14-year-old Indian-American student Shrey Parikh has won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee in the United States. The California teenager claimed the title after three days of competition in Washington, DC. In the final spell-off round, he correctly spelled 32 words in 90 seconds, defeating 12-year-old Ishaan Gupta. This was Shrey's third appearance at the national contest. He said years of hard work and regular practice helped him achieve his goal. Shrey's parents praised his dedication and discipline. He encouraged other students to focus on effort, preparation and doing their best rather than worrying about results. (PC: Reuters)

A video showing a US man confronting an Indian couple has gone viral on social media. In the clip, the man asks the couple if they are from India and questions why they came to the United States. When the couple says they wanted to explore the world, the man tells them to "go home" and "get out of my country." The incident has sparked criticism online. The video surfaced days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned racist remarks against Indian Americans. Rubio said the US remains a welcoming country and that racist comments do not reflect most Americans.

India has continued to move ships through the Strait of Hormuz despite disruptions caused by the Iran conflict. Shipping Ministry officials said the government is working closely with different ministries and through diplomatic channels to manage vessel movements safely. Around 13 Indian-flagged vessels are currently in the region, including oil tankers, container ships and bulk carriers. The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for global oil and gas supplies. Since the conflict began on February 28, ship traffic has slowed and many operators have avoided the route. However, India has managed to keep essential shipments moving through the waterway.

The Indian government has said that despite disruptions and security concerns around the Strait of Hormuz, Indian cargo and oil shipments are continuing through carefully planned alternative strategies. Officials revealed that India has activated contingency maritime protocols, including route adjustments, naval coordination and close monitoring of regional developments, to ensure uninterrupted trade flow. The Centre stated that energy supplies remain stable and there is no immediate shortage threat. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, has become increasingly sensitive amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Authorities are also maintaining constant communication with shipping companies and international partners to protect Indian commercial interests and maritime security. (PC: X)

Authorities in West Bengal have intensified a major crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi migrants after security agencies identified new infiltration routes along the India-Bangladesh border. Investigators revealed that migrants were allegedly entering through riverine stretches, fake identity networks, and porous border areas before moving to different Indian states. Police and border forces have conducted multiple raids across districts, detaining several suspected illegal migrants and agents accused of arranging forged Aadhaar and voter ID documents. Officials say the operation aims to dismantle organised trafficking and infiltration networks. The development has reignited political debate over border security, illegal migration, and identity verification in eastern India. (PC: India Today)

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has expressed confidence that the proposed India-US trade agreement could be finalised in the coming weeks or months. Speaking at an event at IIT Delhi, he described India as a "trusted partner" and called the relationship between the two countries the defining partnership of the 21st century.   Gor said cooperation between India and the US is growing in areas such as technology, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and space research. He also highlighted the TRUST initiative, aimed at strengthening collaboration in critical technologies and supply chains between the two nations. 

British MP Rupert Lowe has sparked controversy after saying, "I don't believe we should import millions of Pakistanis and Indians to do jobs that unemployed Brits should be doing." The remarks were made in a series of social media posts and triggered widespread criticism.   Lowe also criticised immigration policies and claimed that migration was changing the cultural identity of some parts of the UK. Critics accused him of promoting racial and religious divisions through sweeping statements about immigrant communities.   Official data, however, shows Indian and Pakistani communities form a small share of the population in his constituency. (PC: Reuters)

Japan has suspended imports of Indian mangoes after officials found problems in pest-control procedures at an export treatment facility in Uttar Pradesh. The decision affects popular varieties such as Alphonso, Kesar, Langra and Banganapalli. Japanese inspectors raised concerns during a visit in March and later stopped accepting shipments certified after March 25. Japan follows strict rules to prevent the entry of pests like fruit flies. The ban is the first of its kind in nearly 20 years. Exporters say the move is a major setback as Indian mangoes earn premium prices in Japan. Farmers are also facing crop losses due to extreme weather. (PC: AFP)

The United Nations will posthumously honour two Indian peacekeepers on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers for their sacrifice during UN missions. Lance Havildar Harbhajan Singh, who served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), and Naib Subedar Sujit Kumar Pradhan, deployed with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), will receive the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold Medal from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The UN will also recognise Major Abhilasha Barak with the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for promoting women empowerment and gender sensitisation during her Lebanon deployment under UNIFIL. Major Barak is also India’s first woman combat helicopter pilot. (PC: X)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised India’s strong support for Israel, saying the country shows “absolutely crazy love” for Israel at a time when many nations criticise it globally. Speaking at a conference in the West Bank, Netanyahu highlighted India’s growing importance in Israel’s diplomatic outreach and noted his large Indian follower base. His remarks follow Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February 2026 visit to Jerusalem, where both nations upgraded ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership for Peace, Innovation and Prosperity”. India and Israel agreed to expand cooperation across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductors, defence, biotechnology, agriculture, fintech, water management and space technology, while also exploring integration between India’s UPI and Israel’s payment system.