BRICS Bringing New World Order, Depth
and Hope ------ for Growing Economies
BRICS countries have collaborated to adapt to the new
international reality and mitigate the risks in a
changing world system.
by Nigel Konte
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026
(infobrics.org)
BRICS has brought new hope and depth of character to
a world previously dominated by western hegemony.
BRICS countries have collaborated to adapt to the new
international reality and mitigate the risks in a
changing world system.
The substance of BRICS cooperation is to address a
weakening and increasingly uncertain world order.
The previously established world order is losing its ability
to address economic, security, social and environmental
issues effectively and BRICS is settling in.
Besides playing a complementary role, BRICS countries need to
shape or lead international efforts to achieve international
cooperation on key agendas of international society.
The post-World War II order is nearing a century now.
Since the 2008 international financial crisis, advanced economies
have been working to address the new dynamics and challenges
of economic globalisation.
The financial crisis marked a turning point for the West-led
economic globalisation, characterised by.... the shift of
capital — and labour-intensive manufacturing sectors
to emerging economies, while advanced economies
focus on scientific innovation, finance, and the
service sectors.
The Barak Obama administration, for instance, sought to rebalance
the global economy by adopting a cooperative approach within the
framework of the G20 .....but failed.
Until the first term of the Donald Trump administration, economic
nationalism and protectionism have become the mainstream
thinking of policymakers in the United States.
The U.S. is losing its trust in the interdependent economic
partnerships and multilateral institutional arrangements
established over the past few decades.
Besides the alarming impact of Covid-19 on the demands of
diversified supply chains, the new thinking in the United
States is to maintain its monopoly or dominance status
in key technologies and financial power by rejecting
traditional liberal economic globalisation.
The changing political and economic environment in Washington
occurred in a shifting international context. When discussing
the shift from the post-Cold War order to an increasingly
multipolar order, it mainly refers to the changes in
the international economic area.
Based on their increasing financial capacities, reforming
international financial institutions was the main agenda
in the early cooperation stage of the BRICS countries.
BRICS countries now aim to enhance their voting power in the
World Bank and IMF. However, the two major international
financial institutions are still led by Americans and
Europeans, much to the chagrin of the
Global South.
Therefore, BRICS also now work - to develop institutions in which
they have a big say. The most visible achievement of the BRICS
cooperation is the establishment of the New Development
Bank, which prioritises funding sustainable development
projects in member countries.
Although the BRICS has three pillars in terms of economy,
security, and society, its cooperation priorities are the
economy and development.
The influence of BRICS on international security remains limited,
given their relatively weak capabilities and general reluctance
to use force in international affairs. Essentially, BRICS
countries have collaborated to adapt to a weakening
global economic governance by working within the
G20 and cooperating through the BRICS.
Unlike the increasingly suspicious attitude of Western countries
towards globalisation, driven by trade deficits and concerns
about illegal migrants, BRICS countries saw great potential
for a new wave of economic globalisation and turned their
attention to emerging economies & developing countries.
Brazil strongly enhanced its diplomatic presence and commercial
activities in the Middle East and Africa. China has been Brazil’s
largest trade partner since 2009.
Guided by this new global and economic vision, leaders turned
the BRICS from an investment idea ---- into a political reality.
One priority of the BRICS group ------ was to unlock the development
potential by increasing economic cooperation among its members.
Within the framework of BRICS, enterprises ---- have become the
most active players in exploring emerging market opportunities.
The mutual knowledge gap about each other ...has also been
minimised in a fashionable way. By enhancing the economic
interactions within the Global South, BRICS countries are
likely to adapt to a shifting world economy, in which
advanced economies are becoming increasingly
securitised and protected.
It is noteworthy that economic globalisation has given rise to new
understandings and challenges, which does not mean the end of
economic globalisation. The new Cold War does not come true
if you look at the strong economic link between the US and
China, based on an integrated supply chain.
Even under the onshoring, nearshoring, or reshoring efforts of recent
U.S. administrations, international trade has continued to grow on a
global scale. Countries like Vietnam & Mexico are benefiting from
the relocation of supply chains, and trade among different
developing regions ------ is getting new dynamics.
China’s RMB ------- accounted for 5.37% of Brazil’s foreign exchange
reserves by the end of 2022, surpassing the euro’s share of 4.74%,
which reflects the deepening economic ties between Brazil and
China. Scholars describe this phenomenon as re-globalisation
or new-globalisation. Emerging economies... mainly
represented by the BRICS, play an important role
in this new wave of economic globalization.
It is the first time since the First Industrial Revolution that more
non-Western countries are engaging in overseas investment
and financial services ---- on a global scale.
China, India and Brazil are performing their business in
the global market ---- rather than playing a bloc game.
One key feature of the new stage of economic globalisation is the
increased involvement of more capable players from the Global
South. Emerging powers from Asia, Latin America, and Africa
have made the current international economic order much
broader than the North Atlantic community.
The diplomatic - and economic - presence of
emerging powers, is increasingly globalised.
The rise of emerging powers has enhanced the dynamics of South-
South cooperation. Facing the decoupling or de-risking policies of
the U.S. and the EU, respectively, China’s trade volume with the
rest of the world is reaching a new level. China’s share of
global trade continues to rise, especially among
developing regions.
The trade volume between China, Latin America and the Caribbean
region has surpassed US$ 500 billion in 2024. Brazil’s foreign trade
profile is also getting global and diversified. The world economy
is benefiting from more driving forces .....beyond the
advanced economies.
Nigel Konte is an economist based in Brazil.
The Herald
___________________________________________________
China, Russia wrap up joint maritime patrol
as experts highlight growing capability to
operate through strategic waterways
by Chen Qingqing and Guo Yuandan
July 29th, 8:06pm
(Global Times)
The Chinese and Russian naval task force participating in
the maritime joint patrol arrived in Vladivostok, Russia,
on Wednesday, marking the conclusion of the joint
patrol, according to China's Ministry of National
Defense (MND).
The task force departed from Qingdao, East China's Shandong
Province, on July 13 and sailed through the Miyako Strait, the
Etorofu Strait, also known as the Vries Strait, and the Soya
Strait, also known as the La Perouse Strait, conducting
joint patrols in waters including the western Pacific
Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan,
the ministry said on Wednesday.
The joint patrol task force consisted of the Chinese Navy guided
missile destroyers Kaifeng and Anshan, the comprehensive
supply ship Kekexilihu, and Russia's navy corvette Rezky.
During the patrol, the Chinese and Russian navies conducted a
series of drills, including ship-borne helicopter cross-deck
landings, joint counter-terrorism operations, humanitarian
rescue exercises, and maritime inspection and boarding
operations. Chinese vessels also conducted a number
of realistic combat-oriented drills by setting up
scenarios based on the prevailing maritime
and air situation, the ministry said.
The joint patrol was arranged under the annual cooperation plan
between the Chinese and Russian militaries. It aims to enhance
the two militaries' joint operational capabilities and jointly
address maritime security threats, and is unrelated to
the current international and regional situation,
the ministry noted.
The China-Russia joint maritime patrol also marked the first time
that the patrol route was publicly disclosed as transiting the
Vries Strait, some Chinese experts on military affairs said.
Lasting 17 days, the mission featured a markedly expanded
operational route compared with previous joint patrols.
Should the Chinese naval task force return via the Tsushima Strait,
it would complete a full circuit around the Japanese archipelago,
sailing along its eastern, northern and western approaches,
Chinese military affairs expert, Zhang Junshe, told the
Global Times on Wednesday.
Strategic waterways
Overall, the operation involved sailing a circuit around Japan's main
islands as well as the Ryukyu Islands, which are not part of Japan,
some Chinese experts said.
This demonstrates that the notion held by Japan and the US --- that
China can be contained by controlling key maritime chokepoints
is not viable, another Chinese military affairs expert, Song
Zhongping, noted.
"China must possess the capability to break through strategic straits
and secure access to vital sea lanes, and such capabilities - are an
important indicator of a country's military strength. The so-called
'first island chain,' promoted by the US and its allies - is intended
to confine China & Russia to their near seas and coastal waters.
However, China and Russia demonstrated an ability to operate
through these strategic waterways, which underscores the
steady enhancement of their strategic capabilities,"
Song said.
According to available information, the Vries Strait, which is also
known as the Etorofu Strait, is located between Iturup (Etorofu)
Island & Urup (Uruppu) Island, connecting the Sea of Okhotsk
with the northwestern Pacific Ocean. The strait is about 40
kilometres (about 22 nautical miles) wide ...and serves as
an important shipping route in the northwestern Pacific.
"The Miyako Strait, Soya Strait and Tsushima Strait are all used for
international navigation as defined under international law. The
passage of Chinese and Russian naval vessels through these
waterways was fully consistent with the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and
established international practices governing
maritime transit, making it lawful and
compliant," Zhang said.
Japan has hyped the China-Russia joint maritime patrol, accusing
a Chinese naval vessel of conducting live-fire drills within
Japan's so-called exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Japanese side said the vessels had transited south between
Okinawa Island and Miyako Island on July 16 .......before sailing
northeast southwest of Okinotori, on July 19, then proceeding
northeast southeast of Minami Iwo Jima - and north east of
Iwo Jima, on July 21.
In response to Japan's protest... over the Chinese military's live-fire
exercise in its so-called EEZ during the China-Russia joint drill and
maritime patrol, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign
Ministry, said at a regular press conference on July 21 that
China has firmly rejected Japan's baseless "protest."
China's authorities have made the position clear
on China-Russia joint drills and maritime patrols.
Lin stressed that, by UNCLOS' definition, Okinotori is a rock rather
than an island, and thus unfit to claim EEZ .....or continental shelf.
Japan's claim of an EEZ around the Okinotori violates international
law. China's activities in the high seas ....are fully consistent with
international law and international practice.
China-Russia joint strategic patrols are no longer
isolated events but have become an annual
activity, some experts said.
