Kong Medical Association, even warned that if a doctor signed an exemption certificate in violation of regulations, it could be regarded as a professional immorality after verification. The Hong Kong government announced that Hong Kong will conduct compulsory inspections for the entire population three times, and schools will be closed early.
Hong Kong will officially implement the "vaccination pass" from Thursday (24 February 2022). Citizens who have not been vaccinated will not be able to enter or leave the premises designated by the government unless they show proof of exemption from vaccination. At the same time, Hong Kong officials have tightened the threshold and validity period for vaccine exemption certificates.
According to Cai Jian, president of the Hong Kong Medical Association, disclosed on a radio program on the 21st that according to the requirements of the Hong Kong government, the Department of Health and different colleges will tighten the threshold for issuing exemption certificates. In the future, only very few cases can issue vaccine exemption certificates. And the validity period of the exemption will be tightened to 3 months.
Cai Jian said that the Department of Health and various specialist colleges will issue revised guidelines to doctors, stating that vaccine exemption certificates should only be issued in very rare cases, including those with uncontrolled chronic diseases, sensitivity to vaccine components, stroke or heart attack patients can be issued certificates of vaccination exemption by doctors while cancer patients or patients with diseases such as lupus erythematosus who can obtain exemption certificates in the past, are tightened to the point that they are suitable for vaccination as long as they start taking medicines; lactating women are eligible for vaccination. A certificate of exemption cannot be issued unless the pregnant woman has previous experience of repeated miscarriages.
Cai Jian also specifically warned that if a doctor is "soft-hearted" and issues a vaccine exemption certificate in violation of relevant guidelines, once someone complains to the medical committee, it can be regarded as "professional immorality" after investigation.
At night of the 22nd, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the following latest epidemic prevention measures:
Firstly, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong will advance the summer vacation from July to August to March and April; classes are expected to resume gradually after Easter on 17 April and the vacated school buildings can be used for virus testing. or get vaccinated.
Secondly, Hong Kong is scheduled to start nationwide mandatory nucleic acid testing from March, 3 times per person.
Thirdly, confirmed cases found in the nationwide compulsory testing will be immediately quarantined. Hong Kong authorities are now working to set up more isolation facilities, which are expected to increase to 16,000 isolation rooms by March.
Fourthly, in terms of treatment, the Hong Kong government plans to build a temporary hospital near the border of Lok Ma Chau, Shenzhen.
Fifthly, to extend the flight ban in 8 countries including Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States until 20 April 2022.
Sixth, the ban on food restaurants in Hong Kong not being able to serve food has also been extended to 20 April.
According to Hong Kong 01.com, Liu Yulong, a chair professor of the Department of Child and Adolescent Sciences at the University of Hong Kong, said on the Radio Television Hong Kong program on the 22nd that in the past 10 days, three children under the age of 5 have died in Hong Kong due to the infection. He said that these children had symptoms of cerebral edema, upper respiratory tract infection and acute encephalitis. So, he was concerned that the variant virus of Covi29 BA.2 may have mutated.
News (23)
Prepare for lack of food and money CCP No. 1 document: Avoid mass return to poverty
Reporter : Qiao An / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/22/a103354839.html
The CCP recently released the 2022 rural policy opinions, and the issue of China's "food security" has become the focus again.
Xinhua News Agency, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China, issued the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Doing a Good Job in Promoting the Key Work of Rural Revitalization in 2022" on the 22nd. The full text has 8 parts but the main focus is "to make every effort to do a good job in grain production and the supply of important agricultural products", emphasizing that "China People's rice bowls are in their own hands." In addition, once again emphasizing the bottom line of "no large-scale return to poverty", it highlights that "food security" and "large-scale poverty" have become the CCP's confidant.
On 26 December 2021, Xi Jinping said at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee that "the rice bowl must be filled with Chinese grain to ensure food security."
However, the actual situation in China is that last year alone, grain imports increased by 28% year-on-year, of which more than 95% of soybeans were imported. In the past few years, the leaders of the CCP have advocated "saving food" many times, but now they have repeatedly emphasized food security, which shows that China's food reserves may have serious hidden dangers, and in the event of an emergency, it may be difficult to guarantee basic people's livelihood.
News (24)
Where did your returned Amazon package go?
Reporter : Gu Fan / Editor: Lin Qing / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/22/a103354509.html
Image: Amazon's generous return policy has created a flood of returned packages, but it's also had a negative impact. The picture shows a courier unloading an Amazon package in Berlin, Germany, 18 June 2020. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon is very generous with its return policy, it is usually free for customers, and some retailers even allow customers to keep items while offering full refunds. You can drop off your package at Kohl's, UPS or Whole Foods.
The generous return policy, which creates a flood of returned packages, also has negative consequences.
“Looking at all of this returns data, [returns] now generate nearly 6 billion pounds of landfill waste and 16 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually,” said Tobin Moore, CEO of returns solutions provider Optoro , "This is equivalent to the waste generated by 3.3 million Americans in a year."
Items bought online are at least three times more likely to be returned than those bought in stores, Moore said. A new report from the National Retail Federation estimates that in 2021, returned merchandise will reach a record $761 billion.
The report said 10.3 percent of those returns were fraudulent. Meanwhile, Amazon third-party sellers told CNBC that they ended up throwing away about a third of their returns.
"Someone has to pay for it," said Mika Clausen, a retailer of party supplies and homewares that uses Amazon's platform. "It's (fraudulent returns) beyond their bottom line, and prices will go up."
UPS forecasts a 10% increase in return rates for the 2021 holiday season compared to the same period last year, meaning increased waste and expenses across all online retailers.
"Categories like clothing have a very, very high return rate, around 10 percent," adds Laurac Lemar, who formerly worked at Amazon, adding that if a returned item is in completely pristine condition, Amazon will allow it to be resold as new.
When an item cannot be sold as new, Amazon offers sellers up to four methods of handling returns: return, destroy, liquidate, or resell. These all require payment.
As the bellwether, Amazon has come under increasing criticism for destroying millions of items. Now, the e-commerce giant says it is working to bring waste to zero.
Amazon told CNBC in a statement, "We are working towards our goal of 'zero destruction' of our products, and our priority is to resell, donate to charitable organizations or recycle any unsold products. As a last resort, we will Items are sent for energy recovery, but we are working to reduce the number of times that happens to zero."
"Energy recovery" usually means destruction. In the words of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is "the conversion of non-recyclable waste into usable heat, electricity or fuel through a variety of processes, including combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. ."
