भारतीय मौसम विभाग (आईएमडी) ने जम्मू से उत्तर प्रदेश और राजस्थान से मध्य प्रदेश तक अगले तीन दिन लू चलने की संभावना जताई है। मौसम विभाग के अनुसार, 19 मई तक गर्मी का प्रकोप जारी रहेगा। वहीं, दिल्ली-एनसीआर में आंधी-तूफान के साथ झमाझम बारिश हुई, जिससे धूल और गर्मी से राहत मिली। हालांकि, आज भी हल्की बारिश की संभावना है। इस बीच, ओडिशा में शुक्रवार को आंधी-तूफान के बीच बिजली गिरने से छह महिलाओं समेत कम से कम नौ लोगों की मौत हो गई|
ओडिशा में बिजली से नौ लोगों की मौत
ओडिशा में शुक्रवार को आंधी-तूफान के बीच बिजली गिरने की अलग-अलग घटनाओं में छह महिलाओं सहित कम से कम नौ लोगों की मौत हो गई और कुछ अन्य घायल हो गए। कोरापुट जिले में सबसे अधिक तीन, जाजपुर और गंजम जिले में दो-दो और ढेंकनाल और गजपति जिले में एक-एक मौतें हुई हैं। कोरापुट जिले में खेत में काम कर रहे एक परिवार के सदस्य बारिश आने पर एक झोपड़ी में छिपे थे और बिजली की चपेट में आ गए।
पूर्वोत्तर में भी अगले पांच दिन बारिश
श्रीवास्तव ने कहा कि पूर्वोत्तर के राज्यों में भी अगले पांच दिनों तक बारिश जारी रहेगी। लेकिन असम, मेघालय और अरुणाचल प्रदेश में मौसम गर्म और आर्द्र रह सकता है। आने वाले दिनों में उत्तर-पश्चिमी भारत के कुछ हिस्सों में गरज के साथ बारिश होने की संभावना है, साथ ही लू भी चल सकती है। मौसम के इस मिजाज में बदलाव उत्तर भारत के कई राज्यों में लू को लेकर बढ़ती चिंताओं के बीच आया है। अधिकारियों ने लोगों से खासकर उन क्षेत्रों में जाने से बचने की सलाह दी है जहां उच्च तापमान और आंधी-तूफान एक साथ आ सकते हैं।
इन राज्यों में लू और गर्मी की चेतावनी
आईएमडी ने 18 मई तक जम्मू- कश्मीर के कुछ स्थानों पर लू चलने की संभावना जताई है। 17 मई को दक्षिण-पश्चिम उत्तर प्रदेश, 18 और 19 मई को उत्तरी मध्य प्रदेश में भीषण गर्मी जारी रहने और लू चलने की संभावना है। 17 मई को बिहार और ओडिशा में गर्म एवं आर्द्र मौसम रहने की संभावना है। हिमाचल प्रदेश के ऊंचाई वाले क्षेत्रों रोहतांग और कुंजम दर्रा में शुक्रवार को बर्फबारी हुई। प्रदेश के अधिकांश मैदानी जिलों में मौसम साफ रहने के साथ धूप खिली रही। 18 से 22 मई तक हिमाचल प्रदेश में मौसम खराब बना रहने का पूर्वानुमान है।
पंजाब में पारा 45.5 पर पहुंचा
पंजाब के बठिंडा में पारा 45.5 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक पहुंच गया और शुक्रवार को यह सबसे गर्म रहा। यह जब है जब बृहस्पतिवार को राज्य के कुछ हिस्सों में हल्की बारिश के बाद तापमान में 0.6 डिग्री की गिरावट दर्ज की गई थी। अगले दो दिनों तक मौसम शुष्क बने रहने और तापमान में 2 से 3 डिग्री वृद्धि की संभावना है। 19 मई से तीन दिनों के लिए राज्य के कुछ हिस्सों में 40-50 किमी की रफ्तार से हवाएं चलने के साथ बारिश हो सकती है और इसको लेकर यलो अलर्ट जारी किया गया है।
46 डिग्री पर झुलसा श्रीगंगानगर
राजस्थान, खासकर पश्चिमी क्षेत्र के कई इलाकों में भीषण गर्मी पड़ रही है। श्रीगंगानगर में अधिकतम तापमान 45.8 डिग्री सेल्सियस तक पहुंच गया है। उदयपुर और कोटा में दोपहर बाद 40-50 किमी प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से हवाएं चलीं और हल्की बारिश भी हुई। राज्य के अन्य हिस्सों में मौसम शुष्क बना रहा। 20 मई तक बीकानेर और श्रीगंगानगर जिले में अधिकतम तापमान 45-46 डिग्री सेल्सियस के आसपास रहने की संभावना है।
हिमाचल प्रदेश के कई इलाकों में आंधी-तूफान
हिमाचल प्रदेश के कई इलाकों में बृहस्पतिवार शाम से पिछले 24 घंटों के दौरान आंधी-तूफान के अलावा बिजली गिरने की घटनाएं हुईं। इस दौरान तेज हवाएं भी चलीं, जिससे अधिकतम तापमान में मामूली गिरावट आई। मौसम विभाग के अनुसार, शिमला, जुब्बड़हट्टी, सुंदरनगर, भुंतर और जोत में आंधी-तूफान आया, जबकि नेरी, बजौरा, बिलासपुर और कुफरी में क्रमश: 57, 56, 52 और 50 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से हवाएं चलीं। मौसम विभाग ने बताया कि राज्य भर में छिटपुट बारिश हुई, जिसमें नांगल डैम में सबसे अधिक 13.8 मिमी बारिश दर्ज की गई। इसके बाद शिलारू में 13.2 मिमी, ऊना में 12.6 मिमी, कटौला में 11.1 मिमी, ओलिंडा में 9 मिमी, सराहन में 7.5 मिमी, रामपुर में 7.2 मिमी, नैना देवी में 6.2 मिमी और शिमला में 5.2 मिमी बारिश दर्ज की गई। स्थानीय मौसम विज्ञान केंद्र ने 19 मई के लिए राज्य के सात जिलों- ऊना, कांगड़ा, कुल्लू, मंडी, सोलन, सिरमौर और शिमला के लिए ऑरेंज अलर्ट जारी किया है।
