May resist shutdown, mimic blackmail, hide info: Anthropic flags 80 pages of AI risks in IPO prospectus

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept 28: Artificial Intelligence startup Anthropic has warned potential investors that developing advanced AI models could pose “catastrophic or existential risks to humanity”. The company behind the Claude AI series spoke of these risks in its IPO prospectus, giving attention to possible worst-case scenarios.

The disclosure comes days after Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei published a nearly 4,000-word essay asking AI companies to “pace the frontier”. He said AI could progress faster than people's ability to understand and control it.

One of the key warnings in the prospectus is that advanced AI models could show autonomous, “self-preserving behaviours”. This could include attempts to resist being shut down, hide or manipulate information, or take actions that resemble blackmail.

Anthropic safety researcher Evan Hubinger earlier estimated that there was a greater than 10% chance that AI could kill humans within the next 10 years. His former colleague Jacob Coxon has shown a similar concern.

Anthropic’s prospectus devotes about 80 pages of its 261-page main body to risk factors, compared with roughly 48 pages describing the company and its business.

The company said AI could change the world like industrialisation and electricity did. But it also warned that misuse or losing control of AI could have irreversible consequences.

“Our development of highly advanced models, platforms, and applications and expansion of use cases could further increase the risk that our models cause harm,” the company said in the filing.

Anthropic, which describes itself as a safety-focused AI company, said its models can develop unexpected abilities while being trained. Some of these abilities may only be discovered after the models are released, which could create safety risks.

The company also warned that AI models could become aware when they are being tested. This could make it harder for researchers to properly check their safety.

“Potential model awareness of our evaluation efforts creates a significant limitation on our ability to assess model safety,” Anthropic said.

To put it simply, advanced AI models may realise when they are being watched and change their behaviour. This could make it harder for researchers to predict how they might behave in the real world.

Anthropic said it is not clear how much money it can make from its spending on AI safety.

The company did not disclose how much it spends on safety research. It said about 6% of the computing power used for AI research during one week in July went towards safety work.

Anthropic said safety research is expensive. It has to balance this spending with the high cost of training AI models and hiring skilled researchers.

At the same time, the company said its revenue depends on launching new AI models. It needs to keep developing and releasing more advanced models to stay competitive.

This creates a challenge for Anthropic. It is warning investors about the risks of powerful AI while also depending on faster AI development for its business.

Anthropic said building “reliable, trustworthy, and secure AI systems” was a shared responsibility and that the market will reward companies that achieve this.

Iran’s president says Tehran wants a deal with U.S. before midterm elections

NEW YORK, Sept 24: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Thursday suggested his government was willing to make a deal with the U.S. to end the war before Americans head to the polls this November.

“We don’t want it to get to the midterm elections,” Pezeshkian said Thursday in a brief meeting with NBC News and other news organizations on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“We wish Americans to return to the MOU before the midterms,” Pezeshkian added, referring to a memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran that laid out plans for a temporary ceasefire. The agreement, signed in June, eventually collapsed.

In response to NBC News’ request for comment, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said: “The Iranian regime has murdered thousands of its own people, killed Americans overseas, executed acts of terrorism in the Strait of Hormuz, and launched indiscriminate attacks against its neighbors in the region.”

“The President is courageously ensuring that such an evil country never possesses a nuclear weapon, which will make the entire world safer and more stable,” Kelly added.

Pezeshkian’s comments came two days after President Donald Trump said in a speech to world leaders at the U.N. that he believed the Iranian regime would not make a deal to settle the conflict until after the fall elections.

“I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to,” Trump said. “They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election.”

Polls show Democrats with an advantage heading into the November contests. The latest NBC News Decision Desk Poll found 31% of respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the Iran war, while another 69% disapproved.

Trump on Tuesday also defended the conflict and said he was considering whether to “annihilate” the country or make a deal.

Trump has repeatedly said that the goal of attacking Iran was to prevent the development of a nuclear weapon. Soon after the war started, Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which some 20% of the world’s oil flowed before the conflict, sending shock waves through the world economy.

In an exchange with news organizations, Pezeshkian said he has met with the Islamic Republic’s new leader twice — including a month ago, for seven hours.

Russia has 'lost control' of its diesel industry: Trump says Ukraine war has put several refineries out of commission

NEW YORK, Sept 21: US President Donald Trump on Monday said Russia has "lost control" of its diesel oil industry, linking the disruption to the ongoing war with Ukraine.

Trump made the remarks in a social media post a day before he was due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

"Russia has unfortunately lost control of its Diesel Oil Industry due to its War with Ukraine. A large number of their Diesel refineries have been blown up and are, at least temporarily, out of commission," Trump said in the post.

He did not provide further details in the post about the refineries or the extent of the disruption.

