Global Pulse

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  • Germany summons Russian ambassador over alleged sabotage, cyberattacks and election interference

    Germany summons Russian ambassador over alleged sabotage, cyberattacks and election interference

    Germany has formally summoned Russia’s ambassador in Berlin following concrete evidence of state-sponsored hybrid warfare operations targeting German infrastructure and democratic processes. The German Foreign Ministry presented detailed allegations of cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and election interference orchestrated by Moscow.

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Martin Giese identified GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, as the primary actor behind these coordinated attacks. The agency has been directly linked to a sophisticated 2024 cyber intrusion against German air traffic control systems, allegedly executed through the hacker collective APT28, also known as Fancy Bear.

    Investigative findings reveal that GRU operatives attempted to manipulate Germany’s recent federal election through ‘Storm 1516,’ a comprehensive influence operation deploying artificially generated content, deepfake imagery, and fabricated witness statements across multiple platforms. This campaign represents the latest in a series of Russian efforts to undermine European democratic institutions, building upon previous interference operations including those targeting the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

    The German government has announced it will implement countermeasures against Russian hybrid warfare tactics. These developments coincide with the European Union’s decision to indefinitely freeze Russian state assets within its jurisdiction, ensuring these resources can be directed toward supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts against Russian aggression.

    Giese emphasized that these attacks aim to fracture social cohesion, erode public trust, and weaken confidence in democratic governance. Germany remains committed to strengthening its cybersecurity infrastructure while continuing military and financial support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.

  • Ghanaian influencer charged with scamming elderly Americans

    Ghanaian influencer charged with scamming elderly Americans

    Ghanaian social media personality Frederick Kumi, widely known by his online alias Abu Trica, has been taken into custody following allegations of masterminding an elaborate romance scam that defrauded elderly American victims of more than $8 million. The sophisticated operation utilized artificial intelligence to fabricate convincing digital personas that targeted vulnerable seniors through social platforms and dating websites.

    United States prosecutors detailed how Kumi and his associates built emotional connections with victims through sustained intimate communication across various digital channels before fabricating emergency scenarios to solicit funds. These fabricated crises included fabricated medical emergencies, travel expenses, and fraudulent investment opportunities. The illicit proceeds were then funneled through accomplices posing as third-party intermediaries.

    The 31-year-old influencer, who also operated under the name Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng, drew suspicion through his conspicuous display of luxury vehicles, substantial cash, and premium properties to his extensive Instagram following exceeding 100,000 followers. His online ostentation eventually triggered investigations into the legitimacy of his wealth sources.

    Kumi now faces serious charges in the U.S. judicial system, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. If convicted on all counts, he potentially faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. Following a coordinated international operation between Ghanaian and American authorities, his extradition to the United States is now being pursued.

    This case represents part of a broader transatlantic crackdown on financial crimes targeting elderly Americans. The prosecution is proceeding under the U.S. Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act, reflecting increased focus on protecting vulnerable demographics from organized fraud networks. Recent months have seen several similar extraditions and convictions, including a Ghanaian national known as Dada Joe Remix and Nigerian national Oluwaseun Adekoya, who received a 20-year sentence for comparable money laundering activities.

  • Group of Friends calls for stronger, more inclusive UN

    Group of Friends calls for stronger, more inclusive UN

    In a significant diplomatic development, the newly formed Group of Friends of Global Governance has issued its inaugural collective statement calling for comprehensive reforms to strengthen the United Nations. The declaration came during a UN General Assembly briefing on Thursday regarding the UN80 Initiative, a sweeping reform program launched by Secretary-General António Guterres.

    Ambassador Fu Cong, China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, delivered the joint statement on behalf of 43 member nations, emphasizing the urgent need for a more effective, agile, and inclusive international organization. The statement highlighted that the UN80 reforms must reflect the collective expectations of the majority of member states, particularly focusing on reinforcing multilateralism, safeguarding international rule of law, and enhancing global governance mechanisms.

    The coalition, which formally established itself on Tuesday with founding members including China, Cuba, Iran, Palestine, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Venezuela, argued that after eight decades of service, the UN must prioritize both operational effectiveness and efficiency. The group specifically emphasized the need for the world body to develop greater responsiveness and resilience in addressing contemporary global challenges.

