Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • UAE initiative offers job opportunities for new, retired professionals

    UAE initiative offers job opportunities for new, retired professionals

    The United Arab Emirates has unveiled a groundbreaking workforce development program targeting both aspiring professionals and retired individuals seeking opportunities in the private security sector. Spearheaded by the Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA), this comprehensive initiative provides specialized training courses and career pathway development aligned with national strategic vision for sectoral growth.

    SIRA officials confirmed the program offers dual-track preparation: foundational courses for newcomers entering security professions and refresher programs specifically designed for retirees transitioning into new career phases. The initiative particularly welcomes former military personnel, providing structured support to help them adapt their skills to civilian security frameworks.

    Beyond training, SIRA facilitates direct employment connections through organized open-door events where certified candidates meet with security companies and institutional security departments. These networking platforms enable employers to identify qualified talent while allowing job seekers to explore diverse opportunities ranging from entry-level positions to leadership roles based on individual qualifications and experience.

    The program maintains inclusive nationality policies while emphasizing Emiratisation objectives. UAE nationals receive full financial support for course fees, though the initiative remains accessible to all nationalities. Interested candidates, including retirees, are encouraged to visit SIRA’s headquarters opposite Etisalat Academy for document review and opportunity exploration.

    This workforce development strategy represents a significant advancement in professionalizing the security industry while addressing employment needs across generational divides, ultimately strengthening the nation’s private security infrastructure through skilled human capital development.

  • How much more will UAE residents really pay for health insurance in 2026?

    How much more will UAE residents really pay for health insurance in 2026?

    Contrary to widespread speculation about dramatic premium hikes, UAE insurance experts project moderate health insurance cost increases ranging between 8-10% for 2026, significantly lower than the circulating 25% figure that has concerned residents.

    Industry specialists emphasize that premium adjustments will vary considerably based on individual circumstances rather than applying uniformly across all policyholders. Key determining factors include age demographics, claims history, specific plan types, and healthcare utilization patterns.

    Financial Impact Projections:
    • Single adults: Additional AED 250-600 annually
    • Typical family of four: Estimated increase of AED 1,200-2,500 per year
    • Senior residents: Potential increases from AED 1,600 to over AED 4,000 annually

    Anas Mistareehi, General Manager at E-sanad Insurance Brokers, clarified: “There is no universal percentage applicable to all residents. Premium calculations incorporate multiple variables including age brackets, previous claims, and plan categories.”

    Certain demographic groups may experience minimal changes, particularly those covered under large employer group plans, young single individuals with limited claims history, and basic health insurance plan holders. The government-regulated basic plan remains fixed at AED 320 annually, providing cost stability for lower-income residents.

    Mahdi Attya, Insurance Strategy Expert at MSS Advisors, explained additional considerations: “Beyond premium adjustments, insurers frequently modify hospital network coverage, outpatient service limits, pharmacy regulations, and co-payment structures. Policyholders often discover these network changes only when their preferred healthcare facilities become inaccessible.”

    Experts recommend proactive policy review and comparison shopping, advising residents to prioritize comprehensive inpatient and emergency coverage while potentially adjusting hospital network selections to manage costs effectively. The consensus emphasizes that catastrophic coverage protection remains most critical for financial security in healthcare management.

  • Israeli fire strikes journalists and children in Gaza

    Israeli fire strikes journalists and children in Gaza

    In a devastating escalation of violence, Israeli military operations in Gaza on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of at least 11 Palestinians, including three journalists, two 13-year-old boys, and several civilians, marking one of the deadliest incidents since the October ceasefire agreement. The attacks occurred across multiple locations in the besieged territory, with hospitals confirming the casualties and sparking international concern.

    The tragedy unfolded as three Palestinian journalists were killed while documenting displacement camp conditions in the Netzarim area. According to Mohamed Mansour, spokesman for the Egyptian government committee managing the camp, the journalists’ vehicle was struck approximately 5 kilometers from Israeli-controlled territory despite being clearly identified as belonging to the humanitarian committee. Footage from the scene showed the complete destruction of their vehicle, which was visibly charred and emitting smoke.

    Among the journalistic casualties was Abdul Raouf Shaat, a frequent contributor to Agence France-Presse. The news agency issued a statement mourning his loss, describing him as ‘much loved’ and ‘kind-hearted,’ while demanding a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his death.

    Simultaneously, separate incidents claimed the lives of two adolescents. One 13-year-old boy, along with his father and another young man, fell victim to Israeli drone strikes near the Bureij refugee camp. In another heartbreaking case, Moatsem al-Sharafy was shot by troops in Bani Suheila. His mother, Safaa al-Sharafy, told The Associated Press that her son had merely ventured out to gather firewood for cooking, emphasizing his departure with the poignant words: ‘He went out in the morning, hungry. He told me he’d go quickly and come back.’

