<p>The much-awaited trailer for Akka is finally out. The glimpse of this upcoming female-led crime thriller draws viewers into a gripping world of power, ambition, and rivalry. Directed by Dharmaraj Shetty, the series stars Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte in lead roles. The newly released trailer hints at a face-off between two women, leaving audiences curious ahead of its OTT release.</p><h2>Akka trailer out</h2><p>On October 22, <i>Netflix India</i> took to Instagram to share the 2-minute-and-24-second trailer of the upcoming thriller <i>Akka</i>, along with a caption that read, “<i>Ek karegi raaj, ek karegi naash. Pernuru ka itihaas badalne waala hai </i>❤️‍🔥⚔️ Watch Akka, out 30 October, only on Netflix.”</p>

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<p>It opens by introducing Pernuru, a fictional town in South India where women have established their own powerful kingdom. Set in the 1980s, the series depicts a society shaped by women rather than male dominance, where they control the streets and fiercely defend their territory.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/keerthi-suresh-birthday-special-7-reasons-why-the-dorothy-star-remains-one-of-india-s-most-versatile-performers-1792150931302"><strong>Keerthy Suresh birthday special: 7 reasons why the Dorothy star remains one of India's most versatile performers</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As the visuals shift, the clip introduces Keerthy Suresh as Bhawani, who is known as Akka. She is portrayed as a formidable figure who commands the women of Pernuru and rules its crime network with an iron fist. Surrounded by a loyal group of women, Bhawani appears determined to protect the legacy they have built over generations.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The trailer then introduces Rudra, played by Radhika Apte, whose arrival threatens to disrupt the established order. Unlike Bhawani, who already holds power in Pernuru, Rudra emerges as a challenger with ambitions of her own. It then ends with a promise of a high-stakes confrontation and fierce clash between the two women, whose contrasting personalities led them into a battle over the town’s future and throne.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/radhika-apte-recalls-being-unable-to-leave-home-after-leaked-clip-incident-i-was-really-scared-1790248724750"><strong>Radhika Apte recalls being unable to leave home after leaked clip incident: 'I was really scared'</strong></a></p><h2>About Akka</h2><p>Written and directed by Dharmaraj Shetty, the series is set to premiere on Netflix on October 30, 2026. Alongside Radhika and Keerthy, the series also stars Tanvi Azmi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Anshuman Pushkar and Monica Panwar.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ott-releases-in-october-2026-animals-akka-doctor-x-mafia-in-white-12-big-titles-coming-on-netflix-prime-video-jiohotstar-and-more-1791025686136/1791025686139"><strong>OTT releases in October 2026: Animals, Akka, Doctor X: Mafia in White- 12 big titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar and more</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>At the trailer launch in Mumbai, Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte spoke about their characters in Akka. Reflecting on stepping into the role of Bhawani, Keerthy said, “Bhawani is a woman who knows what she stands for and will go to great lengths to protect her legacy. What makes her interesting is that beneath her strength and authority are choices that are never easy, especially when the stakes are so high.”</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Speaking about Rudra and her experience in the series, Radhika Apte said, “Rudra is someone who refuses to be defined by the circumstances she finds herself in. She is fierce, has her own ambitions and is willing to challenge the established order, which makes her a fascinating character to explore. What I enjoyed about Akka is that the conflict isn’t simply about who holds power; it’s also about the different beliefs, loyalties and personal stakes that drive each character.”</p>

On Thursday, Netflix India and the makers of Akka unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming female-led crime thriller. Set in the 1980s, the minute-long clip hints at a gripping battle for power between two women.

The much-awaited trailer for Akka is finally out. The glimpse of this upcoming female-led crime thriller draws viewers into a gripping world of power, ambition, and rivalry. Directed by Dharmaraj Shetty, the series stars Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte in lead roles. The newly released trailer hints at a face-off between two women, leaving audiences curious ahead of its OTT release. Akka trailer out On October 22, Netflix India took to Instagram to share the 2-minute-and-24-second trailer of the upcoming thriller Akka, along with a caption that read, “Ek karegi raaj, ek karegi naash. Pernuru ka itihaas badalne waala hai ❤️‍🔥⚔️ Watch Akka, out 30 October, only on Netflix.”

<p>On Thursday, Netflix India and the makers of Akka unveiled the first trailer for the upcoming female-led crime thriller. Set in the 1980s, the minute-long clip hints at a gripping battle for power between two women.</p>

Akka trailer out: Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte lock horns in a deadly battle for power

<p>After US universities were asked by the Department of Defense to cut review research cooperation with foreign institutions, universities in America have scaled back ties with Chinese universities. Pentagon argues that the move will prevent research output from leaking abroad. China objected the step as a move to block normal academic exchanges.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>All 30 unnamed higher education institutions, part of initial research security audits, were issued “formal notifications” in August by the US Department of Defense.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Universities are critical partners in executing a wide range of Department of War research programs, and the Department must therefore ensure that our research investments are well protected from foreign exploitation,” said Joseph Jewell, assistant secretary of defense for science and technology, in August.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-wants-pulitzer-for-writing-after-nobel-peace-prize-dream-goes-in-vain-watch-1792649951311">Trump wants Pulitzer for writing after Nobel Peace Prize dream goes in vain | WATCH</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to South China Morning Post, the review also covered partnerships with entities the department considered as national security risks. The list includes 130 organizations, including Chinese universities and institutions in Russia and Iran.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The American universities were warned by the Department of Defense of stopping federal research funding if they failed to abide by the instructions and fail to meet research security standards.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The first-round review of the universities led to more than 80 actions in connection with terminating partnerships. No specifics were given by DOD about which universities cut ties with which institutions. Though, seven universities, including Virginia Tech, were said to be taking swift action.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The monitoring of universities' overseas research collaborations is expected to continue after this first review.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>China is protesting the move saying that US is limiting academic exchanges on the grounds of national security and "turning academic exchanges into a political issue." It argues that scientific research requires an open environment, and blocking normal exchanges will not only harm China but also US researchers and universities.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

All 30 unnamed higher education institutions, part of initial research security audits, were issued “formal notifications” in August by DOD.

After US universities were asked by the Department of Defense to cut review research cooperation with foreign institutions, universities in America have scaled back ties with Chinese universities. Pentagon argues that the move will prevent research output from leaking abroad. China objected the step as a move to block normal academic exchanges. All 30 unnamed higher education institutions, part of initial research security audits, were issued “formal notifications” in August by the US Department of Defense. “Universities are critical partners in executing a wide range of Department of War research programs, and the Department must therefore ensure that our research investments are well protected from foreign exploitation,” said Joseph Jewell, assistant secretary of defense for science and technology, in August. ALSO READ: Trump wants Pulitzer for writing after Nobel Peace Prize dream goes in vain | WATCH According to South China Morning Post, the review also covered partnerships with entities the department considered as national security risks. The list includes 130 organizations, including Chinese universities and institutions in Russia and Iran. The American universities were warned by the Department of Defense of stopping federal research funding if they failed to abide by the instructions and fail to meet research security standards. The first-round review of the universities led to more than 80 actions in connection with terminating partnerships. No specifics were given by DOD about which universities cut ties with which institutions. Though, seven universities, including Virginia Tech, were said to be taking swift action. The monitoring of universities' overseas research collaborations is expected to continue after this first review. China is protesting the move saying that US is limiting academic exchanges on the grounds of national security and "turning academic exchanges into a political issue." It argues that scientific research requires an open environment, and blocking normal exchanges will not only harm China but also US researchers and universities.

<p>All 30 unnamed higher education institutions, part of initial research security audits, were issued “formal notifications” in August by DOD.</p>

US universities scale back ties with China amid pressure from Pentagon

<p>A Congressional report has claimed that China's military may have received a boost from NASA-funded research to advance its military, space, submarine and surveillance programmes. The report presented by the&nbsp;Republican members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stated that the US and Chinese institutes had jointly published more than 1,000 research papers with financial support from NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The report<em>&nbsp;</em>added that dozens of people affiliated with China's&nbsp;Seven Sons of National Defence, a group of universities with ties to the Ministry of Industry and Information, were involved in the research.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Many of these papers also list Chinese&nbsp;government funding. Most of these publications are from the last ten years, and around 140 of them are from 2023-24 alone," the report noted.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-accuses-beijing-for-stealing-american-jobs-but-his-god-bless-the-usa-bible-printed-in-china-766106"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Trump accuses Beijing of stealing American jobs, but his 'God Bless the USA' Bible printed in China</strong></a></p>

<p>The report raised concerns about a&nbsp;NASA-backed fog study in the Chukchi-Beaufort Seas with China's Ocean University, which maintains a formal relationship with the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Navy Submarine Academy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The study’s focus on the Chukchi–Beaufort Seas, a strategic area for submarine operations, raises concerns about potential benefits to PLA Navy capabilities in navigation and stealth activities.”</p>

<p>Another study focused on satellite-derived sea surface temperature measurements with researchers from the Ocean University of China, the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, and the China Academy of Space Technology—which is part of a Chinese state company that develops space satellites.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/china-us-race-to-control-time-on-the-moon-764611"><strong>Watch | China, US, Race To Control Time On The Moon</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>'Lack of legal guardrails'</strong></h2>

