Global Pulse

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  • S.H. Kim faces return to South Korea even if he qualifies for the Masters

    S.H. Kim faces return to South Korea even if he qualifies for the Masters

    PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – While the Valero Texas Open typically represents the final gateway to the Masters for PGA Tour professionals, for South Korean golfer S.H. Kim, the tournament marks an entirely different threshold – the expiration of his travel visa and impending mandatory military service in his home country.

    Kim, who earned his PGA Tour card for the second time by finishing eighth on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, faces a career-defining moment at the Texas Open from April 2-5. Despite receiving a 90-day travel extension at the start of the year, the 27-year-old golfer must return to South Korea immediately following the tournament regardless of his performance, interrupting his professional golf career during what many consider an athlete’s prime competitive years.

    “I’m playing until Valero,” Kim stated through a translator. “Anything after that is a lot of factors going into play. I might come back again this year. First I have to go back to Korea.”

    The PGA Tour is actively developing a strategic plan to support Kim’s unique situation. Tour officials are finalizing arrangements that would grant Kim a medical extension while allowing him to compete on the Korea PGA circuit during weeks he would be ineligible for PGA Tour events (majors and signature tournaments). This approach aims to maintain his competitive edge ahead of September’s Asian Games, where a gold medal victory – either individually or as part of a team – would exempt him from military service requirements.

    Kim’s predicament reflects a challenging pattern for South Korean golfers. Previous professionals like Sangmoon Bae and Seung-yul Noh experienced significant career declines following their mandatory military service, with Noh’s return coinciding with the disruptive COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Asian Games have emerged as a critical opportunity for South Korean athletes, with professionals participating for the first time in 2023 (delayed one year due to pandemic restrictions). That year, Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim teamed with two amateurs to secure team gold by a staggering 25-shot margin.

    Currently, Tom Kim and S.H. Kim rank as the leading South Korean players in the world ranking still facing conscription. While team selection remains undetermined, S.H. Kim expressed hope for inclusion, recognizing that only a gold medal achievement could facilitate his return to the PGA Tour this fall.

    The military service exemption stakes extend beyond the Asian Games, with Olympic medals also providing exemption eligibility. This heightened significance explains why Tom Kim expressed such disappointment after falling four shots short of bronze medal contention at the 2024 Paris Games.

    As Kim prepares for his final PGA Tour start before returning to South Korea, his situation highlights the complex intersection of international sports, national service requirements, and athletic career trajectories that extend far beyond typical tournament competition.

  • Israel says killed Iran’s security chief Larijani

    Israel says killed Iran’s security chief Larijani

    In a dramatic escalation of Middle East hostilities, Israel has declared the successful targeting and elimination of Ali Larijani, Iran’s powerful National Security Chief and a pivotal figure within the Islamic Republic’s power structure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address on Tuesday, characterized Larijani as the leader of “the gang of gangsters” operating Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

    The reported assassination, which Tehran has yet to independently confirm, represents a potentially catastrophic blow to Iran’s leadership apparatus. This event occurs against the backdrop of a regional war ignited by the U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026—a conflict now radiating severe global economic and geopolitical repercussions.

    Larijani, 68, was widely regarded as a cornerstone of Iran’s strategic operations, overseeing nuclear policy and international diplomacy for decades. His death follows the brutal suppression of a widespread popular uprising against the regime, during which human rights groups documented thousands of civilian casualties.

    Concurrently, Israel announced the elimination of Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary force, and targeted Akram al-Ajouri, leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, underscoring its intensified ‘decapitation’ strategy against enemy leadership.

    The regional violence has triggered massive displacement and infrastructure collapse. Lebanon reports over 886 fatalities and one million displaced persons since March 2, with IDF ground operations now extending into northern territories. Humanitarian crises are deepening, with overwhelmed aid organizations in cities like Sidon unable to accommodate fleeing civilians.

    Global energy markets have been thrown into turmoil as Iran retaliates against U.S. interests and regional energy infrastructure. The strategic Strait of Hormuz—a conduit for 20% of global oil shipments—has become functionally impassable due to Iranian threats and attacks on commercial tankers, causing oil prices to surge approximately 3% following geopolitical uncertainties.

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s appeals for NATO and allied nations to secure the vital waterway have met with resistance. Key European leaders, including British PM Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have explicitly rejected military involvement, emphasizing the conflict falls outside NATO’s purview and advocating for diplomatic solutions instead.

