Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 139

Shigatse Earthquake: Over 120 Dead as Rescuers Battle Cold and Rubble

A day after a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, the toll has climbed to at least 126 dead, 188 injured, and over 3,600 homes reduced to rubble. Battling sub-zero temperatures through the night, rescue teams combed through collapsed homes in search of survivors, while PLA troops, medical experts, and emergency supplies poured into the affected region.At

In Shaanxi, a Long-Buried Han Dynasty Tomb Is a Study in Power

Gold, intricate seals, and rare treasures buried for over two millennia have emerged from a tomb in China’s Shaanxi province, believed to belong to Tian Qianqiu — a revered prime minister of the Han dynasty (206 BC–AD 220).The discovery sheds light on the burial customs and power dynamics of one of China’s most influential eras. Tian, who served under Emperors Wu and Zhao, rose to prominence

Xi To Send Top Chinese Official to Trump's Inauguration

Chinese President Xi Jinping is dispatching a high-ranking official to the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, in lieu of Ambassador Xie Feng, in a move that breaks tradition. Xi's move suggests an eagerness to lower tensions early in Trump's second term in the White House. Washington and Beijing remain at loggerheads over a range of contentious issues, from trade and Beijing's

Report on China's New Fleet of Barges Drops Amid Taiwan Invasion Fears

A report published by the Naval News on Friday that China is building a fleet of barges suitable for amphibious landings amid fears of a Taiwan invasion. Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington, D.C., via email for comment on Saturday.Why

Torbjørn Færøvik: Ingen kjenner dagen før Donald Trump har gått til sengs

En frisk vestavind har blåst over Danmark de siste dagene, og statsminister Mette Fredriksen har fått gjennomgå for sin håndtering av Donald Trumps ubehagelige trusler.Å rasle med sabelen overfor en alliert, sømmer seg ikke, men ingen kjenner dagen før Trump har gått til sengs. Det eneste Danmark kan gjøre, er å vente på en avklaring – hvis den kommer. I beste fall går stormen over av seg selv,

Uyghurs detained in Thailand say they face deportation and persecution in China

A group of Uyghur men who were detained in Thailand over a decade ago say that the Thai government is preparing to deport them to China, alarming activists and family members who say the men are at risk of abuse and torture if they are sent back. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, 43 Uyghur men held in Bangkok made a public appeal to halt what they called an imminent threat of

China and the UK restart economic and financial talks after a 6-year hiatus

China and Britain restarted economic and financial talks on Saturday after a six-year hiatus during a visit by Britain’s Treasury chief to Beijing, as the U.K.’s Labour government seeks to reset strained ties with the world’s second-largest economy. Accompanied by a delegation of British business executives and finance officials, Chancellor Rachel Reeves met with Chinese leaders, including Vice

How NATO Can Strengthen Its Ties With The Indo–Pacific – Analysis

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the increased connectivity of war in modern times. Conflict in one part of the world cannot be separated from other regions. In June 2024, North Korea provided at least five million munitions to Russia. And more recently, North Korea sent an estimated 12,000–15,000 troops to fight Ukraine. China has also supported Russia’s illegal war through third

China Silences Top Economist Over Unflattering Analysis

Atop Chinese economist has been censored after his candid remarks about China's lackluster economic growth, The Wall Street Journal reported. Newsweek has contacted China's Foreign Ministry for comment via email.The world's second-largest economy has continued to face headwinds since the end of Beijing's strict pandemic-era measures in late 2022, including a real estate crunch, tepid consumer

TD Economics: How Far Will They Go? China’s Outlook for 2025

We expect China’s growth to clock in at 4.8% in 2024, in line with the 5%-ish target set out by policymakers. Next year, authorities are likely to set a growth target of around 5%, along with an expansion in the fiscal deficit1. However, risks are tilted to the downside and our forecast is for a 4.7% expansion, a virtual repeat of this year’s performance, as the trade war with the U.S. gains