<p>Notably,&nbsp;in the last decade alone, there have been 9,000 examples of research publications&nbsp;that had received funding from the Pentagon or the US intelligence community, and had co-authors with ties to Chinese institutions.</p>

<p>The report warned that due to lack of legal guardrails around federally funded research, the knowledge gained had contributed to help China "achieve advancements in dual-use, critical, and emerging technologies like hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, fourth-generation nuclear weapons technology, and semiconductor technology".</p>

<p>"The Chinese Communist Party is driving its military advancements through US taxpayer-funded research and through joint US-PRC institutes in China. We also must ban research collaboration with blacklisted entities, enact stricter guardrails on emerging technology research, and hold American universities accountable through passing the Deterrent Act,” said Chairman John Moolenaar</p>

<p>The Committee recommended implementing&nbsp;post-award restrictions on collaborations with blacklisted entities from a foreign country of concern. Additionally, it argued for strengthening&nbsp;oversight and enforcement of postsecondary institutions’ failure to disclose foreign gifts and contracts.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A Congressional report has claimed that China's military may have received a boost from NASA-funded research to advance its military, space, submarine and surveillance programmes.

A Congressional report has claimed that China's military may have received a boost from NASA-funded research to advance its military, space, submarine and surveillance programmes. The report presented by the Republican members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) stated that the US and Chinese institutes had jointly published more than 1,000 research papers with financial support from NASA. The report added that dozens of people affiliated with China's Seven Sons of National Defence, a group of universities with ties to the Ministry of Industry and Information, were involved in the research. "Many of these papers also list Chinese government funding. Most of these publications are from the last ten years, and around 140 of them are from 2023-24 alone," the report noted. Also read | Trump accuses Beijing of stealing American jobs, but his 'God Bless the USA' Bible printed in China The report raised concerns about a NASA-backed fog study in the Chukchi-Beaufort Seas with China's Ocean University, which maintains a formal relationship with the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Navy Submarine Academy. “The study’s focus on the Chukchi–Beaufort Seas, a strategic area for submarine operations, raises concerns about potential benefits to PLA Navy capabilities in navigation and stealth activities.” Another study focused on satellite-derived sea surface temperature measurements with researchers from the Ocean University of China, the Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, and the China Academy of Space Technology—which is part of a Chinese state company that develops space satellites. Watch | China, US, Race To Control Time On The Moon × 'Lack of legal guardrails' Notably, in the last decade alone, there have been 9,000 examples of research publications that had received funding from the Pentagon or the US intelligence community, and had co-authors with ties to Chinese institutions. The report warned that due to lack of legal guardrails around federally funded research, the knowledge gained had contributed to help China "achieve advancements in dual-use, critical, and emerging technologies like hypersonic weapons, artificial intelligence, fourth-generation nuclear weapons technology, and semiconductor technology". "The Chinese Communist Party is driving its military advancements through US taxpayer-funded research and through joint US-PRC institutes in China. We also must ban research collaboration with blacklisted entities, enact stricter guardrails on emerging technology research, and hold American universities accountable through passing the Deterrent Act,” said Chairman John Moolenaar The Committee recommended implementing post-award restrictions on collaborations with blacklisted entities from a foreign country of concern. Additionally, it argued for strengthening oversight and enforcement of postsecondary institutions’ failure to disclose foreign gifts and contracts. (With inputs from agencies)

NASA-funded research helping China advance its space and military programmes: Report

<p>Hungary appeared to backtrack on plans to build a Chinese university in the capital Budapest after thousands took to the streets at the weekend accusing the government of cosying up to Beijing, provoking an angry Chinese response.</p>

<p>Opponents of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban fear the planned $2 billion campus could undercut the quality of higher education and help Beijing increase its influence in Hungary and the European Union.</p>

<p>A senior Orban aide said late on Sunday the university was not even at the planning phase, and once the plan took shape, in early 2023, it could be put to a referendum.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/budapest-renames-streets-near-planned-chinese-university-to-highlight-human-rights-abuses-389076">Budapest renames streets near planned Chinese university to highlight human rights abuses</a></strong></p>

<p>"Once the project's conditions are known, we support a referendum in Budapest to decide whether locals want Fudan University here," Gergely Gulyas, Orban's chief of staff, told the pro-government news web site Mandiner late on Sunday.</p>

<p>Orban, a self-styled illiberal, has built cordial ties with China, including massive joint business projects, and has several times this year blocked EU statements denouncing China's record on human rights, angering his allies.</p>

<p>According to media reports, the government was willing to pay for the construction of Shanghai-based Fudan University's first campus in Europe with a Chinese loan. The campus would displace a planned local student housing area.</p>

<p>Public support for the campus is low, according to an opinion survey conducted last month, and Orban's ruling Fidesz party has weak support in Budapest, so a referendum could turn out against the project.</p>

