Dalai Lama's reincarnation plan sets him up for clash with China
After years of speculation and an unusual war over his personal afterlife with the Chinese politburo, the 14th leader of the world's Tibetan Buddhists said he had listened to those urging him to maintain the traditions of the office.
In a statement and a video address released simultaneously, he said that 'the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, participants in a special general body meeting, members of the Central Tibetan Administration, NGOs, Buddhists from the Himalayan region, Mongolia, Buddhist republics of the Russian Federation and Buddhists in Asia, including mainland China' had all written 'earnestly requesting that the institution of the Dalai Lama continue'.
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BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
North Korea's Benidorm-style resort welcomes first Russian tourists
A new beach resort in North Korea, criticised by human rights groups for the harsh treatment of construction workers, has welcomed its first group of Russian tourists this Wonsan Kalma resort was opened in a grand ceremony last month by North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, who hailed it as a "world-class tourist and cultural destination".The details of how this resort was built have been shrouded in secrecy in a country largely closed to the outside Verify has studied satellite imagery, obtained internal planning documents, and spoken to experts and former North Korean insiders about their concerns over human rights abuses during the development of the site. Echoes of Benidorm Kim Jong Un spent much of his youth in Wonsan, and prior to the building of the new resort the town was a popular holiday destination for the country's elite. "When the Wonsan tourist area was initially planned… the idea was to attract around one million tourists to the area while keeping it a closed-off zone," says Ri Jong Ho, a senior North Korean economic official involved in the resort's early planning stages and who defected in 2014."The intention was to open North Korea up a bit."In 2017, a year before construction began, Kim sent a delegation on a fact-finding mission to Spain, where the team toured the resort of North Korean delegation "included high ranking politicians and many architects who took lots of notes," recalls Matias Perez Such, a member of the Spanish team that hosted the delegation on a tour including a theme park, high-rise hotels and a marina.A North Korean brochure with a map of the resort has 43 hotels identified along the beach front, as well as guest houses on an artificial lake, and camping sites. We've matched these locations with high-resolution satellite imagery, although we are unable to verify whether they have actually been completed. An aquatic park, complete with towering yellow water slides, is set back from the north, there's an entertainment quarter which includes buildings that are identified in the plan as a theatre, recreation and fitness centres, and a cinema. Beginning in early 2018, satellite images taken over 18 months reveal dozens of buildings springing up along the 4km (2.5 mile) stretch of the end of 2018, around 80% of the resort had been completed, according to research carried out by satellite imagery firm, SI Analytics, based in South following this whirlwind construction effort, work on the site then appears to have paused. Construction then resumed after a June 2024 meeting with Kim and Vladimir Putin, where the Russian president said he would encourage his citizens to visit North Korea's holiday resorts. The human cost of construction This rapid pace of construction has raised concerns over the treatment of those working at the UN has highlighted a system of forced labour used in North Korea, in particular "shock brigades" where workers often face harsh conditions, long hours, and inadequate Heenan of the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul says "there are reports that the resort was built using what they call shock brigades"."We've also seen reports that people were working 24 hours at the end to get this thing finished, which sounds like a shock brigade to me." The BBC has spoken to one North Korean who served in and eventually managed shock Cho Chung Hui - who has subsequently defected - wasn't involved in the construction of the Wonsan resort, he recalled the brutal conditions of the brigades he oversaw."The principle behind these [brigades] was that no matter what, you had to complete the task, even if it cost you your life," he said."I saw many women who were under so much physical strain and eating so poorly that their periods stopped altogether." Kang Gyuri, who worked in Wonsan before fleeing to South Korea in 2023, says her cousin volunteered to work on the construction site because he saw it as a pathway to residency in the country's capital of Pyongyang, which is reserved for citizens trusted by the regime."He could hardly sleep. They [didn't] give him enough to eat," she said."The facilities are not properly organised, some people just die while working and they [the authorities] don't take responsibility if they fall and die."Ms Kang also said residents in Wonsan were driven out from their homes as the resort project expanded, often without not specific to Ms Kang's experience, BBC