Month: May 2025

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday labelled the detention of Gujarat Samachar co-founder Bahubali Shah as a “conspiracy to supress the voice of entire democracy”, saying that the country would neither be governed by sticks nor fear, but by truth and constitution.

“The country will neither be run by sticks nor by fear – India will be run by truth and the Constitution,” Gandhi posted on X.

He said that the shutting down of newspapers that hold those in power accountable was indicative of the democracy being in danger. Detention of Bahujbali Shah reveals that “politics of fear” has become the identity marker of the Modi government, the Congress leader added.

“The attempt to silence Gujarat Samachar is another conspiracy to suppress the voice not just of one newspaper but of the entire democracy. When newspapers that hold power accountable are shut down, understand that democracy is in danger,” Gandhi said.

“The detention of Bahubali Shah is a part of the same politics of fear, which has now become the identity of the Modi government,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday condemned the detention of Bahubali Shah following the raids by Income Tax (IT) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the leading daily, which he said was not a coincidence since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “wants to silence” every questioning voice.

Further, he said that Gujarat would soon give an answer to this “dictatorship.”

He further said that Shah’s “detention” came 48 hours after raids were carried out on Gujarat Samachar and GSTV. Kejriwal added that it was a sign of the BJP’s frustration.

“The raids by IT and ED on Gujarat Samachar and GSTV in the last 48 hours, and then the arrest of their owner, Bahubali Bhai Shah – all this is not a coincidence. This is a sign of the frustration of the BJP, which wants to silence every voice that speaks the truth and asks questions. The people of the country and Gujarat will answer this dictatorship very soon,” Kejriwal, former Chief Minister of Delhi, posted on X. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum in Bhuj on Friday and said that the infrastructure pays a homage to the victims of the devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake and stands as a testament to the resilience and the indomitable spirit of the people of the state.

The Defence Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision and inspiration for the memorial and museum and expressed gratitude to him.

Speaking to ANI, Rajnath Singh said, “I had the opportunity to visit the Smritivan Earthquake Memorial and Museum for the first time, and whatever I saw here was awe-inspiring and a very memorable experience for me. This museum is not only the pride of the country but also the world. This memorial, built in memory of the people who lost their lives in the 2001 quake in Gujarat, stands as a symbol of the resilience and the spirit of the state.”

“The museum, which has also found a place on the UNESCO list, reflects the vision and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We all know that PM Modi’s vision and inspiration are clearly visible in this museum. I thank him for his inspiration for building it,” said Singh.

Calling Smritivan a source of national pride, the Defence Minister appealed to all visitors coming to Gujarat to make time to visit the memorial and pay homage to those who were killed in the earthquake.

“I request all my countrymen that whenever they come to Gujarat, they must visit this memorial and pay tribute to the approximately 13,000 people,” said Singh.

In 2001, a massive earthquake jolted Bhuj in Gujarat’s Kutch district, in which more than 20,000 people were killed and over 1.5 lakh people were injured. The earthquake left thousands homeless.

The intraplate earthquake measured 7.6 on the moment magnitude scale and occurred at a depth of 17.4 km.

Earlier in the day, Rajnath Singh arrived in Gujarat’s Bhuj and interacted with Air Warriors at Bhuj Air Force Station. He was accompanied by Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh.

This comes a day after he concluded his visit to the Badami Bagh Cantt in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, where he met and interacted with Indian Army soldiers.

Highlighting the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) bravery during Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asserted on Friday that the operation was not over yet and that whatever happened was just a “trailer.”

Addressing Air Warriors at Bhuj Air Force Station, Singh said, “We have kept Pakistan on probation. If its behaviour improves, then okay, otherwise, it will be given the strictest punishment. Operation Sindoor is not over yet. Whatever happened was just a trailer. When the right time comes, we will show the full picture to the world.”

The Defence Minister paid homage to those who lost their lives during Operation Sindoor and wished for the speedy recovery of the injured ones.

“Bhuj was witness to our victory against Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. Today, again, it has been a witness to our victory against Pakistan. I feel proud to be present here,” Singh said.

