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On the evening of October 22, the Jilin Jiutai Bank Northeast Tigers triumphed over the Shanxi Fenjiu with a score of 130-119 in the fifth round of the 2024-2025 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) regular season, marking their third consecutive victory.

The Shanxi team quickly got into the groove of the game, taking an early 7-2 lead. However, Jilin’s Jiang Yuxing made a crucial cut to stabilize the home team’s morale. Jilin then fought back to tie the game, ending the first quarter with an 8-point advantage.

In the second quarter, Shanxi once again started strong with a 6-0 run, but Jilin’s Li An made two free throws, and their foreign player Jones executed a couple of impressive “and-one” plays. The two teams exchanged scoring runs, and Jilin wrapped up the first half with a narrow 63-61 lead.

As the second half began, Jilin struggled offensively, allowing Shanxi to take advantage and eventually overtake them in the third quarter. By the end of the period, Jilin was trailing Shanxi by 4 points. In the final quarter, Jilin intensified their three-point shooting, with Li An hitting a critical three-pointer and Jiang Weize converting three free throws. Despite Shanxi’s late-game surge, they couldn’t turn the tide.

Jones led the way for Jilin with an impressive 42 points, 9 rebounds, and 12 assists, while Li An contributed 17 points and 8 rebounds. For Shanxi, Zhang Ning scored 31 points along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

After the game, Jilin’s head coach Zhong Cheng praised his players’ determination and passion for victory. He expressed how moved he was by their relentless effort on the court.

Prior to this match, the Jilin Jiutai Bank Northeast Tigers had won against the Fujian Jinjiang Culture and the Jiangsu Kentia, bringing their winning streak to three. They will face the Shandong Qingdao Guoxin Pharmaceutical team at home on October 24.

The Thirlwall inquiry has revealed new insights about Lucy Letby and the neonatal unit where she worked. During the two criminal trials involving Letby, jurors were presented with an overwhelming amount of intricate evidence, including tens of thousands of pages of medical notes, swipecard data, witness testimonies, and Facebook messages. Letby, now 34, was convicted of the murders of seven infants and the attempted murder of another seven at the Countess of Chester Hospital in northwest England.

These convictions have sparked intense discussions, with some experts questioning the medical science and evidence that underpinned the trials. Nonetheless, four of Britain’s most senior judges have currently deemed there to be no grounds for an appeal. Letby’s new legal team is preparing a fresh challenge as concerns regarding the convictions intensify.

Amidst this controversy, a public inquiry is delving into the surge of premature infant deaths at the hospital. However, it is important to note that this investigation is not addressing the question of Letby’s guilt directly.

Over the course of five weeks at Liverpool Town Hall, the Thirlwall inquiry has unearthed new information about Letby, the neonatal unit’s operations, and the traumatic experiences of the families impacted by these events. For some, the new evidence—most of which was not disclosed during the criminal trials—provides a context for how a nurse, described by a detective as being able to “operate in plain sight,” could be involved in such a tragedy. For others, this revelation might reinforce the belief that these unfortunate incidents could have a more innocent explanation.

So far, here’s what we have learned from the Thirlwall inquiry:

Regarding Letby’s character, jurors in her original 10-month trial received only limited insight into her personality. No family members, friends, or colleagues came forward to testify on her behalf, leaving Letby to create her narrative during her 14 days of testimony, which left many within the courtroom with lingering questions.

The inquiry has painted a more nuanced and complex portrait of Letby. Some former colleagues described her as “a little strange,” “uncompassionate,” and “cold,” while others found her to be likable and skilled. Several nurses recounted that Letby relayed news about infant deaths—those for which she would later be convicted— in an “excited” and “gossipy” manner. For example, after the sudden death of a second triplet within 24 hours, she allegedly told a nurse, “You will never guess what’s just happened,” as she started her shift.

Even though some of her colleagues found Letby’s behavior unusual, she was considered a valued and competent member of the unit. Eirian Powell, the ward manager, previously described her as “one of my best nurses,” noting her meticulousness and professionalism. However, concerns regarding Letby’s capabilities did arise. A significant incident occurred in 2013 when she administered a newborn boy a morphine dose ten times higher than necessary, a potentially life-threatening blunder that was caught by a coworker in time.

The inquiry has also revealed that Letby initially failed her final student placement in 2011 due to worries about her competence—an unusual outcome for a trainee nurse on the cusp of qualifying. Nicola Lightfoot, the deputy manager of the children’s unit at the time, expressed concern over Letby’s interactions and communication skills.

Despite her setbacks, Letby ultimately qualified, just weeks after her placement failure, and became a well-liked member of the tight-knit nursing team. Her colleagues even organized a tea party to welcome her back following two external reviews that cleared her of harming infants in early 2017, although this return was never realized due to escalating police involvement.

