New Delhi, Sep 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim held a meeting on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Saturday and reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation across various sectors.

During the meeting, the two leaders expressed their continued commitment to advancing the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Anwar Ibrahim conveyed Malaysia’s concurrence to the establishment of the Consulate General of India in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

“Prime Minister Modi warmly welcomed Prime Minister Ibrahim to India and appreciated Malaysia’s participation in the BRICS Summit as a Partner Country. The leaders took stock of the outcomes of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Malaysia in February 2026 and reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties,” the MEA mentioned in a statement.

Both leaders discussed key regional and global issues of mutual interest. PM Modi appreciated Malaysia’s continued support in strengthening India-ASEAN ties.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia on the sidelines of 18th BRICS Summit. Building on Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Malaysia in February 2026, the leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties. The leaders exchanged views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest,” the MEA posted on X.

PM Modi’s meeting with Anwar Ibrahim took India’s ties with Malaysia on a new trajectory. Malaysia expressed keenness for stronger defence cooperation with India, and joint personnel training as well as defence procurement were discussed during the meeting, according to Government of India sources.

Malaysia welcomed Indian industry and investment. Furthermore, semiconductor opportunities between India and Malaysia were discussed during the meeting between PM Modi and Anwar Ibrahim, according to the sources.

The Malaysian PM arrived in New Delhi on Friday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. He was warmly received by the Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, at the airport.

Extending a warm welcome to the visiting leader, the MEA stated on X, “India and Malaysia share close and longstanding ties, marked by growing cooperation across trade, investment, digital economy, defence and security. The visit builds on the momentum of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Malaysia earlier this year.”

During his visit, Anwar Ibrahim will travel to Kerala to meet India’s Grand Mufti.

“My itinerary in India also includes a visit to Kerala to meet the Grand Mufti of India to exchange views on community development, education, and religious affairs. Following the Diplomatic Mission in India, I will then proceed to Male, Maldives, to undertake an official visit at the invitation of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. May all matters be facilitated and this visit bring tangible benefits to the people and the nation,” Ibrahim posted on X.

As BRICS chair in 2026, India is set to host the two-day BRICS Summit in New Delhi from today, bringing together leaders of BRICS members, partner countries and outreach invitees.

India’s BRICS chairship is guided by the theme: ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’, reflecting PM Modi’s vision of a people-centric approach rooted in the spirit of “Humanity First.” In addition to these areas, the leaders will exchange views on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation on common priorities and share perspectives on global and regional matters of mutual importance.

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.

South Korea sent its second contingent of an overseas relief team to Nepal on Friday to support reconstruction and recovery efforts following last month’s devastating floods, the foreign ministry said.

The eight-member contingent of the Korea Disaster Relief Team (KDRT) arrived in Kathmandu aboard a KC-330 military transport aircraft at around 8:44 am (local time), according to the ministry.

The aircraft also carried about four tons of relief supplies worth 180 million won (USD 134,200), including tents, blankets and clothing. The supplies were donated by South Korean companies and other entities, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The team consists of officials from the foreign ministry, the National Fire Agency, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the National Medical Centre.

It will focus on reconstruction and recovery efforts during its seven-day mission, the ministry said.

The first 44-member KDRT contingent, dispatched to Nepal on September 2 for a 10-day search-and-rescue mission, is scheduled to return home on Saturday morning.

Nine South Koreans — six employees of Doosan Enerbility Co. and three of Korea South-East Power Co. — went missing on August 26 after massive floods and landslides hit Rasuwa District near the Nepal-Tibet border while they were working at a hydropower plant construction site.

Nepal has shifted its focus from search and rescue to reconstruction and recovery, while the Seoul government has said it will continue supporting search efforts for the missing Koreans in cooperation with Nepalese authorities and corporate rescue teams.

A government joint rapid response team that was dispatched to Nepal shortly after the floods will be reorganized into a seven-member team to support recovery and other efforts, the ministry said.

The team includes police and forensic officials, who will work with their Nepalese counterparts at a forensic science laboratory to assist in identifying victims, among other duties.

As of Thursday, more than 1,400 people had been killed, and over 5,600 remained missing in Nepal and China’s Tibet Autonomous Region following the disaster, according to foreign media reports.

Riyadh, Sept 10: The Houthi group launched ballistic missile and drone attacks targeting the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha and Jazan, the Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognised government in Yemen said.

In a statement on social media platform X, coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said the Houthis were continuing attacks on the kingdom’s national assets and infrastructure, reflecting what he described as the group’s extremist approach toward escalation and the targeting of civilians in Saudi Arabia, reports Xinhua news agency.

The coalition’s Joint Forces Command would respond to protect the kingdom’s sovereignty, national assets, civilians and civilian objects, he added.

The attacks on Wednesday (local time) came amid a sharp escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Houthi group said dozens of “Saudi airstrikes” had struck areas under its control over the past 12 hours.

The cross-border exchanges have unfolded alongside a sharp escalation inside Yemen, where government forces and the Houthis are fighting on several fronts, most intensely in the country’s western areas. The escalation threatens to end several years of relative calm on Yemen’s major frontlines following a UN-brokered truce that took effect in April 2022.

Earlier on Tuesday, the United Nations condemned the cross-border attacks by the Houthis in Yemen against multiple sites in southern Saudi Arabia, which affected civilian and energy infrastructure.

The world body also expressed deep concern over reports of civilian casualties in the attacks, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The United Nations is equally concerned by the intensification of military clashes across multiple front lines within Yemen, particularly reports of possible civilian casualties resulting from the fighting, said the spokesperson.

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg continues engaging directly with the parties with the aim of containing the current escalation and preserving space for dialogue. Continued military escalation risks devastating political, economic and security ramifications for Yemen. The parties should engage constructively with UN-led political efforts, said the spokesperson.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said an escalation in fighting in Yemen is devastating communities already struggling to survive after more than a decade of conflict.

More than 5,600 households have been displaced across Taiz governorate and southern Al Hodeidah governorate since the escalation in fighting on Thursday. At least 11 civilian casualties have been reported in the last week, including two children killed and nine people injured, said the office.