Indo-Pak Tension Rises as Islamabad Tests Long-Range Missile Amid PM Modi's Call for Decisive Action
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply. Pakistan has test-fired a long-range ballistic missile amid growing international concern and rising cross-border hostility. The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong message after the Pahalgam terror attack and his government's decisive step to ban all imports from Pakistan. As Islamabad flexes its military muscle with the Abdali missile test, India tightens its economic grip. With diplomatic ties strained and security forces on high alert, is the region headed for a deeper standoff? Watch the full breakdown of the developments shaking South Asia.Hashtags#toibharat #india #pakistan #missiletest #abdalimissile #pakistanarmy #narendramodi #pahalgamattack #indopakwar #indopaktrade
Read More
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
32 minutes ago
- News18
Rs 700 Ticket, 3-Hour Trip, Stop At Banihal: Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat Starts June 7
Last Updated: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate two new Vande Bharat trains on Friday, with commercial operations commencing on Saturday A Rs 700 ticket and a three-hour journey—that's all it will take to reach Srinagar from Katra starting June 7 on two new Vande Bharat trains. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the trains on Friday, with commercial operations commencing on Saturday. Both trains will operate return journeys during the day, taking approximately three hours to cover the distance between Srinagar and Katra. These trains are being inaugurated as special trains. Train 26401 will take 2 hours and 58 minutes, with chair car fares at Rs 715 and executive class at Rs 1,320. This train will depart from Katra at 8.10 am and arrive in Srinagar at 11.08 am, with a two-minute stop at Banihal at 9.56 am. On its return journey, the train will be numbered 26402. It will cost Rs 880 for a chair car and Rs 1,515 for the executive class. The train will depart from Srinagar at 2 pm and arrive in Katra at 4.58 pm, with a two-minute stop at Banihal at 3.08 pm. Trains 26401/26402 will operate six days a week, except Tuesdays. Train 26403 will depart from Katra at 2.55 pm and arrive in Srinagar at 5.53 pm, covering the distance in 2 hours and 58 minutes. The fare for this train will be Rs 660 for a chair car seat and Rs 1,270 for executive class. The difference in ticket price from the first Vande Bharat train is due to a difference in catering charges. From Srinagar, train 26404 will depart at 8 am and arrive in Katra at 10.58 am, with a two-minute stop at Banihal at 9 am. Tickets will cost Rs 715 for a chair car and Rs 1,320 for executive class. Trains 26403/04 will operate six days a week, except Wednesdays. The trains will pass through scenic landscapes all-weather train connectivity to Kashmir is a reality. Specially Designed Vande Bharat Trains These two trains are upgraded to withstand the unusually harsh weather in Kashmir. Vande Bharat trains on this route are specially designed with anti-freezing technology, using silicon heating pads to prevent freezing of water and bio-toilets in extreme cold. Heated plumbing pipelines are installed with self-regulating heating cables to prevent water from freezing, ensuring smooth operations even in sub-zero temperatures. The train coaches include a heating system for sub-zero conditions in Srinagar, 360-degree rotating seats, and charging points for passenger comfort. Overcoming the challenges of snow, freezing temperatures, and extreme conditions, these trains ensure uninterrupted services, the Railways has promised. Connecting Jammu Soon While these trains are initially connecting only Katra and Srinagar, in the future, the train operations will be extended to Jammu to offer direct connectivity between Jammu and Kashmir. 'Currently, the railway station in Jammu is under redevelopment. As soon as the work is completed, we will consider extending the service till Jammu," a ministry official told News18. PM Modi was originally scheduled to inaugurate these trains in April, but weather delays and the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam postponed the launch. Now, the long-awaited Vande Bharat journey to Kashmir is set to begin.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
Delhi govt bans direct and cart-based purchases on GeM portal for hosps
New Delhi: Delhi govt has imposed a strict ban on direct purchases and cart-based procurement through the Government e-Market (GeM) portal for hospitals. The administration clarified that no healthcare facility or institution has the authority to make cart purchases or initiate bidding independently. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The order emphasised that any non-compliance with these guidelines will face serious consequences, potentially leading to disciplinary or legal proceedings as determined by the relevant authority. The GeM portal, which commenced operations on Aug 9, 2016, functions as an online marketplace for central govt ministries and departments to acquire goods and services. Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal noted that the platform assisted in eliminating corruption while creating opportunities for start-ups, MSMEs, women, and businesses in small towns. In April this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the GeM portal for enhancing livelihoods and supporting grassroots employment and economic development across India. The system currently enables transactions for govt departments, ministries, public sector units, state govts, and central armed police forces. According to the directive issued recently, the central procurement agency (CPA) shall exclusively manage all demands and bidding processes through e-procurement. For emergency purchases, "in exceptional or emergency situations where immediate procurement via GeM cart is unavoidable, the concerned institution must submit the demand to the CPA. The CPA will assess the urgency and coordinate procurement on behalf of the hospital." The order stated that "it has come to the attention of the Minister of Health and Family Welfare that certain hospitals and institutions were procuring medical devices, consumables, equipment, and machinery through direct purchases or by using the cart feature on the GeM portal. This practice has led to inflated prices, significant price discrepancies, and raises serious concerns of audit non-compliance."
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Why, and how, India plans to help cash-strapped Air Mauritius
Mauritius holds strategic importance for India due to its geographic position along key maritime routes in the Western Indian Ocean Region. Moreover, geopolitical interest in Mauritius has grown amid intensifying competition with China read more The Indian government has encouraged domestic airlines to consider investing in Air Mauritius, the financially troubled national carrier of Mauritius, which is grappling with negative equity of approximately $237 million (Rs 2,035 crore), according to officials familiar with the matter. The request from India's Ministry of External Affairs follows an appeal by Mauritius for strategic investments and additional flights by Indian carriers to its capital, Port Louis. Air Mauritius recently reduced flights to India substantially, cutting its twice-weekly Delhi service down to a single weekly flight and raising fares significantly in a bid to curb losses, Economic Times reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Airport Holdings Limited (AHL), a company owned by the Mauritian government, holds a 99 per cent stake in Air Mauritius. As part of efforts to stabilize the airline financially, AHL recently converted around Rs 1,500 crore of debt into equity. Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam acknowledged earlier this year that Air Mauritius was technically insolvent, casting doubt on its viability. Indian airline executives expressed reservations about investing in Air Mauritius, citing limited passenger demand from the region and their ongoing internal expansion initiatives. Neither India's Ministry of Civil Aviation nor Air Mauritius responded to requests for comment on the potential investment. Strategic importance Mauritius holds strategic importance for India due to its geographic position along key maritime routes in the Western Indian Ocean Region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was chief guest at Mauritius' National Day celebrations this year, emphasised the importance of Indian investment for Mauritius' economic development. India also recently built an airstrip and jetty on Mauritius' Agaléga island. Previously, Air India held around an 8 per cent stake in Air Mauritius until Air India's privatisation in 2022. Geopolitical interest in Mauritius has grown amid intensifying competition with China. Beijing maintains a military base in Djibouti and has increased engagement across the region, including Mauritius. Samir Bhattacharya, an associate fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, highlighted India's intention to maintain its influence against China in the region, emphasizing diplomatic and commercial connections. Although Mauritius is well positioned to attract transit passengers between Africa and Asia, rising competition from airlines like Emirates and Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo has complicated Air Mauritius' efforts to establish itself as a profitable transit hub.
