Category: News

GURGAON: Newlywed Lieutenant Vinay Narwal (26) from Karnal, Haryana, was on honeymoon with his wife, Himanshi Narwal, when he was killed in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday. The couple married eight days ago and reached J&K on Monday for their honeymoon.
The couple initially planned to visit Europe after their marriage, but they failed to get a visa. At the last moment, they planned a trip to J&K for their honeymoon.
Read related story: Naval officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal from Karnal killed in Pahalgam attack
His wife, Himanshi Narwal, survived the attack. A video has surfaced showing Himanshi saying, “I was eating bhel puri with my husband when a man came and said he’s not Muslim, then shot him.”
Vinay’s family was informed of the incident on Tuesday evening and left for Jammu and Kashmir. His body is expected to be brought to Karnal today. Originally from Bhusli village in Karnal, Vinay’s family resides in Sector-7.

An engineering graduate, Vinay joined the Navy as a lieutenant three years ago, and he was posted in Kochi, Kerala. Vinay’s father, Rajesh Kumar, works as a superintendent in the Customs Department in Panipat. His grandfather, Hawa Singh, retired from the Haryana Police in 2004. His mother, Asha Devi, and grandmother, Biru Devi, are homemakers. Vinay’s younger sister, Srishti, is preparing for civil services in Delhi.
Vinay was engaged to Himanshi from Gurgaon two months ago after their family fixed the match. Himanshi is pursuing a PhD and takes online classes for children. Himanshi’s father, Sunil Kumar, is an Excise and Taxation Officer in Gurgaon.
According to family members, Vinay took leave for the wedding on March 28, married on April 16 in Mussoorie, and had a reception in Karnal on April 19. “They had planned a honeymoon in Europe, but it was canceled due to visa issues. Instead, they left for Jammu and Kashmir on April 21 and stayed in a hotel in Pahalgam on April 22. After dining, they went to the destination point where the terrorist attack occurred,” said a family member.

Vinay was supposed to celebrate his 27th birthday on May 1 on his return from J&K. “The family planned a big party upon his return from the honeymoon,” said Amit, a family member. Vinay and Himanshi were supposed to return to Kochi on May 3, where they had booked a rest house.
Neighbour Naresh Bansal said the house was filled with joy due to the recent wedding. “We got to know on Tuesday evening that terrorists shot Vinay after asking his name, while Himanshi narrowly escaped,” said Bansal.
Vinay’s grandfather, Hawa Singh, said Vinay attended Sant Kabir School in Karnal and later studied engineering in Delhi. “He prepared for the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam since school but was unsuccessful. He then prepared for the SSB and was selected for the Navy three years ago,” said Singh.
Hawa Singh added that their family has a history of military service. His uncle and Vinay’s maternal grandfather’s brother were also in the army, with the latter having fought alongside the British. His nephew is also in the army. Hawa Singh himself was in the BSF before joining and retiring from the Haryana Police.
He also mentioned, “I’m diabetic. Before leaving, Vinay and Himanshi told me not to eat too much sugar. Vinay came on leave on March 28. He got engaged on March 4, had a destination wedding in Mussoorie on April 16, and a reception on April 19. On April 20, they visited Himanshi’s family in Gurgaon before flying to Jammu and Kashmir.”

