BRICS

President's PIRATES SEIZE RUSSIAN SHIP for 'funding Ukraine war' Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic say's "The French Navy intercepted a new tanker under international sanctions yesterday morning, originating from Russia: the Tagor. Our determination is steadfast and unwavering. This operation was carried out in the Atlantic, in international waters, with the support of several partners including the United Kingdom, in strict compliance with the law of the sea. It is unacceptable for ships to circumvent international sanctions, violate the law of the sea, and fund the war that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for more than 4 years. These vessels, which fail to adhere to the most basic rules of maritime navigation, also pose a threat to the environment and to everyone's safety. La Marine nationale a arraisonné hier matin un nouveau pétrolier sous sanctions internationales en provenance de Russie : le Tagor. Notre détermination est constante et totale.                      Cette intervention a été effectuée en Atlantique, en haute mer, avec le soutien de plusieurs partenaires dont le Royaume-Uni, dans le strict respect du droit de la mer. Il est inacceptable que des bateaux contournent les sanctions internationales, violent le droit de la mer et financent la guerre que mène la Russie contre l’Ukraine depuis plus de 4 ans. Ces navires, qui ne respectent pas les règles les plus élémentaires de navigation maritime, constituent également une menace pour l’environnement et pour la sécurité de tous." 9:59 AM · Jun 1, 2026

US curbs backfire, as China builds self-reliant post-NVIDIA AI chip ecosystem China’s tech giants are pursuing custom-built AI chips and homegrown software platforms to break America’s dominance 🔸 Huawei, Alibaba Group, Cambricon, and Moore Threads Technology Co. Ltd. are accelerating Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) — specialized chips far more efficient (and cheaper) for AI workloads than general-purpose Graphics processing units (GPUs) 🔸 Huawei’s Ascend 910C/950 NPUs and Cambricon’s Siyuan series are already outperforming Nvidia’s restricted H20 chip by 50-150% in tokens per second 🔸 Alibaba launched its powerful Zhenwu M890 PPU, claiming 3x performance gains for “agentic AI” tasks, while domestic players develop alternatives to Google’s TPUs 🔸 Morgan Stanley projects Huawei could control 62% of China’s AI accelerator market by 2026 12:00 PM · Jun 1, 2026

Modi Hosts Myanmar President for Key Bilateral Talks Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing at Hyderabad House, New Delhi, during a high-level bilateral engagement focused on strengthening India–Myanmar relations, enhancing regional security cooperation, and advancing strategic connectivity across the Indo-Pacific region. 11:46 AM · Jun 1, 2026

Argentina Makes History, Loudly: 500 Drummers Play Together In Buenos Aires Mass Jam 8:47 PM · May 31, 2026

Key Security Dialogue Between India and Myanmar in Delhi NSA Ajit Doval met Myanmar President U Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi during his first official visit, with talks focused on strengthening India–Myanmar bilateral ties. 10:23 AM · Jun 1, 2026

HORMUZ IS NOW A HIGH-LEVERAGE DIGITAL CHOKEPOINT Data Is the New Oil: Iran Signals Digital Toll at the Strait of Hormuz At the Strait of Hormuz (≈39 km at its narrowest), the world’s most strategic oil artery is evolving into a digital super-corridor. Beneath its waters run subsea fibre-optic cables carrying an estimated ~95% of intercontinental internet traffic between Asia, Europe, and the Gulf. This is no longer only energy geography—it is infrastructure geopolitics in its purest form. Iranian officials and state-linked media have outlined proposals to introduce licensing fees, transit tariffs, and regulatory oversight on submarine cables passing through or near its maritime jurisdiction. A military spokesperson has stated Iran will “impose fees on internet cables,” signalling an intent to monetise digital transit routes. The framing is explicit: data pipelines are now being treated as strategic assets alongside oil and shipping lanes. Key systems concentrated in this corridor include: AAE-1 (Asia-Africa-Europe-1) FALCON (Gulf–Europe backbone routes) GBI (Gulf Bridge International) Multiple redundancy links connecting UAE, Oman, India, and Europe Collectively, these networks support trillions of dollars in daily financial messaging, cloud computing flows, and enterprise data exchange, making the region one of the world’s most congested subsea digital junctions. Policy signals point to a structured framework: Cable licensing (entry and renewal fees) Annual transit charges per system Regulatory compliance for global operators Indirect exposure for tech majors including Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon infrastructure routes Localised maintenance and repair roles for Iranian entities Lawmakers suggest potential revenues ranging from hundreds of millions to several billion dollars annually, depending on tariff design and traffic valuation models. Legally, Iran grounds its position in sovereign maritime and seabed rights. Yet enforcement remains complex, as many routes pass through overlapping jurisdictions and international waters near Oman, raising questions under maritime conventions. The central issue is not legal framing alone—but enforceability over distributed digital infrastructure embedded in shared waters. Strategically, the shift reflects a broader inversion: oil once defined chokepoints; data now multiplies them. Subsea cables are: Highly concentrated in narrow corridors Physically fragile, with limited repair nodes Systemically critical to finance, cloud, AI, and telecom networks In this context, Hormuz emerges as a high-leverage digital chokepoint. While implementation remains uncertain, the trajectory is clear: Iran is repositioning itself from transit state to tariff authority within the global data economy. In the emerging order, sovereignty is no longer defined solely by land or sea—but by control over the invisible cables beneath them. 6:30 PM · May 31, 2026 | Press TV

US strikes Iranian radar, IRGC hits back – Kuwait reports air defense activity CENTCOM says it conducted "self‑defense strikes" on Iranian radar and command sites in Goruk and Qeshm Island In response, the IRGC Aerospace Force targeted the airbase from which the US strike originated – and says the "predicted targets were destroyed." Kuwaiti army reported air defense activity in the area "If the aggression is repeated, the response will be completely different. Responsibility lies with the US regime," the IRGC warned, as quoted by Fars News 10:20 AM · Jun 1, 2026

Putin’s State Visit To Kazakhstan: Results, Signed Agreements and Analysis Published on May 31, 2026 by RUSSIA’S PIVOT TO ASIA President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan (May 27–29, 2026), immediately following his high-profile trip to China, underscored a coordinated strategic push toward shaping a more integrated Eurasian economic architecture spanning Russia, Central Asia, China, and beyond. Far beyond routine diplomacy, the Astana visit produced 10–15 bilateral agreements alongside a landmark Joint Statement on the “Seven Foundations of Friendship and Good-Neighborliness,” establishing a long-term framework for comprehensive strategic cooperation. Key outcomes included a major nuclear energy partnership for Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant, expanded transport and logistics connectivity, digital economy collaboration, financial integration mechanisms including currency settlement arrangements, and deeper industrial cooperation across energy, manufacturing, and critical minerals. The visit reinforced Kazakhstan’s role as a pivotal geographic and economic bridge within Eurasia—linking Russian industrial capacity, Chinese demand, and Central Asian transit corridors. With more than $50 billion in combined industrial projects, rising bilateral trade, and expanding investment flows, the relationship is increasingly evolving from traditional trade ties into a structured production and infrastructure ecosystem. Energy cooperation remained central, spanning oil, gas, electricity, and nuclear power, while new emphasis was placed on artificial intelligence, digital platforms, autonomous logistics, and rare-earth supply chains. The discussions also highlighted the growing importance of the Russia–Kazakhstan–China economic triangle and strategic transit routes such as the International North-South Transport Corridor. The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) meetings in Astana further elevated the strategic significance of the visit, positioning Kazakhstan as a key hub in ongoing discussions on regional industrial policy, financial sovereignty, and technological modernization. Overall, the visit reflects a broader structural shift from geopolitics toward geoeconomics—where connectivity, infrastructure, and industrial integration increasingly define the emerging Eurasian order. Within this evolving framework, Kazakhstan stands at the center as both a strategic bridge and a continental anchor in a rapidly transforming economic system. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gxYgVEXH

US STRIKE HORMUZ COMMAND & CONTROL CENTCOM Says Defensive Action Against Iranian Drone Threats U.S. Defends, Disables Threats in Response to Iranian Aggression  TAMPA, Fla. — U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and command and control sites for drones in Goruk, Iran and Qeshm Island this weekend. The measured and deliberate strikes occurred on Saturday and Sunday in response to aggressive Iranian actions that included the shootdown of a U.S. MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters. U.S. fighter aircraft swiftly responded by eliminating Iranian air defenses, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that posed clear threats to ships transiting regional waters. No American service members were harmed. CENTCOM will continue to protect U.S. assets and interests in response to unwarranted Iranian aggression during the ongoing ceasefire. 8:47 AM · Jun 1, 2026

Eurasian Economic Forum 2026: Kazakhstan Hosts Historic Push for AI-Driven Integration Astana, Kazakhstan — On May 28–29, 2026, the 5th Eurasian Economic Forum (EEF) took place in Astana under Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The central theme, “The EAEU in the Global Digital Race: Betting on Artificial Intelligence,” highlighted the bloc’s ambition to become a competitive force in the new technological era. Leaders including Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and high-level delegations from observer states gathered at the Astana Congress Centre. The forum coincided with the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting, marking 12 years since the EAEU Treaty was signed in Astana. A major outcome was the adoption of a Joint Statement on the Responsible Development of Artificial Intelligence. Participants emphasized that AI must be rapid yet guided by safety, ethics, transparency, and human-centric principles. Kazakhstan proposed the initiative, which aims to create unified rules for digital transformation across member states. The discussions went beyond AI. Leaders addressed cross-border trade, transport corridors, energy cooperation, industrial development, and greater economic resilience against external pressures. Side events showcased practical applications in logistics, customs, tax administration, and smart cities. Kazakhstan’s Vision: President Tokayev showcased initiatives like the Alem.AI International Center, demonstrating real-world technologies including autonomous vehicles, drone deliveries, air taxis, and crypto payments. Kazakhstan positions itself as a bridge for Eurasian connectivity — blending Russian energy and industrial strength with Central Asian resources and growing partnerships with China, the UAE, and BRICS nations. Competing with the European Model: While the EAEU’s Eurasian Economic Commission mirrors aspects of the European Commission, the bloc prioritizes pragmatic, sovereignty-respecting integration focused on trade facilitation, digital sovereignty, and multipolar cooperation rather than deep political union. This approach appeals to countries seeking alternatives to Western-centric frameworks.The forum strengthened intra-EAEU ties and opened doors for broader Eurasian partnerships. With AI as the new frontier, the EAEU is betting on technology to drive inclusive growth, new industries, and enhanced competitiveness on the global stage.As one participant noted, technological progress must serve the people — and Eurasia is ready to lead responsibly. #EAEU #EurasianEconomicForum #AI #DigitalSilkRoad #BRICS #Kazakhstan #MultipolarWorld