Singers perform on stage at a ceremony unveiling the slogan for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, in Beijing, China September 17, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]
>Beijing 2022 unveils first playbook
The Beijing Winter Olympics epidemic prevention manual was released
The first playbook that outlines anti-COVID-19 measures for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games was published on Monday. The guidebook, jointly published by the Beijing 2022 organizers, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, offers separate versions for athletes and team officials as well as other stakeholders. The playbook specifies that a closed-loop management system will be applied during participants' entire stay in China. This closed-loop system allows Games participants to enter China without undergoing a compulsory 21-day quarantine, provided they are fully vaccinated.
On October 25, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the Beijing Winter Olympic Organizing Committee jointly released the first edition of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Olympic and Paralympic Epidemic Prevention Manual. The Epidemic Prevention Handbook is available in two parts, one for athletes and accompanying officers, and the other for all other stakeholders. According to the Epidemic Prevention Manual, a closed-loop management policy will be implemented during the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. If the Olympic-related personnel have completed the vaccination process in accordance with the "Epidemic Prevention Manual", after entering China, they do not need to undergo 21 days of centralized isolation and can directly enter the closed-loop system.
Strict protocols will be in place to identify who has the COVID-19 virus as early as possible through testing and to stop the virus from spreading further.
Strict epidemic prevention measures will be taken during the event to detect infected people as soon as possible through testing to prevent the spread of the epidemic.
The second editions of the playbook are expected to be published later this year, ahead of the Olympic Winter Games, which will take place from Feb 4 to 20, and the Paralympic Winter Games, which will be held from March 4 to 13.
The second edition of the Epidemic Prevention Manual is scheduled to be released by the end of this year. The Beijing Winter Olympics will be held from 4 to 20 February 2022 and the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games will be held from 4 to 13 March 2022.
A photo of applicants studying for the 2021 national civil servant exam in front of the Wuxi Higher Vocational School of Tourism & Commerce in Jiangsu province on Nov 29, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua]
>Over 2m seek career as civil servant
The number of applicants for the national examination exceeded 2 million for the first time
The number of people registering to sit for the 2022 national civil servant exam reached a record of more than 2 million, according to a private institution that offers training for the exam. Registration for next year's test concluded at 6 pm on Sunday, with about 2.02 million signing up, 514,000 more than last year, said Offcn Education and Technology Co.
At 18:00 on October 24, the registration for the 2022 National Civil Service Examination closes. According to the data provided by China Public Education, the number of applicants for the national examination in 2022 exceeded 2 million, setting a record high. Zhonggong Education is a private enterprise that provides public examination training. According to the statistics of public education, the number of applicants for the 2022 national examination is about 2.02 million, which is 514,000 more than the number of applicants for the national examination in 2021.
By 5:30 pm on Sunday, 1.84 million people who registered had passed the preliminary review and are qualified to take the exam, 415,000 more than last year, the institution said.
As of 17:30 on October 24, 1.84 million people had passed the qualification examination, 415,000 more than in the same period last year.
This means only one out of 59 people will be admitted as a civil servant, creating fiercer competition than last year, when one in about 54.5 people was accepted, it added.
The average competition ratio of registered positions reached 59:1, up from 54.5:1 in the same period last year, and the competition was very fierce.
Aerial photo taken on Aug 19, 2020 shows wind turbines in Jiucaiping scenic spot in Southwest China's Guizhou province. [Photo/Xinhua]
>China constructs over 6.6b sqm of green buildings
The national green construction area exceeds 6.6 billion square meters
The total floor area of China's green buildings has exceeded 6.6 billion square meters amid the country's efforts to promote high-quality development in urban and rural areas.
At present, the cumulative green construction area in the country has exceeded 6.6 billion square meters, and the high-quality development of urban and rural areas has achieved remarkable results.
Noting China's green development achievements in urban and rural areas, Zhang Xiaohong, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, stressed the arduous task of saving energy and reducing carbon emissions in urban and rural construction, at a press conference on Monday.
Zhang Xiaohong, vice minister of housing and urban-rural development, said at a press conference held on October 25 about the achievements of green development of urban and rural construction in China that at present, the field of urban and rural construction is facing a relatively difficult task of energy conservation and emission reduction.
The ministry will make continuing efforts to further increase the proportion of green buildings, raise building energy efficiency standards, and popularize buildings with ultra-low energy consumption in regions with suitable climate conditions, said Tian Guomin, an official from the ministry.
Tian Guomin, an official of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said that China will further increase the proportion of green buildings. Raise building energy efficiency standards and promote ultra-low energy buildings in suitable climate zones.
It will also promote the green renovation of existing buildings to improve energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions, Tian said.
Promote the green transformation of existing buildings and improve the energy-saving and low-carbon level of buildings.
China recently issued a guideline underpinning green development in urban and rural areas.
Recently, China issued the "Opinions on Promoting the Green Development of Urban and Rural Construction".
Institutional mechanisms and policy systems for green development in urban and rural areas will be basically established by 2025, while a comprehensive green development will cover urban and rural areas by 2035, with an increased cut in carbon emissions, said the guideline.
By 2025, the institutional mechanism and policy system for green development of urban and rural construction will be basically established, and by 2035, urban and rural construction will achieve green development in an all-round way, and the level of carbon emission reduction will be rapidly improved.
US President Joe Biden. [Photo/Agencies]
>Biden signs order lifting restrictions
Biden signed new rules for U.S. entry
US President Joe Biden on Monday signed an order imposing new vaccine requirements for most foreign national air travelers and lifting severe travel restrictions on China, India and much of Europe effective Nov 8 , the White House said.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed a new rule on Oct. 25 that imposes new vaccine requirements on most foreign travelers and removes strict travel restrictions on China, India and much of Europe. The new rules will take effect from 8 November.
The White House confirmed that children under 18 are exempt from the new vaccine requirements, as are people with some medical issues. Non-tourist travelers from about 50 countries with nationwide vaccination rates of less than 10% will also be eligible for exemption from the rules.
White House officials say people under the age of 18, people with certain health problems and non-travel visa holders in about 50 countries with vaccination rates below 10 percent can be granted vaccination exemptions.
Those receiving an exemption will generally need to be vaccinated if they intend to remain in the United States for more than 60 days.
However, people who are exempted generally need to be vaccinated if they intend to stay in the United States for more than 60 days.
International air travelers will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.
Foreign passengers are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate within 72 hours before the flight departure.
The White House said unvaccinated Americans and foreign nationals receiving exemptions will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of departing.
Unvaccinated Americans and exempted foreigners are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of flight departure.
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Source: chinadaily.com.cn