Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Asian shares are mixed in holiday-thinned trading with Wall Street closed for Thanksgiving

    Asian shares are mixed in holiday-thinned trading with Wall Street closed for Thanksgiving

    Asian equities presented a fragmented performance on Friday during subdued holiday trading, with technology shares experiencing declines as the recent rally fueled by Federal Reserve rate cut expectations began to lose momentum. While artificial intelligence developments continue influencing global market fluctuations, investor attention remains firmly fixed on U.S. monetary policy directions. Recent commentary from Federal Reserve officials has revitalized hopes for potential central bank action during its upcoming December meeting.

    Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management captured the prevailing market sentiment, noting, ‘Market participants are unanimously converging toward the same conclusion: the Fed will deliver holiday cheer through policy adjustments.’

    Japan’s Nikkei 225 remained virtually unchanged at 50,172.60, with AI-associated stocks including Kioxia Holdings, Fujikura and Lasertec among the notable decliners. Fresh government data revealed Tokyo’s core inflation held steady at 2.8% year-on-year in November, maintaining October’s level and remaining above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. This sustained inflationary pressure reinforces expectations for the central bank’s gradual shift toward higher interest rates, though analysts anticipate no immediate hike during December’s meeting.

    South Korea’s Kospi experienced a significant 1.4% decline to 3,930.95 following disappointing economic indicators. Industrial production dropped 4% month-on-month in October, substantially worse than September’s 1.1% contraction. Semiconductor production plummeted 26.5% monthly, dragging down technology giants including LG Energy Solutions, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.

    Chinese markets showed modest movements with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index dipping 0.2% to 25,896.33 while the Shanghai Composite index gained 0.2% to 3,883.46. Regional performances varied with Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index declining 0.1% to 8,608.90, Taiwan’s Taiex advancing 0.9%, and India’s BSE Sensex edging up 0.1%.

    The trading session followed positive momentum in U.S. markets, where stocks closed broadly higher on Wednesday before the Thanksgiving holiday. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones both gained 0.7%, while the Nasdaq Composite added 0.8%.

    In commodity markets, U.S. benchmark crude oil increased 43 cents to $59.08 per barrel, while Brent crude, the international standard, rose 21 cents to $63.08 per barrel in early Friday trading. Currency movements saw the U.S. dollar strengthen slightly to 156.34 Japanese yen from 156.31 yen, while the euro weakened to $1.1584 from $1.1596.

  • ICC judges to rule on provisional release of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

    ICC judges to rule on provisional release of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte

    THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court is poised to deliver a pivotal ruling on Friday regarding the potential release of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte from detention. Appeals judges will determine whether the octogenarian leader should be granted freedom while ongoing proceedings continue regarding charges of crimes against humanity.

    This legal development follows an October decision that maintained Duterte’s custody after judges determined he posed a flight risk and potential witness intimidation threat. ICC prosecutors allege Duterte’s direct involvement in dozens of extrajudicial killings during his controversial war on drugs campaign, first as mayor of Davao City and subsequently as president. Court documents indicate he allegedly instructed and authorized “violent acts including murder” against suspected criminals.

    The human toll of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign remains contested. Official national police statistics report over 6,000 fatalities, while human rights organizations estimate casualties could reach 30,000. Victims’ families celebrated Duterte’s initial arrest in March as a landmark moment for accountability.

    Duterte’s defense team contends their client suffers from significant physical and cognitive decline, describing his continued detention as “cruel” given his alleged inability to assist with his own legal defense. The court previously postponed pretrial proceedings in September pending comprehensive medical evaluation.

    Should appeals judges rule in Duterte’s favor, he would not return to the Philippines but instead be transferred to another ICC member state’s custody during continuing legal proceedings. This case represents a critical test for international justice mechanisms confronting allegations of state-sanctioned violence.

