Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Pakistan easing regulation to boost food exports to Iran

    Pakistan easing regulation to boost food exports to Iran

    In a significant policy shift, Pakistan has relaxed stringent financial regulations governing export transactions with Iran, creating new opportunities for trade expansion despite international sanctions. The decision, reported by Pakistan’s Profit magazine, eliminates previous requirements for letters of credit or advance payments for specific commodity exports.

    The revised framework permits exporters to ship food items, agricultural products, and select manufactured goods—including seafood, pharmaceuticals, potatoes, meat, onions, and citrus fruits—without utilizing traditional banking channels that had become problematic due to U.S. and UN sanctions against Iran. This regulatory exemption will remain effective for an initial three-month period.

    Concurrently, Pakistan has authorized rice exports to Central Asian Republics and Azerbaijan to transit through Iranian territory, recognizing Iran’s growing importance as a transit corridor. This development gains particular significance amid ongoing tensions between Islamabad and Afghanistan, where military confrontations with the Taliban have complicated traditional trade routes.

    The policy adjustment occurs against the backdrop of regional geopolitical tensions, including the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently instructed authorities to accelerate food exports to Gulf countries following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting Pakistan’s strategic positioning efforts.

    Pakistan is simultaneously pursuing expanded flight operations and enhanced port efficiency to capitalize on emerging regional opportunities. The country has demonstrated unusual navigation capabilities, with the Pakistan-flagged vessel Lorax (also known as Karachi) recently becoming the first non-Iranian crude carrier to successfully transit the Strait of Hormuz with active tracking systems enabled. This achievement has prompted some international vessels to consider reflagging under Pakistani registration.

    While Pakistan stands to benefit from increased shipping and food export opportunities, the nation simultaneously faces significant challenges from reduced Gulf energy exports. Fuel rationing measures have already been implemented, including a four-day government work week and temporary school closures, illustrating the complex economic balancing act Pakistan must maintain between neighboring Iran and its crucial Gulf financial partners.

  • Maldives tells UK it does not recognise Chagos Islands deal

    Maldives tells UK it does not recognise Chagos Islands deal

    The Maldives has formally declared its opposition to the United Kingdom’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, escalating a complex territorial dispute in the Indian Ocean. President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration has submitted two written objections to the British government and raised concerns directly with UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy during a December phone call, characterizing the bilateral arrangement as “deeply concerning” and insufficiently attentive to Maldivian interests.

    This diplomatic confrontation stems from the Maldives’ assertion of historical sovereignty over the strategically significant archipelago, which the UK has administered as the British Indian Ocean Territory since the 19th century. The Muizzu government maintains that geographical proximity and centuries-old administrative ties grant the Maldives superior territorial claims over both Mauritius and the United Kingdom.

    The controversy emerges against the backdrop of international legal developments. Both the International Court of Justice (2019) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (2023) have issued rulings supporting Mauritius’ claims, determining that Britain’s 1965 separation of the islands from Mauritian territory violated international law. While these opinions are non-binding, they carried significant diplomatic weight, leading to a near-unanimous UN General Assembly resolution demanding the islands’ return to Mauritian control.

    Complicating matters further, the UK-Mauritius agreement—which includes provisions for continued operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia—now faces multiple challenges. Former US President Donald Trump has publicly urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abandon the transfer, creating unexpected political pressure despite official State Department support for the arrangement. Additionally, the deal has drawn criticism from Chagossian diaspora communities seeking right of return and faces opposition from British political parties including the Conservatives and Reform UK.

    The Maldives has indicated it will pursue “all available avenues” for formal submission to international judicial bodies, potentially including a case before the ICJ. Such legal action would further complicate the already delayed implementation of the UK-Mauritius agreement, which remains in legislative limbo without confirmation in British law.

    President Muizzu’s administration expresses hope for “meaningful dialogue” with the UK based on “mutual respect and historical accuracy,” but simultaneously prepares for legal confrontation to protect what it considers vital national interests in the strategically crucial waters of the Indian Ocean.

  • Pro-Israel PR firm promoting Iranian opposition group

    Pro-Israel PR firm promoting Iranian opposition group

    A confidential email obtained by Middle East Eye has uncovered significant connections between an Iranian opposition coalition and pro-Israel public relations operatives with ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The Iran Freedom Congress (IFC), presenting itself as an independent initiative organizing Iranian civil and political actors from diverse backgrounds for a London convention, is being promoted by Red Banyan—a crisis PR firm with extensive historical links to the pro-Israel lobby.

