Time passes, and silence reigns in the Drum Tower. Yet for nearly seven hundred years the largest drum in the Middle Kingdom dictated the rhythm of life for all of Beijing’s inhabitants. “The beats rolled like heavy waves in all directions,” I read in an old book.
The beats announced the regime of the night—that movement, trade, and crafts in public spaces were to cease, and that the city gates were to be closed.
“Every night guards ride around the city in groups of thirty to forty men to check whether anyone is out at an unlawful hour,” Marco Polo wrote toward the end of the thirteenth century. “Anyone found is arrested and thrown into prison.”
fredag 2. januar 2026
Torbjørn Færøvik: Nyttårshilsen fra Trommetårnet
Tiden går, og stillheten rår i Trommetårnet. Men i nesten 700 år dikterte den største trommen i Midtens rike livsrytmen til alle Beijings innbyggere. «Slagene rullet som tunge bølger i alle himmelretninger», leser jeg i en gammel bok.
Slagene varslet nattens regime – at ferdsel, handel og håndverk i det offentlige rom skulle opphøre, og at byportene skulle stenges.
«Hver natt rir vakter rundt i byen i grupper på tretti til førti mann for å undersøke om noen er ute på ulovlig tidspunkt», skrev Marco Polo på slutten av 1200-tallet. «Den som blir funnet, blir arrestert og satt i fengsel.»
South Korea's Lee ditches hard-line path on Kim, North Korea
In a clear departure from his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has adopted a softer stance on North Korea during his first seven months in office, offering carrots rather than sticks to the regime in Pyongyang. The change became obvious in recent weeks as Seoul pushed multiple initiatives to reopen communication channels and build trust with North Korea.
"Both Yoon and Lee want the same thing because there has been a stalemate in inter-Korean ties since the North's last nuclear test, in September 2017," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor of foreign policy at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
The Korean Peninsula has been divided since 1948. The subsequent decades have seen periods of tension and relative rapprochement between Seoul and Pyongyang, but the bilateral ties have "broken down" in recent years, Choo said. The conflict over the North's nuclear arsenal is still the main stumbling block between the countries. Ex-President Yoon was adamant that denuclearization of the North was a pre-condition to any talks on the future of bilateral ties. Pyongyang would not agree to that stipulation. Lee, however, pushed denuclearization down the list of priorities and now sees it as an "eventual goal,” Choo said.
"Both Yoon and Lee want the same thing because there has been a stalemate in inter-Korean ties since the North's last nuclear test, in September 2017," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor of foreign policy at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
The Korean Peninsula has been divided since 1948. The subsequent decades have seen periods of tension and relative rapprochement between Seoul and Pyongyang, but the bilateral ties have "broken down" in recent years, Choo said. The conflict over the North's nuclear arsenal is still the main stumbling block between the countries. Ex-President Yoon was adamant that denuclearization of the North was a pre-condition to any talks on the future of bilateral ties. Pyongyang would not agree to that stipulation. Lee, however, pushed denuclearization down the list of priorities and now sees it as an "eventual goal,” Choo said.
Ten years after it ended its ‘one-child’ policy, China’s push for more babies isn’t winning its citizens over
Welkin Lei has been doing some paper-napkin calculations in his spare time.
As the 30-year-old from Beijing and his wife consider whether to have a second child, they face a question of resources. Caring for their three-year-old son requires hiring childcare while they’re at work, and the couple – both only children – are also looking ahead to when they’ll need to balance parenting with the cost and time of caring for their own aging parents.
While those considerations are not uncommon around the world, they’re also uniquely at the heart of one of the biggest long-term domestic challenges facing China’s leaders: spurring the country’s young people to have more children after decades of stringent, state-enforced birth control that skewed its demographics.
As the 30-year-old from Beijing and his wife consider whether to have a second child, they face a question of resources. Caring for their three-year-old son requires hiring childcare while they’re at work, and the couple – both only children – are also looking ahead to when they’ll need to balance parenting with the cost and time of caring for their own aging parents.
While those considerations are not uncommon around the world, they’re also uniquely at the heart of one of the biggest long-term domestic challenges facing China’s leaders: spurring the country’s young people to have more children after decades of stringent, state-enforced birth control that skewed its demographics.
Could Japan Get a Nuclear Weapon? What To Know
A senior Japanese official’s suggestion that Japan should possess nuclear weapons has reignited debate over whether the country could—or would—break with a decades-old taboo in response to an increasingly tense security environment.
