Global Pulse

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  • Congress would target China with new restrictions in massive defense bill

    Congress would target China with new restrictions in massive defense bill

    While the Trump administration demonstrates diplomatic softening toward China to preserve trade war détente, the U.S. Congress is advancing assertive measures through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that signal a hardened long-term competition strategy. The House-approved $900 billion defense bill, now advancing to the Senate, incorporates multiple China-focused provisions that contrast sharply with the White House’s recent conciliatory gestures.

    The legislation mandates heightened scrutiny of American investments in Chinese technological sectors that could enhance military capabilities, including quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors. It further prohibits federal funds from being allocated to blacklisted Chinese biotechnology companies, addressing concerns about genetic data security and pharmaceutical supply chain vulnerabilities. The bill significantly amplifies support for Taiwan, authorizing increased security cooperation funding and endorsing the island’s bid for International Monetary Fund membership.

    Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, leading Democrat on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, characterized these measures as reflecting “a serious, strategic approach to countering the Chinese Communist Party” that diverges markedly from recent White House positioning. The administration recently permitted Nvidia to export advanced computer chips to China and eliminated Biden-era language identifying China as a strategic threat in its national security strategy.

    Chinese officials vehemently condemned the legislation, with embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu denouncing its “China threat narrative” and warning of damaged bilateral relations. Meanwhile, policy analysts note the provisions would establish foundational competitiveness policies that future administrations would find difficult to reverse, creating structural barriers to economic decoupling regardless of diplomatic rhetoric.

    The NDAA’s biotechnology provisions replace earlier failed legislation that specifically named Chinese companies, instead tasking the Office of Management and Budget with compiling a dynamic list of “biotechnology companies of concern” while expanding Pentagon investments in domestic biotech capabilities.

  • Moment skydiver crash lands onto traffic light

    Moment skydiver crash lands onto traffic light

    In a breathtaking incident that defied both gravity and expectation, a skydiver experienced an emergency landing atop a traffic signal in the bustling streets of Mexico City on December 9th. The astonishing event, captured by multiple eyewitnesses, shows the individual descending rapidly before making unexpected contact with the urban infrastructure.

    According to official statements from Mexico City’s law enforcement authorities, the individual involved emerged from the precarious situation entirely unscathed. Police confirmed that despite the violent nature of the impact with the traffic apparatus, the skydiver sustained no physical injuries and required no immediate medical attention following the incident.

    The extraordinary circumstances surrounding this aerial mishap have raised questions about safety protocols and airspace regulations for recreational skydiving activities in metropolitan areas. Aviation experts suggest that unexpected wind patterns or equipment malfunction may have contributed to the diver’s deviation from the intended landing zone, though official investigations remain ongoing.

    This remarkable survival story highlights both the inherent risks of extreme sports and the astonishing resilience of the human body when confronted with potentially catastrophic scenarios. The incident continues to circulate across social media platforms, sparking conversations about urban safety preparedness for unconventional emergency situations.

  • ‘Outright denial’: Genocide prevention group slams Hillary Clinton’s Gaza remarks

    ‘Outright denial’: Genocide prevention group slams Hillary Clinton’s Gaza remarks

    The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention has issued a forceful condemnation of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent comments regarding Israel’s military operations in Gaza, characterizing her statements as “outright genocide denial.” The rebuke came in response to Clinton’s appearance at the Israel Hayom Summit on December 2nd, where she attributed growing American criticism of Israel to poor public relations and social media manipulation rather than substantive concerns about Israel’s conduct.

    During her summit address, Clinton asserted that Israel possesses “the worst PR of any group,” specifically singling out TikTok for disseminating what she termed “pure propaganda” regarding Israeli military actions in Gaza. She further characterized young Americans’ positions as a “serious problem for democracy,” claiming they lacked historical context and were being influenced by one-sided narratives.

    The genocide prevention organization fundamentally rejected this analysis, countering that Americans are responding to overwhelming evidence emerging from Gaza rather than falling prey to misinformation. The institute emphasized that years of documentation from Palestinian journalists, ordinary Gazans, and even IDF soldiers themselves have created an incontrovertible record that cannot be dismissed as mere propaganda.

