Hong Kong schools to receive HK$400,000 to boost English and Mandarin learning
By William Yiu
All public schools in Hong Kong will be given a one-off sum of HK$400,000 (US$51,495) this month to boost students’ English and Mandarin skills through self-learning in the current and coming two school years, according to the Education Bureau.
Education authorities said schools could make use of the funds to procure language learning resources, hire instructors and support staff or purchase services before the end of the 2026-27 academic year, with the amount to be split evenly between English and Mandarin.
“Language acquisition should not be confined to the classroom, and students also learn through various means,” the Education Bureau said last week. “Therefore, it is important to nurture students’ self-directed learning so that they can proactively take charge of their own learning.”
Eligible schools, including public primary and secondary schools and institutions joining the direct subsidy scheme, do not need to apply for the funds, which were to distributed this month.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his policy address in October that the government had allocated HK$470 million to improve the teaching of English, Mandarin and other languages.
The bureau said schools could procure or subscribe to resources for promoting self-directed language learning. They could also hire language instructors or non-teaching support staff to help students, it said.
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By William Yiu
All public schools in Hong Kong will be given a one-off sum of HK$400,000 (US$51,495) this month to boost students’ English and Mandarin skills through self-learning in the current and coming two school years, according to the Education Bureau.
Education authorities said schools could make use of the funds to procure language learning resources, hire instructors and support staff or purchase services before the end of the 2026-27 academic year, with the amount to be split evenly between English and Mandarin.
“Language acquisition should not be confined to the classroom, and students also learn through various means,” the Education Bureau said last week. “Therefore, it is important to nurture students’ self-directed learning so that they can proactively take charge of their own learning.”
Eligible schools, including public primary and secondary schools and institutions joining the direct subsidy scheme, do not need to apply for the funds, which were to distributed this month.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his policy address in October that the government had allocated HK$470 million to improve the teaching of English, Mandarin and other languages.
The bureau said schools could procure or subscribe to resources for promoting self-directed language learning. They could also hire language instructors or non-teaching support staff to help students, it said.
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Hong Kong postbox blaze damages more than 50 pieces of mail
By Jess MaJohnny Wan
More than 50 items of mail were damaged, including many left unidentifiable, after a postal box in Hong Kong was found ablaze on Friday morning.
Police were alerted at 7.10am of the postbox fire at Sau Mau Ping Post Office. No evacuations were needed after firefighters were called in to extinguish the flames.
“Upon inspection, a cigarette butt was found inside the postbox and the fire was then deemed as suspicious,” a spokesman for the force said.
The interior of the postbox was covered in soot and the entry slot area was partially blackened, with burnt items found in the box, according to photos seen by the Post.
A spokesman for Hongkong Post said there were a total of 51 pieces of mail in the postbox, of which 23 were burnt or soaked with delivery addresses or sender addresses still readable.
But 28 other pieces of mail were seriously damaged, with addresses unidentifiable, the firm said.
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By Jess MaJohnny Wan
More than 50 items of mail were damaged, including many left unidentifiable, after a postal box in Hong Kong was found ablaze on Friday morning.
Police were alerted at 7.10am of the postbox fire at Sau Mau Ping Post Office. No evacuations were needed after firefighters were called in to extinguish the flames.
“Upon inspection, a cigarette butt was found inside the postbox and the fire was then deemed as suspicious,” a spokesman for the force said.
The interior of the postbox was covered in soot and the entry slot area was partially blackened, with burnt items found in the box, according to photos seen by the Post.
A spokesman for Hongkong Post said there were a total of 51 pieces of mail in the postbox, of which 23 were burnt or soaked with delivery addresses or sender addresses still readable.
But 28 other pieces of mail were seriously damaged, with addresses unidentifiable, the firm said.
