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Students hit worst as China pursues zero-Covid policy amid infection surge

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Students hit worst as China pursues zero-Covid policy amid infection surge

Despite China’s strict zero-tolerance policy towards Covid, the infection has again reared its ugly head in the country on the back of an Omicron variant led wave. In fact, new Covid-19 cases recorded in China on Tuesday more than doubled from the previous day with the nation facing its biggest outbreak since the early days of the pandemic.

‘STUCK WITHOUT BASIC AMENITIES’

Among the worst-hit in such a situation are students in the country, many of whom have reportedly been left without access to basic amenities such as bathrooms, drinking water, and sanitary pads.

It’s not just the students who are suffering. Alleged cumbersome procedures at airports are discouraging foreign airlines to fly into China, preventing many, including students, from returning home.

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According to NBC News, Delta Air Lines plane made a sudden U-turn back to the United States. The airline cited cumbersome new disinfection procedures at the Shanghai airport. However, Chinese officials refuted the claim.

Amid the Covid restrictions, many Indian students, who enrolled for medical studies in China are fearing cancellation of their degrees if they are unable to return to China by June to finish their compulsory 12-month internship. These students returned to India two years ago and haven’t been able to go back to their universities in China due to Covid restrictions.

Border controls, mass testing, quarantine procedures, and lockdowns have been inherent parts of China’s strict zero-Covid policy throughout the pandemic as it aims to stamp out all outbreaks and chains of transmission.

The Shanghai government converted several apartments into centralised quarantine centres after infections started rising in the city. This forced the residents to clear out their belongings, according to several government notices, reported CNN.

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SNAP LOCKDOWNS HIT LIVES

The daily lives of Shanghai residents have been sent for a toss on account of the snap lockdowns that have trapped many. Residents, office workers, and students are unable to step out unless every person in a quarantine zone tested negative, locals said.

With increasing restrictions being imposed at short notice, the residents are losing patience. Students from Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University in the northeastern Jilin province took to social media to plead for help. They said they had been left to fend for themselves after a Covid cluster was detected on campus.

A user on Chinese microblogging website Weibo, claiming to be a student at the university, alleged that infected students had been isolated in libraries and academic buildings. The user said that the students were “all breaking down and crying”.

“Many students in my dormitory had a fever, but counsellors just gave us fever reducers and told us to sleep with a warm quilt,” the user wrote on Thursday. “There is a serious shortage of daily necessities. Girls have no sanitary pads. Students are bleeding and hurting, crying and calling their families,” the Weibo user added.

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CNN reached out to the university through its official Weibo account for comment as the school’s official website and any additional contact information were taken offline.

The Weibo user further alleged: “Students isolated in their dormitories found their doors were sealed off and they can’t even go to the dormitory’s public toilet. When the students tried to call the government’s Covid-19 control centre, phone operators refused to answer our questions,” he said.

Thirty buses later took them to a separate quarantine facility last week, the state-run Global Times reported.

Soon after the Weibo post went viral, angry posts by netizens flooded the internet, with users calling for accountability from local officials. “From the school to the prevention and control institutions to the Jilin city government — if there was one person who had the courage to assume responsibility, it would not have developed to the present situation,” one Weibo post read.

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The city government later said the secretary of the school’s Chinese Communist Party committee had been removed from the position for negligence.

SURGING CASES

Several cities in at least 20 provinces of China have been affected by the latest outbreak, according to the National Health Commission. Jilin and eastern Shandong province have emerged as the biggest hotspots. Cases have also been reported in the capital, Beijing, as well as Shanghai.

Jilin province capital Changchun imposed a city-wide lockdown on Friday, isolating all 9 million residents within their neighbourhoods. According to the latest diktat, only one person per household is now allowed to step out to buy groceries every alternate day.

With the apparent spread of the cluster at Jilin University, Jilin city closed schools and entertainment spaces. Similar measures were imposed on all schools in the city of Qingdao in Shandong province and Shanghai.

