Chinese tech giant Huawei said on Monday it had developed a new way of making semiconductors that could get around its U.S.-enforced lack of access to the most advanced chipmaking equipment. Huawei has in recent years been at the centre of a geopolitical standoff after Washington warned its
World Tarot Day 2026: The most misunderstood tarot cards and what they actually meanPeople tarot as entertainment or fear it because of the dramatic social media readings. But tarot was never meant to work through fear; it is a symbolic tool. Updated on: May 25
From mirrors to mood lighting, these 5 budget-friendly decor tricks can make small homes look surprisingly luxuriousWant to upgrade your home into a luxurious space? Here are some budget-friendly decor ideas you can consider for a beautiful home. Published on: May 25
A Bahraini court sentenced nine defendants to life in prison and two others to three years in jail for collaborating with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out what it described as “hostile and terrorist acts” against Bahrain
Tarot vs Astrology: Which one can predict your future better? An expert breaks it downAstrology explains cosmic timing and patterns. Tarot explains your emotional experience of those patterns. One gives you the map, the other acts like a mirror. Updated on: May 25
The Japanese fruit ‘sando’ is becoming India’s favourite summer dessert; take a look With fluffy milk bread, clouds of whipped cream, and jewel-like slices of fresh fruit tucked inside, the Japanese sando has become India’s go-to dessert Updated on: May 25
Madhuri Dixit serves ‘a little bit of drama’ as she gives classic white saree a modern twist with chic jacketMadhuri Dixit proves age is just a number as she stuns in ivory saree with floral prints, layered with a sleek jacket, blending elegance with modern drama. Published on: May 25
3 elephant calves die within 17 days in Chhattisgarh’s DharamjaigarhEight elephant calves have died in Dharamjaigarh forest division over the past five months due to drowning, getting trapped in marshland, etc Published on: May 25, 2026 1:27 PM IST By Ritesh Mishra Share via Copy link Three
Modi’s G20 Defiance: Why The Global South Is Done Waiting For America
Modi’s G20 Defiance: Why The Global South Is Done Waiting For America
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Johannesburg for the G20 summit, he sent a clear message to Washington and the larger “developed world": multilateralism cannot be held hostage by one nation's tantrums. While Donald Trump boycotted the first G20 summit on African soil, citing discredited claims about white farmers' persecution in South Africa, Modi attended without hesitation. His presence underscored a fundamental truth that Trump refuses to acknowledge: the world does not wait for American approval to address its most pressing challenges.
Trump's boycott represents more than diplomatic pettiness. It is part of a systematic dismantling of the multilateral order that the United States once championed. Since returning to office, Trump has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement, exited UNESCO, left the World Health Organization, and now snubbed the G20. His administration even ordered a comprehensive review of all multilateral organisations and treaties with an explicit goal: determining which ones to abandon.
Yet the Johannesburg summit is proceeding without the United States. President Cyril Ramaphosa made clear that South Africa would not be bullied into diluting its joint declaration despite Washington's pressure to avoid one entirely. Trump had demanded that no declaration be adopted in his absence, proposing instead a watered-down statement that would effectively render meaningless the culmination of over 120 preparatory meetings South Africa hosted throughout its presidency. Ramaphosa's response was unequivocal: “We will have a declaration. We will not be bullied. We will not agree to be bullied".
After all, why should a declaration not be adopted? Leaders from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom are attending, alongside Prime Minister Modi and representatives from Brazil, China, Russia and other major economies. The G20 continues to deliberate on debt relief for developing countries, climate finance, disaster resilience, and inequality reduction. As such, the summit has demonstrated that multilateral cooperation can function without American participation, perhaps even more effectively without obstruction.
This brings us to India's landmark achievement during its 2023 G20 presidency. Under PM Modi's leadership, India secured the African Union's admission as a permanent G20 member, integrating 55 African nations into a forum that now represents 80 percent of the global population. Modi announced this decision in the opening moments of the New Delhi summit, striking the presidential gavel to confirm unanimous support. It was the G20's first expansion since its formation in 1999.
The African Union's membership was not merely ceremonial gesture. It fundamentally altered the G20's balance, amplifying voices from the Global South that had been marginalised in global economic governance. Modi's India also achieved consensus on the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration, with all 83 paragraphs adopted unanimously without footnotes or chair's summary, an unprecedented accomplishment given the presence of the USA, Russia and China at the table. The declaration addressed development, climate action, digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and reforms to multilateral institutions.
South Africa's presidency built directly on these foundations. Its theme of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" reflects priorities championed by India and Brazil before it. South Africa placed debt sustainability, climate finance for developing countries, disaster risk reduction, and critical minerals governance at the centre of its agenda. These are not abstract concerns; rather, they represent existential challenges for nations across Africa, Asia, and Latin America that bear the consequences of climate change they did little to cause.
