Global Pulse

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  • Deputies now more engaged in legislation

    Deputies now more engaged in legislation

    China’s legislative process is witnessing increased participation from people’s congress deputies nationwide, marking significant progress in the implementation of whole-process people’s democracy. Huang Haihua, spokesman for the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission, confirmed on Friday that deputies are actively contributing to lawmaking through substantive suggestions and participating in enforcement inspections.

    The engagement mechanism has yielded tangible results, with 19 legislative items connected to 43 motions from deputies either approved, currently under review, or incorporated into the legislative planning framework. The legislative body has particularly integrated deputy input across multiple domains including environmental protection, private sector development, legal education, national parks, cybersecurity, and anti-unfair competition legislation.

    Huang emphasized the comprehensive approach to deputy involvement, noting that “we’ve invited deputies, particularly those with relevant expertise, to participate directly in legislative activities and share their perspectives personally. This has significantly enhanced our communication channels and collaborative engagement.” Regular briefings now provide updates on how deputy suggestions are incorporated into draft laws, creating a systematic feedback loop.

    These developments operationalize the amended Law on Deputies to the NPC and to Local People’s Congresses at Various Levels, which took effect on March 12, 2025. The measures aim to progressively expand both the scope and depth of deputy participation in legislative work, while creating improved mechanisms for gathering public opinions and integrating wisdom from diverse sectors of society.

    The upcoming NPC Standing Committee session, scheduled from Monday to Saturday in Beijing, will review several significant legislative items concerning economic development and livelihood issues. The agenda includes a draft amendment to the Civil Aviation Law proposing new airworthiness certification standards for unmanned aerial vehicles alongside enhanced passenger protection and flight safety measures.

    Addressing persistent safety concerns, lawmakers will consider draft legislation establishing a comprehensive risk identification system and skill enhancement requirements for employees in the hazardous chemicals sector, where accidents continue to occur in some regions.

    Additional items slated for review include a draft law on childcare services and legislation governing activities and environmental protection in Antarctica, alongside deliberations regarding the fourth plenary session of the 14th NPC.

  • Afcon quiz: Name every Africa Cup of Nations winner

    Afcon quiz: Name every Africa Cup of Nations winner

    The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations reaches its climactic phase with two highly anticipated semi-final matches scheduled for Wednesday. The tournament’s penultimate stage features a dramatic showdown between defending champions Senegal and record seven-time winners Egypt in one fixture, while tournament hosts Morocco will battle three-time champions Nigeria in the other semi-final encounter.

    The championship final is set to take place on Sunday, January 18th, 2026, with a 19:00 GMT kickoff time at a venue to be determined. The upcoming matches represent the culmination of Africa’s premier football competition, which has crowned 34 different nations throughout its storied history.

    This edition of the continental championship continues a tradition of excellence in African football, showcasing the remarkable talent and competitive spirit that characterizes the sport across the continent. The semi-final pairings promise thrilling football action as each team vies for a place in the prestigious final match.

    Football enthusiasts seeking additional engagement with the tournament can access dedicated quiz content testing knowledge of AFCON history and participants, including comprehensive coverage of all qualifying nations for the 2025 competition.

  • American students immerse in Chinese culture in Chinatown

    American students immerse in Chinese culture in Chinatown

    WASHINGTON, DC – On December 17, 2025, students from Centennial High School’s Chinese language program participated in an immersive cultural experience at the Chinatown Community Cultural Center. The event, titled “The Touch of China in Chinatown,” represents the third consecutive year of this innovative cultural initiative designed to bridge cultural understanding between American youth and traditional Chinese heritage.

    The program provides hands-on exposure to various aspects of Chinese culture through interactive workshops, traditional art demonstrations, and cultural performances. Unlike conventional classroom learning, this experiential approach allows students to engage directly with cultural practices that have been preserved and celebrated within the DC Chinatown community for generations.

    Educators and community organizers collaborated to create an environment where American teenagers could not only observe but actively participate in cultural activities. The program’s structure emphasizes cultural exchange rather than passive observation, encouraging students to ask questions and participate in traditional practices under the guidance of cultural experts and community elders.

    The Chinatown Community Cultural Center has developed this program as part of its ongoing mission to promote cross-cultural understanding and preserve Chinese cultural traditions within an urban American context. The continued success and expansion of this initiative over three consecutive years demonstrates both the community’s commitment to cultural education and the growing interest among American youth in understanding global cultures.

    Participants reported increased appreciation for cultural diversity and expressed interest in further exploring Chinese language studies following their immersive experience. The program serves as a model for how urban cultural centers can facilitate meaningful cross-cultural exchanges that benefit both the local community and broader educational institutions.

  • Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 8 as US hosts a Kremlin envoy for talks on peace plan

    Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 8 as US hosts a Kremlin envoy for talks on peace plan

    A devastating Russian missile attack on Odesa’s port infrastructure has resulted in eight fatalities and 27 injuries, according to Ukraine’s emergency services. The strike, which occurred late Friday, targeted transport facilities where ballistic missiles ignited trucks in parking areas and damaged civilian vehicles, with some casualties occurring on a public bus caught in the bombardment.

    While Moscow’s defense ministry acknowledged striking Ukrainian “transport and storage infrastructure” supporting military operations, it did not specifically address the Odesa casualties. The attack coincides with significant diplomatic developments, including a planned meeting between Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev and Trump administration officials Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Miami to discuss U.S.-proposed peace terms.

    Simultaneously, Ukraine demonstrated its offensive capabilities with drone strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure. Ukrainian forces hit the patrol ship Okhotnik in the Caspian Sea, along with drilling platforms at the Filanovsky oil and gas field operated by Lukoil—a company recently sanctioned by the U.S. to cripple Russia’s war-funding energy revenues.

    The diplomatic landscape remains complex as European Union leaders committed €90 billion ($106 billion) in interest-free loans to support Ukraine’s military and economic needs over the next two years. This financial package, however, falls short of the €137 billion estimated necessary by the International Monetary Fund for 2026-2027, leaving Kyiv facing critical funding shortages.

    President Vladimir Putin has maintained Russia’s maximalist demands while expressing confidence in military solutions if diplomatic efforts fail. The conflicting positions between Moscow and Kyiv continue to challenge the Trump administration’s extensive peace initiative, which has included recent meetings with European and Ukrainian officials in Berlin and Washington.

    Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov confirmed separate meetings with American and European partners, noting agreement to continue “joint work in the near future” without elaborating on specific outcomes. The multipronged diplomatic offensive occurs as the conflict approaches its fourth year with no clear resolution in sight.

  • Australian state plans to ban intifada chants after Bondi shooting

    Australian state plans to ban intifada chants after Bondi shooting

    In response to Australia’s deadliest shooting incident in nearly three decades, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has initiated comprehensive security reforms targeting hate speech and firearm regulations. The devastating attack at Bondi Beach during a Jewish festival last Sunday resulted in 15 fatalities and numerous injuries, with authorities attributing the violence to Islamic State ideology.

    The state government will reconvene parliament urgently next week to legislate strengthened hate speech prohibitions, specifically targeting the phrase ‘globalise the intifada’ for classification as unlawful speech. This terminology, originating from Palestinian resistance movements, has generated international controversy regarding its interpretation as either advocating violence or peaceful resistance.

    Concurrently, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unveiled a national firearm buyback program designed to remove hundreds of thousands of surplus and illegal weapons from circulation. The federal initiative complements NSW’s planned weapon restrictions, echoing the transformative gun control measures implemented after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

    Memorial activities have emerged nationwide, including a touching coastal tribute where approximately 1,000 lifeguards formed a human chain along Bondi’s shoreline. Additional commemorations featured aquatic ceremonies where surfers created symbolic circular formations on the water. Emergency responders, particularly surf lifesavers, have been recognized for their heroic actions during the crisis.

    Australia will observe a National Day of Reflection on Sunday, marked by a minute’s silence at 6:47 PM local time. Citizens are encouraged to display candles in windows and observe flags flown at half-mast under the thematic banner ‘light over darkness.’ Prime Minister Albanese characterized the moment as an opportunity to honor victims and reaffirm national values against hatred and violence.

    The government has additionally proposed a Royal Commission to thoroughly investigate the Bondi attack’s circumstances and implications, signaling the profound impact of this tragedy on Australian security policy and social cohesion.

  • US bombs Islamic State targets in Syria after attack on personnel

    US bombs Islamic State targets in Syria after attack on personnel

    In a decisive military response, the United States executed a series of airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria late Friday. The operation, officially designated ‘Operation Hawkeye Strike,’ comes as direct retaliation for the December 13th ambush in Palmyra that resulted in the deaths of three American personnel—two soldiers and one civilian interpreter.

    Secretary of War Pete Hegseth publicly announced the offensive via social media platform X, characterizing the action as a measured response rather than an escalation toward broader conflict. ‘This is not the beginning of a war,’ Hegseth stated. ‘It is a declaration of vengeance.’ His accompanying message delivered a stark warning to adversaries: ‘If you target Americans – anywhere in the world – you will spend the rest of your brief, anxious life knowing the United States will hunt you, find you, and ruthlessly kill you.’

    The Syrian government, through its foreign ministry, issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to combating Islamic State militants. This alignment of interests appears to extend to the highest levels of leadership, with US President Donald Trump noting on his TruthSocial account that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa expressed ‘full support’ for the operation.

    According to Pentagon reports, the initial provocation occurred when US personnel engaged in a meeting with local leaders in Palmyra were ambushed by an attacker subsequently identified as an IS sympathizer within Syrian security forces. US Central Command confirmed its troops responded immediately, neutralizing the gunman responsible.

    The current US military presence in northern Syria consists of approximately 1,000 troops dedicated to counter-ISIS operations. This retaliatory strike underscores the persistent security challenges facing American forces engaged in ground engagement missions throughout the region.

  • HK bids farewell to Tai Po blaze’s fallen firefighter

    HK bids farewell to Tai Po blaze’s fallen firefighter

    Hong Kong observed a day of profound mourning on Friday as the city paid final respects to Firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who made the ultimate sacrifice during last month’s catastrophic Tai Po residential fire that claimed 160 lives. The solemn ceremonies brought together government leaders, emergency personnel, and grieving citizens in a powerful display of communal solidarity.

    The formal funeral service, organized by the Fire Services Department at Hung Hom’s Universal Funeral Parlour, commenced at 10 am with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu joining senior officials, Ho’s heartbroken family, and his fellow firefighters. The 37-year-old hero sustained fatal injuries on November 26 while conducting rescue operations at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po district.

    In recognition of his extraordinary bravery, the Fire Services Department posthumously promoted Ho to the honorary rank of senior fireman. Having joined the department in 2016 and stationed at Sha Tin, Ho built a distinguished nearly nine-year career marked by exceptional dedication and participation in numerous critical rescue missions.

    Public admiration manifested early as residents began gathering outside the funeral parlor by 8 am, many bringing floral tributes to honor the fallen first responder. The subsequent procession featured a fire-truck-turned-hearse carrying Ho’s flag-draped coffin, which paused at approximately 11:10 am near the scene of the tragic blaze for a poignant memorial ceremony. Firefighters stood at solemn attention while officials bowed in respect, with nearby footbridges filled with mourning citizens.

    Among those paying respects was a Ms. Lee from adjacent Kwong Fuk Estate, who came to express gratitude for Ho’s sacrifice. She recounted how the acrid smoke from the November fire had permeated her home, creating an enduring sensory memory of the disaster.

    The procession then proceeded to Sha Tin Fire Station, where Ho had been based. There, personnel from across Hong Kong bowed collectively as a fire bell sounded four times—three short rings followed by one long—symbolically releasing Ho from his duties. The final journey concluded at Gallant Garden in Wo Hop Shek Cemetery, the resting place reserved for government servants who die in service to Hong Kong.

    At approximately 1:10 pm, six firefighters and two pallbearers carried Ho’s coffin to his final resting place, followed by his brother holding a portrait and his bereaved fiancée. In a touching final ritual, the flag covering the coffin was carefully folded and Ho’s service helmet was placed atop the lid, marking the formal end of his watch.

  • Students to benefit from direct flights

    Students to benefit from direct flights

    The restoration of direct air connectivity between India and China after a five-year hiatus is catalyzing a significant resurgence in bilateral exchanges, with educational and cultural ties emerging as primary beneficiaries. This aviation breakthrough, officially commencing in October 2025 with IndiGo Airlines’ Kolkata-Guangzhou route, has dramatically reduced travel barriers that previously hampered academic collaboration.

    Indian students pursuing educational opportunities in China are experiencing substantial relief from previously exorbitant travel costs and logistical complexities. Priyanshu Yadav, who recently completed advanced Chinese language studies at Tsinghua University, attested to the transformative impact: ‘Travel expenses have been reduced to less than half, eliminating the need for third-country transits that previously cost approximately $430 for one-way journeys.’

    The renewal of direct routes—including China Eastern Airlines’ Shanghai-New Delhi connection and Air India’s planned 2026 resumption of Delhi-Shanghai services—has reinvigorated institutional academic partnerships. Prestigious institutions including Jawaharlal Nehru University and Visva-Bharati University’s Cheena Bhavana (India’s oldest Chinese studies center) are actively reestablishing formal ties with Chinese counterparts like Fudan and Tsinghua Universities.

    Professor Huang Yinghong of O.P. Jindal Global University emphasized the multidimensional advantages: ‘The elimination of third-country transit saves time, energy, and financial resources while symbolizing improved bilateral relations.’ This sentiment is echoed by academic leaders anticipating renewed physical exchanges of faculty and students by July 2026, reviving cultural programs encompassing tai chi, calligraphy, Kathak dance, and yoga that were maintained online during the connectivity gap.

    The diplomatic dimension continues to develop with China’s recent implementation of an online visa application system for Indian travelers, further streamlining cross-border educational mobility. As Ambassador Xu Feihong noted, these developments reflect mutual commitment to strengthening cooperation across educational, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges, marking a new chapter in Sino-Indian relations through the prism of academic collaboration.

  • High-speed passenger train kills 7 elephants crossing railway tracks in northeast India

    High-speed passenger train kills 7 elephants crossing railway tracks in northeast India

    A devastating railway collision claimed the lives of seven wild Asiatic elephants and injured a calf in northeastern India’s Assam state during the early hours of Saturday. The Rajdhani Express train, transporting 650 passengers from Sairang to New Delhi, struck the elephant herd while traversing through forested terrain approximately 78 miles southeast of Guwahati, Assam’s capital.

    According to Indian Railways spokesman Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the locomotive operator detected the massive herd of approximately 100 elephants and immediately engaged emergency braking systems. Despite these preventive measures, the high-speed passenger train could not avoid impact with multiple animals. The collision resulted in the derailment of five coaches and the engine, though remarkably no human passengers sustained injuries.

    Veterinary specialists conducted postmortem examinations on the deceased elephants, with burial procedures scheduled for later the same day. Railway authorities confirmed that the accident occurred outside designated elephant crossing corridors, though the region is known for frequent elephant movements.

    Following the incident, railway personnel separated the unaffected coaches, allowing the main train to continue its journey to New Delhi. Approximately 200 passengers from the derailed compartments were transferred to Guwahati via alternative transportation.

    This tragedy highlights an ongoing conservation challenge in Assam, which hosts an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants—among India’s highest population densities for the species. Since 2020, train collisions have killed at least a dozen elephants statewide. The problem intensifies annually during harvest season, when elephants increasingly venture into human-occupied areas near railway tracks.

  • Watch: Images, cassettes and high-profile figures – What’s in the latest Epstein files?

    Watch: Images, cassettes and high-profile figures – What’s in the latest Epstein files?

    A new tranche of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case has been partially unsealed, offering fresh glimpses into the world of the convicted sex offender. The latest release includes previously unseen photographs of Epstein’s multiple properties, audio cassette recordings, and heavily redacted legal documents.

    The visual materials provide insight into the lavish environments where Epstein operated his criminal enterprise, spanning from his New York mansion to his private Caribbean island. While many documents remain censored to protect the identities of non-public figures, the release continues to draw attention due to Epstein’s connections with numerous high-profile individuals from business, politics, and academia.

    Legal experts note that the gradual document release represents an ongoing effort to balance transparency with privacy concerns, particularly for victims and innocent associates. The latest disclosures form part of a larger collection of evidence that continues to be processed through judicial channels, with additional documents expected to become public in the future as court-mandated redactions are carefully reviewed.