French President Emmanuel Macron is hosting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) for a two-day visit in Paris. The visit began with Macron attending the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup alongside MBS. The tournament is being held outside Saudi Arabia for the first time, covering competitions ranging from video games to chess. Bilateral talks and a business forum are scheduled for Monday, focusing on regional security and economic cooperation. Discussions are expected to cover alternative energy routes that could bypass the Strait of Hormuz, including pipelines and
The 18th BRICS Academic Forum began in Lucknow on August 23, bringing academics, researchers and policymakers together during India's BRICS Presidency. The three-day forum will continue through August 25, focusing on cooperation among BRICS member countries. The forum is being held under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” Discussions focused on major global challenges and practical approaches to strengthening cooperation between BRICS nations. The event is convened by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), the Research and Informa
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met senior Japanese business leaders in Tokyo to expand investment and manufacturing partnerships with India. Goyal met executives from Sumitomo Corporation, Meiji Seika Pharma and Mitsubishi Corporation during his four-day Japan visit. He is leading a nearly 200-member business delegation focused on strengthening India-Japan economic ties. With Sumitomo Corporation, Goyal discussed opportunities in energy transformation, mobility and industrial infrastructure. He highlighted India's expanding manufacturing ecosystem and investment-led grow
India and Singapore identified green economy, semiconductors, fintech and green shipping as new areas for deeper cooperation. The priorities emerged during the fourth India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable (ISMR), where ministers reviewed progress under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The discussions covered six existing pillars, advanced manufacturing, connectivity, digitalisation, healthcare and medicine, skills development and sustainability. Both sides also discussed industrial parks, food security, digital connectivity and green hydrogen supply chains as emerging cooper
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman led an Indian ministerial delegation meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at The Istana on August 20, 2026. The delegation included External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State Jitin Prasada, and Singapore PM Lawrence Wong. The meeting took place during the fourth India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable and Business Roundtable. Discussions focused on implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership roadmap. Ministers reviewed cooperation across trade, investment, digitalis
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Indian-origin strategist Gautam Rangarajan as Expert Adviser on Structure and Process at 10 Downing Street. Rangarajan takes up the new position this week. The PM’s office said Rangarajan brings significant experience in corporate strategy and transformation. His background includes more than 20 years across media, creative industries, and public service broadcasting. Rangarajan previously worked as a strategist at the BBC. He has focused on strategy development, large-scale transformation, and high-stakes policy and financial agreemen
India and the five-nation Southern African Customs Union (SACU) South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini have revived efforts to deepen trade ties by signing terms of reference for negotiations on a preferential trade agreement. Signed on August 12, 2026, the framework sets out the scope, objectives and procedures for negotiations. India is seeking lower tariffs on key exports including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals and textiles. The talks revive negotiations that stalled after five rounds between 2002 and 2010 without p
Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) sent special greetings to India ahead of its 80th Independence Day, holding the Indian tricolor in a video message celebrating decades of India-Russia space cooperation. Cosmonaut Pyotr Dubrov opened the message by wishing peace and prosperity to the Indian people. The message also highlighted another major space milestone: 65 years since Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space. Gagarin visited India in November 1961, becoming an early symbol of India-Soviet friendship. The crew recalled his appreciation
The Trump administration is considering a new USCIS naturalization rule that would introduce enhanced educational standards for people applying for US citizenship. According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the proposed rule aims to establish a formal framework of how applicants meet citizenship education requirements while strengthening the integrity of the naturalization process. The proposed Trump citizenship test education requirement would build on existing rules, requiring applicants to demonstrate basic English reading, writing, and speaking skills, along with knowledge
The BRICS Summit 2026 will be held in New Delhi on September 12–13, marking India's first time hosting the leaders' summit in five years. As chair of the grouping, India will host an expanded BRICS bloc at a time of growing geopolitical tensions and increasing expectations from the Global South. The BRICS Summit 2026 is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation while managing differences among its members. One of the biggest issues on the agenda is managing the expanded BRICS membership. The grouping has grown beyond its original five members, making consensus on political and