The summit of the Brics – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – kicked off on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended via video-link because the International Criminal Court, to which the hosts South Africa are a party, had issued an arrest warrant for him, but helped set the tone with his speech: "We co-operate on the principles of equality, partnership, support, respect for each other’s interests,” he said. “This is the essence of the future-oriented strategic course of our association, a course that meets the aspirations of the main part of the world community, the so-called global majority."
The group already represents 40 per cent of the global population and 26 per cent of the world’s GDP, but one of the main topics of discussions at the three-day summit is about letting new members join. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a “broadening and deepening” of Brics, which he said should be “open and inclusive”, while his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, said that expansion would “strengthen the voice of developing countries.”
The idea of launching a new common reserve currency has taken a back seat for now – the thrust will be on increasing trade in the five’s local currencies to gain greater independence from the US dollar in the near future. But there's an undeniable buzz over this year’s gathering – the 15th heads of state and government summit. South Africa invited more than 30 African leaders to attend, while the hosts say that over 40 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nigeria, Argentina, Egypt and Indonesia, are interested in joining an expanded Brics.
Despite the seemingly momentous future, there was a chorus of criticism before the summit even began. India and China have too many issues between them for the Brics ever to amount to much, was one argument. Jim O’Neill, the former Goldman Sachs economist who coined the acronym Bric (the S came later) in 2001, and who sometimes sounds as though he regrets that it has achieved a life of its own, was quoted as saying the idea that the group might one day achieve monetary union was “ridiculous”. The bloc is “riven with tensions”, claimed the Economist, and had “disappointed”, according to the Financial Times, while others said it would never be able to become an alliance like Nato or a confederation like the European Union.
One can only speculate why so many western critics are keen to expend so much energy panning an organisation that they claim not to see as a significant actor, at present or in the future. Could it be wishful thinking, given that the Brics-plus will represent a huge chunk of the Global South?
Brics summits have resulted in work plans and agreed priorities, a string of strategies, roadmaps and agreements on trade, economic partnerships
Either way, I believe they are making what philosophers call a “category error”. The Brics-plus may never be like the EU or Nato – but almost no one is suggesting that it should be. Why, in any case, should either organisation be considered an example to follow? The EU is plagued by a severe democratic deficit and huge tensions between hardcore believers in “ever-closer union” and states that are determined to defend their own sovereignty. Many believe that Nato, on the other hand, should have closed shop after the end of the Cold War, its mission accomplished, and that its reckless advancement to the East has been a contributing factor to the calamitous war in Ukraine.
The Brics’ own website describes itself as “an informal group of states” whose purpose is not only in serving the “common interests of emerging market economies and developing countries, but also building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.” Their growing economic might, abundant natural resources and substantial populations make them one of the main driving forces of global economic development: coming together as a group serves as a statement of that fact to the world.
There may be differing views about the group’s long-term direction, but while the Brics may be an alternative to the West, leading voices are making clear that the Brics is not and should not be anti-West. "We do not want to be a counterpoint to the G7, G20 or the United States," Brazil's president Lula da Silva said on the first day of the summit. "We just want to organise ourselves."
Another criticism seems to be that the Brics is in fact another kind of Nato – defined in Malaysia and Singapore as “No action, talk only”. If that was a reason to dismiss the group, then we might as well all give up going to conferences. Most of those I have attended have resulted in little concrete; their main purpose has been in increasing common understanding and knowledge and people-to-people connectivity.
These are certainly ends in themselves. But of course it is not true that Brics summits produce nothing. They have resulted in work plans and agreed priorities, a string of strategies, roadmaps and agreements on trade, economic partnerships and investment and the establishment of the New Development Bank headquartered in Shanghai, China. And in the more than two decades since Mr O’Neill came up with the term Bric, the countries’ share of global GDP has gone up from eight per cent to 26 per cent – not necessarily connected to the establishment of the group in 2009, perhaps, but a figure that represents their relevance and heft.
There is plenty more to do in terms of building institutional strength. I agree with the American-Iranian scholar Afshin Molavi, who wrote this week: “The group should remain focused on business and trade, investment and development, and leave the politics to other forums.” It should integrate where appropriate but keep flexibility and a degree of informality at its core. If that puzzles critics who demand rigid structures in international organisations, that is their problem. The Brics are coming up with their own model. And if it's not a formula that inspires hope, they might ask themselves why so many countries want to join.
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
TOURNAMENT INFO
Fixtures
Sunday January 5 - Oman v UAE
Monday January 6 - UAE v Namibia
Wednesday January 8 - Oman v Namibia
Thursday January 9 - Oman v UAE
Saturday January 11 - UAE v Namibia
Sunday January 12 – Oman v Namibia
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid, Darius D’Silva, Karthik Meiyappan, Jonathan Figy, Vriitya Aravind, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Chirag Suri
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher: Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
Australia tour of Pakistan
March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi
March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi
March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi
April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi
April 5: T20I, Rawalpindi
MATCH INFO
Manchester United v Brighton, Sunday, 6pm UAE
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
more from Janine di Giovanni
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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Team Angel Wolf Beach Blast takes place every Wednesday between 4:30pm and 5:30pm
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The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
Tales of Yusuf Tadros
Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)
Hoopoe
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