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El ‘caso Mbappé’ y cuando China apagó la NBA por un comentario político

30 October 2026 at 04:30

El veto del gobierno chino a la retransmisión de los partidos del Real Madrid por el caso Mbappé tiene un antecedente cercano de semejante magnitud. China censuró la emisión televisiva de los encuentros de la NBA durante dos años y medio entre 2019 y 2022 por otro comentario con fondo político. Si en esta ocasión el apagón llega al referirse el delantero francés a Mao Zedong como “dictador”, entonces fue una opinión del director general de los Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, la que desató la tormenta. “Lucha por la libertad, apoya a Hong Kong”, escribió el directivo en relación a las manifestaciones en dicho territorio a favor de la democracia. China, como ahora sucede con Mbappé, lo consideró un ataque a la identidad nacional y no le tembló el pulso para vetar a un gigante del deporte mundial como la NBA. Tampoco ha dudado actualmente pese a las disculpas del Real Madrid.

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© Clicks Images (Getty Images)

Partido entre Houston y Dallas el pasado 11 de octubre en Macao.

Hong Kong’s leader apologises for residential fire that killed 168 people

29 October 2026 at 18:14

Blaze was world’s deadliest residential fire since 1980, but some survivors and bereaved families say justice has yet to be served

Hong Kong’s leader has apologised for government shortcomings that contributed to a fire that killed 168 people in the city last year, a rare sign of public contrition that nevertheless failed to impress some victims’ families.

The chief executive, John Lee, and seven other officials bowed in apology at the release of a report that pointed to “decades of failure” by government bodies.

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© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Beijing gave Kim Jong Un the cold shoulder and here’s why

29 October 2026 at 15:25

Recent reports indicate that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attempted to visit China to orchestrate a dramatic diplomatic scene akin to his June 2019 summit with US President Donald Trump at Panmunjom – but Beijing politely turned him down. Kim’s primary motive for seeking a visit to China stemmed from mounting frustration with Russian […]

The post Beijing gave Kim Jong Un the cold shoulder and here’s why appeared first on Asia Times.

US GDP grew by 3.4 percent in third quarter amid AI investment boom

29 October 2026 at 14:46
U.S. economic growth increased in the third quarter, as the surge in artificial intelligence investment continued and consumers kept spending despite persistent inflation. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.4 percent from July through September, preliminary data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) showed Thursday. The BEA will…

US GDP grew by 3.4 percent in third quarter amid AI investment boom

29 October 2026 at 14:46
U.S. economic growth increased in the third quarter, as the surge in artificial intelligence investment continued and consumers kept spending despite persistent inflation. The country’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 3.4 percent from July through September, preliminary data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) showed Thursday. The BEA will…

Bolsas asiáticas fecham em queda com pressão do setor de tecnologia

29 October 2026 at 11:46

As ações chinesas fecharam em baixa nesta quinta-feira (29), já que uma onda de ​vendas cada vez mais intensa no setor ​de tecnologia ofuscou a decisão do Federal Reserve de manter as taxas de juros inalteradas.

No fechamento, o índice de Xangai teve queda de 0,8%, enquanto o índice CSI300, que reúne as maiores companhias listadas em Xangai e Shenzhen, recuou 1%.

As ações do setor de tecnologia estiveram entre os principais fatores de pressão, com o índice ChiNext Composite , que ⁠reúne startups, caindo 4,4% e ​registrando o fechamento mais baixo desde agosto de 2025, enquanto o índice ​STAR50 de Xangai , focado em tecnologia, despencou 4,3%, marcando o fechamento mais fraco ⁠desde setembro de 2025.

O CSI 5G Communications , ⁠que acompanha empresas de comunicações 5G, despencou 7,4%.

Em Hong Kong, ​o ‌índice de referência Hang Seng registrou uma ligeira queda de 0,6%, enquanto as ações ⁠do setor de tecnologia da cidade caíram 2,8%.