    According to the institute’s statement, “There has been no convincing refutation of the sheer amount of raw evidence of genocide coming out of Palestine. Young people in the US are not stupid or gullible. They simply reject genocide.”

    The organization noted with particular concern that Clinton’s remarks focused exclusively on narrative management while completely avoiding engagement with the substantive allegations of genocidal violence. They observed that her primary concern appeared to be the increased visibility of Israel’s actions through real-time documentation rather than the actions themselves.

    The statement also highlighted the irony of Clinton’s criticism of TikTok, given the platform’s documented history of censoring pro-Palestinian content and its July appointment of a former IDF instructor as its new manager of hate speech policy.

    The Lemkin Institute, founded in 2017 by renowned genocide scholars Elisa von Joeden-Forgey and Irene Victoria Massimino, takes its name from Raphael Lemkin, the Polish lawyer who coined the term “genocide.” The organization has joined numerous international bodies, United Nations experts, and human rights organizations in characterizing Israel’s campaign in Gaza as genocidal, with Palestinian casualties now exceeding 71,000 according to the report.

  • Portugal braced for mass disruption in first general strike for 12 years

    Portugal braced for mass disruption in first general strike for 12 years

    Portugal experienced widespread disruption across its transportation networks, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and public services on Thursday as the nation’s two primary labor federations launched a coordinated general strike. This unprecedented joint action between the traditionally more militant CGTP and the typically moderate UGT represents the first such collaboration since the eurozone debt crisis of 2013.

    The strike protests the center-right government’s proposed labor reforms that would significantly alter worker protections. Among the most contentious measures are provisions allowing employers to repeatedly renew temporary contracts indefinitely, eliminating bans on immediately rehiring dismissed workers through outsourcing arrangements, and removing requirements to reinstate unfairly terminated employees.

    Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s administration argues these changes are necessary to address labor market “rigidities” and ultimately boost both corporate profitability and worker wages. “I will not give up on having a country with the ambition to be at the forefront, to be at the vanguard of Europe,” Montenegro stated ahead of the strike.

    However, the government appears to have underestimated the strength of opposition, with even a Social Democrat MP serving on the UGT executive voting in favor of the strike. Despite last-minute modifications to the proposals, the concessions failed to appease union leaders.

    The reforms particularly impact Portuguese workers in their twenties, creating divided opinions among younger citizens. While some support the modernization efforts, others express concern about already precarious employment conditions.

    The political landscape complicates the situation, with Montenegro’s minority government seeking support from both the free-market Liberal Initiative and the hard-right Chega party—a move that has drawn criticism given his pre-election pledge to avoid deals with Chega.

    The controversy has spilled into January’s presidential campaign, with several candidates arguing the reforms violate Portugal’s 1976 constitution. Under Portugal’s semi-presidential system, the president could potentially delay or block the legislation through constitutional challenges.

    Unlike typical public sector strikes, this action garnered support across industries, including near-unanimous backing from nearly 1,000 employees at Volkswagen’s Autoeuropa plant, Portugal’s largest factory.

  • The Swiss city that lets you pay for most things with bitcoin

    The Swiss city that lets you pay for most things with bitcoin

    Nestled amidst mountain-fringed lakes, the Swiss city of Lugano has transformed into a living laboratory for cryptocurrency adoption. At a local McDonald’s, customers now casually order coffee using bitcoin—a scene that would be extraordinary elsewhere but has become routine in this innovative financial ecosystem.

    The municipal government has spearheaded this digital transformation by distributing free cryptocurrency payment terminals to retail establishments. Approximately 350 shops and restaurants currently accept bitcoin alongside Swiss francs, with even municipal services like preschool childcare now payable in digital currency. The payment process involves simple contactless transactions from mobile bitcoin wallets, with one coffee purchase amounting to approximately 0.00008629 bitcoin ($8.80).

