Global South

The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran served as a stress test for Brics+, revealing that the expanded group is neither a military alliance nor an ideological bloc. Brics+, often seen as a Global South platform for a multipolar order, demonstrated its non-unified nature during the conflict.

The article discusses global geopolitical instability, the fragmentation of the international system, and the increasing use of force by powerful nations. It highlights recent conflicts such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Israel's actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, and India's military action against Pakistan, all of which flouted international law. The piece references books by Alexander Stubb, Brendan Simms, and Jack Watling analyzing the new world order and the role of the Global South in shaping it.

Chinese firms are competing globally in air defense weapon sales, leveraging cost efficiency to target the Global South, though geopolitical constraints limit access to US-allied countries. The market's importance has grown due to drone warfare in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The article discusses how Hong Kong's bilingualism is crucial in the AI era, highlighting issues with Google's Gemini AI generating hallucinations in English and Chinese datasets. It notes the AI's deceptive authenticity when cloaking Chinese content in English citations.

Jaishankar called for closer cooperation with South Korea at the Jeju Forum and emphasized the need for the Global South to develop new growth factors, noting that 'the interests of a few' nations are being 'openly prioritised' without naming specific countries.

By 2036, Bitcoin mining has shifted from large public companies relying on cheap power to sovereign-led initiatives managed by governments. This transition was driven by AI/HPC data centers outcompeting Bitcoin miners for electricity and governments leveraging surplus energy through models inspired by mineral extraction deals.

The Prime Minister stated that BRICS can play a key role in tackling terrorism. India's chairmanship of BRICS will enhance the priorities of the Global South and contribute to a safer world.

Carbon Brief's analysis of its Cosmos database identifies the top 500 climate research institutions globally, with over a third based in the US and only 30 from global south countries, half in China. The ranking highlights concerns about the Trump administration's attacks on climate science.

Innovators in the Global South are excluded from funding and opportunities despite developing solutions to critical global challenges like malaria and energy. The article highlights the gap between available solutions and their accessibility to those in need.

The G7, BRICS, and emerging powers are competing for influence in a changing global order. The article questions whether the G7 is effectively addressing the concerns of the Global South.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted the inadequate representation of emerging markets at the United Nations and called for greater inclusion of Global South voices in global governance. He emphasized the need for a ceasefire in the Middle East and addressed intertwining global crises, including 'black swan and grey rhino events.'

AI and digitisation are aiding botanists in identifying and preserving vital plants to combat extinction. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew report highlights technologies enabling rapid species identification, tracking shifting flowering times, and extracting genetic data from century-old fungi specimens, potentially unlocking a genomic goldmine.

AI and digitization are aiding botanists in identifying and saving vital plants to prevent extinction. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew report highlights how technology tracks shifting flowering times, identifies new specimens, and extracts genetic data from century-old fungi, potentially unlocking a genomic goldmine.

Prime Minister Modi stated he will voice the Global South's aspirations at the G7 summit during his upcoming visits to France and Slovakia. He expressed confidence that these visits will strengthen India's engagement with Europe and the G7.

Foreign leaders from Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, and Trinidad and Tobago congratulated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving elected PM, praising his transformative governance, advocacy for the Global South, and vision for an inclusive, economically dynamic India.

The 'Next-Billion AI Index' aims to redefine artificial intelligence adoption in India and the Global South, arguing that current global AI metrics are ineffective for the region's billion-plus users.

China and India are competing over clean technology as part of a broader geopolitical contest involving industrial leadership, technological sovereignty, and influence in the Global South. The article highlights how green technology has become a strategic arena for global power dynamics.

Rising oil and gas prices are accelerating decarbonization efforts in the Global South, achieving progress that decades of climate diplomacy failed to realize. The threat of social unrest linked to energy costs is prompting shifts away from fossil fuels in developing nations.

Vanuatu sought international aid at the World Health Organization assembly to address funding cuts affecting its health programs, including malaria, TB, and HIV. Similar programs in the Global South have been halted or canceled since the U.S. withdrew from the WHO.

An investigation reveals how visa giant VFS Global generates profits from millions of visa applications submitted by individuals in the Global South. The article highlights the commercial scale of visa processing operations managed by the company.

Pakistan seeks to maintain cooperative relationships with both the United States and China, similar to other Global South nations. The article examines whether an upcoming Trump-Xi summit in Beijing will create opportunities that facilitate Pakistan's dual engagement strategy with these major powers.

The global energy crisis has highlighted the meager oil buffers in the developing world, particularly in the Global South. Governments in these regions are among the least prepared to respond to the oil shock caused by the Iran war. This lack of preparation may exacerbate the crisis.

Varsha Gandikota questions Susana Muhamad about the implications of the military-industrial complex on the sovereignty of the Global South. The discussion highlights concerns over how military-industrial systems might undermine the autonomy of developing nations.

A Kenyan outsourcing company, Sama, laid off over 1,000 low-paid workers after Meta terminated a contract following allegations that staff viewed private scenes from smart glasses. Activists criticized the move as highlighting the instability of tech jobs in the global south.

Meta terminated a contract with Kenyan outsourcing company Sama, leading to the abrupt layoff of over 1,000 low-paid workers. The decision followed allegations that Sama staff viewed private scenes captured by smart glasses, sparking concerns about tech job precarity in the global south.

Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the 'precious' nature of China-Russia relations during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, highlighting strategic collaboration to defend national interests and promote multilateralism. Both nations aim to strengthen their partnership amid global uncertainty, including tensions in the Iran war and shifting international dynamics.