Such a move would mark a dramatic departure for Japan, the world’s only nation to have suffered atomic bombings and a country that, after World War II, adopted a pacifist constitution. For decades, the U.S. has pledged to protect Japan, South Korea, and Australia under its nuclear umbrella.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions with China, which has, since last month, waged a public-relations campaign portraying Japan’s recent actions as a return to pre-World War II militarism. The rhetoric escalated after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that a Chinese blockade of Beijing-claimed Taiwan would justify a joint intervention with U.S. forces.
Such a move would mark a dramatic departure for Japan, the world’s only nation to have suffered atomic bombings and a country that, after World War II, adopted a pacifist constitution. For decades, the U.S. has pledged to protect Japan, South Korea, and Australia under its nuclear umbrella.
The statement comes amid heightened tensions with China, which has, since last month, waged a public-relations campaign portraying Japan’s recent actions as a return to pre-World War II militarism. The rhetoric escalated after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that a Chinese blockade of Beijing-claimed Taiwan would justify a joint intervention with U.S. forces.
China’s Xi Doubles Down on Taiwan Territorial Claim After War Games
Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his government's designs for unification with Taiwan during his annual New Year's Eve address. "We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship," Xi said during Wednesday's speech. "The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable!"
The remarks come just one day after the People's Liberation Army fired missiles into waters north and south of the island during drills Beijing framed as a warning to Taiwan's government and to "external forces" supporting it, a thinly veiled threat toward the United States.
The remarks come just one day after the People's Liberation Army fired missiles into waters north and south of the island during drills Beijing framed as a warning to Taiwan's government and to "external forces" supporting it, a thinly veiled threat toward the United States.
China Ends Tax Break on Condoms, Contraceptive Pills Amid Birth Rate Slump
China has ended a decades-old tax exemption on contraceptives, including condoms and birth control pills, as part of its broader effort to reverse a sustained decline in population growth. Beginning January 1, contraceptives are now subject to a 13 percent value-added tax, while services related to childcare, marriage, and elder care are exempt.
The policy shift comes amid growing concern in Beijing over a shrinking population and the economic implications of an aging society. Official figures show that only 9.54 million babies were born in China in 2024, approximately half the number from a decade earlier. The country has now recorded three consecutive years of population decline.
The policy shift comes amid growing concern in Beijing over a shrinking population and the economic implications of an aging society. Official figures show that only 9.54 million babies were born in China in 2024, approximately half the number from a decade earlier. The country has now recorded three consecutive years of population decline.
China’s Plans to Dominate at Sea in 2026
China, a top maritime rival of the United States, is expected to continue rapid naval modernization and expand its presence at sea in the new year, following the fielding of new warships and a growing reach in the Pacific in 2025, analysts told Newsweek.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China's Embassy in Washington, D.C., told Newsweek that China's military development is not directed at any third party. "They are solely for the purpose of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests."
China has built the world's largest navy by hull count, with more than 370 ships and submarines, including three aircraft carriers, as part of its push to field a "world-class" military. In its latest annual report on Chinese militarydevelopments, the Pentagon warned that China aims to displace the U.S. as the world's most powerful country.
Liu Pengyu, spokesperson for China's Embassy in Washington, D.C., told Newsweek that China's military development is not directed at any third party. "They are solely for the purpose of safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests."
China has built the world's largest navy by hull count, with more than 370 ships and submarines, including three aircraft carriers, as part of its push to field a "world-class" military. In its latest annual report on Chinese militarydevelopments, the Pentagon warned that China aims to displace the U.S. as the world's most powerful country.
In India, door deliveries can come in under 10 minutes. But many drivers are fed up
Tens of thousands of app-based delivery workers in India went on strike over New Year’s Eve, protesting a system they say is defined by relentless pressure, including requirements to deliver items in under 10 minutes.
The workers are calling for “fair pay, dignity and safety,” as well as an immediate ban on a marketing hook that commits them to delivering groceries to any address within a roughly three kilometer (1.8 miles) radius within 10 minutes – no easy feat in India’s notoriously traffic-clogged cities.
They are also protesting against the automated systems used by the platforms to penalize delivery workers and reduce their ratings when delays occur, and are asking for comprehensive social security including health insurance and pensions. More than 200,000 workers joined the strike, according to the Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers who organized the strike.
The workers are calling for “fair pay, dignity and safety,” as well as an immediate ban on a marketing hook that commits them to delivering groceries to any address within a roughly three kilometer (1.8 miles) radius within 10 minutes – no easy feat in India’s notoriously traffic-clogged cities.
They are also protesting against the automated systems used by the platforms to penalize delivery workers and reduce their ratings when delays occur, and are asking for comprehensive social security including health insurance and pensions. More than 200,000 workers joined the strike, according to the Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers who organized the strike.
tirsdag 30. desember 2025
How Trump’s New Warships Compare to Chinese, Russian Ships
President Donald Trump has hailed his new class of "battleship"—named for himself—as "100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built." And it will counter "everyone," the president said as he unveiled the project on Monday.
