Global Pulse

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  • Too early to tell scope of Iran strikes, Trump tells Congress

    Too early to tell scope of Iran strikes, Trump tells Congress

    The White House has formally notified Congress of ongoing military operations against Iran while simultaneously defending the action as necessary to counter an “untenable” threat. In a presidential letter addressed to Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, Donald Trump stated that determining the “full scope and duration” of the engagement remains impossible at this early stage.

    The communication emphasized Iran’s status as what the administration considers “one of the largest, if not the largest, state-sponsors of terrorism,” while alleging the nation continues to pursue nuclear capabilities. The letter further asserted that Iran’s missile arsenal presents direct threats to U.S. forces, commercial vessels, civilians, and allied nations.

    This notification comes as lawmakers prepare to vote on a war powers resolution designed to constrain presidential military authority regarding Iran. The measure faces substantial legislative obstacles, and its potential impact on current hostilities remains uncertain. Democratic legislators, joined by some Republican colleagues, have questioned the legality of initiating strikes without congressional authorization, arguing the Constitution requires legislative approval for warfare.

    The administration maintains it has fully complied with legal requirements by briefing the bipartisan “Gang of 8” congressional leaders within mandated timeframes. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed these notifications occurred on March 2nd, though not all 535 members of Congress received advance briefings. Rubio noted that multiple administrations have historically questioned the constitutionality of the War Powers Act while asserting the current operations fall within executive authority.

    The military confrontation began Saturday with joint U.S.-Israel strikes, prompting Iranian retaliation through missile and drone attacks against U.S.-allied nations in the Middle East. The administration emphasizes that no ground troops have been committed and claims operations are designed to minimize civilian casualties.

  • Prominent feminist activist Yanar Mohammed shot dead in Iraq

    Prominent feminist activist Yanar Mohammed shot dead in Iraq

    In a devastating blow to Iraq’s women’s rights movement, renowned feminist activist Yanar Mohammed was fatally shot by unidentified gunmen outside her Baghdad residence on Monday. The Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), which Mohammed co-established in 2003, confirmed her death after emergency medical efforts failed to save her from critical wounds sustained in the attack.

    The assassination has sent shockwaves through civil society circles, with OWFI vowing to continue its mission despite the profound loss. ‘Yanar Mohammed’s legacy will endure through every woman whose life was transformed by her advocacy and every stand taken against violence and discrimination,’ the organization declared in an emotional Facebook statement, committing to maintain safe houses and amplify its defense of women’s right to security and dignity.

    Mohammed’s groundbreaking work positioned her as a formidable opponent of sectarian and discriminatory legislation. She recently led opposition against a controversial family law bill based on Shia religious jurisprudence that would have granted husbands automatic child custody and unilateral divorce rights. While the legislation ultimately passed, public outcry spearheaded by Mohammed and other activists succeeded in removing its most extreme provisions, including a clause that would have permitted marriage for girls as young as nine.

    In a 2024 interview with Middle East Eye, Mohammed characterized such legislative efforts as deliberate distractions from governmental corruption, stating authorities sought to ‘terrorize Iraqi women and civil society with archaic laws that strip away modern rights.’

    This killing continues a alarming pattern of violence against government critics and women’s rights defenders in Iraq. The 2018 assassination of Basra activist Suad al-Ali and the 2020 killing of nutritionist Riham Yacoub underscore the perilous environment for activists. Despite repeated governmental promises to protect activists and prosecute their killers, deep connections between ruling political factions and armed groups have fostered widespread skepticism about accountability.

    The Communist Alternative Organization in Iraq, where Mohammed served on the Central Committee, has explicitly held the government responsible for delivering justice, pledging that her memory would ‘remain a shining flame guiding the struggle for women’s liberation and a world free of injustice.’ No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assassination.

  • Belgium detains three suspected Cameroon separatists in war crimes probe

    Belgium detains three suspected Cameroon separatists in war crimes probe

    Belgian authorities have detained three individuals suspected of leading the Ambazonia Defence Forces (ADF), a separatist militia engaged in Cameroon’s protracted Anglophone conflict. The arrests, executed following coordinated operations in Antwerp and Londerzeel, form part of an extensive investigation into potential war crimes and crimes against humanity.

    According to the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office, these suspects are believed to have orchestrated fundraising activities for armed struggles and weapons procurement from Belgian territory. The investigation, initiated during the summer of the previous year, targets expatriates allegedly constituting the ADF’s leadership cadre in Belgium.

    This development represents an international escalation in addressing Cameroon’s devastating internal conflict, which has persisted for nearly a decade. The crisis originated in 2016 when legal and educational professionals protested against the compulsory use of French in courts and schools within English-speaking regions. The subsequent declaration of independence for the theoretical state of Ambazonia in 2017 ignited full-scale hostilities between separatist factions and government forces.

