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On for the week ending April 15

News Apps Punished for Spreading Illegal Content 805,032

A number of top news apps, including Toutiao, ifeng News and Netease News, were penalized and ordered to suspend their service by the Chinese media watchdog for spreading vulgar and pornographic content.

Russian Army on War Footing 584,822

According to Russian media, the Russian army is on a war footing following the US air strikes on targets in Syria.

Alipay Fined by PBOC 494,725

Alipay, the payment platform under China’s biggest online shopping website Alibaba, was recently fined 180,000 yuan (US$27,692) by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) for poorly protecting customers’ personal information, publishing false data in its advertising and misusing customers’ financial information.

ZTE Barred from Buying American Parts 381,004

China’s 13th National People’s Congress elected new government leaders on March 17. Xi Jinping remains the Chinese President and Wang Qishan, former director of the Communist Party of China’s Central Commission for Disciplinary Supervision, was elected vice-president.

Philippine President Apologizes for the 2010 Hostage Incident 268,686

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte recently made an open apology to China for the 2010 hostage incident, in which a former Philippine policeman hijacked a tourist bus in Manila and killed eight Hong Kong tourists. The Philippine police were criticized for its late response to the crisis.