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Articles by Chi Hu
Origami-inspired folded-interlocked nanofiber aerogels for thermal insulation
Abstract Nanofiber aerogels (NFAs) are promising thermal insulation materials for extreme environments; however, simultaneously achieving mechanical robustness, resilience, and low thermal conductivity remains a long-standing challenge in layered NFAs, where interlaminar instability often compromises structural reliability. Here we present an origami-inspired structural engineering strategy to construct folded-interlocked nanofiber aerogels.
UN expert urges States to prevent migrant disappearances
A UN expert on Friday urged governments worldwide to strengthen protections for migrants, warning that thousands face the risk of enforced disappearance each year. In a recent statement, Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants Gehad Madi highlighted migrants’ vulnerability to enforced disappearances.
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Amnesty International: Nigeria pardon for executed activists "falls far short of real justice"
International human rights organization Amnesty International on Friday said that the Nigerian government’s pardon for the Ogoni Nine falls “far short of real justice”. The human rights organization published the statement in response to the government’s decision on Wednesday to exonerate the group.
Dual-color dynamic holographic display referenced RGB optimization and system compactification
In this Letter, we propose what we believe to be a novel method for compact color dynamic holographic displays by integrating hologram design with optimized RGB (red, green, and blue) component control. This approach simplifies the system layout and reduces performance requirements through weight optimization, enabling high-speed, high-quality holography without complex time/space multiplexing.
Rights group urges investigation into Kenya death in police custody
Amnesty International called Sunday for investigations into the death of Albert Ojwang while in police detention, urging improvements in transparency and accountability within Kenya’s law enforcement agencies. According to a press statement by the National Police Service of Kenya (NPS), Ojwang hit his head against the wall and sustained head injuries while in custody. He was pronounced dead on arrival after being transferred to the hospital.
Vietnam orders messaging app Telegram to be blocked
Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology has instructed telecommunication service providers to block the messaging app Telegram for not cooperating in combating alleged crimes committed by its users, according to local news agencies Vietnam News and Vietnam Pictorial. According to the reports, the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention and Control, which claimed that up to 68% of 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam contain harmful content, had ordered the ban.
International Court of Justice to hear Sudan genocide claim against UAE
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced on Friday that it would hear a case brought by Sudan seeking emergency measures against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the crime of genocide. Sudan alleges that the UAE has violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) by enabling the militia Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to use violence against the Masalit group in Sudan.
OHCHR urges Hungary to repeal anti-LGBTQ+ legislation
The UN Office of the Higher Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday urged Hungary to repeal the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed on Tuesday. OHCHR describes the legislation as a severe violation of basic rights for LGBTQ+ individuals. According to OHCHR, the legislation undermines the rights to freedom of expression and non-discrimination. It specifically targets educational materials related to LGBTQ+ issues, limiting access to information for young people.
UN chief warns of rising Islamophobia amid widespread anti-Muslim government rhetoric
UN Secretary General António Guterres warned of a “disturbing rise” in anti-bigotry in a speech commemorating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on Friday. In his statement, Guterres urged the world to reject xenophobia and discrimination amid a troubling surge in anti-Muslim sentiments. He warned that governments are employing racial profiling and discriminatory policies that undermine human rights, stating that when one group is attacked, “the rights and freedoms of all are at risk”.
Italy approves draft law punishing feminicide with life imprisonment
The Italian Council of Ministers approved on Friday a draft law introducing the crime of femicide and punishing it with life imprisonment. Under the proposed legislation, femicide is defined as causing the death of a woman as an act of discrimination or hatred because she is a woman, or with the view to repress her rights, freedoms, or expression of personality. The law provides for additional aggravating circumstances including personal harassment and stalking.
UN Security Council condemns M23 offensive in DRC
The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the ongoing offensive by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and urging the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), which supports the rebel group, to withdraw immediately from Congolese territory. According to the UN, fighting in the DRC has intensified since January, with M23 fighters capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
UN Security Council condemns M23 offensive in DRC
The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the ongoing offensive by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and urging the Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF), which supports the rebel group, to withdraw immediately from Congolese territory. According to the UN, fighting in the DRC has intensified since January, with M23 fighters reaching the North and South Kivu provinces and capturing the cities of Goma and Bukavu.
