Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Singapore to launch space agency in response to global investment surge

    Singapore to launch space agency in response to global investment surge

    Singapore has announced the creation of its National Space Agency, scheduled to commence operations on April 1st, 2026. The groundbreaking initiative was unveiled by Tan See Leng, Minister for Energy Technology at Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry, during the country’s inaugural space summit.

    The newly formed agency will serve as Singapore’s central coordinating body for space-related activities, focusing on developing and operating national space capabilities while creating supportive legislative frameworks for innovation and commercial space enterprises. This strategic move positions Singapore to leverage its existing technological strengths in advanced manufacturing, aerospace systems, micro-electronics, precision engineering, and artificial intelligence within the rapidly expanding space sector.

    Current statistics reveal Singapore’s growing space ecosystem, hosting 70 space companies employing approximately 2,000 professionals across various segments of the space value chain. The establishment of the space agency comes amid unprecedented global investment in space technology, with 2025 recording historic funding levels according to data from investment firm Seraphim Space, with further growth anticipated.

    The Singaporean government emphasized that this institutional framework will enable the nation to fully capitalize on the increasing opportunities within the global space economy, transforming the country into a significant player in the international space technology landscape.

  • Cypress-smoked pork lines Guizhou shops for Spring Festival

    Cypress-smoked pork lines Guizhou shops for Spring Festival

    As the Lunar New Year approaches, storefronts throughout Tongzi county in Guizhou province have transformed into vibrant exhibitions of traditional cured pork, signaling the arrival of Spring Festival celebrations. This annual culinary tradition represents both a household staple and a cultural centerpiece for family reunions during China’s most significant holiday period.

    The distinctive Guizhou-style cured pork, a renowned southern Chinese specialty, undergoes an elaborate smoking process that yields its characteristic dark, glossy appearance. Local artisans employ cypress branches in the smoking technique, imbuing the meat with its deep coloration and distinctive savory aroma that has become synonymous with regional culinary heritage.

    Annual production cycles intensify around the winter solstice, when shops significantly ramp up their sausage stuffing and pork smoking operations to accommodate surging consumer demand. This meticulous preparation ensures patrons receive diverse flavor profiles and premium quality products for their festive gatherings. The visual spectacle of numerous smoked pork displays creates a festive atmosphere throughout the community, connecting modern celebrations to generations of culinary tradition.

    The preservation of this food preparation method demonstrates how regional customs continue to thrive within contemporary holiday practices, offering both residents and visitors an authentic taste of Guizhou’s rich cultural tapestry during the Spring Festival season.

  • Dozens of Cambridge academics urge university to divest from arms industry

    Dozens of Cambridge academics urge university to divest from arms industry

    A significant coalition of Cambridge University academics is intensifying pressure on the institution to immediately withdraw all investments from defense and arms manufacturing companies. This development precedes a critical University Council meeting scheduled for Monday to review a commissioned report on defense sector investments.

    The controversy stems from mounting accusations against the university administration regarding what professors characterize as ‘maximal obfuscation’ concerning its £4.2 billion endowment fund. Senior faculty members report being unable to properly scrutinize these investments due to the university’s refusal to disclose specific company involvements.

    Middle East Eye has obtained statements from 29 Cambridge academics demanding both transparency and complete divestment from arms manufacturers. The movement gained momentum following prolonged pro-Palestine student encampments in 2024, where protesters specifically demanded severed financial ties with Israel and defense contractors.

    Professor Jason Scott-Warren, an English faculty member and University Council representative, criticized the administration’s investment strategy: ‘The university’s investment managers are employing the same obstruction tactics they used during fossil fuel divestment campaigns. They claim their ‘fund of funds’ model prevents disclosure of specific investments or basic ethical screening.’

    Professor Christopher Burlinson of the English faculty expressed stronger condemnation: ‘I maintain the firm conviction that Cambridge University must eliminate all arms industry investments. These financial engagements directly fund and enable repression, genocide, and ethnic cleansing.’

    The university’s endowment is managed by University of Cambridge Investment Management Limited (UCIM), which utilizes a complex ‘fund of funds’ structure that distributes investments across multiple sectors under external management. This opacity has become increasingly controversial since King’s College Cambridge became the first Oxbridge institution to divest from companies complicit in ‘the occupation of Ukraine and Palestinian territories’ last year.

    The upcoming Council meeting, attended by Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice, college heads, and elected representatives, represents a pivotal moment for the divestment movement. Student protesters previously agreed to dismantle their encampment contingent on the university’s commitment to review defense industry linkages.

