Global Pulse

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  • Inoue-Nakatani fight highlights boxing’s surging popularity in Japan

    Inoue-Nakatani fight highlights boxing’s surging popularity in Japan

    On May 2, dubbed “The Day” by the Japanese boxing community, the Tokyo Dome will host what is widely considered the most high-profile bout in the nation’s boxing history: a showdown between two undefeated Japanese legends vying for supremacy. Undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue, boasting a 32-0 professional record with 27 knockouts and nicknamed “The Monster,” will face rising contender Junto “Big Bang” Nakatani, who holds an equally unblemished 32-0 record with 24 wins by KO.

    The bout carries unprecedented stakes for Japanese boxing, marking the first time two athletes from the country have ranked among the top six in Ring Magazine’s prestigious pound-for-pound global rankings, with Inoue holding the number two spot and Nakatani claiming sixth. All 55,000 general admission tickets sold out within days, and pay-per-view access has also been selling at record pace, drawing interest from demographics that have historically been less engaged with the sport, including women and children. Fans across the nation are already hailing this moment as the true golden age of Japanese boxing — a milestone that comes even as the country has long produced world-class champions, including Boxing Hall of Fame inductees Yoko Gushiken and Fighting Harada.

    What makes this moment particularly transformative, beyond one blockbuster bout, is the deep pipeline of young talent emerging across Japan’s lighter weight divisions, ensuring that this boom is not a one-off event. Standout prospects include Daiya Kira, a 2024 pro debutant who already holds a 3-0 record, and Riku Masuda, who scored a major upset by stopping legend Nonito Donaire earlier this year. This growing pool of contenders has experts convinced that the current wave of popularity will extend far beyond the May 2 main event.

    The energy of this boom is visible at gyms across Tokyo. On a recent warm evening at downtown Tokyo’s Kadoebi Boxing Gym, more than a dozen boxers trained relentlessly on heavy bags, driven by the momentum of the sport’s rising profile. Mikio Sakai, Japan’s fifth-ranked middleweight, explained that the sport’s appeal in the country stems from its alignment with traditional cultural values, what he calls “the samurai spirit” — the ability to build inner confidence and resilience through discipline. Like many Japanese boxers, Sakai’s introduction to the sport came through an unexpected cultural influence: his father introduced him to boxing by showing him the *Rocky* film franchise to teach him grit and determination, before he joined his high school’s boxing club. “I always thought punching was so cool from when I was a kid,” Sakai told reporters. “I aspired to be a strong man.”

    Beyond Inoue and Nakatani, Japanese boxing has already accumulated an impressive roster of current and former bantamweight champions in recent years, including Seiya Tsutumi, Yoshiki Takei and Ryosuke Nishida, with dozens more young athletes turning pro every year. The May 2 fight card is stacked from top to bottom: Naoya Inoue’s younger brother Takuma Inoue, who recently defeated Japanese star Tenshin Nasukawa, will defend his WBC bantamweight belt against former multi-division champion Kazuto Ioka.

    Japanese boxing pundits, many of whom reach huge audiences via social media, have been consumed with analyzing the bout’s potential outcomes. Former OPBF super bantamweight champion Shingo Wake is confident Inoue will emerge victorious, while former world champion Takanori Hatakeyama has warned Inoue against overcommitting to a knockout win, a mistake that could open the door for Nakatani to capitalize. While most analysts lean toward an Inoue win thanks to his superior experience, elite speed, and precise footwork and distance control, predictions remain far from unanimous. Nakatani, a taller right-handed southpaw with a longer reach, carries equal knockout power in both hands, making him a dangerous threat for any opponent.

    A defining trait of the modern Japanese boxing scene that sets it apart from many other global circuits is the stoic, disciplined demeanor shared by most of its top athletes. Many top Japanese boxers got their start in traditional martial arts like karate, which is widely taught as an educational character-building activity for children across Japan. Both Inoue and Nakatani trained in karate from early childhood, and grew up in supportive family environments that nurtured their boxing ambitions. Inoue’s father has served as his long-time trainer and closest advisor, and regularly appears alongside his son at press conferences. Nakatani, who moved to the United States as a teenager to study boxing and regularly trains in Los Angeles, has his brother in his corner for every bout, and works with Rudy Hernandez, one of the most respected trainers in professional boxing. “We won’t know until the bell rings,” Hernandez said of the bout’s outcome. “We have two great fighters.”

