Page 4 - Brics

From Ghana to Brazil: Modi's 8-day tour targets minerals, Brics, diplomacy

PM Modi visits Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia to deepen South-South ties, secure critical minerals and attend the Brics summit in Rio

PM Modi emphasises India's commitment to BRICS, begins 5-nation visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies as he left on a week-long visit to five countries, including Brazil where he will attend the bloc's meeting. "Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order," he said in his departure statement. During the week-long travel, the PM will visit Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. Ghana will be his first port of call. Modi said that at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama, he will be there on July 2 and 3. Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States, he said, adding that he looked forward to talks aimed at further deepening the two countries' historical ties and opening up new windows of cooperation, including in the areas of investment, energy, health, security,

'Frequent flier PM' off on 5-nation jaunt: Cong takes a jab at Modi

Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his visit abroad, the Congress on Tuesday said the "frequent flier PM" is off on a 5-nation "jaunt" and alleged that he is running away from four issues, including the Manipur situation and US President Donald Trump's claims about bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also alleged that the prime minister is running away from the "revelations by defence officials that India suffered reverses in the first two days of Operation Sindoor because of the PM's decisions". Prime Minister Modi will embark on a five-nation tour beginning July 2 to participate in the BRICS Summit in Brazil and expand India's ties with several key nations of the Global South. "When the going gets tough, the self-styled toughs get going. The Super Premium Frequent Flier PM is off on a 5-nation, 8-day jaunt," Ramesh said in a post on X. He is running away from at least four ..

Brics summit may focus on greater use of national currencies for trade

The July 6-7 Brics summit in Brazil will take up trade settlement in national currencies, denounce terror and address issues like AI, climate finance and disease control

Brics to take up rare earth export curb issue at leaders summit in July

China controls around 70 per cent of global rare earth elements (REE) mining output and accounts for about 90 per cent of the world's processing and refining of rare earth elements

PM Modi to visit five nations from July 2, attend Brics Summit in Brazil

During the visit, PM Modi is expected to address the parliaments of Trinidad and Tobago and Namibia

After 5-year hiatus, first batch of pilgrims arrives at Manasarovar lake

The first batch of Indian pilgrims visiting Tibet to pray at Mount Kailash and Manasarovar Lake, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, arrived at the holy place on Thursday, according to Chinese officials. "Pleased to know that the first batch of pilgrims has arrived at Lake Mapam Yun Tso (Manasarovar) in Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, China, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong posted on X. The journey of 36 pilgrims to Mt. Kailash and Manasarovar Lake assumed significance as they were the first group of Indian pilgrims to visit the holy place after a five-year hiatus. The relations between the two countries were frozen for over four years following the Eastern Ladakh standoff. The two countries agreed to resume ties after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, last year. The resumption of the Kailash and Manasarovar Yatra is stated to be the first step initiated by the two ...

President Putin won't travel to Brazil for Brics Summit: Kremlin aide

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not travel to Brazil for the BRICS Summit scheduled for early next month, a Kremlin aide said on Wednesday. Brazil, as the current rotating chair of BRICS, is hosting its regular 17th summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. "Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent Russia at the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil, while Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend the event via video link," Kremlin Foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov announced on Wednesday. President Putin will take part in key events at the summit via video link, he said. "The president will attend via video link, but the foreign minister will work at the venue, Ushakov added. The BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The bloc has been expanded with five additional members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2023, President Putin skipped the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, due to an arrest warrant issued against him b

Datanomics: Despite gains, Brics still lags behind G7 in per capita terms

Average Brics per capita income stood at $2,087 in 2000, which is projected to rise to $9,437 by 2025. In contrast, G7's average may rise from $27,855 to $53,623

AI key to development, balanced growth: UAE at Brics Parliamentary Forum

Parliamentary delegations discussed climate issues, artificial intelligence, peace and security, and institutional parliamentary cooperation

India's Russia ties, Brics role 'rubs US the wrong way': US Commerce Secy

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said trade talks are heading in a positive direction as India addresses 'sensitive' concerns raised by President Trump

India urges ethical AI, stronger cultural property laws at BRICS forum

India on Monday called upon BRICS to lead not just geopolitically, but also civilisationally, forging a "cultural ecosystem" that celebrates diversity, deepens humanity and anchors progress in shared values. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in his address at the BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting in Brazil, also called for "stronger legal frameworks" to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property, and advocated "ethical AI" that respects cultural diversity. The ministerial-level dialogue culminated in the "adoption of a Joint Declaration outlining four strategic cultural priorities," the Indian Ministry of Culture said in a late-night statement. These four priorities are -- "Culture, Creative Economy, and Artificial Intelligence (AI); Culture, Climate Change, and the Post-2030 Development Agenda; Return and Safeguarding of Cultural Property; and BRICS Cultural Festivals and Alliances", it said. The declaration reflects a collective vision for inclusive, rights-based, and

India urges Brics to build cultural ecosystem celebrating diversity, unity

India on Monday called upon BRICS to lead not just geopolitically, but also civilisationally, forging a "cultural ecosystem" that celebrates diversity, deepens humanity and anchors progress in shared values. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said this in his address at the BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting in Brazil, where he represented the country. Brazil is currently the chair of the influential grouping. In a post on X, the Union minister shared some of the broader contours of his address, an some photos. At the key meeting being hosted in Brasilia, Shekhawat he also "raised concern over the illicit online trade of cultural property and welcomed Brazil's focus on restitution -- a cause close to the Global South's civilisational soul". BRICS' other members include Russia, India, China and South Africa. This year's meeting will focus on "strengthening cultural cooperation, enhancing institutional collaboration, and developing joint cultural projects aimed at preserving and

India leads capacity building initiative on digital transformation in Brics

The session was inaugurated by Daniel Cavalcanti, BRICS Chair, and Atul Sinha, Director General of NCA-T, India

Colombia applies to join China-led Brics bank amid shift from US ties

Colombia's government has applied to join a China-based development bank, another sign of Latin America's drift away from the US as the Trump administration's foreign aid cuts, trade barriers and crackdown on immigration spurs many leaders in the region to seek closer ties with Washington's geopolitical rival. Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrapped up a visit to China this week with a stop in Shanghai, where he met with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, the head of the New Development Bank. The multilateral lender was set up a decade ago as a project of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa the BRICS nations of major developing markets as a counter to US-dominated institutions like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. To date, the New Development Bank has approved loans for 122 infrastructure projects totalling more than USD 40 billion in areas such as transport, sanitation and clean energy, according to Rousseff. Petro, speaking to reporters in

Power Minister Manohar Lal to highlight India's energy gains at Brics meet

Union Minister Manohar Lal will showcase the country's achievements in the power sector over the past decade at BRICS Energy Ministers' Meeting on May 19, an official statement said on Saturday. Lal is on an official visit to Brazil to attend the meeting, a power ministry statement said. He will showcase the country's achievements in the energy sector over the past decade, including a 90 per cent increase in power capacity, leadership in renewable energy, green hydrogen, and biofuels, as well as innovations and sustainable development. India will also reaffirm its commitment to ensuring equitable access to energy and accelerating the energy transition.

Brics group shows internal rifts as ministers fall short of joint statement

Brazil said the group's foreign ministers expressed "serious concern at the prospect of a fragmented global economy and the weakening of multilateralism"

India urges global focus on small farmers at Brics agriculture meet

India on Friday pitched for placing small and marginal farmers at the centre of global agricultural strategies, saying they cannot face climate change, price volatility and resource scarcity challenges alone. Speaking at the 15th BRICS Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brazil, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said global food security goals would remain unfulfilled unless small farmers are protected and empowered. "We cannot leave smallholders to fight these challenges alone. They need our policy support," Chouhan said, describing agriculture as not merely an economic activity but a source of "livelihood, food, and dignity" for millions. Chouhan presented cluster-based farming, farmer producer organisations, cooperative models and natural farming as effective approaches for empowering small farmers and improving their market access, the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. The meeting underscored the need for fair agricultural trade, control of global price volatility

Climate goals of developing nations at risk without funds from rich: India

Developing nations will struggle to meet climate targets without sufficient funding from developed countries, leading to underfunded climate action, India said on Thursday. At the BRICS Environment Ministers' meeting in Brasilia, Brazil, India strongly advocated for climate justice and equity and said that the success of this year's UN climate conference depends on whether developed nations fulfil their climate finance commitments. "Developing countries must receive adequate financial and technological support from developed nations. The proposed USD 300 billion per year by 2035 under the New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance falls significantly short of the USD 1.3 trillion required. "Without sufficient funding, developing nations will struggle to meet climate targets, perpetuating underfunded climate action," India said. With COP30 being hosted in Brazil, India said there is strong symbolic and political momentum for ambitious climate action. "COP30 provides an ...

India urges Brics to mobilise $1.3 trillion to achieve climate goals

The Baku to Belem Roadmap is aimed at securing $1.3 trillion in climate finance to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)