Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, wanted in India for the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, has been arrested in Belgium, sources confirmed. The arrest, made on April 11, follows non-bailable warrants from Mumbai courts and was requested by Indian agencies including the CBI and ED. Choksi had been living in Antwerp with a Belgian residency card reportedly obtained using forged documents. Belgian authorities, aware of the high-profile case, are cooperating on extradition. Choksi fled India in 2018 and was undergoing medical treatment in Europe. His nephew, Nirav Modi, remains in a London jail fighting extradition. (PC: 

A senior Indian official has indicated that the 'zero-for-zero' tariff strategy, proposed by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), is unlikely to be adopted in the forthcoming India-US trade agreement. This approach involves mutual elimination of tariffs on select goods to avoid broader concessions. However, the official suggests that India prefers a comprehensive trade deal over product-specific tariff eliminations. The GTRI had recommended this strategy to circumvent potential reciprocal tariffs from the US, which could adversely affect Indian exports. Despite the WTO's stance on such arrangements, the GTRI viewed it as a less detrimental alternative to a full-fledged FTA, which might compel India to make challenging concessions in areas like agriculture and data protection. (Business Today)

The U.S. Department of State's May 2025 Visa Bulletin delivers a setback for Indian nationals, notably in the EB-5 Unreserved category, which retrogresses over six months to May 1, 2019, due to high demand from India and other countries. The EB-1 and EB-2 categories remain unchanged for India, with cutoff dates at February 2, 2022, and January 1, 2013, respectively. The EB-3 category sees a modest advancement of two weeks to April 15, 2013. These adjustments reflect the ongoing challenges Indian applicants face amid stringent immigration policies under President Donald Trump's administration, affecting H-1B visa holders and green card aspirants.

Apple has significantly expanded its iPhone production in India, assembling devices worth $22 billion in the fiscal year ending March 2025—a 60% increase from the previous year. India now manufactures one in every five iPhones globally. This shift is driven by escalating tariffs on Chinese imports, with the U.S. imposing duties totaling 145%. Foxconn leads production in southern India, while Tata Group has become a key player after acquiring Wistron and Pegatron operations. India exported iPhones worth Rs 1.5 trillion ($17.4 billion) in the past fiscal year, with shipments to the U.S. increasing notably following the announcement of new tariffs. This strategic pivot underscores Apple's move to diversify its supply chain away from China. (PC: British GQ & Firstpost)

Tahawwur Rana, a key accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, was extradited to India after exhausting all legal avenues in the U.S. Prior to his extradition, Rana's lawyer submitted a letter to the U.S. State Department citing 33 health issues, including Parkinson's disease, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and a mass suggestive of bladder cancer. The letter also warned that Rana, being a Muslim of Pakistani origin, could face torture in Indian prisons. Despite these claims, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his plea, and he was subsequently brought to India, where he is now in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for 18 days. (PC: India Today)

A Russian missile strike in Kyiv has reportedly hit an Indian pharmaceutical warehouse, according to Ukrainian officials. The incident, part of a broader assault involving five ballistic missiles—all intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses—resulted in one death and twelve injuries. Despite the interceptions, falling debris caused significant damage across Kyiv, affecting infrastructure, including an office building, gas pipelines, and roads, and igniting fires in multiple districts. Several embassies, such as those of Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Montenegro, sustained damage. The Russian Defense Ministry stated the attack was in retaliation for a Ukrainian strike on Russia's Rostov region using U.S.-supplied missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, urging stronger international sanctions against Russia. (PC: X/@MartinHarrisOBE & Hindustan Times)

Tahawwur Rana, a key conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was extradited from the U.S. to India after 16 years. Following his arrest, he was presented before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House, where the National Investigation Agency sought 20 days' custody; the court granted 18. Rana requested the court to prevent any counsel from seeking personal publicity through his case. The judge directed that Legal Services Counsels must not engage with the media regarding Rana's case, and their identities should remain confidential. Rana is detained in a high-security cell at the NIA's CGO Complex in Delhi, previously occupied by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. (PC: India Today)

“We do not negotiate at gunpoint,” said Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, stressing India’s firm stance in trade talks with the US. He assured that India would “protect its interests” as negotiations move toward a bilateral trade agreement aiming to double trade to $500 billion by 2030. “It is never good to be hasty unless we are able to safeguard the interests of the country,” he added. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar echoed the urgency, saying, “We are trying to get the other side to speed it up.” Talks are expected to conclude their first phase by fall 2025. (PC: India Today)

The UK has issued its first Interpol Silver Notice against Indian-origin fraudster Anopkumar Maudhoo, convicted in March for orchestrating a massive property fraud worth GBP 8.5 million. The notice, a global tool to trace laundered assets, targets his international holdings, including a speedboat and 19 luxury cars already seized. Maudhoo, who used aliases like Yusef Khan and Vincent Lebeouf, tricked investors into buying non-repossessed properties. UK officials hailed the move as a step toward cross-border asset recovery and victim compensation. The pilot notice program involves 52 countries and is part of intensified efforts to fight international financial crime. (PC: NDTV)

US Vice President JD Vance will visit India from April 21 to 24, accompanied by US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and his wife Usha Vance. The visit includes key meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Indian officials. Usha Vance, whose parents are Indian immigrants, will be visiting India for the first time as Second Lady. The trip coincides with crucial India-US trade negotiations aiming for a “win-win” deal within 90 days. India and the US are targeting bilateral trade worth $500 billion by 2030, following Trump’s recent pause on a 26% tariff on Indian goods. (PC: India Today)