According to an official statement from the China Meteorological Administration on October 25, this year’s 21st typhoon, named “Kong-rey” (a tropical storm), formed this morning in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. At 8 AM, its center was located approximately 55 kilometers southeast of Guam, positioned at 13.3 degrees north latitude and 145.3 degrees east longitude. The storm is characterized by wind speeds of 18 meters per second, a pressure of 998 hPa, and a radius of the seventh-grade wind circle spanning 300-450 kilometers.

Forecasts indicate that “Kong-rey” will move rapidly northwest at a speed of 30-35 kilometers per hour, with its intensity expected to gradually increase as it approaches the waters east of the Ryukyu Islands.

The sixth World Buddhist Forum wrapped up on October 17 in Xuedou Mountain, Ningbo, Zhejiang, with the theme “Walking Together in Shared Aspirations: Harmony and Coexistence.”

During the event, attendees engaged in deep discussions about the inclusive wisdom, spiritual essence, and teachings of Buddhism, as well as the preservation of Buddhist texts, social responsibilities, cultural arts, the concept of humanistic Buddhism, the Middle Way, and peace-building wisdom. Their aim was to explore the essence, significance, and contemporary relevance of Buddhist culture, contributing to the construction of a shared future for humanity. The President of the Chinese Buddhist Association, Zhengjue, expressed hope that the forum serves as a platform to pass on the spirit of compassion and wisdom in Buddhism, promote its peaceful teachings, and unite Buddhists worldwide along with all peace-loving individuals to work collaboratively for global development, cultural exchange, and the building of a shared human destiny.

The forum adopted the “Xuedou Mountain Declaration,” which calls for adherence to the precepts, diligent practice of the Three Studies, and promoting healthy transmission of Buddhism. It encouraged exchanges and learning among Buddhist classics across three major linguistic families to enhance harmony between humanity and nature; advanced the digitalization of Buddhist texts to enrich the treasure trove of human civilization; emphasized contemporary Buddhist thought and practice research, preservation of cultural heritage, and innovative development of Buddhist art; and fostered friendly exchanges in Buddhism to carry forward traditional Dharma relations while highlighting Buddhism’s positive role in constructing a shared future for humanity.

Held from October 15 to 17, the sixth World Buddhist Forum attracted approximately 800 representatives from the Buddhist community and scholars from 72 countries and regions. The forum received enthusiastic congratulatory letters from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, 26 countries and regions, and three international organizations. The event featured a main forum, breakout discussions, a new media forum, a television forum, and themed exhibitions on Buddhist culture.

On October 14, the European Union made a significant decision to impose sanctions on multiple entities and individuals in Iran, citing the country’s provision of ballistic missiles to Russia for use against Ukraine, according to a report by AFP.

The EU stated that a total of seven individuals and seven entities have been sanctioned in connection with these allegations. Among those affected are Iran Air and key figures such as Seyyed Hamzah Galandari, the Iranian Deputy Minister of Defense, as well as senior officials from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These individuals will face asset freezes and travel bans to the EU.

In response, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson condemned the sanctions, labeling them as “illogical and a violation of international law.”

Earlier reports indicated that in September 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that Iran had supplied missiles to Russia. In reaction to these accusations, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi asserted that since taking office in August, his administration has not transferred any weapons to Russia.

Sean Baker’s acclaimed and Oscar-tipped new comedy focuses on a sex worker, a story that led him to consult with those who live and work in that world
Radheyan SimonpillaiFri 18 Oct 2024 04.02 EDTLast modified on Fri 18 Oct 2024 10.20 EDTShareIn Anora, a wilful young woman engaged in sex work is swept up in a Cinderella story. Anora, or Ani as everyone calls the titular character, who is played with mercurial force by Mikey Madison, cozies up with a rich young brat (Mark Eidelstein), the spoiled son of a Russian oligarch with mob ties. Their whirlwind romance quickly unleashes clock-strikes-midnight chaos across Manhattan, Brighton Beach and Coney Island.
Anora review – stellar turn from Mikey Madison in sex work non-love storyRead moreThe movie, written and directed by Tangerine and The Florida Project’s Sean Baker, is a deliriously entertaining and moving screwball comedy that takes notes from Preston Sturges and Federico Fellini. Those film-makers, like Baker, have always been hyperaware of class and economics, accepting wholeheartedly that love and romance, with all its joys and tragedy, is transactional. But to make such stories ring true and authentic like few have before, Baker has also been taking notes from sex workers.
“He seeks to engage the community, rather than other us,” the Toronto-based writer and performer Andrea Werhun said to the Guardian. She’s the author behind the sex work memoir Modern Whore. She’s also chief among the dancers and escorts that Baker tapped as paid consultants while making Anora. Werhun was on hand to advise on the script and Madison’s astonishing performance, offering lived-in details that Baker absorbed into the film, which is now being touted as a major Oscar contender following its Palme d’Or win at this year’s Cannes film festival. When picking up that prize in May, Baker dedicated it “to all sex workers, past, present and future”.
Sex work is often present in Baker’s film: it’s a job that connects the joyous women in Tangerine, a thrilling slice-of-life comedy; it’s a peripheral but risky engagement for a single mom in the heart-wrenching drama The Florida Project; and it’s just another side hustle in Red Rocket, a character study set among the working class in Texas. These movies tend to keep trauma at bay – because there are plenty of other depictions of sex workers that focus solely on their victimization, if not vilification. Instead, Baker explores all the other emotions that come with just being human, which sadly feels exceptional when telling sex worker’s stories. And he achieves a nuance and sensitivity that comes from working in collaboration with the people his films are about.
“That’s why his work really speaks to sex workers,” says Werhun. “We feel seen by the work that he puts in. He always finds the human story. He always finds the funny story, which is a really important part of humanizing people, especially marginalized people. When you can find the funny, that’s pretty powerful.”
Like Baker, Werhun leans into comedy, both in conversation and in her work. She’s a performer, in film and in her online content, who tends to play the vixen with hints of knowing satire – though occasionally you’ll catch her go full Jim Carrey, blessed with as much elasticity in her face to put on the silliest expressions. Her humour also dominates Modern Whore, in which she offers up incisive observations about clients – who can be comforting, reliable, frustrating or dangerous – and a society at large that still stigmatizes the world’s oldest profession. When Werhun comically expresses exasperation, she finds the funny without losing sight of the tragedy.
We’re having this conversation while Werhun is sitting in the makeup chair on the Toronto set of the Modern Whore movie, a feature adaptation directed by her regular collaborator Nicole Bazuin. Baker is an executive producer.
The book – which was self-published in 2017 before Penguin Random House released an expanded (or rather, “engorged”) edition in 2022 – is a collaborative work. In it, Werhun shares provocative and insightful anecdotes from her time as a private escort and then a dancer at a Toronto strip club. She writes about satisfying curious fantasies and fighting to maintain boundaries with entitled clients, and explains why a sex worker’s trauma is not automatically up for consumption. Those stories and observations are paired with tastefully seductive and artful portraits of the author, composed and photographed by Bazuin.
View image in fullscreenAndrea Werhun. Photograph: NicoleBazuinIn Modern Whore the movie, which we expect to premiere next year, Werhun is playing a version of herself. The hybrid documentary mixes talking head interviews with heightened dramatic re-creations, framing excerpts from Werhun’s memoirs through a genre lens. She shows up like a femme fatale or a “hooker with a heart of gold”, as if to reclaim cinematic tropes.
Modern Whore, the book and the film, plays with the tension between genre and reality, fantasy and the labour that goes into creating it. That tension is there in Anora too. When Ani is at work, negotiating lap dances and securing payment, her exceptional customer service makes it seem like the arrangement is not transactional at all. She’s performing a fantasy. But everything behind that performance – the labour of it all – is mundane.
Anora puts the labour out front, demystifying through granular details: the routines, the shifts, even the Tupperware that Ani eats from on the job. Werhun points out that she actually had a direct hand in that latter bit: “Sean had asked me, ‘If you walk into the strip club locker room, what might you see?’ And I said, ‘Well, you might see a dancer eating her dinner out of Tupperware on her break before going back down to the floor.’ He’s like, ‘Oh I love that!’”
There are so many other details and character dynamics in Anora that will naturally feel familiar to anyone who read Werhun’s memoirs: the warm and supportive dynamic between colleagues at the strip club, which, as with any workplace, can be compromised by some frosty competitiveness; the sense of ownership some dancers feel over their loyal clientele; and an irrational but no less stinging sense of betrayal when those “loyal” customers look for variety in other dancers. That doesn’t necessarily mean Anora lifts those dynamics from the book, just that there’s a shared authenticity when community has a hand in shaping these stories. Her story is part of a larger evolution in sex worker representation.
Consider the milestones in the decade since Baker made Tangerine. Cardi B went from the strip club to a hip-hop star on reality TV. Sex workers have been owning their own stories on social media – think A’Ziah Wells King’s infamous Twitter thread (AKA The Thotyssey) narrating a wild trip to Florida, which became the basis for the movie Zola. Recent films, like Oscar-winning Poor Things, are boasting more enlightened views on sex work. And we’re now at the point where sex workers are not just consulting on films like Anora that authentically represent their community, but making their own.
“I think that there’s a logical next step,” says Werhun. “When you have civilians who are making films about sex workers – who do the work of humanizing us – that opens the door to sex worker creators making films at the same level.”
“One of the most amazing things an ally can do is open that door.”
Anora opens in US cinemas on 18 October and in the UK on 1 November

On October 21, King Charles III visited the Australian Parliament to deliver a speech, but his address was interrupted by Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe. She shouted at him, “You are not my king,” for about a minute, causing a disruption during the ceremony held in Canberra. Security personnel escorted her out shortly afterward.

According to a report by the BBC, Thorpe accused European colonizers of committing “genocide” against Australia’s Indigenous peoples, insisting, “This is not your land; you are not my king.”

However, an earlier welcoming ceremony for the royal couple featured Indigenous elder Aunty Violet Sheridan, who described Thorpe’s protest as “disrespectful” and clarified that “she does not speak for me.”

In an interview with the BBC later, Thorpe explained that she aimed to convey a “clear message” to King Charles. She stated, “To be the ruler of this land, you must belong to this land. He does not belong to this land.”

Thorpe urged the king to instruct Parliament and Indigenous leaders to engage in discussions about a peace treaty. She emphasized, “We can lead this; we can accomplish this; we can be a better country. But we cannot bow down to colonizers. The ancestors King Charles mentions are responsible for mass killings and genocide.”

Australia became a British colony over a century ago, during which thousands of Indigenous people were killed and many displaced. Although Australia was declared a “de facto independent nation” in 1901, it continues to recognize the British monarch as the head of state.

According to additional reports, on the same day, the king and queen visited the Australian War Memorial and paid their respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Australian Soldier, marking their first visit to this city in nearly a decade.

In Sydney on October 22, King Charles and Queen Camilla continued their Australian tour before heading to Samoa for a British Commonwealth meeting. It’s worth noting that Charles had attended a school in Australia for six months as a teenager in 1966. This trip marks his first significant international engagement since being diagnosed with cancer in February.

On October 22, the “2024 China-Europe Human Rights Seminar” took place in Berlin, Germany, with a focus on “Emerging Rights Protections: Perspectives from China and Europe.” The event brought together multiple experts to discuss the challenges of safeguarding human rights in the digital age.

Zhang Yonghe, the Executive Director of the Human Rights Research Institute at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, emphasized that the advancement of digital technology introduces new ethical dilemmas, such as privacy concerns, data security, and the moral decision-making of artificial intelligence. He suggested that philosophers need to explore how to balance technological advancements with human values, ensuring that technology is used in alignment with ethical standards.

Li Wenjun, an associate professor at the same institute, highlighted that rights protection in the digital era must adhere to the value concept of “diversity for good.” He stressed the importance of balancing various digital interests while maintaining limited rationality and fundamental human-centered value care. The ultimate goal, he argued, is to ensure that technology serves humanity. Moreover, he pointed out that protecting human rights in this digital age should not only focus on technological development but also empower vulnerable groups through education and cultural activities, facilitating their transition from “digital existence” to “digital citizenship.”

Hu Yajuan, Director of the News Release Research Center at the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, remarked that social media has proven to play an increasingly critical role in safeguarding global human rights. She proposed that China and Europe could engage in regular exchanges of experiences regarding how social media can empower human rights protections, sharing best practices validated by real-world experience. This collaboration, she argued, would enhance the role of social media in protecting human rights for both Chinese and European citizens, as well as people worldwide. Furthermore, she advocated for increased cooperation within the international community, including China and Europe, to promote access to and the proliferation of the internet in developing countries, enabling them to benefit from the advancements of digital technology. This, in turn, would provide foundational support for social media efforts in global human rights protection and the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Guo Min, a research assistant and doctoral student at the Human Rights Research Center of Central South University, noted that while social media offers new spaces for expression, the underlying algorithmic mechanisms, data commodification, and discourse control complicate the protection of rights for vulnerable groups. She maintaining that a profound understanding of social media’s dual role in empowering and jeopardizing these rights is essential to harness its empowering potential while minimizing inherent risks, thereby ensuring that technology truly serves the greater good.