    French visitor Nicolas exemplifies the bitcoin evangelists drawn to Lugano. ‘The remarkable aspect of bitcoin payments is the profound sense of financial liberation,’ he explains. ‘You eliminate dependency on traditional banking systems with their intermediaries and associated costs.’ Nicolas utilizes bitcoin prepaid cards available in Switzerland—physical cards loaded with Swiss francs that convert to bitcoin in digital wallets.

    Luxury retailers along Lugano’s upscale shopping districts have embraced this financial innovation. Cherubino Fry, proprietor of Vintage Nassa luxury bags and watches, cites practical advantages: ‘Transaction fees for bitcoin typically remain below 1%, significantly lower than the 1.7-3.4% charged by credit card companies.’ Though current bitcoin transactions remain sporadic, Fry anticipates substantial growth: ‘Bitcoin adoption will resemble a growing tree—within five to ten years, this tree will become enormous.’

    The city’s ambitious Plan B initiative (B representing bitcoin), launched in 2022 through partnership with cryptocurrency platform Tether, aims to establish Lugano as Europe’s premier bitcoin hub. Director Mir Liponi conducted an eleven-day personal experiment using exclusively bitcoin after encountering traditional banking issues. ‘I successfully managed daily necessities including grocery deliveries and medical services,’ she reports, though noting limitations with public transportation, fuel, dental services, and energy bills.

    Liponi envisions future ‘circular economies where individuals earn, retain, spend, and pay for services entirely in bitcoin.’ This vision contrasts sharply with El Salvador’s troubled bitcoin adoption, where citizens reportedly converted government-distributed bitcoin to dollars and abandoned the cryptocurrency.

    Despite enthusiasm, significant skepticism persists. University of Lugano student Lucia expresses concerns about cryptocurrency associations with ‘criminal activities, dark web transactions, and speculative risks.’ This skepticism turned destructive when vandals demolished a Satoshi Nakamoto statue along Lugano’s lakefront in August—an unusual act of protest in this typically reserved community.

    Professor Sergio Rossi of the University of Fribourg highlights economic risks: ‘Bitcoin’s extreme volatility presents substantial merchant risks. Immediate conversion to stable fiat currencies becomes essential.’ He further warns about platform risks: ‘If digital wallet providers fail, cryptocurrencies disappear permanently—unlike Swiss bank deposits guaranteed up to 100,000 francs.’

    Mayor Michele Foletti dismisses concerns about attracting criminal elements: ‘Both fiat currency and bitcoin can facilitate legal or illegal activities. Criminal organizations actually prefer physical cash for money laundering due to greater anonymity.’ The mayor highlights tangible benefits: 110 cryptocurrency companies have either relocated or launched operations in Lugano, signaling successful economic diversification through digital currency innovation.

  • Israel used Palantir technology in its 2024 Lebanon pager attack, book claims

    Israel used Palantir technology in its 2024 Lebanon pager attack, book claims

    A newly published biography has revealed that Israel deployed sophisticated software from the American technology firm Palantir during its controversial 2024 pager bombings in Lebanon. The operation, which targeted communications devices belonging to Hezbollah members, resulted in significant casualties and has drawn condemnation from international human rights experts.

    According to author Michael Steinberger’s ‘The Philosopher in the Valley: Alex Karp, Palantir, and the Rise of the Surveillance State,’ Israel significantly expanded its utilization of Palantir’s technology following the outbreak of conflict in Gaza in October 2023. The book details how this partnership culminated in ‘Operation Grim Beeper,’ where hundreds of Hezbollah fighters were injured by exploding pagers and walkie-talkies that had been covertly rigged with explosives.

    The September 17 attacks saw thousands of pagers detonate simultaneously across Lebanon. Many devices displayed ‘error’ messages and emitted intense vibrations before explosion, effectively drawing victims—including both combatants and civilians—into proximity at the moment of detonation. Subsequent explosions occurred the following day during public funerals for those killed in the initial attacks.