A fabricante de robôs Yushu Technology, também conhecida como Unitree, , caiu 4,8% depois que seu lucro líquido no terceiro trimestre diminuiu, apesar do ‌aumento ⁠de 70% na ‌receita em relação ao ano anterior, em seu primeiro relatório de resultados desde a listagem na bolsa.

Em toda a região, as ações asiáticas perderam os ganhos anteriores, já ⁠que os resultados corporativos relacionados à IA geraram ⁠reações extremamente contraditórias, aumentando a expectativa em relação aos resultados da Amazon  e da Intel , que serão ‌divulgados ainda hoje.

O Fed manteve as taxas de juros inalteradas, como esperado, nesta quarta-feira, optando por adiar quaisquer mudanças nos custos dos empréstimos até depois das eleições de meio de mandato nos EUA na próxima semana, enquanto aguarda mais dados ‌sobre a inflação, que, segundo o banco central, “continua elevada”.

Em Tóquio, o índice Nikkei avançou 1,10%, a 64.659 pontos.Já em Hong Kong, o índice HANG SENG caiu ⁠0,59%, a 22.958 pontos.

Enquanto isso, em Xangai, o índice SSEC perdeu 0,82%, a 3.651 pontos. O índice CSI300, que reúne as maiores companhias listadas em Xangai e Shenzen, retrocedeu ​1,03%, a 4.041 pontos.

Em Seul, o índice Kospi teve desvalorização de 1,24%, a ​5.937 pontos.. Em Taiwan, o índice Taiex registrou baixa de 1,42%, a 46.368 pontos.

Em Singapura, o índice Strait Times valorizou-se 0,05%, a 5.400 pontos. Em Sydney o índice S&P/ASX 200 avançou 0,50%, a 8.891 ‌pontos.

Japón sube a segundo puesto en Mundial de luchas Astana 2026

28 October 2026 at 19:49

Astana, 28 oct (Prensa Latina) El equipo de Japón subió hoy al segundo puesto del medallero en el Campeonato Mundial de luchas Astana 2026, con la coronación de Yui Susaki en los 50 kilogramos (kg) de la competición femenina.

The post Japón sube a segundo puesto en Mundial de luchas Astana 2026 first appeared on Noticias Prensa Latina.

El Real Madrid también pide disculpas por los comentarios de Mbappé para aplacar a China

28 October 2026 at 09:26

La suspensión en la televisión estatal china de las retransmisiones de LaLiga y de los demás partidos en los que participa Kylian Mbappé, junto con la retirada de sus anuncios y la ruptura de tres contratos de patrocinio con marcas del país, provocó el martes una sucesión de intensos movimientos diplomáticos para contener la crisis. El futbolista del Real Madrid y el presidente de LaLiga, Javier Tebas, pidieron perdón por las palabras del francés en un podcast, en las que recordaba entre risas un meme que superpone su rostro al de un “dictador chino”. Aunque Mbappé no mencionó a ningún dirigente, el montaje hacía referencia al fundador de la República Popular, Mao Zedong. Esas disculpas no fueron suficientes. Los organismos chinos reclamaban un gesto más: que el Madrid también pidiera perdón públicamente. El club lo ha hecho este miércoles por la mañana en un comunicado difundido en su web oficial: “El Real Madrid C. F. desea expresar sus disculpas al pueblo chino por el malestar que hayan podido ocasionar las recientes palabras de nuestro jugador Kylian Mbappé”.

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© WU HAO (EFE)

Una imagen publicitaria de Mbappé en Pekín, China.

From a seed in China to the ‘backdrop for countless love stories’: a ginkgo’s 167-year journey to Victorian tree of the year

28 October 2026 at 05:32

National trust of Victoria award celebrates much-loved arboreal icons while calling for protection of green spaces

For more than 160 years, a humble ginkgo tree raised from seed in Geelong’s botanic gardens has been the backdrop to “countless local love stories”. Standing beneath it is the most popular spot to get married at the park, its branches forming the backdrop of many wedding photos.

