Month: May 2025

The relic, escorted with reverence by a high-level Indian delegation led by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, was ceremonially received at the Vietnam Buddhist University, where a solemn ceremony took place before a grand procession carried it to Thanh Tam Pagoda for public veneration.

The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) announced the relic’s arrival on X, stating, “The Holy Buddha Relic from India arrived in Vietnam, was taken to the Buddha Hall at the Vietnam Buddhist University for a sacred ceremony and then brought through a grand procession to Thanh Tam Pagoda, where the Public Exposition of the Sacred Relic will take place.”

The Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City echoed the sentiment, noting, “The sacred Buddha’s relics from India have arrived in Vietnam, were brought to the Vietnam Buddhist Academy for a solemn ceremony, then carried through a solemn parade to Thanh Tam Pagoda, where the revered relics will be displayed for the public.”

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, leading the delegation, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, noting that he was humbled to lead the delegation carrying the “holy relic” to Vietnam, where it would stay till May 21 as part of the UN’s Vesak Day celebrations.

“Humbled to lead the delegation carrying the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha to Vietnam, an experience that touches the soul. Joined by Revered Monks, Shri Kandula Durgesh ji, Minister for Tourism, Culture & Cinematography, Andhra Pradesh & officials on this sacred journey of peace, compassion & harmony. The Holy Relics would be in Vietnam from 2 to 21 May 2025 as part of the UN Vesak Day celebrations,” Rijiju stated on X.

This Holy Relic of the Buddha is enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, Sarnath and was excavated in Nagarjuna Konda, Andhra Pradesh. It is believed to be older than 246 CE.

Speaking on the occasion, Abhijit Halder, Director General of IBC, said, “Vietnam is a country with a majority Buddhist population, and for them, the relics are not just symbols but the Buddha himself. The timing is also significant–it coincides with Vietnam’s National Day and the Wesak Day celebrations.”

“Very few people realise that Buddhist artefacts from India, dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, have counterparts in Vietnam. We are also organising a comparative exhibition to showcase these shared histories,” he added.

According to Halder, over three million devotees are expected to pay homage to the relics during the 20-day exhibition in Vietnam. The relics will first be displayed in Ho Chi Minh City from May 2 to 8 and then travel to three other locations until May 21. (ANI)

In a continued wave of cyber offensives, Pakistan-sponsored hacker groups such as “Cyber Group HOAX1337” and “National Cyber Crew” made unsuccessful attempts to breach some websites yesterday. These hacking efforts were promptly identified and neutralised by cybersecurity agencies.

Among the latest provocations, the websites of Army Public School Nagrota and Sunjuwan were targeted and attempted to be defaced with messages mocking the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. In another incident, a website catering to ex-servicemen’s healthcare services was defaced, signalling Pakistan’s growing frustration.

There have been repeated attempts made by hackers operating from Pakistan to attack websites having linkages to children, old age veterans and other innocent people. Resorting to attacking veterans’ and families’ platforms reflects another low by Pakistan and their continuous attempts to operate in unethical ways.

The hacking of the Army Institute of Hotel Management’s website and Indian Air Force veterans further illustrates the Pakistani establishment’s intent to provoke and escalate tensions in the digital battlespace.

Earlier on April 29, Pakistan redirected its efforts towards publicly accessible welfare and educational websites after finding mission-critical national networks impenetrable. Operating under the moniker “IOK Hacker” – Internet of Khilafah, the group sought to deface pages, disrupt online services and harvest personal information. India’s layered cybersecurity architecture detected the intrusions in real-time and quickly traced their origin to Pakistan.

Intelligence assessments confirmed four related incidents. The websites of Army Public School (APS) Srinagar and APS Ranikhet were both targeted with inflammatory propaganda. APS Srinagar also faced a distributed-denial-of-service assault.

An attempted breach of the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) database was likewise detected, while a concurrent effort was made to compromise the Indian Air Force Placement Organisation portal.

All four sites were promptly isolated, and restorative action was undertaken; no operational or classified networks were affected at any stage.

These brazen cyberattacks are part of a broader pattern of provocation by Pakistan, which has long employed terrorism and information warfare against India. It appears that Pakistan is testing India’s restraint and patience.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Army resorted to unprovoked small arms firing across the Line of Control for the eighth day of the night of May 1 and the early hours of May 2. Indian Army has effectively responded to the unprovoked firing in areas opposite Kupwara, Baramulla, and Poonch districts, as well as in the Naushera and Akhnoor sectors in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K). The firing started on April 25 days after the Pahalgam Terror attack in which 26 tourists were killed.

According to the Indian Army, the troops responded in a calibrated and proportionate manner to the unprovoked small arms firing by the Pakistan Army. (ANI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on Friday, the ‘Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport’ worth Rs 8,900 crore marking the first phase of the country’s first international deepwater transhipment project in Kerala.

PM Modi, reached Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday night and will reach the port by a chopper. He will visit its operations centre and deck before the inauguration

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in Thiruvananthapuram, his parliamentary constituency yesterday.

Taking to social media, Tharoor wrote, “Despite delays at the dysfunctional Delhi airport, managed to land in Thiruvananthapuram in time to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival in my constituency. Looking forward to his officially commissioning Vizhinjam port, a project I have been proud to have been involved with since its inception.”

The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport is an ambitious project taken up by the Government of Kerala. The port is currently being developed in a landlord model with a Public Private Partnership component on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis. The private partner, the Concessionaire Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited has commenced the construction on December 5, 2015.

It is the country’s first dedicated container transhipment port, representing the transformative advancements being made in India’s maritime sector as part of the unified vision of Viksit Bharat.

Vizhinjam Port, which is strategically important, has been identified as a key priority project that will contribute to strengthening India’s position in global trade, enhancing logistics efficiency, and reducing reliance on foreign ports for cargo transhipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world’s busiest sea trade routes further strengthen India’s position in global trade.

Vizhinjam Port, having strategic importance, has been identified as a key priority project which will contribute in strengthening India’s position in global trade, enhance logistics efficiency, and reduce reliance on foreign ports for cargo transshipment. Its natural deep draft of nearly 20 meters and location near one of the world’s busiest sea trade routes further strengthens India’s position in global trade.

Kerala Ports Minister VN Vasavan addressed a media briefing on Wednesday ahead of the commissioning of the Vizhinjam International Seaport. In the presence of state ministers V Sivankutty, GR Anil, and Thiruvananthapuram Mayor Arya Rajendran, Minister Vasavan announced the list of dignitaries invited to the commissioning ceremony. (ANI)

Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani, delivered an insightful speech on “Taking Indian Culture to the World” on the second day of the ongoing World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025.

In a jam-packed auditorium at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), Mumbai, Nita Ambani highlighted the powerful combination of “sacred traditions” and “modern dynamism” in India.

“We are a country enriched by the wisdom of its civilisation, but equally energised by the throbbing energy of the world’s youngest population. A country where sacred traditions meet modern dynamism in perfect harmony, where the rising power of our economy, soon to be the third largest in the world, meets our soaring global soft power,” said Nita Ambani.

Reflecting on India’s rich history, Nita Ambani noted that our nation is the origin of the word ‘OM’ and is home to Sanskrit, which forms the basis for many languages worldwide.

The Reliance Foundation Chairperson also highlighted India’s contributions to yoga, Ayurveda, science, the arts, classical music, and dance, among others, during her speech at WAVES 2025.

“India is the origin of OM, the sound of the birth of our universe, the birthplace of zero, shunya, the beginning of the infinite, the home of Sanskrit that gave the world language. The land of Yoga and Ayurveda, the pioneer in science and philosophy, from Aryabhatta’s astronomical calculations to Adi Shankaracharya’s Advaita Vedanta, the beacon of arts and literature, from our classical music and dance forms to the epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. We are the very cradle of civilisation,” said Nita Ambani.

In her speech, Nita Ambani called India a “timeless civilisation” that has gifted humanity and the world with the ideals of truth, non-violence, unity, and peace.

“We are a timeless civilisation that gifted humanity with the enduring ideals of truth, non-violence, unity and peace. A luminous nation that gave the world the wisdom of the Vedas, the Bhagavad Gita and the teachings of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi. Bharat is where it all began,” added Nita Ambani.

