Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she achieved a historic political milestone by becoming Italy’s longest-serving prime minister of the post-war era. Meloni has now surpassed the previous record held by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, marking more than 1,400 consecutive days in office. She became Italy’s first woman prime minister when she took charge in October 2022, and her continued tenure has now placed her among the country’s most enduring political leaders since the Second World War.

Congratulating Meloni, PM Modi described the achievement as a reflection of the trust placed in her by the Italian people. He also highlighted the close relationship that has developed between India and Italy during her time in office. Modi referred to Meloni as a friend and expressed his wish to continue working together to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries.

The milestone is particularly significant because Italy has historically experienced frequent changes of government. Since the establishment of the Italian Republic after World War II, the country has gone through numerous governments and political transitions. Against this background, Meloni’s ability to remain in office continuously for several years represents an unusual period of political stability.

Meloni leads a coalition government that includes her Brothers of Italy party along with Forza Italia and the League. Despite the competing political interests within the coalition, her government has managed to remain intact since taking office. Her longevity has therefore become an important feature of Italy’s current political landscape.

The achievement also comes at a time when India and Italy are seeking to expand their bilateral relationship. Cooperation between New Delhi and Rome has grown in areas including trade, investment, defence, technology, infrastructure, manufacturing and strategic affairs. The two countries have also placed greater emphasis on their broader engagement with Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

The personal relationship between Modi and Meloni has received considerable attention in recent years. Their meetings and diplomatic exchanges have coincided with efforts to strengthen the India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership. Both leaders have repeatedly spoken about expanding economic opportunities and improving cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Meloni had also congratulated PM Modi earlier in 2026 after he reached a significant milestone in his own tenure as India’s longest-serving democratically elected prime minister. Her message at the time underlined the importance both governments attach to their bilateral partnership. For Italy, Meloni’s record is more than simply a measurement of time in office. It reflects the ability of her government to survive the political pressures that have historically contributed to short-lived administrations. At the same time, her government continues to face major domestic challenges, including economic growth, immigration, public finances and structural reforms.

The continuity of Meloni’s government provides a stable political partner in Rome as both countries look to deepen their economic and strategic engagement. Modi’s latest congratulatory message therefore carries significance beyond a routine diplomatic greeting. Meloni’s record marks an important moment in modern Italian political history, while Modi’s message highlights the increasingly warm relationship between the Indian and Italian leaderships. As both countries seek to build stronger links across trade, technology, defence and other strategic sectors, the continued engagement between Modi and Meloni could play an important role in shaping the next phase of India-Italy relations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have asked a US federal judge to dismiss the drug trafficking charges against them, arguing that they are protected by head-of-state and sovereign immunity. In filings submitted to Manhattan federal court on Wednesday, lawyers representing Maduro argued that the indictment should be dismissed because US courts cannot prosecute a foreign head of state who was recognised by his own country as its sitting leader when the charges were filed. His attorneys said immunity for foreign heads of state is a long-standing principle that prevents national courts from subjecting such leaders to criminal proceedings.

Maduro and Flores are scheduled to stand trial on June 1 next year. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein has set November 17 for oral arguments on the couple's requests to have the indictment dismissed. Flores, who served as Venezuela's first lady, submitted a separate filing through her lawyers claiming sovereign immunity. Her legal team argued that the protection is connected to Venezuela's sovereignty and can only be waived by the Venezuelan government.

Maduro's lawyers also put forward an alternative argument, saying that even if the judge does not accept his claim of immunity as a head of state, he should still be protected by conduct-based sovereign immunity for actions allegedly carried out in his official capacity. The former Venezuelan leader has strongly rejected the allegations against him. His lawyers said Maduro maintains his innocence and argued that a trial would ultimately show that he had been falsely accused.

Maduro, 63, and Flores, 69, have both pleaded not guilty. The case originated several years ago and initially involved a number of alleged co-conspirators. The couple has been held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn since January, following a US operation in Caracas that resulted in their capture and transfer to New York.

The charges accuse Maduro and others of participating in a conspiracy involving the movement of cocaine into the United States. Prosecutors allege that Maduro worked with Venezuelan officials and law-enforcement figures to facilitate drug trafficking networks and assist major cocaine traffickers. If convicted of the alleged conspiracy, Maduro and Flores could face life imprisonment. The administration of US President Donald Trump has defended the operation that led to Maduro's capture, describing it as a targeted law-enforcement action. Maduro has rejected that characterization, calling himself a prisoner of war and describing his capture as a kidnapping. US prosecutors are expected to submit their response to the immunity claims later this month. The court will then consider the arguments before deciding whether the case can proceed toward the scheduled trial.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A 32-year-old Bank of America vice president and new mother was fatally stabbed in New York City's Times Square in what police described as a random and unprovoked attack. Erin Piacenti was attacked on Monday afternoon near West 42nd Street and Seventh Avenue, one of the busiest areas of Manhattan. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital after suffering stab wounds but later died from her injuries, according to authorities.

Police said the violence began when a woman armed with knives allegedly attacked a 68-year-old man in the area. The man was also taken to a hospital and was reported to be in stable condition. Investigators said the attacker then moved along Seventh Avenue before Piacenti was stabbed. The suspect was identified as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros, a Queens resident. Police said officers encountered her carrying two large knives and ordered her to drop the weapons. Officers also attempted to use Tasers, but authorities said she continued moving toward them. Two officers subsequently opened fire, and Cisneros was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

The circumstances surrounding the police shooting are being investigated separately by the NYPD's Force Investigation Division. Piacenti worked as a vice president in Bank of America's Business Selection and Conflicts division. She had joined the bank around 18 months before her death and had a legal background. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania before earning a law degree from Fordham Law School in 2021.

