Foreign
5A-level scenic area in China’s Hunan province embraces low-carbon development
By Sun Chao, People’s Daily
The Juzizhou Islet, a Chinese national 5A-level scenic arealocated in the Xiangjiang River, is a landmark of Changsha, central China’s Hunan province. According to statistics, from 2021 to 2023, the number of tourists visiting the islet has increased from 8 million to 16.9 million.
The renowned scenic area is embracing green development and transforming itself into a “zero-carbon” islet. Local authorities have taken a range of measures, such as mapping out the islet’scarbon footprint, and supplying facilities on the island with wind, solar power and other clean energy. These low-carbon development experiences have been promoted across the entire Hunan province to build a new type of power system.
“Mapping out the carbon footprint is the primary step to achieve zero carbon,” said Li Ke, professor with Hunan Normal University and head of the Hunan Institute for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality.
Li said that when assessing the carbon footprint, it is important to consider such factors as electricity consumption, gasoline and diesel emissions, and even the carbon dioxide emitted by tourists. Based on systematic calculations, it is estimated that the net carbon emissions of the Juzizhou Islet stood at around 5,900 tonsin 2023.
In China, many islands have achieved notable success in carbon reduction. “There are many successful examples, such as Meizhou Island in Putian, southeast China’sFujian province, and Dongyu Island in Boao, south China’sHainan province,” Li said. However, the Juzizhou Islet cannot simply copy these models, he added.
The Juzizhou Islet is on a river rather than the sea. It covers only a narrow and small area and does not have abundant wind or solar energy resources. For this city landmark and 5A-level scenic area, it is not practical to install large wind turbines and massive solar panels.
“The only way is to deliver green electricity to the islet directly,” said Yang Haokang, deputy general manager of State Grid Changsha Power Supply Company.
In the past, the electricity used on the islet primarily came from the grid, but not all of it was green electricity. To efficiently deliver affordable green electricity to the islet, the company decided to leverage wind and solar resources in the Xiangjiang River basin.
To the west of the Juzizhou Islet, there is a distributed wind farm in Ningxiang, Changsha; to the south of it, there is a photovoltaic power station in Xiangtan. Through the green power transmission lines, the green electricity generated by these two facilities can flow straight to the islet.
“The combination of wind and solar energy can enhance the stability of power supply,” said Yang.
Apart from receiving renewable energy from power supply facilities, the islet has also built a flexible distribution network so that distributed photovoltaics, energy storage, charging piles, and other facilities can be easily connected to the network for immediate use.
Since August this year, the islet has successfully achieved the point-to-point transmission of green electricity, leading to a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
Carbon reduction and sequestration
In addition to green power supply, the scenic area is proactively working on carbon reduction and sequestration to facilitate green transformation.
For instance, miniature wind turbines shaped like flower petals have been installed, creating a vibrant floral landscape that sways gently in the river’s breeze. There are also photovoltaic walkways with multiple functions including power generation, lighting and energy storage, which allow them to absorb solar energy during the day and glow at night.
Some pavilions, bus stop roofs, and even walls on the islet, also have their “special skills.” For example, specially-made photovoltaic tiles and walls appear no different from regular glazed tiles and glass windows. They integrate well into the environment while providing electricity for outdoor screens, charging devices and other facilities on the islet.
In the spinning bike area, tourists can power the large screen ahead only by pedaling their bikes. “I thought it was just a stationary fitness bike, but didn’t expect it to generate electricity. I come here every morning to exercise while also playing my part in green power generation,” said Wang Zexin, a resident in Changsha.
“These micro power generation devices are expected to produce 21,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity on an annual basis, equivalent to the carbon sequestration capacity of more than 10 mu (0.67 hectares) of forest in a year,” said Li.
Li noted that a carbon emission model has been established within the zero-carbon data center of the isletto illustrate energy consumption structure and changes in energy use, as well as the updating and addition of tree species. “We will further enhance the islet’s vegetation to boost its carbon sequestration capacity,” Li explained.
Thanks to efforts such as providing green power, integrating renewable energy solutions, and enhancing vegetation for carbon sequestration, the Juzizhou Islet has achieved near-zero carbon emissions.
Foreign
Trump begins mass layoffs at Voice of America

