Asia

India-On Saturday, the 14th Dalai Lama is expected to visit a small town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, India. The spiritual leader is already seen as a thorn in the side by the Chinese under normal circumstances, but this particular visit is being seen as provocative and deliberate as the town is in the part of India that China claims as its own.

Though the Dalai Lama’s visit is purely for spiritual discussions and teachings, it has become a political issue between India and China. This is because China feels India specifically invited the Dalai Lama to an area where India and China have territorial disputes and the Chinese feel violated and feel that this escalated the nature of their boundary dispute. The Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that the Tawang visit would gravely damage the peace and stability of the border regions between China and India and the Indo-Chinese relations.

In the past, China has branded the Dalai Lama as a “traitor”, calling him a “anti-China separatist under the cloak of religion.”

Philippines- The president of the Philippines has ordered military personnel to occupy all Philippines-claimed islands in the disputed South China Sea on Thursday. He said in a statement while on a visit to a military camp on the island of Palawan that the Philippines have tried to be friends with everybody, but it is now time to establish and gain control of the areas under their jurisdiction.

Rodrigo Duterte also said that Philippines may raise its flag on the Pagasa Island, also known as the Thitu island, on the country’s Independence Day which is on June 12. Thitu is a chain of islands and has been a bone of contention between Philippines, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.

EUROPE

Norway- Norway has decided to build the world’s first ship tunnel. This tunnel is going to be a mile-long, 118-feet wide and will pass through the narrowest part of the Stad peninsula in western Norway. This will allow the freight and passenger ships to bypass the Stadhavet Sea, which is known to be highly stormy and treacherous.

The tunnel will be built by smashing through the solid rock peninsula. This is being done because the Stadhavet Sea has very high waves coming in from all directions, which create complex and perilous sailing conditions, even without any wind. Thus, the tunnel is being built to improve safety and stop ships from having to wait for bad weather to pass.

London- Barack Obama is going to make his first visit to Scotland as the former President of the United States to address business leaders in Edinburgh.

Barack Obama left office in January after eight years and this is expected to be his highest profile speeche since leaving office at a charity event organised by The Hunter Foundation. Other famous people who have spoken at events include former president Bill Clinton and Hollywood actors George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio.

According to the foundation, the money raised will be divided among children’s charities in Scotland.