The inquiry also noted missed opportunities to engage law enforcement. While staff were trained to identify safeguarding issues related to the infants’ families, there was no equivalent guidance for recognizing potential harm from a colleague—despite past tragic cases in the healthcare sector.

The Thirlwall inquiry has further illuminated issues regarding the unit’s staffing deficiencies, which became critical around 2015. Executive-level warnings highlighted the almost-breaking point for pediatric services due to a shortage of qualified personnel, resulting in significant gaps in oversight and care. Some staff observed that the chaotic environment allowed Letby to potentially conceal her actions amid the residual chaos.

A critical lapse occurred when doctors failed to grasp the implications of a blood test that indicated a newborn had been poisoned with insulin in August 2015. A delayed response meant that when professionals reviewed the result later, the child had already stabilized, thus missing a crucial opportunity to act.

Moving forward, the inquiry led by Lady Justice Kate Thirlwall is set to resume on November 4, with testimonies from senior clinicians and executives expected in the coming weeks. The hearings are anticipated to continue until early 2025, culminating in a report that will be published by late autumn of that year.

In a recent interview, we spoke with Mech Dara, an award-winning Cambodian journalist who has made headlines after his release on bail following an arrest earlier this month. Mr. Dara, known for his reporting with the BBC, faced serious charges of incitement related to social media posts that authorities claimed could incite social unrest.

Mr. Dara was released from Kandal jail on Thursday, shortly after a pro-government news outlet aired a video showing him asking for forgiveness from the nation’s leaders. The accusations against him stemmed from five posts deemed “provocative” and “false” concerning a rock quarry situated on a sacred mountain.

His arrest drew the attention of various human rights organizations and prompted responses from multiple governments, including the United States. Upon his release, Mr. Dara expressed gratitude, stating, “I thank everyone who helped get me out of jail on bail.” He also shared that he needed time to recuperate after his detainment, admitting, “My health is weak. My brain is not working yet.”

The video released by Fresh News, which featured Mr. Dara in an orange prison uniform, showed him apologizing to former Prime Minister Hun Sen and his son, current Prime Minister Hun Manet. In the clip, he acknowledged that his posts contained “false information that is harmful to the leaders and the country.”

Interestingly, the video surfaced on the same day that Samantha Power, the Administrator of USAID, confirmed she had discussed Mr. Dara’s arrest during a meeting with the Prime Minister in Phnom Penh.

In an interview on October 22 in Beijing, Pei Xiaofei, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, shared insights on the country’s environmental progress over the past three quarters of this year.

Pei emphasized that both air quality and surface water quality in China have continued to show overall improvement. She reported that among the 339 cities at the prefectural level and above, key pollutants such as PM2.5 and PM10 have witnessed a reduction trend, with what she described as “four declines and two stays the same.” Specifically, the average concentration of PM2.5 was recorded at 27 micrograms per cubic meter, which is a 3.6% decrease compared to the previous year, while PM10 averaged 47 micrograms per cubic meter, showing a decline of 7.8%.

Pei noted that the proportion of days with good air quality across these cities reached 85.8%, marking an increase of 1.6 percentage points year-on-year. Conversely, the days classified as having severe pollution were down to 1.1%, a drop of 0.7 percentage points from last year.

Focusing on key regions, she mentioned that in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area and surrounding cities, the average PM2.5 concentration remained stable at 39 micrograms per cubic meter. However, the proportion of days with good air quality in this region climbed to 65%, an increase of 4.1 percentage points.

On the topic of surface water quality, Pei revealed that during the third quarter, 78.8% of the 3,641 national monitoring sites reported good water quality (categories I-III), which is a rise of 1.5 percentage points from last year. Only 0.8% of these sites fell into the poor quality category (category V), a slight decline of 0.1 percentage points. Overall, for the first three quarters, the percentage of monitoring sites with good water quality was 88.5%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points, while the percentage of sites in the poor category remained steady at 0.7%.

Pei’s remarks reflect the ongoing efforts and advancements in China’s environmental policies aimed at improving public health and preserving natural resources.

Japan is gearing up for one of its most competitive elections in years this Sunday, as new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his powerful Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) face a challenging landscape that could result in their worst electoral performance since 2009.

Opinion polls indicate that the conservative LDP, alongside its junior coalition partner, could fall short of securing a majority—a scenario that could significantly weaken Ishiba’s leadership. The 67-year-old former defense minister assumed office just last month and quickly called for a snap election, aiming to bolster the LDP, which has been at the helm of Japanese politics for nearly seven decades.

Voter sentiment has been soured by rising prices and the repercussions of a party slush fund scandal that contributed to the downfall of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. In a rally on Saturday, Ishiba appealed to supporters, stating, “We want to start afresh as a fair, just, and sincere party, and seek your mandate.”

He has committed to rejuvenating struggling rural areas and addressing the pressing issue of Japan’s declining population through family-friendly initiatives like flexible work hours. However, his recent shifts on topics such as allowing married couples to use separate surnames and the limited representation of women in his cabinet have raised eyebrows.

A self-described security policy “geek,” Ishiba advocates for building a regional military alliance similar to NATO to counter China’s influence, although he has tempered expectations by stressing that such a shift wouldn’t occur overnight.

A poll published Friday by the Yomiuri Shimbun suggested that the LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, may find it difficult to achieve the 233 lower house seats necessary for a majority. Missing this target could jeopardize Ishiba’s standing within the LDP, possibly compelling him to seek other coalition partners or even lead a minority government. Speculation has even emerged about the potential for Ishiba to resign should the election yield disappointing results, which could make him Japan’s shortest-serving postwar prime minister.

“The situation is extremely severe,” Ishiba reportedly acknowledged on Friday. In many districts, LDP candidates are in a tight race with those from the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), led by popular former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

Noda criticized the LDP’s political approach, stating, “The LDP’s politics is all about quickly implementing policies for those who give them loads of cash,” noting that those in precarious situations who cannot provide financial support have been overlooked. He pointed to the government’s inadequate assistance for earthquake survivors in central Japan.

Masato Kamikubo, a political scientist at Ritsumeikan University, noted that while Noda’s views align with those of the LDP, many voters are seeing the CDP as a viable alternative. “The CDP or Noda can be an alternative to the LDP,” he said.

In a bid to distance himself from the ongoing funding scandal, Ishiba has vowed not to actively support current LDP politicians implicated in the controversy, though they are still running. Reports suggest that the party has allocated 20 million yen (£100,000) to district offices led by these figures—a move Ishiba has labeled as “biased,” arguing that “those candidates will not use the money.”

Undecided voter Hitomi Hisano from the central Aichi region expressed his discontent with the LDP’s longstanding rule. “The LDP has sat in power for too long. I see hubris in there,” the 69-year-old said. “So part of me wants to punish them. But there aren’t other parties that are reliable enough to win my vote.”

In a shocking case that has sent ripples through the Chinese community in Southern California, Samuel Bond Haskell faces charges related to the gruesome deaths of his Chinese American wife and her parents. A hearing was held on October 22 at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in Los Angeles, where a preliminary hearing date was officially set for January 24, 2025.

The tragic events unfolded on November 7 of last year when Haskell hired temporary workers to help him move several bags. The workers were horrified to discover human remains inside one of the bags and immediately called the police. Authorities reviewed surveillance footage and linked Haskell to suspicious packages discarded in a dumpster in the Encino area on the night of the incident. A subsequent search revealed the body of his 37-year-old wife, Mei Li, in the dumpster.

Haskell was arrested by the police on November 8 and has been charged with the murder of his wife, Mei Li, as well as her parents—72-year-old Li Gaoshan and 64-year-old Wang Yanxiang. During his first court appearance on January 12 of this year, Haskell pleaded not guilty to all murder charges.

On October 22, during the Native Harmony Night and Huawei’s All-Scenario New Product Launch Event, HarmonyOS NEXT was officially unveiled, paving the way for more devices to begin public testing. Huawei revealed that over 15,000 HarmonyOS native applications and services are now available, with some applications experiencing rapid iterations—some being updated nearly daily—bringing fresh experiences to users. At the event, Bi Xiaocun, Senior Vice President of Kingsoft Office, officially launched the WPS HarmonyOS native application and shared innovative results achieved within the Harmony ecosystem. She emphasized Kingsoft Office’s commitment to partnering with HarmonyOS to deliver enhanced user experiences and services.

As a staunch supporter of the Harmony ecosystem, WPS had already announced the completion of its core functionality version by March 14, 2024, and began public testing of the WPS Harmony native version on October 8. This version utilizes powerful cross-platform technology to ensure compatibility with multiple document formats while adapting to user operating habits across various devices, including stylus pens, touch screens, and external mice and keyboards. According to Bi, the achievement involved the WPS team dedicating a year to meticulously write over 40 million lines of code, successfully achieving cross-platform adaptation to ensure smooth and efficient operation on the native HarmonyOS.

