Are social media handles of Pakistani entertainment and news channels and those of the country’s celebrities now accessible in India? Reports claim that some of them were accessible in India for a brief period. However, they were blocked again on Thursday.

Government sources blamed a “system glitch” that “unblocked” the social media handles “for a bit”. These handles have been blocked again.

The Centre had banned streaming of 16 Pakistani media YouTube channels “for spreading communally sensitive content and misinformation against India” in the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 that had killed 26 people.

These included Dawn news, GeoTV, Samaa TV, ARY News, Razi Naama, GNN and Irshad Bhatti. See full list here

Donald Trump has claimed several times of using trade as a means of resolving the India-Pakistan conflict, which was triggered after the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and escalated with India’s retaliation through ‘Operation Sindoor’ on May 7.

On US President Donald Trump’s remarks on the ceasefire between India and Pakistan*, EAM Dr S Jaishankar said on Thursday while speaking to the press in Washington DC, “The record of what happened at that time was very clear and the ceasefire was something which was negotiated between the DGMOs of the two countries…”

“I will leave it at that,” Jaishankar added.

During the fireside chat with Newsweek earlier this week as well, Jaishankar stated that he was “in the room” when US Vice Prsident Vance spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the night of May 9.

Jaishankar said Vance had told PM Modi that Pakistan would launch a massive assault on India if they did not accept certain things. According to him, PM Modi during the call indicated that there would be a response from India.

“In terms of what has been our position, yes, we have for many years it’s not a position just of this government in Delhi, I mean it’s been a national consensus that our dealings with Pakistan are bilateral and in this particular case, I can tell you that when I was in the room when Vice President Vance spoke to Prime Minister Modi on the night of 9th May saying that you know the Pakistanis would launch a very massive assault on India if we did not accept certain things and the prime minister was impervious to what the Pakistanis were threatening to do on the contrary he (PM Modi) indicated that there would be a response from us this was the night before. Something the Pakistanis did was attack us massively that night, we responded very quickly thereafter, and the next morning, Mr Rubio called me up and said the Pakistanis were ready to talk. So, I can only tell you from my personal experience what happened,” Jaishankar said in the interview.

Despite India’s denials, Trump has repeatedly claimed to have brokered peace between India and Pakistan after India launched Operation Sindoor.

On May 10, foreign secretary Vikram Misri had announced that Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) had called the Indian counterpart, and it was agreed between them that both sides would cease all firing and military action on land, in the air, and at sea.

Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces on May 7, targeting nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in response to a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, in which 26 civilians were killed terrorists found to have links with Pakistan.

Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, digital technology, capacity building, infrastructure, and people-to-people ties. They welcomed growing bilateral trade and Indian investments in Ghana, and also spoke of defence and security cooperation.

They committed to deepen development partnership through India-supported infrastructure and capacity-building projects, offering expertise in health, pharma, UPI, and skill development. The two leaders also discussed UN reforms and agreed on stronger global counter-terrorism cooperation.

Following the talks, four MoUs in culture, standards, Ayurveda and traditional medicine, and a joint commission mechanism were exchanged.

