US Envoys, Putin Hold 'Substantive' Talks To End Ukraine War

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for more than three hours of talks in Moscow that a Kremlin aide called “highly useful,” setting the stage for the pair’s planned trip to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian leaders on Sunday. Putin’s meeting with President Donald Trump’s envoys was “substantive, constructive, extremely frank and trusting,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said in comments distributed by Russian media. “Our president reaffirmed his readiness to continue working jointly with the Americans to seek political and diplomatic solutions.”...more

5 dead in Delhi building crash; 40 students feared trapped under rubble

NEW DELHI: The death toll in the Delhi building collapse has gone up to five after another injured succumbed at AIIMS on Sunday evening following the collapse of multi-storey PG building in Delhi's Satya Niketan. Around 40-50 students are feared trapped under the rubble as rescue efforts are underway at the site with teams from DDMA, NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, MCD, CTS and Civil Defence involved in the operation on a "war footing," according to chief minister Rekha Gupta....more

Third UNSC Straw Poll To Select Next Secretary General on Sept 18

By Deepak Arora

UNITED NATIONS: The third informal UN Security Council straw poll to select the next Secretary General is expected on September 18. And the fourth straw poll is possibly on September 28 or 29, Pass Blue reported this on X quoting diplomats. Revising the schedule from September 17, Pass Blue stated that that UNSC intends to rechedule the next straw poll to Friday, September 18, per diplomats. It may be recalled that Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett had emerged as the leading candidate in the second informal UN Security Council straw poll for the next Secretary-General, edging ahead of Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan as the race begins to take a more competitive shape....more

Guterres Says UN80 Enters Decisive Phase as UN Pushes to Reform, Cut Duplication and Improve Delivery

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General António Guterres has told the General Assembly that the United Nations has entered a critical new phase of its UN80 Initiative, shifting from identifying reform possibilities to making decisions and putting changes into practice. Addressing Member States, Guterres said the initiative was launched out of a “profound sense of responsibility” to the people served by the United Nations, future generations, Member States and the Organization itself. He argued that the case for reform remains strong as conflicts spread, humanitarian needs grow, development gains come under pressure and public trust in institutions is tested....more

Nepal Himalaya Disaster Warns World Of Risks Where Climate Change, Infrastructure, Geopolitics Collide

By Prof Sanjay Kaul

BOSTON: One year ago, I travelled to Kailash through the Himalayas. Standing amid those immense mountains, I was struck not only by their majesty, but by their fragility. The journey also made me acutely aware of how dependent people and infrastructure in these remote regions are on forces they can’t control. Today, as I watch the devastation unfolding in the Himalayas, the experience makes the story far more personal....more

Nepal floods hit vulnerable communities as UNDP estimates 2.2 million tonnes of debris

By Deepak Arora

UNITED NATIONS: Floods and mudflows along Nepal’s BhoteKoshi–Trishuli river system have left at least 2.2 million tonnes of debris within the analysed areas, according to a preliminary estimate by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The flash flood, reportedly triggered by a glacial collapse on 26 August, swept water, mud and rocks through communities in the affected districts. Nepal has reported over 1000 dead, with over 4,000 people reported missing....more

IOC USA Expands Footprint, Launches Connecticut Chapter Under Kamal Swamy

CONNECTICUT (USA): The Indian Overseas Congress USA has strengthened its political and community presence in the Northeast with the launch of its Connecticut Chapter, led by Kamal Swamy, as the organization moves to expand its grassroots network among Indian Americans. The new chapter was formally inaugurated in Connecticut in the presence of senior IOC USA leaders, community members and supporters. The launch marks another step in the organization's nationwide expansion under President Mohinder Singh Gilzian....more

India to Buy US Javelin Anti-Tank Missiles: Ambassador Sergio Gor

NEW DELHI: India plans to buy the battle-tested Javelin anti-tank missile system from the United States, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announced on Friday, calling the proposed procurement a major step forward in the defence partnership between the two countries and opening the door to potential co-production. “BIG news! India plans to buy the battle-tested Javelin anti-tank system,” Gor said in a post on X, adding that the move would create new opportunities for deeper defence-industrial cooperation between New Delhi and Washington....more

US CENTCOM says it struck three Iran oil tankers after IRGC attacks on Navy ships

WASHINGTON: The United States Central Command on Saturday said it had stuck three Iranian oil tankers following IRGC missile attacks targeting two American Navy warships. “US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces struck three Iranian crude oil carriers, Sept. 5, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missiles toward two US Navy warships patrolling regional waters,” the American military said in a statement....more

Future Of Trade Deal With US Hinges On Preferential Tariff Terms, Says Piyush Goyal

WASHINGTON: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said it will announce the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) only after Washington agrees to offer India preferential tariff terms over its competitors, pointing to a key sticking point in protracted negotiations between the two countries....more

US Ambassador Sergio Gor calls Jammu and Kashmir important part of India after meeting Omar Abdullah

SRINAGAR: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has described Jammu and Kashmir as an “important part of India” after meeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar. Ambassador Gor, who arrived in Srinagar as part of his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since assuming office, held discussions with Omar Abdullah on India-US relations and areas where Washington could engage with the Union Territory....more

ISRO rejects reports of privatisation, calls them ‘incorrect’

NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday rejected claims of a possible move to privatise the agency or reduce its role, days after reports said nine associations representing thousands of ISRO employees had sought clarification over a proposal to hand the space agency’s manufacturing and operational work to private entities. “These assertions are completely baseless and incorrect. We wish to categorically state that ISRO will neither be privatised nor will its importance be diminished,” the space agency said in a statement....more

Indonesia volcano eruption: 300 flights hit, schools shut as ash soars 50,000 feet

JAKARTA: An eruption of Indonesia’s Mount Anak Krakatau sent volcanic ash soaring up to 50,000 feet over parts of Java and Sumatra on Sunday, disrupting air travel and affecting hundreds of flights. The eruption also led to some school activities and fishing trips being cancelled as ash spread across nearby areas....more

London-bound Virgin Atlantic flight makes emergency landing at Bengaluru airport after technical snag

BENGALURU: A London-bound Virgin Atlantic flight made an “emergency landing” at Bengaluru airport on Sunday due to a technical snag. The flight, carrying 270 passengers, was forced to make an "emergency landing" at the Kempegowda International Airport due to a technical glitch shortly after take-off, said sources at Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL)....more