Global Pulse

作者： admin

  • Xinjiang leads China in cross-border rail traffic, central Asian connectivity in 2025

    Xinjiang leads China in cross-border rail traffic, central Asian connectivity in 2025

    Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has solidified its position as the nation’s foremost hub for Eurasian connectivity, achieving unprecedented cross-border rail traffic volumes throughout 2025. Regional authorities confirmed on January 17, 2026, that Xinjiang’s strategic ports handled the highest rail freight volume across all Chinese provinces, marking a significant milestone in China’s transnational infrastructure development.

    The region has simultaneously emerged as the dominant aviation corridor to Central Asia, with flights connecting regional capital Urumqi to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan comprising 35.1% of China’s total passenger flights to these nations. This dual achievement in both rail and air connectivity demonstrates Xinjiang’s evolving role as a critical nexus in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

    With 19 operational ports, Xinjiang implemented comprehensive measures to accommodate diverse logistical requirements. At Urumqi’s international port, the introduction of specialized cargo zones and expedited clearance protocols for priority shipments catalyzed a remarkable 170.6% year-on-year surge in international cargo flights, according to Liu Peng, an official with the Xinjiang Immigration Inspection General Station.

    The region welcomed over 58 million international travelers in 2025, drawn by cross-border commerce, tourism opportunities, and border-area cultural exchanges. To accommodate this substantial influx, immigration service centers established at major ports including Horgos and Urumqi now provide integrated services encompassing policy consultation, emergency medical assistance, and currency exchange facilities.

    Through strategic investments in ‘smart port’ infrastructure and continued institutional reforms, Xinjiang is enhancing its capacity as China’s primary conduit to Central Asia and beyond, effectively bridging economic networks across Eurasia with increasing operational efficiency.

  • Ugandan police deny arrest of opposition leader as country awaits final election results

    Ugandan police deny arrest of opposition leader as country awaits final election results

    Ugandan authorities have officially refuted claims regarding the detention of prominent opposition figure Bobi Wine during the highly charged electoral period. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke characterized reports of the arrest as “deceitful and inciteful” while confirming that security measures had been implemented around the opposition leader’s residence to prevent potential violence incitement.

    The general elections conducted on Thursday occurred under extraordinary circumstances, featuring a nationwide internet blackout extending into its fourth day and substantial military deployment across the country. Isolated incidents of violence emerged as citizens protested parliamentary election outcomes in various regions.

    Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, aged 81 and pursuing an unprecedented seventh term, maintains a commanding lead in provisional results with over 70% of counted votes. His primary challenger, musician-turned-politician Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (popularly known as Bobi Wine), has secured approximately 20% of the vote according to initial tallies. Wine has vehemently dismissed these results as “fabricated” and urged his supporters to disregard the announced figures.

    Electoral officials are constitutionally mandated to announce final presidential results by Saturday’s conclusion. The electoral commission chairperson confirmed plans to meet this deadline despite operational challenges that plagued the voting process, including delayed delivery of materials to polling stations and technical failures of biometric verification systems.

    President Museveni endorsed the commission’s decision to utilize paper-based voter registration records as an alternative to malfunctioning digital systems. However, Wine’s campaign has alleged systematic electoral manipulation, citing instances of “massive ballot stuffing” and the abduction of party polling agents to create unfair advantages for the ruling party.

    The election period has been marked by intense security presence, with opposition figures reporting constant surveillance and harassment of supporters. Wine notably campaigned wearing protective gear including a flak jacket and helmet due to security concerns. Uganda continues to await the final election announcement while maintaining its historical pattern of never experiencing peaceful presidential power transition since gaining independence six decades ago.

  • Japanese mayor apologises after calling staff ‘human scum’

    Japanese mayor apologises after calling staff ‘human scum’

    In an extraordinary public confrontation that has shocked Japan’s political establishment, Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka has issued a formal apology following damning harassment allegations leveled by the city’s own human resources director. The scandal erupted when Jun Kubota, the municipality’s top personnel official, held an unprecedented press conference to detail what he described as a pattern of abusive behavior from the mayor.

    Kubota presented a disturbing catalog of alleged verbal abuses, claiming Yamanaka routinely deployed dehumanizing language including calling municipal staff ‘idiots,’ ‘human scum,’ ‘useless,’ and ‘low-spec’ employees. The HR chief further asserted that the mayor made inappropriate comments about subordinates’ physical appearances and compared them to animals in what workplace experts would classify as classic power harassment.

    The most severe allegation involved Kubota’s claim that Yamanaka threatened him with ritual suicide demands, telling the official he would have to ‘commit seppuku’ if he failed to secure an international conference bid for the city—a remark that crosses into potentially criminal intimidation under Japan’s workplace laws.

    Initially, Mayor Yamanaka denied all allegations through a statement on his personal website. However, facing mounting pressure, he subsequently acknowledged partial responsibility during a Friday press conference. ‘I want to frankly apologize for placing a psychological burden on the personnel director,’ Yamanaka stated, conceding he had used terms like ‘idiot’ and ‘human scum’ during personnel evaluation discussions.

    While admitting to some verbal misconduct, the mayor denied other accusations including making comments about physical appearances. He announced that an investigation supervised by the deputy mayor was being considered, promising his ‘sincere’ cooperation should such a probe move forward.

    Kubota immediately rejected the partial apology as insufficient, stating: ‘The mayor doesn’t understand anything. I cannot accept that as an apology. I want him to change.’ The public nature of this confrontation between a sitting mayor and his senior HR official represents a remarkable breach of Japan’s typically reserved bureaucratic culture, signaling potentially significant repercussions for municipal governance and workplace practices nationwide.

  • Things to know about the High Seas Treaty as it takes effect

    Things to know about the High Seas Treaty as it takes effect

    A transformative era for global ocean conservation commenced this Saturday as the world’s first legally binding framework for protecting marine life in international waters officially took effect. This historic milestone, formally known as the High Seas Treaty, culminates nearly two decades of complex diplomatic negotiations and establishes governance mechanisms for nearly half the planet’s surface—the vast marine territories beyond national jurisdictions.

    The treaty’s activation follows its September 2023 ratification threshold achievement, requiring endorsement from 60 nations. Current ratification status stands at 83 countries, with recent participation from major maritime powers including China and Japan significantly strengthening its global implementation prospects.

    This groundbreaking agreement establishes the first comprehensive framework for creating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the high seas, which constitute approximately two-thirds of the world’s oceans. Currently, a mere 1% of these international waters benefit from formal protection despite facing escalating threats from destructive fishing practices, commercial shipping, plastic pollution, overexploitation of marine resources, and potential deep-sea mining operations—all exacerbated by climate change impacts.

    With immediate effect, ratifying nations must now collaborate on oceanographic research and technological development while assisting developing countries in building capacity for meaningful participation in ocean governance. Commercial entities planning activities with potential marine environmental impacts must conduct rigorous environmental assessments meeting treaty standards. Researchers investigating marine organisms with commercial applications, such as pharmaceutical development, must implement transparency protocols including international notification and knowledge-sharing mechanisms.

    Critically, signatory countries must now advocate for the treaty’s conservation objectives within other international regulatory bodies governing ocean activities, including regional fisheries management organizations, the International Maritime Organization, and the International Seabed Authority.

    Conservation organizations emphasize the urgency of rapid implementation to achieve the scientifically endorsed target of protecting 30% of global oceans by 2030. Megan Randles of Greenpeace’s Ocean Campaign noted that “the marine protected areas under the treaty will only be as strong as the governments make them,” highlighting the necessity of robust enforcement mechanisms against commercial fishing interests.

    While key institutional structures including the treaty’s secretariat and scientific advisory body remain under development, nations can immediately commence preparatory work for proposed MPAs. Potential conservation sites include the Emperor Seamounts in the North Pacific, the Sargasso Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Salas y Gomez and Nazca Ridges off South America’s coast.

    The United States, having signed but not ratified the agreement, will participate as an observer without voting rights. Despite this absence, treaty advocates maintain that broad international support ensures strong implementation momentum. Rebecca Hubbard of the High Seas Alliance affirmed that while U.S. ratification would be preferable, its current status doesn’t undermine the treaty’s operational viability.

