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Washington (AP): President Donald Trump was uninjured and other top White House officials were evacuated from an annual dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association on Saturday night after an unspecified threat. There did not immediately appear to be any injuries, and one law enforcement official said a shooter had opened fire. Authorities said the incident occurred outside the ballroom where Trump and other guests were seated. It was not immediately clear what happened. The event was scrapped and will be rescheduled. The FBI said the shooter is in custody and that its Washington field office is responding to the shooting. Trump posted on Truth Social that he would give a statement at the White House tonight. Compiling accurate and thorough information on a shooting takes time. Reporters are working to piece together the details from eyewitness accounts, authorities and other sources. Here's the Latest: Washington Hilton also scene of Reagan shooting in 1981 In 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr. outside the Hilton — an event that prompted redesigns of the property that increased security and added a special presidential suite near the entrance where chief executives could be taken. Trump was dispatched there briefly after the incident Saturday night. MS NOW opens doors for reimagined party after White House Correspondents' dinner The network notified guests to still come to its underground party in Dupont Circle to gather and have a bit to eat.” “While tonight's event won't be what we originally intended, we still think it is important to provide a space for friends and colleagues to be together,” the network said. Its reporting teams were out covering the breaking news, the network said. Police chief says suspect's motivations unclear Carroll, the interim police chief, said that he could not say at this point what the shooter's motivation was, and that it is too soon to know who the suspect had intended to target in the shooting. Suspect faces preliminary charges related to firearm possession, assault, Pirro says US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the suspect is being charged preliminarily with two charges related to using a firearm and assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon, but that there will be many more charges filed “based on the information that we are learning in this very fluid situation”. Pirro said the suspect would be arraigned on Monday in federal district court. Police say suspect was armed with multiple weapons Interim Washington, DC, police chiefPolice Chiefroll said the suspect was armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives. He said investigators had no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved. Trump ends presser Shortly after the president concluded his news conference, the White House called a “lid,” which means the press corps will not see him for the rest of the day. Trump commends Secret Service, says being president is a dangerous profession Trump struck a somber tone as he addressed reporters at the White House, saying being president is “a dangerous profession” and that attempted violence against him is “part of the job”. Trump said more details would be forthcoming about the shooter's identity and motive, but said that the world was a violent place and, when it came to his own presidency, “When you're impactful they go after you.” The president commended the Secret Service and suggested that the shooter wasn't close to breaching the ballroom where Trump was seated on stage at the time of the incident. With most of the reporters dressed up for the dinner that was interrupted, Trump also noted: “I see so many tuxedos and beautiful dresses.” Trump says rescheduled event will be safer The president, who had repeatedly said he wanted to continue the dinner until law enforcement said otherwise, insisted it would be rescheduled and would happen. He stressed that the event will be “better” and “we'll make it safer”. “I see so many tuxedos and beautiful dresses,” Trump said. “It was a little different evening than we thought. But we're going to do it again.” Trump describes scene As he described the sequence of events, Trump emphasised that the shooter still remained a far distance from the ballroom where thousands of people had gathered for the dinner. “He hadn't anywhere close to breached the doors of the ballroom,” the president said. WHCD extensively studied by Secret Service for decades The USSS has for years used the annual event to put agents through their paces because the agency has studied the venue extensively for decades. Shooting suspect identified The shooting suspect was identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California, two law enforcement officials told the AP. Trump describes moment shots rang out Trump, describing what was going through his mind as the shots rang out, said he initially believed it was a tray being dropped, noting that the noise was “quite far away”. But the first lady, he said, was “very cognizant” that it was a shooting. “I think she knew immediately what happened,” the president said, recalling that his wife told him, “That's a bad noise.” The president said the motivation of the shooter was unclear, but said that “he was a guy who looked pretty evil when he was down.” Trump: I fought like hell to stay The president also reiterated that he had wanted to continue the dinner, saying, “I fought like hell to stay.” He said in an earlier social media post that law enforcement officials wanted the dinner to end. Acting AG says investigation is ongoing, charges will be filed shortly Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said charges will be filed shortly and that the nature of the charges would be obvious considering what had happened at the dinner. Blanche stressed that “the investigation is