Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Shanghai eyes tech to drive development

    Shanghai eyes tech to drive development

    Shanghai has unveiled a comprehensive development strategy for its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), positioning technological innovation as the cornerstone of its economic transformation and urban modernization. The ambitious blueprint aims to significantly enhance the city’s global competitiveness while simultaneously improving living standards for its residents.

    During a Wednesday press conference, Vice-Mayor Wu Wei outlined Shanghai’s target of maintaining approximately 5% annual GDP growth throughout the five-year period. The metropolis additionally aspires to double its per capita GDP by 2035 from the 2020 baseline of over $23,000. This economic expansion will be fueled by strategic investments across multiple sectors, with particular emphasis on technological research, industrial upgrading, urban renewal, and public welfare initiatives.

    The city’s development framework centers on establishing a sophisticated modern industrial ecosystem that integrates digital transformation and sustainable green transition. This system will prioritize three cutting-edge industries—integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, and biomedicine—alongside six emerging industrial clusters encompassing next-generation information technology. Shanghai will also pioneer advancements in future-oriented sectors including energy and advanced materials.

    Luo Dajin, Director of Shanghai’s Science and Technology Commission, revealed that the city intends to allocate approximately 15% of its total research and development expenditure to fundamental research by 2030. This commitment underscores Shanghai’s determination to foster original innovation and achieve critical technological breakthroughs. Supporting infrastructure developments will include expanding the Shanghai hub for the national blockchain network and other advanced digital facilities.

    Human capital development features prominently in Shanghai’s strategy, with plans to cultivate an additional 300,000 highly skilled professionals by 2030, according to Gu Jun, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission. This talent initiative will complement the city’s ongoing economic reforms and opening-up policies.

    Shanghai will further consolidate its advantages in international trade and finance, targeting annual container throughput of 58 million TEUs by 2030. The city plans to attract world-leading supply chain management centers and enhance its global commodity resource allocation capabilities. Zhou Xiaoquan, Executive Deputy Director of Shanghai’s Municipal Finance Bureau, indicated that financial market internationalization will accelerate through introducing more products accessible to international investors, attracting prominent global asset managers and financial institutions, and developing offshore financial mechanisms with appropriate regulatory frameworks.

    The Yangtze River Delta regional integration receives dedicated attention in the five-year plan, with commitments to strengthen coordination in technological innovation, industrial collaboration, and regulatory mechanisms. Infrastructure connectivity throughout the region will be enhanced, with cities leveraging their distinctive advantages through coordinated development.

    Domestically, Shanghai will prioritize land and space resources for new infrastructure deployment, including computing facilities, telecommunications networks, and low-altitude transportation systems. Urban rail transit coverage will expand significantly, with total operating mileage projected to exceed 1,260 kilometers by 2030.

    The city will also undertake substantial urban renewal projects, including renovating 30 million square meters of aging residential compounds and initiating new park construction programs. Public wellbeing improvements will focus on making employment, housing, education, healthcare, and childcare services more inclusive. Additional priorities include building a resilient and safe megacity and ensuring carbon emissions peak before 2030.

  • More seniors grow addicted to the internet

    More seniors grow addicted to the internet

    China’s rapidly aging demographic is experiencing a concerning surge in internet addiction, driven primarily by loneliness and diminished social engagement. This emerging trend has prompted mental health experts and aging researchers to call for enhanced family support systems and robust fraud protection measures to safeguard vulnerable seniors from online exploitation.

    Case studies reveal the depth of this growing problem. Wang Qingfeng, a 46-year-old resident of Shaoxing in Zhejiang province, describes his 70-year-old father’s compulsive behavior: “He’s become obsessed with Douyin livestreams, tipping female performers excessively. He begins watching at dawn and sometimes continues late into the night, spending approximately 10,000 yuan in December alone.” This pattern emerged after Wang’s father relocated from rural Anhui province following his wife’s passing in 2023, leaving him socially isolated with digital entertainment as his primary outlet.

