भारतीय रोज़ नई ख़बरें – भारतीय रोज़ न्यूज़ भारत की सबसे अधिकारपूर्ण, समय पर और विश्वसनीय समाचार सलाहकार वेबसाइट है

UK inquiry: Infected blood scandal could and should have been avoided

Friends and relatives affected by the contaminated blood scandal attend a vigil to remember those who lost their lives. /Reuters

The UK’s infected blood scandal that has killed 3,000 people and left thousands more suffering with hepatitis or HIV was no accident, a public inquiry found on Monday, blaming a catalogue of failures by government and doctors.

Inquiry chair Brian Langstaff said more than 30,000 people received infected blood and blood products in the 1970s and 1980s from Britain’s state-funded National Health Service, destroying lives, dreams and families.

The use of infected blood, despite the known risks, has resulted in thousands of victims in the United States, France, Canada and other countries, in part after U.S. prisoners and other high-risk groups were paid to provide blood.

In Britain around 1,250 people with bleeding disorders were infected with HIV, including about 380 children, the inquiry found. Three quarters of them died.

“This disaster was not an accident,” Langstaff said. “The infections happened because those in authority – doctors, the blood services and successive governments – did not put patient safety first.”

He said proper compensation must now be paid.

The government, which in 2015 said it was “something that never should have happened,” agreed in 2022 to pay an interim $125,000 to those affected.

Systemic failures

The infected blood and blood products, some of which were imported from the United States, were used for transfusions, which were not always clinically needed, and as treatments for bleeding disorders like hemophilia.

Hemophiliacs received Factor 8 concentrates, often imported from the United States or Austria, which carried a higher risk of causing hepatitis.

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Some of the concentrates were infected with HIV in the 1980s, the inquiry said, but authorities failed to switch to safer alternatives and they decided in July 1983, a year after risks were apparent, not to suspend their importation.

Systemic failures resulted in between 80 and 100 people becoming infected with HIV by transfusion, it said, and about 26,800 were infected with Hepatitis C, often from receiving blood after childbirth or an operation.

Failed by complacency

Both groups were failed by doctors’ complacency about Hepatitis C and being slow to respond to the risks of AIDS, it said, compounded by an absence of meaningful apology or redress.

He said patients were exposed to risks despite it being well known that blood could cause severe infection, in the case of hepatitis since the end of World War II.

Treatment practices that could have reduced the risks were not adopted, he said, noting blood was collected from prisoners, who had a higher prevalence of hepatitis, until 1984.

Some of the victims were further betrayed by being used in medical trials without their knowledge or consent, he said.

“It will be astonishing to anyone who reads this report that these events could have happened in the UK,” Langstaff said.

The British inquiry, which started in 2018, does not have the power to recommend prosecutions.

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Source(s): Reuters

Rare dolphin hybrid born at Zhengzhou Ocean Aquarium

The dolphin family of three – the bottlenose dolphin mother, the Risso’s dolphin father, and their calf – is pictured at Zhengzhou Ocean Aquarium in Henan Province on May 19, 2024. /CFP

The Risso’s dolphin, known for its scar-covered body, is seen swimming at Zhengzhou Ocean Aquarium in Henan Province on May 19, 2024. /CFP

A close-up of the bottlenose dolphin mother and her hybrid calf is pictured at Zhengzhou Ocean Aquarium in Henan Province on May 19, 2024. /CFP

The newborn dolphin hybrid swims beside its bottlenose dolphin mother at Zhengzhou Ocean Aquarium in Henan Province on May 19, 2024. /CFP

A newborn dolphin hybrid was seen swimming closely beside its bottlenose dolphin mother at Zhengzhou Ocean Aquarium in central China’s Henan Province. In the blue waters, a Risso’s dolphin hovered nearby, keeping a watchful eye on its unique offspring.

Born on May 18, the calf is an exceptionally rare hybrid and the first to be successfully born and thrive in Henan Province. Measuring 128 centimeters at birth, the calf’s head, mouth, dorsal fin and tail resemble those of its Risso’s dolphin father, while the rest of its body more closely resembles its bottlenose dolphin mother. The union of the two dolphins can be likened to the union of different human races, making their offspring a true hybrid of the ocean.

