Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • Global leaders plant Juncao grass, symbolize China ties

    Global leaders plant Juncao grass, symbolize China ties

    In a distinctive display of international diplomacy, ten state leaders including the King of Tonga have personally participated in Juncao grass planting ceremonies at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University. The symbolic gestures represent growing friendship and cooperation between China and partner nations through agricultural technology exchange.

    Professor Lin Zhanxi, the pioneering inventor of Juncao technology, confirmed these diplomatic planting activities have become a significant tradition at the university. The ceremonies typically involve foreign dignitaries planting Juncao grass—a hybrid plant developed through Chinese innovation that serves both ecological and agricultural purposes.

    Juncao technology, which literally means “fungus grass,” represents one of China’s notable agricultural exports, particularly to developing countries. The technology enables mushroom cultivation using grass instead of traditional timber substrates, providing sustainable livelihood opportunities while addressing environmental conservation concerns.

    These planting ceremonies have evolved into diplomatic rituals that symbolize deepening bilateral relationships. The participation of monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers underscores the international recognition of China’s technological contributions to sustainable development. Each planting event is documented as both a scientific exchange and a milestone in international relations.

    The university has become an unexpected diplomatic hub where agricultural technology serves as a bridge for international cooperation. These events typically include technical demonstrations and discussions about implementing Juncao technology in the visitors’ home countries, creating practical partnerships beyond symbolic gestures.

  • China issues wanted notices of 100 telecom fraud fugitives

    China issues wanted notices of 100 telecom fraud fugitives

    In a sweeping crackdown on transnational organized crime, China’s Ministry of Public Security has launched an international manhunt for 100 high-profile fugitives allegedly orchestrating massive telecom and internet fraud operations. The unprecedented operation, announced on December 9, 2025, targets the masterminds and key operatives behind sophisticated criminal networks that have preyed upon Chinese citizens through elaborate financial scams.

    Among the most sought individuals are four family-based syndicate leaders operating from northern Myanmar: Wu Qiping, Wu Qingzheng, Fu Xiaobin, and Ou Changhua. These criminal enterprises have allegedly established sophisticated operations beyond China’s borders, leveraging foreign sanctuaries to coordinate long-term fraudulent activities targeting mainland citizens.

    According to investigative findings, these networks have orchestrated complex financial deception schemes resulting in enormous monetary losses for victims. The ministry characterized these operations as particularly malicious in nature, with evidence indicating systematic organization and recruitment of personnel specifically for fraudulent activities.

    Multiple municipal public security bureaus across China—including those in Hangzhou, Wenzhou, Quanzhou, Longyan, Pingdingshan, Shenzhen, Kunming, and Chongqing—have jointly issued reward notices for information leading to captures. The coordinated effort demonstrates the national priority being placed on combating cross-border financial crimes.

    Authorities are simultaneously pursuing a dual approach: encouraging voluntary surrender with promises of lenient treatment while mobilizing public assistance through financial incentives for information. The ministry emphasized that individuals providing credible intelligence or assistance in apprehending suspects will receive legal protection and monetary rewards, signaling a comprehensive strategy combining law enforcement action with community engagement.

  • China launches new remote sensing satellite

    China launches new remote sensing satellite

    China has successfully deployed a new Earth observation satellite into orbit, marking another significant advancement in the nation’s space capabilities. The Yaogan-47 remote sensing satellite was launched aboard a Long March-4B carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China at 11:41 a.m. Beijing Time on December 9, 2025.

    The satellite achieved its predetermined orbit following a flawless launch operation, according to official reports. This mission represents the 614th flight of China’s Long March rocket series, demonstrating the country’s growing expertise and reliability in space launch technology.

    The newly deployed satellite is designed to serve multiple civilian purposes including comprehensive land resource surveys, urban development planning, transportation infrastructure design, and agricultural production assessment. Additionally, the satellite’s advanced sensing capabilities will contribute to environmental monitoring and disaster management programs, providing valuable data for natural disaster prediction and mitigation efforts.

    China’s expanding constellation of remote sensing satellites enhances the nation’s ability to monitor Earth’s surface with increasing precision and frequency. The successful launch continues China’s pattern of regular space missions that support both scientific research and practical applications for sustainable development and resource management.

  • Congress ups pressure to release boat strike video with threat to Hegseth’s travel budget

    Congress ups pressure to release boat strike video with threat to Hegseth’s travel budget

    US legislators are leveraging budgetary authority to compel the Trump administration into releasing controversial footage of a military engagement. A provision embedded within the extensive National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would impose travel budget restrictions on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office until the Pentagon provides unedited video of a September 2nd incident involving consecutive strikes on a vessel in the Caribbean.

    The legislative maneuver emerges amid bipartisan demands for transparency regarding the so-called ‘double-tap’ strike that resulted in eleven fatalities. According to Washington Post reporting, an initial attack killed nine individuals aboard a suspected drug-trafficking vessel, with a subsequent strike eliminating two survivors clinging to the wreckage.

    President Trump has characterized the release decision as resting solely with Secretary Hegseth, despite contradicting his own previous on-camera statement that he would have ‘no problem’ with public disclosure. The administration maintains that these operations target designated terrorist organizations and fall within legal armed conflict parameters, though international law experts have raised concerns about the second strike’s compliance with protocols regarding wounded survivors.

    The proposed budgetary restriction, first reported by Politico, would cap Hegseth’s office travel funding at 75% of allocated 2026 resources until compliance is achieved. The $901 billion defense bill has garnered unusual cross-aisle support, reflecting widespread congressional unease about the operation’s legal justification and the administration’s transparency.

    Divergent reactions emerged from lawmakers who viewed the classified footage in briefings led by Navy Admiral Frank Bradley. House Intelligence Committee Democrat Jim Himes described the video as ‘deeply troubling,’ while Republican Senator Tom Cotton defended the strikes as ‘entirely lawful and needful.’

    The White House continues to assert its adherence to armed conflict laws, emphasizing that operational decisions rest with military commanders rather than political appointees. Secretary Hegseth remains noncommittal regarding potential release, stating only that the matter remains ‘under review.’

  • Crunch budget vote risks trouble for French PM

    Crunch budget vote risks trouble for French PM

    French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confronts a pivotal political challenge as the National Assembly prepares to vote on the 2026 social security budget this Tuesday. The outcome will serve as a critical indicator for the government’s ability to pass subsequent financial legislation and could potentially undermine Lecornu’s leadership authority.

    Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in September, Lecornu has dedicated his premiership to navigating complex budget legislation through France’s divided parliament. The National Assembly, fractured since Macron’s June 2024 snap elections, remains split into three nearly equal blocs—center, left, and far-right—with none holding an outright majority.

    In a strategic maneuver to secure passage, Lecornu has made significant concessions to the Socialist Party (PS), which holds approximately 70 seats. These include suspending Macron’s controversial pension reform that would raise the retirement age to 64 and renouncing the use of constitutional article 49-3 to bypass parliamentary approval. Socialist leaders Olivier Faure and Boris Vallaud have acknowledged Lecornu’s compromise efforts and are urging their deputies to support the budget.

    However, these overtures to the left have risked alienating center-right allies, with prominent figures like former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe criticizing the bill’s inadequacy in addressing France’s deteriorating public finances. The parliamentary arithmetic remains exceptionally tight, with the far-right National Rally (140 seats), far-left France Unbowed (71 seats), and smaller left-wing factions (55 seats) all expected to reject the legislation.

    France operates with two distinct budget laws: the social security budget covering healthcare and pensions, and the main budget encompassing all other government expenditures. Both have consistently run substantial deficits for years. If Tuesday’s vote fails, the government would likely implement emergency provisions to maintain operations using 2025 allocations starting January 1st.

    Despite the high stakes, political observers suggest Lecornu is unlikely to resign immediately following a potential defeat. By voluntarily relinquishing the 49-3 option, the Prime Minister has strategically positioned parliament to bear responsibility should the budget legislation collapse.

  • Sudan militia chief sentenced to 20 years for war crimes during Darfur conflict

    Sudan militia chief sentenced to 20 years for war crimes during Darfur conflict

    In a landmark ruling at The Hague, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has imposed a 20-year prison term on Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, the notorious Sudanese militia commander commonly known as Ali Kushayb. The 76-year-old former Janjaweed leader received his sentence from Presiding Judge Joanna Korner on Tuesday, marking the first ICC conviction specifically addressing atrocities committed during Sudan’s prolonged civil conflict.

    The conviction stems from Kushayb’s October guilty verdict on 27 separate counts encompassing both war crimes and crimes against humanity. These charges specifically relate to systematic attacks conducted between 2003-2004 in Darfur, where government-backed Janjaweed militias orchestrated what international observers characterized as ethnic cleansing against non-Arab populations.

    During sentencing proceedings, Judge Korner detailed how Kushayb not only issued direct orders resulting in mass atrocities but personally participated in their execution. Survivor testimonies presented during the trial described villages systematically burned, males summarily executed, and women forced into sexual slavery under Kushayb’s command. The presiding judge specifically noted his instructions to subordinates to ‘wipe out and sweep away’ non-Arab tribes and to ‘bring no one alive.’

    This sentencing occurs against the troubling backdrop of renewed violence in Darfur, where many former Janjaweed combatants have now joined the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. Current conflict between the RSF and Sudan’s national army has reignited patterns of systematic violence against civilian populations, with multiple international entities including the US and UK accusing RSF forces of continuing ethnic cleansing campaigns.

    Dr. Matthew Benson-Strohmayer, Sudan Research Director at the London School of Economics, observed that despite the symbolic importance of Kushayb’s conviction, the cyclical nature of violence in Darfur continues largely unabated. The region remains embroiled in what he characterized as ‘a war of terror’ employing similar tactics of militia mobilization and sexual violence as tools of warfare.

    While the ICC emphasized that Kushayb’s sentence serves both retributive and deterrent purposes, outstanding arrest warrants for other Sudanese officials—including ousted President Omar al-Bashir—remain unexecuted. Most victims of the initial Darfur conflict continue living in displacement camps, their plight compounded by renewed violence that echoes the very atrocities for which Kushayb has now been condemned.

  • Eastern aesthetics meets the world: Shen Wei

    Eastern aesthetics meets the world: Shen Wei

    Shen Wei, the creative mastermind behind the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, has emerged as a transformative force in contemporary arts, seamlessly merging Eastern artistic traditions with Western performance disciplines. This MacArthur Fellowship recipient and American Dance Festival lifetime achievement award winner has redefined how Eastern aesthetics are perceived on the global stage.

    As both choreographer and visual artist, Shen Wei has developed a distinctive artistic language that demonstrates how traditional Eastern beauty concepts can evolve into compelling contemporary expressions. His groundbreaking work proves that cultural specificity, when executed with artistic excellence, possesses universal resonance across geographical and cultural boundaries.

    Through his innovative productions, Shen has challenged conventional perceptions of Eastern art as static or historical, instead presenting it as dynamic, emotionally expressive, and thoroughly modern. His recognition by prestigious Western institutions signifies a meaningful shift in global arts appreciation, where Eastern artistic perspectives are not merely exhibited but celebrated as vital contributions to contemporary dialogue.

    The artist’s cross-cultural impact extends beyond performance venues, influencing how cultural exchange is conceptualized in the global arts community. By maintaining the integrity of Eastern aesthetic principles while embracing contemporary expressive forms, Shen Wei has created a new paradigm for cultural dialogue through artistic innovation.

  • US secretary of defense: No intention to change Taiwan status quo

    US secretary of defense: No intention to change Taiwan status quo

    United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has publicly reaffirmed Washington’s longstanding position regarding Taiwan during his address at the Reagan National Defense Forum on December 6. Speaking before military leaders and defense experts, Hegseth emphasized that the United States maintains no intention to alter the established status quo concerning the Taiwan question.

    The defense secretary’s comments came amid discussions about China’s ongoing military modernization efforts, which have drawn international attention. Hegseth acknowledged these developments while simultaneously stressing the consistency of American policy toward the island territory.

    This reaffirmation represents the Biden administration’s continued adherence to the One-China policy, which has formed the bedrock of Sino-American diplomatic relations since the 1970s. The policy recognizes Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China while maintaining unofficial ties with Taiwan.

    Hegseth’s statement aligns with recent diplomatic efforts to maintain stability in the Taiwan Strait, where military tensions have occasionally flared. The defense secretary’s remarks appear designed to provide clarity regarding US intentions while acknowledging regional security concerns.

    The Reagan National Defense Forum serves as a significant platform for US defense policy announcements and discussions, making Hegseth’s comments particularly noteworthy. His address highlighted the delicate balance the United States maintains in supporting Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities while avoiding actions that might escalate cross-strait tensions.

