Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • Shooting of National Guard members prompts flurry of US immigration restrictions

    Shooting of National Guard members prompts flurry of US immigration restrictions

    In response to last week’s shooting incident involving two National Guard members in Washington D.C., allegedly perpetrated by an Afghan national, the Trump administration has unveiled a series of stringent immigration measures. These policies significantly tighten entry requirements and residency conditions for certain foreign nationals, particularly those from countries designated as ‘of concern.’

    The administration’s multi-pronged approach includes suspending all asylum decisions indefinitely, implementing comprehensive reexaminations of green card applications from high-risk nations, and halting visa processing for Afghan nationals—including those who previously assisted U.S. military operations. The measures extend to reviewing nearly 200,000 refugees admitted during the Biden administration, despite their already having undergone extensive vetting procedures.

    Joseph Edlow, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced via social media that asylum processing would pause until enhanced screening protocols could ensure maximum security vetting. Concurrently, the State Department under Secretary Marco Rubio has temporarily suspended all visa issuances for travelers using Afghan passports.

    Administration officials defend these actions as necessary safeguards against potential security threats. However, refugee advocacy groups and immigration experts have condemned the measures as effectively constituting collective punishment. Critics argue that reexamining previously approved cases represents an inefficient allocation of government resources and undermines America’s traditional role as a haven for those fleeing persecution.

    The new policies particularly impact the Special Immigrant Visa program, which previously provided refuge for Afghans facing retaliation due to their cooperation with U.S. forces. With approximately 180,000 Afghan applicants currently in the SIV pipeline, these suspensions create significant uncertainty for vulnerable populations seeking legal immigration pathways.

  • Employee sorry for leaking pop star’s rehearsal clips

    Employee sorry for leaking pop star’s rehearsal clips

    A Shanghai concert by renowned Japanese pop icon Ayumi Hamasaki has been abruptly canceled following a serious breach of privacy during closed rehearsals. The incident occurred when a videographer, identified as Lai Zonglong, illicitly recorded and disseminated footage from the private soundcheck session.

    Lai publicly apologized on Monday through his Weibo account ‘Yanhuobinhai’ after leaking the unauthorized clips on his personal Douyin account last Friday. The footage sparked widespread misinformation across social media platforms, including false claims that Hamasaki had performed an entire concert to an empty venue.

    In his formal apology, Lai admitted to violating multiple professional protocols and strict no-recording policies established by concert organizers. ‘The photos I posted and subsequent misinformation have caused significant disruption to the performance and concert organization,’ Lai stated. ‘I deeply regret my actions and sincerely apologize for violating the established protocols.’

    Concert organizers announced the cancellation one day before the scheduled performance, citing force majeure circumstances. The event was part of Hamasaki’s highly anticipated 2025 Asian tour. Attendees will receive full refunds within 30 days, according to official statements.

    Lai has pledged to adhere strictly to workplace regulations and professional ethics moving forward, vowing to ‘resolutely refrain from publishing false information’ online in the future. The incident has highlighted ongoing challenges in maintaining security and privacy for high-profile international performances in China’s entertainment industry.

  • Shanghai ready for 2025 version of E-sports Masters

    Shanghai ready for 2025 version of E-sports Masters

    Shanghai has launched the prestigious 2025 Esports Masters, transforming the Jing’an Sports Center into a global competitive arena from December 3-7. The international tournament brings together nearly 100 elite athletes from multiple nations including China, Mongolia, and South Korea, signaling Shanghai’s growing dominance in the global esports landscape.

    This year’s championship features four premier competitive titles: Honor of Kings: World (a newly added event for the 2026 Asian Games), Valorant, Overwatch, and Identity V. The diverse game selection represents both established franchises and emerging competitive scenes, offering something for every esports enthusiast.

    According to Zhu Qinqin, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Esports Association, internationalization remains a core principle of the event’s development strategy. “Since our inception, we’ve prioritized global engagement,” Zhu stated. “This edition marks a significant milestone as we host overseas teams and welcome official observers from international esports organizations.”

    The event represents Shanghai’s continued investment in esports infrastructure and global collaboration, positioning the city as a hub for competitive gaming innovation. The participation of international governing body observers indicates the event’s growing significance in the global esports calendar and potential influence on competitive standards worldwide.

    Beyond the competition, the Masters serves as a testing ground for the 2026 Asian Games, particularly for the Honor of Kings: World discipline, providing valuable insights for players and organizers preparing for the multi-sport event’s esports debut.