    A central theme of the statement addressed the concerns of developing nations, which constitute two-thirds of the UN membership. The alliance called for substantive reforms within the development pillar, expanded capacity-building support for the 2030 Agenda, and rectification of the under-representation of developing countries in the UN secretariat. The group stressed that equitable geographical representation remains fundamental to both the UN80 Initiative and the broader Pact for the Future.

    The Group of Friends further insisted that negotiation processes must maintain transparency and inclusivity, ensuring equal participation opportunities for all member states across every workstream. The coalition expressed its commitment to collaborate with all stakeholders in steering the UN80 Initiative toward establishing a more just global governance system that serves the common interests of the international community.

  • Adult film actress Bonnie Blue to be deported from Bali

    Adult film actress Bonnie Blue to be deported from Bali

    Indonesian authorities have ordered the deportation of British adult content creator Tia Billinger, professionally known as Bonnie Blue, following a high-profile investigation into alleged pornography production in Bali. The 26-year-old Nottingham native was initially detained during a police raid on a production studio in the Pererenan area, where 34 individuals were questioned.

    Despite being cleared of violating Indonesia’s stringent anti-pornography laws—which carry penalties of up to 12 years imprisonment and $360,000 fines—Billinger faced deportation for immigration violations related to working on a tourist visa. She was convicted of a minor traffic offense and fined Rp 200,000 (approximately $12).

    The case highlighted Indonesia’s strict stance against pornographic material, particularly notable in predominantly Hindu Bali, which exists within the Muslim-majority nation. Immigration officials are considering blacklisting Billinger, potentially barring her re-entry indefinitely.

    Police investigations revealed that participants claimed to be producing an “entertainment-themed reality show” without creating indecent material. Authorities examined branded vehicles and hotel recordings but found no evidence of pornography or illegal distribution. However, four foreign nationals, including Billinger, were identified as having “dominant roles” and suspected of misusing stay permits for commercial content production.

    Badung Police Chief M Arif Batubara emphasized that all procedures were based on legal facts, with coordination between police, prosecutors, and immigration authorities to determine appropriate legal measures. Billinger’s controversial content history includes tours seeking “barely legal” participants and previous plans for ‘schoolies’ porn production that resulted in Australian visa cancellation.

  • Beijing reports childcare, elderly support progress during 14th Five-Year Plan period

    Beijing reports childcare, elderly support progress during 14th Five-Year Plan period

    Beijing municipal authorities have announced substantial advancements in social welfare infrastructure, marking significant progress in both elderly care and early childhood support systems during China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

    At a Thursday press briefing, officials revealed the establishment of 152 community-based service centers specifically designed to assist senior citizens. These facilities provide comprehensive support including meal delivery services, daily living assistance, and specialized help with hospital visits. According to Yang Zhiwei, Vice-Director of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau, these services currently benefit approximately 2.07 million elderly residents, with 293,000 recipients being octogenarians or older.

    Concurrently, the city has made remarkable strides in early childhood education accessibility. Wei Xubin, Vice-Director of the Beijing Education Commission, reported that kindergarten enrollment capacity for children under three years old has expanded to accommodate 33,000 infants and toddlers. Notably, 26,000 of these young learners qualify for placement in public kindergartens with preferential tuition arrangements, substantially reducing financial barriers for families.

    The coordinated development of these parallel support systems demonstrates Beijing’s commitment to addressing demographic challenges through targeted social policy implementation. These initiatives represent critical components of the city’s broader strategy to enhance quality of life across generations while adapting to evolving population needs.

  • Video offers new evidence of Japan’s germ-warfare crimes in China

    Video offers new evidence of Japan’s germ-warfare crimes in China

    A chilling 38-minute video testimony from a former member of Japan’s notorious Unit 731 has been made public by the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, China. The footage, recorded in 1997 by Japanese scholar Fuyuko Nishisato and donated to the exhibition hall in 2019, features Tsuruo Nishijima, who served in the unit’s meteorological squad beginning in October 1938.

