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UN chief Antonio Guterres urged the world to “rev up the engine of development” at an aid conference in Spain on Monday as US-led cuts jeopardise the fight against poverty and climate change.Dozens of world leaders and more than 4,000 representatives from businesses, civil society and financial institutions are in the city of Seville for the June 30-July 3 meeting to seek fresh impetus for the crisis-hit sector.But the United States is snubbing the biggest such talks in a decade, underlining the erosion of international cooperation on combating hunger, disease and climate change.Guterres told the opening of the conference that two-thirds of UN sustainable development goals set for 2030 were “lagging” and more than $4 trillion of annual investment were needed to achieve them.President Donald Trump’s gutting of US development agency USAID is the standout example of aid cuts but Germany, Britain and France have also slashed funds while boosting spending in defence and other areas.The Oxfam charity says the cuts are the largest since 1960, while according to the World Bank rising extreme poverty is affecting sub-Saharan Africa in particular.Disruption to global trade from Trump’s tariffs and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have dealt further blows to the diplomatic cohesion necessary for concentrating efforts on helping countries escape poverty.The crisis meant children going unvaccinated, girls dropping out of school and families suffering hunger, said Guterres.He urged nations to “change course” and “repair and rev up the engine of development to accelerate investment” in “a world shaken by inequalities, climate chaos and raging conflicts”.A blistering heatwave that is scorching southern Europe welcomed delegates, an example of the extreme weather that scientists say human-driven climate change is fuelling.French President Emmanuel Macron lambasted Trump’s tariffs as an “aberration” and “a killer for poor and emerging countries”.China and the United States were the “main guilty guys” in trade imbalances, he told a roundtable event.- ‘Message to the powerful’ -Among the key discussion points is reforming international finance to help poorer countries shrug off a growing debt burden that is holding back progress in health and education.The total external debt of least developed countries has more than tripled in 15 years, according to UN data.Critics have singled out US-based bulwarks of the post-World War II international financial system, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund for reform to improve their representation of the Global South.”Public international finance remains indispensable. Africa is not asking for favours. We are asking for fairness, partnership and investment,” said Kenyan President William Ruto, urging the United States to reconsider its position.A common declaration was adopted that reaffirms commitment to the UN development goals such as eliminating poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality, reforming tax systems and international financial institutions.The text also calls on development banks to triple their lending capacity, urges lenders to ensure predictable finance for essential social spending and for more cooperation against tax evasion.”What was once radical is now becoming mainstream. We finally have a consensus on reforming the international financial architecture,” said Ruto.Coalitions of countries are seeking to spearhead initiatives in addition to the so-called “Seville Commitment”, which is not legally binding.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it was “time to take a step forward and not only reaffirm our commitment, but also redouble it”.But campaigners criticised the text for lacking ambition and have rung alarm bells about rising global inequality.Responding to a question by AFP, Guterres insisted in a press conference that the Seville agreement was a step forward. But he acknowledged “resistances” to the drive for change and sent a “message to the powerful”.”It is better for them to lead the reform of the system now than to wait and eventually suffer the resistance later when power relations change,” he said.

