Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • China’s CR450 high-speed train moves a step closer to commercial operation

    China’s CR450 high-speed train moves a step closer to commercial operation

    China’s next-generation CR450 high-speed rail system has achieved critical development milestones, positioning it for potential commercial deployment following successful completion of extensive operational assessments. According to China State Railway Group, the revolutionary train is scheduled to undergo final operational evaluations and design certification procedures throughout 2026.

    The technological advancement represents a significant leap in rail transport innovation, with prototype trainsets having undergone rigorous testing across multiple Chinese rail networks throughout 2025. Following their production debut in late 2024, the prototypes completed comprehensive type testing on Beijing’s specialized Ring Railway test track and operational assessments on both the Chongqing-Xiamen and Shanghai-Chongqing-Chengdu high-speed corridors.

    Engineering breakthroughs have resulted in exceptional performance metrics: during testing protocols, a single CR450 train achieved unprecedented speeds of 453 km/h, while simultaneous bidirectional operations established a world record with trains passing at a combined velocity of 896 km/h. The train’s operational framework is engineered for sustained 400 km/h service with remarkable safety and efficiency characteristics, including emergency braking within 6,500 meters, energy consumption below 22 kWh per kilometer, and cabin noise levels maintained under 68 decibels.

    China State Railway Group emphasizes the project’s complete proprietary intellectual property rights, highlighting domestic innovations in critical components including specialized wheelsets, bogie steel plates, pantograph systems, and high-voltage cable terminals specifically designed for 400 km/h operations. Additional technological advances encompass drag reduction aerodynamics, lightweight carriage construction, permanent magnet traction systems, and high-performance braking mechanisms.

    The railway authority confirms continued development focusing on key technological refinement and industrial implementation, with systematic progress toward commercial operation following successful completion of the current assessment phase.

  • Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as new supreme leader

    Iran: Mojtaba Khamenei chosen as new supreme leader

    In a pivotal transition of power, Iran’s Assembly of Experts has formally designated Mojtaba Khamenei as the nation’s third Supreme Leader following the revolutionary era. This decisive appointment comes merely days after coordinated Israeli-American strikes eliminated his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with multiple family members including Mojtaba’s wife Zahra Adel and mother Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh.

    The 88-member constitutional body, responsible for selecting Iran’s highest authority, conducted Sunday’s leadership determination under extraordinary circumstances. The assembly’s meeting occurred despite recent military actions targeting Qom—a principal center of Shia scholarship—where experts were anticipated to convene for this critical decision.

    Constitutional scholars emphasize that the succession process followed established legal protocols rather than representing hereditary power transfer. The 56-year-old Mojtaba, a respected Shia scholar with extensive theological training, previously survived assassination attempts—a factor that potentially reinforced his candidacy as Tehran demonstrates resilience against external pressure.

    The leadership transition unfolds amid escalating regional hostilities. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz publicly declared that any successor to the slain ayatollah would remain ‘a certain target for assassination,’ reflecting the intensified geopolitical tensions. Conversely, U.S. President Donald Trump previously dismissed Mojtaba’s potential appointment as ‘unacceptable’ while controversially asserting his own right to influence Iran’s leadership selection.

    Educated in Qom’s prestigious seminaries under prominent Islamic jurists, the new Supreme Leader specialized in advanced theological studies while maintaining influential connections within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). His combat experience during the Iran-Iraq war within the IRGC’s Habib Battalion contrasts with his absence from elected office or formal government positions.

    State media reports indicate the Assembly of Experts reached their determination through ‘decisive vote,’ simultaneously urging Iranian intellectuals and religious scholars to pledge allegiance to the new leadership. This transition occurs as Iranian officials characterize current military pressures as existential threats to the nation’s territorial integrity and political sovereignty.

  • China to boost rural vitalization and modernization in 15th Five-Year Plan, says minister

    China to boost rural vitalization and modernization in 15th Five-Year Plan, says minister

    China has announced ambitious plans to accelerate comprehensive rural revitalization and agricultural modernization throughout its forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). The announcement came from Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Jun during ministerial interviews following the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing.

    Minister Han emphasized the government’s commitment to aligning development initiatives with rural residents’ aspirations for improved quality of life. “We need to align with farmers’ aspirations for a better life by leveraging resources and tailoring measures to local conditions to build livable and prosperous rural communities,” Han stated during the high-profile government session.

