China’s new mega dam triggers fears of water war in India
India fears a planned Chinese mega-dam in Tibet could cut Brahmaputra River flows by up to 85 percent in the dry season, a government analysis shows. Beijing’s $170bn project, the world’s largest hydropower dam, could divert over a third of annual flows before the river enters India, Reuters reported.
In response, New Delhi is fast-tracking the proposed Upper Siang Multipurpose Dam in Arunachal Pradesh, which would be India’s biggest. Officials say it could offset water losses, stabilize supplies, and absorb potential surges from Chinese releases.
China insists its project will not harm downstream nations, but Indian officials view it as a strategic risk. The Brahmaputra supports more than 100m people across China, India, and Bangladesh, according to Reuters.
Russia and Ukraine stage new prisoner exchange after UAE mediation
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 146 prisoners each on Sunday in a swap mediated by the United Arab Emirates, officials from both sides confirmed.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said many of those freed had been in captivity since 2022 and included a journalist taken early in the war. He thanked the UAE for its role in the exchange, according to Reuters.
Russia said the released soldiers were receiving care in Belarus and noted that eight civilians from the Kursk region were also returned. Russian negotiator Vladimir Medinsky accused Kyiv of delaying the return of other Kursk residents, calling the process “painful bargaining.”
US National Guard troops in Washington to begin carrying weapons, officials say
National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., will begin carrying pistols and rifles Sunday night as part of President Donald Trump’s crime crackdown, officials confirmed. The Guard said weapons would only be used as a last resort, according to Reuters.
Trump signaled he may expand deployments to Chicago and Baltimore, criticizing Democratic leaders despite data showing crime has fallen in both cities.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker said Trump lacks authority to send troops into Chicago, calling the move an attempt to “manufacture a crisis.”
While Trump holds direct authority over the D.C. Guard, any effort to deploy troops to Democratic-led cities would likely face legal challenges, Reuters reported.
France summons US envoy over antisemitism claims
France will summon US Ambassador Charles Kushner after he accused the country of failing to curb rising antisemitism, BBC reported.
In a letter to President Emmanuel Macron, Kushner said hatred of Jews in France had surged since the Gaza war and urged Macron to ease criticism of Israel. France called the remarks “unacceptable” and stressed ambassadors must not interfere in internal affairs.
According to BBC, the row follows similar criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after Macron announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September.
