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Health

Chinese Rail Passengers Call for Platform Smoking Ban as Health Concerns Ignite Online Debate.

A suggestion posted by an anonymous netizen on China’s official railway service portal, 12306, has sparked a lively debate about smoking on high‑speed rail platforms, a topic that has quickly moved beyond the online forum and into the public eye. The user’s simple proposal – to ban smoking in station waiting areas – resonated with a wave of commuters who say the smell of second‑hand smoke on crowded platforms is far more unbearable than the lingering odour of instant‑noodle broth that has long been a fixture of Chinese train travel.

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China Secures Death Sentences in Decades‑Old 1994 Guangzhou Video‑Hall Murder Case

In May of 1994, a brutal robbery turned into a nightmare that would haunt a family in Guangzhou’s Huangpu district for more than two decades. Four men forced their way into a small video‑hall – a modest cinema where locals gathered to watch the latest films – and attacked the proprietor, a 29‑year‑old man named Zhang, his 29‑year‑old wife He, and their five‑year‑old daughter. Armed with sticks and bricks, the assailants battered the couple, bound them with rope, and sealed their mouths with tape before fleeing with thousands of yuan in cash and valuables. The male owner and his young daughter were left dead on the floor; the wife survived but was raped by two of the attackers.

Fashion & Beauty

Chinese Idol’s 10‑Minute Decorte Flash Sale Spotlight Influencer Power and Youth Consumer Risks

A recent flash‑sale on China’s social‑media‑driven e‑commerce platforms has become a lightning‑rod for discussions about influencer power, youth consumption and the future of the cosmetics market. In just ten minutes, a line‑up of Decorte (黛珂) skincare and makeup products that were promoted by popular idol Tian Xuning (田栩宁) sold out, generating nearly 30 million yuan (about US$4.3 million) in revenue. The episode, widely shared under the hashtag #田栩宁黛珂十分钟断货# – literally “Tian X’s Decorte sold out in ten minutes” – offers a vivid illustration of how a single celebrity endorsement can translate into a tidal wave of purchases across a fan‑driven economy.