More than 230,000 Afghans left Iran in June, most of them deported, as returns surge ahead of a deadline set by Tehran, the United Nations migration agency said on Monday.The number of returns from Iran rose dramatically in recent weeks. Afghans have reported increased deportations ahead of the July 6 deadline announced by Iran for undocumented Afghans to leave the country.From June 1-28, 233,941 people returned from Iran to Afghanistan, International Organization for Migration spokesman Avand Azeez Agha told AFP, with 131,912 returns recorded in the week of June 21-28 alone. Since January, “691,049 people have returned, 70 percent of whom were forcibly sent back”, he added. For several days last week, the number reached 30,000 per day, the IOM said, with numbers expected to increase ahead of the deadline.Afghans spilled into an IOM-run reception centre out of buses arriving back-to-back at the Islam Qala border point in western Afghanistan’s Herat province on Saturday. The recent returns have been marked by a sharp increase in the number of families instead of individuals, the UN said, with men, women and children lugging suitcases carrying all their belongings.Many have few assets and few prospects for work, with Afghanistan facing entrenched poverty and steep unemployment.The country is four years into a fragile recovery from decades of war under Taliban authorities, who have called for a “dignified” return of migrants and refugees from neighbouring countries.Kabul’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi raised the Taliban government’s concerns in a meeting with Iran’s ambassador, according to a statement, saying: “A coordinated mechanism should be put in place for the gradual return of migrants.” The cash-strapped government faces challenges in integrating the influx of returnees, which has piled on to hundreds of thousands also forced out in recent years from Pakistan — another traditional host of Afghans fleeing conflict and humanitarian crises.Severe international aid cuts have also hamstrung UN and NGO responses, with the IOM saying it was “only able to assist a fraction of those in need”.”On some high-volume days, such as recently at Islam Qala, assistance reached as few as three percent of undocumented returnees,” it said in a recent statement.Returnees AFP spoke to in recent days at the border cited mounting pressure by Iranian authorities and increased deportations, with none pointing to the recent Iran-Israel conflict as a spur to leave the country.However, “regional instability — particularly the fallout from the Israel-Iran conflict — and shifting host country policies have accelerated returns, overwhelming Afghanistan’s already fragile humanitarian and development systems”, the UN mission in Afghanistan, UNAMA, said in a statement.Samiullah Ahmadi, 28, was seeing his country of origin for the first time when he crossed the border.Unsure of what he would do once he reached the Afghan capital Kabul with his family, he was defiant in response to the pressures to return.”I was born there (Iran). But the situation for Afghans is such that no matter how good you are or even if you have valid documents, they still don’t treat you with respect.”

UN chief Antonio Guterres urged the world to “rev up the engine of development” at an aid conference on Monday as US-led cuts jeopardise the fight against poverty and climate change.Dozens of world leaders and more than 4,000 representatives from businesses, civil society and financial institutions are in the Spanish city of Seville for the June 30-July 3 meeting to seek fresh impetus for the crisis-hit sector.But the United States is snubbing the biggest aid talks in a decade, underlining the erosion of international cooperation on combating hunger, disease and climate change.Guterres told the opening of the conference that two-thirds of UN sustainable development goals set for 2030 were “lagging” and more than $4 trillion of annual investment were needed to achieve them.President Donald Trump’s gutting of US development agency USAID is the standout example of aid cuts, but Germany, Britain and France have also slashed funds while boosting spending in defence and other areas.The Oxfam charity says the cuts are the largest since 1960, while according to the World Bank rising extreme poverty is affecting sub-Saharan Africa in particular.Disruption to global trade from Trump’s tariffs and  conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have dealt further blows to the diplomatic cohesion necessary for concentrating efforts on helping countries escape poverty.The crisis meant children going unvaccinated, girls dropping out of school and families suffering hunger, said Guterres.He urged nations to “change course” and “repair and rev up the engine of development to accelerate investment” in “a world shaken by inequalities, climate chaos and raging conflicts”.A blistering heatwave that is scorching southern Europe welcomed delegates, an example of the extreme weather that scientists say human-driven climate change is fuelling.Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it was “time to take a step forward and not only reaffirm our commitment, but also redouble it”.- ‘Message to the powerful’ -Among the key discussion points is reforming international finance to help poorer countries shrug off a growing debt burden that is holding back progress in health and education.The total external debt of least developed countries has more than tripled in 15 years, according to UN data.Critics have singled out US-based bulwarks of the post-World War II international financial system, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, for reform to improve their representation of the Global South.”Public international finance remains indispensable. Africa is not asking for favours. We are asking for fairness, partnership and investment,” said Kenyan President William Ruto, urging the United States to reconsider its position.A common declaration was adopted on the basis of a previously agreed text that only went ahead after the United States walked out.The document reaffirms commitment to the UN development goals such as eliminating poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality, reforming tax systems and international financial institutions.The text also calls on development banks to triple their lending capacity, urges lenders to ensure predictable finance for essential social spending and for more cooperation against tax evasion.”What was once radical is now becoming mainstream. We finally have a consensus on reforming the international financial architecture,” said Ruto.Coalitions of countries will seek to spearhead initiatives in addition to the so-called “Seville Commitment”, which is not legally binding.But campaigners criticised the text for lacking ambition and have rung alarm bells about rising global inequality.Responding to a question by AFP, Guterres insisted in a press conference that the Seville agreement was a step forward. But he acknowledged “resistances” to the drive for change and sent a “message to the powerful”.”It is better for them to lead the reform of the system now than to wait and eventually suffer the resistance later when power relations change,” he said.

