* At 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 18, 2023, a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck Jishishan in northwest China's Gansu Province. * Despite challenges, the speed of post-quake reconstruction has amazed many. * It shows China's people-centered governance philosophy and institutional advantage of pooling resources to accomplish major undertakings.

* Multipronged policy announcements from the recently held Central Economic Work Conference have shown the direction and priorities of economic planning for the world's second-largest economy for next year. * More proactive macro policies, measures to boost domestic demand, efforts to stabilize the property market and expand opening up, and more, aim to support stable economic growth, safeguard jobs and consumer prices, boost people's income, and enhance China's appeal to foreign investors. * In the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, an all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency, guest speakers shared insights on the meeting's key policy highlights across six critical aspects and their anticipated impact on the Chinese economy and beyond.

* Over the past 25 years, Macao has transformed into a multifaceted hub, evolving beyond its moniker as the "Las Vegas of the East." It now seeks to establish itself as a global center for tourism and leisure, while also diversifying into industries such as culture and sport. * As the historical site of St. Paul's College the first university in the Far East Macao continues to build on its legacy of higher education. * Macao offers travelers nearly everything they seek, from cultural blend to culinary experience, all wrapped in a coastal city of 33 square kilometers.

* Nine imperial tombs, 271 subordinate tombs, a 5-hectare complex of architectural ruins and 32 flood control sites, in addition to over 7,100 architectural components and finely crafted artifacts, have been uncovered at the Xixia Imperial Tombs in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. * These findings have offered valuable insights into the sophisticated engineering, artistry and cultural achievements of the Xixia Dynasty (1038-1227). * The site has hosted 508 study tours and summer camps in 2024, attracting 178,000 visitors.

* Despite early skepticism, Macao has disappointed naysayers, emerging as a model for the success of the "one country, two systems" policy. * Macao's success is attributed to its strong relationship with central authorities, efficient political system, rapid economic growth, significant improvements in living standards, and the harmonious coexistence of diverse ethnic groups. * The "one country, two systems" policy is an ongoing experiment that continues to evolve.

* Many believe the Nanjing Massacre remains less recognized in the West compared to other WWII atrocities. * On Dec. 13, 1937, Japanese troops captured Nanjing, starting six weeks of devastation that killed an estimated 300,000 civilians and unarmed soldiers. * In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec. 13 as the national memorial day for the victims.

* Since signing the UN Convention to Combat Desertification 30 years ago, China has become the largest contributor to global greening and an international model for desertification control. * One of China's landmark ecological projects is the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which has added 32 million hectares to afforestation areas and treated 85.3 million hectares of degraded grassland and 33.3 million hectares of desertified land.

* As China navigates a complex global economic landscape, it seeks to stimulate domestic demand to tackle both immediate and long-term challenges. * Thanks to the government's supportive measures, signs of improvement in domestic demand are beginning to emerge. * China's significant potential to boost consumption and investment, combined with the gradual impact of pro-growth measures, is expected to drive economic growth forward.

* The decisive moment came in the early hours of Sunday. Following a brief but intense battle at dawn, fighters gained complete control of Homs, a crucial city and strategic crossroads about 160 km north of Damascus, cutting off connections between Damascus and the coastal strongholds of al-Assad's Alawite community. * Even though al-Assad called for a peaceful transfer of power in a statement through Russia and the HTS has also shown willingness to achieve a stable handover, analysts believe that a dramatic change in authority will add to uncertainties for Syria's future. * Alongside the changes in the Syrian leadership, the influence of Trkiye, which backs the militant forces, and Russia, which supports the al-Assad government, will also undergo significant shifts across the Middle East, said Hany Al-Gamal, head of the International and Strategic Studies Unit at the Cairo-based Arab Center for Research, Studies and Training.

* Over the past decades, China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, achieving the poverty reduction goals of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a full decade ahead of schedule. * This historic achievement resolved the absolute poverty problem China had faced for millennia, and gives hope and inspiration for other countries in their fight against poverty. * "If China can make it, other developing countries can make it as well," Xi told the world.

* The largest desert in China, the Taklimakan is now completely encircled by a green belt stretching 3,046 km as of late November, thanks to more than four decades of efforts as part of China's Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, the world's largest afforestation program to tackle desertification. * Over the past 46 years, China has expanded its afforestation area by 32 million hectares under the program. * The afforestation area under the program is projected to encompass over 4 million square km across 13 provincial-level regions by 2050, accounting for 42.4 percent of the country's total land area.

