分类： society

Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province, recently hosted a gathering of mayors and city planners from across the globe to exchange insights on green transformation, cultural heritage preservation, and smart governance. The event, held on Wednesday, highlighted Nanjing’s commitment to sustainable urban development and its rich historical legacy. Participants visited Yuhuatai High School to witness a campus soccer match, showcasing the city’s emphasis on youth engagement and sports infrastructure. Nanjing’s dedication to fostering a soccer culture was evident in its 294 national youth campus soccer specialty schools and the construction of 180 new soccer fields over the past five years. Alessandro Rapinese, Mayor of Como, Italy, praised Nanjing’s energy and competitiveness, which he experienced firsthand on the soccer field. The delegation also explored the Nanjing City Wall Museum and Zhonghua Gate Wengcheng, marveling at the city’s meticulous preservation of its Ming Dynasty heritage. The Nanjing City Wall, built in 1366, remains the world’s longest and best-preserved ancient city wall, while Zhonghua Gate Wengcheng stands as a testament to China’s architectural ingenuity. Over the three-day visit, participants embarked on a diverse itinerary, including a research vessel tour to observe finless porpoises, a visit to a bug studio to study insect traces, and a tour of Nanjing Iron and Steel Group Company to witness its green transformation efforts. The event also featured a World Literature Salon, where mayors read Chinese and English poetry, fostering cross-cultural dialogue. Mohamed Higazy, a board member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, lauded Nanjing as a model city that balances heritage preservation with forward-looking development. Thomas Himmler, Director of Foreign Affairs in Dietfurt, Germany, expressed his admiration for Nanjing’s warmth and cultural richness, emphasizing his goal to bridge understanding between Germany and China.

A Philippine court has handed down a life sentence to Alice Guo, a former mayor accused of being a Chinese national, for her involvement in a large-scale human trafficking and online scam operation. The Pasig City Regional Trial Court in metropolitan Manila convicted Guo and seven other Filipino and Chinese co-accused, imposing a fine of 2 million pesos ($34,000) each and ordering compensation for trafficking victims. Guo, who denies all allegations and claims Filipino citizenship, allegedly facilitated the establishment of an illegal online gaming complex in northern Tarlac province, where hundreds of foreign nationals were forced to conduct financial scams. The court revealed that the operation used parcels of land and buildings to house trafficked workers, coercing them into fraudulent activities. This case highlights the growing issue of online scam centers in Southeast Asia, particularly in border areas like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, where hundreds of thousands have been trapped in virtual slavery. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken steps to combat these operations, banning hundreds of Chinese-run online gaming businesses linked to crimes such as financial scams, human trafficking, and kidnapping. While many centers have been raided and shut down, officials acknowledge that more remain operational. Senator Risa Hontiveros, who led Senate inquiries into the scam operations, hailed Guo’s conviction as a victory against transnational crimes but emphasized that the fight is far from over. Hontiveros also raised concerns about potential espionage activities linked to Chinese nationals operating these centers, amid escalating territorial conflicts between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Guo, dismissed from her mayoral post last year for grave misconduct, fled to Indonesia but was arrested and deported back to the Philippines, where she remains in detention.

In a striking juxtaposition of glamour and grit, Yang Chaoqin, a 29-year-old engineering graduate, recently captivated audiences by participating in the Zhangjiajie Qixing Mountain Wilderness Survival Challenge. Known as ‘Leng Meiren’ (Cold Beauty), Yang arrived at the rugged Qixing Mountain in early October with pink nail polish and full makeup, including false eyelashes. Over the course of 30 days, she transformed into a seasoned survivalist, living in a mountain cave and enduring the harsh autumn chill of the forest. Her journey, marked by moments like eating a locust whole and calmly declaring it a source of protein, has become a sensation on Chinese social media. The challenge, which began on October 9 with 100 contestants, emphasizes harmony with nature, requiring participants to build shelters, make fires, and forage for food. The event has garnered unprecedented attention, with official channels on platforms like Douyin and Kuaishou amassing millions of followers and over 12 billion views by mid-November. Even Bear Grylls, host of the global hit ‘Man vs. Wild,’ praised the challenge on the organizers’ Douyin channel, calling it ‘epic’ and commending the contestants. The Zhangjiajie Qixing Mountain Wilderness Survival Challenge has carved out a unique niche, blending traditional survival skills with a distinctly Chinese cultural perspective.

