Shibbir Ahmed, New York — UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a major overhaul of the international system, saying the institutions created after the Second World War must change to reflect the growing economic and geopolitical influence of emerging economies. Speaking to leaders at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, Guterres said the world of today is fundamentally different from that of 1945 and that global institutions must reflect current economic, demographic and geopolitical realities.

“Today’s economic, demographic and geopolitical realities are not those of 1945,” Guterres said. “Our institutional structures must reflect it.”

He said the countries represented at the summit reflected the changing balance of global power and pointed to the emergence of an increasingly multipolar world. Guterres argued that multipolarity can bring greater balance and equity to international institutions, but said that would require reforms to bodies including the UN Security Council and the Bretton Woods institutions.

The UN chief outlined four priorities for what he described as inclusive global growth: financing, technology, climate justice and peace. On development financing, Guterres said developing countries need substantial international support to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He urged multilateral development banks to become “bigger, better and bolder” to help meet the scale of financing required. Turning to artificial intelligence, he warned that the benefits of the technology remain concentrated among a relatively small number of companies and countries.

“Unchecked, the AI divide will widen every other divide — in income, in opportunity, in security, and in sovereignty,” Guterres warned.

Climate change was another major focus of his address. Guterres pointed to extreme heat, melting glaciers, wildfires and devastating floods as signs of the worsening climate crisis and warned that a stronger El Niño could make conditions even more difficult as the world approaches the 1.5-degree Celsius threshold above pre-industrial levels.

He called on wealthy nations to honor existing climate-finance commitments, including increased adaptation financing and stronger support for countries facing loss and damage. He also criticized the exploitation of critical minerals, calling for an end to what he described as “plundering.”

On peace and security, Guterres highlighted conflicts and crises in Gaza, the wider Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan. He urged countries to uphold the UN Charter, including the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Guterres said reforming the international system should be viewed as a shared responsibility rather than a concession to emerging powers.

“As we move irreversibly to a multipolar world, all countries must work to strengthen and safeguard a multilateral system that delivers for all with the United Nations at its centre,” he said.

The BRICS summit, hosted by India, brought together leaders of major emerging economies and senior international officials as discussions focused on global governance, economic cooperation, development, technology, climate change and international peace and security.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Iran has said the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will remain closed despite efforts to revive regional diplomacy, as a planned meeting between Iran and Gulf states was postponed and concerns over global energy supplies continued to grow.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said an agreement reached with Oman over arrangements for maritime traffic through the strait would not mean the waterway would be reopened. Tehran has linked any reopening to the United States returning to commitments made under an earlier peace understanding.

The planned meeting in Oman, which was expected to bring together Iran, Iraq and Gulf Arab states to discuss navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, was postponed on Monday. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said the delay was intended to allow more time to build consensus among the participating countries.

The diplomatic setback comes as tensions around the region’s major energy routes continue to rise. Shipping traffic through Hormuz has fallen sharply, with only a small number of commodity vessels recorded passing through the waterway over the weekend, well below the recent daily average.

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, carrying a significant share of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Disruption to the route has already contributed to a sharp increase in oil prices, with Brent crude rising above $107 a barrel on Monday.

Iran has also warned vessels that violate its maritime protocols. Its Strait Authority issued an updated list of 77 vessels accused of violating Iranian rules and warned that sanctioned ships could face penalties including fines, detention or confiscation.

The stalled diplomacy has increased fears that the disruption could persist, putting further pressure on global energy markets, shipping costs and economies dependent on Gulf oil and gas.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C. — A second federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from implementing new restrictions on mail-in voting, delivering another legal setback to the administration as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington issued a preliminary injunction blocking new U.S. Postal Service rules that would impose stricter requirements on mail-in ballots. His ruling follows a similar decision by Boston-based U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, who also blocked the rules.

The disputed regulations would require states to provide voter eligibility information to the Postal Service and comply with new ballot-envelope requirements, including unique barcodes. The administration says the measures are intended to strengthen election security and ensure that mail ballots are properly verified.

