Month: May 2025

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two absconding members of a sleeper module of banned terror organisation ISIS in a 2023 case related to fabrication and testing of IEDs in Maharashtra’s Pune, according to a statement on Saturday.

The two men, identified as Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala and Talha Khan, were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration at the Mumbai International Airport T2 when they tried to return to India from Jakarta, Indonesia, where they had been hiding.

The NIA team then took them into custody and arrested them. The next hearing in the case is on May 27, 2025.

According to the statement, both accused had been on the run for over two years and were declared proclaimed offenders. The NIA Special Court in Mumbai issued non-bailable warrants against them, and cash rewards of Rs 3 lakh each were also announced for information leading to their arrest.

The case relates to a criminal conspiracy by these men, along with eight other ISIS Pune sleeper module members already arrested and in judicial custody. They had conspired to commit terrorist acts to disturb India’s peace and communal harmony by waging a war against the Government of India in furtherance of the ISIS agenda to establish Islamic rule in the country through violence and terror.

These two men, already chargesheeted along with the other arrested accused, had been engaged in assembling IEDs from a house rented by Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh in Kondhwa, Pune.

During the 2022-2023 period, they had also organised and participated in a bomb making and training workshop, besides carrying out a controlled explosion to test an IED fabricated by them, at these premises.

NIA, which has been actively investigating the activities of ISIS in India in a bid to foil its violent and nefarious anti-India terrorist plans, had previously chargesheeted all the 10 accused in the case under various sections of UA(P)A, Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act and IPC.

In addition to Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh and Talha Khan, Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Nasiruddin Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam were arrested in the case.

In court, accused’s Advocate Tahira Qureshi argued that the investigation had already been completed, and further custody was “too much.”

“Fifteen days is too much. Investigation is almost complete,” Advocate Qureshi told the court, raising serious concerns over the prolonged detention of the accused.

Advocate Qureshi said that Talha’s family had been in contact with the NIA and raised objections about procedural lapses. She stated, “Abdullah was never given prior notice,” adding that the NIA’s claims around the arrest lacked clarity.

She further questioned the inconsistencies in the NIA’s version. “NIA first said they went to Indonesia to arrest them, but later they showed they were arrested at the airport,” she said.

Further investigation in the case is underway. (ANI)

In a stern warning to Pakistan over its support to terror groups targeting India, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that there is nothing in the neighbouring country that is beyond the reach of the Indian Armed Forces.

“The whole world has seen the bravery of the Indian armed forces, and then they (Pakistan) started pleading all over the world… We have never been in favour of war. We want to live in peace,” Sinha said, while speaking to the army personnel deployed along Line of Control in the Tangdhar Sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Today, we are the fifth-largest economy in the world and want to become the fourth-largest economy in a few days. We are moving ahead with the dream of a developed India,” he added.

He accused Pakistan of being bent on “destroying humanity on the strength of debt.”

“Our neighbour is bent on destroying humanity on the strength of debt. I think they must have learnt a lesson from the reply given. There is nothing in Pakistan that is beyond the reach of the Indian Army… Again, I salute your valour, bravery and devotion towards Maa Bharati and pray to God that whenever such a crisis comes, the country should know that our country is in the safe hands of heroes like you,” he added.

Earlier in the day, he visited the border area in the Tangdhar sector and assessed the damage caused by cross-border shelling from Pakistan.

“Many houses and commercial properties here have been damaged due to the adversarial shelling. Today I visited those places with a senior administrative officer, saw the situation with my own eyes, and interacted with the people to understand their problems,” the LG told reporters.

“Based on the administration’s assessment, possible immediate assistance has been provided. A few people are left to be rehabilitated. But I think this help is not enough. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir and senior officers will jointly prepare a comprehensive plan for the damage caused. Based on this, we will request the Indian government and rehabilitate the remaining people,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army carried out a door-to-door outreach in villages near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch, which were severely affected by recent Pakistani shelling.

As part of the relief efforts, Army jawans distributed essential supplies, including medicines and rations, to the residents, while also interacting with them to understand their needs.

A local resident said, “Our areas were affected by the shelling. The Indian Army has played a very important role on the borders and they are providing us with relief material. We thank the Indian Army. We stand in support of the Indian Army.”

