World

President Trump, 79, underwent a three-hour preventive exam at Walter Reed, sparking scrutiny over age and health transparency. The White House insists he remains in excellent health, though critics cite limited disclosures and concerns about cognitive decline ahead of midterms

NASA unveiled a $20 billion plan for a permanent lunar base, announcing three missions this year to deliver rovers, science payloads, and infrastructure. The program aims to prepare for astronaut landings in 2028 and establish sustained human presence by 2032 

The Trump administration announced that 10,000 additional white South Africans, mainly Afrikaners, will be admitted to the US as refugees this year. The move raises the refugee cap while broader refugee admissions from other conflict-hit regions remain largely restricted

India and Canada signalled a rapid reset in bilateral ties, aiming to conclude a free trade agreement by year-end. Leaders from both nations highlighted expanding cooperation in trade, investment, energy, technology, agriculture and education to strengthen economic relations and diversify exports

Sam Altman said fears of an AI-driven jobs apocalypse may have been overstated, admitting fewer entry-level white-collar jobs were lost than expected. Speaking in Sydney, he stressed that human interaction remains difficult for AI to replace despite growing workplace automation

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted Quad’s economic and strategic weight, announcing initiatives on maritime surveillance, port infrastructure, critical minerals, and energy security. India will host the next Quad at Sea mission, reinforcing Indo-Pacific cooperation among the four democracies

North Korea launched an unidentified projectile off its west coast, following April’s missile test. Kim Jong Un continues expanding nuclear arsenals amid stalled diplomacy. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged stronger military capabilities, including AI, drones, and nuclear-powered submarine acquisition

Iran denied reports it would transfer enriched uranium abroad, dismissing Saudi media claims as US psychological operations. Officials stressed no nuclear concessions in ongoing MoU talks with Washington, while emphasizing unity against US-Israel pressure amid fragile ceasefire and Pakistani-mediated negotiations

US forces struck Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats in southern Iran, threatening a fragile ceasefire. CENTCOM cited self-defense, while Trump said talks with Iran could yield a “Great Deal” or renewed conflict, urging regional nations to join accords

Russia has passed a law allowing the President to deploy armed forces to protect citizens facing arrest or legal action abroad. The move follows the detention of a Russian Orthodox Church bishop in the Czech Republic, which Moscow has termed a “provocation” and demanded his release

Ebola is a serious viral disease with a high fatality rate that spreads through contact with infected body fluids. Health authorities are closely monitoring the Bundibugyo strain due to ongoing outbreaks in Africa and concerns over the absence of approved vaccines.

India handed over 134 police cabs to Sri Lanka under a grant of SLR 300 million to strengthen policing, road safety, and emergency response. The initiative reinforces ongoing bilateral cooperation and development partnership between the two countries

Microsoft is scaling back employee access to Anthropic’s Claude Code due to rising AI costs, redirecting engineers to GitHub Copilot CLI. Despite rollback, its Anthropic partnership via Azure remains intact as enterprises face surging token-based expenses from generative AI

Hajj 2026 began in Mecca with over 1.5 million pilgrims arriving despite regional tensions and a fragile Iran ceasefire. Pilgrims braved intense heat, circling the Kaaba, camping in Mina, and preparing for Arafat prayers amid global energy concerns

US President Donald Trump, in a surprise live video call during a Delhi event marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, expressed admiration for India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a deadly blast targeting a shuttle train of the Jaffar Express in Quetta, Balochistan. The attack derailed three coaches and overturned two bogies, killing 27 people and injuring 131 others.

Donald Trump said US-Iran negotiations are progressing constructively but cautioned against rushing into an agreement. Trump stated the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would continue until a formal deal is reached and reiterated opposition to Iran obtaining nuclear weapons

Marco Rubio condemned racist remarks against Indians in the US, calling such comments “stupid.” He said America remains welcoming to immigrants and clarified that ongoing US immigration reforms, including visa changes, are global measures and not specifically targeted at India

Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Kyiv, killing at least two people and damaging dozens of sites. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia used the hypersonic Oreshnik ballistic missile, marking its third deployment in the ongoing war

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed strong India-US strategic ties, highlighting cooperation on counter-terrorism, critical minerals, supply chains and emerging technologies. During talks with S. Jaishankar, Rubio described India as one of America’s most important global strategic partners

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Islamabad’s intent to host upcoming US-Iran peace talks, praising Donald Trump’s mediation efforts. Army chief Asim Munir engaged Tehran leaders, while Trump confirmed progress toward a regional agreement, including discussions on the Strait of Hormuz

A powerful explosion near Chaman Phatak railway station in Quetta injured at least 20 people, damaged a train and vehicles, and shattered nearby buildings. Authorities declared hospital emergencies, halted Jaffar Express, and placed institutions on high alert for safety

ran’s ambassador to Pakistan said “positive strides” were emerging toward a possible Iran-US peace deal following Pakistani mediation efforts. Tehran praised Pakistan’s leadership and diplomatic role, while optimism grew after Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir’s Iran visit aimed at easing regional tensions

Aboard RFA Lyme Bay near Gibraltar, British sailors await possible deployment to clear suspected Iranian mines in the Strait of Hormuz after conflict disrupted global shipping. The UK-France mission depends on a peace deal, while Trump pressures allies to secure regional oil routes independently