World News Daily(2024-09-02) : Year-Long Anti-Corruption Drive in China's Pharmaceutical Industry
Year-Long Anti-Corruption Drive in China's Pharmaceutical Industry
In the past year, over 30 pharmaceutical executives in China have faced investigation for corruption. The crackdown, initiated by the National Health Commission and nine other departments, has targeted both public and private sectors. Key figures from major companies like Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group, Shanghai Pharmaceuticals, and China National Pharmaceutical Group have been implicated.
The investigations reveal a pattern of misconduct, including bribery and embezzlement, often linked to high sales expenses and improper practices in academic promotions. Notable cases include the former chairman of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group, Li Chuyan, and the ex-chairman of Shanghai Pharmaceuticals, Zhou Jun, both accused of serious violations.
Additionally, several healthcare company CEOs have been detained under suspicion of corruption or other illegal activities. These include Zhou Wei, the chairman of Weining Health, and Su Qingcan, the head of Huaxia Eye Hospital Group.
This widespread scrutiny underscores a significant shift in China's approach to corporate governance and ethical standards within the pharmaceutical industry. The focus on top executives suggests a move towards greater accountability and transparency.
ScoresPolitics
Russia Updates Nuclear Deterrence Policy Amid Global Tensions
Russia updates its nuclear deterrence policy. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov clarifies: the new document outlines conditions for nuclear use. Changes reflect recent conflicts and Western actions. Moscow reserves the right to respond with nuclear force to nuclear attacks, missile launches, critical infrastructure threats, or existential conventional threats.
Nuclear deterrence policy: a set of guidelines defining when a country may use nuclear weapons to prevent attacks.
ScoresAnti-Establishment Parties Win Big in German Regional Elections
AfD won big in Thuringia with 32.8%. CDU came next at 23.6%. Scholz's coalition underperformed. FDP failed to reach the 5% threshold. The Greens didn't secure a seat in Thuringia. SPD barely managed with 6.1% and 7.3%. AfD's Hocke deemed it historic. Nouripour viewed it as a turning point. Media buzzed about a crumbling center. Scholz faced criticism. Anti-establishment parties gained momentum. AfD and BSW aim to halt arms shipments to Ukraine and control immigration.
Eurosceptic: Opposed to European integration. Populist: Appeals to the general public, often against elites.
ScoresRussia and Partners Develop Alternative Payment Systems to Bypass US Dollar
Russia and its trade partners are constructing new currencies and payment systems to circumvent the US dollar and Western financial networks. This strategy counters economic sanctions imposed following Russia's actions in Ukraine.
Since 2014, Russia has been advancing its own financial infrastructures, such as the System for Transfer of Financial Messages (SPFS), a substitute for SWIFT, which is globally utilized for financial transactions. SPFS currently supports 556 organizations across 20 countries.
Russia has also connected its Mir payment system with Iran's Shetab, and is integrating with China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) and India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). These systems handle millions of transactions, challenging SWIFT's supremacy.
Moreover, Russia is exploring the use of central bank currencies and cryptocurrencies, and is considering the revival of barter trade, a direct exchange of goods without currency, reminiscent of the Soviet-era Comecon.
This transition jeopardizes the US dollar's global reserve status and diminishes Western financial hegemony.
ScoresPope Francis Embarks on 12-Day Asia-Pacific Tour
Pope Francis sets off on a 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. This journey, originally planned for 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic, underscores Asia's strategic importance for the Catholic Church.
The tour, spanning over 20,000 miles, includes over 40 events. Francis's first stop is Indonesia, where he will visit Jakarta's main mosque and tour the "Tunnel of Friendship," a symbol of religious harmony linking the mosque to the Catholic cathedral. He will also meet with Indonesia's president and hold a mass for 80,000 people.
In Papua New Guinea, Francis will address climate change, highlighting rising sea levels and severe weather events. His visit to East Timor will include a mass at the seaside esplanade where Pope John Paul II once celebrated. This stop may force Francis to confront the clergy sexual abuse scandal involving Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo.
The final stop is Singapore, part of the Vatican's efforts to improve ties with China. The recent recognition of Tianjin bishop Melchior Shi Hongzhen by China is seen as a positive step in this direction.
This tour, despite health challenges, showcases Francis's commitment to environmental issues, interfaith dialogue, and the growth of the Catholic Church in Asia.
ScoresSociety
Shanghai Implements First Outdoor Smoking Point Standards to Reduce Secondhand Smoke
Shanghai has released the country's first standard specification for outdoor smoking areas, set to take effect on September 1, 2024. Led by the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and drafted jointly by multiple institutions, the standard aims to regulate the setup and management of outdoor smoking areas to reduce the harm of secondhand smoke on public health.
The standard outlines requirements for the location, facilities, and signage of outdoor smoking areas, and specifies daily management responsibilities. Shanghai plans to establish 300 demonstration sites by the end of the year, covering commercial districts, sports venues, parks, and other public spaces.
This move not only fills a domestic gap but also has innovative significance internationally. By setting up outdoor smoking areas, smokers are guided to avoid crowds, reducing the phenomenon of "wandering smoke" and protecting non-smokers from secondhand smoke.
Additionally, smoking areas will provide information on quitting services to help smokers quit. The Shanghai Municipal Health Commission stated that the standard offers professional guidance for the reasonable setup and management of outdoor smoking areas,有助于 enhance the city's refined management of smoking control, and promote the construction of a healthy city.
ScoresCalifornia and Texas Transition to Battery-Powered Energy Grids
California's grid now runs on 20% solar power, thanks to 1.9 million solar panels and 120,000 batteries. This leap in storage capacity, from 770 to 10,000 megawatts, cut natural gas use by half in April. Batteries are replacing fossil fuels, powering millions of homes and pushing California closer to its 100% renewable energy goal by 2045. Texas follows suit, with batteries supplying 4% of its grid. This shift signals a new era in energy, where batteries challenge gas and coal dominance.
ScoresStadler Unveils World's First Dual-Mode Hydrogen-Electric Train
Stadler Rail, a company renowned for setting Guinness World Records with its hydrogen trains, has unveiled a new model: RS Zero. This train operates with zero CO2 emissions, powered by either hydrogen or batteries, or a combination of both. It is designed for branch lines, where 38% of Germany's railways remain non-electrified.
The RS Zero can travel 2803 kilometers on a single tank of hydrogen, thanks to its lightweight design. It is versatile, switching to overhead cables when available. The prototype, showcased at InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin, comes in single or double-headed configurations, with ranges of 700 and 1000 kilometers respectively.
Battery-only versions have shorter ranges, from 80 to 180 kilometers. Both types max out at 120 km/h. The train features low-floor access, a multi-functional area for bikes, and 98% renewable materials in its construction. Climate control uses eco-friendly coolant.
Stadler's move caters to both environmental and operational needs, offering a practical solution for modern rail transport.
ScoresEconomy
Changan Automobile invests in solid-state battery technology, leading the revolution in new energy vehicles.
Changan Automobile, a major Chinese carmaker, has recently made a significant investment in Tai-Blue New Energy, a startup focused on the development of solid-state batteries. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolytes in traditional lithium batteries with solid electrolytes, enhancing energy density and safety stability, and are expected to enable electric vehicles to achieve a range of over 1000 kilometers.
Tai-Blue New Energy, though low-profile, has already secured multiple rounds of funding from investors including Country Garden Venture Capital and CICC Capital. Its core technologies include self-developed lithium-oxygen polymer composite materials and interfacial softening techniques, which address issues of high internal resistance and poor interfacial contact in solid-state batteries.
Changan's move not only provides financial support to Tai-Blue but also signals the accelerated application of solid-state battery technology in the automotive industry. Tai-Blue plans to achieve mass production of all-solid-state batteries by 2026, with current semi-solid-state batteries nearing the cost of liquid batteries.
The revolutionary potential of solid-state batteries is akin to the disruption brought by the advent of smartphones, potentially reshaping the product forms and market landscape of new energy vehicles. Changan's investment is a proactive move in anticipating future technological trends and a bid for defining industry standards.
Chongqing, as a major hub for the automotive industry in western China, stands to benefit greatly. The successful transformation of Changan, coupled with the rise of Tai-Blue New Energy, positions Chongqing prominently in the landscape of China's automotive industry ascendancy.
ScoresTechnology
Chinese scientists have successfully cloned somatic cell monkeys, advancing medical research.
Cloning monkey technology has put China in the lead. The team led by researcher Sun Qiang has made a breakthrough, giving birth to the world's first pair of somatic cell cloned monkeys, "Zhong Zhong" and "Hua Hua." This achievement is of great significance.
Cloning, or asexual reproduction, bypasses sexual reproduction and avoids genetic variation. Traditional monkey research involves various genotypes, which affects the accuracy of experiments. Cloned monkeys, with identical genes, become the ideal model animals.
Sun Qiang explained that cloned monkeys are like a uniform exam paper, ensuring fairness in drug testing. For example, a group of monkeys with a mutation in gene A, having the same background, allows the drug's effects to be clearly seen.
Cloning technology has a long history. Asexual reproduction in plants and nuclear transfer in animals both fall into this category. Somatic cell cloning, theoretically unlimited, is superior to embryo splitting.
The purpose of cloned monkeys is not for novelty or to clone humans, but to build disease models and promote drug development. The Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences continues to explore, with a broad future ahead.