“They are providing us with rations. I pray to God for the long life of these Army personnel. We are with them. Just as they are bravely guarding the borders, we too stand in solidarity with them here in Poonch,” stated another resident.

Intense shelling by Pakistan during the recent conflict with India has left a trail of destruction in the border villages and districts across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, with locals suffering damages to their houses and livelihood. (ANI)

Noting that many countries, including Western governments and Russia, talked about the need to combat terrorism in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack and statements of sympathy with India were genuine, a leading London-based security expert has said the successive US governments have been seeking to cultivate India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific in part as a counterweight to China and conflict in the region is not in American interest.

In an interview with ANI, Dr Walter Ladwig, Senior Lecturer of International Relations at King’s College London, said India’s growth is soaring, growing at nearly seven per cent a year and the country needs to grow faster to meet all of the development targets.

“When it comes to India, we have successive US administrations going all the way back to George W. Bush that have been seeking to cultivate India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific, in part as a counterweight to China… It’s not in the American interest for there to be a conflict between India and Pakistan insofar as that distracts india’s attention away from bigger picture issues in Asia,” he said.

“India’s growth is soaring, growing at an impressive just under seven per cent a year, but needs to grow faster to meet all of the development targets. All of those things will be put at risk by a protracted conflict or stalemate with Pakistan, so that’s clearly not in America’s interest,” he added.

He said India and Pakistan had reached an understanding for stopping military action and firing and it was “a lot about the desires of the two parties involved” and wasn’t “brought about by pressure or mediation” in the way US President Donald Trump has described.

India carried out precision strikes through Operation Sindoor early on May 7 on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

India also effectively responded to subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases.

India carried out surgical strikes in 2016 on terror launch pads across LoC and an aerial attack on a terror camp in Pakistan in 2019 in response to ghastly terror attacks.

Pahalgam terror attack last month, in which 26 people were killed, drew global condemnation.

“I think many Western governments, Russia, and even China, in the aftermath of the attack in Kashmir, all talked about the need to combat terrorism. The statements of sympathy with India, I think were genuine. You didn’t have Indian diplomats running around trying to get governments to say these things. I think the US position in particular was slightly different from the first Trump administration when in 2019 they very clearly gave a green light to New Delhi to do sort of what it needed to do after the Pulwama attack,” Dr Ladwig said.

“I wouldn’t necessarily see it as a tilt towards Pakistan or sympathy towards Pakistan, I think rather most countries kind of defaulting to their standard set of responses when there is a South Asia crisis, he said.

Dr Ladwig said that India’s growth story getting impacted is not in the US interest.

“When it comes to India, we have successive US administrations going all the way back to George W. Bush that have been seeking to cultivate India as an important partner in the Indo-Pacific, in part as a counterweight to China… It’s not in the American interest for there to be a conflict between India and Pakistan insofar as that distracts india’s attention away from bigger picture issues in Asia,” he said.

“India’s growth is soaring, growing at an impressive just under seven per cent a year, but needs to grow faster to meet all of the development targets. All of those things will be put at risk by a protracted conflict or stalemate with Pakistan, so that’s clearly not in America’s interest,” he added.

Dr Ladwig said that the evidence of Indian Air Force’s ability to precisely strike a range of targets more or less precisely was quite impressive.

“I think what stood out for me the most was first the shift in Indian government policy in terms of responding to terrorist attacks within India that it believes are linked to groups that operate in Pakistan. And whereas in the past we saw governments feel the need to sort of seek to assemble a dossier or provide evidence of linkages… Now, there’s a move to a policy stance of saying that a failure to prevent groups from having safe haven in your territory is enough to bring about a military response when it comes to terrorist activities,” he said.

“And then once the Indian Air Force operated according to standard military procedures and doctrines, the evidence that their ability to really precisely strike a range of targets more or less precisely, I think it was quite impressive,” he added.

Answering another query, Dr Ladwig said, India was successful in striking a much wider range of targets and executing more successful missions than Pakistan in the aggression by Islamabad following Operation Sindoor.

“…I think India was successful in striking a much wider range of targets and executing more successful missions than the Pakistan side was which sort of explains why there’s so much more information, images and so forth in the open domain that would appear to corroborate the majority of the Indians claims versus Pakistanis,” he said.

He was asked about India presenting high-resolution evidence to support its assertions in the conflict, while Pakistan’s evidence appears more limited and how he assesses this asymmetry in evidence presentation.

India and Pakistan have agreed to stop military action and firing following a call made by Pakistan’s DGMO to his Indian counterpart on May 10. (ANI)

On Vicky Kaushal’s 37th birthday, his wife and actress Katrina Kaif made sure the day began with love and a smile with her cute birthday wish.

On Friday, Katrina took to her Instagram to post an adorable picture. The photo shows Vicky’s face in focus with a soft smile, while Katrina peeks from behind him with a gentle grin and glowing eyes. It’s the kind of candid picture that says a lot without any words.

Take a look

Vicky and Katrina tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan. On ‘Koffee With Karan,’ Katrina revealed that she met Vicky at Zoya Akhtar’s party, and that’s when romance started brewing between them.

Sharing the details of her relationship with Vicky, Katrina explained how Vicky was never on her ‘radar’. She said, “I did not even know much about him. He was just a name I had heard of but had never associated with. But then, when I met him, I was won over!”

Earlier in the day, his father took to his Instagram account to share a video capturing the father-son bond, drawing warm responses from fans and fellow celebrities. In the video, Vicky and his father are seen walking side by side on a beach, smiling and synchronizing their steps.

“Father is the happiest person in the world to see his son moving ahead of him in life… Love you, Puttar. Wish you a very Happy Birthday. Feeling proud and blessed to have you as my son. Rab di meher bani rahe. Jor di jhappi,” Sham Kaushal captioned the post.

Vicky, who turned 37 today, was last seen in ‘Chhaava,’ which performed well at the box office. Looking ahead, Vicky is set to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming film ‘Love and War’ alongside Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor. (ANI)

Amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, US President Donald Trump stressed the importance of addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where many are facing severe food shortages and said that a lot of people are starving in the region.

While speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “A lot of good things are going to happen over the next month. We have to help out the Palestinians. A lot of people are starving in Gaza, so we have to look at both sides. But we are going to do a good job.”

The World Food Programme (WFP) in a release on Monday had said that the populations across the Gaza Strip are at risk of famine as fighting surged again, border crossings are still closed, and food is dangerously scarce.

It further said that hunger and malnutrition intensified sharply since all aid was blocked from entering on March 2.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) snapshot released on May 12, 4,70,000 people in Gaza are facing catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5), and the entire population is experiencing acute food insecurity.

The report warned of a sharp rise in acute malnutrition, projecting that 71,000 children and more than 17,000 mothers will urgently require treatment. At the beginning of 2025, agencies estimated 60,000 children would need treatment.

UN World Food Programme’s Executive Director Cindy McCain had said, “Families in Gaza are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border. We can’t get it to them because of the renewed conflict and the total ban on humanitarian aid imposed in early March. It’s imperative that the international community acts urgently to get aid flowing into Gaza again. If we wait until after a famine is confirmed, it will already be too late for many people.”

The vast majority of children in Gaza are facing extreme food deprivation, as confirmed by 17 UN agencies and NGOs in the IPC report. Coupled with the severely limited access to health services and critical shortages of clean water and sanitation, rapid increases in acute malnutrition are expected in North Gaza, Gaza and Rafah governorates. (ANI)

India’s world champion and Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had an outing to remember, as he became the first Indian to cross the 90 m mark in the sport on Friday.

However he could not secure the top spot on the podium this time, after a monstrous throw by Germany’s Julian Weber at the Doha Diamond League.

Neeraj had the lead till the final round, crossing the 90-m mark with a stupendous throw of 90.23 m, breaking his own national record. However, in the last set of throws, Weber registered a brilliant effort of 91.06 m, dropping Neeraj to second spot. Grenada’s Anderson Peters is at number three, with a throw of 85.64 m.

Neeraj had a brilliant start, kickstarting his season with a throw of 88.44 m, with Anderson Peters of Grenada in second place with 85.64 m and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago at third with 84.65 m.

The superstar Indian’s second throw was a foul, but he still managed to maintain his lead. Germany’s Julian Weber took third place with a throw of 85.57 m.

However, the third throw by Neeraj helped him touch the coveted 90-m mark, with a monstrous throw of 90.23 m, extending his lead over his other opponents. He also broke his own national record, bettering his 89.94 m throw registered during the Stockholm Diamond League 2022. Julian however, came close, with a throw of 89.06 m.

The fourth throw by Neeraj was of 80.56 m, and the fifth throw was a foul. However, this still kept Neeraj in the lead, with Julian at second spot and Peters at third spot.

However, Neeraj was beaten in the final set of throws, with Weber throwing 91.06 m to outdo the Indian, who finished in second spot with his final throw being 88.20 m. (ANI)

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif admitted that India’s ballistic missiles hit Nur Khan Airbase and other sites on May 10, a rare acknowledgement that contradicts Pakistan’s usual stance of denial when it comes to Indian military action.

Sharif said Army Chief General Asim Munir called him around 2:30 am to report the strikes. Sharif mentioned the use of local technology and Chinese jets by Pakistan’s Air Force, but confirmed that India’s missiles hit their targets.

While addressing a ceremony held at the Pakistan Monument on Friday, Sharif said, “At around 2:30 am on May 10, General Syed Asim Munir called me on secure line and informed me that India’s ballistic missiles have hit Nur Khan Airbase and other areas. Our Air Force used homegrown technology to save our country, and they even used modern gadgets and technology on Chinese jets,” Geo News reported.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya also pointed to Sharif’s admission that he was woken up at 2:30 am by Army Chief General Asim Munir, with the news that Indian missiles had hit Nur Khan Airbase and other key locations.

Malviya noted that such a call reveals the precision and boldness of Operation Sindoor.

Sharing a post on X, Malviya said, “Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif himself admits that General Asim Munir called him at 2:30am to inform him that India had bombed Nur Khan Air Base and several other locations. Let that sink in — the Prime Minister was woken up in the middle of the night with news of strikes deep inside Pakistan. This speaks volumes about the scale, precision, and boldness of #OperationSindoor.”

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif himself admits that General Asim Munir called him at 2:30am to inform him that India had bombed Nur Khan Air Base and several other locations. Let that sink in — the Prime Minister was woken up in the middle of the night with news of strikes deep inside… pic.twitter.com/b4QbsF7xJh

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 16, 2025

India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 as a decisive military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Indian Armed Forces 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.

After the attack, Pakistan retaliated with cross-border shelling across the Line of Control and Jammu and Kashmir as well as attempted drone attacks along the border regions, following which India launched a coordinated attack and damaged radar infrastructure, communication centres and airfields across 11 airbases in Pakistan.

After this, on May 10, an understanding of the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan was announced. (ANI)

In response to a sudden spike in air pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced Stage-I measures of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday.

The decision was a comprehensive review by the CAQM Sub-Committee, which convened on May 16 at 4:00 PM. The committee assessed the persistent poor air quality conditions in Delhi, due to long-range dust transport triggered by strong winds which has been considered episodic in nature.

On May 15, the AQI had deteriorated sharply due to the wind activity.

Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 278 on May 16, within the ‘Poor’ category. Forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have predicted that the AQI will remain in the lower end of the ‘Poor’ range on May 17 as well.

Given these circumstances, the Sub-Committee has decided to implement Stage-I actions under GRAP.

Meanwhile, a political row erupted over the worsened air quality with AAP attacking the BJP government, saying that its election promises of clean air collapsed in just three months.

The official handle of the Aam Aadmi Party posted on ‘X’: “In the month of May itself, Delhi-NCR was covered in a blanket of pollution. In the month of May itself, AQI has crossed 500 in many areas of Delhi-NCR, and dust and poisonous air are spread in the air. This has never happened before. There are BJP governments in Delhi and all the surrounding states, but no BJP government is doing any work to reduce pollution.

“Sharing a news report on the alarming AQI levels, AAP national Convenor Arvind Kejriwal took to the social media platform ‘X’ and wrote, “Air pollution was never this bad during the AAP regime at this time of the year.”