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WAUKEGAN: Survivors and relatives of people killed in a 2022 mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago are set to address the gunman Wednesday at his sentencing hearing.
Robert E. Crimo III, 24, pleaded guilty last month to the shooting that left seven people dead and dozens more injured. His plea change, just moments before opening statements at his trial, came as a shock even after years of unpredictable legal proceedings.
Crimo is certain to spend the rest of his life in prison. Each count of first-degree murder carries a maximum natural life sentence in Illinois. Prosecutors and attorneys for survivors say addressing Crimo is an important step.
“They have been patiently waiting for justice to be served,” said a statement from Romanucci & Blandin, a Chicago-based law firm that represents nearly 50 victims. They “will tell their personal stories to the court, and they are steadfastly committed to pursuing justice.”
Attorneys were unsure how many people might give so-called “victim impact statements,” saying some may decide at the last minute. Prosecutors are also expected to lay out evidence during the sentencing hearing at the Lake County Courthouse, roughly 45 miles (70 kilometers) from Chicago.
The case has moved slowly through the court, in part because of Crimo’s erratic behavior. He was expected to accept a plea deal last year but changed his mind once he got to court, shocking even his own attorneys.
Crimo fired his public defenders and said he would represent himself. Then he reversed his decision. He’s refused to leave his cell to attend court proceedings at times, including during parts of jury selection. After he pleaded guilty in court, he signed documents waiving his right to trial with both his own name and the name “Donald Trump.”
Ashbey Beasley attended the parade with her son in 2022. Though they weren’t injured, she said they had to run for their lives and seeing Crimo adds to their trauma. “Every single time I see him, it’s stressful,” she told reporters after the guilty plea. “It’s upsetting for everyone in our community.”
Dozens were wounded in the shooting in the suburb about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Chicago. They ranged in age from their 80s down to an 8-year-old boy who was left partially paralyzed.
Authorities said Crimo perched on a roof and fired into the crowds. Witnesses described confusion as the shots began, followed by terror as families bolted from the downtown parade route, leaving lawn chairs and strollers behind.
Prosecutors had reams of evidence, including Crimo’s videotaped confession to police. “We were 1,000% ready to go to trial and prove him guilty to the jury. We have been working for years to prepare our evidence,” Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart told reporters after the guilty plea.
Prosecutors initially charged Crimo with 21 counts of first-degree murder – three counts for each person killed – and 48 counts of attempted murder for the injured. Prosecutors later dropped 48 less serious counts of aggravated battery before jury selection.
Residents in the upscale Highland Park community of roughly 30,000 have mourned the shooting deeply. Some potential jurors were excused because of their connections to the high-profile case. Several survivors have also filed lawsuits against Crimo and gunmaker Smith & Wesson.
City leaders canceled the usual parade in 2023, opting instead for a “community walk.” The parade was reinstated last year on a different route and included a memorial.
The seven people killed in the shooting were Katherine Goldstein, 64; Jacquelyn Sundheim, 63; Stephen Straus, 88; Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, 78; Eduardo Uvaldo, 69; and married couple Kevin McCarthy, 37, and Irina McCarthy, 35.
Crimo’s father, Robert Crimo Jr., a former mayoral candidate, was charged in connection with how his son obtained a gun license. He pleaded guilty in 2023 to seven misdemeanor counts of reckless conduct. He served less than two months in jail.

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LAO CAI: Nguyen Thi Kim’s small verdant community in northern Vietnam no longer exists, wiped away in a landslide triggered by Typhoon Yagi’s devastating heavy rains last year.
She and dozens of survivors have been relocated to a site that authorities hope will withstand future climate change-linked disasters, with stronger homes, drainage canals and a gentler topography that lessens landslide risks.
It is an example of the challenges communities around the world face in adapting to climate change, including more intense rains and flash floods like those Typhoon Yagi brought last September.
Kim lost 14 relatives and her traditional timber stilt home when Yagi’s rains unleashed a landslide that engulfed much of Lang Nu village in mountainous Lao Cai province.
The storm was the strongest to hit Vietnam in decades, killing at least 320 people in the country and causing an estimated $1.6 billion in economic losses.
It is unlikely to be an outlier though, with research last year showing climate change is causing typhoons in the region to intensify faster and last longer over land.
Climate change, caused largely by burning fossil fuels, impacts typhoons in multiple ways: a warmer atmosphere holds more water, making for heavier rains, and warmer oceans also help fuel tropical storms.
Kim remains traumatised by the landslide.
She says everything is painful, especially the memory of the moment a torrent of mud swept away her and her two-year-old daughter.
“This disaster was too big for us all,” she said recalling the moment the pair were pulled from the mud hours later.
“I still cannot talk about it without crying. I can’t forget,” the 28-year-old told AFP.
‘We need to change’
Yagi hit Vietnam with winds in excess of 149 kilometres (92 miles) per hour and brought a deluge of rain that caused destructive flooding in parts of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
In Lang Nu, 67 residents were killed, and authorities vowed to rebuild the homes of survivors in a safe spot.
By December, 40 new houses were ready at a site around two kilometres away.
It was chosen for its elevation, which should be less impacted by adjacent streams, and its relatively gentle slope gradient.
“Predicting absolute safety in geology is actually very difficult,” said Tran Thanh Hai, rector of Hanoi University of Geology and Mining, who was involved in choosing a new site.
But the site is secure, “to the best of our knowledge and understanding”.
Lao Cai is one of Vietnam’s poorest areas, with little money for expensive warning systems.
However, a simple drainage system runs through the new community, diverting water away from the slope.
This should reduce soil saturation and the chances of another landslide, scientists who worked on the site told AFP.
The village’s new homes are all built of sturdier concrete, rather than traditional wood.
“We want to follow our traditions, but if it’s not safe any longer, we need to change,” Kim said, staring out at the expanse of mud and rock where her old village once stood.
Months later it remains frozen in time, strewn with children’s toys, kitchen pans and motorcycle helmets caught up in the landslide.
‘Safest ground for us’
Like Kim, 41-year-old Hoang Thi Bay now lives in the new village in a modern stilt house with steel structural beams.
Her roof, once made of palm leaves, is now corrugated iron and her doors are aluminium glass.
She survived the landslide by clinging desperately to the single concrete pillar in her old home as a wall of mud and rocks swept her neighbourhood away.
“I still wake up in the night obsessing over what happened,” she told AFP.
“Our old house was bigger and nicer, with gardens and fields. But I sleep here in the new house and I feel much safer,” she said.
Even at the new site, home to around 70 people, there are risks, warned Hai.
Development that changes the slope’s gradient, or construction of dams or reservoirs in the area could make the region more landslide-prone, he said.
Building more houses or new roads in the immediate area, or losing protective forest cover that holds earth in place, could also make the site unsafe, added Do Minh Duc, a professor at the Institute of Geotechnics and Environment at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi.
Yagi wiped out large areas of mature natural forest in Lao Cai and while private companies have donated trees for planting, it is unclear whether they can provide much protection.
“In terms of landslide prevention, the only forest that can have good (protective) effects is rainforest with a very high density of trees, so-called primary forest,” explained Duc, an expert on disaster risk maps who also helped choose the new site.
Leaving the old community was hard for Kim, whose family had lived and farmed there for nearly half a century.
But she is grateful that she and other survivors have a second chance.
“I believe this is the safest ground for us.”

