Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • 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.

  • US-TikTok deal: A new reality for China’s tech champions?

    US-TikTok deal: A new reality for China’s tech champions?

    TikTok’s journey through the American regulatory landscape represents a watershed moment for Chinese technology expansion globally. With approximately one-seventh of the world’s population actively using the platform, its parent company ByteDance has navigated a complex maze of national security concerns that first emerged during the Trump administration’s initial term.

    The resolution came through an unprecedented arrangement: ByteDance will maintain partial ownership while establishing a separate U.S. entity through a consortium that includes Oracle. This restructuring effectively severs the American operation from its global network, addressing longstanding apprehensions regarding data sovereignty and potential foreign influence. The agreement mandates that U.S. user data will reside on domestic servers under American oversight, with ByteDance licensing rather than controlling the critical algorithm that powers the platform’s content delivery system.

    Industry analysts highlight the profound implications of this separation. Kelsey Chickering, Principal Analyst at Forrester, notes: ‘The platform’s core strength resides in its content graph—an sophisticated algorithm that processes thousands of user signals to deliver precisely targeted, engaging videos. Retraining this system exclusively on domestic data will fundamentally alter the user experience.’

    The financial architecture of the deal, valued at approximately $14 billion by the Trump administration, allows ByteDance to retain a 19.9% stake in the U.S. operation while relinquishing direct control over data management and algorithmic functions. This compromise enables continued access to America’s 200 million users and 7.5 million business accounts, though under significantly constrained conditions.

    From a strategic perspective, this arrangement mirrors broader geopolitical tensions between Washington and Beijing. Rather than representing an outright victory for either nation, the outcome demonstrates how technology platforms become negotiating chips in larger trade discussions. China can position the outcome favorably—exporting technology on negotiated terms while gaining leverage in other diplomatic areas.

    The operational consequences are substantial. Maintaining parallel algorithms for U.S. and global markets, divided development teams, and separate governance structures will inevitably increase engineering costs, slow innovation cycles, and create operational complexities according to technology architecture experts.

    For content creators and advertisers, the segmentation threatens to diminish the organic global virality that previously characterized TikTok’s ecosystem. Content that gained traction in one region could naturally proliferate across borders, but the newly fragmented system may require redesigned marketing strategies and potentially increased expenditures for U.S. market penetration.

    This development follows ByteDance’s earlier experience in India, where the complete prohibition of TikTok and approximately 200 other Chinese applications created opportunities for domestic alternatives—though none have achieved comparable market dominance. The current U.S. approach reflects an evolving strategy toward Chinese technology firms: rather than comprehensive exclusion, regulated operation within strictly defined parameters.

    While TikTok adapts to these international constraints, its sister application Douyin continues to thrive within China’s domestic market. This parallel success demonstrates ByteDance’s strategic diversification—maintaining a profitable, politically aligned platform at home while navigating increasingly complex global expansion challenges.

    Looking forward, this licensing model may establish a precedent for how Chinese technology companies operate in Western markets amid growing skepticism regarding data security and geopolitical influence. The fundamental question has shifted from data protection to cultural sovereignty—specifically, which nation controls the mechanisms shaping speech, trends, and cultural exchange through digital platforms.

  • Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party re-elects To Lam as general secretary

    Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party re-elects To Lam as general secretary

    HANOI, Vietnam — In a significant political development concluding Vietnam’s pivotal National Party Congress, To Lam has secured re-election as General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party. The decision, reached Friday, solidifies his position at the helm of the nation’s political leadership without immediate clarification on whether he will concurrently assume the presidency.

    This political gathering, serving as the country’s most crucial conclave, unfolded against the backdrop of Vietnam’s paramount national objective: achieving high-income economic status by 2045. In pursuit of this transformative vision, the Congress established an aggressive economic benchmark, targeting average annual GDP growth exceeding 10% for the period spanning 2026 to 2030.

