Over 40 missing after avalanche in Indian Himalayas: rescuers

More than 40 construction workers were missing after an avalanche in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on Friday following heavy snowfall, officials said.

The avalanche hit a construction camp in the Chamoli district, burying the workers under snow and debris.

Rescue teams dug for hours through heavy snow, Ridhim Agarwal of the state disaster relief force said in a statement, adding: “So far, 15 workers are safe while 42 are missing.”

As soon as the weather conditions improve, high-altitude rescue teams will be deployed by helicopter to the scene, she added.

Deepam Seth, the state’s top police officer, said the bad weather was hampering the rescue operations.

“It has been snowing with strong winds … The roads are completely blocked. We have deployed snow cutters to open the road,” he told broadcaster NDTV.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was “saddened” by the incident and was monitoring the rescue operations.

Avalanches and landslides are common in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, especially during the winter season. Scientists have shown that climate change spurred by humans burning fossil fuels is making weather events more severe, super-charged by warmer oceans.

The increased pace of development in the fragile Himalayan regions has also heightened fears about the fallout from deforestation and construction.

In 2021, nearly 100 people died in Uttarakhand after a huge glacier chunk fell into a river, triggering flash floods.

Devastating monsoon floods and landslides in 2013 killed 6,000 people and led to calls for a review of development projects in the state.

Meta planning to launch stand-alone AI app

Meta plans to add an artificial intelligence app to its stable of stand-alone offerings including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, according to a report Thursday by CNBC.

Meta is battling rivals including Amazon, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft when it comes to models for powering AI, and has been incrementally weaving the technology into its platforms since launching its own AI chatbot in 2023.

An independent app devoted to AI would fit into Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg's stated vision of having the most used AI assistant in the world.

CNBC cited people familiar with the matter as saying Meta plans to debut a standalone AI app by the middle of this year.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired off a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a link to the CNBC story, writing: "OK, fine maybe we'll do a social app."

Meta is also planning to test a paid subscription tier for its AI platform, in a revenue generating tactic used by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, according to the report.

Meta declined to comment for this story.

The tech giant recently reported surging profits and revenue for 2024, announcing ambitious plans to expand its AI infrastructure in the year ahead.

"I expect this is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalised AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading Assistant," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on the earnings call.

The rise of Chinese startup DeepSeek's more economical AI model has reportedly prompted Meta to establish war rooms to study and potentially adapt the innovations for its own Llama AI models.

Russian, US teams meet in Istanbul for talks on mending relations

Russian and US diplomats met in Turkey on Thursday for talks to resolve disputes over their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, a first test of their ability to reset wider relations and work towards ending the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin last year described relations as “below zero” under the administration of Joe Biden, who backed Ukraine with aid and weapons and imposed waves of sanctions on Russia to punish it for its invasion in 2022.

But his successor, President Donald Trump, has upended that policy and moved swiftly since taking office last month to open talks with Moscow, pledging to fulfil his repeated promise to bring a quick end to the war.

The talks in Istanbul follow a phone call between Trump and President Vladimir Putin on February 12 and a high-level diplomatic meeting in Saudi Arabia six days later.

The Russian team arrived in a black Mercedes van for the meeting at the gated residence of the US consul general in Istanbul.

Russian state TV said the talks were expected to last five to six hours.

Ukraine and its European allies are worried that Trump’s rapid rapprochement with Moscow could lead to a deal on ending the war that sidelines them and undermines their security.

Trump says he wants to end the bloodshed with an early ceasefire.

Putin this week tempered expectations of a quick deal, saying trust between Russia and the United States had to be rebuilt before anything could be achieved.

“No one expects solutions to come easily and quickly. The problem at hand is too complex and neglected,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters today.

“But with the two countries’ political will, with a willingness to hear and listen to each other, I think we will be able to get through this working process.”

Russia, US have downgraded ties over the past decade

Russia and the United States have expelled diplomats and limited the appointment of new staff at each other’s missions in tit-for-tat measures over the past decade, leaving their embassies thinly staffed.

The US State Department said today’s talks would cover issues such as staffing levels, visas and diplomatic banking.

“To be clear, there are no political or security issues on the agenda. Ukraine is not on the agenda,” a state department spokesperson said before the meeting.

“The constructiveness of these talks will become apparent very quickly; either issues will get resolved or they won’t. We will know soon if Russia is really willing to engage in good faith.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the outcome of the meeting “will show how quickly and effectively we can move”.

He acknowledged that Russia had “created uncomfortable conditions” for US diplomats in Moscow, in what he said was retaliation for Washington’s treatment of Russian diplomats.

Despite their narrow focus, the talks could eventually lead to progress over the whole Russia-US relationship in areas such as nuclear disarmament and economic cooperation.

Both sides see potential for lucrative business ventures. Putin said this week that Moscow would be ready to invite the US to enter joint projects to mine rare earth deposits in Russia and the parts of Ukraine that it has claimed as its own.

Peskov said there could be joint development of natural resources in the Arctic, though there were no substantive talks on this yet.

The US delegation in Istanbul was led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter and the Russian team by Alexander Darchiyev, head of the foreign ministry’s North America department.

Darchiyev is seen as the front-runner to be Russia’s next ambassador to the US, a post that is currently vacant.

UK aid budget cuts: A threat to climate finance pledges for vulnerable nations

The UK government’s decision to cut its overseas aid budget has raised serious concerns about its ability to meet climate finance commitments made to developing nations. Experts warn that the move could significantly impact vulnerable countries struggling with climate change and environmental crises.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a reduction in the UK’s aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income. This decision comes as the UK aims to increase its defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. The cuts are part of a broader shift in priorities, with Starmer set to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington to discuss European defense responsibilities.

The UK’s climate finance initiatives are funded through its overseas aid budget, which had already been reduced from 0.7% to 0.5% before COP26 in 2021. This latest cut raises doubts about the UK’s ability to fulfill its promise of increasing climate finance to developing nations, a pledge reaffirmed at COP29.

The international development community has reacted strongly, calling the decision “a betrayal” and “a catastrophic blow” to the world’s most vulnerable populations. Experts argue that at a time when climate disasters are intensifying and humanitarian needs are at an all-time high, global solidarity is needed more than ever.

“When we’ve just had the hottest January on record and humanitarian crises are escalating, slashing the UK’s overseas development assistance is deeply shameful,” said Teresa Anderson of ActionAid International.

Tom Mitchell, Executive Director of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), criticized the move, suggesting that the UK should cut harmful fossil fuel subsidies before reducing vital aid.

The UK had pledged to allocate £11.6 billion ($14.7 billion) in climate finance to developing nations between 2021 and 2026. While the Labour government insists it remains committed to this goal, experts warn that achieving it will be difficult given the pressures on the shrinking aid budget.

An analysis by the UK’s Independent Commission for Aid Impact found that more than half of the pledged funds were expected to be disbursed in the final two years of the commitment, making timely delivery uncertain. Furthermore, the UK’s accounting adjustments have increased the reported climate finance figures without necessarily increasing actual disbursements to recipient countries.

The UK’s decision follows a pattern seen across Europe, with Germany, Sweden, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands all implementing significant cuts to their overseas aid budgets. Combined with the US administration’s recent decision to freeze USAID spending, the global development and climate finance landscape is becoming increasingly uncertain.

The reduction in the UK’s aid budget raises critical questions about the country’s commitment to supporting developing nations in tackling climate change. At a time when global cooperation is essential, these cuts could weaken international climate action efforts and leave vulnerable communities struggling without the promised financial support.

Morocco invests $2.9b in 168 trains for FIFA World Cup expansion

Morocco announced on Wednesday it would buy up to 168 trains from Spain's CAF, South Korea's Hyundai and France's Alstom for $2.9 billion as part of preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup it is co-hosting with Spain and Portugal.

The National Railway Office (ONCF) said in a statement that it had awarded the contracts for the "new train acquisition programme, with a total cost of 29 billion dirhams, as part of the development plan for 2030".

They include 18 high-speed trains from Alstom, sealing a deal first mentioned during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Rabat in October.

Morocco already has one 350-kilometre (220-mile) high-speed railway line between the coastal cities of Tangier and Casablanca, and is planning a second that will extend 400 kilometres (250 miles) from Kenitra on the coast to Marrakesh in the interior.

The first line, built by Alstom, has been in operation since 2018.

The contract with Spain's CAF is for 30 intercity trains with an option for a further 10, while the deal with Hyundai Rotem is for 110 commuter trains.

The ONCF said the purchases aimed to contribute to "the successful joint organisation of the 2030 FIFA World Cup".

It said it also aimed to develop the domestic railway industry, with a local factory for commuter trains and "the ambition to export trains in the medium and long term".

