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Pakistan on Thursday confirmed that it has applied for membership in the BRICS grouping.

Pakistan’s application to join the the five-nation bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa came as the grouping of emerging economies was set for its biggest expansion with six new members under Moscow’s rotating Presidency in 2024. This year’s BRICS summit held in South Africa formally admitted Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as new members. They will formally join during the 2024 summit in Russia.

A commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, who masterminded the Dhangri and Kandi terror attacks, was killed along with his associate, while the Indian Army lost one more soldier on Thursday in the dense jungles of Kalakote in Rajouri district during an encounter that saw two army officers and two soldiers laying down their lives in the line of duty on Wednesday, officials said.

The LeT commander, who was a Pakistani national, was an expert sniper and well-trained in guerrilla warfare besides in handling IEDs. Kandi terror attacks

The Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his 'panauti', 'pickpocket' and loan-waiver remarks targeting PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi has been asked to respond by Saturday evening. The poll body has reminded the Congress leader that the Model Code of Conduct prohibits leaders from making unverified allegations against political rivals. The EC notice said the expression "panauti" ex-facie falls in the equity of the prohibition of section 123 of the Representation of the People Act, dealing with corrupt practices.

Retiring Justice of Allahabad High Court Pritinker Diwaker on Tuesday said the order for his transfer from Chhattisgarh High Court in 2018 by the Collegium led by the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra was issued “with an ill intention to harass” him.

His remarks at his farewell function in Prayagraj came a day after another judge, Justice Bibek Chaudhuri of Calcutta High Court, who has been transferred to Patna High Court, in his farewell speech, said: “I must say that in 1975 during Emergency, 16 judges of different High Courts were transferred by an executive decision in one go. After almost 48 years, 24 judges have been transferred from one High Court to another by the Collegium of the Honorable Supreme Court in one go.”

India spinner R Ashwin has revealed his conversation with Australia selector George Bailey from the World Cup 2023 final. On his YouTube channel, the spinner said that Australia batting first in the final baffled him at the start, but Bailey broke it down to him in the mid-innings break as to why the Pat Cummins side opted to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

With the pitch expected to play slow in the final, everyone expected that both teams - India and Australia - would opt to bat first in the game. Cummins' decision baffled India captain Rohit Sharma at the toss, who looked perplexed as to why the captain gave away such an opportunity.