Source: THE HINDU

Indian team to present in U.N. evidence on Pahalgam terror attack

An Indian technical team has reached New York to present evidence regarding the Pahalgam terror attack to the Monitoring Team of the 1267 Sanctions Committee that decides on the global listing of terrorist groups, official sources informed on Wednesday (May 14, 2025). India has accused The Resistance Front (TRF) of carrying out the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

Indian student Badar Khan Suri from Georgetown University released from immigration detention

A Georgetown University scholar from India who was arrested in the Trump administration’s crackdown on foreign college students was released from immigration detention Wednesday (May 14, 2025) after a federal judge’s ruling. Badar Khan Suri said he was glad to be released as he left a federal detention facility in Alvarado near Dallas alongside his attorney.

Putin to skip Ukraine talks, Russian team includes seasoned negotiators

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the composition late on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) of a delegation of experienced negotiators to conduct direct talks with Ukraine to resolve the ongoing war, though the talks will not include the Kremlin leader himself. Those included presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky and Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin.

IMF disburses $1.023 billion tranche to Pakistan

The International Monetary Fund has disbursed a second tranche of $1.023 billion under the Extended Fund Facility programme for Pakistan, the central bank said on Wednesday (May 14, 2025). The disbursement of the second tranche comes on a day when the IMF is holding virtual discussions on Pakistan’s upcoming Budget as the visit of its mission to Islamabad was delayed due to security concerns in the region.

Significant cancellations reported in outbound travel to Türkiye and Azerbaijan

Amid a call to “boycott” travel to Türkiye and Azerbaijan, tour aggregators reported widespread cancellations in holiday bookings to both these countries from India. In response to their “support” for Pakistan, “boycott” calls swept social media after Operation Sindoor was carried out.

CJI Gavai-led Bench to hear petitions against Waqf law on May 15

A Bench of Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih is scheduled to hear the challenge to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in the Supreme Court on Thursday. The case last came up before a three-judge Special Bench led by Chief Justice Gavai’s predecessor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, on May 5. Justice Khanna had at the time expressed reluctance to continue hearing the case, saying he had very little time till his retirement on May 13.

Operation Sindoor: Indigenous weapon systems highly effective, says Centre

The performance of indigenous defence systems against Chinese and Turkish weapon systems stood out during Operation Sindoor. For instance, the indigenous Akash short-range Surface-to-Air systems (SAM) proved their capability, while the Chinese HQ-9 SAMs deployed by Pakistan failed to effectively intercept the precision-guided munitions launched by India.

Olympian Neeraj Chopra conferred honorary rank of Lt. Col. in Territorial Army

Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has been conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, according to a government notification. The notification was issued on May 13 by the Ministry of Defence’s Department of Military Affairs. Mr. Chopra was a Subedar Major in the Indian Army. He was slated to retire this year, it is learnt.

Pope offers to mediate between world leaders to end wars

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) offered to mediate between leaders of countries at war, saying that he himself “will make every effort so that this peace may prevail”. The new U.S. pontiff, who became head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics last week, also called on Christians living in the Middle East not to abandon their homes, in a speech to members of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

Union Cabinet approves ₹3,706 crore HCL-Foxconn semiconductor joint venture; plant to be set up at Jewar

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) approved an HCL-Foxconn semiconductor joint venture, which will set up a wafers manufacturing plant at an estimated cost of ₹3,706 crore at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed HCL-Foxconn semiconductor plant will manufacture display driver chips for mobile phones, laptops, automobiles, and other devices, said Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw while briefing the media. The unit will process 20,000 wafers per month and create about 2,000 jobs, a release said.

Pakistan returns detained BSF constable; Pakistan Rangers personnel also sent back by India

A Border Security Force (BSF) Constable, who had inadvertently crossed into Pakistani territory along the Punjab border on April 23, was repatriated on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) by the Pakistan Rangers. The exchange took place at the Attari-Wagah border at around 10:30 a.m., according to an official statement issued by the BSF. The constable, identified as Purnam Kumar Shaw, had crossed the international boundary in the Ferozepur sector during operational duty. Mr. Shaw’s detention occurred a day after the Pahalgam terror attack. The BSF stated that his repatriation was made possible due to “consistent efforts” through regular flag meetings and sustained communication with the Pakistan Rangers.

