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☆ Modi, Biden pledge to deepen India-U.S. partnership as world leaders descend on Delhi for G20 summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Indian artist Jagjot Singh Rubal gives final touches to an oil painting of U.S. President Joe Biden, at his workshop in Amritsar on September 5, 2023, ahead of the two-day G20 summit in New Delhi. The pair's absence has sparked fears that a communique binding member states may not be issued at the end of a G20 leaders' summit — undercutting India's clout and diminishing his domestic messaging. At a pre-summit press conference Friday, India's G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant said the final declaration "is almost ready." In their joint statement after their Friday bilateral meeting, Biden and Modi "reaffirmed their commitment to the G20." Despite recently traveling to South Africa for a BRICS meeting, Xi has rarely traveled abroad.

Persons: Jagjot Singh Rubal, Joe Biden, Narinder Nanu, Narendra Modi, Biden, Bangladesh —, Modi, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Putin, Sergey Lavrov, China Premier Li Qiang, Xi, India's, Amitabh Kant, Kant, snubbing Modi, Taiwan — Organizations: Afp, Getty, Indian, U.S, International Monetary Fund, African Union, Global, China Premier Locations: Amritsar, New Delhi, Narinder, Delhi, Washington, Australia, India, Japan, U.S, Mauritius, Bangladesh, China, —, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, South Africa, Beijing —, Zambia, Venezuela, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ Analysis: China's Xi Jinping skipping G20 may be part of his plan to reshape global governance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Since its first leaders’ summit in 2008, China’s top leader has always attended the gathering – including by video link during the Covid pandemic. Now, “China sees the G20 space as increasingly oriented toward the US and its agenda, which Xi Jinping regards as hostile to China,” Werner said. Alternative governance structureXi last attended the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November last year, when he emerged from China’s Covid isolation and declared his return to the world stage. All the while, Xi has only made two trips abroad this year – and both are central to his attempt to reshape the global world order. Next month, the Chinese leader is expected to host the Belt and Road Forum to mark the 10th anniversary of his global infrastructure and trade initiative – a key element in Beijing’s new global governance structure.

Persons: Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Beijing’s reticence, Xi, ”, George Magnus, I’m, I’ve, Jake Werner, ” Werner, Biden, Werner, Happymon Jacob, China’s, Shi Yinhong, Joe Biden –, Antony Blinken, Vladimir Putin –, Magnus, they’re, ” Magnus, –, “ It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Premier, China Center, Oxford University, “, Quincy Institute in, Quincy Institute in Washington DC, Pacific NATO, ”, India, New, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Divisions, Renmin University, EU, Beijing, Global Security Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Civilization Initiative, Forum, Shanghai Cooperation Organization – Locations: Hong Kong, New Delhi, China, Xi’s, India, United States, Quincy Institute in Washington, Beijing, New, Washington, Pacific, Ukraine, Moscow, Bali , Indonesia, Germany, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Johannesburg, South Africa, BRICS

☆ Tech CEOs Want to Make a ‘Super App.’ Here’s Why It’s So Hard
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Brics Expansion: Iran, Saudi Arabia Among Nations Invited to Join Bloc The Brics–Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa–invited six nations to become new members of the economic group from 2024. The WSJ analyzes the significance of the expansion, and whether the bloc can challenge the western-led G-7. Photo: Gianluigi Guercia/AFP/Getty Images

Persons: South Africa –, Gianluigi Guercia Organizations: Nations, Getty Locations: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, AFP

☆ Tech CEOs Want to Make a ‘Super App.’ Here’s Why It’s so Hard
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: South Africa –, Gianluigi Guercia Organizations: Nations, Getty Locations: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, AFP

☆ Biden heads to New Delhi for G20 amid rising global tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The United States' commitment to the G20 hasn't wavered and we hope this G20 summit will show that the world's major economies can work together even in challenging times," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will skip the summit for the second year in a row, as will Chinese President Xi Jinping. This will be the first G20 summit a Chinese president has missed since its inaugural event in 2008; he attended virtually during the coronavirus pandemic. The conference has long been touted as a possible meeting point for Biden and Xi, who last met at Indonesia's G20 summit in November. "As he has done before, President Biden will call for a just and durable peace, one founded in respect for international law."

