Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar admitted that India never accepted third-party mediation in ceasefire talks. He said a ceasefire offer came through the US, but India insisted the matter must stay bilateral. Dar’s statement undercut Donald Trump’s claim that he had brokered peace after Operation Sindoor. Trump had credited himself on social media for the truce following four days of strikes between India and Pakistan. Dar revealed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed India’s firm stand on bilateral talks. He added Pakistan remains open to dialogue on issues including terrorism, trade, and Jammu and Kashmir. (PC: India Today)

The Israeli military on Tuesday warned civilians to evacuate Yemen’s Hodeidah port, saying it will attack the area within hours. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Col. Avichay Adraee urged all people and ships at the port to leave immediately, warning that staying would “put their life in danger.” The warning comes after Israel’s recent airstrikes in Yemen killed at least 46 people and wounded over 160, following a Houthi drone attack on an Israeli airport. Previous strikes also killed Houthi leaders. The escalation marks a sharp rise in the nearly 2-year-old conflict with the Iran-backed Houthis. (PC: HT)

Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Khyliuk has returned home after spending 3.5 years in Russian captivity without facing any charges. He was taken by Russian forces in 2022 and held in several prisons, where he faced beatings, starvation, and cruelty. Dmytro was freed last month in a prisoner swap that also released seven other Ukrainian civilians, a rare move by Russia. He immediately called his mother and began contacting families of fellow prisoners to confirm who is alive. His family had only received two short notes from him during his detention. Over 16,000 civilians remain missing in Ukraine. (PC: BBC)

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has vaccinated 46,122 stray dogs against rabies in the past month. It also microchipped 12,000 dogs for identification and tracking. The drive follows a Supreme Court order that bans culling and stresses humane management. The GCC runs five Animal Birth Control centres, conducting 115 surgeries daily. After sterilisation, dogs are kept for recovery before release. A pet registration drive has begun, making rabies shots mandatory with a Rs 50 fee. Officials urged citizens to avoid abandoning pets. Chennai’s stray dog population is estimated at 1.8 lakh, raising safety and health concerns. (PC: India Today)

Indian-origin motel manager Chandra Nagamallaiah, 50, was brutally beheaded in Dallas, Texas, by Cuban national Yordanis Cobos-Martinez. The accused had a violent criminal record and was released into the US after Cuba refused to take him back. The murder happened in front of Nagamallaiah’s wife and son following a dispute at the motel. US Homeland Security warned that “barbaric criminals” will no longer be allowed to stay in the country. Donald Trump called Nagamallaiah “a respected person” and vowed to bring first-degree murder charges. Officials said the killing was preventable if the accused had not been released earlier this year. (PC: HT)

Jaish-e-Mohammad has, for the first time, admitted that Masood Azhar’s family was killed in India’s Operation Sindoor strike on May 7. In a viral video, senior commander Masood Ilyas Kashmiri said Azhar’s family was “torn into pieces” when India targeted the group’s Bahawalpur headquarters, Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah. The strike came after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 25 tourists. Reports said 10 relatives, including Azhar’s sister, her husband, and children, died, along with four aides. Pakistan never confirmed the deaths, but state funerals were held. Azhar has since been spotted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir’s Gilgit-Baltistan. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif begins a crucial three-nation diplomatic tour on September 17, visiting Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and United States to strengthen bilateral ties. Accompanied by Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Sharif will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (Sept 17), UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London (Sept 18-21), and potentially US President Donald Trump during the UN General Assembly session (Sept 24-25). Sharif addresses UNGA on September 26, highlighting Pakistan's stance on Kashmir, climate change, and economic challenges. Munir will conduct parallel security meetings focusing on defense cooperation and counterterrorism. This diplomatic outreach represents Pakistan's effort to reassert its international role amid evolving regional dynamics and follows previous high-level engagements including Munir's June White House meeting. (PC: X & Wikipedia)

A United Nations commission of inquiry has said Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The report says Israel carried out 4 of the 5 genocidal acts under international law, including killing, serious harm, destroying living conditions, and preventing births. It cites statements by Israeli leaders and Israeli military actions as proof of intent. Israel has rejected the report, calling it false and biased. The commission said Israel’s actions are “attributable to the State of Israel.” Over 64,900 people have been killed in Gaza since 2023, according to local health officials. (PC: BBC)

Israel launched a major offensive to occupy Gaza City, with heavy bombings killing at least 16 Palestinians, local health officials said. Strikes hit two homes and a tent sheltering a displaced family, while a 16-floor building was destroyed. The assault came a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Israeli leaders in Jerusalem. Rubio backed Israel, calling Hamas “savage terrorists” and warning diplomacy may not end the war. Israeli tanks also moved into Gaza City as part of the new plan. Civil defence officials said bombings were ongoing, with more deaths and injuries expected. (PC: HT)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared the Trump administration won't impose new tariffs on Chinese goods over Russian oil purchases unless European nations implement steep duties first. Speaking to Reuters, Bessent emphasized Europe must strengthen efforts to cut Russia's oil revenues. He guaranteed the Ukraine war would end within "60 or 90 days" if Europe imposed substantial secondary tariffs on Russian oil buyers. During Madrid talks covering trade and TikTok, Bessent reminded Chinese officials of existing Indian tariffs while Trump urged 50-100% European tariffs on China and India. China rejected these proposals through Foreign Minister Wang Yi, calling for multilateral cooperation over sanctions. Bessent criticized European countries still purchasing Russian oil or refined petroleum products from discounted Russian crude. (PC: Reuters)