Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Confidence, time management biggest challenges student entrepreneurs face, says CEO

    Confidence, time management biggest challenges student entrepreneurs face, says CEO

    Young entrepreneurs embarking on business ventures while pursuing academic studies are confronting a distinct set of challenges that extend far beyond curriculum choices. According to Sara Al Nuaimi, CEO of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa), the primary obstacles for student founders are not about choosing between education and enterprise, but rather developing the crucial skills needed to thrive in both realms simultaneously.

    Al Nuaimi identifies three fundamental hurdles: limited entrepreneurial experience, poor time management, and critically, insufficient exposure to real-world business environments. She emphasizes that early exposure plays a transformative role in shaping how students comprehend business operations and decision-making processes. “Student founders are entering entrepreneurship earlier than ever, often while still navigating their academic journeys,” Al Nuaimi told Khaleej Times. “What they need most at this stage is exposure to real founders, real decisions, and real pathways beyond the classroom.”

    Sheraa, a government-supported incubator based in Sharjah, has demonstrated remarkable success in addressing these challenges. The organization has supported over 180 startups, with more than half led by female entrepreneurs, upskilled more than 18,000 young individuals, and generated over $248 million in revenue through its initiatives.

    The upcoming Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival serves as a prime example of the platforms addressing these needs. The event will convene investors, established entrepreneurs, and executives from prominent companies including WHOOP, Revolutionary, and Kitopi. Such gatherings provide student entrepreneurs with invaluable opportunities to move beyond theoretical concepts and gain practical insights.

    Perhaps most significantly, these experiences help combat what Al Nuaimi identifies as another major challenge: confidence building. Many capable students hesitate to fully pursue their ideas due to uncertainty about how and when to begin. Exposure to authentic entrepreneurial journeys helps reframe this uncertainty as a natural part of the learning process rather than an insurmountable barrier.

    The success of Eshara, an AI-powered Arabic sign language platform founded by students, exemplifies this approach. Through structured ecosystem support including incubation, mentorship, and live testing opportunities, the student founders transformed an academic concept into a functional startup addressing communication barriers for the hearing-impaired community.

    These experiences demonstrate that with proper guidance and access to supportive environments, students can successfully develop as entrepreneurs while continuing their education, effectively bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world business application.

  • Japan bids farewell to panda twins

    Japan bids farewell to panda twins

    Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens witnessed an outpouring of emotion on Tuesday as thousands gathered to bid farewell to Japan’s last remaining giant pandas, twins Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei, who embarked on their journey to China. This departure signifies the first time in approximately half a century that Japan will be without these beloved bears, closing a significant chapter in Sino-Japanese cultural exchange.

    The atmosphere was charged with sentiment as devoted fans, many carrying panda-themed accessories and plush toys, formed extensive queues outside the zoo hours before the scheduled departure. Despite each visitor being allocated merely one minute for final viewing during Sunday’s last public appearance, the crowd remained enthusiastic, with many expressing hopes to eventually visit China to see the pandas again.

    According to Chinese media reports, the twins departed Ueno Zoo for Narita International Airport in the afternoon, scheduled to board a flight to Sichuan province where they will reunite with their mother Xian Nyu and elder sister Xiang Xiang at a specialized facility.

    The announcement of their December departure triggered a significant surge in zoo attendance, necessitating the implementation of an online reservation system to manage unprecedented visitor numbers. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun confirmed the pandas’ transfer under bilateral agreements, while extending warm invitations for Japanese friends to visit pandas in China.

    This panda conservation program, initiated in 1972 with the arrival of the first bears, has been widely regarded as exceptionally successful, fostering cooperation in breeding, veterinary care, and public education. Over three decades, more than 30 giant pandas were either loaned to Japan or born there under this initiative.

    Doi Toshimitsu, president of a panda protection institute and former Ueno zoo director, emphasized how the original pandas’ arrival symbolized the normalization of Japan-China relations, noting that these charismatic animals remain enduring symbols of friendship and cultural exchange between the nations.

    The economic impact of panda diplomacy extends beyond conservation. Panda-themed merchandise, souvenirs, and snacks have generated substantial revenue for local businesses throughout the years. Following the departure announcement, nearby shopping districts launched special panda-themed promotions featuring bear-modeled desserts and merchandise.

