分类： society

A South Korean local government official has been expelled from the ruling Democratic Party following inflammatory comments suggesting the country should “import young women” from Southeast Asian nations to address its demographic crisis. Kim Hee-soo, head of Jindo County, proposed during a televised town hall that women from “Vietnam or Sri Lanka” could be married to rural bachelors as a solution to population decline.

The remarks sparked immediate international backlash and domestic outrage, culminating in Kim’s political expulsion. Vietnam’s embassy in Seoul issued a formal condemnation, characterizing the statement as reflective of problematic “values and attitudes towards migrant women and minority groups.” While Sri Lankan authorities haven’t publicly commented, the controversy has intensified diplomatic tensions.

South Korea continues to confront the world’s lowest birth rate, with projections indicating the population of approximately 50 million could halve within six decades. The incident occurred during discussions about administrative mergers between regions experiencing significant population shrinkage.

Despite issuing an apology acknowledging his “inappropriate” language, Kim failed to quell the controversy. The South Jeolla Province government subsequently issued its own formal apology, recognizing the remarks had “caused deep pain to Vietnamese people and to women.”

Women’s rights and migrant advocacy groups are planning protests outside Jindo County Office, highlighting ongoing concerns about gender equality and migrant rights in South Korea. The Democratic Party’s Supreme Council voted unanimously to expel Kim, signaling the severity of the diplomatic and social repercussions.

Amidst the harsh winter conditions of Northwestern China’s Kunlun Mountains, a dedicated team of railway mechanics from the Wangkun Line maintenance workshop is undertaking critical patrols and maintenance operations to ensure seamless rail transportation during China’s peak Spring Festival travel period. These technicians, operating under China Railway Qinghai-Xizang Group Co., Ltd., have intensified their surveillance of vital railway segments along the Qinghai-Xizang Railway route, working in sub-zero temperatures to guarantee passenger safety and operational continuity.

The maintenance crew, based in Golmud, Qinghai Province, faces extraordinary challenges due to the region’s extreme altitude and severe weather patterns. Their work involves meticulous inspection of tracks, monitoring structural integrity, and performing essential repairs along one of China’s most crucial high-altitude rail corridors. The team’s efforts become particularly significant during the Chunyun period—the world’s largest annual human migration—when millions travel across China for family reunions during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

Photographic documentation from February 6, 2026, captures these technicians executing precision maintenance work on the rail infrastructure, demonstrating their commitment to maintaining China’s extensive railway network. Their behind-the-scenes efforts represent an essential component of the national transportation system’s reliability, especially in remote regions where environmental conditions present unique operational difficulties. The continuous monitoring and maintenance activities ensure that the Qinghai-Xizang Railway remains fully operational throughout the holiday season, facilitating safe passage for travelers undertaking their seasonal journeys.

The Tibetan Autonomous Region has announced a sweeping educational enhancement initiative set to commence in 2026, marking a significant advancement in the region’s human capital development strategy. This comprehensive package includes the implementation of free preschool education across rural territories, substantial increases in per-student funding allocations, and expanded infrastructure investment throughout the educational spectrum.

Building upon existing student assistance frameworks that supported over 2.13 million beneficiaries in 2025, the new measures represent the region’s continued prioritization of educational development. The per-student funding standard for preschool education will undergo a dramatic increase from 380 yuan to 1,000 yuan annually. Concurrently, compulsory education will receive enhanced investment with plans to construct or renovate 51 primary and secondary educational facilities, addressing urban-rural development disparities.

Regional Chairman Karma Tsetan, presenting the government work report, emphasized that education subsidies have been raised four times within the past five-year period, establishing educational advancement as a cornerstone of socioeconomic progress. The higher education sector will similarly undergo transformation through expanded undergraduate programs and strengthened vocational training initiatives, including the ongoing construction of a new campus for Tibet Vocational Technical College.

The region’s educational achievements include significant institutional advancements during 2025, notably the elevation of Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College to university status and the establishment of a new vocational technical college in Shigatse. The much-praised ‘three complete coverages’ student aid framework ensures comprehensive support across all educational levels from kindergarten through university, encompassing both public and private institutions with particular focus on economically disadvantaged students.

By 2025, educational authorities had allocated over 5.27 billion yuan in student assistance, benefiting millions throughout the region. The current academic year continues full implementation of the 15-year free education policy alongside the ‘sanbao’ program, which covers meals, tuition, and accommodation costs. From autumn 2025, the annual per-student standard under this program increased to 4,700 yuan, with additional provisions for special education requirements.