Liberia president suspends hundreds of officials over failure to declare assets
Liberian President Joseph Boakai announced more than 450 suspended top government officials on Thursday, including ministers, for failing to declare their assets to the anti-corruption agency, Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC). According to the presidency, the suspended officials will be put on unpaid leave for a month until they make the necessary declarations.
Thousands gather in protest against Germany far-right party
Thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday in the German city of Neu-Isenburg to protest the country’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD). The protests delayed the party’s election campaign event at the city hall, Hugenottenhalle. The party event, titled “Mega-Veranstaltung mit Alice Weidel” (Mega-Event with Alice Weidel), was a campaign rally for the party’s chancellor candidate.
Protests delay Germany far-right party congress
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Protests delay Germany far-right party congress
Thousands gathered on Saturday in the German city of Riesa to protest against the conference of Germany’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD). The start of the AfD’s party conference, which is expected to last for three days, was delayed for two hours. The AfD’s party conference, titled “Time for Germany“, is a key convention that is expected to confirm co-leader Alice Weidel’s nomination as a candidate for the upcoming Chancellor’s election in February.
Venezuela releases 107 protesters arrested after July election
Venezuela released 107 protesters on Saturday who were detained for demonstrations over the presidential election in July, according to Alfredo Romero, director of the local rights group Foro Penal. According to the group, 50 people were freed from the Tocorón prison in the state of Aragua and dozens more from at least three other prisons. Video footage shows relatives and friends of the prisoners cheering and awaiting their release.
Iran foreign minister denies DOJ allegations of involvement in Trump assassination plot
Iranian Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on Saturday denied US charges alleging Iran’s involvement in a plot to assassinate president-elect Donald Trump before the US presidential election. According to the charges announced by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Iranian national Farhad Shakeri, 51, was tasked by the Iranian government with surveilling and plotting to assassinate a US citizen.
Belarus HR group reports political prisoner Dmitriy Schlethauer's death amid nationwide deterioration of human rights
Viasna Human Rights Centre, one of the oldest human rights groups in Belarus, reported on Friday that political prisoner Dmitriy Schlethauer died on 11 October 2024, less than one month after being transferred to the penal colony in Mogilev in eastern Belarus. The cause of death is unknown.
Protesters arrested across Bolivia for attempting to prevent former president's arrest
The police of Bolivia announced that they arrested 44 protesters on Friday, after they set up more than 20 roadblocks on highways across the country to prevent the arrest of former president Evo Morales’ on charges of statutory rape and human trafficking. The Bolivian police accused protestors of committing various crimes, including attacks on transportation security, usurpation of functions, criminal association, armed robbery and terrorism.
UN agencies and NGOs call for release of detained aid workers in Yemen
UN agencies and NGOs expressed deep concerns over the referral of humanitarian personnel to criminal prosecution by the Houthis in Yemen, according to a joint statement on Saturday. They called for the immediate and urgent release of the workers.
Macron calls for France arms embargo of Israel
French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking to public broadcaster France Inter, announced that France should no longer deliver weapons to Israel on Saturday and urged other countries to halt arms deliveries to Israel for the escalation of its war in Gaza and Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu rebuked Macron for the proposed arms embargo, noting that Israel “will win with or without their support”.
Israel airstrike kills Hezbollah leader
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that an IDF strike targeting Hezbollah’s Central Headquarters, underneath residential buildings in Beirut, killed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese Shia organization Hezbollah on Friday night. The IDF claims that the headquarters were a “legitimate military target under international law”.
High-speed arbitrary pure phase hologram generation method based on a specific multi-phase
This paper presents a novel design method, to the best of our knowledge, for the creation of computer-generated holograms (CGHs) with arbitrary phases based on a specific multi-phase. This approach combines the design, production, and fabrication of holographic phase structures and requires only their assembly according to specific phase values.
