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☆ China detains artist for scathing Mao works created more than a decade ago, family says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-03 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

At the height of their careers, the Gao Brothers created provocative sculptures of Mao in a country notoriously sensitive about its former ruler’s legacy. Due to the “deteriorating environment” in China, Gao Zhen relocated to New York two years ago when his son, an American citizen born in the US, reached school age, Gao Qiang said. “Before he set off, his friends and family — myself included — had all reminded him to consider whether it was safe to go,” Gao Qiang said. “Our father’s death was a devastating disaster for our family.” Gao Zhen told the Southern People Weekly, a once-outspoken news outlet, in 2010. Gao Zhen’s detention shows that freedom of expression in China has shrunk significantly compared to a decade ago, Gao Qiang said.

Persons: Mao Zedong, Gao Zhen, China’s, ”, Gao Qiang, Gao Brothers, Mao, Xi Jinping, “ Miss Mao, ’, Du Yinghong, —, “, ” Gao Qiang, Gao Zhen’s, ‘ Miss Mao, Gao, David Gray, Yue Minjun, “ uglifying, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN Sunday, Chinese Communist Party, CNN, ”, Police, Reuters, Communist Party, Southern People, Ukraine, Centre Pompidou, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing, New York, Hebei province’s Sanhe, American, Yanjiao, Hebei, Sanhe, India, “, Paris , New York, Moscow, Berlin, Paris

☆ ‘Sponge’ cities combat urban flooding by letting nature do the work
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Christy Choi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Turenscape/Courtesy The Cultural Landscape FoundationYu’s proposal is this: Create areas with porous earth where local plants can thrive with little or no maintenance. But whether this latest flooding crisis demonstrates the limitations of China’s sponge cities, or supports the case to expand them, is a matter of debate. Turenscape/Courtesy The Cultural Landscape FoundationTurenscape planted 5,600 seedlings of 360 local species, including rare trees indigenous to Thailand’s central river basin. Turenscape/Courtesy The Cultural Landscape FoundationThis may be another reason Yu’s services have been sought outside China. Last year, The Cultural Landscape Foundation awarded Yu the $100,000 Oberlander Prize in recognition of his pioneering work.

Persons: Kongjian Yu, Yu, ” Yu, Turenscape, Xi Jinping, Faith Chan, ”, Chan, Elizabeth Mossop, ” Mossop, “ Organizations: CNN, redwoods, UK’s University of Leeds, Research, Global Times, University of Nottingham, Thai, Arsomsilp, Environmental, Landscape Foundation, University of Technology Sydney’s School of Design Locations: Nanchang, China's Jiangxi, China, Qinghuandao, China's Hebei province, Wuhan, Hainan, Sanya, China's, Guangdong, Turenscape, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, ”, Bangkok

☆ Dozens of angry Chinese suppliers swarmed Temu's office, saying they're tired of giving Westerners refunds without returns
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-31 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewHundreds of people thronged the Guangzhou office of the e-commerce platform Temu in rallies this month, protesting fines and refund policies they said are destroying small merchants' profits. About 80 merchants gathered on Monday on the 30th floor of the Guangzhou office building, with some eventually gaining entry to the company premises, Chinese outlet Yicai reported. The China Securities Journal, a Beijing-based outlet run by state agency Xinhua, wrote that merchants had approached the Guangzhou office about 10 times in July over their complaints. On China's social media, anger is mounting toward what is being seen as Western shoppers taking advantage of Chinese merchants. "Foreigners can buy products from Chinese merchants, receive the goods, and not spend any money," wrote one blogger based in Hebei.

Persons: —, Temu Organizations: Service, PDD Holdings, Business, South China Morning, China Securities Journal, Xinhua Locations: Guangzhou, Temu, Beijing, Hebei, China

Typhoon Gaemi is expected to strengthen into a super typhoon before making landfall on Taiwan’s northeastern coast Wednesday evening. Heavy rain hit Taiwan ahead of the storm’s landfall on Wednesday, with the island’s mountainous areas already reporting rainfall approaching 200 millimeters (8 inches). Typhoon Gaemi is strengthening in Pacific waters that have been at their warmest temperatures on record. Images show roads and streets in Manila flooded by rains brought by Typhoon Gaemi, as people wade through knee-deep water. Torrential rainfall hit southern, central and eastern parts of the country and led to major emergency response efforts in a flood season that has started some two months ahead of its typical schedule.

Persons: Gaemi, Han, Sun Li, fiang, Typhoon Gaemi, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, – Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Typhoon Warning, Central Meteorological Agency, CMA, Taiwan Railways, China Airlines, Starlux Airlines, Philippine Stock Exchange, Taiwan Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Fujian, Hualien county, chipmaking, Hsinchu, Kaohsiung, China, Hualien ., Philippines, Manila, Luzon, Philippine, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Henan, Shanxi, Hebei

☆ Cooking Oil in Dirty Fuel Tankers? Report Raises Alarms in China.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Tiffany May | Amy Chang Chien | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Chinese government said it would start a food-safety investigation after public outrage followed a news report that a tanker truck carried liquefied coal and was then immediately used to transport cooking oil. Last week, The Beijing News, which has a reputation as one of mainland China’s boldest newspapers, reported that it had witnessed a tanker truck previously used to transport industrial coal oil being loaded with soybean oil. The tanker was not sterilized between the loads, according to the newspaper, which said the episode took place in late May in Yanjiao, in Hebei, near Beijing. Several truckers interviewed for the piece said that often tankers were not cleaned before being loaded with cooking oil, sugar or other substances to be taken to wholesalers and other businesses. In the past two decades, China has repeatedly dealt with food safety concerns, including infant formula laced with melamine and cooking oil being recycled for continued use, a practice commonly known as using “gutter oil.”

Organizations: Beijing Locations: Yanjiao, Hebei, Beijing, China

☆ China is freaking out after discovering the 'open secret' that its cooking oil was ferried for years in chemical tanks that weren't cleaned
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-09 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA new cooking oil scandal has erupted in China, about a decade after the country's infamous crackdown on restaurants reusing gutter oil and sewage grease. The furor follows a bombshell investigation published on July 2 by state media outlet Beijing News, which found multiple cases of tank trucks transporting edible cooking oil immediately after delivering chemicals used for coal-to-liquid processing. They recommend that oil companies only use tank trucks dedicated to edible substances, but the guideline is only encouraged and isn't mandatory. Related stories"Shouldn't a kerosene can be a kerosene can and a cooking oil can be a cooking oil can? Days after Beijing News' report, state media jumped in with scathing commentary.

Persons: —, Han Futao, Han, They've, Zhang Jingshan Organizations: Service, Business, Beijing News, Food Locations: China, Beijing, Hebei, Qinhuangdao, Weibo, Hunan

Hong Kong CNN —There are a lot of princesses at Hong Kong Disneyland, but not the ones you think. Hair carefully coiffed, and in full makeup Liang Xiaoyu, 18, is dressed for a day out at Hong Kong Disneyland. Noemi Cassanelli/CNNAnd at Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney characters aren’t the sole fashion inspiration for dedicated fans. Li Mengru, 27, poses for a picture during an interview with CNN, at the entrance of Hong Kong Disneyland on June 7, 2024. Yang Yushen, who also goes by Kris, and his partner Jimmy Redinger like the romantic side of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Persons: “ Duffy, ”, Liang Xiaoyu, Noemi Cassanelli, CNN Liang, Mary Janes, Duffy, Qin Wuxiao, Jessie, it’s, Charmy Chan, Yanni Chung, Judy, Nick Wilde, “, Chan, CNN Oscar Yim, Captain America, Marvel, CNN Jing Hongche, Li Sitan, CNN Charmy Chan, Chung, Li Mengru, Chen Xinyu, Li, Chen, Linda Lee, CNN Li, Cassanelli, Yang Yushen, Kris, Jimmy Redinger, Ankh Wong, Kris Yang, Yang, Zootopia, Hercules ”, Redinger, Disney, Mariko Otomo, Nozomi Yasuda, Yuka Izawa, CNN Otomo, China’s “ meng ”, Mariko Otomo kitted, Deng Chundan, CNN Deng Chundan, Le, Godiva, Chow Tai, Gen, ” Shen Jing, CNN Linda Lee, CNN Chen Xinyu, CNN Lee, CNN Chen, lacy Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Disney, CNN, Hong Kong Baptist University, USA, Captain, Hong Kong Disneyland, Marvel, “, Hong, Hong Kong Tourism, Hong Kong Locations: Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hong, China’s Fujian, Guangdong, Japan, Arendelle, Tomorrowland, Tsim Sha Tsui, China, Southeast Asia, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Grizzly Gulch, United States, Chinese, Hebei, Asia, Hangzhou

