US to Drop Fraud Case Against Adani? In Delhi, BRICS' Impasse Comes to Fore; Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma Recuses Herself From Liquor Policy Case – But After Invoking Contempt
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Snapshot of the day
May 14, 2026
Anirudh S.K.
With its internal impasse over the West Asia crisis in sharp focus, BRICS under India’s presidency kicked off its foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi today. Opening the first day of the conclave, external affairs minister S. Jaishankar said that the war – triggered by the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran – “merits particular attention” and called the “increasing resort to unilateral coercive measures and sanctions” to be “unjustifiable” and incompatible with international law. However he stopped short of actually naming either the US or Israel.
India’s traditional position is one of opposition to unilateral sanctions not backed by the UN but in recent years the Modi government has complied with Washington’s sanctions against Iran, Venezuela and Russia. It also happens that Jaishankar’s remarks come just ahead of when the US’s sanctions ‘waiver’ on floating Russian oil is set to expire on May 16, perhaps for a final time. Bloomberg reports that Raisina Hill has requested another extension, against the background of India’s supply disruptions including its LPG crisis [See Deep dive], something the external affairs ministry declined to comment about when asked by the press.
In his separate remarks as chair, Jaishankar appeared to acknowledge the deadlock in the grouping – now also comprising Iran and the UAE, which Tehran has struck – saying that it is “essential for the smooth advancement of BRICS that later members fully appreciate and subscribe to [its] consensus on various important issues”. This deadlock was foregrounded with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi accusing the Emirates of direct involvement in the US-Israeli assault on Iran. Iranian state media said Araghchi’s remarks came in response to claims made by the UAE’s delegation but it is not clear what these were. He also referred to Tel Aviv’s announcement – denied by Abu Dhabi – that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had visited the UAE during the war. For those trying to keep track of how the US-Israel war on Iran has shuffled the deck of geopolitical cards in the region, one relationship to keep a close eye on is between the UAE and Israel. This NYT article gets at some of the details of what has happened.
Jaishankar speaking for New Delhi also called for “safe and unimpeded maritime flows through international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea”. His ministry on Thursday deplored what it called an ‘attack’ in Omani waters on an Indian-flagged vessel carrying livestock between Somalia and the UAE. It did not say who was responsible or what happened, but Reuters cites the British maritime risk management firm Vanguard as saying an explosion occurred following a drone or missile strike. The vessel’s crew were rescued by Omani authorities.
Ten days after the Congress-led UDF won the assembly elections in Kerala, the party on Thursday ended almost two weeks of suspense and announced the name of former leader of opposition V.D. Satheesan as the next chief minister by naming him leader of its legislature party. [Also see Listen up]
The rupee has become one of Asia’s worst-performing currencies, hammered by high oil prices and persistent foreign investment outflows. On Thursday, it