    Despite the IFC’s public claims of operating without foreign government or organizational influence, the leaked correspondence reveals that Neil Strauss, an account director at Red Banyan who leads the firm’s ‘Jewish and pro-Israel vertical,’ is actively publicizing the coalition. Strauss, formerly communications director for the Republican Jewish Coalition, has extensive experience in pro-Israel political campaigns according to his professional profile.

    The email promotion offers media interviews with two IFC figures connected to Iran’s monarchist opposition: Mehrdad Marty Youssefiani, former strategic counselor to Reza Pahlavi (son of Iran’s former Shah), and Shahryar Ahy, described as an advocate for democratic transition in Iran. Notably, Pahlavi’s office recently distanced itself from Ahy, issuing a statement clarifying that he does not serve as an adviser.

    IFC Executive Director Majid Zamani told Middle East Eye the organization had no prior knowledge of Strauss or Red Banyan and stated they do not represent the coalition in any capacity. ‘We cannot control or be held responsible for statements, communications, or promotional efforts made by third parties who are not affiliated with us,’ Zamani emphasized.

    The revelation has sparked concern among Iranian diaspora observers. Jamal Abdi, president of the National Iranian American Council, commented: ‘The real story of the Iranian diaspora opposition is the role the Israel lobby is having in shaping it. The trauma and desire for change in Iran has been preyed on in a way that has turned the Iranian diaspora against itself.’

    Red Banyan’s connections to AIPAC run deep. Chief Executive Evan Nierman worked at the pro-Israel lobby group for seven years, and the firm continues extensive collaboration with AIPAC, as confirmed by Jeremy Rider, AIPAC’s communications director, who described Red Banyan as ‘an external, yet essential, part of our communications team.’

    The firm’s website prominently features its pro-Israel work, including rebranding an Israeli non-profit called CyberWell—an organization reported to have deep ties to Israeli government propaganda efforts and significant influence over social media content since the October 2023 Hamas-led attack.

    Human rights organizations have expressed concern about the implications of these connections. Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK’s crisis response manager, noted: ‘Genuine justice and human rights in Iran are not going to come from individuals and organisations aligned with the current Israeli government,’ adding that Israel was ‘committing genocide, apartheid and other international crimes daily.’

    The development raises fundamental questions about foreign influence operations within diaspora opposition movements and the ethical boundaries of crisis public relations in international political contexts.

  • ‘Memory of a generation’: China mourns the sudden death of a controversial education influencer

    ‘Memory of a generation’: China mourns the sudden death of a controversial education influencer

    The sudden passing of Zhang Xuefeng, China’s most influential education consultant with 26 million Douyin followers, has triggered nationwide mourning and profound societal reflection. The 41-year-old phenomenon, who died of cardiac arrest on March 24, 2026, built an empire by guiding Chinese students through the labyrinth of university applications and major selection—a service that tapped directly into the country’s deep-seated education anxiety.

    Zhang’s methodology represented extreme pragmatism in a system where educational choices carry lifelong consequences. His controversial assertions—that journalism was inferior to any other major, that liberal arts constituted a mere “service industry,” and that career success depended more on strategic positioning than academic excellence—made him both revered and reviled. He operated within China’s intensely competitive education landscape, where the gaokao, kaoyan, and kaogong exams determine socioeconomic mobility.

    His rise coincided with China’s dramatic higher education expansion. Between 1998 and 2008, annual college admissions surged from 1 million to 5.99 million, creating unprecedented access but also generating graduate oversupply and diminished employment prospects. Zhang filled the information gap for families overwhelmed by complex admission systems and anxious about diminishing returns on educational investments.

    Through charismatic livestreams that sometimes lasted hours, Zhang provided blunt, formulaic advice: law and accounting over humanities for civil service exam success; advanced degrees required for science careers; and relentless emphasis on practical outcomes over personal passion. His approach resonated particularly with families lacking social capital—those who couldn’t afford what he called “experimentation cost.

