Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • China set to deliver 2nd homegrown cruise ship in November

    China set to deliver 2nd homegrown cruise ship in November

    China’s growing domestic cruise ship manufacturing sector has hit a new milestone, with the country’s second entirely homebuilt large cruise liner, Adora Flora City, scheduled for handover on November 6 — two months ahead of its originally projected delivery timeline. The builder and future operator of the vessel made the official announcement on April 16.

    This achievement comes on the heels of the 2023 launch of Adora Magic City, China’s first domestically constructed large cruise ship, and marks a clear leap forward in the country’s shipbuilding expertise. Compared to its predecessor, the Adora Flora City project has recorded a 20 percent improvement in overall construction efficiency, putting the vessel solidly on track to begin its scheduled sea trials in mid-May.

    The cruise ship successfully completed its undocking process on March 20, and as of the mid-April announcement, 96 percent of total construction and outfitting work has been finalized. The vessel is currently undergoing dock mooring debugging at the Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co Ltd facility, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC), the lead enterprise behind the project.

    Measuring 341 meters in total length and boasting a gross tonnage of 141,900, the Adora Flora City is larger than China’s first homegrown cruise ship, stretching 17.4 meters longer than Adora Magic City. In terms of passenger capacity, the new liner will feature 2,130 individual cabins, with space to accommodate up to 5,232 guests on board when it enters commercial operation.

    The accelerated delivery timeline for the second domestic cruise ship underscores China’s rapid mastery of the complex, high-value large cruise ship manufacturing sector, an industry long dominated by European shipbuilders. This progress signals the emergence of China as a competitive new player in the global cruise ship construction market, while also supporting the growth of China’s domestic cruise tourism industry.

  • Japan reveals new name for 40C and hotter days after blistering summer

    Japan reveals new name for 40C and hotter days after blistering summer

    Against a backdrop of worsening global climate trends and a historic heat event last year, Japan’s national weather authority has formally created a new official term to classify the country’s most extreme high-temperature days. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) announced the new designation, *kokushobi*, on Friday, following a nationwide public consultation that crowned the term the top choice among more than a dozen candidate phrases.

    Translated across regional and international outlets as “cruelly hot,” “brutally hot,” or “severely hot” day, the term draws from the Japanese character *koku*, which carries connotations of harshness and intensity – a deliberate choice to reflect the dangerous severity of temperatures climbing to 40°C (104°F) and above. *Kokushobi* beat the runner-up option “super extremely hot day” to claim the official designation, after winning the preference of participants in a two-month national online survey held between February and March. The public poll drew approximately 478,000 responses, with respondents invited to select their preferred term from 13 pre-vetted options.

    This new classification fills a gap in Japan’s existing temperature tier system, which already had established labels for days exceeding 25°C, 30°C, and 35°C. The update comes in direct response to the record-breaking heat that scorched the country during the 2025 summer season, which official data confirms was the hottest summer Japan has seen since national record-keeping began in 1898. Last year, the national average summer temperature hit 2.36°C above the long-term baseline average. Between June and August, temperatures topped 40°C on nine separate days, and the city of Isesaki set a new all-time national temperature record of 41.8°C.

    The total number of extreme high-temperature days across the country also outpaced the previous record set just one year prior, in 2024. Major urban centers saw staggering jumps in the frequency of dangerous heat: Tokyo notched 25 days with temperatures above 35°C, compared to the historical average of just 4.5 days. Meanwhile, Kyoto recorded 52 days above 35°C, far exceeding its average of 18.5 days.

    Looking ahead to the 2026 summer season, the JMA is already projecting a very high likelihood that temperatures across Japan will remain above the historical average between June and August, putting renewed pressure on public health systems and heat safety protocols as the country adapts to a warmer climate.

  • Flying Tigers foundation revisits military cooperation legacy in Shanxi

    Flying Tigers foundation revisits military cooperation legacy in Shanxi

    Eighty years after the World War II-era partnership between Chinese and American combatants and civilians, a delegation led by Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, has traveled to northern China’s Shanxi province to commemorate the enduring friendship forged by the legendary Flying Tigers and renew cross-cultural people-to-people bonds.

