Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Border post inspection faster, friendlier

    Border post inspection faster, friendlier

    The Hunchun highway port in Jilin province has emerged as a model of cross-border efficiency and hospitality following the implementation of the China-Russia mutual visa-free policy. During the 2026 Spring Festival period, border authorities implemented comprehensive service enhancements that transformed the travel experience for thousands of passengers.

    Russian tourist Oksana Kachanovskaia from Vladivostok expressed delight at receiving festive horse-themed decorative items from border officers, noting: “The visa-free policy is incredibly convenient. We’ve found China’s cities beautifully maintained with exceptional cuisine, making our holiday in Yanji and Shanghai particularly memorable.”

    The border inspection station introduced multilingual officers, dedicated channels for vulnerable travelers, and family care zones to streamline processing. A specialized convenience service desk provided crucial information on visa-free stay durations and customs procedures, creating an welcoming atmosphere for international visitors.

    Zhang Tingcai, returning from work in Russia, remarked on the immediate sense of festive atmosphere upon crossing the border. “The moment I returned to my country, I felt the strong new year spirit,” he observed.

    To manage increased passenger volume during the holiday period, the station implemented an advanced reservation system for large tour groups and established a classified channel inspection mechanism with line-buffering zones. The deepened collaboration with customs authorities through data sharing and single declarations at unified service counters significantly reduced processing times.

    Deputy Director Zheng Mingya of the station’s first duty team emphasized the commitment of border personnel: “While Spring Festival represents family reunion time, we stand as guardians of the national border. Seeing travelers pass through safely and smoothly makes our service particularly meaningful.”

    The human element remained central to operations, with probationary officer Li Jiaxin noting: “Though I missed my family in Songyuan, protecting the national border means safeguarding the reunions of millions of families.” The station supported staff with organized duty shifts, necessary supplies, and cultural activities.

    These improvements build on record-breaking 2025 figures that saw the port process over 700,000 travelers and inspect more than 70,000 vehicles. According to Instructor Li Bingchi of the first duty team, the 2026 Spring Festival period demonstrated the station’s continued commitment to “optimizing service measures to ensure convenient, safe, and smooth entry and exit for all travelers.”

  • Cyborg cockroaches to the rescue

    Cyborg cockroaches to the rescue

    In a groundbreaking development at Shandong University of Science and Technology, researchers have successfully engineered cyborg cockroaches capable of navigating complex disaster scenarios. These biohybrid insects, equipped with miniature cameras and neural stimulation devices, represent a significant leap in search-and-rescue technology.

    The innovation centers on a sophisticated bioneural regulation system that directs cockroach movements through precisely calibrated electrical pulses applied to their antennae. This approach leverages the insect’s natural agility while maintaining human control, creating an efficient reconnaissance platform for environments inaccessible to humans or traditional robotics.

    Professor Huai Ruituo, leading the research initiative, emphasizes the transformative potential: “Following catastrophic events like earthquakes or structural collapses, these enhanced insects can rapidly survey hazardous areas while transmitting real-time visual data to rescue teams.”

    The technological breakthrough extends beyond emergency response applications. The research team identifies additional implementations including agricultural pest monitoring, industrial facility inspections, and pipeline maintenance operations where conventional robotics face limitations.

    A key achievement involves the development of an automated surgical platform that streamlines device implantation, increasing procedure efficiency sixfold while maintaining a remarkable 99% success rate. Each unit requires approximately 20 minutes to prepare at a minimal cost equivalent to $6.50, operating continuously for 50 minutes with a total lifespan extending to three months.

    This research continues SDUST’s pioneering work in bionic animal systems dating to the late 1990s, when Professor Su Xuecheng first proposed overcoming traditional robotics limitations by integrating living organisms with electronic control systems. The university previously developed China’s first cyborg rat in 2005 and subsequently advanced avian guidance systems using pigeons.

    Looking forward, Vice-President Chen Shaojie outlines the institution’s roadmap: “We’re integrating artificial intelligence with our biohybrid robotics expertise to evolve beyond remote control toward autonomous perception and decision-making capabilities in dynamic environments.”

  • NPC deputy conveys industrial voices from grassroots

    NPC deputy conveys industrial voices from grassroots

    Guo Hongjing, a warehouse team leader at Tianjin Lizhong Wheel Co., Ltd., has transformed her routine industrial duties into a platform for national representation. Her meticulous work managing hardware components—from precise screw inventories to motor dispatches—has prepared her for an equally detailed role: serving as a deputy to China’s National People’s Congress (NPC).

