Gary Lineker, former England footballer and long-time host of Match of the Day, will leave the BBC after 26 years. The 64-year-old, who was the corporation’s highest-paid presenter, confirmed his departure following backlash over a controversial Instagram repost featuring a rat emoji, widely interpreted as antisemitic. Lineker apologised “unreservedly”, insisting he never intended to offend. His final appearance will be this Sunday, and he will not be involved in the 2026 World Cup coverage. BBC Director-General Tim Davie praised Lineker’s contribution to sports broadcasting, while the Campaign Against Antisemitism called his position “untenable” and launched a petition for his removal. (PC: NYTimes)

Charlotte May Lee, 21, from Coulsdon, south London, was arrested at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport after allegedly smuggling 46kg of high-grade cannabis worth £1.5 million into Sri Lanka. The former flight attendant had arrived on a flight from Bangkok. Sri Lanka’s Customs Narcotics Control Unit described it as the largest Kush seizure at the airport, reportedly bound for elite local buyers. Lee remains in custody as the Police Narcotics Bureau investigates. She had been celebrating her birthday in Thailand and claimed to be working on a boat. The UK Foreign Office confirmed it is providing consular support. (PC: The Standard)

India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarified to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that there was no nuclear threat from Pakistan nor any American mediation in the India-Pakistan ceasefire following Operation Sindoor. The ceasefire, he said, resulted from a direct request by Pakistan’s DGMO to his Indian counterpart. Misri dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim of brokering peace and preventing nuclear war, stating, “He certainly isn’t seeking my approval.” India launched precision strikes on terror bases in Pakistan on May 7 after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan’s counter-attacks led to hostilities until the May 10 ceasefire. (PC: News18)

In a sweeping anti-espionage crackdown following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Indian authorities arrested 11 individuals across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly spying for Pakistan's ISI. Among those arrested are a YouTuber, a political science student, a security guard, and an app developer. The accused were lured through social media, financial offers, and personal visits to Pakistan. Jyoti Malhotra, a travel influencer, and Devender Singh, a student, are among the high-profile suspects. Officials recovered electronic devices, messages, and photos related to military installations, highlighting the use of digital platforms in modern espionage. (PC: India Today)

Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi has once again been denied bail by the UK High Court, marking his tenth failed attempt since his arrest in March 2019. Modi is the prime accused in the ₹6,498 crore Punjab National Bank fraud and is currently lodged in a UK prison. The Enforcement Directorate and CBI opposed the bail, presenting evidence of money laundering through shell companies. His extradition to India has been cleared, but remains delayed due to pending legal proceedings. The UK court emphasized the scale of the fraud and risk of flight while rejecting the bail plea on May 15, 2025.

Actress Shilpa Shirodkar has tested positive for COVID-19 and shared the news via Instagram, urging fans to stay safe and wear masks. In a brief note, she wrote, “Hello people! I have been tested positive for COVID. Stay safe and wear your mask!” Fans poured in with wishes for her speedy recovery. The news comes amid rising COVID-19 cases across Asia, with countries like Singapore and Thailand reporting surges. Shilpa is also in the spotlight for her upcoming supernatural thriller Jatadhara, which stars Sonakshi Sinha in her Telugu debut alongside Sudheer Babu and others. (PC: Zee News )

The Supreme Court has ordered a special investigation team (SIT) to probe Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah’s remarks about Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The court rejected Shah’s apology, calling it insincere. “The entire nation is ashamed of you,” the bench said. Shah had made a controversial comment after Operation Sindoor. The SIT must include three senior officers, one being a woman, and submit its first report by May 28. The court criticised the state for slow action and said the timing of the remark, after a military operation, made it worse. Shah cannot be arrested yet, as per the court order. (PC: @MEAIndia)

US President Donald Trump said he will speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to push for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump called the war a “bloodbath” and said over 5,000 soldiers are dying each week, though official numbers are much lower. The Kremlin confirmed that a call is being planned. Trump also plans to talk to NATO leaders. He hopes the talks will lead to peace. Ukraine recently said it was ready for a ceasefire, but Russia’s demands were too harsh. It is unclear if Trump’s efforts will bring real change to the stalled peace talks. (PC: AP)

There was no involvement from the United States in Operation Sindoor, government sources told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. The panel was informed that the request for a ceasefire came directly from Pakistan. It was Pakistan’s Director-General of Military Operations who contacted India’s military to ask for a stop to the strikes. This information counters claims made by US President Donald Trump about America’s role in ending the operation. Sources said the panel was clearly told, “There was no American intervention.” The briefing came after India’s military action against terror bases following the Pahalgam attack. (PC: NDTV)

Myntra and Ajio have stopped selling Turkish brands after calls to boycott Turkey over its support to Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Myntra removed brands like Trendyol, while Ajio marked Koton, Mavi, and others as ‘out of stock.’ Reliance, which owns Ajio, also shut its Turkey office. A company official said the step was taken to reflect “India’s values and sentiment.” The move follows India’s Operation Sindoor and support from Turkey and Azerbaijan for Pakistan. The CAIT trade group has urged a full trade ban with the two countries and called on filmmakers to stop shooting in Turkey and Azerbaijan.