PM Modi: ‘Tell Putin to stop’: Zelensky calls on ‘big players’ Donald Trump, PM Modi and Xi Jinping to put pressure on Russia
In a post on X sharing excerpts from his interview with CNN, Zelensky said mediation alone may not be enough to stop the conflict. “I think President Trump, President Xi, Prime Minister Modi and other big players in the world have to tell Putin that he has to stop this war. They can’t say to Ukraine, ‘You have to stop the war’. We are defensive. We are not the aggressor,” he said.He also questioned the effectiveness of neutral arbitration, saying, “If you’re mediating, it doesn’t have to feel guilty… If we really want to stop that, I’m not sure powerful countries can be arbitrators.”
‘Global pressure is needed, not compromise’
Zelensky stressed that ending the war requires unified international pressure, rather than compromise-based negotiations. He said, “Together we have to stop Putin. What does it mean to be a great leader? It means stopping war through diplomacy.” He further argued that the presence of foreign troops on the front lines could act as a deterrent against future Russian aggression, warning that without such measures, “no words will stop Putin.”
Ukraine expands defense ties in Middle East
In a separate post, Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s growing defense partnerships, announcing agreements with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE on drone cooperation.“We signed three major security documents… these will translate into many different contracts,” he said. He said Ukraine was offering expertise, training missions and cost-effective drone systems.While cheap interceptors can counter expensive attack drones, he said, “They will destroy it not with a $3-4 million missile, but using a $10,000 interceptor.”Zelensky’s comments come amid concerns that rising tensions in the Middle East could affect Ukraine’s access to critical defense systems. He warned that a prolonged conflict involving Iran could jeopardize the US military aid package, particularly anti-missile systems.Despite this, he expressed gratitude for US support and said that Ukraine is ready to share its defense innovations with the US as well.
Tamil Nadu Elections: Star-studded voting day, Vijay appeals to Election Commission, Robot welcomes voters – Major developments. india news
The Tamil Nadu Assembly elections saw strong participation in voting across 234 constituencies, with long queues seen at many polling stations and steady turnout in urban and rural areas.The day saw high-profile voting, with top political leaders, celebrities and first-time voters turning out to vote in large numbers in Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore and other districts.TVK chief Vijay had also written a letter to the Election Commission demanding extension of voting time, citing delays and slow pace due to long queues at many booths.In a notable attraction, a robot dressed in traditional Tamil attire was deployed at a Chennai polling booth to welcome voters, adding a tech-driven charm to the voting process.Over 5.7 crore voters are deciding the fate of over 4,000 candidates in the triangular contest between the DMK-led alliance, the AIADMK-led NDA and actor Vijay’s TVK, which is set to kick off the polls.
Stable voting in all districts
Polling stations across Tamil Nadu witnessed continuous voting throughout the day, with long queues reported in many areas. Election Commission data indicated that participation has been increasing since the morning, reaching 56.81 per cent by 1 pm, with many districts recording brisk voting activity in urban and rural areas.
Top leaders cast their votes early
Chief Minister MK Stalin, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, TVK chief Vijay and senior leaders including P Chidambaram, Kanimozhi, Anbumani Ramadoss were among the early voters. Stalin urged citizens to participate, saying, “Tamil Nadu will win.”
Star power dominated the voting day
Kollywood celebrities added major visibility to the election process. Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Vijay, Sivakarthikeyan, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, Dhanush, Vikram, Jeeva, Sasikumar, RJ Balaji, Trisha, Anirudh Ravichander and many others cast their votes in Chennai and other districts. Many actors also encouraged responsible voting and civic participation.
Vijay hints at delay, demands more time for voting
TVK chief Vijay, who is contesting the elections, has written a letter to the Election Commission demanding extension of polling time by two hours, citing long queues and slow voting at many booths in Tamil Nadu. In his letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, he said, “There are reports from polling centers that voters are waiting in long queues to cast their votes, but the voting process is slow,” and urged intervention to prevent inconvenience to voters.He also called for better supervision and deployment of designated officers to ensure smooth crowd management and more efficient polling, and said delays could discourage voters from exercising their franchise.
Robot welcomes voters at Vellore booth
A robot dressed in traditional Tamil attire was deployed to welcome voters at a polling booth at the Government Muslim Higher Secondary School in Vellore. The initiative attracted attention as it welcomed citizens to come to vote and highlighted a tech-driven approach to voter participation.
Triangular political competition has intensified
The main contest is between the ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA, while actor Vijay’s TVK is attempting to emerge as the third force in its electoral debut. DMK leader A Raja claimed that the alliance could get more than 200 seats, while opposition leaders expressed confidence of returning to power.
Voting Logistics and Security
The Election Commission deployed central and state forces along with EVM and VVPAT systems at over 75,000 polling stations. With over 3.6 lakh personnel on election duty, special facilities were arranged for elderly voters, first-time voters and persons with disabilities.
Results on 4th May
Voting will end at 6 pm, counting of votes will take place on May 4. The outcome will determine whether the DMK will retain power, the AIADMK will make a comeback, or whether the TVK will disrupt the traditional Dravidian political system in Tamil Nadu.
तोते ने ली खूनी गवाही… राजा को बताया हर हत्यारे का नाम, जानिए तोता-मैना की कब्र का अनसुना रहस्य
उत्तर प्रदेश समाचार: उत्तर प्रदेश के बाराबंकी जिले में स्थित तोता-मैना पुल और उनकी कब्र आज भी प्रेम, वफादारी और त्याग की अनूठी कहानी को जीवित रखती है। अयोध्या से जुड़े इस ऐतिहासिक क्षेत्र में यूं तो कई धार्मिक और रहस्यमयी स्थान हैं, लेकिन सतरिख थाना क्षेत्र के सराय अकबराबाद गांव का यह स्थान अपनी अलग पहचान रखता है। यहां आने वाले लोग न सिर्फ इतिहास से बल्कि एक भावनात्मक कहानी से भी जुड़ते हैं, जो पीढ़ियों से बताई जा रही है।
यह कहानी मुगल काल की घटना से संबंधित है।
लोककथाओं के अनुसार, इस पुल का निर्माण मुगल काल के दौरान किया गया था। कहा जाता है कि एक मुगल बादशाह के मंत्री का काफिला इसी रास्ते से गुजर रहा था, तभी उपद्रवियों ने उस पर हमला कर दिया. डकैती के दौरान वजीर की हत्या कर दी गयी. मंत्री के साथ पिंजरे में एक तोता और मैना भी थे, जो इंसानों की तरह बोल सकते थे।
तोते की मौत और मैना की चतुराई ने कहानी बदल दी
हमले के दौरान तोते ने बदमाशों को चेतावनी दी कि वह उनकी पहचान उजागर कर देगा. इससे नाराज होकर हमलावरों ने तोते की हत्या कर दी. जबकि मैना ने अपनी जान बचाने के लिए मरने का नाटक किया। बदमाशों के जाने के बाद वह उनका पीछा करती हुई अंततः दिल्ली पहुंची और राजा को पूरी घटना बताई। मैना की गवाही के आधार पर सभी अपराधी पकड़े गये और उन्हें सजा दी गयी।
समाधि स्थल और पुल बने यादगार, आस्था अब भी कायम
इसके बाद राजा ने वजीर और तोते को उसी स्थान पर दफनाने का आदेश दिया। मैना ने भी अपने साथी के साथ दफन होने की इच्छा व्यक्त की, जिसे स्वीकार कर लिया गया। उनकी याद में वहां एक मजार बनाई गई और पास के नाले पर एक मजबूत पुल बनाया गया, जिसे आज तोता-मैना ब्रिज के नाम से जाना जाता है।
हर वर्ष मेला लगता है, दूर-दूर से श्रद्धालु आते हैं
यह स्थान आज भी लोगों की आस्था का केंद्र बना हुआ है। हर साल यहां मेला लगता है, जिसमें हजारों श्रद्धालु आते हैं। लोग मजार पर चादर चढ़ाते हैं और अपनी मनोकामना पूरी होने की दुआ मांगते हैं। यह कहानी आज भी लोगों के दिलों में जिंदा है और तोता-मैना पुल को प्यार और वफादारी की मिसाल बनाती है।
Premier League: Bottle-job likely for Arsenal? Manchester City back on top after Burnley’s win
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are on the verge of finally replicating the most dramatic English Premier League title triumph in the history of the competition after beating Burnley to top the table. This significant change marks the first time since the opening week of the season that City have taken the top spot, ending a remarkable streak where Arsenal remained on top for more than 200 consecutive days.
The defining moment of the week came when Manchester City secured a narrow, nervy 1–0 win at Turf Moor on Wednesday, a result which also saw Burnley relegated. Erling Haaland provided the decisive breakthrough by scoring the only goal of the match.
While Guardiola’s men were assured of victory Ending the day in first place for the first time since August, the City manager was clearly frustrated by his team’s inability to take advantage of dominance and win by a very large margin.
“We played a really good game; unfortunately, we missed a lot of chances. We defended better in the second half. In the second half, we had less problems,” Guardiola said during his post-match interview, as quoted by Yahoo Sports.
As it stands, Guardiola’s team is level with Arsenal on points and goal difference. City currently sit top on goals scored alone, with just five games remaining for both title contenders. Historically, civilians have been clinical finishers; They never failed to go on and secure the trophy even after leading the table at the 33-game mark or beyond.
Echoes of the 2011–12 season are heard in this chase, This is the only time in Premier League history that a team has won the title on goal difference. In that great campaign, Manchester City won the trophy by defeating their cross-town rivals Manchester United in the final seconds of the season.
Although City were unable to make any big statements against Burnley, they did enough to advance in this high-stakes race. After Sunday’s 2-1 win over Arsenal, The match was widely publicized as a title decider, with City now appearing to have the more favorable run-in.
“Now we have the FA Cup on Saturday, and after that, we have five games. The only chance is to win all the games,” Guardiola said.
Meanwhile, Arsenal face a tough schedule, including a tough trip to Newcastle and a Champions League travel commitment to face Atletico Madrid. With the final stop, the door on either side is open to receive the silverware.
– ends
“I think this was the one thing my father did that was the reason for our success,” the woman shares, sharing the habit that helped her crack UPSC and her brothers crack IITs and IIMs.
What really shapes success in a family? Talent, discipline, luck, or something as simple and powerful as the books that fill the house? That’s the question many viewers are asking after the widely shared Instagram clip of Anupama Chandra, who says the “secret” behind her family’s academic achievements was never a mysterious formula. According to him, it started with something very simple: a childhood spent admiring houses full of books. In the video, Chandra explains how she cracked the civil services exam, while her two brothers cracked IIT and IIM. What makes her story stand out is not just the list of achievements, but also the reason she believes she all ended up where she is. Scroll down to read more…
Childhood shaped by appreciation for books
Chandra says that when she was young, her parents often admired people whose homes were full of books. As a child, she says, she internalized that appreciation and began to associate books with intelligence, discipline, and possibility. That early influence stayed with him. According to him, books were never just objects on the shelf. They were indicative of the kind of life to aspire to, a life built around learning, curiosity and long hours spent with ideas.
His father never let him forget this line.
The most memorable part of her story is the line she says to her father: If you ever want to amount to something in life, surround yourself with books. It’s a simple sentence, but has clearly stuck with him for years. She remembers it more than the advice. In his words, it was a way of life, encouraging children to befriend books, read regularly, and believe that effort would eventually bear fruit.That message, she says, shaped the atmosphere at home. Rather than viewing reading as a chore, the family appears to view it as a natural part of development. Over time, that mindset will matter as much as any study plan.
Why is the video echoing?
One reason the clip connected online is that it taps into something many people recognize: the idea that success often begins long before the test, interview or entrance exam. It begins with the everyday environment in which the child grows up: what he hears, what he sees and who he is encouraged to admire.Chandra’s story has resonated with people because it feels both personal and universal. Many families talk about education. Very few books make life feel like a way of life. His account shows that small cultural habits at home can sometimes leave a deep mark on an entire generation. For the audience, the path is direct and quietly powerful: it’s easier to nurture ambition in a home where learning feels normal, not extraordinary.
Hormuz Blockade: Why did Trump suddenly ‘dismiss’ the US Navy Secretary amid the Hormuz Blockade? What the reports claim
US Navy Secretary John Phelan has been fired after months of alleged tension with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg over the Navy’s modernization agenda and shipbuilding priorities, according to US officials.Their removal was confirmed in a statement posted by Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, who said Hegseth and Feinberg “are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.” Hung Kao, currently serving as Under Secretary of the Navy, has been appointed Acting Navy Secretary.Officials familiar with the matter, interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, said the decision came after growing disagreement with the president over the pace of implementation. donald trump’s naval priorities, especially shipbuilding and fleet modernization. Pentagon sources said Hegseth and Feinberg felt Phelan was not moving fast enough on key defense procurement targets.Phelan was reportedly informed of the firing in a phone call minutes before the announcement was made public. Earlier, WSJ sources said Phelan was meeting with lawmakers on Capitol Hill regarding the Navy’s budget request.Tension had reportedly been building within the Pentagon for months. Officials cited concerns over Phelan’s close communications with President Trump on naval issues, including direct exchanges on shipbuilding policy, which reportedly bypassed traditional Pentagon channels.Disagreements also emerged over major procurement proposals, including Phelan’s push for new naval programs, which Pentagon leadership felt was not properly coordinated within the chain of command.The leadership change comes amid widening divisions within the US defense establishment, with Hegseth overseeing a series of changes to senior military personnel in recent months.Phelan, who was sworn in as Navy Secretary in March 2025, had previously faced internal opposition regarding his management style and policy approach, particularly regarding acquisition reforms and the Navy leadership structure.The dismissals come at a time when the Pentagon is pursuing a major naval expansion and shipbuilding under the current administration, with senior officials pushing for faster delivery timelines and greater alignment with the White House’s defense objectives.