10th World Water Forum opens in Indonesia’s Bali

The 10th World Water Forum under the theme of “Water for Shared Prosperity” officially opened on Indonesia’s island of Bali on Monday.

A number of national leaders and United Nations representatives attended the opening ceremony.

The logo of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali. /CMG

The 10th World Water Forum focuses on four topics, namely water conservation, clean water and sanitation, food and energy security, and mitigation of natural disasters.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in his opening remarks that in 2050, 500 million small farmers who contribute 80 percent of the world’s food are predicted to be among the most vulnerable to drought.

The opening ceremony of the 10th World Water Forum. /CFP

“By gathering us in Bali today, Indonesia hopes that the world can join hands on an ongoing basis to strengthen the commitment to collaboration in overcoming global challenges related to water,” he added.

World Water Council President Loic Fauchon, who also made remarks, said water unites people, but Earth has been damaged by people too.

“And we are here because, aware of this tragedy, we want to repair it and give future generations hope, desire and serenity,” he said.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

China has sufficient tools to deal with EU’s incessant anti-subsidy probes: social media influencer

Workers complete assembling an electric vehicle (EV) at China’s EV start-up Leapmotor in Jinhua, East China’s Zhejiang Province on April 1, 2024. The smart EV factory delivered 14,567 new vehicles in March, a yearly increase of 136 percent. Photo: VCG

Facing incessant anti-subsidy probes against Chinese companies, China actually has sufficient countermeasures, and, if Europe stubbornly continues to take action, China may have to take a series of measures to hit back, Yuyuan Tantian, a social media influencer affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV said in a penned article on Saturday.

The remarks came after two Chinese companies were forced to withdraw from a public procurement bid in a Romanian photovoltaic park project due to the EU’s anti-subsidy investigations. The complexity of the evidence collection required, and the insufficient time provided by the EU led to their withdrawal.

This has been the third investigation under EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) since its launch last July, all targeting Chinese companies. It comes as certain politicians within the bloc raised so-called concerns regarding “overcapacity” in Chinese emerging industry including electric vehicles (EV).

The EU’s actions and hypes do not align with the interests of EU members, Yuyuan Tantian wrote.

Some European countries, such as Germany, have expressed opposition to high tariffs on Chinese EVs, stating that EVs from China would drive the innovation of German automobile industry.

Moreover, the EU itself has been providing substantial subsidies in various sectors, including new-energy industries and the agricultural sector.

In response to EU politicians’ efforts to suppress Chinese companies, China has prepared sufficient countermeasures, Yuyuan Tantian wrote in the article.

Shen Qian, a lawyer familiar with trade and commerce issues, told Tanyuan Tantian said that the EU is highly dependent on the Chinese market for exports including wine and dairy, and the EU offered huge subsidy to its agriculture industry.

Shen said that the EU’s subsidy as well as dumping practices has caused substantial harm to related industries in China, so it is necessary for China to demonstrate its determination to protect the interests of Chinese companies too.

Last September, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced an anti-subsidy ruling on imported potato starch from the EU and decided to keep in place the anti-subsidy tariffs.

In addition to agricultural products, the EU also relies on the Chinese market in many other sectors such as aviation. Airbus recently released a report predicting that China is expected to surpass the US and Europe to become the world’s largest aviation market.

“Some EU politicians’ attempts to suppress China are undoubtedly shooting themselves in the foot,” Yuyuan Tantian wrote.

Grain buds period begins, the start of the summer harvest is here

This year’s Xiaoman (“Little Ripening”) or Grain Buds Day falls on Monday. It is the eighth solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar. Xiaoman begins when the sun reaches 60 degrees of ecliptic longitude, marking the time when summer gradually becomes the dominant season, and the grains are about to ripen.

