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New Delhi, Sept 12: The 18th BRICS Summit will begin today at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, with leaders from member nations, partner countries, and outreach invitees gathering under India’s Chairship to mark two decades of the grouping’s evolution, officials said on Saturday. India's BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability” , reflecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a people‑centric approach rooted in the spirit of “Humanity First” , according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Beyond these areas, the leaders will discuss ways to strengthen intra‑BRICS cooperation on shared priorities and exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual interest on Saturday and Sunday. Under India's Chairship this year, more than 350 meetings and high‑level engagements have been held in over 25 cities across India to further strengthen the BRICS strategic partnership across three fundamental pillars: political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people‑to‑people exchanges. Through these meetings and business‑to‑business and people‑to‑people initiatives, India's BRICS Chairship has advanced BRICS cooperation through practical, development‑oriented outcomes. "India is a founding member of BRICS and has previously held its Chairship three times in 2012, 2016 and 2021. India assumed its fourth BRICS Chairship on 1 January 2026. The year 2026 also marks a significant milestone as BRICS completes twenty years since its establishment," the MEA said in a statement. The BRICS logo for India’s Chairship blends tradition with modernity. The petals radiate the vibrant colours of BRICS member countries, highlighting their collective strength and unity. At the centre, the “Namaste” gesture captures India’s spirit of warmth, respect, and harmonious collaboration, according to the official statement. Also Read: PM Modi Meets Iranian President Pezeshkian, Calls for Lasting Peace in West Asia BRICS comprises Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. BRICS partner countries are: Belarus, Cuba, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. BRICS cooperation continues to broaden its scope across various global issues, including the fight against terrorism, climate change, food and energy security, the international economic and financial situation, telecommunications, agriculture, labour and employment, international financial architecture, trade, and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). -- IANS

Bhubaneswar, Sept 11: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police on Friday detained three persons from a private hotel in West Bengal’s Digha for questioning in connection with the rescue of five orangutans from Baleshwar district in Odisha. Three persons detained by the Odisha STF from a private hotel in Digha, West Bengal, for questioning in connection with the rescue of five orangutans, sources said. According to sources, the three are relatives of a father-son duo, who are suspected to be the main accused. The… pic.twitter.com/fNOXCRB5A5 — Argus News (@ArgusNews_in) September 11, 2026 Police sources said the detainees are relatives of a father‑son duo suspected to be the main accused in the case. The duo, reportedly absconding, is believed to own a black Thar vehicle that allegedly returned to West Bengal under the cover of night. The orangutans, rescued from Bichitrapur forest in Baleshwar on September 8, were shifted to Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. Zoo officials said that the cubs are being quarantined in a temperature‑controlled room and gradually acclimatised to the local environment. Nandankanan already has a dedicated enclosure for orangutans, which has remained vacant since the death of a 41‑year‑old female in 2019. That animal had been brought from Pune Zoo in 2003. Odisha’s Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said the State government has written to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) seeking permission to retain the rescued orangutans at Nandankanan. Also Read: Five Rescued Orangutans Shifted to Nandankanan Zoo Amid Trafficking Probe Meanwhile, Indonesia reportedly approached the Indian government seeking repatriation of the primates, raising questions about their origin and international wildlife trafficking networks. A joint investigation by the STF and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau is underway to trace how the animals reached Odisha. Authorities are examining possible smuggling routes and scrutinising surveillance footage from transit points. The case has highlighted the growing menace of wildlife trafficking and the urgent need for stronger enforcement mechanisms.