Hong Kong authorities condemn UK report criticizing national security legislation
The UK’s latest report on Hong Kong, which said on Thursday that the city’s focus on national security was undermining its international reputation, sparked condemnation from Hong Kong over its “absurd and false contents”. Amongst other things, the report specifically highlights the prosecution of British national and pro-democracy journalist Jimmy Lai, the enactment of the new national security law and the resignation of two retired UK judges from the Court of Final Appeal.
Simulated annealing algorithm for the optimal design of diffractive structures under fluctuation models
In this paper, to improve the optimization capability of the simulated annealing algorithm (SA) in the optimal design of diffractive structures, the random fluctuation problem in the algorithm is investigated, and a new fluctuation calculation model is proposed. The optimal design of phase-type diffraction gratings and beam-shaping devices verified the fast accuracy of the proposed model.
Dual light source compensation method for improving the quality of LC-SLM holographic displays
The inherent “grid” effect of LC-SLM in holographic displays can lead to issues such as the presence of zero-order spots and multi-level diffraction images, resulting in a decrease in the quality of reconstructed images. In this Letter, a dual light source compensation method is proposed to address this problem.
Afghan murder suspect shot by Germany police
Police in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt shot an Afghan murder suspect, who died shortly thereafter in the hospital, Saturday. According to police reports, the 27-year-old Afghan national is said to have attacked another 23-year-old Afghan on Friday with a knife-like object in an apartment building in the town of Wolmirstedt on Saturday. The victim died from his injuries that evening. The motives of the attack are currently still unknown.
Hong Kong parents send one in five Nepalese students to Nepal against will: report
Parents in Hong Kong send one in five Nepalese students to Nepal against their will. according to a survey publicized on Friday by Hong Kong Unison, a non-profit organization focusing on equal opportunities and integration for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. In a press conference titled “Challenges Faced by Nepalese Youth in Hong Kong,” Executive Director John Tse announced findings on the lives of the Nepalese ethnic minority in Hong Kong.
UN development specialist assumes Haiti prime minister role
UN development specialist Garry Conille arrived on Saturday in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, to take on his new role as Haiti’s prime minister. Conille has been serving as UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean since January 2023. Prior to this role, he held various positions for different UN branches. In the wake of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, he was nominated as Haiti’s prime minister, and he assumed the position from October 2011 to May 2012.
24 aid workers killed in Israel-Hamas conflict in 2024: International Red Cross
The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies has lost 24 humanitarian aid workers in the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2024, according to president Kate Forbes’ statement on Thursday. She asked all states to respect their neutrality and work of delivering humanitarian aid to war zones and high-risk areas. In Kate Forbes’ statement, she reported that two more paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society had been killed.
North Korea accuses US and South Korea of border reconnaissance and threatens response
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
North Korea accuses US and South Korea of border reconnaissance and threatens response
North Korea’s defense ministry accused the US and South Korea on Saturday of intensifying border reconnaissance activities and threatened military action, according to state media Voice of Korea and Korean Central News Agency. In a press statement, Kim Kang Il, vice president of North Korea’s defense ministry, protested against “hostile air espionage” by the US. He claimed that the US and the air force of South Korea were “seriously encroaching upon the sovereignty” of North Korea.
UN agency reports arrival of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia amid hostility from locals
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told Reuters on Thursday that about 50 Rohingya Muslims arrived in North Sumatra, Indonesia on Wednesday via boat in refuge from violence and persecution in Myanmar. This is the latest wave of refugee arrivals in Indonesia amid hostility that refugees face from locals. According to the UNHCR, the 50 Rohingya refugees were primarily made up of women and children.
Preparation of amphiphilic poly(divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone)-functionalized polydopamine magnetic nanoadsorbents for enrichment of synthetic cannabinoids in wastewater
Preparation of amphiphilic poly(divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone)-functionalized polydopamine magnetic nanoadsorbents for enrichment of synthetic cannabinoids in wastewater Concerns have been raised about synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), which are among the most often trafficked and used illegal substances. An analytical method that holds promise for determining illicit drug use in the general population is wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE).
US congress members call on Biden to sanction Sudan RSF for human rights violations
United States congress members called on Friday for President Joe Biden to sanction Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and its leader, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (commonly known as Hemedti), for gross violations of human rights. Senators Benjamin Cardin and James Risch of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, together with Representatives Michael McCaul and Gregory Meeks of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote an open letter to the president.