In a bid to make legal education more engaging and accessible, China has introduced innovative programs tailored for young students and the elderly. These initiatives aim to deepen public understanding of the law and foster a culture of legal awareness. One such program, organized by the Haidian District People’s Court in Beijing, recently saw high school students participate in an immersive legal workshop. Students took on roles as plaintiffs, defendants, and judges to navigate a simulated inheritance dispute, learning about the Civil Code and judicial procedures in the process. The workshop, guided by court assistant Sun Jiayun, emphasized the importance of hands-on learning to spark interest in legal concepts. This initiative is part of a broader transformation in China’s legal education system, driven by the implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law. President Xi Jinping has called for intensified efforts to advance the rule of law across all sectors, emphasizing the need for society-wide observance of the law. The program’s success highlights the potential of interactive methods to make legal education more relatable and effective, particularly for younger audiences.

In a tragic yet fateful turn of events, Abdul Gani Shirahatti, an Indian expatriate who had lived and worked in Abu Dhabi for nearly two decades, was among the 45 pilgrims who lost their lives in a devastating bus crash in Saudi Arabia. The accident occurred on Monday during a journey from Makkah to Madinah, where the bus collided with a tanker. Gani, a dedicated hotel driver for 18 years, had embarked on a short Umrah pilgrimage, a journey he had undertaken alone after his wife’s passport delay prevented her from accompanying him. His son and elder brother, Farook, traveled to Madinah to provide DNA samples to identify Gani’s remains, a process that has left the family in profound grief. Gani’s wife, who narrowly escaped the tragedy due to the passport delay, is now grappling with the loss of her husband. The family, supported by friends and authorities, awaits the completion of formal identification procedures. Gani, described as a hardworking and devoted family man, had planned to return to India for a long-awaited reunion with his loved ones after completing his pilgrimage and work responsibilities. Instead, his family now mourns his untimely death, remembering his unwavering commitment to providing for his wife, three daughters, and son.

In the icy expanse of Antarctica, where the frigid air bites at exposed skin, Natalie Paine, a French horn player in New Zealand’s navy, has found an unlikely stage. Since October, Paine has been stationed at Scott Base, one of 21 military members supporting scientific research on the frozen continent. Her melodies, carried across the Ross Sea, emerge from what might be the most remote practice room on Earth. ‘It’s beautiful and very inspiring,’ Paine shared with the Associated Press. ‘I’ll sit by the window, play music in my limited free time, and let the surroundings fuel my creativity.’

Paine’s journey to Antarctica is as unconventional as her current role. Growing up in the arid climate of Adelaide, Australia, she once dreamed of visiting the frozen continent as a scientist. However, her path led her to study music at university, temporarily shelving her Antarctic aspirations. Years later, as a musician in New Zealand’s navy, she discovered that military personnel, including musicians, could be stationed in Antarctica. ‘My eyes lit up,’ Paine recalled. ‘I asked, even a musician? And my instructor said, heck yeah, why not?’

Realizing this dream was no easy feat. It took four years of persistent applications before Paine secured a posting as a communications operator. Her demanding job, involving six-day shifts monitoring radio, phone, and email communications, leaves little time for music. Yet, Paine carves out moments to practice, often retreating to a historic hut built in 1957 under the leadership of explorer Sir Edmund Hillary. There, she plays her jHorn, a lightweight, durable plastic instrument designed for children, which is better suited to the harsh Antarctic climate than her traditional French horn.

Despite the challenges, Paine’s presence has brought joy to Scott Base. She has performed live at ceremonies, replacing the usual recorded music, and even braved sub-zero temperatures to deliver a solo concert at minus 21 degrees Celsius. ‘Music is the universal language,’ Paine reflected. ‘It reminds us that we’re all connected, whether we’re on the ice or back home.’ Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, adaptability, and the unifying force of music in even the most extreme environments.