Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • University hall symbol of China-Bangladesh cooperation: Ambassador Yao

    University hall symbol of China-Bangladesh cooperation: Ambassador Yao

    In a significant demonstration of bilateral cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen and University of Dhaka Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan conducted a joint inspection of the proposed China-Bangladesh Friendship Residential Hall on December 15. The diplomatic and academic leaders were accompanied by a specialized team of Chinese experts during their assessment of the upcoming facility.

    Ambassador Yao announced during a press briefing that construction is scheduled to commence within the first half of the coming year, marking a tangible advancement in the educational collaboration between the two nations. The residential complex represents a strategic investment in Bangladesh’s educational infrastructure with particular focus on supporting women’s access to higher education.

    Professor Khan expressed profound appreciation for China’s sustained support within Bangladesh’s education sector, characterizing the project as a foundational platform for enhanced cooperation in talent development, scientific research partnerships, and cross-cultural youth exchanges. He emphasized the hall’s role in perpetuating Sino-Bangladeshi friendship across generations.

    Ambassador Yao highlighted educational collaboration as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship, describing the student-centered initiative as part of a broader women-focused livelihood program. The project is envisioned as a model for future Sino-Bangladeshi educational partnerships.

    According to reports from Bangladesh’s Daily Star citing the university’s Public Relations Office, the completed facility will provide accommodation for approximately 1,500 female students, addressing critical infrastructure needs while strengthening people-to-people connections between China and Bangladesh.

  • MIT professor shot at his Massachusetts home has died

    MIT professor shot at his Massachusetts home has died

    The Massachusetts Institute of Technology community is mourning the tragic loss of Professor Nuno F Gomes Loureiro, a 47-year-old nuclear science and engineering scholar from Portugal, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds sustained during a violent attack at his Brookline residence. The incident occurred on Monday evening at approximately 8:30 PM local time, when law enforcement officers responded to emergency calls reporting gunshots at an apartment complex.

    According to official statements from Brookline police and MIT administration, Professor Loureiro was transported via ambulance to a Boston-area medical facility where he fought for his life until Tuesday morning. The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that no suspects have been apprehended and authorities are treating the case as an active homicide investigation.

    Eyewitness accounts obtained by CBS News describe hearing three distinct loud noises that initially sounded like door breaches rather than gunfire. Long-time neighborhood resident Anne Greenwald shared with reporters that the accomplished physicist maintained a low profile while raising his young family in the community and frequently utilized local educational institutions.

    Professor Loureiro’s academic journey spanned continents and prestigious institutions. His faculty profile indicates he completed his undergraduate studies in Physics at Lisbon’s Instituto Superior Técnico in 2000, followed by a doctorate in physics from Imperial College London in 2005. His untimely death represents not only a personal tragedy but a significant loss to the international scientific community, particularly in the specialized field of nuclear engineering.

    The investigation continues as law enforcement officials pursue all leads regarding this shocking act of violence that has rattled both the academic community and suburban neighborhood where it occurred.

  • Sudan general ready to talk to US President Trump for peace

    Sudan general ready to talk to US President Trump for peace

    In a significant diplomatic development, Sudan’s de facto leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has expressed willingness to collaborate with U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve the ongoing conflict devastating his nation. The Sudanese foreign ministry confirmed this position on Tuesday following General al-Burhan’s diplomatic visit to Riyadh as an official guest of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

    The Saudi leadership recently presented President Trump with a comprehensive peace proposal for Sudan during Prince Mohammed’s official visit to Washington. According to the Sudanese statement, General al-Burhan commended President Trump’s demonstrated commitment to peace initiatives and acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s participatory role in these efforts.

    “He affirmed Sudan’s keenness to work with President Trump, his secretary of state, and his envoy for peace in Sudan to achieve this unquestionably noble goal,” the ministry stated, specifically referencing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. peace envoy Massad Boulos.

    This diplomatic overture occurs despite previous stalled negotiations led by a coalition of international mediators including the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The peace process reached an impasse when General al-Burhan rejected envoy Boulos’s most recent framework proposal.

    Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group maintains its official support for international ceasefire arrangements despite continued intense combat operations, particularly in Sudan’s southern Kordofan region. No new dates have been established for either U.S.-mediated discussions or parallel United Nations-led peace efforts.

    The devastating conflict, ongoing since April 2023, pits the nationally-recognized army controlling northern and eastern territories against the RSF forces dominating western regions and substantial southern areas. The humanitarian catastrophe has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities and displaced millions, creating what United Nations agencies classify as the world’s most severe humanitarian emergency.

  • Massive sauropod discovered in Chongqing

    Massive sauropod discovered in Chongqing

    Paleontologists have identified a colossal new dinosaur species that roamed the terrain of present-day Chongqing approximately 160 million years ago during the Late Jurassic period. The monumental discovery, formally classified as Mamenchisaurus sanjiangensis, was detailed in a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports.

    The fossilized remains were originally unearthed in 2015 within Chongqing’s Hechuan district, a region situated at the convergence of the Jialing, Fujiang, and Qujiang rivers—a geographic feature that inspired the species’ nomenclature. With an estimated body length reaching 24 meters, comparable to the dimensions of a modern blue whale, this sauropod represents one of the most substantial dinosaur specimens ever recovered from the municipality.

    Research led by Dai Hui of the Chongqing Institute of Paleontology revealed that although the newly identified species shares close phylogenetic relationships with Mamenchisaurus hochuanensis, meticulous analysis of skeletal structures confirmed its distinct taxonomic status. The remarkably preserved fossil assemblage includes an extensive series of cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, alongside pelvic elements and portions of the left limb.

    This significant paleontological breakthrough emerged from the Upper Shaximiao Formation, a stratigraphic layer renowned for yielding numerous iconic Chinese dinosaur discoveries. The excavation and subsequent analysis mark a substantial advancement in Chongqing’s paleontological capabilities, providing crucial insights into sauropod diversification across East Asia during the Jurassic era. Mamenchisaurus sanjiangensis constitutes the eleventh novel dinosaur species identified in China throughout 2024, elevating Chongqing’s confirmed dinosaur species tally to fifteen.

  • Euro zone business activity ends 2025 weaker than expected, PMI shows

    Euro zone business activity ends 2025 weaker than expected, PMI shows

    The euro area’s economic expansion lost significant steam in December 2025, according to the latest HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI survey compiled by S&P Global. The benchmark index dropped to a three-month low of 51.9, markedly below November’s 2.5-year peak of 52.8 and undershooting Reuters’ consensus forecast of 52.7.

    While the reading remains above the critical 50.0 threshold separating expansion from contraction—marking the first full calendar year above this level since 2019—the deceleration signals mounting headwinds. The manufacturing sector’s deterioration intensified, with its PMI sliding to 49.2 from November’s 49.6, representing the lowest reading since April. Particularly concerning was the contraction in manufacturing output for the first time in ten months, accompanied by the fastest decline in new orders since February.

    The services sector, previously the engine of growth, demonstrated diminished momentum with its PMI retreating to 52.6 from a 2.5-year high of 53.6 in November. This performance likewise fell short of economist expectations. Despite the broad slowdown, employment continued to expand at an accelerated pace across the currency bloc.

    Cyrus de la Rubia, Chief Economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, attributed the weaker performance primarily to intensified downturn in German industry, while noting tentative signs of cautious recovery in French manufacturing. “All in all, the runway into the new year seems pretty unstable,” de la Rubia commented, adding that “a real upturn will only succeed if the manufacturing sector regains its footing.”

    Concurrently, price pressures intensified with input costs rising at the most rapid pace since March, prompting firms to increase output charges more aggressively. This development occurs alongside slightly elevated headline inflation that nonetheless remains proximate to the European Central Bank’s 2% target. Separate Reuters polling indicates expectations that the ECB will maintain current interest rates at least through 2027.

  • Only some US lawmakers to see full video of controversial boat strike, Hegseth says

    Only some US lawmakers to see full video of controversial boat strike, Hegseth says

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Tuesday that congressional committees will receive exclusive access to unedited footage of September’s contentious boat strike in the Caribbean, while maintaining the video will remain classified from public view. The announcement followed a classified Senate briefing attended by both Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the Trump administration’s ongoing military operations targeting alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking operations.

    The briefing revealed sharp partisan divisions, with Republicans largely endorsing the administration’s aggressive stance while Democrats raised substantial legal and ethical concerns. These concerns intensified following recent reports that two survivors of the initial September 2 attack were killed in a subsequent strike while clinging to their burning vessel.