Gautam Gambhir is under growing pressure ahead of the second Test against England after India’s loss at Headingley made it seven defeats in 11 red-ball matches since he became coach last year.The 43-year-old former opening batsman is facing flak from some quarters for his selections, man management and how he carries himself in press conferences.India are ushering in a new era following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with Gambhir widely reported to have played a part in the exit of at least one of the two veteran stars. Led by new captain Shubman Gill, the visitors were beaten by five wickets in the opening Test of the five-match England series, adding to a growing sense of alarm.The second Test at Edgbaston starts on Wednesday and patience is wearing thin back home.”Gautam Gambhir is under significant pressure. The situation is becoming increasingly tense,” former India batsman Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.”He has managed two wins against Bangladesh and one against Australia, but we’ve lost three matches to New Zealand, three to Australia and now one to England.”He has been losing and losing.”Gambhir, who as a player had a key role in India’s ODI World Cup triumph in 2011, succeeded Rahul Dravid in July last year.Dravid signed off a largely successful three-year tenure by winning the T20 World Cup.Gambhir was chosen as his successor almost exactly a year ago but he and his side suffered a significant bloody nose when they went down 3-0 to New Zealand.It was India’s first Test series defeat at home in 12 years.- ‘Aggressive’ -Along with chief selector Ajit Agarkar, Gambhir was criticised for leaving middle-order batsman Sarfaraz Khan out of the squad for England.Karun Nair was picked ahead of Sarfaraz, who had scores of 68 not out and 56 against a visiting England last year, and made 150 versus New Zealand in Bengaluru.Gambhir’s detractors say he is hot-headed and accuse him of acting too much on instinct.Speaking ahead of the series, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik said that “tactically, Gauti (Gambhir) is a very good coach.”Man management is the area that I am sure he would be looking at,” he told Sky Sports’ cricket podcast.”But one thing about him is that he is looking out for his players, which is massive.”What I feel at times is that the way he is aggressive as a captain, you can’t be as a coach.”Critics don’t like Gambhir’s press conferences.Following the defeat at Headingley, Gambhir looked ruffled and snapped in reply to a question about Rishabh Pant’s centuries in each innings.The visiting batsmen scored five centuries in the match but still lost.Former batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has said that Gambhir should be kept away from the media, after the coach bit back at Ricky Ponting ahead of the tour to Australia last year.India went on to lose the series 3-1.- Bumrah mismanaged? -On the last day of the first England Test, when the hosts chased down 371, senior batsman KL Rahul and Gill’s deputy Pant were seen making the fielding changes, rather than the skipper.In the final overs it appeared pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah rejected Gill’s idea of bringing him back into the attack.Bumrah, who will only play two more Tests in the series to manage his workload, returned figures of 5-83 in England’s first innings of 465 but went wicketless second time around.A fit, firing and content Bumrah is key to India’s chances.South African great AB de Villiers questioned whether it was “mismanagement” or injury that was the cause of Bumrah being rested at a crucial point of the match.Lack of bowling support for Bumrah and India’s lower-order collapses — from 430-3 to 471 all out in the first innings and 333-4 to 364 in the second — also hurt the team in Leeds.In a country where cricket is an obsession and every match is dissected for days afterwards, Gambhir needs to quickly find some answers.

