Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping are likely to hold a bilateral meeting on September 12 on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. However, China’s foreign affairs secretary said there was “no information yet” on Xi’s planned travel to India. The meeting, if held, would be closely watched as India-China ties remain cautious following the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. The BRICS Summit will be held at Bharat Mandapam on September 12 and 13, bringing together leaders from 11 full member states, including India, China and Russia, along with partner countries and other invitees. (PC: X)

India and Russia are moving closer to major cooperation in civil aviation, with aircraft deals involving Russia’s IL-114-300 turboprop and SJ-100 regional jet expected to feature around the BRICS Summit. The proposed cooperation could include aircraft supplies, technology sharing and greater localisation of production in India. The developments come as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin prepare for discussions on expanding bilateral industrial and economic ties. Russia has also offered India greater technology transfer in aviation and other strategic sectors. The cooperation is expected to strengthen India’s regional aviation capabilities while deepening the long-standing India-Russia industrial partnership. (PC: Reuters)

The payment infrastructure for settlements between Russia and India in their national currencies is fully operational, Sberbank India CEO Ivan Nosov said. Speaking at the INNOPROM. India exhibition in New Delhi, Nosov said earlier challenges involving banking, insurance and logistics have largely been resolved. More than 90% of payments from Russia to India are now processed in under 10 minutes, while 30% are completed within a minute. He also highlighted growing opportunities for Indian exporters, saying more than 100 categories of Indian products have been identified as competitive in the Russian market, where demand for Indian goods remains strong. (PC: Economic Times)

Indian-origin engineers Anuradha and Vikas Sinha have donated $20 million to the University of North Texas (UNT) to establish a new college focused on artificial intelligence and advanced analytics. The university will name it the Anuradha and Vikas Sinha College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics in recognition of their contribution. The college will focus on AI, data science, cybersecurity, advanced analytics and health informatics, while also supporting research and innovation. The donation will create six permanent endowments for scholarships, faculty positions, entrepreneurship, research and emerging technologies. The couple previously supported UNT's data science department and innovation lab. (PC: NDTV)

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)