logo
BSF Sub-Inspector Md Imteyaz killed in cross-border firing by Pakistan in Jammu's RS Pura area

BSF Sub-Inspector Md Imteyaz killed in cross-border firing by Pakistan in Jammu's RS Pura area

Mint10-05-2025
Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday, May 10, announced the death of Sub Inspector Md Imteyaz, who was caught in the cross-border firing along the International Boundary in R S Pura area of Jammu & Kashmir, according to a social media post on X.
'We salute the supreme sacrifice made by BSF #Braveheart Sub Inspector Md Imteyaz in service of the nation on 10 May 2025 during cross-border firing along the International Boundary in R S Pura area, District Jammu,' said BSF Jammu in a social media post on platform X.
According to the official announcement, Md Imteyaz, while leading a border outpost, gallantly led from the front. The Director General (DG) BSF extended their deepest condolences to the Sub Inspector's family.
'Wreath laying ceremony with full honours shall take place tomorrow at Frontier HQ Jammu, Paloura,' said BSF Jammu in its post on X.
India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Saturday, May 10 announced that the nation has entered into an agreement with Pakistan on Saturday, May 10, to stop firing action on each other through land and air from 5 p.m. (IST).
'The DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) of Pakistan called DGMO of India at 15.35 hours earlier this afternoon. It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea with effect from 1700 hours IST,' said Vikram Misri.
India did not call this agreement a 'ceasefire', so it can be considered more like a de-escalation effort from both nations.
Hours after the deal, reports poured in about blasts which were heard in Jammu city, and projectiles were spotted in the Indian airspace.
According to local resident reports, Gunshots and multiple blasts were also heard in Srinagar, while other places, Udhampur, Ferozepur, and Jaisalmer, were subject to citywide blackouts.
India-Pakistan ceasefire deal for de-escalation came two days after the neighbouring countries engaged in a series of attacks post India's Operation Sindoor, which targeted nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, on May 7.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jagdeep Dhankhar's last day as Vice-President: Praise for Kharge, call for political bonhomie
Jagdeep Dhankhar's last day as Vice-President: Praise for Kharge, call for political bonhomie

Indian Express

time29 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Jagdeep Dhankhar's last day as Vice-President: Praise for Kharge, call for political bonhomie

