NEW STAR PLAYER OF CHINA’S NATIONAL WOMEN’S SOCCER

　　Wang Shuang， a midfielder on China’s national women’s soccer team， contributed one goal and one assist as the women’s soccer team， nicknamed the Steel Roses， beat the Republic of Korea （ROK） by 4-3 on aggregate in the Olympic Qualification playoffs on April 13.
　　Wang’s successful strike in the second half of the game was crucial to the team’s victory in the first leg of the playoffs and cemented her reputation as a powerhouse in Chinese soccer. The opposition coach， Colin Bell， described Wang as a world class player.
　　Wang， 26， began her soccer career as a child living and training far away from home. Since turning pro and subsequently making her national debut in 2013， she has played for China’s national team， and undertaken successful stints abroad， first in the ROK and then with Paris Saint-Germain in 2018-19.

Fly As You Wish

　　People’s Daily April 7
　　Domestic airlines in China have been rolling out ticket discount packages and plugging “Fly as you wish” deals to pierce the COVID-19 clouds since last year， in the hopes of rebooting the air travel industry.
　　These packages that come with a price tag of some 3，000 yuan （$458.48） allow passengers to book a domestic flight for free， without restrictions on the time slot and number of trips taken within a given period of time. At least eight of China’s dozens of airlines have introduced similar deals since last June.
　　Nevertheless， at the same time， consumer activities are besieged by growing problems related to the complexity， opacity， and uncertainty surrounding the actual use of ticket discount packages. The many restrictions on use， difficulties in redeeming flights， and even unexpected flight cancellations， prove to be another obstacle.
　　In response to the issues， local governments and airlines must make additional efforts to develop a suitable protection mechanism to enhance the management of companies and open up the channels of consumer rights protection， thus improving overall customer experience.

Power of Math

　　China Newsweek April 12
　　As a basic science， mathematics is often obscure and seems a far cry from everyday life. However， mathematicians stress the importance of basic sciences.
　　China has developed advanced mathematics since ancient times. The country is believed to have been the first to employ a decimal place value notation system—about 1，000 years before any other civilization. In early 2018， China’s State Council issued several new policies to boost basic science research in the country. 　　There is no doubt that social development demands many mathematical talents. For instance， Huawei constructs math centers around the world； Alibaba organized the first global math competition back in 2018 and funded the prize-winners.
　　Chinese tech giants are keen on recruiting new math talent and the students who major in mathematics are more likely to get a higher paycheck. This means that knowing mathematics is an advantage and also a crucial part in the development of today’s technological world.
　　International mathematicians also underlined the importance of the discipline to modern science development.
　　According to Shing-Tung Yau， a celebrated international mathematics master， it is necessary to enhance communication between China and the rest of the world.
　　In the future， more energy should go into the creation of more substantial measures to expand pure mathematical research and promote the cultivation of new talent.

Get More Sleep

　　Guancha.gmw.cn April 7
　　China has laid out minimum requirements on sleeping hours for children and teenagers to curb sleep deprivation， the Ministry of Education said on April 2.
　　Primary school pupils should get a minimum of 10 hours of sleep a day， whereas middle and high school students should sleep no less than nine and eight hours per day， respectively， informed the press conference.
　　According to a blue paper on national mental health released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Psychology in early March， Chinese children and teenagers are getting less and less sleep， with more than 80 percent getting insufficient sleep on school days.
　　Students today are getting less sleep after moving into higher grade levels， since these higher levels often come with a heavier workload. Furthermore， problems with selfcontrol on the part of some students， too， can contribute to their lack of sleep.
　　Inadequate sleep heightens the adolescents’ chances of developing cognitive， mental and physical health problems， urging parents to play a role in guaranteeing they get enough sleep.
　　Moreover， China’s education authorities will deploy technical means to make sure no video game service is available to minors from 22：00 p.m. to 8：00 a.m.， according to the circular.

FORMER LESHI FOUNDER BANNED FROM SECURITIES MARKET

　　Jia Yueting， founder and ex-CEO of LeEco， formerly known as Leshi Internet Formation and Technology Co.， was banned from China’s securities market for life， according to a statement released by the Chinese Securities Regulation Commission on April 13. 　　The ban prohibits Jia from doing any securities business at any institution or serving as a director， supervisor， or senior manager of any listed or unlisted company in the country.
　　Jia set up Le.com， an online video portal under parent group LeEco， in 2004. It made a debut on China’s NASDAQ-style board， ChiNext， in August 2010， but was delisted from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in May last year after registering an annual loss for three consecutive financial years.
　　“In line with its economic growth， China has increased overseas investments， including investments in infrastructure. For the recipient countries， improvements in infrastructure and other development aid have also helped them in turn reduce poverty.”
　　IMF Deputy Managing Director Zhang Tao in an interview with CGTN on April 10
　　“Several Western countries， including the U.S. and the UK， are in no position to judge Hong Kong’s electoral system， as these countries， ill-informed about Hong Kong’s actual situation on the ground， don’t have universal suffrage themselves.”
　　Alan Hoo Hong-ching， Senior Counsel and Chairman of the Basic Law Institute， with China Daily on April 13
　　“During the 14th Five-Year Plan period（2021-25）， China will give priority to science and technology projects in the field of aerospace. These will include the lunar exploration program’s fourth phase， interplanetary exploration such as asteroid reconnaissance， heavy-lift carrier rockets， and reusable space transportation systems.”
　　Zhang Kejian， head of the China National Space Administration， with Xinhua News Agency， on April 13
　　“Xinjiang now enjoys social stability and sound development momentum； the locals are living safe and happy lives…There is no need for Canadian or other foreign citizens in China to worry as long as they abide by the law.”
　　Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian at a news conference on April 13， dismissing an unsupported travel advisory issued by Canada warning its citizens about visiting Xinjiang