    The composition of Vietnam’s supreme decision-making body, the Politburo, also saw renewal with the election of 19 members. Should To Lam ultimately consolidate power by obtaining both the general secretary and presidential roles, he would command unprecedented authority not witnessed in decades, drawing parallels to the centralized leadership model observed with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This potential consolidation marks a critical juncture for Vietnam’s political trajectory and its ambitious socioeconomic aspirations.

  • Police seek man wanted in fatal shootings of 3 in small Australian town

    Police seek man wanted in fatal shootings of 3 in small Australian town

    A massive police operation involving over 100 officers and military personnel continues in the remote Australian town of Lake Cargelligo as authorities search for 37-year-old Julian Ingram, the prime suspect in Thursday’s domestic violence-related shooting that left three dead and one critically injured. The victims included 25-year-old pregnant woman Sophie Quinn, who had obtained a restraining order against Ingram in December, along with her friend John Harris, 32, and aunt Nerida Quinn, 50. A 19-year-old male victim remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition. New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland confirmed that Ingram had been out on bail for previous domestic violence charges and had complied with all bail conditions despite his extensive criminal history. The town’s 1,100 residents have been instructed to remain indoors with streets deserted and businesses closed as the manhunt intensifies. Authorities are investigating how Ingram, who also uses the alias Julian Pierpoint, obtained a firearm without a state license. The tragedy occurred on Australia’s National Day of Mourning commemorating the Bondi Beach shooting victims, prompting renewed scrutiny of the country’s bail system and domestic violence protections.

  • Tsinghua math talent rivals top US peers, Yau says

    Tsinghua math talent rivals top US peers, Yau says

    World-renowned mathematician Shing-Tung Yau has declared that Tsinghua University’s specialized mathematics program has surpassed expectations, with students demonstrating capabilities that rival and even exceed those from top American universities. The Fields Medalist and dean of Tsinghua’s Qiuzhen College revealed these findings in an exclusive interview, simultaneously calling for fundamental reforms in China’s education system.

    The Yau Mathematical Sciences Leaders Program, established in 2020 with central government approval, selects approximately 100 secondary students annually for an accelerated eight-year bachelor’s-to-PhD track, exempting them from the traditional gaokao examination system. Now in its fifth year with nearly 800 students, the program has yielded exceptional results in the prestigious Putnam Competition—an intensely challenging undergraduate mathematics contest—where Tsinghua students have performed comparably to MIT counterparts and surpassed those from other elite US institutions since 2022.

    Beyond competitive achievements, Yau emphasized the program’s interdisciplinary approach that integrates mathematics and physics with artificial intelligence, biology, and humanities. Students visit historical sites to develop cultural connections, with some producing reflective travel notes in classical Chinese. The program aims to cultivate passionate, innovative thinkers rather than narrow specialists.

    Yau has additionally pioneered over 50 junior classes across China for gifted middle school students, enrolling approximately 3,000 twelve-year-olds annually. These programs emphasize authentic learning over exam preparation, fostering early interest in foundational sciences. The group-based admissions structure helps prevent psychological pressure and loneliness through peer support and mentoring from undergraduate and postdoctoral students.

    Despite these successes, Yau acknowledged challenges as students advance to postgraduate studies. While undergraduate training remains strong, the true measure of success will be whether graduates can produce world-leading research that transforms mathematical paradigms. Although Qiuzhen College already features world-class mathematicians like Fields Medalist Caucher Birkar and top symplectic geometry scholar Kenji Fukaya as chair professors, Yau stressed the need for additional elite scholars to guide students toward groundbreaking research.

    Yau criticized the exam-oriented approach that has dominated Chinese education over the past two decades, noting that drill-based preparation doesn’t represent traditional methodology. He expressed optimism about math graduates’ employment prospects given strong government support for basic science, urging young scholars to pursue deep engagement with their field rather than quick professional advancement.

    The mathematician also defended humanities’ role in scientific education, arguing that literature, history, and philosophy provide emotional depth and perspective that computers cannot replicate. While AI can synthesize historical poetry and produce well-written texts, it cannot cultivate genuine personal emotion or the human capacity for inspired creation.

