In a devastating incident that underscores the ongoing violence in Gaza, two young Palestinian brothers were killed by an Israeli drone strike while gathering essential firewood near a contested demarcation zone. The tragedy occurred on November 29th in Bani Suheila, east of Khan Younis, despite an official ceasefire agreement.
标签： Asia
亚洲
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Expert: Decoupling disastrous for Japan
A prominent Japanese economist has issued a stark warning against economic decoupling from China, characterizing such a move as potentially disastrous for Japan’s economic future. Hidetoshi Tashiro, serving as chief economist at Japan’s Infinity LLC and CEO of Terra Nexus Project Management Services, emphasized that China represents an economic partner that Japan fundamentally “cannot decouple” from due to deeply intertwined supply chain dependencies.
Tashiro’s analysis highlights China’s unique position as the world’s most extensive and comprehensive production ecosystem, making sustained cooperation not merely beneficial but essential for maintaining Japan’s economic vitality. The economist presented a grave assessment that deliberately undermining this established economic structure would constitute an act of economic “suicide” for Japan, given the catastrophic disruption it would cause to Japanese industries and trade networks.
The warning comes amid ongoing global discussions about supply chain diversification and economic realignment. Tashiro’s comments serve as a counterpoint to those advocating for reduced economic interdependence with China, arguing instead that the existing manufacturing and supply infrastructure between the two nations has become too integrated and too vital to dismantle without severe consequences.
This perspective underscores the complex reality facing many advanced economies that must balance geopolitical considerations with economic practicalities, particularly when dealing with a manufacturing powerhouse like China that occupies a central role in global supply chains.
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Fire in a residential building claims 12 lives in Guangdong
A devastating nighttime fire erupted in a mixed-use residential building in Shantou’s Chaonan district, resulting in 12 fatalities and triggering a high-level governmental response. The inferno ignited at approximately 9:20 PM on Tuesday within a four-story reinforced concrete structure on Danfeng Road, consuming approximately 150 square meters before firefighters contained the blaze by 10:03 PM.
Preliminary investigations reveal the ground floor housed a hardware retail establishment marketing electrical appliances and mechanical equipment, with residential occupants occupying upper levels. Circulating video evidence depicts intense flames and dense smoke emanating from the commercial unit, illuminating the sparsely populated streetscape during the emergency response.
The tragedy has prompted immediate action from provincial authorities, constituting a specialized investigative task force comprising emergency management, fire rescue services, public security bureaus, and disciplinary inspection units. This coordinated effort aims to determine the exact ignition source and evaluate potential safety violations within the structurally complex property.
Crisis context emerges from National Fire and Rescue Administration statistics indicating a alarming 39.5% year-over-year surge in fatalities occurring within small commercial establishments during 2025’s first half. Chaonan district, recognized as a manufacturing hub for textiles, apparel, and electronic components, contains numerous similar structures combining retail operations with residential spaces—a configuration officially identified as significantly contributing to fire-related casualties nationwide.
The incident underscores persistent challenges in regulating building safety standards within densely populated urban environments where mixed-use occupancy patterns complicate emergency protocols and evacuation procedures.
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Five things we learnt at the Doha Forum
The recent Doha Forum became a stage for revealing the profound shifts in Middle Eastern geopolitics and America’s evolving role in the region. Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa received an unexpectedly warm reception, highlighting his rehabilitated status, while prominent US figures sparked contentious debates on Gaza and regional security.
Mr. al-Sharaa’s appearance generated remarkable enthusiasm, with attendees rising to capture photos during his CNN interview. When questioned about past terrorist allegations, he deflected by referencing Israel’s actions in Gaza and Western military interventions, asserting that public perception of terrorism has become increasingly politicized. His confidence appeared bolstered by recent White House engagement, including his meeting with President Trump.
The Trump administration’s distinctive approach was articulated by several representatives. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack signaled a departure from previous democratic promotion efforts, comparing them to colonial mandates. He emphasized that Syria would determine its own future without Western-imposed timelines. This perspective was reinforced by Donald Trump Jr., who championed his father’s ‘America First’ doctrine, stating the US would no longer serve as the world’s financial backer but rather seek transactional partnerships, particularly with energy-rich Gulf states.
However, regional reactions to America’s retrenchment have been mixed. Saudi analyst Dr. Abdulaziz Alghashian expressed diminished expectations regarding US security guarantees, citing Washington’s muted response to 2019 Houthi attacks as prompting Riyadh to diversify alliances, including pursuing détente with Iran.
Significant policy divergences emerged regarding Palestine. While US delegates focused on expanding the Abraham Accords and Gaza reconstruction, Arab diplomats uniformly emphasized the necessity of Palestinian statehood as a precondition. Egypt’s Foreign Minister outlined ceasefire implementation requirements, while Turkey’s Hakan Fidan challenged Israel’s disarmament prerequisites. Both Qatar and Saudi Arabia explicitly conditioned reconstruction funding on a credible pathway to statehood—a proposition Israel’s government strongly opposes.
The forum also featured notable Western voices. Tucker Carlson, interviewing Qatar’s Prime Minister, denounced expectations that Qatar fund Gaza’s reconstruction while denying allegations of being a Qatari agent. Former Secretary Hillary Clinton defended her comments about young people consuming propaganda on TikTok regarding Gaza, asserting they lacked historical context while expressing anger about multiple global conflicts.
The evident disparities between US and regional priorities, particularly regarding Palestinian statehood and security commitments, suggest that while America First rhetoric has reached the Gulf, its practical implementation faces substantial resistance from partners seeking more reliable alliances and diplomatic solutions.
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International experts share innovative poverty solutions
The 2025 International Seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnerships witnessed a significant milestone with the launch of the latest Global Poverty Reduction Case Series, featuring 108 exemplary models selected from 840 submissions across 40 countries and regions. This comprehensive collection showcases sustainable and replicable poverty alleviation strategies, operational technologies, and inclusive approaches designed for vulnerable populations worldwide.
The curated cases span diverse geographical contexts including Ghana, Kenya, Laos, and Brazil, offering multifaceted insights into effective poverty reduction methodologies. Notable initiatives include an agricultural technical assistance program in Fiji’s Northern Division, rural vitalization projects in China’s Hunan province, and China-Africa collaborative efforts to strengthen rice value chains in West Africa.
During the seminar, Gao Anming, Editor-in-Chief of China International Communications Group, emphasized the transformative role of technology in poverty governance. He revealed the development of an AI-powered poverty governance intelligent agent that will utilize a global database to automatically identify relevant case studies and propose tailored solutions for specific countries, thereby enhancing the precision of international experience sharing.
Carlos Aldeco, FAO Representative for China and DPRK, described the case series as an essential global public good that captures “real solutions from real communities for real challenges.” The collection promotes innovations such as digital extension services and climate-smart villages while fostering global solidarity.
Nii Quaye-Kumah, IFAD Representative to China, underscored the power of partnership and knowledge sharing, noting that “no single country has all the answers.” The China-IFAD South-South and Triangular Cooperation Facility enables real-time strategy enhancement through mutual learning and experience exchange.
The event convened nearly 200 representatives from 17 countries and 7 international organizations, who shared innovative practices including international organizations’ empowerment of small-holder farmers in poverty reduction efforts. The seminar also marked the official launch of the seventh global poverty reduction case collection.
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US sanctions Colombians involved in Sudan war but fails to mention UAE link
The United States has imposed targeted sanctions on a sophisticated transnational network responsible for recruiting Colombian combat veterans to serve as mercenaries alongside Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Treasury Department’s action specifically identifies four individuals and four entities central to this operation, yet notably omits any direct reference to the United Arab Emirates, despite mounting evidence of its alleged involvement.
According to official statements, this sanctioned network systematically recruited former Colombian military personnel who provided the RSF with critical tactical expertise in infantry operations, artillery, drone piloting, and vehicle operations. Disturbingly, some were implicated in training child soldiers. These mercenaries have reportedly participated in major battles across Sudan, including engagements in Khartoum, Omdurman, Kordofan, and el-Fasher—where the RSF stands accused of documented mass killings and human rights abuses.
The sanctioned entities include Bogota-based International Services Agency (A4SI), its co-founder Alvaro Andres Quijano Becerra (a retired Colombian officer residing in the UAE), and his wife Claudia Viviana Oliveros Forero. Additional designations extend to Panama-based Global Staffing S.A., along with Colombian firms Maine Global Corp S.A.S. and Comercializadora San Bendito. Individuals Monica Munoz Ucros and Mateo Andres Duque Botero were also sanctioned.
Leaked documents obtained by Colombian media outlet La Silla Vacia reveal that a UAE-registered company, Global Security Services Group—which identifies as “the only armed private security services provider for the UAE government”—contracted A4SI to supply hundreds of former troops to Sudan. This company remains conspicuously absent from the US sanctions list.