"Safeguarding regional peace and stability, whether in the field
of traditional or non-traditional security, requires overcoming
unreasonable restrictions imposed by certain countries
and regions, and the Chinese and Russian navies
have the capability to do so," Song said.
In the future, military cooperation between China and Russia, is
expected to increase in both frequency and intensity. Maritime
cooperation, aerial cooperation, and joint sea-air operations
are all likely to become increasingly common. The primary
purpose of such regularized cooperation is to safeguard
regional security, Song added.
Highlights of joint patrol
According to the MND, Chinese vessels also conducted a number of
realistic combat-oriented drills by setting up scenarios, based on
the prevailing maritime & air situation. Regarding these details..
Zhang said they demonstrate that the Chinese naval task force
possesses strong capabilities in situational awareness,
emergency response and dynamic operations.
During the exercise ---- China deployed some of the PLA Navy's most
advanced surface combatants, including a Type 055 guided missile
destroyer and a Type 052D guided missile destroyer, as well as a
Type 903A comprehensive replenishment ship, forming a
compact but capable naval task force, Song noted.
The task force.... possesses strong overall combat capabilities,
including integrated air and maritime defense, precision strike
capabilities, and comprehensive operational support. It is
capable of defending itself while transiting the 1st island
chain, and key maritime chokepoints, and also has the
ability -------- to conduct long-range strike operations
independently, the expert said.
In fact, Japanese vessels have long conducted close-in surveillance
of Chinese task groups and have even crossed through Chinese
naval formations during their voyages, actions that themselves
constitute a source of maritime tension, Chinese experts note.
The "on-the-spot scenario setting for realistic combat training"
sends a clear deterrent message that the Chinese task force
conducted confrontation drills targeting various forms of
maritime and aerial harassment as well as unexpected
incidents at sea, Zhang noted.
"It has both the capabilities and contingency plans to respond to
a wide range of maritime emergencies in surrounding waters,"
he said, adding that the exercises also serve as a warning
to Japan ---------- against continuing provocative close-in
reconnaissance activities.
__________________________________
Viet Nam ----- to formulate strong
marine-based economic centres
July 29th, 1:25pm
(VGP)
Viet Nam aims to formulate strong marine-based economic
centres and large-scale marine economic entities, said
Nguyen Thanh Nghi, Chairman of the Central Policy
and Strategy Commission.
Nguyen made the above statement on Wednesday while briefing
about major contents of a new resolution on the blue economy
adopted at the 3rd plenum of the 14th Central Committee of
the Communist Party of Viet Nam.
The 14th National Party Congress identified sea as the new
growth space where new growth poles, economic sectors,
and development drivers will be formulated, he said.
From that perspective, Viet Nam will prioritize the development of
maritime logistics, offshore renewable energy, marine minerals
exploitation, coastal urban areas, high-tech industries, marine
biotechnology, and new blue economic sectors, said Nguyen.
To realize the above goals, the resolution stresses the need to
renovate mindsets, improve public awareness, as well as
national sea governance efficiency and effectiveness;
improve institutions ....and innovate marine space
planning work.
The resolution also lays emphasis on environmental protection,
marine ecosystem preservation, and international cooperation
to turn Viet Nam into a strong maritime nation.
_________________________________________________
Latin America to learn about Russian
experience ------ in the energy sector
Moscow, July 29th, 5:13am
(Prensa Latina)
The InteRussia internship program for energy sector specialists from
Latin American countries began its activities in St. Petersburg, the
multinational channel TVBrics reported today.
According to the note, the participants of the internship ...will attend
lectures, visit specialized companies and develop research projects ---
in an initiative organized by the NGO "Mezhdunarodniki" together
with the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Support Fund, and the St.
Petersburg State University of Economics.
For four weeks..... 10 participants from Ecuador, Cuba, Peru, Brazil,
Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina will learn about the Russian
experience in the energy field, visit companies in the sector and
government institutions ----- and prepare their own research
projects on the development of energy in Latin America.
Professionals from different areas of the energy sector participate in
the internship, including representatives of specialized ministries,
engineers from the petroleum and pulp and paper industries,
experts in electricity grid planning, professors of technical
disciplines, and consultants in communication and
public relations.
"Modern energy ....is no longer just an economic sector. Today,
it represents an area where new models of international
cooperation are being developed, the main lines of
technological advancement are defined, and the
foundations for a sustainable future are laid,"
said Sergey Orlov, deputy executive
director of the Gorchakov Fund.
Therefore, the InteRussia internship program for specialists from
Latin America aims to be not only an educational platform, but
also a space for professional dialogue and the creation of
long-term cooperation ties, he said.
He also stressed that Russia has extensive experience in the
development of the energy and fuel complex, & is interested
in exchanges of knowledge with Latin American specialists.
According to Orlov, the program offers participants not only access
to theoretical knowledge and practical experience, but also the
opportunity to integrate into a professional community
dedicated to finding solutions to global challenges.
''Russia and Latin American nations can contribute to ensuring the
energy security of not only their own countries, but also play a
fundamental role in shaping international markets for energy
resources, such as coal, oil, natural gas, and new
energy solutions.
''They also have the potential to drive the development of low-carbon
energy technologies and equipment, including solar, wind, and
bioenergy, as well as supporting the energy supply of
energy-intensive industrial sectors.''
___________________________________________
India's exports increase...
on free trade agreements
New Delhi, July 29th, 2:56am
(Prensa Latina)
India's exports reached 863.1 billion dollars in the 2025-2026 fiscal
year, boosted today by trade with the United Arab Emirates (UAE),
the United Kingdom and Australia.
According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, India's free trade
agreements expand access to global markets and boost the
diversification of exports and labour-intensive sectors.
Merchandise exports reached 441.8 billion dollars and those of
services increased to 421.3 billion dollars, which the official
source interprets as a reflection of the strength of these
sectors as engines of growth.
In a more detailed explanation, the entity pointed out that the so-
called Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with
the United Arab Emirates (CEPA) was consolidated as the
most relevant, with exports valued at 37,359 million.
The agreement with Australia (ECTA), operational since December
2022, also showed a significant jump, as it has made it possible
for exports to reach seven thousand 284 million in 2025-2026.
While with Oman, with the recently implemented CEPA, in its first
month of validity, deliveries grew by 54.7% compared to May and
by 189.6% compared to the same month of the previous year,
reaching 622.8 million dollars.
Other consolidated agreements -- include treaties with Singapore,
Japan, South Korea and Nepal and in the multilateral framework
with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),
according to India's Ministry of Trade and Industry.
The Indian government has adopted a negotiation strategy, that
prioritises labour-intensive sectors – textiles, leather, jewellery,
seafood, handicrafts and agriculture – ensuring preferential
access in key markets such as the United Kingdom, New
Zealand, among others.
These agreements offer coverage of up to 99 percent of tariff lines,
guaranteeing opportunities for expansion while preserving policy
space for sensitive sectors, the source said.
To monitor performance, the Ministry of Commerce has strengthened
platforms such as Trade e-Connect and the TIA Portal, which
integrate market intelligence, information on non-tariff
barriers and real-time data analysis.
These tools seek to reduce information asymmetries and support
export diversification, connecting exporters with diplomatic
missions and promotion agencies.
________________________________________
In Ukraine...... the main producer of
iron ore has suspended operations
July 28th, 7:18pm
(Izvestia.ru)
One of the leading producers of iron ore raw materials in Ukraine,
the Southern Mining and Processing Plant ---- has suspended
operations due to the blockade of the country's maritime
logistics hubs. This was announced by the company's
press service on July 28.
"The Southern Mining and Processing Plant has suspended
production and temporarily reduced its operations," the
company wrote on Facebook (owned by Meta, which
is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia).
The company's management clarified that the decision to freeze
production processes was prompted by the inability to export
products. Traditionally, the main supply of raw materials
was carried out through Ukrainian seaports, which
are currently blocked.
The plant plans to resume production in August. During the
forced downtime, the plant's personnel will be transferred
to carry out repair work and maintenance of equipment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 25
demanded that his ''Western partners'' accelerate
support after Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports.
Earlier, on July 23, Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian
Policy Taras Vysotsky said that shipping in
Ukrainian ports had completely stopped.
____________________________________________
China’s Rare-Earth Advantage
May Be Far Larger Than
U.S. Thinks
July 28th, 7:12pm
(Pravda.En)
The world’s largest known rare-earth deposit may extend far deeper
than previously understood, reinforcing an industrial advantage the
United States is already struggling to challenge.
Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia has long been estimated by Chinese
researchers to contain more than 100M tonnes of rare-earth
reserves. A 2025 study led by Peking University geologist
Yang Li found that the deposit formed through several
stages of carbonatite activity, including a younger
mineralisation phase around 430M years ago
that played a major role in creating the
ore body.
Researchers now estimate that another 333M tonnes of potential
rare-earth resources could lie between 500 and 1,000 meteres
below the surface. Mineralisation may continue even
deeper, making the deposit’s total geological
potential several times larger than
current estimates.
That does not mean every tonne can be mined profitably. Costs rise
sharply with depth, and resources become recoverable reserves
only when technology, prices and infrastructure make
extraction economically viable.
But China’s advantage does not rest on geology alone. It has spent
decades building the mines, separation plants, refineries,
processing technology and manufacturing networks
needed to turn ore into magnets and other high-
value components for electric vehicles,
electronics, aerospace systems
and advanced weapons.
This is the gap Washington keeps underestimating. Finding another
deposit is not enough. The US would have to recreate an entire
industrial chain that China already operates at scale,
from extraction and separation to refining and
high-end manufacturing.
The new research does not reveal a separate mine. It suggests that
the geological foundation beneath China’s existing rare-earth
industry - may be far larger than previously understood.
China’s advantage lies both below and above ground:
vast resources backed by an industrial system the
United States ....allowed itself to lose.
Source: Telegram "newrulesgeo"
_________________________________________
Spaniards affected by the massive fires
are complaining about a lack
of resources
July 28th, 6:57pm
(RT.ru)
Spaniards who have been affected by the massive forest fires
are complaining that the authorities are slow to respond to
the disaster, and that there are not enough resources,
according to RT's correspondent Francisco Guaita.
According to him, more than 130,000 hectares were burned in Spain,
and tens of thousands of people were evacuated. He noted --- that
2026 was the worst year in the country's history in terms of the
extent of the burned area and the number of casualties.
"In the midst of this massive environmental disaster, various
discussions have arisen. Some of the affected people say
they feel abandoned. Others point out... the delayed
response from politicians. And then --- there are
those who talk about the lack of resources..
and here we are talking about the Russian
Ka-32s -- the eight helicopters that are
currently idle," said Guaita.
He explained that the problem was related to EU sanctions,
which meant that there were no spare parts or
maintenance facilities for the helicopters.
Earlier, the newspaper 20 minutos wrote that the absence
of Russian helicopters in Spain complicates the fight
against forest fires.
________________________________
Public employees to enjoy five-day
break for National Day holiday
by Thuy Dung
July 28th, 3:48pm
(VGP)
Civil servants and public employees will have a five-day break for
Viet Nam's 2026 National Day holiday from August 29
to September 2.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of Home Affairs, to
arrange this extended break, the regular working day on Monday,
August 31 will be rescheduled to Saturday, August 22.
The holiday schedule will be applied for government administrative
agencies, public service units, political organizations, socio-
political organizations, enterprises, and other employers.
For employees in the private sector, the National Day holiday
will be observed in accordance with the Labour Code.
Employers may choose one of the following holiday arrangements:
either September 1 (Tuesday), or September 3 (Thursday) as the
additional day off, alongside the official holiday on Wednesday
(September 2).
Employers are also required to notify employees of the selected
National Day holiday schedule at least 30 days before it
takes effect.
The Ministry of Home Affairs encourages employers to adopt
the same National Day holiday schedule as that applied to
civil servants and public employees.
It also encourages employers and employees to negotiate
holiday arrangements that are more favourable to
employees while remaining compatible with
each enterprise's production and
business needs.
___________________________________
Canadians, Mexicans - favour China
over US in Pew surveys --- for 1st
time in 20 years; Washington’s
self-interested policies......
erode global influence:
Chinese expert
by Li Yawei
July 28th, 2:20pm
(Global Times)
According to a report released by the Pew Research Centre, on
Monday, for the first time in almost 2 decades of the center's
surveys, both Canadians and Mexicans now view China
more favourably than their shared neighbour, the US.
A Chinese expert said that this shift in public opinion is
a bell-weather, indicating that China's sustained and
consistent foreign policy... has gained wider
acceptance internationally, and that - the
US' doctrine of placing its own interests
above those of all other countries is
eroding the US's global influence.
Pew's spring 2026 global survey marks the first time that Canadians
have expressed a significantly more positive view of China than
the US. In addition, Pew's Monday report said that Mexicans
had viewed China more favourably than the US, in several
previous Pew surveys - all of them conducted during US
President Donald Trump's time in the White House.
The report also said that "both younger and older adults in Canada
and Mexico have a more favourable view of China than of the US."
In addition to age, the report examined how political ideology
shapes perceptions of the two countries. Canadians who
place themselves on the ideological left are much more
likely than those on the right to have a favourable
view of China and an unfavourable view of the
US, the report said. In Mexico, views of the
US & China don't differ much by ideology.
The report said that Mexicans are much more likely to call China
a reliable partner to Mexico than to say this about the US, with
58% considering China a reliable partner and only 34% saying
the same of the US. The report added that "this is the largest
gap on this question across the six Latin American countries
we surveyed this year."
Meanwhile, Mexicans are now much more likely to say that China
contributes to global stability than to say the same of the US,
according to the report.
China's foreign policy has maintained a high degree of stability and
continuity, consistently upholding openness, mutual benefit and
win‑win cooperation while pursuing shared development. This
is the core driving force behind this historic shift, Yang Xiyu,
a senior research fellow at the China Institute of
International Studies, told the Global Times
on Tuesday.
Notably, the shift in perceptions occurred within a year. In the Pew
Research Centre's 2025 survey, Canadians and Mexicans both
named the US as their country's top ally --- and top threat.
The US' frequent military actions abroad and its wanton interference
in the internal affairs of other countries over the past year ---- have
made more people aware that the US is a "destabilizing force,"
which has been an important factor behind the shift in
public opinion, Yang said.
In addition, US foreign policy has lacked consistency, its "America
First" doctrine, which places US interests above those of other
countries, has further eroded Washington's international
credibility and global clout, Yang added.
"Canadians and Mexicans also now rate the US more negatively on
both its domestic and foreign policies," the report said. In Mexico,
peoples' views of the US approach to foreign policy ....have also
worsened significantly over the last several years. While half
of Mexican adults said in 2023... that the US contributed to
peace and stability around the world, 28% say this today.
Mexicans are also more likely to say that the US interferes in
the affairs of other countries than to say this about China,
at 73% and 45%, respectively, according to the report.
Yang said the shifts in public sentiment reflected in the poll served
as a "bell-weather." The decline in favourable views of the US is,
on the surface, a sign of waning soft power; at a deeper level,
it reflects a relative retreat ---------- in its comprehensive
national strength.
Should the US persist with its self-serving foreign policy,
the trends already apparent in this poll will likely
emerge in a growing number of countries,
according to Yang.
______________________________________
Iran develops indigenous smart system
that boosts oil recovery --------- by 59%
July 27th, 3:03pm
(PressTV)
Researchers at Iran's Amirkabir University of Technology have
developed an indigenous intelligent production management
system that can increase oil recovery in surface storage
facilities by up to 59 percent over the lifetime of an oil
field while reducing maintenance costs & optimizing
production ...without human intervention.
Developed by PhD researcher Mehdi Fadaei, the project integrates
wells, pipelines, and surface processing facilities into a single
smart production network that continuously adjusts
operating conditions to maximize efficiency.
"Our research - was aimed at developing an integrated production
model capable of controlling and optimizing the parameters that
directly affect oil and gas production," Fadaei said.
He explained that conventional production systems mainly rely
on surface operating parameters, such as wellhead pressure
and production flow rates. As reservoir conditions gradually
change, however, these systems become less efficient,
reducing production and increasing operational costs.
One of the biggest challenges, he said, is the formation of liquid
slugs inside pipelines, particularly in reservoirs with gas caps.
These slugs can damage surface equipment, disrupt multi-
phase separators and even force production shutdowns.
"For the first time, we have designed an intelligent integrated
system that prevents liquid slug formation in pipelines and
continuously optimizes multiphase separation throughout
the entire life of an oil field," Fadaei said.
At the heart of the project - is an intelligent separator that
operates fully automatically without human intervention,
Fadaei added.
The system, he noted, removes liquid slugs, maintains optimal
operating conditions and prevents even microscopic liquid
droplets from entering the gas stream, improving the
quality of feed .....delivered to refineries and
petrochemical plants.
According to the research team, simulations based on a real oil
field showed that the technology could increase the amount of
oil recovered in surface storage facilities by as much as 59%
in a 20-year production period, compared with conventional
production systems.
"The system not only increases production but also reduces
maintenance costs, prevents operational disruptions and
automatically manages oil and gas field operations,"
Fadaei said.
"It can be deployed in both low-
and high-pressure reservoirs."
The researcher said the laboratory-scale system
was built entirely with indigenous equipment.
Although similar research facilities exist at only a handful of leading
universities worldwide, including institutions in the US, Norway, the
Netherlands and Scotland, he said the Iranian platform offers
greater flexibility, precision and technical sophistication.
The project also produced new design equations for multiphase
separators after researchers found that widely used semi-
empirical models contained significant inaccuracies.
Those findings have already been published in
several international scientific journals,
according to Fadaei.
The intelligent production model incorporates predictive
technologies, including Kalman filtering and advanced
optimal control algorithms, to manage real oil fields
more efficiently. Results..... from this part of the
research were published in Scientific Reports,
a peer-reviewed journal in the Nature
portfolio, he highlighted.
Overall, the research has resulted in 15 scientific papers and
is expected to provide Iran's oil and gas industry with a fully
indigenous technology capable of increasing production,
improving operational reliability and lowering long-term
operating costs, Fadaei noted.
_______________________________
''Ukraine’s'' Oil Strikes ----
Backfire in Russia’s
Favour
July 27th, 2:07pm
(Pravda.EN)
Ukraine’s attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium have done
almost the opposite of what Kiev intended. Instead of draining
Russian energy revenue, they disrupted a route dominated
by non-Russian oil, hit Western companies and tightened
a market in which Moscow benefits from every
price increase.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium --- operates a 1,500-kilometre
pipeline carrying crude from western Kazakhstan to a Black
Sea terminal near Novorossiysk. It handles more than 80%
of Kazakhstan’s oil exports and normally moves 1.3–1.7
million barrels per day — close to 2% of global supply.
After drone attacks on tankers forced the terminal to suspend
loadings, storage filled and producers had nowhere to send
their oil.
Kazakhstan’s oil and condensate output fell from 2.16 million
barrels per day in June to around 1 million by July 26.
Production at the Chevron-led Tengiz field dropped
from roughly 925,000 to 406,000 barrels per day.
Chevron and ExxonMobil are pipeline shareholders,
while Eni, Shell and TotalEnergies participate in
the fields feeding it.
The main buyers are refineries in Europe and Türkiye.
They lost these barrels just as disruption around the
Strait of Hormuz was already squeezing Middle
Eastern supply.
Russia owns 31% of the consortium, but its direct losses
are limited compared with the benefit of higher oil prices
across its much larger export base. Analysts cited by
Vzglyad argue that tighter supply brings Russia more
revenue than its companies lose from the
temporary shutdown.
