Global Pulse

分类： society

  • Shanghai’s last newsstand finds new lease of life

    Shanghai’s last newsstand finds new lease of life

    In an extraordinary cultural resurgence, Shanghai’s last surviving newsstand has experienced unprecedented commercial success following its highly publicized relocation on New Year’s Day. The revitalized operation, now situated near the historic Bund area on Zhapu Road, has become an unexpected cultural landmark attracting both nostalgic older patrons and a new generation of younger customers seeking alternatives to algorithm-driven digital content.

    Jiang Jun, the 67-year-old proprietor who has dedicated 38 years to print retail, reports that daily visitor numbers have nearly doubled since the move. The newsstand’s new location within a cultural zone adjacent to Shengli Cinema—provided rent-free by the cinema management—has transformed it into a weekend destination for tourists and local residents alike.

    This remarkable turnaround follows what seemed like the inevitable closure of the city’s final print outlet. In 2019, when Jiang reached standard retirement age, thousands of newsstands had already shuttered across Shanghai due to digital media disruption and unsustainable business models. His newsstand, then located 200 meters from its current position, remained the solitary survivor.

    Rather than retire, Jiang made the extraordinary decision to continue operations, driven by his conviction that print media maintained irreplaceable social value. His dedication to the trade is legendary—for decades he maintained a grueling schedule, waking at 4:30 AM to collect newspapers from printing facilities, opening by 6 AM, and working until after 6 PM without taking a single day off throughout the year.

    The newsstand’s future was secured when news of its impending closure sparked public outcry last year. Multiple district governments, cultural institutions, and office parks offered rent-free locations, ultimately resulting in relocation to the current spacious 30-square-meter venue that now stocks over 1,000 different publications.

    The revitalized operation has particularly resonated with younger demographics. Parents like 42-year-old Qi Feng report that their children have developed unexpected interest in print media, with one primary school student spontaneously purchasing 424 yuan worth of science and humanities publications after seeing media coverage of the newsstand.

  • Collective effort uplifts Tianjin villagers

    Collective effort uplifts Tianjin villagers

    In Huzhangzhuang village, Tianjin’s Dongli District, 92-year-old Chen Yuying now enjoys apartment living, collective dividends, pension benefits, and holiday allowances—a dramatic improvement from her former existence in three earthen rooms earning barely 200 yuan annually. Her current yearly income exceeds 30,000 yuan, symbolizing the village’s extraordinary transformation under Party Secretary Yang Baoling’s decades-long leadership.

    When Yang began her tenure, Huzhangzhuang faced severe challenges: saline-alkali soil dominated the landscape, infrastructure was inadequate, and economic opportunities were scarce. Residents endured mud-brick housing while struggling with educational access, healthcare availability, and employment prospects.

    The turning point emerged in 2007 when Tianjin initiated a pilot program for small-town development. Yang recognized the housing exchange initiative’s potential, becoming the first to enroll and personally advocating door-to-door about the benefits of modernized living. Her efforts achieved remarkable ‘Huzhangzhuang speed’—95% participation rates and rapid environmental transformation.

    Understanding that relocation alone couldn’t guarantee prosperity, Yang focused on strengthening the collective economy. She revitalized the traditional grape industry, leveraging her experience as a former trader to expand national sales channels and establish the ‘Huzhangzhuang Rose Fragrance’ brand under China’s ‘One Village, One Product’ initiative. This generated over 11 million yuan in annual revenue, funding comprehensive welfare programs including medical insurance coverage, elderly subsidies, and university student support. During recent Spring Festival celebrations, each villager received 4,000 yuan in collective allowances.

    Now 68 and serving as a deputy to the National People’s Congress, Yang remains innovatively engaged. She recently welcomed two post-2000 born university graduates to the village committee to enhance agricultural e-commerce through livestreaming platforms. Concurrently, she explores agricultural waste recycling solutions, investigating methods to convert pruned grapevines into organic fertilizer.

    Despite her national legislative role, Yang maintains hands-on involvement in daily village affairs, frequently fielding calls from residents seeking assistance. The village’s evolution demonstrates how sustained collective effort and leadership can fundamentally reshape communities beyond mere infrastructural development.

  • The silent struggle of an anti-war woman in Russia

    The silent struggle of an anti-war woman in Russia

    In the immediate aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a wave of public dissent briefly surfaced. Varvara, a 32-year-old Moscow resident, was among those who initially took to the streets, propelled by feelings of profound despair and anger. Her participation in a central Moscow anti-war rally marked a moment of open defiance. However, four years into a conflict met with an unrelenting state crackdown, her activism has been silenced, replaced by a singular focus on survival within a nation rigidly mobilized for war.

    The landscape of dissent in Russia has been fundamentally reshaped, with repression escalating to levels not witnessed since the Soviet era. Public criticism of the Kremlin or its military campaign is now virtually extinct, punished by imprisonment or heavy fines. The systematic eradication of opposition has left major figures incarcerated, exiled, or dead, while anti-war groups abroad are paralyzed by internal strife. This environment has forced countless potential activists into a state of resigned acquiescence.

    Varvara’s personal journey mirrors this national silencing. After joining an early protest—an act she undertook with the foreboding expectation of arrest—she managed to evade the brutal police clampdown. Yet, consequences followed. Signing an online anti-war petition led to her swift dismissal from a public institution. Faced with the exodus of friends who chose emigration after brief detentions, Varvara grappled with a critical decision. Ultimately, the uncertainties of life as an emigrant outweighed the perceived immediate physical threats of staying, as no authorities were knocking on her door.

    Rebuilding her life, she found employment at a charity organization and arrived at a new philosophy: to ‘do something good here’ in Russia. This commitment was further cemented by meeting her future husband in the summer of 2022. Her calculus for resistance shifted entirely; the only circumstance that would now compel her to leave would be the imminent arrest of either herself or her partner. Her priorities are now anchored in her new family, which includes her husband’s two children from a previous marriage—a responsibility she describes as a form of ‘escapism’ that reinforces her silence.

    Despite her outward conformity, the war remains an inescapable shadow over her existence. It took two years for her to experience a moment of simple happiness without an accompanying sense of guilt. Professionally, she navigates a moral labyrinth, constantly vetting potential partners and donors for connections to the military campaign. This ‘constant inner struggle’ is matched by a personal conflict with her father, a member of the Russian security services who fought in Ukraine and offers her financial support—assistance she finds morally impossible to accept, despite her love for him. For Varvara and many like her, survival now means living in a state of perpetual, silent internal conflict.

  • NSW government signals major change to driving laws for medicinal cannabis users

    NSW government signals major change to driving laws for medicinal cannabis users

    The New South Wales government has initiated a comprehensive review of its roadside drug testing regulations, potentially transforming driving rights for over one million medicinal cannabis patients. This groundbreaking reconsideration addresses what advocates describe as outdated legislation that unfairly penalizes prescription holders despite their driving competence.

    Current NSW laws prohibit driving with any detectable level of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), cannabis’s psychoactive component, regardless of medical authorization. This zero-tolerance approach persists despite THC’s extended detection window, which can span from several days to months after consumption.

    The movement for reform gained significant momentum following the 2024 NSW drug summit, which produced 56 recommendations including a specific defense for medically prescribed cannabis users. Although the government initially declined this recommendation in October 2025, political pressure has continued to build.

    Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich personally championed the cause in parliament last November, sharing his own therapeutic use of prescribed cannabis for insomnia, pain relief, and anxiety while maintaining full functionality. His legislative proposal seeks to establish legal protections for drivers using medically authorized cannabis.

    Support extends across party lines, with Legalise Cannabis Party MP Jeremy Buckingham emphasizing the distinction between personal vehicle operators and commercial drivers operating heavy machinery. The proposed reforms would specifically exempt personal vehicle drivers from penalties if they can demonstrate medical authorization.

    Despite mounting support, opposition remains vocal. NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury expressed concerns about transforming medical considerations into road safety exemptions, highlighting worries about impaired driving risks.

    Premier Chris Minns has indicated the government will develop its own legislative framework rather than supporting existing proposals, though no specific timeline or detailed framework has been announced. This development represents a potential paradigm shift in how jurisdictions balance medical treatment needs with road safety concerns.

  • Septic tank searched, mine shafts to be explored as police ramp up outback search for missing SA woman Trisha Graf

    Septic tank searched, mine shafts to be explored as police ramp up outback search for missing SA woman Trisha Graf

    Authorities in South Australia have escalated their investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Trisha Graf, who vanished from the remote mining town of Andamooka in December 2025. The search operation has now entered a critical phase with investigators examining potentially hazardous locations in the harsh outback terrain.

    New developments reveal that police recently conducted a thorough examination of a septic tank at a property near Graf’s last known location on February 23. Despite meticulous efforts, the search yielded no evidence related to her disappearance. The investigation had been temporarily halted due to severe weather conditions but has now resumed with renewed determination.

    The timeline of events indicates Graf was last seen during the early hours of December 12 after visiting the Roxy Downs hotel. Surveillance records show her departing the establishment at approximately 12:19 AM in her white 2012 Ford Territory (registration S254BCX). Shortly afterward, she reportedly collided with a kangaroo near Andamooka Township but continued her journey to visit a friend.

    Her final confirmed sighting occurred around 2:00 AM on Dunstan Drive. Friends discovered her vehicle approximately ten hours later, positioned on a dirt mound near Blue Dam, east of Andamooka. The abandoned car showed no immediate signs of what might have transpired after she was last seen.

    Law enforcement officials are now preparing to search numerous mine shafts located east of Andamooka, considering the area’s mining history and potentially dangerous abandoned sites. The community remains on high alert as authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

  • Thousands of Melbourne council workers threaten to strike over pay dispute

    Thousands of Melbourne council workers threaten to strike over pay dispute

    Melbourne is confronting the imminent reality of severe public service disruptions as thousands of municipal workers prepare for unprecedented industrial action. The Australian Services Union (ASU) Victorian/Tasmanian branch has officially filed for protected action ballots, setting the stage for what union leadership describes as the largest local government strike in Australian history.

    The impending work stoppage, scheduled for April, will involve critical service personnel across waste management, recycling operations, park maintenance, library services, and home care provisions. The collective action stems from an ongoing compensation dispute with the state government, with workers demanding wage increases of up to 10 percent to address escalating living costs.

    ASU Victorian Branch Secretary Tash Wark articulated the workers’ position, stating, ‘Local government workers are done being left behind. The cost of living is skyrocketing, but your pay isn’t. We’re not just pushing back, we are fighting back big.’

    The industrial action affects eight metropolitan councils—Melbourne, Hume, Darebin, Merri-bek, Yarra, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, and Greater Dandenong—all of which have been notified regarding the pending service interruptions. The Fair Work Commission will oversee the protected action ballot process, determining the final scope and timing of the work stoppages.

    Residents should anticipate significant service degradations including uncollected garbage, closed public libraries, unmaintained parks, and disrupted home care services during the strike period. The union emphasizes that this coordinated action represents a watershed moment in municipal labor relations, reflecting growing concerns about wage stagnation amid Australia’s current economic climate.

  • Fisherman’s body pulled from water at Lord Howe Island

    Fisherman’s body pulled from water at Lord Howe Island

    A devastating maritime incident has resulted in the death of a fisherman in the waters surrounding Australia’s remote Lord Howe Island. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday afternoon when emergency services were alerted to a body sighted floating near Clear Place Point along the island’s eastern coastline.

    New South Wales police confirmed that responders were dispatched approximately at 5:00 PM following a triple-0 emergency call reporting the discovery. The victim, identified as a 51-year-old man, was located in proximity to a rock fishing platform where personal angling equipment was subsequently found.

    Despite immediate recovery efforts conducted jointly by NSW Police and State Emergency Service personnel, medical professionals at Gower Wilson Memorial Hospital were unable to resuscitate the fisherman upon arrival. The body has been transferred to hospital facilities while authorities commence standard investigative procedures.

    As an official territory under the administration of the Lord Howe Island Board—which operates under the jurisdiction of the NSW state government—the island now becomes the focus of a coronial investigation led by NSW Police. Standard protocol requires that all evidence and circumstances surrounding the death be documented for the coroner’s review.

    The picturesque island territory, situated nearly 800 kilometers northeast of Sydney, is renowned for its world heritage status and pristine natural environment, though its rugged coastal geography presents significant hazards for shoreline anglers. This incident marks another sobering reminder of the dangers associated with rock fishing activities around Australia’s coastline.

  • Watch: Moment wolf rescued from canal in northern Italy

    Watch: Moment wolf rescued from canal in northern Italy

    In a remarkable display of interspecies compassion, Italian firefighters successfully rescued a distressed wolf from a canal in northern Italy. The dramatic operation, captured on official video footage released by the Vigili del Fuoco (Italian Fire Brigade), shows emergency personnel carefully hoisting the exhausted animal to safety from beneath a bridge structure where it had become trapped.

    The rescue required specialized technical expertise as firefighters navigated the challenging aquatic environment to reach the struggling canine. Using professional rescue equipment and techniques typically employed for human water emergencies, the team worked methodically to secure the animal without causing additional stress or injury.

    Wildlife experts note that such interventions represent a growing awareness of human responsibility toward wild animals in increasingly urbanized environments. The incident highlights the expanded role of emergency services in responding to non-human distress calls across Italy’s diverse ecosystems.

    The rescued wolf, believed to be from one of the growing populations in Italy’s northern regions, was examined by veterinary specialists following the extraction. Conservation authorities have been notified to monitor the animal’s recovery and eventual reintegration into its natural habitat, demonstrating Italy’s commitment to protecting its native wildlife species.

  • A Canadian town says it’s the ‘birthplace’ of ice hockey. Some historians aren’t so sure

    A Canadian town says it’s the ‘birthplace’ of ice hockey. Some historians aren’t so sure

    A legislative proposal in Nova Scotia has ignited a fiery historical debate among scholars regarding the true origins of modern ice hockey. The controversial bill, introduced by lawmaker Melissa Sheehy-Richard in late February, seeks to officially designate the town of Windsor as hockey’s “birthplace” based on documented accounts of “hurley on the ice” being played there as early as 1810.

    The proposed legislation traces hockey’s evolution from these early ice adaptations of hurling—an ancient Irish field sport—to British soldiers playing organized games in Halifax by the mid-1850s, before the sport gained widespread popularity in Montreal where the first Stanley Cup was awarded in 1893.

    However, prominent historians have challenged this narrative. Jean-Patrice Martel, co-author of “On the Origin of Hockey,” presented evidence suggesting the sport was played earlier in Manhattan, though his research ultimately points to 1607 Scotland during The Great Frost as the earliest documented instance of shinty played on ice.

    Indigenous communities have also voiced strong objections. Mi’kmaw historian Cheryl Maloney testified that her ancestors were playing ice games with tree roots in Tufts Cove, Dartmouth, as early as 1749—decades before the Windsor documentation. Local historian David Jones supported this claim, emphasizing the Mi’kmaq’s significant role in hockey’s evolution and suggesting the bill should be scrapped entirely.

    Sheehy-Richard has responded to critics, stating the bill was “not intended to be exclusionary” and that she remains open to amendments. The controversy mirrors other Canadian historical disputes, including the origins of poutine and butter tarts, highlighting the complex nature of tracing cultural heritage.

  • Open University reverses UKLFI-influenced ‘ancient Palestine’ ban

    Open University reverses UKLFI-influenced ‘ancient Palestine’ ban

    The Open University (OU) has reversed its position on using the term ‘ancient Palestine’ in academic materials following significant scholarly backlash. This development comes after pressure from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), who previously persuaded the university to abandon the terminology.

    In November 2025, UKLFI argued that references to ‘ancient Palestine’ in an OU humanities module could create a ‘hostile environment for Jewish and Israeli students’ and potentially violate equality legislation. The group claimed the term was historically inaccurate for periods before Roman Emperor Hadrian renamed the region ‘Syria Palaestina’ in the second century CE.

    Initially, the university’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences head Adrienne Scullion acquiesced to these demands in December, promising to eliminate the term from future materials and contextualize its use in existing ones. UKLFI celebrated this as a victory on their website.

    However, this decision triggered substantial academic opposition. Over 600 scholars and public figures, including prominent Israeli historians Ilan Pappe and Avi Shlaim alongside Palestinian historians Rashid Khalidi and Nur Masalha, signed an open letter demanding retraction. They argued the commitment threatened academic freedom, potentially violated the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023, and represented complicity in ‘politically motivated attempts to erase Palestine from history.’

    The OU has now clarified its position through a spokesperson, stating academics remain ‘free to use the term ‘ancient Palestine’ where scholarly appropriate’ without mandatory contextual notes. The university explained its previous commitment to UKLFI applied only to a single module ‘scheduled for replacement.’

    This controversy occurs amidst broader patterns of institutional pressure. UKLFI has similarly targeted the British Museum and Encyclopaedia Britannica regarding Palestinian references, though the museum denied acting on UKLFI’s complaints. Academic experts maintain that ‘ancient Palestine’ is historically accurate, with OU classical studies lecturer Marchella Ward calling claims of its illegitimacy a ‘lie’ supporting ‘the erasure of Palestinians.’