Homie Weekly | News Update for This Week (May 24, 2024)

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Society

1、Two arrested for vandalizing tombstone of Beyond's lead singer Wong Ka Kui

Two suspects, aged 15 and 23, have been arrested by Hong Kong police for vandalizing the tombstone of Wong Ka Kui, the iconic lead singer of the rock band Beyond, on May 19.

The incident occurred at the Tseung Kwan O Chinese Permanent Cemetery, where Wong Ka Kui's tombstone was repeatedly struck with a hammer, destroying his photo on the memorial.

In response, Beyond's guitarist and vocalist Paul Wong expressed his anger during an interview, asking, "Have they been caught?"

Drummer Yip Sai Wing also condemned the act on social media, stating: "What happened to Ka Kui's grave today is utterly despicable. These two individuals have been arrested and must face legal consequences."

Founded in 1983, Beyond remains one of Hong Kong's most influential rock bands.

Tragedy struck on June 24, 1993, when Wong Ka Kui fell from a stage while recording a program at Fuji TV in Tokyo. He sustained severe injuries and passed away on June 30, 1993, at the age of 31.

https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2405191596/

2、Chinese cities see marriage registration boom on May 20, the ‘new Valentines’

Marriage registration offices in multiple regions nationwide were busy offering registry services for the newlyweds on Monday, May 20. The day gained its popularity in the last decade as the pronunciations of the number "520" sounds like "I love you" in Chinese and is regarded as a "new Valentine's Day".

In addition to regular procedures such as taking oaths and having photos taken, many couples also opted for traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies to experience the charm of traditional culture.

Many marriage registration offices across the country were fully booked in advance on Monday and Tuesday, so they announced that they would implement measures such as working overtime and increasing staff to ensure smooth services.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202405/1312671.shtml

3、Livestreaming banned at railway station after followers cause chaos

A once-deserted railway station in East China's Heze City has returned to calm after authorities banned livestreaming which had transformed the station into a bustling hotspot.

The station in Heze, in East China's Shandong Province, issued a statement on May 20 suspending cultural or entertainment activities to create a conducive environment for students for their college entrance and senior high school entrance exams.

The ban came after a social media frenzy over a 25-year-old local man, Guo Youcai, who catapulted to fame after livestreaming a cover of the 1990s hit song "Promise" on Douyin.

The sudden surge in Guo's popularity turned the railway station into a mecca for livestreamers, Internet celebrities, and fans from across China.

However, the festive atmosphere soon descended into disorder as some livestreamers resorted to erotic poses and vulgar language. Netizens mocked the spectacle as a "demonic dance," and many condemned the rampant Internet celebrity culture.

https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2405229472/

Entertainment

4、Rihanna’s first official Douyin livestream for Fenty Beauty garners massive attention

On the evening of 21 May, American singer Rihanna made her debut on an official Douyin (China’s TikTok) livestream for her brand Fenty Beauty. She also appeared on Douyin’s livestream hosted by two other beauty brand influencers. The Weibo hashtag #Rihanna is in livestreaming room to sell goods# (蕾哈娜直播带货) garnered 66.5 million views.

Earlier on 21 May, Rihanna also appeared at Fenty Beauty’s ‘FENTY BEAUTY ALLEY’ flash mob space in Shanghai, where she served Shandong pancakes to her fans at a stall named ‘Queen’s Pancake BLING’. Chinese netizens have nicknamed Rihanna’s hit song ‘We Found Love’ as ‘Weifang’s Love’, due to the similarities in pronunciation. With Weifang being a city in Shandong Province which is famous for pancakes, Rihanna has naturally become the ‘Shandong Queen’. This playful interaction with Chinese culture underscores Fenty Beauty’s commitment to deepening its presence in the Chinese market.

https://daoinsights.com/news/rihannas-first-official-douyin-livestream-for-fenty-beauty-garners-massive-attention/

Internet

5、Influencers silenced as platforms crack down on displays of wealth

Several high-profile Chinese influencers with millions of followers had their accounts banned or muted across various platforms on Tuesday. Netizens noted a common theme: frequently showing off their luxurious lifestyles.

There was a mixed reaction to the bans. Some netizens believed it was overdue, while others questioned the necessity.

Luxury goods, mansions, and high-end cars were standard features in the influencers' videos. These "wealth flaunting influencers" attracted millions of followers with their affluent lifestyles.