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According to Chinese health authorities, several cities are fighting the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

In the Laixi area of Qingdao, students constitute more than a quarter of the 776 confirmed cases since March 4. Authorities said the “cluster” has since spread to other provinces. As many as 17 officials from Laixi have been punished for allowing the “loopholes” and alleged negligence.

RETURN HOPE FOR STUDENTS

Meanwhile, China on Monday said it was planning to allow a small number of foreign students with “actual needs” to return to universities. Reports of Beijing issuing visas to some Pakistani students are also doing the rounds. “On the basis of ensuring safety, it is coordinating arrangements for a small number of foreign students with actual needs to return to China in light of the changing international epidemic situation and the characteristics of the students’ majors,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Complete News Source: India Today

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Stranded in Israel amid airstrikes, Caitlyn Jenner sips wine in bomb shelter and says, ‘Pray for us’

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Stranded in Israel amid airstrikes, Caitlyn Jenner sips wine in bomb shelter and says, ‘Pray for us’

The world watched in disbelief as Caitlyn Jenner, the Olympic champion turned global media personality, appeared on social media from a bomb shelter in Israel. Clutching a glass of wine, her video was both surreal and deeply human, capturing a strange blend of calmness and fear as airstrikes echoed above.

Jenner had traveled to Israel for a speaking engagement and wellness summit. The trip, meant to focus on self-discovery and global connection, took an unexpected turn as tensions in the region escalated. Within hours of her arrival in Tel Aviv, the air raid sirens began blaring. Israeli cities braced for potential attacks, and all foreign visitors were advised to seek shelter.

She was rushed by her team to a fortified bomb shelter inside her hotel, a space where several other international guests also gathered. The cemented underground room had minimal lighting, emergency supplies, and a haunting silence broken only by the distant thuds of intercepted rockets.

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In that moment, Caitlyn chose to document the situation—not to sensationalize it, but to remind the world that even celebrities are not immune to war. She raised her glass of Merlot and softly said to the camera, “We’re okay, for now. But pray for us. This is very real.”

The video instantly went viral. The internet reacted with a mix of empathy, disbelief, and critique. Some applauded her for staying composed and using her platform to raise awareness. Others questioned the optics—wine in a war zone, they argued, might seem out of touch. But most agreed on one thing: this wasn’t a publicity stunt. It was a raw moment of a person caught off guard by war.

Outside, the Iron Dome system of Israel roared to life, intercepting rockets mid-air. The bomb shelter would shake slightly each time a missile was taken down. Caitlyn later shared how that sound felt—“like thunder wrapped in relief.”

Her family in the U.S., including daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, shared their support on social media, asking fans to pray not just for Caitlyn but for all those affected by the conflict. Kris Jenner reportedly stayed in constant contact with Israeli officials and the U.S. embassy to ensure her daughter’s safety.

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What made this event even more gripping was Caitlyn’s tone throughout her updates. She wasn’t panicked. She was composed. Even as distant blasts echoed through the concrete walls, she smiled gently and whispered, “We have to believe peace will come.”

Celebrities like Gal Gadot, who served in the Israeli military, showed support and emphasized how civilians on both sides are the ones who suffer most. Public figures including politicians, diplomats, and human rights activists weighed in, turning Caitlyn’s clip into a symbol of global vulnerability.

Back in the U.S., late-night hosts and news commentators debated the moment. Was it a modern-day war diary? Was it tone-deaf privilege? Or was it simply human—a celebrity stripped of luxury, facing a fear no fame could shield her from?

Amid the criticism, one thing was clear: Caitlyn’s update gave millions a personal look into what it’s like to be stuck in the crossfire of geopolitical chaos. Her message was universal—war is real, and no one is truly safe.

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She later thanked Israeli defense personnel for their swift actions and praised the people she was sheltered with for their kindness. “There was no panic. Just humanity,” she wrote in another post.

As things began to settle, Caitlyn was finally escorted to Ben Gurion Airport under tight security. She flew back to Los Angeles and appeared on major media outlets to discuss her harrowing experience.

During a heartfelt interview, she said, “This isn’t about politics. This is about people. The children I saw in shelters. The elderly woman holding my hand. The hope in the eyes of the hotel staff, despite the fear. It changes you.”

In a time when conflict often feels distant or abstract, Caitlyn Jenner’s first-hand account pierced through the noise. It reminded the world that bombs don’t differentiate between the famous and the forgotten.

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Her final message from the airport lounge, before leaving Israeli soil, was simple: “I’ll carry these memories forever. Pray for the region. Pray for peace. We all deserve it.”

Despite her celebrity status, Caitlyn found herself reduced to the same level of vulnerability as everyone else in that shelter. The walls that separated the public from the private life of a global icon came crashing down, both literally and symbolically.

At one point during the shelter-in-place order, someone recognized her and gently approached, not for a selfie, but simply to ask, “Is this your first time in Israel?” Caitlyn smiled and nodded. The conversation turned from fame to fear, and from politics to prayer.

She later said it was one of the most authentic conversations she’d had in years—no red carpet, no cameras, just two people sharing a moment in crisis.

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The emotional toll of the night would weigh on her. In her reflection shared the next day, Caitlyn wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “When you hear bombs falling and realize no amount of wealth can protect you from it—only faith, and the people beside you, matter.”

As missiles were intercepted above ground, the shelter saw shared snacks, whispered reassurances, and even quiet laughter. One Israeli teenager started playing soft music from their phone—Caitlyn remembered the melody was “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen. It brought some in the room to tears.

The glass of wine she held was not about luxury—it became a symbol. “It was a reminder that life continues, even under threat. We hold on to small rituals to feel human,” she explained later.

Media coverage around the world exploded. Her moment, intended to show resilience, was misinterpreted by some as performative. However, defenders of Jenner pointed out that she never intended it to be a political statement—it was an unfiltered human response to a terrifying situation.

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Israeli news networks featured her brief clips, and Hebrew-language newspapers highlighted her gratitude toward the IDF and the civilians she met. Some Israeli citizens thanked her for not fleeing immediately like many foreign visitors had.

Caitlyn’s perspective gave international audiences a glimpse into daily life in conflict zones—where war isn’t just explosions, but the long silences in between, filled with fear, hope, and quiet strength.

Her celebrity status amplified the story, but the emotions she captured resonated with anyone who has ever faced uncertainty. Parents hiding with their children. Travelers stuck abroad. Locals adjusting to fear as a way of life.

Back home, her updates sparked broader conversations about how the media portrays war—often through filtered lenses. But in Caitlyn’s case, it was raw, unpolished, and emotionally honest.

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The experience transformed her. She later expressed that despite the horror, she felt deeply connected to those around her. “You learn more about yourself in a bomb shelter than at a luxury spa,” she quipped with characteristic humor.

She also pledged to raise awareness for organizations helping displaced families and war-affected children in both Israel and Gaza. “No child should hear what I heard that night. Or live in shelters like that for weeks,” she said.

Though she was safely home days later, the psychological aftershocks lingered. She admitted she now jumps at sudden loud noises and finds herself thinking about those who remain in conflict zones, day after day.

Her story drew attention not just because it involved a public figure, but because it transcended fame. It was a portrait of shared humanity in crisis.

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Global news agencies continued to dissect the moment for days. Some called it “a turning point in how we perceive war.” Others debated whether the wine glass dulled the seriousness of the situation or emphasized the absurdity of war.

In her final Instagram post from that trip, she included a picture of the bunker wall—where someone had drawn a peace sign using lipstick. The caption read simply: “Hope never hides.”

As the media attention faded, Caitlyn returned to her advocacy work and television appearances. But she continued to speak in private events and podcasts about the need to support civilians in conflict zones—not just with policy, but with empathy.

She’s now reportedly working on a short documentary that will feature her footage and interviews with the people she met during the ordeal. Proceeds are expected to go to humanitarian aid.

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From fame to fear, from red carpets to concrete shelters, Caitlyn Jenner’s experience in Israel reminded the world that war respects no boundaries—but neither does compassion.

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