<p>Orban and Fidesz face their first competitive elections next year after three successive landslides since 2010. Opposition parties have united against Fidesz for the first time and caught up with them in polls.</p>

<p>Political observers say Orban could decide to bide his time on Fudan and return to the idea after the election.</p>

<p>"It is hallmark Fidesz to take two steps back to wait until the issue loses political steam, then attempt it again when it is more convenient politically," Political Capital analyst Peter Kreko said.</p>

<p>Orban has abandoned unpopular projects before, such as a tax on internet traffic, a separate administrative court system and plans to privatise marinas at Lake Balaton.</p>

<p><strong>Opposition spars with China</strong></p>

<p>Gergely Karacsony, the opposition mayor of Budapest and a top contender to challenge Orban in elections next year, said on Saturday the university protest was a symbol of Hungarians rejecting heavy-handed government decisions.</p>

<p>"Although we are worlds apart on human rights... we really just don't want a Chinese elite school built at the expense of Hungarian taxpayers," Karacsony told Saturday's rally.</p>

<p>A media spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, who did not give his name, criticised Karacsony's comments on the embassy's Facebook page.</p>

<p>"In broad daylight, it is unseemly to criticize the internal affairs of another country, especially when I heard some key words in his speech, such as 'Tiananmen Square protests', 'democracy', 'human rights' and 'values'," the official said.</p>

<p>The Chinese embassy said it would address Reuters questions on a planned Fudan referendum at a later stage.</p>

<p>Hungary blocked an EU statement in April criticising China's new security law in Hong Kong, undermining the bloc's efforts to confront Beijing's curbing of freedoms in the former British colony.</p>


Hungary appeared to backtrack on plans to build a Chinese university in the capital Budapest after thousands took to the streets at the weekend accusing the government of cosying up to Beijing, provoking an angry Chinese response.

Hungary appeared to backtrack on plans to build a Chinese university in the capital Budapest after thousands took to the streets at the weekend accusing the government of cosying up to Beijing, provoking an angry Chinese response. Opponents of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban fear the planned $2 billion campus could undercut the quality of higher education and help Beijing increase its influence in Hungary and the European Union. A senior Orban aide said late on Sunday the university was not even at the planning phase, and once the plan took shape, in early 2023, it could be put to a referendum. Also read | Budapest renames streets near planned Chinese university to highlight human rights abuses "Once the project's conditions are known, we support a referendum in Budapest to decide whether locals want Fudan University here," Gergely Gulyas, Orban's chief of staff, told the pro-government news web site Mandiner late on Sunday. Orban, a self-styled illiberal, has built cordial ties with China, including massive joint business projects, and has several times this year blocked EU statements denouncing China's record on human rights, angering his allies. According to media reports, the government was willing to pay for the construction of Shanghai-based Fudan University's first campus in Europe with a Chinese loan. The campus would displace a planned local student housing area. Public support for the campus is low, according to an opinion survey conducted last month, and Orban's ruling Fidesz party has weak support in Budapest, so a referendum could turn out against the project. Orban and Fidesz face their first competitive elections next year after three successive landslides since 2010. Opposition parties have united against Fidesz for the first time and caught up with them in polls. Political observers say Orban could decide to bide his time on Fudan and return to the idea after the election. "It is hallmark Fidesz to take two steps back to wait until the issue loses political steam, then attempt it again when it is more convenient politically," Political Capital analyst Peter Kreko said. Orban has abandoned unpopular projects before, such as a tax on internet traffic, a separate administrative court system and plans to privatise marinas at Lake Balaton. Opposition spars with China Gergely Karacsony, the opposition mayor of Budapest and a top contender to challenge Orban in elections next year, said on Saturday the university protest was a symbol of Hungarians rejecting heavy-handed government decisions. "Although we are worlds apart on human rights... we really just don't want a Chinese elite school built at the expense of Hungarian taxpayers," Karacsony told Saturday's rally. A media spokesman at the Chinese Embassy in Hungary, who did not give his name, criticised Karacsony's comments on the embassy's Facebook page. "In broad daylight, it is unseemly to criticize the internal affairs of another country, especially when I heard some key words in his speech, such as 'Tiananmen Square protests', 'democracy', 'human rights' and 'values'," the official said. The Chinese embassy said it would address Reuters questions on a planned Fudan referendum at a later stage. Hungary blocked an EU statement in April criticising China's new security law in Hong Kong, undermining the bloc's efforts to confront Beijing's curbing of freedoms in the former British colony.

