Torbjørn Færøvik's Blog, page 98

Trump's Spat With Ukraine Opens Door for China in Europe

President Donald Trump's tariffs on U.S. allies and rivals, along with his relationship with of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have fueled doubts in Europe about America's reliability while presenting China with an opportunity.Former President Joe Biden fostered closer transatlantic coordination with Europe on China, aligning with Brussels in viewing Beijing as a military challenge and an

US Turning Attention to Taiwan After Ukraine War, Envoy Says

United States envoy in Taiwan said Washington will turn its attention to the self-ruled island, which is threatened by China, should the three-year-long Russia-Ukraine war end. The Chinese communist government has claimed that Taiwan is its territory despite never having ruled the island, warning that it "reserves all options," including the use of force.While the U.S. does not have an official

China ramps up surveillance of residents through video cameras

 Authorities in a single district of the southwestern megacity of Chongqing have installed 27,900 surveillance cameras and 245 sensors as part of a comprehensive “grid” surveillance plan to keep tabs on residents, officials from the district said Monday. The move offers a rare glimpse into the running of China’s “grid” system -- the close-up monitoring of every aspect of its citizens' lives

Tibetans mark 1959 revolt with rallies in Europe, North America and India

Tibetans around the world on Monday marked the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule with protests in cities across Europe, North America and India as thousands marched for an end to Chinese oppression. With faces painted in the blue and red of the Tibetan national flag –- and shouting slogans in a slew of different languages -– Tibetans and their supporters rallied in Sydney, Taipei, London, New

China unveils big plan to fix its ailing economy and transform into a high-tech power

China’s leaders have spent the past week unveiling their plan to steer the world’s second-largest economy through looming challenges by transforming the country into a technological powerhouse and ramping up spending to hit an ambitious growth target.The thousands of delegates who gathered in Beijing for China’s week-long “two sessions” meeting of its rubber stamp legislature and top political

The list of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities is out. All but one are in Asia

All but one of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities last year were in Asia, a new study shows. The majority of these cities – 13 – are in the world’s most populous country, India, where booming economic growth is fired largely by coal and where hundreds of millions live in traffic-clogged and congested megacities. Another four are in neighboring Pakistan, with one in China and Kazakhstan

Why Argentina’s military is deploying to surveil hundreds of Chinese fishing boats off its coast

The P-3 propellor plane banks sharply, silhouetted against dozens of shimmering lights in the sea against an Argentine sunset. As the camera pans across the scene, it becomes clear: the glaring lights come from dozens of fishing vessels dotting the ocean below.  The footage, shared by the Argentine military in late February, shows the overwhelming scale of a flotilla near a marine boundary

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in custody on ICC warrant for crimes against humanity, government says

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was taken into custody on Tuesday after the Philippine government said it received an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest for alleged crimes against humanity. During his time in office, Duterte presided over a sweeping and brutal anti-drugs crackdown that killed more than 6,000 people, according to police data, though independent monitors

Why Argentina’s military is deploying to surveil hundreds of Chinese fishing boats off its coast

The P-3 propellor plane banks sharply, silhouetted against dozens of shimmering lights in the sea against an Argentine sunset. As the camera pans across the scene, it becomes clear: the glaring lights come from dozens of fishing vessels dotting the ocean below. The footage, shared by the Argentine military in late February, shows the overwhelming scale of a flotilla near a marine boundary which

Iran, China and Russia launch annual joint naval drills as Trump upends Western alliances

Warships from Iran, China and Russia kicked off their annual joint exercises in the Gulf of Oman on Monday, showing off their military ties as US President Donald Trump upends longstanding Western alliances. The “Security Belt-2025” drills, taking place near the Iranian port of Chabahar, is the fifth joint naval exercise Iran, China and Russia have held since 2019, according to Chinese state