Now, in addition to being the largest ginkgo biloba in the state – and possibly Australia – at a whopping 20 metres tall, it has a new claim to fame. The much-adored Geelong icon has been crowned Victoria’s tree of the year.

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© Photograph: National Trust

© Photograph: National Trust

© Photograph: National Trust

Is the Korean Peninsula moving closer to war?

27 October 2026 at 20:31

Recently, Kim Yo-jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned that Pyongyang could take strong retaliatory measures if Seoul continues activities it considers provocative. To casual observers, this may appear to be just another routine exchange of verbal threats between the two Koreas. However, a closer examination of the current situation suggests […]

The post Is the Korean Peninsula moving closer to war? appeared first on Asia Times.

ONG alertam sobre perseguição a religiosos na Nicarágua

27 October 2026 at 15:25
Organizações da sociedade civil acusam a Nicarágua de perseguição às igrejas e aos lideres religiosos de forma a impedir qualquer tipo de criticas contra o Governo de Daniel Ortega e Rosario Murillo.

© JORGE TORRES/EPA

O Coletivo de Direitos Humanos Nicaragua Nunca Más, diz que pelo menos 1.341 organizações religiosas foram encerradas em 2026

He drove a taxi in Jakarta and once worked in the US. Russia trained him as a machine gunner for a week and a half, then sent him into his first and last battle

27 October 2026 at 14:27

drove taxi jakarta once worked russia trained machine gunner week half sent first last battle · post taufiq muhammad indonesian citizen ukraine’s military intelligence says recruited died fighting donetsk oblast

An Indonesian taxi driver who went looking for work abroad ended up in Russia's army and died in his first battle in Ukraine, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) said. Russian recruiters found him through a job application, and he reached the front in Donetsk Oblast within weeks of signing. HUR calls him one more foreigner drawn into Russia's war through deception.

Russia's war against Ukraine consumes men faster than the Kremlin is ready to replace them through another mobilization at home, so it keeps hiring abroad. Ukraine has identified nearly 46,000 foreigners who signed with Russia's army since 2022. On 26 October, a UN commission found “compelling evidence” that Russia trafficked men from 29 countries into its forces.

A résumé that reached Russian recruiters

Taufiq Muhammad, born in 1978 in Sorong, Indonesia, drove a taxi in Jakarta and had once worked in the US. Russian recruiters found him through a résumé he had sent out while looking for work, the agency said. He probably believed promises of “easy money” and traveled to Moscow. HUR sees his case as part of a pattern.

“In fact, he became yet another victim of Russia's scheme of recruiting foreigners for the criminal war through deception,” HUR said.

A week and a half of training, then the front

Muhammad signed a one-year contract with Russia's army in Korolyov, near Moscow, on 19 April 2026. HUR called that term typical for foreigners Russia uses as “disposable” infantry. Russia made him a machine gunner and gave him only a week and a half at a training center near Voronezh, Army Inform reported, citing HUR.

Passport of Taufiq Muhammad, an Indonesian citizen Ukraine’s military intelligence says Russia recruited, with his personal data pixelated by Euromaidan Press
Passport of Taufiq Muhammad, an Indonesian citizen Ukraine’s military intelligence says Russia recruited, with his personal data pixelated by Euromaidan Press. Photo: HUR

Russia moved him to occupied Ukraine in early May. He died almost at once, in his first battle. Russian troops were trying to advance from the village of Zelena Dolyna toward Novoselivka and Drobysheve in Donetsk Oblast, Militarnyi reported.

Indonesia is the newest recruiting ground

Russia's recruiters have been working in Indonesia for months. In August, Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service said it held documents on at least eight Indonesians recruited into Russia's army.

Another Indonesian, Rendi Apriyanto, 30, was reportedly killed in September, his family learned from an Indonesian fighting for Russia. Rendi had told his family he was recruited for logistics work, The Jakarta Post reported.

HUR has traced the same fast track before. In January, it identified a Filipino recruit killed in a Donetsk Oblast assault after one week of training. A Nigerian, 34, died in Kharkiv Oblast after a similar week of training, HUR said in May.

Russia courts Africa ahead of a summit

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has counted at least 2,982 Africans recruited into Russia's army, and 486 of them have died. Ahead of a Russia–Africa summit on 28–29 October, Moscow plans military and port-access deals with a string of African states, HUR said. The deals would help expand the campaign of Russia's Africa Corps, the Defense Ministry-controlled force on the continent, Army Inform reported, citing HUR.

Each recruit Ukraine identifies gives his home government a documented case to act on. Jakarta has said citizens shown to have been deceived will get its protection, while those who enlisted by choice could lose their citizenship.

Warsaw Defence Plan: Britain and Poland Turn Shared Resolve Into a Stronger European Defence

27 October 2026 at 11:39

 

Britain and Poland are giving European security something it urgently needs: a practical plan to turn allied solidarity into stronger military capabilities. Their new Warsaw Defence Plan brings together missile development, ammunition production, maritime cooperation and protection against drones and cyberattacks, strengthening a partnership with consequences well beyond either country’s borders.

Announced as British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting met his Polish counterpart, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, in Warsaw, the agreement establishes the first phase of defence cooperation under the countries’ new Security and Defence Partnership Treaty. According to the Ministry of Defence announcement, it covers operations and industry across land, sea, air and cyberspace.

Its significance lies in that breadth. Modern deterrence depends on much more than the number of soldiers available for deployment. It requires protected infrastructure, reliable supplies of ammunition, effective air defences and forces capable of operating together under pressure. London and Warsaw are addressing those requirements as connected parts of the same challenge.

Air defence is a central priority. The two countries will collaborate on developing and manufacturing the next generation of air defence missiles, building on an industrial relationship that includes Poland’s procurement of the Narew system from MBDA UK. Closer procurement coordination offers an opportunity to align military requirements and strengthen production.

That approach has clear strategic value. Missiles become more useful when allies can sustain their supply, maintain their systems and plan their deployment together. By connecting industrial cooperation with operational needs, Britain and Poland can help develop the dependable defensive capacity that Europe requires against an increasingly demanding range of aerial threats.

The plan also embraces joint development of drones and technologies designed to defeat them. The ministry explicitly links this work to protecting civilians and critical national infrastructure amid Russian drone incursions. It is a welcome recognition that security must extend beyond military installations to the services and networks on which everyday life depends.

Cybersecurity cooperation follows the same logic. Strengthening the resilience of civilian and defence sites can reduce opportunities for disruption and make national responses more effective. For both countries, sharing expertise offers a practical way to improve preparedness against hostile activity that can unfold without a conventional military attack.

At sea, the agreement builds on an existing technical connection: Britain’s Type 31 frigates and Poland’s Miecznik ships share a common design. Exchanging experience as those capabilities develop should help both navies learn from each other. Planned exercises and regional coordination will also increase defensive maritime activity in the Baltic, supporting the protection of vital communications routes.

The industrial commitments are equally encouraging. BAE Systems and Poland’s PGZ will expand capacity and capability in large-calibre ammunition production. The announcement supplies no production figures or delivery timetable, but its direction is important. Credible defence requires the ability to replenish supplies and sustain operations, giving manufacturing capacity a direct role in military readiness.

Cooperation on defence education, training and workforce mobility could strengthen that foundation further. Advanced weapons programmes depend on skilled people as well as investment. Building shared expertise can support delivery while creating opportunities for engineers, technicians and the wider industrial supply chain in both countries.