    The first Conference of Parties (COP) is scheduled within twelve months to establish critical operational parameters including budgetary allocations and committee compositions. The earliest possible approval for initial MPAs is anticipated during the second COP session, pending establishment of the scientific review body.

  • Astronauts say training helped ensure safe return

    Astronauts say training helped ensure safe return

    In their first public appearance since returning from orbit, the crew of China’s Shenzhou XX mission provided a detailed account of how they managed a critical emergency involving a damaged spacecraft window, attributing their successful response to exhaustive training and seamless coordination with ground control.

    Mission Commander Senior Colonel Chen Dong and crew members Colonel Chen Zhongrui and Colonel Wang Jie addressed media at Beijing Aerospace City on January 16, 2026, nearly two months after their safe return from the Tiangong space station. Their homecoming, originally scheduled for November, was delayed when the crew discovered a triangular crack in their return capsule’s window during final pre-departure checks.

    The damage, potentially caused by micro-meteoroid or space debris impact, prompted immediate consultation with Earth-based mission specialists. Commander Chen described how the crew quickly documented the damage with photographs while coordinating observations with the Shenzhou XXI mission crew already aboard the station.

    ‘Trust was paramount in that moment,’ Chen emphasized. ‘We maintained absolute confidence in our ground team, who exhausted every methodology to develop the safest possible return protocol. Equally, we trusted in our own capabilities as thoroughly trained astronauts prepared to address unexpected system failures.’

    The mission headquarters ultimately determined the damaged capsule posed unacceptable re-entry risks, activating contingency procedures that saw the crew return aboard the Shenzhou XXI vehicle instead. Colonel Chen Zhongrui highlighted the psychological preparation behind their composed response: ‘We operated with complete assurance, knowing our nation’s robust space program and unified team supported us.’

    Colonel Wang Jie, the mission’s spaceflight engineer, noted how his ground-based construction experience with the space station proved immediately applicable when addressing equipment anomalies in orbit. ‘The additional knowledge we accumulate and repetitions we perform on Earth enable our calm effectiveness during critical moments in space,’ he explained.

    The incident represents one of the most significant in-flight emergencies publicly acknowledged by China’s space program, demonstrating evolving transparency in its rapidly advancing space operations.

  • UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Iran

    UN Security Council holds emergency meeting on Iran

    The United Nations Security Council convened an urgent session on Thursday to address escalating tensions surrounding Iran, revealing a stark geopolitical divide between Western powers and their opponents. The emergency meeting, requested by the United States, became a platform for heated diplomatic exchanges as multiple nations warned against military aggression while others threatened forceful response.

    U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz set a confrontational tone by declaring that “all options are on the table” regarding potential actions against Iran. This position faced immediate pushback from multiple council members who advocated for de-escalation and peaceful resolution mechanisms.

    Iran’s Deputy Permanent Representative Gholamhossein Darzi delivered a firm response, stating that while his nation seeks neither confrontation nor escalation, it would exercise its right under Article 51 of the UN Charter to respond decisively to any aggression. “Any act of aggression, direct or indirect, will be met with a decisive, proportionate, and lawful response,” Darzi asserted.

    Chinese representative Sun Lei issued a stark warning against military adventurism, cautioning that such actions “would only push the region toward an unpredictable abyss.” He emphasized the need for the United States to abandon its “fixation on the use of force” and adhere to UN Charter principles, while noting that history has repeatedly demonstrated that force and interference generate only further conflict and hatred.

    Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia condemned what he characterized as “extremely dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric” from U.S. leadership, accusing Washington of openly advocating for the overthrow of Iran’s constitutional order. He expressed particular concern about America’s “aggressive course toward the use of military force” and urged “hotheads” in the United States and other nations to “come to their senses.”

    The session revealed broad international consensus against military action, with representatives from Pakistan, Liberia (speaking for African members), and Colombia all warning that threats or use of force would dangerously destabilize an already volatile region and undermine global peace and security.

  • FAST reveals insights into cosmic signals

    FAST reveals insights into cosmic signals

    In a groundbreaking astronomical discovery, China’s Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) has provided compelling evidence illuminating the origin of mysterious cosmic phenomena known as fast radio bursts. An international research team has determined that at least some of these powerful energy emissions stem from compact binary star systems, resolving a long-standing cosmic enigma that has puzzled astronomers since 2007.

