Indian-origin American author and entrepreneur Neal Bakshi has alleged that he was detained for questioning by US border officers after returning from Greenland. Bakshi said in an Instagram video that, despite using Global Entry, he was pulled aside for additional screening, with officials calling it a random check. He alleged officers later took him to rooms where they requested personal information and questioned his affiliations with groups. Bakshi also described witnessing an officer questioning an elderly Hispanic woman who did not speak English. He said the encounter made him question whether some Americans face greater scrutiny. US Customs and Border Protection has yet to issue an official statement on his claims.

Israel announced it would close Britain’s consulate in East Jerusalem in response to plans by Britain, France and Canada to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Britain would also withdraw from a US-led coordination mission for Gaza, while some British officials and other foreign nationals would be barred from entering Israel. Saar said the measures were coordinated with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Israel prepares for elections in late October. He called Britain’s move “morally distorted” and accused London of “blatant interference” in Israel’s affairs and electoral process. Saar also dismissed British Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s comments publicly as “outrageous lies”. (PC: AP/ Majdi Mohammed)

Several major UK airports, including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted, faced flight disruptions on Tuesday after a technical problem affected the country’s air traffic control system. Air traffic control provider NATS said the issue was identified in its flight processing system, with engineers working urgently to restore normal operations. NATS apologised for the disruption and said flights were still departing while UK airspace remained open, although recovery would take time. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 said the problem had resulted in strict controls on arriving and departing flights across airports in the London flight information region. Several flights were affected as engineers continued efforts to resolve the technical issue. (PC: Reuters)

In a major twist, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has dropped anti-terror charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against American mercenary Matthew Aaron VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals arrested in March. The group was accused of training anti-India ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. They were initially booked under the stringent anti-terror law following a secret operation by Indian agencies, with arrests made at various airports. The NIA chargesheet, filed seven months after their arrests, details how the accused entered India and their activities in Myanmar. However, the chargesheet does not invoke the anti-terror law against VanDyke and the Ukrainian nationals, marking a significant shift from the allegations made following their arrests. (PC: X)

The UK has announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including companies and individuals involved in settlement expansion. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband also said the government now considers the activity by settler terrorists to amount to “ethnic cleansing” and accused Israel’s government of turning a blind eye. The UK will ban imports of goods from Israeli settlements and refuse arms licence applications that contribute to the occupation. France, Canada and nine other countries have also announced similar measures. The moves come as Israel plans 1,200 new homes in the West Bank and settler attacks on Palestinians have increased this year. (PC: BBC)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly surprised by the timing of a letter from King Charles reaffirming that they remain non-working members of the Royal Family despite returning to the UK. The letter, sent to senior government and military officials, said their status remains unchanged from the arrangement made in 2020, when they stepped down from royal duties. Harry and Meghan will not use the titles His or Her Royal Highness, while their charitable activities will remain private. The couple’s return has also renewed questions over their security, with a government committee expected to review their publicly funded protection this week. (PC: The Indian Express)

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attacked Saudi Arabia-linked trucks carrying military equipment near the Al-Wadiah border crossing on Monday, according to Houthi media. The group said it used locally manufactured ballistic missiles after monitoring Saudi-linked camps and troops in the area. Video footage showed a missile hitting trucks loaded with weapons and ammunition, triggering a series of explosions as soldiers fled the site. The attack came amid a sharp rise in tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia after a four-year truce collapsed in July. Riyadh has vowed to take “all necessary measures” to defend its sovereignty after Houthi missile attacks injured 73 people. (PC: NDTV)

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday said the controversy involving women staff at Paris’ Eiffel Tower and a visiting BAPS delegation was a matter “between the entities concerned.” The comments came after staff alleged that female employees were asked to leave certain areas during the delegation’s visit. The Eiffel Tower operator said the delegation had requested limited interaction with women, adding that such a request should not have been accepted. BAPS said its visit had been coordinated in advance and apologised to anyone hurt or inconvenienced. The Eiffel Tower reopened on Tuesday after briefly shutting down amid the controversy.

Iran has rejected reports that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei owns two luxury apartments in London near the Israeli embassy. The Iranian Embassy in India called the claims “completely baseless” and said Khamenei owns no property either inside or outside Iran. British media reports had linked two flats on Palace Green in Kensington to Khamenei, saying they were purchased through intermediaries in 2014 and 2016 and only recently traced to him. The reports drew attention because the apartments are located close to the Israeli embassy. The claims emerged amid heightened scrutiny after four men were arrested in London over alleged surveillance of Jewish community targets. (PC: India Today)

The Delhi government will introduce a new policy to regulate PG accommodations and coaching institutes within six weeks, Education Minister Ashish Sood said. The move comes after the Satya Niketan building collapse that killed seven people. Sood said the policy will set safety and security standards for PGs. A common web portal may list PGs, their facilities, availability and safety details. The government will consult students, parents, PG operators and other groups before finalising the rules. Sood also said Delhi faces a major shortage of hostels, with over two lakh students from outside the city needing accommodation. The government is exploring more options.