A man surnamed Gao in Datong, North China's Shanxi Province, used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to fabricate a story about his four-year-old child going missing in order to gain attention on social media. After investigating the case, local police detained him for spreading false information.

Gao posted four videos documenting his search for his child. In the video, he claimed his child accidentally went missing, and expressed deep anxiety and self-blame as a father, saying he planned to travel to Heze, East China's Shandong Province, to find his child.

The video sparked widespread sympathy among netizens. Many expressed support for the 'child-seeking father' and offered assistance in his search.

His video immediately drew the attention of local police.

"Through extensive checks and investigation, we found no recent reports of missing children in our district, confirming that this supposed case was fabricated," said a police officer surnamed Wang who is responsible for the case.

Further investigation by the police revealed that the photo he claimed as "the missing child" was actually an AI-generated image.

When questioned by police, Gao admitted his child was never missing. He used the AI-generated pictures to create a fabricated story and gain public sympathy, so as to increase his social media following and boost his live-stream sales.

Given that Gao spread misinformation online, disrupting public order, police detained him under public security measures.

Xi urges China, US to properly manage differences

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the cities of Xiaogan and Xianning, central China's Hubei Province, from Monday afternoon to Tuesday morning.

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's recent remarks on border issues with China, hinting that further de-escalation will require reciprocal steps from the Chinese side, are primarily a response to domestic pressure, said Chinese analysts. They emphasize that joint efforts from both India and China are needed to overcome the mistrust accumulated over the past few years and implement the resolution on China-India border issues. 

While addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, Jaishankar said that the disengagement of troops at two places in the border areas is the first step and the next step is de-escalation, which will not happen until India is sure that the same thing is happening on the other side as well, New Delhi Television reported, noting that Jaishankar was "obviously referring to China." 

It is incorrect for Jaishankar to place unilateral blame on China for the border issue, or for the Indian side to suggest that China is seeking concessions from India. Improving relations requires genuine effort and sincerity from both sides, avoiding overreactions and the creation of new issues. Cooperation is essential, and it is unreasonable to place all demands solely on China, Long Xingchun, a professor from the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, told the Global Times.

Lin Minwang, deputy director at the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, said that in response, Jaishankar's remarks on Sunday showed that, despite the agreements, there's still a lack of mutual trust between the two countries, and Jaishankar's stance serves to address domestic political pressure.

However, from China's perspective, it has consistently maintained equality and mutual respect during negotiations and has always honored agreements, Lin said. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry Lin Jian said at a press conference on October 22 that over a recent period of time, China and India have reached resolutions on issues concerning the border area following close communication through diplomatic and military channels. China commends the progress made and will continue working with India for the sound implementation of these resolutions, he said.

In a significant move to enhance diplomatic relations, India and China are set to complete the military disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by October 28-29, according to ANI.

The resolutions reached by both sides represent a breakthrough in addressing the border disputes since 2020. However, Jaishankar's remarks indicate that the mistrust accumulated over the past four years will take time and efforts to overcome, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Monday. 

The resolution, reached by China and India after numerous rounds of negotiations and dialogue, has put bilateral relations back on to the path of normalcy. However, the lasting progress depends on the faithful implementation of the agreement and the gradual strengthening of ties, Qian said. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Wednesday the world soccer governing body is willing to enhance soccer progress in China, highlighting the country's immense potential to become a powerhouse in the sport. 

At a 2025 FIFA Club World Cup promotional event held in Shanghai, Infantino underscored that he looks forward to seeing a greater presence of Chinese soccer in global competitions.

"We are not satisfied with the way football has developed in the last couple of years [in China]. We need to change that," he told the Global Times. "We need to bring China back where China belongs on the top of the world."

He expressed aspirations for China to host the FIFA World Cups at both the club and national team levels in the future, seeing it as a pivotal opportunity to showcase the country's enthusiasm for the sport. 

"I believe China could be a great host for any FIFA World Cup," the 54-year-old added, noting the potential for high-profile soccer events to inspire and cultivate local talent.

Addressing concerns about the current state of Chinese soccer, which has been underachieving for decades, Infantino acknowledged the challenges, but emphasized that hard work and determination are the key to overcoming them. 

"There is no shortcut; the only formula that works is hard work," he told the Global Times. 

He encouraged collaboration between FIFA and the Chinese soccer authority to establish a solid structure and organization to "restore" China's position in world soccer.

Ongoing projects include the soccer for schools program and a talent development scheme aimed at nurturing young players in China. 

"We will support these initiatives, and I am looking forward to discussing further projects with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) leadership," said the Swiss man, who assumed office of FIFA president in February 2016.

Infantino is expected to meet CFA President Song Kai on Thursday to discuss further cooperation between the two bodies. 

He reiterated FIFA's readiness to support Chinese soccer at all levels, from grassroots initiatives to elite competitions. 

"Football is about working together. With collaboration, dedication, and investment, Chinese football can shine on the world stage," he said. 

At Wednesday's event, he also highlighted the potential impact of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which includes 32 teams from various countries and regions, offering a platform for clubs to demonstrate their capabilities.

"We need to create opportunities for clubs from all over the world to showcase their brands and players, helping them grow and improve," he said.