दिल्ली-एनसीआर में आंधी-तूफान के साथ झमाझम बारिश
राष्ट्रीय राजधानी दिल्ली-एनसीआर के क्षेत्रों में आंधी-तूफान के साथ झमाझम बारिश से लोगों को धूल के गुबार और तपती गर्मी से बड़ी राहत मिली है। मौसम विभाग ने शनिवार को भी राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र में हल्की बारिश होने की संभावना व्यक्त की है। पंजाब के कुछ इलाकों में भी बारिश हुई है। लेकिन जम्मू-कश्मीर से लेकर पश्चिमी राजस्थान और उत्तर प्रदेश से लेकर उत्तरी मध्य प्रदेश तक भीषण गर्मी का दौर जारी है और 19 मई तक लू से राहत मिलने की उम्मीद नहीं है।
30 से 60 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से चली हवाएं
भारतीय मौसम विभाग (आईएमडी) के अनुसार, दिल्ली के नरेला, बवाना, बुराड़ी, रोहिणी, करावल नगर, पंजाबी बाग, कश्मीरी गेट, आईटीओ, नजफगढ़, सफदरजंग, लोदी रोड और राष्ट्रीय राजधानी क्षेत्र (एनसीआर) के कुछ हिस्सों सहित कई इलाकों में हल्की आंधी के साथ बारिश हुई। कुछ जगहों पर बिजली गिरने की भी खबर है, लेकिन जानमाल के नुकसान की खबर नहीं है। इस दौरान 30 से 60 किलोमीटर प्रति घंटे की रफ्तार से हवाएं चलीं। सफदरजंग स्थित शहर के प्राथमिक मौसम केंद्र ने दोपहर 2:30 बजे से शाम 5:30 बजे के बीच 1.4 मिमी बारिश दर्ज की।
Iran’s Supreme Leader has expressed doubt that nuclear talks with the US will lead to a new agreement, saying it had made “excessive and outrageous” demands on uranium enrichment.
“We don’t think it will lead to any outcome. We don’t know what will happen,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.
US President Donald Trump said last week that Iran had “sort of” agreed to the terms of a deal following four rounds of talks mediated by Oman since 12 April.
But ahead of another round scheduled for this weekend, Iran’s chief negotiator rejected his US counterpart’s assertion that it would have to commit to stop producing enriched uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons.
Trump, who pulled the US out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers during his first term in office, has warned Iran that it could face US and Israeli military action if the talks are not successful.
Iran insists its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and it will never seek to develop or acquire nuclear weapons.
However, it has breached restrictions imposed by the existing nuclear deal in retaliation for crippling US sanctions reinstated seven years ago, and has stockpiled enough highly-enriched uranium to make several bombs.
Khamenei addressed the latest developments in Iran’s negotiations with the US at a ceremony honouring late President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash one year ago.
He praised Raisi, a fellow hardline cleric, for refusing direct talks with the US while in office.
He clearly said ‘no’ without ambiguity,” Khamanei noted, adding that Raisi did not let enemies “drag Iran to the negotiating table through threats or tricks”.
Khamenei said nuclear talks under Raisi’s predecessor, the moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani, had failed to achieve results, and that he did not think there would be any breakthrough under his successor, Masoud Pezeshkian, who is a reformist
The supreme leader also criticised the Trump administration’s approach, saying: “The American side in these indirect talks should avoid nonsensical remarks.”
“Saying they will not allow Iran to enrich is a big mistake. No-one waits for their permission.”
US special envoy Steve Witkoff told ABC News in an interview on Sunday: “We cannot allow even 1% of an enrichment capability. We’ve delivered a proposal to the Iranians that we think addresses some of this without disrespecting them.”
