Win for Lula boosts China’s foothold and gives Brazil rare earths leverage

South China Morning Post - Oct 26, 2026

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s re-election preserves Beijing’s most critical foothold in Latin America, while positioning Brasilia to leverage the US-China rivalry over its vast rare earth reserves without picking sides. Lula, 80, secured an unprecedented fourth term on Sunday after winning 51.8 per cent of the run-off vote to defeat right-wing rival Flavio Bolsonaro. The son of jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro and Trump ally has, however, refused to concede. Beijing...

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Is China’s H-6K strategic bomber getting powerful jamming capabilities?
Oct 27, 2026
Is China’s H-6K strategic bomber getting powerful jamming capabilities?

A Chinese H-6K strategic bomber has been sighted with two new electronic warfare pods used for jamming, according to images circulating on social media, potentially indicating an expansion of the aircraft’s capabilities. The photos – which have not been independently verified – emerged on Saturday and show an H6-K in flight with the pods on two of its six pylons. They appear to be similar to the RKZ930 pods carried by China’s J-16D electronic warfare aircraft. The location and date of the photos...

China trial shows gum tissue stem cells help 55% of lifetime diabetes patients
Oct 27, 2026
China trial shows gum tissue stem cells help 55% of lifetime diabetes patients

A randomised phase one clinical trial conducted by scientists and doctors from Shanghai and Guangzhou has achieved encouraging results in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes using stem cells extracted from gum tissue. More than half of those who received the treatment showed varying degrees of improvement, while one subject was able to discontinue exogenous insulin therapy completely, the researchers said. Results of the study, which tested a therapy based on gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSC),...

Chinese scientists create powerful catalyst to turn air on Mars into rocket fuel
Oct 27, 2026
Chinese scientists create powerful catalyst to turn air on Mars into rocket fuel

Chinese space scientists are working out how future astronauts on Mars could make their own fuel out of thin air, a sign that Beijing is serious about one day sending people to the red planet. A team at the state-funded Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei has developed a catalyst that turns carbon dioxide – which makes up more than 95 per cent of the Martian atmosphere – into a liquid fuel called methanol. “Methanol can serve as fuel to generate electricity, provide heating and power Mars...

China sees steady growth in domestic tourism in first 9 months
Oct 27, 2026
China sees steady growth in domestic tourism in first 9 months

China's domestic tourism market posted solid growth in terms of both trips and travel spending from January to September this year, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said on Monday.

Completion ceremony held for renovated CPV martyrs' cemetery in DPRK
Oct 27, 2026
Completion ceremony held for renovated CPV martyrs' cemetery in DPRK

A completion ceremony for the renovation project for Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs' cemeteries was held Saturday in Sinphyong County, North Hwanghae Province of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the CPV's entry into the DPRK to fight in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea.

Taiwan looks to autonomous swarms to counter Beijing’s grey-zone pressure
Oct 27, 2026
Taiwan looks to autonomous swarms to counter Beijing’s grey-zone pressure

Taiwan is developing an AI-powered system to coordinate drone fleets for maritime surveillance and countering “grey-zone” activities, with researchers completing a simulation involving 20 aircraft, according to the island’s Ocean Affairs Council. The system, which is funded by the council, would allow different types of drones to autonomously divide tasks, plan routes and coordinate their movements while providing wide-area, persistent surveillance for coastguard operations. The council said on...

What message is China sending with latest footage of ‘no-notice’ DF rocket drill?
Oct 27, 2026
What message is China sending with latest footage of ‘no-notice’ DF rocket drill?

China has released footage of its troops carrying out a “no-notice” rocket launch as part of an ongoing effort by state media to showcase the People’s Liberation Army’s rapid-response capabilities. State broadcaster CCTV on Monday released a brief video showing the exercise in mountainous terrain and said it had been carried out with no advance notice given to the troops involved. No other details were provided. The footage – which is believed to show a missile from the Dongfeng (“East Wind”)...

EU to slap new fee on non-bloc parcels to curb influx from China
Oct 26, 2026
EU to slap new fee on non-bloc parcels to curb influx from China

The European Union will from Sunday slap a €2 (US$2.25) handling fee on packages from outside the 27-nation bloc in a bid to curb the influx from China. The new levy – coming just weeks before the Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas season shopping rushes – will be on top of the EU’s €3 fee on small parcels. The fee will apply to each type of item in a package sent directly to consumers from outside the EU regardless of the parcel’s value. For example, if there are 10 T-shirts in a package,...

Xi's speech marking 90th anniversary of Long March victory published
Oct 26, 2026
Xi's speech marking 90th anniversary of Long March victory published

A speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at a ceremony commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army has been published as a booklet.

A seafood feast relies on a healthy ocean
Oct 26, 2026
A seafood feast relies on a healthy ocean

A seafood feast relies on a healthy ocean

Steinmeier's China visit to deepen bilateral ties on shared interests
Oct 26, 2026
Steinmeier's China visit to deepen bilateral ties on shared interests

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's visit to China highlights the importance of dialogue, mutual trust and shared economic interests in advancing bilateral ties. Stronger China-Germany engagement can also help manage differences and bring greater stability to China-EU relations.

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