    During the April 2026 visit, Greene lauded Shanxi’s consistent efforts to preserve the historical record of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945) and expand people-centered international educational exchange. He emphasized that the shared history of Sino-U.S. wartime collaboration remains deeply rooted in collective Chinese memory, noting that the mutual trust and joint effort displayed by Chinese and American people 80 years ago proved that partners can overcome even the most daunting obstacles when they stand side by side.

    “This spirit of cross-border cooperation is a treasure that must be passed from one generation to the next,” Greene said. “In today’s deeply interconnected global landscape, the core values of the Flying Tigers legacy hold growing contemporary relevance. It continues to inspire both our peoples to rise above ideological and political differences, and work collaboratively toward shared goals that benefit everyone.”

    A key focus of Greene’s visit was expanding the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools initiative, a program designed to connect secondary and postsecondary institutions in China and the United States. Greene called on more Shanxi-based schools to join the network, saying that structured exchange activities — including virtual dialogues, in-person student visits, and themed academic competitions — will deepen mutual understanding and foster genuine friendship between young people from both nations, ensuring the Flying Tigers spirit is carried forward into the new era.

    Shanxi holds profound historical significance for this wartime legacy: it was one of the most critical battlefields of the Chinese resistance, served as the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, and hosted multiple key revolutionary bases during the war. During their trip, delegation members visited two local educational institutions — Taiyuan University of Technology and Shanxi Experimental Secondary School — to tour campuses, learn about the schools’ unique academic profiles and existing international exchange programs, and hold open discussions with students and faculty on topics ranging from Flying Tigers history to U.S.-China cultural differences and youth people-to-people exchange.

    Ma Xiaomin, deputy director-general of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi Province, reaffirmed the province’s commitment to advancing the Flying Tigers legacy during the visit. He noted that the Flying Tigers spirit is far more than a historical footnote: it is a tangible, living witness to the joint struggle and mutual assistance between the Chinese and American people, and a precious spiritual asset that preserves the longstanding friendship between the two nations.

    “The Foreign Affairs Office of Shanxi will fully support local schools to join the Flying Tigers Friendship Schools network,” Ma said. “We hope that by using this program as a binding link, we can build a strong bridge for exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and American young people, carry forward the great Flying Tigers spirit, and advance more practical cooperation between Shanxi and the United States in education, culture, and other key fields. In doing so, we can contribute our part to strengthening the non-governmental friendship between our two nations.”

  • Tinder and Zoom offer ‘proof of humanity’ eye-scans to combat AI

    Tinder and Zoom offer ‘proof of humanity’ eye-scans to combat AI

    As artificial intelligence grows more capable of mimicking human behavior and likeness, two major digital platforms — dating giant Tinder and enterprise video conferencing service Zoom — are turning to cutting-edge biometric authentication to root out fake bot accounts and deepfake scams.

    The new verification system relies on advanced iris-scanning technology developed by World, a biometrics startup previously known as Worldcoin and World Network. Operated by Tools for Humanity, a firm co-founded and chaired by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the project lets users confirm their human identity via a scan of their irises — the unique colored portions of the eye that are more biologically distinct than even fingerprints. Users can complete the scan either through a mobile app or a dedicated orb-shaped scanning device provided by World. Once verified, users receive a blockchain-stored unique digital credential called a World ID saved to their smartphone, which they can use to prove their humanity across participating platforms.

    World representatives emphasize that the verification process is designed to be anonymous, with no requirement for users to submit basic personal data such as full names or home addresses to receive a World ID. To date, more than 40 million people globally have registered for a World ID through the company’s platform.

    The push for stronger identity verification comes as platforms face a surge in AI-driven malicious activity over the past two years. On Tinder, which is owned by Match Group, automated bot accounts have become a pervasive problem: these fake profiles typically use AI-generated photos and scripted conversations to lure real users into romance scams that steal money or sensitive personal data. One Tinder user documented last year that an estimated 30% of all profiles she encountered were AI-powered romance scammers optimized to manipulate users emotionally.

