Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi. Putin received a warm welcome at the airport following his arrival in the national capital.

During his visit, Putin is expected to hold a key bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions are likely to focus on India-Russia bilateral trade, energy security, local currency transactions and enhanced defence cooperation, including collaboration related to Sukhoi fighter jets.

Ahead of the summit, Putin is also scheduled to address the BRICS Business Forum and visit an exhibition jointly with Prime Minister Modi. His visit comes amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and evolving geopolitical developments in West Asia, adding significance to the high-level engagement between the two countries.

The 18th BRICS Summit will bring together leaders of major member countries under India’s chairmanship. New Delhi is expected to highlight its priorities in areas such as exports, digital payments, technology and economic cooperation.

India exported goods worth around $82 billion to BRICS countries during the 2025-26 financial year. Increasing exports of pharmaceuticals, engineering products and energy, while improving access to credit for MSMEs, are among India’s key priorities.

India is also expected to promote cross-border trade through local currencies and UPI, along with initiatives such as the BRICS Startup Innovation Fund and a Digital Centre of Excellence.

Delhi Police and traffic authorities have made extensive security and traffic arrangements for the summit. Around 7,000 security personnel and 4,800 traffic police personnel have reportedly been deployed to ensure security and smooth movement during the high-profile event.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India on September 12 and 13 to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. The visit has been confirmed by China and comes at a significant time for India-China relations and global geopolitics.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Xi will travel to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BRICS Summit, being hosted by India at Bharat Mandapam, will focus on strengthening cooperation among member countries and discussing major global and regional developments.

When Did Xi Last Visit India?

Xi Jinping’s previous visit to India was in 2019, when he travelled to Mahabalipuram, near Chennai, for his second informal summit with Prime Minister Modi. Before that, he visited India in 2014 for his first official visit during Modi’s tenure. Xi also attended the BRICS Summit in Goa in 2016.

His upcoming visit is particularly significant because India-China relations witnessed a major setback following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Since then, both sides have gradually taken steps to ease tensions and restore diplomatic and economic engagement.

The BRICS Summit could provide an important platform for Modi and Xi to discuss bilateral issues. A bilateral meeting between the two leaders is also likely on the sidelines of the summit, which would be their first such meeting since the Galwan clash.

Xi and Modi recently appeared together at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan, where they were seen shaking hands, although no formal bilateral meeting was held.

With Russia’s Vladimir Putin and other BRICS leaders also expected in New Delhi, Xi’s visit is likely to attract significant global attention. The summit could shape discussions on global governance, economic cooperation and major geopolitical crises.

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India has been described as one of the world’s three powerful nations by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

In his address at the summit, Lukashenko placed India, China and Russia among the three powerful countries in the world. He said that while SCO member states work on the basis of equality, the economic and strategic strength of these three countries cannot be overlooked.

Lukashenko also highlighted the fact that India, China and Russia are economically significant and nuclear-armed nations. Notably, the United States did not feature in his list, drawing attention during the summit.

The remarks came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other leaders at the 26th SCO Summit in Bishkek. The two-day summit was held on August 31 and September 1, with security, trade and regional conflicts among the key issues on the agenda.

India’s Strong Message on Terrorism

Counterterrorism and regional security also remained major issues at the summit. India called for stronger security cooperation among SCO members and emphasized the need to tackle terrorism and extremism.

In the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders, Prime Minister Modi stressed that countries using terrorism as a tool of state policy must be confronted. He also maintained that terrorism cannot be treated as a strategic asset.

The Indian government also highlighted several decisions taken at the summit to strengthen cooperation against security threats. Among them was the approval of rules for a universal centre aimed at addressing security challenges and threats faced by SCO member states.

The summit also saw Modi interact with both Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, underscoring India’s continued engagement with major global powers while maintaining its independent foreign-policy approach.

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Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah has provided a detailed update on the ongoing relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations following the natural disaster that has caused widespread damage across the country.

Prime Minister Shah said severe flooding in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa district has caused significant loss of life, property and infrastructure. He said assessing the full extent of the damage remains a major challenge as several areas continue to face dangerous conditions.

Despite the continuing risks, the government is working on a war footing to protect citizens and carry out rescue operations, Shah said.

In a major rescue operation, Nepal Police reportedly worked continuously for nearly eight hours to recover and shift around Rs 1.5 crore in cash, gold worth approximately Rs 50 crore and important documents from the Trishuli Dhunge branch of the Agricultural Development Bank to a safer location.

Rs 1.5 Crore Cash Recovered

According to Prime Minister Shah, as many as 9,435 people have so far been evacuated to safer locations through air and road routes. A total of 394 flights have been operated as part of the relief and rescue operations, including 72 flights on Sunday.

The government has deployed 20,618 security personnel in the affected areas to support rescue and relief efforts. Personnel from the Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force are participating in the ongoing operations.

The Prime Minister said authorities are continuing their efforts to reach affected communities, evacuate people from vulnerable locations and provide necessary assistance.

With flooding and other disaster-related risks continuing in several areas, rescue teams remain on high alert. The government is also focusing on rehabilitation and restoring essential infrastructure in the affected regions.

