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US government officials have reassured the public that no additional classified documents have been leaked following the recent publication of two intelligence papers discussing Israel’s military plans regarding Iran. During a press briefing at the White House, John Kirby, the national security communications adviser, expressed the Biden administration’s deep concern over the unauthorized release.

“We are deeply troubled, and the President shares this concern, about any leakage of classified information into the public domain. Such occurrences are not acceptable,” Kirby stated. He emphasized that the President would closely monitor the investigation to uncover how these documents were leaked and to consider any preventative measures recommended as a result.

Earlier in the day, a defense department official confirmed to The Guardian that a thorough investigation was underway to determine how the two documents, attributed to the US Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, were made public on the messaging platform Telegram just four days prior. These documents detail Israel’s military strategies in response to an unprecedented missile attack from Iran on October 1, which marked a significant escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict triggered by Hamas’s attacks on Israel in October 2023.

One document is titled “Israel: air force continues preparations for strike on Iran and conducts a second large-force employment exercise,” while the other relates to “Israel: defense forces continue key munitions preparations and covert UAV activity almost certainly for a strike on Iran.”

While it remains unclear whether the leak was intentional or the result of a cyber breach, Kirby reassured the public, stating, “We currently have no indication that we should expect additional documents to surface in the public domain.”

His remarks followed those of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, who described the leak as “very concerning” and indicated he was awaiting a briefing on the investigation’s progress.

Amid this ongoing inquiry, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to the Middle East for the 11th time since the outbreak of violence. He will address the leak during his visit and seek to reignite ceasefire negotiations that have stalled since Israel’s recent actions against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. However, Kirby tempered expectations about the chances of success for these discussions. “I can’t sit here today and promise that negotiations are about to resume in Doha, Cairo, or anywhere else,” he noted. “We will continue our efforts in intensive diplomacy to find a potential path to a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.”

On October 24, the China News Service reported that China’s first reusable returnable experimental satellite—Shijian 19—successfully returned to Earth after more than ten days in orbit. This satellite carried a batch of new “space seeds,” which were delivered in Beijing on the 24th. These seeds encompass major crop types, including grains, cotton, oilseed, vegetables, and fruits.

What types of seeds were fortunate enough to undertake this “space journey”? How will these “spaceborne seeds” be utilized once they return? What research will scientists conduct, and what significance does this have in stabilizing China’s food supply and ensuring global food security? Liu Luxiang, Deputy Director of the Crop Science Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Chief Scientist for the National Space Breeding Engineering, recently shared insights on these topics during an interview.

From “launch to land” and from field to table, “space seeds” undergo rigorous selection processes, ensuring only the best candidates are chosen. Liu explained that the seeds sent into space must represent either the current top varieties or those with potential to become significant in the future. Additionally, it’s crucial that these seeds exhibit purity, genetic stability, and high germination rates.

Employing space-induced mutation technology for crop breeding has become one of the key methods for rapidly developing superior crop varieties. As early as 1987, China began space breeding research using returnable satellites, with the Shijian 8 breeding satellite, launched in 2006, serving as a prominent example and earning its title as a “space train for seeds.” In the Crop Science Research Institute’s hall, jars contain various crops cultivated from “space seeds,” showcasing traits such as high yields, strong resilience, and good salt tolerance.

Despite their shared origin in space, the returning seeds display differing characteristics. Liu noted that genetic mutations in space occur randomly, meaning any trait could emerge. However, this randomness leads to diversity, which is vital for developing new genetic resources and breeding new crop varieties.

How can researchers identify useful traits from this “blind box” of genetic mutations? Liu emphasized that the key lies in targeted selection based on breeding goals. For instance, when selecting seeds resistant to drought, planting the “descendants” of space seeds in drought-prone soil can reveal which crops survive, potentially indicating enhanced drought resistance. The harvested seeds must continue to be cultivated, observing whether their drought resistance persists in subsequent generations, a process that may be repeated multiple times to stabilize desirable traits.

