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India climbs to third place in the Asia Power Index 2025, achieving “major power” status driven by strong economic growth, rising military capability, and Operation Sindoor. Despite influence gaps with China, India surpasses Japan in economic capability and attracts second-highest global investment inflows.
A member of the United States National Guard has died after being shot Wednesday afternoon during a patrol near downtown Washington, D.C., not far from the White House. A second guard was also wounded and remains in critical condition. The suspect has been arrested, and an investigation is underway.
The US has rolled out tougher vetting for people from 19 high-risk countries after an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard members. Immigration requests from those countries are now under stricter scrutiny, as officials re-evaluate existing visas and green-card holders.
A Russian Soyuz MS-28 rocket blasted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying two Russian cosmonauts and one NASA astronaut to the International Space Station. The mission succeeded—but post-launch inspection found that the launchpad was damaged.
A gunman opened fire near the White House, critically wounding two National Guard soldiers. Donald Trump condemned the attack as “terror”—vowing harsh consequences—and halted all immigration processing for Afghan nationals while ordering extra troops to Washington.