  • Italy to deport Egyptian imam over comments at pro-Palestine rally

    Italy to deport Egyptian imam over comments at pro-Palestine rally

    Italy’s Ministry of the Interior has initiated deportation proceedings against Mohamed Shahin, a 46-year-old Egyptian imam who has resided in the country for over two decades. The controversial decision follows remarks Shahin made during a pro-Palestine demonstration in Turin on October 9th, where he characterized Hamas’ October 7th attack on southern Israel—which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities—as a form of “resistance after years of occupation.”

    Counter-terrorism units arrested Shahin in a dawn operation on November 24th after authorities revoked his residence permit and issued an expulsion order. The former imam of Turin’s San Salvario mosque is currently detained at a repatriation facility in Caltanissetta, Sicily, awaiting adjudication of his asylum application.

    During proceedings at the Turin Court of Appeal, Shahin asserted that returning to Egypt would expose him to torture and potential execution due to his well-documented criticism of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s administration. “I maintain no affiliation with Hamas and do not advocate violence,” Shahin testified. “My consistent position has been that the Palestinian people deserve sovereign autonomy.”

    Legal representatives for the imam have issued grave warnings that repatriation would equate to a “death sentence.” These concerns appear substantiated by investigative reporting from Il Fatto Quotidiano, which revealed that Turin’s prosecutor’s office found insufficient evidence that Shahin’s comments violated penal codes or constituted criminal incitement.

    The case has sparked significant opposition across Italian society. Approximately 180 academics endorsed an open letter demanding Shahin’s release, while Turin’s interfaith leadership coalition expressed “profound shock and concern” in correspondence to Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi. They characterized Shahin as instrumental to interreligious dialogue and warned his expulsion would “undermine years of peaceful coexistence.”

    Solidarity protests have emerged nationwide, including a strike coordinated by the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) that merged labor demands with condemnation of Italy’s Gaza policy. The demonstration attracted international figures including climate activist Greta Thunberg and UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.

    Ismaele La Vardera of Sicily’s regional assembly, who visited Shahin in detention, acknowledged reservations about the imam’s statements but deemed the deportation order “absolutely disproportionate and unworthy of any democratic nation.”

  • Bolivia eases visa requirements for US and Israeli travelers

    Bolivia eases visa requirements for US and Israeli travelers

    LA PAZ, Bolivia — In a significant reversal of longstanding foreign policy, Bolivia’s new conservative government has eliminated visa requirements for travelers from the United States, Israel, and several other nations effective Monday. This strategic move marks a dramatic departure from the previous administration’s approach and represents the first conservative leadership in nearly two decades.

    Under the new regulations, citizens from the United States, Israel, South Korea, South Africa, and multiple Eastern European countries may now enter Bolivia with only a valid passport for stays of up to 90 days. The policy shift eliminates the previously mandatory visa application process and associated fees that had been in place for these nationalities.

    The decision forms part of President Rodrigo Paz’s comprehensive geopolitical and economic overhaul following his assumption of power last month. Paz’s administration succeeded the long-ruling Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) party, ending two decades of single-party governance. The visa liberalization initiative aims to forge stronger strategic alliances with the United States while stimulating economic growth through increased tourism revenue.

    This policy reversal contrasts sharply with the anti-American stance of former left-wing President Evo Morales (2006-2019), whose administration expelled the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, dismissed the American ambassador, and implemented reciprocal visa restrictions against U.S. citizens. Morales had justified these measures under the principle of reciprocity, noting that Bolivians faced substantial fees and complex procedures for U.S. visas.

    During the 2014 Israel-Hamas conflict, Morales additionally severed diplomatic relations with Israel and imposed visa requirements for Israeli travelers. His presidency saw Bolivia strengthening ties with Russia, China, and Venezuela instead.

    The current administration estimates that Bolivia has lost approximately $900 million in potential tourism revenue since visa restrictions were implemented in 2007. Officials project the new policy will generate $80 million in tourism income over the next four years, providing crucial economic stimulus as Bolivia experiences its most severe crisis in forty years, including a critical shortage of U.S. dollars that has paralyzed imports and hampered economic activity.

    Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring international confidence in Bolivia as a desirable and secure destination. Despite these efforts, the U.S. State Department maintains a Level 2 travel advisory for Bolivia, recommending visitors ‘exercise increased caution’ due to civil unrest risks, and a Level 4 ‘Do Not Travel’ warning for the coca-growing Chapare region where former President Morales currently resides while evading arrest allegations.

  • Canada joins EU defense fund as the country pivots away from the US

    Canada joins EU defense fund as the country pivots away from the US

    In a significant strategic shift, Canada has become the inaugural non-European Union nation to gain access to the EU’s substantial defense financing mechanism. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration confirmed the country’s participation in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, a €150 billion ($170 billion) loan program designed to bolster defense capabilities.