The richness of genetic resources provides breeders with more choices when developing new crop varieties. Liu commented, “By crossbreeding stable genetic resources with main varieties, we can add more beneficial traits, enhancing existing crops even further.”

Regarding the “space seeds” brought back by Shijian 19, Liu hopes to see more mutations that can better address the needs of modern agriculture. He pointed out that both in China and globally, there is a persistent and rigid increase in the demand for total food supply. Improving crop yields per unit area and developing new genetic sources are effective solutions. Furthermore, to counter climate change’s impact on crop growth—especially for staple crops—breeders require new mutations to cultivate varieties that adapt better to changing environments.

“While aiming for high yields, we also need to emphasize quality,” Liu stated. The goal is to select new genetic resources conducive to developing nutritious, health-focused foods, meeting people’s dietary needs. For instance, individuals with high blood sugar levels may benefit from foods rich in resistant starch, which can be identified and bred through space-induced mutation techniques that yield wheat and rice varieties with higher resistant starch content.

It’s noteworthy that Shijian 19 carried genetic resources from multiple countries, including Thailand and Pakistan, leveraging frameworks such as the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Liu remarked that this represents significant collaborative achievements in the field of mutation breeding within the Asia-Pacific region, which enhances regional food security.

He also highlighted that China remains at the forefront of the global mutation breeding sector. Over the past several decades, China has developed numerous new crop varieties through space-induced mutation technology, yielding significant socio-economic benefits. As a reusable satellite, Shijian 19 will further lower launch costs, providing more opportunities for domestic breeders and a new platform for international colleagues in mutation breeding.

“We must ensure food stability for over 1.4 billion Chinese people and pay attention to global food security issues,” Liu concluded. “I hope that through Shijian 19, we can foster increased international collaboration to assist more developing countries, particularly in Africa, in addressing food security challenges. This also showcases China’s commitment and responsibility.”

On October 22, the day after Guangdong released its economic data for the first three quarters of the year, the world’s first domestically developed mobile operating system, the original HarmonyOS, was officially unveiled in Guangdong. This marks it as the third largest mobile operating system globally, following Apple’s iOS and Android.

Guangdong is currently on a “main road” to enhance the quality of its economic development, leading industry transformation through technological breakthroughs and maintaining a proactive stance with innovation.

The province is focused on nurturing a new quality of productivity for high-quality development. However, given various constraints, it recognizes that entirely moving away from traditional development models isn’t a quick process.

The shift from old to new momentum and the changes in economic structure are vividly reflected in the recently released economic report for the first three quarters. The region’s GDP reached 99,939.18 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.4%. This number still falls short of the annual growth target of 5%.

So, how can we view the slowdown in Guangdong’s economic growth objectively and rationally? Delving deeper into the data, what new changes lie beneath the surface?

On the same day economic data was published, the power consumption figures for five southern provinces were also released. Beyond GDP figures, we gain another perspective on the economic and social development of Guangdong: the total electricity consumption in the province reached 690.4 billion kilowatt-hours for the first three quarters, remaining the highest in the country, with a growth rate of 7.8%. The secondary industry is driving this increase in electricity demand.

Electricity usage in industry is a critical indicator of the second industry’s development. Despite the growing complexity, severity, and uncertainty of external conditions, Guangdong’s manufacturing sector, the backbone of the economy, continues to emit a vibrant roar from the front lines of industry.

Amid increased overall electricity consumption, the power usage for high-tech and equipment manufacturing sectors is quietly rising. This reflects a structural transformation that is taking place within the province’s secondary industry: the new quality of productivity is becoming increasingly tangible; advanced manufacturing is rapidly transitioning from the vision outlined in Guangdong’s “Manufacturing Leads” plan to a concrete reality that’s driving industrial development and solidifying itself as a central force in the real economy.

The increase in “new” factors is corroborated by other economic data from the first three quarters: the secondary industry maintained a share of about 40%, with industry accounting for 35.9% and manufacturing for 32.7%. Furthermore, the added value of advanced manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing industries accounted for 56.4% and 31.5% of large-scale industrial output, respectively, an increase of 1.3 and 2.8 percentage points year-on-year.

