英語角-圓桌會議 RoundTable - 打擊新聞敲詐

Topic1 Cracking Down on Fake Journalists and News ExtortionNow the government intends to root out a "disease" which is plaguing the China's news industry: extortion and so-called fake news.

There will be a nationwide crackdown on such activity.

Is such a campaign necessary?

Topic2 New police unit mulled to handle food safety crimesChina is mulling over setting up a task force with tougher powers to investigate cases of tainted food and counterfeit drugs.

Hua Jingfeng, an official at the Ministry of Public Security, told a food safety forum that harsh punishments would be handed down to those who violate food and drug safety laws.

Chinese media speculated that a food and drug safety police division could be established.

Is there a crisis?

Topic3 Shoppers soured on powder schemeChinese consumers have shown little interest in buying baby formula in pharmacies since a pilot program allowed such retailers to do so five months ago.

In fact, a Beijing Youth Daily report says that some local pharmacies have only sold four or five cans of milk powder per month since the program began.

Why was the policy there in the first place?

Topic4 BMW Vocational SchoolIn a vocational school in Changsha, two dozens students obviously enjoy nicer infrastructure and treatment than others. This is because BMW is cooperating with the school to train future employees for it.

How is the cooperation like?

Topic5 Left over woman to have baby via artificial inseminationA single woman in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, has become pregnant through artificial insemination. After two failed relationships, in one of which she found her fiancée's betrayal just before their wedding, 33 year old Nuo Qin decided to have a baby without a husband.

This is obviously a single case, but is there a real need for this?

Topic6 Leasing Male Teachers to KindergartensFor kindergartens in the country, not having enough male teachers has been a problem for years.

This is why Zhengzhou now has some temp agencies that "lend" male teachers to kindergartens.

Is this a good idea?