Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 100

Can India really stop river water from flowing into Pakistan?

Will India be able to stop the Indus river and two of its tributaries from flowing into Pakistan? That's the question on many minds, after India suspended a major treaty governing water sharing of six rivers in the Indus basin between the two countries, following Tuesday's horrific attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) survived two wars between the nuclear

Pakistan suspends visas for Indians after deadly Kashmir attack on tourists

Pakistan has responded with tit-for-tat measures against India as tensions soared following a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists. Islamabad suspended all visas issued to Indian nationals under an exemption scheme with immediate effect, as well as expelling some of its neighbour's diplomats and closing its airspace to Indian flights.Indian police have named

Deadly Kashmir attack risks India military escalation against Pakistan

Tuesday's bloodshed in Pahalgam - where at least 26 tourists were killed in a hail of gunfire - marks the deadliest militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir since 2019. The victims weren't soldiers or officials, but civilians on holiday in one of India's most picturesque valleys. That alone makes this strike both brutal and symbolic: a calculated assault not just on lives, but on a fragile

Behind China’s Growth Numbers, a Nation Still Saving

When Li Rui was earning 30,000 yuan ($4,000) a month from part-time jobs, he burned through most of it on gadgets, takeout, and nights out. Now, as a full-time Ph.D. student in Beijing living on just 5,000 yuan in bursaries and scholarships, he saves more than ever. “I’m saving more than 60% of my income now,” says the 27-year-old. “Before, it was only about 20%, if that.”China’s economy is

Pope’s death receives muted official response in China, which has a tense relationship with the Vatican

As the world rushed to pay tribute to Pope Francis following his death, the response has been comparatively muted in China – an officially atheist state with millions of Catholics whose government has had a difficult and complex relationship with the Vatican.In the passing of Pope Francis, Beijing loses a well-respected global leader who had pushed the Vatican closer to China’s Communist Party

Trade war with US triggers wave of factory ‘holidays’ in China’s export hubs

As the U.S.-China trade war heats up, businesses in major export hubs in southeastern China are announcing factory “holidays” – halting production and slashing employee wages and work hours – while turning to social commerce platforms to sell stockpiled goods, as they grapple with a sharp drop in overseas orders.It’s a phenomenon sweeping across China’s export-driven provinces like Zhejiang,

Trump now says China tariffs will come down substantially, but won’t be zero

U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that recently imposed tariffs on Chinese goods will “come down substantially,” but won’t be zero, in the latest zigzag for Washington’s stance on global trade.The U.S. and China are waging a tit-for-tat trade battle, which threatens to stunt the global economy. The U.S. imposed tariffs of 145% on Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with tariffs

'I've had 100 operations and will never stop' - inside China's cosmetic surgery boom

Abby Wu was just 14 when she had cosmetic surgery for the first time. After receiving hormone treatment for an illness, Abby's weight increased from 42kg (6 stone 8lbs) to 62kg (9 stone 11lbs) in two months. The change hadn't gone unnoticed by her drama teacher. "My teacher said, 'You were our star but now you're too fat. Either give up or lose weight fast,'" recalls Abby, who was preparing for

US wants to slap tariffs as high as 3,500% on solar panels from Southeast Asia

US trade officials finalized steep tariff levels on most solar cells from Southeast Asia, a key step toward wrapping up a year-old trade case in which American manufacturers accused Chinese companies of flooding the market with unfairly cheap goods. The case was brought last year by Korea’s Hanwha Qcells, Arizona-based First Solar Inc and several smaller producers seeking to protect billions of

Cambodia’s controversial canal project gets boost on Xi visit

A pet project of Cambodia’s ruling Hun clan to build a canal linking the capital with the Gulf of Thailand got a boost as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rounded off a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia on Friday. The Cambodian government reported the signing Thursday of a public-private partnership contract with China worth $1.15 billion to fund Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal project. The