Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial here and interacted with people closely associated with India, including members of the diaspora, academics, researchers and yoga enthusiasts.

Modi paid homage to Gandhi at his statue in Bishkek and recalled the enduring impact of his thoughts.

“Gandhi Ji’s thoughts will always have an unparalleled impact on our minds,” he said in a social media post.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Modi’s tribute to Gandhi recalled his “timeless message of peace, non-violence and harmony”.

“The tribute reflected the enduring relevance of Gandhiji’s ideals and their universal appeal,” Jaiswal posted on social media.

The prime minister later met a group of “Friends of India”, including prominent members of the Indian diaspora, environment enthusiasts, yoga practitioners, academics, ITEC alumni, and researchers.

“Met a group of people who have a close association with India… Happy to see such continuous engagement with India,” he said.

ITEC alumni are professionals from over 160 partner countries who have completed fully-funded technical and economic training courses in India through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.

Modi said one of the yoga practitioners he met had travelled to Ahmedabad for the World Yogasana Championship and won a medal.

Jaiswal said during his “warm and engaging interaction” with the Friends of India, in Bishkek, the prime minister exchanged views on the longstanding bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and the Kyrgyz Republic and discussed opportunities to further deepen people-to-people ties and expand the multifaceted partnership between the two countries.

The prime minister arrived in Bishkek on Sunday to attend the 26th SCO Leadership Summit and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of member countries on the sidelines.

The 10-member SCO is marking the 25th anniversary of its founding this year.

The grouping was established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined as full members in 2017, followed by Iran in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.

In his departure statement on Saturday, Modi said he looked forward to advancing India’s vision for the region, anchored in “security, connectivity and opportunity”, and working with fellow SCO members for a region free from “terrorism, separatism and extremism”.

Modi arrived in Bishkek after a two-day visit to Uzbekistan, during which the two countries decided to elevate their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and set a target of USD 5 billion in annual trade by 2030.

New Delhi, Aug 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reviewed bilateral cooperation on Monday and discussed conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, as geopolitical tensions continue to affect maritime trade and the safety of Indian seafarers.

The meeting, held in Bishkek on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, was the first between the two leaders this year.

They last met in New Delhi in December 2025 for the 23rd annual India-Russia summit.

PM Modi and Russian President Putin reviewed cooperation across political, economic, defence, energy, space, mobility, and people-to-people ties, the ministry said.

The leaders also welcomed the outcome of a meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, and Cultural matters held in Moscow on August 24.

Their talks come as India seeks to maintain its longstanding strategic relationship with Moscow while navigating a turbulent geopolitical environment marked by conflicts and growing pressure on global trade and energy routes.

The two leaders exchanged views on multilateral cooperation, including the BRICS grouping, which India is chairing this year, and discussed key regional and global issues of mutual interest.

On the conflicts in West Asia and the Black Sea region, PM Modi reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward for resolving conflicts.

The Government of India said the two sides agreed to remain engaged to further strengthen their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership”, which it said had shown resilience despite geopolitical uncertainties.

PM Modi also said he looked forward to welcoming Russian President Putin to India for the 18th BRICS summit, scheduled for September 12-13.

India has maintained close ties with Russia for decades, with defence and energy forming important pillars of the relationship, even as New Delhi has sought to deepen ties with the United States, Europe, and other partners.

Buenos Aires, Aug 31: Argentina superstar Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday, ending 21 years of national-team duty that were capped by winning the World Cup in 2022 to secure his place in the pantheon of the game’s greatest ever players.

“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” the 39-year-old Messi said on his Instagram account.

Messi, who will continue to play at club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, played in a record-tying six World Cups. He won it four years ago in a tournament he dominated in Qatar and also led Argentina to the title match in 2014 and again this year, when the Albiceleste lost to Spain in extra time in New Jersey.

Messi stands shoulder to shoulder with Diego Maradona, a compatriot with whom he was so often compared, and Brazil icon Pelé as the greatest players of all time.

For many, he’s the best.

“I swear to you that I always gave it my all — not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” Messi wrote.

“I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”

Messi played 207 games for Argentina and finishes as its all-time leading scorer with 125 goals, 21 of them in World Cups. Only one player has more goals in men’s internationals — his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 146 and has yet to announce his retirement from Portugal duty.

Messi became the all-time leading World Cup scorer for a month in the recent tournament in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, but finished one goal behind France’s Kylian Mbappé.

Messi decided two days after World Cup final

In a long social-media post, Messi explained he wrote his retirement letter on July 21 — two days after the World Cup final in which he struggled to make an impact — but waited to publish it because his father was facing health issues that eventually claimed his life.

Jorge Messi died on Aug. 8 in his native Rosario.

Two months after Messi starred at the 2005 world under-20 championship, scoring both of Argentina’s goals in the final triumph and being named the best player, he was given his senior Argentina debut at 18. His first appearance lasted only two minutes; the substitute was sent off against Hungary in Budapest.

His journey with the national team was fraught with more frustration — he briefly retired from Argentina duty in 2016 after three defeats in three consecutive major finals — until he finally lifted the World Cup four years ago, either side of also winning Copa America titles in 2021 and ’24.

“Thank you for all the love these past 20 years,” he said. “I’m going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I’m going to be one of you, cheering and supporting you from the outside (through thick and thin, even more so).”

In the letter, Messi did not say how long he intends to continue playing. The recent World Cup showed he’s still one of the best players in the world, as did a four-goal display for Inter Miami at the weekend in a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal.

“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of. Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all,” he added.

The second retirement

Messi’s stellar recent success with Argentina nearly didn’t happen.

A decade ago he retired from the national team following Argentina’s defeat in the 2016 Copa Amercia final to Chile on penalty kicks — one of which he missed.

A public campaign led by Maradona and the president changed his mind and Messi shook off the notion of not being able to win the big matches, returning to the Argentina team and continuing to star for Barcelona, then Paris Saint-Germain, then Inter Miami.

He’s the two-time defending Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer, the star of the league champion, someone who still creates goals in the biggest moments.

He’s also a record eight-time world player of the year.

“He is pure history,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during the recent World Cup. “History. A legend.”