Source: THE HINDU

PM Modi visits Adampur air base, says India ‘eternally grateful’ to armed forces

With an S-400 missile defence system in the backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a message on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) from Adampur Air Base in Punjab to Pakistan: “Not only have you failed to harm any of India’s military installations but you will be annihilated if terrorism continues from your soil.”

Pakistan High Commission staffer expelled for espionage, linked to case on leak of Army movements

Amid continuing tensions between India and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared an official of the Pakistan High Commission “persona non grata” (PNG), expelling him for espionage. The decision concerning the official, who was not named by either side, was conveyed to Pakistan Charge d’Affaires Saad Warraich, who was issued a demarche, asking the staffer to leave India within 24 hours.

India reasserts Kashmir stand after Trump poser

Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on the Kashmir issue, India on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) reiterated its “long-standing national position” that regards Jammu and Kashmir as a “bilateral” issue to be addressed within the framework of India-Pakistan ties.

Trump says U.S. to lift Syria sanctions, secures $600 billion Saudi deal

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) that the U.S. will lift long-standing sanctions on Syria, and secured a $600 billion commitment from Saudi Arabia to invest in the United States on a trip to the Gulf. The U.S. agreed to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to the White House which called it “the largest defence cooperation agreement” Washington has ever done.

Issue of duplication of EPIC numbers resolved, says EC

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) said it has resolved the long-pending problem of duplication of voter ID card numbers and issued fresh elector photo identity cards (EPIC) to those who faced the issue. The electors photo identity card (EPIC) number is the 10-digit voter ID card number issued by the EC to each elector. The number is a unique alphanumeric code assigned to each registered elector to prevent impersonation.

UN humanitarian chief blasts Israel for ’deliberately’ blocking aid to Gaza

The United Nations’ top humanitarian official blasted Israel on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) for “deliberately and unashamedly” imposing inhumane conditions on Palestinians, including the risk of famine — one of the strongest condemnations by a high-ranking U.N. official during the war in Gaza.

Goa stampede: Inquiry committee recommends dissolving the temple management committee

The Fact-Finding Inquiry Committee (FFIC), constituted to investigate the Goa stampede that occurred early on the morning of May 3, 2025, during the Lairai Jatra festival in Shirgao, North Goa, recommended that the Goa government dissolve the Shree Lairai temple management committee.

Southwest monsoon advances to the Andaman Sea

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) that the southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of the south Bay of Bengal, the south Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands, and parts of the north Andaman Sea.

Ban on Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League a ‘concerning development’: India

Days after the interim government of Bangladesh banned the oldest political party of the country, the Awami League, India on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) described the development as a “concerning matter” and urged the planned election in Bangladesh should be “inclusive”.

All 13 accused in Murshidabad father-son murder are locals, some known to the family

Most of the accused in the Murshidabad father-son murder case were locals known to the victims and their family, a high-ranking official of West Bengal police told The Hindu on Tuesday (May 13, 2025). On Tuesday, West Bengal police made their 13th arrest in connection with the Jafrabad murder. The accused, Yusuf Sheikh, is a resident of Dighri village in the same area. He was apprehended from the nearby Suti Police Station area.

U.S. agrees to sell Saudi Arabia $142 billion arms package

The U.S. agreed on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) to sell Saudi Arabia an arms package worth nearly $142 billion, according to a White House fact sheet that called it “the largest defense cooperation agreement” Washington has ever done. The agreement, signed during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh, covers deals with more than a dozen U.S. defence companies.

India rebuts Trump’s claims of threatening to stop trade if there wasn’t a ceasefire

Rebutting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of stopping trade with both India and Pakistan unless they agreed to end hostilities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) said trade was never discussed with the U.S. officials. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a briefing, said that India has “conveyed” its position on President Trump’s statements on India-Pakistan ceasefire to the U.S. authorities.

Nine accused sentenced to life in prison in Pollachi sexual assault case

The Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) found all nine accused in the Pollachi sexual assault case guilty and sentenced them to life imprisonment. Judge R. Nandhini Devi pronounced the quantum of sentence, after hearing the arguments of the prosecution and defence. The court also ordered that the State government pay a total compensation of ₹85 lakh to eight survivors of sexual assault.

Three terrorists killed Shopian encounter, search operation still on, says Army

Three terrorists were killed on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) in an encounter with security forces in the Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army said. Based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the Shoekal Keller area of Shopian, the Army launched a search and destroy operation there, it said.

‘Overwhelmed, successor Justice Gavai will uphold Supreme Court’s values’: CJI Sanjiv Khanna demits office

Overwhelmed by the rich accolades on his last day at the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) said he was certain his successor CJI-designate Justice B.R. Gavai would uphold values of the Supreme Court, fundamental rights and the basic constitutional doctrines.

India warns WTO it may impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. over steel, aluminium duty hikes

At a time when India and the U.S. are in talks over a trade deal, fresh tensions have emerged as India has notified the World Trade Organisation of its proposal to impose tariffs on $7.6 billion worth of imports from the U.S. in retaliation for that country raising its import duties on steel and aluminium to 25%.

IndiGo, Air India cancel flights to Amritsar, Jammu and other places for May 13

Airlines IndiGo, and Air India have cancelled their flights on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) to and from several domestic destinations that fall close to the border, citing “latest developments.” IndiGo has cancelled its flights to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar and Rajkot. Air India has cancelled its flights to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh and Rajkot

Schools in border districts of Punjab remain shut

Schools in five border districts of Punjab remained closed on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) while a blackout was enforced in Amritsar and Hoshiarpur’s Dasuya and Mukerian areas last night as a precautionary measure, officials said. Colleges and universities also remained shut in Pathankot and Amritsar. However, authorities in Amritsar said universities and colleges can take classes online.

Monsoon reaches south Bay of Bengal, Nicobar Islands: IMD

The southwest monsoon advanced into parts of the south Bay of Bengal, south Andaman Sea, Nicobar Islands and some areas of the north Andaman Sea on Tuesday (May 13, 2025), the India Meteorological Department said. The weather department said moderate to heavy rainfall lashed Nicobar Islands in the past two days.

CBSE Class 10, Class 12 results declared, girls outshine boys

The Central Board of Secondary Education on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) declared the results of Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations, with girls outshining boys this year, Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj said. The Board informed that 88.39% of students passed this year’s Class 12 board exams, marginally up from last year’s pass percentage, with girls outperforming boys by 5 percentage points. In Class 10, over 93% of students passed the exam, with girls outshining boys by over 2 percentage points.

U.S. to cut ‘de minimis’ tariff on China shipments to 54% from 120%

The United States would cut the low value “de minimis” tariff on China shipments to 54% from 120%, with a flat fee of $100 to remain, starting from May 14, 2025, modifying an earlier order imposed by Washington, a White House executive order said on Monday (May 12, 2025).