    U.S. Federal Trade Commission data confirms the scale of this crisis: American consumers lost more than $1 billion to romance scams alone last year. To address this issue, Match Group already rolled out mandatory video selfie verification for all Tinder users in late 2024. The optional integration with World ID will serve as an additional, more robust verification layer for users who choose to opt in. “Partnering with World ID is a natural next step” for the platform, said Yoel Roth, Match Group’s head of trust and safety, noting that the tool will help users confidently confirm that the person they are interacting with is a real human being.

    For Zoom, the technology addresses a different but equally urgent threat: increasingly convincing deepfake impersonation that targets business and professional video conferences. In a high-profile 2024 case, a Hong Kong-based employee was defrauded out of $25 million after being tricked by deepfake video of the company’s CFO and multiple senior colleagues during a fraudulent video call. Industry analysis from Deloitte projects that total losses from deepfake-enabled financial fraud could hit $40 billion annually in the U.S. alone by 2027. Like on Tinder, World ID verification will be an optional tool for Zoom users to publicly prove their identity during calls, helping participants avoid falling victim to impersonation scams.

    As AI capabilities continue to advance, the partnership between these major platforms and World marks one of the first widespread deployments of iris-scanning biometrics for consumer-facing identity verification, setting a potential precedent for how digital platforms will tackle AI-driven abuse in the coming years.

  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticised for $21m private jet purchase

    Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticised for $21m private jet purchase

    A planned C$28.9 million ($21 million) acquisition of a pre-owned private jet by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s provincial government has sparked fierce public and political criticism across Canada, with opponents labeling the aircraft a symbol of elite entitlement disconnected from everyday Ontarians’ struggles.

    Breaking news of the deal first in Friday reporting, the Toronto Star confirmed the purchase of the 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650, an executive jet manufactured right here in Canada, which Ford’s office later formally acknowledged in an official media statement. In its defense of the expenditure, Ford’s administration argued the jet is a necessary investment for the premier’s official travel needs, highlighting that Ontario covers more than twice the land area of the U.S. state of Texas. The aircraft, they said, will enable more reliable, flexible, secure and private travel for the premier across the province, as well as for his frequent out-of-province and cross-border trips.

    A key stated mission for the jet, according to Ford’s office, is supporting the premier’s ongoing lobbying campaign in the United States to push for the removal of Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods. Ford has made this anti-tariff effort a centerpiece of his cross-border outreach, making regular appearances on U.S. news networks and funding anti-tariff advertising that has already drawn the ire of the former president – Trump once temporarily paused U.S.-Canada trade negotiations over an Ontario ad that featured former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Just last week, the premier traveled to Texas to meet with automotive industry leaders and Texas Governor Greg Abbott as part of this work. Prior to this purchase, Ford relied on chartered private aircraft for his official travel.

    The purchase has drawn intense pushback from across the political spectrum and advocacy groups. Marit Stiles, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party, the province’s official opposition, condemned the deal in a post on X, arguing Ford should fly commercial economy class just like ordinary Ontario residents. Appearing later on a morning breakfast television program, Stiles emphasized that many households across the province are currently struggling to cover basic living costs, including rent and grocery bills, calling the timing of the luxury purchase “terrible”.

    The Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a non-partisan advocacy group that monitors government spending on behalf of Canadian taxpayers, has also called on Ford to cancel the purchase and commit to continuing commercial air travel for official trips.

    In pushing back against criticism, Ford’s office has attempted to frame the purchase as a cost-saving measure compared to other recent government jet acquisitions across Canada. The statement noted that Ontario’s C$28.9 million price tag is far lower than the C$107 million the province of Quebec paid for a fleet of three Challenger 650 jets – one pre-owned and two new – purchased for the province’s air ambulance service. It also referenced the federal Canadian government’s late December 2025 announcement of a C$753 million purchase of six new Bombardier Global 6500 jets, which are set to replace aging Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft used to transport the prime minister, other senior officials, and support military operations.

