Actress Zheng Shuang Punished for Tax Evasion, China Cancels Celebrity Rankings, ISIS Claims Responsibility for Kabul Attack

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 controversial Chinese actress Zheng Shuang being fined for tax evasion. They are also following the Kabul airport attack which killed at least 13 U.S. troops and 60 Afghans.

1. 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.

2. China cancels celebrity popularity ranking list

China has intensified its crackdown on domestic fandom culture , abolishing celebrity’ popularity ranking lists and adjusting rules for ranking music works, film and television works, and prohibiting functions that persuade fans to work to boost popularity of their idols. 

3. Chinese ambassador to Canada speaks with Meng Wanzhou by phone

Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu (external source) expressed his concerns in a phone call with Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou, who has been detained in Canada for 1,000 days, according to the website of the Chinese Embassy in Canada on Wednesday.

4. ISIS claims responsibility for Kabul airport attack which killed 13 U.S. troops

The Islamic State Khorasan, or ISIS-K, claimed responsibility for two explosions near Kabul airport Thursday that killed at least 13 U.S. service members and 60 Afghans. President Joe Biden vowed to complete the U.S. evacuation mission in Afghanistan after the attack and promised that those responsible for the attacks would “pay.”

Photo：VCG

5. China maintaining “normal communication” with U.S. on trade

China is maintaining “normal communication” with the U.S. on trade issues, the Ministry of Commerce (external source, in Chinese) said Thursday. The two economies are highly complementary and economic and trade cooperation between the two sides is in the interest of both countries and peoples, said Commerce Ministry spokesperson Gao Feng.

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

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

7. Taliban official meets Chinese ambassador in Kabul

Senior Taliban leader Abdul Salam Hanafi (external source, in Chinese) met with Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Wang Yu in Kabul on Tuesday, a Taliban spokesperson said.

8. SMIC achieves trial-production of 7nm chips

A report by the China Internet Network Information Center (external source, in Chinese) released Friday shows that SMIC has trial-produced 7 nanometer chip in August, marking a milestone in its production of high-end chips.

9. China inspects concealment of high income from tax authorities

The State Administration of Taxation (external source, in Chinese) announced five cases of tax fraud on Thursday and said that tax inspectors are probing individuals who did not truthfully declare their high incomes.

10. China’s U.N. envoy asks WHO to investigate U.S. labs on Covid origin-tracing

China’s ambassador to the United Nations has formally requested that the World Health Organization (WHO) include the U.S. bio-military research base, Fort Detrick, and the University of North Carolina in its investigation into the origins of Covid-19.

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.