Emotional scenes as over 600 freed Palestinians arrive in Gaza

Hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails arrive at the European hospital in Gaza as Israel releases the remaining 642 Palestinian detainees scheduled to be freed in the first phase of the ceasefire deal with Hamas.

Emotional scenes in the occupied West Bank as dozens of Palestinian prisoners who had been serving life and long sentences reunite with their families. Israel deports 97 others to Egypt.

Twelve buses right now have arrived to the European hospital in the city of Khan Younis, Southern Gaza.

They are carrying at least 600 Palestinian detainees that have been transported to the Gaza Strip by the Red Cross.

The Palestinian detainees will undergo a medical check in order to be reunited with their loved ones.

Those Palestinian detainees are coming out from the busses and we can see signs of exhaustion, signs of the misery and the suffering that they have been enduring in the Israeli detention centres.

The Red Cross is facilitating the reunion of those Palestinian detainees with their loved ones.

Hamas said Thursday that Israel had "no choice but to start negotiations" on a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, after the group handed over the bodies of four Israelis taken hostage.

"We imposed the synchronisation of the process of handing over the bodies of the enemy prisoners with the release of our heroic prisoners," the group said in a statement on Telegram, adding: "It has no choice but to start negotiations for the second phase."

Private US company set for second Moon landing attempt

Intuitive Machines made history last year as the first private company to put a robot on the Moon, although the triumph was marred by the lander tipping onto its side.

Now, the Houston-based firm is gearing up for a second attempt, determined to achieve a perfect touchdown.

Intuitive Machines' hexagonal-shaped lander, Athena, is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during a window that opens at 7:02pm (0002 GMT) Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to an official spaceflight advisory.

If all goes well, it will touch down around March 6 at a spot called the Mons Mouton plateau, a site closer to the lunar south pole than any previously targeted.

Athena carries scientific instruments, including a drill to search for ice beneath the surface and a unique hopping drone named Grace after a famous computer scientist, Grace Hopper. It is designed to traverse the Moon's rugged inclines, boulders, and craters — a valuable capability to support future crewed missions.

Also aboard is a small rover, which will test a lunar cellular network provided by Nokia Bell Labs by relaying commands, images, and video between the lander, rover, and hopper.

Until recently, soft lunar landings were achieved only by a handful of well-funded national space agencies.

Now, the US is working to make private missions routine through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, a public-private collaboration aimed at delivering key Nasa hardware to the surface at a fraction of the cost of traditional missions. The effort supports the broader Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and apply lessons learned there to prepare for reaching Mars.

"This is a really sophisticated mission enabled by the partnerships between the government and US industry," said Joel Kearns, Nasa's deputy associate administrator for exploration.

Nailing the landing

The first major hurdle, however, will be achieving a perfect landing — a feat the company fell short of with its first lander, Odysseus, which went to space in February 2024. It caught a foot on the surface and tipped over, coming to rest at a 30-degree angle — limiting its solar power and preventing it from completing Nasa experiments under a $118 million contract.

This time, the price tag is $62.5 million.

"Landing on the Moon is very challenging," said Kearns. "It's a lot tougher than landing on Earth, where we have the advantage of air, wings, parachutes, and things like that."

But on the Moon, which has an atmosphere so thin it's practically a vacuum, spacecraft must rely solely on controlled bursts from thrusters to slow their descent.

Intuitive Machines CEO Trent Martin acknowledged the challenges and said the company had made key improvements — including better cabling for the laser altimeter, an instrument that provides altitude and velocity readings and helps select a safe landing site.

Another issue the IM-1 mission faced was accurately determining its position en route to the Moon. To improve this, Intuitive Machines has enhanced coordination with Nasa's Deep Space Network (DSN) for more precise navigation.

Athena's arrival at the Moon is set to be preceded on March 2 by another private US lander, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, which launched on a more circuitous journey back in January, sharing a ride with Tokyo-based ispace's Resilience lander.

Also hitching a ride on this rocket will be Nasa's Lunar Trailblazer probe, which will enter orbit after a four-month journey and begin a two-year mission to study the distribution of different forms of water on the Moon.

These missions come at a delicate time for Nasa, amid speculation that it may scale back or cancel its astronaut program to the Moon in favor of Mars — a key goal of both President Donald Trump and his close advisor Elon Musk.

US private company plans second moon landing attempt

Intuitive Machines made history last year as the first private company to put a robot on the Moon, although the triumph was marred by the lander tipping onto its side.

Now, the Houston-based firm is gearing up for a second attempt, determined to achieve a perfect touchdown.

