PAHALGAM: Twenty-eight people were killed and several others were injured in a terrorist opened fire on tourists in Pahalgam today, in the worst terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in recent times. Military choppers have been pressed into service for the evacuation of those injured in the attack, as the area is only accessible on foot or horseback.
UnionHome Minister Amit Shah has reached Srinagar, where he has called an urgent security review meeting with all agencies....more
MOSCOW: Vladimir Putin signalled he was open to talks with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since the early stages of the war, but Russian strikes continued hours after his comments. Speaking to Russian state TV on Monday, Putin said Russia had "always looked positively on any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way"....more

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held talks with US Vice President JD Vance at his residence in the national capital, where the two leaders "reviewed and positively assessed" the progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation. JD Vance, who arrived in India on a four-day visit today, met Modi at the latter's 7, Lok Kalyan Marg house. His wife, Usha Vance, and their children also interacted with the Prime Minister....more
By Daniel Twining
WASHINGTON: As Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his team undertake their ambitious reforms to the U.S. development aid sector, they have a tremendous opportunity to dispense with the politicized ambitions of the previous administration and instead invest in diplomacy and strategies that will serve the country’s core interests. Countering China — with non-military methods — should be central to our approach....more
By Deepak Arora
NEW DELHI: Gurugram’s Tapendra Ghai hung on to his lead with a tenacious even-par 70 on the final day to end his long wait for a second title at the INR 1 crore Calance Open 2025 played at the Qutab Golf Course here. The 29-year-old Ghai (64-67-62-70), the overnight leader by four shots, who won his only previous title on the PGTI in 2018, signed off for the week with a total of 17-under 263 to prevail by one shot. His steady last round featured three birdies and three bogeys....more
AUGUSTA: Rory McIlroy, the man from Holywood, ended a 14-year wait at Augusta National to become just the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam. The 35-year-old won the first-ever Masters title on the 18th hole of Augusta National Golf Club when McIlroy beat Justin Rose on the first playoff hole....more

GREATER NOIDA: The country’s most promising amateur golfers have assembled at Jaypee Greens here for the prestigious national squad camp, organised by the Indian Golf Union (IGU), governing body for golf in the country, from April 14 to 19. This elite group of 10 amateurs, handpicked from across the sub-continent, are preparing for the upcoming German International Amateur, scheduled from May 1 to 4 at the Berliner Golf & Country Club Motzener in Mittenwalde....more
ROME: The Vatican on Tuesday released the first images of Pope Francis following his death, showing the 88-year-old pontiff lying in repose inside the private chapel of the Casa Santa Marta, his official residence where he breathed his last on Monday. Dressed in red vestments with a bishop’s mitre on his head and a rosary placed in his hands, Pope Francis rests in an open wooden casket. The images captured Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin praying beside the body....more

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued an eight-point 'non-tariff cheating' list, warning countries of non-tariff-related offences that could spoil relations with the US. The warning came days after Trump announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs on all countries, barring China. In the eight-point list, Trump mentioned currency manipulation - an accusation he has made previously on some countries for deliberately devaluing their currencies to make their exports more competitive while making US products costlier abroad. Another warning is about Value-Added Taxes (VATs) that are applied to imports but refunded on exports in many nations....more
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration took steps to impose levies on Chinese vessels docking at US ports, threatening to shake up global shipping routes and escalate the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. Under a plan put forward by the US Trade Representative on Thursday, all Chinese-built and -owned ships docking in the US would be subject to a fee based on the volume of goods carried, on a per-voyage basis....more

NEW DELHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey launched a broadside against the Supreme Court. Words like "anarchy", "inciting religious wars" were thrown at the highest court of the land in the country by the BJP MP. Opposition Congress said attempts are being made to "weaken the Supreme Court". The comments follow Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's "Article 142 has become a nuclear missile against democratic forces, available to judiciary 24x7". The Vice President made the remarks after a Supreme Court judgment effectively laid down a deadline for the President and Governors to clear Bills. ...more
KURNOOL: In a first, India has successfully developed a laser-based weapon system that can neutralise aerial targets, including fixed-wing aircraft, missiles and swarm drones, marking a huge milestone in the country’s defence technology. India has joined the list of elite countries, including the US, China, and Russia, to possess such advanced laser weapon capabilities....more

RIYADH: In a major move, Saudi Arabia has temporarily stopped issuing certain types of visas to people from 14 countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This ban will remain in place until mid-June, which is around the time this year’s Hajj pilgrimage will be completed. The visa suspension affects Umrah visas as well as business and family visit visas. Saudi authorities have decided to prevent people from attempting to perform Hajj without proper registration....more
TEHRAN: Iran is dangerously close to developing an atomic weapon, warned the International Atomic Energy Agency, hours before the UN watchdog's chief is expected to leave for Tehran. During his visit, the top nuclear body chief will hold talks with Iranian government officials over recent developments in its top secret nuclear programme. Rafael Grossi, who heads the IAEA, likened the development of a nuclear weapon to that of solving a jigsaw puzzle. "Iran has all the pieces now, and could well put them together eventually," he said....more |