China sent a Gravity-1 carrier rocket into space from waters off the coast of Haiyang

By Li Rui, People’s Daily

Recently, China sent a Gravity-1 carrier rocket into space from waters off the coast of Haiyang, east China’s Shandong province, placing three satellites into their designated orbits. This launch exemplifies the growing momentum of China’s emerging commercial space sector, which is contributing significantly to the country’s space exploration capabilities.

The global competition in commercial spaceflight is intensifying. According to projections, the scale of China’s commercial space market is expected to exceed 2.5 trillion yuan ($351.76 billion) this year. Through a strategic collaboration between the government and private enterprises, China is achieving a dynamic synergy that is accelerating technological advancements, reducing costs, and expanding the range of applications within its space industry. As a result, China’s space industry is gaining more visibility and vibrancy on the global stage.

China’s development of “space infrastructure” is advancing steadily, especially as the deployment of low-orbit satellite internet networks enters a phase of large-scale constellation expansion. However, the country faces a prominent challenge: the demand for satellite launches now exceeds the available capacity of traditional rockets. Relying solely on traditional rockets is far from sufficient to meet these growing needs.

In this context, the development of commercial space initiatives is essential to providing the necessary launch capacity for widespread space-based network deployment. This year, a new generation of commercial rockets, including the Zhuque-3, Tianlong-3, and Gravity-2, are advancing according to schedule with design, testing, and launch activities. These new launch vehicles will effectively alleviate the strain on satellite launch resources and bolster the development of China’s national satellite internet infrastructure.

Commercial spaceflight not only increases the frequency of launch opportunities but also opens up a broader range of technological possibilities. Unlike state-run space enterprises, private commercial companies are more agile and adaptable.

For example, the methalox engine independently developed by Chinese commercial rocket firm LandSpace has drawn global attention for its cost-effectiveness, clean propulsion, and reusability. Similarly, Chinese aerospace company Galactic Energy has significantly reduced rocket engine manufacturing costs through 3D printing.

Fueled by market-driven mechanisms and following a model of “small steps, rapid iterations,” commercial space enterprises have gained the favor of numerous research institutions. These companies serve as a strong complement to state-run space organizations, further advancing China’s space exploration capabilities.

As a dynamic sector driving the future of technological innovation, commercial spaceflight holds vast market potential. More than 10 provinces across China have introduced specific policies to support the development of the commercial space sector, fostering a wave of specialized and innovative companies focused on rocket development and satellite manufacturing. These initiatives have led to the creation of industrial clusters and a rapidly expanding “space economy” ecosystem.

For instance, Beijing is developing a regional industrial layout with rocket production in the south and satellite manufacturing in the north, while Shanghai aims to scale its space industry to hundreds of billions of yuan. Additionally, the aerospace industrial park Wuxi, east China’s Jiangsu province, has brought together more than 120 enterprises above the designated size, fueling growth and innovation.

As the commercial space sector shifts from isolated efforts to more integrated, clustered development, an autonomous, resilient, and competitive industrial ecosystem is taking shape, becoming a significant driver of economic growth and technological advancement in space.

Today, commercial spaceflight not only serves national missions but is also expanding its innovation to meet everyday needs. Applications such as satellite remote sensing allow farmers to manage irrigation systems via a mobile phone, while satellite internet provides broadband access to remote areas, including mountains and oceans. Moreover, satellite-enabled intelligent transportation systems are optimizing traffic signal timing to reduce congestion.

These innovations highlight how space technology, once perceived as distant and exclusive, is now becoming an integral part of everyday life, enhancing communications, supporting agriculture, improving mobility, and providing tangible benefits to the public.

Commercial spaceflight represents a vast frontier of opportunity. It is not only a scientific domain for exploring the unknown but also a burgeoning economic sector with boundless potential for the future.

China sent a Gravity-1 carrier rocket into space from waters off the coast of Haiyang

Technology enhances immersive reading experience in Beijing

By Shi Fang, People’s Daily

“Mr. Lu Xun, could you recommend one of your classic works?”

“If I were to suggest one, perhaps Call to Arms would be a good starting point…”

This conversation took place at the Metaverse Experience Hall of the Beijing Library. Supported by artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, the hall offers visitors a novel approach to immersive reading and knowledge-based social engagement.

As one of three institutions under the Capital Library of China, the Beijing Library has introduced an AI-powered digital human modeled after renowned Chinese writer Lu Xun. Historically, Lu Xun played a role in establishing the predecessor of the Capital Library of China. Today, his digital incarnation symbolizes the library’s digital transformation.

“We developed the digital Lu Xun using AI technologies to provide guided tours, recommend books, and introduce local cuisine and cultural sites,” explained Fei Jun, professor with the School of Design, the Central Academy of Fine Arts, and creative director of the Metaverse Experience Hall. His team conducted in-depth research on Lu Xun’s life and works to create a realistic and multidimensional digital persona.

In addition to the digital Lu Xun, Fei’s team created two other digital characters, “Tutu” and “2122,” each with distinct personalities: one childlike and the other futuristic. These avatars, driven by large language models, engage visitors in conversations about literature and everyday life. Since the library opened at the end of 2023, these AI characters have participated in more than 1.7 million voice interactions.

Seven-year-old reader Wang Jiayi eagerly asked “2122” questions such as, “Why did dinosaurs go extinct?” and “Why do maple leaves turn red in autumn?” Her mother commented, “The digital humans are engaging and informative. They genuinely spark children’s interest in learning.”

