Global Pulse

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  • Malayalam cinema legend Sreenivasan dies: Indian media reports

    Malayalam cinema legend Sreenivasan dies: Indian media reports

    The Indian film industry is in mourning following the passing of Sreenivasan, a towering figure in Malayalam cinema who died at age 69 according to multiple media reports confirmed on December 20, 2025. The multifaceted artist leaves behind an extraordinary legacy spanning acting, directing, and screenwriting that profoundly shaped Indian regional cinema for decades.

    Sreenivasan’s career exemplified creative versatility, with his filmography encompassing more than 200 acting credits alongside numerous writing and directing projects. He earned particular acclaim for his sharp social commentaries woven throughout his work, addressing contemporary issues with both intelligence and accessibility. His screenwriting resonated across generations, capturing the nuances of everyday life while offering thoughtful critique of societal structures.

    The cultural impact of his filmography extends beyond mere entertainment, with many of his works now considered essential viewing for understanding the evolution of Malayalam cinema. His unique ability to balance humor with substantive social observation created a distinctive style that influenced countless contemporary filmmakers and performers.

    Tributes from colleagues, critics, and admirers have highlighted his exceptional contribution to Indian regional cinema, noting how his work consistently elevated the artistic standards of the industry. His passing represents not just the loss of a beloved performer but the departure of a visionary creative force whose work documented and shaped cultural conversations across multiple decades.

    The film community anticipates commemorations of his life and work will emerge in coming days as fans and industry professionals alike reflect on the enduring significance of his artistic legacy.

  • Future of UAE property: Flexible workspaces, green construction and premium home trends

    Future of UAE property: Flexible workspaces, green construction and premium home trends

    The United Arab Emirates real estate sector is undergoing a profound metamorphosis, moving beyond traditional construction metrics to embrace human-centered design principles, environmental sustainability, and technological integration. This evolution reflects changing lifestyles where workplaces serve as collaborative ecosystems, homes transform into personalized sanctuaries, and retail spaces become experiential destinations.

    Workplace architecture has fundamentally shifted toward hybrid-adaptive models that prioritize employee wellbeing. Industry leaders like Spacewell Interiors now design environments featuring biophilic elements, optimized natural lighting, and versatile zones that accommodate both collaborative work and focused individual tasks. This departure from conventional office layouts responds to post-pandemic work patterns while enhancing productivity through environmental psychology.

    Sustainability has transitioned from peripheral consideration to core construction mandate. Forward-thinking manufacturers like Emirates Extrusion Factory have developed revolutionary curtainwall systems that achieve 35% energy savings while eliminating on-site fabrication waste. These systems meet rigorous international certifications including LEED and Estidama, demonstrating how ecological responsibility converges with economic efficiency through reduced labor requirements and long-term operational savings.

    The residential interior market simultaneously experiences unprecedented growth, with Dubai’s real estate transactions surging 40% to Dh326.6 billion in early 2025. Global wellness company GMG capitalizes on this trend through its new luxury brand Modora, targeting a market projected to exceed $5.7 million by 2033. This expansion signifies the maturation of UAE’s design economy while supporting local artisans and suppliers.

    Specialized firms like The Makers elevate this transformation through narrative-driven design approaches that blend engineering precision with artistic vision. Their multidisciplinary methodology ensures spaces resonate emotionally while fulfilling functional requirements across residential, hospitality, and commercial sectors.

    This comprehensive market evolution positions the UAE at the forefront of sustainable urban development, where intelligent spaces adapt to human needs while minimizing environmental impact. The convergence of wellness-focused design, green construction technologies, and experiential interiors defines a new paradigm in real estate development that balances economic growth with ecological and social responsibility.

  • Bangladesh mourns slain activist as tensions rise ahead of elections

    Bangladesh mourns slain activist as tensions rise ahead of elections

    DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh witnessed massive funeral processions on Saturday for prominent political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death has intensified the nation’s political instability ahead of crucial February elections. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Dhaka under tight security measures as the country observed a national day of mourning.

    Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 political uprising that ended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, succumbed to gunshot wounds on Thursday in a Singapore hospital. The initial attack occurred on December 12 in Dhaka, with police indicating the primary suspect has likely fled to India—a development that has sparked diplomatic tensions between the neighboring nations.