☆ Northern China braces for record high temperatures in major heat wave
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —A major heat wave is forecast to spread across large swathes of northern China this week, bringing record high temperatures to some areas, according to China’s meteorological authorities. The heat wave, which began on Saturday, has already triggered government weather alerts and follows the country’s hottest spring on record. The national observatory on Monday issued an orange alert for high temperatures – the second most severe warning – as sweltering heat engulfed the country’s north. Beijing on Saturday raised its first yellow alert for high temperatures this summer, warning residents to avoid going outdoors during the hottest parts of the day. Zhong said the high temperatures were linked to El Niño, a natural climate pattern marked by warmer than average ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.

Persons: Zheng Zhihai, Zhong, El Niño, El Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, National Meteorological Center, NMC, National Climate Center, Xinhua Locations: Hong Kong, China, Shandong, Hebei, Xinjiang, Beijing, ”, Beijing’s Chaoyang, Guangdong

☆ China restaurant explosion in Sanhe, Hebei kills at least one, injures 22
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-13 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —A deadly suspected gas explosion ripped through a residential neighborhood in northern China on Wednesday, leaving a scene of devastation and multiple people wounded. The blast ripped through a four-story building, state media said. Local residents said on social media they heard a loud bang in the early morning and felt their buildings trembling. Buildings across the street from the blast site were also impacted, with glass shattered and shop signs damaged, footage aired on CCTV showed. Last June, a gas explosion at a barbecue restaurant in northwest Ningxia region killed 31 people.

Persons: Weibo Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CCTV, Weibo, Firefighters Locations: Hong Kong, China, Sanhe, Hebei province, Beijing, Weibo, Ningxia

☆ The North Korean refugees sold to Chinese husbands
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

China considers North Korean refugees to be economic migrants, and forcibly deports them back to North Korea – where, as alleged defectors, they face imprisonment, possible torture or worse, activists say. During that period, she also met other North Korean refugees in the same situation – with their status public knowledge in the village, she said. According to the KFI report, the buying of a North Korean wife is “always known to the local community” but rarely reported to authorities. The other North Korean refugees she’d met in town had connections to brokers who could help them escape, while church organizations and non-profit groups discreetly helped raise funds for the journey. Brokers who remain have raised their prices due to increased risks and surveillance, while newcomers to the business are inexperienced, making it a risky gamble for North Korean refugees.

Persons: South Korea CNN — Chae, –, she’s, Yoonjung Seo, She’d, didn’t, “, ”, Chae, ” didn’t, Kim Jeong Ah, Kim, she’d, we’ll, ” Chae, Seo, Unification Ministry –, She’s, – she’s Organizations: South Korea CNN, North, CNN, North Korea –, Korea Future Initiative, KFI, US State Department, Human Rights Watch, Female North, United Nations, Liberty, Korean, Koreans, Unification Ministry, Brokers Locations: Seoul, South Korea, North Korea, China, Laos, Thailand, North Korean, Hebei, Beijing, London, Korea, Korean, North, ”, South, South Koreans

☆ Heavy snow, rain threaten travel chaos during China’s Lunar New Year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Heavy snow and rain is forecast to hit central and eastern China in the coming days, threatening travel plans for hundreds of millions of Chinese workers heading home for the Lunar New Year. However, Xu Jun, chief forecaster from the Central Meteorological Observatory, told CCTV the forecast snowfall won’t be as heavy or widespread as that experienced around the holiday season 16 years ago. “The rain and snow overlap with the peak period of Spring Festival travel. This has posed risks to safe (travel) and brought inconvenience to the transportation,” weather expert Wang Lijuan, from China Meteorological Administration, told CCTV. Xu, from the Central Meteorological Observatory, told CCTV freezing rain could affect many provinces over an area as wide as 43,000 square kilometers (16,600 square miles).

