Global Pulse

标签： North America

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  • Vatican official arrives in UAE ahead of Christmas as Filipinos celebrate Simbang Gabi

    Vatican official arrives in UAE ahead of Christmas as Filipinos celebrate Simbang Gabi

    A prominent Vatican official, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, commenced a significant two-day pastoral visit to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, bringing a message of faith to the large Catholic community ahead of Christmas celebrations. The Filipino Cardinal, who serves as the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, is scheduled to preside over Simbang Gabi evening masses at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai on December 16th and St. Joseph’s Parish in Abu Dhabi the following day.

    The visit holds particular significance for the substantial Filipino expatriate population in the UAE, with Cardinal Tagle planning dedicated meetings with community members and church leaders. Bishop Paolo Martinelli, Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, expressed profound joy at the Cardinal’s arrival, noting it represents a special Christmas gift that strengthens the unity of the diverse Catholic community in the region.

    The traditional Simbang Gabi observance, which traces its origins to 17th-century Spanish colonial Philippines, has found a vibrant new home in the UAE. The nine-day novena mass series began with remarkable attendance figures, as over 20,000 worshippers participated in the inaugural ceremony at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai on Monday, demonstrating the deep roots this Filipino tradition has established within the Gulf nation’s multicultural landscape.

    Cardinal Tagle’s visit symbolizes the continued closeness of Pope Leo XIV to the faithful in Arabia, following the pontiff’s recent apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon last month. The 68-year-old cardinal, who also holds positions as president of the Catholic Biblical Federation and cardinal-bishop of Albano, is renowned for his exceptional ability to connect with people’s hearts and support their spiritual journeys, making his presence particularly meaningful during the Advent season.

  • Sharjah approves beekeeping licensing mechanism to protect local species, reduce violations

    Sharjah approves beekeeping licensing mechanism to protect local species, reduce violations

    The Sharjah Executive Council has formally ratified a comprehensive regulatory framework for beekeeping operations, establishing a new licensing system for both practitioners and apiary sites. This strategic initiative aims to transform apiculture practices within the emirate through multiple coordinated approaches.

    The newly endorsed mechanism is designed to provide structural support and empowerment for beekeepers, facilitating their access to official licensing channels. Beyond regulatory compliance, the system enables apiarists to leverage government support programs and specialized financing opportunities previously underutilized.

    A primary conservation objective focuses on safeguarding indigenous bee populations from escalating threats of disease and invasive pests. This protective measure aligns with broader food security goals, promoting sustainable production of high-quality local honey while reducing reliance on imported alternatives.

    The regulatory framework additionally addresses enforcement concerns by establishing clear operational guidelines to minimize violations and irregular practices that have compromised sectoral integrity. During the same council session, officials examined strategic pillars for developing Sharjah’s organic honey sector, indicating a coordinated approach to apiculture advancement.

    In a separate agenda item, the council acknowledged government employees who successfully completed training programs at the Artificial Intelligence Academy, demonstrating the emirate’s parallel commitment to technological upskilling across sectors.

  • Melodica Music & Dance Academy launches UAE’s first physical gift cards for music, dance and instruments

    Melodica Music & Dance Academy launches UAE’s first physical gift cards for music, dance and instruments

    In an innovative move reshaping festive gifting traditions, Melodica Music & Dance Academy has unveiled the UAE’s inaugural physical premium gift cards exclusively dedicated to creative arts education. Launching during the peak holiday season, these stored-value cards present a sophisticated alternative to conventional presents by enabling recipients to access music lessons, dance programs, or purchase musical instruments across all academy branches nationwide.

    The premium gift cards, available in denominations ranging from AED 500 to AED 5,000, represent a strategic expansion into mainstream retail markets. Beyond Melodica’s own facilities, the physical cards will be distributed through major hypermarkets and shopping malls, significantly enhancing accessibility for consumers seeking meaningful, experience-based gifts.

    CEO Afshin articulated the vision behind the initiative: ‘This transcends traditional gifting concepts—it’s an invitation to pursue artistic dreams. Whether for a child discovering musicality, a teenager exploring dance, or an adult reigniting a dormant passion, these cards ignite creative potential with lifelong impact.’

    Industry analysis confirms that while digital gift options exist in the regional creative sector, physical gift cards specifically targeting music and dance education remain notably absent from UAE retail landscapes. Melodica’s pioneering approach addresses this gap while supporting the development of the local arts ecosystem.

    The academy’s initiative has been recognized by market observers as a regionally unprecedented concept—a tangible gifting solution that prioritizes personal growth and cultural enrichment over material value. This strategic launch reinforces Melodica’s commitment to fostering a vibrant artistic community while encouraging cross-generational participation in performing arts.

    Prospective customers can obtain detailed information about the gift cards and Melodica’s comprehensive programs through the academy’s official communication channels and website.

  • Second doctor sentenced in Matthew Perry overdose death

    Second doctor sentenced in Matthew Perry overdose death

    A Southern California physician has been sentenced for his role in supplying ketamine that contributed to the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry. Dr. Mark Chavez received eight months of home confinement followed by three years of supervised release, becoming the second individual sentenced in connection with the high-profile case.

    The sentencing concludes one chapter in a multiyear federal investigation that exposed an underground pharmaceutical network operating within Hollywood’s elite circles. Chavez, based in San Diego, admitted to fraudulently obtaining ketamine through deceptive prescriptions from both his former clinic and a wholesale distributor, which he then sold to co-conspirator Dr. Salvador Plasencia.

    Court documents reveal a disturbing scheme where medical professionals exploited Perry’s known struggles with addiction for financial gain. Text messages between Chavez and Plasencia showed blatant disregard for ethical standards, with one message referring to Perry as “this moron” while discussing potential profits from his addiction.

    The investigation uncovered that Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, facilitated transactions totaling over $50,000 worth of ketamine in the weeks preceding the actor’s October 2023 death. Despite being legally prescribed ketamine for depression and anxiety treatment, Perry sought additional quantities beyond his medical allocation, ultimately connecting him to this illicit supply chain.

    Forensic analysis determined that acute ketamine intoxication caused Perry’s death, with toxicology reports showing dangerously elevated levels of the anesthetic in his system. The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about prescription drug abuse and the ethical responsibilities of medical professionals.

    Three additional defendants—including Perry’s assistant, a man named Erik Fleming, and British-American dealer Jasveen Sangha (known as the “Ketamine Queen”)—await sentencing in coming months. Chavez avoided a potential decade-long prison sentence through his plea agreement, which included surrendering his medical license and passport.

  • Bondi beach mass shooting: What we know about the father-son gunmen

    Bondi beach mass shooting: What we know about the father-son gunmen

    Australian authorities have initiated a comprehensive nationwide investigation into Sunday’s devastating mass shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration, which resulted in 15 fatalities and 42 injuries. The attack, Australia’s deadliest firearm incident in nearly thirty years, has prompted serious national security evaluations and international investigative cooperation.

    The alleged perpetrators have been identified as Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, according to widespread media reports. Sajid Akram, originally from Hyderabad, India, emigrated to Australia in November 1998. He held Indian citizenship at the time of the attack, while his Australia-born children possessed Australian citizenship. Indian police officials confirmed that Akram maintained minimal contact with his Hyderabad relatives over the past 27 years, visiting only six times primarily for property matters.

    A significant development emerged from Philippine immigration authorities, revealing both suspects spent nearly all of November in the Philippines before returning to Australia just weeks before the attack. Australian police are actively investigating the purpose and activities of their Philippines visit.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the attack appears motivated by extremist ideology targeting Jewish communities, with authorities discovering improvised explosive devices and homemade flags associated with Daesh in a vehicle registered to Naveed Akram. Intelligence agencies had previously noted Naveed in 2019 but didn’t classify him as an imminent threat, raising critical questions about preventive measures.

    The tactical execution involved both attackers firing long-barrelled weapons across the beach and adjacent park for approximately ten minutes before police intervention. Sajid Akram was fatally shot at the scene, while Naveed remains comatose under police guard. Investigation revealed Sajid legally held a firearms license since 2015 and owned six registered weapons.

    The international dimension continues to develop with Indian authorities emphasizing the radicalization appears unrelated to India or Telangana region, while Pakistani media reported unrelated individuals facing mistaken identity issues due to name similarities.

  • MIT professor shot at his Massachusetts home has died

    MIT professor shot at his Massachusetts home has died

    The Massachusetts Institute of Technology community is mourning the tragic loss of Professor Nuno F Gomes Loureiro, a 47-year-old nuclear science and engineering scholar from Portugal, who succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds sustained during a violent attack at his Brookline residence. The incident occurred on Monday evening at approximately 8:30 PM local time, when law enforcement officers responded to emergency calls reporting gunshots at an apartment complex.

    According to official statements from Brookline police and MIT administration, Professor Loureiro was transported via ambulance to a Boston-area medical facility where he fought for his life until Tuesday morning. The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office has confirmed that no suspects have been apprehended and authorities are treating the case as an active homicide investigation.

    Eyewitness accounts obtained by CBS News describe hearing three distinct loud noises that initially sounded like door breaches rather than gunfire. Long-time neighborhood resident Anne Greenwald shared with reporters that the accomplished physicist maintained a low profile while raising his young family in the community and frequently utilized local educational institutions.

    Professor Loureiro’s academic journey spanned continents and prestigious institutions. His faculty profile indicates he completed his undergraduate studies in Physics at Lisbon’s Instituto Superior Técnico in 2000, followed by a doctorate in physics from Imperial College London in 2005. His untimely death represents not only a personal tragedy but a significant loss to the international scientific community, particularly in the specialized field of nuclear engineering.

    The investigation continues as law enforcement officials pursue all leads regarding this shocking act of violence that has rattled both the academic community and suburban neighborhood where it occurred.

  • Euro zone business activity ends 2025 weaker than expected, PMI shows

    Euro zone business activity ends 2025 weaker than expected, PMI shows

    The euro area’s economic expansion lost significant steam in December 2025, according to the latest HCOB Flash Eurozone Composite PMI survey compiled by S&P Global. The benchmark index dropped to a three-month low of 51.9, markedly below November’s 2.5-year peak of 52.8 and undershooting Reuters’ consensus forecast of 52.7.

    While the reading remains above the critical 50.0 threshold separating expansion from contraction—marking the first full calendar year above this level since 2019—the deceleration signals mounting headwinds. The manufacturing sector’s deterioration intensified, with its PMI sliding to 49.2 from November’s 49.6, representing the lowest reading since April. Particularly concerning was the contraction in manufacturing output for the first time in ten months, accompanied by the fastest decline in new orders since February.

    The services sector, previously the engine of growth, demonstrated diminished momentum with its PMI retreating to 52.6 from a 2.5-year high of 53.6 in November. This performance likewise fell short of economist expectations. Despite the broad slowdown, employment continued to expand at an accelerated pace across the currency bloc.

    Cyrus de la Rubia, Chief Economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, attributed the weaker performance primarily to intensified downturn in German industry, while noting tentative signs of cautious recovery in French manufacturing. “All in all, the runway into the new year seems pretty unstable,” de la Rubia commented, adding that “a real upturn will only succeed if the manufacturing sector regains its footing.”

    Concurrently, price pressures intensified with input costs rising at the most rapid pace since March, prompting firms to increase output charges more aggressively. This development occurs alongside slightly elevated headline inflation that nonetheless remains proximate to the European Central Bank’s 2% target. Separate Reuters polling indicates expectations that the ECB will maintain current interest rates at least through 2027.

  • Only some US lawmakers to see full video of controversial boat strike, Hegseth says

    Only some US lawmakers to see full video of controversial boat strike, Hegseth says

    U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Tuesday that congressional committees will receive exclusive access to unedited footage of September’s contentious boat strike in the Caribbean, while maintaining the video will remain classified from public view. The announcement followed a classified Senate briefing attended by both Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding the Trump administration’s ongoing military operations targeting alleged Venezuelan drug trafficking operations.

    The briefing revealed sharp partisan divisions, with Republicans largely endorsing the administration’s aggressive stance while Democrats raised substantial legal and ethical concerns. These concerns intensified following recent reports that two survivors of the initial September 2 attack were killed in a subsequent strike while clinging to their burning vessel.

    Hours before the Capitol Hill briefing, the military announced new strikes in the Pacific Ocean resulting in eight fatalities, bringing the total death toll to at least 90 since operations began. Hegseth specified that only members of the House and Senate armed services committees would view the full September footage, citing longstanding Department of Defense protocols regarding top-secret materials.

