Police responded to reports of gunfire at approximately 10:37 p.m. local time (0237 GMT Sunday) on West 31st Street in Brooklyn, where officers found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds, ABC News reported.

The victims included two men, two women and four children aged 14, 12, 7 and 6, according to the report. All eight were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Seven of the victims were reported to be in stable condition. A 21-year-old woman remained in critical condition, ABC News said, citing police.

Investigators recovered a firearm at the scene, but no arrests had been made as of Sunday morning, according to the report.

The New York City Police Department did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, and authorities had not released information regarding a possible suspect or a motive for the shooting.

The incident occurred as the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, with cities across the country hosting fireworks displays and public celebrations.

The shooting in Coney Island added to a series of violent incidents reported nationwide during the holiday weekend, one of the busiest periods of the year for law enforcement agencies as large crowds gather for public events.

Authorities continued to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, and no additional information was immediately available.

The 36-year-old rapper-turned-politician, widely known as “Balen,” came to power after his Rastriya Swatantra Party secured a sweeping victory in the March 5 general election, the first national vote since youth-led anti-corruption protests in 2025 toppled the government of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Shah moved swiftly after assuming office on March 27. One day after his swearing-in, police arrested Oli and his former interior minister following recommendations by an inquiry commission investigating the deadly September 2025 uprising. Both men were later released without charge while investigations continued.

Political observers say the government’s early actions established a pattern of rapid, high-profile decisions that have often been challenged on legal grounds and criticized for bypassing established institutional procedures.

Unlike many of his predecessors, Shah has maintained a low public profile. He has largely communicated through social media, including delivering his election victory message in the form of a rap song, while avoiding meetings with foreign ambassadors. Visits to Nepal’s two largest neighbors, India and China—traditionally the first overseas destinations for a newly elected Nepali prime minister—have instead been delegated to the foreign minister.

Journalist Pranaya Rana said the public still knows relatively little about Shah despite his electoral mandate, arguing that the prime minister should engage more openly with citizens.

The administration has introduced a 100-point reform programme covering governance, anti-corruption initiatives, public service delivery and digital transformation. Government officials say roughly 70 measures have already been implemented, with the remaining initiatives in progress.

In a rare public address to members of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party in June, Shah described his administration as being “on an expressway” toward reform, saying the government would not slow its pace until its objectives had been achieved.

The government has also unveiled a 2.1 trillion Nepalese rupee ($13.8 billion) national budget focused on infrastructure, technology, healthcare and education while seeking to strengthen the country’s economy. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle described the plan as part of a broad programme of economic reform.

Supporters argue that Shah has brought a sense of urgency to government after years of political instability. Journalist Sudheer Sharma said the administration had distinguished itself by beginning work immediately after taking office and maintaining a results-oriented approach.

Opposition parties, however, have accused the government of acting hastily. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), led by Oli, said on Friday that the administration’s performance had been weak, immature and controversial.

Criticism has also focused on the government’s use of executive ordinances despite holding a parliamentary majority capable of passing legislation through the normal legislative process. Analysts warn that relying on emergency powers risks weakening institutional checks and balances.

Political researcher Anusha Khanal said reforms had been implemented but questioned whether the government had consistently followed appropriate constitutional procedures, urging continued public vigilance.

Among the most contentious measures is an ordinance allowing the Constitutional Council, chaired by Shah, to make decisions, including judicial appointments, by a simple majority. Proposals to amend the constitution and restructure Nepal’s federal system have also generated political opposition.

Some supporters of the 2025 protest movement have urged the government to preserve the democratic principles that fueled its rise. Yujan Rajbhandari, who participated in the demonstrations, said the administration remained a source of hope but warned that reforms not grounded in due process could prove difficult to sustain.

The government’s efforts to remove informal settlements have also attracted criticism, adding to growing debate over whether Shah’s rapid approach to reform can maintain public support as his administration moves beyond its first 100 days.

China’s Ministry of National Defense said the exercises will take place in waters and airspace near Qingdao. After the drills conclude, participating forces from both navies will carry out joint maritime patrols in designated areas of the Pacific Ocean.

