33 rescued lions flown from Peru to S. Africa

Yahoo – AFP, Moises Avila, April 30, 2016

The lions, with names such as Zeus and Shakira, were freed after the use of
wild animals in circuses was outlawed in Peru in 2011 and Colombia in 2013
(AFP Photo/Cris Bouroncle)

Lima (AFP) - More than 30 lions rescued from abuse in Peruvian and Colombian circuses were flown Friday to South Africa, in what campaigners called the largest-ever airlift of big cats.

The 33 lions, with names such as Zeus and Shakira, were freed after the use of wild animals in circuses was outlawed in Peru in 2011 and Colombia in 2013.

The Colombian circuses gave up the

 lions voluntarily but police had to launch

 raids to free the lions in Peru (AFP

Photo/Cris Bouroncle)

Saved from the lion tamer's whip, they have been rounded up with the help of authorities by Animal Defenders International (ADI), an animal rights charity.

"It's truly wonderful that these lions, after a lifetime of suffering and abuse in circuses, are going home to Africa," said the president of ADI, Jan Creamer.

"All of the lions when they arrive from the circuses have health problems, parasites, disease," she added.

"All of their lives they haven't had enough food, so they have long-term malnutrition problems."

Recent months have been spent in straw-lined cages in a refuge north of Lima, however, they have been well fed and are in generally good health, Creamer said.

Twenty-four lions rescued in Peru were driven from their temporary rescue center to Lima airport to be picked up by a cargo plane that brought another nine over from Colombia.

Late Friday, the airlift took off, transporting the big cats to their new life.

"We are on our way!" read a post on the ADI website.

"The 33 lions are on board the ADI Spirit Of Freedom Flight, on route to their wonderful new lives at Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary, South Africa."

Graphic, including map, illustrating how lions from circuses in Peru and

 Colombia are to be released into a game park in South Africa (AFP Photo/

Tamara Hoha)

The contingent of big cats includes Shakira, named after the Colombian pop singer. Her minders say she likes to play with a tire and eat watermelons.

From one of 10 Peruvian circuses comes "Ricardo, the one-eyed lion" and from another "Joseph, the almost-blind lion."

'Heading home to paradise'

Together, the 33 were to take a 15-hour flight to South Africa in travel cages inside the plane chartered by ADI.

They will arrive on Saturday in Johannesburg and be taken on to the Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in the north of the country.

"The lions will be in their natural habitat for the first time in their lives," Creamer said. "They should fit right into that habitat. It's the best environment for them."

ADI says it is the biggest transfer of such large captive animals ever.

Workers carry a cage containing a former circus lion at the El Dorado Airport

 in Bogota, Colombia, April 29, 2016. Nine former circus lions will be taken to the

 Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa where ADI (Animal Defenders 

International) officials said they will enjoy natural enclosures with drinking

pools, platforms and toys. Reuters/John Vizcaino

In the circuses the lions were poorly fed and trucked around in cages, the group said. The Colombian circuses gave up the nine lions voluntarily but police had to launch raids to free the lions in Peru.

The rescuers say that one of the Peru contingent, Smith, attacked a teacher from a school party when she was invited into his cage by a lion tamer.

"Almost all of the rescued lions have been mutilated to remove their claws, one has lost an eye, another is almost blind, and many have smashed and broken teeth so would not survive in the wild," ADI said in a statement.

At their new home, "the lions will enjoy large natural enclosures situated in pristine African bush, complete with drinking pools, platforms and toys," it added.

"The lion habitats will be steadily expanded over the coming months as the lions become familiar with their new life and are introduced to each other."

The cost of the transfer is $10,000 per cat, ADI said.

"These lions have endured hell on earth," Creamer said.

"Now they are heading home to paradise."

As the final lion boarded, we were ready to fly! https://t.co/saoaOdVjMh #lionsbacktoAfrica pic.twitter.com/2ZStgRJnEn

— ADI (@AnimalDefenders) April 29, 2016

Related Article:

Abused circus lions flown to new home in South African bush

#SpiritOfFreedomFlight is cleared for takeoff and we're off! Simba is taking a nap! https://t.co/saoaOdVjMh pic.twitter.com/eVrUB9Yq6Q

— ADI (@AnimalDefenders) April 29, 2016

BRICS calls for “objective probe” into MH17 crash

The Brics Post, July 19, 2014

Thomas Greminger (C), Swiss ambassador to the Organization for Security
 and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and chairman of the OSCE Permanent
 Council during Switzerland Chairmanship, speaks to journalists at Vienna’s OSCE
 headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on July 18, 2014. The OSCE on Friday called for
 an independent international investigation to the Malaysia Airlines plane crash in
eastern Ukraine [Xinhua]

BRICS leaders have called for a fair and objective probe into the crash of a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

“I was shocked,” said Chinese President Xi Jinping at a joint press conference with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of the Thursday tragedy, which killed all the 298 people aboard the ill-fated Flight MH17.