Farmers work in a paddy field in Bijie, Southwest China’s Guizhou Province, on May 13, 2024. Photo: VCG

According to the “Collective Interpretation of the Seventy-two Phenological Terms,” compiled by Yuan Dynasty scholar Wu Cheng, Xiaoman falls in the middle of the fourth lunar month. A famous saying, “A heavy rainfall makes the river full,” highlights the increased precipitation during this time, filling rivers and providing a bountiful supply of fish and shrimp. It is also a critical period for farmers as crops in northern China begin to mature, while in the south, the rains swell the rivers.

As the sun moves closer to the Tropic of Cancer, days lengthen, temperatures rise, and plants thrive, signaling the onset of early summer. New fruits like plums, apricots, and peaches appear, pomegranate trees bloom, and dragonflies hover over lotus flowers in lakes.

Ancient Chinese divided Xiaoman into three pentads: the first marks the perfect time for vegetables, the second sees weeds withering, and the third signals the imminent wheat harvest. The diet during Xiaoman often includes bitter herbs, such as bitter cabbage, which flourish and are prime for harvesting.

During Xiaoman, the increasing sunlight causes shade-loving weeds to wither, and wheat grains to fill out, though they are not yet ripe. In northern China, crops like winter wheat approach maturity. The name Xiaoman advises farmers to wait a little longer before harvesting to ensure the crops are fully ripe. However, they must not delay too long, as harvesting after the Grain in Ear period (Mangzhong) could lead to overripe wheat shedding its ears. Farmers need to observe their fields closely and harvest during sunny days.

In southern China, Xiaoman involves bustling activities with three types of wheels: water wheels for irrigating rice fields, oil extraction wheels for rapeseed oil, and silk reeling wheels for silk production. The water wheels operate continuously, the oil extraction wheels are in full swing, and silk reeling begins in earnest.

Xiaoman is also a time to celebrate the birthday of the silkworm god. Families pray for a successful silkworm harvest by shaping dough into silkworm cocoons, placing them on straw, and making wishes for good yields.

In central China, Xiaoman is marked by lively markets and fairs, akin to carnivals. Children enjoy the festivities, indulging in pancakes, fried dough sticks, buns, and spicy soup, creating lasting memories. Adults, preparing for the imminent harvest, take the opportunity to socialize and purchase seeds, tools, livestock, and summer supplies. Local opera performances in larger villages boost morale before the harvest.

Despite modern machinery replacing traditional tools, these gatherings remain a cherished custom, helping communities prepare for the upcoming harvest. Xiaoman symbolizes hope for a fruitful grain harvest.

During Xiaoman, most places in China experience average daily temperatures above 22 C. In this temperature it is important to avoid excessive consumption of raw and cold foods, especially for children and the elderly, who are more vulnerable to the heat.

GT investigates: The ‘Chinese killed Jesus Christ’ post is a farce, but why it was allowed to spread on X is worth a closer look

Photo: VCG

Editor’s Note:
“Cognitive Warfare” has become a new form of confrontation between states, and a new security threat. With new technological means, it sets agendas and spreads disinformation, to change people’s perceptions and thus alter their self-identity. Launching cognitive warfare against China is an important means for Western anti-China forces to attack and discredit the country.

Some politicians and media outlets have publicly smeared China’s image by propagating false narratives in an attempt to incite and provoke dissatisfaction with China among people in certain countries. These means all serve the US strategy to contain China’s rise and maintain its hegemony. The Global Times is publishing a series of articles to reveal the intrigues of the US-led West’s China-targeted cognitive warfare, and expose its lies and vicious intentions.

In the 14th installment in the series, the Global Times looks into how the US government and major social media platforms connive to spread anti-China slander online, as a non-obvious cognitive warfare trick that incites hostile sentiment toward China among ordinary US people.

People walk on a street in New York City, the US. Photo： VCG

Seeing unfriendly content toward China on today’s US social media platforms is not uncommon, although some of them have reached the level of laughable absurdity. Dom Lucre, a US political commentator, recently wrote a controversial post on X (formally known as Twitter), in which he inexplicably claimed that the “Chinese killed Jesus Christ.” This inexplicable post soon went viral online. Many X users seemed to have followed suit by fabricating rumors about “the Chinese,” creating a wave of disinformation attacking Chinese people in recent days.

How did this campaign come about? Was it just the innocent dark humor of some individuals online, or a branch of the US’ growing cognitive warfare against China to further deepen misunderstanding and hostility among Americans toward Chinese people? What roles do the US government and social media platforms play in such seemingly unofficially-initiated disinformation campaigns?

Dark humor?
“The Chinese killed Jesus Christ. This isn’t a conspiracy. This isn’t racist. This is history.” The ridiculous post by Lucre on March 16 has since garnered over 3.5 million views and 1,500 forwards, much more than his other daily posts.

This was not the only ridiculous Chinese-themed post by Lucre that month. Earlier on March 9, he posted that “The Chinese control Hollywood. That’s why every show they own can make fun of Jesus Christ and describe it as comedy…The Chinese [have] weaponized the American media against Christians.”

“China really controls the world,” “China (is) allowed to legally mingle [sic] in American elections,” “FBI caught five Chinese men dancing during 9/11″… Within a week, Lucre had posted several bizarre accusations against China and Chinese people, triggering widespread discussions on X.

So what was the motive behind it?

Some users commented that they guessed the posts were a form of “dark humor” satire by Lucre to “mock” the bans of US social media platforms like X on negative content about Jews as it appears Lucre had simply replaced the word “Jews” with “Chinese” in his post. Sharing personal experiences of Jew-related posts being deleted, they suggested that the platforms usually block or restrict posts attacking certain groups of people like Jews or Muslims, but seemingly allow similar content when directed at Chinese people, if not encourage them.

Superficially, Lucre’s posts were a performance-art-like satire to highlight how different groups are treated on US social media platforms, and Chinese people unfortunately became a tool and the victims of such “satire.”

However, as an increasing number of X users followed suit to fabricate and spread rumors defaming Chinese people, some anti-China forces thus seized on the opportunity to further muddy the waters with fake evidence to “support” the ridiculous claims. This “dark humor” farce has resulted in the inundation of disinformation that demonizes Chinese people.

There were more than 2,000 X posts containing the keywords “Chinese killed Jesus” within a week after Lucre’s original post on March 16, showed online media monitoring company Meltwater. Instead of attaching so-called “background information” to Lucre’s related posts, X seemed to have not blocked or clarified any of the forwarded posts, allowing them to keep going viral and mislead the public.

Obviously, the disinformation was spread under X’s inaction and connivance, said Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University. “X can hardly escape the blame,” he told the Global Times.

Long-term connivance

US social media platforms have long connived with and acquiesced to anti-China misinformation, “a very vicious act” that is backed or promoted by some politicians and government agencies in the US, Li said.

By indulging the false accusations against China online and deliberately elevating a few statements – no matter how absurd they are – to ignite a sort of public hostility toward China and its people, these platforms and politicians attempt to foment unfriendly consensus against Chinese people at the social level, so as to set off an anti-China sentiment among the general US public, noted Li.

The “Chinese virus” smear during the COVID-19 pandemic was a typical cognitive campaign that started on social media and was fueled by the US government and politicians. Meltwater data showed that the terms “Chinese virus” first appeared on social media platforms and in some news coverage around early January 2020, and surged in late March, soon after former US president Donald Trump used similar labels in his X posts

The US government was obviously happy to see these insulting words flooding social media, and actively joined the COVID-19 cognitive campaign that smeared China and obfuscated the facts.

The so-called “Great Translation Movement” in early 2022, a malicious smear campaign against China on Russia-Ukraine issues on X, was also a vivid instance in which US social media platforms connived to spread rumors and hateful, discriminatory remarks against Chinese people. By translating cherry-picked, niche, and radical content from the Chinese internet into multiple languages, and spreading said translations on overseas social media platforms, participants of the “movement” attempted to portray Chinese people as an arrogant, populist, and cruel group, which maliciously misled the public.

Disappointingly, during this “movement,” X kept turning a blind eye to the rumors and attacks against Chinese people.

