In this week’s round-up: BRICS leads plan to protect natural world by raising $200bn a year; Dilma’s tenure at the BRICS Bank faces delayed targets and harassment reports; Uruguay’s participation at the BRICS summit still up in the air; Lula invites Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to BRICS Summit; Uruguay looks at joining New Development Bank; Zimbabwe applies to join BRICS; Chinese, Russians driving Dubai’s real estate boom; BRICS membership not a magic fix, but here’s how Nigeria can make it work.
Russia hosts MediaGame festival with TV BRICS participation
The Russian State University for the Humanities (RSUH) hosted the “MediaGame” International Student Festival of Social Projects organised by the Faculty of Advertising and Public Relations with the support of the university’s Department of Youth Policy. For the first time this year, international students from Belarus, Vietnam, and other countries, presented their works at the event. TV BRICS acted as the official media partner of the festival, TV BRICS webiste reported.
BRICS Factor: Chinese, Russians driving Dubai’s real estate boom
As Dubai continues to solidify its position as a global investment hub, the BRICS Factor – the expanding economic collaboration among Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa – has become a key driver of foreign capital inflows, according to UAE-based Elite Merit Real Estate.
BRICS leads plan to protect natural world by raising $200bn a year
A gathering of countries in Rome agreed on a plan to generate $200-billion in finance a year by 2030 to halt and begin to reverse the destruction of the natural world.
Pepe Escobar: From Donbass to South Lebanon, and all across BRICS, it’s all about resistance
For those who keep track of the slings and arrows crossing the broader geopolitical chessboard non-stop, it’s an immensely powerful – and humbling – experience to one day be contemplating the devastated Avdeyevka, in the heart of the war in Donbass, and a week later struggling to understand the devastation inflicted on villages in southern Lebanon.
BRICS workshop in Tehran strengthens innovation, cooperation
BRICS member states are stepping up efforts to enhance scientific and technological collaboration, aiming to drive innovation and sustainable development. A workshop in Tehran has brought together experts and officials to explore new opportunities for cooperation, with a focus on research, investment, and startup growth.
Dilma’s tenure at New Development Bank hit by delayed targets and harassment reports
As she prepares to begin a second term at the helm of the NDB, the Brics bank, former President Dilma Rousseff has left behind a trail of delayed targets, reports of workplace harassment, layoffs, and criticism for poor management at the institution since taking office in April 2023.
Uruguay’s participation at the BRICS summit still up in the air
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s invitation to Uruguay to attend the BRICS Summit in Brazil in June raises questions about the new government’s real interest in the alliance.
BRICS membership not a magic fix — but here’s how Nigeria can make it work
On January 18, Brazil announced the admission of Nigeria as a partner country to the BRICS group of developing economies, adding one of Africa’s largest economies to the growing alliance of emerging market countries. With this admission, Nigeria became the ninth partner country and the second African nation to achieve this status after Uganda.
Lula invites Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to BRICS Summit
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva invited Mexico, Colombia, and Uruguay to participate in the upcoming BRICS summit in July in Rio de Janeiro. The summit will focus on reducing dependence on the US dollar and promoting local currencies in transactions.
Women business community wants New BRICS Development Bank to support young entrepreneurs
The New Development Bank should create programs to support youth and social entrepreneurship, Tatiana Seliverstova, Director of the BRICS+ International Business Forum & BRICS Business Incubator, told TASS.
At BRICS women’s summit, Smriti Irani greets women for being on a path of emancipation
The BRICS women’s summit in New Delhi brought together prominent leaders to discuss women’s empowerment and recognition. Smriti Irani emphasised the often-unrecognised economic contributions of women during her speech. Kiran Bedi added perspectives on parenting and youth development, calling for equal responsibilities.
BRICS, an open door to replace the US dollar or bricked up?
In 2001, chief economist of Goldman Sachs, Jim O’Neill, created the Brics acronym to describe the world’s developing growth economies, Brazil, Russia, India, and China. Two decades later, China and India can no longer be considered developing economies because they are successfully competing with the industrialised nations of Europe and the US.
BRICS stands as a crucial counterbalance
The emergence of BRICS as a major geopolitical force highlights the reality that the global order is no longer dominated by a singular power. Despite claims to the contrary, including recent statements from President Donald Trump that BRICS is “dead” due to his administration’s threatened tariffs, the evidence suggests otherwise. With the addition of Indonesia as an official member and Malaysia as a partner country in January 2025, BRICS now represents over 50 percent of the world’s population and approximately 45 percent of global GDP in nominal terms. Moreover, Brazil’s launch of the BRICS 2025 website and vision statement underlines the group’s forward momentum.
Motivating factors for the rise of BRICS are being deliberately distorted by the West
The expansion of BRICS at its Kazan summit in Russia in 2024 offered an explanation as to why more countries have applied to join the group. Saudi Arabia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates are major energy producers, while Egypt and Ethiopia are two of Africa’s largest developing countries with huge potential, investing heavily to upgrade their networks of infrastructure, industry, as well as land and maritime trade routes.
Uruguay looking at joining BRICS New Development Bank
Uruguay’s parliament is considering an agreement on the country joining the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), the Izvestia daily reports, citing the Russian embassy in Montevideo.
BRICS is acting properly, with many aspirants willing to join in — India foreign minister
BRICS member countries act correctly, which is seen in the fact that there are so many aspirants willing to join the group, India’s Foreign Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar during his visit to Britain. His statement was streamed on his page on the social network X.
Jaishankar at Chatham house, speaks on de-dollarisation, BRICS currency and more
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently on a UK tour, spoke on several issues including de-dollarisation, the position of BRICS countries on the dollar and the internationalisation of the rupee.
BRICS membership would help Ethiopia boost its global influence and acceptance, says researcher
Ethiopia’s BRICS membership is poised to significantly boost its global influence and acceptance, a senior researcher at the Institute of Foreign Affairs said.
Zimbabwe applies to join BRICS
In a move that is meant to boost the country’s economic cooperation with other nations, Zimbabwe has submitted an application to join BRICS, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira has said.
US Commerce Secretary calls India’s Russia ties and BRICS participation obstacles to US relations
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that India’s weapons purchases from Russia and its involvement in the BRICS alliance are creating obstacles to stronger US-India relations.