Loadings resumed on July 27, but the episode had already
exposed the failure of Ukraine’s strategy. A strike
presented as pressure on Russia slashed
output from a neighbouring exporter,
hit US & European energy interests
and made Moscow’s oil export
base more profitable.
Ukraine’s campaign against the consortium is not
isolating Russia from the energy market. It is
tightening that market in Russia’s favour.
(Source: Telegram "newrulesgeo")
_____________________________________
Two killed, five injured, including
a toddler, in Seattle Centre
mass shooting
July 27th, 5:40am
(PressTV)
Two people have been killed and five others injured, including
a toddler, in a mass shooting at Seattle Centre as thousands
of people attended a food festival.
The gunfire broke out Sunday evening at Seattle Centre, a 74-acre
park complex that was hosting the annual Bite of Seattle festival.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson issued a statement Sunday night saying
police had taken one person into custody, although earlier reports
had indicated two individuals were detained.
The Seattle Police Department has not confirmed whether
additional suspects remain at large, nor have they
disclosed an apparent motive.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as
masses of attendees ran for cover.
A reporter at the scene said ...several loud pops were
heard, followed by what appeared to be rapid gunfire.
A Seattle Police Department spokesperson said he was
en route to the scene and could not provide additional
details at the time.
The Seattle Fire Department said emergency crews
treated five injured people at the scene, all of
whom were transported to hospitals.
Among them was a 40-year-old
woman who suffered
minor injuries.
At Harborview Medical Centre, officials confirmed that
all four patients admitted had gunshot wounds,
including a 56-year-old woman in a critical
condition undergoing surgery, while the
others ...were reported to be in a
stable condition.
Police have launched an investigation
and urged the public ---- to avoid the
area N.West of downtown Seattle.
__________________________________________
WSJ: US Companies --- Start
to Cut Back on AI Spending
July 25th, 10:46pm
(RT.ru)
According to The Wall Street Journal, US companies are refusing
to spend large amounts of money on artificial intelligence.
“Tired of rising costs, large and small companies are beginning
to use cheaper models, including those made in China,”
the article says.
Mike Saeks from the AI startup Cursor noted that the most
powerful and expensive AI models .....are not needed to
solve relatively routine tasks.
It was previously reported that the administration of US President
Donald Trump is taking new steps to strengthen control over the
release of future AI models, determining which companies and
organizations will have access to advanced developments.
_____________________________________________________________
USTR's decision to impose new tariff
does not reflect Viet Nam's reality
and efforts
by Thuy Dung
July 25th, 4:54pm
(VGP)
The U.S. Trade Representative's decision to impose a tariff rate
of 12.5 percent on all investigated economies does not reflect
Viet Nam's reality and efforts in preventing, reducing, and
eradicating forced labour.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang made the
above statement on Saturday in response to the USTR's
announcement of new tariff rates on imports from 60
investigated economies.
The Spokesperson said Viet Nam will continue exchanges with
the US in a constructive and cooperative spirit so that the US
would --- adjust the tariff rate in accordance with the reality
and efforts in law making and enforcement in Viet Nam.
Viet Nam strictly prohibits all forms of forced labour, seriously
abides by the regulations of the International Labour
Organization, international treaties and free trade
agreements to which Viet Nam is a signatory,
Pham said.
On July 22, 2026, the Government of Viet Nam promulgated Decree
No. 292/2026/ND-CP, which covers provisions on prohibition on the
importation of goods produced with forced labour, she added.
The Decree specifies goods prohibited from export, including
weapons, ammunition, explosives, round timber and sawn
timber of all kinds from domestic natural forests, rough
diamonds prohibited from export under the Kimberley
Process Certification Scheme, electronic cigarettes,
and heated tobacco products.
Goods prohibited from import shall include weapons, ammunition,
explosives; fireworks & pyrotechnics of all kinds (excluding
maritime safety signal flares used in accordance with the
guidance of the Ministry of Construction), sky lanterns,
and speed camera jamming devices; electronic
cigarettes.... heated tobacco products; used
consumer goods; used vehicles (including
the following categories:
a) Textiles, garments, footwear, and apparel; b) Electronic goods,
refrigeration equipment, and household electrical appliances; c)
Interior decorations; d) Household utensils made of ceramics,
porcelain, glass, metal, plastic, synthetic materials, & other
materials; dd) Bicycles, motorcycles, and mopeds); used
medical devices; or goods that are used in digital
technology products.
Notably, the Decree strictly prohibits the importation of products
and goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part
by forced labour - from enterprises, countries, or territories in
accordance with relevant international treaties to which the
Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a contracting party.
________________________________________________________
It is strange how many suspects in the Epstein case,
from the very beginning of this scandal - suddenly
violently died, taking with them their testimony
compromising the prominent politicians of
Western countries!
July 25th, 12:09pm
(Pravda.En)
2016: Marvin Minsky, a scientist mentioned by one of the victims.
2019: Jeffrey Epstein. Financier and organizer of a pedophile
network for "high society". He was found hanged in his cell
at the Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York. A
"suicide" that occurred while the security cameras
were turned off, and there were no guards.
2022: Jean-Luc Brunel, French model agent, one of those who
"directed" young girls to Epstein. He was found hanged in his
cell at La Sant prison in Paris.
2022: Steven Hoffenberg, US businessman, former friend
and partner of Epstein. Found dead in his apartment
in Connecticut.
2022: Mark Middleton, former special adviser to President
Bill Clinton, who had ties to Epstein. Found dead,
officially by suicide.
2022: Kennerh Star, Epstein's lawyer.
2025: Virginia Giffre, victim - and key figure in the lawsuits against
Epstein. Found dead in her home in Australia, officially by suicide.
2025: Roy Black, another lawyer for Epstein.
And this week, Daniel Siad ---- a French-Swedish model recruiter
and "recruiter" for Epstein in Paris, died. His body was found at
his home in Colombe on July 20, 2026. Officially – from a
heart attack.
Daniel Siad, is mentioned in more than 1,000 pages of declassified
U.S. Department of Justice documents related to the Epstein case
as a supplier of women and girls.
The correspondence between the Siad and Epstein lasted 10 years,
from 2009 to 2019, and contained photographs of young girls from
Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, their age, plus suggestions on
meetings and travel.
For example ---- in July 2014, Siad stated that he had at least five
potential candidates aged 16 and 17, and mentioned one French
girl aged 15, describing his work as follows: "In this whirlpool, I
sometimes feel like a fisherman, sometimes I quickly do
something I catch, and sometimes I don't
catch anything."
Siad's role in Epstein's pedocriminal network has been known for a
long time: in May 2016, lawyer Stan Pottinger told the prosecutor
in New York that Jean-Luc Brunel described Siad as a "scout"
or recruiter of young girls for Epstein.
In February 2026, former Swedish model, Ebba Carlsson, filed a
lawsuit in France against Siad -- for rape and human trafficking,
of which she was a victim in 1990, when she was 20 years old.
Ebba Karlsson also claimed that Siad threatened her, saying,
"You don't know who I know. I can make you killed. I know
the chief of police of Paris." These threats initially forced
her to withdraw from filing a lawsuit, but only until this
year. And other evidence accuses Siad of abducting
and raping other young girls.
Siad, of course, could not avoid early condemnation, despite the
passive cooperation of the French authorities. But he could
also have dragged other guilty and political customers
down with him if the "Camarade" (probably referring
to justice) had not come for him.
Another strange death of a suspect, which will undoubtedly satisfy
many who themselves were on the verge of being in the dock.
"Strange, strange... Did you say it was weird? How strange it is!"
One thing is for sure: the criminal and pedophile mafia is ready to
do anything to avoid justice, even to start wars... therefore, if
they need to "eliminate" one of their henchmen for this...
(Alawata specifically for InfoDefense)
_______________________________________
Pew survey shows: US citizens see China
as more advanced on AI than the US
by Li Yawei
July 24th, 8:57pm
(Global Times)
By a three-to-one margin, US citizens are more likely to say
that China, not the US, is more advanced when it comes to
developing artificial intelligence, according to a Pew
Research Centre survey.
Released on Thursday, the survey was conducted in
June - and polled a total of 3,488 adult participants.
According to the survey, 36 percent of US citizens think that
China is further advanced than the US when it comes to
developing AI, while only 12 percent hold the view
that the US is more advanced than China.
Another 18 percent say the two countries are about equally
advanced, while 33 percent are not sure which nation is
more advanced in developing AI, per the survey.
A closer look at the survey also revealed that both men and
women tend to support China's advancement in AI, with
31 percent of men and 41 percent of women, holding
this view, respectively.
While the survey said that there are also some differences
...based on whether people ever use AI chatbots, an
identical 36 percent of US adults, regardless of
whether they use such tools or not, believe
China is more advanced than the US.
In recent years, a growing array of Chinese AI products have
been deployed on a large scale across industrial operations,
urban governance and other real-world scenarios, giving
the general public a more tangible sense of China's AI
advancement. This trend has also caught the eye of
overseas netizens via social media platforms
..serving as a factor behind the improved
global perception of China's artificial
intelligence sector Liu Wei, director
of the Human-Machine Interaction
and Cognitive Engineering Lab.,
at Beijing University of Posts
& Telecommunications, told
the Global Times on Friday.
In addition... the intensive release of domestic open‑source
models with massive parameter counts, coupled with the
global dissemination --- of cutting-edge technological
breakthroughs, has further prompted foreigners
to recognize the sophistication of China's
AI development, Liu added.
Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI on July 16 released its latest
model, Kimi K3, which features 2.8 trillion parameters,
making it the largest-parameter open-source AI
model globally, the company said, the
Xinhua News Agency reported.
Kimi K3 natively supports visual understanding and boasts a context
window of 1 million tokens. It has been optimized for complex tasks
including software engineering, knowledge-intensive work, deep
research and multimodal understanding, Moonshot AI noted.
Benchmark AI products such as Kimi K3 can drastically cut
operational costs. Their prowess -- in handling intricate,
multifaceted tasks amplifies the global outreach of
Chinese AI offerings, emerging as a pivotal force
reshaping international perceptions of China's
artificial intelligence prowess, Liu said.
The expert also noted that China's consistent innovation capacity in
AI, sound industrial ecosystem, and sustained state investment in
technological advancement have laid bare the sector's immense
potential to global audiences, who have grown increasingly
convinced of China's robust AI development momentum.
However, the survey also said that "as the US and China compete for
AI dominance, 43 percent of US citizens say it is extremely or very
important that the US is the world's leader in developing AI."
While some in the US, are uneasy about China's breakneck progress
in AI, China's practical applications and its global initiatives should
make it clear ........that its AI drive has consistently been oriented
toward serving the wider public good, said the expert.
The development of AI in China comes from greater self-reliance and
strength in science and technology, and is fueled by China's vision
of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Thursday, in
response to a question regarding a top White House official
accusing Chinese AI start-up Moonshot AI .....of covertly
copying the most advanced model of a US company.
All countries should take a people-centred approach and develop
AI for the positive and for good to ensure the open and inclusive
development of AI for good and for all so as to better contribute
to social progress - & the common welfare of the international
community, Lin added.
__________________________________________
Top Vietnamese leader wins
L.N. Tolstoy International
Peace Prize
by Thuy Dung
July 24th, 7:41pm
(VGP)
The Laureate of the L.N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize
for 2026 is -- To Lam, General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, &
President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.
The Vietnamese leader has been honoured with this
prestigious international public award .........for his
significant personal contribution to strengthening
peace, & cooperation among nations, according
to the jury of the L.N. Tolstoy International
Peace Prize.
Under the leadership of General Secretary and President To Lam,
Viet Nam has become one of the fastest-growing economies of
the Asia-Pacific region while preserving its civilizational
identity within the mosaic of a multipolar world.
The members of the jury of the L.N. Tolstoy International Peace
Prize particularly noted the Vietnamese leader's contribution
to shaping a new regional architecture of equal & indivisible
security on a non-discriminatory basis, as well as his
commitment to the ideas of a just world order,
grounded in international law.
The L.N. Tolstoy International Peace Prize was established to
recognize individuals and organizations that have made a
significant contribution to strengthening peace, mutual
understanding, and cooperation among nations -
based on the principles...... of non-violence,
humanism, and intercultural dialogue.
_________________________________________
Novak noted a significant increase in
Saudi Arabia's investments in
the Russian economy
July 24th, 7:04pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Over the past year, Saudi Arabia's investments in the Russian
economy have increased by 90%. This was announced by
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on July
24, during a reception held to mark the centenary of
diplomatic relations between Moscow and Riyadh.
"Saudi investments in the Russian economy --- have increased by 90%
over the past year alone. The investment partnership between the
Russian Direct Investment Fund and the Kingdom's Sovereign
Wealth Fund is also functioning successfully,"
TASS quoted him as saying.
The Russian Deputy Prime Minister recalled that in June of 2026,
the Saudi Arabian delegation took part in the St. Petersburg
International Economic Forum (SPIEF-2026). At that time,
its members signed a number of intergovernmental and
interdepartmental agreements with representatives
of the Russian side.
Novak, as part of the same gala evening, said that Russia has
entered the top 5 suppliers of provisions to Saudi Arabia. He
stated that in addition to this, the country holds leading
positions in the export of wheat and sunflower
oil there.
The head of the kingdom's Ministry of Energy, Abdel Aziz bin
Salman Al Saud, who was part of the delegation at SPIEF-
2026, said on June 5 that the cooperation between
Moscow and Riyadh ......is eternal.
____________________________________
Novak announced that Russia has entered
the top 5 suppliers of food to Saudi Arabia
July 24th, 6:53pm
(Izvestia.ru)
Russia has entered the top 5 of exporters of various food products
to Saudi Arabia, and it also holds a leading position in terms of
wheat and sunflower oil exports. This was announced by
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak
on July 24.
"Russia has entered the top five of food suppliers to the kingdom
and in wheat and sunflower oil takes leading positions," TASS
quotes his words, said at a reception on the occasion of the
centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Novak noted -- that the volume of bilateral trade has more than
doubled ....over the past five years alone. Over these years of
cooperation, the parties, united by their common desire for
multipolarity --- have been able to establish a multi-level
dialogue. As part of this dialogue, Moscow & Riyadh
have been working together - to address common
challenges and show respect for each other.
Saudi Energy Minister Abdel Aziz bin Salman Al Saud called
the partnership with Russia eternal on June 5. He stated
that the parties are committed to each other, which
helps them overcome global difficulties, starting
with the COVID-19 pandemic ..and including
further challenges.
__________________________________________
The Spanish national team will lose
about 30% of its World Cup 2026
prize money --- due to US taxes
July 24th, 5:51pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The Spanish national team may lose a significant portion of
the prize money - for winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Approximately 30% of the payout will be deducted
for taxes in the United States. This is reported
by Fox News.
As a rule, FIFA agrees in advance with the host countries of major
tournaments on tax benefits for national federations. However,
this time, the US authorities decided to treat the Spanish
football players not as a single team, but as individual
taxpayers who earned income in the US.
"The Spaniards should have known about this when they
came here," said the US Congress representatives.
_____________________________________________________
Instant response: China has blocked
EU exporters from accessing its
technologies -------- for anti-
Russian sanctions
July 24th, 5:34pm
(Pravda.En)
China responded with an instant mirror blow to the new EU
sanctions. On the evening of July 23, immediately after
Brussels approved the 21st package of restrictions
against Russia and included 14 enterprises from
mainland China and Hong Kong, the Ministry of
Commerce of the People's Republic of China
imposed strict export controls against 14
European companies.
Beijing officially called the EU attacks "malicious actions"
and retaliated on the basis of Chinese export control
laws and rules on the turnover of dual-use goods.
The Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China
stressed that this decision was made to protect national
security, the interests of the country... and to fulfill
international obligations.
Now the blacklisted European companies - will lose the
opportunity to purchase critical Chinese components
and raw materials.
______________________________________________________
Kotyakov: Russia's Unemployment Rate
Drops to a Record Low of 2.1%
July 24th, 1:32pm
(RT.ru)
The unemployment rate in Russia is 2.1%, which is
an historical low. This was announced by Anton
Kotyakov, the head of the Ministry of Labour
and Social Protection.
According to the minister, in an interview with RIA Novosti,
the latest data from Rosstat shows a record drop in the
unemployment rate.
"The unemployment rate is 2.1%," Kotyakov said.
In early June, the head of the Russian Ministry of Labour said
that the unemployment rate in Russia will remain at 2.2-2.3%.
__________________________________________________________________
Economic news is not at all
encouraging in Argentina
Buenos Aires, July 23rd, 3:02pm
(Prensa Latina)
The economic news is not at all encouraging today in Argentina:
the GDP - has been down for two months, mass consumption
continues a downward trend, the metallurgical industry - is
in the red and now it transpires that consumer confidence has plummeted.
The Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in July fell 12.3 percent
year-on-year and 4.78 compared to June. With this result, the
ICC prepared by the Torcuato Di Tella University counts a
drop of 14.16 points from its maximum level reached in
January 2025.
The study prepared by that private institution shows that the drop
was registered in all the geographical areas of the country seen
in the analysis. The largest drop occurred in Greater Buenos
Aires with 6.35 percent, followed by the City of Buenos
Aires with 6.24, while in the Interior the decrease
was 1.68 percent.
The greatest distrust Argentines place is in the macroeconomy
which both the president and his economic team praise, with
a decrease of 8.49 percent per month.
In the "Personal Situation" section, the ICC fell 3.89. The steepest
drop was observed in low-income households (-11.47%), while
high-income families recorded a decrease of 1.45. In this
comparison, wealthy families have a confidence index
of 43.45 points.... but 35.99 for low-income families.
Torcuato Di Tella noted that citizens' expectations suffered
a steeper drop, with a decrease in their confidence in the
future ......of 7.19 percent.
_________________________________
High-tech boosts economy of
China's leading provinces
Beijing, July 23rd, 1:15am
(Prensa Latina)
China's main economic provinces today consolidate the growth
of the high-tech and artificial intelligence industries with
remarkable results during the first half of the year,
according to official balances released by
local authorities.
Nine provinces and municipalities, including Jiangsu, Shandong,
Zhejiang, Sichuan, Henan, Hubei, Fujian, Shanghai and Hunan,
released their economic results for the first six months of
the year.
China's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 69.6 trillion yuan (9.7
trillion U.S. dollars) in the first half, growing 4.7 percent year-on-year.
Seven of these nine economies recorded an
expansion above the national average.
Zhejiang led the growth with 5.7 percent, followed by Shandong and
Shanghai with 5.6 percent, Jiangsu with 5.2 percent, Hubei and
Henan with five percent and Sichuan with 4.8 percent.
Jiangsu surpassed seven trillion yuan (975 billion U.S. dollars) in
half-year GDP for the first time, while Shandong reached
5.32 trillion yuan (739 billion U.S. dollars) and Zhejiang
4.79 trillion yuan (665 billion U.S. dollars).
Official reports noted that advanced manufacturing, the digital
economy, and emerging strategic industries --- drove growth
in several provinces.
In Zhejiang, the value added of high-tech manufacturing rose
16.2 percent and that of manufacturing, linked to the core
of the digital economy - grew 15.5 percent.
Hubei reported a 36.8 percent increase in the value added of
high-tech manufacturing, contributing 78.2 percent to the
growth of industrial production.
In Jiangsu, production of electronic components, integrated
circuits, gearboxes for robots and industrial robots recorded
double-digit increases, driven by the development of
artificial intelligence.