Trump also renewed his call for an end to the war, describing the conflict as "ridiculous and never ending".

"This ridiculous and never ending War with Ukraine must be ended," he said.

Trump further claimed that the continuing conflict was affecting the wider world, saying, "The whole World suffers as 25,000 people, mostly soldiers, are being killed each month."

He ended the post with: "What a shame! President DJT".

Ukraine fires over 1,000 drones at Russia, including hundreds launched at Moscow

KYIV, Sept 21: Ukrainian forces fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, including hundreds that were launched toward Moscow, officials said Sunday as the Kremlin was wrapping up the third and last day of its parliamentary elections.

Moscow's mayor described the wave of drones as the "largest ever" attack on the Russian capital and said there had been damage to a Moscow oil refinery and a residential building.

Across the wider Moscow region, the attack killed two people and wounded 20, local Gov. Andrei Vorobyov said. The dead were a 74-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman, he said.

Writing on social media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Kyiv had used a range of missiles and drones in the attack — including Ukraine's domestically made Flamingo and Pelican missiles — to hit oil and logistics facilities.

Mecca Put On Air Raid Alert For First Time In History As Houthis Target Saudi

JEDDAH, Sept 15: The Saudi Civil Defence on Tuesday issued alerts in several cities of the country's western coast, including the holy city of Mecca and in the Jeddah and Taif governorates but were quickly lifted. The aerial threat alert has been issued in Mecca for the first time in history.

The unprecedented alert was triggered after the kingdom was repeatedly targeted by the Iran-backed Houthis in recent days.

According to a report by Israeli newspaper Hayom, the air traffic bound for Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED) in Medina was also halted. The report stated that earlier, the Saudi-backed internationally recognised Yemeni government and Saudi forces struck targets near the city of Taiz in Yemen.

The alerts were issued a day after the Houthis wounded 13 people in the kingdom in an assault using ballistic missiles and drones from Yemen.

The Directorate of Saudi Civil Defence in a post on X said, "Alert: The danger has passed in Mecca City. For your safety, continue following #CivilDefense instructions and avoid gathering and filming. In case of emergency, call (911)."

The Saudi civil defence had earlier issued short-lived air-raid alerts in six regions.

The Houthis carried out their heaviest missile and drone attack in years this week against Saudi Arabia, setting oil sites ablaze and wounding 73.

On Monday, a Houthi strike in Western Yemen killed eight government soldiers according to two military sources. The group also claimed a new large-scale attack using "dozens of ballistic missiles and drones" against King Khalid airbase in Khamis Mushait, in southern Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis have been engaged in fighting with Saudi-backed government forces since Yemen's civil war reignited in July, when the group declared a maritime blockade on Riyadh and began targeting its ships in the Red Sea.

Saudi seeks Israel's help amid attacks by Iran-backed Houthis? Report says Riyadh sought intel aid

TEL AVIV, Sept 15: Saudi Arabia held talks with Israel, mediated by US Central Command, on ways to help Riyadh counter the Houthi military with intelligence support, according to an Israeli media report published on Tuesday.

The Iran-backed Houthis have stepped up attacks on the Saudi regime over the past week, including a drone strike on oil pipelines and pumping facilities, which forced a partial halt to operations on the key pipeline.

Saudi Arabia and Israel discussed measures to help protect Riyadh from the Houthis in talks facilitated by CENTCOM, Israeli outlet Walla reported, citing diplomatic sources in West Asia.

The report said that Riyadh's request was mainly centred on intelligence assistance. The aim was to gain a clearer understanding of Houthi military positions in the region and assess what operations the group could be planning next.

Notably, it was also reported that Saudi Arabia had approached Britain for assistance in pushing the Houthis away from the Bab al-Mandab Strait and protecting its oil facilities from further attacks.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is weighing whether Britain should provide support. A spokesperson said that Britain would work with its partners to help maintain stability in the region, but did not provide further details.

Pakistan has already expressed "complete solidarity" with Saudi Arabia and warned that the attacks pose a threat to regional security as well as global energy supplies.

Saudi Arabia has faced multiple Houthi missile and drone strikes this month, as the militant group has targeted towns in the south and ports along the Red Sea.

Saudi authorities issued air alerts on Tuesday morning for Jeddah, Yanbu, Jazan and Al Ula, a medieval site that is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to expand tourism. The government later said the threat had passed, although strikes over roughly the past week have injured dozens of people.

The Houthis control territory containing most of Yemen’s population and have also expanded their hold within the country.

Last week, they captured the port of Mokha and several islands close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The group was already disrupting shipping through the strategic waterway, and control of additional territory gives it greater leverage over the route.

The Houthis' advance in recent days, along with Saudi Arabia's decision to suspend its East-West oil pipeline after the attacks, has added further pressure to energy prices. The pipeline has served as the main route for Saudi crude exports since the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

‘China values Modi’s statements’: Beijing hails India's independent foreign policy after PM-Xi meeting at BRICS

BEIJING, Sept 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Chinese President Xi Jinping during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in New Delhi that India follows an independent foreign policy, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Monday, adding that Beijing values PM Modi’s remarks.

The statement from China came two days after Modi and Xi met for bilateral talks and welcomed “steady progress” in relations between the two countries. This was also Xi's first visit to India in seven years.

Jiakun said the "most important consensus" from the meeting was that “China and India should be partners”, according to a release by China’s ministry of foreign affairs. Beijing also welcomed Modi’s remarks on India’s strategic autonomy.

“Prime Minister Modi said that India has an independent foreign policy, developing relations with China is not affected by any third party and that it will not allow any force to engage in anti-China activities on its territory. China values Prime Minister Modi’s statements,” the statement said.

Xi said that while China and India have different national realities, the two countries should draw on each other’s strengths and support each other’s development, Guo said.

"To promote the steady and sustained development of China-India relations, both sides need to calibrate the direction with an objective and rational strategic perception," he said.

The Chinese official said the two countries should also address their differences through "mutual respect and mutual understanding" while deepening cooperation.

India said on Saturday that maintaining peace and tranquillity in the border areas is the “essential basis” for improving ties with China, according to a statement from the ministry of external affairs. Modi also said both sides should “observe existing agreements and understandings on border-related issues”.

The two leaders “expressed commitment to a fair, reasonable, and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question proceeding from the political perspective of their overall bilateral relations and the long-term interests of the two peoples”, the ministry said.

“Differences should not become disputes. Prime Minister [Modi] highlighted that both sides must be guided by three mutuals – mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interest,” the readout said.

Fighting in Yemen intensifies, and Houthis launch more attacks on Saudi Arabia

SANAA, Sept 13: The conflict in Yemen intensified on Sunday, as government forces launched attacks against Iran-backed Houthi rebels along the Red Sea and Houthis fired into neighboring Saudi Arabia, which supports Yemen’s government.

The Yemeni government vowed to send more forces to the Red Sea coast after conceding a “painful” defeat last week when Houthis captured the port city of Mokha and an island on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping alternative to the Strait of Hormuz.

As the impoverished country risks descending into another civil war, the United Nations estimated that more than 80,000 people have been displaced by the fighting since the start of September.

Saudi authorities sounded sirens Sunday afternoon in the southern city of Abha and Khamis Mushait province, warning residents to take shelter from potential incoming fire. Both areas were repeatedly attacked by the Houthi in recent weeks.

The Houthis claimed to have used drones and missiles to target Saudi Arabia, including a military base just over the border with Yemen. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree didn’t provide evidence or say when the attack occurred.

The Saudi civil defense overnight said a projectile fell in a different area near the border with Yemen along the Red Sea, injuring two people and damaging a mosque and several other buildings. The statement blamed the Houthis.

Saudi Arabia did not announce any new attacks targeting the Houthis.

The Houthis are targeting Saudi oil infrastructure and shipping as part of a recently declared blockade. While the Houthis have said they do not intend to threaten other countries' commercial shipping, markets remain wary and oil prices have risen again.

The National Resistance, a government-allied force that had controlled coastal areas, said more than 500 government fighters were killed on the west coast over the past four weeks — its first comprehensive toll. It said about 1,500 others had been wounded in the fighting since Aug. 9.

Its statement said more than 1,000 Houthis had been killed in Hodeida and Taiz provinces. A spokesman for the Houthis didn't respond to a request for comment.

Yemen is home to over 40 million people who fear a return to the civil war that killed 150,000 and brought many others to the brink of famine in one of the world’s most sprawling humanitarian crises. Yemen’s internationally recognized government and Saudi Arabia have been battling the Houthis for 12 years. A ceasefire that began in 2022 had mostly halted the fighting.

India condemns attack on ship off Oman as seafarer remains missing; 13 Indian crew members rescued

NEW DELHI, Sept 13: India on Sunday condemned an attack on a Panama-flagged oil tanker that resulted in one Indian seafarer being reported missing, and said the targeting of merchant shipping and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable.

Thirteen other Indian seafarers who were part of the crew of MT El Gaia were rescued following the attack off the coast of Oman, the external affairs ministry said.

The attack came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed creating a “Seafarers' Emergency Support Network” at the Brics Summit to safeguard mariners facing heightened risks due to regional conflicts. Ten Indian seafarers are among 16 Indians killed so far in the West Asia conflict, while another five Indian seafarers have died in strikes on merchant vessels in the Black Sea.

