Israel will compete in the first semi final of Eurovision on 12 May in Vienna, facing past winners including Greece, Portugal, Serbia and Sweden. The 70th edition of the song contest is being overshadowed by protests and boycotts over Israel’s participation, with five countries pulling out and the total number of entrants falling to its lowest level in two decades.


Eurovision: Israel Drawn Against Eurovision Heavyweights in Vienna Semi Final | WION

China’s outbound travel market is set to grow sharply in 2026, with up to 175 million overseas trips expected as visa free policies expand and the yuan strengthens. But Chinese tourism to Japan could drop by nearly half amid rising political tensions between Beijing and Tokyo. Analysts say South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand will be the top destinations, while new visa free routes boost travel to Europe, Africa and beyond.


China’s Overseas Travel Set to Surge in 2026 but Japan Trips Could Halve | WION 

US based Indian astronomer Professor Shrinivas Kulkarni has won the Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal, one of the world’s most prestigious science honours. The Maharashtra born Caltech professor was recognised for his field defining work in time domain astronomy, including discoveries of brown dwarfs, gamma ray bursts and fast cosmic events that have transformed modern astrophysics.


Indian Astronomer Shrinivas Kulkarni Wins UK’s Top Astronomy Medal | WION

Ride hailing giant Uber is facing a landmark trial in the United States over a sexual assault claims.


Uber Faces Landmark US Trial Over Sexual Assault Claims | WION

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival has opened in South Korea, attracting visitors from around the world to its massive frozen river near the North Korean border. The winter festival features ice fishing, barehand fishing, sledging, ice soccer and curling across a 300,000 square metre ice field. Officials say the event has become one of Asia’s biggest winter attractions, drawing over a million visitors each year.


South Korea’s Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival Draws Global Crowds | WION 

New data shows toddlers in the UK are spending an average of about two hours a day watching screens, raising concerns among parents and child health experts. The findings highlight growing exposure to phones, tablets and television at a very young age and renewed debate over screen time limits for children.


U.K Toddlers Watch Screens For 2 Hours Daily | WION 

Spanish police have seized nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine in their largest ever maritime drug bust after intercepting a Europe bound cargo ship in the Atlantic. The Cameroon flagged vessel was carrying 9,994 kilos of cocaine hidden in salt shipments after departing Brazil. Thirteen crew members were arrested as part of an international operation supported by the DEA and the UK’s National Crime Agency. The ship was later towed to the Canary Islands after running out of fuel.


Spain Seizes 10 Tonnes of Cocaine in Record Atlantic Drug Bust | WION 

The United States has revoked more than 100,000 visas since Donald Trump returned to office, according to the State Department. Officials say the number of cancelled visas has more than doubled as the administration intensifies its immigration enforcement and border control policies.


US Revokes Over 100,000 Visas as Trump Tightens Immigration Crackdown | WION

At least one person has died and around 300 buildings have been destroyed as massive bushfires tear through south east Australia. The fires are raging across dozens of locations, mainly in Victoria and parts of New South Wales, burning an area almost twice the size of Greater London. A state of emergency has been declared as thousands of firefighters and more than 70 aircraft battle extreme heat, dry winds and fast moving flames.


Australia Bushfires Kill 1, Destroy 300 Homes as Emergency Declared | WION

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has ruled out allowing US troops to operate on Mexican soil, calling it off limits after discussions with Donald Trump. The statement comes as both leaders discuss security cooperation, border control and national sovereignty, with Mexico making clear that any foreign military presence is not an option.


Mexico-US Tensions: Mexico Rules Out US Troops on Ground | WION

A colorful winter hot air balloon festival was held in the Moscow region as dozens of balloons took to the sky against a snowy backdrop. The event drew large crowds and created striking visuals, turning the freezing winter landscape into a vibrant celebration of aviation and culture.


Russia: Winter Hot Air Balloon Festival Lights Up Moscow Region | WION 

UK regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into X (formerly Twitter) over reports of its AI chatbot Grok generating sexually explicit deepfakes, including non-consensual "nudifying" images of women and sexualized depictions of children. 

UK Regulators Launch Investigation Into Groke Deepfakes

Snowmelt supplies one-fourth of regional river runoff for 2 billion people; deficits now signal cryosphere collapse, risking agriculture, hydropower, and heightened disasters like landslides.


 Himalayas' Historic Snow Drought Deepens Crisis

Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) launched a major offensive against Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in southwestern provinces like Kordofan and Darfur, destroying 240+ RSF vehicles amid escalating territorial battles.



Sudan Armed Forces Attack RSF in Southwest 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives for his first state visit to India, welcomed by PM Modi at Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad to underscore deepening bilateral ties.



Modi Welcomes German Chancellor to Sabarmati

The 2024-25 winter hit a 23-year low with 24% below-normal snow persistence across Hindu Kush-Himalaya, as elevation-dependent warming (3-6km) converts snow to rain, accelerating mid-level melt.


Winter Armor Vanishes: Himalayas Face Bare Peaks

Spain leads "Operation White Tide" in seizing a record 10 tons of cocaine from a Cameroon-flagged ship in the mid-Atlantic high seas, collaborating with U.S., Brazil, France, and Portugal authorities.



White Tide Op: Spain's Largest Drug Haul Ever 

The Pakistan Hindu Council organized its 19th annual mass wedding at Karachi's Railway Ground on January 11, 2026, uniting 75 couples from across Pakistan in traditional Hindu rituals with separate mandaps for ceremonies.


75 Hindu Couples Wed in Karachi Mass Ceremony 

Russia-Ukraine War: Kyiv's forces struck three Russian oil drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea, targeting Lukoil's key energy infrastructure amid the war's brutally cold fourth winter.


Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine Hits Russian Oil Rigs in Caspian Sea Raid

Prada's Infusion de Santal Chai blends creamy sandalwood, spicy chai latte accord, cardamom, and citrus in a $190 brown glass bottle, marketed as cozy luxury from the Les Infusions line following last year's Kolhapuri chappal controversy.


Indians Divided Over Prada's $190 Chai Scent

UK research reveals 2-year-olds average 129 minutes of daily screen time-double WHO limits-with 98% exposed regularly, linked to poorer language skills and behavioral issues.


Research Reveals Excess Screen Time Spent by 2-year-olds in UK 

Japan launches the world's first deep-sea rare-earth extraction trial from mud near Minamitorishima Island, targeting independence from China's supply dominance.


Japan Pioneers Deep-Sea Rare Earth Mining Test

Bedouin families in the occupied West Bank are dismantling their homes and fleeing their villages after what they describe as relentless harassment and intimidation by Israeli settlers. In Ras Ein al-Auja, near Jericho, residents say pressure escalated sharply after settlers established an outpost just meters from their homes. The United Nations reports thousands of Palestinians have been displaced by settler violence and movement restrictions since October 2023, raising concerns that expanding settlements are entrenching Israeli control over large parts of the West Bank.

Israeli Settler Violence Forces Bedouins in West Bank to Leave

Thousands of Irish farmers filled Athlone streets with tractors on January 10, 2026, protesting EU-Mercosur after member states' green light despite Ireland, France, Poland, and Austria opposition; French farmers blocked Le Havre port and Bordeaux depots


EU Farmers Block Roads Over Mercosur Deal Fury 

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