Verify was able to identify through satellite analysis the demolition of buildings near a main road leading towards the resort. In their place, larger tower blocks are now visible. "They just demolish everything and build something new, especially if it's in a good location," Ms Kang said."The problem is, no matter how unfair it feels, people can't openly speak out or protest."The BBC reached out to North Korean officials for comment. Where are the foreign tourists? North Korea has been almost entirely closed to foreign visitors with only a few highly-controlled tours permitted to visit the country in recent Kalma is seen not only as playing an important role in reviving the sanctioned country's ailing economic fortunes, but also as a means of strengthening its ties with Russia - which have grown closer following Pyongyang's military support for Moscow's war in to early planning documents seen by BBC Verify, the initial goal was to attract more than a million visitors, with foreign tourists expected to mainly come from China and Russia. We have scanned tourist agency sites both in China and Russia for any listings promoting trips to the new of the Chinese agencies we checked were advertising trips to Wonsan. In Russia, however, we identified three agencies offering tours that included Wonsan called one of the Russian agencies in early July posing as an interested customer a week before its first scheduled departure on 7 July and were told that it had attracted 12 people from week-long trip to North Korea, including three days at the Wonsan resort, cost $1,800 (£1,300) - that's 60% more than the average monthly salary in further trips have been scheduled for August, according to this tour operator. We contacted the other two agencies offering similar tour packages, but they declined to disclose how many people had signed Lankov, an expert in Russian-North Korean relations at the Kookmin University in Seoul, said Wonsan Kalma was "highly unlikely to become seriously popular with Russian visitors"."Russian tourists can easily go to places like Turkey, Egypt, Thailand and Vietnam, which are far superior to everything North Korea can develop," he said."The standards of service are higher and you are not put under constant supervision."Additional reporting by Yaroslava Kiryukhina, Yi Ma and Cristina Cuevas. Graphics by Sally Nicholls and Erwan Rivault. What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Nasser Sultan recycles suit worn on MAFS to Dalai Lama's 90th birthday event at Parliament House
Nasser Sultan made sure he was in his best dressed on Friday evening when he scored an unexpected invite to the Dalai Lama 's 90th birthday event. The Married At First Sight alum, 58, stepped out at Parliament House in Sydney with his partner, SBS journalist Karla Grant, who interviewed the spiritual leader twice. Arriving as Karla's plus one, as she prepared to deliver a speech at the event, Nasser made sure to look his sharpest as he re-used a suit from his MAFS stint in 2018. He shared video of the outfit to his Instagram Stories, showing off the blue suit with a black undershirt as he stood outside the prestigious event. 'I'm off to the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday dinner at Parliament House with my lovely partner Karla,' he began. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. He continued: 'What I'm wearing is this suit. I'm wearing a blue suit. And it's the same suit as I wore on MAFS. I've kept it since 2018, and look at this it still fits.' Nasser shared a slew of content from the birthday event to his socials, including images of chief guest Sikyong Penpa Tsering of Tibet, who sat at his table. The former reality TV star kicked off the night with a tribute to his 58-year-old girlfriend Karla. 'Karla and I are absolutely honoured to be invited to celebrate his holiness' 90th birthday dinner tonight at Parliament House,' he wrote. 'Karla was honoured to interview his holiness twice and has been asked to make a speech. Go girl.' Nasser went on to upload video footage from inside the event which showed tables packed with esteemed guests and monks from Tibet and Australia. Though Nasser was left stunned when he realised he and Karla were to be seated at a table with Sikyong Tsering, the political leader of Tibet. 'Oh my goodness, the president of Tibet is on my table,' he wrote over a video of Sikyong Tsering taking a seat across from him. Arriving as Karla's plus one, as she prepared to deliver a speech at the event, Nasser made sure to look his sharpest as he re-used a suit from his MAFS stint in 2018 Throughout the night, Nasser continued to take video of the celebration and traditional entertainment organised for the event. He also filmed Karla giving her speech, saying he was 'very proud' of his beloved. Nasser then went on to tell his followers, 'We should all be Buddhist. Seriously, the different cultures are to be loved. 'Life is not just white blond or Gold Coast house wife's [sic]. When the kids are united they will never be divided.' Later in the night, Nasser uploaded a photo of himself holding hands with Karla, who wore a black suit and white scarf, as they posed in front of a photo of the Dalai Lama. He finished off the evening with a bizarre video lashing out at the British royal family. 'So, I'm on the steps of New South Wales Parliament House,' he began. 