“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman earlier today. Of the 14 Indian crew onboard, 13 Indians have been rescued so far,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement.

“Search and rescue operations for the missing Indian national are continuing. Our embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing search and rescue operation,” it said.

The Indian side thanked Omani authorities for their support in rescuing the Indian seafarers.

“We reiterate our call for immediate de-escalation of tensions and pursuance of dialogue and diplomacy to bring peace to the region,” the statement said. “The targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable.”

The Indian side also called for the restoration of free and safe navigation and flow of commerce through international waterways in the region at the earliest.

Indian seafarers make up more than 12% of the global merchant shipping workforce, second only to Philippine nationals. India contributes almost 312,000 of the global total of 2.57 million seafarers.

India at forefront of fight against terror: Modi remembers 9/11 victims

NEW DELHI, Sept 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the victims of the 9/11 on Friday as the world commemorated 25 years of the deadly terror attacks in the United States. The prime minister also expressed India's firm resolve to combat terrorism.

"25 years on from the horrific 9/11 attacks, we remember and honour the victims and stand in solidarity with the families whose lives were forever changed," he wrote in a post on X.

Reinforcing India's commitment to fight terror, PM Modi said, “Terrorism has claimed countless lives around the world. As a victim of cross-border terrorism, India has been at the forefront of this fight for several decades.”

Modi took the opportunity to voice India's unwavering resolve to counter terrorism as he said, "While the threat keeps evolving, our resolve and opposition to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations remain unwavering. We stand in solidarity with all efforts to combat this scourge."

The prime minister also shared images of his visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in 2014.

Jaishankar flags global uncertainty at BRICS forum: 'Political and economic order under churn'

NEW DELHI, Sept 11: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday flagged growing uncertainty in the global political and economic order, saying volatility and complexity had become defining features of the world.

Speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Jaishankar said geopolitical conflicts, pandemics and climate-related disruptions were having economic consequences, while rapid digitisation and technological advances were creating new opportunities for growth, productivity and development.

"We meet at a time when global political and economic order is under churn. Volatility, uncertainty, and complexity have become defining features of the world around us. We are witnessing the economic consequences of geopolitical conflicts, of pandemics, and of climate-related disruptions," he said.

He also said rapid digitisation and technological advances are opening up new possibilities for growth, productivity and development. “The result is an economic landscape where both risks and opportunities are becoming more widely distributed and where the ability to anticipate, adapt and respond is acquiring greater importance,” he added.

New Delhi is all set to host the BRICS Summit on September 12 and 13, with several world leaders and senior delegations arriving in the national capital from late Thursday evening through early Friday morning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in New Delhi on Friday, marking the beginning of a three-day visit to India to participate in the BRICS Summit and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss expanding bilateral trade, investment and energy cooperation.

Putin is accompanied by a high-level delegation. His visit marks his first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022.

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira also arrived in New Delhi to attend the 18th BRICS Summit. The Ministry of External Affairs announced Vieira's arrival, saying he is representing Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the summit, as Lula remains in Brazil for his election campaign.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung are among the top leaders attending the summit.

Delhi Police has put in place a multi-layered security for the upcoming BRICS Summit, with around 15,000 personnel and 200 companies of paramilitary forces to be deployed across the national capital, a senior police officer said on Thursday.

The police have also installed more than 500 CCTV cameras, including high-resolution and specialised surveillance cameras, to keep a round-the-clock watch over key areas.

Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in New Delhi, China confirms

NEW DELHI, Sept 10: Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India for the first time in nearly seven years to attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday. Xi’s visit, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will also provide an opportunity for the two leaders to review the gradual improvement in India-China ties and the efforts to resolve outstanding border issues.

Xi last visited India in October 2019, when he met Modi in Mamallapuram. Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply months later after a military standoff erupted along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh in 2020. The Galwan Valley clash in June that year, in which 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese troops were killed, pushed bilateral ties to their lowest point in decades.

The four-year military face-off began to ease after India and China reached an understanding in October 2024 on disengagement at the remaining friction points of Depsang and Demchok. Modi and Xi met days later on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan and agreed to revive mechanisms for addressing the border dispute and normalising relations.

Since then, the two sides have taken several steps to rebuild ties, including resuming direct flights and reviving the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. India and China have also continued discussions through diplomatic and military channels on maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC. In May this year, the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs reviewed the situation and noted progress in maintaining peace along the frontier.

The effort to improve relations has continued in recent months. At talks in August, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who are the two countries’ Special Representatives on the boundary question, reached an eight-point consensus that included additional military meeting points, new hotline channels and the reopening of three designated border trading points. India and China also held their first corps commander-level meeting in the eastern sector in Arunachal Pradesh on September 6.