    Hours before the Capitol Hill briefing, the military announced new strikes in the Pacific Ocean resulting in eight fatalities, bringing the total death toll to at least 90 since operations began. Hegseth specified that only members of the House and Senate armed services committees would view the full September footage, citing longstanding Department of Defense protocols regarding top-secret materials.

    This selective disclosure occurs amid legislative pressure through a defense spending bill that would mandate Pentagon transparency with armed services committees regarding strikes in the Southern Command region. The administration’s social media announcements of strikes typically feature grainy video clips without substantive evidence of drug trafficking or detailed vessel inventories.

    Republican lawmakers including Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) defended the operations as necessary for national security, with Graham explicitly framing them as part of a broader regime change objective against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

    Conversely, Democratic leaders including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) demanded full transparency, with Schiff preparing a formal request for congressional-wide video release. The operations have drawn diplomatic condemnation from Venezuela, with Maduro accusing the U.S. of regional destabilization and Attorney General Tarek William Saab characterizing Trump’s allegations as resource-driven envy.

    Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, who acknowledged ordering the controversial second strike, is scheduled to brief armed services committees Wednesday as legal questions persist regarding the legality of attacks in international waters.

  • Thousands protest Slovak leader Fico over whistleblower office closure and penal code changes

    Thousands protest Slovak leader Fico over whistleblower office closure and penal code changes

    BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Massive demonstrations swept across Slovakia on Tuesday as thousands of citizens mobilized against Prime Minister Robert Fico’s controversial governmental measures targeting the nation’s anti-corruption infrastructure. Protesters gathered in ten municipalities including the capital, where crowds at Freedom Square voiced their demands with resounding chants of “Resign, resign” directed at the populist leader.

    The protests erupted following parliamentary approval of legislation that would dismantle the independent Whistleblower Protection Office—a move that has drawn sharp criticism both domestically and internationally. Simultaneously, lawmakers aligned with Fico’s coalition government endorsed penal code revisions that would prohibit evidence obtained through suspect cooperation with law enforcement, effectively eliminating mechanisms for reduced sentences in exchange for criminal intelligence.

    Opposition leader Michal Šimečka of the Progressive Slovakia party addressed the rally, declaring: “Slovakia stands alone as the only nation where governmental authorities enact legislation specifically designed to facilitate criminal and mafia activities.” Protesters displayed banners with the stark message: “Fico’s government helps mafia.”

    The reforms have raised particular concerns regarding their potential benefit to Tibor Gašpar, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Fico ally, who faces impending trial for alleged establishment of a criminal organization. Demonstrators have appealed to President Peter Pellegrini, typically a government supporter, to exercise his veto power against the legislation.

    Notably, the protest marked the first participation of László Gubík, leader of the Hungarian Alliance representing Slovakia’s 450,000-strong Hungarian minority. Critics increasingly draw parallels between Fico’s policies and the democratic backsliding observed in Viktor Orbán’s Hungary, signaling growing international concern over Slovakia’s political trajectory.

  • Look: Overcast skies in Sharjah as unstable weather continues in UAE

    Look: Overcast skies in Sharjah as unstable weather continues in UAE

    Sharjah, UAE – December 16, 2025 – The United Arab Emirates continues to experience a period of meteorological instability, with Sharjah notably witnessing consistently overcast skies. The persistent cloud cover and unstable atmospheric conditions have become a defining feature of the region’s weather pattern this week.

    Meteorological analysts attribute this prolonged period of instability to a convergence of regional climatic factors, including shifting wind patterns and unusual pressure systems affecting the Arabian Peninsula. While the UAE typically experiences predominantly sunny weather, such extended periods of cloud cover during December represent a notable deviation from seasonal norms.

    Local authorities have maintained weather advisories, recommending residents and visitors stay informed about developing conditions. The National Center of Meteorology continues to monitor atmospheric developments closely, providing regular updates through official channels.

    The visual landscape of Sharjah has been transformed by the extensive cloud formations, creating dramatic skyscapes that have attracted photographic interest among residents and weather enthusiasts alike. The continued instability serves as a reminder of the dynamic and evolving nature of regional climate patterns in the Gulf region.

  • US designates Colombian cocaine gang a terrorist group

    US designates Colombian cocaine gang a terrorist group

    In a significant escalation of America’s counter-narcotics campaign, the Trump administration has simultaneously designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and classified Colombia’s notorious Gulf Clan cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. President Trump’s executive order reframing the synthetic opioid as a WMD represents an unprecedented approach to combating drug trafficking, granting federal agencies expanded authority to target production and distribution networks.

