Politics

Ahead of the winter season, the Delhi government announced multiple measures aimed at controlling anticipated air pollution levels. These plans include intensifying the 'No PUCC, No Fuel' policy and conducting a strict drive against 'end-of-life' vehicles at all 500 petrol pumps. Furthermore, the government plans to introduce 150 more electric buses and conduct fitness checks for 2.5 lakh vehicles through three Automated Testing Stations. Other announced measures include doubling parking fees and implementing a ban on construction and demolition activities.

By-elections are scheduled for the Nandigram and Rejinagar Assembly constituencies on October 6. The last date for filing nominations is September 16. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari asserted that BJP candidate Hasirani Rath, mother of his aide Chandranath Rath, will win the Nandigram bypoll by a record margin. Adhikari also directed minority voters in both seats to decide whether they support the state's BJP government. The Nandigram by-election was necessitated after Adhikari vacated the seat and retained Bhabanipur.

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell returned to the U.S. Senate on Monday, marking his first appearance since suffering a fall at his home. The senator was absent from the Capitol for several months following the incident. Sources confirm that he resumed duties by casting votes in the Senate. One source notes his return occurred after an absence beginning around June 14, while another specifies his first vote was cast since June 11. McConnell's prolonged absence generated speculation regarding his health.

Iran's mission to the United Nations in Vienna reported that the Islamic Republic had been elected to the General Committee of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference. This election occurred despite efforts by the United States to prevent the selection. According to both PressTV and IRNA, Iran stated that a US bid to block its membership on an IAEA committee had failed. The reports confirm the successful election for Iran's participation in the IAEA General Committee.

The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s request concerning restrictions on mail-in voting for the midterm general election. Separately, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing new U.S. Postal Service rules that would tighten mail-in voting requirements. These actions occurred as Republicans sought to retain control of both houses of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections. The rulings were seen by proponents of the restrictions as an unlawful intrusion into election administration.

Concerns over the potential for artificial intelligence to cause catastrophic harm have drawn attention from industry leaders and political figures. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei agreed with former employee Jacob Coxon's warning that AI development could pose a risk by the decade's end, clarifying that his criticism applied to the broader industry dynamic. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump dismissed these alarms on Monday, stating the U.S. already possesses guardrails to regulate and prosecute AI companies. The public alarm grew after Coxon resigned, citing belief in the potential danger of AI. Following calls for slowing development from major tech leaders, stocks fell worldwide.

The Pakistani government is implementing a special fuel relief scheme offering a Rs100 per litre discount on petrol to certain vehicle owners. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting directing authorities to ensure the registration process remains simple and accessible nationwide. However, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) rejected the government's statement regarding these measures. JI leader Liaquat Baloch stated that relief is not an alternative to abolishing the petroleum levy, accusing the government of spreading false information through the media.

The 18th BRICS Summit took place in New Delhi, focusing on the group's transition from a slogan to a practical platform for global governance. Discussions covered expanding cooperation across trade, payment systems, transport, and strategic autonomy. During the summit, Indian diplomat Sidharth Babu was seen translating Chinese President Xi Jinping during an exchange involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia used the event as an opportunity to deepen economic ties with non-Western powers and demonstrate engagement despite attempts at political isolation.

The UK government is planning to acquire Specialty Steel UK, a specialist steel manufacturer that liquidated in August 2025. The company previously supplied the auto, aero and defence industries and was once part of Liberty Steel, owned by Sanjeev Gupta. Business minister Jonathan Reynolds stated the move was necessary because the government could not allow the future of the company and its more than 1,300 jobs to be decided by default. While the government is moving towards public ownership, it noted that any purchase would be subject to due diligence and funding from existing budgets. Furthermore, reports indicate a Norwegian firm named Blastr had previously been in talks regarding an acquisition.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay visited the Silverstone Motor Racing Circuit in London, inspecting racing infrastructure and flagging off the 2026 Michelin Le Mans Cup race. The visit was part of a week-long trip to attract investments to Tamil Nadu, where the government plans to establish a world-class motor racing city. During his time at the circuit, Vijay met actor and driver Ajith Kumar. However, the maiden overseas trip has drawn criticism from opposition parties including DMK, Left parties, AIADMK, and BJP, who questioned its purpose and transparency.

During the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, leaders from China and India engaged in bilateral discussions focusing on deepening cooperation. Chinese analysts noted that China and India share objective interests in areas like AI applications, open-source technologies, and digital infrastructure. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed President Xi Jinping that India maintains an independent foreign policy. Following the meeting, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated that Beijing values PM Modi’s remarks and welcomed 'steady progress' in bilateral relations.

The BRICS Summit was hosted by India, taking place over two days in Delhi. During the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked all attending leaders for making the summit productive and outcome-oriented. Key discussions centered on strengthening cooperation to promote fair competition, with a primary focus on advancing sustainable energy transitions. Leaders who attended included Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Other attendees mentioned were Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney is exploring a closer relationship with the European Union. The report suggests that Carney wants his country to potentially become an "associate member" of the EU bloc. Furthermore, the news indicates that the EU may be open to granting Canada a yet-to-be-created status of associate membership. These reports detail Canada's interest in strengthening ties with the European Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin departed New Delhi on Sunday after participating in the two-day 18th BRICS Summit, which was hosted by India. During his visit, Putin attended two BRICS sessions and addressed the Leaders’ Session of the BRICS Business Forum. He criticized Western nations regarding state-level interference, stating Russia had faced more than 30,000 sanctions. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings in Delhi. Sources confirm that PM Modi met with Putin to discuss strengthening India-Russia ties and cooperation across several sectors. Another source reports that PM Modi also held a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned that the weaponisation of technology and critical minerals could hinder shared progress among BRICS nations. Speaking on Sunday during a summit in India, he stressed that the grouping must grow through cooperation and inclusive growth to meet global challenges. Addressing concerns about rising geopolitical tensions, PM Modi noted that crises like pandemics and climate disasters demonstrate how interconnected the world is. He called for strengthening BRICS solutions around resilience, innovation, cooperation, and sustainability, ensuring they benefit the Global South.

Asgarali Vohra, an 81-year-old man and former schoolmate of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Vadnagar, met with the Prime Minister on Tuesday, September 8. Mr. Vohra sought intervention regarding a years-long land dispute in Maharashtra, requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. The dispute involves property purchased by Vohra at Navghar in Bhayander East, Maharashtra, in 1989 through a registered agreement. He alleged that the property was encroached upon in 2011 by Swayam Builders and Seven Eleven Constructions, a company linked to BJP MLA Narendra Mehta. Furthermore, Vohra claimed that forged documents were drawn up and that the plot was falsely registered under both firms.

The Indian Congress party criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The criticism, voiced by Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, accused the PM of 'calibrated capitulation' to China. Ramesh questioned the PM regarding India's approach to Sino-Indian relations, specifically citing a clean chit given to China on June 19, 2020, and allowing territorial advances in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that during the talks at the BRICS summit, both leaders reaffirmed that peace and tranquility along the frontier remain an essential basis for development. Ramesh's remarks followed PM Modi conveying to President Xi that this peaceful relationship is crucial.

The BRICS Summit continued its proceedings in India's Mandapam, focusing on global issues like sustainable development. During the summit, a joint declaration was adopted that strongly denounced the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. This resolution called for a global zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and terrorist financing. Following this international development, Aishanya Dwivedi, whose husband lost his life in the attack, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raising the issue on the global platform. The summit also featured multiple bilateral meetings involving PM Modi with leaders from countries including South Africa and the Philippines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a 10-point roadmap for global governance reform under the BRICS framework.

At the 18th BRICS Summit Session held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the grouping. He called for a new and ambitious agenda for BRICS over the next 20 years, emphasizing the need to strengthen institutional mechanisms and reform global governance structures. PM Modi urged Global South countries to transition from being 'rule-takers' to 'rule-shapers' in areas like artificial intelligence and cyberspace. Furthermore, he launched two postage stamps commemorating 20 years of BRICS and announced the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026.