    The influencer frequently faced professional backlash. Education experts criticized his one-size-fits-all approach, comparing it to “diagnosing without examination.” Journalism professors condemned his dismissal of their field, while platform bans for “vulgar and offensive language” forced occasional apologies. Yet his supporters maintained he revealed uncomfortable truths about systemic inequalities.

    In death, Zhang has become a symbolic figure representing both the aspirations and anxieties of modern China. His legacy embodies the nation’s conflicted relationship with education—as both mobility engine and source of immense pressure—and prompts crucial conversations about whether pragmatic survival strategies ultimately serve or harm societal development.

  • US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil and gas could poison people and environment for decades

    US-Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil and gas could poison people and environment for decades

    Tehran’s skies turned toxic following a series of airstrikes on March 7th that ignited multiple oil depots and refineries, creating an environmental disaster with dire implications for public health. The attacks, claimed by Israel’s military despite US denials of involvement, resulted in petrochemical fires that raged for five days, engulfing the Iranian capital in thick, poisonous smoke that residents described as hellish visions and ‘black monsters’.

    The aftermath brought acid rain blackened with oil, coating the city’s infrastructure in a tarry residue while millions of citizens inhaled dangerous chemicals with only fabric masks for protection. According to the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), a UK-based nonprofit monitoring war’s environmental impacts, this incident represents just one of approximately 300 environmentally risky incidents recorded since hostilities began on February 28th.

    The situation is particularly critical due to Tehran’s geographical constraints. Nestled at the base of the Alborz mountains, the city’s natural topography traps pollution, creating a toxic chamber for its nine million inhabitants. Compounding the problem, years of economic sanctions have forced Iran to rely on mazut—a highly polluting, low-grade fuel—that had already degraded air quality before the conflict.

    Environmental scientists warn that the health consequences will extend far beyond immediate respiratory issues. Professor Shukri al-Hassan, who studied leukemia cases resulting from oil flaring in Iraq’s Basra region, emphasized that microscopic particles from the fires can embed deep in lung tissue, potentially causing cancer years after exposure. ‘Those who do not die directly from the strikes may still have their lives threatened indirectly through exposure to toxic gases,’ Hassan noted.

    The parallels to previous conflicts are alarming. Cultural anthropologist Narges Bajoghli, referencing Iraq’s chemical weapons use during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, highlighted that toxic harm to civilian populations often goes unpunished when delivered with deniability or attributed to industrial accidents. As attacks expand to target more civilian and industrial infrastructure, including metallurgical plants, the environmental toll continues to mount across the region, creating what experts fear could become permanent sacrifice zones with generational health consequences.

  • In photos: A pesticide tragedy that haunts an Indian state

    In photos: A pesticide tragedy that haunts an Indian state

    A powerful exhibition at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in Kerala, India, is forcing international attention onto one of the nation’s most devastating environmental health disasters. Through the lens of photojournalist Madhuraj, the showcase presents a harrowing visual chronicle of the intergenerational suffering caused by the pesticide endosulfan in the Kasargod district.

    The crisis originated over two decades ago when the Plantation Corporation of Kerala aerially sprayed the highly toxic pesticide on cashew, tea, and mango plantations. From the 1990s onward, communities living near these fields reported an alarming surge in severe birth defects and neurological disorders in children, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and hydrocephalus. Adults developed cancers, asthma, and hormonal issues, with environmental organizations and the state government later attributing these conditions to endosulfan poisoning.

    Despite scientific debate regarding the definitive causal link, the substance was banned in Kerala in 2004. This was followed by a global ban under the Stockholm Convention in 2011 and a nationwide ban ordered by India’s Supreme Court that same year. In 2017, the court mandated compensation of ₹500,000 ($5,400) for approximately 5,000 recognized victims—a promise many families report remains unfulfilled.

    Madhuraj’s photographs, captured over 25 years, document the profound human cost. The images tell stories of families, predominantly from disadvantaged castes and tribal groups, battling debilitating conditions with minimal access to healthcare. One photograph shows Jameela holding a portrait of her daughter Zainaba, who died from hydrocephalus before her first birthday. Another captures Kavitha, who developed severe immunological issues after watching the pesticide-spraying helicopters from her home.