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ATLANTA: Anjan Roy was studying with friends at Missouri State University when he got an email that turned his world upside down. His legal status as an international student had been terminated, and he was suddenly at risk for deportation.
“I was in literal shock, like, what the hell is this?” said Roy, a graduate student in computer science from Bangladesh.
At first, he avoided going out in public, skipping classes and mostly keeping his phone turned off. A court ruling in his favor led to his status being restored this week, and he has returned to his apartment, but he is still asking his roommates to screen visitors.
More than a thousand international students have faced similar disruptions in recent weeks, with their academic careers – and their lives in the US – thrown into doubt in a widespread crackdown by the Trump administration. Some have found a measure of success in court, with federal judges around the country issuing orders to restore students’ legal status at least temporarily.
In addition to the case filed in Atlanta, where Roy is among 133 plaintiffs, judges have issued temporary restraining orders in states including New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Judges have denied similar requests in some other cases, saying it was not clear the loss of status would cause irreparable harm.
International students challenge grounds for their status revocation Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last month the State Department was revoking visas held by visitors who were acting counter to national interests, including some who protested Israel’s war in Gaza and those who face criminal charges. But many affected students said they have been involved only in minor infractions, or it’s unclear altogether why they were targeted.
The attorney for Roy and his fellow plaintiffs, Charles Kuck, argued the government did not have legal grounds to terminate the students’ status.
He speculated in court last week the government is trying to encourage these students to self-deport, saying “the pressure on these students is overwhelming.” He said some asked him if it was safe to leave their homes to get food, and others worried they wouldn’t receive a degree after years of work or feared their chances of a career in the US were shot.
“I think the hope is they’ll just leave,” Kuck said. “The reality is these kids are invested.”
An attorney for the government, R. David Powell, argued the students did not suffer significant harm because they could transfer their academic credits or find jobs in another country.
At least 1,100 students at 174 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records. The AP is working to confirm reports of hundreds more students who are caught up in the crackdown.
In a lawsuit filed Monday by four people on student visas at the University of Iowa, attorneys detail the “mental and financial suffering” they’ve experienced. One graduate student, from India, “cannot sleep and is having difficulty breathing and eating,” the lawsuit reads. He has stopped going to school, doing research or working as a teaching assistant. Another student, a Chinese undergraduate who expected to graduate this December, said his revoked status has caused his depression to worsen to the point that his doctor increased his medication dosage. The student, the lawsuit says, has not left his apartment out of fear of detention.
Tiny infractions made students targets for the crackdown Roy, 23, began his academic career at Missouri State in August 2024 as an undergraduate computer science student. He was active in the chess club and a fraternity and has a broad circle of friends. After graduating in December, he began work on a master’s degree in January and expects to finish in May 2026.
When Roy received the university’s April 10 email on his status termination, one of his friends offered to skip class to go with him to the school’s international services office, even though they had a quiz in 45 minutes. The staff there said a database check showed his student status had been terminated, but they didn’t know why.
Roy said his only brush with the law came in 2021, when he was questioned by campus security after someone called in a dispute at a university housing building. But he said an officer determined there was no evidence of any crime and no charges were filed.
Roy also got an email from the US embassy in Bangladesh telling him his visa had been revoked and that he could be detained at any time. It warned that if he was deported, he could be sent to a country other than his own. Roy thought about leaving the US but decided to stay after talking to a lawyer.
Anxious about being in his own apartment, Roy went to stay with his second cousin and her husband nearby.
“They were scared someone was going to pick me up from the street and take me somewhere that they wouldn’t even know,” Roy said.
He mostly stayed inside, turned off his phone unless he needed to use it, and avoided internet browsers that track user data through cookies. His professors were understanding when he told them he wouldn’t be able to come to classes for a while, he said.
New doubts about students’ future in the US After the judge’s order Friday, he moved back to his apartment. He learned Tuesday his status had been restored, and he plans to return to class. But he’s still nervous. He asked his two roommates, both international students, to let him know before they open the door if someone they don’t know knocks.
The judge’s restoration of his legal status is temporary. Another hearing scheduled for Thursday will determine whether he keeps that status while the litigation continues.
Roy chose the US over other options in Canada and Australia because of the research opportunities and potential for professional connections, and he ultimately wanted to teach at an American university. But now those plans are up in the air.
His parents, back in Dhaka, have been watching the news and are “freaked out,” he said. His father mentioned to him that they have family in Melbourne, Australia, including a cousin who’s an assistant professor at a university there. ___
AP reporters Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this story.

