Category: India

The crackdown continues on candidates who secured appointments in the 69,000 teacher recruitment process using forged documents. District-level dismissals are ongoing, with authorities verifying credentials post-appointment. Protesting candidates, particularly from reserved categories, have now demanded action against departmental officials accused of facilitating these irregularities.

Amrendra Patel, leading the protest, stated that the number of ineligible candidates is significant and accused the education department of shielding them.

He urged the government to not only dismiss fraudulent candidates but also hold complicit officers accountable.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-news-protests-erupt-over-69000-teacher-scam-aspirants-demand-action-against-complicit-officials

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its verdict on the plea challenging the Central government’s decision to revoke the security clearance to Turkish ground handling and cargo operator Çelebi Airport Services India which led to the termination of its services by Delhi and Mumbai airports.

The government’s decision followed the recent four-day Indo-Pak military conflict during which the Turkish government openly backed Pakistan.

This prompted the firm to approach the High Court citing violation of natural justice and other grounds.

Justice Sachin Datta reserved his verdict today after hearing rejoinder submissions by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Çelebi.

Rohatgi contended today that Çelebi has been condemned without any proper disclosure on why it was being subjected to such harsh measures, in violation of procedural safeguards including in Rule 12 of Aircraft Rules, 2023.

He argued that the firm should have been given proper notice before being subjected to such measures.

“The notice has to say what is the proposed punishment based on the gravamen of facts. It is not a Carte Blanche. Record reasons in writing, not in your mind,” he said.

He added that Çelebi’s rights to conduct a business in India cannot be taken away casually.

“You are dealing with a party that has worked for 17 years. I have a constitutional right. It cannot be taken away in this flippant manner. All the ten thousand people I employ each has security clearance. Why have you damned me, is it asking for too much? We are struggling,” Rohatgi added.

Such ‘complete violation of natural justice principles’ renders the revocation of the firm’s security clearance void, Rohatgi said. He added that the government should at least share a gist of its accusations with the company, not just the Court.

“So, the court cannot look at material in sealed cover unless some gist is given to you?” asked Justice Datta.

In his reply, Rohatgi pointed out that even the Supreme Court has criticised the practice of relying on information in sealed covers.

Rohatgi added that revocation of security clearance took the firm by surprise and has had harsh consequences.

“The impact of this decision is that all my contracts – 9 of them across the nation – are being cancelled one by one. They are saying, ‘sorry sir, Delhi is the boss.’ … If this clearance is gone, then all (my contracts) are in the process of going. This is the harshness of this decision. It came like a bolt from the blue. I am arguing from what I read in the newspapers,” he said.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta represented the Indian government.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), had withdrawn Çelebi’s security clearance on May 15, 2025, invoking national security grounds.

Çelebi, a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Turkish parent company Çelebi Aviation Holding, challenged the move before the High Court shortly after.

The company termed the Indian government’s justification for its decision as “vague” and “unsubstantiated,” asserting that such actions jeopardise foreign investor confidence and threaten the livelihoods of over 3,800 Indian employees.

The company also clarified that while it has Turkish ownership, operational and managerial control of its Indian entity is handled by an India-based team, and that it has maintained a clean track record for over a decade at major airports.

Following the May 15 revocation, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) had terminated its contracts with Çelebi. In Mumbai, domestic operator Indothai has been brought in to take over the firm’s ground handling services. Çelebi has filed a plea challenging such measures before the Bombay High Court as well.

Yesterday, Solicitor General Mehta told the Delhi High Court that it could not have given notice of the security clearance revocation to Çelebi, owing to national security concerns in the wake of the conflict between India and Pakistan.

“Country is faced with unprecedented situations. Giving opportunity is not possible. It might defeat the object. Giving reasons of action would also defeat purpose of action,” he said.

During an earlier hearing on May 19, the Central government had also said that it would be hazardous to engage the services of the company.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/turkish-firm-elebi-says-struggling-after-security-clearance-revocation-delhi-high-court-reserves-verdict

The release of Kantara in 2022 created a success phenomenon of its own, setting a new benchmark in the entertainment industry. Emerging as the biggest blockbuster, the film changed the landscape of storytelling with its compelling narrative rooted in the heartlands of India. This has laid the perfect foundation for Kantara: Chapter 1, which is the most Awaited biggest film of the year. The film is one of the most ambitious Indian projects currently in the making.

With the release of the film’s posters, audiences were given a brief glimpse into its enthralling world, featuring Rishab Shetty’s striking transformation. As excitement continues to build, the makers have urged fans to avoid speculation and refrain from believing unverified updates about the film.

Amidst growing anticipation for more updates on Kantara: Chapter 1, several unverified reports have been circulating. Addressing this, the makers have reiterated their request for audiences to rely only on official sources and not fall for any unofficial information. They have assured fans that the film is progressing smoothly as planned, and the wait will undoubtedly be worthwhile.

Taking to social media, the makers wrote,

“We’re right on track, and everything is progressing as planned.
#KantaraChapter1 will release in theatres worldwide on October 2, 2025.

Trust us, it’ll be worth the wait.

We kindly urge everyone to avoid speculation and refrain from sharing unverified updates.

Moreover, Kantara: Chapter 1 has finally entered its final leg of shooting. Hombale Films left no stone unturned in taking the legacy of this 2022 masterpiece forward. They have been shooting the film as one of the biggest films ever made. Kantara makers curated an extensive war sequence for Kantara: Chapter-1 which was crafted by national and international specialists. They hired over 500 skilled fighters for the sequence curating a never seen before fight sequence with action choreography that is at par if not better than the best of the best. This power-packed sequence featured 3000 people, making it one of the biggest sequences in the history of Indian Cinema.

A sequence of this size required extreme prep. and so actor-director Rishab Shetty underwent a 3- month long and extensive training where he mastered the art of horse riding, Kalaripayattu and sword fighting. Rishab poured in his entire blood, sweat and efforts in doing justice to the magnanimous war sequence.

To shoot this massive sequence the makers identified a very unusual real location in the mountains of Karnataka. Hombale films had shot this sequence in an entire town spanning 25 acres situated on the terrains of the state for around 45 – 50 days.

Source : https://www.spotboye.com/south/kannada/-trust-us-it-ll-be-worth-the-wait-says-the-makers-of-kantara-chapter-1-while-urging-the-audience-to-avoid-speculation-and-unverified-updates/683027de98e7b5da75cc8bfd

A recent survey has revealed that 22 per cent of households in Maharashtra currently have one or more individuals with symptoms of Covid/flu/viral fever.

Amid India seeing a renewed flurry of Covid-19 cases, sights of people resorting to face masks and sanitisers is also making a comeback. Amidst all this, a video has emerged of Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani sanitising the hands of the IPL team players’ before shaking hands with them.

After the Mumbai Indians’ IPL match against Delhi Capitals, Nita Ambani was seen asking her team players including Jasprit Bumrah to sanitise their hands before indulging in handshakes.

Bumrah smiled and obliged his franchise owner’s instructions and spread out his palm.

After Bumrah, Ambani moved on to do the same to other players including Karn Sharma and others.

Meanwhile, a recent survey has revealed that 22 per cent of households in Maharashtra currently have one or more individuals with symptoms of Covid/flu/viral fever, a community social media platform said on Thursday. Maharashtra recorded 26 Covid-19 positive cases on Wednesday, taking the total number of positive cases registered since January 2025 to 132, according to state health authorities.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/watch-nita-ambani-sanitises-jasprit-bumrahs-palms-before-shaking-hands-amid-covid-surge-3553167

Members of the Indian community in Abu Dhabi asked multiple questions to the delegates, including on why Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism

The Operation Sindoor delegation visiting Abu Dhabi told the Indian diaspora that besides the strikes on Pakistan and all-party teams, every citizen is an ambassador for the country and their effort to set narrative equally powerful and much needed.

“Together we are ‘Team India’,” the visiting team led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde told the Indian diaspora in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

The diaspora event was held at the Indian consulate in Abu Dhabi and, apart from listening to the message by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the aim of Operation Sindoor and India’s global mission, the visiting delegation were asked multiple questions.

Indians asked multiple questions to the delegates, including on why Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism.

The delegation conveyed to Indian citizens in UAE that it has been a month since the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. “Nothing is the same anymore because this is an India which has hit back at Pakistan in the language that they understand. This is the new India, the new normal that Prime Minister Modi has spoken about that can get inside Pakistan territory and destroy the terror hubs. This is the new normal – an act of terror is considered act of war. This is what has been conveyed,” a source told News18.

Indian citizens further asked the delegates about UAE’s feedback on the mission. According to the sources, UAE wants to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with India and told New Delhi it is not alone in its fight against terrorism. The response was positive and nobody questioned India’s action against Pakistan, they said.

Earlier in the day, the delegation met with Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, minister for tolerance and coexistence. “Islam is a peaceful religion. Nobody can use religion as a tool to kill innocent people. The UAE expressed that they stand strongly in India’s fight against terror,” a source told News18.

The delegation left from India on a two-day visit to the UAE on Wednesday (May 22). From UAE, they will visit Africa and return June 3.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/together-we-are-team-india-op-sindoor-delegation-in-uae-says-every-indian-is-an-envoy-ws-l-9348677.html

A CoBRA commando of the CRPF and a Naxalite were killed during an anti-Maoist operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday, officials said.

According to the officials, the operation is ongoing in the Tumrel village area of the district. The operation is being led by the 210th battalion of CRPF’s CoBRA and has troops from Chhattisgarh Police DRG and STF.

A CoBRA commando has also been injured, they said.

An IAF helicopter has been pressed into service to evacuate the injured, officials said.

The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) is an elite jungle warfare unit within the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It plays a key role in leading operations in states affected by Left Wing Extremism.

The security forces are undertaking continuous operations in the LWE-affected states as part of the Union government’s declaration to end the menace in the country by March next year.

The Bastar region in Chhattisgarh remains their core area of operation.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/cobra-commando-naxal-killed-during-anti-maoist-operation-in-chhattisgarh-ws-kl-9348454.html

The External Affairs Minister earlier spoke to Dutch broadcaster NOS, and said hostilities with Pak had been triggered by the “barbaric attack” in Pahalgam.

‘Stop pretending Pakistan is not involved in terrorist attacks on India’ – External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s point-blank response Wednesday to Dutch daily De Volkskrant’s question about Islamabad insisting it has no knowledge of any terror groups operating from within its territory.

In the Netherlands this week to strengthen ties with Amsterdam, India’s second-largest trading partner in the European Union, Mr Jaishankar was asked about his December 2022 remark labelling Pakistan the ‘epicentre of terrorism’. “I’m not suggesting it… I’m stating it,” he responded.

“Suppose there were military centres in the middle of Amsterdam, in which tens of thousands gather for military training. Would you say your government knows nothing about that?”

‘We should not go along with the narrative ‘Pakistan does not know what is going on’. The most notorious terrorists on the United Nations’ list are in Pak. They operate in the big cities…in broad daylight. Their addresses are known… their activities are known… their mutual contacts are known.”

“So let’s not pretend Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it.”

‘Pak Army Chief’s Extreme Religious…’

The External Affairs Minister earlier spoke to Dutch broadcaster NOS, and said hostilities with Pak had been triggered by the “barbaric attack” in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.

And the terrorists behind Pahalgam were driven by Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s “extreme religious outlook”, Mr Jaishankar had said.

He underlined that sentiment to De Volkskrant, saying the Pahalgam terrorists “deliberately gave the attack a religious tint’. “The world should not accept such practices,” he said.

‘Terrorism, Kashmir Are Separate’

Mr Jaishankar also refused links between terrorism and the Kashmir border issue, calling the former a “completely unacceptable international crime that should not be condoned”.

‘As for Jammu and Kashmir, it is a historical fact that it joined India when India and Pakistan separated in 1947. Our position is that the illegal occupiers should return their illegally occupied parts to the rightful owner… and that is us,” the minister said.

The comments follow stern declarations by Prime Minister Narendra Modi – that there can be no talk of long-term peace with Pakistan unless that government disables terrorist infrastructure operating in its territory and vacate illegally occupied territories in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Modi has also warned Pak that India’s doctrine on terror had changed after the Pahalgam attack, and that Delhi will no longer hesitate before striking terrorist camps across the border.

Operation Sindoor – the military response to the Pahalgam attack – remains an active mission, the PM has said repeatedly, “India will strike at the heart of terror decisively if attacked.”

India has said terrorism is a danger for all countries and must be fought together.

‘This Is A Bilateral Issue’

Meanwhile, Mr Jaishankar also shot down any talk of US President Donald Trump having played any role in the May 12 ceasfire that stopped the 100 hours of India-Pak military conflict.

Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for brokering the ceasefire, declaring he “sure as hell helped” India and Pak lay down arms. Delhi has equally repeatedly said the US played no role.

Mr Jaishankar stressed Kashmir remains a bilateral issue, and one that can only be resolved by the countries involved. “This is something we will do together with Pakistan,” he said.

On the ceasefire itself, the minister said India wants a ‘definitive end’ to terrorism.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/s-jaishankar-in-netherlands-jaishankar-interview-pakistan-involved-in-terrorist-attacks-on-india-pahalgam-terror-operation-sindoor-8479196

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a public address in Rajasthan’s Bikaner, addressed the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. He emphasised India’s swift response, claiming that nine major terror hideouts were destroyed in just 22 minutes as part of Operation Sindoor.

In a resolute address from Rajasthan’s Bikaner, a month after the barbaric April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that “in response to the attack on April 22, we destroyed nine biggest terror hideouts in 22 minutes.” The attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, prompted immediate action under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
“Rajasthan teaches us that nothing is more important than the nation. On 22nd April, terrorists targeted our people, asking their religion and wiped the sindoor of our sisters. The bullets fired in Pahalgam wounded the hearts of 140 crore Indians. In response, the entire nation vowed to punish the terrorists in a way they could never imagine,” the Prime Minister said.
“With the valour of our armed forces, Pakistan was forced to bow. In reply to the 22nd April attack, within just 22 minutes, terrorist camps were destroyed. The country witnessed that when the sindoor of our sisters is targeted, the response can shake the enemy to its core,” he added.

The Prime Minister further stated that those out to wipe out ‘sindoor’ were reduced to dust. “On April 22, terrorists wiped off the Sindoor of our sisters after identifying their religion. The attack took place in Pahalgam, but the bullets pierced the hearts of 1.4 billion Indians. United in one voice, every Indian resolved to eliminate terrorism and ensure punishment beyond imagination. It is due to the courage of the Indian Armed Forces that we stand strong today. Our government gave a free hand to all three services, and together, the tri-services devised a strategy so impactful that it compelled Pakistan to bow down,” he added.

Notably, the Prime Minister is scheduled to launch a number of development projects across railways, roadways, power, water and new and renewable energy sectors during his visit to Bikaner in Rajasthan today.
An official statement said PM Modi will also inaugurate 103 redeveloped ‘Amrit Stations’ in 86 districts across 18 states and Union Territories, which have been built at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore, besides launching other development projects costing over Rs 26,000 crore.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/22-tareek-ka-badla-22-minute-mein-pm-modis-powerful-salvo-on-op-sindoor-payback-for-pahalgam-article-151694748

“We told Pakistan through DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) that we had exercised our right to respond under Operation Sindoor. We told them after the operation,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.

New Delhi, May 22 (PTI) India informed Pakistan about its strike on terror infrastructure early on May 7 after the operation was concluded, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.
“We told Pakistan through DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) that we had exercised our right to respond under Operation Sindoor. We told them after the operation,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.
He was responding to a question on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of the government suggesting that the Indian side informed Pakistan ahead of the military strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Gandhi has been particularly targeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his comments where he talked about some aspects of the Operation Sindoor and India’s strike on the terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.

Under Operation Sindoor, India, on early May 7, destroyed nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PoK in retaliation against the Pahalgam terror attack.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/india-informed-pakistan-about-operation-sindoor-after-attacks-on-terror-infrastructure-mea-article-151699214

Amid the ongoing tensions with India, Pakistan refused to help an Indian airline in difficult times as one of its flights sought help to avoid turbulence on Wednesday, news agency PTI reported.

The incident happened when an IndiGo Airlines pilot on a Delhi-Srinagar flight, which was faced with a sudden hailstorm on Wednesday evening, urged Lahore Air Traffic Control to allow it to briefly use the Pakistani airspace so that it could avoid the turbulence, but the request was rejected, the news agency reported while quoting sources.

When the plane was flying over Amritsar, the pilot raised an alarm after noticing turbulence due to adverse weather. He then contacted the Lahore ATC, seeking permission to use the airspace. Denied that, the pilot continued onto the original path as scheduled, braving severe turbulence.

On Wednesday, an IndiGo flight carrying 227 passengers from Delhi to Srinagar was caught in terrifying midair turbulence, sending those onboard into a panic and causing visible damage to the aircraft’s nose.

Flight 6E2142 was nearing its destination when it was battered by a hailstorm. The pilot declared an emergency with Air Traffic Control before managing to safely land the aircraft at Srinagar Airport at 6.30 pm. However, the dramatic ordeal left passengers shaken.

Reports from the scene confirmed that all passengers and crew members were evacuated safely from the aircraft after landing. However, the aircraft sustained damage significant enough for the airline to declare it “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG), grounding it for urgent repairs.

Five Trinamool Congress leaders-Derek O’Brien, Nadimul Haque, Sagarika Ghose, Manas Bhunia, and Mamata Thakur-were on board the IndiGo flight that suffered turbulence. They expressed gratitude to the pilot after the flight safely landed at the Srinagar airport.

A sudden hailstorm with heavy rain struck Delhi-NCR late Wednesday evening, triggering an abrupt shift in the weather.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pak-rejected-indigo-pilots-request-to-use-airspace-amid-massive-turbulence-2729049-2025-05-22

The Kapil Sharma Show is mourning the loss of its longtime photographer, Krishna Das, affectionately known as “Das Dada.” A cherished presence behind the scenes, Das Dada passed away recently, leaving the entire cast and crew in deep sorrow.

Krishna Das had been an integral part of the show since its inception, capturing countless memorable moments. His contributions were recognized in 2018 when he received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Beyond his professional achievements, Das Dada was celebrated for his warmth and ever-present smile, endearing him to everyone on set.

The show’s team shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, stating, “We have lost Das Dada, the soul behind the lens, who captured countless beautiful moments with us since the beginning of The Kapil Sharma Show. More than just an associate photographer, he was family—always smiling, always kind, and always there. His presence brought warmth and light, not just through his camera, but in every moment he shared with us. You will be missed beyond words, Dada. Rest in peace. Your memories will live on in every frame and every heart.”

Comedian Kiku Sharda also expressed his grief by sharing the tribute on his Instagram story, writing, “We will miss you, Das Dada.” Former cast member Sugandha Mishra conveyed her condolences in the comments section with folded hands and a broken heart emoji.

Source : https://www.spotboye.com/trending/trending-news/kapil-sharma-show-photographer-krishna-das-passes-away-kiku-sharda-remembers-him-as-family-in-emotional-tribute/682ef42198e7b5da75cc8ba3

NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday began hearing the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald money laundering case.

The matter is linked to alleged financial irregularities in the transfer of a Rs 90.25 crore loan from the Indian National Congress (INC) to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald, and its subsequent assignment to Young Indian for a mere Rs 50 lakh.

‘Congress party donors were cheated’

During the hearing on Wednesday, the ED alleged that the transaction was a criminal conspiracy aimed at misappropriating assets worth over Rs 2,000 crore.

In the opening submissions, additional solicitor general (ASG) SV Raju argued that the offence of money laundering was clearly made out in the case.

“There was a proceeds of crime,” he submitted, asserting that criminal activity continued for the purpose of generating such proceeds, thereby constituting the offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), reported news agency ANI.

The court, presided by special judge Vishal Gogne, asked pointed queries to the ED during the hearing. It sought clarity on the ownership of AJL’s assets, specifically whether the company’s shareholders could be considered its owners.

Are assets owned by company or shareholders? Who owns the property as of today? the court asked ED’s special counsel, Zoheb Hossain.

In simple words, if the property of A is usurped by B, does it become proceeds of crime when it was clean in the hands of A, the court asked.

“Are wrongful acts ascribed to individuals but not parties (Congress)? Or is the party a victim?” the judge asked. In response, Hosain said, “The donors of the party are victims”.

Hossain further said that donations and membership fees were collected from the public for party purposes, but were instead diverted as a loan to a company engaged in commercial activities.

He argued this as part of the predicate offence, stressing that “the donors of the Congress party were cheated.”

‘Young Indian company a sham’

Reading from ED’s complaint, ASG Raju highlighted that Young Indian was formed as a sham entity, “a cloak to convert public money to personal use”, and used as a special purpose vehicle to gain control over assets of AJL worth Rs 2,000 crore.

Raju alleged that the accused acted in “consortium with each other to achieve the said nefarious purpose”.

The court was also informed that the alleged proceeds of crime included rental income worth Rs 142 crore received by the accused.

“Proceeds of crime not only include those properties obtained from the scheduled offence, but also any other criminal activity related to the proceeds of crime,” Hossain submitted.

‘Accused enjoyed proceeds of crime’

Submitting that the alleged offence in the complaint is money laundering, ASG Raju argued that he will show that the offence of money laundering is made out.

During the hearing, Raju also confirmed that the complaint was filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the PMLA, involving seven accused individuals, including ex-Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi, Gandhi family loyalist Sam Pitroda, and two firms.

When the judge asked whether Pitroda was represented in court, ASG responded that if not, proceedings would continue without him.

Raju said that there is a proceed of crime. Money laundering is a continuing activity. He said that if an offence is committed of generating proceeds of crime and involves a continuing activity, it is money laundering.He said that the attachment of properties took place in November 2023. Till then, the accused were enjoying the proceeds of crime.

