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Monday, September 21, 2026

EAM Jaishankar discusses regional, global issues with foreign counterparts on margins of UNGA session

New York, Sep 22 (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed regional and global issues with his foreign counterparts as he held a series of bilateral meetings here on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session. Jaishankar arrived in New York City on Sunday, leading the Indian delegation for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. His engagements on Monday commenced with a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “Our regular meetings and telecons enable us to maintain the momentum of our Special Global Strategic Partnership," Jaishankar said in a social media post. “Regional and global issues, specifically the Ukraine & Gulf crisis were discussed. Also exchanged views on multilateral issues, including the reform of UN Security Council,” he added. After his meeting with Ecuador Foreign Minister Roberto Kury, Jaishankar said, “We spoke about strengthening our economic ties, including in energy & pharmaceuticals, mobility, training of personnel, development partnership and cooperation in multilateral fora, including the @UN." Following his meeting with Slovakia Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, the external affairs minister said that besides discussing the bilateral agenda, they also touched upon ways to deepen our multilateral cooperation. Jaishankar also held a “great first meeting” with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Hungary Anita Orban. “We resolved to work together to deepen our ties, as also advance” the bilateral strategic partnership #UNGA81," he said. Jaishankar will address world leaders at the General Debate from the UNGA podium on September 26. PTI YAS SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/eam-jaishankar-discusses-regional-global-issues-with-foreign-counterparts-on-margins-of-unga-session-1867705

Typhoon Dujuan Heads Towards Japan; Highest-Level Warning Issued, Hundreds Of Flights Cancelled

Edited by: Karl Sexton A powerful typhoon was nearing Japan's eastern coast on Monday, triggering flood and landslide warnings, evacuation advisories and prompting hundreds of flights to be canceled. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued level 5 emergency warning for the Izu islands, with the advisory cautioning a "life-threatening situation" and for residents to "ensure safety immediately." A level 5 warning is the highest level of alert on the agency's scale. Dujuan is forecast to pass close to the Tokyo metropolitan area later in the day and than one million people have been reported to be under evacuation advisories. <h2>What do we know about Typhoon Dujuan?</h2> Typhoon Dujuan was packing winds at speeds of 144 kilometers (89 miles) per hour as it lingered some 110 kilometres from Hachijojima, one of Tokyo's most remote islands. Parts of the Izu Islands and the Chiba prefecture near Tokyo already saw heavy rainfall over the weekend. The ⁠Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has cautioned that weather conditions could worsen rapidly. "The total rainfall through Tuesday could exceed the average monthly rainfall for September, resulting in record-breaking heavy rain," the JMA said. Authorities have also warned of a possibility of ⁠linear rain bands forming over central Japan and the Kanto region — which includes Tokyo and surrounding prefectures — that could raise the risk of rain-related disasters like flash floods and landslides. Linear &zwnj;bands cause heavy torrential rainfall over a narrow area for several hours. <h2>How have Japan's regions been affected by the incoming storm?</h2> Over 4,000 households in Chiba were without power. In the central prefecture of Aichi, which is currently hosting the Asian Games, an equestrian eventing competition was postponed until Tuesday. The Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's biggest video game trade fairs, was shut down ahead of its final day on Monday. Dujuan could also scupper travel plans during Japan's "Silver Week" holiday, which has just begun and which normally sees a surge in domestic travel. On Monday, Japan Airlines canceled 120 domestic and 15 international flights, while All Nippon Airways canceled 140 domestic flights. Some railway services were suspended on some lines in Tokyo and its neighboring areas. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/typhoon-dujuan-heads-towards-japan-highest-level-warning-issued-hundreds-of-flights-cancelled-1867703

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Houthis Assure Trump US Ships Won’t Be Targeted, Warn Others Against Joining Saudi Arabia