Cyprus suspends processing of Syria refugees asylum applications
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Saturday that the Mediterranean country had suspended processing asylum applications from Syrian nationals. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Christodoulides announced that the decision was made “in light of recent mass arrival of Syrian political asylum seekers by sea” to Cyprus.
German police arrest suspected member of Islamic State on war crimes charges
The German Federal Criminal Police arrested on Wednesday Sohail A, a suspected member of the foreign terrorist organizations Liwa Jund al-Rahman and the Islamimc State, on behalf of the Prosecutor General. The Prosecutor General obtained an arrest warrant from the Federal Court on March 20. The Federal Court granted the permission for two reasons.
Somalia expels Ethiopia ambassador over recognition of Somaliland independence
Somalia announced on Thursday the expulsion of the Ethiopian ambassador Muktar Mohamed Ware. The announcement comes amid worsening relations between Ethiopia and Somalia regarding the recognition of Somaliland’s independence. In a press statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation ordered Muktar to depart from Somalia within 72 hours.
Germany far-right lawmaker denies receiving Russian bribes
German parliamentarian Petr Bystron, representing the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD), denied on Thursday allegations of receiving bribes from Russia, according to an exclusive report from German journalist Alexander Wallasch, who obtained a copy of a letter from Bystron to the AfD’s leadership. In a formal letter to Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, the leaders of AfD, Bystron stated that he has never accepted any payments or cryptocurrencies from Russian sources.
Russia vetoes renewal of UN expert panel monitoring North Korea
Russia vetoed on Thursday a UN Security Council resolution to extend the mandate of a panel of experts monitoring North Korea. The resolution would have extended the Panel of Experts assisting Sanctions Committee on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s mandate until April 30, 2025. It would also have requested the panel to submit a confidential midterm report before August 23, 2024.
UN report finds potential crime against humanity in Belarus
The UN Human Rights Council released a report on Friday on the human rights situation in Belarus during and after the country’s presidential election in 2020. It concludes that the crime against humanity of persecution may have been committed in Belarus. The report, which is the advance unedited version, presents evidence on a wide range of issues, including arbitrary deprivation of the right of life, enforced disappearance, torture and discrimination on grounds of political opinion.
Austria orders 2 Russia diplomats to leave the country by March 19
The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday two Russian diplomats as personae non gratae, requiring them to leave Austria by March 19. The ministry did not provide any details as to why the two diplomats were asked to leave Austria.
Ireland voters reject constitutional amendments aimed at changing the definition of family and women's roles
Irish voters decisively rejected on Saturday two constitutional amendments that would have significantly altered the definition of family and gender roles within the home.
Germany authorities carry out raids against suspects of online misogynistic hate speech
German prosecutors and law enforcement carried out raids against 45 individuals on Thursday who were suspected of posting hate speech against women online. The General Public Prosecutor’s Office in Frankfurt, along with the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and other law enforcement agencies, led the raids. The raids form part of the government’s coordinated initiative against misogyny. Under the initiative, the law enforcement agencies had already taken action against 37 other suspects.
UN reports risk of continued gross human rights violations in South Sudan
The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan warned in a report on Friday that mass violence and gross human rights violations in South Sudan continue unabated and must be urgently addressed. The Commission conducted investigations in South Sudan and its neighboring states in 2023. The investigations involved hundreds of interviews, expert forensic analysis and engagements with state authorities.
China activist filmmaker charged with 'picking quarrels and provoking troubles' Original
Police in China charged Chen Pin Lin, director of documentary “Not the Foreign Force,” with “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” according to Chinese human rights news watchdogs Weiquanwang and Civil Rights and Livelihood Watch. The Thursday charges come after Chen’s arrest in January 2024. He has been in detention for more than a month.
Former China Communist Party official arrested on bribery charges
Chinese authorities arrested former secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guizhou Provincial Committee Sun Zhigang over alleged bribe-taking, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) announced Thursday. According to the National Supervisory Commission (NSC), the investigation into allegations of Sun’s corruption started in August 2023.
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