A 14-year-old middle school student from Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan Province, built a Newtonian telescope from discarded plastic pipes, parts of a drum set, and other materials, all for just 70 yuan ($9.6), enabling clear observation of the moon's surface, domestic news site china.com reported.
The student, named Ma Junhe, dreamed of exploring the moon from a young age. After learning about telescope construction during a physics practical class, he decided to construct his own astronomical telescope.
With limited pocket money at his disposal, he could only afford to buy the lenses online, while the other components had to be crafted using waste materials and repurposed items. For example, the telescope tube was made from a discarded plastic pipe, and the mount came from parts of his personal drum set.
Following over a dozen failed attempts, he succeeded in constructing a Newtonian telescope capable of clearly viewing the moon's surface, all at a cost of just 70 yuan ($9.6).
Ma said that the moment he saw the craters on the moon's surface, it felt like his dream had come true, and he now aspires to visit the moon someday.
“That's incredible! The teacher only wanted him to see the FU Tower, an attraction in Zhengzhou, but Ma ended up seeing the moon's craters," Ma’s classmates said admirably, according to the report.
Although Ma failed more than a dozen times before succeeding, he remained persistent and never found the process dull, "because I'm exploring what I love," Ma said.
A police dog recently attracted people's attention on China's social media for being criticized for wrongdoing in weekly reports by the training base for four consecutive weeks.
Its misconducts included incidents such as instigating fights and urinating on fellow dogs' beds, according to the WeChat account of the Yunnan Provincial Public Security Bureau in Southwest China's Yunnan Province on Friday.
"I feel so embarrassed at the base because of 110's bad behavior," joked 110's handler, referring to the consecutive reports.
The dog is named "110," because it was born on the eve of January 10, 2024, China's Police Day, and 110 is the emergency number in Chinese mainland.
The report urged 110 and its handlers to pay close attention, correct their attitudes and quickly make improvements, so that they could enter the new year's work with a refreshed state of mind.
Despite its mischievous tendencies, 110 takes its work seriously. Thanks to its sharp hearing and sense of smell, it is consistently the first to respond when the police siren blares, which has become its special skill.
In response to a media inquiry on whether China is considering providing specific assistance to the people suffering from the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, California, the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Tuesday that severe wildfires occurred recently in Los Angeles area of the US, we express our condolences to the victims and extend our sympathies to the injured and the families of those affected.
In recent years, China and Pakistan have been enjoying high level, pragmatic naval cooperation. In addition to joint exercises and training operations such as the Sea Guardian series bilateral exercises and AMAN series multinational exercises, the two countries have also carried out cooperation in military equipment such projects involving Type 054A/P guided missile frigates and Hangor-class submarines.
The Pakistan Navy is planning to host the AMAN-25 multinational exercise in early February in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi. Ahead of the exercise, Admiral Naveed Ashraf, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy, said in an exclusive interview with the Global Times that the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has participated in all previous editions of AMAN exercises, and he expects that PLA Navy will participate in AMAN-25 and is looking forward to hosting PLA Navy leadership during the AMAN dialogue. AMAN exercises deepen collaboration
Ashraf told the Global Times that the main objective of AMAN is to foster regional cooperation for the maintenance of good order at sea, improving interoperability, share experiences, understand each other, and exhibit united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the maritime domain.
He said that the Pakistan Navy is fully prepared and geared up to conduct AMAN-25 with enhanced participation of friendly countries in a professional and befitting manner.
It is worth noting that the previous edition of the exercise held in February 2023, which witnessed the participation from 50 countries across the globe. "Keeping the same spirit, we are hopeful that this edition will also mark a distinctive chapter in history of AMAN exercises with enhanced participation of friendly countries," Ashraf said.
Ashraf revealed that the maiden AMAN Dialogue will be held in tandem with AMAN-25. "The AMAN Dialogue aims to promote understanding in maritime security issues, finding ways to enhance cooperation at sea, and discussing security linked to the blue economy."
"We have been honored by the regular participation of PLA Navy in all previous editions of AMAN exercises," Ashraf said, noting that this has added highlights to the exercise and is a reflection of the two countries' common resolve to come together for peace and security in the region. "Similarly, we expect that the PLA Navy will actively participate in AMAN-25 also with suitable representation. As I have mentioned earlier as well, the maiden AMAN Dialogue will also be conducted concurrently with Exercise AMAN. So, we are also looking forward to hosting PLA Navy leadership during the dialogue," he said.
