भारतीय महासागर समाचार – भारतीय महासागर समाचार भारत की सबसे अधिकारी और विश्वसनीय वास्तविक समाचार सलाहकार वेबसाइट है।

Violence flares at UCLA as police end protests at New York’s Columbia

U.S. police officers stand guard after clashes erupted on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in California, U.S., May 1, 2024. /CFP

Mounting tensions on U.S. campuses boiled over on Wednesday when pro-Israeli supporters attacked pro-Palestinian protesters encamped at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) hours after the police arrested activists who occupied a building at Columbia University and cleared a tent city from its campus.

Eyewitness videos from the UCLA showed people wielding sticks or poles to hammer on wooden boards being used as makeshift barricades to protect the pro-Palestinian protesters before police were called to the campus.

The university canceled classes for the day on Wednesday, and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said the school would conduct an investigation “that may lead to arrests, expulsions and dismissals.”

In a statement, Block said the “appalling” assault on pro-Palestinian demonstrators, which came hours after their encampment was declared an unlawful assembly by UCLA, was committed “by a group of instigators.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who returned to the city early from a trip to Washington, and California Governor Gavin Newsom issued separate statements condemning the overnight violence, calling for an investigation.

Members of the NYPD detain protesters from the pro-Palestinian protest encampment near Hamilton Hall where demonstrators barricaded themselves inside Columbia University in New York City, U.S., April 30, 2024. /CFP

New York Mayor Eric Adams said the police arrested about 300 people at Columbia and City College of New York. Many of those arrested were charged with trespassing and criminal mischief.

The clashes at UCLA and in New York were part of the biggest outpouring of U.S. student activism since the anti-racism rallies and marches of 2020.

Students have rallied or set up tent encampments at dozens of schools across the U.S. in recent days, expressing opposition to Israel’s offensive in Gaza and demanding schools divest from companies that support Israel’s government. Many of the schools have called in police to quell the protests.

With the presidential election coming in November, Republican lawmakers have accused some university administrators of ignoring antisemitic rhetoric and harassment, and some have demanded Columbia’s President Minouche Shafik’s resignation.

Many protesters, some of whom are Jewish, reject allegations of antisemitism. Shafik has said the protests brought rancor to life at Columbia and created a “threatening environment” for many Jewish students and faculty, while also blaming some episodes of harassment and hostile rhetoric on outsiders drawn to the busy Manhattan streets surrounding the campus.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who has angered many protesters by funding and arming Israel, plans to give a speech on antisemitism next week at a Holocaust memorial event.

(With input from Reuters)

U.S. newspapers sue OpenAI, Microsoft for copyright infringement

OpenAI’s ChatGPT app is displayed on an iPhone. /AP

A group of eight U.S. newspapers is suing ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft, alleging that the technology companies have been “purloining millions” of copyrighted news articles without permission or payment to train their artificial intelligence chatbots.

The New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, Denver Post and other papers filed the lawsuit Tuesday in a New York federal court.

“We’ve spent billions of dollars gathering information and reporting news at our publications, and we can’t allow OpenAI and Microsoft to expand the Big Tech playbook of stealing our work to build their own businesses at our expense,” said a written statement from Frank Pine, executive editor for the MediaNews Group and Tribune Publishing.

The other newspapers that are part of the lawsuit are MediaNews Group’s Mercury News, Orange County Register and St. Paul Pioneer-Press, and Tribune Publishing’s Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel. All of the newspapers are owned by Alden Global Capital.

Microsoft declined to comment Tuesday.

OpenAI said in a statement that it takes care to support news organizations.

“While we were not previously aware of Alden Global Capital’s concerns, we are actively engaged in constructive partnerships and conversations with many news organizations around the world to explore opportunities, discuss any concerns, and provide solutions,” it said.

The lawsuit is the latest against OpenAI and Microsoft to land at Manhattan’s federal court, where the companies are already battling a series of other copyright lawsuits from the New York Times, other media outlets and bestselling authors such as John Grisham, Jodi Picoult and George R.R. Martin. The companies also face another set of lawsuits in San Francisco’s federal court.

Tech companies have argued that taking troves of publicly accessible internet content to train their AI systems is protected by the “fair use” doctrine of American copyright law. In some cases, they have averted potential legal challenges by paying organizations for that content.

Source(s): AP

Exhibition on artist Chang Shana’s 80 years of Dunhuang art held in Beijing

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An exhibition currently underway at the China National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing is showcasing the art and design of veteran Chinese artist Chang Shana over the past eight decades.

A visitor appreciates artworks by Chang Shana on display at the China National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing on April 29, 2024. /China Media Group

Now aged 94, Chang Shana has committed her life to preserving the legacy of Dunhuang art. Titled “Everlasting Beauty of Dunhuang,” the exhibition showcases 396 of her works from 1945 to the present day, including replicas of the famous Dunhuang murals, flower creations, and architectural manuscripts. Many rare manuscripts are being publicly displayed for the first time.

