Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Chinese scientists discover how Earth’s deep mantle water made planet habitable

    Chinese scientists discover how Earth’s deep mantle water made planet habitable

    A groundbreaking study conducted by Chinese scientists has fundamentally altered our understanding of how Earth transformed from a primordial magma ocean into a habitable blue planet. Researchers from the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, have experimentally demonstrated that the planet’s deep mantle served as a massive water reservoir during its formative stages approximately four billion years ago.

    The research, published in the prestigious journal Science on December 12, 2025, addresses a long-standing geological mystery: what happened to Earth’s water during the crystallization of its early magma oceans. The scientific community had previously struggled to explain where this crucial water was stored during the planet’s infancy.

    The key discovery centers on bridgmanite, the predominant mineral in Earth’s lower mantle. Contrary to established scientific belief that this mineral had limited water storage capacity, the Chinese research team discovered that bridgmanite possesses a remarkable temperature-dependent ability to trap water molecules. Using advanced diamond anvil cell technology combined with laser heating systems, the scientists replicated the extreme conditions of the lower mantle—achieving pressures equivalent to depths of 660-2,900 kilometers and temperatures reaching approximately 4,100 degrees Celsius.

    The experiments revealed a surprising paradox: the hotter the environment, the more efficiently bridgmanite captures and retains water during its formation from cooling magma. This temperature-sensitive storage mechanism suggests that during Earth’s early history, when the planet was substantially hotter, bridgmanite could have sequestered enormous volumes of water equivalent to between 0.08 and 1.0 times the volume of all modern oceans combined.

    This primordial water reservoir, locked within the solid mantle for eons, has been gradually cycling back to the surface through volcanic activities over geological timescales. This gradual release played a crucial role in creating Earth’s oceans and establishing the hydrological conditions necessary for life to emerge and flourish. The research provides a comprehensive explanation for Earth’s transformation from a fiery, inhospitable world to the life-sustaining planet we know today.

  • World Insights: How global readers understand Chinese modernization via new volume of ‘Xi Jinping: The Governance of China’

    World Insights: How global readers understand Chinese modernization via new volume of ‘Xi Jinping: The Governance of China’

    NAIROBI – International scholars and political figures gathered in Kenya’s capital this month for a symposium examining the English edition of the fifth volume of “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China,” with attendees hailing the publication as both a theoretical framework for socioeconomic transformation and a practical guide to understanding China’s development model.

    The December event attracted approximately 200 participants who engaged in detailed analysis of the compilation, which contains 91 works by President Xi Jinping across 18 thematic areas spanning from May 2022 to December 2024. The collection includes reports, speeches, talks, addresses, articles, and instructions that collectively provide unprecedented insight into China’s governance approach.

    Hassan Omar Hassan, Secretary-General of Kenya’s United Democratic Alliance, characterized the volume as “an extraordinary foundation” for socioeconomic transformation based on “an experiment on governance that actually worked.” He suggested the Chinese model presented in the text offers “a template that many countries can adapt into their national contexts.”

    Academic perspectives highlighted the theoretical contributions of the work. Luis Paulino, Professor at São Paulo State University, noted the volume represents China’s “development of Marxist theory” while characterizing Chinese Communists under Xi’s leadership as “the most creative practitioners of Marxist theory.”

    Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Chairperson of Germany’s Schiller Institute, identified the Communist Party’s distinctive approach as its “adherence to integrating the basic principles of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the fine traditional Chinese culture.”

    Several analysts pointed to the practical applications of China’s development experience. Colin Cruywagen, a senior official in South Africa’s Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, observed that Xi’s works demonstrate “consistent, systematic and forward-looking nature of China’s policies and concepts” that help explain the country’s maintained growth momentum despite complex international conditions.

    Asian perspectives emphasized the volume’s relevance to regional development. Wirun Phichaiwongphakdee, Director of Thailand’s China Research Center for the Belt and Road Initiative, described the book as containing “valuable experience gained from the practice of 1.4 billion people” while noting China’s actions in pursuing “common interests of all humankind” amid global challenges.

    The symposium also examined China’s recent Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by Xi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit in September. Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, characterized China’s global initiatives – including GGI, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative – as “a complete architecture that embodies Xi’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity.”

    Italian analyst Vito Petrocelli, President of the Italy BRICS Institute, noted that China-proposed initiatives advocate for “a more inclusive international system through dialogue, cooperation and mutual benefit,” bringing diverse perspectives into global governance structures.

