Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog

Torbjørn Færøvik: Fighting «Pessimism and Dark Voices» Is Not an Easy Task

You are feeling down and lack faith in the future. But don’t despair, for there is a way out of the gloom: a national campaign against pessimism!China always takes the lead. Last week, the “Campaign Against Pessimism and Dark Voices” was launched with major newspaper headlines and cheerful advice. Behind it stands the all-powerful Communist Party, dissatisfied with the state of affairs. “Online

The Ganges River is drying up faster than ever

The Ganges, a lifeline for hundreds of millions across South Asia, is drying at a rate scientists say is unprecedented in recorded history. Climate change, shifting monsoons, relentless extraction and damming are pushing the mighty river towards collapse, with consequences for food, water and livelihoods across the region. For centuries, the Ganges and its tributaries have sustained one of the

China-Russia partnership is less than meets the eye

Earlier this month, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, where the two leaders observed China’s military parade. Watching it, one could be forgiven for thinking Beijing and Moscow are growing dangerously close to the detriment of the United States.That’s all the more concerning given the Chinese military might on full display at the parade. And while

How India's war against Maoists is affecting its people

Locals and tribal communities in central and eastern India have long found themselves caught in a crossfire between Maoist rebels and government security forces. The Maoist insurgency - an armed movement seeking to establish a communist state - has persisted for nearly six decades and claimed thousands of lives.Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), as it is officially called, began in 1967 as an armed

Taiwan convicts ex-presidential aide of spying for China

A Taiwan court has convicted a former presidential aide of spying for China and three others who were also employed by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). One of the men worked in the office of then Foreign Minister Joseph Wu who now serves as the national security chief. The court handed the men jail terms of between four to 10 years for leaking state secrets. The ruling said the

China launches campaign to keep killjoys off the internet

The Chinese government is taking aim at an emotion that has become all too common on the country's internet - despondency. This week, China's Cyberspace Administration launched a two-month campaign to curb social media posts that "excessively exaggerate negative and pessimistic sentiments". The goal, according to authorities, is to "rectify negative emotions" and "create a more civilised and

China’s Latest Reform Eases Property Purchases for Overseas Individuals

China has eased a long-standing “payment dilemma” for overseas individuals purchasing onshore properties, simplifying cross-border investment and financing procedures.Unveiled in mid-September by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), the new rule allows overseas buyers to use converted currency for down payments immediately after signing a purchase agreement, before submitting the

Street Theater: How ‘Chengguan’ and Vendors Play Their Roles

Every morning at 8 a.m., Yu Zhong crosses the fence at Optics Valley International Plaza onto the pedestrian bridge spanning Lumo Road. This marks the start of the daily cat-and-mouse game between the urban management officers and street vendors here, one in which Yu is indisputably the main player.Urban management officer Yu is a slight man, bespectacled, gentle in manner, and slow and

Why Frozen Food Gets an Icy Reception in China

China is in the middle of a food fight.Earlier this month, influencer Luo Yonghao wrote, after eating at one of chain restaurant Xibei’s many locations, that, “Almost all of the dishes were pre-made, and still so expensive.” Xibei founder Jia Guolong responded, saying, “According to national regulations, none of our dishes are pre-made.”But after journalists and social media users revealed that

Torbjørn Færøvik: En ny kinesisk kampanje, denne gang mot «pessimisme og mørke stemmer»

Du er nedfor og mangler tro på fremtiden. Men fortvil ikke, for det finnes en vei ut av uføret: En nasjonal kampanje mot pessimisme!Kina går alltid foran. I forrige uke ble «Kampanjen mot pessimisme og mørke stemmer» innledet med store avisoverskrifter og gode råd. Bak den står det allmektige kommunistpartiet, som er misfornøyd med tingenes tilstand. «Nettinnhold som oppmuntrer til pessimisme,