Chang Shana’s work of Dunhuang art is on display at the China National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing on April 29, 2024. /China Media Group

The exhibition also reflects the practical efforts made by Chang Shana and her father in promoting Dunhuang culture. Her father, Chang Shuhong, was an art scholar who dedicated his life to protecting the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, northwest China’s Gansu Province. Chang Shana followed in her father’s footsteps to carry on his work in more recent decades.

A visitor appreciates an artwork by Chang Shana on display at the China National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing on April 29, 2024. /China Media Group

Chang Shana believes that artists must keep pace with the times. She hopes that through this exhibition, she can convey her personal experiences to more young people, allowing them to appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture and apply what they learn in their daily lives.

Chang Shana’s works of Dunhuang art are on display at the China National Arts and Crafts Museum in Beijing on April 29, 2024. /China Media Group

China’s first precipitation measurement satellite starts operation

An illustration of the Fengyun-3G. /CMG

China’s first precipitation measurement satellite in a low-inclination orbit, the Fengyun-3G (FY-3G), was officially put into operation on Wednesday, according to China Meteorological Administration.

Launched on April 16, 2023, FY-3G is mainly used in precipitation climatology research and systematic precipitation monitoring of disastrous weather. The satellite can provide three-dimensional structure information of precipitation in regions of middle and low latitudes.

The successful launch of the satellite made China the only country to simultaneously operate four civilian meteorological satellites in near-earth orbit, covering morning, noon, afternoon and inclined orbital paths.

The global observation of precipitation, especially the three-dimensional structure observation, has always been a difficult problem in meteorological detection, Chen Lin, deputy chief designer of the FY-3G ground system, said in an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

The satellite has completed over six months of trial operation since October 23, 2023. During the trial operation, the satellite-ground system operated stably and the satellite platform, on-board payload and satellite measurement and control all remained in normal condition. The four assessment indicators, namely data reception, data processing, product distribution and data archiving, all met the standards.

“Throughout the year, the FY-3G has not only provided strong and powerful support for weather service guarantees for China’s Universiade, Asian Games and other events, but also provided support for monitoring global disasters such as floods in Pakistan, heavy rainfall in Brazil and the recent heavy rainfall in Yemen,” Chen said.

The satellite’s family, Fengyun meteorological satellite system, has been independently developed by China. Since the launch of the first Fengyun meteorological satellite in 1988, a total of 21 Fengyun meteorological satellites of two generations and four types have been successfully sent up. Nine of them are still in orbit.

With years of efforts, Fengyun meteorological satellites have reached the international advanced level, with some technologies leading the world.

AI-generated Chinese peony wallpapers

AI-generated Chinese peony wallpaper /CGTN

Immerse yourself in the enchanting realm of AI-generated Chinese-style peony wallpapers.

China’s top economic planner says China’s economy continues to recover and improve in Q1

An aerial view of Shanghai. /CFP

Officials from China’s top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission or the NDRC, said that since the beginning of this year, China’s economy has continued to recover and improve. Economic growth has remained stable and shown signs of improvement, structural adjustments have progressed steadily, and quality and efficiency have steadily increased. They’ve also stressed that people’s livelihoods have been effectively safeguarded, market expectations have generally improved, and a stable and promising start has been achieved for the first quarter.

First, from the perspective of macroeconomy, major indicators have accelerated. Official data from the NDRC shows that in the first quarter, China’s GDP grew by 5.3 percent year-on-year. Industrial added value increased by six percent, up 0.8 percentage points from the previous quarter; fixed asset investment increased by 4.5 percent, up 1.5 percentage points from the previous year; the total value of goods imports and exports denominated in RMB increased by 5 percent, with exports up by 4.9 percent, an increase of 4.1 percentage points from the previous quarter.

Second, regional economies have stabilized and improved. According to officials, provinces with strong economies in the eastern regions such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shandong, and Zhejiang continue to play a leading role. The economic growth of key regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has been relatively fast. Industries in the central and western regions have accelerated their transformation and upgrading, with high-tech manufacturing industries in Anhui and Hubei provinces growing by 23.4 percent and 21.5 percent respectively, and high-tech industry investment in Sichuan province growing by 17.7 percent, all significantly faster than the national average. Major projects in the northeastern region are also accelerating.

Third, from the perspective of industries and enterprises, operating efficiency and confidence have steadily improved during the first quarter. Official data shows that the total profits of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 4.3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for manufacturing in April was 50.4 percent, above the boom-bust line for two consecutive months. New products and formats are flourishing, with the production of 3D printing equipment, service robots, and new energy vehicles growing by 40.6 percent, 26.7 percent, and 29.2 percent respectively in the first quarter. Online retail sales driven by instant retail and live streaming also grew.

Fourth, from the perspective of residents’ lives, employment and income have continued to improve. In the first quarter, more than three million new urban jobs were created, an increase of 60,000 compared to the same period last year; the urban surveyed unemployment rate in March was 5.2 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from the previous month and the same period last year. In the first quarter, China’s per capita disposable income of residents nationwide increased by 6.2 percent year-on-year, 0.9 percentage points faster than the economic growth, with urban and rural residents’ incomes rising by 5.3 percent and 7.7 percent respectively.

