Guatemalan Truckers Denounce
Unstoppable Wave of Violence
Guatemala City, August 28, 2:52pm
(Prensa Latina)
The union of extra-urban passenger transport of Guatemala
denounced today with indignation, pain and helplessness
the unstoppable wave of violence that daily mourns
families of colleagues and paralyzes mobility.
In an open letter addressed to the Minister of the Interior, Marco
Antonio Villeda, the union stressed that the day before,
thugs "cowardly" murdered another of their drivers
(Justantino Curuc, 35 years old), bringing
the total to 37 this year.
It represents an equal number of families destroyed by unpunished
violence, workers who went out to earn their bread honestly and
did not return to their homes, he remarked.
He expressed deep frustration that, in the face of this
constant, extortion and murder there are no concrete
actions by the authorities.
There is no security on the roads, in the terminals and boarding
points such as Centra Sur (in this capital), nor in the daily
journeys traveled by thousands of Guatemalans, he
said in the text.
The scourge of extortion has become unbearable that suffocates
the drivers and their colleagues, while, to date, no official has
shown the political will or the necessary effectiveness to
protect the union's members, he described.
The inaction, indifference and lack of real solutions on the part of
the Government are equivalent to leaving thousands of citizens
who provide an essential public service --- totally unprotected,
the union said.
He demanded a real, permanent and effective security plan,
including in Centra Sur and the main national extra-urban
transport routes.
Also results and concrete investigations by the Interior Ministry
and the security forces ---- to dismantle the criminal
extortion gangs - that operate in broad daylight.
It included the request for executive working groups with the
highest security authorities ---- to implement immediate
protection measures in favour of pilots, assistants
and transport units.
He asked that the Army support and contribute to citizen
protection, mainly in the transfer areas, such as Centra
Sur, zones 3, 4 and 8 of the city.
The union demanded that the constitutional obligation to
guarantee life, security and freedom of work - for all
Guatemalans ....be fulfilled.
Curuc was making his journey with passengers on the route
from El Trébol to San Raymundo on Thursday, when the
armed attack occurred on Calzada San Juan and
31 avenue, metropolitan zone 7.
In the same event, which complicated the road connection to
the municipality of Mixco for hours, two women were injured.
The Police later reported the capture of Jairon, 19, alias "Huevo"
and Jacqueline, 35, "China" ------ hitmen of the Solo Para Locos
clique of the Mara 18 gang, as the alleged perpetrators.
_________________________________________________________
Book Fair ....Consolidates
Historical Ties Between
Russia and Cuba
Sancti Spiritus, Cuba,
August 28, 1:25pm
(Prensa Latina)
The 34th International Book Fair, which began today in this city
in central Cuba, consolidates the historical and cultural ties
between the Caribbean island and Russia, guest of
honour at this important event.
During one of the most important activities of the literary event,
the panel on the historical relations between the two nations,
the doctors in Pedagogical Sciences Mariano Álvarez Farfán
and Ramón Reigosa Lorenzo outlined the roadmap of a
brotherhood born in the nineteenth century.
The ties began in colonial times and little by little interest in
Russian culture was awakened, said Álvarez Farfán, who
mentioned as an important detail the enlistment of
several Russian soldiers in the Mambi army.
"The other element that greatly enlivened relations... were the
important works written by José Martí referring to Russian
culture, especially the poet Aleksandr Pushkin, the
artistic scope and the libertarian desires
contained in his literature," said
the specialist.
He also added that the first Russian consulate was created in Cuba
in 1829 and that relations were maintained with ups and downs
until the triumph of the October Socialist Revolution, a fact
that caused a boom --- in knowledge about the life and
culture of the Russian people, in the labour and
communist movement of the island.
But, the scholar commented, the peak of ties between the two
countries occurred after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution,
on January 1, 1959, and until today ------ "relations can be
described in the first place, as strategic and fraternal."
Since then, the links have spanned all fields – economic,
political, cultural --- and ideological --- with a lot of
influence from the European nation's authors
on literary creations ......and other artistic
manifestations on the Caribbean island.
The Program of the 34th International Book Fair in Sancti
Spíritus, which will run until next Sunday, includes
activities with the various manifestations of art
and pays tribute to local authors Manuel
González Busto -- and Jorge Silverio
Tejera; as well as the centennial
of Commander in Chief, Fidel.
The director of the Raúl Ferrer Literary Promotion Centre,
Saylí Alba Álvarez, pointed out in the local press that
several institutions in the Villa del Yayabo will host
book presentations, panels and exhibitions of
the visual arts, until Sunday.
In the midst of a very difficult scenario for the country --- only
about 70 titles and 6,000 copies will be able to be marketed;
as well as educational materials, including brochures to
colour ...and with the patriotic symbols.
At a press conference, José Meneses, artistic director of the event,
said the closing ceremony will take place at the Teatro Principal
on Saturday night, but on Sunday several children's units will
join in the Serafín Sánchez Valdivia park, to say goodbye,
in turn, to the current summer stage.
________________________________________
More than seventy countries...
to participate in Vladivostok
Eastern Economic Forum
Moscow, August 28, 11:54am
(Prensa Latina)
Representatives of more than 70 countries and territories
confirmed their participation in the Eastern Economic
Forum (VEF), Russian presidential adviser Anton
Kobiakov said today.
The secretary responsible for the organizing committee of
the event, said the VEF will be held from September 1 to
4, in its usual space on the campus of the Far Eastern
Federal University in the Russian city of Vladivostok.
Kobyakov added that this year, the Eastern Economic Forum
will be a platform for a comprehensive dialogue between
representatives of the authorities, the business
sector and the expert community.
To date -- representatives from more than 70 countries have
confirmed their participation -- with the largest delegations
being those of China, India, Mongolia, Japan and S Korea,"
said the senior official, whose words are reported by the
press service of the Roscongress Foundation.
Kobiakov added that interest in the forum remains very high. "This
demonstrates the global nature of the Eastern Economic Forum,
whose interest traditionally remains high. The forum in
Vladivostok has established itself as an effective
instrument for building trust, which becomes
the basis for productive and pragmatic
international cooperation,"
he stressed.
The main theme of the forum in 2026 is "The Far East:
Development for the Well-Being of People". The
organizer is the Roscongress Foundation,
with the support of the government
of the Russian Federation.
________________________________
Could U.S. Offensive Against
Cuban Tourism Fail?
Havana, August 28, 6:52am
(Prensa Latina)
The issue of the departure of hoteliers from Cuba today attracts
attention, under the opinion of some voices that consider the
characteristics of the island favourable for a tourism
recovery --- despite the problems.
The hotel situation in Cuba presents a dual panorama, marked by
official figures that confirm the massive closure of facilities and
the government's efforts to keep a segment of the sector
operational, mainly under state management.
According to statements by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero before
the National Assembly of People's Power on July 29, 73 percent
of the country's hotel facilities are currently closed.
This situation was described by the president as an "almost total
paralysis" of tourist services, a direct consequence of the
departure of seven international chains that managed
46 percent of the country's rooms.
The business exodus leaves some 25 thousand workers in a
vulnerable situation ..and causes an historic collapse in the
arrival of tourists, which between January and June 2026
fell 58 percent year-on-year. Hotel occupancy barely
reached 12.9% in the first quarter of the year.
Faced with this panorama, MINTUR comes out to offer a message
of tranquility, when José Antonio Aguilera, Minister of Tourism
for the Southern Cone, assures that "the hotels on the island
are still open and the Cuba destination..... continues to
operate normally".
The official argued that decades of collaboration with
international groups left a useful technical legacy:
"Cuba has acquired the necessary know-how --- to guarantee
the standards of service and quality that characterize our
destination. The hotels.. continue to open and operate
under national brands, without interruptions in
the provision of services."
According to official information from MINTUR, important
establishments in the main tourist centres - keep their
doors open:
Havana: emblematic hotels such as the Tryp Habana Libre,
Capri, Nacional de Cuba, Meliá Habana, Meliá Cohíba,
Packard, Iberostar Selection Parque Central, and
Inglaterra (some, with changes in names due
to the cessation of foreign chains), among
others, continue to provide services.
Varadero: the main seaside resort in the country maintains a high
percentage of activation with hotels such... as Brisas del Caribe,
Barceló Solymar, Meliá Varadero, Meliá Las Américas, Iberostar
Selection Varadero, Sol Palmeras, and over twenty facilities
on the Hicacos peninsula.
Other destinations: in Cayo Santa María operates the Los Cayos
hotel; in Trinidad, the Meliá Trinidad Peninsula and the Ancón
hotel (with day pass services) --- remain open.
In Holguín, the Gran Muthu, Almirante Beach and Villa Turey operate;
in Viñales the Hotel Los Jazmines; and in Santa Lucía the Planta
Real Santa Lucía. Logically, the name of the foreign chain...
disappeared from several hotels and was replaced.
In the centre of the country, in the province of Sancti Spíritus, the
delegate of MINTUR, Yordanis Fernández Alonso, confirmed that
the Meliá Trinidad Peninsula and the Rijo-Plaza-Don Florencio
Complex --- operate.
While other facilities such as Los Lagos de Mayajigua and the
Ancon hotel offer day pass services during the summer.
Despite the collapse, the Cuban government is looking for new
alternatives. The Italian chain Domina, with more than forty
establishments in Europe and Africa, recently signed an
agreement to manage several hotels on the island,
including one in Varadero and two in Havana.
Significantly, tour operators and travel agents consider that
the landscapes, scenarios, and the kindness of Cubans,
continue to have a great impact ---- which can mean
significant support ---- to reverse this crisis.
______________________________________________
Traders benefited, by India-
China ....border crossing
New Delhi, August 28, 4:08am
(Prensa Latina)
Around 600 Indian traders crossed the Nathu La Pass, which was
reopened earlier this month for border trade between India and
China, diplomatic sources reported today.
According to the X-post by the spokeswoman for the Chinese
embassy in New Delhi, Yu Jing, after its opening after six
years of inactivity, local merchants transited through
that pass with rice, tea, spices and essential items
of daily use.
They also ----- bring back wool, raw silk and other
Tibetan products from Beijing, the diplomat said.
The reopening of Nathu is part of the results of frequent
talks between the two countries on the border issue.
Recently --- the 25th round of talks between the special
representatives on the border issue, led in Beijing by
National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Wang Yi,
foreign minister and member of the Political
Bureau of the Central Committee of the
Chinese Communist Party, reached
8 points of results & consensus,
government reports state.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the guidance
received from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and President
Xi Jinping to preserve peace and tranquility in the border
areas and create an environment for the healthy and
stable development of bilateral relations.
Representatives underlined their commitment to move forward in
negotiations with the agreement on political parameters and
guiding principles signed in 2005 and the consensus
reached at other meetings, in search.... of a just,
reasonable and mutually acceptable solution.
They also agreed that the expert group on border delimitation
and the working group on border management will advance
discussions on an early and substantial response of these
areas - with the first task of agreeing on their respective
terms of reference.
Similarly, to address any situation on the ground promptly through
existing diplomatic and military channels, including meetings at
the level of local commanders and other agreed mechanisms,
to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstandings
and miscalculations along the boundary line.
Among other things, two additional military border hotline
channels were established in Sectors East and Central
and noted the progress in cross-border cooperation.
Doval and Wang agreed to strengthen exchanges in border trade,
pilgrimage and other areas, agreed to hold the next meeting of
the expert mechanism on transboundary rivers in September,
& maintain communication on issues such as hydrological
data exchange and the renewal of relevant memoranda.
____________________________________
"Advantages.... have disappeared":
Europe has recognized the price
of abandoning Russia
August 27, 3:05pm GMT
(Pravda.En)
The head of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said
that the EU has lost key advantages on which its economy
had been based for years.
We are talking about cheap Russian energy resources, access
to the Chinese market, open global trade, US support, and
Western technological leadership. Now, Europe has to
look for a new model of development — the rejection
of previous ties --- has already affected the cost of
energy and the competitiveness of the economy.
Source: Telegram "prime1"
_______________________________
New natural gas export
records reported
in Brazil
Brasilia, August 26, 2:34pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Brazilian field of Búzios, in the pre-salt of the Santos Basin,
reached new records for natural gas exports last July, with
10.8 million cubic metres per day, the Petrobras company
reported today.
The figure constitutes the highest monthly average recorded in
the history of the field and far exceeds the previous record,
of 9.1 million cubic metres per day, reached in March of
this year.
According to the company, the field also set a new daily record
on Aug. 6, when it exported 14.1 million cubic metres of gas,
surpassing the previous record of 13.9 million cubic metres.
The results consolidate the growth trajectory of Búzios, considered
the largest field in Brazil, both by production volume and reserves,
and is located off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Petrobras explained that the increase in exports is not due to
the entry into operation of new production systems, but to
the optimization of the units that already operate.
Among the main initiatives, he added, is a program to modernize the
4-platform gas treatment plants, which includes the replacement
of the membranes used for the removal of carbon dioxide.
Started in 2025 and currently in its final stage of implementation, the
project made it possible to increase the export capacity of these
structures ---- from approximately 1.5 million to three million
cubic metres per day, per unit.
This growth is also linked to the entry into operation of Route 3,
an infrastructure that expanded the capacity to transport gas
produced in the pre-salt to the continent.
In July 2024, the aforementioned source recalled, the average
daily gas export from Búzios was 4.7 million cubic metres.
Since then, the incorporation of new projects, and improvements in
the efficiency of the facilities have more than doubled that volume.
Búzios' performance is part of an expansion of
Petrobras' oil and gas production during 2026.
The company reached a record own production of 3.34 million
barrels of oil equivalent per day in the second quarter, an
increase of 14 percent in 12 months.
For Petrobras, the new gas export records reinforce Búzios'
capacity to supply energy to the Brazilian market and take
advantage of the potential of the pre-salt reserves.
____________________________________
Nicaragua calls ------ to strengthen
international solidarity with Cuba
Managua, August 27, 1:26pm
(Agenzia Agency)
Irma Franco, a member of the Nicaraguan solidarity movement
"Love for Cuba," today called for strengthening international
solidarity with Cuba and denouncing the blockade policy
applied by the United States against the island.
In an article entitled "Cuba cannot continue to resist alone: the
silence of the world also blocks," released on social networks,
Franco recalled that U.S. sanctions and restrictions affect the
daily lives of the Cuban people.
The author pointed out that fuel shortages have impacted
transportation, food production and the functioning of
hospitals, schools and industries.
He also mentioned the prolonged blackouts and difficulties
in accessing medicines, food and other essential goods.
He considered that behind these effects there are people and
families who face daily the consequences of the economic
measures against Cuba, a U.S. siege that has lasted for
more than six decades.
He also questioned the passivity of part of the international
community in the face of this situation, despite the fact
that most countries annually condemn the blockade
in the United Nations General Assembly.
The member of "Love for Cuba" cited the statements of Cuban
President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who has pointed out that the
permanence of the blockade...... is also related to the
lack of action by the rest of the world ---- to end it.
In Franco's opinion, silence and international indifference
contribute to the continuity of a policy that he considers
contrary to the principles of international law and the
sovereign equality of States.
From the "Love for Cuba-Nicaragua" movement, he reaffirmed
solidarity with the Cuban people and rejected that the
suffering of a nation be used as an instrument of
political pressure.
He urged solidarity movements, social organizations, intellectuals,
parliamentarians and citizens of the world: to intensify actions in
support of the Caribbean nation.
Franco maintained that solidarity should not be limited to
statements, but should be translated into a permanent
denunciation ------ and the demand for the lifting of a
unilateral measure that he described as unjust.
______________________________________________
Forum in Chile calls for UN reform
and defense of multilateralism
Santiago de Chile, August 27, 12:45pm
(Prensa Latina)
Diplomats in Chile stressed the importance of defending
multilateralism and reforming the UN to increase its
representativeness and make it more effective in
the face of the urgent problems that the world
is experiencing today.
The issue was the subject of analysis in a panel at the
University of Santiago de Chile (Usach) organized by
the Association of Jurists for Democracy and the
Chilean Human Rights Commission.
China's ambassador to Chile, Niu Qingbao, called for
support for the central role of the United Nations
and pointed out the importance of respecting
the principles of international law.
"The role of the UN must be strengthened and not weakened.
Without the UN ..........the world would be worse," he said.
Russia recognized the central place of the United Nations
in world affairs and advocated strengthening it as a
universal platform.
Reflecting on the future of the UN... with its history of more than
80 years, it is worth remembering that - despite all the criticism
during this time there was no new world war, vast experience
of multilateral cooperation was accumulated.... and a frame-
work of international law was consolidated, said Russian
Embassy Counsellor, Vladimir Finyutin.
In turn, the ambassador of South Africa George Monyemangene
recalled that the African continent has millions of inhabitants,
however, it is not represented as a permanent member of
the Security Council.
In this regard, Cuba's ambassador to Chile, Oscar Cornelio Oliva,
declared that his country calls for a comprehensive, profound
reform of the Security Council to transform it into a more
democratic, transparent, representative and
effective body.
He recalled that during a debate on August 19 in New York, the
Cuban delegation stated that the current functioning of the
Council does not adequately respond to the needs of the
international community, nor to the historical claims
of the countries of the South.
The Cuban delegation expressed the need to expand the Council
in its two categories: permanent and non-permanent members,
and defended the elimination of the veto power because this
mechanism hinders the adoption of essential decisions and
allows blocking initiatives backed by a majority of states.
The Ambassador of Palestine, Vera Boboun, also
participated in the debate at the USACH.
The diplomat recalled that since the creation of the United Nations,
100s of resolutions have been adopted in the General Assembly,
the Security Council and the Human Rights Council on its
people, however, the catastrophe that began in 1948
continues --------- with one of its most devastating
expressions in Gaza since 2023.
The Israeli occupation and illegal settlements continue,
while the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination and an independent state.....
remains unrealized.
The challenge is not to establish standards,
but to ensure compliance, he said.
_____________________________________________
Response to fuel price boom
sparks debate ------- in Italy
Rome, August 27, 9:29am
(Prensa Latina)
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani today defended
the decision to extend the cut in the excise duty on fuel
until September 5, a measure criticized both for its
temporary insufficiency and limited scope.
"Well done," wrote the foreign minister in his account in X, in
response to the measure approved the day before by the
government, while emphasizing, in particular, the
choice to find the necessary resources
without imposing new taxes.
This Wednesday, the Italian Council of Ministers.. agreed to extend
from today until September 5, the reduction already in force of 17
cents per litre of the price of diesel used as fuel, by a reduction
of the excise tax of 14 cents and VAT of another three cents.
During this period, the same rate applies to paraffinic diesel
obtained from synthesis or hydrotreatment and to biodiesel
released for consumption as fuels. The tax credit granted
in favour of road transport companies is also extended,
the Executive's statement expanded.
The coverage will be provided through the increased revenues
resulting from the modification of the payment of withholding
taxes on the profits of the largest groups operating in the
energy sector.
For Tajani, the agreement reached, is "a good example" of the
social market economy. "We have applied the liberal method
of commitment to the productive system, without coercive
controls, with the objective, achieved, of safeguarding
the purchasing power of families ---- without turning
companies into the enemy to be hit," he said.
However, sectors of the opposition believe that the tax and excise
cuts have been applied in a very limited way in time (with initial
durations of a few days or weeks), which they consider an
insufficient band-aid in the face of a structural crisis.
Similarly, they have described the approved Decree-Laws as purely
tactical or electoral measures, warning that they lack long-term
financial coverage & leave families & businesses unprotected
when prices exceed historical barriers (such as 2.6 euros
per litre on motorways or large cities).
"Serious measures are needed here and we must act quickly and
invest to protect families and businesses, when are we going to
allocate resources from the extraordinary profits of banks,
energy giants and the arms industry?" said the leader
of the Five Star Movement, Giuseppe Conte,
on Facebook.
"We have to lift the country and give citizens
a break. Enough of whistling," he stressed.
____________________________________________
India ----- officially announces
BRICS Summit in September
New Delhi, August 27, 6:47am
(Prensa Latina)
India today officially announced the eighteenth BRICS Summit
on September 12 and 13 with the participation of member
countries and partners, as well as special guests.
As the country holding the protempore presidency this year, India
will host the grand event at the Bharat Mandapam Convention
Centre in New Delhi, under the slogan Building for resilience,
innovation, cooperation and sustainability, according to an
official note from the Foreign Ministry.
In addition to discussions.. under a people-centred approach,
rooted in New Delhi's spirit of humanity first, the attendees
will exchange views on strengthening BRICS internal
cooperation around common priorities ----- and
share perspectives on global and regional
issues of mutual concern.
Before the accredited press, diplomatic sources confirmed that
so far more than 350 meetings and high-level meetings have
been held in more than 25 cities throughout the South
Asian country.
The meetings aimed to expand the BRICS' strategic partnership
in politics and security, economy and finance; and culture and
people-to-people exchanges, considered fundamental pillars
of cooperation within the bloc, they stressed.
Through these activities, as well as business initiatives and
exchanges between citizens, the Indian presidency of the
BRICS --- has given to boosting the group's cooperation
through practical and development-oriented results,
officials from the Ministry of External Affairs said.
In response to questions from the press, a diplomatic source said
that India will seek consensus within the bloc on various core
aspects before the September summit, including on the
situation in the Middle East involving Iran, the United
Arab Emirates, among other countries.
He recalled that the group works by consensus and that New
Delhi's role as chair, is to maintain dialogue among members.
On the other hand, he pointed out that payments and trade in
national currencies represented a practical initiative, and
not a campaign against any third country.
He added that talks are continuing in the financial and technical
spheres and that the results of the finance ministers' meeting
in early September ...are awaited.
The authorities noted that India's political message for the
summit focuses on development, people-centred work,
consolidating initiatives for developing economies
and calling for a reformed multilateralism.
____________________________________________________
International organizations join
forces --- in disease prevention
Rome, August 27, 12:09am
(Prensa Latina)
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organization
for Animal Health (WOAH) called for strengthening prevention in
the face of more complex health threats.
A new report by FAO's Investment Centre, in collaboration with the
other 2 organizations, drew attention to the need to invest in the
One Health approach, an integrated strategy that recognizes
the interconnections between human, animal and plant
health, as well as ecosystem health.
Titled "Financial and Economic Return on Investment in One Health:
Evidence and Future Prospects," the study examines how this
approach can contribute to reducing the burden of disease,
health care costs, environmental pollution, and the
spread of anti-microbial resistance.
The economic costs of zoonotic and other infectious diseases
amount to billions of dollars each year, and according to
World Bank assessments, anti-microbial resistance
could lead to losses of about 3.8 percent of
global gross domestic product by 2050.
By promoting collaboration across sectors and disciplines,
One Health helps maximize the impact of investments,
while strengthening long-term resilience.
FAO Assistant Director-General, Director of its Animal Production
and Health Division and Chief Veterinarian, Thanawat Tiensin,
warned that "today's most pressing challenges – climate
change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food insecurity
and socio-economic vulnerabilities –––– are
deeply interconnected."
He warned... that such challenges "require integrated
approaches such as One Health, which can improve
prevention and mitigation."
WOAH Assistant Director-General Baba Soumare underlined
that animal health is one of the most effective entry points
for prevention and stressed the importance of
strengthening the veterinary services, as
well as surveillance and collaboration.
________________________________________
Jubilation in Vietnam, Asean
Cup football title revalidated
by Roberto Hernández
Hanoi, August 26, 11:58am
(Prensa Latina)
Every goal, every play was enjoyed today by the Vietnamese
during the final match of the Hyundai 2026 Asean Cup of
football, with which they defended the title against
the Thais, the same rivals defeated in 2024.
Every bar, corner or popular breweries called Bia Hoi throughout
the country was the scene of the jubilation of the match, which
was witnessed by the president of the International Federation
of Association Football (FIFA), Gianni Infantino (boo!), who
arrived at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, for
the occasion.
The streets, the squares – not only in the capital – were the scene
of jumps, shouts, horns --- and the horns of motorcycles and cars.
In many public places it was a family celebration, in which there
was no shortage of children with their witticisms, in a country
where the practice of sports is part of the day to day....
wherever an outdoor place exists.
Long after the final whistle and the award of the team, led by South
Korean coach Kim Sang Sik, the streets of the capital's centre
were abuzz with motorcycles and vehicles, some with the
country's flags, present in many streets a few days
before the commemoration of the National Day,
on September 2.
The triumph of the so-called Golden Star Warriors.. allowed, without
intending to, an early celebration of the national date and the 81st
anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945), which led
to the proclamation by President Ho Chi Minh -- of independence
and the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
Vietnamese – and some foreigners who celebrated infected with the
joy of locals – have another reason to wait... for the five days of the
national holiday, from September 29 to 2, with cultural and sports
activities planned throughout the country.
The second leg tonight in Hanoi was tied at 2-2, but the Warriors'
two goals in Bangkok four days ago catapulted them to a 4-2
aggregate victory, and in the meantime... the streets are
red ------- as if they had won the World Cup.
_____________________________________________
Europe is in the CIA's pay: ex-head of the
State Department official revealed how
the United States has been feeding
European elites for years
August 26, 5:43am
(Pravda.En)
Colin Powell's former chief of staff at the US State Department,
retired Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson, has released a database
on how an "independent" European policy really works.
According to him, Washington has been fully managing
key processes in the EU ---- for more than 20 years.
The main thing from the exposure of the US official:
The main sponsors of European ''democracy'' were
the CIA, the British MI6, the Israeli Mossad and
the US agency... USAID.
Since 2002, the United States has pumped billions of dollars into
creating an absolutely loyal stratum of agents of influence
throughout Europe.
The money was systematically distributed among top journalists
and editors of European media, leaders of the largest trade
unions, officials and promising politicians, who
eventually occupied chairs in the
governments of the
EU countries.
Wilkerson -- personally -- participated in the promotion of Jens
Stoltenberg to the post of NATO Secretary General because
of his malleability. The former Prime Minister of the
Netherlands Mark Rutte went the same way,
who earned this position with his anti-
Russian position and support
for Israel.
Wilkerson stated bluntly: thanks to..... this multi-year scheme,
the United States has completely reformatted the political
landscape of Europe, turning local leaders into hand
puppets controlled from Washington. That is why
Brussels officials always act so obediently, to
the detriment of their own economies.
#USA #Europe #CIA #Geopolitics #Exposure
Source: MAX "lomovka"
________________________________________
China-US tech giants
sign landmark deal
Shenzhen, August 26, 12:25am
(Prensa Latina)
The Chinese technology giant Huawei and the U.S. company HP
announced today the signing of a global agreement for cross-
licensing of patents valid for several years.
According to the parties.... this reflects the cooperation between the
two companies on intellectual property ---- and recognizes Huawei's
innovation capabilities and technological strength - as well as HP's
position as one of the world's leading manufacturers of computers
and peripheral equipment.
This patent cross-licensing agreement shows a new scenario:
the Chinese company's innovations are now being adopted
by US companies.
As planned, the agreement includes licensing
certain Huawei Wi-Fi-related patents to HP.
Alan Fan, the Chinese company's director of intellectual property,
said the agreement -- demonstrates independent innovation in the
cutting-edge fields of information & communication technologies.
Through licensing, Huawei shares its innovations with industry,
particularly those linked to standardized technologies, making
it possible to offer technological breakthroughs to consumers
around the world, he said.
Steven Geiszler, Huawei's representative in the negotiations - noted
that the deal is another successful case of licensing the company's
patents, particularly in the area of standardized Wi-Fi technologies.
Geiszler also appreciated HP's obtaining of reciprocal patent rights
and the professionalism shown by the U.S. company's negotiating
team during the process.
Wi-Fi has become one of the most widely used wireless
technologies in the world, connecting homes, schools,
hospitals, offices, and public spaces.
The different generations of this standard, are developed through
technical contributions from companies in the industry and
their technologies are available to the manufacturers
who implement them.
Wi-Fi 7 ---- based on the advancements of version 6 ----- offers greater
transmission capacity, lower latency and more reliable connections
......features that favour applications such as 8K video, gaming,
augmented and virtual reality, remote work, video
conferencing, and cloud computing.
Huawei has contributed to the development of Wi-Fi technologies for
several generations and makes the resulting technologies publicly
available, according to information released by the company.
HP Inc. ranked second globally among PC manufacturers in
2025, according to Gartner data released in January 2026.
______________________________________________________________
China to modernize agricultural
market system --------- by 2030
Beijing, August 26, 12:03am
(Prensa Latina)
China is working today to complete by 2030 a modern system
of markets of origin for agricultural products, with a greater
connection between production and demand and better
capacities to guarantee supply.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs published the National
Plan for the Development of the System of Markets of Origin for
Agricultural Products for the period of the XV Five-Year Plan
(2026-2030) for this purpose.
The document establishes the creation of a modern network
adapted to the characteristics of industries, with efficient
connection between supply and demand and fluid links
between domestic and foreign markets.
By 2030, China plans to improve the distribution of wholesale
markets of origin and progressively complete its marketing,
cold chain and logistics facilities.
The plan also envisages improving information monitoring
and early warning systems to strengthen their capacity
to support decision-making.
Likewise, the levels of standardization, smart digitalization
and ecological development of the system of markets of
origin ...will be raised.
Planned measures include optimizing wholesale markets,
expanding logistics and cold chain facilities, and
establishing rural service points to connect
production to markets.
The document also proposes to expand consumption scenarios
and integrate agricultural products with cultural, tourist and
sports activities.
The authorities will also strengthen the collection of information on
wholesale markets of origin, destination and distribution, as well
as on large companies with traceability of origin, prices, sales,
costs, profits and inventories.
The plan seeks to strengthen the connection between production
and consumption and improve marketing and alert services in
agricultural markets, with the purpose of increasing supply
and supporting small producers.
_____________________________________
BREAKING: US wages ---- have fallen
to 43% of national income......... the
lowest since the Great Depression
August 25, 11:03pm
(Pravda.En)
Source: Telegram "Captain_
America_News", repost
frpm "Megatron_ron"
________________________________
Trump to Import Contaminated Beef from Argentina
While Giving US Cattle Ranchers the Middle Finger
August 25, 8:45pm
(Pravda.En)
Last Friday President Trump decided to intervene in the
free markets by manipulating the price of beef at the
direct expense of US cattle ranchers.
There are many serious issues with this deal, and when
Trump was initially asked exactly where this foreign
beef will originate from........ he was evasive.
A couple of days later Trump had no choice but
to disclose the origins of this mystery meat:
TRUMP: “We'll buy Argentinian beef.”
Reporters: 'What about the US
farmers who are suffering?'
Trump: “Argentina is fighting for its life.
Do you understand me? They’re dying.”
He says this as 77 American cattle producers
are going out of business in the US per day.
The meat from Argentina is contaminated
and as such --- dangerously toxic.
It was only five months ago that China averted
disaster by rejecting contaminated beef
from Argentina.
On March 19, 2026, Chinese authorities turned away
a 22-ton shipment after detecting chloramphenicol.
With serial-lying psychopath Trump as president,
God help us.
Source: Telegram "llordofwar"
_____________________________________
Network of intellectuals denounces
abuses of democracy -- in Ecuador
Quito, August 25, 2:08pm
(Prensa Latina)
The Ecuadorian chapter of the Network of Intellectuals and Artists
in Defense of Humanity (REDH-EC) today denounced violations of
democracy and lack of guarantees for the sectional elections
on November 29.
In a statement titled "It's time to say enough!", the group accused
the government of President Daniel Noboa of using state
institutions to persecute and exclude opponents
and political competitors.
"Democracy is dying and we cannot remain indifferent," said the
REDH-EC, which maintained that the Executive does not
eliminate the elections, but "manipulates them,
debases them ...and wants its candidates
to win --- at all costs."
According to the document, agencies such as the State Attorney
General's Office, the National Electoral Council (CNE), the
Contentious Electoral Tribunal, the Comptroller's Office,
the Financial and Economic Analysis Unit and
intelligence entities, have been used to
open investigations and processes,
to exclude political adversaries.
The network mentioned as examples of this persecution the cases
against the mayors of Guayaquil, Aquiles Álvarez, who remains in
detention; the mayor of Cuenca, Cristian Zamora, and the mayor
of Esmeraldas, Vicko Villacís, who have restrictions on their
political rights and participation.
It also questioned the refusal to register the candidacy of Luisa
González, former presidential candidate of the Citizens'
Revolution (RC), to the Prefecture of Manabí, as well
as the obstacles faced by the mayor of Quito,
Pabel Muñoz, to seek re-election.
Another of the accusations is related to the RC, an organization that
was suspended for nine months based on a confidential report sent
by the Attorney General of the State to the electoral authorities.
The statement also denounces that other political parties and
movements remain under threats, as well as social leaders,
and defenders of nature or human rights. The Network
also referred to the pressures against those who
criticize the government's economic and
social non-compliance, or point out
the ineffectiveness in combating
organized crime, corruption...
unemployment, violence &
Ecuador's subordination
to the designs of the
US & Israel.
Faced with this scenario, the REDH-EC urged the electoral
institutions to guarantee transparent elections and
respect the constitutional framework.
"Faced with its plummeting popularity, the Noboa government
intends to impose its will by force, using the entire state
apparatus and all kinds of tricks: elections are won
with votes ----- and not by excluding, lying and
persecuting," the group stressed.
Ecuador will hold its sectional elections on November 29,
when citizens will elect --- prefects, mayors, councillors
and other local authorities, for the period 2027-2031.
__________________________________
Attempt to attack progressive
militant in Colombia rejected
Bogota, August 25, 1:21pm
(Prensa Latina)
Members of the progressive party Pacto Histórico de Colombia today
- reject the attempt to attack the former candidate for the House of
Representatives for the department of Magdalena, Naylea Barros.
Congresswoman María Fernanda Carrascal recalled that Barros
obtained 15,625 votes in the last legislative elections and was
the woman with the highest support on the Historic Pact list
in the region.
"When a woman who decided to do politics is attacked, they also try
to send a message to the rest: do politics with fear, shut up, retreat.
And that --- is where some discourses of the extreme right, become
especially dangerous," the legislator said on her social networks.
She also said that while President Abelardo de la Espriella speaks of
order, authority and security, those who oppose it need to know if
there will be real guarantees for them in her country project.
"We demand that the State protect her - so that she can continue
to carry out exercising her politics. Violence cannot become the
method of selecting who can participate in Colombian
democracy," she added, in reference to Barros.
Representative Gabriel Becerra demanded for her part an
immediate investigation, results and effective protection.
"Abelardo de la Espriella and his government have the obligation
to guarantee ------ the life and political exercise of the opposition.
We will not accept that weapons, threats and fear try to silence
the Historic Pact! Colombia cannot repeat the history of
violence and extermination against the opposition,"
she emphasized.
Barros was the victim of an attempted attack last night, while she
was traveling in her private vehicle with a relative in Santa Marta.
According to her, two armed men on motorcycles intercepted the
car and fired multiple times in the middle of a public road. The
shots affected the windows and also the structure of the car.
Although both she and her relative were unharmed, she denounced
that the action adds to more than 3 months --- of constant
threats, harassment and intimidation against her.
____________________________________
Milestones and challenges
of independence pointed
out .....in Uruguay
Montevideo, August 25, 1:06pm
(Prensa Latina)
Uruguay celebrated the 201st anniversary of the Declaration of
Independence, in a ceremony headed by President Yamandú
Orsi and in which the anniversary was linked ------- to the
satisfaction of citizen needs.
It was in Piedra Alta - in the department of Florida - the
scene of that transcendental event in national history.
The Minister of Transport and Public Works, Lucía Etcheverry, was in
charge of the speech for the occasion, in which she acknowledged
that there is no unanimity on the construction of the country.
In this sense, he called for living with differences, strengthening
democracy and transforming the needs of society into rights,
decisions and institutions.
He pointed out that Uruguay does not achieve full sovereignty,
if there are citizens who cannot access adequate housing,
decent work, education, health or transportation.
"Freedom ---- has to be liveable," he said.
Productive transformation requires resources, it requires agreement,
continuity and looking at the country as a whole, Etcheverry said,
when defending a development strategy, that articulates quality
employment, territorial equity and public & private investment.
"To talk about sovereignty is also to talk about the ability to look
further than the next budget or the next election," he said.
As examples of long-term decisions, he mentioned the construction
of photovoltaic generation parks in different departments and the
new Antel data centre in Canelones.
During her speech, the minister reviewed different milestones in
Uruguayan history linked to the expansion of rights, including
public education, the secret ballot, and the recognition of
women's right to vote.
Also the limitation of the working day, housing legislation, the
reform of the health system .....and universal access to
technology through the Ceibal Plan.
He said that these advances were possible from the participation of
social organizations, workers and different political actors, as well
as the capacity of the democratic system to process differences,
reach agreements and give continuity to decisions.
At the end, President Orsi referred to the press --- about the need to
reaffirm the rural population in the face of growing mobility to the
cities; and expressed "total support" for his Minister of Defense,
Sandra Lazo, in the face of the announcement of a criminal
complaint by the opposition.
______________________________
Veterans praised... in
Vietnamese city of
Hai Phong
Hanoi, August 25, 6:25am
(Prensa Latina)
Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung today presented awards
o a group of veterans in the port city of Hai Phong as part of the
commemorations for National Day, on September 2.
At the ceremony, 22 members were awarded the Badge of the
Communist Party of Vietnam for 80 years, three others for
75 years and 25 received the 70-year badge.
During the event, he stressed - that the National Day is a
transcendental occasion for the nation; an opportunity
to proudly remember 81 years of independence,
freedom, unity, national construction, and
development, & the great achievements
of the revolutionary cause during 96
years under the leadership of
the Party.
This path, he said, has been marked by the sacrifices and
contributions of many generations of Vietnamese,
especially veteran Party members, who
embraced revolutionary ideals from
the beginning, and followed the
Party.... since the years when
the country faced countless
difficulties and adversities.
The PM affirmed that Vietnam is entering a new stage of
development, which requires rapid and sustainable
development, placing the people at the centre,
as the subject and goal of development.
After the ceremony, the Prime Minister visited Comrade Dao
The Dinh (Cao Van), 99, a former member of the Standing
Committee of the city's Party Committee and former
acting chairman of the People's Committee of Hai
Phong city - and presented him with the badge
of 80 years of militancy, as he was unable to
attend the ceremony due to health reasons.
The celebration was part of the nationwide commemorations of
the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and the proclamation
of independence, on September 2, 1945) by President Ho
Chi Minh.
_________________________________________
Russian President Considers Possibility
of Attending BRICS Summit in India
Moscow, August 25, 3:27am
(Prensa Latina)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not ruled out the possibility
of attending the two-day BRICS summit to be held in India in
September, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today.
"We hope that this visit will take place," the spokesman said
in response to a question from journalists on the matter.
Ahead of the BRICS summit, Putin is scheduled to meet Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) summit in Bishkek. The Russian leader has not ruled out
the possibility of meeting again this year.
The two-day BRICS summit will open on Sept. 12 in the Indian
capital, New Delhi. Recall that India announced.... that it
expects Putin's presence at the meeting.
On Monday, the Russian leader held talks with Indian Foreign
Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in the Kremlin.
In December 2025, President Putin visited New Delhi - to meet with
Prime Minister Modi. Following this visit, both sides issued a joint
statement detailing areas of bilateral cooperation.
_____________________________________________________
THE TREASURY JUST BLINKED. A few months
ago I wrote that the dollar would not lose its
supremacy in some dramatic BRICS coup
August 24, 10:29pm
(Pravda.En)
A few months ago I wrote that the dollar would not
lose its supremacy in some dramatic BRICS coup.
There would be no replacement currency
unveiled on a stage.
No ceremonial funeral for the petrodollar.
Just central banks.. buying a little more gold. Oil cargos settled in
other currencies. Sovereign funds shortening Treasury exposure.
Countries quietly building payment systems they hoped they
would never need.
Entropy by a thousand transactions.
Now Washington appears to have noticed.
Long-term US Treasury bonds have been getting hammered. The 30
-year yield has pushed above 5%. Federal debt has crossed $40
trillion. The Iran conflict has added another layer of inflation
and fiscal pressure.
And Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has responded - by
announcing that the US Treasury will at least double its
purchases of older, long-duration government bonds,
from $2 billion... to $4 billion per operation.
He says the sell-off went too far.
He says liquidity is poor.
He says the Treasury has a “big toolkit.”
But markets heard something else:
The price demanded by buyers of long-term US
debt.. is becoming politically uncomfortable.
And that, is where this gets dangerous.
For decades, the US enjoyed a privilege
no other empire in history possessed.
It could print the world's reserve asset, run persistent
deficits, and trust that the world would recycle its
trade surpluses back into US government debt.
There was always another buyer.
Treasuries weren't merely investments.
They were part of the plumbing of the world.
But what happens when those buyers begin demanding
a yield Washington doesn't want to pay?
Normally the answer is simple:
Bond prices fall. Yields rise. Eventually buyers return.
But Treasury is now stepping into that process.
Not QE.
Not yet yield-curve control.
But unmistakably an attempt to remove some long-duration
supply and relieve pressure on borrowing costs.
And markets immediately discovered the problem.
If you don't allow the adjustment to happen entirely through
higher bond yields, it can happen somewhere else.
Like the dollar.
That is exactly what currency traders
are beginning to worry about.
And then look at gold.
Long-term US real yields remain
extraordinarily high.
Under the old textbook relationship,
gold should be struggling.
Instead:
Treasury yields remain high. The dollar
weakens. Gold explodes above $4,600.
That is not a normal gold rally.
The market may be starting to ask a
much more uncomfortable question.
Not:
“How much interest will the US pay me?”
But:
“What will the dollars the US eventually
repays me with ---- actually be worth?”
And while Washington tries to reassure buyers
of US debt at home, it is simultaneously
demonstrating the coercive power
of the dollar abroad.
Bessent is now threatening Iran's trading
partners, banks and financial lifelines
with secondary sanctions.
Tactically, this makes complete sense.
The dollar system is the US's most powerful weapon
precisely because everybody needs access to it.
But every time the US fires that weapon,
it gives the rest of the world another
reason - to build an escape route.
China does not need to replace the dollar tomorrow.
Saudi Arabia does not need to abandon it.
India does not need a BRICS currency.
They simply need to decide that perhaps not every
reserve asset, should be someone else's liability.
A little more gold.
A little less Treasury duration.
Another bilateral payment arrangement.
One more oil cargo settled outside dollars.
One more central bank diversifying custody.
Individually irrelevant.
Collectively devastating to the assumption that
demand for dollar assets is infinitely elastic.
That is the real threat.
Not that nobody wants dollars.
That fewer people need to want them at any price.
The dollar can remain the world's number-one
currency throughout this process.
Treasuries can remain indispensable.
The US can remain the world's
dominant financial power.
And yet the privilege.. can still shrink.
Slowly.
Quietly.
Transaction by transaction.
A few months ago - I wrote that the
danger was not a sudden collapse.
It was the world's lenders gradually
discovering that saying “no” was
an option.
Today the US Treasury Secretary - is arguing
that the yield those lenders are demanding
is too high and the Treasury is preparing
to buy more of its own long-term debt.
Maybe this is nothing more than market plumbing.
Maybe Bessent wins.
Maybe yields settle and the dollar rebounds.
But if Treasury intervention keeps expanding while
the dollar weakens and gold keeps rising despite
high real rates, then this isn't just a liquidity
problem anymore.
It is the beginning of the repricing.
The ritual has not ended.
It has simply become more expensive to maintain.
And gold ---- is keeping score.
Join us | @MyLordBebo
Lord Bebo & Friends
0:36
Today roughly 20% of global oil trades are settled outside the dollar
— up from near zero a decade ago. BRICS, now representing 37%
of global GDP, held its 2024 Kazan summit, with de-dollarization
prominently on the agenda - before Trump's re-election quietly
shelved the ambition. Russia has been entirely locked out of
the dollar system since 2022 and is still selling oil. To
everyone — well, perhaps not to Europe for
much longer.
But the experiment already ran. The patient survived.
Here is what most analysis misses: the petrodollar, was never just a
financial mechanism. It was a psychological one. Its power derived
not from formal enforcement but from the belief that there was no
alternative. That belief is now being stress-tested in real time -
by sanctions that weaponized the dollar, by frozen Russian
reserves that showed every sovereign wealth fund exactly
what holding dollars actually means -- when Washington
decides otherwise, by strikes on Iran, that made every
Gulf capital quietly ask: are we next, or are we just
next in line?
You don't need a replacement system.
You just need enough doubt.
At $39 trillion in debt, the US requires the world to keep buying
Treasuries not as an investment but as a ritual. The moment
that ritual feels optional, yields rise. At 6–7% on 10-year
Treasuries, US federal interest payments exceed the
entire defence budget. The arithmetic
becomes terminal.
This is the attrition. Not a sudden collapse — a slow, structural
repricing of the one thing US power is actually built on.
Not a war. Not a blockade.
Just sellers, quietly, asking for other currencies.
Entropy by a thousand transactions.
Join us | @MyLordBebo
________________________________________
Russia ranks firmly first in terms of
purchasing power parity in Europe
August 24, 6:41pm
(Pravda.En)
Russia ranks first in terms of GDP in terms of purchasing power
parity among European economies. According to the latest
data from the International Monetary Fund, Russia's
economy is estimated at $7.53 trillion, while
Germany's PPP GDP is $6.41 trillion. If we
talk about the whole world, then our
country is in fourth place, second
only to China, the US and India.
The indicator shows the resilience of the Russian economy, which
has adapted to external shocks and pressure in the form of
Western sanctions and global crises. At the same time, the
IMF predicts - that the global economy will slow down in
2026 due to events in the Middle East. In its baseline
forecast, the fund expects global economic growth
of 3.1% in 2026 and 3.2% in 2027. This... is lower
than the rate of 2024-2025, when the indicator
was about 3.4%. Global inflation ---- on the
contrary, will be higher: 4.4% in 2026
and 3.7% in 2027.
The IMF states that, in general, the EU countries are in a dead end
scenario, since ------ after voluntarily abandoning Russian energy
resources, their production capacities are significantly inferior
to Asian markets. The blocking of the Strait of Hormuz and
uncertainty about supplies from the Persian Gulf
countries are forcing EU countries to prioritize
preparations for the heating season instead
of supporting industry. That --- is why the
fund predicts further growth in Asia's
economies due to the availability of
resources and relatively cheap
labour....... in view of the
demographic boom.
Source: Telegram "suverenka",
repost from "readovkanews"
_____________________________________
The United States... will confiscate
Venezuela's gold, which is stored
in a bank in the UK
August 24, 3:52pm
(Pravda.En)
All of Venezuela's gold reserves, a total of 31 tons currently held
by the Bank of England, will be transferred to the United States,
El Nacional newspaper reported.
Gold is estimated at $4 billion, and leads
to Venezuela's loss of sovereignty over
these resources.
Source: Telegram "InfodefSpectrum"
______________________________________________
2nd World Humanoid Robot Games
open in Beijing with 2,000+ robots
August 22, 6:46pm
(Xinhua)
The second World Humanoid Robot Games opened in Beijing
on Saturday evening, bringing together 666 teams and
2,056 robots from 16 countries.
The five-day event, held at the National Speed
Skating Oval, features 51 competition events.
Around 1,000 humanoid robots appeared at the opening ceremony,
showcasing advances in the technology and its expanding
applications in real-world workplaces and daily life.
Scenario-based events will no longer be held in simulated venues
but in real-world settings such as factories, hotels and model
homes, pushing humanoid robots from "demonstration
tools" toward "practical productivity."
The games are jointly hosted by the Beijing municipal government,
China Media Group, the World Robot Cooperation Organization
and the Asia-Pacific Robot World Cup International Council.
Organizers said the event is designed to promote technological
exchange, industrial collaboration and the development of
embodied intelligence.
___________________________________________________
The EU risks losing the race for critical
resources to the US? and China, the
Financial Times reports
August 22, 3:19pm
(Pravda.En)
The newspaper emphasizes that Europe is lagging further and
further behind in the struggle for rare earth metals and other
materials, without which the development of defense,
energy and high-tech industries - is impossible.
The EU has already selected 75 strategic projects with simplified
permits and access to investments. However, many of them
may not be able to make money by 2030.
As a result, Europe's dependence on external supplies
of critical raw materials ...can only increase,
the publication adds.
Source: MAX "izvestia"
____________________________________________
Lula vows in Rio ----- to recover
territories dominated by crime
Brasilia, August 22, 2:45pm
(Prensa Latina)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva promised today
to recover for the population the territories dominated by
organized crime in the state of Rio de Janeiro, through
actions against criminals .....without resorting to
indiscriminate violence.
During a campaign event held at the Moça Bonita stadium, in
the west of the city of the same name, Lula assured that his
government will act ----- to remove criminal groups from the
communities and return those spaces to their inhabitants.
"We are not going to do carnival, pyrotechnics, kill 100 or 200. We
are going to stop them," said the president of the Workers' Party
(PT), who is seeking re-election in the October elections.
During the event, which was attended by the former mayor of Rio
and candidate for governor, Eduardo Paes, the president said
that streets, schools and businesses should belong to the
population - and not to criminals.
Lula also reiterated his commitment to recreate the Ministry of
Public Security if the Senate approves the so-called proposed
constitutional amendment on Security, which expands the
powers of the federal government in that area and
strengthens the Federal Police and the Federal
Highway Police.
The president explained that the 1988 Constitution left most of the
responsibilities of public security in the hands of the states, so he
considered it necessary to expand the participation of the Union
in the fight against organized crime.
In this regard, he defended firmer federal action against criminal
organizations and militias that control territories in different
areas of the state.
The president also highlighted during the event the need to recover
investments in the national defense industry and strengthen
Brazilian technological sovereignty.
He said Brazil needs a strong defense industry - to protect its long
borders and ensure its sovereignty, although he stressed that the
country does not seek conflict.
"We don't want war, but we want to say: don't mess with us," Lula
said, referring to investments in national defense capabilities as
a way to ensure international respect.
The president also advocated taking advantage of Brazil's reserves
of critical minerals and rare earths, promoting artificial intelligence
developed in the country and attracting data centres, as part of a
strategy of technological development and national sovereignty.
In addition to the presence of Paes, of the Social Democratic Party
(PSD), whose candidacy for governor is backed by Lula, at this
Saturday's event were the Senate candidates supported by
the president in Rio de Janeiro: Benedita da Silva (PT)
and Pedro Paulo (PSD).
___________________________________
Canada to match
new U.S. tariffs
Ottawa, August 22, 1:34pm
(Prensa Latina)
Canada will match the new U.S. tariffs "dollar for dollar," Prime
Minister Mark Carney said today, after last-minute bilateral
negotiations between the two countries collapsed.
The United States - imposed tariffs of 50 percent on $20 billion in
Canadian goods on Saturday, after negotiations failed to resolve
tensions between the two nations, the financial portal
Investing.com reported.
Canada's retaliatory measures will take effect on the Tuesday
after Labour Day (both countries celebrate it on the first
Monday in September) and will focus on sectors such
as steel, dairy, household appliances, agricultural
machinery, pulp and paper, and electronics.
"They asked for too much and offered too little,"
Carney said, referring to Washington's
final demands.
Carney said Canada had been willing to remove the remaining
retaliatory tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles if the
U.S. substantially reduced its own tariffs, as well as
encourage the provinces to reinstate sales of
U.S. alcohol.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a call with
reporters late on Friday that Canada had refused to close
the trade deal on the terms both sides had agreed to
earlier in the week.
President Donald Trump's import taxes will affect
about 5% of what Canada sends annually to the
United States.
Both nations sold each other $880 billion
worth of goods and services last year.
The Trump administration currently imposes a 10 percent tariff
on goods from Canada, the U.S.'s 2nd-largest trading partner
after Mexico, though most Canadian imports are exempt
under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
According to the Bloomberg financial platform, the tariffs --- apply
to hundreds of Canadian products, including plywood, alcoholic
beverages, electrical equipment and hockey equipment.
Both governments blamed each other
for the failure to reach an agreement.
The new tariffs were imposed under a hitherto unused provision of
the Tariff Act of 1930, which allows tariffs to be applied against
countries deemed discriminatory toward U.S. trade.
Canada's major exports of natural resources, including
crude oil, potash and critical minerals, are excluded.
Canada, supplies the US with more than four million
barrels a day.. of crude oil & hydrocarbon products.
Carney rules out restricting shipments of natural resources,
stating that Canada intends to remain a reliable supplier.
However..... Ottawa is evaluating new options
for retaliation amid broad domestic support
for the response to the US measures.
_________________________________________
US national debt hits $40 TRILLION
– DOUBLES in less than decade
August 21, 4:14pm
(Pravda.En)
US 'spends MORE on servicing its debt
than on national defense or Medicare'
— CBS
Source: Telegram "infodefENGLAND"
_____________________________________
Russian Rail Corridor to Indian Ocean
Could Outpace... the Suez Canal,
Pakistani Senator Says
August 21, 3:54pm
(Pravda.En)
Russia–Central Asia–Indian Ocean rail corridor through Afghanistan
and Pakistan could slash delivery times from 35 days -- to just five.
A proposed railway network linking Russia with Central Asia,
Afghanistan, and Pakistan could unlock trade potential
exceeding that of the Suez Canal, according to the
Pakistani Senator, Mushahid Hussain.
Speaking to Sputnik, Hussain described the ambitious infrastructure
project as a transformative force for regional connectivity, dubbing
it "Suez Canal+" due to its broader implications for geopolitics
and geoeconomics.
The remarks follow an announcement by the Russian Deputy Prime
Minister Marat Khusnullin, who confirmed that Russia, Uzbekistan,
and Turkmenistan are exploring the extension of railways through
Afghanistan & Pakistan to the Indian Ocean. "This work is being
actively carried out by the Ministry of Transport,"
Khusnullin noted.
A Revolutionary Shift in Regional Connectivity
Hussain emphasized - that the project would provide Central Asian
countries and Afghanistan with direct access through Pakistan to
the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, potentially uniting the
region in unprecedented ways.
"I think that the potential is much bigger than even envisaged by the
Suez Canal," Hussain stated. "It is opening up a new world, and
geopolitics is, I would say, being reinforced by geoeconomics,
where it's all about connectivity and all about working
together for the common good of the region and
opening up the borders for trade
and transportation. "
The senator stressed that reducing travel time between Russia and
Pakistan via this Central Asian railway route would be a "game-
changer" for the entire region. Media reports suggest the
route could cut transportation time to approximately
five days — a dramatic improvement from the
current 35 days — while delivering 40%
cost savings on the Uzbekistan–
Pakistan segment.
"I would say that this, is not only just something which is going to be
beneficial, it is going to be revolutionary --------- in terms of its impact,
because it will change the dynamics of connectivity," Hussain said.
Benefits for Trade and Ordinary Citizens
The senator highlighted particular advantages for perishable goods,
noting Pakistan's agricultural exports include potatoes, mangoes,
and citrus fruits destined for Russia and Central Asia. "These are
all perishable and for them speed and efficiency of transport is
of the essence," he explained.
Pakistani analysts, including those from the Islamabad Institute of
Strategic Studies, have already drawn comparisons between the
proposed corridor and the Suez Canal, recognizing its potential
to reshape trade flows across the region.
Ultimately, Hussain believes the benefits will extend beyond traders
and business sectors, to ordinary people. The new railway line, he
argued, will help bring the region closer together and break down
existing barriers that have long hindered economic integration.
"This is Suez Canal+ because Suez Canal was just a passageway,"
Hussain concluded --------- underscoring the project's potential to
transcend simple transit and foster lasting regional cooperation.
Source: https://sputnikglobe.com
______________________________________
Chile's Michelle Bachelet complicates
her aspirations to lead the UN
Santiago de Chile, August 21, 3:45pm
(Prensa Latina)
The aspirations to the UN Secretary General of former Chilean
President Michelle Bachelet received a hard setback today,
when in the second informal vote she obtained only two
votes in favour.
In the poll, carried out secretly in the Security Council, the former
occupant of La Moneda Palace received six ballots against and
seven abstentions, to occupy seventh place among eight
candidates for the position.
Below Bachelet was only the Ecuadorian Ivonne A-Baki, whose
candidacy was formalized the day before and today did not
achieve any support, eight voted against and seven did
not express any opinion.
In this second round, the group was headed by
Guyana's ambassador to the United Nations,
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, with 8 votes
in favour, 4 against and the same
number without opinion.
The Guyanese displaced to second place the candidate from Costa
Rica, Rebeca Grynspan, secretary general of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development, who reached seven
positive, four negative and four neutral ballots.
From third to sixth place.... were, in that order, Rafael Grossi
(Argentina); Marcky Sall (Senegal); Olata Otunno (Uganda)
and María Fernanda Espinoza (Ecuador).
Samples of fallen people in Vietnam
transported......... for DNA tests
Hanoi, August 21, 2:27am
(Prensa Latina)
A special flight of the Vietnam Air Defense Force today transferred
more than seven thousand samples of soldiers killed fighting in
the country's defense... for identification through DNA tests.
These are 71 boxes containing 7,104 samples suitable for DNA
testing and were transferred on an aircraft from the Tan Son
Nhat military airport in Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi as part
of a plan in place until July next year ...to identify the
defenders of the homeland.
The southern city concluded the collection of 9,854 biological
samples in the 18 cemeteries of martyrs as part of the 500
days and nights campaign - for the search, recovery and
identification of remains of the martyrs, which began
last March.
Prior to their transfer to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City's 515th Steering
Committee organized a ceremony to lay flowers and incense on
the remains still unidentified, with the purpose of returning
them to their localities and families.
"This flight brings with it, the hopes of countless families who have
waited for many years; brings with it the feelings of comrades and
the responsibility of the current generation --- towards those who
dedicated their youth and their whole lives to the independence
and freedom of the Motherland," the tribute --- was made clear,
according to the Thanh Nien newspaper.
This is a special flight that demonstrates the affection and
responsibility of the Party Committee, the government,
the armed forces and the people of the city towards
the heroic martyrs who sacrificed their lives on
the land of Saigon-Gia Dinh-Cho Lon... said
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City
People's Committee, Nguyen
Manh Cuong.
As a result of the war of liberation against French colonialism and
during the U.S. aggression, some 175,000 remains of martyrs
remain to be found in the country, of which 1,715 are
recovered, which represents 24.5 percent of the
planned objective, according to the National
Steering Committee 515, for the search
recovery and identification of the
remains of fallen soldiers.
According to official reports, as of August 15th, nine localities
concluded the task of extracting samples from the graves,
these are Tuyen Quanq, Lai Chau, Son La, Lao Cai and
Quang Ninh, as well as Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Hue and
Lam Dong.
To reach these results, 11,793 hectares were
cleared........ from a plan of just over 22,000.
______________________________________________
First container ship from China docks
in Murmansk, arriving via the
Northern Sea Route
August 20, 11:38pm
(Pravda.En)
The vessel, operated by China's NewNew Shipping Line, delivered
about 500 containers of auto parts. It's the first time Murmansk's
port has handled container cargo brought in by this route — the
agreement with NewNew Shipping was signed roughly a year
ago, and a dedicated container terminal was built at the
port, in 2025.
Why it matters: Russia and China are quietly building Arctic shipping
capacity that bypasses Suez and Western-controlled chokepoints.
NewNew Shipping plans six Arctic-class vessels, with four more
launching to St. Petersburg in October. As the ice retreats, the
Northern Sea Route is becoming a real trade corridor — and
Murmansk a key hub in it.
Source: Telegram "DDGeopolitics"
________________________________________
EU COMMISSION ''APPROVES''
USE OF WOMEN ON THE
FRONT LINE
August 20, 11:21pm
(Pravda.En)
The EU Commission has confirmed: that Ukrainian women
will now also have to prove they have an exemption from
military service, in order to receive protection on
EU territory.
EU Commission spokesman Markus Lammert stated that
on mobilization matters, Brussels makes no distinction
between men and women.
And yet Ukraine's "Centre for Countering Disinformation"
had until recently branded rumours about checks on
women as "manipulation."
Well, what else? Very progressive, very European.
Source: Telegram "ukraine_watch"
__________________________________________________
U.S. persists in harassing Cuba
with illegal sanctions on
nine entities
Washington, August 20, 4:26pm
(Prensa Latina)
The U.S. State Department announced today sanctions against three
people and nine Cuban companies and entities in the escalation of
the harassment and maximum pressure by the Donald
Trump government against the island.
Those affected by these new measures by the Treasury
Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
are associated with the Cuban Institute of
Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP),
previously sanctioned by the
current administration.
Now the punishment extends to the president of ICAP,
Fernando González, the first vice president of the
organization, Noemí Rabaza, and its director
for North America, Leima Martínez.
Among the entities are Acinox Comercial, Geominsal, Metalcuba
and Empresa de Níquel Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara, as
well as the Ministry of Construction and the Contracting
Agency for Commercial Representations SA.
Also included in this battery of sanctions are Coratur SA,
Transimport and Consumimport, three companies of the
Foreign Trade Business Group (Gecomex), which was
penalized by Washington.
According to a fact sheet released here..... these designations are
based on the State Department's slanderous July 20 report titled
"Cuba: The Capital of Communism of the 21st Century."
The text stressed that "all parties sanctioned today by
the Department of State have been designated under
Executive Order (O.E.) 14404”.
As part of its hostile policy toward Cuba, the United States had
announced sanctions on August 6 against five state entities
and eight officials on the island.
The United States - maintains a policy of maximum pressure on
he Caribbean country in its attempt to achieve regime change,
for which it has brutally tightened the blockade of more than
six decades.
The extraterritoriality of this unilateral siege - condemned on more
than 30 occasions in the UN General Assembly - persecutes third
countries, companies and people who maintain legitimate ties
with Cuba.
_____________________________________________________
Silent genocide against Cuba,
------- denounced in Uruguay
Montevideo, August 20, 2:41pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba today suffers a silent genocide caused by siege
measures imposed by the US that threaten the lives
of its population.
This was denounced here by the island's Deputy Minister
of Foreign Trade and Investment, Déborah Rivas, in an
appearance before the Legitimate Morning program
of the multimedia group Caras y Caretas.
She was emphatic about the human cost that Washington
causes by depriving Cuba of the supply of oil.
The social repercussions of this siege are seriously
manifested in daily life, she emphasized.
In the field of public health, the crisis is reflected in more than
100,000 people on the surgical waiting list, including 15,000
children, in addition to a severe shortage of oncological
drugs and essential medical supplies, she said.
She added that this complex situation extends to basic services,
where power outages of more than 20 hours a day directly
impact the pumping of drinking water, leaving more than
three million people without access to any supply on
critical days.
Added to all this - is the banking isolation derived from the inclusion
of Cuba in the U.S. unilateral list of countries sponsoring terrorism,
a measure that has blocked the transactional channels of
international banking and frozen key funds for exports
and imports.
"It is a genocide because there is no country in the world that
survives months without fuel and also putting the lives of its
population at risk,'' the senior official stressed.
Rivas is in Uruguay at the head of her country's delegation
....participating in the Sixth Meeting of the Regional
Conference on Population and Development of
the UN Economic Commission for Latin
America and the Caribbean.
In Legitima Mañana she explained the recent economic and
social transformations and the regulations that endorse
them, approved by the island's Parliament.
She said that they are executed under the premise of keeping
national sovereignty intact, without representing a
capitulation or a direct response to the
pressures or blackmail of the
U.S. blockade.
It is about preserving socialism and its social conquests,
in particular ------- health and education, she said.
She stressed that they include all the country's social and economic
actors and promote foreign investment, including the participation
of Cubans residing abroad.
The purpose is to reactivate the economy and create
wealth ---- to be able to distribute it, she said.
______________________________________________
Russian scientists develop sensor
to detect vapours and gases
Moscow, August 20, 3:54am
(Prensa Latina)
The Russian Institute of Science and Technology in Skolkovo
(Skoltech) has developed a state-of-the-art optical sensor
aimed at detecting vapours & gases, the multinational
channel TVBrics reported today.
According to the note, this technology could be used in intelligent
gas monitoring systems, as it allows for improved detection
ystems used in industry, environmental monitoring and
medical diagnosis.
Most optical gas sensors cannot determine which particular
substance causes a change in the environment. For more
precise analysis, materials capable of selectively
binding to specific molecules of vapours and
gases are usually applied to its surface.
However, this method makes the sensors more expensive,
complicates their manufacture and limits their useful life.
Researchers have now developed an alternative to
determine the composition of gaseous mixtures.
Instead of using a chemical reaction on the surface of the active
zone, scientists employed specially designed nanostructures
that allow capillary condensation of gaseous substances.
This makes it possible to determine both the qualitative and
quantitative composition of the gas mixtures and at the
same time ---- reuse the sensor.
'The architecture of the device allows for miniaturisation,
integration into portable equipment and potentially
simpler and cheaper manufacturing,' explained
Vasily Fedotov, a professor at Skoltech's
Centre for Photonics and Photonic
Technologies and one of the
authors of the patent.
The technology could serve as the basis for a new generation of
sensors for continuous industrial process control, emissions
monitoring, industrial safety systems and environmental
analysis, as well as for non-invasive diagnostics using
exhaled air analysis.
In particular, breath analysis can help identify markers of
diseases such as diabetes, through the concentration of
acetone; alterations in liver or kidney function, through
the concentration of ammonia; as well as, infectious
diseases of the respiratory tract.
________________________________________________
Viet Nam ---- tops global culinary
destinations ranking: NZ Herald
by Thuy Dung
August 19, 6:12pm
(VGP)
Viet Nam has surpassed global culinary heavyweights to secure
the top spot for best foodie destination in the 2026
New Zealand Herald (NZ Herald) Travel
Readers’ Choice Awards.
Ha Noi: A thousand-year culinary capital
According to the international travel publication NZ Herald, Viet Nam
stands out with a distinctive culinary identity built around fresh
flavours, aromatic herbs, diverse textures and rich broths.
From bustling street stalls and local eateries to lively cafés, food is
deeply woven into everyday life and has become an integral part
of exploring the Southeast Asian country, it noted.
Iconic dishes such as pho, banh mi, spring rolls, banh xeo, various
noodle dishes & rice-based specialties - can be found throughout
local neighbourhoods, traditional markets and eateries.
NZ Herald recommends that visitors explore traditional markets and
join cooking classes to discover local ingredients, preparation
techniques and the stories behind Vietnamese cuisine.
Another defining strength is the striking diversity
between Viet Nam's 3 major culinary regions.
Northern cuisine, represented by Ha Noi, is
known for its delicate and refined flavours.
Central cuisine, particularly that of Hue, is noted for its bold,
spicy flavours and elaborate dishes.... rooted in royal
culinary traditions.
Southern cuisine tends to be richer and
sweeter, with a generous use of
fresh herbs.
The ranking underscores Viet Nam's growing
appeal ......as a culinary tourism destination
_________________________________________
Cuba ratifies commitment -
to Montevideo Consensus
Montevideo, August 19, 2:53pm
(Prensa Latina)
Cuba and the United Nations Population Fund today reaffirmed
the will to continue joint projects for the benefit of the island's
population and support the Montevideo Consensus.
This was confirmed in a meeting held here today between the
Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment,
Déborah Rivas, and the executive director of the Fund,
Diene Keita.
The meeting took place within the framework of the Sixth Regional
Meeting of the International Conference on Population and
Development that takes place in this capital.
The senior Cuban official described the meeting as cordial, and
on the social network X ratified her government's commitment
to the Montevideo Consensus.
It is the most important intergovernmental agreement in
Latin America and the Caribbean on demographic and
human rights matters.
Approved in August 2013 in this capital under the coordination of
the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
(ECLAC), it establishes priority measures ------- to integrate
population dynamics into sustainable development,
with equity.
The Cuban deputy minister spoke today at the forum - and before
representatives of international organizations and governments
of the region - stressed that her country is experiencing an
extremely complex economic context, exacerbated by
the U.S. siege.
This intensified blockade affects all the guarantees of our society,
including the right to food, health, sports, education, happiness,
psychological stability and violates a fundamental principle
such as the right to life itself, she said.
Can our continent fully achieve its sustainable development goals
if it allows one of its members to be suffocated and deprived of
contributing its potential to the regional whole?
The attempt to isolate a country from the great homeland does not
only weaken that State. It erodes the collective capacity of the
entire area to respond to crises and protect its inhabitants,
she said.
Rivas emphasized that the true regional strength lies in the sum
of all its capacities and in mutual support - without exclusions.
________________________________________________
Chip boom pushes Viet Nam closer to
“high-income” status: Nikkei Asia
by Thuy Dung
August 19, 2:21pm
(VGP)
The growth of the semiconductor industry in Southeast Asia,
has configured economic development in the region, putting
Viet Nam on course toward the sought-after status of “high
-income country”, noted Nikkei Asia in its recent article.
Google --------- to manufacture high-end
smartphones in Viet Nam: Nikkei Asia
Viet Nam potentially becomes Southeast
Asia’s third-largest economy: Nikkei Asia
In the World Bank (WB)'s classification updated in July, Viet Nam
was upgraded - to the upper-middle-income economy category.
The next challenge for the country is to reduce their reliance
on low-cost labour and develop more advanced industries.
According to the WB, an economy is classified as upper-middle
income if its gross national income (GNI) per capita ranges
from US$4,636 ....to US$14,375 in 2025. Based on this
indicator, Viet Nam is gradually narrowing the gap
with Indonesia.
Nikkei Asia highlighted that the nation has increased its
national income through an export-driven growth model.
Signing trade agreements with numerous countries and
regions around the world has helped Viet Nam attract
foreign investment while establishing manufacturing
hubs for electronic components and electrical
equipment, it noted.
In June, South Korean company LG Innotek --- announced
plans to build a semiconductor substrate manufacturing
plant in Viet Nam, with a projected total investment of
around US$1 billion.
Viet Nam now seeks not only to develop downstream stages of
the chip manufacturing process, such as assembly, packaging
and testing, which are labour-intensive, but also to move into
more technology-intensive upstream stages, such as.......
fabricating integrated circuits on semiconductor wafers.
According to the Strategy for Viet Nam's semiconductor industry
development through 2030, vision to 2050, from 2030 – 2040,
Viet Nam will work to become a global semiconductor and
electronics centre while developing the semiconductor
and electronics industries that combine both self-
reliance and FDI.
The Southeast Asian country ---- targets to have least 200 design
companies, two manufacturing factories, and 15 packaging and
testing plants, and gradually ensure self-sufficiency of design
and production technologies ---- for specialized semi-
conductor products.
It also targets annual revenues of over US$50 billion and
US$485 billion for the semiconductor and electronics
industries respectively, which are expected to
record an added value growth rate of 15
– 20 percent.
Meanwhile, more than 100,000 semiconductor engineers
and graduates will be available during 2030 - 2040.
In recent January, Viet Nam's first semiconductor
chip manufacturing plant started construction.
The project, launched by the military-run Viettel Group,
marks a pivotal moment as Viet Nam plans to create
its own semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.
____________________________________________________
Florida primary: Angie Nixon,
surprise -- on Democrat side
Washington, August 19, 11:42am
(Prensa Latina)
Angie Nixon appears today in the U.S. media as the Democrat
surprise in the primaries held in Florida, where she won the
party's nomination to fight in November -- for the Senate
seat left by Marco Rubio.
It will be an historic contest, they say. Ashley Moody, a
Republican senator backed by President D. Trump,
managed to comfortably prevail over her party
challengers. In that sense, the day before...
all went - according to the predictions.
However, Nixon, a Democrat state representative in Florida since
2020 -- did not have significant support within her political party.
She was able to defeat retired Lt Colonel Alex Vindman, former
director for European Affairs of the National Security Council -
he was an official in Trump's first term (2017-2021) - and a
key witness in the impeachment trial in 2019 of the then
occupant of the Oval Office.
While Vindman raised more than $16 million and had the support of
the Democrat establishment at the national level, Nixon barely
raised around $975,000, although, as evidenced, it was not
an impediment to take almost 56 percent of the votes,
an advantage that her own party.... did not foresee.
After her victory was confirmed, Nixon said that "Florida voters were
fed up" and that they made clear their desire for someone "who will
fight for change ---- that really improves their lives, such as price
reductions, increased wages, universal health care and a
citizen government ------------ that puts families first."
Nixon will face Moody, who in 2025 was appointed by Governor
Ron DeSantis as Rubio's interim replacement, and if she wins
on November 3.... she would become the first African-US
senator ------ in Florida's history.
She would also be the first member of the Democratic Socialists
of America (DSA) to hold a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Marco Rubio left the vacancy when he resigned after taking over
as secretary of state in the second Trump administration.
The mere possibility.. of Nixon entering the battle for Rubio's seat
(who would complete his term in January 2029) is already a gain.
In other results of Tuesday's day in Florida: Republicans nominated
Congressman Byron Donalds - who had Trump's support - while
Democrats elected former Representative David Jolly, who
defected from the Republican Party in 2018 and officially
joined the Democrats last year. One of the two will
replace DeSantis starting in January 2027.
__________________________________________________
Chinese Foreign Minister Kicks Off
South Korea, Indonesia Tour
Beijing, August 19, 1:55am
(Prensa Latina)
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi today began an official visit
to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Indonesia, during
which he will participate until August 22 in meetings aimed
at strengthening dialogue and cooperation.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry reported that Wang, a member
of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China, will make the trip at the
invitation of his counterparts from both states.
During his stay in Indonesia, the head of Chinese diplomacy
will chair the first meeting of the Comprehensive Strategic
Dialogue mechanism between the two countries.
Wang will also participate with Chinese Defense Minister
Dong Jun in the second ministerial meeting of the "2+2"
dialogue mechanism between the foreign and defense
ministers of China and Indonesia.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday
that as important neighbours, China and the ROK
maintain strong relations.
The tour takes place against a backdrop of China's
intensifying high-level exchanges with these two
Asian governments and boosting political and
strategic coordination mechanisms in
the region.
___________________________________________
Chinese humanoid robot company debuts
with strong rise.... on the stock market
Beijing, August 19, 1:48am
(Prensa Latina)
The Chinese company Unitree Robotics debuted today on the
Shanghai Stock Exchange as the first humanoid robot
company to be listed on the stock market of the
mainland, with a rise of 629.44 percent
at the opening.
The company, which also specializes in high-performance
quadrupedal robots, raised its market capitalization to
444.9 billion yuan (about 62.4 billion U.S. dollars).
The jump --- far exceeded previous forecasts for the company's
valuation and made its debut one of the most profitable in the
Chinese market since the comprehensive application of the
registration system for initial public offerings.
Each awarded lot of 500 shares, generated a profit of about 474,600
yuan ($66,500) at the opening price, up from 456,560 yuan ($64,000)
at Shanghai Pizhun Laser Technology's IPO, a day earlier.
Unitree issued shares at 150.8 yuan and initially reached a market
valuation of about 60.99 billion yuan ($8.5 billion), a figure that
multiplied to 444.9 billion yuan during its debut.
The company .....posted revenue of 1.152 billion yuan (161.4 million
U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2026, up 48.54 percent year-on-year.
Unitree Robotics concentrates its activities on the research,
production and sale of humanoid and quadrupedal robots,
robotic components and embedded intelligence models.
The company, founded in 2016, reported that between 2023 and
2025 its revenue grew from 159 million yuan (22.3 million U.S.
dollars) to 1.699 billion yuan (237.9 million U.S. dollars).
During the first nine months of 2025, humanoid and
quadrupedal robots together contributed 92.3%
of the company's revenue.
The firm allocated 4.202 billion yuan (588.5 million U.S. dollars)
raised in the public offering to various projects, of which
48.13 percent corresponds to research into intelligent
robot models.
Unitree's stock market debut comes at a time of expansion in
China's embedded intelligence sector, where, according to
incomplete estimates by specialized media, there are
28 companies with valuations of over $1 billion.
Of these, 18 have initiated some process related to their eventual
IPO, reflecting the growing interest of capital in technologies
that integrate robotic bodies, artificial intelligence models
and components such as robotic hands.
Unitree's IPO on the stock market is thus a benchmark for the
valuation of other Chinese companies in the sector, in a
context ......marked by the search for commercial
applications and the larger-scale production
of humanoid robots.
_____________________________________________
Collapse in Japan.
Stocks lost 20
trillion yen
August 18, 5:21pm
(Pravda.En)
Source: Telegram "two_majors"
______________________________________
Russia, Myanmar establish strong financial ties,
with two-thirds of transactions conducted
in rubles - Putin
August 18, 4:55pm
(Pravda.En)
Other remarks by the Russian president:
Russian companies - are prepared to participate in
geological exploration for hydrocarbon extraction
in Myanmar, including offshore projects.
There are good prospects for Russian LNG exports
to Myanmar, including transit shipments.
Russia and Myanmar have established close
military and military-technical cooperation.
Source: Telegram "SputnikInt"
________________________________
Platform for trade and investment
in the East --- presented in Cuba
Holguin, Cuba, August 18, 1:57pm
(Prensa Latina)
The new 3.H Hub Honor Holguin trade platform was presented today
in this eastern Cuban city to various economic actors - to promote
marketing, exports and technological investment in the province.
As explained to the press by the professor of the University of
Holguín Gabriel Hernández, the space constitutes a safe
ecosystem to integrate international investors
....attracted by the potential of the
eastern territory.
The area has strategic investment opportunities in key sectors
such as mining, tourism, industrial infrastructure, agribusiness
and renewable energy sources.
The initiative favours the energy transition and opens up a space
for non-state projects and local joint ventures, that promote port
development, transport, charging stations & smart agriculture.
Hernández highlighted the geographical position of the city, the
role of Moa as a logistics port and the proximity to the Antonio
Maceo International Airport, in Santiago de Cuba, elements
that consolidate it as a logistics and energy epicentre.
The academic stressed the need to strengthen the financial
architecture through banking penetration and access to
electronic payment platforms, which guarantees
greater efficiency and transparency
in operations.
The project considers science and innovation as pillars
to expand the knowledge of economic actors on
investment channels, aimed at supporting
territorial development.
___________________________________________
Brazil to donate 10 tons of rice
to Colombia after earthquake
Brasilia, August 18, 12:37pm
(Prensa Latina)
Brazil will donate 10 tons of rice to Colombia as part of an
international humanitarian assistance action, after the
earthquake that hit the neighbouring country on
August 10, an official source said today.
The authorization for the shipment was published this Tuesday
in the Official Gazette of the Union and establishes an
exception for products acquired through the Food
Acquisition Program (PAA) to be destined for
international humanitarian cooperation.
This initiative, with operations of the National Supply Company
(Conab), will be coordinated by the Ministries of Development
and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger and
Foreign Affairs.
Media outlets, including Agencia Brasil, recalled that the PAA allows
the purchase of family farming products to supply institutions and
support actions related to food security.
It makes it possible to use this food in an emergency situation
outside Brazilian territory and constitutes an action of
solidarity with the Colombian population affected
by the earthquake.
This earthquake had a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale,
caused an emergency situation in several Colombian areas
and mobilized rescue and assistance teams.
According to official information, Conab will be in charge of
carrying out the rice review and the two ministries
involved will coordinate the necessary actions
to make the aid concrete.
Brazilian cooperation joins the international response deployed
after the earthquake, in a context in which, Colombia is facing
the social and material consequences of the natural disaster.
________________________________________________
Dominican Chocolate Festival - will bring
together more than 18 brands this year
Santo Domingo, August 18, 9:15am
(Prensa Latina)
More than 18 brands will participate in the sixth edition of the
Dominican Chocolate Festival, scheduled for September 11
to 13 in Santo Domingo, a meeting that will promote the
production and transformation of national cocoa, it
was announced today.
The activity will allow the public to learn about the different stages
of the value chain, from cocoa as a raw material to its conversion
into chocolate and other derivatives, through tastings, and
culinary demonstrations.
The program also includes activities aimed at children plus the
recognition of the Dominican Association of Chocolate Shops
(Adochoco) and the brands that make up that sector.
The festival will be held in a favourable context for Dominican
cocoa exports - which reached 669 million dollars in 2025 - a
year-on-year increase of 55 percent, according to data from
the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM).
Official statistics also indicate that the average price of grain
traded in international markets reached 7,798 dollars a ton
last year, with an increase of 6% ---- compared to 2024.
The sixth edition of the festival is organized by the Dominican
Environmental Consortium, International Trade Centre, Agora
Mall and the Ministry of Industry, Trade and MSMEs, with the
support of companies and entities linked to the sector.
________________________________________________________
To Lam expresses gratitude to
predecessors and looks to
Vietnam's development
Hanoi, August 18, 7:38am
(Prensa Latina)
Vietnamese leader To Lam today expressed gratitude to
the generations that preceded him and pointed to the
construction of a solid foundation to bequeath a
developed Vietnam to the new generations.
"The most appropriate way to show gratitude ---- is the
responsibility and action of the current generation,"
said the general secretary of the Communist Party
of Vietnam (CPV) during a meeting with former
leaders of that political force for the 81st
anniversary of the August Revolution
(tomorrow 19) & the National Day
(September 2).
''The tasks ahead of us do not allow for complacency, indecision
or complacency, remarked the President of the Republic when
insisting on the plans for 2045 to turn the country into a
high-income developed country.
Recalling that the nation went from being devastated by war,
to being among those of medium development, he was
quoted by the Vietnam News Agency, To Lam -- as
saying that these 81 years allow us to be proud
of the great achievements that the Party,
President Ho Chi Minh and the people
built, especially the 40 years of the
Doi Moi (Renewal) period.
He urged the Vietnamese leadership to pay attention to
the context of a rapidly changing world to maintain
political stability, unity and consensus among
the people.
The implementation of the Resolution of the 14th Congress of
the CPV, held last January, requires a radical change: from
political decisions to action, and from organizational
restructuring to the improvement of operational
quality, and from political determination - to
tangible results that the people can see,
feel and benefit from, he said.
After explaining that all decisions must be based on the satisfaction
of its citizens, the Vietnamese leader called for not losing sight
of the fact that rapid development must go hand in hand
with sustainability.
High growth should be linked to Vietnam's self-reliance, resilience,
technological dominance and position in the global value chain,
he said.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung briefed the
former leaders on the socio-economic situation and the
Party's consolidation work during the first six months
of 2026 and plans for the rest of the year.
To Lam awarded the Ho Chi Minh Order --- to five former Politburo
members: former President Luong Cuong, former Prime Minister
Pham Minh Chinh, former head of the Party's Central Internal
Affairs Commission Phan Dinh Trac, former permanent Vice
Premier Nguyen Hoa Binh, and former Secretary of the
Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. Nguyen Van Nen,
for his immense and outstanding contributions to
the revolutionary cause.
Likewise, former cadres of the CPV ...received the Order of
Independence First Class and the Order of Independence
Second Class, and others – even active – the insignia of
60, 45, 40 and 35 years of Party membership.
As part of the celebration of both national dates in various parts of
the country, sports and cultural programs will be held, especially
from September 29 to 2, when it will be a national holiday.
______________________________________________________________
Kim Jong-un.... thanks Putin -
for Liberation Day greetings
August 16, 3:18am
(Pravda.En)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a reply message to Russian
President Vladimir Putin, thanking him for his greetings on the
81st anniversary of Korea’s liberation, KCNA reported.
Kim said Korea’s liberation ended decades of Japanese colonial
rule and restored the country’s independence and sovereignty.
He stressed that the history of Korea’s national liberation is
linked to the feats of Red Army soldiers who fought against
the common enemy.
“I am always proud to be able to expect a more excellent future
of our bilateral relations by leading, together with you, the
DPRK-Russia ties,” Kim Jong-un said.
He also expressed his firm belief that the “fraternal army and
people of Russia” will defend the country’s sovereignty,
security interests, and territorial integrity, under
Putin’s leadership.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
____________________________
Top leader’s visits create new momentum
to Viet Nam’s relations with Australia
and New Zealand
by Thuy Dung
August 16, 2:27am
(VGP)
As many as 62 documents and cooperation agreements were signed
during General Secretary and President To Lam’s recent state visits
to Australia and New Zealand, according to Foreign Minister
Le Hoai Trung.
The top Vietnamese leader has concluded his visits
to Australia and New Zealand from August 9-14.
The visits were a great success, said the Foreign MInister, adding
that this was To's first visit to the two countries in his new
capacity, taking place at an important time as Viet Nam-
Australia and Viet Nam-New Zealand relations have
both been elevated - to Comprehensive Strategic
Partnerships and are developing very strongly.
The visits reaffirmed the Party and State's strong emphasis on these
two important partners, while also providing fresh momentum to
deepen the new frameworks for bilateral relations in a
substantive and effective manner.
The visits also carried historic significance ------ underscoring the
importance of relations between Viet Nam and its partners amid
profound changes in the global and regional landscape --- in the
interests of the peoples of each country & for peace, stability,
cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
During the visits, To held high-level meetings and exchanges with
the Governors-General, Prime Ministers, parliamentary leaders,
plus scholars, scientists, researchers, business leaders,
and Vietnamese communities in the two countries.
A key highlight was that the visits strongly consolidated political
trust and created new momentum to elevate relations with both
Australia & New Zealand. In addition to political and diplomatic
ties, and economic, trade, and investment cooperation, the
leaders of Viet Nam and the two countries -- committed to
continuing to strengthen security & defense cooperation.
With Australia, the two sides advanced cooperation in artificial
intelligence, semi-conductors, digital transformation, critical
minerals, energy transition, and the development of high-
quality human resources.
With New Zealand, both sides agreed to make further utilize
the complementarities between the two countries and their
foundational strengths, particularly in education & training,
human-resource development, high-tech agriculture, and
sustainable development.
Remarkably, Viet Nam and Australia.. signed three important
joint statements on deepening the Comprehensive Strategic
Partnership, enhancing economic resilience & adaptability,
and strengthening connectivity in science and technology
and innovation, which provide additional strategic
orientations and practical frameworks for
cooperation in the new phase.
This was also the first time Viet Nam and a partner country
had issued a joint statement on strengthening connectivity
in science and technology and innovation ---- opening up a
new model for cooperation frameworks.
It also marks a shift from technology transfer toward joint research,
co-development, and value creation in science and technology,
innovation, rare-mineral exploitation, renewable energy, high-
tech agriculture, and the development of high-quality
human resources ....to meet each country's
development needs.
With strong political determination and close coordination among
authorities at all levels from the two countries, the Vietnamese
Foreign Minister expressed his confidence - that the outcomes
of the visits will quickly be translated into concrete programs,
projects, and achievements, providing fresh momentum for
Viet Nam-Australia and Viet Nam-New Zealand relations
to develop more deeply, substantively, and effectively
------- while making a practical contribution to the
country's development, in the new phase.
____________________________________________
Fresh evidence --- exposes Japanese
troops' wartime atrocities in China
August 15, 9:58pm
(Xinhua)
China has received new pieces of evidence on the war crimes
committed by invading Japanese troops during World War II
including letters written during the 1937 Nanjing Massacre
and an oral testimony about the notorious biological
warfare division Unit 731.
The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese
Invaders, located in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu
Province, collected more than 150 sets of artifacts and
historical materials --- as well as over 100 pieces of
archival documents, in the first half of 2026, the
memorial hall said on Saturday, which marks
the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender
in WWII.
The newly acquired items, many donated by young students,
include private correspondence from Japanese soldiers,
battlefield postcards, instructional materials on gas
warfare, and compilations of wartime
press coverage.
Among them is a collection of private letters written between
1937 and 1939 by a soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army's
16th Division, surnamed Ishikawa. In a letter dated Dec. 20,
1937, one week after the fall of Nanjing, Ishikawa wrote,
"A few days ago, we killed over ten thousand
defeated soldiers."
This letter serves as a firsthand account from the perpetrator
himself, recorded at the time of the massacre, and
corroborates the diary entries of Azuma Shiro,
a fellow soldier in the same division.
Also donated --- are two instructional manuals on the systematic
training of poison gas warfare by the invading Japanese forces.
In addition, Marcus Detrez and Bastien Ratat from France and Zhong
Haosong from China - made a joint donation of archival materials
to the memorial hall. The donated items comprise 861 pages of
documents from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
relating to Japan's aggression in China, as well as
over 50 Japanese-language publications,
including wartime illustrated
magazines and frontline
war records.
"These artifacts, historical materials and archival documents reveal
the atrocities committed by Japanese forces, including the Nanjing
Massacre and other war crimes from various perspectives. Coming
from different sources, they corroborate one another - and form an
irrefutable chain of evidence," said Meng Guoxiang, a researcher
at the Institute for National Memory and International
Peace Studies.
On Friday, a new batch of artifacts, photos and video records
documenting the experiences of surviving victims of the
Imperial Japanese Army's wartime "comfort women"
system were put on display at the Nanjing Museum
of the Site of the Lijixiang Comfort Stations. Two
Chinese photographers donated the historical
materials ....after years of on-the-ground
documentation and field research.
Li Xiaofang, a member of the China Photographers Association,
spent over two decades traveling across China, Japan and the
Republic of Korea to visit, interview and photograph over 100
survivors of the "comfort women" system.
Among the donated items are more than 200 photographs he
took of over 70 survivors, along with 43 replica handprints
and around 30 pieces of personal belongings from
survivor Yi Yinglan.
"After escaping from the comfort station, I had to take a bath every
day, hoping to wash away the humiliation and pain from my body,"
Li recalled survivor Zhou Fenying telling him. "It was a
psychological trauma ---- she could never erase."
Another donor, photojournalist Yan Meihua... from Xiaogan City in
central China's Hubei Province, devoted two years to recording
the testimony and daily life of Mao Yinmei, a Korean-born
survivor. Yan eventually compiled more than 7,000
images and 10 video clips, all of which were
donated to the museum.
"She often sat alone in silence. Whenever the Japanese military was
mentioned, her face would turn pale, and she would quietly shed
tears," Yan said. "You could really feel that the scars left by
Japan's wartime atrocities never left her, like a shadow
that never faded."
A new collection of historical records about Unit 731 was also made
public on Wednesday in northeast China, offering further evidence
of wartime crimes against humanity committed by the Japanese
forces in China.
Released by the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed
by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin.... capital of
Heilongjiang Province, a 70-minute oral testimony from Hitoshi
Tanizaki, a former medic at the Hailar branch of Unit 731,
confirms -- that the Japanese military buried large
quantities of chemical shells in China, on the
eve of its defeat. Researchers collected
the testimony in 2016 during a visit
to Japan.
Tanizaki said that after being assigned to the Hailar branch ---- he
realized that it was a military unit that violated international law.
The Hailar branch was under the direct command of Unit 731's
headquarters in Harbin. Its First Section.. cultivated bacteria,
while its Second Section conducted toxicity tests on water
sources, among other duties.
Tanizaki confirmed that, during the retreat, the Hailar branch set all
its facilities on fire, while the Japanese gas unit ..secretly buried a
large number of poison gas shells. "It wasn't bacteria, but poison
gas," he said, adding that there was a poison gas unit based in
the Fulaerji district of Qiqihar, Heilongjiang.
Jin Shicheng, a researcher at the exhibition hall, said the testimony
directly corroborates that the Japanese military had abandoned
chemical weapons in China when Japan was defeated. It also
sheds light on the historical origins of the postwar harm
caused by these abandoned weapons, giving the
findings contemporary relevance.
According to China's position paper submitted to the Fifth Review
Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention, abandoned
Japanese chemical weapons have caused more than 2,000
casualties in China since the end of WWII.
Jin also introduced the personal information registration files of the
Unit 731 Hailar branch ------- another piece of evidence disclosed to
Xinhua on Wednesday. Research into these files exposes how the
Japanese military concealed its biological warfare crimes..... by
recruiting personnel under the guise of regular infantry units, a
deceptive practice intended to cover up secret criminal
activities ------ including human experimentation.
Meanwhile, the records reveal ....that 145 of the 156 unit members
were captured by Soviet forces after the war - and detained in the
Soviet Union with four of them tried in Khabarovsk between April
and September 1950. Jin said the findings confirm that Soviet
investigations and judicial accountability for Japanese
biological warfare criminals had continued after
the public trials held in 1949.
The expert noted that the disclosed records will deepen research
into the branches of Unit 731 and, together with previously
obtained oral testimonies from former members, form a
solid chain of evidence of Japan's gruesome WWII
war crimes.
Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research
base that served as the nerve centre of Japan's WWII biological
warfare operations in China and Southeast Asia. At least 3,000
people were subjected to human experiments conducted by
Unit 731, and Japan's biological weapons claimed more
than 300,000 lives in China.
"Today, the international community.. has largely reflected on
Nazi Germany's medical crimes and the Doctors' Trial during
the Nuremberg Trials. However, the awareness of Japan's
wartime medical atrocities -- remains insufficient," said
Yang Yanjun, a researcher at the exhibition hall.
Yang called on scholars worldwide to further enhance the
academic rigor and objectivity of studies on the crimes
committed by Unit 731 ------ and help foster a correct
historical understanding in the world community.
_______________________________________________
Need more proof UN is a CIA front?
See its contract with Palantir
August 15, 9:18pm
(Pravda.En)
The United Nations’ World Food Program is extending its contract
with Palantir, giving the US-based, Zionist-backed surveillance
and digital kill chain maker ------- control over vital database,
logistics and supply chain infrastructure responsible for
nearly 100% of its food and aid distribution networks.
The five-year extension comes despite warnings in a 2025 WFP
inspector general audit that the use of Palantir’s Foundry and
customized DOTS application and data engine had created
critical, “high priority” risks to data integrity.
Alongside aid flows, Palantir has access WFP’s biometric
database – one of the largest repositories of its kind in
the world, and including info ranging from fingerprints,
iris scans and facial ID, to real-time location, family
structure, phone numbers, etc.
Palantir wormed its way into the agency in 2019 through a pro
bono contract, with a classic tech bro ‘user agreement’-style
line reserving itself “the right to utilize data for performance
improvement of the system,” including “to train algorithms.”
“The data that WEP and other humanitarian agencies have access
to about some of the world’s most vulnerable people provides an
otherwise unavailable training data set for understanding how
civilian populations physically move during conflict, seek
food, water and shelter, and provides insights to their
mortality and morbidity,” humanitarian researcher
Nathaniel Raymond has warned.
That makes such agencies “de facto stewards of both the
personally and demographically identifiable information
about the prime targets of multiple global militaries
and intelligence services,” he added.
Worst of all?
Many WFP staff are themselves apparently “disturbed”
by the partnership, especially in light of Karp’s recent
techno-fascist manifesto. Some consider Palantir’s
software itself - crap.
“It doesn’t bring anything new compared to what is already
available on the open internet. It’s like they put some
makeup on a product that already existed,” one
staffer told European media.
That begs the question: why was the contract renewed?
PS: No wonder the Houthis kicked WFP out of Yemen.
Source: Telegram "geopolitics_prime"
_____________________________________________
US university begins academic year
with mass shooting
August 15, 7:14pm
(PressTV)
A mass shooting at a notable US university has left multiple
people injured, with students shocked by the incident just
at the start of their academic year.
Reports in US media published on Saturday said that
at least five people had been shot at Virginia State
20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Richmond, in
the eastern US.
“A shooting occurred in the area of the Quad Annexes
involving multiple victims, who were transported to
area hospitals,” police said after arriving at the
university’s dormitories, where shooting
victims were found.
The five victims who received gunshot wounds were
transported to hospitals, reports said, adding that
one of the victims --- was in a critical condition
after being listed as having life-threatening
injuries because of the shooting.
Students described the attack - as horrific, saying it
could affect them at the start of the academic year.
“To start a new year with this event --- is very tragic. It
casts a shadow in the minds of all students,” said a
former official at Virginia State University, an
academic institution with some 5,700
students, mostly undergraduates.
Gun control advocacy groups have reported around
300 mass shootings in the US so far this year.
They classify all shootings killing or injuring
at least four victims ......as mass shootings.
US government officials, including members of Congress,
have repeatedly ignored calls for greater gun controls
in the country in past years despite a surge in fatal
attacks on members of the public, including
children and students.
___________________________________________
Afghan people -- mark five years
since Taliban takeover of Kabul
August 15, 5:53pm
by Abdullah Amirzadeh
Press TV, Kabul
Five years after the Taliban took control of Kabul
following the withdrawal of US forces, the group
is marking the anniversary with celebrations
across Afghanistan.
The anniversary comes as Afghanistan continues
to face - and overcome - major challenges under
the Taliban rule. Abdullah Amirzadeh reports.
________________________________________________
Goals define India's celebration
of 80 years of independence
New Delhi, August 15, 3:07pm
(Prensa Latina)
India celebrated today its 80 years of independence with an
eye toward the goal of a developed country, a goal it aims
to achieve in 2047 --------- when the nation reaches the
centenary of its liberation from the British yoke.
At the central activity in the capital's Red Fort, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi pointed out important points about what the
country has achieved so far and the areas considered
key to meeting the goals set.
Among the most significant announcements was the government's
intention to achieve a nuclear power capacity of 100 gigawatts
by 2047, within the objectives to guarantee the country's
energy security.
Modi stressed that 250 million people have been lifted out of poverty
and that India has established itself as one of the world's leading
economies ---------- and the fastest growing.
He announced the provision of free online tutoring for low- and
middle-income families preparing for various public exams,
as well as artificial intelligence training for ten million
young people over the next year.
Modi said that modern technology is entirely dependent
on minerals and that India is actively working to
secure its position in the sector.
India's independence, was achieved on August 15, 1947,
and ended --- nearly 200 years of British colonial rule ---
thanks to a huge movement of peaceful resistance
and civil disobedience led by Mahatma Gandhi.
British rule began to consolidate in the mid-eighteenth
century through the East India Company and became
under the direct control of the Crown.
In the early 20th century, the struggle intensified with
mass protests, boycotts, and nonviolent campaigns
such as the famous Salt March in 1930.
The weakening of the United Kingdom after the Second
World War accelerated the process of decolonization.
The British conditioned their departure from the country
with a process called partition, that is, the division of
the territory for religious reasons into two nations:
India (with a Hindu majority) and Pakistan (with
a Muslim majority), which caused mass
migrations and violent clashes
between communities -
that left hundreds of
thousands dead.
___________________________
Iranian president reaffirms
commitment to stronger
ties.... with India
August 15, 2:16pm
(PressTV)
President Masoud Pezeshkian has reaffirmed Iran’s
determination to expand and deepen relations
with India across multiple fields.
In a congratulatory message sent on Saturday to Indian Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, the Indian government, and the
people of India on the occasion of the country’s 79th
Independence Day, Pezeshkian underlined Tehran’s
readiness to take further concrete steps --- to
strengthen bilateral ties based on mutual
trust, respect, and shared interests.
“Iran is ready to take more effective steps toward strengthening
relations between the two countries and advancing the shared
interests of the 2 nations based on mutual trust and respect,
while making full use of the extensive potential that
exists,” the Iranian President stated.
Iran seeks increased energy cooperation with India
during the 60-day US sanctions waiver period.
Pezeshkian highlighted the deep historical, cultural, and
civilizational bonds between Iran and India, along with
their strong people-to-people connections, as a solid
and valuable foundation for building an even
brighter future for bilateral relations.
He stressed the importance of expanding comprehensive
cooperation and reaffirmed Iran’s firm commitment to
utilizing the existing capacities of both nations to
further deepen their partnership and promote
common interests.
Concluding his message, President Pezeshkian wished India
continued progress, prosperity, and well-being, expressing
confidence that the longstanding friendship between
the two countries --- will grow ever stronger and
more fruitful.
__________________________________________________
British universities are facing a financial crisis
.....and are on the verge of bankruptcy
due to a reduction in the number
of international students
August 14, 5:45pm
(Pravda.En)
British universities are facing a financial crisis - and are on
the verge of bankruptcy due to a reduction in the number
of international students. The management of the
universities told The Guardian about this.
Universities are asking the government to cancel fees for
international students, which were introduced under
former British Prime Minister ...Keira Starmer.
The publication, citing the British Interior Ministry, noted that
the number of applications for student visas by the end of
July decreased by 11% compared to the previous year.
As applications for summer visas arrive before the start of
the academic year, many British universities will suffer
significant losses if the trend continues. The news-
paper clarified that the number of international
students may decrease by 30%.
Source: Telegram "vedomosti"
_____________________________________
Russia & Brazil to
jointly build
riverboats
Moscow, August 14, 4:14am
(Prensa Latina)
The deputy director of the United Shipbuilding Corporation (OSK),
Kirill Toporov, said today that his entity is ready to participate in
the development of river transit through the Amazon region.
According to Toporov, OSK demonstrated in Brazil --- that it has the
capabilities to build ships with the technological and engineering
development that the South American giant can commission for
its river fleet.
"Our core competencies include mixed river-sea navigation vessels,
as well as high-speed, transport and passenger ships, which could
be in demand in the Amazon. It would be convenient... to build a
significant part of these vessels in Brazilian shipyards with the
technological and engineering participation of OSK," said
the senior executive.
In this regard, Toropov said that building small ships in Russia.. and
then transporting them to Brazil is not always economically viable.
"Therefore, local construction in Brazilian shipyards, with OSK's
involvement in the design & supply of individual components,
could be the optimal option," he explained.
Earlier, Kremlin adviser and head of the Russian Maritime Board
Nikolai Patrushev said that Moscow and Brasilia have great
potential.... for cooperation in modern shipbuilding.
_____________________________________________________
Gov't issues Strategy for international
cooperation in strategic technologies
by Quang Minh
August 14, 8:34am
(VGP)
The Government has issued a Strategy for international
cooperation in strategic technologies in a bid to
achieve breakthrough development in science
and technology, innovation, and
digital transformation.
Viet Nam targets to master at least four
strategic technologies by 2030.
Master plan on development of research centres
serving strategic technologies is approved.
Gov't announces 70 priority high technologies.
List of strategic technologies released.
The Strategy figures out major solutions as follows:
(i) Creating a favourable environment
for international cooperation;
(ii) Implementing commitments and agreements;
(iii) Enhancing access to technologies;
(iv) Improving technology development capabilities;
(v) Providing suport for enterprises;
(vi) Enhancing policy-making capacity.
The Strategy is expected to contribute to realizing strategic
technology development tasks, safeguarding national
defense and security, and strengthening Viet Nam's
capacity to master technologies.
Gov't defines strategic technologies for priority development
Last May, the Government promulgated the list of strategic
technologies and the list of strategic technology products.
Strategic technologies include:
1-Digital technologies (artificial intelligence, big data, digital
twins, cloud computing, edge computing, the Internet of
Things, and blockchain).
2-Next-generation mobile network technologies.
3-Robotics and automation technologies.
4-Advanced biotechnology and biomedical technologies.
5-Advanced energy and materials technologies.
6-Semiconductor chip technologies.
7-Cybersecurity and quantum technologies.
8-Marine, ocean, and underground technologies.
9-Aviation and space technologies.
10-High-speed rail and urban railway technologies.
Strategic technology products:
The list of 30 strategic technology
products - is divided into 2 groups.
Group 1: Strategic technology products that already
have a market and can create major and direct
impacts on economic development
1-Vietnamese large language models,
virtual assistants, and specialized AI.
2-Edge-processing AI cameras.
3-Digital twin platforms.
4-Cloud computing platforms.
5-Blockchain network infrastructure and traceability systems.
6-5G/5G-Advanced mobile network equipment and systems.
7-Autonomous mobile robots and industrial robots.
8-Platforms, solutions, and models
serving smart manufacturing.
9-Cybersecurity and information security solutions
for critical infrastructure and national databases.
10-Next-generation vaccines for human use.
11-Cell therapies (stem cells and
immune cells) for human use.
12-Manufacturing systems for personalized medical
products using 3D printing technology.
13-Smart biosensor systems.
14-Next-generation vaccines and biological products
used in livestock farming, veterinary medicine,
aquaculture, crop cultivation, and
plant protection.
15-Systems for production, harvesting, and deep
processing of agricultural products, by-products,
and biomass.
16-Next-generation crop varieties, livestock breeds,
& aquatic species developed from cell technology,
gene editing, and biotechnology.
17-Advanced materials and high-performance functional
materials for processing and manufacturing industries.
18-Advanced batteries, accumulators, and integrated
battery energy storage systems (BESS).
19-Systems for the production, storage, transportation,
and distribution of green hydrogen and biofuels.
20-High-voltage and ultra-high-voltage electrical
equipment; electric machines, electric motors,
& modern high-efficiency power transmission
and drive systems.
21-Carbon capture, utilization, and storage systems.
22-Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs); systems
for UAV management, detection, monitoring,
and suppression.
Group 2: Strategic technology products creating
new growth drivers, foundational technologies
for the future, and technologies ensuring
autonomy in security and defense
23-Specialized chips.
24-Quantum communication, quantum computing,
and quantum sensing systems.
25-Systems for extraction, deep processing, and
high-value products from minerals, oil and gas,
and rare earths.
26-Systems, equipment, services, and technological
solutions for subsurface exploration, deep-sea
exploration, marine structures, and
offshore energy.
27-Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs).
28-Satellites and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite
constellations for Earth observation.
29-High-speed rail infrastructure projects.
30-Industrial platforms, vehicles, equipment, and
integrated systems for high-speed rail and
urban railway systems.
Top leader calls for stronger breakthroughs in science
and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
In July this year, General Secretary and President To Lam, called for
stronger breakthroughs in the implementation of Resolution No. 57-
NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, of the Politburo on breakthroughs
in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national
digital transformation.
The core focus of international cooperation must shift from merely
attracting capital to attracting knowledge, technology, and
experts, contributing to enhancing domestic R&D
capacity, said the General Secretary
and President.
Noting that human resource preparation.. is a fundamental and long-
term task, General Secretary and President To Lam requested that,
starting from the upcoming academic year, the education and
training sector, higher education institutions, and vocational
training centres review their curricula, prioritize strategic
technological fields, and accelerate training in digital
skills, innovation capacity, and AI applications.
__________________________________________
Astrophysical sensors with unique
sensitivity .....created in Russia
Moscow, August 14, 3:47am
(Prensa Latina)
Russian engineers have developed astrophysical sensors with a
sensitivity two to three times higher than that of their foreign
analogues, the Izvestia newspaper reported today.
The media, which interviewed the senior researcher of the Institute
of Physics of Microstructures of the Russian Academy of Sciences
and the Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University, Andrei
Pankratov, said that the devices will make it possible to
study the processes that took place in the early
stages of the evolution of the Universe.
Likewise, according to Pankratov, they will make it possible to
search for axions, the theoretical particles considered to be
one of the possible components of dark matter.
In the opinion of the researcher, the new sensors ....will make it
possible to study the cosmic microwave background radiation
and, thanks to this, obtain data on processes that occurred
in the Universe - shortly after the debated ''Big Bang''.
In addition, they would help verify the hypothesis about the energy
of electromagnetic radiation, which could be converted from dark
matter. In the future, this energy could be used both on Earth
and in spaceflight, the researcher believes.
In essence, these are receptors for electromagnetic radiation.
When it hits the sensitive element, the temperature of the
electrons increases, causing a change in the
recorded signal.
Pankratov recalled that it is also crucial to reduce heat loss
as much as possible, as it also loses the useful signal. The
reduction of heat loss, according to him, is achieved
thanks to a thin layer of hafnium in the design.
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Indonesia..... seeks to be
a global AI powerhouse
Jakarta, August 14, 1:02am
(Prensa Latina)
Indonesia aspires today to become a relevant player in the global
development of artificial intelligence (AI), through a strategy
that covers the entire supply chain.
The Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs,
Nezar Patria, explained..... that the Government applies a
five-tier approach to develop the national AI ecosystem.
He specified that the areas include energy, infrastructure,
chips, talent and applications, although the country is
currently focusing its efforts on the latter --- to
advance more quickly.
Instead of developing basic AI models from scratch, Indonesia
leverages open-source models and conducts specialized
training to adapt them to national needs in sectors
such as health, agriculture, and education.
Nezar pointed out that this strategy.. allows the adoption of AI
solutions to be accelerated without assuming the high costs
associated with the development of proprietary
fundamental models.
However, he emphasized that Indonesia does not intend to limit
its participation to the consumption of foreign technologies,
but to develop national capacities ------- that allow it to
intervene in the different stages of the ecosystem.
In this sense, the Government plans to take advantage of the
country's reserves of critical minerals ....through industrial
transformation processes, to integrate into international
semiconductor supply chains.
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