Global Pulse

博客

  • Nicki Minaj calls herself Trump’s ‘number one fan’ and shows off gold card visa

    Nicki Minaj calls herself Trump’s ‘number one fan’ and shows off gold card visa

    In a remarkable political pivot, Trinidad-born rap superstar Nicki Minaj publicly proclaimed herself as former President Donald Trump’s “number one fan” during a Washington DC appearance. The controversial endorsement occurred at the US Treasury Department’s Trump Accounts Summit, where Minaj displayed her exclusive “Trump gold card” visa—a premium immigration pathway offering residency and citizenship opportunities for wealthy applicants.

    The artist, known for hits like “Super Bass,” shared details about her immigration journey, revealing she initially entered the United States as an undocumented child immigrant. This stance marks a significant departure from her previous criticisms of Trump’s hardline immigration policies, particularly the family-separation approach she condemned in 2018 Facebook posts.

    Minaj enthusiastically showcased her gold card—featuring Trump’s likeness—on social media platform X, captioning the image simply “Welp.” She confirmed completing citizenship paperwork under what she described as her “wonderful, gracious, charming president’s” initiative, noting the card arrived “free of charge” despite its typical $1 million investment requirement plus $15,000 processing fee.

    The endorsement event featured unusual camaraderie, with Trump joking about growing his nails to emulate Minaj’s signature style before holding hands with her on stage. Minaj asserted criticism only strengthened her support, stating she wouldn’t allow opponents to “get away with bullying him” and claiming divine protection for the billionaire politician.

    This celebrity endorsement contrasts sharply with mounting criticism from other music industry figures. Bruce Springsteen released an anti-ICE protest song titled “Streets Of Minneapolis,” memorializing citizens killed in separate incidents. Artists including Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Ariana Grande have voiced opposition to ICE operations, with Eilish directly challenging fellow celebrities to speak out against agency actions.

    The gold card program itself faces scrutiny for emerging alongside intensified crackdowns on illegal immigration, creating a two-tiered system that privileges wealthy applicants while restricting others.

  • Iran vows ‘crushing response’, EU targets Revolutionary Guards

    Iran vows ‘crushing response’, EU targets Revolutionary Guards

    Tensions between Iran and Western powers escalated dramatically as Tehran promised a forceful retaliation against potential military action while the European Union advanced plans to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. The confrontation emerged amid ongoing protests in Iran that have drawn international condemnation and threats of intervention.

    Iran’s Army Chief Amir Hatami declared Thursday that the nation stands prepared to deliver a ‘crushing response’ to any aggression, with state television reporting the deployment of 1,000 strategic drones to combat regiments. This show of force comes in direct response to President Donald Trump’s warnings that time is running out for nuclear negotiations and his deployment of a naval strike group to Middle Eastern waters.

    The EU is expected to formally classify the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity following widespread crackdowns on protests that human rights groups say resulted in thousands of civilian casualties. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas emphasized that organizations acting as terrorists ‘should be treated as terrorists,’ placing the IRGC on par with extremist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

    While largely symbolic given existing EU sanctions against IRGC leadership, the designation represents a significant diplomatic condemnation. Iran has warned of ‘destructive consequences’ should the measure proceed.

    Regional actors have intensified calls for de-escalation, with Gulf states expressing concern about potential economic chaos and skyrocketing energy prices should military conflict erupt. Turkey announced plans to mediate between Washington and Tehran during an upcoming visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stating ‘Iran is ready to negotiate on the nuclear file again.’

    Russia similarly emphasized that ‘the potential for negotiations is not exhausted,’ with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warning that any use of force could create regional chaos with ‘very dangerous consequences.’

    The diplomatic standoff occurs against the backdrop of continued internet restrictions in Iran and disputed casualty figures from recent protests. While US-based HRANA reports over 6,000 killed and 40,000 arrested, Iranian authorities acknowledge approximately 3,000 deaths, claiming most were security personnel or bystanders killed by ‘rioters.’

  • Chen Xuyuan, Li Tie banned for life from football

    Chen Xuyuan, Li Tie banned for life from football

    In an unprecedented move to cleanse Chinese football of systemic corruption, authorities have issued lifetime bans against 73 individuals including Chen Xuyuan, former president of the Chinese Football Association, and Li Tie, former head coach of the national team. The sweeping disciplinary action, announced on January 29, 2026, represents the most significant crackdown in the history of Chinese football governance.

    The lifetime prohibition extends to all football-related activities, effectively ending the professional involvement of the sanctioned individuals in any capacity within the sport. The investigation uncovered widespread misconduct that has plagued Chinese football for years, with Chen Xuyuan’s case drawing particular attention given his former position as the highest-ranking official in Chinese football administration.

