Political analyst Unnikrishnan: Trump's statement on duties on BRICS products is absurd

The statement of US President Donald Trump on the introduction of duties on products of BRICS member countries can be considered strange and contradictory, expressed the opinion of Indian political scientist, Honorary Research Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation expert centre Nandan Unnikrishnan.

Earlier, Trump wrote in his Truth Social , that any state that supports the "anti-American" #BRICS policy will be subject to an additional duty of 10 per cent. According to him, there will be no exceptions.

"You see, it's kind of a contradictory statement because India and the US at the moment, literally this minute, are talking about a bilateral trade agreement. And those talks are going on in Washington at the moment. Well, naturally, if there is any bilateral agreement, it will be difficult for the US after that to impose any additional duties, say 10 per cent, against India, at least, and if such duties are imposed against BRICS, it cannot make an exception for India, so I think it is a strange statement," the political analyst said.

#NEWS #India #sanctions

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🇧🇷 Brazilian economist Paulo Nogueira Batista Jr. discussed with RT de-dollarisation and #BRICS efforts to reform the global financial system amid growing tensions with the West.

📎 Link to the interview

#EXPERT #OPINION

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BRICS International School: New Generation goes to Artek!

This year we prepared a special edition of the BRICS International School: New Generation for children! Program will all take place at the legendary Artek International Children's Center which celebrates its 🕊🕊🕊 anniversary 🎉

The program includes:
🎓 Lectures
❓ Quizzes
🛠️ Workshops
💼 Business Games

📅 Dates: 20-23 August 2025
📍 Location: Crimea, Russia
🗣️ Working Language: Russian

📎 More info about the program you can find on the BRICS International School: New Generation website

#BRICSschoolArtek

@artek1925
@generationbrics

Three BRICS Countries Among Top Five in Terms of Industrial Contribution to Economy

According to Sputnik's analysis of World Bank data for 2024:

🟠China stands as the world's leading industrial power, with its industrial sector's share of GDP rising by nearly 2% to $6.8 trillion.

🟠India, in fourth place, saw its industrial output grow by 4% to $957 billion.

🟠Russia demonstrated the strongest growth among the top ten economies, with its industrial contribution to GDP increasing by 6% immediately to $668 billion, catapulting it to the fifth spot.

The United States and Germany held the second and fourth positions, respectively.

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

🔸 Sputnik Africa | X 🔸

The popularity of vocational education in the BRICS countries is growing

The number of students choosing vocational and technical education in the BRICS countries has grown by 20% over the past four years, according to the results of a study presented on Friday at the press center of the Rossiya Segodnya media group.

"The key trend of the #BRICS countries' vocational education systems is orientation to the needs of the labor market and guaranteed employment of graduates. In Russia, this task is successfully addressed through the tools of the federal project "Professionalitet", which is aimed at training qualified specialists within priority sectors, including industry, transportation, energy, agriculture and services," said Viktor Neumyvakin, Director of the Department of State Policy in the Field of Secondary Vocational Education and Vocational Training of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

The main topic of the study is the impact of the vocational education system on the development of the BRICS countries' potential. It was initiated by Russia and conducted by the Institute for the Development of Vocational Education together with scientists, researchers and practitioners from the BRICS countries.

#NEWS #education

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BRICS Urban Future Forum to host participants from 35 countries

Moscow will host participants from more than 35 countries at the BRICS Urban Future Forum which will be held in the capital on 17-18 September 2025. This was announced by the mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin.

"On 17-18 September on the site of Zaryadye, Moscow will host representatives of authorities, business leaders, scientific and technical community and opinion leaders from more than 35 foreign countries of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa," the mayor wrote in his personal blog.

The forum will bring together over 320 experts to discuss priorities and strategies for urban transformation in the horizon to 2040, with a focus on the role of technology in achieving development goals.

The first forum on the future of #BRICS cities, held in 2023, attracted more than 5,000 participants, and in 2024—more than 13,000.