He added: “We want to get to a solution here. And we think that will be able to.
“But everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment. We cannot have that. Because enrichment enables weaponisation, and we will not allow a bomb to get here.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi swiftly responded by warning Witkoff: “Unrealistic expectations stop negotiations, enrichment in Iran is not something that can be stopped.”
“I think he is completely at a distance from the reality of the negotiations,” he added.
The 2015 deal that Iran reached with then-US President Barack Obama’s administration, as well as the UK, France, China, Russia and Germany, saw it limit its nuclear activities and allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in return for sanctions relief.
Iran was only permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity, which can be used to produce fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.
In February, the International Atomic Energy Agency warned that Iran had stockpiled almost 275kg (606lb) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, which is near weapons grade. That would theoretically be enough, if enriched to 90%, for six nuclear bombs.
Israel went to war after the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 armed with an arsenal of weapons mostly paid for, supplied and then resupplied by the United States.
Its other allies gave Israel something just as potent in its own way: a deep credit of goodwill and solidarity, based on revulsion at the killings of 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, and the sight of 251 people being dragged into captivity in Gaza as hostages.
Now it seems that Israel’s credit has gone, at least as far as France, the United Kingdom and Canada are concerned. They have issued their strongest condemnation yet of the way Israel is fighting the war in Gaza.
Israel, they say, must halt its new offensive, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says will destroy Hamas, rescue the remaining hostages and put all of Gaza under direct Israeli military control.
Their statement dismisses Netanyahu’s arguments and calls for a ceasefire. Together, the three governments say that they “strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza” adding: “The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable.”
They call for the release of the remaining hostages and recall that after the “heinous attack” on 7 October they believed that the Israeli state “had a right to defend Israelis against terrorism. But this escalation is wholly disproportionate”.
Netanyahu’s decision to allow what he called “minimal” food into Gaza was they said “wholly inadequate”
Netanyahu has hit back, saying the “leaders in London, Ottawa and Paris are offering a huge prize for the genocidal attack on Israel on October 7 while inviting more such atrocities”.
He insisted the war could end if Hamas returned hostages, laid down its arms, agreed for its leaders to go into exile and Gaza was demilitarised. “No nation can be expected to accept anything less and Israel certainly won’t,” he said.
Netanyahu – who is sought under an International criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, which he has dismissed as “antisemitic” – had been under heavy international pressure to end the blockade of Gaza after a respected international survey warned of imminent famine.
At the London summit between the EU and the UK the President of the European Council, António Costa, called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “a tragedy where international law is being systematically violated, and an entire population is being subjected to disproportionate military force”.
“There must be safe, swift and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid,” he said.
Netanyahu’s reluctant decision to allow in limited supplies was condemned by his ultra nationalist coalition partners.
The Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, convicted in 2007 for incitement to racism and supporting an extremist Jewish group that Israel classifies as a terrorist organisation, complained that Netanyahu’s decision would “fuel Hamas and give it oxygen while our hostages languish in tunnels”.
Only five trucks made it into Gaza on Monday, as Israeli troops advanced and air and artillery strikes killed more Palestinian civilians including many young children.
Opponents of Israel’s destruction of Gaza and the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians will say the governments of France, the UK and Canada are speaking out far too late.
Many of them have held months of demonstrations protesting about the death and destruction in Gaza – and more killing of Palestinian civilians and confiscation of land in the West Bank, the other side of the Palestinian territories, during military operations and raids by armed Jewish settlers.
But sometimes in the politics of war, a single incident carries symbolic power that clarifies and crystallises so sharply that it can force governments to action. This time it was the killing on 23 March by Israeli forces in Gaza of 15 paramedics and aid workers.
It came after Israel, on 18 March, had broken a ceasefire that had held for two months with a series of massive air strikes.
Five days into the renewed war an Israeli unit attacked the medical convoy, and covered the men they had killed and their bullet ridden vehicles with the sand. The Israeli account of what happened was shown to be untrue when a mobile phone was recovered from a body in the mass grave.
Its owner had filmed the incident before he was killed. Far from proving Israel’s claim that the emergency workers were a potential threat to the Israeli combat soldiers, the video from the grave showed that clearly marked and well-lit ambulances and emergency vehicles were attacked systematically until almost everyone inside them was killed.
Alarm has been growing fast since then, not just among Israel’s usual opponents. Its European allies, with President Macron of France leading the way, have been toughening their language. The statement calling for an end to Israel’s offensive is their harshest criticism of Israel so far.
A senior European diplomatic source involved in their discussions told me that the tough language reflected a “real sense of growing political anger at the humanitarian situation, of a line being crossed, and of this Israeli government appearing to act with impunity”.
More ominously for Israel, the statement says that “we will not stand by while the Netanyahu government pursues these egregious actions. If Israel does not cease the renewed military offensive and lift its restrictions on humanitarian aid, we will take further concrete steps in response”.