    Since her initial appointment in 2018, Guo has dedicated her congressional tenure to channeling grassroots industrial perspectives into national policy discussions. Rather than focusing on high-profile political matters, she has consistently prioritized the concerns of frontline workers throughout her two consecutive terms.

    “My fundamental mission is to bridge the gap between ordinary workers and legislative processes,” Guo explained during a recent gathering at her company’s dormitory facility. Through informal consultations and structured listening sessions, she systematically collects workforce suggestions regarding working conditions, industrial policies, and manufacturing challenges.

    Her approach exemplifies the NPC’s structural emphasis on incorporating diverse societal perspectives. By maintaining her position as an active industrial employee while serving in the legislature, Guo embodies the concept of representative governance that remains connected to practical workplace realities.

    The manufacturing sector’s evolving needs—particularly regarding workforce development, technological modernization, and industrial optimization—form the core of her legislative agenda. Colleagues describe her dual role as both warehouse specialist and political representative as instrumental in ensuring authentic worker representation at China’s highest legislative level.

  • Iran threat to ‘enemy oil lines’ raises fears over BTC pipeline

    Iran threat to ‘enemy oil lines’ raises fears over BTC pipeline

    A senior advisor to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander has issued a stark warning that Tehran intends to target international oil supply lines, specifically threatening operations it deems supportive of its enemies. This declaration significantly escalates regional tensions already heightened by recent U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.

    According to senior Arab sources speaking with Middle East Eye, these threats raise substantial concerns about the security of the BP-operated Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. This critical infrastructure transports Azerbaijani crude oil—approximately 30% of Israel’s supply—through Georgia to the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Analysts indicate that Azerbaijan’s geographical proximity makes this pipeline particularly vulnerable to Iranian intervention.

    The situation intensified on Monday when IRGC advisor Ebrahim Jabbari declared the strategic Strait of Hormuz effectively closed to navigation, threatening to “set ablaze” any vessels attempting transit. This narrow waterway, only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, facilitates the passage of roughly 20% of global daily oil consumption and substantial natural gas shipments.

    Regional experts note that Iran perceives Azerbaijan as a conduit for Israeli operations against its interests, a concern that has grown in recent years. Investigations by the Stop Fuelling Genocide campaign and research groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement have documented continued oil shipments from Turkey’s Ceyhan port—the terminal endpoint of the BTC pipeline—to Israeli facilities near Ashkelon, despite Turkey’s official embargo announcement in May 2024.

    Further complicating energy security, an Iranian drone attack reportedly caused a limited fire at Saudi Arabia’s crucial Aramco oil refinery in Ras Tanura on Monday. This incident triggered immediate market reactions, with European gas prices surging nearly 50% following Saudi Arabia’s precautionary closure of its largest refinery and Qatar’s temporary halt of liquefied natural gas production.

    The escalating conflict has already practical consequences for global shipping, with insurance providers withdrawing war-risk coverage for vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, the IRGC claims to have targeted over 500 U.S. and Israeli sites using hundreds of drones and missiles, as U.S. President Donald Trump warns of an impending “big wave” of military action.

  • Unlike US, Iran ‘prepared itself for a long war’: security chief

    Unlike US, Iran ‘prepared itself for a long war’: security chief

    Amid escalating military actions initiated by the United States, Iranian security chief Ali Larijani has declared Tehran’s preparedness for an extended military confrontation while questioning Washington’s readiness for sustained warfare. The statement came following coordinated U.S.-Israeli airstrikes that targeted senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in operations described by observers as ‘carpet bombing’ of civilian areas.

    Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, utilized social media platforms to accuse former President Donald Trump of plunging the region into chaos through ‘delusional fantasies’ and prioritizing Israeli interests over American security. ‘With his delusional actions, he turned his self-made ‘America First’ slogan into ‘Israel First’ and sacrificed American soldiers for Israel’s power-hungry ambitions,’ Larijani stated.

    The current escalation follows a reportedly conciliatory pre-strike proposal from Iran that offered complete abandonment of enriched uranium stocks and full cooperation with international nuclear inspectors—terms exceeding those in the original nuclear agreement that Trump abandoned during his presidency. However, with diplomatic channels now severed, Iran has shifted toward maximizing military costs for the U.S. and Israel while deterring regional allies from joining the coalition.

    The conflict has already produced significant casualties, with four U.S. military personnel killed and four others seriously wounded in attacks at Kuwait bases. Iranian missile and drone strikes have affected all six Gulf nations hosting U.S. military installations, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, with some attacks extending into civilian infrastructure including international airports and residential areas.