    This controversy is not without historical precedent in Ontario. Back in 1981, then-Premier Bill Davis faced massive public outcry over his own government’s purchase of a multi-million-dollar Challenger jet. The mounting criticism ultimately forced the Davis administration to retrofit the jet to serve as an air ambulance, and Davis eventually backed down and sold the aircraft, replacing it with two water bombers designed for fighting forest fires.

    For Ford, who won a historic third consecutive majority government in Ontario last year after holding office since 2018, the controversy comes as his public approval rating remains among the lowest of any provincial premier in Canada. An Angus Reid poll conducted earlier this year placed Ford’s approval at just 31%, a weak standing that leaves the premier particularly vulnerable to criticism over high-profile, costly government spending.

  • What next for South African opposition firebrand Malema after his five-year prison sentence?

    What next for South African opposition firebrand Malema after his five-year prison sentence?

    South African opposition leader Julius Malema, the firebrand head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is facing a five-year prison term after being convicted on weapons charges — but legal complexities and ongoing appeals mean he remains free to lead his party into the country’s upcoming local government elections this year. The 45-year-old politician was found guilty on five separate criminal offenses, including unlawful possession of a firearm, discharging the weapon in a public space, and reckless endangerment, following a trial held in KuGompo, the newly renamed former East London in Eastern Cape province. During court proceedings, Malema testified that he fired the weapon as part of a celebratory gathering.

    Malema, a polarizing figure in South African politics, has built his political brand around unapologetic criticism of what he frames as Western imperialism, and calls for the full nationalization of land currently owned by white South African descendants — a policy designed to redress decades of harm caused by colonial rule and the apartheid system. His anti-establishment rhetoric has earned him a fervent base of support, particularly among young South Africans frustrated by slow economic transformation and persistent inequality. But the EFF leader has also drawn widespread condemnation across the political spectrum, from women’s rights advocacy groups to white agricultural communities, and has faced repeated legal troubles: he has been convicted of hate speech on multiple occasions, and was denied entry to the United Kingdom twice in 2025. Known colloquially as the “Red Berets” for the red overalls party members wear in parliament — a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the country’s working class — the EFF has emerged as one of South Africa’s most high-profile opposition groups since its founding.

    Following his conviction and sentencing, the court granted Malema permission to appeal his sentence, though not the initial guilty verdict. The EFF has pushed back aggressively against the ruling, with Malema’s legal team confirming they will challenge both the conviction and the five-year term in higher courts. According to Ulrich Roux, a South African legal expert interviewed by the BBC, the appeal process will require Malema to first secure approval from the Eastern Cape High Court to challenge his conviction. Roux noted that state prosecutors are almost certain to oppose the appeal application. Malema has publicly vowed to escalate his challenge all the way to South Africa’s highest judicial body, the Constitutional Court, if needed. If the case follows that full legal path, Roux projects a final ruling could take four to five years to reach.

    Under South Africa’s constitution, any person sentenced to more than 12 months in prison without the option of a fine is disqualified from serving as a Member of Parliament. However, this disqualification does not take effect until all appeal processes have been exhausted and a sentence is considered final. Because Malema’s appeal is still pending, he retains his parliamentary seat and is eligible to lead his party’s campaign in the upcoming local elections. Political analysts say this timeline could even allow Malema to run for re-election to parliament in the 2029 national elections, even if his appeal ultimately fails. Even in the worst-case scenario for Malema — a failed appeal that results in prison time — the sentence would only bar him from office for five years after his release, leaving the door open for a future political return.

    This precedent already exists in recent South African political history: former President Jacob Zuma was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021, which barred him from serving as an MP. Despite that, Zuma launched a new political party, uMkhonto weSizwe, in 2024, and led the party to a third-place finish in that year’s national elections — outperforming Malema’s EFF, which lost significant vote share to Zuma’s new movement.

