After receiving a royal pardon from Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, 18-year-old Marcus Fakana has been released from a Dubai jail and is safely back in the UK. Fakana's case has raised concerns about the criminalization of tourists and disproportionate sentencing, highlighting the need for expedited legal processes for foreign nationals in Dubai. The teenager was arrested after a holiday romance with another Londoner, who was just shy of turning 18, was reported by the girl's mother to Dubai police.
The annual BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro saw a united front put up by the participating countries against the US President's threat of imposing an additional 10 percent tariff on any country that aligns with what he deems as "the Anti-American policies of BRICS". The declaration adopted by BRICS reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and called for adherence to international laws and condemnation of politicizing and militarizing humanitarian aid. China, one of the BRICS countries, responded to the US President's statement as a "tool of political coercion" and emphasized the importance of cooperation for global development over geo-political rivalry. The BRICS Joint Declaration also called for further negotiations for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages and detainees held in violation of international law.
President Donald Trump's threat to impose a 10% tariff on any country aligning with BRICS' "anti-American policies" sparked sharp responses from China, Russia, and South Africa. This comes after the BRICS declaration raised concerns about the rise in tariffs and its impact on global trade and supply chains. While there was no response from India, Trump's statement on Truth Social left the BRICS leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Brazil for a two-day summit, confused. China emphasized BRICS' focus on cooperation and rejecting confrontation, while Russia stressed the group's goal of cooperation based on shared interests and not targeting any countries. South Africa's foreign ministry spokesperson clarified that BRICS' aim is to push for "reformed multilateralism" and should not be viewed as a threat.
Kazakhstan's ministry of science and higher education announced several top universities from Russia, UK, Türkiye, South Korea, Germany, and Italy are set to open branch campuses in the central Asian country. These institutions will offer a range of programs such as international relations, business, engineering, computer science, hospitality, healthcare, and design. The country's aggressive internationalization strategy, supported by government incentives, aims to attract 100,000 international students by 2028. The minister for science and higher education, Sayasat Nurbek, considers these academic partnerships as strategic investments and has provided tax preferences to the international institutions.
A viral image claiming to show an attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan by the Taliban has been debunked by News X. The image, which has been circulating online, was found to be an old image taken 11 years ago. Despite multiple social media users and articles claiming the image to be of the recent attack, News X's investigation proved it to be false.
The Indian Embassy in Indonesia has issued a clarification, stating that remarks made by Defence Attache Captain Shiv Kumar were taken "out of context" and constitute a “misrepresentation" of the content of his presentation on Operation Sindoor at a university in Jakarta. The embassy clarified that the Indian military's response in the operation was not constrained by political leadership and that the objective was to target terrorist infrastructure. This statement comes after controversy arose over the attache's remarks that suggested the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets due to constraints on attacking Pakistani military establishments.
The UAE has recently introduced new changes to its coveted Golden Visa program, shifting the focus from capital investment to talent and innovation. This opens up the opportunity for mid-income individuals, including professionals from India, to obtain long-term residency in the UAE through a one-time fee and a successful nomination, without the need for investing in real estate. This major policy shift is expected to reshape the investment patterns of Indian real estate buyers in the UAE and attract highly skilled individuals from around the world.
The only daughter of Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan, Xi Mingze, is said to have returned to the United States to continue her studies at Harvard University. Born in Fuzhou and raised in a politically prominent family, Xi has mostly stayed away from the public eye. However, her privacy is heavily guarded by the Chinese government, as seen by the arrest and conviction of a man who leaked her personal information online. Despite speculation about her future role in Chinese politics, there is currently no public indication of her political ambitions.
The formerly Twitter accounts of international media outlets Reuters, TRT World, and Global Times were briefly withheld in India, causing confusion and concern over possible censorship. The government has clarified that there was no order to block these handles, and it appears that the issue may have been linked to a previous order from Operation Sindoor. The accounts have since been restored after the mistake was realized and resolved.
The devastating floods in Texas have claimed the lives of at least 80 individuals, with ongoing rescue efforts still searching for missing children from a summer camp. President Donald Trump has expressed his condolences to the victims and promised to visit the affected areas on Friday. At the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders have condemned the recent terrorist attack in Kashmir and reaffirmed their commitment to fighting terrorism globally. They have also reached a consensus on other major issues, such as climate change, showcasing the bloc's growth and cooperation on key global challenges.