    The United Nations documents catastrophic humanitarian consequences, with over 6,500 fatalities and approximately 490,000 individuals displaced from their homes. An additional 1.5 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance amid ongoing violence. Human rights organizations have consistently documented widespread atrocities perpetrated by both separatist militants and state security forces.

    These European arrests follow similar judicial actions in Norway and the United States, indicating growing international concern regarding the conflict’s dimensions. Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, maintaining power for over four decades, asserts that his administration has undertaken substantial measures to resolve the crisis. Nevertheless, his government faces persistent criticism regarding its handling of the conflict and restrictions on political freedoms.

  • Galloping into joyful fair in Weifang this Lantern Festival

    Galloping into joyful fair in Weifang this Lantern Festival

    The ancient city of Weifang in Shandong province transformed into a luminous spectacle during this year’s Lantern Festival, blending traditional cultural heritage with cutting-edge technology. The celebrations featured the iconic Yangjiabu woodblock New Year print ‘Success at a Gallop’ – previously showcased on CCTV – as a central theme throughout the dazzling displays.

    Adding a modern twist to traditional festivities, the event was hosted by virtual AI anchor Douglas through the innovative program ‘AI Broadcast: Weifang Weekly Insights.’ This digital host guided visitors through immersive experiences showcasing intangible cultural heritage performances and interactive activities. The festival provided deep insights into authentic Chinese New Year traditions while demonstrating how technology can enhance cultural preservation.

    The event symbolized the formal conclusion of Spring Festival celebrations, traditionally marked by the consumption of yuanxiao (sweet rice balls). Visitors experienced a unique fusion of ancient woodblock printing artistry, vibrant lantern exhibitions, and AI technology, creating a multidimensional celebration that honored the past while embracing the future of cultural presentation.

  • Inside Macron’s new deterrence strategy: 8 European allies, 1 French nuclear button

    Inside Macron’s new deterrence strategy: 8 European allies, 1 French nuclear button

    In a landmark strategic shift, French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled plans for enhanced nuclear deterrence coordination with European allies while maintaining France’s sovereign authority over launch decisions. Speaking from a classified submarine base in Western France, Macron articulated a vision for ‘forward deterrence’ that marks a significant evolution in continental security architecture.

    The initiative emerges against a backdrop of growing European skepticism regarding American defense commitments and heightened tensions with nuclear-armed Russia. As the European Union’s sole nuclear power since Brexit, France has initiated consultations with eight nations—Britain, Germany, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark—to establish a collaborative security framework.

    Macron’s proposal includes the unprecedented option for temporary deployment of French nuclear-armed aircraft to allied territories and joint participation in deterrence exercises. The president emphasized that while European partners would gain ‘a clearly affirmed link’ to French nuclear capabilities, constitutional authority for any weapons deployment remains exclusively with the French presidency.

    Nuclear experts identify inherent complexities in this approach. Florian Galleri of MIT’s security studies program notes the fundamental contradiction between offering nuclear guarantees while avoiding joint decision-making: ‘Strategic backing intended to integrate French nuclear deterrence into collective European defense necessarily requires coordination and joint planning.’

    The new doctrine also addresses evolving threats through force modernization. Macron announced plans to increase France’s nuclear warhead inventory for the first time since the Cold War’s conclusion, responding to advancements in adversary defenses and regional proliferation risks. France currently maintains an estimated 290 warheads.

    Significantly, Macron positioned the initiative as complementary to NATO’s existing nuclear mission, which France does not participate in directly. Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund observed that the proposal reflects Europe’s transformed security environment following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and uncertainties about America’s commitment.

    The French approach envisions integrating European conventional capabilities—including early warning systems, satellite surveillance, missile tracking, and air defense networks—to support nuclear deterrence operations. This reimagined European security framework represents Macron’s continued advocacy for strategic autonomy while acknowledging NATO’s enduring role in continental defense.

  • Guilty verdict for US father of teenage school shooter

    Guilty verdict for US father of teenage school shooter

    In a groundbreaking legal decision with profound implications for parental responsibility, Colin Gray has been convicted on multiple charges including murder and child cruelty for his role in the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting that claimed four lives. The 55-year-old father now faces the consequences of what prosecutors described as catastrophic negligence that enabled his son’s deadly rampage.

    The case represents only the third instance in American jurisprudence where parents have been held criminally accountable for mass shootings perpetrated by their children. During the emotionally charged trial, Barrow County prosecutors presented compelling evidence demonstrating how Gray systematically ignored escalating warning signs about his son’s dangerous mental state and violent tendencies.

