Indonesia has formally joined the BRICS group, a bloc of emerging economies featuring Russia, China and others that is viewed as a counterweight to the West.

Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the group, declared on Monday that Indonesia was set to join as a full member. Indonesia said on Tuesday that it “welcomes” the announcement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta said in a statement that BRICS membership is “a strategic step to improve the collaborations and cooperation with other developing nations, based on the principle of equality, mutual respect, and sustainable development”.

It also expressed “gratitude to Russia,” the 2024 BRICS chair, “for its support and leadership in facilitating Indonesia’s joining”.

The foreign ministry in Brazil said earlier that Southeast Asia’s most populous country “shares with the other members the will to reform the institutions of global governance and contribute positively to cooperation within the Global South”.

It noted that Indonesia’s bid to join the bloc was approved during a summit in 2023 in Johannesburg.

Its acronym originally coined by a Goldman Sachs banker at the dawn of the century, the BRICS group was formally created in 2009 by founding members Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa joined the following year.

The bloc expanded again last year as Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates became full members.

BRICS is increasingly viewed as a counterweight to the West, with the “de-dollarisation” of international trade a key goal. Many members accuse Washington of using the greenback as a political tool, and the group has proposed a common currency.

US President-elect Donald Trump has threatned 100 percent tariffs on BRICS nations if they replace the dollar in international trade.

However, Brazil has indicated that it aims to boost the effort during its presidency of BRICS. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government has said its objective is the “development of means of payment” to facilitate trade between member countries.

Indonesia said in its statement: “This achievement shows Indonesia’s increasingly active role in global issues and commitment to strengthening multilateral cooperation to create a global structure that is more inclusive and fair.”

[Aljazeera]

Los Angeles declares a state of emergency as a wildfire explodes from 10 acres to more than 1,200 acres in mere hours.

Fire chief Kristin Crowley says more than 30,000 people are under evacuation orders and 13,000 buildings under threat

Footage shows houses on fire in the Pacific Palisades area and residents abandon their cars to flee the flames

The fire broke out about 10:30 (18:30 GMT) on Tuesday and it exploded in size, fanned by 50 mph (80km/h) wind gusts and incredibly dry conditions

[BBC]

Pakistan have been docked five World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 25% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over rate during their 10-wicket defeat in the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town. They were ruled to be five overs short of their target after time allowances were taken into consideration.

Match referee Richie Richardson imposed the sanction, which Pakistan captain Shan Masood accepted after pleading guilty to the charge – levelled by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Nitin Menon, third umpire Alex Wharf and fourth umpire Stephen Harris – which meant that was no need for a formal hearing.

Teams are deducted one point for every over by which they fall short of their target. This is Pakistan’s third points deduction in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. They were docked two points after the first Test against Australia in Perth in December 2023, and six points following the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in August 2024.