    Concurrently, 13 professional clubs including Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai Port, and Beijing Guoan will face substantial sporting and financial penalties during the 2026 season. These sanctions include point deductions and significant fines, though specific details regarding the severity of punishments for each club remain undisclosed.

    This comprehensive disciplinary action follows an extensive investigation into match-fixing, corruption, and financial misconduct within Chinese football. The crackdown demonstrates the government’s determined effort to overhaul the sport’s governance structure and restore integrity to the game amid declining public confidence and performance standards.

    The bans come at a critical juncture for Chinese football, which has struggled despite massive financial investments in recent decades. The government’s intervention signals a new approach to sports governance, prioritizing ethical standards and accountability over mere competitive results.

  • Gold demand hits record high on Trump policy doubts: industry

    Gold demand hits record high on Trump policy doubts: industry

    Global gold demand reached unprecedented heights in 2025, propelled by profound investor anxiety surrounding the economic policies of U.S. President Donald Trump. According to the World Gold Council’s (WGC) annual report released Thursday, demand for the precious metal surpassed 5,000 tonnes, with its total value skyrocketing to $555 billion—a staggering 45 percent annual increase.

    The primary catalyst for this historic surge has been market uncertainty. WGC analyst Krishan Gopaul identified geopolitical apprehensions, particularly regarding the new Trump administration’s unpredictable actions, as a key driver. The year was defined by a sweeping tariff offensive against major U.S. trading partners like China, the European Union, and India, which destabilized long-established global free trade principles.

    Compounding these concerns, President Trump’s public critiques of U.S. monetary policy ignited fears over the Federal Reserve’s independence and contributed to a weakening U.S. dollar. In response, investors and central banks worldwide aggressively turned to gold as a premier safe-haven asset. While the volume of central bank purchases saw a slight dip from the previous year, their total value climbed by 13 percent. Gold now constitutes over 20 percent of central bank reserves, a proportion not witnessed since the early 1990s.

    Enthusiasm for gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) further amplified demand. Gopaul noted that these financial instruments have democratized access to gold, allowing investors to acquire it as easily as company stock. This collective movement culminated in gold prices nearing a historic $5,600 per troy ounce. Liam Fitzpatrick, head of metals and mining research at Deutsche Bank, attributed a fresh price surge this week to a combination of safe-haven demand, escalating geopolitical tensions, and a strategic shift by investors from traditional currencies and bonds into tangible hard assets.

  • Gulf Crypto 2.0: How the GCC is shaping the future of digital asset regulation

    Gulf Crypto 2.0: How the GCC is shaping the future of digital asset regulation

    The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is fundamentally transforming its approach to digital assets, evolving from speculative trading environments toward sophisticated regulatory frameworks designed for institutional capital. This strategic pivot positions the region as a global leader in crypto governance rather than merely a market for retail trading activity.

    Regional transaction data underscores this transformation’s timing. According to Chainalysis, Middle East and North Africa crypto flows achieved unprecedented monthly volumes in late 2024, exceeding $60 billion in December alone. This substantial activity compelled GCC nations to choose between tolerating unregulated growth or establishing professionalized markets—with the UAE and Bahrain leading the professionalization charge.

    Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) exemplifies this new approach through comprehensive activity-based regulation. Rather than operating as a conventional crypto regulator, VARA functions as a market architect—establishing precise conditions for operational licensing, permitted activities, and firm behavior across supervision and enforcement domains. Two critical innovations distinguish VARA’s framework: comprehensive activity-based regulation matching large financial centers’ supervisory standards, and stringent marketing controls implemented in October 2024 to mitigate consumer risks associated with aggressive promotion.

    Bahrain complements Dubai’s scale with regulatory agility through its Central Bank (CBB) Regulatory Sandbox. This controlled environment enables fintech firms to test innovative solutions with defined oversight, creating a pipeline from experimentation to full licensing. Bahrain’s early adoption of formal crypto regulations in 2019 established the nation as a testbed jurisdiction where new models can be trialed, supervised, and scaled responsibly.

    The GCC’s regulatory advancement extends beyond exchange operations to encompass tokenization infrastructure and stablecoin frameworks. Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority finalized governance for Fiat-Referenced Tokens effective January 2026, while Qatar Financial Centre established legal recognition for digital assets including tokenization protocols and smart contracts in 2024.

    This collective regulatory development transforms the Gulf into what industry observers term a ‘crypto governance laboratory’—multiple jurisdictions developing parallel frameworks with complementary strengths. Dubai emphasizes supervisory depth, Bahrain accelerates controlled innovation, ADGM develops institutional structures, and Qatar codifies tokenization frameworks. Even Oman has moved to formalize supervision through VASP registration requirements.

