USAID cuts puts India at TB risk
A study warns that recent 83 per cent cuts to US foreign aid, particularly through USAID, could drastically impact tuberculosis (TB) programmes in 26 high-burden countries like India, Pakistan, and several in Africa. The US currently provides over half of all international TB funding. Without alternative financing, the study estimates up to 22 lakh (2.2 million) additional deaths and 107 lakh (10.7 million) new cases between 2025 and 2030. India relies on USAID for 15 per cent of its TB programme budget. Researchers stress that urgent funding is needed.
Trump aide killed mid-speech
Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University, in what Governor Spencer Cox called a “political assassination.” The 31-year-old Trump ally was addressing gun violence when a rooftop sniper fired a single fatal shot, sparking chaos among 3,000 attendees. No arrests have been made, though authorities are pursuing multiple crime scenes. Kirk’s death drew bipartisan condemnation and reignited concerns over rising political violence in the US Trump called Kirk a “martyr for truth,” blaming the “radical left.” The incident halted Kirk’s American Comeback Tour and has triggered a national reckoning.
Family stirs MP BJP debate
In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP is grappling with growing pressure from second-generation leaders, as several sons of senior politicians actively pursue political roles. Despite high-profile resignations-including those of ministers’ relatives, the party maintains that pedigree alone won’t guarantee tickets or posts. Notable aspirants include Kartikey Singh Chouhan, Sukarn Mishra, and Devendra Singh Tomar, among others. While legacy brings visibility, BJP leaders stress on merit, public service, and grassroots engagement.
Hope for peace dead: Qatar
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani harshly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a strike in Doha that killed at least six, including Hamas members. He said the attack “killed any hope” of securing the release of hostages still held in Gaza, undermining Qatar’s mediation efforts. The strike-targeting Hamas leaders-sparked regional outrage and risks derailing ceasefire negotiations. Netanyahu defended the action and warned nations harboring terrorists.