Some brands, like Nike, have found creative ways to upcycle returns, making them new items of value.
"Some shoes that don't sell can end up being ground up and turned into tracks," Moore said. "It does take energy to grind and turn things into other things. I think if you can sell it in raw form, that's the best solution for the environment.”
Liquidation is an option. Amazon and other major retailers partner with clearing marketplaces such as Liquidity Services and B-Stock Solutions, which sell bulk returns to resellers wholesale.
"If your product can be liquidated, you can get back about 5% of the sale price," Lemar said. "At the end of the day, it ends up in the hands of people who can use it.
A YouTube creator like Hope Allen showcases her journey through buying liquidated goods.
"There are definitely some items in the liquidation cargo that are real junk. But there are other items, like robes, or some nice warm winter gear thatI like."
Cleared goods can be handed over to dealers, who then retail the items at flea markets or on sites like Craigslist and eBay.
Amazon is offering some sellers an alternative, called the FBA grading and resale program. Amazon classifies returned items into different tiers: Brand New, Very Good, Good, or Acceptable, and then resells them in a special section of its website. Those divisions include Warehouse Deals, which sells used items, Amazon Renewed, which sells refurbished items, Amazon Outlet, which sells overstocked items, and a joke-style everyday deals site called Woot. Woot sells "a bag of junk" for $10 and describes itself as a "wild outpost of the Amazon community."
News (25)
Are anti-Xi forces instigating a "scolding Xi" offensive?
Reporter : Wang Youqun / Source : The Epoch Times via NTD / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/19/a103352469.html
On 18 February 2022, Yuan Hongbing, a jurist living in Australia, revealed to the Epoch Times reporter that according to the information he received from the CCP system, the anti-Xi forces were instigating a public opinion offensive to "scold Xi" and put Xi in a position that thousands of people refer to.
Now is the eve of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and the power struggle between Xi and anti-Xi forces around the 20th National Congress has become intensified. Both sides are making moves, and even "swords" from time to time. Some facts show that Yuan Hongbing's statement has some truth.
On 18 February 2022, Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" published a commentary article "Term System: An Important Institutional Basis for the Republic". This article has been forwarded by many overseas media and social platforms, attracting attention. Some commentators believe that this is an anti-Xi essay that "challenges Xi Jinping".
The article stated, “In today’s world, although the leaders of some republics are also elected, (regardless of the electoral procedure), although the laws of the republic also stipulate a limit on the number of years of office, there is no limit on the number of terms. As a result, the leader has completed one term, followed by the second and the third. Although the country is still a republic in name, it has degenerated into a dictatorial society in essence.”
Although the article did not name and criticize Xi Jinping, the intention of the article to criticize Xi is obvious because of the fact that Xi has abolished the provisions on the term limit of the president in the constitution. In particular, Xi is seeking "three consecutive terms" at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. The article bluntly stated that "the leader has served his second term and then the third term", which is "dictatorship", and his attitude of opposing Xi's "three consecutive terms" is also obvious.
The author's identity on Lianhe Zaobao is "Shanghai Law and Public Policy Scholar". Jiang Weiping, a senior media person, determined after inquiry that the author of the commentary is Liang Xingguo, a professor at the Law School of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
At present, the law school of Shanghai University of Finance and Economics has officially been closed. It is estimated that this article has been spread to the country and has attracted the attention of relevant parties.
On 29 January 2022, Ma Yun's Hong Kong "South China Morning Post" published Wang Xiangwei's article "Capital Transition Expansion and Ineffective Supervision". The article begins with a question: "Is capital evil?"
The article said that at the end of 2020, the leaders of the Communist Party of China proposed for the first time to be vigilant against "disorderly expansion of capital". After the central government issued a warning, waves of stringent regulatory actions came as scheduled, ranging from technology companies to real estate companies, from online games to education and training institutions, all of which have become key targets of supervision.
In response to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's accusation of Zhou Jiangyong, the former secretary of the Hangzhou Municipal Party Committee, "colluding with capital and supporting the disorderly expansion of capital", Wang Xiangwei believes that this may mean that the regulatory actions that have lasted for more than a year will be further strengthened, and there may be more senior officials and businessmen this year. been involved. Originally aimed at big tech companies, the regulatory storm has since expanded to other private sectors. At the same time, this means that "the authorities have regarded capital, capital operators and their backers as a new threat to the Communist Party's rule."
Wang Xiangwei said that after Xi came to power, "the ideological control of the whole society has been strengthened. This has raised concerns about the role of the private economy." “This concern has also grown as the regulatory fist continues to move towards areas dominated by private companies. In addition to the draconian regulatory action, the concept of 'common prosperity' first proposed by leaders last August, but because it is widely believed to be aimed at China's wealthy class reference, thus further exacerbating people’s unease.”
Wang Xiangwei believes that the responsibility for the disorderly expansion of capital lies with Xi Jinping: "In fact, in the past 10 years or so, due to opacity, imperfect regulations and lack of supervision, the government should bear the main responsibility for the excessive expansion of capital."
The article concludes, “If capital is regarded as a threat, or even seek to cut off the so-called link between power and capital, it is not a wise move, and the effect may be counterproductive.”
“To trumpet the threat of capital will only fuel fears that China will abandon the entrepreneurial spirit and other market economy principles that have underpinned 40 years of strong economic growth.”
This article intentionally confuses a lot of concepts, and makes "capital", "disorderly expansion of capital", "connection between power and capital", "private enterprise", "common prosperity", etc. conveys a negative message. In normal market economy countries, is "power and capital linked" allowed?
This article is actually a denial of Xi’s regulatory storm last year against companies such as Ant Financial, Alibaba, Didi Chuxing, Fantasia and others.
Recently, the most popular article to criticize Xi is the 40,000-word long article "Evaluate Xi Jinping Objectively". This article was published on the overseas "Lingering Garden Network" on January 19; on February 4, it was reprinted on the Chinese website of Radio France Internationale and was widely circulated overseas.
This is an anti-Xi essay written by someone close to Bo Xilai's family. After denying Xi Jinping completely, the article wrote: “As far as he (referring to Xi Jinping) is concerned, it is already difficult to continue on the road to politics; 2022 will be his biggest turning point, even if he can use some magic formula. If he is re-elected by the means, he will also face thorns in the road and usher in a total collapse by 2027.”
After this article was published, some commented that it was a "blockbuster" sent by anti-Xi forces; others commented that the article was "comparatively thinly written" and had nothing new.