New Delhi, however, continues to maintain that peace and tranquillity along the border are essential for normal ties. External affairs minister S Jaishankar reiterated this position during a meeting with Wang in July, saying that progress on the border remains a prerequisite for fully normalising India-China relations.

Xi’s visit and his meeting with Modi are therefore expected to be closely watched for indications of how far the two countries are prepared to take the ongoing process of stabilising relations while addressing the unresolved boundary dispute.

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, with the grouping’s leaders expected to discuss a range of global political and economic issues. Xi’s presence will make his bilateral meeting with Modi one of the most closely watched engagements on the margins of the summit, particularly against the backdrop of the efforts by India and China to stabilise relations.

The summit will also provide an opportunity for India to engage with other major BRICS members on issues including global conflicts, economic cooperation and reforms of multilateral institutions.

Day after 'warning', Pakistan says no military response ‘right now’ over Houthi attacks on Saudi

ISLAMABAD, Sept 10: Pakistan on Thursday said there were no discussions about a military response from Islamabad under the Mecca agreement following Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, while maintaining that it would act when the “time comes”.

“There is no such thing under discussion right now ... When time comes (we) will act under the agreement,” Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said at a weekly media briefing.

Khan was responding to a question on how Islamabad planned to fulfil its obligations under the joint defence accord signed with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Last month, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey signed a joint defence agreement under which an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all of them.

The question of Pakistan's response arose after Houthis struck Saudi cities and energy infrastructure this week.

Pakistan's warning carries weight because of its defence pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said attacks spilling into Saudi Arabia could trigger a joint security arrangement involving Riyadh, Ankara and Islamabad.

“An aggression on one country will be considered an aggression on all three countries,” Asif said on Pakistani TV on September 9.

“There is no ambiguity or doubt... Unprovoked aggression or spillover... into Saudi Arabia will definitely make this agreement operational.”

The comments came after the Houthis struck an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in nearby cities on Tuesday, wounding 73 people, in one of the biggest attacks on Saudi Arabia since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran in February.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Wednesday that Saudi warplanes had carried out 54 airstrikes across various Yemeni provinces over the previous 12 hours, adding that they would “not go unanswered and unpunished”.

The escalating conflict has emerged as a second theatre of war threatening global energy supplies, as Iran and the United States wage their biggest declared wave of tit-for-tat attacks on shipping in the Gulf region since their war began.

Khan also said on Thursday that there were no plans to expand the Mecca alliance, as Washington struggles to contain the regional upheaval that has also disrupted global energy supplies.

Trump, Putin Hold 'Extremely Frank' Phone Call After US Envoys Visit Moscow

MOSCOW, Sept 8: Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump had an "extremely frank" phone call on Tuesday, after US negotiators visited Moscow over the weekend, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters.

Steve Witkoff, who is Trump's business ally, and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, visited the Russian and Ukrainian capitals at the weekend for talks with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a one-hour call on Tuesday, Putin and Trump "exchanged views on the outcome of the visits", Ushakov said.

The talks brought no immediate breakthrough in the four-and-a-half-year war that is Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War II.

Ushakov said Putin presented to Trump an "objective and detailed analysis" of the frontline situation.

The Kremlin leader routinely says his troops are advancing across the entire front, with the capture of the entire eastern Donbas a matter of time.

He also "pointed out what the Americans could realistically do to bring the hostilities to a swift conclusion," Ushakov said, without elaborating.

Moscow has shown no signs of dropping its maximalist conditions to end the war, including a demand that Ukraine cede territory in the east that Russia's troops have not captured.

Putin also told Trump that Russia had "no aggressive plans" towards Europe, Ushakov said.

The Kremlin has over the summer been accused of ratcheting up a sabotage campaign against Ukraine's European backers -- accusations it has denied.

"In view of the speculation regarding Russia's alleged hostile intentions towards European states, it was emphasised that we have absolutely no aggressive plans whatsoever towards Europe," Ushakov said.

"The myths being spread about the Russian threat serve as a pretext for Europeans to ramp up support for Ukraine and their own military spending," he added.

Fuelling the concerns over Russia's intentions, CIA chief John Ratcliffe paid a surprise visit to Moscow in late August, with US media reporting he warned Russia against attacking any NATO country.

US envoys, Putin Hold 'Substantive' Talks To End Ukraine War

MOSCOW, Sept 6: Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for more than three hours of talks in Moscow that a Kremlin aide called “highly useful,” setting the stage for the pair’s planned trip to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian leaders on Sunday.

Putin’s meeting with President Donald Trump’s envoys was “substantive, constructive, extremely frank and trusting,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said in comments distributed by Russian media. “Our president reaffirmed his readiness to continue working jointly with the Americans to seek political and diplomatic solutions.”

They also discussed economic matters and potential Russian-US projects “in considerable detail,” Ushakov said. The White House didn’t respond to requests for comment on the meeting.

The trip by Witkoff and Kushner signaled a renewed attempt by Trump to stop a war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in early 2022 and that the US president once said he could swiftly end. Putin ordered Russian forces to pause airstrikes on Kyiv as the two envoys prepared to visit the Ukrainian capital for the first time since the war began.

Putin opened the talks by calling the situation the sides have to resolve “not a simple one” and asked the US envoys to pass on his best wishes to Trump.

Yet multiple previous trips to Moscow by Witkoff and Kushner failed to yield progress, and the Kremlin signaled no intention after the latest talks to back off its military goals in Ukraine.

Putin is ready to stop the war only on his own terms, and Moscow’s demands are getting tougher because it believes it has the military edge over Ukraine, according to people close to the Kremlin, who asked not to be identified discussing sensitive matters.

Ushakov said the “Russian side pointed to what it described as the Russian army’s tangible successes in advancing in the combat zone, expressed confidence that the stated objectives would be achieved.” Witkoff and Kushner departed Moscow after the talks, the state-run Tass news agency reported.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier Saturday that the Kremlin had received information that Kyiv would also halt fire for three days.

Ahead of the talks, Putin spent part of Saturday marking Moscow’s City Day. He appeared at the Zaryadye Park adjacent to Red Square with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, congratulating him on being named a Hero of Labor, and met the five figures leading the United Russia party into the State Duma elections this month.

Witkoff and Kushner had lunch at a Moscow restaurant with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for economic cooperation with the US, Russian media reported.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that he’d spoken with the US envoys after their arrival in Moscow. Kyiv’s goal is to make the visit “as constructive and substantive as possible,” he said.

“From the moment of this conversation, we are ready to observe a ceasefire in airstrikes against the cities involved in the negotiation process,” Zelenskyy said. “From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv.”

Despite the temporary halt in strikes floated by Putin, air-raid sirens sounded on and off in Kyiv on Saturday afternoon and an attack was reported in Khmelnyskyi in western Ukraine, with four people injured.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said his envoys were “bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” without elaborating.

Alexey Gromyko, director of the Institute of Europe at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said there’s a chance the visit gives fresh impetus to efforts to reach mutually acceptable terms on Ukraine.

The key question is whether Washington is prepared to engage with the negotiating process on an ongoing basis “rather than returning to it only once every six months,” he said.

Putin orders halt on Kyiv strikes for 3 days, holds talks with US envoys

MOSCOW, Sept 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day pause in strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from Saturday, ahead of a planned visit by a US delegation, Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Putin was scheduled to meet US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday, Peskov told the TASS news agency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that Russia had struck airports in Kyiv and the nearby town of Boryspil ahead of the expected visit by US envoys.

"Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport," he said on the Telegram app. "Russian-Iranian Shaheds (drones) in response to American diplomacy."

Ukraine has kept its airspace closed since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. However, Zelensky said officials had discussed the possibility of the US peace negotiators travelling by plane for their expected visit to Kyiv on Sunday.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were travelling abroad in an effort to reach a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

The latest move is Washington's attempt to overcome a diplomatic deadlock in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II.

Peace negotiations have been held up amid Washington's war with Iran, as Russia and Ukraine have also intensified long-range attacks, driving civilian casualties to their highest levels since the conflict began.

The new diplomatic push comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to carry out long-range missile and drone strikes against each other.

Witkoff and Kushner's trip comes more than a week after a rare visit to Moscow by CIA director John Ratcliffe, who warned Russia against attacking NATO member states, according to US media.

Two More Rescued Alive In Nepal Flood Zone, Woman Found After 11 Days

KATHMANDU, Sept 5: In a major breakthrough for rescue teams in flood-hit Nepal, two more people were rescued alive during separate operations. A foreign national was pulled out from the Upper Trishuli-1 tunnel, while 64-year-old Chandika Shrestha was dramatically rescued from the fourth floor of her flood-trapped home in Nuwakot, 11 days after the disaster struck.

Netanyahu Says Iran 'Weaker Than Ever', Overthrowing Regime 'Within Reach'

TEL AVIV, Sept 4: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday voiced confidence that Iran's Islamic republic could soon fall, saying it was weaker than ever as the United States resumed attacks.

"This regime is currently teetering. It is weaker than ever. It is fighting for its survival," Netanyahu said at an event with Israeli military leaders.

"I am convinced that we can remove this threat once and for all -- that is, to overthrow this regime. That is the central task that still lies ahead of us, but it is close. It is not impossible. It is within reach," he said.

Netanyahu, after decades of describing Iran's cleric-run state as an existential threat, in late February launched a joint attack on Iran with the United States, although President Donald Trump abruptly called a ceasefire in April.

