Indonesia issued a tsunami alert as volcano Ruang erupted, spewing lava, rocks, and ash three kilometers high. Over 11,000 evacuated, and a provincial airport shut down. The eruption, marked by purple lightning, forced hundreds to flee, with reports of damaged homes and evacuations from a nearby hospital. Transport disruptions ensued, with Air Asia cancelling flights in East Malaysia and Brunei due to safety concerns. Officials widened evacuation zones and warned of a potential tsunami, recalling a deadly 1871 eruption that caused 400 deaths. Authorities remain on high alert as volcanic activity continues.            

India's cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, refutes claims of a meeting with selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar and coach Rahul Dravid to discuss T20 World Cup selection. Denouncing media speculation, he clarifies Agarkar is in Dubai playing golf and Dravid is in Bengaluru with family. Sharma warns against believing unofficial sources, asserting only statements from him, Dravid, Agarkar, or BCCI are reliable. Amid reports of Pandya's bowling and Kohli's batting, Sharma jokes about squad discussions. IPL performances fuel speculation as India prepares to announce the squad later this month, ahead of the June 1 tournament start.            

Members of a religious group vandalized Mother Teresa School in Telangana's Mancherial district after teachers reportedly barred students in 'Hanuman Deeksha dress' from entering classrooms. The dispute arose when teachers objected to the saffron attire worn by some students as part of a religious observance. A case has been filed against school officials under sections 153(A) and 295(A) of the Indian Penal Code. Despite the school management's assertion that students were asked to bring parents due to uniform non-compliance, protests ensued, resulting in property damage. Police are investigating, with no arrests made as of now.          

German prosecutors detain two German-Russian nationals for plotting sabotage attacks, targeting US military facilities to weaken support for Ukraine. One suspect, Dieter S, allegedly collaborated with Russian secret service since October 2023, planning bomb and arson attacks, including on Grafenwöhr army base. The actions aimed to undermine German military assistance to Ukraine against Russian aggression. Authorities conducted searches at suspects' residences and workplaces. The Russian embassy in Berlin has yet to comment on the matter. The arrests highlight concerns over foreign interference and underscore Germany's commitment to countering threats to international security.

Ranveer Singh's deepfake video endorsing a political party gains traction online, mirroring a recent incident involving Aamir Khan. Originally from Singh's Varanasi visit, where he discussed his spiritual experience, the AI-generated clip raises concerns amid the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Singh, along with Kriti Sanon, had visited Vishwanath temple before a fashion show. Aamir Khan faced a similar deepfake episode, prompting a complaint to Mumbai Police's Cyber Crime Cell. Both incidents underscore the growing challenge of misinformation and digital manipulation in public discourse.            

Enforcement Directorate seizes properties valued at Rs 97 crore belonging to Raj Kundra, husband of actress Shilpa Shetty, over allegations of a Rs 6,600 crore bitcoin scam in 2017. The agency claims Kundra and associates promised investors a 10% return on funds collected in bitcoins for mining, concealing ill-gotten assets in online wallets. Kundra allegedly received 286 bitcoins from Ponzi scam mastermind Amit Bhardwaj. Despite no direct link to the pornography racket, Kundra faced scrutiny in a 2021 adult-film case. He secured bail in September 2021. Official statement from Kundra pending.            

The 18th Lok Sabha elections commence on April 19 with phase one covering 102 constituencies across 21 states and union territories. Concurrently, assembly elections are scheduled in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim. Key contests include Tamil Nadu's 39 constituencies with notable candidates like former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran. Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Sarbananda Sonowal are also in the fray from Nagpur and Dibrugarh, respectively. The Election Commission of India's schedule extends until June 1, with vote counting set for June 4.

President Joe Biden recounted his uncle's fate, alleging his plane was shot down over New Guinea amidst cannibals during World War II. Ambrose Finnegan's body was never recovered, per the Pentagon. Biden, visiting a war memorial in Scranton, Pennsylvania, honored Finnegan. The plane, ditched in the ocean, resulted in three fatalities, with one survivor rescued. Biden criticized former President Trump's alleged remarks on fallen troops. Trump refuted claims of calling them "suckers" and "losers." Biden emotionally referenced his son Beau, a deceased Army veteran. Trump denied making the cited comments, attributed to The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg.            

Google terminated 28 employees for participating in sit-in protests against the company's cloud project with the Israeli government. The protests, involving nine arrests, occurred in New York and California. Chris Rackow, Google's head of security, condemned the behavior as disruptive and threatening, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy. The terminated employees had their access to systems revoked. The protests targeted Google's $1.2 billion contract, demanding withdrawal. Rackow issued a stern warning to all employees, reaffirming adherence to company policies. The contract, known as Nimbus, was signed in 2021.

Ukraine's Prime Minister, Denys Shmyhal, warns of a potential Third World War if Ukraine loses its conflict with Russia, urging swift passage of a long-stalled $61bn foreign aid bill by the US Congress. The aid includes crucial support for Kyiv amidst escalating tensions. Congressional impasse has hindered Ukraine's ability to combat Russian forces, leading to battlefield retreats and mounting casualties. President Biden pledges immediate enactment of the aid package to reinforce US support. Ukraine's dependency on Western assistance highlights the urgent need for international solidarity in the face of geopolitical turmoil.