Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 338

North Korean train makes first crossing into China since Covid border lockdown

A North Korean cargo train has reportedly pulled into a Chinese border town in what would be the first confirmed crossing since its anti-coronavirus border lockdowns began. North Korea has not officially reported any Covid-19 cases and has imposed strict anti-virus measures, including border closures and domestic travel curbs since the pandemic began in early 2020. A North Korean freight train

China is risking a big hit to the economy and supply chains with zero-Omicron approach

The Chinese government's unwavering insistence on stamping out any trace of the coronavirus is facing its biggest test yet as authorities grapple with Omicron's quickening spread. And it could cost the world's second largest economy dearly this year.The Covid-19 variant has been cropping up across China in recent days, including in major port cities like Dalian and Tianjin, prompting restrictions

Vietnam And Philippines Hedging Against China And US Interests In The South China Sea

South China Sea is situated in the western edge of Pacific Ocean (Ma, 2016). It is the busiest sea for trade and multiple activities of the regional as well as other regional countries. Chinese claimed that China had ruled in South China Sea with Paracel and Spratly Islands from 200 BC. British were the first who initiated navigation and geo-survey of the islands of the South China Sea in

'We are fasting as if it's Ramadan': Sri Lanka on the brink of bankruptcy; millions bear the brunt

Sri Lanka is heavily dependent on imports, even to meet its basic food supplies including rice, sugar and milk powder. With foreign exchange drying up and the rupee depreciating by more than 11.1 per cent, the price of necessities has catapulted. Sri Lanka’s inflation rocketed further after a record money printing by the government to maintain low interest rates in November.In April last year,

Scepticism in uneasy Kazakhstan as president promises reform

Kazakhstan’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who at the height of unrest last week said he had ordered troops to shoot to kill without warning, has spent this week taking a softer line and promising genuine reform. However, with thousands of people still in detention and a behind-the-scenes power struggle still not fully resolved, many have expressed scepticism.“People who have carried out

In Latest Threat To India, China Builds Illegal Villages Inside Bhutan

High-resolution satellite imagery sourced by NDTV confirms that China may be constructing at least two large, interconnected villages well within the territory of Bhutan. These lie less than 30 km from the Doklam plateau where India and China had a tense stand-off in 2017 when Indian soldiers physically blocked Chinese road construction activity. Since then, China has bypassed Indian positions to

President Moon wants to formally end the Korean War. Can that bring peace?

South Korean president says end-of-war declaration will help revive peace talks, but critics say it risks undermining alliance with the US. In recent months, Moon, who is due to leave office in May, has stepped up efforts to put the peace process back on track, lobbying the US and China – both involved in the Korean War – for their backing to formally declare the conflict over.In a recent address

China’s crude oil imports drop for first time since 2001

China’s annual crude oil imports slid 5.4 percent in 2021, dropping for the first time since 2001, as Beijing clamped down on the refining sector to curb excess domestic fuel production while refiners drew down massive inventories. China has been the global oil demand driver for the last decade and accounted for 44 percent of worldwide growth in oil imports since 2015, when Beijing started

China faces omicron test weeks ahead of Beijing Olympics

Most access to a major city adjacent to Beijing was suspended Thursday as China tried to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious omicron variant, which poses a test to its “zero-tolerance” COVID-19 policy and its ability to successfully host the Winter Olympics.Tianjin, a port and manufacturing center with 14 million people, is one of a half-dozen cities where the government is imposing

Woman connected to Chinese Communist Party 'seeking to covertly interfere in UK politics,' MI5 says

The United Kingdom's domestic spy agency has warned British lawmakers that a woman connected to the Chinese Communist Party has been working to interfere in the UK political process. MI5 alleges in an alert that Christine Ching Kui Lee has "acted covertly in coordination" with the United Front Work Department (UFWD), of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and is "judged to be involved in political