Latest news with #DanielRAMALHO
eNCA
2 days ago
- Business
- eNCA
Is the BRICS Summit just talk - or is it delivering on its promises?
A banner of the BRICS summit is displayed at the Modern Art Museum (MAM) where the BRICS Summit 2025 will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on July 4, 2025. JOHANNESBURG - As global leaders gather once again for the BRICS Summit, questions are mounting over whether the annual event is producing meaningful results — or merely a stage for lofty declarations and diplomatic photo ops. The group is made up of founding members Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and was formed to provide a counterweight to Western-dominated global structures. But nearly two decades since its inception, some still ask whether the bloc is achieving what it set out to do? This year's summit comes at a time when global inequality, trade tensions, and the energy transition are front and centre, especially for developing nations. For African countries and South Africa in particular, there's a growing interest in whether BRICS can do more than just talk. Is it able to shift trade patterns, increase investment and help the continent benefit from its vast resources? Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during the BRICS Business Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 5, 2025. BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro from Sunday are expected to decry Donald Trump's hardline trade policies, but are struggling to bridge divides over crises roiling the Middle East. Daniel RAMALHO / AFP Former Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim believes it can. Speaking ahead of the summit, she noted that 'BRICS is not just about talk — it's about trading.' Her comments highlight a key success of the bloc. China, a founding BRICS member, has been Africa's largest trading partner for over 15 years, with trade between the two valued at more than $280 billion. There's also growing evidence that BRICS nations are bypassing traditional Western systems to trade in local currencies, promote cooperation in the Global South and fund infrastructure through the New Development Bank. And these are not small shifts — they point to a steady and measured transformation of global economic relationships. Attendees stand at the entrance to the BRICS Business Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 5, 2025. BRICS leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro from Sunday are expected to decry Donald Trump's hardline trade policies, but are struggling to bridge divides over crises roiling the Middle East. Daniel RAMALHO / AFP Despite its expansion, still the scepticism persists. The lack of binding agreements and divergent political systems within the bloc, and internal disagreements often raise doubts about the bloc's ability to act as a unified force. But critics may be overlooking a key point. BRICS was never designed to be a military alliance or a monolithic power bloc. Its strength lies in its ability to create space — for dialogue, for new partnerships and for reshaping the rules of global engagement on more equal terms. As the 2025 summit unfolds in Brazil, it's clear that BRICS still has a lot to prove. But the numbers, the deals, and the growing influence of its member states suggest that this is more than just a talking shop. For Africa — where the stakes of global inequality are most visible — BRICS remains a platform with the potential to shift outcomes, not just opinions.
Al Bawaba
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Bawaba
Brazilian authorities foil Bomb Plot at Lady Gaga 's historic Copacabana concert
ALBAWABA - Police in Brazil thwarted a bomb plot targeting Lady Gaga 's record-breaking Copacabana Beach concert. A bomb assault that was supposed to take place at Lady Gaga 's largest-ever concert, which took place on Saturday at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, was foiled by the Brazilian police. The concert was attended by nearly 2 million people. According to the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro state, who worked in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice, the conspiracy was connected to a group that encourages hate speech and radicalizes adolescents. It has been alleged that the group promotes self-harm and violent content as a means of achieving a sense of social belonging. Aerial view of US pop star Lady Gaga (Photo by Daniel RAMALHO / AFP) "The suspects were recruiting participants, including minors, to carry out coordinated attacks using improvised explosives and Molotov cocktails," according to a statement released by the authorities. According to the Rio city hall, there were 2.1 million people who attended the concert of the American pop icon, an event for which tickets were provided at no cost. According to Brazil's Ministry of Justice, the group called itself "Little Monsters" and identified themselves as part of Lady Gaga's worldwide fan base. A report from the Cyber Operation Lab of the Ministry of Justice was used to unearth the plan, according to the police, who stated that they worked together with the Ministry of Justice. US pop star Lady Gaga (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP) The laboratory investigated a tip that was received from the intelligence division of the Rio state police, which led to the discovery of digital cells that encouraged violent behavior among adolescents. Officers in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, located in the southern region of Brazil, are said to have taken into custody a guy who is believed to be the leader of the organization for illegal possession of a firearm. In addition, a young person in Rio de Janeiro has been taken into custody for the storage of child pornography. The open concert started at approximately 9:45 p.m. local time, as it had been scheduled, and there were no delays in its opening. At some point during the performance, Lady Gaga addressed the audience and said, "Tonight, we are making history." I am grateful to you for being a part of my history." In order to gain access to the beach in advance of the event, fans had started forming lines as early as the following morning. There was a need for a massive security presence, which included 5,000 law enforcement agents. Metal detectors were also required to be passed through by attendees. Both facial recognition cameras and drones were utilized by the police to assist in maintaining the event's safety and security.