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Musk to reduce Doge role after Tesla profits plunge

Tesla boss Elon Musk says he will cut back his role in Donald Trump’s administration after the company’s profits and revenues plunged during the first three months of the year.

Sales slumped and the electric carmaker faced a backlash as Musk became a political fixture in the White House.

On Tuesday, the firm reported a 20% drop in automotive revenue in the first quarter of 2025, compared with the same period last year, while profits fell more than 70%.

The company warned investors that the pain could continue, declining to offer a growth forecast while saying “changing political sentiment” could meaningfully hurt demand.

The recent dip in the company’s fortunes came amid an outcry over Musk’s role in Trump’s new administration, which he acknowledged had taken his focus off the company.

The tech boss contributed more than a quarter of a billion dollars to Trump’s re-election. He also leads Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) initiative to cut federal spending and slash the government workforce.

Musk said his “time allocation to Doge” would “drop significantly” starting next month. He would, he said, spend only one to two days per week on government matters “as long as the president would like me to do so and as long as it’s useful”.

His political involvement has sparked protests and boycotts of Tesla around the world.

He blamed the “blowback” on people who would “try to attack me and the Doge team”. But he called his work at Doge “critical” and said “getting the government house in order is mostly done”.

Tesla brought in $19.3bn (£14.5bn) in total revenue in the quarter, down 9% year on year, according to the new numbers. That was less than the $21.1bn expected by analysts, and came as the company cut prices in a bid to woo buyers.

Trump’s tariffs on China also weighed heavily on Tesla, the company indicated. Although the vehicles Tesla sells in its home market are assembled in the US, it depends on many parts made in China. “Rapidly evolving trade policy” could hurt its supply chain and raise costs, according to the company.

“This dynamic, along with changing political sentiment, could have a meaningful impact on demand for our products in the near-term,” Tesla’s quarterly update said.

Musk has clashed on trade with other Trump administration figures, including trade adviser Peter Navarro.

Earlier this month, he called Navarro a “moron” over comments he had made about Tesla. Navarro had said Musk was “not a car manufacturer” but a “car assembler, in many cases”.

On Tuesday, Musk said he thought Tesla was the car company least affected by tariffs because of its localised supply chains in North America, Europe and China, but he added that tariffs were “still tough on a company where margins are low”.

“I’ll continue to advocate for lower tariffs rather than higher tariffs but that’s all I can do,” he said on Tuesday.

Tesla said artificial intelligence would contribute to future growth, though investors have been unconvinced by such arguments in the past.

Shares in the company had shed about 37% of their value this year as of market close on Tuesday. They rose by more than 5% in after-hours trading following the results.

Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell, called expectations “rock-bottom” after the company said earlier this month that the number of cars sold in the quarter had fallen 13% to the lowest level in three years.

The firm faces fierce competition, Mr Coatsworth said, warning that potential disruption to global supply chains as a result of Trump’s trade war also created risks.

