Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Sunday, a day after paying tribute to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present during the meeting. Anwar is in India to attend the BRICS Summit and held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. His discussions with Modi covered key areas including trade, defence, semiconductors and infrastructure. The meeting with Rahul Gandhi came amid efforts to strengthen India-Malaysia relations. Anwar has previously spoken warmly about his association with Manmohan Singh and his contribution to India’s ties with Malaysia and the wider region.

Russia imported a record 172,000 tonnes of oil products in August, more than seven times its previous monthly high, as Ukrainian drone strikes disrupted its domestic refining capacity. India supplied around 70% of Russia’s fuel imports, including about 120,000 tonnes of gasoline worth €78 million. The fuel was refined at the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, which is partly owned by Russian oil giant Rosneft. The development highlights an unusual trade flow: Russian crude is sent to India, refined into fuel and then shipped back to Russia as attacks reduce Moscow’s domestic fuel production.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and actor Vijay flagged off the Michelin Le Mans Cup race at Silverstone in the UK on Saturday, where actor Ajith Kumar competed for Ajith RedAnt by Virage. Actress Trisha Krishnan was also seen at the circuit supporting Ajith. Ajith’s team made a strong start and climbed as high as third before an incident forced the car off track. After repairs, the team continued and finished 38th overall. However, Ajith’s team secured third place in the LMP3 Pro/Am category. The event brought together Tamil cinema stars and motorsport, drawing strong attention from fans online. (PC: X)

Celine Dion returned to the stage in Paris on Saturday, marking her first full concert in six years after stepping away because of health problems. The 58-year-old Canadian singer, who was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome in 2022, performed before around 30,000 fans at Paris La Défense Arena. Dion became emotional several times during the show, telling the audience she had promised to return to the stage. Critics praised her powerful but more vulnerable performance, describing the comeback as high-stakes and deeply emotional. The concert was the first of a 26-show Paris residency that will continue through the coming months. (PC: BBC)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the second day of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin seated on either side of him. Modi warned against the “weaponisation” of technology and critical minerals, saying such trends could hurt global development and shared prosperity. He stressed the need for greater cooperation among BRICS nations and said the grouping must remain inclusive and people-centric. Modi highlighted India’s focus on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability during its BRICS chairship. He also called for wider participation from entrepreneurs, farmers, researchers, women and youth in the grouping’s initiatives. (PC: X)

A fresh spell of monsoon rain is expected to affect Gujarat and Maharashtra over the next few days as a low-pressure system from the Bay of Bengal moves west-northwestwards. The system, which formed near the coasts of south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh, is carrying moisture towards central and western India. Gujarat is likely to receive fairly widespread rainfall from September 12 to 15, with isolated very heavy rain on September 13 and 14, particularly in south Gujarat and Saurashtra-Kutch. Maharashtra is also expected to see heavy showers, especially across Konkan and Goa, along with thunderstorms and lightning in some areas. (PC: India Today)

The New Delhi BRICS Declaration has made no specific mention of the Russia-Ukraine war, marking a departure from the group’s earlier joint statements issued in 2024 and 2025. The declaration instead stresses the need for dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful settlement of disputes. It refers to several other conflicts, including the situation in Palestine, West Asia, Syria and Sudan. The change comes as BRICS members seek consensus amid growing geopolitical tensions. India’s BRICS Sherpa Sudhakar Dalela said the grouping’s position is centred on international law, the UN Charter and diplomatic solutions, while declining to comment on specific conflicts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two commemorative postage stamps marking 20 years of BRICS during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The stamps, issued on September 12, carry the inscription “BRICS: Two Decades of Cooperation, 2006–2026” and highlight the grouping’s journey of dialogue and cooperation. The designs also reflect India’s 2026 BRICS chairship theme — “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” One stamp represents BRICS’ spirit of mutual respect, understanding and solidarity, while the second features India’s chairship logo and its “humanity first” and people-centric vision.

Elephant Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi in Kolhapur, has returned to the city after spending more than a year at Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The move followed a September 9 order by the Supreme Court-appointed High-Powered Committee (HPC), which allowed her return to the Nandani Jain Math under strict conditions. Madhuri must receive round-the-clock care, undergo medical examinations every fortnight and cannot be used in processions or for any other purpose. Vantara said her chronic health conditions still require regular monitoring and confirmed that its veterinarians will visit her in Kolhapur every two weeks and submit reports to authorities. 

China will take over the BRICS chairmanship in 2027 and host the group’s next summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.   Xi made the announcement at the closing session of the 18th BRICS Summit, after India hosted the two-day meeting on September 12 and 13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Xi on China taking over the presidency. The dates and host city for the 2027 summit have not yet been announced. China’s presidency will follow India’s year-long chairmanship, which focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. (PC: X)