India has issued a fresh advisory for Indian-flagged vessels in the Persian Gulf after two Indian ships came under fire near the Strait of Hormuz on April 18. Indian vessels were told to stay away from Larak Island and move only after Navy clearance. Sources said the Indian Navy is giving priority to the safety of all Indian ships waiting to cross the strait. Fourteen Indian ships are still in the Gulf awaiting permission to sail. Seven Indian Navy ships have been deployed nearby to escort vessels after crossing. Eleven Indian ships have already passed through the route safely. (PC: India Today)

The United States attacked and seized an Iranian cargo ship that was trying to pass a US blockade, President Donald Trump said. Trump said the vessel was given “fair warning to stop,” but did not comply. He said US naval forces then used disabling fire and damaged the engine room. Iran’s military said it would respond. Iranian media later reported drone attacks on US ships, but no damage was confirmed. The US and Iran are expected to hold peace talks in Pakistan this week. However, an Iranian spokesman said there are “no plans” yet and “no decision has been made” on joining the talks. (PC: BBC)

A tsunami wave of 80 cm struck a port in northern Japan on Monday after a strong 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit offshore, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said. The wave was recorded at Kuji port in Iwate prefecture at 5:34 pm local time. Earlier, officials had reported a 70 cm wave and later a 40 cm wave at another port. Authorities warned that waves of up to 3 metres could reach some coastal areas. Tsunami warnings were issued for Iwate, Aomori and parts of Hokkaido. Residents were told to move to higher ground. Bullet train services were briefly stopped in Aomori. (PC: X)

The CPI, CPI(M), and Congress have approached the Election Commission over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent national address. They said the speech may have broken Model Code of Conduct rules in poll-bound Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. The parties said government broadcasters Doordarshan and Sansad TV were used for a political speech. They also objected to Modi naming opposition parties during the address. CPI leader Sandosh Kumar P. said public platforms should not be used for partisan messages during elections. CPI(M) and Congress also asked the Election Commission to examine whether the speech gave the BJP an unfair advantage. (PC: The Wire)

Lee Jae-myung arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for a three-day visit to India. He was welcomed with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Lee is scheduled to hold talks with Narendra Modi on shipbuilding, trade, investment, artificial intelligence and semiconductors. Officials said regional peace and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula will also be discussed. Lee and First Lady Kim Hea-kyung later visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. India and South Korea are also working to strengthen their economic partnership. (PC: X)

Passengers on a Fly91 flight faced tense moments after a technical fault forced the aircraft to stay in the air for nearly four hours. Flight IC3401 had left Hyderabad for Hubballi on Saturday afternoon. As it neared Hubballi, pilots reportedly aborted landing after noticing a problem. The aircraft then circled over parts of Karnataka while the crew managed the situation. Videos showed passengers crying and praying inside the cabin. The pilot told passengers, “We are holding. We will keep you updated.” The plane was later diverted and landed safely in Bengaluru. (PC: BBC)

A man killed seven of his children and another child in a mass shooting in Shreveport, police said. Officers described the case as a domestic disturbance. The children were aged between one and 14 years old. Police said the suspect, identified as Shamar Elkins, first shot a woman on the street before going to a nearby home. He then killed eight children inside the house. Two women, including the children’s mother, were critically injured. Police said the suspect fled in a stolen car after the attack. Officers chased him into Bossier Parish and shot him dead. (PC: BBC)

India and the United States began a new round of trade talks in Washington on Monday. The three-day meeting aims to complete the first phase of a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement. A 12-member Indian team led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain is holding talks with US officials. The discussions come after changes in the US tariff system. Washington introduced a temporary 10% tariff on imports from all countries. Indian officials said the deal may be “recalibrated and redrafted” so India is not placed at a disadvantage. India is also expected to raise concerns over two US trade probes under Section 301. (PC: HT)

A new video showed United States Marines boarding the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Touska in the Arabian Sea. The operation came after the vessel ignored warnings for six hours, according to US Central Command. The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance disabled the ship’s propulsion before Marines rappelled from helicopters and took control. US President Donald Trump said American forces now have full custody of the vessel and are inspecting its cargo. He also said the ship was under US Treasury sanctions. Iran said the vessel was travelling from China. An Iranian military spokesperson called the action “armed piracy” and warned of retaliation. (PC: India Today)

Iran has claimed it launched drone attacks targeting US military ships in the Sea of Oman after American forces seized an Iranian cargo vessel near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran described the strikes as retaliation for what it called an “illegal” seizure and violation of a fragile ceasefire. While Iran said its drones targeted US naval assets, details on damage or casualties remain unclear. The escalation has significantly heightened tensions in the region, raising fears of renewed conflict and disruption to global shipping routes, as diplomatic efforts between the two sides continue to deteriorate. (PC: Reuters)