    The research, published in the prestigious journal Science, documents unprecedented observations of repeating fast radio burst FRB 20220529 over a 26-month monitoring period from June 2022 through August 2024. This marks the first time scientists have captured the complete evolutionary process of such a burst, offering critical insights into their generation mechanisms.

    Fast radio bursts represent among the most energetic transient events in the universe—millisecond-duration flashes that release energy equivalent to our sun’s output over an entire week. Despite detecting thousands of these events, astronomers have struggled to pinpoint their precise origins, with theories predominantly suggesting extreme stellar remnants like neutron stars as potential sources.

    Led by astronomers from the Chinese Academy of Science’s Purple Mountain Observatory, the research team utilized FAST’s unparalleled sensitivity to detect clear magnetic environment fluctuations described as ‘surge and recovery’ patterns—a phenomenon never before observed in such detail.

    Duncan Lorimer, the West Virginia University astrophysicist who first discovered fast radio bursts, praised the findings as “an amazing result” that demonstrates “the power of FAST in China to make these monitoring observations.” He emphasized how coupling FAST’s capabilities with survey instruments like the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment continues to transform understanding of these cosmic phenomena.

    Since becoming fully operational in 2020, FAST has established itself as a premier facility for pulsar studies, galactic structure mapping, and gravitational wave research. China now plans a significant upgrade to the facility, adding dozens of medium-aperture antennas around the main dish to create the world’s only mixed synthetic aperture array centered on a giant single-dish radio telescope. This enhancement would dramatically improve precision in locating fast radio burst sources.

    Senior engineer Sun Jinghai of the National Astronomical Observatories noted that continued observations may ultimately solve one of astronomy’s most persistent puzzles: what exactly produces these cosmic flashes and why certain variants repeat their brilliant performances across the cosmic stage.

  • Year’s first private rocket mission takes off

    Year’s first private rocket mission takes off

    Beijing-based Galactic Energy has successfully launched the year’s first private space mission, marking a significant milestone for China’s commercial aerospace sector. The company’s Ceres 1 solid-propellant rocket blasted off at 4:10 am Friday from a mobile sea platform in the Yellow Sea near Shandong province, deploying four satellites into low-Earth orbit approximately 850 kilometers above the planet.

    The mission represents the sixth sea-based launch for Galactic Energy’s Ceres 1 model and demonstrates the growing capabilities of China’s private space industry. The deployed satellites, manufactured by Beijing satellite operator Guodian Gaoke, will join the expanding Tianqi network which now comprises 41 satellites providing global coverage for Internet of Things applications.

    According to Galactic Energy, the Tianqi constellation supports critical data collection across multiple sectors including forestry management, agricultural monitoring, tourism services, power generation infrastructure, and environmental protection initiatives. The successful launch continues the remarkable track record of the Ceres 1 rocket, which has now completed 23 flights with 21 successful missions, placing 89 commercial satellites into orbit since its maiden flight in November 2020.

    The Ceres 1 stands approximately 20 meters tall with a diameter of 1.4 meters, boasting a liftoff weight of 33 metric tons. The vehicle can deliver payloads of up to 300 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbits at 500 kilometers altitude or carry 350-kilogram payloads to low-Earth orbits at 200 kilometers.

    Looking ahead, Galactic Energy is preparing for the inaugural flight of its larger Ceres 2 solid-propellant rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. This development occurs alongside other Chinese private aerospace companies advancing their launch capabilities, including Orienspace with its Gravity 2 rocket, Deep Blue Aerospace’s Nebula 1, and Space Pioneer’s TL 3 vehicle.

    In a separate government space achievement, China launched a Long March 2C rocket on Thursday afternoon from Jiuquan, successfully deploying Algeria’s AlSat-3A remote-sensing satellite. Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, the satellite will provide critical data for land-use planning and disaster management under a bilateral agreement signed in July 2023, marking another milestone in Sino-Algerian space cooperation following the 2017 launch of the Alcomsat-1 communications satellite.