    Marta Montoro, Vice Chairwoman of Spain’s Catedra China Foundation, concluded that China now plays “a key role in global governance” by promoting “a fair, stable, just, and sustainable international system” that offers humanity the possibility of collective progress.

  • Oscar-nominated documentary ‘Black Box Diaries’ has delayed premiere in Japan after legal issues

    Oscar-nominated documentary ‘Black Box Diaries’ has delayed premiere in Japan after legal issues

    TOKYO — After achieving international acclaim and an Oscar nomination, Shiori Ito’s groundbreaking documentary “Black Box Diaries” finally premiered in Japan on Friday, marking a significant moment for the country’s #MeToo movement. The film, which chronicles Ito’s personal journey investigating her own sexual assault case and the systemic barriers to justice, debuted at Tokyo’s T. Joy Prince Shinagawa theater to a capacity audience.

    The 102-minute documentary represents the first Oscar-nominated documentary feature by a Japanese director. Based on Ito’s 2017 book “Black Box,” the film provides an intimate look at her experience as an intern in 2015, when she alleges senior journalist Noriyuki Yamaguchi raped her after she became incapacitated during dinner. The film documents her years-long legal battle, including police resistance to investigate, the sudden cancellation of a planned arrest, and her eventual civil victory in 2022 when the Supreme Court ruled she was forced into non-consensual sex and ordered Yamaguchi to pay damages.

    Despite international recognition, the domestic release faced significant delays due to legal disputes over Ito’s use of interviews and footage without full consent from all parties. Critics, including some of Ito’s former lawyers, raised concerns about privacy violations potentially hindering future sexual assault cases. In response, Ito has edited the film to protect identities while maintaining essential evidence she believes serves the public good.

    The premiere comes amid gradual legal reforms in Japan, including the 2023 revision of the country’s century-old sexual offense laws, which provide greater victim protections and stricter punishments for perpetrators. Audience members, including sexual abuse survivors, expressed hope that the film would encourage broader societal dialogue and change in a country where victims have traditionally been stigmatized and silenced.

  • More overseas talents return to China for entrepreneurship

    More overseas talents return to China for entrepreneurship

    China is experiencing a significant reverse brain drain phenomenon, with nearly half a million overseas talents returning home in 2025 according to official data released by the Ministry of Education. The latest figures show 495,000 returnees last year, marking a substantial 19.1% increase of 79,400 professionals compared to 2023 statistics.

    The announcement came during the 30th anniversary commemoration of the ‘Chunhui’ platform in Shanghai, a specialized government initiative designed to support innovation and entrepreneurship among Chinese nationals abroad. Historical data reveals an impressive longitudinal trend: from 1978 through 2024, China has seen 8.88 million students pursue education overseas, with approximately 6.44 million ultimately choosing to return home for career development.

    The ‘Chunhui’ platform has evolved into a critical infrastructure piece for integrating educational advancement, talent cultivation, and technological innovation. During the anniversary event, ministry officials unveiled numerous breakthrough achievements in innovation and entrepreneurship from returning talents. The ceremony also marked the launch of the ‘Chunhui Initiative,’ an expanded partnership network承诺 to deliver more efficient and sustainable support systems for returnees.

    A compelling success story emerged from Wu Yuxin, a 26-year-old master’s degree holder from the United States who has revolutionized traditional Chinese instrument culture. As an inheritor of the nearly lost gehu (Chinese bass string instrument), Wu leveraged the Chunhui platform to access government support and diverse resources after his return. His groundbreaking work led to the development of the Gehu Model 126, which recently earned the prestigious Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2025, effectively revitalizing and modernizing an instrument that had faded from use since the 1980s.

    Now serving as head of R&D reform at Shanghai Traditional Musical Instrument No 1 Factory Co Ltd, Wu is passionately introducing the gehu to global audiences. ‘As an overseas student, I never anticipated such a comprehensive platform to support my passion and entrepreneurship,’ Wu remarked. ‘This system genuinely convinced me that returning home to start my business and pursue my career was the right decision.’

    The growing return trend underscores China’s strengthening innovation ecosystem and its strategic focus on recapturing human capital invested in global education systems.

  • Danish intelligence report warns of US military threat under Trump

    Danish intelligence report warns of US military threat under Trump

    COPENHAGEN (AP) — Denmark’s Defense Intelligence Service has issued a stark assessment of shifting global power dynamics in its latest annual report, highlighting the United States’ increasingly assertive use of economic leverage and military threats under the Trump administration. The comprehensive analysis details how Washington’s unilateral approach is reshaping international relations with both allies and adversaries.

