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China’s Air Quality Issue Remains Challenging

Well-known Chinese news site Sina recently reported that the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Ministry of Environmental Protection jointly released the mid-term evaluation results for the Air Pollution Control Project, which started in 2013. The State Council commissioned the project. The joint report showed the total air pollutant (PM2.5 and PM10) volume is on the decline in most of the provinces, but the general air quality issue remains very challenging, especially during the winter season. The focal points of the pollution reduction effort should be establishing higher industrial standards, adjusting the industrial structure, and enhancing coal burning controls. Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Engineering pointed out that, in the next two years, the country needs to continue strengthening the energy source structural adjustments so it can improve the capability of dealing with heavy air pollution incidents in the future.
Source: Sina, July 5, 2016
http://dailynews.sina.com/gb/chn/chnpolitics/chinanews/20160705/03237405182.html

Chinese Mobile Advertising Vendor Made Widespread Android Malware

Well-known Chinese IT news site ITHome reported on a widespread Android mobile malware called HummingBad. Its findings were based on research results that the leading U.S. information security company Check Point published. The Chinese mobile advertisement delivery vendor Yingmob made the HummingBad malware which has reportedly infected over ten million Android mobile phones. Over 50 Android mobile apps have HummingBad implanted that have delivered 20 million ads daily. This has generated a monthly revenue of US$300,000 for Yingmob. Technical experts have warned that the spread of the malicious HummingBad software could be used to do worse damage by stealing data on the mobile devices. [Editor’s note: According major U.S. technology news provider ZDNet, HummingBad has now infected 85 million Android devices across the globe.]
Source: ITHome, July 5, 2016
http://www.ithome.com.tw/news/106960

Xinhua: Low Rate of Recycling Used Automobile Tires Is a Source of Pollution

Xinhua reported that the small and medium size tire manufacturers in Nanning Guangxi Province recently held an environmental conference. During the conference, the participants raised their concerns about the rapid increase in used automobile tires and the potential impact this has had as an environmental hazard. According to statistics that the China Rubber Industry released, in 2013, China produced 299 million used tires which weighed 10.8 million tons. That number has been increasing by 8 to 10 percent each year. By 2015, the total number of used tires reached over 300 million. The environmental concerns include increases in used tire storage space; its impact on the natural environment; and fire sensitivity, which could produce a large amount of smoke and hazardous substances. According to the article, China’s used tire recycling rate is only at 60 percent due to the fact that the manufacturers have a limited recycling and reuse capability, low profitability, and the lack of a market.

Source: Xinhua, July 11, 2016
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2016-07/11/c_129133731.htm

Guangming Daily: Build Party Organization Using Smart Information Systems

Guangming Daily carried an article that promoted the idea of “building the Party organization using smart information technology systems.” The article listed some modern technology that can be used to develop the Party organization. These include 3D animation, websites, videos, microblogs, online applications, and WeChat. The article described how, through modern technology, the Party organization can build “a propaganda platform to promote Party policy and its value system while increasing the Party’s foundation, control its discourse rights, and improve the power of its influence." It will also help the party organization to improve the management of its membership, collect membership fees, and manage organizational transfer more efficiently." 

Source: Guangming Daily, July 11, 2016
http://theory.gmw.cn/2016-07/11/content_20912312.htm

Guangming Daily: China’s Middle Class Population Is Far below Advanced Countries

Guangming Daily published an article about the size of China’s middle class. It stated that about 20 percent of the population in China is in the middle class. That number is far below the level of advanced countries based on the definition of an income of US$10 to $100 per day per person per family, the standard defined by the World Bank. The article stated that the reasons that China is behind other countries is that China’s economic development style is a labor intensive manufacturing process structure with a small number required in high tech professions. Also, in 2014, only 11.5 percent of China’s population held associate or bachelor’s college degrees, a number that is far below the average of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries. The urbanization of farmers moving from the countryside into the city has also had an impact on the growth of the middle class population.

Source: Guangming Daily, July 11, 2016
http://news.gmw.cn/2016-07/11/content_20906741.htm

CCDI: Early Warning Needed When Party Officials Show Signs They Are Going to Flee

China News Service carried an article that the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) originally published. The article was part of a five article series on the anti-corruption effort, specifically on the international pursuit of stolen goods. The article stated that, while China is actively building an international network to go after the Party officials who have fled the country with money, more preventive efforts can be taken before it is too late. The article said that the Party officials often show signs when they plan to flee. Therefore, it is crucial that their behavior and daily routine are closely monitored. It also requires that the Party organization take responsibility and follow the guidelines on passport management, boarder entry, and exit claims, as well as the guidelines on the family members of the Party officials who have emigrated overseas. The article said that any early signs of fleeing should be reported immediately. 

Source: China News Service, July 4, 2016
http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2016/07-04/7926229.shtml

Cyberspace Administration Office Issued Notice to Tightened Online News Source

People’s Daily published an article which reported that the Cyberspace Administration Office issued a notice titled “Further Tighten Online Content Management and Prevent the Circulation of Fake News.” The Office requested that all online websites must follow correct media guidelines to ensure “accurate, comprehensive, objective” news reports. It stated that any contents circulating on social media must be verified before those contents can be treated and published as a news article. The website is strictly prohibited from publishing news without a proper source or from using a fake source. The article stated that the move is to “combat and prevent the circulation of fake online news.” The article listed examples of a few fake news articles published this year. It also named a list of websites that were penalized for carrying fake news.

Source: People’s Daily, July 3, 2016
http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0703/c1001-28519812.html