    The funeral proceedings took place outside Bangladesh’s Parliament complex, where mourners carried national flags and chanted slogans vowing to continue Hadi’s political legacy. As spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho cultural organization, Hadi will be laid to rest at Dhaka University campus beside national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

    The activist’s death has triggered violent responses, with protesters attacking and setting fire to offices of two major national newspapers. Interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has appealed for calm amid the escalating tensions.

    Hadi, known for his criticism of both India and the exiled former leader Hasina, had planned to run as an independent candidate in Dhaka during the upcoming elections. Bangladesh currently navigates a delicate political transition under Yunus’s interim government, with the absence of Hasina’s Awami League party creating a complex power dynamic.

    The political landscape now features Hasina’s rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, alongside the Jamaat-e-Islami party—the country’s largest Islamist organization—which seeks expanded political influence following Hasina’s departure. India has remained unresponsive to Bangladesh’s requests for extraditing Hasina, who faces death sentencing for crimes against humanity.

  • Imran Khan and wife given further jail terms after state gift fraud case

    Imran Khan and wife given further jail terms after state gift fraud case

    In a significant legal development, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi have been handed additional prison sentences in a high-profile fraud case concerning state gifts. The conviction centers on a luxury Bulgari jewelry set received from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during an official 2021 visit.

    The Islamabad court delivered sentences of 10 years for criminal breach of trust and 7 years for criminal misconduct, accompanied by a fine exceeding 16 million Pakistani rupees (£42,600). These terms will run concurrently with their existing prison sentences. Notably, the defendants were absent during sentencing, with their legal team receiving notification after standard court hours concluded.

    This case, colloquially termed ‘Toshakhana 2’ in Pakistani media, alleges that Khan orchestrated the undervaluation of the jewelry through a private firm before repurchasing it at a substantially reduced price—a direct violation of Pakistan’s regulations requiring state gifts to be deposited with the Toshakhana treasury.

    Khan’s defense team, led by attorney Salman Safdar, has characterized the charges as politically motivated and plans to appeal the verdict in Pakistan’s high court. This judgment represents the latest in over 100 legal cases brought against the former cricket icon since his removal from office via no-confidence vote in April 2022.

    The sentencing occurs against a backdrop of heightened political tensions. Khan’s social media channels continue to operate despite his incarceration, posting content sharply critical of current military leadership. Recent months have seen restricted visitation rights, with family access severely limited following controversial posts attributed to Khan.

    Correctional authorities confirmed both defendants were present during the verdict announcement, though media observation was prohibited. The court documentation notably referenced leniency in sentencing due to Khan’s ‘advanced age.’

  • Pakistani court sentences former Prime Minister Imran Khan and wife to 17 years in graft case

    Pakistani court sentences former Prime Minister Imran Khan and wife to 17 years in graft case

    A Pakistani court has delivered a significant verdict against imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, sentencing both to 17 years imprisonment for illicitly retaining and selling state gifts. The ruling, announced Saturday at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, marks another legal setback for the ousted leader.

    The conviction centers on allegations that the couple substantially undervalued precious gifts received from foreign dignitaries—including jewelry from Saudi Arabia’s government—during Khan’s premiership. Prosecutors demonstrated that Khan and Bibi declared the gifts’ worth at slightly over $10,000, enabling their purchase at reduced prices, despite their actual market valuation exceeding $285,000.

    Pakistani legislation explicitly mandates that government officials must acquire gifts from foreign dignitaries at fair market value if they wish to retain them, with any subsequent sales proceeds requiring declaration. The court found the couple violated these regulations through systematic undervaluation.

    Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, immediately condemned the decision as “a black chapter in history,” while his spokesperson Zulfiquar Bukhari criticized the verdict for imposing “criminal liability without proof of intent, gain, or loss.” Bukhari further alleged the judgment relied on “retrospective reinterpretation of rules” and raised concerns about judicial impartiality.

    The sentencing adds to multiple corruption convictions Khan has accumulated since his 2022 ouster via parliamentary no-confidence vote. The former cricket superstar maintains that all charges against him constitute politically motivated attempts to derail his continuing influence and potential return to power.