  • Trump plans to lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18% after India agreed to stop buying Russian oil

    Trump plans to lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18% after India agreed to stop buying Russian oil

    In a significant diplomatic development, President Donald Trump has announced a major trade agreement with India that links tariff reductions to energy policy shifts. The arrangement will see U.S. tariffs on Indian goods drop from 25% to 18%, contingent on India’s commitment to cease purchasing Russian oil.

    The agreement culminates months of pressure from the Trump administration urging New Delhi to reduce its reliance on discounted Russian crude. India had substantially increased its purchases of Russian oil following Moscow’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, capitalizing on price reductions as Western nations sought to isolate Russia economically.

    In reciprocal measures, India has committed to eliminating import taxes on U.S. goods and purchasing approximately $500 billion worth of American products. President Trump characterized the arrangement as a strategic move that would “help END THE WAR in Ukraine” by targeting Russia’s oil revenues.

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed enthusiasm for the agreement, describing Trump’s leadership as “vital for global peace, stability, and prosperity” in a social media post. Modi further indicated his intention to deepen the bilateral partnership to “unprecedented heights.”

    The announcement coincides with planned trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi later this week involving Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner meeting with Russian and Ukrainian officials. According to a White House official speaking anonymously, these discussions aim to establish an endgame for the ongoing conflict.

    This trade breakthrough follows nearly a year of escalating tariffs, including a 25% duty imposed in June 2023 over concerns about India’s trade surplus with the U.S., and additional 25% tariffs implemented in August specifically targeting India’s Russian oil purchases.

    The U.S.-India agreement emerges alongside other significant trade developments, including India’s recently concluded free trade pact with the European Union after nearly two decades of negotiations. These shifting trade alliances reflect broader realignments in global economic relationships as major economies respond to changing geopolitical dynamics.

    Despite historical defense ties between India and Russia, the new arrangement signals India’s strategic pivot toward Western economic partnerships. The agreement addresses longstanding U.S. concerns about market access while acknowledging India’s reservations regarding sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy that employ significant portions of its population.

    The United States recorded a $53.5 billion trade deficit in goods with India during the first eleven months of last year, highlighting the economic significance of this newly negotiated balance.

  • Iran says framework for negotiations with US to be finalised in coming days

    Iran says framework for negotiations with US to be finalised in coming days

    Iran’s Foreign Ministry revealed on Monday that a structured framework for diplomatic negotiations with the United States is nearing completion, with expectations for finalization within days. This development emerges amid heightened tensions as President Donald Trump continues to threaten potential military action against Tehran.

    Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that regional nations are actively facilitating backchannel communications between the two historically adversarial states. “Countries of the region are acting as mediators in the exchange of messages,” Baqaei stated, while maintaining discretion regarding the specific content under discussion.

    The diplomatic breakthrough follows Saturday’s announcement by top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, who declared via social media platform X that substantive progress was being made despite what he characterized as “artificial media warfare” creating a misleading perception of deadlock. Larijani’s statement emphasized that contrary to public assumptions, the architectural foundation for formal negotiations was actively taking shape.

    Baqaei elaborated that multiple critical elements have already been addressed, with technical teams currently refining the procedural details of each phase within the proposed diplomatic process. “Several points have been addressed and we are examining and finalising the details of each stage,” he noted, underscoring the complexity of establishing mutually acceptable communication channels between nations with decades of entrenched hostility.

    This diplomatic maneuvering occurs against a backdrop of increasingly confrontational rhetoric from Washington, where President Trump has simultaneously expressed openness to dialogue while authorizing military preparations for potential engagement. The paradoxical situation presents a delicate balancing act for both governments as they navigate domestic political pressures and international expectations.

  • China’s Spring Festival travel rush begins

    China’s Spring Festival travel rush begins

    China has officially initiated its monumental Spring Festival travel period, known as Chunyun, marking the beginning of the world’s largest annual human migration. The extensive travel season commenced on Monday, February 2, 2026, and will extend for forty consecutive days until March 13.

    The travel surge coincides with the Lunar New Year celebration, with Spring Festival falling on February 17 this year. Official national holidays have been scheduled from February 15 through February 23, providing a nine-day break that enables millions of Chinese citizens to undertake journeys to reunite with family members across the country.

    Early scenes from Beijing West Railway Station captured the initial wave of travelers, with passengers forming orderly queues while awaiting train boarding procedures. Transportation hubs nationwide are implementing enhanced operational measures to accommodate the unprecedented passenger volume characteristic of this annual phenomenon.

    The Chunyun period represents a critical logistical challenge for China’s transportation infrastructure, with railway networks, highway systems, and air travel corridors all experiencing substantial capacity demands. Authorities have coordinated comprehensive preparations to ensure safe and efficient transit during this culturally significant migration period that underscores the deep-rooted tradition of family reunion in Chinese culture.

  • China boosts wetland conservation, adds over 1 million hectares since 2012

    China boosts wetland conservation, adds over 1 million hectares since 2012

    China has demonstrated extraordinary progress in ecological preservation, having successfully rehabilitated and expanded its wetland territories by more than one million hectares since 2012. This monumental achievement reinforces the nation’s status as Asia’s largest wetland ecosystem and the world’s fourth most significant wetland reservoir.

    The National Forestry and Grassland Administration unveiled these accomplishments during the 30th World Wetlands Day celebrations, highlighting how this environmental milestone was realized through the implementation of over 3,800 specialized conservation projects. This year’s observance carried the theme ‘Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,’ emphasizing the cultural dimensions of ecological stewardship.

    China has pioneered a novel conservation framework that integrates prioritized restoration with categorized protection systems. The administration emphasized wetlands’ indispensable ecological, social, economic, and cultural values, noting strengthened legal protections including the 2022 national wetland conservation law and updated regulations across 21 provincial regions.

    The country has established a comprehensive tiered management system featuring 82 internationally significant wetlands, 80 nationally designated sites, and 1,208 provincial-level protected areas. Additionally, 903 national wetland parks now operate with approximately 90% offering free public access, collectively attracting about 320 million annual visitors.

    Mangrove conservation efforts have seen particular success with 9,200 hectares planted since 2012. The International Mangrove Center, launched in late 2024, has expanded its consortium to 20 member nations, demonstrating China’s growing leadership in global wetland preservation.

    The administration outlined ambitious plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), including legal framework enhancements, total wetland area control systems, and improved monitoring and early warning mechanisms.

    At Zhalong National Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang province, technological innovation transforms conservation practices. Staff employ integrated monitoring networks combining remote sensing, video surveillance, drone technology, and ground patrols. ‘This comprehensive biodiversity monitoring system significantly enhances our conservation efficiency and effectiveness,’ stated Zhang Jianfei, director of the reserve’s protection center.

    Field rangers like 47-year-old Li Chuanling utilize Beidou navigation devices and drone technology to monitor the reserve’s 210,000-hectare expanse. These technological advancements have enabled more successful rescues of rare bird species, with 28 birds from 15 protected species saved in 2025 alone.

    Conservation efforts have yielded particularly impressive results for red-crowned cranes, with the reserve maintaining a stable population of approximately 300 birds—the world’s largest breeding ground for this first-class protected species.

  • Israel ‘withholding 766 bodies’ of identified Palestinians

    Israel ‘withholding 766 bodies’ of identified Palestinians

    A deeply contentious policy implemented by Israeli authorities has come under intense international scrutiny, with reports confirming the withholding of at least 766 identified Palestinian bodies. Nearly half of these individuals have been held since October 2023, a period marked by significant escalation in regional conflict, despite Hamas having returned all Israeli captives’ remains.

    Official data reveals that the majority of these Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces, while 88 were detainees who perished while in Israeli custody over the preceding two years. This group comprises 53 individuals from Gaza, 32 from the occupied West Bank, and three Palestinian citizens of Israel. According to investigations by Haaretz, 373 of these bodies entered Israeli possession following the October 7 attacks.

    The circumstances surrounding the deaths of those in detention are particularly alarming. Most were being held without formal charge or trial, with their deaths subsequently attributed to either direct violence perpetrated by Israeli officers or the deplorable conditions within detention facilities.

    Compounding this situation, Israel continues to retain the bodies of seven additional prisoners who died prior to the recent conflict in Gaza, as documented by the Palestinian organisation Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC). The organization further reports that an unknown number of Palestinian bodies, belonging to individuals killed during and after the 1967 conflict, remain withheld and buried in undisclosed locations within Israel.

    The disposition of these remains varies significantly. Haaretz reports that 520 identified bodies are currently stored in morgues at military facilities, while approximately 256 have been interred in what Palestinians refer to as ‘cemeteries of numbers’—burial sites marked solely by numerical identifiers rather than names. These cemeteries contain the remains of Palestinians and other Arabs, with some graves dating as far back as 1948.

    This practice represents a long-standing Israeli policy wherein forces routinely seize the bodies of Palestinians killed in both the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. Many families had placed their hopes in the October agreement between Israel and Hamas, which included provisions for the exchange of both living and deceased prisoners alongside efforts to conclude hostilities in Gaza. However, Israel only returned 360 Palestinian bodies as part of this arrangement, with JLAC confirming that just approximately 100 were identified, while the remainder were buried as unknown individuals.

