标签： Asia

ABU DHABI, UAE — At just fifteen years old, Ahmed Al Hashemi has transformed his neurological difference into an extraordinary musical gift, using the piano as his primary means of communication with the world. Diagnosed with autism, Al Hashemi discovered early that traditional verbal expression presented challenges, but musical communication came with remarkable fluency.

His extraordinary journey began at age seven when he spontaneously played “Happy Birthday” on a piano after hearing the melody only once. This moment revealed his rare perfect pitch ability—the capacity to identify and reproduce any musical note without reference. His mother immediately recognized this exceptional talent and began nurturing his musical development.

Today, Al Hashemi has evolved into an internationally recognized composer and performer, receiving prestigious honors including the UNESCO Award and Mother Teresa Award for his musical contributions. Rather than viewing autism as a limitation, he embraces it as a unique perceptual lens that shapes his compositional style and emotional expression.

“The piano enables me to communicate feelings that I might not articulate verbally,” Al Hashemi explained. “Each note carries specific meaning, and I utilize music as my authentic voice.”

One of his most personally significant compositions, “A Day Without You,” emerged as an emotional response to his brother’s departure for military service. This piece demonstrated music’s capacity to convey complex emotions that words might fail to express adequately.

The young musician values both the connection with live audiences during performances and the solitary creative process of composition. He describes composing as “deeply personal—where I can express myself without limitations,” sometimes beginning with an emotion that transforms into sound, other times developing melodic ideas that emerge spontaneously.

Al Hashemi credits his mother’s unwavering belief in his abilities as fundamental to his success, acknowledging her dedication in finding appropriate teachers and opportunities that have fostered his musical growth. His story stands as a powerful testament to how artistic expression can transcend conventional communication barriers and create meaningful human connections.

In a recent enforcement of cultural norms, four Afghan men from Herat province were formally summoned by the Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue for adopting fashion styles inspired by the British television series ‘Peaky Blinders.’ The individuals, all in their early twenties from Jibrail town, were instructed to report to the moral authority’s provincial office following their public appearance in distinctive three-piece suits and flat caps reminiscent of the show’s early 20th century English gangster aesthetic.

Taliban spokesman Saiful Islam Khyber clarified to BBC that the men faced no formal arrest but underwent what officials termed a ‘rehabilitation program’ where they received counsel on adhering to local cultural values. ‘Their clothing lacked Afghan identity and conflicted with Islamic principles,’ Khyber stated, emphasizing that while Western attire like jeans might be tolerated, conscious imitation of foreign media characters crossed ideological boundaries.

The incident underscores the Taliban’s stringent enforcement of Sharia-based dress codes and cultural preservation policies since reclaiming power in 2021. Officials argued that the series’ values contradict Afghanistan’s religious and social norms, and citizens should instead emulate ‘righteous religious predecessors.’

In a video released by the ministry post-questioning, the men expressed remorse, with one acknowledging he ‘innocently shared content against Sharia.’ This contrasted with earlier statements recorded in November by Herat-Mic YouTube channel, where the group reported positive public reactions to their style, with locals requesting photos.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions between Taliban orthodoxy and globalized cultural influences, particularly affecting youth expression in urban centers like Herat.

A devastating fire that tore through a residential building in Shantou, Guangdong province, has resulted in 12 confirmed fatalities, according to the latest reports from Xinhua News Agency. The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday evening in the Chaonan district, marking one of the deadliest residential fires in the region’s recent history.

The four-story structure on Danfeng Road became engulfed in flames at approximately 9:20 PM local time, with firefighters battling the blaze for 43 minutes before bringing it under control at 10:03 PM. The district’s fire and rescue department confirmed the inferno consumed approximately 150 square meters of the building’s structure.

Initial emergency response teams discovered eight victims deceased at the scene, while four others with critical injuries were urgently transported to nearby medical facilities. Despite intensive medical intervention, all four subsequently succumbed to their injuries, bringing the final death toll to twelve individuals.

Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, with forensic experts and fire investigation specialists examining the premises to determine the exact cause and origin of the fire. The investigation will reportedly include structural safety assessments, electrical system evaluation, and review of potential fire code violations.

The tragedy has prompted renewed discussions about residential building safety standards and emergency response protocols in urban centers across China. Local government officials have expressed condolences to the families affected and pledged full transparency in the investigation process.

The Chinese character ‘shi’ (势), embodying concepts of ‘trend’ and ‘momentum,’ has been overwhelmingly selected as the 2025 Word of the Year in a significant cross-strait cultural initiative. Announced Tuesday in Taipei, the results revealed that ‘shi’ captured 1.28 million votes out of a substantial total of 15.82 million votes cast in the extensive online poll.

The annual event, jointly organized by Taiwan’s Want Want China Times Media Group and mainland China’s Xiamen Daily, presented 36 candidate characters during its November 24 to December 7 voting period. These candidates were initially nominated by various celebrities and netizens from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, reflecting diverse perspectives from Chinese communities.

Professor Xie Qingguo from Xiamen University’s School of Journalism and Communication, who originally proposed the character, offered profound insight into its selection. In a ceremonial video message, he described ‘shi’ as representing ‘a formless yet irresistible force,’ particularly emphasizing that ‘promoting peaceful cross-Strait development constitutes an unstoppable trend and the prevailing momentum.’

Adding cultural context, Professor Huang Kuang-nan of Taiwan University of Arts highlighted the character’s significance in cross-strait relations. He noted that ‘shi’ reflects the deep emotional connections between people across the Strait while expressing hope for ‘further cultivating the shared momentum and vitality of our nation.’

This linguistic and cultural exchange event has maintained its annual tradition since 2008, serving as a barometer of cross-strait sentiments. The previous year’s selection of ‘zheng’ (争), meaning both ‘conflict’ and ‘competition,’ provides striking contrast to this year’s focus on unity and forward movement through the concept of ‘trend.’