  • UN urges Rwanda to leave eastern Congo and extends peacekeeping mission for a year

    UN urges Rwanda to leave eastern Congo and extends peacekeeping mission for a year

    The United Nations Security Council has issued a forceful condemnation of Rwanda’s military presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo while simultaneously extending the mandate of its peacekeeping mission for an additional year. This decisive action comes despite a recently brokered peace agreement between the two African nations.

    In a unanimously adopted resolution on Friday, the UN’s most powerful body denounced the ongoing offensive by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and explicitly demanded that Kigali cease all support for the insurgents and immediately withdraw its forces from Congolese territory. The resolution maintains approximately 11,500 UN military personnel in the country under the MONUSCO peacekeeping mission.

    The diplomatic developments coincide with contested claims regarding the strategic city of Uvira in eastern Congo. While M23 rebels announced a withdrawal from the city they seized last week, Congolese authorities dismissed the move as “staged” and asserted that rebel forces remain present. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Jennifer Locetta addressed the Security Council, demanding M23 immediately retreat at least 75 kilometers (47 miles) from Uvira.

    This escalation occurs despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement signed earlier this month by the presidents of Congo and Rwanda in Washington. Notably, the accord did not include the M23 rebel group, which has been conducting separate negotiations with Congolese officials. The agreement obligates Rwanda to terminate support for armed groups like M23 and work toward ceasing hostilities.

    According to UN experts, the Congo government, and United States officials, Rwanda has been backing M23, which has dramatically expanded from hundreds of fighters in 2021 to approximately 6,500 combatants today. Eastern Congo, particularly the mineral-rich border region with Rwanda, remains contested by more than 100 armed groups, with M23 being the most prominent. The protracted conflict has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, displacing over 7 million people according to UN refugee agencies.

    The MONUSCO force, which arrived in Congo in 2010, faces growing local frustration. Many Congolese citizens report feeling unprotected from rebel attacks, leading to sometimes deadly protests against the UN mission. In response to these concerns and at the request of the Congolese government, the Security Council previously voted unanimously in 2023 to begin drawing down the peacekeeping force and gradually transferring security responsibilities to national authorities.

  • Children at kindergarten in N China learn to make dumplings ahead of Winter Solstice

    Children at kindergarten in N China learn to make dumplings ahead of Winter Solstice

    In anticipation of the upcoming Winter Solstice, young students at a kindergarten in Jiyuan city, Shandong province, engaged in a hands-on cultural activity by learning to make traditional Chinese dumplings on December 19, 2025.

    The event, captured in photographs distributed by Xinhua News Agency, shows children proudly presenting their handmade dumplings while learning about this significant seasonal festival. Winter Solstice, occurring this year on December 21st, represents the shortest day of the year and historically marked the beginning of deep winter in traditional Chinese agricultural society.

    This educational initiative connects the younger generation with China’s rich cultural heritage surrounding the solar term. The tradition of consuming specific foods during Winter Solstice varies regionally across China, with northern provinces maintaining the custom of eating dumplings, while southern regions typically enjoy tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls).

    The kindergarten’s curriculum-integrated activity demonstrates how educational institutions are preserving cultural traditions through experiential learning. Children not only developed culinary skills but also gained understanding of seasonal changes and their significance in Chinese agricultural history and contemporary practices.

  • US Justice Department starts releasing Epstein files

    US Justice Department starts releasing Epstein files

    WASHINGTON — In a significant transparency move, the U.S. Department of Justice commenced the disclosure of extensive records pertaining to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. This action follows the near-unanimous congressional passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act last month, which mandated the release by December 19, 2025.

    Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the initial disclosure encompasses ‘several hundred thousand’ documents, with additional records scheduled for publication in the coming weeks. The released materials include investigative documents, communications, and court records related to federal investigations and prosecutions of Epstein, who maintained associations with numerous high-profile figures in American politics and business before his death in prison in August 2019.

    The legislation required the Justice Department to publish all unclassified materials in its possession, with limited exemptions for protecting victim identities through redaction of personally identifiable information and safeguarding active federal investigations. Epstein’s death while in federal custody was officially ruled a suicide, though it has generated ongoing speculation and conspiracy theories.