    The Treasury Department’s terrorist designation for the Clan del Golfo (Gulf Clan) marks the fourth Colombian armed group to receive this classification, joining the National Liberation Army (ELN) and two dissident factions of the former FARC rebels. This criminal empire, estimated to command thousands of members, dominates cocaine trafficking from Colombia’s northern Urabá region to markets in the United States and Europe while additionally controlling migrant smuggling routes through the treacherous Darién Gap jungle.

    This strategic move creates immediate diplomatic complications for Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who secured a landmark peace agreement with the Gulf Clan just two weeks prior. The accord, negotiated in Doha, promised steps toward disarmament in exchange for protection from extradition to the United Nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the terrorist designation by citing the group’s attacks against Colombian officials, security forces, and civilians.

    The administration’s hardened stance extends beyond designations. Over twenty lethal strikes against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific have resulted in approximately ninety fatalities, drawing condemnation from President Petro who characterized these operations as ‘murder.’ The relationship between the two administrations has grown increasingly acrimonious, with Rubio publicly labeling Petro a ‘lunatic’ while the Colombian leader denounces US interventionism.

    Trump has defended the aggressive tactics, asserting that each maritime strike ‘saves 25,000 American lives’ by preventing fentanyl from reaching US shores. This potent synthetic opioid contributed significantly to the nation’s overdose crisis, which claimed over 110,000 lives in 2023 before seeing a 25% reduction in fatalities during 2024. However, counternarcotics experts note that neither Colombia nor Venezuela produce fentanyl, questioning the geographical focus of enforcement efforts.

    The administration appears to be pursuing a dual-track strategy: continuing cocaine interdiction while expanding capabilities against fentanyl trafficking. Trump has hinted at further escalation, suggesting potential ‘strikes on land’ against ‘narco-terrorists’ in both Venezuela and Colombia, specifically mentioning alleged cocaine processing facilities within Colombian territory.

    Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized the WMD classification, emphasizing the legitimate medical applications of fentanyl in pain management and advocating for addressing root causes of drug abuse rather than militarized responses. This development signals a profound transformation in how the United States conceptualizes and prosecutes its war on drugs, with potentially far-reaching implications for international relations, security policy, and public health approaches to substance abuse crises.

  • UAE plastic ban 2026: Phase 2 targets single-use cutlery, bags, containers from January

    UAE plastic ban 2026: Phase 2 targets single-use cutlery, bags, containers from January

    The United Arab Emirates is intensifying its war on plastic pollution with the implementation of Phase Two of its comprehensive plastic ban, scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) formally announced this significant environmental policy expansion on December 16, 2025.

    This forthcoming phase substantially widens the scope of prohibited items, targeting an extensive array of single-use consumer products that contribute significantly to environmental degradation. The ban will comprehensively restrict the import, manufacturing, and commercial trade of beverage cups and their lids; all forms of cutlery including spoons, forks, knives, and chopsticks; disposable plates; drinking straws; beverage stirrers; and food containers manufactured from Styrofoam materials.

    Concurrently, the legislation imposes stringent regulations on single-use bags, applying to all constituent materials including paper, with a specific thickness threshold of 50 microns. Bags falling below this micron measurement will be prohibited from circulation within the UAE market.

    The policy framework incorporates strategically designed exemptions to balance environmental objectives with practical economic considerations. Products manufactured explicitly for export markets are permitted, provided they are clearly labeled for international distribution and remain outside domestic circulation. In a move to bolster local sustainability initiatives, items produced from recycled materials within the UAE receive exemption status, effectively supporting and stimulating the national recycling industry.

    Additional exemptions maintain practicality for essential services, including medicine bags, refuse collection bags, very thin plastic wrapping necessary for fresh food preservation (meat, vegetables, bread), and substantial shopping bags designed for clothing, electronics, and toy retailers.

    MOCCAE has issued a formal appeal to all commercial establishments, retail markets, and supply chain stakeholders to ensure full compliance with the new regulations. The ministry emphasizes the critical role of private sector cooperation in achieving the nation’s ambitious environmental protection goals and advancing sustainable development objectives.

    This second phase builds upon the foundational measures implemented on January 1, 2024, when Phase One initially prohibited the import, manufacture, and trade of all single-use plastic shopping bags, including those marketed as biodegradable. The sequential implementation demonstrates the UAE’s methodical approach to environmental policy transformation.