'There is no Vice President...': China explodes after alleged harassment of Taiwanese VP in Prague
China defended its diplomats on Monday after Taiwan accused Beijing's embassy staff of planning to ram its vice president's car during an official visit to Europe. "Chinese diplomats overseas always respect their host country's laws and regulations," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. Taiwan's top China policy body, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), said on Friday that Hsiao Bi-khim's motorcade was surveilled and followed in a ploy to be rammed during a visit to the Czech Republic in March 2024. Czech military intelligence spokesman Jan Pejsek told AFP on Sunday that Hsiao was targeted by "persons legalised in diplomatic positions at the Chinese Embassy in Prague".
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First Post
18 minutes ago
- First Post
'There will be framework': Dalai Lama hints succession plan ahead of 90th birthday
Ahead of his 90th birthday this week, Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama has said that there will be some kind of a framework for the continuation of the institution after his death. He is expected to outline his succession plan around his birthday. read more Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama greets devotees as he arrives at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharmsala, India, Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. (Photo: AP) The Dalai Lama will address a major three-day gathering of Buddhist religious figures this week ahead of his 90th birthday, as his followers wait for the Tibetan spiritual leader to share details about his succession in a move that could irk China. Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist and says it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama has said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tibetan Buddhists hold that enlightened monks are reborn to carry forward their spiritual legacy. The 14th Dalai Lama will turn 90 on Sunday and has said he would consult senior monks and others at this time to share possible clues on where his successor, a boy or a girl, could be found following his death. 'The rest of my life I will dedicate for the benefit of others, as much as possible, as extensive as possible,' the Dalai Lama told a gathering of his followers on Monday as they offered prayers for his long life. 'There will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lamas,' he said, without elaborating on the framework. He has previously said he could possibly reincarnate in India, where he lives in exile near the northern Himalayan town of Dharamshala. He was identified as the reincarnation of his predecessor when he was two. Dolma Tsering Teykhang, the deputy speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile in Dharamshala, said it was important for the world to hear directly from the Dalai Lama on the issue because while China 'tries to vilify him at every chance … it is trying to frame rules and regulations on how to have the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama in their hand'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'China is trying to grab this institution … for its political purpose,' she said. 'We want the incarnation of the Dalai Lama to be born not only for the survival of Tibet as a distinct culture, religion and nation, but also for the well-being of the whole humanity.' Thupten Ngodup, Tibet's chief state oracle, said typically such discussions on the reincarnation do not take place when a monk is still alive but things are different now mainly because the 'Chinese government is interfering'. Beijing said in March that the Dalai Lama was a political exile who had 'no right to represent the Tibetan people at all'. China has said it is open to discussing his future if he recognises that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China, a proposal the Tibetan government in exile has rejected. 'As if he's not there' The religious conference this week, being held for the first time since 2019, will be attended by more than 100 Tibetan Buddhist leaders and will feature a video statement from the Dalai Lama. Hollywood star Richard Gere, a long-time follower of Tibetan Buddhism, will be among those attending, organisers have said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Dalai Lama will attend prayers called by the Tibetan government in exile on July 5 and participate in his birthday celebrations a day later, according to a schedule shared by the organisers. He will speak at the celebrations for about half an hour. India's parliamentary affairs minister, Kiren Rijiju, and some other Indian officials are expected to attend. Tibetans have been praying for his long health, especially since knee surgery in the U.S. last year, although the Dalai Lama told Reuters in December that he could live until he was 110. The previous Dalai Lama died earlier than expected at 58. The Dalai Lama and Tibetan officials say there is a system in place for the government-in-exile to continue its political work while officers of the Dalai Lama's Gaden Phodrang Foundation search and recognise the next Dalai Lama. The current Dalai Lama set up the foundation in 2015 and its senior officers include several of his aides. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Teykhang and other Tibetan officials said the Dalai Lama has been preparing his people for the day when he is gone, especially through his 2011 decision to hand his political role to a democratically elected government, ending a 368-year-old tradition of being both spiritual and temporal head of Tibetans. 'Since he has come in the form of a human, we have to agree that there will be a moment when he is not with us,' said Teykhang. 'His Holiness has really prepared us for that day, he made us act as if he's not there.' (This is an agency copy. Except for the headline, the copy has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
Pink Villa
33 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
ENHYPEN's dorm trespassed by multiple sasaeng fans, intruders caught red-handed while secretly recording members
BELIFT LAB, HYBE Labels subsidiary, has responded with a strong legal stance following a disturbing case of privacy invasion involving ENHYPEN. In an official statement, the agency revealed that multiple unidentified individuals unlawfully entered the boy group's private dormitory. 'Despite multiple warnings, repeated intrusions into our artists' privacy have continued and worsened,' the statement read. They attempted to secretly record the members. The incident, which has since sparked outrage across fandom communities, was immediately reported to local authorities. Intruders caught in the act and arrested BELIFT LAB confirmed that the individuals involved in the incident were apprehended at the scene. The agency swiftly contacted law enforcement, resulting in the immediate arrest of the trespassers. They are now under active investigation for violating multiple laws. They include illegal trespassing and provisions under South Korea's Stalking Punishment Act. The statement emphasized that entering a private residence without permission, especially with the intent to capture unauthorized footage, is a grave offense. BELIFT LAB made it clear that it is fully cooperating with the police to ensure the individuals responsible face appropriate legal consequences. 'We are actively cooperating with the investigation process to ensure that the suspects are appropriately punished in accordance with the relevant laws,' the company stated. Stronger measures against sasaeng behavior This latest event has reignited concerns about sasaeng fans. It's a term used for those who engage in dangerous, obsessive behavior toward idols. This includes stalking, following them in private settings, and gathering personal information through illegal means. The agency noted that the recent break-in is part of a worrying pattern that poses serious threats to artist safety. In response, the agency reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against such conduct and vowed to reinforce preventive measures. It also urged fans to respect boundaries and refrain from behaviors that violate the rights and well-being of artists. Cracking down on illegal sale of personal data In addition to addressing the dormitory invasion, BELIFT LAB revealed ongoing efforts to combat the illegal trade of artists' private information. The agency stated that it is actively tracking online platforms, especially foreign websites. There, individuals engage in the buying, selling, or fabrication of idols' personal data. 'Repeated contact and visits to private locations induce fear and cause serious harm,' the agency stressed. The company shared that it has begun taking legal steps against such operations. It includes reporting those involved to Chinese authorities and pursuing charges when necessary. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to protect artists from digital threats and identity violations. Fan reactions The news of the incident triggered an immediate and intense reaction from ENHYPEN fans. Social media platforms are flooded with messages expressing concern for the group's safety. They are frustrated over the ongoing issue of sasaeng invasions. Many called on HYBE to increase security measures and adopt even more aggressive legal strategies to protect the members. Fans have also shown support for ENHYPEN, demanding that those who breach the artists' personal space be held fully accountable.