    Miyamoto Katsuhiro, professor emeritus of economics at Kansai University, projected that the absence of pandas at Ueno Zoo would result in estimated annual economic losses of at least 15.4 billion yen ($100 million), significantly affecting adjacent hotels, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

    The zoo has housed 15 pandas since 1972, with the birth of Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei on June 23, 2021, triggering neighborhood-wide celebrations that became cherished community memories. Their departure follows the return of elder sister Xiang Xiang in February 2023 and parents Bi Li and Xian Nyu in September 2024, along with four pandas from Adventure World in Wakayama prefecture last June.

  • Chinese premier urges integrity, anti-corruption efforts in government work

    Chinese premier urges integrity, anti-corruption efforts in government work

    In a significant address at the State Council meeting on clean governance, Chinese Premier Li Qiang has issued a powerful directive reinforcing the nation’s commitment to governmental integrity and anti-corruption measures. The high-level gathering, held on January 27, 2026, brought together top leadership including Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang who presided over the meeting, and discipline chief Li Xi from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

    Premier Li, who also serves on the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized that robust anti-corruption mechanisms and ethical governance would serve as fundamental pillars for achieving China’s developmental objectives throughout the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). The comprehensive strategy outlined during the meeting focuses on multiple dimensions of governance reform.

    The Premier called for enhanced standards and more practical implementation of full and rigorous Party self-governance, ensuring these efforts permeate all aspects of governmental operations. He stressed the necessity of resolutely executing the CPC Central Committee’s decisions while fostering appropriate performance metrics for officials.

    Additional measures include combating bureaucratic formalism and alleviating administrative burdens on grassroots-level officials. The Premier specifically highlighted the critical need for strengthened audit oversight and accounting controls to guarantee the secure and efficient management of public funds and assets.

    Notably, Li Qiang directed attention toward addressing corruption in high-risk sectors and resolving misconduct that directly impacts citizens’ daily lives. This dual approach targets both systemic vulnerabilities and community-level grievances, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of corruption’s multifaceted nature.

    The high-level participation in this meeting signals the coordinated commitment across China’s leadership structure to advance transparency and accountability within governance systems.

  • Scientists find clues to hiking chip storage

    Scientists find clues to hiking chip storage

    Chinese researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in materials science that could fundamentally transform data storage technology. A team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Physics has identified previously unknown one-dimensional boundaries within three-dimensional ferroelectric crystals that measure merely one hundred-thousandth the diameter of a human hair.

    The study, published in the prestigious journal Science, reveals that these atomic-scale linear structures—previously thought to be unstable—can be stabilized through crystal imperfections. Specifically, missing or additional oxygen atoms function as atomic-level adhesive, preventing these charged lines from disappearing due to electrical forces.

    This finding challenges long-standing physics theories about material interfaces. Where scientists previously believed data-storing boundaries within crystals were two-dimensional planes, the research demonstrates they can contract into stable one-dimensional lines approximately the width of a single atom.

    The technological implications are staggering. Current storage technology operates at scales of tens of nanometers, while these newly discovered structures are hundreds of times smaller. According to Dr. Zhong Hai, the study’s lead author and associate professor at Ludong University, this discovery could enable storage densities approximately 600 times greater than current capabilities.

    Practical applications could include postage stamp-sized chips capable of storing 20 terabytes of data—equivalent to approximately 10,000 high-definition movies. The technology also promises artificial intelligence chips hundreds of times more powerful and energy-efficient than contemporary models.

    While the researchers successfully manipulated these atomic lines using advanced electron microscopes and localized electric fields, significant engineering challenges remain before commercial application. The team emphasizes this represents fundamental research that opens new pathways in materials science rather than immediately market-ready technology.

  • Chengdu firm sets up large computing model in space

    Chengdu firm sets up large computing model in space

    In a groundbreaking advancement for space technology and artificial intelligence, Chengdu-based GuoXing Aerospace Technology has successfully deployed a general-purpose AI model aboard orbiting satellites, creating the world’s first operational space-based computing center. The company announced this technological milestone at a recent seminar, revealing they have uplinked Alibaba’s sophisticated Qwen3 large language model to their inaugural satellite cluster launched in May 2025.