Persons: Xu Jun, Wang Lijuan, Xu Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Central Meteorological Observatory, Meteorological, Festival, China Meteorological Administration, Central Meteorological Locations: Hong Kong, China, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Liaoning, Hubei, Zhengzhou, China's, Xinjiang, Anhui, Weibo, Mohe, Heilongjiang

☆ A local government in China faked signatures on nearly 2,000 traffic tickets amid a $10 trillion debt time bomb
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A local government in China faked signatures and fingerprints in nearly 2,000 traffic tickets last year. AdvertisementA local government in northern China was busted for faking signatures on nearly 2,000 traffic tickets, China's State Council, the country's cabinet, announced on January 19. In total, the bureau faked signatures and fingerprints on 1,964 of the 2,099 traffic tickets it issued last year, according to the State Council statement. China's State Council did not state the motivations behind She County's forgery. The incidents come as China's cash-strapped local governments have nearly nearly $10 trillion in so-called local government financing vehicle, or LGFV, debt.

Persons: Cash, —, Xu, didn't Organizations: Provincial, Service, Council, Authorities, State, Bloomberg Locations: China, Hebei, Hebei province, Shanghai, Beijing

☆ China defies sanctions to make Russia its biggest oil supplier in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Seen here is an oil pumping unit at Huabei oil field on the outskirts of Hejian city, Hebei province, China. Russia leapfrogged Saudi Arabia to become China's top crude oil supplier in 2023, data showed on Saturday, as the world's biggest crude importer defied Western sanctions to purchase vast quantities of discounted oil for its processing plants. To support prices, Saudi Arabia and Russia, two of the world's top three oil producers, announced output and export cuts last year. Chinese refiners use intermediary traders to handle the shipping and insurance of Russian crude to avoid violating the Western sanctions. China's overall crude imports for 2023 rose to a record of 563.99 million metric tons, equivalent to 11.28 million bpd.

Persons: Buyers, Nicolas Maduro's Organizations: ICE, U.S Locations: Russia, Hejian, Hebei province, China, Russia leapfrogged Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Ukraine, Russian, Malaysia, Iran, Venezuela, Caracas, Beijing, Washington, U.S

☆ Travel news: Inside the world’s best, and sexiest, hotels for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. To calm our nerves, here are some happier tales of globe-spanning love stories, China’s search for a Monkey King and the sexiest new hotels opening in 2024. Here are 24 outrageously sexy new hotels we’re excited about this year, including spots in Italy, Japan and Transylvania. Passalacqua, a luxury hotel on Lake Como, was voted the best hotel in the world at the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels awards at the end of last year. Hail the Monkey KingAn employee dressed up as Monkey King at Wuzhishan Scenic Area in the northern Chinese province of Hebei.

Persons: CNN — It’s, —, Angela Renda, Denise Sung, Sebastian, German Sebastian Fuchs, Courtney, Justin Orgias, Covid, It’s, King, There’s Organizations: CNN, Boeing, Resorts, Warner Bros, Pan American World Airways, Shangyou, American Airlines, US Locations: Slovenian, Italy, Japan, Transylvania, Lake Como, London, Taiwan, German, Hong Kong, Chinese, Hebei, Jinjinghouge, Texas

As the most powerful Chinese leader in generations, Xi Jinping rarely bothers to glad-hand or to try charming a crowd. His public appearances in China are carefully crafted, with fawning cadres and adoring fans positioned around him. So when Mr. Xi landed in San Francisco this week to meet with President Biden, to try to stabilize a relationship with the United States that has been spiraling downward, it provided a rare opportunity to see the Chinese leader up close and, at times, less filtered than usual. Earlier, the Chinese leader had compared presidential limousines with Mr. Biden as they met on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. And he thanked Mr. Biden for reminding him that his wife, Peng Liyuan, a famous Chinese soprano and folk singer, has a birthday on Monday, as does Mr. Biden.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Xi, Biden, Mr, Peng Liyuan Organizations: Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Locations: China, San Francisco, United States, Iowa, Hebei

☆ The top topic on China's Twitter is an old photo of Xi Jinping posing at the Golden Gate Bridge
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Matthew Loh | Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An old photo of China's Xi Jinping circulated online as he met with Joe Biden in San Francisco. It shows Xi, visibly younger, smiling with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. AdvertisementAn old photo of Chinese leader Xi Jinping posing at the Golden Gate Bridge is now one of the most talked-about things on China's social media. The faded photo shows Xi, visibly younger, smiling with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. AdvertisementPointing to a photo in his phone with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, President Biden asked President Xi, “Do you know this young man?” “Oh yes,” said President Xi, “this was 38 years ago.”🌞 pic.twitter.com/r65Em6Z7oS — Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) November 16, 2023"Do you know this young man?"

Persons: Xi, Joe Biden, —, Xi Jinping, Hua Chunying, Biden, ”, erving, uring Organizations: Service, Economic Cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry Locations: San Francisco, Asia

HONG KONG (AP) — Shoppers in China have been tightening their purse strings, raising questions over how faltering consumer confidence may affect Saturday's annual Singles’ Day online retail extravaganza. Singles Day, also known as “Double 11,” was popularized by e-commerce giant Alibaba. Shoppers spent $38 billion in 24 hours on Alibaba’s e-commerce platforms during Singles’ Day in 2019. “The hype and excitement around Singles’ Day is sort of over," said Shaun Rein, founder and managing director of Shanghai-based China Market Research Group. “I just feel that people don’t spend as much as before, possibly because they don’t have much to spend,” she said.

Persons: ”, Shi Gengchen, Shi, Shaun Rein, Rein, keener, Hu Min, Alibaba’s Tmall, ” Jacob Cooke, ” Cooke, Yu Bing Organizations: — Shoppers, Bain & Company, Shoppers, China Market Research, Consumers, WPIC Locations: HONG KONG, China, Chaoyang, COVID, Shanghai, Shijiazhuang, China's Hebei, China's, Beijing

BEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Unseasonably cold weather and blizzards hit northeast China on Monday, forcing hundreds of flights to be rescheduled and closing schools as several cities issued heightened weather alerts and warned people to stay indoors. China's weather authority warned of a drastic drop in temperature in coming days, along with blizzards, anticipated to substantially affect several cities, state media reported. Provinces and cities upgraded weather response protocols as heavy snowfall is expected in parts of Inner Mongolia, and Hebei, Jilin and Liaoning provinces, China Daily reported. Chinese weather forecasters kept orange alerts for blizzards in several areas, while China's National Meteorological Center issued an orange alert for blizzards and a blue alert for cold waves and strong wind, Global Times reported. China has a four-tier colour-coded weather alert system, with red the highest, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

Persons: Bernard Orr, Ella Cao, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Harbin Taiping International Airport, China Daily, Central Meteorological Observatory, Meteorological Center, Global Times, Central Meteorological Administration, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Heilongjiang, Harbin, Jilin, Liaoning, Mongolia, Weibo, Provinces, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai

While freezing temperatures are not uncommon for the time of year, the sudden change is unusual. A few days ago, uncharacteristically warm weather saw parts of northern China post record high temperatures exceeding 30C. Winter this year, however, could be warmer due to a moderate El Nino, Jia Xiaolong, deputy director of China's National Climate Centre, told a press conference on Friday. El Nino is a natural climate pattern associated with warming of the ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific. But statistics showed that winter temperatures could fluctuate greatly during El Nino, Jia warned.

Persons: REUTER, Tingshu Wang, Doksuri, El, Jia Xiaolong, El Nino, Jia, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore, Robert Birsel Organizations: Business, Rights, El, China Meteorological Administration, CMA, Authorities, El Nino, Climate Centre, 0.5C, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, El Nino, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Mohe, Pacific, El

People wearing face masks wait at an intersection in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD), as the city is shrouded in smog, in China November 1, 2023. The weather in many parts of China had stayed stubbornly warm entering November, with cities in eastern and central provinces such as Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu and Henan still logging temperatures above 30C. In tandem with the warm weather, smog has also shrouded Beijing and its surrounding areas for days. In coming days, temperatures across northern China are expected to drop sharply. Other cities such as Beijing, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Xian and Shijiazhuang will see a sudden decline of 10C to 15C.

Persons: REUTER, Tingshu Wang, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Business, Rights, Beijing Daily, Xinhua, National Meteorological Center, Shanghai, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Hebei province, Shenyang, Changchun, Harbin, Zhengzhou, Jinan, Xian, Shijiazhuang

☆ China Set for Abrupt Switch From Warm to Freezing Weather in Year of Extremes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING (Reuters) - Temperatures in northern China are set to plunge as much as 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit) after summer-like conditions in the final days of autumn, state forecasters said on Friday, extending a year-long trend of unusual swings in the weather. Parts of northern China posted record high temperatures of more than 30C earlier this week, while also suffering widespread smog. Extreme weather has become more pronounced in China this year, destroying urban infrastructure as well as farmland, leading to hefty economic losses. In the summer, typhoons dumped historic rainfall in parts of inland China less used to tropical storms. Earlier in spring, northern China basked in unseasonal heat with temperatures reaching summer-levels.