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Chinese scientists show animal brain changes while awake through neural imaging
By Victoria Bela
Chinese researchers have developed a microscopy technique to take imagery of neurons in animals that are awake, a method they say allowed them to capture the rapidly changing dynamics in the neurons of mice running on wheels.
The new technique extends the capabilities of super-resolution microscopy, which has previously been limited to imaging cultured cells, tissue sections or anaesthetised animals.
“Neurons are best studied in their native states in which their functional and morphological dynamics support animals’ natural behaviours,” the team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Methods last month.
Neurons – nerve cells that send signals throughout the body which allow us to carry out functions such as eating, walking and talking – have specialised structures to support necessary functions such as communication and information integration that change over time.
The use of super-resolution microscopy to capture imagery of animals performing natural behaviour has remained a challenge because any motion can lead to imaging artefacts, or distortions in the image.
Anaesthesia, which has been used to help examine the neurons of living animals, is not ideal because it alters the physiology of neural circuits.
To overcome this, the team, led by senior investigator Wang Kai at the Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, introduced a new type of super-resolution microscopy – multiplexed, line-scanning, structured illumination microscopy.
The new two-colour imaging technique is “immune to motion-induced artefacts and enables longitudinal super-resolution imaging in brains of head-fixed awake and behaving animals”.
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By Victoria Bela
Chinese researchers have developed a microscopy technique to take imagery of neurons in animals that are awake, a method they say allowed them to capture the rapidly changing dynamics in the neurons of mice running on wheels.
The new technique extends the capabilities of super-resolution microscopy, which has previously been limited to imaging cultured cells, tissue sections or anaesthetised animals.
“Neurons are best studied in their native states in which their functional and morphological dynamics support animals’ natural behaviours,” the team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences said in a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Methods last month.
Neurons – nerve cells that send signals throughout the body which allow us to carry out functions such as eating, walking and talking – have specialised structures to support necessary functions such as communication and information integration that change over time.
The use of super-resolution microscopy to capture imagery of animals performing natural behaviour has remained a challenge because any motion can lead to imaging artefacts, or distortions in the image.
Anaesthesia, which has been used to help examine the neurons of living animals, is not ideal because it alters the physiology of neural circuits.
To overcome this, the team, led by senior investigator Wang Kai at the Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, introduced a new type of super-resolution microscopy – multiplexed, line-scanning, structured illumination microscopy.
The new two-colour imaging technique is “immune to motion-induced artefacts and enables longitudinal super-resolution imaging in brains of head-fixed awake and behaving animals”.
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Hong Kong to extend open times at 2 border crossings for New Year countdown
By Jess Ma
Hong Kong will extend the operating hours of two border checkpoints on New Year’s Eve, which will be marked by a 12-minute fireworks display and performances by local boy band Mirror and Canadian duo Crash Adams.
The government said on Friday that the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint would operate around the clock amid the celebrations, while the Lo Wu border crossing would remain open until 2am. Both checkpoints typically close at midnight.
Local bus and rail operators will also offer special transport arrangements for locals and tourists during the festive period.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board, which is hosting the activities, said that alongside the fireworks, New Year’s Eve would see musical and dance performances at the Cultural Centre’s viewing deck, including appearances by Cantopop boy band Mirror, girl group Collar and Crash Adams – with the latter having 10 million followers on their YouTube channel.
The countdown, running under the theme “The Symphony of Happiness”, would take place at Victoria Harbour, it said.
The board said Liu Lin, who oversaw the fireworks for the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, had designed the choreography for this year’s display.
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By Jess Ma
Hong Kong will extend the operating hours of two border checkpoints on New Year’s Eve, which will be marked by a 12-minute fireworks display and performances by local boy band Mirror and Canadian duo Crash Adams.
The government said on Friday that the Shenzhen Bay checkpoint would operate around the clock amid the celebrations, while the Lo Wu border crossing would remain open until 2am. Both checkpoints typically close at midnight.
