Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • China plans to implement key education reforms

    China plans to implement key education reforms

    China is embarking on one of its most transformative education reforms in decades, with plans to expand free education and potentially extend compulsory schooling as part of the forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). This strategic shift represents a fundamental reorientation toward human capital investment, aiming to reduce household education costs while building a more skilled workforce for the future.

    The reform initiative gained momentum following the State Council’s August guideline implementing free preschool education, which currently waives fees for public kindergarten final-year students, benefiting approximately 12 million children. The recommendations adopted at the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in October further solidified this direction, proposing a steady expansion of free education coverage.

    Education experts hail these changes as a crucial step toward educational equity. Professor Gao Hang, Vice-Dean of Renmin University of China’s School of Education, characterizes this as a strategic move from traditional infrastructure investment to human development, strengthening the government’s commitment to safeguarding every citizen’s educational rights.

    The reform approach demonstrates pragmatic consideration of demographic and fiscal realities. With declining birth rates reducing preschool-age populations, free preschool education becomes financially feasible under China’s current fiscal system. In contrast, senior high school expansion faces greater fiscal challenges due to growing student numbers.

    Professor Xue Eryong of Beijing Normal University envisions 15 years of free basic education as an ideal goal, proposing gradual extension of free preschool education from one to three years and expanding free senior high school education in resource-adequate regions. He clarifies that while free education may be achieved for preschool, making it compulsory would require ensuring mandatory enrollment and standardized quality nationwide.

    The reforms also address broader social objectives. Compulsory education expansion helps curb school dropouts due to financial difficulties, improves foundational knowledge, reduces household education costs, and supports fertility-friendly policies.

    China faces multiple challenges in implementation, including debates over upward or downward expansion, trade-offs between prolonged learning and workforce entry timing, and balancing educational demands with fiscal constraints. Regional initiatives have laid groundwork, with Beijing targeting 90% affordable kindergarten coverage by 2025, Shandong province working toward adequate high school capacity by 2026, and the Xizang autonomous region already practicing 15-year free education since 2012.

    Wu Ni of the Chinese Academy of Education Sciences emphasizes the importance of phased, region-specific approaches, encouraging economically developed regions to pilot reforms first while establishing dynamic resource allocation mechanisms aligned with demographic trends and fiscal capacities.

  • Experts advocate increasing scope of BRI to include soft power sectors

    Experts advocate increasing scope of BRI to include soft power sectors

    SHANGHAI—The Belt and Road Initiative is poised for a strategic evolution beyond physical infrastructure as leading international experts call for greater emphasis on soft power sectors during a major academic forum. The ninth International Academic Forum on the Belt and Road and Global Governance, co-hosted by Fudan University and the Silk Road Think Tank Association, became a platform for redefining the initiative’s future direction.

    With global governance systems undergoing rapid transformation, participants emphasized that BRI must expand into science, culture, heritage preservation, sports, education, and health collaborations to effectively address worldwide challenges. This shift comes as the initiative enters what experts describe as a critical phase in global governance development.

    Erik Solheim, Co-Chair of the Europe-Asia Center and former UN Undersecretary-General, commended China’s leadership in steering BRI toward green transition while advocating for what he termed ‘small and beautiful projects’ in soft sectors. ‘China has demonstrated remarkable capability in hard infrastructure—railroads, roads, and environmental projects—but can achieve even greater impact through global health and education initiatives,’ Solheim stated.

    The digital dimension emerged as another priority area, with Solheim highlighting how BRI could help developing nations bridge technological gaps through digital infrastructure and access to artificial intelligence technologies. This perspective draws from his observations of China’s transformation since first visiting Shanghai in 1984.

    Liu Zhiqin, Senior Fellow at Renmin University’s Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, stressed the importance of connecting BRI outcomes directly to citizens’ daily lives through education, health, and technology cooperation. ‘Amid globalization challenges, BRI should build consensus through shared benefits mechanisms, enhancing its role as both international public good and collaboration platform,’ Liu noted.

    Artificial intelligence’s potential in educational cooperation received particular attention from Yuan Zhenguo, Chief Expert of the Shanghai Innovation Institute-ECNU Joint Laboratory of AI for Education. He detailed how large models in intelligent education could revolutionize cross-cultural exchanges while maintaining alignment with shared values of peace, equality, and development.

    The forum occurred against the backdrop of growing political and economic influence from Global South nations, whose cooperation mechanisms have reached new maturity levels. These countries are increasingly promoting comprehensive collaboration across political, economic, trade, technological, and cultural fields, contributing positively to international stability.

  • Nation rallies in grief, support after Hong Kong fire

    Nation rallies in grief, support after Hong Kong fire

    A profound wave of national solidarity has swept across China as citizens and institutions rally behind Hong Kong following the catastrophic residential tower fire that has left 146 people dead. The devastating blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has triggered an unprecedented response from mainland compatriots, businesses, and government entities alike, all demonstrating swift support for relief operations and victim assistance.

    Financial support has reached remarkable levels, with relief funds totaling HK$1.1 billion (approximately $141.3 million) mobilized through a combination of governmental allocations and corporate philanthropy. According to Cheuk Wing-hing, Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, HK$800 million originated from donations by dozens of major listed companies and charitable foundations nationwide, while HK$300 million was allocated through government grants.

    The People’s Bank of China has implemented special financial measures to facilitate cross-border support, establishing a dedicated ‘green lane’ for renminbi donations originating from the mainland. This expedited processing system ensures immediate transfer of funds to recipient accounts in Hong Kong, accelerating critical search and rescue operations, medical treatment for the injured, and comprehensive relief efforts.

    Hong Kong’s leadership, led by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu, joined principal officials and civil servants in a solemn memorial service at government headquarters on Saturday. The ceremony featured flags flown at half-staff and a three-minute silence observed by all present officials in honor of those lost in the tragedy.

    The HKSAR government has announced a three-day mourning period during which condolence points will be established across all 18 districts of the city. These designated areas will allow members of the public to express their sympathies through condolence books and participate in collective mourning activities for the victims of one of Hong Kong’s most devastating residential fires in recent history.

  • Sydney men charged with spreading child sexual abuse videos tied to international ring

    Sydney men charged with spreading child sexual abuse videos tied to international ring

    Australian authorities have apprehended four Sydney-based individuals allegedly connected to a sophisticated international child exploitation ring specializing in ritualistic abuse content. New South Wales police confirmed the arrests following a comprehensive investigation into encrypted online channels distributing extreme child sexual abuse material with satanic and occult themes.

    Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty characterized the network’s activities as particularly devastating due to their incorporation of ritualistic symbols and organized discussions surrounding child torture. The investigation, spearheaded by a specialized state police task force, uncovered thousands of videos depicting abuse victims ranging from infants to 12-year-olds.

    Last Thursday, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants across Sydney, resulting in the seizure of electronic devices containing extensive evidence. The four accused men—Landon Germanotta-Mills (26), Stuart Woods Riches (39), Mark Andrew Sendecky (42), and Benjamin Raymond Drysdale (46)—face multiple charges related to distributing child abuse material online.

    Germanotta-Mills, identified as playing a leadership role within the network, faces additional charges for disseminating and possessing bestiality content. Police emphasize that while the defendants actively shared this material, they did not produce the original abuse content themselves.

    International collaboration remains ongoing to identify victims and perpetrators across jurisdictions. Despite the progress made, no victims had been formally identified as of Monday. All defendants have been denied bail and are scheduled to reappear in court in late January. Legal representatives for the accused have declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.

  • Flooding recovery efforts underway in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand as death tolls rise

    Flooding recovery efforts underway in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand as death tolls rise

    Southeast Asian nations are confronting a monumental humanitarian crisis as catastrophic flooding and landslides have claimed nearly 1,000 lives across the region. The devastating weather systems have unleashed widespread destruction throughout Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, with recovery operations intensifying amid compromised infrastructure and communication networks.

    Indonesian authorities report the highest casualty figures with 469 confirmed fatalities, while President Prabowo Subianto visited the hardest-hit Sumatra island regions where 474 individuals remain missing and approximately 290,700 people have been displaced. The catastrophe has rendered many areas completely inaccessible due to damaged transportation routes and severed communication lines, necessitating emergency aerial supply missions to reach isolated communities.

    In Thailand, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has initiated comprehensive recovery and compensation programs for twelve southern provinces where unprecedented flooding has impacted 3.8 million citizens across 1.4 million households. Simultaneously, Sri Lankan rescue teams continue searching for 370 missing persons while providing shelter for nearly 148,000 displaced residents in temporary facilities, primarily in the central tea-growing highlands that suffered extensive landslide damage.

    President Subianto emphasized the critical need for enhanced climate resilience during his assessment of the disaster zones, stating that local governments must prioritize environmental protection and preparation for increasingly extreme weather patterns. The regional disaster has highlighted the urgent necessity for coordinated climate adaptation strategies as meteorological experts attribute the unprecedented rainfall to changing climate conditions.

  • Bangladesh’s ex-leader Hasina and niece, British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, found guilty of corruption

    Bangladesh’s ex-leader Hasina and niece, British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq, found guilty of corruption

    A Dhaka special court has delivered prison sentences to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members in a high-profile corruption case involving a government land allocation scheme. The verdict, issued Monday, sentenced Hasina to five years imprisonment while her niece Tulip Siddiq—a sitting British Labour Party parliamentarian—received a two-year term.

    Presiding Judge Rabiul Alam found Hasina guilty of abusing her prime ministerial authority to facilitate illicit land acquisitions for family members. The court identified Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s sister and Siddiq’s mother, as the primary beneficiary of the scheme, handing her a seven-year prison term—the most severe sentence among the defendants.

    All three convicted individuals were fined 70,000 taka (approximately $813) and ordered to forfeit the controversially acquired property. Fourteen additional suspects remain implicated in the case.

    Corruption prosecutor Khan Mohammed Mainul Hasan expressed disappointment with the sentencing, revealing that prosecutors had sought life imprisonment for the principal defendants. “We will consult with the commission for our next course of action,” Hasan stated following the verdict.

    The trial proceeded without defense representation, as none of the accused appointed legal counsel. All convicted parties currently reside outside Bangladesh—Hasina in exile in India, while Rehana and Siddiq’s siblings remain abroad facing separate charges related to last year’s political uprising.

    Siddiq, who represents London’s Hampstead and Highgate constituencies, previously denounced the proceedings as “a farce built on fabricated accusations and driven by a clear political vendetta.” She resigned from her ministerial position in January amid mounting pressure regarding her familial connections.

    This verdict adds to Hasina’s legal troubles, following her November death sentence for crimes against humanity during the crackdown that ended her fifteen-year administration. In a related case involving the same township project, another court previously sentenced Hasina to twenty-one years imprisonment, with her children receiving five-year terms.

    The interim government under Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus continues to oversee Bangladesh’s political transition, having announced parliamentary elections for February.

  • Over 120,000 home cameras hacked for ‘sexploitation’ footage

    Over 120,000 home cameras hacked for ‘sexploitation’ footage

    South Korean law enforcement has apprehended four individuals following a sophisticated cybercrime operation involving the unauthorized access of more than 120,000 Internet Protocol (IP) cameras installed in private residences and commercial establishments. The suspects allegedly exploited security vulnerabilities in these devices to capture intimate footage, which was subsequently converted into sexually exploitative content and monetized on an overseas digital platform.

    According to Sunday’s announcement from the National Police Agency, the perpetrators capitalized on weak authentication measures, particularly simplistic passwords commonly used by IP camera owners. These connected devices, frequently employed for home security, child monitoring, or pet surveillance, represent a more affordable alternative to traditional closed-circuit television systems.

    The compromised cameras were located across diverse settings including private dwellings, karaoke venues, a Pilates studio, and a gynecological clinic. Police confirmed the suspects operated independently without collusion, though their collective actions accounted for a significant portion of illegal content on the distribution website.

    One individual stands accused of infiltrating 63,000 cameras and producing 545 explicit videos, generating approximately 35 million won ($12,235) in cryptocurrency payments. Another allegedly penetrated 70,000 devices, creating and selling 648 videos for 18 million won in digital assets. Together, their output constituted roughly 62% of all material uploaded to the illicit platform over the past twelve months.

    Authorities are coordinating with international partners to dismantle the website and investigate its operators. Three additional individuals have been detained for purchasing and viewing the illegal content. Cyber Investigation Chief Park Woo-hyun emphasized the severity of these crimes, stating: “IP camera hacking and illegal filming inflict immense suffering on victims. We will eradicate them through vigorous investigations, including prosecution of those who view or possess illicit recordings.”

    Victim notification procedures are underway, with officials personally visiting or contacting affected individuals at 58 confirmed locations to provide security guidance and password change assistance. The National Police Agency reiterated the critical importance of user vigilance, recommending immediate and regular password updates for all IP camera owners.

  • Tulip Siddiq MP given jail sentence in Bangladesh after trial in her absence

    Tulip Siddiq MP given jail sentence in Bangladesh after trial in her absence

    British Labour MP Tulip Siddiq has been convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Bangladeshi court for corruption-related offenses, tried in absentia alongside sixteen other defendants. The ruling centers on allegations that Siddiq improperly influenced her aunt, former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to obtain a land allocation for family members on the outskirts of Dhaka—charges the London-based parliamentarian vehemently denies.

    The verdict, delivered by Judge Rabiul Alam, includes a financial penalty of 100,000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately $821), with an additional six-month prison term stipulated for non-payment. Despite the sentence, Siddiq is unlikely to serve time given the UK’s lack of an extradition treaty with Bangladesh and her status as a sitting British MP.

    This case emerges amid widespread legal actions initiated by Bangladeshi prosecutors following the ouster of Hasina’s government in July 2024. The former prime minister herself recently received a death sentence in a separate trial concerning crimes against humanity during anti-government protests.

    Siddiq’s legal representatives contest the jurisdiction of Bangladeshi courts, maintaining that she holds no Bangladeshi citizenship or official documentation. The trial has drawn international scrutiny, with prominent British legal figures—including former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland and human rights lawyer Cherie Blair—questioning the fairness of proceedings and noting Siddiq’s inability to secure adequate legal representation.

    The MP previously resigned from her Treasury ministerial position in January to avoid becoming a ‘distraction’ for the UK government, though an ethics investigation found no evidence of impropriety. She continues to face multiple additional charges in Bangladesh, including investigations into property transfers and a nuclear power plant deal during Hasina’s administration.

  • Singapore executes three men for drug offences over two days

    Singapore executes three men for drug offences over two days

    Singapore has carried out three executions for drug-related offenses within a single week, elevating the nation’s total number of state-sanctioned deaths to 17 this year—the highest figure recorded since 2003. The executions occurred just days before a significant constitutional challenge questioning the legality of the mandatory death penalty for drug crimes is scheduled to be heard.

    Under Singapore’s stringent anti-narcotics legislation, individuals found guilty of trafficking more than 15 grams of diamorphine, 30 grams of cocaine, 250 grams of methamphetamine, or 500 grams of cannabis face compulsory capital punishment. The government defends these measures as essential deterrents against drug-related crimes, which remain a critical concern across Southeast Asia.

    A coalition of seven activists has mounted a legal challenge arguing that the mandatory death penalty violates constitutional guarantees to life and equal protection. They contend that the current framework contradicts the constitutional provision that “no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty save in accordance with law.”

    Among those executed was Saminathan Selvaraju, a Malaysian logistics driver convicted in 2013 of transporting 301.6 grams of heroin. Saminathan maintained his innocence, claiming that multiple drivers had access to the company vehicle used in the offense and that immigration documents bearing his signature were forged. His defense was rejected by the court, and his plea for clemency was denied.

    Singapore’s use of the death penalty has drawn international criticism. The European Union delegation in Singapore issued a statement condemning the executions, emphasizing that drug offenses do not meet the international legal threshold for “most serious crimes” warranting capital punishment. Activist groups, including the Transformative Justice Collective, have labeled Singapore’s policy “barbaric” and out of step with global norms.

    Despite external pressure, the Singaporean government remains resolute. Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has asserted that abolishing the death penalty could lead to increased drug-related violence, harm, and fatalities, particularly among vulnerable populations. A 2023 government-sponsored survey indicated that 69% of Singaporean residents support capital punishment for major drug trafficking offenses.

    The constitutional challenge, set for hearing imminently, represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over justice, human rights, and drug policy in one of Asia’s most developed—and strictest—legal jurisdictions.

  • US futures slip and Asian stocks are mixed, while oil prices surge more than $1 a barrel

    US futures slip and Asian stocks are mixed, while oil prices surge more than $1 a barrel

    Asian financial markets exhibited a divergent trajectory at the start of the trading week, characterized by significant declines in Japan’s Nikkei 225 index which plummeted 1.9% to 49,285.66. This downturn followed the release of disappointing corporate investment figures and a persistently contracting manufacturing sector. The S&P Global Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) registered at 48.7 in November, marking its fifth consecutive month in contraction territory below the critical 50-point expansion threshold.

    China’s industrial sector mirrored these challenges, with official data confirming an eighth straight month of factory activity contraction. This ongoing weakness in Asia’s largest economies occurs despite the extended trade truce between Washington and Beijing, highlighting deeper structural economic challenges.

    Regional performance varied considerably across Asian markets. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index defied the trend with a 0.8% gain to 26,068.05, while mainland China’s Shanghai Composite advanced 0.4% to 3,904.90. South Korea’s Kospi remained virtually unchanged, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 slipped 0.3%. Notable corporate movement included Meituan, the Chinese food delivery giant, whose shares declined 1.5% despite revenue growth, as intense competition compressed profit margins.

    Energy markets witnessed substantial movement with benchmark crude oil prices climbing over $1 per barrel. Currency markets saw the U.S. dollar weaken against the Japanese yen to 155.57, while the euro gained modest ground. Cryptocurrency markets experienced volatility as Bitcoin retreated 5.3% to $86,225.

    The manufacturing slowdown across Asia is being closely monitored for indications of how elevated U.S. tariffs might be affecting export-dependent economies. Despite these industrial challenges, regional exports have demonstrated resilience in recent months. Market attention remains divided between manufacturing weaknesses and robust consumer spending during the recent Black Friday and Cyber Monday retail events, which reportedly exceeded expectations.

    U.S. futures pointed to a lower opening, with S&P 500 futures down 0.7% and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures declining 0.4%. This follows a technical disruption on Friday that halted trading for hours at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange due to a data center outage, though markets ultimately finished the abbreviated post-Thanksgiving session with gains.