<p>The 17th BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place on July 6-7, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It will be held at the city's Museum of Modern Art with an emphasis on inclusive and sustainable global south, covering trade, health, digital tech, climate, forest conservation fund and a new investment guarantee mechanism via the New Development Bank (NDB). With the induction of Vietnam, BRICS+ now constitutes 44 per cent of Global GDP and 56 per cent of the world population. With 10 members and 10 partners, BRICS has expanded to 20 countries.</p><h2>Which countries are in the 17th BRICS summit 2025?</h2><p>There will be participation from 20 countries in the 17th BRICS summit 2025, with 10 core members and 10 partner countries.</p><p><strong>Core members: </strong>Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are the founding members. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates become members of BRICS on January 1, 2024. Indonesia became a member of BRICS in January 2025.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Partners: </strong>Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam are partner nations. Vietnam was the most recent member to be inducted into the BRICS in June 2025.</p><p>Brazil's President Lula da Silva, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be present for the 17th BRICS Summit.</p><p>Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the summit in person.</p><h2>Why will Putin and Xi not join the 17th BRICS Summit?</h2><p>&nbsp;Putin will participate virtually due to an outstanding arrest warrant, which mandates his arrest if he enters Brazil. Instead, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be present as Russia's representative. Chinese President will miss the summit for the first time since his Presidential term since assuming power due to a scheduling conflict. Premier LiQang will lead the Chinese delegation for the summit.</p>

The global south-led organisation BRICS expand to 56 per cent of the world population and 44 per cent of the global GDP. BRICS leaders are meeting in Rio, Brazil, on July 6-7 for the 17th BRICS summit. Which countries are part of the 17th BRICS summit in 2025?

The 17th BRICS Summit is scheduled to take place on July 6-7, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It will be held at the city's Museum of Modern Art with an emphasis on inclusive and sustainable global south, covering trade, health, digital tech, climate, forest conservation fund and a new investment guarantee mechanism via the New Development Bank (NDB). With the induction of Vietnam, BRICS+ now constitutes 44 per cent of Global GDP and 56 per cent of the world population. With 10 members and 10 partners, BRICS has expanded to 20 countries. Which countries are in the 17th BRICS summit 2025? There will be participation from 20 countries in the 17th BRICS summit 2025, with 10 core members and 10 partner countries. Core members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are the founding members. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates become members of BRICS on January 1, 2024. Indonesia became a member of BRICS in January 2025. Partners: Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam are partner nations. Vietnam was the most recent member to be inducted into the BRICS in June 2025. Brazil's President Lula da Silva, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will be present for the 17th BRICS Summit. Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the summit in person. Why will Putin and Xi not join the 17th BRICS Summit? Putin will participate virtually due to an outstanding arrest warrant, which mandates his arrest if he enters Brazil. Instead, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be present as Russia's representative. Chinese President will miss the summit for the first time since his Presidential term since assuming power due to a scheduling conflict. Premier LiQang will lead the Chinese delegation for the summit.

<p>The global south-led organisation BRICS expand to 56 per cent of the world population and 44 per cent of the global GDP. BRICS leaders are meeting in Rio, Brazil, on July 6-7 for the 17th BRICS summit. Which countries are part of the 17th BRICS summit in 2025?</p>

44% of global GDP, 56% of world population: Which countries are part of the 17th BRICS summit in 2025?

<p>NASA astronauts have cumulatively spent thousands of days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), enabling critical research into the effects of long-duration space travel. Among them, seven have stood out for their exceptional time spent in orbit, shaping our understanding of human endurance and systems vital for deep space exploration. The agency maintains two key metrics: time spent on a single spaceflight and cumulative time across an astronaut’s career. While Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest single mission at 371 days, it is Peggy Whitson who leads overall with a total of 675 days in space.</p>

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><h2>List Of Astronauts:-</h2><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Astronaut</td><td>No. of days</td></tr><tr><td>Peggy Whitson</td><td>675</td></tr><tr><td>Sunita Williams</td><td>608</td></tr><tr><td>Don Pettit</td><td>590</td></tr><tr><td>Jeff Williams</td><td>534</td></tr><tr><td>Mark Vande</td><td>523</td></tr><tr><td>Scott Kelly</td><td>520</td></tr><tr><td>Mike Barratt</td><td>447</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

<h2><strong>Leading the list: Peggy Whitson to Mark Vande Hei</strong></h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Peggy A. Whitson tops NASA’s cumulative time-in-space chart with 675 days over multiple missions, including a recent nine-day stint on the Axiom-2 mission in 2023. She is currently commanding the private space mission led by Axiom Space to the ISS. Sunita L. Williams follows with 608 days, having participated in four missions, known especially for her spacewalks and marathon in orbit.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Don Pettit is third with 590 days, contributing significantly to science and engineering aboard the ISS. Jeff Williams comes next with 534 days over four missions, the last of which was in 2016. Mark Vande Hei logged 523 days in total, 355 of which were from a single long-duration mission between 2021 and 2022.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2><strong>Completing the top seven: Scott Kelly and Mike Barratt</strong></h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Scott Kelly, known for his nearly year-long stay on the ISS, accumulated 520 days in total. In 2016, Kelly and Russian cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko completed a historic 340-day mission aboard the ISS. His mission yielded valuable insights into the physical and mental effects of long-term spaceflight.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Rounding out the list is Mike Barratt, with 447 days across two missions. Mike went on two missions. Each of these astronauts played a crucial role in the ongoing research into human health, spacecraft systems, and life-support technologies, advancing NASA’s preparations for future missions beyond low Earth orbit.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

The Axiom-4 mission was launched on Wednesday with four crew members, includes Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut, who holds the record for highest cumulative days in space.

NASA astronauts have cumulatively spent thousands of days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), enabling critical research into the effects of long-duration space travel. Among them, seven have stood out for their exceptional time spent in orbit, shaping our understanding of human endurance and systems vital for deep space exploration. The agency maintains two key metrics: time spent on a single spaceflight and cumulative time across an astronaut’s career. While Frank Rubio holds the record for the longest single mission at 371 days, it is Peggy Whitson who leads overall with a total of 675 days in space.

<p>The Axiom-4 mission was launched on Wednesday with four crew members, includes Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut, who holds the record for highest cumulative days in space.</p>

Who’s spent the most time in space? NASA’s top 7 astronauts, including Axiom-4’s Peggy Whitson

Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will spend two weeks on the ISS as part of Axiom Mission 4. He’ll pilot the Dragon spacecraft and conduct 60 experiments, including indian research on seeds, algae, muscle loss, and brain function, while interacting with students and leaders.

<p>Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will spend two weeks on the ISS as part of Axiom Mission 4. He’ll pilot the Dragon spacecraft and conduct 60 experiments, including indian research on seeds, algae, muscle loss, and brain function, while interacting with students and leaders.</p>

What will Shubhanshu Shukla be doing on Axiom Mission 4?

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla may become the first and possibly last indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 4, with the ISS set to retire by 2030. India now looks ahead to future missions beyond the ISS era.

<p>Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla may become the first and possibly last indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 4, with the ISS set to retire by 2030. India now looks ahead to future missions beyond the ISS era.</p>

ISRO’s Shubhanshu Shukla: Why Indian Air Force pilot could be the first and last Indian to visit the ISS

Shubhanshu Shukla is a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force and one of the four astronauts selected for India’s historic Gaganyaan Mission. Born on October 10, 1985.

Who is Shubhanshu Shukla? Things to know about Indian astronaut going to space this month

<p>On 29th May 2025, Indian Air Force fighter pilot-turned-astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will launch to space from the American Spaceport in Florida. Shukla will be flying as part of the American commercial mission Axiom-4. Shukla will also be the first Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station, an orbiting lab that is 425 km above the earth. WION&rsquo;s Sidharth M.P. had exclusively reported about this May-month spaceflight, back in January 2025.</p>
<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-indian-astronaut-shuks-to-fly-to-space-in-may-2025-8676223">Exclusive: Indian astronaut &lsquo;Shuks&rsquo; to fly to space in May 2025</a></strong></p>
<p>Axiom-4 will carry a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station, where they would stay for two weeks and perform 60 experiments. The astronauts would be flying on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule. This mission will facilitate the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, given that each nation&rsquo;s first and only government-sponsored spaceflight had taken place more than 40 years ago. The Ax-4 crewmembers will represent their nations in Low Earth Orbit and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations that are of high national importance.</p>
<p>This Axiom-4 mission is a result of deepening Indo-US Space cooperation, which came to the fore during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s State visit to the United States in June 2023. Back then, President Biden had announced Indo-US collaboration on human spaceflight and the mission to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, marking the highest point in India-US space ties.</p>
<p>Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary.</p>
<h2>How will Axiom-4 help India&rsquo;s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme?</h2>
<p>Gaganyaan is India&rsquo;s attempt at launching its astronauts to space and returning them safely, using an indigenously developed rocket, spacecraft, and supporting technologies. Gaganyaan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, and it is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that the Indian Space agency ISRO wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost that&rsquo;s circling the earth. By 2040, India is targeting a crewed moon landing, a feat that only America has accomplished back in 1969, and China hopes to accomplish by the end of this decade.</p>
<p>Gaganyaan would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members. The four candidates&mdash;Group Captains Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Shubhanshu Shukla, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap&mdash;had completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Moscow, in 2021. Since then, they have also undergone several theoretical and practical sessions at ISRO&rsquo;s Human Spaceflight Centre and the Indian Air Force&rsquo;s Institute of Aerospace Medicine. They have also been visiting various ISRO centres, such as ISRO&rsquo;s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.&nbsp;<br><br>WION had exclusively reported that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair have been training at facilities in the US, Europe, and Japan, in preparation for Axiom-4. For Axiom-4, the primary Indian candidate is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Ajit Krishnan is the backup candidate.&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/exclusive-indian-astronauts-shukla-nair-trained-in-us-eu-japan-8927101">Exclusive: Indian astronauts Shukla, Nair trained in US, EU, Japan</a></strong></p>
<p>The Axiom-4 mission is meant to serve as a precursor to India&rsquo;s Gaganyaan, as Shukla&rsquo;s spaceflight would help India gain contemporary spaceflight experience, valuable technological and experiential insights. While serving as ISRO Chief, Dr. S. Somanath had explained to WION that human spaceflight is a highly challenging endeavour and that India only had the limited experience of Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984.<br><br>He had added that the Indian astronaut (Shukla) flying to the International space station would immensely benefit the Gaganyaan programme. Notably, the maiden spaceflight by an Indian was on a Soviet-era Soyuz T-11 spacecraft, and since then the technologies have changed drastically. Presently, in America, SpaceX is the lone entity that has a track record of reliably ferrying astronauts to the space station on their Crew Dragon craft, while Boeing faces technical trouble with their Starliner craft.</p>

India News: Axiom-4 will carry a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station, where they would stay for two weeks and perform 60 experiments. The astronauts would be flying on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule.

On 29th May 2025, Indian Air Force fighter pilot-turned-astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will launch to space from the American Spaceport in Florida. Shukla will be flying as part of the American commercial mission Axiom-4. Shukla will also be the first Indian astronaut to fly to the International Space Station, an orbiting lab that is 425 km above the earth. WION’s Sidharth M.P. had exclusively reported about this May-month spaceflight, back in January 2025. Also Read | Exclusive: Indian astronaut ‘Shuks’ to fly to space in May 2025 Axiom-4 will carry a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station, where they would stay for two weeks and perform 60 experiments. The astronauts would be flying on the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket and the Crew Dragon capsule. This mission will facilitate the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, given that each nation’s first and only government-sponsored spaceflight had taken place more than 40 years ago. The Ax-4 crewmembers will represent their nations in Low Earth Orbit and perform scientific experiments and demonstrations that are of high national importance. This Axiom-4 mission is a result of deepening Indo-US Space cooperation, which came to the fore during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s State visit to the United States in June 2023. Back then, President Biden had announced Indo-US collaboration on human spaceflight and the mission to send an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station, marking the highest point in India-US space ties. Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the Axiom-4 mission, while ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as pilot. The two mission specialists are ESA (European Space Agency) project astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. How will Axiom-4 help India’s Gaganyaan Human Spaceflight programme? Gaganyaan is India’s attempt at launching its astronauts to space and returning them safely, using an indigenously developed rocket, spacecraft, and supporting technologies. Gaganyaan was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, and it is the first step in a series of sustained human spaceflight missions that the Indian Space agency ISRO wants to carry out in a phased manner. By the end of this decade, India hopes to put an uncrewed space station in Earth orbit. By 2035, it would be used as a crewed Indian outpost that’s circling the earth. By 2040, India is targeting a crewed moon landing, a feat that only America has accomplished back in 1969, and China hopes to accomplish by the end of this decade. Gaganyaan would be carried out by the Indian Space Agency ISRO, with test pilots of the Indian Air Force, serving as the crew members. The four candidates—Group Captains Prashant Balakrishnan Nair, Shubhanshu Shukla, Ajit Krishnan, and Angad Pratap—had completed their training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Moscow, in 2021. Since then, they have also undergone several theoretical and practical sessions at ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Centre and the Indian Air Force’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine. They have also been visiting various ISRO centres, such as ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. WION had exclusively reported that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prashant Balakrishnan Nair have been training at facilities in the US, Europe, and Japan, in preparation for Axiom-4. For Axiom-4, the primary Indian candidate is Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Ajit Krishnan is the backup candidate. Also Read | Exclusive: Indian astronauts Shukla, Nair trained in US, EU, Japan The Axiom-4 mission is meant to serve as a precursor to India’s Gaganyaan, as Shukla’s spaceflight would help India gain contemporary spaceflight experience, valuable technological and experiential insights. While serving as ISRO Chief, Dr. S. Somanath had explained to WION that human spaceflight is a highly challenging endeavour and that India only had the limited experience of Rakesh Sharma's flight in 1984. He had added that the Indian astronaut (Shukla) flying to the International space station would immensely benefit the Gaganyaan programme. Notably, the maiden spaceflight by an Indian was on a Soviet-era Soyuz T-11 spacecraft, and since then the technologies have changed drastically. Presently, in America, SpaceX is the lone entity that has a track record of reliably ferrying astronauts to the space station on their Crew Dragon craft, while Boeing faces technical trouble with their Starliner craft.