A visit to Russia by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expected within days, could help dispel worries that New Delhi is getting too close to the West and further away from Moscow, ceding space to China, analysts said. Indian media said Modi will be in Moscow next week, around the time of a NATO summit in Washington, at which Ukraine will be one of the main issues. While the West has tried to isolate Putin, China, India and powers in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America have continued to build ties, with official figures showing rising trade with Russia.
MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace said the former president’s comments “cut to the very core” of who he is.
Optimism that US interest rates will be cut in September has given a boost to global markets. Mining heavyweights are among the beneficiaries in London amid an improved FTSE 100 session. A Vodafone network deal with VMO2 is in the corporate spotlight, while Topps Tiles has reported more tough trading conditions.