Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to India on Saturday to kick off a two-day BRICS summit aimed at protecting developing economies from the global impact of wars in Ukraine and West Asia. (Pics/PTI)

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, remains one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes. A significant share of global crude oil and natural gas exports passes through the strait, making any disruption a major concern for international energy markets. (Pics/AFP)