Global Pulse

博客

  • Look: Putin receives ceremonial welcome in Delhi, pays tribute at Gandhi memorial

    Look: Putin receives ceremonial welcome in Delhi, pays tribute at Gandhi memorial

    Russian President Vladimir Putin commenced his two-day state visit to India with a ceremonial reception of the highest order on Friday. Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed Putin at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was honored with a tri-services guard of honor inspection.

    The arrival ceremony featured the playing of both Russian and Indian national anthems, symbolizing the enduring diplomatic relationship between the nations. President Murmu and Putin subsequently introduced their respective delegations, which included Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov and Kremlin aide Dmitry Peskov on the Russian side, while India was represented by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan.

    In a significant gesture of respect, President Putin visited Rajghat memorial to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, laying a wreath at the iconic site. This visit marks Putin’s first trip to Indian soil in four years, since the leaders’ last in-person meeting in December 2021.

    The personal rapport between the leaders was evident when Prime Modi broke protocol to greet Putin on the tarmac upon his Thursday arrival, welcoming him with an embrace. Modi later expressed on social media platform X his delight in welcoming his ‘friend’ Putin back to India, emphasizing the ‘time-tested’ friendship between their nations.

    The agenda for the visit includes the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, where both leaders will engage in comprehensive bilateral discussions. Additional events include Putin’s participation in an India-Russia business forum, the launch of RT channel in India, and a state banquet hosted by President Murmu before his scheduled departure later today.

  • France intercepts illegal drone overflight at nuclear submarine base

    France intercepts illegal drone overflight at nuclear submarine base

    French defense authorities have launched a formal investigation following the unauthorized drone penetration of a highly secure naval installation housing the nation’s nuclear deterrent forces. The incident occurred Thursday evening at the Île Longue strategic submarine base in Brittany, which serves as homeport for France’s four ballistic missile submarines: Le Triomphant, Le Téméraire, Le Vigilant and Le Terrible.

    Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin publicly confirmed that military personnel successfully intercepted the aerial intrusion, though specific countermeasure details remain classified. The minister declined to specify whether kinetic engagement, electronic warfare systems, or other defensive protocols were employed against the unidentified drones. Vautrin emphasized that “any overflight of a military site is prohibited in our country” while commending the base’s rapid response team.

    This security breach aligns with a concerning pattern across European airspace. Multiple NATO members have reported sophisticated drone operations near critical infrastructure throughout recent months. These incidents have included temporary airport closures disrupting civilian air traffic and numerous sightings above sensitive military installations.

    While no entity has claimed responsibility for the Île Longue violation, intelligence agencies have previously attributed similar airspace violations to Russian operations, particularly in Baltic states and Eastern European nations. The incident raises significant questions about the vulnerability of nuclear facilities to emerging aerial surveillance technologies and potential espionage activities.

  • UAE: Pakistani baby survives rare immune disorder after urgent bone marrow transplant

    UAE: Pakistani baby survives rare immune disorder after urgent bone marrow transplant

    In an extraordinary medical achievement, a two-month-old Pakistani infant has successfully overcome a life-threatening congenital immune disorder following an emergency bone marrow transplant procedure in Abu Dhabi. The breakthrough case at Yas Clinic Khalifa City represents a significant advancement in pediatric critical care methodologies.

    The infant, identified as Ayra, arrived at the facility in critical condition after weeks of unsuccessful treatment at another hospital. Medical examinations revealed she was combating three simultaneous severe infections while showing signs of organ stress and requiring medication to sustain blood pressure. This medical crisis stemmed from a rare congenital immunodeficiency that left her without natural infection-fighting capabilities.

    Dr. Mansi Sachdev, Clinical Lead and Consultant of Paediatric Haematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, explained the unprecedented challenges: ‘The conventional treatment protocol involving chemotherapy was not viable due to her critically compromised condition. Our only recourse was to perform an immediate transplant without standard preparatory procedures, relying entirely on her father’s healthy stem cells to combat the infections.’

    The medical team discovered the infant’s father was a complete HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) match, enabling the high-risk procedure. This surgical intervention is considered exceptionally rare in pediatric medicine due to its inherent risks when performed without standard chemotherapy preparation.

    Two months post-transplant, medical staff report remarkable progress. Ayra is now breathing independently, feeding normally, and has successfully cleared all three viral infections. The medical team anticipates her imminent discharge from the facility.

    Dr. Maysoon Al Karam, Chief Medical Officer, emphasized the broader implications: ‘This case demonstrates the critical importance of early diagnosis and coordinated multidisciplinary care. The successful outcome illustrates what timely intervention and specialized medical management can achieve even with extremely fragile patients.’

    The family’s medical history revealed they had previously lost another daughter to a similar undiagnosed condition at eighteen months old, highlighting the significance of this medical breakthrough for families dealing with rare immunological disorders.

  • IndiGo cancels all domestic flights at Delhi, 104 at Mumbai Airports till midnight Dec 5

    IndiGo cancels all domestic flights at Delhi, 104 at Mumbai Airports till midnight Dec 5

    India’s aviation sector experienced severe disruption on Friday, December 5, 2025, as budget carrier IndiGo implemented widespread flight cancellations affecting thousands of passengers nationwide. The unprecedented operational crisis resulted in the cancellation of all domestic departures from Delhi International Airport until midnight, while Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport reported 104 cancelled IndiGo services.

    According to official airport advisories published on social media platform X, Delhi Airport authorities confirmed the complete suspension of IndiGo’s domestic operations until 23:59 hours local time. The airport management emphasized that operations for all other carriers remained unaffected and according to schedule. Ground teams were reportedly mobilized to assist stranded passengers and minimize inconvenience, with special attention given to travelers requiring medical assistance.

    The disruption extended beyond Delhi, with Chennai International Airport reporting cancellations of all IndiGo departures until 6:00 PM Friday. Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru also experienced significant schedule modifications. Preliminary data from news agency ANI indicated that over 500 IndiGo flights were cancelled across India throughout the day, representing one of the most substantial operational failures in recent Indian aviation history.

    Airport authorities nationwide have advised passengers to verify their flight status directly with airlines before departing for airports. While the specific cause of the mass cancellations remains officially unconfirmed, the scale suggests potential systemic issues within IndiGo’s operations. The airline, which commands approximately 60% of India’s domestic aviation market, has not released a comprehensive statement detailing the reasons behind the operational collapse or its recovery timeline.

  • China, France issue joint statements during Macron’s visit

    China, France issue joint statements during Macron’s visit

    During French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Beijing, China and France unveiled a comprehensive series of joint statements signaling strengthened bilateral cooperation across multiple strategic domains. The diplomatic agreements, announced on December 5, 2025, encompassed enhanced collaboration on global governance frameworks, coordinated responses to climate and environmental challenges, and continued partnership in nuclear energy development.

    The two nations further committed to expanding agricultural and food security cooperation, while also addressing pressing international concerns regarding the situations in Ukraine and Palestine. These agreements emerged from high-level discussions between Macron and Chinese leadership, including an informal meeting held in Sichuan province that provided a more intimate setting for diplomatic exchange.

    This diplomatic engagement represents a significant consolidation of Sino-French relations, highlighting both countries’ commitment to multilateral solutions for global challenges. The joint statements particularly emphasized the urgency of coordinated climate action and environmental protection, positioning both nations as key players in international sustainability efforts.

    The nuclear energy cooperation component reaffirms longstanding technological exchange between the countries, while the agricultural agreements signal new avenues for economic collaboration. The inclusion of geopolitical issues demonstrates the comprehensive nature of the bilateral dialogue, addressing both economic cooperation and global security concerns.

  • Western countries press Tanzania to release bodies of post-election victims

    Western countries press Tanzania to release bodies of post-election victims

    A coalition of Western embassies has intensified diplomatic pressure on Tanzania, demanding the immediate release of bodies belonging to victims of October’s electoral violence and calling for the liberation of political prisoners. The joint statement from 17 diplomatic missions—including the UK, France, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, and multiple EU members—cited credible reports of extrajudicial killings, disappearances, arbitrary arrests, and systematic concealment of bodies by Tanzanian authorities during post-election unrest.

    The diplomatic intervention follows President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s recent condemnation of Western interference in Tanzania’s internal affairs. The government has not issued an official death toll, though hundreds are believed killed during violent crackdowns on demonstrations that erupted after the October 29 presidential election. President Samia was declared winner with nearly 98% of votes amid controversy surrounding the exclusion of her main rivals, which opposition groups denounced as a ‘mockery of democracy’.

    Authorities imposed an internet blackout and threatened individuals sharing protest imagery during the unrest. While at least 240 people faced treason charges initially, the president later urged prosecutors to demonstrate leniency, resulting in many releases. However, opposition leader Tundu Lissu remains imprisoned on treason charges filed in April.

    The Western coalition acknowledged the government’s commitment to investigate the violence but emphasized the necessity of an independent, transparent inquiry involving civil society organizations and political stakeholders. They further urged Tanzania to uphold its international commitments to protect fundamental freedoms and constitutional rights.

    United Nations Human Rights Office spokesman Seif Magango corroborated these concerns in Geneva, reporting intensified crackdowns against opponents since mid-November, with dozens of academics, civil society actors, and local political leaders detained—some allegedly by unidentified armed personnel. Magango estimated hundreds killed and over 2,000 detained following post-election demonstrations.

    The U.S. State Department announced it is reconsidering bilateral relations with Tanzania following what it termed a ‘heavy-handed response’ against protesters, noting it ‘cannot overlook actions that jeopardize the safety of our citizens, or the security and stability of the region.’

    President Samia defended her government’s actions as necessary against protesters she claimed were ‘ready to overthrow the government,’ repeating unsubstantiated allegations that foreign actors colluded with opposition groups to force regime change. The president, who assumed office in 2021 following John Magufuli’s death, initially earned praise for easing political repression but has since presided over a narrowing political space.

  • Greek police fire tear gas at protesting farmers threatening to blockade airport

    Greek police fire tear gas at protesting farmers threatening to blockade airport

    Greek farmers intensified their demonstrations on Friday as riot police deployed tear gas against protesters attempting to blockade the primary access route to Thessaloniki International Airport. The escalating unrest stems from significant delays in European Union agricultural subsidy payments that have left farmers financially strained and unable to plant next season’s crops.

    Across Greece’s agricultural heartlands, thousands of tractors and farming vehicles have occupied strategic locations including border crossings, major highways, and transportation hubs. These coordinated actions have periodically halted traffic and threatened complete shutdowns of critical infrastructure. Authorities have implemented traffic diversions throughout northern and central regions to circumvent the blockades, while freight transportation at borders with Bulgaria, Turkey, and North Macedonia has already been severely disrupted.

    The payment delays emerged following revelations of widespread fraudulent claims within Greece’s agricultural subsidy system. Protesters argue that the resulting administrative review process constitutes collective punishment, leaving legitimate farmers indebted and incapable of purchasing essential planting materials. This crisis compounds existing challenges for Greece’s agricultural sector, including a recent outbreak of goat and sheep pox that necessitated large-scale livestock culling.

    Farmer Vasilis Mavroskas articulated the desperation felt by many: “We’re bankrupt and protesting when we should be sowing. Our inability to plant will directly impact urban food supplies—this is about survival.” Near Thessaloniki, approximately 200-300 farmers with over 100 tractors attempted to breach police cordons to completely seal airport access.

    While Public Order Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis maintained the government’s openness to dialogue, he simultaneously issued warnings against the disruption of major transit points. Christos Tsilias, vice president of the Thessaloniki farmers’ union, appealed for public support to pressure authorities into releasing the frozen payments.

    The current protests reflect a recurring pattern of agricultural demonstrations in Greece, though the underlying subsidy scandal has proven particularly consequential. The investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office uncovered systematic fraud and money-laundering activities, prompting the resignation of five senior government officials in June and the phased dissolution of the state agency responsible for subsidy distribution. Dozens of individuals have been arrested in connection with false claims, marking one of Greece’s most significant agricultural subsidy scandals in recent years.

  • ‘Air China+’ platform launches cross-industry ecosystem

    ‘Air China+’ platform launches cross-industry ecosystem

    BEIJING – Air China unveiled its groundbreaking ‘Air China+’ partnership platform on December 5, 2025, establishing an innovative cross-industry ecosystem that integrates aviation services with digital technology, mobility solutions, and cultural experiences. The national carrier characterizes this initiative as a comprehensive service network developed through collaborations with multiple sector leaders.

    The launch event showcased several strategic partnerships across diverse industries. In the digital realm, Air China introduced its inaugural collection of ‘PhoenixMiles’ digital assets commemorating the program’s 31st anniversary, transforming core membership benefits into collectible, usable, and tradable digital offerings. Members flying on specified routes and cabin classes during December 2025 Saturdays will receive enhanced rewards including status-qualifying segments, bonus miles, and commemorative gifts.

    For mobility integration, Air China established ‘aviation + automotive’ alliances with FAW-Volkswagen and Li Auto, enabling PhoenixMiles rewards for customers purchasing vehicles through the airline’s application. Selected buyers will additionally receive Gold-tier membership privileges.

    The cultural dimension features partnerships with China Central Television for in-flight ‘roadshow studio’ programming, a collaboratively produced safety video with the Palace Museum, and a co-branded coffee experience with Luckin Coffee.

    Air China emphasized that the platform strategically utilizes mileage points as connective currency across finance, tourism, e-commerce, mobility, and hospitality sectors, with over 100 partners already participating in the ecosystem.

    The airline concurrently highlighted its operational capabilities, noting that parent company China National Aviation Holding Corporation maintains a fleet of 983 aircraft, including 154 wide-body jets and 42 domestically manufactured planes. Air China’s global network encompasses more than 1,150 destinations, featuring 73 routes associated with the Belt and Road Initiative.

    Since January 2025, the carrier has launched or resumed 12 international routes, with plans to inaugurate new services from Beijing and Chengdu to Brussels during the 2025 winter-spring season while continuing to expand international and regional flight frequencies.

  • Namibia loses bid to overturn ban on rhino horn trade

    Namibia loses bid to overturn ban on rhino horn trade

    In a decisive move at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, member states overwhelmingly rejected Namibia’s proposals to legalize international trade in black and white rhino horns. The proposals, which required a two-thirds majority for adoption, garnered only approximately 30 supporting votes out of 120 participating nations.

    Namibia, which pioneered rhino dehorning in 1989 to deter poachers, had also sought to overturn the ban on African savanna elephant ivory—a measure that was similarly defeated. The nation’s push for legal trade comes amid record poaching levels, with government data revealing 87 rhinos killed illegally in 2022—nearly double the previous year’s figures.

    Conservation experts attribute Namibia’s motivation to substantial rhino horn stockpiles accumulated through dehorning programs. Taylor Tench, senior wildlife policy analyst at the Environmental Investigation Agency, revealed Namibia possesses approximately 6.45 tonnes of white rhino horn and 4.6 tonnes of black rhino horn, while South Africa’s stockpiles are estimated at four times that amount.

    The debate exposes deep divisions in conservation strategy. Pro-trade advocates argue legalization would generate revenue for conservation efforts and help private rhino owners offset anti-poaching costs. Opponents, however, warn that legitimizing trade would stimulate demand in Asian markets where rhino horn is prized in traditional medicine and as status symbols, potentially reversing decades of protection efforts.

    Rhino populations remain critically vulnerable. Black rhinos are classified as critically endangered with only 6,421 individuals remaining—a 90% decline since 1960. Southern white rhinos, while more numerous at 15,752, have seen an 11% population decrease since 2023, reaching their lowest point since the current poaching crisis began nearly twenty years ago.

  • Olympian and other Eritreans freed after 18 years without trial, relatives tell the BBC

    Olympian and other Eritreans freed after 18 years without trial, relatives tell the BBC

    In a significant development within the highly secretive East African nation of Eritrea, thirteen individuals who had been imprisoned for over eighteen years without facing trial have been unexpectedly released from the notorious Mai Serwa military detention facility. This information was confirmed to the BBC by multiple relatives of the former detainees.

    Among those freed is Zeragaber Gebrehiwot, a 69-year-old former Olympic cyclist and prominent businessman who represented Ethiopia (before Eritrean independence) at the 1980 Moscow Games. The group of released prisoners also includes several other distinguished figures: businessmen Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu, engineer David Habtemariam, geometrist Matthews Habtemariam, six senior police officers, and an internal security agent.

    Their initial arrest dates back to October 2007, following an assassination attempt on Colonel Simon Gebredingil, a high-ranking officer within President Isaias Afwerki’s internal security apparatus. A source, who was previously detained at Mai Serwa, revealed that approximately thirty people were originally taken into custody. While a handful have been released over the intervening years, around twenty remained in prolonged detention until this recent, unexplained release.

    The Mai Serwa prison, situated northwest of the capital Asmara, is internationally condemned for its brutal conditions and is believed to house a significant number of political prisoners. Relatives reported that family visits were completely prohibited throughout the entire duration of the detainees’ incarceration. The advanced age and declining health of many prisoners is speculated to be a potential factor behind their sudden release, although the Eritrean government has issued no official statement or explanation.

    This event casts a renewed spotlight on Eritrea’s deeply troubling human rights record. For decades, the United Nations and major human rights organizations like Amnesty International have consistently accused the government of systematic abuses, including torture, forced disappearances, and the inhumane imprisonment of tens of thousands of people. The country has been a one-party state under President Isaias’s unchallenged rule for 32 years, with no constitution, no free press, and no national elections ever held. It maintains one of the world’s most militarized societies through a policy of indefinite conscription.

    The fate of many other detainees remains unknown, a stark reminder of which was the death in custody last year of Berhane Abrehe, a former finance minister imprisoned for six years after criticizing the president.