A video of an elephant named "Play Daow Mongkol" showcasing its cooking skills in Thailand has gone viral, leaving the internet amazed. The clip, originally shared by Thenationthailand on X, shows the elephant using its trunk to stir ingredients in a pan and pound a mortar while its keeper cheers. Social media users praised the elephant’s intelligence, with some joking it could be the next "top chef." The video has garnered over 1 lakh likes and thousands of comments, with netizens expressing admiration and curiosity about its training methods. (PC: @thenationthailand/Instagram)

Ukraine has ruled out peace with Russia until thousands of abducted Ukrainian children are returned, presidential adviser Daria Zarivna told The Times. Following U.S.-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia, Zarivna stressed, “The return of all forcibly transferred Ukrainian children is non-negotiable.” Kyiv insists the issue is central to any peace deal, alongside the release of prisoners and deported civilians. Moscow claims to have relocated 700,000 Ukrainian children since 2022, a figure Ukraine disputes. A joint U.S.-Ukraine statement reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to securing the children’s return and prisoner exchanges as part of the diplomatic process. (PC: EPA)

A naked woman, identified as Samantha Palma, caused chaos at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on March 14, biting and stabbing people with a pencil in a “manic episode.” She reportedly stabbed a restaurant manager in the head and face before biting his forearm. The erratic incident, caught on video, showed Palma breaking a TV and shouting at passengers. Police later found her hiding behind an emergency door, covered in blood. Palma admitted missing her medication and claimed she was traveling with her 8-year-old daughter. Authorities have taken her into custody. (PC: news18)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Rohit Sharma will continue as India's Test captain for the upcoming England tour. India, aiming for their first series victory in England since 2007, will play five Tests starting June 20 in Headingley. Despite poor form, Rohit retains his role, while selectors will monitor Jasprit Bumrah’s recovery. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar is set to reveal hints about the squad during IPL 2025's final week, with India A playing tour games to prepare key players. The official squad announcement is expected before IPL knockouts. (PC: BCCI)

South Korea is battling its worst wildfires, killing at least 26 people and displacing tens of thousands since March 21. Strong winds and dry conditions fueled the blazes, which started in the southeast. A 1,300-year-old temple in Uiseong was destroyed, and other cultural sites remain at risk. Most victims were elderly residents trapped by fast-moving flames. Authorities suspect human activity started multiple fires. Helicopters face difficulties due to strong winds, with one crashing during firefighting efforts. Officials warn this disaster highlights the increasing impact of climate change on extreme weather events. (Getty Images)

NASA has credited former President Donald Trump’s intervention for the successful rescue of astronauts Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams, who were stranded aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to technical failures in Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Originally planned as a short mission, their stay extended to nine months. The White House stated that Trump personally directed NASA and SpaceX to expedite a rescue mission. NASA spokeswoman Bethany Stevens emphasized that without Trump’s direct involvement, the safe return of the astronauts would not have been possible, calling it a significant moment in U.S. space history. (PC: Hindustan Times)  

  The United States has identified India and China as key suppliers of precursor chemicals used by drug cartels to manufacture illicit fentanyl, linking both nations to the ongoing U.S. opioid crisis. This is the first time India has been classified alongside China in fentanyl-related concerns. The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment states that Mexican cartels source these chemicals from both countries. In response, Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on China, citing its failure to curb fentanyl exports. China has condemned the move, warning of escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing. (PC: Wikipedia)    

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Paris for a Ukraine security summit hosted by Emmanuel Macron, following Russia’s largest drone attack on his hometown, Kryvyi Rih. Mykolaiv also faced drone strikes, causing emergency power cuts. Macron accused Russia of "reinterpreting ceasefire talks" while continuing attacks on Ukrainian cities. He pledged an additional $2 billion in military aid, including anti-tank missiles, drones, and surface-to-air missiles. Zelenskyy called on the US to pressure Russia into an unconditional ceasefire. The summit, part of Starmer’s "coalition of the willing," gathers European leaders to discuss Ukraine’s defense and security. (PC: Reuters)

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard acknowledged that mistakenly adding a journalist to a Signal chat discussing sensitive war plans was a “mistake.” Speaking before the House Intelligence Committee, she pledged to pursue intelligence community leakers aggressively. “Politically motivated leaks undermine our national security,” Gabbard wrote on X, citing recent leaks involving Israel-Iran and US-Russia relations. The revelation comes amid concerns over media disclosures, echoing Trump-era crackdowns on leaks. Gabbard emphasized that unauthorized classified information releases violate the law and will be strictly addressed.

A confidential US military chat on Signal was leaked when journalist Jeffrey Goldberg was mistakenly added. The Atlantic published the discussions, revealing attack plans on Yemen's Houthis. “No locations. No sources and methods. NO WAR PLANS,” said National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, downplaying the leak. President Trump called it “the only glitch in two months.” The March 15 airstrikes killed 53 people. Senior Democrats demanded a Justice Department probe, calling the breach “astonishingly poor judgment.” The Pentagon has not confirmed details. (PC: Reuters)