On China’s territorial push, coal’s comeback, and other stories | Asia Sentinel Stories of the Week 
Hasina’s Shadow Dogs Bangladesh ties with India 
Philippine Power Crisis Gives Coal an Uncomfortable Second Life 
Brics countries agreed on Saturday to expand trade and payments in local currencies, making another step towards de-dollarisation as the bloc seeks to counter an assertive United States.
The pledges were part of the “New Delhi Declaration 2026”, adopted unanimously on the opening day of the 18th Brics summit.
After a closed session, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emerged to say that no member had “objected” to the text.
The 45-page declaration said the group’s Payment Task Force had studied “cross-border interoperability of payment and messaging channels” and held talks on using local currencies for “trade settlements and investments”.
The task force was told to keep working on payments that were “fast, low cost, more accessible, efficient, transparent and safe”.
Don't Miss:
-
Bulgaria probes explosion at weapon storage site
-
39 pupils and staff fall ill after eating school lunches in Sha Tin
-
Farage’s Reform UK gets second record £36 million donation in 48 hours
-
Quality concerns prompt further tests on concrete used in 3 public housing blocks
-
Why PLA’s laser-equipped Type 19 vehicle could matter in a Taiwan conflict