Page 12 - South Africa

PM Modi gifts 'surahi' to S African prez, Gond painting to Brazil leader

Artworks and traditional items reflecting the diversity and richness of Indian heritage were the gifts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's choice for a number of world leaders during his visit to Johannesburg for the BRICS summit and then to Greece. He presented a pair of 'surahi' from Telangana to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a Nagaland shawl to his wife and first lady of the host country, officials said. They noted that the 'bidri vase' is a purely Indian innovation exclusive to Bidar, a Karnataka city. It is cast with an alloy of zinc, copper and other non-ferrous metals. Pretty patterns are engraved on the casting and inlaid with pure silver wire. The casting is then soaked in a solution mixed with the special soil of Bidar Fort which has special oxidising properties, they noted. This causes the zinc alloy to turn into a lustrous black, leaving the silver inlay intact to contrast stunningly with the black background, they added. The gift also carried silver ...

Brics' latest summit shows it's little more than a meaningless acronym

To be sure, the current rebalancing of the West's geopolitical and economic power has been overdue for more than a century, ever since Europe plunged into the first of its continental wars

Brics: All you need to know about the global partnership and latest updates

The members countries announced the expansion of the grouping by adding six new countries - Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - into the fold

Brics' bank can finance African countries to tackle urgent challenges

Bank's president Dilma Rousseff also pointed to the need for joint infrastructure projects between several countries, noting that Africa has the world's greatest untapped hydroelectric potential

Enthusiasm of diaspora in S Africa for India's achievements gladdening: PM

Chandryaan-3 on Wednesday successfully performed a soft landing on the moon

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Brics Summit to advance cause of common prosperity: S Africa Prez Ramaphosa

The BRICS Summit will advance the cause of common prosperity and progress, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Wednesday afternoon as he welcomed the leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at the opening of the 15th BRICS Summit. Ramaphosa said the BRICS partnership that straddles four continents and five countries that are home to almost three-and-a-half billion people has over the past decades been a major driver of global growth, trade and investment. We are confident that this 15th BRICS Summit will advance the cause of common prosperity and progress. We are confident that (it) will enrich and inspire our work towards the achievement of a more humane global community, he said. Underlining that BRICS stands for solidarity, progress, sustainable development, inclusiveness and a "more just, equitable world order", the president said, We are an inclusive formation of developing and emerging economies that are working together to benefit from our rich histories, ...

Hope African Union gets support from Brics for G20 membership: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hoped that India's proposal to accord permanent membership of the G20 to the African Union will be supported by all the BRICS nations. In his address at the BRICS ((Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) summit in Johannesburg, Modi said India is according "highest priority" to the issues of countries of the Global South under its G20 presidency. India is hosting the G20 summit on September 9 and 10. All the BRICS nations are permanent members of the G20. "We have also proposed to give permanent membership of G20 to the African Union. I am sure all the BRICS partners are also together in the G20 and all will support our proposal," Modi said. The African Union (AU) is an influential organisation consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent. In June, Modi wrote to the leaders of the G20 countries pitching for giving the African Union full membership of the grouping at its upcoming summit in New ...

Brics Summit: Modi meets South African president, addresses plenary session

During the Plenary Session I of the summit, PM Modi said that BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) embarked on a long and amazing journey in the last two decades

PM Modi, S African Prez discuss multilateral issues of mutual interest

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during which they reviewed the progress made in bilateral ties, exchanged views on regional and multilateral issues and also on ways to work jointly to strengthen the voice of the Global South. Modi met Ramaphosa in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit. "Both leaders reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations between the two countries and expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in various fields including defence, agriculture, trade and investment, health, conservation and people-to-people ties," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release. Modi and Ramaphosa also exchanged views on continued coordination in multilateral bodies and regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Ramaphosa expressed full support for India's G20 presidency and appreciated India's initiative for giving the African Union full membership

Chandrayaan-3: PM to virtually witness attempted lunar landing in S Africa

According to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Chandrayaan-3 is all set to create history by landing on the uncharted south pole of the moon

BRICS biz forum gave chance to highlight India's growth trajectory: PM Modi

PM Modi in a special message at the BRICS Business Forum on Tuesday said mutual trust and transparency can help create a big impact, especially in the Global South

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BRICS to provide opportunity to identify future areas of cooperation: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that the BRICS summit will provide a useful opportunity for its members to identify future areas of cooperation and review institutional development. In his departure statement ahead of visiting South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS summit, he said BRICS has been pursuing a strong cooperation agenda across various sectors. "We value that BRICS has become a platform for discussing and deliberating on issues of concern for the entire Global South, including development imperatives and reform of the multilateral system," he said. This summit will provide a useful opportunity for BRICS to identify future areas of cooperation and review institutional development, he said. Noting that he will also participate in the 'BRICSAfrica Outreach' and 'BRICS Plus Dialogue' events that will be held as part of the summit activities, Modi said he looked forward to interacting with a number of guest countries that have been invited to participate in this .

PM Modi's visit to S Africa to help Indian community, says diaspora member

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit South Africa at President Cyril Ramaphosa's invitation to attend the 15th BRICS Summit, which will be held in Johannesburg from August 22 to 24

Open mind on expansion: PM Narendra Modi to head for Brics on Tuesday

Modi will be making an official visit to Greece on 25 August

China confirms Xi will attend Brics in S Africa followed by state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend next week's summit of the BRICS nations in Johannesburg, to be followed by a state visit to South Africa, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also said in a statement that during his August 21-24 visit to South Africa, Xi will co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa. China is a core member of the BRICS nations, which also include Brazil, Russia and India. The grouping was predicated on linking the interests of the world's leading emerging economies but has sought to expand into other civil and governmental fields. Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided not to attend the summit because of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for him, according to South African authorities. The development could be viewed as embarrassing for Putin, who is expected to be the only leader of a country in the bloc not to attend. Kremlin

Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in South Africa followed by state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend next week's summit of the BRICS nations in Johannesburg, to be followed by a state visit to South Africa, the Foreign Ministry said Friday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also said in a statement that during his Aug 21-24 visit to South Africa, Xi will co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa. China is a core member of the BRICS nations, which also include Brazil, Russia and India. The grouping was predicated on linking the interests of the world's leading emerging economies but has sought to expand into other civil and governmental fields. Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided not to attend the summit because of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for him, according to South African authorities. The development could be viewed as embarrassing for Putin, who is expected to be the only leader of a country in the bloc not to attend. Kremlin ...

Governments abroad call Data Protection Bill a 'landmark' regulation

Countries such as New Zealand said that they are taking a 'keen interest' in the implementation of the Bill and also its approach to privacy regulation

Why are South African expats flocking to this tiny island in the Irish Sea?

The island of 85,000 people is seeking skilled professionals in finance, insurance, technology and gaming to help bolster its economy. It is part of a drive to increase population to 100,000 by 2027