    Regional analysts suggest Iran is employing a strategy of attrition, utilizing cheaper drone technology to deplete expensive U.S. and Israeli air defense systems. Security experts Amos C. Fox and Franz-Stefan Gady note that Iran’s strategy deliberately avoids the quick-strike timeline preferred by U.S. and Israeli forces, instead opting for prolonged engagement that could exhaust advanced interceptor stocks.

    Further escalating tensions, Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all maritime traffic, potentially affecting 20% of global oil shipments and triggering significant price increases. Financial analysts predict potential doubling of oil prices should the closure persist, with possible global economic consequences.

    Despite Trump’s prediction of a four-to-five week conflict duration, defense officials have provided limited clarity on military objectives. The administration’s initial justifications—including claims of imminent Iranian attacks on U.S. troops and nuclear weapons development—have proven inaccurate according to verified reports.

    Regional experts warn that the removal of Iran’s leadership could empower more authoritarian elements or trigger violent power struggles. Daniel Brumberg of the Arab Center in Washington DC suggests possible outcomes include ‘an even more ruthless regime controlled by the security apparatus’ or national fragmentation, while scholar Shireen Hunter notes that permanent destabilization might align with Israeli regional objectives.

  • Some key figures about Nepal’s parliamentary election

    Some key figures about Nepal’s parliamentary election

    KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nepal commenced pivotal parliamentary elections on Thursday, marking a significant political transformation triggered by a youth-led uprising that toppled the previous administration. This electoral event occurs merely three years after the nation’s last national vote, following substantial political turmoil that culminated in governmental collapse in 2025, subsequently establishing an interim government that mandated fresh elections.

    The Election Commission reports approximately 18.9 million registered voters participating in this democratic process, demonstrating a notable increase of nearly one million voters compared to the November 2022 elections. Gender distribution reveals 966,000 male voters and 924,000 female voters, with an additional 200 individuals registered under the ‘others’ category, encompassing gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ community members.

    The substantial voter registration surge reflects heightened political engagement among youth, particularly those who spearheaded the September 2025 uprising that precipitated early elections. This movement has emerged as a central campaign issue, with political parties actively courting younger demographics through anti-corruption platforms and governance reform promises.

    Voters will directly elect 165 representatives to the House of Representatives, Parliament’s powerful lower chamber. The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member legislature will be allocated through proportional representation, where political parties appoint lawmakers based on their electoral vote share. Nepal’s political history demonstrates a pattern of coalition governments, with multiple parties typically combining forces to secure parliamentary majorities amid considerable instability—the nation has witnessed 15 different governments over the past two decades.

    This election presents a critical challenge to Nepal’s traditionally dominant parties—the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)—both of which faced public discontent after participating in the ousted government. The National Independent Party, established in 2022, has gained substantial traction during campaigning, featuring former Kathmandu Mayor and ex-rapper Balendra Shah as its prime ministerial candidate.

  • China removes three retired generals from national advisory body

    China removes three retired generals from national advisory body

    In a significant political development preceding China’s annual Two Sessions meetings, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has formally removed three high-ranking retired military officials from its ranks. The dismissed generals include Han Weiguo, former commander of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force; Gao Jin, inaugural commander of the now-dissolved Strategic Support Force; and Liu Lei, former political commissar of the army.

    The CPPCC, China’s top political advisory body, conducted the removals through a formal vote on Monday, though authorities provided no specific explanation for the decisions. These actions represent unusual mid-term dismissals, as CPPCC delegates typically serve fixed five-year terms set to conclude in March 2028.

    This development marks the latest escalation in President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign within military ranks, which has intensified considerably in recent weeks. The removals follow a pattern of high-profile dismissals that have reshaped China’s military leadership structure, including last Thursday’s announcement of 19 officials being sacked, nine of whom were military figures.

    Han Weiguo, 70, commanded the PLA ground forces from 2017 until his retirement in 2021. Notably, both his successors have similarly been removed from their positions within the past two weeks. Liu Lei, also 70, served as political commissar during Han’s command tenure, while Gao Jin, 67, previously led the Central Military Commission’s Logistic Support Department before retiring in 2022.

    The timing of these dismissals, immediately before China’s most prominent annual political gathering where approximately 3,000 delegates convene, signals continued consolidation of military oversight and political alignment under President Xi’s administration.

  • Post-Khamenei turmoil puts China’s energy security at risk

    Post-Khamenei turmoil puts China’s energy security at risk

    China’s energy security strategy faces immediate recalibration following the confirmed death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and subsequent regional escalation. The Revolutionary Guards’ enforcement of a Strait of Hormuz closure has triggered substantial operational disruptions for the world’s largest manufacturing economy, which depends heavily on this transit route for crude imports.