Local bus and rail operators will also offer special transport arrangements for locals and tourists during the festive period.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board, which is hosting the activities, said that alongside the fireworks, New Year’s Eve would see musical and dance performances at the Cultural Centre’s viewing deck, including appearances by Cantopop boy band Mirror, girl group Collar and Crash Adams – with the latter having 10 million followers on their YouTube channel.
The countdown, running under the theme “The Symphony of Happiness”, would take place at Victoria Harbour, it said.
The board said Liu Lin, who oversaw the fireworks for the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, had designed the choreography for this year’s display.
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China’s Xi to visit Russia in 2025 amid ‘double resistance’ to West, envoy to Beijing says
By Zhao Ziwen
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next year as the neighbours seek to put up a “double resistance” to pressure from the US-led West, the Russian ambassador to China has said.
Russia had pledged to further work together with China on economic and security issues to counter the “double containment” campaign from the West, Russian state news agency RIA quoted ambassador Igor Morgulov as saying on Friday.
“In the international arena, our countries will have to continue to respond with ‘double resistance’ to the ‘double containment’ that the West is trying to implement against Russia and China,” Morgulov said.
China shared Russia’s concerns over the Ukraine issue and faced “largely similar challenges”, he added, saying “the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region are systematically increasing military pressure on China”.
Ties between China and Russia have become closer since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 amid their respective tensions with the US and its Western allies, which have sanctioned Moscow for its military aggression and criticised Beijing for not condemning it while accusing it of aiding the Russian war machine. China denies the allegations.
Tighter Beijing-Moscow ties since 2022 have included closer military cooperation, a surge in bilateral trade, and more high-level engagement.
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By Zhao Ziwen
Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Russia next year as the neighbours seek to put up a “double resistance” to pressure from the US-led West, the Russian ambassador to China has said.
Russia had pledged to further work together with China on economic and security issues to counter the “double containment” campaign from the West, Russian state news agency RIA quoted ambassador Igor Morgulov as saying on Friday.
“In the international arena, our countries will have to continue to respond with ‘double resistance’ to the ‘double containment’ that the West is trying to implement against Russia and China,” Morgulov said.
China shared Russia’s concerns over the Ukraine issue and faced “largely similar challenges”, he added, saying “the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific region are systematically increasing military pressure on China”.
Ties between China and Russia have become closer since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 amid their respective tensions with the US and its Western allies, which have sanctioned Moscow for its military aggression and criticised Beijing for not condemning it while accusing it of aiding the Russian war machine. China denies the allegations.
Tighter Beijing-Moscow ties since 2022 have included closer military cooperation, a surge in bilateral trade, and more high-level engagement.
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China trans woman faces legal challenges 3 years after firm dismissal for gender expression
By Fran LuXinlu Liang
A trans woman in China has been battling discrimination for three years after her company required her to dress according to her assigned gender before unjustly dismissing her.
Despite her efforts, she was unable to even have her case filed with a local court.
Her situation highlights the challenges that trans employees face when attempting to legally defend their rights against workplace discrimination.
The 32-year-old, who goes by the pseudonym Guagua, began her career at a state-owned company in eastern China’s Jiangsu province in 2019. In her first year, she struggled to conform to the expectations of a stereotypical man, but she soon felt increasingly conflicted and was plagued by depression and anxiety.
Following the death of her grandfather, Guagua realised that “one only lives once.” This revelation led her to embrace her true self, and she began receiving hormone replacement therapy in March 2021. She confided in a few trusted colleagues after her transformation.
These colleagues offered support, encouraged her to express herself as she wished, and reassured her that they did not mind her using the company’s women’s restroom. Their reactions gave Guagua hope for the future.
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By Fran LuXinlu Liang
A trans woman in China has been battling discrimination for three years after her company required her to dress according to her assigned gender before unjustly dismissing her.
Despite her efforts, she was unable to even have her case filed with a local court.
Her situation highlights the challenges that trans employees face when attempting to legally defend their rights against workplace discrimination.
The 32-year-old, who goes by the pseudonym Guagua, began her career at a state-owned company in eastern China’s Jiangsu province in 2019. In her first year, she struggled to conform to the expectations of a stereotypical man, but she soon felt increasingly conflicted and was plagued by depression and anxiety.
Following the death of her grandfather, Guagua realised that “one only lives once.” This revelation led her to embrace her true self, and she began receiving hormone replacement therapy in March 2021. She confided in a few trusted colleagues after her transformation.
These colleagues offered support, encouraged her to express herself as she wished, and reassured her that they did not mind her using the company’s women’s restroom. Their reactions gave Guagua hope for the future.
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Chinese cities offer subsidies to boost access to the computing power needed for AI
By Daisy Wu
In the artificial intelligence (AI) era, computing power has become an even more critical focus in the global race for technological leadership, with major economies ramping up investments to gain a competitive edge.
Premier Li Qiang emphasised the need for China to strengthen the construction of computing power infrastructure, underscoring its role in supporting technological and economic growth, during a three-day visit last week to Zhejiang province, one of the country’s leading economic hubs.
Computing power refers to the capacity of digital systems to process and use data – with applications in a huge range of fields, including education, finance, transport, healthcare and energy, and a key role in the nascent AI sector – and it has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth, according to International Data Corporation.
In a report released this year, Yu Xiaohui, president of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, said that every yuan invested in computing power “can generate 3 to 4 yuan in economic output”.
The rising cost of computing power is a challenge for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), prompting several Chinese cities to introduce subsidies aimed at bolstering access to computing power infrastructure.
This month, Shenzhen introduced a 500 million yuan (US$68.49 million) annual voucher programme, offering subsidies of up to 50 per cent for companies, universities and research institutions renting computing power for AI model training. Start-ups enjoy even greater support, with subsidies reaching 60 per cent, making it the country’s most generous such policy.
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By Daisy Wu
In the artificial intelligence (AI) era, computing power has become an even more critical focus in the global race for technological leadership, with major economies ramping up investments to gain a competitive edge.
Premier Li Qiang emphasised the need for China to strengthen the construction of computing power infrastructure, underscoring its role in supporting technological and economic growth, during a three-day visit last week to Zhejiang province, one of the country’s leading economic hubs.
Computing power refers to the capacity of digital systems to process and use data – with applications in a huge range of fields, including education, finance, transport, healthcare and energy, and a key role in the nascent AI sector – and it has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth, according to International Data Corporation.
In a report released this year, Yu Xiaohui, president of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, said that every yuan invested in computing power “can generate 3 to 4 yuan in economic output”.
The rising cost of computing power is a challenge for businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), prompting several Chinese cities to introduce subsidies aimed at bolstering access to computing power infrastructure.
This month, Shenzhen introduced a 500 million yuan (US$68.49 million) annual voucher programme, offering subsidies of up to 50 per cent for companies, universities and research institutions renting computing power for AI model training. Start-ups enjoy even greater support, with subsidies reaching 60 per cent, making it the country’s most generous such policy.
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Chinese lawyer says she was pepper-sprayed by court officials when trying to observe case
By Yuanyue Dang
Members of China’s legal community are shocked after lawyers were pepper-sprayed by court bailiffs as they tried to sit in on a landmark case involving local authorities suing a private company outside the area they govern.
Guo Rui, a lawyer with Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, said in a WeChat post on Thursday that she and several other lawyers were blocked by bailiffs on Wednesday as they tried to attend the third hearing of a case in which a private Beijing company was being prosecuted at a court in the northern autonomous region of Inner Mongolia.
Lawyers were required to hand in their electronic devices before entering the courtroom at Xilinhot People’s Court even though there had been no such requirement at the previous two hearings, Guo’s article said.
