Think BRICS

Platforms for regional arrangements: exploring the environmental route
In spite of the rising prominence of regionalism in the global economy in recent periods, there is as yet no horizontal platform that brings together all the key regional integration arrangements. Far more headway has been observed in other regional tracks such as platforms for regional development banks as well as regional financing arrangements[1]. Perhaps more work needs...  Read more »

🇨🇳🇺🇸 Xi Jinping Arrives in US for State Visit, Welcomed by Trump

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the United States for a state visit at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, receiving a rare planeside welcome from Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, were welcomed with flowers from American children, a military honor guard, a 21-gun salute and the national anthems of both countries.

In a written speech, Xi said China and the United States should be “partners, not rivals,” and called for a stable relationship centered on cooperation, manageable differences and peaceful coexistence.

Xi said he looks forward to discussions with Trump on bilateral relations and major global issues, as well as expanding cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Xinhua
#China #USA #XiJinping #Diplomacy

Eight U.S. Navy Sailors Attempted Suicide During Iran Deployment

Acting U.S. Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Congress that eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group attempted suicide during a deployment that included combat operations against Iran.

CNN reported Thursday, Sept. 24, that Cao disclosed the figures in a letter to Congress. He said the incidents involved sailors aboard the carrier and its accompanying ships, but none died by suicide during the deployment.

About 6,000 to 7,000 sailors were deployed with the strike group across roughly six ships. The Abraham Lincoln remained at sea for more than six months while taking part in combat operations against Iran.

Earlier reports also said two sailors aboard the carrier had attempted to jump overboard in apparent suicide attempts.

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#USA #Navy

RAF confirms an investigation is underway after two pilots ejected from a training aircraft near Anglesey.

🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran Rejects US Pressure, Says It Remains Open to Talks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has rejected what he described as US attempts to pressure Tehran, while reiterating that Iran remains open to dialogue and negotiations.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Pezeshkian said Iran was ready for “dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiations” but would not accept what he called the language of force. His remarks came as Washington maintains that military options remain available.

Iranian officials also said Tehran had conveyed conditions for diplomacy through Qatari and Pakistani mediators, including lifting the naval blockade, unfreezing Iranian assets and ending regional conflicts.

Meanwhile, diplomatic contacts involving Iran, Pakistan and other countries continued on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Source: Al Jazeera
#Iran #USA #Diplomacy #Geopolitics

🇺🇦 ZELENSKY AT THE UN 🤡: "We Will Make Winter Painful for Russia"

In a address to the UN General Assembly, Zelensky laid out a vision of endless war – threatening to escalate attacks, demanding more weapons, and urging the world to cut trade with Russia. But the Global South should ask: who benefits?

💥 On Russia's oil industry: "A large number of their diesel refineries have been blown up. And are at least temporarily out of commission."

🛢️ On limiting trade: "When someone gives Russia more money through trade, they give this war more time. We insist on limiting trade with the aggressor."

❄️ On winter: "We will make it painful for Russia too... if Russia continues to target our energy system."

#Ukraine 🇺🇦 #Zelensky #UNGA #Russia 🇷🇺 #BRICS

🇺🇸💀 PENTAGON UNDERCOUNTS IRAN WAR DEAD – At Least 22 Killed, Only 19 Disclosed

Another US service member has died. The Pentagon's public tally says 19. Officials say the real number is at least 22. The empire is hiding the cost of its war.

📊 Pentagon's disclosed total: 19 fatalities. But five US officials say at least 22 have died in the Middle East since the war began. A sixth puts it at 23.

🏥 Capt. Bianca C. Wilkerson, 37 – died September 18 of a "non-combat related incident" while flying to the Middle East. Posthumously promoted to Major.

🗣️ Hegseth denies hiding deaths: "Even if we wanted to attempt to hide a combat death, we never would and we never could." But the discrepancy remains unresolved.

🗳️ The war is deeply unpopular – a political liability for Trump and Republicans ahead of November's midterms.

#US 🇺🇸 #Iran 🇮🇷 #Pentagon #WarDeaths #BRICS

🇷🇺 LAVROV AT THE UN: "Europe Sabotaged the Peace That Would Have Preserved Ukraine's Borders"

The West's own meddling destroyed the chance for peace in 2022 – and now it blames Russia for the war it prolonged.

🗣️ "If the Europeans had not engaged in these shenanigans and cheating and had not forced the opposition to carry out their agreements, this would have kept the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the 1991 borders that Zelensky and his Western backers keep banging on about."

🧠 Translation: The 2022 Istanbul peace deal was real. Ukraine was ready to sign neutrality. Boris Johnson and the West said no. They chose war.

🚫 Russia blocked a UN Security Council resolution that would have imposed a ceasefire without addressing root causes.

🧠 Why? A ceasefire without guarantees – NATO expansion, demilitarisation, protection of Russian speakers – would only allow Kiev to rearm and restart the war.

#Russia 🇷🇺 #Ukraine 🇺🇦 #UNSC #Ceasefire #Lavrov #BRICS #GlobalSouth #Diplomacy #Geopolitics

🇸🇾⚖️ SYRIA AT THE UN: "Golan Will Remain Syrian Territory"

Interim Syrian President Al‑Sharaa delivered a powerful address to the UN General Assembly – reaffirming Syrian sovereignty, condemning Israeli aggression, and demanding accountability

🌍 On regional planning: "Any development planning for the region that ignores Syria would be flawed. And the price would be heavy."

🇸🇾 On the Golan: "Golan will remain Syrian territories. Any attempts that violate our sovereignty, violate international law will be stopped. According to Security Council Resolution 497."

💥 On Israeli aggression: "The world is joyed about our return. But Israel is launching attacks against Syria. There have been 500 airstrikes, more than 1,200 incursions, and 300 detentions."

🕊️ On withdrawal: "We are committed to the 1974 agreement. We call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the lines of 12/08/2024. We reject Israeli attempts to impose a federal complaint."

#Syria 🇸🇾 #Golan #Israel 🇮🇱 #UNGA #Sovereignty

This summit exposed the real split in world politics.

The West is trying to contain the Global South; they are failing.

#BRICS #GlobalSouth #Multipolarity #China #Geopolitics

🏦🌍 QUIETLY, BRICS STARTS ASSEMBLING A NEW TRADE FINANCE SYSTEM

Selling machinery from Pune to São Paulo relies on dollars, London insurance, and US banks – all of which can be cut off. New Delhi just took on all of this at once.

💳 Credit: Guiding principles for assessing MSMEs, plus a BRICS invoice‑discounting mechanism – converting a 90‑day invoice into cash today.

🛡️ Insurance: A voluntary BRICS Insurance Resilience Centre and a Risk Lab at GIFT City – the hardest link to reproduce, but crucial for reducing dependence on London.

🏗️ Investment: The NDB expanding local‑currency financing, multilateral guarantees, and a New Investment Platform study group – because money needs somewhere productive to go.

👉 Read the full analysis: https://thinkbrics.substack.com/p/quietly-brics-starts-assembling-a

#BRICS #TradeFinance #DeDollarization #GlobalSouth #NewDelhiSummit #Multipolarity #ThinkBRICS

🇺🇸⛽ US CONSIDERS BANNING DIESEL EXPORTS AS FUEL PRICES SPIKE TO $6.52/GALLON

The Trump administration is preparing an emergency 90‑day ban on US diesel exports as prices surge amid the Iran war and attacks on Russian refineries.

📉 National average diesel price: $6.52 per gallon – up 91 cents in a single month.

🛑 Emergency plan: Temporarily ban US diesel exports for 90 days to bring prices down.

🧠 The US is rationing its own fuel. The world's largest oil producer is now considering export bans – because its war on Iran has backfired.

#US 🇺🇸 #Diesel #EnergyCrisis #IranWar #BRICS #GlobalSouth #EmpireInDecline #SelfInflicted #Geopolitics

🇺🇸🎭 RUBIO'S SPIN CYCLE: "Iran Can't Have Nukes" – While the US Blockades, Bombs, and Kidnaps

The US Secretary of State just delivered a masterclass in hypocrisy. Iran is the "world's leading sponsor of terrorism"? The empire that kidnapped Maduro, blockades Cuba, and bombs schools says that?

🗣️ On Iran: "If they continue to insist on a nuclear weapon, support for proxies, they're the world's leading sponsor of terrorism, then we're gonna have big problems."

🗣️ On Cuba: "The Cuban revolution has failed. We're open to measures that begin that process of change."

🗣️ On Gaza: Blamed "external actors" while ignoring Israel's genocide.

🗣️ On the MOU: "They violated it. They broke it." (The US imposed a naval blockade first.)

🗣️ On the Strait: "The only blockade in Hormuz is the one we've imposed on Iran because they keep firing on ships."

#US 🇺🇸 #Rubio #Iran 🇮🇷 #Cuba 🇨🇺 #Gaza 🇵🇸 #BRICS

Egyptian and Russian foreign ministers discuss strategic partnership
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed the strategic partnership and prospects for bilateral relations on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry reported on 23 September.

“Both ministers reaffirmed that they are proud of the strategic partnership between Egypt and Russia. They noted the importance of the meeting between...  Read more »

🇮🇷🔥 PEZESHKIAN AT THE UN: "We Did Not Bend the Knee" – US Delegation Walks Out

Iran's President delivered a powerful address to the UN General Assembly. The US delegation walked out. But the world heard every word.

🗣️ On US accusations: "The United States president described us as terrorists. We have been the victims of terrorism."

💔 On Minab school bombing: "I come from an Iran where they bombed a school. These children perished under bombs – with weapons used by the United States and Israel. They were innocent."

🛡️ On not surrendering: "America and Israel attacked us with the latest technology and weapon systems. Yes, they hit us. But we did not bend the knee. We did not bow our head."

☢️ On nuclear rights: "We say it clearly: No nuclear weapons. And no limitations to our peaceful nuclear technology. We will not bow our head and give up the right that is inherently ours."

#Iran 🇮🇷 #UNGA #Pezeshkian #US 🇺🇸 #Palestine 🇵🇸 #BRICS

🇮🇷/🇺🇳 Pezehshkian Criticizes Nuclear Inspections, Accuses Israel of Double Standards

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized international nuclear inspections of Iran, accusing Israel of possessing nuclear weapons while facing no comparable scrutiny.

“Israel has bombs and weapons of mass destruction and is not a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Pezeshkian said. He accused Israel of refusing to allow inspections while Iran has been subjected to international demands for access.

Pezeshkian also accused Israel of killing more than 70,000 people in Gaza and said Iran was bombed while it was engaged in negotiations.

He further alleged that Israel has been provided with the weapons and equipment needed to strike capitals across the region, while Iran faces international pressure over its nuclear program.

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Meanwhile in Uganda, Kampala’s mayor SLAMS Salama Road contractor over shoddy drainage work.

He even threathen to go to the Chinese ambassdor to complain.

After all that - the team fixed the issues and the Mayor praised the response, but stated that his team will keep a close eye to make sure the taxpayers get proper quality.

#Uganda #Kampala #Salama #Africa

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Indian killed as ship MV Cape Dao attacked near Oman
Muscat: An Indian seafarer was killed after bulk carrier MV Cape Dao was attacked near Oman while sailing towards India on Wednesday, September 23.

The deceased was identified as 26-year-old wiper Suraj Yadav from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) said 28 crew members were aboard...  Read more »