The Reliance Foundation Chairperson also expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for strengthening India’s position on the global stage through his vision and leadership.

“For centuries, India has gifted the world its wisdom, its beauty, and its soul. Somewhere along the way, our voice softened. But now it is rising again, and for that, we owe deep gratitude to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose unwavering vision and leadership have reignited India’s voice on the world stage with pride and purpose,” said Nita Ambani.

Nita Ambani expressed her admiration for singers Anoushka Shankar and Rishabh Sharma, Chef Vikas Khanna and Priyanka Chopra for representing the nation on the global stage with their work.

“Today, India’s spirit is inspiring the world like never before, and young Indians are answering the call. Despite living away from India, young global icons like Anoushka Shankar and Rishabh Sharma in music, Vikas Khanna in cuisine, or Priyanka Chopra in cinema, are holding the spirit of India dear to their hearts and spreading the message of Indianness around the world,” said Nita Ambani in her speech at WAVES 2025.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated WAVES 2025 on Thursday. WAVES 2025 will witness participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups.

The summit will feature 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses spanning diverse sectors including broadcasting, infotainment, AVGC-XR, films, and digital media. (ANI)

The United States approved a potential USD 131 million foreign military sale to India aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Announced by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday, the deal includes advanced SeaVision software, training, and support services to bolster India’s maritime domain awareness and strengthen strategic ties between the two nations.

Sharing a post on X, the US Department of State said, “State Dept authorises a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case for India to purchase Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness software and related equipment for an estimated cost of $131 million.”

The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency on Wednesday said, “The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of Indo-Pacific Maritime Domain Awareness and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 131 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification, notifying Congress of this possible sale today.”

It added, “The Government of India has requested to buy SeaVision software (including requested software enhancements); Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) training; remote software and analytic support; access to SeaVision documentation; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is USD131 million.”

Defence Security Cooperation Agency further said that the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.

“The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by bolstering its maritime domain awareness, analytical capabilities, and strategic posture. India will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The principal contractor will be Hawkeye 360, located in Herndon, VA,” it added. (ANI)

US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got the full support from the Trump administration, adding that they are in constant communication with the governments of India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaking at the press briefing on Friday, Bruce said that the US is closely monitoring the situation.

State Department spokesperson cited the readout of US State Secretary Marco Rubio’s Thursday conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

“We are monitoring closely. Yesterday, the Secretary spoke with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. As President Donald Trump articulated to Prime Minister Modi last week, the United States stands strong with India against terrorism, and Prime Minister Modi has our full support,” she said.

“The Secretary encouraged both countries to work toward a responsible solution that maintains a responsible resolution that maintains long-term peace and regional stability in South Asia. We continue to be in touch with the governments of both countries, as I mentioned, at multiple levels,” she added.

When asked if the calls for de-escalation were being heeded, Bruce said, “We are asking for a responsible resolution from both parties. And beyond that, there’s nothing I can give you, any other details.”

It comes as there has been a rise in ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the Line of Control (Loc) in Jammu and Kashmir after the April 22 brutal attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, and injured many others.

India has taken a raft of measures against Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism, including holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance and closing the Integrated Check Post at Attari. India has also decided to curtail the strength of High Commissions.

The government has given armed forces complete operational freedom to decide on the response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indian Army has effectively responded to the Pakistan Army’s unprovoked small arms firing across the LoC.

The Army responded swiftly to the ceasefire violation on the night of April 27-28 in areas opposite Kupwara and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.

The Indian Army had also responded effectively to the Pakistan Army firing along the LoC on the night of April 26-27 in areas opposite the Tutmari Gali and Rampur sectors, as per officials.

Security forces have intensified anti-terror operations in the Kashmir valley in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. (ANI)

Delhi: Traffic Snarls, Trees Down, Roads Flooded, Vehicles Break Down Amid Heavy Rain

The Delhi-NCR region experienced traffic congestion as several trees were uprooted and vehicles broke down due to heavy waterlogging following a rainstorm earlier today.

