China’s Latest Covid Outbreaks Controlled, ‘996’ Working Hours Ruled Illegal, Coronavirus’ Weekly Mutations

Here is today’s ranking of the 10 most-read news stories in China, in economics, finance and current affairs, to help give you a sense of what’s trending in the Chinese language sphere.

Chinese social media users have been paying close attention to the country’s emphasis on avoiding a “one size fits all” vaccination policy. They are also following the Chinese foreign minister’s talk on Afghanistan with U.S. counterpart.

1. China’s latest round of scattered Covid-19 outbreaks has been effectively controlled

The National Health Commission (external source, in Chinese) announced Friday that the latest round of the domestic scattered Covid-19 outbreaks has been effectively controlled, with the number of confirmed local transmissions falling for 11 consecutive days since Aug. 16.

2. Troubled Chinese star ordered to pay $46 million for tax evasion

China State Taxation Administration’s Shanghai branch has ordered once high-profile Chinese actress Zheng Shuang to pay 299 million yuan ($46 million) in overdue taxes, late fees and fines, according to an official statement on Friday.

3. Avoid “one-size-fits-all” vaccination policy

Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the National Health Commission’s Disease Control Bureau (external source, in Chinese), stressed that local authorities should avoid a “simplistic and one-size-fits-all” approach to Covid.

4. U.S. says drone strike killed Islamic State militants

The U.S. military (external source, in Chinese) killed two key targets in an airstrike Friday against the Afghan branch of the Islamic State group, U.S. Joint Staff officials said Saturday. U.S. President Joe Biden warned that another militant attack was highly likely as troops began leaving Kabul airport.

5. It’s illegal to make employees work 12 hours a day, six days a week, top court says

The grueling “996” work schedule is a serious violation of China’s labor law, the country’s top judicial authority and the government agency overseeing labor issues have warned, amid nationwide debate on the pervasive practice.

6. The number of Chinese internet users exceeds 1 billion

The number of internet users (external source, in Chinese) in China reached 1 billion as of June, an increase of 21.75 million from December 2020, and the internet penetration rate reached 71.6%, according to a report released by the China Internet Network Information Center on Friday.

Photo: VCG

7. China bans schools from mandating Covid vaccinations

The Ministry of Education (external source, in Chinese) stressed Friday that getting vaccination cannot be set as a requirement for students to return to school, reminding schools to implement outbreak prevention and control measures both strictly and in accordance with the law.

8. Hangzhou’s second-hand housing platform sees listings surge

Within 10 days of the launch of Hangzhou’s official second-hand housing platform (external source, in Chinese) on Aug. 19, the number of individual listings on the platform increased nearly tenfold to 970. The platform allows landlords to post property information to sell second-hand houses without going through an agent.

9. Chinese foreign finister talks Afghanistan with U.S. counterpart

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed Afghan affairs, including potential actions to be taken by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a phone conversation Sunday, the second in two weeks, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

10. British scientists say Covid-19 mutates once a week

A new study by British scientists says that the new coronavirus mutates almost once a week (external source, in Chinese), at a rate more than 50% faster than previously estimated, and that new mutant strains may emerge more quickly than thought, PhysOrg.com reported.

Translated by intern reporter Chen Bingyi.

Caixin has not independently verified the veracity or accuracy of all of the headlines or stories.

The daily ranking of most-read news stories among Chinese people, about China and global affairs, is jointly provided to you by Caixin Insight and HANA Data, an artificial intelligence technology team.

The key indicators calculated on the list are based on mass data sourced from China’s mainstream social media platforms and online news websites. Click here for a detailed introduction of our methodology.