Month: April 2025

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday said that he is looking forward to visiting India later this year.

This followed his telephone conversation on Friday of the US billionaire with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The call reflects a continued dialogue between the two leaders on advancing cooperation in technology and innovation.

“It was an honour to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year!” Musk posted on social media platform X following the call.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to X to share details of their conversation.

“Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains,” Prime Minister Modi posted.

The conversation builds upon their earlier in-person meeting at Blair House in Washington DC in February this year. During that meeting, Modi and Musk explored strengthening collaboration between Indian and US entities across key sectors including space exploration, artificial intelligence, innovation, and sustainable development.

In a statement following the February meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs had said, “Prime Minister and Mr Musk discussed strengthening collaboration between Indian and US entities in innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development. Their discussion also touched on opportunities to deepen cooperation in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and good governance.”

At that time, Musk, who also leads the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), was accompanied by three of his children. Prime Minister Modi had noted their presence, posting, “It was also a delight to meet Mr Elon Musk’s family and to talk about a wide range of subjects!”

He also shared, “Had a very good meeting with Elon Musk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about, such as space, mobility, technology and innovation. I talked about India’s efforts towards reform and furthering ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’.”

Musk’s upcoming visit is expected to further strengthen India-US cooperation in high-tech sectors, with potential investments and collaboration on the horizon. (ANI)

A severe windstorm accompanied by thundering hailstorms and heavy rainfall caused destruction across the Kalakote sub-district of Rajouri on Thursday evening, leaving dozens of families homeless and widespread property damage in its wake.

The worst-affected areas include Tehsil Kalakote and Mogla Block, where strong winds tore through the region. Some houses with tin-sheet roofs were unable to withstand the storm’s intensity. Almost 100 homes have reportedly been destroyed, and some school buildings have suffered roof damage, according to ADC Kalakote, Tanveer Ahmed.

“Many poor families in these areas had built their houses with limited resources. The iron sheet roofs have been blown away, and all their household belongings have been destroyed,” said Tanveer Ahmed, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kalakote.

The administration has constituted many teams for rescue operations in Block Moghla, Kalakote Sub Division.

Adding to the misery, a high alert has been issued in the region for the next 48 hours as further inclement weather is predicted.

Significant infrastructural damage has been caused. Tree uprooting and the destruction of electric poles and cables have completely disrupted power supply lines. The storm also damaged the roof of the SKME School building in Kalakote.

Residents are urging the government to provide immediate compensation and relief assistance. ADC Tanveer Ahmed confirmed that assessment teams have been deployed across all affected zones and relief measures are being expedited.

“All reports are being compiled, and we are actively addressing the issues. Relief is being provided as a priority, and people are being advised to remain indoors for their safety,” ADC Ahmed added.

The administration has assured continued monitoring of the situation, with efforts underway to restore basic services and offer aid to those impacted. (ANI)

In a nationwide alert, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, on Saturday warned the public about a sharp rise in online booking frauds, particularly those preying on religious pilgrims and unsuspecting tourists.

The cyber frauds are being executed through convincing yet fake websites, social media pages, WhatsApp accounts, and even sponsored advertisements on major platforms like Google and Facebook.

“The I4C has alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting religious pilgrims and tourists across the country. These frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, Facebook posts, and paid advertisements on search engines like Google,” MHA informed through a statement.

According to I4C, these scams typically lure victims with offers like helicopter bookings for Kedarnath and the Char Dham yatra, guest house and hotel accommodations, online cab or taxi services, and religious holiday packages.

While the websites and profiles appear legitimate, users who make payments often receive no confirmation or service, and are unable to contact the service providers afterwards.

To protect citizens, I4C urges the public to remain vigilant; verify the authenticity of websites before making any payments; be cautious of clicking on sponsored or unfamiliar links on Google, Facebook, or WhatsApp, use only official government websites or trusted travel agencies for bookings; report suspicious sites via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or call 1930 in case of fraud.

For reference, the I4C suggests, Kedarnath helicopter bookings should be made through the official IRCTC portal:
https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in
, and bookings for Somnath Temple guest houses can be done at
https://somnath.org
.

To tackle the menace, I4C is employing a multi-pronged strategy like scam signal exchange under which regular sharing of scam signals with intermediaries like Google, WhatsApp, and Facebook to flag and remove suspicious content; enforcement under which identification of cybercrime hotspots and coordination with state and UT police for local action; and cyber patrolling which proactively detect and takedown of fake sites, ads, and impersonating social media accounts.

It is also considering hassle-free reporting, a feature on the cybercrime portal which now allows quick verification and reporting of suspicious websites.

I4C’s initiative is a timely reminder to remain cautious online, especially when planning travel to spiritual or tourist destinations. (ANI)

The United States is ready to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reported, citing an official familiar with the proposed framework.

The peace proposal includes an immediate ceasefire between the two countries. The framework was shared with the Ukrainian and European officials in Paris on Thursday.

A phone call regarding this proposal also took place between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, CNN reported, quoting sources.

However, there are some pieces that still need to be filled out, and the US is planning to work with Europe and Ukraine on that next week in London, the source said.

Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a military invasion — a move widely condemned as illegal by the international community.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly refused to cede the territory to Russia.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump also signalled the US may “take a pass” on its efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine if either side makes negotiations too difficult, CNN reported.

“If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘You’re foolish, you’re foolish. You’re horrible people,’ and we’re just going to take a pass,” Trump said.

Despite the warning, Trump expressed cautious optimism about securing a deal, CNN reported. “I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. It’s coming to a head right now,” he added.

Trump’s remarks came after a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested abandoning the peace efforts in Ukraine within “days.”

Speaking in Paris after high-level talks with European, Ukrainian, and Russian officials, Rubio stressed the urgency of determining whether the war can be ended or not.

“We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable,” he told reporters before departing Paris. (ANI)

As many as 8-10 people are still feared trapped under the debris after a four collapsed in Delhi’s Mustafabad area on Saturday morning, police said. Four people were killed in the incident.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses share details of the incident as rescue operations continue.

Shehzad Ahmed, who lost two nephews in the fatal incident, told ANI, “The building collapsed around 2.30-3 am. It was a four-storey building. Two of my nephews have died. My sister, brother-in-law and niece are also injured. They are admitted to GTB Hospital…”

A local said that they had not seen their neighbours hours after the incident.

“Two men and two daughters-in-law stay here. The oldest daughter-in-law has three children, the second daughter-in-law has three children… right now, we don’t know anything. They are nowhere to be seen,” She said.

8-10 people are still feared trapped, said Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), North East District

Earlier today, the four-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Mustafabad area on Saturday morning, police said.

According to the latest update, four people have succumbed to their injuries, and 14 people were rescued after a four-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Mustafabad area on Saturday morning, police said.

Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North East District, told ANI that the incident took place at 3 am.

Fourteen people were rescued, but four among them succumbed…It was a four-storey building…The rescue operation is underway. 8-10 people are still feared trapped,” he said.

According to officials, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Delhi Police have reached the spot, and a rescue operation is currently underway.

Rajendra Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer, told ANI that they received a call regarding a house collapse around 2:50 am.

“We reached the spot and found out that the entire building has collapsed and people are trapped under the debris…NDRF, Delhi Fire Service are working to rescue the people…,” he said.

On April 11, one person was killed and two others sustained injuries after a wall of an under-construction building collapsed near Madhu Vihar police station in Delhi during the dust storm which struck the national capital, as per police. (ANI)

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday announced the results of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech), with 24 candidates securing a perfect 100 percentile.

This year’s JEE Main was conducted in two sessions — January and April — with a massive turnout.

A total of 15,39,848 unique candidates registered across both sessions, while 14,75,103 appeared. In the January session alone, 13,11,544 students registered and 12,58,136 appeared. For the April session, 10,61,840 registered and 9,92,350 took the exam.

The computer-based examination was conducted in 13 languages across 300 cities, including 15 international locations such as Dubai, Singapore, Doha, and Washington DC.

Of the 24 students who achieved 100 percentile, Rajasthan produced the highest number with seven toppers, followed by Maharashtra and Telangana (four each), Uttar Pradesh (three), West Bengal (two), and one each from Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

Among the toppers, two are female candidates: Devdutta Majhi from West Bengal and Sai Manogna Guthikonda from Andhra Pradesh.

NTA also announced the category-wise percentile cut-offs for eligibility to appear in JEE Advanced 2025.

For the unreserved (UR) category, candidates needed to score at least 93.10 percentile.

The cut-off for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) was 80.38, for OBC-NCL it was 79.43, for Scheduled Castes (SC) it was 61.15, and for Scheduled Tribes (ST) the cut-off stood at 47.90 percentile.

For Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) in the UR category, the cut-off was 0.0079 percentile.

To ensure fairness and integrity, the NTA implemented stringent security measures, including AI-based video analytics, 5G jammers, live CCTV surveillance, and biometric attendance systems. Despite these precautions, the results of 110 candidates were withheld due to the use of unfair means, while another 23 were held for discrepancies in identity verification.

With the JEE Main results now declared, qualified students will proceed to the JEE Advanced — the gateway to admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Notably, 8,33,536 candidates registered for both sessions, and 7,75,383 appeared in both. For those who took the exam twice, the better of the two scores was considered for the final result. (ANI)

In a major step to combat the worsening water crisis in the national capital, the Delhi government will roll out 1,000 GPS-enabled water tankers this Sunday, April 20.

As per sources, the tankers will be flagged off from Nirankari Ground in Burari, aiming to bring transparency, timely delivery, and accountability to water distribution across the city.

Each tanker will be fitted with advanced GPS tracking technology, allowing real-time monitoring through a centralised command centre.

A dedicated master control room is also being established to oversee operations and ensure efficient deployment to water-scarce areas, particularly those without pipeline infrastructure.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to crack down on water theft and dismantle the notorious tanker mafia that has long plagued Delhi, especially during the intense summer months.

Delhi’s Water Minister Parvesh Verma shared on X, “To address Delhi’s water crisis, 1,000 GPS-enabled water tankers will be dispatched across the city from Burari Nirankari Ground on Sunday. Each tanker will be monitored from a command centre to ensure transparency and timely supply. The arrangements for the event were inspected today.”

With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting ‘above-normal’ rainfall for the upcoming monsoon season, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the Minto Bridge area on Friday to inspect the city’s preparedness for potential waterlogging.

CM Rekha Gupta assured citizens that the Delhi government has taken comprehensive steps to mitigate waterlogging issues this monsoon.

“We are here near the Minto Bridge, where waterlogging is a common problem during the rainy season. This time, the government is making all necessary preparations to ensure we don’t face this issue,” Gupta told ANI.

Gupta highlighted the installation of automatic pumps, which are designed to function without operators, ensuring swift drainage of excess water.

“These pumps are part of our proactive measures to tackle waterlogging efficiently,” she added.

Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma on Friday also asserted the need to resolve waterlogging issues in the national capital ahead of the monsoon season.

Verma said drains are being cleared and pump stations are being set up in many areas of the national capital. He further added that Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed all departments to fix the waterlogging points before the monsoon.

“Three topics were discussed in our meeting with CM Rekha Gupta today. In 2023, the Delhi Police had notified us about 308 sites plagued by waterlogging. In 2024, we were notified about 194 such sites, with most of the locations under the PWD,” Verma said.

On Thursday, the Delhi government launched an inspection drive across several schools under the supervision of the District Magistrate (DM), issuing notices to 10 schools and initiating the process of derecognising institutions found to be in serious violation of norms.

During the inspections, the DM was accompanied by senior academicians and officials from the Directorate of Education.

Notably, India is likely to receive above-normal rainfall during the 2025 southwest monsoon season, according to a long-range forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The probabilistic forecast shows that most parts of India are expected to receive above-normal rainfall during the monsoon season. (ANI)

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered an investigation into the sudden death of an Air India Express pilot, who died of a cardiac arrest at the Delhi airport shortly after taking off from Srinagar on April 9.

In a order dated April 17, Directorate General of Civil Aviation said, “In exercise of power under Rule 13(1) of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules 2017, I hereby order investigation of Sudden Cardiac arrest to M/s AIXL First Officer while operating Flight IX-1153 from Srinagar to Delhi on 09.04.2025 and appoint Sh. Vishal Yadav, Dy Director Air Safety, as Investigator-in-Charge and Gp Capt Murtaza, DMS (CA), Subject Matter Expert as a Member for carrying out the investigation.”

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has directed the team to submit the final investigation report as soon as possible, preferably within a six-month period.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has directed the investigation team to address several key points.

The terms of reference of the investigation include whether the crew reported the pilot’s sickness to the Delhi Air Traffic Control (ATC) while the aircraft was still in the air, and whether the ATC initiated action appropriately, and whether the other crew members took the necessary action.

Additionally, the probe panel will review the medical history of the deceased crew member. The investigation team will also examine whether proper precautions were taken when rostering crew members with medical restrictions. Furthermore, the investigation team has been tasked with determining whether specific medical checks are necessary for pilots with pre-existing medical conditions before they undertake flights.

Moreover, the investigation team to review the actions taken by the remaining onboard crew when the pilot reported feeling unwell, including the time it took to transport him to the medical centre at the airport or a nearby civil hospital.

The team will also evaluate the preparedness of the airport’s medical centre in handling such emergencies. Finally, the investigation team has been tasked with reviewing existing guidelines and circulars on this matter and making recommendations for any necessary changes. (ANI)

Tibetan activists from various NGOs gathered at the main square of McLeodganj in North Indian hill town Dharamshala to protest against the governments of China and Vietnam, because of the suspicious death of Tibetan leader,Tulku Hungkar Dorje in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in late March 2025 following his unjust arrest by Vietnamese authorities, has reached a critical juncture, with sources indicating that the cremation of Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s body may be imminent.

Tibetan groups called on the Vietnamese government to stop the cremation from occurring until an independent investigation can take place, and for international governments to intervene to demand justice for this highly respected Buddhist leader.

Tibetan activists told ANI that according to sources, Chinese officials from Tibet and the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam have instructed Tibetan monks from Lung-Ngon Monastery to prepare for the imminent cremation of Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s body in Vietnam, pending completion of ‘paperwork,’ with conditions including no photos or videos during the ceremony and no attendance by Vietnamese Buddhists.

They believe that a cremation without investigation would risk the permanent destruction of vital evidence and would constitute a deliberate attempt to obstruct justice.

Tulku Hungkar Dorje, 56, had reportedly escaped into exile in Vietnam after facing relentless persecution from Chinese authorities in Tibet for his unwavering commitment to preserving Tibetan language and cultural identity. Shockingly, credible sources indicate his arrest in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25 in an operation allegedly involving both Vietnamese police and Chinese agents.

Dorje died just days later while reportedly in custody. The Vietnamese authorities’ unsubstantiated claim of a heart attack, the denial of family access to his body, and the complete absence of official documentation point to a deliberate cover-up.

Dr Lobsang Yangtso, International Tibet Network, said, “We are now in a race against time. Sources confirm that Chinese officials are actively preparing for Tulku Hungkar Dorje’s cremation in Vietnam, with strict conditions: no photos, no videos, and no public. We are urging governments to act immediately–diplomatic statements are not enough. Pressure must be applied now to stop the cremation, preserve the body, and demand an independent investigation before it’s too late.”

Tenzin Pasang, Students for a Free Tibet-India added, “Around the world, Tibetans are fearing the worst: that Tulku Hungkar Dorje was abducted, tortured, and killed by Chinese agents for his efforts to preserve Tibetan culture, language, and religion.

By cremating his body without allowing for any independent investigation of his death, the Chinese government abandons any chance of ever changing the minds of Tibetans everywhere. This blatant state violence only further reinforces the reality that the Chinese government relies on coercion and violence to rule Tibet–and lacks all legitimacy in the eyes of the Tibetan people.” (ANI)

Air strikes carried out by the United States on Thursday at Yemen’s Ras Isa oil port resulted in at least 74 fatalities, marking one of the deadliest attacks by US forces on the country, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

The group’s Health Ministry spokesman, Anees Alasbah, said on Friday that the strikes carried out on Thursday also wounded 171 people.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that the strikes were aimed at cutting off the Houthis’ fuel and revenue sources, describing the operation as an effort to target the economic power of the Iran-backed group.

In a post on social media on Thursday, CENTCOM said, “Today, US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists. The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis.”

Earlier, the US military’s attack on Ras Isa port had killed at least 38, while about 102 have also been injured, Hodeidah’s health office reported.

Meanwhile, Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister and the leader of the Liberal Party, had called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and for Israel to end its weeks-long blockade and allow humanitarian aid to enter the besieged enclave.

“We need to work with our international partners [to exert] maximum pressure, maximum encouragement for an immediate ceasefire [in Gaza],” he said, speaking as the leaders of Canada’s four major parties squared off in their final debate ahead of the country’s general election later this month.

Posting on X, Carney also called for “the release of all hostages” and “more humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza,” as well as a “lasting two-state solution.”

Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 51,065 Palestinians have been confirmed dead and 1,16,505 have been injured in Israel’s war on Gaza since it began 18 months ago, as per Al Jazeera.

The Gaza Government Media Office updated its death toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of people missing under the rubble are presumed dead. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI)