Category: Global

Tesla shareholders have approved a one trillion dollar pay plan for Elon Musk, making it the largest pay package in corporate history. 

Musk, who already ranks as the world’s wealthiest person, could become the richest person in history if he meets the targets attached to the package.

Shareholders voted during Tesla’s annual meeting in Austin, where 75 percent supported the plan. Several investors opposed the package, but the majority expressed full confidence in Musk’s leadership and long term vision for the company.

Musk thanked shareholders on stage and celebrated the approval by dancing with Tesla’s Optimus robots. He called the robots the future of the company and the future of humanity. Musk said Optimus will become “the biggest product in history” and claimed it will be useful in medical services and daily life.

Tesla tied Musk’s trillion dollar payout to strict performance goals. He must increase Tesla’s market value to 8.5 trillion dollars, which is eight times higher than its current valuation. The goals are divided into twelve milestones, and Musk also needs to present a long term succession plan.

He has a decade to meet the targets. During that period, Tesla must sell twenty million electric vehicles, one million humanoid robots, and one million robotaxis for commercial use. The company must also sell ten million full self driving subscription plans. Musk needs to keep Tesla’s quarterly revenue above four hundred billion dollars for four straight quarters. In comparison, Tesla reported 4.2 billion dollars in revenue in the third quarter of 2025.

The compensation plan exceeds the annual GDP of several countries, including Ireland, Sweden and Argentina. Critics say the package concentrates too much power in one individual and ignores challenges Tesla faces in an increasingly competitive electric vehicle market.

This is not the first time Tesla offered Musk a historic pay plan. 

In 2018, Tesla shareholders approved a fifty six billion dollar pay package for him. Tesla investor Richard Tornetta challenged that plan in a Delaware court. He argued that Musk wrote the package for himself and that the board hid key details from shareholders. The court ruled that Tesla’s board acted improperly and struck down the plan.

Musk currently leads global wealth rankings with a net worth of 461 billion dollars.

American experts have claimed that Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is digging mass graves in El Fasher, the capital of Darfur, to bury victims killed during recent violence.

Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, told Arab media that the RSF is burying bodies to erase evidence of a large-scale massacre in El Fasher. He said, “If there is to be any real investigation into the atrocities in El Fasher, the RSF must leave the city and allow the United Nations, Red Cross, and aid agencies full access. We cannot expect the killers to investigate themselves.”

According to media reports, the RSF took full control of El Fasher on October 26 after Sudanese army (SAF) forces withdrew. Since then, reports have surfaced of widespread killings, enforced disappearances, sexual violence, and severe human rights abuses.

The United Nations said more than 70,000 people have fled El Fasher and nearby areas since the RSF takeover, while thousands remain trapped without access to food, water, or medical aid.

UNHCR representative Jacqueline Wilma Par Lioulet warned that worsening security conditions have halted humanitarian operations and left thousands stranded in the city.

Yale University’s report, released on October 28, said satellite images show traces of blood and mass burials in several locations across El Fasher. Raymond added, “The RSF is gathering bodies and digging mass graves. It is a clear attempt to cover up the large-scale killings from the massacre.”

Sudanese journalist Abdullah Hussain told media that even before the RSF seized full control, El Fasher had been under siege for 18 months. “No aid reached the city, hospitals were closed, and now the situation has become even worse,” he said.

According to media reports, over 2,000 people have been killed in El Fasher since the RSF seized control on October 26.

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist who was polling at one percent just eleven months ago, has made history by winning the New York City mayoral race, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor. 

Mamdani secured 1,035,645 votes (50.4 per cent) against former New York governor Andrew Cuomo’s 854,783 (41.6pc) and Curtis Sliwa’s 146,127 (7.1pc). His victory marks a dramatic rise from a little-known state lawmaker to one of the most prominent Democratic figures in the country.

More moments of celebration for Mamdani campaign as Zohran waves to supporters in the lobby of the Paramount: pic.twitter.com/4Goil8FLnB

— Ross O’Keefe (@RossOKeefe2) November 5, 2025

Born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin, Mamdani moved to the United States at the age of seven and became a naturalised citizen in 2018. His campaign went head-to-head with 67-year-old Cuomo, who ran as an independent after losing the Democratic nomination. The contest turned into a fierce battle of ideology and generations within the Democratic Party.