Intuitive Machines' hexagonal-shaped lander, Athena, is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during a window that opens at 7:02pm (0002 GMT) Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, according to an official spaceflight advisory.

If all goes well, it will touch down around March 6 at a spot called the Mons Mouton plateau, a site closer to the lunar south pole than any previously targeted.

Athena carries scientific instruments, including a drill to search for ice beneath the surface and a unique hopping drone named Grace after a famous computer scientist, Grace Hopper. It is designed to traverse the Moon's rugged inclines, boulders, and craters — a valuable capability to support future crewed missions.

Also aboard is a small rover, which will test a lunar cellular network provided by Nokia Bell Labs by relaying commands, images, and video between the lander, rover, and hopper.

Until recently, soft lunar landings were achieved only by a handful of well-funded national space agencies.

Now, the US is working to make private missions routine through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, a public-private collaboration aimed at delivering key Nasa hardware to the surface at a fraction of the cost of traditional missions. The effort supports the broader Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and apply lessons learned there to prepare for reaching Mars.

"This is a really sophisticated mission enabled by the partnerships between the government and US industry," said Joel Kearns, Nasa's deputy associate administrator for exploration.

Nailing the landing

The first major hurdle, however, will be achieving a perfect landing — a feat the company fell short of with its first lander, Odysseus, which went to space in February 2024. It caught a foot on the surface and tipped over, coming to rest at a 30-degree angle — limiting its solar power and preventing it from completing Nasa experiments under a $118 million contract.

This time, the price tag is $62.5 million.

"Landing on the Moon is very challenging," said Kearns. "It's a lot tougher than landing on Earth, where we have the advantage of air, wings, parachutes, and things like that."

But on the Moon, which has an atmosphere so thin it's practically a vacuum, spacecraft must rely solely on controlled bursts from thrusters to slow their descent.

Intuitive Machines CEO Trent Martin acknowledged the challenges and said the company had made key improvements — including better cabling for the laser altimeter, an instrument that provides altitude and velocity readings and helps select a safe landing site.

Another issue the IM-1 mission faced was accurately determining its position en route to the Moon. To improve this, Intuitive Machines has enhanced coordination with Nasa's Deep Space Network (DSN) for more precise navigation.

Athena's arrival at the Moon is set to be preceded on March 2 by another private US lander, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, which launched on a more circuitous journey back in January, sharing a ride with Tokyo-based ispace's Resilience lander.

Also hitching a ride on this rocket will be Nasa's Lunar Trailblazer probe, which will enter orbit after a four-month journey and begin a two-year mission to study the distribution of different forms of water on the Moon.

These missions come at a delicate time for Nasa, amid speculation that it may scale back or cancel its astronaut program to the Moon in favor of Mars — a key goal of both President Donald Trump and his close advisor Elon Musk.

Hamas says solution reached over release of Palestinian prisonsers

The Palestinian group Hamas said Tuesday that its delegation concluded a visit to the Egyptian capital Cairo, where it reached an agreement to resolve a delay in releasing Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be freed last Saturday as part of a ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, Hamas said its delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, met with Egyptian officials to discuss the implementation of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement as well as preparations for the next phase of negotiations.

The group emphasized the need for full and precise adherence to all terms of the deal.

Hamas added that a solution has been reached ensuring that the release of Palestinian prisoners would occur simultaneously with the handover of Israeli remains, as previously agreed to under the first phase of the deal, along with additional Palestinian women and children detainees.

An Israeli official confirmed late Tuesday that an understanding had been reached with Hamas to resolve the delay in releasing Palestinian prisoners.

The first phase of the ceasefire deal in Gaza began on Jan. 19, spanning three stages, each lasting 42 days, with negotiations for the next phase required before the completion of the current one.

As part of this phase, which involves the release of 33 Israeli hostages—both living and deceased—Palestinian resistance factions have already freed 25 living captives and four deceased individuals in seven separate batches.

Israel has delayed the release of around 620 Palestinian prisoners, despite Hamas fulfilling its commitments under the agreement.

Bangladesh army chief warns country 'at risk' from infighting

Bangladesh's army chief on Tuesday blamed infighting for deteriorating law and order, warning that the gains of the student-led revolution that toppled the government last August were at risk.

The South Asian nation has been struggling to stem a surge in violent crime, with the security forces arresting thousands this month targeting gangs allegedly connected to the party of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

"If you can't move beyond your differences and continue meddling and fighting among yourselves, the independence and integrity of the country will be at risk — I warn you," said General Waker-Uz-Zaman, without singling out any group by name.

