Source: THE HINDU

Terrorists behind cowardly Pahalgam terror attack will not be spared, says Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday (May 1, 2025) said that the terrorists who had carried out the “cowardly” Pahalgam terror attack would not be spared. “If anyone thinks that they have won by carrying out cowardly attacks, then they should know that this is the Modi government — which will not spare anyone,” Mr. Shah said during an event to unveil the statue and naming of a road after Bodofa Upendranath Brahma, a Bodo social activist, at the national capital.

Pahalgam terror attack: Support India’s ‘right to defend itself’, says U.S.

The U.S. stands “in solidarity” with India and supports its “right to defend itself”, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said in a conversation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while the latter said Pakistan had a “history” of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations, the first direct reference to Pakistan by a senior Minister in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Census may be held in 2026 to match delimitation schedule, says Union Minister Kishan Reddy 

Union Minister for Coals and Mines G. Kishan Reddy said on Thursday (May 1, 2025) that the Census Act, 1948, will have be amended to enable the enumeration of caste in the next Census exercise. In an interview with The Hindu, the Minister said the Census is expected to be conducted in 2026 to align with the schedule of delimitation of the Lok Sabha and State Assembly seats, a constitutional requirement.

Don’t want people going after Muslims, Kashmiris: Wife of Navy officer killed in Pahalgam

“We don’t want people going after Muslims and Kashmiris,” Himanshi Narwal said on Thursday (May 1, 2025), stoic but firm as she mourned her husband, Naval officer Lt. Vinay Narwal, who was gunned down in Pahalgam just 10 days ago. He would have been 27 today. Narwal’s mother and wife Ms. Himanshi broke into tears as tributes were being paid to the Naval officer at a blood donation camp organised in Karnal, the town where he grew up.

GST revenue hits record high of ₹2.37 lakh crore in April, up 12.6%

Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection rose 12.6% Y-o-Y to an all-time high of about ₹2.37 lakh crore in April, reflecting strong economic activity and March-end reconciliation of books by businesses. The GST mop-up was ₹2.10 lakh crore in April 2024 — the second highest collection ever since GST was rolled out on July 1, 2017. In March 2025, the collection was ₹1.96 lakh crore.

Attari-Wagah border between India and Pakistan completely shut

The Attari-Wagah border crossing point between India and Pakistan was shut completely on Thursday (May 1, 2025) following a week-long heavy rush of people from either side to cross over after the Union government ordered all Pakistani citizens with short-term visa to leave India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, sources said. The Attari-Wagah border crossing point is completely closed now and no one from either country crossed over to the other side on Thursday (May 1, 2025), two sources confirmed.

Election Commission to obtain death registration data directly from Registrar General for voter roll revision

In order to improve the accuracy of electoral rolls, the Election Commission (EC) has decided to obtain death registration data electronically from the Registrar General of India. The data will be obtained by the poll body in line with Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (as amended in 2023).

At least nine dead in drone strikes after U.S. and Ukraine sign minerals deal

A Ukrainian drone attack left at least seven persons dead and a Russian strike on Odesa killed two persons on Thursday (May 1, 2025), officials said, just hours after Kyiv and Washington signed a long-anticipated agreement granting U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources — a move that could enable continued military aid to Ukraine. The attack in the partially occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine, which struck a market in the town of Oleshky, killed seven and wounded more than 20 people, Moscow-appointed Gov. Vladimir Saldo said.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces shells presidential palace in Khartoum

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces shelled the presidential palace in Khartoum on Thursday (May 1, 2025) in their second bombardment of the capital in less than a week, an army source said. The paramilitaries fired long-range artillery at the palace from the Al-Salha district across the White Nile, their closest position since the army recaptured Khartoum in March, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Sonu Nigam sparks row over Kannada song request, invokes Pahalgam attack

Singer Sonu Nigam has landed himself in a soup after he lost his cool during a recent concert in Bengaluru. The incident took place when the playback singer was performing at East Point College in Virgonagar. When a boy asked him to sing a Kannada song, Sonu Nigam felt he was “threatened”, and thought the boy’s demand was “rude.” The singer even compared the incident with the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. “I had started singing Kannada songs even before he was born. I didn’t like it (the way he asked),” he said.

Pahalgam terror attack: J&K Waqf Board provides job to slain pony operator’s brother

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board on Thursday (May 1, 2025) handed over an appointment letter to the brother of Syed Adil Hussain Shah from Anantnag’s Haptnar. Shah was killed during the Pahalgam terror attack when he tried to save the lives of tourists. “The appointment letter is a gesture to honour Adil’s supreme sacrifice. He gave his life to protect others. This job letter is a small tribute to his courage. His sacrifice will never be forgotten,” J&K Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi said.

NHRC asks 11 States to protect vulnerable people from heat waves

Amid the ongoing heat wave, particularly in the northern, central and western parts of the country, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday (May 1, 2025) asked 11 States to take immediate pre-emptive measures to protect vulnerable people, especially those from poorer communities. Highlighting data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that reported 3,798 deaths between 2018 and 2022 due to heat and sun strokes, the Commission has emphasised the urgent need for integrated and inclusive measures to protect outdoor workers, elderly citizens, children, and the homeless, who are at risk due to the lack of adequate shelter and resources.

Right time for ‘create in India, create for world’: PM Modi calls WAVES 2025 global celebration of creativity

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (May 1, 2025) emphasised on ‘creative responsibility’ at WAVES summit, saying we need to save young generation from some anti-humanity ideas. “It is right time for ‘create in India, create for world’ when the world is looking for new ways of story-telling,” he said.

Press bodies demand restoration of ‘4 PM’ News YouTube channel

Press bodies on Wednesday (April 30, 2025) demanded that the Union government, in the “interests of transparency”, disclose the full reasons for blocking ‘4 PM’ News and its multi-lingual channels on YouTube.
Through a joint statement, the Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalist, Press Association, and Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit) said the YouTube channel of 4 PM News, was blocked on the Union government’s order on Tuesday (April 29, 2025).

26/11 Mumbai attack: Delhi court allows NIA to record Tahawwur Rana’s voice, handwriting samples

A Delhi court has allowed the NIA to collect the voice and handwriting samples of 26/11 Mumbai attack accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a source said. Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Judge Chander Jit Singh, who on April 28 extended Rana's custody for 12 days, passed the order on April 30 on an application moved by the agency.