Global Pulse

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  • Kelsang Pedron: A Tibetan female pilot in the Chinese PLA Air Force

    Kelsang Pedron: A Tibetan female pilot in the Chinese PLA Air Force

    Kelsang Pedron has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming one of the first Tibetan female pilots in China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force. Her journey represents both personal achievement and symbolic progress in China’s military diversity initiatives.

    In a recent interview, Pilot Pedron detailed the rigorous training regimen and exceptional dedication required to excel in aviation within the PLA. Her path to the cockpit involved mastering complex aeronautical systems, enduring physically demanding flight simulations, and developing the mental resilience necessary for military aviation operations.

    The accomplishment holds particular significance given China’s ongoing efforts to integrate ethnic minorities into prominent national roles. As a Tibetan woman excelling in a traditionally male-dominated field, Pedron’s success challenges multiple stereotypes simultaneously.

    Military analysts note that her achievement reflects broader changes within China’s armed forces, where merit-based advancement increasingly transcends regional and gender boundaries. The PLA has been actively working to modernize not only its equipment but also its personnel policies in recent years.

    Pedron’s story has generated considerable attention on Chinese social media platforms, where many celebrate her as an inspiration for young people across China’s diverse ethnic landscape. Her journey from the Tibetan plateau to the cockpit serves as a powerful narrative about opportunity and perseverance in contemporary China.

    The Air Force has been expanding its recruitment from previously underrepresented regions, with Pedron’s appointment representing both personal excellence and institutional progress in the military’s diversity initiatives.

  • Rwanda to test AI-powered technology in clinics under a new Gates Foundation project

    Rwanda to test AI-powered technology in clinics under a new Gates Foundation project

    KIGALI, Rwanda — In a groundbreaking move to revolutionize healthcare delivery, Rwanda will implement artificial intelligence technology across more than 50 medical facilities as part of the newly launched Horizons1000 initiative. This ambitious program, backed by the Gates Foundation and OpenAI with $50 million in joint funding over two years, aims to support 1,000 clinics throughout Africa in enhancing medical services.

    Andrew Muhire, a senior official at Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, emphasized that the AI technology is designed to augment rather than replace clinical expertise while boosting efficiency within the nation’s overstretched healthcare infrastructure. Rwanda currently operates with just one healthcare professional per 1,000 patients—significantly below the globally recommended ratio of 4:1,000.

    Bill Gates characterized the initiative as a potential “game changer” in addressing health inequality, particularly in regions grappling with severe medical workforce shortages and underdeveloped health systems. In his official blog post, Gates highlighted AI’s capacity to dramatically expand access to quality medical care in economically disadvantaged nations.

    Muhire described the technological integration as a “transformative opportunity” that promises to enhance citizen access to healthcare, reduce administrative burdens, and enable medical professionals to make more precise and timely clinical decisions.

    However, digital experts have raised concerns regarding language compatibility, noting that most AI technologies currently operate primarily in English—a language not widely spoken throughout Rwanda. Audace Niyonkuru, CEO of AI and open data company Digital Umuganda, revealed that development efforts are underway to create AI solutions functioning in Kinyarwanda, the language spoken by approximately 75% of Rwanda’s population. Niyonkuru warned that deploying English-dependent AI technologies could create significant barriers to effective patient care.

  • Death toll in Pakistan shopping plaza fire rises to 67, officials say

    Death toll in Pakistan shopping plaza fire rises to 67, officials say

    KARACHI, Pakistan — The catastrophic fire that engulfed a commercial complex in Pakistan’s port metropolis of Karachi has now claimed 67 lives, authorities confirmed Thursday. The grim discovery of additional human remains has substantially increased the death toll from the weekend tragedy that reduced Gul Plaza to ruins.

    Rescue operations persist at the extensively damaged shopping center where the inferno initially broke out on Saturday. According to Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, the recovery process has been severely complicated by the fragmentary condition of most remains, creating significant challenges for victim identification. Senior Karachi police official Asad Raza corroborated the updated casualty figures, which represent a near doubling of previously confirmed fatalities.

    The Sindh provincial government reports approximately 70 individuals remain unaccounted for following the rapid escalation of flames, which were intensified by the combustion of retail merchandise including cosmetics, apparel, and plastic household goods. The fire erupted during evening hours when commercial establishments were either concluding operations or had already vacated the premises.