    The testimony provides unprecedented insight into the systematic nature of Japan’s biological warfare program during World War II. Contrary to conventional meteorological operations, Nishijima’s squad played an active role in human experimentation by measuring wind direction and speed to optimize the dispersal of bacterial agents during field tests.

    Nishijima confirmed the meteorological squad’s mandatory presence at all field experiments, including particularly disturbing ‘rainfall experiments’ where aircraft released bacterial cultures at extremely low altitudes. At testing sites in Anda city, Heilongjiang Province, aircraft descended to approximately 50 meters above ground level to spray biological agents on human subjects—referred to as ‘maruta’ or logs—who were tethered to wooden stakes. Each experiment involved approximately 30 victims spaced five meters apart.

    The testimony further reveals that after exposure, victims were transported in sealed trucks back to Unit 731 facilities where their symptoms and disease progression were meticulously documented over several days. Nishijima also described a fatal incident where a Japanese military doctor died after removing protective gear and becoming infected during an experiment, demonstrating the extreme virulence of the deployed biological agents.

    Additionally, the footage details the meteorological squad’s involvement in frostbite experiments conducted in temperatures ranging from -20°C to -35°C. Human subjects were forced to expose their bodies for five to ten minutes while researchers observed physiological responses, ostensibly to study warfare needs in frigid environments.

    Researchers at the exhibition hall emphasize that this perpetrator perspective testimony reconstructs the complete criminal chain of Unit 731 and provides irrefutable evidence that Japan’s biological warfare program represented a systematic, inhumane operation that constitutes an undeniable historical truth. Unit 731, established in Harbin as Japan’s primary biological and chemical warfare research base, conducted experiments that claimed at least 3,000 direct victims and resulted in over 300,000 deaths throughout China from deployed biological weapons.

  • Lululemon boss to step down early next year

    Lululemon boss to step down early next year

    Lululemon Athletica, the premium athletic apparel retailer renowned for its high-end yoga wear, announced the departure of Chief Executive Officer Calvin McDonald effective January 2025. McDonald’s exit concludes his seven-year leadership tenure during which the brand experienced both remarkable growth and recent market challenges.

    The executive transition follows a period of significant volatility in Lululemon’s primary North American market, where sales performance has deteriorated substantially. The company’s stock valuation has plummeted approximately 50% over the past twelve months, reflecting investor concerns about increased competition and changing consumer preferences.

    Despite these headwinds, Lululemon recently revised its annual revenue projections upward based on stronger-than-anticipated performance in recent months. This improvement has been largely driven by exceptional results in international markets, particularly China, where consumer demand remains robust.

    McDonald characterized his departure as mutually agreed upon with the board of directors, coinciding with the completion of the company’s five-year strategic plan. In a statement published on LinkedIn, he emphasized the strength of Lululemon’s leadership team and the appropriateness of this timing for organizational change.

    The company faces significant operational challenges, including newly imposed import tariffs that are projected to cost approximately $240 million annually. These tariffs particularly impact Lululemon’s supply chain, which relies heavily on manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries.

    Consumer behavior shifts present additional challenges, with shoppers increasingly seeking value alternatives amid economic pressures. This trend has benefited lower-priced competitors including Vuori and Alo Yoga, intensifying market competition.

    Industry analysts note that Lululemon must reestablish its product differentiation and brand prestige. The company faced product quality issues in recent years, including the withdrawal of its Breezethrough leggings line following customer complaints about comfort and design flaws.

    During McDonald’s tenure, Lululemon achieved substantial revenue growth and global brand expansion. Board Chair Marti Morfitt acknowledged his contributions in building “one of the strongest brands in retail” through innovative products and customer experiences.

    The company has appointed Finance Chief Meghan Frank and Commercial Officer André Maestrini as interim co-CEOs while conducting a comprehensive search for permanent leadership.

  • China launches new internet satellite group

    China launches new internet satellite group

    China has successfully deployed another cluster of internet satellites into low Earth orbit, marking a significant advancement in its space-based communications infrastructure. The launch occurred at precisely 7:00 AM local time on Friday, December 12, 2025, from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province.

    The Long March 12 carrier rocket executed a flawless ascent, transporting what has been identified as the 16th grouping of low-orbit internet satellites destined to enhance global connectivity capabilities. Mission controllers confirmed that all payloads successfully reached their designated orbital parameters following the morning launch operation.

