DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Chinese hot pot chain Haidilao puts viral dance on menu
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —What is better than a warming meal of hot pot? A catchy dance routine to go with the Chinese cuisine, according to hot pot chain Haidilao. Haidilao, China’s largest hot pot chain, has recently offered a new dance performance as part of the dining experience across its 1,400 branches. It all started with a comment on a local Chinese online forum. And since hot pot is considered a communal experience, the restaurants sometimes offer plush toys as companions for solo diners.

Persons: ”, “, Haidilao, ” Haidilao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Jimu, CNN, Staff Locations: Hong Kong, Guangxi, Weibo, Britain

☆ Hong Kong’s pro-democracy leaders to give final defense as landmark national security trial nears an end
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Chris Lau | Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Those on trial say that plan was simply part of the pluralistic, oppositional politics that has long been permitted in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government has repeatedly denied the national security law is suppressing freedoms. They hail from multiple generations and a wide political spectrum - from moderate democrats to those who advocate for Hong Kong’s self-determination. Known as “Grandma Wong,” the 67-year-old had been a fixture of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. No national security cases in the city have been heard in front of a jury.

Persons: Hong, ”, Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, Claudia Mo, Alexandra Wong, Grandma Wong, Hong Kong’s, ” Alexandra Wong, Noemi Cassanelli, Gwyneth Ho, Leung Kwok, ISAAC LAWRENCE, John Lee, ” Lee, –, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Prosecutors, Hong, Kowloon Court, CNN, Getty, Communist Party, city’s, Hong Kong’s Legislative Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Hong, Kowloon, Britain, China, AFP, Hong Kong’s

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, Gaza truce, hostages and prisoners released
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

"This is a day of enormous joy and relief for Emily Hand and her family. An innocent child who was lost has now been found and returned, and we breathe a massive sigh of relief. Hand had been at a friend's house in the kibbutz of Be’eri when Hamas militants attacked on October 7. On Sunday, the Israeli military released video of Emily being reunited with her father, Thomas Hand, after she was freed with other Israeli hostages on Saturday. In an emotional reunion, Emily can be seen dashing toward her father and the two hug each other tightly.

Persons: Emily Hand, Thomas Hand, Leo Varadkar, Varadkar, Emily Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Reuters Irish Locations: Israel, Irish, Be’eri, Gaza

☆ Philippines bans American traveler for life, accusing him of writing profanities on immigration form
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Philippines has banned for life an American traveler whom it accused of writing “profane words” on a digital immigration form and being rude to immigration officers. Anthony Laurence, 34, was refused entry and put on a blacklist permanently following his allegedly “disrespectful” behavior, the Philippine Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement last week. Laurence, who told CNN he is a property investor who lives in the country intermittently, disputes the immigration authority’s account. He did not respond to CNN’s questions about what he wrote on the form and whether it included any profanities. But he said, “I immediately apologized and the immigration officer wasn’t interested.”“I even hand-wrote an apology to the immigration officer which he wasn’t interested in as well,” Laurence added.

Persons: Anthony Laurence, Norman Tansingco, Laurence, ”, Tansingco, “, wasn’t, ” “, ” Laurence Organizations: CNN, Philippine Bureau of Immigration, Ninoy Aquino, Airport, Air, Cebu – Locations: Philippines, Manila, Bangkok, Thailand, Air Asia, Philippine, Cebu

☆ Iceland declares state of emergency, evacuates over threat of volcanic eruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Teele Rebane | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Iceland has declared a state of emergency, with police officials urging residents to evacuate the coastal town of Grindavík following an intense wave of earthquakes in the southwest of the country linked to a possible volcanic eruption. In statements Friday, Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency said a magma tunnel that is forming could reach Grindavík. Its progress is being closely monitored,” the Civil Protection Agency said. But we also want to reiterate that this is not an emergency evacuation, there is plenty of time to prepare, secure things and drive out of town calmly,” the Civil Protection Agency said. We faced that together, we will face this together and we will not lose heart,” the Civil Protection Agency added.

Organizations: CNN, Iceland, Icelandic Meteorological, Civil Protection Agency, North Locations: Grindavík, Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland, Iceland’s, Reykjavik, North America, Eurasia

☆ Snake pizza on the menu in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —American company Pizza Hut has teamed up with a century-old Hong Kong restaurant to put a modern spin on a traditional dish, or more simply, snake on a pizza. Some diners in Hong Kong and around southern China have long enjoyed snake stew, especially during the colder months. Hong Kong resident Mabel Sieh, a self-described foodie who loves to try different pizzas, said, “I think it’s scary. And Hong Kong’s Pizza Hut locations have other plans for new menu items. Meanwhile, Pizza Hut in Japan created a pizza topped with Tonkotsu ramen (pork bone soup ramen).

Persons: they’ve, Ser Wong, –, Mabel Sieh, foodie, “, Rachel Wong, Karen Chan, ”, Dominos, boba Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Hong, CNN, Pizza Locations: Hong Kong, China, Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Thailand, Central Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Japan

☆ China’s ‘most inconvenient convenience store’ hangs off the side of a cliff
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —A tiny wooden shed perched on a steep cliff in a scenic southern Chinese region has earned the nickname of “most inconvenient convenience store” in the country. It’s also home to Haohan Qiao, or “Brave Men’s Bridge,” which, upon opening in 2015, was China’s first glass-bottomed bridge. The convenience store is located along an 800-meter via ferrata route. It returned to the spotlight this month following recent reports on state media, captivating Chinese social media users. “The most inconvenient convenience store,” a popular military blogger, who has more than 889,400 fans, quipped on Chinese social network Weibo last week.

Persons: It’s, Haohan Qiao, –, Huizhou, Shiniuzhai, James Cameron’s, ” Organizations: CNN, China Daily, Weibo, China Daily . Staff, Beijing Youth Daily Locations: Chinese, Hunan, ”, China

☆ Gay Games: Sporting and cultural LGBTQ event faces a conservative backlash in Hong Kong
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

I have no idea how it managed to reach Hong Kong,” he said. Gay Games organizers hit back at the opposition from Hong Kong lawmakers and have vowed the event will be a proud, non-political, celebration of inclusivity. A spokesman did not answer the first part and replied on the latter: “Any activity that takes place in Hong Kong must not contravene any laws of Hong Kong. One of Hong Kong leader John Lee’s top advisers and also a lawmaker, Ip has been one of the few Hong Kong politicians vocally supportive of the games. Meanwhile Chan Kwan-on, one of the Gay Games ambassadors in Hong Kong, urged critics not to jump to conclusions and come see for themselves.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, –, ”, Junius Ho, Peter Shiu, Lisa Lam, Alan Lang, Hong, Tyrone Siu, Xi Jinping, Hong Kong, ” Wayne Morgan, ‘, Lang, Regina Ip, John Lee’s, Ip, Chan Kwan, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Gay Games, Wednesday, firebrand, Beijing, CNN, Reuters, Gay, Valencia, Hong, Gay Sports and Movement Association, China’s Communist Party, ’ Gay Locations: Hong Kong, Asia, Mexican, Guadalajara, Beijing, China, Hong, Australian, Taiwan

☆ Live updates: Israel admits airstrike on ambulance in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Chris Lau | Andrew Raine | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Aliza Samuel, 24, returned to the site of the deadly Nova festival attack by Hamas militants, in southern Israel, on October 7. But Samuel and her friend didn’t want to take any chances, so they started running. Panicking, the pair sprinted across the open farmland surrounding the festival site and dived into a ditch behind a line of large trees. Others were also hiding behind the trees, “trying not to breathe,” she said. “I saw Hamas take a bunch of people and went to their commander, and asked if to kill them or to take them,” she said.

Persons: Aliza Samuel, Rebecca Wright, Samuel, didn’t, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Nova Music, Hamas Locations: Israel, Re’im, Gaza, Panicking

☆ This city never slept. Now with China tightening its grip, is the party over?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

China’s message at the time was that even if change was coming to Hong Kong, its spirit of “anything goes” would be staying put. People gather outside a restaurant on a near-empty street in the Soho area of Hong Kong. Officials say they were “fluorescent.”A Hong Kong government spokesman told CNN this week that the activities were “well-received by local residents and tourists”. Under Hong Kong’s pandemic restrictions, live music was all but banned in small venues for more than 650 days. Months before the virus emerged, China had been tightening its grip on Hong Kong in response to pro-democracy protests that had spread throughout the city.

