China warns travelers against Seattle airport after incidents involving academics. Seahawks legend Cliff Avril will announce the team's draft pick. The club is also considering veteran defender Dante Fowler Jr. to bolster the roster.
China warns travelers against Seattle airport after incidents involving academics
Chinese authorities issued an unusual warning to their citizens planning trips to the United States. The recommendation to avoid Seattle–Tacoma International Airport came after a series of incidents in which about twenty Chinese scientists and academics, despite holding valid visas, were subjected to what China's foreign ministry described as "unjustified questioning" and "malicious inspections" by U.S. border agents. As a result, these individuals were denied entry to the country where they were headed to attend a scientific conference.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, together with Chinese diplomatic missions in the U.S., published a notice urging citizens to increase vigilance regarding safety. The document, reported by South China Morning Post, contains a direct recommendation, where possible, not to use Seattle airport to enter the U.S., and to thoroughly study American immigration rules before traveling. Beijing’s move is a response to a "string of incidents" that, it is claimed, targeted Chinese academics at that point of entry.
The incident highlights growing tensions in academic and scientific exchanges between the two countries amid broader geopolitical rivalry. The notion of "malicious questioning" in this context, according to the Chinese side, implies overly biased and aggressive border officer questioning that goes beyond standard procedure and may be motivated by suspicions of espionage or technology transfer. Denying entry to visa-holding academics is a serious measure, typically applied if an officer suspects that the stated purpose of the visit does not match the reality, or if the individual poses a national security threat. China's warning effectively formalizes and publicizes a practice that had been reported unofficially: many Chinese students and researchers have become targets of tightened U.S. immigration controls under the so-called "Initiative to Guard Against Chinese Influence."
A key consequence of this story is further cooling of humanitarian and scientific ties. A direct recommendation to avoid a specific airport is an unprecedented step that could cause practical inconveniences for travelers and damage the airport's reputation. Broader implications involve a deepening rift between the academic communities of the two countries. On one hand, the U.S. is tightening measures to prevent leakage of intellectual property and technology; on the other, China perceives these actions as targeted discrimination and obstruction of normal international cooperation. The lack of an immediate comment from the Chinese Embassy in Washington to requests for further details only underscores the formal and principled nature of the statement. This episode becomes another brick in the wall of mutual distrust, where scientific contacts are turned into bargaining chips in a larger strategic game.
Former Seahawks defensive star to announce team’s second-round pick in NFL draft
Ahead of one of the year's major events in American football, the NFL draft, clubs try to make the process not only sporting but also entertaining by inviting legendary former players to announce their picks. The Seattle Seahawks are no exception: they entrusted the honor of announcing their second-round pick to one of the pillars of the legendary defense that brought the team its first Super Bowl victory.
As reported by ESPN insider Adam Schefter, former defensive end Cliff Avril will be the one on the Pittsburgh draft stage to announce the Seahawks' pick at overall No. 64 in the second round. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 24, which will be the second day of the draft. The 2026 draft will begin on Thursday, April 24, with the first round and conclude on Saturday with picks in the final rounds. For reference, the NFL draft is an annual event in which clubs select the rights to young college players in a set order, serving as the primary way to replenish rosters.
Cliff Avril, selected in the third round of the 2008 draft by the Detroit Lions, played ten seasons in the NFL, five of them in Seattle. It was there that he reached the peak of his career, becoming a key part of the famed Legion of Boom defense. In his first season with the Seahawks in 2013 he recorded 8 sacks in the regular season, and in Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos he made a significant contribution to the rout, recording a safety (forcing the opposing quarterback to commit an error in his own end zone, which scores 2 points), a tackle for a loss, and two quarterback hits. His best season by sack total (11.5) came in 2016, earning him a Pro Bowl selection — the league's all-star game.
Interestingly, other notable figures connected to Seahawks history will also take part in second-round pick announcements. Former receiver Dion Branch, who won the Super Bowl with both the New England Patriots and Seattle, will announce the Patriots' pick. And Mark Rypien, the quarterback who led the Washington franchise to a Super Bowl victory in 1992 and a Spokane native, will represent the Washington team.
This symbolic decision by the Seahawks is not only a tribute to a player who embodies the club's golden era, but also an important gesture to fans, reminding them of the franchise's proud traditions. As noted by Seattle Sports, Avril was a stellar member of the celebrated defense behind the team's first championship. His appearance at the draft underscores the organization's appreciation not only for future talents but also for past heroes whose names are permanently written into the franchise's history.
Veteran visit: defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. visited the Seahawks
While teams' main attention is currently focused on the draft, clubs continue to explore other ways to strengthen their rosters. A clear example was the visit Thursday to the Seattle Seahawks' headquarters by veteran defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., reports The Seattle Times. This step may be part of a strategy to make up for losses on the pass-rush line after the departure of Boye Mafe.
The 31-year-old Fowler, selected third overall in the 2015 draft by Jacksonville, has played ten seasons in the league, totaling 58.5 sacks. Despite his veteran status, he is viewed as a relatively inexpensive rotational pass-rush option. His last season with the Washington Commanders was among the best of his career: he recorded 10.5 sacks. For reference, pass rush is the attack on the opposing quarterback aimed at preventing an accurate pass, and a sack is when a defender tackles the quarterback with the ball behind the line of scrimmage — a key defensive metric.
A notable factor is Fowler's familiarity with key figures on the Seahawks' staff. In 2022–2023 he played for the Dallas Cowboys, where the defensive line coach was Aden Durde, now Seattle's defensive coordinator. He was also a teammate of DeMarcus Lawrence there, which could ease his integration into the new system. Analytical resource Pro Football Focus highly rated his past season, giving him a career-high grade of 77.6, particularly noting his pass-rush effectiveness: a pass-rush win rate of 14.1% ranked him 30th among edge defenders. Financial expectations are also clear: last year he earned $6 million in Dallas, and PFF estimates his market value for this season at a similar amount on a one-year deal.
Such visits by veteran free agents shortly before the draft are common practice in the NFL. Clubs and players often postpone signing deals until after the draft to better assess market conditions and potential playing opportunities in a reworked roster. Thus, Fowler's visit is more reconnaissance and groundwork for a possible future agreement. For the Seahawks he represents a low-risk, potentially high-reward option: an experienced player motivated to prove himself, who could be a valuable situational contributor and a mentor for young talents the club may draft.
