Hongkongers in UK stuck in jobs far below their abilities, study finds
By William Yiu
Many Hongkongers settling in Britain under a bespoke immigration pathway are working in jobs that fail to fully utilise their previous professional skills and qualifications, according to a study that interviewed nearly 100 people.
The report cited cases of Hongkongers struggling to leverage their past skills in the British economy, such as an accountant working in a kitchen and former information technology and insurance employees taking warehouse jobs.
The UK-based think tank British Future and umbrella group the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers, which published the document in October, urged the British government to address the wastage of Hongkongers’ skills.
The report’s authors said they carried out the study to illustrate how Hongkongers were struggling in the British job market, and had interviewed 96 people holding visas issued under the British National (Overseas) scheme.
The United Kingdom rolled out the immigration pathway after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020 to ban acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers following the anti-government protests in 2019.
The interviews were conducted early this year and included jobless respondents, those in temporary work and people in positions that did not align with their skills, among others.
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By William Yiu
Many Hongkongers settling in Britain under a bespoke immigration pathway are working in jobs that fail to fully utilise their previous professional skills and qualifications, according to a study that interviewed nearly 100 people.
The report cited cases of Hongkongers struggling to leverage their past skills in the British economy, such as an accountant working in a kitchen and former information technology and insurance employees taking warehouse jobs.
The UK-based think tank British Future and umbrella group the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers, which published the document in October, urged the British government to address the wastage of Hongkongers’ skills.
The report’s authors said they carried out the study to illustrate how Hongkongers were struggling in the British job market, and had interviewed 96 people holding visas issued under the British National (Overseas) scheme.
The United Kingdom rolled out the immigration pathway after Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020 to ban acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign powers following the anti-government protests in 2019.
The interviews were conducted early this year and included jobless respondents, those in temporary work and people in positions that did not align with their skills, among others.
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In 2025, can Trump and Xi rise to the ocassion and collaborate for peace?
By Fred Teng
The relationship between the United States and China is poised for a defining chapter as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House as US president in 2025. This comes at a time when China, under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, has transformed into an assertive and globally influential power. China is also more used to challenges posed by the US.
The relationship between these two superpowers has been marked by rivalry, mistrust and fierce competition. Yet, in a rare moment of optimism, Trump recently suggested that the US and China could work together “to solve all of the problems of the world”. This remark, though ambitious, hints at an undeniable truth: despite their differences, the US and China hold unparalleled power to address the world’s most pressing crises.
Let’s not be naive. Deep-rooted issues between the two nations make large-scale cooperation unlikely in many areas. Economic competition remains fierce, with both sides viewing technological supremacy as a matter of national security.
The US’ claims of human rights and territorial concerns, such as those related to Taiwan and the South China Sea, continue to be flashpoints, with each side unwilling to compromise on sovereignty and strategic interests. Climate change, once a potential area for collaboration, became a non-starter after Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement during his first term.
But even amid these entrenched disagreements, there are narrow windows where US-China collaboration could be transformative. Two such opportunities stand out: ending the war in Ukraine and fostering peace in the Middle East.
The war in Ukraine has destabilised Europe, disrupted global energy supplies and exacerbated food insecurity worldwide. Both the US and China have compelling reasons to seek an end to this conflict.
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By Fred Teng
The relationship between the United States and China is poised for a defining chapter as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House as US president in 2025. This comes at a time when China, under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, has transformed into an assertive and globally influential power. China is also more used to challenges posed by the US.
The relationship between these two superpowers has been marked by rivalry, mistrust and fierce competition. Yet, in a rare moment of optimism, Trump recently suggested that the US and China could work together “to solve all of the problems of the world”. This remark, though ambitious, hints at an undeniable truth: despite their differences, the US and China hold unparalleled power to address the world’s most pressing crises.
Let’s not be naive. Deep-rooted issues between the two nations make large-scale cooperation unlikely in many areas. Economic competition remains fierce, with both sides viewing technological supremacy as a matter of national security.
The US’ claims of human rights and territorial concerns, such as those related to Taiwan and the South China Sea, continue to be flashpoints, with each side unwilling to compromise on sovereignty and strategic interests. Climate change, once a potential area for collaboration, became a non-starter after Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement during his first term.