The latest update highlights the scale of the ongoing emergency response as Nepal continues to deal with the impact of the severe natural disaster.

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US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of establishing the country’s first United States Space Academy, aimed at training the next generation of space professionals, engineers, scientists and service members.

Trump signed the order on August 28, 2026, during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. The proposed academy will be led by NASA and is intended to combine advanced technical education with leadership development, discipline and public service.

Trump said the rapid growth of the US Space Force and the commercial space industry, along with the country’s expanding ambitions for the Moon and beyond, has created a need to train a new generation of skilled personnel.

The academy is expected to be modeled in part on established US service academies such as West Point and the Air Force Academy, while preparing graduates for careers across the military, civilian and commercial space sectors.

Jared Isaacman to Lead Presidential Commission

Under the executive order, a Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy has been established. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman will chair the commission, while NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson will serve as executive director.

The commission has been given 120 days to submit recommendations to the President covering the academy’s governance structure, curriculum, admission requirements, graduate service obligations and permanent location. It will also examine pilot programmes, partnerships, legislative requirements and an implementation strategy.

The proposed institution is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to strengthen US leadership in space. The academy is expected to help develop the workforce needed for future missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond, as well as the growing commercial and national-security space sectors.

The final structure, location and operational framework of the US Space Academy will depend on the commission’s recommendations and any required legislative action.

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It is not one or two bodies, but nearly 500. Nepal is now facing a major humanitarian and logistical crisis over where to store such a large number of bodies recovered following a devastating flood near the Nepal-Tibet border.

While some of the bodies are yet to be identified, post-mortem examinations of others have also not been completed. Under normal circumstances, the bodies would be kept in morgues or cold storage facilities. However, authorities are now struggling with an acute shortage of body storage space in the affected areas.

The devastating flash flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border region last Wednesday, leaving thousands of people missing. According to official figures cited in the report, at least 475 people have died so far, with their bodies recovered from different locations.

A significant number of the deceased are believed to be foreign nationals. Their bodies must be properly identified and preserved before being handed over to their respective countries. Authorities fear that without adequate cold storage facilities, the bodies may begin to deteriorate before identification procedures are completed.

The crisis is particularly severe in the affected areas of Nuwakot, Dhading and Nawalparasi, where sufficient morgue facilities are not available to accommodate such a large number of bodies. Morgues in neighbouring Pokhara have also reportedly reached their capacity.

To deal with the emergency, the Nepal government is setting up a temporary morgue in Chitwan, where arrangements are being made to store the recovered bodies. The temporary facility has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of around 250 bodies.

However, authorities are concerned that the number of recovered bodies could rise further as search and rescue operations continue. If the death toll increases beyond the available storage capacity, the government may be forced to carry out the last rites of some bodies at the Devghat electric crematorium.

According to Sushil Aryal, an Information Officer associated with the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, the bodies are currently being preserved at temperatures between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius.

“Under these conditions, the bodies can be properly preserved for a maximum of around two weeks. Keeping them for a longer period would require specialised storage facilities, which are not currently available,” he said.

This means that bodies which remain unidentified beyond the preservation period may eventually have to be cremated locally.

Tag Numbers for Unidentified Bodies

For bodies that cannot be identified, authorities are planning to maintain detailed records before carrying out the final rites.

Photographs of every deceased person will be taken, while fingerprints and other identifying information will also be collected. DNA samples will be preserved and sent to laboratories for testing.

All available details will be compiled and stored in a central database. Each unidentified body will be assigned a unique tag number.

The records and tag numbers can later help relatives identify their missing family members, even after the final rites have been performed. The system is expected to provide an important link between the victims and their families as Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of one of the region’s most devastating flood disasters.

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A devastating flash flood near Nepal’s border with Tibet has triggered a major humanitarian crisis, with hundreds of travellers reported missing. According to preliminary reports, 105 Indian nationals are among 384 travellers whose whereabouts were yet to be confirmed after the disaster in Nepal’s Rasuwa district.

The flash flood swept through the Bhote Koshi River valley on Wednesday, damaging homes, roads, bridges and hydropower infrastructure. The disaster also disrupted communication and transportation along the route used by pilgrims travelling towards the Kailash Manasarovar region.

Amid the crisis, the Odisha government has established a 24×7 control room at Odisha Niwas in New Delhi to assist Odisha residents who may have been stranded or affected in Nepal.

According to the notification issued by the Office of the Chief Resident Commissioner, Odisha, people seeking assistance can contact the control room at 011-23012807, 7428135044 or 8527580245.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also provided emergency helpline numbers for assistance related to Indian nationals affected by the disaster: +977 9851316807 and +977 9709107500.

Most of the missing Indian travellers were reportedly on their way to Tibet for the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. The Nepal Tourism Board said the missing list included 291 foreign nationals and 93 Nepali nationals, with Indian nationals among the largest groups of foreign travellers affected.

Bihar on High Alert

The disaster has also prompted heightened preparedness in Bihar, particularly in districts along the Gandak River, amid concerns over possible flooding downstream.

