ICE AGE NOW: Global Cooling Continues Relentlessly - Heavy Snowfall In China Has BROKEN ALL RECORDS Of Previous Years; Stranding Nearly 100,000 At Guangzhou Station; 3rd COLDEST TEMPERATURE In Hong Kong; FIRST Snow In Guangzhou Since 1946! [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

A woman removes snow on top of a greenhouse in Dongyang, Zhejiang province, on Jan. 22.  STR/AFP/Getty Images

February 4, 2016 - CHINA - Snowfall continued for several days have jammed the routine life in China, while millions of passengers returning to their home for Chinese New Year, stuck on stations and airports.

Snowfall in China has broken down all records of previous years, while the snowfall has increased problems for millions of people returning to their homes for Chinese new year ceremonies. Aerial operation and trains schedule have been affected badly due to bad weather and snowfall, while six thousand policemen have been deployed to control the people. According to Chinese officials, at least three billion people travel in different areas of China during new year vacations. - Abbtakk.

Heavy snow has disrupted public transport in southern China, stranding tens of thousands of people outside a rail station, police say.

The crowd outside Guangzhou station swelled to nearly 100,000 at its peak on Monday night, police said.

Central China has experienced some of its coldest weather in years.

The rare snow has coincided with the run-up to Chinese New Year - where hundreds of millions of Chinese travel home to see their families.

Fishing boats are stuck in ice at a harbor in Dalian on Jan. 21. ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

A fishing boat carrying buoys makes its way through the ice-filled harbor in Dalian on Jan. 21. ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

People walk along a snow-covered street in Zouping County on Jan. 22. Xinhua/Zhou Ke via Getty Images

Soldiers train in Hulunbuir. ChinaFotoPress/ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images

Many trains from north and central China were delayed by the snow - leaving passengers in the south stranded with no transport.

More than 50,000 people still remained stuck outside Guangzhou railway station on Tuesday, state media said.

Local police said 5,200 officers had been deployed to maintain order.

They urged passengers to check their train details online and avoid "blindly heading to the station to wait for trains", saying this would exacerbate the overcrowding.

Officials estimate nearly three billion trips will take place over the holiday season, in what is considered the world's biggest annual human migration.

Meanwhile, traffic jams had led to more than 400 people in Guangzhou missing their flights, Xinhua news agency reported. - BBC.



As of Tuesday noon, over 50-thousand passengers were still stranded at Guangzhou Railway Station, after rare snow in central China caused 24 trains to be delayed.

Yesterday nearly 100-thousand passengers were seen waiting inside and outside the station.

Spokesperson for Guangzhou Railway Group, Chen Jianping, explained the reasons for the delays.

"Due to bad weather, some trains were delayed and the order has been confused. The Guangzhou Railway Station is designed to hold 30-thousand passengers at a time. Passengers should arrive at the square four hours ahead of time and enter the waiting rooms two hours earlier. But now it is raining. Inside the station things are in good order, but on the square and between the square and waiting rooms, it is overcrowded."

Thousands of travelers are stranded at Guangzhou Railway Station in South China's Guangdong province after rare snow in central and eastern Chinese provinces
delayed train services, Feb 1, 2016. About 100,000 travelers were forced to wait outside the station ahead of Spring Festival, the most important holiday
of the year. The local police drafted in 1,300 more security personnel to the initial 2,600 officers, and appealed to the passengers
not to spend long hours outside the station. Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

Imagine China

The local police have added 13-hundered security staff to the railway station and closed parts of the roads around the station to hold stranded passengers.

Chen Jianping said they have dispatched some temporary trains from Hunan province to relieve the delays and shorten the arrival/dispatch cross-over time.

Chinese travellers are expected to make 2.9 billion trips during the 40-day Chunyun period, which began on January 21. - CRI English.


WATCH: 3rd coldest temperatures ever recorded in Hong Kong and first snows in 60 years throughout Guangzhou, China.

TRANSHUMANISM: "As It Was In The Days Of Noah" - Chinese Scientists GENETICALLY MODIFY HUMAN EMBRYOS, Reigniting An Ethical Debate!

Rumours of germline modification prove true — and look set to reignite an ethical debate. Human embryos are at the centre of a debate over the ethics of gene editing.
Dr. Yorgos Nikas/SPL

April 23, 2015 - GUANGZHOU, CHINA - In a world first, Chinese scientists have reported editing the genomes of human embryos. The results are published¹ in the online journal Protein & Cell and confirm widespread rumours that such experiments had been conducted — rumours that sparked a high-profile debate last month^{2, 3} about the ethical implications of such work.

In the paper, researchers led by Junjiu Huang, a gene-function researcher at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, tried to head off such concerns by using 'non-viable' embryos, which cannot result in a live birth, that were obtained from local fertility clinics. The team attempted to modify the gene responsible for β-thalassaemia, a potentially fatal blood disorder, using a gene-editing technique known as CRISPR/Cas9. The researchers say that their results reveal serious obstacles to using the method in medical applications.

"I believe this is the first report of CRISPR/Cas9 applied to human pre-implantation embryos and as such the study is a landmark, as well as a cautionary tale," says George Daley, a stem-cell biologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. "Their study should be a stern warning to any practitioner who thinks the technology is ready for testing to eradicate disease genes."

Some say that gene editing in embryos could have a bright future because it could eradicate devastating genetic diseases before a baby is born. Others say that such work crosses an ethical line: researchers warned in Nature² in March that because the genetic changes to embryos, known as germline modification, are heritable, they could have an unpredictable effect on future generations. Researchers have also expressed concerns that any gene-editing research on human embryos could be a slippery slope towards unsafe or unethical uses of the technique.

The paper by Huang's team looks set to reignite the debate on human-embryo editing — and there are reports that other groups in China are also experimenting on human embryos.

Problematic gene

The technique used by Huang’s team involves injecting embryos with the enzyme complex CRISPR/Cas9, which binds and splices DNA at specific locations. The complex can be programmed to target a problematic gene, which is then replaced or repaired by another molecule introduced at the same time. The system is well studied in human adult cells and in animal embryos. But there had been no published reports of its use in human embryos.

Huang and his colleagues set out to see if the procedure could replace a gene in a single-cell fertilized human embryo; in principle, all cells produced as the embryo developed would then have the repaired gene. The embryos they obtained from the fertility clinics had been created for use in in vitro fertilization but had an extra set of chromosomes, following fertilization by two sperm. This prevents the embryos from resulting in a live birth, though they do undergo the first stages of development.

Huang’s group studied the ability of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to edit the gene called HBB, which encodes the human β-globin protein. Mutations in the gene are responsible for β-thalassaemia.

Serious obstacles

The team injected 86 embryos and then waited 48 hours, enough time for the CRISPR/Cas9 system and the molecules that replace the missing DNA to act — and for the embryos to grow to about eight cells each. Of the 71 embryos that survived, 54 were genetically tested. This revealed that just 28 were successfully spliced, and that only a fraction of those contained the replacement genetic material. “If you want to do it in normal embryos, you need to be close to 100%,” Huang says. “That’s why we stopped.

We still think it’s too immature.”

His team also found a surprising number of ‘off-target’ mutations assumed to be introduced by the CRISPR/Cas9 complex acting on other parts of the genome. This effect is one of the main safety concerns surrounding germline gene editing because these unintended mutations could be harmful. The rates of such mutations were much higher than those observed in gene-editing studies of mouse embryos or human adult cells. And Huang notes that his team likely only detected a subset of the unintended mutations because their study looked only at a portion of the genome, known as the exome. “If we did the whole genome sequence, we would get many more,” he says.

Ethical questions

Huang says that the paper was rejected by Nature and Science, in part because of ethical objections; both journals declined to comment on the claim. (Nature’s news team is editorially independent of its research editorial team.)

He adds that critics of the paper have noted that the low efficiencies and high number of off-target mutations could be specific to the abnormal embryos used in the study. Huang acknowledges the critique, but because there are no examples of gene editing in normal embryos he says that there is no way to know if the technique operates differently in them.

Still, he maintains that the embryos allow for a more meaningful model — and one closer to a normal human embryo — than an animal model or one using adult human cells. “We wanted to show our data to the world so people know what really happened with this model, rather than just talking about what would happen without data,” he says.

But Edward Lanphier, one of the scientists who sounded the warning in Nature last month, says: "It underlines what we said before: we need to pause this research and make sure we have a broad based discussion about which direction we’re going here." Lanphier is president of Sangamo BioSciences in Richmond, California, which applies gene-editing techniques to adult human cells.

Huang now plans to work out how to decrease the number of off-target mutations using adult human cells or animal models. He is considering different strategies — tweaking the enzymes to guide them more precisely to the desired spot, introducing the enzymes in a different format that could help to regulate their lifespans and thus allow them to be shut down before mutations accumulate, or varying the concentrations of the introduced enzymes and repair molecules. He says that using other gene-editing techniques might also help. CRISPR/Cas9 is relatively efficient and easy to use, but another system called TALEN is known to cause fewer unintended mutations.

The debate over human embryo editing is sure to continue for some time, however. CRISPR/Cas9 is known for its ease of use and Lanphier fears that more scientists will now start to work towards improving on Huang's paper. “The ubiquitous access to and simplicity of creating CRISPRs," he says, "creates opportunities for scientists in any part of the world to do any kind of experiments they want.”