Official Chinese media releases previously reported that the PLA Navy flotilla's participation in the AMAN exercises further promoted the PLA Navy's maritime exchanges and cooperation with other participating navies, showing the determination to jointly safeguard maritime security, and boosted the capability in jointly dealing with maritime security threats.
Fruitful naval cooperation Aside from the AMAN series exercises hosted by the Pakistan Navy, China and Pakistan also regularly hold the Sea Guardian bilateral naval drills. The China-Pakistan Sea Guardian-3 maritime joint exercise was held in the waters and airspace of the northern Arabian Sea from November 11 to 17, 2023. In 2020 and 2022, the two countries held the Sea Guardian 2020 and Sea Guardian-2 joint exercises in northern Arabian Sea waters and waters and airspace near Shanghai respectively. The Sea Guardian joint exercises aim to enhance security cooperation between the two sides, consolidate all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and boost the level of combat-oriented training of the two militaries.
Speaking about the achievements the two sides have made from the Sea Guardian series drills, Ashraf said that Pakistan Navy-PLA Navy relations are a reflection of Pakistan-China strategic ties, which includes participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises. In this regard, the Sea Guardian series of exercises amply fulfil the objectives of fostering interoperability and sharing professional experiences to deal with contemporary traditional and non-traditional threats in the Indian Ocean region.
Ashraf introduced the Sea Guardian-3 exercise in detail. He said that the Pakistan Navy units along with PLA Navy frigates, submarine, and aviation units participated in the exercise. The evolution at sea included joint maneuvers, anti-surface, anti-air, and anti-submarine drills. They "provided a useful opportunity to strengthen bilateral naval cooperation and enhance interoperability between two navies. Moreover, we expect that scope of the exercise will gradually increase in coming editions."
In addition, as an important part of the China-Pakistan naval cooperation, all four Type 054A/P frigates built by China have been delivered to the Pakistan Navy. In May 2023, two Type 054A/P frigates built by China for the Pakistan Navy were delivered, marking that all four Type 054A/Ps ordered by the Pakistan Navy have been commissioned. The Type 054A/P is one of the latest multi-role frigates of Chinese origin, equipped with the state-of-the-art weapons and sensors that include CM-302 surface-to-surface missiles and LY-80 surface-to-air missiles, as well as an Advanced Anti-Submarine Warfare suite and Combat Management System, enabling ships of this class to operate under multi-threat scenarios.
Ashraf spoke highly of these four ships. He said that the acquisition of Type 054 A/P is a symbol of enduring friendship and historical affinity between Pakistan and China. Type 054 A/P ships are equipped to operate under multi-threat scenarios and have been fully integrated into Pakistan Navy operations. "The induction of Type 054 A/P frigates in the Pakistan Navy Fleet has bolstered our war fighting capabilities, enhanced operational flexibility, and these ships will remain the mainstay of Pakistan Navy Fleet in coming years."
Moreover, according to a photo provided by the Pakistan Navy, the PNS Zulfiquar, an F-22P guided missile frigate China built for the Pakistan Navy, conducted Operation Himalayan Spirit in the North Arabian Sea in October 2024. The Pakistan Navy seized 1.3 tons of narcotics during the operation.
Other than cooperation in terms of surface vessels, another key project in the China-Pakistan naval cooperation is the joint construction of eight Hangor-class submarines. This type of submarine is equipped with the latest weapons and sensors. With air independent propulsion (AIP) system onboard, the submarine has significantly enhanced submerged endurance capabilities.
According to open reports, Pakistan signed a contract with China to procure eight Hangor-class conventional submarines in 2015, with the first four to be constructed by China and the other four to be assembled by Pakistan, so as to improve Pakistan's technical capabilities. The plan is that Pakistan will obtain the eight advanced submarines between 2022 and 2028. In December 2021, the fifth Hangor-class conventional submarine, also the first one built in Pakistan, officially received a steel cutting ceremony. It marked Pakistan's gaining of the building technology of the world's top-class modern submarine.
Open reports also showed that the first Hangor-class conventional submarine was launched in China in April 2024. In response to the questions "When is the first boat scheduled to enter service, and how is the progress for the four boats being built in Pakistan," Ashraf said that the Hangor-class submarines will significantly enhance Pakistan's naval capabilities. These submarines will provide improved stealth, maneuverability and firepower, allowing our Navy to execute a wide range of operations effectively. "The project is proceeding as per the timeline. We expect that these submarines will join the Pakistan Navy fleet very soon," Ashraf said.
