Counterview

By Busani Ngcaweni   The enlargement of BRICS presents Africa with a wider field of economic possibilities by bringing the continent into closer relationship with some of the world's largest markets, important sources of development finance and countries possessing substantial capabilities in manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and advanced technologies. At a time when international economic relations are becoming increasingly fragmented, this wider range of relationships gives African countries greater room for manoeuvre.

By Bharat Dogra   The BRICS New Delhi Declaration, released on 12 September 2026, deserves far wider attention than it has yet received. At nearly 17,800 words, it is an unusually expansive consensus document—one that not only reflects two decades of BRICS evolution but also articulates a broad, justice‑centred vision for global governance at a moment of profound international distress. In an era marked by wars, sanctions, widening inequalities, and geopolitical fragmentation, the Declaration’s emphasis on peace, equity, and multilateral reform is both timely and necessary.

By Harsh Thakor*  There are racehorses who win great races, and there are racehorses whose presence elevates the prestige of the great races. Galopin Des Champs emphatically belonged to the latter category—a horse whose very presence created a scintillating effect. I have unforgettable memories of this iconic figure, whom I personally witnessed running in the Centennial edition of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2024. The news of his death on September 1st, only days after his retirement had been announced, brought an unexpectedly tragic final chapter to the story of one of the outstanding Irish sporting champions of recent years.

Counterview News   In a detailed interview published by The Examination on September 10, 2026, food policy expert Marion Nestle discusses her new book Sugar Coated (co-authored with Lisa Sutherland, a former Kellogg vice president of nutrition). The book traces how cereal makers transformed a niche product into a breakfast staple through marketing, industry-funded research, lobbying, and regulatory outmaneuvering.

By A Representative   The Constitutional Conduct Group (CCG), an association of retired officers from the All India and Central Services, has issued a strongly worded statement expressing solidarity with retired senior civil servant Ashish Joshi and accusing the Delhi Police of violating constitutional safeguards during his detention and interrogation in connection with an alleged social media post.

By Raj Kumar Sinha*  September 13 holds an important place in the history of the struggle for the rights of Indigenous and tribal communities. On September 13, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) by an overwhelming majority. A total of 143 countries voted in favour of the declaration.

By Nava Thakuria  The 18th BRICS Leaders' Summit, hosted by India at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 12-13 September 2026, has concluded with leaders formally adopting the New Delhi Declaration. The gathering, themed "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," drew Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and other leaders of the now 11-member bloc, along with heads of partner organisations such as ASEAN, the African Union and the Eurasian Economic Union. Diplomats had worked through the final hours to bridge differences — notably between Iran and the UAE over West Asian tensions — before the declaration was signed.

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*  In a recent interview on Firing Line with Margaret Hoover , broadcast on 4 September 2026, Salman Rushdie drew a parallel between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Irish Republican Army (IRA). It is a comparison so historically hollow and ideologically jarring that one wonders whether it was a careless slip or a calculated provocation. 

By Bharat Dogra   Due to its data cut-off date, the latest edition of the Global Peace Index (2026) has been able to capture only very partially the impact of the Iran war and its related aggressions and risks. Even so, this index, prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace, presents clear evidence that the world is becoming an increasingly dangerous place, with conflicts and wars on the rise. The report states clearly that geopolitical risks now exceed the levels seen during the Cold War.

By Harsh Thakor*  Released last year,  Jarod Kimber ’s The Art of Batting is not merely a cricket book; it is a forensic yet poetic examination of what makes a batsman great. It dissects technique with the precision of a scientist while celebrating strokeplay with the sensibility of an artist, spanning generations and continents with equal authority.