External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his visit to Kyiv, said India is ready to help end the Russia-Ukraine war and would assist in any way possible to bring the conflict to an end. “If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there,” he said alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. The two leaders also discussed attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea. Jaishankar’s visit comes amid rising tensions and after Indian seafarers were killed and injured in recent attacks. India reiterated its call for dialogue, diplomacy and the safety of all seafarers. (PC: X)

Highly skilled Indian professionals seeking US employment-based Green Cards could face waits of up to 179 years, according to a National Foundation for American Policy assessment. The employment-based immigration backlog has crossed 1.2 million applicants, with nearly one million Indians accounting for about 79% of the backlog. Indian applicants face the longest delays because of annual limits and country-specific caps on employment-based visas. The EB-2 backlog for Indian advanced-degree professionals has grown sharply, while other categories also face long waits. The report highlights growing pressure on the US immigration system and the severe impact of existing limits on Indian professionals seeking permanent residency.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he does not believe India and Iran are negotiating a trade deal, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek during the SCO Summit. Rubio said countries should not help Iran evade US sanctions or create mechanisms to generate revenue for Tehran, warning that such countries could face sanctions. Modi said India remained committed to strengthening its long-standing friendship with Iran and expanding bilateral trade. The two leaders also discussed regional developments, peace, commercial shipping and cooperation through BRICS and the SCO.

  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.

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.

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)

Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office sparked controversy during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, after sharing a cropped version of the leaders’ official group photograph that excluded Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders. The edited image positioned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif prominently in the centre. In contrast, PM Modi and the Indian PMO shared the complete photograph, showing all participating leaders, including Sharif. The move drew criticism and was widely viewed as a symbolic diplomatic gesture amid continuing India-Pakistan tensions. Sharif later shared the full photograph following the backlash. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there can be no double standards on terrorism, calling it a grave challenge to humanity, at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, China, on Monday. Speaking in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Modi said terrorism was a common threat and called for dismantling its entire ecosystem, including financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens. He urged SCO member states to act against countries that use terrorism as a policy instrument or provide shelter to terrorists. Modi also called for greater cooperation on security, connectivity and regional development.   

4 Indian-origin people from Texas remain missing after devastating floods near the Nepal-Tibet border, a non-profit organisation said, as it launched a USD 100,000 relief drive. Deepak and Madhu Ahuja lost contact while returning from a Mount Kailash pilgrimage near Gyirong Port, while Archana Suresh and Raghu Rajan remain unaccounted for in the Rasuwagadhi-Timure area. Texas-based Sewa International USA said it raised over USD 55,000 within 24 hours and opened a missing persons portal. The organisation has sent tarpaulins, food, medical supplies and oral rehydration packets to flood-hit communities. (PC: HT)

Actor Sonu Sood has reached flood-hit Nepal to support victims of the devastating disaster, urging people worldwide to come forward and help those who have lost homes and loved ones. Speaking from the affected areas, Sood said the scale of destruction was clear on the ground and stressed the need for immediate assistance. His team is working with several organisations to understand the challenges faced by survivors and ensure help reaches them. Sharing pictures after meeting locals, he said, “Nepal, you are not alone.” Nepal’s floods have killed 1,093 people, with nearly 4,000 still missing and over 11,900 rescued.