The US House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill on Wednesday, clearing the final hurdle for legislation that grants President Donald Trump authority to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries buying Russian oil and natural gas, including India and China. Officially titled the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, the bill passed 262-159 and is expected to be signed by Trump, and now awaits President Trump's signature. It previously cleared the Senate 86-11 but faced delays in the House over disagreements about expanding presidential economic powers. While 58 Democrats joined Republicans to support the measure, Democratic leadership opposed its expanded tariff provisions.

The United States has so far held back from direct military intervention in Yemen after US officials met Houthi leaders in Oman, according to reports. The talks reportedly focused on keeping the existing ceasefire between Washington and the Houthis and preventing attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea. The development comes as the Iran-backed group advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and launches attacks inside Saudi Arabia. Washington’s decision not to intervene directly has increased pressure on Riyadh to respond to the Houthi advance. US officials have maintained contact with the group, while regional tensions and oil prices remain elevated. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan has said its defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey has “no aggressive element” and is “purely defensive” as tensions rise following recent Houthi attacks in the region. Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the agreement was based on “collective deterrence” and reflected decades of strategic, cultural and military ties between the countries. His remarks came after Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a Houthi drone south of Mecca. The Houthis denied targeting the holy city. Pakistan has expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and warned that attacks could threaten regional security and global energy supplies. (PC: HT)

The US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points on Wednesday, taking the target range to 3.75%-4%. It was the Fed’s first rate increase since July 2023. The decision was unanimous, with officials citing elevated inflation and saying the move would help bring price growth back towards the central bank’s 2% target. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh said inflation “is too high, and has been for too long.” The central bank also signalled that borrowing costs could remain higher as it assesses inflation and economic conditions. (PC: BBC)

Yemen’s Houthis on Wednesday claimed they shot down a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Marib province using a locally made missile. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the aircraft was carrying out operations in support of Saudi military activity in the area. The group also released footage it said showed the jet being hit and its wreckage. However, the claim has not been independently verified, and Saudi authorities have not confirmed the reported loss of the aircraft. The Houthis also claimed Saudi warplanes had carried out more than 450 strikes across Yemen in the past week. (PC: India Today)

India have retained Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the ODI squad for the upcoming West Indies series, keeping the experienced duo in the team’s plans for the 2027 World Cup. Shubman Gill will continue to lead the side, while Rishabh Pant has been left out. Nitish Kumar Reddy has received a significant push with his inclusion in the 15-member squad. Auqib Nabi and Naman Dhir have also earned maiden ODI call-ups. The selections offer an early indication of India’s plans as they build towards the 2027 World Cup. The three-match ODI series against West Indies begins on September 27. (PC: HT)

Indian content creator Arunima IP was released after spending several hours in Taliban custody while travelling alone in Afghanistan. Arunima said she was detained because women are not allowed to travel alone under Taliban rules.   In an SOS message, she asked for help contacting the Indian embassy and later posted, “I am safe now.” Describing the incident, she said, “I was completely terrified” and felt she “could have died.” Arunima said armed Taliban members questioned her documents and told her she needed a special permit to travel between provinces. She questioned why she was granted a visa despite travelling alone. Neither the Taliban nor the Indian embassy has commented. (PC: The Independent)

India on Wednesday rejected the so-called Pakistan-China Boundary Joint Commission, saying there is no recognised boundary between Pakistan and China involving Indian territory. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India has never recognised the 1963 China-Pakistan Boundary Agreement and considers it illegal and invalid. He reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India. Jaiswal said Pakistan has no right to enter into arrangements involving territories that India says are under illegal and forcible occupation. He added that any such boundary cooperation between China and Pakistan would not affect India’s sovereignty and called on Pakistan to vacate the areas. (PC: India Today)

Pakistan’s military said its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey could be opened to other countries, while insisting the pact is defensive and does not target Iran. Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said additional countries could join if they shared the three founding members’ approach to non-aggression, non-interference and collective deterrence. He said any decision to expand the alliance would be taken by the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey. Pakistan’s military is also seeking to clarify the agreement’s purpose, stressing that it has “no regional aspirations” amid questions over how it would operate if a member were attacked. The pact was signed in Mecca in August. (PC: X)

US President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government’s efforts to address illicit opium poppy cultivation and strengthen supply chain integrity. The statement came as India was included in the US list of “major illicit drug producing countries” on Wednesday. Trump said he looked forward to continued cooperation through the United States-India Drug Policy Framework. India was among 23 countries designated by the US as “major drug transit or major illicit drug producing” nations. Pakistan and China were also included in the list. Other countries named included Afghanistan, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Belize, Burma and others.