The United States has imposed more economic pressure and resumed strikes this week, leading Iran to fire back at US allies in the Gulf, Jordan and in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region -- but not Israel.

"If they're not attacking us, it is not by chance. They attack everyone, but not us," Netanyahu said.

"They know our power -- the strength of our arms -- and our determination."

Netanyahu's remarks come ahead of October 27 general elections in which some polls show him trailing and as opposition leaders accuse him of failing on Iran.

Ukraine's Zelensky meets Jaishankar, hails India's peace push in Ukraine war

KYIV, Sept 3: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar and thanked India for its support to end the “unjust war” that Russia started against Ukraine.

Zelensky said that he discussed “important issues” with Jaishankar and also highlighted India's clear position - “peace is needed”.

“Held a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. We discussed important issues. We are grateful to India for its desire to end this unjust war—the war of Russia against Ukraine. This time must certainly not be a time of war. Peace is needed. This is India's clear position,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X and shared glimpse from their meeting.

S Jaishankar is in Kyiv on an official visit. Earlier in the day, the foreign minister said that India is ready to help end the Ukraine war. Speaking to reporters on Thursday in Kyiv, Jaishankar said that if needed, India stands ready to mediate.

India has for long pushed for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine and maintain peace in the region.

In the post, Zelensky also highlighted that even during Jaishankar's visit, Russia launched ‘Shaheds’ drones, which he said were not created without Iran's assistance. However, he added, that the delegation was safe due to Ukraine's combat aviation.

After India's clear position, the Ukrainian President said he hopes "other strong states in the world will also take a clear position that this war needs to end and a reliable peace is required."

Detailing what the two leaders discussed, Zelensky said that they talked about Black Sea and threat to civilian shipping there.

“We agree that it is absolutely unacceptable to block the supply of food to those regions where it is highly sensitive and people depend on the relevant sea routes. Russian actions aimed at blocking our ports, our grain corridor, and our supplies are indeed injecting major disruption into global relations,” he wrote.

Jaishankar said that the conversation between them “centered on approaches to end the ongoing conflict”.

While interacting with reporters in Kyiv earlier in the day alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Jaishankar said, “If India can be of any help, in any manner, we are there”.

EAM Jaishankar is currently on a visit to Ukraine. During this, the ministry of external affairs said he will hold bilateral consultations with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha and Polish Deputy Prime Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.

Dialogue, not war: Modi pushes diplomacy for West Asia, targets terror ecosystem

BISHKEK, Sept 1: The West Asia conflict must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, and not on the battlefield, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, even as he urged Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) states to shun “double standards” while unitedly countering the challenge of terrorism.

Modi made the remarks while addressing the 26th SCO Summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. The comments were made before a gathering that included Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Xi Jinping of China, which has often stymied India’s efforts to sanction Pakistani terrorists at bodies such as the UN Security Council.

He also spoke of India’s vision for the SCO based on security, connectivity and opportunity and said the grouping, which has completed 25 years, should now focus on translating cooperation into tangible outcomes that benefit the people of the grouping’s 10 member countries.

“The crisis in West Asia has demonstrated that a conflict in one region does not remain confined to that region. Its impact is felt across the world, affecting energy security, maritime trade, and supply chains,” Modi said, speaking in Hindi.

“The countries of the Global South bear the greatest brunt of such disruptions. Therefore, India has consistently called for all tensions and conflicts to be resolved not on the battlefield, but through dialogue and diplomacy.”

While speaking on the issue of security, Modi said terrorism remains a serious challenge to humanity. “In the fight against terrorism, we cannot remain confined to an action-reaction approach,” he said.

“We must dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorist financing, recruitment, radicalisation and safe havens. We must speak with one voice and make it clear that there can be no place for double standards on this serious issue,” Modi said.

Though Modi didn’t name any countries, his remarks on terrorism appeared to be directed against Pakistan. “We must send a strong message to countries that use terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide safe haven and support to terrorists that terrorism can never be a strategic asset for anyone,” he said.

The SCO’s shared aspiration for a secure Eurasia is closely linked to peace and stability in Afghanistan, Modi pointed out. “India has been contributing to the development and provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and will continue to do so,” he said.

The Bishkek Declaration adopted at the close of the summit expressed deep concern at developments in the Middle East and reiterated the SCO’s condemnation of military strikes on Iran, which resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to the economy. SCO member states also expressed their condolences to Iran on the death of Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

The declaration, while supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iran, backed the resolution to the conflict “solely through political and diplomatic means” and welcomed all efforts aimed at de-escalation. “Member States note that the only possible way to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East is a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian question,” the declaration said.