"Since stakeholders are busy accusing each other, miscreants find the situation favourable. They believe they can get away with anything," he said at an army memorial event.

Bangladesh has been riven by a surge of crime, as well as protests this month where crowds smashed buildings connected to Hasina's family.

Last week rival student factions clashed at a university campus, a sign of serious discord between groups instrumental in driving the uprising against Hasina.

Security forces have arrested more than 8,600 people since it launched "Operation Devil Hunt" on February 8, which the government has accused of being Hasina loyalists and of wanting to "destabilise" the country.

"The anarchy we have witnessed is manufactured by us," Waker said.

Bangladesh has a long history of military coups.

While it was Waker who took charge after Hasina fled by helicopter to India on August 5, he had also urged the people to back Nobel Prize-winning microfinance pioneer Muhammad Yunus.

Yunus, 84, vows to institute far-reaching democratic reforms and hold general elections in late 2025 or in early 2026, and Waker had sworn in the interim government.

"At the beginning, I said it would take 18 months to hold an election," Waker said.

"We are on that path. Professor Yunus is doing his best to keep us united. Let's help him."

Key student protest leader Nahid Islam resigned on Tuesday from the government cabinet — where he headed the telecoms ministry — ahead of the expected launch of a new political party on Friday.

Yunus has said he inherited a "completely broken down" system of public administration and justice that needs a comprehensive overhaul to prevent a future return to autocracy.

Waker said security forces accused of a raft of allegations "of enforced disappearances, murder, and torture must be investigated".

"Punishment must be ensured," he said. "Otherwise, we will be trapped in the same cycle."

The armed forces were granted judicial powers like the police — including making arrests — after the revolution.

But Waker, a career infantry officer who has spent nearly four decades in the military, serving two tours as a UN peacekeeper, said he just wanted a break.

"I just want to bring the country and the nation to a stable point and then take a vacation", he said. "After that, we will return to our barracks."

Company threatens to fire employees if they don't get married

A company based in China's Shandong province caught the attention of government officials after it threatened to fire its single and divorced employees if they remained single by the end of September. According to a report in South China Morning Post, Shandong Shuntian Chemical Group Co. Ltd., issued a notice to its 1,200-odd employees, emphasising that they work well and establish families.

The notice required single employees aged 28-58, including those divorced, to get married and settle down by the end of September this year. Those who do not by the end of March need to write a self-criticism letter. If they do not get married by the end of June, the company will conduct an "evaluation" of them. If they are still single by the end of September, they will be fired.

The company said the move was intended to promote the spirit and cultural values of "diligence, kindness, loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness".

As the news went viral, Chinese social media users slammed the decision, stating the company was violating several laws.

"Corporate rules should not override laws or social morals," one user commented, while others pointed out that the Chinese marriage law guarantees freedom of marriage.

“This crazy company should mind its own business and stay away from the personal lives of employees.”

Notice revoked

As the controversy snowballed, the local human resources and social security bureau issued a correction order, revoking the company's notice. As per the officials, the notice violated relevant provisions of the labour law.

The company confirmed that the notice had been halted and the regulations revoked, adding that it would strengthen internal management, study relevant laws and regulations, and prevent such incidents from occurring again.

A company representative said the intention behind the move was to encourage "older unmarried employees to focus on important life decisions and motivate them to marry and settle down". However, the approach was overly simplistic, and the company mistakenly transformed this initiative into a rigid policy

Israel destroys vast areas of West Bank’s Jenin camp

The Israeli army is setting up a base in the Jenin camp as it prepares for a long-term deployment in the occupied West Bank.

“Jenin is a repeat of what happened in Jabalia,” said Basheer Matahen, spokesperson for the Jenin municipality, referring to the refugee camp in northern Gaza that was leveled by the Israeli army. “The camp has become uninhabitable.”

He said at least 12 bulldozers were at work demolishing houses and infrastructure in the camp, once a crowded township that housed descendants of Palestinians who fled their homes or were driven out in the 1948 war in what Palestinians call the ‘Nakba’ or catastrophe at the start of the state of Israel.

Army engineering teams could be seen making preparations for a long-term stay, bringing water tanks and generators to a special area of almost one acre in size Matahen said.

Israeli forces raided the Palestinian village of Kafil Haris as troops pushed further south in the occupied West Bank, Wafa news agency reported.