In a pre-recorded speech delivered by the Hoover Institution on January 31, Soros, the financial magnate, said: “There are strong forces within the CCP to oppose Xi Jinping, who has carefully orchestrated to elevate himself to the same status as Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. , probably won't happen." Sow wants someone to replace Xi.
Besides, Soros once again bombarded Xi since he published three anti-Xi articles on the Wall Street Journal and other media on 13, 30 August and 8 September 2021.
Yuan Hongbing said that there are three anti-Xi forces in the CCP system: the first is the princelings, the second is those who support Deng Xiaoping, and the third is a force headed by Jiang Zemin and Zeng Qinghong.
Since Xi came to power in 2012, through the anti-corruption campaign, he has investigated and dealt with 551 senior officials at the deputy provincial and ministerial level, as well as other central management cadres, most of whom were promoted and reused by Jiang and Zeng. Therefore, the forces headed by Jiang and Zeng hate Xi the most. It may be this group of people who scold Xi are based overseas.
The first article above is from Shanghai. Shanghai is the home base of Jiang and Zeng. Recently, Shanghai scholars have been publishing overseas articles aimed at Xi, and it may be that Jiang and Zeng's men are secretly operating. The author of the second article above is the former editor-in-chief of the South China Morning Post. According to Cheng Xiaonong, a scholar based in the United States, the "South China Morning Post" is nominally owned by Jack Ma but is actually controlled by Zeng Qinghong's influence in Hong Kong. Therefore, this article is likely to be the voice of Zeng Qinghong on behalf of Zeng Qinghong. The third article above is clearly pro-Bo Xilai. Bo was one of the most important cronies promoted and reused by Jiang and Zeng. Therefore, this article may also be related to Jiang and Zeng.
Soros represents the American dignitaries who “made a fortune in silence” with the CCP’s powerful family during Jiang Zemin’s reign or when he was the “supreme emperor” before Xi came to power.
The common feature of the above-mentioned anti-Xi essays is that anti-Xi is not anti-Communist.
The evil of the CCP is the root cause of all problems in contemporary China. There is no way out if the CCP is not fundamentally dismantled, and if it is not opposed to Xi Jinping or not.
Why is Xi so hated by so many people? In addition to the fact that Xi's anti-corruption campaign has touched the vital interests of too many people, there is another important reason: when Xi came to power, the CCP was already the most corrupt party in the world. The problems accumulated by Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping, and Jiang Zemin ruled China for 63 years (1949-2012) exploded after Xi came to power. Xi became the general taker of all problems during the reigns of Mao, Deng, and Jiang.
Xi Jinping has been fighting corruption for ten years since he came to power but the more he fights, the more corrupt he becomes. When one corrupt element falls, tens of thousands of corrupt elements are immediately "copied" out. Why? The 100-year-old CCP has come to the end of history. The blood debts and sins owed by the CCP over the past century have completely lost the CCP's ability to renew itself and the CCP is exhausted.
The current period and state of the CCP is just like when the last emperor of the last dynasty in China was in power. The failure before the final collapse has appeared, and it is impossible for anyone to think that it will survive.
Next, the "scolding Xi" offensive of the anti-Xi forces may be even more fierce. However, according to Xi's way of doing things, Xi's attack on the anti-Xi forces may be more severe.
News (26)
China's Taiwan Affairs Office chokes Pompeo's visit to Taiwan as a "farce". Green Committee: Don't turn against Taiwan
Reporter : Chen Yufu / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3838509
Image : Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said today, "Everyone must know who Pompeo is. The DPP authorities and the 'anti-China politicians' are on the same stage, trying to use external forces to build momentum for independence, but it's just a farce." (Video Screenshot)
Trump Administration U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who strongly supported Taiwan under President Trump, will visit Taiwan on 2 March 2022 and will meet with President Tsai Ing-wen to express his support for Taiwan. Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, said today, "Everyone knows who Pompeo is. The DPP authorities are in tandem with the 'anti-China politicians', trying to use external forces to gain momentum for independence, but it's just a farce." In this regard, the DPP legislators opposed it. Pompeo is likely to be the future president of the United States. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council should not turn against Taiwan, and any international friends who support Taiwan must come out and oppose it.
Ma Xiaoguang claimed that Pompeo's "visiting" Taiwan was just a farce! The current situation in Taiwan continues to be tense and turbulent. The fundamental reason is that the DPP authorities have repeatedly tried to "rely on the United States to seek independence," while some people in the United States are deliberately trying to "use Taiwan to control China." Some people in the United States have been making erroneous remarks and taking erroneous actions on the Taiwan issue. They are basically trying to play the "Taiwan card" and use Taiwan as a pawn to hinder the process of China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Ma Xiaoguang choked, no matter how the DPP authorities and foreign forces collude and perform, it cannot change the iron fact that Taiwan is part of China, nor can it stop the historical trend of national strength, national rejuvenation, and cross-strait reunification.
DPP legislator Lai Ruilong said that Pompeo had served as the US Secretary of State and was very influential. It is definitely a good thing to visit Taiwan to learn about Taiwan's freedom, democracy and economic conditions. The people of Taiwan are very hospitable, and friends from all over the world who identify with Taiwan are welcome to visit.
Lai Ruilong criticized that Pompeo's coming to Taiwan is what the people of Taiwan expect. China really should not turn against Taiwan when it sees Taiwan's friendship with other countries in the world. The public's impression of China is getting worse and worse. When China sees that Taiwan is going in a good direction, it will come out and criticize it. This kind of behaviour will not be respected by the world. This kind of authoritarian and domineering regime will only disgust the people of Taiwan.
DPP legislator Wang Meihui said that Pompeo's visit to Taiwan is because Taiwan is a free and democratic country. President Tsai's ruling achievements are well-known around the world. Pompeo's visit to Taiwan will make Taiwan more visible to the world and make the world more aware that Taiwan is not. Part of China, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council does not want it.
"I've never been praised, and every time Taiwan is opposed!" Wang Meihui criticized, anyway, no matter who comes to Taiwan, China will have an opinion, and it's none of your business. Whenever dignitaries and friends from other countries visit Taiwan, no matter who they are, China will scold them. What kind of a big country is this? The narrow-mindedness of the "chicken intestines and bird belly" will only make Taiwanese people hate the CCP even more.
