分类： society

The World Bank has lauded the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a pioneering example in human development, particularly for its progressive policies aimed at empowering women and youth. Fadia Saadah, the World Bank’s Regional Director for Human Development in the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, highlighted the UAE’s comprehensive approach to fostering work-life balance and increasing women’s participation in the workforce. This has been achieved through significant labor law reforms and substantial investments in early childhood development and childcare services. Saadah emphasized the impact of the UAE’s 2022 labor law amendments, which introduced flexible work arrangements such as part-time, temporary, remote, and shared jobs, thereby creating more opportunities for women and young people. Additionally, the UAE’s 2021 enhanced parental leave policies have further supported work-life balance and encouraged women to remain active in the workforce. Saadah also pointed out the UAE’s innovative labor mobility policies, including the Golden and Green Visas for skilled professionals, investors, and freelancers, as well as job search and remote work visas. These measures, combined with unemployment insurance, wage protection, and strengthened recruitment regulations, have set a benchmark for labor protection and talent retention. The World Bank’s report, ‘Embracing and Shaping Change: Human Development for a Middle East & North Africa Region in Transition,’ underscores the need for continued investment in human development to address megatrends such as ageing populations, climate change, and technological advancements. Saadah suggested that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries prioritize ageing and digitalization, middle-income nations focus on fiscal management, and lower-income or fragile states emphasize preserving human capital and institutions. With sustained commitment, the MENA region can transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable and inclusive growth, ensuring a prosperous future for all.

A heart-stopping incident unfolded at a railway station in India, where a woman narrowly escaped a potentially fatal accident while attempting to board a moving train. The Southern Railways released a gripping video capturing the harrowing moment. As the train began to depart, the woman lost her footing and slipped perilously close to the gap between the train and the platform. Quick-thinking railway staff and bystanders sprang into action, pulling her to safety just in time. The incident highlights the dangers of boarding moving trains and underscores the importance of adhering to safety protocols at railway stations. Authorities have urged passengers to exercise caution and avoid such risky maneuvers to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

In a remarkable agricultural transformation, China’s arid and saline-alkali lands in Gansu province are now yielding bountiful ‘seafood’ harvests. Once deemed unsuitable for traditional farming, these lands have been repurposed into productive aquaculture ponds, thanks to innovative technological interventions. Farmers like Zhao Guohua, who once cultivated wheat, are now mastering the art of harvesting Pacific white shrimp and other aquatic species. This shift has not only revitalized the local economy but also restored ecological balance in the region. Jingtai county, a focal point of this initiative, has seen its aquatic product output exceed 2.1 million kilograms annually, generating over 50 million yuan in revenue and benefiting thousands of households. The success of this endeavor is attributed to advanced soil and water management techniques, supported by leading research institutions. Similar efforts are underway in Xinjiang, where desert saltwater resources are being harnessed to cultivate a diverse range of aquatic species, including crabs and rainbow trout. These inland aquaculture projects are rapidly gaining recognition, both domestically and internationally, under the banner of ‘desert seafood.’ Beyond economic gains, the initiative has brought environmental rejuvenation, with waterbirds returning and vegetation flourishing around the ponds. This pioneering approach exemplifies how technology and innovation can turn barren lands into thriving ecosystems and economic assets.

Central Vietnam has been struck by catastrophic floods following unprecedented rainfall, resulting in at least 10 fatalities and five individuals reported missing. The deluge has wreaked havoc on cities, agricultural lands, and transportation networks, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Danang, a coastal city regarded as a pivotal growth hub for Vietnam, bore the brunt of the disaster, with six deaths, four missing persons, and 19 injuries reported. Homes, crops, and thousands of livestock were swept away, amplifying concerns over the region’s recovery. In Hue, the historic former imperial capital, one person drowned, and a 5-year-old girl remains missing after being swept into floodwaters. The city remains largely submerged, with rivers overflowing after rainfall reached a staggering 1,085 millimeters (42 inches) in 24 hours—the highest ever recorded in Vietnam. Quang Ngai province also suffered significant losses, with three deaths and over 120 landslides blocking major highways. Some routes remain impassable, leaving 50 people stranded in 37 vehicles for three days. The disaster has isolated numerous rural neighborhoods, with breached river embankments and landslides cutting off access. Vietnam’s meteorological agency attributed the extreme weather to a collision of cool northern air with warm, moisture-laden sea winds, triggering relentless storms. Forecasters warn that the pattern will persist through Thursday night, heightening the risk of further floods and landslides. In response, police and military forces have been mobilized, and authorities in Quang Ngai are experimenting with drone deliveries to reach isolated residents. While central Vietnam is no stranger to heavy rains and tropical storms, experts emphasize that the scale and intensity of this week’s floods underscore the escalating risks associated with climate change. As one of the world’s most flood-prone nations, nearly half of Vietnam’s population resides in high-risk areas, highlighting the urgent need for adaptive measures.

Chinese procuratorates have intensified their supervision over the execution of criminal penalties, issuing 971,000 corrective recommendations between January 2021 and September 2025. This effort aims to ensure the consistent and proper implementation of national laws, as highlighted in a report by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP).

Ying Yong, the Procurator-General of the SPP, emphasized the importance of this oversight during a report to the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress. He described the execution of criminal punishment as the ‘last mile’ of criminal justice, crucial for achieving fairness and integrity in judicial outcomes.

Under Chinese law, procuratorial authorities are tasked with supervising the implementation of criminal judgments, monitoring prison operations, and overseeing community correction agencies. From 2021 to September 2025, these authorities received 25,000 complaints, reports, and appeals from offenders. Detailed reviews led to the correction of 3,312 erroneous judgments, including wrongful convictions, sentence calculation errors, and misidentified recidivism cases.

The report also highlighted the role of procuratorial investigations in combating judicial corruption. During the same period, 1,735 individuals were investigated for job-related offenses, such as favoritism in commutation, parole, or temporary prison releases, as well as abuse of power and illegal detainee releases.

Procuratorial authorities have also focused on improving supervision of noncustodial offenders and addressing deficiencies in community correction management. This included reincarcerating 17,000 offenders who violated community supervision rules or no longer met the conditions for serving sentences outside prison.

Regular inspections of prisons and detention centers identified risks such as contraband smuggling and ‘cell boss’ dominance. Investigations into crimes disrupting prison order led to the prosecution of 1,811 violent offenders, 803 individuals for disturbing prison order, and six for escape-related offenses.

Additionally, the SPP, in coordination with the Supreme People’s Court, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Justice, resolved issues of delayed or refused prisoner admissions, ensuring the proper transfer of 96,000 convicts to correctional facilities. Authorities also addressed cases of unlawful detention beyond legal limits.

Since 2022, procuratorial authorities have issued 75,000 corrective opinions on inappropriate requests or decisions by public security and judicial administrative bodies, as well as on court rulings concerning commutation, parole, and temporary prison releases. Enhanced interagency cooperation has further ensured the lawful supervision of these measures.

The report concluded by emphasizing the importance of balancing punishment with rehabilitation to help former inmates reintegrate into society.

Authorities in Delhi, India, conducted an unsuccessful cloud seeding trial on Tuesday in an effort to combat the city’s escalating air pollution crisis. The experiment, led by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and the Delhi government, aimed to induce rainfall by dispersing silver iodide and sodium chloride particles into the atmosphere using a Cessna aircraft. However, the attempt—the first in 50 years—was deemed “not completely successful” due to insufficient moisture in the air. Despite the lack of rain, IIT Kanpur reported a measurable reduction in particulate matter, suggesting that cloud seeding could still contribute to improved air quality under limited moisture conditions. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained alarmingly high, ranging between 300 and 400—nearly 20 times the acceptable limit—over the past two weeks. Experts, including IIT Kanpur’s director Manindra Agarwal, have cautioned that cloud seeding is an emergency measure rather than a long-term solution. Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa announced plans to repeat the trial in the coming weeks as moisture levels in the clouds are expected to increase. Historically, Delhi’s first cloud-seeding experiment dates back to 1957, with another attempt in 1972. The city had considered the technique in 2023 but faced delays due to pending court approvals. While cloud seeding has shown mixed results globally—with China claiming success during the Olympics and the UAE facing skepticism after floods in Dubai—its efficacy remains debated. Climate change expert Abinash Mohanty emphasized the lack of empirical evidence on its impact and the inherent limitations of altering natural processes.

In a surprising turn of events, teachers at nine high schools in northeastern Australia discovered just days before an ancient history exam that they had mistakenly taught their students about Augustus Caesar instead of his predecessor, Julius Caesar. The error, uncovered on Monday, led to an exemption for students in Queensland from the statewide exam scheduled for Wednesday. Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek described the situation as “extremely traumatic” for the students and pledged to investigate the mix-up. The affected 140 seniors were granted an exemption from the exam, which constitutes 25% of their annual marks. Instead, their grades will be determined based on assessments covering the remaining 75% of their coursework. The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority revealed that the exam topic had been Augustus Caesar for the past four years, but schools were informed two years ago that the focus would shift to Julius Caesar in 2025. The incident has sparked criticism from parents, who argue that the panic surrounding the exam disrupted their children’s preparation for other tests, including one held earlier on Wednesday. Langbroek assured that the students would not be disadvantaged and emphasized the need for accountability in the education system.