PM Modi Gifts Putin Tamil Classic Thirukkural at BRICS Summit Bilateral Meet

Amid rain in Delhi, PM Modi-Putin begin pre-BRICS meet

Bombay HC Questions Pune-Only Liquor Ban During Ganeshotsav, Cites Lack of Rationale

The Bombay High Court has challenged a liquor ban imposed specifically in Pune during the Ganeshotsav festival, questioning why the restriction targets only that city. The bench found no clear link between the ban and law-and-order concerns, calling the order irrational. The court also raised health concerns, warning that abruptly cutting off alcohol access could send habitual drinkers to hospital. Judges questioned what message authorities intended to send by singling out Pune, suggesting the order may carry an unwarranted bias against the city.

China Says Ready to Manage Differences Ahead of Modi-Xi BRICS Meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. Beijing has signaled its willingness to manage bilateral differences ahead of the high-stakes encounter. This marks Xi's first visit to India since 2019, making it a diplomatically significant occasion. The meeting represents the most substantial step so far in a gradual and cautious improvement in relations between the two neighboring countries.

Trump's Pressure on BRICS Nations May Be Boosting the Bloc's Global Relevance

US President Donald Trump has adopted an aggressive stance toward BRICS member nations, attempting to coerce them into alignment with American interests. However, analysts argue that this pressure strategy may be producing the opposite of its intended effect. Rather than weakening the bloc, Trump's confrontational approach is reportedly strengthening solidarity among BRICS members. The external pressure is giving the grouping a renewed sense of purpose and geopolitical relevance that its own internal dynamics had struggled to generate.