标签： Asia

In an inspiring demonstration of dedication, Zhang Peng has formally requested permanent extension of his service at Lhasa Railway Station in the Xizang Autonomous Region, transforming what began as a temporary assignment into a lifelong commitment to the high-altitude community.

When Zhang first arrived in December 2023, he confronted severe altitude sickness that cast doubt on his ability to remain on the plateau. Despite these initial challenges, he persevered and has since evolved into an indispensable member of the station’s management team over the past two years.

Currently serving as head of the Technical Information Section, Zhang has made significant contributions to enhancing operational safety along the high-altitude railway corridor. His technical revisions include updating 21 critical regulations and pioneering the development of specialized equipment standards specifically engineered for the region’s extreme environmental conditions.

Zhang attributed his decision to remain permanently to the profound sense of responsibility exhibited by local railway workers and the exceptional cross-cultural collaboration among Tibetan, Han, and other ethnic colleagues. ‘The cadres and staff here guard this railway with their lives, not simply by holding their posts,’ Zhang told Xizang Daily, emphasizing that ‘I am a member of Lhasa Station.’

Reflecting on his transformative experience, Zhang described how working on the plateau has fundamentally shaped his perspective: ‘Here, I have truly felt the weight of the Qinghai–Xizang Railway spirit, challenging limits and striving for excellence. Working alongside plateau railway workers has become the most precious experience of my life.’

In China’s northwestern Gansu province, Egyptian public health professor El-Sayed Salama has discovered what he describes as “Chinese-style happiness” through a revolutionary document—the newly implemented Five-Star Card. As a long-term faculty member at Lanzhou University’s School of Public Health, Salama recently became among the first foreign nationals to receive China’s upgraded permanent residence identification system.

The professor characterizes the card as far more than administrative documentation—it represents what he calls “a master key that has unlocked a whole new life” in China. This sophisticated identification platform has fundamentally transformed his daily experience, granting him parity with Chinese citizens across numerous service sectors. From streamlined medical appointments and exploration of traditional Chinese medicine to financial transactions and transportation, the Five-Star Card has eliminated previous bureaucratic barriers.

According to the Gansu Provincial Public Security Department, the province has significantly intensified its international talent attraction initiatives throughout 2024. The Five-Star Card system represents a cornerstone of these efforts, with coordinated upgrades across more than 60 service domains including healthcare, education, finance, and transportation infrastructure.

Salama emphasizes how these integrated improvements have effectively bridged the “last mile” in services for foreign professionals residing in Gansu. Previously time-consuming processes like high-speed rail travel arrangements, hotel registrations, and cross-border financial transactions now require mere minutes—a efficiency standard the professor admiringly labels “Chinese speed.

Beyond practical conveniences, the Five-Star Card has facilitated deeper cultural integration for Salama and his family. From mobile payment systems and vibrant night market explorations to museum visits and cultural exchanges with his son, the Egyptian academic now considers Gansu his genuine home. The card has not only provided administrative efficiency but has fostered what Salama describes as a profound “sense of belonging” within Chinese society.

A violent rampage unfolded across Taipei’s metro system on Friday evening, resulting in three fatalities and five injuries before the suspected perpetrator fell to his death from a building. The attack sent shockwaves through the Taiwanese capital, known for its low violent crime rates.

The 27-year-old assailant initiated the assault during evening rush hour, detonating smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails at Taipei Main Station—a major transportation hub interconnected with bustling underground shopping corridors. According to Premier Cho Jung-tai, the attacker subsequently proceeded to another subway station approximately 800 meters away in a popular shopping district, stabbing bystanders during his movement between locations.

Eyewitness footage circulating on social media depicted chaotic scenes as commuters fled in panic. One courageous individual who attempted to intervene sustained fatal injuries from a blunt object and later died at a medical facility.

Authorities confirmed the suspect’s demise after falling from a building, though investigative efforts continue to establish motive and potential affiliations. Premier Cho immediately ordered enhanced security protocols at transportation nodes including metro stations, railway facilities, and airports nationwide.

President William Lai pledged a thorough and expedited investigation into the incident. This represents the most significant public attack since the 2014 Taipei Metro stabbing that claimed four lives, whose perpetrator was ultimately executed in 2016.