Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • Pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai convicted in high-profile national security trial

    Pro-democracy Hong Kong tycoon Jimmy Lai convicted in high-profile national security trial

    Hong Kong’s High Court has delivered a landmark verdict against pro-democracy activist and media magnate Jimmy Lai, finding the 78-year-old guilty of colluding with foreign forces under the city’s National Security Law. The ruling concludes a highly scrutinized trial that has drawn international condemnation and raised fundamental questions about judicial independence in the former British colony.

    Presiding Judge Esther Toh stated there was “no doubt” Lai harbored animosity toward the People’s Republic of China, citing his “constant invitation to the US to help bring down the government of the PRC with the excuse of helping the people of Hong Kong.” The court determined that Lai utilized his now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper as an instrument to lobby foreign governments for sanctions against both Hong Kong and China.

    Lai, who has been detained since December 2020, maintained his innocence throughout proceedings. His testimony in November included denials of all charges, asserting he had “never” employed his international connections to influence foreign policy regarding Hong Kong. When questioned about meetings with former US officials Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo, Lai characterized the interactions as informational exchanges rather than policy requests.

    Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the verdict, stating Lai’s actions “damaged the country’s interests and the welfare of Hong Kongers.” Conversely, human rights organizations condemned the outcome as “a cruel judicial farce” and part of a broader pattern of using the security legislation to suppress dissent.

    The case has ignited diplomatic tensions, with the United Kingdom condemning what it termed “politically motivated persecution” of its citizen. Lai’s son Sebastien appealed for stronger British intervention, urging that his father’s release become a precondition for improved Sino-UK relations. Chinese authorities rebuffed international criticism, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun expressing “strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the brazen defamation and smearing of the judicial system in Hong Kong.”

    Beyond the national security charges, Lai was concurrently convicted under colonial-era legislation for publishing seditious material through Apple Daily. The publication had evolved into a symbolic voice for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement prior to its forced closure.

    The trial’s proceedings faced scrutiny over procedural matters, including the denial of Lai’s preferred UK-based legal representation and restrictions on foreign lawyers working national security cases. Concerns about Lai’s health during detention—reportedly including solitary confinement and deteriorating physical condition—were raised repeatedly by his family and advocacy groups.

    As Lai awaits sentencing scheduled for early next year, his case joins hundreds of prosecutions under the National Security Law, which boasts a conviction rate approaching 100% according to recent statistics. The legislation, implemented directly by Beijing in 2020 without local legislative consultation, grants authorities expansive powers to address perceived threats to stability and order.

  • Al-Futtaim Toyota and the UAE — driving forward together for 70 years

    Al-Futtaim Toyota and the UAE — driving forward together for 70 years

    For seventy years, the evolution of the United Arab Emirates’ transportation infrastructure has been intrinsically linked with the strategic partnership between Al-Futtaim Motors and Toyota Motor Corporation. This enduring collaboration, established in 1955, represents one of the region’s most successful automotive alliances, fundamentally transforming mobility across the Emirates.

    The partnership commenced with Al-Futtaim, then an emerging trading company founded in the 1930s, selecting Toyota as the inaugural brand for its newly created automotive division. The initial vehicle offerings—the rugged BJ Jeep designed for Japan’s National Police Reserve and the dependable Toyopet Master Saloon—established Toyota’s reputation for reliability and affordability that continues to define the brand today.

    These pioneering models laid the foundation for what would become iconic vehicle lineages. The BJ Jeep evolved into the legendary Land Cruiser, celebrated for its exceptional off-road capabilities that perfectly suited the UAE’s desert terrain. Meanwhile, the Toyopet Master Saloon’s legacy continues through Toyota’s passenger sedans including the Crown, Corolla, and Camry—vehicles that have become ubiquitous across UAE roads.

    Beyond commercial success, this partnership has symbolized the deepening economic and cultural ties between the UAE and Japan. The relationship reached significant milestones including the UAE’s participation in Expo Osaka in 1970 and Japan’s prompt recognition of UAE independence in December 1971. These diplomatic foundations fostered shared values of trust, ambition, and mutual respect that continue to underpin the automotive collaboration.

    Jacques Brent, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Toyota, emphasizes that their mission extends beyond vehicle sales: “Toyota’s cars are integral to the UAE’s landscape and lifestyle. We are committed to providing safe, enjoyable motoring experiences while introducing innovative technologies, particularly in sustainable mobility.”

    The company’s forward-looking strategy now prioritizes environmental responsibility, offering eight hybrid models in a market traditionally dominated by petroleum-powered vehicles. This initiative aligns with both nations’ sustainability objectives, with the Toyota Camry Hybrid emerging as a top-performing low-emission vehicle that combines ecological benefits with economic advantages for consumers.