News (27)
In response to the situation in Ukraine, Tsai Ing-wen instructs to strengthen military preparations in the Taiwan Strait and improve the response to cognitive operations
Reporter : Su Yongyao / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/breakingnews/3838372
The Presidential Palace stated today (23 February 2022) that after President Tsai Ing-wen and Executive President Su Zhenchang listened to a briefing by the National Security Council's "Ukraine Situation Response Team" and related ministries this morning, in response to the latest developments in Ukraine, the Presidential Palace Spokesman Zhang Dunhan relayed that President Tsai instructed the following four items:
1. Condemn Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, and call on all parties to resolve disputes peacefully and rationally: The Chinese Republic government condemns Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, which has led to increased tensions on the border between Russia and Ukraine; and calls on all parties to continue to resolve disputes through peaceful means. disputes, and work together to maintain peace and stability in the region. As a member of the international community, Taiwan is willing to participate in all efforts that contribute to the peaceful settlement of disputes.
2. Continue to strengthen the response and preparation of military dynamics in the Taiwan Strait to ensure national security: At present, the military dynamics around the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region are under the control of national security and military units. However, all units of the national security and the national military must improve their surveillance and early warning of military developments around the Taiwan Strait, and continue to strengthen relevant preparations to respond effectively to various situations and ensure national security.
3. Comprehensively improve the response to cognitive warfare and stabilize social morale: The situation in Taiwan and Ukraine is fundamentally different in terms of geostrategic, geographical environment and the importance of the international supply chain. All government units must strengthen the prevention of cognitive operations launched by foreign forces and local collaborators, and strengthen the clarification of misinformation to stabilize the internal situation in Taiwan society.
4. Continue to respond to various economic variables to maintain the stability of materials, prices, and stock and foreign exchange markets: In response to the short-, medium- and long-term impact of the situation in Ukraine on international and domestic energy, grain, prices, and stock and foreign exchange markets, the administrative department must continue to pay attention to global economic and trade variables, evaluate and strengthen overall response planning, maintain the stability of important materials, prices and financial markets, and be sure to minimize possible impacts.
Participants in this morning's meeting included Executive President Su Zhenchang, Presidential Secretary-General Li Dawei, National Security Council Secretary-General Gu Lixiong, Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie, Defense Minister Qiu Guozheng, Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council Qiu Taisan, Executive Yuan Political Member Deng Zhenzhong, National Security Council Chen Mingtong, director of the bureau, Fu Dongcheng and Chen Junlin, advisory members of the National Security Council.
News (28)
Wu Zhaoxie calls on democratic countries to cooperate to curb authoritarian aggression
Reporter : Zhong Yuan / Editor : Ye Ziwei / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/2/23/n13597805.htm
Image : On 23 February 2022, Wu Zhaoxie (right), Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China, accepted a video interview with Mark Esper (left), a distinguished researcher of the McCann Institute and former US Secretary of Defense. (Provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie of the Republic of China accepted a video interview with former US Secretary of Defense Esper, and talked about the need for democratic countries to cooperate to curb authoritarianism.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China stated that Minister Wu Zhaoxie accepted a video interview with Mark Esper, a distinguished fellow at the McCain Institute and former US Secretary of Defense, on 22 February, emphasizing that authoritarianism is expanding globally and the harm is obvious to all. Deepen cooperation with the United States and countries with similar democratic ideals to ensure the final victory of democratic Taiwan.
Wu Zhaoxie pointed out that Taiwan is at the forefront of the threat of authoritarianism and faces oppression by the CCP using military aircraft to harass Taiwan and other "gray zone" methods almost every day. The significance of the global democratic camp is of great significance, and Taiwan will continue to develop asymmetrical combat power and enhance its self-defense capabilities."
In addition, he said, as a reliable partner of the United States and a force for good in the world, Taiwan will continue to deepen its close partnership with the United States and contribute to safeguarding democracy and freedom.
Wu Zhaoxie further stated that the "one-China policy" of the United States and many other countries is different from the so-called "one-China principle" of the CCP. Many countries with similar ideas also understand the fact that democratic Taiwan and the authoritarian CCP are not subordinate to each other, and based on this Exchange and cooperation with Taiwan.
He emphasized that, however, the CCP deliberately misquoted Resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly in 1971 and excluded Taiwan from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN systems, which has become the biggest obstacle to Taiwan's participation in international organizations. "U.S. government officials have recently publicly expressed their disapproval of the CCP's misuse of UNGA Resolution 2758. We hope that the United States and like-minded countries will continue to assist Taiwan in expanding its international participation and make contributions."
Regarding Taiwan's bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Wu Zhaoxie emphasized, "My country actively promotes participation in regional economic integration, which is in line with the high standards of CPTPP, and hopes that CPTPP member states will positively consider our case for joining the CPTPP."
In addition, he said that if Taiwan and the United States negotiate and sign a "Free Trade Agreement" (FTA), it will help increase employment opportunities in the United States and expand the strategic layout of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region, which is worth promoting by both Taiwan and the United States.
The foreign ministry said that the American think tank, the McCain Institute, was founded by the late U.S. Senator John McCain to strengthen the connection of democratic alliances and defend freedom and human rights by holding high-level dialogues or forums.
News (29) to (32) / Reporter : Xu Manyuan / Editor : Fang Ping / https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/22/2/23/n13597904.htm
News (29)
Inner Mongolian fled after backing Hong Kong, travelled thousands of miles and refused to be returned
Image : An Inner Mongolian fled after supporting Hong Kong, travelled thousands of miles and refused to return to CCP China.
On 19 February 2022, Zhang Wen (left) visited the China Democracy Party Southern Division in Louisiana. (Provided by Zhang Wen)
Zhang Wen, a mainlander with household registration in Inner Mongolia, arrived in the United States after many obstacles and was released by the US Immigration Service on 19 February 2022 and officially started a new life.
Zhang Wen went to Taiwan with a tour group in August 2019 because he participated in Hong Kong's "anti-extradition" 1 July occupation of the Legislative Council and was worried that he would be sentenced by the CCP government. He originally wanted to seek asylum from the Taiwanese government, but because Taiwan did not have the Refugee Law, he had to go to another country. In November 2021, Zhang Wen arrived in the United States through the Darien Gap, an uninhabited area of the Panamanian rainforest.
Image : In July 2019, Zhang Wen participated in the anti-extradition movement in Hong Kong. (Provided by Zhang Wen)
News (30)
Do not regret participating in the activities of solidarity with Hong Kong people
He slept and fled across most of the world but Zhang Wen did not regret participating in the activities of solidarity with the people of Hong Kong, and was glad that he was finally able to set foot in the democratic and free America. He said, "The CCP's destruction of Hong Kong's one country, two systems is like destroying the autonomy of Inner Mongolia." Although he is of Han nationality, Zhang Wen, who grew up in Inner Mongolia, has a special feeling for the CCP's high-handed governance of "foreign races".
