The Russian Orthodox Church has sent a fragment of medieval Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy’s remains toward Russian military units fighting in Ukraine, presenting the relic as a source of spiritual strength for soldiers. The Donskoy relic sent to Russian troops comes as fighting continues around Donetsk and the Church maintains its public support for Moscow’s military campaign. Donetsk The Mos

New Delhi is preparing a carefully planned cultural programme for the spouses and family members accompanying BRICS leaders, combining India’s political heritage, traditional crafts, modern art and hospitality. The BRICS Delhi cultural tour will run alongside summit-related engagements as India hosts the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12 and 13, 2026. The programme is expected to take visiting family members beyond the

With the BRICS summit in New Delhi approaching, uncertainty continues over whether Chinese President Xi Jinping will travel to India for the high-profile gathering. Beijing has yet to officially confirm Xi’s participation, and there is also no announcement on a possible bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. China’s foreign ministry said it had no official information to share regarding the president’s travel plans. If Xi attends the summit, it would mark his fir

Restaurant licenses and permits USA are governed mainly by state and local authorities. NRI buyers should verify food establishment approvals, health permits, zoning, occupancy, fire requirements, tax registrations and any liquor licensing before taking over a restaurant. Buying an operating restaurant does not guarantee that every license or pe

BRICS Summit 2026 arrives at a moment of unusual geopolitical pressure, placing India's chairmanship under a global spotlight. Wars, tariff threats, energy risks and India-China tensions will test New Delhi's ability to preserve BRICS unity while protecting strategic autonomy. SCO 2026 Sets the Stage for BRICS India will host the 18th BRICS Summit at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on September 12

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.

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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Bishkek on August 31 on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit. The Modi Pezeshkian meeting would be their first face-to-face interaction since the latest West Asia conflict erupted, putting India-Iran ties, energy security and regional stability firmly in focus. India Iran Ties Modi and Pezeshkian last met in person in October 2024 during the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. At that meeting, the leaders reviewed bilateral relations and highlighted the importance of the Chabahar Port project for trade links with Afghanistan and Central Asia. Their relationship has remained active despite the deterioration in regional security. The two leaders have spoken by phone several times during 2026, discussing developments in Iran and the wider region. India has consistently positioned itself as a partner of Iran while maintaining relationships with other major powers in West Asia. Hormuz Talks The Strait of Hormuz is expected to be one of the most important strategic issues surrounding the discussions. India depends heavily on secure maritime routes for energy imports, making any disruption in the Gulf a direct economic concern. During a March conversation with Pezeshkian, Modi stressed the importance of protecting Indian nationals and maintaining unhindered movement of energy and goods. He also reiterated India’s position that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. In another conversation in June, Modi again called for lasting regional stability and freedom of navigation and commerce. SCO Bishkek Summit The bilateral engagement comes as Bishkek hosts the 26th SCO Summit from August 31 to September 1. India’s government has confirmed that Modi will hold meetings with several SCO leaders on the sidelines while highlighting India’s priorities of security, connectivity and opportunity. The 2026 gathering also marks the SCO’s 25th anniversary. Iran, India, Russia, China and Pakistan are among the organisation’s 10 full members, giving the summit added geopolitical weight as several regional conflicts remain unresolved. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also attending the Bishkek gathering, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is among the other major leaders expected to participate. Energy Security Energy cooperation remains central to India-Iran relations. New Delhi has repeatedly stressed that instability in West Asia can affect fuel supplies, shipping costs and the broader Indian economy. Connectivity is another major issue. Chabahar Port gives India a strategic route toward Afghanistan and Central Asia that bypasses Pakistan, making the project important for both commerce and regional connectivity. The two sides are therefore expected to review trade, transport links and wider economic cooperation alongside the security situation. Dialogue and Diplomacy India is likely to continue urging de-escalation rather than taking sides in the conflict. Modi has repeatedly told Pezeshkian that New Delhi supports dialogue and diplomacy while calling for the protection of civilians, infrastructure and international shipping routes. The Bishkek interaction would also carry significance ahead of further BRICS engagement. Pezeshkian has previously supported a larger role for organisations such as BRICS and the SCO in addressing regional challenges. For India, the meeting provides an opportunity to protect practical interests—energy supplies, maritime security, connectivity and the safety of Indian nationals—while maintaining a diplomatic channel with Tehran during one of the most unstable periods in recent West Asian politics.