July 21, the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which also turned out to be his last day as Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, began as usual for Jagdeep Dhankhar. The sitting of the Upper House began at 11 am, with Dhankhar requesting members to maintain order as new MPs were sworn in by the Secretary General. Once the oath-taking was over, Dhankhar wished members Laxmikant Bajpayee, Rajeev Shukla and Sangeeta Yadav, who had celebrated their birthdays the previous day. The Vice President then wished Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, whose birthday was on Monday, heaping praise on him. 'As national president of the Indian National Congress and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, you embody trust and respect transcending political lines,' Dhankhar said. He added that he had benefited from Kharge's guidance on several occasions. Dhankhar then went on to read out obituary references for former members of the House, including ex-Gujarat chief Vijay Rupani, as is the practice on the first day of a Session. He referred to the terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir 'deeply wounding our collective conscience', and hailed India's response in the form of Operation Sindoor 'to neutralise terrorist hideouts across the border'. He praised the 'resolute bravery of our armed forces' and the 'steadfast solidarity of our people'. Dhankhar then referred to 'the tragic crash of Air India flight 171 on 12th June, claiming 240 lives'. 'While investigations continue, we mourn this profound loss. On behalf of the House, I offer heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families…,' he said. Rupani was among those who died in the crash. Dhankhar also made a plea for reducing acrimony in the House. 'A thriving democracy cannot sustain constant acrimony. Political tension must be reduced, as confrontation is not the essence of politics. While political parties may pursue the same goals through different approaches, no one in India opposes the nation's interests,' he said. He called upon all political parties to 'foster bonhomie and mutual respect, avoiding unbecoming language or personal attacks against leaders…'. Dhankhar then informed the House that he had received notice of motion under Rule 167, from Samik Bhattacharya of the BJP, to discuss Operation Sindoor, adding that the date and time for the discussion would be decided in consultation with the Leader of the House and others. He said that 18 notices had been received for discussion under Rule 267 on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, and that Opposition leaders had also sent notices for discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. He said that, among other things, he had also received notice from CPI(M) MP A A Rahim for a discussion on the ongoing negotiations for a trade agreement with the US and its impact on the agricultural sector. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, took charge of the proceedings in the House after this. Around 1 pm, Dhankhar held a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) to decide the time and nature of discussions to be held in the Rajya Sabha. The meeting was inconclusive, with the Opposition seeking more time to decide on the government's suggestions. Dhankhar then said that another BAC meeting would be held later in the day, at 4.30 pm. By 3 pm, the Opposition submitted its notice for removal of Justice Yashwant Varma, from whose house allegedly a stack of currency was discovered, to Dhankhar. At 4.05 pm, Dhankhar informed the Rajya Sabha that he had received the notice, and said since it had been signed by more than 50 members, it met the numerical requirement for initiation of proceedings against the High Court judge. He further told the House that, as per rules, if a notice of motion for removal of a judge is given in any of the two Houses – the numerical requirement in the Lok Sabha being 100 – the presiding officer may accept or reject it. But, if such a notice is given in both Houses on the same day, and it met the numerical requirement in each House, 'the right of the Speaker or Chairman to admit or reject the motion is not there', Dhankhar said. 'Then, the motions become property of the House.' He then sought to know whether a similar notice for the removal of the judge had been given in the Lok Sabha. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said it had been done. (Speaker Om Birla is yet to inform the Lok Sabha regarding it.) Dhankhar replied that in such a case, the Secretary General would take the required next steps. Dhankhar then told the House that he had also received a notice signed by 55 members for the removal of a judge of the Allahabad High Court – a reference to Justice Shekhar Yadav, whom the Opposition wants removed over objectionable remarks made at a VHP event. He said that, in this notice, it seemed that one member had signed in two places, requiring him to 'get to the bottom of the issue and find out whether the representation was meriting consideration…'. He said that the process was on and he would update the House about it later. Underlining that this was necessary because the House had set high standards for itself, Dhankhar then mentioned the December 2024 discovery of wads of notes on a seat in the House – allegedly belonging to MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Dhankhar left the House close to 4.30 pm, following which Sasmit Patra of the BJP replaced him in the Chair. It was after this that he held the BAC meeting where representatives of the government did not turn up. Leader of the House J P Nadda told reporters on Tuesday that they had informed Dhankhar in advance that they would not be able to attend due to a prior engagement. At about 9.25 pm, the resignation of Dhankhar was announced by the X handle of the Vice President of India.

Need for accelerating research, innovation in agriculture: UP CM Adityanath
Need for accelerating research, innovation in agriculture: UP CM Adityanath

Indian Express

time29 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Need for accelerating research, innovation in agriculture: UP CM Adityanath

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday highlighted agriculture as Uttar Pradesh's largest employment sector, supporting nearly three crore farmers. Adityanath was speaking at an event to mark the 36th Foundation Day of UPCAR (UP Council of Agricultural Research). He stressed that agriculture should drive prosperity, not migration, and called for greater adoption of innovation and research to transform the sector. He noted that the MSME sector follows agriculture in employment, engaging 1.65 crore people. He addressed a national seminar titled 'Developed Agriculture – Developed Uttar Pradesh @ 2047'. He also felicitated distinguished agricultural scientists, young innovators and Farmer Producer Organisations for their contributions to the sector. The CM reaffirmed the state's commitment to contribute to the nation's goal of becoming a $5-trillion economy by aiming to build a $1-trillion economy in Uttar Pradesh by 2029. He said, 'We have vast, fertile land and abundant water resources. UP might be the only region in the world where over 86 per cent of agricultural land is irrigated.' The state also has a strong network of agricultural institutions, including four state-run agricultural universities, with a fifth under development, as well as centrally run universities and over 15 premier agricultural research institutes, Adityanath pointed out. In addition, 89 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are actively working to disseminate knowledge and technologies to farmers. Despite these resources, the CM acknowledged a concerning gap: 'Only 25–30 per cent of farmers in the state are currently able to adopt and implement scientific research in their farming practices'. He called for bridging this gap to ensure that the benefits of research and innovation truly reach the grassroots. The CM highlighted that while Uttar Pradesh is home to 16 per cent of the country's population, it holds only 11 per cent of India's cultivable land. Remarkably, this land produces over 20 per cent of the nation's food grains. He added, 'The state holds immense potential in agriculture, horticulture, and vegetable production. To unlock this, there is a pressing need to accelerate research tailored to local climatic zones and natural ecosystems.' The CM noted that the state has formulated a Vision 2047 action plan, and stressed the need for clear short- and medium-term milestones — by 2027, 2029, and 2035 — to ensure visible progress. The CM also called on agricultural universities, research bodies, and Krishi Vigyan Kendras to play an active role in achieving these goals. The CM recalled the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Israel, where the training and dedication of Indian scientists complemented Israeli technical expertise. He questioned the limited expansion of such models and called for renewed efforts. 'If Israel can achieve this, why can't our agricultural universities replicate and expand it?' he asked. He lamented that farmers are still being forced to migrate due to a lack of progress in agriculture and stressed the urgency of reversing this trend. Addressing climate change challenges, he noted that while heavy rains were expected during this season, 15-16 districts of UP have received below-average rainfall, while some neighbouring states are experiencing excessive rainfall. 'How prepared are we to deal with such fluctuations?' he asked. Adityanath also pointed out that a delay of just one month in sowing, coupled with the use of old seed varieties, could result in a 30 per cent reduction in yield. He asked whether farmers had access to late-sowing seed varieties and whether they were properly trained and guided. 'If Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities, and research centers don't offer timely and credible demonstrations, farmers won't be convinced,' he said. 'If they are still relying on outdated methods, it is because we have failed to connect them with modern techniques and information.'

India-UK FTA nears completion with minimal tariff line exclusions, says MEA
India-UK FTA nears completion with minimal tariff line exclusions, says MEA

Business Standard

time29 minutes ago

  • Business Standard

India-UK FTA nears completion with minimal tariff line exclusions, says MEA

On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the United Kingdom (UK), Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Tuesday that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is currently undergoing 'last-minute work,' such as 'legal scrubbing.' He added that the final details on whether the agreement will be signed on Thursday will be made public at an appropriate time. He also suggested that the FTA is a comprehensive one, with few, if any, exclusions of tariff lines. The Prime Minister will leave for a four-day foreign tour to the UK and Maldives on Wednesday afternoon. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will accompany the PM, with anticipation that the two sides will sign the FTA on Thursday. In response to a question about any tariff lines being excluded from the India-UK FTA, Misri said that his understanding is that it is a significant agreement, and the inclusions of tariff lines are likely to be equally significant. 'So, by implication, I think the exclusions may not be that many,' he said. Asked whether issues relating to energy security, in light of the fresh Western sanctions targeting the Russian energy sector, would be discussed during the Modi-Starmer talks, Misri emphasized that India places the 'highest priority' on ensuring energy security for its people and stressed the importance of having a 'clear-eyed' perception of the broader global energy market. Last week, the European Union unveiled new punitive measures targeting the Russian energy sector, which included restrictions on the Vadinar refinery in Gujarat, where Russian oil major Rosneft owns a 49.13 per cent stake. 'We have been very clear that energy security is the highest priority of the Government of India to provide energy security for the people of India,' Misri said. 'We will do what we need to do regarding that (energy security). On energy-related issues, as we have said previously, it is important not to have double standards and to have a clear-eyed perception of what the global situation is with respect to the broader energy market,' he added. Misri also pointed out the need for clarity on where energy providers are located, who needs energy at what time, and where energy is coming from. 'We do understand that Europe faces a serious security issue, but the rest of the world is also dealing with issues that are existential,' he said, urging balance and perspective when discussing these matters. On the topic of extradition, Misri said New Delhi continues to make the case for the return of fugitives such as Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, and Vijay Mallya. 'Obviously, there is a legal process that such requests go through in the other country, and we continue to follow up closely with our partners in the UK on these matters,' Misri said. During his visit to London, apart from meeting UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, PM Modi will also meet King Charles and engage with business leaders from both India and the UK. Misri noted that the India-UK partnership was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021 and continues to be a close one. The University of Southampton recently opened a campus in Gurugram, becoming the first foreign university to do so under India's New Education Policy. Several other UK universities are also considering opening campuses in India, Misri said. Bilateral trade between India and the UK crossed $55 billion in 2023-24. The UK is the sixth-largest investor in India, with cumulative investments of $36 billion. India is also a significant source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the UK, with cumulative investments close to $20 billion. There are nearly 1,000 Indian companies in the UK, providing employment to nearly 100,000 people, with a combined revenue exceeding $91 billion. Misri described the 1.8 million-strong Indian diaspora in the UK as the 'living bridge' connecting the two countries. In the Maldives, PM Modi is set to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several infrastructure projects. This will be the first state visit by a head of government hosted by President Mohamed Muizzu since he assumed office in November 2023.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store