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Monday, June 12, 2023

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IMPACTING THE WORLD

 

Proud achievement: USM occupies fourth spot in the THE Impact Rankings 2023 overall top 100 list and ranks first in Asia.

 Global recognition for USM, UTM and UM

THE latest edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings proves that Malaysian universities are making a positive mark with research involving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For the second consecutive year, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) maintained its position in the top five universities, sitting comfortably at number four on the THE Impact Rankings 2023 overall top 100 list.

Ranked first in Asia, it also came first for SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions). This was based on its research on peace and justice, participation as advisers to the government and policies on academic freedom.

In addition, USM is the country’s highest ranked varsity for eight other SDGs. It ranked sixth for SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals), seventh for SDG 2 (zero hunger), eighth for SDG 1 (no poverty), 42nd for SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), 51st for SDG 14 (life below water), 55th for SDG 3 (good health and well-being), 65th for SDG 15 (life on land), and 89th for SDG 13 (climate action).

As the country’s sole Accelerated Programme for Excellence (Apex) university, USM, said its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed, understands that sustainable practices extend beyond the confines of academia, and aims to inspire its students and staff to become responsible global citizens.

“By embedding sustainability principles in its teaching and research, USM empowers individuals to address complex challenges through innovative solutions and to become advocates for sustainable development in their respective fields.

“We are proud of this achievement as it underscores our dedication to creating a sustainable future, driving positive change, and inspiring a generation of leaders who will shape a world that prioritises the well-being of people and the planet,” he said in a statement following the release of the rankings on June 1.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia ranked first for SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy).

The fifth edition of the rankings by THE, publisher of the globally recognised THE World University Rankings, assessed institutions worldwide on their commitment to the world’s greatest challenges as listed in the UN 17 SDGs.

It assessed university commitment to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach and teaching.

Universiti Malaya (UM) ranked third globally for SDG 5 (gender equality), marking the first time the varsity has achieved a top five position in any of the SDGs featured in this ranking.

It also ranked 13th for SDG 7, 50th for SDG 1, 60th for SDG 6, 72nd for SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 73rd for SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production), 81st for SDG 17, and 85th for SDG 14.

UM vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor said the rankings show where the varsity stood against other institutions of higher learning in addressing global issues such as poverty, hunger, health and well-being, gender equality, quality education for all, and climate change.

THE chief knowledge officer Phil Baty said: “The growth in participation from Asean has been rapid and hugely impressive, with participation more than tripling since 2000.

“This gives rise to real optimism that Asean can become a global hub of excellence in the drive for a better, more sustainable future for us all.

“It is inspiring to see even more universities participate and see countries that don’t normally rank so highly do so well.”

A record 1,705 universities from 115 countries or regions were assessed, with Western Sydney University in Australia emerging the world’s overall top institution.

For details, visit https://www.timeshighereducation.com/rankings/impact/2023/overall.

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Saturday, June 10, 2023

OpenAI CEO calls for global cooperation on AI regulation, says ‘China has some of the best AI talent in the world’

 

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI (right), delivers an online speech at the conference held by the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence in Beijing on June 10, 2023. Photo: Shen Weiduo/GT

OpenAI's CEO calls on China to help shape AI safety .

OpenAI's CEO Altman Calls on China to Help Shape AI ...



Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has called for a global cooperation in setting up the regulatory guardrails for powerful artificial intelligence (AI) systems at an industry forum held in Beijing on Saturday, noting that China can play a significant role with some of its "best AI talent in the world."

"China has some of the best AI talent in the world... given the difficulties solving alignment for advanced AI systems requires the best minds from around the world," Altman said at an industry forum hosted by the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence (BAAI) on Saturday.

Altman predicted that in the next decade, artificial general intelligence systems, commonly called AGI, may surpass human expertise "in nearly every domain," and could eventually exceed the collective productivity of some of the largest companies.

"The potential upside here isn't one. AI revolution will create shared wealth and make it possible to dramatically improve the standard of living for everyone. We must manage the risk together in order to get there," Altman said.