Yang Zhigang, deputy director of the Sichuan Provincial Bureau
of Statistics, said sectors such as embedded intelligence and
human-machine collaboration maintain rapid development
and favour new poles of industrial growth.
China is pushing for the development of new productive forces by
expanding advanced manufacturing, the digital economy and
green industries, as part of its strategy ---- to strengthen
higher-quality economic growth.
____________________________________
Politico: Greece has blocked the 21st
package of EU sanctions against
Russia ....over LNG
by Marina Sovina (night editor)
July 22nd, 8:10pm
(Lenta.ru)
The permanent representatives of the EU countries were unable to
agree on the 21st package of sanctions against Russia due to the
position of Greece, writes Politico, citing diplomatic sources.
According to the newspaper, Athens has blocked a proposal
to restrict the transportation of Russian liquefied natural
gas (LNG) by EU vessels to third countries.
"Greece has taken a tough stance on the proposed ban on EU
companies transporting Russian gas to consumers outside
the EU," the article says.
Earlier, Greece opposed the 21st package of EU sanctions
against Russia. Athens believes that the new restrictions
will destroy the Greek shipping company Dynagas.
_____________________________________________________
Xi stresses fostering virtue through education
....by promoting high-quality basic education
July 22nd, 6:06pm
(Xinhua)
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to carry out the
basic task of fostering virtue through education and break
new ground in the high-quality development of the
country's basic education.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military
Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on
work... related to basic education.
____________________________________
Court ''Annuls'' Arrest Warrant
for Peru's Clandestine Leader
Lima, July 22nd, 12:14pm
(Prensa Latina)
The unappealable Peruvian Constitutional Court (TC) today made
official the nullity of the judicial ruling of preventive detention
for 24 months for leftist leader Vladimir Cerrón, after he
remained in hiding for more than two years.
The court's decision -- annulled the arrest warrant issued by the
Judiciary against the secretary general of the Peru Libre party,
who was the subject of repeated police search operations,
under pressure and adverse media criticism, as well as
speculation about an alleged government inaction
for his arrest.
"Today culminates three years of disciplined resistance in
clandestinity, a space not alien to socialists," he wrote
on the X network in his first reaction to the TC ruling
and added that this is --- "a defeat of injustice and
the reaffirmation of our convictions. See You
After Victory!"
The TC ruling responded to the habeas corpus filed by Cerrón
against the 24-month preventive detention order against him
for the alleged crimes of criminal organization and money
laundering in the collection of funds for the 2021
electoral campaign, which Pedro Castillo won
as a candidate of Perú Libre.
In addition, the court argued that the judicial ruling of preventive
detention against the leader and former governor of the central
Andean region of Junín, was not adequately substantiated by
the judges.
They referred to the fact that the magistrates maintained the prison
order ---- despite the fact that the TC annulled the two criminal
convictions that weighed on Vladimir Cerrón - the reason for
his clandestinity - for cases of alleged corruption registered
during his administration as governor of the Junín region,
who declared himself ---- a victim of the politicization
of justice.
The ruling clarifies that the Judiciary must issue a new ruling and
order preventive measures, such as rules of conduct (a kind of
conditional release) that ensure that Cerrón participates
in the trial ....without being detained.
Cerrón's judicial situation and the media pressures for him to be
arrested and convicted were part of the campaign against the
courageous government of Pedro Castillo that culminated
when he ended up imprisoned and dismissed -- for trying
to dissolve an extreme rightwing Parliament of the rich
------ which - both legally and illegally - blocked every
effort he made to improve the lives of his people.
_____________________________________________________
To Lam says: preserving socialism
is the best tribute to our martyrs
Hanoi, July 22nd, 10:37am
(Prensa Latina)
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam
and President of the Republic, To Lam, said today that
the preservation of socialism is the best tribute of
the present generations to the martyrs of
the motherland.
"The most meaningful way to remember those who contributed
and sacrificed is to continue to preserve the achievements of
the revolution, building a peaceful, independent, democratic,
prosperous, civilized and happy Vietnam, moving steadily
towards socialism," he said.
In a letter on the occasion of the 79th anniversary of War
Invalids and Martyrs' Day, which is commemorated on
the 27th, the president insisted that this must be
----- the unbreakable promise of the current
generation to previous generations.
Thus, he continued, the sacrifices and contributions of our
comrades and compatriots will shine "forever in the sky
of our Motherland, guiding the Vietnamese nation into
a new era of development."
In the letter, which was published in full on the Government
Electronic Portal, To Lam expressed his deep respect and
infinite gratitude to the heroic Vietnamese mothers, the
heroes of the People's Armed Forces, the Heroes of
Labour, the war invalids and the sick soldiers.
The affections of the head of state also reached the relatives of
the martyrs, veterans, former officers of the People's Police,
former young volunteers, participants in the war of
resistance and all those who contributed to
the nation.
Over thousands of years of national construction and defense,
every inch of Vietnamese land is imbued with the sweat,
blood, will and enduring aspirations of countless
generations of Vietnamese, he said.
The people.. will eternally remember the merits, sacrifices and
contributions of their ancestors, respectfully commemorating
President Ho Chi Minh, and all those who dedicated their
lives to the independence of the Motherland, he added.
Wherever they are, he argued, those comrades joined the nation,
becoming beacons of hope, that illuminate the path to national
independence, socialism ....and the aspiration to prosperity
and happiness.
"These," he concluded, "are the fundamental pillars of the
Vietnamese revolution, the basis on which our nation
possesses -- the strength, potential, position and
international prestige that it enjoys today."
He also took the opportunity to thank the participants in the
500 Days and Nights Campaign for the recovery of the
remains of the martyrs.
"I respectfully acknowledge.. the sense of responsibility,
dedication and initial results of the forces participating
in the Campaign," and expressed his hope that they
will bring back more fallen soldiers to their home
land, their families and their comrades.
___________________________________________
Vietnam opens Martyrs' Day
Anniversary Film Week
Hanoi, July 22nd, 5:55am
(Prensa Latina)
The film Don't Burn (Dung Dot), by director Dang Nhat Minh, opened
the Film Week commemorating the 79th anniversary of the Day of
War Invalids and Martyrs, media outlets reported today.
At the Hanoi National Film Centre, Vice Minister of Culture, Sports
and Tourism Ta Quang Dong said the anniversary, instituted on
July 27, 1947, is an occasion for the Party, the people and
the army ...to pay tribute to fallen heroes.
Also, he said, to express gratitude to the invalids and war martyrs, to
the people with revolutionary merits and to all the generations that
contributed to the independence and freedom of the homeland,
even with the sacrifice of their lives.
Quoted by the Vietnam News Agency, the vice minister stressed
that gratitude to those who sacrificed for the nation, is a
deep-rooted tradition in Vietnam.
It is not only kept alive through commemorative activities, but
also through the commitment of the new generations to the
preservation of historical memory, the strengthening of
revolutionary ideals, patriotism and the vocation
of service to the country, he continued.
The works selected for this edition ----- have a high artistic and
ideological value, and faithfully recreate the years of struggle,
highlighting the image of the fighters, mothers and wives,
young volunteers, front workers and other people......
who sacrificed all - for national independence.
The Film Week will be held until the 28th, and also includes the
films The Aroma of Burnt Grass (Mui co chay), Those Who
Wrote the Legend (Nhung nguoi viet huyen thoai),
Road Through the Forest (Duong xuyen rung),
The Legend of Quan Tien (Truyen thuyet ve
Quan Tien) and Red Dawn (Binh minh do).
Various actions are being carried out throughout the country
for the Day of War Invalids and Martyrs, including the 500
Days and Nights Campaign --- to recover at least 7,000
remains of fallen combatants, which will conclude
in July next year.
____________________________________________
The national debt of 16 EU countries
has reached --------- an all-time high
July 21st, 11:29pm
(Izvestia.ru)
According to Eurostat data, the public debt in 16 EU countries
reached unprecedented high levels in the first quarter. This
was reported on July 22, Moscow time.
In total, the total debt obligations of all 27 EU member states
increased by €327.3 billion in the first quarter of the year,
reaching a record €15.705 trillion high in modern history.
The relevant agency has been publishing such reports
since 1994, according to RIA Novosti.
The highest debt was recorded in France, where the figure
increased by €75.6 billion in quarterly terms and set an
all-time record of €3.536 trillion.
The second place on the list was taken by Italy, whose
national debt increased...... to an historic peak of
€3.158 trillion, up from €3.096 trillion in the
previous quarter. Germany rounded out
the top three, with its debt rising to
€2.902 trillion ------ up from
€2.838 trillion in the
previous quarter.
Expenditures on payments increased to $185.2 billion,
exceeding the figure for the same month last year
by 28%
Former French Prime Minister and presidential candidate Édouard
Philippe said on July 5 that the situation with the national debt is
“terrible,” but it’s “not that bad.” France’s national debt reached
an historic low in the first quarter of 2026 --- surpassing
€3.5 trillion for the first time, according to a report
by the French National Institute of Statistics
and Economic Studies (Insee) published
on June 25.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 5 that the Eurozone's
public debt has increased to more than 81% of GDP, with France,
Italy, and Greece having the worst figures. At the same time,
Russia's public debt was between 15.8% and 16.4%
in 2025, which, according to the President, is
not comparable to Europe.
__________________________________________
Foreign investment in Russia
increased by 11 times
July 21st, 9:20pm
(Izvestia.ru)
The inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Russia
amounted to $25.3 billion last year, according to UN
data, which Izvestia studied. This is 11.5 times
more than in 2024.
According to the Ministry of Economic Development's
press service this trend reflects the gradual recovery
of the indicator due to the replacement of Western
capital that has left the country.
According to the Gaidar Institute's monitoring,
investments from unfriendly countries have
decreased by almost 50% over the period
of 2022-2025.
However, official statistics on FDI inflows are limited
since 2022, according to Olga Belenkaya, Head of
Macro-economic Analysis at Finam.
According to Alexey Rodin, founder of Rodin.Capital,
investments in the country are currently coming
mainly from China, India, Türkiye, and the UAE.
The current growth also reflects
the restructuring of capital.
According to Andrey Glushkin, a member of the
General Council of Business Russia, the main
factor is de-offshorization. Last year, 135
more organizations moved to Russian
offshore zones.
By the end of 2025, 674 companies
had been registered in the special
administrative regions (SARs).
_______________________________________
Poland has expressed its displeasure
over - Ukraine's arrogant behaviour
by Evgeny Silaev (Night Line Editor)
July 21st, 6:25pm
(Lenta.ru)
Citizens of Poland are increasingly dissatisfied with the arrogance
of Ukraine and the lack of will of their own authorities, who
continue to finance the post-Soviet country. This was
reported by the publication Mysl Polska.
"Poles are already tired of bowing to the Ukrainian authorities.
The impudence of the Zelensky clique knows no bounds. It's
still "not enough"for them. And our government continues
to sponsor a state that takes clearly hostile steps
towards Poland," the article says.
Earlier, Polish Defense Minister, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz,
said that the Ukrainian authorities should urge their citizens
to respect law and order on Polish territory.
_________________________________________
Aliyev spoke about the secret negotiations between
Germany and Russia on Ukraine. The delegations
met in Baku without Azerbaijan's knowledge
by Varvara Koshechkina (editor of the
operational information department)
July 21st, 4:29pm
(PressTV)
President Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev told about secret negotiations
Germany and Russia on Ukraine. According to the politician,
the meeting took place on July 12-14 in Baku. It was
attended by former high-ranking officials.
According to media reports, the unofficial German delegation
included former head of Chancellor Angela Merkel, Ronald
Pofalla, & former head of Brandenburg Matthias Platzeck.
Russia was represented by the chairman of the Russian
Presidential Council for Civil Society Development and
Human Rights Valery Fadeyev and the former chair of
the Russian government, chairman of the board of
directors of Gazprom, Viktor Zubkov.
According to Aliyev, the negotiations between the
representatives of Moscow and Berlin were held
secretly, without the knowledge of Baku.
"Our territory was used for such a meeting without our knowledge.
I cannot comment on the details --- as we were not present at the
meeting. However, the flight data allows me to confirm that the
secret meeting in Baku did take place," Aliyev explained
during a joint press conference with the German
Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
The Azerbaijani leader assured that he welcomes such contacts
----- if they can lead to an end to the conflict between Russia
and Ukraine.
Mertz said that he was not aware of such a meeting. At the same
time, he pointed out that Europe is ready for negotiations with
Russia on Ukraine.
Russia comments on rumours of secret talks
The secret meeting, which became known publicly, could have
been organized to advance the negotiation process on Ukraine.
This assumption was made by the first Depty Chair of the
State Duma Committee on International Affairs,
Svetlana Zhurova.
The MP also admitted ---- that Aliyev's statement was primarily
addressed to a Western audience. "He probably said this for
the West, for those who will now begin to condemn him and
say - how he allowed it. And, for example, Erdogan is not
shy about this. He says that he is ready to present his
platform, his country for such negotiations, if it will
bring benefits," Zhurova said.
The Kremlin commented on Azerbaijan's position on Ukraine
The Kremlin's official representative Dmitry Peskov said that
Azerbaijan's position on the conflict in Ukraine is a subject
of disagreement with Russia.
As for the position expressed by President [Ilham] Aliyev of
Azerbaijan, there are a number of countries with which we
have close relations and which share this position. We
strongly disagree with this position, and yes, this is
a matter of disagreement.
Peskov noted that Russia adheres to a pragmatic approach and
does not believe that disagreements should cast a shadow on
bilateral relations between the countries. He added that
Moscow will continue to consistently explain its
position on Ukraine to Baku.
Aliyev, in turn, stated that relations between Moscow and Baku
have now reached full normalization. He specified --- that
cooperation between the two countries is developing
and covers both traditional areas and new areas.
______________________________________________
Saudi oil exports hit record low
as US war on Iran disrupts
shipping in Persian Gulf,
and Red Sea
July 21st, 4:06pm
(RT.ru)
Saudi Arabia's crude oil exports fell for a third consecutive month
in May, dropping to their lowest level on record as the US war of
aggression against Iran and mounting regional shipping
disruptions continued to weigh on the kingdom's
oil exports.
Data released on Tuesday by the Joint Organizations Data
Initiative (JODI) showed Saudi crude exports dropped to
3.434 million barrels per day (bpd) in May from 3.986
million bpd in April, the lowest monthly level since
the database began in 2002.
The decline came despite a modest recovery in Saudi crude
production, which rose to 6.56 million bpd in May from a
record low of 6.316 million bpd in April. Domestic
refinery throughput and direct crude burning
also increased, limiting export volumes.
The continued decline reflected the impact of the US-Israeli
aggression against Iran, which has disrupted oil shipments
and trade routes across the Persian Gulf.
Meanwhile, Yemen's Ansarullah movement announced a naval
blockade on Saudi Arabia --- in retaliation for the blockade on
Yemen and a recent attack on Sanaa International Airport.
Ansarullah media office said that the Bab al-Mandeb Strait
will be closed to Saudi-linked shipping in response to the
kingdom's "unjust blockade on Yemenis for more than
10 years."
The warning has already begun disrupting tanker movements.
Shipping data showed at least two tankers carrying Saudi
crude for China and India reversed course in the Red Sea
on Tuesday, while another vessel ..scheduled to load at
Yanbu also turned back before entering the waterway.
In a notice sent to shipping companies, Ansarullah said that any
vessel violating the directive could be targeted "in any location."
The resistance group governs northern Yemen and also controls
the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red
Sea. With traffic through the Strait of Hormuz now controlled
by Iranian armed forces, Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of
Yanbu has become the kingdom's main alternative
export route, handling millions of barrels of
crude - each day.
Yemen’s Ansarullah warns region
heading towards -- an explosion
Ansarullah official says aggression against Iran and
the blockade on Yemen is pushing the region
toward a major blast.
The warning has prompted maritime security firms and insurers to
reassess the risks of operating in the region. British maritime
security company Ambrey advised vessels calling at Saudi
ports to reconsider transiting the Red Sea, saying such
ships now face a "high risk," while war-risk insurance
premiums have also risen.
Clarksons, a global maritime services company, said that ...while
enforcing a full naval blockade would be difficult, any escalation
could see Ansarullah forces target Saudi-linked vessels
transiting the Bab al-Mandeb Strait --- a key shipping
route used by an average of 10 crude oil tankers
each day.
The shipping company said such disruptions could redirect more
Yanbu crude exports towards Europe instead of Asia, while
forcing other tankers to reroute via the Suez Canal and
around Africa --- further tightening global oil supplies
and extending delivery times to Asian customers.
____________________________________________
Viet Nam targets to become one
of Asia's leading cultural and
creative centres by 2045
by Kim Anh
July 21st, 8:43am
(VGP)
The Government has approved the External Cultural Strategy to
2030, with a vision to 2045, setting out a long-term roadmap to
strengthen Viet Nam's cultural soft power and elevate its
international profile.
The strategy positions culture as both the foundation of national
identity ....and a strategic resource for sustainable development,
international cooperation and national competitiveness. It aims
to deepen international cultural integration ---- by promoting
Vietnamese cultural values abroad, while selectively
embracing the cultural achievements of other
nations... to help build an advanced
Vietnamese culture.... imbued
with its national identity.
Ultimately, the strategy seeks to transform culture into a key
source of Viet Nam's soft power, contributing to sustainable
development, enhancing the country's influence on the
world stage and enriching global cultural diversity.
Targets through 2030
For the 2026–2030 period, the strategy sets out a series
of measurable goals --- to expand international cultural
cooperation with foreign governments, international
organizations and enterprises ....operating in the
cultural and creative industries.
Gov’t proposes Viet Nam Culture Day
as paid day off
UNESCO hails Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on
the development of Vietnamese culture.
November 24 - designated
as “Viet Nam Culture Day"
Priority will be given to sectors, in which Viet Nam holds
competitive advantages, including cinema, performing
arts, cultural tourism and heritage, with the aim of
increasing the global competitiveness of
Vietnamese cultural products.
During this period, Viet Nam aims to secure at least five
prestigious international awards ---- in music, film,
literature and other cultural fields. It also plans
to establish - and sustainably operate - five
internationally recognized arts festivals
featuring distinctive local identities,
with the ambition of developing
them..... into leading cultural
destinations in the region.
In heritage preservation, the country targets to obtain
international recognition from UNESCO.. and other
organizations for at least five additional cultural
heritage sites or titles. At the same time, ten
cultural and heritage tourism destinations
will be developed into nationally branded
attractions with global competitiveness.
The strategy -- also aims to establish between one and three
new Viet Nam Cultural Centres abroad -- in a bid to expand
the Southeast Asian country's cultural presence overseas.
Vision to 2045
By 2045, Viet Nam aims to become one of Asia's leading cultural
and creative centres by harnessing the opportunities of the
digital economy and digital society ---- to strengthen its
cultural soft power.
The country ---- targets winning at least 15 additional prestigious
international awards in culture, the arts and creative industries,
hosting at least one major global event --- such as a World Expo,
Specialized Expo or another world-class cultural or sporting
event, and opening ...at least five more Viet Nam Cultural
Centres abroad.
The strategy also seeks international recognition for 15 additional
cultural heritage titles - and sets the goal of placing Viet Nam
among ASEAN's top three countries and the world's top 30
in the Global Soft Power Index.
Expanding Viet Nam's global cultural footprint
The strategy calls for modernizing cultural diplomacy and
diversifying approaches to promoting Viet Nam's cultural
identity - worldwide.
Cultural promotion will be further integrated into high-level
diplomatic visits by Vietnamese leaders abroad and visits
by foreign leaders to Viet Nam. Programs such as Viet
Nam Culture Weeks and Viet Nam Culture Days
overseas will be upgraded... through closer
collaboration with host countries, wider
public engagement ---- and stronger
international media outreach.
