India has strongly condemned the reported demolition of a century-old Hindu temple in Pakistan’s Punjab province, calling it a disturbing attack on a minority place of worship. Minority representatives and local residents alleged that the temple was razed to make way for a madrassa on or near the temple land. India said the incident reflected an “alarming” failure by Pakistani authorities to protect religious heritage and safeguard places of worship belonging to minorities. The strong reaction came on September 2 as concerns grew over the reported demolition and the protection of minority religious sites in Pakistan. (PC: India Today)

More than 14 million people in Kolkata, Mumbai and Dhaka face an immediate risk of losing their homes to permanent inundation caused by rising sea levels, according to a new United Nations report. The report said global sea levels are rising faster than at any time in recorded history, damaging infrastructure, water systems, transport networks and coastal ecosystems. Sea levels rose by 4.7 mm annually between 2014 and 2023, before reaching a record 5.9 mm in 2024. The UN said melting glaciers and warming oceans are driving the acceleration, making long-term adaptation planning urgent. (PC: NDTV)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly acknowledged that Moscow is supplying Iran with “necessary equipment” and other assistance during its war with the United States. Putin made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on September 1. He did not specify the equipment or say whether it included military supplies. Pezeshkian said he was certain Iran would win. The leaders also discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, while Putin praised Iran’s “courage and resourcefulness” and highlighted growing economic and trade ties.

  India has strongly condemned the reported demolition of a more than century-old Hindu temple in Siraj village of Narowal, Pakistan’s Punjab province, describing it as an “alarming” failure by authorities to protect minority places of worship and religious heritage. The temple, located about 130 kilometres from Lahore, was reportedly demolished on August 21. Minority representatives and local residents have alleged that the structure was deliberately brought down to facilitate the use of its land for a madrassa. Pakistani authorities, however, have maintained that the temple collapsed following torrential rains. The incident has triggered concerns over the protection of Hindu religious sites and minority heritage in Pakistan, with India calling the reported demolition deeply disturbing.

India’s Keyaa Banerji won a silver medal in the junior 47kg category at the Sub-Junior and Junior Classic Powerlifting IPF World Championships in South Africa. The 21-year-old Indian lifter recorded a total of 140kg, including a 90kg squat and 50kg bench press, lifting three times her body weight. France’s Ines Herbaux won gold with 165kg, while Ireland’s Blathnaid O’Dwyer also lifted 140kg but finished with bronze. Banerji, who lifted 127.5kg in 2025, has made significant progress over the past year. Meanwhile, India’s Joshua Ngoka won gold in the men’s 120kg category, completing a 9-for-9 performance with 980.5kg and setting an IPF Junior World record in South Africa.

Chinese twin sisters Jin Yanshu and Jin Yanai, both 16, performed their Bharatanatyam Arangetram in Beijing, receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience. The traditional graduation ceremony was presided over by Indian Ambassador to China Vikram Doraiswami and his wife Sangeetha Doraiswami. Doraiswami praised the sisters’ dedication, saying their commitment to Indian classical dance reflected cultural and people-to-people exchanges between India and China. The twins have trained in Bharatanatyam since age three under Chinese dancer and teacher Jin Shan Shan, a student of renowned dancer Leela Samson. Shan runs Sangeetham Indian Arts School in Beijing, where hundreds of Chinese children have learned Bharatanatyam. The sisters previously performed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2025 Tianjin visit.

East Bengal team will host one of three groups in the 2026/27 AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage in November after qualifying through the preliminary round in Malaysia with three consecutive wins. The IWL champions have become the first Indian club to reach the competition’s consecutive group stage and will also be the first Indian club to host the premier women’s club tournament. Twelve clubs will be divided into three groups of four for a single round-robin league, with eight teams advancing to the Knockout Stage. The group draw is scheduled for September 3 in Kuala Lumpur. Quarter-finals will be played as ties in March, with the top four clubs hosting. (PC: AFC Hub)

The Japanese Credit Rating Agency (JCRA) has upgraded India’s sovereign credit rating to A- from BBB+, citing strong economic growth, private consumption, public investment and improvements in the financial system. JCRA said India has sustained growth of around 7% and expects the economy to expand by more than 6% in FY2027. It highlighted digital public infrastructure, GST implementation and productivity-focused government policies as factors strengthening India’s economic foundations. India’s economy grew 7.7% in real terms in FY2026. The agency also noted banking-sector improvements, with gross non-performing loans falling to 1.8% by March 2026. However, it flagged higher inflation, substantial government debt and elevated interest burdens as continuing concerns. (PC: The Indian Express)

A viral video from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek shows Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif quickly approaching Russian President Vladimir Putin after the leaders’ group photograph. As Putin appeared to leave the podium, Sharif moved towards him, reached out, held his hand and spoke with him. The hurried interaction prompted online users to jokingly describe it as “Wait for me?”, although there is no indication Sharif actually said those words. The moment drew attention alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Putin and a brief exchange with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The clip also revived memories of a viral Sharif-Putin moment at last year’s SCO gathering in Beijing.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is finalising an agreement with a fertility clinic to help Spain’s women’s national-team players freeze their eggs. The initiative aims to help elite footballers balance demanding sporting careers with future plans for motherhood, as their peak playing years often overlap with their most fertile years. National-team captains, including Alexia Putellas, have reportedly raised the issue with federation officials. The scheme is expected to cover treatment costs, with details on eligibility and storage to be announced later. However, some athletes argue that greater support for pregnancy, childcare and post-partum career recovery is also necessary. (PC: Reuters)