    Disturbing evidence has emerged regarding the condition of bodies returned by Israel. Sources indicate numerous cases showing signs of torture, execution-style killings, and injuries consistent with being run over by military vehicles. Forensic examinations revealed severe abuse including strangulation marks, multiple broken bones, and various forms of mutilation. Several bodies were discovered with hands and feet bound and eyes blindfolded, while others were missing limbs entirely.

    Multiple human rights organizations have consistently condemned Israel’s policy of withholding Palestinian bodies, demanding immediate release and repatriation to grieving families. Although Israeli law currently permits this practice through a 2018 amendment to the Counterterrorism Law—later upheld by the Israeli Supreme Court—that authorizes the state to withhold bodies of Palestinians deemed to have committed violent acts, this stands in direct contradiction to international humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits the withholding of bodies, mandating that the deceased must be treated with dignity, afforded honorable burial, and where possible, laid to rest according to their religious rites. Article 130 further stipulates that graves must be respected, properly maintained, and clearly marked to ensure perpetual recognition.

  • Indian tax on animal imports spells setback for Ambani family’s Vantara zoo

    Indian tax on animal imports spells setback for Ambani family’s Vantara zoo

    India’s newly implemented fiscal policy has introduced a substantial 30% customs duty on animal and bird imports, effective immediately. This legislative shift eliminates previous duty exemptions and presents significant financial challenges for conservation projects, most notably the ambitious Vantara zoo operated by the philanthropic division of Reliance, chaired by Asia’s wealthiest individual Mukesh Ambani.

    Spanning 3,500 acres in Gujarat, Vantara houses approximately 2,000 species and represents India’s most extensive private zoological initiative. Unlike typically state-operated facilities, Vantara has engaged in substantial international animal transfers since 2022, importing species including cheetahs, rhinoceroses, and numerous reptiles from nations such as South Africa, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

    The government’s unexpected policy change provides no explicit justification, though analysts suggest it may aim to stimulate domestic breeding programs. Rajat Mohan, senior partner at AMRG Associates, notes that while import volumes remain limited, the financial implications for conservation projects are profound. Vantara maintains that it never engages in commercial animal transactions but bears substantial costs for insurance and freight during rescue and rehabilitation operations.

    The zoo has previously faced international scrutiny after CITES, the UN wildlife trade monitoring body, identified discrepancies in trade documentation and raised concerns regarding origin verification protocols. Although India’s Supreme Court ultimately cleared Vantara of wrongdoing, European authorities continue monitoring its import activities closely.

    According to Reuters analysis, Vantara’s shipments have reached a declared value of $9 million. A single 2023 consignment of 26 rare parrots from Germany demonstrated the financial impact, with $25,194 declared for insurance and freight costs that would now incur approximately $7,500 in additional taxes under the new regime.

  • Yuyuan Lantern Festival puts Shanghai in festival mood

    Yuyuan Lantern Festival puts Shanghai in festival mood

    Shanghai’s iconic Yuyuan Lantern Festival has launched an expansive celebration that transcends its traditional boundaries, illuminating the city with a spectacular display of cultural fusion. For the first time in its celebrated history, the festival has extended beyond the confines of Yuyuan Garden Malls to encompass multiple prominent locations including the Bund Finance Center, Gucheng Park, Middle Fangbang Road, and Fuyou Road.

    The festival, which commenced on February 1st and will continue through March 3rd, represents a remarkable blend of traditional Chinese culture and contemporary pop aesthetics. At the Bund Finance Center, visitors experience a groundbreaking collaboration with Pop Mart, China’s leading pop culture enterprise. The installation features the toymaker’s immensely popular intellectual properties transformed into dazzling lantern displays that create an immersive Chinese New Year atmosphere.

    This strategic expansion creates a cultural dialogue between different areas of Shanghai. While Yuyuan Garden maintains its focus on traditional folk culture representations through lantern art, the newly incorporated venues showcase more modern and trend-forward installations. The Bund Finance Center specifically offers a unique experience where ancient lantern craft meets contemporary pop culture, attracting both traditional festival enthusiasts and younger demographics.

    The extended festival footprint allows visitors to embark on a cultural journey through Shanghai’s diverse districts, each offering distinct interpretations of lantern artistry. This innovation in festival programming demonstrates how traditional celebrations can evolve while maintaining cultural authenticity, effectively bridging generational gaps through creative collaborations with popular brands like Pop Mart.