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- China’s Effort to Build a Competitor to Starlink Is Off to a Bumpy Start
China’s Effort to Build a Competitor to Starlink Is Off to a Bumpy Start
Navigating a Shifting Global Order: U.S.-China Trade Tensions, BRICS Expansion, and Emerging Geopolitical Alliances
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China’s Effort to Build a Competitor to Starlink Is Off to a Bumpy Start
5 minutes by Zeyi Yang
China is racing to challenge Starlink with two satellite networks, Guowang and Qianfan, aiming for over 28,000 satellites to provide global broadband. Despite launching over 100 satellites, progress is slowed by faulty hardware, launch constraints, and bureaucracy. Qianfan targets international markets like Brazil and Malaysia, leveraging distrust in Starlink’s U.S. ties and Elon Musk’s political moves.
Trump’s China Tariff Deal Is About to Come Back to Bite Him
2 minutes by Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling
After intense negotiations in Geneva, the U.S. and China agreed to a 90-day tariff reduction, with U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods dropping from 145% to 30% and China lowering its tariffs on U.S. products from 125% to 10%. This temporary truce aims to ease trade tensions, but some argue it shows the U.S. backing down too quickly, as other countries notice and may push harder in future talks. The deal’s short duration and Trump’s rapid concession raise questions about its long-term impact, especially since underlying trade issues remain unresolved.
Gone in 40 days: how Trump’s ‘liberation day’ tariff assault unraveled
5 minutes by Callum Jones
Trump’s “Liberation Day” on April 2, 2025, promised aggressive tariffs, including 145% on Chinese goods, to boost American industry. However, within six weeks, the plan unraveled due to fears of shortages, price hikes, and economic slowdown. Tariffs on Chinese goods dropped to 30%, and exemptions were added for products like smartphones. While Trump called it a “reset” with China, the chaotic rollback raised concerns about higher prices and growth impacts, with the saga still unfolding.
Could BRICS redefine Asia’s power balance?
4 minutes by bno
BRICS, initially an economic alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is evolving into a geopolitical force, expanding with new members like Iran and the UAE, and eyeing Southeast Asian nations like Indonesia and Malaysia. Its growing influence, through initiatives like the New Development Bank and potential digital currency, offers Asian countries financial and strategic alternatives to Western-dominated systems. However, joining BRICS involves navigating tensions, especially between India and China, and balancing relations with the U.S., which could reshape Asia’s power dynamics as countries seek greater global influence.
Trump administration denounces Colombia for joining China’s Belt and Road Initiative
6 minutes by Guilherme Ferreira
Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced on May 14, 2025, that Colombia would join China’s Belt and Road Initiative and seek BRICS’ New Development Bank membership, aiming to cut a $14 billion trade deficit and build rail and AI infrastructure. At the IV China-CELAC Forum, Petro and Brazil’s Lula deepened ties with China to counter U.S. influence amid Trump’s trade war, challenging U.S. dominance as China’s trade with Latin America hits $500 billion.
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JPMorgan Opens Geopolitics Arm as Dimon Warns of ‘Hinge Point’
3 minutes by Hannah Levitt
JPMorgan Chase launched a new Center for Geopolitics to guide clients through a volatile global landscape, as CEO Jamie Dimon warns of a critical “hinge point” in history. Driven by escalating U.S.-China tensions, trade wars, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the bank sees unprecedented geopolitical risks threatening markets. Dimon, who previously influenced Trump to pause tariffs, stresses that these uncertainties, alongside inflation and potential stagflation, demand proactive strategies to navigate economic fallout.
Dynamics and Geopolitical Interests in China-Nepal Relations
4 minutes by Riccardo Rossi
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) drives its growing influence in Nepal, funding infrastructure to secure trade routes and control along the Tibetan border. This deepens Nepal’s economic ties with Beijing but risks debt and strategic dependence, threatening sovereignty. Nepal balances this by maintaining non-alignment, navigating the rivalry between China and India, which seeks to preserve its Himalayan influence.
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Shipping Stands to Benefit from the US-China Trade War Truce
3 minutes by Hellenic Shipping News
The 90-day U.S.-China tariff truce, with U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods cut from 145% to 30% and China’s from 125% to 10%, is set to boost the shipping industry, especially container shipping. This temporary easing of trade tensions has sparked a nearly 300% surge in China-to-U.S. cargo bookings, driving demand for ships and raising freight rates. While bulk carriers, tankers, and LNG sectors may see gains from improved trade sentiment, energy commodity trade, like U.S. LNG to China, is unlikely to recover due to lingering restrictions.
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