A historic Ganga Aarti was held on the River Thames in the United Kingdom, marking the first such ceremony on the iconic London river. The event brought a traditional Indian spiritual ritual to a major landmark in Britain, highlighting the cultural and spiritual ties between India and the UK. The ceremony featured prayers and offerings to the river, drawing attention to the deep significance of the Ganga in Indian culture. Organisers and participants described the event as a symbolic moment that connected Indian heritage with the Thames, while showcasing the country’s traditions to people in the UK. (PC: The Hindu)

Counting is underway for Rajasthan’s municipal elections, with results showing a mixed contest between the BJP, Congress and Independents across 309 urban local bodies. In Udaipur, the BJP has secured a clear lead, holding 53 wards against Congress’s 23. The BJP also swept Jodhpur, winning 44 of 98 wards. In Jaipur, 21-year-old Congress candidate Faiz Hasan won Ward 71 with 5,426 votes, defeating Independent Mohammad Salim. Independents made a strong showing in Deeg, winning 25 of 40 wards, while Congress failed to win a seat there. Counting continues amid tight security across the state. (PC: HT)

India’s women’s cricket team refused to collect the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chief and Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi after a decision by the BCCI, coach Amol Muzumdar said. India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs to win the title on Sunday, but the trophy presentation ended without the champions receiving the trophy or winners’ medals. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said India had offered two alternatives: ACC deputy chair Khalid Al Zarooni could present the trophy, or a representative of the winning board could hand it over. Naqvi rejected both options, leading to the standoff. (PC: India Today)

Himalayan glaciers are losing mass 65% faster than a decade ago, raising concerns over floods, water security and India’s economy, according to new research by Systemiq with regional partners. The report says only about 21 of an estimated 40,000 glaciers in the Himalaya-Karakoram region are being monitored in detail. India has identified 56 glacial lakes as “very high risk” after assessing 189 high-risk lakes. Himalayan water supports around 20% of India’s GDP through agriculture, hydropower, tourism and other sectors. Researchers warned that glacier loss, unstable slopes and growing glacial lakes could increase risks across South Asia. (PC: BBC)

Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed creating an open-source artificial intelligence community within BRICS, aiming to boost cooperation among member countries on AI development and deployment. The proposal includes collaboration on large language models, AI training and a shared digital cloud platform. The initiative could help BRICS nations reduce dependence on AI technologies dominated by US companies and strengthen technological self-reliance. For India, the plan offers an opportunity to shape shared AI infrastructure and promote its own digital capabilities. However, differences within BRICS over technology, geopolitics and China’s growing influence could pose challenges to deeper cooperation. (PC: X)

Daily tanker charter rates for shipments to India have surged 150% in about two weeks to around $250,000, as worsening tensions around the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz disrupt oil shipping. Rates were around $100,000 earlier, according to people familiar with the developments. Bunker fuel prices have also climbed 50% to $900 a tonne, while insurance costs have risen 20%. The disruption is a major concern for India, which imports around 30% of its oil and gas from West Asia. India’s crude import bill reached $63.37 billion between April and July, up 56% year-on-year. (PC: HT)

All six stanzas of Vande Mataram were played before India’s first T20I against Afghanistan at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, marking the first such instance at an international sporting event. According to PTI, BCCI sources said the national song will now be played before the first match of every home series. The move drew criticism from Congress leader Udit Raj, who questioned its relevance amid issues such as unemployment, rising debt and weak exports. Congress recently resolved to use only the first two stanzas at party events, citing its 1937 resolution. (PC: BCCI)

A woman biker was injured after a speeding white sedan allegedly rammed her motorcycle on Gurugram’s Golf Course Road in a suspected hit-and-run incident. The rider, identified as Sia, was on a Sunday ride with fellow bikers when she said the car began following her aggressively. Sia claimed the occupants appeared drunk and that she had asked the driver to maintain a safe distance. The sedan allegedly swerved into her motorcycle, throwing her onto the road. A fellow rider chased the car, but it fled after a brief confrontation at a traffic signal. Gurugram traffic police are investigating the incident.

Bangladesh wants to “reset” its relationship with India and establish a new bilateral engagement based on mutual interests, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said on Sunday. He described Bangladesh-India ties during deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure as “uncomfortable” and urged Dhaka to move beyond what he called “India fascination”. His remarks came two days after Bangladesh said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would not attend the BRICS Summit in India because he was not invited in his capacity as Bangladesh’s prime minister. India had invited Rahman as chair of BIMSTEC, while a separate bilateral invitation had been extended to him in February. The two-day BRICS Summit concluded on Sunday. (PC: The Telegraph)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday, reiterating Islamabad’s strong condemnation of recent Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s civilian and economic infrastructure. The outreach came as Pakistan appeared to step back from its military posture against the Iran-backed group, prompting an apparent diplomatic damage-control effort. Islamabad sought to reassure Riyadh of its commitment to the defence pact while clarifying that the Mecca defence agreement does not automatically require Pakistani forces to launch offensive operations against the Houthis. The clarification appeared to temper Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s earlier suggestion that the pact could be activated if Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia continued, highlighting Pakistan’s effort to balance its commitments.