“Tesla’s problems are mounting,” he said.

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Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican has confirmed, with hundreds of thousands expected to attend.

The head of the Catholic Church died of a stroke on Monday, aged 88, less than 24 hours after leading an Easter address. He had been in poor health after recently battling double pneumonia.

A host of world leaders and royals – including Sir Keir Starmer, Donald Trump, the Prince of Wales, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, home to the biggest Catholic population in the world – have confirmed their attendance.

Thousands of mourners have already flocked to Vatican City, carrying flowers, crosses and candles and reciting prayers.

On Tuesday, the Vatican released further details of the Pope’s final 24 hours.

Francis, who had recently spent five weeks in hospital, was slightly apprehensive about appearing on the balcony on Sunday.

“Do you think I can do this?” the Pope asked his personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti.

Strappetti reassured him and moments later the pontiff appeared on the balcony, blessing the crowd gathered in St Peter’s Square below.

The following morning at around 05:30 local time (03:30 GMT), Francis began to feel unwell. An hour later, he waved at Strappetti before slipping into a coma.

“Those who were near him in those moments say he didn’t suffer,” the Vatican said in a statement. “It was a discreet death.”

What happens before the funeral?

On Wednesday morning, Pope Francis’s body will be taken in a procession led by cardinals from the Chapel of Santa Marta to St Peter’s Basilica, where he will remain in an open coffin until Friday to allow mourners to pay their respects.

Just before the procession, a moment of prayer will be led by the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican in the wake of the Pope’s death.

The Vatican has released photos of the Pope’s body lying in the chapel at Casa Santa Marta – his residence during his 12-year papacy – dressed in a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary in his hand.

The general public will be able to visit St Peter’s Basilica from 11:00 to midnight on Wednesday, 07:00 to midnight on Thursday and 07:00 to 19:00 on Friday.

Bucking tradition, there will be no private viewing for cardinals, at Pope Francis’s request. The Pope’s coffin will also not be raised on a pedestal.

What time will the service take place?

The funeral will start at 10:00 in the square in front of St Peter’s Basilica.

Patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests from across the globe will take part. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, will lead the service.

Cardinal Battista Re will deliver the final commendation and valediction – a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God – and the pontiff’s body will be moved to St Mary Major for the burial.

A nine-day mourning period, known as Novemdiales, then begins.

Who is attending the funeral?

Huge crowds are anticipated on Saturday, with as many as 250,000 people expected to attend the funeral.

Many heads of state and royals have confirmed their attendance, including Prince William, US President Donald Trump, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Other political figures who have announced they will attend include:

Where will Pope Francis be buried?

Pope Francis, who famously eschewed some of the pomp of the papacy during his life, will continue to break with tradition in death.

Historically, popes are buried in triple coffins in marble tombs inside St Peter’s Basilica at the heart of the Vatican. Pope Francis requested that he instead be buried at Rome’s Basilica of St Mary Major.

He will become the first pope in more than 100 years to be laid to rest outside the Vatican.

In his final testament, Pope Francis also asked to be buried “in the earth, simple, without particular decoration” and with the inscription only of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

His body was moved into the Santa Marta chapel on Monday evening, and his apartment formally sealed, the Vatican said.

When is the new Pope elected?

Following the funeral, a conclave of cardinals will convene to elect a successor.

The dean of the College of Cardinals has 15 to 20 days to summon the cardinals to Rome once the Pope is buried.

Several names have already been floated as potential successors, with more likely to emerge in the coming days.

You can get in touch by following this link

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Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty surged in early trade on Wednesday driven by a sharp rally in global markets and foreign fund inflows.

Forty-year-old TCS techie Bitan Adhikary, who worked and lived in Florida, came down to his Kolkata home on April 8 with his wife Sohini and their three-year-old son. They travelled to Kashmir last week and were to return on Thursday.

Canada, a country with a population of 41 million, has 28.9 million eligible voters, Elections Canada said in November.

The encounter broke out hours after twenty-six people were killed and several others injured as terrorists opened fire on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plane did not cross Pakistan airspace as he flew back from Saudi Arabia late Tuesday, to deal with the aftermath of the terror attack in J&K’s Pahalgam, in which 26 people, including tourists and civilians, were killed.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend talks in London aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Tuesday, after earlier saying he planned to travel to London.