Matter listed for day-to-day hearing

The special judge listed the matter for day-to-day hearings on the point of cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint from July 2 to July 8. The scheduling followed requests from the defence counsel, including senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who sought a July hearing, citing voluminous documents running over 5,000 pages.

“This is an MP/MLA court, and matters are to be heard on a weekly basis,” the judge said, noting that the court would first complete the ED’s arguments, followed by submissions from the defence.

Hossain further submitted that Gandhis, Sonia and Rahul, held 76 per cent of Young Indian’s shares, and by paying just Rs 50 lakh, the entity acquired control over Rs 90.25 crore, thus demonstrating the alleged offence of cheating.

Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/rs-142-crore-in-proceeds-of-crime-eds-big-charge-against-rahul-sonia-gandhi-in-national-herald-case-daily-hearing-from-july-2/articleshow/121315081.cms

According to him, the KVIC has distributed over 2,29,409 bee boxes and bee colonies across the country, resulting in the production of approximately 20,000 metric tonnes of honey, generating an income of Rs 325 crore for beekeepers.

In what is becoming a big success story, beekeepers earn Rs. 325 crore by generating over 20,000 metric tonnes of honey under the Honey Mission undertaken by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).

“Bees are the backbone of our ecosystem. They not only produce honey but also enrich agriculture through pollination and contribute to environmental conservation,” said KVIC Chairman Manoj Kumar.

According to him, the KVIC has distributed over 2,29,409 bee boxes and bee colonies across the country, resulting in the production of approximately 20,000 metric tonnes of honey, generating an income of Rs 325 crore for beekeepers.

“In financial year 2024-25, beekeepers associated with KVIC exported honey worth Rs 25 crore,” he said.

The KVIC Chairman also stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for a ‘Sweet Revolution’ paved a new path where honey production became a source of both economic and health prosperity. KVIC’s work in this direction is a significant step toward building an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

“The Honey Mission is not just a scheme; it is a holistic livelihood model. Today, thousands of youth, women, and farmers in rural areas are gaining employment through this mission. The honey processing plants, training centres, and marketing networks developed by KVIC have made beekeeping a viable path to self-reliance,” KVIC CEO Roop Rashi said.

The programme spotlighted the historic contribution of the Central Bee Research & Training Institute (CBRTI), Pune, which was established in 1962. The institute has trained over 50,000 beekeepers in modern apiculture techniques.

CBRTI’s role extends beyond honey production to enhancing agricultural and horticultural productivity through pollination, fostering bee-related research, and nurturing rural entrepreneurship.

During the event, scientists underscored the ecological importance of bees, revealing that they contribute to the pollination of approximately 75% of food crops. Without bees, nearly 30% of food crops and 90% of wild plant species would face serious threats.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/beekeepers-earn-rs-325-crore-by-generating-over-20000-metric-tonnes-of-honey-under-kvics-honey-mission-3551963

Nearly 100 contestants from across the globe showcased their unique talents with passion and creativity, making this year’s edition one of the most memorable to date, a release from the organisers said.

The Miss World 2025 pageant marked an exciting milestone on Wednesday with the announcement of 24 finalists for the much-awaited Talent Competition—one of the most celebrated segments of the global event.

Chosen through compelling auditions and a fiercely competitive second round, these remarkable young women will take centre stage once again on May 23 to dazzle audiences with their originality and poise.

Nearly 100 contestants from across the globe showcased their unique talents with passion and creativity, making this year’s edition one of the most memorable to date, a release from the organisers said.

From classical music renditions and contemporary dance routines to soulful vocal performances and deeply rooted cultural art forms, the competition offered a vibrant display of the artistic brilliance and diverse heritage of Miss World’s international participants.

Following a rigorous evaluation process, contestants from the United States, Poland, Nigeria, Philippines, Malta, Italy, Indonesia, Trinidad and Tobago, Estonia, Germany, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Netherlands, Wales, Czech Republic, Jamaica, Argentina, Ireland, Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Kenya have secured their spots in the Talent Challenge Final.

These 24 exceptional women will once again captivate audiences with their breathtaking performances on May 23, in what promises to be a highlight of the pageant.

The winner of the Talent Competition will earn a direct entry into the Top 10 of her continental region—a prized advantage in the journey to the Miss World crown, it said.

“The talent showcased by these young women is not only a testament to their individuality and dedication, but also a powerful reminder of the creativity and cultural richness they represent,” said Julia Morley CBE, Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organisation.

The 2025 edition of the Miss World contest officially commenced with a glittering ceremony in Hyderabad on May 10 and will continue through May 31, drawing attention from across the globe.

Seizing this opportunity to shine on the world stage, the Telangana government has rolled out a comprehensive action plan to project the state as a premier global destination for tourism and investment.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/telangana/grace-grit-and-glamour-24-finalists-set-for-miss-world-2025-talent-showdown-3551448

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Wednesday said that India was fully entitled to act in self-defence against terrorist locations in Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people.

While speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Bolton emphasised the need for Pakistan to control such activities within its borders, warning of severe consequences if it fails.

He also highlighted the growing Chinese influence in Pakistan as a significant threat to India, noting China’s military planes supplied to Pakistan.

“India was certainly entitled to act in self-defence against locations inside Pakistan where the terrorist attack was planned and carried out from. It is a significant issue when a country cannot control that kind of terrorist activity going on in its territory or, indeed, maybe contributing to it. India’s action was entirely justifiable, but it does raise questions about whether there is any possibility of persuading the Pakistani government that this is ultimately not in their interest and can lead to much worse consequences for them if they don’t get it under control,” Bolton stated.

“The fact that Chinese military planes supplied to Pakistan were prominent in Pakistan’s response signifies the growing Chinese influence inside Pakistan, which increases the threat to India, certainly in its western flank,” he added.

He further stated that the response following the Pahalgam attack was a “cut above” what had happened in 2019, referring to the Pulwama attack.

“This is a long-standing issue, but the escalation, the military response, and the back and forth between India and Pakistan before the ceasefire was agreed to were a cut above what happened in 2019, when there was a similar terrorist attack in Kashmir,” the former NSA stated.

India’s Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indias-action-was-entirely-justifiable-ex-us-nsa-hails-operation-sindoor-8475569

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, the chief of Paytm left his followers in splits today, sharing screenshots of his conversation with someone impersonating him. The imposter, a scammer, was out to extract sensitive information about the company’s funds and asked him multiple questions about the funds and contact details of the finance head of the company. He said his phone was being formatted so he did not have anyone’s number.

Titling the post “Impersonating myself to me”, Mr Sharma provided multiple screenshots of the long conversation, where the scammer introduced himself as Vijay Shekhar Sharma and asked the real Sharma to save his “new” phone number and questioned whether he was in the office.

The Paytm chief played along.

In course of the conversation, the scammer asked Mr Sharma to check and report back on the company’s available funds. He also demanded a screenshot of the account books.

In another message, he asked Mr Sharma to forward a suspicious .exe file-disguised as a GST document-to the finance executive.

The last message from the screenshots was from Mr Sharma, where he asked for a salary hike.

The encounter spotlighted the darker side of the digital world, where unsuspecting individuals are targeted by scamsters using sophisticated manoeuvres, advanced techniques, fake profiles, malicious links and impersonation.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/impersonating-myself-to-me-paytm-ceo-vijay-shekhar-sharma-shares-exchange-with-scamster-8473750

3,000 Agniveers played a crucial role in India’s air defence during Operation Sindoor, effectively countering Pakistani missile and drone attacks.

At least 3,000 Agniveers – barely 20 years old and recruited during the last two years – manned critical weapons and systems integral to the army’s hardy air defence (AD) shield activated during Operation Sindoor, which Pakistan couldn’t punch through despite launching wave after wave of missile and drone attacks on multiple Indian military installations, airbases and cities during the May 7-10 clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, people aware of the matter said on Wednesday.

The young and gritty soldiers, recruited under the Agnipath model, made their training count at a pivotal moment and acquitted themselves honourably in different roles during the four-day military confrontation that sparked fears of a full-blown shooting war with Pakistan, said one of the persons cited above, asking not to be named.

“The Agniveers faced a baptism by fire and helped ward off the enemy’s attempts to target our bases and cities. Feedback from the army’s frontline AD units shows they have earned their spurs, and their performance was on par with regular soldiers. This should settle the debate around the Agnipath scheme,” he added.

Several of the AD units that fended off the Pakistani missile and drone attacks had 150-200 Agniveers each in their ranks, HT learns.

Operation Sindoor, which began in the early hours of May 7, was New Delhi’s muscular response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. It triggered four days of strikes and counterstrikes with fighter jets, missiles, drones, long-range weapons and heavy artillery before the two sides reached an understanding on stopping all military action on May 10.

The Agnipath scheme for recruiting personnel below officer rank (PBOR) in the three services, for long a political hot button, was introduced around three years ago with the stated objective of keeping the armed forces young and battle-ready. Agnipath was a major departure from the military’s decades-old recruitment system that was scrapped when the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government announced the new scheme in June 2022. It recruits soldiers for only four years, with a provision to retain 25% of them in regular service for another 15 years.

The Agniveers helped operationalise the locally developed air defence control and reporting system, called Akashteer, which emerged as the centrepiece of India’s AD grid during the clash, said a second person, who also asked not to be named.

The Agniveers posted in AD units deployed along the western front specialised in four main trades: gunners, operator fire control, operator radio and drivers of heavy-duty vehicles mounted with guns and missiles, the people said.

They excelled in each of these roles.

The Agniveers, alongside the regular soldiers, took down targets with shoulder-fired missiles; manned and fired guns including the upgraded L-70s and Zu-23-2Bs; operated the Pechora, Schilka, OSA-AK, Strela and Tunguska weapons, and the medium-range surface-to-air missile system; manned a variety of radars and Akashteer nodes; were an integral part of the communication network; and drove vehicles used for transporting and launching missiles, including Akash, the people said.

The drivers also doubled as sentries after the weapon systems were deployed in the combat zone.

Only young men and women aged between 17 and a half and 21 are eligible under the Agnipath scheme. Agniveers draw an annual salary of ₹4.76 lakh in the first year of service and ₹6.92 lakh in the fourth, get a non-contributory insurance cover of ₹48 lakh, and an additional ex-gratia payment of ₹44 lakh for death attributable to service.

Those released after four years will get ₹11.71 lakh as Seva Nidhi severance package, including ₹5.02 lakh contributed by them during their service.

Soldiers recruited under the legacy system serve for about 20 years before they retire in their late 30s with pension and other benefits including health care and canteen facilities, which Agniveers released from service after four years are not entitled to.

The government has reserved 10% vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces, and several defence public sector undertakings are making similar amendments to their recruitment rules along with age relaxation to hire Agniveers. Some states, including Haryana and Rajasthan, have already announced reservations for Agniveers in their police forces.

Last September, the Indo-Russian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd, which manufactures the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile, became the first major company to officially announce reservations for Agniveers across various functions. It said at least 15% of technical and general administration vacancies will be reserved for Agniveers for whom at least 50% positions have also been earmarked in security and other administrative functions at various centres where such tasks were earlier outsourced.

The scheme, which the Opposition Congress repeatedly called for scrapping, came under fire from aspirants across the country, especially the northern states, and is believed to have cost the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a chunk of votes across the region in the 2024 national elections. It was opposed as it cuts tenure of PBOR and offers them fewer service benefits.

The confrontation also marked a baptism by fire for the Akashteer system inducted only a year ago; it punctured multiple waves of Pakistani aerial attacks by guaranteeing prompt detection and targeting of the incoming threats. The army bought the automated system from Bharat Electronics Limited for ₹1,982 crore.

The agile system, an integral part of the Indian military’s multi-layered AD grid, played a pivotal role in detecting, identifying, tracking and engaging Pakistani missiles and drones. The system essentially integrates a raft of AD sensors and weapons, expedites decision-making and tightens the sensor-to-shooter loop for swift detection and destruction of hostile targets.

It is integrated with the Indian Air Force’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), the beating heart of the military’s four-tiered AD shield that Pakistan couldn’t penetrate.

“Akashteer is a combination of hardware and software systems in mobile command posts with fully integrated high-tech communication systems. It sharpened the army’s posture and allowed it to control the AD battle by providing ground units (which had Agniveers, among others) with the complete battle picture to respond in a swift and integrated way to neutralise the threats,” a senior official earlier said.

Pakistan launched missiles and drones in its attempt to target several locations in India’s north and west including Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.

The locally produced military hardware that packed a formidable punch during the military confrontation with Pakistan included Akash surface-to-air missiles, the Samar (surface-to-air missile for assured retaliation) system and several counter-drone weapons.

The threats countered by the Indian forces included Chinese-origin PL-15 air-to-air missiles, long-range rockets, loitering munitions, and Turkish-origin drones.

India’s AD grid operated with multiple weapons across four levels, depending on the distance of the incoming target. The weapons that formed part of the grid included the S-400 system.

The Pakistan Army attempted to target Golden Temple in Amritsar with long-range missiles and drones on the night of May 7-8, but India’s AD shield fended off the attacks.

India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 when the army and IAF hit nine terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, killing more than 100 terrorists. And between the strikes on the terror sites and the calling of the ceasefire on May 10, the IAF struck multiple military targets in Pakistan.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/midair-scare-after-indigo-delhi-srinagar-flight-faced-hailstorm-101747842409868.html

A demarche was issued to the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission in this regard, a press release by the MEA said.

The Government of India on Wednesday declared another official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi “Persona Non Grata” for activities “not in keeping with their official status.”

The High Commission staffer has been ordered to leave the country within 24 hours

A demarche was issued to the Charge d’Affaires of the Pakistan High Commission in this regard, a press release by the MEA said.

“Charge d’Affaires, Pakistan High Commission, was issued a demarche to this effect today. He was asked to strictly ensure that none of the Pakistani diplomats or officials in India misuse their privileges and status in any manner,” the MEA statement said.

The individual, according to sources, was allegedly indulged in espionage activities in the garb of visa services.

Earlier on May 13, the government had declared a Pakistani official at the High Commission “Persona Non Grata” for similar activities.

Following the expulsion, Pakistan engaged in a tit-for-tat move and declared a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad as persona non grata, claiming that the member “engaged in activities incompatible with his privileged status”.

According to the reports, the individual was allegedly identified as Ahsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who name came up in the ongoing probe in alleged spy Jyoti Malhotra’s case. Danish has been allegedly accused of committing espionage and leaking sensitive information regarding the movements of the Indian Army.

Haryanvi Youtuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested in Hisar along with several others in Haryana for allegedly spying for Pakistan amid heightening India-Pakistan tensions.

The FIR against Jyoti mentioned that she met Ahsan-ur-Rahim in 2023 at the High Commission in Delhi and has been in touch since then. The man allegedly played the role of her handler and facilitated her introduction to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives.

She was also allegedly in touch with Danish during the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan that followed the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, police said.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/another-pakistan-high-commission-official-declared-persona-non-grata-asked-to-leave-india-9346780.html

Jyoti Malhotra said that she met Danish, the expelled Pakistani diplomat, and he introduced her to Ali Hasan. After this, she met Shakir and Rana Shahbaz, and intelligence officials.

Arrested on the charges of spying for Pakistan, YouTuberJyoti Malhotra has reportedly confessed to having met Pakistan intelligence officials during her trips to the neighbouring country. Times Now has accessed the exclusive details of her confession, which reveals she was in constant contact with Danish, an official at the Pakistan High Commission. He was earlier expelled by India for engaging in activities against diplomatic rules.
In her confession, she accepted meeting Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in India, and they have remained in touch since then. Jyoti has also admitted to meeting Ali Hasan, who was introduced to her by Danish.
“I run a YouTube channel called ‘Travel With-Jo’. I have a passport, number 5******2. In 2023, I visited the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi to apply for a visa to Pakistan,” she said.

“I took Danish’s mobile number, 9********9, and started communicating with him. Later, I traveled to Pakistan twice. On Danish’s instructions, I met Ali Hasan there, who arranged my stay and travel,” she added.

The chain didn’t stop there. She later came in contact with one Shakir, who, sources say, remained in touch with Jyoti through encrypted messaging platforms like Snapchat and Telegram.
“Ali Hasan introduced me to Pakistani security and intelligence officials. It was during this time that I also met Shakir and Rana Shahbaz,” Jyoti said, adding that she took Shakir’s number and saved it as ‘Jatt Randhawa’ to avoid suspicion. I then returned to India.”
“After returning, I remained in constant touch with all of them through platforms like WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Telegram, and began exchanging anti-national information. I frequently met Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi,” Jyoti reportedly confessed.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/isi-spy-ring-youtuber-jyoti-malhotra-confesses-deep-contacts-pakistan-intelligence-danish-article-151686411

Turkish ground handling and cargo operator Çelebi Airport Services India told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that by revoking its security clearance, the Central government has put a guillotine on a company which has worked in India for 17 years and employs over 10,000 people.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for the company and said Çelebi cannot be equated with Turkish government and does not have any axe to grind with India.

“People working with us are Indians… I have more than 10,000 employees in several airports. Without blemish, I have worked to satisfaction,” he said.

Rohatgi stressed that the Indian government’s action was contrary to law, since there exists a statutory obligation to give a hearing before taking a drastic step like revocation of security clearance.

“The central government is aware of how things are done. The maker of the rule is not allowed to create an exception to the rule,” he said.

The submissions were made before Justice Sachin Datta

Çelebi moved the High Court challenging the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance.

The decision was taken following the four-day Indo-Pak military conflict in which the Turkish government openly backed Pakistan.

While making his case, Rohatgi also objected to the Central government’s decision to provide the reasons only to the Court in a sealed cover.

“One feature I wanted to point out is what they showed in the sealed envelope, we do not know. I can only speculate what the reasons are. There is only one that the shareholding one my company is Turkish. I protest this sealed envelope procedure. It is frowned upon by the Supreme Court. My hands are tied,” he argued.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for the Central government and said that certain things cannot be shared with the company but only with the Court.

Justice Datta asked Rohatgi whether he is entitled to the material as a matter of law.

“Is the court obliged to supply to you,” the judge queried.

Rohatgi replied that he is not asking for a copy of the reasons but a reasonable opportunity to make his case and a notice of hearing.

The hearing will continue tomorrow (May 22).

During the previous hearing on May 19, the Central government had opposed the plea, arguing that it would be hazardous to engage the services of the company.

“There are two categories of contracts—airport handling and cargo handling. These are extremely sensitive operations where personnel know every nook and cranny of the airport,” the Mehta had said.

He added that the revocation was rooted in concerns over national security under the Aircraft Security Rules, particularly Rule 12, which permits cancellation of licence where there is a potential threat.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), withdrew Çelebi’s clearance on May 15 invoking national security grounds. The move was a result of diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey following the latter’s support for Pakistan during recent hostilities involving Operation Sindoor.

This prompted Celebi to move the Court contending that the Indian government’s decision was “arbitrary and devoid of specific reasons”.

Çelebi, a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Turkish parent company Çelebi Aviation Holding, argued that the government’s order lacked any prior notice or opportunity to respond. The company described the justification as “vague” and “unsubstantiated,” asserting that such actions jeopardise foreign investor confidence and threaten the livelihoods of over 3,800 Indian employees.

The company also clarified that while it has Turkish ownership, operational and managerial control of its Indian entity is handled by an India-based team,and that it has maintained a clean track record for over a decade at major airports.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/elebi-tells-delhi-high-court-it-is-not-turkish-govt-security-clearance-revocation-affected-10000-indian-jobs

A powerful dust storm swept across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday evening, leading to heavy rains and hailstorms. The sudden change in weather led to widespread disruption, including power outages, traffic jams and tree felling.

The storm hit suddenly around 8 pm, reducing visibility drastically as strong winds carrying loose dust blanketed the skies.

Several parts of Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad witnessed intense hailstorms and torrential rain following the dust storm. In Noida, hail battered rooftops and roads shortly after the storm passed.

Many areas experienced power outages across Delhi-NCR due to the sudden weather change. Traffic snarls were reported on major stretches, including the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway, Kalindi Kunj border, and DND Flyway.

NOIDA WELCOME BOARD COLLAPSED, TREES UPROOTED

The intense wind and rain led to infrastructure damage, including fallen trees and overhead electric (OHE) line disturbances.

The Noida Welcome Board also collapsed under the force of the wind, while trees and banners fell at multiple spots, leading to severe traffic jams.

Meanwhile, a large tree crashed onto a car at Copernicus Marg, near India Gate. The driver is safe.

METRO DELAYED, SERVICES HALTED

Delhi Metro services were significantly affected, particularly on the Red, Yellow, and Pink Lines. Service was halted temporarily at several stations including Shaheed Nagar, Jahangirpuri, and Nizamuddin.

At Mayur Vihar Phase 1, over 30 minutes delay was reported as commuters crowded the station.

While Pink Line services resumed by 9:18 PM, disruptions on the Red and Yellow Lines persisted late into the evening.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/power-out-trees-uprooted-banners-toppled-how-massive-storm-hit-delhi-2728454-2025-05-22

An IndiGo flight carrying 227 passengers from Delhi to Srinagar was caught in terrifying mid-air turbulence on Wednesday evening, sending those onboard into a panic and causing visible damage to the aircraft’s nose.

Flight 6E2142 was nearing its destination when it was battered by a hailstorm. The pilot declared an emergency with Air Traffic Control before managing to safely land the aircraft at Srinagar Airport at 6.30 pm. However, the dramatic ordeal left passengers shaken.

A viral video, shot by a passenger inside the aircraft, showed hailstones relentlessly striking the fuselage, causing the cabin to shake violently. The footage captured passengers in visible distress, with cries and panic spreading through the cabin as the plane navigated the severe weather patch.