  • Kerr winner sends Australia into Asian Cup final

    Kerr winner sends Australia into Asian Cup final

    In a thrilling semi-final clash at the Asian Cup, Australian captain Sam Kerr delivered a spectacular match-winning performance against China, securing a 2-1 victory for the Matildas. The Chelsea superstar, who remains the sole veteran from Australia’s 2010 championship squad, netted the decisive goal from an acute angle before an electrified crowd of 35,170 spectators.

    The match commenced with Australia demonstrating offensive dominance, culminating in Caitlin Foord’s powerful opening strike. Arsenal’s forward capitalized on a sophisticated build-up play involving Manchester City’s Mary Fowler and Chelsea’s Ellie Carpenter, who showcased exceptional speed and precision along the left flank. China managed to equalize through Zhang Linyan’s successfully converted penalty, setting the stage for Kerr’s dramatic second-half heroics.

    Matildas head coach Joe Montemurro acknowledged tactical deficiencies despite the favorable outcome, stating, ‘The second half showed improvement, but our first-half performance proved disappointing. After scoring an excellent goal, we unexpectedly retreated when we should have maintained offensive pressure.’

    The victory carries additional significance as Australia recently secured qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil following their quarter-final triumph over North Korea. The tournament has necessitated temporary departures from the Women’s Super League, with 13 Australian players among the 26-member squad currently competing in England’s domestic league.

    This mass participation creates scheduling complications for upcoming Champions League fixtures, particularly the Arsenal-Chelsea quarter-final scheduled for March 24th, merely three days after the Asian Cup final. Both clubs potentially face absences of key players due to travel logistics and possible championship celebrations.

    Australia now advances to Saturday’s final in Sydney, where they will confront either tournament favorites Japan or South Korea as they pursue their second Asian Cup title.

  • Len Deighton, spy novelist who created the anti-Bond

    Len Deighton, spy novelist who created the anti-Bond

    The literary community is mourning the loss of acclaimed British author Len Deighton, who passed away peacefully at age 97. His literary agent confirmed the Sunday death of the writer widely regarded as “one of the greatest spy and thriller writers of the twentieth century.”

    Deighton transformed the espionage genre by introducing working-class, sardonic agents that stood in stark contrast to the polished sophistication of Ian Fleming’s James Bond. His most iconic creation emerged in the 1962 debut novel “The IPCRESS File,” featuring an unnamed, thick-bespectacled intelligence operative who would later be christened Harry Palmer for the acclaimed 1965 film adaptation starring Michael Caine.

    The author’s gritty realism provided what critics described as an “antidote” to the debonair world of conventional spy fiction. Unlike both Bond and John Le Carre’s gentleman spy George Smiley, Deighton’s characters operated with rough edges and cynical pragmatism that reflected a more authentic portrayal of intelligence work.

    Deighton’s literary impact extended across a remarkable half-century career that saw his works translated into 20 languages and selling millions of copies worldwide. His 1980s Berlin Trilogy—”Berlin Game,” “Mexico Set,” and “London Match”—introduced another complex working-class protagonist in Bernard Samson and was widely considered his masterpiece, presciently predicting the fall of the Berlin Wall before the century’s end.

    Beyond spy fiction, Deighton demonstrated remarkable versatility as a writer. He produced respected works on World War II military technology, authored five innovative cookery books including the illustrated “Len Deighton’s Action Cook Book” (1965), and worked as a travel writer for Playboy magazine during the 1960s.

    Born in London on February 18, 1929, to working-class parents, Deighton’s eclectic career path included military service in the Royal Air Force, work as an illustrator and graphic designer (he designed the UK first edition jacket of Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road”), and even a stint as an assistant pastry chef before achieving literary fame.

    Deighton lived much of his life out of the limelight, rarely giving interviews. He is survived by his wife Ysabele de Ranitz, whom he married in 1980, and their two sons.

  • Aspiring female Zambian politicians asked for sexual favours, official says

    Aspiring female Zambian politicians asked for sexual favours, official says

    A senior Zambian gender official has exposed disturbing allegations that female political aspirants are being pressured to provide sexual favors in exchange for party nominations ahead of the August general elections. Mainga Kabika, who heads the gender office within Zambia’s presidency, publicly urged aspiring female candidates to document all instances of such misconduct during a conference with state prosecutors on Monday.

    While Kabika refrained from identifying specific political parties involved, she confirmed receiving numerous messages from women reporting these exploitative practices. “I can verify that I am presently receiving extensive documentation regarding these demands for sexual favors in exchange for candidate adoption,” Kabika stated, emphasizing the unacceptable nature of these transactions.

    This revelation highlights Zambia’s profound gender imbalance in political representation, where women constitute merely 15% of parliamentary seats. Presidential office statements have previously acknowledged that this underrepresentation stems from “deep-rooted cultural and structural barriers.”

