Evening news wrap: Xi expected to visit India for Brics summit; Mojtaba makes rare appearance & more

Evening news wrap

Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to attend the Brics summit in New Delhi on September 12-13 with around 400 officials, in what would be his first India visit in seven years. The expected visit comes as India and China work to stabilise ties after the 2020 border clashes, with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval currently in Beijing for boundary talks; however, Xi’s travel plans and any meeting with PM Modi have not yet been finalised. Read full story.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has appeared and spoken in a rare video after unconfirmed reports raised concerns about his health. The footage was released as speculation grew over his condition and prolonged absence from public view, although the video does not establish when or where it was recorded or independently confirm his current health. Read full story.

Student protests over alleged irregularities and paper-leak claims in the 70th BPSC examination intensified in Patna, with clashes reported as protesters marched towards Raj Bhavan. The unrest followed a BPSC officials controversial “dogs bark” remark, which sparked backlash from students and opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav; the Bihar government subsequently ordered Singh’s suspension. Read full story.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi have written to PM Modi seeking withdrawal of the existing caste census questionnaire. They argued that the current method of collecting caste data could produce inaccurate results and urged the government to revise the methodology to ensure a more comprehensive picture of caste demographics.

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China is developing hypersonic glide vehicles capable of launching air-to-air missiles at high-value US support aircraft such as surveillance and command-and-control planes, potentially from thousands of miles away. The technology could challenge the traditional assumption that such aircraft are safe when operating far behind the front lines, although targeting and guidance such long-range weapons remain major challenges. Read full story.