Reports from the scene confirm that all passengers and crew members were evacuated safely from the aircraft after landing. However, the aircraft sustained damage significant enough for the airline to declare it “Aircraft on Ground” (AOG), grounding it for urgent repairs.

“Indigo flight 6E2142 enroute Delhi to Srinagar experienced bad weather (hail storm), emergency reported by Pilot to ATC SXR (Srinagar),” an official of the Airport Authority of India said.

“All Aircrew and 227 passengers are safe and flight is declared AOG by Airline,” he added.

IndiGo also issued an official statement concerning the incident and said that the plane landed safely at Srinagar Airport.

“IndiGo flight 6E 2142 operating from Delhi to Srinagar encountered sudden hailstorm en route. The flight and cabin crew followed established protocol and the aircraft landed safely in Srinagar. The airport team attended to the customers after arrival of the aircraft, prioritising their wellbeing and comfort. The aircraft will be released post necessary inspection and maintenance,” the statement read.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indigo-flight-srinagar-hailstorm-rain-damaged-nose-delhi-weather-emergency-landing-2728347-2025-05-21

Mushtaq described her win as a victory for diversity as she collected the prize at a ceremony at Tate Modern along with her translator Deepa Bhasthi, who translated the title from Kannada to English.

Writer, activist and lawyer Banu Mushtaq’s short story collection ‘Heart Lamp’ on Tuesday night became the first Kannada title to win the coveted £50,000 International Booker Prize in London.

Mushtaq described her win as a victory for diversity as she collected the prize at a ceremony at Tate Modern along with her translator Deepa Bhasthi, who translated the title from Kannada to English. Shortlisted among six worldwide titles, Mushtaq’s work appealed to the judges for its “witty, vivid, colloquial, moving and excoriating” style of capturing portraits of family and community tensions.

“This book was born from the belief that no story is ever small, that in the tapestry of human experience every thread holds the weight of the whole,” said Mushtaq.

“In a world that often tries to divide us, literature remains one of the lost sacred spaces where we can live inside each other’s minds, if only for a few pages,” she said.

Translator Bhashti added: “What a beautiful win this is for my beautiful language.”

The annual prize celebrates the best works of long-form fiction or collections of short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between May 2024 and April 2025. The other five books on the shortlisted included: ‘On the Calculation of Volume I’ by Solvej Balle, translated from Danish by Barbara J. Haveland; ‘Small Boat’ by Vincent Delecroix, translated from French by Helen Stevenson; ‘Under the Eye of the Big Bird’ by Hiromi Kawakami, translated from Japanese by Asa Yoneda; ‘Perfection’ by Vincenzo Latronico, translated from Italian by Sophie Hughes; and ‘A Leopard-Skin Hat’ by Anne Serre, translated from French by Mark Hutchinson.

Max Porter, International Booker Prize 2025 Chair of judges, said: “This list is our celebration of fiction in translation as a vehicle for pressing and surprising conversations about humanity. These mind-expanding books ask what might be in store for us, or how we might mourn, worship or survive. They offer knotty, sometimes pessimistic, sometimes radically hopeful answers to these questions.

“Taken together they build a miraculous lens through which to view human experience, both the truly disturbing and the achingly beautiful. They are each highly specific windows onto a world, but they are all gorgeously universal.”

Each shortlisted title is awarded a prize of £5,000 – shared between author and translator and the winning prize money is split between Mushtaq and Bhashti, who receive GBP 25,000 each.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/kannada-writer-banu-mushtaq-wins-international-booker-prize-for-heartlamp-selected-stories-3549955

Mizoram was on Tuesday declared as the first fully literate state under the Centre’s Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) initiative.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma at a celebratory event held at the Mizoram University at Aizawl in the presence of Union Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, Mizoram education minister Vanlalthlana.

The ULLAS initiative mandates minimum literacy rate of 95 percent and according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS 2023–2024), Mizoram reached a literacy rate of 98.2%, thus leading it to become the first fully literate state, an official statement issued by Mizoram government said.

“Today marks a historic moment in the journey of our state — one that will be remembered by generations to come,” Lalduhoma said at the event. “A total of 1,692 persons who, despite having missed earlier educational opportunities, demonstrated extraordinary determination and a will to learn, even in later stages of life.”

Chaudhary praised Mizoram’s commitment to inclusive growth through education. “This is a proud day not just for Mizoram, but for the entire nation,” he said.

The Mission:  

The CM said the landmark achievement was the result of sustained efforts by the School Education Department, particularly through Samagra Shiksha and the New India Literacy Programme (Nav Bharat Saksharta Karyakram). The state government established a Governing Council and Executive Committee under the State Literacy Mission Authority, with the State Project Office under Samagra Shiksha Mizoram spearheading the initiative.

To support the mission, the State Centre for Literacy was set up under SCERT. It developed Mizo language learning materials titled Vartian, along with an English version for learners in the Lawngtlai district. Additional resources such as Romei for learners and Margdarshika for Volunteer Teachers were created. Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators acted as surveyors for the New India Literacy Programme, identifying 3,026 illiterate individuals aged 15 and above — of whom 1,692 expressed a willingness to learn, said the CM.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/mizoram/mizoram-declared-indias-first-fully-literate-state-3549395

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday reiterated his claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had intelligence inputs about “trouble” in Kashmir and held the Centre responsible for the death of 26 civilians in Pahalgam on April 22.

“Why did those 26 people die in Pahalgam?? It’s because the Modi government didn’t provide security there. I have told that Modi put off his April 17th visit to Kashmir after getting intelligence reports of disturbances in Kashmir. I still haven’t got an answer to this. You (Modi) knew this. If you had told these tourists to not go there, those 26 lives would have been saved. These chut-put wars with Pakistan wouldn’t have happened,” Kharge.

The AIl India Congress Committee President was speaking at the Samarpane Sankalpa in Hospet to celebrate two years of the Congress in power.

Kharge accused the Modi government of not consulting the opposition while sending delegations to different countries to articulate India’s positions about the clashes with Pakistan.

“Though they didn’t ask, we didn’t speak anything keeping the national interest in mind and are sending our representatives to different countries. Saving the country and its people is of paramount importance to us.”

Accusing Pakistan of always Blaming India, the AICC president accused Pakistan of taking Chinese help to attack India. Our country will never tolerate this. We are united,” he added.

Slamming Modi for his absence at two all-party meetings to discuss the national situation, Kharge said, “If you are patriotic, why didn’t you come to those meetings? In case we don’t go to such meetings once, we will be considered anti-nationals. But even if he doesn’t come, he is a patriot.”

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/26-people-died-in-pahalgam-as-modi-govt-did-not-provide-security-kharge-3549472

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert regarding possible rough weather conditions in the Arabian Sea near the coasts of Maharashtra and Goa from May 21 to May 24. A low-pressure area is expected to develop over the sea starting from Wednesday (May 21), which could gradually intensify and move northwards by Saturday (May 24). The information was shared by Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Maharashtra on their official social media account.

No Direct Threat, But the Sea May Be Rough

Although there is no direct threat to the coastal regions of Maharashtra, the IMD has stated that the sea is likely to remain disturbed and rough due to the weather system. The effects of this development will be felt particularly between May 22 and May 24, during which the sea near coastal areas like Raigad, Ratnagiri, Mumbai and Palghar could become turbulent.

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was arrested under espionage charges on May 16. She was booked under sections of the Official Secrets Act and Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra was recently arrested under espionage charges for her alleged links with Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) and is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Her trips to Pakistan, including the one before the Pahalgam terror attack, and China, are all under the scanner.

While intelligence agencies are interrogating Jyoti Malhotra, the recovery of her diary by the Haryana Police provides more insight into her visit to Pakistan.

Jyoti Malhotra’s diary entries

In an undated diary entry, she mentioned her return to “my country” India from a 10-day Pakistan trip, NDTV reported. “During this time, I received a lot of love from the people of Pakistan. Our subscribers and friends also came to meet us. The two days we got to visit Lahore were not enough,” it said.

She also described Pakistan as “crazy”, “colourful”, and said that her experience in the neighbor nation couldn’t be put into words.

In one of her entries, Jyoti Malhotra also penned down a request she made to the Pakistani authorities. “Protect the temples there and let Indians meet their families from whom they were separated in 1947,” it was quoted by the NDTV report.

Jyoti Malhotra’s arrest

The 33-year-old YouTuber with a channel called ‘Travel with Jo’ and more than 3.77 lakh subscribers was arrested from her residence in Hisar on May 16.

Jyoti Malhotra was booked under Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The Haryana police and the probing agencies have also found that Malhotra was in regular touch with a Pakistani staffer from the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, from November 2023 to March 2025.

Hisar police spokesman Vikas Kumar said that Malhotra confessed of being in touch with Danish, HT reported. Danish was allegedly “developing her as an asset”.

Danish, now declared a persona non grata by India, introduced the YouTuber to Ali Ahwan, who then arranged for her accommodation and further meetings with Pakistani security officials Shakir and Rana Shahbaz.

As per the FIR registered against her, she had saved Shakir’s contact as “Jatt Randhawa” to avoid any suspicion. Following her return to India, Malhotra reportedly kept communicating with the operatives via WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. She also met Danish several times at the Pakistani High Commission in the national capital.

The FIR states that Malhotra was part of a larger espionage network spread across Haryana and Punjab, and involved agents, informants, and financial handlers, HT’s report said.

The YouTuber also reportedly had multiple bank accounts with several transactions, all of which are now being analysed by the central probing agencies along with her travel history.

Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan had said at a press conference earlier, “Her known income sources do not justify her foreign travel. We suspect external funding. On the surface, she was just a travel blogger.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-youtuber-jyoti-malhotras-diary-revealed-about-her-pakistan-trip-crazy-101747786838907.html

Asked if the ceasefire is holding and if it is the ‘end of the matter’ for India, JP Singh responded by saying that “the ceasefire is still holding on but we have made it very clear that Operation Sindoor is paused, it’s not yet over”.

Calling upon to form an international coalition against terrorism, India’s Ambassador to Israel JP Singh, has stressed that India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan is “paused” and “not over”, demanding that Islamabad should handover key terrorists Hafiz Saeed, Sajid Mir and Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi just like US did with one of the masterminds of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Tahawwur Hussain Rana.

Narrating the incidents leading up to India’s offensive, Mr Singh in an interview with Israeli TV channel i24 on Monday said that the operation was initially against terror groups in Pakistan.

“The terrorists killed people based on their religion. They asked people their religion before killing them and 26 innocent lives were lost”, the Indian ambassador said citing the Pahalgam attack of April 22.

“India’s operation was against terror groups and their infrastructure to which Pakistan responded by attacking India’s military installations”, he emphasised.

Asked if the ceasefire is holding and if it is the ‘end of the matter’ for India, Mr Singh responded by saying that “the ceasefire is still holding on but we have made it very clear that Operation Sindoor is paused, it’s not yet over”.

“The fight against terrorism will continue. We have set a new normal and the new normal is that we will follow an offensive strategy. Wherever terrorists are, we have to kill those terrorists and we have to destroy their infrastructure. So it is still not over but as we speak the ceasefire is still intact”, he asserted.

Describing India’s attack on Nur Khan base in the early morning of May 10 as a game changer, Mr Singh said that it created panic in Pakistan and their DGMO reached out to their Indian counterpart seeking a ceasefire.

On the question of suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) that Pakistan has described as “an act of war”, the Indian envoy said that the two key words that guided the treaty were never honoured and India on the contrary was always battling against terror attacks emanating from Pakistan.

“IWT was signed in 1960 and the preamble of the treaty includes two key words – goodwill and friendship….Over the past so many years what we have seen (is that) we were allowing water to flow and what was Pakistan doing – they were allowing terror (attacks) to come on the Indian side”, Mr Singh noted.

“There was a lot of frustration among people that this cannot go on like this. Our Prime Minister said that blood and water cannot flow together and that is the reason that we decided to put this IWT in abeyance”, he added.

“Terror must stop”, the Indian ambassador asserted for a treaty like this to be operational and Pakistan must stop cross-border terrorism.

“While IWT is in abeyance, another IWT is operational – Operation Sindoor is India’s War Against Terrorism”, he said.

Citing a long list of terror attacks in India that originated from Pakistan, JP Singh said that the “root cause are these two groups — Jaish-e-Muhammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba”.

The leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba which was behind the Mumbai attacks in which several Jews were also killed, continue to roam free, he noted.

“They need to do a very simple thing – when the preamble includes goodwill and friendship, they just need to hand over these terrorists to us”, the envoy stressed.

Pointing out that the United States recently extradited Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was involved in the Mumbai attack, the diplomat who has also served in Pakistan in the past said that Islamabad could also do the same.

“When the US can hand over these culprits, why can’t Pakistan hand over? They have to simply hand over Hafeez Saeed, Lakhvi, Sajid Mir and things will be over”, he emphasised.

With reference to Pakistan’s offer to investigate the Pahalgam attack, Mr Singh dismissed it, describing it as a deflection strategy.

“What has happened to the Mumbai attack? What has happened to the Pathankot air base attack? What has happened to the Pulwama attack,” he questioned.

“We have given them dossiers after dossiers — we have given them technical inputs. America has shared with them evidence. Everything is there but what have they done”, he asked.

“Lakhvi, who was the main planner of the Mumbai attack, is still roaming freely. Hafiz Saeed, the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba, planner and executioner of the Mumbai attack is roaming freely. So we can’t believe them,” Mr Singh said.

Contending that terrorism is a global menace, the Indian envoy called for greater cooperation among the countries faced with the challenge.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/operation-sindoor-is-not-over-pakistan-must-hand-over-terrorist-hafiz-saeed-indian-envoy-jp-singh-8457808

Officials said the arrests were made in wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s Operation Sindoor.

At least 12 people, including a Haryana-based YouTuber and a local quack, are among those arrested by Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh police over the last two weeks for allegedly being a part of Pakistan’s spy operations.

Apart from YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, the accused also include a factory worker and a post-graduate student.

What we know so far

• Two women ‘spies’ and one Pakistani official: YouTuber from Haryana Jyoti Malhotra and 31-year-old Guzala from Punjab were allegedly in touch with Pakistani officer Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish posted at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

• Jyoti Malhotra – She came in contact with Danish, a Pakistani official, during a visit to the Pakistan High Commission seeking a visa to visit the neighbouring nation. She was in touch with PIOs, and visited Pakistan “multiple times” and China once. Danish is the same official who was declared persona non grata by India.

Jyoti Malhotra was allegedly in touch with Pakistani officials during the recent military conflict. Currently under police custody, her financial transactions and travel details are under scanner. Officials suspect that Malhotra was being cultivated as an “asset” for future spy operations.

Overnight heavy rain on Sunday claimed the lives of three people in Bengaluru. The downpour sparked civic chaos and a political blame game over the city’s poor infrastructure.

Three people, including a nine-year-old boy, were killed in rain-related incidents on Monday as extremely heavy overnight rain brought Bengaluru to its knees on Monday.

Shashikala, an employee of a private company, succumbed to injuries after a wet compound wall suddenly collapsed on her in Whitefield on Monday morning. She was walking towards Channasandra when the wall gave way and fell on her, resulting in her death.

Later, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh from the government for Shashikala’s family.

In another incident, two persons, including a young boy, were electrocuted at BTM Layout in the city on Monday evening.

The deceased were identified as 55-year-old Manohar Kamat and nine-year-old Dinesh, a native of Nepal. According to police, both were electrocuted while attempting to pump rainwater out of the apartment’s basement using a motor.

With the heavy downpour, locals were seen through water, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, who launched evacuation efforts, also faced challenges due to a shortage of boats.

A video from the Silk Board Metro Station showed heavy waterlogging after hours of downpour in the city.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, Bengaluru city received 105.5 mm of rainfall during the 24 hours ending 8.30 am on May 19. The last time it rained this heavily during this month was on May 18, 2022.

Incidentally, the all-time record for May stands at 153.9 mm, which was set on May 6, 1909.

RAIN ALERT IN KARNATAKA

The weather department issued a red alert for Coastal Karnataka, North Interior Karnataka and South Interior Karnataka for May 20 and 21.

A yellow alert for heavy rain was sounded in Bengaluru and other districts, including Bagalkot, Belagavi, Koppal, and others, until 10 am.

BENGALURU RAIN TRIGGERS POLITICAL BLAME GAME

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) mounted an offensive against the ruling Congress, alleging that the crores of rupees spent over the last two years on the city’s infrastructure have yielded no results.

India’s interception of a Chinese-origin PL-15E missile fired by Pakistan has shocked global defence communities, with countries like France and Japan keen to examine the debris

Days after the Indian Air Force (IAF) publicly displayed the wreckage of a Chinese-origin PL-15E air-to-air missile fired by Pakistan, several global powers including the Five Eyes nations, along with France and Japan, have reportedly expressed interest in accessing parts of the missile for detailed examination.

The PL-15E fragments were recovered from a field in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district on May 9. During a press briefing on May 12, IAF Air Marshal AK Bharti confirmed that Pakistan had employed advanced Chinese weaponry, including the PL-15E missile, in its strike against India.

According to Bharti, the missile was launched from a Pakistani JF-17 fighter jet during the four-day aerial skirmish between the two countries after India launched Operation Sindoor, but was neutralised mid-air by India’s electronic warfare units. The successful interception marks the first recorded instance of a PL-15E being defeated in combat.

India’s robust integrated air defence system, including the Russian-made S-400 and the indigenous Akash Teer, successfully intercepted the incoming threats before they could strike.

The defeat of a PL-15E missile by India sent shockwaves through global defence communities. The Five Eyes alliance, comprising the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, is an intelligence-sharing network that collaborates on surveillance and electronic threat assessments. Their interest in the PL-15E debris underscores the global significance of understanding China’s rapidly advancing missile technologies.

The IAF showcased visuals of the intercepted missile debris during their press briefing earlier this month, along with wreckage from long-range rockets, loitering munitions, and various unmanned aerial systems. These included Turkish-origin YIHA and Songar drones, all of which were neutralised by the Indian Air Force.

Countries like France and Japan, both heavily invested in advanced air-to-air missile systems, also reportedly expressed urgent interest in examining the wreckage. What they seek is not just metal debris, but secrets: the missile’s radar signature, motor composition, guidance technology, and possibly even the elusive architecture of its AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar.

What is China’s PL-15E Missile?

First revealed nearly a decade ago, the PL-15E was China’s answer to the increasingly outdated American AIM-120 AMRAAM. Designed for long-range engagement, it boasts a dual-pulse solid rocket motor and can reportedly reach speeds exceeding Mach 5, with a strike range stretching between 200 and 300 kilometres. Its AESA-guided seeker allows for autonomous tracking and targeting, even in electronically contested environments; making it, at least on paper, a nightmare for rival air forces. The PL-15E has been integrated into Chinese fighter jets including the J-10C, J-16, and stealthy J-20.

Until now, the missile was shrouded in secrecy. It has never before been recovered from a live conflict, let alone largely undamaged. “Didn’t think I’d ever see a PL-15E’s AESA without going to a vault lol,” tweeted US defence analyst John Ridge, referencing the sudden availability of sensitive Chinese technology for reverse engineering.

For India, this recovery is more than a tactical victory; it’s a strategic windfall. The debris, according to sources, may allow researchers from India and allied nations to decode the inner workings of the missile’s propulsion and targeting systems, which have been closely guarded by China.

Why France and Japan Want a Piece of PL-15E

France’s eagerness stems from the fact that its Meteor missile, deployed on India’s Rafale jets, is considered the PL-15E’s main competitor. With a ramjet propulsion system and a significant “no-escape zone”, the Meteor has long been the benchmark for air dominance. However, the PL-15E’s longer range and AESA guidance have positioned it as a formidable rival.

Japan, similarly, has been modernising its air force in the face of growing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Understanding the PL-15E’s capabilities would allow Japan to upgrade its own missile defence systems and develop countermeasures against future threats.

Defence sources indicate that while the wreckage remains under India’s control, data sharing with select allies is being considered under stringent bilateral protocols.

PL-15E vs Other Missiles

China’s PL-15E’s advent forced the United States to accelerate development of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM), which is currently undergoing trials and is expected to surpass the PL-15E in range and electronic resilience.

In response, China is reportedly developing the PL-17, a next-generation missile featuring greater range, network-enabled targeting, and AI-guided navigation; signalling that the race for aerial supremacy is entering a new era driven not just by speed and range, but by information warfare.

What This Means for India

Operation Sindoor was a trial by fire, and India passed with flying colours. The Indian Air Force not only detected and tracked the PL-15E but successfully diverted it before it could strike a forward air base. The fact that a missile once deemed “unbeatable” was foiled by Indian systems suggests that the nation’s electronic warfare and surveillance capabilities are more robust than previously assumed.

Yet defence analysts caution against complacency. “The PL-15E is just the beginning,” said retired Air Vice Marshal DS Dutta. China’s defence collaboration with Pakistan is deepening, and more advanced systems are on the horizon. India must accelerate the development of indigenous missile systems and cutting-edge radar technology to maintain the edge, he explained.

Source : https://www.news18.com/explainers/india-turned-chinas-fearsome-pl-15-missile-into-scrap-heres-why-france-and-japan-want-the-pieces-ws-dkl-9343119.html

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a forecast predicting a wet week for various regions across India, featuring widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds until Saturday.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a wet week for India with widespread rainfall, thunderstorms, lightning, and strong winds until Saturday.
While no significant change in maximum temperatures across the country has been predicted by the IMD, they might fall gradually by 2-3 degrees Celsius over the next 3 days, especially in northeastern states such as Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, which are expected to receive consistent rainfall throughout the week.
The wet weather conditions may also be accompanied by thundersquall and hailstorm in some parts of the country. Southern India is also in for an intense wet spell.

Indian health authorities are monitoring rising COVID-19 cases in Singapore and Hong Kong while asserting that the situation in India is stable.

Health authorities in India are keeping an eye on reports of a rise in COVID cases in Singapore and Hong Kong even as official sources on Monday asserted the current coronavirus situation in the country was under control. A review meeting of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control, Emergency Medical Relief division, Disaster Management Cell, Indian Council of Medical Research and Central government hospitals was held on Monday under the chairpersonship of the director general of health services.
“The meeting concluded that the current COVID-19 situation in India remains under control. As of May 19, 2025, the number of active COVID-19 cases in India stands at 257, a very low figure considering the country’s large population.
“Almost all of these cases are mild, with no hospitalization required,” an official source said.

The country has a robust system for surveillance of viral respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, through the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and ICMR.

Hospitals have been asked to monitor influenza-like illnesses and severe acute respiratory infection cases.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/covid-19-situation-in-india-under-control-say-official-sources-amid-scare-in-singapore-hong-kong-article-151675580

India is not a dharamshala (a public shelter) to accommodate refugees from across the world, observed the Supreme Court on Monday while declining to extend relief to a Sri Lankan national who was facing deportation.

A bench Justices Dipankar Datta and K Vinod Chandran was dealing with a plea challenging a Madras High Court order directing a Sri Lankan Tamil national to leave India immediately after completing a seven-year prison sentence under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

“Is India to host refugees from all over the world? … This is not a Dharmshala that we can entertain foreign nationals from all over,” the Court orally remarked, before dismissing the plea.

The plea before the Court was filed by Subaskaran, a Sri Lankan Tamil national, who was arrested in 2015 on allegations that he was part of a conspiracy to revive the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a militant organisation that had worked to set up an independent Tamil State in Sri Lanka.

He was convicted by a trial court in Ramanathapuram in 2018 under various provisions of the UAPA, the Passport Act, the Foreigners Act, the Poisons Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment.

In 2022, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court reduced his sentence to seven years on appeal. The High Court further ordered him to leave India without delay after he was released from prison, adding that he could remain in a refugee camp until then.

Following the High Court’s order, the Subaskaran’s wife submitted a representation to the Tamil Nadu Government requesting his release from the Trichy Special Camp to live peacefully with his family without forcing him to leave from India.

When the government did not respond to her representation, she approached the Madras High Court to prevent his husband’s deportation, but her plea was rejected. This ultimately prompted the filing of a petition before the Supreme Court, where Subaskaran contended that he was falsely and arbitrarily implicated in the UAPA case.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/india-is-not-a-dharmshala-supreme-court-on-deportation-of-sri-lankan-national

The Delhi High Court on Monday heard plea filed by Turkish ground handling and cargo operator Çelebi Airport Services India challenging the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance.

Justice Sachin Datta will continue hearing the case on Wednesday.

Appearing for the Central government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressed national security concerns over the firm, stating,

“The enemy can try 10 times and succeed once, country has to succeed all the time.”

The Court said in reply,

“The rule is better safe than sorry.”

During the course of the hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for Çelebi’ said,

“Public perception cannot be used to take away employment. We are not a rogue company.”

Rohatgi highlighted that the company has been operating in India for 17 years without incident, and that no notice was given before the revocation of its security clearance.

Justice Datta, however, noted the sensitivity of the issue.

“Notice could be counterproductive. That you may do something inimical to national security the moment notice is given to you,” he observed.

“There are two categories of contracts—airport handling and cargo handling. These are extremely sensitive operations where personnel know every nook and cranny of the airport,” the SG argued.

He maintained that the government has received inputs on which the government finds that it would be hazardous to leave this activity in the hands of this company.

The revocation was rooted in concerns over national security under the Aircraft Security Rules, particularly Rule 12, which permits cancellation of licence where there is a potential threat.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), withdrew Çelebi’s clearance on May 15, 2025, invoking national security grounds.

The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions, following Turkey’s support for Pakistan during recent hostilities involving Operation Sindoor.

This prompted Celebi to move the Court contending that the Indian government’s decision is “arbitrary and devoid of specific reasons”.

Çelebi, a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Turkish parent company Çelebi Aviation Holding, argued that the government’s order lacked any prior notice or opportunity to respond. The company described the justification as “vague” and “unsubstantiated,” asserting that such actions jeopardise foreign investor confidence and threaten the livelihoods of over 3,800 Indian employees.

The company also clarified that while it has Turkish ownership, operational and managerial control of its Indian entity is handled by an India-based team, and that it has maintained a clean track record for over a decade at major airports.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/better-safe-than-sorry-delhi-high-court-in-turkish-firm-elebis-security-clearance-case

The interim deal will likely cover areas including market access for industrial goods, some farm products and addressing some non-tariff barriers, such as quality control requirements, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.

India is discussing a US trade deal structured in three tranches and expects to reach an interim agreement before July, when President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are set to kick in, according to officials in New Delhi familiar with the matter.

The interim deal will likely cover areas including market access for industrial goods, some farm products and addressing some non-tariff barriers, such as quality control requirements, the people said, asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.

The talks are still ongoing and there’s no clarity if the Trump administration has agreed to a three-stage process for a trade deal. India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington on a four-day trip that ends Tuesday, where he’s expected to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to advance the negotiations.

India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of External Affairs didn’t immediately respond to requests for further information. The USTR and Commerce Department also didn’t immediately respond to questions.

The second stage of an India-US deal may be a broader and more detailed agreement timed for around September to November, Indian officials familiar with the matter said, likely covering the 19 areas outlined in the terms of reference agreed by the two sides in April. The timing for this part of the deal may be aligned with an expected visit by Trump to India for the Quad leaders’ summit, one of the people said.

The final leg of the deal will likely be a comprehensive agreement that would follow once there’s approval from the US Congress, possibly concluded only next year, Indian officials familiar with the matter said.

India was one of the first countries to begin trade negotiations with the US following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House in February shortly after Trump took office. Both leaders agreed to boost trade and work toward concluding the first tranche of the bilateral deal by fall of this year. Since then, New Delhi has signaled the possibility of “early mutual wins” before the fall deadline.

While Indian officials say talks remain on track, there have been signs of tension in recent days. New Delhi appears to be adopting a tougher stance in negotiations, threatening retaliatory tariffs on US goods last week. Trump has also claimed that India offered to slash tariffs on US goods to zero, while downplaying any sense of urgency to reach a trade deal.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/india-sees-multi-phase-trade-deal-with-us-as-talks-proceed-3548355

The Customs officials seized 36 exotic reptiles from a passenger who landed at the Mumbai international airport from Bangkok and arrested him.

They include 28 live, two dead orange-bearded dragons, and six white iguanas.

The passenger was intercepted by officials on Sunday night after they noticed unusual movement in his bag during scanning, an official said.

A wildlife rescue team from RAWW (Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare) was called for assistance in opening the consignment, identifying and taking care of the species until further actions were to be initiated, said an official from the Forest Department.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/maharashtra/man-held-with-36-exotic-reptiles-at-mumbai-international-airport-3547698

HYDERABAD: A century-old three-storey Hyderabad building close to the iconic Charminar caught fire early Sunday, killing 17 members across three generations of a jeweller’s family that had assembled in their ancestral home for what was to be a weekend get-together.

Patriarch Prahlad Modi, whose roots in Gulzar Houz go back to the Nizam era, and eight children were among the victims, ranging from 2 to 73 years old. They died either from burn injuries or asphyxiation, officials said.

Four family members, two of whom were not at home, and some of their workers survived the 6am blaze, suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. Fire engines needed more than two hours to douse the flames, by which time much of the residential-cum-commercial building had been gutted.

Fire brigade officials identified the main electrical panel on the ground floor that houses three jewellery stores of the family as the source of the fire. One of the stores had been in business since 1906.

“Sparks caused by the short circuit in the main electrical line spread through the wooden panel and triggered a blast in the compressor unit of one of the ACs, resulting in the blaze growing,” director general of fire services Y Nagi Reddy said. “Since the building has only one entrance and exit, and the staircase is very narrow, residents couldn’t escape. The smoke further made it difficult for them to navigate their way out.”

Nagi Reddy said 11 fire engines, a firefighting robot, 17 officers and 70 personnel were deployed to rescue survivors and douse the flames. He contested allegations by relatives of the dead about a delayed response. “We received a call at 6.16am and immediately rushed our teams to the fire scene,” the DG said.

None of 17 Hyd fire victims taken to hospitals could be revived

Charminar police station registered a fire accident case based on a complaint by a relative of Prahlad Modi.

None of the 17 victims who had been taken to different hospitals – Osmania General Hospital, Apollo Hospital and Yashoda Hospital – could be revived. They were all cremated in the evening.

Residents of the Gulzar Houz neighbourhood recalled hearing ominous noises from the building where Prahlad Modi lived with his wife Munni and others soon after the fire broke out. “By the time we reached the site, the entire building was engulfed in flames. There was little hope of anyone surviving,” said Mir Zahid, a neighbour.

PM Narendra Modi announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased from the PM’s National Relief Fund. “Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Hyderabad, Telangana. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” he wrote on X.

Source : https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/17-of-jewellers-family-8-kids-among-them-die-in-fire-near-hyderabad-charminar/articleshow/121255030.cms

China helped Pakistan reorganize its radar and air defense systems to more effectively detect India’s deployments of troops and weaponry, Ashok Kumar, director general at the New Delhi-based Centre For Joint Warfare Studies, said in an interview.

China provided Pakistan with air defense and satellite support during its clash with India this month, according to a research group under India’s Ministry of Defence, suggesting that Beijing was more directly involved in the conflict than was previously disclosed.

China helped Pakistan reorganize its radar and air defense systems to more effectively detect India’s deployments of troops and weaponry, Ashok Kumar, director general at the New Delhi-based Centre For Joint Warfare Studies, said in an interview.

China also helped Pakistan adjust its satellite coverage over India during the 15-day interval between an April 22 massacre that killed 26 tourists and the start of hostilities between the two nations, he said.

“It helped them to redeploy their air defense radar so that any actions which we do from the aerial route is known to them,” Kumar said at the group’s headquarters in New Delhi.

India’s government hasn’t publicly detailed China’s involvement in the conflict. While Pakistan has said it used Chinese-supplied weapons, Kumar’s assessment — if correct — indicates that China’s involvement went even further, offering logistical and intelligence support to Islamabad.

The Centre for Joint Warfare Studies describes itself as an autonomous think tank focused on integration and transformation of India’s armed forces. Its advisory board includes Defense Minister Rajnath Singh as well as India’s top military commander and the heads of the army, air force and navy.

China’s Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry didn’t respond to requests for comment placed over the weekend. Representatives for India’s Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry, armed forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry and Information Ministry also didn’t respond to emailed queries on Sunday.

The clash was the worst between the nuclear-armed neighbors in half a century, with both sides trading air, drone and missile strikes, as well as artillery and small arms fire along their shared border. It was triggered by the bloodshed on April 22, which India has called an act of terrorism orchestrated by Pakistan. Leaders in Islamabad have denied involvement.

The conflict drew in world powers, with President Donald Trump taking credit for helping to mediate a ceasefire that started May 10 — an assertion that generated anger in India, which said the truce was negotiated bilaterally. On Thursday, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister said the ceasefire would be extended to Sunday, while the Indian Army has said it would continue to work on confidence-building measures with Pakistan.

Kumar said China used the conflict as a testing ground for its weapons. The performance of the Chinese defense systems were below average and “failed miserably” in some instances, Kumar said, citing an Indian military assessment. He didn’t provide specifics.

India’s defense systems reacted well to Pakistan’s use of hundreds of drones in the conflict, Kumar said, adding that India’s integrated network of censors gave it an edge. He didn’t comment on China’s J-10C fighter or Pakistan’s claims that it downed Indian warplanes.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said Pakistan shot down six Indian fighter jets, an assertion that hasn’t been independently verified. India’s government hasn’t commented on whether it lost aircraft in the fighting.

Chinese weapons like the J-10C fighter and the PL-15 air-to-air missile had never seen documented live fighting before, and their use has raised concerns among Beijing’s rivals across the region, including in Taiwan. China’s government hasn’t commented on the use of its equipment, and Pakistan hasn’t presented evidence to back up its claims.

Kumar said that India’s planning for conflicts with Pakistan now accounts for the probability that China will provide assistance to Islamabad. China may not intervene on behalf of Pakistan unless the situation is “critical,” but Pakistan will enter a conflict between India and China, Kumar said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/china-gave-pakistan-satellite-support-indian-defense-group-says-3546145

In a shocking incident, a video has surfaced on social media in which a passenger in the Air India flight is complaining of the non-functioning of the air conditioning inside the flight on Sunday afternoon. The passenger is seen in the video sweating heavily claiming that they are sitting inside the flight for over an hour without AC amid the extreme heat. The video of the customer was shared by a journalist online and the video is going viral on social media. Air India responded to the video assuring that the matter will be thoroughly reviewed.

The viral video from inside the Air India’s Delhi-Patna flight shows the passengers struggling without the AC and sweating heavily. They are seen using their boarding passes, books and whatever they could find as a fan to get respite from the extreme heat inside the flight.

In the video, one of the passengers can be seen recording himself while sweating. He claimed that the air conditioning was not working and that they had been sitting inside the flight for more than an hour. He also said that children and other passengers were facing serious issues and there was no staff attending to them.

The incident has raised serious concerns on the airlines for their irresponsible behaviour against the customers. The airlines should have checked for any faults in the flight before boarding the passengers. The incident occurred when the country is facing intense heatwaves.

A journalist shared the video online, saying, “Ye Air India ki Delhi-Patna flight hai. Batane ki zarurat nahi, sirf inko dekhiye aur suniye. Likhne ka koi asar hoga iski umeed nahi hai. Abhi 10 din pehle Patna-Delhi flight ka bhi aisa hi haal tha. Tab bhi likh kar dhyaan aakrshit karne ki koshish ki thi.” (This is Air India’s Delhi-Patna flight. There’s no need to explain, just look at them and listen. There’s little hope that writing about it will have any effect. Just 10 days ago, the condition on the Patna-Delhi flight was the same. Even then, I tried to draw attention by writing about it.)

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/video-ac-fails-on-air-india-delhi-patna-flight-passengers-seen-sweating-heavily-amid-heatwave

For her second Cannes appearance this year, Nancy Tyagi dazzled in a meticulously handcrafted pearl-embellished mini dress that exuded timeless grace and bold artistry.

After making headlines with her dreamy blue gown earlier this week, Nancy Tyagi returned to the Cannes 2025 red carpet with yet another self-stitched masterpiece, this time dazzling in a pearl-embellished mini dress. Known for weaving emotion into every ensemble, the self-taught designer and digital creator once again blended craftsmanship with creativity, turning heads and winning hearts. Let’s take a closer look at her stunning second appearance.

Nancy Tyagi’s pearl-studded mini dress at Cannes 2025

For her second Cannes appearance this year, Nancy dazzled in a meticulously handcrafted pearl-embellished mini dress that exuded timeless grace and bold artistry. The soft silver-beige number featured delicate pearl strings, sparkling crystal fringes, and detailed panelling, allowing her to shine on the global red carpet.

The ensemble took more than one month to complete, a true labour of love. Its fitted silhouette and sweetheart neckline offered a feminine touch, while her choice of a voluminous overcoat with puffed shoulders and a trailing hem brought drama and grandeur to the overall outfit.

Taking about second red carpet couture for Cannes, Nancy stated, “Ye colour meri mummy ka favourite hai, isliye iss baar decide kiya ki isi colour mein dress design karun. Isse banane mein poora one month laga, aur main last moment tak taiyaari mein lagi rahi, kyunki dress kaafi heavy thi.”

Adding a modern edge was her choice of exquisite jewellery. Nancy adorned herself in a bold golden ear cuff, a few statement rings, shiny heels and carried a pearl-studded bag, which perfectly complemented her overall look.

She opted for glowing makeup with luminous highlighter, nude eyeshadow, blushy cheeks and glossy lips. Nancy styled her hair in a sleek bun, letting a few wisps frame her face.

Nancy’s show-stopping blue look

Nancy’s opening appearance at Cannes 2025 was nothing short of cinematic. This time, she brought drama and dreaminess together in a stunning blue gown with silver undertones. The couture-worthy ensemble was carefully created using fabric sourced from Seelampur, a humble market in North East Delhi.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/lifestyle/nancy-tyagi-is-the-real-star-at-cannes-2025-in-self-stitched-pearl-embellished-mini-dress-and-dramatic-cape-photos

Nimrat Kaur shared the profound impact of losing her father to terrorism at age 11. She reflected on her mother’s hidden struggles and the emotional burden placed on her as the eldest daughter. Nimrat acknowledged the challenges of maintaining strength for her family while longing for childhood freedom.

Nimrat Kaur, widely known for her powerful performances in Airlift, The Lunchbox, and her recent web series Kull, opened up in an exclusive interview with Zoom about the emotional toll of losing her father at a young age. She also reflected on her mother’s silent struggle and how those years shaped the person she is today.

Nimrat Kaur on her mother’s struggles

Speaking candidly, Nimrat shared the emotional aftermath her family endured following her father’s passing. She said, “My mother went through her own cycle of ups and downs and carried such deep sadness within her. I was unaware of it at the time because I was too young to understand, especially as a woman, what she was truly going through. I was just trying to be there for her in my own way, thinking I needed to be normal, to be strong. That’s what society tells you—to be strong for yourself, your sister, your mother.”

She continued, “The problem with trying to be strong all the time is that people begin to expect it from you constantly. And then, sometimes, you don’t want to be strong—you just want to be a child, to make mistakes like any kid would. A lot of those liberties were taken away. I had to grow up really fast.”

Nimrat remembers her father

Nimrat also spoke lovingly about her father and the void his absence left, “I realized only a year later what it really meant to grow up without him—the first man in your life, your father. He was a shining example of a human being. Born to a farmer-soldier, he used to work in the fields and walk over a mile to attend night school. He studied at Jodhpur University, went on to join the Indian Army through IMA, and had a bright future as an officer.”

“He was an exceptional father—so proud of his daughters. In a society that often values sons over daughters, he stood apart. When I was born in Pilani, someone said to him, ‘Oh, you had a daughter,’ and he replied, ‘That’s exactly why I’m celebrating—because I had a daughter.’ The wings he gave me during those 11 years formed the foundation of who I am today,” recalled Nimrat.

A painful loss that changed everything

Reflecting on the moment her life changed forever, Nimrat shared, “I lost my father to terrorism when I was 11. It was a strange and violent way to lose a parent, and from that moment, everything changed. We were living in Delhi, where I studied for nearly a decade—school and college. But the reality of what had happened didn’t hit me right away. I think it sinks in much later.”
“I’m the elder daughter, and my younger sister was only seven at the time. My mom was in her mid-thirties. As a family unit, we were completely disoriented and displaced. The world as we knew it had ended—we lost the captain of our ship.”

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/entertainment-news/bollywood/nimrat-kaur-recalls-growing-up-without-fathers-love-says-her-mother-went-through-ups-and-downs-exclusive-article-151668659

A London-based tech professional advised job seekers to highlight their work over academic credentials, like an IIT background, in referral requests, because just the IIT background won’t help. His post sparked mixed reactions online. Read more for details.

A tech professional based in London sparked a discussion online after sharing his perspective on how job seekers should approach referral requests. He said job seekers should not focus on just their “IIT background” because it is not just the “IIT background” that will help but the more recognised work portfolio.
In a now-viral post on X, Kunal Kushwaha, who works in London, posted a screenshot of a referral message that started with, “I’m an IIT alumnus.” While he recognised the bravery it takes to reach out, he advised applicants to highlight their work rather than lean solely on academic credentials.
“I understand how hard the job search can be. It takes courage to reach out. But when messages are short, every word matters. Leading with a college name can sometimes miss the opportunity to show what truly sets you apart,” Kunal wrote.

He emphasised that candidates should focus on demonstrating the value they bring, no matter where they studied.

“Even top IITs have students who struggle with placements. What really stands out is your work, the projects you’ve built, the problems you’ve solved, your passion for the field,” he added.
Drawing from his international experience, Kunal noted that prestigious academic backgrounds tend to have limited influence outside India. “Outside India, no one cares about your IIT tag. Maybe it still carries weight in India, but not if you’re aiming for remote roles at global companies,” he said.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/viral/no-one-cares-about-your-iit-tag-london-based-techies-blunt-advice-to-job-seekers-goes-viral-article-151669844

Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including a trip before the Pahalgam terror attack, and had also travelled to China.

Two days after the arrest of Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra on charges of espionage, Hisar superintendent of police (SP) Shashank Kumar Sawan on Sunday said that Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs) were grooming her to become an asset.

He revealed that Malhotra had visited Pakistan several times, including a trip before the Pahalgam terror attack, and had also travelled to China.

Addressing a press conference, SP Sawan said central agencies had informed the Haryana Police that PIOs were actively recruiting social media influencers to promote soft narratives. Malhotra, who was arrested on Friday, has been remanded to police custody for five days.

Travel blogger front, finances under probe

“She is being interrogated by the Haryana Police, in coordination with central agencies. We are analysing her financial transactions and travel history to determine the sources of her income,” said SP Sawan. “Her known income sources do not justify her foreign travel. We suspect external funding. On the surface, she was just a travel blogger,” he added.

When questioned about his comments regarding the protocol lapse at Chaitya Bhoomi, CJI Gavai replied that he is “not fussy” about protocols.

The three pillars of democracy – judiciary, legislature and executive – are equal, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said on Sunday, adding that constitutional institutions must show respect to each other. His remarks came in the backdrop of a debate over judicial overreach stemming from a few recent rulings by the Supreme Court.

CJI BR Gavai, who took charge last month to become the second Dalit person to hold the office, was attending a felicitation ceremony in Mumbai. He subsequently visited Babasaheb Ambedkar’s memorial Chaitya Bhoomi during his visit to his home state, Maharashtra.

He also said protocol breaches by judges would trigger debates regarding Article 142, which grants the Supreme Court special powers. During his address at the event organized by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, the CJI noted the absence of three key officials: the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, the Director General of Police, and the Mumbai Police Commissioner.

“The three pillars of democracy – Judiciary, Legislature and Executive – are equal. Every Constitutional institution must reciprocate and show respect to other institutions. When a person from Maharashtra becomes the Chief Justice of India and visits Maharashtra for the first time, if the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra, the Director General of Police or the Mumbai Police Commissioner don’t feel it appropriate to be present, then they need to reflect on that. Protocols are not something new, it’s a question of the respect one constitutional body gives to another,” CJI Gavai stated.

He further added, “When the head of a constitutional institution visits the state for the first time, the way they are treated should be reconsidered. Had it been any one of us, discussions about Article 142 would have arisen. These may seem like small things, but the public must be made aware of them.”

Subsequently, at Chaitya Bhoomi, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, and Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti were present, after being informed of the CJI’s remarks.

When questioned about his comments regarding the protocol lapse at Chaitya Bhoomi, CJI Gavai replied that he is “not fussy” about protocols but merely conveyed what had transpired.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/constitution-of-india-supreme-its-three-pillars-must-work-together-cji-gavai-9342290.html

Amit Shah said, “Operation Sindoor will be written in golden letters when the history is written on the border safety.”

Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that India deployed its indigenously developed BrahMos missiles to dismantle Pakistani air bases during Operation Sindoor. Addressing a gathering in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Amit Shah asserted that Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense system remained ineffective during Operation Sindoor.

“As our indigenously developed BrahMos (supersonic cruise missile system) worked to destroy Pakistan’s air bases, its own air defence system, borrowed from China, remained unused. Our Air Force carried out precise attacks and inflicted heavy damage on many places in Pakistan, which were considered impregnable,” Amit Shah said as per news agency PTI.

Amit Shah said that Operation Sindoor will be historically recognized for its contribution to border safety and for exposing Pakistan’s links to terrorism on a global stage. He said, “Operation Sindoor will be written in golden letters when the history is written on the border safety.”

The Home Minister further stated that while previous surgical strikes and airstrikes were confined to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Operation Sindoor involved penetrating 100 kilometers into Pakistani territory to eliminate terrorists and their operational hubs.

“Pakistan used to tell the whole world that no terrorist activity happens there and accused India of making false complaints. But, terrorists were finished with missiles under ‘Operation Sindoor’ and Pakistan was exposed to the world,” he said.

Amit Shah said that Operation Sindoor exposed Pakistan’s denial of harboring terrorist activities, stating that the elimination of terrorists and their infrastructure within Pakistan’s borders revealed the country’s complicity.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/amit-shah-confirms-indias-use-of-brahmos-missiles-to-destroy-pakistani-bases-in-op-sindoor-9342406.html

The central government on Saturday imposed port restrictions on the import of a few Bangladeshi goods in response to similar curbs placed by Dhaka on certain Indian products last month.

Though the Centre’s move to restrict imports of certain goods from Bangladesh via land ports will have an impact on employment and transport revenue in West Bengal, the national interest is more important than the potential economic fallout, officials said on Sunday.

The central government on Saturday imposed port restrictions on the import of a few Bangladeshi goods, such as readymade garments and processed food items, in response to similar curbs placed by Dhaka on certain Indian products last month.

“Around 20-30 trucks, carrying finished premium garments, used to come daily even after India banned third-country transhipment. The latest order will completely stop such movement via land ports. When transhipment was allowed, 60-80 truckloads of garments were entering India,” Petrapole Clearing Agents Staff Welfare Association (PCASWA) member Kartik Chakraborty said.

Truckers and workers at border logistics hubs will be affected by the port restriction order, he said.

A trade expert, declining to be named, said the finished garments from Bangladesh often make their way into modern Indian retail chains at low prices, and these products are effectively being “dumped into the market by Bangladeshi exporters”.

“The move by the Centre may be strategic, possibly linked to national interest and recent geopolitical developments, including Dhaka’s ties with Islamabad. The national interest is more important than the potential economic fallout,” the expert said.

The notification imposes “port restrictions on the import of certain goods such as readymade garments, processed food items etc., from Bangladesh to India,” the Centre said.

The order said that readymade garments imports from Bangladesh will not be allowed from any land port. However, it is allowed only through the Nhava Sheva and Kolkata seaports.

For fruits, fruit flavoured and carbonated drinks, processed food items (baked goods, snacks, chips and confectionary), cotton and cotton yarn waste, plastic and PVC finished goods, dyes, plasticisers and granules, and wooden furniture, the notification said the inbound shipments from the neighbouring country shall not be allowed through any LCSs (Land Customs Stations) and ICPs (Integrated Check Posts) in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, and LCS Changrabandha and Fulbari, in West Bengal.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/may-hurt-bengal-but-official-on-impact-of-bangladesh-import-curbs-8447328

Prima facie, a short in the circuit triggered the blaze around 3:45 am at Central Textile Mills, that manufactures Solapuri Chaddar and towels

Eight persons, including three women and a child, were killed in a massive fire at a factory in Akkalkot Road MIDC area of Solapur on Sunday, officials said.

Prima facie, a short in the circuit triggered the blaze around 3:45 am at Central Textile Mills, that manufactures Solapuri Chaddar and towels. The factory, stood on a 12-gunta plot, had a ground-plus-two-floor structure.

The deceased have been identified as Usman Mansuri (87), owner of the company; Anas Mansuri (24); Sika Mansuri (24); Yusuf Mansuri (1.5); Ayesha Bagwan (45); and factory workers Mehtab Bagwan (51), Hina Bagwan (35), and Salman Bagwan (18).

While trying to douse the fire, Rakesh Salunkhe, chief of the Solapur Municipal Corporation’s fire department, and two other firefighters sustained injuries during the rescue operations.

As soon as the fire brigade received the emergency call, multiple teams rushed to the spot and battled the blaze for over 10 hours. Ten fire engines were deployed, with water tenders arriving from Pandharpur, the NTPC project, Akkalkot, and Chincholi MIDC. However, due to the congested layout of the area, firefighters faced significant challenges in accessing and extinguishing the flames.

Firefighters used high ladders, breathing apparatus, and aerial platforms to rescue residents in nearby structures. Complicating the operation further, the factory owner had constructed a small religious place within the premises, which created additional hurdles for the rescue teams.

Despite continuous efforts, the fire could not be fully brought under control for several hours, largely due to the presence of highly flammable materials like cotton, threads, and chemical liquids.

Authorities said the factory owner and his family lived on the first floor of the building, while residential arrangements for staff were made within the same premises. This cohabitation made it difficult for occupants to escape once the fire broke out.

Sadashiv Padune, sub-divisional officer of Solapur, said, “According to neighbours, the fire spread rapidly after a loud blast. The presence of combustible materials caused the flames to engulf the premises quickly. It took us nearly 12 hours to control the fire. Unfortunately, eight bodies have been recovered.”

BJP MLA Subhash Deshmukh and former MLA Narasayya Adam visited the site on Sunday.

Survivors and local residents expressed anger, alleging that the fire brigade’s delayed response contributed to the high death toll. They claimed that the lack of modern firefighting equipment and poor preparedness hindered timely rescue operations.

Some of the victims reportedly made desperate phone calls from a bathroom where they had taken refuge, pleading for help that arrived too late.

Sadik Sheikh, a local resident, said they dialled 112 to seek help, but the fire brigade reached the spot too late. “Because of the delayed response, the Mansuri family members were charred to death. The fire department must take responsibility for these deaths.”

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has expressed deep grief over the loss of lives due to fire tragedy. Modi also wished speedy recovery for those injured in the accident.

The Prime Minister announced an ex-gratia from PMNRF of Rs. 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs. 50,000 for those injured.

In the evening, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis also expressed grief over the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased.

The Prime Minister’s Office posted on X;“Pained by the loss of lives due to a fire tragedy in Solapur, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon.”

CPI (M) leader Narasayya Adam alleged that adequate efforts were not made to rescue the victims.

“The factory is very old and employs over 200-225 workers. The fire brigade arrived too late, allowing the fire to spread rapidly. They took more than 6–7 hours to control it. The factory owner and his family were trapped inside and no efforts were made to rescue them in time. I spoke to the municipal officer and urged immediate corrective action,” said Adam.

Adam also said he would call Maharashtra’s chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, demanding an inquiry and strict action against the civic officials responsible. He also sought compensation for the victims’ families.

Baba Mistry, former corporator of the Solapur Municipal Corporation, alleged that the fire brigade lacks sufficient firefighting equipment, which caused the delay in dousing the blaze, taking over 10 hours.

According to fire chief Rakesh Salunkhe they received the fire call between 4 AM and 4:15 AM. “A total of 10 fire tankers were deployed and continuously refilled, amounting to over 50 water tanker trips.

“Open areas near the factory were occupied with stockpiles of textile yarns, blocking access to our vehicles. We had to use ladders and cut through window grills to carry out the rescue,” he said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/eight-killed-in-major-fire-at-textile-factory-in-solapur-101747592642725.html

when the same video, was posted by Kerala Congress’ official handle, it was fact checked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB)

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, took to micro-blogging website X and shared a video of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaking to the media claiming to have informed Pakistan military about Operation Sindoor in advance and questioned how many aircraft the Indian Air Force lost.

“Informing Pakistan at the start of our attack was a crime. EAM has publicly admitted that GOI did it. Who authorised it? How many aircraft did our air force lose as a result?” Gandhi’s caption read.

In the video Jaishankar can be heard saying, “At the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan, saying, ‘We are striking at terrorist infrastructure and we are not striking at the military.'” “So the military has the option of standing out and not interfering in this process. They chose not to take that good advice.”

However, when the same video was posted by Kerala Congress’ official handle, it was fact checked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) “Social media posts quoting EAM @DrSJaishankar are implying that India gave advance information to Pakistan about #OperationSindoor, #PIBFactCheck EAM is being misquoted, and he has not made this statement.”

News agency ANI had quoted Jaishankar saying, “We achieved the goals which we set out to do by destroying the terrorist infrastructure. Since key goals were achieved, I think we reasonably took the position, because even at the start of the operation, we had sent a message to Pakistan saying we are striking at terrorist infrastructure and not military and the military has an option to stand out and not interfere. They chose not to take that good advice. Once they got badly hit on the morning of 10th May. The satellite pictures show how much damage we did and what little damage they did. It is clear who wanted cessation of firing.”

Salman Khurshid, a former External Affairs Minister in UPA government, has been made part of the delegation going to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.

New Delhi: Government on Saturday night announced 59 names for seven multi-party delegations  it will be sending abroad to explain India’s stance on terrorism emanating from Pakistan, after rejecting three of the four names suggested by the Congress and choosing four leaders on its own from the main opposition party.

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who did not figure in the official Congress list, was made the leader of a delegation headed to the United States, Panama, Guyana, Brazil and Colombia while Punjab MP Amar Singh is in the delegation led by BJP’s Ravishankar Prasad going to the United Kingdom, France, Germany, European Union, Italy and Denmark.

Salman Khurshid, a former External Affairs Minister in UPA government, has been made part of the delegation going to Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore while senior MP Manish Tewari and former Union Minister Anand Sharma will be headed to Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, South Africa.

Of this, Congress had recommended only Sharma’s name for being part of the government exercise to drum up support for India. The government rejected the names of Congress Lok Sabha Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha Chief Whip Syed Naseer Hussain and Punjab MP Raja Brar, setting stage for a confrontation with the Congress.

Of the 59 members, which includes eight diplomats, 21 belong to the BJP while Congress has five members, TDP 3 and AAP 2 and Shiv Sena 2. Other parties, including DMK, Samajwadi Party, CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress, have one each.

In the morning, the government had announced the leaders for the delegations, including Tharoor. A “surprised” Congress then accused the government of “playing games” with a “mischievous mindset” and said the government “should not add a name in such delegations without consulting the party”, especially “when we were asked for names and it was given in good faith”. I

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs named the leaders of the delegations in a statement, with Tharoor on top of the list followed by Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD-U), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Kanimozhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) and Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena).

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/govt-names-59-for-multi-party-delegations-only-one-of-four-suggested-by-cong-accepted-3545702

Stating that Lord Jagannath’s ‘Mahaprasad’ is highly sacred and considered as ‘Anna Brahma’ (rice soul), the SJTA said in accordance with tradition, devotees should consume the cooked ‘bhog’ by sitting on the floor with gratitude.

Puri: The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Saturday appealed to devotees to show the highest respect to ‘Mahaprasad’, the sacred cooked offering to Lord Jagannath, and to refrain from consuming it while seated at dining tables.

The appeal follows reports and social media showing people eating the ‘Mahaprasad’ in a hotel in Puri while seated at tables and wearing shoes — an act the SJTA described as “against the age-old traditions of Sri Mandir.” Stating that Lord Jagannath’s ‘Mahaprasad’ is highly sacred and considered as “Anna Brahma” (rice soul), the SJTA said in accordance with tradition, devotees should consume the cooked ‘bhog’ by sitting on the floor with gratitude.

“Mahaprasad holds immense religious significance and must be treated with the utmost reverence,” the administration emphasised.

“Eating it on a dining table is considered disrespectful to the divine offering and contradicts the spiritual customs associated with it,” they added.

Source: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/odisha/puri-jagannath-temple-urges-devotees-not-to-consume-mahaprasad-on-dining-tables-3545426

Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested along with six others for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani agents, operates the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’ and has about 3,77,000 followers.

Jyoti Malhotra, the Haryana-based travel vlogger arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, enjoys wide popularity on YouTube and Instagram and posted several videos of her visits to the neighbouring country earlier this year. Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested along with six others for sharing sensitive information with Pakistani agents, operates the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’ and has about 3,77,000 followers.

Her Instagram account, ‘travelwithjo1’, also has 1,32,000 followers. “Nomadic Leo Girl. Wanderer Haryanvi + Punjabi modern girl with old ideas,” says the description on both her YouTube and Instagram accounts.

Her accounts reveal that she travelled widely across India as well as to foreign destinations like Indonesia and China. However, of particular interest is her numerous videos and reels on her trip to Pakistan.

VISIT TO LAHORE, PAKISTAN
The videos were posted around two months ago. Through her travelogues, Malhotra has attempted to portray several positive aspects of Pakistan. Investigators said Malhotra was used by foreign agents to record such videos for propaganda purposes due to her influence as a social media personality.

The videos show her crossing the Attari-Wagah border, exploring Lahore’s Anarkali Bazaar, undertaking a bus journey, and her visit to the biggest Hindu temple, Katas Raj Temple, in Pakistan.

One of the photos on her Instagram handle features a caption in Urdu, “Ishq Lahore”. She also shared content about Pakistani food, and made comparisons about the culture between the two countries.

Malhotra also visited Kashmir last year, with videos showing her enjoying a shikara ride in Dal Lake. She also posted a video of taking a train ride from Srinagar to Banihal.

One of her latest videos was her take on the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead, and led India to launch Operation Sindoor. “My views on Pahalgam Kashmir: Shall we visit Kashmir again?” the caption of her video read.

YOUTUBER’S LINK TO PAKISTAN
Investigators said Malhotra first visited Pakistan in 2023 after acquiring a visa through commission agents. During her visit, she came in contact with one Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, an official who was posted at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi.

Soon, they developed close relations and Ehsan introduced her to intelligence operatives in Pakistan. Earlier this month, Ehsan was declared persona non grata and expelled on May 13, 2025, as India downgraded diplomatic ties with Pakistan.

After returning to India, Malhotra maintained contact with Pakistani operatives through encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/who-is-jyoti-malhotra-haryana-youtuber-travel-vlogger-arrest-spying-pakistan-2726301-2025-05-17

​​The heli ambulance was coming to Kedarnath from AIIMS Rishikesh to rescue a patient. However, before landing at the main helipad of Kedarnath, the heli ambulance developed some technical snag.

A helicopter of AIIMS Rishikesh’s heli-ambulance service crash-landed in Kedarnath on Saturday, May 17. The heli-ambulance crash-landed due to damage to the rear part of the helicopter.
A ‘Sanjeevani’ heli ambulance operated by AIIMS, Rishikesh made an emergency landing. It had gone to Kedarnath to rescue a pilgrim suffering from respiratory distress when it developed a technical snag in its tail rotor, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing, said District Tourism Development Officer Rahul Chaubey said, who is also the nodal officer for the Heli Service, reported PTI.
Two doctors and a pilot on board the helicopter are safe, he added.

A video of the incident was shared by news agency PTI.

The heli ambulance was coming to Kedarnath from AIIMS Rishikesh to rescue a patient, Shree Devi. Before landing at the main helipad of Kedarnath, the heli ambulance developed some technical snag.

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/breaking-helicopter-crash-lands-in-kedarnath-aiims-rishikesh-heli-ambulance-article-151659902

Indian armed forces not only thrashed Pakistan with missiles but also with smart deception when Operation Sindoor was at its peak, according to report.

In a move showing strategic superiority and brilliance in a battle situation, the Indian Armed Forces did not just give Pakistan a bloody nose with missiles during Operation Sindoor but also with planning, at the heart of which was a well-thought-out deception.

On May 7, India launched Op Sindoor against terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian military called the strikes “non-escalatory” in nature and warned Pakistan against any misadventure during a press briefing that day. However, Pakistan resorted to provocation by sending drones and missiles, targeted at the Indian civilian population and military installations.

India retaliated against the unprovoked escalation by the Pakistani military with drone and missile strikes into Pakistan, destroying targets and turning them to rubble.

How Indian Forces Fooled Pakistan

Putting on display operational excellence against provocative Pakistani escalation, the Indian Air Force (IAF) used dummy aircraft as bait, disguising as fighter jets to disable Chinese-supplied air defence systems in Pakistan, news agency ANI reported, citing top defence sources.

On the intervening night of May 9 and 10, the Indian armed forces targeted 11 Pakistani airbases after Pakistan launched its ballistic missiles at India. Ahead of India’s response to the provocation, the Indian Air Force first sent in unmanned aircraft that were made to look like real fighter jets.

The deceptive move prompted the Pakistani radars to prepare themselves to destroy what they thought were Indian fighter jets. They activated their HQ-9 missile systems to take them down, which, unknowingly for the enemy, gave away their positions and exposed them to Indian counterattacks.

The Pakistani air force had moved all its HQ-9 air defence missile launchers and radars to different locations, some of which were deployed at new locations. However, once they were activated, they could easily be detected, ANI reported.

Upon successful deception and detection of the Pakistani air defence systems, the IAF pounded Pakistani air bases with long-range missiles, such as BrahMos and SCALP missiles. India fired nearly 15 BrahMos and SCALP, Rampage and Crystal Maze missiles.

Pakistan was pushed on the back foot, struggling to stand tall before the Indian armed forces.

Pakistan Compelled To Cry ‘Ceasefire’ After India’s Powerful Strikes
The Indian strikes damaged airstrips, hangars, and communication systems across Pakistan’s air force network. Reports say they also hit an airborne early warning aircraft and several long-range drones in Sindh.

This was the first ever known use of BrahMos missiles in a combat, defence sources said.

Source: https://www.news18.com/india/how-india-fooled-pakistan-using-dummy-fighter-jet-to-deceive-air-defence-systems-during-op-sindoor-9341546.html

According to police officials, Arman was in contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi.

Nuh police arrested a 23-year-old Arman from his village Rajaka on Friday for allegedly providing SIM cards to Pakistani operatives in India. The police recovered a mobile phone from him and took him on a six-day police remand. According to police officials, he was in touch with Pakistani operatives since 2023.

According to police officials, Arman was in contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim, alias Danish, a staffer at the Pakistan High Commission (PHC) in New Delhi, who was also in contact with Hisar-based YouTuber, Jyoti Malhotra, who was recently arrested. Arman had shared pictures of a defence expo with Danish, besides sharing more information with Pakistani agents.

“Arman’s father Jamil’s two aunts are staying in Pakistan, and he went to Pakistan six months ago and stayed with his father’s aunts. He got married in 2021 and he has two children. He is one of six brothers,” a senior police official said.

“Arman’s elder brother Altaf was the sarpanch of the village in the last tenure and was later suspended for indulging in corruption in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA),” he added.

Sourc: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/nuh-man-held-for-providing-sim-cards-to-pak-operatives-101747504770044.html

Two engineers died after allegedly undergoing a hair transplant treatment at a private clinic here, police said on Friday.

According to police, the victims had gone to Dr Anushka Tiwari’s clinic, Empire, for their treatment.

The incident came to light when Vineet Dubey’s wife, Jaya Tripathi, filed a complaint on the chief minister’s portal against the clinic.

In her complaint, she said that Dubey (40) had a badly swollen face and suffered pain before his death on March 14, a day after undergoing a hair transplant at Dr Tiwari’s clinic, Additional DCP West Vijendra Dwivedi said.

The infection is believed to have developed during the procedure and was left untreated, leading to a rapid deterioration of his condition and subsequent death, the officer said.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was lodged on May 9 under Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita’s section 106(1), for causing death by negligence.

However, this is not an isolated incident. After Dubey’s case became known in the area, Kushagra Katiyar came forward and filed a complaint with Commissioner of Police Akhil Kumar on Thursday against the same clinic.

He told the reporters that his brother, Mayank Katiyar, had also undergone surgery on November 18 in the Empire clinic. Hours later, he complained of chest pain and swelling and died the very next day.

Kushagra recounted that Mayank’s face was badly swollen and he experienced immense chest pain after returning home to Farrukhabad from the clinic.

