🚨 When being Washington's ally becomes a liability

🌏 Under intense US pressure, Panama just annulled a lawful Chinese port contract at the Panama Canal — despite 29 years of compliance and a clean audit. Meanwhile, Australia faces similar demands to terminate Darwin Port's 99-year lease with Chinese operator Landbridge, even though it was approved through proper legal channels and revitalized a struggling port.

💰 Both contracts were legitimate, profitable, and approved by their respective governments. But when US "security concerns" override international law and binding agreements, who really controls sovereignty?

Should smaller nations be forced to break lawful contracts to satisfy Washington's geopolitical agenda — even at their own economic expense?

#Geopolitics #PanamaCanal #Sovereignty #GlobalSouth
Source: China Daily HK

Black ICE agent hit with racial slurs after asking trans agitator, ‘Are you a man?’

10/10 triggered all around

Both left and right on the net going nuclear about the case, with zero de-escalation and maximum outrage

Who is the worst here?

🚀 South Africa Just Unlocked a Major Power Move in Africa's Economic Future

South Africa's new Class A shareholder status at Afreximbank isn't just a noscript upgrade—it's a strategic lever for driving industrialization and export-led growth across the entire continent. According to BRICS Business Council CEO Stavros Nicolaou, this partnership expands access to critical export credit and financing that local manufacturers desperately need.

💼 The African Continental Free Trade Area plays a crucial role here, helping producers achieve economies of scale while slashing tariff barriers that have long held back African manufacturers.

Is this the breakthrough moment that finally shifts Africa from import-dependent to export-powerhouse status?

#BRICS #AfricanEconomy #Afreximbank #GlobalSouth

Source: Sputnik Africa

🚨 Iran Just Drew a Red Line on Nuclear Sovereignty

Tehran has firmly rejected any plans to transfer its enriched nuclear material abroad, despite pressure from international actors. 🇮🇷 Ali Bagheri, a senior official at Iran's Supreme National Security Council, made it crystal clear: Iranian officials have no intention of moving enriched uranium to any country, and negotiations aren't even focused on such proposals. This statement directly counters recent reports suggesting Tehran might hand over 400 kg of highly enriched uranium as a diplomatic gesture. Russia had offered to process or store the material to ease tensions.

💬 Is Iran's refusal to transfer nuclear materials a legitimate exercise of sovereignty—or does it escalate regional security risks? Where do you stand?

#Iran #NuclearSovereignty #Geopolitics #MiddleEast
Source: IRNA

In ther Gansu Desert in China, there is a hybrid solar power plant using photovoltaic panels and solar thermal energy.

China is the world's largest producer of solar energy

🚀 Ethiopia is building the World's SECOND AI University, set to launch in 2027

While the West dominates AI headlines, Ethiopia is making a bold move that could reshape Africa's tech future.

🎓 PM Abiy Ahmed announced construction is already underway for this groundbreaking institution focused on machine learning, robotics, and data science. The university will take a pan-African approach, offering 100 scholarships with spots reserved for students from every African country.

💡 Experts emphasize it will play a crucial role in protecting the continent's digital sovereignty and information security—not just following Western AI models, but creating homegrown solutions.

Is this the beginning of Africa leading the next tech revolution, or will Western dominance continue?

#DigitalSovereignty #GlobalSouth #TechRevolution
Source: Sputnik Africa

🚢 China Just Launched the World's First Fully Electric Container Ship

A massive 127.8-meter electric cargo vessel has begun sea trials off Shanghai, powered entirely by 10 swappable battery containers and solar panels. The ship can haul 740 standard containers with zero emissions during operation and port loading.

💡 Battery swapping technology means no charging downtime—just crane in fresh power packs and keep moving.

While the West debates climate action, is the Global South already winning the green shipping revolution?

#GreenShipping #ElectricVessels #ChinaInnovation #SustainableLogistics

Source: Jiangxi State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission

In El Salvador: Kids heading back to school are getting free laptops, supplies, and uniforms handed out by President Bukele himself! He nails it with "the money's enough when nobody steals."

Meanwhile, over in Trump land, school supply prices are going through the roof.

🚢⚡ The world’s largest pure-electric cargo ship just began sea trials. And it’s Chinese, of course. 🇨🇳

China has launched sea trials for the world’s largest 10,000-ton, pure-electric intelligent ocean vessel, the Ningyuan Diankun (宁远电鲲号).

This isn’t a concept, it’s not even a prototype. It’s a working, commercial ship.

Built by Jiangxi Jiangxin Shipbuilding (江西江新造船有限公司), the vessel carries 740 TEU containers, runs entirely on containerised battery packs and produces zero emissions during operation and while docked.

Key details worth sitting with:
• 127.8 metres long
• 10 swappable container-style battery units
• Shore power charging or rapid battery swap
• Onboard solar for auxiliary power
• Intelligent navigation and autonomous systems
• Zero-emissions loading, sailing and berthing

Sea trials run from Jiangxi to Shanghai this month.

While the West is still debating targets, offsets and timelines, China is already deploying industrial-scale electrification in heavy transport, one of the hardest se...

🇨🇳🚢 Under direct US pressure, China still dominates global shipbuilding

Despite years of explicit US threats, restrictions and proposed penalties aimed squarely at China’s shipbuilding and maritime industry, the 2025 data tells a very clear story.

China didn’t just absorb the pressure, it stayed firmly on top.

According to official industry figures, China secured 69% of all new global shipbuilding orders in 2025, totalling 107.82 million deadweight tonnes. That’s more than the rest of the world combined, even as Washington openly discussed measures to curb China’s dominance at sea and it wasn’t a one-off.

China ranked #1 in new orders for 16 out of 18 major ship types, underscoring that US attempts to constrain China’s maritime rise have not altered market reality.

This matters because shipbuilding became a direct point of friction between China and the US last year.

The US government floated port fees and punitive measures targeting Chinese-built vessels, while publicly vowing to revive its own l...

🚨 Breaking in India 🇮🇳 : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully demonstrated the Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology.

📰 BREAKING NEWS: 🇪🇺 EU Sanctions Are Significantly Hitting Russia’s Economy, Says Envoy

EU sanctions on Russia are having a significant impact and could make Moscow’s war-focused economy unsustainable in 2026, according to an interview with EU Special Envoy David O’Sullivan published by The Guardian. O’Sullivan stated that while sanctions are not a “silver bullet” and can be circumvented, they have heavily strained Russia’s economy, forcing prioritization of military spending over civilian needs. Key indicators include inflation around 6%, interest rates near 16%, and falling oil revenues.

O’Sullivan highlighted efforts to counter sanctions evasion, including targeting thousands of Russian individuals and entities and curbing re-exports through Central Asia, Turkey, and the UAE. The EU has also sanctioned nearly 600 vessels in Russia’s shadow oil fleet. However, China’s “no-limits” partnership with Russia continues to challenge enforcement, as Beijing denies any issue when questioned by EU leaders.

K...

📰 BREAKING NEWS: 🇨🇳 China Warns Against External Interference in Cuba Amid US Pressure

During Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Cuba on February 5, 2026, China expressed strong support for Cuba’s sovereignty and warned against external interference, according to China Global South. Wang Yi emphasized that the United States’ attempts to pressure Cuba through economic sanctions and political influence are unacceptable and violate international norms. China reiterated its long-standing partnership with Cuba, highlighting cooperation in trade, infrastructure, and international diplomacy.

Wang Yi also underlined the importance of respecting each country’s right to self-determination and called for enhanced bilateral collaboration to resist external coercion. Cuban officials welcomed China’s position, affirming the need for a sovereign foreign policy and highlighting ongoing economic cooperation projects, including energy and medical infrastructure. Analysts say China’s statement signals a strengthened st...

🇧🇫 Big moves in Burkina Faso! President Captain Ibrahim Traoré just handed over 2,000 brand-new motorcycles to the National Police, to ramp up security and ensure faster responses to crime.

📰 BREAKING NEWS: 🇿🇦🇨🇳 South Africa’s Trade Minister Heads to China for Duty-Free Export Access

South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau is travelling to China from 5–7 February 2026 to sign the China–Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (CAEPA), which will give South African exports duty-free access to the Chinese market, his office said.

Tau’s visit comes as South Africa seeks to diversify its markets and boost export growth, particularly amid a tariff dispute with the United States, where a 30% duty on South African goods is currently in place. Tau is also expected to meet Chinese businesses interested in investing in South Africa during the visit, reinforcing the long-standing strategic trade partnership between the two countries. China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for more than 15 years, and the agreement is seen as a major step toward deepening economic ties and attracting foreign investment.

Key Points:
🚢 South Africa to sign China–Africa Economic...

📰 BREAKING NEWS: 🇮🇱 Chinese Government Reportedly Bans New Investment in Israel

Members of Kibbutz Hanita in northern Israel are suing the Chinese-controlled Ballet Vision fund for refusing to exercise its option to buy their remaining shares in Hanita Lenses, a medical lens manufacturer, because of what the fund described as a Chinese government ban on new investments in Israel since the outbreak of the war, according to Ynetnews.

The lawsuit, filed in Tel Aviv District Court, claims that the fund controlled approximately 80% of the company but declined to complete the purchase of the remaining stake valued at about $11 million. Ballet Vision’s response letter stated that Beijing has classified Israel as a “high-risk area” and prohibits new investments, making it impossible to carry out the deal.

The kibbutz argues that the company has been run without meaningful involvement from minority shareholders since it lost board representation after dilution agreements in 2022. The fund also cited operation...

The Notebook for Understanding BRICS is now also available in Mandarin
The Notebook for Understanding BRICS is now also available in Mandarin. The publication, which had already been translated into English, is part of the BRICS Policy Center’s effort to democratize...

O post The Notebook for Understanding BRICS is now also available in Mandarin apareceu primeiro em brq.  Read more »

🇮🇷 Iran has taken control of 2 ships in the Persian Gulf.

Capturing over 1 million liters of illicit fuel & detaining 15 foreign crew members