“Hope is alive,” Mamdani declared in his victory speech. “We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to hope that the impossible could be made possible. We won because we insisted that no longer would politics be something that is done to us. Now, it is something we do.”

He quoted Jawaharlal Nehru, saying, “A moment comes, but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.”

Taking a swipe at Trump, he said, “Donald Trump, since I know you are watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up!”

Mamdani promised to end what he called a “culture of corruption” that benefits billionaires like Trump. “We will stand alongside unions and expand labour protections because we know, just as Donald Trump does, that when working people have iron-clad rights, the bosses who seek to extort them become very small indeed,” he said.

He vowed to represent all New Yorkers, including “immigrants, members of the trans community, Black women fired by Trump from federal jobs, single mothers struggling with rising costs — anyone with their back against the wall.”

Mamdani pledged that his city hall would “stand steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and not waver in the fight against the scourge of anti-Semitism, where the more than one million Muslims know that they belong.”

Ending his fiery speech, Mamdani told cheering supporters, “This power is yours. This city belongs to you,” before Bollywood song Dhoom Machale played through the speakers.

His victory drew congratulations from across the political spectrum.

Former president Bill Clinton wrote, “Congratulations @ZohranKMamdani on your election as the next Mayor of New York City. I’m wishing you success as you work to transform the passion of your campaign into building a better, fairer, more affordable New York.”

Congratulations @ZohranKMamdani on your election as the next Mayor of New York City. I’m wishing you success as you work to transform the passion of your campaign into building a better, fairer, more affordable New York.

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) November 5, 2025

Hillary Clinton said, “More people voted in New York City’s election this year than they have in 50 years. That’s a win for democracy, and a testament to @ZohranKMamdani’s inspiring campaign. Congratulations to the next mayor of the greatest city in the world.”

More people voted in New York City’s election this year than they have in 50 years.

That’s a win for democracy, and a testament to @ZohranKMamdani‘s inspiring campaign.

Congratulations to the next mayor of the greatest city in the world.

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) November 5, 2025

Bernie Sanders hailed the victory, saying, “Starting at 1% in the polls, @ZohranKMamdani pulled off one of the great political upsets in modern American history. Yes. We CAN create a government that represents working people and not the 1%.”

Starting at 1% in the polls, @ZohranKMamdani pulled off one of the great political upsets in modern American history.

Yes. We CAN create a government that represents working people and not the 1%.

I look forward to working with Zohran as he builds a city that works for all. pic.twitter.com/dHUP6Yo5xv

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 5, 2025

Barack Obama also congratulated him, saying, “It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.”

Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 5, 2025

New Yorkers are poised to elect socialist democrat Zohran Mamdani as their next mayor on Tuesday, a move that could trigger a political clash with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has already threatened to punish the city if the Muslim favourite wins.

Mamdani’s rise has dominated headlines as he leads the latest AtlasIntel poll with 41 percent support, seven points ahead of former state governor Andrew Cuomo, who stands at 34 percent. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trails with 24 percent, though his supporters could still tilt the outcome if they swing toward Cuomo.

The 34-year-old Uganda-born state assembly member describes himself as a socialist and has built his campaign on lowering living costs for ordinary New Yorkers. If elected, he will become the city’s first Muslim mayor, a historic milestone that has drawn both enthusiasm and hostility.

Far-right Republicans have criticized Mamdani for a campaign video he delivered last week in Arabic, while Trump has openly warned that federal funds for New York could dry up if the leftist candidate wins.

“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” Trump wrote on social media.

Mamdani fired back during a canvassing event in Queens, saying, “What was rumored, what was feared has become naked and unabashed — the ‘MAGA’ movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo.”

Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 9 p.m., with early voting already setting records. More than 735,000 ballots were cast ahead of Election Day, the highest early turnout in the city’s history.

In a final push before voting, Mamdani hit nightclubs over the Halloween weekend, appearing at an event called “Papi Juice” without ditching his signature dark suit. Cuomo toured all five boroughs on Monday, while Sliwa crisscrossed the city with his “tough on crime” message.

Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped out after his reelection campaign faltered amid corruption scandals, endorsed Cuomo in the race.

