World
The US House has passed a sweeping sanctions bill granting executive authority to levy up to 100% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian hydrocarbons. Facing direct exposure as a leading consumer of Russian crude, India reaffirmed its sovereign commitment to domestic energy security while preparing to navigate fresh diplomatic headwinds with Washington.
An area stretching far beyond Nepal and Tibet, both engulfed in a devastating flood is feeling the fallout of the disaster in which 350 people have died and toll is set to rise. Citizens from a number of countries have lost their lives hence the global impact.
Nepal is facing a major humanitarian crisis after devastating flash floods swept through parts of the country, leaving hundreds dead and many people missing. Rescue and recovery operations have been intensified as authorities search for survivors and assess the extensive damage caused by the floods.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in China on Wednesday for a crucial two-day state visit aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, technology, Taiwan, and the ongoing Middle East crisis.
In a definitive signal of the shifting global order, India is set to host the pivotal BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 14–15, 2026. Chaired by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, the high-level summit at Bharat Mandapam serves as the cornerstone of India’s 2026 chairship, bringing together a newly expanded bloc that now represents nearly half the world’s population.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a sharp condemnation on May 5, 2026, after three Indian nationals were wounded in a high-stakes Iranian drone and missile barrage on the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone (FOIZ). The attack, which struck a critical bypass for global oil exports, marks a dangerous collapse of the fragile ceasefire in the Gulf. As Emirati air defenses intercepted 12 ballistic missiles and a fleet of drones, the Indian government labeled the targeting of civilian energy infrastructure as “unacceptable.” With the Strait of Hormuz effectively blockaded since February, New Delhi has signaled growing alarm over the safety of its expatriate workforce and the escalating maritime piracy threatening global energy stability.
In a landmark move for South Asia’s green energy landscape, the Royal Government of Bhutan and the World Bank signed financing agreements totaling $515 million on May 5, 2026, for the Dorjilung Hydropower Project. Situated on the Kurichhu River, the $1.7 billion initiative will be Bhutan’s largest hydropower plant developed under a public-private partnership, with Druk Green Power Corporation (60%) and Tata Power (40%) leading the venture. Designed to generate 4,500 GWh annually, the project will eliminate Bhutan’s winter energy shortages while exporting surplus power to India. The innovative financing model, which includes grants and concessional credits, is expected to catalyze an additional $900 million in private investment and displace 3.3 million tons of CO2 every year.
Relations between Washington and Tehran reached a new impasse on May 3, 2026, as President Donald Trump signaled deep skepticism over a fresh 14-point peace framework submitted via Pakistani mediators. Speaking from West Palm Beach, Trump argued that Iran had not yet “paid a big enough price,” even as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively shuttered, stranding over 2,000 vessels and triggering the largest energy disruption since the 1970s. While Tehran’s proposal demands a total U.S. military withdrawal and reparations within 30 days, Washington continues to enforce a naval blockade that has sent Brent crude soaring past $120. With the OPEC+ alliance fractured by the UAE’s exit and global markets reeling from “double-digit” surges in jet fuel, the three-week fragile ceasefire now hangs by a thread.
First official visit since April 2026 aims to cement “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”; high-level talks with PM Modi to focus on Indo-Pacific defense and trade
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