Places like Gurgaon, Delhi Airport and Minto Road have been severely inundated, resulting in significant inconvenience for the public. This abrupt shift in weather conditions has left individuals facing considerable challenges.

Earlier today, heavy rain lashed parts of Delhi in the early hours, resulting in waterlogging and traffic disruptions in many areas of the national capital.

Due to inclement weather conditions, some flights have been impacted at Delhi Airport, officials said.

‘Due to inclement weather conditions and thunderstorms in Delhi, some flights have been impacted at Delhi Airport. Our on-ground teams work diligently with all stakeholders to ensure a seamless and efficient passenger experience. Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” Delhi Airport said in an earlier advisory posted on X.

The India Meteorological Department has put out an alert, informing that severe weather is going on over Delhi NCR and urging the residents to ensure their safety.

According to the advisory, it advises to stay indoors and avoid travel if possible. The advisory also recommends seeking shelter in a safe location and avoiding taking refuge under trees or near concrete floors and walls. It further advises unplugging electrical and electronic appliances to prevent damage or injury & immediately moving out of water bodies and avoiding objects that conduct electricity.

Earlier IMD has predicted that isolated to scattered rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning; strong winds speed reaching 40-60 Kmph likely over Punjab, Haryana Chandigarh & Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan may be witnessed from May 1 to May 6.

The forecast indicates scattered to fairly widespread light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds (40-60 kmph), across Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand from May 1 to May 6, 2025.

Additionally, isolated hailstorms are very likely in Uttarakhand on May 1 and 3, with thundersquall winds (50-60 kmph) expected on May 3. (ANI)

Former Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto has acknowledged the country’s tango with terror operatives, saying that Pakistan has a past. This follows the Defence Minister Khwaja Asif admitting Pakistan’s involvement in backing and funding terrorist groups.

Bhutto acknowledged Pakistan’s history with extremism, claiming the nation has suffered as a result and has since reformed.

In a conversation with Sky News’s Yalda Hakim on Thursday, Bhutto said, “As far as what the defence minister said, I don’t think it is a secret that Pakistan has a past… As a result, we have suffered, Pakistan has suffered. We have gone through wave after wave of extremism. But as a result of what we suffered, we also learned our lessons. We have gone through internal reforms to address this problem…”

“As far as Pakistan’s history is concerned, it is history and it is not something that we are partaking in today. It is true that it is an unfortunate part of our history,” Bhutto further said.

Bhutto, who addressed a rally in Mirpur Khas on Thursday, once again engaged in empty rhetoric, claiming that Pakistan wanted peace but was ready for war if India provoked them.

“Pakistan is a peaceful country, and Islam is a peaceful religion. We do not want war, but if someone attacks our Sindhu, then they should be ready for war. We don’t beat the drums of war, but if provoked, the roar of a united Pakistan will be deafening,” he said in the rally

A few days ago, in a video clip that went viral, Pakistan’s Defence Minister was in conversation with Sky News’s Yalda Hakim, when she asked him, “But you do admit, you do admit, sir, that Pakistan has had a long history of backing and supporting and training and funding these terrorist organisations?”

Khwaja Asif in his reply said, “We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades… and the West, including Britain…That was a mistake, and we suffered for that, and that is why you are saying this to me. If we had not joined the war against the Soviet Union and later on the war after 9/11, Pakistan’s track record was unimpeachable.”

The admission from Pakistan’s top echelon comes against the backdrop of the deadly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people. The Lashkar-e-Taiba, a proscribed terror group with deep ties to Pakistan, orchestrated the attack. (ANI)

Actor Allu Arjun, who gained spotlight across the globe with the success of the ‘Pushpa’ film series, attended WAVES 2025 at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai on Thursday.

During the event, he talked about the success of ‘Pushpa 2’ and also emphasised the importance of fitness in an actor’s life.

The actor thanked the Government of India for organising the Waves Summit 2025 for the entertainment industry.

While talking about his life after the success of ‘Pushpa 2’, Allu Arjun said that he was a regional actor before, but now everyone knows about him.”At least everybody knows my face now. I am a regional actor, and I used to work in Telugu films and have popularity in other parts of the south, but now, because of ‘Pushpa’ and with the love of Indian audience now I am more familiar face, and everyone knows me..”