Israeli troops searched several homes but made no arrests during the latest incursion.

Kafil Haris is located 6km (3.2 miles) west of the town of Salfit and 18km (8.2 miles) south of Nablus city, in Salfit governorate.

The European Union on Monday pushed Israel over its operation in the West Bank and the fragile ceasefire in Gaza at a meeting with the country's foreign minister in Brussels.

"We are closely watching developments, and cannot hide our concern when it comes to the West Bank," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

"The cease fire is a real chance to break the cycle of violence. It is imperative that we now move towards second phase," Kallas said.

The first phase of the truce is due to expire in early March, and details of a planned subsequent phase have not been agreed.

UN Security Council adopts US-drafted resolution on Ukraine war

The United Nations Security Council has adopted a US-drafted resolution marking the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, taking a neutral stance on the war as President Donald Trump pushes for a diplomatic solution.

The short resolution reflects Trump's upending of US policy on Ukraine after taking office last month and his more conciliatory stance towards Russia. In contrast, former president Joe Biden's administration led efforts at the United Nations to support Ukraine throughout the war.

Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia acknowledged "constructive changes" in the US position on the conflict. He told the council the resolution was "not an ideal one," but "a starting point for future efforts towards peaceful settlement."

The 15-member UN Security Council had been deadlocked throughout the war and unable to take any action because Russia holds a veto.

But the 193-member General Assembly has repeatedly supported Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in line with the UN Charter.

The US failed earlier on Monday to convince the General Assembly to pass the same three-paragraph resolution adopted by the Security Council.

The resolution mourns the loss of life in the "Russia-Ukraine conflict", reiterates that the UN's purpose is to maintain international peace and security and to peacefully settle disputes, and urges a swift end to the conflict and a lasting peace.

The Security Council adopted the US resolution with 10 votes in favour, while France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia abstained. Russia voted in favour after failing to amend it and vetoing European bids to add language supporting Ukraine.

"This resolution puts us on the path to peace. It is a first step, but a crucial one – one of which we should all be proud," acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the council. "Now we must use it to build a peaceful future for Ukraine, Russia and the international community."

However, Trump's approach to mediation has left Ukraine and European allies wary of his focus on Russia and worried they could be cut out of talks to end the war.

Britain's UN Ambassador Barbara Woodward told the council that the terms of peace in Ukraine matter and must "send a message that aggression does not pay."

"This is why there can be no equivalence between Russia and Ukraine in how this council refers to this war. If we are to find a path to sustainable peace, the council must be clear on the war's origins," she said.

French UN Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere – whose President Emmanuel Macron met with Trump in Washington on Monday – said that while France was "fully committed to peace in Ukraine, we call for comprehensive, just and lasting peace, and certainly not for capitulation of the victim."

The General Assembly earlier adopted two resolutions, one drafted by Ukraine and European nations and one drafted by the US that was amended by the assembly to include its long-held language supporting Ukraine. Those votes gave Ukraine and European states a diplomatic victory over Washington.

"This war has never been about Ukraine only. It is about a fundamental right of any country to exist, to choose its own path and to live free from aggression," Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa told the assembly before the vote.

The amended US-drafted resolution won 93 votes in favour in the assembly, while 73 states abstained and eight voted no. Russia failed in a bid to amend the US text to include a reference to the "root causes" of the conflict.

The resolution drafted by Ukraine and European countries passed with 93 votes in favour, 65 abstentions and 18 no votes.

Indian-origin candidates knocked out of Canada’s Liberal Party race

In just a spate of few weeks, 3 Indian-origin candidates have been knocked out of the leadership race in Canada’s Liberal Party, both at the national and at the provincial level.

Indian-origin candidates Ruby Dhalla, Chandra Arya, and Viresh Bansal, disqualified from Canada's Liberal Party leadership race to become next Canadian PM. Canada's Liberal party, charged Indian origin candidates of anti-Sikh sentiments, homophobia, and supporting foreign interference of India.

While it has fuelled speculations of the exclusion of Indian heritage people in the leadership race, including comments from the candidates themselves, the Liberal Party would point out that these disqualifications adhered to established rules.

Canada's Liberal party, charged Indian origin candidates of anti-Sikh sentiments, homophobia, and supporting foreign interference of India.

Two candidates at the national level, Ruby Dhalla and Chandra Arya, were knocked out of the race, while Viresh Bansal was suspended as Ontario Liberal Candidate for Oshawa.