New fields to be explored Talking about the future of Pakistan-China naval cooperation, Ashraf said that the Pakistan Navy and the PLA Navy enjoys a historically strong deep-rooted bilateral relationship. Close collaboration between the two navies exists across multiple domains including acquisition of platforms, equipment, bilateral exercises, technical cooperation, Navy-to-Navy (N2N) Expert Level Staff Talks, training collaboration, exchange visits, and port calls.
According to the admiral, the prospects for future cooperation between the Pakistani and Chinese navies are very broad. "I believe that there is no shortage of avenues for the broadening of our mutual engagements and we are looking forward to establishing long term collaboration in the domains of artificial intelligence, robotics, cyber, and space."
According to a photo provided by the Pakistan Navy, Ashraf visited a shipyard in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province in April 2024 and met with the shipyard's representatives during the launching ceremony of the first Hangor-class submarine of the Pakistan Navy.
When asked about his visit to China in April 2024, Ashraf said that he interacted with the PLA Navy leadership, and has found PLA Navy leadership to be highly professional and cordial. "I have no doubt that the PLA Navy is on the way to becoming one of the finest and leading navies in days to come. Moreover, I also believe that with the focused approach of the leadership on both sides, our relations will continue to expand further in times to come."
India is continuously expanding and modernizing its naval fleet and also commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier in 2022. In response to the questions, "How has the naval build up might affect regional maritime balance of power, and does the Pakistan Navy plan to eventually operate an aircraft carrier as well," Ashraf said that the Pakistan Navy is a balanced force, which is capable of responding to a full spectrum of conflicts and is optimized to the evolving character of warfare, rehearsed to perform in time-sensitive situations and remains combat ready. Manned by competent human resources, integrated through network-centric warfare, and with a right balance between manned and unmanned assets, our fleet is capable of dealing with diverse maritime challenges.
"While India continues to build its navy, we are not in an arms race. However, we maintain an adequate capacity to accomplish assigned tasks effectively," Ashraf stressed.
A number of foreign hacker organizations have been utilizing malicious websites and overseas IP addresses to execute cyberattacks targeting China and other nations, according to China's national cybersecurity and information security notification center on Monday.
These malicious websites and IPs are linked to specific Trojan programs or their control endpoints. The types of cyberattacks include establishing botnets, phishing, stealing trade secrets and intellectual property, and infringing on citizens' personal information, presenting a serious risk to domestic networks and internet users in China, according to the center in a statement. Some of these activities are suspected to constitute criminal offenses, the center noted.
The revelation of this batch of cyberattacks is just the tip of the iceberg, as such incidents have become increasingly common in our digital world. These attacks often target critical information infrastructure, Qin An, deputy director of the expert committee on counter-terrorism and cyber security governance at the China Society of Police Law, told the Global Times on Monday.
The locations of the relevant malicious websites and IPs mainly involve the US, the Netherlands, Singapore, Turkey, Mexico, Vietnam, and others, according to the center.
Of the 10 listed malicious websites and IP addresses, two were traced to the US.
The malicious address gael2024.kozow.com, associated with the IP address 149.28.98.229 located in Miami, Florida, is linked to a family of backdoor viruses known as AsyncRAT, according to the statement by the center.
The backdoor programs are able to carry out screen monitoring, keystroke logging, password retrieval, file theft, process management, camera control and interactive shell access. They can also visit specific URLs.
These viruses can spread through various means, such as removable storage devices and phishing emails. Several related variants have been identified, some of which specifically target critical interconnected systems in the public welfare sector within China, the center said.
Another malicious address located in Los Angeles is linked to multiple samples of the RemCos virus family. RemCos, a remote management tool that has been in existence since 2016, allows attackers to exploit backdoor access on infected systems to gather sensitive information and exert remote control, according to the statement.
The latest version of RemCos is capable of executing a range of malicious activities, including keylogging, taking screenshots and stealing passwords, it added.
These tactics such as Trojan horses, hacking, ransomware and phishing techniques are some of the conventional methods of the US to target a wide range of countries. China is among the victims of these cyberattacks, Li Baiyang, an associate professor of intelligence studies with Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Monday.
In 2022, the email system of Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province - well-known for its aviation, aerospace and navigation studies - was found to have been attacked by the US' National Security Agency (NSA), the Global Times learned from a source.