On May 15, platforms Tencent, Douyin, Weibo, Red, Kuaishou, and Bilibili simultaneously announced a ban on content promoting materialism and unrealistic wealth, removing thousands of inappropriate posts and even banning accounts.

Since 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China has launched several nationwide campaigns targeting "excessive wealth flaunting" as a key issue.

https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/2405222452/

Business

6、Apple announces price cuts ahead of 618 shopping festival

In a surprise move ahead of China's annual 618 shopping spree, Apple has announced price cuts for its products, with some models seeing reductions of up to 2,300 yuan (US$319).

With sales starting from Monday, they include phones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, headphones, and accessories, according to Apple's official store on Alibaba's e-commerce site TMall.

The iPhone, Apple's flagship product, will have the most significant discounts, maybe "the biggest one in the history of Apple China," market observers said on media and social media, adding that it was the best time to buy.

Apple's decision to cut prices ahead of the shopping festival is likely a strategic move to boost sales and gain market share. The Chinese smartphone market is highly competitive, and Apple faces stiff competition from domestic brands such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and Oppo.

https://www.shine.cn/biz/company/2405213983/

7、Price war in China’s AI field expanded as Alibaba Cloud and Baidu have drastically reduced model prices

Alibaba Cloud gave China’s AI industry a fresh shock on Tuesday after it announced a price cut of up to 97%, making RMB 1 ($0.14) to handle an input as large as two million tokens.

The sudden notice comes just days after TikTok owner ByteDance promised an ultra-low-cost model, which the company claimed can process 2 million Chinese characters under RMB 1, for corporate customers.

Meanwhile, Baidu’s following announcement of its plan to open two main models – the entry-level ERNIE Lite and high-performance ERNIE Speed for free on Tuesday afternoon, further signals an escalated price war has begun aims to scramble for enterprises.

https://technode.com/2024/05/22/price-war-in-chinas-ai-field-expanded-as-alibaba-cloud-and-baidu-have-drastically-reduced-model-prices/

Technology

8、Chinese researchers successfully revive human brain frozen for 18 months

In a stunning scientific feat in the field of cryonics, a team from Fudan University in Shanghai achieved a monumental breakthrough by successfully reviving a human brain that had been frozen for as long as 18 months. This record breaking achievement not only shatters previous records in cryogenic technology but has also been published in the esteemed academic journal Cell Reports.

The news has sparked fervent discussions on social media platforms, with many netizens drawing parallels to the concepts depicted in Chinese writer Liu Cixin's science fiction The Three-Body Problem. Interest in the feasibility of future human cryopreservation technology has surged, with individuals expressing a willingness to participate in human trials, eagerly anticipating awakening in a new era within robotic bodies.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202405/1312814.shtml

9、AI makes beauty bespoke at China Beauty Expo

The China Beauty Expo, an ongoing cosmetics trade show in Shanghai, is buzzing with the latest trends, while artificial intelligence (AI) is taking center stage.

From skin analysis to customized product creation, AI is revolutionizing the booming Chinese cosmetics and makeup markets. The Expo, sprawling across 220,000 square meters at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, showcases everything from skincare and makeup to fragrances and personal-care products.

Technology firm Meitu is showcasing its Moyan brand with customized beauty products based on AI technologies.

At its booth, people can have professional skin testing and analysis through AI intelligent skin testing equipment, then customers can pick their preferred product texture on the spot.

https://www.shine.cn/news/metro/2405222853/

Health

10、6 people prosecuted for selling weight-loss chocolates containing banned substance

Six people from East China’s Jiangsu Province were sentenced from six months to two years in jail with one year’s to three years’ probation after a kid was hospitalized at pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to consumption of diet chocolate they sold to his mother.

The six defendants were also fined from 4,000 yuan ($553) to 60,000 yuan for selling toxic and harmful food after the 3-year-old boy suffered from minor myocardial damage after mistakenly consuming the weight-loss chocolates containing banned ingredient sibutramine.

China banned the production of weight-loss medicine containing sibutramine and classified the sibutramine as a prohibited substance in 2010. In 2012, sibutramine was listed in the first batch of substances that could be illegally added to health foods, being identified as “a toxic and harmful non-food ingredient.”

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202405/1312728.shtml