The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a continuous heatwave alert from April 21 to 24 for the capital New Delhi and surrounding areas, marking the first major heatwave of the season. Temperatures are expected to exceed 40 degrees Celsius, with the IMD warning that uncomfortable conditions may persist into the evening hours and humidity levels could rise to 70% by the end of the week. This alert comes as a study by EnviroCatalysts found ground temperatures in parts of Delhi have risen by up to 6 degrees Celsius, exacerbating urban heat effects.
India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is on a three-day visit to Berlin, focusing on strengthening defense ties with Germany. Singh stated on X, “Looking forward to have a fruitful meeting with my German counterpart and also interact with key representatives of the German defence industry, with a view to promoting joint development and co-production under the Make-in-India initiative.” The talks are expected to cover areas like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and drones, with a potential agreement on UN Peacekeeping training cooperation. Speculation is growing that the ministers may finalize a critical defense contract for six advanced submarines to be built in India with technology transfer.
In India’s northeastern state of Manipur, clashes erupted between two tribal communities—Naga and Kuki—amid a resurgence of violent protests. The incident occurred when police attempted to clear a roadblock set up by Naga protesters enforcing a three-day shutdown called by the United Naga Council, protesting the killing of two Naga men on April 18. Tensions escalated as Kuki villagers intervened, leading to stone-pelting between the sides. This clash highlights ongoing ethnic conflicts in Manipur, involving the majority Meitei, minority Naga, and hill-dwelling Kuki communities, with recent protests also triggered by the April 7 killing of two children in a bomb attack blamed on Kuki militants.
A brawl broke out at a Sikh temple (gurudwara) in Moers, western Germany, on Sunday, involving about 40 men over disputes regarding the election of a new board of directors and control of donation funds. According to German tabloid Bild, an eyewitness reported, “shortly before the service began, the attackers suddenly had pepper spray and sprayed their opponents. Then one of them fired a pistol. And I also saw knives.” The knives were “kirpans,” ceremonial daggers carried by some Sikhs. At least 11 people sustained injuries, primarily head wounds, but no fatalities occurred. Special police units and a helicopter were deployed, though no armed suspects were found, and an investigation is ongoing.
Authorities in India’s Haryana state seized over 260 pens of counterfeit Mounjaro, a diabetes and weight-loss drug, and arrested two individuals suspected of manufacturing and selling the fakes. The Haryana Food and Drug Control Administration stated that the primary accused lacked a pharmaceutical license and produced the drugs at a private property, selling them at a discount on an online marketplace. The seized pens were not stored at required temperatures and showed discrepancies in label details, raising suspicions. Samples have been sent to government laboratories for confirmation, amid a booming obesity drug market in India projected to be worth €730 million by 2030.
India’s fertilizer production plummeted by 24.6% in March 2026 compared to March 2025, as reported by the Ministry of Commerce, attributed to disruptions in natural gas imports due to the conflict in the Middle East. A third of the world’s fertilizers typically pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but its effective closure during the US-Israel war on Iran has led to shortages of critical raw materials and fuel gases for Indian manufacturers. Fertilizers are vital to India’s agricultural sector, which accounts for less than 20% of GDP but is the largest source of employment. Analysts warn that fertilizer shortages, coupled with predictions of below-normal rainfall, could pressure the sector and rural consumption, with the World Trade Organization highlighting threats to global food security.
Washington and New Delhi are nearing completion of a formalized trade deal, according to ANI news agency citing senior US officials, as an Indian delegation began a fresh round of negotiations in Washington. A senior US official stated, “The Trump Administration and India continue to have positive and productive discussions towards a finalized trade deal,” with another unnamed official adding that “most of it is almost done” and there are few “loose ends left.” US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor welcomed the development on X, saying, “The Indian trade delegation will be arriving in Washington this week. A great step to finalize our bilateral trade deal. A win-win for both nations.” In February, India and the US agreed to an interim deal where India reduces tariffs on US industrial and agricultural products, and the US lowers trade tariffs on India from a peak of 50% to 18%, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expected to visit New Delhi in May for further discussions.
Source: www.dw.com