分类： society

Beijing is poised to further cement its status as China’s urban rail transit leader with ambitious expansion plans for its metro system in 2026. Mayor Yin Yong announced the development strategy during his government work report presentation at the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress session on Sunday.

The Chinese capital, which already operates the nation’s most extensive subway network at 909 kilometers, will add over 40 kilometers of new track this year. This continues the city’s aggressive infrastructure development after adding 30 kilometers through three new lines in 2025.

A key focus of the expansion will be improving transfer convenience between transportation modes. The municipality aims to increase the proportion of bus-to-rail transfers within a 50-meter radius from the current 91% to 93%, significantly enhancing connectivity for daily commuters. This initiative represents part of Beijing’s broader strategy to create a more integrated and efficient urban transit ecosystem that reduces travel time and improves the passenger experience.

The continuous expansion of Beijing’s metro system reflects the city’s commitment to addressing urban mobility challenges while supporting sustainable development goals. As one of the world’s most heavily used metro systems, these improvements will benefit millions of residents and visitors while maintaining Beijing’s position at the forefront of urban transportation innovation.

Sir Mark Tully, the legendary British broadcaster celebrated as the BBC’s definitive “voice of India,” has passed away at 90. His distinctive baritone delivery and profound insights made him an institution across international airwaves for decades, covering pivotal moments in South Asian history including wars, famines, political assassinations, the Bhopal industrial disaster, and Operation Blue Star at Amritsar’s Golden Temple.

Born in Calcutta during the British Raj in 1935, Tully embodied a unique cultural duality. Despite his English upbringing and education at Cambridge, he developed an extraordinary connection with India that transcended typical foreign correspondence. His fluency in Hindi—a rarity among Delhi’s foreign press corps—earned him both respect and affection, with many Indians affectionately calling him “Tully sahib.”

The journalist faced grave danger during his coverage of the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition in Ayodhya, where he was threatened by a mob chanting “Death to Mark Tully” before being rescued by local authorities. He later described the ensuing communal violence as independent India’s “gravest setback” to secularism.

Tully’s career began unexpectedly when he arrived as a BBC administrative assistant in 1965, eventually rising to become the corporation’s Delhi bureau chief for over two decades. His reporting extended beyond India to landmark events across South Asia, including Bangladesh’s liberation war, Pakistan’s military regimes, Sri Lanka’s civil conflict, and the Soviet-Afghan war.

Despite his professional success, Tully grew increasingly critical of BBC’s corporate direction, culminating in his 1994 resignation following public criticism of the broadcaster’s management culture. He continued his spiritual exploration through BBC Radio 4’s “Something Understood,” returning to the theological interests that initially shaped his career path.

Uniquely honored by both nations, Tully received India’s Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan civilian awards alongside British knighthood in 2002—an honor he described as recognition of India’s importance. He maintained dual cultural citizenship, living modestly in South Delhi while producing numerous books on Indian society, often in collaboration with partner Gillian Wright.

BANDUNG, Indonesia — Rescue operations intensified in West Java’s Pasir Langu village Sunday as improved weather conditions allowed emergency teams to continue searching for dozens missing following a devastating landslide. The disaster, which struck Mount Burangrang’s slopes before dawn Saturday, completely buried approximately 34 homes under massive mudflows, rocks, and uprooted trees.

Search and rescue coordinator Ade Dian Permana reported recovery efforts had yielded 25 confirmed fatalities by Sunday, with remains being carefully extracted using basic farm tools and manual labor due to unstable terrain preventing heavy equipment deployment. The 250-strong rescue team worked meticulously through mud mounds reaching 5 meters (16 feet) in height, with drones and K-9 units deployed to scan the extensive 2-kilometer (1.2-mile) landslide path.

The incident has displaced approximately 230 residents now sheltering in government facilities, while 72 individuals remain unaccounted for. At temporary relief centers, anxious families monitored updated missing persons lists as forensic teams worked to identify recovered remains for release to relatives.

Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the disaster zone Sunday, pledging governmental action to prevent future tragedies. He specifically urged West Bandung district officials to address problematic land conversion practices in high-risk areas.

Environmental organizations have characterized the catastrophe as fundamentally human-exacerbated. Wahyudin Iwang of Walhi West Java emphasized that Saturday’s landslide resulted from prolonged environmental degradation in the North Bandung Area conservation zone, where development projects have consistently violated spatial-planning regulations. This protected highland region serves as a critical water-catchment zone for the densely populated Bandung Basin, making ecological preservation imperative.

The disaster occurs during Indonesia’s annual rainy season (October-April), when the archipelago nation frequently experiences flooding and landslides. Millions reside in vulnerable mountainous regions and fertile floodplains across the 17,000-island chain.