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Sullivan, Jake Sullivan, Biden, America's, Jill Biden, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Xi, Putin Organizations: India's, Group, Labor, Sunday Locations: Washington ,, Ukraine, United States, New Delhi, India, Hanoi, Vietnam, Alaska, Russia, China, Indonesia's, Johannesburg, South Africa, Indonesia

He will have at least one advantage: Chinese President Xi Jinping will not be at the meetings. "But the question ... is whether the United States will be able to step up." FAST GROWTH, HIGH DEBTChinese Premier Li Qiang will represent China at the G20 as its leaders cope with sagging growth and a possible property debt crisis. For his part, Xi is also finding new ways to engage the developing world, hosting a gathering of Central Asian leaders and discussing development in May. Xi is also expected to attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco in November, where he may meet with Biden.

Persons: Joe Biden, Leah Millis, Biden, Xi Jinping, Zack Cooper, Li Qiang, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Jake Sullivan, Donald Trump's, Sullivan, White, Khulu Mbatha, Cyril Ramaphosa, Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose, Michael Martina, Carien du, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: Warehouse Union, Pacific Maritime Association, White, REUTERS, Rights, World Bank, Bank, U.S, Partnership for Global Infrastructure, Investment, American Enterprise Institute, IMF, Global, White House, Trump, Republican, South, Central Asian, United, United Arab Emirates, Economic Cooperation, Biden, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, India, United States, Africa, Latin America, Asia, Washington, China, Russian, East, Central Asia, Saharan Africa, People's Republic, Ukraine, Brazil, South Africa, Beijing, Moscow, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, United Arab, San Francisco, Carien du Plessis, Johannesburg

☆ Western officials arrive in the UAE amid push to deprive Russia of advanced microchips
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The UAE has invested large sums in developing an artificial intelligence program and has a ministry dedicated to the technology. UAE ‘abides by UN sanctions’Russia is under a barrage of sanctions from the US and other Western nations following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Western officials have visited the UAE several times over the past two years to warn the regional business hub that helping Moscow evade sanctions wouldn’t be without consequences. The UAE central bank in March cancelled a license granted to Russia’s MTS Bank after it came under US and British sanctions. We look at BRICS from a geo-economic not a geo-political perspective, with the aim of strengthening our economic competitiveness,” a senior UAE official told CNN.

Persons: ”, AMD, “, Abu Organizations: Abu Dhabi CNN — Senior, United, European Union, CNN, Street, UAE, Nvidia, Reuters, AMD, US Department of Commerce, Financial Times, UAE’s Technology Innovation Institute, UN, US, “, MTS Bank, Moscow, BRICS, UAE hasn’t, New Development Bank Locations: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Ukraine, United States, United Kingdom, Gulf, “, UAE, East, Saudi Arabia, Moscow, Iran, Washington, multipolarity, China, South Africa, BRICS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is facing growing skepticism from some leading rich and developing nations as the residual impact of sanctions against Russia is deepening divisions among the Group of 20 countries. Russia and China, meanwhile, have declared a “no limits” partnership of their own. And the economic bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — known as BRICS — is trying to increase its use of local currencies instead of the U.S. dollar. Russia is hoping it can use its power over Ukraine’s Black Sea exports as a bargaining chip to reduce Western sanctions. That may be difficult as G20 nations increasingly gravitate into blocs and with some leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, opting to skip the summit.

Persons: Janet Yellen, —, Joe Biden, Yellen, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Rachel Ziemba, ”, Xi Jinping, Josh Lipsky, Lipsky, Xi, Mark Sobel, ” Sobel, Ziemba Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, U.S ., West, Center, New, New American Security, Treasury Department, International Fund for Agricultural Development, GeoEconomics, Fund, Center for Strategic, International Studies, U.S, New Development Bank, Monetary Fund, World Bank, ”, European Union Locations: Russia, India, U.S, Moscow, Ukraine, United States, China, Brazil, South Africa, New Delhi, New American, Argentina, Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the plenary session of the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 23, 2023. More than 10 envoys from these countries stationed in China detailed to Reuters the increasing difficulty they face getting access to Chinese officials and other sources of information on the world's second-largest economy. When meetings are arranged, Chinese officials stick rigidly to scripted comments, the diplomats said, while some added they experienced hostile behaviour from nationalistic academics. However, envoys from two countries which enjoy close relations with China said they had experienced no such problems. "To Chinese officials, the benefits of such engagements have become less evident, while the political and security risks are growing."

Persons: Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Ryan Neelam, Xi, Li Qiang, Vladimir Putin, COVID, Emmanuel Macron, Antony Blinken, Yun Sun, Sun, Tong Zhao, Martin Quin Pollard, Laurie Chen, John Geddie, Nick Macfie Organizations: Rights, Reuters, Lowy Institute, China Program, Stimson, Washington D.C, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, Rights BEIJING, China, India, Beijing, Australian, Hong Kong, Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan, New Delhi, Moscow, Washington

"Further progress is likely to become more difficult as base effects fade, and supply-constraints could drive global energy and food prices higher again." Brent crude prices have risen 27% since mid-year and U.S. crude is up 30%, with U.S. retail pump prices already up almost 10% so far since June. Oil and inflation expectationsReuters GraphicsSLOWING DESCENTAnd alongside creeping worries about rising debt supply, the long end of bond markets has been rattled again by the oil price jump. And this has been a far bigger influence on the inflation trajectory than oil prices per se. Yet, restive crude prices will still cloud a messy and tricky battle with inflation expectations just as policy tightening cycles near an end.

Persons: Brent that's, Christian Keller, Akash Utsav, Andrew Goodwin, there's, George H.W, Jamie Freed Organizations: Brent, UBS, Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development, Barclays, Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, U.S, Treasury, Oxford, Monetary Fund, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Russia, tailwind, U.S, Europe, Britain, West, George H.W . Bush

☆ Opinion: Why a G20 without Putin and Xi could be a fantastic opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Opinion David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —This might have been an opportunity for world leaders to bridge a host of chasms that are opening up, as G20 conferences have in the past. Yet this will be the first G20 that Xi has skipped in the decade he’s served as China’s president. The hope is that, without distractions from the presence of Xi and Putin, the G20 will be able to focus more directly on just such urgent issues. Certainly, it removes an opportunity to pressure Xi into restraining shipment of technology and equipment to Russia that could help its war in Ukraine. So, this G20 — uniquely absent Xi and Putin — is an important opportunity to showcase China’s failings, confirm Russia’s status as a pariah and ratify America’s place as a global leader.

Persons: David A, David Andelman, Vladimir Putin, Sergey Lavrov, Xi, Li Qiang, Putin, Narendra Modi, —, Joe Biden, Antony Blinken, he’s, Blinken, Biden, Lavrov, ”, “, …, there’s, Michele Spatari, Biden’s, Putin — Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, David Andelman CNN, International Criminal Court, ICC, America, NBC, Putin, Indian, Sunday, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, United, Twitter, Facebook, Biden Locations: New Delhi, India, Bali , Indonesia, China, Washington, Johannesburg, South Africa, Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing, ” China, San Francisco, Russian, AFP, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Africa, Ukraine, Vietnam, Asia, American, Southeast Asia, America

NEW DELHI/BEIJING, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping's decision to skip the G20 summit is being seen in host India as a snub to New Delhi and a new setback to the already frozen relations between the nuclear-armed Asian giants. Asked if Xi's decision reflects China-India tensions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Beijing had supported India's hosting of the summit. China did not refer to any agreement and said Xi stressed improving ties helps both countries and global peace and stability. Shyam Saran, formerly India's top diplomat, said Xi's decision to skip the summit was "unusual". Happymon Jacob, who teaches international relations at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, said Xi skipping the G20 summit "doesn't bode well" for India-China relations.

Persons: Xi Jinping's, Xi, Li Qiang, Mao Ning, Mao, Narendra Modi's, Baijayant Jay Panda, ”, China nosedived, Modi, Shi Yinhong, Shi, Shyam Saran, Saran, Happymon Jacob, bode, Jacob, Liz Lee Organizations: NEW, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, riling, China's Renmin University, Reuters, New, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Thomson Locations: NEW DELHI, BEIJING, India, New Delhi, China, Beijing, Johannesburg, Delhi, United States, riling Beijing, Japan, Australia, South China

☆ India's G20 presidency risks ringing hollow as Ukraine war dashes hopes of consensus
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

