A NYT report claims that JD Vance is not active on social media on the advice of Susie Wills.

vice president JD Vance He has not been seen fighting his critics on X recently. The real reason, as reported by The New York Times, is that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wills advised him not to get involved in petty social media feuds because they are beneath his dignity. But now White House spokesperson Steve Cheung said that this never happened and it is completely fake news. Cheung said, “This is not true. We denied this to The New York Times and they refused to run our quote. This is completely fake news. This alleged “conversation” never happened.”The NYT reported that Vance often scrolled through his phone during meetings. President Trump also posts a lot on Truth Social but he doesn’t respond to people online but Vance used to do that. “Mr. Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wills, recently advised Mr. Vance to take a break from social media, as did other West Wing officials, according to people familiar with those conversations, as the fight raged beneath her office,” the report said.JD Vance recently said he had taken a break from X for Lent (penitential preparation for Easter, which involves fasting, abstinence and almsgiving in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fast in the wilderness), which began on February 18 and ended on April 2. But he said he still hasn’t reinstalled X on his mobile.“It’s one of those things where not having the distractions, I think, has made me a lot more productive,” Vance said recently. “You’re not scrolling all the time when you’ve got five minutes. I can actually read something as opposed to, you know, scrolling or getting distracted by X.”However, Vance said he was hoping to reinstate X because social media provides raw opinions. “I live in such a crazy bubble,” he explained. “I travel with the Secret Service all the time. If you think about how many unplanned conversations I have in a given week, it’s close to zero, because I live in such a bubble.”He said, “I think one of the cool things about social media is that it really exposes you to unfiltered raw opinion, and that’s one of the things I need to hear as a political leader.” “So I’ll definitely be revisiting it, but I’ve enjoyed my little break from it.”

Pune: Farmers may soon be able to book fertilizers through their mobile phones, as the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has developed a new app aimed at making fertilizer distribution more transparent and reducing black marketing.The mobile app – Fertilizer Sales Application System – is currently being tested MaharashtraBihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Telangana.In Maharashtra, the pilot project has been going on since last week in Ashtapur village in Haveli taluka of Pune district.Currently, farmers purchase fertilizers through local retailers and distributors. Many complain about long waiting times during the monsoon season, lack of stock and black marketing of subsidized fertilizers.Officials believe the new digital system can help address these problems.Under the new system, farmers will be able to check fertilizer shops within a radius of 20 kilometers through the app and see which fertilizer is in stock.Farmers can book required fertilizers online without visiting the shop. Once the booking is confirmed, the fertilizer stock will be reserved in the name of the farmer. The farmer can get it from the selected shop within three days by making payment online or directly at the shop.Officials associated with the project said that Aadhaar verification will be mandatory for registration on the app. After booking, farmers will receive a QR code on their mobile phones. This code will be scanned at the fertilizer shop before delivery of the stock.“During the trials conducted over the past few days, 124 farmers of the village purchased 206 bags of fertilizers using the app. The trial was successful and it will soon be implemented in other areas of the state,” agriculture director (quality control and inputs) Sunil Borkar told TOI.Meanwhile, a section of farmers said that implementing the online process could be difficult and complicated for many users. He said that people familiar with the technology will be able to use it easily, but small and marginal farmers will not be able to get its full benefit. He said officials need to understand the ground reality well before introducing such systems.“It is important to have a strong system. The authorities concerned need to keep a close eye on retailers who hoard to sell fertilizers at high prices when there is shortage in the market. Regular stock checking is necessary to prevent hoarding,” said Shantaram Sarvade, a farmer activist from Khed tehsil.Agriculture department officials said the app will help bring transparency in fertilizer sales and reduce illegal hoarding and diversion of subsidized stocks.“Farmers will know where fertilizer is available and how much stock is left. This could reduce unnecessary rush and panic buying,” said an official.Officials said this system can be implemented on an experimental basis in two districts from May 29, although the names of the districts have not been decided yet.Another official said, “The app is also expected to help officials monitor fertilizer sales digitally. Officials will be able to track stock movement and identify irregularities more easily as all bookings and transactions will be recorded online. It is also linked to the existing integrated fertilizer management system.”Farmers and local agricultural workers in the pilot area have welcomed the initiative. Many believe that this can reduce the harassment faced by farmers during the peak farming season.Santosh Kotwal, a farmer who participated in the trial, told TOI, “I can book fertilizer at the nearest retailer’s shop. It is easy for booking if you know how to use a smartphone. However, in many villages, network connectivity is a major concern. In that scenario, the authorities should ensure support for small and marginal farmers.Santosh Dhamane, another farmer who participated in the trial, said, “In many villages, farmers stand in queues for hours only to find out whether the stock is gone. If the app shows availability in real time, it will save both time and money.”

