Arish Talwar

When half the internet flickers out in an instant, you expect a sophisticated cyberattack or some cataclysmic event. Yet, this week’s disruption, triggered by a major Cloudflare outage, was something far more mundane and far more alarming.

The 17th BRICS Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro on July 6–7, 2025, marked a defining moment for the bloc, emphasising a commitment to inclusive and sustainable global governance. Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and new members gathered under the theme "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance."

Is Vietnam Southeast Asia’s new luxury destination? Vietnam’s appeal to affluent tourists is strengthening, and the Vietnamese government is actively supporting luxury expansion through improved infrastructure and policy. What more does it need?