In a recent resurgence of illegal gold panning, dozens of individuals were spotted wading into the Yanzi River in Kangxian county, Gansu province, despite repeated warnings from local authorities. The activity, captured in a now-deleted video circulating on Chinese social media, showed people braving the cold temperatures of around 4°C at 1 am, with some reportedly finding over 5 grams of gold in a single basin. This illegal practice has been ongoing since the start of the year, despite previous efforts by local authorities to halt it. The recent dredging work in the riverbed has seemingly reignited the activity, according to nearby shop owners. The Kangxian county government has reiterated that individual gold panning is strictly prohibited, with police patrolling the area to disperse those entering the river at night. In July, the county’s natural resources bureau issued a public notice banning illegal gold panning and set up a hotline for reporting violations. The Chengguan township government also warned in June that unauthorized mining was damaging the river’s ecology and threatening waterway safety. Under China’s Mineral Resources Law, all mineral resources are owned by the State, and no individual or organization may explore or extract them without official permission.
分类： society
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Son who sued parents must stay at Ghana boarding school, judge rules
A 14-year-old British boy, who was sent to a boarding school in Ghana by his parents, has been ordered by a High Court judge to remain there until he completes his GCSEs. The boy, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, was taken to Ghana in March 2024 under the pretense of visiting a sick relative. However, court documents reveal that his parents decided to relocate him due to concerns about his behavior in London, including school absences, possession of unexplained money, and carrying a knife. The boy denies any involvement in gang activity or carrying a weapon.
In February, the boy, feeling unhappy and homesick, sought publicly funded legal representation and filed a case against his parents in the High Court in London. His initial attempt to return to the UK was denied when a judge ruled that he would face greater harm if he returned. However, in June, he won a Court of Appeal bid to have the case rehearted after Sir Andrew McFarlane, the most senior judge in the Family Division, identified confusion in the previous decision.
On Tuesday, the High Court delivered its final judgment, ruling against the boy’s wishes. Judge Mrs Justice Theis emphasized the ongoing disruptions to his education and family life as key factors in the decision. She acknowledged the boy’s distress but highlighted his potential to succeed with the support of his family. The boy, who holds dual British and Ghanaian citizenship, remains in school in Ghana, preparing for his GCSEs.
The boy’s solicitor, James Netto of the International Family Law Group, stated that the boy ‘welcomes’ the judge’s decision to establish a clear roadmap for his return to the UK. Netto described the case as ‘extremely difficult’ and noted that the boy never wanted to take legal action against his parents but felt he had no other choice. The boy’s mother expressed her fears about his safety if he were to return to the UK prematurely, stating that she would be unable to care for him adequately.
Judge Theis outlined a ‘road map’ for the boy’s return, which includes participation in family therapy funded by their local authority. The final decision on his return will be reviewed closer to the completion of his GCSEs.
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Bookstore manager fosters connections through love of reading
In 2024, the inaugural Reading Conference for All held in Xinjiang sparked a transformative realization for Liya, a dedicated bookstore manager. She discovered that literature and reading could serve as powerful tools to foster genuine connections among strangers. Inspired by this insight, Liya began organizing reading salons and diverse events at her bookstore, transforming it into more than just a commercial space. Her bookstore has become a sanctuary where book lovers can engage in meaningful interactions and build authentic relationships. Liya’s efforts highlight the profound impact of literature in creating a sense of community and belonging. Dive into the enchanting world of Liya’s bookstore and experience the magic of literature that brings people together.
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Aaron Ramsey’s family ‘haunted’ by dog’s disappearance
The family of Welsh football star Aaron Ramsey is grappling with the emotional toll of their beloved dog Halo’s disappearance in Mexico. Halo, a 10-year-old beagle, went missing on October 9 from a ranch in the Guanajuato region, near San Miguel de Allende. Despite extensive search efforts, including a $20,000 reward and the use of a dog tracker collar, Halo has not been found. In a heartfelt statement released on Monday, the family expressed their sorrow, stating they are ‘trying to accept that she has most likely passed away.’ They added that the uncertainty surrounding Halo’s fate will ‘continue to haunt’ them, and they cannot simply ‘move on’ from this tragedy. The statement also revealed that the family was unaware of Halo’s disappearance for a week, delaying their search efforts. Ramsey, who recently joined Mexican club Pumas UNAM, has shared numerous photos and videos of Halo on social media, highlighting the deep bond they shared. The footballer’s contract with Pumas UNAM was reportedly terminated by mutual agreement after he played in six games, though the club has yet to confirm this. The Ramsey family’s ordeal has drawn widespread sympathy, underscoring the profound impact pets have on their owners’ lives.
