Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 295

How Russia and China Use Disinformation to Justify Internment Camps

After failing to conquer Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv, Russia has turned its focus toward the east of the country, staging an offensive campaign against the strategically significant city of Mariupol, which lies between Russian-annexed Crimea and the contested Donbas region.Part of Russia's strategy to exert dominance in this region has allegedly been to remove potential combatants from the

Hong Kong and Shanghai lose their international luster as Covid restrictions bite

The glittering skylines of Hong Kong and Shanghai have long been associated with wealth and glamor.But in recent weeks, they have become synonymous with a much grimmer reality, as authorities in the two international finance hubs struggle to contain raging Omicron outbreaks. Extreme Covid measures have heavily restricted the lives of residents in both cities, with Shanghai now entering the third

Why India can buy Russian oil, and still be friends with the US

What a difference a few weeks make. Just last month India was taking flak from the West for its relationship with Russia. Not only was the South Asian country refusing to condemn Moscow's brutal assault on Ukraine, but its purchases of discounted Russian oil -- said critics -- were flying in the face of sanctions aimed at crippling the Kremlin's finances.And the White House was making its

Working with assertive China a must - New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern

New Zealand has been aware for some time now of a "growing assertiveness" and a "growing interest" in its region - explicitly from China, according to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. But Ms Ardern also spoke of the need to work together with China, on areas of "natural mutual interest". Speaking to the BBC in an exclusive broadcast interview, she stood by what she called her country's "mature

India's rich art history is just a click away now

India has one of the world's richest art histories, spanning centuries and a mélange of forms, styles and inspirations. But it is also hard to access for anyone without an academic grounding in the subject. Even the most compelling object is often described by scholars in a dense, opaque manner that can wear down even genuine enthusiasts.Now, a museum in the southern city of Bangalore is hoping

Indian lawmaker arrested after tweet criticising Narendra Modi

A state lawmaker in India was arrested for criticising the prime minister, Narendra Modi, in a tweet, officials have said, raising concerns over freedom of speech in the world’s largest democracy. His arrest coincided with the arrival of the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, in the country.Jignesh Mevani, a prominent campaigner for India’s marginalised low-caste Dalit community, accused the

Modi’s India Has No Space For Muslims

On April 20, bulldozers rolled into the north Delhi neighborhood of Jahangirpuri on the orders of local authorities. The bulldozers razed several buildings in the area, including the entrance gate of a mosque as well as homes and shops of Muslims. While local police and political officials claimed that the structures were being bulldozed as they were illegal, authorities stopped a bulldozer from

Japan Needs to Prepare for a Possible Senkaku Islands Crisis

The primary security challenge for Japan today is China’s behavior over the disputed Senkaku Islands (known in China as the Diaoyu Islands). In the fall of 1968, the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE) noted the possible presence of immense deposits of oil and gas under the waters surrounding the islands. Subsequently, starting with a statement by the Chinese

Covid forces China to face mental health crisis a long time in the making

Since the Covid lockdown in Shanghai began, Hu Bojun has received numerous inquiries about her and her hospital’s counselling services. This month, the US-educated clinical psychologist began facilitating lockdown support groups – in English and Chinese – to clients from “all walks of life”.“Even people from different socio-economic sectors are now attending [counselling] together … My old

Tibet builds makeshift Covid hospitals despite one case since pandemic began

Authorities in Tibet are building massive Covid isolation and care facilities in anticipation of further outbreaks in China even though the remote territory has reported only one case during the pandemic.Temporary hospitals – a key feature of China’s Covid response – with at least 1,000 beds each are being built in Lhasa and Shigatse by the Chinese firm Jiangsu Qi’an Construction Group. The firm