But data from the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, the de facto capital of Tibetans in exile where the 14th Dalai Lama also resides, has revealed a collapse in the number of newly arrived Tibetans. Between 1995 and 1999, more than 12,000 Tibetans successfully sought exile. In the past five years, that number has plummeted to just 81. With fewer Tibetans able to leave, independent information is becoming scarcer. That has made Beijing's policies, like religious regulation, language reforms, or rural relocation, more opaque to the outside world.
søndag 24. mai 2026
Numbers of Tibetan exiles plummet as China tightens grip
For decades, the steady flow of Tibetans escaping across the Himalayas into India and Nepal served as a barometer of conditions inside Tibet. From the late 1990s through the mid‑2000s, several thousand Tibetans sought exile every year, bringing firsthand accounts of political restrictions, cultural pressures and daily life under Chinese rule.
But data from the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, the de facto capital of Tibetans in exile where the 14th Dalai Lama also resides, has revealed a collapse in the number of newly arrived Tibetans. Between 1995 and 1999, more than 12,000 Tibetans successfully sought exile. In the past five years, that number has plummeted to just 81. With fewer Tibetans able to leave, independent information is becoming scarcer. That has made Beijing's policies, like religious regulation, language reforms, or rural relocation, more opaque to the outside world.
But data from the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, the de facto capital of Tibetans in exile where the 14th Dalai Lama also resides, has revealed a collapse in the number of newly arrived Tibetans. Between 1995 and 1999, more than 12,000 Tibetans successfully sought exile. In the past five years, that number has plummeted to just 81. With fewer Tibetans able to leave, independent information is becoming scarcer. That has made Beijing's policies, like religious regulation, language reforms, or rural relocation, more opaque to the outside world.
New Chinese surveillance leaves foreigners nowhere to hide
When a cybersecurity researcher known by the pseudonym NetAskari recently clicked on a tab labeled "Inquiry for journalist files" on an unsecured Chinese web dashboard, he expected to see a jumble of auto-generated mock data.
Instead, familiar faces popped up on the screen. It was a comprehensive database of almost every foreign journalist based in Beijing around 2021, including official passport photos taken at the entry/exit bureau, private cellphone numbers, visa details and dates of birth. He also found his own exact personal information lying dormant on this Chinese police watch list.
"It was more interesting than shocking," NetAskari told DW. "When you work as a journalist in China, you basically assume you are always on their radar. But what surprised me was simply how easy it was to access this highly sensitive system."
Instead, familiar faces popped up on the screen. It was a comprehensive database of almost every foreign journalist based in Beijing around 2021, including official passport photos taken at the entry/exit bureau, private cellphone numbers, visa details and dates of birth. He also found his own exact personal information lying dormant on this Chinese police watch list.
"It was more interesting than shocking," NetAskari told DW. "When you work as a journalist in China, you basically assume you are always on their radar. But what surprised me was simply how easy it was to access this highly sensitive system."
Torbjørn Færøvik: Prime Minister Modi has much to learn from Emperor Ashoka
Otherwise, however, he is active enough. As prime minister, he governs a country of more than 1.4 billion people, around 80 percent of whom are Hindus.
Modi is a Hindu nationalist and basks in the glory of his grand project: making the country even more Hindu. But what happened to the Buddhists in Buddha’s spiritual homeland? Today, they make up only 0.7 percent of the population, or about 8.4 million people.
Torbjørn Færøvik: Statsminister Modi har mye å lære av keiser Ashoka
Han kom, sa lite, og reiste fort sin vei. Statsminister Narendra Modis besøk i Norge fikk mye presseomtale, mest fordi han ikke ville ta spørsmål fra norske medier. Overraskende var det ikke, for i hjemlandet India har han ikke holdt en pressekonferanse på tolv år. Men ellers er han aktiv nok. Som statsminister styrer han et land med vel 1,4 milliarder innbyggere, og rundt 80 prosent av dem er hinduer.