NEW DELHI: PM Modi arrived in Accra for a state visit to Ghana and, in a special gesture, he was received at the airport by Ghana President John Dramani Mahama. The govt said in a statement that the first such visit in the past three decades to Ghana would further deepen the partnership between India and Ghana, and underscore India’s commitment to strengthening its engagement with Africa and Global South partners.PM Modi is in Ghana for the first leg of his five-nation tour.PM Modi trip to Brasilia first visit by an Indian PM in 6 decades PM Modi is in Ghana for the first leg of his five-nation tour that will see him visiting also Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Namibia and Brazil where he will attend the Brics summit.On his arrival, the PM was greeted with a grand ceremonial welcome that included a Guard of Honour and a resounding 21-gun salute. “Gladdened by the incredible warmth shown by the Indian community here in Accra, Ghana. The spirit of togetherness and the deep cultural linkages are truly wonderful,” he said on X. In his departure statement, Modi said that as a founding member, India is committed to Brics as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. “Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order. On the sidelines of the summit, I will also meet several world leaders,” said the PM.PM Modi will also travel to Brasilia for a bilateral state visit, the first by an Indian PM in nearly six decades. The Prime Minister said this visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen close partnership with Brazil, and work with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for advancing the priorities of the Global South.In Argentina, Modi said he will focus on advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the areas of agriculture, critical minerals, energy, trade, tourism, technology, and investment. This is the first visit by an Indian PM to Argentina in 57 years.With Namibia, he said, India will look to chart a new roadmap for cooperation for the benefit of the wider Global South. “It will be a privilege to also address the Joint Session of Namibian Parliament as we celebrate our enduring solidarity and shared commitment for freedom and development,” he said.“I am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds of friendship across the Global South,” added PM Modi.

NEW DELHI: Amid shared concerns about China’s control of critical minerals, Quad announced a key critical minerals initiative to diversify and secure supply chains, looking to reduce reliance on China that could lead to economic coercion, price manipulation and disruptions. In a joint statement, the Quad foreign ministers also deplored China’s actions in East and South China Seas.US secretary of state Marco Rubio hosted his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia – S Jaishankar, Takeshi Iwaya and Penny Wong respectively – for the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting ahead of the summit that will be held in India later this year.The foreign ministers said in the joint statement that they were deeply concerned about the abrupt constriction and future reliability of key supply chains, specifically for critical minerals, including the use of non-market policies and practices for critical minerals, certain derivative products, and mineral processing technology.“We underscore the importance of diversified and reliable global supply chains. Reliance on any one country for processing and refining critical minerals and derivative goods production exposes our industries to economic coercion, price manipulation, and supply chain disruptions, which further harms our economic and national security,” said the joint statement, without naming China. Quad also announced a “new, ambitious, and strong agenda” focused on four key areas: maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technology, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. “Through this renewed focus, we will sharpen the Quad’s ability to leverage our resources to address the region’s most pressing challenges,” it said.The minister also expressed concern about the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea, reiterating their strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion.“We express our serious concerns regarding dangerous and provocative actions, including interference with offshore resource development, the repeated obstruction of the freedoms of navigation and overflight, and the dangerous manoeuvres by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, especially the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea,” said the joint statement.The joint statement said that Quad plans to host the first Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network field training exercise this year to strengthen shared airlift capacity and leverage collective logistics strengths to respond to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently, providing support for regional partners.

India on Wednesday (July 2) expressed deep concern over the abduction of three of its citizens working at a cement factory in Mali, as the West African country reels from a wave of coordinated jihadist attacks that left one civilian dead and several injured.

According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, armed assailants stormed the Diamond Cement Factory in Kayes on July 1 and took three Indian nationals hostage. “The Government of India unequivocally condemns this deplorable act of violence,” the ministry said in a statement, urging Malian authorities to secure the safe and expeditious release of the workers.

The Indian Embassy in Bamako said it is in constant contact with Malian officials, local law enforcement, and the factory management. Families of the abducted workers have also been informed, officials added.

The kidnapping occurred on the same day that jihadist fighters staged near-simultaneous assaults on military installations across seven towns in western and central Mali, including Kayes, Nioro du Sahel, and Niono. The Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM group claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Residents described a tense calm on Wednesday, with businesses slowly reopening but fear lingering. “Yesterday we were really afraid… This morning, people are going about their business, but everyone is talking about nothing but this attack,” a shop owner in Nioro du Sahel told AFP.

A civilian wounded during the attacks later died in hospital, according to health officials in Kayes. More than 10 other people, mostly civilians, remain hospitalized with serious injuries.

