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.

DUBAI: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday claimed they had launched a ballistic missile and drone attack on a Saudi military base as fighting between the Houthis and Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces intensified.

The Houthis said the attack targeted a military base in Saudi Arabia’s Sharurah area, according to reports. They described the operation as a response to Saudi airstrikes on Houthi-held areas of Yemen and warned of further attacks if the strikes continue.

The latest escalation comes as Houthi forces have made significant advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including moves around the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes in an effort to halt the Houthi advance, while Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces have launched counteroffensive operations.

The renewed fighting has raised concerns over regional stability and the security of the Bab al-Mandeb, a vital maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The escalation is also contributing to wider concerns over global energy supplies and shipping routes.

The Houthis’ claim of the Saudi base attack has not been independently verified, and Saudi authorities have not immediately confirmed the full extent of the reported damage or casualties. Reports, however, indicate that the conflict is entering a more dangerous phase as fighting intensifies across Yemen.

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.

DHAKA: Adani Power has resumed operation of both units of its power plant in India and is now supplying 1,046.73 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Bangladesh’s national grid. “We have finally brought both units of the power plant back into operation today after resolving the technical faults, and generation is being increased gradually,” a company official said. Power generation from Unit-2 of Adani Power’s Godda plant in Jharkhand resumed today following repairs to a mechanical fault.

According to the latest information from Adani Power, electricity supply to Bangladesh resumed after the fault was repaired, with 1,046.73 MW connected to the national grid at around 2pm. Unit-2 had remained out of operation since midnight Thursday due to the technical problem.

Earlier, electricity supply from the Adani plant resumed when the 800-MW Unit-1 was connected to the national grid at 12:04pm, said Mohammad Jahurul Islam, a member of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). Bangladesh imports electricity from Adani Power under a 25-year power purchase agreement signed in 2017 to procure 1,600 MW from its coal-fired power plant in Godda.

Data from the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) showed that Adani Power had been supplying around 800-1,000 MW of electricity to Bangladesh since mid-August. The Godda plant consists of two 800-MW units and supplies electricity exclusively to Bangladesh under a long-term agreement with the BPDB.According to the BPDB, Bangladesh’s electricity demand stands at around 15,520 MW during the daytime peak period, while demand rises to approximately 16,920 MW during the evening peak.

An energy expert said the country’s power situation is improving following the resumption of electricity supplies from Adani Power. He said the government is also working to restore the power situation to normal and reduce load shedding across the country.

DHAKA: President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today said democracy must be institutionalized and the local government system strengthened to consolidate democracy in the country. He made the remarks when administrators from 33 district councils paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban this afternoon. Describing local government as one of the key pillars of democracy, the president urged the district council administrators to work actively to eliminate corruption left behind by the previous era.

During the meeting, the district council administrators placed several demands before the president, including raising their status. The president assured them of government cooperation in resolving their problems, saying, “This government is the government of the people and will take quick steps in this regard.”

Fakhrul Islam said the government is working seriously to strengthen the local government system as part of efforts to decentralize power. The president also recalled the active participation of district council administrators in restoring democracy and their role in the long-running movement against fascism. He urged the administrators to bring greater dynamism to development activities, ensure effective citizen services at the local level, and maintain administrative transparency.

Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged US-based global energy company Chevron to increase its investment in exploring new gas fields in Bangladesh to strengthen the country’s energy security and meet growing domestic demand.

The prime minister made the call on Sunday (September 13) during a meeting with a high-level Chevron delegation led by Javier La Rosa, president of Base Assets and Emerging Countries, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Bangladesh Secretariat.

Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Swadhin confirmed the matter.

According to him, the meeting focused on investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s energy sector, particularly increasing Chevron’s investment in existing and mature gas fields as well as exploring new gas fields in the country.

The discussions also covered ways to expand investment in Bangladesh’s energy sector to help ensure a stable supply of natural gas amid rising demand.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister’s Adviser for Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, State Minister for Power and Energy Anindya Islam Amit, Chevron Bangladesh President and Managing Director Xu Xiong, and other senior officials concerned.