Month: May 2025

Following the Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22nd, which killed scores of Indian citizens on the basis of their religion, India responded with precision strikes on Pakistani terror camps in places like Muridke and Bahawalpur on May 7th.

Following the commencement of Operation Sindoor, India’s kinetic action against terror assets finding safe shelter in Pakistan, swarms of drone and missile attacks were launched on the Indian civilian population and military bases.

Subsequently, Round 2 of India’s major counter-offensive would go down in the annals of South Asian military history as one of the most daring and tactically ambitious counter-offensives ever witnessed between the two nuclear-powered arch rivals.

ANI has pieced together the sequence of events by talking to multiple sources involved in the operation. Due to the sensitivities involved in an ongoing operation, their identities have been kept anonymous for this report.

On the intervening night of May 9th and 10th, the Indian Air Force with active support of other forces struck 11 out of 12 Pakistani Air Bases spanning the length and breadth of the country and in the process also, crippled their Chinese supported Air Defence systems.

The missiles that led to the most destruction of the Pakistani air fields were caused by the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, along with the Scalp missiles fitted on the Rafale fighter jets. India had unleashed its most potent tactical weapons on an adversary that was completely blindsided by the dramatic and unanticipated escalation.

Around 15 BrahMos missiles were fired by the Indian Air Force to target the Pakistan Air Force base with an aim of disrupting their ability to launch aircraft and other operations, sources in the Defence establishment told ANI.

The strikes on the air bases, which required an air campaign, were started first by sending dummy pilotless target aircraft, which were camouflaged to look like fighters on enemy radars.

Once the enemy radars and air defence network got activated to take down the Indian ‘incoming aircraft’, Indian forces launched the loitering munitions high, including the Israeli-made Harops, targeting Pakistan’s air defence radars and command and control systems, sources added.

The Pakistan Air Force mobilised its entire set of HQ-9 air defence missile system launchers and radars to different locations, and some of them were deployed at new locations but were detected after being activated.

The Indian Air Force then followed up with the long-range missile attacks on the Pakistani air bases, which included the BrahMos and Scalp missiles. Around 15 BrahMos missiles and Scalp, Rampage and Crystal Maze missiles were launched in the offensive.

The aircraft packages for the missions were controlled mainly from the Western Air Command and the Southwestern Air Command area of responsibility. The aerial attacks launched by the Pakistani Air Force using land attack ballistic missiles, air-launched cruise missiles, and unmanned combat aircraft were mainly thwarted by the combination of the Russian S-400, MRSAM, and Akash air defence missile units, along with other old systems.

The attacks on Pakistani air bases resulted in the Pakistani Air Force shifting its aircraft to different bases in the rear, they said. The Pakistan Air Force could have lost a significant number of long-endurance UAVS and an airborne early warning and control aircraft during a missile hit on a hangar at a Pakistani air base in the Sindh area of Pakistan.

This is the first time that the BrahMos missile system has been used in an active conflict, and it showcased the immense capability of the supersonic cruise missile.

Sources told ANI that the strikes on its air bases were so intense that the Pakistani side dropped all plans for a counter to the capitulation of their air defence system and urgently requested DGMO talks to arrive at an ‘understanding’ with India to put a pause to all military action going forward. (ANI)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday highlighted India’s firm stance against terrorism, evident in its refusal to be intimidated by Pakistan’s repeated nuclear threats, which have been issued irresponsibly on several occasions.

On his first interaction with troops after Operation Sindoor at Badami Bagh Cantt, he said that Operation Sindoor has sent a loud and clear message to the terrorist organisations hiding in Pakistan and their masters that they are not safe anywhere.

“Our forces have shown to the world that their aim is precise and pin-point and the task of counting is left to the enemies,” he said.

India’s unwavering resolve against terrorism can be gauged from the fact that it was not deterred by Pakistan’s nuclear blackmail, pointing out that the world has witnessed how irresponsibly Islamabad has issued nuclear threats to New Delhi several times.

“I raise this question before the world: Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” he said.

“Operation Sindoor was a commitment demonstrated by India of not just carrying out defence, but taking bold decisions whenever needed. It was a dream of every soldier that we will reach every terrorist hideout and destroy them. Terrorists killed Indians based on their religion, we killed them for their deeds. It was our dharma to eliminate them. Our forces gave right direction to their anger and took revenge for Pahalgam with great courage & discretion,” he said.

Pakistan has reached a state where it has sought loan from International Monetary Fund (IMF), while India falls in the category of those countries which provides funds to IMF so that they can help poor countries, he added.

