The White House has endorsed a proposal for former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to lead a transitional administration in Gaza, known as the Gaza International Transitional Authority (GITA). This plan, modeled after international transitional administrations in Kosovo and Timor-Leste, would position Blair as Gaza's supreme political and legal authority for up to five years. Initially operating from Egypt, GITA aims to eventually enter Gaza with a UN-endorsed multinational Arab force. The initiative seeks to lay the groundwork for Palestinian unification under the Palestinian Authority (PA), though it faces skepticism due to Blair's controversial past, particularly his support for the 2003 Iraq War. Arab states insist on a clear roadmap to statehood for participation, while the PA has reiterated its readiness to govern Gaza.   

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at the White House before 5 p.m. local time for a private meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. This marked the first time a Pakistani prime minister entered Trump’s Oval Office, with no prior PM doing so since Imran Khan in 2019. The closed-door talks are expected to cover bilateral relations, trade, regional security and global challenges. Trump praised both Sharif and Munir as “great leaders,” reflecting a visible shift toward closer U.S.–Pakistan engagement. 

Small US companies are worried after President Trump announced a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa applications. The programme allows skilled foreign workers to join US firms. Startups and nonprofits say the fee is too high and may stop hiring foreign staff. Abhishek Singh, a software manager, and Karen Brady of Ryther, a health nonprofit, expressed concern over workforce shortages. Big tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft can afford it, but smaller firms struggle. Experts warn the policy could hurt innovation and push firms to hire abroad. For now, the fee applies only to future applicants. (PC: BBC)

The UK government plans to introduce a mandatory digital ID for all adults. The “Brit Card” would prove a person’s right to live and work in the country. People would need it to start a job or rent a home. The move aims to reduce illegal work and small boat crossings. The system, inspired by Estonia, will be app-based and linked to a central database. Civil liberty groups have criticized the plan, calling it intrusive. A government consultation and legislation will be required before rollout. (PC: Sky News)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in jail for criminal conspiracy in a case linked to illegal funds from late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. The Paris court acquitted him of other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing. Sarkozy, who was president from 2007-2012, said he will appeal and called the case politically motivated. He was also fined €100,000. Other accused included former interior ministers Claude Gueant and Brice Hortefeux, found guilty of corruption and criminal conspiracy. Sarkozy could face imprisonment in Paris in the coming days. (PC: BBC)

The government has cancelled the FCRA licence of Sonam Wangchuk’s NGO, Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL). Officials said the group committed repeated violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act. The action came a day after violent Ladakh protests over statehood that left four dead. The Home Ministry blamed Wangchuk’s speeches for provoking attacks on a BJP office and the election officer’s office. Investigations flagged “serious financial irregularities,” including misuse of foreign donations. Wangchuk, seen as the face of the Ladakh statehood movement, said he is ready to face arrest. (PC: X)

Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius has warned that Russian satellites are shadowing satellites used by German forces. Speaking at a space conference in Berlin, he said: “Russia and China have expanded their capabilities for warfare in space rapidly over the past years. They can disrupt satellite operations, blind satellites, manipulate or kinetically destroy them.” He pointed to two Russian Luch/Olymp satellites, launched in 2014 and 2023, that have been following Intelsat satellites. French and US firms earlier flagged “unfriendly” moves by these satellites. Pistorius stressed that Germany must build offensive space powers to act as a deterrent. (PC: X)

Israel has deepened its offensive in Gaza City just as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to New York for the UN General Assembly. Air-strikes reportedly killed at least 19 people across Gaza in one day, including entire families, while the Israeli military said it struck 170 targets linked to militant “terror infrastructure.” Israel describes Gaza City as Hamas’s last stronghold, yet hundreds of thousands of civilians remain trapped. Netanyahu is expected to meet with U.S. officials and address global criticism over the humanitarian toll.   

A car exploded in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday, leaving several people injured, Reuters reported, citing local media. The cause of the blast is still under investigation. The explosion comes months after a February attack when three empty buses near Tel Aviv were targeted with explosive devices. At that time, no casualties were reported, but police confirmed the use of identical bombs with timers, indicating a planned strike. Authorities have not confirmed if the latest car blast is connected to those incidents. Security forces and emergency responders are on high alert as investigations continue. (PC: India Today)

In a bold escalation, Russia conducted daytime drone strikes targeting multiple Ukrainian regions, including Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Dnipropetrovsk, according to Ukrainian officials. The attacks involved swarms of Iranian‑origin Shahed drones, many of which were intercepted by Ukraine’s air defence. The strikes inflicted damage on civilian infrastructure and disrupted power supplies. While casualties remain unconfirmed, Kyiv condemned the assaults as deliberate terror tactics. President Zelensky called for stronger international intervention, warning of an accelerating drone war that could destabilize the wider region.