Authorities have issued special alerts for West Champaran, East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Muzaffarpur and Vaishali. Officials in Sitamarhi, Sheohar and other vulnerable districts have also been directed to maintain close and continuous monitoring of the situation.

A meeting of the Bihar Disaster Management Department was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit. District Magistrates and SPs/SSPs of the concerned districts participated through video conferencing.

Officials have been directed to remain prepared for any rise in water levels and possible flooding in vulnerable areas. Rescue and relief arrangements are being closely monitored as authorities assess the impact of the devastating Nepal floods.

With rescue operations continuing in the affected areas, families of missing travellers are seeking information about their loved ones. Indian authorities are coordinating with Nepalese agencies to facilitate rescue, relief and verification efforts.

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A sudden and devastating flood struck Nepal’s mountainous region on Wednesday after floodwaters surged into the Bhotekoshi River, reportedly originating from the Tibetan side of the Nepal-China border. The disaster has caused widespread destruction in several areas, damaging homes, roads, bridges and power infrastructure.

At least 16 people have died so far in the flash floods and landslides in Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts, while several others remain missing. Reports suggest that 105 Indian nationals are among those reported missing. Authorities fear that the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue their operations in affected areas.

The Rasuwa district, located along the Nepal-China border, has been particularly badly affected. Severe flooding and landslides have damaged houses, roads and other infrastructure, while several villages have reportedly been swept away by the powerful flow of water.

The disaster has also left hundreds of Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims stranded in the Rasuwagadhi area. Around 390 pilgrims, including 93 Nepali nationals, were scheduled to cross into China on Wednesday. According to Basu Kumar Adhikari, Managing Director of Touch Kailash Travels and Tours in Kathmandu, only a few pilgrims could be contacted by around 3 pm, while there was no reliable information about many others.

Rescue and relief operations are underway, but communication remains disrupted in several affected areas, making it difficult for authorities to establish the exact number of missing people and assess the full extent of the damage.

The situation has also triggered concern in neighbouring India, particularly in Bihar, where authorities have issued alerts over the possible impact of the rising water levels. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has personally spoken with Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to review the state’s preparedness and the situation arising from the floods.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has issued emergency helpline numbers to assist Indian nationals affected by the disaster. Indian citizens requiring assistance can contact +977 985 131 6807 or +977 970 910 7500.

With rescue operations continuing and several people still unaccounted for, authorities remain on high alert across the affected regions.

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A severe natural gas crisis has disrupted normal life across Bangladesh, affecting households, industries and transport services. The shortage has made cooking difficult for families, while restaurants and hotels have increased food prices amid rising operational costs.

The gas shortage has also forced several industries to shut down, while power cuts have become increasingly frequent across the country. According to available data, 457 industrial units in seven major industrial zones have permanently closed over the past two years. These include 108 garment-related units and 287 other manufacturing businesses.

95 Factories Shut Between January and August

The industrial shutdowns have had a direct impact on employment. Between January and August 2026, as many as 95 factories reportedly closed, leaving around 61,881 people without jobs.

Power generation has also been affected as some plants have reportedly stopped operations, resulting in prolonged power outages and disruptions to daily life.

The authorities have reportedly instructed several commercial establishments to close their shops by 8 pm, affecting their business and daily earnings. Many establishments are also reducing their workforce amid declining revenues.

Transport Services Also Hit

The gas shortage has extended to the transport sector, with gas-powered vehicles facing operational difficulties. Many drivers have reportedly been left without work as vehicles remain off the roads.

The growing unemployment and economic pressure have raised concerns over social stability, with reports suggesting that crime is also increasing in some areas.

The ongoing gas crisis has therefore emerged as a major economic challenge for Bangladesh, affecting households, businesses, industries, employment and transportation. The situation has intensified calls for urgent measures to restore adequate gas supplies and stabilise essential services.

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Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan has been shifted back to Adiala Jail after undergoing medical examinations and treatment at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad.

The PTI confirmed on Friday that Khan was briefly admitted to the hospital before being returned to prison after completing the required health checks and treatment. Prison authorities reportedly escorted him back to Adiala Jail following the medical evaluation.

Health Check Conducted Under Private Doctor’s Supervision

Khan was moved from prison to the hospital following directions issued by the Pakistan Supreme Court on August 18. The court had ordered a comprehensive medical examination in the presence of a team of volunteer specialist doctors as well as Khan’s personal physician.

However, the Pakistan government challenged the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Khan to be transferred to a private hospital. The government argued that such an arrangement could create legal and administrative complications within the prison system.

The 73-year-old former prime minister has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is facing several legal cases. His family members and PTI leaders have repeatedly expressed concern over his health and have called for immediate medical attention.

The government, however, has rejected claims that Khan requires emergency treatment.

Khan’s latest hospital visit comes amid continued political and legal uncertainty surrounding his imprisonment. His supporters have repeatedly demanded better medical facilities and treatment for the former prime minister, while authorities maintain that his healthcare needs are being addressed under existing procedures.

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