    Beauty Katebe, Chairperson of the Non-Governmental Gender Organisations Coordinating Council, characterized these practices as “sextortion” and noted their chilling effect on women’s political participation. “This situation severely discourages women from engaging in politics, particularly as candidates,” Katebe told the BBC.

    Despite some high-profile appointments including Vice-President Mutale Nalumango, gender disparities remain stark across Zambian leadership. Only 28% of civil service directors and five out of 36 state-owned enterprise CEOs are women.

    Katebe advocated for legal reforms and specialized courts to expedite handling of harassment cases, noting cultural biases and victim embarrassment complicate reporting. “If perpetrators were exposed, these practices would certainly cease,” she asserted, blaming patriarchal tendencies within political structures for suppressing female participation.

    The August 13 elections will determine Zambia’s presidency, parliamentary representatives, and local government officials amid these ongoing challenges to gender equity in politics.

  • Former senior Chinese legislator indicted for taking bribes

    Former senior Chinese legislator indicted for taking bribes

    In a significant development in China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, Jiang Chaoliang, a former high-ranking member of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, has been formally indicted on bribery charges. The Supreme People’s Procuratorate announced on Tuesday that Jiang will face trial in Nanjing Intermediate People’s Court following a comprehensive investigation into his activities.

    The indictment alleges that Jiang exploited multiple positions of authority, particularly within China’s financial sector, to provide unlawful advantages to others in exchange for substantial monetary benefits and valuable gifts. The case represents one of the most prominent corruption proceedings against a senior legislative official in recent years.

    This legal action follows Jiang’s October 2025 expulsion from the Communist Party of China and dismissal from all public offices after investigators uncovered evidence of serious disciplinary and legal violations. The Nanjing municipal procuratorate, acting under directives from China’s highest prosecutorial authority, has completed its review and formally submitted the case to the judicial system.

    The prosecution underscores China’s continued commitment to its extensive anti-graft initiative, which has targeted officials at all government levels. Jiang’s case demonstrates the particular focus on financial sector corruption and the determination to pursue cases regardless of an official’s former status or political standing.

    Legal experts anticipate that the trial will proceed under standard judicial protocols, with the court expected to examine extensive evidence regarding the alleged bribery activities. The case marks another milestone in China’s systematic approach to addressing corruption within its political and financial systems.

  • US west coast prepares for ‘dangerous’ heatwave in early spring

    US west coast prepares for ‘dangerous’ heatwave in early spring

    An unprecedented early-season heatwave is intensifying across the southwestern United States, bringing summer-like temperatures to the region in mid-March. Meteorological experts indicate this event could shatter longstanding temperature records while posing significant public health and environmental challenges.

    The National Weather Service reports Phoenix, Arizona may experience temperatures exceeding 100°F (38°C) as early as Wednesday, marking the earliest arrival of such extreme heat in nearly four decades. The phenomenon stems from a massive high-pressure system—commonly termed a heat dome—that has settled over the area, trapping hot air and elevating temperatures 20-30°F above seasonal averages across California, Nevada, and Arizona.

    Forecasters anticipate the oppressive conditions will persist for several days with minimal nighttime relief, potentially affecting millions of residents. Coastal regions typically spared from extreme heat may see thermometers climb above 90°F, while inland and desert areas could approach 110°F, testing historical March records.

    Authorities have issued heat advisories throughout California, including the typically temperate Bay Area and central coast. The Las Vegas NWS office emphasized particular danger for tourists and those unaccustomed to heat, stating: “Extreme early-season heat coupled with high tourism rates will make this heat very dangerous.”

    The extended heat event threatens California’s already diminished snowpack, accelerating melt rates in the Sierra Nevada mountains. This premature snowmelt jeopardizes water resources, as snowpack typically provides approximately one-third of the state’s water supply through gradual spring and summer runoff. Rapid melting increases drought vulnerability and creates conditions conducive to an extended wildfire season by drying landscapes earlier than normal.

    While current wind conditions limit immediate wildfire threats across most southwestern regions, eastern areas near the Rockies and High Plains face elevated fire risks due to combined dry vegetation and persistent breezes.

    This anomalous warmth follows recent extreme weather patterns across the nation, including Midwestern blizzards and Eastern seaboard thunderstorms. Climate models suggest above-average temperatures will expand across most United States territories by week’s end.