The Iran-backed Houthis have told the Donald Trump administration that they will not target US vessels in the Red Sea, while warning other countries against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s escalating conflict. Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, told The Associated Press that Washington reached out to the group after its rapid advance along Yemen’s western coast towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this month. He said the Houthis assured US officials that their operations were not directed at the United States or other countries using the strategic waterway. “We confirmed that we are not targeting the United States, or any other nation, in the strait, with the sole exception of the Saudi enemy,” al-Bukhaiti said in an interview from Sanaa. Trump had revealed days earlier that his administration had held discussions with the Houthis. “The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us,” Trump said last weekend, adding that the group wanted to avoid US involvement and was allowing most ships to pass through. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-latest-update-better-behave-trump-says-3-options-on-table-for-iran-open-to-meeting-pezeshkian-1867570">'When Do I Blow Entire Nation?': Trump Says 3 Options On Table For Iran</a> <h2>Houthis Say Bab el-Mandeb Will Remain Open</h2> According to an AP report, Oman hosted talks between US and Houthi representatives last weekend. While al-Bukhaiti did not confirm direct negotiations, he acknowledged indirect contacts through Oman, which brokered a ceasefire between the Houthis and the Trump administration in 2025. That agreement ended a week-long US bombing campaign after the rebels agreed to halt attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea. Al-Bukhaiti also insisted that the Houthis were not seeking to shut the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. “The goal of our military operations is not to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but rather to ensure freedom of navigation through it for everyone, including Yemen,” he said. At the same time, al-Bukhaiti warned that the Houthis were prepared to widen the conflict if additional countries joined Saudi Arabia’s campaign. “Today, Yemen is capable of waging battle — not merely an internal conflict, but an international one as well,” he said. ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/zaXKlm5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ed Sheeran Calls Gaza War 'Catastrophic, Unjustifiable' Amid Macklemore Tour Controversy</a> <h2>Houthis Demand End To Saudi Blockade</h2> Al-Bukhaiti said attacks on Saudi Arabia would continue until Riyadh lifted its decade-long blockade on rebel-held territories and allowed ships to access Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports. He said the group would then be prepared to negotiate. The Houthi official blamed Saudi Arabia for the latest escalation, saying the renewed fighting followed an airstrike attributed to the Saudi-led coalition that struck Sanaa International Airport and prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. He said the flight was intended to challenge the coalition’s air and naval blockade. The Houthis subsequently launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, including a strike aimed at Riyadh on Saturday that was intercepted. Saudi authorities said debris from a Houthi drone killed one civilian and wounded others. The rebels have also announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. They have targeted Saudi-linked vessels and oil infrastructure inside the kingdom.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/houthi-saudi-arabia-conflict-houthis-assure-trump-us-ships-wont-be-attacked-warn-others-1867581

Italy Plans School Ban On Burqas, Niqabs; Meloni Proposes Foreign Student Cap

Italy is preparing to restrict face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools and limit the number of foreign students in each classroom, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni indicated during a youth programme organised by her party on Sunday. The proposed measures are being viewed in the context of Meloni’s right-wing political image. Italy, due to its location in the Mediterranean, is among the European countries that receive a large number of migrants, making immigration a major issue for successive governments. <h2>What Did Meloni Say?</h2> Meloni said a proposal would soon be presented at a Cabinet meeting. It will include provisions to limit the number of foreign students in each classroom. She also said parents of foreign students who face serious difficulties integrating into schools would need to learn Italian. The proposal would also ban burqas and niqabs in schools. “If there is only one child in a class who does not know the Italian language, that child will probably learn the language with the help of friends and teachers and integrate quickly,” Meloni said. “But if there are more such children, it will become difficult to ignore. They will not be able to integrate and will end up forming their own majority,” she added. Meloni did not specify the proposed limit on the number of foreign students in each classroom during her speech. <h2>11.6% Students In Italian Schools Are Non-Citizens</h2> According to research by Italian organisation Fondazione ISMU cited in the report, 11.6% of students studying in Italian schools are not Italian citizens. This means that around 12 out of every 100 students are foreign nationals. <h2>‘You Will Have To Go To School With Your Face Uncovered’</h2> Addressing school students, Meloni said they would have to attend school without covering their faces. “You will have to go to school with your face uncovered. In Italy, no one can, in the name of a real or perceived tradition, say that a young woman should cover herself,” she said.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/italy-to-restrict-burqas-niqabs-in-schools-meloni-proposes-foreign-student-cap-1867572