The Boeing 777-200 airliner was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it suddenly vanished from radar. The Ukrainian government and pro-Russia rebels in eastern Ukraine have traded charges of shooting down the plane.

The Chinese president conveyed his deep condolences on the massive loss of lives and sympathies with the families of the victims.

“I hope that a fair and objective probe will be carried out to establish the truth as early as possible,” said Xi.

In a separate statement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “he hopes the circumstances of the disaster are established quickly”.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has also urged a speedy investigation into the terrible tragedy.

“First, it should be established what really happened. The Brazilian government will give no assessments until the circumstances are clear,” said Rousseff.

Rousseff was echoed by South African President Jacob Zuma, who stressed on a transparent probe into the incident.

“We also extend our sympathies to the Government and the people of Malaysia, as well as all countries that have lost their citizens in the tragic crash. South Africa calls for a thorough, transparent and independent investigation to determine the cause of the incident,” said Zuma.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Samantha Power told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday that Washington cannot rule out that Russia aided in the launch of the surface-to-air missile that shot down the plane.

A 25-member team of international observers from the OSCE has been to the crash site, but details are yet to emerge on the formation of the probe body.

TBP and Agencies

Related Articles:

Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashes in east Ukraine

BRICS create development bank, based in Shanghai

Yahoo – AFP, 15 July 2014

The BRICS group of emerging powers launched a $50 billion development bank Tuesday to be based in Shanghai and a $100 billion crisis contingency fund, according to a joint declaration.

The New Development Bank's first president will be from India while the board's chairman will be Brazilian, according to the declaration released at a summit in Fortaleza, Brazil.

The bank will have an initial subscribed capital of $50 billion followed by an authorized capital of $100 billion, equally shared among Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa.

The Contingency Reserve Arrangement will have an initial size of $100 billion and will help countries avoid "short-term liquidity pressures, promote further BRICS cooperation, strengthen the global financial safety net and complement existing international arrangements."

The bank and fund are seen as counterweights to the Western-dominated World Bank and International Monetary Fund, which BRICS nations say need more reform to give emerging nations more voting rights.

Related Articles:

Opinion: BRICS bank is misleading packaging

The End of the World Bank?

With NDB established, Beijing turns to new bank for Asia - New

BRICS bank will reduce Western dominance: Chinese media

BRICS launch new development bank and joint monetary fund (+Video)

Renminbi may replace US dollar as main reserve currency

Asian Development Bank set to appoint first Chinese chief economist

Russia proposes energy association within BRICS

English.news.cn, 2014-07-10

MOSCOW, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia plans to establish an energy association within the BRICS countries, the Kremlin said Thursday.

"Russia is going to propose the establishment of the BRICS energy association, which would guarantee energy security of the member countries, conduct integrated research and analysis of global markets," presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said.

The organization will include a fuel reserve bank and an institution for energy policy, he added.

The official said the initiative has been discussed at the governmental level.

BRICS is the acronym for five major emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The sixth BRICS summit is due to take place on July 15-16 in Brazil.

According to Ushakov, the summit will discuss cooperation in trade, investment and financial sphere, as well as international political affairs like the Ukraine crisis.

The leaders will also sign an agreement on currency reserves pool, "a foundation of macroeconomic coordination of the five countries, to help strengthen the global financial system," Ushakov said.

A BRICS Development Bank was first mooted during the New Delhi summit in March 2012, so as to "establish a BRICS financial safety net."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, South African President Jacob Zuma and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the summit.

Caxirola replaces vuvuzela as official World Cup instrument

Want China Times, Staff Reporter 2014-06-15

Two fans in Brazil hold up their caxirolas. (Photo/CNS)

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa it was the vuvuzela with its 120 decibel blast like a swarm of angry bees that provided the soundtrack to the matches. This time, as the 2014 World Cup gets underway in Brazil, it is the turn of the caxirola — but both plastic instruments for the amusement of fans and to cheer on the teams were made in China.