'Just been to the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday and I ask you this: Who would you prefer—the Dalai Lama or bloody Prince Charles?' 'Let me tell you, I prefer the Dalai Lama any day. Prince Charles does nothing. Dalai Lama preaches peace, harmony and good will,' he continued. 'Prince Charles walks around, shakes hands, and pretends he's into it. So, Dalai Lama for me all the way. God bless Dalai Lama.' It comes as thousands of Buddhist followers descended on India with the 14th Dalai Lama to celebrate his 90th birthday, including Hollywood star Richard Gere. Describing himself as a 'a simple Buddhist monk' who usually doesn't celebrate birthday, the Dalai Lama rang in the milestone by praying for peace. The call for peace came after China insisted it would have the final say on who succeeded the Tibetan spiritual leader. Richard, 75, a practising Buddhist since 1978 and long-time friend of the Dalai Lama, was seen reverently kissing the spiritual leader's hand at the event. The celebration was held at Dharamshala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
BBC News
7 hours ago
- BBC News
Anthony Albanese: Trade trumps geopolitics as Australia PM visits China
Australia's leader Anthony Albanese will visit China and meet with President Xi Jinping this weekend as he seeks to strengthen ties with Canberra's largest trading security and trade will take centre stage during the prime minister's six-day trip spanning three cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. "My government will continue to cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in our national interest," Albanese said in a trip marks Albanese's second official visit to China - but the first since his re-election in May. It comes as countries around the world navigate US president Donald Trump's "America First" policies including tariffs. China accounts for nearly a third of Australia's total trade and "will remain so for the foreseeable future", Albanese said."The relationship in China means jobs in Australia. It's as simple as that," he told reporters on whose Labor Party government was re-elected with an increased majority in May, had pledged among other things to create more jobs and bring back manufacturing in say this trip signals a stabilisation of ties between Australia and China, even as Beijing has been trying to extend its military reach across the Pacific to some protest by Australia. Last month, Australia's defence minister Richard Marles called on China to explain why it needs to have "such an extraordinary military build-up".A rare Chinese military drill in the Tasman sea in February was also called "unusual" by Marles. "Both sides recognise their differences... [and] agree those differences should not define the relationship," says James Laurenceson, director of Australia-China Relations two countries are not seeking geopolitical alignment, he said. "They need to keep the politics stable and constructive so that other parts of the relationship, like businesses, cultural organisations, universities and so on can forge ahead with engagement in their own areas."Mr Laurenceson notes, however, that Washington "will not be pleased" with Albanese's visit. But the prime minister has domestic support for this, he says."Washington is heading in a direction so plainly contrary to Australia's interests that any [leader] seen as kowtowing to the White House would face pushback at home," he will continue to criticise Australia's involvement in the Aukus submarine deal with its longstanding allies, the UK and the US, observers tell the BBC, while Canberra will reiterate its commitment to the pact - even as Trump's administration has recently put the agreement under review. But disagreements over issues like Aukus will not thwart Australia's and China's relationship significantly, the observers say. And neither will other contentious topics Albanese may bring up - including China's actions in the South China Sea and the case of Australian novelist Yang Hengjun, who has been jailed and handed a suspended death sentence by Beijing on espionage charges which he denies."This is part of a broader, understated and mature diplomacy from the current government and it does not fall into the recriminations of previous years," says Bryce Wakefield, who leads the Australian Institute for International delegation to China includes top executives from Macquarie Bank and the Australian arm of HSBC, as well as mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, according to the Australian Financial had cited green energy among the areas that Australia and China can "further engage" in China, the prime minister will also meet with Premier Li Qiang and Zhao leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People' state newspaper Global Times says Albanese's visit "carries special significance" and shows "Australia's desire to seek more reliable partners in an uncertain world order... with China being the obvious choice". In November 2023, Albanese became the first Australian leader visit China in seven years - ending a hiatus triggered by a string of disputes including various Chinese sanctions on Australian goods, and back and forth accusations of foreign then, his administration has managed to stabilise ties with Beijing and negotiate the end of a series of brutal tariffs.
