Mumbai / The Economic Times
Shefali Jariwala, known for Kaanta Laga, passed away at 42. Police are investigating if her death was linked to consuming anti-aging medications on an empty stomach while fasting for a puja. Her blood pressure reportedly dropped, causing her to shiver before being rushed to the hospital.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, aboard the International Space Station, shared Indian delicacies like 'gajar ka halwa' with his fellow astronauts. During his 14-day stay as part of the Axiom-4 mission, Shukla described to Prime Minister Modi the unique challenges of living in microgravity, including sleeping and drinking, while highlighting the scientific experiments being conducted.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Don Jun, in Qingdao, China, during the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting. Singh emphasized maintaining positive momentum in bilateral ties and avoiding new complexities. He expressed satisfaction with the resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra after six years.
A Pakistan Army officer, Major Syed Moiz Abbas Shah, is dead. He died in a clash with Taliban militants in South Waziristan. Shah previously claimed to have captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman in 2019. The Pakistan Army says its troops killed 11 Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terrorists in the same operation. Shah's funeral was held with full military honors.
India has further extended the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), keeping its airspace closed to Pakistani aircraft until July 24, 2025. This marks the second extension of the restriction, initially imposed on April 30 following the Pahalgam terror attack. The measures, including the airspace ban, were enacted in response to cross-border links to the massacre.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attending the G7 Outreach Session in Canada, strongly condemned terrorism and urged global leaders to take decisive action against those who support it. He emphasized the necessity of holding countries accountable for backing terrorism and highlighted the concerns of the Global South.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in delegation-level discussions with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations across various sectors. This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades. The talks aimed to boost trade, investment, and other areas of cooperation between the two nations.
President Trump has instructed federal immigration authorities to prioritize deportations from Democratic-led cities following widespread protests against his administration's immigration policies. He aims to launch the largest mass deportation program in history, targeting major cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will investigate the murder of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru, Karnataka, following a directive from the Union Home Ministry. The ministry suspects the involvement of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in the argeted killing, aimed at instilling terror.
Following a stampede during RCB's IPL victory celebrations in Bengaluru, a complaint has been filed against Virat Kohli, while four officials from RCB and DNA Entertainment have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody. The police are investigating the incident, which resulted in 11 deaths and 33 injuries, with more FIRs registered against RCB, DNA Entertainment, and KSCA.
In Mumbai's Borivali West, a car parking lift collapsed at a residential building, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to another. The incident occurred at Prathamesh Building on Link Road, prompting a rescue operation by firefighters.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that India exercised restraint during 'Operation Sindoor' despite having the capacity to inflict greater damage in retaliation to Pakistan's terror attacks. He emphasized that PoK residents are Indian citizens who will eventually rejoin the nation.
In a swift and coordinated joint operation by Military Intelligence and the Pune City Police, a man posing as an Indian Army personnel was apprehended near Bishop's School, Pune, on Wednesday afternoon. The arrest was made jointly by the Southern Command Military Intelligence, the Southern Command Military Police Unit, and the Laskar Police Station of Pune City Police, following a credible tip-off.
SpaceX's Starship, intended for moon and Mars travel, launched for its ninth demo but experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly after liftoff. The spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart as it skimmed space toward an uncontrolled landing in the Indian Ocean. Despite the setback, SpaceX will review data for future flight tests, crucial for NASA's upcoming moon mission.
An all-party Indian delegation, led by Supriya Sule, concluded its visit to Qatar, the first stop in a four-nation tour initiated after the Pahalgam terror attacks. The delegation conveyed India's zero-tolerance policy towards cross-border terrorism and discussed Operation Sindoor with Qatari officials, who condemned the Pahalgam attack and reaffirmed their stance against terrorism.
Rajendra Hagawane, an ex-NCP leader from Pune, and his son Sushil were arrested while attempting to flee after being implicated in a dowry harassment and abetment to suicide case involving Hagawane's daughter-in-law, Vaishnavi. Vaishnavi allegedly committed suicide due to demands for Rs 2 crore after her family had already given substantial dowry.
Chhagan Bhujbal, a veteran Maharashtra politician, has navigated a long and controversial career, from his early days in the Shiv Sena to becoming a prominent OBC leader in the NCP. Despite facing corruption allegations and jail time, he has remained relevant by shifting allegiances and advocating for OBC reservations.
A joint operation is underway in Nader, Tral, Awantipora involving the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and CRPF. The operation began after suspicious activity was observed and terrorists fired upon the troops. This follows intensified operations against terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir after the Pahalgam attack. Previously, three terrorists were neutralized in a joint operation in Shopian.
On the night of May 78, 2025, Pakistan launched drone and missile attacks targeting multiple Indian military sites across Northern and Western India, including cities like Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, and Chandigarh. These attacks were successfully intercepted and neutralized by India's Integrated Counter-UAS Grid and Air Defence systems, with debris confirming Pakistans involvement
Three explosions rocked Lahore's Walton Road in quick succession, causing widespread panic and prompting a swift response from emergency services. The blasts, heard kilometers away, occurred near the sensitive Gulberg district, leading to a police cordon and ongoing investigations to determine the cause.
Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor. They neutralised nine targets. These included Markaz Taiba Muridke, the LeT nerve center. Jaish-e-Mohammad's main centers in Bahawalpur and Muzaffarabad were also targeted. These camps acted as terror factories for three decades. The operation aimed to break the backbone of terror groups operating from Pakistan.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian military's precision strikes on terrorist camps ignited widespread celebrations across Uttar Pradesh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and opposition leaders alike lauded the armed forces' retaliation. Across the state, citizens from various religious and political backgrounds expressed their patriotism, distributing sweets and chanting slogans in support of the military's decisive action.
India executed a targeted military strike across the LoC following a terror attack in Pahalgam. The strike aimed at camps linked to the suspected attackers. The Army reported precision targeting with no Indian casualties. Pakistan denied the strike, calling it a false claim. Experts see this as a continuation of India's response policy to cross-border attacks.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced India's successful strikes, dubbed Operation Sindoor, against nine terror-linked targets in Pakistan and PoK. This decisive action was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack that tragically killed 26 civilians, predominantly tourists. Singh lauded the armed forces for their swift operation aimed at dismantling terrorist infrastructure across the border.
In response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Indian Armed Forces initiated Operation Sindoor, targeting nine terrorist sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The strikes were described as focused and non-escalatory, specifically aimed at locations used for planning and directing attacks against India. This operation demonstrates India's resolve to hold those accountable for the Pahalgam massacre.
As part of the Ministry of Home Affairs' initiative for nationwide civil defence preparedness, personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) conducted a mock drill at Dal Lake, Srinagar, focusing on a boat capsize scenario on Tuesday.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have intensified following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmirs Pahalgam valley. Pakistan's Ambassador to Russia has warned of a full spectrum military response, including nuclear weapons, if India initiates a strike. The threat follows leaked documents suggesting an Indian attack may be imminent. India, in turn, has granted its military operational freedom. Both nations have downgraded diplomatic ties and taken retaliatory steps, raising fears of
India Pakistan trade ban: India has implemented a ban on all imports originating from or transiting through Pakistan. This action, effective immediately, is cited as being in the interest of national security and public policy. The ban is expected to significantly impact Pakistan's export sector, particularly affecting goods like cement, textiles, and agricultural products. This move further restricts trade relations between the two nations.
The Supreme Court has agreed to review a petition challenging the constitutional validity of Uttar Pradesh's 2024 amended law on unlawful religious conversion. The plea argues that certain provisions are vague, overly broad, and infringe upon free speech and religious propagation.
Qantas, Australia's leading airline, has launched a 48-hour flash sale, offering New Zealanders return economy flights to Australian cities from just $509. The sale, ending May 2, includes destinations like Sydney and Melbourne, with travel valid from May 14, 2024, to March 31, 2026. Premium economy fares are also available.
Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, has declared that his party will resist making Hindi compulsory in Maharashtra, following the state government's decision to mandate Hindi as a third language for students in Classes 1 to 5. Thackeray questioned the necessity of forcing Hindi upon students, emphasizing that his party does not oppose the language itself.
The BJP has accused West Bengal's Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of turning a blind eye to targeted attacks on Hindus, alleging police inaction during riots following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Ravi Shankar Prasad criticized Banerjee's government for insensitivity and accused her of prioritizing vote banks over the safety of citizens.
Following violent protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Dhuliyan, West Bengal, security forces, including BSF and CRPF, have been deployed to restore order. Locals recount significant property damage and looting, with one shopkeeper reporting losses of around Rs 20-25 lakh.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders paid homage to the victims of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, remembering it as a dark chapter and a turning point in India's freedom struggle. The 1919 massacre in Amritsar, where British troops fired on unarmed protesters, remains a symbol of courage and resistance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the Navkar Mahamantra Divas at Vigyan Bhawan, demonstrating reverence by walking barefoot and sitting among the public. He emphasized the mantra's spiritual impact and connection to a developed India rooted in heritage. The event celebrated Jain philosophy, promoting peace, unity, and the timeless teachings of non-violence and self-realization.
An explosion occurred outside the Jalandhar residence of BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia in Punjab around 1 am, prompting a police investigation. Authorities are examining CCTV footage and forensic evidence to determine if it was a grenade attack. Kalia reported hearing a loud noise, initially mistaking it for thunder.
A medical transport helicopter crashed into the sea in southwestern Japan, killing a patient, a medical doctor, and a caretaker. The pilot, a mechanic, and a nurse were rescued and are being treated for hypothermia. The helicopter was en route to a hospital in Fukuoka from Nagasaki when the accident occurred, which is under investigation.
The Bombay High Court emphasized the benefits of 24-hour convenience stores for customers and the economy, ordering Pune Police not to enforce a closure by 11 pm. The court highlighted that no law restricts such stores from operating around the clock, enhancing consumer convenience and creating employment opportunities.
An exchange of fire took place between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. The operation started late at night and is ongoing. The area is cordoned off with intensified search efforts. Authorities remain on high alert. One soldier was lost in the encounter. Previous operations in the region also saw casualties among police and terrorists.