Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 79

Children aged 14 or younger now make up less than 12% of this country’s population

Japan’s estimated child population has shrunk for the 44th straight year to a record low, government data showed Sunday, as the country grapples with a demographic crisis underscored by falling birth rates and a rapidly aging population. The number of children aged 14 and under, was 13.66 million as of April 1, down 350,000 from a year ago, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal

Fears of global instability drive Singapore voters into ruling party's arms

Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has won by a landslide in an election dominated by concerns over the cost of living and the country's future economic stability. Led by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his first election since he became party leader last year, the PAP clinched 65.6% of the vote and an overwhelming majority of the 97 seats in parliament.Singaporeans went to the polls

(Photo story): The long road to justice against Japanese war criminals and collaborators

After Japan announced its acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration, the Far East Allied Command held a surrender ceremony on 3 September 1945 aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Shortly on 9 September, the acceptance ceremony of Japan's surrender by China was held in Nanjing.Subsequently, the Allied headquarters issued orders to arrest war criminals. The Far East Allied Command in Tokyo arrested

Why civilisations burn their own books

In times of peace, books are indeed a treasure trove — “if a man wishes to fulfill his lifelong ambitions, he must diligently study the Five Classics.” Books essentially became a secret manual to success and honour, like the martial arts manual Sunflower Scripture (葵花宝典) in Jin Yong’s wuxia novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.Books have always held an esteemed position in society. However, the

State Media Reminds Workers that Labor Rights Are “Granted” by the Party

A series of state-media reports on the theme of the May 1 International Workers Day provide a window into the CCP’s perception of labor rights in China. This week, China Daily published a series of quotes by Xi Jinping to bolster the claim that he “has consistently praised the contributions of workers and emphasized the protection of their rights and interests.” The main story on the first

Dalai Lama’s 90th Birthday Sparks Worldwide Compassion Campaign Led by International Campaign for Tibet

In celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) launched The Compassion Rising World Tour 2025—a sweeping global campaign to honor the Dalai Lama’s life and efforts, while inspiring acts of compassion, spotlighting Tibet’s enduring struggle for freedom, and uniting global communities around the Dalai Lama’s message of peace and resilience.

Radio Free Asia lays off most of its staff amid funding battle with Trump

Radio Free Asia is laying off most of its staff and shutting down many of its news broadcasts and streams, amid a funding battle with the Trump administration. Friday’s layoff notices are the latest impacts of President Trump’s crusade against the international broadcasters the United States has bankrolled for decades. Bay Fang, the CEO of Radio Free Asia, said the cuts are necessary because the

Apple says most US-bound iPhones no longer made in China

The majority of the iPhones bound for the US market in the coming months will be made in India, while Vietnam will be a major production hub for items like iPads and Apple Watches, chief executive Tim Cook says. It comes as the technology giant estimated that US import taxes could add about $900m (£677.5m) to its costs in the current quarter, despite Trump's decision to spare key electronics from

CIA rolls out sleek new videos aimed at recruiting Chinese officials

The CIA has released two new videos aimed at luring Chinese officials to spy for the United States, tapping into disillusion within China’s vast bureaucracy and fear of leader Xi Jinping’s relentless anti-corruption purge. The sleekly produced clips, filmed in Mandarin with Chinese subtitles, are the latest effort by the US spy agency to ramp up intelligence gathering on China, viewed by

Letter from Tibet: A breathtaking journey through the tightly guarded spiritual heartland

 A “no photograph upon landing” announcement punctured the serene silence of the cabin as I gazed at the snow-capped peaks outside our airplane window, a stark reminder that we were entering a land of profound beauty and immense political sensitivity.Our Air China flight from Beijing carried not just my cameraman and me, but also about two dozen other foreign journalists, all accompanied by