India and the US held trade talks in Delhi on September 16, their first since Washington imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods. Both sides described the discussions as “positive” and agreed to speed up efforts toward a trade deal. US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch met Indian commerce official Rajesh Agrawal to discuss next steps. Tensions had risen after US President Donald Trump imposed penalties over India’s Russian oil imports, calling them “blood money.” But recent statements from Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi signalled progress, with both leaders expressing hope for an early, mutually beneficial agreement. (PC: NDTV)

Tyler Robinson, 22, has been charged with aggravated murder in the killing of US conservative leader Charlie Kirk. Prosecutors say the charge is a capital offence and they will seek the death penalty. Kirk was shot in the neck at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Investigators allege Robinson fired from a campus roof with a bolt-action rifle. He was arrested days later near St George, Utah. Officials say his DNA was found on the gun trigger. He also faces charges including firing a weapon, obstruction, and witness tampering. Robinson has not yet pleaded. (PC: Reuters)

US judge in New York has dropped two terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, who is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Gregory Carro ruled that prosecutors failed to show the crime met the legal definition of terrorism. However, he allowed a second-degree murder charge to proceed, along with weapons and forgery charges. Mangione faces 15 to 25 years in prison if convicted. He also faces US federal murder charges that could bring the death penalty. Thompson, a father of two, was shot in Manhattan last December. Mangione’s state trial will begin on 1 December. (PC: Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images)

A huge photo of Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein has been displayed outside Windsor Castle ahead of the US president’s visit to the UK. The banner was unveiled by campaign group Everyone Hates Elon, which said it was funded by donations from the British public. The group claimed Trump was visiting to escape questions about Epstein. King Charles will host Trump and First Lady Melania at Windsor Castle this week, with a ceremonial welcome and state banquet planned. The stunt has sparked fresh debate around Trump’s ties to the late financier, who was convicted of sex crimes. (PC: The Independent)

Actor and director Robert Redford has died aged 89 at his home in Utah. His family said he passed away surrounded by loved ones. Redford starred in classics like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting and Out of Africa. He won an Oscar for directing Ordinary People in 1980 and later founded the Sundance Film Festival, which gave a platform to new filmmakers. Stars including Meryl Streep, Jane Fonda, and Jamie Lee Curtis paid tribute. Redford, also an environmental activist, is survived by his wife Sibylle Szaggars and two daughters. He retired from acting in 2018. (PC: Getty Images)

Israel has launched the “main phase” of its ground offensive in Gaza City. Heavy bombing shook the city overnight as tanks and troops moved in. Thousands of Palestinians fled south in cars, trucks, and on foot. Israel said 2,000 to 3,000 Hamas fighters remain in the city. Gaza’s Shifa Hospital reported 34 bodies by noon. At the same time, a UN commission accused Israel of genocide, citing mass killings and forced displacement. Israel rejected the report as false. Families of hostages protested in Israel, urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to bring them home. The Gaza war has killed over 64,000. (PC: BBC)

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 Uttar Pradesh government has issued a strict order on stray dogs. If a dog bites a human without provocation, it will be kept at an animal centre for 10 days. The dog will also be sterilised and microchipped before release. If the same dog bites a person again without provocation, it will remain in the centre for life. Officials said a three-member committee will decide whether an attack was unprovoked. The order allows adoption, but the owner must give an affidavit not to release the dog on the streets. Legal action will follow if rules are broken. (PC: NDTV)

Pakistan cancelled their pre-match press conference before their Asia Cup 2025 clash with the UAE, raising fresh boycott fears. The move came after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Pakistan’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft. The controversy began with the “no handshake” incident during the India-Pakistan game, where Pakistan alleged Pycroft stopped their captain from greeting India’s Suryakumar Yadav. The PCB also complained to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Reports say PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi even sacked cricket operations director Usman Walha over the mishandling. Pakistan now face UAE in a crucial group game. (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)