Modi er hindunasjonalist og soler seg i glansen av sitt store prosjekt: å gjøre landet enda mer hinduistisk. Men hvor ble det av buddhistene i Buddhas åndelige hjemland? I dag utgjør de bare 0,7 prosent av befolkningen, det vil si 8,4 millioner mennesker.
Beijing bans Nvidia’s top graphics card to back domestic rivals
Chinese online gamers and hobbyist artificial intelligence (AI) developers have been dealt a setback as Beijing banned the import of Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090D V2, a graphics card specifically engineered for the Chinese market to comply with United States export rules, dealing another blow to the country’s technology community already caught in escalating chip-war tensions.
The RTX 5090D V2 was added to Beijing’s list of banned commodities during last week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a Financial Times report. Built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, the chip had been cleared for sale in the Chinese market last August.
The RTX 5090D V2 was added to Beijing’s list of banned commodities during last week’s summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to a Financial Times report. Built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, the chip had been cleared for sale in the Chinese market last August.
US air losses over Iran may grimly foreshadow China war risks
Heavy US aircraft losses in the Middle East are raising fresh doubts about whether US airpower can withstand sustained attrition in a future Pacific war against China.
This month, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report stating that the US has reportedly lost or damaged 42 aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israeli military campaign launched against Iran in February 2026.The losses span fighters, refueling aircraft, helicopters and drones, highlighting the scale and intensity of the air campaign.
Reported losses included four F-15E Strike Eagles, three of which were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March, and another shot down over Iran on April, alongside one damaged F-35A stealth fighter, one A-10 Thunderbolt II destroyed after taking enemy fire, seven KC-135 refueling aircraft, an E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, two MC-130J special operations aircraft, one HH-60W rescue helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton drone.
This month, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report stating that the US has reportedly lost or damaged 42 aircraft during Operation Epic Fury, the US-Israeli military campaign launched against Iran in February 2026.The losses span fighters, refueling aircraft, helicopters and drones, highlighting the scale and intensity of the air campaign.
Reported losses included four F-15E Strike Eagles, three of which were destroyed by friendly fire over Kuwait in March, and another shot down over Iran on April, alongside one damaged F-35A stealth fighter, one A-10 Thunderbolt II destroyed after taking enemy fire, seven KC-135 refueling aircraft, an E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, two MC-130J special operations aircraft, one HH-60W rescue helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones and one MQ-4C Triton drone.
How Xi Jinping is rewriting the rules of global power
There is an old Chinese proverb that says the skilled hunter does not chase the rabbit — he positions himself where the rabbit must eventually run.
Xi Jinping, whatever his many critics may argue, has been extraordinarily patient. And now, in the span of a few remarkable weeks, both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have made their separate visit to Beijing.T he rabbit, it turns out, ran exactly where Xi expected. This is not coincidence. It is architecture.
The simultaneous gravitational pull that China is exerting on Washington and Moscow — two powers that nominally define opposing ends of the current global order — tells us something profound about where real geopolitical weight now sits. Beijing is no longer reacting to the international system. It is, with quiet deliberation, reshaping it.
Xi Jinping, whatever his many critics may argue, has been extraordinarily patient. And now, in the span of a few remarkable weeks, both Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump have made their separate visit to Beijing.T he rabbit, it turns out, ran exactly where Xi expected. This is not coincidence. It is architecture.
The simultaneous gravitational pull that China is exerting on Washington and Moscow — two powers that nominally define opposing ends of the current global order — tells us something profound about where real geopolitical weight now sits. Beijing is no longer reacting to the international system. It is, with quiet deliberation, reshaping it.
In a city of high-rises, ‘cardboard grannies’ collect waste for cash
Zigzagging through bustling streets, trolleys piled high with sheets of discarded cardboard, these elderly scavengers are hard to miss in Hong Kong. Many are in their 70s or older, hauling tens of kilograms of cardboard for a pittance in order to scrape by in one of Asia’s richest cities. They navigate steep hills and narrow streets, baking sunshine and torrential downpours. They have no official job title, leaving them at risk of having their trolleys or hauls confiscated by municipal officials.
