Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the BRICS summit, seizing the opportunity to engage with world leaders, particularly India's PM Modi in Delhi, to reduce Tehran's diplomatic and economic isolation. Iran, a new BRICS member, seeks stronger trade ties and alternatives to Western sanctions. Pezeshkian, a reformist, aims to leverage multilateral platforms to boost Iran's global standing, attract investment, and diversify partnerships beyond China and Russia, signaling a pragmatic shift in Iranian foreign policy amid ongoing nuclear tensions with the West.

Actor-politician Paresh Rawal defended the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony held in Kevadia, Gujarat, after criticism over the venue choice. Responding to those questioning why the event wasn't held in Delhi, Rawal sarcastically asked, "Is Gujarat in Pakistan?" He argued that decentralizing such events benefits the country and there's nothing wrong with hosting them outside the capital. Critics alleged the move was politically motivated, favoring PM Modi's home state. The awards were held near the Statue of Unity.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor arrived in Imphal, Manipur, marking a significant diplomatic visit as India hosts the BRICS Summit, drawing global leaders to the country. Gor's visit to the northeastern state highlights growing US interest in India's strategic regions. The BRICS Summit brings together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and newly added members to discuss economic cooperation, geopolitical issues, and multilateral partnerships. Gor's Imphal visit underscores US-India ties beyond the summit.

A recent MOSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) report reveals that just 50 districts contribute nearly one-third of India's informal economy output. These districts, primarily from states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh, house significant concentrations of unregistered micro-enterprises in manufacturing, trade, and services. The findings highlight stark regional disparities in informal sector activity. This data is crucial for policymakers aiming to formalize the economy through targeted interventions, financial inclusion, and skill development programs in these high-density informal economy hubs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted a Russian translation of the ancient Tamil literary classic 'Thirukkural' to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the BRICS Summit. The Thirukkural, authored by the revered Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar, is a timeless collection of 1,330 couplets covering ethics, governance, and love. The gesture symbolized India's rich cultural heritage and strengthened Indo-Russian ties. The BRICS Summit brought together leaders of major emerging economies to discuss global cooperation and development.

A recent MOSPI (Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation) report reveals that just 50 districts out of India's 700+ districts contribute nearly one-third of the country's informal economy output. These districts are primarily urban and semi-urban hubs with high concentrations of unregistered enterprises in manufacturing, trade, and services. The findings highlight stark regional disparities in informal sector activity. This data, drawn from the Unincorporated Enterprise Survey, underscores the need for targeted policy interventions, formalization efforts, and credit access in these key districts to boost productivity and integrate informal workers into the mainstream economy, improving livelihoods and GDP accounting accuracy.

**BRICS Summit Live Updates**

PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held bilateral talks in Kazan, Russia, ahead of the 16th BRICS Summit. Modi emphasized diplomacy and dialogue for resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating "this is not an era of war." Putin briefed Modi on the ground situation. The summit, hosted by Russia, focused on multipolarity, economic cooperation, and expanding BRICS, which now includes new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Key discussions covered de-dollarization and global governance reform.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan, Russia, ahead of the 16th BRICS Summit. The bilateral talks focused on strengthening trade, defence cooperation, and economic ties between India and Russia. Modi emphasized diplomatic solutions to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, urging peace and dialogue. Both leaders discussed boosting energy partnerships, defence supplies, and expanding bilateral trade. The BRICS Summit also saw discussions on multipolarity, de-dollarization, and expanding the bloc's global influence with new member nations joining.

DMK president M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his intervention to fill 1,857 vacant super-speciality medical seats across India. Stalin highlighted that these seats in DM and MCh courses remain unfilled due to procedural delays and lack of a centralized counselling mechanism. He stressed that leaving such seats vacant undermines healthcare delivery and wastes precious medical education resources, especially when India faces a shortage of super-specialist doctors. Stalin called for immediate government action to streamline admissions.

The 2026 BRICS Summit is underway, with Indian PM Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin set to hold a crucial bilateral meeting on the sidelines. The talks are expected to cover trade, energy cooperation, the Ukraine conflict, and strengthening multilateral ties. The summit, hosted by Brazil as the rotating chair, brings together leaders from expanded BRICS nations, including China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE. Key agendas include de-dollarization, global governance reform, and South-South cooperation.

Five militants belonging to the banned Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) were killed during a security operation in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistani security forces conducted the counter-terrorism operation in response to rising militant activities in the region. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the site. ISKP, an affiliate of ISIS active in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, has been responsible for numerous deadly attacks. Pakistan continues intensified military operations to combat terrorism, particularly in its northwestern tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, where militant groups frequently target security personnel and civilians.

The BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, saw PM Narendra Modi engage in key bilateral meetings. Modi held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing trade, defense, and the Ukraine conflict, urging diplomacy for peace. He also met Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, focusing on the Chabahar port deal and regional stability amid Middle East tensions. A meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres covered climate change, global reforms, and multilateralism. The summit emphasized expanding BRICS' global influence.

The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Delhi government and the Centre on a plea demanding the constitution of the Delhi Waqf Board. The petitioner argued that the board has been non-functional, affecting the management and protection of Waqf properties in Delhi. Without a properly constituted board, encroachments and misuse of Waqf assets continue unchecked. The court issued notices to both authorities, seeking their stands on the matter, and scheduled the next hearing for a future date. The plea highlights administrative neglect impacting the Muslim community's charitable and religious properties.

The 2026 BRICS Summit is being hosted by India, with Delhi decorated to welcome world leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian have arrived ahead of bilateral meetings with PM Narendra Modi. This marks a significant diplomatic moment, especially Putin's visit amid ongoing global tensions over the Russia-Ukraine war. The summit brings together BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa—and newly added members to discuss trade, security, and multipolarity.

# IRCTC पर AI का कमाल: ट्रेन बुकिंग अब पूरी तरह ऑटोमेटेड!

एक टेक क्रिएटर ने सोशल मीडिया पर वीडियो शेयर कर दिखाया कि AI एजेंट ने IRCTC वेबसाइट पर बिना किसी मानवीय मदद के पूरी ट्रेन टिकट बुकिंग प्रोसेस खुद पूरी कर ली। AI ने स्टेशन सर्च करना, ट्रेन चुनना, यात्री डिटेल्स भरना, क्लास और कोटा सेलेक्ट करना जैसे सभी काम ऑटोमैटिकली किए। यह वीडियो वायरल हो गया और लोगों ने AI की क्षमता की तारीफ की। हालांकि पेमेंट स्टेप पर मानवीय हस्तक्षेप जरूरी रहा। यह दिखाता है कि AI अब रोजमर्रा के जटिल टास्क भी आसानी से संभाल सकता है।