NEW DELHI: As many as 26 people, mainly tourists, were killed on Tuesday in a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley area of Pahalgam, located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, reported news agency PTI. The 26 dead included two foreigners and two locals, a high ranking official said without getting into details.
One Indian Navy officer, lieutenant Vinay Narwal (aged 26 years), who was posted in Kochi, was among killed in the Pahalgam attack while he was on leave. He was a native of Haryana and got married on 16 April, said defence officials.
The gunshots were reportedly heard in the Valley, a popular tourist destination often referred to as “mini-Switzerland,” prompting the immediate deployment of security forces to the area.
The site is accessible only on foot or horseback, making the rescue and response efforts more challenging.
The officials said that authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured, adding some of the wounded were brought down from the meadows by local people on their ponies.
Officials have confirmed injuries among tourists, though the extent is yet to be fully determined.
A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital told PTI that 12 injured tourists were admitted there and the condition of all of them was stable.
Hours after the attack, PM Modi, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, spoke Union home minister Amit Shah and asked him to take all suitable measures. The PM also asked the home minister to visit the site.
Condemning the attack on tourists, PM Modi said those behind the “heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! “
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” PM Modi wrote on X.
Amit Shah said that “those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared”.
“Anguished by the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. Those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared, and we will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences,” Shah wrote.
President Droupadi Murmu said attacking “innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable”.
“The terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir is shocking and painful. It is a dastardly and inhuman act which must be condemned unequivocally. Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their dear ones and my prayers for the quick recovery of the injured,” the President wrote on X.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said he was “deeply anguished by the news of terrorist attack in Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir)”.
“This dastardly attack on innocent civilians is an act of cowardice and highly reprehensible. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families,” Singh said.
Reacting to the attacks, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said he was “shocked beyond belief” and expressed sympathies to the families of the deceased.
“I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased. I’ve spoken to my colleague Sakina Itoo & she has moved to the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured. I’ll be flying back to Srinagar immediately,” he wrote on X.
Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha also condemned the attack and said search operations were under way.
” I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam. I assure the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished. Spoke to the DGP & Security officials. Army and J&K Police teams have rushed to the area and launched search operations,” he said.
Sinha said he has directed the district administration and the health officials to provide immediate medical attention to those admitted at Pahalgam.
BJP leader Ravinder Raina claimed that Pakistani terrorists were behind the brutal killings of the tourists.
He said that the entire area has been cordoned off and that terrorists and those helping them would be punished.
“Pakistani terrorists have carried out a cowardly terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, South Kashmir. Cowardly Pakistani terrorists cannot face the brave soldiers of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and our paramilitary forces. These cowardly terrorists have targeted unarmed innocent tourists who had come to visit Kashmir,” Raina said.
He further added: “Some tourists have been admitted to the local hospital in an injured condition. The entire area has been cordoned off by the Army and police. The terrorists who are guilty of this attack and those who are helping them will be punished.”
Former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the attack on tourists, saying a “thorough investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice and examine potential security lapses”.
“I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which tragically killed one and injured several. Such violence is unacceptable and must be denounced. Historically, Kashmir has welcomed tourists warmly, making this rare incident deeply concerning,” she wrote on X.
Mufti futher said: “A thorough investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice and examine potential security lapses. Ensuring visitor safety is paramount, and steps must be taken to prevent future attacks. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families.”
Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi said the whole country “is united against terrorism” and lashed out at the central government for “making hollow claims of the situation being normal in Jammu and Kashmir”.
“The news of the death of tourists and injuries to many in the cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely condemnable and heartbreaking. I express my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured. The whole country is united against terrorism,” Rahul said.
He further wrote: “Instead of making hollow claims of the situation being normal in Jammu and Kashmir, the government should now take accountability and take concrete steps so that such barbaric incidents do not happen in the future and innocent Indians do not lose their lives like this.”
24/7 Emergency Help Desk for Tourists – Police Control Room Anantnag: 9596777669; 01932225870. Whatsapp: 9419051940

