分类： society

A catastrophic pre-dawn collision between a fuel tanker and a passenger bus on National Highway 48 in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district has resulted in a devastating death toll, with preliminary reports indicating over ten fatalities. The horrific incident occurred near Gorlathu village during the early hours of Thursday when the tanker vehicle reportedly breached the central divider and rammed into an oncoming luxury sleeper bus traveling to the coastal pilgrimage town of Gokarna.

The impact triggered an immediate conflagration that engulfed the passenger vehicle, trapping numerous occupants inside. According to East Zone Inspector General of Police Ravikanthe Gowda, most victims perished from severe burns within the rapidly burning bus despite rescue efforts. The vehicle was carrying 32 passengers including driver and conductor personnel at the time of the accident.

In a secondary collision, a school bus transporting 48 students from T Dasarahalli to Dandeli subsequently made contact with the wreckage. Miraculously, no children sustained serious injuries in this secondary incident, and the school bus driver has provided crucial eyewitness testimony to investigating authorities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced comprehensive compensation packages for affected families through the PM National Relief Fund. Each deceased victim’s next of kin will receive ₹2 lakh (approximately Dh8,209) while injured survivors are entitled to ₹50,000 (Dh2,052) in immediate financial assistance. The Prime Minister expressed profound grief over the tragedy and extended condolences to bereaved families while wishing swift recovery for those hospitalized with injuries.

Local authorities continue investigation operations at the accident site as medical teams work to identify victims and provide necessary treatment to survivors. The death toll remains subject to potential revision as emergency responders complete their assessment of the charred vehicle wreckage.

As the New Year approaches, railway maintenance teams in Chongqing are executing comprehensive safety protocols to ensure seamless operations during the anticipated travel peak. Technical staff from the Chongqing Passenger Transport Section, operating under China Railway Chengdu Bureau Group Co Ltd, have accelerated inspection routines and maintenance procedures on critical rail infrastructure.

The preparatory measures include meticulous examinations of CR200J bullet trains, China’s advanced high-speed rail units. Maintenance personnel are conducting thorough system checks, mechanical assessments, and functionality verifications across all operational components. These proactive interventions aim to identify potential technical issues before they can impact passenger services during high-density travel periods.

Photographic documentation from maintenance facilities shows technicians performing detailed inspections on train undercarriages, braking systems, and electrical connections. The intensified maintenance regime reflects China Railway’s commitment to safety-first transportation principles, particularly during periods of significantly increased passenger volume.

The preparation strategy incorporates lessons learned from previous holiday travel rushes, with railway authorities implementing optimized inspection protocols and resource allocation. Maintenance teams are working extended shifts to ensure the entire fleet meets stringent safety standards before the travel surge begins.

This systematic approach to pre-holiday preparation demonstrates how China’s railway network manages the complex logistics of mass transportation during peak demand periods. The comprehensive safety checks cover both rolling stock and fixed infrastructure, creating a multi-layered safety net for the millions of passengers expected to utilize rail services during the holiday period.

In the culinary landscape of Chinese hotpot traditions, a distinctive sour flavor profile from Guizhou province is capturing national attention and taste buds. Unlike the familiar numbing spiciness of Sichuan hotpot, Guizhou’s signature sour soup hotpot offers a uniquely tangy fermentation-based broth that has evolved from regional specialty to national phenomenon.

The fermentation process begins in massive earthen jars at production facilities like those operated by Yumeng Group in Kaili, where the traditional preparation methods meet modern demand. This sour soup base has achieved remarkable commercial success, ranking first in both positive reviews and repurchase rates on Tmall’s e-commerce platform as of December 1st.

Social media platforms, particularly Douyin (China’s version of TikTok), have played a pivotal role in the dish’s popularity explosion. The hashtag “Guizhou sour soup” has amassed over 300 million views, with users sharing restaurant experiences across China and homemade recipe attempts from those seeking to recreate the distinctive flavor after visiting Guizhou.

The epicenter of this culinary movement remains Kaili, located in the Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture, where the aroma of fermentation permeates the air and sour soup establishments range from street stalls to full-service restaurants. The region’s cultural heritage intertwines with its culinary traditions, creating a food experience that transcends mere sustenance to become a cultural ambassador for Guizhou province.

This growing national appreciation represents how regional Chinese cuisines are gaining wider recognition through digital platforms, transforming local specialties into national trends while maintaining their cultural authenticity and traditional preparation methods.