    While the official investigation into the fire’s origins remains ongoing, preliminary assessments by law enforcement suggest electrical short-circuiting as the probable ignition source. This tragedy echoes Karachi’s historical vulnerability to major fire incidents, frequently attributed to inadequate safety protocols, lax regulatory oversight, and unauthorized construction practices.

    The city has witnessed several comparable disasters in recent years, including a November 2023 shopping mall fire that resulted in 10 fatalities and 22 injuries. Pakistan’s most devastating industrial catastrophe occurred in 2012 when a garment factory conflagration claimed at least 260 lives, highlighting persistent systemic safety failures.

  • In fiery Davos speech, Zelensky blasts EU, says US ‘security guarantees’ ready

    In fiery Davos speech, Zelensky blasts EU, says US ‘security guarantees’ ready

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a strikingly critical address at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, directly challenging European Union leadership while announcing the completion of bilateral security agreements with the United States.

    In a dramatic shift from his typically diplomatic tone toward Kyiv’s primary financial supporters, Zelensky openly questioned the EU’s “political will” in confronting Russian aggression. Drawing an evocative parallel to the film “Groundhog Day,” he characterized European response mechanisms as trapped in a cycle of repetitive inaction and procedural delays.

    The Ukrainian leader’s remarks followed an extended meeting with US President Donald Trump, during which both leaders reportedly reached consensus on the framework for postwar security guarantees. While specific provisions remain undisclosed, Zelensky confirmed the agreement stands ready for executive signatures and subsequent ratification by both nations’ legislative bodies.

    Zelensky’s critique extended beyond military support to encompass Europe’s fragmented geopolitical stance. He described the continent as “a beautiful but fragmented kaleidoscope” of middle powers lacking unified global influence. Particularly pointed were his observations regarding European approaches to the Trump administration, noting that efforts to persuade the American president were fundamentally misguided.

    “President Trump loves who he is, and he says he loves Europe, but he will not listen to this kind of Europe,” Zelensky stated, suggesting European leaders required strategic adaptation rather than attempted persuasion.

    The territorial status of Eastern Ukraine emerged as the principal unresolved issue in potential peace negotiations. With Russian forces occupying approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, Moscow continues to demand full control of the Donbas region—a concession Kyiv maintains would only incentivize further aggression.

    President Trump separately characterized his discussion with Zelensky as “good” while emphasizing the necessity to conclude hostilities. His comments preceded scheduled meetings between his personal envoy and Russian leadership in Moscow.

  • Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says his repeated warnings to Europe feel like ‘Groundhog Day’

    Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says his repeated warnings to Europe feel like ‘Groundhog Day’

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a scathing critique of European allies during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, condemning what he characterized as a fragmented and inadequate continental response to Russia’s ongoing aggression. Speaking before global leaders on Thursday, Zelenskyy articulated profound frustrations with Europe’s delayed decision-making processes and insufficient military support, contrasting it with more decisive American actions in other international conflicts.

    The president employed a poignant cultural reference, comparing Ukraine’s prolonged struggle to the repetitive cycle depicted in the film ‘Groundhog Day.’ He noted with disappointment that identical appeals made during his previous Davos address remained unaddressed, emphasizing how Ukrainian citizens continue reliving the same traumatic realities daily amid relentless warfare.

    Zelenskyy’s criticism extended beyond rhetorical concerns to specific policy shortcomings: inadequate defense spending, failure to halt Russia’s sanctions-evading ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers, and hesitation regarding utilizing frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s benefit. He questioned Europe’s geopolitical identity, suggesting the continent functions more as a cultural concept than a unified political force capable of confronting existential threats.

    The address followed Zelenskyy’s closed-door meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, described by both leaders as productive. Discussions reportedly covered enhanced military assistance, including additional Patriot air defense systems crucial for protecting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure from systematic Russian attacks that have left civilians without essential services.

    Despite European financial and humanitarian support, Zelenskyy highlighted concerning internal divisions within the 27-nation EU bloc and ongoing challenges including troop shortages—with approximately 200,000 desertions reported—and persistent weaponry deficits despite increased domestic arms production.

    With U.S.-mediated peace negotiations gaining momentum, including anticipated trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates, Zelenskyy emphasized that any settlement must require compromises from all parties, not just Ukraine. The delicate diplomatic balancing act continues as Ukraine strives to maintain international attention amid multiple global crises while confronting daily military challenges along the 1,000-kilometer front line.