The lawyers were then pepper-sprayed after they clashed with bailiffs when they asked to see the legal basis for not allowing electronic devices, according to Guo, who previously worked as a journalist at the South China Morning Post.
Guo, who received the worst injuries, called police and was taken to hospital by other lawyers.
The hospital said Guo had “conjunctival haemorrhage in both eyes and burns in the periocular area of both eyes”, and another lawyer received a corneal injury, the article said.
The government of Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia, where the incident took place, has yet to respond to the case. Guo said the local court had not contacted the injured lawyers.
“I will demand that the bailiffs who caused us intentional harm, as well as their superiors, apologise, pay damages and get punished. We will also apply for state compensation,” Guo said.
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By Yuanyue Dang
Members of China’s legal community are shocked after lawyers were pepper-sprayed by court bailiffs as they tried to sit in on a landmark case involving local authorities suing a private company outside the area they govern.
Guo Rui, a lawyer with Beijing Zhongwen Law Firm, said in a WeChat post on Thursday that she and several other lawyers were blocked by bailiffs on Wednesday as they tried to attend the third hearing of a case in which a private Beijing company was being prosecuted at a court in the northern autonomous region of Inner Mongolia.
Lawyers were required to hand in their electronic devices before entering the courtroom at Xilinhot People’s Court even though there had been no such requirement at the previous two hearings, Guo’s article said.
The lawyers were then pepper-sprayed after they clashed with bailiffs when they asked to see the legal basis for not allowing electronic devices, according to Guo, who previously worked as a journalist at the South China Morning Post.
Guo, who received the worst injuries, called police and was taken to hospital by other lawyers.
The hospital said Guo had “conjunctival haemorrhage in both eyes and burns in the periocular area of both eyes”, and another lawyer received a corneal injury, the article said.
The government of Xilingol League in Inner Mongolia, where the incident took place, has yet to respond to the case. Guo said the local court had not contacted the injured lawyers.
“I will demand that the bailiffs who caused us intentional harm, as well as their superiors, apologise, pay damages and get punished. We will also apply for state compensation,” Guo said.
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China surpasses rivals with ‘world-class’ sixth-gen stealth fighter jet: experts
By Sylvie ZhuangSeong Hyeon Choi
Chinese experts believe the country’s first sixth-generation stealth fighter jet may have even greater stealth capabilities at hypersonic speeds, with one commenter suggesting the PLA has “fully surpassed global advanced standards”.
China’s official media appeared to tacitly confirm speculation that a fixed-wing aircraft with a three-engine configuration seen over Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Thursday was in fact the stealth fighter on its maiden flight.
During the flight – which took place in broad daylight – the jet was flanked by a fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet, according to footage that was reportedly filmed near the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, a Chinese fighter and drone manufacturer.
Observers noted that the mystery jet – which has a distinctive triangular, tailless design – was flying with its landing gear down – a common practice in the early stages
Chinese authorities have not yet officially confirmed or named the jet, but the Chengdu-based Defence Times appeared to make an oblique reference to the aircraft on its Weibo account.
The media outlet posted an image of a ginkgo leaf and the comment “it really looks like a leaf”, in what was widely interpreted as a semi-official acknowledgement of the fighter jet.
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By Sylvie ZhuangSeong Hyeon Choi
Chinese experts believe the country’s first sixth-generation stealth fighter jet may have even greater stealth capabilities at hypersonic speeds, with one commenter suggesting the PLA has “fully surpassed global advanced standards”.
China’s official media appeared to tacitly confirm speculation that a fixed-wing aircraft with a three-engine configuration seen over Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Thursday was in fact the stealth fighter on its maiden flight.
During the flight – which took place in broad daylight – the jet was flanked by a fifth-generation J-20 fighter jet, according to footage that was reportedly filmed near the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, a Chinese fighter and drone manufacturer.