Of the 10 malicious addresses, three were traced back to the Netherlands. The center said it detected a type of Linux botnet virus that spreads through methods such as network downloads, exploiting vulnerabilities and brute-force attacks via Telnet and SSH. Once it successfully infiltrates a target network system, it can launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Two malicious addresses were identified from Singapore. Multiple samples of the Farfli virus family were detected. Farfli is a remote-control Trojan that can spread through various methods, including network downloads, software bundling and phishing.
Ensuring cybersecurity is a global challenge. China is a major victim of cyberattacks and has always opposed and fought various types of cyberattacks in accordance with the law, experts said.
Relentless smears
Recently, the US has ramped up smear against China on cybersecurity issues.
The US Department of the Treasury sanctioned a Beijing-based cybersecurity company on Friday, claiming it helped Chinese hackers infiltrate US telecommunication system and conduct surveillance.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday that on the so-called issue of cyberattacks, China has made clear our position more than once. China has all along firmly opposed hacking and fights it in accordance with law.
China urged the US to stop using the issue of cybersecurity to vilify and smear China. For quite some time, the US has been trumpeting so-called "Chinese hacking" and even using it to impose illegal and unilateral sanctions on China, Guo said.
China firmly rejects this and will do what is necessary to safeguard our lawful rights and interests, Guo noted.
Titled "How Chinese Hackers Graduated From Clumsy Corporate Thieves to Military Weapons," the Wall Street Journal in a Saturday report sensationally accused Chinese hackers of being able to "shut down dozens of US ports, power grids and other infrastructure targets at will."
The US has long propagated a series of unfounded accusations against China and cybersecurity has recently become a focus. The US sees cyberspace as a crucial dimension in the overall competition between with China, therefore it seeks to preserve its hegemony in this regard and cannot accept China's development, Li noted.
Hyping so-called cybersecurity threat from China would also benefit certain US governmental agencies which want to secure more funding, Li said.
Some think thanks and firms in sectors of artificial intelligence, big data, and cloud computing also favor such a narrative to get projects from the US government, he further explained.
Overshadowed by the recent rift over US President Joe Biden's blocking of Nippon Steel's takeover of US Steel, top US diplomat Antony Blinken kicked off a visit to Japan on Tuesday, while claiming that the alliance between the two countries is stronger than ever.
Some Chinese observers interpreted Blinken's visit to Japan as having limited practical significance, viewing it more as a symbolic gesture seeking to assure Tokyo that their alliance remains robust even after the next administration assumes office. However, this reassurance is surrounded by uncertainties, they said.
"I think one of the things that he [Biden] and we are proudest of is the strength of this relationship, of this partnership, of this allyship. And I believe it's actually stronger than it's ever been," Blinken said, ahead of his talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, according to a press release by the US department of state on Tuesday.
On January 3, US President Joe Biden blocked the $14.9 billion purchase of US Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, according to Reuters. The AFP cited business groups as saying that "the decision could have a chilling effect on Japan's standing as the biggest foreign investor in the US."
Nippon Steel Corp and US Steel Corp, according to Japan's Kyodo News, on Monday filed two lawsuits seeking to protect their merger plan from "illegal and improper political and anticompetitive interference" after it was blocked by US President Joe Biden last week.
The announcement came as Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba warned of potential repercussions from Biden's decision for the close business ties between the two countries, and urged a detailed explanation of the Biden's reasoning for barring the $14.1 billion deal, which he said creates a national security risk, the report said.
"I will strongly urge the US government to respond toward dispelling [the concerns]," the Japanese Prime Minister said during his first press conference of the year on Monday.
Iwaya and Blinken held a working lunch for about 90 minutes on Tuesday, and "the two ministers concurred on continuing working closely together to further uphold and bolster the Japan-US relationship, which has become stronger than ever," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
Biden's blocking of the merger has cast a shadow over US-Japan relations, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. "Although the decision primarily focused on economic issues, such as mutual investment and trade cooperation between the US and Japan, it also reflects some doubts about the US' open policies and free trade system.
These doubts could indeed affect Japanese companies' enthusiasm for investing in the US and might even spread concerns about US investments to other countries."
Commenting on Blinken's emphases on the diplomatic and political legacy of the outgoing Biden administration during the Japan visit, Da said Tuesday that "there is an evident element of political stunt for publicity purposes."
While the US-Japan alliance and US-Japan-South Korea trilateral cooperation in the domain of security have grown stronger in the Biden presidency, the real question is how these cooperation mechanisms will evolve in the next US administration. Blinken's outlook might be somewhat idealistic, as both countries will need to contend with the uncertainties in the next US administration, he said.