    Evidence revealed that Gray purchased an AR-style rifle for his 14-year-old son as a Christmas gift, despite the teenager having been investigated by law enforcement just seven months earlier for making explicit online threats about executing a school shooting. The prosecution further presented a meticulously detailed notebook belonging to the younger Gray that outlined specific plans to murder students and faculty members.

    Assistant District Attorney Patricia Brooks delivered a powerful closing argument, telling jurors: “After witnessing repeated indicators of his son’s deteriorating psychological condition, violent tendencies, and fixation on school shootings, the defendant received ample warning that his child represented a ticking time bomb. Rather than implementing preventive measures, he effectively provided the detonator.”

    The defense team, led by attorney Jimmy Barry, attempted to redirect culpability exclusively toward the teenage shooter, emphasizing that the boy “made a conscious, secretive decision to carry out these horrific actions.” This strategy ultimately failed to persuade the jury amid overwhelming evidence of parental negligence.

    Background investigation revealed that federal authorities had previously alerted local police in May 2023 after the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center received anonymous tips regarding online school shooting threats. Law enforcement conducted interviews with both Gray and his son at that time, but determined insufficient probable cause for arrest despite the father’s acknowledgment of firearms in the household.

    This case follows the precedent-setting conviction of James and Jennifer Crumbley in Michigan, who received 10-15 year prison sentences for involuntary manslaughter after purchasing a firearm for their son who subsequently killed four classmates. The Gray verdict further solidifies the legal principle that parents can face severe criminal consequences when their actions—or inactions—enable mass shooting events.

    The convicted father now awaits sentencing while his son, Colt Gray, remains in custody awaiting separate trial proceedings for the actual shooting that killed students Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, both 14, along with educators Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53.

  • Explainer: Virtues of planning ahead: Why five-year plans work for China

    Explainer: Virtues of planning ahead: Why five-year plans work for China

    BEIJING – As Chinese legislators convene for the annual parliamentary sessions, attention focuses on the draft 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the latest installment in China’s distinctive approach to national development planning. This comprehensive framework continues a seven-decade tradition of strategic economic guidance that has transformed China from an agrarian society into the world’s second-largest economy.

    The forthcoming blueprint, building on recommendations adopted by the Communist Party of China Central Committee in October 2025, aligns with China’s broader vision of achieving substantial progress by 2035 across economic strength, technological capability, national defense, and global influence. The planning process incorporated unprecedented public participation, with over 3.11 million submissions received during a month-long online consultation period – a demonstration of what Chinese officials characterize as ‘whole-process people’s democracy.’

    China’s planning mechanism has evolved significantly since its inception in the 1950s, transitioning from rigid central planning to a flexible system that strategically combines market forces with government guidance. As described by American scholar John Naisbitt in ‘China’s Megatrends,’ the approach effectively ‘frames the forest and lets the trees grow’ – establishing broad national priorities while allowing sectors and enterprises considerable operational freedom.

    This system has demonstrated particular effectiveness in addressing complex, long-term challenges that often elude shorter political cycles in other nations. The successful poverty elimination campaign under the 13th Five-Year Plan exemplifies this capacity, featuring coordinated implementation that deployed over 3 million officials to rural areas, established comprehensive monitoring systems, and directed substantial infrastructure investment to remote regions.

    China’s advances in artificial intelligence further illustrate the planning system’s forward-looking nature. AI development was incorporated into national planning a decade ago, followed by a dedicated next-generation AI strategy in 2017. By 2025, China’s AI sector had grown dramatically, with over 6,000 specialized firms and a core industry projected to exceed 1.2 trillion yuan. Similar strategic planning underpins China’s leadership in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and 5G infrastructure.

    The system provides crucial predictability for businesses and investors, reducing policy uncertainty through consistent long-term direction. This stability is being further institutionalized through forthcoming legislation that will standardize planning processes and implementation mechanisms.

    According to Dong Yu, executive vice dean of the Institute of China Development Planning at Tsinghua University, ‘China’s five-year plans represent a fully integrated system for transforming strategic goals into concrete reality.’ This integrated approach continues to guide China’s development amid global technological disruption, demographic changes, and evolving international relations.

  • US Homeland Security chief grilled over immigration crackdown

    US Homeland Security chief grilled over immigration crackdown

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confronted intense congressional scrutiny during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on Tuesday, where Democratic lawmakers launched sweeping criticisms against the administration’s immigration enforcement policies. The hearing marked Noem’s first congressional appearance since recent controversial agent-involved shootings during protests.

    Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered particularly sharp rebukes, accusing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of operating “devoid of any moral compass or respect for the rule of law.” Durbin characterized DHS operations as creating widespread havoc through paramilitary-style patrols that allegedly target individuals based on racial profiling and linguistic characteristics.

