India has confirmed that 227 Indian nationals have been recruited into the Russian armed forces, of whom 139 have been discharged and 51 have died, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said. Speaking during a Ministry of External Affairs briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, Misri said India has repeatedly raised the issue with Moscow and is seeking the early release and repatriation of those still serving. The Indian Embassy in Moscow is also regularly monitoring the situation. Misri said discussions with Russia remain ongoing to ensure the remaining Indians are discharged and returned to their families. He also highlighted plans to organise an Indian Exporters Forum in Russia to expand bilateral trade and diversify exports. 

A security breach has been reported at the Madras Regiment premises in Hyderabad’s Cantonment area after Army authorities discovered weapons and ammunition missing from a secured storage facility. Preliminary information indicates that four AK-47 rifles, six pistols and one INSAS rifle are among the missing arms, while ammunition has also reportedly disappeared. Army officials detected the loss on Sunday night and lodged a complaint with Bollaram Police on Monday. Police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the theft. Authorities are expected to examine access records, CCTV footage and other available evidence to determine how the breach occurred and whether anyone with authorised access may have been involved. (PC: X)

Nepal is facing the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods that have killed 1,003 people, while around 4,000 remain missing as rescue operations continue amid rain and fresh alerts. The disaster followed a collapse or avalanche of ice and rock near the Nepal-Tibet border, sending a massive surge of water down the Bhotekoshi River. Floodwaters swept through settlements and caused extensive damage to roads, bridges and hydropower projects. Rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate survivors and recover bodies despite difficult conditions. Kathmandu has linked the scale of the disaster to climate change and is seeking compensation from major greenhouse-gas emitters. The catastrophe has caused widespread destruction across the country, leaving thousands affected.

Brishti Mukherjee, 28, daughter of Nihar Mukherjee, a cousin of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, died by suicide at her home in Kusumba village, Birbhum, on Tuesday. Her body was found hanging on the first floor around 9 am. According to her family, Mukherjee had been suffering from depression for several years and was undergoing treatment. She had also faced allegations of securing a primary school teaching job through the teacher recruitment scam, while she and her husband had filed for divorce. Rampurhat police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Her body has been sent to Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem examination, with further findings expected from the investigation and procedural inquiries. (PC: NDTV and Loksatta)

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly fears that ending the Ukraine war without achieving his maximalist objectives, including capturing the entire Donbas region, could trigger a backlash from Russia’s elite and threaten his hold on power, according to The Economist. A Kremlin insider reportedly recalled Putin saying “they will hang me” when discussing the consequences of ending the war without securing his stated goals. The report suggests Putin views a negotiated settlement as a sign of weakness and believes a weak Russian leader cannot survive. Estonian intelligence chief Kaupo Rosin similarly warned that stopping the war could make Putin appear weak. Meanwhile, growing elite dissatisfaction, economic difficulties, Ukrainian strikes and mounting war costs are complicating Putin’s position. (PC: 19FortyFive)

India’s gross GST revenue rose 14.8% year-on-year to ₹1,99,853 crore in August 2026, according to provisional data, although collections were lower than July’s ₹2.11 lakh crore. Revenue from domestic transactions increased 9.3% to more than ₹1.37 lakh crore, while import-related GST jumped 29% to ₹62,604 crore. Net GST collections stood at ₹1.68 lakh crore, registering 8.3% annual growth. CGST contributed ₹38,413 crore, SGST ₹46,316 crore and IGST ₹1.15 lakh crore. Experts said the figures indicate resilience in the Indian economy, supported by consumption and improving compliance. They also highlighted stronger collections across several northeastern and smaller regions, while expecting festive-season spending to support higher revenues in coming months. (PC: iStock)

Union Minister JP Nadda welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to quash FIRs filed between July 20 and 25 against student protesters across India, after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) withdrew its September 5 protest march. Nadda, who participated in government talks with the CJP, said the Centre would fulfil the group’s demands on educational reforms and prioritise youth welfare. He assured that cases against protesting students would be withdrawn and no harsh action would follow. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das told the Supreme Court that the march was called off following Centre-initiated measures. However, the court said Delhi Police would register FIRs against 2,873 people with serious criminal antecedents, without prejudicing other parties.

Sweetie, a deaf dog from Nepal’s Nuwakot district, survived alone for five days after devastating floods and has been reunited with her family. The family had tried to move her to safety before floodwaters rose, but Sweetie could not hear their calls. After the disaster, they repeatedly searched their devastated neighbourhood before finding her alive. Sweetie had gone missing on August 26, when a wall of water and debris swept through Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts. The flash flood along the Trishuli River was triggered by a glacier collapse near Langtang Lirung. The emotional reunion also brought heartbreak: Sweetie’s family had two dogs, both with them for more than five years, but only Sweetie survived. (PC: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook)

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent post celebrating India’s 7.8% GDP growth. Dipke shared a photograph of a dilapidated washroom at a government-run school and captioned it, “7.8% growth sir!!!”, appearing to question the contrast between the headline economic figure and conditions in public infrastructure. Modi had congratulated Indians on the 7.8% growth rate, calling it a reflection of the country’s “collective strength”, resolve and industrious spirit. Dipke’s post came in response to the Prime Minister’s social media video discussing the latest GDP figures. The CJP founder has previously criticised the Union Government and Modi through social media posts, with his latest remark drawing attention to government-school infrastructure.

A pet dog in Nepal has refused to leave the site of his former home after devastating floods washed away four houses in Trishuli Bazaar, Nuwakot. The black-and-white dog, still wearing his collar, continues to sit near what was once his family’s doorway, despite bulldozers and rescue workers clearing mud, timber and debris around him. His owners remain unaccounted for. Workers initially tried to coax him away with biscuits, but he barely responded and repeatedly returned to the same spot. Volunteers now leave food and water nearby, which he takes only when the area becomes quiet. For displaced residents, the dog’s unwavering wait has become a poignant symbol of loyalty, loss and hope amid the disaster. (PC: X/@TheDailyJagran)