China blocks mention of Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao

Apr 29th 2021 HONG KONG WHEN CHLOÉ ZHAO won Best Director for her film “Nomadland” at the Golden Globes in February, film buffs in China, the land of her birth, were ecstatic. State media proclaimed she was the pride of China. “Congratulations,” gushed Zhang Ziyi, star of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”, on social media. “Look forward to the Oscars.” Two months on, however, as Ms Zhao became the first woman of colour to win an Oscar for Best Director, and “Nomadland” scooped Best Picture, her name was nowhere to be…

Is China’s population shrinking?

Apr 29th 2021 BEIJING Editor’s note (April 29th 2021): This article has been updated to include denials that China’s population is shrinking THE COMMUNIST PARTY has long known that, partly as the result of its brutal birth-control policies, China’s population would soon peak and start to shrink. It has been startled, however, by how rapidly that moment has drawn near. Now, it looks as if it might have arrived. Listen to this story Your browser does not support the <audio> element. Enjoy more audio and podcasts on iOS or Android.…