ScoresTech Giants Eye Investment in OpenAI, Driving AI Innovation
Tech giants Apple and NVIDIA are considering investing in OpenAI, the AI company whose valuation is expected to surpass $100 billion. Microsoft, an existing shareholder of OpenAI, is also contemplating increasing its investment. OpenAI's valuation has significantly risen from $800 billion in February of this year.
Apple plans to integrate OpenAI's ChatGPT technology into its iOS 18 system, initially launching on the iPhone 15 Pro. Siri will be able to forward complex requests to OpenAI's models, and ChatGPT will also be integrated into Apple's writing tools.
NVIDIA is also considering investing in OpenAI, although OpenAI might seek to reduce its reliance on NVIDIA products. OpenAI is in talks with suppliers like Broadcom to develop custom machine learning accelerators.
OpenAI's ChatGPT currently has over 200 million weekly active users, and 92% of the Fortune 500 companies use its products. CEO Sam Altman stated that OpenAI's tools have had a substantial impact in fields like healthcare and education.
With the involvement of giants like Apple and NVIDIA, OpenAI's technological prowess and market position could be further solidified, but this might also spark discussions about technological monopolies and the diversity of innovation. The rapid development of AI technology and the expanding scope of its applications suggest that similar investments and collaborations will continue to increase in the future.
ScoresVideo Game
"Cosmic Robots" New Release: Explore Galaxies, Challenge Levels
Sony Interactive Entertainment has released a promotional video for the new "Astro Bot" game. Players will explore six galaxies, challenge over 80 levels, and search for scattered crew members. Game features include 15 new abilities such as the Bulldog Enhancement Kit and the Twin Frog Gloves. Over 70 new enemies have been added, including bosses from each galaxy. The deadly cobra "Madame Fénôme-Mara" awaits a challenge. Pre-orders for the game open on June 7th.
ScoresBlack Myth: Wukong Sets Sales Record, Chinese Gaming Industry on the Rise
Black Myth: Wukong, a Chinese video game, sold over 10 million units in just three days, marking a first for China and a significant step in the global gaming market. Dino Ying, chairman of Hero Games, an early investor, anticipates more top-tier games on the horizon.
Ying was aware of another AAA game in development but kept the details confidential. He hinted that sales for Black Myth: Wukong exceeded initial projections, though not by double. Future games will launch with a global focus.
China's gaming market is vast, with 600 million gamers. Historically, AAA games, known for high-quality graphics and marketing, were rare from Chinese developers due to the long production times and costs, which favored mobile games.
Hero Games invested heavily in Game Science, the developer of Black Myth: Wukong. Despite earlier failures, Ying saw potential and described the game as the best he'd ever seen.
Tencent purchased a 5% stake, promising no interference. China's government, after tightening controls on gaming, approved Black Myth: Wukong without changes. Ying felt regulations were now more supportive.
Domestic game sales in China reached 147.27 billion yuan in the first half of the year. However, console games made up just 0.5% of that. Ying noted a surge in PlayStation and graphics card sales post-launch, similar to the Nintendo Switch's popularity with Zelda.
Chinese games, rich in cultural elements, are gaining global appeal. Ying believes ancient Chinese stories, enduring for millennia, are ripe for gaming.
ScoresEntertainment
The Chinese Ambassador to the United States recommends the game "Black Myth: Wukong" to promote cultural exchange.
Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, has recommended the game "Black Myth: WuKong," sparking international attention. The game is an adaptation of the 400-year-old classic "Journey to the West," showcasing the charm of Chinese culture. Ambassador Xie Feng encourages players to experience China firsthand to deepen their cultural understanding. The game successfully blends the classical with the modern, attracting global players, especially the Chinese version which is particularly popular. Through the game, players learn about "Journey to the West," sparking interest in exploring China in person.
ScoresThe world's largest underwater shield tunnel, the Huanggang Road Crossing Huang Tunnel in Jinan, has been initiated.
Jinan's Huanggang Road Yellow River Crossing Tunnel project has commenced, marking the world's largest underwater shield tunneling endeavor. The tunnel spans 5,755 meters in total, with a critical section of 3,290 meters. It connects to the G309 interchange, bridging both sides of the Yellow River.
The "Mountain River" shield machine, with a diameter of 17.5 meters, is equipped with cutting-edge technology. The tunnel features a single-bore double-deck structure, with three lanes in each direction, saving space and reducing costs. It has a clear height of 4.2 meters, accommodating special vehicle requirements.
Shield machine: A large mechanical device used for underground tunnel excavation, equipped with a rotating cutterhead for breaking up rock and soil.
ScoresNew Research Confirms Fossil Gaps Don't Undermine Evolution Theory
New research by Dutch and British scientists shows that gaps in the fossil record do not cripple our understanding of evolution. Fossils are crucial, but not every creature becomes one. Many are lost to erosion before discovery.
Niklas Hohmann at Utrecht University led the study. They found that regular gaps, not just incompleteness, shape how we piece together evolutionary history. Think of a movie: missing every frame still lets you follow the plot.
This eases concerns since Darwin's time. He worried that missing fossils would obscure gradual changes his theory predicted. Now, knowing where and why gaps occur helps us reconstruct ancient evolution with new precision.
The team used computer simulations to test how well we can recover evolutionary patterns from incomplete fossil data. Results show that despite gaps, fossil evidence supports our grasp of evolutionary patterns and rates.
ScoresHealth
The United Nations calls for global action to address the famine crisis in Sudan.
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, visited Chad and called for global solidarity in addressing the famine, floods, and displacement issues in Sudan. She emphasized that the suffering of the Sudanese people is one of the most severe crises in the world today.
Mohammed announced a $5 million grant from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to support flood recovery efforts. She discussed with Chadian officials the complex challenges the country faces, including regional dynamics and major risks, and highlighted the urgent need for "global solidarity."
During her visit to Chad, Mohammed observed the newly opened Adre transit point, which she described as a "positive step" in providing lifesaving assistance to Sudan. She stressed the extreme importance of maintaining the transit point's long-term openness to address the massive hunger crisis.
Statistics show that the UN's $2.7 billion fundraising appeal is currently only 41% funded. Sudan's food security experts announced that the war has pushed some areas of North Darfur into famine, with approximately 25.6 million people facing severe hunger, including 755,000 on the brink of famine.
Mohammed met with the President of Sudan and members of the cabinet, emphasizing the need for swift implementation of the Jeddah peace process. She stated that consensus has been reached among parties, with no reason not to move forward. She highlighted that efforts are currently being made to address the legitimate concerns of the Sudanese government and to establish procedures ensuring that aid reaches those in need.
ScoresSports
GB Rowing Team Wins Triple Gold at Paris 2024 Paralympics
Great Britain's rowing team secured triple gold. Francesca Allen, Allen Giedre, Josh O'Brien, Ed Fuller, and Erin Kennedy spearheaded the victory. Paralympics day four featured intense competition in athletics and cycling.
Paralympics: A prestigious sports event for athletes with disabilities.
ScoresPregnant Archer Wins Paralympic Bronze
Jodie Grinham, a British archer, won bronze at the Paralympics while seven months pregnant. Born with a disability, she overcame three miscarriages and a premature birth. Grinham emphasizes the need for support for pregnant athletes. She competed with a medical team in Paris, highlighting the challenges of her unique situation.
ScoresZheng Qinwen advances to the quarterfinals of the US Open, next facing Sabalenka.
Zheng Qinwen, a Chinese tennis player, defeated Croatia's Vekic in the women's singles round of 16 at the US Open, advancing to the quarterfinals for the second time. Previously, Zheng's best performance at the US Open was reaching the quarterfinals last year. In this match, she endured a grueling three-set battle, ultimately winning 2-1.
Zheng Qinwen had a 2-1 head-to-head record against Vekic before this match. In the deciding set, Zheng displayed strong form, securing the victory with a 6-2 score. After the match, she thanked the fans in attendance and expressed her enjoyment of the competition.
Next, Zheng Qinwen will face Belarus' Sabalenka, aiming for a "revenge." Last year's US Open and this year's Australian Open saw Zheng defeated by Sabalenka. This rematch holds promise for Zheng to break through.
The US Open, officially known as the United States Open Tennis Championships, is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments in tennis, held annually in New York. Zheng Qinwen's performance is not only a personal breakthrough but also another showcase of Chinese tennis on the international stage.
ScoresFood
CCTV Exposes Excessive Sulfur in Goji Berries, Journalist Investigates Processing Site
CCTV has exposed the issue of excessive sulfur in goji berries, with reporters delving into the processing sites and being overwhelmed to the point of tears.
Goji berries, representative of the concept of food as medicine, are widely used in foods, beverages, and health supplements. These seemingly plump and bright red berries, however, conceal food safety risks. Merchants in Golmud, Qinghai, and Jingyuan, Gansu, have been illegally using sodium metabisulfite and industrial sulfur to enhance color and appearance, allowing even inferior goji berries to fetch good prices.
Sodium metabisulfite, a chemical agent used to enhance color in goji berry processing, is explicitly prohibited by regulations. Industrial sulfur, which contains a high amount of arsenic and is harmful to human health, is not allowed in food processing. Reporters found that merchants were knowingly violating the law for profit.
The goji berry industry, originally a local specialty aimed at increasing farmers' income, has been tarnished by illegal processing, resulting in a loss of industry credibility and ultimately not worth the cost. Addressing the industry's痛点 is the pressing matter at hand.
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