Topic: Hong Kong

Reports from WION indicate that action star Jackie Chan has expressed a strong desire to join the Communist Party of China (CPC). Chan has been seen praising Xi Jinping and participating in party centenary events. The hosts discuss the linguistic shift from "CCP" to "CPC" and Chan's history as a "loyal party man" despite his Hollywood career.

Experts note that while government warnings about Chinese hacking are frequent, most "attacks" are automated pings that occur thousands of times daily across the internet. Meanwhile, the Lunar New Year has prompted massive global travel, reminiscent of the period just before the initial COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

A severe lightning storm without rain hit the Texas Hill Country, causing power outages at the host's compound. Meanwhile, record-breaking rainfall of 158.1 millimeters in one hour struck Hong Kong and southern China, leading to collapsed roads and metro flooding. Speculation arises regarding weather manipulation and the historical context of climate change records dating back to 1884.

Since the imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, civil society and free media have largely collapsed under CCP pressure. Over 150,000 Hong Kongers have applied for visas to live in the UK, but many report being followed and harassed by Chinese operatives even after relocating. Incidents of physical assault at protests in the UK have raised questions about the British government's ability to protect these asylum seekers.

The CDC implements new travel requirements for passengers arriving from China, Hong Kong, and Macau starting January 5th, 2023. Travelers must provide a negative COVID-19 test, and non-citizens must show proof of vaccination with US-approved vaccines. The agency is also considering sampling wastewater from international aircraft to track emerging variants due to a perceived lack of transparency from Chinese authorities.

John Lee, a former security chief known for cracking down on 2019 protests, was confirmed as Hong Kong's next leader in a sole-candidate election. Lee's priorities include national security and patriotic education rather than democratic reforms. YouTube shut down Lee's campaign account to comply with U.S. sanctions.

While COVID-19 cases plunge in the U.S., Hong Kong experiences a severe fifth wave of infections. The hosts share a listener's discovery that an anagram for "Omicron Delta" is "Media Control." They also discuss the ongoing push for global vaccination to prevent new variants.

The death of Dr. Li Wenliang, the Wuhan ophthalmologist who was silenced by police after warning about the virus, sparked outrage and calls for freedom of speech in China. Meanwhile, the first American death was reported in Wuhan. Internationally, 3,700 people were quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship after dozens of passengers tested positive.

Dame Sheila provides a "boots on the ground" report from Dubai, describing it as a booming refuge for elites escaping global instability. In contrast, she reports on the "Zero COVID meltdown" in Hong Kong, where babies are being separated from mothers and tracking bands are mandatory. The report also notes the persistent "mask addiction" in Spain and Portugal compared to the relaxed atmosphere in Dubai.

Authorities in Hong Kong ordered the culling of approximately 2,000 hamsters after several animals at a pet shop tested positive for COVID-19. The decision followed a shop employee contracting an untraceable infection. Pet owners were urged to hand over animals purchased after late December for euthanasia to prevent potential animal-to-human transmission.

NPR reports on the "explosive growth" of the Omicron variant, which has surpassed Delta in the United States. A study from Hong Kong suggests that Omicron multiplies 70 times faster in the human bronchus than Delta, which may explain its high transmissibility. However, the variant appears less effective at infecting cells deep within the lungs, potentially leading to less severe disease.

Trends researcher Gerald Celente argues that the 2020 lockdowns were a convenient tool to suppress global protests that were peaking in 2019. He points to massive demonstrations in Hong Kong, Chile, and Lebanon that vanished once the pandemic began. Celente also notes that the global economy was facing a major crisis in late 2019, with trillions being injected into the repo markets.

Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper is shutting down following police raids and the freezing of its assets under the National Security Law. In a related media story, journalist Rania Khalek commented that the U.S. seizure of Iranian media domains would be viewed as an "act of war" if performed by another nation against the U.S.

Hong Kong authorities seized over $60 million in assets belonging to billionaire Jimmy Lai under the city's national security law. Lai, a prominent critic of the Chinese government and founder of Next Media, is already serving a prison sentence for participating in pro-democracy protests. He now faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of additional charges.

Wuhan marked the one-year anniversary of its 76-day lockdown with residents reporting a return to normal life despite recent outbreaks near Beijing. In the United States, COVID-19 cases showed a decline from early January peaks as vaccine distribution reached 1.6 million doses in a single day. Meanwhile, Hong Kong implemented a 48-hour lockdown to contain a new surge of over 4,300 cases.

The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on 11 high-ranking Hong Kong and mainland Chinese officials, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam, for their roles in suppressing local protests. While some officials mocked the sanctions, the move effectively freezes their access to the U.S. banking system. Reports indicate that some banks in Hong Kong have already begun closing accounts for the targeted individuals to avoid U.S. regulatory complications.

Hackers linked to the Chinese government reportedly targeted the Vatican and the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong ahead of negotiations to renew a provisional agreement. The deal involves the appointment of bishops in China and has caused significant friction within the Church. Critics express concern that Pope Francis is making too many concessions to the Chinese Communist Party, potentially compromising the independence of the faith.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the British government for banning Huawei from its 5G networks and suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. Pompeo emphasized the need for a global effort to expose the "true face" of the Chinese Communist Party. The U.S. and UK are also working toward a free trade agreement.

President Trump signed the Hong Kong Autonomy Act and an executive order ending preferential treatment for Hong Kong, effectively treating it the same as mainland China. These measures, which include asset seizures and technology export bans, are viewed as a significant escalation in the economic war against the Chinese government.

Reports surfaced that Nike's custom NBA jersey website allowed the phrase "Fuck Hong Kong" but blocked "Free Hong Kong" as an error. This incident has fueled criticism regarding the financial ties between major American corporations, the NBA, and the Chinese market.