Persons: Hong Kong, Boy George, Grace Jones, Pete Tong, Paul Oakenfold, China’s, Deng Xiaoping, China –, Deng, Deng’s, –, Noemi Cassanelli, Hong, John Lee, “, ”, Gary Ng, Covid, Benson Wong, Wong, Lan Kwai Fong, Cassanelli, Hong Kongers, Kongers, Ng, Yan Wai, ” Yan, hasn’t, Billy H.C, Kwok, Richard Feldman, Feldman, Becky Lam, ” Lam, “ They’ll, ” Feldman, Kwai Fong, Marco Chan, Chan, ” Allan Zeman, Allan Zeman, Lan, CNN “ They’ll, they’ll, Lam, Hong Kong’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, East, West, Britain, Occupy Central, National Security, Michelin, CNN, Hong, Tai Hang, National, Hong Kong Wine, HKSAR, Immigration Department, Chinese University of Hong, Soho Association, Netflix, “, Lan Kwai Fong Group, Hong Kong, Shady Locations: China, Hong Kong, Asia, Hong, Soho, Japan, Singapore, Tai, Thailand, Lan Kwai, expats, Britain, Canada, Australia, Natixis, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Lan, revelers, California, Central, Shenzhen, Hong Kong’s Central, Bangkok, Shanghai, Taipei, Petticoat

☆ K-pop: Blackpink’s Lisa face suspension on Weibo
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

On Wednesday afternoon, the Thai star’s verified account @lalalalisa_m was no longer searchable on Weibo, one of China’s most popular social media networks. The suspension of her account comes after Lisa performed five shows at the Crazy Horse Paris in September. Why did she choose the Crazy Horse show?,” one Weibo user wrote. “She was still very high-profile on Weibo after attending the Crazy Horse show,” the user wrote. “I may have also criticized her for the Crazy Horse show.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, @lalalalisa_m, Lisa, – Jisoo, Jennie, Rose –, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, Lisa –, Lisa’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Weibo Community Management, Horse, CNN, YG Entertainment, Weibo Locations: Hong Kong, Weibo, Paris, Horse Paris, Asia, China

☆ Chinese authorities crack down on dogs after a Rottweiler mauls a toddler. But some say they’ve gone too far
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong CNN —A shocking video of a Rottweiler mauling a 2-year-old girl in China has prompted a crackdown by local authorities on stray dogs that some argue has now gone too far. Since then, local authorities in a raft of provinces including Shandong, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, Anhui have stepped up law enforcement, some more heavy-handed than others. Stray dogs are the main targets, but pets who are unleashed can also be subject to control measures. The country is home to 40 million stray dogs, according to the 2021 China Pet Industry white paper. In defense of stray dogsThis is not the first time Chinese authorities have been accused of being heavy-handed with animals.

Persons: netizens, ”, Kevin Frayer, Xiao Huang, Shepherd, Cya Liu, “, Bo Ai Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Authorities, Weibo, Industry, Beijing, Hong Kong, Bo Ai Animal Protection Locations: Hong Kong, China, Chongzhou, China’s, Sichuan, Shandong, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Hunan, Anhui, Beijing, Yanzhou, Chongqing, Weibo, Shanghai, Guangyuan

Seoul, South Korea CNN —South Korea’s Constitutional Court has upheld a law banning same-sex relations in the military, citing a threat to combat-readiness, in a judgment decried by the local LGBTQ community as a disappointing setback. “Even if sexual acts are consensual” they risk “causing serious harm to preserving the fighting power of the nation’s armed forces, if committed (while on duty),” it added. But the group said it was encouraged by the comments of the dissenting judges, who warned against deeming sexual acts between same-sex couples as abnormal. The dissenting judges said there is “no reason” to differentiate between consensual sexual acts by same-sex soldiers and heterosexual ones. With a mandatory military service imposed on almost all able-bodied men between the age of 18 and 28, South Korea has one of the world’s largest active armies.

Persons: ”, Boram Jang, scuffles, Hong Joon, pyo Organizations: South Korea CNN, Constitutional, Amnesty, National Health Insurance Service, South Korea’s, Seoul Queer Culture, Christian, Daegu Queer Culture Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Asia, South, Daegu

☆ Hong Kong is paying new parents $2,500 for having a baby but that won’t even pay a month’s rent
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —Hong Kong is to pay new parents more than $2,500 for having a baby in a bid to boost its flagging birth rate, but many residents in the notoriously expensive city say it’s barely enough to cover a month’s rent. In Japan (birth rate 1.3), parents get a monthly allowance of $107 dollars for each newborn until two years of age. For each child between three years old and senior high, parents get $66.7 per month. Hong Kong subsidizes education from kindergarten to senior high, but nursery, the year or two before kindergarten, is not usually covered. “The government should be thinking about how to convince [us] that Hong Kong is conducive to child-raising,” Lau said.

Persons: John Lee Ka, chiu, ” Lee, ”, Ken Lau, Kristy Chan, ” Lau, Kim Yeung, ” Yeung, Paul Yip Siu, Hong, ” Yip, Sze Lai, Sze, Lau, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Hong, HK, CNN, Midland Realty, fai, University of Hong, Society for Community Organization Locations: Hong Kong, East Asia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, University of Hong Kong

Wilson appeared in the Sha Tin Magistrates’ Court on Monday and was granted bail, according to public broadcaster RTHK. Wilson said in the statement that when the plane landed in Hong Kong, he “immediately went to customs officials and called their attention to the issue.”CNN has reached out to Portland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, the Transportation Security Administration and the US Consulate in Hong Kong for comment. Wilson faces his next court hearing in Hong Kong on October 30, RTHK reported. Gun violence is very rare in Hong Kong, unlike in the United States where firearms are now the No. Wilson noted in his statement that his pistol was registered in Washington state and that he holds a concealed pistol license.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Jeff Wilson, Wilson, Stephen J, ” Wilson, “, ”, Hong Kong’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Hong Kong International Airport, RTHK, Republican, ” CNN, Portland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Transportation Security Administration, US Consulate, Hong Kong’s Customs, Excise Department, Police Locations: Hong Kong, American, Washington, Sha Tin, Southeast Asia, San Francisco, Portland, United States

☆ 1,000 cats rescued in China from being slaughtered and sold as pork, mutton
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —Police in China have rescued some 1,000 cats from a truck en route to a slaughterhouse, state-affiliated media has reported, busting part of an illicit trade that fraudulently sells feline meat as pork or mutton and sparking fresh food safety concerns. The report did not mention whether any arrests had been made, nor whether the cats were strays or pets. CNN has reached out to the Zhangjiagang police and the animal shelter for comment. Images published by The Paper showed rescued cats at the shelter resting in larger cages. Animal rights and environment groups have long campaigned against the use of animal parts – including from many endangered species – for traditional medicine.

Persons: Gong Jian, Han Jiali Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Police, Police, CNN, Local, corgi Locations: Hong Kong, China, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, Guangdong, Chinese, Yulin, Guangxi

Hong Kong CNN —China and the Philippines on Sunday accused each other of causing collisions in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the latest in a string of maritime confrontations between the two countries that have heightened regional tensions. In a statement Sunday, the Chinese Coast Guard accused the Philippines of violating international marine law and threatening the navigation safety of Chinese ships. In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a landmark maritime dispute, which concluded that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. In September, the Philippine Coast Guard released video of a Filipino diver cutting a Chinese-installed floating barrier in a disputed area of the waterway that had prevented Filipino boats from entering. It came just days after after the Philippine Coast Guard accused China’s maritime militia of turning vast patches of coral near the Palawan island chain into a bleached and broken wasteland.

Persons: Thomas, “, Thomas Shoal Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Coast Guard, National Task Force, West Philippine, BRP, Chinese Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard Locations: Hong Kong, China, Philippines, South China, Philippine, Ayungin, Spratly, BRP Sierra Madre, Manila, Beijing, China’s, The Hague, Palawan

For Shalabi, a local aid worker, a working phone is one of his most vital possessions. “With regards to the humanitarian situation right now, it’s really dire,” Shalabi, senior program manager of Medical Aid for Palestinians, stressed. The first trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza from Egypt on Saturday. Aid workers say they are a fraction of what’s needed, with the World Health Organization saying Gaza requires 100 trucks a day to meet demands. The death toll cannot be independently verified, but the Ministry of Health in Gaza said more than 400 had died.