The ministry described the exercises as part of the two countries’ annual program of military cooperation and said they are intended to jointly address security challenges while contributing to regional peace and stability.

Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reported that vessels from the Russian Pacific Fleet had already arrived in Qingdao ahead of the exercise, which is scheduled to run from July 6 to July 13.

According to RIA, Russia’s contingent includes a guided-missile cruiser, a corvette, a diesel-electric submarine and a rescue vessel. No details were released regarding the number or types of Chinese warships and aircraft expected to participate.

The annual drills form part of an expanding pattern of defense cooperation between China and Russia, whose militaries have regularly conducted joint exercises, maritime patrols and strategic air operations in recent years.

The planned Pacific patrol following the exercises reflects continued coordination between the two countries’ naval forces beyond training activities, as both governments seek to strengthen operational interoperability and maintain a visible military presence in regional waters.

Neither Beijing nor Moscow indicated that the exercises were directed at any specific country, with Chinese authorities emphasizing that the drills are designed to enhance cooperation in responding to shared security challenges and preserving regional stability.

The announcement comes as China and Russia continue to maintain close strategic ties across diplomatic, economic and defense sectors, with joint military exercises remaining a central feature of their expanding security partnership.

The promotions, announced at a ceremony in Beijing on Friday, come as Xi continues efforts to modernize China’s armed forces while reinforcing their loyalty to the ruling Communist Party. The military overhaul coincides with Beijing’s push to strengthen its strategic position in the Indo-Pacific, including its claims over Taiwan and other disputed territories.

Xi, who also serves as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), presented promotion orders to Zhang Shuguang and Air Force commander Wang Gang. Zhang was simultaneously appointed to lead the CMC’s anti-corruption investigation body, placing him at the center of the military’s ongoing disciplinary campaign.

The appointments are widely viewed as positioning both officers for greater responsibilities within the military hierarchy. Analysts say they could eventually fill vacancies on the seven-member Central Military Commission, whose membership has been substantially reduced after a series of corruption investigations removed several senior leaders.

Among the two, Zhang appears to be the stronger candidate for elevation to the commission because of his new anti-corruption portfolio, according to analysts. Wang’s prospects are considered less certain, particularly after two other senior Air Force commanders—the leaders of the PLA’s Central and Eastern Theater Commands—were promoted to general in December.

James Char, an assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Wang belongs to a new generation of People’s Liberation Army Air Force leaders with substantial operational experience who have assumed increasingly important responsibilities following the latest round of military purges.

The Central Military Commission remains the highest decision-making body within China’s armed forces and is chaired by Xi. Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin is currently its only other active member after two former vice chairmen, including the military’s most senior general, were removed or effectively sidelined during the anti-corruption campaign.

According to Char, the sweeping disciplinary investigations have dismantled the two dominant factions that previously existed within the military establishment, giving Xi greater latitude to shape the next generation of senior commanders.

Even so, analysts caution that the pace of promotions suggests Beijing is proceeding carefully rather than rushing to rebuild the military’s leadership. Only four lieutenant generals have been elevated to the rank of general during the latest phase of the restructuring.

K. Tristan Tang, a nonresident fellow at the U.S.-based National Bureau of Asian Research, said the limited number of promotions indicates that Xi continues to assess senior officers before making further appointments.

According to Tang, the Chinese leader remains in the process of observing, testing and evaluating potential candidates before carrying out a broader leadership overhaul.

The next major opportunity for restructuring is expected at the Communist Party Congress scheduled for the autumn of next year, when the current five-year term of the Central Military Commission concludes. The composition of the next commission will be closely watched as an indicator of Xi’s continuing efforts to consolidate authority over the military while advancing long-term defense modernization.

In contrast, New Delhi has never used such a language against Pakistan, a rival that has constantly carried out sub-conventional warfare and imposed three wars on India.

Pakistan has reacted strongly to India’s decision to put the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in abeyance in May 2025. More importantly, New Delhi has retained its position, which Pakistan seems not to have expected.

The rulers in Pakistan might have thought that the decision taken by New Delhi would be temporary and meant to cool down the public anger over the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 innocent civilians were gunned down by Pakistan-backed terrorists in April 2025.

