Pakistan has denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack, while India has not produced conclusive evidence linking it to Islamabad. The incident has led to a deterioration in relations, with Pakistan downgrading diplomatic ties and suspending bilateral trade. Indian media outlets have quickly blamed Pakistan, echoing 2019's Pulwama attack politicization. Former Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik suggests the Pulwama attack could have been prevented due to ignored intelligence warnings. India has announced plans to procure French Rafale jets and discuss F-35 fighter aircraft with the US amid a moment of national mourning, raising concerns about militarization. Pakistan's long-term strategic calculus appears to focus on garnering international sympathy by portraying Kashmiri dissent as foreign-sponsored terrorism.
https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1307305-how-india-is-turning-grief-into-geopolitical-leverageIndia has expressed its demands to Britain regarding a border tax on high-emissions commodities, while also pushing for data localization rules and favorable terms in their Free Trade Agreement. US Ambassador to India, Reynolds, stated that the US is committed to delivering a great deal and will continue working with India on this agenda. The UK government has emphasized that any agreement must be fair, balanced, and in the best interests of the British people.
https://www.politico.eu/article/indias-trade-chief-returns-to-london-as-delhi-closes-in-on-uk-deal/India has asked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to review loans disbursed to Pakistan amid rising tensions following the Pahalgam attack. The request comes as cross-border violence escalates between India and Pakistan. The IMF is expected to assess whether the disbursements were made in accordance with its guidelines.
https://www.livemint.com/economy/india-asks-imf-to-review-loans-disbursed-to-pakistan-amid-cross-border-tensions-after-pahalgam-attack-11746203855189.htmlA drone attack occurred on Friday in international waters off Malta while a vessel carrying aid to Gaza was en route. The Conscience, carrying 12 crew members and four civilians, experienced a fire that was brought under control by a nearby tugboat. The Maltese government reported no serious injuries, but the Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused Israel of attacking the ship without providing evidence for their claim.
https://www.ocregister.com/2025/05/02/drones-strike-aid-ship/A ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists for Gaza was bombed by drones while in international waters off Malta, but everyone on board is safe, according to the Maltese government. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition blamed Israel for the attack, which it described as a violation of international law, including the blockade of Gaza. Video footage showed a fire on one of its ships, the Conscience, and Israeli ambassadors are being called upon to answer for the incident.
https://nypost.com/2025/05/02/world-news/gaza-freedom-flotilla-ship-carrying-aid-hit-by-drones/US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed concerns about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, urging for a "real breakthrough" to end the war. He warned that if no progress is made, US President Donald Trump may scale back his efforts to negotiate a peace settlement. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary three-day ceasefire starting May 8, but Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has called for it to last at least 30 days. Despite the ceasefire, fighting continues, and a recent drone strike in Zaporizhzhia injured 29 people, while Russia accused Ukraine of a deadly drone attack on a market in Russian-occupied territory, which Kyiv denied.
https://www.politico.eu/article/jd-vance-says-war-ukraine-wont-end-anytime-soon/US President Donald Trump's administration has pulled out of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, despite a deal that is less exploitative than the initial proposal by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The agreement, yet to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament, will still benefit the US by profiting from Ukrainian natural resources. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the deal as "truly historic", while US Vice President JD Vance expressed skepticism about an end to the Russia-Ukraine war soon, stating that both sides need to "come to their senses".
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14672053/US-Russia-Ukraine-peace-talks.htmlUS President Donald Trump's recent move to impose tariffs on almost all countries is seen as a misguided attempt to make the US manufacturing sector great again. Instead of focusing on competitive industries like shipping, rare earths, or electric vehicles, Mr. Trump should target leading-edge sectors such as aerospace and quantum computing, according to Stanley Chao.
https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3308505/trump-cannot-look-past-make-us-manufacturing-great-again?module=top_story&pgtype=sectionAsian stock markets and US futures rose on Friday as signs of possible trade talks between the US and China lifted risk sentiment, despite weak earnings from tech giants Apple and Amazon. The comments from China's commerce ministry suggested Beijing is open to negotiations, while US President Donald Trump's erratic tariff policies have sparked fears of a global economic downturn. Investors are cautious, with Microsoft and Meta Platforms' strong results earlier in the week providing some hope for the tech industry. Japan's Nikkei rose 1% on a weaker yen, while Taiwan stocks surged 2%. The US dollar is expected to strengthen ahead of non-farm payrolls data, which may show an increase in jobs last month.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40360629/asian-stocks-rise-on-signs-of-easing-sino-us-trade-tensions