    The document release represents the culmination of years of public pressure and legal battles for transparency regarding Epstein’s extensive network and the handling of his case. President Donald Trump had previously committed during his 2024 campaign to authorize the disclosure of Epstein-related documents if reelected.

  • Could ‘massive’ Munyua win spark darts boom in Kenya?

    Could ‘massive’ Munyua win spark darts boom in Kenya?

    In an extraordinary display of skill and determination, Kenyan debutant David Munyua created one of the most remarkable upsets in PDC World Championship history by defeating world number 18 Mike de Decker in a thrilling first-round encounter. The 30-year-old veterinary professional, competing in his first-ever tournament outside Africa, staged a spectacular comeback from two sets down to secure a 3-2 victory against the 2024 World Grand Prix champion.

    The significance of Munyua’s achievement resonated beyond the Alexandra Palace venue, attracting personal congratulations from Kenyan President William Ruto. ‘As you advance to the next stage, know that the nation stands behind you,’ President Ruto stated in his message, adding the hopeful directive: ‘Bring the trophy home.’

    Munyua’s journey to the world stage is particularly noteworthy given his background. Working full-time as a veterinarian in Kenya, he balances his darting ambitions with professional responsibilities that include attending to cattle. Remarkably, Munyua acquired his match-winning darts, designed by Cam Crabtree, from a local shop just days before his London debut.

    His performance captivated audiences not only through his darting precision but also through his animated stage presence. Dann Korori, co-founder of Sirua Darts and official affiliate to the Kenya Darts Association, noted Munyua’s unique mannerisms: ‘He has this golf switch. He swings his hands then throws the fishing net into the water. He pulls that after every leg.’

    The victory guarantees Munyua at least £25,000 in prize money and sets up a second-round encounter against Kevin Doets. His success has ignited enthusiasm across Kenya and the African continent, with many hoping it will stimulate increased interest in darts throughout the region. As Korori observed: ‘It’s something that has been cooking and we were just waiting for that one moment for this to blow up.’

    With the nickname ‘Why Not,’ Munyua now embodies the potential for African nations to emerge as significant contenders in global darts competitions.

  • Museum’s donated painting in spotlight

    Museum’s donated painting in spotlight

    Nanjing Museum has produced archival documents claiming a disputed 16th-century landscape painting at the center of a major donation controversy was officially classified as forged decades ago. The revelation comes amid escalating legal battles with the descendants of renowned collector Pang Laichen (1864-1949), who donated 137 artifacts to the institution in 1959.

    The conflict emerged when family members discovered ‘Jiangnan Spring’ – attributed to Ming Dynasty master Qiu Ying – was scheduled for auction in Beijing with an ¥88 million ($12.5 million) price tag. The painting was abruptly withdrawn after the Pangs protested, prompting investigations that revealed five artworks from their donation were missing from museum records.

    According to documents presented by the museum, a 1961 expert panel determined ‘Jiangnan Spring’ was duplicated, with a second panel confirming its forged status in 1964. Records indicate the painting was subsequently transferred to Jiangsu Cultural Relics Store in the 1990s under then-prevailing collection management regulations, with a 2001 invoice showing its eventual sale for merely ¥6,800 as ‘A Copy of Qiu Ying’s Jiangnan Spring’.

    Pang Shuling, the collector’s great-granddaughter, has filed a court enforcement application demanding full transparency regarding the transferred artifacts. ‘The donation made by my father to Nanjing Museum in 1959 are all precious works, they are not forged,’ she asserted.

    The museum maintains it acted within historical guidelines, with attorney Zhang Han noting ownership transferred completely upon donation. However, family attorney Yin Zhijun argues donors retain right-to-know privileges regarding their contributions’ preservation.

    Museology professor Pan Shouyong of Shanghai University contextualized the dispute: ‘People’s understanding of what a ‘cultural relic’ is has been constantly growing. It’s unfair to always use today’s guiding mindset to judge past deeds, but neither can we conceal a past blemish if we want to achieve more.’

    The case highlights evolving standards in China’s cultural heritage management, particularly since the National Cultural Heritage Administration’s 2018 interim measures requiring donor consultation for deaccessioning procedures.