* Evidence suggests that the Lobito Corridor project, though presented as an economic initiative, may primarily be a U.S. "rubber check" to African countries. * Many African nations refer to cooperation with the West as "toxic aid," as it often comes with political strings attached, which can harm their economies, or even lead to regime change in extreme cases. * For many on the continent, the pressing need is for partnerships that prioritize African development, not agendas shaped by external powers. As CNBC, an American news outlet, observed in a report on U.S. policy in Africa, "'America First' may put Africa last."

* China-Europe freight trains have evolved into a cornerstone of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), promoting trade and connectivity between Europe and Asia. * The railway service's stability and reliability has positioned it as a trusted pillar of logistical efficiency in today's complex global economy. * Efficient transport connections are a prerequisite for the continuation and deepening of diplomatic relations between China and the EU.

* South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol lifted early Wednesday the martial law he imposed a few hours earlier, giving in to lawmakers rejecting military rule. * South Korea's senior presidential staff, including the chief of staff and all the senior secretaries, offered to resign after Yoon's revocation of the martial law. * The National Assembly passed a resolution to lift the martial law with 18 lawmakers of the ruling People Power Party and 172 lawmakers of opposition parties voting in favor. * Yoon declared emergency martial law Tuesday night in a televised emergency address, claiming to eradicate "anti-state" forces and uphold free constitutional order, marking the first martial law declaration since the country's military dictatorship ended in the late 1980s.

* Since the China-Laos Railway started operation on Dec. 3, 2021, the time and logistics costs for freight transportation between China and Laos have significantly decreased, and economic and trade cooperation between the two countries further deepened. * In 2023, the bilateral trade volume between China and Laos reached 7.1 billion U.S. dollars, up 26.6 percent year on year. * As of Dec. 2, over 346,000 passengers from 108 countries and regions have traveled across border on the China-Laos Railway. Among them, about 49,000 were foreign nationals, with approximately 87 percent of them entering China visa-free.

* The Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) is now embarking on a new journey as China recently pledged to build it into a globally attractive two-way open hub. * Over the past 30 years, the park has attracted more than 5,100 foreign-funded projects, including 174 projects from 104 Fortune 500 companies. * From attracting overseas investors to helping businesses expand and copy its experience overseas, SIP has become an epitome of China's ambition and confidence in opening up wider and embracing the world.

Every year, millions of businesses are created around the world. In order for these big ideas to turn into successful startups, most of them will inevitably come up against the challenges of fundraising. While there is no magic formula, there are variables that founders can hone in on when engaging with potential investors. TNW sat down with San Francisco-based VC Plug and Play early-stage...

Finnish startup Ourahas closed its Series D funding round at $200mn, bringing the smart ring makers valuation to a cosy $5.2bn. Ouras smart ring uses 20 biometric markers to track sleep, physical activity, and stress resilience. The device displays this data on an app that gives you a personalised readiness score. We tested the wearable earlier this year and were genuinely impressed. Founded in...

Munich-based startup Vaeridion has secured 14mn to develop an electric aircraft that it hopes will whisk passengers on short-haul routes around Europe by 2030. The microliner looks like a regular plane and it takes off from a runway the only difference is that it will be powered by batteries, Vaeridions co-founder and CEO, Ivor van Dartel, told TNW in an interview last month. For operators and...

Short-term rental platforms like Airbnb have transformed travel. Theyve made it easier for tourists to access personalised, private accommodations and for property owners to monetise their spaces. With global tourism now on track for a full recovery post-COVID, Hostaway has secured a cool $365mn at a $925mn valuation as it looks to cash-in on the boom in short-term rentals. Hostaway is a property...

Its been a great year for the Dutch startup ecosystem. Venture capitalists have, so far, invested $3.5bn into Netherlands-based early-stage companies, according to Dealroom data. That makes 2024 Dutch techs second-best funding year ever, surpassed only by 2021. Dutch startups have raised almost 50% more ($1.1bn) cash this year than in 2023 and there are still two weeks to go. Its a striking...

According to the 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome, the Netherlands ecosystem is now ranked number 13 in the world placing it ahead of both Paris and Berlin. In 2023, Dutch startups raised $2.2bn. While there have been fewer startup deals this year, overall investment is up, according to figures from the Dutch Startup Association. And for some startups and scaleups, 2024 was...

Baller League a new six-a-side football league that has attracted support from legends like Ronaldinho, Gary Lineker, and Luis Figo has raised $25mn from EQT Ventures as it looks to initiate a new era for the beautiful game. German entrepreneur Felix Starck co-founded the Baller League last year alongside former players Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski. The founders wanted to change the way...

