Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • State Council to supervise probe into factory explosion in North China’s Inner Mongolia

    State Council to supervise probe into factory explosion in North China’s Inner Mongolia

    The State Council Work Safety Commission has announced it will directly supervise the investigation into a catastrophic industrial explosion at a steel plant in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The blast occurred at approximately 3:00 PM on Sunday at a production facility operated by Baogang United Steel located in western Baotou City.

    According to the Ministry of Emergency Management, the incident has resulted in a significant casualty count with two confirmed fatalities and eight individuals remaining unaccounted for as of 6:00 AM Monday. Additionally, 84 people have been hospitalized with injuries of varying severity following the industrial accident.

    The ministry has issued directives emphasizing the critical importance of implementing scientifically sound search and rescue protocols to prevent secondary disasters while maximizing efforts to locate missing personnel. Emergency response teams have been instructed to provide comprehensive medical care to all injured victims with the objective of minimizing further loss of life.

    Authorities have stressed the urgency of determining the precise cause of the explosion through thorough investigation. The ministry further emphasized the necessity of deriving substantive lessons from this tragedy to enhance safety protocols and prevent similar industrial accidents from occurring in the future.

    Specialized rescue units from the Ministry of Emergency Management have been deployed to the incident site to assist local emergency response teams with the ongoing operations.

  • Chinese courts see surge in foreign-related cases

    Chinese courts see surge in foreign-related cases

    China’s judicial authorities reported a substantial increase in international legal disputes during 2025, with approximately 40,000 first-instance civil and commercial cases involving foreign parties processed throughout the year. This represents a remarkable 50 percent surge compared to previous year’s figures, according to official data released by the Supreme People’s Court on January 19, 2026.

    The dramatic rise in cross-border litigation reflects China’s expanding global economic engagement and the judicial system’s evolving capacity to handle complex international legal matters. The Supreme People’s Court emphasized that these developments demonstrate the nation’s continued commitment to enhancing foreign-related adjudication capabilities while ensuring equal protection for both domestic and international litigants.

    Beyond international cases, Chinese courts managed an overwhelming volume of over 20 million first-instance civil and commercial disputes nationwide, marking an 11 percent annual increase. Intellectual property litigation showed significant growth with more than 470,000 cases processed, representing a five percent year-on-year increase that underscores China’s evolving innovation landscape.

    Environmental justice also saw substantial developments, with courts processing over 160,000 first-instance civil environmental cases—an 11 percent increase that demonstrates strengthened judicial support for ecological protection initiatives.

    In criminal justice, authorities intensified efforts against criminal offenses, processing more than 1 million first-instance criminal cases while sentencing over 1.4 million defendants. Notably, both case numbers and conviction rates demonstrated a year-on-year decline, suggesting potential improvements in crime prevention strategies.

    The comprehensive judicial data reveals a nation undergoing rapid legal transformation across multiple domains, with particular significance for international businesses and investors engaged with China’s expanding economy.

  • TEPCO to postpone restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant over safety concerns

    TEPCO to postpone restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant over safety concerns

    Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO) has indefinitely delayed the planned restart of its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear facility’s No. 6 reactor after a critical safety system malfunction during preliminary testing. The decision came after alarm systems for control rods—essential components for regulating nuclear fission reactions—failed to activate during operational checks conducted on Saturday.

    The reactor, part of a seven-unit complex located approximately 220 kilometers northwest of Tokyo, was originally scheduled to resume operations on Tuesday. This marks another setback for Japan’s nuclear energy sector, which has faced intense scrutiny since the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi disaster. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant was among 54 reactors idled following the catastrophic meltdowns at TEPCO’s tsunami-damaged facility.

    The postponement occurs despite December’s controversial approval by the Niigata Prefectural Assembly for partial reactivation of the plant. The facility’s restart has drawn significant public concern and criticism from nuclear safety advocates who question the adequacy of post-Fukushima safety enhancements. TEPCO officials stated they are conducting comprehensive investigations to determine the root cause of the control rod alarm failure and cannot provide a revised timeline for operations until complete system verification is achieved.