He believes that the CCP treats Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong in the same way. They sign a so-called "treaty" first, promising local people a high degree of autonomy. However, these "autonomous regions" will eventually be suppressed by autocracy, and their culture and language will be slowly infiltrated and transformed by the CCP. "In China, what the Communist Party says always counts," he said.
Before supporting Hong Kong, Zhang Wen participated in and organized sporadic social movements in the mainland. The city of Ordos in Inner Mongolia, which has grown rich by mining coal, natural gas and rare earths, as well as producing unique Albas white cashmere, suffered a severe financial crisis in 2012. He said: "It's okay for officials, and the common people lose everything."
News (31)
Inner Mongolia's economic crisis caused by CCP's Intervention
People in Ordos brought funds from coal mining and demolition, and these wealth participated in the city's real estate development in the form of usury loans. Selling and speculating houses doubled the profits and fueled the local private lending atmosphere; however, in 2010, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China ordered "regulation" of the housing market, which led to the bursting of the bubble in which people expected house prices to "only rise but not fall"; private lenders lost their principals , Those who pre-purchased houses could not get the existing houses, and the hard-earned money of the common people evaporated overnight.
Zhang Wen believes that the financial crisis in Ordos, on the surface, was a serious collapse of the real estate development market due to the rupture of the private lending chain, but it was actually a crisis caused by the CCP’s intervention in the economic market. At that time, more than 80% of the construction projects in Ordos were stopped.
Zhang Wen has been regarded by the authorities as a dissident for his participation in and holding a protest against the local government in Ordos. After participating in the "anti-extradition" campaign in Hong Kong, he was even more afraid that the CCP would settle accounts for him in the autumn; so in any case, Zhang Wen was reluctant to return to the mainland, endure the totalitarian dictatorship of the CCP, and then be a leek left to the government's slaughter.
News (32)
Harsh government is fiercer than tiger, Zhang would rather go through the rainforest and experience hardships
Although crossing the Panamanian rainforest is a journey through mountains and rivers, Zhang Wen feels that all this is safer than staying under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party. Since leaving Colombia in November 2021, he has been hiking for more than 10 hours almost every day. Zhang Wen recalled that it was the hardest to pass through the rainforest area. The clothes on the body were wet and dry, dry and wet, the climate was very unstable, and it often rained heavily. Everywhere he went were deep mountains and old forests that were sparsely populated, and no human beings had ever been seen on the ground. footprint.
After leaving the rainforest area, although there is transportation available, it is not easy at all to mediate with local gangsters and police in Central and South America along the way. It was not until he arrived in the United States and set foot on the land of freedom and the rule of law that Zhang Wen completely relaxed his sensitive nerves.
From sleeping on the streets in Taiwan to crossing the no-man's land of the Panamanian rainforest, Zhang Wen traveled thousands of miles, and during this period, he also encountered Chinese in similar situations. These mainlanders were forced to go into exile because they could not stand up with the CCP’s rule. Although everyone was in exile, there was always a ray of hope and hope—because the tyranny of the government was fiercer than the tiger, the CCP forced the people to flee.
News (33)
UN court's decision to allow junta to represent Myanmar in Rohingya genocide case branded a "disgrace"
Source : Myanmar Now
Image : Web Screenshot
Just 12 days before State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi was
detained by the military last February, she signed off on a 250-page document
submitted to the UN’s top court arguing that a case accusing Myanmar of
genocide against the Rohingya should be thrown out.
The exhaustive list of preliminary objections confirmed that Suu
Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) administration was committed to
defending the military’s campaign of mass murder, rape, torture and arson in
Rakhine State in 2017.
Now, after the military junta has spent the past year committing
similar atrocities throughout Myanmar in its bid to stamp out the uprising
against its rule, NLD officials working for Myanmar’s underground
administration have reversed their official position.
“We have withdrawn the preliminary objections that were
submitted before the coup. They are no longer relevant,” Zin Mar Aung, the
National Unity Government’s (NUG) foreign affairs minister and an ousted NLD
MP, told a press conference at The Hague via videolink on Monday.
It remains to be seen whether the NLD’s newfound sense of
solidarity with the Rohingya will endure if the party returns to power.
The military’s nationwide campaign of terror appears to have
inspired newfound sympathy for the group within the party, whose members and
officials have suffered some of the junta’s most brutal treatment. But the
primary reason for this change of heart is that the NUG is determined to deny
the junta any form of international legitimacy.
Monday’s press briefing came just before the International Court
of Justice (ICJ) held its first hearings in the Rohingya genocide case since
the coup. The NUG wanted its own official to represent the state of Myanmar in
the case, something that would have bolstered its efforts to be taken seriously
around the world as the country’s only legitimate government.
“The judges of the International Court must determine who has
the duty to speak for Myanmar in this case,” Zin Mar Aung said at the briefing.
“They face a choice – between the people’s government and the same military who
inflicted so much suffering on our Rohingya sisters and brothers.”
The court chose the latter, allowing junta-approved lawyers and
officials to defend the case. Judge Joan Donoghue defended that decision during
the hearing, arguing that “the parties to a contentious case before the court
are states, not particular governments.”
However other legal experts are unconvinced, and support the NUG’s
argument that letting the junta represent Myanmar undermines the fight for
justice and democracy in the country.
“The junta is not the government of Myanmar, it does not
represent the State of Myanmar, and it is dangerous for the Court to allow it
to present itself as such,” said Chris Sidoti, one of three international experts
who make up the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M) advocacy group.
Sidoti, an expert in international human rights law, worked for
a UN fact finding mission whose report on the 2017 atrocities argued that the
military acted with “genocidal intent”. The report has played a prominent role
in several international attempts to hold the perpetrators of the violence to
account, including the case brought at the
ICJ.
“The junta leaders orchestrated the genocidal atrocities against
the Rohingya – the subject of this case – and are the cause of the current
violence and suffering in the country,” Sidoti added. “They are trying to
entrench themselves as leaders of Myanmar, including by claiming international
recognition. If they succeed, the chances of the Rohingya and all peoples of
Myanmar achieving justice where it matters – on the ground in Myanmar – will be
severely diminished.”
