Indian prime minister since 2014; Gujarat chief minister 2001–2014; MP for Varanasi
Elon Musk has accused powerful Indian business interests of blocking Starlink and has directly questioned Reliance chair Mukesh Ambani after years of regulatory delays. India’s communications ministry has said three satellite operators are at the same stage, and Starlink still awaits final security clearances and spectrum allocation before commercial service can begin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine and called for a cessation of hostilities during talks at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek on Monday. Putin has responded that talks are "moving forward" while officials highlighted growing Russia–India trade and energy ties.
The United States is shifting strategy in the Iran conflict, moving from kinetic strikes to economic isolation, while Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps controls key energy chokepoints. Analysts warn that the pivot faces hurdles as major economies resist aggressive oil and energy trade disruption.
The Cockroach Janta Party has launched a peaceful march planned for Sept. 5 in New Delhi, led by families of NEET exam-affected students and victims of police violence. Protests followed the NEET paper leak and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The government has faced criticism for delaying commitments and for police action during the demonstrations.
A wave of AI updates from major players has accelerated the use of AI agents across industries. OpenAI, Google, Meta and others have released new models and tools, while companies test governance policies to curb overreliance on AI. The changing landscape is driving demands for new skills and tighter guardrails.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Cairo for a state visit, his first to Egypt in a decade, to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties and sign economic and security agreements. Talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will focus on Gaza, Red Sea shipping, the Nile dam dispute, AI and expanded Chinese investment in the Suez Canal zone.
The landslide on the Nepal-Tibet border has triggered massive floods and widespread casualties. Officials say dozens dead and hundreds missing, with Nepal and China coordinating search-and-rescue efforts as authorities assess potential causes and downstream risks.
The Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden has drawn protests from groups warning the RSS, led by Mohan Bhagwat, promotes Hindu nationalism. Organisers say the event aims for unity, while critics accuse it of masking a history of minority discrimination in India. Local officials debate potential sanctions and the broader implications for diaspora politics.
Massive floods across Nepal and Tibet have killed dozens and left hundreds missing. Rescue efforts are underway, with thousands of troops deployed and international aid flowing in as authorities warn of continuing danger from dammed lakes and downstream river surges.
US forces have carried out strikes on Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island after they detected efforts to deploy rockets with naval mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks at US bases in Jordan and the UAE in response. Both sides are signalling readiness to hit back again while diplomatic and economic pressure continues.
Ukraine faces a tough winter as Russian strikes target energy infrastructure. Officials warn of power and heating shortages while Kyiv seeks to sustain essential services amid a barrage of drone and missile attacks. Ports, grain plans and drone activity shape the broader conflict landscape.
Leaders have convened in Bishkek for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's 25th‑anniversary summit. Xi Jinping has told Vladimir Putin bilateral ties have grown "more solid" and promised "even brighter" prospects. The summit has drawn over a dozen heads of state while bilateral talks are focusing on economic cooperation, visa regimes and security topics as wars in Ukraine and between the US and Iran shape the agenda.
Economists say India’s economy has to sustain double-digit growth to meet Modi’s 2047 Developed India vision; recent forecasts suggest it will be tough to reach that pace if expansion stays near current rates. Bloomberg and other outlets cite growth targets and opinion pieces arguing whether the country can reach high-income status by 2047.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement among Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is being translated into an operational framework. Ministers and chiefs of staff are meeting in Istanbul to discuss interoperability, defence cooperation and potential expansion, including a possible role for Egypt. Observers say the pact aims to deter aggression and coordinate military planning in a volatile region.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kyrgyzstan has brought together leaders from China, Russia, Iran and other members, with Indian PM Modi attending. Analysts say the gathering marks a visible shift away from U.S.-dominated security structures as regional powers seek new blocs.
Russia's finance minister has attended G20 finance talks in Asheville for the first in-person time since 2022. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has met him and told him that no sanctions relief or economic agreements are possible while the war in Ukraine continues. European officials have refused to treat Russia as a normal participant and skipped a group photo with him.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as Iran and the United States exchange missiles and sanctions. Washington has struck Iranian launchers on Larak Island following Tehran’s attacks on US bases in Jordan, while Tehran warns of harsh responses if attacked again. Economic pressure via sanctions is intensifying as both sides signal readiness for further action.
HarperCollins India will publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love in India on 10 November 2026, after a breakdown in talks with Penguin Random House India over editorial changes. The book offers a personal look at Gandhi’s life from Italy to Indian politics, including her encounters with Modi, the RSS, and the China border tension.
China is calibrating its Tehran relationship ahead of Xi’s Washington visit. Xi meets Iran’s Pezeshkian on the sidelines of SCO, signaling Beijing’s careful diplomacy while avoiding a public show of alignment. The SCO communique supports civilian nuclear development but stops short of concrete commitments.
A five‑storey hostel near Delhi University has collapsed, trapping and killing several residents. Rescue teams are clearing rubble as authorities investigate structural faults and safety lapses. Officials promise accountability as new safety audits loom for student housing and other public buildings.
Eiffel Tower staff have walked out after female employees were asked to leave posts and be replaced during a private Saturday visit by a delegation from the Hindu group BAPS. Tower management has apologised, opened an internal inquiry and the monument has reopened; BAPS has apologised and denied anyone was refused access.
Haaretz has published book excerpts saying UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed warned Benjamin Netanyahu in late September 2023 that Hamas was planning a major operation. Haaretz says Netanyahu reacted calmly and did not inform Israel's security chiefs; Netanyahu has denied the call, instructed lawyers to sue Haaretz, and rivals have seized the story ahead of the Oct. 27 election.
A Manipuri guitarist, Vikram Singh, has died after a late-night assault in Delhi. Seven adults and a minor have been arrested. The incident has reignited concerns about discrimination against people from India's northeast. Police say the motive is under investigation.
Leaders from BRICS and newly admitted members have arrived in New Delhi for a two-day summit beginning Sept. 12. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian have travelled to India; Narendra Modi has held bilateral talks with several visitors. Delegates are confronting the US‑Israel war on Iran, the Ukraine conflict, trade tensions and energy security.
Iranian leaders are determined to continue the conflict, viewing it as existential. A U.S.-led naval blockade and strikes on oil assets have intensified, while Tehran signals potential escalation should Washington intensify attacks.
BRICS leaders have convened in New Delhi amid efforts to shape a new multipolar order. While a joint declaration has been reached, divisions on Middle East war, trade imbalances, and regional alignments remain. Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi are steering the bloc toward strategic autonomy, with tensions over balancing Western influence and internal disagreements evident.
BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi as Xi, Putin, Pezeshkian and others meet India for a pivotal summit. The talks focus on expanding trade in national currencies, energy cooperation, and reforms to global institutions, with tensions over the Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts, and US-dominated financial systems at the forefront.
BRICS leaders are gathering in New Delhi as tensions over Ukraine, the Middle East, and U.S.-China dynamics test the bloc’s ability to find common ground. Leaders push for reforms to global institutions, digital collaboration, and currency diversification, while facing fractures over sanctions and regional conflicts.
Leaders from BRICS, including Modi, Putin, Xi and Pezeshkian, gather in New Delhi as the bloc weighs economic reforms, currency diversification, and responses to global conflicts. The summit faces pressure from Ukraine, the Middle East, and rivalries with Western powers.
BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi amid tensions from the US–Iran war, amid broader global upheaval. The expanded bloc faces divisions over how to respond to Middle East conflicts, energy markets, and trade wars, while stressing a Global South-led reform agenda.
A BRICS summit under India’s presidency has endorsed the New Delhi Declaration, pledging resilience, cooperation and sustainable development. Leaders highlight Africa engagement and private-sector role, while Bilateral talks explore investment, technology transfer and regional integration.
BRICS leaders have adopted the New Delhi Declaration, calling for maximum restraint in the Middle East, protection of civilians and nuclear facilities, and opposing unilateral trade measures. The statement has avoided naming the US, Israel or Iran and authorised a payments task force to ease local‑currency settlements among members.
BRICS leaders have announced a new integrated early warning system for infectious diseases and reaffirmed support for a multipolar world order, calling for reforms to global institutions and greater use of local currencies in trade as ties among member states deepen. The summit underscores concerns over Middle East tensions and sanctions, while highlighting cooperation on food security, energy, digital infrastructure, AI and climate action.
