US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv on Sunday for talks on ending the Ukraine war. Their visit came a day after they met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.   The White House said the envoys discussed plans for the next steps with Putin. Details of the talks have not been made public.   Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the envoys and said Ukraine was ready for talks. Russia and Ukraine have also agreed to pause strikes on Moscow and Kyiv for three days as peace efforts continue. (PC: Reuters)  

US President Donald Trump is reportedly working on a broader strategy for the Middle East after the Iran war ends. The plan is still being developed, according to an Axios report.   The strategy may bring US allies closer together to contain Iran. Washington could also act as a security guarantor in the region.   The plan may include efforts to move forward on Gaza, improve ties between Israel and Syria, and strengthen the Israel-Lebanon agreement.   Another major goal is to expand the Abraham Accords and secure a normalisation deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia.  

The death toll from flash floods along the China-Nepal border has risen to 43 in Tibet, Chinese state media reported. At least 519 people are still missing.   The disaster was triggered by a glacial collapse and a mountain landslide. A huge surge of water, rocks and debris hit areas downstream, causing widespread damage.   Nepal has also suffered heavy losses. Combined figures from both countries show that nearly 1,400 people have died and more than 5,500 remain missing.   Rescue and recovery teams are continuing their search in difficult Himalayan terrain.  

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.

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)

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on Saturday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The talks come as Washington pushes for a new peace plan.   Russia and Ukraine also agreed to pause strikes on each other’s capitals for three days. The Kremlin said Russia would not target Kyiv, while President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would stop attacks on Moscow until Monday.   The US envoys are expected to visit Kyiv on Sunday. The renewed peace effort comes as missile and drone attacks continue to cause civilian deaths. (PC: AP)  

Iran has claimed that its Revolutionary Guard fired several ballistic missiles at a US aircraft carrier and a Navy destroyer. The IRGC said the warships were targeted for interfering with Iranian ships and supporting a naval blockade.   Iran claimed both vessels were damaged and later left the area. The US military, however, said its ships evaded the attacks and no American personnel were injured.   The clash followed US strikes on Iranian oil tankers. Iran has warned that any further US action against its shipping could lead to stronger attacks on American military vessels.  

China is moving ahead with its massive hydropower project on the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo, which becomes the Brahmaputra after entering India. The decision comes despite renewed concerns following recent floods and geological warnings in the Himalayan region. The project, launched in 2025, involves five power stations and an estimated investment of about 1.2 trillion yuan. Its planned capacity could reach 60 GW, potentially generating around 300 billion kWh annually. India remains concerned about downstream water flows, ecological impacts and limited hydrological data-sharing. China maintains that the project will meet strict safety standards and benefit downstream disaster prevention. (PC: AFP)