The retro cars participating in the international auto expedition from Paris to Beijing along the Great Silk Road stopped in Samarkand for two days.
The retro cars participating in the international auto expedition from Paris to Beijing along the Great Silk Road stopped in Samarkand for two days.
The international road trip began on July 12 in France, at the Futuroscope complex. The crews are planned to cover 15 thousand kilometers and reach Beijing on September 1.
The road trip, organized by ATYPIC Travel Organisation from France, passes through the territories of Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, and China. Most participants in the expedition are from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
Participants travel through the historic cities of the Great Silk Road in cars of different eras and models. Although it was initially planned to complete the entire route in 57 days, time was allocated in Samarkand to get acquainted with the city.
During the stop in Samarkand, the crews visited the city's historical attractions while the cars underwent scheduled technical inspections and necessary repairs. After Samarkand, the road trip will continue through the Fergana Valley. Then the participants will head to China via Kyrgyzstan, concluding the trip in Beijing and near the Great Wall of China.
The appeal of the American dream is diminishing, which is reflected in a shift in the direction of 'brain drain' as Chinese scientists return to their homeland. The article provides an example of a meeting of former students who studied together at prestigious Chinese universities.
Several decades ago, in the early 2000s, the most talented students studying at renowned Chinese institutions such as Tsinghua and Fudan in fields like physics, chemistry, and engineering, received offers to continue their studies in the United States. At that time, the American dream was highly attractive, and China did not yet possess its current power. Many went to the US, while some remained in their home country.
Recently, an informal gathering of these individuals took place in Beijing during a citizens' conference. Participants included those who became professors, specialists, or executives of major corporations in the US, and whose children attended prestigious schools and universities. In other words, they achieved the American dream.
However, this meeting revealed an unexpected picture to them: the income, opportunities, and social status of former classmates who remained in China were, in many cases, higher than their own. They hosted guests in expensive hotels, provided cars with drivers, and spoke about leading large teams.
It was once believed that the 'best' left for the US, while the less capable remained at home. However, it was precisely those who stayed who participated in shaping China's current strength.
According to the publicist, this is not just the fate of a couple of dozen people. For decades, 'brain drain' was considered a great achievement for the US: young and the most capable people from around the world came to America to strengthen its scientific, technological, and economic superiority. Every young scientist was viewed as a future loyal citizen and a valuable asset.
Now, the situation is changing. A Chinese student is increasingly viewed not as a future scientist but as a potential technological threat.
According to data from the U.S. Center for Immigration Studies, the number of visas issued to students from China and India in the first half of 2025 has decreased. In some circles, this is seen as a success for American students and national security.
Nevertheless, it is reported that foreign students contribute $55 billion annually to the US economy and provide about 400,000 jobs. The reduction in admissions led to a loss of $1.1 billion and 23,000 jobs in just one year. Thus, a process previously considered an economic and political success is now interpreted as a threat.
The author also quotes a Chinese professor working at the University of Rochester. He himself achieved success in America, owns a nice home, and buys things considering himself a US patriot. But now he is dissatisfied with the growing skepticism towards Chinese scientists and students.
Chinese students coming to study in the US undergo lengthy interrogations at the border. Even scientists who returned to China after working in America are questioned about where they were, whom they met, what lectures they gave, and what research they discussed.
Currently, not all emigrated scientists achieve the same level of success. Some attribute their failure to the Chinese government or their home country, expressing strong political views. This complicates the lives of Chinese people who have succeeded in the US.
Thus, the 'brain drain,' which once strengthened America's power, may begin to move in reverse. The South China Morning Post regularly reports on the return of prominent Chinese scientists and engineers who worked in the US in recent years. Now, they are choosing opportunities in China rather than the American dream.
Building a well-thought-out wardrobe starts with classic pieces that never go out of style. Although putting together an outfit shouldn't become a daily struggle, many women find that despite having full closets, they feel like they have nothing to wear.
The problem often lies not in the size of the wardrobe, but in the lack of versatile basic elements that coordinate with each other. Instead of investing in timeless items, it is easy to fill a closet with trend-driven pieces that quickly become outdated.
Having these foundational items simplifies the addition of seasonal trends and makes it more accessible. Furthermore, decluttering the wardrobe becomes less tedious because every item has a purpose. When choosing clothes, priority should be given to quality over quantity, as everyday basics are worn repeatedly and are worth investing in.