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In a heartfelt show of solidarity and condemnation, residents of Srinagar gathered on Tuesday for a candlelight march, mourning the loss of innocent lives in the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
The protest, held at the city’s Mecca Market area, drew people from various walks of life who came together to denounce the violence and express their grief.
Fayaz Ahmad Bhatt, General Secretary of Mecca Market, voiced the collective sentiment of the gathering, stating, “We condemn this attack against humanity.”
Locals in Poonch also gathered for candle light protest against the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam. People were seen chanting slogan, “Mazloomon ka qatl-e-aam band karo…”
Meanwhile, over 20 people, primarily tourists, were killed on Tuesday in a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley area of Pahalgam, located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, police told news agency AFP.
Gunshots were reportedly heard in the Valley — a popular tourist destination often referred to as “mini-Switzerland” — prompting the immediate deployment of security forces to the area. The site is accessible only by foot or horseback, which made rescue and response efforts more challenging.
ALSO READ | Pahalgam Terror Attack LIVE updates
Officials said a helicopter was pressed into service to evacuate the injured, while some of the wounded were brought down from the meadows by local residents using their ponies.
Authorities have confirmed injuries among the tourists, though the full extent is still being assessed. A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital told PTI that 12 injured tourists were admitted and that all were in stable condition.
Hours after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia, spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and directed him to take all suitable measures. The Prime Minister also asked the Home Minister to visit the site.
Condemning the attack on tourists, PM Modi stated that those behind the “heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared!”
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” PM Modi wrote on X.

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NEW DELHI: The Resistance Front (TRF), proxy outfit of Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed’s Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the ghastly attack on tourists in J&K’s Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives.
“More than 85,000 domiciles have been issued to non-locals, creating a pathway for demographic change in Indian-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). These non-locals arrive posing as tourists, obtain domiciles, and then being to act as if they own the land. Consequently, violence will be directed toward those attempting to settle illegally,” the TRF said.
The TRF, which was banned by the government last year, has been involved in recruiting youth through the online medium for the furtherance of terrorist activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into J&K.
The group came into existence in 2019 as a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was involved in numerous terror acts, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
Sheikh Sajjad Gul is a commander of The Resistance Front and has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967.
TRF has been responsible for numerous attacks targeting civilians, security forces, and political figures in Jammu and Kashmir. Its operations are believed to be supported by Pakistani state mechanisms, including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), aiming to sustain unrest in the region.
In January 2023, the Indian government designated TRF as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and Sheikh Sajjad Gul was officially labelled a terrorist. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has since placed a bounty on Gul, reflecting the group’s significant threat to regional stability.
Union home minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar on Tuesday evening to assess the security situation in Kashmir following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam that left 26 people dead.
After landing, Shah headed straight to Raj Bhavan from the airport and is set to chair a high-level meeting with top security officials. He is also expected to visit Pahalgam on Wednesday.
The attack, which took place in the picturesque Baisaran Valley—often referred to as “mini Switzerland”—is the deadliest targeting civilians in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike. Terrorists opened fire on tourists gathered in the popular meadow near Pahalgam, killing 26, including two foreigners and two local residents, according to a senior official.
Located around six kilometers from Pahalgam town, Baisaran is a scenic meadow surrounded by dense pine forests and mountains. Witnesses said gunmen entered the area and began shooting at tourists who were enjoying pony rides, eating at local stalls, or picnicking on the grass.

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SRINAGAR: At least 28 tourists were killed and many wounded on Tuesday when terrorists opened fire in a picturesque meadow near the resort town of Pahalgam in J&K, marking the deadliest attack since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
The Resistance Front, a proxy of ISI-backed LeT, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The attack coincided with US Vice-President J D Vance’s four-day visit to India and PM Narendra Modi’s arrival in Saudi Arabia for strengthening bilateral engagement with the influential Islamic country. Equally significantly, it followed a bellicose speech of Asim Munir, chief of the Pakistan army, the mainstay of terrorists.

This was the deadliest attack on tourists since militancy began in Kashmir in the 1990s. It brought back memories of the March 2000 massacre in Chittisinghpora in Anantnag district, where 36 members of the Sikh community were killed days before US President Bill Clinton’s visit to India.
The synchroneity fitted in well with Pakistan’s attempt to secure international intervention in J&K by casting it as the trigger for a potential nuclear conflagration between the hostile neighbours.

The targeting of tourists drawn from different parts, showed the diabolical intent and, perhaps, an attempt to cause communal unrest across the country. Jihadis have lately refrained from attacking tourists who bring valuable money to the Union territory.
Survivors said the terrorists, believed to be foreigners numbering around six and dressed in Army fatigues, identified their victims by faith asking them to tell their names and recite Islamic verses before spraying bullets on them from close range.
Also read: J&K terror attack – Live Updates
Gunmen struck around 1.30pm in Baisaran meadow – about 7km from Pahalgam and reachable either by foot and or byhorses – as scores of tourists were enjoying a regular afternoon, surrounded by snow-capped peaks and pine forests. Pahalgam’s meadow is a top sightseeing spot that draws hundreds of visitors daily. Heavy security presence, including checkpoints and armed patrols, provided a sense of security.
Victims included honeymooners such as Navy officer Vinay Narwal. Posted at Southern Naval Command in Kochi, the officer was married on April 16. Two foreign nationals – one from Nepal and the other from UAE – were also killed.
Security forces quickly evacuated the wounded to nearby hospitals and launched a search operation to track down the attackers. The area was cordoned off.

