China’s cascade dam project on the Drichu, the upper Yangtze River, sparked discontent among the local population. On February 14, hundreds of Tibetans in Derge County (Dege in Mandarin), part of the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, protested in front of the county government office building. They sought a halt to the construction of 1.1. million kilowatt hydropower station on the Drichu River. In a related demand, the protesters wanted authorities to withdraw the order for thousands of Tibetans to relocate from Upper Wonto and Shipa villages and six important monasteries – including the Wonto monastery, which was built in the 13th century and has priceless murals dating from that period. The villages and monasteries are expected to be flooded once the dam’s reservoir is complete.  Local Tibetans argue that this hydropower project has ignored the sacred nature of these monasteries and their importance in the culture, religion, and value system of Tibetan Buddhists. Derge is not part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, whose borders were drawn up by the Chinese Communist Party, but is part of Kham, a historically Tibetan region. Since February 14, there have been multiple non-violent protests against the hydropower project. However, these protests are being muzzled by the government’s crackdown. According to local sources, the police have arrested more than 1,000 Tibetans, including monks, and imposed a complete lockdown on these monasteries.  A few dozen of those arrested have since been released, albeit under strict orders not to participate in further protests. Others, including the senior administrator of Wonto Monastery and a village official, were transferred to a large detention center, after reportedly being “severely beaten” while in custody. The Gangtuo (Kamtok) hydropower project is one of a series of 13 hydropower stations planned on the Drichu River, known as the Jinsha River in Mandarin. It is being developed by Huadian Jinsha River Upper Reaches Hydropower Development Co., Ltd., which is currently directly managed by China Huadian Group.  In November 2011, the National Development and Reform Commission together with the relevant national ministries and commissions and the provincial-level governments of Sichuan, Tibetan Autonomous Region, and Qinghai reviewed the hydropower planning report of the upper reaches of the Drichu River and agreed on the “one reservoir and thirteen levels,” with Gangtuo as the leading reservoir. The pre-feasibility study for the hydropower project was completed in 2016.  The dam is now being built as part of the 13th Five-Year Plan of China. The 229-meter dam is also the leading reservoir for the western route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, to divert water from the Yangtze to the Yellow River. The once pristine and free-flowing rivers of Tibet are being tamed with the rapid development of hydropower projects.  Alongside the hydropower development in the region, there are many related development activities, including the building of roads, a gas station, and other associated infrastructure. The construction is having a profound impact on the people as well as the environment. Many of these existing, planned, and under-construction hydropower dams lack comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs).  The approach to dam-building in Tibet goes against China’s own legislative framework, including laws government environmental disclosures, public interest environmental litigation, public feedback on planned hydropower projects, and proper ESIA procedures. Since 2009, China has formulated and implemented three action plans on human rights and environmental issues.  Based on these regulations, China’s government is well aware that certain special projects, like hydropower plans, cause adverse environmental impact and directly affect the environmental rights of the public. Tibetans should not be criminalized for speaking out about the impact of such projects. Instead, the Chinese government should uphold its commitment to promote and protect the rights of Tibetans living in Tibet.   Source: The Diplomat

Apple has ended its decadelong autonomous vehicle effort, known as Project Titan. The stock market breathed a sigh of relief in response, with insiders pointing to areas where Apple should redouble its efforts instead. Traditional car manufacturers in Europe, Asia and the US face a number of problems, some of them of their own making. To make matters worse, the creeping concern that tech companies could crowd legacy firms out of the personal mobility market looms over manufacturers like the figurative sword of Damocles. This threat materialized when Google parent Alphabet and Apple announced their self-driving car endeavors, Waymo and Project Titan. Traditional car manufacturers worried they would be reduced to hardware delivery services, providing motorized base frames for "smartphones on wheels." As of this week, however, these fears might be a thing of the past, with Apple announcing that it was canceling its Titan electric vehicle project. Instead, New York-based business daily The Wall Street Journal reported that some of the 2,000 car-developing staff members would shift to working on artificial intelligence (AI). That move could affect several hundred hardware developers, according to the US media group Bloomberg. The AI field, specifically using programs such as ChatGPT to create new content from ever-growing mounds of data, is considered far more promising. Despite this, layoffs are to be expected. E-cars a difficult market for Apple Many insiders had been generally reserved about Apple's efforts to enter the auto industry, arguing that its business model was entirely different than that of the tech industry.  They pointed out that electronic components for car manufacturing could not simply be sent by mail, or digitally uploaded to customers' computers. Instead, the business required shipping large and heavy parts across the globe, and maintaining them regularly. Insiders also contended that, not least due to the many regulations in the industry, the development cycles for automotive products lasts much longer — not weeks and months, but years. Finally, the profit margins in the automotive sector are much lower than in Apple's tech business. From the very beginning, car manufacturers had cautioned that building and selling a car was not easy. In the past few years, there was speculation that Apple might wind down its own development efforts simply by buying up a large component supplier or car manufacturer. The potential involvement of British luxury car builder McLaren was the subject of much debate. Elon Musk, the founder of the US-based automotive and clean energy company Tesla, said he once offered to sell his car manufacturing business to Apple amid production challenges hounding Tesla's Model 3 line. But, as Musk recounted, Apple CEO Tim Cook wasn't even interesting in talking. Billions down the drain? Project Titan cost Apple over $10 billion (€9.3 billion), according to a report this week in The New York Times. Bloomberg estimated that the car development costs broke down to $1 billion each year. Other market observers, such as analysts at the US consulting firm Guidehouse, believe Apple invested between $15 billion and $20 billion in development. That's money that will now be freed up for other projects, including in the car sector. In a report on Apple's exit from the autonomous vehicle race, Wall Street analyst Erik Woodring wrote that "Apple is exhibiting some welcome cost discipline on longer-tailed future projects." He suggested that AI might be one of these endeavors. Speaking to Apple's work on electric vehicles (EV) and autonomous vehicles (AV), he added that "Apple's EV/AV efforts were too far behind well-funded competitors to represent a viable path towards commercialization and product differentiation." The stock market responded to the announcement with a fair bit of relief, even if the cancellation did not lead to a jump in the share price. But a small uptick in the company's stocks after the decision was announced indicated that investors were glad to see Apple put its expensive car project in the rearview mirror. 'A good decision' to stop Project Titan Most investors agree that Apple's cancellation of Project Titan was the next logical step. Jonathan Curtis, chief investment officer of the US-based Franklin Equity Group, told the German business newspaper Handelsblatt he believed it was the right choice for Apple to get involved in the automotive industry. Citing the well-worn adage that cars are essentially "computers on wheels" nowadays, he added that his trust had invested billions in Apple. Curtis also told the German paper that he thought Apple's cancellation of its Project Titan was also "a good decision." Now, Curtis argued, Apple would have to focus on ensuring that the AI on its phones ran smoothly. He pointed to one of Apple's uncharacteristic failures, asking: "What is one of the worst products that Apple's released in the last 10 years?" The answer, he said, was Siri, Apple's virtual voice assistant. "If Apple can fix Siri," he argued, "they could launched a massive new iPhone cycle." Then the tech giant could sell new services that offered real added value in association with Siri software, Curtis said. At a digital shareholder's meeting last week, Apple executive Cook announced that his company had new AI features in store. Traditionally, such promises to "break new ground" are saved for Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. 