A devastating vehicle accident in East China’s Jiangxi province resulted in eight fatalities on Tuesday afternoon, according to local authorities. The tragedy occurred when a van carrying children veered off a rural roadway and plunged into a pond in Pengze county, Jiujiang city.

Initial reports from the Pengze County Public Security Bureau indicate the accident took place approximately at 4:00 PM along a rural thoroughfare in Xiangshui village, located within Dingshan township. Emergency response teams including police, fire rescue personnel, and medical services immediately deployed to the scene upon notification, conducting extensive search and recovery operations.

Investigation findings reveal the vehicle was operated by a 49-year-old local resident identified only by her surname Luo. Preliminary evidence suggests the van unexpectedly departed from the road surface and entered an adjacent pond. All eight occupants, including the driver, succumbed to the incident despite rescue efforts.

According to documentation from Shanghai-based Jiemian News, which cited local resident Tao, Luo served as the director of a privately-operated kindergarten in Dingshan town. The vehicle reportedly transported six children alongside an additional driver at the time of the catastrophic event.

Authorities have initiated comprehensive investigations to determine the precise causation factors behind the accident while coordinating subsequent procedures and family notifications. The community has begun mourning the tragic loss that has deeply affected this rural region.

China is embarking on a significant expansion of its flagship higher education initiative to enhance the global competitiveness of its university system. The State Council has proposed broadening the scope of the “double first-class” program, a national strategy designed to cultivate elite universities and academic disciplines, according to a report submitted to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

Initially launched in 2015, the ambitious program targets developing world-class universities and first-class disciplines by mid-century. The current phase (2022-2027) includes 147 designated institutions that have become crucial to China’s academic ecosystem, training over 50% of the nation’s master’s students and nearly 80% of doctoral candidates.

These universities have demonstrated remarkable achievements, producing groundbreaking research across multiple fields and emerging as primary drivers of scientific innovation. The central government has demonstrated substantial commitment to the initiative, allocating 181 billion yuan ($25.7 billion) from 2021-2025, which has leveraged an additional 110 billion yuan in local funding.

Concurrently, regional authorities have supported over 400 local high-level universities and more than 1,300 specialized academic disciplines, creating a multi-tiered approach to educational excellence.

The forward-looking strategy emphasizes not only expansion but also quality enhancement. Plans include increasing enrollment in high-quality undergraduate programs, scaling up postgraduate training, and raising the proportion of doctoral students. A key component involves establishing a demographic-responsive funding mechanism that adapts to changing population trends.

China’s investment in higher education has been substantial, with 3.78 trillion yuan allocated from 2021-2024. This support has enabled the development of the world’s largest higher education system, achieving a gross enrollment ratio of 60.8% in 2024—a 6.4 percentage point increase from 2020. The educated population with university-level credentials now exceeds 240 million.

The reforms will further encourage institutions to develop distinctive strengths, fostering a diversified talent ecosystem that meets China’s evolving economic and social needs.

NEWCASTLE, Australia — In response to the devastating antisemitic terror attack that claimed 15 lives, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled plans on Thursday for a national bravery award recognizing civilians and emergency responders. The announcement came during a Christmas Day address in Sydney, where Albanese highlighted the stark contrast between extremist violence and extraordinary human compassion witnessed during the December 14th beachside Hanukkah celebration attack.

The special honors system will acknowledge individuals like Ahmed al Ahmed, a Syrian-Australian Muslim who disarmed one of the assailants despite sustaining injuries himself. The alleged perpetrators, Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram—both killed during police intervention—are accused of committing Australia’s deadliest massacre since 1996.

Concurrently, New South Wales implemented sweeping firearm reforms just before Christmas, introducing the nation’s most stringent gun control measures. The legislation limits individual firearm ownership to four weapons, reclassifies high-risk firearms like pump-action weapons, reduces license durations to two years, and restricts ownership exclusively to Australian citizens. The reforms also eliminate appeal pathways for denied license applications.

State leader Chris Minns emphasized that while gun control cannot eradicate hatred, it represents a critical step toward preventing future violence. Additional measures include bans on public displays of terrorist symbols and expanded police authority to restrict public gatherings following terrorist incidents. Albanese has pledged further strengthening of Australia’s already rigorous national gun laws, signaling a comprehensive governmental response to the tragedy that has profoundly impacted the nation’s holiday season.