This does not mean they must carry designer price tags; it is enough to choose well-made pieces that fit the figure so they will last for years. Below are eight timeless wardrobe staples that every woman should own.
A crisp white shirt is one of the most indispensable items in any wardrobe. It can be worn with palazzo pants or a pencil skirt for work, or paired with jeans and rolled sleeves for a relaxed weekend look. It also works perfectly as a base layer under knitwear or blazers.
A well-tailored blazer instantly gives an outfit a polished look. While black remains the most versatile option, navy, charcoal, or beige colors are also considered timeless choices. It can be thrown over a t-shirt and jeans or worn with palazzo pants for effortless elegance.
Any wardrobe benefits from having a collection of high-quality t-shirts in neutral tones such as white, black, gray, and beige. They can be worn alone or used as a base layer under jackets, knitwear, and blazers. For maximum versatility, simple styles should be chosen, avoiding large logos or slogans.
A nice pair of dark blue jeans is one of the most versatile items that can be in your wardrobe. They suit both daytime and evening outings easily and match almost everything. Paired with a white shirt and a black blazer, dark denim creates a simple, classic, and always stylish look.
Few items are as reliable as a little black dress. One should choose a classic silhouette that suits the body shape rather than following fashion trends. The right dress allows you to transition from a dinner date to a formal event simply by changing accessories.
Comfort should never come at the expense of style. A quality pair of flats works with everything—from dresses to jeans. Black is a practical choice, but beige leather flats are just as versatile and pair beautifully with a neutral wardrobe.
Classic white sneakers have earned their place as a daily necessity. Whether you wear them with jeans, dresses, or palazzo pants, they add a fresh, modern touch. Leather or canvas models without flashy branding generally remain fashionable much longer.
Relaxed, well-tailored trousers instantly elevate an outfit while remaining comfortable enough for daily wear. Shades such as gray, black, navy, or khaki offer the greatest versatility and pair easily with shirts, knitwear, and blazers. A wardrobe built around timeless basics does not mean rejecting fashion; it simply provides a reliable foundation that makes dressing easier, helps make smarter purchases, and allows trends to be adopted without constantly replacing the entire wardrobe.
In 1968, furniture designer and RCA professor David Pye published the book The Nature and Art of Workmanship. This work was organized around the distinction between what he called the 'workmanship of risk' and the 'workmanship of certainty.'
Pye did not focus specifically on architecture, nor did he directly address the conflict between manual labor and machines, despite how the term is used today. He pointed out that even a printing press, being entirely mechanical, requires someone to assess the ink and registration. On the other hand, a professional working manually on a wood lathe can follow a model with such precision that very little is left to chance.
The workmanship of risk, according to Pye's definition, encompasses any process whose final result is not predetermined, depending instead on the judgment, skill, and attention of the person executing the work during its progress. Conversely, the workmanship of certainty represents the opposite, as the result is already defined before production begins—whether in a template, mold, or program—limiting subsequent phases only to execution.
Pye emphasized that neither method is inherently superior. He observed that a CNC machine, when configured to accept variations, can be closer to risk than a manual tool operated under a rigid standard. Architecture has been exploring this dynamic for centuries.
Dry stone masonry, used in land demarcation in the Mediterranean and British Isles, exemplifies this, as it has no fixed dimensions; each stone is placed, tested, and repositioned until the overall structure of the wall holds together, through a series of small and non-repeatable decisions. A similar logic applies to handmade structural carpentry, where traditional Japanese joints are intentionally cut with a small gap, relying on the wood's own expansion due to humidity to autonomously adjust the joint over the years, with these decisions being made by the person manipulating the material.
Currently, CNC routers, robotic arms, and 3D printers invert this logic, using tolerances measured in fractions of a millimeter, resulting in pieces that fit without the need for on-site adjustments and allowing geometries previously impossible to build manually. The digital file, from Pye's perspective, symbolizes certainty taken to its maximum. Pye was less concerned with the total disappearance of the workmanship of risk than with its isolated survival within a vocabulary capable of defending it, running the risk of becoming so normalized that no one else wants to claim it.
The projects presented in this article are situated at various points along this spectrum, ranging from ancient techniques to advanced robotic research. What unites these examples is a narrower and more valuable margin between design and matter, understood as the space where authorship effectively occurs.