Persons: Mahmoud Shalabi, ”, CNN’s Erin Burnett, it’s, ” Shalabi, –, General Antonio Guterres, “, Dad, CNN Shalabi, It’s, Shalabi, ” Mahmoud Al, Aloul Organizations: CNN, Medical Aid, Hamas, Health, UN, CNN’s, World Health Organization, Al, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ministry of Health, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: Gaza, Israel, Northern Gaza, Egypt, Rafah, Ahli, Gaza City

☆ Israel-Hamas war fuels debate and nationalist sentiment on Chinese social media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“The lack of condemnation of Hamas by Chinese officials gives it support,” she said. As an increasing number of China watchers and Israeli scholars pointed out the rise in antisemitic sentiment in China, some Chinese diplomats appeared to have taken note. The Israeli diplomatic outpost has been active on Chinese social media, Lavi, from the Diane & Guilford Glazer Israel-China Policy Center told CNN. China bans foreign social media platforms and censors comments deemed marginally sensitive by the Chinese Communist Party. “Many comments also highlight China’s peace-making efforts and draw parallels between the suffering of the Palestinian people and China’s own historical experiences with colonization.”

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Yuval Waks, ” Waks, Waks, “, Beijing’s, Wang Yi, Israel, Antonio Guterres, Israel “, Adolf Hitler, Xiao Qiang, ”, Xiao, Lavi, Diane, Guilford Glazer, Hua Chunying, ’ “, Mohammed Al, Masri, Noa Argamani, ” Wendy Zhou, Mao, Zhou Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Palestinian, Hamas, Weibo, Embassy, United Nations, UN, School of Information, University of California, China Policy Center, Israeli Embassy, Diane, CNN, Shifa, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Reuters, Georgia State University, Chinese Communist Party, Israel, Palestine, Palestinian Authority Locations: China, Hong Kong, Israel, Gaza, Beijing, Israeli, Weibo, United States, University of California Berkeley, Guilford Glazer Israel, Shanghai, Al, Ahli, Gaza City

CNN —The United Nations says it is “deeply concerned” by reports that civilians, including women and children, were killed and injured in a bombing at a camp for internally displaced people in Myanmar. The bombing on Monday took place near the town of Laiza, in northern Kachin state. Laiza is home to the headquarters of the Kachin Independence Army, which has been locked in a conflict with Myanmar’s military for decades. The British embassy in Myanmar also said it was “appalled by” the reports of innocent civilians being killed. Calling the attack “unacceptable”, he added, “We reiterate that the Myanmar military must stop its brutal campaign against the Myanmar people.”Myanmar’s military seized power in February 2021 after detaining civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and numerous top government figures, dashing hopes for a more democratic future for the country.

Persons: Min Aung Hlaing, Zaw Min Tun, “, ”, Ken O’Flaherty, Aung San, Kyi, Suu Kyi Organizations: CNN, United Nations, National Unity Government, Kachin Independence Army, Unity, UN, British Locations: Myanmar, China, Laiza, Kachin

☆ Live updates: Militants infiltrate Israel from Gaza as Hamas claims major rocket attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Andrew Raine | Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

From Amir Tal in Jerusalem and Alex Stambaugh in Hong KongAt least 100 people have been injured across Israel in Saturday's militant attacks from Gaza, according to figures from two hospitals. At least 80 people with varying degrees of injuries have been transferred to Soroka Medical Center, a major medical center in the southern Israeli city of Be'er Sheva the hospital said in a statement. The Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, a city in central Israel, said it is treating at least 21 people injured on Saturday, including two in serious condition, four in moderate condition and 15 with mild injuries. Some of the injured suffered gunshot wounds. Others were wounded by shrapnel, the Kaplan Medical Center said.

