International

Elon Musk stepped down as chief of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on May 28, 2025, thanking U.S. President Donald Trump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending. Musk emphasized that DOGE will continue to grow as a long-term reform initiative.

His resignation came a day after publicly criticizing Trump‘s major spending bill, saying it undermines the department’s cost-cutting efforts. Musk stated, “A bill can be big or it can be beautiful. But it cannot be both.”

Despite being a key Trump ally and campaign donor in 2024, Musk increasingly faced internal conflicts and admitted DOGE had become a scapegoat for broader administrative issues. While DOGE cut tens of thousands of jobs and downsized departments, Musk began distancing himself in April, acknowledging unmet goals.

His focus also shifted back to his companies, as Tesla faced attacks and SpaceX suffered mission failures, including the Starship explosion over the Indian Ocean during its ninth test flight.

On 26 May 2025, Nicusor Dan assumed office as the President of Romania after winning the presidential runoff election held on 18 May, where he secured 53.6% of the votes. He defeated George Simion, the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, and succeeded interim President Ilie Bolojan.

In his inaugural address, the 55-year-old independent candidate emphasized the importance of reform within the framework of the rule of law, urging citizens to apply positive pressure on institutions and promising to stay receptive to public voices.

According to the Romanian Constitution, presidential elections are held every five years, with a limit of two consecutive terms.
Romania, located in southeastern Europe, is the twelfth-largest country in Europe with a population of approximately 1.9 crore (19 million).

On 23 May 2025, Singapore’s new Cabinet was sworn in after the People’s Action Party (PAP) achieved a strong victory in the recent general election, winning 87 out of 97 seats and securing 65.57% of the popular vote.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who took office in May 2024 following Lee Hsien Loong, emphasized his administration’s commitment to adapting to global change, boosting the economy, and strengthening international relations.

The reshuffled Cabinet includes several Indian-origin leaders in prominent roles:

• K. Shanmugam remains Minister for Home Affairs and is now also Coordinating Minister for National Security.
• Vivian Balakrishnan continues as Foreign Minister.
• Indranee Rajah stays in the Prime Minister’s Office.
• Murali Pillai has been promoted to Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport.
• Janil Puthucheary is now Senior Minister of State for Education, Sustainability, and the Environment.

The election results reflect increased public support for the PAP compared to the 2020 elections, where it secured 61.24% of the vote.

On 22 May 2025, the United Kingdom signed an agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, resolving a long-standing territorial dispute. In return, the UK will lease back the Diego Garcia military base for $136 million per year for at least 99 years, ensuring continued operation of the US-UK base, which is vital for British security and counter-terrorism efforts.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the base’s importance to national safety and intelligence operations. The Chagos Islands, formerly part of British Indian Ocean Territory, were separated from Mauritius in 1965, and inhabitants were forcibly removed for the construction of the US base.

India welcomed the treaty, calling it a milestone in the decolonization of Mauritius and a step towards upholding international law and sovereignty. India reaffirmed its support for Mauritius’s legitimate claim and committed to enhancing maritime security and stability in the Indian Ocean region.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a $175 billion “Golden Dome” missile defense shield aimed at protecting the United States from long-range missile threats, including those from China and Russia. Inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome but envisioned on a much larger scale, the Golden Dome will integrate hundreds of satellites to detect, track, and potentially intercept incoming missiles.

General Michael Guetlein of the U.S. Space Force has been appointed to lead this ambitious initiative. The system will complement existing U.S. missile defenses and is expected to be completed by January 2029, though experts question the feasibility of that timeline and cost.

Trump also mentioned that Canada has shown interest in joining the project.

Ukraine and Russia are nearing direct peace talks for the first time in three years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet in Istanbul on 15 May 2025. The move follows Moscow’s proposal for direct negotiations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russia’s delegation will be in Istanbul, but did not reveal whether Putin will attend, saying the delegation’s names will be announced later.