Yanghee Lee, a former UN human rights envoy to Myanmar and also
a member of SAC-M, said the NUG was the only entity with the authority to
represent Myanmar. “These hearings, with the junta claiming to represent
Myanmar, are a disgrace,” she said.
Allowing the junta to send its officials on behalf of Myanmar
was causing an unnecessary delay in the case, she added.
“The NUG… has withdrawn the preliminary objections. Those
objections are the focus of these hearings and will require several months of
deliberation by the judges. The Court should instead recognise the NUG’s
authority, formally dismiss the objections and move swiftly to dealing with the
actual substance of the case, the atrocities against the Rohingya people,” she
said.
News (34)
ICJ hearing shows the Myanmar Junta generals that their days are numbered
Text by : Chris Gunness, Damian Lilly, Myanmar Accountability Project, first published in Myanmar Now
Once again, the people of Myanmar are being denied justice and
accountability.
At a week-long public hearing set to begin at the International
Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague on Monday, the country’s illegal junta will
attempt to block the case brought against it by The Gambia for breaching the
Genocide Convention during the so-called “clearance operations” in 2017 that
drove 750,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh.
The regime’s representatives at the hearing are expected to
raise procedural objections to prevent the court moving to the substantive
stage of the case, at which point the Rohingya people might expect some form of
long-delayed justice.
As if to deliberately mock the international justice system,
coup leader Min Aung Hlaing has nominated two individuals accused of committing
serious human rights violations and subverting the rule of law—Win Shein, the
regime’s minister for planning, finance and industry, and Thida Oo, its
attorney general—to his ICJ team.
Win Shein has been facing EU and US sanctions since last year,
while the US, UK and Canada added Thida Oo to their sanctions
lists on the anniversary of last year’s February 1 coup for fabricating charges
against State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi in an attempt to bar her and other
democratic leaders from politics.
Even the junta’s presence at the “principle judicial organ of
the UN” is an affront to international law, as it is in violation of a UN
General Assembly’s decision to reject the credentials of the
military regime and leave the National Unity Government’s (NUG) pick for
Myanmar’s permanent representative to the world body, Kyaw Moe Tun, in his
seat. This resolution was unanimously endorsed last December by all 193 members
of the General Assembly.
By allowing an uncredentialed and illegal military regime to
represent the country anyway, the ICJ is not only flouting the decision of the
General Assembly, but also undermining the democratic will of the people of
Myanmar, who in November 2020 voted overwhelmingly to reject military-backed
parties and embrace their country’s transition to democracy. We therefore urge
all UN and international organisations, particularly judicial bodies such as
the ICJ whose mandates centre on the rule of law, to desist from any action
that legitimises the military junta in international affairs.
Moreover, we demand that all UN member states and UN bodies
respect the democratic will of the people of Myanmar by recognising the NUG,
which the vast majority see as representing their aspirations.
The case for recognition of the NUG was comprehensively made in
a landmark legal opinion signed by some of the
world’s leading jurisprudential experts last September, and also in a report by the Special Advisory
Council for Myanmar, an independent group of international experts.
Significantly, more than 800 Rohingya survivors of genocide
represented by the Geneva-based nongovernmental organisation Legal Action
Worldwide (LAW) have called on the international
community, including through communications to the president of the ICJ, to
recognise the NUG as the legitimate government of Myanmar. The Myanmar
Accountability Project (MAP)—of which we are executive directors—has also
established a petition urging recognition of the
NUG.
Many of LAW's Rohingya clients, who are survivors of sexual and
gender-based violence, overwhelmingly support the ICJ case and consistently
state that justice, including an end to Tatmadaw impunity, is a fundamental
requirement for their return to Myanmar from Bangladesh.
However these Rohingya genocide survivors, along with the rest of
Myanmar’s embattled people crying out for an end to the crisis that has
overwhelmed their country, are being egregiously failed by the very
multilateral institutions responsible for their protection.
The UN Security Council has been neutralised by China and
Russia, for whom Myanmar is a backyard for commerce and arms sales. The current
chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Cambodian dictator Hun
Sen, was recently rebuffed by Min Aung Hlaing when he attempted to resuscitate
the regional body’s five-point plan. The UN secretary-general’s new special
envoy for Myanmar, Noeleen Heyzer, rendered herself hopelessly compromised
recently when she suggested that the junta participate in a
power-sharing agreement with the NUG.
In the face of these abject failures, Myanmar remains a killing
field. The Rohingya’s homeland, Rakhine State, has become a vast prison camp
for displaced communities, where the junta continues to act with brazen
impunity. In vast swathes of the rest of Myanmar, junta forces are undertaking
increasingly desperate rampages against vulnerable communities in ever more
futile attempts to bring the country under their control.
Mass murder, summary executions, indiscriminate aerial
bombardments and widespread arson attacks are just some of the industrial-scale
human rights violations being perpetrated by the leaders of Myanmar’s failed
coup.
This brings us back to the ICJ hearing. In 2019, the court
unanimously imposed “provisional measures” to prevent any further genocidal
acts by the military and to ensure the preservation of evidence related to
possible acts of genocide.
Two years on, it’s clear these measures have failed, and that as
the court has dragged its bureaucratic feet, the very crimes it is considering
have continued in a widespread and systematic manner.
So we urge the ICJ to move beyond procedural wranglings to the
substantive hearing of genocide against the Rohingya. The Independent
Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar, a massive database of junta crimes, has
extensive evidence that would prove decisive in the case against Myanmar’s
military leaders.
Most importantly, the Rohingya people must have their day in
court, a cathartic moment of truth telling and acknowledgment, and an essential
milestone on their long road to justice and accountability.
Even if the court does move to a substantive hearing, a ruling
on whether the junta has committed genocide is likely to take years. So we
also urge UN member states to take unilateral and collective steps to bring
perpetrators of international crimes to justice and achieve full
accountability.
The application of universal jurisdiction, under which
perpetrators are pursued in national courts, is one largely untried route to
justice in relation to Myanmar. The ground-breaking case by the Burmese
Rohingya Organisation UK in Argentina and the criminal prosecutions which MAP will file
in the coming weeks are good examples.
There must be more efforts like this to put Myanmar’s generals
on notice that they will be held to account and that their days are numbered.
Above all, the people of Myanmar must know that their courageous struggle for
justice is supported by the outside world and that they are not forgotten.
News (35)
Wuhan Omicron epidemic heats up, 2 new risk areas are added
Reporters : Chen Jie, Li Shanshan and Bo Ni / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/23/a103355325.html / Image : Video Screenshot
A local case of Omicron covid broke out in Wuhan recently. At present, two places have been designated as medium-risk areas, and the epidemic has spread to Beijing and Qingdao.