    The aftermath left 42 people dead and thousands wounded, with many survivors sustaining life-altering injuries to their eyes, faces, and hands. While Israeli officials celebrated the operation’s success, United Nations experts condemned the tactics as ‘terrifying’ violations of international law.

    Steinberger’s account notes that Israel’s demand for Palantir’s assistance became so substantial that the company dispatched a team of engineers from London to support Israeli users. This revelation comes amid growing scrutiny of technology companies’ involvement in military operations against Palestinians and neighboring states.

    A July report by UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese accused several tech firms, including Palantir, of profiting from ‘crimes including illegal occupation, apartheid and genocide in occupied Palestine.’ The report specifically cited Palantir’s provision of ‘automatic predictive policing technology’ and its ‘Artificial Intelligence Platform,’ which enables real-time battlefield data integration for automated decision-making.

    Albanese called on UN member states to suspend trade agreements with entities endangering Palestinians and urged international courts to pursue investigations against corporate executives for potential complicity in international crimes. Middle East Eye has reached out to Palantir for comment regarding these allegations.

  • Australian pilot has conviction for murder of camper overturned on appeal

    Australian pilot has conviction for murder of camper overturned on appeal

    In a dramatic legal reversal, Australia’s Victoria Court of Appeal has overturned the murder conviction of former airline pilot Greg Lynn and ordered a retrial for the 2020 death of elderly camper Carol Clay. The court determined that serious procedural irregularities had compromised the original trial, creating a substantial likelihood of justice being miscarried.

    The case dates back to March 2020 when Clay, 73, and her boyfriend Russell Hill, 74, vanished from a remote campsite in Victoria’s Wonnangatta Valley, sparking one of the state’s most extensive missing person investigations. Lynn, then 57 and a pilot for Jetstar, was arrested in November 2021 after a lengthy police investigation.

    During last year’s five-week trial, prosecutors argued that Lynn had intentionally killed the couple during a confrontation at the campsite. Lynn admitted to moving and burning the bodies and destroying evidence but maintained the deaths resulted from separate accidental struggles over a shotgun and knife. The jury ultimately convicted him of Clay’s murder while acquitting him in Hill’s death, resulting in a 24-year minimum sentence.

    The appeal court found multiple breaches of fair trial conduct rules by prosecutors, though specific irregularities weren’t detailed in the public ruling. Court of Appeal President Karin Emerton emphasized the seriousness of the procedural failures in ordering a new trial.

    Lynn remains in custody pending his next court appearance scheduled for January 28, where proceedings for the retrial will be formalized. The case has captivated Australian public attention for years, combining elements of mystery, tragedy, and complex legal questions about intent and accidental death in remote wilderness settings.

  • Social media ban kicks in for Australia’s under-16s

    Social media ban kicks in for Australia’s under-16s

    Australia has enacted groundbreaking legislation prohibiting children under 16 from accessing major social media platforms, becoming the first nation to implement such comprehensive restrictions. The historic ban took effect Wednesday, representing a radical shift in digital safety governance and sparking global interest in its potential implications.

    Platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, X, Snapchat, Kick, Twitch, TikTok, Reddit and YouTube must now implement stringent age verification measures. Companies failing to prevent underage access face severe penalties reaching A$49.5 million ($32.9 million).

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the legislation as “world-leading,” emphasizing that “our social media ban is about making sure kids have a childhood.” He acknowledged implementation challenges but stated the initiative was “too important not to give it a crack.”

    According to Professor Julian Sefton-Green of Deakin University, the policy primarily targets social media companies rather than users themselves. “The ban is not so much a ban on users, it’s a ban on social media companies acting irresponsibly,” explained Sefton-Green, who serves on the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s advisory group.

    The professor characterized the move as a national government asserting authority over foreign-owned platforms’ influence. Comprehensive evaluation will assess impacts on youth wellbeing, family dynamics, social relationships, and information access patterns, though conclusive results may require two to three years of observation.

    Platform responses have varied, with TikTok confirming compliance through facial age estimation, credit card authorization, and government ID verification. The company acknowledged these measures “may be upsetting” but necessary for legal compliance.

