Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Sister of former Pakistani leader Imran Khan says he is in good health, quelling rumors

    Sister of former Pakistani leader Imran Khan says he is in good health, quelling rumors

    ISLAMABAD — In a highly anticipated family visit to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Prison, Uzma Khan, sister of incarcerated former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, reported Tuesday that the opposition leader remains in good physical health but is experiencing extreme distress due to prolonged solitary detention conditions.

    The visitation marked the first familial access granted to Khan since November 4, ending weeks of speculation about the politician’s wellbeing that had prompted concerns among his supporters nationwide. During her brief meeting, Uzma Khan characterized her brother’s condition as “perfectly in good health” but noted he expressed profound anger regarding his isolation, which he described as “mental torture worse than physical abuse.”

    Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), had mobilized hundreds of supporters outside the prison facility throughout the day, awaiting confirmation about their leader’s status. Security forces responded with significant deployments around the complex and implemented rally bans in both Rawalpindi and the capital Islamabad to prevent large gatherings.

    The 73-year-old former cricket icon has been serving multiple concurrent prison sentences since 2023 following convictions on corruption and other charges that his supporters allege are politically motivated attempts to dismantle his political career. His wife, Bushra Bibi, remains incarcerated in the same facility on graft convictions, though prison authorities prohibit direct contact between the couple except during court appearances.

    Khan’s spokesperson, Zulfiquar Bukhari, condemned the restrictive visitation policies as inadequate, demanding regular access for both family members and legal representatives while characterizing the isolation measures as psychological torture.

    The political context remains intensely charged, with Khan’s party maintaining that their electoral mandate was illegitimately overturned in the 2024 parliamentary elections through systematic rigging favoring current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif—allegations the sitting government consistently denies. Khan was originally removed from power through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022 and now leads the opposition movement from his prison cell.

  • Look: Hong Kong fire survivor recalls story of saving beloved pet from blaze

    Look: Hong Kong fire survivor recalls story of saving beloved pet from blaze

    In the aftermath of Hong Kong’s most devastating residential fire in decades, a story of canine rescue has emerged as a poignant symbol of hope. Jacky Lee, a 43-year-old airline engineer, experienced an emotional rollercoaster when the Wang Fuk Court complex—her residential estate—became engulfed in flames that would claim at least 151 lives and rage for over 40 hours.

    Upon hearing news of the inferno, Lee immediately rushed back to save Jason, her 15-year-old grey poodle left inside their 27th-floor apartment. She joined anxious residents at a temporary shelter where a district councillor delivered the grim news that pet rescue operations had been suspended due to intensifying flames.

    Just as hope seemed lost, Lee received an unexpected phone call from a firefighter confirming they had located her dog in unit 2703 of the Wang Kin House tower. The rescue team had been guided by handwritten notes Lee had posted throughout her apartment identifying her pet.

    The following day, Jason was delivered safely into Lee’s arms by volunteers, trembling but physically unharmed. ‘He was still shaking when I saw him from afar, then I called his name, he saw me and stopped. Then he smiled,’ Lee recounted to AFP, describing her overwhelming emotional response to the reunion.

    The successful rescue operation highlighted broader concerns about pet welfare during emergencies. Hong Kong’s social media platforms were flooded with posts from distressed pet owners throughout the 40-hour blaze, while animal welfare organizations worked tirelessly to match rescued animals with their families.

    The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) reported that 209 animals were extracted from the burned complex, with 63 fatalities among various species including dogs, cats, fish, and hamsters.

    District Councillor Lau Chun-hoi emphasized animals’ ‘very strong will to live’ and proposed measures to support remaining strays within the damaged structures. The tragedy has sparked calls for improved emergency protocols for pets, with Lee advocating for pet-friendly temporary housing arrangements for displaced residents.

    Despite psychological trauma that has left the poodle timid and clingy, veterinary examination confirmed Jason suffered only mild dehydration and has since returned to his normal disposition—a small victory amid overwhelming tragedy.

  • Indonesia to repatriate 2 convicted Dutch drug traffickers, including one on death row

    Indonesia to repatriate 2 convicted Dutch drug traffickers, including one on death row

    In a significant diplomatic development, Indonesia and the Netherlands have formalized an agreement to repatriate two Dutch citizens convicted of serious drug offenses in Indonesia. The arrangement, signed simultaneously in Jakarta and Amsterdam on Tuesday, involves 74-year-old Siegfried Mets, who faces capital punishment, and 65-year-old Ali Tokman, currently serving a life imprisonment sentence.

