Guinea Coup Triggers Chinese Embassy Security Alert, Germany’s Ambassador to China Dies, Hong Kong Actor Nicholas Tse to Renounce Canadian Citizenship

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 Hong Kong’s plan to allow Chinese mainland and Macao residents to enter the city without going through a mandatory quarantine. They also continue to follow plans for a Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone.

1. WeChat to offer paid cloud storage service for chat records

WeChat plans to provide a paid cloud storage service (external source) for users to back up their chat records, state-run China Daily reported.

2. Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral plans leaked

The British authorities are reportedly looking into reasons behind the leak of the plans for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral (external source, in Chinese), which were reported by U.S. media last week.

Photo: VCG

3. Chinese authorities vow to take action against workplace gender discrimination

The All China Women’s Federation, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security have jointly issued a notice on better protecting new female graduates’ rights in the workplace, including conducting joint regulatory talks (external source, in Chinese) with employers that are suspected of gender discrimination.

4. Chinese embassy issues security warnings amid Guinea coup

The Chinese Embassy in Guinea in a Monday statement urged Chinese nationals in the West African country to stay indoors and tighten security measures (external source, in Chinese), after the country’s military special forces seized power in a coup on Sunday.

5. Hong Kong star to renounce Canadian citizenship

Nicholas Tse, a Hong Kong actor and singer, said in an interview that he is in the process of renouncing his Canadian citizenship (external source, in Chinese).

6. Taliban announces war in Afghanistan is over

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said at a press conference Monday that the war in Afghanistan is over as Taliban claimed it had taken control of Panjshir province, the last holdout of anti-Taliban forces, and that the formation of a new Afghan government will be announced in the next few days.

7. China issues plan for Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone

China has issued a plan to build a Guangdong-Macao cooperation zone on Hengqin Island, located in the Guangdong city of Zhuhai, in a bid to deepen collaboration to promote the diversified development of Macao’s economy.

8. Beijing mourns death of German ambassador to China

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during a press conference Monday that “We are shocked to learn of the sudden death of Ambassador Jan Hecker, who had been working actively to promote China-Germany relations since assuming his post. We mourn and regret his passing and extend sincere condolences to his loved ones.”

9. Taliban breaks up women’s protest in Kabul

A women’s rights demonstration in Kabul on Sunday turned violent as Taliban forces broke up the protest (external source, in Chinese) with tear gas as the group was on its way to the presidential palace.

10. Hong Kong to forego quarantine for visiting mainland and Macao residents

Hong Kong will allow Chinese mainland and Macao residents to enter the city without going through mandatory quarantine starting Sept. 15, implementing a measure that had been delayed since May, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced Tuesday.

Translated by reporter Cai Xuejiao.

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.