India News Live: 'Any engagement with Pakistan to be strictly bilateral', says MEA

The Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has arrested a man from Varanasi on allegations of spying for Pakistan. The accused, identified as Tufail, has been accused of sending sensitive and confidential information regarding India to Pakistan, according to a report by CNN-News18. Read more

The CIA said its security personnel took a person into custody early Thursday after an engagement outside the intelligence agency's headquarters.

A CIA spokesperson confirmed security staff "engaged a person" outside the main gates, adding the individual was in custody.

The spokesperson declined to say whether gunfire struck the suspect or to disclose any other details. Read more

Gujarat has recorded 15 new Covid cases after a long gap, with officials urging people not to panic as the present variant is less severe.

All the patients are being treated at home, they said.

Dr Nilam Patel, additional director (public health), said Gujarat currently has 15 active cases of JN.1 variant of Covid-19. The variant comes from the Omicron family, first discovered in August 2023, he said. Read more

Lok Sabha’s Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, is likely to visit Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday (May 24), Congress party sources told ANI on Thursday. The region was recently hit by heavy winds and storms, causing major damage to schools and other buildings.

The visit comes as the people of Poonch struggle with the aftermath of the storm that hit the area on May 21. Several structures, including government schools, were damaged. The district has also been affected by recent cross-border shelling from Pakistan.

On multi-party delegation for global outreach, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "There are seven delegations. Three delegations have departed...This is a political mission. We want to make a stronger outreach to the world to convey our resolve to fight terrorism. We want the world to come together to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We want to exhort the world to hold those responsible for cross-border terrorism accountable. Those have been practising it for the last 40 years against India, that is, Pakistan. Their actions need to be called out. They have to be held accountable for the terror attacks that they have carried out against India..."

On trilateral talks between foreign ministers of China, Pakistan and Afghanistan in China, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We have seen some reports. I have nothing further to say beyond that."

On External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's phone call with his Afghan counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "As far as the External Affairs Minister's conversation with acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan is concerned, we had put out a release on 'X'. The External Affairs Minister thanked the acting Foreign Minister for his very strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack. Also, they agreed to advance bilateral cooperation in several areas."

Exchange of fire started between security forces and terrorists in the Singhpora area of Chatroo in Kishtwar today morning. Contact was established with terrorists at Chhatru, Kishtwar. Additional troops have been inducted, and operations are ongoing to neutralise the terrorists.

In Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, BJP MP Anurag Thakur said, "I would like to tell Pakistan, you want to fight India by hiding behind your terrorists. Whenever there has been a direct war between India and Pakistan, be it 1965 war or 1971 war or Kargil war, India has defeated Pakistan. They have shown in Operation Sindoor that if Pakistan casts an evil eye on India, their eyes would be gouged out. Right now, we have just destroyed terrorist camps, damaged their airstrips and attacked their airbases...I am warning Pakistan, if they attempt to execute a terrorist attack on India next time, they would find no one to shoulder their bodies in funerals or shed a tear in those funerals."

Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, who is leading an all-party delegation of MPs for Operation Sindoor global outreach in Abu Dhabi, UAE, said, "They said that innocent people were killed in the attack in Pahalgam. We did not explain a lot to them - that how the attacks took place. There have been attacks on India for years now - Mumbai terror attacks, Pathankot attack, Pulwama attack. They knew about this. They have given a straight message that they can never stand with such terrorist organisations or a country which shelters terrorists; that they are against terrorism and it is important for all countries to come together and fight terrorism."

Addressing a public rally in Deshnoke, Bikaner, PM Modi said, "... More than 100 Amrit Bharat stations are ready. People on social media are also seeing what the condition of these railway stations was earlier, and now their image has changed..."

Pakistan used to spread fear in India through terror. But Pakistan forgot that now Modi is standing guard to save Maa Bharti, says PM Modi.

This is a new Bharat which eliminates terrorism completely. We struck at the heart of terror infra. This is the new normal, says PM Modi.

When sindoor becomes an explosive, the result is for everyone to see: PM Modi to applause in Bikaner rally.

With valour of our forces, we forced our enemy to bow down, says PM Modi on Operation Sindoor.

"Today, India is also modernising its train network. These Vande Bharat trains, Amrit Bharat trains, Namo Bharat trains; they all showcase the new speed and new progress of the country" says PM Modi.

"Today, I have came here after taking blessings from Karni Mata. Today, development projects worth Rs 26,000 crore have been inaugurated. And I congratulate people on this occasion," says PM Modi after inaugurating 103 redeveloped Amrit Stations.

YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra's custody has been extended by 4 days. She has been arrested after it was found that she has links to Pakistan and leaked sensitive information.

PM Modi, on Thursday, inaugurated the Deshnok Railway Station in Bikaner.

PM Modi offered prayers at Karni Mata Temple on Thursday, Rajasthan CM accompanied him to the temple.

PM Modi has reached Nal Airport in Bikaner and will launch nation multiple development projects.

Five people have lost their lives in an accident where a government bus and a private tempo van collided head-on, on the Thanjavur–Tiruchirapalli National Highway near the Sengkippatti bridge: Thanjavur District Collector Priyanka Balasubramanian

Exchange of fire started between Security Forces and terrorists in the Singhpora area of Chatroo in Kishtwar: Jammu & Kashmir Police

The weather will remain cloudy with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers. Temperatures may inch slightly higher to a max of 28°C. One should expect similar conditions with occasional showers under a partly cloudy sky. Daytime temperatures will hover around 28°C.

According to IMD, Bengaluru will witness a partly cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thundershowers.

After rainfall lashed several parts of Bengaluru, the Vrishabhavathi stream was choked as garbage piled up due to rain. Truckloads of garbage was removed from the stream and its tributary canals.