  • China expands rural land contract extension pilot program

    China expands rural land contract extension pilot program

    China has significantly expanded its pilot program extending rural land contracts by an additional 30 years, now encompassing seven entire provinces in a major policy initiative designed to stabilize land rights for over 25 million farming households. The announcement was made by agricultural officials during a Thursday press conference.

    Chen Bangxun, Director of the Development and Planning Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, emphasized that managing the relationship between farmers and their land represents a cornerstone of deepening rural reform. “The extension of the second round of contracts is critical to the long-term interests of millions of farmers,” Chen stated, revealing that the program now includes 221 counties and 349 townships across the seven provinces.

    To ensure operational continuity, authorities will maintain the majority of existing contracts without modification, utilizing data from land rights registration and certification systems to facilitate seamless extensions. For addressing local conflicts or supporting vulnerable populations, the ministry encourages utilizing reserve land or newly added arable land. Alternative solutions include distributing collective revenue, providing employment services, or creating public welfare positions.

    The ministry is now assisting provincial governments in establishing comprehensive implementation mechanisms. “We will formulate specific extension methods and detailed supporting measures to ensure the process provides a solid foundation for agricultural modernization,” Chen added.

    Concurrent with this announcement, Vice-Minister Zhang Xingwang reported substantial progress in China’s agricultural sector, with nearly 4 million family farms and over 2 million farmers’ cooperatives now established nationwide. More than 1.1 million agricultural business entities currently provide socialized services, benefiting approximately 93 million smallholder households.

    Despite challenging weather conditions including drought, flooding, and prolonged rainfall in various regions, China’s grain output reached approximately 714.9 million metric tons in 2025, representing an increase of 8.4 million tons from the previous year. This marks the second consecutive year that output has exceeded 700 million tons, with soybean production climbing to 20.91 million tons—the fourth straight year above 20 million tons.

    According to the National Bureau of Statistics, rural residents’ per capita disposable income reached 24,456 yuan ($3,512) in 2025, reflecting a real increase of 6 percent year-on-year.

  • TEPCO shuts down just-restarted nuclear plant

    TEPCO shuts down just-restarted nuclear plant

    Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has initiated an emergency shutdown of the recently recommissioned Unit 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear facility in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture. The unexpected closure occurred on Thursday, merely days after the reactor resumed operations, following the activation of a critical safety alarm system.

    The shutdown represents a significant setback for Japan’s nuclear energy revival efforts and raises fresh concerns about operational safety protocols at TEPCO facilities. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, recognized as one of the world’s largest nuclear power stations, had been undergoing gradual reactivation following extensive safety upgrades implemented after the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster.

    While specific details regarding the nature of the alarm remain undisclosed, TEPCO officials confirmed the automatic safety systems functioned as designed, promptly initiating the shutdown sequence. The company has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the root cause of the alarm activation and assess whether any technical malfunctions or system anomalies triggered the safety response.

    The incident occurs against the backdrop of Japan’s ongoing energy policy reevaluation, with the government seeking to balance nuclear power integration with stringent safety requirements. This development is particularly notable given TEPCO’s historical challenges in maintaining public trust following the Fukushima catastrophe, which necessitated a complete overhaul of the utility’s safety culture and operational procedures.

    Energy market analysts suggest the shutdown may temporarily affect regional power supply stability and could influence broader discussions about Japan’s energy security strategy. The situation continues to develop as TEPCO engineers work to diagnose the issue and establish a timeline for potential reactor restart, pending regulatory approval.

  • Guinea-Bissau suspends Trump-backed hepatitis B vaccine study for ethical review

    Guinea-Bissau suspends Trump-backed hepatitis B vaccine study for ethical review

    DAKAR, Senegal — The West African nation of Guinea-Bissau has announced the suspension of a controversial hepatitis B vaccine study on newborns that was backed by the Trump administration. Health Minister Quinhi Nantot confirmed the pause pending a comprehensive ethical review, revealing that the initial confirmation process lacked proper oversight from a six-person ethics committee.

    The study design, structured as a randomized controlled trial, proposed administering the hepatitis B vaccine to some infants while withholding it from others. Researchers intended to track participants for mortality rates, illness patterns, and long-term developmental outcomes. This methodology has drawn significant criticism from medical ethicists who argue that deliberately withholding proven vaccines from vulnerable newborns—particularly in a region with high hepatitis B prevalence—raises serious ethical concerns.

    Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director-General Jean Kaseya expressed full support for the ethical review process while maintaining the agency’s “excellent relationship” with the U.S. government. “We are led by the interests of our people in Africa,” Kaseya emphasized during a press conference. “We are not led by the small interests of individual people.”

    The research initiative originated from a $1.6 million no-bid contract awarded by the Trump administration to the University of Southern Denmark. The grant went to scientists whose work has been cited by anti-vaccine activists and questioned by mainstream public health experts. Notably, research team leader Christine Stabell Benn serves as a consultant for a committee appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., which recently voted to stop recommending hepatitis B vaccines for all American newborns.

    Despite the suspension, U.S. health officials maintain that the study remains active. Andrew Nixon, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stated: “The study is proceeding as planned, and we continue to work with our partners to finalize the study’s protocols.” The research was scheduled to begin early this year in Guinea-Bissau, targeting 14,000 newborns over a five-year period, with the first 500 participants followed for behavioral and brain development monitoring.

  • US touts ‘New Gaza’ filled with luxury real estate

    US touts ‘New Gaza’ filled with luxury real estate

    At the World Economic Forum in Davos, former White House adviser Jared Kushner presented a controversial redevelopment blueprint for Gaza that envisions transforming the war-ravaged territory into a luxury coastal destination within three years. The proposal, endorsed by former President Donald Trump, features gleaming skyscrapers, tree-lined promenades, and terraced apartment towers overlooking the Mediterranean—a stark contrast to Gaza’s current reality of widespread destruction.

    Kushner, operating without official title but as one of Trump’s envoys for Gaza ceasefire efforts, described his ‘master plan’ as aiming for ‘catastrophic success.’ He projected requiring至少$25 billion in investments to rebuild infrastructure and public services, promising that within a decade Gaza could achieve a $10 billion GDP with households earning an average of $13,000 annually through ‘100-percent full employment.’

    The presentation notably omitted mention of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose government had spearheaded a separate reconstruction plan supported by Arab nations and the European Union in 2025. Gaza’s newly appointed administrator under Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ framework acknowledged the Egyptian plan as the ‘foundation’ for reconstruction efforts.

    The vision emerges against a grim backdrop: according to UN-verified figures, Israel’s retaliatory assault following Hamas’ October 2023 attack has killed至少71,562 Palestinians, with widespread damage to neighborhoods, hospitals, and schools forcing hundreds of thousands into makeshift shelters. A US-brokered ceasefire implemented last October has reduced bombing but failed to alleviate what UN officials describe as ‘inhumane’ living conditions.

    Kushner argued that complete disarmament of Hamas—as stipulated in the October ceasefire agreement—would unlock corporate and donor commitments, with investment announcements expected ‘in a couple of weeks in Washington.’ The proposal has sparked global criticism for its timing and perceived disregard for Palestinian political aspirations amid ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.

  • ICE detains 5-year-old during Minnesota operation

    ICE detains 5-year-old during Minnesota operation

    A controversial immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota has drawn sharp criticism after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers detained a 5-year-old boy during the apprehension of his father. The incident occurred Tuesday when agents approached Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as an undocumented immigrant, on his driveway as he returned home with his preschool-aged son Liam Ramos.

    Columbia Heights Public Schools Superintendent Zena Stenvik publicly challenged the operation’s tactics, questioning why federal agents would detain a young child. ‘You can’t tell me that this child is going to be classified as a violent criminal,’ Stenvik stated during a Wednesday press conference. Photographs provided by the school district show the young boy wearing a bunny-shaped winter hat while an officer holds his backpack.

    The DHS defended its actions in a social media statement, asserting that ‘ICE did NOT target a child’ and characterized the operation as targeting Conejo Arias, who they claim ‘abandoned’ his son when approached. The department stated that standard procedure involves offering parents the choice to be removed with their children or having ICE place children with a designated safe person.

    However, school officials present during the incident reported that another adult residing in the home was refused permission to take custody of the child. Instead, agents allegedly instructed the child to knock on the door to check for additional occupants. Legal representative Marc Prokosch indicated both father and son were likely being held at a Texas detention facility, despite the father having an active asylum case with no outstanding deportation order.

    The incident forms part of broader enforcement efforts under ‘Operation Metro Surge,’ which DHS describes as targeting ‘the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens’ to restore public safety in Minnesota. The operation has generated significant community backlash in Minneapolis and St. Paul, particularly following the January 7th fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal officer in Minneapolis, which previously sparked widespread condemnation.