A powerful El Nino is strengthening across the tropical Pacific and could become the most intense event recorded during four decades of World Meteorological Organization monitoring. The WMO says there is a nearly 100% likelihood that the event will persist through February 2027, with major implications for global temperatures, rainfall and extreme weather. El Nino 2026 could reach exceptional strength

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked India for supporting efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war after meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Kyiv. Their talks covered possible paths to peace, Black Sea shipping security and wider India-Ukraine cooperation. Zelensky thanks India for Ukraine peace efforts Zelensky met Jaishankar in Kyiv on September 3 during what the Ukra

Afghanistan’s mineral wealth has emerged as a key part of the Taliban government’s attempt to improve relations with the United States. Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi says Kabul would welcome American investment in mining, infrastructure, agriculture and trade while seeking sanctions relief and access to frozen Afghan central bank reserves. Afghanistan mineral wealth becomes Taliban’s US pitch

Chinese President Xi Jinping has used his state visit to Egypt to call for a new Middle East security architecture, urging regional countries to resist external interference and take greater control of their own security decisions. His visit comes as China seeks a larger diplomatic and economic role in a region unsettled by the US-Iran conflict. Xi Jinping calls for new Middle East security order

The Himalayas face a growing danger from glacial floods as warming temperatures destabilize glaciers and expand high-altitude lakes. UN officials and Chinese authorities have warned that millions of people across Nepal, China and India could face more destructive events in the years ahead. Himalayan glacial floods threaten mountain communities Concerns have intensified following the catastrophi

Tyler Robinson will stand trial on an aggravated murder charge in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk after a Utah judge ruled prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to move the case forward. Robinson pleaded not guilty, while prosecutors continue to seek the death penalty. Tyler Robinson trial moves forward Utah District Judge Tony Graf ruled on September 1 that prosecutor

Netflix is preparing to release The Decoy Plane, a new Instadocs documentary examining President Donald Trump’s secret aircraft switch during his July 2026 trip to Turkey. The film uses firsthand accounts to explore the security operation, the role of the press corps and why reporters continued aboard what effectively became a decoy plane. Trump secret plane switch in Turkey The incident took

The SCO Summit 2026 remains at the centre of global attention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds high-level meetings in Bishkek. Modi’s talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin focused on bilateral ties and the need for dialogue to resolve conflicts, while Nepal continues a massive flood rescue operation and Pakistan sees fresh political chatter around Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Pakistan’s food crisis is increasingly visible at the household level, with official data showing families consuming less of many everyday foods while food insecurity continues to rise. The decline in milk, meat, rice and other staples suggests that affordability is reshaping diets and pushing more households toward cheaper sources of calories.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. The Modi Pezeshkian meeting focused on India-Iran ties, the West Asia conflict, maritime security, trade and the need for lasting regional peace. India Iran Ties The two leaders revi

Austria recorded an estimated 646 heat-related deaths during June and July 2026, the highest figure documented for the two-month period. The Austria heat deaths record comes as extreme temperatures, drought and rising heat-health risks place growing pressure on vulnerable people and public services. June-July Heat Toll Austria's Agency for Health and Food Safety, known as AGES, estimated 646 he

The Trump Canada trade war has entered a sharper phase after negotiations between Washington and Ottawa collapsed and new US tariffs took effect. Canada is preparing dollar-for-dollar retaliation from September 8, adding fresh pressure to one of the world's largest and most integrated trading relationships. Canada Tariffs The United States imposed tariffs of up to 50% on a new group of Canadian

The Nepal Tibet floods have become one of the Himalayan region's deadliest disasters in years, with the latest reports on August 29 putting the combined death toll at more than 630. Thousands remain missing as rescue teams search devastated villages, hydropower sites and transport corridors after a massive glacial collapse. Glacial Collapse Disaster The disaster began on August 26 when a catast

The SCO Bishkek 2026 summit will bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders to Kyrgyzstan as the organisation marks its 25th anniversary. Modi-Putin talks and wider regional security issues are expected to draw particular attention. Bishkek Summit The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will hold its Council of Heads of Sta

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is beginning a significant diplomatic stretch with visits to Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan ahead of India's BRICS Summit in September. The Modi SCO BRICS diplomacy agenda places security, connectivity, bilateral relations and wider Global South cooperation at the centre of India's engagement. Modi Tashkent Visit Prime Minister Modi will visit Tashkent on August 29 and 3

Russia’s Defence Ministry said on August 28, 2026, that a Russia mobile ICBM test from Plesetsk sent training warheads to the Kura range in Kamchatka. The drill also tested Plesetsk launch procedures, mobile TEL readiness, solid fuel ICBM performance and missile flight characteristics.   Plesetsk launch The Russian Defence Ministry said the Strategic Missile Forces carried out a combat-training launch from the Pl

Mumbai will host the second edition of the Global Impact Forum on September 5 and 6, bringing together diplomats, business leaders, scholars, artists and investors from BRICS countries ahead of the bloc’s leaders’ summit in New Delhi. The two-day event, titled Global Impact Forum II: Civilisational Legacy, will be held at The Taj Mahal Palace. It will be the forum’s first edition in India and is expected to serve as a cultural and economic platform in the run-up to the BRICS S