PM Modi Set for Central Asia Visit as New Delhi Prepares to Host 18th BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic from August 29 to September 1 for bilateral talks. New Delhi is set to host the 18th BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13. Sarnath has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, taking India's total to 45 sites. Flash floods in Nepal have claimed 165 lives, with more than 800 people missing; at least 288 Indians remain unaccounted for. The USGS said a glacial collapse triggered the floods. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has launched the Uttar Pradesh Startup Mission portal and UP Startup Policy 2026. Union Minister Piyush Goyal concluded a Japan visit focused on investment in India's semiconductor and technology sectors. India's sugar sector strengthens on higher output, ethanol diversification and timely payments to farmers. Security has been tightened at the disputed Krishna Janmabhoomi-Shahi Idgah site as Mathura officials flagged 'Kar Seva' concerns before the Allahabad HC. The IIT Delhi student death probe panel now has retired HC Justice Mukta Gupta as chairperson, replacing former DGP Ashok Kumar. The RBI's USD-INR swap facility triggered major forex inflows as banks raised USD 73 billion in 11 weeks. Country music icon Dolly Parton died at the age of 80. The Dalai Lama offered condolences over deaths caused by floods in Tibet and Nepal. The RSS said Mohan Bhagwat's New York event was organised in the spirit of open dialogue. India won the Test series against Sri Lanka 1-0.