Bangladeshi actor Nusraat Faria was arrested at Dhaka airport on Sunday. She was caught while heading to Thailand. Police say she is linked to an attempted murder case from the July 2024 protests against then-PM Sheikh Hasina. Faria had played Hasina in the 2023 film Mujib: The Making of a Nation. She was taken to Vatara police station and later moved to the Detective Branch office in Dhaka. Faria, 31, began her career as a radio jockey. She acted in several Bangladeshi and Indian films. Her arrest follows protests that led to Hasina stepping down and fleeing to India. (PC: India Today)

On May 17, 2025, Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed over 100 Palestinians, including women, children, and journalists, according to Gaza health authorities. The Israeli military is intensifying its campaign in Rafah, signaling a potential ground invasion. These developments coincide with renewed ceasefire negotiations in Doha, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and supported by the U.S. Hamas has offered a two-month truce in exchange for releasing hostages and Palestinian prisoners, but Israel insists on the release of all hostages without agreeing to end the war, prolonging the humanitarian crisis. (PC: Reuters)

On May 17, 2025, the Mexican Navy’s tall training ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York while leaving Manhattan. The ship’s 147-foot masts struck the underside of the bridge, snapping all three. The accident killed two people and injured 19 others, including two critically, among the 277 on board. Emergency responders rescued crew members who were left dangling from the rigging. Thankfully, no major structural damage was reported to the bridge. Preliminary investigations suggest possible mechanical failure. The incident is under official review by both U.S. and Mexican authorities. (PC: AFP)  

Two former jihadists, Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, have been appointed to the White House Advisory Board of Lay Leaders under former President Donald Trump's administration. Royer, a convicted terrorist with documented ties to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood, served 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding terrorism. He reportedly attended a Lashkar-e-Taiba training camp in Pakistan in 2000 and participated in terrorist activities in Kashmir, including firing at Indian positions. Yusuf, co-founder of Zaytuna College, is accused of promoting jihadi ideology and has alleged links to Hamas; he was questioned by the FBI post-9/11. Their appointments have raised concerns about the vetting process for such sensitive advisory roles. (PC: India Today & Blog do PCO)

On May 17, 2025, during the first direct peace talks in over three years held in Istanbul, Russian negotiators demanded that Ukraine withdraw troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia as a condition for a ceasefire. Russia also sought international recognition of its control over these regions and Crimea, Ukrainian neutrality, and a mutual renunciation of war compensation claims. These terms, delivered verbally, were rejected by Ukraine as unrealistic. While a prisoner exchange was agreed upon, the talks ended without a ceasefire. U.S. President Trump plans follow-up calls with both leaders. (PC: Reuters)  

On May 18, 2025, the Trump administration appointed two former jihadist operatives, Ismail Royer and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, to the White House Advisory Board of Lay Leaders, sparking major controversy. Royer was convicted in 2004 for aiding individuals to join a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) training camp in Pakistan and engaging in terrorist activities in Kashmir; he served 13 years of a 20-year sentence. The move drew backlash from Trump ally Lara Loomer, who called it “insane.” The appointments raise serious concerns about vetting, national security, and implications for U.S.-India relations. (PC: Britannica)

During his 2025 Middle East tour, former U.S. President Donald Trump received extravagant gifts from Gulf nations. Qatar presented him with a $400 million Boeing 747-8, dubbed the "Flying Palace," intended for the U.S. Defense Department and his presidential library. The United Arab Emirates offered a symbolic drop of Murban crude oil, to which Trump humorously remarked, "I'm not thrilled." Saudi Arabia welcomed him with grand ceremonies, including fighter jet escorts and traditional performances. These gestures coincided with Gulf states pledging $600 billion in investments and major deals in defense, aviation, and artificial intelligence. While Trump hailed the trip as "incredible diplomacy," critics raised concerns about potential constitutional violations and foreign influence. (PC: CNN & The Telegraph)

Israel and Hamas resumed ceasefire talks in Doha amid escalating violence in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes, part of "Operation Gideon's Chariots," have killed at least 146 Palestinians in 72 hours, with hundreds more wounded. The offensive targets northern areas like Beit Lahiya and Jabalia refugee camp, as well as Khan Younis in the south. Israel aims to dismantle Hamas and achieve "operational control" in Gaza, while Hamas demands an end to the war, Israeli withdrawal, prisoner swaps, and humanitarian aid access. The blockade since March has led to severe humanitarian conditions for Gaza's 2.3 million residents. International concern grows as the conflict intensifies, with the U.S. backing limited aid deliveries. (PC: Reuters)

During his 2025 Middle East tour, former U.S. President Donald Trump faced sharp criticism from Iranian leaders for remarks perceived as biased and inflammatory. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei condemned Trump’s pro-Israel stance and accused him of endorsing violence in Gaza under the guise of promoting peace. President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed the criticism, calling Trump’s statements a continuation of failed U.S. policies that have destabilized the region. The backlash highlights deepening tensions over U.S. involvement and rhetoric regarding the Gaza conflict and broader Middle East geopolitics. (PC: Reuters)  

A recent NDTV report lists 13 locations across the globe that are dangerously radioactive and largely off-limits to humans due to nuclear accidents, weapons testing, and industrial contamination. These include infamous sites like Chernobyl in Ukraine, Fukushima in Japan, and the Hanford Site in the United States. Other dangerous zones, such as The Polygon in Kazakhstan and Mailuu-Suu in Kyrgyzstan, stem from Soviet-era activities. Some areas, like Somalia’s coast, face illegal nuclear waste dumping. The report highlights the persistent environmental and health risks linked to mishandled nuclear technology and inadequate global oversight. (PC: NDTV)