Category: World

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Italian PM Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada. In a warm exchange, Meloni told Modi, “You are the best. I am trying to be as you.” Both leaders emphasized strengthening India-Italy friendship. This marks Modi’s sixth consecutive G7 participation and first Canada visit in a decade.READ FULL

Eighteen people, mostly of Indian-origin, were arrested and CAD $4.2 million in assets seized after police dismantled an organized criminal network linked to Ontario’s towing industry. The suspects face 97 charges including extortion, fraud, and firearms offenses. The network staged vehicle collisions for insurance fraud and used violence to control towing operations, targeting South Asian business owners with extortion demands.READ FULL

China’s nuclear arsenal has grown to 600 warheads, adding 100 in 2023-2024, according to SIPRI’s annual report. The Stockholm-based think tank warns of a “dangerous new nuclear arms race” as nearly all nine nuclear-armed states continue modernization programs. Global nuclear inventory stands at 12,241 warheads, with Russia (5,459) and the US (5,177) holding 90% of the world’s total nuclear weapons.READ FULL

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced Britain will stop using hotels to house asylum seekers by 2029, saving taxpayers £1 billion annually. Currently costing over £8 million daily, around 32,000 asylum seekers are housed in hotels. The government pledged £280 million extra annually by 2028-29 for Border Security Command to accelerate asylum decisions and reduce backlogs.READ FULL

The Kremlin confirmed Wednesday that Russia is ready to assist in removing excess nuclear material from Iran and converting it into fuel, if the US and Tehran find such help useful. Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the offer aims to help bridge differences between Washington and Iran over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.READ FULL

Climate activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel after Israeli forces seized her Gaza-bound aid boat in international waters Monday. In a pre-recorded video, Thunberg said: “If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped.Israeli naval forces boarded the charity vessel Madleen, enforcing Gaza’s naval blockade. President Trump dismissed her “kidnapped” claim, saying Israel “has enough problems.”READ FULL

Guatemalan authorities evacuated over 500 people Thursday as the Fuego volcano spewed gas and ash. The volcano, located 22 miles from Guatemala City, prompted school closures and road shutdowns to UNESCO site Antigua. Fuego has caused multiple evacuations recently, including a deadly 2018 eruption that killed 215 people and destroyed villages.READ FULL

President Trump signed a new travel ban affecting 12 mostly Middle Eastern and African nations, plus partial restrictions on 7 others. The measure, triggered by a Colorado attack involving an Egyptian national, excludes World Cup/Olympics athletes and diplomats. Critics call it discriminatory, while affected countries and the UN express concern. Legal challenges are expected.READ FULL

A Shanghai-based company was fined 600,000 yuan (Rs 72 lakh) for running fraudulent children’s fashion shows branded as “Paris Kids Fashion Week” since 2020. The firm used luxury brand names like Gucci, Dior, and Burberry without permission, charging parents up to 10,000 yuan per costume. The scam was exposed after Gucci filed a complaint, revealing trademark infringement and counterfeit clothing use.READ FULL

Cuban rapper Chocolate MC (Yosvanis Sierra-Hernandez) was arrested Wednesday for allegedly kidnapping a fan at gunpoint outside an Opa-locka, Florida grocery store. The rapper forced the victim to drive to multiple locations for two hours while demanding cash and personal information before releasing him unharmed. He faces charges including armed kidnapping, robbery, and threats. Surveillance footage corroborated the victim’s account.READ FULL

A man in his 30s was arrested Sunday for trespassing on restricted grounds at Windsor Castle around 1 PM. Metropolitan Police quickly intercepted him before he could access inner grounds. He was charged under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act and found with suspected Class A drugs. The suspect has been released on bail pending investigation.READ FULL

Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene resigned Tuesday after failing a parliamentary confidence vote, triggered by days of anti-corruption protests in Ulaanbaatar. The secret ballot fell short of the required 64-vote threshold from the 126-seat parliament. Protesters, mainly young people, demanded his resignation over alleged corruption and his family’s lavish lifestyle. He remains caretaker until a successor is appointed within 30 days.READ FULL