At present, a new round of AI boom triggered by ChatGPT is sweeping the world including China. While people have been thrilled for the productivity improvement that AI can bring, they are increasingly aware of the huge risks, with governments slowly stepping in to harness the powerful yet dangerous tool. 

In May, hundreds of industry leaders, including Altman himself, have signed a letter warning that "mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." Altman made a point to reference the IAEA, the United Nations nuclear watchdog, as an example of how the world came together to oversee nuclear power.

"We need international cooperation to build global trust in the safe development of increasingly powerful AI systems. In a verifiable way, I have no illusions that this will be easy. We will need to devote significant and sustained attention as an international community to get this right," Altman said.

In a possible indication to the current geopolitical conflict's impact on the global AI cooperation, Altman noted that "great powers may have their share of differences." This is true today, as it has been before. But even during the most difficult times, great powers have found ways to cooperate on what matters. "We see great potential for researchers in the US, China, and around the world to work together to achieve the shared goal."

Altman used an ancient Chinese proverb, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," in describing how the world should start on the difficult but necessary cooperation.

In talking about the next frontier that OpenAI is engaging on in a later Q&A session, Altman said OpenAI is discussing about opening source more models in the future, but does not have a specific model or timetable.

"Certainly, at some point, we'll try to do a GPT-5 model in the sequence, but not anytime soon and we don't know exactly when," Sam said, adding that he's hoping someday the company can get to return to robotics - a sector the company has worked on at the very start.

The two-day conference hosted by the BAAI has invited leading figures in the industry such as AI "godfather" Geoffrey Hinton and Turing Award winner Yann André LeCun. Apart from exchanging on AI frontiers and technology progress, this year's conference placed a special focus on AI regulation and alignment.

Industry players and experts at the forum have also emphasized on the importance of global cooperation in harnessing the "double-sword" technology, which is especially urgent as the large models are development "too fast."

"We are fully aware of the urgency of AI regulation, but under the current global situation, as some in the US are hyping China threat with AI as a key battleground, global cooperation and an international rule could be hard, though some cooperation might be achievable in certain areas,"Wang Peng, a research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Saturday at the sidelines of the event.

Looking ahead, the development of large models and major technological breakthroughs is clearly be related to the life and death of human society, Wang said, noting that it's critical for some nations to drop closed and retrogressive minds of "small courtyards and high walls," join forces together with the rest of the world, and concentrate on overcoming difficulties for the benefit of all mankind.

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Top exec at China state-run firm sacked after exposed affair but mistress’ dress is the talk of town

 

The “mistress dress” that moved inventories at Taobao and spawned an anime-themed meme. PHOTO: DOUYIN/XIAOMI223 via The Straits Times/ANN

the video went viral on Douyin  


THEIR affair had sent tongues wagging in China, but it was the “mistress dress” that stole the show.

A top executive at state-run firm China National Petroleum (CNPC) lost his job on Wednesday after a video of him holding hands with a much younger woman while out shopping in downtown Chengdu went viral.

The woman was not his wife – a fact that led to the executive’s downfall. But it was what the woman was wearing – a body-hugging, summer dress with floral prints of pink, yellow and blue – that drew “oohs” and “aahs”, and sent online sales of the frock soaring.

Chinese netizens have taken to calling it the “mistress” or “dismissal” dress.

Mr Hu Jiyong, the erstwhile general manager of CNPC subsidiary Beijing Huanqiu Construction, and Ms Dong Sijin, a co-worker of his, were spotted this week at a popular shopping district in Chengdu by a street photographer.

A short clip of Mr Hu – who was dressed in a matching pink polo T-shirt – and Ms Dong walking hand-in-hand was posted on Douyin, TikTok’s Chinese sibling, on Wednesday, and quickly drew millions of views.

Within hours from the time the video appeared, CNPC released a statement saying Mr Hu had been sacked. Ms Dong, too, was let go.

But that didn’t stop the online tongue-wagging.