  • Does Japan’s megaquake warning mean the ‘big one’ is coming?

    Does Japan’s megaquake warning mean the ‘big one’ is coming?

    Japanese authorities have escalated warnings about a potential catastrophic earthquake following Monday’s magnitude 7.5 tremor that struck northeastern Japan. This alert marks the second such warning in under two years, reviving concerns about the anticipated ‘big one’—a seismic event projected to occur once every century.

    According to Japan’s earthquake investigation panel, there is a 60-90% probability that a megaquake could originate from the Nankai Trough within the next three decades. This seismic zone extends along Japan’s Pacific coastline and has historically generated devastating earthquakes. Officials have projected worst-case scenarios including tsunamis exceeding 20 meters (66 feet) that could inundate Tokyo and surrounding prefectures, potentially resulting in approximately 300,000 fatalities and trillions of dollars in economic devastation.

    Residents across seven prefectures—from Hokkaido in the north to Chiba in central Japan—have been instructed to maintain heightened preparedness. While no formal evacuation orders have been issued, authorities are urging citizens to verify evacuation routes, secure household furniture, and assemble emergency supplies including food, water, and portable sanitation facilities.

    Government seismologists indicate that there is approximately a 1% chance that Monday’s earthquake could trigger a subsequent magnitude 8.0 or larger event. Takashi Yokota, Japan’s director for disaster management, emphasized during a press briefing that current global seismic data suggests a possibility rather than a prediction of an imminent major tremor.

    The Nankai Trough’s seismic history provides sobering context. This subduction zone between Suruga Bay and the Hyuganada Sea has generated catastrophic earthquakes approximately every century, often occurring in pairs. The most recent events in 1944 and 1946 resulted in significant destruction, while the 1707 rupture along the trough’s entire 600-kilometer length triggered Japan’s second-largest recorded earthquake and subsequent Mount Fuji eruption.

    Seismological experts remain divided on prediction capabilities. Geologists Kyle Bradley and Judith Hubbard describe the Nankai Trough’s historical pattern as ‘convincingly scary,’ while University of Tokyo Professor Emeritus Robert Geller maintains that earthquake warnings have ‘almost nothing to do with science,’ noting that only about 5% of earthquakes are preceded by detectable foreshocks.

    Japan’s current warning system, developed after the catastrophic 2011 magnitude 9.0 earthquake that killed over 18,000 people, was first implemented in August 2024. The Japan Meteorological Agency continues to balance public awareness with caution, stating that while earthquake probability is elevated, ‘this is not an indication that a major earthquake will definitely occur.’

  • EU investigates Google over AI-generated summaries in search results

    EU investigates Google over AI-generated summaries in search results

    The European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into Google’s artificial intelligence systems, marking a significant escalation in regulatory scrutiny of AI development practices. The probe centers on whether the tech giant improperly utilized content from websites and YouTube videos to train its AI models without providing adequate compensation or opt-out mechanisms to content creators.

    The investigation will specifically examine Google’s AI Overview feature, which displays AI-generated summaries above traditional search results, and its conversational AI Mode that provides ChatGPT-style responses. Regulators expressed concern that these innovations may be diverting traffic from original content sources, potentially devastating publishers who rely on advertising revenue. The Daily Mail reported a 50% decline in click-through rates since the implementation of AI Overviews.

    Commission executive vice-president Teresa Ribera emphasized that while AI brings ‘remarkable innovation’ and benefits, its development must not compromise European values or creative ecosystems. ‘A free and democratic society depends on diverse media, open access to information, and a vibrant creative landscape,’ she stated.

    Google responded that the investigation ‘risks stifling innovation in a market that is more competitive than ever,’ adding that Europeans deserve access to cutting-edge technologies. The company pledged continued collaboration with news and creative industries during the AI transition.

    AI ethics advocates welcomed the probe. Ed Newton-Rex of Fairly Trained noted that content creators face ‘career suicide’ if they avoid publishing online, yet Google essentially requires them to permit their work to train competing AI systems. He called the investigation ‘critically timed’ for global creators.

    The outcome could have far-reaching implications for how tech companies train AI models using publicly available content, potentially establishing new precedents for compensation and consent in the digital era.