Praising the IAF for their execution during Operation Sindoor, he said, “Whatever you did during Operation Sindoor has made all Indians proud, whether they are in India or abroad. Just 23 minutes were enough for the Indian Air Force to crush terrorism being nurtured in Pakistan.”

Rajnath Singh on Friday appealed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to reconsider funding to Pakistan and said Islamabad will use a large portion of these funds on terror infrastructure in its country.

He said the fight against terrorism is not just a matter of security, but it is now also a part of the National Defence Doctrine.

Rajnath Singh said, “India’s fight against terrorism is not just a matter of security, it has now become a part of the national defence doctrine, and we will root out this hybrid and proxy warfare.”

He asserted that the current ceasefire means that India has kept Pakistan on probation based on its behaviour. If the behaviour improves, it is fine; but if there is any disturbance, the harshest punishment will be given, he said.

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh and other senior IAF officials were present on the occasion. (ANI)

Making an unforgettable first impression at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, actress Nitanshi Goel made her red carpet debut with a powerful homage to the golden age of Indian cinema.

The 17-year-old actress, known for her breakout role in the Oscar-shortlisted ‘Laapataa Ladies’, stepped into the global spotlight on Thursday with elegance and poise.

Dressed in a custom ivory saree by Jade by Monica and Karishma, Nitanshi’s ensemble served as a heartfelt tribute to the women who shaped the legacy of Hindi cinema.

Adorned with hairpins bearing the faces of screen legends like Madhubala, Nargis, Meena Kumari, Nutan, Waheeda Rehman, Asha Parekh, Vyjayanthimala, Hema Malini, Rekha, and Sridevi, the young actress carried with her a lineage of cinematic brilliance onto one of the world’s most prestigious stages.

Shrey and Urja styled Nitanshi’s first look, which was complemented by an intricately beaded blouse crafted with pearls and delicate embroidery, echoing the aesthetic of heirloom Indian fashion. Accessories were kept minimal.

Later that evening, Nitanshi made a second appearance on the red carpet in a striking black gown adorned with gold embroidery by Jade by Monica and Karishma.

Nitanshi was present at Cannes for the screening of ‘Dossier 137’. Her Cannes debut comes alongside a wave of Indian talent at this year’s festival, including ‘All We Imagine As Light’ director Payal Kapadia, Chhaya Kadam.

Actor Anupam Kher is in France for the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where his film ‘Tanvi The Great’ is set to be screened on May 17.

Apart from this, Karan Johar’s ‘Homebound’ and legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ are also set to be screened at Cannes. (ANI)

Days after India targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and inflicted damage to several of its airfields under Operation Sindoor, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed willingness to engage in talks with India for peace. However, he said that talks should be held on the Kashmir issue, The Express Tribune reported.

He extended the offer to India while interacting with the Pakistan Air Force pilots and personnel during a special visit to Kamra air base on Thursday. He said Pakistan was willing to hold talks to achieve peace, but it had certain conditions. He urged India to hold talks on the Kashmir issue, The Express Tribune reported.

India has maintained that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are and will always remain an “integral and inalienable part of it.”

On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that any future discussions will be confined to terrorism and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

In his address to the nation following Operation Sindoor, PM Modi said, “I would also like to tell the global community that our stated policy has been: if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism; and if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).”

PM Modi warned that Pakistan’s support to terrorism could lead to its downfall. He added that achieving peace is impossible without destroying the terrorist infrastructure.

“The way the Pakistani army and the Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace,” he added.

Tensions between India and Pakistan rose following the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people and injured several others. In response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), leading to the death of over 100 terrorists affiliated with terror outfits like the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

Following 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 airbases in Pakistan. On May 10, India and Pakistan reached an understanding on the cessation of hostilities. (ANI)

In a significant development, the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, London, on Thursday rejected a fresh bail petition filed by Nirav Deepak Modi. Modi, who has been lodged in a UK prison since March 19, 2019.

