Archive September 3, 2025

How much do India, Russia, China trade and what goods do they buy?

For the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which ended on Monday, more than 20 non-Western leaders from non-Western countries gathered in Tianjin, China, to discuss a global economic order with the Global South at its heart.

Xi told delegates: “We must continue to take a clear stand against hegemonism and power politics, and practice true multilateralism in the face of new global tariffs that have been imposed by US President Donald Trump.

India and Russia, two of the world’s top emerging economies, together account for more than one-fifth of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP), along with China.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), trilateral trade between China, India, and Russia totaled $452 billion in 2023, up from $351 billion in 2022.

The 10-member SCO, which is seen as an alternative to the majority of US-led international institutions, covers much of Central Asia, Russia, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus and accounts for about 43 percent of the world’s population and 23 percent of the global GDP.

Beijing’s push for multilateralism comes as Washington’s trade tariff policies have given SCO members a place to work together amid growing grievances.

(Al Jazeera)

Which nations buy from China the most?

China’s trading partners are varied.

The US, which imported $442 billion, or 12.9 percent of China’s total exports in 2023, mostly made up of electronics, machinery, consumer goods, and telecommunications equipment, is its main buyer.

Asia is the main hub for China’s exports, handling $1.6 trillion worth of goods, with India alone receiving $ 120 billion, or 3.1 percent of its total exports.

China exported $ 89.3 billion worth of goods to Europe, with Germany ($151 billion), Russia ($110 billion), and the UK ($95.33 billion).

INTERACTIVE-Who does CHINA sell to the most - SEPTEMBER 3, 2025-1756879665

Which nations pay India the most money?

The US also purchases Indian goods in large numbers.

The US purchased items worth $ 81.4 billion in 2023, or 17.9 percent of India’s total exports, followed by precious stones, machinery, and textiles, before moving on to other products.

Asia is India’s primary export market, accounting for $ 178 billion in goods, with the UAE being its second-largest export market, with $ 31.4 billion, or 6.9% of total exports, mainly jewelry and refined petroleum, accounting for $ 69 billion.

With $ 22. 5 billion in exported oil, India’s third-largest export market is $ 15 billion, with refined petroleum being the largest exporter. India’s export market is second-largest in Asia and fourth-largest there.

US President Donald Trump formally imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports on August 6, citing in part India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude oil.

India responded with a strong nod, calling the tariffs “unjustified, and unreasonable,” and reaffirming its independent authority to decide its energy policies. Despite the pressure from the US, India continued to import Russian oil, which was sparked by Moscow’s significant discounts.

INTERACTIVE-Who does India sell to the most - SEPTEMBER 3, 2025-1756879443
(Al Jazeera)

Which nations rely on Russia for the most money?

Russia’s trading partners were significantly more diverse before the conflict in Ukraine.

Russia had a wide range of European partners, including China, which accounted for 14.6 percent ($72. 1 billion) of its exports in 2021). Russia’s second-largest exporter was the Netherlands, accounting for 8% of its total exports, followed by the US, which accounts for 5.5% ($27.3%).

Heavy sanctions severely slowed trade with many Western nations after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

China accounted for about one-third of Russia’s exports by 2023, with India accounting for 16.8% ($66.1 billion) and Turkiye at 7.9% ($31 billion), making the Asia-Pacific region the main exporter of Russian goods, with more than three-quarters of that amount going there.

INTERACTIVE-Who does Russia sell to the most - SEPTEMBER 3, 2025-1756879448
(Al Jazeera)

What is the main topic of trade between China and Russia?

Machinery and transportation equipment were the main exports China made to Russia in 2023, totaling $110 billion in goods. Cars are the top exporters from China to Russia, according to the OEC.

Russia also sold $ 29 billion worth of goods to China that year, primarily mineral products, including oil and natural gas.

Russia has recently enjoyed a trade surplus with China, primarily as a result of its energy-related exports, which account for nearly three-quarters of the country’s exports.

INTERACTIVE-What is the main topic of trade between China and Russia?-sep3-2025 copy 4-1756879426

What is the most important trade partner between Russia and India?

Russia and India have a significant trade deficit, with much of it coming in from India.

About 88 percent of these imports, the majority of which India purchases at a discount, came from Russia, which sold $66.1 billion worth of goods to India in 2023. Energy products, primarily crude oil and natural gas, account for about 88 percent of these imports.

India’s exports to Russia are more diverse, reaching $4.1 billion in 2023, with significant contributions coming from metal, machinery, and chemical products.

INTERACTIVE-What do INDIA and Russia trade most?-sep3-2025 copy 4-1756879432

What is the main topic of trade between China and India?

India and China have a significant trade deficit, importing roughly seven times as many goods as it exports.