The actor has had a big year, with his film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ creating history at the box office. Released in December last year, the movie went on to break several records.

Directed by Sukumar, the action-drama features Allu Arjun in the role of Pushpa Raj, alongside Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil.

The actor has also received the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in ‘Pushpa: The Rise’.

In the session, the actor further shared how he approaches fitness, saying, “It is about the mindset. Back in those days, about 20 years ago,…there were a lot of taboos around that… I knew that it needed only one person to break that. Someone motivated me by saying, ‘I do not think South actors can come up with six packs.’ One of the actresses I worked with said that, and then I took it as a challenge and did it for my people, and I could do say that..”

“Obviously fitness is a very keen aspect of every actor because especially being an Indian actor you have to dance, you have to fight, and you do not know when the schedule might start up..it might start up from a song..start up with the fight..you have to be physically prepared for everything. So fitness is extremely important. I started at a very young age…at the age of 19-20..over the years, got a lot of experiences and injuries. It is extremely tough, but it is worth when you see yourself on the big screen and you have millions of people appreciating it,” he added.

On talking about maintaining his versatility as an actor, he said, “Every movie is unique, and every movie should not repeat itself, but unknowingly we all have patterns, but as much as possible, consciously we should try to remove those patterns and try to come up with something new, something original. In such a competitive world, you have to present your best…so that inspiration to serve people something new, something best has made me a versatile actor.. I think versatility is a by-product.”

He also opened up about an accident, saying, “After shooting for my tenth film, I had an accident…I had a shoulder rotator cuff tear. And I was very known for my physical fitness and acrobatic skills, and when I broke my shoulder, I did have a minor tear before, and it was just a small surgery, and then I was back in three weeks, and within the fourth week, I was in the gym, so I was expecting the same..Once I went to the hospital, it was in Australia, and the doctor said you have to take six months off.”

The ‘Pushpa’ actor continued, “That was like a big blow for me because we have to start shooting in two-three months and I did not have that time and that was the most fearful moment as I was banking so much on my physical fitness and then this thing stuck my mind that physical fitness and agility will deteriorate by age so what matters is your performance so I started focussing on that after by my tenth film…”

Meanwhile, WAVES 2025 is a four-day summit with the tagline “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” aimed at positioning India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. The event brings together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from around the world.

WAVES 2025 will witness participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups. The summit will feature 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses spanning diverse sectors including broadcasting, infotainment, AVGC-XR, films, and digital media.

The summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who declared the event a historic milestone in India’s cultural and creative journey.

The four-day event, which began on May 1, will run until May 4. (ANI)

Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone shared a light-hearted moment at the WAVES 2025 Summit during a special session titled “The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler,” moderated by filmmaker Karan Johar.

During the chat with Johar, SRK made a fun and quirky confession about his friendship with his ‘Chennai Express’ co-star. Talking about his shy side, the superstar shared how he often uses Deepika as a shield to hide during social events.

“So, when I come on stage, I can be very shy, I can be very awkward, I am all that. And that’s why I love Deepika, because she’s taller than me. So, what happens is, when we go out to a party, I can hide behind her,” SRK said.

Deepika, who responded with a smile, said, “It’s true! There are two awkward people, and then he runs behind me, and then I’m running behind him. And we’re just trying to hide behind each other.”

But it wasn’t just all jokes. Shah Rukh also took a moment to express his admiration for Deepika and shared that he thinks the best role that the actress could play would be that of a mother to her newborn daughter, Dua.

“I have one more thing, which is very personal, so please excuse me if I’m stepping beyond boundaries, but I think the role she’s going to play the best, inshallah, is that of a mother to Dua. I think she’s really going to be a wonderful mother,” he said.

Deepika Padukone’s big break in Bollywood came with Om Shanti Om alongside SRK. The film, which was released in theatres in 2007, was directed by Farah Khan and won Padukone the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. The duo went on to work together in a couple of films, including Chennai Express, Happy New Year, and Pathaan.

The WAVES 2025 Summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who declared the event a historic milestone in India’s cultural and creative journey.

The four-day event, which began on May 1, will run until May 4. (ANI)