Technical Snag in Bhopal-Delhi Air India Flight; Diverted to Jaipur, Aircraft Undergoes Safety Checks

Following the conclusion of the BRICS summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Bharat Mandapam. The discussion focused on boosting the India-Kazakhstan partnership across multiple key sectors, including transport, connectivity, critical minerals, energy, trade, and investment. Kazakhstan remains an important dialogue partner from the Central Asian region, with talks centering on building supply chain resilience, alternative connectivity models, and expanding bilateral trade, which currently stands at around 924 million dollars.

The two-day BRICS Summit in India has concluded with the adoption of the Delhi joint declaration, bringing member nations together on a shared platform to call for global peace, multilateralism, and disaster data sharing. The presidency of the grouping has been handed over to China, which will host the 19th BRICS Summit in 2027. High-level bilateral discussions were held during the summit, including meetings between India and the leaders of Russia and China, as well as sideline discussions between the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Iranian President. Additional bilateral meetings are scheduled with leaders from Kazakhstan, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. The summit focused on addressing the concerns of the Global South, promoting economic cooperation, and navigating global geopolitical conflicts through diplomatic consensus.

Visuals from Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi show the second and concluding day of the 18th BRICS Summit under India's presidency. During his address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that global conflicts have far-reaching consequences and are not restricted to specific regions, urging action to limit their fallout. Emphasising that the world is undergoing a tense phase alongside global challenges like pandemics and climate change, he stressed the need for dependable supply chains, noting how crises like the West Asia conflict impact uninvolved nations. Outlining India's focus on four key pillars—resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability—PM Modi stated that partner support has helped turn a shared vision into a win-win collaboration. A consensus-based joint declaration is also expected on the final day of the summit, addressing regional conflicts including the situation involving Israel in the context of Lebanon.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has sparked a debate following the all-vegetarian gala dinner served to global leaders at the BRICS meeting. The BRICS menu featured plant-based dishes, millets, and regional Indian flavours. In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi shared an image of chole bhature made by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and stated that eighty percent of Indians are non-vegetarians while praising Indian non-vegetarian cuisine. The remark has triggered a political debate, with the Congress party raising questions over the portrayal of Indian dietary diversity and arguing that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party attempts to control citizens' food habits. The discussion highlights contrasting views, with expectations of a backlash from the ruling alliance accusing the opposition of ridiculing a major diplomatic exercise, while Congress leaders maintain that non-vegetarian culinary traditions form an essential part of Indian diversity and state ceremonies.