    The legal pathway to this moment began in February 2018 when ICC prosecutors initiated a preliminary investigation into Duterte-era violence. The former president subsequently withdrew the Philippines from the Rome Statute, a move critics characterized as an attempt to evade accountability. ICC judges have consistently maintained jurisdiction, ruling that nations cannot abuse withdrawal procedures to shield individuals from justice for crimes already under consideration.

  • Sri Lanka closes offices and schools as death toll from landslides and floods rises to 56

    Sri Lanka closes offices and schools as death toll from landslides and floods rises to 56

    COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan authorities have shuttered all government institutions and educational facilities nationwide following catastrophic monsoon conditions that have claimed 56 lives and damaged over 600 residences. The Indian Ocean nation continues to battle the most severe weather system to hit its territory this season, with conditions dramatically intensifying Thursday amid torrential rainfall that submerged entire communities, agricultural lands, and transportation networks while triggering multiple fatal landslides.

    The most devastating incidents occurred in the central highland regions of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, renowned for their tea plantations, where collapsing mountainsides buried communities under tons of earth and debris. Official reports from the Disaster Management Center confirm at least 25 fatalities in these districts alone, with 21 individuals remaining unaccounted for and 14 hospitalized with injuries.

    Transport infrastructure has suffered critical damage nationwide as overflowing reservoirs and river systems inundated roadways and railway tracks. Transportation authorities have suspended all passenger rail services and implemented widespread road closures after mudslides, rockfalls, and fallen trees rendered key transit routes impassable.

    Rescue operations have intensified with all branches of the military deploying emergency response teams. Aerial footage captured by local media showed Air Force helicopters executing precision rescues of civilians stranded on rooftops amidst raging floodwaters. Naval and police personnel have deployed amphibious vehicles and boats to evacuate residents from submerged neighborhoods. In one tragic incident near Ampara, surveillance cameras recorded a vehicle being swept away by violent currents, resulting in three fatalities.

    The meteorological department has issued continued alerts for additional precipitation, with emergency response teams remaining on highest alert across all affected provinces.

  • Hong Kong firefighters make final search for survivors after apartment tower blaze kills 94

    Hong Kong firefighters make final search for survivors after apartment tower blaze kills 94

    HONG KONG — In one of the most catastrophic urban fires in recent history, Hong Kong authorities concluded a massive search operation Friday through the charred remains of a residential complex where a devastating blaze claimed at least 94 lives. The inferno, which rapidly engulfed seven interconnected towers in the Wang Fuk Court complex, represents the city’s deadliest fire incident in decades.

    Firefighters conducted apartment-by-apartment sweeps as their operation transitioned from rescue to recovery. Deputy Director of Hong Kong Fire Services Derek Armstrong Chan confirmed crews prioritized approximately 25 units from which distress calls were received during the height of the emergency but remained unreachable until flames subsided.

    The tragedy ignited Wednesday afternoon when renovation scaffolding—constructed primarily from bamboo and covered in netting—caught fire, creating a rapid vertical conduit for flames to jump between buildings. Over 1,000 firefighters battled the five-alarm conflagration for 24 hours before bringing it under control, with sporadic flare-ups continuing to produce smoke nearly two days later.

    The Tai Po district complex, housing approximately 4,800 residents across 1,900 apartments with significant elderly population, became the scene of unprecedented destruction. Hong Kong leader John Lee reported 279 residents remained unaccounted for early Thursday, though officials cautioned the final missing persons count would only be determined after complete building searches.

    The disaster has triggered multiple investigations, including a corruption probe into renovation practices. Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption has joined the investigation amid allegations of substandard materials and safety violations. Three construction company officials—including directors and an engineering consultant—have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with police citing evidence of gross negligence.

    Authorities identified highly flammable plastic foam panels improperly installed near elevator lobbies and suspect exterior wall materials failed to meet fire resistance standards, contributing to the unusually rapid fire spread. The government has announced immediate safety inspections at all housing estates undergoing major renovations.