“Dr Anushka had advised them to get an injection for the pain, but it offered no relief. A cardiologist found no heart-related issues, but Mayank tragically passed away while being transported back to Kanpur,” Kushagra told the reporters.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttar-pradesh/botched-hair-transplant-at-uttar-pradeshs-private-clinic-kills-two-3544171

As per media reports, the incident occurred on March 16 at the Kali Mata Temple in Sangrur, wherein the man named Amandeep Singh applied the oil on attendees of a camp and he claimed that it would help them combat baldness.

In a recent incident, a social media influencer has been denied anticipatory bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, over his claims of hair growth upon using his homemade oil, which eventually led to hospitalisation of over over 70 people in Punjab’s Sangrur, several publications reported.

The High Court found the claims made by him to be misleading and not backed by any clinical testing.

As per media reports, the incident occurred on March 16 at the Kali Mata Temple in Sangrur, wherein the man named Amandeep Singh applied the oil on attendees of a camp and he claimed that it would help them combat baldness.

However, within a couple of hours, people reported that they felt burning sensations in their eyes, facial swelling. They were then taken to Civil Hospital, Sangrur for treatment wherein the senior medical officer diagnosed the reaction as severe contact dermatitis.

Doctors said that if the reaction affected the eyes’ corneas, it could lead to some victims even losing their vision.

Amandeep Singh has applied for a patent for his homemade hair oil and also claimed that the reactions after applying the oil must have been the result of improper application by the users.

Highlighting his work as a hairstylist with over 86,000 thousand followers on social media,Sing’s counsel stated that he was only trying to help people to combat hair loss with the hair oil.

“In a bid to meet fickle societal standards of beauty, vulnerable people go to extreme lengths and even undergo risky procedures. The constant pressure to look a certain way often has a deleterious effect on the mental health of children and adults alike. In fact, in this day and age where social media and marketing agendas so deeply affect one’s self-esteem, we, as a society, must endeavour to promote authenticity over curated perfection,” Justice Harpreet Singh Brar of the HC observed in his order released on Thursday, as per a media report.

In an order on May 12, the court strongly criticised the online influencers’ role in exploiting a person’s insecurities for profit.

Quoting Shakespeare, the judge said, “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind”. “This is yet another unfortunate example of internet-famous, unqualified quacks taking advantage of the common man’s insecurities,” he added.

“Advertising tall, misleading claims without scientific backing must be condemned,” the judge further stated. He also mentioned that it was the responsibility of the state to ensure that trust is maintained in the market and public health is protected.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/punjab/hc-denies-bail-to-influencer-after-over-70-people-hospitalised-upon-using-his-home-made-hair-oil-3544054

On the radar were premises of suspects linked with US-based BKI operative and gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and his nodes Shamsher Singh Shera alias Honey along with others based in various countries, it said in a statement.

Cracking down further on the activities of the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terrorist group, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday searched 15 locations in Punjab in connection with the grenade attack on a police station in Gurdaspur district last December.

“Today’s searches, carried out in Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar and Kapurthala districts of Punjab, led to the seizure of various incriminating materials, including mobiles/digital devices and documents,” the probe agency said.

On the radar were premises of suspects linked with US-based BKI operative and gangster Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and his nodes Shamsher Singh Shera alias Honey along with others based in various countries, it said in a statement.

A key aide of Pakistan-based BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh alias Rinda, Happy has been found to be responsible for recently orchestrating numerous grenade attacks on various police stations and police posts in the states of Punjab and Haryana, the NIA said.

Investigations in the case relating to the hand grenade attack on Ghanie Ke Bangar police station had revealed that the arrested accused who had committed the crime was acting on the directions of Happy, along with Shamsher and other aides.

It was also found that BKI’s operatives, based in various countries, were engaged in a criminal conspiracy to recruit and train India-based associates, provide funds, weapons and explosives to the field operatives of the terror group.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/punjab/nia-raids-15-locations-in-punjab-to-probe-khalistani-network-3544510

The court dismissed a petition on Rohingya deportations as lacking evidence, calling it a “beautifully crafted story,” and tagged it with related cases.

The Supreme Court on Friday called a petition alleging that 43 Rohingya refugees were forcibly deported from India and abandoned in international waters was a “beautifully crafted story” that lacked material evidence.

A bench of justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was hearing a plea filed by two Rohingya refugees who sought the court’s intervention alleging that others in their community had been detained by police under the pretext of biometric data collection and later deported via Port Blair after being blindfolded and restrained aboard naval ships.

The bench, however, declined to pass any interim orders as the petition lacked material evidence to support its “vague, evasive and sweeping statements”.

“Every time, you have a new story. Now (where) is this beautifully crafted story coming from? …Who was clicking the videos and photos? How did he come back? What is the material on record?” justice Kant asked.

“When the country is going through such a tough time, you bring up these fanciful petitions,” he added.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, informed the court that the United Nations Human Rights Office has also taken cognisance of the allegations and initiated an inquiry. “Time is against us. Please hear this next week. The UN report says they were picked up and sent,” he said.

When Gonsalves offered to place relevant reports and a tape recording, allegedly from “Myanmar shores”, on record, the Court said while nothing barred a lawyer from placing such material on record, one must keep in mind that “foreign reports cannot override Indian sovereignty”.

Justice Kant then pointed out that a similar issue was raised earlier before a three-judge bench comprising the two judges hearing this case and justice Dipankar Datta, while it was hearing other matters concerning Rohingya refugees.

“We were sitting in three-judge bench composition… stay was declined on same matter and now you are before us here on the basis of same material,” justice Kant said.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sc-calls-rohingya-refugees-plea-a-beautifully-crafted-story-101747421762303.html

India plans to revamp Indus canals for the first time in over a century, expanding irrigation capacity amid tensions with Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty.

India will begin sprucing up a network of Indus canals, beginning with the Kathua, New Partap and Ranbir channels for the first time since they were built over a century ago as well as sanction new ones to increase the country’s nearly stagnant net-irrigated area, officials aware of the matter said.

The tasks will be carried out unfettered by the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, which India suspended last month after terrorists killed 26 people in Pahalgam, a tourism hub in Kashmir. The treaty didn’t allow or restricted India’s ability to revamp, expand or create new water channels from the Indus basin rivers, despite a growing population, according to the Union government.

The rebuilding and expansion of canals linked to Indus rivers were prioritised immediately after the treaty was paused by India on April 23, although roadmaps were routinely being worked on by various departments, including the flood control and irrigation wing of the J&K government, one official said.

India is preparing to begin desilting work in the Ranbir, New Partap, Ranjan, Tawi Lift, Paragwal, Kathua Canal and Ravi canals, which will be done in phases by the Jammu and Kashmir government under technical guidance of the Centre, a second official said.

Then, expansion of the Kathua, New Partap and Ranbir channels will take place after projects are sanctioned, HT has learnt but it is as yet unclear which one will be taken up first.

“The need to expand these canals has been acutely felt for decades. The main aim is to increase their (water) carrying capacity to increase the net irrigation cover,” the second official said.

An expansion of canals on the Indus rivers will help to reduce reliance on an increasingly unpredictable summer monsoon, which waters nearly 60% of the country’s net-sown area.

“The Jammu region is favourable for year-round agriculture but water crises have always hampered farming as availability is very limited. Being in the northernmost part of the country, the monsoon arrives very late in J&K and retreats within a few weeks unlike in the hinterland,” said Abhay Singh, a federal horticulture official.

The so-called Rawi Tawi Irrigation Complex comprises the Ravi and the Tawi Lift canal. In the Jammu division, canals provide over 90% of the total irrigation water: Ranbir caters to Jammu and Partap to Akhnoor.

India is also set to expedite work on several proposed dams in the Kashmir region. These include Kishenganga, Ratle, Miyar Nallah, Lower Kalnai and Pakal Dul power projects aside from the Tulbul navigation project.

J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah has pushed for the completion of the Tulbul barrage on Wullar lake, with the IWT being suspended.

Blueprints to expand the Ranbir canal, a major carriage built in 1905, was already being worked on but they were mostly an “exercise on paper” because implementation was not possible due to “heavy restrictions imposed by the Indus treaty”, the first official said, reiterating India’s position that the agreement had become obsolete given that natural changes in the Indus system had reduced India’s share and population had increased manifold.

“The length of Ranbir canal is about 60 km, which was built according to needs of the previous century and has remained stuck there despite growing agricultural water demand,” the official cited in the first instance said.

The Partap channels are equally “high priority”, a third person who briefed HT said. The Old Partap canal used to open on the right bank of Chenab near a village called Devipur, which lies about 20 km downstream of the head of New Partap channel.

“The Old Partap Canal was built in 1906 and meant to cater to a command area of about just 8000 hectares of cultivable land from Akhnoor town to Manawar Tawi in Chhamb sector of Akhnoor,” the third official said. Command area refers to the total acreage of land that can be irrigated by fully utilising a canal system.

The New Partap canal’s length is about 34 km, with utilisation of no more than 9030 hectares, which is grossly inadequate, the official said. Once a major source of surface water irrigation, it catered to the lush Kandi belt of Jammu district, according to the J&K irrigation department. The water passage was designed for a net irrigated area of 16500 hectares but officials say restrictions on maintenance work, expansion and drawing rights have relegated it to a minor irrigation source.

Under the six-decade-old Indus Water Treaty, the Ranbir canal can carry no more than 1000 cusecs for irrigation, 250 cusecs for hydropower besides some withdrawal allowance for silt extraction, to be carried out within a defined window.

“The proposed expansion of these canals will be done to allow full utilisation of irrigation potential and expand their command areas,” the third official cited above said.

Pakistan has objected to India’s suspension of the treaty and it has said any Indian attempt to divert or restrict water downstream in the neighbouring country would be “considered an act of war”.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-to-rebuild-canals-dig-new-ones-to-tap-into-indus-101747421164080.html

According to park officials, the incident occurred near the Devpura Dam in the Phalodi Range, where a tigress identified as T-2302 has given birth to three cubs inside the pipe.

A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed after a video surfaced showing a man dangerously close to tiger cubs at the Ranthambore National Park near Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, officials confirmed.

The undated video shows the man entering a large water pipe, where the cubs were sheltering, touching and playing with them while recording the act on camera, officials said on Friday.

According to park officials, the incident occurred near the Devpura Dam in the Phalodi Range, where a tigress identified as T-2302 has given birth to three cubs inside the pipe.

The FIR has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, under different sections namely Section 27: Restriction on entry into a sanctuary, Section 50: Powers of entry, search, arrest, and detention; and Section 51 which includes penalties for violations.

Ranthambore Divisional Forest Officer, Ramanand Bhakar, confirmed the investigation is underway to identify the individual and determine how he managed to reach such a sensitive zone.

The man’s identity has not yet been confirmed.

Tigers are classified as a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, and Project Tiger, launched in 1973, is India’s flagship conservation programme aimed at preserving tigers and their natural habitats.

Ranthambore National Park, home to around 80 tigers, is one of the country’s key reserves under this initiative.

Wildlife conservationists had called the incident a “serious lapse” in park security and management.

“How could someone venture into a critical tiger habitat that is supposed to be completely protected? If the forest department was aware of the presence of cubs, wasn’t it standard procedure to increase vigilance and install camera traps?” they asked.

“Ranthambore is, unfortunately, making headlines for the wrong reasons. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) should take strict cognisance of this and ensure its guidelines are properly enforced,” they added.

Actually, visuals of a villager touching a newborn tiger cub — belonging to tigress T-2302 — inside a concrete pipe in the Daulda–Devpura Dam region of the Phalaudi Range in Ranthambore National Park surfaced on Thursday, raising serious concerns over ongoing lapses in wildlife monitoring at the reserve.

The shocking incident is the latest in a series of security and surveillance failures at the park, which has been under scrutiny for poor monitoring of its tiger population and for the forest department’s inability to prevent man-animal conflict.

In the past month, a forest ranger and a seven-year-old child lost their lives in separate incidents within the reserve.

There have also been reports of tigers charging at individuals who entered their territory.

According to forest sources, tigress T-2302 was recently seen sheltering inside a concrete pipe near Devpura Dam with her three newborn cubs.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/fir-filed-after-man-touches-tiger-cubs-at-rajasthans-ranthambore-national-park-8434271

Gaya, one of the most famous religiously significant cities of Bihar, will now be officially known as “Gaya Ji”. The development came after the Bihar government on Friday approved a proposal to rename the city.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The decision was taken because of the city’s historic and religious importance, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) S Siddharth was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Thousands of tourists visit Gaya every year. The place is known for its religious significance. The town was named after a demon called Gayasur lived in the region in Treta Yuga. According to Vayu Purana, Gaya was the name of a demon (Asura) whose body became pious after he performed strict penance and secured blessings from Lord Vishnu.

Other Decisions Taken By The Cabinet

In addition to this, the Cabinet also approved the formation of the Bihar State Jeevika Fund Credit Cooperative Society Ltd, paving the way for setting up ’Jeevika Bank’ from which ’Jeevika Didis’ will be able to avail loans, he said.

According to CAQM, Delhi’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 278 (‘Poor’ category), as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday invoked restrictions under Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in Delhi and surrounding National Capital Region (NCR) after air quality dipped to “poor to very poor level” due to dust storm.

According to CAQM, Delhi’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked 278 (‘Poor’ category), as per the daily AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

“Owing to strong and variable surface winds, expected improvement in AQI was not observed and AQI of Delhi was recorded marginally lower at 278 on 16.05.2025. The forecast by IMD/ IITM has also predicted the AQI to be in lower range of “Poor Category” on 17.05.2025. The Sub-Committee, accordingly, decides to invoke all actions under Stage-I (‘Poor’ Air Quality) of the extant GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect,” the agency said in the statement.

Earlier today, Delhi-NCR witnessed light showers, bringing mush-needed relief from scorching heat. Several places in Delhi including Dhaula Kuan, India Gate, parts of South Delhi, Defence Colony, NDMC regions witnessed isolated spells of rainfall.

The national capital today woke up to bad-quality air on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing the 300 mark in several areas. Notably, the national capital faced a surge in pollutant levels on Thursday too, with AQI crossing the 300 mark after a severe dust storm, which also affected visibility.

Why Thick Blanket Of Dust Engulfed Delhi-NCR?

The dust storms in Delhi-NCR were triggered by gusty winds sweeping at speeds of 30 to 40 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The IMD said a high north-south pressure gradient over northwest India caused strong dust-raising surface winds gusting up to 30-40 kmph that sped through Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and north Rajasthan May 14 night to next morning.

Restrictions Under GRAP-1

The Stage I of GRAP focuses on controlling pollution through dust mitigation at construction sites, proper waste management, and regular road cleaning.

– Ensure regular lifting of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and Hazardous waste from dedicated dump sites and that no waste is dumped illegally in open land areas.

– Strictly enforce the Statutory directions and yardsticks for using anti-smog guns at C&D sites, in proportion to the total built-up area of the project under construction.

– Intensify anti-smog guns, water sprinkling, and dust suppression measures in road construction, widening, and repair projects and maintenance activities.

– Strict vigilance will ensure no burning incidents occur at landfill sites/ dumpsites.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/grap-1-invoked-in-delhi-ncr-as-air-quality-deteriorates-after-dust-storm-ws-l-9340447.html

Turkish ground handling and cargo operator Çelebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court challenging the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance.

The case was mentioned for urgent hearing on Friday and the Court is expected to hear the case on Monday (May 19).

According to a report in the Reuters, Celebi has argued that the Indian government’s decision is “arbitrary and devoid of specific reasons”.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, acting through the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), withdrew Çelebi’s clearance on May 15, 2025, invoking national security grounds.

The move comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions, following Turkey’s support for Pakistan during recent hostilities involving Operation Sindoor.

Çelebi, a wholly-owned Indian subsidiary of Turkish parent company Çelebi Aviation Holding, argued that the government’s order lacked any prior notice or opportunity to respond, the Reuters reported.

The company described the justification as “vague” and “unsubstantiated,” asserting that such actions jeopardise foreign investor confidence and threaten the livelihoods of over 3,800 Indian employees.

Source : https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/turkish-firm-elebi-moves-delhi-high-court-against-revocation-of-security-clearance-after-indo-pak-conflict

Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter’s Netflix drama, The Royals, has created a significant buzz ever since it released on the OTT giant. Within five days, the royal drama is trending at number 1 spot on Netflix in the top 10 non-English shows of the week in seven countries, including India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Oman, UAE, and Mauritius. Additionally, it has also found a spot in the top 10 non-English films of the week on Netflix across 43 countries, including Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Colombia, and more.

In The Royals, Bhumi embraced an unconventional and layered role all over again, with blends of humour, sass, intensity, and intellect. Celebrated for picking challenging roles, the actress left no stone unturned to pull off the character of a determined, no-nonsense female entrepreneur. Audiences are hailing her ability to bring a seamless flow to the character and not making it look manufactured.

Known for making careful choices of projects, The Royals makes for an addition of another strong title in her body of work. Over the years, the actress has picked roles that range from intensity, grit, rom-coms, to thrillers, and she has never missed hitting the ball out of the park with each role. With her knack for exploring herself as an actress, Bhumi has explored shades of cinema and has made sure to treat her audiences with compelling and engaging dramas.

Source : https://www.spotboye.com/trending/trending-news/bhumi-pednekar-and-ishaan-khatter-starrer-the-royals-trends-in-43-countries-within-5-days/68270bb598e7b5da75cc86c2

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that money from IMF loan is being diverted to rebuild the terrorist infrastructure destroyed by India.

Addressing soldiers at a military base in Gujarat, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh offered a stark warning about the Pakistan government’s plans to “spend tax collected from its citizens” to give compensation to Masood Azhar, designated an ‘international terrorist’ by the United Nations, for the damages to Jaish-e-Mohammed infrastructure during India’s military strikes under Operation Sindoor. He said Rs 14 crore will be diverted from the government fund to rebuild the terrorist infrastructure destroyed by India.
Masood Azhar” is the head of the banned Jaish-e-Mohammed group that was behind the 2019 Pulwama and 2016 Uri attacks.
Singh said Pakistan has already initiated releasing funds to rebuild terrorist infrastructure. Under Operation Sindoor, India carried out military strikes targeting terrorist launchpads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The operation was launched a fortnight after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack by another Pak-based terror group, the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

This rebuilding, the Defence Minister claimed, is being funded by the Pak government by diverting the $2.1 billion loan support provided by the International Monetary Fund.

The 48-member cross-party delegation will present India’s evidence against Pakistan and New Delhi’s stance to foreign governments and institutions while travelling to various countries from May 22 to June 1.

In a massive diplomatic push, the government led by Prime Minister Loksabha has decided to dispatch multi-party MP delegations to key world capitals to expose Pakistan’s hand in the recent Pahalgam terror attack and to build global support against cross-border terrorism.

The 48-member cross-party delegation will present India’s evidence against Pakistan and New Delhi’s stance to foreign governments and institutions while travelling to various countries from May 22 to June 1.

According to sources, the delegation will be led by Minister of Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and will be divided into eight groups, consisting of six members each.

It is expected to include several big names from the BJP-led government and the Opposition parties, including Congress MPs Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament from Punjab Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Asaduddin Owaisi, etc.

Sources say the move to send the delegation of MPs comes amid increasing attempts by Pakistan — and notably, remarks from US President Donald Trump — to internationalise the Kashmir issue, which India insists remains a bilateral matter.

The initiative marks the first time the Modi government has deployed elected representatives from across the political spectrum as diplomatic envoys to counter Pakistan’s propaganda on a global stage.

The focus will be two-fold: To brief nations on the devastating Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed, and to clarify that India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’ specifically targetted terror infrastructure — not civilians — within Pakistan-occupied regions.

“The aim is to break the narrative being spun by Pakistan and its sympathisers,” said a senior official involved in the planning.

The Ministry of External Affairs, in collaboration with Intelligence and Defence agencies, is also preparing detailed dossiers and talking points.

The Indian embassies in respective countries will amplify the MPs’ efforts by coordinating meetings and providing strategic ground support.

The MPs are expected to spotlight how Pakistan has, for decades, used terror as a state policy to destabilise India, citing specific Intelligence on terror camps, recruitment networks, and evidence of ISI involvement.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/india-to-send-48-mp-delegations-worldwide-from-may-22-to-expose-pakistans-role-in-pahalgam-attack

The Air Force used pilotless target aircraft to provoke Pakistani radars and air defence systems into action. Once they were activated, India deployed drones to disable and damage those systems. This move paved the way for further missile attacks using BrahMos and Scalp cruise missiles.

In a powerful counter-strike, India launched around 15 BrahMos missiles and other precision weapons on the night of May 9-10, targeting key Pakistani airbases. The operation, carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF), damaged 11 out of Pakistan’s 13 major airbases, delivering a significant blow to the country’s air defence network and military infrastructure.

The strikes came after Pakistan attempted to attack several military targets in northern and western India during the night of May 7-8 using drones and missiles. Areas targeted included Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Bhuj. However, India’s Integrated Air Defence systems successfully detected and neutralised all threats.

In response, the Indian Armed Forces launched coordinated attacks the next morning, targeting Pakistani air defence radars, including one in Lahore. On the night of May 9-10, the IAF intensified its response by hitting high-value Pakistani air force infrastructure.

According to sources, the Indian Air Force used pilotless target aircraft to provoke Pakistani radars and air defence systems into action. Once they were activated, India deployed Harop kamikaze drones to disable and damage those systems. This move paved the way for further missile attacks using BrahMos and Scalp cruise missiles.

Aircraft carrying these missiles took off from various bases under India’s Western and South Western Air Commands. The attacks struck critical locations, including a hangar in Sindh where Pakistan reportedly lost important equipment, including UAVs and an airborne surveillance aircraft.

Following the strikes, the Pakistan Air Force was forced to move its aircraft to rear bases due to the extent of damage.

The operation, overseen by the Chief of Defence Staff, saw the BrahMos missile chosen as the primary weapon on the advice of the National Security Advisor. The use of BrahMos was seen as a strong signal of India’s military capabilities.

ABOUT BRAHMOS MISSILES

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during the recent inauguration of the BrahMos Aerospace facility in Lucknow, confirmed the use of the missile in these strikes. “If you didn’t witness the BrahMos in action, ask the people of Pakistan,” he said.

BrahMos is a long-range supersonic cruise missile jointly developed by India and Russia. Known for its speed and accuracy, the missile operates on the ‘Fire and Forget’ principle. It can reach speeds close to Mach 3 and strike targets up to 290 km away with high precision.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-fired-15-brahmos-missiles-to-cripple-pakistan-air-defence-operation-sindoor-2725453-2025-05-15

Jaishankar said, “Between India and the US, trade talks have been going on. These are complicated negotiations. Nothing is decided till everything is.”

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that trade talks between India and United is ongoing, and India expects a “mutually beneficial trade deal”.
Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event in Delhi, Jaishankar said, “Between India and the US, trade talks have been going on. These are complicated negotiations. Nothing is decided till everything is. Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial; it has to work for both countries. That would be our expectation from the trade deal. Until that is done, any judgment on it would be premature.”

United States President Donald Trump on April 2 had announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on several countries, including India and China. However, a week later, he announced a 90-day suspension of these tariffs until July 9 this year, except for those on China and Hong Kong, as about 75 countries approached America for trade deals.

In the past, Trump has called India “tariff king” and a “big abuser”. Last month, Trump had said negotiations with India over a bilateral trade deal are “coming along great” and he thinks “we’ll have a deal with India”.

Meanwhile, India-US talks for proposed trade pact progressing very well, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Thursday (May 15). “Our team is going to US for further discussions,” he said, reports PTI.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a team of senior Indian officials to Washington starting May 17 for discussions with their US counterparts on the agreement. He will hold meetings with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick during his visit.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/jaishankar-on-india-us-trade-talks-complicated-negotiations-nothing-decided-yet-article-151647624

The PIB fact check team clarified that Jaishankar was being misquoted and had not made any such statement

The Fact Check Unit of the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Thursday dismissed claims that External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said India had informed Pakistan ahead of Operation Sindoor, New Delhi’s military response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

In a post on social media platform X, the PIB clarified that Jaishankar was being misquoted and had not made any such statement.

“The social media post falsely implies from External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar ‘s statement that India informed Pakistan before the start of #OperationSindoor,” the fact check unit stated, along with a screenshot of the original post where the alleged claim was made on Jaishankar.

“EAM is being misquoted and he has not made this statement,” PIB wrote, urging people to “remain vigilant and avoid falling for deceptive information.”

The claim was made by journalist and author Pravin Sawhney, who wrote on X that Jaishankar had revealed India gave prior warning to Pakistan before carrying out air strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure. Sawhney called the alleged statement “bizarre” and listed several points criticising what he believed was India’s approach.

Sawhney, according to his LinkedIn profile, is the Editor of FORCE Magazine India and frequently comments on defence and strategic affairs.

Denies Claim On Chinese Satellites

In another post, the PIB Fact Check Unit refuted claims circulating on several news channels and social media that Jaishankar said Chinese satellites had assisted Pakistan during its military conflict with India.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/jaishankar-misquoted-pib-debunks-claim-india-informed-pakistan-before-operation-sindoor-ws-l-9338719.html

A video clip has emerged showing a conversation between Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Amir Nazir Wani and his mother, during which she pleaded with him to surrender to the security forces.

The exchange took place over a video call shortly before Wani was killed in an encounter in the Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

In the clip, which has since gone viral on social media, Wani is seen holding an AK-47 while speaking with his mother. It was their final conversation.

“Please surrender,” his mother could be heard pleading, but Wani refused, replying, “Let the army come forward, then I will see.”

The video call was made from the house where Wani was hiding before the gunfight broke out. Alongside his mother, Wani’s sister also spoke to him.

During the call, he also spoke with the sister of another terrorist, Asif Ahmed Sheikh, who was also killed in the same encounter.

Encounter in Pulwama

Three JeM terrorists were killed in the encounter that took place in the Nader, Tral area of Pulwama this morning. Security forces had acted on intelligence inputs about terrorist presence in the area.

The terrorists were identified as Asif Ahmed Sheikh, Amir Nazir Wani, and Yawar Ahmed Bhat – all linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed, according to sources.

Source : https://www.news18.com/viral/let-army-come-jem-terrorist-rejects-mothers-plea-to-surrender-before-encounter-video-ws-l-9338111.html

A video of women washing the feet of Miss World contestants at Ramappa Temple in Telangana has sparked controversy. Opposition parties BRS and BJP criticised the act, deeming it disrespectful and humiliating, especially for local women. BRS labelled the incident as “appalling,” while the BJP described it as indicative of a colonial mindset.

A video showing women washing the feet of Miss World contestants at Ramappa Temple in Telangana on Thursday has stirred controversy, with opposition parties Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticising the act, calling it disrespectful to the women of Telangana. The footage, reportedly filmed at the historic Ramappa Temple in Mulugu district—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—shows women, said to be volunteers, assisting the beauty pageant contestants in rinsing their feet and gently drying them with towels.
The contestants, dressed in sarees, visited the historical Ramappa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of their heritage tour in the state on Wednesday.
The incident, described as “appalling” by the BRS, involved local Dalit, tribal, and economically disadvantaged women being “forced to wash and wipe” the feet of foreign beauty pageant participants. In a press release, the party said the act has sparked widespread outrage across Telangana and dealt a serious blow to the state’s sense of dignity and self-respect.

“Congress CM has officially lost his mind,” BRS Working President KT Rama Rao said, reposting the video in his ‘X’ handle.

Meanwhile, the BJP called the incident symptomatic of a deeper malaise in the Congress party’s mindset. “In a shocking display of servility, the Telangana Congress government made local women wash and wipe the feet of Miss World contestants, a humiliating act that reeks of a colonial-era mindset,” Telangana BJP chief G Kishan Reddy said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, the Miss World organisation described the ritual as a traditional gesture symbolising mutual respect, emphasising the spiritual and cultural importance of the visit to the temple.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/miss-world-contestants-atithi-devo-bhava-or-colonial-era-mindset-video-of-telangan-women-helping-wash-miss-worlds-contestants-feet-sparks-row-article-151650440 

Notably, the national capital faced surge in pollutant levels on Thursday as well, with AQI crossing the 300 mark after a severe dust storm, which also affected the visibility.

Delhi woke up to bad-quality air on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing the 300 mark in several areas, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Notably, the national capital faced a surge in pollutant levels on Thursday as well, with AQI crossing the 300 mark after a severe dust storm, which also affected visibility.

As of 7:05 am, several parts of the city reported a surge in AQI levels, with Ashok Vihar at 322, Mundka at 406, Narela at 305, Patparganj at 315, Rohini at 331, and Wazirpur topping the chart at 410, according to data from the Sameer App.

AQI levels span from Good (0–50), posing minimal health risks, to Severe (401–500), which can lead to serious health issues for both healthy individuals and those with pre-existing conditions. Levels between 201-300 fall under the ‘Poor’ category, causing discomfort and respiratory problems with prolonged exposure.

The latest visuals from India Gate showed significantly reduced visibility, with the AQI recorded at a poor level of 249, according to the CPCB.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) attributed the sudden environmental shift to strong, dust-laden winds that swept through the Palam area near IGI Airport between 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM on May 14.

These winds drastically reduced visibility from 4,500 meters to 1,200 meters, with speeds reaching 30–40 km/h, rapidly spreading dust across the region.

“Cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) face dangerously high PM10 levels due to dust storms, dry conditions, and strong winds lifting dust from roads, construction sites, and waste dumping zones during the summer months. The situation worsens when winds blow from the west or southwest during the summer months,” said Sunil Dahiya, Founder and Lead Analyst, Envirocatalysts.

“Also, the recent spike in PM2.5 and PM10 levels points to a growing combustion-related pollution problem over Delhi. This could stem from waste burning at landfills, crop residue fires upwind, or even forest fires, adding to the city’s perennial pollution burden,” he added.

Delhi’s AQI was in the ‘poor’ category at 4 pm on Thursday with a reading of 292. It was first time in close to two weeks that the air quality dipped to this zone. The city had been breathing ‘moderate’ quality air since April 29.

The India Meteorological Department said a high north-south pressure gradient over northwest India caused strong dust-raising surface winds gusting up to 30-40 kmph that sped through Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and north Rajasthan May 14 night to next morning.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi reported the lowest visibility of 1,200 metres intermittently during this period. Moreover, there was no forecast for such a prolonged and impactful dust storm in the Delhi-NCR region.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/delhis-air-quality-remains-in-poor-quality-for-2nd-consecutive-day-why-aqi-is-rising-in-summer-9339020.html

‘Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India’, MEA’s Randhir Jaiswal said.

Even as an uneasy calm has returned on the western front after the flare-up last week, it’s not all quiet on the eastern front again, with China once again subtly asserting its territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh by assigning Chinese and Tibetan names to 27 places in the frontier state of India.

New Delhi rejected China’s latest move and asserted that Arunachal Pradesh would always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Beijing, however, stated that ‘Southern Tibet’ (Arunachal Pradesh) was part of the territory of China and standardising the names of places within its territory was well within the sovereign right of the President Xi Jinping’s government.

The Modi-led’s government in New Delhi also moved to block the X accountt of Xinhua and some other state-owned or state-controlled media outlets of China in India as they peddled fake news and Pakistan’s propaganda during the four-day-long cross-border military offensives and counter-offensives between the two South Asian nations last week.

The Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Chinese Government recently published the Chinese and Tibetan names of 27 places in Zangnan or Southern Tibet, as China refers to Arunachal Pradesh of India. The places included 15 mountains, five residential areas, four mountain passes, two rivers and a lake. China similarly renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh of India in the past, too. But the timing of the latest move by Beijing appears to be deliberately chosen to send out a subtle message to New Delhi about India’s strategic challenges on the eastern and northern fronts, given the unsettled boundary dispute with China.

Beijing made its latest move to assert its territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh just after the cross-border military actions between India and Pakistan came to a halt following an understanding between the two sides on May 10.

“We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said in New Delhi. “Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India.”

“Southern Tibet is Chinese territory. The Chinese government has standardised the names of some places in Southern Tibet. This is entirely within the scope of the sovereignty of China,” Lin Jian, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, said.

The relations between New Delhi and Beijing were on the mend since the four-and-a-half-year-long military stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh had come to its end in October 2024.

But the bilateral ties again came under a shadow, with Beijing extending its support to Islamabad after India-Pakistan tensions escalated in the wake of the April 22 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Even before India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan as well as areas under illegal occupation of Pakistan, China vowed to support its “all-weather ally” Pakistan in “safeguarding its territorial integrity and sovereignty”. Beijing also supported Islamabad’s call for an impartial probe into the killing of 26 people at Baisaran near Pahalgam in J&K, although The Resistance Force, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba based in Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the latest carnage in India.

The special representatives of India and China had started talks to resolve the boundary dispute in 2003. They had reached an agreement in 2005 on Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for Settlement of the Boundary Question.

Construction of new settlements along the disputed boundary, enactment of new land boundary law, publication of new maps, renaming areas China claims in India’s Arunachal Pradesh in Chinese and Tibetan languages – Beijing over the past few years resorted to many measures to counter New Delhi’s territorial claims, including by taking advantage of the Article V and VII of the 2005 agreement.

Article V of the 2005 agreement stipulates that the two sides would take into account, inter alia, historical evidence, national sentiments, practical difficulties, reasonable concerns and sensitivities of both sides and the actual state of border areas. Article VII of the agreement adds that the two sides would safeguard the interests of the settled populations in the border areas while settling the boundary row.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/india/not-all-quiet-on-eastern-front-china-renames-27-places-in-indias-arunachal-to-re-assert-claim-3539662

At least 10 militants were killed in an encounter with security forces near the India-Myanmar border in Manipur’s Chandel district on Wednesday night, the Army Eastern Command said. The operation is still in progress, it added.

The gunfight began after the militants opened fire upon the security personnel who were carrying out a search operation in New Samtal village in Khengjoy Tehsil of Chandel district after receiving intelligence input.

“Acting on specific intelligence on movement of armed cadres nearby New Samtal village, Khengjoy Tehsil, #Chandel District near the #Indo_MyanmarBorder, #AssamRifles unit under #SpearCorps launched an operation on 14 May 2025,” the Eastern Commande posted on X.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/10-militants-killed-in-encounter-near-india-myanmar-border-in-manipurs-chandel-2724926-2025-05-15

Usually spotted roaming and hunting in forests, the wildlife made a highly unconventional appearance from several thousand feet above ground in this Instagram reel, leaving viewers both amazed and confused.

Are you the adventurous one in your group? If you enjoy skydiving for the adrenaline rush, you might want to witness a wild twist, quite literally. A video showing a lion skydiving with a human companion has gone viral on Instagram. Yes, you read that.

The jaw-dropping clip opens with a lion mid-air, legs spread, seemingly soaking in the thrill of an adventurous sky ride. While a human skydiver accompanies the animal, it’s the lion who clearly steals the spotlight.

Usually spotted roaming and hunting in forests, the wildlife made a highly unconventional appearance from several thousand feet above ground in this Instagram reel, leaving viewers both amazed and confused.

The video was posted by the Instagram page @travelling.shillong, based out of Shillong. However, the exact location of this lion’s activity remains unconfirmed.

Also, many viewers questioned the authenticity of the visuals, wondering whether it was a real-life stunt or a mere creation using AI or advanced editing tools.

Interestingly, the same Instagram page has previously shared similar content featuring animals like tigers and cats appearing to skydive, leading some to believe this might just be another digitally altered video.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/viral/viral-video-of-skydiving-lion-hits-34-million-views-on-instagram-leaves-netizens-stunned

The Indian response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism was deliberate, precise, and strategic. Indian forces, without crossing the Line of Control or international boundary, struck terrorist infrastructure and eliminated multiple threats, a press release by PIB said.

The Press Information Bureau, the Nodal agency for communicating to media on behalf of Government of India, in a press release said that “Chinese origin missiles and Turkey origin UAVs were neutralised by India’s air defence systems.”

“The Indian response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism was deliberate, precise, and strategic. Indian forces, without crossing the Line of Control or international boundary, struck terrorist infrastructure and eliminated multiple threats”, a press release by PIB said.

The release further said, “On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India, including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles. These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Grid and Air Defence systems.”

“The Indian Air Force bypassed and jammed Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defence systems, completing the mission in just 23 minutes, demonstrating India’s technological edge,” the press release added.

The release further said, Operation Sindoor also produced concrete evidence of hostile technologies neutralized by Indian systems. Pieces of PL-15 missiles (of Chinese origin) Turkish-origin UAVs, named “Yiha” or “YEEHAW”Long-range rockets, quadcopters and commercial drones are the concrete evidence of hostile technologies neutralized by Indian systems.

Battle-proven AD (Air Defence) systems like the Pechora, OSA-AK and LLAD guns (Low-level air defence guns), Indigenous systems such as the AKASH, which demonstrated stellar performance.

India’s offensive strikes targeted key Pakistani airbases- Noor Khan and Rahimyar Khan with surgical precision. Loitering munitions were used to devastating effect, each finding and destroying high-value targets, including enemy radar and missile systems.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/operation-sindoor-atmanirbhar-innovation-crushes-chinese-pl-15-missiles-turkish-drones

The fake respondent faked an entire compromise from the side of the original respondent, and got a favourable order from the Supreme Court.

In a surprising case, the Supreme Court withdrew its ruling in a land dispute case after it found that the favourable verdict was reached through a fake settlement by a “ghost” respondent. A report in PTI stated that an SC bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi asked the registry of the top court to conduct an inquiry and file a report within three weeks. The court also warned of an FIR to bring the guilty to book.
So, what happened?
On December 13 last year, the apex court quashed the order of a Muzaffarpur trial court and the Patna High Court. According to PTI, the order was based on a purported compromise agreement between the petitioner and the respondent.

Later, it was found that the respondent was an impostor and the real respondent, Harish Jaiswal, had no idea of the proceedings.
Jaiswal, who hails from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, came to know about the case after his son-in-law discovered it on the Supreme Court’s website five months later.

So, he approached the court. “The petitioner has not only acted in violation of legal and ethical norms but has also committed a fraud upon this court, which, if not rectified, will embolden such mala fide litigants to continue their deceitful practices,” his plea said.
In the original order, it was found that four advocates appeared for the fake respondent. But during the fresh hearing, a lawyer, who had appeared previously, told the bench that he is 80 years old and hadn’t practised law in recent times, the report added.

India said on Wednesday (May 14) that it rejects China’s move to rename places in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh where the Asian neighbours share a border, adding that the Himalayan territory was an integral part of India.

Beijing has renamed places in Arunachal Pradesh in the past as well and the issue has been an irritant in ties between the two countries, especially as they deteriorated sharply after a deadly military clash elsewhere on their border in 2020.

They reached an agreement in October to step back from their four-year military stand-off in the western Himalayas, leading to disengagement of troops.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a media briefing that Beijing had “standardised some place names in (Arunachal Pradesh), which is entirely within China’s sovereignty”, repeating what has been Beijing’s standard response.

Beijing says Arunachal Pradesh, which its calls Zangnan, is a part of South Tibet, a claim New Delhi has repeatedly dismissed.

“Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India,” India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Wednesday.

In April last year, China made a similar move by renaming about 30 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, which India dismissed as “senseless” and reaffirmed the region’s status as an “integral part” of the country.

India and China share a poorly demarcated 3,800km frontier and fought a brief but brutal war in 1962. There have also been infrequent clashes between their troops, with 20 Indian and four Chinese soldiers killed in the 2020 fighting.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/india-rejects-chinas-latest-renaming-places-arunachal-border-state-5129256

The image which has been shared by Pakistan-based accounts is old and is not at all related to the last rites of a “Rafale pilot of the Indian Air Force”.

The government on Wednesday debunked claims by many Pakistan-based accounts claiming that a photo shows the last rites of a Rafale pilot of the Indian Air Force (IAF) who died on May 7. The photo is going viral on social media. The image is actually from 2008 and unrelated to the current context, the PIB Fact Check Unit said.
A reverse image search directed us to a CNN report from September, 2011, titled, “India’s burning issue with emissions from Hindu funeral pyres” which used the same photo as a representative image. The image was captioned, “Hindus pay last respects at a mass cremation of 15 school girls on the banks of the river Orsang in Bamroli in the Indian state of Gujarat, April 16, 2008,” and was attributed to AFP/Getty Images.

The same image was on Getty, and the caption read, “Indian villagers pay last respects at a mass cremation of fifteen school girls at the banks of the river Orsang in Bamroli, some 165 kms from Ahmedabad on April 16, 2008. At least 44 people, most of them children on their way to school, drowned when their bus plunged into the Narmada canal at Bodeli in the western Indian state of Gujarat. AFP PHOTO/Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)”

The government had earlier debunked claims that India had launched a drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara in Pakistan. Nankana Sahib is the birthplace of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, and the gurdwara is a revered shrine and pilgrimage centre for Sikhs.

“A video shared on social media is claiming that India has carried out a drone attack on the Nankana Sahib gurdwara. This claim is completely fake,” the PIB Fact Check Unit said, adding that such content was being circulated to create communal hatred in India.

The PIB Fact Check Unit also said that claims on social media about destruction of Indian army posts were false and that a video shared in this regard dated back to 2020.

Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/fact-check-pakistan-based-accounts-share-old-image-as-iaf-pilots-last-rites-article-151640370

A police case was filed against Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah over his derogatory, communal and sexist comments on Colonel Sophia Qureshi, following the order from the High Court. Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, which has sparked a wave of condemnation, the court had directed the state police chief today to file a First Information Report against Vijay Shah this morning. The court said this must be completed by this evening, failing which contempt proceedings might be initiated against the police chief.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and another officer, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, have been the face of the army during the media conferences on Operation Sindoor. Both have frequently joined Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during the briefings.

What The Court said

The Jabalpur High Court bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla lashed out at Mr Shah for using “language of the gutters” against a senior Indian Army officer.

Terming the comments “dangerous” and “disparaging”, the judges said they were also prima facie offences under two stringent sections of Indian law.

The Bench expressed concern that such a statement “encourages feelings of separatist activities by imputing separatist feeling to anyone who is Muslim,” thereby violating the constitutional spirit of unity and fraternity.

In a sharply worded observation, the Court said: “The armed forces, perhaps the last institution existing in this country, reflecting integrity, industry, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage… has been targeted by Mr. Vijay Shah who has used the language of the gutters against Col. Sofia Quraishi.”

The court said there could be no doubt about who the minister was referring to.

Colonel Quraishi was shockingly referred to by Mr Shah as “the sister of the terrorists who carried out the killings of 26 innocent Indians at Pahalgam”, the court said.

“This court is, prima facie, satisfied that the first offence made out against the minister was under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita,” the judges said.

The section deals with acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India and is punishable by life term in jail.

In addition, the court held that Section 196 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with promoting enmity between communities and disturbing public harmony, also applied.

The Minister’s Remarks

On Tuesday, Mr Shah, the Tribal Affairs Minister of Madhya Pradesh, speaking at a cultural event in Mhow, said, the terrorists had “wiped the sindoor of our sisters and daughters, and we sent their own sister to give it back to them in kind”. Click here for India Pakistan Ceasefire Live Updates

“They stripped Hindus and killed them, and Modi-ji sent their sister to return the favour. We couldn’t undress them, so we sent a daughter from their community… You widowed sisters of our community, so a sister of your community will strip you naked. Modi-ji proved that the daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to take revenge,” the minister had added.

His comments were made before an audience that included Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, MLA and former Cabinet minister Usha Thakur, and several local leaders of the BJP.

The comments were condemned by the army veterans and the Opposition parties. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge called for his sacking.

The party found an unexpected ally. “Vijay Shah ji should be dismissed from the post of minister and FIR should be lodged against him immediately because he has brought shame to the entire nation,” former Chief Minister of the state Uma Bharati posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/court-orders-case-against-madhya-pradesh-minister-vijay-shah-for-remarks-on-army-colonel-sofiya-qureshi-8412153#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is scheduled to pilot the Axiom Mission 4, a private astronaut mission that will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket.

Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to walk in the footsteps of Astronaut Neil Armstrong – even as he is not going to the moon but only to the orbiting international space laboratory. Who knows Mr Shukla, whose call sign is ‘Shux’, may well say, ‘one small step for ISRO, one giant leap for Bharat’.

Charming it may be, the wait is going to be a bit longer for Mr Shukla to fly into space but this historic second flight for an Indian astronaut will take place from the same haloed Launch Complex 39 A at the Kennedy Space Center from which Astronaut Neil Armstrong lifted off on the Apollo 11 mission on July 16, 1969 – to make history by becoming the first human to step on the moon.

The downside is that now the lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA has been put off to ‘no earlier than Sunday, June 8, 2025 at 6.41 pm India Time’. This was announced by Axiom Space the Houston-based private space company handling the space mission.

Sources said that after reviewing the International Space Station flight schedule and visiting spacecraft logistics, NASA and its partners shifted launch opportunities for several upcoming missions, to include Axiom Mission 4. The schedule adjustments provide more time to finalise mission plans, spacecraft readiness, and logistics. The traffic at the ISS is usually high, and many missions do get rescheduled.

In addition, space flights involving humans are always undertaken only when all systems are fully ready, since the error margins are minimal and delays are not uncommon.

Earlier, NASA had announced that the mission will lift off ‘no earlier than May 29, 2025 at 10.33 pm India Time’.

Incidentally, unlike the Indian space agency, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which gives exact dates and times for liftoffs of its rockets, NASA uses the safe phraseology of ‘no earlier than’ – this probably gives them the leeway to delay launches without being hauled on fire.

Group Captain Shukla is scheduled to pilot the Axiom Mission 4, a private astronaut mission that will launch aboard a SpaceX Dragon capsule on a Falcon 9 rocket. In a statement, Axion Space said, “The launch of the Axiom-4 crew will take place from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida”.

His travel to space comes four decades after Rakesh Sharma’s iconic spaceflight on board Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft in 1984.

The mission, which is jointly being undertaken by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ISRO, would be a historic event for India as Mr Shukla’s mission will feed into India’s human space flight program, the Gaganyaan mission.

According to ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan, the mission will cost Rs 550 crores.

Group Captain Shukla will be accompanied by Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and mission commander, Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Once docked, the astronauts are scheduled to spend up to 14 days aboard the orbiting laboratory, conducting a mission comprising science, outreach, and commercial activities.

Group Captain Shukla will serve as the astronaut designate and Mission Pilot. He will conduct 7 to 9 experiments in the fields of agriculture, food, and human biology when he travels to the ISS next month.

A decorated test pilot with the IAF, Mr Shukla was shortlisted under ISRO’s Human Spaceflight Program (HSP) and is among the top contenders for the Gaganyaan mission, India’s first indigenous crewed orbital flight. His journey aboard the Axiom Mission 4 is expected to provide critical hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness – all essential for India’s crewed space ambitions.

India has also picked Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair as a designated astronaut, who will become part of Ax-4 should Group Captain Shukla be unable to fly.

Earlier, Dr Narayanan told NDTV, “He has full confidence in the capabilities of Mr Shukla who would complete the mission successfully”.

Underscoring the significance of the upcoming human spaceflight, Minister of State (MoS) for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said, “India is ready for its next space milestone”.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-astronaut-shubhanshu-shukla-to-fly-to-space-from-same-haloed-launch-complex-as-neil-armstrong-8417119#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

TRF, a front for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 that killed 26 people

Indian officials briefed the monitoring team of the UN Security Council’s 1267 Sanctions Committee on the activities of The Resistance Front (TRF), the group behind the Pahalgam terror attack, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

An Indian technical team is visiting New York to interact with the monitoring team of the 1267 Sanctions Committee and other partner countries in the United Nations, the people said on condition of anonymity.

The team will also meet representatives of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the people said. The team’s visit is part of efforts by India to get the TRF designated as a global terrorist group.

TRF, a front for Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack of April 22 that killed 26 people, and Indian officials have said the group retracted the claim on the directions of its handlers across the border.

On May 7, India carried out military strikes on terror infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan under Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. This triggered four days of intense strikes and counter-strikes by the two countries using drones, missiles and long-range weapons before they reached an understanding on halting military actions on May 10.

India provided information about the TRF’s role as a proxy for Pakistan-based terror groups in half-yearly reports to the monitoring team for the 1267 Sanctions Committee in May and November 2024. Before this, the monitoring team was informed by the Indian side in December 2023 about the LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operating in Jammu and Kashmir through groups such as the TRF.

“We are going to be meeting with the [monitoring] team again very soon and we will be providing an update to the information that we have provided earlier,” foreign secretary Vikram Misri told reporters last week.

The 1267 Sanctions Committee is tasked with managing and updating sanctions lists, and monitoring and supporting implementation of sanctions regimes under UN Security Council resolution 1267.

The main function of the monitoring team is to assist the 1267 Sanctions Committee with freezing financial assets of designated terrorist individuals and entities, preventing the entry into or transit through a member state’s territory by designated individuals, and preventing the supply of arms to designated individuals or entities.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-officials-brief-unsc-sanctions-committee-on-pak-based-trf-terror-group-101747243674259.html

Calls to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan are growing in India after both countries publicly supported Pakistan amid rising tensions following Operation Sindoor.

Indians are calling off trips to popular tourist destinations in Turkey and Azerbaijan following the two countries’ support for Pakistan amid a recent armed conflict with New Delhi, according to two travel agencies cited by news agency Reuters.

Calls to boycott Turkey and Azerbaijan are growing in India after both countries publicly supported Pakistan amid rising tensions following Operation Sindoor and the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

Azerbaijan released a statement that echoed Pakistan’s position on the conflict, while Turkey backed Islamabad’s demand for an international investigation into the Pahalgam attack. Turkey has also supplied weapons to Pakistan in the past.

“Bookings for Azerbaijan and Turkey decreasing by 60% (over the last week) while cancellations have surged by 250% during the same period,” Reuters quoted a spokesperson for MakeMyTrip, as saying.

EaseMyTrip’s Chief Executive Officer, Rikant Pittie shared a similar development saying, travellers had switched to Georgia, Serbia, Greece, Thailand and Vietnam.

“EaseMyTrip had seen a 22% rise in cancellations for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan due to recent geopolitical tensions,” he added.

Tourism industry urges boycott of Turkey, Azerbaijan

Travel booking site Ixigo earlier announced on ‘X’ that it is pausing flight and hotel bookings to Turkey, Azerbaijan, and China.

EaseMyTrip founder and chairman Nishant Pitti also posted on ‘X’, noting that 287,000 Indians travelled to Turkey and 243,000 to Azerbaijan last year. “When these nations openly support Pakistan, should we fuel their tourism and their economies?” Pitti said.

Subhash Goyal, Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Indian Chamber of Commerce, said the industry stands for ethical and responsible tourism that aligns with national values.

“Several tourism associations and industry bodies have issued statements of solidarity and collective commitment towards prioritising our national interest over commercial goals. The Indian Chamber of Commerce joins these organisations in demanding a boycott of states like Turkey and Azerbaijan, following their stand against India’s response to terrorism. Tourism is a force for good and a driver of peace, global harmony and international understanding,” Goyal said.

India-Pakistan tensions

The tension between the neighbours flared up after India carried out a military operation, named Operation Sindoor, in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-tourists-boycott-turkey-azerbaijan-over-pakistan-support-cancellations-surge-250-101747269238915.html

Donald Trump spoke about the recent Indo-Pak ceasefire and claimed that his administration helped broker it.

Despite India rejecting his claim of having brokered the Pakistan ceasefire understanding over trade recently, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again reiterated the same in a speech in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh.

Vising Saudi Arabia on a bilateral trip, Donald Trump stated that he hoped to be a peacemaker as he announced removing longstanding US sanctions against Syria, imposed during ex-President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.

“My greatest hope is to be a peacemaker and to be a unifier. I do not like war… I knocked down ISIS in three weeks. People said it would take 4-5 years. We did it in three weeks,” he said.

‘My admin successfully brokered a historic ceasefire’: Trump

To back up his ‘peacemaker’ statement, Trump also used the recent India-Pakistan ceasefire as an example and claimed that his administration asked both India and Pakistan to trade goods, instead of nuclear missiles.

“Just days ago, my administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan. I used trade to a large extent. I said let’s make a deal, let’s do some trading. Let’s not trade nuclear missiles. Let’s trade the things you make so beautifully. And they both have very powerful leaders, strong leaders and it all stopped. Hopefully it will remain that way,” he said.

India on Tuesday pushed back against US President Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir and his claim that he used trade to prevent a “nuclear war” between India and Pakistan, with the external affairs ministry saying the military action under Operation Sindoor was “entirely in the conventional domain”.

The US President, currently in his second tenure, also praised US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his pivotal role in brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

“I am proud of Marco Rubio. Marco stand up, what a great job you did in that. Thank you JD Vance…Maybe we can even get them together a little bit, Marco where they can go out and have a nice dinner together.”

Trump was the first to announce the ceasefire on May 10, that the both countries had reached an immediate understanding to halt military actions.

“We reached a historic ceasefire a few days ago—millions could have died in a conflict between India and Pakistan.”

Trump and the US administration’s claims on brokering the ceasefire has been denied by the Indian government indirectly in an official statement recently. In press statement, the Indian government and Indian Army has maintained that the ceasefire was reached through bilateral talks between DGMOs of both countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a press briefing recently said, “We have a longstanding national position that any issues pertaining to the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir have to be addressed by India and Pakistan bilaterally. That stated policy has not changed. As you are aware, the outstanding matter is the vacation of illegally occupied Indian territory by Pakistan.”

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/i-said-lets-not-trade-nuclear-missiles-donald-trump-repeats-india-pakistan-ceasefire-claim-101747157362313.html

While the shells that exploded destroyed their homes and took away loved ones, the ones that did not are instilling fear in their hearts and minds

The cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan may have dies down, but it brings scarce respite for Poonch residents, who now have to live with the fear of unexploded shells lying in their neighbourhood.

While the shells that exploded destroyed their homes and took away loved ones, the ones that did not are instilling fear in their hearts and minds.

The security forces have been working overtime since the ceasefire was announced to sanitise the shelling-hit areas of live ammunition and have cautioned people about the same.

As families that had fled to nearby areas amid intense shelling last week are returning home, many are apprehensive about the danger posed by these unexploded shells.

Officials confirmed that dozens of unexploded shells have been located and safely destroyed so far, and the search continues.

Poonch was among the worst-hit areas in the shelling, accounting for a majority of the 25 fatalities across Jammu and Kashmir.

Asad ur Rehman, a resident of Nangali Sahib village in Poonch, says it will take time for normalcy to return. “Our village is just four to five kms from the Line of Control (LoC), and there is fear among the people. Last week, a shell struck a newly constructed house belonging to one of my relatives but did not explode. It was safely destroyed by the police and army two days ago,” he said, and added that police advisory for caution has heightened alert among people.

Azmat Hussain, a resident of Saral village in Haveli tehsil, says people are cautious even while moving around. “Two unexploded shells were found near our village and destroyed safely. People are avoiding going out into the fields as most of the shells landed in open areas,” he said.

Mohammad Akbar, the sarpanch of Seri Chowana A, said most of the shells in the area landed in open spaces and exploded, but residents are still exercising caution. “After the police advisory, we’ve also become more careful, especially since the shelling was intense,” he said.

Police have advised caution and urged people not to approach any unexploded shell or suspicious object. “Police are visiting the locations where shelling was reported to locate unexploded shells, if any. We have urged citizens not to touch or approach any unexploded shell or suspicious object and to alert the police. In some cases, people helped us locate unexploded shells,” said Poonch senior superintendent of police (SSP) Shafqat Hussain.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/worst-nightmare-for-poonch-residents-living-with-unexploded-shells-101747160397431.html

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said that numerous foreign leaders have acknowledged India’s right to defend itself and protect its citizens, emphasising that the epicentre of terrorism is in Pakistan.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, on Tuesday stated that the global community has shown a clear understanding of India’s plight and recognised that the Pahalgam terrorist attack targeted Indian tourists and that the epicentre of terrorism lies across the border in Pakistan.

He said that numerous foreign leaders have acknowledged India’s right to defend itself and protect its citizens, emphasising that the epicentre of terrorism is in Pakistan.

While addressing a question of India and Pakistan ‘hyphenation,’ Mr Jaiswal, while addressing the MEA briefing, said, “There is widespread understanding in the world that Indian tourists were the victims of terrorism at Pahalgam and that the epicentre of terrorism is across the border in Pakistan. A number of foreign leaders, in their conversations with Indian counterparts, recognised India’s right to defend itself and protect its people.”

He added, “I also draw your attention to the UN Security Council press statement of 25th April, which states that – ‘there is a need to uphold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice.’ They further stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable.”

Mr Jaiswal also spoke about the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) and highlighted that while the treaty was originally founded on the principles of goodwill and friendship, “Pakistan held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism.”

“After the CCS (Cabinet Committee on Security) decision, the Indus Water Treaty has been put in abeyance. I would also like to take you back a little. The IWT was concluded in the spirit of goodwill and friendship as specified in the preamble of the treaty. However, Pakistan has held these principles in abeyance by its promotion of cross-border terrorism for several decades now. Now, as per the CCS decision, India will keep the treaty in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism. Please note that climate change, demographic shifts and technological changes have created new realities on the ground as well,” Mr Jaiswal said.

Mr Jaiswal, during the press briefing, also stated that Pakistan’s attempt to escape the consequences of its actions is futile, given its long history of supporting terrorism. He highlighted that the terrorist infrastructure sites destroyed by India were responsible for the deaths of not only Indians but also many other innocents around the world.

“We have seen the statement made by the Pakistani side. That a nation which has nurtured terrorism on an industrial scale should think that it can escape the consequences is fooling itself. The terrorist infrastructure sites that India destroyed were responsible not only for the deaths of Indians but also of many other innocents around the world. There is now a new normal. The sooner Pakistan gets used to it, the better,” he said.

Mr Jaiswal’s remarks came after Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, in his first interview since India and Pakistan’s cessation of hostilities, said that Islamabad “had no choice” but to launch strikes in “self-defence” following India’s May 7 cross-border attacks.

Source : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-says-global-community-recognises-pakistan-as-epicentre-of-terrorism-8408232

The attack targeted major ammunition depots and airbases such as Sargodha and Bholari, where F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets were stationed, sources said

India’s attack on 11 airbases of Pakistan on May 10 destroyed 20 per cent of its air force assets, and over 50 individuals were killed, including a squadron leader, top government sources told News18 on Tuesday.

The attack targeted major ammunition depots and airbases such as Sargodha and Bholari, where F-16 and JF-17 fighter jets were stationed, sources said. As a result, nearly 20% of Pakistan’s air force infrastructure was destroyed. Over 50 individuals, including Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf and four airmen, were killed in the bombing of Bholari airbase, they added.

India says several Pakistani fighter jets were also destroyed. “On May 9-10, India became the first country to strike 11 airbases of a nuclear-armed nation in a single operation, destroying 20% of Pakistan’s air force assets. High casualties were inflicted at Bholari airbase, including the death of Squadron Leader Usman Yusuf and destruction of key fighter jets,” the sources said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already said that over 100 terrorists were killed in Operation Sindoor during the May 7 strike on terrorist headquarters in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On May 10, within just three hours, India targeted 11 military installations, including Noor Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sukkur, Sialkot, Pasrur, Chunian, Sargodha, Skardu, Bholari, and Jacobabad. Satellite images before and after the strike on Shahbaz airbase in Jacobabad and the Bholari airbase clearly show the scale of destruction.

The government says that on the night of May 9-10, 2025, India’s counteroffensive became a historic milestone when, for the first time, a country successfully attacked the airbases of a nuclear-armed nation. This was also possible as India earlier deployed kamikaze drones with the objective of neutralising Pakistan’s air defence capabilities, including disabling Lahore’s air defence system, sources added.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/indias-strike-on-11-airbases-destroyed-20-of-pakistan-air-force-infra-several-fighter-jets-sources-9335581.html

The unmanned, supersonic BrahMos missile flies at Mach 3 and has a range of 290 km, extendable to 500 km or 800 km in its advanced variants

The BrahMos cruise missile played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, delivering a clear message to Pakistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Its successful use highlighted India’s precision-strike capabilities and sent a strong signal to both Pakistan and the terror networks involved.

The BrahMos missile is a versatile and formidable weapon, capable of being launched from land, air and sea, enabling strikes from multiple fronts. Jointly developed by India and Russia, it is renowned for its supersonic speed, pinpoint accuracy, and adaptability across a range of military operations.

The Philippines is currently the only country with a confirmed contract for the BrahMos, having signed a $375 million deal in January 2022 for three coastal defence batteries. The first battery was delivered in April 2024, with the second expected in April 2025.

However, renowned for its speed and precision, the BrahMos missile has attracted interest from over a dozen countries, with several nations currently in talks to acquire the advanced system.

Indonesia: Indonesia is negotiating a $200–$350 million deal to procure an advanced version of the BrahMos cruise missile.

Vietnam: Vietnam is planning a $700 million deal that includes supply of missiles for both its Army and Navy.

Malaysia: Malaysia is considering BrahMos missiles for its Sukhoi Su-30MKM fighter jets and Kedah-class warships.

Thailand, Singapore, Brunei: These South-East Asian countries have shown interest and are in various stages of negotiations.

Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela: These Latin American countries are eyeing naval and coastal defence variants of the missile.

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Oman: These Middle Eastern countries have also expressed interest, with talks in advanced stages with some of them.

Since the Pahalgam terror attack, the internet has been rife with misinformation as India and Pakistan exchanged hostilities for four days.

The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check unit on Tuesday debunked a viral video showing an Army officer blaming the Indian government, armed forces and intelligence agencies for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.

The purported video, which has gone viral on social media, shows the alleged Army officer, who named himself and his Commanding Officer, blaming the Indian government for the dastardly terror attack last month in Pahalgam, in which 26 tourists were killed.

However, the PIB said the video was fake and that the Army officer had not reported for duty since March 2025, and neither was he in contact with his relatives. “Please stay alert. Do not fall for any such videos,” he said.

Meanwhile, the account that spread the video of the missing army soldier has been withheld in India “in response to a legal demand”.

According to Army sources, the rifleman has been missing since he applied for leave. A case has been registered in this regard, and it appears the video may have been made under duress or coercion.

Since the Pahalgam terror attack, the internet has been rife with misinformation. While a terrorist organisation linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) called “The Resistance Front” (TRF) claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistan has denied involvement in the incident.

Reeling from devastating strikes by India, Pakistan has taken to peddling fake news and misinformation on social media in a deliberate attempt to distort international perception and manipulate public perception. The efforts of the PIB Fact Check unit in debunking fake news and dispelling myths have been vital in helping citizens distinguish between facts and false information.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pib-fact-checks-video-of-missing-army-soldier-blaming-centre-for-pahalgam-terror-attack-ws-kl-9335871.html

The meeting was attended by Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava, and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for strengthening people’s participation to drive a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society ” approach to eliminate tuberculosis.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP), he lauded early detection and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) patients in 2024 and said it should be scaled up nationwide, according to a statement.

He reaffirmed India’s commitment to eliminating TB from the country.

The prime minister reviewed the recently-concluded 100-day TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, covering high-focus districts, during which 12.97 crore vulnerable individuals were screened and 7.19 lakh cases, including 2.85 lakh asymptomatic, detected.

Modi stressed the need to analyse the trends of TB patients based on urban or rural areas as well as their occupations.

This will help identify groups that need early testing and treatment, especially workers in construction, mining, textile mills and similar fields, according to the statement.

As healthcare technology improves, Nikshay Mitras (supporters of TB patients) should be encouraged to use technology to connect with TB patients. They can help patients understand the disease and its treatment using interactive and easy-to-use technology, Modi said.

The prime minister said that since TB had become curable with regular treatment, there should be less fear and more awareness among the public.

He highlighted the importance of cleanliness through Jan Bhagidari as a key step in eliminating TB.

He also called for efforts to personally reach out to each patient to ensure they got proper treatment.

During the review meeting, Modi noted the encouraging findings of the WHO Global TB Report, 2024, that affirmed an 18 per cent reduction in TB incidence (from 237 to 195 per lakh population between 2015 and 2023) at double the global pace, 21 per cent decline in TB mortality (from 28 to 22 per lakh population), and 85 per cent treatment coverage, reflecting the programme’s growing reach and effectiveness.

He reviewed key infrastructure enhancements, including expansion of the TB diagnostic network to 8,540 NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing) labs and 87 culture and drug susceptibility labs, more than 26,700 X-ray units, including 500 artificial intelligence-enabled handheld devices, with another 1,000 in the pipeline.

The decentralisation of all TB services, including free screening, diagnosis, treatment and nutrition support at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs was also highlighted, according to the statement.

Several new initiatives such as artificial intelligence-driven handheld X-rays for screening, shorter treatment regimen for drug-resistant TB, newer indigenous molecular diagnostics, nutrition interventions and screening and early detection in congregate settings such as mines, tea gardens and construction sites were highlighted.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/pm-modi-chairs-meeting-to-review-progress-of-tuberculosis-elimination-campaign-ws-kl-9335799.html