US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for talks with Ukrainian officials after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow over efforts to end the Ukraine war. The White House said the envoys discussed “substantive plans for next steps” with Putin during Saturday’s three-hour meeting. Details of the plans remain unclear, but an announcement is expected in the coming weeks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his team was ready for talks and focused on peace and security guarantees. The meetings come as Russia and Ukraine continue intensified missile, drone and infrastructure strikes.

An Indian woman who recently moved to Mumbai after working in the US for nearly a decade has challenged the idea that American workplaces typically follow a strict 5 pm logout culture. Parinaya, a consultant in the US for almost nine years, said she regularly received messages from her manager in the evening, including questions about unanswered emails. She argued that overwork is common across countries and depends on jobs and companies. Parinaya also recalled feeling scrutinised as the only brown person on some work calls. Her comments sparked discussion online, with users sharing experiences of workplace culture in the US, Canada and Europe. (PC: HT)

Two multi-storey buildings collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday amid rain, leaving several people, including students, feared trapped under the rubble. Four people have been rescued so far, with three undergoing treatment at AIIMS Trauma Centre in critical condition. At least 12 fire tenders, along with teams from the NDRF, Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, DDMA, MCD, CATS and Civil Defence, were deployed for rescue operations. An eyewitness said one of the collapsed structures was a five-storey boys’ PG accommodation called “Hostel Daze”. Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, has several PGs housing students from across the country.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 72-hour halt to strikes on Kyiv beginning September 6, coinciding with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visiting Russia and Ukraine for renewed peace efforts. The temporary pause follows intensified Russian and Ukrainian aerial attacks and is intended to facilitate the envoys’ diplomatic mission. Witkoff and Kushner met Putin in Moscow for more than three hours, with Russian officials describing the discussions as useful and constructive, but no breakthrough was announced. They are expected to travel to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Major disagreements over territory and security guarantees remain unresolved. (PC: AFP)

Tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply escalated in the Strait of Hormuz after the US military struck three Iranian oil tankers. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy subsequently claimed it targeted three oil tankers and three US-affiliated vessels, warning ships against using routes it considers unauthorised. The US said its strikes followed Iranian missile attacks on American naval vessels. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Washington could destroy and sink Iranian oil tankers if Iran attacks US Navy ships again. The confrontation threatens a vital global energy corridor and raises concerns over further regional escalation. 

Julia Molchanova, a Russian design student who met Jeffrey Epstein at 22, has spoken publicly for the first time about her years inside his network. She says Epstein initially promised to support her fashion career but gradually subjected her to psychological control, sexual abuse and strict rules. He presented young women as “assistants,” which Molchanova says concealed the abuse taking place in his homes. In 2019, she discovered unexplained credit cards and financial activity linked to her name, prompting her to challenge Epstein and seek help. Her account highlights the coercive tactics and financial manipulation she says enabled his exploitation. (PC: X)

India has supported a United Nations resolution promoting the Equal Earth map projection, designed to provide a more accurate representation of global land areas, particularly Africa. However, New Delhi clarified that its vote does not endorse any specific map, projection or depiction of national boundaries. The Ministry of External Affairs raised concerns over how Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which India considers sovereign territory, may be represented in maps. India stressed that cartographic representations should respect its territorial sovereignty and established position. The UN resolution passed overwhelmingly, with 164 countries supporting it, while the United States opposed it. (PC: AFP)

India produced a commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai. Pakistan struggled against India’s spin attack and were bowled out for just 55 runs, their lowest-ever T20I total. Shree Charani and Prema Rawat claimed three wickets each, while Deepti Sharma took two, dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup. India initially lost three top-order wickets for 29 runs but recovered calmly. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 18, while Deepti Sharma scored 12 not out. India reached 57 for three in just 8.4 overs, winning with 68 balls remaining and advancing unbeaten to the semifinals. (PC: The Hindu)

Singapore police are investigating racist and xenophobic online comments linked to the Nepal-Tibet disaster and Singapore Airlines’ investment in Air India, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said. He called the remarks “shameful” and “totally unacceptable,” particularly comments targeting missing Singaporeans and the Indian community. Authorities may ask social-media platforms to remove content violating guidelines. Shanmugam also warned that allowing racist rhetoric to become normalised could damage Singapore’s multiracial social harmony. The controversy has intensified amid scrutiny of SIA’s Air India investment, with some online users directing ethnic attacks at company executives. Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong also condemned the racist backlash and urged Singaporeans to stand together. 

West Bengal’s 17-year-old powerlifter Madhura Kar has made India proud by winning four gold medals at the IPF World Sub-Junior & Junior Classic Powerlifting Championships in Sun City, South Africa. Competing in the Sub-Junior Women’s 52kg category at a body weight of 49.35kg, the Jalpaiguri athlete recorded a total of 292.5kg. She won gold in the squat with 107.5kg, bench press with 60kg, deadlift with 125kg and the overall total. A Class XII student, Madhura previously won national championships in 2024 and 2025 and a National Bench Press gold in 2026.