"Blinken's visit is mainly aimed at reassuring and consolidating alliances. Both Japan and South Korea have concerns about the US, particularly fearing significant changes in the US' alliance policy, affecting the stability of the strategic cooperation," said Lu Hao, Director of the Strategic Studies Department at the Institute of Japanese Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Tokyo "is concerned that the next administration could put a break on momentum for improving the alliance by slapping high tariffs on Japanese imports or again pressuring Japan to cough up more cash for hosting US troops," the Japan Times reported on Tuesday.
In addition, friction between Japan and the US over steel acquisition case has impacted Japan's strategic perception of the US, affecting strategic trust between the two countries and amplifying Japan's unease, Lu said.
Panama said on Tuesday that the sovereignty of its interoceanic canal was non-negotiable, while Denmark said Greenland is not for sale, after US President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out military or economic coercion to gain control over relevant regions.
US President-elect said on the same day that he would move to try to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," a name he said has a "beautiful ring to it," according to the AP, noting it's his latest suggestion to redraw the map of the Western Hemisphere.
Trump's suggestion on Tuesday that the United States might reclaim the Panama Canal — potentially by force — unsettled Panamanians, who used to live with the presence of the US military in the canal zone and were invaded by American forces once before, the New York Times reported.
'Unsettling' intent
Panama's foreign minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, made his country's position clear at a news conference hours after the American president-elect mused aloud about retaking the canal, which the United States built but turned over to Panama in the late 1990s.
"The sovereignty of our canal is nonnegotiable and is part of our history of struggle and an irreversible conquest," Martínez-Acha said. "Let it be clear: The canal belongs to the Panamanians and it will continue to be that way," according to the New York Times.
Asked at a press conference at his Florida resort whether he could assure the world he would not use military or economic coercion as he tries to gain control of the Panama Canal and Greenland, Trump said, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two. But I can say this, we need them for economic security," according to Reuters.
Trump also suggested he would impose tariffs on Denmark if it resists his offer to purchase Greenland, which he said is vital to US national security. Shortly before Trump's comments, his son arrived in Greenland for a visit, according to Reuters.
When asked about Trump Jr's visit to Greenland, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told Danish TV that "Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders" and that only the local population could determine their future. She agreed that "Greenland is not for sale", but stressed Denmark needed close cooperation with the US, a NATO ally, according to BBC.
The Danish king has shocked some historians by changing the royal coat of arms to more prominently feature Greenland and the Faroe Islands - in what has also been seen as a rebuke to Donald Trump, Guardian reported Monday. In his first new year speech, the king said: "We are all united and each of us committed for the kingdom of Denmark. From the Danish minority in South Schleswig - which is even situated outside the kingdom - and all the way to Greenland. We belong together."
Trump Jr arrived in snowy Greenland on Tuesday on his father's Trump Force One private plane, the latest sign of the president-elect's desire to take ownership of the vast Arctic island. But if the Danish king's latest move is anything to go by, the United States has a fight on its hands, said a report by NBC News.
In addition to Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump has set his eyes on Canada multiple of times. Trump reacted to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation in a Truth Social post on Tuesday stating "Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday dismissed a suggestion by Trump that he might use "economic force" to make Canada the 51st US state. "There isn't a snowball's chance in hell that Canada would become part of the United States," he said in a post on X.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford countered President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to make Canada the 51st state of the Union - by making an offer to purchase two American states at a press conference, New York Post reported. "To the president, I'll make him a counteroffer. How about if we buy Alaska? And we'll throw in Minnesota and Minneapolis at the same time?" Ford said. "You know, it's not realistic," according to the report.
Global order 'deeply interrupted'
Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "Trump aspires to leave a legacy as a president who made a unique contribution to the US, and now it's hard for him to make big changes in terms of both internal reform or foreign affairs, but seizing more territories for the US could be an option, aligning with his 'America First' ideology and appealing to his penchant for bold, attention-grabbing actions."
Greenland, the Panama Canal, and Canada possess significant strategic value, but the problem is the US has no sovereign disputes with relevant countries or regions, and if the new US administration tries to annex these lands with military or economic approaches, this would set a dangerous precedent for the world's sole superpower to disregard international laws and norms, Diao noted. "This would be extremely unfair for the countries like Denmark, Panama and Canada, and the global order and the international system would be deeply interrupted and fall into greater chaos."