    This selective disclosure occurs amid legislative pressure through a defense spending bill that would mandate Pentagon transparency with armed services committees regarding strikes in the Southern Command region. The administration’s social media announcements of strikes typically feature grainy video clips without substantive evidence of drug trafficking or detailed vessel inventories.

    Republican lawmakers including Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) defended the operations as necessary for national security, with Graham explicitly framing them as part of a broader regime change objective against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

    Conversely, Democratic leaders including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) demanded full transparency, with Schiff preparing a formal request for congressional-wide video release. The operations have drawn diplomatic condemnation from Venezuela, with Maduro accusing the U.S. of regional destabilization and Attorney General Tarek William Saab characterizing Trump’s allegations as resource-driven envy.

    Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, who acknowledged ordering the controversial second strike, is scheduled to brief armed services committees Wednesday as legal questions persist regarding the legality of attacks in international waters.

  • Fifa brings in new £45 ticket for 2026 World Cup

    Fifa brings in new £45 ticket for 2026 World Cup

    In response to widespread criticism over exorbitant pricing, FIFA has announced the introduction of a limited number of affordable tickets priced at $60 (£45) for all 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup. This new ‘supporter entry tier’ category, representing 10% of each participating football association’s allocation, follows intense backlash from fan groups who condemned the original pricing structure as “scandalous” and “extortionate.

    The decision, described by a FIFA official as “unanimous” after considering feedback, specifically targets “loyal fans” of qualified nations. Each participating member association (PMA) will manage their own eligibility criteria and distribution process for these budget-friendly tickets. For England and Scotland, this translates to approximately 400 tickets available at the £45 price point for group stage matches.

    While UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the move, he urged FIFA to further enhance affordability to prevent the tournament from losing touch with genuine supporters. The Football Association is now working urgently to establish a fair allocation system for these limited tickets, facing the challenge that demand vastly exceeds supply, with over 20 million ticket requests already recorded.

    Fan organizations including the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and Football Supporters Europe (FSE) have dismissed the initiative as a “hollow gesture” and “cynical attempt to deflect attention.” They note that despite this concession, the majority of tickets remain prohibitively expensive, with final match tickets costing £3,119—seven times more than in Qatar 2022. Concerns also persist regarding the lack of pricing accommodations for disabled supporters.

    The 2026 World Cup, hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, represents both a unique commercial opportunity and accessibility challenge, particularly given the active secondary ticket market in North America. FIFA maintains that commercial success benefits all 211 member associations, including the poorest nations, through development funding.

  • ‘Lost Canadians’ citizenship bill now in place

    ‘Lost Canadians’ citizenship bill now in place

    Canada has implemented significant reforms to its citizenship laws, extending automatic citizenship eligibility to children born or adopted abroad to Canadian parents who were themselves born outside the country. The new provisions, effective immediately, address what the government acknowledges as “outdated provisions” that previously left many without citizenship status.

    The updated legislation requires Canadian parents to demonstrate a “substantial connection” to Canada by having resided in the country for at least three years prior to their child’s birth or adoption. This change stems from a landmark 2023 Ontario Superior Court of Justice decision that declared portions of the existing citizenship by descent laws unconstitutional.

    The court’s ruling addressed consequences of a 2009 law passed under former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government that eliminated automatic citizenship for descendants of Canadians born abroad. The current Liberal administration chose not to appeal the decision, acknowledging that the previous legislation produced “unacceptable outcomes” for children of expatriate Canadians.

    According to the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s 2024 assessment, approximately 115,000 individuals could benefit from these changes over the next five years. The reforms have not been without controversy, however. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, shadow minister for immigration, expressed concerns that the bill enables “unfettered citizenship by descent and create[s] untold citizens of convenience.”

    The Conservative party, with support from the Bloc Québécois, proposed amendments that would have imposed stricter requirements including language proficiency and security checks for adult applicants. These proposed measures failed to pass in the House of Commons.

    Among the immediate beneficiaries is Alfie Jones, a British-born football player recently recruited to represent Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Jones qualifies through his grandmother from Alberta, illustrating how the policy changes affect real-world cases.