Promotional activities will increasingly feature traditional
performing arts, martial arts, folk games and traditional
sports -- to introduce Viet Nam's rich cultural heritage
to international audiences.
The strategy also encourages greater Vietnamese participation
in major international film festivals, art exhibitions, book fairs
and other cultural events, while integrating cultural
promotion into major international political
and economic forums.
Sports diplomacy will serve as another key pillar, with Viet
Nam seeking to host and participate in more regional and
international sporting events to showcase its traditional
sports and cultural heritage.
Human resource development ------ is identified as a key factor in
strengthening Viet Nam's external cultural engagement. Under
the strategy, cultural officers will be gradually assigned to
overseas representative missions where appropriate,
while cultural counsellors or attachés will be
deployed at diplomatic missions in
strategic partner countries.
Priority will initially be given to comprehensive strategic partners
by 2030..... before expanding to other strategic partners by 2045.
Officials engaging in external cultural affairs will receive
specialized training in Vietnamese culture, world
cultures, international law, and intellectual
property, together with practical skills in
event management, multimedia
communications and digital
cultural governance.
The strategy also emphasizes -- the need to equip cultural
professionals with knowledge of emerging technologies,
including artificial intelligence, big data, virtual reality
(VR) and augmented reality (AR) --- enabling them to
promote Vietnamese culture more effectively in
digital environments.
In addition, students, researchers, professionals and workers
preparing to study or work overseas will receive training
in Vietnamese history, culture and international
communication, enabling them to serve as
effective cultural ambassadors ---- while
helping to strengthen national identity
among younger generations ---- in an
increasingly interconnected world.
_______________________________________
Tucker Carlson ------ called the head of EU
___________________________________________
China has turned AI into a public good,
why does Silicon Valley ..........panic?
July 20th, 7:14pm
(Global Times)
If artificial intelligence (AI) is supposed to transform the world
for the better, why is it making Silicon Valley nervous?
Search "China AI" on Western search engines and one will see the
same word pop up again and again - "race." But click through
the headlines, and the real dominant emotion is something
else - anxiety.
Business Insider put it bluntly: "Silicon Valley is freaking out over
China's open-source AI strategy." Axios was even more direct:
Kimi K3, a new open-source AI model by Beijing-based
Moonshot AI, "dazzled developers, jolted Silicon
Valley and reset the AI race overnight."
A US venture capitalist captured the mood perfectly on social media:
"The future is open source … Imagine if America closed the door on
open source. We would explicitly be forcing American companies
to pay $26-56 per 1MM tokens for the same intelligence their
adversaries/competitors around the world would pay
$0.50-1 for. This is economically unsustainable
unless AI is bullshit." A White House's ex-AI
adviser went further, saying "woke
lobotomized models" (AI models
bent by political correctness)
are now the enemies of
US competitiveness.
This wave of unease traces back to one event - the 2026 World AI
Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. There, China didn't just unveil the
upgraded Kimi K3 model - it also launched the World Artificial
Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) ----- sending a
clear signal of a very different approach to AI development,
which is hitting the US' model ....where it hurts most.
At its core, the US' AI strategy is a capital-driven race. Pour in
massive investment, keep the most powerful models closed
and proprietary, and layer on export controls. The result?
Sky-high valuations for a handful of giants - OpenAI,
Anthropic, Google DeepMind - and short-term
dominance for the US.
Stock prices soared. Investors cashed in. But the downsides are
now impossible to ignore: extreme costs and heavy reliance on
artificial scarcity. The moment low-cost, open alternatives
become widely available, the US system could quickly
fall apart.
This brings us to the question: Who is AI for?
In the US's approach, AI is mostly a high-end tool - a profitable
product designed for wealthy nations and big investors. It
widens the gap between rich and poor, developed and
developing countries. Even more chilling is the
long-term vision quietly discussed: a future
where a tiny elite - escapes to Mars while
Earth is left to decay, or where a handful
of tech oligarchs use AI and embodied
robots to control the majority of the
resources - and, by extension,
humanity itself.
This cold, hierarchical techno-fantasy reveals the deep flaw
in the US' approach: technology ultimately serving the
power and wealth of the few.
China is offering a radically different vision: AI as a global
public good - something meant to benefit all of humanity.
Real public goods don't come with exorbitant price tags, high
barriers, or monopolistic control. By embracing open-source
models, China has released code, weights, and training
insights for the world to use, modify, and build upon.
It rejects the old playbook of gatekeeping and
rent-seeking. The focus is to make AI easier
to use, more productive, and accessible -
to everyone.
AI is already moving from the digital world into the physical one -
reshaping energy, manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and
cities. The UAE is using AI for autonomous driving. Brazil is
deploying it for smart farming. China is sharing relevant
capabilities with countries in the Global South. Public
goods, after all, aren't supposed to be luxuries.
The "AI iron curtain" the US has tried to build is being dismantled
by China's open-source push. In the end, the real winner of the
AI race won't be the one who builds the most powerful model
in a lab. It will be the one .........who creates the broadest
prosperity - in the real world.
The US is playing for capital gains and technological hegemony.
China ...is betting on shared abundance and human progress.
The ultimate question has never changed: Should
technology serve all of humanity, or merely... a
privileged few? China has given its answer.
_________________________________________________
Colombia's next president will
be a U.S. servant, Petro said
Bogota, July 20th, 4:19pm
(Prensa Latina)
The next president of Colombia will be a servant of the rulers of
the US, President Gustavo Petro said today in his last speech
made publicly on the occasion of the commemoration of
the 216th anniversary ---- of the Cry of Independence.
The head of state spoke to a crowd gathered in Ciudad Bolívar,
in the southwest of this capital, where before the speech the
traditional military parade was held to pay tribute to the
event that began the country's independence feat.
As he explained to his listeners in a speech that lasted more than
an hour, Donald Trump or Marco Rubio "will give orders to
whoever they imposed as president of Colombia."
"We went from the status of a Republic to the status of Viceroyalty
again, as we did 216 years ago. It is time to give the second cry of
independence," he said.
He then asked citizens to organize.... for peaceful resistance.
He then denounced that the incoming administration seeks,
through decrees, to attack financing public education and
basic health equipment.
Petro also warned about the intention to establish a tax reform to
the detriment of the working class .....and for the benefit of the
wealthiest, and about the possibility that the delivery of land
will no longer favour the peasant, but benefit --- the mafiosi.
"They want to imprison the progressive leadership, both those
who were in the government, starting with the one who
speaks, and those who were not in the government.
They want to take away the legal status of the
Historical Pact," he said.
He then affirmed that, in the face of this scenario,
the necessary popular force ------- will be built.
"Civil disobedience if they are going to overthrow the conquered
working conditions. A general and indefinite strike if they are
going to violently devastate the agrarian reform of the
peasantry, a national agrarian strike if they are
going to change the formula of public
education," he exclaimed.
He also commented that the mere interference in the past elections
of confessed foreign supporters, even by the president of the US
himself, is already cause for nullity, and above all ---- for the
illegitimacy of the next government that will take office
on August 7.
Petro assured that the organization of millions and millions of
Colombians "is the only way to stop fascism and recover the
Republic that will be lost in the coming months & continue
the path of social reforms for the benefit of the people."
He also asserted that - in the next few hours - the lawsuit already
delivered to the Colombian justice system will be made public,
in which ------- it is proven: that there were anomalies in the
presidential elections.
The president said that, with indications of more than 70 thousand
digital witnesses, it will be disclosed how the electoral fraud was
carried out by the National Registry and by the owners of the
electoral software used for the votes in the country.
He also reported that it was discovered - how the Prime Minister of
Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, interfered in the elections to impose
himself ---- on the majority will of the people.
The head of state, who also disclosed the most important social
indicators achieved during his government, such as the
reduction of poverty from 38 to 25 percent, received
the support of the crowd that listened to him, with
loud shouts of "Petro, friend, the people are with
you," among other supportive remarks.
___________________________________________________
Former president of Ecuador's CNE
....resigns from the electoral body
Quito, July 20th, 1:30pm
(Prensa Latina)
The former president of Ecuador's National Electoral Council
(CNE) Diana Atamaint resigned from being a member of the
body today, a month ---- after being removed as its head.
The resignation puts an end to almost eight years of Atamaint
in the institution in charge of organizing elections, which she
joined in August 2018 and whose presidency she held from
November of that year until June 11, when she was
replaced by counselor José Cabrera.
According to local media, the resignation was presented through
an official letter addressed to the president of the Council of
Citizen Participation and Social Control (Cpccs), Andrés
Fantoni, the entity.... in charge of accepting the
resignation and appointing a replacement.
So far, Atamaint has not publicly explained the reasons for
her departure and neither she nor the CNE have issued
an official statement on the decision.
The departure occurs a little more than a month after Cabrera
assumed the presidency of the CNE and requested the
Comptroller General of the State to audit the
administrative management carried out
during the period in which Atamaint
led the institution.
Opposition sectors questioned her period at the head of the CNE
and pointed to her .....for working to protect the interests of the
government led by Daniel Noboa and in the 2025 presidential
elections there were accusations of fraud ---- by the Citizen
Revolution (RC) movement.
Once the CPCCS formally accepts the resignation, the vacancy in
the CNE will be filled by alternate counselor José Merino, who
assured on social networks that he will assume the new
responsibility "with humility and commitment."
On previous occasions, Merino has taken over from councilors
absent from the plenary sessions and his role has been
decisive in resolutions such as the cancellation of the
Popular Unity and Construye movements, decisions
later annulled by the electoral courts.
The change in the composition of the CNE occurs when Ecuador
advances in the calendar for the sectional elections scheduled
for November 29, in a context marked by controversies -- after
the suspension of opposition political organizations.
____________________________________________________