Hajjar Shademani’s family waited for hours in the heat and dust after crossing the border into Afghanistan, their neat pile of suitcases all that remained of a lifetime in Iran after being deported to their homeland. The 19-year-old and her three siblings are among tens of thousands of Afghans who have crossed the Islam Qala border point in recent days, the majority forced to leave, according to the United Nations and Taliban authorities. Despite being born in Iran after her parents fled war 40 years ago, Shademani said the country “never accepted us”. When police came to her family’s home in Shiraz city and ordered them to leave, they had no choice. But Afghanistan is also alien to her. “We don’t have anything here,” she told AFP in English. Between Iranian universities that would not accept her and the Taliban government, which has banned education for women, Shademani’s studies are indefinitely on hold. “I really love studying… I wanted to continue but in Afghanistan, I think I cannot.” At Herat province’s Islam Qala crossing, the checkpoint is usually busy handling the cycle of smuggling to deportation as young men seek work in Iran. But since Tehran ordered Afghans without the right to remain to leave by July 6, the number of returnees — especially families — has surged. More than 230,000 departed in June alone, the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. Since January, more than 690,000 Afghans have left Iran, “70 percent of whom were forcibly sent back”, IOM spokesperson Avand Azeez Agha told AFP. Of the more than a dozen returnees AFP spoke to on Saturday, none said they had fled the recent Iran-Israel conflict, though it may have ramped up pressure. Arrests, however, had helped spur their departures. – Few prospects -Yadullah Alizada had only the clothes on his back and a cracked phone to call his family when he stepped off one of the many buses unloading people at the IOM-run reception centre. The 37-year-old said he was arrested while working as a day labourer and held at a detention camp before being deported to Afghanistan. Forced to leave without his family or belongings, he slept on a bit of cardboard at the border, determined to stay until his family could join him. “My three kids are back there, they’re all sick right now, and they don’t know how to get here.”He hopes to find work in his home province of Daikundi, but in a country wracked by entrenched poverty and unemployment, he faces an uphill climb. The UN mission for Afghanistan, UNAMA, has warned that the influx of deportees — many arriving with “no assets, limited access to services, and no job prospects” — risks further destabilising the crisis-wracked country. Long lines snaked into tents encircling the reception centre where returnees accessed UN, NGO and government services. Gusty wind whipped women’s Iranian-style hijabs and young men’s trendy outfits, clothing that stood out against the shalwar kameez that has become ubiquitous in Afghanistan since the Taliban swept to power in 2021, imposing their strict interpretation of Islamic law. Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Salam Hanafi inspected the site on Saturday, striding through the crowd surrounded by a heavily armed entourage and pledging to ensure “that no Afghan citizen is denied their rights in Iran” and that seized or abandoned assets would be returned. Taliban authorities have consistently called for “dignified” treatment of the migrants and refugees hosted in Iran and Pakistan, the latter having also ousted hundreds of thousands of Afghans since the latest decades-long war ended.- ‘Have nothing’ -Over one million Afghans have already returned to Afghanistan this year from both neighbouring countries. The numbers are only expected to rise, even as foreign aid is slashed and the Taliban government struggles for cash and international recognition. The IOM says it can only serve a fraction of the returnees, with four million Afghans potentially impacted by Iran’s deadline. Some of the most vulnerable pass through the agency’s transit centre in Herat city, where they can get a hot meal, a night’s rest and assistance on their way.  But at the clean and shaded compound, Bahara Rashidi was still worried about what would become of her and her eight sisters back in Afghanistan. They had smuggled themselves into Iran to make a living after their father died.  “There is no man in our family who can work here, and we don’t have a home or money,” the 19-year-old told AFP. “We have nothing.” 

