分类： society

In a controversial operation that has sparked widespread debate about freedom of expression, French police conducted a raid on Violette and Co, a prominent feminist and LGBTQIA+ bookstore in Paris on January 7th. The operation targeted “From the River to the Sea: A Colouring Book” by South African author Nathi Ngubane, which explores Palestinian history, culture, and resistance movements under Israeli occupation.

The raid involved five uniformed officers accompanied by a prosecutor, who conducted a 45-minute search of the premises while wearing body cameras. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the operation followed a referral from the Ministry of the Interior, which had denounced the book’s “strong historical and ideological bias.” However, no copies were seized as the bookstore had sold all available copies by September.

This incident represents a significant escalation from previous controversies surrounding the same title, which had triggered far-right vandalism and threats against the establishment during the summer. The bookstore’s legal representative, Thibault Laforcade, condemned the operation as “illegal and disproportionate,” arguing that the October recommendation to ban the book’s import by the Commission for the Surveillance and Control of Publications for Youth lacked legal foundation.

The raid has ignited fierce criticism across political, cultural, and online communities, with many denouncing it as an attack on cultural freedoms and an example of political policing. Several elected officials pointed to a pattern of pressure against the independent bookstore, including previous political attacks, vandalism, and attempts to cut its public funding.

The incident has also been linked to broader legislative debates in France, particularly the proposed “Yadan bill” on combating renewed forms of antisemitism. Critics warn that such legislation could further restrict freedom of expression regarding criticism of Israeli policies, with some arguing that the raid demonstrates these constraints are already being enforced.

Bookstore staff have been summoned for questioning later this month as part of an ongoing police investigation, while the publisher, Social Bandit Media, has rejected accusations that the children’s book incites hatred or harms moral development.

The tranquil Zhangyang village in Yixing, a county-level city within Wuxi, Jiangsu province, underwent a remarkable transformation from January 16-18 as it hosted the inaugural Yixing International Youth Festival. This groundbreaking gathering attracted approximately 520 young participants representing diverse international backgrounds, including France, Italy, and the United States.

The festival served as a dynamic platform for cross-cultural exchange and entrepreneurial collaboration, featuring specialized forums that addressed youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Among the distinguished participants was Alessandro Martini, an influential Italian social media personality, who contributed his insights during the Youth Entrepreneurship Forum discussions.

This international convergence has effectively repositioned the traditionally quiet village as an emerging epicenter for global youth engagement. The event’s organization demonstrates Yixing’s strategic initiative to foster international connections and create meaningful opportunities for the younger generation to exchange ideas, develop professional networks, and explore collaborative ventures across cultural boundaries.

The successful execution of this festival establishes a new precedent for rural communities seeking to engage with international audiences while maintaining their cultural identity. The convergence of global perspectives within this local setting has created unique synergies that benefit both international participants and the local community, suggesting potential for continued growth as a destination for youth-oriented international events.

China’s wedding industry is experiencing a notable resurgence as new government policies and cultural factors reverse a decade-long decline in marriage rates. According to recent data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, marriage rates increased by 8.5% during the first nine months of 2025, marking a significant shift in the country’s demographic landscape.

The turnaround follows a particularly poor showing in 2024, which many Chinese couples considered an inauspicious year for marriage. Chen Juan, co-owner of Luoyi Bridal in Suzhou’s massive Huqiu Bridal City, explains: “Many couples deliberately postponed their weddings to 2025, which is viewed as more favorable for marriage.”

A key policy change implemented in May 2025 has further stimulated the recovery. The new regulation allows couples to marry anywhere in China rather than being restricted to their place of residence. This reform has triggered a competitive response among local governments, with many establishing pop-up registration offices at scenic spots, music festivals, shopping malls, and even subway stations to attract marriage tourism.

Despite the positive trends, vendors remain cautiously optimistic. Zhu Jiaomei, a 31-year-old custom gown seller, emphasizes that economic factors outweigh specific wedding policies: “The most important thing is that the economy improves, and everyone has confidence in the future. Current budgets are commonly half of what we saw before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The high cost of marriage and childrearing continues to deter many young Chinese. In response, some municipalities have introduced cash vouchers for newlyweds to offset expenses. For parents like wedding shoe seller Cheng Yonggui, the financial pressures are deeply personal. With two sons approaching marriageable age, she faces the prospect of providing apartments, cars, and potentially dowries that could cost “at least a million yuan per son.”

While the Year of the Horse brings cultural optimism for success, industry professionals agree that sustained economic improvement and additional government incentives will be crucial for maintaining the marriage rebound beyond temporary factors.

China’s Supreme People’s Procuratorate has unveiled comprehensive law enforcement statistics demonstrating a substantial escalation in judicial actions against criminal activities throughout 2025. Judicial authorities approved the arrest of 604,000 suspected criminals and formally prosecuted approximately 1.27 million individuals during the January-November period, according to official announcements made at the annual procuratorial work conference in Beijing.

The national judicial strategy emphasized a dual approach balancing developmental needs with security imperatives, implementing a nuanced policy that combines punitive measures with rehabilitative approaches. This coordinated effort focused particularly on combating organized criminal networks, resulting in the prosecution of 8,528 gang-affiliated criminals and 58 individuals identified as their protectors.