Some said Ms Dong’s father was himself a senior executive at CNPC, and that Ms Dong was known for posts on social media that showcased her taste for expensive designer bags and luxurious vacations. Netizens noted that she was carrying a Lady Dior handbag that retails for around S$8,000 in the video.

But it was the infamous dress that stood out.

Online sleuths quickly learnt that the dress was being sold by a vendor on the online shopping platform Taobao for 618 yuan (S$116).

On the same day Mr Hu’s and Ms Dong’s video was posted, some 1,000 units of the dress were sold, lifting the item to the top of Taobao’s hot items list.

By Thursday, 4,000 units were sold. Overwhelmed by the sudden interest, the Taobao vendor told its customers to “shop rationally”.

But the “mistress dress” also sparked fierce online debate.

“Why would someone want to dress in the style of a mistress? The craze over this really reflects a moral decline in our society,” a Weibo user lamented.

Another person thought the dress was “kinda tacky”.

One fan, though, wrote: “Every dress is probably worn by a mistress at one point. The dress is innocent!”

Others took to using AI imaging tools to render screenshots of Mr Hu and Ms Dong as manga and anime characters.

The ruckus compelled The Beijing Daily, a state newspaper, to post an editorial to say that the dress was attracting attention for all the wrong reasons.

“Focusing too much on the dress and making up salacious stories will divert public attention from the real lesson here,” it said. - The Straits Times/ANN 

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Tuesday, June 6, 2023

AmLife, Sleep Well with Electric Potential Therapy Medical Device

 

 

 

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3FT Amlife DX Bed Mattress Electric Potential Theraphy (Purple)

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There are 3 sizes:
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Desperate for some shut-eye


Experts: Cough syrup not the cure for insomnia 

CLICK TO ENLARGE https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/07/03/experts-cough-syrup-not-the-cure-for-insomnia

 

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FISH oil is made up of fat and oil cells extracted from fish tissue. The fat and oil are condensed into liquid or capsule form for consumption. Fishes that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as mackerel, tuna, herring and anchovies are used for this purpose. Fish oil is known to be an effective way to help reduce the risk of heart-related conditions.

Saturday, June 3, 2023

Is the ringgit weakness permanent?

 

It is important to look at the ringgit weakness from a more holistic perspective.

 

Global currency: the reason the us dollar remains in demand in spite of its national debt and endless printing of money is because the value of the dollar is backed by the us government, its military strength and technological advancement. — reuters

WITH the World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19 no longer a global health emergency and countries opening their borders, we have seen a resurgence in the tourism industry.

Airlines such as Singapore Airlines have declared a record high quarterly profit of S$2.16bil (Rm7.37bil) in its 76-year history.

People are finally travelling again, be it for work or leisure. Yet, the irony of it is the weakness of our local currency.

This has led to many lamenting across social media about our foreign-exchange weakness and the voice of discontent has been growing by the day.

People are bewildered because our underlying economy remains resilient and there are no signs that we are heading anywhere close to a recession.

Even after Bank Negara embarked on a pre-emptive rate hike of the overnight policy rate (OPR) surprising the market, it couldn’t stymie the continued weakness of the ringgit.

So, what is happening?

Factors affecting a currency


In the study of Economics 101, foreign currency is parked under the chapter of macroeconomics.

This means that a currency’s movement is determined pretty much by macroeconomic factors such as inflation, fiscal policy, employment levels, national income and international trade.

Hence, it is impossible to pinpoint our currency’s prolonged weakness on a single reason.

I have heard all sorts of talk in the coffeeshop, including political instability, increasing fiscal deficit, shrinking current account surplus, the US debt ceiling crisis, the weakening oil price and looming recession, among others.

The above-mentioned factors all play a part in contributing to the weakness and none can stand alone to be deemed as the root cause of the issue.

Otherwise, it would be a rather easy fix.

As everything is intertwined and linked, it is important to look at our ringgit weakness from a more holistic perspective.