    The phenomenon extends beyond livestreaming addiction. Numerous families report elderly parents developing compulsive behaviors including binge-watching paid minidramas, purchasing questionable health products online, and engaging excessively with computer games. Many adult children have turned to online forums seeking guidance, drawing parallels between their parents’ current digital obsessions and their own teenage internet behaviors.

    Recent data from the China Internet Network Information Center reveals the scale of senior internet adoption. As of December 2025, approximately 54% of Chinese citizens aged 60 and above were active internet users within a total national user base of 1.125 billion.

    Psychological experts attribute this trend to fundamental social changes. “Elderly individuals often experience reduced social significance in both familial and professional contexts as they age, creating a void that digital platforms fill,” explains Wang Wenda, Director of Psychological Health Education at Xinhua College of Ningxia University. “The internet provides an escape mechanism and offers perceived respect and control through activities like tipping streamers or online shopping.”

    Clinical indicators of internet addiction among seniors include disrupted daily routines, uncontrollable spending behaviors, credence given to unreliable online information, and irritability when separated from digital devices.

    Yang Xiaoqi, researcher at the China Research Center on Aging, identifies loneliness combined with the internet’s intense stimulation as primary catalysts for this dependency. With advancing artificial intelligence further blurring digital authenticity, experts warn that addicted seniors face heightened vulnerability to sophisticated online fraud schemes.

    Comprehensive solutions require multifaceted approaches. Mental health professionals recommend helping seniors rediscover personal value through real-world activities like grandchild care, pet ownership, and community engagement. Practical measures include family-negotiated screen time limits and payment platform restrictions. Simultaneously, government initiatives utilizing big data analytics and targeted push notifications could significantly enhance anti-fraud education among elderly demographics.

  • Japan’s technology investor SoftBank Group sees profitability return on AI boom

    Japan’s technology investor SoftBank Group sees profitability return on AI boom

    TOKYO — SoftBank Group Corporation has dramatically reversed its financial trajectory, reporting substantial profits for the final quarter of 2025 following strategic investments in artificial intelligence ventures. The Japanese technology and telecommunications conglomerate announced on Thursday that it achieved a profit of 248.6 billion yen ($1.62 billion) during the October-December period, marking a significant recovery from the 369 billion yen losses recorded during the same timeframe in the previous year.

    The company’s quarterly sales demonstrated healthy growth, increasing by 8% to reach 1.98 trillion yen ($12.9 billion). This financial resurgence stems primarily from SoftBank’s calculated pivot toward artificial intelligence technologies, including the October divestment of its Nvidia stake for $5.8 billion to reinforce its AI-focused strategy.

    Among SoftBank’s most notable AI investments is its substantial $35 billion commitment to OpenAI, the pioneering developer behind the ChatGPT chatbot platform. This strategic move has secured SoftBank an approximate 11% ownership stake while generating considerable investment returns. The corporation has additionally expanded its technology portfolio through the $6.5 billion acquisition of Ampere, a prominent U.S.-based semiconductor design firm that now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary.

    Beyond artificial intelligence, SoftBank continues to diversify its technological investments through robotics. The company finalized an agreement with ABB last year to purchase its robotics division for $5.375 billion, though this transaction still awaits regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions including Europe, China, and the United States.

    For the nine-month period concluding in December, SoftBank posted remarkable profits of 3.17 trillion yen ($20.7 billion), representing a fivefold increase compared to the previous year. Sales during this extended timeframe rose nearly 8% to 5.7 trillion yen ($37 billion).

    SoftBank Group Chief Financial Officer Yoshimitsu Goto emphasized to reporters that the company’s investment strategy is demonstrating broad-based success, noting that financial gains are emerging from multiple ventures including Arm, an AI semiconductor company, rather than relying exclusively on OpenAI’s performance. Despite this positive momentum, analysts continue to caution that over-dependence on any single investment, including OpenAI, presents inherent risks given SoftBank’s history of volatile financial performance driven by its aggressive investment approach in emerging technologies.