    Yau measures the program’s ultimate success by its ability to produce thinkers who can change mathematics’ direction, not merely excel at examinations. With solid institutional backing, he believes Qiuzhen College students can eventually achieve this transformative impact on the field.

  • China’s sacred revolutionary sites Zunyi, Yan’an to be connected by high-speed rail

    China’s sacred revolutionary sites Zunyi, Yan’an to be connected by high-speed rail

    China’s national railway network achieves another milestone as two historically significant revolutionary sites become directly connected through high-speed rail service. Beginning January 26, 2026, travelers can journey between Zunyi in Guizhou Province and Yan’an in Shaanxi Province with unprecedented efficiency.

    The new connection, implemented under China Railway Chengdu Group’s first-quarter schedule for 2026, represents a strategic enhancement to the country’s transportation infrastructure. This development effectively bridges the previous service gap between southwestern regions including Sichuan, Guizhou, and Chongqing with the historically important northern city of Yan’an.

    Travel time between these symbolic locations has been dramatically reduced. The southbound journey from Yan’an to Zunyi now requires merely 8 hours and 7 minutes, while the northbound route takes 8 hours and 49 minutes. This constitutes a remarkable improvement over the conventional rail service, which previously demanded more than 16 hours for the same journey.

    The railway authority confirmed that starting January 27, two round-trip high-speed services will operate daily between these destinations. This connectivity milestone follows earlier railway developments: the Chongqing-Guiyang Railway inaugurated Zunyi’s high-speed era in January 2018, while the new 299-kilometer Xi’an-Yan’an line commenced operations in December 2025.

    This expansion contributes to China’s position as operator of the world’s most extensive high-speed network, which recently surpassed 50,000 kilometers in total operational mileage. The connection reinforces the integration of historically significant regions into China’s modern transportation framework, facilitating both cultural exchange and economic development.

  • Power of education shines in Xizang

    Power of education shines in Xizang

    On the morning of his departure to Lhasa, English instructor Shi Lei discovered his five-year-old son secretly curled inside his suitcase—a poignant symbol of the personal sacrifices made by educators serving Tibet’s remote communities. The young boy had concealed himself hoping to accompany his father, whispering fearfully, “I’m afraid you’ll leave me behind.

    This emotional moment encapsulates the challenging reality faced by hundreds of educators from Shaanxi Normal University who have dedicated their careers to teaching on the ‘roof of the world.’ Since 2007, SNNU has enrolled 1,196 students either originating from Tibet or committed to working in the region post-graduation. Between 2011 and 2025, the institution dispatched 884 graduates to classrooms across the autonomous region, with over 80% of teaching interns choosing to remain long-term.

    Shi Lei’s journey began during his formative years at SNNU, where he served as class monitor, joined the Communist Party of China, and met his future wife Wang Baohua. The university’s rigorous teacher training program equipped him with both pedagogical skills and philosophical foundations that would prove essential for high-altitude education.

    His commitment was solidified during a 2011 teaching internship at Gonggar Middle School in Lhokha, where he initially faced classrooms with only quarter of students possessing English textbooks. Through innovative methods incorporating English songs and poetry, Shi witnessed a remarkable transformation—within three weeks, nearly all students not only acquired textbooks but had carefully covered them in protective wrapping.

    Despite receiving attractive job offers from prestigious schools in Guangzhou, Chongqing, and his hometown Xi’an, Shi honored his commitment to teach at Lhasa Middle School. What began as a five-year plan has extended into nearly 14 years of service, despite significant physical tolls from the high-altitude environment. The region’s oxygen levels—approximately 60% of sea level—have contributed to serious health conditions including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, pulmonary edema, immune system damage, and cardiac issues. Shi has collapsed twice during classes and experienced nine-hour blackouts from exhaustion.

