Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal urging Indians to avoid foreign travel and overseas weddings for at least a year comes even as official data shows spending by Indian tourists abroad has already been declining for the past two years. According to Reserve Bank of India data, the major increase in outward foreign exchange spending is now driven largely by high-net-worth individuals investing in foreign movable and immovable assets, including overseas property, debt and equity investments. The analysis suggests leisure travel and destination weddings are no longer the primary contributors to outbound dollar outflows. The findings add a new dimension to the debate around capital outflow, foreign spending patterns and economic nationalism amid global economic uncertainty.

Two Bengaluru-based IT professionals, Danish Abdi and Vrushali Prasade, created history by becoming the first couple to complete a side-by-side open-water swim from Sri Lanka to India via the historic Ram Setu route. The duo swam nearly 32 kilometres across the Palk Strait from Talaimannar to Dhanushkodi in 10 hours and 45 minutes on May 7. Battling rough waves, shifting winds and powerful ocean currents, the couple completed the demanding expedition under strict safety supervision from support boats, paramedics and the Indian Coast Guard. Their achievement has drawn widespread praise online and is being hailed as a landmark moment for Indian open-water swimming.

An Indian tech professional, Chiranjeevi Kolla, died in California after battling Valley Fever, a rare fungal infection that severely damaged his lungs and caused respiratory failure. The 37-year-old died on May 5 in Walnut Creek after spending nearly a month in intensive care. According to his family, Kolla initially developed flu-like symptoms and a persistent cough before doctors confirmed Valley Fever, a fungal disease caused by spores found in soil in parts of the southwestern United States. Kolla, who worked in the healthcare technology sector, is survived by his wife and five-year-old son. (PC: India Today)

Chiranjeevi Kolla, a 37-year-old Indian tech professional based in California, died on May 5 after battling Valley fever, a fungal infection caused by airborne Coccidioides spores found in soil. According to a GoFundMe page started by his cousin Rama Koteswara Rao, Kolla initially developed flu-like symptoms in April before doctors diagnosed him with Valley fever after his condition worsened. The infection severely damaged his lungs, leading to intubation and ventilator support during a month-long hospitalisation. He is survived by his wife Pavani Marella and their five-year-old son Vihan. The fundraiser described him as the family’s emotional and financial backbone while highlighting mounting ICU bills, funeral expenses and financial hardship after his death. (PC: X)

Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir renewed threats against India on the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, warning that any future “misadventure” against Pakistan would result in “extremely widespread, dangerous, far-reaching and painful” consequences. Speaking at Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi alongside top military officials, Munir described the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict as a battle between “two ideologies” and claimed Pakistan had successfully defended its sovereignty. He accused India of pursuing political and military objectives through “false flag operations” dating back to 2001. Munir also reiterated earlier warnings about targeting Indian infrastructure and invoked Pakistan’s nuclear capability. Operation Sindoor followed the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s precision strikes on terror camps.

Two Indian crew members aboard the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, linked to a deadly Andes strain hantavirus outbreak, were confirmed healthy and asymptomatic after the ship reached Spain’s Canary Islands. The vessel carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew arrived at Tenerife from Cape Verde after three infected passengers were earlier evacuated to Europe. According to the World Health Organisation, eight people fell ill, including three deaths involving a Dutch couple and a German national. Following WHO and Spanish health protocols, passengers disembarked wearing protective suits and were transferred under strict supervision for repatriation. The two Indian nationals were evacuated to the Netherlands for quarantine, while multiple countries organised emergency evacuation and monitoring operations for citizens.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake congratulated Chandrasekar Joseph Vijay on being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, highlighting the deep historical, cultural and economic ties between Sri Lanka and the southern Indian state. In a social media post, Dissanayake said Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu remain connected through shared history, culture, enterprise and enduring people-to-people relations built across generations. He emphasised that the future holds significant economic promise as India and Sri Lanka continue strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnership. The Sri Lankan President also expressed his willingness to work together within the India-Sri Lanka partnership framework for greater prosperity and progress, while wishing success to Vijay and Tamil Nadu’s people.

Chiranjeevi Kolla, a 37-year-old Indian tech professional based in California, died after battling Valley Fever, a rare fungal infection that severely damaged his lungs. Kolla reportedly developed flu-like symptoms in early April, but his condition rapidly worsened and was initially mistaken for pneumonia. Doctors later confirmed Valley Fever, caused by inhaling fungal spores found in soil across parts of the US Southwest. He spent nearly a month in intensive care on ventilator support before dying on May 5 in Walnut Creek, California. Kolla is survived by his wife and five-year-old son, while a fundraiser has been launched to support the grieving family. (PC: India Today)

An Indian sailor was killed and four others suffered burn injuries after a wooden cargo dhow caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Seventeen Indian crew members were rescued by a passing vessel operating in the area, according to sources. The injured sailors are undergoing treatment in Dubai and are reported to be safe. Officials from the Indian Consulate in Dubai met the rescued crew members and are coordinating with the dhow owner to provide assistance. The incident comes amid continued tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important oil shipping routes. (PC: X)

China has, for the first time, officially acknowledged providing on-site technical support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory strikes on terror camps in 2025. Engineers from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute told Chinese state broadcaster CCTV that they assisted the Pakistan Air Force during the four-day conflict. Engineer Zhang Heng said the team worked under extreme conditions to ensure Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jets performed effectively. Another engineer, Xu Da, described the aircraft as a “child” they nurtured. The revelation underscores deepening China-Pakistan military integration and Beijing’s expanding operational involvement in regional conflicts. (PC: India Today)