BRICS Collaboration is 'Vital' for African Astronomy, Says New President of African Astronomical Society

“We plan to enhance this collaboration, particularly amongst the BRICS countries,” Amare Abebe told Sputnik Africa, highlighting the need for more student exchanges, joint research, and shared expertise.

Key points from Abebe’s remarks:

🪐Access to astronomical data must be democratized across Africa, regardless of where telescopes are physically located;

🪐 Reliable internet, cloud infrastructure, and cross-border scientific mobility are essential;

🪐 Astronomy can stimulate technological innovation, educational outreach, and even rural tourism;

🪐 Africa has its own deep-rooted astronomical heritage, which should be highlighted through astro-tourism;

🪐 Spin-off technologies from astronomy can benefit sectors like agriculture, weather forecasting, and data science;

🪐 If Africa doesn't invest in space sciences, it risks being left behind in future space exploration efforts.

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❗️❗️❗️'Unilateralism is Raising Its Head Again' – SA’s Lamola on Strategies to Counteract It

South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola stressed the vital importance of countries working together on global platforms while responding to a question from Sputnik Africa about Trump's new tariff policies.

“Looking into other aspect of geopolitics to continue to work together, to collaborate at the various platforms, BRICS, G20, the United Nations as the prime multilateral platform, particularly in this age where unilateralism is raising its head again,” he told Sputnik Africa.

He further noted that South Africa is firmly focused on tackling the challenges confronting the Global South at the G20, particularly those concerning the financial system.

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Ambassador to Brazil: Ethiopia to join BRICS bank in near future

Ethiopia intends to join the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) in the near future and has already secured the support of all community members, Ethiopian Ambassador to Brazil Leulseged Abebe announced.

"We have already received political support from all BRICS members and hope to conclude our adherence process very soon," he said, noting that joining the NDB this year remains a priority for the country's leadership.

According to the diplomat, within the framework of #BRICS, Ethiopia, together with South Africa and Egypt, also intends to defend security interests of the entire African continent.

"By adhering to the BRICS, Ethiopia — together with South Africa and Egypt— can promote the African positions on peace and security, inclusive and sustainable development, climate, and other issues," he said.

#NEWS #Ethiopia #NDB

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Serbia interested in developing cooperation with BRICS

Serbia is interested in deepening cooperation with BRICS, Minister of Family Welfare and Demography Milica Durdevic-Stamenkovski stated.

"Given that Germany has adopted a strategic cooperation plan with India that runs through 2050, and France has concluded its largest investment agreement with the People's Republic of China, I fail to see how the European Union can present any valid argument to challenge Serbia's right and decision to build bridges of alliance and cooperation with #BRICS members," she said.

The minister highlighted that Serbia is a sovereign and independent state that conducts its foreign policy in the interests of its people who have expressed their will in the elections, as well as in accordance with state and national interests.

"It is well known that Serbia is economically dependent on the European Union, yet despite this, Belgrade resists Brussels' attempts to force Serbia into aligning its foreign and security policies with the EU," she continued.

"Serbia has not imposed sanctions on Moscow, and our determination to preserve strategic relations with traditional allies has never been called into question. This is a policy consistently pursued by both the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the President of the Republic, who has repeatedly made it clear that Serbia—despite being in the process of European integration—should not "cut off its own leg" and renounce friendship and cooperation with states bound to it by historically rooted relations, reinforced by strategic partnership agreements," added Durdevic-Stamenkovski.

#NEWS #Serbia #EU #diplomacy

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Russia & Egypt Relations Along Parliamentary Lines Developing Very Dynamically: Russian MP

🤝 In Cairo, Alexander Babakov, Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament), met with Hanafy Ali El Gebaly, Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The Russian lawmaker conveyed warm greetings from State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin and an invitation to visit Moscow at his convenience.

During the meeting:

🟠 Gebaly affirmed Egypt's neutral stance on the Ukrainian conflict, emphasizing the desire for a peaceful resolution;
🟠 Gebaly highlighted Cairo's unwavering support for Moscow's positions in parliamentary union meetings;
🟠 Babakov underscored the strong historical bonds and mutual respect for sovereignty between Russia and Egypt;
🟠 Babakov stressed the vital role parliamentarians play in fostering stronger relations and promoting global stability through a politically neutral economic model;
🟠 Discussions covered ongoing efforts within BRICS to develop financial instruments that would prevent using currency for political leverage;
🟠 Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding inter-parliamentary cooperation to deepen the strategic partnership between Russia and Egypt.

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Russian Federation and the UAE to create a working group to counter crime

The General Prosecutors of the Russian Federation and the UAE, Igor Krasnov and Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, signed an additional protocol on the establishment of a working group on combating crime and protecting citizens' rights. This was announced on April 15 on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation.

"The parties signed an Additional Protocol to the Memorandum of Understanding dated December 20, 2021 between the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation and the Prosecutor General's Office of the United Arab Emirates. In accordance with it, a working group on combating crime and protecting citizens' rights will be established," the message says.