    The personal costs extend beyond health concerns. Shi carries profound guilt for being unable to adequately care for his mother during cancer treatment, for his wife who abandoned a stable career in Fujian to restart in Xi’an, and for the son who desperately misses his absent father.

    Yet these sacrifices are balanced by exceptional professional fulfillment. Shi employs full English immersion techniques, brain science-based memorization methods, and focuses on holistic student development beyond academic scores. His dedication has earned him the affectionate title ‘big brother’ from students and the ultimate professional validation: two former pupils now study at his alma mater, continuing the educational legacy he helped establish.

  • Who is To Lam, the ex-cop who wants to revamp Vietnam’s success story?

    Who is To Lam, the ex-cop who wants to revamp Vietnam’s success story?

    Vietnam’s Communist Party has formally elected To Lam as its General Secretary, securing his leadership for a five-year term following his initial appointment in August 2024 after the passing of long-serving leader Nguyen Phu Trong. The 68-year-old leader now faces the formidable task of steering Vietnam toward developed economy status while navigating complex geopolitical tensions and domestic challenges.

    Lam’s vision centers on breaking Vietnam free from the ‘middle income’ trap through sweeping administrative and economic reforms. During his April address commemorating the 50th anniversary of Liberation Day (marking the end of the Vietnam War), he invoked the spirit of Vietnam’s 1975 victory and the economic transformation achieved through the Đổi Mới reforms initiated in 1986. These reforms previously propelled Vietnam from one of the world’s poorest nations to its current status as a manufacturing powerhouse.

    The new leader’s ambitious agenda requires maintaining Vietnam’s impressive 6.5% average annual economic growth rate, which would potentially triple per capita income within two decades. However, significant obstacles loom: heavy reliance on foreign-owned industry, potential crippling tariffs from ongoing trade tensions with the United States, and the delicate geopolitical balancing act between Washington and Beijing.

    Lam brings to the position a extensive background in security apparatus, having spent over four decades in the People’s Public Security Forces. He has been a major architect of the ongoing ‘blazing furnace’ anti-corruption campaign initiated by his predecessor, which has disciplined tens of thousands of officials and resulted in high-profile prosecutions including the case of Truong My Lan, sentenced to death for financial crimes totaling $44 billion. The campaign has improved Vietnam’s standing in Transparency International’s corruption perceptions index, rising from 113th in 2016 to 88th in 2024.

    Concurrently, Lam has pursued bureaucratic streamlining, eliminating approximately 100,000 civil service positions, reducing provincial divisions, and consolidating government ministries. While these measures demonstrate reformist ambitions, critics caution that the anti-corruption drive’s zealous implementation may be creating additional bureaucratic complications.

    Lam’s tenure has not been without controversy. His security background has translated into continued repression of civil liberties, with Reporters Without Borders documenting over 70 journalists imprisoned since 2016, 38 of whom remain incarcerated. Vietnam consistently ranks among the world’s worst countries for press freedom. A particularly notable incident involved the 2021 imprisonment of a noodle vendor for parodying Salt Bae after Lam himself was filmed eating a $20,000 gold-flecked steak prepared by the celebrity chef.

    In foreign policy, Lam must navigate increasingly complex relations with both China and the United States while pursuing technological advancement. He has championed ‘high-quality’ growth through technological development, quadrupling science-and-technology funding and targeting $100 billion annually from the semiconductor sector by 2050.

    Analysts characterize Lam’s leadership style as pragmatic rather than ideological, prioritizing economic development and political stability. While maintaining continuity with previous administration priorities, his actions suggest a potentially bolder, more assertive approach to governing as Vietnam seeks to transform itself into a high-income economy within a generation.

  • Ancient pressure cooker making a stir

    Ancient pressure cooker making a stir

    A remarkable archaeological artifact from China’s Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24) has captured widespread public attention, demonstrating that pressure cooking technology existed more than two millennia before its official invention in the West. The Tripod with Bear-Shaped Feet, currently displayed at Hebei Museum in Shijiazhuang, represents an extraordinary fusion of culinary innovation, artistic craftsmanship, and ancient scientific understanding.