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At least 7 dead after passenger train collides with cargo train in central India
A tragic train collision occurred in central India on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of at least seven individuals and leaving several others injured, according to a senior government official. The accident took place near Bilaspur, approximately 116 kilometers from Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state. Local media broadcasted distressing visuals of the collision, with rescue teams urgently combing through the wreckage for survivors. Senior official Sanjay Agarwal reported that a local passenger train rear-ended a goods train, causing one passenger coach to overturn onto a goods wagon. Rescue operations are underway to extricate at least two passengers believed to be trapped inside the mangled wreckage. “We remain hopeful for their survival, but confirmation can only come once they are safely removed,” Agarwal stated. Around a dozen injured individuals have been transported to nearby hospitals, with one in critical condition. Indian Railways has mobilized all available resources for the rescue mission and initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Chhattisgarh’s highest-elected official, Vishnu Deo Sai, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. Train collisions are a recurring issue in India, where the extensive rail network grapples with aging infrastructure and human error. With over 12 million passengers daily across 64,000 kilometers of track, rail safety remains a pressing concern. Despite governmental efforts to enhance safety measures, hundreds of accidents, some fatal, occur annually, often attributed to outdated signaling systems or human oversight. This incident follows a devastating crash in eastern India in 2023, which claimed over 280 lives, marking one of the country’s deadliest rail disasters.
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Boeing may face its first civil trial seeking damages for deadly Ethiopia crash
Over six years after the tragic crash of a Boeing 737 Max jetliner in Ethiopia, which claimed the lives of all 157 passengers and crew on board, the first civil trial related to the disaster is set to commence. While Boeing has settled the majority of the wrongful death lawsuits filed by the victims’ families following the March 2019 crash, two remaining cases are scheduled to go before a federal court jury in Chicago as early as Tuesday. The trial, taking place in Boeing’s former headquarters city, will not re-examine the company’s liability, as Boeing has already accepted responsibility for the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash and a similar incident in Indonesia that killed 189 people less than five months prior. Instead, an eight-person jury will determine the compensation owed to the families of Mercy Ndivo, a 28-year-old Kenyan mother, and Shikha Garg, a 36-year-old Indian consultant for the United Nations. Both women were among the victims of the fatal crash, which occurred minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Ndivo, who had just earned a master’s degree in accountancy in London, left behind her husband and infant daughter, now nearly 8 years old. Garg, en route to a U.N. environmental assembly in Nairobi, is survived by her husband and parents. Boeing expressed its condolences in a statement, reiterating its commitment to compensating the families and acknowledging its legal responsibility. However, attempts to reach pre-trial settlements through mediation have failed, prompting the families to seek justice in court. The trial’s outcome could set a precedent for future cases, as Boeing continues to face scrutiny over its handling of the 737 Max’s flawed flight-control system, which contributed to both crashes. The Justice Department has proposed a deferred prosecution agreement, which, if approved, would require Boeing to pay or invest $1.1 billion in fines, victim compensation, and safety improvements.