India Today
42 minutes ago
- India Today
Iran set to buy Chinese J-10C fighter jets after Israeli drubbing
Last month, when dozens of Israeli and American warplanes swarmed Iranian skies and unleashed a bombing campaign, Iran's air force was nowhere in sight. Iran couldn't intercept much, and the air force didn't even scramble its jets. Days after the Israeli and American aerial offensive on Iran, reports suggest Tehran is now set to purchase Chinese Chengdu J-10C fighter jets, which is hosting an ageing and underfunded fleet. The move by Tehran to opt for the cheaper Chinese jets compatible with the PL-15 missiles, used by Pakistan's air force, comes after its deal with Russia for fighter jets made no has intensified negotiations with China to acquire the Chengdu J-10C, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter jet, after a failed deal with Russia for Su-35 aircraft, reported The Moscow Times, and Ukrainian news agency RBC which was earlier eyeing the twin-engine Russian Su-35, is now opting for the Chinese single-engine J-10C, a jet that is cheaper by nearly $40–60 million per unit, amid delays in Russian deliveries. With just four of the promised 50 Su-35 jets delivered since the 2023 contract, sanctions-hit Iran is now eyeing the Chinese J-10C, the same jet China's "iron brother" Pakistan had deployed against India during the mini-war in May. A destroyed residential building in Tehran that was hit in an Israeli strike last week. Israel deployed F-35I Adir, F-16I Sufa, and F-15I Ra'am jets to strike Iran's nuclear sites, missile bases, and military infrastructure. (Image: AFP) advertisementWHY IRAN FAILED TO BUY CHENGDU-MADE J-10 EARLIERIran's interest in the J-10 dates back nearly two decades. In 2015, talks began for a deal involving 150 jets, but it fell through as China demanded payment in foreign currency, while cash-strapped Tehran could offer just oil and gas instead. The UN arms embargo on Iran at the time further stalled the agreement, reported Ukrainian news agency RBC Ukraine.A May 2025 report by Forbes suggests that Iran was interested in purchasing 36 J-10Cs from recently, around the time of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, Iran announced that it had finalised a deal with Moscow to acquire Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mi-28 attack helicopters, S-400 air-defense systems, and Yak-130 trainer aircraft. However, the only equipment Iran actually received from the deal was the training jets, according to a report in The Washington of 2025, Iran's Air Force has a vulnerable fleet of around 150 fighter jets, primarily Cold War-era American aircraft acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and some Soviet jets. These include F-4 Phantoms, F-5E/F Tigers, F-14A Tomcats, and MiG-29s. Though much of Tehran's fighter fleet is outdated and largely unserviceable, according to The Military Balance 2025, an open-source report by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).J-10 FIGHTER JETS CAN FIRE SUPERSONIC PL-15 MISSILESadvertisementThe J-10C, developed by China's Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, could very well be a significant upgrade for Iran's air force. The J-10C variant Iran is seeking, equipped with an AESA radar and PL-15 long-range missiles, may offer Iran enhanced manoeuvrability and multirole capabilities, to some extent comparable to some of Israel's frontline J-10C, referred to as the "Vigorous Dragon", is one of China's most advanced fourth-generation fighter jets, which helped its air force transition from older by a Chinese-made WS-10 engine, the aircraft has a delta wing-canard configuration, which offers superior agility in dogfights. What makes the J-10C particularly formidable is its active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, which improves target tracking and resistance to jamming. Its compatibility with beyond-visual-range missiles like the PL-15, which reportedly outranges some Western counterparts, gives it the ability to strike targets from a deal, if finalised, will mark a shift in Tehran-Beijing defence ties, even as Moscow, another ally of the camp, appeared to have distanced itself from Iran in the wake of Israeli and American airstrikes.- EndsTune InMust Watch