Hungary appears to back-pedal on Chinese university plans after protests

<p>Chinese universities have started cancelling entrance exams for international students, claiming that&nbsp;the move is a response to Wuhan coronavirus fears.</p>

<p>Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have scratched exam requirements for foreigners according to media reports.<br />
<br />
A notice on&nbsp;Peking University's&nbsp;website stated ''to protect the health of the majority of candidates during the coronavirus pandemic ... the University has taken the decision to cancel the written examinations for international students applying [for undergraduate programs in 2020].</p>

<p>The school will instead conduct remote interviews for students who meet their qualifications, according to Chinese news agencies.</p>

<p>However, experts claim that the change will make it easier for overseas students to gain admission into these institutions and could be linked to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) continued propaganda efforts abroad.</p>

<p>The decision is likely in response to recent closures of Confucius Institutes over growing concerns that China's influence is negatively affecting freedom of speech on campuses around the world.<br />
<br />
According to Chinese education specialist Shi Dajun, a Peking University graduate, ''now that the Confucius Institutes are running into obstacles, we are seeing them take a new direction.''</p>

<p>''The goal is to have foreign students studying in China take the CCP’s message back to their own countries to help spread Beijing’s narrative,'' Shi said.<br />
<br />
A retired professor from Lanzhou University surnamed Cai said&nbsp;that attracting overseas students to China is part of a long-running strategy for the CCP, which uses education as a form of soft power.</p>

<p>Students who study in China under its Belt and Road Initiative enjoy generous stipends for living expenses and no tuition fees in addition to free accommodations. The idea is to train the next generation of pro-China people and to develop friendly ties with their countries.</p>


Chinese universities have started cancelling entrance exams for international students, claiming that the move is a response to Wuhan coronavirus fears. Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have scratched exam requirements for foreigners according to media reports.

Chinese universities have started cancelling entrance exams for international students, claiming that the move is a response to Wuhan coronavirus fears. Peking University, Renmin University of China, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University have scratched exam requirements for foreigners according to media reports. A notice on Peking University's website stated ''to protect the health of the majority of candidates during the coronavirus pandemic ... the University has taken the decision to cancel the written examinations for international students applying [for undergraduate programs in 2020]. The school will instead conduct remote interviews for students who meet their qualifications, according to Chinese news agencies. However, experts claim that the change will make it easier for overseas students to gain admission into these institutions and could be linked to the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) continued propaganda efforts abroad. The decision is likely in response to recent closures of Confucius Institutes over growing concerns that China's influence is negatively affecting freedom of speech on campuses around the world. According to Chinese education specialist Shi Dajun, a Peking University graduate, ''now that the Confucius Institutes are running into obstacles, we are seeing them take a new direction.'' ''The goal is to have foreign students studying in China take the CCP’s message back to their own countries to help spread Beijing’s narrative,'' Shi said. A retired professor from Lanzhou University surnamed Cai said that attracting overseas students to China is part of a long-running strategy for the CCP, which uses education as a form of soft power. Students who study in China under its Belt and Road Initiative enjoy generous stipends for living expenses and no tuition fees in addition to free accommodations. The idea is to train the next generation of pro-China people and to develop friendly ties with their countries.

Chinese universities cancelling entrance exams for foreign students

<p>&#39;Xi Jinping Thought&#39; will now be taught, researched and promoted in universities across China, ensuring that the leader&#39;s eponymous philosophy is implanted into students&#39; hearts and minds.</p>

<p>At least twenty universities have established research institutes for Xi&#39;s ideology, which was enshrined in the Communist Party&#39;s constitution during its 19th national congress this month.</p>

<p>The distinction places Xi on a par with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. It means that his dogma&nbsp;&quot;Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era&quot; will become a mantra for a new generation.</p>

<p>According to media reports Sunday, the research institutes will not &quot;hide in the ivory tower&quot; but advocate the incorporation of Xi thought in all aspects of daily life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;We will gather many experts and professors to disseminate and preach Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in businesses, neighbourhoods and villages,&quot; Jiang Hongxin, head of Hunan Normal University&#39;s newly-founded Xi Thought research centre, told the People&#39;s Daily, the party mouthpiece.</p>

<p>Jiang&#39;s attitude mirrors that of many institute directors, who in interviews with Chinese media over the weekend espoused a deep devotion to spreading Xi-isms.</p>

<p>&quot;The (research) centre has a unique duty, which is to push forward Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in curriculums, in classrooms and in minds,&quot; Chen Xianda, a professor at Renmin University of China, told the Beijing-based Guangming Daily.</p>

<p>One institute director said the centre was the school&#39;s way of &quot;answering Xi&#39;s call&quot; to educate young people, while another said the Xi Thought organisation would &quot;guide the entire school, from top to bottom, in implementing the spirit of the 19th Congress&quot;.</p>

<p>&quot;We must always keep in mind the generosity of General Secretary Xi Jinping,&quot; Zhou Qihong, a party secretary at Wuhan Donghu University, told the People&#39;s Daily.</p>

<p>The lessons must &quot;enter brains and hearts&quot;, he said.</p>

<p>The education ministry also released guidelines Monday for mandatory elementary and high school extracurricular programmes that include activities to &quot;foster emotional attachment to the Chinese Communist Party&quot;.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Xi Jinping Thought will now be taught, researched and promoted in universities across China, ensuring that the leader's eponymous philosophy is implanted into students' hearts and minds.