He is wanted in India for his involvement in the Rs 6,498.20 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated, “Fresh Bail Petition filed by Nirav Deepak Modi was rejected today by the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, London. The bail arguments were strongly opposed by the Crown Prosecution Service advocate who was ably assisted by a strong CBI team consisting of investigating and law officers who travelled to London for this purpose.”

“Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could successfully defend the arguments which resulted in rejection of the bail. Nirav Deepak Modi is in UK prison since 19th March 2019. It may be recalled that Neerav Modi is a fugitive economic offender who is wanted for Trial in India in a Bank fraud case of CBI for defrauding Punjab National Bank for Rs. 6498.20 crore,” the release added.

The CBI further said that his extradition has already been approved by the High Court of the UK in favour of the Government of India. “This is his 10th bail petition since his detention in UK which was successfully defended by CBI through Crown Prosecution Service, London,” CBI said.

India has been working for the extradition of Nirav Modi, who was arrested in March 2019 by British authorities in London. Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are the main accused in the PNB scam.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had in 2018 registered a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and others in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

During the investigation, several searches were conducted which led to the seizure of diamonds, gold, pearls and precious and semi-precious stones.

In December 2022, Nirav Modi lost his plea to move the UK Supreme Court against his extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering.

The diamantaire had fled India in 2018 before details of his “involvement in large-scale fraud” at the Punjab National Bank became public. (ANI)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday announced that a Ukrainian delegation will participate in talks with Russia in Istanbul, with the primary goal of achieving a ceasefire.

The Istanbul delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and will include military and intelligence officials.

Talks between Ukrainian and Russian diplomats are scheduled to take place in Istanbul today, according to a Turkish Foreign Ministry source quoted by the German news agency dpa, as reported by DW News.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote, “I want to sincerely thank President @RTErdogan, his team, and the people of Turkiye for their support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. President Erdogan reaffirmed during our meeting today that he supports Ukraine and recognises Crimea as part of Ukraine. We demonstrated the strength and seriousness of our delegation, which includes: the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Head of the Office of the President, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the General Staff, the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, and representatives of all our intelligence agencies.”

“I want to emphasise that Turkiye has welcomed us with a delegation of equal standing — at the highest level. Unfortunately, after learning the composition of the Russian delegation, it became clear that they are not approaching real talks seriously,” the post added.

Despite expressing doubts about Russia’s commitment to negotiations, Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine is proceeding with the talks out of respect for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump.

Zelenskyy said, “Nevertheless, despite the extremely low level of the Russian delegation, out of respect — for President Trump, for the high-level delegations present in Turkiye, and for President Erdogan, and out of a sincere desire to take at least the first steps toward de-escalation and ending the war, beginning with a ceasefire. I have decided to send a Ukrainian delegation to Istanbul. Not all members of our delegation will go: the Head of the Security Service and the Chief of the General Staff will not attend. However, the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul will be led by the Minister of Defence, Rustem Umerov. He will be joined by military professionals and intelligence officers.”

Zelenskyy further said that Russia is not taking the talks seriously and “does not genuinely want to end the war.”

“As for the agenda, the mandate for our delegation is clear: ceasefire is priority number one. I remain convinced that Russia is not serious about these meetings and does not genuinely want to end the war. But we’ll see if they are willing to show at least something during the discussions,” Zelenskyy said. (ANI)

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came down heavily on the BJP-led Delhi government over unprecedented air pollution levels in Delhi this May, stating that the capital has never seen such toxic air during this time of year under Arvind Kejriwal’s government.

A high AQI of 350 was recorded by the CPCB on Thursday from Punjabi Bagh.

The BJP came to power promising clean air — in just three months, every claim has collapsed, AAP said in a press release.

AAP leaders alleged that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) breached the 500 mark–a level categorized as “severe”.

AAP leaders criticised the BJP’s four-engine governance model for endangering public health and abandoning all responsibility.

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, dust and poisonous air is 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 social media platform ‘X’ and wrote, “Air pollution was never this bad during AAP regime at this time of the year.”