    The achievement represents a significant leap in space computing capabilities, with the system successfully completing multiple end-to-end reasoning tasks entirely in orbit. During trials, questions transmitted from Earth to the satellite were processed on board and results returned to ground stations—all within an impressive two-minute timeframe.

    This development emerges as global demand for computing power reaches unprecedented levels, driven largely by artificial intelligence applications. The space-based computing race has intensified with recent developments, including SpaceX’s November launch of the Starcloud-1 satellite equipped with Nvidia GPUs.

    Wang Yabo, Executive Vice-President of the Sichuan-based startup, outlined ambitious plans to expand this initial success into a comprehensive network of 2,800 specialized computing satellites by 2035. The proposed constellation will include 2,400 inference satellites and 400 training satellites deployed across multiple orbital configurations at altitudes ranging from 500 to 1,000 kilometers.

    The system is designed to utilize advanced laser inter-satellite links for high-speed data transfer, with projected capabilities of delivering 100,000 petaflops of inference compute and 1 million petaflops of training compute worldwide. The company plans to deploy additional satellite clusters this year, targeting completion of a 1,000-satellite network by 2030.

  • Palantir: Why is the Israel-linked surveillance firm embedded in Britain’s NHS?

    Palantir: Why is the Israel-linked surveillance firm embedded in Britain’s NHS?

    The British government confronts intensifying criticism regarding its substantial contractual agreements with Palantir Technologies, a U.S.-based artificial intelligence and data analytics firm. Recent revelations indicate the company secured a £330 million NHS England contract in 2023, scheduled for renewal in 2027, alongside a £240 million Ministry of Defence agreement finalized in December—tripling the value of its previous 2022 defense contract.

    This strategic partnership, formalized in September, includes a £1.5 billion investment pledge to advance military artificial intelligence capabilities. The collaboration focuses on developing sophisticated combat systems, including an AI-enhanced ‘kill chain’ targeting mechanism designed to improve battlefield precision.

    Controversy surrounds Palantir’s expanding role within UK public services due to its involvement in multiple international controversies. Campaigners highlight the company’s provision of targeting software to Israeli military operations in Gaza and its collaboration with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during controversial immigration enforcement actions under the Trump administration.

    British parliamentarians have expressed apprehension following reports that Swiss military authorities rejected Palantir over concerns regarding potential U.S. intelligence access to sensitive data. Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, emphasized the necessity for ‘transparent due diligence’ in government contract reviews.

    Medical associations including the British Medical Association (BMA) and Doctors’ Association UK (DAUK) strongly oppose Palantir’s NHS Federated Data Platform initiative. The BMA declared Palantir an ‘unacceptable partner’ in June 2025, citing ethical incompatibility with healthcare values. DAUK’s polling indicates 48% of patients would opt out of data sharing if Palantir manages their information.

    Privacy advocates warn of systemic risks, noting Palantir’s software interoperability between its Foundry healthcare platform and Gotham military application. Health data experts caution against creating technological dependency that might prove irreversible, comparing the situation to subscription models where initial free access leads to indispensable integration.

    Legal challenges led by DAUK and The Good Law Project seek to halt further implementation, while several NHS trusts explore alternative data management solutions. With the contract review approaching in 2027, opposition groups aim to mobilize broader resistance against Palantir’s deepening integration into UK public infrastructure.

  • ASML made record $11.5 billion profit in 2025 thanks to AI-driven demand, plans to cut 1,700 jobs

    ASML made record $11.5 billion profit in 2025 thanks to AI-driven demand, plans to cut 1,700 jobs

    Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML has reported unprecedented financial performance for 2025, achieving a historic net profit of €9.6 billion ($11.5 billion) on sales totaling €32.7 billion. This remarkable growth, driven primarily by artificial intelligence-related demand, represents a significant milestone for the chip machinery manufacturer.

    Despite operating under Dutch government export restrictions targeting advanced chipmaking equipment that could be utilized in weapons systems, ASML has demonstrated remarkable resilience. These export controls, initially implemented in 2023 and subsequently expanded, align with broader U.S. initiatives to limit China’s access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology.

    President and CEO Christophe Fouquet emphasized the transformative market shift, stating: ‘Recent months have witnessed our customers expressing substantially more optimistic medium-term market assessments, fundamentally anchored in strengthened expectations regarding the sustainability of AI-driven demand. This positive outlook has translated into significant enhancements to their capacity planning and our record-breaking order intake.’

    Concurrently, ASML announced strategic workforce reductions affecting approximately 1,700 positions, representing roughly 4% of its global workforce. The company characterized these measures as proactive streamlining initiatives designed to enhance operational efficiency and innovation capacity. Internal communications to employees clarified that these organizational changes are being implemented from a position of corporate strength rather than financial necessity.

    The restructuring primarily targets technology and IT departments, aiming to sharpen ASML’s engineering focus and innovation capabilities. Company leadership emphasized that process and system improvements will facilitate more effective innovation, ultimately driving responsible growth for ASML and its stakeholders.

    Looking forward to 2026, ASML anticipates another year of expansion, with growth expected to be propelled by continued strong demand for its extreme ultraviolet lithography systems—the sophisticated machinery essential for producing the world’s most advanced semiconductors.

  • Students get ringside view of grassroots governance

    Students get ringside view of grassroots governance

    In a groundbreaking educational initiative, Shanghai’s Hongkou district has transformed civic education by bringing high school students directly into the heart of grassroots governance. Eleven local schools participated in an immersive program that allowed student representatives to observe actual sessions of the district people’s congress as special observers, providing them with unprecedented access to China’s political processes.

    The program represents the nation’s first comprehensive demonstration district for youth education on the people’s congress system, established in 2023. According to Li Wenqing, deputy director of the education, science, culture and public health committee of Hongkou’s standing committee, the district has created a robust support system enabling students to interact directly with congressional deputies, visit legislative contact points, draft research reports, and even simulate standing committee meetings under professional guidance.

    Students reported profound shifts in their understanding of democracy and civic engagement. ‘When I first learned about whole-process people’s democracy in junior high school, it remained an abstract concept,’ reflected Zhang Yiwu, a student from Chengzhong High School affiliated with Tongji University. ‘Now, sitting in the congress hall, I recognize it as tangible reality embedded in representatives’ proposals that directly impact our daily lives.’

    The initiative has yielded concrete results, with student research proposals on regional development and livelihood issues being formally submitted to the congress. Tang Qun, principal of Shanghai Beijiao High School, confirmed that youth perspectives are now actively incorporated into local governance discussions.

    Congress deputies have praised the students’ engagement and intellectual maturity. Zhang Lei, a district deputy, noted that ‘although students under 18 cannot vote yet, they are vital society members. Listening to their voices demonstrates whole-process people’s democracy at its most inclusive and authentic.’ Another deputy, Xu Wei, remarked on students’ remarkable confidence and independent thinking during discussions about legislative authority and sports regulation amendments.

    Building on this successful pilot, Hongkou district is expanding people’s congress education to all high schools through elective courses, project-based learning, and immersive activities. The district education bureau, under Sun Lei’s leadership, is also exploring program extension to middle and elementary schools, with future initiatives focusing on student research into practical social issues including elderly care and community renovation.

  • Malaysia football officials quit over foreign-born players scandal

    Malaysia football officials quit over foreign-born players scandal

    The entire executive committee of Malaysia’s Football Association (FAM) has collectively resigned amidst an escalating international scandal involving allegedly falsified citizenship documents for seven foreign-born national team players. The unprecedented mass resignation follows FIFA’s investigation into player eligibility violations that has rocked Malaysian football.

    FIFA, world football’s governing body, initiated proceedings after Malaysia’s 4-0 victory against Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier last June. The investigation centered on seven athletes of diverse origins: Spanish-born Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, and Jon Irazabal Iraurgui; Argentinian-born Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca; Netherlands-born Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano; and Brazilian-born Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo.

    The controversy involves FIFA’s ‘grandfather rule,’ which permits foreign-born players to represent nations where their biological parents or grandparents originated. According to FIFA investigators, FAM allegedly fabricated birth certificates to falsely indicate the players’ grandparents were born in Malaysian cities including Penang and Malacca, when original documentation showed their grandparents’ birthplaces corresponded with the players’ own countries of origin.

    FIFA’s disciplinary committee imposed 12-month playing suspensions and fines against the seven athletes while ordering FAM to pay 350,000 Swiss francs (approximately $440,000). The global body additionally overturned three of Malaysia’s previous match results—against Singapore, Palestine, and Cape Verde—awarding 3-0 defeats instead.

    FAM maintained the discrepancies resulted from an ‘administrative error’ and asserted the players’ citizenship legitimacy. After FIFA rejected their appeal, the association escalated the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In a significant interim development, CAS lifted the players’ suspensions this week pending its final verdict expected in late February.

    The mass committee resignation aims to ‘safeguard FAM’s reputation and institutional interests’ while enabling necessary reforms ‘without distraction or perceived conflicts.’ Current operations will be managed by a reduced team led by FAM’s secretary-general with support from the Asian Football Confederation.

    This scandal highlights broader regional trends where Southeast Asian nations increasingly naturalize foreign athletes to enhance competitive performance. Indonesia has incorporated Dutch-born players of Indonesian descent, while Malaysia granted citizenship to 23 foreign athletes since 2018 specifically for national team representation.

  • Chinese tourists avoid Japan amid concerns

    Chinese tourists avoid Japan amid concerns

    A perfect storm of diplomatic tensions, safety warnings, and operational disruptions has precipitated a dramatic collapse in Chinese tourism to Japan, with travel industry experts reporting unprecedented cancellation rates and declining visitor numbers.

    The downturn began in November 2025 following controversial remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan, which sparked significant public backlash in China. This diplomatic friction coincided with multiple other concerns that have collectively diminished Chinese traveler confidence in Japan as a preferred destination.

    According to Yang Jinsong, a prominent researcher at the China Tourism Academy, the decline represents a complex convergence of factors. “Beyond the bilateral relations affecting public sentiment, travelers are growing increasingly wary of Japan’s public security situation, recent seismic activity, and disease outbreaks,” Yang explained.

    The aviation sector has manifested this trend through massive flight cancellations. Data from Flight Manager, an aviation analytics platform, reveals that cancellation rates for mainland China to Japan routes reached 47.2% in January 2026—a 7.8 percentage point increase from December 2025. By late January, carriers had already canceled February flights on 49 scheduled routes.

    China’s three major airlines—Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines—responded to the situation by offering unprecedented flexibility. On January 27, 2026, they announced that passengers who purchased tickets before noon that day for Japan-bound flights scheduled between March 29 and October 24, 2026, would be eligible for free refunds or changes.

    Official immigration statistics released by the Japanese government on January 15, 2026, quantify the impact: approximately 348,700 Chinese nationals (excluding those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) traveled to Japan in December 2025. This represents a staggering 40% decrease from the previous year and a 35% drop from November 2025.

    The safety concerns received official validation when China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel advisory on January 27, 2026, warning that “public security in Japan has deteriorated in recent months.” The statement highlighted increased criminal cases targeting Chinese citizens and noted that earthquakes in several regions had caused injuries, with Japanese authorities warning of potential follow-up seismic activity.

    “Chinese citizens in Japan are facing serious safety threats,” the ministry declared, explicitly advising travelers to avoid visiting Japan and urging those already in the country to closely monitor security conditions along with earthquake and disaster alerts.

    Adding to the concerns, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed the country’s 18th avian influenza outbreak of the season at a poultry farm in Chiba prefecture, near Tokyo, where more than 100,000 quail were being raised.

    On Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu (RedNote), users actively debate whether Japan remains a viable destination. One user, nicknamed Xiaoyu, posted seeking advice about a planned Spring Festival hiking trip along the Kumano Kodo trail, noting, “I am preparing a ‘Plan B’ amid fears of flight cancellations and other uncontrollable risks.”

    While some commenters expressed similar concerns, others reported that their December trips were largely unaffected. Industry expert Yang suggested that Chinese travelers are likely considering alternative destinations for the holiday period as uncertainty surrounding flights and safety conditions continues to influence travel decisions.