Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 236

Hong Kong Tiananmen vigil organisers convicted under national security law

Three former members of a Hong Kong group that organised annual vigils to mark China’s Tiananmen Square crackdown have been found guilty of not complying with a national security police request for information. Chow Hang-tung, 38, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and former vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, was among

Kem Sokha: Rights groups condemn Cambodia opposition leader's 27-year sentence

Cambodia's most prominent opposition leader has been sentenced to 27 years under house arrest in a trial critics said was politically motivated. Kem Sokha, the former leader of the now-dissolved Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), has also been barred from standing or voting in July's election. He denies charges he conspired with foreign powers to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen's government

How to Price a Bride: Paying the right sum is crucial to cementing one’s status in rural communities.

Bai, a doctor who runs a clinic in a largely rural county in northwestern China, is recognized throughout his home region as an honest and kind man. Over the past 20 years, he’s treated colds, delivered babies, and made regular house calls to elderly patients. He may not be as wealthy as some of the local businesspeople, but he is solidly middle class and his reputation was widely perceived as an

Sexual Offenses Against Minors Rising in China, Says Government

China witnessed an overall increase in offenses against minors over the past five years, including an uptick in sexual assault cases.  At a press conference Wednesday, the Supreme Procuratorate stated that sexual offenses are now the most prominent type of crime against minors across the country.  According to the data, 290,000 people have been charged with crimes against minors since 2018. Of

Wang Yuwen, Chronicler of China’s Workers, Has Passed Away

Renowned photographer Wang Yuwen, who captured generations of northeastern China’s working class amid rapid industrial transformation, passed away last Saturday, according to the China Photographers Association. He was 75. Wang was born in 1948 into a family of miners in the northeastern Liaoning province, an industrial base that the country relied on since the founding of the People’s Republic

Xi Jinping to tighten Communist party’s grip with overhaul of China’s government at key meeting

Xi Jinping is preparing a profound overhaul of China’s government and party institutions at this year’s National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s rubber-stamp parliament, which begins its annual session on Sunday. On Tuesday, the Chinese Communist party (CCP) trailed changes of “far-reaching significance” that are expected to include a reorganisation of the bodies tasked with managing the

Japan just found 7,000 islands it didn’t know it had

Japan has recounted its islands – and discovered it has 7,000 more than it previously thought. Digital mapping by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) recently found there to be 14,125 islands in Japanese territory, more than double the figure of 6,852 that has been in official use since a 1987 report by Japan’s Coast Guard.However, the GSI this week stressed that the new figure

Why half of India's urban women stay at home

Nineteen-year-old Manisha works as a full-time maid at a house on the outskirts of the Indian capital, Delhi. Back home in Jharkhand, she dropped out of school as public transport was irregular and sexual harassment on the roads was common. She travelled to the Indian capital, and got herself a job in an apartment. But still she does not venture out much, citing difficulties in commuting and lack

Torbjørn Færøvik: Kinas smertefulle spagat

Kinas 12-punktsplan for fred i Ukraina ble i forrige uke avvist like brått som den kom. Både USA og EU konstaterte at planen var urealistisk, og NATOs Jens Stoltenberg fastslo at Kina mangler troverdighet som fredsaktør. Det var klar tale. Ribbet for troverdighet og kritisert av stadig flere. Det er ikke lett å være Kina, men de kinesiske lederne har bare seg selv å takke. Siden landet åpnet seg

Russia and China Cooperating in 'All Areas,' Envoy Says Amid Weapons Fears

Russia's ambassador to China said attempts to drive a wedge between the countries will fail amid U.S. concerns that Beijing might supply arms to Moscow. Igor Morgulov told the Chinese government newspaper the Global Times that "anyone who has bad intentions and may try to break our friendship will not succeed."Citing increased trade between the countries, he told the publication: "We are good