Harvansh Chawla, Founder and Managing Partner of K.R. Chawla & Co. Advocates, has been appointed as the Chairman of the BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry. This appointment recognizes his extensive experience in international law and his commitment to fostering legal collaboration among BRICS nations.

Chawla is a distinguished member of several international legal associations, including the International Bar Association, the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, and the Indo-US Business Council.

Beyond his legal practice, Chawla actively engages in social causes, reflecting his commitment to using the law as a tool for societal benefit. His leadership in the BRICS is expected to enhance legal cooperation among member countries, facilitating the exchange of best practices and the development of unified legal frameworks.

BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry serves as a platform to collaborate on issues of mutual interest.

The Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed acquisition of shareholding in EPL Limited by Indorama Netherlands B.V.

The proposed combination envisages the purchase of 24.9% equity share capital of EPL Limited by Indorama Netherlands B.V.

Indorama Netherlands B.V. is a limited liability company established in the Netherlands. It is an indirect subsidiary of Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited.

EPL Limited is engaged in the business of manufacturing and sale of packaging products, including laminated and extruded plastic tubes.

Detailed order of the Commission will follow.

In a landmark decision aimed at enhancing global visibility and consistency in observance, the Government of India has designated September 23 as the date for celebrating Ayurveda Day each year.

This change, notified through a Gazette Notification dated March 23, marks a significant shift from the earlier practice of observing Ayurveda Day on Dhanteras, which follows a variable lunar calendar, according to the Ministry of AYUSH.

Ayurveda Day has been commemorated annually to promote Ayurveda as a scientific, evidence-based, and holistic system of medicine that plays a pivotal role in preventive healthcare and wellness. Until now, Ayurveda Day coincided with Dhanteras, a festival observed in the Hindu month of Kartik (usually October or November). However, as the date of Dhanteras fluctuates each year, the observance of Ayurveda Day lacked a fixed annual date.

The United States and Saudi Arabia today signed a strategic economic partnership agreement. The pact was signed by US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The agreement covers several sectors, including energy, mining, and defense. It aims to bolster economic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia, with the hope of fostering growth in these key areas. Several other agreements were signed between US and Saudi Arabia, including on military cooperation. President Trump reached Riyadh this afternoon on the first leg of his three-Nation tour to West Asia. Upon arrival, President Trump was warmly received by the Saudi Crown Prince. He will travel to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates later this week. This is President Trump’s first major international trip of his second term as he works to shore up relations with a trio of key allies and prove his might as a dealmaker on the world stage.

Indian defence stocks continue to be in the spotlight. The share prices have skyrocketed in Tuesday’s trade session as Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for ‘Made in India’ military gear.

Shares of Defence companies surge

The share price of Bharat Dynamics surged the highest among the defence stocks, jumping 9.4% to Rs 1,718 on the National Stock Exchange.

The share price of Bharat Electronics, recently added to the Nifty 50, rose 4.6% to an intra-day high of Rs 337.75. It was the top gainer in the Nifty 50.

Hindustan Aeronautics share price gained 4.6% to trade at an intra-day high of Rs 4,645.

India marked a major milestone in its semiconductor ambitions on Tuesday with the inauguration of Renesas Electronics’ new design centres in Noida and Bengaluru, which will include the country’s first facility working on cutting-edge 3 nanometre chip designs.

Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw presided over the opening and described the 3nm design effort as a leap forward for India’s semiconductor sector, which has previously seen progress at 7nm and 5nm levels.

“Designing at 3nm is truly next-generation,” the minister said, adding that the development places India firmly on the global semiconductor innovation map.

The new centres are part of India’s broader strategy to build a comprehensive semiconductor ecosystem, including design, fabrication, assembly and testing and supply chain capabilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) underscored the importance of targeted interventions and technology-led outreach in the fight against tuberculosis, while chairing a high-level review meeting on the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) at his official residence.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need to analyse TB patient data based on urban-rural distinctions and occupational categories. “This will help identify vulnerable groups requiring early testing and treatment, especially workers in construction, mining, textile and other high-risk sectors,” Mr. Modi observed.

Highlighting the curability of TB with regular treatment, the Prime Minister said the public must be made more aware, with less fear and more support. He called upon Nikshay Mitra —volunteers who support TB patients, to leverage digital platforms and interactive technologies to engage with patients effectively.

Union Housing and Urban affairs minister Manohar Lal on Saturday inaugurated the ‘Bharat Bodh Kendra’ at the India Habitat Centre (IHC) here.

In a statement, the Union housing and urban affairs ministry said ‘Bharat Bodh Kendra’ is a new addition to IHC’s Habitat Library and Resource Centre — a dedicated section aimed at fostering awareness and appreciation of India’s rich cultural and civilisational heritage.

The new facility will house a curated collection of books and resources on Indian art, music, spirituality, history, philosophy and other related fields.

The WHO has urged all member states, the civil society, the private sector and communities to push for people-centred mobility policies, safer road design, safe vehicles and lower speed limits on the occasion of the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week.

The UN Global Road Safety Week is marked biennially, starting on the third Monday of May.

This year, the theme urges the world to make walking and cycling safe for everyone.

Walking and cycling are an integral part of the multimodal transport systems in the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2020-2030, Saima Wazed, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, said.

The Taliban government has suspended chess across Afghanistan, citing concerns that the game may promote gambling—an activity considered forbidden under their interpretation of Islamic law. The suspension, announced on Sunday, will remain in effect until religious authorities determine whether the game aligns with Islamic principles.

“Until these considerations are addressed, the sport of chess is suspended in Afghanistan,” said Atal Mashwani, spokesperson for the Taliban’s sports directorate, speaking to AFP.

In Kabul, the ban has disrupted small social hubs where chess served as a rare recreational outlet. Azizullah Gulzada, who runs a café in the city that has hosted informal chess games for years, said the move could hurt both his business and the mental well-being of his patrons.