Bangladesh’s biggest port resumed operations on Monday after customs officials called off a strike that had disrupted the export and import of goods for around 48 hours.Sehela Siddiqa, Joint Tax Commissioner and secretary of the NBR Reform Unity Council — a platform of protesting workers — confirmed the resumption of activities at Chittagong and all other ports.”The ports are now fully functional and operating across the country,” Siddiqa told AFP. “All employees have returned to work.”A section of employees at the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the country’s tax collection authority, has been protesting for over a month against a move by the interim government to reform the agency.The government’s proposal includes abolishing the NBR and establishing two separate bodies to handle tax policy formulation and tax collection. Over the weekend, some NBR staff launched what they called a “complete shutdown”, stopping work in a range of departments, including customs.The workers resumed duties after the government threatened tough action.The deadlock ended late Sunday night after hours of intensive negotiations between NBR staff and the Ministry of Finance, mediated by business groups.Senior NBR official Hasan Muhammad Tarek Rikabdar said they called off the strike after positive pledges from the government. “We welcome the government’s decision to form an advisory committee for reforms in revenue management, and we hope to contribute to the process by actively participating in it,” he told reporters on Sunday night.Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a probe against six NBR officials, including Rikabdar, for allegedly amassing illicit wealth.They were accused of facilitating tax evaders in exchange for bribes.”Based on verified allegations, the ACC initiated the investigation,” ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain said.

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, gave on Monday the strongest indication yet that the 600-year-old institution would continue after his death, at prayer celebrations for his 90th birthday.The Dalai Lama joined thousands of Buddhist followers on Monday in the prayer celebrations, a landmark event resonating far beyond the Indian Himalayan town where he has lived for decades.”As far as the institution of the Dalai Lama, there will be some kind of a framework within which we can talk about its continuation”, he said, speaking in Tibetan.The leader, who turns 90 on July 6, is according to Tibetans the 14th reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.He and thousands of other Tibetans have lived in exile in India since Chinese troops crushed an uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959.Draped in traditional maroon and yellow robes, the Dalai Lama sat and listened to speeches and chants of monks, nuns, pilgrims, as well as well-wishers from across the world on Monday.”Though I am 90 years old, physically I am very healthy,” he said, before tasting a slice of Tibetan-style birthday cake, an elaborately decorated tower made from roasted barley and butter cut in front of him.”In the time I have left, I will continue to dedicate myself to the well-being of others as much as possible,” he said.- ‘Continuation’ -The Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday is more than a personal milestone.The charismatic Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist Tenzin Gyatso is also expected to reveal if there will be another Dalai Lama after him.The Dalai Lama has said the institution will continue only if there is popular demand — and is widely expected to reveal that decision on Wednesday.The occasion carries profound weight not only for Tibetans, but also for global supporters who see the Dalai Lama as a symbol of non-violence, compassion, and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule.”We offer our fervent devotions that Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of Snows, lives for one hundred eons,” a chorus of red-robed monks sang.”May all your noble aspirations be fulfilled,” they added, in front of a crowd that included religious leaders of many faiths.His advancing age has also sparked concern over the future of Tibetan leadership and the delicate question of his succession.While China condemns him as a rebel and separatist, the internationally recognised Dalai Lama describes himself as a “simple Buddhist monk”.Many exiled Tibetans fear China will name a successor to bolster control over a territory it poured troops into in 1950.The Dalai Lama has been lauded by his followers for his tireless campaign for greater autonomy for Tibet, a vast high-altitude plateau in China about the size of South Africa.The Dalai Lama handed over political authority in 2011 to an exiled government chosen democratically by 130,000 Tibetans globally.At the same time, he warned that the future of his spiritual post faced an “obvious risk of vested political interests misusing the reincarnation system”.

