The 18th BRICS Summit has concluded with the adoption of a sweeping 140-point New Delhi Declaration, covering trade, geopolitics, terrorism, Gaza, artificial intelligence, global governance and financial reforms. With India leading the BRICS chairship, the summit placed trade, technology and the concerns of the Global South at the centre of discussions, while the bloc also took positions on some of the world's biggest geopolitical flashpoints. A major focus was global trade. BRICS rejected unilateral tariffs and sanctions and called for stronger WTO rules, fairer dispute mechanisms and a more predictable multilateral trading system. The bloc also backed efforts to expand the use of local currencies and faster, safer cross-border payment systems, reflecting the growing push among BRICS nations for greater financial cooperation. WATCH

The US Senate has overwhelmingly passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, clearing the measure by an 86-11 vote. The bill could allow the US administration to impose tariffs of up to 100&#37 on countries buying Russian energy, with India, China, Slovakia, Hungary and Azerbaijan named among the potential targets. The legislation now moves to the US House of Representatives, while President Donald Trump has signalled support for the measure.