President Murmu briefed on Operation Sindoor by CDS Anil Chauhan, tri-services Chiefs

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan along with the chiefs of the three services on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) briefed President Droupadi Murmu about Operation Sindoor. “General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, along with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff, Air Chief Marshal A. P. Singh, Chief of the Air Staff, and Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, called on President Droupadi Murmu and briefed her about Operation Sindoor,” the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on X.

India’s homegrown ‘Bhargavastra’ counter swarm drone system test fired successfully

A new low-cost Counter Drone System in Hard Kill Mode ‘Bhargavastra’, has been designed and developed by Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL) signifying a substantial leap in countering the escalating threat of drone swarms. The micro rockets used in this counter-drone system underwent rigorous testing at the Seaward Firing Range, Gopalpur achieving all designated objectives. Three trials were conducted for the rocket at Gopalpur on May 13 in presence of senior officials of Army Air Defence (AAD). ‘Bhargavastra’ boasts of advanced capabilities for detecting and eliminating small, incoming drones at distances of upto 2.5 km.

If women can fly Rafale in IAF, why fewer of them in Army legal branch? Supreme Court asks Centre

If a woman can fly Rafale fighter jet in the Indian Air Force, then why are fewer women officers in gender neutral posts of Judge Advocate General (legal) branch of the Army, the Supreme Court wondered recently and questioned the Centre’s rationale on a 50-50 selection criterion.  A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan on May 8 reserved its verdict on the plea of two officers Arshnoor Kaur and Astha Tyagi, who despite securing 4th and 5th ranks respectively — higher in merit than their male counterparts — weren’t selected for the JAG department due to fewer vacancies earmarked for women. The top court said, “Accordingly, we direct the respondents to initiate whatever action is required for the purpose of her induction in the next available training course for appointment as Judge Advocate General (JAG)“.

India rejects China’s ‘preposterous’ attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh

India on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) outrightly rejected China’s attempts to rename some places in Arunachal Pradesh, saying such “preposterous” attempts will not alter the “undeniable” reality that the State “was, is, and will” always remain an integral part of India. New Delhi’s reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for some places in Arunachal Pradesh, which the neighbouring country claims as the southern part of Tibet. “We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Ready to begin talks on French nuclear weapons in European countries: Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said that France was “ready to open” discussions about stationing France’s nuclear weapons in other European countries. Mr Macron’s comments come as Europeans seek to bolster their defences , especially against Russia and as the Trump administration has signalled that the U.S. will no longer underwrite European security. Asked during a television interview to respond to Polish President Andrzej Duda’s remarks in April that Poland would like to host both American and French nuclear weapons on its soil, Mr. Macron said his country was “ready to open this discussion”. Further, he said, “Let’s be clear, France will not pay for the security of others. It can be a European effort or the effort of each nation.”

Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 60 people, including 22 children, says Health Ministry

Israeli airstrikes pounded northern and southern Gaza on Wednesday (May 14, 2025), killing at least 60 people, including almost two dozen children, according to local hospitals and health officials, a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “no way” he would halt Israel’s offensive in the Palestinian territory before Hamas is defeated .At least 50 people, including 22 children, were killed in the strikes around Jabaliya in northern Gaza, according to local hospitals and Gaza’s Health Ministry. At least ten other people were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, the European Hospital reported.

Anita Anand appointed as Canada's new Foreign Minister; Maninder Sidhu given International Trade in Cabinet reshuffle

Indo-Canadians Anita Anand and Maninder Sidhu have landed important portfolios in the new cabinet announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney after reshuffle.  While Ms. Anand was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sidhu is the new Minister for International Trade in the new cabinet announced on Tuesday (Canada time zone). Mr. Carney announced the reshuffle almost two weeks after his Liberal Party won the federal elections in Canada. He had replaced Justin Trudeau months ahead of the elections.