🔎 What’s behind Trump’s push for alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative?

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which was launched in 2023, is seen by US President Donald Trump as a mechanism to reduce China’s geopolitical leverage. Why?
IMEC aims to:

🔻Diversify international trade routes

By establishing new trade routes connecting India, the Middle East, and Europe, it may offer alternative pathways for commerce, potentially reducing dependence on traditional routes dominated by China.

🔻Attract hefty investments

“It is a lot of money going to be spent and we have already spent some but we are going to be spending a lot more in order to stay advanced and stay the leader,” Trump pointed out in an apparent nod to the US’ plans to further bolster investment cooperation with its allies within the IMEC project.

🔻Build new alliances

By supporting IMEC, the US can strengthen strategic alliances with India, the Middle East, and European nations. This strengthens Western and regional cooperation in sectors like trade, energy, and technology.

🤔 Can IMEC become an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative?

Despite Trump hailing IMEC as “one of the greatest trade routes in history” and even though IMEC and BRI routes partly coincide, the answer is “unlikely” because:

▪️The BRI project comprises more than 140 countries, including those located in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, while IMEC only involves India, the US, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, France, Germany, Italy and the EU

▪️With BRI already partly running, IMEC has been stalled due to Israel’s war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Plans to revive the project are in the pipeline.

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🇦🇷🧐 Is Argentina’s Milei the ultimate crypto scam king?

#MileiEstafador (Milei the scammer) hashtag is trending on X with users posting doctored images of the Argentinian president in prison robes and calling him Scamador for his alleged role in promoting the $LIBRA crypto scheme last week and adding chaos to an already volatile financial landscape.

The nation’s fintech regulator has acknowledged that the case could be a “rug pull” scheme. Javier Milei obviously had a stake in this scheme, some observers claim, citing sources in the industry.

Milei could have possibly violated Argentina’s Public Ethic Law that generally forbids government officials from accepting donations, services or goods “as a result of their work in the performance of their public duties." Also, Milei could be possibly charged with fraud since his post manipulated market prices. And even if he was truly ignorant of the nature of the project and did not benefit from it, his action still may be considered a crime given his position.

Milei’s fishy advice comes in the wake of harsh criticism of his “neoliberal devastation” policies that led to poverty hitting 53% after six months of his presidency – a 12% increase annually.

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🔍 Hidden ties behind Ozempic maker’s billion-dollar empire: BlackRock and Vanguard’s role EXPOSED

Despite warnings about the dangers of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic, its makers Novo Nordisk, an esteemed member of Big Pharma, continues to profit. Recently, the firm became Europe’s most valuable company with a market cap over $350 billion as Hollywood stars and celebrities praised its products.

However, the question remains: Can you get any shadier than profiting from a potentially dangerous drug, especially with Novo Nordisk’s ties to controversial firms?

👀 The dark side of profits and Big Pharma traces

Among Novo Nordisk's top institutional shareholders are BlackRock and Vanguard Group, owning 5% and 2.8% of its Class B stock, respectively. Both firms have a history of profiting from conflicts, including those in Gaza and Ukraine, where they've been involved in land acquisitions amidst the chaos.

Shady connections

▪️BlackRock has a well-documented history of profiting from conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine, where they’ve been heavily involved in land acquisitions while locals face turmoil.

▪️Vanguard has similarly been criticized for its involvement in the quiet purchase of large swathes of land, particularly in conflict zones where people are distracted by ongoing violence.
So, how does this tie back to Novo Nordisk? Well, when major players like BlackRock and Vanguard are heavily invested in a company, it’s not just about financial returns — they can shape the corporate direction, often with little regard for the ethical implications of the products they help market.

Other notable shareholders of Novo Nordisk

In addition to BlackRock and Vanguard, there are a few more heavy hitters that round out the top shareholders of Novo Nordisk. Some of these companies have their own controversial reputations:

▪️Morgan Stanley (0.42%)
▪️Bank of America Corporation (0.42%)
▪️Goldman Sachs Trust II - Goldman Sachs GQG Partners International Opportunities Fund (0.7%, Class B stock)

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New long-wheelbase armored Aurus Komendant SUV unveiled

Tuning company Rida has shown off a new long-wheelbase armored version of the luxury Aurus Komendant SUV in cooperation with Aurus and FSUE NAMI.

The extended model is 500 mm longer than the standard version and features 7mm thick bulletproof steel and 50mm armored windows. It offers protection against AKM assault rifle bullets and SVD sniper rifle rounds (B6/B7 armor class). The SUV also comes with special wheels and reinforced door hinges for added security.

The Aurus is considered a presidential car, as Russian President Vladimir Putin travels in the Aurus Senat model.

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