#ANNOUNCEMENT

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How BRICS is creating a new economic reality

The BRICS economies now resemble a well-oiled industrial conveyor belt. Trade within the BRICS countries is growing three times faster than the global average, and their combined GDP has reached $31 trillion by 2024—almost a third (28%) of the global economy. According to purchasing power parity, the share of the BRICS countries in global GDP is 39 per cent. Trade turnover between the countries exceeds $10 trillion—a huge cargo flow along international logistics routes, where each country plays an important role.

For Russia, the BRICS partnership is a strategic hub, with half of the country's foreign trade passing through it. At the same time, Russia's settlements with the #BRICS countries in national currencies reach 90 per cent, which reduces dependence on traditional currency systems and strengthens economic security.

What important steps have already been taken by Russia and its BRICS partners? Answers to these and other questions in the article by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

#NEWS #economics

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BRICS in Brazil and the voice of the Global South

The XVII BRICS Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro. Its slogan was "Strengthening the Global South's cooperation for more inclusive and sustainable governance" and was attended by the leaders of Brazil, India, South Africa, Indonesia and Ethiopia.

Was the Brazilian BRICS summit a breakthrough? Russian experts note that the meeting was fruitful, but not as bright as the Kazan summit last year. Western observers, having analysed the results of the summit, suggest that the importance of BRICS and multilateral meetings in this format is declining—due to the risks associated with harsh US criticism and threats, the absence of key figures Vladimir Putin (who joined the summit via videoconference, Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov) and Xi Jinping (who skipped the event for the first time) and the general impression that the summit was more of a "dress rehearsal" for the COP30 climate conference to be held in Belene in November. Commentators debate the reasons for the absence of the leaders of the two key powers, but suggest that it provided Brazil with a chance to play a major role in promoting the BRICS agenda as the "main voice of the Global South".

📎 Full text in the article by Evgenia Prokopchuk, analyst at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at HSE University.

#NEWS #opinion #summit

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In touch with BRICS: news digest

Your quick rundown of the most important BRICS updates

✔China’s trade turnover with BRICS countries and partners exceeds $855 bln

✔Victoria Panova joined the international forum "Woman of the Third Millennium"

✔Registration is open for the BRICS International School: New Generation

✔Lavrov: Russia, other BRICS members to defend their interests

✔Unnikrishnan: Trump's statement on duties on BRICS products is absurd

✔BRICS International School: New Generation goes to Artek!

✔The popularity of vocational education in the #BRICS countries is growing

✔BRICS is creating a new economic reality

#BRICSExpertCouncilDIGEST

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Ryabkov: None of BRICS members seeks to replace dollar

BRICS is pivoting toward payments in national currencies, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview.

"No one in the #BRICS community is raising the issue of replacing the dollar. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that over the past few years we have wound up in a situation where the Russian Federation has been deprived of the opportunity to use the dollar, by and large, for very many payments due to sanctions that block that," he said.

"The necessary option for us is to look for alternatives in the form of mechanisms of mutual settlements that would be fairly resistant to external negative impact, be immune to this kind of measures from outside," the diplomat went on to say. "The alternative is to switch to settlements in national currencies. That’s the path we are taking within BRICS."

According to Ryabkov, Russia already makes more than 90% of all payments with its BRICS partners in national currencies.

#NEWS #finance

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🇮🇳 Congratulations on Indian National Flag Day

The BRICS Expert Council-Russia cordially congratulates the people and Government of the Republic of India on National Flag Day!

Russia highly appreciates India's contribution to the development of mutually beneficial dialogue, strengthening economic and humanitarian cooperation, and promoting sustainable development at the global level within the #BRICS framework.

India remains our reliable and important partner, whose experience, energy and initiatives contribute to joining efforts for the common prosperity of our countries and the entire global community.

We wish India peace, prosperity and new achievements on the path of prosperity!

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Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs at HSE University, on the new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump. Expert noted that the imposition of tariffs has forced some countries to seek new agreements.

"On 9 July, part of the world breathed a small sigh of relief that there is still time until 1 August, when X day will come and there will be the introduction of new solid tariffs and restrictions against a number of countries. Part of the world is already getting used to the new restrictions and trying to negotiate, including the countries that have become BRICS' home countries: Indonesia and the BRICS partner countries. And, of course, the question of how the bloc will respond is on the agenda. But in my opinion, now in the tariff issue we are more in an 'every one for themselves' situation," the expert explained.