    This landmark agreement enables Canadian defense contractors to obtain EU-backed financing at favorable rates for military procurement, addressing what officials describe as critical capability shortages. The arrangement also facilitates market expansion for Canada’s defense industry while attracting European investment into Canadian military projects.

    Prime Minister Carney characterized the move as part of a broader strategy to diversify Canada’s defense procurement channels and strengthen transatlantic partnerships. His administration has explicitly committed to reducing dependence on United States military suppliers, noting that historically over 70% of Canadian defense capital expenditure has flowed to American contractors.

    The political context for this reorientation stems partly from strained relations with the previous U.S. administration. Trade conflicts and provocative statements regarding Canada’s sovereignty created domestic pressure for a more assertive stance toward American policies, contributing to Carney’s electoral success.

    Concurrently, Canada is reevaluating its fighter jet acquisition program, with the Swedish Gripen platform emerging as a potential alternative to American-made F-35s. Saab’s proposal includes significant Canadian assembly and maintenance components, aligning with the government’s domestic production priorities.

    This development occurs as Canada works toward fulfilling NATO’s defense spending benchmarks by next year, while contrasting with the United Kingdom’s unsuccessful negotiations to join the SAFE program last week over financial disagreements.

  • Drug lord El Chapo’s son pleads guilty in US drug trafficking case

    Drug lord El Chapo’s son pleads guilty in US drug trafficking case

    In a significant blow to Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficking organization, Joaquín Guzmán López, 39, has entered a guilty plea to narcotics charges in a United States federal court. The defendant—one of four sons of imprisoned kingpin Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán—acknowledged his criminal activities as part of a plea agreement reached with U.S. prosecutors.

    This judicial development follows the U.S. government’s commitment last May to exclude capital punishment from potential sentencing. Guzmán López represents the second consecutive son from the notorious ‘Los Chapitos’ faction to admit guilt this year, following his brother Ovidio’s July confession to drug trafficking, firearms, and money laundering violations.

    Federal prosecutors assert that the Guzmán siblings ascended to leadership roles within the Sinaloa Cartel following their father’s 2019 life sentence conviction and subsequent imprisonment at Colorado’s ADX Florence supermax facility. The criminal organization, co-founded by El Chapo and currently led by Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada, remains one of Mexico’s most prolific drug syndicates.

    Guzmán López’s arrest occurred last year after his private aircraft landed in Texas, where authorities apprehended him alongside cartel boss Zambada. The guilty plea emerges amid heightened political tensions regarding U.S. counter-narcotics strategies, including the Trump administration’s controversial missile strikes against suspected maritime drug traffickers and proposals to designate cartels as terrorist organizations.

    The administration justifies these aggressive measures as necessary interventions to combat the opioid crisis and prevent narcotics-related fatalities within American borders. This case underscores the ongoing international efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks through judicial cooperation and targeted law enforcement operations.

  • Dubai’s Rayhan Thomas aims to secure 2026 Korn Ferry Tour status in Savannah

    Dubai’s Rayhan Thomas aims to secure 2026 Korn Ferry Tour status in Savannah

    Dubai-born golf professional Rayhan Thomas arrives in Savannah, Georgia this week for a critical career milestone: Stage Two of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club. The 26-year-old athlete, who narrowly missed automatic qualification by finishing 88th in the 2025 season standings, brings both experience and determination to the December 2-5 competition.

    Thomas enters the qualifier with significant momentum from his impressive Stage One performance in Nebraska, where he carded four consecutive sub-70 rounds (67-69-67-66) to finish 15-under-par and secure a tied-fourth position. The Deer Creek course at Savannah holds particular significance for Thomas, having previously competed there during last year’s qualifying stage and official Korn Ferry Tour events.

    “I’m excited about what lies ahead,” Thomas told Khaleej Times. “I’ve always played well around this course, so fingers crossed I can keep that run going. I’m feeling good with my game and strong physically and mentally after a break from Stage One.”

    The Tom Fazio-designed championship layout stretches 7,049 yards as a par-72 challenge that will test 76 competitors under predicted challenging weather conditions. Thomas acknowledged the forecasted cold and windy weather but maintained his competitive perspective: “It’s the same for everyone, and as with all qualifying, I just want to play my best and hopefully get through this week.”

    Successful advancement would see Thomas progress to the Final Qualifying stage at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (December 11-14), where the ultimate prizes include PGA Tour cards for the top five finishers and full Korn Ferry Tour membership for the next 40 competitors.

