Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12, in their first face-to-face bilateral talks since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. Xi is scheduled to visit India for the September 12-13 summit, his first trip to the country in seven years. The meeting comes as India-China ties show cautious signs of improvement after years of military tensions along the Line of Actual Control. Talks could cover the border dispute, regional security, trade and investment, and measures to prevent renewed tensions. (PC: India Today)

Iran has highlighted its strong and longstanding ties with India ahead of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to New Delhi for the BRICS Summit. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran views India as an important diplomatic partner and will use the summit to continue discussions on areas of mutual interest. Pezeshkian is expected to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, providing an opportunity for further diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Iran’s emphasis on bilateral ties comes as the BRICS grouping faces differing positions among members over the ongoing West Asia conflict. India is seeking to maintain dialogue and cooperation among members while navigating the bloc’s internal geopolitical differences.

Security has been tightened at hotels in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri ahead of the BRICS summit, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to arrive later this week. Sources said Putin is expected on September 11, while Xi is likely to arrive on September 12. Both leaders are expected to land at Palam Air Force Station before travelling to hotels in Chanakyapuri. Chinese and Russian security teams have already reached the hotels and brought advanced weapons and security equipment. Security personnel have been deployed across the presidents’ expected hotel floors, rooftops and ground levels. Delhi Police has deployed 30,000 personnel for the summit, according to the report’s headline. (PC: The Indian Express)

Three Russian military aircraft landed at Noida Airport on Tuesday morning, marking the first foreign aircraft landing at the newly operational airport. The aircraft touched down around 5:30 am, with a Russian IL-76 military transport aircraft among them. A Russian advance team and military officials arrived aboard the aircraft. The landing is linked to preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India and the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Airport authorities are making arrangements ahead of the high-profile diplomatic event. The arrival marks a major operational milestone for Noida Airport, which has now received its first foreign aircraft as preparations intensify for the summit and Putin’s visit.

The US Department of Labour has suspended India-founded tech giant Cognizant’s ability to file new PERM applications for employment-based green cards amid an investigation into alleged visa fraud. Labour Department Inspector General Anthony D’Esposito announced the action, saying threats to American workers would not be tolerated. The suspension does not directly affect H-1B petitions, but could affect Indian workers seeking permanent residency through Cognizant. The company received 3,510 approved H-1B petitions in fiscal year 2026, with Indians accounting for a large share of H-1B beneficiaries. Cognizant was founded in Chennai in 1994 and is now headquartered in the US.

Indian-origin couple Anuradha and Vikas Sinha have donated $20 million to the University of North Texas to establish a new College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics. The university said the college will be named the Anuradha and Vikas Sinha College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics. It will bring together programmes and research in AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, health informatics and information science. The donation will also fund six permanent endowments supporting scholarships, professorships, entrepreneurship, research and emerging technologies. Vikas Sinha, who earned his doctorate from UNT in 2023, said their gift reflects their experience as immigrants and students. (PC: India Today)

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit India this weekend for the Brics summit, marking his first trip to the country in seven years. The visit follows years of cautious efforts by Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to improve relations strained by the deadly 2020 Himalayan border clashes. Bilateral trade reached a record $155 billion last year, rising 12.4%, while trade increased another 23% in the first seven months of this year. The two countries have also resumed border patrols, direct flights and trade at three Himalayan crossings. Despite the thaw, mistrust and strategic differences remain significant. (PC: Financial Times)

India faces a delicate diplomatic challenge at the BRICS 2026 summit as Iran and the UAE arrive with sharply opposing positions over the West Asia conflict. Iran wants BRICS to condemn US-Israeli actions and support its sovereignty, while the UAE is prioritising maritime security and protection of commercial shipping in the Gulf. India, which is hosting the September 12-13 summit, aims to secure a joint Delhi Declaration without allowing the dispute to overshadow BRICS’ economic agenda. New Delhi is pushing language focused on sovereignty, freedom of navigation, de-escalation and regional stability without naming countries or assigning blame. The stakes are high for India because disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could raise oil prices and affect imports, trade, remittances and Indian workers. (PC: News18)

Two ring-tailed lemurs stolen from Bangladesh’s Gazipur Safari Park have reportedly been traced to Vantara, Anant Ambani’s wildlife conservation facility in Gujarat, according to investigators cited by Ajker Patrika. Three lemurs were allegedly stolen on March 23, 2025, with photographs shared with prospective Indian buyers. Two Bangladeshi-linked and Indian-based intermediaries allegedly arranged the deal, involving one adult and one juvenile for 1.7 million Bangladeshi Taka. The animals were smuggled into India through the Darshana border and eventually sold for around Rs 4.8 million to an institution associated with Vantara. However, authorities lack microchips, identification numbers and DNA profiles, making scientific confirmation difficult. Investigators are seeking DNA evidence from the remaining juvenile. (PC: The Siasat Daily)

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake assured Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that Colombo would never allow Sri Lankan territory to be used for activities threatening India’s security interests. The assurance came during Singh’s three-day official visit to Colombo, aimed at strengthening bilateral maritime and defence cooperation. India and Sri Lanka signed three agreements, including an MoU to upgrade six India-supplied L70 air-defence guns used by the Sri Lankan Air Force. The two sides also expanded cooperation through their defence institutions. Dissanayake thanked India for assistance following Cyclone Ditwah, while both countries reaffirmed their commitment to regional security, peace and stability. (PC: HT)