Exactly 10 years ago, the ringgit’s strength peaked in January 2013 at RM2.96 against one US dollar as the United States was undergoing large-scale quantitative easing to dig itself out of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

Another reason was because the Brent oil price hit a high of US$125 per barrel, record levels at the same period.

There were many reasons that gave confidence to boost the ringgit’s performance as Malaysia was an oil exporter with large infrastructure projects being rolled out by the government of the day.

Even the property market was booming with many foreign buyers and real estate developers venturing into our local markets.

It all went downhill after the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal surfaced and the national debt ballooned to astronomical levels with little to show for.

With the oil price correcting to record low levels and large amounts of government allocations being used to defray interest expenses on the debts, this expanded our fiscal deficit.

It all comes down to demand


We often hear about the emphasis on foreign direct investment (FDI).

This is because with FDI, it will promote employment, transfer of skills and business opportunity, among others.

Additionally, from an economic standpoint, FDI increases the money supply and inadvertently the demand for the ringgit.

When FDI falls, demand falls. From the data gathered by the Investment, Trade and Industry Industry, the problem is with domestic direct investment (DDI) rather than FDI.


For the past decade, DDI has been a straight line downward trend.

This effectively means local businesses are not reinvesting their profits or expanding locally as much.

To me, it is a bigger indicator that whatever funds or profits from local businesses are being moved towards the current account, savings account or worst, foreign outflow.

There is little to no multiplier effect and if it is an outflow, it will further reduce the demand for the ringgit and in turn weaken the currency.

Tourism is another aspect that is important to an economy.

Apart from the spillover effect of tourism spending, it is the positive carry that helps with the currency’s strength.

If tourism activity in our country picks up, naturally, there will be more need for the ringgit and in turn leading to its strengthening.

Thailand is good example of a successful tourism nation where tourism is the third-largest economic activity contributing to 20% of the gross domestic product for the country and it is only behind the two key sectors, namely, agriculture and industry.

If we look at the Thai baht performance against the ringgit, we

can see its continued strength from RM1 to 9.61 baht to RM1 to 7.52 baht.

Essentially, all three sectors of Thailand – agriculture, industry and tourism – have been growing in the past decade, which, in turn, increased the demand for their currency.

Continued downtrend


Many are very worried that this downtrend of the ringgit will continue to persist in the years to come.

If we look at what has happened historically, there are of course reasons to be worried.

In my conversation with high-networth clients, their number one concern is always inflation eroding the value of their money.

The second worry is the weakness in the foreign exchange (forex) that erodes the global monetary value of their savings.

Due to this fear, it is easy for private bankers to market foreign products or funds to these clients regardless of the returns.

A client once told me, “Even if I move my savings to Singapore and the stock market or investments do not perform, at the very least the forex carry alone would deliver 40% return in the span of 10 years.”

An indirect measure of the economy is the strength of its currency.

If everyone wants your currency to be their reserve currency, it is likely that your country’s economy is strong and healthy and vice versa.

No matter how we improve the fundamentals of our economy, there will always be a difference between a developed economy and of those developing economies.

The reason the US dollar remains in demand in spite of its national debt and endless printing of money is because the value of the dollar is backed by the US government, its military strength and technological advancement.

China is also pushing for the internationalisation of the yuan and as the second largest economic powerhouse in the world, there are merits to be a highly sought-after currency.

The Singapore dollar’s value manifests in it being an anchor on stability, a haven and its function as an international entrepot.

For the ringgit, its value is probably largely still associated with commodities exporting nation.

While our exports and trade have always been a fixture, more must be done to reflect this value to the world.

Having a strong currency which is in demand is a powerful tool that can be used to a country’s advantage, especially when it comes to business and geopolitical negotiations.

There are many challenges that the government must overcome before we can turn the old economy around and upgrade it to a new model forward.

I remain optimistic about the potential of the country and the talent of this young nation to turn things around.

If we look at how blessed our country is, rich with natural resources, low population density per habitable land area, free from natural disaster, etc, the only thing impeding the progress is good governance and professional management.

To believe a new government can change this overnight (seven months to be precise) is being a tad too optimistic.