Some politicians are currently trying to take it a step further. On April 11, some members of the US House and Senate introduced the Open Translation Center Act, a bill to establish a federally funded research center that translates documents from countries like China and Russia, so as to “better understand threats” from these countries, they claimed.

One of the main initiators, Mike Gallagher, is infamous for his extreme anti-China attitude.

Li analyzed that this bill is not to promote mutual understanding between China and the US, but to aggravate the US people’s unfriendly attitude toward China. “The ‘Open Translation Center’ and the ‘Great Translation Movement’ are issues in two different fields, but they are similar in nature,” he told the Global Times.

Sadly, negative content forms the majority of Chinese-related posts found on US social media platforms, with the continued connivance of the platforms and the US government. Meltwater showed that so far this year, among the posts containing “Chinese” on some major platforms including X and Facebook that were released in the US, negative, neutral, and positive sentiment stood at 26.8, 59.3, and 13.8 percent respectively.

A main battlefield

The US’ cognitive warfare against China is evolving from simply distorting information about China to falsifying knowledge about China – in other words, turning misinformation to “common sense” that attempts to change people’s basic knowledge and understanding of China, said Dong Guanpeng, dean of the National Institute of Public Relations and Strategic Communication, Communication University of China.

Falsifying knowledge about China is much nastier than fabricating misinformation, Dong noted. “It may mislead global audiences, particularly the young ones, during their formation of perceptions and judgments about China,” he told the Global Times.

Lucre’s “dark humor” posts have, to some extent, misled a few X users, who forwarded their complaints about the “misdeeds” of Chinese people that Lucre mentioned. Some Chinese observers worry that, for the less knowledgeable young netizens who are unaware of such “ironic narration,” these ridiculous posts may eventually become a part of their initial cognition of China and its people.

Worse still, apart from indulging in the spread of rumors, US politicians and social media platforms have also created fake accounts to proactively make up and spread content discrediting China, and even banned pro-China posts and blocked pro-China accounts.

Earlier in 2019, during the riots in Hong Kong, many users criticized Facebook and X for suppressing their posts that support the central Chinese government. According to CNN’s report, X blocked more than 900 accounts in that same period, and was followed by Facebook. These accounts were closed for posting content “undermining” the rioters in Hong Kong.

It is no wonder that social media has become a main battlefield for the US’ cognitive warfare against China, said Li.

And the cognitive warfare has shaped or influenced US people’s view of China to a certain extent. A Gallup poll released in March showed that 41 percent of Americans name China as the US’ greatest enemy today, making it the top perceived US adversary for the fourth straight year.

Yet the “greatest enemy” was created by the US itself with its meaningless hostility and panic.

“The US has since (Huawei) spiraled into a full-blown outbreak of Sinophobia – a strong word that I don’t use lightly,” Stephen S. Roach, a faculty member at Yale University and former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, wrote in his article “American Sinophobia” published in March.

“…Excessive fear of China conveniently masks many of America’s own self-inflicted problems,” Roach wrote. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” he quoted a line from US president Franklin Roosevelt’s 1933 inaugural address, concluding that “amid today’s Sinophobic frenzy, that message is well worth remembering.”

Photo: Global Times

Swiss nursery lets robot do the talking

01:00

Sat in a circle on the nursery floor, a group of Swiss three-year-olds ask a robot called Nao questions about giraffes and broccoli.

By the time these children become adults, interacting with robots may well be as commonplace as using a smartphone, experts believe.

So one Lausanne creche has decided to give them a head start.

Nao has been a regular visitor at the Nanosphere nursery on the campus of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology university since the New Year. He is what is called an “interactive learning companion” rather than a substitute teacher.

Preschoolers interact with educational and interactive robot Nao at La Nanosphere creche. /Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

As the children were dropped off, Nao – who is only 58 centimeters tall – stood on a bench to greet them at eye level.

“Hello, my name is Nao. I’m happy to be at the Nanosphere today,” he said, in a child-like high-pitched voice. “I left my planet some time ago to come and meet you. I look forward to getting to know you and being able to talk with you in the weeks ahead.”

