India has sent 21 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Kabul after a powerful earthquake killed at least 1,411 people in Afghanistan. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the delivery, which included tents, blankets, medicines, hygiene kits, sleeping bags, generators, water purifiers, and wheelchairs. The 6.3 magnitude quake struck late Sunday night, with most deaths reported in Kunar province. Over 3,000 people were injured, and many remote areas remain cut off. Rescue work is difficult due to damaged roads and aftershocks. India said it will continue to monitor the situation and send more relief in the coming days. (PC: India Today)

Students in Odisha have made a 70 kg chocolate sculpture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his birthday on September 17. The artwork used 55 kg of dark chocolate and 15 kg of white chocolate. Fifteen students from Bhubaneswar’s Club Chocolate baking school created it in seven days under the guidance of Rakesh Kumar Sahu and Ranjan Parida. The sculpture includes symbols of government programmes like Ujjwala Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, and Operation Sindoor. It also highlights ISRO’s achievements. The school said it is the first time such a chocolate sculpture of PM Modi has been made. (PC: NDTV)

Heavy rains continue to batter North India, causing floods, landslides, and road closures. The IMD has issued a red alert for Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, warning of very heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, and flash floods. In Himachal’s Kullu, a landslide damaged houses, with two people feared trapped. In Jammu, a woman and her daughter died after a house collapse. Schools and colleges in Punjab and Kashmir have been shut till September 7. Over 10,000 people were evacuated in Delhi after the Yamuna crossed the danger mark. Rescue teams are working across affected states to save lives. (PC: Hindustan Times)

US Congressman Ro Khanna has strongly criticised President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 50% tariffs on Indian imports. He said the duties are harsher than those on China and threaten three decades of bipartisan work to strengthen US-India ties. In a post on X, Khanna claimed Trump acted out of anger because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize, stating, “Trump is destroying 30 years of bipartisan work to build the US-India strategic partnership because Modi refuses to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize." He warned the tariffs could hurt Indian exports and push India closer to China and Russia. Khanna urged Indian-Americans who supported Trump to speak out against his policies and defend the partnership. (PC: AP)

US President Donald Trump has criticised India’s trade policies, calling the relationship “one-sided.” Speaking at the Oval Office, Trump said, “We get along with India very well, but for many years, it was a one-sided relationship. India was charging us tremendous tariffs, about the highest in the world.” He cited Harley-Davidson as an example, saying the company faced a 200% duty on motorcycles. Trump argued that his reciprocal tariffs are helping bring companies back to the US. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded that India will never compromise on farmers’ and small industries’ interests, despite global pressure. (PC: AP, PTI)

The GST Council, led by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is meeting today to discuss big changes in the tax system. The council may move from four slabs to just two – 5% and 18%. Many daily-use items could become cheaper as goods in the 12% slab may shift to 5%. Items in the 28% slab could move to 18%. A “sin tax” of 40% will stay on luxury cars and tobacco. The government says cheaper goods will boost spending, especially among the middle class. Opposition states, however, have raised concerns about revenue loss and are asking for compensation. (PC: NDTV)

The Union Home Ministry has said that Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who entered India till December 31, 2024, can stay without a passport. The order, under the new Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, gives relief to minorities who came due to religious persecution. It does not give them citizenship but allows legal stay. Earlier, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) covered only those who entered India before 2014. This new rule will help many, especially Hindus from Pakistan, who crossed after 2014 and were unsure of their future. (PC: HT)

Indian adventurer Yogesh Alekari, known online as Roaming Wheels, embarked on a solo motorcycle world tour from Mumbai on May 1, 2025, traversing over 24,000 km across 17 countries over 118 days . His adventure hit a tragic roadblock in Nottingham, England, on August 28, when his KTM 390 Adventure—along with passport, camera gear, laptop, cash, and clothing—was stolen in broad daylight at Wollaton Park . CCTV footage shows thieves riding away on mopeds . Shocked and heartbroken, Alekari pleaded for help via social media, as Nottinghamshire Police continue inquiries but have offered only a crime reference number so far. (PC: NDTV)

In Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, a massive landslide triggered by continuous heavy rainfall forced the evacuation of 15 houses as a precautionary measure. Local authorities, along with the district administration, moved residents to safer locations to avoid casualties. The incident highlights the state’s growing vulnerability to natural disasters during the monsoon season. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heavy rainfall alert for several districts, warning of possible landslides, flash floods, and road blockages. Rescue teams remain on high alert, with disaster management authorities monitoring the situation and carrying out safety measures in vulnerable areas. (PC: ANI)

India and Russia are discussing new deliveries of S-400 missile systems, a senior Russian defence official confirmed. India signed a $5.5 billion deal with Moscow in 2018 for five S-400 systems to counter China’s military strength. The final two units from that order will arrive in 2026 and 2027. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised India for not giving in to US pressure to halt purchases from Russia. Despite rising imports from France and Israel, Russia remains India’s largest defence supplier, accounting for 36% of imports between 2020 and 2024, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. (PC: India Today)