The Dalai Lama, the charismatic Buddhist spiritual leader lauded worldwide for his tireless campaign for greater autonomy for his Tibetan homeland, will celebrate his 90th birthday in July.A thorn in China’s side, Tenzin Gyatso became the face of the Tibetan cause as he crisscrossed the globe, mixing with royalty, politicians and celebrities.With his famous beaming smile, the Dalai Lama has become a global symbol of peace whose message transcends religion. He is regarded by his many supporters as a visionary in the vein of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.The Dalai Lama was just 23 when he fled the Tibetan capital Lhasa in fear for his life, after Chinese troops crushed an uprising that began on March 10, 1959.It took him 13 days to cross the Himalayas to the Indian border. He has never returned.His life in exile has centred around the northern Indian hill-town of Dharamsala, home to thousands of fellow Tibetans who maintain traditional customs, even though many have never set foot in their ancestral homeland.In Dharamsala, he set up a government-in-exile and launched a campaign to reclaim Tibet, evolving to adopt a “middle way” approach that relinquished demands for independence for calls for greater autonomy.- Unlikely celebrity -In 1989, he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his bid to “seek reconciliation despite brutal violations”.The award catapulted him into the global spotlight, and he was courted by world leaders and Hollywood stars.In his maroon robes, simple sandals and wide-rimmed spectacles, the Dalai Lama is an unlikely celebrity.But his sense of mischief — he once announced he would like to reincarnate as an attractive blonde — and infectious chuckle have proved irresistible, making him a darling of the world’s media.The Chinese government, however, has remained impervious to his charm, branding him a separatist and a “wolf in a monk’s robe”.Tibet has alternated over the centuries between independence and control by China, and Beijing says the region is an integral part of the country.The Dalai Lama wants greater autonomy for his people, including the right to worship freely and to preserve their culture, which many Tibetans say has been crushed under Chinese rule.Formal negotiations with Beijing broke down in 2010.A year later, the Dalai Lama retired from politics to make way for a new leader elected by exiled Tibetans around the world.- Life of exile -Born into a farming family in the Tibetan village of Taktser on July 6, 1935, he was chosen as the 14th incarnation of Tibetan Buddhism’s supreme religious leader at the age of two.He was given the name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso — Holy Lord, Gentle Glory, Compassionate, Defender of the Faith and Ocean of Wisdom — and taken to Lhasa’s 1,000-room Potala Palace to be trained to become the leader of his people.He indulged a precocious scientific curiosity, playing with a watch sent to him by US president Franklin Roosevelt and repairing cars, one of which he crashed into a palace gate.But his childhood ended abruptly at age 15, when he was hastily enthroned as head of state after the Chinese army invaded Tibet in 1950.Nine years later, as Chinese troops crushed a popular uprising, he escaped to India.When told the Dalai Lama had fled, Chinese leader Mao Zedong reportedly said: “In that case, we have lost the battle.”He was welcomed by India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who offered Dharamsala as a base for him and thousands of fellow Tibetan refugees.Throughout the Dalai Lama’s life, he has been treated as an honoured guest in India — an official policy stance that has been a source of tension with China.It is unclear how, or even whether, his successor will be named, with his predecessors chosen by monks according to ancient Buddhist traditions.He has alternatively suggested the next Dalai Lama could be a girl, that his spirit could transfer to an adult successor, or that he could even be the last in the line — and that he might be reincarnated as an animal or an insect instead.But he has always been clear that any successor named by China would not be credible.”No recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People’s Republic of China,” he said.burs-pjm/rsc/sco

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, joined thousands of Buddhist followers on Monday in 90th birthday prayer celebrations, a landmark resonating far beyond the Indian Himalayan town where he has lived for decades.Draped in traditional maroon and yellow robes, the Dalai Lama sat and listened to speeches and chants of monks, nuns, pilgrims, as well as well-wishers from across the world.The leader, who turns 90 on July 6, and thousands of other Tibetans have lived in exile in India since Chinese troops crushed an uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa in 1959.The Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday is more than a personal milestone.The charismatic Nobel Peace Prize-winning Buddhist Tenzin Gyatso — who Tibetans say is the 14th reincarnation of the 600-year-old post — is also expected to reveal if there will be another Dalai Lama after him.”We offer our fervent devotions that Tenzin Gyatso, protector of the Land of Snows, lives for a 100 eons,” a chorus of red-robed monks sang.”May all your noble aspirations be fulfilled,” they added, in front of a crowd that included religious leaders of many faiths.The Dalai Lama has said the institution will continue only if there is popular demand — and is widely expected to reveal that decision on Wednesday.The occasion carries profound weight not only for Tibetans, but also for global supporters who see the Dalai Lama as a symbol of non-violence, compassion, and the enduring struggle for Tibetan cultural identity under Chinese rule.His advancing age has also sparked concern over the future of Tibetan leadership and the delicate question of his succession.While China condemns him as a rebel and separatist, the internationally recognised Dalai Lama describes himself as a “simple Buddhist monk”.Many exiled Tibetans fear China will name a successor to bolster control over a territory it poured troops into in 1950.

