分类： world

Iran entered its twelfth consecutive day of widespread civil unrest on Thursday as security forces deployed tear gas against demonstrators protesting the country’s severe economic deterioration. The protests, which originated in Tehran’s bazaar on December 28 following the rial’s collapse to unprecedented lows, have now expanded across all 31 provinces, presenting the most significant challenge to the clerical establishment in years.

According to the HRANA monitoring group, demonstrations have been documented in 348 locations nationwide, with videos emerging showing protesters in Kuhchenar, Fars province, tearing down a statue of Qassem Soleimani, the Revolutionary Guards commander killed by a U.S. strike in 2020. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization reported security forces have employed live ammunition, tear gas, and physical violence against civilians, with at least 27 protesters confirmed dead, including five minors under age 18.

The movement has gained momentum through calls from exiled opposition figures, particularly Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed shah, who described Wednesday’s turnout as “unprecedented” and urged intensified demonstrations. Pahlavi warned via social media that authorities were attempting to disrupt internet connectivity to suppress organizing efforts.

Judicial authorities have taken a hardline stance, labeling participants as “rioters” and promising “no leniency” in prosecution. The tension escalated further Wednesday when an Iranian police officer was fatally stabbed near Tehran during unrest containment operations, as reported by Fars news agency.

The protests occur against a backdrop of economic crisis exacerbated by years of international sanctions and recovery efforts following June’s conflict with Israel. Demonstrators have adopted increasingly bold slogans including “this is the final battle, Pahlavi will return” and direct calls for the overthrow of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The Syrian military has issued a formal evacuation order for civilians residing in the Kurdish-dominated neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsud and Ashrafiyeh in Aleppo, signaling preparations for renewed offensive operations. This development follows two days of intense clashes that have resulted in at least 17 fatalities and triggered mass civilian displacements.

The current violence represents a significant breakdown in the implementation of a March agreement designed to integrate the semi-autonomous Kurdish administration and military forces into Syria’s new Islamist government structure. The strategic city of Aleppo has effectively shut down, with educational institutions, commercial establishments, and public services remaining closed for consecutive days as security conditions deteriorate.

Military authorities established evacuation corridors on Wednesday that enabled thousands of residents to flee before initiating artillery bombardments against Kurdish positions. A subsequent deadline was imposed on Thursday, with civilians given until 1:00 PM local time to depart before the army threatened to resume combat operations.

A Syrian military official characterized the operation as “limited” in scope, describing its primary objective as pressuring Kurdish fighters to withdraw and enabling government forces to establish complete control over Aleppo. The situation has drawn international concern, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres urging restraint and calling for renewed negotiations to salvage the March integration agreement.

The crisis has generated regional repercussions, with Turkey expressing willingness to support Syrian government operations against Kurdish forces if formally requested. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the offensive as “serious and dangerous” targeting of ethnic minorities, drawing parallels to Israel’s previous intervention during violence involving Syria’s Druze community.

In the northeastern Kurdish stronghold of Qamishli, hundreds of protesters demonstrated against the Aleppo offensive, carrying banners reading “no to war” and “no to ethnic cleansing” while appealing for international intervention to protect Kurdish communities.

HARBIN, CHINA – In an extraordinary cultural exchange, municipal leaders from across the globe gathered at Harbin’s renowned Ice and Snow World on Tuesday evening to participate in an immersive ice sculpture workshop. The event, part of the Global Mayors Dialogue initiative, transformed diplomatic representatives into temporary artisans as they carved the conference logo into blocks of ice using professional tools.

The participating delegation included mayors, deputy mayors, and official representatives from Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, South Korea, Thailand, Türkiye, and China. The specially designated ice sculpture zone provided these international visitors with a practical understanding of northeastern China’s winter cultural traditions.

Against the backdrop of Harbin’s spectacular ice architecture, the leaders received hands-on instruction in ice carving techniques, wielding specialized shovels under the guidance of local masters. This interactive session offered more than mere observation – it created a profound connection to the region’s artistic heritage and the skilled craftspeople who maintain these frozen art forms.

The initiative represents a significant step in cultural diplomacy, using Harbin’s subzero temperatures as an asset for international relationship building. Rather than conventional conference activities, the ice carving workshop provided a memorable, tactile experience that demonstrated China’s commitment to sharing its cultural wealth with global partners.

This unconventional diplomatic engagement occurred as temperatures plunged in Heilongjiang province, where Harbin has established itself as a premier destination for winter tourism and cultural exchange. The event successfully blended political dialogue with cultural immersion, creating a unique platform for cross-cultural understanding through shared artistic experience.