The declaration emphasised the “inadmissibility of attempts to exploit terrorist, separatist and extremist groups for selfish purposes” and strongly condemned all forms of terrorism. It further emphasised that “double standards” in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and urged the world community to “combat terrorism, including the cross-border movement of terrorists”.

The SCO Summit took stock of progress on the 25th anniversary of the grouping and discussed ways to further its role for peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region. Modi said the anniversary is an opportune time to lay the roadmap for the next 25 years.

Strong and trusted connectivity initiatives are important for SCO’s shared progress and prosperity, and India supports connectivity efforts that link markets, enhance trade and open new opportunities for development, Modi said. However, he reiterated that such efforts should respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.

Besides the Bishkek Declaration, four memorandums of understanding and more than 20 decisions and statements were adopted at the summit in fields ranging from climate, nuclear safety and energy conservation to combating drug addiction.

The leaders signed and adopted decisions of the SCO Heads of State Council on joint initiatives on combating drug addiction and countering the spread of synthetic drugs and their precursors for the period until 2030, initiatives for conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity, and scientific cooperation programmes for 2026-2030 for creating the SCO Green Technology Corridor.

The leaders also adopted regulations on the SCO Universal Centre for Countering Security Challenges and Threats and the Executive Committee of the SCO Anti-Drug Centre, as well as an action plan for developing ports and logistics centres of SCO states for 2026-2030, and a concept for establishing regional data centres and computing capacities and developing the artificial intelligence industry.

SCO condemns US-Israel strikes on Iran in Bishkek declaration

BISHTEK, Sept 1: On the war between the US, Israel, and Iran, which has been continuing for more than six months now, the Bishkek Declaration said: “Member states express deep concern over developments in the Middle East and around Iran. They reiterate the SCO’s previously stated position condemning military strikes on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to the country’s economy.”

“Such actions violate the principles and norms of international law and the UN Charter and create serious risks to international peace, security and stability,” it said.

Rescuers battle flood debris, mud at Nepal hydropower tunnel as victims' families say ‘we still have hope’

KATHMANDU, Sept 1: The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 1,003, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). As rescue teams continue searching for missing workers, families are recounting the horror of the August 26 disaster and urging authorities to speed up operations.

Among those waiting for answers is 20-year-old Anush Gurung, who has been searching for his 60-year-old father, Laxman, since the floods struck the Upper Trishuli-1 hydropower project in Rasuwa district. Anush last spoke to his father at around 8 am on August 26. Soon after, the flash floods swept through the area and Laxman disappeared.

The family has received conflicting accounts from Laxman's surviving colleagues about whether he was inside a tunnel when the floods hit, The Kathmandu Post reported on Tuesday. “Whom are we supposed to believe? If the tunnel is searched, we would know for certain,” Anush told the newspaper. “Now our only hope is inside the tunnel.”

Families of missing workers are pressing authorities to accelerate rescue efforts as teams struggle to remove mud and debris blocking tunnels.

At the Upper Trishuli-3B project in Nuwakot, Bivek Pandey is searching for his 58-year-old father, Kamal Bahadur Pandey. He is among at least 122 people unaccounted for from the project, The Kathmandu Post reported.

Relatives gathered at an Army rescue and relief centre in Bidur and urged authorities to intensify the search. After several days of pressure, an excavator was brought to the site on Monday.

“If excavation begins, the sand covering the quarters can be removed. We still have hope,” Bivek told the newspaper.

It remains unclear whether Kamal Bahadur was inside a tunnel when the flood struck.

Brig. Gen. Raja Ram Basnet, a Nepal Army spokesperson, said that teams, assisted by foreign experts, were carrying out searches at several hydropower projects. Army footage showed rescuers entering dark tunnels filled with debris, moving through mud and climbing over rocks while looking for missing workers.

The search has been complicated by damage to transport routes and the remote locations of many hydropower projects. Steep terrain and narrow roads already make access difficult, while the floods have damaged roads and restricted routes to some sites.

Inside the projects, rescuers are also dealing with blocked and damaged tunnels. The floods carried mud, large rocks and other debris into underground passages, collapsing sections and trapping workers. Even when tunnel entrances can be reached, teams have to clear substantial amounts of debris before they can move further inside.

An Indian tunnel rescue team has joined forces with the Nepali Army to conduct joint search and rescue operations at critical hydropower tunnel sites in Chilime, Rasuwa district.

Mohan Kumar Dangi, president of the Independent Power Producers Association of Nepal, said at least 12 hydropower projects in Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts were damaged by the floods. Together, the projects have a capacity of 670 MW. Four were under construction, seven were operational and one was in the testing phase.

Dangi said hydropower projects undergo risk assessments and other studies before construction, but described the August 26 flooding as “something unimaginable”.