Zijin Mining, a prominent Chinese company, has recently been granted approval to proceed with the second-phase expansion of the Julong copper project situated in Tibet. This significant development received the green light from the Tibet Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission, signaling a pivotal step forward in the project's evolution. The proposed expansion endeavors to substantially augment the operational capacity of the Julong copper project, elevating its daily processing capacity from the existing 200,000 tons to a formidable 350,000 tons. Such a substantial increase is poised to establish the Julong mine as the foremost single copper mining operation in China in terms of both mining and processing scale, underscoring its strategic importance within the domestic mining landscape. In tandem with the expansion plans, Zijin has publicly disclosed its commitment to invest a staggering sum of 17.46 billion yuan, equivalent to approximately $2.42 billion, into the augmentation of the Julong copper project. Notably, this substantial investment will be entirely self-financed by Julong Copper, reflecting the company's confidence in the project's long-term viability and potential for profitability. Looking ahead, upon the successful completion of the expansion endeavors and associated construction activities, the Julong mine is slated to commence full-fledged production operations by the culmination of 2025. This projected timeline underscores the concerted efforts and meticulous planning involved in bringing such large-scale mining projects to fruition, ensuring that they adhere to stringent regulatory requirements while meeting the evolving demands of the global copper market. The approval for the second-phase expansion of the Julong copper project in Tibet marks a significant milestone in Zijin's strategic objectives and underscores its commitment to fostering sustainable growth within the mining sector. As one of the leading mining companies in China, Zijin's ambitious expansion plans for the Julong project underscore its proactive approach towards capitalizing on opportunities for growth and maximizing the potential of its mineral assets. Furthermore, the approval granted by the Tibet Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission underscores the collaborative efforts between regulatory authorities and private enterprises to promote responsible and sustainable development within the region. By adhering to stringent regulatory frameworks and incorporating best practices in environmental stewardship and community engagement, Zijin is poised to set new benchmarks for excellence in the mining industry while fostering positive socio-economic impacts in Tibet and beyond. From an operational perspective, the expansion of the Julong copper project represents a significant technological and logistical undertaking, requiring meticulous planning and execution to ensure seamless integration with existing infrastructure and operational processes. With an enhanced processing capacity of nearly 350,000 tons per day, the Julong mine is poised to capitalize on economies of scale and achieve greater operational efficiency, thereby enhancing its competitiveness within the global copper market.     Source: Chemanalyst

Chinese security forces have detained over 100 Tibetan Buddhist monks and local residents in the southwestern Sichuan province amid escalating protests against the construction of a massive dam. The dam, known as the Gangtuo hydropower station, is set to submerge six Buddhist monasteries and displace two villages. In a rare display of defiance, residents of Wangbuding township in Dege County, part of the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, have been taking to the streets since February 14. Their protest is directed against the construction of the 2,240-megawatt hydropower station on the Drichu River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. The ongoing protests began on February 14 when at least 300 Tibetans gathered outside the Dege county town hall, openly opposing the dam’s construction despite strict controls on public gatherings and intense surveillance by authorities in Sichuan and Tibet. Reportedly, the detentions took place in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan, an area densely populated by ethnic Tibetans. Some of the arrested protesters required hospitalization due to the use of force by the police, including water cannons, pepper spray, and tasers. Videos captured during the protests depict monks pleading with officials not to demolish Yena and Wonto monasteries, both earmarked for destruction as part of the hydropower project. The project, estimated at USD 4.6 billion, is the largest hydropower venture in the upper reaches of the Jinsha River. Locals are particularly distressed as the dam construction threatens the existence of six monasteries, including the Wonto Monastery, home to ancient murals dating back to the 13th century. China has consistently attempted to erase Tibetan culture and heritage through force, and the construction of this dam is one such move. The Gangtuo hydropower dam project will not only lead to the displacement of the Upper Wonto and Shipa villages but also result in the destruction of the Yena, Wonto, and Khardho monasteries in Dege county, as well as the Rabten, Gonsar, and Tashi monasteries in Chamdo township. Wonto Monastery, severely damaged during China’s Cultural Revolution, holds cultural and religious significance, with locals preserving its ancient murals since its rebuilding in 1983. Despite the ongoing protests, the construction of massive hydropower projects in the Tibet Autonomous Region has intensified in recent years. China is also undertaking the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet, close to the Arunachal Pradesh border, raising apprehensions among lower riparian states like India and Bangladesh.  