They do not specify what those might be. Sanctions could be one possibility. A bigger step would be to recognise Palestine as an independent state.
France has been considering joining the 148 other states that have done so at a conference it is co-chairing with Saudi Arabia in New York in early June. The UK has also talked about Palestinian recognition with the French.
Israel, pushing back hard, has told them they would be presenting Hamas with a victory. But the tone of the statement made by the French, the Canadians and the British suggests that Israel is losing its ability to pressurise them.
Police in Colombiahave arrested a man suspected of being involved in the killing of 13 kidnapped workers at a gold mine in neighbouring Peru.
Miguel Antonio Rodríguez Díaz, whose alias is “Cuchillo” (knife), was arrested in the city of Medellin in a joint operation between the two countries and Interpol, according to Peru’s interior ministry and Colombian police.
The bodies of the miners were recovered on 4 May from a tunnel at a mine in the Pataz district of Peru.
A lawyer for Mr Diaz has denied his involvement in the killings.
Peru is one of the largest gold producers in Latin America and has seen a surge in violence from illegal miners and organised criminal gangs.
The 13 men killed in Pataz had been sent to confront a group which had attacked and occupied the mine but were ambushed and seized as they were trying to regain control of it, Peruvian authorities said.
Mr Diaz is suspected of allegedly ordering the storming of the mine’s entrance, with the aim of stealing gold extracted by miners, Peru’s interior ministry said in a statement.
He is accused of “organised crime, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated homicide”, it added.
A video posted by authorities showed him being detained by armed police in a busy downtown area of Medellin.
Colombian police chief Carlos Triana said Mr Diaz was located with the support of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and was subject to an Interpol red notice.
Peru’s interior ministrysaid they expected Mr Diaz to be extradited to Peru in the coming days.
La Poderosa, which owns the mine where the murders took place, previously said 39 people with links to the company have been killed by criminal gangs in Pataz in total.
This most recent attack prompted Peru’s President Dina Boluarte to impose a night-time curfew in Pataz and to suspend mining activities for a month. Extra police and soldiers were also sent to the region.
Israel qualifies for Eurovision final after protests disrupt rehearsal
Israel has qualified for Eurovision’s grand final on Saturday, hours after protesters tried to disrupt the country’s dress rehearsal.
Yuval Raphael, 24, was performing New Day Will Rise during a preview show on Thursday afternoon when six people with whistles and “oversized” Palestinian flags obstructed her act. Under the arena rules, all flags are allowed but there are limits on size.
Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, which is organising the event, said the audience members were quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena.
Israel’s participation in Eurovision has been a source of controversy, as its military intensifies its bombardment of Gaza, and enforces blockades of all food and othhumanitarian supplies.
In recent weeks, broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called for a debate on Israel’s involvement, and there have been small protests in the streets of Basel, Switzerland where this year’s contest is taking place.
The incident during Thursday’s dress rehearsal did not disrupt Raphael’s performance, and her appearance in the televised semi-final passed without further demonstrations.
Speaking to the BBC earlier this week, Raphael said her team had played audience noises over her rehearsals, “so I can practise when there is distractions in the background.”
The singer clasped her hands together, then blew a kiss towards the sky when it was announced she would progress to the final.
Despite the ongoing tension, her song is currently among the favourites to win, according to bookmakers.
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Smokey Robinson under criminal investigation after sexual assault claims
Motown legend Smokey Robinson is under criminal investigation in Los Angeles over accusations of sexual assault.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it had launched a formal inquiry into the allegations, saying the probe was in the “early stages”.
The investigation comes after a lawsuit was filed last week by four anonymous housekeepers against the 85-year-old singer-songwriter, accusing him sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence and gender violence.
Mr Robinson has denied the allegations. His lawyer has said those behind the accusations are after the musician’s money, and he welcomed the police investigation “because exposure to the truth is a powerful thing”.
We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and make even more of a media circus than the Plaintiffs were previously able to create,” the attorney, Christopher Frost, said in a statement to the BBC.
He argued the police investigation was only opened because the plaintiffs filed a formal report with their allegations and said the claims were “manufactured” and designed to “tarnish the good names” of the musician and his wife, who is also named in the lawsuit and accused of contributing to a hostile work environment.
The sheriff’s department told the BBC in a statement that its Special Victims Bureau was “actively investigating criminal allegations involving William Robinson AKA ‘Smokey Robinson.’ The investigation is in the early stages, and we have no further comment.”
The women filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on 6 May under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4.
In the 27-page legal action, they allege several incidents that they say dated back to 2006, and accuse Mr Robinson of pressuring them into sex.
All four women, who are of Hispanic descent, said they had not come forward until now because they feared losing their livelihoods, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some were concerned the allegations could affect their immigration status.
They are seeking at least $50m (£38m) in damages and a jury trial.
Mr Robinson was Motown’s first hitmaker, writing number one records like Mary Wells’ My Guy and The Temptations’ My Girl.
He was both a talent scout for the record label and one of its most prominent recording artists in his own right, known for songs like Tracks of My Tears, Shop Around and Tears of a Clown.
He has spots in both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs.
The women’s lawyers held a press conference last week after filing the lawsuit, accusing Mr Robinson of being a “serial and sick rapist” who “must be stopped”.
We will have more to say in the coming days as we make our legal response, and in time Mr Robinson will respond in his own words,” Mr Frost said, noting that the musician’s legal team plans to ask for the case to be dismissed.
“We ask anyone following this case to reserve judgment as the evidence comes to light and all the actual facts of the case unfold.”
Pakistan’s ‘polite’ letter to India for restarting talks on the IWT doesn’t mention air strikes or India’s surprise release of Baglihar-Salal water
Pakistan has said it is willing to restart talks with India regarding the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) which India has kept in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attacks, government sources, on condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Hindu on Thursday (May 15, 2025).
A letter from Pakistan’s Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Syed Ali Murtaza, received “a week ago,” – sources said, to India’s Water Secretary, Debashree Mukherkjee, on May 8 asked for India to nominate representatives who could engage in talks with Pakistan’s Indus Commissioner. The Hindu couldn’t independently confirm the contents of this letter.
The Hindu has written to Mr. Murtaza but has not received a comment. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar told journalists on Thursday: “The Indus Waters Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to be held in abeyance until the cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped.”
As per the IWT, both India and Pakistan have Indus Commissioners who lead delegations for talks regarding water-sharing aspects governing the Treaty which has been in force since 1960. India had however said, last September, that no more meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) would be held till the governments of India and Pakistan meet and discuss the renegotiation of the IWT. The last meeting reportedly happened in Delhi in May 2022. Since January 2023, India has written four times to Pakistan to initiate talks on revising the treaty but, according to sources, not received a “satisfactory response.”
“India’s position is that re-negotiation of the treaty could be done only government-government and not by Indus Commission representatives. Pakistan offered to meet at a neutral venue but we proposed that we meet in Islamabad. Following this there was a silence for 4-5 months and now they have sent us this letter,” a person, familiar with the contents of Mr. Murtaza’s latest letter, told The Hindu.
The letter, sources said, has Pakistan’s objecting to India’s action of keeping the IWT in abeyance and violative of the terms of the treaty. However it says Pakisan is willing to meet and would like to begin the process for arranging the necessary logistics. The letter makes no mention of India’s surprise-water releases from the Baglihar and Salal dams on the May 5. “It was polite letter,” the person added. India hasn’t taken a call on the response to the letter.
Under the terms of the IWT, India cannot create significant hydropower storage on the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, Chenab — and must maintain water levels at prescribed levels, to ensure that no untoward flooding or disruption of Pakistan’s agriculture happens. Its prominent hydropower projects on these rivers, such as the Kishenganga and Baglihar projects, are run-of-the-river, meaning they divert the river’s flow to generate electricity. These projects do not halt the flow by creating storage structures, though in nearly all the disputes over the years regarding hydel projects, Pakistan has accused India of modifying the design of structures to be able to perniciously control the flow of the rivers. India had then clarified that its intentions were purely to keep the projects running in optimal conditions.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that a political process is necessary with India despite having a ceasefire understanding
Pakistan’s foreign minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday called for a “composite dialogue” with India to address all “contentious issues” between the two countries but issued a warning of sorts over the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which India put in abeyance after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which terrorists, found to have links with Pakistan, killed 26 civilians.
In his address to the Pakistan Senate, Ishaq Dar said that ceasefire with India has been extended will May 18, but a political process will have to take place ultimately to resolve all problems.
New Delhi has not commented on a specific date for the ceasefire agreement and the Indian Army on Thursday said that the two countries have decided to continue implement confidence building measures to reduce tensions.
With reference to the ‘Indus Waters Treaty’ that India has kept in abeyance, Ishaq Dar, who is also the deputy prime minister, said, “We have told the world that we will hold a composite dialogue,” while reiterating that any attempt to block Pakistan’s water would be treated as “an act of war.”
Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed readiness for peace talks with India after the two countries militarily clashed for four days over the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s “Operation Sindoor.”
India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday that any talks with Pakistan will be only on its support to cross-border terrorism and expressed readiness to engage in dialogue over the issue.
“Pakistan has a list of terrorists, who need to be handed over. They have to shut down terrorist infrastructure, they know what to do,” Jaishankar said, while ruling out any scope for a third-party mediation.
“That is a national consensus for many years, and there is absolutely no change in that consensus that dealings with Pakistan will be bilateral,” Jaishankar added.
The ceasefire understanding between the two countries has largely held up despite brief drone sightings across several border areas. New Delhi has made it clear that talks with Pakistan will be held only at the level of DGMOs and the discussions will not cover contentious issues like Kashmir or the now-suspended Indus Waters Treaty.
Airports rush transition as Turkish firm blocked
India revokes security clearance for Çelebi Aviation, impacting ground services at nine airports amid tensions with Turkey, sparking potential disruptions.
Major Indian airports are racing to avoid disruptions to services after the government on Thursday revoked the security clearance of Turkish-founded Çelebi Aviation, which handles ground based services in nine major airports, citing national security concerns.
The development comes amid mounting tensions between India and Turkey over the latter’s diplomatic and military ties to Pakistan.
Industry analysts suggest that while airport operators appear to have contingency plans in place, the immediate challenge will be maintaining services at the affected airports while new service providers fully assume responsibilities.
Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said efforts were being made to accommodate Celebi employees with other ground-handling firms to ensure continuity. Celebi has over 10,000 employes in India, according to a company statement.
The company provides services at Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Cochin, Kannur, Chennai, and the MOPA airport in Goa. It also runs one of Delhi airport’s two cargo terminals as a joint venture with the airport operator.
The operators of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Goa said they were ending ground handling agreements with Celebi and making alternative arrangements for avoiding disruptions.
Officials close to the development said that BCAS is working directly with airport operators to ensure smooth transitions.
“The Celebi staff in all nine airports will be moved to other ground handling agencies. BCAS has taken up the task of helping in smooth transitioning of staff and will issue special passes to Celebi staff to enable them to work for other ground handling agencies,” said an official familiar with the matter, who requested anonymity.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which manages India’s busiest airport, announced it has formally severed ties with Çelebi.
DIAL said it is coordinating with existing service providers AISATS and Bird Group to maintain ground handling operations, and is working to onboard pre-approved cargo handlers to ensure uninterrupted cargo services.
DIAL also stated that all employees currently working for Çelebi at the Delhi airport will be transitioned to new employers “with immediate effect” and will continue under their existing terms and conditions of employment.
Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) said in a statement it is “working closely with existing ground handling service providers to ensure continuity and operational stability” and “actively coordinating the transition to maintain seamless airport operations.”
Çelebi Aviation on Thursday denied “misleading and factually incorrect allegations” about its ownership structure and operations, a reference to unconfirmed reports that its ownership was linked to the government in Ankara. The company said it is majority-owned (65%) by international institutional investors from Canada, the US, the UK, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Western Europe.
Mark D. Martin, CEO of Martin Consulting, warned of potential disruptions: “The government withdrawing the security clearance of Celebi will have a rippling effect on domestic and international import and export cargo movement. Costs for cargo handling are expected to skyrocket. The public can expect delays in import and export cargo clearance, transshipment, and customs processing dwell time.”
Martin added that “aviation should be kept away from geopolitical dynamics” and noted that “Celebi has had an impeccable safety and security track record in India working with CISF and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, raising the bar with airport security and bomb detection.”
Russian President Putin’s call to Prime Minister Modi comes days after Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said Russia, China or Western countries can play a very positive role in the crisis
The Australian Electoral Commission’s early projections gave the ruling centre-left Labor Party 70 seats and the conservative opposition coalition 24 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives
Opposition leader Peter Dutton conceded defeat in Saturday’s election, saying, “We didn’t do well enough during this campaign, that much is obvious tonight, and I accept full responsibility for that.”
“Earlier on, I called the prime minister to congratulate him on his success tonight. It’s an historic occasion for the Labor Party and we recognise that,” he added.
The Australian Electoral Commission’s projections gave Mr. Albanese’s ruling center-left Labor Party 70 seats and the conservative opposition coalition 24 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, the lower chamber where parties need a majority to form governments. Unaligned minor parties and independent candidates appeared likely to win 13 seats.
Australian Broadcasting Corp. election analyst Antony Green predicted Labor would win 76 seats, the coalition 36 and unaligned lawmakers 13. Green said Labor would form a majority or minority government and that the coalition had no hope of forming even a minority government.
Energy policy and inflation have been major issues in the campaign, with both sides agreeing the country faces a cost of living crisis.
Mr. Dutton’s conservative Liberal Party blames government waste for fueling inflation and increasing interest rates, and has pledged to axe more than one in five public service jobs to reduce government spending.
While both say the country should reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, Mr. Dutton argues that relying on more nuclear power instead of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind turbines would deliver less expensive electricity.
The ruling center-left Labor Party has branded the opposition leader “DOGE-y Dutton” and accused his party of mimicking U.S. President Donald Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency.
Labor argues Mr. Dutton’s administration would slash services to pay for its nuclear ambitions.
“We’ve seen the attempt to run American-style politics here of division and pitting Australians against each other and I think that’s not the Australian way,” Mr. Albanese said.
Mr. Albanese also noted that his government had improved relations with China, which removed a series of official and unofficial trade barriers that had cost Australian exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion) a year since Labor came to power in 2022.
The election is taking place against a backdrop of what both sides of politics describe as a cost of living crisis.
Foodbank Australia, the nation’s largest food relief charity, reported 3.4 million households in the country of 27 million people experienced food insecurity last year.
That meant Australians were skipping meals, eating less or worrying about running out of food before they could afford to buy more.
The central bank reduced its benchmark cash interest rate by a quarter percentage point in February to 4.1% in an indication that the worst of the financial hardship had passed. The rate is widely expected to be cut again at the bank’s next board meeting on May 20, this time to encourage investment amid the international economic uncertainty generated by Trump’s tariff policies.
Both campaigns have focused on Australia’s changing demographics. The election is the first in Australia in which Baby Boomers, born between born between the end of World War II and 1964, are outnumbered by younger voters.
Both campaigns promised policies to help first-home buyers buy into a property market that is too expensive for many.
Going into the election, Labor held a narrow majority of 78 seats in a 151-seat House of Representatives. There will be 150 seats in the next parliament due to redistributions.
A loss of more than two seats could force Labor to attempt to form a minority government with the support of unaligned lawmakers.
There was a minority government after the 2010 election, and the last one before that was during World War II.
The last time neither party won a majority, it took 17 days after the polls closed before key independent lawmakers announced they would support a Labor administration.
“Any exception to this prohibition will require approval of Government of India,” a notification from Directorate General of Foreign Trade said. The move comes weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack
India has banned direct or indirect import of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect in the interest of national security and public policy, following the Pahalgam terror attack last month in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed, according to a Government Order issued on Friday (May 2, 2025).
The decision will completely halt all inbound shipments of goods from Pakistan to India. India’s exports to Pakistan in April-January 2024-25 stood at $447.65 million, while imports were meagre $0.42 million.
A provision in this regard has been added in Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023 “to prohibit direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan with immediate effect until further orders,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification dated May 2.
It added that this restriction is imposed in the interest of national security and public policy. “Any exception to this prohibition will require approval of Government of India,” the Order said.
Inserting the provision under the heading “Prohibition on Import from Pakistan” in the FTP, it said: “Direct or indirect import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan, whether or not freely importable or otherwise permitted, shall be prohibited with immediate effect, until further orders.”
Main imports from the neighbouring country during April-January 2024-25 included fruits and nuts ($0.08 million), certain oil seeds and medicinal plants ($0.26 million) and organic chemicals. The decision follows a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 people were killed.
Following the terror attack, India took a series of measures including immediate shutting down of the Attari land-transit post, used for movement of certain kinds of goods. Besides, India has announced expulsion of Pakistani military attaches, and suspension of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.
Minuscule trade
Owing to this, the trade between India and Pakistan has already come to a complete halt. The two-way trade between the countries was minuscule following steps taken by both sides after the Pulwama terror attack in 2019.
In retaliation, Pakistan has also announced suspension of all trade with India, including to and from any third country through Pakistan. Exports and imports in 2023-24 were $1.18 billion and $2.88 million, respectively.
In 2022-23 and 2021-22, India exported goods worth $627.1 million and $513.82 million, and imported products worth $20.11 million and $2.54 million, respectively.
In April-January 2024-25, exports of organic chemicals and pharmaceutical products accounted for about 60% of the country’s total outbound shipments to Pakistan. It was $129.55 million and $110.06 million, respectively.
The other items include sugar and sugar confectionary ($85.16 million), certain vegetables ($3.77 million), coffee, tea and spices ($1.66 million), cereals ($1.39 million), petroleum products ($11.63 million), fertilizer ($6 million), plastics ($4.16 million), rubber ($1.88 million), and auto components ($28.57 million). The India-Pakistan trade relations soured after the Pulwama terror attack.
Following that, India raised the import duty to 200% on all goods imported from the neighbouring country, including on fresh fruits, cement, petroleum products and mineral ore.
MFN status
In 2017-18, Pakistan’s exports to India were $488.5 million. India also withdrew MFN (most favoured nation) status to Pakistan. That time the two main items imported from Pakistan were fruits and cement. Slapping an import duty of 200% effectively means almost banning imports.
The country invoked a security exception clause of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to withdraw the MFN status. Both countries are members of this organisation. India had granted the MFN status to Pakistan way back in 1996, but the neighbouring country had not reciprocated.
Under the MFN pact, a WTO member country is obliged to treat the other trading nation in a non-discriminatory manner, especially with regard to customs duty and other levies.
In 2012, Pakistan had committed to giving the MFN status to India but retracted later owing to domestic opposition. Instead of MFN, Pakistan said it was working on granting Non- Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) status to India but that also was not announced.
Pakistan too in August 2019 suspended trade ties with New Delhi following imposition of the heavy import duty by India on imports from Pakistan. Both countries have a long history of strained relations, primarily owing to the Kashmir issue as well as the cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.
Total India-Pakistan trade in 2017-18 was $2.41 billion as against $2.27 billion in 2016-17. India imported goods worth $488.5 million in 2017-18 and exported goods worth $1.92 billion.