    The Israeli military stated that its actions targeted suspects operating drones that posed threats to troops, though details remain contested. These developments occur against the backdrop of strained ceasefire arrangements between Hamas and Israel, with the United States attempting to advance the peace process’s challenging second phase.

    In a related regional escalation, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon injured 19 people, including eight journalists, despite the US and France-brokered ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah that took effect in November 2024. Israel has continued periodic strikes in Lebanon, citing ongoing security concerns.

  • High-speed train hub eases journeys

    High-speed train hub eases journeys

    Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station has emerged as a transformative transportation nexus since its inauguration five years ago, fundamentally reshaping travel patterns across northern China. As the primary high-speed rail gateway connecting the capital with Northeast China and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the station has witnessed remarkable growth in both passenger volume and service capabilities.

    Statistical data reveals a dramatic surge in daily passenger traffic, escalating from approximately 12,000 to 30,000 commuters, culminating in nearly 44 million total passenger journeys handled since commencement. This infrastructure marvel has drastically compressed travel durations, exemplified by the Chengde-Beijing route reduction from four hours to a mere 49 minutes—a temporal compression revolutionizing regional mobility.

    The station’s significance extends beyond conventional transportation services, evolving into a critical lifeline for medical emergencies. Station authorities report approximately 200 daily special assistance cases, with nearly one-quarter involving patients seeking urgent medical care in Beijing’s advanced healthcare facilities. In one particularly notable incident, station personnel facilitated emergency egress for a finger-severation victim from Inner Mongolia, enabling critical reattachment surgery within the narrow three-hour therapeutic window.

    Technological integration enhances passenger experience through seamless multimodal connectivity. The 2024 inauguration of Subway Line 3’s initial phase established direct underground access, effectively resolving ‘last-mile’ challenges. Digital innovation through the 12306 ticketing platform enables pre-arrival special assistance requests, ensuring coordinated support between train crews and station staff.

    Station official Wang Qiang emphasizes their strategic positioning as both regional integrator and specialized service provider: ‘Our continuous service optimization reflects dual commitments to macroeconomic regional development and micro-level passenger needs.’ Deputy Manager Cao Yan underscores the human dimension, noting the specialized assistance team has doubled to twelve members over five years to accommodate growing demand from travelers with serious medical conditions.

    As passenger volumes continue their upward trajectory, Beijing Chaoyang Railway Station stands as testament to how modern transportation infrastructure can simultaneously drive regional economic integration and provide vital social support functions, fundamentally redefining the relationship between mobility, healthcare access, and regional development in contemporary China.

  • China’s renewed pledge to opening-up praised

    China’s renewed pledge to opening-up praised

    At the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng articulated China’s economic strategy, earning widespread international praise from experts and officials. The address, delivered on January 22, 2026, positioned China’s transition to high-quality development as a critical stabilizing force against growing global economic fragmentation.

    Vice-Premier He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, detailed three core propositions: advancing high-quality economic development, transforming China into both a manufacturing and consumption powerhouse, and deepening the nation’s commitment to reform and opening-up policies. He emphasized China’s role in fostering common prosperity through shared development opportunities, noting that China’s economy has expanded to over 140 trillion yuan ($20.1 trillion) with average annual growth rates of approximately 5.4%, contributing roughly 30% to global economic growth.

    International response to the speech highlighted its strategic significance. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, President of the Center for Knowledge and Public Policy in Islamabad, described the address as “timely and positive,” noting that it promotes hope for greater global progress and prosperity. He specifically referenced China’s forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) as focusing on structural reforms that would advance digitalization, green technologies, and a paradigm shift toward domestic consumption-driven growth.

    Maroun Kairouz, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, characterized China’s development transition as a strategic shift toward more sustainable and resilient growth. He noted that China’s reforms not only strengthen its own economic foundation but also create new global opportunities in clean energy, technology, and trade for 2026 and beyond.

    Anna Malindog-Uy, Vice-President of the Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute, observed that the speech addressed fundamental global anxieties about uncertainty and fragmentation in the international economic system. She highlighted that China’s move toward high-quality, domestic-demand-driven growth transforms the nation from primarily a global supplier to a significant source of global demand, promoting more balanced worldwide economic development.

    The address also briefed attendees on outcomes from the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, reinforcing China’s commitment to expanding imports, strengthening industrial cooperation, and maintaining secure global supply chains.

  • Senior Chinese official urges sustained crackdown on cross-border gambling

    Senior Chinese official urges sustained crackdown on cross-border gambling

    BEIJING – Chinese authorities are escalating efforts to dismantle transnational gambling operations through a coordinated national strategy. Wang Xiaohong, senior official of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Secretariat and State Councilor, has directed law enforcement agencies to maintain relentless pressure on criminal gambling networks during a comprehensive national video conference.