Singh reasserted that no unwarranted action should be taken from across the border, which is the base of the understanding reached between the two countries. He reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s views that terrorism and talks cannot go together, and if talks are held, it will only be on terrorism and PoK.

He paid homage to the innocent civilians who were killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, and the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland during Operation Sindoor. He commended the courage of the injured soldiers and wished for their speedy recovery.

Singh expressed gratitude to the brave soldiers who destroyed the Pakistani posts & bunkers across the border, sending a clear message to the enemy. “I come here today with a message from the people of India: ‘We are proud of our Forces’,” he added.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Singh, J-K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and other senior officials of the Indian Army were present on the occasion. (ANI)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he had spoken with the Apple CEO Tim Cook and asked him to limit Apple’s expansion in India.

“I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, my friend, I am treating you very good. You are coming up with $500 billion but now I hear you are building all over India. I don’t want you building in India. You can build in India, if you want to take care of India because India is one of the highest tariff nations in the world, so it is very hard to sell in India,” President Trump said while addressing a news conference in Doha, Qatar.

Recently, Apple took some steps to expand its iPhone production in India, setting up assembly plants operating in the country. Two of these plants are located in Tamil Nadu, and one is in Karnataka. For these plants Apple has signed contract with manufacturers, such as Foxconn and Tata Group to set up production units.

In the last fiscal year, Apple produced USD 22 billion worth of iPhones in India in the 12 months through March 2025, which is a huge 60 per cent jump from the prior year.

Apple manufactured approximately 40-45 million iPhones in India in 2024, accounting for 18-20 per cent of its global output. Of this, about 15 million were exported to the US, 13 million to other international markets, and about 12 million were sold in the Indian market.

In January 2025, Apple achieved an 11th consecutive quarterly revenue record in India, with iPhone sales estimated at USD 10 billion in 2024.

India stands as the Apple’s fourth-largest market globally in 2024, after the US, China, and Japan.

As reported last month, driven by the escalating trade tensions and high reciprocal tariffs announced by both China and US against each other, in a strategic move Apple decided to transition all production of iPhones destined for the US market to India from China.

Since then, the US and China have arrived at an agreement that they will withdraw their previously announced reciprocal tariffs and counter tariffs for an initial period of 90 days. The tariffs for 90 days are reduced by 115 per cent, by both US and China against each other. China will impose 10 per cent tariffs on US goods, and the US will tax Chinese goods at about 30 per cent. (ANI)

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday clarified his stance on Operation Sindoor, emphasising that his views were personal and not representative of the party’s opinion.

He highlighted the importance of rallying around the national flag, particularly in the US, Europe, and the Middle East, to contribute to the national conversation, especially internationally, where India’s perspective was underrepresented.

Tharoor emphasised that his opinions were individual and not reflective of the Congress party’s stance.

“I made it very clear that I am expressing my personal views. It was really a contribution to the national discourse, at a time when it was very important for us to rally around the flag, especially internationally. There was a relative lack of our point of view being heard, particularly in the US, Europe, and the Middle East…,” said Tharoor.

This comes after the Congress party distanced itself from party MP Shashi Tharoor’s remarks on the Operation Sindoor and understanding between India and Pakistan.

He claimed to have received no communication from the party regarding his views, only seeing media reports.

“People are entirely free to reject my point of view. I have received no communication from the party; all I am seeing is media reports…,” added the Congress leader.

Tharoor affirmed that he spoke as an Indian and the views he expressed were his personal, adding that he is neither a spokesperson of the party nor the government.

“…At this time, at a time of conflict, I spoke as an Indian. I never pretended to speak for anyone else. I am not a spokesperson for the party. I am not the government spokesperson. Whatever I have said, you may agree or disagree with that, blame it on me individually, and that’s fine…” said Tharoor on Congress party’s reported remarks – ‘Lakshman Rekha’ and ‘not party’s opinion’ over his stance regarding Operation Sindoor and India-Pakistan understanding.

On Wednesday, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had said, “It is his opinion. What Shashi Tharoor speaks is not the opinion of the party.”

Reacting on this, Tharoor endorsed Jairam Ramesh’s remarks, reiterating that he is not a spokesman of the party. He noted that his party – Congress, had already declared complete solidarity with the government and the armed forces at the beginning of India-Pakistan ‘conflict’ and with that spirit, he also expressed his support.

Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, the Congress MP said, “But he’s correct. He’s absolutely correct. I very clear I’m not a spokesman of the party. I’m not a spokesman of the government either… People seem to think I have some knowledge about some of these subjects, and so they come and ask me my views. I make it very clear, sometimes explicitly, sometimes implicitly, that I’m expressing my personal views as an Indian, as a proud citizen, and certainly don’t forget that my own party had declared complete solidarity with the government and the armed forces at the beginning of this conflict and that spirit. I also expressed that support….”

Furthermore, Congress MP Tharoor refuted the reports which had claimed that Congress leaders in the meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) had said that Tharoor has “crossed Lakshman Rekha’ over his stance regarding Operation Sindoor and India-Pakistan understanding.

Tharoor said, “I don’t know where it came from. I was in the meeting, a closed-door meeting, with the leaders of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). I was there till 6.35 pm for the meeting that began at 4.30. And I must say that in that time there was certainly no reference to any of this, and no reference to me. Now, if something happened thereafter, I am yet to be informed of it. So when I’m informed I will react, I don’t see much point in reacting to something of which has been no official communication to me of any kind, nor any discussion of which I was a part.”

Tharoor has been praising the Centre’s handling of Operation Sindoor. Tharoor had also welcomed the understanding between India and Pakistan to halt all military actions–on land, at sea, and in the air and emphasised the importance of ‘peace.’

However, Congress, which had extended support to the Centre in its action against those behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, has now questioned the BJP-led Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on United States President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating between the India and Pakistan on the cessation of 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)

The Bharat Pavilion was officially inaugurated at the 78th Cannes Film Festival on Thursday, marking yet another significant step in India’s growing global cinematic footprint.

The inauguration was graced by dignitaries, including Shri Shekhar Kapur, acclaimed filmmaker and Festival Director of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) and National Film Development Corporation (NFDC); veteran actor Anupam Kher; and Anne-Louise Mesadieu, Paris Region elected official, Ambassador, and Special Delegate for Diplomatic Relations, as stated in the press note by the team of organisers.

Their presence in the ceremony highlighted the deepening ties between Indian cinema and global audiences.

In her address, Anne-Louise Mesadieu welcomed the Bharat Pavilion to Cannes and expressed admiration for India’s rich cinematic history and its ability to tell stories that transcend borders.

As per the press note, she emphasised the importance of such cultural bridges in fostering global understanding and diplomacy. She said that the French government is available to ease and facilitate co-productions with India.

In his inaugural address, Shekhar Kapur highlighted the transformational power of cinema and India’s evolving role as a creative powerhouse on the world stage.

The ceremony featured the much-anticipated launch of the IFFI 2025 poster and trailer.

“IFFI’s new poster is a reflection of ‘convergence of creativity and technology’, India is ready to embrace technology and play a dominant role in the Global content creation space”, said Gautam Bhanot, GM, Film Promotion (Festivals, Market and International Participation), NFDC India, while explaining the philosophy behind the new IFFI poster as stated in a press note.

One of the key highlights was the launch of the India Film Guide, a comprehensive resource that showcases India’s vast filmmaking talent, incentives for international co-productions, and filming locations. The attending dignitaries launched the guide, symbolising India’s openness to global collaboration.

Veteran actor Anupam Kher delivered a special address, sharing heartfelt reflections on the journey of Indian cinema and his personal experiences representing India internationally.

“I am eight years younger than my country, and we grew together. We have really, really done very well. This is my first time in Cannes, I am so happy to be here in the Mahakumbh of cinema.” Kher said as quoted in a press note.

Adding a soulful touch to the occasion, renowned Indian singer Astha Gill, known for her hit songs like DJ Wale Babu, Kamariya from Stree, and Naagin, moved the audience by singing Saare Jahaan Se Achha.

Also present on the dais was Shri Rupjyoti Brahma Karjee, Consulate General of India, Marseille, whose support has been instrumental in fostering Indo-French cultural cooperation along with Sreerag Mukundan, OSD, Films, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India and Ravi Kottarakara, President, South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce.

The Bharat Pavilion, organised by NFDC and FICCI under the aegis of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India, at Cannes continues to serve as a vibrant platform for promoting Indian cinema on a global scale, connecting filmmakers, distributors, and audiences from around the world under one cultural umbrella. (ANI)

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday announced that all flight connections to Srinagar have been restored, urging people from the rest of India to come and visit the Kashmir valley.

“We have opened all schedules (for flights) from today (May 15) – be it Delhi, Mumbai, and other connections have been restored. People are going through a rough time here, in terms of tourism, economy and business. All flight connections to Srinagar have been restored. Kashmir is safe. We want people to visit here again. We have to stand with Kashmir’s economy,” Naidu told reporters here.

