Fifteen mango shipments from India have been rejected by US authorities at airports including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta due to documentation issues, despite undergoing proper irradiation in Mumbai. Exporters were forced to destroy the perishable fruit, estimating losses of $500,000. The problem stemmed from errors in the PPQ203 form, required for pest control certification, which is issued under USDA supervision. Exporters claim they’re being penalized for mistakes made at the irradiation facility. The rejected shipments highlight serious gaps in coordination between Indian authorities and US regulatory processes, affecting a key agricultural export.

Shreyas Iyer took part in the IPL 2025 clash against Rajasthan Royals despite feeling unwell. He came out to bat and scored 30 runs off 25 balls before being subbed off during the innings break. According to the on-air commentators, Iyer was “carrying a niggle” and was “unable to take the field” for the second innings. Punjab Kings brought in Harpreet Brar as their Impact Player and handed the captaincy to Shashank Singh. Iyer’s absence was a big miss, but Punjab still managed to post 220/5 and kept their playoff hopes alive with a strong batting performance. (PC: AFP)

The IMF has imposed 11 new conditions on Pakistan for the next tranche of its bailout, taking the total to 50, according to The Express Tribune. Key demands include parliamentary approval of a Rs 17.6 trillion budget, energy tariff hikes, new taxes on agriculture, and lifting car import restrictions. The IMF also warned that post-Operation Sindoor tensions with India pose risks to the programme's fiscal and reform goals. The IMF emphasized cost recovery in the energy sector and better governance. Pakistan’s defence budget is also set to increase significantly amid recent cross-border hostilities with India. (PC: India Today)

Two people died and at least 19 were injured after the Mexican Navy’s training ship Cuauhtémoc crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. The vessel, carrying 277 crew, lost power and struck the bridge’s abutment, causing its 158ft-tall masts to snap. Some sailors were standing on the masts as they fell, officials said. Emergency responders rushed to the scene amid chaotic conditions. The ship lost all three masts, but no one went overboard. The bridge sustained no major damage and has since reopened. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences. The Cuauhtémoc was en route to Iceland from Acapulco. 

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar revealed he attempted to dissuade Virat Kohli from retiring from Test cricket during IPL 2025. Despite Bangar's efforts, Kohli was resolute in his decision, believing it was the right time to step away from the format. Bangar expressed personal sadness, acknowledging Kohli's stature in the game and his conviction about the timing of his retirement. Kohli officially announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the England tour in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle. He will continue to represent India in ODIs, focusing on the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, having already retired from T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA. (PC: IceCric News)

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is set to visit China on Monday for bilateral talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, marking his first foreign trip since India's Operation Sindoor. The visit includes a trilateral meeting with Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. Discussions will focus on regional trade, security cooperation, and the evolving situation following the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, resulting in over a hundred terrorist casualties. Subsequent Pakistani attempts to retaliate were repelled by India's indigenous air defense systems. The choice of China as the destination underscores Beijing's role in regional diplomacy. (PC: Hindustan Times)

Saifullah Khalid, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative responsible for major attacks in India, including the 2005 Indian Science Congress in Bangalore, the 2006 RSS headquarters assault in Nagpur, and the 2008 CRPF camp attack in Rampur, was killed by unidentified assailants in Pakistan's Sindh province. Operating under the alias "Vinode Kumar," he had previously lived in Nepal, coordinating LeT activities and marrying a local woman. Recently, he relocated to Matli in Sindh's Badin district, continuing his involvement with LeT and its front, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, focusing on recruitment and fundraising. His death marks a significant development in efforts against terror networks targeting India. (PC: India Today)

On May 18, 2025, ISRO’s PSLV-C61 mission failed to accomplish its objective of deploying the EOS-09 (RISAT-1B) Earth observation satellite. The launch, which began at 5:59 AM IST from Sriharikota, proceeded smoothly through the first and second stages. However, a critical anomaly occurred in the third stage, causing a drop in chamber pressure and halting the satellite deployment. EOS-09 was intended to bolster India’s all-weather surveillance and remote sensing capabilities. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath announced the formation of a Failure Analysis Committee to investigate. This marks the first PSLV failure since 2017, underscoring the complexity of space missions. (PC: PTI)  

On May 18, 2025, Russia carried out its largest drone assault on Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, deploying 273 drones and decoys across multiple regions, including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk. A 28-year-old woman was killed near Kyiv, and at least three others, including a child, were injured. Ukrainian forces intercepted 88 drones and jammed 128 decoys. The attack followed failed peace talks in Istanbul, which only resulted in a mutual prisoner exchange agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump plans to speak with both Putin and Zelenskyy, as hopes for a ceasefire remain elusive amid escalating drone warfare. (PC: Reuters)

On May 18, 2025, a devastating fire in Hyderabad's Gulzar Houz area claimed 17 lives, including women and children, due to smoke inhalation. The fire reportedly began from a short circuit in a ground-floor jewelry shop and quickly engulfed the building, which lacked proper emergency exits. President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sorrow, offering condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery for the injured. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended sympathies and announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured. The tragedy highlights critical fire safety gaps in urban India. (PC: INDToday)