AAP Delhi State President and senior leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also condemned the state of governance under the BJP, stating, “Four-engine BJP government. AQI reached beyond 500. Delhi has never had so much pollution in this season. The four-engine government has ruined Delhi in every area.”

Further, he accused the Delhi Government of tampering with data at AQI monitoring stations across the city. Sharing AQI figures from different monitoring stations on X, Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “The people of Delhi are being deceived. The weather app is showing an AQI of 500, while government AQI monitors are showing completely different data.”

Saurabh Bharadwaj shared official AQI figures, stating, “When the weather app is showing an AQI of 500, government monitoring stations are displaying AQI as 244 in Pusa, 287 in Shadipur, 358 in Punjabi Bagh, 273 in North Campus (DU), 293 in Mundka, 198 in Chandni Chowk, 284 in Lodhi Road, 327 in Jahangirpuri, 231 at ITO, 260 at Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, 247 at Mandir Marg, 278 in Wazirpur, 197 at IGI Airport T-3, 264 in Ashok Vihar, 264 in Dwarka Sector-8, and 203 at NSIT Dwarka.”

Pointing out internal inconsistencies in government monitoring, he said, “At Pusa, both IMD and DPCC have monitoring stations, but their AQI readings are different. IMD Pusa is showing an AQI of 244, while DPCC is showing 180. Similarly, at Lodhi Road, both IITM and IMD have monitoring stations, and their AQI data is also different. IITM Lodhi Road is showing 284, while IMD is showing 291.”

Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia expressed shock over the crisis, stating that all four engines of the BJP government are continuously emitting smoke in Delhi.

“The AQI in Delhi is currently 500 – meaning poison. The sun is not visible, one cannot breathe, eyes burn, throat is sore. No planning, no accountability, no emergency plan. Only speeches and slogans. Delhiites don’t want speeches, they want breath. They don’t want slogans, they want life. And it is also on record that during Arvind Kejriwal ji’s government, AQI in Delhi never reached 500,” he said.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh echoed similar concerns and remarked: “Have you ever seen so much pollution in Delhi in this season? Look at the magic of 4 engines. AQI has crossed 500.”

Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, referred to government data to highlight the BJP’s failure to act, “Delhi’s AQI has never been so high in May. CPCB’s own data shows that from 2022-2024, AQI on May 15 never exceeded 243. Today AQI is at 500. Will BJP take responsibility for the worsening air pollution in Delhi? Where is Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa?”

The Aam Aadmi Party has demanded immediate action, holding the BJP accountable for the total collapse of pollution control mechanisms in Delhi. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump said the US is close to reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, citing “very serious negotiations” for long-term peace, Al Jazeera reported.

Trump made the remarks in Qatar during the second leg of his Gulf tour on Thursday, before heading to the United Arab Emirates, stating that Tehran has “sort of” agreed to the terms.

Trump said “We’re in very serious negotiations with Iran for long-term peace.”

“We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran,” he said. “I think we’re getting close to maybe doing a deal without having to do this.”

Trump said he was basing his optimism on new statements by Iran. “You probably read today the story about Iran. It’s sort of agreed to the terms,” he said.

According to Al Jazeera, Trump did not specify which remarks he was referring to, but an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Shamkhani, said in a US media interview this week that Tehran was willing to accept far-reaching curbs on its nuclear programme.

“I want them [Iran] to succeed, I want them to end up being a great country,” Trump added on Thursday, “but they can’t have a nuclear weapon; that’s the only thing, it’s very simple.”

The US and Iran have intensified negotiations, with the fourth round of talks recently held in Oman. A new proposal has been submitted to Tehran during the fourth round of talks and both sides express preference for a diplomatic solution. However, significant differences remain, as per Al Jazeera.

Trump and Iranian leaders have made notable statements. Trump described Iran as the “most destructive force” in the Middle East, prompting a strong response from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Pezeshkian accused the US of fueling regional instability and claimed Trump’s goal is to create unrest within Iran.

“Trump thinks he can sanction and threaten us and then talk of human rights. All the crimes and regional instability is caused by them [the United States],” he said. “He wants to create instability inside Iran.”