The complex recruitment pipeline funnels Colombian fighters through multiple routes: one via Benghazi, Libya, where passports are reportedly confiscated, and another through Spain, Ethiopia, Somalia’s Bosaso port, and Chad before reaching RSF-controlled territories in Darfur. Exclusive footage obtained by Middle East Eye captures dozens of Colombians disembarking at Bosaso airport, with senior port sources confirming undisclosed heavy logistical materials funneled through UAE networks ultimately destined for Sudan’s RSF.
This development occurs against the backdrop of Sudan’s formal complaint to the UN Security Council accusing the UAE of sponsoring Colombian mercenaries, and the August downing of a UAE aircraft carrying 40 Colombian fighters and arms allegedly destined for the RSF. The UAE consistently denies these allegations, dismissing evidence as fabricated.
The strategic value of Colombian mercenaries in modern warfare cannot be overstated. Decades of internal conflict against guerrillas and drug cartels have produced combat-hardened veterans offering exceptional value—costing approximately a quarter of American counterparts while demonstrating superior discipline and chain-of-command adherence. Their services have been previously utilized in Ukraine, Libya, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
Sudan’s devastating conflict erupted in April 2023 from tensions between the regular army under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. Disagreements over RSF integration into the national army spiraled into nationwide warfare that has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 13 million people, with both sides facing accusations of severe human rights violations.
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Hamas demands end to Israeli violations before second ceasefire phase
Hamas declared on Tuesday that it would suspend advancement to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement until Israel ceases its alleged violations and military operations in Gaza. Senior Hamas official Husam Badran urged mediating nations—Qatar, the United States, and Egypt—to pressure Israel into adhering to the initial terms of the truce.
Badran emphasized that the next phase of the agreement cannot proceed while Israel continues to breach the ceasefire terms and evade its commitments. Reports indicate that since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israel has violated the agreement at least 738 times.
The first phase stipulated a cessation of hostilities, the exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid into Gaza. Badran highlighted that the agreement mandated the daily entry of 400 to 600 aid trucks and the reopening of the Rafah crossing for both goods and individuals. However, Israel has kept the crossing closed, leaving 6,000 aid trucks stranded, according to Gaza’s government media office director.
Under international pressure, Israel reopened the Allenby Bridge Crossing for commercial traffic, though humanitarian shipments remained heavily restricted. The crossing had been closed since September following a security incident.
A contentious aspect of the ceasefire involved the division of Gaza into Green and Red zones, separated by a Yellow Line. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir stated that Israel would retain control over the Green zone, which encompasses most of Gaza’s agricultural land, the Rafah crossing, and over half of its territory. The UN condemned this move, with spokesperson Stephane Dujarric asserting that it contradicts the spirit of the Trump peace plan and called for the restoration of Gaza’s original borders.
Further exacerbating tensions, Israeli forces reportedly killed two Palestinian children near the Yellow Line on November 29, claiming they posed a threat. Additionally, Israel continued demolishing homes in the Green zone, violating terms meant to halt such operations.
The second phase of the agreement envisions a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and the deployment of an international stabilization force. Hamas expressed willingness to surrender its weapons to a future Palestinian government, contingent on an end to Israeli occupation. However, the proposed peace council, initially including figures like Tony Blair, faced setbacks following objections from Arab and Muslim leaders.
Since the October ceasefire, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that Israeli actions have resulted in over 380 fatalities and 987 injuries.
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Xinjiang’s Tumxuk harvests rice from desert saline-alkali fields
In a remarkable agricultural achievement, the arid desert landscapes of Tumxuk city in China’s Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region have yielded an unexpected bounty—a successful rice harvest from previously barren saline-alkali soil. Approximately 267 hectares of transformed desert terrain in Qianhai town have produced their first crop following an innovative ecological restoration project.
Situated along the harsh western periphery of the Taklimakan Desert, China’s largest desert expanse, this land rehabilitation initiative commenced earlier this year. By June, agricultural specialists had implemented comprehensive soil improvements and planted specially developed rice varieties engineered for exceptional drought resistance and salt tolerance.
The cultivation breakthrough employed sophisticated water management techniques, including an intermittent irrigation method applied once the late-planted rice plants reached 1-3 centimeters in height. This approach created optimal aeration conditions for root development while significantly reducing water evaporation from the desert soil.