Political analysts say a Mamdani victory would mark a defining moment in U.S. urban politics and could test the boundaries of federal-local relations under Trump.

“Trump will treat New York City more aggressively,” said Grant Reeher, a political science professor at Syracuse University. “There will be some kind of political showdown.”

Mamdani’s rise has also rattled the Democratic Party, which remains divided over whether to lean centrist or embrace a more populist left-wing direction.

“I think that this has to be a party that actually allows Americans to see themselves in it and not just be a mirror image of just a few people who are engaged in politics,” Mamdani said at a dance event with seniors on Friday.

While New York’s mayoral race grabs attention, voters in Virginia and New Jersey are also casting ballots for governor, contests seen as crucial indicators of America’s political mood nearly ten months into Trump’s combative presidency.

In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill faces Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a Trump-backed businessman, in a neck-and-neck race. In Virginia, Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger holds a steady lead over Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.

Former President Barack Obama campaigned for both Democratic candidates over the weekend and reportedly spoke with Mamdani as well, though he stopped short of endorsing him, a reflection of the internal struggle within the Democratic Party over its future direction.

Satellite images reveal a horrifying scene in el-Fasher, Sudan, where thousands of bodies lie in the streets following a brutal attack by paramilitary fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). 

The city, home to 250,000 people, has been trapped behind a sand barrier erected during an 18-month siege. Experts estimate that tens of thousands have been killed in the past week.

Eyewitnesses report intense violence after the Sudanese military withdrew. Mutaz Mohamed Musa, who escaped to Tawila, said civilians were targeted directly. “They opened direct fire on civilians. It was extremely intense and people scattered in all directions,” Musa said. He described RSF fighters executing people in front of him. “They would ask a man to run. Once you start running, they shoot you.”

Humanitarian officials report that only a small number of people have escaped. Arjan Hehenkamp from the International Rescue Committee said about 5,000 reached Tawila, mostly women and children. Justine Muzik Piquemal of Solidarites International added that many are trekking across the desert to avoid militias. “Along the road the women are being raped. They have nothing with them,” she said.

Social media videos verified by several media outlets show RSF fighters walking among burning vehicles and piles of bodies. In one clip, a fighter says, “We killed them. They are just dust now.” Another video shows a commander, identified as Abu Lulu, shooting men sitting on the ground.

The fighting began in April 2023 between Sudanese military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and his former deputy, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the RSF. Their split over power sharing sparked the ongoing conflict, which has displaced over 14 million people and left parts of Sudan, including el-Fasher, facing famine.

Satellite analysis by Nathaniel Raymond of Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab shows “activity that suggests mass killing on a level that can only be compared to Rwanda.” Images reveal bodies piling up in streets and compounds, with pools of blood visible. Raymond said, “We are in the tens of thousands in terms of all the body-consistent objects on the ground. They are moving like a wood chipper, and they are killing everything that moves.”

The RSF claims to have launched investigations and arrested fighters for human rights violations, including Abu Lulu. Experts warn, however, that the group, which grew out of the Janjaweed militias responsible for the Darfur genocide in the 2000s, appears to be finishing the liquidation of the region.

“This is the final battle of the Darfur genocide,” Raymond said. The situation in el-Fasher highlights the devastating human cost as Sudan faces one of its worst humanitarian crises in history.

The United States has entered into a 10-year defence framework agreement with India, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday. 

The framework seeks to enhance coordination, information sharing, and technological collaboration between the two armed forces. Hegseth characterized it as a fundamental element for maintaining regional stability and deterrence.

“Our defence relations have reached unprecedented levels,” Hegseth remarked in a post on X (formerly Twitter) after his discussion with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus set to begin on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur.

Hegseth expressed gratitude to Singh for the ongoing partnership between Washington and New Delhi. He referred to the US-India relationship as “consequential,” highlighting that the strategic alignment is grounded in shared interests, mutual trust, and a dedication to a secure Indo-Pacific region.

Hegseth referred to the defense framework as “ambitious.” He stated it provides a guide for deeper military collaboration and highlights the United States’ long-term commitment to collective security and partnership.

The agreement follows a recent meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Malaysia. This encounter represented the highest-level engagement since the United States enacted sanctions on Russian oil firms last week, which target significant sources of crude supplies for India.