उत्तराखंड: बद्रीनाथ-केदारनाथ में विशेष पूजा पर रोक, बीकेटीसी अध्यक्ष ने कहा- सभी लोग सामान्य दर्शन करेंगे
बद्रीनाथ-केदारनाथ में विशेष पूजा पर रोक लगा दी गई. बीकेटीसी के अध्यक्ष हेमंत द्विवेदी का कहना है कि सभी लोग सामान्य तरीके से मंदिरों में दर्शन करेंगे। आज बद्रीनाथ मंदिर के कपाट भक्तों के लिए खोल दिए गए हैं. धाम में पहली पूजा प्रधानमंत्री मोदी के नाम पर की गई. सीएम धामी ने बद्री विशाल का आशीर्वाद भी लिया.
प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी ने भी बाबा केदार के कपाट खुलने पर देशवासियों को चारधाम यात्रा की बधाई दी है और यात्रा पर आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं से पांच संकल्प अपनाने का आग्रह किया है. उन्होंने कहा कि उत्तराखंड आने वाले श्रद्धालुओं को यात्रा के दौरान डिजिटल व्रत रखकर राज्य की प्राकृतिक सुंदरता का अनुभव करने का प्रयास करना चाहिए। इससे उन्हें एक अलग संतुष्टि मिलेगी.
चार धाम हमारी शाश्वत आस्था और विश्वास का दिव्य केंद्र है।
प्रधानमंत्री ने संदेश में कहा, देवभूमि उत्तराखंड की पवित्र भूमि पर चारधाम यात्रा शुरू हो गई है। बाबा केदार के दर्शन सहित चारधामों की यह पवित्र यात्रा भारत की शाश्वत सांस्कृतिक चेतना का एक भव्य उत्सव है। जगद्गुरु आदि शंकराचार्य ने बद्रीनाथ और केदारनाथ की यात्रा के माध्यम से भारतीय संस्कृति को एक नई दिशा दी। जगद्गुरु रामानुजाचार्य और जगद्गुरु माधवाचार्य ने भी अपने धार्मिक विचारों को समृद्ध करने के लिए बद्रीनाथ का दौरा किया।
हिमालय की गोद में स्थित ये चरणधाम हमारी शाश्वत आस्था और विश्वास के दिव्य केंद्र हैं। हर साल विविध भाषाओं, परंपराओं और संस्कृतियों के लोग यहां पहुंचते हैं और एक भारत, श्रेष्ठ भारत की भावना को और मजबूत करते हैं। इस वर्ष की यात्रा भी इसी परंपरा का विस्तार है।
Women’s entry into Sabarimala: Supreme Court says it won’t rely on ‘Whatsapp University’ in religious freedom cases India News
New Delhi: Hearing a case of gender discrimination in temples like Sabarimala, the Supreme Court on Thursday said it respects the views of eminent writers and thinkers but cannot rely on information from ‘WhatsApp University’.‘The comments came from a nine-judge Constitution bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, which was hearing petitions on the scope of religious freedom among different religions. The bench comprised Justices BV Nagarathna, MM Sundaresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Arvind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi.During the hearing, senior lawyer Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for the Dawoodi Bohra community chief, referred to an article by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on judicial restraint in religious relief cases.Responding, Chief Justice Kant said the court respects eminent persons and jurists, but personal opinions are just that.Kaul argued that knowledge from all sources should be welcomed. He said, “If knowledge comes from some source, some country or university, it should be accepted. We are too rich as a civilization to reject knowledge.”Justice Nagarathna, in a light-hearted moment, said: “But not from WhatsApp University.”Kaul replied that he was not concerned with evaluating sources, reiterating that the main thing is to accept knowledge wherever it comes from.A day earlier, the top court had said that it is extremely difficult – if not impossible – for courts to define what is an essential religious practice.In a 4-1 judgment in September 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench had lifted the ban on entry of women aged between 10 and 50 into the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, declaring the practice unconstitutional.