India exported $ 18.1 billion worth of goods to China in 2023, with oil and fuel-related products accounting for the majority of its exports, while China exported $ 125 billion worth of goods, primarily machinery and chemical products.

INTERACTIVE-What do China and INDIA trade most?-sep3-2025 copy 4-1756879420
(Al Jazeera)

FG Begins Training Of 100,000 Construction Artisans Nationwide

100, 000 construction artisans in Nigeria have already received training, certification, and job placement thanks to the Federal Government.

As authorized by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday, Polaris Capital Limited will implement the training in partnership.

Federal funding for the three-year initiative will be matched by donor contributions, private sector investment, and donor contributions. Additionally, it includes a digital booking and verification system that will help the program stay in operation after the MoU period while connecting artisans directly to employment opportunities.

The Permanent Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, &nbsp, and Vihishima, the Ministry’s representative, officially signed the MoU at the conclusion of the signing ceremony.

The development marked the start of a national initiative to close skills gaps in the housing and construction industries, according to a statement from the Ministry.

Belgore noted that the initiative aims to modernize Nigeria’s construction workforce.

He emphasized that the program would increase technical skills, foster employment for young people and artisans, and foster inclusivity by involving women, youth, and people with disabilities.

The program includes trades such as plumbing, electrical installations, carpentry, painting, welding, tiling, POP and screeding, upholstery, air conditioning, and refrigeration.

At the time of reporting, neither the pilot’s starting and destination have been specified.

The National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP) is being officially launched by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Polaris Capital Limited (FMLUD) on September 2, 2025.

The statement read in part as “NASAP is a nationwide intervention program designed to train, certify, and digitally connect 100, 000 artisans in priority construction trades to job opportunities across Nigeria.

READ MORE: FG Creating Enabling Environment To Generate Over 50 Million Jobs — BPE

Kelvin Vihishima, the CEO of Polaris Capital Limited, described the partnership as a crucial step in the direction of reviving the housing sector and reducing unemployment. He cited the need for training and certification to combat quackery in the construction industry and provide skilled labor all over the country.

The pact, which is based on accountability and long-term economic impact, is emphasized in the statement. It also reflects the Ministry’s commitment to developing skills, creating jobs, and fostering sustainable urban growth.

The National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP) pilot program was announced in June that the Federal Government would use the Ministry to do so in 2025.

In order to cover 10 highly sought-after construction trades, the pilot aimed to train 3, 000 artisans over the course of six months of intensive instruction spread out across three distinct states. The initiative aims to improve housing quality, improve the quality of housing, and address the lack of skilled labor in the construction industry. It also aims to provide practical, market-ready skills to Nigerian youth.

UN watchdog finds uranium at alleged Syrian nuclear site from al-Assad era

The United Nations ‘ nuclear watchdog has said its inspectors discovered uranium particles at a site in Syria it suspects was once used as part of a clandestine nuclear programme run by the former government of Bashar al-Assad.

Last year, inspectors visited and took environmental samples at “three locations that were allegedly functionally related” to the remote desert site Deir el-Zour, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) spokesman Fredrik Dahl said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Analysis revealed a significant number of anthropogenic natural uranium particles in samples taken at one of the three locations. Some of these uranium particles are consistent with the conversion of uranium ore concentrate to uranium oxide”, said Dahl. This would be typical of a nuclear power reactor.

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi reported these findings to the agency’s board of directors on Monday in a report on developments in Syria.

The report also stated that “the current Syrian authorities indicated that they had no information that might explain the presence of such uranium particles”.

The IAEA urged Syria on Tuesday to cooperate fully over allegations that it had been building a covert nuclear reactor at Deir Az Zor.

Syria has repeatedly denied these allegations.

The Deir Az Zor site only became public knowledge after Israel – which is the Middle East’s only state with nuclear weapons, although it has not declared its own programme – launched air strikes in 2007, destroying the facility. Syria later levelled the site and never responded fully to the IAEA’s questions.

An IAEA team visited some sites of interest last year while al-Assad was still in power. After al-Assad’s fall last December in a rebel offensive on the capital Damascus, the new government led by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa agreed to cooperate with the agency and again provided inspectors access to the site where the uranium particles had been found.

They took more samples there and “will evaluate the results of all of the environmental samples taken at this location and the information acquired from the planned visit to the site, and may conduct follow-up activities, as necessary”, Dahl said on Tuesday.

In an interview with The Associated Press news agency in June during a visit to Damascus, Grossi said al-Sharaa had expressed an interest in pursuing nuclear energy for Syria in the future. The IAEA said Syria granted its inspectors access to the location for a second time to gather more samples.

A number of other countries in the region are pursuing nuclear energy in some form. Grossi said Syria would most likely be looking into small modular reactors, which are cheaper and easier to deploy than traditional large ones.

Rescuers race to find Afghan quake survivors as death toll rises

The United Nations has warned of an exponential rise in casualties from a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, as the Taliban said the death toll had surpassed 1, 400 on Tuesday, with more than 3, 000 people injured.

The figures provided by Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid were mainly for the province of Kunar.

Sunday night’s magnitude 6 earthquake affected several provinces, causing extensive damage. It flattened villages and trapped people under the rubble of homes constructed mainly of mud bricks and wood, which were unable to withstand the shock.

Rough terrain is hampering rescue and relief efforts, forcing Taliban authorities to airdrop dozens of commandos to evacuate the injured from places where helicopters cannot land.

A magnitude 5.2 aftershock, close to the epicentre of Sunday’s earthquake, rattled the area on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of damage.

Indrika Ratwatte, the United Nations resident coordinator for Afghanistan, said rescuers are scrambling in a “race against time” to reach the mountainous and remote area. In a media briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, he warned of a surge in casualty numbers.

“We cannot afford to forget the people of Afghanistan who are facing multiple crises, multiple shocks, and the resilience of the communities has been saturated”, Ratwatte said, urging the international community to step forward.

“These are life-and-death decisions while we race against time to reach people”, he said.

It is the third strong earthquake since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and the latest crisis to beset Afghanistan, which is reeling from deep cuts to aid funding, a weak economy, and millions of Afghans forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan.

Cyclist Chris Froome’s crash caused life-threatening heart injury

Four-times Tour de France champion Chris Froome sustained a life-threatening injury to his heart in a training crash in southern France last week, his wife Michelle said.

The 40-year-old Briton was airlifted to hospital in Toulon after the August 27 crash, which also left him with broken ribs, a collapsed lung and a back fracture.

His wife said doctors discovered Froome had suffered a pericardial rupture – a tear in the protective sac surrounding the heart, often caused by blunt chest trauma.

“It was obviously a lot more serious than some broken bones,” she told The Times newspaper. “He’s fine, but it’s going to be a long recovery process. He won’t be riding a bike for a while.”

Froome, who has won seven Grand Tours – including two Vuelta a Espana titles and one Giro d’Italia victory – has struggled to regain his best form following a high-speed crash during training for the Criterium du Dauphine in 2019.

Last year, he expressed his desire to compete in the Tour de France one final time before retiring, but has faced further setbacks. He suffered a broken collarbone in a crash during the final stage of the UAE Tour earlier this year and was not selected for this year’s Tour de France.

Putin, Kim meet in Beijing; Kremlin says Russia not plotting against US

No one even thought of this in their thoughts, according to a Kremlin aide who refuted Donald Trump’s claims that Russian, Chinese, and North Korean leaders were conspiring against the United States.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un discussed the deepening military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang during talks on Wednesday in Beijing.

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as they conspire against the United States of America, Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.

Following a military parade in central Beijing, where Chinese President Xi Jinping presided over celebrations in Tiananmen Square to mark the 80th anniversary of the Japanese surrender and the end of World War II, the meeting was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Difficulty number of world leaders, despite almost none from the West, were drawn to the event, which in part conveyed a message to the audience.

After a formal reception, the Kremlin claimed on social media that Putin and Kim travelled to the meeting in the same vehicle. Kim’s daughter Kim Ju Ae was present, according to images from North Korean state media.

Kim made his first public appearance alongside both Putin and Xi, which was a sign of unity during the parade in China.

Putin praised the bravery and heroism of North Korean soldiers, who he claimed fought alongside Russian forces in a Ukrainian incursion into Kursk, Russia’s border region.

Since Moscow and Pyongyang signed a strategic partnership pact in June 2024, Kim asserted, in turn, that cooperation has “significantly increased.”

If there is anything I can do to help you and the Russian people, I will act as if there is something more that is needed, a fraternal duty, a duty that we must bear, and I will be ready to do anything to help, Kim said.

According to South Korean officials, North Korea has sent about 15, 000 soldiers to Russia since last year in order to bolster Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, along with significant military supplies, including artillery and KN-23 ballistic missiles.

According to analysts, Pyongyang is receiving cutting-edge Russian military equipment in return, including satellite guidance systems that could expand its missile arsenal.

For the first time in 24 years, Putin and Kim signed a treaty establishing a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” that revived diplomatic ties between the two sanctioned states in July 2024. Kim has previously had three meetings with Vladimir Putin.

North Korea only acknowledged that its soldiers had been killed in combat and that it had only confirmed that it had sent troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine in April.

Kim met with the families of the soldiers killed last week in Ukraine, offering condolences for their “unforgiveable pain” and promising the bereaved “a beautiful life,” according to state media.

Kim hosted the families of the fallen soldiers, according to a report from the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Saturday, and he expressed “grief at having failed to save the precious lives of those who gave their lives to defend the country’s honor.

The North Korean leader expressed sympathy for the children who lost their fathers in his “heart breaks and aches.”