The Christa Pike execution case took an unexpected turn after the US Supreme Court cleared Tennessee to proceed with her September 30 execution, only for the state to later be unable to complete the lethal-injection procedure. Pike, 50, remains alive as fresh legal questions surround the failed attempt.  Court stay The legal battle intensified hours before Pike was scheduled to be executed at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution i

Elon Musk is returning to a formal Pentagon advisory role as part of Project Meridian, a new 120-day initiative designed to study how warfare could change over the coming decades. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the effort alongside a broader push to expand autonomous and robotic systems across the US military.  Future war Project Meridian will examine emerging battlefields, technologies and military capabilities rather tha

Indian captain Smit Machchhar has emerged as a central figure in the dramatic emergency aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after a violent cockpit incident in which Machchhar was stabbed and the plane lost altitude rapidly. Cockpit attack The incident unfolded on September 30 while the Boeing 737 MAX was en route to Tel Aviv. Israeli officials said the co-pilot attacked Mac

A Paris court has convicted six men of manslaughter over the deadliest recorded migrant boat disaster in the English Channel, in which 31 people died in November 2021. Seven others were convicted of lesser smuggling offences, while one defendant was acquitted.  Boat sinking The migrants left northern France in an overloaded inflatable dinghy bound for the United Kingdom. Evidence presented during the trial showed the boat was unsuit

The USS Eisenhower landing mishap off Virginia forced two naval aviators to eject from an EA-18G Growler and injured four sailors working aboard the aircraft carrier. The US Navy is investigating the September 28 accident, which occurred during aircraft recovery operations. Carrier safety The incident occurred at about 6:18 p.m. EDT as the Nimitz-class USS Dwight D. Eisenhower was conducting aircraft recovery operations off the Virginia

India-China Hotan air route talks are gaining importance as New Delhi looks for a shorter alternative for Indian airlines affected by Pakistan’s continued airspace closure. The proposed route through Xinjiang could reduce flying time, fuel burn and operating costs on some westbound services. Pakistan airspace Pakistan has kept its airspace closed to Indian-registered aircraft and Indian-operated or leased airlines since April 2025. The

India specialty pharma zero tariff treatment will apply to qualifying medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients entering the United States under new Commerce Department rules. India is among 19 eligible jurisdictions as Washington prepares to apply a 100% Section 232 tariff to many covered patented drugs from September 29. Specialty drugs The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security has defined several categories that can r

A new dispute emerged over what Washington might offer Iran in exchange for concessions. Trump strongly denied a report that his administration had proposed sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian funds. In a Truth Social post, he said he had offered Iran “nothing” and called the report false. The report, citing unnamed U.S. officials, said economic relief could be considered if Tehran took concrete steps to limit its nuc

The RAF Fairford bomb plot investigation has taken on an international dimension after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a foreign actor was involved in the suspected plan. British counter-terrorism police are examining possible state links, but no foreign government has been officially identified as responsible. Foreign actor Rubio described the incident as a serious national-security concern and said it clearly involved the hand o

The US-China 30-for-30 trade framework could lower tariffs on about $60 billion in two-way commerce, with each country identifying roughly $30 billion in non-sensitive imports. Farm goods, medical devices and consumer goods are included, but exact tariff rates and an implementation date remain unsettled. Tariff cuts Washington and Beij

Iranian officials say security concerns explain the Mojtaba Khamenei absence that has continued since he became Iran's Supreme Leader in March. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Khamenei remains involved in Iran leadership decisions despite making no confirmed public appearance since his appointment. Security concerns Araghchi has attributed Khamenei's limited public visibility to security risks created by the continuing confrontation

Russia backs India for a permanent UNSC seat as Sergey Lavrov renews Moscow’s support for India and Brazil at the UNGA. The move sharpens the UNSC reform debate, highlighting G4 differences and calls for stronger Global South representation.   Russia backs India UNSC bid at UN General Assembly Russia has renewed its support for India becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security

At least 14 people were reported killed after an aircraft carrying a Congolese military delegation crashed in Kenge on Friday, September 25. Two senior military justice officials were among the victims, while the FARDC has launched an investigation to establish the circumstances and exact cause of the accident. Kenge crash The aircraft went down in Kenge, the capital of Kwango province, while the delegation was returning from an official

India used its Right of Reply at the 81st UN General Assembly to reject Shehbaz Sharif’s Kashmir remarks and renew accusations over terrorism, minority rights and military influence in Pakistan. First Secretary Petal Gahlot delivered the response after Sharif’s September 25 address. Kashmir Gahlot reiterated New Delhi’s position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inalienable part of India. She then pointed to unrest in Pakis

Trump rejects Iran ceasefire as Washington and Tehran remain locked between military pressure and diplomacy. US officials familiar with the discussions said the seven-day proposal linked nuclear talks, Hormuz access and the blockade to a temporary pause, while tensions over possible future strikes continue. Tensions remain high after ceasefire rejection US President Donald Trump has rejected Ir

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has moved its planned protest from September 27 to October 4, keeping the PTI Islamabad Oct 4 march at the center of Pakistan’s political tension. The party says the march will press its Khan release demand, while authorities have tightened security around the capital and key routes. March Delay Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the long m

Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah has used the United Nations General Assembly to describe last month’s devastating floods as a warning that extends far beyond Nepal. He said rising temperatures are increasing pressure on the Himalayan environment and urged wealthier nations to help vulnerable countries finance adaptation and recovery. Himalaya faces growing climate risk Addressing the 81st

President Donald Trump used the Trump Xi state dinner at the White House on September 24 to emphasize his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a desire for more stable US-China ties. Their state visit also focused on trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and wider security issues. US-China ties take center stage During his state dinner remarks, Trump said the United States and Ch

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Washington visit, arguing that the ceremonial welcome showed excessive deference to the Chinese leader. Schumer also pressed the administration to maintain restrictions on advanced US artificial intelligence technology headed to China. Xi welcome draws Schumer criticism

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near United Nations headquarters in New York as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the General Assembly, prompting traffic disruptions and arrests. The Netanyahu UN protest brought together activists, public figures and elected officials amid continuing debate over the Gaza war and US policy toward Israel. Gaza rally draws hundreds near the UN