But even amid these entrenched disagreements, there are narrow windows where US-China collaboration could be transformative. Two such opportunities stand out: ending the war in Ukraine and fostering peace in the Middle East.
The war in Ukraine has destabilised Europe, disrupted global energy supplies and exacerbated food insecurity worldwide. Both the US and China have compelling reasons to seek an end to this conflict.
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Chinese court sentences Zhuhai car attack driver to death for killing 35 people
By Yuanyue DangMeredith Chen
The driver behind last month’s deadly car attack in southern China has been sentenced to death, state media said on Friday.
The Zhuhai Intermediate People’s Court found that 62-year-old Fan Weiqiu deliberately drove his SUV into a group of people exercising outside a sports centre in Zhuhai just before 8pm on November 11, killing 35 people and injuring 43.
It said his actions were the result of a “broken marriage and dissatisfaction with life” and that he had been “unhappy with the outcome of the division of property” after he got divorced.
Apart from the death sentence, Fan was also deprived of his political rights for life for “endangering public safety by dangerous means”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The court said: “Fan’s criminal motives were extremely despicable, the nature of the crime was particularly heinous, the methods used were especially brutal, the consequences of the crime were particularly severe and the social harm was significant; therefore he should be punished severely according to the law.”
More to follow...
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By Yuanyue DangMeredith Chen
The driver behind last month’s deadly car attack in southern China has been sentenced to death, state media said on Friday.
The Zhuhai Intermediate People’s Court found that 62-year-old Fan Weiqiu deliberately drove his SUV into a group of people exercising outside a sports centre in Zhuhai just before 8pm on November 11, killing 35 people and injuring 43.
It said his actions were the result of a “broken marriage and dissatisfaction with life” and that he had been “unhappy with the outcome of the division of property” after he got divorced.
Apart from the death sentence, Fan was also deprived of his political rights for life for “endangering public safety by dangerous means”, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
The court said: “Fan’s criminal motives were extremely despicable, the nature of the crime was particularly heinous, the methods used were especially brutal, the consequences of the crime were particularly severe and the social harm was significant; therefore he should be punished severely according to the law.”
More to follow...
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Philippines forges ahead with Typhon purchase plan: ‘China should not intervene’
By Jeoffrey Maitem
The Philippines is forging ahead with its retention of a US-made Typhon missile system, brushing aside China’s demand for its removal, in a move seen by experts as both a declaration of self-reliance and a calculated gamble in the face of mounting tensions in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Army announced plans on Monday to acquire the advanced Mid-Range Capability missile launcher from Washington.
A Typhon system is already in the Philippines after the US delivered it for use in joint-military exercises in April, and is due for further assessment by the military.
Beijing has repeatedly denounced the Typhon’s presence in the Philippines and demanded its removal. The army’s plans to acquire the system for itself has triggered even more strongly worded statements from Beijing.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called it “a provocative and dangerous move” that undermined regional stability.
“The Philippines, by cooperating with the United States to introduce the Typhon, is handing over its own security and defence, bringing geopolitical confrontation and arms race risks into the region, which poses a substantial threat to regional peace and security,” Mao said.
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By Jeoffrey Maitem
The Philippines is forging ahead with its retention of a US-made Typhon missile system, brushing aside China’s demand for its removal, in a move seen by experts as both a declaration of self-reliance and a calculated gamble in the face of mounting tensions in the South China Sea.
The Philippine Army announced plans on Monday to acquire the advanced Mid-Range Capability missile launcher from Washington.
A Typhon system is already in the Philippines after the US delivered it for use in joint-military exercises in April, and is due for further assessment by the military.
Beijing has repeatedly denounced the Typhon’s presence in the Philippines and demanded its removal. The army’s plans to acquire the system for itself has triggered even more strongly worded statements from Beijing.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called it “a provocative and dangerous move” that undermined regional stability.
“The Philippines, by cooperating with the United States to introduce the Typhon, is handing over its own security and defence, bringing geopolitical confrontation and arms race risks into the region, which poses a substantial threat to regional peace and security,” Mao said.
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China’s C919 airliner could spread wings to parts of Asia next year
By Frank Chen
China’s thrust to raise the international profile of its domestically developed narrowbody airliner will shift into a higher gear next year, with the C919, already plying some of the busiest air routes at home, set to be more easily spotted in some parts of Asia, analysts predict.
The C919 will return to Hong Kong, one of the region’s international gateway hubs, on the first day of the new year, China Eastern Airlines has confirmed. It will launch a daily return flight between Shanghai and Hong Kong as the home-grown model’s first cross-border route.
The carrier is now taking delivery of its 10th C919 and is ramping up preparations to deploy the new plane on the Hong Kong route, according to a source at Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac), the C919’s manufacturer.
“The new jet being prepped will sport a new livery and its first flight to Hong Kong on January 1 will be kicked off at an event at Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport,” said the source, who declined to be named.
Observers say Hong Kong is a natural choice as the C919 seeks to raise its visibility beyond mainland skies and the jet could set a further course for regions that do not require aircraft certification by Western regulators as a prerequisite.
“Airlines need approval to fly a specific aircraft type to an overseas airport,” said Mayur Patel, the Asia head at consultancy OAG, which is based in Britain and Singapore. “For C919 operators, they will require approval from a particular country. Given the C919’s range, regional airports in Southeast Asia would be the ideal choice.
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By Frank Chen
China’s thrust to raise the international profile of its domestically developed narrowbody airliner will shift into a higher gear next year, with the C919, already plying some of the busiest air routes at home, set to be more easily spotted in some parts of Asia, analysts predict.
The C919 will return to Hong Kong, one of the region’s international gateway hubs, on the first day of the new year, China Eastern Airlines has confirmed. It will launch a daily return flight between Shanghai and Hong Kong as the home-grown model’s first cross-border route.
The carrier is now taking delivery of its 10th C919 and is ramping up preparations to deploy the new plane on the Hong Kong route, according to a source at Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (Comac), the C919’s manufacturer.
“The new jet being prepped will sport a new livery and its first flight to Hong Kong on January 1 will be kicked off at an event at Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport,” said the source, who declined to be named.
Observers say Hong Kong is a natural choice as the C919 seeks to raise its visibility beyond mainland skies and the jet could set a further course for regions that do not require aircraft certification by Western regulators as a prerequisite.
“Airlines need approval to fly a specific aircraft type to an overseas airport,” said Mayur Patel, the Asia head at consultancy OAG, which is based in Britain and Singapore. “For C919 operators, they will require approval from a particular country. Given the C919’s range, regional airports in Southeast Asia would be the ideal choice.
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Oil giant Shell shuts Singapore processing unit to probe leak
By Reuters
Shell has shut down an oil processing unit at its Pulau Bukom facility to investigate a suspected leak, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and National Environment Agency said on Friday.
The oil company estimates that a few tonnes of refined oil products, along with cooling water discharge used in the refining process, have leaked.
Pulau Bukom, site of Singapore’s first refinery, now houses Shell’s only energy and chemicals park in Asia, according to the company’s website.
Shell confirmed in an emailed statement to Reuters that oil sheens were spotted alongside a wharf on Thursday at Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore.
The company stated it has taken steps to contain the leak and prevent it from spreading into the sea and has deployed boats alongside the MPA to clean up light oil sheens observed near the leak site.
The MPA said investigations are ongoing, and navigation traffic in the area remains unaffected.
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By Reuters
Shell has shut down an oil processing unit at its Pulau Bukom facility to investigate a suspected leak, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and National Environment Agency said on Friday.
The oil company estimates that a few tonnes of refined oil products, along with cooling water discharge used in the refining process, have leaked.
Pulau Bukom, site of Singapore’s first refinery, now houses Shell’s only energy and chemicals park in Asia, according to the company’s website.
Shell confirmed in an emailed statement to Reuters that oil sheens were spotted alongside a wharf on Thursday at Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Singapore.
The company stated it has taken steps to contain the leak and prevent it from spreading into the sea and has deployed boats alongside the MPA to clean up light oil sheens observed near the leak site.
The MPA said investigations are ongoing, and navigation traffic in the area remains unaffected.
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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.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
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.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
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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