Mali’s army said more than 80 militants were “neutralised” during the fighting, although independent confirmation of casualties was not possible. Authorities have imposed a month-long overnight curfew in Kayes and tightened transport restrictions in a bid to restore order.

India’s foreign ministry said the safety of Indian nationals abroad remains a top priority and urged citizens in Mali to exercise extreme caution and stay in close touch with the embassy for updates.

Mali has faced a spiraling Islamist insurgency since 2012, with violence increasingly spilling across borders into Burkina Faso and Niger. Despite pledges by the military junta to improve security, extremist groups have intensified attacks on army and civilian targets this year.

The Government of India said it remains engaged “at various levels” to secure the early and safe return of the abducted workers.

Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 20:13 IST

The AH-64E Apache helicopters, sourced from the United States under a $600 million agreement signed in 2020, were originally slated for delivery by May-June 2024.

The long wait for the arrival of Apache attack helicopters may finally be over as the Indian Army intensifies efforts to strengthen combat capabilities along the western front after Operation Sindoor.

Notably, the development comes after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had a phone conversation with US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, during which the two leaders had an “excellent discussion” reviewing ongoing efforts to strengthen the India-US defence partnership.

The delivery of these advanced helicopters—delayed by more than 15 months—is now expected to commence soon, with deployment aimed at reinforcing western border defences.

In March 2024, the Army Aviation Corps established its first Apache squadron in Jodhpur. However, nearly a year and a half later, the unit remains without the helicopters, which were initially scheduled to arrive much earlier.

The AH-64E Apache helicopters, sourced from the United States under a $600 million agreement signed in 2020, were originally slated for delivery by May-June 2024.

The timeline was later pushed to December 2024 due to disruptions in the supply chain.

Sources familiar with the updated schedule told India Today that the Indian Army’s Aviation Corps may receive the first batch of these helicopters later this month.

According to the initial plan, six Apaches were to be delivered in two batches of three. The first group was expected between May and June 2024, but as of now, none have reached Indian soil, leaving the newly raised squadron awaiting its core assets.

Defence Ministry officials attribute the delay to technical issues on the part of the United States. While the first three helicopters are expected within weeks, the remaining three are anticipated to arrive by the end of the year.

These helicopters are integral to operations on the western front, offering superior manoeuvrability, precision weaponry, and advanced targeting technology. The Army considers them a key addition to its operational strength.

The Indian Air Force has already received 22 Apache helicopters under a separate contract inked in 2015. In contrast, the Army is still awaiting its consignment to enhance its strike capabilities.

The Army Aviation Corps provides crucial support to ground forces, and the Apache helicopters are seen as key to strengthening operations—particularly along the western border, where troop presence has grown recently under Operation Sindoor.

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Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 19:18 IST

Aaron Finch has criticised India’s decision to bench Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England, questioning the choice.

Former Australian cricketer Aaron Finch has slammed India’s decision to bench ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England at Edgbaston, saying that if he was fit, then the Indian team should have picked ‘the best bowler in the world’, or at least Kuldeep Yadav.

Given that India were 0-1 down in the five-match series, the second Test became an important point in the tie. With just a three-day break for the third Test at the Lord’s, Bumrah‘s participation became doubtful because of workload management.

India decided to go with Washington Sundar as an option to extend their batting over a specialist spinner in Kuldeep.

“If Bumrah was fit to play, then surely you need to pick the best bowler in the world? At the very least, Kuldeep has the be in the XI if you’re worried about taking 20 wickets,” Finch tweeted on Thursday afternoon.

Before the toss, the boundary ropes being brought in caught the eye of many at Edgbaston. With premier match winner Bumrah rested from the game, India brought in Akash Deep in his place while making two interesting changes, leaving out Sai Sudharsan for Sundar and replacing Shardul Thakur with Nitish Kumar Reddy.

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The study showed that India’s digital engagement is soaring, with over 30% of respondents logging into 10 or more personal online accounts monthly. 
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto