The Union Home Ministry has introduced a crucial amendment to the Citizenship Rules, 2009, impacting applicants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. As per a notification issued on May 18, 2026, individuals seeking Indian citizenship from these countries are now required to declare the status of their passports. The amendment introduces a provision specifying that applicants must not be in possession of a valid or expired passport issued by the governments of Pakistan, Afghanistan, or Ban

The Islamic Center of San Diego shooting left three people dead outside the mosque in Clairemont on Monday, May 18, 2026, as police investigated two teenage suspects who were later found dead nearby. San Diego police said officers responded to a reported active shooter at about 11:43 a.m. PDT at the Islamic Center of San Diego, located in the 7000 block of Eckstrom Avenue. Authorities said three adult men were killed outside the mos

San Diego Mosque Shooting Under Hate Crime Review Authorities investigating the San Diego mosque shooting said two suspected gunmen found dead on May 18,2026 in a nearby vehicle were teenagers, as police and federal investigators continue working to determine what led to the attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Mark Remily, the FBI special agent in charge in San Diego, confirmed Monday that the suspects were juven

Santa Clara County primary races are drawing major campaign spending ahead of the Tuesday, June 2, 2026 primary election, with fundraising gaps emerging in the District 1 supervisor race and the county prosecutor contest. Campaign finance filings show District 1 Supervisor Sylvia Arenas and District Attorney Jeff Rosen holding clear fundraising advantages over their challengers, according to reporting by San José Spotlight and public campaign finance records availa

A Mersin shooting near Tarsus left five people dead and eight others wounded on Monday, May 18, 2026, as Turkish security forces searched for a suspect accused of opening fire at multiple locations in southern Turkey. The attacks were reported in Mersin province, including the Tarsus district, about 40 kilometres northeast of the city of Mersin. Local reports identified the suspect as Metin Ö., 37, though authorities had not immediately released a full public statement confirming t

The Trump IRS lawsuit settlement is drawing new scrutiny after the Justice Department announced a $1.776 billion DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund on Monday, May 18, 2026, as part of an agreement resolving President Donald Trump’s lawsuit over leaked tax return information. The settlement ends Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service, which was filed after his confidential tax records were leaked. Under the agreement, Trump and other plaintiffs are expected to receive a formal apology but no monetary damages. What the DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund Means The DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund is designed to review claims from people who say they were unfairly targeted by politically motivated government investigations or prosecutions. The fund could provide compensation or formal apologies to approved claimants. The proposal has quickly become a major political and legal issue because the money would come through a federal judgment fund, raising questions over taxpayer money, congressional approval and Justice Department oversight. Why the Trump IRS Lawsuit Settlement Faces a Congress Challenge Democrats argue that the Trump IRS lawsuit settlement could allow taxpayer money to benefit political allies of the president. Representative Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has criticized the plan and argued that Congress did not authorize the fund. The expected Congress challenge to the Trump settlement fund may focus on whether the executive branch can create such a large compensation program through a lawsuit settlement without direct approval from lawmakers. Trump Tax Return Leak Remains at the Center The original case came from the Trump tax return leak, after confidential IRS information was disclosed and later reported by media outlets. A former IRS contractor, Charles Littlejohn, was prosecuted and sentenced to five years in prison for leaking tax records. The legal fight is now moving beyond the tax leak itself. The larger dispute is over whether the Justice Department can use settlement power to create a politically sensitive compensation fund involving claims of government “weaponization.” For US readers, the case matters because it could shape future limits on executive authority, federal settlements and how taxpayer-funded legal claims are handled when a sitting president is personally connected to the dispute.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Oslo on Monday, May 18, for an official visit to Norway aimed at strengthening India-Norway relations and deepening India’s engagement with Nordic countries. The visit is significant because it marks PM Modi’s first trip to Norway and the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 43 years. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre received PM Modi on his arrival, reflecting the importance both countries are giving to this

On May 17, 2026, US President Donald Trump posted a strong warning about Iran on Truth Social, saying that Iran needed to move fast toward an agreement and that time was running out. On May 18, 2026, another post featuring an AI-style map of West Asia gained attention because it showed arrows pointing toward Iran along with the American flag. The image quickly became a talking point because it appeared during a sensitive moment in US-Iran relations.

Twisha Sharma, a 33-year-old woman from Noida, was found dead at her husband Samarth Singh’s house in Bhopal’s Katara Hills area on May 12, 2026. The case came into sharper focus today, May 18, after her final WhatsApp and Instagram chats surfaced in the news, showing alleged anxiety, emotional distress, missing home, and a feeling of being “trapped” before her death. Singh is a lawyer, and the couple had reportedly met on a dating app in 2024 before marrying in December 2025.

John Crimber won the 2026 PBR World Championship on Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2026, at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, claiming his first gold buckle and a $1 million world champion bonus. The 20-year-old bull rider from Decatur, Texas, delivered a dramatic finish at the PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast, sweeping Championship Sunday with two major rides. According to PBR, Crimber scored 91.35 points on What’s Poppin in Round 8 before sealing the title with a 92.90-point rid

Mid-Air Collision at Mountain Home Air Force Base Two US Air Force fighter jets collided mid-air during the Gunfighter Skies Air Show on May 17,2026 at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. The aircraft came crashing down approximately two miles northwest of the base. In response, the base was immediately placed on lockdown to ensure safety and secure the crash site.

The LIRR strike has suspended Long Island Rail Road service, forcing commuters and baseball fans to look for alternate travel options across the New York City area. The MTA said LIRR service was suspended systemwide because of a strike on Saturday, May 16, 2026, with the disruption affecting hundreds of thousands of daily riders. The agency advised passengers to avoid nonessential travel, work from home when possible and allow extra time for alterna

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested Manisha Mandhare, a Botany professor and member of the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) paper-setting committee for the 2026 NEET-UG exam held on May 3. Mandhare was taken into custody in Delhi after interrogation at the CBI headquarters. According to the CBI, Mandhare was a key source behind the leak of the NEET-UG 2026 Biology questions, acting as a “mastermind” following information obtained from retired Chemistr

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently laid the foundation stone for the Rs 15,000-crore AMCA defence hub in Puttaparthi. The Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) flight testing and integration complex is a key part of India’s fifth-generation stealth fighter programme, aiming to strengthen the country’s defence aerospace capabilities. Previously, the Tamil Nadu government under Chief Minister MK Stalin had prop

A viral video from the official meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing has sparked intense discussion over seating arrangements. The clip, widely circulated on social media, shows Xi seated on a sofa that appears slightly taller than Trump’s. Observers noted that Trump is taller than Xi, prompting speculation that the seating was designed to make the US president appear shorter. The footage emerged during Trump’s three-day China visit, markin

The Supreme Court’s Voting Rights Act ruling in Louisiana v. Callais did not strike down Section 2, but it sharply narrowed how the law can be used in redistricting cases. In a decision issued on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Court ruled that Louisiana’s SB8 congressional map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander because the Voting Rights Act did not require the state to create an additional majority-Black district. What

Kamala Harris urged Democrats to consider a broader political strategy before the 2026 midterm elections, including discussions on the Electoral College, Supreme Court reform, redistricting and statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. The former vice president made the remarks during a livestream hosted by Win With Black Women on Wednesday night, May 13, 2026, as Democrats debate how to respond to Republican-led redistricting efforts and recent court rulings affecting voting

NRIs, OCI holders, PIOs and foreign citizens can be nominated for the Padma Awards 2027, including Padma Bhushan, if their work shows distinguished service, public impact or exceptional achievement. India’s Ministry of Home Affairs said nominations for the Padma Awards 2027 opened on Sunday, March 15, 2026, and will close on Friday, July 31, 2026. The awards are expected to be

Hantavirus is a deadly virus carried primarily by rodents like mice and rats. Humans usually get infected by breathing air contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. This virus can cause two serious diseases: HFRS (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome), which affects kidneys and may lead to internal bleeding, and HPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome), which affects lungs and can become life-threatening. Understanding hantavirus, its symptoms, and prevention is essential for public safe

Early Life and Divine Incarnation Swaminarayan Bhagwan incarnated on Earth along with His divine dham to guide souls toward spiritual welfare and establish ekantik dharma. Born as Ghanshyam Pande on April 3, 1781, in Chhapaiya, India, He exhibited spiritual wisdom from a very young age. By the age of seven, He began learning Sanskrit from His father, Dharmadev, and quickly developed a profound understanding of sacred texts.