'Xi Jinping Thought' will now be taught, researched and promoted in universities across China, ensuring that the leader's eponymous philosophy is implanted into students' hearts and minds. At least twenty universities have established research institutes for Xi's ideology, which was enshrined in the Communist Party's constitution during its 19th national congress this month. The distinction places Xi on a par with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. It means that his dogma "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era" will become a mantra for a new generation. According to media reports Sunday, the research institutes will not "hide in the ivory tower" but advocate the incorporation of Xi thought in all aspects of daily life. "We will gather many experts and professors to disseminate and preach Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in businesses, neighbourhoods and villages," Jiang Hongxin, head of Hunan Normal University's newly-founded Xi Thought research centre, told the People's Daily, the party mouthpiece. Jiang's attitude mirrors that of many institute directors, who in interviews with Chinese media over the weekend espoused a deep devotion to spreading Xi-isms. "The (research) centre has a unique duty, which is to push forward Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in curriculums, in classrooms and in minds," Chen Xianda, a professor at Renmin University of China, told the Beijing-based Guangming Daily. One institute director said the centre was the school's way of "answering Xi's call" to educate young people, while another said the Xi Thought organisation would "guide the entire school, from top to bottom, in implementing the spirit of the 19th Congress". "We must always keep in mind the generosity of General Secretary Xi Jinping," Zhou Qihong, a party secretary at Wuhan Donghu University, told the People's Daily. The lessons must "enter brains and hearts", he said. The education ministry also released guidelines Monday for mandatory elementary and high school extracurricular programmes that include activities to "foster emotional attachment to the Chinese Communist Party".

Chinese universities start 'Xi Thought' institutes

<p>Universities will be closely scrutinised, professors will be evaluated and the Party will punish those lacking ideological firmness. Such is the program released by Xi&nbsp;Jinping&rsquo;s government to coincide with the Communist Party congress, where Xi is seeking to reinforce his authority as a world leader.</p>

<p>Efforts to control universities and disregard academic freedom are also taking place abroad. In early September, Reuters and The Guardian exposed efforts by Chinese authorities to partially restrict access to the American Political Science Review from within China. The Review, one of the most reputable journals in its field, is published by the prestigious Cambridge University Press (CUP). Ultimately the publishing house resisted the Chinese pressure, but the news has sparked upset, coming just a few weeks after another controversy that shook the foundations of academia.</p>

<p><strong>The &ldquo;China Quarterly&rdquo; affair</strong></p>

<p>In August, China scholars from around the world learnt that Beijing had demanded that Cambridge University Press withdraw 315&nbsp;articles and book reviews from China Quarterly, produced by University of London&rsquo;s respected School of Oriental and African Studies and published by CUP.</p>

<p>These articles dealt with topics considered sensitive by the Chinese government: the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests; Mao Zedong and China&rsquo;s Cultural Revolution; ethnic tensions in Tibet and Xinjiang; Taiwan; and anything relating to democratic reform.</p>

<p>CUP complied, pulling the offending articles from their Chinese site, explaining that it would rather withdraw a small number of articles of interest to a handful of academics, in order to ensure the continued availability in China of its numerous other academic and educational publications.</p>

<p>Led by China Quarterly editor Tim Pringle, academics and NGOs expressed outrage that CUP would favour its own commercial interests above academic freedom, and threatened to boycott the publishing house.</p>

<p>Faced with protests, the Chinese government defended its actions in an editorial published in the August 20&nbsp;edition of the Global Times, stating that, while it respects academic freedom in the UK, China has the right to decide what can be published within its borders.</p>

<p>Three days after the censorship came to light, CUP had a sudden change of heart and made the 315&nbsp;articles available again.</p>

<p>Around the same time, the US-based Association of Asian Studies (AAS) revealed it had received a similar demand but did not comply.</p>

<p><strong>Ideological battle</strong></p>

<p>The controversy highlights the oppressive nature of the government of the People&rsquo;s Republic. Despite the undeniable international character of Chinese universities, higher education and research must tow the party line.</p>

<p>Deng Xiaoping&rsquo;s late-1970s policies of economic reform and opening-up enabled the country to become a laboratory of ideas in the last quarter of the 20th century. But for the past decade or so, China appears to be engaged in an ideological battle against the West.</p>