    Some political analysts argue that the conviction could actually benefit Malema’s campaign. Khanyi Magubane, a South Africa-based political analyst, told the BBC that the sentence may be the “trump card” Malema needs ahead of the local elections. “I believe this will position the EFF and Malema well. It’s actually going to have unintended consequences… because he will play on the public sympathy and use this opportunity to continue standing his ground,” Magubane explained. For Malema, the timing comes as he seeks to reverse the EFF’s recent electoral decline: the party lost significant support to Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe in 2024, and saw a number of high-profile departures after the election, including that of deputy leader and party co-founder Floyd Shivambu. In the wake of the sentencing, thousands of Malema’s supporters have already rallied behind their leader, signaling continued loyalty to the polarizing politician.

  • A son of ex-Zimbabwe President Mugabe enters a plea deal to avoid attempted murder charge

    A son of ex-Zimbabwe President Mugabe enters a plea deal to avoid attempted murder charge

    JOHANNESBURG – In a high-profile legal development that echoes the long controversial legacy of Zimbabwe’s former authoritarian leader Robert Mugabe, Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, the 28-year-old youngest son of the late president and his second wife Grace Mugabe, has avoided a serious attempted murder charge through a last-minute plea deal with South African prosecutors. Chatunga Mugabe and his cousin and co-accused Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze have been held in custody since mid-February, after the two were linked to a shooting that left Sipho Mahlangu, a domestic employee at a private residence, injured and hospitalized.

    Under the terms of the agreement finalized in court on Friday, Chatunga Mugabe entered guilty pleas to two lesser charges: pointing an object that led another person to reasonably believe it was a loaded firearm in a separate incident unrelated to the shooting, and violating South African immigration law by entering and remaining in the country without valid documentation. Matonhodze, by contrast, pleaded guilty to five total charges, including the original count of attempted murder, along with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, obstructing the course of justice, and illegal immigration.

    The pair’s legal representative Sinenhlanhla Mnguni confirmed to reporters outside the Johannesburg courthouse that the Section 112 plea deal under South Africa’s Criminal Procedure Act was reached after initial rounds of plea and sentencing negotiations fell apart. This legal mechanism allows defendants to avoid a lengthy, public full jury trial, streamlining the conclusion of the case. Defense attorney Advocate Laurence Hodes pushed the court for leniency during sentencing arguments, noting that neither man had prior criminal convictions. Hodes added that the pair had already reached a private financial settlement with the shooting victim Mahlangu, and confirmed they were prepared to pay any fine the court hand down.

    However, the case remains marked by unresolved questions around the shooting itself. Lead police witness Lieutenant Colonel Raj Ramchunder testified to the court that investigators have yet to recover the weapon used to shoot Mahlangu, and that the two accused have refused to cooperate with authorities to locate the firearm. Ramchunder emphasized that the pair were present at the scene when the shot was fired that injured Mahlangu, and have clear knowledge of where the weapon is hidden. “The accused shows no remorse in assisting the police in any way to point out the firearm,” Ramchunder told the court.

    The judge accepted the guilty pleas from both defendants and has scheduled sentencing for April 24, leaving the final legal outcome pending. This case is not the first time a member of the Mugabe family has faced legal controversy in South Africa. In 2017, Grace Mugabe was accused of assaulting a young South African model named Gabriella Engels, striking her in the forehead with an extension cord during an altercation at a Johannesburg hotel. The South African government granted Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity amid widespread public outcry from opposition parties and human rights groups, allowing her to leave the country without facing prosecution.

  • France, UK to lead ‘defensive’ force for Hormuz

    France, UK to lead ‘defensive’ force for Hormuz

    A new chapter in diplomatic efforts to stabilize the Middle East emerged Friday, as France and the United Kingdom announced they would spearhead a strictly defensive multinational task force to safeguard unimpeded navigation through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz — a deployment that will only move forward once a durable regional ceasefire is finalized.

    The joint confirmation came as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron co-chaired a high-level international conference in Paris, convened specifically to address threats to global trade passing through the key shipping chokepoint. Hosted primarily via video conference, the gathering drew participation from 49 countries across Europe and Asia, with representation ranging from senior diplomatic envoys to dozens of heads of state and government. Notably, neither the United States nor Iran, the two primary opposing actors in the ongoing regional conflict, took part in the discussions.

