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Modi and Putin discuss India-Russia ties during high-level talks in Bishkek. The previous meeting occurred in New Delhi at the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit in December 2025. During their latest dialogue, they examined progress under the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership that shapes their bilateral relations. India and Russia work closely across various sectors including energy, defence, technology, and space. Both governments also aim to enhance trade and investments, addressing challenges such as logistics and payment systems that impact their commercial cooperation. Modi and Putin expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the 27th India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. This commission met in Moscow on August 24, just days before the Bishkek summit. The two nations aim to reach $100 billion in annual bilateral trade by 2030. According to Indian government data, bilateral trade hit $59.86 billion in the 2025-26 financial year, with Russian exports to India making up most of this total. Diplomacy and dialogue remain key in resolving conflicts.

Child protection efforts face mounting pressure from conflict, climate and digital abuse. The report reveals that nearly 19% of children worldwide now reside in conflict zones, up from about 10% in the 1990s. By late 2024, violence and conflict had displaced 48.8 million children globally. This figure is almost three times the roughly 17 million displaced in 2010. It includes children seeking asylum or refugees, as well as millions displaced within their own countries due to violence and conflict. Climate-related hazards continue to pose additional dangers. Almost half of all children—around 1.1 billion—face at least three overlapping climate threats. Nearly every child endures at least one such danger, according to UNICEF’s 2026 climate risk report. Over 4 million children are exposed to as many as six threats simultaneously. These hazards include drought, extreme heat, heatwaves, floods, fires, tropical storms, and sand and dust storms. Digital dangers intensify child protection issues The UN assessment highlights that digital environments have increased risks to children. Around one in three internet users worldwide is under 18. Annually, over 300 million children face online sexual exploitation and abuse, according to UN data. During the past year, at least 1.2 million children reported that artificial intelligence had created sexually explicit deepfakes of their images. Other online threats include cyberbullying, scams, identity theft, trafficking, and harmful content. A 2025 survey

During the state visit, India and Uzbekistan signed 11 agreements, memoranda, and related arrangements. These cover culture, higher education, scientific research, environmental protection, traditional medicine, tourism, geology, and mineral resources. The package also includes collaboration on archival work and an economic and financial dialogue. One agreement links Gujarat state with Uzbekistan’s Samarkand region. They also approved cooperation on diplomatic training and archaeological conservation at Fayaz Tepa and Kara Tepa Buddhist sites. Additional announcements came during the visit, focusing on payments, education, and environmental efforts. India pledged a $1 million grant for planting trees in the Aral Sea region. It also announced 100 Lal Bahadur Shastri scholarships for Hindi studies and a Sanskrit academic chair in Tashkent. NPCI International Payments and Uzbekistan’s National Interbank Processing Centre reached a commercial deal involving UPI. This will enable Indian UPI apps to scan Uzbekistan’s UZQR system for merchant transactions.

Rescue operations continue after deadly floods across Nepal and Tibet. The Nepalese authorities stated rescue teams have evacuated 10,451 individuals to safety, including 252 foreigners. Among those still missing are 592 foreigners and 933 workers involved in hydropower projects along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli routes. Officials recorded 267 injured people, while 156 have left medical care after treatment. Nepal has mobilized over 20,000 security personnel to carry out search, rescue, and relief efforts in affected districts. Helicopters are transporting survivors and supplies between isolated communities as well. The flood struck the Bhote Koshi River in Rasuwa District early on August 26. It swept through settlements along the riverbank, damaging homes, roads, bridges, hydropower facilities, and other vital infrastructure. Authorities explained that Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Gorkha experienced major impacts as floodwaters traveled through interconnected river systems. The disaster also affected Gyirong County in Tibet, where rescue teams continue to search mountain valleys and border areas. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the flood. Teams prioritize missing workers and remote locations Rescue efforts focus mainly on hydropower sites where many workers remain unaccounted for. The Nepal Army is working with tunnel rescue experts from India, China, and South Korea at several locations. Authorities say at least 90 people are trapped in multiple hydropower tunnels blocked by mud, rocks, and debris

Local Authorities and Communities Benefit from Rapid Response Following 5.1 Magnitude Quake in Longchang BEIJING / RankWire.AI / – According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, a 5.1-magnitude quake hit Longchang City in China’s Sichuan Province on Friday afternoon. The tremor took place at 1:13 p.m. Beijing time at a depth of 13 kilometers. Seismologists recorded the epicenter at 29.23 degrees north latitude and 105.22 degrees east longitude within Neijiang prefecture. The earthquake impacted Longchang City in Sichuan as local emergency agencies began initial assessments of the damage across the county.

ALGERIA / RankWire.AI / – Wildfires in northeastern Algeria claimed at least 12 lives and left 54 injured, officials reported on Wednesday night. The fatalities included five in Jijel, four in Bejaia, and three in Tizi Ouzou, according to Interior Minister Said Sayoud. Six of the injured are in critical condition, receiving intensive care after suffering burns. The fires spread across multiple provinces amid a severe heatwave impacting Algeria and other North African regions.

The Pakistan’s federal government released official figures confirming that 21,951 Pakistani nationals were deported from Gulf nations between March 1 and July 13, 2026. The data presented to the National Assembly shows these deportations stemmed from violations such as overstaying visas, illegal entries, drug-related offenses, forged documents, and participation in organized begging rings. The nearly 22,000 deported Pakistanis within four months highlight increased immigration enforcement in the Middle East.

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake near South Nias shakes parts of North and West Sumatra. Residents in several provinces felt the quake, though shaking levels differed by location. Authorities urged calm and advised relying on official earthquake updates. They recommended checking homes and buildings for cracks or structural damage. If another strong earthquake happens, residents should move to open areas. Officials also warned people near the coast to stay away from beaches after strong aftershocks, following safety protocols issued post-event.

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history. Government data reported 4,945 confirmed cases and 2,325 deaths as of Aug. 16. In the past 24 hours, health officials documented 101 new confirmed cases. The total death count now exceeds the 2,299 fatalities recorded during the Ebola outbreak from 2018 to 2020.

The earthquake caused considerable ground movement on steep terrains, resulting in falling rocks that affected local roads. Chipurson Valley has narrow pathways running through rugged mountains. The Gilgit-Baltistan administration closely monitored the affected communities and landslides as officials evaluated the immediate impact on infrastructure and settlements.