    The report identifies growing great power competition in the Arctic as particularly concerning for Denmark, a NATO and EU member. This regional tension has intensified since President Trump expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, Denmark’s mineral-rich semi-autonomous territory—a proposition strongly opposed by Russia and European nations. The assessment notes that Russia is simultaneously strengthening its military capabilities in response to NATO’s Arctic activities.

    This analysis aligns with the Trump administration’s recently released national security strategy, which characterizes European allies as weak while emphasizing America’s renewed dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The Danish intelligence service observes that this approach has created uncertainty among global partners, with many nations now considering strategic agreements with China as a viable alternative to American partnerships.

    The report further notes that the United States has demonstrated willingness to employ military force against allies, citing Trump’s refusal to rule out military action in Greenland despite the existing U.S. military presence there. Additionally, the administration’s deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific have raised concerns about adherence to international law.

    This strategic shift has created opportunities for regional powers to maneuver between American and Chinese influence, fundamentally altering the global balance of power and challenging Western hegemony.

  • Yanshiping, Xizang’s highest railway station, begins service

    Yanshiping, Xizang’s highest railway station, begins service

    In a landmark achievement for high-altitude railway infrastructure, Yanshiping Passenger Station officially commenced operations on Thursday in China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. Situated in Amdo County at a breathtaking elevation of 4,721 meters above sea level, the station now holds the distinction of being the highest-altitude passenger facility along the entire Qinghai-Xizang Railway network.

    The historic inaugural service commenced at 11:00 AM local time with train Z9817 departing with more than fifty passengers aboard. This momentous event marked the activation of a station that had remained dormant since the original Qinghai-Xizang Railway line became operational in 2006, representing a significant expansion of passenger services in the region.

    Yanshiping Station surpasses the previous high-altitude record holders along the railway corridor, namely Tuotuo River and Budongquan stations, both located along the critical Golmud-Lhasa section. The station’s activation demonstrates remarkable engineering prowess in overcoming extreme environmental challenges, including thin oxygen conditions and harsh weather patterns characteristic of high-altitude installations.

    The development signifies substantial progress in enhancing transportation accessibility for remote communities in the Tibetan Plateau region. By providing reliable rail connectivity at unprecedented altitudes, the new station facilitates improved mobility for local residents while potentially creating new opportunities for regional economic development and tourism infrastructure growth.

    Railway authorities have implemented specialized systems to ensure passenger safety and comfort given the extreme elevation, including oxygen supplementation facilities and emergency medical support capabilities. The station’s operational protocols have been specifically designed to address the unique challenges presented by its high-mountain environment.

  • Adult film actress Bonnie Blue to be deported from Bali

    Adult film actress Bonnie Blue to be deported from Bali

    Indonesian authorities have ordered the deportation of British adult content creator Tia Billinger, professionally known as Bonnie Blue, following a high-profile investigation into alleged pornography production in Bali. The 26-year-old Nottingham native was initially detained during a police raid on a production studio in the Pererenan area, where 34 individuals were questioned.

    Despite being cleared of violating Indonesia’s stringent anti-pornography laws—which carry penalties of up to 12 years imprisonment and $360,000 fines—Billinger faced deportation for immigration violations related to working on a tourist visa. She was convicted of a minor traffic offense and fined Rp 200,000 (approximately $12).

    The case highlighted Indonesia’s strict stance against pornographic material, particularly notable in predominantly Hindu Bali, which exists within the Muslim-majority nation. Immigration officials are considering blacklisting Billinger, potentially barring her re-entry indefinitely.

    Police investigations revealed that participants claimed to be producing an “entertainment-themed reality show” without creating indecent material. Authorities examined branded vehicles and hotel recordings but found no evidence of pornography or illegal distribution. However, four foreign nationals, including Billinger, were identified as having “dominant roles” and suspected of misusing stay permits for commercial content production.

    Badung Police Chief M Arif Batubara emphasized that all procedures were based on legal facts, with coordination between police, prosecutors, and immigration authorities to determine appropriate legal measures. Billinger’s controversial content history includes tours seeking “barely legal” participants and previous plans for ‘schoolies’ porn production that resulted in Australian visa cancellation.

  • Beijing reports childcare, elderly support progress during 14th Five-Year Plan period

    Beijing reports childcare, elderly support progress during 14th Five-Year Plan period

    Beijing municipal authorities have announced substantial advancements in social welfare infrastructure, marking significant progress in both elderly care and early childhood support systems during China’s 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025).

