分类： society

In a significant academic ceremony held at Renmin University of China’s Qianhai campus in Shenzhen on Wednesday, prominent Hong Kong business leader and sports administrator Timothy Fok Tsun-ting was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. The chairman of Fok Ying Tung Group received the prestigious honor from University Party Secretary Zhang Donggang, who presided over the traditional tassel-adjustment ceremony marking the academic achievement.

Secretary Zhang formally recognized Fok as an exemplary patriotic figure from Hong Kong SAR and a steadfast advocate of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. The university specifically acknowledged Fok’s substantial contributions to China’s reform and opening-up policies and his transformative impact on sports development, noting the alignment between his values and the institution’s educational mission.

In his acceptance address, Fok emphasized the diplomatic power of sports as a universal language that transcends national boundaries. ‘Sport has consistently proven to be an effective bridge for fostering international understanding and cooperation,’ Fok stated, highlighting how athletic soft power can advance global peace initiatives.

The business leader outlined his commitment to leveraging the university’s academic platform to enhance sports integration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. He further pledged to support the expansion of China’s global sports partnership network through strategic collaborations.

Fok additionally expressed his hope that Renmin University students would develop theoretical frameworks from China’s sports diplomacy practices, explore innovative models for sports to serve national strategies, and promote traditional Chinese sports to facilitate cross-cultural understanding worldwide.

A Bristol secondary school has become embroiled in a national media controversy following the cancellation of a scheduled visit by pro-Israel MP Damien Egan last September. The Bristol Brunel Academy called off the event after receiving objections from pro-Palestine activists, including members of teaching unions.

The Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign publicly applauded the school’s decision, characterizing Egan as a supporter of “Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza.” The MP serves as vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel and participated in a paid trip to attend the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s Congressional Summit in February 2025, during the peak of Israel’s military operations in Gaza that have resulted in over 71,000 Palestinian casualties since October 2023.

Media coverage from major outlets including The Times, Telegraph, and initially The Guardian framed the cancellation through the lens of antisemitism, highlighting Egan’s Jewish identity in their reporting. The Times published an editorial demanding stronger laws to prevent such “antisemitism,” while The Guardian initially ran with the headline “Jewish MP’s visit to school cancelled” before quietly amending it to remove reference to his religion.

The controversy gained national traction after Labour minister Steve Reed referenced the incident at a Jewish Labour Movement event, describing it as a Jewish MP being “banned from visiting a school” without mentioning Egan’s pro-Israel advocacy.

Pro-Palestine commentators and journalists have expressed outrage at the media’s handling of the story. Rivkah Brown of Novara Media condemned The Guardian’s “irresponsible article,” while Bristol-based journalist Jonathan Cook asserted that the cancellation was motivated by opposition to Egan’s political stance rather than his religious identity, stating that local teachers and parents “oppose genocide and don’t want impressionable young minds exposed to someone who defends a state committing the ultimate crime against humanity.”

A profound mystery shrouds East London as authorities prepare to suspend the investigation into three abandoned newborn siblings discovered under nearly identical circumstances over a seven-year period. The case, unprecedented in modern Britain, has exposed critical gaps in understanding coercive situations that might drive such desperate acts.

The chronology began in September 2017 when a newborn boy, later named Harry, was discovered wrapped in a blanket in Plaistow Park. In January 2019, a second infant girl, Roman, was found in a shopping bag in a nearby park just before snowfall, discovered by dog walkers who heard crying. The pattern culminated in January 2024 with the discovery of a third sibling, named Elsa by hospital staff after the Frozen character, found less than an hour old in a shopping bag near a busy road.

In a breakthrough revelation last June, DNA testing confirmed all three children share the same biological parents. This discovery intensified concerns that the mother might be trapped in a coercive or captive situation, unable to seek help. Despite exhaustive efforts including profiling consultation, hundreds of surveillance hours reviewed, targeted DNA sampling of local residents, and an unclaimed £20,000 reward, investigators have reached an impasse.

Forensic psychology experts suggest the mother may be a migrant avoiding official detection or someone experiencing extreme terror, given the life-threatening risks of unattended births. The abandonment phenomenon is so rare in contemporary Britain that national statistics are no longer maintained, with only eight similar cases recorded in England and Wales between 2008-2018.

While the children now thrive in adoptive and foster care—described as ‘raucous bundles of excitement and laughter’—the emotional legacy of their unknown origins remains concerning. With no hospital birth records, the siblings will never be able to trace their biological mother, creating permanent psychological implications according to child development experts.

Shanghai has unveiled an ambitious cultural tourism program for the upcoming 2026 Spring Festival holiday, featuring an impressive lineup of approximately 2,570 diverse events and activities. The Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism announced the comprehensive initiative designed to create immersive experiences for both residents and visitors during the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.