The third season of the American comedy-drama show shall be filmed in Thailand. The 'Fighter' actress is yet to confirm the news. Deepika Padukone was seen in her first Hollywood project XXX: Return Of Xander Cage back in 2017. She’s all set for a yet another biggie and according to a report by Zoom, it’s none other than the third season of The White Lotus. The third season of the American comedy-drama show shall be filmed in Thailand. The ‘Fighter‘ actress is yet to confirm the news.   Deepika’s Fighter is nearing its release, and the excitement among the masses is rising at a fever pitch. The trailer of the film has set a perfect tone with its power-packed action sequence, the best state-of-the-art visual effects in 3D and 3D IMAX formats till date, and the sizzling chemistry of Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone.   All this has left the audience excited to watch the film on the big screens and without any delay, the makers have opened the advance booking windows from today (Jan 21).   The advance booking of Fighter has commenced bringing the audience a chance to pre-book their tickets for the adrenaline-pumping action-packed ride. Looking at the madness among the masses for the film, it’s quite evident that the film will score records with its release.   Coming to the big screens on the eve of the 75th Republic Day, the film is indeed going to be a perfect start to 2024.

On 6 December, UNHCR held project launch of China’s hygiene kits donation to displaced people, hosted by Sumbul Rizvi, UNHCR New Representative in Bangladesh. H.E. Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh attended and delivered a key note speech. Mizanur Rahman, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Md. Keramot Ali, Programme Coordinator of Myanmar Refugee Relief Operation of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society also participate in this event.   Yao indicated that since the outbreak of the Rohingya crisis more than six years ago, Prime Minister Hasina and the Government of Bangladesh have provided generous assistance to the displaced people, fully demonstrating the humanitarian spirit.   However, with the decreasing attention and assistance from the international community, the living conditions and security situation of the camps aredeteriorating. The displaced people are eager to return to their homes, and they should do so. Chinese Government is committed to promoting the joint efforts of Bangladesh and Myanmar to achieve the repatriation process at the earliest date.   At the same time, Chinese Government is also very concerned about the survival of the displaced people, especially women and children. The donation of $1.5 million hygiene kits will help the displaced women raise their awareness of hygiene and improve their health. China stands ready to further strengthen its cooperation with UN agencies, including UNHCR, and to work actively for the repatriation and resolution of the issue of displaced people. Ms Rizvi expresses her sincere gratitude to the Chinese side for its assistance to the displaced people, especially women and children. She noted that the camps for displaced peoples are currently facing a serious humanitarian crisis. The generous assistance provided by the Chinese Government at this critical moment fully reflects its concern for the displaced people, its support for the work of UNHCR, demonstrating the moral commitment of a responsible major country. UNHCR appreciates the Chinese side's commitment to solve the issue of displaced people politically, shares the view that voluntary, safe and sustainable repatriation is the only way to solve the issue, and is willing to further strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side.

The survivor families of Balakot, which bore the brunt of the devastating earthquake in 2005, are still living in makeshift shelters because of the apathy of the federal and provincial governments towards executing the promised housing project for them. “It is unfortunate that the survivor families of Balakot are still living in miserable conditions in small prefabricated houses since the quake turned the Balakot city into ruins some 18 years ago,” lamented Munir Hussain Lughmani, a member of the committee constituted by the Supreme Court to overlook the progress on execution of the Rs16 billion New Balakot City (NBC) housing project to settle the survivor families of the Garlat red zone. Addressing a presser in Balakot, Mr Lughmani said the then Chief Justice in 2017 had also taken suo motu notice ordering both the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments to ensure an early allotment of plots to survivors of Balakot and Garlat red zone in the NBC, but to no avail. He said the then CJP had given the federal and provincial governments two and a half year to complete this mega housing project, ordering release of Rs1 billion for development of infrastructure. However, he said not a single penny had either been released or spent on it. Accompanied by a group of survivors, Mr Lughmani, who is also pursuing a suo motu notice case petitioned in late 2019 with the apex court, said despite the ruling by the then chief justice the provincial government couldn’t retrieve land from its previous owners, who were still occupying it despite payment of compensation to them. On the occasion, chairman Garlat neighbourhood council Malik Maroof said former prime minister Imran Khan had also announced the development of a housing project under public-private partnership to settle the survivor families, but he couldn’t materialise his plan. “Eighteen years down the road, both the federal and provincial governments have failed to address grievances of the earthquake survivors,” he regretted. It is to be recalled here that the then army ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf (late) in 2007 had performed the groundbreaking of the NBC. However, the housing project is still in the doldrums. Source: Dawn

