Why did Xi Jinping skip the BRICS business forum? Is he embarrassed to face the cameras? Xi's mysterious absence has triggered a series of speculations. Molly Gambhir takes you through them.

Gravitas: Why did Xi Jinping skip the BRICS business forum?

<p>The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released&nbsp;a mesmerising video showing the moon's surface, captured by the Vikram Lander Imager Camera, just before Chandryaan's historic touchdown on Wednesday&nbsp;(August 23).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:</strong></p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Here is how the Lander Imager Camera captured the moon's image just prior to touchdown. <a href="https://t.co/PseUAxAB6G">pic.twitter.com/PseUAxAB6G</a></p>
— ISRO (@isro) <a href="https://twitter.com/isro/status/1694713817916473530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>India’s landmark lunar achievement</strong></h2>

<p>In a historic feat, India marked a significant milestone in space exploration as ISRO's ambitious third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, achieved a successful touchdown of its Lander Module (LM) on the lunar surface. This monumental accomplishment not only solidified India's place in space exploration history but also secured its position as the fourth country globally to achieve this remarkable feat. Most notably, India became the first nation to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth's sole natural satellite, the moon.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan rover will conduct scientific experiments on lunar surface</strong></p>

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<p>The LM, consisting of the lander named Vikram and the rover named Pragyan, executed a picture-perfect soft landing in the lunar southern polar region during the evening hours of the previous day. This precision landing is a testament to ISRO's engineering excellence and its commitment to lunar exploration.</p>

<p>In a recent update, ISRO announced on August 24&nbsp;that the rover, Pragyan, has successfully descended from the lander, Vikram, marking a significant milestone in the mission. Accompanied by the triumphant statement "India took a walk on the moon," ISRO proudly reported this achievement.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/chandrayaan-3-mission-pragyan-rover-safely-traversing-moon-making-indias-mark-on-lunar-soil-exclusive-628579">Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan rover traversing Moon since 1:30 am Thursday - Exclusive</a></p>

<p>ISRO stated, "Chandrayaan-3 Rover to MOX, ISTRAC, Moon walk begins!"</p>

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released a mesmerising video showing the moon's surface, captured by the Vikram Lander Imager Camera, just before Chandryaan's historic touchdown on Wednesday (August 23).

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released a mesmerising video showing the moon's surface, captured by the Vikram Lander Imager Camera, just before Chandryaan's historic touchdown on Wednesday (August 23). WATCH THE VIDEO HERE: Here is how the Lander Imager Camera captured the moon's image just prior to touchdown. pic.twitter.com/PseUAxAB6G — ISRO (@isro) August 24, 2023 × India’s landmark lunar achievement In a historic feat, India marked a significant milestone in space exploration as ISRO's ambitious third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, achieved a successful touchdown of its Lander Module (LM) on the lunar surface. This monumental accomplishment not only solidified India's place in space exploration history but also secured its position as the fourth country globally to achieve this remarkable feat. Most notably, India became the first nation to reach the uncharted south pole of Earth's sole natural satellite, the moon. Also watch | Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan rover will conduct scientific experiments on lunar surface The LM, consisting of the lander named Vikram and the rover named Pragyan, executed a picture-perfect soft landing in the lunar southern polar region during the evening hours of the previous day. This precision landing is a testament to ISRO's engineering excellence and its commitment to lunar exploration. In a recent update, ISRO announced on August 24 that the rover, Pragyan, has successfully descended from the lander, Vikram, marking a significant milestone in the mission. Accompanied by the triumphant statement "India took a walk on the moon," ISRO proudly reported this achievement. Also read | Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan rover traversing Moon since 1:30 am Thursday - Exclusive ISRO stated, "Chandrayaan-3 Rover to MOX, ISTRAC, Moon walk begins!" WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

ISRO releases Moon's footage from minutes before Chandrayaan-3's landing. WATCH

<p><meta charset="utf-8" />As India celebrates the success of the Chandrayaan-3 Lunar landing, the Indian space agency is gearing up for the launch of its maiden mission to study the Sun, in less than two weeks. Known as Aditya-L1, this is a mission where an Indian spacecraft would travel the furthest away from the earth and it would be placed 1.5 million kilometres away, at a vantage point known as Langrangian point 1. "The preparation for Aditya-L1 is going really well. At the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, final checks are being carried out on the spacecraft and the PSLV rocket(mission number C57) for this mission is being assembled," A.Rajarajan, the Director of the spaceport told WION.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking to WION after the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3, he said that the Aditya-L1 mission is to be launched in the first week of September. So far, the Indian space agency has launched six missions in the year 2023. While four of these missions were for India's own national and scientific purposes, two of them have been missions for foreign customers. ISRO has had a great year with successes in all launch missions.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-isro-shares-footage-of-the-moons-surface-just-a-few-minutes-before-chandrayaan-3s-soft-landing-628838">ISRO releases moon's footage from minutes before Chandrayaan-3's landing. WATCH</a></p>

<p>Notably, the launch activity of ISRO had drastically slowed down in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This had caused delays to several missions and led to a backlog in the activity. Queried about how the spaceport is handling various missions simultaneously, Rajarajan told WION that the team had learnt several lessons during the pandemic and accordingly made their work processes more optimised and efficient. He indicated how ISRO had been able to fulfil both national and commercial missions, while also making arrangements for Indian space sector startups to use their facilities for development and testing activities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Queried about how the launch calendar looked for the next four months, he said that there could be four launches including Aditya-L1, experimental flights as part of Gaganyaan development programme, followed by PSLV and GSLV launches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2022, the Indian Space agency has designated senior Solar Scientist Dr. Sankarasubramanian as the Principal Scientist of the 'Aditya-L1' Mission. He heads the Space Astronomy Group (SAG) of ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru and has contributed to ISRO missions such as Chandrayaan 1 &amp; 2, AstroSat, in several capacities.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan rover will conduct scientific experiments on lunar surface</strong></p>

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<p>Aditya-L1 is the first observatory-class space-based solar mission from India. The spacecraft is to be placed in a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point, L1, of the Sun-Earth system. A satellite around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without occultation/eclipses. This position provides a greater advantage of observing solar activities continuously.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Aditya-L1 carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors. According to ISRO, Four payloads on Aditya-L1 directly view the Sun from the unique vantage point of L1, and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1.</p>

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As India celebrates the success of the Chandrayaan-3 Lunar landing, the Indian space agency is gearing up for the launch of its maiden mission to study the Sun, in less than two weeks.

As India celebrates the success of the Chandrayaan-3 Lunar landing, the Indian space agency is gearing up for the launch of its maiden mission to study the Sun, in less than two weeks. Known as Aditya-L1, this is a mission where an Indian spacecraft would travel the furthest away from the earth and it would be placed 1.5 million kilometres away, at a vantage point known as Langrangian point 1. "The preparation for Aditya-L1 is going really well. At the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, final checks are being carried out on the spacecraft and the PSLV rocket(mission number C57) for this mission is being assembled," A.Rajarajan, the Director of the spaceport told WION. Speaking to WION after the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3, he said that the Aditya-L1 mission is to be launched in the first week of September. So far, the Indian space agency has launched six missions in the year 2023. While four of these missions were for India's own national and scientific purposes, two of them have been missions for foreign customers. ISRO has had a great year with successes in all launch missions. Also read | ISRO releases moon's footage from minutes before Chandrayaan-3's landing. WATCH Notably, the launch activity of ISRO had drastically slowed down in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This had caused delays to several missions and led to a backlog in the activity. Queried about how the spaceport is handling various missions simultaneously, Rajarajan told WION that the team had learnt several lessons during the pandemic and accordingly made their work processes more optimised and efficient. He indicated how ISRO had been able to fulfil both national and commercial missions, while also making arrangements for Indian space sector startups to use their facilities for development and testing activities. Queried about how the launch calendar looked for the next four months, he said that there could be four launches including Aditya-L1, experimental flights as part of Gaganyaan development programme, followed by PSLV and GSLV launches. In 2022, the Indian Space agency has designated senior Solar Scientist Dr. Sankarasubramanian as the Principal Scientist of the 'Aditya-L1' Mission. He heads the Space Astronomy Group (SAG) of ISRO's UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru and has contributed to ISRO missions such as Chandrayaan 1 & 2, AstroSat, in several capacities. Also watch | Chandrayaan-3: Pragyan rover will conduct scientific experiments on lunar surface Aditya-L1 is the first observatory-class space-based solar mission from India. The spacecraft is to be placed in a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point, L1, of the Sun-Earth system. A satellite around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without occultation/eclipses. This position provides a greater advantage of observing solar activities continuously. Aditya-L1 carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors. According to ISRO, Four payloads on Aditya-L1 directly view the Sun from the unique vantage point of L1, and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Moon mission successful, India's Sun mission Aditya-L1 to be launched in two weeks

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms- The Chandrayaan-3 lunar Mission conducted by the Indian Space Research Organization achieved a successful soft landing at 6:04 PM Indian Standard Time on August 23rd. India made a historic achievement becoming the first country to land a spacecraft on the moon's South Pole.

Chandrayaan-3: What makes the south pole of the moon so special?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with Xi Jinping on the sidelines of BRICS. The two leaders agreed to direct officials to expedite the de-escalation process.

BRICS: PM Modi, Xi Jinping address military de-escalation; Will border tensions finally diffuse?

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi addressed the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers’ Meeting held in Jaipur, Rajasthan via video link today. Let's watch what he has to say.

Breaking: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses G20 Trade Meet

New Delhi is all prepped up for G20 Summit. The summit is scheduled to be held from September 7-10. The US President is going to visit India in the coming days to attend the G20 summit. But what's on the agenda this time for G20 Summit?

G20 Summit: US President Joe Biden heads to India. What's on the agenda?

The winners of 69th National Film Awards were announced in New Delhi honouring the best filmmaking talent across India. Take a look at the list of the winners.

69th National Film Awards: Alia Bhatt shares Best Actress Award with Kriti Sanon | WION Fineprint

India has created history as Chandrayaan-3 landed on the moon at around 06:03 PM on Wednesday. Indian Prime Minister Modi joined the live landing of Chandrayaan-3 from South Africa where he is attending the BRICS summit.

Chandrayaan-3 mission: Small step for ISRO, giant leap in space exploration

India has created history as Chandrayaan-3 landed on the moon at around 06:03 PM on Wednesday. Indian Prime Minister Modi joined the live landing of Chandrayaan-3 from South Africa where he is attending the BRICS summit. To know more about the mission, watch this interview with an ISRO space scientist from the Chandrayaan-1 mission, Prof. Narendra Bhandari.

Chandrayaan-3: Historic mission to land on Lunar south pole leaves world in awe

In the upcoming season, beginning in October, India is anticipated to stop exporting sugar, a move that could have an impact on both domestic and global economy. This choice was made, according to sources, after a severe shortage of rain drastically reduced cane output in important sugar-producing states.