    In a contrast to the trash talk that often dominates promotion for major bouts in other countries, both Inoue and Nakatani have maintained polite, respectful interactions throughout the fight buildup, always addressing each other with a smile while reaffirming their commitment to winning. “I want to show you all a spectacular fight,” Inoue told reporters. “I’ve studied and thoroughly know Nakatani, the fighter.”

    When the opening bell rings on May 2, one of the two undefeated competitors will suffer their first professional loss. When asked if a draw — a outcome many fans are quietly hoping for — was on the table, Nakatani smiled and acknowledged it is highly unlikely, but not impossible. For Japanese boxing, regardless of the result, this historic bout already marks a new high point for the sport in the country.

  • After last year’s fighting with Thailand, Cambodia readies new conscription law for men aged 18-25

    After last year’s fighting with Thailand, Cambodia readies new conscription law for men aged 18-25

    Phnom Penh, Cambodia – In a direct policy shift shaped by recent violent border tensions with neighboring Thailand, Cambodia’s Cabinet has formally approved a revised conscription law mandating two years of compulsory military service for all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 25. The legislative update comes eight months after two separate outbreaks of armed conflict along the Cambodia-Thailand shared border that left dozens dead and displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians on both sides of the divide.

  • Experts: Education the ‘key force’ in global climate action

    Experts: Education the ‘key force’ in global climate action

    As the global community grapples with the accelerating urgency of climate change, international industry and academic experts gathered in Shanghai this week to highlight education as an underrecognized, transformative force for driving meaningful climate progress. The discussion took place Thursday at the Climate Change Education Forum, a core event of 2026 Shanghai Climate Week hosted on the campus of East China Normal University (ECNU), where leaders from institutions across Asia called for expanded cross-border collaboration to embed climate literacy and green action into learning systems worldwide.

    Opening the forum, Zhu Junwen, deputy Party chief of ECNU, framed climate change as one of the most existential shared challenges facing modern humanity, arguing that education stands apart as a foundational catalyst for systemic change. He emphasized that climate education must evolve far beyond simple knowledge dissemination, arguing that its core goal should be reshaping public mindsets and catalyzing widespread behavioral change that reduces individual and collective carbon footprints.

    A leading hub for climate education research and policy development, ECNU has leveraged its cross-disciplinary research platforms to deepen engagement in the field, contribute to the drafting of international climate education standards, and advance multilateral collaborative projects. Currently, the university is working with higher education institutions and research organizations from a dozen countries across the globe to launch the “BRICS+” Joint Laboratory for Climate Change Education and Green Development, a new initiative designed to align global research efforts and share best practices for climate-focused learning.

    “ECNU remains committed to deepening partnership with all stakeholders around the world, to leverage the power of education to enable just green transition, and to contribute to global sustainable development and the construction of a global community with a shared future for humanity, Zhu added.

    Supakorn Pongbangpho, president of Thailand’s University of Phayao, echoed the call for a reimagined approach to climate education, noting that the core mission of climate learning is to embed long-term green thinking into the next generation of global leaders. He stressed that truly sustainable development pathways can only be achieved when modern innovative technology is paired with the traditional ecological wisdom held by local communities around the world, creating a holistic approach to climate action that benefits all populations.

    By the close of the forum, participating organizations had already advanced a range of collaborative agreements and actionable outcomes, said Zou Rong, co-director of the executive committee of Shanghai Climate Week. Looking ahead, Zou called for continued cross-sector, cross-border cooperation to turn pledges into tangible progress, expanding access to high-quality climate education and turning learning into measurable action to cut global emissions and build climate resilience.

    The forum comes as policymakers and climate activists increasingly recognize that even the most ambitious national emissions reduction pledges will fail without broad public buy-in, which can only be built through widespread climate literacy that empowers people to adjust their behaviors and demand systemic change from governments and corporations.

  • 8 Hong Kong universities secure spots in Asia’s top 100 rankings

    8 Hong Kong universities secure spots in Asia’s top 100 rankings

    In a landmark achievement for Hong Kong’s higher education sector, eight local institutions have secured positions in the highly competitive 2026 Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings, with two of the city’s flagship universities holding onto their places among the region’s top 10 academic institutions.

    The University of Hong Kong maintains its standing as one of Asia’s leading universities, climbing one spot to claim sixth place regionally, while The Chinese University of Hong Kong holds the 10th position. Four other established Hong Kong institutions also earned places in the top 50: The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ranks 12th, City University of Hong Kong takes 14th, Hong Kong Polytechnic University comes in at 18th, and Hong Kong Baptist University secured the 40th spot.

    Most notably, two smaller Hong Kong institutions have broken new ground by earning their first ever placements in the Asia top 100 list. The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) debuted at an impressive 37th place, while Lingnan University earned its spot at 84th.

    Christine Choi, Secretary for Education of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, attributed this collective strong performance to the administration’s long-term strategy of sustained funding investment and targeted policy measures designed to strengthen Hong Kong’s global education competitiveness. In a public social media statement, she noted that the outcome reflects the consistent progress of Hong Kong’s higher education ecosystem on the global stage.

    Choi added that the Education Bureau will continue to deepen collaborative partnerships with local higher education institutions to consolidate and expand Hong Kong’s position as a leading international hub for tertiary education and global talent development.

    John Lee Chi-Kin, President of EdUHK, described the university’s first-time entry into the top 100 ranking as a defining milestone in the institution’s development. He emphasized that the achievement is a direct reflection of the university’s unwavering commitment to advancing high-impact, solution-focused research and fostering a dynamic, globally connected learning environment that attracts students and scholars from across the world.

    The annual Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings is one of the most widely recognized assessments of higher education performance across the continent. The ranking evaluates participating institutions across 135 independent indicators grouped into five core performance pillars: teaching quality, research environment, the real-world impact and citation quality of published research, international outlook and collaboration, and industry knowledge transfer and engagement.

  • Behind Nigeria’s murky coup plot – the money, the prayers and a Nollywood arrest

    Behind Nigeria’s murky coup plot – the money, the prayers and a Nollywood arrest

    For months, whispers and official silence shrouded the alleged Independence Day coup plot that targeted Nigeria’s sitting government last year. This week, the first public proceedings have finally lifted the veil, exposing new details of what prosecutors describe as an elaborate conspiracy to overthrow President Bola Tinubu, bringing long-unanswered questions into the public domain.

    The plot was scheduled to unfold on October 1, 2025, Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, when the nation was set to mark decades of freedom from British colonial rule. The annual celebratory parade, scheduled to be attended by President Tinubu, was abruptly canceled at the eleventh hour, with government and military officials offering no public explanation for the last-minute change. It was not until January 2026 that the military made a sparse, short statement confirming that 16 unnamed senior military officers would face court-martial over the alleged plot, finally confirming publicly that an attempted takeover had been foiled.

    Now, court documents filed by state prosecutors at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the nation’s capital, have named the alleged mastermind of the conspiracy and laid bare the plotters’ strategy to destabilize the country ahead of their power grab. Six individuals, all civilians – including one serving police inspector and multiple retired military personnel – are facing trial in the High Court, as civilians are ineligible to be tried before military tribunals. All six have pleaded not guilty to 13 charges ranging from treason and terrorism to money laundering. While they are not believed to be the top leaders of the conspiracy, their open trial is expected to shine a light on a plot that investigators say drew participants from across all branches of Nigeria’s security forces.

    Nigeria has a long history of military coups, but has maintained uninterrupted civilian rule since 1999. In recent years, however, a wave of successful military takeovers across neighboring West African nations, paired with rising economic hardship in Nigeria and widespread accusations of a political system rigged to favor a small elite, has fueled persistent speculation that the country could be next.

    Court documents identify Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, a 50-year-old Muslim born in western Niger State, as the plot’s chief strategist. Ma’aji spent much of his early military career deployed in the oil-rich Niger Delta, climbing the military ranks during the mid-2000s at the height of regional oil militancy, when heavily armed militant groups attacked oil infrastructure and kidnapped foreign workers for ransom. During this period, he built close professional ties to Timipre Sylva, a prominent oil businessman and former governor of Bayelsa State who helped broker a 2009 ceasefire and amnesty deal with militant groups in the region’s creeks. Multiple newspaper reports confirm Ma’aji coordinated security for Sylva during his unsuccessful 2015 campaign for a second term as governor, a relationship that investigators say is at the core of the alleged coup plot.

    Though Sylva, 67, has not been formally indicted in this week’s filings, his name appears on seven of the 13 charges, each entry marked with the notation “still at large.” A former oil minister during the final term of President Muhammadu Buhari, who left office in 2023, investigators allege Sylva was the plot’s key financier, bankrolling the effort to oust Buhari’s elected successor, Tinubu. A member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Sylva notably declined to back Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign.

    After the Independence Day parade was canceled, investigators raided Sylva’s Abuja residence. His spokesman has repeatedly denied any involvement, claiming the coup allegations and a separate arrest warrant for corruption are politically motivated. Sylva is currently in the United Kingdom for what his spokesman says is medical treatment, and has promised to return to clear his name – a step he has not yet taken.

    Prosecutors allege the conspiracy required substantial funding to secure equipment and buy influence, with charges noting six accused civilians received payments ranging from 2 million naira ($1,500) to 50 million naira ($37,000), which they “reasonably ought to have known forms proceeds of an unlawful act… terrorism financing.”

    Beyond financial details, a serving military investigator who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity shared the full scope of the plotters’ plans. The conspirators intended to storm Aso Rock, Nigeria’s heavily fortified presidential villa in Abuja, on the morning of October 1, leveraging insider intelligence gathered from co-conspirators already embedded at the compound. One of the indicted civilians, Zekeri Umoru, worked as an electrician at the villa, giving the plotters critical insight into the site’s layout and security protocols.

    After seizing control of the villa, the plotters planned to immediately detain President Tinubu and other top government leaders. The investigator further alleged the conspirators intended to assassinate Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. Authorities got wind of the plot in the days leading up to Independence Day, however, and made the first arrests before the plan could be executed. Concerns over the plot’s scale and penetration of security forces led the military to cancel the Independence Day parade, with investigations and additional arrests continuing in the months after.

    Investigators say the conspirators also procured a fleet of sport utility vehicles to reach key strategic targets, including airports and other sensitive government sites. Of the 16 senior military officers arrested in connection with the plot, 14 are from the army, spread across multiple divisions, with one from the navy and one from the air force.

    One of the most high-profile names among the six indicted civilians is Sani Abdulkadir, a popular Islamic cleric from Zaria in Kaduna State. Abdulkadir was reported missing by his family in late 2025 after he traveled to Abuja to inquire why his bank account had been frozen, sparking public outcry over his disappearance. It was only revealed months later he had been taken into security custody. On Monday, a Federal High Court judge ordered his release, awarded him more than $3,500 in damages for proven human rights violations, and ordered security agencies to issue a formal apology. Just 24 hours later, prosecutors named him as a coup conspirator and ordered him re-detained, noting court records show he received $1,500 from a plot leader. Contrary to early speculation that he was recruited to spread radical Islam to destabilize the country, the investigator said Abdulkadir was brought on as a “spiritual ‘prayer-warrior’ for the operation” – a common role for clerics in northern Nigeria, where community leaders regularly offer prayers for supporters undertaking major endeavors.

    Earlier in 2026, an investigation by Nigerian newspaper Premium Times identified 40 total suspects, the vast majority serving military officers. Last week, the government inaugurated a closed-door military tribunal to try more than 30 of the accused officers, a decision that has drawn questions about transparency. One name that appears on leaked suspect lists but has not been brought into open court is Stanley Amandi, a popular Nollywood actor and director better known by his stage name “Stan K.” In January, the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) confirmed to BBC Pidgin that Amandi, from the eastern city of Enugu, was arrested in September 2025 over allegations he was hired to serve as the plot’s propagandist. A legal source close to the investigation said Amandi was tapped to use his existing media connections and film production experience to build public support for the coup after the takeover.

    AGN leader Emeka Rollas Ejezie said the organization has reached out to Nigeria’s domestic spy agency, the Department of State Services (DSS), to arrange access for Amandi’s lawyer, wife, and doctor. The DSS has stated Amandi is not in their custody, and is instead being held by military intelligence, which has declined to comment on his detention or whereabouts. Amandi has not been able to respond to the allegations against him, and the AGN continues to push for confirmation of his location.

    The six defendants in the open High Court trial were remanded to DSS custody this Wednesday, with their next court date set for April 27 to hear bail applications. The limited details that have emerged so far have shaken Nigeria, where the last successful military coup took place in 1993 under General Sani Abacha. For many Nigerians, the trial offers the first chance to learn full details of what analysts say is the most serious coup attempt since the return to democracy in 1999 – a worrying development for a region that has already seen a string of military takeovers in recent years.

  • Shanghai Jinshan beach to host fireworks shows on May Day holiday

    Shanghai Jinshan beach to host fireworks shows on May Day holiday

    As the 2026 May Day holiday approaches, Shanghai’s scenic Jinshan City Beach is putting the final touches on a dazzling cultural event that is expected to draw thousands of local and out-of-town visitors: the 2026 International Music Fireworks Show.

    Organizers have scheduled two full evening performances for the holiday period, set to take place on May 2 and May 4, turning the coastal shoreline into an immersive open-air stage blending pyrotechnic art, music, and scenic waterfront views. First announced in late April 2026, the event marks a major seasonal entertainment offering for Shanghai, designed to celebrate the five-day national holiday and boost regional leisure tourism.

    Jinshan District’s coastal location makes it an ideal venue for large-scale fireworks displays, with unobstructed views over the East China Sea that allow spectators to experience the full visual impact of pyrotechnics reflected off the water. The international-themed event is expected to showcase a range of fireworks designs paired with carefully curated musical scores, creating a multi-sensory experience for attendees of all ages.

    Local tourism officials anticipate that the fireworks shows will not only provide a memorable recreational option for holiday-makers but also support surrounding small businesses including hotels, restaurants, and local retailers that rely on seasonal visitor traffic. With preparations already well underway ahead of the holiday, the event is set to be one of Shanghai’s most anticipated public entertainment attractions for the 2026 May Day travel peak.

  • Some patients advised surgery may not need it, leading surgeons say

    Some patients advised surgery may not need it, leading surgeons say

    Leading orthopedic and spine specialists from China and the United States have issued a critical public warning: a substantial share of patients currently recommended for orthopedic surgery do not actually need invasive intervention, and overreliance on imaging alone is driving unnecessary procedures that put patients at avoidable risk.

    The consensus was reached during a high-level joint forum held in Beijing on Tuesday, organized by global medical consultancy Saint Lucia Consulting, Xinhua Health, and New York’s globally ranked Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), a leading institution for musculoskeletal care.

    Todd Albert, Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus and the Richard Rogers Chair to Advance Spine Care at HSS, shared data illustrating the scale of the issue: roughly 35 percent of patients who travel to HSS to seek a second medical opinion after being told they need surgery ultimately end up receiving effective non-surgical treatment instead.
    Zhang Jianguo, chair of orthopedics at Beijing’s Peking Union Medical College Hospital, echoed this finding, noting that many patients referred to his center after a surgery recommendation from other facilities ultimately do not require any invasive procedure at all. Zhang emphasized that surgical decisions cannot be made based on imaging scans alone. “You cannot decide on surgery based solely on imaging results,” he said. “You have to look at the patient’s symptoms, physical signs, and functional limitations.”

    Forum participants also highlighted the growing value of cross-border medical collaboration in reducing unnecessary procedures. Albert stressed that international cooperation is not just about encouraging patients to seek treatment abroad. Instead, the core benefit lies in streamlined preoperative assessment, secure cross-border sharing of imaging data, and collaborative expert consultations that help patients make informed choices about whether to pursue care at home or overseas. This model, Albert added, cuts down on unnecessary international referrals and wasted, costly trips for patients who do not need offshore intervention.

    When it comes to complex orthopedic cases — including severe spinal deformities, age-related degenerative conditions, revision surgeries, and patients managing multiple coexisting chronic health conditions — care requires a far more comprehensive approach than just surgical skill, Zhang explained. “Complex orthopedics is not just about surgical technique anymore,” he said. “It’s a systemic project. The more complex the patient, the more you need multiple disciplines including respiratory, anesthesia, neurology and rehabilitation working together before the surgery even happens.”

    To address the gap in access to high-quality expert input for uncertain orthopedic cases, Saint Lucia Consulting launched a new international orthopedic care program at the conclusion of Tuesday’s forum. The initiative is tailored specifically for patients living with complex spinal and joint conditions, and offers a full suite of services including formal international case reviews, second opinions from top global specialists, coordination for cross-border treatment when needed, rehabilitation planning support, and long-term clinical follow-up.
    Cheng Xiaoyu, deputy general manager and rotating medical director of Saint Lucia Consulting, noted that the program is designed to move quickly for patients facing confusing diagnoses, conflicting medical recommendations, or poor outcomes from prior treatment. The initiative can connect patients to leading global orthopedic specialists for a formal review within 72 hours. “What complex orthopedic patients often lack, is not treatment opportunities, but the ability to make high-quality decisions at critical moments,” Cheng said.

  • Xi’s everlasting passion for books

    Xi’s everlasting passion for books

    BEIJING – For Chinese President Xi Jinping, reading is far more than a casual pastime – it is an enduring passion and a core way of life that has shaped his decades-long journey from grassroots rural work to leading the world’s most populous nation. Beyond personal enrichment, Xi’s deep engagement with books has also become a unique diplomatic bridge, strengthening cultural connections between China and the global community and advancing dialogue and mutual understanding across different civilizations.

    Xi’s love of reading began in childhood, rooted in the educational values of his family. Born in Beijing to a revolutionary family, Xi grew up in a household that prioritized learning. His father, veteran revolutionary leader Xi Zhongxun, rarely purchased toys for Xi and his siblings, but was always open-handed when it came to buying books. He would regularly take the children to bookstores and let them pick whatever volumes sparked their interest.

    Chen Qiuying, who taught Xi Chinese when he was a teenager in 1965, recalled that even at a young age, Xi was a devoted reader of history and literature, with a particular fascination for the poetry of Tang Dynasty master Du Fu. Du, one of China’s most celebrated realist poets, wove profound empathy and care for ordinary people into his work, themes that would leave a lasting impression on Xi.

    In 1969, at just 15 years old, Xi was sent to work as an “educated youth” in Liangjiahe, a remote mountain village in Shaanxi Province in Northwest China. Among his few belongings were two large suitcases stuffed entirely with books. Over the seven years he spent living in a yaodong – a traditional cave dwelling carved into the region’s yellow loess hills – harsh living conditions never dimmed his enthusiasm for reading. Instead, books became a vital source of spiritual strength through those challenging years.

    Xi made use of every spare moment to read: he would study dictionaries during breaks from farm work, steal quiet moments to read while tending sheep on hilltops, and lose himself in books under the glow of a kerosene lamp long after dark. In one famous anecdote, he walked 15 kilometers along a rutted, dusty country road just to borrow a copy of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s *Faust*. He also drew great inspiration from Russian writer Nikolai Chernyshevsky’s *What Is to Be Done?*, where the main character’s unyielding resilience encouraged him through difficult times. By the end of his time in Liangjiahe, Xi had read nearly every classic work of literature he could get his hands on, once saying that the knowledge he draws on easily today all stems from the reading he did in those years.

    Over time, Xi developed a distinctive, thoughtful reading method: he describes the approach as “turning thick books thin, and thin books thick.” This means distilling the core essence from dense, complex texts to extract key insights, while diving deep into the layers of shorter, concise works to unpack their full depth and meaning. By the time he was admitted to Tsinghua University in 1975, he had read Karl Marx’s *Das Kapital* cover to cover three times, and filled 18 notebooks with his own reflections and analysis.

    For decades, no matter if he was serving as a grassroots local official or leading the entire country, Xi has maintained this consistent reading routine. He has also repeatedly encouraged both government officials and the general public across China to make reading a regular part of their lives.

    Global observers have long noted the significance of Chinese leaders’ reading habits, as the knowledge gained from books directly shapes how policy is conceived and implemented. As international outlet *The Diplomat* wrote in a piece on the topic, “Overseas analysts of China are understandably very interested in whether Chinese leaders are reading, whether they have time to read, and what kind of books they are reading. Leaders’ knowledge is formed by the books they read … This in turn is an important factor in determining the shaping and implementation of policy.”

  • After a failed attempt, Australian families again attempt repatriation from Syria’s Roj camp

    After a failed attempt, Australian families again attempt repatriation from Syria’s Roj camp

    In a development that reignites debate over the repatriation of citizens linked to the Islamic State (IS) militant group, four Australian families departed the Roj Camp in northeast Syria on Friday, launching a fresh push to return to their home country, according to regional officials.

    Correspondents from the Associated Press witnessed 13 Australian women and children board a bus guarded by a Syrian government delegation for the journey out of the remote camp, which sits just kilometers from the Iraq-Syria border and holds thousands of family members of people suspected of ties to IS.

    Lana Hussein, a senior official with the Women’s Protection Units, an arm of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that oversees security at Roj Camp, confirmed that the departure was coordinated jointly with the central Syrian government in Damascus. Per the agreed-upon arrangement, the Australian group will stay in the Syrian capital for approximately three days, after which they will be deported following standard security vetting procedures, Hussein explained.

    As of Friday evening, neither the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor the Australian federal government had issued any public statement in response to press requests for comment. It also remains unclear whether the Australian government was aware of or involved in planning this latest departure attempt.

    This second effort to repatriate Australian citizens from the camp follows a failed attempt in February that saw a group of 34 women and children turned away by Syrian authorities before they could reach Damascus to depart for Australia. At the time, Australian officials explicitly stated they would not facilitate the group’s repatriation, and Canberra later issued a temporary exclusion barring one of the participating women from reentering the country.

    The geographic context of the situation has shifted dramatically since that February attempt. Roj Camp is located in a region of northeast Syria that was long controlled by the SDF, but clashes between the SDF and Syrian government forces in early 2024 ended with Damascus seizing control of the majority of the territory the SDF previously held. The fighting also triggered a wave of prison breaks and mass escapes from the larger al-Hol camp, another major facility holding IS-linked detainees, which has since been formally closed. Following the collapse of IS’s self-declared caliphate in 2019, tens of thousands of former fighters, their spouses and children from dozens of countries were detained in a network of SDF-run camps and detention centers across northeast Syria. In the aftermath of the January clashes, the U.S. military transferred thousands of former IS detainees from Syria to Iraq to face legal proceedings.

    Canberra has previously facilitated two repatriation operations for Australian women and children held in Syrian detention camps, and an unknown number of other Australian citizens have returned to the country without official government support. Even after the defeat of IS’s territorial rule, the group retains active sleeper cells that continue to launch lethal attacks across both Syria and Iraq.

    This report includes contributing reporting from AP correspondent Abby Sewell based in Beirut.

  • Spain heads to World Cup with its image battered by cases of racism, sexism and xenophobia

    Spain heads to World Cup with its image battered by cases of racism, sexism and xenophobia

    MADRID – As Spain’s men’s national soccer team prepares to compete for the 2025 World Cup title, a string of high-profile discrimination incidents has plunged Spanish soccer into a global reckoning, overshadowing the team’s on-pitch success and raising urgent questions about cultural change within the sport. The latest controversy came in a March friendly match against Egypt, held in Barcelona, where a faction of Spanish supporters directed anti-Muslim chants at the Egyptian team and jeered the Egyptian national anthem – an incident that sparked international outrage just months before the World Cup kicks off. This incident marks the third major discrimination scandal to hit Spanish soccer in two years, following 2023’s racist abuse targeting Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior and the unwanted sexual advance by former Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales against Women’s World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso. With Spain set to co-host the 2030 World Cup, cleaning up its international reputation as a tolerant host nation has become a top priority for Spanish authorities and soccer leaders, who have pushed back against framing the entire country as racist or discriminatory. Esteban Ibarra, leader of the Madrid-based Movement Against Intolerance, Racism and Xenophobia, argues that the harmful acts are limited to small, radical fan factions rather than the broader Spanish supporter base. “It’s not a very good image for Spain right now, but we can’t mistake these acts by minority groups, usually the ultra groups, with the actions of the majority of fans in Spain,” Ibarra noted. Spain’s highest sports governing body, the Higher Council for Sports, echoed that position in a statement to the Associated Press, stressing that the disruptive fans do not represent the vast majority of Spanish supporters. “These acts, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms, have been perpetrated by a group of people who in no way represent the vast majority of Spanish soccer fans,” the council said. “The chants were deplorable and cannot be repeated. We are confident that the Spanish men and women attending the World Cup this summer will support our team with passion and always with respect.” Critics and affected parties have pushed back against framing the incidents as isolated, however. The Egyptian Football Association called the chants “entirely unacceptable in football stadiums” and emphasized that this negative phenomenon must be collectively addressed and fully eradicated. Notably, the incident occurred even with 18-year-old Spanish star forward Lamine Yamal – a practicing Muslim – in Spain’s lineup. The day after the friendly, Yamal publicly condemned the chants as disrespectful and intolerable, arguing that the bigotry was unacceptable regardless of whether it was directed at him personally. “I understand that not all fans are like that, but to those who chant these things: Using a religion as a taunt on the field makes you look ignorant and racist,” Yamal said. “Football is for enjoying and cheering, not for disrespecting people for who they are or what they believe.” The RFEF has pointed to Yamal’s widespread popularity as proof that discrimination does not reflect the views of most Spanish fans, noting that Yamal’s jersey is the highest-selling Spain national team shirt and that he draws massive crowds everywhere the team travels. The federation also highlighted ongoing anti-discrimination campaigns run in partnership with the Spanish government and other soccer entities. In response to the incident, Spanish authorities launched a criminal investigation into the fan behavior, and FIFA has opened formal disciplinary proceedings against the RFEF. The anti-Muslim incident comes on the heels of two major scandals that already put Spanish soccer’s culture of discrimination under the global microscope. In 2023, Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s Black Brazilian forward, was subjected to racist slurs from ultra fans during a La Liga match in Valencia, prompting the star to speak out forcefully about the pervasive problem of racism in Spanish soccer. At the time, Vinícius said that the Spanish league “now belongs to racists” and that Spain was widely perceived as a racist country globally. He has since softened that framing, noting that racism exists in every nation, but continues to advocate for stronger action. After praising Yamal’s condemnation of the anti-Muslim chants, Vinícius said: “I’m not saying that Spain or Germany or Portugal are racist countries, but there are racists in these countries, and in Brazil and other countries as well. But if we keep fighting together, I think future players and people in general won’t have to go through this again.” Vinícius’ protest sparked widespread global support and pushed Spanish authorities to take stronger action against on-pitch discrimination. For the first time in Spanish professional soccer history, a court handed down a conviction for racial abuse in soccer following Vinícius’ repeated calls for accountability, and multiple other radical fans have received penalties for discriminatory acts. A recent ruling from the Spanish Supreme Court also set a new precedent for harsher sentences for intolerance in sports, marking a tangible step forward in the fight against discrimination. Just months after the Vinícius controversy, Spanish soccer faced another major cultural reckoning with the Rubiales scandal. After Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup, then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales grabbed Jenni Hermoso, a star Spanish player, by the head and kissed her on the lips without her consent. Rubiales ultimately resigned and was found guilty of sexual assault, with critics arguing the incident exposed deep-rooted sexism in Spanish soccer leadership. The RFEF says the scandal prompted sweeping internal reform: today, 50% of the federation’s board of directors are women, and women hold multiple senior leadership positions within the organization. As the World Cup approaches, Spain is grouped with Saudi Arabia, a majority-Muslim nation, adding extra urgency to addressing the recent anti-Muslim incident. Spanish soccer and government officials say they have put in place robust measures to prevent similar incidents during the tournament, including monitoring bulk ticket purchases to block known radical ultra fans from accessing matches. Ibarra argues that the high global attention on recent scandals has put Spain on alert, making it less likely that similar incidents will occur during the World Cup. “Especially now that Spain is on alert because of the international repercussion of the recent incidents, more severe measures are expected against these Spanish ultra groups that are responsible for these acts,” Ibarra said. The Spanish government said it has coordinated for years across law enforcement, soccer governing bodies, clubs and fan groups to stop a small faction of hooligans from tarnishing the sport. The government claims it has “one of the most advanced systems in Europe” to combat sports-related intolerance, with a dedicated anti-violence commission that coordinates action between law enforcement, prosecutors and other relevant institutions. Spain enters the 2025 World Cup as one of the pre-tournament title favorites. The team, which currently holds the European Championship title, recovered from a disappointing round-of-16 exit at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to win the 2023 Nations League and finish as runners-up in the 2024 iteration, building strong momentum on the pitch ahead of the tournament. But that on-pitch success has been partially overshadowed by the ongoing reckoning over discrimination, leaving observers waiting to see if the recent string of scandals will translate to lasting cultural change in Spanish soccer.