A Pakistani journalist got stuck on a key factual detail when asking US War Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday for Washington’s view on India’s alleged “Agni-6 ICBM test”, a missile test which India has not officially conducted.The question came amid discussions on nuclear deterrence and long-range missile programs in South Asia.Referring to recent US concerns over Pakistan’s potential intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) ambitions, the journalist asked Hegseth: “Recently Pakistan’s potential ICBM program was identified as a threat to the US. I wanted your comment on India’s Agni-6 ICBM test with a range of ~12,000 km which could potentially put the US and parts of Europe within reach.”However, India has not announced or confirmed any testing of the Agni-6 missile.

Hegseth avoids taking the bait

In his response, Hegseth refused to consider either India or Pakistan a threat to the United States.“India and Pakistan are two nuclear-capable countries. I think both sides will see understandable threats coming from each other, maybe some of them we will see differently, and countries will want to develop ICBM threats,” he said.“But we, at least from our perspective right now, are not pointing the finger at any country and calling them a threat to us, and we are grateful for the benefits they have given to peace around the world, in each of their lanes.”His remarks echo comments he made earlier at the summit, where he said the two countries would continue to view each other through the prism of security concerns.

Confusion over India’s recent missile test

The question appears to stem from speculation surrounding India’s missile launch earlier this month.Ahead of the test, there was widespread discussion that Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Chairman Sameer V Kamat said that India is preparing to conduct the flight test of Agni-6 as the organization is technically ready and is awaiting government approval.India had also issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM), leading to speculation.

For several hours after the launch, defense observers speculated that India had finally test-fired the Agni-6, a missile often described as a future intercontinental-range system with a potential strike range of more than 10,000 kilometers.However, the Defense Ministry later clarified that the test involved the advanced Agni missile equipped with Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) technology instead of Agni-6.

what did india actually test

The ministry confirmed that the missile was successfully test-fired from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island off the Odisha coast and carried multiple payloads aimed at various targets spread over a large area of ​​the Indian Ocean region.

The launch marks the second publicly known test of the MIRV-capable Agni-5 variant, also known as “Mission Divyastra”. MIRV technology enables a single ballistic missile to carry multiple warheads capable of striking different targets, significantly increasing its effectiveness.India’s officially declared Agni-5 has a range of over 5,000 kilometres, covering large parts of Asia, including China. The government has not officially disclosed the existence, specifications or testing timeline of the Agni-6 missile.

Pakistan’s focus is on Indian missile capabilities

The questioning also comes in the backdrop of Pakistan rejecting a US intelligence assessment that cited Islamabad’s missile program as among the potential long-term threats to the United States.Responding to the allegations, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry argued that its missile program was aimed solely at deterrence against India and claimed that “India’s development of missile capabilities of more than 12,000 kilometers reflects a trajectory that extends beyond regional security considerations”.The ministry’s comments came after then US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard identified Pakistan as one of the countries posing the greatest nuclear threat to the United States, along with Iran, China, Russia and North Korea.He said these countries are actively developing new missile delivery systems capable of carrying nuclear and conventional weapons, which could potentially target the US.While speculation about the Indian ICBM program has continued for years, New Delhi has not announced any testing of the missile, which has a declared range of about 12,000 kilometres.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (file photo)