  • Uganda opposition leader cut off from communications after polls

    Uganda opposition leader cut off from communications after polls

    Uganda’s political landscape remains in a state of heightened tension as opposition leader Bobi Wine faces a complete communications blackout following a police raid on his residence. The security operation, which occurred on Saturday, effectively isolated the prominent challenger to President Yoweri Museveni’s longstanding administration just as election results were being finalized.

    With more than 90% of votes counted, Uganda’s Electoral Commission reported President Museveni maintaining a commanding lead of 71.9% against Wine’s 24.5%. The 81-year-old incumbent, who seized power in 1986 as a former guerrilla fighter, appears poised to extend his four-decade rule amid widespread reports of electoral irregularities and suppression tactics.

    The election period has been characterized by significant unrest, including an ongoing nationwide internet blackout implemented ahead of Thursday’s polls. According to opposition accounts, security personnel clad in black attire scaled the walls of Wine’s compound, confiscating communication devices and effectively cutting off all contact with the outside world.

    Conflicting reports emerged regarding Wine’s whereabouts, with his party initially claiming he had been forcibly removed by military helicopter—an assertion later deleted and denied by army officials as ‘absurd’ and designed to ‘incite his supporters.’ Local residents reported hearing drones and helicopters near the opposition leader’s residence throughout Friday night, with many fleeing the area due to security concerns.

    Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke defended the security measures, stating authorities had ‘controlled access in areas we feel are security hotspots’ to prevent gatherings that might ‘incite violence.’

    The electoral process itself faced substantial challenges, with malfunctioning biometric verification machines and delayed ballot deliveries in multiple regions. Beyond the capital, reports emerged of violent confrontations, including claims from opposition parliament member Muwanga Kivumbi that security forces had killed ten campaign agents in Butambala after storming his home.

    Police provided an alternative account, stating an ‘unspecified number’ of people had been ‘put out of action’ when opposition members allegedly planned to attack a local tally center and police station.

    The United Nations human rights office had previously warned that the elections were occurring in an environment of ‘widespread repression and intimidation’ against opposition voices, though many of the allegations remain difficult to verify independently due to communication restrictions and limited media access.

  • Adaptability key for businesses amid challenges

    Adaptability key for businesses amid challenges

    At its annual gala in New York on Thursday, the China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC) convened approximately 300 senior executives, government officials, and business leaders to address navigating ongoing trade complexities between the world’s two largest economies. The event, themed “Together We Gallop Toward the Future,” served as a platform to emphasize resilience and the critical need for sustained dialogue.

    CGCC Chairman Hu Wei, who also serves as President and CEO of Bank of China USA, outlined the significant challenges member companies currently face. These include escalating operational costs, persistent supply chain disruptions, and increasing regulatory hurdles in cross-border commerce. Despite these headwinds, Hu highlighted the remarkable adaptability demonstrated by Chinese businesses operating in the US. He issued a call to action for policymakers in both nations to heed the business community’s perspective, stating, “I have witnessed firsthand the power of dialogue and engagement… real progress is made through steady relationship and is in action.”

    Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng delivered a keynote address reinforcing China’s commitment to high-quality development and high-standard opening-up, irrespective of the external environment. He pointed to burgeoning industrial clusters in strategic sectors like new energy, advanced materials, aviation, aerospace, and the low-altitude economy as sources of future multi-trillion-yuan markets. Ambassador Xie also announced plans to expand pilot programs opening value-added telecommunications, biotechnology, and wholly foreign-owned hospitals to foreign investment. While urging deeper cooperation, he called on American officials to foster a more open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises, including providing visa and border entry facilitation.

    The gala also recognized standout corporate achievements. Vornado Realty Trust received the “Outstanding Partner of the Year” award for its long-standing professional collaborations with CGCC members. Michael Franco, President and CFO of Vornado, celebrated these relationships built on “mutual respect and confidence,” and announced that Chinese pop culture brand Pop Mart would open a new flagship store in its Times Square retail space. Pop Mart, alongside construction machinery giant Sany Group and Sunon Furniture LLC, were honored as “Brands of the Year” for embodying creativity, resilience, and a future-driven spirit. Sany North America President Xiang Fei encapsulated the evening’s sentiment, remarking, “Success is not just about revenue and size. It’s about delivering our values,” and reaffirming a commitment to strengthening US-China cooperation through long-term investment.