Opponents argue that the federal government does not have the authority to impose such requirements on state-run elections and warn that the changes could prevent otherwise eligible voters from casting valid ballots.

Judge Nichols, a Trump appointee, concluded that the Postal Service had exceeded its authority and that implementing the rules could make it harder for some voters to participate in elections.

The legal battle comes as states begin preparing to distribute mail ballots for the November midterm elections. The Trump administration has already asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the broader dispute and overturn an earlier order blocking the rules.

The Supreme Court’s eventual decision could determine whether the administration’s proposed mail-voting restrictions take effect before the midterms. The case has become part of a broader national fight over federal authority, voting access and election administration.

All 50 states allow some form of voting by mail, although the rules and availability vary from state to state. With the midterm elections approaching, the outcome of the court battle could have significant consequences for voters and election officials across the country.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Nearly 86,000 people have fled their homes in Yemen as fighting between government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensifies, the United Nations said, citing displacement figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

IOM said 85,818 people had been displaced by the renewed fighting, including 82,164 since the beginning of September alone. The latest wave of displacement has followed intensified hostilities along Yemen’s western coast and in parts of Taiz and Al-Hodeidah. Taiz has emerged as one of the areas hardest hit by the renewed fighting, with about 9,280 households—nearly 56,000 people—displaced, according to IOM figures.

The escalation comes as the Houthis advance along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, raising fears of a wider conflict and further civilian displacement. The Iran-backed group has made gains in areas near the strategic port of Mocha and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Any prolonged disruption in the area could affect international shipping, global trade and energy supplies.

The humanitarian crisis is also spilling beyond Yemen’s borders. More than 2,000 Yemenis fleeing the violence have reached Djibouti by sea, according to IOM. The crossings add another layer of danger for people already displaced by the conflict.

IOM Director General Amy Pope warned that behind the displacement figures are families who have repeatedly lost their homes and livelihoods. Many people fleeing the latest violence are crossing the sea with little more than what they can carry because they have few remaining options for safety.

Yemen has endured more than a decade of conflict since the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. A UN-brokered truce in 2022 brought a period of relative calm and largely halted major fighting, but it expired after six months without producing a lasting political settlement.

The renewed offensive has raised fears that Yemen could once again descend into prolonged large-scale warfare. Humanitarian agencies have warned that continued fighting and repeated displacement will put additional pressure on families already struggling with poverty, food insecurity and limited access to basic services.

With tens of thousands of people newly displaced and thousands more crossing the sea to Djibouti, the latest escalation threatens to deepen one of the world’s longest-running humanitarian crises.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — The White House highlighted a series of actions and announcements this week, including President Donald Trump’s participation in events marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a proposed $5,000 payment for American adults, Obamacare refunds, new trade measures involving Canada and initiatives involving veterans and U.S. manufacturing.

Trump participated in a September 8 White House ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and later issued a presidential proclamation recognizing September 11 as Patriot Day. The White House also announced that Americans can request a September 11 Remembrance Card commemorating the anniversary.

On September 10, Trump announced what he called the “Trump Dividend,” proposing a $5,000 payment to every American adult if Republicans retain control of both the House of Representatives and Senate in the November midterm elections. Trump linked the proposed payment to revenue from tariffs and the administration’s economic policies. The proposal has raised questions about its funding, legal authority and potential effect on the federal deficit.

The administration also announced $500 refunds for nearly 1 million people enrolled in Affordable Care Act health insurance plans across 30 states. The White House said the refunds would return what it characterized as excess Obamacare exchange fees collected under the previous administration. Reuters reported that the payments are expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Trade tensions with Canada also featured prominently during the week. On September 8, Trump issued measures modifying additional duties on certain Canadian products and separately ordered specified Canadian products to be excluded from U.S. imports. The measures included actions concerning the automotive and dairy sectors and were framed by the administration as responses to what it described as discriminatory Canadian trade practices.

