分类： society

The Lanzhou Wildlife Zoo announced on Sunday that the first giant panda cub born through natural mating in Gansu province has reached its one-month milestone, signifying a significant achievement in regional panda conservation efforts. The male cub, born to pandas Manlan and Hongxi, weighed a mere 100 grams at birth but has since grown to nearly 1.3 kilograms. The cub’s iconic black-and-white fur is beginning to emerge, and it has started to vocalize loudly and move its limbs energetically, though its eyes remain closed. This birth marks a breakthrough for the zoo’s breeding program, which has been striving to enhance the survival and reproduction of giant pandas in captivity. The event underscores the importance of natural mating in panda conservation, as it often yields healthier and more resilient offspring compared to artificial insemination. The zoo plans to continue monitoring the cub’s development closely, ensuring it receives the necessary care to thrive.

In a significant move to bolster ecological conservation, China has added 22 new wetlands to its list of nationally important sites, raising the total to 80. This announcement, made by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), underscores the country’s ongoing dedication to wetland protection and restoration. The initiative aligns with China’s first specialized law on wetland conservation, marking a pivotal step in its broader environmental strategy. To date, China boasts 82 internationally recognized wetlands and 22 international wetland cities, alongside the restoration of over 1 million hectares of wetlands nationwide. The NFGA has pledged to intensify efforts in wetland restoration and monitoring, aiming to enhance the ecological quality and stability of these vital ecosystems. This expansion reflects China’s proactive approach to addressing global environmental challenges and preserving biodiversity.

As Typhoon Fengshen barrels through the South China Sea, Hainan Province has taken decisive action to ensure public safety by suspending all transport services. The typhoon, characterized by its strong winds and heavy rainfall, has prompted Hainan Railway Co. to halt all train operations to and from the island on Tuesday. Additionally, key ports including Haikou Xinhai Port, Xiuying Port, and South Railway Port ceased operations from 2 pm on Monday, with services anticipated to resume by Thursday morning.

Maritime authorities have also implemented precautionary measures, suspending cruise services between Hainan and the Xisha Islands, as well as the Xisha supply route, starting Monday morning. Night tour routes in Haikou and Sanya have been halted, and tourist trips to Sanya’s Wuzhizhou and Xidao islands will be suspended from Tuesday.

The Hainan Maritime Safety Administration has activated a Level IV emergency response for typhoon prevention, implementing safety protocols for over 1,900 vessels across local ports. As of Monday morning, Typhoon Fengshen’s maximum sustained winds reached force 9 on the Beaufort scale, according to China’s national observatory.

Meteorologists predict the storm will continue to intensify as it moves west-northwest at approximately 25 kilometers per hour. It is expected to peak as a severe tropical storm or typhoon, with winds potentially reaching force 12 on the Beaufort scale. By Tuesday, Fengshen is forecast to turn southwest over the central and northern waters of the South China Sea, passing northwest of the Xisha Islands before heading toward Vietnam’s central coast, where it will gradually weaken.

Residents and travelers in Hainan are advised to prepare for severe weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy rainfall, which are expected to persist from Monday through Thursday morning across the central and northern South China Sea and most waters off Hainan. The eastern half of Hainan is particularly at risk of facing severe storm conditions between Tuesday and Thursday.

The inaugural RISE Week 2025 commenced in Shanghai on October 17, uniting over 100 global experts, policymakers, and practitioners from 15 countries. Hosted by the UNDP—Tongji SDG Innovation Lab on Climate and Disaster Resilience (RISE Lab) and co-organized by UNDP and Tongji University, the event aimed to foster innovative solutions for creating low-carbon, inclusive, and resilient cities. The week-long program featured technical workshops, peer-learning sessions, policy dialogues, leadership training, and field visits, emphasizing the integration of science, technology, policy, and governance to enhance urban resilience. Xu Haoliang, UNDP associate administrator, highlighted the urgency of addressing urban vulnerabilities exacerbated by climate change, natural disasters, and social inequalities. Lyu Peiming, executive vice-president of Tongji University, underscored the event’s role in bridging research, policymaking, and practice. International participants, including Paula Coelho da Nobrega from Brazil and Gordon Otieno Muga from Kenya, shared their challenges and praised the technical insights offered. Zhou Ying, dean of Tongji University’s college of civil engineering, emphasized the importance of international cooperation, education, and engineering-driven innovation in building resilient cities. RISE Lab will continue to serve as a global platform for collaborative resilience-building efforts.

In a significant move against transnational cybercrime, Myanmar’s military has dismantled a large-scale online scam operation near the Thai border, detaining over 2,000 individuals and confiscating numerous Starlink satellite internet terminals. The operation, reported by state media on Monday, targeted KK Park, a notorious hub for cyber fraud, illegal gambling, and cross-border criminal activities. Located in Myawaddy, Kayin State, the area is a hotspot for such illicit operations due to its proximity to Thailand and the limited control exerted by Myanmar’s military government. The raid, part of a broader crackdown initiated in early September, also uncovered 260 unregistered buildings and 30 Starlink terminals. Starlink, a satellite internet service by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is not officially licensed in Myanmar, yet hundreds of its devices have been smuggled into the country. The military accused the Karen National Union, an ethnic armed group, of involvement in the scam operations, though the group denies these allegations. This crackdown follows international pressure, including recent sanctions by the U.S. and U.K. against a Cambodian cyberscam gang. Earlier this year, Myanmar and Thailand collaborated to rescue thousands of trafficked individuals from similar scam compounds, highlighting the persistent issue of cybercrime in the region.

Jingdezhen, renowned as the ‘Porcelain Capital’ of China, recently welcomed a distinguished group of global mayors who visited the China Ceramics Museum as part of the 2025 Global Mayors Dialogue. The event, held from October 17 to 20, showcased the city’s rich cultural heritage and its pivotal role in the history of ceramics. The museum, a treasure trove of ancient and modern porcelain artifacts, provided the visiting delegates with a deep dive into the artistry and craftsmanship that has defined Jingdezhen for centuries. The mayors, representing cities from around the world, expressed admiration for the museum’s extensive collection and the city’s ongoing efforts to preserve and promote its porcelain legacy. This visit not only highlighted Jingdezhen’s cultural significance but also fostered international dialogue on heritage conservation and cultural exchange.