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NEW DELHI: The Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Wednesday, eliminating two terrorists in an ongoing operation near Uri, a day after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 28 tourists dead.
According to the Chinar Corps, 2–3 unidentified terrorists tried to infiltrate through the general area of Sarjeevan at Uri Nala on April 23. Alert troops challenged the infiltrators, leading to a heavy exchange of fire. Later on, the Corps confirmed the elimination of two terrorists.
“Heavy exchange of fire between security forces and terrorists, two terrorists have been eliminated… large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other war-like stores have been recovered. Operation is in progress,” it posted.
This infiltration attempt came a day after the deadly terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which killed at least 28 tourists and left many others wounded. The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front, which is an offshoot of the ISI-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba, marked the deadliest assault since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
It also came during US Vice President J D Vance’s India visit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Saudi Arabia. PM Modi returned to Delhi early Wednesday, cutting short his trip following the attack. He immediately held a high-level briefing at Palam Airport with external affairs minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Vikram Misri and other top officials.
The Prime Minister skipped an official dinner hosted in Riyadh and returned nearly a full day early. PM Modi had earlier condemned the Pahalgam attack, assuring the nation that those responsible would be held accountable. “They will not be spared,” he said, reaffirming India’s unwavering resolve against terrorism.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also returned early from her official visit to the US and Peru following the attack.
Meanwhile, a joint operation by the Army and J&K Police is underway in Pahalgam’s Baisran area to track down the perpetrators. Candlelight marches were held in multiple towns and villages across J&K as residents expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.

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Stock market today: BSE Sensex and Nifty50, the Indian equity benchmark indices, opened in green on Wednesday. While BSE Sensex went above 80,200, Nifty50 was above 24,350. At 9:21 AM, BSE Sensex was trading at 80,140.02, up 544 points or 0.68%.Nifty50 was at 24,326.10, up 159 points or 0.66%.
Indian equity markets finished positively on Tuesday despite global market uncertainty, supported by sustained buying activity and accommodative RBI measures. Market experts anticipate continued upward momentum based on potential India-US trade agreements, ongoing FII investments and supportive central bank policies.
Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “Terror attacks while succeeding in taking precious human lives cannot succeed in even marginally impacting our economy and markets. Pakistan’s political instability and basket case economy cannot do any damage to Indian economy and markets. Markets may send this message today and the fundamental factors are favourable. President Trump’s message that he has no intention of firing the Fed chief has calmed the US markets.Trump’s remarks on Chinese tariffs indicate that he might reduce the US-China tensions. The sustained buying by FIIs is a strong support to Indian markets. Technically the market might move into an overbought territory soon inviting some profit booking. Investors should remain invested in high quality largecaps.”
US equities recovered on Tuesday, driven by quarterly corporate results and positive signals regarding US-China trade relations.
Gold prices fell on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump retreated from his threats to dismiss the Federal Reserve chair, whilst U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated potential easing of trade tensions, reducing the precious metal’s safe-haven demand.
The U.S. dollar strengthened considerably against key currencies on Wednesday, as market participants expressed relief following Trump’s withdrawal from his earlier threats to remove Powell.
Oil prices increased nearly 1% during early Wednesday trading, continuing the previous day’s upward movement.
Foreign portfolio investors became net purchasers at Rs 1,290 crore on Tuesday. DIIs offloaded shares valued at Rs 885 crore.
FIIs’ net short position decreased from Rs 77,270 crore on Monday to Rs 78,335 crore on Tuesday.

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China has set the launch for its Shenzhou-20 mission that will carry three astronauts to the Chinese space station for Thursday (April 24, 2025) at 5.17 p.m. local time (IST 2:47 p.m.), state media said on Wednesday (April 23, 2025).

The main purpose of the mission is to complete the in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou-19 crew which is scheduled to return to the Dongfeng landing site on April 29, officials said at a press conference broadcast on CCTV.

The Shenzhou-20 spaceflight will carry astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie, CCTV said.

They will conduct space science and application experiments, install a space debris protection device as well as extravehicular payload and equipment, and perform recovery tasks.

The mission will also bring with it zebrafish, planarians and streptomyces as research objects to carry out three life science experiments at the space station.

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