Global Pulse

标签： Asia

亚洲

  • Running for beauty and fun

    Running for beauty and fun

    Shanghai witnessed a remarkable fusion of athleticism and femininity as the 2026 Women’s Half Marathon commenced on International Women’s Day, March 8th. The event attracted 8,000 female participants who gathered in Changning district for a unique sporting experience that redefined traditional marathon conventions.

    Breaking from conventional race formats, organizers implemented an innovative approach by integrating comprehensive beauty services throughout the event venue. Runners accessed dedicated cosmetic zones offering professional makeup application and hairstyling services, including intricate braiding techniques. The course featured multiple touch-up stations and specially designed photographic areas with thematic backdrops, allowing participants to capture their athletic achievements while maintaining their personal style.

    This groundbreaking initiative represents a significant shift in sporting event organization, challenging stereotypes by demonstrating that physical endurance and feminine elegance can coexist harmoniously. The marathon’s distinctive format emphasized women’s multifaceted capabilities while celebrating their grace and strength simultaneously.

    The event’s timing on International Women’s Day carried profound symbolic importance, transforming the athletic competition into a powerful statement about female empowerment and self-expression. Participants expressed enthusiasm for the unique combination of physical challenge and beauty services, noting how it created an inclusive environment that honored both their athletic ambitions and personal identity.

    Local authorities and sports organizations have hailed the event as a pioneering model for future women’s sporting events, potentially setting new standards for how athletic competitions can incorporate elements of personal care and aesthetic appreciation while maintaining competitive integrity.

  • A new scroll along the river: The prosecution chapter

    A new scroll along the river: The prosecution chapter

    Drawing inspiration from the classical Chinese painting ‘Along the River During the Qingming Festival,’ a contemporary initiative titled ‘A New Scroll Along the River: The Prosecution Chapter’ demonstrates how China’s procuratorial system is actively safeguarding cultural heritage through legal mechanisms. This modern interpretation showcases prosecutors assuming an expanded role as protectors of both tangible and intangible cultural assets.

    The narrative centers on interventions at the Zhouqiao Bridge archaeological site, where prosecutors responded to preservation emergencies by mobilizing cultural heritage experts for comprehensive assessments. Through formal procuratorial recommendations and public interest litigation proceedings, legal authorities compelled responsible parties to implement effective conservation measures that addressed critical seepage threats to the ancient structure.

    Beyond physical preservation, the initiative documents prosecutorial efforts in defending intangible cultural heritage. These include revitalization programs for Zhuxian Town woodblock New Year prints—a traditional folk art—and legal actions to protect Bian embroidery’s geographical indication status through aggressive anti-infringement campaigns. The interventions represent a sophisticated integration of cultural policy and legal enforcement.

    This prosecutorial engagement establishes a modern framework for cultural stewardship, where legal instruments become tools for maintaining historical continuity. By exercising their duties across both criminal and civil domains, prosecutors are creating a living tapestry of protection that connects China’s rich historical legacy with contemporary preservation methodologies, ensuring cultural transmission to future generations.

  • India scores imposing 255-5 in T20 World Cup final against New Zealand

    India scores imposing 255-5 in T20 World Cup final against New Zealand

    In a spectacular display of power hitting at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, India amassed a formidable total of 255-5 against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup final on Sunday. Despite the imposing score, the tournament co-hosts might have felt they missed an opportunity for an even larger total after a dominant batting performance that saw them reach 203-1 in just 15 overs.

    The Indian innings was highlighted by several extraordinary performances. Opening batsman Sanju Samson delivered a spectacular 46-ball 89, smashing eight sixes and five boundaries in his explosive knock. Ishan Kishan contributed a rapid 54 from just 25 deliveries, while Abhishek Sharma blasted a 21-ball 52. Shivam Dube provided a finishing flourish with an unbeaten 26 from merely eight balls.

    New Zealand’s James Neesham emerged as the most successful bowler for the Black Caps, claiming three crucial wickets in the decisive 16th over. Neesham’s triple breakthrough included the vital dismissals of Samson, Kishan, and Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, who departed for a golden duck.

    The final, played before a capacity crowd exceeding 100,000 spectators at the world’s largest cricket stadium, saw New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner win the toss and elect to bowl first against the defending champions. New Zealand entered the match seeking their first T20 World Cup title after finishing as runners-up to Australia in the 2021 tournament. India, meanwhile, stood poised to become the first team to claim the T20 World Cup trophy for a record third time.