    With over 70 injured including 11 firefighters, and approximately 900 residents displaced to temporary shelters, the catastrophe has exposed critical safety concerns in urban construction practices. The incident marks the most lethal fire since Hong Kong’s 1996 commercial building blaze that killed 41 people in Kowloon.

  • Hong Kong fire ‘expected to be extinguished tonight’; construction firm bosses arrested

    Hong Kong fire ‘expected to be extinguished tonight’; construction firm bosses arrested

    Hong Kong authorities have made significant arrests in connection with the catastrophic fire that engulfed the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, marking the city’s most devastating blaze since 1948. Police have taken into custody two directors and an engineering consultant from Prestige Construction, the firm contracted for maintenance work, on suspicion of manslaughter due to alleged gross negligence in using unsafe materials.

    The inferno, which tore through the northern Tai Po district complex wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh, has claimed at least 83 lives with approximately 300 individuals still unaccounted for. Firefighters battled intense heat and thick smoke for over 24 hours before largely containing the blaze, with officials anticipating complete extinguishment by Friday evening.

    Rescue operations revealed harrowing scenes as distraught families searched for missing relatives outside emergency shelters housing 900 displaced residents. “They didn’t have water to save our building,” wept one 52-year-old woman identified only as Ng, clutching her daughter’s graduation photo while awaiting news of her family’s fate.

    The tragedy has triggered a massive response across societal and political spheres. Hong Kong leader John Lee announced a HK$300 million ($39 million) relief fund, while major corporations including Xiaomi, Xpeng, Geely, and foundations linked to Alibaba’s Jack Ma and Tencent pledged substantial donations. Pope Leo expressed spiritual solidarity through a telegram to Hong Kong’s bishop, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to minimize casualties.

    Authorities seized critical evidence including bidding documents, employee records, and electronic devices during raids on Prestige Construction’s offices. The development bureau has initiated discussions about replacing traditional bamboo scaffolding with metal alternatives as a safety measure, responding to concerns about the flammable foam material found sealing windows in unaffected buildings.

    The densely-packed complex, home to over 4,600 residents through Hong Kong’s subsidized home ownership scheme, represents the acute affordable housing challenges facing the financial hub. The tragedy has drawn comparisons to London’s 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster, raising serious questions about construction safety standards in high-density urban environments.

  • At least 40 dead as severe floods hit Sri Lanka

    At least 40 dead as severe floods hit Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka is grappling with one of its most severe weather-related catastrophes in recent years, as torrential rains have unleashed devastating floods and lethal landslides across the island nation. Official reports from the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) confirm a death toll of at least 40 individuals, with an additional 21 people reported missing.

    The central tea-growing district of Badulla suffered the most significant single incident, where a catastrophic overnight landslide buried multiple homes, claiming 21 lives. Disturbing footage circulating on social media platforms depicts the sheer force of the disaster, showing residential structures being swept away by powerful floodwaters. In response, authorities have established temporary shelters to provide refuge for displaced families.

    Compounding the crisis, meteorological officials warn that conditions are poised to deteriorate further with the approach of Cyclone Ditwah along Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline. Originally forming as a deep depression, the system has intensified into a cyclone that is forecasted to make landfall in India while significantly impacting Sri Lanka’s weather patterns.

    With river levels continuing to rise dangerously, the DMC has issued urgent evacuation advisories for residents in low-lying regions. The Irrigation Department has escalated warnings to red alert status for the Kelani River valley, including areas within the capital Colombo, anticipating critical flooding within the next 48 hours. Forecasters predict excessive rainfall exceeding 200mm in central and northern territories on Friday.

    The widespread disruption has severely impacted transportation networks, with key inter-provincial roads closed and railway services experiencing major interruptions. The educational sector has also been affected, prompting authorities to postpone Advanced Level Examinations for thousands of students.

    While Sri Lanka routinely experiences monsoon conditions, the current scale of devastation is exceptionally rare. The event evokes memories of the country’s worst flooding this century in June 2003, which resulted in 254 fatalities and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents.

  • Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues as Palestinians face ‘slow death’, Amnesty International says

    Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues as Palestinians face ‘slow death’, Amnesty International says

    Amnesty International has issued a stark warning that Israel continues to perpetrate genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, despite a ceasefire entering its second month and the release of all living Israeli captives. The human rights organization emphasized that the temporary calm creates a “dangerous illusion” of normalcy while systematic destruction continues.

    Secretary General Agnes Callamard stated that while Israel has reduced attack scales and permitted limited humanitarian access, the fundamental genocidal conditions persist. This assessment aligns with the United Nations’ top investigative body which ruled Israel guilty of genocide in September, a position supported by numerous world leaders, historians, and human rights experts.

    The US-brokered ceasefire initiated on October 10th has been violated nearly 500 times, resulting in at least 339 Palestinian fatalities from continued Israeli airstrikes. Israel maintains severe restrictions on humanitarian aid, allowing only 200 trucks daily instead of the agreed 600, while keeping Gaza’s Rafah border crossing closed and enforcing a comprehensive naval blockade.

    Amnesty’s report details how Palestinians face “slow death” from starvation, disease, and exposure due to destroyed infrastructure. The organization notes Israel’s systematic destruction of housing units and farmland, with the World Food Programme reporting most households unable to afford basic food items. Gaza’s economy has contracted by 87% from 2023-2024, creating what the UN describes as a “human-made abyss” requiring $70 billion for reconstruction.

    Meanwhile, US and Israeli officials are developing controversial plans to build temporary housing on Palestinian-owned land in Israeli-occupied Rafah, a move criticized by European, UN and Arab officials as effectively partitioning Gaza through reconstruction policies. The Trump administration and Israeli government are simultaneously working to prevent rebuilding in central Gaza areas from which troops were mandated to withdraw.

  • UAE: ‘No visa ban for Pakistani citizens’, official clarifies to Dawn amid reports

    UAE: ‘No visa ban for Pakistani citizens’, official clarifies to Dawn amid reports

    The United Arab Emirates has formally refuted circulating reports suggesting a visa ban on Pakistani citizens, with embassy officials clarifying that no such restrictions exist. This clarification comes directly from a senior official at the UAE Embassy in Pakistan who spoke anonymously to Dawn newspaper on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

    The diplomatic reassurance follows earlier statements from Pakistan’s Additional Interior Secretary Salman Chaudhry, who had informed a Senate committee that visa issuance appeared limited to diplomatic and official passport holders. The UAE official specifically countered this perception, emphasizing that regular visa processing for Pakistani nationals continues uninterrupted.

    This development occurs within the context of robust bilateral relations between the two nations. Pakistan represents the second-largest expatriate community in the UAE, with approximately 1.7 million citizens residing primarily in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Historical ties have strengthened through continuous diplomatic engagement and substantial labor migration, with over 230,000 Pakistanis relocating to the UAE during the 2023-24 financial year alone.

    Significant visa facilitation reforms were simultaneously unveiled by newly-appointed UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi during a meeting with Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. These enhancements include streamlined online visa processing, electronic visas without physical passport stamping, and improved system interoperability between governments. A newly established UAE visa center in Pakistan is currently processing approximately 500 applications daily, demonstrating operational normalization.

    In a parallel development, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry announced in May 2025 stringent measures for deportees, including passport cancellation and travel restrictions for those returning from the UAE and other countries. However, the recent diplomatic exchanges highlight continued cooperation across trade, investment, and technological sectors, reaffirming both nations’ commitment to strengthening their strategic economic partnership.

  • Hong Kong high-rise fire shows how hard an emergency evacuation is

    Hong Kong high-rise fire shows how hard an emergency evacuation is

    A catastrophic high-rise fire in Hong Kong has resulted in 83 confirmed fatalities with approximately 300 individuals still unaccounted for, marking the territory’s deadliest building fire since the 1996 Garley Building disaster. The blaze rapidly spread through a large residential complex via burning bamboo scaffolding, intensified by strong winds, ultimately highlighting fundamental vulnerabilities in high-rise evacuation protocols.

    This tragedy underscores a critical urban safety dilemma: evacuating densely populated skyscrapers during emergencies presents extraordinary challenges that combine physical infrastructure limitations with complex human behavioral factors. Unlike routine fire drills where descent speeds average 0.4-0.7 meters per second, actual emergency conditions dramatically reduce movement efficiency. During the 9/11 attacks, documented evacuation speeds frequently dropped below 0.3 m/s, with similar patterns observed in the 2010 Shanghai high-rise fire where nearly half of elderly survivors reported significant mobility deterioration.

    Three primary factors compound evacuation difficulties: physical fatigue during extended vertical descent, congestion at stairwell merging points, and variable mobility across diverse populations. Older adults, individuals with physical limitations, and family groups moving collectively substantially reduce overall flow rates. Visibility degradation due to smoke infiltration further impedes progress, as experimental studies confirm reduced lighting conditions significantly slow stairwell movement.

    Human behavior introduces additional complications. Most residents don’t respond immediately to alarms, instead seeking confirmation through multiple cues—visual smoke detection, auditory signals, or social verification—before initiating evacuation. This validation process, while psychologically understandable, consumes precious minutes during critical early stages. Family coordination and belongings collection further delay response times.

    Urban resilience experts Professors Milad Haghani (University of Melbourne), Erica Kuligowski (RMIT University), and Ruggiero Lovreglio (Massey University) argue that modern skyscraper safety requires integrated solutions beyond conventional stairwell dependence. Refuge floors—specially designed fire-resistant staging areas—allow evacuees to rest, transfer between stairwells, or await assisted evacuation. Fire-engineered elevators with pressurized shafts and backup power systems provide complementary vertical transportation when stairwells become impractical for vulnerable populations.

    The Hong Kong catastrophe serves as a sobering reminder that as global urbanization accelerates toward vertical expansion, evacuation infrastructure must evolve beyond twentieth-century paradigms. Combining stairwells, refuge floors, and protected elevators creates redundant safety systems that acknowledge both human physiological limitations and behavioral realities during extreme stress conditions.

  • 18-year-old Abu Dhabi expat wins KT+150 grand prize for self-charging power bank pitch

    18-year-old Abu Dhabi expat wins KT+150 grand prize for self-charging power bank pitch

    An 18-year-old Indian expatriate and environmental science student has claimed the grand prize in the inaugural KT+ 150 List Makers Elevator Pitch competition. Dhana Abdul Fathah, a second-year student at the American University of Sharjah, secured Dh250,000 worth of media coverage in Khaleej Times and 250,000 Skywards Miles from Emirates for her innovative self-charging power bank concept.

    The winning invention utilizes micro-energy chips that harness ambient energy from movement and light, eliminating the need for external charging sources. The Abu Dhabi-born student developed her submission under significant time constraints, creating and submitting her pitch video within just four hours before the competition deadline while simultaneously managing her university examinations.

    Dhana’s inspiration emerged from her academic focus on environmental science and sustainability, with several months of preliminary research preceding her competition entry. She anticipates requiring approximately one year to advance from research and development to creating a functional prototype, with ambitions to establish a formal startup venture by her graduation.

    The competition, organized by Khaleej Times, attracted over 20 entries according to Chief Content Officer Ted Kemp. Judges selected three finalists including Dhana’s power bank concept. Other shortlisted proposals included a zero-waste circular economy farm café that would convert restaurant scraps into compost for growing produce, and a proposed magic academy in Dubai aimed at fostering cognitive transformation through magical education.

    Despite her achievement, Dhana acknowledges forthcoming challenges in securing investors and scaling her technology. She maintains an additional role as remote ambassador for the Abu Dhabi-based Middle East Business Alliance for Sustainability while pursuing her studies.