“The flight operations at Srinagar airport have resumed. I met the locals here who voiced that tourism should be encouraged. The government will take all necessary steps in this direction,” he told ANI.

He said that he was visiting Srinagar to review the situation at the airport. He lauded the efforts of the armed forces for their success in Operation Sindoor, saying that the precision strikes on terrorists in Pakistan’s territory were a matter of pride.

“I have come to Srinagar in my capacity as the Civil Aviation Minister to review the situation at the airport here. Secondly, I want to thank and salute our armed forces for the success in Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the terror incident that happened in Pahalgam. The terror camps were attacked with precision. The armed forces paid attention not to affect civilians (in Pakistan),” Naidu said.

The Union Minister said that he wanted to personally greet officials and staffers at Srinagar, who have shown bravery during the time of recent conflict.

“During the period of tension in the last three weeks, the civil aviation (ministry) had closed airports for reasons of security, including Srinagar airport. I wanted to personally meet our officials and staffers at the airport and encourage them for their bravery,” Naidu added. (ANI)

Hollywood star Tom Cruise landed at the Cannes Film Festival in style on Wednesday night, leaving fans excited as he arrived for the premiere of his upcoming film ‘Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,’ reported The Hollywood Reporter.

The 61-year-old actor was joined by his longtime collaborator and director Christopher McQuarrie as they walked the red carpet. The actor was seen taking selfies with excited fans and signing autographs for them. Fans, upon seeing the actor, were also spotted waving posters and memorabilia from Cruise’s earlier films like The Last Samurai and Mission: Impossible II. Some even created a small tribute to Val Kilmer, Cruise’s co-star from Top Gun, reported The Hollywood Reporter.

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Cruise last attended the festival in 2022 for the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick, which had received a six-minute standing ovation and earned him an honorary Palme d’Or. Fighter jets even lit up the sky in the colors of the French flag during that visit.

Apart from Cruise, the cast of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning also includes Simon Pegg as Benji Dunn, Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell, Vanessa Kirby as Alanna Mitsopolis, Hayley Atwell as Grace, Esai Morales as the antagonist Gabriel, Shea Whigham as Jasper Briggs, Greg Tarzan Davis as Degas, and Pom Klementieff as the assassin Paris, according to Variety.

Meanwhile, the film is set to hit theaters on May 23. Indian fans will get to see it early, with a release date of May 17, a full six days before its global release. (ANI)

In the aftermath of the conflict between India and Pakistan over the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack and the army’s response through Operation Sindoor, the traders and businessmen, especially in the fruit selling business, have decided to boycott imports from Turkey, which openly extended support to the neighbouring country during recent tensions.

Vikas Mandal, a proprietor selling fruits here, resolved not to sell imported fruits from Turkey.

“We will neither import fruits from Turkey nor sell them as they are helping our enemy Pakistan,” Mandal told ANI.

An advocate working in Bhadrak said that Turkey was favouring the terrorists by extending support to Pakistan and supplying it with war equipment. He called for a boycott of fruit products coming in from Turkey.

“Turkey is helping Pakistan and supplying it with war equipment. They are acting in favour of terrorists. Pakistan is treated as a terrorist country… We Indians are opposed to it, and we should boycott the fruits produced by Turkey and supplied to India… We should altogether boycott not only Pakistan, but also Turkey,” he added.

Following Turkey’s open support for Pakistan amid recent tensions between India and its neighbour, farmer organisations across Himachal Pradesh have called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose a complete ban on the import of apples from Turkey and enforce strict import duties and quality standards on apples coming from other countries.

This move also comes in response to the sharp increase in subsidised, cheap foreign apples flooding Indian markets, which local farmer bodies say is crippling the domestic apple economy, especially in Himalayan states like Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi, the Himalayan Apple Growers Society, the Himachal Pradesh Sanyukt Kisan Manch, and other farmer groups highlighted how the country’s ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ missions are being undermined by uncontrolled imports.

“Under your leadership, ‘Vocal for Local’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ have instilled a new sense of self-reliance. However, the continued and increasing import of apples, particularly from Turkey, is pushing our mountain farmers into a deep economic crisis,” the letter reads.

Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad fruit traders have decided to boycott Turkish apples and other imports in response to Turkey’s support for Pakistan amid tensions with India.

Shadab Khan, a local fruit trader, has expressed strong opposition, stating that any country supporting Pakistan in acts against India will face a boycott. He added that fruit traders of Ghaziabad have ended all trade with Turkey and will never import anything from them in future. (ANI)