The White House also highlighted new measures aimed at accelerating veterans’ access to benefits and employment opportunities. The administration said it was working to reduce bureaucratic delays and connect veterans with employment opportunities associated with the manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

On September 9, the White House released a broad review of what it described as the Trump administration’s achievements during its first two years of the current term. The document cited figures involving jobs, investment, immigration, energy and prescription-drug prices. Because these figures are administration claims, they should be evaluated separately against independent government and economic data.

First Lady Melania Trump also unveiled a proposal focused on the preservation and design of historic American spaces. The White House described the initiative as an effort to promote architectural and aesthetic standards in prominent national buildings and sites.

Meanwhile, Japanese beer company Sapporo announced plans to move some production from Canada to the United States, while defense contractor L3Harris received a contract related to the PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement program. The White House presented both developments as examples of increased U.S. manufacturing and defense production.

The announcements come as the Trump administration continues to emphasize trade, domestic manufacturing, immigration, energy policy and economic issues ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Shibbir Ahmed, NEW YORK — The escalating war in the Middle East is threatening to deepen disruptions to global oil supplies as fresh attacks target shipping and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and around the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

A vessel was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, forcing its crew to evacuate after a fire broke out, according to the British maritime security agency UKMTO. An Iranian commercial vessel was also hit off Iran’s coast, killing one person and injuring four others, further raising concerns about the safety of commercial shipping in the region.

The latest incidents came after Saudi Arabia shut down its major East-West oil pipeline following a drone attack. The pipeline, which normally carries millions of barrels of crude per day to the Red Sea, has served as a critical alternative route while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been heavily disrupted.

Reuters reported Sunday that the pipeline outage could threaten as much as 4% of global oil supply if it is not restored within days. Saudi Arabia has not provided a detailed timeline for repairs, while traders and oil buyers have offered varying estimates for how long the disruption could last.

The supply concerns are being compounded by growing instability around another major maritime chokepoint, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have advanced along the Red Sea coast, increasing the risk of further disruption to oil and commercial shipping routes.

Global oil markets have already reacted sharply to the worsening situation. Brent crude has moved above $100 a barrel, while fuel prices have climbed as traders assess the possibility of prolonged disruptions to supplies from the Middle East. Reuters reported that U.S. diesel prices have also reached record levels.

The International Energy Agency has warned that global oil supply could decline by about 5.7 million barrels per day, or 6%, in 2026 because of the continuing conflict and disruptions in the Gulf. Saudi oil production has also fallen sharply from earlier levels.

The developments have raised fears that a prolonged conflict could push energy prices even higher, increasing transportation and production costs and adding to inflationary pressures around the world.

Diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis are continuing, but negotiations involving Iran and Gulf states over safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz have faced delays. Iran has indicated that reopening the waterway would require concessions from the United States.

With both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb facing heightened security risks, global energy markets are increasingly vulnerable to further attacks. Any prolonged disruption at both routes could have consequences well beyond the Middle East, affecting fuel prices, shipping costs, inflation and economic growth worldwide.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday he would consider a request from relatives of victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to release additional government records related to the attacks, including documents that could shed further light on possible Saudi connections.

Speaking to reporters in Ireland before returning to the United States, Trump was asked about calls from 9/11 victims’ families for the release of additional records. “I’m going to look at it when I get back,” Trump said.

The renewed push comes just days after the United States marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, at the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania.

Families of 9/11 victims have for years sought the release of additional records they believe could help clarify whether individuals linked to Saudi Arabia provided assistance to some of the hijackers. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals.

Terry Strada, whose husband was killed in the attacks, has been among those pressing the Trump administration to release more information. During a 25th-anniversary remembrance ceremony, she urged Trump to stop protecting Saudi Arabia and provide families and survivors with greater transparency.

Saudi Arabia has consistently denied involvement in the attacks. The issue has nevertheless remained the subject of years of investigation and legal action by victims’ families.

Trump’s comments do not amount to a commitment to release the records, but they could reopen a long-running debate over the remaining classified material surrounding the September 11 attacks.

