Global Pulse

分类： society

  • Russia’s school propaganda was highlighted by Oscar-winning film – but does it work?

    Russia’s school propaganda was highlighted by Oscar-winning film – but does it work?

    In contemporary Russia, a silent struggle unfolds within households as parents attempt to counter state-mandated patriotic education programs permeating school curricula. The Oscar-winning BBC documentary ‘Mr Nobody Against Putin’ illuminates this phenomenon through footage captured by Pavel Talankin, a former school events coordinator from Karabash in the Ural Mountains.

    The film reveals how children are systematically exposed to militaristic narratives following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Classrooms now incorporate flag-raising ceremonies, revised history textbooks labeling the conflict as a ‘special military operation,’ and compulsory lessons promoting state-approved Russian values. The education ministry recently announced plans to introduce government-vetted toys and games to nurseries to further reinforce traditional values.

    Parents like Nina from Moscow face difficult dilemmas when their children enthusiastically participate in these activities. ‘She likes her teacher, she likes her classmates – she likes being a part of it,’ Nina explains, having changed her name for safety concerns. When she once kept her daughter home to avoid a patriotic event, the child felt excluded from her peer group.

    Psychological experts note the particular vulnerability of young children to authority figures’ messages. ‘If you tell a young child that the war is good, they will accept it,’ says psychotherapist Anastasia Rubtsova. Researchers like Emily Willoughby from the University of Minnesota suggest that while childhood provides a critical window for attitude formation, parental influence typically prevails when families actively counter institutional messaging.

    However, in Russia’s tightly controlled information environment, outcomes become less predictable. Implementation varies significantly across schools, with some educators enthusiastically embracing the guidelines while others subtly resist or dilute the messaging.

    The documentary captures telling scenes: children receiving Russian flags during assemblies, classrooms where students are warned about enemy propaganda, and the creation of a new youth organization reminiscent of Soviet-era Pioneer groups. Despite these efforts, many students like 14-year-old Maia from St. Petersburg find the ‘Conversations about Important Things’ sessions boring and perfunctory.

    As Professor Paul Goode of Carleton University notes, compelling public performances of patriotism serves to reinforce the regime’s power perception—a message amplified through state media and controlled elections. Meanwhile, authorities have streamlined military recruitment for school-leavers, using financial incentives and patriotic appeals to bolster troop numbers.

    This educational transformation represents a profound societal shift where childhood development becomes intertwined with state political objectives, leaving families to navigate the delicate balance between institutional compliance and personal values.

  • The forgotten Indian woman trailblazer in British medicine

    The forgotten Indian woman trailblazer in British medicine

    In an era when medicine remained an overwhelmingly male-dominated field and European institutions systematically excluded women, Dr. Jamini Sen shattered one of healthcare’s most formidable barriers. The Bengali physician made history in 1912 by becoming the first woman admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow—an institution founded in 1599 that had long maintained gender-based restrictions.

    Born in 1871 in Barisal within the Bengal Presidency, Sen emerged from a progressive family as one of seven siblings. Her educational journey began at Calcutta’s Bethune College, culminating in her qualification from Calcutta Medical College in 1897. This achievement marked her entry into a profession characterized by rigid racial hierarchies and gender exclusion.

    Sen’s early career took an extraordinary turn when she accepted a position as house physician to Nepal’s royal household and head of Kathmandu Zenana Hospital. For nearly a decade, she practiced high-level medicine within deeply traditional settings, earning the confidence of King Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah while introducing modern clinical methods. Her tenure coincided with palace unrest and suspected political intrigue, eventually prompting her departure from the country.

    Driven by professional ambition, Sen traveled to Britain in 1911 with support from the Lady Dufferin Fund. She obtained a medical license in Dublin, studied at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and ultimately challenged the Glasgow fellowship examinations. The Royal College had only recently opened its exams to women, and Sen’s successful completion in 1912 represented a watershed moment—though the institution restricted her privileges compared to male counterparts.

    Her intellectual curiosity led her to Berlin in 1912, where she advanced her knowledge of tropical diseases at a time when continental Europe led this medical specialty. Throughout her career, Sen maintained a profound sense of responsibility toward her “sisters in my country,” as documented in the Glasgow College archives.

    Returning to India, Sen joined the Women’s Medical Service, working in Agra, Shimla, and Puri. Her presence proved particularly crucial in Agra during periods of unrest directed at British doctors, as patients specifically sought out the Indian woman physician. Affectionately known as “saree-wali daktarin sahib” (the sari-clad lady doctor), Sen earned trust through her medical expertise and cultural understanding.

    She confronted significant healthcare challenges, including post-childbirth sepsis epidemics that affected countless young mothers. “The greatest improvement has taken place in maternal cases,” she recorded in her journal with professional pride. Even her practical attire—a pinned sari with full-sleeved blouse and lace collar—signaled a quiet modernity suited to hospital wards rather than drawing rooms.

    Sen’s personal life reflected both her independence and the era’s constraints. While in Nepal, she adopted a baby girl named Bhutu after the child’s mother died in childbirth. As a single mother in traditional Bengali society, Sen balanced professional rigor with private responsibility, though she later experienced the devastating loss of her daughter to illness.

    Today, few physical artifacts survive from Sen’s remarkable life: a gold watch gifted by Nepal’s king (which she wore pinned to her sari), a Tibetan tsog spoon recognizing her medical service, a delicate blue-wing brooch purchased in London, and two grainy photographs preserved in the Glasgow College archives.

    More than a century after her historic achievement, Sen’s portrait was finally unveiled at the Royal College in 2024—a symbolic restoration of a legacy that had faded into obscurity. Her story, meticulously reconstructed by great-niece Deepta Roy Chakraverti in the biography “Daktarin Jamini Sen,” reveals a woman of fierce intellect and radical resolve who confronted both racism in pre-independence India and sexism in British medical institutions.

    Dr. Sen’s journey demonstrates that the making of modern medicine was never exclusively European nor male, but was also shaped in palace wards, epidemic outposts, and examination halls where a determined Bengali woman refused to step aside.

  • As Islamophobia rises, Australia’s Muslims celebrate Eid

    As Islamophobia rises, Australia’s Muslims celebrate Eid

    In the heart of Sydney’s Lakemba district, thousands gathered at the Imam Ali bin Abi Taleb Mosque for a community Iftar celebration marking Ramadan’s end. Beneath the surface of this harmonious gathering, however, loomed an unsettling reality: a police surveillance trailer with 360-degree cameras stood watch—a necessary precaution following numerous threats against the Muslim community.

    Australia is experiencing an unprecedented surge in anti-Islamic sentiment, with reported incidents skyrocketing by 636% since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. According to the Islamophobia Register Australia, weekly cases have exploded from an average of 2.5 to 18—a figure experts warn represents merely ‘the tip of the iceberg’ as many victims avoid reporting.

    The recent Bondi Beach massacre, which police attributed to ‘Islamic state ideology,’ further intensified religious tensions. In its aftermath, Islamophobic incidents surged by 201%, compounding existing fears within Muslim communities. Simultaneously, antisemitic incidents have multiplied nearly fivefold according to the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, creating parallel crises of religious intolerance.

    This deterioration in social cohesion was starkly visible when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke faced heckling and accusations of supporting genocide during their Lakemba mosque visit. Worshipers expressed profound frustration over Australia’s stance on the Middle East conflict and perceived governmental inaction against rising Islamophobia.

    Lakemba—where 61% of residents identify as Muslim—has evolved from its Lebanese migrant roots in the 1960s to become Sydney’s multicultural Muslim hub, now including communities from South Asia and beyond. While it offers a safe haven for many, residents report increasing anxiety when venturing beyond their ‘comfort zones.’

    Dr. Moshiuzzaman Shakil, a Bangladeshi public health student, recounted losing his job supporting disabled clients post-Bondi: ‘They asked me: are you a Muslim? After the attack, some people thought Muslims were terrorists.’

    The current crisis echoes Australia’s troubled history with immigration, from the White Australia policy that limited non-European migration until 1973 to the 2005 Cronulla race riots—still remembered as a traumatic watershed moment. Gamel Kheir, secretary of the Lebanese Muslim Association, noted: ‘This community has been in trauma since Cronulla. Every time an episode happens now, we curl into the fetal position thinking, please don’t be a Muslim person.’

    Political discourse has exacerbated tensions. Pauline Hanson, leader of the anti-immigration One Nation Party, wore a burka in parliament to advocate for its banning and recently questioned whether ‘good’ Muslims exist—rhetoric that community leaders say legitimizes racism. Kheir observes: ‘Our Facebook posts now get a thousand-plus bigoted comments instead of five to ten. People feel empowered because politicians have enabled this racism to become rampant.’

    Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia Aftab Malik warns of cumulative damage: ‘Each attack reinforces that Muslim identity isn’t welcome in Australia’s social fabric, reducing institutional legitimacy and fraying social cohesion.’

    Despite the challenges, community organizers like Kheir continue advocating for unity. ‘The fair go for all was Australia’s motto,’ he reflects. ‘Sadly, we’re following other Western nations into identity crisis, where the predominant race reasserts itself at minorities’ expense.’

    As Dr. Zouhir Gabsi, author of ‘Muslim Perspectives on Islamophobia,’ bluntly summarizes: ‘Multiculturalism is a politician’s word. It works when sharing a meal, but when applying for jobs, you remain a migrant.’

  • Sanya Dragon King folk custom event celebrates maritime heritage

    Sanya Dragon King folk custom event celebrates maritime heritage

    The coastal city of Sanya in China’s Hainan province came alive with cultural vibrancy as thousands converged upon Dongtian Park for the annual Dragon King folk custom event. This five-day celebration, recognized as local intangible cultural heritage, commemorated the Dragon Head Raising Day occurring on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

    The festival opening on March 17 featured an elaborate traditional procession that included deity welcoming ceremonies, tributes from five directions, and the reading of ceremonial addresses. Representatives from five separate Dragon King temples across Sanya participated in the rituals, while fishing vessels offshore sounded ceremonial horns, creating a multisensory experience connecting land and sea.

    Beyond the ceremonial aspects, the event transformed the park into a cultural marketplace where visitors could engage with Hainan’s rich maritime heritage through interactive experiences. The festival served as both cultural preservation and community gathering, attracting both local residents and tourists interested in authentic traditional practices.

    The Dragon King festival represents ongoing efforts to maintain cultural continuity while adapting traditional practices for contemporary audiences. By combining ritual elements with market experiences, organizers created an accessible gateway to understanding the region’s historical relationship with the sea and its mythological protectors.

  • Justice department seeks to dismiss charges against ex-officers over Breonna Taylor raid

    Justice department seeks to dismiss charges against ex-officers over Breonna Taylor raid

    In a significant legal development, the U.S. Department of Justice has formally requested a federal judge to dismiss all criminal charges against two former Louisville police officers connected to the controversial 2020 raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor. The motion targets former detective Joshua Jaynes and former sergeant Kyle Meany, who faced allegations of providing false information to obtain the search warrant for Taylor’s residence.

    Federal prosecutors submitted the dismissal petition exactly six years after the tragic incident, arguing that the case should be terminated “in the interest of justice.” The DOJ’s legal team specifically requested dismissal with prejudice, which would permanently bar any future prosecution of these charges. This development follows a federal judge’s August 2025 decision to downgrade the original felony charges against both officers to misdemeanors, with the court determining that the government could not establish a direct connection between the warrant issues and Taylor’s death.

    The case stems from the March 13, 2020 incident where plainclothes officers executed a controversial “no-knock” warrant at Taylor’s apartment during early morning hours. Authorities believed Taylor’s former boyfriend was using her residence to conceal narcotics, though no drugs were subsequently discovered on the premises. When officers forced entry, Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, discharged a single shot that struck one officer in the leg. Walker maintained that the officers failed to identify themselves, leading him to believe they were intruders. The officers responded with 32 rounds of gunfire, fatally striking Taylor.

    Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, expressed profound disappointment with the DOJ’s action, stating on social media that the notification call informing her of the dismissal was “utterly disrespectful.” She noted this marked the first communication she had received from authorities since they assumed control of the case and asserted that “they have not served me or Breonna well.”

    Of the officers involved in the raid, Brett Hankison remains the only one convicted, found guilty in 2024 of violating Taylor’s civil rights through excessive force. Despite facing a potential life sentence, Hankison received 33 months imprisonment following a Trump administration recommendation for a one-day sentence. Another former officer, Kelly Goodlett, previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to falsify the warrant affidavit and conceal evidence, though sentencing remains pending.

    Taylor’s death became a catalytic moment for the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, occurring alongside the police killing of George Floyd and sparking nationwide protests against police brutality and systemic racism.

  • Patriarch Filaret, who fought for an independent Ukrainian Orthodox church, dies at 97

    Patriarch Filaret, who fought for an independent Ukrainian Orthodox church, dies at 97

    Patriarch Filaret of Kyiv, the seminal figure who dedicated his life to establishing an autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church free from Moscow’s religious dominion, passed away Friday at age 97. The Orthodox Church of Ukraine confirmed his demise resulted from complications of chronic illnesses.

    Filaret’s passing marks the conclusion of an era in Eastern Orthodox history. Though his influence diminished in recent years amid escalating Ukraine-Russia hostilities, his theological legacy fundamentally reshaped the region’s religious landscape. His decades-long campaign ultimately succeeded in gaining international recognition for Ukraine’s ecclesiastical independence.

    Metropolitan Epiphanius of Kyiv, current primate of the OCU, memorialized Filaret as occupying “a special place in the modern history of both the local Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Ukraine as a whole.” Despite historical tensions between the two church leaders, Epiphanius acknowledged Filaret’s pivotal role in preserving Christian practice during Soviet religious suppression and spearheading Ukraine’s spiritual revival.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conveyed personal condolences, characterizing the patriarch’s death as “a great loss for Ukrainians” in an official Telegram statement. Zelenskyy credited Filaret as “one of the most steadfast defenders of Ukrainian church, independence and statehood,” emphasizing that “many of Ukraine’s accomplishments simply would not have been possible” without his determined leadership.

    Born Mykhailo Denysenko in 1929 in Donetsk region, Filaret’s spiritual journey began amid Soviet atheist policy. His father’s WWII death profoundly influenced his religious vocation. After taking monastic vows, he ascended through Russian Orthodox hierarchy before championing Ukrainian ecclesiastical independence following the Soviet collapse.

    Filaret’s 1992 establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate provoked immediate condemnation from Moscow, resulting in his defrocking and excommunication. These sanctions were later invalidated when Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople recognized the merged Orthodox Church of Ukraine in 2019, creating permanent schism within Eastern Orthodoxy.

    The religious division paralleled worsening geopolitical tensions between Kyiv and Moscow, with Russian authorities accusing the United States of orchestrating the ecclesiastical split. Though Filaret later conflicted with OCU leadership over church governance, he reconciled with Epiphanius in 2025, jointly praying for Ukrainian victory against Russian aggression.

    Controversial beyond ecclesiastical matters, Filaret attributed the COVID-19 pandemic to divine retribution for same-sex marriage in a 2020 television interview. His numerous honors included Ukraine’s highest civilian distinction, the Hero of Ukraine award, bestowed in January 2019.

  • Farming in Dunhuang murals

    Farming in Dunhuang murals

    A remarkable mid-Tang Dynasty (618-907) mural from the Dunhuang caves in Northwest China’s Gansu province offers a vivid window into ancient agricultural traditions coinciding with the Spring Equinox. This culturally significant artwork, preserved for over a millennium, depicts farmers and their cattle commencing seasonal fieldwork during this important solar term that began on March 20.

    The meticulously preserved mural showcases the sophisticated farming techniques and rural生活方式 that characterized China’s agricultural civilization during the Tang Dynasty’s golden age. The artwork forms part of the extensive Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes collection, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing some of the world’s most exceptional Buddhist art spanning ten dynasties.

    Archaeological experts note that such murals provide invaluable insights into the daily lives, tools, and seasonal practices of ordinary people during historical periods often documented primarily through official records and elite perspectives. The Spring Equinox depiction particularly highlights how ancient Chinese agricultural societies synchronized their farming activities with the 24 solar terms—an agricultural calendar system still influencing rural practices today.

    The preservation of these murals represents ongoing efforts by Chinese cultural authorities to protect and study the Dunhuang caves, which contain approximately 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,400 painted sculptures. Recent conservation technologies have enabled researchers to analyze these artworks in unprecedented detail, revealing information about historical climate patterns, crop varieties, and farming implements used over a thousand years ago.

  • Xinxiang in Henan initiates public prosecution against Shi Yongxin

    Xinxiang in Henan initiates public prosecution against Shi Yongxin

    The Xinxiang People’s Procuratorate in China’s Henan province has formally initiated legal proceedings against Shi Yongxin, the former abbot of Shaolin Temple, on March 20. The intermediate people’s court of Xinxiang received the public prosecution case detailing multiple financial crime allegations against the prominent religious figure.

    Shi Yongxin, born Liu Yingcheng, had held the distinguished position as the 30th abbot of the historic Songshan Shaolin Temple since 1999, overseeing one of China’s most iconic Buddhist institutions. The charges brought against him include duty-related embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, bribery by non-state functionaries, and offering bribes.

    Throughout the review and prosecution phase, judicial authorities followed standard legal protocols by informing the defendant of his procedural rights according to Chinese law. The process included formal interrogation sessions with Shi Yongxin and consideration of arguments presented by his defense counsel, ensuring due process within China’s legal framework.

    The case represents a significant development in China’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts, particularly within religious institutions that operate substantial financial operations. Shaolin Temple, renowned globally for its martial arts traditions and Buddhist teachings, maintains considerable assets and revenue streams from tourism, cultural performances, and international branches.

    Legal experts anticipate this prosecution will set important precedents for accountability within religious organizations, while international observers monitor how China’s legal system handles cases involving high-profile religious figures. The timing of the prosecution coincides with increased scrutiny of financial practices within religious institutions across China.

  • Coroner ‘not satisfied’ boxer Hatton intended to take own life

    Coroner ‘not satisfied’ boxer Hatton intended to take own life

    In a landmark inquest verdict, Senior Coroner Alison Mutch has declared insufficient evidence exists to determine whether boxing legend Ricky Hatton intended to end his own life prior to his September 2025 death. The judicial inquiry revealed compelling circumstances complicating traditional suicide classification, including extensive future planning by the athlete and absence of any suicide note.

    Hatton, the 46-year-old former world champion boxer, was discovered unresponsive at his Manchester-area residence by his manager on September 14th. Medical examination confirmed hanging as the technical cause of death, yet the coroner’s court received testimony indicating Hatton had been making substantial personal and professional plans for the coming months.

    Forensic analysis presented during proceedings documented significant alcohol intoxication at time of death, with blood alcohol levels substantially exceeding legal driving limits. Additional toxicology reports identified residual traces of cocaine and cannabis, though not at physiologically active concentrations.

    Most notably, post-mortem neuropathological examination revealed definitive evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head trauma characteristic of combat sports. This finding introduces complex medical considerations regarding neurological impairment and decision-making capacity.

    Coroner Mutch delivered a narrative verdict—a legal conclusion describing circumstances without attributing specific intent—stating: “When evaluating the totality of evidence including his future planning, absence of explanatory notes, significant alcohol impairment, and diagnosed CTE pathology, I cannot be satisfied he formed conscious intention to end his life.”

    Family members attending the proceedings described Hatton as a devoted father who had reportedly been in remarkably positive spirits despite previously documented struggles with substance abuse. Testimony indicated the athlete had appeared happier than he’d been in years preceding the incident.

    The case highlights growing concerns about neurological health in contact sports and the complex interplay between brain trauma, substance use, and mental health determinations in legal proceedings.

  • Hottest March temperature in US history recorded in Arizona

    Hottest March temperature in US history recorded in Arizona

    An extraordinary early-season heatwave has engulfed the American Southwest, shattering temperature records that had stood for over six decades. The National Weather Service confirmed that a remote desert location near Martinez Lake in Arizona’s Yuma Desert reached 43°C (110°F) on Thursday, marking the highest March temperature ever recorded in United States history.

    This unprecedented thermal event overwhelmed multiple states during winter’s final days, with California, Arizona, and Nevada all reporting record-breaking early heat. The previous national March record of 42°C (108°F), established in Rio Grande, Texas in 1964, was simultaneously matched in North Shore, California on March 18th.

    Urban centers experienced remarkable deviations from seasonal norms. Phoenix recorded its hottest March day at 40°C (105°F), breaking the record set just one day prior. Las Vegas reached 35°C (95°F), exceeding previous records by significant margins.

    Meteorologists attribute this extreme weather phenomenon to a massive high-pressure system—commonly termed a heat dome—that trapped hot air across the region, elevating temperatures 20-30°F above historical averages. The National Weather Service issued urgent warnings about the dangerous combination of extreme early-season heat and high tourism activity.

    Climate scientists emphasize that this event aligns with patterns of human-induced climate change, which have increased the frequency, intensity, and duration of heatwaves globally. Since the industrial era began, the planet has warmed approximately 1.1°C, with temperatures projected to continue rising without substantial emissions reductions worldwide.