    Discovered in 1968 within the tomb of Prince Liu Sheng, this 18.1-centimeter bronze vessel features three distinctive bear-shaped feet that serve both decorative and symbolic purposes. During the Han Dynasty, bears were considered auspicious symbols representing good fortune and protection. Beyond its charming aesthetic, the tripod’s true technological marvel lies in its sophisticated sealing mechanism.

    The vessel incorporates an ingenious locking system consisting of flip-down animal-shaped latches attached to dual handles. When the lid is positioned and the latches are engaged with a slight twist, they secure beneath four standing animal figures on the lid’s surface, creating an exceptionally tight seal. This design, enhanced by raised patterns on both the rim and lid, effectively contains steam and increases internal pressure, significantly reducing cooking times while tenderizing ingredients.

    Archaeological experts from Peking University’s School of Archaeology and Museology have confirmed the functionality of this ancient pressure cooking system through replica testing. Professor Chen Jianli noted that chicken pieces placed inside a reconstructed model became perfectly tender after merely thirty minutes of cooking—a remarkable efficiency for the period.

    The technological sophistication evident in this artifact predates French physicist Denis Papin’s 17th-century “steam digester” by approximately 1,700 years. Museum researcher Chen Jing emphasized that the tripod’s manufacturing required exceptional bronze-casting skills, reflecting the advanced metallurgical capabilities of Han Dynasty craftspeople.

    The artifact has generated substantial interest on Chinese social media platforms, with many commentators expressing admiration for their ancestors’ ingenuity. The piece serves as a powerful reminder that innovative thinking transcends historical periods, connecting ancient culinary technology with modern kitchen practices through timeless scientific principles.

  • Panelists: China, US lean toward practical risk control

    Panelists: China, US lean toward practical risk control

    DAVOS, Switzerland – Leading international relations experts assembled at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday identified a significant pragmatic shift in U.S.-China relations, with both global powers increasingly prioritizing practical risk management over ideological confrontation.

    During a panel titled “US and China: Where Will They Land?” prominent scholars and diplomats highlighted how recent economic tensions have driven both nations toward establishing stronger communication channels and crisis guardrails. This development follows a period of escalated trade tensions that saw the U.S. implement substantial tariffs on Chinese goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Beijing before both parties reached a temporary truce through five rounds of high-level negotiations.

    Harvard University’s Graham Allison, who originated the concept of the “Thucydides Trap” describing how rising powers can trigger conflict with established ones, cautioned against interpreting current easing tensions as a permanent resolution. “A landing point, as if we had a permanent place to land, is not likely,” Allison stated, noting that the relationship has evolved into one of “mutual deterrence” where both recognize their capacity to inflict significant harm on each other.

    Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd emphasized that the central challenge lies not in seeking a final endpoint but in constructing practical mechanisms to manage strategic competition while minimizing risks of crisis, conflict, and war. He identified three critical flashpoints that will determine the global order: tariffs, technology, and Taiwan.

    University of Southern California law professor Angela Huyue Zhang expressed measured optimism for 2026, citing three stabilizing factors: Washington’s recognition that containment strategies have inadvertently accelerated China’s technological advancement, both nations’ identification of mutual vulnerabilities during last year’s trade war, and neither side having appetite for further instability.

    U.S. Senator Christopher Coons noted bipartisan support for “clear-eyed engagement” with China while acknowledging serious security tensions, particularly regarding artificial intelligence. He highlighted the pressing need for improved military communication channels to reduce misunderstanding risks.

    Chinese scholar Zhao Hai from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences challenged the prevailing “tech war” narrative, arguing that AI represents a shared challenge requiring bilateral regulation rather than containment. He advocated for formal, multilevel mechanisms to regulate U.S.-China ties, emphasizing that continuous dialogue between leaders remains crucial for maintaining bilateral stability.