India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the plenary session during the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on Wednesday. AP
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the plenary session during the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on Wednesday. AP
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the plenary session during the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on Wednesday. AP
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the plenary session during the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on Wednesday. AP

Modi vows to 'fully support' Brics expansion


Taniya Dutta
  • English
  • Arabic

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that his country will “fully support” the expansion of Brics.

Mr Modi was addressing the plenary session of the Brics Business Forum Leaders' Dialogue on Wednesday, where he said that India is trying to move forward with other countries on the motto of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”.

“India fully supports the expansion of the Brics membership and welcomes moving forward with consensus in this,” Mr Modi said.

Brics comprises five emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – that comprise 41 per cent of the world’s population and about 25 per cent of global gross domestic product.

The three-day summit, which began on Tuesday, is being held in the South African city of Johannesburg.

Mr Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are in attendance at the summit, while Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the gathering through a pre-recorded video from Moscow.

Brics was formed as an informal group in 2009 to provide a platform for its members to challenge a world order they consider to be dominated by the US and its western allies.

With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the resulting sanctions imposed on Moscow by the West and the shift in the geopolitical order, the potential significance of the bloc has increased, particularly for Russia and China.

More than 40 nations including Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia have expressed an interest in joining the forum.

South Africa, Russia and China support expanding membership as they seek to increase their influence to counter the US.

Ahead of Mr Modi’s visit, India’s Foreign Ministry said India has a “positive intent and open mind when it comes to the Brics expansion.”

But many experts say that Delhi will be wary of any expansion that benefits China amid evolving geopolitical dynamics that have brought Beijing and Moscow closer over the Ukraine war amid pushback from the West.

List of officials:

Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.

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MATCH INFO

Fulham 0

Aston Villa 3 (Grealish 4', Hourihane 15', Mings 48')

Man of the match: Jack Grealish (Aston Villa)

Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

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Ibrahim's play list

Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute

Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc

Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar

His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach

Also enjoys listening to Mozart

Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz

Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica 

Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Updated: August 23, 2023, 1:01 PM`