The China-Europe Human Rights Seminar, established in 2015, serves as a structured academic platform for exchanges and cooperation in the area of human rights between China and Europe. The current seminar was co-hosted by the China Human Rights Research Society and Central South University, with the Human Rights Research Center of Central South University and the China Cultural Foundation in Germany organizing the event, in collaboration with the University of Münster and the International Philosophical Society.

During a recent interview at the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, emphasized the critical importance of embracing artificial intelligence (AI) for businesses. According to Huang, failing to adopt AI could jeopardize a company’s survival. He described AI as a transformative force that will significantly impact chip design, software development, and supply chain operations, urging technology leaders to effectively transition their organizations into AI-driven entities in preparation for what he calls a “new industrial revolution.”

Huang stated that both CEOs and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) must start their journey with AI. He explained that it is essential for CIOs to identify effective operational strategies within their companies, after which they can explore how AI can further enhance those operations.

Nvidia is already putting this philosophy into practice by applying AI to its three core areas: chip design, software development, and supply chain management. Huang explained, “When our most influential operations run smoothly, it becomes easier to drive surrounding processes.” He referred to these AI roles as “AI chip designers” and “AI software engineers,” although he also noted that he does not foresee AI replacing Nvidia employees in the near future.

Looking ahead, Huang shared his vision of creating what he calls an “AI brain.” This involves gathering knowledge on a company’s operations, business processes, and customer interactions and then training AI on this data. The ultimate goal is to develop an AI system that enables direct communication between CIOs and CEOs. Huang asserts, “Nvidia has begun to transform all proprietary data into a form of AI; everyone should do this.”

To facilitate this transformation, Nvidia is launching a tool aimed at helping AI better interpret and “absorb” PDF documents. Traditional AI has struggled with understanding unstructured data like emails and PDFs. This advancement implies that companies will soon have “a large digital workforce,” comprising AI agents that will work alongside human employees in marketing, sales, engineering, and supply chain roles. To achieve this vision, everyone—including business technology leaders—must learn how to interact with AI effectively.

Nvidia is collaborating with software companies like SAP and ServiceNow to integrate AI agents into their systems and is also partnering with professional service firms like Accenture to develop an agent platform for private data centers. Huang commented, “You still need to write code,” emphasizing the need for structured communication with AI.

He concluded by noting that computing is becoming ubiquitous, and in the future, “accelerated computing will be everywhere, and AI will be everywhere.”

On October 27, Japan held its House of Representatives election, and the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) emerged as the biggest winner. Party leader Kenta Noda radiated positivity as results came in that evening. According to public broadcaster NHK and other local news outlets, vote counting wasn’t completed until early October 28 (around 4 AM Eastern Time), revealing that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been in power for nearly 12 years, not only failed to secure a majority on its own but also fell short with its coalition partner, Komeito.

The election results show that out of the 465 contested seats, the LDP won only 191, while Komeito secured 24, totaling 215 seats for the “LDP-Komeito alliance.” This is below the 233 seats required for a majority.

Before the election, the LDP held 247 seats, and Komeito had 32, bringing their coalition total to 279 seats. Following the election, the LDP’s losses amounted to 56 seats, exceeding pre-election projections of a 50-seat drop, while Komeito lost 8 seats, resulting in a total loss of 64 seats for the alliance.

One notable casualty was Komeito leader Keiichi Ishii, who lost in his district in Saitama to Democratic Party candidate Yoshihiro Suzuki and was not selected in the proportional representation section, ensuring his defeat. Ishii’s loss marks a significant moment, as it’s the first time since 2009 that a Komeito leader has failed to win a seat.

In stark contrast, the CDP, the largest opposition party, saw a major surge, increasing its seat count from 98 to 148. On the night of the election, Kenta Noda expressed ambitions to replace the LDP’s Shigeru Ishiba as the new Prime Minister.

The other opposition party, the Democratic Party for the People, also made significant gains, jumping from 7 to 28 seats. Although the Japan Innovation Party, based in the Kansai region, saw a decrease from 44 to 38 seats, it remains the third-largest party in the House. The progressive Reiwa Shinsengumi party, which just formed in 2019, gained 6 seats, rising from 3 to 9.