Jaishankar posted a photo on social media of himself and Rubio shaking hands. He conveyed his appreciation for discussions concerning bilateral relations along with regional and global matters.

Relations between Washington and New Delhi have been strained since May of this year when India refused to credit President Donald Trump for bringing a ceasefire to military clashes with Pakistan. The US raised tariffs on India to 50 percent in August. US officials claimed that India was aiding Russia’s war in Ukraine by acquiring discounted oil from Moscow.

Trump had a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, indicating that Modi had agreed to cut back on Russian oil imports; however, India has not verified this assertion.

Additionally, the United States recently imposed a one-time fee of $100,000 for H-1B skilled worker visas, with India comprising about three-quarters of the annual recipients. Indian officials stated that this decision could have humanitarian repercussions and cautioned that it might disrupt families affected by the new policy.

Police in Uttar Pradesh have arrested four Hindutva extremists, Zeeshanth Singh, Akash Saraswat, Dilip Sharma, and Abhishek Saraswat for spraying “I love Muhammad” on temple walls in Aligarh to create anti-Muslim propaganda in the city.

The suspects painted the sentence on several temples earlier this week, triggering outrage and unrest in the area. Police revealed that the group carried out the act to frame Muslim community members amid an ongoing land dispute.

Police have charged the men under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity and disturbing public peace.

“The investigation found that the graffiti was not a communal act but a deliberate attempt to implicate others due to a land-related rivalry,” Indian media quoted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun as saying.

He added that an earlier case filed against Muslim men in connection with the graffiti would now be withdrawn following the new findings.

The arrests came just days after Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq claimed the incident was part of a “well-thought-out conspiracy” to ignite communal discord.

“If an impartial investigation is conducted, it will be clear that no Muslim person was involved in this act,” Barq had said.

France’s defence deals for the sale of Rafale jets to Middle Eastern countries has left Indians worried over the buyers’ strong defence ties with Pakistan and China, it has emerged.

According to reports, experts in India have raised strategic concerns across defence circles over the export of Rafale to nations like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), both of which maintain strong defence ties rooted in military and intelligence cooperation with Pakistan and China.

“The indirect route has sparked alarm over the possibility of passive technology seepage as the concern lies in exposure through joint exercises, maintenance protocols and shared operational environments. Even limited access to onboard systems and telemetry data could offer adversaries valuable insights,” Indian media reports quoted experts as saying.

At the heart of Rafale’s defensive architecture is its Spectra electronic warfare suite — an integrated system that provides comprehensive situational awareness, threat detection and countermeasures, making the aircraft exceptionally resilient against a wide spectrum of threats.

Spectra operates across multiple domains, including radar warning receivers that scan for hostile emissions, laser warning systems to detect ground-based targeting and missile approach sensors that identify incoming infrared-guided missiles.

What sets Spectra apart is its ability to fuse data from these sensors into a coherent threat picture, automatically prioritising threats and initiating countermeasures such as electronic jamming, radar decoys and infrared flares.

The Rafale’s stealth profile is further enhanced by Spectra’s management of radar emissions and electromagnetic signature, complementing its aerodynamic design and radar-absorbent materials. Unlike traditional stealth aircraft that rely solely on shape and coating, Rafale uses active electronic warfare to adapt dynamically to threats in real time.

In addition to electronic defenses, Rafale carries physical countermeasures like chaff and flares, deployed automatically or manually to mislead radar and infrared-guided missiles. These systems are integrated with missile warning sensors for precise timing and direction, maximising effectiveness.

While Rafale’s survivability is also boosted by its agility and flight performance – its delta wing and canard configuration allow for high-G turns and rapid altitude changes – its network-centric design enables secure data sharing with other platforms, airborne warning systems and ground-based radars that facilitate coordinated electronic warfare tactics.

Despite Pakistan’s massive wins against the Indian Air Force (IAF) during May’s military clashes that saw the downing of at least six Indian jets, including three Rafales, Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, during a join military presser, said the French-made aircraft was a “potent aircraft if employed well”.

Experts say that Pakistan’s dominance during the clashes was attributed to superior electronic warfare, agile air tactics and strategic use of drones and networked command systems, which may or may not have included passive tech seepage.

Other factors that contributed to Pakistan’s edge during the confrontation included electronic warfare and defence systems, precision strikes and drone warfare beside an integrated command structure enabled faster decision-making and coordinated multi-domain responses.

At least 2,000 people have been killed in three days of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudanese city of Al-Fashir.

According to the media reports, RSF fighters targeted civilians trying to flee the city amid heavy clashes with the Sudanese army, describing the situation as a “real genocide.”

The Sudanese Doctors Network said the killings were a continuation of the violence that erupted a year and a half ago in Al-Fashir, when over 14,000 civilians died due to bombings, starvation, and extrajudicial executions.

The statement came after Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab released a report confirming evidence of mass killings in the area.

The RSF captured Al-Fashir on Sunday after a 17-month siege, taking control of the Sudanese army’s last major stronghold in Darfur. Sudan’s government said at least 2,000 people have died in the city, while aid organizations reported verified accounts of severe abuses, including executions, attacks on fleeing civilians, and house-to-house killings.

Reports also indicate widespread sexual violence against women and girls.

With the fall of Al-Fashir, the RSF now controls nearly all of Darfur, raising fears of Sudan’s potential re-division after more than a decade.

Government officials supporting the Sudanese army accused the RSF of targeting civilians sheltering in mosques during its assault. Sudan’s humanitarian affairs officer, Mona Nour Al-Daem, said over 2,000 civilians were killed in the attack, including Red Crescent volunteers and worshippers.

RSF fighters posted videos on social media showing gunmen shooting at civilians trying to escape.

In one of the most disturbing videos, RSF soldiers were seen inside Al-Fashir’s Saudi Hospital, executing patients. Survivors said at least 500 people had taken refuge inside the facility. Medical staff were also among those killed.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that more than 460 people were killed inside the Saudi Maternity Hospital. He said the WHO was “deeply shocked and horrified” by the reports.

The Sudanese Doctors Network said RSF fighters “brutally killed everyone inside the Saudi Hospital, including patients, their companions, and staff.”

US President Donald Trump took another swipe at India’s Narendra Modi-led government on Tuesday, mocking New Delhi over the loss of seven aircraft in its May clash with Pakistan and calling it a major embarrassment.

Trump also reiterated his claim that he personally brokered the ceasefire, stating he prevented a potential nuclear war between the two neighbours.

While addressing business leaders in Japan, Trump said that many of the wars he stopped were linked to the tariffs he imposed on several countries. He called his trade moves “a great service to the world.”

“If you look at India and Pakistan, they were going at it,” Trump said. “Seven brand-new, beautiful planes were shot down.

“I said to [Indian] Prime Minister Modi and I said to the Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif], very nice man, a very good man and the Field Marshal [Asim Munir] over in Pakistan … I said, ‘look we’re not going to do any trade if you’re going to be fighting’,” Trump said.

“We said ‘no, we’re not doing any deals if you’re going to fight’ and within 24 hours that was the end of that. It was amazing, actually,” he added. “I think trade is responsible for 70 percent of the fact that we didn’t have wars.”

Earlier, while speaking during a Diwali celebration at the White House on October 22, Trump said he had told Modi that there should be no war with Pakistan. He claimed he had helped avoid several conflicts through diplomacy and trade pressure.

Trump said, “Although we did talk a little while ago about let’s have no wars with Pakistan.” He explained that commerce played a key role in easing tensions. “The fact that trade was involved, I was able to talk about that.”

He proudly summed up the outcome: “And we have no war with Pakistan and India. That was a very, very good thing.” He also praised Modi, saying, “He’s a great person, and he’s become a great friend of mine over the years.”

Trump said he had prevented eight wars so far through “deals and trade,” including the one between Pakistan and India.

He has often taken credit for easing tensions between the two nuclear-armed countries, which have fought three wars since independence and remain in conflict over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

In May, Pakistan and India clashed in their worst military confrontation in decades after an attack on tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area. New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing the attack that killed 26 people, but Pakistan rejected the charge.

India responded with unprovoked attacks on Pakistani civilians for three days, prompting Pakistan’s forces to retaliate with Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos. 

Pakistan shot down seven Indian Air Force jets, including three Rafale aircraft, and destroyed dozens of drones.

After 87 hours of intense fighting, the conflict ended on May 10 with a ceasefire that Trump claimed to have brokered.