“Whether the economic focus can stabilize depends on the proportion of the secondary industry. With a strong manufacturing base and support from the real economy, this is the foundation upon which our total economic volume stands,” stated Yang Xinhong, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Statistics. He emphasized that the rising industrial ratio along with the declining real estate ratio reflects Guangdong’s ongoing efforts to reduce dependence on real estate, strengthening the supportive power of its industrial and investment structures while accumulating new momentum—a critical change currently unfolding in Guangdong’s economic structure.

Regarding foreign trade, which is vital for an economy that relies on it for over 60% of its operations, Guangdong’s trade dynamics significantly influence the overall economic landscape. During the release of the quarterly data, the 136th Canton Fair was taking place in Guangzhou. Often referred to as “China’s No. 1 Expo,” the Canton Fair serves as a clear window for gauging Guangdong’s foreign trade conditions.

Walking through the bustling fairgrounds, it’s impossible not to notice the continued vibrancy of Guangdong’s foreign trade. In the first phase of the fair, which centered on “advanced manufacturing,” out of 11,165 participating enterprises, around 3,600 focused on digital technology and intelligent manufacturing, with 57.8% adopting technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and the industrial internet to enhance their supply chains.

Exhibitors showcased a plethora of new products, technologies, materials, and processes, with digital product displays reaching an impressive 390,000 pieces, a staggering increase of 300%. Achieving such a scale of innovation at the Canton Fair, which has been held continuously for decades with two sessions each year, is no small feat. The fair’s increasing speed and quantity of new offerings, alongside adjustments aligned with global industrial trends, reflect Guangdong’s proactive adaptation to changing trade dynamics.

Further analysis of Guangdong’s broader foreign trade climate reveals the difficulties of this structural transformation. For decades, Guangdong built a robust foreign trade foundation by deeply engaging in international division of labor and integrating into global circulation. However, 2023 saw a temporary dip in foreign trade growth, raising concerns in major markets about “losing momentum.”

Alongside the release of Guangdong’s third-quarter economic data, the Guangdong branch of the Customs General Administration announced that the province’s foreign trade reached 6.75 trillion yuan, marking a year-on-year growth of 11.1%, achieving a historical high for the same period.

The development of new quality productivity—leveraging new products to regain market control—has played a crucial role in Guangdong’s rapid recovery in foreign trade, marking another significant change in economic structure after facing external challenges.

Beyond the numbers, over 100 kilometers from the Canton Fair at the Yantian Port in Shenzhen, a multitude of containers is in constant rotation. This port handles over one-third of Guangdong’s foreign trade volume and more than a quarter of the nation’s exports to the U.S.

In the first nine months of 2024 alone, Yantian Port added 16 new shipping routes. Observing these additions reveals a focus on areas such as North America, South America, Australia, and the Mediterranean, including specific routes aimed at serving cross-border e-commerce clients.

These new routes inject fresh momentum into the Greater Bay Area’s foreign trade development while responding to real market demands—evident in the latest economic data: for the first three quarters, trade with over 160 countries and regions saw growth, with imports and exports to ASEAN and Belt and Road Initiative countries increasing by 9.4% and 6.3% respectively. Emerging markets now constitute 64.5% of total trade.

“As our product range expands, so do our export markets, and the industry broadens. New models like cross-border e-commerce provide more support for the economy,” Yang explained, highlighting the fresh winds of foreign trade revitalizing regional dynamics and propelling an acceleration of structural economic shifts.

In navigating towards stability and generating new energy, it is crucial to rationally understand and objectively face challenges. While Guangdong’s GDP growth of 3.4% for the first three quarters reflects a slowdown, it is influenced by the ongoing adjustment of the real estate market and the high comparison base from the previous year.