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori and Economic Relations Division secretary Sharifa Khan signed the exchange of notes of the 44th Official Development Assistance Yen loan of Japan to Bangladesh on Saturday. The second installment of the 44th Japanese Yen Loan Package is 247.556 billion yen (approximately USD 1.67billion). Based on this agreement between the two counties, Mr. ICHIGUCHI Tomohide, Chief Representative of JICA Bangladesh Office and Ms. Sharifa Khan signed a relevant Loan Agreements.  "I’m pleased to be able to sign the Exchange of Notes with regard to 44th Japanese Yen Loan Package today. The loan package includes the "Matarbari Ultra Super Critical Coal- Fired Power Project (VII)". "The Project therefore contributes to meeting the growing electricity demand and diversifying energy sources. At the Japan-Bangladesh Summit in April 2023, the progress of the development project in the Southern Chattogram area, which includes the project, was welcomed by our leaders, and continued cooperation in the development of the area was confirmed. It is also important in terms of connectivity with northeastern India. I spare no effort in extending further cooperation to the Government and the people of Bangladesh to build a win-win partnership, now that is the “Strategic Partnership”, for our prosperous future.", said Ambassador IWAMA at the signing ceremony.

Noted Norwegian academic-analyst Dr.Atle Pearson said Asharyan Project of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is a unique one in the world as there is no such precedent of building permanent houses in government land and giving ownership to people having no address. Dr. Alte Pearson wrote in an article on August 8, 2023 in Nepal’s online news portal "Ratopati", carried the article with headline “Bangladesh's Ashrayan Project as a paradigm of inclusive development for the developing world”.  Reports BSS Author Dr. Alte Pearson has experience in South Asian affairs research, diplomacy and geopolitics.   He said, “Today, Asharyan is not only a unique project in Bangladesh but also in the world. There are various initiatives to help the backward people in different countries of the world, but there is no precedent of building permanent houses in government land and giving ownership to people with no address, and building houses with electricity and sanitation facilities through the government's expenses,” 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hand over 22,101 more houses under Ashrayan -2 project to landless and homeless families on Wednesday as 12 more districts are set to be declared homeless and landless-free. "With the 12 districts and 123 upazilas, a total of 21 districts and 334 upazilas throughout the country are becoming as homeless and landless family-free ones on that day,"  Reports BSS Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Mohammad Tofazzel Hossain Miah told a press conference at Karabi Hall of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) here this afternoon. PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Project Director of Ashrayan-2 Project Abu Saleh Mohammad Ferdous Khan were present on the occasion. Tofazzel Hossain said the PM will make the announcement and open the distribution of semi-pucca houses for the homeless and landless families through a video-conference from her official Ganabhaban residence. He said the Prime Minister will hand over the keys of 22,101 houses along with the ownership documents of a two-decimal of lands to the families. Some 1,15,000 people will be rehabilitated in the houses on that day. The three places re Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan project under Terokhada upazila in Khulna district, Chakla Ashrayan-2 project under Bera upazila in Pabna and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project under Begumganj in Noakhali. The Principal Secretary said under the Ashrayan project and other programmes, a total of 82,9607 families have been rehabilitated so far since 1,997 while the number of rehabilitated people is 41,48,035 (estimated as five persons in a family). Ashrayan Project of the PMO has already rehabilitated 5,55,617 families (2,778,085) people directly while 2,73,990 families were rehabilitated under different programmes of concerned government offices, including Land Ministry, Disaster Management and Relief Ministry and Liberation War Affairs Ministry.