Foreign
Intelligent technology leads China’s sports industry to new development

By Liu Leyi, Wang Cong
Intelligent technology is playing an increasingly vital role in enhancing competitive sports, enriching fitness products for the public, and accelerating sports-education integration.
For instance, AI models were employed by athletes in their preparation for the Olympic Games, and big data technology is used togain deeper insights into athletes’ performance in routine training.
Additionally, smart and convenient fitness equipment has become increasingly prevalent, while advanced physical education analysis systems are widely adopted to optimize training programs.
These innovations are propelling China’s sports industry into a new era marked by intelligent development.
In a 50-meter-long swimming pool, 16 underwater cameras are placed every three meters from start to finish. The moment an athlete enters the water, the cameras automatically capture every movement the athlete performs, recording detailed progress by the second.
Then, AI technology seamlessly stitches the frames together, creating a comprehensive image of the swimmer’s trajectory.
Behind this innovative “panorama” lies the technological support of asports large model developed by a collaboration between Shanghai University of Sport, tech firm Baidu, and Shanghai University. The largemodel is the first one in China tailored to the sports industry.
“This large model was developed with motion recognition and analysis as the basis,”said Professor Li Yongming from Shanghai University of Sport. According to Li, the large model has been adopted by multiple national teams, such as diving, swimming, track and field, gymnastics, trampolining, and climbing.
The national swimming team has built an AI-assisted training system powered by the large model, which functions like an “intelligent coach.”By capturing intricate details of athletes’ movements, the system identifies aspects for improvement. Using feedback data from the system, coaches can adjust training strategies, while athletes gain a clearer understanding of their progress.
“Starting with competitive sports, we’ve accumulated extensive algorithms and techniques related to human movement,” said Li, addingthis large model will expand its applications beyond competitive sports to areas like public fitness and sports rehabilitation.
In Beijing’s Haidian Park, runners can be seen dashing along a red smart track, while nearby intelligent screens display real-time updates of their fitness data, including calories burned, speed, and stride frequency – all at a glance.
A local resident surnamed Wang said that the track, powered by facial recognition technology, is like a “smart companion” that records his workout data in real time.
“Running has become more purposeful for me now – I look forward to seeing my progress every day,” he said.
Over at Ritan Park, or Temple of the Sun Park, sports facilities have been transformed into a fully equipped “outdoor smart gym.””These machines come with exercise guides and workout recommendations. The electronic screens show details like exercise duration and calories burned, which is incredibly helpful for fitness enthusiasts like me,” said Chen, a “devoted fan” of smart fitness equipment.
In recent years, smart sports parks have been established in a number of cities across China, making fitness activities more and more intelligent.
Huo Bo, director of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Sports at Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, said: “By using smart devices to monitor exercise data in real time and provide personalized suggestions, citizens can make fitness activities more efficient. This not only enhances the effectiveness of public fitness programs but also improves overall quality of life. The integration of smart technology with sports represents both technological progress and a critical step toward promoting public health.”
Today, some primary and secondary schools are integrating smart technologies into physical education classes, infusing new momentum into campus sports education through the power of technology.
At Beijing No. 18 Middle School, students lined up on an AI-equipped track. At the sound of the starting signal, they sprinted off the line, while sensors precisely captured their speed and stride frequency. The data was displayed on an electronic screen, alongside their previous records for comparison. This allows each student to quickly understand their progress while helping teachers better analyze their performance and predict their developmental trends.
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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