National News

EC issues 'stern notice' to Cong chief Kharge for calling PM Modi 'terrorist'

New Delhi: The Election Commission on Wednesday took "serious note" of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "terrorist" and issued him with a "stern notice", officials said.

'Are they trying to intimidate?', Mamata on heavy central force deployment for Bengal polls

Amdanga: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday expressed surprise over the deployment of CRPF armoured vehicles for maintaining law and order during the Assembly polls, alleging that the BJP-led Centre has engaged all wings of the government to work in its favour.

Online gaming rules notified; Govt says determination, registration not mandatory for most games

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday notified long-awaited rules to operationalise the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, paving the way for the sector's digital-first regulator, 'online gaming authority', and setting out a "regulation-light" framework that would not require mandatory registration or prior determination/classification for most online social games.

India denies cash, crypto payments to Iran for Hormuz passage

New Delhi: India on Wednesday denied making any payments - either in cash or cryptocurrency - to Iran to secure safe passage for its vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions in the region.

Row over WB I-PAC raid: CM's intervention during probe puts democracy in peril, says SC

New Delhi: The alleged obstruction by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a raid conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kolkata came under intense scrutiny on Wednesday, with the Supreme Court saying that democracy is put in peril if a chief minister intervenes in a probe.

Pahalgam attack anniversary: Army says for acts against India, response is assured

New Delhi: On the first anniversary of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Army on Wednesday reaffirmed its steely resolve to fight against terrorism, and said, for acts against India, "the response is assured"

India will never bow to any form of terror: PM on Pahalgam attack anniversary

New Delhi: On the first anniversary of the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that India will never bow to any form of terror and the heinous designs of terrorists will never succeed.

IAF launches 2-day air exercise on Purvanchal Expressway airstrip in UP's Sultanpur

Sultanpur (UP): A two-day Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise featuring fighter-jet operations began on Wednesday on an emergency airstrip along the Purvanchal Expressway in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur district, with authorities tightening security and clamping traffic restrictions.

BJP delegation meets EC, seeks stringent action against Kharge for 'terrorist' remark targeting PM

New Delhi: A BJP delegation comprising three Union ministers, including Nirmala Sitharaman, approached the Election Commission on Wednesday, demanding "strictest action" against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his "terrorist" remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

'CEC himself a logical discrepancy, national shame': Kapil Sibal flags 'abuse of power' in Bengal

New Delhi: Former law minister Kapil Sibal on Wednesday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of working in cahoots with the BJP to make the party win the West Bengal elections, saying he is a "national shame" and it is his "vocation" to make sure that the BJP emerges victorious.

Amit Shah says Cong may not open account in Bengal; attacks TMC over 'terror politics', infiltration

Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday mounted a sweeping attack on both the Congress and the ruling TMC, claiming that Rahul Gandhi's party would fail to win even a single seat in West Bengal, and that Mamata Banerjee's proximity to the Congress would hasten her political decline.

Shutdowns by ethnic groups disrupt normal life in most parts of Manipur

Imphal: Shutdowns called by different ethnic organisations severely affected normal life in 12 of 16 districts of Manipur on Wednesday, officials said.

31 deaths and over 19 years later, Bombay HC discharges 4 accused in 2006 Malegaon blast case

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday discharged four men accused in the 2006 Malegaon serial bomb blasts, quashing all the charges against them, including of terror, and leaving unanswered the question of who was responsible for the explosions that killed 31 people.

International News

Trump extends ceasefire with Iran pending unified peace proposal

Washington/Islamabad: US President Donald Trump has indefinitely extended the ceasefire with Iran at the request of mediator Pakistan, saying the move was aimed at giving Tehran's fractured leadership time to come up with a unified proposal to end the seven-week war.

EU expresses solidarity with India on Pahalgam terror attack anniversary

London: The European Union (EU) on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the people of India in commemoration of the first anniversary of the "heinous terrorist attack" in Pahalgam, which claimed the lives of 26 people on April 22 last year.