Earlier, Trump posted a video of his private plane landing in Nuuk, the Arctic territory's capital, in a landscape of snow-capped peaks and fjords.
"Don Jr. and my Reps landing in Greenland," Trump wrote. "The reception has been great. They, and the Free World, need safety, security, strength, and PEACE! This is a deal that must happen. MAGA. MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN!"
Responding to reports which said a staff member in the First People's Hospital of Datong in North China's Shanxi Province is suspected of participating in the sale of an infant, the Datong city government has established a joint investigation group and will deal with the violations of law and discipline seriously in accordance with the law, according to CCTV News on Thursday.
Surnamed Wang, the chief obstetrician at the First People's Hospital of Datong, is suspected of facilitating infant trafficking, reported The Beijing News on Thursday morning.
In 2022, Wang allegedly acted as an intermediary in the trafficking of an infant. In May 2022, a 15-year-old girl's baby was sold to a couple. The girl used the buyer's identity for hospital admission process.
Wang also revealed that the infant trafficking case was uncovered during a police investigation into a murder involving the ex-boyfriend of the 15-year-old girl.
According to the prosecutor's non-prosecution decision, the buyer paid 68,000 yuan ($9,000) for the baby, of which 41,000 yuan was given to the seller's mother through an intermediary. Wang's actions were classified as forging official documents, and prosecutors decided not to pursue charges, citing the minor nature of the crime.
The first group of 3,226 doctoral candidates has been selected for a two-year government-backed project to support promising young scientists, the Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) announced on Saturday.
The candidates will receive specialized training aimed at broadening their academic perspectives, enhancing academic experience and accelerating their academic growth. The support period is set from January 2025 to December 2026.
According to CAST, the project primarily targets the doctoral candidates under the age of 30 in natural sciences, engineering, agricultural sciences and medicine from universities and research institutions.
Academic funding will be allocated for the selected candidates to participate in high-level academic conferences, publish high-quality research papers and engage in overseas study exchanges.
CAST will provide up to 40,000 yuan (5,565 U.S. dollars) in financial support for each candidate.
CAST will also help the selected candidates to become student members of national academies for free and participate in major domestic and international academic conferences, while outstanding candidates will be offered additional opportunities to learn from established professionals to enhance their overall capabilities.
In addition, the selected candidates will be given assistant positions at high-level academic conferences, and domestic and international academic organizations, as well as assistant editorial roles in academic journals.
This involvement will assist them in staying updated on cutting-edge research developments and engaging deeply in academic exchanges.
From 2025 onward, the initiative plans to gradually expand its support to approximately 10,000 candidates annually, accounting for over 15 percent of doctoral graduates in related disciplines each year in China.
An exhibition featuring Chang’e-5 lunar samples has been open to the public at the Beijing Planetarium since Saturday afternoon. In addition to 0.6 grams of lunar soil brought back by Chang’e-5, the display also includes Moon rocks collected by Apollo 17 and meteorites from Northwest Africa, offering valuable insights into the Moon’s formation and evolution, according to CCTV News.
In December 2020, the Chang’e-5 mission successfully returned lunar soil samples from the Moon, leading to the beginning of scientific research on these samples. With the continuous rise of national scientific and technological strength and comprehensive national power, China has become the third country in the world to successfully bring back lunar samples, marking a milestone in both China's and humanity's history of lunar exploration.
The exhibition focuses on the lunar samples retrieved by Chang’e-5. The core exhibits of the exhibition are lunar soil samples of varying particle sizes, presented from multiple perspectives to offer the public an unprecedented interactive experience. A total of 0.6 grams of lunar soil is displayed. The exhibition also showcases other highly valuable lunar samples, including Moon rock collected by Apollo 17 and lunar meteorites from Northwest Africa. These lunar materials, obtained at different times and through various methods, have provided scientists with diverse perspectives for studying the Moon’s formation and evolution.
The exhibition showcases the lunar soil using robotic arms, large-diameter hemispherical lenses, stereomicroscopes, XCT scanning, and three-dimensional digital reconstruction technology, allowing the public to observe the lunar soil up close through microscopes and explored its true state.
The exhibition also introduces the “Chang’e stone,” a new mineral discovered and named from the Chang’e-5 lunar samples. This is the first new lunar mineral discovered by Chinese scientists and the sixth overall discovered by humanity. China became the third country in the world to identify a new mineral on the Moon.