    The ministry has established a sophisticated nationwide monitoring and assistance system designed to prevent regression into poverty. This system, which operates across all previously impoverished villages and counties, utilizes advanced data sharing capabilities among government departments. Through on-site inspections and big-data analytics, the mechanism enables precise identification of poverty risks, ensuring early detection and targeted intervention.

    Employment generation remains a cornerstone of China’s rural development strategy. Currently, approximately 70% of income for formerly impoverished households derives from employment opportunities. In the previous year, 32.8 million people from these households secured employment, with over 14 million finding work within their home provinces and counties. The ministry plans to intensify skills training programs and employment services to maintain job stability and income security for vulnerable populations.

    Concurrently, all 832 counties that have emerged from poverty have developed distinctive local industries over the past five years. The government now aims to enhance the quality and efficiency of these industries, particularly by strengthening entire industrial chains to maximize income generation for rural communities. This industrial development approach forms part of China’s broader strategy to achieve sustainable rural development and prevent widespread return to poverty through development-based assistance and enhanced social security systems.

  • China’s environmental code: A gift to the future

    China’s environmental code: A gift to the future

    China has taken a monumental step in environmental governance by submitting a comprehensive environmental code draft for deliberation during the current National People’s Congress sessions. This legislative framework, following the historic Civil Code, represents only the second time China has designated a law with the prestigious “code” nomenclature, indicating its foundational significance in the nation’s legal system.

    The environmental code emerges as a transformative legal instrument designed to systematically consolidate and enhance China’s ecological protection measures. Its development reflects China’s escalating commitment to sustainable development principles and environmental stewardship at the highest legislative level.

    This groundbreaking code will establish comprehensive guidelines affecting multiple dimensions of daily life, from industrial regulations to individual environmental responsibilities. By creating a unified legal framework, it aims to address environmental challenges through coordinated legal mechanisms rather than fragmented regulations.

    The code’s consideration during the NPC sessions underscores its priority status in China’s policy agenda, potentially setting new benchmarks for environmental protection that could influence global ecological governance models. Its implementation is expected to create ripple effects across economic planning, corporate compliance, and public behavior regarding environmental conservation.

    Legal experts anticipate this code will serve as China’s most ambitious environmental legislative effort to date, potentially becoming a reference point for other developing nations seeking to balance economic growth with ecological preservation through robust legal frameworks.

  • South Korea advances to the WBC quarterfinals with 7-2 win over Australia

    South Korea advances to the WBC quarterfinals with 7-2 win over Australia

    In a high-stakes showdown at the Tokyo Dome, South Korea’s national baseball team clinched a dramatic 7-2 victory against Australia on Monday, securing their advancement to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals through a complex tiebreaker scenario. The triumph marks South Korea’s first appearance in the tournament’s knockout stage after three consecutive failures to escape pool play.

    The game unfolded as a nail-biting mathematical puzzle, with South Korea requiring a victory margin of five runs or more to advance from Pool C. The team initially established a commanding 4-0 lead within the first three innings, with Bo Gyeong Moon delivering an exceptional offensive performance that included four RBIs, bringing his tournament total to an impressive 11.

    Australia mounted several comeback attempts, twice narrowing the deficit to four runs, but each time South Korea responded with additional scoring. The decisive moment arrived in the ninth inning when Australian shortstop Jarryd Dale committed a critical throwing error that extended the inning. This miscue enabled Hae-Min Park to reach third base and subsequently score on Hyun Min Ahn’s sacrifice fly, providing the crucial fifth-run margin.

    The drama intensified in the bottom of the ninth when South Korean right fielder Jung Hoo Lee made a spectacular diving catch off Rixon Wingrove’s line drive, preventing what appeared to be a certain double that could have scored an Australian runner and reduced the final margin to four runs—which would have eliminated South Korea from contention.

    Pitcher Ju Young Son earned the victory while Australian starter Lachlan Wells was charged with the loss. South Korea now joins previously qualified Japan and superstar Shohei Ohtani as Pool C representatives in the quarterfinals, completing a remarkable turnaround after their early tournament struggles.

  • China’s public security continues to improve in 2025

    China’s public security continues to improve in 2025

    China has reinforced its status as one of the world’s safest nations with substantial improvements in public security throughout 2025, according to the latest annual report from the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP). The comprehensive assessment reveals marked declines across multiple crime categories, demonstrating the effectiveness of the country’s enhanced law enforcement strategies.

    Prosecutor General Ying Yong presented the detailed findings during the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress, highlighting a dual reduction in both criminal apprehensions and prosecutions. Official statistics indicate authorities approved 664,000 criminal arrests—an 11.7 percent decrease from the previous year—while initiating 1.4 million public prosecutions, representing a 13.9 percent year-on-year decline.

    The judicial crackdown on severe violent offenses remained particularly robust, with prosecutors pursuing 54,000 individuals for grave crimes including intentional homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping. Simultaneously, China intensified its campaign against organized criminal networks, prosecuting 9,870 participants in mafia-style organizations and 65 officials accused of providing protective cover for such operations.

    Law enforcement agencies maintained strict enforcement policies against transnational crimes, human trafficking, and narcotics operations, resulting in 39,900 prosecutions for these offenses. In a significant breakthrough for cold cases, the SPP authorized the pursuit of 380 homicide suspects from investigations dormant for over two decades, ensuring long-elusive fugitives faced justice.

    Cybersecurity emerged as a critical focus area, with prosecutors charging 182,000 individuals for internet-related crimes including cyberbullying, malicious rumor propagation, online extortion, and coordinated trolling operations. The campaign against telecommunications fraud produced 69,000 prosecutions, with special attention directed toward cross-border criminal syndicates. Under SPP coordination, authorities brought charges against 285 members of four major family-based criminal organizations operating in northern Myanmar for offenses spanning fraud, intentional homicide, and assault.

    The judicial protection of personal information rights saw substantial strengthening, with prosecutors filing charges against 6,142 individuals for privacy violations and handling 4,456 public interest litigation cases concerning data protection matters.

  • N Korea cancels Pyongyang Marathon for ‘some reasons’

    N Korea cancels Pyongyang Marathon for ‘some reasons’

    In an unexpected development, North Korea has officially canceled the Pyongyang International Marathon scheduled for April 5, 2026, offering no substantive explanation for the decision. The announcement was communicated to Koryo Tours, the British-operated tour agency recognized as the event’s official partner, by North Korea’s athletics association.

    The notification, attributed to the association’s general secretary, cited vague “some reasons” for the cancellation while expressing gratitude to international elite and amateur runners who had shown interest in participating. According to Koryo Tours, the determination appears final and was made at a level surpassing the event’s direct organizers, suggesting higher governmental authority involvement.

    This marks the first cancellation since the event’s post-pandemic revival in 2025 after five consecutive years of COVID-19 related suspensions. Established in 1981 to commemorate the birth of North Korea’s founding leader Kim Il Sung, the marathon typically attracts foreign participants through specialized tour packages.

    Koryo Tours, which operates from Beijing, had sold out its premium packages priced from €2,190 for 2.5 nights in Pyongyang including race entry and city tours. The company has committed to full deposit refunds while offering participants the option to retain credits for future events. No date has been set for the 2027 edition of the competition, which traditionally features 5km, 10km, half-marathon and full marathon distances open to both amateur and professional athletes.

  • World’s oldest articulated bony fish fossil unearthed in Chongqing

    World’s oldest articulated bony fish fossil unearthed in Chongqing

    A groundbreaking paleontological discovery in China’s Chongqing Municipality has revealed the world’s oldest articulated bony fish fossil, fundamentally altering our understanding of vertebrate evolution. The exceptionally preserved specimen, named Eosteus chongqingensis, was excavated from a site in Xiushan county renowned for its exceptional preservation of ancient life forms.

    Dating back approximately 440 million years to the early Silurian Period, this remarkable fossil represents a pivotal moment in paleontological research. The findings, published in the prestigious journal Nature, effectively push back the evolutionary timeline of jawed vertebrates by nearly 11 million years, providing unprecedented insights into the origins of bony vertebrates that would eventually include humans.

    The research collaboration, spearheaded by the Chongqing Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources in partnership with the Chongqing Institute of Paleontology and led by Chinese Academy of Sciences academician Zhu Min, has yielded the most complete record of jawed vertebrates from the previously poorly understood Silurian Period. The exceptional articulation of the fossil provides researchers with unprecedented anatomical details that were previously unavailable from fragmentary remains.