    This deployment represents the continuing expansion of China’s sophisticated satellite network architecture, designed to provide comprehensive internet coverage across remote and underserved regions worldwide. The strategic placement of these assets in low Earth orbit enables reduced latency and enhanced bandwidth capacity compared to traditional geostationary systems.

    Space technology analysts note that this launch demonstrates China’s growing proficiency in rapid satellite deployment and orbital network management. The successful mission reinforces the country’s position as a leading force in space-based telecommunications infrastructure development, with potential implications for global digital inclusion initiatives and competitive dynamics in the satellite internet market.

    The Hainan commercial launch facility continues to establish itself as a pivotal hub for China’s space ambitions, having supported numerous successful missions throughout 2025. This latest achievement underscores the technical precision and operational reliability of China’s space launch capabilities.

  • China’s grain output tops 714 million tons in 2025

    China’s grain output tops 714 million tons in 2025

    China has set a new agricultural milestone with its grain production reaching an unprecedented 714.88 million metric tons in 2025, according to official data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on December 12. This achievement marks another consecutive year of bumper harvest for the world’s most populous nation, demonstrating remarkable resilience in agricultural productivity.

    The record output represents a 1.2 percent increase compared to 2024 figures, continuing a positive growth trajectory in China’s agricultural sector. This sustained expansion stems from dual factors: increased planting area and improved yield efficiency. Statistical analysis reveals that grain planting areas expanded for the sixth consecutive year, surpassing 119 million hectares, while output per unit area simultaneously grew by 1.1 percent year-on-year.

    NBS official Wei Fenghua highlighted the strategic measures underpinning this agricultural success. “The stable growth in acreage results from China’s comprehensive approach to arable land protection and quality enhancement,” Wei stated. The multifaceted strategy includes optimized planting structures, reclamation of abandoned farmland, and systematic improvements to agricultural infrastructure.

    Beyond domestic implications, this agricultural milestone carries significant global importance. The substantial harvest strengthens China’s capacity to stabilize international grain markets and contribute to worldwide food security initiatives. Domestically, the achievement provides crucial support for China’s economic recovery momentum and facilitates the transition toward high-quality development models.

    The record harvest establishes a solid foundation for advancing agricultural and rural modernization programs while accelerating comprehensive rural revitalization efforts. This agricultural success story emerges amid global food supply chain uncertainties and climate challenges, positioning China favorably in maintaining strategic food reserves and sustainable development pathways.

  • China proposes theme, priorities for 2026 APEC ‘China Year’

    China proposes theme, priorities for 2026 APEC ‘China Year’

    China has formally presented its strategic vision for the 2026 APEC host year, introducing ‘Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together’ as the central theme during the APEC Informal Senior Officials’ Meeting (ISOM) in Shenzhen. The December 12th announcement established three core priorities—openness, innovation, and cooperation—that will guide the forum’s agenda throughout China’s leadership tenure.

    The Shenzhen symposium and ISOM gathering, held from December 11th to 12th, represents China’s inaugural event as host of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting scheduled for November 2026. The meeting also featured the official unveiling of the APEC 2026 logo, symbolizing the commencement of preparatory activities for what Chinese officials term the APEC ‘China Year.’

    As the world’s second-largest economy, China’s hosting of APEC comes at a pivotal moment for regional economic integration. The selected priorities reflect Beijing’s emphasis on creating sustainable development frameworks while addressing contemporary challenges through technological advancement and collaborative policy-making. The ‘openness’ component advocates for reduced trade barriers and enhanced market access, while ‘innovation’ focuses on digital transformation and green technologies. The ‘cooperation’ pillar emphasizes institutional coordination and multilateral problem-solving mechanisms.

    Shenzhen, the host city, represents a symbolic choice as both a technological hub and a testament to China’s economic modernization. The 2026 leadership role provides China with a platform to shape regional economic discourse amid evolving global supply chains and increasing geopolitical complexities. APEC members, representing approximately 60% of global GDP and 48% of international trade, will engage with China’s proposed framework through working groups and ministerial meetings throughout the hosting year.