India: Ban on sugar exports causes worries about the global price

<p>Vegetable prices in India have begun to fall and are projected to decline from September, Reuters quoted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das as saying on Wednesday.</p>

<p>The skyrocketing prices of vegetables and grains have caused retail inflation to soar to 7.44 per cent in July, its highest level in 15 months.</p>

<p>“We expect to see an appreciable slowdown in vegetable inflation from September,” Das said.</p>

<p>Although the possibility that global tensions could negatively influence food prices, he said the forecast for grain prices is positive.</p>

<p>The gradual decrease in core inflation over the past few months, according to Das, is a sign of monetary policy transmission despite core inflation being elevated.</p>

<p>According to him, the central bank would be vigilant to prevent persistent inflation from spreading to other market segments.</p>

<p>“The frequent incidences of recurring food price shocks pose a risk to anchoring of inflation expectations, which has been underway since September 2022. We will remain watchful of this,” Das said.</p>

<p>Since May 2022, India has increased interest rates by a total of 250 basis points to control inflation. According to Das, the Monetary Policy Committee’s legislated medium-term aim of 4 per cent inflation is still the central bank’s primary goal.</p>

<p>He asserted that the foundation of sustained growth must be price stability and added that the circumstances are ideal for the growth to continue and the capex cycle to pick up steam in 2023–2024.</p>

<p>The RBI chief reaffirmed that there is no set aim for the rupee but that the RBI will keep increasing its foreign exchange reserves to help control any dollar outflows.</p>

<p>"The Reserve Bank has also made conscious efforts to improve systemic resilience and efficiency by maintaining external stability and building forex reserves," he said.</p>

<p>(With inputs from Reuters)</p>

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Vegetable prices in India have begun to fall and are projected to decline from September, Reuters quoted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das as saying on Wednesday.

Vegetable prices in India have begun to fall and are projected to decline from September, Reuters quoted the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das as saying on Wednesday. The skyrocketing prices of vegetables and grains have caused retail inflation to soar to 7.44 per cent in July, its highest level in 15 months. “We expect to see an appreciable slowdown in vegetable inflation from September,” Das said. Although the possibility that global tensions could negatively influence food prices, he said the forecast for grain prices is positive. The gradual decrease in core inflation over the past few months, according to Das, is a sign of monetary policy transmission despite core inflation being elevated. According to him, the central bank would be vigilant to prevent persistent inflation from spreading to other market segments. “The frequent incidences of recurring food price shocks pose a risk to anchoring of inflation expectations, which has been underway since September 2022. We will remain watchful of this,” Das said. Since May 2022, India has increased interest rates by a total of 250 basis points to control inflation. According to Das, the Monetary Policy Committee’s legislated medium-term aim of 4 per cent inflation is still the central bank’s primary goal. He asserted that the foundation of sustained growth must be price stability and added that the circumstances are ideal for the growth to continue and the capex cycle to pick up steam in 2023–2024. The RBI chief reaffirmed that there is no set aim for the rupee but that the RBI will keep increasing its foreign exchange reserves to help control any dollar outflows. "The Reserve Bank has also made conscious efforts to improve systemic resilience and efficiency by maintaining external stability and building forex reserves," he said. (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Vegetable prices in India to fall from September: RBI governor

India has created history as Chandrayaan-3 landed on the moon at around 06:03 PM on Wednesday. Indian Prime Minister Modi joined the live landing of Chandrayaan-3 from South Africa where he is attending the BRICS summit. Meanwhile, ISRO Chairman S Somanath gave an address after the landing and said, 'India is on the moon'.

Chandrayaan-3: 'India on the moon, Indians over the moon' | Latest World News | English News | WION

<p>The Indian Finance Ministry stated on August 22 that although food price increases may be “transitory”, India’s inflationary pressures are still ongoing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to The Hindu report, the ministry attributed the most recent increase in headline inflation to global uncertainties brought on by the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has disrupted supplies of wheat and edible oils as well as problems with domestic farm output.</p>

<p>The Ministry noted that the 11.5 per cent food inflation rate was “perhaps the third highest” since the current Consumer Price Index (CPI) series started in 2014 and that the impact of the worldwide disruptions was “clearly evident” in the sharp increase in retail inflation pace in July to a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent. It noted that core inflation, which excludes the cost of gasoline and food, was at a 39-month low of 4.9 per cent.</p>

<p>The ministry emphasised on the need to maintain macroeconomic stability by stating that the current level of inflationary pressures may continue to rise for the foreseeable future due to domestic and global disruptions. This would require more vigilance from the government and central bank.</p>

<p>“Cereals, pulses and vegetables exhibited double-digit growth… [but] only 48 per cent of food items have inflation of above 6 per cent, and this includes 14 food items with inflation in double digits. Items like tomato, green chilli, ginger and garlic witnessed inflation of more than 50 per cent,” The Hindu quoted the Finance Ministry as saying in its monthly economic review for July.</p>

<p>According to the review, significant food inflation last month was caused by these “abnormal” upticks in select commodities, but this is anticipated to be temporary.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Tomato prices are likely to decline with the arrival of fresh stocks by the end of August or early September. Further enhanced imports of tur dal are expected to moderate pulses inflation,” it indicated, arguing that these and other government efforts can soon moderate the high food prices in the coming months.</p>

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The Indian Finance Ministry stated on August 22 that although food price increases may be “transitory”, India’s inflationary pressures are still ongoing. According to The Hindu report, the ministry attributed the most recent increase in headline inflation to global uncertainties brought on by the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has disrupted supplies of wheat and edible oils as well as problems with domestic farm output.

The Indian Finance Ministry stated on August 22 that although food price increases may be “transitory”, India’s inflationary pressures are still ongoing. According to The Hindu report, the ministry attributed the most recent increase in headline inflation to global uncertainties brought on by the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which has disrupted supplies of wheat and edible oils as well as problems with domestic farm output. The Ministry noted that the 11.5 per cent food inflation rate was “perhaps the third highest” since the current Consumer Price Index (CPI) series started in 2014 and that the impact of the worldwide disruptions was “clearly evident” in the sharp increase in retail inflation pace in July to a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent. It noted that core inflation, which excludes the cost of gasoline and food, was at a 39-month low of 4.9 per cent. The ministry emphasised on the need to maintain macroeconomic stability by stating that the current level of inflationary pressures may continue to rise for the foreseeable future due to domestic and global disruptions. This would require more vigilance from the government and central bank. “Cereals, pulses and vegetables exhibited double-digit growth… [but] only 48 per cent of food items have inflation of above 6 per cent, and this includes 14 food items with inflation in double digits. Items like tomato, green chilli, ginger and garlic witnessed inflation of more than 50 per cent,” The Hindu quoted the Finance Ministry as saying in its monthly economic review for July. According to the review, significant food inflation last month was caused by these “abnormal” upticks in select commodities, but this is anticipated to be temporary. “Tomato prices are likely to decline with the arrival of fresh stocks by the end of August or early September. Further enhanced imports of tur dal are expected to moderate pulses inflation,” it indicated, arguing that these and other government efforts can soon moderate the high food prices in the coming months. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Inflationary pressures may persist but food prices to stabilise: Indian finance ministry 

<p>As India introduced a 40 per cent export tax to combat higher onion prices, analysts have said that New Delhi's protective measure to control the retail prices of this staple food item will lead to an increase in prices in the countries where onion is imported from India.</p>

<p>The newly announced tax, effective until December 31, is aimed at stabilising domestic supply and curbing inflation, according to the Ministry of Finance.</p>

<p>Retail prices for onions in India have surged around 20 per cent year-on-year.</p>

<p>The heavy rainfall in July 2023 across critical onion-producing regions like Maharashtra and Karnataka led to damage in stored onion crops, according to Pushan Sharma, director of research at CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, a subsidiary of S&amp;P Global, CNBC reported.</p>

<p>India's July inflation reached a 15-month peak of 7.44per cent&nbsp;primarily due to higher domestic food costs.</p>

<p>The world's fifth-largest economy&nbsp;currently grapples with higher prices of vegetables, fruits, and grains, with tomatoes seeing a more than 300 per cent surge due to unfavourable weather.</p>

<p>The Indian government also suspended non-basmati white rice exports in July to ensure ample domestic supplies.</p>

<h2><strong>India's export control on onions: Which countries will be impacted?</strong></h2>

<p>The export taxes will result in increased onion prices for Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and parts of West Asia, as these countries rely on India for their onion supply.</p>

<p>India is the world's primary onion exporter, contributing over 12 per cent to the global onion trade, according to the&nbsp;data from CRISIL cited by CNBC.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Onion price hike: India imposes 40% duty on onion exports</strong></p>

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<p>This price hike, however, is likely to be short-lived, lasting until October when more onion crops enter the market.</p>

<p>Onions hold a significant role in India's cuisine.</p>

<p>They, along with tomatoes and potatoes, are vital components of the country's Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket.</p>

<p>India had previously banned onion exports in 2019 due to reduced harvests caused by excessive rainfall.</p>

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As India introduced a 40 per cent export tax to combat higher onion prices, analysts have said that New Delhi's protective measure to control the retail prices of this staple food item will lead to an increase in prices in the countries where onion is imported from India.

As India introduced a 40 per cent export tax to combat higher onion prices, analysts have said that New Delhi's protective measure to control the retail prices of this staple food item will lead to an increase in prices in the countries where onion is imported from India. The newly announced tax, effective until December 31, is aimed at stabilising domestic supply and curbing inflation, according to the Ministry of Finance. Retail prices for onions in India have surged around 20 per cent year-on-year. The heavy rainfall in July 2023 across critical onion-producing regions like Maharashtra and Karnataka led to damage in stored onion crops, according to Pushan Sharma, director of research at CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics, a subsidiary of S&P Global, CNBC reported. India's July inflation reached a 15-month peak of 7.44per cent primarily due to higher domestic food costs. The world's fifth-largest economy currently grapples with higher prices of vegetables, fruits, and grains, with tomatoes seeing a more than 300 per cent surge due to unfavourable weather. The Indian government also suspended non-basmati white rice exports in July to ensure ample domestic supplies. India's export control on onions: Which countries will be impacted? The export taxes will result in increased onion prices for Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and parts of West Asia, as these countries rely on India for their onion supply. India is the world's primary onion exporter, contributing over 12 per cent to the global onion trade, according to the data from CRISIL cited by CNBC. Also read | Onion price hike: India imposes 40% duty on onion exports × This price hike, however, is likely to be short-lived, lasting until October when more onion crops enter the market. Onions hold a significant role in India's cuisine. They, along with tomatoes and potatoes, are vital components of the country's Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket. India had previously banned onion exports in 2019 due to reduced harvests caused by excessive rainfall. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India's export tax on onions may lead to price hike in global markets

<p>Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE&nbsp;will become full members of BRICS, announced South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday (August 24).&nbsp;According to Ramaphosa, the membership will come into force from January 1, 2024.</p>

<p>"We have decided to invite the Argentine Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, to become full members of BRICS. The membership will take effect from the first of January 2024," Ramaphosa told a summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nearly 40 countries had expressed interest in joining the alliance, dedicated to championing the development of the "Global South".&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the lead-up to the summit and during the event, calls to enlarge the grouping had continued to gain pace. In the end, the group, which&nbsp;makes decisions by consensus, had agreed on "the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the BRICS expansion process", according to Ramaphosa.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-african-government-refutes-allegations-of-pm-modi-snub-amid-brics-summit-628477"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;South African govt refutes media report of snub to PM Narendra Modi amid BRICS summit</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Leaders laud the expansion move&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin who attended the summit via video conferencing, speaking on the expansion of the alliance said: "The efforts they [leaders] have made, I would like to note, as it turned out that this was a unique diplomatic mastery&nbsp;-- including BRICS expansion."</p>

<p>"I would like to call out for more expansion of BRICS around the world.&nbsp;We will also establish the procedures so that BRICS continue to grow."</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also applauded the move and congratulated South Africa for successfully hosting the summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"On the 15th anniversary of BRICS, we have decided to expand it.&nbsp;India has always believed in the expansion of BRICS&nbsp;because we believe it will give us a new impetus," said PM Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I would like to congratulate the new members of BRICS.&nbsp;India has ancient ties with all the new member countries. Expansion of BRICS and modernization shows that all world institutions should change with time."</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-did-xi-jinping-skip-the-brics-business-forum-628505">Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Why did Xi Jinping skip the BRICS business forum?</a></strong></p>

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<p>Chinese President Xi Jinping commenting on the expansion, lauded the grouping's consensus and ability to come to a unified agreement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I welcome all the new members of the BRICS organization.&nbsp;This membership expansion is historic, it shows unity and meets the demands of the growing world.&nbsp;I'm confident that if we work with a common interest and in unity, we will reach greater heights," said Jinping.</p>

<p>The last time the forum saw an expansion was in April 2011 when South Africa was added during the third summit held in Sanya, China.&nbsp;Prior to South Africa's participation, the forum was named BRIC, coined by Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in 2001.&nbsp;</p>

<p>BRICS is&nbsp;currently home to about 40 per cent&nbsp;of the world's population and a quarter of global gross domestic product. The expansion is expected to increase the might of the bloc and could potentially rival other prominent groupings if the member countries manage to settle on a coherent vision.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE will become full members of BRICS, announced South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday (August 24).

Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and UAE will become full members of BRICS, announced South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday (August 24). According to Ramaphosa, the membership will come into force from January 1, 2024. "We have decided to invite the Argentine Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, to become full members of BRICS. The membership will take effect from the first of January 2024," Ramaphosa told a summit. Nearly 40 countries had expressed interest in joining the alliance, dedicated to championing the development of the "Global South". In the lead-up to the summit and during the event, calls to enlarge the grouping had continued to gain pace. In the end, the group, which makes decisions by consensus, had agreed on "the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the BRICS expansion process", according to Ramaphosa. Also read | South African govt refutes media report of snub to PM Narendra Modi amid BRICS summit Leaders laud the expansion move Russian President Vladimir Putin who attended the summit via video conferencing, speaking on the expansion of the alliance said: "The efforts they [leaders] have made, I would like to note, as it turned out that this was a unique diplomatic mastery -- including BRICS expansion." "I would like to call out for more expansion of BRICS around the world. We will also establish the procedures so that BRICS continue to grow." Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also applauded the move and congratulated South Africa for successfully hosting the summit. "On the 15th anniversary of BRICS, we have decided to expand it. India has always believed in the expansion of BRICS because we believe it will give us a new impetus," said PM Modi. "I would like to congratulate the new members of BRICS. India has ancient ties with all the new member countries. Expansion of BRICS and modernization shows that all world institutions should change with time." Watch | Gravitas: Why did Xi Jinping skip the BRICS business forum? × Chinese President Xi Jinping commenting on the expansion, lauded the grouping's consensus and ability to come to a unified agreement. "I welcome all the new members of the BRICS organization. This membership expansion is historic, it shows unity and meets the demands of the growing world. I'm confident that if we work with a common interest and in unity, we will reach greater heights," said Jinping. The last time the forum saw an expansion was in April 2011 when South Africa was added during the third summit held in Sanya, China. Prior to South Africa's participation, the forum was named BRIC, coined by Jim O’Neil of Goldman Sachs in 2001. BRICS is currently home to about 40 per cent of the world's population and a quarter of global gross domestic product. The expansion is expected to increase the might of the bloc and could potentially rival other prominent groupings if the member countries manage to settle on a coherent vision. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

BRICS officially expands: Six new members to join bloc next year

<p>An indigenously developed ASTRA beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile was successfully test-fired on Wednesday (August 23) by India-made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas off the coast of Goa. The entire light combat aircraft programme was reviewed by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari ahead of its upgraded version's deliveries from next year onwards.</p>

<p>The officials said that the missile, which is beyond the visual range of 100 km, was launched successfully from the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 feet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous beyond visual range air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa on August 23," said the defence ministry. It stated that they were able to meet all the objectives of the test and it turned out to be a perfect textbook launch.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/south-african-government-refutes-allegations-of-pm-modi-snub-amid-brics-summit-628477">South African govt refutes media report of snub to PM Narendra Modi amid BRICS summit</a></p>

<p>"All the objectives of the test were met and it was a perfect textbook launch. The state-of-the-art Astra can engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aerial targets," said a DRDO official.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DRDOUpdates?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DRDOUpdates</a> | Achieving major milestone towards <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/atmanirbharbharat?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#atmanirbharbharat</a> ASTRA-Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile in its maiden flight trial was successfully fired from LCA Tejas off the coast of Goa.<a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DefenceMinIndia</a><a href="https://twitter.com/SpokespersonMoD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpokespersonMoD</a> <a href="https://t.co/UF4p5GVfeI">https://t.co/UF4p5GVfeI</a> <a href="https://t.co/dqoIWY0LTf">pic.twitter.com/dqoIWY0LTf</a></p>
— DRDO (@DRDO_India) <a href="https://twitter.com/DRDO_India/status/1694319452270268445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Scientists and the test director of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) monitored the test launch along with officials from the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA) and Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>ASTRA's test-firing will reduce dependency on imported weapons: Rajnath</strong></h2>

<p>ADA, DRDO, CEMILAC, and DG-AQA were complimented by India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the industry was applauded for successfully carrying out the missile's test firing from the Tejas-LCA.</p>

<p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the launch would "significantly enhance the combat prowess" of Tejas and "reduce the dependency on imported weapons".</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Chandrayaan-3: 'India on the moon, Indians over the moon' | Latest World News | English News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>The Astra-1, which is capable of flying at over four times the speed of sound at Mach 4.5, is being produced by Bharat Dynamics after its user trials using Sukhoi-30MKI fighters were completed. An initial order for 250 Astra-1 missiles was already placed by the IAF, while an Astra-2 missile is being developed by the DRDO with a 160-km range.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tejas LCA was described by ACM Chaudhari as the "flag-bearer" of the efforts made by IAF towards its aircraft fleet's indigenisation, while he was looking into the project along with top officials of DRDO, Hindustan Aeronautics and others.</p>

<p>Tejas is one of the single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft that can operate in high-threat air environments. It was designed for undertaking maritime reconnaissance, air defence and strike roles.</p>

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An indigenously developed ASTRA beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile was successfully test-fired on Wednesday (August 23) by India-made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas off the coast of Goa.

An indigenously developed ASTRA beyond visual range (BVR) air-to-air missile was successfully test-fired on Wednesday (August 23) by India-made Light Combat Aircraft Tejas off the coast of Goa. The entire light combat aircraft programme was reviewed by IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari ahead of its upgraded version's deliveries from next year onwards. The officials said that the missile, which is beyond the visual range of 100 km, was launched successfully from the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 feet. "Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) LSP-7 successfully fired the ASTRA indigenous beyond visual range air-to-air missile off the coast of Goa on August 23," said the defence ministry. It stated that they were able to meet all the objectives of the test and it turned out to be a perfect textbook launch. ALSO READ | South African govt refutes media report of snub to PM Narendra Modi amid BRICS summit "All the objectives of the test were met and it was a perfect textbook launch. The state-of-the-art Astra can engage and destroy highly manoeuvring supersonic aerial targets," said a DRDO official. #DRDOUpdates | Achieving major milestone towards #atmanirbharbharat ASTRA-Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Missile in its maiden flight trial was successfully fired from LCA Tejas off the coast of Goa.@DefenceMinIndia@SpokespersonMoD https://t.co/UF4p5GVfeI pic.twitter.com/dqoIWY0LTf — DRDO (@DRDO_India) August 23, 2023 × Scientists and the test director of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) monitored the test launch along with officials from the Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance (DG-AQA) and Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC). ASTRA's test-firing will reduce dependency on imported weapons: Rajnath ADA, DRDO, CEMILAC, and DG-AQA were complimented by India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the industry was applauded for successfully carrying out the missile's test firing from the Tejas-LCA. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the launch would "significantly enhance the combat prowess" of Tejas and "reduce the dependency on imported weapons". WATCH | Chandrayaan-3: 'India on the moon, Indians over the moon' | Latest World News | English News | WION The Astra-1, which is capable of flying at over four times the speed of sound at Mach 4.5, is being produced by Bharat Dynamics after its user trials using Sukhoi-30MKI fighters were completed. An initial order for 250 Astra-1 missiles was already placed by the IAF, while an Astra-2 missile is being developed by the DRDO with a 160-km range. Tejas LCA was described by ACM Chaudhari as the "flag-bearer" of the efforts made by IAF towards its aircraft fleet's indigenisation, while he was looking into the project along with top officials of DRDO, Hindustan Aeronautics and others. Tejas is one of the single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft that can operate in high-threat air environments. It was designed for undertaking maritime reconnaissance, air defence and strike roles. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India's Tejas fighter aircraft successfully test-fires indigenous Astra missile

India has indigenously developed light combat aircraft Tejas and successfully test-fired an Astra Beyond visual range air to aim air missile off the coast of the state of Goa. Officials said the missile test was successful with the aircraft at an altitude of about 20,000 feet.

Indian Air Force test-fires Astra missile from Tejas at the altitude of 20,000 feet

<p>As heavy rain lashes several parts of India, several flights have been impacted. On X (formally Twitter), IndiGo Airlines shared that various upcoming flights are expected to be delayed and urged its passengers to keep a tab on the flight's status.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tweet read, "Multiple flight schedules are expected to be impacted in #Bareilly #Dibrugarh #Shillong #Jabalpur #Kathmandu due to inclement weather. You may keep a tab on your flight status by visiting http://ki.show/Trgpq7. For any assistance, feel free to DM us."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/6ETravelAdvisory?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#6ETravelAdvisory</a>: Multiple flight schedules are expected to be impacted in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dehradun?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dehradun</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dharamshala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dharamshala</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pantnagar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pantnagar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Deoghar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Deoghar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chandigarh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chandigarh</a> due to inclement weather. You may keep a tab on your flight status by visiting <a href="https://t.co/jmvCH8bZpD">https://t.co/jmvCH8bZpD</a>. For any assistance, feel free to DM us.</p>
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndiGo6E/status/1694204185275990035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Similarly, Vistara on X in a series of tweets informed its passengers that several flights have been diverted or returned due to bad weather conditions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The tweet read, "#DiversionUpdate: Flight UK617 from Delhi to Dehradun (DEL-DED) has returned to Delhi (DEL) due to bad weather at Dehradun airport and is expected to arrive in Delhi at 1600 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates."</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DiversionUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DiversionUpdate</a>: Flight UK802 from Bengaluru to Delhi (BLR-DEL) has been diverted to Amritsar (ATQ) due to Air Traffic Congestion and bad weather at Delhi airport and is expected to arrive in Amritsar at 2250 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates.</p>
— Vistara (@airvistara) <a href="https://twitter.com/airvistara/status/1694029539821989993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DiversionUpdate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DiversionUpdate</a>: Flight UK852 from Mumbai to Dehradun (BOM-DED) has diverted to Delhi (DEL) due to bad weather at Dehradun airport and is expected to arrive in Delhi at 1600 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates.</p>
— Vistara (@airvistara) <a href="https://twitter.com/airvistara/status/1693930666558177534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>Latest weather update:</strong></p>

<p>The monsoon season in India continues, as the national capital on Wednesday morning saw a fresh spell of showers which are expected to continue throughout the day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert, warning of moderate rain in parts of the city. It additionally predicted light rain showers on Thursday as well.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a tweet, the Met Department issued a "very heavy to heavy rainfall" warning for Himachal Pradesh. The weather agency in a series of tweets issued "orange alerts" for northeastern states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengala and Sikkim.&nbsp;The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall from August 22-25 across India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Himachal Pradesh, recent landslides and flash floods extensively damaged industrial hubs like Baddi and Parwanoo. The general secretary of the Parwanoo Industries Association (PIA) Sarthak Taneja said that the floods impacted industries worth millions of dollars.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="in">Heavy Rainfall in Himachal Pradesh: Kahu 213.6mm, Bilaspur BBMB 180.8mm, Berthin 180.2mm, Kasuali 148.0mm, Bilaspur KVK 160.5mm. Stay safe! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rainfall?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Rainfall</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HimachalPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HimachalPradesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StaySafe?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StaySafe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/moesgoi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@moesgoi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DDNewslive?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DDNewslive</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ndmaindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ndmaindia</a><a href="https://twitter.com/airnewsalerts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@airnewsalerts</a> <a href="https://t.co/qa05fy5Cf1">pic.twitter.com/qa05fy5Cf1</a></p>
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) <a href="https://twitter.com/Indiametdept/status/1694217568234684667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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As heavy rain lashes several parts of India, several flights have been impacted. On X (formally Twitter), IndiGo Airlines shared that various upcoming flights are expected to be delayed and urged its passengers to keep a tab on the flight's status.

As heavy rain lashes several parts of India, several flights have been impacted. On X (formally Twitter), IndiGo Airlines shared that various upcoming flights are expected to be delayed and urged its passengers to keep a tab on the flight's status. The tweet read, "Multiple flight schedules are expected to be impacted in #Bareilly #Dibrugarh #Shillong #Jabalpur #Kathmandu due to inclement weather. You may keep a tab on your flight status by visiting http://ki.show/Trgpq7. For any assistance, feel free to DM us." #6ETravelAdvisory: Multiple flight schedules are expected to be impacted in #Dehradun #Dharamshala #Pantnagar #Deoghar #Chandigarh due to inclement weather. You may keep a tab on your flight status by visiting https://t.co/jmvCH8bZpD. For any assistance, feel free to DM us. — IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) August 23, 2023 × Similarly, Vistara on X in a series of tweets informed its passengers that several flights have been diverted or returned due to bad weather conditions. The tweet read, "#DiversionUpdate: Flight UK617 from Delhi to Dehradun (DEL-DED) has returned to Delhi (DEL) due to bad weather at Dehradun airport and is expected to arrive in Delhi at 1600 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates." #DiversionUpdate: Flight UK802 from Bengaluru to Delhi (BLR-DEL) has been diverted to Amritsar (ATQ) due to Air Traffic Congestion and bad weather at Delhi airport and is expected to arrive in Amritsar at 2250 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates. — Vistara (@airvistara) August 22, 2023 × #DiversionUpdate: Flight UK852 from Mumbai to Dehradun (BOM-DED) has diverted to Delhi (DEL) due to bad weather at Dehradun airport and is expected to arrive in Delhi at 1600 hours. Please stay tuned for further updates. — Vistara (@airvistara) August 22, 2023 × Latest weather update: The monsoon season in India continues, as the national capital on Wednesday morning saw a fresh spell of showers which are expected to continue throughout the day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert, warning of moderate rain in parts of the city. It additionally predicted light rain showers on Thursday as well. In a tweet, the Met Department issued a "very heavy to heavy rainfall" warning for Himachal Pradesh. The weather agency in a series of tweets issued "orange alerts" for northeastern states like Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengala and Sikkim. The IMD has predicted heavy rainfall from August 22-25 across India. In Himachal Pradesh, recent landslides and flash floods extensively damaged industrial hubs like Baddi and Parwanoo. The general secretary of the Parwanoo Industries Association (PIA) Sarthak Taneja said that the floods impacted industries worth millions of dollars. Heavy Rainfall in Himachal Pradesh: Kahu 213.6mm, Bilaspur BBMB 180.8mm, Berthin 180.2mm, Kasuali 148.0mm, Bilaspur KVK 160.5mm. Stay safe! #Rainfall #HimachalPradesh #StaySafe @moesgoi @DDNewslive @ndmaindia@airnewsalerts pic.twitter.com/qa05fy5Cf1 — India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) August 23, 2023 × (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

India rains: Flights delayed, diverted, cancelled; IMD issues weather alerts for states

<p>Trade negotiations between the UK and India are reportedly in its “final but trickier” stages, the BBC reported.</p>

<p>This week, G20 trade ministers are expected to gather in India under the leadership of Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch.</p>

<p>Whether a trade agreement will be reached before Rishi Sunak’s travel to India in September has been the subject of rumours.</p>

<p>However, the BBC has been informed that the UK government does not anticipate that a complete deal will be reached by then.</p>

<p>The BBC report nevertheless highlights that there are still some “big nuts to crack” before an agreement could potentially be reached in the coming “months.”</p>

<p>The government has long viewed a trade agreement with India as one of the most advantageous bilateral agreements the UK could make after Brexit.</p>

<p>Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had pledged last year that an agreement would be “done” by Diwali in 2022,&nbsp;but that target was missed.</p>

<p>The UK is eager to reach a deal that might lower import duties on UK exports like cars and whisky, which are currently subject to triple-figure import charges in India.</p>

<p>Because of these levies, UK goods are less affordable in India and less competitive.</p>

<p>Due to British officials' refusal to issue visas to Indian employees, trade negotiations have encountered obstacles in the past year.</p>

<p>The UK has been eager to persuade India to let more UK companies and service industries establish operations there.</p>

<p>The British Chambers of Commerce's William Bain, head of trade strategy, claimed that this would be a “big win” for British companies, particularly those offering travel, business, or financial services.</p>

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Trade negotiations between the UK and India are reportedly in its “final but trickier” stages, the BBC reported. This week, G20 trade ministers are expected to gather in India under the leadership of Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch.

Trade negotiations between the UK and India are reportedly in its “final but trickier” stages, the BBC reported. This week, G20 trade ministers are expected to gather in India under the leadership of Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch. Whether a trade agreement will be reached before Rishi Sunak’s travel to India in September has been the subject of rumours. However, the BBC has been informed that the UK government does not anticipate that a complete deal will be reached by then. The BBC report nevertheless highlights that there are still some “big nuts to crack” before an agreement could potentially be reached in the coming “months.” The government has long viewed a trade agreement with India as one of the most advantageous bilateral agreements the UK could make after Brexit. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson had pledged last year that an agreement would be “done” by Diwali in 2022, but that target was missed. The UK is eager to reach a deal that might lower import duties on UK exports like cars and whisky, which are currently subject to triple-figure import charges in India. Because of these levies, UK goods are less affordable in India and less competitive. Due to British officials' refusal to issue visas to Indian employees, trade negotiations have encountered obstacles in the past year. The UK has been eager to persuade India to let more UK companies and service industries establish operations there. The British Chambers of Commerce's William Bain, head of trade strategy, claimed that this would be a “big win” for British companies, particularly those offering travel, business, or financial services. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UK-India trade deal negotiations in their “final, trickier” stage: Report  

In pics: Indians rejoice as Chandrayaan-3 makes smooth landing on the moon

India's Chandrayaan-3 mission is progressing slowly for a lunar touchdown at 6pm IST on the 23rd of August. People pray across the country for Chandrayaan-3's safe landing while schools assemble for a live telecast of the landing.

Special prayers across India for Chandrayaan-3's safe landing

Making significant progress towards India's lunar exploration ambitions, Chandrayaan-3 is advancing smoothly and is poised to touch down at the moon's southern pole on August 23rd.

Chandrayaan-3: What is soft landing and why it is important?

<p>United States President Joe Biden along with several other world leaders will be visiting India to attend the G20 Summit in the second week of September. India's national capital will host the main event on September 9-10 which will be attended by around 29 heads of states along with European Union's top officials, 14 heads of international organisations and guest countries. &nbsp;The officials have earmarked many hotels in the Delhi-NCR for attendees.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per reports, the officials have booked rooms in leading hotels of New Delhi including ITC Maurya, Taj Palace, The Oberoi, The Lodhi, The Imperial and Le Meridien.&nbsp;</p>

<p>ITC Maurya has booked 400 rooms for hosting President Biden and his entourage, Indian media outlets reported. Previously, the hotel has hosted world leaders like US Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and other heads of state. The US Secret Service is inspecting the hotel premises ahead of the arrival of the POTUS.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/president-biden-to-visit-india-in-september-for-g20-summit-confirms-white-house-628090">President Biden to visit India in September for G20 summit, confirms White House</a></p>

<p>Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to stay in Delhi's Taj Hotel while Hotel Shangri-La is prepping to host UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak along with officials from Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron, along with the officials accompanying him, will be staying at The Claridges while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be hosted by the Imperial Hotel in Delhi.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Schools, colleges, offices and commercial establishments to remain closed&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Meanwhile, a proposal for closing down the commercial establishments and offices in the Union Territory was approved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. As per reports, all Delhi government and private offices will remain closed from September 8-10 while commercial establishments and banks, including markets in the New Delhi district, will be closed during these three days. All the colleges and schools will also remain closed during this time.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We kindly request the esteemed authority to consider declaring a public holiday in Delhi from September 8 to 10 and ordering commercial and business establishments to remain closed in the indicated 'controlled zone' for the overall success of the summit," said Special Police Commissioner Madhup Tiwari, in a letter written to the chief secretary on August 18.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;India: ‘Beyond imagination’: PM Modi lauds Digital India programme at G20 meet</strong></p>

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<p>Meanwhile, the Delhi Police earlier said that they are fully prepared for the G20 summit.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Delhi Police has been working for G20 for several months. The initial planning in connection with this started long back and now it is in the last phase as less than a month is left. We are prepared and are coordinating with other security agencies," said Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa.&nbsp;</p>

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United States President Joe Biden along with several other world leaders will be visiting India to attend the G20 Summit in the second week of September. India's national capital will host the main event on September 9-10 which will be attended by around 29 heads of states along with European Union's top officials, 14 heads of international organisations and guest countries.

United States President Joe Biden along with several other world leaders will be visiting India to attend the G20 Summit in the second week of September. India's national capital will host the main event on September 9-10 which will be attended by around 29 heads of states along with European Union's top officials, 14 heads of international organisations and guest countries. The officials have earmarked many hotels in the Delhi-NCR for attendees. As per reports, the officials have booked rooms in leading hotels of New Delhi including ITC Maurya, Taj Palace, The Oberoi, The Lodhi, The Imperial and Le Meridien. ITC Maurya has booked 400 rooms for hosting President Biden and his entourage, Indian media outlets reported. Previously, the hotel has hosted world leaders like US Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and other heads of state. The US Secret Service is inspecting the hotel premises ahead of the arrival of the POTUS. ALSO READ | President Biden to visit India in September for G20 summit, confirms White House Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to stay in Delhi's Taj Hotel while Hotel Shangri-La is prepping to host UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak along with officials from Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron, along with the officials accompanying him, will be staying at The Claridges while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be hosted by the Imperial Hotel in Delhi. Schools, colleges, offices and commercial establishments to remain closed Meanwhile, a proposal for closing down the commercial establishments and offices in the Union Territory was approved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. As per reports, all Delhi government and private offices will remain closed from September 8-10 while commercial establishments and banks, including markets in the New Delhi district, will be closed during these three days. All the colleges and schools will also remain closed during this time. “We kindly request the esteemed authority to consider declaring a public holiday in Delhi from September 8 to 10 and ordering commercial and business establishments to remain closed in the indicated 'controlled zone' for the overall success of the summit," said Special Police Commissioner Madhup Tiwari, in a letter written to the chief secretary on August 18. WATCH | India: ‘Beyond imagination’: PM Modi lauds Digital India programme at G20 meet Meanwhile, the Delhi Police earlier said that they are fully prepared for the G20 summit. "Delhi Police has been working for G20 for several months. The initial planning in connection with this started long back and now it is in the last phase as less than a month is left. We are prepared and are coordinating with other security agencies," said Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India prepares for G20: ITC Maurya books 400 rooms for President Biden, Taj Hotel to host China's Xi Jinping

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