US President Joe Biden, right, and Narendra Modi, India's prime minister, at an arrival ceremony during a state visit on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, June 22, 2023. One of the risks is that by elevating India's presidency of the G20 so much, there are now expectations for India to deliver some concrete breakthroughs. Russia-Ukraine impasseIndeed, the specter of Russia's Ukraine invasion has loomed large over G20 meetings for the various tracks that India has convened. He even labeled it the "biggest achievement" of India's G20 presidency so far — despite Russia and China abstaining. This development serves to buttress India's burgeoning economic clout, the basis of its greater confidence and assertiveness geopolitically.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, India's, haven't, Manjari Chatterjee, Modi, Manjari Chatterjee Miller, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Putin, Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Chaudhuri, Sergei Lavrov —, Putin —, CFR's Miller, Eurasia Group's Chaudhuri, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Sumedha Dasgupta, Biden, Taiwan —, assertiveness, It's, Pravin Krishna Johns Organizations: White, Bloomberg, Getty, Indian, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Manjari Chatterjee Miller, Foreign, Council, Foreign Relations, CNBC, Global, African Union, UN, Group Russia's, West, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, India's, Economist Intelligence Unit, Moscow, . Warming, Apple, Pravin Krishna Johns Hopkins University's School, International Locations: Washington , DC, New Delhi, India, Ukraine, Pakistan, South Asia, Washington ,, Russia, China, Varanasi, Bali, Eurasia, Asia, U.S, . Warming India, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Beijing

☆ G20 New Delhi summit 2023: Which countries and leaders will attend?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A paramilitary soldier stands guard outside Le Meridien hotel during a rehearsal ahead of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, September 2, 2023. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAKSunak is expected attend the summit on his first official trip to India as Britain's prime minister. GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZScholz has said the upcoming G20 summit in India remains important despite the absence of Russia and China. SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSARamaphosa has expressed full support for India's G20 presidency while conveying his intent to attend the summit. BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINABangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi, according to Indian media reports.

Persons: Le, Adnan Abidi, JOE BIDEN Biden, Biden, XI, Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, Xi, VLADIMIR PUTIN, Sergei Lavrov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, JUSTIN TRUDEAU Trudeau, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, RISHI SUNAK Sunak, KISHIDA, ANTHONY ALBANESE, YOON SUK, YEOL Yoon, OLAF SCHOLZ Scholz, EMMANUEL MACRON, Modi, SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA Ramaphosa, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, ALBERTO FERNANDEZ Fernandez, BOLA TINUBU Tinubu, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, URSULA VON DER, CHARLES MICHEL The, SHEIKH HASINA, Sheikh Hasina, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR, JOKO, Aftab Ahmed, Shivangi, Nick Macfie Organizations: REUTERS, Criminal Court, ICC, BRITISH, AUSTRALIAN, SOUTH, Associated Press, SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN, African Union, NIGERIA'S, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA Brazil, OF, EUROPEAN, CHARLES MICHEL The European Union, BANGLADESH, Thomson Locations: Le Meridien, New Delhi, India, DELHI, India's, Ukraine, U.S, RUSSIAN, Russia, South Africa, Africa, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Saudi, SHEIKH HASINA Bangladesh, Bangladesh, MELONI Italy

Ms. Mao declined to explain the reason for the decision and refused to answer questions about Mr. Xi. The Chinese leader has never missed a G20 summit, which brings together 19 countries and the European Union, since taking power in 2012. The opacity of Chinese politics and Beijing’s reticence make it difficult to know why Mr. Xi appears to have chosen not to attend the summit. Analysts say it could reflect Mr. Xi’s preference for groupings in which China is more dominant, such as the recently concluded BRICS summit of emerging nations in Johannesburg. Given that Mr. Xi would be missing an opportunity to meet with President Biden on the sidelines of the summit, the move might suggest that Mr. Xi wants to ease tensions with the United States on his own terms.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Mao Ning, Mao, Xi, Beijing’s, Biden Organizations: China’s Foreign Ministry, European Union, Russia Locations: China, New Delhi, India, United States, Washington, Asia, Johannesburg

☆ Xi to skip G20 summit in India, China to send Li instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Xi Jinping, China's president, on the closing day of the BRICS summit at the Sandton Convention Center in the Sandton district of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023. Premier Li Qiang will lead China's delegation at a G20 summit in New Delhi this weekend, China's foreign ministry said on Monday, indicating President Xi Jinping would not attend and scuppering chances of a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden there. Reuters reported exclusively last month that Xi was likely to skip the meeting and send Li. Xi last met Biden on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Indonesia in November. The other G20 leaders attending include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Mao Ning, Mao, Li, Vladimir Putin, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Premier, U.S, Reuters, Criminal Court Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, New Delhi, China, Indonesia, Germany, Europe's, Ukraine, Russia

That means the two-day summit from September 9 will be dominated by the West and its allies. The G20 leaders who will attend include U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman and Japan's Fumio Kishida. "If the leaders' summit is a flop, New Delhi and especially Modi will have suffered a major diplomatic, and political, setback," Kugelman said. "The positions have hardened since the Bali Summit," a senior Indian government official told Reuters, referring to the 2022 summit held in Indonesia. Lavrov said last week Russia will block the final declaration of the G20 summit unless it reflects Moscow's position on Kyiv and other crises.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Li Qiang, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin's, Joe Biden, Olaf Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, Saudi Arabia's Mohammed Bin Salman, Japan's, Michael Kugelman, Narendra Modi, Modi, Kugelman, Joko Widodo, Justin Trudeau, Sergei Lavrov, Putin, battlelines, Trudeau, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Lavrov, David Boling, N.K, Singh, Larry Summers, Katya Golubkova, Kentaro Sugiyama, Sakura Murakami Organizations: REUTERS, West, South Asia Institute, Wilson Center, Indian, New, Reuters, Bali, Canada's, Russian, Diplomats, Eurasia Group, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Ukraine, China, Russia, Saudi, Washington, Bali, Indonesia, Indonesian, CHINA, Brazil, South Africa, Johannesburg, U.S, Tokyo

☆ The G7 is least bad group for a troubled world
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

In this troubled world, the Group of Seven rich democracies is the best bet for keeping the peace and protecting the planet. The Group of 20 large economies and the United Nations, both of which hold summits this month, are broken. India and Brazil may also be out of place in an expanded group which China seems to be dominating. G7 BY DEFAULTThat leaves the G7, which brings together the U.S., Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Canada. But to see off challenges from other groups, the G7 needs a more ambitious offer for the Global South.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Vladimir Putin, Lehman Brothers, Narendra Modi, What’s, Putin won’t, Xi Jinping, haven’t, Donald Trump’s, Joe Biden’s, Putin, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, U.S, United Nations, UN, Security, Lehman, Indian, United, International Monetary Fund, Freedom House, U.S ., American, European Union, Global, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Hiroshima, Japan, China, U.S, Soviet Union, Russia, United Kingdom, France, New Delhi, India, loggerheads, Brazil, South Africa, Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Mexico, Indonesia, Turkey, Thailand, Nigeria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Germany, Italy, Canada, Iraq, Britain, Europe, Asia, South Korea, Australia

☆ South Africa says inquiry found no evidence of arms shipment to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks, as China's President Xi Jinping listens, at the Union Buildings ahead of the opening remarks of the BRICS emerging economies meeting, in Pretoria, South Africa August 22, 2023. The U.S. accusations raised questions over South Africa's professed stance of non-alignment and neutrality over Russia's war in Ukraine and concerns of possible Western sanctions. "The panel found that there was no evidence to support the claim that the ship transported weapons from South Africa destined for Russia," Ramaphosa said. He said he could not reveal details of the equipment offloaded because that could compromise important military operations and put South African soldiers' lives at risk. When the accusations were made, South African officials were quick to reject the claims, and Ramaphosa launched the independent inquiry led by a retired judge.

Persons: Cyril Ramaphosa, Xi Jinping, Alet Pretorius, Reuben Brigety, R, South Africa's, Ramaphosa, Olivia Kumwenda, Andrew Cawthorne, Ros Russell, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, South, South African National Defence Force, Thomson Locations: Pretoria, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Russian, Russia, U.S, Cape Town, Ukraine, South

☆ With BRICS Expansion, American Power Just Took a Big Hit - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Sarang Shidore | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

For more than a decade, the United States mostly ignored BRICS. The grouping, formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, rarely registered on Washington’s radar. Western commentators, for their part, largely painted BRICS as either a sign of Chinese attempts to dominate the global south or little more than a talking shop. At a summit in Johannesburg last week, the group invited six global south states — Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — to join its ranks. There are, for example, some differences between the way China and Russia and the global south states view the grouping.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, ” —, United Arab Emirates — Organizations: United, New Development Bank Locations: United States, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Johannesburg, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, U.S

☆ Dollar unlikely to lose global dominance soon even as BRICS expand, BNY Mellon says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - The dollar is unlikely to lose its status as the global reserve currency anytime soon, even as the expansion of the BRICS group of developing nations signals another challenge to the dollar's dominance in the world economy, BNY Mellon said in a note. One of the objectives of the BRICS is to find an alternative to the dollar, BNY noted in a report published on Friday. Adding Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran, to the BRICS meanwhile would include three of the world’s largest oil exporters and make up 42% of global oil supply. Still, BNY Mellon added this would not be enough to challenge the dollar's dominance. "The USD is unlikely to lose its global reserve status anytime soon – new currency unions should look to technology or green baskets, rather than gold- or carbon-based ones," said Bob Savage, head of markets, strategy and insights at BNY Mellon wrote.