Concurrently, there’s a clear acknowledgment of the economic transformation bearing structural adjustments, requiring readiness for the ongoing pain associated with these changes. It is essential to focus on the “stable” foundation while also striving for “new” growth drivers.

With an economic total nearing 10 trillion yuan, achieving a one-percent growth requires significantly higher economic value creation than in other provinces, highlighting the challenge. Amidst this, policies fostering demand for upgraded consumption, including substantial investments in new equipment, have led to faster growth; for instance, investment in industrial equipment rose by 19.8%.

The dynamism from private enterprises also stands out. In the first three quarters, Guangdong’s private enterprises saw a trade volume of 4.3 trillion yuan, a 17.1% increase, representing 63.6% of the province’s total foreign trade. Moreover, private sector growth outpaced the overall pace; the year-to-date growth in residents’ income outstripped GDP growth, with rural income rising faster than urban income, indicating strong consumer potential.

“In retrospect, while the data change—old elements fade—the new is gradually being nurtured and developed. Much like a child growing stronger, our economy requires time and space to gain more robust strength,” Yang noted, casting an optimistic light on future economic trends. Ignoring the emerging momentum behind the data could lead to a missed opportunity for deeper understanding.

Stepping beyond the confines of mere economic data showcases Guangdong’s economy blossoming under pressure. Perhaps, in hindsight, we might regard today’s figures as ordinary, illuminating the simple progress along the journey. As we look ahead, now is the moment to harness our energy while remaining calm, yet confident in our potential for recovery and growth.

At a recent book launch event held in Beijing, author Wang Kai introduced his new essay collection, “Strangers on Earth,” engaging in a lively discussion with guests about the inspiration behind the book and the connections between the written text and the world it reflects.

Wang spoke about the monumental changes that Chinese society has undergone over the past 40 years, emphasizing the collision between ancient traditions and contemporary life that calls for rediscovery. “Strangers on Earth” consists of 14 essays exploring various aspects of modern life, from daily necessities and wedding rituals to wealth, landscapes, tastes, and customs. With over a decade of experience as a senior columnist for the magazine “Sanlian Life Weekly,” Wang doesn’t shy away from expressing his preferences and critiques. He captures the rhythms of life amid a constantly shifting material world, emphasizing the beauty of humanity itself—whether it’s a popular dancer or a local choir in a county town, both come alive in his vivid prose.

Professor Zhang Li from Beijing Normal University, who compiles annual selections of contemporary Chinese essays, noted that several pieces from “Strangers on Earth” have been featured in her anthologies. She described the essay form as a means of profound self-reflection, highlighting that “Wang Kai’s essays are rich with insights—his unique understanding of the world infused with disdain and critique, blended with a certain languidness. All these elements intertwine to give his work a complex voice, tone, and an extraordinary authenticity.”

“I finally have my first literary work,” Wang admitted, expressing that this book embodies his truest life experiences. “Strangers on Earth” has recently been published by the People’s Literature Publishing House.