Observers noted that the mystery jet – which has a distinctive triangular, tailless design – was flying with its landing gear down – a common practice in the early stages
Chinese authorities have not yet officially confirmed or named the jet, but the Chengdu-based Defence Times appeared to make an oblique reference to the aircraft on its Weibo account.
The media outlet posted an image of a ginkgo leaf and the comment “it really looks like a leaf”, in what was widely interpreted as a semi-official acknowledgement of the fighter jet.
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Malaysians cast doubt on Anwar’s rising approval rate as reforms and economy stall
By Hadi Azmi
Poll results showing Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim enjoying higher approval ratings have sparked heated debates, with his critics saying the data does not reflect widespread anger over the country’s stagnant economy and the backtracking of his reformist agenda.
Prominent opinion research firm Merdeka Centre released the results of a new survey on Monday that found Anwar’s approval rating rose to 54 per cent, from 50 per cent last year. Satisfaction with his administration’s performance also increased to 51 per cent from 46 per cent.
Many online users have reacted to the results of the survey, which was conducted from November 27 to December 10, with scepticism.
The small sample size of just over 1,200 people was a sore point for many, who questioned whether the poll was an accurate gauge of the broad sentiment in a country of 34 million people.
“The survey represents just 0.0037 per cent of the population,” read a comment by Facebook user Tharmaraj Raj.
Polling experts note such a sample size – when properly designed to make it representative – could yield accurate results, a point highlighted by the Merdeka Centre about its methodology.
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By Hadi Azmi
Poll results showing Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim enjoying higher approval ratings have sparked heated debates, with his critics saying the data does not reflect widespread anger over the country’s stagnant economy and the backtracking of his reformist agenda.
Prominent opinion research firm Merdeka Centre released the results of a new survey on Monday that found Anwar’s approval rating rose to 54 per cent, from 50 per cent last year. Satisfaction with his administration’s performance also increased to 51 per cent from 46 per cent.
Many online users have reacted to the results of the survey, which was conducted from November 27 to December 10, with scepticism.
The small sample size of just over 1,200 people was a sore point for many, who questioned whether the poll was an accurate gauge of the broad sentiment in a country of 34 million people.
“The survey represents just 0.0037 per cent of the population,” read a comment by Facebook user Tharmaraj Raj.
Polling experts note such a sample size – when properly designed to make it representative – could yield accurate results, a point highlighted by the Merdeka Centre about its methodology.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo impeached, stirring new political chaos
By Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo was impeached on Friday, as the country struggled to shake off political turmoil sparked by his predecessor’s martial law declaration that shocked the world.
Han took over from President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was suspended following a parliamentary vote over his move to impose martial law on December 3.
Han’s exit also marked the first time South Korea has impeached an acting president.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is next in line to assume the acting presidency, according to South Korean law.
Opposition MPs have accused Han, the prime minister, of refusing to accede to demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment process and to bring him to justice.
At the heart of the current row is the composition of the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold parliament’s decision to impeach Yoon.
The court is currently short of three judges. While it can go ahead with its six members on the bench, a single dissenting vote would reinstate Yoon.
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By Agence France-Presse
South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo was impeached on Friday, as the country struggled to shake off political turmoil sparked by his predecessor’s martial law declaration that shocked the world.
Han took over from President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was suspended following a parliamentary vote over his move to impose martial law on December 3.
Han’s exit also marked the first time South Korea has impeached an acting president.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is next in line to assume the acting presidency, according to South Korean law.
Opposition MPs have accused Han, the prime minister, of refusing to accede to demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment process and to bring him to justice.
At the heart of the current row is the composition of the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether to uphold parliament’s decision to impeach Yoon.
The court is currently short of three judges. While it can go ahead with its six members on the bench, a single dissenting vote would reinstate Yoon.
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China’s high-speed rail enthusiasts glimpse the future as 450km/h train spotted
By Zhang Tong
China’s next innovation in high-speed rail the CR450, tipped to be the world’s fastest commercial train when it starts operations next year, was captured by enthusiasts in a series of videos as it made its way from Tianjin to Beijing on Wednesday.
