Lawyer Argues for Ban on Celebrities Who Endorse False Ads, North Korea Barred From 2022 Winter Olympics, Tencent and NetEase Summoned

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 Chinese embassy in Seoul denying media reports that China’s crackdown on fandom is targeted at South Korean celebrities. They are also following Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s announcement that the city will allow Chinese mainland and Macao residents to enter it without going through mandatory quarantine starting Sept. 15.

1. Chinese embassy in Seoul denies media reports that China’s crackdown on fandom targets Korean celebrities

A spokesperson of the Chinese embassy in South Korea said in a Wednesday statement that China’s recent actions against fans or celebrities “won’t affect China’s normal exchanges (external source, in Chinese) with any country,” in response to South Korean media concerns that the crackdown would affect bilateral cultural exchanges and target Korean celebrities.

2. Chinese celebrities endorsing false ads should be banned from advertising for three years, lawyer says

Chinese lawyer Yue Yanshan said Thursday during an interview with state-run broadcaster CCTV that celebrities endorsing false ads should be banned from advertising for three years (external source, in Chinese) under Chinese law, after famous variety show host Li Weijia was accused of endorsing a milk tea brand that defrauded franchisees.

3. North Korea suspended from 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics by the IOC

The Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided Wednesday to suspend North Korea from the IOC (external source) until the end of 2022, due to the country’s “unilateral decision not to participate in the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020,” according to a statement. This means North Korea will miss the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

4. Ford hires former Apple and Tesla executive Doug Field as advanced technology chief

Ford Motor Co. announced Tuesday it has hired Doug Field (external source) as its chief advanced technology and embedded systems officer, as the company continues to “advance its Ford+ growth plan.” Field joined Ford from Apple Inc., where he serves as vice president of special projects. He also served as Tesla’s executive and led the development of the popular Model 3 for a time.

5. China pledges to donate 100 million more vaccine doses to developing countries

President Xi Jinping pledged Thursday to donate an additional 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines (external source) to developing countries this year, after China had provided more than 1 billion doses to over 100 countries and international organizations, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

Photo: VCG

6. Tencent, NetEase summoned over new gaming rules for kids

Several Chinese regulators Wednesday called in online gaming companies including Tencent Holdings Ltd. and NetEase Inc. to ensure they follow Beijing’s new restrictions on video gaming for minors, including limiting the amount of time children can play to three hours a week.

7. State Council urges local authorities to remove restrictions on unvaccinated residents

Wu Liangyou, an official at the National Health Commission, said at a press conference Tuesday that authorities in some places banned unvaccinated residents from entering key public areas (external source, in Chinese) such as supermarkets and hospitals, and prohibited unvaccinated students from entering schools, violating the vaccination principle and causing them to be inconvenienced. The State Council, China’s cabinet, has urged local authorities to correct such practices, Wu said.

8. 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.

9. State media reports rhodium’s sea freight has increased 10 times this year compared with last year

The price of rhodium, a precious and silver-white metal, has tripled to reach 6,000 yuan ($932) per gram this year from 2,000 yuan per gram last year, according to national broadcaster CCTV. The metal’s sea freight has also increased 10 times (external source, in Chinese) this year, CCTV reported.

10. China completes preclinical studies on inactivated vaccine designed to tackle delta variant

China has completed preclinical studies on an inactivated vaccine (external source, in Chinese) against the highly transmissible delta variant, CCTV reported. The broadcaster cited experts as saying that although China’s current inactivated vaccines are still effective against the strain, Covid-19 is constantly mutating and the country should be better prepared.

Translated by reporter Wang Xintong.

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.