The caxirola is a Brazilian percussion instrument made of sealed plastic containing small rattling beads. Its inventor, the Oscar-nominated Brazilian musician Carlinhos Brown gets the inspiration from the more organic caxixi, a woven basket with a flat bottom made from a gourd fontaining seeds or other particles.

Those for whom the vuvuzela was an annoyance at the last tournament can take comfort from the fact that the caxirola produces a sound level equivalent to that of people talking normally — it is estimated that it would take 1,000 caxirolas to generate the same the sound level as a single vuvuzela.

Defended by its supporters at the 2010 tournament for being a "traditional" instrument for use at football matches, the vuvuzela was banned by the European governing body of the sport UEFA in 2012 for its overwhelming noise.

What the caxirola and the vuvuzela have in common however is that they are both produced in the city of Yiwu in eastern China's Zhejiang province, at a factory which made more than 200 million caxirolas within half a year. A caxirola costs at most US$0.80 in China over the internet but costs at least US$2.40 in Brazil, reports our Chinese-language sister paper China Times.

As an alternative to either, a Belgian designer has come up with the diabolica, a collapsible pocket-sized trumpet that is as noisy as a vuvuzela. Hopefully there will be few takers.

South American leaders to attend 6th BRICS Summit

The BRICS Post, June 11, 2014

The 2014 Summit’s debates will focus on the theme “BRICS – inclusive
growth: sustainable solutions” [gov.br]

The Brazilian cities of Fortaleza and Brasilia will host the 6th BRICS Summit on the 14th, 15th, and 16th July, an event that will showcase the growing economic clout of the five countries.

The 2014 Summit’s debates will focus on the theme “BRICS – inclusive growth: sustainable solutions”.

As part of a BRICS outreach strategy to emerging economies, a working session will be held on 16th July between the heads of states of BRICS and their counterparts from the governments of South American nations. Argentina had expressed interest in joining the powerful bloc, although BRICS have ruled out expansion of the group for now.

BRICS Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting, Trade Ministers meeting, Development Bank Presidents meeting, Business Forum and a session of the BRICS Business Council will be held on 14th July in Fortaleza.

The $100 billion Contingency Reserve Arrangement (CRA) will be launched at this year’s Summit and final details of the New Development Bank (NBD) will also be unveiled.

In the Durban Summit last year, leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa had approved a $100 billion fund to combat currency crises.

“The establishment of a self-managed contingent reserve arrangement would have a positive precautionary effect, help BRICS countries forestall short-term liquidity pressures, provide mutual support and further strengthen financial stability,” South African President Jacob Zuma said after the five BRICS leaders met in Durban in March.

BRICS have 43 per cent of the world’s population and total foreign-currency reserves of $4.4 trillion.

Brazilian Ambassador José Alfredo Graça Lima addressing a press conference in Brasilia on Tuesday said the keenly awaited BRICS Bank will finance infrastructure and sustainable development projects.

Developing nations have long complained that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund are failing to address underdevelopment and Western nations have too much say over the management of these institutions.

The BRICS Bank’s start-up capital of $50 billion would eventually be built up to $100 billion. Russia has proposed that each member contributes an equal, 20 per cent share. All the members of BRICS except Brazil has proposed to host the Bank.

Social inclusion and sustainable development will be in focus during this year’s summit.

The 6th Summit will inaugurate the second cycle of BRICS, with each member country hosting one summit each.

The African Union attended last year’s Summit as observers even as BRICS countries try to increase bilateral trade with the continent. Meanwhile, the invitation this year to Latin American heads of states comes as the region tries to match the inspiring growth rates of above 4.3 per cent of 2004-11.

Meanwhile, South American nations are also jointly exploring the creation of a communications system to curtail US spying in the region.

Latin American countries raised a storm of protest after, according to US NSA leaks by former contractor Edward Snowden, the agency spied on an array of nations in the region, including Brazil.

The meet in Brasilia with a congregation of BRICS and South American leaders in attendance could call for an end to mass surveillance like the one carried out the US intelligence agency and gross invasions of privacy.

TBP

Castro tells US to drop the demands on political front

Google – AFP, 22 December 2013

Cuban President Raul Castro laughs on September 27, 2013 during a meeting

at Revolution Palace in Havana (Pool/AFP/File, Alejandro Ernesto)

Havana — President Raul Castro warned Saturday his country could remain estranged from the United States for decades if Washington does not drop political demands.

"If we really want to make progress in bilateral relations, we have to learn to respect each other's differences and get used to living peacefully with them. Otherwise, no. We are ready for another 55 years like this," Castro said at the legislature's closing session.

Castro, 82, recently made world headlines for simply sharing a handshake with US President Barack Obama at the funeral of South Africa's iconic anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.

The United States and Cuba do not have full bilateral relations.

Washington has imposed sanctions on Havana -- the only Communist state in the Americas -- since 1962.

To fully normalize relations with Cuba, US law technically requires a change in Cuba's regime.

"We do not ask the United States to change its political and social system, nor do we agree to negotiate over ours," Castro said bluntly.

Cuba is always ready to talk as long as its independence and self-determination are not undermined, Castro said.

The United States runs an Air Force base in Cuba's Guantanamo province against Havana's will, but which it refuses to leave. It is home to the controversial US war-on-terror prison camp.

US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Cuban leader Raul Castro (2ndL)

 after delivering his speech during the memorial service for late South African President

 Nelson Mandela at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on December 10, 2013

(AFP/File, Odd Andersen)

Related Articles:

Castro praises Raul's handshake with Obama
Obama shakes hands with Cuba's Castro at Mandela memorial

Cuba lifts 50-year-old car import ban
Cuba announces plan to end dual currency system

"Recalibration of Knowledge" – Jan 14, 2012 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Channelling, God-Creator, Benevolent Design, New Energy, Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Reincarnation, Gaia, Old Energies (Africa, Terrorists, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela ... ), Weather, Rejuvenation, Akash, Nicolas Tesla / Einstein, Cold Fusion, Magnetics, Lemuria, Atomic Structure (Electrons, Particles, Polarity, Self Balancing, Magnetism), Entanglement, "Life is necessary for a Universe to exist and not the other way around", DNA, Humans (Baby getting ready, First Breath, Stem Cells, Embryonic Stem Cells, Rejuvenation), Global Unity, ... etc.) - (Text Version)

“…  I want you to watch some countries. I don't have a clock [this statement is Kryon telling us that there is no time frame on his side of the veil, only potentials]. I'll just tell you, it's imminent [in Spirit's timing, this could mean as soon as a decade]. I want you to watch some countries carefully for changes. You're going to be seeing changes that are obvious, and some that are not obvious [covert or assumptive]. But the obvious ones you will see sooner than not - Cuba, Korea [North], Iran, of course, and Venezuela. I want you to watch what happens when they start to realize that they don't have any more allies on Earth! Even their brothers who used to support them in their hatred of some are saying, "Well, perhaps not anymore. It doesn't seem to be supporting us anymore. "Watch the synchronicities that are occurring. The leaders who have either died or are going to in the next year or so will take with them the old ways. Watch what happens to those who take their place, and remember these meetings where I described these potentials to you. …”

Castro praises Raul's handshake with Obama

Google – AFP, 19 December 2013

US President Barack Obama (R) shakes hands with Cuban leader Raul Castro (2ndL)

 after delivering his speech during the memorial service for late South African President

 Nelson Mandela at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on December 10, 2013

(AFP/File, Odd Andersen)

Havana — Cuban leader Fidel Castro spoke in praise Thursday of his brother Raul's brief encounter and handshake in South Africa with US President Barack Obama.

"I congratulate comrade Raul for his brilliant performance, and especially for his firmness and dignity when with a friendly but firm gesture he greeted the head of government of the United States and said to him in English: 'Mr President, I am Castro.'"

Obama stopped and shook hands with the Cuban president on his way to the podium December 10 to speak at a memorial in Soweto for the late Nelson Mandela.

Neither side made much of the exchange but Fidel's remarks, in an article published in the official Granma newspaper, made clear that he approved of his brother's handling of the moment.

The handshake was the first between leaders of the two Cold War adversaries since 2000, when then US president Bill Clinton shook hands with Fidel at the UN General Assembly in New York.

It was only the second time that American and Cuban presidents have shaken hands since the Cuban revolution in 1959.

Raul replaced the ailing Fidel as Cuba's president in 2006, but as the father of the Cuban revolution the elder Castro remains hugely influential.

Related Article:

Obama shakes hands with Cuba's Castro at Mandela memorial

Obama shakes hands with Cuba's Castro at Mandela memorial

Google – AFP, 10 December 2013

Barack Obama (left) shakes hands with Cuban leader Raul Castro during the

 memorial service for Nelson Mandela at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on

December 10, 2013 (South African Broadcasting Corporation/AFP)

Soweto (South Africa) — US President Barack Obama on Tuesday shook hands with Raul Castro, leader of long-time Cold War foe Cuba, at the memorial service in South Africa for Nelson Mandela.

Obama offered the handshake before taking the stage to give his speech at the ceremony, in a new sign of his willingness to reach out to US enemies, a US official told AFP.

The United States maintains a five-decade-old embargo against the communist island nation, which Havana says has cost the economy $1.1 trillion.

Raul Castro (uncer umbrella) arrives for 

Nelson Mandela's memorial service at

 the Soccer City stadium Soweto on

 December 10, 2013 (AFP, Stephane

de Sakutin)

The handshake was seen by millions around the world watching the memorial being broadcast live and comes as Obama tries to make good on his vow to reach out even to the most implacable of US foes.

In September, the US leader spoke by telephone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in the first such gesture since the 1979 revolution in the Islamic republic.

Cold War foes Cuba and the United States have had only limited ties for half a century, most of it under the iron fist rule of Raul's brother Fidel Castro.

Washington has maintained a trade embargo against Cuba for half a century, and the fate of the communist state is a bitter issue in US domestic politics.

Vehemently anti-Castro Cuban-Americans make up a sizable portion of voters and political donors in Florida, a battleground state where US presidential elections can be won or lost.

As a presidential candidate Obama was pilloried as naive and dangerous by rivals from both parties for suggesting that as president he would be willing to talk to foes without preconditions.

Obama's ability to track down and kill Osama bin Laden and a series of drone strikes has largely insulated him from allegations of weakness in foreign and security policy, but the president was careful to pointedly call out oppressive leaders in his speech Tuesday, with Castro just feet away.

"There are too many leaders who claim solidarity with Madiba's struggle for freedom, but do not tolerate dissent from their own people," he said, stabbing his finger in the air.

It is unclear if Tuesday's gesture will significantly thaw relations. In 2000, then President Bill Clinton shook the hand of Fidel Castro at the UN General Assembly in New York.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (left) shakes hands with Cuba's President

 Raul Castro Ruz (2nd right) at the memorial service for Nelson Mandela at the

 Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg on December 10, 2013 (Government

Communication and Information System/AFP, Elmond Jiyane)

There was no picture of the moment and the White House initially denied it had occurred.

Havana and Washington have not had diplomatic relations since 1961, two years after Fidel Castro came to power in the Cuban revolution.

Since Obama took office tensions have eased, with both countries reaching a series of agreements seen as confidence building measures including cooperation on air and maritime rescue, migratory issues.

In 2011 Obama eased restrictions on visas, remittances and travel.

The move was designed to expand religious and educational travel, allow any airport to offer charter flights to the country and restore cultural initiatives suspended by the previous Bush administration.

Talks are underway to resume a direct postal service between the two countries.

Related Articles:

"Recalibration of Knowledge" – Jan 14, 2012 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Channelling, God-Creator, Benevolent Design, New Energy, Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Reincarnation, Gaia, Old Energies (Africa, Terrorists, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela ... ), Weather, Rejuvenation, Akash, Nicolas Tesla / Einstein, Cold Fusion, Magnetics, Lemuria, Atomic Structure (Electrons, Particles, Polarity, Self Balancing, Magnetism), Entanglement, "Life is necessary for a Universe to exist and not the other way around", DNA, Humans (Baby getting ready, First Breath, Stem Cells, Embryonic Stem Cells, Rejuvenation), Global Unity, ... etc.) - (Text Version)

“…  I want you to watch some countries. I don't have a clock [this statement is Kryon telling us that there is no time frame on his side of the veil, only potentials]. I'll just tell you, it's imminent [in Spirit's timing, this could mean as soon as a decade]. I want you to watch some countries carefully for changes. You're going to be seeing changes that are obvious, and some that are not obvious [covert or assumptive]. But the obvious ones you will see sooner than not - Cuba, Korea [North], Iran, of course, and Venezuela. I want you to watch what happens when they start to realize that they don't have any more allies on Earth! Even their brothers who used to support them in their hatred of some are saying, "Well, perhaps not anymore. It doesn't seem to be supporting us anymore. "Watch the synchronicities that are occurring. The leaders who have either died or are going to in the next year or so will take with them the old ways. Watch what happens to those who take their place, and remember these meetings where I described these potentials to you. …”

BRICS Wrangle Over New Development Bank

Jakarta Globe - AFP, March 26, 2013

Image provided by the South African government shows President Jacob
Zuma speaking in Pretoria on March 24, 2013. (AFP Photo) 

    

Related articles

• Due to China, BRICS Not So Sturdy
• Emerging Nations Impatient on Stalled IMF Reforms
• Drug Makers’ Growth Is Linked to Emerging Markets
• China, India Step Up Global Role With Fund
• HSBC Profits From Emerging Markets

Durban, South Africa. BRICS emerging powers on Tuesday sought a deal on setting up a development bank that would rival Western-backed institutions, trying to iron out significant differences ahead of a leaders' summit in Durban.

The grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and hosts South Africa are racing to flesh out proposals for an infrastructure-focused lender that would challenge seven decades of dominance by the World Bank.

Just hours before leaders kick off the summit at 17:30 GMT, finance ministers were still working to agree key elements of the plan.

Disputes remain over what the bank will do, with each side trying to mold the institution to their foreign or domestic policy goals and with each looking for assurances of an equitable return on their initial investment of around $10 billion.

Failure to secure a deal would be a major embarrassment for many of the participants and would play into the hands of those who argue the BRICS have little to bind them together.

Xi Jinping, who has underscored the growing importance of the group by making Durban his first summit as China's president, earlier expressed hopes for "positive headway" in establishing the bank.

In a keynote speech in Tanzania on Monday Xi vowed Beijing's "sincere friendship" with the continent, and a relationship that respects Africa's "dignity and independence."

Meanwhile host President Jacob Zuma has lauded the summit as a means of addressing his country's chronic economic problems including high unemployment.

"BRICS provides an opportunity for South Africa to promote its competitiveness," Zuma said in a speech on the eve of the summit.

"It is an opportunity to move further in our drive to promote economic growth and confront the challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment that afflicts our country."

A failure to take concrete steps would raise questions about whether the BRICS grouping can survive.

"Ironically it may be the cleavages within the BRICS grouping that more accurately hint at the future of the global order: tensions between China and Brazil on trade, India on security, and Russia on status highlight the difficulty Beijing will have in staking its claim to global leadership," said Daniel Twining of the German Marshall Fund.

But if the leaders succeed it would be the first time since the inaugural BRICS summit four years ago that the group matches rhetorical demands for a more equitable global order with concrete steps.

That would send a loud message to the United States and European nations that the current global balance of power is unworkable.

Together the BRICS account for 25 percent of global GDP and 40 percent of the world's population.

But members say institutions like the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations Security Council are not changing fast enough reflect their new-found clout.

Diplomats say it could start with $10 billion seed money from each country, but the exact role of the bank is up for debate.

Indian officials have pressed for a BRICS-led South-South development bank, recycling budget surpluses into investment in developing countries.

Many developing nations inside and outside BRICS will hope that is a way of tapping China's vast financial resources.

Meanwhile China would no doubt like the bank to invest in trade-multiplying projects.

Aside from the development bank, the group will also try to establish a foreign exchange reserve pool worth as much as $240 billion to be drawn on in financial crises.

China has the world's largest foreign exchange reserves, worth $3.31 trillion at the end of 2012, and establishing currency swap lines could help other BRICS tap that massive resource.

Later on Tuesday Brazil is to sign a bilateral accord with China to promote trade in their national currencies.

BRICS leaders will also establish business and think tank councils.

With Syria's two-year long civil war escalating through the suspected use of chemical weapons, BRICS leaders will also have to weigh a call from President Bashar al-Assad to intervene.

In a message to the summit leaders Assad asked "for intervention by the BRICS to stop the violence in his country and encourage the opening of a dialogue, which he wishes to start," said his senior adviser Bouthaina Shaaban after he delivered the message to Zuma.

Agence France-Presse

This handout photo on March 26, 2013 shows South African Finance Minister

 Pravin Gordhan (C) poses with his counterparts (L-R) Minister Chidambaram 

Palaniappan of India, Minister Xiaochuan Zhou of China, Minister Guido Mantega

 of Brazil and Minister Anto Siluanov of Russia on the margins of the 5th BRICS

 summit held at the Inkosi Luthuli International Conference Centre in Durban,

on March 26, 2013. AFP PHOTO / GOVERNMENT HO/ ELMOND JIYANE

Related Articles:

BRICS reach deal on development bank - New

BRICS urged to integrate financial systems

RMB on way to becoming global reserve currency: IMF official

China, India court Africa for resources


"The U in Kundalini"- Oct 18, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: Kundalini, Unification, EU, Nobel Peace Prize 2012, Middle East, South America, Only 5 Currencies on Earth, Old Souls, Duality will dismiss, 3D Humanity will melt with Multi dimensional higher self, Global Unity… etc.)