India’s position and its strong defence of putting the treaty in abeyance have given a clear message to Islamabad that the IWT was no longer inviolable. India has not only defended its decision strongly but has also offered a legal basis for its decision. In this way, New Delhi has got on the nerves of the military establishment in Pakistan.

The point is not what the rulers and several commentators say about India’s decision; the real issue is what they can do about it. Not much, to be clear.

It is a well-established international practice that the upper riparian states need to be mindful of the needs of the lower riparian states. And India has been overly conscious and considerate about that. Otherwise, besides signing the treaty and allowing Pakistan to use the majority of the waters of the western three rivers—the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum—New Delhi never thought of using the treaty to react to Pakistan’s three unprovocative wars that it imposed on India.

Pakistan has no locus standi to challenge India’s decision. One point that the rulers in Pakistan and several commentators make to question India’s position is the legality of India’s decision to put the IWT in abeyance. First and foremost, there is no precedent and no legal binding that a treaty or agreement is eternal. If that had been the case, there would not have been amendments or clauses in agreements meant to address issues that pop up from time to time. More importantly, what if the situation and the circumstances change? If a treaty favours one signatory at the cost of the other, would that be fair to the essence of an agreement? Of course not.

Furthermore, Pakistan should be thankful that New Delhi has not taken an irrational and reckless position. Like in Pakistan, the provinces are ready to adopt punitive water policies to deprive each other of water. Punjab is accused of using the waters of the Indus River and depriving Balochistan and Sindh of their share. These two provinces are up against Punjab for the latter’s decision to divert water to irrigate barren land, affecting the lower riparian areas.

To quote Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz, “If Punjab wants to construct canals for its water, why are you bothered? It is Punjab’s water. It belongs to the people, farmers and fields of Punjab.” Maryam Nawaz is just the chief minister of a province of Pakistan. Still, she minces no words in underlining the reality that Punjab, since it is the most powerful province of the country, can overlook the concerns and reservations of the weak and lower riparian provinces.

In contrast, New Delhi has never used such a language against Pakistan, a rival that has constantly carried out sub-conventional warfare and imposed three wars on India. In fact, India has been considerate about the implications of such a decision and its generosity towards the common people of Pakistan, despite the hostile policy of the country’s military establishment, is well known. Not only did it not disrupt the flow of the water towards Pakistan, but it also diplomatically raised its concerns about the changing circumstances of the IWT and the need for its renegotiation.

That should be enough to refute the claim of Islamabad that the water was being “weaponised”. Had that been the policy, New Delhi could have done that a long time ago. The point is that the behaviour of the military establishment remains detrimental towards India’s security. And having made all sincere efforts to convince Islamabad to refrain from pursuing such a policy, the only option was to remind Islamabad of its vulnerability.

Notwithstanding the hollow claims of several leaders in Pakistan, war is and will be devastating for the country. The rulers in Pakistan may claim that it has nothing to lose, but India is focused on development and progress. It doesn’t want to be dragged into a war, although it can easily win one by making Pakistan pay a heavy price, but a lot of resources will be consumed by such an action.

For Pakistan, on the other hand, conflict and wars have sustained the military establishment in the country. Since the brief conflict in May 2025, the country’s military has overly dominated the country’s domestic and foreign policy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has been reduced to an honorary position, standing behind Field Marshal Asim Munir to nod his head to the latter’s decisions. Sad, but reality.

Be that as it may. The reality is that New Delhi has made it clear that Pakistan cannot claim normalcy on one front and remain involved in anti-India subversive activities on the other. If internally Punjab can make a claim over the waters that flow through it to the lower areas of Pakistan, why can New Delhi not explore the option of putting the IWT in abeyance to build pressure on Pakistan to take concrete measures against its sponsored groups that have been active in threatening India’s security?

If the military establishment believes that India cannot do that, then it is living in a fool’s paradise. India has options to force Pakistan to revisit its policy of sponsoring anti-India terrorist groups. New Delhi still prefers diplomatic ways to send a message across the border.