    The Illinois senator referenced two recent fatal shootings by immigration agents in Minnesota, claiming Noem had subsequently leveled “baseless accusations of domestic terrorism” against the deceased Americans. Noem offered condolences to the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti while clarifying her previous remarks, stating she had only suggested the incident “appeared to be” domestic terrorism rather than making definitive declarations.

    Secretary Noem staunchly defended her department’s record, highlighting historic achievements including plummeting border crossing numbers and the removal of nearly three million undocumented individuals during the past year. “Our department has delivered historic results and has made our community safer since the start of President Trump’s second term,” Noem testified.

    The hearing revealed stark partisan divisions, with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham praising the administration’s enforcement efforts while blaming the previous Biden administration for creating “absolute chaos” through what he characterized as uncontrolled border policies.

    Democratic Senator Chris Coons raised constitutional concerns, alleging DHS operates under implicit deportation quotas that drive unconstitutional practices including profiling and operations at sensitive locations such as churches, hospitals, and schools. Noem categorically denied operating under any quota system, emphasizing targeted enforcement focused on public safety threats.

    The Secretary additionally addressed the ongoing partial government shutdown, urging lawmakers to reach funding agreements that would restore pay for thousands of furloughed DHS employees. Democrats maintain opposition to funding without significant operational reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including curtailed patrols, mask prohibitions for agents, and warrant requirements for private property entries.

  • Israel launches ground assault in southern Lebanon

    Israel launches ground assault in southern Lebanon

    Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared the approval of an expanded ground military operation in southern Lebanon, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions. The authorization, coordinated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, empowers Israeli forces to advance beyond previously established positions and secure strategically dominant terrain within Lebanese territory.

    According to official statements released Tuesday, the primary objective of this offensive is to establish enhanced defensive buffers that would prevent direct artillery and rocket fire targeting Israeli border communities. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the deployment of troops deeper into southern Lebanon, exceeding the five positions maintained since the 2024 ceasefire arrangement.

    Military officials characterized the operation as implementing an ‘enhanced forward defense posture’ designed to proactively counter security threats. This development follows a dramatic resurgence of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, triggered by the Lebanese militant group’s rocket barrage targeting northern Israel on Monday.

    Hezbollah claimed its attacks were retaliatory measures responding to the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel subsequently launched intensive airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon and Beirut’s southern suburbs, resulting in numerous casualties and initiating renewed civilian displacement throughout the region.

    The escalation occurs against the broader backdrop of ongoing conflict involving Iran, further complicating regional security dynamics and raising concerns about potential broader confrontation.

  • Conference promotes Hong Kong as go-to location for education

    Conference promotes Hong Kong as go-to location for education

    Hong Kong has solidified its status as Asia’s premier international education destination during the record-breaking 2026 Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition. Hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong from March 1-3, the event attracted over 3,000 educational leaders, scholars and professionals from more than 70 countries and regions—the highest attendance in the conference’s history.

    Professor Venky Shankararaman, president of APAIE, emphasized Hong Kong’s unique positioning as both a global gateway and cultural melting pot. ‘Hong Kong’s open, internationalized environment creates ideal conditions for connecting China with the world,’ Shankararaman stated. ‘The city provides fertile ground for cultivating international talent and fostering diverse innovation through its exceptional connectivity, world-class infrastructure and rich blend of Eastern and Western cultures.’

    The conference coincided with the official launch of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s ‘Study in Hong Kong’ branding initiative. This strategic campaign aims to promote the city’s advantages as a top-tier study destination, highlighting its remarkable concentration of academic excellence—five universities ranked among the world’s top 100 within a metropolitan area of 7.7 million residents.

    Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, noted that Hong Kong’s educational strengths extend beyond rankings. ‘Our advantages include state-of-the-art facilities, groundbreaking research capabilities, innovative talent development programs, and robust technological innovation ecosystems,’ Lo explained. He emphasized that these assets, combined with the HKSAR Government’s proactive talent attraction policies and comprehensive study-to-employment pathways, make Hong Kong uniquely positioned to serve global students.

    The conference’s Youth Forum emerged as a particular highlight, featuring international student representatives from eight countries sharing their transformative educational experiences in Hong Kong. Educational experts at the event noted that Hong Kong’s appeal is magnified by broader macro trends including regional economic integration, technological advancement, demographic changes, and evolving global governance structures.

    Looking forward, the event served not only to showcase Hong Kong’s current educational offerings but also to chart a forward-looking blueprint for Asia-Pacific higher education cooperation. With strong backing from the vast mainland Chinese market and unparalleled international connections, Hong Kong is poised to continue its ascent as a world-leading education hub.