Israel will not cooperate with a planned visit by Arab foreign ministers, including Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat, to the occupied West Bank. The ministers intended to discuss Palestinian statehood in Ramallah. Israel called it “provocative,” claiming such a state would become “terrorist.” This follows Israel’s announcement of 22 new West Bank settlements. Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair a June UN conference on the two-state solution.READ FULL

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, part of an all-party delegation in Riyadh, urged putting Pakistan back on the FATF grey list to curb terror financing. He cited evidence of terrorist training in Pakistan and links between US-designated terrorists and Pakistan’s army chief. Owaisi referenced the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, stating Pakistan only acted under FATF pressure, not Indian evidence.READ FULL

Two people died and at least eight others were wounded in a mass shooting at Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park Monday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 pm during Memorial Day gatherings, with over 200 teenagers present. At least two victims were juveniles. Police are investigating with no arrests reported yet. This follows another shooting in South Carolina Sunday.READ FULL

President Trump defended his administration’s move to block foreign students at Harvard after a judge suspended the action. Trump questioned why Harvard’s 31% foreign students receive education while their countries “pay nothing.” Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s ability to enroll international students, threatening thousands and the university’s income stream. Harvard successfully sued, calling the action “unlawful and unconstitutional.”READ FULL

The Dolphin Company’s fifth marine mammal death in a year occurred amid a bitter corporate fight between CEO Eduardo Albor and lenders over the bankrupt firm’s $100 million debt. Independent managers struggle to investigate deaths as Albor controls Mexican headquarters while lenders manage US/European operations. Federal investigators cite pool disrepair and algae growth at Florida facilities.READ FULL

East German spymaster Markus Wolf deployed attractive male agents to seduce lonely West German women with access to classified information. These “Romeo spies” were trained in psychology and romance, targeting secretaries and clerks in NATO offices and government ministries. The operation successfully extracted state secrets through manufactured relationships, leaving many women devastated when the deception was exposed in the 1980s.READ FULL

China and Russia have signed a cooperation agreement to build an automated nuclear power station on the Moon by 2035. The facility will support the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) planned near the lunar south pole. This announcement comes as NASA faces potential budget cuts affecting its lunar Gateway project. The ILRS includes participation from multiple countries and will combine uncrewed operations with occasional human missions.READ FULL

Police arrested dozens of Columbia University students who occupied Butler Library’s main reading room during a pro-Palestinian protest. Demonstrators unfurled banners and refused to leave, prompting university officials to request NYPD intervention. The protest is part of ongoing campus demonstrations against Israel’s Gaza war, with students demanding Columbia divest from companies supporting Israel’s military. President Trump has criticized the protests and canceled university research grants.READ FULL

Ukraine launched 105 drones at Russia overnight, with 19 shot down over Moscow just days before the city’s May 9 World War II victory parade. The attacks led to flight restrictions at over a dozen Russian airports, though Moscow’s main Sheremetyevo airport remained operational. Drones also targeted other regions including Voronezh and Penza, while an electrical substation attack in Kursk injured two teenagers. Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike killed one person in Ukraine’s Odesa region.READ FULL

Russian President Putin accepted Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to visit India for their annual bilateral summit during a Monday phone call. The leaders emphasized their strategic partnership that “continues to develop dynamically” despite external influences. Putin expressed condolences for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, assuring India of Russia’s support against terrorism. Modi congratulated Putin on the upcoming 80th anniversary of Russia’s Victory in the Great Patriotic War.READ FULL

A ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis hit near Ben Gurion Airport Sunday after “several attempts” to intercept it failed, the IDF reported. One person was reportedly injured. Israel has vowed to retaliate “seven times stronger.” The airport temporarily closed but resumed operations shortly after. Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz called for Israel to hold Iran directly responsible, urging “a severe response in Tehran.”READ FULL

Osamu Suzuki, former Chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, has been posthumously awarded India’s second-highest civilian honor, the Padma Vibhushan. His son Toshihiro Suzuki received the award from President Droupadi Murmu on April 28. Osamu Suzuki was instrumental in establishing Maruti Udyog Limited in 1983, revolutionizing India’s automotive sector by providing affordable vehicles and transforming the country into a regional manufacturing hub for Suzuki.READ FULL

