At a Cabinet meeting, President Donald Trump praised tariffs and hailed domestic investment, despite a government report revealing the U.S. economy shrank by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025 — the first contraction since 2022. Economists link the decline to businesses stockpiling imports ahead of Trump’s new tariff policies. Trump, however, deflected blame onto former President Joe Biden, insisting Wall Street’s “bad numbers” were unrelated to tariffs. Later today, Trump is set to meet with CEOs from leading firms including Nvidia and GE Aerospace at an investment event aimed at boosting confidence in the U.S. economy. (PC: BBC)

Yuzvendra Chahal’s sensational hat-trick and Shreyas Iyer’s explosive 72 powered Punjab Kings to a thrilling 4-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2025 clash at Chepauk. After opting to bowl, PBKS restricted CSK to 190 despite Sam Curran’s blazing 88 off 47 balls. Chahal’s four-wicket 19th over flipped the script, finishing with 4/32. Chasing 191, Iyer led the charge with a 41-ball 72, supported by Prabhsimran Singh’s 54. PBKS clinched victory in the final over, handing CSK a crushing defeat at home and boosting their playoff hopes.

Pakistan has cancelled all flights to and from the Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as tensions with India rise following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suspended flights to Skardu and Gilgit, including services from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Pakistani officials stated the cancellations are precautionary, aimed at securing airspace. The move follows India’s warning to Pakistan over ceasefire violations and heightened military activity. The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front, a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, has drawn global condemnation and triggered widespread outrage and security measures across India and Pakistan. (PC: NDTV)

At least three people from the same family in Taboadela, Spain, died in an incident linked to a massive power outage that plunged Spain and Portugal into chaos on Monday. Authorities suspect carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator may be the cause. Additional deaths are under investigation, including a woman in Madrid killed in a fire likely sparked by a candle during the blackout, and another in Valencia possibly due to her ventilator losing power. The outage disrupted metro systems, traffic lights, card payments, and mobile networks across Spain, Portugal, parts of France, and Andorra. The cause remains under investigation. (PC: BBC)

On April 30, 2025, Israel conducted a warning airstrike targeting an extremist group in Sahnaya, Syria, which was allegedly preparing to attack Druze communities near Damascus. This action follows Israel's commitment to defend the Druze minority amid rising sectarian tensions. Recent clashes between Druze and Sunni Muslim gunmen in Jaramana resulted in over a dozen deaths, with violence spreading to Sahnaya, where 11 people were killed. Israel's leadership emphasized the Syrian regime's responsibility to protect the Druze population, highlighting concerns over regional stability and minority rights. (PC: Reuters)  

Despite being a UN-designated terrorist with a $10 million US bounty, Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed lives openly in a fortified compound in Lahore’s posh Johar Town. Unlike Osama bin Laden and Masood Azhar, who hid in isolated compounds, Saeed operates from a bustling neighborhood, complicating any possible strike. Satellite imagery reveals a sprawling property with a mosque, madrasa, residential area, and a private park—all heavily guarded by Pakistani security forces. This contradicts Pakistan’s claims of Saeed being jailed for terror financing. Sources link Saeed to the recent Pahalgam attack, reaffirming his active role in orchestrating terrorism from within Pakistan. (PC: India Today)

Richard Burrows, an 81-year-old former boarding school housemaster and scout leader, has been sentenced to 46 years in prison for sexually abusing 24 boys from the 1960s to the mid-1990s. Burrows fled to Thailand in 1997 and lived under a stolen identity until his arrest at Heathrow in 2024. He was convicted of 97 offences, including indecent assault, buggery, and child image possession. Described as a "predator" by the judge, Burrows showed no remorse. His victims, some silenced for decades, finally received justice. Police tracked him using facial recognition technology, ending his years of evading accountability.

The Pakistan Army has reportedly placed its troops on high alert and directed terror groups to operate alongside them along the Line of Control (LoC), sources told CNN-News18. This move follows the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 people and triggered fears of Indian retaliation. India has responded by downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan and suspending key agreements. Sources say Pakistan’s 10 Corps, with 19 brigades, is coordinating with terror outfits, deploying fighters from Baloch and other groups. Top terrorists, including Masood Azhar and Hafiz Saeed, have allegedly been relocated to undisclosed locations.

President Donald Trump celebrated the 100th day of his second term with a fiery rally in Michigan, highlighting his administration’s immigration crackdown and pledging continued reform. He hailed a “revolution of common sense” while mocking Democrats, especially Joe Biden, and criticizing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Trump touted a major drop in illegal border crossings and carmakers “lining up” to invest in the U.S., but faced criticism over rising unemployment and stock market volatility tied to his trade policies. Despite slipping approval ratings, Trump retains strong Republican support, while the Democratic Party called his early term a “colossal failure.” (PC: BBC)

In a significant diplomatic shift, India has initiated talks with the Taliban-led Afghan government following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed multiple Indian tourists. As Pakistan scrambles diplomatically and militarily, India's outreach to Kabul marks a major tactical move. A high-level Indian delegation met Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, discussing regional developments and strengthening ties. The Taliban condemned the Pahalgam attack and reassured India of non-hostile intent. This move comes amid deteriorating Pakistan-Taliban relations and signals New Delhi’s growing influence in the region. PM Modi has granted the armed forces full operational freedom to respond to the attack. (PC: India Today)