Entering the library feels akin to stepping into a digital universe.

Visitors can scan a QR code to verify their identity, customize their attire, and quickly generate digital avatars within the Metaverse. These avatars can navigate virtual spaces such as the Children’s Library, Ancient Books Collection, Art Literature Library, and Intangible Cultural Heritage Library, exploring venue information and upcoming events.

Readers also interact with one another via their digital avatars, sharing reading lists, exchanging book reviews, and bridging online and offline reading experiences.

Looking ahead, the library plans to introduce additional immersive features, including personalized virtual study rooms. “Our goal is to offer a multisensory experience — visual, auditory, and even tactile — so users feel as if they’ve entered a parallel world for immersive reading,” Fei said. His team is also developing an online version of the metaverse library, enabling remote access to its digital environment and vast knowledge collections.

“Beyond traditional print books, we want to create a technology-enhanced environment that sparks curiosity and encourages readers to explore knowledge in innovative ways,” said Li Nianzu, deputy director of the Capital Library of China.

Technology enhances immersive reading experience in Beijing

Berom Militia rustled 102 cows in Riyom in sustained unprovoked attacks on Fulani Livelihood

By: Zagazola Makama

No fewer than 102 cows were rustled on Wednesday in Dan Sokoto, Ganawuri District of Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, in what residents described as part of a series of sustained unprovoked attacks on the economic lifeline of pastoral communities.

Local sources told Zagazola Makama that the rustling occurred at about 11:00 a.m. when armed men, identified by witnesses as Berom militia from Vom District in Jos South LGA, stormed the area and drove away the cattle. The herders reportedly fled for their lives as the attackers were said to be wielding sophisticated weapons.

The cattle belong to Alhaji Nalado of Gargari, around Tashan Nashanan, and Malam Ango of Sabon Kaura, around Kudadu both in Jos East LGA though the animals were taken from Ganawuri in Riyom LGA.

Witnesses said the attackers were heavily armed, forcing the herders to flee for their lives. As of the time of this report, no cattle had been recovered, despite security agencies being alerted immediately. Residents also allege that areas such as Vwang in Jos South and parts of Fan District in Barkin Ladi LGA are increasingly seen as “no-go” zones where rustled cattle are kept and recovery efforts face serious obstacles.

The rustling of 102 cows in Ganawuri District of Riyom Local Government Area (LGA) on Jan. 14, 2026, is not an isolated crime. It is the latest chapter in a long-running pattern in Plateau State where attacks on livestock particularly cattle act as a spark that often ignites wider communal violence.

This dynamic was visible again this month. At least seven cows were poisoned in Kwi village in Riyom LGA, while three others were shot dead around Kuru Gadabiyu in Barkin Ladi LGA, near the Bicichi axis. Security sources attributed the incidents to Berom militia elements. Each attack on cattle heightens tension in flashpoints already on edge.

Before the latest attack, the Chairman of the Berom Educational and Cultural Organization was heard in a viral video during a burial threatening to eliminate any Fulani harder who entered into their community in Foron District in Barkin Ladi.

The pattern is familiar. On Jan. 6, coordinated attacks on Jol community in Riyom LGA and Gero in Gyel District of Jos South LGA left three people dead. The violence followed the shooting of two Fulani youths earlier that same day in Jos South, one of whom later died. Witnesses described that earlier ambush as unprovoked.

Once again, the sequence followed a predictable arc: an initial attack, then swift retaliation, and then counter-retaliation. Each side frames its actions as response, while the original triggers often attacks on livelihoods fade from public narratives.

After the Jol and Gero killings, the Berom Youths Moulder-Association (BYM) condemned what it called sustained attacks on indigenous communities and renewed calls for the proscription of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). But security assessments note that public statements often omit the events that preceded the reprisals especially the poisoning, shooting or rustling of cattle.

This omission deepens mistrust. When one side’s losses are highlighted and the other’s ignored, communities retreat into hardened positions. The result is polarisation and a cycle where each new incident becomes justification for the next.

The January incidents sit on top of months of unresolved grievances: On Dec. 12, 2025, over 130 cattle were reportedly rustled in Nding community. Around the same period, livestock poisoning was recorded across parts of Jos East and Riyom LGAs. These were followed by deadly clashes, including the killing of four children in Dorong village, Barkin Ladi LGA, and attacks on Gero village that resulted in deaths, injuries and loss of livestock.

On Dec. 16, 2025, an attack on an illegal mining site in Tosho community, Barkin Ladi LGA, left 12 miners dead and others abducted an incident security sources linked to earlier cattle rustling and farmland destruction. Each episode shows the same sequence: economic sabotage, fear, anger, then violence.

For pastoral communities, cattle are not just animals; they are livelihoods, savings and identity. When herds are stolen, poisoned or shot, families are pushed into desperation.
Targeting cattle is particularly dangerous because it strikes directly at survival. Once herds are destroyed or taken, families lose income, food security and social standing. In such conditions, emotions escalate quickly. Poisoning or killing cattle is often interpreted as a declaration of hostility. It rarely ends without reprisal.

Zagazola has repeatedly warned that Plateau risks remaining trapped in a cycle where each incident becomes the excuse for the next unless attacks on both lives and livelihoods are addressed impartially.

Berom Militia rustled 102 cows in Riyom in sustained unprovoked attacks on Fulani Livelihood