Boston Dynamics robot dog Spot has become somewhat of an internet sensation, no doubt thanks to its (perhaps disturbingly) killer dance moves or displays of super-strength. But Spot is far from the only robodog on the block. One of its competitors is ANYmal, an autonomous quadruped thats impressively good at everything from parkour to climbing ladders. Apart from doing tricks, ANYmal also has a...

Microsoft probably needs no introduction. But in case you are not familiar with the Microsoft for Startups program, it is an initiative that provides free licences and Azure credits to selected software entrepreneurs over the course of three years. Needless to say, its general manager, Hans Yang, is somewhat of an expert when it comes to identifying the ideas that will make it to market and that...

From bricklaying robots to zero-carbon cement, startups are shaking up construction in a high-tech bid to build better, greener structures. One of these early-stage ventures is Finland-based Aisti. Founded in 2019, the company has come up with a way to make acoustic tiles that are carbon-negative. Acoustic panels are a common construction material used to reduce noise and improve sound quality in...

As businesses grow and cloud systems get more complex, traditional DevOps methods struggle to keep up with fast changes. Thats where Generative AI comes in. This new technology is changing how applications are made and used. It is also evolving DevOps practices by automating repetitive tasks, improving processes, enhancing security, and providing better monitoring insights. AI has become a...

Automated API testing offers multiple benefits, including speeding up the testing lifecycle and providing faster feedback. It helps in enhancing the efficiency of the APIs and allows teams to deliver the new features speedily to the market. There are multiple tools and frameworks available in the market today that offer automation testing of the APIs, including Postman, Rest Assured, SuperTest,...

Getting things right requires iteration. And we all know that requires running screensthey engage users far more than documents or wireframes. Framework complexity leads to this unpleasant situation: months of effort to get running screens, only then to uncover a misunderstanding. Ouch. can help, but it still takes time to design databases and paint screens.

In the modern world of constant change, change is the only constant for every fast-paced business that must provide a compelling and engaging solution to its target market. There are limitations in the waterfall actualization model, such as the inability to effectively meet the timelines and rush that dynamic customer operations often present. But moving to Agile is more than just a method; it's...

In today's enterprise landscape, containerization has become almost synonymous with modern application deployment. However, with containers handling sensitive data and critical business operations, security should be carefully considered and implemented. I've spent years securing containerized applications in the financial sector, and today I'm going to share some battle-tested Docker security...

This exciting release of Boolean Data Type Lab for Oracle Database 23c AI introduces native support for the boolean data type, a game-changer for database developers. With this enhancement, you can   natively represent true, false, and null values  , simplifying data modeling and making SQL and PL/SQL development more efficient. To illustrate, lets recreate a scenario...

This is the second article that presents an object-oriented programming (OOP) approach to effectively separate data from domain-specific logic in data-oriented programming, utilizing the dynamic class extensions using the Java Class Extension Library. You can read the . Problem Let us reconsider the same scenario where we are building a warehouse application designed to handle the shipping of...

Application containerization provides a way to combine all required app resources into a single, standardized, easily manageable package. And for Java applications, containerization helps solve the majority of challenges related to portability and consistency. This Refcard walks readers step by step through Dockerfile creation for Java apps, container image builds, deployment strategies, and more.

Public web data is being used for various purposes, from impactful research to creating and improving products. One of the most common ways to acquire such data is through web scraping. Because it involves gathering large amounts of data published by businesses or individuals online, it raises questions such as "Is it ethical?" The short answer is yes if you're following certain practices, but we...

The DZone team is thrilled that you're interested in writing for DZone Publications! We are always seeking new authors to build up our author database. However, DZone Publications operate a bit differently from DZone site articles. Keep reading to learn more about writing for DZone Publications. How to Stand Out on DZone We handpick authors to write for DZone Publications. There are many things...

Atlassian applications like Jira, Jira Service Management (JSM), Confluence, and Bitbucket are indispensable business tools worldwide. However, maintaining their security, stability, and performance requires regular updates to patch vulnerabilities, enhance features, and improve overall efficiency. With frequent security releases from Atlassian, managing upgrades in multi-node environments can...

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize industries, its role in critical applications continues to grow exponentially. With all this innovation comes a growing concern how do we keep AI systems secure? Unlike traditional applications, AI deals with highly sensitive data, intricate models, and sprawling networks that dont fit neatly within the walls of traditional security...

See what pro Magic players do differently when they sideboard in tournament play

Check out each card from Flesh and Bloods 15th expansion The Hunted!

Marvel meets Magic in this epic superhero showdown! Join the crew as they battle with four legendary creatures from the Secret Lair Marvel x MTG!