The United States warned on Saturday that it is prepared to resume military operations against Iran if necessary, as President donald trump Reiterated that any deal with Tehran must meet key US conditions, including a permanent end to Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions.A draft outline is awaiting Trump’s approval, according to US officials cited by AFP. However, the President stopped short of making a decision after a meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday.Speaking at a defense summit in Singapore, the US Secretary of Defense pete hegseth Emphasizing Washington’s military readiness, he said the US is “very much capable” of resuming the war if needed and “our reserves are well suited for that.”US Central Command (CENTCOM) reinforced that message, saying on Twitter that US forces “remain present and alert throughout the region.”The comments came amid conflicting signals on a possible breakthrough in the talks. While the White House has indicated that Trump is considering a possible deal, Iranian officials say the talks have not yet led to a final agreement.Although a ceasefire signed in April remains largely intact, tensions remain high. Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that the country’s air defense systems intercepted a drone on Saturday and described it as “belonging to the American-Zionist aggressive enemy.”Diplomatic efforts are also continuing. Discussions have also focused on the conflict in Lebanon, which Iran has insisted on as a condition of any comprehensive agreement with Washington. Israeli troops are advancing into southern Lebanon, while military delegations from Israel and Lebanon met at the Pentagon on Friday.Trump has outlined several conditions for the deal, including guarantees that Iran will never acquire nuclear weapons and reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. “President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines,” a White House official told AFP. “Iran can never possess nuclear weapons,” he said.However, Iran has rejected what it sees as US efforts to dictate terms. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said the Islamic Republic had “said goodbye to the ‘essential’ language 47 years ago.”Acknowledging that messages were continuing to be exchanged between the two sides, Bakai said that “no final agreement has been reached.”Tasnim news agency also reported that the US maritime blockade remained in effect and that ships attempting to pass through the strait were “receiving warnings from CENTCOM to stop and not cross the blockade line.”Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told Nikkei Asia that the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz is creating significant pressure on both Washington and Tehran. “The international impact – including energy security, food security and rising prices – is huge,” Fidan said.“It has become a situation that takes priority over the nuclear files,” he said.Meanwhile, fighting continues on the Lebanese front despite a separate ceasefire arrangement. The Israeli army issued new evacuation orders for villages in southern Lebanon on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had advanced more than 30 kilometers into Lebanese territory.The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into effect on April 17, but is being weakened by repeated violations, with both sides blaming each other.The latest tensions began in early March when Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel following the US-Israeli assassination of Iran’s supreme leader. Israel responded with widespread attacks across Lebanon and subsequently launched a ground offensive. Israel and Lebanon have since resumed direct talks, with a fourth round of talks expected to take place next week.

Defending champion Coco Gauff crashed out of the French Open on Saturday as Anastasia Potapova battled back from a set down to win 4-6, 7-6(1), 6-4 in the third round at Roland Garros.

Fifty-one weeks after lifting Suzanne Lenglen on the Court Philippe-Chatrier, Gauff walked off the same court with her title defence. Potapova, who had enjoyed a resurgence during the clay-court season, produced a composed performance in the decisive moments to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.

Gauff appeared on course for a spot in the second week after recovering from an early loss in the opening set. After trailing 2-4, the American rallied from four consecutive games to win the set and take control of the contest.

The momentum changed dramatically in the second set. Potapova raced to a 5–1 lead and had two chances to serve out the set, only for Gauff to pull off another comeback by winning five consecutive games. With Potapova serving at 5–6, Gauff moved to within two points of victory, but the Austrian dominated the tiebreak 7–1 as the defending champion was finding errors in her game.

Gauff regained her composure early in the deciding set and took a 3–1 lead, while Potapova appeared to be physically weakening. Yet the 24-year-old once again held deep and clawed her way back into the match, while Gauff struggled to convert her lead into a winning position.

The decisive blow came from Gauff’s serve at 4-5 in the final set. A double fault and an ill-judged drop shot gave Potapova a chance for match point, and moments later Gauff sent a forehand into the stands, ending her bid for a second consecutive French Open title.

The defeat ended a mixed clay-court campaign for Gauff, who battled illness and an early exit in Madrid before finishing runner-up in Rome. Meanwhile, Potapova continued her stellar performance and booked her place in the fourth round.

Perry surprises Anisimova

While Gauff’s exit left the Paris crowd stunned, home favorite Diane Perry ensured there was still plenty to cheer about at Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The 23-year-old became the last Frenchwoman left in the women’s singles draw after beating sixth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

Perry, ranked 92nd in the world, overcame a slow start in the opening set by winning five consecutive games to overcome the 1-3 deficit. Anisimova, a two-time Grand Slam finalist and former Roland Garros semi-finalist in 2025, responded by winning the second set to take the decider.

The final set proved to be tense. Perry led 4–3 but Anisimova quickly fought back and produced a dramatic finish. With the home crowd roaring, the Frenchwoman raised her level in the tiebreak, quickly regaining control and sealing victory on her first match point after two hours and 44 minutes.

As chants echoed around Philippe-Chatrier and supporters waved flags in celebration, Parry soaked in the moment. For the first time in her career, she reached the second week of a Grand Slam, giving the host nation a player to rally around after another eventful day at Roland Garros.

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