    Complementing their product evolution, Al-Futtaim Motors has established an extensive network of dealerships and service centers, ensuring ongoing customer support throughout the vehicle ownership experience. As both companies look toward future mobility solutions, this seven-decade partnership continues to drive progress, anticipating the next era of transportation innovation in the UAE.

  • UK chief rabbi says cousin hid for 15 ‘terrifying’ minutes in Bondi attack

    UK chief rabbi says cousin hid for 15 ‘terrifying’ minutes in Bondi attack

    In a horrific attack that has sent shockwaves through global Jewish communities, two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing fifteen people including a 10-year-old girl and an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. The assault occurred Sunday evening as approximately 1,000 attendees gathered for the public event organized by Chabad of Bondi.

    UK Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis revealed his cousin and cousin’s wife survived by hiding beneath a doughnut stand during fifteen minutes of terror as people around them were shot dead. Rabbi Mirvis, who will travel to Sydney in response to the tragedy, emphasized that the victims were targeted solely for gathering publicly as Jewish people.

    The attackers have been identified by Australian media as 50-year-old Sajid Akram, who died at the scene, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, currently hospitalized in critical condition. Verified footage shows hundreds of panicked attendees fleeing the beach as volleys of gunshots rang out.

    Rabbi Mirvis connected the violence to what he termed ‘toxic antisemitism,’ specifically criticizing the normalization of rhetoric that demonizes Jewish people and the only Jewish state. He pointed to chants like ‘globalize the intifada’ as directly inciting hatred that manifests in violent actions.

    The Community Security Trust (CST), which arranges security for UK Jewish communities, reported record levels of anti-Jewish hate crimes following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. CST’s head of policy Dave Rich noted the Bondi attack represents ‘the extreme end of this political spectrum,’ drawing connections between violent rhetoric and physical violence.

    In a show of solidarity, UK Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones traveled to Manchester to celebrate Hanukkah with survivors of September’s Heaton Park synagogue attack that left two Jewish victims dead. She emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring Jewish communities can safely observe their traditions.

    The tragedy occurred during Hanukkah, which commemorates Jewish defiance against religious persecution over 2,150 years ago. Rabbi Mirvis noted the bitter irony that the festival’s message of refusing to be intimidated or erased was met with ‘murderous hatred’ in Sydney.

  • Suspect arrested after deadly Brown shooting

    Suspect arrested after deadly Brown shooting

    Law enforcement authorities have apprehended 24-year-old Wisconsin resident Benjamin Erickson as the primary suspect in Saturday’s deadly shooting at Brown University. The arrest occurred at a hotel approximately 32 kilometers from the Ivy League campus, where Erickson was found in possession of two firearms.

    The tragic incident resulted in two confirmed fatalities and nine individuals sustaining injuries, all presumed to be students attending the university. Official identification of victims remains pending proper notification of family members.

    Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed ongoing investigative efforts, stating, “We’re actively collecting evidence and seizing relevant items while conducting necessary searches at multiple locations.” The shooting occurred around 4 pm Saturday in the Barus and Holley building, which contains engineering and physics department facilities. According to law enforcement sources, the assailant discharged over 40 rounds from a 9mm handgun within a classroom setting.

    The university administration has canceled all remaining academic activities for the semester, including final examinations and project submissions, as the community grapples with the tragedy. On Sunday evening, city officials and residents transformed a scheduled holiday celebration into a vigil honoring the victims.

    Providence Mayor Brett Smiley addressed the gathering, noting the symbolic significance of coming together during the Hanukkah season to “shine a little bit of light” in response to darkness. Federal authorities, including the FBI, provided critical assistance in locating and apprehending the suspect. FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged the collaborative effort while requesting continued prayers for affected individuals and families.

    Investigators have not yet established Erickson’s connection to the university or determined a potential motive for the attack. The case continues to develop as law enforcement pursues multiple investigative avenues.

  • ‘This felt inevitable’: Australian Jews react to Bondi attack with grief and anger

    ‘This felt inevitable’: Australian Jews react to Bondi attack with grief and anger

    The iconic Bondi Beach has been transformed into a somber crime scene following Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack. Two gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday afternoon, killing at least 15 people and injuring over 40 others in what authorities describe as an antisemitic-motivated assault.

    Under clear skies, the normally vibrant shoreline sits eerily quiet. Forensic teams in bright blue protective gear meticulously examine the area where chaos erupted just days prior. Personal belongings—beach chairs, crumpled towels, children’s sandals—lie abandoned in neat piles, silent witnesses to the panic that ensued.

    A growing memorial of floral tributes now lines the footpath as shocked locals gather in disbelief. Twenty-two-year-old Jess, who identifies as Jewish, expressed the community’s grim resignation: ‘I’ve grown up in fear my whole life. This felt inevitable.’

    The attack has sparked urgent questions about national security and rising antisemitism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned the ‘act of pure evil’ while detailing government measures to combat hate crimes, including enhanced police task forces and stricter penalties for antisemitic offenses.

    Among the victims was prominent local Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who recently welcomed his fifth child, and 10-year-old Matilda, whose ‘only crime was being Jewish,’ according to Alex Ryvchin of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry. The community continues to locate missing persons and identify the deceased, including a Holocaust survivor who narrowly escaped persecution decades ago only to perish in this tragedy.

    The attackers, identified as 50-year-old Sajid Akram and his 24-year-old son Naveed, were reportedly planning their assault at a rental property. Police are investigating potential connections and concerns about retaliatory violence.

    In response to the tragedy, Australians have demonstrated remarkable solidarity. Blood donation centers reported overwhelming demand, with queues stretching for hours after supplies dwindled dangerously low. ‘Australia has your back,’ remarked 21-year-old Alex Gilders, echoing the national sentiment.

    The incident has drawn comparisons to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which prompted sweeping gun reforms. Government officials are now considering similar measures amid calls for stronger leadership and prevention strategies.

  • Japan will be without a panda for the first time in 50 years after twins leave Tokyo zoo

    Japan will be without a panda for the first time in 50 years after twins leave Tokyo zoo

    Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens will bid farewell to its beloved twin pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei in late January, concluding Japan’s uninterrupted fifty-year tradition of hosting the iconic Chinese bears. The four-year-old siblings, born in 2021 to parents Shin Shin and Ri Ri who returned to China last year, will complete their loan period by February as required by China’s panda diplomacy agreements.

    The departure signals more than just an animal transfer—it represents a significant diplomatic cooling between Asia’s two largest economies. Prospects for new panda loans appear dim amid deteriorating bilateral relations, which intensified following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November remarks suggesting potential military involvement should China act against Taiwan.

    China has subsequently implemented retaliatory measures including tourism restrictions to Japan and cancellation of cultural exchanges. Tensions further escalated this month with Chinese military drills near southern Japan that prompted Tokyo to scramble fighter jets and protest radar-locking incidents.

    Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara acknowledged pandas’ historical role in fostering Japan-China friendship, stating: ‘Exchanges through pandas have contributed to improve the public sentiment between Japan and China, and we hope the relationship will continue.’ Numerous municipalities and zoos have expressed desire for new panda loans, though current political realities suggest otherwise.

    Since China first gifted pandas to Japan in 1972 to normalize diplomatic relations, the bears have served as both cultural ambassadors and political barometers. Beijing maintains ownership of all pandas loaned worldwide, using them as tools of soft power while asserting their status as national treasures native to southwestern China.

  • Colombia: 16 students celebrating graduation killed as bus plunges into ravine

    Colombia: 16 students celebrating graduation killed as bus plunges into ravine

    A festive graduation trip turned catastrophic in northwestern Colombia when a bus carrying students plunged into a 40-meter (131-foot) ravine on Sunday, resulting in one of the nation’s most devastating traffic accidents in recent memory. The incident claimed the lives of 16 teenagers celebrating their academic achievement alongside their driver, while 20 others sustained injuries of varying severity.

    The students, aged 16 to 18 from an educational institution in Bello near Medellín, were returning from a coastal celebration in the picturesque Caribbean towns of Tolu and Covenas when the tragedy struck. Emergency responders faced dual challenges in the recovery operation: difficult terrain and security concerns due to the presence of the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group operating in the crash area, requiring special protective measures for rescue teams.

    Governor Andrés Julián Rendon of Antioquia Department confirmed that investigation into the accident’s cause remains ongoing. Survivor accounts emerged through social media channels, with one student recalling, ‘I was asleep and suddenly I heard screams, and from that moment on I don’t remember anything.’ The emotional impact resonated at the highest levels of government, with President Gustavo Petro expressing profound grief on social media platform X: ‘I don’t like it when young people die. Even less when they’re going to study or to relax happily.’

    The tragedy highlights Colombia’s ongoing struggle with road safety, where authorities reported an average of 22 traffic-related fatalities daily throughout 2024. Complicating the situation, ELN rebels had issued a 72-hour restriction on commercial travel in regions under their control beginning Sunday for military exercises, though no direct connection to the accident has been established.

  • Casualties rise in Sydney Bondi Beach terrorist attack, no Chinese reported, gunmen identified

    Casualties rise in Sydney Bondi Beach terrorist attack, no Chinese reported, gunmen identified

    Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach became the scene of a horrific terrorist attack on Sunday, December 15, 2025, resulting in a devastating toll of 16 fatalities and 42 individuals hospitalized with injuries. The assault specifically targeted a Jewish community gathering during the first night of Hanukkah celebrations, with victims spanning generations from age 10 to 87.