    The market responded favorably to these developments, with SoftBank Group shares climbing 2.4% during Thursday’s trading session.

  • Volunteer passes on torch of guardianship

    Volunteer passes on torch of guardianship

    For over four decades, 81-year-old Mei Jingtian has been the unwavering guardian of an unrestored section of the Great Wall in Shixia village, Beijing’s Yanqing district. Despite his advanced age, Mei continues to navigate the steep slopes with remarkable agility, having dedicated his life to preserving this national treasure since returning to his village in the 1980s.

    Upon his return, Mei was devastated to discover the historical structure had been systematically dismantled, with villagers repurposing ancient bricks for construction projects. “The Great Wall in my childhood stood intact in its original grandeur,” Mei recalled. “Witnessing its deterioration compelled me to act. This monumental achievement of our ancestors, built with extraordinary hardship and wisdom, demanded protection.”

    Armed only with a sickle and boundless determination, Mei single-handedly carved out kilometers of mountain paths to access remote wall sections. His weekly patrols involved clearing invasive vegetation, removing litter, and educating adventurous tourists about the wall’s historical significance. In one particularly grueling endeavor, he spent over two days manually transporting a 34.5-kilogram inscribed stone tablet down the mountain to deliver it to preservation authorities.

    Mei’s initially solitary mission gradually transformed into a community movement. He pioneered innovative conservation approaches, even trading cement with villagers to recover embedded Great Wall bricks from their properties. This grassroots effort culminated in 2007 with the establishment of the Shixia Village Great Wall Protection Association, formalizing what began as one man’s passionate crusade.

    The conservation movement achieved another milestone in 2019 when the government officially incorporated Great Wall protectors into its budgetary framework. This institutional recognition coincided with Mei’s niece, Liu Hongyan, passing rigorous examinations to become one of Shixia’s first six officially recognized protectors—marking the formal transition of guardianship to the next generation.

    Now 45, Liu patrols the same challenging terrain her uncle once protected, monitoring structural integrity while sharing the wall’s rich history with visitors. “This transcends mere employment,” Liu explained. “It represents the custodianship of our cultural heritage and homeland. My uncle demonstrated that genuine commitment stems from love rather than expectation of reward.”

    Despite confronting physical dangers including treacherous topography, extreme weather, and encounters with wildlife such as snakes and wild boars, Liu finds profound purpose in her conservation work. However, she acknowledges concerning demographic challenges: most current protectors are aged 60-70, while many younger villagers have migrated to urban areas.

    “Upon my retirement, I remain confident that successors will emerge to continue this vital work,” Liu stated. “We urgently need more youth to join our protection teams. Ultimately, we are all guardians of the Great Wall—collaborating to preserve our shared heritage and home.”

  • What to know about a mass shooter’s bid to undo his guilty pleas for the Christchurch mosque murders

    What to know about a mass shooter’s bid to undo his guilty pleas for the Christchurch mosque murders

    WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Six years after admitting to New Zealand’s deadliest mass shooting, white supremacist Brenton Tarrant has launched a controversial legal bid to withdraw his guilty pleas, claiming severe prison conditions induced a mental breakdown that compromised his judgment.

    The Australian national, who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers during coordinated attacks on two Christchurch mosques in 2019, unexpectedly pleaded guilty in 2020 to all terrorism, murder, and attempted murder charges. His admission spared victims and the justice system from a high-profile trial that many feared would become a platform for his racist ideology.

    Now, Tarrant’s legal team argues before New Zealand’s Court of Appeal that their client was experiencing psychological deterioration from ‘oppressive’ incarceration conditions when he admitted guilt. They claim isolation and sensory deprivation measures made him ‘temporarily doubt his identity and ideology,’ rendering him incapable of rational legal decisions.

    Appearing via video conference from prison, the shaven-headed Tarrant told the court he had been ‘irrational’ during his 2020 confession. His current lawyers contend he originally intended to represent himself at trial to promote his white supremacist views—a defense strategy New Zealand courts would have invalidated.

