QUICKREADS

PM Modi congratulates Tharman on being elected as Singapore president
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Tharman Shanmugaratnam on his election as president of Singapore. Shanmugaratnam, who is of Indian origin, won the election with a vote share of 70.4%. Modi expressed his desire to work closely with Shanmugaratnam to strengthen the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership.

President clears prosecution of Lalu Prasad in land-for-jobs case
President Murmu approved prosecution of Lalu Prasad in land-for-jobs money laundering case. ED filed charges based on CBI's FIR alleging railway recruitment corruption during 2004-09, involving land transfers as bribes.

Indian markets, rupee set to open lower amid ongoing military conflict with Pakistan: Report
India's benchmark indexes are set to open lower on Friday, with the rupee expected to weaken amid rising tensions with Pakistan following drone and missile attacks on military installations in Jammu. Gift Nifty futures indicate a 1.2% drop, reflecting concerns over escalating conflict between the two nations.

Western disturbances bring cool start to May
Western disturbances are bringing an unusually cool, rainy start to May in northwest India, with temperatures 1°C below normal and rainfall significantly exceeding typical levels. Thunderstorms and precipitation are expected to continue until mid-May.

CJI starts process to remove HC judge Varma, writes to Prez, PM
CJI Sanjiv Khanna initiated removal proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma after an in-house committee confirmed cash recovery at his residence. He wrote to the President and PM, seeking potential removal under constitutional provisions.

‘Irresponsible’: SC slams Dubey over remarks on judiciary, CJI
Supreme Court criticizes BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for "irresponsible" remarks targeting CJI, deeming them contemptuous but not initiating proceedings. The court emphasized judicial resilience and condemned potential hate speech while dismissing the PIL.

Karnataka HC rejects plea of woman seeking time for her 3 Pakistani children to stay
Karnataka HC rejected a woman's plea to extend her three Pakistani children's stay in India, upholding the government's directive for Pakistani nationals to exit by April 30 due to security concerns following a terror attack.

No Pakistani films, shows, or music on Indian OTTs: Govt
Indian government orders OTT platforms to immediately remove Pakistani content across web series, films, songs, and podcasts, citing national security concerns. The advisory is non-binding but strongly suggests platforms discontinue all media originating from Pakistan.

India only responding to original escalation by Pak: Foreign secy
India responded to Pakistan's original escalation in Pahalgam, targeting terrorist infrastructure in retaliation. Foreign Secretary Misri emphasized India's measured response, warning of further action if Pakistan escalates. Most countries support India's stance, condemning the terror attack.

100 terrorists killed; govt says ops ongoing
India conducted Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist bases in Pakistan, killing around 100 terrorists. The government emphasized no escalation intent, and opposition parties unanimously supported the military action during an all-party meeting.

Trepidation at Ground Zero of Pak shelling
Pakistani artillery fire along the Line of Control killed 16 civilians, including children, in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district. Over 200 mortar shells were fired, forcing 90% of residents to flee to safer locations amid intense cross-border shelling.

Pak escalates, India strikes back
India repelled multiple Pakistani strikes across western border states, intercepting missiles and drones. Tensions escalated after India's precision strikes on terror camps in response to the Pahalgam attack. Both nuclear-armed nations engaged in unprecedented military confrontation.

PM stresses alertness, synergy during meeting with secretaries
Prime Minister Modi held a high-level meeting with ministry secretaries, emphasizing coordination, operational readiness, and national security following military action. He stressed alertness, communication protocols, and preparedness to handle potential emerging situations.

Russian, Israeli arms used to defend, launch counter-attack
Indian military used Russian S-400 and Israeli Harop systems to neutralize Pakistani missile and drone attacks across multiple cities. Counterattacks targeted Pakistani air defense systems, successfully defending military bases with advanced integrated defensive technologies.

BSF foils major infiltration bid along IB in JK's Samba amid hostilities with Pakistan
The BSF thwarted a significant infiltration attempt by suspected terrorists along the International Border in Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir, late on May 8, 2025. The incident coincided with India's response to Pakistan's military actions targeting various locations. Officials are conducting a thorough search to assess the situation further.

Ban on visitors, tighter checks for passengers at airports
Amid heightened tensions, BCAS mandates stricter airport security protocols. Visitors banned, check-in closes 75 minutes early. Additional passenger checks at boarding gates. 24 northern airports closed, causing flight cancellations. Airlines urge passengers to arrive three hours before departure.