    The crisis that prompted the conference began on February 28, when Iran implemented a shipping blockade of the strait immediately after the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against the Islamic republic. The disruption sent immediate economic shockwaves across the globe, stoking widespread fears of renewed global inflation, disrupting global fuel supply chains, and raising alarms over potential worldwide food shortages.

    Tensions eased somewhat during the Paris talks, however, when Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced via a post on X that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open to all commercial vessels for the duration of any Middle East ceasefire. The announcement was met with a measured positive response from global markets.

    In his remarks following the conference, Starmer emphasized that the multinational mission would only activate once conditions on the ground allow for a stable deployment. “This will be strictly peaceful and defensive as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance,” Starmer stated, noting that more than 12 nations have already committed to contributing military assets to the effort.

    Macron echoed the call for a permanent end to hostilities, saying that while leaders welcomed Iran’s temporary reopening announcement, they continued to push for “a full, unconditional reopening by all the parties.” The French president added that the verified opening of the strait makes the multinational mission even more critical: it will serve to consolidate recent diplomatic gains in the short term, and lay the groundwork for long-term stability in the corridor.

    Macron stressed that the task force is explicitly neutral, and operates completely independent of the belligerent parties currently engaged in the regional conflict. Multiple European nations have already signaled their willingness to join the effort: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who attended the conference in person, confirmed Italy stands ready to participate, joining Macron and Starmer in emphasizing that a full ceasefire must precede any deployment. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, also present in Paris, noted that it would be desirable for the United States to join the mission at a later date.

    The conference marked a key moment for European diplomatic and security leadership, coming after European powers were largely sidelined from earlier U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The U.S. response has been guarded so far: in a post-conference social media statement, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had rejected an offer from NATO to assist with securing the strait, telling the transatlantic alliance to “STAY AWAY”. It remains unclear whether Trump’s comment referenced the Paris-led initiative, as NATO was not invited to or represented at Friday’s talks.

    Starmer framed the mission as a critical step to protect the global economy, noting that “the world needs the Strait of Hormuz fully open because that is how we keep prices down for our people and stop the global economic damage” caused by the blockade. While he welcomed Iran’s announcement of a temporary opening during a ceasefire, he underscored that the international community must work to guarantee the opening is lasting and functional.

    According to a statement from Starmer’s office, senior military commanders from participating nations will gather next week at the UK’s Northwood military command headquarters outside London to work out operational details for the proposed task force.

  • Tens of thousands return to south Lebanon after ceasefire, defying Israeli warnings

    Tens of thousands return to south Lebanon after ceasefire, defying Israeli warnings

    A fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon came into force at midnight on Thursday, and within hours, tens of thousands of people displaced by six weeks of Israeli military operations defied repeated safety warnings from all sides to begin journeying back to their home communities in southern Lebanon early Friday.

    The truce, announced publicly by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday afternoon, brought an end to active large-scale combat, but it did not calm the deep-seated tensions on the ground. Even after the ceasefire officially commenced, the Israeli military carried out continued shelling of southern Lebanese areas, though violence had decreased significantly by Friday morning. In an official statement, the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah confirmed it would maintain a high state of alert, noting it was keeping its “finger on the trigger” to respond to any Israeli breach of the truce.

    Mere hours before the ceasefire took effect, Israeli warplanes targeted a residential complex in the southern Lebanese coastal city of Sour, leaving 11 people dead and 35 others injured, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defence. As of Friday morning, search and rescue teams were still working to extract survivors and recover remains from the rubble of the destroyed building.

    Despite urgent calls for caution from multiple parties—including the Israeli military, the Lebanese national army, Hezbollah, and Hezbollah’s political ally the Amal Movement—displaced families began packing their belongings and heading south within minutes of the ceasefire announcement. Israel had explicitly warned residents against returning to communities located south of the Litani River, noting that Israeli military forces would remain deployed in the region to monitor Hezbollah activities. Lebanese authorities and armed groups also urged residents to delay their return for several days to allow for demining and safety inspections, but their appeals did little to stem the flow of people eager to return to their homes after more than a month of displacement.

