Topic: Lunar New Year

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.

Reports from China indicate a massive wave of COVID-19 infections, with half a million cases daily in some cities ahead of the Lunar New Year. The show concludes with musical mixes featuring "Winter of Severe Illness and Death" clips and a satirical Santa Claus message regarding ESG and the World Economic Forum.

China has dismantled its strict Zero-COVID policy just ahead of the Lunar New Year, leading to the first mass travel period without restrictions in three years. While the Chinese government officially reports 60,000 deaths since December, the health analytics firm Airfinity predicts deaths could reach 36,000 per day during the holiday. The World Health Organization continues to accuse China of underestimating the severity of the current outbreak.

Chinese health officials warn that COVID-19 infections will spread from major cities to rural areas as millions travel for the Lunar New Year. Despite reports that 80% of the population may have been infected, the government has ended its strict "zero-COVID" lockdowns. Experts suggest the current wave is dominated by Omicron variants, which may be less lethal but still threaten under-resourced rural medical facilities.

The hosts celebrate the Lunar New Year (Year of the Tiger) and process various donations involving "row of ducks" and "jobs" jingles. A producer inquires about a missing $100 donation from December, leading to a discussion on the reliability of PayPal and the volume of messages the show receives.

China's rapid response to the coronavirus includes building a 1,000-bed hospital in ten days and a second 1,300-bed facility shortly after. Travel lockdowns have been imposed on 16 cities, affecting 50 million people, a population equivalent to New York and Texas combined. The U.S. government has begun evacuating consulate employees from Wuhan as cases spread to 13 countries, including France.

The "Clip Blitz" covers major international news, including the resignation of the Russian government following President Vladimir Putin's proposed constitutional changes. In China, millions are participating in the world's largest annual migration for the Lunar New Year, while the country's birth rate has fallen to a 70-year low. Additionally, a rare Type B flu strain is reportedly affecting children in the United States.

Ivanka Trump has become a popular figure in China, with dozens of businesses attempting to trademark her name for various products. Experts suggest she serves as an unofficial ambassador, helping to soften the diplomatic relationship between Washington and Beijing through cultural gestures like visiting the Chinese Embassy.