World

Former envoy Sanjay Kumar Verma said revived India–Canada trade talks under an Early Progress Trade Agreement could evolve into a CEPA, stressing staged negotiations, stronger investment ties, and institutional safeguards to protect economic cooperation from political disruptions

Lee Jae Myung concluded his India visit, praising ties with India and calling it a “steadfast partnership” with “endless possibilities,” while PM Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu highlighted expanded cooperation across key sectors

India kept petrol and diesel prices unchanged despite rising global crude after tensions near the Strait of Hormuz, while countries like UAE and United States saw sharp hikes, with oil firms absorbing losses to shield consumers

Pakistan extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until May 24, 2026, amid ongoing tensions after the Pahalgam attack, impacting Indian airlines and escalating reciprocal restrictions between both nations

Anil Chauhan visited the UK, holding talks with Luke Pollard and Seema Malhotra to boost India–UK defence ties, focusing on cyber, intelligence, space cooperation, and military modernisation amid evolving global security challenges

Singer D4vd pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in his Tesla in Los Angeles. He faces first-degree murder and abuse charges and is held without bail pending further court proceedings

Kash Patel files $250 million defamation suit against The Atlantic and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick, alleging false misconduct claims. The case invokes New York Times v. Sullivan standards as both sides defend positions

JD Vance may travel to Islamabad for US-Iran peace talks as a fragile ceasefire nears expiry. Donald Trump signaled urgency amid tensions, stalled negotiations, and disagreements over uranium enrichment and lifting the US blockade

In a world where narrative, design, and creativity shape global influence as much as steel and silicon, investing in orange economy is not indulgence but strategy

The rupee fell 25 paise to 93.16 against the United States dollar amid West Asia tensions and rising crude concerns. Disruptions near the Strait of Hormuz increased dollar demand, keeping the local currency under pressure despite earlier gains

India and the United States began fresh trade talks in Washington to finalise an interim bilateral deal amid shifting tariff policies. Both sides aim to resolve disputes on tariffs, market access and investigations, with negotiations seen as key to broader economic ties

Narendra Modi highlighted ancient India–South Korea ties through the legend of Queen Heo Hwang-ok, alongside modern cultural exchanges, as both nations expanded cooperation in creative industries during talks with President Lee Jae Myung

Xi Jinping called for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global shipping, stressing it as an international waterway amid Iran–US tensions, energy concerns, and rising regional conflict affecting trade and navigation security

The Mariana, carrying six people, was found overturned near Saipan after Typhoon Sinlaku. The U.S. Coast Guard continues large-scale searches across 75,000 square nautical miles with international assistance

POSCO and JSW Steel signed a $7.3 billion joint venture to build a 6-million-ton steel plant in Odisha, strengthening industrial cooperation and global supply chains between South Korea and India

Intelligence inputs warn that Inter-Services Intelligence is focusing on Punjab through targeted killings, drug smuggling, and arms supply, using low-intensity blasts and financial incentives to recruit youth and sustain cross-border terror networks

Nepal has decided to shift government employee salaries from monthly to fortnightly payments, aiming to boost spending and economic circulation. The move, approved at ministerial level, may require legal changes under existing civil service laws before implementation

Over 6,000 Afghan refugees returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran in a single day via Torkham and Spin Boldak borders, with authorities providing assistance amid large-scale repatriation challenges and reintegration concerns

The Yvette Cooper urged a “toll-free” Strait of Hormuz during diplomatic talks, stressing freedom of navigation amid US-Iran tensions, while the United Kingdom pushes global consensus to keep key energy routes open and unrestricted

Lee Jae Myung praised Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, as India and South Korea agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, defence, and clean energy through upgraded economic frameworks and new institutional mechanisms

A 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Sanriku, prompting Japan Meteorological Agency tsunami alerts. Waves hit Iwate Prefecture, with evacuation advisories issued, as authorities warned of stronger tsunamis and aftershocks along Japan’s northern coast

CP Radhakrishnan visited Sri Lanka, meeting Indian-origin Tamil communities in Nuwara Eliya and reviewing India-backed housing projects. Talks focused on welfare schemes, education cooperation, and strengthening bilateral ties with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure over Peter Mandelson’s controversial ambassadorial appointment despite security concerns, sparking calls for resignation and political backlash in United Kingdom amid allegations linked to Jeffrey Epstein

Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated after a seized cargo ship and naval clashes, casting doubt on peace talks in Islamabad, despite ongoing regional diplomatic efforts to resume negotiations