Our daily cruise around the world

🇦🇪🇮🇳 Indian PM Narendra Modi is inaugurating the Middle East’s largest Hindu temple in the UAE. The $100 million BAPS Hindu Mandir temple was built to acknowledge the Indian community in the UAE, which represents ~38% of the UAE’s population. The opening is part of Modi’s two-day trip to the UAE. Separately, leaders of both countries signed an agreement yesterday on a trade route that aims to connect Europe with India by sea and rail.

🇫🇷⛪ The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is one step closer to reopening. Notre Dame’s famous spire was destroyed in a 2019 fire that also severely damaged the cathedral’s roof and upper walls. Workers have spent the past five years rebuilding Notre Dame with the help of $1+ billion in public donations – and on Monday, they finally revealed the cathedral’s brand-new spire. All external reconstruction on Notre Dame is expected to wrap up before the Paris Olympics this summer, though the cathedral won’t yet be open to the public.

🇪🇪🇷🇺 Estonian intelligence warned that Russia plans to double its troops along its borders with NATO members. An annual report found that Russia is building up its troops along the border with NATO members Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to prepare for military confrontation with the West within the next decade. Separately, Moscow put Estonian PM Kaja Kallas on the wanted list for removing Soviet-era WW2 memorials, making her the first known head of government wanted by Russia.