How Ukraine Found the Cards To Win, Without Help From the U.S.
President Donald Trump has boasted about cutting off all financial support for Ukraine and tried to impose a surrender on terms many see as favorable for Russia. Yet, as we predicted two years ago, Ukraine has proven it doesn’t need it.
Just 15 months ago, in the Oval Office, Trump shouted at Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”
Zelensky fired back, “I'm not playing cards. I'm very serious, Mr. President. I'm very serious... Of course we want to stop the war. But I said to you, with guarantees." In the last year, it seems that Zelensky’s resolve was right. Ukraine has found some winning cards, both through its ingenuity in drone technology and through Russian President Vladimir Putin’s faltering economy, despite higher oil and gas prices and the unwise relaxation of energy sanctions on Russia by the U.S., which provided Moscow with a temporary lease on life.
Just 15 months ago, in the Oval Office, Trump shouted at Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”
Zelensky fired back, “I'm not playing cards. I'm very serious, Mr. President. I'm very serious... Of course we want to stop the war. But I said to you, with guarantees." In the last year, it seems that Zelensky’s resolve was right. Ukraine has found some winning cards, both through its ingenuity in drone technology and through Russian President Vladimir Putin’s faltering economy, despite higher oil and gas prices and the unwise relaxation of energy sanctions on Russia by the U.S., which provided Moscow with a temporary lease on life.
75th Anniversary of China’s ‘Peaceful Liberation of Tibet’: A Historical Rebuttal and Analysis of Political Terminology
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the signing of the so-called “Seventeen-Point Agreement” on May 23, 1951, when the Chinese government compelled a Tibetan delegation in Beijing to sign the document under coercion. While Beijing celebrates the occasion as the anniversary of Tibet’s “Peaceful Liberation”, from the Tibetan historical perspective it represents not liberation, but the violent destruction of Tibet’s independence through military invasion and political intimidation.
Seventy-five years later, it remains the responsibility of the Tibetan media, writers, and scholars to challenge the Chinese state propaganda with historical evidence, legal reasoning, and precise political terminology. The issue is not merely about history; it is also about language and the political meanings hidden within words.
The Chinese government continues to claim that “Tibet has been part of China since ancient times” and that the People’s Liberation Army merely “peacefully liberated” it in 1951. Yet, historical reality tells a very different story. Prior to 1951, Tibet functioned as a de facto independent state with its own government, currency, army, passports, and foreign relations. Tibet was not administered as a province or local region of China.
Seventy-five years later, it remains the responsibility of the Tibetan media, writers, and scholars to challenge the Chinese state propaganda with historical evidence, legal reasoning, and precise political terminology. The issue is not merely about history; it is also about language and the political meanings hidden within words.
The Chinese government continues to claim that “Tibet has been part of China since ancient times” and that the People’s Liberation Army merely “peacefully liberated” it in 1951. Yet, historical reality tells a very different story. Prior to 1951, Tibet functioned as a de facto independent state with its own government, currency, army, passports, and foreign relations. Tibet was not administered as a province or local region of China.
Putin’s China Visit Long on Words, Short on Wins
The nearly 10,000-word joint statement released after this week’s Russia-China summit projected a partnership of growing depth and ambition. Yet despite the document’s sweeping scope and dozens of agreements, Russian President Vladimir Putin left Beijing with few major new deliverables in hand, analysts said. Putin, making his 25th visit to China as Russia’s leader, arrived in Beijing just days after U.S. President Donald Trump's talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping that both sides cast as an attempt to stabilize ties after years of intensified rivalry.
China and Russia used the lengthy statement to reaffirm alignment on core sovereignty and security issues, including Taiwan—the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own and the foremost potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.
Compared with the joint statement released in 2021 for the 20th anniversary of the bilateral treaty, the new document is significantly longer, more detailed and more explicit in its geopolitical language.