Poland's prime minister has warned intelligence shows Russia is preparing hybrid drone and missile strikes that will be framed as accidents to weaken NATO's collective defence. European governments and NATO commanders are reinforcing air defences, planning infrastructure protections and holding consultations as cross‑border strikes and covert sabotage have increased since 2025.
Russia has escalated strikes near Ukraine’s western front, while NATO vows to bolster defences. Drones near Poland and Moldova raise concerns about spillover as Kyiv seeks de‑escalation in talks.
Netanyahu has faced sustained political pressure as he heads into a parliamentary election. Critics say he relies on victimhood rhetoric and populist tactics to deflect scrutiny, amid new reporting and shifts in opposition dynamics that could reshape Israel’s political landscape.
NPCI has announced a 0.4% merchant fee on UPI transactions above ₹2,000 to merchants, with caps and exemptions for P2P payments and smaller merchants. The move aims to fund infrastructure and security but sparks debate over the impact on adoption and costs for businesses.
The BRICS bloc has expanded to include new members and partners, and its leaders are pursuing deeper practical cooperation across politics, economy, and security. Xi and Modi are signaling a push for a multipolar world, with open-source AI, special zones, and service-trade forums on the agenda. The summit in New Delhi is framed as a step toward a broader Global South alliance.
UN leaders gather amid wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and conflicts in Iran and Myanmar. AI, climate change and inequality rise as central challenges. Reforms to the Security Council and global institutions are on the table, with Western arrears and veto power shaping the debate.
World powers confront a disrupted multilateral order as calls for UN reform intensify amid rising great-power competition, unilateral actions, and debates over the UN's future role in maintaining global stability.
A Flydubai co‑pilot has attacked the captain on a Dubai–Tel Aviv flight on Sept. 30, stabbed him and attempted to seize control. Passengers, cabin crew and two off‑duty pilots have overpowered the assailant; an off‑duty relief crew has landed the Boeing 737 MAX in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The UAE has opened a terrorism probe and investigators are examining the suspect’s background and travel history.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a co‑pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane. The injured captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, has been taken to hospital in Tabuk. Passengers and on‑duty crew have overpowered and restrained the attacker; all passengers have returned to Tel Aviv.
The Flydubai FZ1073 flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk after a midair altercation in the cockpit. UAE authorities are coordinating with Saudi and Emirati agencies to determine motives, possible terrorism links, and any prior planning. The captain, Smit Machchhar, is recovering, and investigations are under way across multiple jurisdictions.
A Flydubai captain, Smit Machchhar, has been injured after a cockpit attack on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight, forcing an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli PM Netanyahu praises his bravery for saving 174 lives amid ongoing investigations. Machchhar has more than 9,750 flying hours and previously worked at SpiceJet.
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv has diverted to Tabuk after a co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Machchhar. The captain opened the cockpit door as the aircraft dropped about 17,000 feet; passengers and crew overpowered the attacker, enabling an emergency landing. Machchhar is recovering in Abu Dhabi, praised by Modi and Netanyahu for bravery.
Passengers and crew have subdued an attacker on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight, preventing a potential crash as the aircraft plummeted and then leveled out. An Israeli passenger and off-duty pilots helped regain control; Trump has praised an ‘Israeli plumber’ whose actions are cited by multiple outlets.
Opposition and protest movements have intensified calls for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to resign amid allegations that the Special Intensive Revision has unfairly purged voters from rolls. Demonstrations have spread from Mumbai to Delhi and other cities as scientists, students and youth groups demand accountability and transparency in the revamp.
The co-pilot on Flight FZ1073 has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national. Investigators describe the incident as a potential terrorist act but are still establishing motive and whether others were involved. Passengers and crew subdued the co-pilot after he attacked the captain, prompting an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Thousands of security personnel have sealed central New Delhi and detained leaders and supporters of the Gen‑Z "Cockroach Janta Party" ahead of a planned Saturday rally demanding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar resign over a Special Intensive Revision that has removed about 130 million names from voter rolls.
The International Olympic Committee has confirmed a handful of countries are engaging in continuous dialogue to bid for future Olympic Games. A deadline of October 31 is set for formal interest, with shortlisting and feasibility assessments to follow between 2027 and 2029. Ahmedabad, Munich and Cape Town are among the cities named in emerging bids for 2036 and beyond.