In response to the diversity of screen sizes among devices, WPS has implemented comprehensive product adaptations. Whether on a smartphone or a tablet, users can enjoy a customized office experience. Additionally, through a unified multi-platform account system, WPS supports cross-device document and data sharing, enabling multi-user collaboration, editing, and revisions. Leveraging Harmony’s all-scenario collaboration capabilities, WPS has optimized cross-device collaboration by allowing users to easily access their mobile device’s photo library on a tablet, creating a seamless experience as if they were operating on a single device, significantly enhancing convenience in office tasks. In close collaboration with Harmony engineers, WPS AI will also launch across multiple platforms, with dozens of AI features soon to be adapted for HarmonyOS NEXT, offering users a more intelligent and efficient office experience.

Bi noted that HarmonyOS NEXT not only opens new commercial market opportunities, but also provides users with a refreshed office experience. “The WPS Harmony native version is just the beginning. I believe that through integrating into the Harmony ecosystem, Kingsoft Office will work closely with HarmonyOS to refine exceptional products in the fields of AI and collaborative office solutions, ultimately delivering an even higher quality user experience.”

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have uncovered the cause behind the mysterious craters that have appeared on the Yamal peninsula in north-west Siberia, first spotted in 2014. Could you tell us more about the origins of these craters?

Absolutely. When the initial 50-meter-deep crater emerged, its debris suggested it was created by some kind of explosive event. Since then, scientists and local residents have identified several more craters across the Yamal and nearby Gydan peninsulas. Various theories have emerged, ranging from meteor impacts to natural gas explosions. However, our recent research provides a clearer explanation.

What exactly did your study reveal about the underlying processes leading to these craters?

When you drill down through the seasonally frozen soil in this region, you encounter a thick layer of clay permafrost. Nestled between the surface soil and the permafrost are peculiar ponds of extremely salty water known as cryopegs, which sit atop crystallized methane-water solids. These cryopegs are kept stable due to the high pressure and low temperatures characteristic of the area.

Our findings show that warmer temperatures and increasingly prolonged summers over recent decades have led to deeper thawing of the soil layers. When the thaw reaches a cryopeg, the pressure from the added meltwater causes cracks to form in the soil above. This sudden pressure drop destabilizes the methane hydrate, resulting in explosive releases of methane gas.

What implications do these explosive events have for the environment, particularly in terms of climate change?

Though these explosions are infrequent, they can release substantial amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Given methane’s potency as a greenhouse gas, this could contribute significantly to global warming. The interaction between climate change and these geological processes could lead to increasingly dire implications if left unchecked.

In an effort to curb public drinking issues in the vibrant Shibuya district, local authorities in Tokyo have implemented a year-round ban on street drinking, marking a first for metropolitan areas in Japan. The Shibuya Ward Office recently introduced this ban, following an increase in alcohol-related disturbances among both tourists and young people, especially around the Shibuya Station.

According to a report by NHK, the situation escalated after COVID-19 was downgraded to an “Category 5” status in Japan in 2023. This change led to a noticeable rise in street drinking, which has been accompanied by littering and frequent incidents of rowdy behavior.

To address these concerns, the Shibuya City Council approved a legislative amendment in June of this year, extending the previously seasonal alcohol prohibition during Halloween and New Year’s Eve to a permanent regulation throughout the year.

Under the newly enacted guidelines, public drinking is now prohibited daily from 6 PM to 5 AM in popular areas surrounding Shibuya Station and public parks. However, while the ban applies to various locations including around the Shibuya Ward Office and the eastern side of Miyashita Park, individuals caught violating the ban will not face fines.

A spokesperson from the Shibuya Ward Office noted, “We have long encouraged people not to drink on the streets, and now we can refer to this regulation to guide those who do not comply. We hope this will help in reducing street drinking incidents.”

Los Angeles Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani has achieved an unprecedented milestone this season, hitting a remarkable 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases. His 50th home run ball was put up for auction on Goldin Auctions, where it fetched an astounding $4.392 million, setting a record for the highest price ever paid for a baseball. Ken Goldin, the founder of the auction site, revealed today that the winning bidder is a Taiwanese company, which plans to disclose its identity after the World Series concludes.

The auction for Ohtani’s 50th home run ball closed on October 23rd, and Goldin took to Instagram to address a common question: “So many people want to know—who bought it? Where do they live? I’ve been given permission to share some details.” He added that while many speculated the buyer was from Japan, that isn’t the case.

According to Goldin, bidders from four different countries participated, with several individuals from Japan attempting to place bids. However, their offers were ultimately outstripped, leading to the victory of a Taiwanese company.

Goldin hinted at the buyer’s enthusiasm: “They love baseball and adore Ohtani. They hope to share this collectible with the world, which is why they pursued this auction item. The winner plans to reveal their identity once the World Series is over.”