  • Latest Beauty of Tianjin video showcases city’s urban spaces, aesthetic

    Latest Beauty of Tianjin video showcases city’s urban spaces, aesthetic

    A compelling new visual production from China Daily’s Tianjin Bureau has unveiled the multifaceted urban landscape of Tianjin, demonstrating how the municipality seamlessly blends historical preservation with contemporary design. The latest chapter in the ongoing ‘Beauty of Tianjin’ series presents an artistic journey through the city’s diverse public spaces, from centuries-old cultural landmarks and traditional streets to innovative creative districts and soaring modern skyscrapers.

    Through meticulously captured cityscape panoramas and detailed architectural examinations, the video documentation reveals Tianjin’s distinctive urban character. The production highlights how carefully designed public spaces—including revitalized parks, pedestrian-friendly thoroughfares, and culturally significant sites—contribute to the city’s unique aesthetic identity.

    The visual narrative creates a portrait of a dynamically evolving metropolis where historical preservation and modern innovation coexist in architectural harmony. This presentation offers viewers both local and international an immersive experience of Tianjin’s urban transformation, showcasing how the city has maintained its cultural heritage while embracing contemporary design principles that enhance quality of urban life.

    The production represents part of China Daily’s ongoing effort to document and showcase China’s urban development stories through multimedia storytelling, with contributions from journalist Ma Yucong complementing the visual presentation.

  • Scottish lawmakers to vote on whether to let terminally ill people end their lives

    Scottish lawmakers to vote on whether to let terminally ill people end their lives

    The Scottish Parliament is preparing for a landmark vote on Tuesday that could establish Scotland as the first UK nation to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults. This decisive moment follows extensive parliamentary debate on the Assisted Dying Bill, which permits lawmakers to vote according to personal conscience rather than party allegiance, creating significant uncertainty about the outcome.

    Under the proposed legislation, Scottish residents with a life expectancy of six months or less could request medical assistance to end their lives. The bill mandates stringent safeguards requiring two independent physicians to confirm both the terminal diagnosis and the patient’s mental capacity to make such a decision.

    Liberal Democrat legislator Liam McArthur, the bill’s architect, passionately urged colleagues to support the measure. “When we acknowledge that dying individuals should not endure unnecessary suffering,” McArthur stated, “and recognize how our current system fails to provide adequate compassion and safety, supporting this legislation becomes imperative.”

    Opposition voices, including Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes of the Scottish National Party, highlight concerns from medical professionals. Organizations including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal Pharmaceutical Society argue the legislation creates potential risks for vulnerable populations. “Healthcare experts who would implement this system are advising against it,” Forbes emphasized, “citing serious safety reservations.”

    Meanwhile, parallel legislation in England and Wales remains stalled in Parliament due to extensive amendments in the House of Lords. While supporters view these as obstruction tactics, opponents maintain they ensure necessary scrutiny. The English bill faces expiration if not passed before the current parliamentary session concludes in May.

    Internationally, several jurisdictions including Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and multiple US states have established various assisted dying frameworks. The British Crown Dependencies of Jersey and Isle of Man have approved similar laws awaiting royal assent, operating under their autonomous governance structures while maintaining defense ties with the UK.

  • Sam Kerr lifts Australia past China 2-1 and into the Women’s Asian Cup final

    Sam Kerr lifts Australia past China 2-1 and into the Women’s Asian Cup final

    In a thrilling semifinal clash at the Women’s Asian Cup, Australia secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against defending champions China on Tuesday in Perth. The match reached a tense deadlock in the second half before veteran Chelsea striker Sam Kerr delivered the decisive blow in the 58th minute. Kerr initiated the attacking movement from midfield before finishing with a precise left-foot strike from an acute angle, breaking the 1-1 halftime tie.

    The host nation established an early advantage when Caitlin Foord capitalized on a well-executed team effort in the 17th minute. The scoring sequence began with Mary Fowler combining with Ellie Carpenter on the right flank, culminating in Fowler’s cutback pass that Foord converted with clinical precision.

    China demonstrated resilience by equalizing in the 26th minute through Zhang Linyan’s penalty conversion. Zhang earned the spot-kick after capitalizing on a defensive error and drawing a foul from Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold inside the penalty area.

    Australia now advances to the championship match against the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Japan and South Korea, seeking their first continental title since 2010. All four semifinalists have automatically qualified for the expanded 2027 Women’s World Cup, while quarterfinalists will compete in playoffs for two additional guaranteed spots.

    In related developments, Iranian players Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, who remained in Australia under protection visas following their team’s group-stage elimination, have joined training sessions with Brisbane Roar’s professional club. Social media images showed the athletes integrated with the women’s elite squad, marking their first public appearance since receiving asylum status.