Local residents have expressed appreciation for these policies. Chodron, a mother of two from Palding village, noted that government provisions of textbooks, uniforms, and learning materials have substantially reduced family financial burdens. Penba Drolma, a student at Tibet University of Tibetan Medicine, attested that these initiatives enable rural children to pursue education without financial constraints, having benefited from free education from kindergarten through middle school and continuing to receive university scholarships and financial aid.

Nestled within the forested highlands of Guizhou province, Liupanshui has emerged as an unexpected powerhouse in China’s winter tourism landscape, challenging the traditional dominance of northern regions with its innovative ‘ski-and-soap’ hospitality model. This mountain city has masterfully combined technical alpine skiing with luxurious geothermal spring experiences, creating a unique ‘two extremes in one day’ offering that is drawing visitors from across southern China.

The Yushe Snow Mountain Ski Resort, operating at one of China’s lowest latitudes for alpine skiing, has evolved beyond basic winter recreation to cater to an increasingly sophisticated market. This season, the resort introduced Guizhou’s first dedicated snowboard park and expanded its advanced terrain to accommodate growing demand for skill progression. ‘Many visitors no longer find beginner runs sufficient,’ noted site manager Li Baogang, whose forest-encircled resort regularly hosts over 10,000 daily visitors.

Accessibility proves to be a decisive advantage for these southern slopes. Travelers from Guangdong province can reach Liupanshui via high-speed rail in mere hours, avoiding the extreme cold of northern destinations while enjoying comparable winter sports facilities. ‘It is not as cold as the north, and transport is more convenient,’ confirmed Wang Yixue, a visitor from Guangzhou.

Meanwhile, Meihuashan Ski Resort has positioned itself as a family-friendly winter theme park just five kilometers from the city center. With 98 wood cabins and a coaching staff of 130 professionals—including 40 imported from Northeast China—the resort has launched an ambitious youth engagement initiative, distributing 100,000 free student tickets to cultivate a new generation of southern skiers. Daily cultural performances and extended evening hours until 9 pm complement the winter sports experience.

The complete Liupanshui experience culminates at Baichehe Hot Spring Resort, located approximately 50 kilometers from Yushe, where visitors can soak in outdoor pools maintained at approximately 50°C. The resort has developed distinctive bathing experiences including ‘raw spring’ and tea-infused pools that provide therapeutic warmth after a day on the slopes. ‘The contrast between skiing and a hot-spring soak is uniquely refreshing and helps relax the body,’ commented a visitor surnamed Luo from Guiyang.

Capitalizing on this natural synergy, local resorts have launched integrated value packages that bundle skiing, hot spring access, and sightseeing minitrain rides. ‘Visitors can switch easily from daytime skiing to evening soaking,’ explained Wang Mei, deputy general manager of Baichehe Hot Spring Resort, highlighting the seamless transition between winter adventures and thermal relaxation that defines Liupanshui’s emerging tourism identity.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The perpetrator of New Zealand’s deadliest mass shooting appeared before the Court of Appeal on Monday seeking to overturn his guilty pleas and life sentence, claiming severe prison conditions rendered him mentally unfit during his 2020 admission of guilt.

Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch’s 2019 mosque attacks, testified via video link from prison that solitary confinement and harsh detention circumstances created what he described as ‘nervous exhaustion’ and identity confusion. The 35-year-old argued this mental state invalidated his reasoned decision to plead guilty to terrorism, murder, and attempted murder charges.

A three-judge panel will hear five days of evidence regarding Tarrant’s competency at the time of his plea. If successful, the case would return to trial—a scenario avoided when Tarrant unexpectedly admitted guilt weeks before his scheduled court date. The hearing also addresses his unprecedented life imprisonment without parole, New Zealand’s most severe sentencing outcome.

The prosecution challenged Tarrant’s assertions, with Crown lawyer Barnaby Hawes noting the shooter had alternative legal options including trial postponement requests or mounting a defense. Medical and prison records showed no documented evidence of serious mental illness, though Tarrant claimed he deliberately concealed symptoms to maintain a ‘confident, assured’ facade consistent with his extremist ideology.

Security protocols severely restricted attendance, permitting only affected families, survivors, and limited media. Tarrant, appearing with shaved head and glasses in a white prison room, testified about his deteriorated mental state—marking his first substantive public statements since livestreaming the horrific attack.

The appeal filing arrived two years past New Zealand’s standard 20-day deadline, which Tarrant attributed to restricted information access. The court’s decision will be delivered subsequently, with potential separate proceedings regarding his sentence appeal if the plea challenge fails.