India and Canada: Diplomatic Rift and Global StandingPrime Minister Narendra Modi’s absence from the G7 Summit in Canada is seen as a major diplomatic snub, reflecting deep tensions between India and Canada over the killing of a Khalistani separatist and a broader breakdown in trust. Indian officials and commentators lament the decline in India’s global influence, blaming both Modi’s leadership and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s inability to repair ties. The episode highlights India’s increasing isolation and the gap between Modi’s self-styled “Vishwaguru” image and actual diplomatic achievements. Meanwhile, India’s aviation sector is booming, but faces headwinds from infrastructure challenges, regulatory hurdles, and ongoing tensions with Pakistan that force airlines to take costly detoursSudan and Darfur: Humanitarian Crisis WorsensA UN aid convoy carrying food for two million people in famine-threatened El Fasher, North Darfur, was attacked, resulting in multiple casualties. The city remains under siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with food and medical supplies running dangerously low. The attack on the convoy is the latest in a series of atrocities in the region, which has seen mass displacement and a surge in sexual violence against women and girls. The UN warns that the scale of displacement is threatening regional and global stabilityKenya: Crackdown on Digital ActivismKenyan software developer Rose Njeri was arrested and charged under cybercrime laws for creating a tool that allowed citizens to easily voice opposition to a proposed finance bill. Her arrest has sparked outrage and highlighted growing repression of digital activism in Kenya and the region. Activists and civil society members are calling for her release and warning of a broader crackdown on dissentCaribbean: Sargassum Seaweed CrisisRecord amounts of sargassum seaweed are choking Caribbean beaches, disrupting tourism, killing wildlife, and releasing toxic gases. Scientists are puzzled by the unprecedented scale of the problem, which is linked to climate change, agricultural runoff, and changing ocean currents. The crisis is causing significant economic and environmental damage across the regionGlobal Economy and TechnologyChina’s ban on critical mineral exports is causing alarm among global automakers, who warn of production halts and supply chain disruptions. The move is seen as leverage in China’s ongoing trade war with the United States. In the tech sector, AI “code-gen” startups are attracting huge valuations as they automate software development, but face mounting losses and competition from tech giants like Microsoft and GoogleUS and Canada: Trade War and Border SecurityPresident Trump is doubling steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada, prompting warnings from Canadian steelmakers and politicians. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has called for de-escalation, while the Carney government is introducing a new bill to strengthen border security and combat cross-border crimeOther Notable DevelopmentsMongolia: The prime minister has resigned after losing parliamentary support amid corruption allegations and street protests.Japan: The government is releasing stockpiled rice to ease price spikes, with long queues forming at retailers.UK: The government is drawing up new laws to fast-track the removal of migrants from “safe” countries, amid concerns about fairness and due process.US: The Navy is renaming an oil tanker that had been named after gay rights activist Harvey Milk, reflecting a broader push against diversity initiatives under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

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