<p>Following the 2008&nbsp;Beijing Olympic Games, China overtook Japan as the world&rsquo;s second-largest economy, behind the US, which was itself weakened by the 2007-2008&nbsp;financial crisis and the resulting severe recession.</p>

<p>Yet China quickly found itself facing dissatisfaction from those steamrollered by a policy of growth at all costs, in spite of the country&rsquo;s economic and diplomatic successes. Many Chinese intellectuals began to think the lot of their fellow citizens should be improved with a final &ndash; political &ndash; reform.</p>

<p>Led by writer and university professor Liu Xiaobo, one of the key activists of the 1989&nbsp;Tiananmen Square protests, hundreds of intellectuals signed the Charter 08, a manifesto in favour of democratising the regime. For this Liu was sentenced in 2009 to an 11-year prison term. He was released in July 2017 and died a few days later.</p>

<p><strong>Document #9, the &ldquo;anti-subversion kit&rdquo;</strong></p>

<p>Xi&nbsp;Jinping&rsquo;s rise to power in 2012-2013&nbsp;signalled a new era in the curtailing of freedom of thought. Fearing any threat to the purity of their ideology, Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders released a handbook listing the subversive ideas to be eradicated, the infamous Document #9.</p>

<p>The following topics are now banned from public discussion: western constitutional democracy, the universal nature of human rights, the empowerment of civil society, multiple interpretations of history, and anything questioning the validity of Chinese economic reforms and socialism.</p>

<p>While post-Mao China was not free of taboos, they were usually limited to the &ldquo;three&nbsp;Ts&rdquo;: Taiwan, Tiananmen and Tibet. Several things have changed since 2012. Firstly, the publication of Document #9&nbsp;expanded the scope of unacceptable ideas: any subject, without exception, could now be censored.</p>

<p>Secondly, Chinese universities are now the reluctant front-line soldiers in this ideological battle: in 2015, the Minister for Education urged universities to ban the use of textbooks promoting Western values. Lastly, any contravening of the new norm is now subject to severe repression, and the CPC has no qualms about openly resorting to totalitarian tactics.</p>

<p><strong>A violent crackdown</strong></p>

<p>On top of routine intimidation, 248&nbsp;human rights advocates were rounded up in a brutal mass arrest in July 2015. In the resulting atmosphere of fear, liberal intellectuals no longer think it wise to answer questions from foreign journalists; they practice broad self-censorship and, when possible, wind up living in exile abroad. For those who remain, harassment is commonplace.</p>

<p>These attacks against fundamental rights and specifically academic freedom are now extending beyond mainland China, starting with the special administrative regions. In 2014, several Macau professors were abruptly dismissed; in Hong Kong, the 2015&nbsp;disappearances of five book-sellers and publishers are still unresolved. These cases reveal the widening cracks in the &ldquo;one country, two systems&rdquo; model. Yet Beijing&rsquo;s influence does not stop there.</p>

<p>In the summer of 2014, the European Association for Chinese Studies had several pages of its program ripped out by the Confucius Institute the day before its biannual conference in Portugal.</p>

<p>The institute apparently objected to advertising from Taiwanese sponsors. That same year, the American Association of University Professors initiated calls for the closure of Confucius Institutes, claiming they undermine freedom of speech on US university campuses.</p>

<p>Last month Australia acknowledged Chinese government interference in its universities. Beijing has been carrying out unprecedented influence and control operations targeting Chinese students as well as Chinese and non-Chinese professors. In response, the Group of Eight (Go8), a coalition of the top eight universities in Australia, has called for a coordinated and measured response.</p>

<p>In 2016, more than a quarter of the 550,000&nbsp;overseas students enrolled in Australian universities came from China. They represent a significant financial boon for Australian universities, who don&rsquo;t want to offend the Chinese government. The question is, can the core values of academic institutions be preserved without incurring the wrath of Party leaders?</p>

<p>This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/china-zero-tolerance-for-academic-freedom-85200" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.</p>


Chinese universities, higher education and research must be preserved from the wrath of political parties

