Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant is set to visit Washington for critical talks on the ongoing Gaza war and escalating tensions with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The visit comes amidst concerns over US arms supply to Israel and growing protests against the government’s handling of the conflict.
A wedding ceremony in the United States took a dramatic turn when the bride’s dress caught fire, causing a moment of panic and requiring quick action to extinguish the flames. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured in the incident.
An Iraqi fighter from an Iran-backed group was killed in an overnight airstrike in eastern Syria near the Iraq border. The strike occurred in Deir Ezzor province, a region where Iran holds significant influence and is frequently targeted by Israel and the United States. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the strike targeted a vehicle during a reconnaissance patrol on the Iraqi-Syrian border, while the US-led military coalition denied responsibility for the attack. This incident adds to the escalating tensions between Iran and its allies in the region and the United States and Israel.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has stated that they have not received any request for consular access from Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national extradited to the US for an alleged murder-for-hire plot against Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. While Gupta’s family has contacted the MEA, the US has asserted they will not tolerate attempts to silence or harm its citizens.
The Biden administration has approved the sale of $360 million worth of drones, missiles, and other military equipment to Taiwan, amidst heightened tensions with China. The sale includes 291 Altius-600M drones and 720 Switchblade drones, signifying the U.S.’s commitment to Taiwan’s defense capabilities. The sale comes despite efforts to ease tensions with China and follows a meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping late last year. Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-Te expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing the need to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses.
The ‘Destination Lugana’ US tour, concluded in May, successfully introduced Lugana wines to American wine buyers and press, highlighting the versatility of the Turbiana grape and opening new distribution opportunities for producers.
China has issued a stern warning to a US congressional delegation visiting India, urging them to refrain from meeting the Dalai Lama. The delegation, led by Michael McCaul, Chairman of the US House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee, has arrived in Dharamshala, India, where the Dalai Lama resides. China considers the Dalai Lama a separatist and has repeatedly condemned any engagement with him.
Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, has pleaded not guilty to charges of plotting to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States. The US government has extradited Gupta from the Czech Republic, emphasizing its commitment to protecting its citizens from foreign interference. Gupta faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Amos Hochstein, a special envoy of US President Joe Biden, is in Israel to prevent a full-fledged war with Lebanon’s Hezbollah. He is meeting with Israeli officials as tensions escalate on the northern border, with Hezbollah’s increased attacks pushing the two sides towards a wider conflict. Israel has expressed openness to both diplomatic resolution and military action, while the US and France are attempting to de-escalate the situation.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is visiting New Delhi for the second meeting of the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). His visit comes as the US seeks to deepen its strategic partnership with India amidst growing geopolitical tensions in the region. Sullivan’s discussions with Indian leaders are expected to focus on a range of issues, including technology cooperation, defense collaboration, and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