A Chinese source familiar with developments in the field said that at least four groups in China are pursuing gene editing in human embryos.

References

1. Liang, P. et al. Protein Cell http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13238-015-0153-5 (2015).
   Show context
2. Lanphier, E. et al. Nature 519, 410–411 (2015).
   
   • Article
   • PubMed
   • ISI
   • ChemPort
   Show context
3. Baltimore, D. et al. Science 348, 36–38 (2015).
   
   • Article
   • PubMed
   • ISI
   Show context

- Nature.

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVAL: Sinkholes Keep Popping Up Across The Globe - Massive Sinkhole Swallows Car Just Moments After Driver Makes Dramatic Last-Gasp Exit In China; Sinkhole Opens Up On Golf Course In Scotland; Sinkhole Swallows Plow Truck In Cleveland, United States!

January 16, 2015 - EARTH - The following constitutes several of the latest reports of sinkholes across the planet.

Massive sinkhole swallows car just moments after driver makes dramatic last-gasp exit, China

Hole: Sheng's car tipped inside this massive crater. © CEN

Lucky motorist Sheng Hsu was driving in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou when his car was pulled into the hole

These incredible pictures show the moment a massive sinkhole swallowed a car just moments after the driver was able to escape in the nick of time.

Sheng Hsu, 43, was on his way to work when the huge chasm appeared in the road.

Luckily, he was able to make a dramatic, last-gasp exit from the vehicle.

He said: "I had just slowed down because there was a bit of a queue and leaned in to switch the radio on.

Rumbling: He originally thought the vibrations were his car's speakers.

© CEN

 © CEN

"When I leaned back I felt a vibration that I thought was something to do with the speakers at first.

"When the car started to move I stupidly pulled on the handbrake thinking I was rolling backwards, but then I realised I was the tipping over to the side."

Looking out the window, Sheng saw a huge hole appearing in the road as the tarmac vanished into the ground.

Acting instinctively, he crashed open the door and managed to scramble out before the car tipped inside.
He said: "I dread to think what would have happened if the traffic had been speeding along at the usual rate. It's pretty busy at all times of day here."

Engineers said the hole in Guangzhou had been caused because a sewage pipe had broken, leaking water into the soil under the road and washing it away.

But it is not the first time a huge sinkhole has appeared under a road or indeed a building in the region.

Council officials have ordered an enquiry to see what can be done to prevent similar problems in the future. - Daily Mirror.

Sinkhole opens up on golf course in Scotland

The sinkhole at Traigh Golf Club

That 16-foot putt for birdie just got a whole lot easier. Scotland's Traigh Golf Club woke up one morning to find a large sinkhole had developed on the course.

The 14-foot hole was created by erosion from a broken drainpipe underground. Fortunately, no one was hurt. But the golf course's troubles are far from over: The hole will cost about 20,000 British pounds, or more than $13,000 USD.

That's a huge cost that the golf course, which has been used for more than 100 years, cannot afford. And since insurance isn't likely to cover the cost of the hole, it could spell the end of the beautiful course.

"Without repairing this pipe about half of the golf course will revert to bog and this would effectively be the end of our golf course," said Traigh Golf Club spokesman Alec Stewart to GolfClubManagement.net.

Even if the sinkhole is repaired, the erosion could be a harbinger for similar problems elsewhere on the course. The club is urgently seeking out any sources of funding to stay afloat. - The Post Game.

Sinkhole swallows plow truck in Cleveland, United States

A plow truck was on its route in Cleveland when it hit a steel plate on the road, displacing the plate and sending the truck falling into the sinkhole.

The steel plate was from the Cleveland Water Department and was not marked properly. The sinkhole was in place so the property owner's plumber could make repairs to the home.

After the truck fell, it was removed from the hole shortly after. The plate has since been replaced.

The driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution and there were no other injuries. - FOX 8.

DELUGE & GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVAL: The "Once Every 100 Years" Rainstorm - Heavy Rainfall Cause Floods, The Collapse Of Houses And Mud Flows In South China; 19 Dead; 7 Missing; Over 140,000 Affected; 21,000 Evacuated; 1,143 Homes Destroyed!

May 26, 2014 -  CHINA - At least 19 people have died and seven others remain missing after downpours hit provinces in south China, local authorities said on Sunday.

Residents go on the street after a flood subsided in Shitan Town of Qingyuan, south China's
Guangdong Province, May 24, 2014.
Xinhua

The rainstorms, the type that occur once every 100 years due to their ferocity, lashed Guangzhou, Zhaoqing and Qingyuan cities and caused floods, the collapse of houses and mud flows, said the provincial flood control and civil affairs authorities.