The extensive program encompasses festival activities, cultural performances, museum exhibitions, and specialized showcases. Among the highlights are 353 themed tourism activities complemented by 54 science-focused events specifically tailored for younger audiences. These educational offerings include interactive exhibitions, specialized classes, 4D cinematic experiences, and performance fairs that blend entertainment with learning.

Performance arts take center stage with 1,369 scheduled shows spanning various genres. The diverse repertoire features large-scale concerts, traditional Shanghai-style performances, children’s theater productions, and international spectacles including London’s West End musicals. Sports enthusiasts can anticipate the Spring Festival tennis star match at Shanghai stadium, scheduled from the second to fifth day of the lunar new year, which will showcase veteran tennis players, social media influencers, and crossover celebrities.

Museum offerings include nearly 50 special exhibitions exploring themes from Shanghai-style qipao fashion to ancient Roman culture, with particular emphasis on celebrations for the Year of the Horse. Art galleries contribute to the cultural feast with over 100 premium exhibitions across 60 venues, including prestigious collections on loan from the Louvre and dedicated showcases featuring Picasso’s works.

The program also highlights intangible cultural heritage with activities running from mid-January through the Lantern Festival on March 3. These experiences focus on culinary traditions, lantern festivals, calligraphy demonstrations, riddle events, and traditional craftsmanship workshops.

To enhance accessibility, 60 tourist attractions will offer substantial discounts including half-price admissions and zodiac-specific promotions. These venues will feature traditional craft demonstrations, pet-friendly celebrations, and specialty markets, alongside integrated accommodation packages. Donghu Group has introduced over 50 ‘accommodation+’ holiday packages, while Shanghai Jiushi Group offers the ShanghaiPass cultural tour joint ticket for 299 yuan ($42.88), providing access to 20 landmark cultural venues and discounts at nearly 50 restaurants throughout the city.

Across urban China, a quiet revolution in learning is unfolding within the walls of specialized paid study spaces that have become essential sanctuaries for the nation’s ambitious youth. These meticulously designed environments offer much more than mere quiet—they provide structured havens for concentrated study amid increasingly competitive academic and professional landscapes.

The phenomenon represents a sophisticated market response to growing educational pressures. Modern study rooms feature sound-proofed cubicles, ergonomic furniture, optimized lighting systems, and amenity-rich spaces complete with printers, beverage stations, and rest zones. Flexible membership options cater to diverse needs, ranging from hourly access to comprehensive annual packages.

Industry pioneer Zhongxiang Study Room exemplifies this rapid expansion. Since its 2023 establishment in Hebei province, the chain has grown to encompass over 60 corporate locations and 100 franchised outlets, serving approximately 140,000 registered users while generating roughly 10 million yuan ($1.4 million) in annual revenue. According to company director Meng Yulong, over half their clientele consists of postgraduate and civil service examination candidates.

Beyond commercial success, these spaces fulfill deeper sociological needs by creating environments of mutual dedication. ‘The collective determination becomes genuinely contagious,’ noted Wang Pan, a regular at Beijing’s Chenxi Study Room. Unwritten protocols govern behavior—phone conversations remain outside, cleanliness is maintained, and inspirational messages adorn bulletin boards, fostering what users describe as a powerful ‘shared journey’ of improvement.

Industry analysts estimate approximately 100,000 such facilities nationwide, representing an annual market value exceeding 10 billion yuan. With average monthly passes costing 400 yuan and venues typically containing 50 seats, the business model demonstrates significant economic viability while addressing urban youth’s need for distraction-free environments unavailable at home or in crowded public libraries.

The trend reflects broader societal shifts toward continuous skill development. Many users represent career changers like Xiao Peng, who transitioned from bioengineering to computer science studies, or professionals like Tianjin’s A Lan, who left high-pressure technology sector employment to pursue civil service examinations in these dedicated spaces.

According to Nankai University expert Zhang Zhihong, ‘These environments demonstrate young people’s self-motivated adaptability and highlight growing demand for concentration-friendly spaces that support personal development—a need both commercial operators and public services should address.’

The movement aligns with national initiatives promoting reading culture and lifelong learning, complementing upgraded public libraries and community reading spaces. As China’s latest five-year development plan emphasizes educational advancement, these study rooms have evolved into integrated learning hubs that may eventually offer complimentary basic access alongside premium services.

As midnight approaches in Beijing’s Changping district, the lights at Chenxi Study Room continue illuminating rows of determined learners—their silent dedication punctuated only by turning pages and keyboard clicks, embodying China’s next generation of dream-chasers investing in their futures through concentrated effort and mutual inspiration.