    Industry analysts indicate the blockade will generate three immediate consequences: dramatically elevated shipping risks, surging insurance premiums, and increased oil delivery costs. More significantly, potential regime transformation in Tehran jeopardizes China’s access to discounted Iranian crude—a crucial economic advantage maintained through complex supply networks.

    Despite U.S. sanctions limiting Iran’s official exports, China has consistently imported approximately 1.38 million barrels daily (representing 13.4% of seaborne crude imports) through third-country transshipment points like Malaysia. This shadow supply chain, operated via sanctioned tankers, provides Iranian oil at $10-20 per barrel below global benchmarks. The pricing advantage proves particularly vital for Shandong province’s independent refineries (termed ‘teapots’), which constitute roughly one-quarter of national refining capacity.

    Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning articulated China’s diplomatic stance, emphasizing concerns about unauthorized military actions while avoiding direct confrontation. ‘China believes the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Gulf states should be fully respected,’ Ning stated, simultaneously denying reports of impending missile deals with Tehran.

    The crisis exposes China’s strategic vulnerabilities beyond energy pricing. Billions in infrastructure investments under the 25-year comprehensive cooperation plan face potential disruption, while alternative supply routes through Pakistan’s Gwadar port gain renewed strategic importance. Despite these challenges, analysts predict China will maintain strategic composure, prioritizing communication with Washington ahead of anticipated high-level diplomatic engagements.

  • Ships in Strait of Hormuz to be ‘set ablaze’, IRGC official says, as insurers cancel coverage

    Ships in Strait of Hormuz to be ‘set ablaze’, IRGC official says, as insurers cancel coverage

    Major international insurance providers have announced the withdrawal of war-risk coverage for vessels navigating the Persian Gulf, following explicit threats from a high-ranking Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official. Ebrahim Jabbari, senior adviser to the IRGC commander-in-chief, declared on Monday that Iranian forces would target any ship attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for recent US and Israeli military actions.

    The strategic Strait of Hormuz, a mere 21-mile wide chokepoint, serves as a critical maritime corridor for approximately 20% of global daily oil consumption and significant natural gas shipments. The insurance withdrawal, effective Thursday, affects approximately 90% of the world’s ocean-going tonnage according to Bloomberg reports, potentially creating a de facto closure for Western-owned tankers.

    Simultaneously, energy infrastructure across the region has come under attack. Saudi Arabia’s largest domestic oil refinery suspended operations following a drone strike, while QatarEnergy halted production at its Ras Laffan facility after similar attacks. The Qatari facility alone accounts for roughly 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply.

    Market reactions have been immediate and severe. European benchmark gas prices surged by 45% on Monday, while Brent crude oil jumped 8% to settle at $78.40 per barrel. Container shipping rates are also expected to rise significantly, with Ocean Network Express CEO Jeremy Nixon reporting that 10% of global container vessel capacity is currently affected by the Strait’s closure.

    Despite Iranian state media denials of involvement in the Gulf state attacks, the combined effect of insurance withdrawal and military threats has created unprecedented disruption to global energy markets. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the administration would announce measures on Tuesday to address rising energy prices resulting from the escalating regional conflict.

  • The little town making nearly all of China’s lanterns

    The little town making nearly all of China’s lanterns

    In the heart of China’s northern Hebei Province, the small town of Tuntou maintains an extraordinary cultural legacy—producing approximately 80% of the country’s traditional red lanterns entirely by hand. These iconic symbols, historically serving as guides through winter alleyways, markers of imperial power, and objects of religious devotion, now represent a vital connection between contemporary Chinese society and ancestral traditions during Lunar New Year celebrations.

    The streets of Tuntou reveal a living museum of craftsmanship, where courtyards become informal workshops and main thoroughfares overflow with stacks of vibrant red lanterns. While the exact origins of this centuries-old tradition remain undocumented, the art form has become intrinsically woven into the community’s identity. Children typically begin learning the craft around age ten through familial transmission, acquiring skills through daily observation and practice.

    Remarkably, this pre-industrial production method has maintained economic viability against modern manufacturing competition. Local artisans attribute their market dominance to unparalleled flexibility in fulfilling diverse, small-scale orders at costs that mechanized factories cannot match. The handmade process allows for customization and quality control that mass production has yet to replicate effectively.

    However, this cultural stronghold faces an uncertain future. Increasing urbanization has drawn younger generations toward metropolitan opportunities, creating concerns about labor shortages and the potential erosion of traditional craftsmanship. Despite these challenges, Tuntou’s residents maintain pride in their community’s distinctive identity as China’s premier lantern-making destination, preserving a tangible link to the nation’s cultural heritage through each handcrafted piece.