While conflict raged between the powerful militaries of India and Pakistan, a battle was also fought on the cultural front lines despite years of shared love for films and music.The deadly fighting in early May — the worst in decades — affected artists previously untouched by animosity between their leaders.Ali Gul Pir, a Pakistani rapper and comedian with a huge Indian following, released a song years ago mocking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.While he was spared consequences then, in May his YouTube channel and Instagram profile were blocked in India. “Indians now recognise that the digital space serves as a bridge between Pakistanis and Indians, and they seem intent on severing that connection,” Pir told AFP.The collapse in bilateral relations was caused by a deadly April attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denied the allegation and, after tit-for-tat diplomatic retaliation, their militaries fought for four days before a ceasefire was reached.The conflict hit the music industry for the first time, with Pakistani singer Annural Khalid also remembering how her Indian following dropped off. “Delhi was my top listening city before the ban,” said Khalid, who has 3.1 million monthly listeners on Spotify.”I suffered a great loss in the audience” from India, she told AFP. “Listeners were deprived of content because music was turned into something it is not,” Khalid added.  The conflict also scrubbed out some prior exchanges, such as the soundtrack of the 2017 film  “Raees” on Spotify in India. It now shows only Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan, without his Pakistani co-star Mahira Khan. – ‘The same traumas’ -With Pakistan producing just a handful of movies each year under strict censorship rules, Bollywood has always proven popular among viewers. “I grew up watching Bollywood. We have the same traumas, we have the same history, we have the same stories,” said Pakistani film critic Sajeer Shaikh. Pakistani actors and directors have for decades seen making it to Bollywood as the ultimate recognition. But this month, Indian star Diljit Dosanjh announced his latest movie, “Sardaar Ji 3”, which features four Pakistani actors, would be released “overseas only”, after New Delhi banned Pakistani content and artists from productions. “Abir Gulaal”, a love story starring Pakistan’s Fawad Khan and Indian actor Vaani Kapoor, was scheduled to hit Indian cinemas on May 9 but the release was postponed. Even some in the industry who had previously backed the cross-border artistic trade changed their tune last month.”Everything should be banned… cricket, films, everything,” said Indian actor Suniel Shetty, who has a big fan following in Pakistan. He starred in the 2004 movie “Main Hoon Na”, which subtly promotes peace between India and Pakistan. “It’s something really unfortunate about politics, creating that rift and putting boundaries around art,” said Dua Zahra, assistant manager at Warner Bros South Asia’s music label in Pakistan.  – ‘Let’s just make art’ -As part of its measures in the wake of the Kashmir attack, New Delhi’s ban on some Pakistani YouTube channels included private broadcaster HUM TV. The channel, which says around 40 percent of its viewers are from India, simply told its fans to use a VPN to continue watching.  Since Modi took office more than a decade ago, many Indian critics and filmmakers have warned that Bollywood is now increasingly promoting his government’s Hindu nationalist ideology.While the conflict has created divisions on the cultural scene, there are signs that the trade will endure. Over a month after the ceasefire, three Indian films were in the top 10 on Netflix Pakistan, while the top 20 trending songs in India included two Pakistani tracks. Pir, the rapper and comedian, vowed to “bridge gaps”.”Let’s not make war, let’s just make art,” he said. “Let’s just not bomb each other.”