Trump's contempt for these priorities was explicit. His Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted the G20 foreign ministers meeting in February, dismissing South Africa's agenda as focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and climate change, declaring he would not waste taxpayer money on such matters. This reveals the intellectual bankruptcy of the American worldview. To the powers that be in Washington, addressing inequality and climate resilience is wasteful virtue signaling rather than recognition that global stability depends on shared prosperity and environmental sustainability.
The first world's retreat from multilateral responsibility exposes a deeper truth about hegemonic power. When the United States and other wealthy nations dominated international institutions, they championed rules-based governance. Now that developing countries demand reform of financial architecture that overrepresents rich nations, suddenly Washington loses interest. When debt restructuring or climate finance threatens to redistribute resources, American commitment to multilateralism magically evaporates.
India, by contrast, has positioned itself as the voice of the Global South within multilateral forums. PM Modi hosted the Voice of Global South Summit in January 2023, drawing participation from 125 countries whose priorities shaped India's G20 agenda. India understands that its rise depends on a functioning international order where development concerns receive equal weight as financial stability.
If Washington believes its absence will paralyse global economic cooperation, Johannesburg has proved otherwise. South Africa has successfully convened leaders representing the world's major economies to address debt, climate, and inequality despite American obstruction. This demonstrates that Trump's America is not indispensable to multilateralism. It is simply absent. Moreover, by the end of the summit, an eight-member American delegation will attend the handover ceremony, taking over the G20 presidency for the coming year. So much for boycotting South Africa altogether!
Modi's attendance in Johannesburg was thus a vote of confidence not in Trump's America but in the G20 itself. By participating, India has signalled that the forum transcends any single member's petulance. The G20 exists to address challenges that no nation can solve alone: pandemics, climate change, financial instability, debt crises, technological disruption. These problems do not pause for American political theatre.
Developing countries bear disproportionate costs of global crises while possessing insufficient voice in their resolution. India's presidency partially corrected that imbalance by including the African Union. South Africa's presidency advanced debt relief and climate finance. These achievements occurred because Global South nations used their presidencies to centre concerns wealthy countries prefer to ignore.
Swipe Left For Next Video
The G20 now faces a choice. It can allow Western unilateralism to hollow out its effectiveness, reducing the forum to a platform for empty communiques and photo opportunities. Or it can adapt to a multipolar reality where leadership rotates among diverse economies with distinct priorities. India demonstrated that the latter is possible. Modi achieved consensus on complex issues by bridging North-South divides rather than exploiting them.
The first G20 summit on African soil succeeded despite American efforts to undermine it. Today, multilateralism does not require Washington's blessing. It requires commitment to solving shared problems. India demonstrated that commitment. The United States abdicated it. The consequences for American influence will be profound and lasting.
Source: News18
Related Posts: Johannesburg G20 marks a Global South moment Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cast first vote in Vice Presidential polls Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Bhutan during November 11-12 Google CEO Sundar Pichai meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi 9 Dead, 10 Injured In Johannesburg Shooting PM Modi landed Bengaluru engineer reveals how he landed Amazon job after 7 rejections How a man who graduated from an Indian dental school landed an AI job at Apple Why An Affidavit For OBC Quota Has Landed MP Govt In Anti-Hindu Controversy How An Affair With A Saudi Envoy Landed Bangladeshi Model In Jail
The Canadian Grand Prix was the race in which the Formula 1 title battle finally came alive this year. It was also, however, the race in which it took a potentially decisive turn, putting a huge dent in George Russell's hopes of beating his 19-year-old Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to the
1 days ago
CBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window ends today, direct link hereCBSE Class 12 answer sheet scanned copies application window will close today, May 25, 2026. The direct link to apply is given here. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
Microsoft techie couple in Noida breaks down ₹1.6 lakh monthly expenses, says city feels balanced despite rising costsA Microsoft couple in Noida revealed they spent around ₹1.6 lakh monthly while balancing work, lifestyle and family needs. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
A CBSE Class 12 student has raised serious concerns over the board’s re-evaluation process after claiming the Physics answer sheet uploaded under his roll number does not belong to him. The student shared comparisons of multiple answer sheets and demanded an urgent investigation into the alleged
1 days ago
Thyroid disorder cases have been gradually rising over the past few years, especially in younger adults and the younger working generations. Even though genes and autoimmune disorders play a role, the way we live our lives is becoming a reason for thyroid problems. We speak to Dr Aravind Badiger
1 days ago
Sandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 yearsSandhu finishes T-63, Sterne wins after gap of 13 years Published on: May 25, 2026 1:47 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Rinkven , Indian golfer Yuvraj Sandhu endured a difficult final day to finish T-63 at the Soudal Open here