From 10 p.m. on Friday to 5 p.m. on Saturday, more than 140,000 people were affected, 21,000 were evacuated and 1,143 houses collapsed, said the provincial civil affairs department.

Since Wednesday, rainstorms in Guangdong have left 15 dead and five missing and affected 800,000 people, with accumulative precipitation of 628 mm in Shanwei City.

Sixteen national or provincial highways were closed because of the downpours.

Guangdong provincial authorities have activated an emergency response system and sent working teams and relief materials to affected areas.

Downpours also swept southwestern Guizhou Province, as well as Hunan and Jiangxi provinces in south China.

Three people died in Guizhou due to a rainstorm on Saturday night and early Sunday, with precipitation of 145.7 mm in Shiqian County.

In Jiangxi, 5,000 residents in Pingxiang City were trapped by floods as of midday Sunday after more than 4,000 locals were evacuated.

In Quannan County of Jiangxi, a rescuer died after his yacht capsized in a river due to engine failure while searching for a missing middle school student.

Heavy rain hit Hunan Province from 8 a.m. on Saturday for 24 hours, with precipitation of 208 mm in Liuyang City.

About 400,000 people in six cities were affected and 16,000 displaced with the collapse of 520 houses, said the Hunan Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters.

One person was washed away by floodwater in Wenjia City. Rescuers are evacuating trapped residents. - CRI.

EXTREME WEATHER ANOMALIES: Rare Monster Tornado Hits Guangzhou, China - Storms Leave Thousands Homeless!

August 20, 2013 - CHINA - At least 22 people were killed in Guangdong Province and 7 are missing due to the floods that struck the province in the aftermath of Typhoon Utor, BBC News reports.

Over 200 have been killed nationwide after Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang were also hit with floods.

According to GD Chinanews, at least 4.9 billion yuan worth of damage has been done in the province, over 51,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, and 19,000 homes have been destroyed. - Nan Fang. [Edited for clarity]


WATCH: Tornado hits Guangzhou village.

GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVAL: Land Subsidence Continues In China - Giant Sinkhole In Shaanxi Swallows Up A Cement Truck And Massive Landslide Nearly Buries A Car In The Northwest!

July 30, 2013 - CHINA - A cement truck proved to be too much for a street section on Xian's outskirts on Saturday, causing a seven-metre-deep sinkhole and raising questions over construction safety in China.

Giant Sinkhole In Shaanxi Swallows Up A Cement Truck.

A sinkhole in Xian, Shaanxi, on Saturday.

In the early morning, a cement truck was swallowed by a sinkhole as it was on its way to its daytime deployment in northern China's Shaanxi province. No one was injured, and the driver was able to escape the vehicle. It took urban authorities until 10pm to remove the truck from the site.

Sinkholes are a common sight in the country, where fast-paced urbanisation and inadequate training have led to faulty infrastructure. In May, five people were killed when a 10-metre-wide sinkhole opened up at an industrial estate in Shenzhen. Two months earlier, another man had been killed by a sinkhole in the Guangdong border hub.

A sinkhole in Xian, Shaanxi, on Saturday.

In January, a 300 sq m sinkhole swallowed five shops and cut power to 3,000 households in Guangzhou. The construction of a subway line has been blamed for the sink hole. - SCMP.

Massive Landslide Nearly Buries A Car In Northwest China.

A driver and his passengers had a lucky escape after the car he was driving was almost buried under a landslide in China.

Video of a car almost being washed away by floods and a landslide in northwest China has been released.

The footage shows the driver trying to get away from the deluge, but changing his mind when he realises what is happening.

All the car's occupants escaped unhurt.

Almost a million people have been affected by flooding in the region since the start of July. - SKY News.


WATCH: Video shows lucky escape as landslide hits car in China.

MONUMENTAL GEOLOGICAL UPHEAVAL: MONSTROUS Sinkhole Swallows Up Buildings In Guangzhou, China - Over 3,000 Square Feet Wide And Still Growing!

January 29, 2013 - CHINA - Several buildings have fallen into an enormous sinkhole in Guangzhou, China, destroying at least five shops and taking out power for 3,000 residential units nearby, Shanghaiist reports. 

The sink hole was 300 square meters wide (3,229.2 square feet), and appears to be growing. Thankfully there does not appear to be any injuries at present.  This video shows the moment the sinkhole expanded, taking out much of the building and creating a chaotic scene.

Sinkholes are becoming a worrying problem in China. In 2007, there were 54 sinkhole collapses, and by 2009, that number was all the way up to 129. According to one estimate, between July 21st and August 12th 2012, 99 sinkhole collapses occurred just in Beijing. While the cause of this sinkhole has not been determined yet, most appear to have been caused by rapid economic development and poorly planned infrastructure. - Business Insider.

WATCH: Monster sinkhole in China.