Despite the LDP’s substantial setbacks, party heavyweights, including Shigeru Ishiba, former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, and former prime ministers Fumio Kishida and Yoshihide Suga, all won their seats. Koichi Hagiuda, part of the Abe faction, who ran independently after a funding scandal, also secured victory.

While Ishiba signaled a willingness to cooperate with opposition parties on the night of the election, Noda, along with Democratic Party leader Yuichiro Tamaki and Japan Innovation Party leader Nobuyuki Baba, all voiced firm opposition to joining the LDP-Komeito coalition. Reports from the Japan Innovation Party indicated a complete lack of trust in the LDP.

If Noda aspires to reclaim the Prime Minister’s office, he will need to forge alliances with the Democratic Party and Japan Innovation Party. However, even a coalition among these three would only yield 214 seats, requiring further collaboration with the Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Communist Party, which lost 2 seats but still holds 8.

Though the LDP faced considerable defeat, its key figures managed to retain their seats, indicating a complex landscape for future governance in Japan.

In a recent interview, a spokesperson for Guangdong province shared insights on the region’s efforts to revitalize its economy through large-scale equipment upgrades and a “trade-in” program for consumer goods. These initiatives aim to transform policy benefits into tangible development outcomes that stimulate consumption, drive manufacturing transformation, and unleash new economic momentum.

“Here in Guangdong, we have expanded the ‘trade-in’ program beyond traditional home appliances to include subsidies for three categories of products, including mobile phones,” the spokesperson explained. “Local municipalities have also tailored these subsidies to align with their specific industries.”

At a home appliance store in Shenzhen, the impact of this initiative is evident, with many retailers offering additional discounts to attract consumers looking to trade in old devices. “It’s not just about selling new products; it’s about creating opportunities for customers to upgrade in a cost-effective way,” the store manager noted.

The program isn’t only benefiting retailers; it has also led to significant production increases in manufacturing facilities. A flat-screen TV manufacturer, for instance, revamped its old production line in April of this year, integrating 5G and AI technologies to dramatically enhance efficiency. “The series of policies and funding released have provided crucial support for us to invest further in our production capabilities,” the CEO stated.

From January to September this year, Guangdong reported a 19.8% year-on-year increase in industrial equipment upgrade investments and a 12.4% rise in technological transformation investments. Currently, the province is focusing on building the “Yue Huan Xin” brand and developing a suite of public service platforms to facilitate large-scale equipment upgrades, consumer trade-ins, and the recycling of waste materials.

“We’re committed to creating a sustainable and vibrant economy through these initiatives,” the spokesperson concluded.

In a recent interview, we discussed the ongoing conflict in the region, particularly following Israel’s intense airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut on October 23. Our conversation highlighted Hezbollah’s claims of launching precision-guided missiles at Israeli targets for the first time, alongside U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to the Middle East aimed at de-escalating tensions in Gaza and Lebanon.

This visit marks Blinken’s 11th trip to the region since Hamas’s attack on Israel over a year ago, which ignited the war in the Gaza Strip.

According to a Reuters report, shortly after a warning was issued by an Israeli military spokesperson urging evacuations, Beirut’s outskirts were bombarded, sending flames shooting into the sky.

In another unexpected wave of airstrikes, the Israeli military targeted the offices of Al-Mayadeen, an Iran-backed television station located nearby. Al-Mayadeen reported that its office had remained empty since the outbreak of hostilities.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health confirmed that the airstrikes resulted in one death and five injuries, including a child.

On the evening of October 23, Hezbollah, supported by Iran, announced that it had intensified its assault on Israel, which allegedly included the use of precision missiles and new drones, though further details were not provided. Hezbollah claimed it had targeted an Israeli military factory in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, coinciding with air raid sirens sounding in the city and its vicinity.

The Israeli military reported detecting four projectiles launched from Lebanon, with two intercepted and one landing in an empty area, while another was confirmed to have fallen within designated zones. No indications emerged suggesting that Tel Aviv’s defensive systems had been compromised.

As the U.S. seeks to facilitate peace efforts among Israel, Hezbollah, and Hamas before the presidential election on November 5, hostilities continue to escalate, raising concerns about how the election outcomes might influence future American foreign policies.