Some children walked straight past, some waved, pointed, touched his hand or simply gazed at him transfixed.

“What will the children’s future be like? Will they have to work with robots? Very probably yes,” said Olivier Delamadeleine, director-general of the Educalis group of nurseries and primary schools in Lausanne.

“As we are in a place of learning it is important to get them familiarized early so that they’re used to working with robots,” he added.

Back in the class, teacher Eve L’Eplattenier and the 14 children sat in a circle on the floor with Nao in the middle.

“He’s going to come and explain things to you,” she said.

“Do you like broccoli? It’s very good for your health,” the robot said.

L’Eplattenier picked him up and put him on a table. She said Nao would not grow any taller as children do.

The children gathered excitedly around, some jockeying for space. “No squabbling!” Nao told them.

Teacher Eve L’Eplattenier and preschoolers interact with Nao. /Fabrice Coffrini/AFP

Prompted by their teacher, the children tried to catch him out with questions such as, “I am an animal with a trunk. What am I?” When he got it right, they giggled.

Gabriel Paffi, a masters student in robotics, sat in the corner feeding Nao his answers. He programmed the robot and is working on how to adapt it for a nursery’s needs.

“The goal is to make it automated so that he no longer needs me to move around and respond to the children,” Paffi said.

The first Nao robots hit the market in 2008. Now on generation six, the brand is owned by the Germany-based United Robotics Group and more than 15,000 units have been sold.

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The plan is for this Nao to spend several years in the Educalis nurseries as his capacities expand. L’Eplattenier said the children are thrilled when Nao turns up, and have bonded with their diminutive friend.

“They are curious to see what he will say, what he will do,” she said. He’s a companion with little tips and bits of advice. I think he will quickly position himself as the little know-it-all of the group.”

As for the parents, they too are keen to see how Nao will settle in.

“I think it’s a good way to help the children progress with new technologies,” said Guillaume Quentin.

When it was time for Nao to “fly back into space”, each child in turn shuffled towards him to say goodbye and give him a wave. He replied to each by name.

“I love you. I will come back soon,” he told them.

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China breaks ground on largest offshore solar project

A render of the 200-megawatts offshore photovoltaic project, Lianyungang City, east China’s Jiangsu Province. /CNNC

Construction officially began on the 200-megawatts offshore photovoltaic power plant in Lianyungang City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, on Sunday.

The project, the largest of its kind in China, is expected to save approximately 680,000 tonnes of coal equivalent every year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.77 million tonnes.

The project is located near the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant. It is divided into two parts: offshore and onshore. The offshore part is composed of over 3.3 million photovoltaic modules forming 480 arrays, while the onshore part is a 400-megawatt-hour energy storage.

Engineers work to build the 200-megawatts offshore photovoltaic project, Lianyungang City, east China’s Jiangsu Province, May 19, 2024. /CNNC

A company under the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) is expected to manage the power plant, whose onshore part will finish by late June.

This new photovoltaic project, combined with the nuclear plant, will form a large-scale comprehensive energy base with a total installed capacity of over 10 gigawatts. The project is expected to be set as an example of a nuclear-photovoltaic integrated clean energy base.

Special message to ‘CGTN TeaFest’ from AI avatar ‘Diao Chan’

00:59

We have a special message from AI avatar “Diao Chan” for the upcoming “CGTN TeaFest” livestream event. Mark your calendars and join the conversation on the 5th International Tea Day on May 21st. Let’s tea-up together and discover how tea, this beloved beverage, has become a universal symbol, uniting cultures from around the world, and experience every sip as a journey of sensory delight and cultural discovery.

Message to ‘CGTN TeaFest’ from French photographer Grégoire de Gaulle

00:39

We have a special message from French photographer Grégoirede Gaulle for the upcoming “CGTN TeaFest” livestream event. Mark your calendars and join the conversation on the 5th International Tea Day on May 21st. Let’s tea-up together and discover how tea, this beloved beverage, has become a universal symbol, uniting cultures from around the world, and experience every sip as a journey of sensory delight and cultural discovery.