Persons: Amir Tal, Alex Stambaugh Organizations: Soroka Medical, Kaplan Medical, Kaplan Medical Center Locations: Jerusalem, Hong Kong, Israel, Gaza, Be'er, Rehovot

Tokyo/Hong Kong CNN —A Japanese sushi chain targeted in a spate of pranks that has sparked concern over hygiene has devised a digital conveyor belt to serve food to customers. The chain had been subject to a string of pranks dubbed “sushi terrorism” since the start of the year. Inspired by viral online videos, pranksters filmed themselves licking shared soy sauce bottles or tampering with food rotating on conveyor belts at the chain’s restaurants. Three Sushiro outlets have been fitted with the new digital conveyor belts. The student from western Hyogo prefecture said he would miss the convenience of being able to pick up sushi directly from the conveyor belts, if they are eventually phased out completely.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, —, Akindo, pranksters, Sushiro, ”, Alessio Procopio, Hideki Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Police, NHK Locations: Tokyo, Hong Kong, Osaka, Nagoya, Gifu, Japan, Hyogo

☆ Asian Games: China censored this photo of two athletes. Was it for a perceived Tiananmen reference?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Hong Kong CNN —China appears to have censored a photograph of two Chinese hurdlers embracing after a race because their lane numbers formed an accidental reference to the Tiananmen massacre in 1989. The image captures Lin Yuwei, from lane 6, and Wu Yanni, in lane 4, hugging following the women’s 100-meter hurdles final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. As they stood together, stickers showing their lane numbers formed “6 4”, a pairing widely seen as a reference to June 4, 1989. That day Chinese military tanks rolled into the capital Beijing during a bloody crackdown to clear students protesting for democracy in Tiananmen Square. State broadcaster CCTV originally posted the photograph on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media service, on Sunday night, but removed it from its account about an hour later, CNN has found.

Persons: Lin Yuwei, Wu Yanni, China’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Asian, CCTV, China’s Twitter, CNN, Weibo, Baidu, Google, Xinhua, Propaganda Department, Chinese Communist Party, Communist Party Locations: Hong Kong, China, Hangzhou, Beijing, Tiananmen Square, Weibo

☆ Pop Land: Chinese toy company Pop Mart opens Beijing theme park
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hong Kong CNN —With its launch in 2010, Chinese toymaker Pop Mart set off a collectible craze with its anime-style figurines. Following in the footsteps of Disney and Studio Ghibli, Pop Mart has expanded into the theme park business, opening up its first in the Chinese capital of Beijing. The company said on Chinese social media platform Weibo that Pop Land - the 40,000-square-meter theme park that comes in four zones - opened on Tuesday, September 26 at Chaoyang Park. “I did think about whether Pop Mart will open a theme park. Pop Mart's character Pucky is featured in its recently opened theme park Pop Land in Beijing.

Persons: it’s, – Molly, Dimoo, Skullpanda, Mickey Mouse, Kitty, Harry Potter, Walt Disney, Molly, “, Pucky, Mart Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Disney, Weibo, Domestic, Chimelong, Shenzhen Overseas, Town Enterprises, Pop, Hong Kong Stock Exchange Locations: Hong Kong, Beijing, Chaoyang, Shanghai, China, Chinese, Guangdong, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Macao

By 6pm local time on Friday, nearly 98,000 people had left Nagorno-Karabakh for Armenia, according to Armenian state media, citing the prime minister’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghdasaryan. Azerbaijan should “refrain from taking punitive actions against the current or former political representatives or military personnel of Nagorno-Karabakh,” the Armenian authorities said. Mnatsakanyan, who reportedly served as defense minister from 2015 to 2018, was arrested Friday and taken to the Azebaijani capital of Baku, according to state media. Manukyan, who reportedly served as the former deputy commander of Nagorno-Karbakh’s armed forces, was detained Wednesday, Azerbaijani state media reported. A video published by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service showing Manukyan in Azerbaijani detention could not be independently verified by CNN.

Persons: Nazeli Baghdasaryan, Stéphane Dujarric, ”, David Ghahramanyan, “, Loven, Davit Manukyan, Mnatsakanyan, Ruben Vardanyan, David Babayan, Samvel Shahramanyan, ” Babayan Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Vehicles, International Court of Justice, Azerbaijan’s State Security Service, Karabakh, Azerbaijani State Security Service, State Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, “ Republic, Artsakh’s, Baku, “ Republic of Artsakh

Search resuls for: "Chris Lau"

25 mentions found