    This discovery not only underscores Chongqing’s emerging significance as a paleontological research hub but also illuminates critical evolutionary transitions that occurred in ancient marine environments. The fossil’s preservation quality offers scientists a rare window into the anatomical features that characterized early jawed vertebrates, enhancing our comprehension of how life diversified from oceanic habitats to eventually colonize terrestrial ecosystems.

  • Elderly and medical care help Tianjin rank among Asia’s 50 happiest cities, says NPC deputy

    Elderly and medical care help Tianjin rank among Asia’s 50 happiest cities, says NPC deputy

    Tianjin has secured a prestigious position among Asia’s top 50 happiest cities, ranking 10th in the recently released “2025-2026 Top 50 Happiest Cities in Asia” report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. The recognition highlights the municipality’s significant advancements in quality-of-life infrastructure, particularly in elderly care services and healthcare accessibility.

    According to National People’s Congress deputy Zhang Boli, honorary president of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Tianjin’s achievement reflects systematic improvements across multiple sectors. The city has established a comprehensive network of over 1,800 elder canteens that have collectively served approximately 16 million residents, demonstrating the scale of Tianjin’s commitment to senior welfare.

    The municipality has simultaneously completed construction on 10 intelligent elderly care service complexes, including a facility at the Fuminlu Community Health Service Center in Hedong district that commenced operations last year. These centers incorporate advanced technologies to monitor residents’ health metrics and provide personalized care programs.

    One beneficiary, a 70-year-old woman surnamed Zhang, reported remarkable health improvements after participating in a community-based wellness initiative. “After being identified as overweight during a routine checkup, medical professionals recommended a tailored regimen of baduanjin exercises and dietary adjustments,” she explained. “Within approximately one month, I successfully lost 5 kilograms and returned to a healthy weight range.”

    Beyond elderly care, Tianjin has made substantial investments in traditional Chinese medicine infrastructure. The city has established renowned doctor clinics across multiple medical facilities and implemented TCM interventions specifically designed for age-related and pediatric health conditions. By the conclusion of last year, Tianjin had essentially created a “15-minute traditional Chinese medicine health circle” ensuring widespread access to these services.

    Deputy Zhang emphasized that municipal authorities remain committed to enhancing intelligent and convenient elderly care experiences while continuing to deliver practical benefits for all residents through ongoing public welfare initiatives.

  • China to accelerate smarter, greener transport system in 15th Five-Year Plan

    China to accelerate smarter, greener transport system in 15th Five-Year Plan

    China is poised to revolutionize its national transportation infrastructure through an ambitious modernization strategy during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Transport Minister Liu Wei announced the comprehensive initiative during the National People’s Congress session in Beijing, outlining a multi-faceted approach to create an integrated, intelligent, and environmentally sustainable transport ecosystem.

    The blueprint prioritizes four critical development areas: systemic integration, enhanced safety protocols, comprehensive digital transformation, and accelerated green transition. Minister Liu revealed that China’s national comprehensive three-dimensional transport network has already achieved over 90% completion during the previous five-year cycle, with targets set to reach 95% completion by 2030.

    China’s transportation scale demonstrates the system’s critical importance to national economic activity and daily life. Current metrics show approximately 30 million passenger vehicles utilizing expressways daily, alongside 10 million high-speed rail passengers and 2 million air travelers. Urban mobility records indicate 100 million daily metro journeys, with equivalent volumes using public buses and taxi/ride-hailing services. The logistics sector handles an impressive 550 million parcels collected daily across the nation.

    The modernization plan addresses critical vulnerabilities, including more than 120,000 kilometers of roads damaged annually by flooding. Infrastructure resilience projects will focus on reinforcing highways and bridges while implementing advanced digital monitoring systems. Artificial intelligence integration will expand significantly for automated highway inspections, with parallel developments in smart highway networks, automated ports, and intelligent shipping solutions.

    Environmental considerations form a cornerstone of the strategy, with transportation currently accounting for approximately 10% of national carbon emissions. The ministry will pioneer zero-carbon transport corridors and hubs while accelerating the adoption of new-energy vehicles, vessels, and clean transport equipment. Regional integration will receive renewed emphasis through improved intercity commuting networks and multimodal logistics systems designed to enhance transfer efficiency.

    Service enhancements for 2026 include optimized holiday travel support mechanisms, streamlined passenger transfer experiences, modernized expressway service areas, and improved facilities catering to elderly travelers and commercial truck drivers.