    New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon identified the perpetrators as a father-son duo, aged 50 and 24 respectively. The older assailant was killed during the incident while his son remains under medical care in hospital. Authorities confirmed the deceased gunman held a valid firearms license for a decade, with all six registered weapons in his possession accounted for.

    The violent confrontation resulted in two police officers sustaining critical injuries during an exchange of gunfire with the attackers. Both officers are currently reported in stable but serious condition.

    Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vehemently condemned what he described as ‘an act of pure evil,’ vowing to dedicate all necessary resources to combat anti-Semitism. In a national gesture of mourning, flags across Australia flew at half-mast on Monday to honor the victims.

    The Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney confirmed no Chinese nationals were among the casualties and continues to monitor developments closely. This tragedy marks Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which prompted comprehensive firearms reform legislation. Prime Minister Albanese indicated potential legislative responses pending investigation outcomes.

  • US ‘strongly condemns’ deadly attack on Jewish festival in Sydney

    US ‘strongly condemns’ deadly attack on Jewish festival in Sydney

    The United States government has issued a forceful condemnation of the deadly antisemitic terrorist attack that claimed multiple lives during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the assault as a horrific act of violence targeting the Jewish community, emphasizing that “antisemitism has no place in this world” in his official statement on social media platform X.

    In a significant diplomatic engagement, Secretary Rubio conducted an emergency telephone conversation with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to address the Bondi Beach tragedy directly. The State Department, through spokesman Tommy Pigott, confirmed that both nations are standing in solidarity with the victims’ families and the broader Jewish community affected by this devastating incident.

    President Donald Trump briefly referenced the attack during White House Christmas festivities, explicitly identifying the violence as an antisemitic assault while expressing condolences to the Australian people. The coordinated American response underscores the gravity with which international authorities are treating this act of religiously-motivated terrorism.

    The attack occurred during Hanukkah observances, a traditionally joyous Jewish festival, transforming a celebration of light into a scene of tragedy. Australian authorities continue their investigation into the precise motivations and circumstances surrounding the violence that shocked the global community.

  • Shooting on Bondi Beach pierces Australia’s sense of security. Survivors remember moments of terror

    Shooting on Bondi Beach pierces Australia’s sense of security. Survivors remember moments of terror

    SYDNEY — A festive Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach transformed into a scene of terror Sunday evening when two assailants opened fire on hundreds of Jewish community members gathered for the annual ‘Channukah by the Sea’ event. The attack, which authorities have classified as an antisemitic act of terrorism, claimed at least 15 lives and shattered Australia’s longstanding sense of security regarding gun violence.

    At approximately 6:40 p.m., as families enjoyed the summer evening overlooking Australia’s most iconic beach, gunshots erupted without warning. The picturesque setting—where children had been petting zoo animals and climbing rock walls moments earlier—descended into chaos as revelers scrambled for cover from the sustained assault.

    Rebecca, a 33-year-old mother who requested anonymity for safety concerns, described throwing herself over her 5-year-old son beneath a food table. ‘Please don’t let us die,’ she recalled praying while pulling beverage buckets over their bodies for concealment. Just inches away, a man was struck in the chest by a bullet, uttering his final words to her as she attempted to comfort him.

    The attack lasted approximately seven minutes according to eyewitness footage obtained by The Associated Press, during which panicked beachgoers fled in all directions. Some swimmers and surfers rushed toward shore while others sought refuge in the Tasman Sea, including one woman who ran fully clothed into the ocean upon hearing the shots.

    The response included both heroic civilian intervention and subsequent police action. Ahmed al Ahmed, a local fruit shop owner and father identified by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, reportedly tackled one shooter and wrestled away his firearm despite being shot in the shoulder. Police eventually engaged both suspects, fatally wounding the 50-year-old alleged perpetrator while injuring his 24-year-old son, who remains hospitalized.

    Among the victims were a 10-year-old girl, a Holocaust survivor, and a respected rabbi—losses that have deeply shaken Australia’s Jewish community. The tragedy has raised urgent questions about rising antisemitism, with survivors noting increased tensions in Sydney and Melbourne over the past year. Many expressed frustration that authorities had not adequately addressed growing concerns before the attack.

    The incident represents one of Australia’s deadliest mass shootings in decades, particularly striking in a nation with strict firearm regulations that has largely avoided such violence common in other Western countries. As memorials grow at Bondi Beach, the international community watches how Australia will respond to this targeted act of hatred and its implications for religious freedom and public safety worldwide.