    The transfer initiative emerged following a formal appeal from Dutch King Willem-Alexander and the Netherlands’ foreign ministry, citing the detainees’ deteriorating health conditions as primary humanitarian grounds. Indonesian Senior Law Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who endorsed the agreement during a ceremonial signing in Jakarta, confirmed that President Prabowo Subianto had authorized the arrangement with an anticipated transfer date of December 8.

    Siegfried Mets received the death penalty for his involvement in smuggling 600,000 ecstasy tablets from the Netherlands to Indonesia in February 2008, having spent 17 years in Jakarta’s detention facilities. Ali Tokman was apprehended at Surabaya Airport in December 2014 after customs officials discovered approximately 6 kilograms of MDMA in his possession, serving 11 years of his life term.

    Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel concurrently signed the agreement in Amsterdam, with diplomatic delegations from both nations witnessing the proceedings. Marc Gerritsen, Netherlands Ambassador to Indonesia, expressed profound gratitude for Indonesia’s humanitarian consideration, noting that the transfer would enable both detainees to be nearer to their families while demonstrating strengthened bilateral cooperation in judicial matters.

    This development aligns with President Prabowo’s administration pattern of facilitating foreign prisoner repatriations through bilateral agreements. Previous transfers include a Filipina facing drug-related execution, five Australians convicted of heroin trafficking, and two British nationals sentenced for drug smuggling offenses.

    Despite maintaining some of the world’s strictest narcotics regulations, Indonesia remains a significant trafficking hub according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Recent data from Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration and Corrections indicates approximately 530 individuals await execution on death row, primarily for drug-related crimes, including nearly 100 foreign nationals. The country last performed executions in July 2016, involving one Indonesian and three foreign citizens.

  • Southeast Asia floods kill 1,200, leaving hundreds of thousands stranded

    Southeast Asia floods kill 1,200, leaving hundreds of thousands stranded

    Southeast Asia confronts one of its most devastating natural disasters in recent history as catastrophic flooding claims over 1,200 lives across four nations. The region faces immense humanitarian challenges with hundreds of thousands displaced and critical supply chains disrupted.

    Unprecedented monsoon deluges, intensified by dual tropical cyclones, unleashed destruction across Sri Lanka, Indonesia’s Sumatra island, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia last week. Although floodwaters have begun receding, the aftermath reveals widespread devastation that has overwhelmed local response capabilities.

    Indonesia’s Aceh province emerges as among the hardest-hit areas, where survivors describe tsunami-like waves that swept through communities without warning. “The water was unstoppable, resembling a tsunami wave,” recounted Zamzami, a 33-year-old East Aceh resident. Critical infrastructure damage has severed road access, creating severe supply shortages and dramatic price inflation for essential goods, with chili peppers reaching approximately $18 per kilogram.

    The Indonesian government has initiated large-scale relief operations, distributing 34,000 tonnes of rice and 6.8 million liters of cooking oil to Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces. Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman emphasized the urgency: “There can be no delays” in assistance delivery.

    Humanitarian organizations warn of impending food crises if supply routes remain compromised. Islamic Relief cautioned that “communities across Aceh face severe risk of food shortages and hunger” without restored access within seven days. The organization deployed 12 tonnes of supplies via Indonesian naval vessels arriving Tuesday.

    Meanwhile, Sri Lanka confronts parallel devastation with at least 390 confirmed fatalities and 352 individuals missing. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has declared a national state of emergency, characterizing the event as “the most challenging natural disaster in our history” and appealing for international support. Military forces from India and Pakistan have joined evacuation and supply delivery operations.

    Meteorological experts note that climate change contributes to more intense precipitation events, as warmer atmospheric conditions retain increased moisture while elevated ocean temperatures amplify storm intensity. This scientific context underscores the growing frequency and severity of such extreme weather phenomena across vulnerable regions.

  • Paleontologists uncover ancient elephant relative in Ningxia

    Paleontologists uncover ancient elephant relative in Ningxia

    In a significant paleontological discovery, researchers have unearthed a remarkably well-preserved fossil of a tetralophodon—an ancient progenitor of modern elephants—from a retired mining site in Wuzhong, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The specimen, estimated to be approximately 9 to 11 million years old, represents the first completely intact large-mammal fossil recovered in the region over the past decade.

    The excavation team, comprising leading paleontologists, conducted meticulous fieldwork at the location, revealing the exceptional preservation of the skeletal remains. Tetralophodons, characterized by their four-ridged molar teeth, inhabited various ecosystems during the Miocene epoch and are considered crucial evolutionary links in understanding proboscidean development.

    This discovery provides unprecedented insight into the migration patterns and anatomical evolution of prehistoric elephant species across Asia. The finding’s significance extends beyond mere anatomical preservation, offering researchers valuable data about regional climate conditions and ecological systems that existed millions of years ago in what is now northwest China.

    The Ningxia discovery marks a substantial contribution to vertebrate paleontology, potentially reshaping understanding of proboscidean dispersal routes across the Asian continent. Local authorities have implemented enhanced protective measures at the excavation site while scientists continue detailed analysis of the specimen, which may reveal new information about the species’ adaptation mechanisms and eventual extinction.

  • Apple to not comply with India order to preload govt ‘cyber safety’ app on phones

    Apple to not comply with India order to preload govt ‘cyber safety’ app on phones

    In a significant stand against digital surveillance concerns, Apple Inc. has declared its intention to reject an Indian government directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the state-developed ‘Sanchar Saathi’ application on all devices. The controversial mandate, issued confidentially to industry giants including Samsung and Xiaomi, provides a 90-day compliance window for embedding the cyber safety tool designed to track stolen phones and prevent misuse.

    The Indian telecommunications ministry has characterized the measure as an essential security protocol to combat rising cyber threats, particularly addressing the proliferation of duplicated IMEI numbers that facilitate scams and network exploitation. However, privacy advocates and political opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration have condemned the move as governmental overreach that could potentially grant authorities unprecedented access to India’s 730 million smartphone users.

    According to three industry sources familiar with Apple’s position, the technology giant plans to formally communicate its objections to New Delhi, emphasizing that such mandates contradict its global privacy standards and threaten the security integrity of its iOS ecosystem. Two sources confirmed that Apple will neither comply with the order nor pursue legal action, but will instead present its security concerns through diplomatic channels.

    The development occurs amid Apple’s ongoing legal confrontation with Indian antitrust regulators regarding penalty provisions that could potentially expose the company to $38 billion in fines. While Samsung and other Android-based manufacturers reportedly continue evaluating the mandate, Apple maintains its distinctive position due to its tightly controlled App Store and proprietary software architecture—key components of its $100-billion annual services business.

    India’s primary opposition party, the Congress Party, has demanded immediate revocation of the mandate, with senior leader KC Venugopal declaring on social media platform X that ‘Big Brother cannot watch us.’ The government maintains that the initiative addresses legitimate security concerns in a market with substantial second-hand device circulation, where stolen or blacklisted phones frequently reappear in commerce.

  • YRD charts high-quality development

    YRD charts high-quality development

    The Yangtze River Delta region is spearheading ambitious initiatives to bolster high-quality development through enhanced regional collaboration and technological innovation, according to expert analyses presented at a recent think tank summit.

    Academic institutions across the region have identified critical pathways for advancement during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). The Changjiang Institute of Industrial Economics at Nanjing University emphasized the necessity of deepening integration between advanced manufacturing and producer services while accelerating artificial intelligence implementation.

    Research from Anhui University’s Free Trade Zone Institute recommends strengthening regional digital infrastructure connectivity, promoting cross-city innovation resource sharing, and expanding green technology applications. Despite the YRD’s technology-driven entrepreneurship capabilities exceeding national averages, Shanghai Tech University experts noted that regional coordination, government-guided fund effectiveness, and comprehensive financial systems require further reinforcement.

    A significant transformation is underway as AI evolves from tool-based technology to systemic production factor, particularly evident in the YRD’s industrial upgrading process. However, East China Normal University researchers identified emerging challenges regarding skill and talent supply mismatches resulting from this technological shift.

    Professor Xu Wenwei from Fudan Development Institute highlighted the region’s substantial shortage of digital and AI talents, with educational institutions facing constraints in curriculum systems, faculty resources, and computing capacity. Proposed solutions include establishing joint laboratories and industrial technology research institutes, implementing a regional ‘one-card’ system to facilitate talent mobility, and creating special funds to enhance industry-academia integration.

