BRICS DRR Meet 2026: Strengthening Global Disaster Resilience The second technical meeting of the BRICS Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Working Group commenced on Wednesday in Puri, Odisha, bringing together high-level delegates from 11 nations under India’s 2026 BRICS Presidency. Representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran, and Indonesia are participating in the three-day deliberatio

South Africa’s Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile said India remains a reliable partner as he pushed for deeper India-South Africa trade ties during a working visit to New Delhi. Mashatile used the New Delhi leg of his six-day visit to invite Indian companies to expand investment in South Africa, especially in clean energy, pharmaceuticals, ICT, automotive components, infrastructure, agriculture and agro-processing. Mashatile seeks stronger India-South

During the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held extensive discussions with Indian leaders, focusing on defence cooperation, fertiliser trade, and space collaboration. The meetings reinforced the India-Russia strategic partnership, building on previous agreements from the India-Russia summit and bilateral discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Mo

In a key diplomatic meeting this week, India's External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, sat down with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss the strengthening of ties between the two countries. As global uncertainties grow, the two leaders emphasized the growing importance of their political and economic cooperation. Jaishankar highlighted how vital it is for India and Russia to continue collaborating in these unpredictable times. This meeting comes just ahead of the BRI

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will visit New Delhi this week to attend the BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting, where discussions are expected to focus on the growing West Asia crisis, regional stability, and global energy security. The two-day meeting, scheduled for May 14 and 15 under India’s BRICS chairmanship, comes at a time when tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel continue to affect the Strait of Hormuz and international oil markets. India, which dep

Russia has signaled its readiness to expand energy exports to India, reinforcing a long-standing strategic partnership that continues to evolve across multiple sectors. In remarks made during a recent interaction, Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov emphasized Moscow’s willingness to supply “as much energy as India wants,” underscoring the central role of energy cooperation in bilateral ties. Alipov also pointed to upcoming high-level engagements that are expected to furthe

China has said it understands and respects India’s aspiration for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, marking a notable shift in tone as the two Asian powers work to stabilise relations after several years of tension. The statement came during high-level diplomatic talks in New Delhi and is being viewed as a cautious but significant gesture aimed at rebuilding trust between the neighbours. China’s Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu conveyed the po

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a high-level conversation that emphasized the continued growth and future potential of the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership. During the discussion, Prime Minister Modi expressed his anticipation of welcoming President Lula to India in the near future, underscoring the importance of strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation across economic, technological and geopolitical fronts. Modi des

​Warships from China, Russia and Iran arrived in South African waters on Friday to participate in a week-long multinational naval exercise off the coast of Cape Town, drawing attention amid heightened global tensions and renewed scrutiny of South Africa’s foreign policy positioning. The exercise, titled “Will for Peace 2026,” is being conducted under the framework of the BRICS group of emerging economies and is scheduled to continue until next Friday. South Africa’s armed forces sa

China has strongly criticised a recent Pentagon report, calling it irresponsible, misleading, and an attempt to create divisions between Beijing and New Delhi while exaggerating the so-called China threat narrative. Responding sharply, Chinese officials accused the United States of distorting China’s defence policy and interfering in its internal affairs to justify Washington’s continued military dominance. Speaking at a media briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes

Russian President Vladimir Putin lands in Delhi this evening for a crucial two-day state visit, his first trip to India since the Ukraine war and the first since 2021. The visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as both nations celebrate 25 years of the India-Russia strategic partnership along with the 23rd bilateral summit. The leaders last met during the SCO Summit in Tianjin on September 1, and this visit is expected to see multiple agreements aimed at strengthening l

US President Donald Trump has reignited debate over the influence of the BRICS bloc, claiming that the group represents “an attack on the dollar” and warning that countries joining it could face tariffs from the United States. Trump made the remarks during a bilateral lunch with Argentine President Javier Milei at the White House, reiterating his stance on protecting the dominance of the US dollar in global trade. Speaking to reporters, Trump asserted that the United States woul

The Brics nations on Saturday issued a strong joint statement condemning the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, calling all acts of terrorism criminal and unjustifiable. The ministers of the grouping reiterated their unified stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations while underlining the urgent need for concerted international action. In their statement, the leaders said they condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22,

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1, 2025. This will be his first official trip to China since the Galwan clash in 2020, marking a significant step toward the normalization of bilateral ties between India and China. PM Modi's last visit to China was in 2019, though he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Ka

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has strongly defended President Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods, emphasizing that India’s continued purchase of Russian oil is a significant point of irritation in its relationship with Washington. The move, announced earlier this week, has been described by the administration as a direct penalty aimed at discouraging India from supporting Moscow’s energy sector, which is seen as fueling Russia&rsq

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly welcomed in Brasilia by the Indian community and Brazilian performers during his State Visit to Brazil. Following a productive BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, PM Modi arrived to a spectacular cultural display that seamlessly combined the powerful Shiva Tandava Stotram, a traditional Vedic chant, with the energetic rhythms of Brazilian Samba Reggae. The fusion of these two cultural elements created a striking representati

President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Japan and South Korea starting August 1. The formal notification was delivered to the governments of both countries, accompanied by warnings that any retaliatory measures would lead to further tariff hikes above the 25% rate. The announcement sent global markets into a tailspin as investors weighed the potential fallout of rising trade tensions. The U.S. stock market opened the week with sharp declines. The

China has issued a firm response to remarks made by United States President Donald Trump regarding the imposition of additional tariffs on countries aligning with the BRICS bloc. The Chinese government strongly opposed what it described as the coercive use of tariffs in international diplomacy, saying such tactics undermine global cooperation and stability. The statement came after President Trump warned that the United States could impose an extra 10 percent tariff on imports from countries tha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack while addressing world leaders at the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Speaking during a high-level session on ‘Peace and Security and Reform of Global Governance,’ Modi referred to the recent terror incident in Jammu and Kashmir as not just an attack on India but on the whole of humanity. “Terrorism is among

Donald Trump has said he would place very high taxes (100% tariffs) on goods coming from countries in the BRICS group if they try to replace the U.S. dollar in global trade. BRICS includes countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with newer members like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE. Why is this happening? Some BRICS countries have been discussing the idea of creating their own currency to us