Brazil hosts BRICS summit, eager to avoid provoking Trump's ire
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South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Suriname parliament elects Jennifer Simons as first female president
Suriname's parliament backed Jennifer Simons as the South American country's first woman president on Sunday, setting the doctor and former parliamentary speaker on course to helm a nation on the cusp of a predicted oil boom Advertisement Surinamese lawmakers backed Simons as president six weeks after the ruling party and its top opposition nearly tied in the race for legislative seats, leading to a coalition deal to install Simons as president. Simons' opposition National Democratic Party won 18 seats and current President Chan Santokhi's Progressive Reform Party won 17 seats in the May 25 parliamentary election. Smaller parties won the remaining 16 seats. Suriname's president is elected indirectly. Following the general election, members of the National Assembly vote for the president and a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority to win the office. 'I come into this office to serve, and I will use all my knowledge, strength and insight to make our wealth available to all of our people,' Simons, 71, said in a brief speech after lawmakers approved her appointment with a round of applause. Advertisement Simons vowed to pay special attention to young people and those who have not yet had the best opportunities.
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Brics leaders condemn strikes on Iran and tariffs, but avoid direct mention of US, Israel
Brics leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro condemned recent bombing campaigns against Iran in their final summit statement, calling the strikes a 'violation of international law' and 'deliberate attacks' on civilian infrastructure, but avoided direct mentions of the US and Israel. The joint declaration, coming against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs of 100 per cent on imports from Brics countries, underscores an apparent effort to state the members' position without directly provoking the 'America First' leader as they separately negotiate trade deals with Washington. Without naming the US, the document slammed 'the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures, which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO rules'. On Iran, the declaration echoes the bloc's joint statement from last month, when Brics nations voiced 'grave concern' over the attacks and stressed 'the urgent need to break the cycle of violence and restore peace' more broadly in the Middle East. Highlighting Iran's diplomatic isolation at a summit that Tehran had hoped would rally international backing amid tensions with Tel Aviv, the statement also calls for a mediated peace in the region through a two-state solution on Palestine, despite Iran's push for stronger language and refusal to recognise Israel's sovereignty. 'Nuclear safeguards, safety, and security must always be upheld, including in armed conflicts, to protect people and the environment from harm,' it said, calling on the United Nations Security Council to address the situation.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Brics leaders condemn strikes on Iran, but avoid direct mention of US, Israel
Brics leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro condemned recent bombing campaigns against Iran in their final summit statement, calling the strikes a 'violation of international law' and 'deliberate attacks' on civilian infrastructure, but avoided direct mentions of the US and Israel. Advertisement The declaration echoes the bloc's joint statement from last month, when Brics nations voiced 'grave concern' over the attacks and stressed 'the urgent need to break the cycle of violence and restore peace' more broadly in the Middle East. Highlighting Iran's diplomatic isolation at a summit that Tehran had hoped would rally international backing amid tensions with Tel Aviv, the statement also calls for a mediated peace in the region through a two-state solution on Palestine, despite Iran's push for stronger language and refusal to recognise Israel's sovereignty. According to Brazilian daily Folha de S. Paulo, Iranian negotiators demanded tougher wording on Washington – which launched military strikes on their country's nuclear facilities last month – and Israel, and wanted the bloc to brand the attacks as 'deplorable', but found themselves stymied during talks led by Brics sherpas earlier this week. However, Israel was directly criticised in the 31-page document for its occupation of Palestinian territory, and members urged Tel Aviv to 'leave the Syrian land without delay.' World leaders pose for a group photo at the 17th annual BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Photo: AP Israeli forces have held Syria's Golan Heights since the end of the 1967 war and formally annexed the region in 1981. Only the United States recognises this annexation, a policy shift US President Donald Trump made in 2019, during his first presidential administration.