obviously ongoing and just started”. FBI Director Kash Patel said the agency is examining a long gun and shell casings recovered from the scene, as well as interviewing witnesses from the dinner. He urged anyone with information to come forward. Trump calls for tougher security measures As he began the news conference, Trump called for tougher security measures, saying that “today, we need levels of security that probably nobody has ever seen before”. He cited Saturday's incident as a reason his ballroom, being constructed at the White House, is needed. Trump says suspect was armed with multiple weapons Trump, during a White House press briefing, said the suspect was armed with multiple weapons before being stopped by the Secret Service. One officer was shot, but he was protected by a bulletproof vest. “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job,” Trump said. Security footage posted by Trump shows a man sprinting through the metal detectors and past law enforcement, who turn toward him with guns raised. Officers then swarm toward the man off-screen. At the White House Correspondents, as well as Trump, have arrived at the White House briefing room for a news conference following a shooting incident at the annual correspondents' dinner. Congressional leaders who attended dinner react to shooting House Speaker Mike Johnson said he and his wife, Kelly, were at the event and grateful for the law enforcement and first responders “who acted so quickly to bring the situation under control.” “Praying for our country tonight,” said Johnson, R-La., on social media. “FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT,” said the House GOP on its account on the social platform X. “House Republicans unite in praying for those who were in harm's way,” it said. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he was “thankful for the swift law enforcement action to protect everyone” at the dinner, as he also called for an end to violence. “The violence and chaos in America must end,” said Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Mumbai (PTI): The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Central Railway has arrested nine women for allegedly planning to commit dacoity on board the Siddheshwar Express in Maharashtra, officials said on Thursday. An RPF Crime Prevention and Detection Squad on duty at Kurduwadi railway station on Wednesday night noticed three women behaving suspiciously on the platform, the Central Railway said in a release. After being questioned and asked to leave the station premises, the women boarded the Latur Express. The RPF personnel alerted officials at other railway stations in the division and asked them to keep the women under watch. The suspects got down at Jeur railway station and boarded the Mumbai-Solapur Siddheshwar Express. RPF teams kept them under surveillance, and they were detained at Solapur station, the release said. Questioning revealed that they were part of a dacoits' gang which operated in Solapur and Pune railway divisions, it said. The women, aged between 18 and 40 years and residents of Dharashiv district, were later handed over to the Government Railway Police at Kurduwadi. A case was registered against them under section 310(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (preparation for dacoity), officials said, adding that further investigation was underway.

New Delhi (PTI): Two Indian-flagged vessels carrying crude oil reversed course in the Strait of Hormuz after coming under Iranian military gunfire on Saturday, prompting New Delhi to summon the Iranian envoy and lodge a strong protest. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri conveyed to Iranian ambassador Mohammad Fathali India's "deep concern" at the "shooting incident" involving the two ships in the strategic waterway, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. Misri noted the "importance that India attached to the safety of merchant shipping and mariners and recalled that Iran had earlier facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India," it said. After the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran six weeks ago, Tehran largely halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz that carries one-fifth of global oil supplies. The Iranian action has triggered a significant rise in oil prices. Following Tehran's announcement Friday that it has opened the waterway for commercial traffic, several commercial vessels tried to cross it. However, Tehran on Saturday said that it has again closed the waterway, alleging that the US violated a certain understanding reached between the two sides. In his meeting with the Iranian envoy, the foreign secretary told him to convey India's views on the incident to the authorities in Iran. "Reiterating his concern at this serious incident of firing on merchant ships, the foreign secretary urged the ambassador to convey India's views to the authorities in Iran and resume at the earliest the process of facilitating India-bound ships across the Strait," the MEA said in a statement. It said the Ambassador Fathali "undertook to convey these views to the Iranian authorities." Earlier, government sources said the Iranian ambassador was summoned to the MEA, and a strong protest was lodged with him over the firing incident. Vessel tracker TankerTrackers.com earlier reported that two Indian vessels had to reverse course in the Strait of Hormuz following the incident of gunfire from Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Earlier this week, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar underlined India's strong commitment to "safe and unimpeded" transit passage of maritime shipping, even as he emphasised that attacks on merchant shipping are "completely unacceptable". Jaishankar made the remarks while participating in an online meeting convened by Japan to discuss supply chain disruptions in the energy markets.