  • Iran warns attack on Khamenei would mean full-scale war

    Iran warns attack on Khamenei would mean full-scale war

    Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a stark warning that any military action targeting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would constitute a declaration of “full-scale war against the Iranian nation.” The statement, delivered via social media platform X on Sunday, represents the most direct response yet to provocative comments from former US President Donald Trump, who recently characterized Khamenei as “a sick man” and called for new leadership in Iran during an interview with Politico.

    President Pezeshkian directly linked Iran’s economic hardships to “the longstanding enmity and inhumane sanctions imposed by the United States government and its allies.” His warning follows Trump’s claim on Friday that he had received assurances from “very important sources” in Tehran regarding the planned executions of protesters, which reportedly led to a pause in potential US military action.

    The escalating diplomatic crisis unfolds against the backdrop of significant civil unrest within Iran. In a rare official acknowledgment, Supreme Leader Khamenei confirmed that “several thousand” people died during recent protests, while simultaneously blaming the United States and President Trump personally for the violence and casualties. Khamenei’s social media account stated unequivocally that Iran holds “the US President guilty due to the casualties, damages and slander he inflicted upon the Iranian nation.”

    Despite earlier statements from Iranian officials suggesting executions might not proceed, authorities indicated on Sunday they might still carry out death sentences for detained protesters. An anonymous Iranian official provided a significantly higher death toll than previously acknowledged, confirming at least 5,000 fatalities since anti-government demonstrations began on December 28th. The official attributed these deaths to “terrorists and armed rioters” allegedly supported by “Israel and armed groups abroad.”

    Recent developments suggest the government’s severe crackdown, which included a near-total internet blackout beginning January 8th, has substantially quelled the protests. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported a “very slight rise in internet connectivity” to approximately 2% of normal levels, with some services gradually being restored. Meanwhile, in a symbolic challenge to authorities, Iranian state television was reportedly hacked on Sunday, broadcasting messages from Reza Pahlavi and showing protest footage that encouraged security forces to support demonstrators.

  • Chinese scientists achieve breakthrough in precise protein degradation

    Chinese scientists achieve breakthrough in precise protein degradation

    Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have achieved a groundbreaking advancement in biomedical science with the development of SupTACs (supramolecular targeting chimeras), a novel technology enabling unprecedented precision in targeting and eliminating disease-causing proteins within living organisms. This breakthrough, detailed in the prestigious journal Cell, represents a significant leap forward in targeted protein degradation therapeutics.

    The innovative approach addresses critical limitations in conventional treatment methodologies by leveraging the body’s natural ubiquitin-proteasome system. Unlike traditional small-molecule drugs that merely inhibit protein function, SupTACs actively facilitate the complete degradation of specific pathological proteins through precise molecular recruitment mechanisms. This technology demonstrates remarkable spatial and temporal control, effectively minimizing off-target effects that have hampered previous therapeutic attempts.

    Professor Wang Ming, lead investigator at the Institute of Chemistry, emphasized the transformative potential of this development: ‘Our SupTACs platform provides researchers with unprecedented control over protein degradation processes, offering new therapeutic avenues for conditions previously considered undruggable. The technology has shown consistent efficacy across multiple animal models, including non-human primates, indicating strong potential for clinical translation.’

    This advancement holds particular significance for treating complex disorders including various cancer types and neurodegenerative conditions where traditional therapeutic approaches have proven inadequate. The research team’s successful demonstration of controlled protein degradation in vivo marks a critical milestone toward practical clinical applications that could revolutionize treatment paradigms for numerous challenging diseases.

  • Chinese researchers develop blink-powered eye-tracking device to help paralyzed patients control wheelchairs

    Chinese researchers develop blink-powered eye-tracking device to help paralyzed patients control wheelchairs

    In a groundbreaking advancement for assistive technology, Chinese research teams have pioneered a self-sustaining eye-tracking system that converts blink energy into operational power for controlling external devices. This innovation emerges from collaborative efforts between Qingdao University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, representing a significant leap in human-computer interaction systems.