The US government is considering a proposal that could restrict or end work authorization for certain H-4 spouses of H-1B visa holders. No rule has taken effect yet, and current H-4 EAD holders can continue working unless a formal policy change is finalized. Thousands of families living in the United States on H-1B visas could face a major financial and career setback if the federal government moves ahead with a proposal affecting employment rights for certa

H-4 EAD rules changed significantly before 2026. Eligible H-4 spouses can still apply for work authorization, but most renewal applications filed on or after October 30, 2025 no longer automatically extend an expiring EAD. Here are the current rules applicants and workers need to understand. Last updated: August 30, 2026 Eligible H-4 spouses can still apply for employment authorization in the United States, but an important EAD renewal rule changed before 2026.

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

The latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 featured a warm and entertaining conversation as host Amitabh Bachchan shared a few light-hearted details about his life at home with wife Jaya Bachchan. The discussion began after New Delhi homemaker Preeti Raj reached the hot seat and spoke about shopping, food habits and everyday household matters. During the conversation, Preeti asked Amitabh whether he helps with household work when domestic staff members are unavailable. The veter

Family members in India can send money for a relative's medical treatment in the US under RBI rules. Medical remittances have specific LRS provisions, documentation requirements and 2026 TCS rules, while very large transfers may also create US reporting obligations. Can family in India pay US medical expenses? Yes. A resident individual in India can remit money abroad for medic

The Kharge Vande Mataram row intensified on Tuesday, August 18, as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge defended the version of the national song followed by his party and rejected BJP allegations of disrespect. The dispute has also fuelled a wider Congress-BJP clash as Kharge focuses on strengthening the party in Goa ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Vande Mataram Row Intensifies Kharge t

A reported Trump Air Force One Iran threat has drawn fresh scrutiny after US intelligence reportedly detected a credible risk to the president's aircraft while he was leaving Ankara following the NATO summit. Donald Trump has since confirmed that the Secret Service and military ordered him onto another aircraft because of a threat. Ankara threat triggered extraordinary security response The security operation unfolded on July 8 as Trump

Jake Whisenant, a 30-year-old Yosemite speed climber from Mammoth Lakes, died after a climbing-related incident in the Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness. He was known for record-setting El Capitan ascents, including Lurking Fear. Jake Whisenant, a 30-year-old California climber known for high-speed ascents of major Yosemite routes, died August 3 following a climbing-related incident in the Sequoia-K

PM Modi, Gandhis join Revati Sule’s wedding reception The wedding reception of NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule’s daughter, Revati Sule, brought several of India’s leading political figures together in Delhi on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the prominent guests who attended the reception at the Pawar family’s residence at 6, Janpath. Revati, the daughter of Supriya Sule and granddaughter of NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, married Sarang Lakhani. The newlyweds welcomed the guests, posed for photographs and received their blessings during the evening. Leaders from different parties attend The guest list included RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Several chief ministers and senior representatives from national and regional parties also attended. Photographs from the event showed Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra greeting the couple and interacting with members of the Pawar family. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda shared pictures from the reception. The photographs included his meetings with Sharad Pawar, the newlyweds, Praful Patel and Jitendra Awhad. Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule personally received guests as leaders from different political parties arrived to congratulate Revati and Sarang. Wedding celebrations attract political attention The reception took place a day after the wedding ceremony, which was also attended by several senior leaders. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann were among those present. One photograph showing Prime Minister Modi, Sharad Pawar and Amit Shah seated near one another attracted particular attention. The image appeared amid recent engagements between the NCP (SP) leadership and the central government. However, no formal political meeting was announced during the private celebration. The presence of leaders from rival parties highlighted the Pawar family’s wide political relationships. Sharad Pawar has worked with politicians across different parties during his long public career. Although the gathering attracted attention because of its high-profile guest list, it remained a family celebration. Leaders attended to congratulate the newlyweds and spend time with the Pawar family. The reception offered a rare sight of political rivals meeting away from election campaigns and parliamentary debates. From Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah to the Gandhi family and regional leaders, the event brought many prominent political personalities together under one roof.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said the government is ready for a detailed discussion in Parliament over the July 20 student protest and the police response in Delhi. He said Home Minister Amit Shah is prepared to respond, even as Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders continue to demand accountability and a court-monitored investigation. Rijiju Says Government Ready for Discussion