The U.S. has not used "battleships" since the Iowa-class vessels were retired in the early 1990s. But Trump had publicly weighed in on a return to 20th-century battleships and said he would be involved in the design of the new vessel. He previously criticized U.S. naval vessels as unsightly.
The 850-crew Trump-class battleships will be the centerpiece of Trump's "Golden Fleet" of advanced vessels. The Navy this month announced a new set of small combatant ships based on the U.S. Coast Guard's Legend-class national security cutter as part of the vaunted new "fleet."
The U.S. has not used "battleships" since the Iowa-class vessels were retired in the early 1990s. But Trump had publicly weighed in on a return to 20th-century battleships and said he would be involved in the design of the new vessel. He previously criticized U.S. naval vessels as unsightly.
The 850-crew Trump-class battleships will be the centerpiece of Trump's "Golden Fleet" of advanced vessels. The Navy this month announced a new set of small combatant ships based on the U.S. Coast Guard's Legend-class national security cutter as part of the vaunted new "fleet."
China’s High-Speed Rail Network Surpasses Rest of World Combined
China’s high-speed rail network continues to expand at a rapid pace, and recently added routes have pushed its total length to over 50,000 kilometers, around 31,000 miles.
According to a press release from China State Railway Group, the state-owned company which operates the country’s rail network, this means the country's network now exceeds the combined length of all other countries’ high-speed systems.
China’s high-speed rail network’s world-beating development has been attributed to centralized planning, rail standardization and substantial state investment, and the scale and speed of its expansion over only a few decades have made it a revered achievement in the world of engineering. But its global dominance also reflects the difficulty other nations have faced in trying to boost connectivity, tourism and commerce with their own high-speed links.
According to a press release from China State Railway Group, the state-owned company which operates the country’s rail network, this means the country's network now exceeds the combined length of all other countries’ high-speed systems.
China’s high-speed rail network’s world-beating development has been attributed to centralized planning, rail standardization and substantial state investment, and the scale and speed of its expansion over only a few decades have made it a revered achievement in the world of engineering. But its global dominance also reflects the difficulty other nations have faced in trying to boost connectivity, tourism and commerce with their own high-speed links.
Panama Demolishes China Friendship Park
China has said it is “seriously dissatisfied” with the demolition of a Chinese-Panamanian friendship monument in Panama and is calling for an investigation into what it described as “wrong acts” by the local government. The demolished monument commemorated 150 years of Chinese presence and their contributions to Panama’s development, Chinese authorities said.
China is one of Panama’s largest trading partners and has invested in infrastructure, ports, and logistics projects. China-Panama relations accelerated rapidly following the latter’s diplomatic switch away from Taiwan in 2017. United States officials and analysts expressed concern about growing Chinese influence around Panama and the key global trade route.
China is one of Panama’s largest trading partners and has invested in infrastructure, ports, and logistics projects. China-Panama relations accelerated rapidly following the latter’s diplomatic switch away from Taiwan in 2017. United States officials and analysts expressed concern about growing Chinese influence around Panama and the key global trade route.
Chinese Oil Tankers Challenge US Blockade off Venezuela
Chinese oil tankers are pressing ahead with Venezuela-linked voyages despite a U.S. blockade and an escalating campaign of tanker seizures. Two Chinese-flagged VLCCs are operating near Venezuelan waters, with the Thousand Sunny due to arrive in mid-January and the Xing Ye waiting off French Guiana, according to a new report by Lloyd's List.
The movements come as China said it opposed U.S. oil seizures and naval pressure on Venezuela. President Donald Trump is tightening maritime enforcement to choke off oil revenues to Caracas, which has in turn said the blockade won’t deter its oil shipments, and is reportedly deploying vessels to escort commercial vessels carrying petroleum products.
The movements come as China said it opposed U.S. oil seizures and naval pressure on Venezuela. President Donald Trump is tightening maritime enforcement to choke off oil revenues to Caracas, which has in turn said the blockade won’t deter its oil shipments, and is reportedly deploying vessels to escort commercial vessels carrying petroleum products.
World Map Shows Where China Wants New Military Bases
A Newsweek map shows where China has considered establishing overseas military bases beyond the two currently in operation, according to a Pentagon report.
China's Defense Ministry said it acts in accordance with domestic and international law to safeguard its rights and interests and to provide what it called "international public security goods," in response to the Pentagon's report on Chinese military power released on December 23.
As part of its push to build "world-class" armed forces to challenge its top rival, the United States, the Chinese military is undergoing rapid modernization, along with an expansion of overseas outposts to support its fast-growing presence beyond the East Asian coastline and to project and sustain power at greater distances, the Pentagon said.
China's Defense Ministry said it acts in accordance with domestic and international law to safeguard its rights and interests and to provide what it called "international public security goods," in response to the Pentagon's report on Chinese military power released on December 23.
As part of its push to build "world-class" armed forces to challenge its top rival, the United States, the Chinese military is undergoing rapid modernization, along with an expansion of overseas outposts to support its fast-growing presence beyond the East Asian coastline and to project and sustain power at greater distances, the Pentagon said.
Elon Musk envisions humanoid robots everywhere. China may be the first to make it a reality
Billionaire Elon Musk has put humanoid robots in the spotlight this year, positioning them as central to Tesla’s valuation, which he thinks could hit tens of trillions of dollars. But Tesla is yet to sell its flagship humanoid robot Optimus.
Instead, it’s likely a slew of Chinese companies that will beat Tesla to the punch and begin ramping up production of robots in 2026, as Beijing puts the technology at the center of its strategic plans.
“China currently leads the United States in the early commercialization of humanoid robots,” Andreas Brauchle, partner at consultancy Horváth, told CNBC by email. “While both countries are expected to build similarly large markets over time, China is scaling more rapidly in this initial phase.”
Humanoid robots are designed to be shaped and move like a human. Artificial intelligence algorithms power their abilities along with complex hardware like semiconductors. Proponents say they could be used across various settings, from factories to hospitality and even in the home.
Instead, it’s likely a slew of Chinese companies that will beat Tesla to the punch and begin ramping up production of robots in 2026, as Beijing puts the technology at the center of its strategic plans.
“China currently leads the United States in the early commercialization of humanoid robots,” Andreas Brauchle, partner at consultancy Horváth, told CNBC by email. “While both countries are expected to build similarly large markets over time, China is scaling more rapidly in this initial phase.”
Humanoid robots are designed to be shaped and move like a human. Artificial intelligence algorithms power their abilities along with complex hardware like semiconductors. Proponents say they could be used across various settings, from factories to hospitality and even in the home.
China encircles Taiwan in massive military display
China fired rockets into waters off Taiwan on Tuesday, showcased new assault ships and dismissed prospects of U.S. and allied intervention to block any future attack by Beijing to take control of the island in its most extensive war games to date. As part of drills rehearsing a blockade, China’s Eastern Theatre Command conducted 10 hours of live-fire exercises, launching rockets into waters to the north and south of the democratically governed island.
Chinese naval and air force units also simulated strikes on maritime and aerial targets and carried out anti-submarine drills around the island, while state media released images touting Beijing’s technological and military superiority and its ability to take Taiwan by force if necessary.
Named “Justice Mission 2025,” the drills began 11 days after the U.S. announced a record $11.1 billion arms package to Taiwan, drawing the Chinese defense ministry’s ire and warnings that the military would “take forceful measures” in response.
Chinese naval and air force units also simulated strikes on maritime and aerial targets and carried out anti-submarine drills around the island, while state media released images touting Beijing’s technological and military superiority and its ability to take Taiwan by force if necessary.
Named “Justice Mission 2025,” the drills began 11 days after the U.S. announced a record $11.1 billion arms package to Taiwan, drawing the Chinese defense ministry’s ire and warnings that the military would “take forceful measures” in response.
China stages war games around Taiwan after hitting out at major US arms dea
China’s military mobilized army, navy, air and rocket units around Taiwan for two days of military drills aimed at sending a “serious warning” against any push for Taiwanese independence and “external” forces interfering with the island. The exercises – dubbed “Justice Mission-2025” – would test combat readiness and “blockade and control of key ports and critical areas,” China’s Eastern Theater Command said Monday.
The drills have included live-fire activities as well as rocket launches according to both Chinese and Taiwanese authorities.
The drills have included live-fire activities as well as rocket launches according to both Chinese and Taiwanese authorities.
mandag 29. desember 2025
Torbjørn Færøvik: The Trump Class - A Battleship Dream from a Bygone Age
Donald Trump’s plan to build a new generation of “fantastic battleships” is a dream that will never become reality. It springs from nostalgia and megalomania, not from realism and mature deliberation. When he promises warships that will be “a hundred times more powerful than today’s,” he enters a rhetorical universe in which fantastical numbers replace sober analysis.
Five days after Trump unveiled the plan, military experts are lining up to dismiss it outright.
“There is no reason to discuss this, because these ships will never be launched,” says senior adviser Mark Cancian at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. His devastating verdict is echoed by many others.
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