    Zhang Zhongwei, Deputy Director of Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, advocated for cross-regional legislation to improve governance system stability and create institutional advantages. Meanwhile, Shen Yufeng, Lead Partner of Strategy& China with PwC, urged the region to capitalize on three major trends: accelerated domestic substitution, proactive corporate overseas expansion, and rapid localization of foreign investment through industrial collaboration, innovation scenarios, and international resource linkage capabilities.

  • ROK president proposes restoring communication channels with DPRK

    ROK president proposes restoring communication channels with DPRK

    In a significant diplomatic overture, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has formally proposed the restoration of direct communication channels with North Korea. The announcement, reported by multiple South Korean media outlets on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025, represents a potential breakthrough in inter-Korean relations that have remained largely frozen in recent years.

    The proposal comes amid ongoing regional tensions and follows a period of minimal diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring nations. President Lee’s initiative suggests a willingness to reestablish basic communication infrastructure that had previously been maintained between Seoul and Pyongyang. These channels, which include military hotlines and diplomatic liaison offices, had been largely suspended during periods of heightened military and political tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

    Analysts suggest this move could serve as a foundational step toward more substantial diplomatic engagements, potentially paving the way for future talks on denuclearization, economic cooperation, and confidence-building measures. The restoration of communication channels would enable direct dialogue between government officials, potentially reducing miscalculations and providing a mechanism for crisis management.

    The international community, particularly neighboring powers including China and the United States, has consistently encouraged renewed dialogue between the two Koreas. President Lee’s proposal aligns with these broader regional stability interests while demonstrating South Korea’s proactive approach to reducing tensions on the peninsula.

  • Cubers show their true colors

    Cubers show their true colors

    The Chongqing Stadium witnessed an extraordinary display of mental athleticism on Monday as the 2025 National Rubik’s Cube Open regional competition concluded with unprecedented participation. A remarkable assembly of 1,520 puzzle enthusiasts from across China converged for the Chongqing leg of the national tournament, showcasing exceptional speedcubing prowess across multiple age categories.

    Among the standout participants was six-year-old prodigy Yu Niannian from Xiamen, Fujian province, who demonstrated remarkable composure alongside seasoned competitors. The young cuber’s dedication was captured by his mother, who documented his competitive journey through her mobile device from the spectator area.

    The event highlighted China’s growing fascination with precision sports that combine mathematical reasoning, pattern recognition, and manual dexterity. Participants engaged in various cube-solving disciplines, with some competitors achieving solve times under ten seconds amid intense concentration and rapid finger movements.

    Organizers noted that this year’s regional competition saw a 23% participation increase compared to previous editions, reflecting the sport’s expanding popularity as both competitive endeavor and educational tool. The tournament followed World Cube Association regulations, with official judges monitoring solves for compliance with international standards.

    The Chongqing qualifiers served as preliminary rounds for the national championship finals scheduled for early 2026, where top performers will compete for national titles and potential representation in international speedcubing competitions.

  • Ming Dynasty ginkgo tree draws crowds in Hunan

    Ming Dynasty ginkgo tree draws crowds in Hunan

    A majestic centuries-old ginkgo tree has become an unexpected tourist phenomenon in Shanghuang village, Linwu county, Chenzhou, Hunan province. The ancient tree, standing approximately 40 meters tall with a 5-meter trunk diameter, has transformed into a breathtaking golden spectacle during the early winter season, drawing massive crowds of visitors to the typically tranquil rural community.

    The tree’s extraordinary dimensions and elegant architectural form create a natural wonder described by locals as a ‘one-tree forest.’ Its expansive canopy, now completely adorned in vibrant golden foliage, provides a stunning visual contrast against the winter landscape. The phenomenon has generated significant attention across social media platforms, with photographs of the golden giant circulating widely and inspiring travel to the remote village.

    Local authorities report unprecedented visitor numbers for the region, with tourism infrastructure experiencing unusual demand for this time of year. The tree’s popularity highlights China’s growing appreciation for natural heritage and seasonal natural phenomena. Botanical experts note that ginkgo trees of this age and size are exceptionally rare, with this specimen representing both ecological significance and cultural heritage.

    The surge in visitors has provided economic benefits to local businesses while also raising questions about sustainable tourism management and preservation of the ancient tree. Village officials have implemented crowd management measures to ensure the tree’s protection while accommodating the curious visitors who come to witness this natural marvel.