It was the second glimpse of the CR450 – designed with a trial speed of 450km/h (280mph) and a commercial operating speed of 400km/h (249mph) – after a test video briefly surfaced online in November before it was taken down.
The train resembles an arrow when viewed from the side. Its sleek, bullet-shaped nose has slightly angular contours, while the cockpit features trapezoidal side windows and decorative breathing lights.
Last month’s apparently leaked test video featured a train marked CR450AF-0001, while the latest images show an eight-car CR450 with its serial number covered by white tape.
The body is unpainted but the Fuxing branding of China’s bullet trains is visible, highlighting that the new train builds upon the foundation of the CR400, which debuted in 2017.
Today, China’s high-speed rail system is the world’s largest network in operation, covering more than 45,000km (28,000 miles).
The China State Railway Group announced in September that the CR450 train had entered its full assembly phase, with prototype units expected to roll out before the end of the year.
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By Zhang Tong
China’s next innovation in high-speed rail the CR450, tipped to be the world’s fastest commercial train when it starts operations next year, was captured by enthusiasts in a series of videos as it made its way from Tianjin to Beijing on Wednesday.
It was the second glimpse of the CR450 – designed with a trial speed of 450km/h (280mph) and a commercial operating speed of 400km/h (249mph) – after a test video briefly surfaced online in November before it was taken down.
The train resembles an arrow when viewed from the side. Its sleek, bullet-shaped nose has slightly angular contours, while the cockpit features trapezoidal side windows and decorative breathing lights.
Last month’s apparently leaked test video featured a train marked CR450AF-0001, while the latest images show an eight-car CR450 with its serial number covered by white tape.
The body is unpainted but the Fuxing branding of China’s bullet trains is visible, highlighting that the new train builds upon the foundation of the CR400, which debuted in 2017.
Today, China’s high-speed rail system is the world’s largest network in operation, covering more than 45,000km (28,000 miles).
The China State Railway Group announced in September that the CR450 train had entered its full assembly phase, with prototype units expected to roll out before the end of the year.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
100 Hongkongers evacuated after fire breaks out during ceremony for good luck
By Jess Ma
Around 100 residents of a public housing estate in Hong Kong were evacuated from their homes on Friday morning, after a Chinese worship ceremony for peace and protection sparked a fire in the premises.
Police said they suspected the fire at Heng On Estate in Ma On Shan was caused by the 62-year-old female flat owner’s burning of joss papers for the traditional ritual. A preliminary investigation also showed no foul play was involved.
The spokesman said the ceremony concerned was the ritual of “worshipping the four corners”, which involves the burning of joss papers and sticks.
This ceremony is commonly performed when one moves into a new home to appease the four spirits of the sky, the earth, humanity and ghosts.
“The fire was caused when [the resident] left the flat before the joss papers were fully burnt,” a force spokesman said.
Photographs of the flat showed the unit was charred inside out, while the female owner was also seen sobbing after fleeing her home.
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By Jess Ma
Around 100 residents of a public housing estate in Hong Kong were evacuated from their homes on Friday morning, after a Chinese worship ceremony for peace and protection sparked a fire in the premises.
Police said they suspected the fire at Heng On Estate in Ma On Shan was caused by the 62-year-old female flat owner’s burning of joss papers for the traditional ritual. A preliminary investigation also showed no foul play was involved.
The spokesman said the ceremony concerned was the ritual of “worshipping the four corners”, which involves the burning of joss papers and sticks.
This ceremony is commonly performed when one moves into a new home to appease the four spirits of the sky, the earth, humanity and ghosts.
“The fire was caused when [the resident] left the flat before the joss papers were fully burnt,” a force spokesman said.
Photographs of the flat showed the unit was charred inside out, while the female owner was also seen sobbing after fleeing her home.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