The decision to put the IWT in abeyance is a step towards achieving that goal. And India is fully entitled to abrogate the treaty if Pakistan doesn’t revisit its behaviour or refuses to acknowledge India’s concerns.

If history has anything to teach us, Pakistan is known for making misguided policy decisions. Often, such short-sighted policies have backfired. Whether it’s support to the Islamist radicals like Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or the Afghan Taliban, to mention just two. Its support for the TTP has led to military confrontations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. And the situation remains tense, which potentially can deteriorate if better sense does not prevail.

Pakistan is in no position to claim having the upper hand, whether militarily, diplomatically or legally, to challenge India’s decision on the IWT. All it can do is carry out sub-conventional warfare that, in turn, can provide New Delhi with a strong casus belli((a Latin term meaning “cause for war” or “justification for war). Where will that end? Islamabad should know that better. In no way can it inflict harm on India that can be compared to the potential damage that India can unleash on Pakistan.

On the issue of IWT, Pakistan has no case, no clout. It, therefore, is wise and sensible for the country to behave as a responsible state and stop supporting anti-India terrorist groups. That would help it save a lot of money for development. The rulers of Pakistan have the responsibility to act sensibly and in the interests of the people of their country.

Disclaimer: Views expressed by writers in this section are their own and do not reflect Milli Chronicle’s point-of-view.

The Rajasthan Royals opener shared an Instagram story featuring himself batting in India’s blue jersey with the caption “New chapter.” The post quickly attracted widespread attention, with fans interpreting it as a possible indication that he may be included in India’s playing XI for the match at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Sooryavanshi earned his maiden senior national call-up after a prolific Indian Premier League campaign in 2026 but is yet to make his international debut. He was not selected for either of India’s two T20 Internationals against Ireland and also missed the opening match of the England series, which ended without a result after rain interrupted England’s chase.

According to reports, the teenager has been among the most diligent performers during India’s training sessions in England, spending extended periods in the practice nets and displaying impressive form with the bat.

Indian team officials have previously indicated that they do not intend to rush the young batter’s transition into international cricket despite his rapid rise through the domestic ranks. Nevertheless, his performances in training have continued to generate interest ahead of the second match of the series.

Sooryavanshi emerged as one of the standout performers in the 2026 IPL season while representing Rajasthan Royals. The left-handed opener scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, performances that earned him his first call-up to the senior Indian squad.

The opening T20I against England was abandoned after rain prevented a result, leaving the series evenly poised and increasing attention on India’s team selection for Saturday’s contest.

While Sooryavanshi’s Instagram post has fueled widespread discussion among supporters, neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India nor the team management has announced the playing XI or confirmed whether the teenager will make his international debut.

India’s final team selection for the second T20I is expected to determine whether one of the country’s brightest young batting prospects begins his international career in Manchester.

The notification, issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) under the Finance Ministry, establishes the framework for identifying products that qualify for duty concessions under the agreement. The rules are intended to ensure that only goods genuinely produced in India or the United Kingdom benefit from the pact’s tariff preferences.

Under the new framework, exporters seeking preferential market access must obtain a certificate of origin, a document verifying that their products satisfy the agreement’s prescribed origin requirements. The mechanism is designed to prevent goods manufactured in third countries from accessing tariff benefits through transshipment or other indirect routes.

The CBIC said authorized entities in both India and the United Kingdom would be empowered to issue certificates of origin in their respective jurisdictions.

According to the notification, formally titled the Customs Tariff (Determination of Origin of Goods under Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between India and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) Rules, 2026, the regulations will take effect on July 15, the same day the trade agreement becomes operational.

Once implemented, the agreement is expected to provide duty-free access for 99 percent of India’s exports to the United Kingdom, covering nearly the country’s entire export basket and significantly expanding market opportunities for Indian manufacturers.

Labour-intensive industries, including textiles, leather products, footwear, marine products, sports goods, toys, and gems and jewellery, are expected to be among the principal beneficiaries of the agreement. Export-oriented sectors such as engineering goods, automobile components and organic chemicals are also expected to gain from improved access to the British market.

Official trade data show that bilateral trade between India and the United Kingdom reached $25.12 billion during the 2025-26 financial year, an increase of 8.62 percent from $23.13 billion recorded a year earlier.