    The exhibition also highlights the relentless activism of affected families. Images from 2012 show mothers marching to government offices with their ailing children, demanding medical facilities and justice. A particularly tragic story is that of Vimala, who allegedly resorted to a murder-suicide in 2022 after struggling for years as the sole caregiver for her disabled daughter, Reshma.

    By bringing this work to a premier contemporary art venue, Madhuraj aims to ensure that this human and environmental catastrophe is neither forgotten nor repeated, serving as a somber reminder of the consequences of corporate and regulatory negligence.

  • US only certain of having destroyed a third of Iran’s missiles

    US only certain of having destroyed a third of Iran’s missiles

    A confidential US intelligence assessment has revealed that American and Israeli forces have successfully destroyed only approximately one-third of Iran’s missile inventory, contradicting President Donald Trump’s public claims of near-total military success. According to five sources with knowledge of the intelligence who spoke with Reuters, the status of an additional third remains uncertain, though these missiles may have been damaged, destroyed, or buried in underground facilities during the ongoing month-long assault. Iran’s drone capabilities have similarly been reduced by about a third.

    The assessment indicates Tehran maintains substantial retaliatory capacity despite the sustained campaign. This evaluation stands in stark contrast to President Trump’s remarks during a Thursday cabinet meeting, where he asserted 99 percent destruction of Iranian missiles while discussing strategic options for the Strait of Hormuz. He justified continued action by stating that even one percent remaining capability posed an unacceptable risk to naval assets.

    US Central Command has declined to provide specific damage assessments, while Israeli military officials disclosed that Iran possessed approximately 2,500 ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel before hostilities began. A senior Israeli official claimed 335 missile launchers (representing 70% of Iran’s launch capacity) have been neutralized.

    The campaign has come at significant logistical cost. Officials warn that US and Israeli forces are rapidly depleting their missile inventories, with The Washington Post reporting over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired within four weeks—a concerning rate given annual production numbers in the hundreds. Pentagon stockpiles in the Middle East are reportedly ‘alarmingly low.’

    Despite these constraints, Axios reported Thursday that the Department of Defense is drafting plans for a ‘final blow’ involving ground troops and massive bombing campaigns. Potential strategies include invading or blockading Kharg Island (source of 90% of Iran’s oil exports), seizing strategic islands like Larak near Qeshm Island, or occupying disputed territories like Abu Musa and the Tunb islands claimed by the United Arab Emirates. Additional options under consideration involve seizing Iranian oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

  • I escaped North Korea with my mum. Now I’m terrified she might be sent back

    I escaped North Korea with my mum. Now I’m terrified she might be sent back

    In a poignant tale of separation and sacrifice, a North Korean refugee now faces his greatest fear: the potential repatriation of his mother from China back to the oppressive regime they risked everything to escape.

    Geumseong’s journey to freedom began in 2019 when he and his mother Eunhee crossed the heavily fortified Yalu River into China. What the teenager didn’t know was that his mother had arranged her own sale as a bride to a Chinese man—a desperate measure to finance her son’s escape to South Korea through an underground network of brokers. This heartbreaking sacrifice enabled Geumseong’s 4,000-kilometer journey through China to Thailand and eventually to Seoul, where he was granted citizenship under South Korea’s constitutional protection of North Korean defectors.

    Their emotional Christmas Eve 2020 video reunion—arranged after Eunhee appeared on a refugee podcast that miraculously reached Geumseong’s friends—provided temporary comfort. But their separation took a devastating turn in January 2025 when Eunhee, attempting to join her son in South Korea, was captured near the Myanmar border and imprisoned in northeastern China.

    Geumseong now races against time, fearing his mother could join the estimated 1,000 North Koreans forcibly repatriated since October 2023—a fate that human rights groups warn often leads to torture, imprisonment, or execution. ‘I just want to ask them to please give her one more chance to live a normal life,’ Geumseong pleads, having already attempted unsuccessfully to visit his mother in prison.

    This personal tragedy unfolds against a broader backdrop of declining North Korean defections. Post-pandemic border reinforcements—including double-layered electrified fences and enhanced surveillance along the 1,420-kilometer Sino-Korean border—have reduced annual arrivals in South Korea from approximately 1,000 before 2020 to just 223 in 2025.

    The phenomenon of North Korean women being sold as brides in China reflects both gender imbalance (with 34 million more men than women) stemming from China’s former one-child policy, and the desperate circumstances driving escapees. While some marriages offer relative stability, many women live in legal limbo—monitored through biometric data collection and entirely dependent on their husbands’ whims.

