Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Iranian press review: Seven protesters face imminent execution

    Iranian press review: Seven protesters face imminent execution

    Iranian authorities have officially confirmed the issuance of death sentences to at least seven individuals detained during recent anti-government demonstrations, marking the first domestic acknowledgment of such judicial decisions. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization had previously documented numerous death penalty cases among protesters, but Tehran’s confirmation signals an escalation in the government’s response to dissent.

    Legal representatives for three condemned prisoners—19-year-old Mohammad Amin Biglari, 31-year-old Yaser Rajaeifar, and 40-year-old Shahab Zohdi—revealed their clients received death rulings on February 7th. Defense attorney Hassan Agakhani disclosed that neither he nor co-counsel Maryam Sadrnia have been permitted access to case files or trial proceedings, creating severe procedural irregularities in the judicial process. Four additional defendants—Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani, Amir Hossein Hatami, Shahin Vahediparast, and Ali Fahim—face identical sentences in connection with the same case.

    The government’s delayed announcement of these sentences contrasts with previous protest responses, where executions were rapidly carried out to intimidate dissenters. This unusual postponement follows former U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning of potential military retaliation should executions proceed.

    Contradicting official statements regarding detained minors, educational activists report at least 50 students remain imprisoned despite government claims of universal releases. Mohammad Habibi, spokesperson for the Council of Teachers’ Unions, disputed Education Minister Alireza Kazemi’s assertion that all student protesters had been freed, noting families’ reluctance to publicize detentions over fears of complicating release negotiations. Authorities have attempted to justify ongoing youth detentions by claiming those held aren’t formally enrolled students—an argument legal experts reject as violating compulsory education age protections.

    Simultaneously, Iran’s electoral landscape shows further contraction of political participation. The finalized candidate list for upcoming urban and rural council elections reveals systematic exclusion of reformists and conservative critics. The Etemad daily newspaper characterized the widespread disqualifications as evidence of “structural contraction in local politics” rather than mere factional competition. Reformist figure Ismail Gerami-Moghaddam, himself barred from candidacy, condemned the purges as demonstrating governing bodies’ refusal to adapt despite mounting international pressure and domestic unrest.

    In a separate development, Iranian authorities attributed a mass text message received by approximately 50,000 citizens—purportedly from U.S. President Trump threatening imminent action—to foreign hacking of the national messaging system. This incident mirrors similar cybersecurity breaches following last year’s military confrontation with Israel.

  • Fujian reiterates private sector as a pillar of high-quality growth

    Fujian reiterates private sector as a pillar of high-quality growth

    In a powerful demonstration of policy continuity, East China’s Fujian province has emphatically reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing the private sector as the cornerstone of its high-quality development strategy. The provincial leadership convened its annual symposium with prominent private entrepreneurs on February 26, 2026—marking the sixth consecutive year that this gathering has been designated as the inaugural working session following the Chinese New Year holiday.

    The high-level dialogue provided a strategic platform for direct engagement between government officials and business leaders, facilitating substantive discussions on industrial modernization and innovation-driven growth. Entrepreneurs contributed firsthand perspectives on market dynamics and proposed concrete measures to stimulate regional economic vitality during these exchanges.

    Economic indicators substantiate Fujian’s private-sector focus: provincial GDP exceeded 6 trillion yuan ($877 billion) in 2025, with private enterprises generating 77.4% of total economic growth while achieving a 5.5% year-on-year increase in added value.

    Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Fujian Provincial Committee, characterized the private economy as both the province’s essential vitality and distinctive competitive advantage. He articulated the government’s tripartite role as “partner,” “servant,” and “guardian,” pledging to cultivate an optimal business environment throughout the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

    This provincial initiative reflects a broader national trend, with multiple Chinese provinces including Anhui, Guangdong, Shandong, and Hubei simultaneously conducting their own post-holiday meetings focused on technological innovation and private sector development to launch the new five-year planning cycle.

  • Video of two tigers at Chongqing theme park goes viral

    Video of two tigers at Chongqing theme park goes viral

    Two resident tigers at Locajoy Theme Park in Chongqing’s Yongchuan district have unexpectedly become viral internet celebrities, charming millions with their strikingly contrasting demeanors. Captured in a visitor’s video that has rapidly circulated across social platforms, the majestic felines have earned the affectionate nicknames “Dopey and Grumpy” from captivated audiences worldwide.

    The now-famous footage depicts the pair lounging side-by-side on sun-drenched grass within their habitat, presenting a study in contrasting expressions. One tiger appears blissfully absent-minded and relaxed, while its companion exhibits what netizens have interpreted as a perpetually discontented disposition. This visual dichotomy has sparked widespread amusement and endearment among viewers.

    The tigers’ personalities draw direct parallels to characters from a classic 1962 Chinese animated short film based on a traditional children’s story. The original narrative featured two archetypal figures—one characterized by forgetfulness and the other by constant dissatisfaction—creating a perfect cultural reference point for the animals’ contrasting yet complementary behaviors.

    Adding to their appeal, internet commentators have humorously described the duo as resembling a “Pro Max version of household cats” due to their exaggerated feline mannerisms and charismatic presence. The unexpected fame has generated increased public interest in the theme park’s wildlife exhibits, demonstrating how animal behavior can transcend cultural barriers and capture global attention through social media.

  • Jordan: Unrwa salary cuts raise fear of agency’s ‘dismantling’

    Jordan: Unrwa salary cuts raise fear of agency’s ‘dismantling’

    A severe financial crisis at UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) has triggered sweeping austerity measures, forcing Palestinian refugee families and employees across the Near East into impossible financial decisions. The agency’s $200 million funding shortfall has resulted in a 20% reduction in salaries and working hours for thousands of staff, creating a ripple effect of hardship that extends far beyond its employees.

    The human impact is starkly illustrated by Manal*, an English teacher at a UNRWA school in Jordan. Facing a $280 reduction from her monthly $1,400 salary, she made the agonizing decision to cancel her children’s health insurance, saving $84 but leaving the family vulnerable to medical emergencies. ‘We are not talking about luxuries. We are talking about securing milk and bread,’ she told Middle East Eye, highlighting that the deduction forced her to ‘sacrifice our children’s health security just to feed them today.’

    This personal crisis reflects a systemic collapse in the making. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini described the cuts as a ‘last resort’ to avoid total agency collapse. The financial strain stems from two major donors suspending funding in 2024, representing nearly one-third of the budget for national staff salaries. Consequently, the agency entered 2026 with a cash-flow shortfall exceeding $220 million despite previous austerity measures.

    Beyond individual hardship, the cuts threaten to paralyze essential services. The Jordanian UNRWA workers’ union warns of impending educational collapse with reduced lesson hours, 200 eliminated jobs, and severe classroom overcrowding. Health services face similar degradation, with clinics closing on Saturdays and reduced hours jeopardizing thousands of patients. Approximately 60,000 refugees risk losing periodic cash assistance, a critical lifeline for survival.

    Many Palestinian refugees perceive these measures as part of a broader political effort to dismantle UNRWA and undermine the right of return. Azzam Abu Khalid, a 67-year-old resident of Husn camp, stated the agency represents ‘international recognition of our displacement and of our right of return.’ Kazem Ayesh, head of the Jordanian Society for Return and Refugees, echoed this sentiment, viewing the cuts as the ‘beginning of the actual dismantling’ designed to push refugees toward Jordanian government services and effectively erase their refugee status.

    UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler acknowledged the ‘significant impact on staff and their families’ but maintained the decision was an ’emergency attempt’ to prevent total collapse and mass layoffs. While describing global funding prospects as ‘bleak,’ he emphasized that restoring donor support remains the key to reinstating previous service and salary levels. The Jordanian government, which has historically supported the agency, views UNRWA as a crucial institution backing the Palestinian right of return and has repeatedly confronted attempts to liquidate it.

    With staff now fearing further cuts to savings and end-of-service benefits, and the union hinting at potential ‘open-ended strikes,’ the survival of an agency serving nearly six million registered refugees hangs in the balance.

    *Name changed to protect identity

  • Netanyahu accused of inventing Knesset award for Modi

    Netanyahu accused of inventing Knesset award for Modi

    Israeli parliamentary authorities faced intense scrutiny this week after bestowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a previously non-existent honor during his official visit. The newly created ‘Knesset Medal’ was presented to Modi by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana amid claims from opposition members that the award had been hastily established without proper regulatory approval.

    According to reports from Ynet, opposition politicians revealed that the medal had no precedent in Knesset regulations, lacked committee or presidential approval, and had been essentially ‘invented’ specifically for Modi’s visit. The award’s official webpage initially remained non-functional following the ceremony, while its Wikipedia entry appeared to have been created mere hours after the presentation.

    MK Dov Khenin of the opposition criticized the move as symptomatic of broader institutional decline under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. ‘What we see in recent times in the Knesset is the total departure from basic rules and traditions,’ Khenin told Middle East Eye, describing the legislature’s transformation into a tool for government policy rather than an independent institution.

    The medal presentation occurred alongside a diplomatic boycott by numerous opposition members protesting Speaker Ohana’s exclusion of Supreme Court President Isaac Amit from the event. Despite the controversy, Ohana praised Modi for creating ‘a strategic alliance between Israel and India’ and demonstrating ‘courageous, consistent and sincere friendship’ with Israel.

    Modi accepted the honor with gratitude, characterizing it as recognition of strengthened bilateral ties rather than personal achievement. During his address, the Indian leader condemned Hamas’s October 7 attacks as ‘barbaric terror’ while affirming India’s firm support for Israel.

    The visit produced substantial agreements between the nations, including memoranda of understanding covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, agriculture, and education. Defense cooperation agreements potentially worth $10 billion were also discussed, signaling deepening strategic partnership.

    Domestically, Modi faced criticism from some quarters for allegedly enabling Israel’s military operations in Gaza, where Palestinian casualties have exceeded 72,000. Despite maintaining official support for a two-state solution, India has provided consistent diplomatic and material support to Israel since October 2023.

  • Jeremy Corbyn to be Your Party leader after beating Zarah Sultana in leadership vote

    Jeremy Corbyn to be Your Party leader after beating Zarah Sultana in leadership vote

    In a decisive internal election, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has secured a commanding victory for his faction within the nascent Your Party, winning control of its Central Executive Committee (CEC). The results, announced Thursday, revealed Corbyn’s ‘The Many’ slate captured 14 of 24 seats, decisively defeating the rival faction led by MP Zarah Sultana, which secured seven positions. Sultana herself was elected to the committee despite her slate’s overall defeat.

    The election, which saw a 61% turnout among the party’s 40,985 verified members, represents a critical juncture for the left-wing movement. It concludes months of internal strife over the party’s leadership structure and political direction. While the party’s founding conference in November had voted in favor of Sultana’s preferred model of collective leadership over Corbyn’s single-leader proposal, this subsequent committee election has handed organizational control to Corbyn’s allies.

    Corbyn’s victorious slate includes MPs Shockat Adam and Ayoub Khan, fellow members of the parliamentary Independent Alliance. In a statement following the win, Corbyn expressed delight, framing it as an endorsement for a “mass, socialist party” ready to challenge both Keir Starmer’s Labour and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. He pledged to build a “positive and inclusive party where all members feel empowered” and to unite the movement around a vision for a “more caring, equal and peaceful society.”

    The contest was widely interpreted as a battle for the party’s soul. Corbyn’s faction advocates a broad-church approach aimed at maximizing appeal and engaging previously disenfranchised voters. In contrast, Sultana’s camp emphasizes an uncompromising adherence to leftist principles, a member-led structure, and the empowerment of existing grassroots movements.

    Your Party emerged in the political aftermath of the 2024 general election, galvanized by outrage over the war in Gaza and perceptions of British complicity, which also fueled the unprecedented election of five independent MPs. The party quickly garnered hundreds of thousands of sign-ups and initially polled above 10%. However, its rapid growth has been accompanied by intense factional disputes.

    Tensions escalated from the outset, with sources close to Corbyn criticizing Sultana and her husband for acting unilaterally in a “rash and controlling” manner. Conversely, Sultana’s allies expressed concern over the influence of longtime Corbyn aides, such as his former chief of staff Karie Murphy. Internal conflicts also erupted publicly over issues like trans rights, leading to the departure of MPs Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Mohamed ahead of the November conference. Despite the internal divisions, Sultana has since moderated her stance on ideological purity, acknowledging the need to reflect a broad base of society to win elections, while still maintaining that a progressive position on trans rights is essential for a socialist party.

    With the committee election concluded, Corbyn emerges with a firm mandate to shape the party’s future, though Sultana’s significant presence on the CEC ensures continued debate over its trajectory.

  • Iranian official says deal with US within reach if not making nuclear weapons main focus

    Iranian official says deal with US within reach if not making nuclear weapons main focus

    A high-ranking Iranian official has indicated that a rapid diplomatic breakthrough with the United States remains achievable if Washington shifts its primary focus away from Tehran’s nuclear weapons development. Ali Shamkhani, senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and secretary of Iran’s Defense Council, articulated this position through social media platform X amid ongoing nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

    Shamkhani emphasized that Iran’s commitment to non-proliferation aligns with both religious decrees issued by the country’s leadership and its established defense doctrine. “If the main issue of the negotiations is not making nuclear weapons by Iran, this is in compliance with a religious decree issued by Iran’s leader and the country’s defense doctrine, and an immediate agreement is within reach,” he stated.

    The official further reinforced Iran’s negotiating position by confirming that Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who leads Tehran’s delegation, possesses full authority to finalize any potential agreement. This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional tensions and increased US military presence in West Asia.

    The current talks represent the third round of indirect negotiations between the two nations, hosted at Oman’s Embassy in Geneva. Previous sessions were conducted earlier this month in both Muscat and Geneva, demonstrating the ongoing diplomatic efforts to address one of the most persistent geopolitical challenges.

  • Exclusive: UK charity regulator found ‘mismanagement’ by Campaign Against Antisemitism

    Exclusive: UK charity regulator found ‘mismanagement’ by Campaign Against Antisemitism

    The UK Charity Commission has formally identified administrative mismanagement within the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), a charitable organization purportedly dedicated to combating antisemitism through legal advocacy and public awareness initiatives. This regulatory action stems primarily from a September 2024 statement issued by the CAA that vehemently criticized the British government’s decision to impose a partial arms embargo on Israel, which the charity labeled as “obscene.

    The Commission’s investigation was initiated following an October 2024 complaint filed by Labour MP John McDonnell, who accused the charity of engaging in inappropriate political activism. In its findings, the regulator determined that trustees failed to maintain proper documentation demonstrating how the controversial statement advanced the organization’s charitable objectives. This deficiency in record-keeping was specifically cited as evidence of administrative failure.

    Additionally, the Commission revealed it had examined separate complaints regarding the CAA’s conduct, including its 2023 campaign against Goldsmiths University lecturer Ray Campbell. The university ultimately dismissed all allegations against Dr. Campbell after a five-month investigation and issued a formal apology for the distress caused.

    The regulatory body has mandated the implementation of a remedial Action Plan requiring CAA trustees to enhance governance protocols and administrative practices. This development occurs within a broader context of ongoing scrutiny concerning the charity’s operational methods, particularly allegations that it frequently conflates criticism of Israeli government policies with antisemitism, thereby potentially stifling legitimate political discourse on Palestinian rights.

    Despite previous exonerations in prior investigations, including the closure of a case brought by Jewish Voice for Labour (now Jewish Voice for Liberation) in May 2024, the Commission’s current intervention represents a significant regulatory challenge for the organization. The CAA has not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding these developments.

  • Former deputy head of China Tobacco sentenced to 12 years for bribery

    Former deputy head of China Tobacco sentenced to 12 years for bribery

    In a significant ruling against corruption, Zhang Tianfeng, former deputy director of China’s State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for accepting bribes exceeding 34 million yuan ($4.98 million). The Ganzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Jiangxi province delivered the verdict on Thursday, additionally imposing a 2 million yuan fine and ordering confiscation of all illicit gains to be transferred to the state treasury.

    Judicial investigations revealed that between 2004 and 2023, Zhang systematically exploited his official positions to provide unlawful advantages to various entities and individuals. His corrupt activities encompassed project contracts, recruitment processes, position adjustments, and career advancements, with bribes totaling over 34.07 million yuan.

    The court determined that Zhang’s conduct unequivocally constituted bribery offenses warranting severe punishment. However, the sentence reflected some leniency due to mitigating factors including his voluntary disclosure of numerous bribery cases previously unknown to investigators, his full confession, and proactive restitution of illegal proceeds.

    Zhang’s career spanned decades within tobacco monopoly bureaus in Shaanxi province and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region before his 2017 appointment to the national administration. He served as deputy director from February 2020 until June 2023. His downfall began with a January 2025 investigation, followed by expulsion from the Communist Party of China six months later. After November 2025 indictment on bribery charges, his case received public trial on January 8 leading to this week’s sentencing.

  • Chicago man accused of killing girlfriend’s mother in Indonesia pleads not guilty to U.S. charges

    Chicago man accused of killing girlfriend’s mother in Indonesia pleads not guilty to U.S. charges

    A decade after the brutal Bali killing that shocked international observers, American citizen Tommy Schaefer has entered a not guilty plea to federal charges upon his return to the United States. Schaefer had been serving an 18-year Indonesian prison sentence for the 2014 murder of Chicago socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack before receiving early release for good behavior after serving just 11 years.

    The case, notoriously dubbed the ‘Bali Suitcase Murder,’ involved Schaefer and his then-girlfriend Heather Mack viciously attacking von Wiese-Mack during a family vacation at an upscale Indonesian resort. Court documents reveal the couple conspired to kill the victim to gain access to her $1.5 million trust fund. Prosecutors state that while Mack restrained her mother, Schaefer delivered fatal blows using a fruit bowl as his weapon.

    The grisly discovery occurred when hotel staff found von Wiese-Mack’s battered body forcibly crammed into a suitcase within the trunk of a taxi. Indonesian authorities apprehended both perpetrators within 24 hours of the murder, with Mack being eighteen years old and several weeks pregnant at the time of arrest.

    Following his repatriation to Chicago, federal prosecutors have charged Schaefer with three counts: conspiracy to murder a US national abroad, conspiracy to commit murder, and evidence tampering. US District Judge Matthew Kennelly has scheduled the trial for January 2027, ordering Schaefer to remain in custody until proceedings begin. His legal representative did not respond to requests for commentary.

    Heather Mack, who served seven years of her ten-year Indonesian sentence, faced additional justice in American courts. In January 2024, she received a 26-year prison term after pleading guilty to her role in the matricide and subsequent concealment of the body.