Universities will be closely scrutinised, professors will be evaluated and the Party will punish those lacking ideological firmness. Such is the program released by Xi Jinping’s government to coincide with the Communist Party congress, where Xi is seeking to reinforce his authority as a world leader. Efforts to control universities and disregard academic freedom are also taking place abroad. In early September, Reuters and The Guardian exposed efforts by Chinese authorities to partially restrict access to the American Political Science Review from within China. The Review, one of the most reputable journals in its field, is published by the prestigious Cambridge University Press (CUP). Ultimately the publishing house resisted the Chinese pressure, but the news has sparked upset, coming just a few weeks after another controversy that shook the foundations of academia. The “China Quarterly” affair In August, China scholars from around the world learnt that Beijing had demanded that Cambridge University Press withdraw 315 articles and book reviews from China Quarterly, produced by University of London’s respected School of Oriental and African Studies and published by CUP. These articles dealt with topics considered sensitive by the Chinese government: the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests; Mao Zedong and China’s Cultural Revolution; ethnic tensions in Tibet and Xinjiang; Taiwan; and anything relating to democratic reform. CUP complied, pulling the offending articles from their Chinese site, explaining that it would rather withdraw a small number of articles of interest to a handful of academics, in order to ensure the continued availability in China of its numerous other academic and educational publications. Led by China Quarterly editor Tim Pringle, academics and NGOs expressed outrage that CUP would favour its own commercial interests above academic freedom, and threatened to boycott the publishing house. Faced with protests, the Chinese government defended its actions in an editorial published in the August 20 edition of the Global Times, stating that, while it respects academic freedom in the UK, China has the right to decide what can be published within its borders. Three days after the censorship came to light, CUP had a sudden change of heart and made the 315 articles available again. Around the same time, the US-based Association of Asian Studies (AAS) revealed it had received a similar demand but did not comply. Ideological battle The controversy highlights the oppressive nature of the government of the People’s Republic. Despite the undeniable international character of Chinese universities, higher education and research must tow the party line. Deng Xiaoping’s late-1970s policies of economic reform and opening-up enabled the country to become a laboratory of ideas in the last quarter of the 20th century. But for the past decade or so, China appears to be engaged in an ideological battle against the West. Following the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China overtook Japan as the world’s second-largest economy, behind the US, which was itself weakened by the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the resulting severe recession. Yet China quickly found itself facing dissatisfaction from those steamrollered by a policy of growth at all costs, in spite of the country’s economic and diplomatic successes. Many Chinese intellectuals began to think the lot of their fellow citizens should be improved with a final – political – reform. Led by writer and university professor Liu Xiaobo, one of the key activists of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, hundreds of intellectuals signed the Charter 08, a manifesto in favour of democratising the regime. For this Liu was sentenced in 2009 to an 11-year prison term. He was released in July 2017 and died a few days later. Document #9, the “anti-subversion kit” Xi Jinping’s rise to power in 2012-2013 signalled a new era in the curtailing of freedom of thought. Fearing any threat to the purity of their ideology, Communist Party of China (CPC) leaders released a handbook listing the subversive ideas to be eradicated, the infamous Document #9. The following topics are now banned from public discussion: western constitutional democracy, the universal nature of human rights, the empowerment of civil society, multiple interpretations of history, and anything questioning the validity of Chinese economic reforms and socialism. While post-Mao China was not free of taboos, they were usually limited to the “three Ts”: Taiwan, Tiananmen and Tibet. Several things have changed since 2012. Firstly, the publication of Document #9 expanded the scope of unacceptable ideas: any subject, without exception, could now be censored. Secondly, Chinese universities are now the reluctant front-line soldiers in this ideological battle: in 2015, the Minister for Education urged universities to ban the use of textbooks promoting Western values. Lastly, any contravening of the new norm is now subject to severe repression, and the CPC has no qualms about openly resorting to totalitarian tactics. A violent crackdown On top of routine intimidation, 248 human rights advocates were rounded up in a brutal mass arrest in July 2015. In the resulting atmosphere of fear, liberal intellectuals no longer think it wise to answer questions from foreign journalists; they practice broad self-censorship and, when possible, wind up living in exile abroad. For those who remain, harassment is commonplace. These attacks against fundamental rights and specifically academic freedom are now extending beyond mainland China, starting with the special administrative regions. In 2014, several Macau professors were abruptly dismissed; in Hong Kong, the 2015 disappearances of five book-sellers and publishers are still unresolved. These cases reveal the widening cracks in the “one country, two systems” model. Yet Beijing’s influence does not stop there. In the summer of 2014, the European Association for Chinese Studies had several pages of its program ripped out by the Confucius Institute the day before its biannual conference in Portugal. The institute apparently objected to advertising from Taiwanese sponsors. That same year, the American Association of University Professors initiated calls for the closure of Confucius Institutes, claiming they undermine freedom of speech on US university campuses. Last month Australia acknowledged Chinese government interference in its universities. Beijing has been carrying out unprecedented influence and control operations targeting Chinese students as well as Chinese and non-Chinese professors. In response, the Group of Eight (Go8), a coalition of the top eight universities in Australia, has called for a coordinated and measured response. In 2016, more than a quarter of the 550,000 overseas students enrolled in Australian universities came from China. They represent a significant financial boon for Australian universities, who don’t want to offend the Chinese government. The question is, can the core values of academic institutions be preserved without incurring the wrath of Party leaders? This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

China: zero tolerance for academic freedom

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