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BERLIN – It was May 10 in Germany’s terrible year, 1933. Hitler had been in power for hardly three months, when students and staff emptied the university libraries of forbidden books and threw them, an estimated 20,000 books by over a hundred authors, into the flames of a giant bonfire.

On International Workers’ Day, Gustavo Petro, Colombia’s first left-wing president, announced that the country would sever diplomatic ties with Israel over its ongoing genocidal assault on Gaza. “Tomorrow we will break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal. . . . If Palestine dies, humanity dies,” Petro said.

This week’s Gazan short-lived celebration of a ceasefire that was not to be, highlights what is at stake in the seven-month-old war and Israel’s refusal to end the carnage. Thousands poured into Gazan streets within minutes of Hamas advising it had accepted a Qatar and Egyptian ceasefire proposal.

Relations have soured since Joe Biden labelled India as 'xenophobic'. Additionally, tensions have been fuelled by criticisms from Washington and a foiled assassination attempt. However, experts believe that Washington will make sure that nothing hinders its strategy to work with New Delhi in order to counter China’s challenge to both.

The launch of Boeing’s new CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, which was scheduled to carry astronaut Sunita Williams, an astronaut of Indian descent, into space for her third mission, has been delayed because of a technical issue. No new launch date has been announced. This was set to be the third space mission for Williams, who has spent 322 days in space and previously held the record for the most spacewalk hours by a woman, a title now held by Peggy Whitson.

Recently, Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau was interviewed by Rebel News and the interviewer asked him: why people don't like you. Trudeau replied: “I think there is a lot of frustration with the way the world is unfolding and the frustration is being taken out on people in positions of power. I get that. That's part of my job. But my job is to stay focused on the solutions that people are going to need. There is a level of polarization and toxicity in a very visible way on social media and in real life most Canadians remain powerful and open and decent and yes frustrated and worried about the future. But I also know Canadians are good people who are willing to work together for their future and I am part of that.”

Jos Raul Mulino was elected as the new president of the Central American country Panama in the national polls held on Sunday May 5. He got 34.35 per cent of the votes as against 24.83 per cent received by his closest rival Ricardo Lombana. There were five more candidates. Mulino will take over the presidency on July1 this year for a period of five years.

In southwest Bolivia, high up in the Andes mountains, there is a massive, shining white salt flat, called the ‘Salar de Uyuni’. It is very flat and looks like a giant mirror. Underneath this salt flat, there is an important alkali metal that is essential for powering today’s technology.

In the vibrant heart of Riyadh, amidst its soaring skyline and lively thoroughfares, a momentous gathering of global leaders, policymakers, and influential business figures recently unfolded. The occasion? The World Economic Forum’s Special Meeting in the Kingdom-an event of profound significance, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s escalating prominence on the international platform and marking a pivotal juncture in the region’s course. As delegates from every corner of the globe converged, the conversations transcended mere economic discourse, delving deeply into the intricate realms of geopolitics, ideological currents, and the very future trajectory of the Middle East.

LONDON: The Tories are imploding. That is the story of local election results following the polls to the councils throughout Britain, hundreds of Conservative seats lost, and gains for Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.