GDP released

In the midst of a complex external environment, China’s economy ended 2018 on a firm footing, with better quality and improved structure.

The world’s second-largest economy grew 6.6 percent year on year to reach 90.0309 trillion yuan (US$13.28 trillion) in 2018, above the official target of around 6.5 percent, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on Monday. China is still and will long remain in an important period of strategic opportunity for development, Ning Jizhe, head of the NBS, said at a press conference.

Gene editing

A preliminary investigation into the claimed “genetically edited babies” shows that Chinese researcher He Jiankui had defied government bans and conducted the research in the pursuit of personal fame and gain.

The investigation team of Guangdong Province announced on Monday that He had intentionally dodged* supervision, raised funds and organized researchers on his own to carry out the human embryo* gene-editing intended for reproduction, which is explicitly banned by relevant regulations.

Travel rush

Transport authorities in China said they are fully prepared for the Spring Festival travel rush, with 3 billion trips expected to be made.

During the 40-day travel rush through March 1, total trips are expected to rise 0.6 percent compared with the travel rush last year, with an 8.3-percent increase in railway trips and 12-percent hike in air trips. To deal with the air traffic pressure, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has planned to expand domestic flights in 10 large airports including Shanghai Pudong International Airport, according to Dong Zhiyi, deputy head of the CAAC.

Online fraud

School students are the most vulnerable group in online fraud schemes, accounting for over 40 percent of victims, a research report has shown.

The report by Liewang, an online fraud report platform jointly sponsored by Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and the 360 Internet Security Center, found that the “post-00’s generation,” those born after 2000, had become a new target of online fraud schemes. (SD-Agencies)