Persons: BNY Mellon, BNY, Bob Savage, Savage, Dhara Ranasinghe, Amanda Cooper Organizations: United Arab Emirates, BNY, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ethiopia, Egypt, Johannesburg

☆ Putin is planning another trip to China, report says, a further sign of his dependence on Xi Jinping
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Vladimir Putin is expected to travel to China for an international summit, Bloomberg reported. The upcoming trip, which was reported by Bloomberg, would be his first diplomatic trip abroad since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Yet it also exposes the stark new limitations of Putin's global power, and his new dependence on China's autocratic leader, Xi Jinping. AdvertisementAdvertisementRussian President Vladimir Putin and China's President Xi Jinping make a toast at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with China's President Xi Jinping at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on March 21, 2023.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, It'd, Putin, Xi, He's, Xi Jinping, PAVEL BYRKIN, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Ukraine's, Sergei Karpukhin, Maria Shagina Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, ICC, Kremlin, SPUTNIK, Getty, Xi, Sputnik, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Financial Times Locations: China, Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Mariupol, South Africa, Rome, India, Moscow, Russian, Ukraine's Western

President of China Xi Jinping attends the plenary session during the 2023 BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa on August 23, 2023. GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI/BEIJING, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip a summit of G20 leaders in India next week, sources familiar with the matter in India and China told Reuters. Xi last met Biden on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia last November. In China, two foreign diplomats and a government official from another G20 country said that Xi will likely not be travelling for the summit. Another upcoming summit mooted for face-to-face talks between the two leaders is an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders Meeting in San Francisco on Nov. 12-18.

Persons: China Xi Jinping, GIANLUIGI, Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Li, Xi, Joe Biden, Biden, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Gina Raimondo, Narendra Modi, Krishn Kaushik, Laurie Chen, Martin Quin Pollard, YP Rajesh, John Geddie, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Premier, Kyodo, U.S, India, Economic Cooperation, Indian, YP, Thomson Locations: China, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, DELHI, BEIJING, India, Beijing, New Delhi, East, Jakarta, Indonesia, Bali, Asia, San Francisco, Brazil, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine

☆ Morning Bid: Rates dice, AI arms race and G20 snub
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

AI (Artificial Intelligence) letters and robot hand are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration taken, June 23, 2023. Even if that came in slightly above forecasts, an unexpectedly sharp slowdown in the country's service sector ensured another underwhelming reaction. Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to skip a summit of G20 leaders in India, sources told Reuters. Overall, Asia markets were flat to negative - Europe's bourses were higher and U.S. futures held steady ahead of Thursday's open. Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsBy Mike Dolan, editing by David Evans, <a href="mailto:mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com" target="_blank">mike.dolan@thomsonreuters.com</a>.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mike Dolan, chatbots, Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Susan Collins, Raphael Bostic, Luis de Guindos, Campbell, David Evans Organizations: REUTERS, Federal Reserve, Baidu, HK, Washington, Reuters, Premier, U.S, Treasury, UBS, Chicago, Boston Federal, Atlanta Fed, European Central Bank, Broadcom, Dollar, Hormel, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, Beijing, India, New Delhi, Asia

Below are five charts showing what's been moved and/or shaken:1/SHOCK FOR THE STOCKSMSCI's 24-country emerging markets (EM) stocks index (.MSCIEF) is down 6% this month. It is still up for the year, though well below the 13.5% gain this year for MSCI's main global index, which has benefited from a boom in U.S. "mega-cap" stocks. "The markets that have underperformed are the lower-yielding markets like Asia," Mike Arno, a portfolio manager at Brandywine Global, said. "The market doesn't seem to think that China is a major threat," said Aegon Asset Management's head of EM debt, Jeff Grills. Reuters Graphics5/OUT OF AFRICAThe other big trouble spot has been Africa, where debt markets have seen a sharp pullback.

Persons: Jason Lee, what's, Tayyip Erdogan's, Katherine Marney, Mike Arno, Jeff, Erdogan, Van Eck's, Eric Fine, Viktor Szabo, Szabo, Marc Jones, Rodrigo Campos, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, JPMorgan, Brandywine, FX, HK, EMBI, abrdn, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Africa, MIWD00000PUS, Hungary, America, Brazil, Argentina, Asia, TURKEY, Gabon, Niger, JPMorgan's Africa, London, New York

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