More time is needed to restructure the troubles of the past.

If we foster a healthy environment for the SMES to grow, promote food security and self-sufficiency and manage our natural resources prudently, we can become a strong economy in Asean.

A stable currency is paramount for an economy and if we improve investments and reinvestments in the country, the ringgit’s weakness is not permanent.

 By Ng zhu hann 

CEO & Founder, Tradeview Capital | Founder, Hann Partnership | Author, Once Upon A Time In Bursa | Columnist, StarBiz & Nanyang Siang Pau|
 
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Thursday, June 1, 2023

USA ‘Peeping Tom’ who constantly peeps into others’ windows should be deterred ahead of Shangri-La Dialogue

-16 fighter jets attached to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Western Theater Command taxi on the runway during an aerial combat training exercise under complex electromagnetic conditions in April, 2021. Photo: eng.chinamil.com.cn


The US military's hype about the "unprofessional interception" of a PLA fighter jet at this time is suspicious and absurd. On May 30, the US Indo-Pacific Command, in a tone of victimhood, accused a PLA J-16 fighter jet of carrying out "unnecessary aggressive maneuvers" on Friday against a US RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft in the so-called "international airspace" in the South China Sea, and the Pentagon also expressed "concern."

Given the frequent use of such tactics by the US, people immediately saw through the trick. The Shangri-La Dialogue is about to commence, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is scheduled to attend. Over the years, every US defense secretary has criticized China during the Shangri-La Dialogue, making it an entertaining show of the event. This propaganda is most likely aimed at providing material and ammunition for Austin's speech and creating a special label of "China being irresponsible" and "China threat" for the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Last year, on the eve of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Canada, the US' petty follower, issued a statement through its Department of National Defense, claiming that Canadian patrol aircraft had "multiple interactions" with PLA military aircraft and accused the PLA of not adhering to international air safety norms.

Unsurprisingly, several days later, Austin mentioned it at the Shangri-La Dialogue, and attacked China. It probably won't be any different this time, and we will see in a couple of days how Austin plays the tricks of hyping the interception up.

The US military won't reveal the truth, but let's look at where the incident occurred. Right at China's doorstep. Data shows that the US military reconnaissance aircraft involved in this incident was less than 50 kilometers away from our coastline, meaning it was flying almost along our territorial waters and intentionally intruded into the training area of the PLA Navy Flotilla 17 for reconnaissance and disturbance. The PLA's response was in accordance with the law, regulations, and professional standards.

Currently, there are almost daily instances of US reconnaissance aircraft conducting close-in reconnaissance on us, and in 2022, the number of the US' close-in military reconnaissance missions against China has more than doubled compared with a decade ago. The intensity and frequency of US military activities in the South China Sea have significantly increased, and it has even instigated its allies' military aircrafts to provoke in the South China Sea.

What is the nature of the US military's behavior? It is easy to understand: It's like a peeping Tom who constantly peeks into others' windows, which can only make people think that it has ulterior motives. And every time it is caught red-handed, Washington tries to turn the tables. But are the Chinese warships and aircrafts too close to American ones, or are American warships and planes too close to China?

If Chinese military aircrafts flew thousands of miles each year to a location a few dozen kilometers from the US' coastlines and conducted over 1,000 close-in reconnaissance missions, how would the US react? Even a Chinese civilian unmanned airship that drifted over due to force majeure caused the US to panic, and even shoot it down with fighter jets and missiles, not to mention anything else.

In real life, we can call the police if we encounter a peeping Tom. But in the international community consisting of sovereign states, there is no police station to enforce the law to maintain justice and righteousness. What's more, the criminal even calls itself the "world police." The US military commits its perversions so blatantly, "rightfully," and recklessly because it thinks no one can punish it.

China will not tolerate such rogue behavior. Since there is no way to call the police, we can only enhance self-defense capabilities, and intercept and expel intruders, making counterattacks and responses based on how bad the US' moves are. To deal with the peeping Tom who crosses the line, we must pick up a stick and drive him away. In short, it is necessary to make him feel insecure and scared.

Americans should have understood this better. Americans pay so much attention to the right to self-defense at home. It is impossible to ask others to be indifferent and submissive to the US' provocative behavior on the international level.

When it comes to security, the US military leads others to insecurity, and others will undoubtedly do the same to the US. As a result, regional peace and stability are destroyed, and the risk of conflict increases sharply. As the culprit of the incident, the US military should certainly bear the responsibility. In a situation in which mutual trust is absent, it talks about the desire to communicate with the PLA while not restraining its dangerous moves in the air and sea. Being so contradictory, is there any sincerity in it? 

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 US hypes on 'China threat' ahead of Shangri-La Dialogue

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Tuesday, May 30, 2023

China’s Shenzhou 16 mission sends its first civilian astronaut into space


 

Shenzhou-16 launch: China sends first civilian astronaut to ...

Among the Shenzhou-16 crew, Gui, a professor at China’s prestigious aeronautics institution Beihang University who pursued his postdoctoral studies in Canada, is the first Chinese civilian to be on a spaceflight.

Highlights of Shenzhou-16 Mission
 
Photo: Zhang Jingyi

Photo: Zhang Jingyi

 

 

For the team lineup, the Shenzhou-16 for the first time includes a payload expert, Gui Haichao, along with flight engineer Zhu Yangzhu that will be led by veteran taikonaut Jing Haipeng, whose trip marks his fourth time in space. Jing will serve as the mission commander.

This is China's first time including a space engineer and a payload specialist as part of a Shenzhou crew. According to China Manned Space Agency, the space engineer's job will mainly focus on ensuring the normal operation of the spacecraft, performing necessary maintenance and inspection of spacecraft systems and equipment, including executing space walks.

While for payload specialist Gui Haichao, who has attracted the most public attention as the only non-career taikonaut to enter space, he will be responsible for managing and operating scientific researches and experimental projects in the space station, focusing mainly on the management and operation of payload.

During their mission, the Shenzhou-16 crew will continue to conduct extravehicular activities and cargo airlock extravehicular tasks, space science experiments, and the trial of new technology. The mission will also include platform management, taikonaut support system tests, and science education activities, the Global Times learned from China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

This is the first manned space mission at the space station's application and development phase, and also the first radial rendezvous and docking performed under the T-structure formed by the three modules.

Compared with previous radial docking practices executed by the Shenzhou-13 and Shenzhou-14 spacecraft during the construction stage of the space station, the maneuver for this time will represent a more complex challenge, given the larger combination mass and size, and more intricate aerodynamic effects, the CASC revealed.

Specifically, with the successive joining of more modules and spacecraft including the extra-large Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, as well as manned and cargo spaceships, the space station's size, mass, inertia, and center of gravity have changed significantly, impacting the attitude control of docking vehicles, with some parameters even increasing by orders of magnitude.

Previously when the Shenzhou-14 manned spacecraft docked radially with the space station, it weighed only 47 tons. Now, the Shenzhou-16 will face a 90-ton space station complex with crew onboard.

Therefore, the Shenzhou-16 will use a relative attitude and position control manner, especially for close-range docking. The changes in motion characteristics of the space station will directly affect the spacecraft's rendezvous and docking control process.

As for the launch vehicle, deputy chief designer of the Long March-2F carrier rocket Liu Feng told the Global Times that they have made over 20 technical adjustments to improve rocket performance.

The development team has focused on improving redundancy and equipment advancement to continuously enhance the reliability of the rocket, Liu said, noting that the team has promoted the localization of various electrical system components on the rocket so as to further improve the level of independent control of the product.

The team also used digital and information technology to empower the rocket and introduced "intelligence" into data interpretation.

With the construction of remote measurement and launch support system, developers have achieved real-time communication of test data for the Long March-2F rocket, so that ground control personnel can more easily and comprehensively receive relevant data from the rocket, and carry out real-time monitoring and analysis meanwhile displaying it on the shared screen simultaneously. 

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