    Crown prosecutors challenged these claims, noting Tarrant had multiple opportunities to raise mental health concerns or request trial postponements. Mental health experts, prison staff, and his former lawyers have not supported his claims of severe psychological distress.

    Survivors of the massacre expressed outrage at the appeal attempt. Temel Ataçocuğu, who was shot nine times during the attacks, stated outside the courthouse: ‘He got what he deserved. He has to deal with it as a man.’

    The three-judge panel will issue a ruling later. If unsuccessful in discarding his guilty pleas, Tarrant is expected to pursue an appeal against his life sentence without parole—the most severe punishment in New Zealand’s modern history.

  • Building of rare earth hub highlighted

    Building of rare earth hub highlighted

    During a comprehensive inspection tour of Ganzhou in Jiangxi province, Premier Li Qiang has emphasized China’s strategic commitment to establishing global leadership in rare earth technology and artificial intelligence. The Premier’s two-day visit, occurring just before Spring Festival celebrations, focused on accelerating technological breakthroughs in critical sectors.

    At the Ganjiang Innovation Academy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and multiple rare earth enterprises, Li examined current research initiatives and commercialization progress. He specifically highlighted the growing significance of these seventeen elements in advancing high-end manufacturing and facilitating green energy transitions. The Premier called for coordinated development of rare earth resources with stringent environmental protections, advocating for full-cycle green development throughout production and processing.

    Li stressed the necessity of optimizing industrial layouts while enhancing recycling systems and supply chain coordination. He further emphasized expanding technological applications into renewable energy and advanced materials sectors to improve overall sector performance.

    Beyond rare earth development, the Premier chaired a State Council study session addressing artificial intelligence’s transformative potential. Li noted AI’s capacity to revolutionize living and working patterns while generating substantial growth opportunities across diverse industries. He advocated comprehensive efforts to advance AI innovation, industrial development, and practical implementation.

    During his provincial tour, Li also visited rural communities to discuss livelihoods, employment opportunities, healthcare access, and poverty alleviation measures. In recognition of Ganzhou’s historical significance as an early revolutionary base, the Premier called for accelerated revitalization of these regions through supportive policies, competitive industries, and improved public welfare systems.

    The Premier extended formal Spring Festival greetings on behalf of the Communist Party Central Committee and State Council, wishing residents health and prosperity in the Year of the Horse.

  • China comes a step closer to crewed moon mission

    China comes a step closer to crewed moon mission

    China has successfully executed a groundbreaking flight test that marks a significant advancement in its ambitious lunar exploration program. On February 11, 2026, at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan province, Chinese aerospace engineers conducted simultaneous tests of both the Long March 10 carrier rocket and the next-generation Mengzhou crewed spaceship system.

    The comprehensive demonstration involved a low-altitude verification flight for the heavy-lift rocket alongside a maximum dynamic pressure (Max Q) abort test for the Mengzhou spacecraft. This dual-purpose mission represented multiple firsts in China’s space exploration history: the inaugural flight test of the Long March 10 prototype, the country’s first Max Q escape operation for a spacecraft, the maiden sea splashdown of both a crew capsule and rocket booster, and the initial operational use of Wenchang’s newly constructed heavy rocket launch infrastructure.

    The meticulously orchestrated sequence began with the Long March 10 prototype booster launching from the coastal spaceport, carrying the Mengzhou spacecraft prototype. At the critical Max Q phase—where aerodynamic forces peak during ascent—the spacecraft’s return capsule successfully separated using its rocket-powered escape tower. After achieving predetermined altitude, the capsule deployed parachutes and was successfully recovered from the South China Sea.

    Concurrently, the rocket booster continued its trajectory, crossing the Kármán line into space before executing a controlled return. Through sophisticated maneuvers involving grid fin deployment, reaction control system activation, and precisely timed engine reignitions, the massive vehicle achieved a stable hover before making a controlled splashdown—marking China’s first successful recovery of a rocket booster and demonstrating reusable rocket capabilities previously mastered only by the United States.

    Technical experts highlighted the extraordinary challenges overcome during the test. Zhu Pingping, chief engineer at China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, emphasized that the booster endured unprecedented thermal fluxes and aerodynamic loads during reentry, pushing the limits of structural integrity, thermal protection, and altitude control systems.

    The Mengzhou program’s deputy project manager, Deng Kaiwen, explained that the Max Q escape test validated the spacecraft’s ability to safeguard astronauts during the most aerodynamically demanding ascent phase, requiring exceptional reliability from the escape tower and computer systems.

    Both the Long March 10 rocket and Mengzhou spacecraft, currently in final development phases, represent critical components of China’s strategy to land astronauts on the moon before 2030. The rocket’s configuration includes a 92.5-meter tall moon mission variant capable of delivering 27-ton payloads to lunar transfer orbit, plus a shorter version for space station missions. The Mengzhou spacecraft, measuring 9 meters long with 4.5-meter diameter, will eventually replace the veteran Shenzhou capsules that have served China’s crewed space program for nearly three decades.

  • Israeli president ends a fraught Australia visit to comfort Jews as Gaza war protests follow

    Israeli president ends a fraught Australia visit to comfort Jews as Gaza war protests follow

    MELBOURNE, Australia — Israeli President Isaac Herzog concluded a polarizing four-day state visit to Australia on Thursday, marking the first trip by an Israeli head of state in six years. The visit unfolded against a backdrop of dual purposes: offering solace to Sydney’s Jewish community following December’s antisemitic mass shooting while simultaneously drawing widespread protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

    Herzog’s itinerary included stops in Sydney, Canberra, and Melbourne, where he faced persistent demonstrations from activists labeling him a war criminal. Under heightened police security in Melbourne, Herzog addressed a Jewish community gathering, stating, “We came here to be with you, to look you in the eye, to embrace, to remember and weep together.” He emphasized how the visit had left him “feeling empowered” despite the emotional toll, praising the resilience of Australian Jewish communities.

    The Australian government maintained that the primary invitation extended to Herzog aimed to support a community still reeling from the December 14 Bondi Beach attack, where 15 festival attendees were killed in an assault allegedly inspired by Islamic State. Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia, noted that Sydney’s Jewish community felt “extremely uplifted and seen” following Herzog’s visits, while appealing to protesters to consider the community’s trauma.

    However, the visit exposed significant diplomatic tensions. Herzog told The Associated Press that another objective was to “reinvigorate bilateral relations” and counter “lies and misinformation” about Israel. This statement drew criticism from Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti, who argued the visit had transformed into political propaganda rather than purely a mourning mission. Sidoti referenced a September UN Human Rights Council report that accused Herzog, along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, of inciting genocide in Gaza.

    Australia-Israel relations have been strained since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023, particularly after Australia’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood six months ago. Herzog described his discussions with Australian leaders as conducted with “candor, open-mindedness and mutual respect,” characterizing them as “serious partners” willing to address antisemitism and misinformation.

    Security concerns led to the cancellation of Herzog’s planned visit to the ruins of Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue, destroyed by arson in late 2024 in an attack Australia attributed to Iran. The visit concluded with the removal of anti-Herzog graffiti at Melbourne University, where administrators reaffirmed their stance against antisemitism.

  • Green ties boost bilateral opportunities

    Green ties boost bilateral opportunities

    Singaporean and Chinese enterprises are capitalizing on an expanding framework of bilateral sustainability agreements, creating unprecedented opportunities in the green technology sector. The partnership momentum accelerated significantly following the 21st China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation held last December in Chongqing, where both nations committed to enhanced collaboration across multiple environmental sectors.

    The high-level agreements have established concrete pathways for cooperation in green finance optimization, clean energy innovation, smart manufacturing advancement, and sustainable technology research. This strategic alignment effectively marries Singapore’s innovation capabilities with China’s manufacturing prowess and engineering scale, creating a complementary ecosystem for green technology development.