Officials from the NDRC also stressed that accelerating the construction of a unified national market is an inevitable requirement to facilitate domestic circulation and promote the establishment of a new development pattern. It is also an important lever to unleash domestic demand potential and promote sustained economic recovery and improvement. The NDRC and relevant parties have established and effectively utilized a coordination mechanism to promote the construction of a unified national market, which has been actively pushing forward various tasks, contributing positively to improving market conditions and social expectations.

As for the development of the new energy vehicles, officials point out that since the beginning of this year, China’s new energy vehicles have maintained a rapid development momentum, showing vigorous vitality in supply and demand. On one hand, China’s production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 2.115 million and 2.09 million units respectively, representing year-on-year increases of 28.2 percent and 31.8 percent respectively. On the other hand, product supply is becoming increasingly abundant. Both domestic and foreign companies have been leveraging their advantages in the new energy vehicle industry chain and supply chain, actively creating high-quality and reasonably priced products around consumer demand. Since the beginning of this year, more than 30 new energy vehicle models have been successively released or launched for sale. Officials say that the NDRC will work to promote industry innovation through technological innovation, better meet consumer demand and accelerate infrastructure construction to support the industry’s high-quality development.

Overall, a good start and a positive trend are currently the fundamental characteristics and trends of China’s economy. Officials say that positive factors are increasing for the first quarter, momentum continuously strengthening, social expectations improving, and high-quality development steadily advancing, laying a solid foundation for achieving the annual goals. Next, officials will effectively consolidate and enhance the positive trend of economic recovery, and complete the annual goals with high quality.

Shenzhou-17 astronauts arrive in Beijing

A poster of the Shenzhou-17 crew (L-R) Tang Shengjie, Tang Hongbo and Jiang Xinlin. /CMG

The three-member Shenzhou-17 crew arrived in Beijing by plane early on Wednesday after a six-month mission to the country’s space station.

On Tuesday, Shenzhou-17’s return capsule, carrying astronauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin, touched down at the Dongfeng landing site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at 5:46 p.m. Beijing Time, and the crew all left the return capsule by 6:37 p.m., according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

The three astronauts, after staying in orbit for 187 days, are all in good health and the Shenzhou-17 manned mission was a success, the CMSA said.

Initial health checks showed that the three crew members are in good condition. “Every time I flew over the homeland, I looked for it,” Tang told China Media Group (CMG) right after he exited the capsule. “Thanks for everyone’s attention. I missed you so much.”

Tang set the record for the longest stay in space for an astronaut, totaling 279 days for his two trips to the China Space Station.

The crew will enter a period of medical quarantine and undergo comprehensive medical examinations and health evaluations. Afterwards, they will meet with the press in Beijing.

(With input from Xinhua)

Interview with French musician Eliott Tordo

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Growing up in the southern French city of Grenoble, Eliott Tordo never imagined that a Chinese musical instrument – erhu – would change his life. Over the course of a few years, Tordo taught himself to play the instrument, and his learning experience has not only made him an influencer, but also one of Europe’s most renowned erhu players, who has staged numerous live performances throughout China.

Literary and cultural exchanges foster friendship

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Since being appointed an honorary professor at Nanjing University in 2011, Nobel laureate Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio, one of France’s leading literary figures, has made a huge contribution to Sino-French cultural exchanges. In 2015, Le Clézio was awarded the Chinese government’s “Friendship Award,” the highest honor bestowed on foreign experts in recognition of their exceptional contribution to China’s modernization efforts.

Guardians of the lush mountains and lucid waters

Rangers, researchers, fire lookouts… there are many people who spend decades dedicated to wildlife and environmental protection. Here are some of them.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Li Yuhua, the first female forest ranger among the Drung people in Dulongjiang Township, Gongshan Drung and Nu Autonomous County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, southwest China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Liang Zhongjun, a ranger, who patrols twice a day at the Lashihai Plateau Wetland Provincial Nature Reserve in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, southwest China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Li Wenliang (L), a ranger at the Hanma National Nature Reserve in search of the moose, Hulunbuir City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows monitor Diao Faxing with Asian elephants in Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, southwest China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Wu Yonglin, head of the South Shore Protection Station of Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve, tending to a Przewalski’s gazelle in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, northwest China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Zhao Fuzhou, a fire lookout who has secured the Dahuanqi branch of the Saihanba Mechanized Forest Farm for four decades, Chengde City, Hebei Province, north China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Li Chunru (L), a vet for migratory birds who has kept a “bird care diary” for 40 years, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, east China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Xiong Youfu, an observer at Dazhaizi station, looking for the western black-crested gibbon in the Wuliang Mountains in Pu’er City, Yunnan Province, southwest China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Li Li, founder of the animal protection NGO Black Leopard Wildlife Protection Center, tending to a black stork, Beijing, China.

A still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series shows Jang Tendar, who returned home after graduation and dedicates himself to protecting the ecological environment of Sanjiangyuan area, northwest China.

(Cover: a still from CGTN’s “Journeys in Nature” documentary series showing the rangers going into the mountains in groups to prevent getting lost or being attacked by wild animals in the Dulong river valley in Yunnan Province, southwest China.)