BRICS to consider new member admissions in 2025 – Lavrov

The issue of full membership of countries interested in joining BRICS will be considered in 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the international network TV BRICS.

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▪️WATCH FULL: US citizen tells why he helps Russian military to liberate Donbass

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🇦🇺🪖 Australia is BURNING THROUGH its Abrams tanks reserves to help Ukraine.

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Key takeaways from Sergey Lavrov’s interview on the BRICS summit in Kazan

◾️ The summit’s declaration reflects a balance of interests, avoiding pressure tactics typical of Western forums. Consensus was reached on all major issues with mutually acceptable wording.

◾️ A core message was the need to significantly increase the representation of the Global South and East in global governance bodies like the UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, and WTO.

◾️ Lavrov stressed the necessity for BRICS economies, representing some of the fastest-growing markets, to have voting power in the IMF and World Bank that mirrors their actual share in global GDP. The current imbalance, dominated by the US veto power, is seen as unjust.

◾️ The US has blocked the WTO dispute settlement body for over a decade, paralyzing its core function of handling trade conflicts. This issue remains unresolved, affecting fair global trade practices.

◾️ The collective BRICS initiative focuses on establishing alternative payment systems, such as interbank settlements using national currencies and independent insurance mechanisms. These systems are designed to coexist with the dollar-centric framework while protecting against economic weaponization.

◾️ The dollar's increasing use as a geopolitical tool prompts the need for parallel financial systems, offering economic security in light of US actions to maintain global hegemony.

◾️ Lavrov highlighted support for sector-specific initiatives, including the creation of a BRICS grain exchange and investment/geological platforms. These projects have largely been driven by African member countries.

◾️ Russia proposed working groups focusing on transportation and nuclear medicine, receiving backing during the summit and reflected in the final declaration.

◾️ The "BRICS Plus/Outreach" summit, involving 35 countries, underscored broad support for BRICS’ direction. This momentum reflects a growing perception of BRICS as a leader for a fairer world order and a counterbalance to Western dominance.

◾️ Despite progress, colonial and neocolonial practices persist in global trade, particularly in Western relations with Africa, where raw materials are extracted, but added value and profits remain with external powers.

#BRICS2024

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‘No one is safe from dollar arbitrariness’: BRICS advances plans for alternative payment systems – Lavrov

BRICS countries have already drafted preliminary recommendations for alternative payment mechanisms that allow for developing safe and reliable systems, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the international network TV BRICS.

"This was on the agenda of both our summit in Kazan and the meetings of our finance ministers and central bank heads that had taken place throughout the year. Recommendations have been drafted. They are not yet final, but they already make it possible to start creating reliable, sustainable, long-term systems. I am confident that Brazil, as the next chair [of BRICS], will continue this work," Lavrov said in an interview with TV BRICS.

BRICS has set itself a task to create payment platforms that will be immune from risks connected with the US dollar, the top Russian diplomat added.

"Given that the US dollar is increasingly used as an aggressive weapon in the global economy, a parallel system is needed. No one knows who will be next. No one is safe from dollar arbitrariness, considering the desperate position of the United States in today's world. They feel that their hegemony is slipping away, and while this process will not be quick but rather prolonged, they want to use everything, including the most prohibited measures, to preserve it" Lavrov said.

#BRICS2024

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🇦🇺🚫Australia’s censorship addiction is getting out of control.

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💬 UK journalist praises US citizen's aid to Russian forces as heroic feat

British journalist Graham Phillips told Sputnik that he considers the actions of American Daniel Martindale, who assisted the Russian Armed Forces, a heroic feat.

‘He, of course, undertook dangerous actions, but they were effective. For this, he deserves great praise. This is his feat. What I read evokes positive emotions; he did well,’ Phillips said.

He added that Martindale is not the first American to express support for Russia.

"All over the world, reasonable and sensible people support us; they are for the truth. Of course, it can also be said that he is not the first American who has fought and continues to fight for us. We remember 'Texas' [a Sputnik correspondent, an American with Russian citizenship, Russell Bentley]. I think he would be proud to see the feat of his fellow countryman. Perhaps this is the American who understood where true strength lies," the journalist emphasized.

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😳 Biden wants to 'smack' Republicans 'in the ass'

US President Joe Biden made yet another controversial statement regarding Former President Donald Trump and Republican voters during his speech at an event in Scranton, Pennsylvania, claiming he wants to “smack” them “in the ass.”

“But I’m serious. These are the kind of guys you like to smack in the ass. By the way, I’m serious. Think about it,” Biden asserted.

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EXPOSED: Harris' contradictory ads tailored for votes

Vice President Kamala Harris is facing criticism for running conflicting ads tailored to different audiences. CNN reports that Harris is playing both sides of the Palestine-Israel conflict in key battleground states to win over Jewish and Arab-American voters who could impact the election outcome.

In Pennsylvania, with its significant Jewish population, Harris’ campaign pushes ads showcasing her steadfast support for Israel. One features her saying, “I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself,” without mentioning Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, in Michigan — home to the highest percentage of Arab Americans — her campaign pivots.

“What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering, and I will not be silent,” a Harris ad for Michigan claims, expressing solidarity with Gaza’s civilians and promoting a ceasefire message.

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US bombers arrive in Middle East - CENTCOM

US bombers B-52 have arrived in the Middle East, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced.

"B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base's 5th Bomb Wing arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility," CENTCOM said on X.

Earlier, the Pentagon stated that the US had also sent a destroyer, bombers, and fighters to the Middle East. These forces will begin arriving in the region over the coming months, as the carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln prepares to depart.

On Saturday, the Axios website reported, citing sources, that the United States had warned Iran it would not be able to prevent Israel from responding in the event of a retaliatory strike from Tehran.

Earlier, a spokesman for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Gen. Ali-Mohammad Naini, stated that Tehran would deliver a decisive response “beyond the understanding” of Israel to the recent attack on Iranian territory. Additionally, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized that Tel Aviv and Washington would definitely face consequences for their actions against Iran and the resistance front.

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Russian Embassy in Benin monitors information on US troop movement from Niger – ambassador

The Russian diplomatic mission in Cotonou is monitoring reports on the redeployment of US troops from Niger to Benin, Russian Ambassador to Benin and Togo Igor Evdokimov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

“The embassy is monitoring reports of the redeployment of American troops from Niger to Benin. So far, Cotonou has not commented on this issue. Unlike our Western colleagues, we recognize Cotonou's right to freely choose its partners in the sphere of defense and security,” Evdokimov said.

Earlier, the head of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), Gen. Michael Langley, stated that the US was negotiating with West African countries, particularly Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, and Ghana, about the possible deployment of US troops withdrawn from Niger.

The United States faced the problem of ending military cooperation with Chad and Niger at the initiative of these countries. Former Pentagon analyst and retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski, commenting on these events, told RIA Novosti that such steps marked the end and failure of the US neocolonial policy toward Africa. The authorities of Niger and the United States agreed to complete the withdrawal of US troops from this African country no later than September 15. Later, the Pentagon announced that part of the American contingent (approximately 75 people) would be withdrawn from Chad.

In total, according to available data, the number of US troops in Niger was about 1,100, and about 100 in Chad.

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