Joint exercises will test the partnership in practice. Continued participation in Steadfast Defender, Polish Dragon and Joint Warrior is intended to prepare forces for challenges including electronic warfare, counter-drone operations and missile defence. Such training gives commanders opportunities to identify weaknesses, improve coordination and build confidence before a crisis demands immediate action.

Ukraine remains integral to this effort. The countries are preparing a major Coalition of the Willing exercise in Poland in November, involving thousands of personnel. The stated purpose is to prepare the Multinational Force Ukraine to support military training and post-war rebuilding. Preparation cannot determine the course of diplomacy, but it can make future commitments more credible.

For Europe, the promise is straightforward: two committed allies are connecting operational readiness with industrial strength. Delivering the plan will require sustained effort, but Warsaw and London have established a constructive agenda whose success would benefit the wider alliance.

Pechino attacca Mbappé: il francese ride di un meme con “un dittatore cinese” e tre aziende lo scaricano

27 October 2026 at 09:47

Tutto è partito da un meme sul leader cinese Mao Zedong, che Kylian Mbappé trovava molto divertente, ma adesso almeno tre aziende cinesi hanno interrotto le collaborazioni con il calciatore. La decisione da parte delle aziende di opporsi a “qualsiasi parola o comportamento che ferisca i sentimenti nazionali” è arrivata dopo la diffusione di un video sui social in cui Mbappé, intervistato prima della partecipazione al programma online francese The Bridge, cita un meme “in cui c’è un video di un tizio, un dittatore cinese“, ha affermato il calciatore. Nel filmato, che non è più presente sul canale YouTube del programma, si vede un’immagine manipolata del capitano della nazionale francese con il volto sovrapposto a quello che sembrerebbe essere Mao. Al momento non sono ancora circolate dichiarazioni di Mbappé o The Bridge sulla vicenda.

“Le parole e le azioni che feriscono i sentimenti del popolo cinese incontreranno naturalmente l’opposizione congiunta di tutti i settori della società cinese”, ha affermato il portavoce del ministero degli Esteri cinese, Guo Jiakun. Le aziende che hanno annunciato la fine degli accordi con Mbappé sono tre al momento: il produttore di bevande energetiche Dongpeng, il gruppo lattiero-caseario Mengniu e l’azienda di formaggi Milkground. Anche la piattaforma social RedNote ha annunciato la rimozione dei materiali promozionali legati al giocatore. Sul social network cinese Weibo gli hashtag relativi alla fine delle collaborazioni e al boicottaggio di Mbappé sono diventati virali.

Nell’annuncio dell’interruzione “con effetto immediato” di ogni collaborazione con l’attaccante del Real Madrid, Dongpeng ha dichiarato che l’azienda “adotta una politica di tolleranza zero nei confronti di qualsiasi comportamento che offenda i sentimenti nazionali”. Durante i Mondiali di quest’anno, in Cina sono stati trasmessi degli spot pubblicitari che mostravano immagini generate dall’intelligenza artificiale in cui il 27enne capitano della Francia, molto popolare in Cina, beveva una bevanda sportiva Dongpeng.

Mao fondò la Cina comunista nel 1949 e ancora oggi viene celebrato come un’icona nazionale. In tutto il Paese, le battute sul il fondatore del Repubblica Popolare Cinese, morto nel 1976, sono considerate irrispettose e rimangono un tabù sociale.

L'articolo Pechino attacca Mbappé: il francese ride di un meme con “un dittatore cinese” e tre aziende lo scaricano proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

Agradecen a vicepresidente parlamento de Laos apoyo a Cuba

27 October 2026 at 08:02

Vientián, 27 oct (Prensa Latina) La embajadora de Cuba en Laos, Enna Esther Viant, agradeció hoy al vicepresidente del Parlamento Monexay Laomuaxong el permanente apoyo de su país contra el bloqueo de Estados Unidos a la isla caribeña.

The post Agradecen a vicepresidente parlamento de Laos apoyo a Cuba first appeared on Noticias Prensa Latina.

A modem from a Russian drone led reporters to its Chinese maker—which invoiced 500 for Russia’s drone plant

23 October 2026 at 21:38

Mesh Network XK-F358 modem from the Geran-5 drone

Undercover reporters ordered 500 drone mesh modems from a Chinese firm, which billed them to Russia’s Alabuga drone plant, investigation by The Insider found. The outlet estimates the firm makes about half the high-power mesh modems that let Russia steer its drones deep into Ukraine. The firm’s director also named US company AMD as the source of a key chip, and AMD says it has not sold to the firm.

Geran drones and Banderol drone-missiles have become Russia’s main weapons against Ukraine’s energy grid. Russia began this winter’s strike campaign against that grid in late September, ISW assessed. Ukrainians’ survival this winter depends largely on how fast the West halts mesh modem sales to Russia, the outlet argued.

What a mesh modem does

A mesh modem links drones into one radio network. Each unit relays data for the others, so if one drone is shot down, traffic reroutes through the rest. Information keeps flowing even if nearly 80% of the drones are downed, Ukrainian defense adviser Serhii “Flash” Beskrestnov said in November 2025.

Range is the other half of the threat. One XK F-359 holds a line-of-sight link over 100–300 km, The Insider says. In theory, a couple of relay drones could keep a whole attack on Kyiv connected. Operators can then send new commands in flight and steer around air defenses. Russia’s Gerbera drones, first built as cheap decoys, increasingly carry these modems.

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Russia’s jam-resistant drones run on a Chinese modem no one has sanctioned

A modem from an upgraded Gerbera

To trace the part, The Insider’s correspondent in Ukraine examined an unmarked mesh modem from an upgraded Gerbera with a vertical tail fin, a version that appeared this summer. The outlet identified it as Xingkai’s XK F-359, the part Ukrainian intelligence and earlier reporting, Euromaidan Press included, had logged as the XK-F358. The Insider calls that label a misidentification.

Next, The Insider and the Nordsint investigative project contacted Xingkai on WeChat, posing as a Russian military supplier based in Alabuga. A company employee who introduced himself as “Jack Jiang” confirmed the firm is the model’s sole maker. The Insider identified him as Jiang Qin, Xingkai’s director and owner.

500 modems, three banks

The reporters then ordered 500 units for delivery to Alabuga, home to the plant that makes most of Russia’s long-range drones. Jiang invoiced 19.5 million yuan, which The Insider put at about $2.87 million. He offered two ways to pay: dollars to Xingkai’s DBS Bank account in Hong Kong, or yuan to his personal Ping An Bank account.

A man walks past a mural by Norwegian street artist Toddel depicting a map of Ukraine and US President Donald Trump (L) with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Krakow on March 6, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) / Eastnews)
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In the chat, the reporters said outright that the end user was a military production facility. Jiang raised no objection, The Insider reported.

Later, after the reporters asked to update the address, Xingkai sent a revised invoice with “Alabuga” spelled in Latin letters. This time, it routed payment to a China Merchants Bank account in the name of a former Xingkai manager. She left a management post at the company in 2025, according to Tesari corporate records cited by The Insider. None of the three banks answered The Insider’s requests for comment.

Jiang also claimed the modem’s programmable chip is made by AMD. Asked for an AMD license, he refused, saying Xingkai buys the chips through a middleman. AMD told The Insider that Xingkai “is not an AMD customer or authorized partner,” and said it had sold the company nothing. AMD added that it bars exports of its products to Russia that violate US export controls and sanctions.

Jeon Do-yeon Defined an Era of Korean Cinema. With ‘Possible Love,’ She’s Become an Oscar Contender

23 October 2026 at 18:01
The decorated actor could become the first person from South Korea to be nominated for best actress — fitting, given her remarkable run onscreen: “I almost find myself wondering why it has taken the rest of the world so long to notice her,” says Lee Byung-hun.
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