What Is the BRICS Group and Why Is It Expanding?

The countries that comprise BRICS—which stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, and now five new members—are an informal grouping of emerging economies hoping to increase their sway in the global order. Established in 2009, BRICS was founded on the premise that international institutions were overly dominated by Western powers and had ceased […]

BRICS+: Towards a New International Order?

With Egypt, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran joining the BRICS at the beginning of 2024, the group now embodies a group of influential states on the international stage, representing 46% of the world’s population and 29% of global GDP. While 2024 is synonymous with an important electoral year for several BRICS […]

Milei risks existence of Mercosur by pursuing FTA with US

The intention of Argentine President Javier Milei to reach a Free Trade Agreement with the United States could cause tension in Mercosur, which does not allow negotiations without the agreement of all members. Beyond tensions, though, Milei could put the very existence of the South American economic bloc at risk. Donald Trump’s electoral victory motivated […]

CATL Announces Second-Generation Sodium Battery, Normal Discharge at -40°C

On November 18, CATL announced its second-generation sodium battery. Speaking at the World Young Scientists Summit, chief scientist Wu Kai revealed the development of the battery and said that it would be launched in 2025. The key difference with the second-generation sodium-ion battery is that it can be discharged normally in extremely low temperatures as […]