Her death has drawn particular attention because Piacenti had recently become a mother. Reports said she had spent several months on maternity leave caring for her infant daughter before returning to work. She had also recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary with her husband, Frank Piacenti. Bank of America expressed its grief over the death of Piacenti, describing her as a valued colleague and friend. The company said its security teams were assisting authorities with the investigation.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there was no indication that Piacenti had been specifically targeted. Authorities have characterized the stabbing as random and unprovoked, while the motive remains under investigation. Investigators are also examining the suspect's background. Police said Cisneros had previous mental-health-related encounters, although authorities have not established that as a definitive explanation for the attack.

The stabbing has once again raised concerns about safety in Times Square, a major tourist and commercial hub that draws large crowds every day. The incident unfolded during the afternoon in an area normally filled with pedestrians, businesses and visitors. For Piacenti's family, the attack brought an abrupt end to a life that had recently entered a new chapter. She was building a career in New York's financial sector while raising her young daughter and had only recently returned to her professional routine. The NYPD investigation into the stabbing remains ongoing, while authorities continue to review the officers' use of deadly force during the confrontation with the suspect.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.

An Indian-origin former taxi driver has been stripped of his US citizenship after a federal court revoked his naturalisation following his conviction for raping and kidnapping a female passenger in New York. The US Department of Justice said Gurmeet Singh, 55, obtained American citizenship in October 2011 but had failed to disclose the serious criminal conduct that occurred just months earlier. A federal court in the Eastern District of New York issued an order on August 26, 2026, formally revoking his naturalisation.

Singh arrived in the United States in February 1992 on a visitor visa. He later remained in the country and eventually became a lawful permanent resident in June 2000 through a family-based immigration petition. According to the Justice Department, Singh was working as a taxi driver in New York when the incident occurred on May 6, 2011. Authorities said he picked up a female passenger who fell asleep during the ride. The passenger later woke up to find Singh attacking her with a knife. She was restrained and sexually assaulted before managing to escape from the vehicle and seek help.

Singh was later arrested and prosecuted in New York. He was convicted of first-degree rape and second-degree kidnapping as a sexually motivated felony and received a 20-year prison sentence. The timing of the crime became significant in the subsequent citizenship case. Singh applied for naturalisation shortly after the assault and became a US citizen on October 19, 2011. Federal authorities later alleged that he concealed the 2011 offences and provided misleading information during the naturalisation process.

The Justice Department filed a denaturalisation lawsuit against Singh in February 2026, arguing that his citizenship had been unlawfully obtained because he had concealed material information from immigration authorities. The federal court ultimately agreed with the government's position and revoked his naturalisation. The decision means Singh is no longer a US citizen. However, the ruling does not cancel his criminal conviction or his 20-year prison sentence. He remains incarcerated in New York and is expected to complete his sentence in 2029, according to reports.

After his imprisonment ends, the loss of citizenship could also have immigration consequences. Because he is no longer a naturalised US citizen, immigration authorities may determine what legal status, if any, he is entitled to maintain in the United States and whether removal proceedings are appropriate. The case also highlights the importance of truthful disclosure during the US naturalisation process. Federal law allows the government to seek denaturalisation in certain circumstances when citizenship was obtained illegally or through concealment or material misrepresentation.

The Justice Department has increasingly highlighted denaturalisation cases involving allegations that applicants concealed significant information during the citizenship process. Singh's case is notable because the crime occurred only months before he became a US citizen and the government later successfully challenged the validity of that naturalisation.

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More than two years after Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed by Israeli forces while travelling with a World Central Kitchen humanitarian convoy, Israel has cleared the soldiers involved of criminal responsibility. The decision has drawn strong criticism, including from Frankcom’s family and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described it as an “outrage.” With increasing demands for accountability, an apology and possible compensation, political editor Tom McIlroy discusses with Reged Ahmad what the decision means for Australia-Israel relations and whether ties between the two countries have reached a new low.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Only weeks after basking in the success of the World Cup, FIFA president Gianni Infantino is now facing growing pressure over his position. Infantino has apologised for his controversial proposal to sell the World Cup, but the apology has failed to stop calls for him to step down. The plan has sparked widespread criticism, raising fresh questions about his leadership and whether this latest controversy could prove too damaging. Why did the proposal trigger such a strong backlash, and could it ultimately bring Infantino’s FIFA presidency to an end? Sport reporter Jack Snape joins host Reged Ahmad to examine the growing crisis surrounding the FIFA chief and what could happen next.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Andy Burnham is set to welcome Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as his first international guest, underscoring the UK's continued commitment to Ukraine. As Burnham unveils his agenda to address long-standing issues such as social care, Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot examine whether his proposals can deliver meaningful change.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Iran has reportedly closed the Strait of Hormuz, while the Houthi movement has announced a blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, placing two of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints under simultaneous pressure. The developments threaten to disrupt key global energy and trade routes, with Saudi Arabia's alternative oil export corridor through the Red Sea also facing increasing uncertainty. In an in-depth discussion, Andrea Heng and Poh Kok Ing examine the growing economic implications of these developments. Joined by Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and International Studies at the University of San Francisco, they explore how financial markets are responding to disrupted supply chains, rising shipping and insurance costs, and the potential for renewed inflationary pressures as global trade routes are forced to adapt.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.