    The technology centers on a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) device, designated ET-TENG, which captures microscopic friction generated between eyelids and eyeballs during natural blinking. This mechanical energy is transformed into electrical power sufficient to operate the entire tracking system without external batteries. The device demonstrates remarkable precision with 99% accuracy in detecting eyeball deflection angles as minimal as 2 degrees.

    Unlike conventional camera-based eye trackers, the ET-TENG system maintains full functionality in complete darkness, overcoming a critical limitation of light-dependent technologies. This capability ensures reliable operation in various environmental conditions, enhancing its practical application potential.

    The primary application targets individuals with severe mobility impairments, particularly those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other conditions that preserve eye movement while limiting other motor functions. These patients could potentially operate wheelchairs, computers, and communication devices through intentional eye movements, restoring significant autonomy.

    Beyond medical applications, researchers envision implementations in space exploration for hands-free control panels, automotive safety systems for driver fatigue monitoring, and virtual reality hardware for creating more lightweight, energy-efficient headsets. The technology’s simple structure, high sensitivity, and anti-interference capabilities position it as a versatile platform for numerous human-computer interaction scenarios.

    The research, documented in the January 2026 edition of Cell Reports Physical Science, reflects the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence with sustainable energy solutions in technological development. This innovation represents not merely an incremental improvement but a fundamental reimagining of how biological energy can be harnessed for technological empowerment.

  • China’s commercial crewed spacecraft test capsule completes land-buffering verification

    China’s commercial crewed spacecraft test capsule completes land-buffering verification

    In a significant advancement for China’s commercial space sector, the test module of the CYZ1 crewed spacecraft has successfully completed comprehensive landing-buffering system verification trials. The spacecraft developer InterstellOr announced the breakthrough on Sunday, confirming all performance metrics not only met but exceeded design specifications.

    The rigorous testing simulated actual re-entry landing conditions with remarkable precision. Engineers elevated a 5-tonne test capsule to over three meters above ground level before executing an instantaneous release command. This carefully orchestrated free-fall maneuver replicated the steady descent velocity equivalent to a capsule under fully deployed main parachute.

    During the critical landing phase, the spacecraft’s buffering system activated seamlessly. The integrated retro-thruster expelled high-pressure gas to generate consistent reverse thrust while coordinating perfectly with the energy-absorbing structure at the capsule’s base. This sophisticated synchronization achieved effective deceleration and impact cushioning within an extremely limited stroke distance.

    Post-test examination revealed an impeccably executed buffering sequence with completely intact capsule structure and fully operational onboard equipment. These results demonstrate exceptional system reliability and technical feasibility for human spaceflight applications.

    The InterstellOr research team is now conducting exhaustive analysis of the test data to refine system parameters further. This successful verification establishes a robust technical foundation for subsequent development phases of the CYZ1 spacecraft, marking substantial progress toward China’s ambitions in commercial human spaceflight capabilities.

  • Pakistan: Death toll rises to 11 after Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire; over 60 still missing

    Pakistan: Death toll rises to 11 after Karachi’s Gul Plaza fire; over 60 still missing

    A devastating fire at Karachi’s Gul Plaza shopping center has resulted in a rising death toll and massive structural damage, with rescue operations continuing amid precarious conditions. The blaze, which ignited on Saturday evening in Pakistan’s commercial capital, raged for over 24 hours before being contained, leaving at least 11 confirmed fatalities and more than 60 individuals unaccounted for.

    Emergency responders faced extreme challenges due to the building’s inadequate ventilation system, which caused dense smoke to accumulate throughout the multi-story complex. The smoke infiltration significantly hampered rescue attempts to reach those trapped inside the facility, which contains approximately 1,200 retail establishments.

    By Sunday evening, substantial portions of the building had suffered catastrophic collapse, scattering twisted steel beams, concrete debris, and commercial wreckage across adjacent streets. Rescue teams have issued warnings about the unstable nature of the remaining structure, indicating potential further collapse risks that complicate search operations.

    Authorities received the initial emergency notification at 10:38 PM local time on Saturday, reporting fires at ground-level shops. Firefighting units arriving at the scene encountered rapidly spreading flames that had already ascended to upper floors, consuming large sections of the building before containment efforts could be fully implemented.

    Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab confirmed the scale of the missing persons crisis while police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed verified the increased fatality count. The incident represents one of the most severe commercial building fires in recent Pakistani history, highlighting concerns about urban safety standards in densely populated areas.

  • Dubai: Gold price jumps over Dh8 per gram to record high

    Dubai: Gold price jumps over Dh8 per gram to record high

    Dubai’s gold market surged to unprecedented levels on Monday morning as escalating geopolitical tensions triggered a massive flight to safe-haven assets. The precious metal recorded a dramatic increase of Dh8.25 per gram, pushing 24K gold to Dh562 while 22K gold reached Dh520.25 per gram according to Dubai Jewellery Group data.

    The remarkable rally stems from multiple international crises simultaneously unfolding. Intensifying protests across Iran and mounting transatlantic tensions between the United States and European Union over Greenland have created perfect conditions for gold’s ascent. The situation intensified when US President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs against the EU regarding control of the Arctic territory.

    Global markets mirrored Dubai’s surge with gold reaching $4,671.72 per ounce, representing a 1.64 percent increase at 9:25 AM UAE time. Silver similarly climbed to $94 per ounce before settling at $93.19. All gold variants in Dubai traded at record levels with 21K at Dh499.0, 18K at Dh427.75, and 14K at Dh333.5 per gram.

    Vijay Valecha, Chief Investment Officer at Century Financial, confirmed the bullish fundamentals: ‘As geopolitical risks multiply, investors traditionally seek refuge in safe-haven assets like gold. The White House’s recent executive order protecting US rare earth supplies has further contributed to this momentum.’ Valecha also noted lingering concerns about the Federal Reserve’s independence after Trump’s threats against the Fed Chair, which drew support from central bankers worldwide.

    Technically, Valecha identified potential resistance around $4,685 on the ascending trendline, suggesting the rally might face temporary hurdles at that level. The combination of political uncertainty, trade tensions, and monetary policy concerns has created ideal conditions for sustained gold appreciation.

  • Djokovic equals two all-time records and wins his 100th match at Australian Open

    Djokovic equals two all-time records and wins his 100th match at Australian Open

    MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic delivered a commanding performance at the Australian Open, simultaneously celebrating his 100th victory at Melbourne Park while sending an unequivocal message to his competitors: his pursuit of an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title remains undiminished.

    The 38-year-old tennis legend matched two historic records by appearing in his 21st Australian Open and 81st Grand Slam tournament. His dominant 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 first-round triumph over Spain’s Pedro Martínez propelled him into exclusive territory as the first male player to achieve 100 or more wins on three different Grand Slam surfaces—adding to his 102 victories on Wimbledon’s grass and 101 at Roland Garros on clay.

    Djokovic expressed particular satisfaction with this latest milestone, remarking, “Centurion is pretty nice. Nice feeling.” His service statistics underscored his formidable form: 77% first serves in, 93% first serve points won, 85% second serve points won, and 14 aces without facing a single break point.

    The Serbian champion displayed flashes of his signature brilliance, including a running crosscourt forehand winner that prompted his characteristic cord-ripping celebration. He later channeled French player Gaël Monfils with an athletic leaping forehand during the third set.

    Despite his advancing age, Djokovic remains intensely motivated by record-breaking opportunities. Having reached the semifinals in all four majors last year without securing a title, he now seeks to overcome the dominance of rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—the duo known as ‘Sincaraz’ who have controlled men’s tennis for the past two seasons.

    In a lighthearted moment, Djokovic joked about Alcaraz’s recently modified service motion, which bears resemblance to his own. “I sent him a message saying we have to speak about the copyrights!” he quipped. “Every ace I expect a tribute to me!”

    While acknowledging the elevated performance level of his younger competitors, Djokovic maintains confidence in his ability to triumph when executing his game plan effectively. His preparation for this tournament involved skipping warmup events to prioritize physical recovery, stating, “I’m using every hour that I can to get my body recovered and in shape for the next challenge.”