    By early Friday, the major highway connecting the southern Lebanese cities of Saida and Sour was completely gridlocked, with tens of thousands of vehicles crammed full of people and their personal possessions—many piled high with mattresses and household goods—snaking slowly toward the border region.

    During the six weeks of Israeli bombing and ground incursion, all permanent bridges crossing the Litani River, which spans nearly the entire width of southern Lebanon, were destroyed. The last of these, the critical Qasmiyeh Bridge connecting southern Lebanon to the rest of the country, was blown up by Israeli forces just one day before the ceasefire, cutting off the only remaining overland route to the region. In anticipation of the mass influx of returning residents, Lebanese military engineering teams rushed to build a makeshift crossing at Qasmiyeh, filling the massive crater left by the Israeli bombing with earth and compacting it to create a single-lane passage. By dawn Friday, the temporary crossing was open, with cars and motorcycles crossing in single file under the supervision of the Lebanese army. Further inland, local authorities opened a secondary paved route between Zrarieh and Tayr Filsey to help ease congestion, while the main crossing at the February 6 Bridge, destroyed by Israeli strikes in March, remained closed to all traffic. The Lebanese army also partially reopened a handful of other damaged bridge crossings across the river to accommodate returning traffic.

    Official data released by the Lebanese government puts the human cost of the six-week conflict at more than 2,200 people killed across the country since hostilities erupted on March 2. More than 1.2 million Lebanese people have been forced to flee their homes, making the sudden wave of returns one of the largest mass population movements in the region in recent years.

  • Thousands celebrate open-air Mass with Pope Leo in Cameroon – in pictures

    Thousands celebrate open-air Mass with Pope Leo in Cameroon – in pictures

    An estimated 120,000 worshippers and onlookers packed into Douala’s Japoma Stadium on Friday to join Pope Leo XIV for an open-air Mass, marking the largest gathering of his 11-day pan-African apostolic journey. The event comes on the heels of the pontiff’s Thursday visit to Cameroon’s restive Anglophone region, where a separatist insurgency has gripped the area for more than a decade.

    Jubilant crowds lined the route to the stadium as Pope Leo XIV traveled through the crowd in the Popemobile, greeting the throngs of waiting devotees with warm waves. Many attendees had gone to extraordinary lengths to secure a good vantage point, with some camping outside the stadium grounds as early as Thursday night – waiting more than 24 hours in total to see the pontiff. Despite sweltering tropical temperatures, devotees of all generations, including dozens of local clergy, turned out to participate in the historic occasion.

    During his address at the Mass, Pope Leo centered his remarks on spiritual guidance for Cameroon’s youth, urging young people to nurture diverse talents and invest in the well-being of their local communities. “Reject every form of abuse or violence, which deceives by promising easy gains but hardens the heart and makes it insensitive,” he told the crowd. “Do not let yourselves be corrupted by temptations that waste your energies and do not serve the progress of society,” he added.

    Many attendees who spoke to media after the service shared that they felt profound joy at the opportunity to see and hear from the Pope, reflecting widespread hope among Cameroonians that his visit will help advance peace efforts across the conflict-affected nation. Photographs from the event show worshippers adapting to the harsh heat: some held up umbrellas or books to block the harsh sun, while others wiped sweat from their brows throughout the service. Devotion took many forms across the packed crowd, with some clasping hands in quiet prayer and others prostrating themselves to honor the pontiff’s visit.

    The Douala Mass falls on the fifth day of Pope Leo’s 11-day Africa tour, and his third full day in Cameroon. Before arriving in the Central African nation, the Pope launched his journey in Algeria, marking the first time any sitting Pope has visited the majority-Muslim North African country. Following his time in Cameroon, Pope Leo will travel to Angola on Saturday, before concluding his continental trip in Equatorial Guinea. Beyond the public Mass, the pontiff also made a pastoral visit to Douala’s St Paul Catholic Hospital during his time in the coastal economic hub.