Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for India on Wednesday after concluding his five-nation tour, which included visits to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. During the final leg in Italy, India and Italy agreed to elevate their relationship to a special strategic partnership following talks between Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Modi's Italy Visit and FAO Medal
In a post on X, PM Modi described his visit to Italy as “very productive” and noted that discussions with Prime Minister Meloni covered a wide range of sectors. He added that the upgrade in bilateral ties would provide new momentum to cooperation between the two countries in the coming years. He also thanked the Italian leadership and people for their friendship. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated in a social media post that India-Italy relations are “going from strength to strength,” adding that the visit concluded successfully with significant outcomes and renewed momentum in the partnership.
Earlier, PM Modi received the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Agricola Medal at a ceremony held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, in recognition of India’s contributions to agriculture, food security, and rural development. The medal was presented by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. In a post on X, the prime minister said he was honored to receive the award and dedicated it to India’s “Annadatas,” calling it a reflection of the country’s strong focus on food security and sustainable development. He added that the recognition represents the efforts of farmers, livestock rearers, fisheries workers, agricultural scientists, and innovators, and highlights India’s commitment to human welfare and sustainable growth.
Punjab Police Drug Bust
In a separate development, Punjab Police arrested three alleged key operatives linked to drug trafficking networks in Ferozepur district. Officials recovered 10.125 kg of heroin, 2 kg of methamphetamine, and a weapon. In two separate operations, police arrested the accused identified as Om alias Omi (23), a resident of Leli Wala village in Ferozepur, and Aniket Kumar (22) and Sumit (23), both residents of Shanti Nagar in Ferozepur. Police also seized a motorcycle used by the accused during the operations. Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of an organized drug supply chain in both cases. Officials said teams are working to trace backward and forward linkages to identify the source, destination, and other members of the network.
OpenAI Prepares for IPO
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is preparing to file for a stock market listing in the coming days, possibly as early as Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company, recently valued at $852 billion in a funding round, is reportedly working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on a draft prospectus that it plans to submit confidentially to regulators, with a potential public listing as early as September. The report also said that Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expected to file IPO-related documents this week ahead of a possible June offering, setting the stage for what could be a major year for public listings in 2026. AI firm Anthropic is also expected to pursue a stock market debut.
Hyderabad Police Bust Ghost SIM Network
In a major nationwide operation targeting a “ghost SIM” network used to facilitate organized cyber fraud, the Hyderabad City Police Cyber Crime Police Station arrested 66 individuals and seized hundreds of fraudulent mobile connections. The accused are linked to 76 cybercrime cases across India involving fraudulent transactions worth Rs 101.87 crore. According to an official statement, “Operation Octopus 3.0” was launched to dismantle infrastructure that enables anonymity for cybercriminals. The investigation led to the identification of 1,194 ghost SIMs connected to cases registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station. Eighteen specialized teams were deployed across 13 states over seven days, resulting in the seizure of 544 SIM cards in Hyderabad alone, including 432 sealed SIMs that were reportedly ready for use in cybercrime activities. The operation spanned Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Punjab. Of those arrested, 44 were ghost SIM holders, 20 were point-of-sale agents or telecom promoters, and two were suppliers of ghost SIMs.
US Indicts Former Cuban President Raúl Castro
The United States indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro, charging him over the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft flown by anti-Castro pilots. The indictment, unsealed in a Florida federal court, accuses him of murder, conspiracy to kill Americans, and destruction of aircraft. Washington also urged Cubans to pursue a “new path,” fueling speculation that President Donald Trump may be considering efforts to remove the Cuban government. Trump had previously cited a US indictment as justification for military action in Venezuela that led to the removal of Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Havana.