    At a Thursday press briefing, officials revealed the establishment of 152 community-based service centers specifically designed to assist senior citizens. These facilities provide comprehensive support including meal delivery services, daily living assistance, and specialized help with hospital visits. According to Yang Zhiwei, Vice-Director of the Beijing Civil Affairs Bureau, these services currently benefit approximately 2.07 million elderly residents, with 293,000 recipients being octogenarians or older.

    Concurrently, the city has made remarkable strides in early childhood education accessibility. Wei Xubin, Vice-Director of the Beijing Education Commission, reported that kindergarten enrollment capacity for children under three years old has expanded to accommodate 33,000 infants and toddlers. Notably, 26,000 of these young learners qualify for placement in public kindergartens with preferential tuition arrangements, substantially reducing financial barriers for families.

    The coordinated development of these parallel support systems demonstrates Beijing’s commitment to addressing demographic challenges through targeted social policy implementation. These initiatives represent critical components of the city’s broader strategy to enhance quality of life across generations while adapting to evolving population needs.

  • Video offers new evidence of Japan’s germ-warfare crimes in China

    Video offers new evidence of Japan’s germ-warfare crimes in China

    A chilling 38-minute video testimony from a former member of Japan’s notorious Unit 731 has been made public by the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin, China. The footage, recorded in 1997 by Japanese scholar Fuyuko Nishisato and donated to the exhibition hall in 2019, features Tsuruo Nishijima, who served in the unit’s meteorological squad beginning in October 1938.

    The testimony provides unprecedented insight into the systematic nature of Japan’s biological warfare program during World War II. Contrary to conventional meteorological operations, Nishijima’s squad played an active role in human experimentation by measuring wind direction and speed to optimize the dispersal of bacterial agents during field tests.

    Nishijima confirmed the meteorological squad’s mandatory presence at all field experiments, including particularly disturbing ‘rainfall experiments’ where aircraft released bacterial cultures at extremely low altitudes. At testing sites in Anda city, Heilongjiang Province, aircraft descended to approximately 50 meters above ground level to spray biological agents on human subjects—referred to as ‘maruta’ or logs—who were tethered to wooden stakes. Each experiment involved approximately 30 victims spaced five meters apart.

    The testimony further reveals that after exposure, victims were transported in sealed trucks back to Unit 731 facilities where their symptoms and disease progression were meticulously documented over several days. Nishijima also described a fatal incident where a Japanese military doctor died after removing protective gear and becoming infected during an experiment, demonstrating the extreme virulence of the deployed biological agents.

    Additionally, the footage details the meteorological squad’s involvement in frostbite experiments conducted in temperatures ranging from -20°C to -35°C. Human subjects were forced to expose their bodies for five to ten minutes while researchers observed physiological responses, ostensibly to study warfare needs in frigid environments.

    Researchers at the exhibition hall emphasize that this perpetrator perspective testimony reconstructs the complete criminal chain of Unit 731 and provides irrefutable evidence that Japan’s biological warfare program represented a systematic, inhumane operation that constitutes an undeniable historical truth. Unit 731, established in Harbin as Japan’s primary biological and chemical warfare research base, conducted experiments that claimed at least 3,000 direct victims and resulted in over 300,000 deaths throughout China from deployed biological weapons.

  • China launches new internet satellite group

    China launches new internet satellite group

    China has successfully deployed another cluster of internet satellites into low Earth orbit, marking a significant advancement in its space-based communications infrastructure. The launch occurred at precisely 7:00 AM local time on Friday, December 12, 2025, from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province.

    The Long March 12 carrier rocket executed a flawless ascent, transporting what has been identified as the 16th grouping of low-orbit internet satellites destined to enhance global connectivity capabilities. Mission controllers confirmed that all payloads successfully reached their designated orbital parameters following the morning launch operation.

    This deployment represents the continuing expansion of China’s sophisticated satellite network architecture, designed to provide comprehensive internet coverage across remote and underserved regions worldwide. The strategic placement of these assets in low Earth orbit enables reduced latency and enhanced bandwidth capacity compared to traditional geostationary systems.

    Space technology analysts note that this launch demonstrates China’s growing proficiency in rapid satellite deployment and orbital network management. The successful mission reinforces the country’s position as a leading force in space-based telecommunications infrastructure development, with potential implications for global digital inclusion initiatives and competitive dynamics in the satellite internet market.

    The Hainan commercial launch facility continues to establish itself as a pivotal hub for China’s space ambitions, having supported numerous successful missions throughout 2025. This latest achievement underscores the technical precision and operational reliability of China’s space launch capabilities.