1 days ago
Mumbai's old building redevelopment market grows 16% in 2025; Momentum continues in 2026: DataMumbai real estate: A total of 1,094 development agreements (DAs) were signed between January 2020 and March 15, 2026, according to data from Knight Frank India Published on: May 25
1 days ago
New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued statewide directions on Bakrid across the state. In a meeting with officials, Adityanath reviewed the festival’s preparedness and also looked into Ganga Dussehra arrangements and actions against illegal activities
1 days ago
Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek will make permanent a 75% price cut on its flagship V4-Pro artificial intelligence model, keeping prices at a quarter of their original level, the company said in a statement on Saturday. DeepSeek did not disclose whether the permanent
1 days ago
For years, carbohydrates have been put on trial in the fitness world. Scroll through social media, and you will find countless posts blaming carbs for weight gain, sluggishness, and poor fitness results. Many athletes and fitness enthusiasts respond by cutting carbs drastically
1 days ago
‘Work culture is not hell’: Man who worked in Europe, UK, Canada and US says Bengaluru’s real problem is commuteA man claimed Bengaluru’s commute, not work culture, is the real reason many professionals feel exhausted. Published on: May 25, 2026 10:56 AM IST By Mahipal Singh Chouhan Share
1 days ago
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last league outing has brought the curtain down on the top-two battle in IPL 2026, with both finalists now officially confirmed. Although RCB walked away on the losing side
1 days ago
, which has a global market capitalisation of $343 billion, has advocated modernising India’s power grid to help drive the country’s AI dream, underscoring the intricate linkages and dependencies across multiple domains and utilities crucial to acing the technology that's now grabbing 80% of
1 days ago
Aishwarya Rai's stylist gets emotional about dressing 'icon' for her high-stakes Cannes return: 'What a week it’s been'Stylist Mohit Rai hails Aishwarya Rai as Cannes ‘legend’, silencing critics with a masterclass in avant-garde couture: ‘Showing the children how it’s done’
1 days ago
Uttar Pradesh groom murder main accused killed in police ‘encounter’Police said Ravi Yadav, the accused, who carried a reward of ₹1 lakh on his head, was on a motorcycle when he was asked to stop during vehicle checking Published on: May 25, 2026 10:54 AM IST By HT Correspondent Share via
1 days ago
Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts has announced the birth of her first child. In a social media post, the singer, 40, said her daughter had "arrived healthy and content a couple of weeks ago at 38 weeks" and was "thriving". Photos from her Instagram account show the star holding her baby
1 days ago
Uber's board met on Saturday to discuss raising its offer for after a major shareholder rebuffed Uber's bid that would value the German food delivery group at over 11.5 billion euros ($13.39 billion), the Financial Times reported on Sunday
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Looking for a compact bedroom air purifier? Here's why Qubo R250 is a solid choiceThe compact Qubo R250 punches above its weight with rapid HEPA filtration and smooth smart controls
1 days ago
May 25 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for you this yearIf your birthday falls on May 25, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Published on: May 25, 2026 11:00 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on May 25
1 days ago
Opposition parties in Kerala accused the Congress of double standards after Kerala’s former chief electoral officer assumed charge as the secretary to Chief Minister VD Satheesan on Sunday, PTI reported. Rathan U Kelkar, a 2003-batch Kerala cadre Indian Administrative Services officer
1 days ago
In late April, India's Sun Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $11.75bn (£8.59bn) to acquire New York-listed women's health and biosimilars firm Organon & Co. It marked the biggest overseas acquisition by an Indian company in nearly two decades and followed a string of high-profile international deals
1 days ago
‘Laughed at me, called me stupid’: Founder of AI data collection firm on Pronto CEO Anjali SardanaHuman Archive founder Rushil Agarwal has taken a swipe at Pronto's Anjali Sardana amid the row around the Bengaluru startup recording inside customers’ homes Updated on: May 25
1 days ago
In the English translation of Franz Kafka’s short story, Metamorphosis, published in 2007, Michel Hofmann translated the famous opening line (which included the German word “Ungeziefer”, generically meaning insect) in this manner: “When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams
1 days ago
Marco Rubio visits Taj Mahal in Agra with wife Jeanette | VideoAfter the Agra visit, he is scheduled to continue his trip to Jaipur later in the day. Updated on: May 25, 2026 10:46 AM IST By HT News Desk Share via Copy link US secretary of state Marco Rubio visited the Taj Mahal in Agra on Monday
1 days ago
Full Moon May 2026: Astrologer shares how this intense Blue Moon might impact your zodiac signAccording to astrologer Sidhharrth S Kumaar, every zodiac sign could experience this lunar energy differently. Here's what this Blue Moon may mean for you. Updated on: May 25
1 days ago
Cardiologist reveals the real cause of heart attacks that most people overlook and it’s not just ‘bad cholesterol’Could your gut health be affecting your heart? A cardiologist explains how inflammation, poor sleep, stress, and unhealthy habits may raise heart attack risk. Published on: May 25
1 days ago
Turkish riot police fired tear gas and forced their way into the main opposition party’s headquarters to evict its ousted leadership on Sunday (May 24, 2026), deepening a crisis at the heart of Turkiye’s democracy. Clouds of tear gas billowed within the Republican People’s Party
1 days ago