    The fundamental shift involves recasting digital assets from speculative instruments to regulated financial infrastructure. This institutional framing attracts deeper capital pools—asset managers, corporate treasuries, and family offices—whose risk committees prioritize policy clarity over market excitement. While challenges remain regarding cross-jurisdictional coordination and enforcement consistency, the GCC’s unmistakable direction toward regulated digital asset infrastructure positions the region as a emerging global benchmark for institutional crypto adoption.

  • Flights to northern Ethiopia cancelled as fears mount of renewed conflict

    Flights to northern Ethiopia cancelled as fears mount of renewed conflict

    Ethiopian Airlines has abruptly suspended all passenger flights between Addis Ababa and cities in the northern Tigray region, citing “unplanned circumstances” in text messages to passengers. The suspension comes amid growing concerns about a potential return to conflict, with reports emerging of military clashes in contested territories.

    Airport staff in Mekelle, Tigray’s main city, confirmed the flight cancellations after receiving instructions not to report for work. The airline and Ethiopian government have remained silent beyond the initial cancellation notice, offering no further explanation for the sudden suspension of air services.

    The development occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), with the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement showing signs of unraveling. Tensions have escalated particularly around disputed territories in western Tigray, where forces from the neighboring Amhara region maintain control over fertile lands claimed by both regions.

    Recent reports indicate clashes between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters in Mai Degusha, a contested area within Tselemti district. Additional military movements have been observed in southern Tigray, raising alarms about potential renewed hostilities.

    The situation is further complicated by the upcoming June elections, from which the TPLF has been excluded following the revocation of its political license. The party, which previously dominated Ethiopian politics for two decades, has experienced internal factionalization, adding complexity to an already volatile political landscape.

    While air travel remains suspended, ground transportation via buses continues to operate between Addis Ababa and Tigray, though these services may face disruptions following the flight suspensions. The African Union, which brokered the original peace agreement, has not yet commented on the latest developments.

    The Tigray conflict, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 fatalities and widespread human rights abuses, had previously displaced approximately one million people from western Tigray. These individuals remain in makeshift camps throughout the region, with their voting status in any potential referendum uncertain.

  • James brought to tears by Cleveland video tribute

    James brought to tears by Cleveland video tribute

    In a poignant moment that transcended basketball, NBA icon LeBron James was visibly emotional during a heartfelt tribute honoring his legacy in Cleveland. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar returned to his home state arena on Wednesday amid growing speculation that this could mark his final professional appearance in Ohio.

    The emotional pivot occurred during the first-quarter break when the Cavaliers organization screened a highlight reel commemorating James’ legendary performance in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. The footage showcased his remarkable 48-point game that secured a double-overtime victory, prompting James to cover his face with his jersey and wipe away tears with a tissue.

    Addressing reporters post-game, the 41-year-old athlete reflected: ‘I’m consciously embracing every moment without taking them for granted.’ While remaining noncommittal about his future, James acknowledged the possibility that this season could conclude his unprecedented 23-year career. ‘I haven’t finalized any decisions regarding my future, but it very well could be my final season,’ he stated.

    The four-time NBA champion demonstrated unusual vulnerability, admitting the homecoming ‘definitely affected me emotionally more than previous visits.’ This emotional resonance contrasted sharply with the game’s outcome, where James recorded a season-low 11 points in the Lakers’ 129-99 defeat against his former team.

    James’ historical connection with Cleveland remains deeply significant—he delivered the franchise its inaugural NBA championship in 2016 during his second tenure with the Cavaliers. Despite signing a one-year extension with the Lakers in June, the league’s all-time scoring leader has participated in 28 games this season, overcoming sciatica concerns to become the first player to compete in 23 NBA seasons.

  • Plane crash in Colombia kills 15, including lawmaker

    Plane crash in Colombia kills 15, including lawmaker

    A domestic flight operated by Colombia’s state-owned airline Satena crashed in the mountainous Catatumbo region near the Venezuelan border on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of all fifteen individuals aboard. The aircraft, identified as a Beechcraft 1900 twin-propeller plane, was conducting a scheduled 23-minute hop from Cucuta to Ocana when it vanished from radar contact shortly before its anticipated noon landing.

    Colombian authorities confirmed no survivors from the devastating crash that claimed thirteen passengers and two crew members. The passenger manifest included Representative Diogenes Quintero, a 36-year-old member of Colombia’s chamber of deputies, and Carlos Salcedo, a candidate for upcoming legislative elections. Quintero’s political party memorialized him as a community-focused leader deeply connected to his conflict-ridden home region.

