BRICS-BIMSTEC Ties, SAARC Revival, Teesta Issue: Bangladesh Envoy Speaks

A special address outlines India's vision for space exploration, highlighting collective responsibility, multilateral cooperation, and sustainability. The space domain must be guided by international law and open scientific data to serve humanity. ISRO's contributions encompass weather forecasting, disaster management, navigation, and launching over four hundred and thirty satellites for thirty-four countries. Key milestones include Chandrayaan-3 landing near the lunar south pole and Aditya-L1 studying the Sun. India aims to establish an Indian space station by 2035 and land an Indian on the Moon by 2040. India's private space sector is expanding alongside ISRO. Bilateral space collaboration with France, which began at Thumba in the 1960s, continues to grow across advanced technologies and Earth observation. A call was made at the space summit in Paris for global partners to explore, innovate, and protect space together.

Speaking at an India Today roundtable on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit, South African High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal shared his perspective on the evolution of BRICS over the past two decades. He emphasized that the assembly of leaders in New Delhi demonstrates the Global South's capacity to provide global leadership amidst an increasingly fractured international order. Addressing geopolitical reforms, Sooklal highlighted BRICS' consistent advocacy for reforming global governance structures, including the United Nations Security Council, noting that the Johannesburg II Declaration explicitly recorded support from Russia and China for the aspirations of India, Brazil, and South Africa. On economic cooperation, he clarified that de-dollarisation is a narrative pushed by the Global North rather than an explicit BRICS agenda, reflecting instead a natural shift in global trade dynamics. Furthermore, Sooklal stressed the immense untapped potential in bilateral trade, direct air connectivity, and youth startup collaboration between India and South Africa.

In an interview on global affairs, BJP National Vice President and foreign policy expert Ram Madhav discusses India's strategic positioning across international forums including BRICS, the G20, the SCO, and the Quad. Responding to political criticism regarding the relevance of multilateral groupings, he highlights that BRICS represents over 60 percent of the world population and serves as a vital platform for the Global South. Addressing India-China ties, Madhav clarifies that bilateral concerns, such as border negotiations and a 100-billion-dollar trade deficit within 159 billion dollars of total trade, are handled bilaterally rather than at BRICS summits. Analyzing systemic shifts, he notes that the post-World War II order is ending and describes the transition as an interim where uncontrollable forces arise. Highlighting non-state power dynamics termed 'hetero polarity', Madhav underscores the rising influence of big tech corporations and investors, calling for international ethical frameworks and regulation around artificial intelligence alongside critical climate and resource resilience.

The death of Gulzar Singh in Punjab has triggered widespread political outrage after his family accused the state administration and police of carrying out a forced cremation without their consent. The deceased's wife and son released video statements alleging intimidation, absence of promised compensation or employment, and severe pressure from police forces drawn from multiple districts. They also demanded legal action against all individuals named by Gulzar Singh before his death, including Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Shiromani Akali Dal, have mounted attacks against the Bhagwant Mann-led government. Congress leaders submitted a memorandum to the Punjab Governor demanding the arrest of Harpal Singh Cheema and accusing authorities of evidence destruction. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and a Bharatiya Janata Party delegation also intervened, raising concerns over security and justice for the bereaved family.