Kannappa Release Postponed: विष्णु मांचू की फिल्म ‘कन्नप्पा’ की रिलीज की तारीख आगे बढ़ गई है। फिल्म के एक्टर ने कहा है कि फिल्म की नई रिलीज की तारीख का जल्द ही एलान होगा। आइए जानते हैं इस फिल्म की रिलीज को आगे क्यों बढ़ाया गया है?
विष्णु मांचू की फिल्म ‘कन्नप्पा’ की नई रिलीज डेट का एलान होने वाला है। पहले ये फिल्म 25 अप्रैल को रिलीज होने वाली थी। फिल्म की टीम फिल्म में जरूरी सुधार कर रही है, ताकि इसे और बेहतर बनाया जा सके। फिल्म के वीएफएक्स को भी अपग्रेट किया जा रहा है। फिल्म में विष्णू मांचू लीड रोल में हैं और वह इस फिल्म के सहलेखक भी हैं। उन्होंने कहा है कि फिल्म में जरूरी सुधार होने के बाद इसके सिनेमा का अनुभव बहुत अच्छा होगा।
फिल्म पर विष्णु मांचू का बयान
विष्णु मांचू ने अपने अधिकारिक बयान में कहा है “कन्नप्पा शिव के सबसे बड़े भक्त को श्रद्धांजलि है। फिल्म की टीम इस चीज के लिए मेहनत कर रही है कि फिल्म उच्चतम तकनीकी और कहानी कहने के मानकों पर खरी उतरे। फिल्म को रिलीज करने की नई तारीख का जल्द ही ऐलान होगा।”
फिल्म की हुई थी आलोचना
हाल ही में ‘कन्नप्पा’ फिल्म को सोशल मीडिया पर ट्रोलर्स का सामना करना पड़ा था। फिल्म के प्रमोशनल इवेंट के दौरान, कास्ट मेंबर रघु बाबू ने ट्रोल्स को फिल्म की आलोचना करने पर चेतावनी दी थी। उन्होंने कहा था “अगर कोई कन्नप्पा फिल्म को ट्रोल करता है, तो उसे भगवान शिव के क्रोध और श्राप का सामना करना पड़ेगा…” यह बयान इंटरनेट यूजर्स को पसंद नहीं आया। इस पर एक यूजर ने कहा “डर और धर्म देश में हमेशा काम आता है।” एक दूसरे यूजर ने कहा “मैं एक शिव भक्त के तौर पर कह रहा हूं कि उनके पास इतना समय नहीं है।”
क्या है फिल्म की कहानी?
‘कन्नप्पा’ के निर्देशक मुकेश कुमार सिंह हैं। मोहन बाबू इस फिल्म के निर्माता हैं। यह फिल्म भगवान शिव के भक्त कन्नप्पा की कथा
पर आधारित है। कन्नप्पा में मुख्य भूमिका में विष्णु मांचू हैं, उनके साथ मोहन बाबू हैं। फिल्म में मोहनलाल, प्रभास, अक्षय कुमार और काजल अग्रवाल की विशेष कैमियो भूमिकाएं भी हैं। फिल्म की शूटिंग न्यूजीलैंड, हैदराबाद और अन्य स्थानों पर की गई है।
फिल्म को औपचारिक रूप से 18 अगस्त 2023 को लॉन्च किया गया था। मुख्य फोटोग्राफी 25 सितंबर 2023 को न्यूजीलैंड में शुरू हुई । स्टीफन देवसी ने मूल स्कोर और गीतों की रचना की। फिल्म में पैन-इंडियन सितारे मोहनलाल, प्रभास और अक्षय कुमार हैं, जिन्होंने अपनी कैमियो भूमिकाओं के लिए कोई पारिश्रमिक नहीं लिया है, जिसका उल्लेख अभिनेता विष्णु मांचू ने एक साक्षात्कार में किया था।
भगवान शिव के भक्त कन्नप्पा की पौराणिक कहानी पर आधारित इस फिल्म को बनने में लगभग एक दशक का समय लगा। दिसंबर 2013 में, अभिनेता, पटकथा लेखक और निर्देशक तनिकेला भरानी ने मीडिया को बताया कि वह 14 वीं शताब्दी में स्थापित एक पीरियड ड्रामा फिल्म के प्री-प्रोडक्शन पर काम कर रहे थे, जिसका शीर्षक भक्त कन्नप्पा था । उन्होंने कन्नप्पा की भूमिका में सुनील को लिया था। [ 5 ] जून 2015 में, अभिनेता-निर्माता विष्णु मांचू ने घोषणा की कि उनकी प्रोडक्शन कंपनी, 24 फ्रेम्स फैक्ट्री , एक अमेरिकी कंपनी के साथ मिलकर कन्नप्पा कथा नामक एक फिल्म का निर्माण करेगी , जिसका निर्देशन भरणी करेंगे। [ 6 ] रिपोर्टों से संकेत मिलता है कि भरणी ने एक निर्माता को मनाने के लिए कई वर्षों तक इंतजार करने के बाद भक्त कन्नप्पा के लिए अपनी मूल को बेच दी
