World
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.
In his farewell address, he also stressed Bangladesh’s strong connections to India’s ‘Seven Sisters’, the Northeastern states, but skipped any direct mention of India itself.
In his speech, he also emphasised protecting women’s rights, curbing violence and trafficking, and tackling child marriages.
In a game that swung like a pendulum, Australia’s explosive 104-run opening stand ended in a heartbreaking tailspin as Sri Lanka’s spinners choked the middle order. Chasing 182, the night belonged to Pathum Nissanka, who silenced the Australian attack with the tournament’s first century to secure Sri Lanka’s progression and leave the “Men in Yellow” praying for a miracle to stay alive.
As the U.S. military reports three more deaths in its latest Caribbean strike, international outcry grows over a campaign that has claimed at least 133 lives. With no evidence of criminal activity provided for the latest victims, legal experts are labeling these “lethal kinetic strikes” as extrajudicial executions, challenging the Trump administration’s shift from judicial prosecution to immediate maritime force.
More than a catalog of famous names, the new Epstein files paint a portrait of how power moves quietly through introductions, favors and social circles. The documents raise enduring questions about how influence is built — and how long it can remain hidden from public view.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has secured a commanding two-thirds majority in the 2026 general elections, reshaping the country’s political direction after the 2024 uprising. With the Awami League absent and a constitutional reform referendum approved, the vote marks a decisive turning point in Bangladesh’s governance landscape.
Russia has pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s claim that India will stop buying Russian oil. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said no such commitment has been made by New Delhi, underlining that energy decisions remain India’s sovereign choice.
Advertisement