The Trump administration has initiated sweeping layoffs at Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S.-funded international broadcasters, effectively dismantling institutions long seen as critical for American influence abroad.
On Sunday, contractors working for VOA received an email notification that their employment would be terminated by the end of March. “You must cease all work immediately and are not permitted to access any agency buildings or systems,” the email read, according to multiple staff members who confirmed the development.
The move, which comes just a day after all employees were placed on administrative leave, disproportionately affects non-English-language services, where contractors make up a significant portion of the workforce. Many of these contractors are not U.S. citizens and may now face visa issues, further complicating their status in the country.
While most full-time staff remain employed for now, they have been told not to work, leaving VOA and its sister organizations in a state of uncertainty. Some services, unable to produce new programming, have resorted to playing music.
VOA, founded during World War II, has been a critical tool for U.S. public diplomacy, broadcasting in 49 languages to audiences in countries where press freedom is restricted. However, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday targeting its parent organization, the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), as part of broader federal budget cuts.
The cuts extend beyond VOA, affecting other U.S.-funded media entities such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio Farda (which broadcasts in Persian to Iran), and Alhurra, an Arabic-language network launched after the 2003 Iraq invasion. The administration argues that taxpayers should not fund what it calls “radical propaganda,” despite VOA’s longstanding editorial independence.
Liam Scott, a VOA journalist covering press freedom and disinformation, expressed concern over the decision. “I’ve covered press freedom for a long time, and I’ve never seen something like what’s happened in the U.S. over the past couple of months,” he wrote on social media.
The move has drawn international attention, particularly from China and Russia, which have been expanding their own state-funded media efforts. The Chinese state-run *Global Times* reacted with an editorial declaring that “the monopoly of information held by traditional Western media is being shattered.”
Trump’s administration has pursued aggressive cuts across federal agencies, including eliminating most foreign aid and significantly reducing the Department of Education. With input from tech billionaire Elon Musk, Trump has focused on reducing government size to facilitate tax cuts.
As the global media landscape shifts, the dismantling of U.S.-funded broadcasters leaves a vacuum that could be filled by rival state-controlled networks. Whether Congress or legal challenges will intervene remains to be seen, but for now, the future of America’s international broadcasting efforts hangs in the balance.
Foreign
Judge blocks Trump from deporting non-citizens using wartime law

A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s attempt to deport migrants allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua under a wartime law.
US District Judge James Boasberg issued a restraining order preventing the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expel undocumented migrants accused of gang ties. The order initially protected five individuals challenging the deportation but was later expanded to all affected noncitizens in US custody.
Boasberg also directed that any planes carrying these migrants be returned to the United States. “Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned,” he ruled. The restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days or until further court action.
The Trump administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act, citing Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization that has “unlawfully infiltrated the United States” and is engaging in hostile actions. However, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, argue that the gang’s activities do not meet the legal definition of an invasion.
The Justice Department has appealed the ruling, while the case continues in court.
Foreign
China’s new chapter in global innovation

By Gu Yekai, Liu Yiqing, People’s Daily
At a smart construction project site managed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation, a quiet technological revolution is underway. Amid cranes and concrete, engineers are deploying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems that could fundamentally reshape the construction industry.
Li Fengjian, an AI specialistwith Xianyuan Technology, detailed how the company’s latest intelligent system – built on a large model – adapts to complex construction environments.”Engineering machinery equipped with intelligent agents can adjust its operations automatically in response to weather conditions,” Li explained, adding that a spatiotemporal sensing network further enhances the system, providing real-time tracking of both personnel and materials throughout the construction site.
In February this year, Xianyuan Technology rapidly integrated its self-developed model with DeepSeek-R1, effectively blending a general-purpose framework with industry-specific models. This integration, Li noted, has produced a solution capable of delivering expert-level performance in challenging, dynamic environments. The firm is based in the Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, aburgeoning AI incubator that now hosts over 200 innovative enterprises.
China’s technological transformation extends well beyond the construction sector. Overthe past three decades, the country has evolved from its initial forays into internet connectivity to becoming a key player in global digital innovation.
Here, a steady stream of technological innovations are emerging, from the early days of emails and web browsing to the cutting-edge technologies represented by DeepSeek and the dynamic evolution of social media.
Wu Jianping, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and headof the Zhongguancun Laboratory, pointed out that while China had introduced only one internet standard before 2005, it now contributes to over 200 worldwide. Such strides illustrate the country’s concerted push toward high-level technological self-reliance – a journey marked by both persistence and determination.
Beyond the digital realm, China is makingsignificant inroads in aerospace, new energy, and other high-tech sectors. It has transitioned from being a follower to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with global leaders, and in some areas, even taking the lead. Wu attributed these achievements to a dynamic ecosystem of policy reforms and talent cultivation that encourages creativity and technical expertise at every level.
Amid intensifying international competition, collaborative research and the integration of new technologies with traditional industries are central to China’s high-quality economic development.
Mei Linhai, a researcher at China’s State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Intelligence, remarked that the age of AI calls for continuous exploration. “In this era, everyone is an innovator. Only by persistently pushing the boundaries can we remain at the forefront of both technological and industrial development,” Mei observed.
In the field of general-purpose AI, Mei emphasized that independent innovation is paramount. He advocates for a self-driven industrial ecosystem that leveragesbreakthrough technologies to boost productivity and unlock new possibilities, Mei said.
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