US President Donald Trump plans to send senior envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg to observe the talks. Putin proposed the meeting after calls from Ukraine and European nations for a 30-day ceasefire.

On 13 May 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced his new cabinet, appointing Anita Anand as Foreign Minister, a key position. Maninder Sidhu was named International Trade Minister, while two others of Indian descent were appointed as Secretaries of State.

One of Anand’s top priorities will be to reset strained ties with India and manage Canada’s relations with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

Carney’s new cabinet includes 28 ministers, down from 39 under Justin Trudeau, signaling a leaner team. He instructed the ministers to bring “new ideas, clear focus, and decisive actions” to their roles.

Ruby Sahota, formerly Minister of Democratic Institutions, was demoted to Secretary of State for combating crime. Randeep Sarai will handle international development as a Secretary of State.

This reshuffle gives Carney a chance to leave his mark after leading the Liberal Party to an unexpected victory in last month’s election.

The 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant began on May 10, 2025, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, featuring a grand celebration of Telangana’s cultural heritage. The event was inaugurated by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, with Miss World Chairperson Julia Morley and reigning Miss World Krystyna Pyszková in attendance.

The opening ceremony featured a catwalk parade with contestants from over 110 countries, each carrying their national flag, and vibrant folk and tribal dances from Telangana. A highlight was the Perini Natyam performance by 250 children.

Delegates entered in continent-based groups, welcomed with traditional music and regional dance forms like Gond, Lambadi, and Oggu Dolu, led by a Kommu Koya band. India’s representative, Nandini Gupta, joined the Asia and Oceania group. The Miss World 2025 finale is scheduled for May 31 in Hyderabad.

The International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2025 was held at the Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore, from May 6 to May 8, 2025. As the Asia-Pacific’s premier maritime defence event, it attracted over 56 delegations from more than 35 countries, including naval leaders, policymakers, and industry experts.

Key highlights included 22 warships from 13 nations, cutting-edge naval technology showcases by top defence firms like ELT Group, and the display of EMSO and counter-drone systems.

The Indian Navy participated with INS Kiltan, an indigenously built ASW corvette, emphasizing India’s commitment to regional maritime security.

The event also hosted the 9th International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC), addressing geopolitical risks and maritime threats. IMDEX 2025 played a vital role in strengthening naval cooperation, promoting innovation, and enhancing global maritime security.

Friedrich Merz, the conservative leader, has been elected as the new Chancellor of Germany after securing 325 votes in the second round of voting in the Lower House of Parliament, surpassing the required threshold of 316. In the first round, Merz received only 310 votes, marking a historic setback in post-war German politics.

On May 5, 2025, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) held closed-door consultations at Pakistan’s request to discuss rising tensions between India and Pakistan. The meeting followed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ call for restraint and dialogue between the two nations. However, the consultations ended without any formal statement.

During the meeting, Pakistan’s UN envoy, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, raised the Kashmir issue, making allegations against India and rejecting any involvement in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. India criticized Pakistan for misusing the UN platform to spread misinformation and divert attention from terrorism.

Anthony Albanese has won a historic second term as Prime Minister of Australia, leading the center-left Labor Party to victory in the May 3, 2025 federal election. This is the first time in 21 years that an Australian Prime Minister has secured back-to-back three-year terms.

Peter Dutton, leader of the Liberal Party, conceded defeat and even lost his own seat in Queensland’s Dickson to Labor’s Ali France.

Looking ahead, Albanese has pledged to focus on economic recovery, renewable energy, and social policy, promising stability and progress for Australia.

On 30 April 2025, the United States announced an economic partnership agreement with Ukraine granting Washington preferential access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals in exchange for creating a joint Reconstruction Investment Fund.

The fund will receive 50% of profits and royalties from new natural resource permits issued by Ukraine. However, the U.S. will not gain ownership of Ukraine’s mineral wealth or gas infrastructure.

The deal follows months of negotiations and was previously delayed due to a heated exchange between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and U.S. President Trump during a February Oval Office meeting.