    Human Rights Watch’s Lina Yoon describes their predicament as a ‘cruel paradox—never legal, never safe.’ For Geumseong, the paradox is personal: his mother’s sacrifice granted him freedom, but now threatens her very existence. His desperate appeal echoes beyond his personal tragedy, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the intersection of geopolitics, human rights, and individual courage.

  • Report links tech flaws, oversight failures to deadly Shandong chemical blast

    Report links tech flaws, oversight failures to deadly Shandong chemical blast

    A comprehensive investigative report into the catastrophic chemical explosion at Shandong Youdao Chemical has concluded that a confluence of technological deficiencies and systemic regulatory failures led to the deadly incident. Published on Friday following special supervision by the State Council Work Safety Committee, the findings reveal multiple critical breakdowns in safety protocols.

    The investigation determined that the May 27, 2025 explosion resulted from unauthorized substitution of substandard raw materials combined with fundamentally flawed technological processes. The report specifically cited inappropriate material-transfer equipment and severe deficiencies in both risk management and hazard identification systems. These technical shortcomings were compounded by what investigators characterized as ‘serious failures’ in oversight by local authorities and relevant government departments.

    In response to these findings, the report recommends criminal prosecution for ten individuals, including company general manager Zhang Bensong. Additionally, forty-nine government officials face proposed disciplinary actions including Party, administrative and organizational penalties. The document further mandates administrative penalties against four companies and seven additional individuals, while requiring multiple local authorities to submit formal written self-criticisms.

    The blast occurred at approximately 11:57 am in a company workshop located in Gaomi, Shandong province, marking one of China’s most significant industrial accidents in recent years. The State Council committee had elevated the investigation to special supervision status, emphasizing the urgency of determining both causation and accountability in the wake of the tragedy.

  • Nato to set up new corps in Turkey as Ankara eyes regional deterrence

    Nato to set up new corps in Turkey as Ankara eyes regional deterrence

    Turkey’s Defense Ministry has confirmed ongoing preparations for establishing a NATO multinational corps headquarters on its soil, marking a significant enhancement of the alliance’s southern defensive capabilities. Designated as MNC-TUR, this initiative forms part of NATO’s comprehensive southern regional strategy, with developmental work commencing in 2023 and formal notification delivered to alliance members in 2024.

    The strategic location selected for this headquarters is the 6th Corps Command in Adana, a southern province housing the strategically vital Incirlik airbase currently utilized by U.S. and Spanish military personnel. A Turkish general will assume command of the corps, with national core staff appointments already finalized. According to sources familiar with the timeline, Turkey anticipates completing establishment procedures by 2028.

    Defense officials emphasize that this military enhancement predates recent Middle Eastern tensions and remains unrelated to current regional conflicts. “Coordination with NATO authorities continues regarding the headquarters transformation into a multinational structure,” the ministry stated, noting that “approval processes remain ongoing as NATO procedures have not yet been fully completed.”

    This development represents Turkey’s third major NATO command facility, complementing existing Land Command headquarters in Izmir and the Rapid Deployable Corps in Istanbul. Retired Brigadier General Huseyin Fazla, with extensive NATO experience, clarifies the strategic rationale: “While the Istanbul corps provides rapid deployment capabilities, MNC-TUR will deliver permanent protection for Turkish territory against regional threats, including those emanating from Russia and the Mediterranean.”

    Karol Wasilewski of Poland’s OSW think tank contextualizes the move within NATO’s broader strategic evolution: “This initiative aligns with the alliance’s modular approach adopted at the Vilnius summit, emphasizing land force development while implementing 360-degree threat response capabilities particularly beneficial to Turkish security interests.”

    The Adana location offers practical advantages, leveraging existing infrastructure capable of accommodating international officers and their families. Fazla notes this minimizes financial investment while maximizing operational readiness: “The 6th Corps possesses established experience coordinating with allied forces, and necessary facilities from housing to educational institutions are already operational.”

    Regional analysts suggest the corps will demonstrate NATO’s commitment to collective defense while enhancing Turkey’s strategic positioning, potentially altering regional power dynamics through demonstrated alliance solidarity and enhanced military interoperability.