Getty ImagesUkraine's human rights ombudsman has denounced the alleged execution of nine captured Ukrainian troops by Russian forces in the Kursk border region.
Dmytro Lubinets said he had written to the United Nations and the Red Cross about the allegations, accusing Moscow of breaching "all the rules and customs of war".
The intervention follows reporting by Ukrainian battlefield analysis site DeepState, which published drone footage purporting to show the dead troops who it said were drone operators. Officials in Russia have yet to comment on the allegations.
Kyiv is believed to have deployed thousands of troops into the Russian border region since it launched its shock incursion earlier this summer.
The images published by DeepState showed the dead Ukrainian troops stripped to their underwear and lying face down in what appeared to be farmland in Kursk. The BBC cannot independently verify the images.
The outlet said the drone operators had been overrun by a rapid Russian advance.
"These actions must not go unpunished, and the enemy must bear full responsibility," Mr Lubinets wrote in a message to Telegram. "The international community should not turn a blind eye to such crimes!"
Kyiv has frequently accused Russian of executing captured Ukrainian troops – a war crime under the Geneva Convention. Earlier this month the prosecutor general's office alleged that Russian forces had executed 93 Ukrainian soldiers since the beginning of the conflict.
It added that an official investigation had been opened into reports that 16 Ukrainian soldiers were executed in the eastern Donetsk region near the city of Pokrovsk – where fighting has raged for months. Officials said the reports would mark the "largest mass execution" of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian troops since Moscow launched its invasion in February 2022.
The Kremlin denies that its soldiers have been committing war crimes in Ukraine.
Ukrainian journalist, 27, who chronicled Russian occupation dies in prison'Russians invaded my house and held a soldier captive there'Russian strike kills eight in fresh attack on Ukrainian portThe reports come as Russian forces continue to attack Ukrainian positions in Kursk. President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address from Kyiv on Saturday that Ukrainian troops had fought off a renewed Russian advance in the region.
Analysts say that Kyiv launched the offensive to try and force Russia to redirect some of its troops from its offensive in eastern Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has estimated that around 40,000 Russian forces are now active in Kursk – up from 11,000 when Ukrainian troops first crossed the border.
But the offensive has failed to slow Russian momentum in the eastern Donbas region, where relentless attacks has slowly pushed Ukrainian forces backwards.
The Ukrainian leader acknowledged that "there are very difficult conditions, with harsh enemy actions" in both Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia in his address on Saturday.
On Sunday morning, the Russian defence ministry said its forces had seized the village of Mykhailivka, which sits along a highway near the key city of Pokrovsk.
Russian forces have been advancing towards Pokrovsk – which is a key logistics hub – for months. Experts say if Russia can seize the city Ukraine's ability to resupply units in other crucial towns would become far more difficult.
Meanwhile, Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine continued overnight. Air force officials in Kyiv said Moscow launched 68 drones and four missiles towards Ukrainian territory.

On October 15, the 11th Education Forum of the Democratic League was held in Jinan, Shandong province, under the theme “Deepening Reform in Educational Models and Accelerating the Construction of a Strong Education Nation.” Experts and scholars from across the country gathered to engage in in-depth discussions on innovative practices in educational approaches for the new era, promoting the spirit of educators, and building a strong teaching workforce. Ding Zhongli, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Democratic League, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

During his address, Ding emphasized that education is the foundation for constructing a strong nation and revitalizing the nation as a whole. He urged participants to thoroughly study and implement the spirit of the 20th Communist Party’s Third Plenary Session and the National Education Conference. Ding called for a focus on “comprehensive,” “full-process,” and “whole-society” educational strategies to actively explore reforms and innovations in educational models for the new era and to establish an integrated framework for nurturing talent across society. He stressed the importance of cultivating a strong teaching workforce guided by the spirit of educators, reinforcing ethical practices among teachers, and inspiring educators to embody integrity in their teaching, thereby striving to be “excellent teachers,” “guides,” and “mentors.”

Ding further encouraged league members to uphold the fine traditions of the Democratic League, embodying a patriotic spirit that prioritizes national interests and welfare. He urged them to adopt a pragmatic approach focused on generating ideas, implementing practical solutions, and engaging in thorough research within educational practices to contribute to the realization of a strong education nation and support the modernization of China.

Xu Hairong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, highlighted in his remarks that the Democratic League, primarily representing the cultural, educational, and related scientific fields, has always been dedicated to education. He noted that the strong development of Shandong relies heavily on robust educational support. Under the guidance of the Central Committee of the Democratic League and the strong leadership of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Democratic League has focused on engaging in education-related political discourse and initiatives, actively carrying out educational assistance, and has made substantial contributions.

During the opening ceremony, Xie Jingrong, a member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Democratic League, announced the decisions for excellence in submitted papers. This year, the forum received 213 papers from 30 provincial organizations and various committees, including those from the Central Education Committee, the Agricultural Committee, the Youth Committee, and the Qizhen Think Tank. After rigorous evaluations by experts, 71 outstanding papers were awarded.