In a landmark international law enforcement operation, suspected criminal mastermind Chen Zhi has been extradited from Cambodia to China, marking a significant breakthrough in combating transnational organized crime. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security hailed the operation as a “major achievement” in Sino-Cambodian cooperation against illicit networks.

Chen, who once managed an internet café, allegedly built a sprawling criminal empire from his Cambodian coastal headquarters, generating an astonishing $30 million daily through online gambling operations and sophisticated “pig butchering” scams targeting victims worldwide. U.S. federal prosecutors had unsealed an indictment against Chen in October, accusing him of defrauding Americans and global victims of billions.

Despite his alleged criminal activities, Chen maintained a veneer of legitimacy in Cambodian high society. As founder of Prince Holding Group, he cultivated political connections, serving as personal adviser to both current Prime Minister Hun Manet and his father, former Prime Minister Hun Sen. He held the prestigious honorary title of “neak oknha” and engaged in substantial philanthropy through his Prince Foundation, including a $3 million donation for COVID-19 vaccines that earned personal gratitude from Hun Sen.

Chen’s business portfolio included a $2 million education scholarship program and the establishment of Prince Horology, a Swiss-style watchmaking school. However, court documents in China reveal Prince Group was implicated in at least a dozen judgments related to money laundering and online gambling operations targeting Chinese nationals as early as 2016.

The suspect maintained multiple passports from China, Cambodia, Vanuatu, Cyprus, and St. Lucia, facilitating his international operations. Chinese authorities have indicated they will soon issue arrest warrants for key players in Chen’s network, signaling a comprehensive crackdown on transnational criminal organizations operating in Southeast Asia.

In a significant diplomatic engagement marking four decades of international friendship, Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack completed his inaugural visit to Harbin, China, characterizing the experience as “one of the most spectacular” of his life. The milestone journey celebrated the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between the Canadian metropolis and its Chinese counterpart in Heilongjiang province.

Despite confronting harsh subzero temperatures reaching minus 20 degrees Celsius, Mayor Knack expressed profound admiration for Harbin’s renowned Ice and Snow Festival, a world-class winter celebration that transforms the city into an elaborate frozen masterpiece. The timing of his visit coincided with the festival’s peak season, providing a perfect backdrop for cross-cultural exchange.

The two municipalities, though geographically separated by vast distances, share remarkable climatic similarities that have fostered a unique bond. Both cities experience extreme winter conditions, creating common ground for collaboration in cold-climate technologies, winter tourism, and climate adaptation strategies.

Looking toward future cooperation, both cities have committed to expanding their partnership beyond cultural exchanges into substantive economic and tourism initiatives. The renewed agreement paves the way for enhanced business connections, educational exchanges, and joint development projects that leverage each city’s unique strengths and resources.

This diplomatic mission represents a strengthening of international municipal relationships at a time when city-to-city diplomacy continues to grow in importance within global governance frameworks. The enduring partnership between Edmonton and Harbin demonstrates how local governments can foster international understanding and cooperation despite differing national contexts.

China’s innovative visa facilitation measures have yielded remarkable results, with inbound arrivals soaring to 40.6 million travelers during the first year of its expanded 240-hour visa-free transit program. The policy revision implemented in December 2024 has triggered a substantial 27.2 percent year-on-year increase in international visitors, according to official data released by Ministry of Public Security spokesperson Zhang Ming on Thursday.

The comprehensive transit program, now accessible to citizens from 55 eligible countries, has demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in boosting China’s tourism sector and international connectivity. Zhang Ming highlighted that utilization of the visa-free scheme has skyrocketed by 60.8 percent compared to pre-policy implementation levels, indicating strong global response to China’s border facilitation initiatives.

This strategic immigration policy overhaul represents China’s commitment to fostering global mobility while maintaining robust border security protocols. The extended transit window allows international travelers ample opportunity to explore multiple Chinese destinations during their stopovers, effectively positioning China as a premier transit hub within global travel networks.

The program’s success coincides with China’s broader efforts to enhance international relations and cultural exchanges through streamlined travel procedures. By reducing bureaucratic barriers, China has not only stimulated its tourism economy but also strengthened its position as an increasingly accessible destination for global citizens seeking business opportunities, cultural experiences, and academic exchanges.

Law enforcement authorities have concurrently implemented advanced biometric screening technologies and real-time monitoring systems to ensure national security remains uncompromised throughout this period of enhanced border accessibility. The Ministry of Public Security continues to refine these procedures based on ongoing evaluation of passenger flow patterns and security assessments.