    Critics including Digital Rights Watch’s Tom Sulston warn the ban might drive youth toward unregulated platforms potentially “more dangerous than those they currently know how to use.” Concerns also extend to data privacy, as age verification requires distributing biometric information and identity documents to companies potentially outside Australian jurisdiction.

    The Australian model has already inspired similar considerations internationally. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed deep support, while Malaysia plans to prevent under-16 sign-ups next year. Denmark recently agreed to ban under-15s from social media with parental exemption options, and Germany maintains parental consent requirements for 13-16 year olds.

  • Group of Friends initiated to boost global governance

    Group of Friends initiated to boost global governance

    UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS – A significant new diplomatic coalition, the Group of Friends of Global Governance, was formally inaugurated on Tuesday at the United Nations in New York. The initiative, championed by China and guided by President Xi Jinping’s Global Governance Initiative, has drawn participation from 43 founding member states spanning diverse geographical regions, including Cuba, Iran, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Malaysia.

    The launch event, presided over by China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, signals a concerted effort to revitalize multilateral cooperation. Ambassador Fu contextualized the group’s establishment against a backdrop of mounting challenges to the international rules-based order, describing the current era as a ‘new period of turbulence’ where multilateralism faces ‘severe strain.’

    Central to the group’s mission is advancing the core tenets of the Global Governance Initiative, which is built upon five fundamental principles: sovereign equality, adherence to international rule of law, unwavering support for multilateralism, a people-centered development approach, and a focus on actionable results. The initiative, first proposed by President Xi at a Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in September 2025, has already garnered diplomatic support from over 140 countries and international organizations.

    Diplomats from founding nations voiced strong backing for the initiative. Cuban Ambassador Ernesto Soberon Guzman praised it as a vital contribution to ‘the democratization of international relations’ and a tool to combat ‘widening inequalities’ and ‘unilateral measures.’ Similarly, Burundi’s Ambassador Zephyrin Maniratanga emphasized the coalition’s importance in tackling modern challenges that no nation can solve alone. Kyrgyzstan’s representative, Aida Kasymalieva, highlighted the platform’s practical utility for unifying the voices of developing and landlocked states and fostering capacity-building.

    The group, described by Ambassador Fu as an ‘open and inclusive platform,’ released a joint statement committing to strengthen the UN-centric international system, uphold the UN Charter, and promote dialogue to achieve tangible outcomes. An invitation was extended to other like-minded UN member states to join the collective effort.

  • Tourists to US may be required to reveal five years of social media history

    Tourists to US may be required to reveal five years of social media history

    The Trump administration has introduced a groundbreaking proposal that would mandate international travelers to disclose extensive digital histories before entering the United States. Published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, the initiative would require all visitors to provide five years of social media activity, five-year histories of personal and business phone numbers, ten-year records of email addresses, and residential information for family members.

    This comprehensive digital screening would apply universally to both visa-required travelers and those from Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) countries, including the United Kingdom. The proposal, advanced by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Department of Homeland Security, has initiated a 60-day public commentary period allowing federal agencies and citizens to evaluate the potential implications.

    Following the commentary phase, agencies will conduct thorough analysis of submitted feedback before finalizing regulations with detailed explanations of modifications. The implemented rules would then be codified into the Code of Federal Regulations, establishing permanent entry requirements.

    This proposed policy could significantly impact international tourism, particularly affecting the anticipated five million visitors expected for the 2026 World Cup jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The measures follow previous travel restrictions that resulted in detained or refused European visitors earlier this year.

    Concurrently, CBP is proposing additional biometric requirements, including voluntary facial image collection and geolocation tracking to verify departure compliance. The agency plans to implement sophisticated verification technology, including live photo authentication and geolocation confirmation systems.

    Furthermore, CBP intends to replace the current ESTA website application with a mandatory mobile application, citing security enhancements and operational efficiency. The agency asserts that these measures address vulnerabilities exploited by malicious actors who submit low-quality photographs or passport images to evade detection.