BRICS Summit Prep: India is in the final stretch for the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit on Sept. 12-13 at Bharat Mandapam, with themes of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability, plus a Sept. 11 BRICS Business Forum and Women’s Business Alliance; officials warn of major traffic and security disruptions as delegations move between airports, hotels and the venue. Bolivia Fuel Crunch: Bolivia’s diesel shortage remains a production bottleneck—transport, agribusiness and mining are hit hardest—while reports say YPFB is financially strained and the state’s response has been partial, fueling shortages and smuggling concerns. Mining Finance & Gold: A Bolivia-focused report says gold mining is sustained by a mix of cooperative work and private capital, but that limited state financing and bureaucracy around FOFIM push cooperatives toward riskier funding paths. Lithium Supply Pact: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru signed a South American lithium alliance declaration to position the region as a strategic-minerals supplier for the energy transition amid US-China rivalry. Energy Demand Pressure: A wider Americas market analysis flags a tight diesel situation heading into peak seasonal demand, with thin buffers and rising agricultural use raising pressure on supply chains. Governance & Justice: India’s Chief Justice urged BRICS to act like a “living Nalanda University,” promoting healthy disagreement and faster, more predictable justice to support rule of law and economic activity.