Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 122

What Trump's Gamble on Putin Could Mean for China

Former U.S. President Richard Nixon famously reconciled with China's Communist leader Mao Zedong in a process that shut out the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War and deepened a Sino-Soviet split. U.S.-Russia talks in Riyadh aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine, have brought speculation that President Donald Trump could be orchestrating a "reverse Nixon" that might pull Russia away

As its trust in US ebbs, Europe takes hard look at more defense spending

A consensus is solidifying on both sides of the Atlantic: Europe must stand on its own two feet. For too long, the thinking goes, Europe has relied on the United States to shoulder the costs of its own defense. Washington will “no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship” with its NATO allies, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Feb. 12 at an international defense meeting in Brussels. The

Billion Indians have no spending money - report

India is home to 1.4 billion people but around a billion lack money to spend on any discretionary goods or services, a new report estimates. The country's consuming class, effectively the potential market for start-ups or business owners, is only about as big as Mexico, 130-140 million people, according to the report from Blume Ventures, a venture capital firm. Another 300 million are "emerging"

North Koreans working in China 'exploited like slaves'

Last month, reports emerged that North Koreans working in China had rioted, after finding out they would not be paid, and that their wages had instead been put towards building weapons for Pyongyang. Instances of North Koreans protesting are virtually unheard of, as the state exercises near total control over its citizens, and public dissent can result in execution. The reported riots, though

UN abruptly cancels Uyghur scholar’s speech at Paris language forum

The United Nations on Monday abruptly cancelled a speech by a prominent exiled Uyghur scholar and linguist barely 24 hours before he was to address a Paris conference on language technologies, he told Radio Free Asia. In an email to Norway-based researcher Abduweli Ayup shown to RFA Uyghur, organizers provided no reason for rescinding the invitation to speak at the Language Technologies for All,

China aims to improve ties with EU amid transatlantic tension

China has launched a new round of diplomatic outreach to European countries amid rising tension between the United States and its European allies.While top U.S. officials and European leaders clashed over issues such as values, democracy and Ukraine at the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi held bilateral meetings with several top European officials,

Why China wants EU to be involved in Ukraine peace talks

The message from China at the UN Security Council on Tuesday was clear. "China welcomes all efforts dedicated to peace, including the recent agreement reached by the United States and Russia to start peace talks," China's UN ambassador, Fu Cong, told a briefing."China hopes all relevant parties and stakeholders involved in the Ukraine crisis will engage in the peace talks process. As the conflict

Trump’s Europe Shock Creates an Opening for China

The Biden administration spent four years building a united front with Europe to counter China. A month into President Donald Trump’s second term, that united front is becoming collateral damage as the new administration dramatically upends former President Joe Biden’s approach, befriending Russia and alienating Europe.In the wake of Trump’s wrecking ball, China is now probing opportunities to

Beijing police detain petitioners ahead of annual parliament

Police in Beijing have been raiding suburban neighborhoods where out-of-town petitioners stay while they lodge lengthy complaints against their local governments, petitioners told Radio Free Asia. The raids appear to be part of “stability maintenance” measures ahead of the annual parliamentary sessions.As delegates get ready to attend the annual sessions of the Chinese People’s Political

Apple, facing tariffs on Chinese imports, says it will invest $500 billion in US facilities

Apple said Monday it will invest $500 billion on expanding US facilities over the next four years, a move that could help it avoid new tariffs on goods imported from China. Apple said the investment will create 20,000 jobs.Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced tariffs of 10% on all imports from China, from which Apple imports many products, including most of its iPhones. Trump