The Public Interest Declassification Board has also been advocating for the release of additional historically significant 9/11 records. The board said earlier this month that it was pursuing the potential declassification of high-priority records associated with the 9/11 Commission, including material related to intelligence assessments before the attacks.

For families who have spent a quarter-century seeking answers, Trump’s statement represents a potentially significant development in their long-running effort to obtain additional information about what U.S. officials knew before September 11 and whether individuals connected to the attacks received assistance from foreign actors.

Shibbir Ahmed, UN, New York: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for peace and an end to conflicts from Gaza and the wider Middle East to Ukraine and Sudan, warning that the world urgently needs greater international cooperation to address escalating crises.

Speaking at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday, Guterres said conflicts around the world continue to cause immense suffering and instability, underscoring the need for countries to work together to promote peace and resolve disputes through diplomacy.

He highlighted the devastating humanitarian situation in Gaza and other conflict zones, while also pointing to the wars in Ukraine and Sudan as major challenges facing the international community. Guterres said the international community must not allow ongoing conflicts to become normalized and stressed the importance of collective efforts to achieve lasting peace.

His remarks came as world leaders gathered for the BRICS Summit, where global security, economic cooperation and major international crises were among the key issues under discussion. The UN chief has repeatedly called for an immediate end to violence in conflict zones and urged world powers to strengthen diplomatic efforts to protect civilians and uphold international law.

Shibbir Ahmed, Ground Zero, New York — The United States on Friday marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with memorial ceremonies in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania, while the release of newly declassified CIA intelligence records renewed attention on what U.S. officials knew about al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden before the attacks. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when 19 al-Qaida hijackers seized four commercial passenger aircraft and carried out coordinated attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Virginia. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

At Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, relatives of victims gathered for the annual memorial ceremony and read the names of those killed. The observance began with a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Vice President JD Vance attended the New York ceremony alongside former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The gathering brought together current and former national leaders as families commemorated those who died a quarter-century ago.

The ceremony included additional moments of silence marking the attacks on the South Tower, the Pentagon and Flight 93. This year, organizers also included a seventh moment of silence for people who subsequently died from illnesses associated with exposure to toxic materials at the World Trade Center site.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum said the commemoration remains centered on the victims and their families, with the names of those killed read during the ceremony. The annual Tribute in Light is also scheduled to illuminate the New York skyline Friday evening.

Trump Attends Pentagon Ceremony

President Donald Trump marked the anniversary at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed after being hijacked. The attack killed 184 people at the Pentagon and aboard the aircraft. Trump attended the ceremony with First Lady Melania Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Senior military and government officials also participated in the remembrance.

The Pentagon ceremony focused on the victims and the military personnel, civilian employees and others who lost their lives in the attack. Trump and Hegseth also linked the events of September 11 to current U.S. national-security policy and the country’s military role overseas. Arlington County and other communities in Virginia also held local commemorations honoring residents, first responders and others connected to the Pentagon attack.

Flight 93 Remembered in Pennsylvania

In Shanksville, Pennsylvania, families and visitors gathered at the Flight 93 National Memorial to commemorate the 40 passengers and crew members who died when the hijacked aircraft crashed into a field. The passengers had learned through telephone calls that other hijacked aircraft had struck the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and attempted to take control of Flight 93. The plane crashed before reaching its intended target. The Pennsylvania observance included the reading of the passengers’ and crew members’ names and a wreath-laying ceremony.

CIA releases 71 intelligence reports

The 25th anniversary also brought a significant new development in Washington. The Central Intelligence Agency released 71 intelligence reports related to the period before and immediately after the September 11 attacks. The collection includes 70 reports prepared before the attacks and one report dated September 12, 2001. The documents were prepared for the President’s Daily Brief and were provided to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and senior administration officials.

The documents show that U.S. intelligence agencies had been tracking bin Laden and al-Qaida for years before the attacks. A February 1998 report warned about bin Laden’s interest in obtaining chemical, biological and nuclear materials. Other reports discussed his growing network, his activities in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s reluctance to surrender him.