Meanwhile, Qatar has taken on a key mediating role between the US and Iran. Trump praised Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, saying Iran should thank him for advocating against military action.

Speaking in Doha, Trump said Iran should “say a big thank you” to Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who had pressed the US leader to avoid military action. “Iran is very lucky to have the emir because he’s actually fighting for them. He doesn’t want us to do a vicious blow to Iran,” Trump said.

Trump’s three-country tour of the Gulf state region will conclude in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday (local time). (ANI)

Singer-songwriter Katy Perry addressed the backlash she’s received online, seemingly stemming back to her participation in Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin flight in April.

At one point during the show, according to a fan video, Perry reacted to the crowd cheering for her for an extended period of time. “Well, I thought I was the most hated person on the internet,” she said, reported People.

“I think that’s false,” Perry continued while the audience continued to praise her.

Weeks earlier, Katy Perry, along with Jeff Bezos’ fiancee Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King, former NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen and film producer Kerianne Flynn, travelled to space.

The crew, who were in space for approximately four minutes, travelled to the Karman line (the spot separating Earth’s atmosphere and space) 62 miles above the planet.

When they reached the ground, both Katy and Gayle immediately kissed the ground, grateful for their return.

During the flight, Perry sang a few lines of “What a Wonderful World” while they floating in zero gravity, reported People.

She also posted about the experience on Instagram. “One day when you’re older, will YOU still look up in wonder?” Perry began.

“Still processing this incredible journey.. Thank you @blueorigin and to my space sisters, taking up space AND making room in space for all – 143. See you on tour (when I come down, figuratively).”

The Blue Origin flight, which costs millions of dollars, didn’t come without criticism and negative comments, as per the outlet.

Perry posted about the online commentary on Instagram on April 29. “Please know I am ok, I have done a lot work around knowing who I am, what is real and what is important to me,” she said in the comments of a fan video.

“My therapist said something years ago that has been a game changer, ‘no one can make you believe something about yourself that you don’t already believe about yourself’ and if I ever do have any feelings about it then it’s an opportunity to investigate the feeling underneath it.”

She added , “When the ‘online’ world tries to make me a human Pinata, I take it with grace and send them love, cause I know so many people are hurting in so many ways and the internet is very much so a dumping ground for unhinged and unhealed,” reported People.

Perry kicked off her Lifetimes Tour in Mexico on April 23. Her Lifetimes Tour wraps up in December in Abu Dhabi. (ANI)

India and Pakistan have decided to continue the confidence-building measures to reduce the alertness level on the border, said Indian Army sources on Thursday.

The sources stated, “Further to the understanding between the two DGMOs on 10th of May 2025, it has been decided to continue the confidence-building measures so as to reduce the alertness level. As situation develops further, we shall intimate you.”

This follows the talks between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan on Monday.

Earlier on May 13, sources said that India and Pakistan continue to refrain from firing a single shot or initiating any aggressive and inimical action against each other.

Meanwhile, sources also said, after initial sightings of drones in Jammu, Samba, Akhnoor, and Kathua, the Indian Army confirmed that no drones have been detected. The ceasefire situation prevails.

The Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan held crucial talks, during which issues related to continuing the commitment that neither side must fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive action were discussed.

It was also agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas.

“Issues related to continuing the commitment that both sides must not fire a single shot or initiate any aggressive and inimical action against each other were discussed. It was also agreed that both sides consider immediate measures to ensure troop reduction from the borders and forward areas,” the Indian Army said.

The DGMO-level talks between the two countries, which were initially slated to take place around noon on Monday, were later scheduled for the evening.

The two countries reached an understanding on May 10 to stop all firing and military action following a call made by Pakistan’s DGMO to his Indian counterpart, Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai.

Lt Gen Ghai, who interacted with the media at a joint press conference on Sunday, said his Pakistan counterpart proposed during an interaction on Saturday that “we cease hostilities”.

India launched Operation Sindoor in response to last month’s Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India’s precision strikes in Pakistan and PoJK on May 7 killed over 100 terrorists. (ANI)