India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday advised citizens to “avoid travel to Nepal” until the situation improves. The advisory followed the resignation of Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli after violent protests that left at least 19 people dead. The MEA said, “Indian nationals presently in Nepal are advised to shelter indoors, avoid the streets, and follow safety guidelines from local authorities and the Embassy of India in Kathmandu.” It also issued emergency helpline numbers for stranded citizens. The situation remains tense as protests continue across Nepal. (PC: X)

White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has warned India over high tariffs and its growing energy ties with Russia. He called India the “Maharajah of tariffs” and said the country must “come around” in trade talks with the US or face consequences. Navarro claimed India is “profiteering” from cheap Russian oil and warned, “It won’t end well.” He contrasted India with US allies like Japan and the EU, which signed trade deals with Washington. His comments follow President Trump’s move to raise tariffs on Indian imports to 50%. Navarro’s repeated remarks have sparked pushback and fact-checks online. (PC: HT)

India issued an advisory for its citizens in Nepal after violent Gen Z protests left at least 20 dead and over 300 injured. The protests erupted after the government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Demonstrators clashed with police, who used bullets, tear gas, and water cannons. Curfews were imposed in Kathmandu and other cities, and the army was deployed. Nepal Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, taking responsibility. Later, the government withdrew the ban following intense pressure. India urged citizens to remain cautious and expressed sorrow over the deaths of many young protesters. (PC: India Today)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned Monday's terrorist attack in Jerusalem where two Palestinian gunmen killed six people and injured over 20 at a bus stop. The attackers opened fire during office hours at Ramot Junction before being shot dead by a soldier and armed civilian. Modi extended condolences to victims' families, reaffirming India's zero-tolerance terrorism policy. Five victims were identified: a 50-year-old man, woman in her fifties, and three men in their thirties. Spanish Foreign Ministry confirmed one Spanish citizen died. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned targeting of civilians. Israeli PM Netanyahu said forces were pursuing suspects who aided attackers. Police recovered multiple guns, ammunition, and a knife from the scene. (PC: NDTV) 

India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urged BRICS nations to stabilize the global economy and oppose unfair trade practices during a virtual summit addressing Trump administration tariff policies. Speaking at the Brazil-chaired meeting, Jaishankar called for protecting the rules-based global trading system while criticizing barriers linking trade to non-trade matters. Both India and Brazil face 50% Trump tariffs, among the world's highest. Jaishankar emphasized creating resilient supply chains and democratizing manufacturing across geographies. He highlighted how Ukraine and West Asia conflicts negatively impact Global South's food and energy security. Chinese President Xi Jinping echoed concerns about protectionism and trade wars disrupting the world economy, advocating multilateral cooperation without directly naming the US. (PC: The Caravan)

Three Indian startups—Agrowsure, Hexpressions, and lifeandlimb.ai—have been chosen among the world’s most promising startups. They work in agriculture, construction, and healthcare. The founders will present their ventures to investors at Imperial College London on September 9, as part of the Commonwealth Startup Fellowship. The programme, for startups from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, provided six months of mentoring, training, and access to funding. Agrowsure makes affordable farm machinery, Hexpressions builds eco-friendly modular homes, and lifeandlimb.ai develops advanced prosthetic hands. The fellowship helps these startups scale operations, create jobs, and solve pressing challenges in their regions. 

The United States has changed its visa rules, making it harder for Indians to book interviews abroad. From now on, all non-immigrant visa applicants must schedule appointments only in their country of citizenship or residence. This ends the earlier option of applying in countries like Singapore, Thailand, or Germany to escape long wait times in India. The change affects B1 and B2 visa applicants most, as wait times in India already stretch from 3.5 to 9 months. The US State Department said the rule applies globally. Only a few exceptions exist where the US lacks regular visa operations. (PC: NDTV)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Ukraine peace efforts, highlighting India's emerging role as a significant diplomatic mediator in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The conversation underscores India's strategic positioning as a neutral party capable of facilitating dialogue between conflicting nations. As global leaders seek sustainable solutions to end the prolonged war, India's diplomatic channels have become increasingly valuable due to its maintained relationships with both Russia and Western allies. Modi's engagement with Macron represents part of broader international efforts to establish peace frameworks and demonstrates how India is leveraging its unique geopolitical position to contribute meaningfully to conflict resolution and global stability initiatives.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy endorsed US tariffs on countries maintaining trade ties with Russia, calling it "the right idea" during an ABC News interview. Without naming India specifically, he supported measures against nations continuing Russian energy deals, describing Moscow's energy exports as Putin's "weapon against Ukraine." Zelenskyy criticized European partners for ongoing Russian energy purchases, stating "their losses must be felt" through sanctions and tariffs. His comments came after questions about PM Modi's SCO summit appearance with Chinese and Russian leaders. Meanwhile, Trump announced readiness to impose "second phase" sanctions on Russia. The US has imposed 50% tariffs on India, 25% reciprocal and 25% penalty for Russian oil purchases. (PC: ABC News)

The US has implemented a new visa rule requiring all non-immigrant visa applicants to schedule interviews only in their country of citizenship or legal residence, effective immediately. This policy change particularly affects Indians who previously practiced "visa shopping" - applying from countries like Thailand, Singapore, Germany, or Brazil to avoid lengthy wait times. The rule applies to all non-immigrant categories including tourism, business, student, and temporary worker visas. Applicants scheduling interviews outside their home country face greater difficulty qualifying, with non-refundable fees and significantly longer waits. Indian visa appointment wait times already extend three-and-a-half months at US consulates, and this rule is expected to further increase delays as more applicants must apply domestically.