Global Pulse

标签： Oceania

大洋洲

  • Liverpool cruise as Bayern reach Champions League last 16

    Liverpool cruise as Bayern reach Champions League last 16

    European football’s elite clubs solidified their positions in the UEFA Champions League during Wednesday’s pivotal matchday, with several powerhouses securing passage to the knockout rounds. Liverpool delivered a commanding performance in Marseille, cruising to a 3-0 victory that extended their unbeaten streak to 13 matches across all competitions since their surprising November defeat to PSV Eindhoven.

    The breakthrough came courtesy of Dominik Szoboszlai’s ingenious first-half free-kick, which the Hungarian midfielder expertly slotted beneath the defensive wall. ‘I completed my homework and learned that if nobody lies down, I can strike it under the wall,’ Szoboszlai explained post-match. The victory was sealed with an own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and a late finish from substitute Cody Gakpo, positioning Liverpool to clinch their last-16 spot against Qarabag next week.

    In Munich, Harry Kane’s brace propelled Bayern to a 2-0 triumph over Belgian champions Union Saint-Gilloise, guaranteeing the German giants top-eight qualification with one match remaining. Kane’s header and penalty conversion brought his remarkable tally to seven goals in seven Champions League appearances this season, though his hat-trick opportunity was denied by the woodwork. Despite Kim Min-jae’s second-half dismissal, Bayern maintained control, with Kane noting: ‘We scored at decisive moments and demonstrated composure even with ten players.’

    Elsewhere, Newcastle United dominated PSV with a 3-0 victory at St James’ Park, while Chelsea edged Cypriot opponents Pafos 1-0 in new coach Liam Rosenior’s European debut. Barcelona mounted a impressive comeback against Slavia Prague, overcoming an early deficit to win 4-2 through Fermin Lopez’s double and decisive contributions from Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski.

    The matchday concluded with dramatic finishes across Europe: Juventus continued their resurgence with a 2-0 win over Benfica, Atalanta suffered a damaging 3-2 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao, and Azerbaijani surprise package Qarabag kept their playoff hopes alive with a dramatic 3-2 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt. The group stage will reach its climax next Wednesday with all final matches played simultaneously.

  • Why Sydney is preserving thousands of flowers after deadly Bondi attack

    Why Sydney is preserving thousands of flowers after deadly Bondi attack

    In a powerful response to tragedy, Sydney’s Jewish community institutions have spearheaded an effort to preserve the spontaneous memorial created after December’s devastating Bondi Beach attack that claimed 15 lives. What began as a vacant shopfront on a central Sydney avenue—outwardly appearing abandoned with plastic-covered windows and padlocked doors—has transformed into a sacred repository for countless tributes left by a grieving nation.

    Inside the makeshift space, carefully organized within masking-tape squares on the floor, rest poignant mementos: cuddly toys, candles, handwritten messages of hope, and particularly touching symbols honoring the youngest victim, 10-year-old Matilda Bee. Dozens of knitted bees and deflated foil bee balloons create a special section dedicated to her memory. The collection also includes traditional Jewish mourning stones placed instead of flowers, alongside flags, books, and even unexpected items like a Barbie cracker.

    The Sydney Jewish Museum and Australian Jewish Historical Society intervened when learning the original memorial faced removal by local authorities. Senior curator Shannon Biederman, whose personal connection to the tragedy runs deep—having nearly attended the targeted Chanukah by the Sea festival and knowing victim Rabbi Eli Schlanger—described the preservation as both professional and profoundly personal. ‘I’m used to working with history,’ she noted, ‘but this is now.’

    Meanwhile, an equally massive undertaking continues at a North Sydney warehouse where volunteers face the emotional and logistical challenge of preserving approximately three tons of floral tributes. Jewish artist Nina Sanadze, overseeing the operation, described the initial sight of flower-filled black bags as resembling ‘100 bodies.’ Volunteers work methodically, hanging blooms on hastily sourced metal fences while wearing masks against overwhelming pollen and moisture.

    The preservation process has presented unique challenges, including concerns about compost fires from decomposing flowers. Yet volunteers find therapeutic purpose in their work, transforming decay into meaning. Sanadze has created resin artworks incorporating salvaged petals, describing the pieces as containing ‘decay and sadness as well as beauty.’ Her proposed title for the memorial effort, ‘Petal by Petal,’ reflects both the meticulous preservation work and the gradual emotional processing of trauma.

    As Australia prepares to honor victims with nationwide landmarks illuminated in solidarity and a moment of silence, the conversation has shifted toward unity and healing. The community emphasizes performing ‘mitzvah’—acts of kindness—as a healing tradition. While final decisions about a permanent memorial remain with a dedicated committee, the preserved items will serve as powerful testament to a nation’s collective grief and resilience.

  • Pakistan rescuers scour blaze site for dozens missing

    Pakistan rescuers scour blaze site for dozens missing

    Rescue teams in Karachi continue their painstaking search through the smoldering wreckage of Gul Plaza shopping complex four days after a catastrophic fire engulfed the building. The devastating blaze has claimed at least 29 confirmed fatalities, though authorities anticipate the death toll will rise significantly as recovery operations progress.

    Javed Nabi Khoso, Deputy Commissioner of Karachi South, disclosed that 39 individuals have been officially verified as missing, with nearly 50 additional persons remaining on unverified missing lists. The recovery process has drawn criticism from grieving families who have expressed frustration with the pace of the operation. AFP correspondents observed at least five sets of human remains being extracted from the debris on Wednesday.

    At Karachi’s Civil Hospital, health official Summaiya Syed reported that DNA samples from 51 families have been collected to facilitate identification of victims. “We will transfer the remains to families once DNA matches are confirmed,” Syed stated outside the hospital mortuary. Of the 29 victims transferred to the Edhi Foundation morgue, only seven have been positively identified and returned to relatives through DNA matching.

    The human tragedy has left families confronting unimaginable decisions. Muhammad Saleem, whose three relatives remain missing, explained his family’s resolution not to bring home any recovered remains. “They are bringing only remains wrapped inside clothes,” he expressed. “Our family members still believe they are alive. They will go mad if they see these remains.”

    Faraz Ali, 28, whose father and brother were inside the mall during the fire, articulated the anguish shared by many families: “I want the bodies to be recovered and handed over to their rightful families. That is all so that the families may receive something, some comfort, some peace. At least let us see them one last time, in whatever condition they are.”

    While fires occur frequently in Karachi’s commercial establishments due to substandard infrastructure, the scale of this tragedy stands as particularly severe. A government committee has initiated an investigation, though the cause of the inferno remains undetermined. The three-story Gul Plaza contained approximately 1,200 retail outlets, notably specializing in wedding merchandise and home decor.

  • US Congress targets Clintons in Epstein contempt fight

    US Congress targets Clintons in Epstein contempt fight

    The U.S. House Oversight Committee has initiated a significant political confrontation by advancing contempt proceedings against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Republican-majority committee voted Wednesday to pursue charges after the Clintons declined to comply with subpoenas for in-person testimony regarding their connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

    The committee’s action represents an escalation in the long-running investigation into how authorities handled previous Epstein investigations. The contempt resolutions now proceed to the full House of Representatives, where Republican leadership must decide whether to formally cite the Clintons for defiance of congressional authority and refer them to the Justice Department for potential criminal prosecution.

    This development highlights how the Epstein scandal continues to reverberate through Washington’s power structures, implicating prominent figures across the political spectrum. The investigation has become intensely polarized, with Democrats characterizing it as a politically motivated effort to target President Trump’s opponents while ignoring Trump’s own documented associations with Epstein.

    Committee Chairman James Comer rejected what he termed a ‘ridiculous offer’ from Bill Clinton’s representatives that would have limited questioning to a single lawmaker in New York without producing an official transcript. The Clintons maintain that the subpoenas lack legitimate legislative purpose and have instead provided sworn written statements detailing their limited interactions with Epstein.

    In their submitted declarations, Bill Clinton acknowledged using Epstein’s aircraft for humanitarian work in the early 2000s but denied visiting his private island. Hillary Clinton stated she had no meaningful interactions with Epstein whatsoever. The controversy has exposed divisions within the Democratic Party regarding how to respond to Republican investigative tactics while maintaining consistency with previous positions on accountability for Epstein’s crimes.

    The proceedings occur against the backdrop of ongoing criticism regarding the Trump administration’s delayed release of Epstein-related case files, which Democrats have characterized as a cover-up. Neither Trump nor the Clintons have been accused of criminal wrongdoing related to Epstein, but the investigation continues to expose the deep political fractures surrounding one of the most notorious criminal cases in recent memory.

  • EU parliament refers Mercosur trade deal to bloc’s top court

    EU parliament refers Mercosur trade deal to bloc’s top court

    In a dramatic legislative showdown, the European Parliament has cast the landmark EU-Mercosur trade agreement into legal uncertainty following a contentious vote. Lawmakers in Strasbourg narrowly approved (334-324) referring the freshly inked pact to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for constitutional assessment.

    The decision triggered jubilant celebrations among hundreds of farmers who had gathered with tractors outside the parliamentary building. Their prolonged opposition to the deal, particularly from French agricultural groups, found validation in the vote outcome. “We’ve been on this for months and months, for years,” exclaimed Quentin Le Guillous, head of a French young farmers’ group, capturing the emotional triumph felt by protestors.

    This judicial referral represents a significant setback for the European Commission, which had championed the agreement as a historic achievement. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had vigorously promoted the pact just hours before the vote, emphasizing its strategic importance. The deal, negotiated over 25 years, would create one of the world’s largest free trade areas, eliminating tariffs on over 90% of bilateral trade between the EU and Mercosur nations (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay).

    The legal challenge centers on two critical questions: whether partial application before full ratification violates EU procedures, and whether the agreement improperly restricts Brussels’ regulatory powers on environmental and food safety standards. The Commission maintains that parliamentary concerns are “not justified,” with trade spokesman Olof Gill asserting that all raised issues had been comprehensively addressed during negotiations.

    Geopolitical tensions underscore the agreement’s significance, with the EU seeking reliable partnerships amid Trump-era tariff policies and growing Chinese competition. Germany, Spain, and Nordic countries strongly support the pact for its export benefits in automotive, wine, and cheese sectors. Conversely, France, Poland, Austria, Ireland, and Hungary oppose it due to agricultural sector vulnerabilities.

    The judicial process may substantially delay or potentially derail implementation, though the Commission retains authority to provisionally apply the agreement pending the court’s ruling—a move that would likely ignite further political controversy.

  • Davidovich Fokina criticises ‘ignorant drunks’ in crowd

    Davidovich Fokina criticises ‘ignorant drunks’ in crowd

    Spanish tennis professional Alejandro Davidovich Fokina unleashed a vehement critique against disruptive spectators he labeled as “ignorant drunks” during his intense five-set victory at the Australian Open. The incident erupted during the fourth set of his match against American Reilly Opelka on Kia Arena, where the 14th-seeded player abruptly stormed toward the front rows, gesticulating angrily and shouting at a specific group of attendees. The chair umpire promptly intervened, descending from his position to de-escalate the situation and instruct Davidovich Fokina to retreat while addressing the concerned spectators directly.

    Reflecting on the altercation during post-match commentary, Davidovich Fokina expressed frustration with fan behavior that transcends geographical boundaries. “It can happen here, it can happen wherever in the world,” he stated. “So there were four ignorant drunks that I can do nothing about. Nothing more.” Despite the confrontation, the Spaniard secured a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 triumph, celebrating emotionally by shouting skyward before discarding his cap and clenching his fist triumphantly toward his support team.

    This incident represents part of a broader pattern of player-spectator tensions at this year’s Melbourne tournament. Russia’s Anastasia Potapova vocally challenged a spectator who disrupted play during her match against Britain’s Emma Raducanu, while Spain’s Jaume Munar expressed visible frustration when fans initiated chants during critical service moments. These occurrences echo previous years’ controversies, including British player Harriet Dart’s comparison of her 2025 match atmosphere to a “football match” and American Danielle Collins facing hostile heckling from local crowds during her matches against Australian opponents.

    The tournament has historically grappled with crowd management challenges, including last year’s relocation of Davidovich Fokina’s match against Felix Auger-Aliassime due to excessive noise pollution from adjacent courts. These recurring incidents highlight ongoing debates about spectator etiquette and player concentration in professional tennis environments.

  • Syria army enters Al-Hol camp holding relatives of jihadists: AFP

    Syria army enters Al-Hol camp holding relatives of jihadists: AFP

    In a significant shift of control in northeastern Syria, government forces entered the sprawling Al-Hol detention camp on Wednesday following the withdrawal of Kurdish-led security units. An AFP correspondent on site witnessed Syrian soldiers opening the main gate and establishing security perimeters around the facility, which houses approximately 24,000 individuals with alleged connections to Islamic State militants.

    This military movement follows Tuesday’s ceasefire agreement between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), ending hostilities that had seen government troops reclaim extensive territories previously administered by Kurdish forces. The truce arrangement includes provisions for the eventual integration of Kurdish-majority regions under Syrian state authority while preserving limited autonomy for local administrations.

    The Al-Hol facility represents one of the most complex humanitarian and security challenges in post-conflict Syria, containing detainees from nearly 40 nations, including about 6,200 women and children. Parallel developments occurred at other detention sites, with reports indicating disturbances at Shadadi prison where authorities confirmed 120 IS members escaped before 81 were recaptured.

    Diplomatic dimensions intensified as U.S. officials acknowledged the evolving nature of their alliance with Kurdish forces. President Trump characterized the relationship as transactional while emphasizing continued protection for Kurdish interests. The American envoy to Syria noted that the primary counter-ISIS mission of Kurdish forces had ‘largely expired,’ signaling a potential recalibration of international engagement in the region.

    Under the newly established framework, SDF commander Mazloum Abdi will propose candidates for key governmental positions, including Hasakeh governor and deputy defense minister, facilitating political integration while maintaining Kurdish cultural and administrative presence in their traditional territories.

  • Widow of Iran’s last shah says ‘no turning back’ after protests

    Widow of Iran’s last shah says ‘no turning back’ after protests

    In an exclusive Paris interview with AFP, Farah Pahlavi, the 87-year-old widow of Iran’s last Shah, has delivered a powerful statement regarding the ongoing protest movement challenging Iran’s clerical establishment. The former empress, who was exiled alongside her husband during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, expressed unwavering conviction that the Iranian people would ultimately achieve victory in their struggle for freedom.

    Seated before Iran’s former imperial flag adorned with the lion and sun emblem, Pahlavi articulated her profound connection to the protestors, particularly emphasizing her maternal bond with the youth leading the demonstrations. She revealed her deepest personal longing to return to Iran after 47 years in exile, stating, “My desire and my need today are to return to Iran and to hold these exceptional children in my arms.”

    The nationwide protests, which initially emerged in response to economic grievances in late December, rapidly evolved into a direct challenge against the Islamic Republic’s four-decade rule. Pahlavi acknowledged the severe government crackdown that international rights organizations report has resulted in thousands of casualties, yet she maintained that the movement had reached an irreversible point. “One thing is now certain: there is no turning back,” she declared. “This path is one-way—it leads to freedom—and every day, tragically, it is drenched in the blood of the daughters and sons of this land.”

    Regarding the role of external opposition, Pahlavi outlined two critical responsibilities: maintaining strong connections between Iranians inside the country and international communities, while simultaneously organizing global demonstrations to raise awareness about the situation. When questioned about potential foreign military intervention, she instead appealed for continued international solidarity and support, emphasizing that a democratic Iran would contribute to regional stability.

    Concerning her son Reza Pahlavi’s potential political role, the former empress emphasized that any position would be determined solely by the Iranian people’s will, noting that her son views himself primarily as a spokesperson for young Iranians until freedom is achieved.

  • ASX 200 drops for third day as US trade fears rattle market, gold trumps global uncertainty

    ASX 200 drops for third day as US trade fears rattle market, gold trumps global uncertainty

    Australia’s financial markets recorded a third consecutive day of declines as escalating trade disputes between the United States and Europe continued to dampen investor sentiment. The benchmark ASX 200 index fell 0.37 percent to close at 8782.90 points, while the broader All Ordinaries index dropped 0.33 percent to settle at 9108.6.

    The market downturn mirrored substantial losses on Wall Street, triggered by renewed geopolitical tensions surrounding U.S. trade policies toward Greenland. Market analysts attributed the sustained decline to growing concerns about potential disruptions to global trade frameworks and supply chains.

    Amid the market volatility, gold continued its remarkable ascent, climbing 0.02 percent to reach $4,857 per ounce and positioning itself for a potential breakthrough of the $5,000 psychological barrier. The precious metal’s persistent strength reflects its status as a traditional safe-haven asset during periods of economic uncertainty.

    Sector performance revealed a mixed landscape, with eight of eleven industry categories finishing in negative territory. Information technology and consumer discretionary sectors experienced the most significant declines, dropping 2.5 percent and 2.14 percent respectively. Conversely, materials sector stocks continued their strong performance with a 2.5 percent gain, while utilities and energy sectors also closed positively.

    Individual stock movements highlighted the day’s volatility. Emerald Resources NL led gainers with a 13.2 percent surge to $7.96, followed closely by Paladin Energy’s 13.1 percent rise to $13.17. Westgold Resources also posted substantial gains, climbing 9.6 percent to $7.53. Conversely, Droneshield shares plummeted 8.86 percent to $4.32, marking the session’s sharpest decline.

    Australia’s banking sector faced broad pressure, with all four major banks closing lower. ANZ and Commonwealth Bank both fell more than 2 percent, while NAB declined 1.62 percent and Westpac dropped 1.24 percent. Mining giant BHP bucked the trend, advancing 1.46 percent to $48.48.

    The Australian dollar showed resilience amid the equity market turbulence, trading at 67.52 U.S. cents with analysts suggesting potential movement toward 69 cents if current trends persist.

    Market participants now await key developments including former President Trump’s scheduled address at Davos and an emergency EU summit in Brussels, both of which could provide clarity on the direction of international trade relations.

  • Japan to restart world’s biggest nuclear plant Wednesday

    Japan to restart world’s biggest nuclear plant Wednesday

    Japan is poised to reactivate the world’s largest nuclear power facility on Wednesday, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s energy policy since the 2011 Fukushima catastrophe. The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata province, operated by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), will initiate reactor operations after receiving final regulatory approval, despite significant public safety concerns and ongoing protests.

    The restart follows Niigata Governor’s endorsement last month, though regional surveys indicate 60% of residents oppose the reactivation while only 37% support it. The facility has undergone substantial safety enhancements including a 15-meter tsunami wall and elevated emergency power systems. However, critics highlight TEPCO’s problematic track record—including recent alarm system failures and data falsification scandals—as evidence of ongoing operational risks.

    Japan’s push for nuclear revival stems from energy security needs and climate commitments. As the fifth-largest global carbon emitter, Japan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and reduce fossil fuel dependency from nearly 70% to 30-40% of its energy mix. Nuclear power is projected to supply 20% of national energy by 2040, up from current 8.5% levels.

    The restart represents TEPCO’s first nuclear reactivation since the Fukushima disaster, where decommissioning efforts continue after 15 years. While 14 reactors have resumed operations under stricter safety protocols nationwide, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa’s revival remains contentious due to its location on active seismic faults and evacuation plan inadequacies highlighted by local residents.