हाथ में माला, सामने दूल्हा… फिर दोस्त ने कुछ ऐसा कहा कि दुल्हन ने तोड़ दी शादी? जानिए क्या है मामला
उत्तर प्रदेश समाचार: उत्तर प्रदेश के इटावा में एक शादी समारोह में उस वक्त हंगामा मच गया, जब वरमाला के वक्त दुल्हन ने शादी से इनकार कर दिया. घटना वैहवा इलाके के एक गेस्ट हाउस की है, जहां 20 अप्रैल को धूमधाम से बारात आई थी. सब कुछ सामान्य चल रहा था, लेकिन जैसे ही वरमाला का वक्त आया, अचानक दुल्हन का फैसला बदल गया. इस घटना से वहां मौजूद सभी लोग सदमे में आ गए और खुशी का माहौल पल भर में तनाव में बदल गया.
दोस्त की फुसफुसाहट ने पूरा माहौल बदल दिया
जानकारी के मुताबिक, भरथना इलाके के गांव नगला तालपार निवासी संजीव की बेटी की शादी नगला कोरी के एक युवक से तय हुई थी. जब दूल्हा-दुल्हन वरमाला के लिए स्टेज पर खड़े थे, तभी नोएडा से दुल्हन की एक सहेली उसके पास आई और उसके कान में कुछ कहा. अपनी सहेली की बात सुनते ही दुल्हन के चेहरे के भाव बदल गए और उसने तुरंत शादी से इनकार कर दिया. वह माला वहीं छोड़कर मंच से नीचे उतर गईं.
बेकार गई घर वालों की सलाह, बैरंग लौट गई बारात.
दुल्हन के इस फैसले से दूल्हा और उसके परिवार वाले भी हैरान रह गए. दुल्हन के पिता और अन्य रिश्तेदारों ने उसे समझाने की कोशिश की, लेकिन वह किसी की बात सुनने को तैयार नहीं थी। पिता का आरोप है कि उसके दोस्त ने उसकी बेटी को गलत सलाह दी, जिसके चलते उसने अचानक यह कदम उठाया. आखिरकार दूल्हे को बिना दुल्हन के ही बारात वापस ले जानी पड़ी।
मामला थाने तक पहुंच गया, दुल्हन ने परिवार के साथ रहने से भी इनकार कर दिया.
हंगामा बढ़ने के बाद मामला पुलिस तक पहुंच गया. दुल्हन, उसकी सहेली और परिजन थाने पहुंचे। वहां दुल्हन ने पुलिस से साफ कह दिया कि वह अब अपने माता-पिता के साथ नहीं रहना चाहती. वह अपनी सहेली के साथ जाने की जिद करने लगी. इस बयान ने पूरे मामले को और भी पेचीदा बना दिया है.
दोस्त का राज बना राज, इलाके में चर्चा तेज
फिलहाल यह मामला पूरे इलाके में चर्चा का विषय बना हुआ है. लोग जानना चाहते हैं कि दोस्त ने ऐसा क्या कहा जिससे दुल्हन ने एक पल में शादी तोड़ दी। इस घटना ने रिश्तों और भरोसे पर भी सवाल खड़े कर दिए हैं.
Adi Kailash Yatra will start from 1st May. dehradun news
Pithoragarh: The doors of Shiv Dham in Jolingkong will open on May 1, which will be the beginning of Adi Kailash Yatra. All departments have been instructed to ensure safe travel for tourists and pilgrims.“Online registration for Inner Line Permit (ILP) will begin from April 28, while offline registration will begin from May 1. ILP is mandatory for the Adi Kailash Yatra, and it will be valid for four days. The pass will be issued by the Dharchula SDM,” District Magistrate Ashish Kumar Bhatgai said at a meeting of various departments on Wednesday.Tourists and pilgrims can obtain medical certificates and police verification from Dharchula and Pithoragarh centres.Adi Kailash is situated at an altitude of 5,945 meters in the Beas valley of Dharchula tehsil. Last year 36,000 tourists visited Adi Kailash and Om Parvat and this year the number is expected to reach 50,000.