When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

China

China Arrests More Than A Hundred People For Spreading Apocalypse Rumors

GLOBAL TIMES, XINHUA (China), THE GUARDIAN (UK), CNN (US)

Worldcrunch

Chinese authorities have arrested at least 101 people for spreading rumors about an impending apocalypse, the state-run news agency Xinhua reports.

The 101 people arrested (including 37 in Qinghai and 34 in Fujian province in the east of the country, according to CNN) all belong to the Christian "Almighty God" cult, and were spreading doomsday rumors door-to-door or at public venues. The "evil cult," as it was referred to by Chinese authorities, claimed that only they could save people's lives.

The group, which was founded in 1992, believes that a female Jesus has been, or will be, reincarnated in mainland China, The Guardian reports – while Xinhua adds that its members recently latched on to the Mayan apocalypse scenario predicting the sun will not shine for three days beginning on Friday.

"A big eye was found in the sun on December 9 in Beijing, and female Jesus manifested herself with her name. Great tsunamis and earthquakes are about to happen around the world," reads part of a text message that the "Almighty God" group sent to its members, according to China's Global Times newspaper.

If only all countries did same as China - arrest idiots who say world is ending Friday - we'd have fewer stupid people watoday.com.au/world/scores-a…

— Corey Stephenson (@MrCorey) December 18, 2012

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

FOCUS: Russia-Ukraine War

That Man In Mariupol: Is Putin Using A Body Double To Avoid Public Appearances?

Putin really is meeting with Xi in Moscow — we know that. But there are credible experts saying that the person who showed up in Mariupol the day before was someone else — the latest report that the Russian president uses a doppelganger for meetings and appearances.

screen grab of Putin in a dark down jacket

During the visit to Mariupol, the Presidential office only released screen grabs of a video

Russian President Press Office/TASS via ZUMA
Anna Akage

Have no doubt, the Vladimir Putin we’re seeing alongside Xi Jinping this week is the real Vladimir Putin. But it’s a question that is being asked after a range of credible experts have accused the Russian president of sending a body double for a high-profile visit this past weekend in the occupied Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Stay up-to-date with the latest on the Russia-Ukraine war, with our exclusive international coverage.

Sign up to our free daily newsletter.

Reports and conspiracy theories have circulated in the past about the Russian leader using a stand-in because of health or security issues. But the reaction to the Kremlin leader's trip to Mariupol is the first time that multiple credible sources — including those who’ve spent time with him in the past — have cast doubt on the identity of the man who showed up in the southeastern Ukrainian city that Russia took over last spring after a months-long siege.

Russian opposition politician Gennady Gudkov is among those who confidently claim that a Putin look-alike, or rather one of his look-alikes, was in the Ukrainian city.

"Now that there is a war going on, I don't rule out the possibility that someone strongly resembling or disguised as Putin is playing his role," Gudkov said.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest