The economic bloc BRICS, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, has announced the admission of six new member countries from next year. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Argentina, the UAE and Ethiopia will join the group in an attempt to reshape the global world order and provide a counterweight to the US and western allies. The announcement was made at a Brics summit in Johannesburg on Thursday. The expansion more than doubles the size of the bloc, which was set up to give greater economic and political voice to leading emerging economies. The admission of the new members represents a major development for the group.

Former US President Donald Trump returned to the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, with a post showing his mug shot from his booking at Fulton County Jail in Georgia. With his post appealing for donations, Trump reclaimed direct access to the public on the platform that banned him following the January 6, 2021, attack on Congress by his supporters. On November 19, the San Francisco-based app reversed its position under billionaire Elon Musk, the self-proclaimed “free speech absolutist” who bought Twitter on October 2.

Former US President Donald Trump turned himself in on Thursday evening at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta to be booked on felony charges relating to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. Trump arrived in a presidential-style motorcade and was booked, fingerprinted and photographed for a mugshot within minutes, according to jail records. He was quickly released after about 20 minutes. Trump said the charges were a "travesty of justice" and he had "every single right to challenge an election we think is dishonest". This was Trump's fourth arrest since April and the first time a former US president had a mugshot taken. The booking occurred in a state where he had contested the election results despite pushback from officials.

Former President US Donald Trump skipped the first Republican presidential debate on Thursday, where his potential 2024 rivals clashed over issues like abortion and Ukraine. Trump, who holds a commanding lead in GOP polls, instead gave a rambling interview claiming he did not want to face harassment at the debate. Later on Thursday, Trump is set to turn himself into Georgia authorities on charges of electoral fraud related to his false claims of victory over Joe Biden in 2020. The debate saw political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, grab attention by claiming he is the only candidate not "bought and paid for." Trump's interview garnered over 120 million views, underscoring his continued sway among Republicans. In summary, Trump's absence cast a shadow over the Republican debate as rivals struggle to close the gap ahead of his looming Georgia arrest.

Vivek Ramaswamy has strengthened his position as a top contender behind Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination according to recent polls. An Emerson College survey showed Ramaswamy tied for second with 10% support, trailing only Trump's 56% but ahead of others like Ron DeSantis. Ramaswamy's support rose eight points over the summer while DeSantis' declined. The 37-year-old entrepreneur performs well among younger and educated GOP voters. Analysts say Ramaswamy represents a new direction for Republicans. With the first 2024 primary debate approaching, he aims to further introduce himself to voters as a fresh alternative.

21 Indian students were deported from the US in a single day last week after their student visas were cancelled. Many were from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and had finished visa formalities and hoped to pursue higher education in the US. These students may face a 5-year entry ban to the country, reported TOI. Experts say this could also create problems entering popular study destinations like Canada, the UK and Australia. Cancelling an F1 visa has long-term H1B implications. The situation has created anxiety among Indian students aspiring to study abroad.

Russia's Luna-25 spacecraft, the country's first moon mission in 47 years, crashed into the lunar surface on August 20 after losing contact during pre-landing maneuvers. The 800-kg probe was attempting Russia's first moon landing since 1976 with a planned soft landing on the south pole. Luna-25 launched on August 19 but encountered problems before entering a pre-landing orbit. Roscosmos will investigate the failure's causes. The mission represented an attempt by Russia to revive its legacy of lunar exploration amid isolation. Meanwhile, India's Chandrayaan-3 remains on track to land on the moon on August 23.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US-India relationship is deeper and more expansive than ever, joining Indian-Americans in celebrating India's 77th Independence Day. As the oldest and largest democracies, the US and India have forged an increasingly close bond working together for an open, prosperous, secure world, Blinken stated. Sending warm wishes to India, he reaffirmed shared commitment to address pressing global challenges. Blinken celebrated the proud history of Indians and reflected on the strategic partnership on this momentous occasion emphasizing on strong bilateral ties between the two nations.

At the WHO Traditional Medicine Global Summit, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus applauded India's rich history of traditional medicine through Ayurveda and yoga. He cited research on yoga's effectiveness for pain relief and emphasized understanding traditional medicine's links between human and environmental health. Ghebreyesus praised the Global Centre for Traditional Medicine launched by PM Modi in Jamnagar last year. He noted it provided services to thousands while saving time and money. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated the summit presents a unique opportunity for dialogue and partnerships to advance traditional medicine globally.