Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization

This short video from CGTN by R. L. Kuhn, explains Xi Jinping’s understanding of ecological civilization as a key component of China’s rejuvination and socialism. “Building ecological civilization” is what the Chinese government has promoted over the past few years. It might sound vague to people in the west. However, China finds its way to sustainable development. How does the country strike balances between human beings and nature, environmental protection and economic development, and the environment and people’s well-being? R.L. Kuhn tells more. Continue reading Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization

China publishes action plan to ensure quality of energy transition

China Dialogue reports: A set of technical standards to support the low-carbon transition of China’s energy system should be established by 2025, the National Energy Administration (NEA) has stated in an action plan for energy standardisation. Technical standards provide requirements to ensure materials, products and processes are fit for purpose. China views them as a vital tool for guiding its energy system towards carbon peaking before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060.  The new standards will try to promote the adequate supply and “safety” of energy while working to upgrade the energy supply chain and lower its emissions footprint, Lin Boqiang, director … Continue reading China publishes action plan to ensure quality of energy transition

Tale of two recessions: Europe enters one while Russia defeats another

In Europe, recession now seems imminent. The International Monetary Fund has said Germany and Italy are certainly going into a recession. These are among Europe’s largest economic drivers. Their fall will trigger the slippage of other countries into de-growth as well. At the core of Europe’s economic miseries is an intense energy crisis that countries are finding impossible to surmount. That’s because Russia has played a pivotal role in supplying energy to Europe for many years. Now, the European Union has chosen to put an end to that dependence, without figuring out a real way of replacing Russian supplies with … Continue reading Tale of two recessions: Europe enters one while Russia defeats another

𝐀 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐒-𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐑.

Scott Ritter (former UN weapons inspector and former US military officer) talks with Dmitry Kulikov, a Russian political scientist, publicist and political consultant. Dimitry is an expert of the State Duma Committee of the Russian Federation on CIS Affairs and Relations with Compatriots, and A Film producer, TV and radio presenter. Source: Video shared from the Scott Ritter Show, No 8: 14 October 2022. https://youtu.be/KMwJoL6cPuA Continue reading 𝐀 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐒-𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐑.

World’s top 10 EV battery makes are all Asian

The global electric vehicle (EV) battery market is expected to grow from $17 billion to more than $95 billion between 2019 and 2028. With increasing demand to decarbonize the transportation sector, companies producing the batteries that power EVs have seen substantial momentum. The Elements … Continue reading World’s top 10 EV battery makes are all Asian

Egypt, Saudi Arabia & Qatar join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as ‘Dialogue Partners’

September 14, 2022 Middle East Briefing reports: Egypt and Qatar have been granted Dialogue Partner status of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) following the admission procedure launched in September 2021 at the Dushanbe summit. “On September 14, 2022, in Tashkent, in preparation for the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a ceremony of signing memoranda on granting the status of the SCO dialogue partner to the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Qatar was held.” the ministry said. The documents were signed by SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming, Egyptian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamdi Sanad Loza and Qatar’s State … Continue reading Egypt, Saudi Arabia & Qatar join Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as ‘Dialogue Partners’

Iran planning direct railway link from Tehran to Shanghai

September 19, 2022 Middle East Briefing reports: Iran is seeking to launch a direct train route to China within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Director General of Commercialization and Associations Affairs Bureau at the Iran Ministry of Roads and Urban Development Amin Taraffo has stated. Iran joined the SCO as a full member last week. Taraffo said that the route will contribute to further strengthening of relations among Iran and SCO member countries in the field of cargo transportation and transit. The main terminus of the route from Tehran will be China’s Shanghai, on its east … Continue reading Iran planning direct railway link from Tehran to Shanghai

Should developed nations pay reparations for  ‘loss and damage’ from climate change?

At the last UN climate summit in 2021, COP26 in Glasgow, a group of largely developing nations representing six out of every seven people in the world called for developed countries to commit to pledging funds for loss and damage. However, this call faced opposition from large Western economies particularly the US and EU – and, ultimately, was rejected because of this opposition by the rich West.  The issue of loss and damage has been discussed for more than 30 years, and it is likely that loss and damage will be one of the dominant themes at COP27, the next round of UN climate negotiations taking … Continue reading Should developed nations pay reparations for  ‘loss and damage’ from climate change?

Why China’s first solar-powered, semi-satellite drone is a big deal

In a big step toward green development, China has built its first solar-powered large unmanned aerial vehicle. The drone successfully carried out its maiden flight on Saturday. It took off from an airport in Yulin, northwest China’s Shaanxi province and landed smoothly after 26 minutes airborne with all systems operating normally, according to a report in state-run Global Times. How does the drone use solar energy? The Qimingxing-50 (Morning Star) is the country’s first major unmanned aerial vehicle platform that is all-electric and solely powered by solar energy. It is also the first high-altitude, low-speed drone with an ultrahigh aspect ratio … Continue reading Why China’s first solar-powered, semi-satellite drone is a big deal

Europe’s self made energy crisis

Mercouris looks at how Europe got to where it is – in a severe “energy crisis”. The sanctions imposed by the collective West on Russia over its intervention in Ukraine, have sparked a severe energy crisis in Europe which has spilled over to the global economy and global environment. The US-NATO moves may well have set in motion the irreversible collapse of Western hegemony which has blocked a comprehensive global response to tackling climate change and other environmental issues. Understanding the events leading to the crisis in Europe is therefore essential. We are therefore publishing here an edited transcript of … Continue reading Europe’s self made energy crisis