According to official reports, as of 12 am on 22 February, a total of 9 new local confirmed cases and 5 asymptomatic infections had been added in Wuhan, of which 13 had participated in the training activities of a cosmetics company, and the other was a family member of the training class. The preliminary identification covi variant of the case is the Omicron variant.
The training class was held in Wuhan from the 18th to the 20th. At present, the Kailai Xi Hotel, Hubuxiang Store in Wuchang District, and Huaqingyuan Community in Jiang'an District, which are involved in the training activities, have been adjusted to medium-risk areas. The photos show that the Kailai Xi Hotel and surrounding shops have been surrounded by fences.
Ms. Gao, a resident of Wuchang District, said, "It's surrounded by the hotel. Our side is fine, and we can come out. Our side is asking us to do nucleic acid testing, and we have already done it. To be honest, because we have it ourselves. Children, people with elderly people, we are not afraid of going to work every day, which one is not afraid, but there is no way, this is not for a meal."
It is understood that the Kailai Xi Hotel has 180 guests during the conference, most of them are foreign tourists, and there are dozens of art candidates from all over the world. The trajectories of the cases involved multiple scenic spots such as Yellow Crane Tower and Hubu Lane, many large shopping malls, stations, and airports in Hankou, as well as 4 hospitals including Huayuanshan Campus of Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
A staff member of a hotel near Wuhan Railway Station said, "As long as you come from other provinces, you need to provide a 48-hour nucleic acid certificate. After landing, the community or some of the nearby communities here will contact you within 24 hours. The landing nucleic acid certificate. Some communities have been quarantined. Some communities, hotels, and crowded places near the train station may need to strengthen prevention and control. "
Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has also stopped accepting patients.
Ms. Wang, a merchant near Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said, "We can only send it to the inpatient department, and they will take it in. The outpatient clinic will not accept patients for the time being. It seems that they will not accept (inpatient)."
With the emergence of cases in Wuhan and Qingdao, there are 25 places in 19 provinces (cities) in mainland China that have the outbreak of Omicron.
News (36)
Hong Kong media: Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong on 1 July 2022 and give Carrie Lam a death order
Reporter : Luo Tingting / Editor: Wen Hui / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/23/a103355297.html
Image : Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam at a press conference on February 18, 2022. (Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)
Hong Kong's epidemic situation is severe. Hong Kong media recently revealed that Xi Jinping will visit Hong Kong on 1 July 2022. So he gave Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor a death order, demanding her to control the Hong Kong epidemic by May.
"Hong Kong Economic Times" quoted Chinese sources as saying on 22 February that Beijing hopes that the Hong Kong government can suppress the epidemic in May because Xi Jinping, the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, will visit Hong Kong on 1 July 2022, and he will preside over the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong sovereignty and the swearing-in ceremony of the new chief executive.
The report said that Han Zheng, the vice-premier of the Chinese Communist Party in charge of Hong Kong and Macau affairs, made a special trip south for this matter and met with Carrie Lam in Shenzhen on 15 February to convey Xi Jinping's instructions.
Hong Kong media have previously reported that this is the first time Xi Jinping has issued an order to the Hong Kong chief executive that "the fight against the epidemic is overriding everything".
According to people familiar with the matter, the meeting was "dignified and serious", which did not bode well for Carrie Lam.
In order for the chief executive election to be held smoothly, Beijing issued a death order to the Hong Kong government that the epidemic must be brought under control within two months.
Carrie Lam announced on 18 February 2022 that due to the impact of the epidemic, the chief executive election originally scheduled for March was postponed to 8 May 2022.
The report said that even if the epidemic in Hong Kong is serious, the new chief executive must be finalized before the July 1st change.
Relevant parties have even studied back-up plans. If there is still an epidemic risk in Hong Kong, the inauguration ceremony of the new chief executive may be held in Shenzhen instead.
The report believes that the epidemic in Hong Kong is out of control, and Beijing is quite disappointed with the Hong Kong government, casting a shadow over Carrie Lam's re-election.
In the past 20 days, the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong has increased exponentially. More than 14,000 new cases were reported on 22 February, and 32 confirmed patients died that day.
The research team of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong estimates based on epidemiological models that the epidemic in Hong Kong may reach its peak early next month, when the number of new infections per day may exceed 180,000, and the number of deaths in a single day may exceed 100.
News (37)
The results of the "Chain Woman" investigation have raised doubts, and foreigners have called for a 30-year retrospective investigation
Reporter : Luo Tingting / Editor: Wen Hui / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/23/a103355257.html
As soon as the investigation results of the Xuzhou "Chain Woman" case were released, it caused a wave of doubts on the Internet. The CCP’s publicity also said that the official measures were not enough, and called for a 30-year retrospective investigation to track down CCP officials in the Xuzhou case of abducting and trafficking women.
On 23 February, the Jiangsu investigation team released a report on the investigation of the "Iron Chain Woman" case in Fengxian County, Xuzhou.
However, netizens did not agree with the survey results. Some mainland netizens said angrily, "When the people of the whole country are blind..."
Another Twitter netizen said, "This is just an insult to the IQ of netizens, this is a fucking insult to the IQ of the world's human beings! The Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee is the only evil force that insults China and opposes the party and harms the country!" "The party doesn't care at all. Believe it or not, just ask if you accept it!"
"Want pictures, videos and other evidence to form a complete, informative and convincing investigative report. Not just one mouth."
"Is it just an example? It's not just an example, please investigate Fengxian thoroughly! But it's not just Fengxian! It is imminent to promote the establishment of relevant laws and regulations!"
"To sum up, a bunch of cadres were held accountable, but they downplayed the abduction, trafficking and abuse of women. Do we want to remove cadres? No! What we want is to use the action force of anti-crime and eradication of evil! What we want is to punish buyers and traffickers. What I want is that the world will be free from crooks in the future!"
Gao Yu, a mainland media person, also tweeted, "Even Beijing-based Duowei News believes that the fifth report of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government Investigation Team is difficult to file."
Duowei.com, which is accused of being a big propaganda, said that the official measures to deal with the "Iron Chain Woman" case were not enough, and the answer to this incident still needs to be given to the public: "Why did Xuzhou in the 1980s and 1990s? There is a human trafficking chain, and even a human trafficking distribution center that radiates around?"
According to the book "Record of the Ancient Crimes of National Women's Trafficking and Trafficking" published in May 1989, from 1986 to 1989, traffickers abducted and trafficked women from all over the country to 6 counties of Xuzhou City, a total of 48,100 women, the youngest only 13 years old.
More than 40 taxi drivers in Xuzhou formed a criminal gang, kidnapped and trafficked 101 women, and obtained more than 136,700 RMB of stolen money.
What is even more unbelievable is that "China Economic Weekly" quoted information from the China Judgment Documents website to disclose that many abducted women in Fengxian County, Xuzhou requested for divorce but the court did not decide to divorce. Many women had no choice but to commit suicide in the end.
Former CCTV host Zhao Pu recently said in a video of support for the "Chain Girl": "It was clear that the woman was abducted and trafficked, and she strongly demanded a divorce, but the court did not support it... There is more despair than this situation?"
Duowei.com believes that the crime of abducting and trafficking women in Xuzhou has not been completely eradicated. A thorough account of public opinion and the public."
The "Chain Woman" incident in Fengxian County, Xuzhou was exposed on the Internet on 28 January and continued to ferment. The momentum even overshadowed the Beijing Winter Olympics but the CCP's official media collectively lost their voices and kept silent. The CCP Women's Federation also remained silent, sparking indignation.
Under the pressure of public opinion at home and abroad, the Jiangsu provincial government announced on 17 February the establishment of an investigation team to thoroughly investigate the "Chain Woman" incident but what the people are waiting for is more severe public opinion suppression.
Dongji Village, where the "Chain Woman" is located, was surrounded by iron walls, and outsiders could not enter; the investigation team interviewed dozens of people about the leakage of the "Chain Woman" marriage certificate; some activists in various places received warning calls and asked to delete them all posts, pictures and videos related to the Chain Woman, withdraw from the solidarity signature or otherwise they will be responsible for the consequences.
Two bookstores in Hangzhou and Xi'an set up "Chain Woman" themed counters are ordered to remove books related to the subject while Chinese university alumni who previously participated in the joint endorsement were asked to withdraw their signatures. Many universities were instructed by their superiors to ask school staff and teachers to stop talking about it and forwarding the Fengxian incident.
Many Chinese netizens were greatly disappointed by this and condemned the CCP authorities for "not solving the problem, but first solving the problem."
Gao Yu, a mainland media person, also tweeted to ask the CCP authorities, "From the videos from the media and CCTV, the chain woman has not lost the ability of thinking, language expression and judgment. Why did the party committee from Jiangsu Province, Xuzhou and Fengxian County and the government won't let her speak for herself? Why are you afraid of the public knowing?"
News (38)
If Russia invades Ukraine, oil prices may soar, the Fed will raise interest rates
Editor : Lu Yongxin / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2022/02/23/a103355266.html
In response to Russia's possible military aggression against Ukraine, energy analysts say oil prices may rise sharply; the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates after March. The outlook may become less clear.
The Central News Agency quoted CNBC as saying that oil and natural gas prices have risen due to tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Oil and gas is a major expense for many Americans, and 70 percent of the U.S. economy is driven by consumers.
Prices of other commodities, including oil, have risen in recent days on worries about Russian-Ukrainian relations, U.S. sanctions and possible supply curbs by allies. Russia is a major exporter of oil and gas, the largest exporter of wheat and palladium, and a heavyweight in nickel, aluminum and other metals.
"It's mostly oil and not other things like wheat, palladium and nickel," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's. "Oil is up about $10 to $15 a barrel because of this conflict... If it continues, would raise unleaded gasoline by about 30 to 40 cents a gallon, which equates to an annual increase of up to 0.5 percentage points in inflation, which is now 7.5%. I think it gives the Fed a shot at controlling inflation and restoring full employment more complicated."
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the average price of unleaded gasoline today (22nd) is $3.53 per gallon, 90 cents more than a year ago and 21 cents higher than last month. Crude oil has risen about 50% in the past year.
Economists said that oil prices may ultimately influence the Fed's decision-making. Rising oil prices are not only inflation drivers. If they remain high, they may form anti-inflation and harm economic growth.
Oil prices could also surge if Russia sends troops to invade Ukraine, energy analysts said.
"This complicates the situation, one is that growth is affected more significantly, but the other is likely to happen," said Bruce Kasman, chief economist at JPMorgan. , is that rising prices don't hurt growth, which is fueling inflation."
Kessman expects the Fed to raise interest rates by one rate in March and the remaining six decision-making meetings this year will decide to raise rates as the situation in Ukraine weakens the argument for a two-yard rate hike.
That's where the Fed's future approach is unclear. On the one hand, concerns about growth could slow the Fed's rate hikes; on the other, if inflation rises more rapidly, the Fed could be more aggressive.
"I do think today (22nd) that oil is about 30% higher than the fourth quarter average, and if it goes up to 75% or even 100% to $120 to $150 (a barrel), I'm going to do it," Kessman said. would think that the damage done was large enough to have a negative impact on global growth.”
Zandi said the Fed's current focus is on quelling inflation, and he sees a rise in oil prices up to $150 as unlikely, but higher fuel prices will still attract the Fed's attention.
"I think it reinforces their instinct to quickly normalize monetary policy as they focus more on the impact of inflation than the shock to growth," he said.
News (39)
Study: The ability of the human immune system to remember and destroy covi is sustainable
The New York Times reported that at least 4 research reports published in top journals in the past month have shown that the ability of different parts of the immune system of test subjects who have been vaccinated against covid to remember and destroy the covi is sustainable, and people do not need to be vaccinated against covi every few months.
According to the report, one of the studies showed that the BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax vaccines were 80% as effective against the Omicron variant strain and other variants. Since Omicron is far more mutated than previous variants, experts believe that the immune T cells generated by the four vaccines have a great ability to deal with future variants. A new study released on Tuesday also showed that the third shot of an mRNA vaccine made by BioNTech-Pfizer and Moderna makes B cells, another type of immune cell in the body, produce a plethora of different antibodies, making it difficult for any covi variant to circumvent it.
News (40)
Study: People do not need to receive booster dose every few months or even more than once a year
The report pointed out that these studies have shown that the third and even the second dose can provide long-term protection against severe illness and death. In other words, people do not need to receive a booster dose every few months, or even more than once a year. John Wherry, director of the Institute of Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, said there is now a growing body of evidence that boosters bring lower and lower returns, although there may be benefits to a fourth dose in the elderly or high-risk groups but most others do not seem to need it.
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