Also, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa hit out at former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi after the latter alleged that the AQI had reached 500 on Thursday morning. (ANI)

The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai gets a new lease of life today as the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) gathers to honour four individuals who have made their mark in Mumbai’s thriving cricket legacy, according to a release from MCA.

In a ceremony graced by dignitaries from the cricketing world, the Association unveiled three stands named after former MCA President Sharad Pawar, India’s World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma, and former Indian captain late Ajit Wadekar, respectively. In addition, the MCA Office Lounge dedicated in memory of former President late Amol Kale, was also inaugurated.

The grand ceremony witnessed a distinguished gathering, including Sharad Pawar, Rohit Sharma, MCA President Ajinkya Naik, members of the MCA Apex Council, along with family members of late Amol Kale and Ajit Wadekar, and a bunch of former and current players.

Adding to the significance of the event, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated, “The members of the Mumbai Cricket Association have made an excellent decision, as it is essential to celebrate those who bring us pride.”

Today, we honour individuals who have significantly contributed to the growth of Indian cricket. We encourage the MCA to submit a proposal, and I assure you that we will construct an even larger stadium capable of accommodating over one hundred thousand spectators. Mumbai and Maharashtra are home to countless cricket enthusiasts, and it is our duty to provide them with a venue that reflects their passion for the sport.”

“Dedicating the stands and the MCA Office Lounge to these iconic figures is our way of embedding their legacy into the very fabric of Wankhede Stadium. Each of them has played a transformative role in shaping Mumbai cricket’s identity and progress. As we honour their immense contributions, with Wankhede celebrating 50 glorious years, we reaffirm our commitment to preserving and celebrating the heritage of this historic ground that continues to write new history for cricket,” said MCA President Ajinkya Naik.

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude, Rohit Sharma said, “Wankhede has always been incredibly special to me. It’s where I began to dream about my journey in professional cricket, experienced some of the most unforgettable moments of my career, and the energy of the Mumbai crowd has always lifted me. To have a stand named after me at this iconic venue is overwhelming. It is a tribute to the dreams, support, and milestones that have shaped my journey, and I am deeply thankful to MCA for this honour.”

Former MCA President Sharad Pawar said, “I would like to express my gratitude to the Mumbai Cricket Association for this decision. We are also working on some other initiatives. We are in the process of establishing an international-level cricket museum, which will showcase the rich history of cricket in Mumbai. This museum will feature notable personalities who have contributed to the sport’s reputation both locally and nationally. I am confident that these developments will make the museum a must-visit destination for all who come to Mumbai.”

The families of Amol Kale and Ajit Wadekar also expressed deep appreciation for the tributes. While Ajit Wadekar left a legacy by leading India to its first Test series wins in the West Indies and England in 1971, and strengthening India’s Test and ODI rankings; Amol Kale, in his role as the President of MCA helped enrich the sustaining legacy of the Association.

The Grand Stand Level 3 is named as the Pawar Stand, honouring the long and successful tenures of Sharad Pawar that helped revamp the stadium in many ways. And the Divecha Pavilion Level 3 stand is named after Rohit, honouring his remarkable stint as the T20 World Cup and ICC Champions Trophy winning captain.

With this landmark occasion, the Mumbai Cricket Association not only pays homage to the legends who shaped its journey but also strengthens its resolve to keep the spirit of cricket alive for generations to come. (ANI)

Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd, the Indian arm of Turkish firm Celebi Aviation, has filed a plea in the Delhi High Court against the Indian government’s decision to revoke its security clearance, citing national security concerns.

The company, which provides airport ground handling services across India, argued that the move will jeopardise thousands of jobs and threatens investor confidence.

The revocation reportedly stems from growing concerns over Turkey’s support to Pakistan in the India-Pakistan conflict. However, Celebi maintains that its operations in India are independent and professionally governed, distancing itself from any political affiliations.

Following the revocation of Celebi NAS Airport Services’ security clearance, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu assured that efforts are underway to retain employees and ensure continued contributions to the aviation sector. The Minister is personally monitoring the situation and coordinating with airport operators to manage the transition efficiently.

A press release from the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) revoked Celebi’s security clearance on grounds related to national security. The government reaffirmed its commitment to national security, passenger convenience, and uninterrupted cargo operations while managing the fallout from the decision. (ANI)