China and Russia used the lengthy statement to reaffirm alignment on core sovereignty and security issues, including Taiwan—the self-ruled island Beijing claims as its own and the foremost potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.
Compared with the joint statement released in 2021 for the 20th anniversary of the bilateral treaty, the new document is significantly longer, more detailed and more explicit in its geopolitical language.
Frustrated Indian youth flock to a political party led by a cockroach
It began as a satirical online project. Now millions of young Indians are flocking to it as an outlet for their frustration.
A parody political party called the Cockroach Janta Party, with the insect as its symbol, has exploded across India’s social media by turning absurdist humor into protest. Memes and short videos mocking corruption, joblessness and political dysfunction have flooded social media sites, where millions of users are embracing the cockroach — known for its ability to survive harsh conditions — as a tongue-in-cheek symbol of endurance.
The online movement’s rise has been unusually rapid. The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, set up its website and social media accounts on Saturday. By Thursday, its Instagram page had amassed more than 15 million followers, far surpassing the 8.8 million followers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party on the platform.
A parody political party called the Cockroach Janta Party, with the insect as its symbol, has exploded across India’s social media by turning absurdist humor into protest. Memes and short videos mocking corruption, joblessness and political dysfunction have flooded social media sites, where millions of users are embracing the cockroach — known for its ability to survive harsh conditions — as a tongue-in-cheek symbol of endurance.
The online movement’s rise has been unusually rapid. The Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, set up its website and social media accounts on Saturday. By Thursday, its Instagram page had amassed more than 15 million followers, far surpassing the 8.8 million followers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party on the platform.
Here are some of China’s major coal mining disasters this century
A gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s northern province of Shanxi, the country’s main coal mining province, killed at least 82 people, local officials said Saturday. The cause of the explosion, which took place on Friday evening at the Liushenyu coal mine in the city of Changzhi, is under investigation.
With a size larger than Greece and a population of around 34 million, the province’s hundreds of thousands of miners dug 1.3 billion tons (1.17 billion metric tons) of coal last year — nearly a third of China’s total. Mining disasters are common in China, where rapid industrialization came with intense resource exploitation, poor working conditions and a weak regulatory framework.
With a size larger than Greece and a population of around 34 million, the province’s hundreds of thousands of miners dug 1.3 billion tons (1.17 billion metric tons) of coal last year — nearly a third of China’s total. Mining disasters are common in China, where rapid industrialization came with intense resource exploitation, poor working conditions and a weak regulatory framework.
Deadliest coal mine explosion in China in years kills at least 82 people, local officials say
A gas explosion at a coal mine in China’s northern Shanxi province killed at least 82 people, local officials said Saturday, in what was the country’s deadliest mining accident in recent years. The official Xinhua News Agency said the accident at Changzhi city’s Liushenyu coal mine happened on Friday evening.
At a news conference late Saturday, local authorities said 82 were dead and that more than 120 people were hospitalized. Two were still missing. The death toll was a revised, lower number from earlier reports by state broadcaster CCTV that said 90 had died. The scene at the coal mine was “chaotic” in the immediate aftermath of the accident, they said, and figures provided at the time were initial and not definite.
At a news conference late Saturday, local authorities said 82 were dead and that more than 120 people were hospitalized. Two were still missing. The death toll was a revised, lower number from earlier reports by state broadcaster CCTV that said 90 had died. The scene at the coal mine was “chaotic” in the immediate aftermath of the accident, they said, and figures provided at the time were initial and not definite.
Rubio arrives in India ahead of Quad talks as US tries to reset strained ties
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia, and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad. Rubio’s first official trip to India comes as Washington seeks to stabilize relations with New Delhi after ties soured over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which raised duties on several Indian exports.
Much of Rubio’s four-day visit, however, will focus on a multicity tour, along with a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. “There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said ahead of his visit to India.
Much of Rubio’s four-day visit, however, will focus on a multicity tour, along with a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. “There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said ahead of his visit to India.
China’s DeepZang AI app a tool for Sinicizing Tibetan intellect
Artificial Intelligence (AI) as part of its wider influence and control strategy there, where questions of identity, religion and political authority remain deeply contested and tightly regulated, noted theprint.in May 19, citing online security experts.
The new AI application, DeepZang, focused exclusively on Tibetans, which security experts believe is designed not merely to expand technological access but to shape how information about Tibet is created, accessed and understood in support of Beijing’s narratives.
The experts have said the Chinese government had introduced multiple AI-driven applications in the region, but that the one that stands out is DeepZang, a platform described as far more than a language technology tool. They have said the app, launched in March this year, is part of a broader strategy aimed at influencing narratives and tightening informational control within Tibetan society.
The new AI application, DeepZang, focused exclusively on Tibetans, which security experts believe is designed not merely to expand technological access but to shape how information about Tibet is created, accessed and understood in support of Beijing’s narratives.
The experts have said the Chinese government had introduced multiple AI-driven applications in the region, but that the one that stands out is DeepZang, a platform described as far more than a language technology tool. They have said the app, launched in March this year, is part of a broader strategy aimed at influencing narratives and tightening informational control within Tibetan society.
India raises fuel prices as global energy crisis adds pressure on economy
India raised fuel prices by 3 rupees ($0.03) per liter Friday as the government moved to offset losses due to higher global oil prices. In New Delhi, gasoline prices rose to 97.77 rupees ($1.17) a liter, while diesel climbed to 90.67 rupees ($1.09) a liter.
India imports about 90% of its oil and has been hit hard by rising energy prices and supply disruptions linked to the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It had until now avoided raising retail fuel prices despite sharp increases in energy costs, making it one of the last major economies to pass higher crude prices on to consumers.
The price increases came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to adopt voluntary austerity measures.
India imports about 90% of its oil and has been hit hard by rising energy prices and supply disruptions linked to the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It had until now avoided raising retail fuel prices despite sharp increases in energy costs, making it one of the last major economies to pass higher crude prices on to consumers.
The price increases came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indians to adopt voluntary austerity measures.
fredag 22. mai 2026
Torbjørn Færøvik: The Rumour of America's Imminent Death May Be Exaggerated
There is no shortage of doomsday prophecies in the wake of Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing. We read that the United States is about to surrender its global leadership role to China, and that the country risks going down the drain. But is that really the case?
Donald Trump’s poor leadership has undoubtedly weakened the United States. But Trump is — we must hope — a temporary phenomenon. For that reason, the rumour of the superpower’s imminent death may be greatly exaggerated. Moreover, facts and figures indicate that the United States still has considerable strength in reserve.China is unquestionably making great progress in most areas. But the overall picture is that the United States will remain larger than China in the coming decade, economically as well as militarily.
Let us start with the economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates America’s nominal GDP at around 32.4 trillion dollars, compared with China’s 20.9 trillion dollars. In 2030, US GDP is expected to be around 37.7 trillion dollars, while China’s is projected at 26.0 trillion dollars. China’s economy would then be about 69 per cent the size of America’s, compared with 64 per cent this year. In other words, it will be moving closer to the American economy, but will still lag far behind.
Donald Trump’s poor leadership has undoubtedly weakened the United States. But Trump is — we must hope — a temporary phenomenon. For that reason, the rumour of the superpower’s imminent death may be greatly exaggerated. Moreover, facts and figures indicate that the United States still has considerable strength in reserve.China is unquestionably making great progress in most areas. But the overall picture is that the United States will remain larger than China in the coming decade, economically as well as militarily.
Let us start with the economy.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates America’s nominal GDP at around 32.4 trillion dollars, compared with China’s 20.9 trillion dollars. In 2030, US GDP is expected to be around 37.7 trillion dollars, while China’s is projected at 26.0 trillion dollars. China’s economy would then be about 69 per cent the size of America’s, compared with 64 per cent this year. In other words, it will be moving closer to the American economy, but will still lag far behind.
Abonner på:
Innlegg (Atom)