Persons: Doksuri, Ethan Wang, Ryan Woo, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: National Meteorological Administration, CMA Locations: BEIJING, China, Mongolia, Xinjiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei province, Mohe

☆ Haze lingers in Beijing as fog blankets parts of north China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Vehicles move on a street in Beijing's Central Business District (CBD) as the city is shrouded in smog, in China November 1, 2023. REUTER/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Hazy weather hung over Beijing on Wednesday with conditions in other parts of north China possibly worsening, forecasters said, although cold air sweeping in from the northwest is expected to help dissipate the smog. Experts attributed the haze in Beijing, which has lasted for several days, to poor atmospheric diffusion because of unseasonably weak cold air currents from the north. Visibility in most parts of Beijing dropped to less than 500 metres (546 yards), the China Meteorological Administration said. But from Thursday night, cold air is expected to push temperatures lower, possibly to new lows.

Persons: REUTER, Tingshu Wang, Gao, We're, Liu, Liz Lee, Ethan Wang, Xiaoyu Yin, Robert Birsel Organizations: Business, Rights, Beijing, China Meteorological Administration, Thomson Locations: China, Rights BEIJING, Beijing, Hebei province, Tianjin, Hebei, Jinan, Zhengzhou, Shijiazhuang

☆ China's smog-covered north on highest pollution alert as visibility drops
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Northern province Hebei launched an anti-pollution emergency response, listing traffic safety controls for when necessary including suspending flight takeoffs and landings, temporarily closing highways and suspending ferries, China's meteorological bureau said in a notice. Authorities also warned road users to stop in safe parking areas when conditions required and asked people to stay indoors. Beijing said it would implement traffic control measures if the capital activates its highest air pollution warning. Experts said weak cold air currents from the north pole were a key factor behind the unusual weather. Cold air currents are forecast to stream in the north from Thursday night, creating conditions that could weaken and dissipate the haze, the weather forecaster said.

Persons: Liz Lee, Jamie Freed Organizations: Authorities, National Meteorological Center, NMC, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, China, Northern, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Henan province, Shandong, Jiangsu province, China's, Shanghai

The uneven nature of economic activity in turn makes it a challenge to assess the likely toll on emissions in the world's largest polluter. RIPPLE EFFECTIn addition to retail sales and factory output data, statistics on China's air travel volumes also offer a gauge on broader economic activity and emissions potential. In turn, greater emissions from both the airlines themselves as well as from China's world-leading refining sector can also be expected. China’s exports of an array of goods – from toys to diesel – are risingThe pace of some of those exports may slow over the near term if China's domestic demand improves and helps tighten producer inventories. But if greater output in China helps to depress goods prices, then international consumer demand can be expected to recover, which may further boost China's economic recovery, as well as the emissions that go with it.

Persons: Thomas Peter, Gavin Maguire, Kim Coghill Organizations: REUTERS, National Energy Administration, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Wu'an, Hebei province, China, LITTLETON , Colorado, Beijing

☆ Marathoners in Beijing go maskless, unfazed by smog
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Liz Lee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Participants take part in the Beijing Marathon, at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China October 29, 2023. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Runners undeterred by thick smog engulfing the Chinese capital ran the Beijing Marathon maskless on Sunday, many wearing shorts in one of the warmest Octobers on record. Beijing was the fourth most-polluted major city in the world on Sunday, according to Swiss air-quality technology firm IQAir. Beijing's high on Sunday was 19 C (66 F), according to the national weather bureau. The weather bureau forecast weak cold air currents to last the rest of the month before beginning to cool in early November.

Persons: Tingshu Wang, Fang Chong, Liz Lee, Ryan Woo, Han Xiao, Bernard Orr, William Mallard Organizations: Beijing, REUTERS, Rights, Beijing Marathon, Meteorological Centre, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, Tiananmen, Haidian, Beijing's, Tangshan, Handan, Hebei

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