Public security offenses received heightened attention, with prosecutors bringing charges against 446,000 people involved in various criminal activities including pornography distribution, illegal gambling operations, narcotics-related crimes, theft, armed robbery, and financial fraud schemes. Workplace safety interventions led to 4,014 prosecutions, while specialized operations targeting cross-border telecommunications and internet fraud resulted in 62,000 suspects facing formal charges.

Cyberspace governance emerged as a priority area, with prosecutors actively addressing online rumors, cyberbullying incidents, and coordinated misinformation campaigns. Enhanced digital oversight mechanisms facilitated the prosecution of 166,000 individuals involved in cybercrimes, alongside 5,440 cases concerning personal information violations.

The anti-corruption campaign maintained its momentum, with procuratorial organs processing 27,000 duty-related criminal cases transferred by supervisory commissions—representing an 11.3% year-on-year increase—and ultimately prosecuting 26,000 suspects involved in corruption activities.

Chinese authorities have mobilized a high-level emergency response team to the northern region of Inner Mongolia following a devastating industrial explosion that resulted in multiple casualties. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at a rare earth steel plate manufacturing facility operated by Baogang United Steel in Baotou City.

According to official statements from the Ministry of Emergency Management, the explosion has claimed at least two lives while leaving 84 individuals injured. As of Monday morning, eight people remain unaccounted for, prompting extensive search and rescue operations at the disaster site.

The severity of the incident has triggered elevated oversight measures, with the State Council Work Safety Commission implementing a ‘listed supervision’ mechanism to oversee the investigation. This designation indicates heightened scrutiny and priority status for the probe into the explosion’s causes.

Emergency Management Minister Wang Xiangxi has directed comprehensive response efforts, emphasizing the immediate priorities of rescue operations, accurate casualty assessment, and prevention of secondary accidents. The minister has called for exhaustive medical treatment for the injured and a thorough investigation to determine the precise circumstances leading to the explosion.

The deployment of the specialized task force demonstrates the central government’s commitment to industrial safety oversight and emergency response coordination. The team from the Ministry of Emergency Management will supervise on-site operations, providing technical expertise and coordination resources to local responders.

This incident represents one of the most significant industrial accidents in China’s mining and metals sector in recent months, highlighting ongoing challenges in workplace safety compliance within heavy industries. The rare earth industry, in which China maintains global dominance, faces particular scrutiny regarding operational safety and environmental protections.

A formidable arctic front has descended upon China, triggering widespread operational disruptions and prompting a coordinated national response to extreme winter conditions. Educational institutions across multiple provinces suspended activities while municipal authorities activated extensive emergency protocols to mitigate the storm’s impact.

In Jiangsu province, Xuzhou’s education bureau preemptively canceled classes for all primary, secondary schools, and kindergartens on Monday and Tuesday. The decision followed official meteorological warnings predicting substantial snowfall accumulation ranging from 5-8 centimeters, accompanied by potentially hazardous freezing conditions and blizzard-strength winds across several municipalities including Suqian and Huai’an.

Henan Province implemented comprehensive transportation contingency measures, deploying 113 specialized equipment units that distributed approximately 900 metric tons of de-icing compounds. The province’s expressway network established 211 emergency supply stations, with preparedness efforts involving more than 6,700 maintenance personnel, 217 dedicated rescue teams, and over 1,000 winter service vehicles remaining on high alert.

The Hunan Provincial Meteorological Observatory elevated its cold wave advisory on Monday morning, forecasting sub-freezing temperatures across most regions through Wednesday morning. Residents received official guidance to adopt enhanced protective measures including thermal clothing, securing residential and commercial structures, and exercising extreme caution during outdoor travel.

China’s National Meteorological Center maintained its cold wave alert through Monday, projecting temperature declines of 6-10°C throughout vast portions of the country until midweek. The comprehensive response reflects the severity of the meteorological event that has significantly impacted daily life across multiple Chinese provinces.

Abu Dhabi’s astronomical community has achieved another significant milestone with the successful photographic documentation of the crescent moon marking the commencement of Shaban 1447 AH. The Al Khatim Astronomical Observatory, operating under the International Astronomy Center, captured the celestial phenomenon at precisely 11:00 AM UAE time on Monday, January 19th, 2026.

The observation team, consisting of Osama Ghannam, Anas Muhammad, Khalafan Al-Naimi, and Muhammad Awda, documented the moon positioned 6.7 degrees from the sun, providing exceptional clarity for astronomical records. This achievement follows their previous success in photographing the concluding crescent of Rajab on January 18th from the same facility.

In coordination with these scientific observations, the UAE Fatwa Council officially confirmed Monday as the final day of Rajab 1447 AH, with Shaban commencing on Tuesday, January 20th. The Council’s declaration followed comprehensive review of astronomical data collected by the nation’s specialized celestial authorities.

These crescent sightings carry profound religious significance for Muslim communities worldwide, as they determine the Islamic lunar calendar’s progression. The current documentation of Shaban’s beginning directly influences the anticipated timing of Ramadan 2026, which astronomical projections suggest will likely commence on Thursday, February 19th, though traditional moon-sighting committees will make the final determination on the 29th of Shaban.

The conclusion of Ramadan will initiate Eid Al Fitr celebrations, marking the UAE’s first extended weekend of 2026 and concluding the holy month of fasting.