    Search and recovery operations faced extreme challenges due to the treacherous terrain within the Andes’ eastern range, where volatile weather patterns and dense jungle coverage complicate aerial operations. The crash site lies within territories significantly influenced by the National Liberation Army (ELN), Colombia’s largest active guerrilla group, adding security complications to the recovery efforts.

    President Gustavo Petro expressed profound condolences via social media, stating: ‘I deeply regret these deaths. All my solidarity to their families.’ As of initial reports, recovery teams had successfully retrieved seven bodies from the wreckage according to North Santander state governor William Villamizar.

    Aviation authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the causal factors behind Colombia’s latest aviation tragedy, emphasizing that preliminary findings remain inconclusive regarding technical failures or weather-related circumstances.

  • Canada’s conservative leader faces leadership test – and grapples with widening his appeal

    Canada’s conservative leader faces leadership test – and grapples with widening his appeal

    Conservative Party delegates are preparing for a pivotal leadership review of Pierre Poilievre this Friday in Calgary, following the party’s electoral defeat last April. While internal support appears robust, with expectations of a decisive victory, the leader confronts a profoundly divided Canadian electorate that questions his capacity to govern the nation through uncertain geopolitical times.

    Polling data from Abacus Data reveals a stark contrast in perceptions: while a strong majority of Conservative base voters endorse Poilievre’s leadership—particularly praising his effectiveness in highlighting Liberal government failures on housing affordability and his appeal to younger demographics—over half of the general Canadian public maintains negative views. Critics frequently characterize his political tone as excessively confrontational, creating what pollster David Coletto describes as a “deeply polarised” perception that poses significant electoral challenges.

    The geopolitical landscape presents particular complications. Poilievre has faced persistent scrutiny regarding his approach to U.S. President Donald Trump, who remains deeply unpopular among Canadians. Many view Trump’s tariff policies and references to Canada as a “51st state” as existential threats. Poilievre’s populist style has occasionally drawn comparisons to Trump, further complicating his public appeal.

    Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent address at the World Economic Forum in Davos highlighted this contrast. Widely praised by international observers for its clear articulation of Canada’s stance toward Trump’s administration, the speech boosted Liberal polling numbers to 47% among decided voters according to Léger’s latest survey. Meanwhile, Conservatives gained two points to reach 38%, indicating solid base support despite the Liberal surge.

    Former communications director Ben Woodfinden acknowledges the need for clearer Conservative positioning on Trump, noting that the next election will likely occur during Trump’s presidency. However, strategists emphasize Poilievre’s success in revitalizing the party and expanding its base to record numbers despite electoral setbacks.

    Recent developments suggest potential tonal shifts. Poilievre offered rare praise for Carney’s Davos speech while criticizing Liberal economic policies, and signaled willingness to collaborate on domestic issues like grocery tax rebates and bail reform. His upcoming address to party delegates will be closely watched for indications of how he plans to bridge the polarization gap and position Conservatives for future electoral success.

  • Tensions remain high between federal and local officials in Minneapolis

    Tensions remain high between federal and local officials in Minneapolis

    Minneapolis has become the epicenter of a deepening constitutional crisis as federal authorities and local leadership remain locked in a dangerous standoff over immigration enforcement. The conflict reached a boiling point when President Donald Trump publicly warned Mayor Jacob Frey that he was “playing with fire” for declaring that city police would not enforce federal immigration laws.

    The presidential rebuke came despite earlier administration promises to de-escalate tensions following two fatal shootings involving federal agents. The victims include Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at a VA hospital, killed during a Department of Homeland Security raid on Saturday. While DHS initially claimed Pretti brandished a weapon, video evidence appears to contradict this narrative.

    This incident follows the January 7th shooting of Renee Good, another case where cellphone footage raised serious questions about the official federal account. In response to the Pretti shooting, two border patrol agents have been placed on administrative leave according to DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin.

    The situation has created an impossible position for local law enforcement. Minneapolis police, already overwhelmed by competing demands from protesters and federal agents both calling 911 for assistance, report plummeting morale as they find themselves caught between powerful political forces. With only 600 city officers attempting to maintain order amid 3,000 federal agents, the department struggles to provide adequate protection for demonstrators.

    Behind the scenes, attempts at reconciliation are underway. President Trump and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz have agreed on “the need for an ongoing dialogue,” while border czar Tom Homan has met with Walz to explore de-escalation strategies. Homan will assume control of operations from Gregory Bovino, whose aggressive tactics drew widespread criticism.

    An administration official indicated this leadership change would signal a shift toward more targeted operations rather than the broad street sweeps previously conducted. However, skepticism remains regarding how substantially tactics will change in a city where regular clashes between federal agents and protesters have become commonplace.

    This confrontation represents the latest manifestation of the ongoing battle between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal immigration authorities, with Trump threatening to cut funding to states that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement.