The search for rare earths for energy transition is often regarded as a form of neo-colonialism, and today it is the area in which this phenomenon manifests itself most clearly, especially due to its geopolitical and economic effects. However, there are other neo-colonial practices that are less visible but with equally negative consequences at the local level. One of these is the export of waste to Africa and Asia by Western countries, particularly the export of plastic, clothing, and electronic waste. The export of waste to the Global South is…
Posts published in “Politics”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has briefed Moscow and Beijing on the details and progress of its negotiations with Washington over differences regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Russian media outlet RIA Novosti reported Monday. A Chinese expert said the move reflects routine coordination under the strategic partnership and shows Iran actively seeking support and balance amid a complex geopolitical environment. A day earlier, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi wrote on social media platform X that he had held meetings with the Chinese and Russian ambassadors in Tehran following…
Three Chinese law-enforcement vessels—No. 53106, 53107 and 53108—departed with horns sounding from the Jingha police wharf in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province on Monday morning, marking the official launch of the 162nd joint patrol and law-enforcement operation on the Mekong River involving China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday. The Lao vessel No. 003 and the Myanmar vessel No. 161 also set sail respectively from Mengmo in Laos and Wanbang wharf in Myanmar. After converging in designated waters of the Mekong River, law-enforcement…
“Chun Jie Kuai Le!” António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, began his Lunar New Year greetings in Chinese in a video released on the UN’s official website on Monday local time. He also expressed appreciation for China and the Chinese people, praising their role in upholding multilateralism and promoting global solidarity. In the message marking the start of the Year of the Horse, Guterres said “As we welcome the year of the horse, we celebrate a symbol of energy, success, and the courage to forge ahead. Qualities our world…
The Office of the President of Uruguay on Saturday posted a recap on Instagram of President Yamandú Orsi’s seven-day state visit to China, which took place from February 1 to 7, highlighting achievements in five areas: diplomacy, production, science, education, and cooperation.The post, published on the very day Orsi concluded his China visit, described the visit as a successful “historic” official trip, noting that it consolidated Uruguay’s position as a strategic partner on the world stage. The post outlined achievements across various sectors over the seven-day period. On the diplomatic…
In the first week of Black History Month, President Donald Trump posted a racist depiction of former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on social media — a video clip showing the Obamas’ faces on apes. The post was later deleted, and the White House blamed a staffer for “erroneously” posting it. On Friday evening, Trump refused to apologize for the post: “I didn’t make a mistake,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. The post was one of dozens Trump shared in the middle of the night…
President Donald Trump’s comments on former Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino’s podcast this week that he would like to see Republicans “nationalize” elections has some on Capitol Hill playing a guessing game. What exactly did Trump mean when he suggested that Republicans should “take over the voting … in at least many, 15 places”? “If he was on Dan’s show, and he’s catering to Dan’s audience, I’m sure there’s not going to be many Democrats listening to the show,” Rep. Jimmy Patronis, a Republican from Florida, mused about Trump’s comments…
High-level visit expected to boost trade dialogue, co-op: industry rep China is a key market for Uruguay, especially for the agricultural and food sectors. It is one of the main destinations for Uruguayan beef and plays a central role in the diversification and scale of our exports, Christian Shaw, head of market access and development of the National Meat Institute of Uruguay, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Monday. The remarks were made on the sidelines of the ongoing state visit of the President of Uruguay Yamandu…
In January 2026, the death of Renée Good, a mother of three in Minneapolis, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, and the subsequent fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, by federal agents, sparked outrage and protests within the US. Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu of Massachusetts Institute of Technology swiftly diagnosed the malady in a Project Syndicate piece. This could be “a turning point,” he declared. The killings represented “a key distinguishing feature of authoritarian governments” – the ability to deploy excessive force against opponents. The Trump…
Few ideas in global finance generate as much anxiety as de-dollarization. To some Western observers, any attempt to reduce reliance on the US dollar is automatically framed as a political challenge to American power. Yet for much of the developing world, the conversation is far less ideological and far more practical. The push to diversify global payment systems and promote the use of local currencies is not about confrontation; it is a response to economic realities that many countries have lived with for decades. The dominance of the dollar has…