Donald Trump congratulated Narendra Modi on a “historic, decisive” victory after the Bharatiya Janata Party won 206 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly, crossing the majority mark. The win ends over a decade of Trinamool Congress dominance. Suvendu Adhikari secured key victories in Bhabanipur and Nandigram, defeating Mamata Banerjee by 15,105 votes. The election saw record turnout above 90% across phases. The result signals a major political shift in Bengal, with BJP set to form its first government in the state. (PC: X)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on the United Arab Emirates after three Indians were injured in a drone-linked fire in Fujairah. “Targeting civilians and infrastructure is unacceptable,” he said, adding India stands in “firm solidarity” with the UAE. He stressed safe and free movement through the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE blamed Iran, while Abbas Araghchi warned against escalation. India’s foreign ministry also called the attack unacceptable and urged an end to hostilities and protection of civilians. (PC: HT)

gt 1lThe Pakistan Navy, with support from the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency, assisted crew members of the Indian vessel MV Gautam stranded in the Arabian Sea. The operation followed a distress alert relayed by the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre Mumbai. The vessel, en route from Oman to India, reported a technical fault. The crew comprised six Indian nationals and one Indonesian. Authorities provided food, medical assistance, and technical support, while efforts to stabilise the vessel continue. The episode highlights operational coordination in maritime safety despite broader geopolitical tensions in the region.

India strongly condemned a drone strike-linked fire at the Fujairah Petroleum Industries Zone in the United Arab Emirates on May 4, 2026, which injured three Indian nationals. The attack reportedly originated from Iran amid escalating regional tensions. Responding to the incident, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed the strike “unacceptable” and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. India emphasised that civilian infrastructure and innocent lives must not be targeted under any circumstances. The incident underscores growing risks to Indian nationals abroad as instability linked to the wider US-Iran conflict continues to spill into critical Gulf infrastructure zones.

The LPG tanker MT Sarv Shakti, flagged in the Marshall Islands, has successfully cleared the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and is now en route to Visakhapatnam. Carrying 46,313 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas and staffed by 20 crew members, including 18 Indians, the vessel exited the high-risk corridor on May 2. Its safe passage comes amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region that have disrupted maritime routes and energy supplies. The tanker is expected to arrive in India on May 13, offering reassurance over continuity of LPG imports and highlighting the resilience of critical supply chains during regional instability.

Karambir Singh Kang from Gurdaspur has become Canada’s first Sikh marine engineer to serve while maintaining a beard, marking a major milestone for workplace inclusion. Sikh employees in Canada’s maritime sector have long faced restrictions around religious identity, particularly beards and turbans. After nearly four years of sustained efforts, an agreement between the World Sikh Organisation and BC Ferries and Marine Workers’ Union enabled this breakthrough. Kang has now joined BC Ferries in his role. In another significant step, Gurpreet Bajwa became the first turbaned Sikh deck officer and captain, signalling broader progress for equality and representation in British Columbia. (PC: The Tribune)

Fresh reports claim gunshots were fired near comedian Kapil Sharma’s Kap’s Cafe in Surrey, Canada. This is said to be the fourth such incident since 2025. Social media posts linked the firing to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and claimed threats were issued to Sharma and the cafe owner. The posts warned him to “fall in line”. However, these claims have not been officially confirmed. Earlier, similar firing incidents were reported in July, August and October 2025. Sharma had said earlier that local authorities may lack control over such incidents. The situation has raised concerns about safety around the cafe. (PC: News18)

An India-linked supertanker carrying about 45,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a key cooking fuel, has attempted a rare exit through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing conflict in West Asia. The vessel, identified as Sarv Shakti, was tracked moving past Iranian islands into the Gulf of Oman, highlighting a cautious breakthrough in disrupted shipping routes. The move reflects India’s urgent efforts to ease a severe domestic cooking gas shortage caused by the Hormuz blockade and geopolitical tensions. Despite some successful transits, the route remains highly volatile, posing continued risks to energy security and supply stability. 

India and Bangladesh have started steps to restore full visa services after months of strain. Bangladesh has resumed visas for Indian citizens in all categories. India plans a gradual restart of its visa services in the coming weeks. Riaz Hamidullah said operations that were paused last year were restored in February. Officials said visa services for Bangladesh citizens are now running at limited capacity, with priority for medical and family cases. The two sides are also working on improving political ties. High-level meetings and closer cooperation in trade and energy may follow soon. (PC: The Indian Express)

Zohran Mamdani faced criticism after saying he would urge King Charles III to return the Kohinoor diamond before meeting him at the 9/11 Memorial. Critics described the remark as “rude” and said it focused too much on colonial issues during a sensitive visit. Mamdani made the comment before the brief interaction, though officials shared no details about what was discussed. The Kohinoor has long been a subject of dispute between India and the UK. The exchange drew political reactions, with some questioning Mamdani’s approach. (PC: X)