The dean also pointed out that it is important for BRICS to rethink its foreign economic strategy:

"Moreover, US policy is aimed at isolating China from coordinating tariff and trade policies with other countries. So within BRICS, I think it's a time for a fresh look at foreign economic activity. Because when on the one hand we see not just tariff restriction, but actually tariff sanctions, it is much better to counter sanctions, as we know very well in our country, by joining hands with like-minded countries in other countries, finding new channels of supply of production and distribution, and relying on BRICS' own strength," she concluded.

@crystal_globe

#OPINION #EXPERT #US #sanctions

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Revolution Day in Egypt

The BRICS Expert Council-Russia warmly congratulates the Arab Republic of Egypt and its people on Independence Day–the anniversary of the July Revolution, which is celebrated on 23 July.

This momentous date not only symbolises a historic milestone on the path to sovereignty, but also highlights Egypt's significant role in the development of the Arab and African regions, as well as in protecting the interests of the countries of the Global South.

As a full member of BRICS, Egypt makes a significant contribution to strengthening cooperation, mutual respect and a just world order. Russia highly appreciates Egypt's efforts to develop constructive dialogue within the bloc and in the international arena.

We wish Egypt prosperity, stability and further success in all areas!

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We have prepared a special post for you in which we have collected the Telegram channels of Russian Embassies in BRICS member and partner countries.

Russian Embassy in:
⚪Brazil https://t.iss.one/embaixadarussa
⚪India https://t.iss.one/RusEmbIndia
⚪China https://t.iss.one/rusembchina
⚪South Africa https://t.iss.one/RussianEmbassyZA
⚪Egypt https://t.iss.one/rusembeg
⚪Ethiopia https://t.iss.one/russiainethiopia
⚪Indonesia https://t.iss.one/rusembindonesia
⚪Iran https://t.iss.one/russianembassytehran
⚪Saudi Arabia https://t.iss.one/rusembsaudi
⚪UAE https://t.iss.one/rusembuae
⚪Belarus https://t.iss.one/RusEmbassyMinsk
⚪Bolivia https://t.iss.one/embrusbolivia
⚪Cuba https://t.iss.one/EmbRusCuba
⚪Kazakhstan https://t.iss.one/rfembassykz
⚪Malaysia https://t.iss.one/rusembmalaysia
⚪Nigeria https://t.iss.one/RussEmbNigeria
⚪Thailand https://t.iss.one/rusembbangkok
⚪Uganda https://t.iss.one/rusembuganda
⚪Uzbekistan https://t.iss.one/consultashkent
⚪Vietnam https://t.iss.one/RusEmbVietnam

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Transformation of general education in BRICS countries

Education is recognised as a key driver of sustainable development, social equity, and technological progress. In the context of global transformation, education is increasingly seen as a tool for shaping the future. It is therefore vital to understand how national education systems are being shaped in countries with different historical and cultural backgrounds, yet comparable scale and aspirations. This is particularly relevant for BRICS which influence on the global education agenda continues to grow.

The report, prepared jointly by the BRICS Expert Council–Russia and the HSE Institute of Education, reveals how #BRICS countries are taking distinct approaches to common challenges—from equalising access to school education and integrating digital technologies to addressing teacher shortages and promoting inclusion, linguistic diversity, and intercultural dialogue. It also touches on the sustainability of educational infrastructure and the evolving role of schools in fostering social cohesion.

Special attention is paid to how each country defines its strategic priorities without simply replicating external models:
🇮🇳 India seeks a balance between modern labour market demands and the traditions of Vedic knowledge
🇿🇦 South Africa’s education policy aims to overcome the legacy of segregation
🇧🇷 Brazil focuses on embracing diversity as a core value
🇨🇳 🇷🇺 China and Russia concentrate on improving the quality and accessibility of education in remote areas.

📎 Link to the report

@inobrhse

#ANALYTICS #report #education

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