分类： society

Kathmandu witnessed extraordinary scenes as tens of thousands of unemployed Nepalese youth queued for temporary police positions ahead of March elections, revealing the Himalayan nation’s profound economic distress. Over 27,000 applications flooded police stations during the first two recruitment days alone, with queues spanning all 77 districts including on public holidays.

The massive turnout follows September’s youth-led uprising that toppled the government after protests initially sparked by social media restrictions evolved into widespread demonstrations against systemic corruption and economic hardship. The violent crackdown resulted in approximately 77 fatalities and parliamentary arson, with economic losses estimated at $586 million and nearly 15,000 jobs vanished.

Police spokesman Abinarayan Kafle reported unprecedented enthusiasm among applicants, mostly young adults seeking the 149,090 temporary positions offering $280 for 40 days of service. This compensation represents significant earnings in a nation where per capita income stagnates at $1,404 annually.

Applicants like 20-year-old Sarika Karki expressed hopes to ‘earn some pocket money’ while contributing to electoral security. Thirty-year-old former cook Nischal Poudel, currently jobless, echoed the desperation: ‘Only God knows if I will be selected, but now that I’ve applied I am sure something good will happen.’

The recruitment drive highlights Nepal’s severe employment crisis, with 82% of workers in informal employment and over 839,000 citizens leaving abroad for work in the past year from the 30-million population nation. Successful applicants will perform logistical duties including queue management and ballot transportation during the pivotal polls.

China’s National Meteorological Center (NMC) has issued a comprehensive cold wave advisory affecting multiple northern regions, warning of severe temperature drops and adverse weather conditions expected over the coming ten-day period. According to the national observatory’s Monday announcement, Inner Mongolia and Northeast China provinces will experience particularly harsh conditions characterized by sharp temperature declines, strong gales, and significant snowfall.

The meteorological authority indicated that affected areas should anticipate temperatures running 2 to 5 degrees Celsius below seasonal averages, driven by successive waves of Arctic air masses. The prolonged cold spell poses substantial risks to agricultural operations and livestock management throughout the region.

Additionally, the NMC forecast sandy and dusty conditions across Inner Mongolia and Gansu province during the upcoming week, prompting recommendations for protective measures against combined wind, cold, and sandstorm hazards. Meteorological experts have advised agricultural sectors in winter wheat-growing regions to implement categorized management strategies to safeguard crops.

The center specifically recommended reinforcing greenhouse structures and livestock enclosures in advance throughout northeastern provinces and Inner Mongolia to mitigate potential damage from the extreme cold. The advisory emphasizes proactive preparedness to reduce the compound impacts on farming communities and animal husbandry operations.

London has achieved its lowest homicide figures in over a decade, with official police data revealing 97 recorded cases in 2025—the smallest annual total since 2014. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that both absolute numbers and per capita rates have reached historic lows, with the latter representing the most favorable statistics since systematic tracking began in 1997.

Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed these findings as validation of his administration’s dual-focused strategy addressing both criminal enforcement and underlying social factors. “Despite persistent efforts to undermine London’s reputation, empirical evidence presents a decidedly different narrative,” Khan stated, emphasizing his commitment to evidence-based policymaking.

This positive development emerges against a backdrop of intense political criticism directed at the mayor. Conservative voices, far-right commentators, and international figures including Elon Musk have repeatedly accused Khan of fostering increased criminality through progressive immigration policies. The mayor has simultaneously faced escalating Islamophobic attacks on social media platforms.

Beyond homicide statistics, the report documented significant improvements in other violence indicators: injury-producing violent incidents decreased by 20% since 2014, while NHS data showed a nearly 30% reduction in stabbing-related hospitalizations over the past five years. Comparative analysis revealed London’s per capita homicide rate now trails behind other global metropolises including New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Berlin.

However, the report notably excluded data on property crimes and sexual offenses, areas where critics maintain concerns. Reform UK’s mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham recently asserted that London “is no longer safe,” particularly for women, highlighting phone thefts as a growing problem—with recorded cases surging 25% from 91,481 in 2019 to 117,211 in 2024.

The Metropolitan Police affirmed that “London remains a secure environment for residents, workers, and visitors,” attributing improvements to strategic enforcement and preventive measures. As local elections approach, crime prevention continues to dominate political discourse, with opposition parties vowing to prioritize law enforcement in their campaigns.

The Beibei district of Chongqing transformed into a floral paradise on January 11, 2026, as the municipality launched its annual cultural festival honoring the region’s iconic wintersweet blossoms. The celebration centered around Suxin village, where the 8th Jingguan Cup Traditional Flower Arrangement Competition showcased the exquisite artistry of Eastern floral design using the fragrant chimonanthus flowers.

The festival represents a significant cultural event for Southwest China, drawing attention to Chongqing’s unique botanical heritage while promoting traditional Chinese floral arts. Participants from across the region demonstrated remarkable skill in creating intricate arrangements that highlighted the delicate beauty and symbolic significance of the wintersweet, which blooms during the coldest months of the year.

This year’s event marked a continuation of Chongqing’s efforts to preserve and promote its cultural traditions through floral artistry. The competition not only served as a platform for artistic expression but also as an educational opportunity for visitors to appreciate the deep cultural connections between Chinese society and its natural environment. The festival atmosphere was enhanced by the simultaneous blooming of thousands of wintersweet flowers across the district, creating a visually stunning backdrop for the cultural celebrations.