    The official emphasized strategic targeting of high-profile cases, major fugitives, and sophisticated criminal organizations through precision law enforcement operations. The renewed initiative focuses on enhancing interdepartmental coordination while strengthening legal frameworks and professional capabilities to combat increasingly complex cross-border gambling activities.

    Wang underscored the necessity of systematic approaches and robust organizational support mechanisms to achieve substantial progress in suppressing illegal gambling operations that transcend national boundaries. The conference concluded with commitments to implement improved regulatory measures and international cooperation protocols to address this persistent challenge to social stability and economic security.

  • Winter camp solidifies cross-Strait youth ties

    Winter camp solidifies cross-Strait youth ties

    HANGZHOU – More than 1,000 Taiwanese youth converged in Zhejiang province this week for the commencement of the 32nd Taiwan Compatriot Youth Winter Camp, marking a significant milestone in cross-Strait cultural diplomacy. The event, orchestrated by the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, unfolded at Zhejiang University’s Zijingang campus with an elaborate opening ceremony and cross-Strait youth gala.

    Ji Bin, leading official of the federation, characterized the organization as a ‘home for Taiwan compatriots’ during his keynote address. He emphasized the profound familial connections binding communities across the Strait, asserting that sustained youth exchanges substantially enhance mutual comprehension and emotional bonds. Ji encouraged attendees to immerse themselves in mainland China’s developmental landscape while forging enduring friendships that could inject youthful vitality into peaceful cross-Strait relations.

    Zhejiang University’s Deputy Party Secretary Fu Qiang outlined the institution’s longstanding commitment to educational collaboration with Taiwan, noting established partnerships with multiple Taiwanese universities and research institutes. The university has facilitated frequent faculty-student exchanges and expanding academic cooperation, with pledges to develop more diversified and sustainable platforms for cross-Strait engagement.

    Student representatives from both sides echoed these sentiments. A Taiwanese participant surnamed Yang highlighted shared linguistic heritage and cultural roots, while Zhejiang University volunteer Tang Kun emphasized common historical memories cultivated within the same cultural soil.

    The program features immersive experiences including campus tours, artificial intelligence lectures, and visits to innovation bases showcasing robotics and intelligent equipment. Participants will further explore Hangzhou’s Liangzhu Museum and Archaeological Ruins to examine Chinese civilization origins, alongside technological showcases at Hangzhou Future Sci-Tech City and Alibaba’s headquarters.

    Established in 1989, the winter camp has attracted over 9,000 Taiwanese youth throughout its history. This year’s edition expands across 24 mainland provincial regions, reinforcing its role as a crucial mechanism for fostering interpersonal connections and mutual learning among younger generations across the Strait.

  • Geothermal energy keeps Shandong town toasty

    Geothermal energy keeps Shandong town toasty

    In the frosty climate of the Yellow River estuary, resident Xing Yan experiences unprecedented winter comfort without conventional heating systems. His home maintains ideal temperatures through pioneering geothermal technology tapping into energy sources nearly two kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface.

    Niuzhuang township in Dongying, Shandong province, sits above extraordinary geothermal reservoirs where subterranean waters reach 85°C. The town’s heating facility operates through massive plate heat exchangers that transform 82°C geothermal water into 60°C heating fluid distributed through municipal pipelines.

    This renewable energy system now serves all 13 urban residential compounds, three rural communities, and over 60 institutions throughout Niuzhuang. Covering 750,000 square meters—98% of the town’s heating needs—the geothermal network benefits approximately 22,000 residents across 7,000 households.

    The environmental impact proves substantial: annual savings of 34,000 metric tons of standard coal and reduction of carbon emissions by roughly 80,000 tons. Unlike weather-dependent renewables, geothermal energy provides consistent baseload power unaffected by seasonal or diurnal variations.

    Local businesses report significant benefits. Shandong Shuangfu Flowers Company utilizes geothermal heating across 100,000 square meters of greenhouses, maintaining optimal 26°C conditions for year-round orchid cultivation. General Manager Li Binghai confirms heating costs dropped by 15 yuan per square meter, creating 25 yuan per square meter savings compared to coal heating.

    “Beyond cost reduction, geothermal provides unprecedented temperature stability,” Li noted. “We now control greenhouse climates via smartphone, extending flowering periods and enabling new variety development.” The company exports orchids to Vietnam, Russia, and Uzbekistan.

    Shang Xinjian, director of Niuzhuang’s construction service center, explains the multi-tier utilization system: 80°C water extracted from 1,950-meter depths first heats residential areas, then circulates 50°C tailwater to agricultural greenhouses before being reinjected underground, creating a closed-loop conservation system.

    China possesses enormous geothermal potential, with hydrothermal resources equivalent to 1.25 trillion tons of standard coal and annual exploitable capacity matching 1.86 billion tons. The nation leads global geothermal utilization efforts.

