News Headlines for CAT, CLAT and IPM aspirants

Source: THE HINDU

Pahalgam terror attack: Houses of six militants razed in Kashmir; hundreds detained

At least six more houses of alleged active militants were turned into rubble through controlled blasts, while more than 100 residences of alleged militant supporters were searched, and hundreds of local people were detained in Kashmir on Saturday, against the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 civilians dead. Meanwhile, there was no let-up in skirmishes on the Line of Control (LoC) for the second day. Local people said security forces raided three villages in south Kashmir’s Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama and directed residents to empty the localities surrounding the houses of three alleged active militants.

I&B Ministry advises media to refrain from live coverage of defence operations

The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) on Saturday (April 26, 2025) issued an advisory asking all media channels to refrain from live coverage of defence operations, and the movement of security forces.

As pressure mounts, TRF denies involvement in Pahalgam attack

As the global condemnation mounts, the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) front The Resistance Front (TRF) on Saturday (April 26, 2025) denied its involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead, and termed the previous online claim as a breach. “We unequivocally deny any involvement in the Pahalgam incident. Any attribution of this act to TRF is false, hasty, and part of an orchestrated campaign to malign the Kashmiri resistance,” a TRF spokesman said, in a purported claim made on social media platforms.

Terrorist hideout busted, huge cache of arms seized in J&K’s Kupwara: Police

A huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized as security forces busted a terrorist hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Saturday (April 26, 2025), police said. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a search operation was launched by the security forces in the forested area of Sedori Nala, Mushtaqabad Machil (the Samsha Behak forest region), in the north Kashmir district, a police official said.

Massive explosion at Iran’s port linked to missile fuel shipment kills 14

The explosion of unknown origin at Iran’s most advanced container port has now killed 14 people and injured 750 others, Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni said in an update Sunday.

“Fourteen dead and 750 injured so far in the explosion at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar Abbas,” Mr. Momeni said. The death toll had previously stood at eight.

Iran, U.S. hold expert talks in Oman over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program

Iran and the United States held in-depth negotiations in Oman over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program on Saturday, talks that likely will hinge on the Islamic Republic’s enrichment of uranium. The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on half a century of enmity.

MHA deadline to end today: police depts. told to ensure exit of Pakistani nationals

Police departments in various States, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, were asked to ensure that Pakistani nationals leave the country by Sunday, as per the Union Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) April 24 directive. The order issued by the MHA following the Pahalgam terror strike stated that all visas, except medical, long-term and diplomatic visas, issued to Pakistani citizens will be revoked from April 27. Those with medical visas have been given until April 29 to leave. On Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked all Chief Ministers to ensure that Pakistani citizens don’t stay beyond the deadline.

Remote block along LoC in J&K connected by all-weather roads for the first time

Khwas, a remote block situated in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), has not experienced any terrorism-related incidents in the past year, according to a presentation made by Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma on April 21. The change comes after four panchayats in the block were connected by road for the first time under the Union government’s Aspirational Block Programme.

Pakistan’s Defence Minister seeks stronger ties with Bangladesh

Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said he looked forward to “deepening” engagement in various sectors with Bangladesh and said both Islamabad and Dhaka are keenly working for furthering economic, political, and cultural cooperation. Mr. Asif was speaking at a reception to celebrate the 54th National and Independence Day of Bangladesh as the chief guest on Friday, Geo News said on Saturday (April 26, 2025).

49 killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza over 24 hours as mediators scramble to restart ceasefire

At least 49 people were killed by Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, according to health officials, as Arab mediators scrambled to restart a ceasefire .An airstrike in a neighbourhood in western Gaza City early Saturday (April 26, 2025) morning flattened a three-story house, killing 10 people, according to a cameraman cooperating with The Associated Press.

India skirts maritime border dispute with Pakistan by fresh continental-shelf claim

India has increased its claim in the Central Arabian Sea, as part of its ‘extended continental shelf’ by nearly 10,000 square km but also modified an earlier claim to avoid a long-standing dispute with Pakistan over the maritime boundary between the two countries, suggest documents submitted earlier this month with the United Nations.

India resumes ​Kailash Manasarovar Yatra after five years

Five years after the pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarovar was suspended, India is all set to launch the yatra again from June this year. The Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday (April 26, 2025) invited applications from pilgrims.

Mighty, meek bid farewell; Francis is remembered as a ‘pope among the people’ in his funeral Mass

World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell to Pope Francis in a funeral Saturday (April 26, 2025) reflecting his priorities as Pope and wishes as pastor. Though Presidents and Princes attended the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prisoners and migrants will welcome him into the basilica across town where he will be laid to rest.

DGCA issues advisory to airlines on passenger services due to longer flights

Aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Saturday (April 26, 2025) issued an advisory to airlines on providing proper communication and in-flight catering services to passengers as international flights are having longer flying time due to the Pakistan airspace closure. The advisory focuses on five main areas — pre-flight passenger communication, in-flight catering and comfort, medical preparedness and alternate aerodromes, customer service and support readiness, and intra-departmental coordination.