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Cardinal Dominik Duka, former Prague archbishop, dies at 82
Cardinal Dominik Duka, the former Archbishop of Prague who played a pivotal role in negotiating compensation for churches following the Communist regime’s confiscation of religious properties, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 82. The Prague Archdiocese confirmed his death in a statement, though the cause was not disclosed. Born Jaroslav Václav Duka on April 26, 1943, in Hradec Králové, Duka’s life was marked by resilience and dedication to the Catholic Church amidst intense persecution. After the Communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in 1948, the Church faced severe repression, with properties seized, priests imprisoned, and religious activities heavily monitored. Duka secretly joined the Dominican Order in 1968, adopting the name Dominik, and was ordained in 1970. However, he was banned from priestly duties in 1975 and later imprisoned for 15 months in 1981 for continuing his church activities. During his incarceration at Bory Prison in Plzeň, he befriended Václav Havel, the dissident playwright who later led the Velvet Revolution and became Czech president. Duka’s leadership as Prague Archbishop from 2010 to 2022 was instrumental in the Czech Republic’s passage of a law to return confiscated religious properties, with the government agreeing to pay $3 billion in compensation over 30 years. Despite his conservative views and controversies, including accusations of downplaying clerical abuse, Duka was widely respected for his bravery during the Communist era and his efforts to renew the Church in a democratic society. Prime Minister Petr Fiala praised his contributions, highlighting his courage and significant role in the nation’s history.
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Five members of northern Myanmar telecom fraud syndicate sentenced to death
In a landmark ruling, a Chinese court in Guangdong province has sentenced 21 members of a family-run criminal syndicate based in northern Myanmar for a series of grave offenses, including the deaths of six Chinese nationals. The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court delivered the verdict on Tuesday, finding the defendants guilty of 12 charges, ranging from telecom fraud to intentional homicide and kidnapping. Among the convicted, five individuals, including ringleaders Bay Saw Chain and Bay Yin Chin, were handed the death penalty. Two others received a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, while five were sentenced to life imprisonment. The remaining defendants faced prison terms ranging from three to 20 years, alongside fines, asset confiscation, and deportation orders. The court revealed that the syndicate had established 41 scam compounds in Myanmar’s Kokang region, leveraging armed force and financial backing to carry out extensive criminal activities. These included telecom fraud, casino operations, illegal border crossings, and forced prostitution. The group’s actions resulted in significant harm, including six deaths, one suicide, and multiple injuries, with financial losses exceeding 29 billion yuan ($4.06 billion). Additionally, Bay Yin Chin was implicated in the smuggling and manufacturing of approximately 11 tons of methamphetamine. The sentencing was attended by Chinese legislators, political advisers, and families of the defendants, marking a significant step in addressing cross-border organized crime.
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Paris launches lottery for burial plots among famous artists
Paris is offering its residents a unique opportunity to secure a burial plot alongside some of history’s most celebrated figures, including Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Edith Piaf. The city has initiated a lottery to restore deteriorating funerary monuments in its iconic cemeteries—Père-Lachaise, Montparnasse, and Montmartre. Ten gravestones in each cemetery, many dating back to the 19th century and now barely legible, are available for €4,000 each. However, the purchase comes with strict conditions: buyers must restore the monuments within six months and acquire a nearby burial plot within a specified timeframe. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the cancellation of the sale and forfeiture of the payment. The initiative, unanimously approved by the Paris council in April, aims to balance the preservation of heritage with the growing demand for burial spaces within the city. Parisian cemeteries, classified as protected heritage sites, have limited available plots, with most being fully occupied since the early 20th century. Maintenance of graves is typically the responsibility of families, leading to some monuments falling into disrepair over time. The cemeteries, already popular tourist destinations due to their famous residents, house the remains of luminaries such as Marcel Proust, Frederic Chopin, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Edgar Degas. The lottery, open exclusively to Paris residents, will be drawn in January. Winners face significant costs, including restoration expenses and burial plot leases ranging from €976 for 10 years to €17,668 for perpetuity.
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UAE weather: Dubai temperatures to dip to 24ºC; humidity by night
The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has forecasted a shift in weather conditions across the UAE, with temperatures in Dubai expected to drop to 24ºC on Tuesday, November 4. Sharjah and Abu Dhabi will experience slightly cooler lows of 23ºC. The day will be characterized by partly cloudy to cloudy skies, particularly in western and coastal regions, with occasional dust in northern and eastern areas. Humidity levels are predicted to rise by night and into Wednesday morning, affecting both coastal and internal regions. Winds will be light to moderate, shifting from southeasterly to northwesterly, with speeds ranging from 10-25 km/hr, occasionally reaching 40 km/hr. Sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea will remain slight to moderate. Residents are advised to stay updated on weather developments as these changes could impact daily activities.