    Future plans include expanding geothermal applications to agricultural product drying and aquaculture, establishing integrated industrial chains combining advanced farming, processing, and leisure industries. As Deputy Party Chief Song Ke stated: “This subterranean treasure will bring continued warmth and development opportunities to our community.”

  • Leopard matriarch builds four-generation dynasty

    Leopard matriarch builds four-generation dynasty

    In an extraordinary wildlife conservation breakthrough, a decade-old North China leopard designated F9 has defied biological expectations by establishing the nation’s first documented four-generation leopard dynasty. This remarkable matriarch, residing in the Taihang Mountains of Shanxi province, has not only become a great-grandmother but also successfully delivered three new cubs in 2025 despite her advanced age.

    The conservation organization Chinese Felid Conservation Alliance reported that F9’s story carries profound scientific significance as her thriving lineage exists primarily outside formal protected areas, spanning multiple villages in Heshun county. First identified in June 2016 through infrared camera footage that captured her distinctive curled tail tip, this feline has surpassed all expectations by building a multi-generational legacy in the wild.

    Her reproductive journey began in 2019 when infrared cameras captured her guiding three cubs—two females and one male—through their forest habitat. The dynasty expanded in 2022 when her eldest daughter, F26, was photographed with her own three cubs. The latest generational milestone occurred in late 2024 when F26’s daughter, nicknamed Pingping, was documented tenderly guiding her own offspring through moonlit forests.

    At approximately 10 years old (equivalent to human early 60s), F9 has produced six known litters totaling 11 cubs, with four already establishing independent territories within the Heshun mountains. Her descendants demonstrate remarkable expansion patterns: her eldest son M16 now dominates the nearby Qingcheng forest area, while granddaughter Pingping has crossed County Highway 337 to establish territory further east.

    This conservation success story stems from collaborative efforts between local authorities, research institutions, and community members. Since 2013, approximately 1,200 square kilometers in western Heshun have been designated as an ecological protection zone with stringent restrictions on polluting industries and large-scale development. The Laobaozi patrol team, established in 2015 with 20 local members, actively conducts biodiversity surveys, anti-poaching patrols, and community education.

    The North China leopard, a leopard subspecies native to China, receives top national-level protection and was included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2012. Heshun county has been identified as a vital habitat, with 89 adult leopards documented between 2015-2020, though fewer than 400 are estimated to remain in the wild globally.

  • Researchers break robot ’emotional barrier’

    Researchers break robot ’emotional barrier’

    A groundbreaking advancement in human-robot interaction has emerged from Wuhan’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology, where engineers have developed a sophisticated system capable of decoding and replicating complex human emotions with unprecedented accuracy. Led by Professor Yu Li, the research team has created algorithmic technology that analyzes subtle facial muscle movements to interpret emotional states, representing a significant leap forward in bridging the communication divide between humans and machines.

    The system operates by identifying distinct facial “action units” – minute muscular contractions around the eyes, nose, and mouth that form the visual language of human expression. Through high-precision algorithms, the technology can recognize seven fundamental emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise, and neutral) with 95% accuracy in real-world conditions. More impressively, it deciphers 15 compound expressions – blended emotional states like ‘happily surprised’ or ‘fearfully disgusted’ – with 70% precision, a rate described as exceptional within current AI capabilities.

    Professor Yu explains the technological breakthrough: “The human face contains dozens of action units corresponding to specific muscle movements. While happiness typically involves raised cheeks and upturned mouth corners, anger manifests through furrowed brows and tightened eyelids. Our system captures these detailed movements while filtering out individual physiological variations, enabling accurate emotional categorization.”

    The innovation extends beyond digital recognition into physical embodiment. The team’s robots feature 20 movable facial points that combine through specialized mechanical systems to produce naturalistic expressions. Unlike traditional robots limited to simplistic mouth movements, these machines achieve three-dimensional lip motion capable of reproducing 46 phonemes and nearly 20 distinct mouth shapes. Enhanced linkage mechanisms for nasal alae, cheeks, and malar regions enable subtle expressions like laughing and crying without the unnatural “segmented movement” typical of robotic faces.

    Real-world applications are already underway. The technology has been deployed in dozens of Chinese schools as digital psychological consultants that adjust responses based on students’ facial cues. In residential communities, these robots serve as emotional companions for isolated seniors, providing “natural, credible and comfortable” interactions when human companionship is unavailable. Expansion into commercial spaces, banking environments, and metaverse platforms is anticipated in the near future.

    Despite these advancements, Professor Yu emphasizes an important distinction: “Understanding emotion does not mean the robot itself has emotions. This technology provides care and support functions but should never replace genuine human social exchanges.” The research earned second prize in Hubei province’s technological invention awards in January, signaling recognition for its potential to transform human-machine interaction while maintaining ethical boundaries.