Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia are the new full members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). In a landmark decision on August 24, the current members of the group declared expansion of the grouping by welcoming the six new countries into the fold. The membership will come into effect on January 1, 2024. Announcing the decision at the end of the 15th BRICS summit at Johannesburg, South Africa, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the addition of new members would strengthen the outfit and increase confidence in the idea of a mu
India’s digital public Infrastructure is secure, scaleable and provides inclusive solutions to challenges globally, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while virtually addressing the G20 Digital Economy Ministers’ Meet held in Bengaluru on August 18. In his speech, the Prime Minister said that the government has created a digital goods depository, India Stack, on a global platform to overcome the digital divide. He emphasised the way India has leveraged technology to transform governance, making it more efficient, inclusive, faster and transparent than before. The PM underlined the fact
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended a 'Ram Katha' by spiritual preacher Morari Bapu at Cambridge University campus on August 15. The nine-day Ram Katha at Cambridge University ran until August 20. The leader said that he was at the event not as a Prime Minister, but as a Hindu. He said that for him, faith was very personal, and it guides him in every aspect of his life and gives him “courage, strength, and resilience” to do the best he can as leader of the country. He said that he was proud to be British and Hindu, before recalling his childhood in South Hampton where
Greeting India on its 77th Independence Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that India has achieved universally acknowledged success in economic, scientific and technical, social and other fields. In a message of greetings to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Putin said he is confident that the two nations will continue to boost fruitful bilateral cooperation in all areas through joint efforts, as well as constructive partnership in resolving pressing issues on the regional and global agenda. The Russian leader was joined by other eminent world
US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on August 18 agreed to deepen military and economic cooperation. During their meeting at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, the leaders also made their strongest joint condemnation yet of “dangerous and aggressive behavior” by China in the South China Sea. In a summit statement, the countries committed to consult promptly with each other during crises and coordinate responses to regional challenges, provocations and threats affecting common interests. The allies also agr
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed his participation in the upcoming G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi in September. His visit to India will be part of a three-nation tour, which will also include Indonesia and the Philippines. During the tour, Albanese will meet regional leaders to discuss global challenges and advance Australia’s economic, security, and climate agenda, said the Australian government in a statement. The G20 is an intergovernmental association of the largest developing and developed nations on the globe. The upcoming leaders’ summit will be on
During the No-Confidence Motion debate in Parliament on August 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in jest that stocks of India’s public sector companies are good to invest in, keeping in mind the robust numbers these stocks have delivered. The Prime Minister cited the examples of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India, two enterprises that were criticised by the Opposition in the past. On LIC’s mega IPO and listing, he said, “They said many things about LIC that the money of the poor will sink but today LIC is getting stronger.” The
Hirsh Vardhan Singh, a 38-year-old Indian-American engineer, has declared his bid for the White House in the 2024 US Presidential election, becoming the third person of Indian descent after Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy to join the crowded Republican field of candidates for the top post. Singh, in a three-minute video message on X, called himself a “lifelong Republican” and a staunch “America First” conservative. He highlighted his past efforts in leading the restoration of the conservative wing within the New Jersey Republican Party. In his message, he focused on the urgent need
His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has approved 1,600 scholarships for undergraduate students in the University of Sharjah (UoS) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) for the academic year 2023-24. The scholarships include various programmes offered in all four universities. The scholarships were announced by Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority, through the “Direct Line” programme, which is broadcast on Sharjah Radio and TV. Sheikh Dr. Sultan has also approved 305 schol
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the BRICS Summit in the South African capital, Johannesburg on August 22-24. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced to attend the summit virtually. The forthcoming BRICS summit has become crucial, as other countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates want to join the institution. It is understood that some 25 countries have applied to join BRICS and a decision whether or not to expand the five-nation body will be taken at Johannesburg. The BRICS group of emerging economies currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India,