Chinese President Xi Jinping and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali left New Delhi on Sunday after attending the two-day BRICS Summit hosted by India. The summit brought together leaders of the expanded BRICS grouping, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The meeting concluded with discussions on global growth, technology, climate, trade and cooperation among developing nations. BRICS members also adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and called for dialogue and diplomacy to address conflicts in West Asia. Modi said India’s BRICS presidency focused on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. (PC: HT)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted a gala dinner for BRICS leaders and delegates at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi during the opening day of the 2026 BRICS Summit. A 160-member ensemble of Indian and international artistes performed BRICS Symphony – One Rhythm, Many Cultures, showcasing the cultural diversity of BRICS nations. Indian classical dance forms including Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Odissi and Kathak were presented alongside traditional music from participating countries. The programme was coordinated by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and highlighted cultural exchange, shared heritage and people-to-people connections among BRICS members and partner countries. 

BRICS leaders have strongly condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms. In the New Delhi Declaration 2026, leaders called for a zero-tolerance approach and stressed the importance of international cooperation against terrorism. The declaration also expressed concern over the continuing escalation of tensions in West Asia, urging all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could worsen the situation. The leaders reiterated their support for resolving international disputes through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy during the BRICS Summit under India’s chairship. (PC: X)

Darjeeling tea exports have declined 46% over the past decade, falling from 3.95 million kg in 2015 to just 2.13 million kg in 2025. Production also dropped around 36%, from 8.76 million kg to 5.60 million kg. The prolonged 2017 Gorkhaland agitation severely disrupted exports, prompting overseas buyers to shift towards Nepalese tea. The industry now faces labour shortages, weak investment, rising production costs and financially struggling estates. At least nine tea gardens remain closed, while worker absenteeism has reportedly reached nearly 45%. Despite higher auction prices, producers say earnings remain below production costs, raising concerns over the future of Darjeeling’s iconic tea industry. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warm welcome during his 2014 visit to Gujarat during bilateral talks in New Delhi on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. Xi smilingly mentioned that Modi had received him in his home state on September 17, 2014, which was also Modi’s birthday, prompting a light-hearted reaction from the Indian Prime Minister. Xi noted that the two leaders have met 21 times over the years. Their discussions focused on stabilising India-China relations, addressing border issues and expanding economic and strategic cooperation. Both sides emphasised dialogue, mutual understanding and continued efforts to strengthen bilateral ties. 

Russian airstrikes killed nine people and injured dozens across Ukraine on Saturday, damaging civilian areas and critical infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched nearly 500 drones, accusing Moscow of increasingly targeting economic and logistical facilities. Attacks struck areas including Kramatorsk, Zviahel, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih and Odesa, with civilians among the casualties. Ukrainian officials warned that intensified attacks on power infrastructure and export facilities could make the coming winter extremely difficult. Infrastructure damage is estimated at nearly $10 billion this year, while disruptions to ports and the economy have reduced GDP. Zelenskyy also proposed talks with Putin, but Russia rejected the offer. (PC: AFP)

A Mumbai-based Air India captain in his 40s was found dead inside a hotel room in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj on Friday, a day before he was scheduled to operate a flight. The pilot had been staying at the hotel during a layover since Thursday. His brother alerted hotel staff after the captain stopped responding to phone calls. The room was locked from inside, and the hotel manager opened it using a master key. Police found the pilot unconscious and took him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. An autopsy was conducted, while police await the postmortem report to determine the cause of death. (PC: X)

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has urged AI companies to slow the development of increasingly powerful models, warning that safety measures may not be keeping pace with rapid advances. He proposed independent safety evaluators with access to AI companies, stronger industry-wide safety standards and greater international cooperation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman supported the idea of independent evaluators and said OpenAI would follow the approach. xAI CEO Elon Musk also backed Amodei’s call. The unusual agreement among major AI rivals comes amid growing concerns over AI misuse, cybersecurity incidents and the difficulty of controlling increasingly capable systems. (PC: India Today)

Newly declassified CIA presidential intelligence briefs have revealed that India was among several countries Osama bin Laden had considered targeting before the September 11, 2001 attacks. The CIA released more than 70 intelligence documents, covering the period from 1998 to 2001, to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11. A 1998 brief said bin Laden wanted to launch attacks against countries including India, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Uganda. The documents also show repeated warnings to U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush about al-Qaeda’s plans to attack American targets. (PC: NDTV)

Elena Rybakina defeated defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in the 2026 US Open women’s singles final to claim her first title at Flushing Meadows. The Kazakh player secured her third Grand Slam crown after previously winning Wimbledon in 2022 and the Australian Open earlier this year. Rybakina’s victory also confirmed her rise to the world No. 1 ranking, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign at the top. Sabalenka had been seeking a historic third consecutive US Open title, but Rybakina’s powerful serving, composure and consistent baseline play proved decisive in the closely contested final. (PC: Getty)