Canadian PM Mark Carney’s Liberals won Monday’s election but will likely fall short of a majority government, with CTV projecting 156 seats versus 172 needed. Trump’s tariff threats and annexation comments boosted Carney’s campaign after trailing by 20 points in January. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre focused on cost of living and housing issues. The minority government outcome comes as Trump reiterated his call for Canada to become “the 51st state.”READ FULL

India’s Kashmir CM urges against alienating locals while pursuing militants who killed 26 people last week. Despite recent protests against the attack, authorities have demolished nine homes of suspected militants’ families. Residents question the demolitions, claiming they’ve lost contact with relatives allegedly involved with militant groups. Officials deny using explosives or detaining family members, stating they only target homes with militant connections.READ FULL

Indian diaspora worldwide staged protests against the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people last Tuesday. Demonstrations in Canada, Europe, and the US featured Indian flags and anti-Pakistan slogans. Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated as evidence links Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba to the attack, where Hindu victims were reportedly targeted. India has responded with diplomatic measures, including expelling Pakistani officials and suspending bilateral agreements.READ FULL

Global military spending hit $2.7 trillion in 2024, the steepest rise since the Cold War ended, with a 9.4% increase from 2023. Europe saw unprecedented growth at 17%, with Germany becoming the region’s biggest spender. Russia increased spending by 38%, while Israel’s surged 65% amid the Gaza conflict. The US remains the top spender at $997 billion, representing 37% of global military expenditure.READ FULL

Russian President Putin told US envoy Steve Witkoff that Russia is ready for unconditional talks with Ukraine, the Kremlin announced Saturday. This comes as President Trump met with Ukraine’s Zelensky at Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome. Trump later suggested Putin “has to be dealt with differently” through banking or sanctions, noting continued Russian missile strikes on civilian areas despite peace efforts.READ FULL

China has denied having trade talks with the US after President Trump claimed he received a call from Xi Jinping. The Chinese embassy in Washington stated there have been “no consultations or negotiations” on tariff issues, calling US claims of ongoing dialogue “misleading.” China emphasized that the US initiated the trade war and must remove all unilateral tariffs against China before meaningful dialogue can occur.READ FULL

India-Pakistan relations have deteriorated following a deadly attack in Kashmir that killed 26 people. India accused Pakistan of supporting terrorism and imposed diplomatic measures. In response, Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian airlines and halted trade. The airspace closure will extend flight times by up to two hours, potentially increasing ticket prices. While direct trade between the countries is minimal, indirect trade through third countries totals around $10 billion.READ FULL

The UN and Gavi vaccine alliance warn that measles, meningitis, and yellow fever outbreaks are increasing globally due to misinformation and reduced international aid. Measles cases jumped 20% in 2023 to 10.3 million, with 138 countries reporting cases. An estimated 14.5 million children missed routine vaccinations in 2023. Gavi seeks $9 billion to protect 500 million children through 2030.READ FULL

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the “vile terror attack” in Pahalgam, Kashmir that killed 26 people on Tuesday. In a message to Prime Minister Modi on X, she stated that “India’s spirit is unbreakable” despite the tragedy that claimed many innocent lives. Von der Leyen affirmed that “Europe will stand with you” as India faces this ordeal.READ FULL

President Trump called PM Modi to express condolences over the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Trump offered full support to bring the perpetrators to justice. Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit to return to India. Vice President J.D. Vance, currently in India, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed solidarity, with Rubio stating, “The United States stands with India.”READ FULL

Dubai billionaire Hussain Sajwani shared a photo from a White House breakfast with Elon Musk and his partner Shivon Zilis. Sajwani, worth $10.2 billion as chairman of Damac Properties, recently announced a $20 billion investment in US data centers, praised by President Trump. Zilis, a Neuralink executive with Punjabi heritage, is the mother of Musk’s four youngest children and works with several of his companies.READ FULL

A 20-year-old Indian national faces charges in Singapore for allegedly molesting a 28-year-old cabin crew member. The incident occurred February 28 when the man reportedly pushed her into a lavatory. A female passenger witnessed and intervened. He was arrested upon landing at Changi Airport and faces up to three years in jail, caning, or fines if convicted.READ FULL