Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Vijay, Ajith, BRICS Tensions and India’s Changing Frontiers
Vijay and Ajith Kumar are famous Tamil movie stars who will appear at the same racing event in London.
Vijay is now involved in politics, while Ajith has mostly stayed away from politics.
At a BRICS meeting, Narendra Modi met Vladimir Putin and was expected to discuss important issues with Xi Jinping.
India wants good relations with Russia and is also trying to improve ties with China.
India and China still disagree about their border and about how BRICS should work.
In Punjab, small drones are being used to move illegal goods across the border with Pakistan.
Local villagers are helping officials notice suspicious drones.
Another article says a caste census could show inequalities that official records have not fully measured.
A movie review says Haiwaan has good moments but becomes confusing because it mixes too many kinds of stories.
Vijay and Ajith Kumar are set to share the spotlight at Silverstone, reflecting their contrasting paths in cinema, politics and motorsport.
Narendra Modi’s BRICS meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping focused, or are expected to focus, on defence, energy, trade, border tensions and economic ties.
Small drones are increasingly being used along Punjab’s Pakistan border to deliver drugs, weapons and other contraband.
India and China are seeking to ease border tensions while disagreeing over whether BRICS should be anti-Western or simply non-Western.
A caste census is presented as a debate about making social inequalities and dominant groups’ privileges visible, while Haiwaan receives criticism for an uneven story.
- Who
- Narendra Modi, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Vijay, Ajith Kumar, border security agencies, villagers in Punjab, and the makers and cast of Haiwaan are among those featured.
- What
- The briefing covers a BRICS summit, India-China relations, drone smuggling, the caste-census debate, a Tamil cinema meeting at Silverstone, and a review of Haiwaan.
- When
- The items appear in the day's edition; the BRICS meetings take place during the summit, while Vijay and Ajith Kumar are scheduled to appear at Silverstone.
- Where
- The events involve the BRICS summit, the India-China border, Punjab's border with Pakistan, and Silverstone in London.
- Why
- The stories address efforts to manage India’s relationships with Russia and China, counter new smuggling methods, examine inequality, and assess a new film.
Arguments and Support
Concerns and Counterviews
BRICS’s global role
Arguments and Support
India sees BRICS as a non-Western platform and wants cooperation with China on trade and global governance.
Concerns and Counterviews
China and Russia have pushed for BRICS to become a stronger counterweight to the West, a direction India does not fully share.
Caste enumeration
Arguments and Support
Supporters argue that a caste census would measure inequality, reveal privileges and improve representation in official data.
Concerns and Counterviews
The article describes resistance to caste enumeration, particularly from groups that may fear their existing advantages becoming more visible.
Haiwaan’s execution
Arguments and Support
The film has an intriguing premise, strong performances and moments of suspense.
Concerns and Counterviews
The review argues that its action, drama, comedy, characters and subplots become uneven and prevent the film from being fully satisfying.
- BRICS discussions
- Narendra Modi’s meeting with Vladimir Putin covered defence, energy and trade.
- India-China talks
- Talks with Xi Jinping are expected to address the border situation and economic ties.
- BRICS debate
- India favors a non-Western platform, while China and Russia have pushed for a stronger counterweight to the West.
- Drone smuggling
- Small drones are being used to drop drugs, weapons and other contraband along Punjab’s border with Pakistan.
- Caste census
- The opinion article argues that enumeration would make inequalities and dominant groups’ privileges more visible.
- Haiwaan
- The film stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan and is described as a remake of the Malayalam thriller Oppam.