World

Donald Trump’s ‘G2’ remark and nuclear test claim signal a shift in US-China great power realignments

The Telugu diaspora in the Gulf, especially in Muscat, celebrated Karthika Masam with devotional fervour. The largest gathering took place in Muscat with over 3,000 devotees participating in Vana Bhojanam and Sahasra Lingarchana, led by priests and attended by Indian officials

A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck northern Afghanistan near Mazar-e Sharif on Monday, killing at least seven people and injuring over 100. The USGS warned of significant casualties as rescue efforts continue amid widespread damage in quake-hit areas.

President Donald Trump ruled out negotiations with Democrats to end the six-week government shutdown, saying he “won’t be extorted.” The impasse threatens millions of Americans’ paychecks and food aid, while air travel delays and public frustration deepen nationwide.

India clinched their maiden Women’s World Cup title with a dominant 52-run win over South Africa. Deepti Sharma’s 5-wicket haul and Shafali Verma’s crucial performance with both bat and ball led India to a historic victory at DY Patil Stadium

India’s para-badminton stars, including Pramod Bhagat, Sukant Kadam, and Krishna Nagar, dominated the Polytron Indonesia Para-Badminton International 2025, securing multiple medals. Bhagat and Kadam bagged gold in men’s doubles, while Nagar earned silver and bronze in singles and mixed doubles

A global study published in *Science* reveals that agricultural drones are transforming farming worldwide, spreading rapidly from East Asia to the US. Used for spraying, seeding, and monitoring, drones boost efficiency and safety but risk displacing workers and causing environmental concerns

A fire and explosion at a Waldo’s convenience store in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, killed at least 23 people, including children, and injured 12 others. Authorities suspect toxic gas inhalation as the cause of death and are investigating the incident’s origin 

King Charles III has ordered his disgraced brother Prince Andrew to leave Royal Lodge for a smaller home on the Sandringham Estate, symbolizing his internal exile amid continued fallout from his ties to Jeffrey Epstein and ongoing public anger

Karunnapan Venkatesan from Hyderabad clinched gold in the Classic Bodybuilding category and placed third overall at the ‘Natural Mr World Championship’ in Los Angeles. The 49-year-old vegan athlete credited his sponsor and supporters, highlighting the event’s strict drug-free standards.

The US military conducted another strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing three people, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said. It marks the 15th such attack since September, part of the Trump administration’s intensified anti-narcotics campaign in the region.

At least 22 people, including four children, were killed and 12 injured after an explosion triggered a fire at a department store in Hermosillo, Sonora. Authorities ruled out terrorism, citing a malfunctioning transformer as the likely cause.

A mass stabbing on a London-bound train left 10 people hospitalised, nine with life-threatening injuries. The incident near Huntingdon was declared a major incident, with counter-terrorism police assisting the probe. Two suspects were arrested as emergency services responded swiftly.

Maisram Stars FC secured a dominant 15-0 victory over BHEL in the TFA B-Division Shivkumar Lal Football League at Gymkhana Ground. In another match, Shastri FC defeated Feelkhana FC 4-2 with Austin, Aryan Roy, and Aditya scoring for the winners

GM Pranav V, GM Pranesh M, and GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly began their FIDE World Cup 2025 campaigns with comfortable wins, while Divya Deshmukh’s spirited fight fell short against GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis. Local favorite Mendonca also drew his match

India and South Africa will face off in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final. Both teams have overcome significant challenges, with key performances from Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt, aiming for a historic victory in Navi Mumbai

Sunidhi Chauhan will perform at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final in Navi Mumbai, with a medley of her hits, a special-effects show, and a drone display. She will also sing the Indian national anthem before the match

Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour to India 2025’ has added Hyderabad after the cancellation of Argentina’s proposed Kerala match. The tour will now cover Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, featuring matches, concerts, and fan events across four cities

The US government shutdown enters its second month, delaying SNAP food assistance and causing health insurance costs to rise. Federal workers remain unpaid, air travel faces delays, and partisan deadlock in Congress leaves millions of Americans struggling with basic needs.

Barack Obama will campaign in Virginia and New Jersey to support Democratic governor candidates Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill. The rallies come as early tests of voter sentiment under Donald Trump’s second presidency, with key races set for Tuesday

Nearly 40,000 Afghan refugees have left Quetta amid Pakistan’s ongoing deportation campaign. Authorities have closed refugee camps and tightened border controls. Many Afghans, living in Pakistan for decades, are returning home as winter approaches and tensions rise at the Chaman border

Ukraine’s intelligence agency said its forces hit a major fuel pipeline near Moscow that supplies Russia’s army. The Koltsevoy pipeline was badly damaged. Russia later launched fresh drone and missile strikes across Ukraine, killing one person and injuring several others

Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department arrested 18 suspected militants, mostly from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, during intelligence-based operations across Punjab. Explosives, detonators, and extremist material were recovered. Police say the arrests foiled planned terror attacks on key buildings

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Vietnamese and Malaysian counterparts in Kuala Lumpur to strengthen defence ties and attended ASEAN defence meetings. He also signed a 10-year ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’ with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.