A September 1998 intelligence report described a possible al-Qaida plan involving an explosive-laden aircraft and identified Washington as a preferred target. Later reports discussed possible hijackings and surveillance of locations in the United States.

An August 2001 President’s Daily Brief, already publicly known as “Bin Ladin Determined To Strike in US,” warned of suspicious activity in the United States consistent with preparations for hijackings or other attacks. The newly released collection provides additional surrounding intelligence records from that period.

The documents remain partly redacted, and officials said the release does not fundamentally overturn the established historical account of the attacks. Instead, the records provide additional detail about the intelligence available to U.S. officials before September 11.

The 9/11 Commission previously concluded that failures involving intelligence sharing, management, policy and the ability to interpret the available information contributed to the government’s inability to prevent the attacks.

New records revive questions about Ground Zero exposure

In New York, the anniversary has also brought renewed attention to the long-term health consequences of the attacks. Thousands of firefighters, police officers, emergency workers, construction workers, residents and others who were exposed to the dust and debris around the World Trade Center site have developed illnesses associated with the disaster.

The FDNY has continued adding the names of members who died from illnesses linked to their work at Ground Zero. More than 600 firefighters have died from 9/11-related illnesses, according to department figures cited in anniversary coverage.

The city has also begun releasing large collections of records concerning its response to the World Trade Center disaster, including documents related to air quality and the handling of information about environmental hazards after the attacks. The records have renewed questions about what officials knew about the risks in Lower Manhattan and when that information was communicated to residents and workers.

A continuing national security legacy

The attacks prompted major changes in U.S. national security policy. Congress created the Department of Homeland Security, federal agencies expanded counterterrorism operations and intelligence-sharing systems were reorganized. Airport security procedures were substantially expanded, while Congress approved new surveillance authorities.

The attacks also led to the U.S. military campaign in Afghanistan against al-Qaida and the Taliban. The United States later invaded Iraq in 2003, beginning two wars that became central to American foreign policy for the following two decades.

The wars resulted in the deaths of thousands of U.S. military personnel and large numbers of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq. The post-9/11 period also produced prolonged debates over detention, interrogation, surveillance, civil liberties and the balance between national security and individual rights.

Impact on Muslim and South Asian Americans

The attacks also had significant consequences for Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities across the United States. In the years following September 11, members of those communities faced hate crimes, discrimination, profiling and increased scrutiny. At the same time, Muslim and South Asian Americans have become an increasingly visible part of American civic, political and professional life. The 25th anniversary has therefore prompted communities across the country to remember both the victims of the attacks and the broader social consequences that followed.

Texas and communities across the country

The anniversary was not limited to New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Communities across the United States held ceremonies, vigils, memorial services and events honoring victims and first responders. In Houston, an interfaith remembrance brought together volunteers who read the names of those killed on September 11 alongside names associated with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The event reflected a broader effort in some communities to discuss both the attacks and the consequences of the U.S. response. Other communities organized stair climbs, flag displays and local memorial ceremonies, often focusing on residents who died in the attacks or first responders who later became ill.

A 25-year transition

The anniversary comes as the United States enters a period in which a growing portion of the population has no personal memory of September 11. People born after the attacks now make up a significant share of the American population. For victims’ relatives, survivors and first responders, however, the events remain personal rather than historical. At Ground Zero, in Arlington and at Shanksville, the ceremonies continued to place individual victims at the center of the commemoration.

The newly released intelligence documents added another dimension to this year’s anniversary by providing additional evidence of the warnings available to U.S. officials before the attacks.

The records do not offer a simple explanation for why the attacks were not prevented. They instead add to an extensive historical record showing that U.S. agencies had identified bin Laden and al-Qaida as serious threats but failed to translate available intelligence into effective action against the specific plot.

Twenty-five years after September 11, the United States is therefore commemorating the victims while continuing to examine the decisions, intelligence failures, policies and human consequences associated with the attacks and their aftermath.