According to technician Zhang Yuanqiang, this innovative water-conservation and salt-leaching strategy resulted in substantial resource savings, reducing water requirements by 20-30 percent compared to conventional methods. The agricultural team maintained strict organic protocols, completely avoiding pesticides to prevent chemical contamination of the newly rehabilitated soil.
Instead of chemical interventions, farmers leveraged the region’s abundant sunlight for natural pest control while implementing in-situ salt leaching techniques. The comprehensive approach created a sustainable ecological cycle: nurturing rice with carefully managed water resources, improving soil quality through rice cultivation, and enhancing water conservation through improved soil conditions.
The desert rice fields achieved yields exceeding 100 kilograms per mu (approximately 667 square meters), a result that agricultural specialists consider highly satisfactory given the challenging growing conditions. Following the successful harvest, local growers including farmer Zhang Fei have established partnerships with rice processing companies to manage subsequent sales and distribution.
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Boost for Asian content at Red Sea Film Festival
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – The 2025 Red Sea International Film Festival became the stage for a significant expansion of Asian creative partnerships with the inaugural Asia Content Business Summit held in Jeddah on December 7. The event marked two major milestones: Saudi Arabia’s official accession to the summit and the debut appearance of an official China Pavilion at the festival, which runs from December 4-13.
The conference, themed ‘Asian Collaboration in Content Production and Distribution,’ assembled industry pioneers and experts from across the continent including China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. This gathering represented a strategic advancement in cross-regional dialogue within Asia’s rapidly evolving content industry.
In a move signaling deeper regional integration, Abdullah Al-Muhaisen, Saudi Arabia’s inaugural film director and former royal court advisor, was appointed as senior advisor to the summit. His appointment is designed to catalyze strategic cooperation between Saudi Arabia and other Asian nations in content development and exchange.
Al-Muhaisen, serving as keynote speaker, articulated the transformative power of content in cultural preservation and exchange. He emphasized that collaborative content production and distribution serves not merely as an industrial development strategy but as a crucial bridge for fostering mutual understanding between civilizations.
Fred Wang, summit chairman and secretary-general of both the Asian Film Awards Academy and Hong Kong International Film Festival Society, outlined the academy’s initiatives to strengthen Asian content collaboration. He highlighted the ‘Film Camp’ program specifically designed to nurture emerging Asian filmmakers and establish a sustainable talent pipeline for the industry.
Adding an educational dimension to the dialogue, Haifa Reda Jamal Al Layl, president of Jeddah’s Effat University – which established Saudi Arabia’s first film school – detailed the institution’s commitment to developing local creative talent while emphasizing the necessity of international educational partnerships.
The Asia Content Business Summit functions as an annual high-level platform focused on content creation, distribution, investment, and technological integration across the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to drive synergistic progress throughout the Asian content ecosystem.
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Chinese doctor carries out eye surgery in C909 aircraft
In a groundbreaking medical achievement, Chinese ophthalmologists have successfully performed the world’s first eye surgery aboard a domestically developed C909 aircraft, marking the operational launch of China’s inaugural self-developed “flying eye hospital.
The historic procedure took place on Wednesday at Zhengzhou Xinzheng Airport, where Dr. Liang Lingyi, Deputy Director of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, demonstrated remarkable surgical precision while operating inside the aircraft cabin. Using specialized microsurgical equipment, Dr. Liang completed an ocular surface surgery on a patient from rural Henan province in mere minutes.
The patient, identified as Ms. Zhang, had previously faced significant barriers to specialized eye care due to her remote location. “I never imagined I could receive such advanced medical treatment so close to home,” Zhang expressed after regaining clear vision. “The doctors’ expertise is extraordinary, and I’m profoundly grateful to see the world clearly again.”
This innovative airborne medical facility represents a major advancement in China’s healthcare accessibility initiatives. The converted C909 aircraft features state-of-the-art medical equipment and sterile environments meeting clinical standards, enabling specialists to deliver high-quality ophthalmological services to underserved regions.
The flying hospital initiative addresses critical healthcare disparities by bringing sophisticated medical resources directly to remote communities. This approach eliminates the need for patients in isolated areas to undertake arduous journeys to urban medical centers, potentially revolutionizing how specialized care reaches China’s rural population.
Medical authorities highlight that this achievement demonstrates China’s growing capabilities in both aviation technology and medical innovation. The successful surgery aboard a moving aircraft required overcoming unique challenges including vibration dampening, sterile maintenance, and precision instrument stabilization.
The Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center confirmed that this milestone inaugurates regular clinical services through the flying hospital program, with plans to expand surgical specialties and reach additional remote communities across China.