At the forum, keynote speeches were delivered by Ren Youqun, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong University; Yu Minhong, Chairman of New Oriental Education Technology Group and Director of the Central Education Committee of the Democratic League; and Wang Dingming, Executive Vice President of Lanzhou University of Arts and Sciences and Deputy Director of the Central Education Committee. Their presentations included insights on promoting the spirit of educators, essential qualities for today’s education, and key characteristics and strategic tasks for building a strong education nation.

On October 24, I had the opportunity to interview officials from the Hangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics and the National Bureau of Statistics’ Hangzhou Survey Team regarding the economic performance of Hangzhou in the first three quarters of 2023. According to their report, the city achieved a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 15,215 billion yuan, marking a year-on-year growth of 4.5% when adjusted for constant prices.

Breaking it down by industry, the primary sector contributed an added value of 231 billion yuan, growing by 3.6%. The secondary sector showed an added value of 4,212 billion yuan, increasing by 4.1%, while the tertiary sector reached an added value of 10,772 billion yuan, reflecting a growth of 4.6%.

In terms of industrial performance, Hangzhou is witnessing a steady recovery, particularly in emerging industries. The city’s industrial added value from large-scale enterprises reached 3,252 billion yuan, with a growth of 4.2%. Notably, this marks a 0.4 percentage point increase from January to August 2023, and a 0.2 percentage point rise compared to the first half of the year.

When asked about the specific sectors within industry, growth rates were impressive in several fields. The manufacturing of computer communication and other electronic equipment, electrical machinery and equipment, and automobile manufacturing grew by 8.4%, 9.2%, and 18.1% respectively. Additionally, sectors that represent new momentum, such as high-tech industries, strategic emerging industries, and equipment manufacturing saw their added values increase by 5.0%, 6.0%, and 6.1%, all outpacing the overall industrial growth.

Turning to products, output in Hangzhou’s new energy vehicles surged by 17.1%, industrial control computers and systems shot up by 32.3%, and integrated circuit products experienced an astonishing increase of 55.2%.

The service sector in Hangzhou also demonstrated robust growth during these quarters. Data shows that the revenue from large-scale service industries (excluding wholesale and retail, accommodation, catering, finance, and real estate) reached 13,106 billion yuan over the first eight months, a growth of 6.5%. Within this sector, the information transmission, software, and IT services grew by 7.4%, while the leasing and business services sector expanded by 12.4%.

Exports have played a vital role in the city’s economic momentum. In the first three quarters, Hangzhou’s exports totaled 4,333 billion yuan, representing an 8.5% increase. Compared to January through August, this marks a 0.3 percentage point rise, and a 2.9 percentage point increase from the first half of the year. Breaking it down, exports of electromechanical products reached 2,052 billion yuan, growing by 10.3% and accounting for 47.4% of total exports. Private enterprises contributed significantly as well, exporting 3,267 billion yuan, which is a 7.4% increase and constitutes 75.4% of the total export share.

Moreover, fixed asset investment in Hangzhou rose by 0.1% year-on-year, reflecting a 1.7 percentage point recovery compared to the figures from January to August. Notably, investments in the manufacturing sector increased by 2.8%, with specialized equipment and automobile manufacturing investments growing by 15.9% and 21.1%, respectively.

On the consumer front, retail sales of consumer goods reached 5,581 billion yuan from January to September, marking a year-on-year increase of 2.0%, which represents a 1.0 percentage point recovery from the previous months. Specifically, retail sales in the home appliance and audio-visual equipment category surged by 6.7%, significantly bolstered by policies promoting the replacement of old appliances, while communication equipment saw a remarkable 30.8% growth.

As we conclude this discussion, it’s clear that Hangzhou’s economy is on a positive trajectory, showcasing resilience through diversified growth across various sectors.

On October 25, the third International Summit on the Large-Scale Application of Beidou took place in Zhuzhou, Hunan, featuring a forum focused on the integration of new Beidou technologies and mass consumer applications. During the event, a list of pilot cities for the Beidou large-scale application initiative in the industrial and information sectors was released, with 39 cities selected, including Zhuzhou, the host city.

According to reports, these pilot cities will focus on three key areas: mass consumption, industrial manufacturing, and integrated innovation. They aim to leverage their local Beidou industrial foundation, urban development characteristics, and construction status over a two-year trial period. This initiative is designed to accelerate the penetration of Beidou technology and facilitate a smooth upgrade of Beidou equipment and applications towards the third generation.

In recent years, Zhuzhou has prioritized the Beidou industry as one of its “New Three” sectors, concentrating resources for focused cultivation aimed at enhancing the quality and speed of Beidou industry development. The city is working towards comprehensive large-scale applications of Beidou technology, transforming the concept of “Beidou in the sky” into “Beidou at hand.”

Currently, Zhuzhou boasts a spatial information industry cluster worth 12.3 billion yuan, with the Beidou industry recognized as a provincial-level industrial cluster. The city has attracted 130 Beidou-related enterprises, including 100 large-scale companies, establishing a complete industrial chain from component research and development and satellite manufacturing to constellation operation and application scenarios.

The forum, co-organized by the Hunan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s Fifth Research Institute, and the Hunan Advanced Technology Research Institute, centered on new-generation information technology infrastructure, trends in Beidou technology development, and their integration into the mass consumer sector. Experts at the event emphasized the importance of deepening collaborative innovation among industry, academia, and research. They stressed the need to fully harness the high-precision spatial-time reference information provided by the Beidou system, accelerating its integration with new technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence. This will enhance product diversity and stimulate markets for Beidou applications in sectors like smart transportation, smart mobility, smartphones, and wearable devices, ultimately fostering new consumer application models and promoting deep integration of Beidou technology across various industries to support the development of new productive forces.

During a press conference on October 24, the Ministry of Commerce provided updates on key recent initiatives within the business sector. A reporter inquired about the findings from the investigation into PVH and whether the company would be added to the unreliable entity list, as well as the potential consequences of such an action.

In response, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, He Yadong, stated that the investigation into the American PVH Group is progressing in an orderly manner under the framework of the unreliable entity list mechanism. He emphasized that during this investigation, PVH’s rights to present its case and defend itself would be fully safeguarded. Following the investigation, decisions will be made in accordance with the relevant regulations governing the unreliable entity list.

He also noted that the Chinese government handles the unreliable entity list with caution, utilizing it only for a very small number of foreign entities that violate market rules or Chinese law. He reassured that foreign companies operating in good faith and abiding by the law have nothing to worry about. Furthermore, he reiterated that the Chinese government continues to welcome foreign enterprises to invest and conduct business in China, striving to provide a stable, fair, and predictable business environment for compliant foreign investors.

On the evening of October 24, a Prada event in Seongsu-dong, East Seoul, was expected to draw a large crowd from 8 PM to 1 AM. However, due to the attendance of celebrities, including actress Kim Tae-ri, authorities grew concerned about the potential for a crowd crush similar to the tragic Itaewon disaster that resulted in 159 deaths in 2022. As a result, the event was abruptly canceled.

According to reports from Yonhap News Agency, preparations for the Prada event at “Candy Seongsu” began, but issues arose as early as 6:40 PM when several attendees reported fears of crowd congestion and called for police assistance to maintain order.

Authorities disclosed that while the event organizers had hired security personnel, they did not account for the areas outside the venue, leading to severe overcrowding. It was estimated that around 700 people had gathered at the scene, which even caused traffic incidents involving buses and cars in the vicinity.

In light of safety concerns, the organizers ultimately decided to end the event prematurely at 10:45 PM, canceling the scheduled celebrity photo-op session as well.

East Seoul District Mayor Jeong Won-woo shared on social media platform X that, considering safety precautions, he consulted with the local police chief and other officials. Following these discussions, the district government recommended that the organizers conclude the event early to mitigate the risk of an incident.