World

A video of an Indian man stranded in Saudi Arabia pleading for passport help went viral, prompting intervention from the Indian Embassy. The man claimed his employer confiscated his passport and refused to pay promised wages. Following the video’s spread, Indian authorities confirmed they located him and were coordinating with Saudi officials for his paperwork and safe return to India.

US authorities charged former corporate executive Peter Williams with selling proprietary American defense technology data to Russian companies for $1.3 million. The Justice Department said Williams smuggled encrypted blueprints of strategic components used in radar systems and communication satellites. His acts allegedly endangered national security. Arrested in New Jersey, Williams faces multiple espionage and fraud charges under federal law.

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou has alleged that the United States maintained indirect control over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons through Saudi Arabia after a covert deal with scientist A.Q. Khan. In a recent interview, Kiriakou said Washington used Saudi financial leverage to ensure Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal stayed under allied supervision. The claim reignited debate over U.S. foreign interference and nuclear oversight across South Asia amid growing strategic competition.

Thailand’s Queen Mother Sirikit died at age 93, marking the end of an era defined by deep involvement in rural development, crafts, and charity work. Her decades-long dedication to improving lives of women and the rural poor won her widespread devotion, as did her efforts to preserve Thai art and environmental causes. Known as the “Green Queen,” Sirikit’s legacy includes foundational work that reshaped perceptions of the modern Thai monarchy and continues to inspire national pride and public service.

Facing Islamophobic attacks in the New York mayoral race, candidate Zohran Mamdani publicly committed to embracing his Muslim identity. At a Bronx mosque, Mamdani addressed supporters, describing years of pressure he felt to hide his faith and highlighting rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in city politics. He criticized political opponents including Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Adams, both accused of fueling division. Amid these challenges, Mamdani received support from community leaders and prominent Democrats, while repeating calls for greater tolerance and representation for Muslim New Yorkers.

Harvard University and surrounding neighborhoods faced panic after a gunman fired from a bicycle, causing authorities to declare a shelter-in-place order and set off an intensive search. Campus police, aided by city and state forces, sealed off large zones as details about the suspect and any potential casualties emerged. The incident reignited nationwide concerns about college safety and American gun violence, spurring instant reactions across social media and in the broader press.

At a recent United Nations session, India issued a formidable statement denouncing Pakistan’s alleged human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir while accusing the nation of supporting terrorism across the border. The Indian representative called on the global community to acknowledge and curb these violations, urging accountability under international law. The forceful address prompted diplomatic pushback, renewed social media debates, and extensive reporting in global and Indian media on the struggle for stability and human rights in the region.

Hyderabad-born Ghazala Hashmi, State Senator in Virginia, is making a powerful run for the Lieutenant Governor post backed by a message on education, healthcare, and inclusion. Her campaign, which resonates with both Indian and Pakistani-origin voters, currently leads against Republican John Reid. Her ascent marks a historic milestone for South Asian Americans in US politics.

Former CIA officer John Kiriakou revealed in an interview that the US feared India and Pakistan would go to war following the 2001 Parliament attack, leading the US to evacuate families from Islamabad. He confirmed US intelligence found proof of Pakistan's support for terror groups, and described how India was forced to practice “strategic patience.” He also warned that Pakistan would lose a conventional war, highlighting deep fractures within Pakistan’s intelligence agencies.

Irish police reported that a police helicopter was targeted with laser-beams during patrols and a 10-year-old girl was assaulted near an asylum-seeker hotel in Dublin — incidents underscoring rising concerns over public-order and safety around Ireland’s accommodation of refugees and asylum-seekers.