Israeli forces continued to attack the Gaza Strip, preparing for a possible ground invasion as the conflict with Hamas entered the sixth day. Hamas terrorists have taken 150 hostages, and Israel said it will not lift its siege until they are released. Israel's military on Friday ordered the evacuation of northern Gaza, a region that is home to 1.1 million people — about half of the territory's population — within 24 hours. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called the order "impossible" without "devastating humanitarian consequences."
Amid escalating tensions and an unfolding war in West Asia, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to make a first official visit to India. The visit is slated to take place from May 23 to May 26.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a five-nation tour, will be arriving in Italy shortly on the last leg of his tour. The tour, which included visits to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy, signifies a shift in India's foreign policy towards strengthening technology and supply chain security.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Norway, a joint diplomatic press statement in Oslo saw Norwegian journalist Helle Ling question the Prime Minister on India's human rights record and press freedom.
Twisha Sharma, the 31-year-old Noida woman found hanging at her Bhopal home while two months pregnant, is now at the centre of explosive court claims.