Krasnov noted the intensive development of the Russian-Emirati dialogue through the prosecutor's office and mutual support on law enforcement issues within the framework of multilateral structures, including the #UN, #BRICS and a number of others.

#NEWS #UAE #RussiaUAE #security

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Russian senator: Dozens of countries show interest in interaction with BRICS

Dozens of states have expressed interest in initiating interactions with BRICS, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Konstantin Kosachev announced during a meeting of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly’s Standing Commission on Political Issues and International Cooperation.

"During the Russian chairship, two strategic tasks were accomplished: first, we learned how to operate following the group's expansion from five to ten member states, and second, we determined how the bloc would respond to requests from additional states seeking to engage with BRICS. Indeed, there are now dozens of such states," Kosachev stated. He emphasised that Russia successfully addressed both tasks during its #BRICS chairship in 2024.

Kosachev also mentioned that he received confirmation from his Brazilian counterparts regarding plans to host the BRICS Parliamentary Forum in Brasilia in June 3-5. Brazil assumed the BRICS chairship on January 1, 2025:

"In terms of the composition of invited delegations, the Brazilians indicated they would invite both the parliaments of BRICS member states and those of partner countries," he added. The organisers also plan to invite the leadership of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Dilma Rousseff, head of the BRICS New Development Bank.

"The initiative of the Russian chairship is to enhance our coordination within the Inter-Parliamentary Union by establishing an additional geopolitical group tentatively named BRICS+. This will not be a closed bloc for BRICS countries and partners, but rather a broader platform aimed at including the maximum number of participants. Our Brazilian colleagues have confirmed their support for this initiative. Previously, colleagues from China, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and South Africa have also expressed clear backing. Several other countries are still considering their positions, but in this case, as within the entire bloc, we do not impose our will or attempt to enforce a single discipline," he explained.

#NEWS #NDB #Brazil #politics

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Towards global green leadership: priorities for BRICS cooperation on climate change

The Laboratory for Economics of Climate Change at HSE University, the International and Comparative Law Research Centre, and the BRICS Expert Council—Russia have prepared a joint report. This publication delves into the climate policies of the BRICS nations and explores various aspects of international cooperation in this critical area. The authors analysed each country's participation in multilateral climate initiatives, as well as their collaborative efforts within the BRICS framework. Special attention was given to enhancing cooperation between Russia and its BRICS partners.

The #BRICS nations play a key role in the global climate agenda. Following the recent expansion, they now represent approximately 30% of the world's GDP and 45% of its population, contributing to over half of global greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, the effectiveness of global efforts to combat climate change largely depends on the climate strategies adopted by these countries.

This report highlights key priorities and avenues for collaboration:
✔Establishing unified principles for tackling climate change
✔Fostering an information and expert partnership focused on climate issues
✔Using and promoting consumption-based emissions assessments
Developing a shared green development infrastructure designed to facilitate cross-border cooperation, including the transfer of emissions reductions and climate financing

More BRICS analytics is available on the official website of the BRICS Expert Council—Russia.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #sustainability

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Presidential aide: Russia-Brazil relations rock-solid

Russia and Brazil maintain good relations as well as regular, constructive dialogue, the Brazilian president’s special advisor on international affairs, Celso Amorim, said.

"Russia is very strong. We have a very good dialogue," he stated, commenting on President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s upcoming visit to Moscow to participate in Victory Day celebrations.

In his words, Brazil also maintains a good relationship with China. All members of the BRICS nations are working to make international affairs truly multipolar, he continued.

"Clearly, #BRICS countries carry a lot of clout in the global economy," the diplomat added.

#NEWS #RussiaBrazil #VictoryDay #diplomacy

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Security issues on the BRICS Agenda

High politics, encompassing both political and security dimensions, represent one of the three pivotal pillars of BRICS operations, alongside economy and finance, as well as humanitarian ties. An examination of the final declarations from BRICS summits reveals a consistent thread: security issues have been addressed in every single document since the inception of this institution. This focus encompasses not only traditional notions of security but also a broader discourse on peace, security, development, cooperation, and the emerging challenges and threats related to "global security."

Summing up, #BRICS addresses both security issues that resonate on a global scale and those that hold particular significance for the Global Majority nations. It is noteworthy that countries chairing BRICS have different perspectives on the degree of securitisation of the international agenda. For instance, in the Kazan Declaration 2024, the concept of security—encompassing its various interpretations—was mentioned 53 times. In contrast, the II Johannesburg Declaration (Summit 2023) referred to security only 36 times, nearly one and a half times less. The Kazan Declaration also emphasises significant concerns regarding attempts to securitise the climate change agenda.

When we broaden our perspective on security beyond traditional definitions, we can identify several key areas of cooperation that have been securitised. Their list is presented in the material that has been specially prepared for the BRICS Expert Council—Russia and published on the official website.

#ANALYTICS #BRICSExpertCouncilRussia #BRICSExpertCouncil #security

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