    Representing Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club with sponsorship support from Hero, Wilson, Cadillac, and Dubai Basketball, the Indian-descent golfer stands at the threshold of securing his professional future through four days of intense competition.

  • Death toll nears 800 in Southeast Asia storms as scale of disaster revealed

    Death toll nears 800 in Southeast Asia storms as scale of disaster revealed

    Southeast Asia confronts a catastrophic humanitarian crisis with fatalities approaching 800 after a rare tropical cyclone unleashed devastating floods and landslides across the region. The disaster’s full magnitude became apparent on Monday as improved weather conditions permitted assessment teams to survey the widespread destruction.

    Indonesia bears the heaviest burden, reporting 604 confirmed deaths with an additional 464 individuals still missing. Neighboring Thailand has documented 176 fatalities, while Malaysia records three deaths from the extreme weather event. The tropical storm originated unusually in the Malacca Strait, generating torrential rainfall and powerful winds that persisted for seven days, severely complicating rescue operations.

    In Indonesia’s West Sumatra province, the town of Palembayan presented scenes of utter devastation under suddenly clear skies. Hundreds of volunteers joined official crews in clearing mudslides, fallen trees, and wreckage from roadways. Residents sifted through the ruins of their homes attempting to recover documents and salvageable possessions from structures reduced to rubble. The Indonesian disaster agency reports more than 28,000 homes damaged and approximately 1.5 million people affected nationwide.

    President Prabowo Subianto visited three impacted provinces, acknowledging the catastrophe while praising citizens’ resilience. “We face this disaster with resilience and solidarity. Our nation is strong right now, able to overcome this,” he declared in North Sumatra, noting that severed transportation links remained a significant challenge.

    The catastrophe extends beyond Indonesia’s borders. Malaysia maintains 11,600 evacuees in emergency shelters, with authorities preparing for potential secondary flooding. Thailand’s southern provinces experienced their worst flooding in centuries, with approximately 3 million residents affected. The trading hub of Hat Yai received 335mm of rainfall on November 21—the highest single-day accumulation in three centuries—followed by persistent downpours.

    Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has established a seven-day timeline for residents to return home, though the disaster response has faced criticism for its perceived sluggishness, potentially impacting the leader’s popularity ahead of anticipated January elections. Restoration efforts continue with 85% of water services already resumed in hardest-hit Songkhla province.

    Climate scientists note this disaster continues a pattern of increasingly severe weather events across Southeast Asia, consistent with warnings about global warming intensifying extreme meteorological phenomena.

  • Hebei cooperative’s cabbage proving a hit across China

    Hebei cooperative’s cabbage proving a hit across China

    In the agricultural heartland of Yutian county, Hebei province, a quiet revolution is unfolding within the cabbage fields that promises to reshape regional farming economics. As winter’s harvest season reaches its peak, specialized cabbage varieties from local cooperatives are commanding unprecedented market attention, with demand extending far beyond the traditional Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regional market.

    The Huayu Cabbage Cooperative reports exceptional market performance for their Lyusun 70 variety, with all 5.3 hectares completely pre-sold at prices exceeding double that of conventional cabbage. According to cooperative head Cai Lianzhu, the variety’s exceptional low-light tolerance and disease resistance have contributed significantly to its commercial success.

    This agricultural breakthrough stems from the scientific expertise of Dr. Zhang Shujiang and his research team at the Institute of Vegetables and Flowers under the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Their Lyusun 70 hybrid, characterized by its upright growth pattern, tightly wrapped shell-shaped leaves, and dual-purpose culinary applications, earned national recognition earlier this year when it was included in China’s catalog of recommended crop varieties.

    The success story extends beyond Lyusun 70 to include Hongsunbao No 1, another innovative variety enabling Yutian farmers to break traditional seasonal constraints. This dual-season cultivar has created new summer market opportunities, effectively extending the county’s growing calendar and enhancing overall market competitiveness.

    Shi Dongyu, director of the Lanyu Cooperative, reports expanding Hongsunbao No 1 cultivation to two hectares following substantial buyer interest, particularly from southern markets where the variety’s compact size and superior flavor command premium prices exceeding 4 yuan per kilogram.

    Dr. Zhang observes that these developments reflect broader consumer trends favoring smaller, higher-quality produce over traditional large-head vegetables. This shift toward premiumization has driven significant varietal upgrades throughout Yutian’s vegetable industry, boosting both yields and profitability while strengthening supply chain resilience.

    The regional impact has been substantial, with Yutian Vegetables securing recognition as one of the top 50 public brands in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in 2025, demonstrating how scientific innovation and agricultural tradition can combine to create competitive advantage in modern markets.