India exported goods worth $13.44 billion to the United Kingdom during the period, while imports totaled $11.68 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of $1.76 billion.

Rajat Mohan, Managing Partner at AMRG Global, said the notification of the Rules of Origin represented a key step toward operationalizing the agreement in a transparent and credible manner.

He said the framework would ensure that tariff concessions are available only to products meeting the prescribed origin criteria, thereby protecting the integrity of the free trade agreement by preventing misuse through third-country routing.

Mohan also advised businesses to review their supply chains, sourcing strategies, value-addition processes and documentation procedures to ensure compliance with the Rules of Origin, noting that adherence to the framework would be essential for companies seeking to benefit from the agreement’s preferential tariff provisions.

The notification completes another procedural step ahead of the implementation of the India-UK trade pact, which is expected to deepen bilateral trade and expand commercial ties between the two countries.

The new Faculty of Medicine at Sabaragamuwa University was financed by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) in partnership with the Sri Lankan government. The project represents one of the latest milestones in long-standing development cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka, with a focus on education and healthcare infrastructure.

The facility includes academic buildings, teaching laboratories, a library, a 1,000-seat auditorium, student hostels, staff accommodation and a professorial unit at the nearby Ratnapura Teaching Hospital. The Sri Lankan government complemented the Saudi-funded project by constructing administrative and paraclinical buildings along with additional supporting infrastructure.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, who also serves as minister of education, Saudi Fund for Development Deputy Chief Executive Officer Faisal Al-Kahtani and Saudi Ambassador to Sri Lanka Khalid bin Hamoud Al-Kahtani.

Nirmali Wickramaratne, dean of the Faculty of Medicine, said the partnership had created one of Sri Lanka’s most modern medical education facilities. She said the expanded campus would increase the country’s ability to educate qualified doctors, strengthen clinical training and research, and improve access to quality healthcare services in the Sabaragamuwa Province.

The new institution is expected to play an important role in addressing Sri Lanka’s shortage of healthcare workers. According to Health Ministry data, the country had about 110 medical officers and 228 nurses per 100,000 people in 2024, highlighting continuing workforce pressures across the healthcare system.

Sabaragamuwa University’s Faculty of Medicine is only the tenth medical faculty in Sri Lanka, a country of approximately 22 million people. Officials said the expansion would provide more students with opportunities to pursue medical education domestically while reducing pressure on established universities concentrated around the capital.

Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, said the project would help decentralize medical education and contribute to meeting the country’s long-term demand for qualified healthcare professionals.

The Saudi Fund for Development has financed several major infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka over recent decades. These include the Colombo Water Supply and Sewerage Project, the Kinniya Bridge linking Trincomalee and Kinniya across Koddiyar Bay, the Wayamba University township, the Neuro-Trauma Unit at Colombo National Hospital and the Epilepsy Hospital and Health Center in Colombo.

Ajwad said Saudi Arabia continued disbursing development assistance even during Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis, describing the projects as investments in education, healthcare, regional development and the country’s long-term prosperity.

Saudi Ambassador Khalid bin Hamoud Al-Kahtani said the new medical faculty represented an investment in people, knowledge and the future of Sri Lanka’s healthcare sector. He added that the project reflected the shared commitment of both countries to advancing education, improving healthcare and promoting sustainable development.

He said the new faculty would educate future generations of medical professionals while further strengthening bilateral cooperation and the longstanding relationship between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.

The inauguration marks another step in expanding educational infrastructure in Sri Lanka as authorities seek to improve healthcare capacity through increased domestic training and international development partnerships.

China’s Coast Guard said the patrol would carry out what it described as “law enforcement patrols” in waters it considers under its jurisdiction. In a statement, the agency said it would strengthen such operations to safeguard what it called China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

The move marks the second deployment in roughly a month of Chinese coast guard vessels to waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast. Unlike the near-daily military activities conducted by the People’s Liberation Army around Taiwan, Beijing has increasingly relied on coast guard vessels to reinforce its territorial claims, a strategy Taiwanese officials describe as “lawfare” aimed at creating a legal basis for Chinese actions.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council rejected Beijing’s claims, saying China has neither sovereignty nor jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan and that its coast guard has no law enforcement authority in the area. The council described the patrol as an illegal expansion of power that violates international law and undermines regional peace and stability.

Taiwan’s Coast Guard Administration said it was monitoring two Chinese coast guard vessels involved in the operation and had dispatched two Taiwanese ships to shadow them. By mid-morning, the Chinese vessels were about 54 nautical miles east of Hualien, home to one of Taiwan’s major air bases, but remained outside Taiwan’s restricted waters.

The coast guard said it would continue taking all necessary measures to monitor Chinese vessels and respond to any activities it considers harassment, while safeguarding Taiwan’s maritime security and sovereignty.

The latest operation follows a similar patrol conducted by China in June, which drew concern from the United States and several European partners, including France, Germany and Britain. Beijing said that deployment was a response to Japan and the Philippines announcing formal discussions on maritime boundaries, which China argued involved waters connected to its claims around Taiwan.

Earlier this week, Taiwan instructed commercial and civilian vessels operating off its eastern coast to refuse any boarding or inspection requests by the Chinese Coast Guard. Authorities said Taiwanese coast guard ships would intervene if necessary to prevent such actions.

The dispute reflects broader tensions across the Taiwan Strait, where China continues to increase military and coast guard activities while maintaining that Taiwan is part of its territory. Taiwan, which is democratically governed, rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and insists only its own government has the authority to exercise jurisdiction over the island and its surrounding waters.

On Thursday, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources published an English-language legal opinion criticizing maritime boundary discussions between Japan and the Philippines. The ministry argued that any negotiations involving waters claimed by Beijing should include China rather than Taiwan and called on other countries not to support the bilateral talks.

The latest coast guard deployment is likely to add to regional tensions as China continues to expand the use of civilian maritime agencies alongside military operations to advance its territorial claims in the western Pacific.

The New York City Police Department said officers responded to an emergency call at about 6:30 p.m. local time and found a man with severe burns near the UN complex. He was transported to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities did not publicly identify the victim or disclose a possible motive for the incident.

Voice of Tibet, a media outlet run by exiled Tibetans, identified the deceased as Tibetan activist Lobga Rangzen. The outlet said he “self-immolated outside the UN headquarters in New York after a live appeal for Tibetan independence and unity.”

Local news website amNewYork reported that Rangzen worked as an Uber driver and had traveled to the site carrying a Tibetan flag. The publication quoted fellow Uber driver Lobsang Paljor, who said he knew Rangzen through New York’s Tibetan community.

According to amNewYork, Paljor said Rangzen had become increasingly angered by restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on Tibetans.

The incident occurred as international attention has focused on China’s new ethnic unity law, which took effect this week. The legislation provides a legal framework aimed at promoting what Beijing describes as a shared national identity among the country’s 55 officially recognized ethnic minority groups, including Tibetans and Uyghurs.

The United States and the European Union have expressed concern over the new law, while Tibetan organizations abroad have criticized it, arguing that it further restricts the rights and cultural identity of ethnic minorities.

Acts of self-immolation have long been used by some Tibetans as a form of political protest against Chinese policies in Tibet and neighboring regions with significant Tibetan populations.

China assumed control of Tibet in 1950 in what it describes as a peaceful liberation from a feudal system. Human rights organizations and Tibetan exile groups have consistently criticized Beijing’s governance of the region, alleging widespread political and cultural repression. China rejects those allegations and maintains that its policies have improved economic development and living standards in Tibet.

Ethnic minority issues remain among the most politically sensitive subjects in China. Authorities have maintained extensive security and surveillance measures in Tibetan areas, particularly since President Xi Jinping took office in 2012, saying such policies are necessary to combat separatism and safeguard national unity.

Tencho Gyatso, president of the International Campaign for Tibet, described Rangzen as “a tireless advocate for Tibet” and said she was deeply saddened by his death.

According to the International Campaign for Tibet, more than 150 Tibetans self-immolated between 2009 and 2022. The organization said 10 of those incidents occurred among Tibetans living in exile.