The event has grown in stature over its eight editions, attracting increased participation and audience engagement each year. Local authorities view the festival as an important vehicle for cultural preservation and tourism development, combining natural beauty with artistic tradition to create a unique experience that celebrates Chongqing’s distinct regional identity.

A delegation comprising students and faculty members from Cornell University recently embarked on an immersive educational journey through China’s agricultural heartlands, gaining firsthand insight into the nation’s rural revitalization strategies. The program, orchestrated by China Agricultural University, spans from January 4th to 16th, guiding participants through diverse agricultural regions including Beijing, Hebei, and Sichuan provinces.

On January 10th, the Cornell contingent visited the Pengle Family Farm in Yixian county, Hebei province, where they participated in strawberry harvesting operations and engaged in comprehensive discussions about innovative farming techniques. This hands-on experience provided the American academics with practical understanding of contemporary agricultural practices implemented across Chinese rural communities.

The two-week interdisciplinary program facilitates meaningful cultural and educational exchanges between Cornell representatives and various stakeholders including local farmers, rural residents, and China Agricultural University scholars. Through these interactions, participants gain multidimensional perspectives on China’s systematic approach to agricultural modernization and rural development policies.

This international academic initiative represents growing educational cooperation between American and Chinese institutions, focusing on sustainable development challenges and food security solutions. The program specifically examines the implementation mechanisms and socioeconomic impacts of China’s rural vitalization strategy, which aims to bridge urban-rural development gaps and enhance agricultural productivity through technological innovation and policy reforms.

China has launched a multi-faceted national initiative to address demographic challenges through enhanced child development programs and fertility support systems. The China Family Planning Association (CFPA) reported substantial progress in creating a more supportive environment for families during its annual work meeting in Beijing on January 9, 2026.

Under the leadership of Standing Vice-President Yu Xuejun, the association has significantly expanded early childhood infrastructure, upgrading more than 4,000 facilities dedicated to early education and parent-child activities nationwide. These community-based centers specifically target families with children under three years old, providing affordable childcare options that reduce the financial burden on parents.

The digital transformation of family services has emerged as a cornerstone of China’s strategy. CFPA’s innovative WeChat mini-program has revolutionized access to reproductive and childcare services, offering comprehensive information and navigation for premarital checkups, prenatal screenings, painless delivery options, assisted reproduction technologies, and postnatal care. This digital platform has attracted remarkable engagement with over 1.6 million registered users and facilitated more than 10 million service sessions.

Educational outreach formed another critical component of the initiative. Throughout 2025, the association organized an extensive network of knowledge dissemination activities, conducting more than 50,000 events including prenatal classes, parenting workshops, and personalized door-to-door visits. These efforts reached over 300,000 families with infants and young children, providing crucial guidance on improving birth outcomes and child development.

Cultural transformation around marriage and childbearing received special attention through the establishment of over 460 themed parks across China. These integrated community spaces combine policy promotion with cultural activities and public education, creating visible symbols of the country’s renewed focus on family values.

The association also extended its reach to younger demographics, implementing youth health services across more than 10,000 primary and secondary schools, nearly 1,000 universities, and 3,200 related clubs. These programs have benefited over 10 million young people, establishing foundations for informed future family planning decisions.

Underpinning these initiatives is rigorous research, including a major survey on building a fertility-friendly society that gathered insights from over 80,000 urban and rural residents across 29 provincial-level regions. This data-driven approach ensures that policy adjustments are grounded in comprehensive public feedback.

Looking forward to 2026, CFPA plans to intensify its efforts by promoting positive views on marriage and childbearing, enhancing reproductive health services, and providing expert guidance to further improve birth outcomes and child development across Chinese society.

A remarkable natural transformation has unfolded across Guangzhou’s urban landscape as an unexpected cold snap triggered the dramatic color change of the city’s bald cypress trees. The metropolitan areas surrounding Donghu Lake and various parklands have become adorned with striking russet-red foliage, creating an unexpected winter spectacle that has drawn substantial crowds of nature enthusiasts and photographers.

The botanical phenomenon represents a fascinating response to environmental conditions. Native to North American wetlands, the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) undergoes a distinctive seasonal metamorphosis where its needle-like leaves transition through a chromatic sequence from vibrant green to golden yellow before achieving their final copper-red hue prior to winter dormancy. This color transformation typically spans approximately one month, creating a temporary but breathtaking visual display against Guangzhou’s urban backdrop.

Meteorological experts attribute this particularly vivid coloration to the recent intrusion of cold air masses from northern regions, which accelerated the biochemical processes within the foliage. The trees’ response to temperature fluctuations involves the breakdown of chlorophyll and subsequent revelation of anthocyanin pigments, resulting in the intense crimson coloration that has captivated local residents.

The unexpected natural display has generated significant public interest, with visitation numbers surging at major urban green spaces throughout the weekend. Park authorities have reported increased attendance as citizens seek to witness the unusual winter coloration before the leaves complete their seasonal cycle and fall from the branches, marking the trees’ transition into their characteristic winter bareness.