    Startups are already experiencing tangible benefits from this collaborative framework. Aqua 3i, a Singapore-based materials innovation company that recently won top honors at the Tianjin Eco-City Green Innovation Competition, has established successful partnerships with Chinese state-owned enterprises. According to founder Shaun Ong, “Chinese engineers provide the industrial expertise to maximize the application of our energy-saving coatings across diverse sectors.”

    Infrastructure supporting this collaboration continues to expand through multiple channels. The A*STAR Partners’ Centre in Suzhou Industrial Park facilitates connections between Singaporean green tech firms and Chinese partners in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable economy sectors. Simultaneously, the Singapore University of Technology and Design has established a Tianjin research center to commercialize sustainability innovations, with the Eco-City serving as a testing ground for green startups.

    GreenChar Climate Solutions exemplifies the partnership’s global potential. Co-founder Chloe Hung notes, “Singaporean firms contribute international standards and market access, while Chinese partners provide scale, engineering, and manufacturing expertise.” Her company is currently forming a joint venture with Zhejiang’s Tongao Group to develop international carbon credit assets, leveraging China’s agricultural biomass resources with Singapore’s carbon market expertise.

    The collaboration represents what Hung characterizes as a “blue ocean opportunity” in sustainable infrastructure, carbon management, and advanced manufacturing—a market vast enough to accommodate numerous successful ventures through complementary capabilities.

  • China’s medical tech wins over Middle East

    China’s medical tech wins over Middle East

    Dubai’s World Health Expo, the region’s premier healthcare exhibition, has become the stage for a remarkable technological transformation as Chinese medical innovations capture the attention of Middle Eastern markets. The event showcases how China’s advanced medical technology sector is addressing critical healthcare challenges across the region through intelligent, cost-effective solutions.

    At the forefront of this revolution is Shenzhen-based Mindray, which unveiled its groundbreaking BeneHeart DX system—a sophisticated 5-in-1 external defibrillation monitor that consolidates multiple emergency care functions into a single compact unit. This innovative device represents the industry’s shift toward integrated intelligent systems that enhance clinical efficiency while significantly reducing equipment costs.

    According to Li Xuan, Mindray’s senior brand manager, “This product reduces overall equipment investment by over 50% compared to purchasing standalone devices, while delivering superior integration and clinical usability. China’s robust innovation ecosystem and engineering capabilities have enabled us to address complex emergency scenario requirements effectively.”

    The technology has resonated particularly well with Middle Eastern healthcare providers facing infrastructure challenges. Ahmed Muhialdin, an Iraqi health industry businessman, emphasized how Chinese portable medical devices perfectly address critical gaps in remote healthcare delivery. “The Iraqi government is actively extending medical services beyond hospitals, and these Chinese products will help bridge this accessibility gap,” he noted, adding that Chinese manufacturers provide comprehensive on-site support that Western competitors struggle to match.

    Beyond commercial manufacturers, China’s academic institutions are forging new partnerships in the region. A delegation from Peking University, comprising six affiliated hospitals, made its regional debut at the exhibition. Professor Qiao Jie, Chinese Academy of Engineering academician and executive vice-president of Peking University, stated that the event provided an ideal platform to demonstrate China’s medical technological capabilities.

    Among the standout innovations was the “Digital Rehabilitation Therapist” developed by Peking University Third Hospital—China’s first integrated product covering rehabilitation assessment, prescription, and training. The system enables patients to capture movements via smartphone cameras for personalized remote rehabilitation, addressing specific regional needs given the popularity of sports like soccer and horse racing in the Middle East.

    The technology has impressed regional experts including Assaf Livne from Israel, who noted that “AI-based systems provide innovative solutions for our rehabilitation healthcare sector, particularly relevant for aging population needs.”

    With the global healthcare services market projected to reach $11.2 trillion by 2029, and Saudi Arabia representing one of the region’s largest markets, Chinese medical technology companies are positioned to play an increasingly significant role in shaping the future of Middle Eastern healthcare infrastructure through their combination of technological sophistication, cost-effectiveness, and responsive localized support.