Midday News -

THE HEADLINES::

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs high-level meeting with key Ministers and heads of security forces as India-Pakistan ceasefire holds.
DGMOs of India and Pakistan to talk this evening to discuss modalities after the two countries ceased hostilities.
Thirty two airports, temporarily closed for operation, opened with immediate effect.
Markets surge by over 3 per cent as border tensions cool.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expresses willingness to hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkiye to end the ongoing conflict.
Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test Cricket marking the end of an era in Indian Cricket.
Buddha Purnima being celebrated across the world with traditional solemnity.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting at his residence in New Delhi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chiefs of the three Armed Forces, and several senior officials attended the meeting.

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The talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations DGMOs of India and Pakistan are now expected to take place this evening. Earlier, the talks were scheduled for around 12 noon. DGMO, Indian Army, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai while briefing the media on Operation Sindoor yesterday informed that he is scheduled to talk to his Pakistani counterpart. He said, they would discuss the modalities that would enable the longevity of the understanding reached at to cease the hostilities.

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Operation Sindoor marked a significant demonstration of India’s military and strategic prowess through a blend of military and non-military means. This multi-dimensional operation successfully neutralized terrorist threats, deterred Pakistani aggression, and reinforced India’s zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, all while maintaining strategic restraint and international support. Here is a report from correspondent:-

India exposed Pakistan’s terror ecosystem globally through its measured kinetic and non-kinetic responses. With precise and deliberate military actions under Operation Sindoor, India destroyed multiple terror and military locations across Pakistan and killed over 100 terrorists. India’s counter military actions on the night of 9th and 10th May also became the first instance of a country damaging air force camps of a nuclear country. Within 3 hours, 11 bases were attacked including Nur Khan, Rafiqui, Murid, Sialkot and Jacobabad. New Delhi’s air defense system proved instrumental in neutralizing all incoming threats and exposing flaws in Pakistan’s HQ-9 system. The country’s non-kinetic efforts were equally significant in shaping the strategic environment and ensuring public and international support. Through strategic policy decisions, information dominance, and psychological operations, India successfully isolated Pakistan economically and diplomatically, while bolstering domestic readiness. Measures such as the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, cancellation of visas for all Pakistani nationals residing in India, and a complete ban on Pakistani artists collectively reaffirmed India’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism. Pallavi Parmar, Akashvani News, Delhi.

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Indian Army has said that the night remained largely peaceful across Jammu and Kashmir and other areas along the International Border. The army said that no incidents have been reported, marking the first calm night in recent days.

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Thirty two airports which were temporarily closed for civil Aircraft operation have been opened now with immediate effect following the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Earlier these 32 airports were closed for civil Aircraft operation till the 15th of this month. In a statement, Airports Authority of India has recommended travellers to check flight status directly with Airlines and monitor Airlines’ websites for regular updates.

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Foreign Minister S Jaishankar received a call from his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty. In a social media post, Dr. Jaishankar said that he apprised him of recent developments and emphasized the importance of zero tolerance for terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

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The BJP has said, India has given a decisive message to the entire world in the fight against terrorism through Operation Sindoor. Addressing a press conference at party headquarters in New Delhi, party Spokesperson Sambit Patra said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly engaged with the leaders of twenty nations to build consensus on isolating Pakistan and combating terrorism.

Mr Patra said, after the Pahalgam terror attack, Mr Modi had promised that India will avenge the death of 26 people. He said, the Indian Army has displayed indomitable courage through this operation.

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ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan has said that 10 satellites are continuously working round-the-clock for the strategic purpose to ensure safety and security of the citizens of the country. Addressing the 5th Convocation ceremony of the Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal at College of Fisheries in Agartala yesterday, the ISRO Chairman said, if we want to ensure the safety of our country, we have to monitor our 7,000 km seashore areas. He said, without satellite and drone technology, country can’t achieve many things.

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The National Disaster Management Authority-NDMA has issued an advisory for citizens not to touch any unknown material. In a social media post, it said, these could be explosive materials that may be dangerous and cause serious injury or death to the people. The NDMA said that if people find any unknown material they must inform the local authorities immediately.

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The government has debunked the claims made by the Pakistani military in its recent briefing, which falsely accused some Indian news channels of admitting to the destruction of Indian airbases. The Fact Check Unit of Press Information Bureau said that Pakistan is misleading its own people by producing doctored footage as evidence. In a media briefing held yesterday, the DG ISPR of Pakistan used a small, edited portion of a full video clip originally broadcast by Indian news channels. However, the actual footage clearly shows Indian news channels reporting on the destruction of a Pakistani airfield by Indian forces.

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In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Kashmir Singh Galwaddi, a key Khalistani operative and one of the escapees from the high-profile 2016 Nabha jail break. The arrest was made in Motihari, Bihar, in a joint operation with local police. Kashmir Singh, a resident of Ludhiana, Punjab, had been on the run since the jailbreak and was closely linked with foreign-based Babbar Khalsa International terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda.

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The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a major offensive involving 71 coordinated attacks at more than 51 locations across Balochistan. In a statement, the group said, Pakistan has not only been a breeding ground for global terrorists but also a centre for the state-sponsored development of deadly terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and ISIS. The group said, the current wave of violence is part of one of the longest-running liberation movements in the region, reflecting decades of unrest, marginalisation, and demands for autonomy.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed willingness to hold discussions with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin in Turkey, to end the ongoing conflict between the two nations. In a social media post today, President Zelensky said, they are ready to talk, to end the war.

This statement comes after US President Donald Trump called on Ukraine to immediately agree to the negotiations proposed by Russian President Putin, which can take place on Thursday in Turkey.

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Indian cricket great Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test Cricket, bringing down the curtain on a stellar 14-year journey in whites. Widely regarded as one of the modern greats of the game, Virat took to social media to share the news with fans and reflect on his journey in the longest and most traditional format of the sport. His announcement marks the end of an era in Indian Test cricket. We have a report:

A titan of the modern era-Virat Kohli’s Test legacy is etched in Indian cricket history. In his 14-year Test career, Virat scored 9,230 runs in 123 matches at an average of 46.85, becoming the fourth-highest run-scorer for India in the game’s longest format-only behind the legendary trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar. Debuting in 2011 against the West Indies, Virat took over the captaincy three years later and led India in 68 Tests-the most by any Indian-winning 40, drawing 11, and losing just 17. With a win percentage of 58.82 per cent, the batter remains India’s most successful red-ball captain and as the fourth-most successful Test captain overall, behind Graeme Smith, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh. Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, India won a series in Australia for the first time, in 2019. His final appearance in whites came earlier this year during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which Australia won 3-1. Virat’s decision comes days after Rohit Sharma announced his Test retirement, with Shubman Gill emerging as the leading contender to replace him as captain. Virat had earlier bid farewell to T20 Internationals after lifting the 2024 T20 World Cup. India batting superstar is expected to continue in ODI Cricket. With Virat Kohli’s exit, Indian cricket turns a new page-but his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. Swati Rakheja, Sports Desk.

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The Benchmark domestic equity indices, Sensex and Nifty, were trading with strong gains of over 3.3 percent in the afternoon trade today after ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. The 30-share BSE Sensex soared 2,657 points to 82,112 and the NSE Nifty50 zoomed 828 points to 24,836, when reports last came in.

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Buddha Purnima is being celebrated across the world today. It marks the day when Gautam Buddha was born and also attained the enlightenment or Nirvana under the Mahabodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.

The day is commemorated by Buddhists and Hindus all over the world, Our correspondent reports that special prayer is being held at the Mahabodhi Temple premises in Bodhgaya.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs high-level meeting with key Ministers and heads of security forces as India-Pakistan ceasefire holds.
DGMOs of India and Pakistan to talk this evening to discuss modalities after the two countries ceased hostilities.
Thirty two airports, temporarily closed for operation, opened with immediate effect.
Markets surge by over 3 per cent as border tensions cool.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expresses willingness to hold discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Turkiye to end the ongoing conflict.
Virat Kohli announces retirement from Test Cricket marking the end of an era in Indian Cricket.
Buddha Purnima being celebrated across the world with traditional solemnity.