'When Do I Blow Entire Nation?': Trump Says 3 Options On Table For Iran

US President Donald Trump has laid out three possible paths for ending the war with Iran, saying the choices are “wiping Iran out”, allowing it to “rot economically” or reaching a deal. In an interview with Fox News, Trump also said he was “open” to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. His comments came after Tehran sent Washington a list of demands for ending the conflict, as tensions remain high and both sides weigh their next moves.  <h2>Trump’s Three Options</h2> According to Fox News, Trump described the choices currently before his administration as military action against Iran, continued economic pressure, or a negotiated settlement. Trump’s remarks reflected the competing approaches Washington has considered during the conflict. He has repeatedly threatened further military action while also signalling that a deal remains possible if Tehran agrees to terms acceptable to the United States. In the interview, Trump also used particularly stark language when discussing the possibility of further escalation, saying: “My question is: If and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave.” The comments came as Iran conveyed conditions for ending the war through Qatar. Tehran has presented seven core demands, with the White House now considering its response. Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-live-news-update-tehran-warns-us-says-it-won-t-be-forced-strait-of-homruz-trump-1867556">'Ready For Both War And Negotiations': Iran Says It Won't Be Forced To Choose Between Fighting And Talks</a> <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TlQomnCdato?si=3jYVF9whTwRcd1TP" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <h2>Trump Open To Pezeshkian Meeting</h2> Despite the threats of further escalation, Trump indicated he could meet Pezeshkian during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. Fox News reported that Trump said he would “probably” be open to such a meeting. Iranian officials, including Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, are expected to travel to New York after the US agreed to allow a core Iranian delegation to attend the UN gathering. Reuters reported that the delegation will face travel restrictions while in the United States. The possible meeting comes against the backdrop of intermittent contacts between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the conflict. Trump has previously said Iran wants a deal, while stressing that any agreement would have to meet US demands. Also Read: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/prepared-for-a-decisive-war-iran-sets-7-conditions-for-us-talk-awaits-trump-s-response-1867552">‘Prepared For A Decisive War’: Iran Sets 7 Conditions For US Talk, Awaits Trump's Response</a>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-latest-update-better-behave-trump-says-3-options-on-table-for-iran-open-to-meeting-pezeshkian-1867570

Saturday, September 19, 2026

Welcome tighter H-1B scrutiny, but not at the cost of American innovation: FIIDS

Washington, Sep 19 (PTI): The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) has welcomed tighter scrutiny of H-1B visa applications, but cautioned that it should not come at the cost of American innovation, as jobs requiring highly specialised skills cannot always be filled immediately from the available domestic labour pool. The statement from FIIDS, an advocacy group, came hours after US President Donald Trump tightened oversight of the H-1B visa programme, contending that it had been widely misused by certain employers, including IT outsourcing firms. FIIDS appreciates and understands the Administration's intent to protect America's national and economic interests, safeguard American workers, and address abuse of the H-1B programme. Those are legitimate objectives, Khanderao Kand, Chief of Policy and Strategy at FIIDS, said in a statement on Friday. He said the ability of the US to attract exceptional talent has made it the world's leading innovation economy. Ajay Bhutoria, former advisor to President Joe Biden, said federal oversight must remain focused on bad corporate actors rather than penalising law-abiding, highly-skilled legal immigrants who play by the rules, pay taxes, and contribute significantly to American innovation. Bhutoria emphasised that while safeguards against unfair worker displacement are essential, government policy must maintain a predictable, transparent framework for compliant employers and legal visa holders. “Real reform means holding big corporations and body shops accountable when they abuse visa programmes to undercut local wages or displace workers. Protecting system integrity isn't about blaming immigrants; it's about stopping corporate greed and ensuring fair play for Americans and the legal workforce alike,” Bhutoria said. The FIIDS official said in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced semiconductors, cloud infrastructure, and specialised data engineering, employers can face real and highly specific skills gaps that cannot always be filled immediately from the available domestic labour pool. Kand said the US will be the strongest when it protects workers from exploitation and discrimination, rewards employers that comply with the law, invests seriously in American talent, and remains capable of attracting the people whose ideas, enterprises, and expertise create the next generation of American jobs. The answer is not to pit American workers against high-skilled immigrants. The answer is a transparent, enforceable, merit-based system: rigorous anti-fraud enforcement; meaningful consequences for bad actors; strong wage and recruitment safeguards; substantial investment in domestic education, training, and reskilling; and a lawful, predictable avenue for employers to hire global talent when a documented specialised need remains, Kand said. He said FIIDS urged an evidence-based and administrable implementation focused on demonstrable misconduct rather than broad assumptions based solely on a company's total head count or visa usage. Trump has extended by a year the requirement for a USD 100,000 payment for certain H-1B visa petitions, the White House said. In a presidential proclamation issued on Friday, Trump said the 2025 measure imposing the USD 100,000 payment had led to a 92 per cent decrease in H-1B registrations by large IT outsourcing firms. Indians remain the largest group of beneficiaries of the US H-1B visa programme. Trump issued a separate order to tighten scrutiny of H-1B visa applications by directing US agencies to consider recent or planned layoffs of similarly situated American workers when reviewing applications. The White House said the measure aims to improve programme integrity and prevent employers from using the H-1B programme to undercut or displace US workers. PTI SKU SKS SKS SKS(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/welcome-tighter-h-1b-scrutiny-but-not-at-the-cost-of-american-innovation-fiids-1867471

Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, Politico From White House; News Outlets Vow Legal Action

Edited by: Zac Crellin News outlets CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Saturday signaled they would take legal action after their journalists were denied access to the White House grounds earlier in the day. It comes a day after US President Donald Trump announced he would ban the three news outlets from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in a row over their coverage of his presidency. Trump has accused the media of "fake news" over their often critical coverage of his second term in office. Experts say the bans conflict with the United States Constitution's First Amendment protections for free speech and press freedom. <h2>What did CNN, MS NOW and Politico say?</h2> CNN reported that its journalist Betsy Klein was denied access at the White House on Saturday morning and her press pass was seized. "CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism,” a statement from the channel said. “We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right." Meanwhile, the left-leaning MS NOW, whose journalists were also turned away from the White House grounds on Saturday, said in a statement that it would challenge Trump's ban. "The White House belongs to the American people and the decisions made inside are funded by our tax dollars,” the network said. "MS NOW intends to take any and all steps necessary to defend our First Amendment rights and the essential role of independent journalism in our democracy.” Politico's global editor-in-chief Jonathan Greenberger, meanwhile, wrote in an email to staff: “A few minutes ago, our colleague Cheyenne Haslett attempted to enter the White House to do her job as a POLITICO reporter." "Secret Service denied her entry to the complex and confiscated the pass that allows her access to the White House. "We stand by her and all reporters here covering the White House. As we said yesterday, we will vigorously defend our First Amendment rights,” Greenberger wrote. <h2>What did Trump accuse US media outlets of?</h2> In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump said the media outlets "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they're covering the president of the United States." "Other fake news media outlets to follow," he warned. Trump said there was no one incident that prompted the ban, telling reporters in the Oval Office, "It's really just cumulative stories over the past few years." "I don't have to let them into my, into the people's house," he added. It was unclear whether the banned media outlets would also be blocked from flights aboard the presidential plane, Air Force One. The US is just weeks away from the November 3 midterm elections in which Trump's Republican Party will struggle to defend narrow majorities in Congress. With the president's approval ratings at 35%, near historic lows, Reuters/Ipsos polls also show Democrats ahead by around 7-9 points. <h2>Trump's war with the press</h2> During his second term, Trump has continued to round on journalists he deems critical to his administration — a tactic he employed when first elected in 2016. Last year, he banned the Associated Press news agency from the usual pool of journalists that report on the presidency over its refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. He has, however, given closer access to new, far-right media outlets seen as more sympathetic to his policies. Trump has even called on the US media regulator to remove the licenses of several broadcasters, whose comedy or news shows have mocked his policies and family. The president has also filed several lawsuits against the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the BBC and Iowa's Des Moines Register, sometimes costing the media outlets millions in settlements. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-bans-cnn-ms-now-politico-from-white-house-news-outlets-vow-legal-action-1867464