  • China-India relations have improved, must be maintained, foreign minister says

    China-India relations have improved, must be maintained, foreign minister says

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has emphasized the critical importance of maintaining positive momentum in China-India relations, highlighting recent diplomatic progress between the two Asian powers. Speaking at a press conference during the fourth session of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing on Sunday, Minister Wang articulated a vision of strengthened cooperation through correct strategic perception and neighborly friendship.

    The top diplomat noted that bilateral relations experienced a significant reset during the Kazan meeting, with subsequent improvements achieved at the Tianjin meeting. Wang stressed that mutual trust and collaboration between Beijing and New Delhi directly benefit both nations’ development trajectories, while division and confrontation would negatively impact Asia’s broader rejuvenation.

    Minister Wang positioned enhanced China-India cooperation as crucial for substantiating BRICS collaboration and providing renewed hope for Global South nations. His comments reflect China’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to stabilize relations with its southern neighbor amid complex geopolitical dynamics. The emphasis on development-focused partnership suggests both economic and strategic considerations in managing one of Asia’s most consequential bilateral relationships.

    The address comes as both nations navigate border tensions while seeking expanded economic cooperation. Wang’s framing of the relationship emphasizes shared interests in regional stability and development, positioning constructive China-India relations as beneficial for broader Asian prosperity and South-South cooperation initiatives.

  • South Korea edges Australia for top spot in Group A at Women’s Asian Cup. Philippines ousts Iran

    South Korea edges Australia for top spot in Group A at Women’s Asian Cup. Philippines ousts Iran

    In a spectacular display of women’s football, South Korea narrowly clinched the top position in Group A of the Women’s Asian Cup following an electrifying 3-3 draw against tournament hosts Australia. The Sunday showdown at Sydney’s Stadium Australia attracted a record-breaking crowd of 60,279 spectators—the largest attendance in the tournament’s history—creating an electric atmosphere for the dramatic contest.

    The match unfolded as a tale of two halves with relentless back-and-forth action. South Korea initiated the scoring in the 13th minute through Mun Eun-ju, who capitalized on a swift counter-attack orchestrated by Jeon Yu-gyeong. Australia responded with determination as Alanna Kennedy netted the equalizer in the 32nd minute, followed by Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr giving the Matildas a 2-1 advantage just before halftime.

    South Korea’s strategic substitutions proved decisive in the second half. Kim Shin-ji emerged as the game-changer, converting a penalty in the 53rd minute before delivering a precise cross to Kang Chae-rim, who scored just four minutes later to establish a 3-2 lead for the Korean side. The dramatic conclusion arrived deep into stoppage time when Kennedy secured her second goal of the night, leveling the score at 3-3 but ultimately leaving Australia second in the group on goal difference.

    In simultaneous Group A action, the Philippines maintained their quarterfinal hopes with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Iran in challenging wet conditions at Gold Coast Stadium. The match saw 38-year-old Iranian goalkeeper Raha Yazdani deliver an exceptional performance with multiple crucial saves, but ultimately succumbed to goals from Sara Eggesvik (29th minute) and Chandler McDaniel (82nd minute).

    The result eliminates Iran from the tournament with three consecutive losses, with the team facing an uncertain return to their conflict-ridden homeland. Meanwhile, the Philippines must await outcomes from other groups to determine their quarterfinal fate as one of the two best third-place teams.

    The tournament continues with defending champion China set to face three-time winner North Korea to decide Group B supremacy, while two-time champion Japan leads Group C following their dominant 11-0 victory over India.

  • National lawmakers: birth-friendly policies must extend beyond childbirth

    National lawmakers: birth-friendly policies must extend beyond childbirth

    In a significant policy shift, three female National People’s Congress deputies are championing expansive reforms to transform China’s approach to demographic challenges. The lawmakers argue that establishing a truly birth-friendly society requires moving beyond narrow fertility incentives to address systemic gaps in women’s healthcare, workplace protections, and long-term social support systems.

    The legislative proposals represent a fundamental evolution in China’s gender policy framework—transitioning from basic rights protection to safeguarding women’s “full life cycle” needs. This comprehensive approach encompasses everything from reproductive healthcare and prenatal services to postpartum career development and long-term professional advancement opportunities.

    Amid mounting demographic pressures including an aging population and declining birth rates, these recommendations deliver a crucial message: meaningful support must extend far beyond the childbirth moment. The deputies emphasize that without addressing structural barriers—including workplace discrimination, inadequate healthcare access, and limited social safety nets—mere birth incentives will prove insufficient in reversing demographic trends.

    The proposed measures highlight the interconnected nature of reproductive policies and women’s broader socioeconomic participation. By advocating for policies that support women throughout their professional and personal lives, the lawmakers aim to create sustainable conditions where family planning decisions aren’t constrained by systemic limitations.

  • Iran soccer team exits Women’s Asian Cup and faces the prospect of a return home

    Iran soccer team exits Women’s Asian Cup and faces the prospect of a return home

    GOLD COAST, Australia — Iran’s women’s national football team concluded their Asian Cup campaign with a 2-0 defeat against the Philippines on Sunday, eliminating them from the tournament amidst growing concerns about their safety upon returning to a nation engulfed in military conflict. The team’s participation in the continental championship has been overshadowed by geopolitical tensions following recent military strikes on Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces.

    The squad’s ambiguous political stance has drawn significant attention throughout the competition. Players remained silent during the national anthem before their opening match against South Korea, a gesture interpreted by observers either as silent protest or mourning. However, in subsequent matches against Australia and the Philippines, the team performed both the anthem and customary salutes.

    The Australian Iranian Council has initiated urgent diplomatic efforts, addressing a formal letter to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke requesting protection for team members during their stay. Accompanying this appeal, an online petition has garnered substantial public support, accumulating over 50,000 signatures before Sunday’s decisive match. The petition urges Australian authorities to provide independent legal counsel, interpreter services, and ensure no player is compelled to return while credible safety concerns persist.

    Team members have largely maintained silence regarding the domestic situation, though forward Sara Didar emotionally expressed concerns for family and compatriots during a mid-week press conference. The petition emphasizes that ‘silence is not a neutral position when athletes face potential persecution, imprisonment, or coercion upon return,’ particularly noting intensified repression during current wartime conditions.

    Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong acknowledged the team’s predicament without confirming specific governmental contacts, stating Australia stands in solidarity with Iranian women against systemic oppression. The symbolic jersey exchange between Australian and Iranian players was highlighted as a particularly meaningful gesture of support.

    Local Iranian-Australian activist Tina Kordrostami emphasized the necessity for government-assisted safe spaces where players can freely express their needs and concerns without external pressure.

    The team’s competitive exit eliminates the potential protective extension that advancement to quarterfinals would have provided, leaving immediate return arrangements uncertain amid ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian considerations.

  • Grassroots voices key to crafting law

    Grassroots voices key to crafting law

    In a significant demonstration of China’s evolving democratic mechanisms, Shanghai National People’s Congress deputy Sheng Hong has emerged as a pivotal advocate for enhanced public participation in legislative processes. Serving as Party secretary of a residential compound in Hongqiao subdistrict, Sheng represents one of China’s pioneering grassroots legislative contact points established by the NPC Standing Committee’s Legislative Affairs Commission in 2015.

    These contact points, which have expanded to 60 nationwide as of December 2025, function as critical conduits between ordinary citizens and China’s highest legislative body. The Hongqiao subdistrict facility alone has reviewed 117 draft bills spanning environmental protection, urban governance, livelihood security, and ethnic unity, submitting approximately 5,800 suggestions with over 430 receiving official adoption.

    The legislative process involves comprehensive consultation meetings that bring together grassroots government units, social stakeholders, and subject matter experts. A recent gathering focused on draft legislation regarding childcare services featured representatives from local government departments, childcare institutions, kindergartens, legal professionals, and policy experts.

    Sheng, with 14 years of community service experience, emphasizes her role as a governmental liaison who systematically collects and channels public opinion to national legislative bodies. “From understanding legislation to participating in it and then promoting it, residents have formed a broad network of public opinion,” she noted, highlighting how participatory processes strengthen democratic engagement and public satisfaction.

    During the current political sessions, Sheng has proposed institutional enhancements for collecting and responding to public opinions, advocating for more effective feedback mechanisms that transform public suggestions into governance measures. She has additionally recommended strengthened internet protection for minors, including clear content grading systems, restricted social features for children under 8, and usage limitations for users under 16.

    Her previous recommendation regarding optimized outdoor seating arrangements for small restaurants and cafes, aimed at stimulating consumption, has already yielded tangible results with Shanghai implementing corresponding regulatory frameworks.

    This grassroots legislative model exemplifies what Sheng characterizes as “whole-process people’s democracy,” extending beyond statutory language to actively cultivate democratic capabilities and awareness among citizens.

  • Lawmaker lays stress on plant protection

    Lawmaker lays stress on plant protection

    At the ongoing 14th National People’s Congress, Deputy Song Bao’an has presented a comprehensive proposal advocating for enhanced plant protection measures and new legislative frameworks. The lawmaker, who also serves as President of Guizhou University, emphasized that robust plant protection systems are fundamental to preventing widespread crop pest outbreaks and safeguarding both staple food crops and commercial agricultural products.

    Speaking from a decade of frontline research experience, Song highlighted China’s paradoxical position as an agricultural powerhouse that still grapples with systemic challenges including pesticide overuse and recurrent crop diseases. “Despite numerous efforts in this field, China lacks a high-level legal framework specifically addressing plant protection,” Song noted, referencing the nation’s 2025 food output of 714.88 million metric tons according to National Bureau of Statistics data.

    The proposal calls for establishing clearly defined regulatory bodies and specialized enforcement teams to ensure nationwide plant health monitoring. Song’s research team has pioneered innovative green pest control methods, particularly for tea cultivation—a crucial crop covering approximately 466,667 hectares in Guizhou province. Their breakthrough approach involves deploying natural predator insects to combat tea pests, creating a sustainable biological control system.

    These integrated pest management techniques have demonstrated remarkable success domestically, with implementation expanding across Guizhou, Hainan, and Hunan provinces. The methods have also gained international recognition through the China-Sri Lanka Joint Laboratory for Green Tea Pest Control Technology, established in 2024. Since January 2025, Professors Jin Linhong and Hao Gefei have led repeated technical missions to Sri Lanka, where small family tea farms struggle with extensive management and severe pest problems.

    After one year of trials combining biological control with improved farming practices, demonstration tea gardens reported a 50% reduction in disease incidence and improved soil conditions. Yield increases ranged from 23% to an extraordinary 110%, with the project expanding from initial pilot areas to approximately 333 hectares. The program has also facilitated knowledge exchange, with over 50 Sri Lankan students studying at Guizhou University and implementing these techniques upon returning home.

    Song directly links advanced plant protection to broader national priorities: “Crops from the field end up on people’s plates. Strengthening oversight and legislation concerns not just tea or cash crops but personal health and national food security.” The proposal positions green agriculture—incorporating organic fertilizers, biopesticides, and water-saving irrigation—as essential for addressing soil depletion, water pollution, and climate change challenges through drought-resistant varieties and climate-smart farming practices.

    “China’s agriculture has reached a turning point,” Song concluded. “Matching laws are essential to ensure practitioners can implement technologies correctly and scientifically, making agriculture greener and food safer.”

  • Agricultural innovation goes global

    Agricultural innovation goes global

    A pioneering agricultural development model pioneered by China is poised for international scaling as national legislator Zhang Fusuo proposes its formal integration into the country’s foreign assistance programs. The Science and Technology Backyard initiative, which dispatches graduate students and researchers to provide hands-on technical assistance to farmers, has demonstrated remarkable success domestically with 5,700 installations established across China since 2009.

    The innovative program, which connects academic institutions directly with agricultural communities, has already expanded tentatively to ten countries including Malawi and Kenya through 14 international backyards established since 2019. These pilot projects have contributed significantly to food security in numerous villages across the Global South.

    Professor Zhang, an NPC deputy and academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasizes that the program’s next developmental phase requires systematic incorporation into China’s national foreign aid framework. This institutionalization would address critical challenges including reliance on research funding and the absence of stable financial channels for international operations.

    The current model faces limitations in private sector and non-governmental organization participation, hindering a comprehensive approach that integrates education, technology and industry. Zhang proposes creating standardized operational procedures and dedicated funding streams while offering financial incentives for domestic agricultural companies to partner with overseas backyards.

    The Global Science and Technology Backyard Center in Hainan Province serves as a strategic hub, attracting both Chinese and international agricultural enterprises to establish operations. Researchers in Sanya are transforming high-quality agricultural practices into replicable business models suitable for international expansion, particularly in tropical regions resembling Hainan’s climate.

    Complementing technological transfer, the initiative emphasizes human capital development through expanded scholarship programs for Global South students and a innovative ‘1+1+1’ model combining study in China, practical experience in home countries, and further training in China. A dual-mentor system pairing Chinese and local experts ensures effective adaptation of technology to local languages, cultures, and policies.

    This approach represents an evolution from traditional aid models, shifting from direct implementation toward guidance and capacity building that empowers local communities to sustain agricultural development independently.