By: C. Oliveira Chinese car makers now account for half of all Global EV sales, benefitting from access to minerals and a cost-effective supply chain built over years. The industry, however, is now entering a transitional phase from traditional ICE energy to new energy.
Car makers are now aiming at making inroads at smaller towns and rural areas. Albeit pricing plays a large role to do so. Sales of battery-powered EVs in China slowed to 18.2% in the first two months of the year from 20.8% for all of 2023, according to the China Passenger Car Association. 2 years ago, Tesla started a price war by slashing their prices and BYD, Xpeng, Leapmotor and Geely have followed their incentive. The initiation of price drops serves to entice buyers. Leapmotor has reportedly cut prices of its new EV version of its C10 SUV by nearly 20%, while BYD has been lowering prices of various EV models and even launched a new version of its best-selling car on Monday at a lower price. Xpeng extended its 20,000-yuan discount on its popular G6 SUV until the month’s end. This, on the other hand, raises questions about sustainability for the manufacturers especially when lacking government funding and when experiencing a slowing domestic market. Competition in the industry has intensified within China and also international giants like Tesla. Tesla launched discounts in car insurance products, and preferential financing plans for a limited time, yet still lost market share in China in January. Last year, it cut the average Tesla price by about 25% in a bid to drive up sales. Industry experts predict that most carmakers will turn to offering discounts and engaging in price wars to retain market share in 2024 and further escalation of the price war is foreseen to occur, with more manufacturers likely to join in to safeguard their market shares as failing to do so could lead to a risk of losing market share.
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By: A.C. Estefan Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of NATO, marking a significant shift in the country's defence and foreign policy. The decision was approved by the Swedish parliament after months of deliberation and intense discussions both domestically and internationally. This decision represents that the country, which was known for its isolation policy during international conflict, is transitioning away from the policy of military neutrality, which dates back to the early 19th century.
The announcement was made by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a meeting with the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg proudly welcomed the country into the alliance, emphasizing this new alliance will be invaluable to strengthen Euro-Atlantic security. Sweden’s decision was influenced by Russia's aggressive and geopolitical developments, which has become a cause of worry for the country and prompted it to look for a safe and protective environment. They have reconsidered their security posture, seeking closer cooperation with NATO and protection from other countries. The decision to join the alliance reflects Sweden's growing concerns over regional security threats and the need for a collective defence approach. Furthermore, in a statement following the announcement, Prime Minister Kristersson emphasised Sweden's commitment to uphold its values of democracy and freedom, which lie within NATO’s framework. Sweden's NATO membership has been celebrated but has also met scepticism domestically. Although the alliance will enhance Sweden's defence capabilities and provide greater security in an increasingly uncertain and aggressive world, the government has been criticised for leaving its traditional policy of neutrality and its ability to pursue an independent foreign policy in isolation from international conflict. To complete the process, it is expected that Swedish military forces will be integrated into NATO structures and participate in joint exercises and operations. The country will also be required to contribute financially to the alliance's common defence efforts, although the specifics of its contributions have yet to be determined. As Sweden embarks on this new chapter in its defence policy, they face both opportunities and challenges in navigating its role within the NATO alliance. The full implications of Sweden's NATO membership are yet to be seen, but one thing is certain – it marks a significant milestone in shaping the future of European security dynamics. By: C. Oliveira Italy has persistently struggled with the issue of over-tourism, being one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations. In 2022, around 50 million people visited the country, triggering a strong response by the nation against mass tourism. With nearly 12% of its GDP owed to the industry, the country has been faced with the tough challenge of imposing actions to manage tourism in a way that preserves its beautiful natural environment and the living standards of its citizens.
Entry fees and restrictions have been introduced in Venice this year, being the first major Italian city to introduce this form of intervention. Simone Venturin, the city’s tourism councillor, mentioned that they began a campaign to bring attention to less popular and well-known aspects of Venice, such as its fishing and craftsmanship. They also stopped allowing buildings to be converted into hotels. Furthermore, they will initiate a trial run of mandatory reservations along with the access fee on the 25th of April as an attempt to manage tourists before they arrive rather than following their arrival. Locations like Cinque Terre National Park are especially victimised by over-tourism. The park’s President Donatella Bianchi stated that “millions of people are concentrated in just 3% of the park's surface”. In addition, Italy proposed policies to deal with poor behaviour and wrongdoings from visitors. An example of such behaviour is when a tourist went for a swim in one of Rome’s famous landmarks: the Trevi Fountain. The aftermath caused such turmoil that local authorities had to limit access to the historic site. From June onwards, as announced by officials in December, tour groups in Venice will be capped at 25 people per group and, to prevent disturbances and confusion, tour leaders will no longer be allowed to use loudspeakers to communicate with their groups, as the devices will be banned. Tourists are also asked to no longer pause while traversing the city's bridges. Although tourism accounts for a great part of Italy’s income, with one out of every nine jobs in the country coming from hospitality, over-tourism has turned into a major issue in the Italian territory, resulting in discomfort when navigating the streets, crowded public transportation, and a big littering problem. By: G. Dutra As the Russo-Ukrainian war reaches its second year this February, issues have mounted for both sides. Hundreds of thousands have died, and front lines in the country’s east have devolved into trench warfare resembling the First World War. An extended war has been hugely costly in terms of human, economic, and political capital for both sides and thus a question arises: what does the battlefield look like today?
The human cost The current number of casualties due to war since February 2022 is a heavily contested issue, having been politicised by both sides. Both the Ukrainian and Russian ministries of defence have largely inflated the figures of enemy casualties whilst minimizing those of their personnel to boost morale in their respective countries. Amidst the discrepancies from both countries, officials from the United States have estimated that roughly 80,000 Ukrainian soldiers and 120,000 Russian soldiers have perished since the beginning of the invasion. Casualties from soldiers, however, make up only a small aspect of the human cost of a conflict. Men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine without special permission, however, a staggering number of refugees have still left the country - nearly all of whom were women and children. According to the UNHCR, Russia and the European Union initially took in 7.8 million refugees, but today the number of refugees stands at roughly 6 million - 14% of the population. Families have been torn apart and the resulting trauma is expected to endure for generations, with the current war being one of the darkest periods in Ukrainian history since the Second World War. Waning support for Zelensky Last week the US Senate passed a 95 billion dollar support package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. This package is not, however, expected to make it through the Republican-controlled US House, with roughly half of all republican voters believing that the US has sent too much aid to Ukraine (pew). Funding shortfalls have led to shortages of ammunition along the frontlines, leading the Ukrainian army to ration supplies. Shortages have been cited as one reason for Ukraine’s inability to launch successful counterattacks against Russians in recent months, with the city of Avdiivka, a hard-fought battlefield outside of Donetsk, falling to the Russian army last week. Support from Ukraine’s European partners has, however, remained steadfast. Earlier this month the European parliament reached an agreement to send 50 billion euros to fund Ukraine’s government functions, such as schooling and infrastructure repairs, through to 2027. The UK has also independently sent money to Ukraine, with total funding pledges since February of 2022 reaching 12 billion pounds. Despite huge amounts of support from the West and the Ukrainian economy mobilising to pour 37% of the country’s GDP into the military, shortages will continue to plague the armed forces without help from the US. What's next? Ukraine’s prospect for a full victory over Russia looks increasingly bleak as Western intelligence agencies warn that the Russian government is prepared to fight for a decade. Contrarily, estimates for economic damage to infrastructure and businesses have reached 486 billion dollars as of 2024, with an ever-increasing human cost for Ukraine. Recovery would take decades for a country which even before the war was the poorest and most corrupt in Europe, and the prospects for a post-war Ukraine are looking increasingly bleak. By: A.C. Estefan The celebratory mood at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade was cut short by the sound of gunfire, quickly turning what began as a moment of joy quickly turned into a scene of panic and tragedy.
Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots near Union Station, where crowds had gathered to honour the championship-winning team. In the chaos that followed, people ran towards cover and safety, seeking refuge from the violence. Emergency ambulances promptly arrived on the scene, working to secure the area and provide aid to the wounded. The injured were rushed to hospitals, where they were taken in and tended to. Amongst the treated wounded, nine were children, eight were in immediately life-threatening condition and seven had injuries that could prove lethal. In total, 22 people were struck by gunfire, one of which was killed by the shot. The police have arrested 3 suspects in connection to the shooting, but circumstances surrounding the event remain unclear. Whilst authorities are piecing together what happened, the city is left in shock and sorrow by the unexpected turn of events. “I was there with my wife, I was there with my mother. I never would've thought that we, along with Chiefs players, along with fans, hundreds of thousands of people, would be forced to run for our safety today," said Kansas City’s Mayor Quinton Lucas. NFL stars, Jason and Travis Kelce from the winning team, posted a deeply heartfelt message video to acknowledge the tragedy. “We just wanted to say our hearts go out to all of the victims, their families, Chiefs Kingdom, and really all of Kansas City that was really there on a day to try and celebrate the community,” Jason Kelce added. “It’s unfortunate and deeply tragic the events that occurred.” The Kelces ended the video by promoting a charity that will aim to help raise funds for victims and their families. They have already managed to raise around $850 000. Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift have donated $100 000 each to families of injured. The shooting has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a moment of triumph and unity for the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans. Instead, the community finds itself confronting the harsh reality of violence and its consequences. In a statement addressing the tragedy, US President Joe Biden said, "Today's events should move us, shock us, shame us into action.” He has put forward his desire for gun reform and the banning of assault rifles in the country. From an exciting innovation to an ominous threat: tech leaders call for a halt in AI development5/19/2023 By: C. Paixão China's President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow this week shed light on his growing relationship with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
Both leaders have met more than 40 times in recent years, and they now refer to each other as "dear friends." Other international leaders, like Robert Mugabe and Donald Trump, have previously characterized the Chinese President as a wonderful ally, but he does not always return the compliment as he does with Putin. Xi and Putin share a basic foreign policy goal: undermining, if not deconstructing, an international order that they feel is based on Western hypocrisy and denies them proper recognition as strong global powers. This sentiment has grown in Putin's mind since the demise of the Soviet Union, and he has spent years attempting to change the international order. However, China is the only US rival with "the economic, diplomatic, military, and technological power to" remake that order, according to President Joe Biden's national security plan. In 2013, Xi’s first visit abroad as China’s President was to Moscow, where he met with Putin and told him that their personalities were very similar and that they should "always treat each other with an open heart." In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea, creating international turmoil as the United Nations supported Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia for the act. In contrast, according to a Chinese foreign ministry official who spoke on behalf of China, the country expressed "complete understanding" of the issues Russia faced and stated that they would support Moscow's "approach to resolving" the Ukraine issue. In 2015, both countries signed a "non-aggression pact" in which they agreed not to launch cyber-attacks against each other and to support each other's decisions by avoiding conflict with each other. In 2019, both leaders met to establish a five-point "comprehensive strategic partnership" based on mutual consensus and strengthened their ties. The Chinese President told the Russian media that "President Putin is the foreign leader that I have interacted with most extensively. He is my best friend, and I greatly treasure our friendship." This further nurtured the relationship between the two countries. In 2022, Xi and Putin met seven times: in February, March, April, May, June, September, and October. Xi repeatedly made it clear throughout 2022 that Russia had China's support on matters regarding sovereignty and security, and both countries repeatedly backed each other up and showed mutual assistance. In February and March of 2023, China has shown support towards Russia during the Russia-Ukraine war, despite having declared themselves as neutral. The West criticized China's 12-point peace proposal, which called for a truce and an end to sanctions, and suggested that China and its enterprises might assist with post-war reconstruction. In March, Xi Jinping welcomed one of Putin's closest allies to Beijing, the Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko. Beijing's friendly reception of a head of state with "international pariah status" who had personally aided Putin's invasion, while disregarding requests and appeals from the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has raised speculation about whether China is a neutral peacemaker as claimed. Moreover, on March 20, only days after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin for engaging in acts of war and being a war criminal, Xi visited Putin in Moscow. Putin welcomed Xi as an old friend, and during an informal conversation, Xi Jinping stated that China was ready to stand watch with Russia "over the world order based on international law." After numerous meetings and continuous support between both countries, China and Russia, analysts and other countries have raised doubts regarding China's claimed "neutral status towards the Russia-Ukraine War By: C. Oliveira As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, one area that has seen significant growth and potential is artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots. These virtual assistants, powered by machine learning algorithms, have already made their presence felt in various industries, from customer service to healthcare, and their future looks promising.
One of the key trends that we can expect in the future of AI chatbots is increased personalization. With advancements in natural language processing and machine learning, chatbots will be able to understand and respond to human emotions, gestures, and voice commands more accurately. This will enable chatbots to provide more personalized and relevant responses to users, making interactions more meaningful and engaging. For instance, a healthcare chatbot could analyze a user's health data and provide tailored advice or recommendations based on their specific needs, leading to more effective healthcare management. Another exciting development in the future of AI chatbots is their integration with other technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Chatbots could be used to enhance immersive experiences in AR or VR applications, providing users with realistic and interactive interactions within virtual environments. This could revolutionize industries such as gaming, e-commerce, and education, offering new and innovative ways for users to engage with content and services. Furthermore, AI chatbots are also expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of customer service. With advancements in natural language processing and sentiment analysis, chatbots can provide faster and more efficient customer support, reducing the need for human intervention in routine queries. This could lead to cost savings for businesses and quicker response times for customers, enhancing overall customer satisfaction. However, as with any technological advancement, there are concerns about the ethical implications of AI chatbots. Issues such as privacy, data security, and bias in AI algorithms need to be addressed to ensure that AI chatbots are developed and used responsibly. In conclusion, the future of AI chatbots is promising, with advancements in personalization, integration with other technologies, and improved customer service. As the field of AI continues to evolve, we can expect chatbots to play a pivotal role in transforming the way we interact online, offering new and innovative experiences for users across various industries. However, it is crucial to address ethical concerns and ensure responsible development and use of AI chatbots to harness their full potential for the benefit of society. By: L. Pereira The Eastern and Western hemispheres have been at odds since contact was first established, but for the past two centuries the United States has been the East’s biggest foe. This time, however, China has struck an unprecedented blow to US supremacy.
The Chinese government has held several discussions with its allies in relation to establishing the yuan as an alternative to the dollar for trade, with Brazil being one of the newest signatories of the measure. Brazil is one of the world’s foremost agricultural powers (and the leading producer of soybeans, having surpassed the US in 2018) and one of China’s biggest commercial partners. This measure not only weakens the dollar’s position as the world’s main monetary reserve, but also makes it immensely difficult for the US to exert dominance over countries that adopt it. The Americans’ sanctions to Russia have been instrumental in response to the Ukraine war. but with Russia solidifying closer ties to Beijing, the US may find it increasingly difficult to deter its imperialistic territorial advances. What does this measure effectively mean for the United States and for the rest of the world? The US is not taking this lightly. Alerts have been made by several American media outlets that this new chapter between Washington’s and Beijing’s rivalry may be a tipping point for the East. This is perceived as one of the greatest threats to the dollar since the United States consolidation as the world’s leading superpower. However, this does not necessarily dictate the dollar is doomed . It is still the world’s monetary reserve, as has been for nearly a century, and China has not yet surpassed America as the leading economy of the world. The Chinese might even have a demographic ticking time bomb as several experts predict a collapse of their population by the end of the century due to its aging workforce. In summation, this new chapter to the East-West historic rivalry presents legitimate relevance, but does not seem the end of the dollar and US global superpower. |