By SAM METZ and SAMY MAGDY Cairo (AP): The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz quickly escalated again Saturday as Iran reversed its reopening of the crucial waterway and fired on ships attempting to pass, in retaliation after the United States pressed ahead with its blockade choking off Iranian ports. Confusion over the strait, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes, threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict. The ceasefire between them is due to run out by mid-next week, and Pakistani mediators were working to put together a new round of direct negotiations to keep the truce going. Iran's joint military command said Saturday that “control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state ... under strict management and control of the armed forces.” It warned that it would continue to block transit through the strait as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect. Revolutionary Guard gunboats on Saturday opened fire on a tanker transiting the strait and an unknown projectile hit a container vessel, damaging some of the containers, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said without identifying the vessels. TankerTrackers.com reported that two Indian-flagged vessels were forced to turn around after being fired on by Iran, including a supertanker carrying Iraqi oil. The renewed escalation resulted from attempts by both sides to maintain leverage amid negotiations over an ultimate deal to end the war and address Iran's nuclear program. For the United States, the blockade is a key tool to keep up pressure on Iran, short of resuming bombardment. By cutting off much of Iran's exports and imports, it could strangle an already crippled economy. For Iran, closure of the strait — imposed after the US and Israel launched their surprise war on the country on Feb 28 — has proven to be perhaps its most powerful weapon in the confrontation, causing oil prices to spike, threatening the world economy and inflicting political pain on Trump. Progress threatens to unravel ----------------------------------- On Friday, Iran announced the reopening of the strait to commercial vessels after a 10-day truce was sealed between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. The reopening triggered a fall in oil prices. Iran's closure of the strait since has triggered an energy crisis that has roiled the global economy. US President Donald Trump, however, said that even with the reopening, the American blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the US Trump imposed the blockade, halting all shipping to and from Iranian ports as the ceasefire between Iran and the US was announced last week to keep pressure on Iran to make a deal in Pakistan-brokered talks to end almost seven weeks of war. His comments triggered immediate outcry from Iranian officials, calling the blockade a violation that would prompt a re-closure of the strait. “Americans are risking the international community, risking the global economy through these, I can say, miscalculations,” referring to the blockade, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press on Saturday. “Everybody must understand to what extent American side is risking the whole ceasefire package,” he said, speaking after a diplomatic forum in Antalya, Turkey. Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament's National Security Commission, said that the strait was “returning to the status quo,” which he had earlier described as ships requiring Iranian naval authorization and toll payment before transiting. A data firm, Kpler, said movement through the strait remained confined to corridors requiring Iran's approval. US forces have sent 21 ships back to Iran since the blockade began on Monday, US Central Command said on X. Pakistan pushing for progress toward new deal ------------------------------------------------- The renewed standoff over the strait came hours after Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the forum in Antalya that his country's diplomats were working to “bridge” differences between the US and Iran. Pakistani officials were fanning out for talks with senior players. Its army chief met senior Iranian officials in Tehran while its prime minister held talks in Antalya with Turkey's president and Qatar's emir. Pakistan is expected to host a second round of negotiations between Iran and the US early next week. But Khatibzadeh said the Iranians were not ready for a new round of face-to-face talks with the US because the Americans “have not abandoned their maximalist position.” He also said Iran will not hand over its stock of 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium to the United States, calling the idea “a non-starter.” Khatibzadeh did not address other proposals for what to do with the material, saying only, “we are ready to address any concerns.” On Friday, Trump said the US will go into Iran and “get all the nuclear dust,” referring to the enriched uranium, which is believed to be buried under nuclear sites badly damaged by US military strikes last year. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei issued defiant remarks on Saturday, saying Iran's navy stands “ready to inflict bitter defeats on its enemies.” In a message celebrating the anniversary of the establishment of Iran's army, he hailed Iran's drone strikes that targeted Israel and the US interests across the region during the past seven weeks of war. Khamenei has bot been seen in public since he was elevated to supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in Israel's opening barrage of the war on Feb. 28. Questions linger about Lebanon truce ----------------------------------------- French President Emmanuel Macron said a French soldier was killed and three others injured on Saturday morning during an attack on UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. “Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron wrote on social media. There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah. This week's declaration of a ceasefire in Lebanon was seen as a boost to efforts for an Iran agreement. Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar said fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had been a key sticking point in U.S.-Iran talks last weekend in Islamabad. Still, it was unclear to what extent Hezbollah would abide by a truce it did not play a role in negotiating, especially when it leaves Israeli troops occupying a stretch of southern Lebanon. In Beirut, displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs despite warnings by officials not to return to their homes until it became clear whether the ceasefire would hold. The war, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Feb 28, has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed.

Washington (PTI) The United States has extended by a month a waiver from sanctions to allow countries to buy petroleum products from Russia, days after it ruled out renewal of the special measure. The US Department of Treasury issued an order late Friday extending the waiver from sanctions on Russian oil that is already at sea on or before April 17 through May 16. Earlier, the US had granted an exemption from sanctions to India for buying Russian oil for a month beginning March 5. A few days later, a similar waiver was extended to several other countries, which ended on April 11. The general licence issued by the US on Friday does not authorise any transaction involving a person, entity or joint venture located in Iran, North Korea, Cuba, or parts of Ukraine. On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would not be renewing the waiver for Russian oil and another for Iranian oil. The previous waiver of sanctions had made available 140 million barrels of Russian oil already loaded on ships to global markets as prices soared against the backdrop of the US war with Iran. "Effective April 17, 2026, General License No. 134A, which was dated March 19, 2026 and expired on April 11, 2026, is replaced and superseded in its entirety by this General License No. 134B," said the order issued by the Department of Treasury.

Lucknow (PTI): The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Friday ordered an FIR be filed against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi in connection with an alleged dual citizenship controversy. The bench permitted the state government to hand over the probe to any central probe agency after registration of the FIR. The order was passed by a bench of Justice Subhash Vidyarthi on a petition filed by S Vignesh Shishir, who had challenged a January 28 order of a special MP/MLA court rejecting his plea for an FIR against Gandhi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The special court had earlier held that it was not competent to adjudicate on issues related to citizenship. The petitioner, a BJP worker from Karnataka, had sought registration of an FIR and a detailed probe into the matter, levelling allegations against Gandhi under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Official Secrets Act, the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act. The complaint was initially filed before the special MP/MLA court in Rae Bareli. However, on the petitioner's request, the high court transferred the case to Lucknow on December 17, 2025. The MP/MLA court in Lucknow subsequently dismissed the plea on January 28, 2026, prompting the petitioner to approach the high court, which has now ordered registration of an FIR. In its order, the bench said that from a bare perusal of the allegations, prima facie cognizable offences were made out against Gandhi and hence the allegations required to be investigated. The bench said that the special court should have looked into whether the allegations prima facie made out any cognizable offences or not, but it failed to consider it. Earlier, Deputy Solicitor General of India SB Pandey produced the central government's records in the court relating to the citizenship controversy surrounding Gandhi. Government counsel VK Singh also consented on behalf of the UP government that the allegations prima facie made out cognizable offences. After having a detailed hearing, the bench found that the material on records showed that Gandhi had committed "cognizable offences" in having dual citizenship, and these allegations required to be probed. The petitioner has alleged that Rahul is a UK Citizen and incorporated a company named M/S Backops Ltd in August 2003. It was further submitted that Gandhi categorically admitted and voluntarily declared his nationality as British, having a Director Identification ID and London and Hampshire addresses. In his petition, Shishir claimed that Rahul submitted the company's annual returns in October 2005 and October 2006, listing his nationality as British. Thereafter, the company was dissolved through a dissolution application in February 2009. According to the petitioner, the material placed before the court includes records suggesting that Rahul Gandhi may have been listed as a voter in the United Kingdom and participated in electoral processes there. During the course of the hearing, the high court earlier directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to place all relevant records, including classified documents, before the court.

Beirut (AP): Iran said Friday it fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial vessels, but US President Donald Trump said the American blockade on Iranian ships and ports "will remain in full force" until Tehran reaches a deal with the US, including on its nuclear programme. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the crucial waterway, through which about 20 per cent of the world's oil is shipped, was now fully open to commercial vessels, as a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon appeared to hold. Araghchi said ships will use routes designated by the Islamic Republic in coordination with Iranian authorities, suggesting Iran planned to retain some level of control over the channel. It was not clear if vessels would have to pay tolls. A data firm, Kpler, said movement through the strait remained confined to corridors requiring Iran's approval. Trump initially celebrated the Iranian announcement, posting on social media that the strait was "fully open and ready for full passage." But minutes later, he issued another post saying the US Navy's blockade would continue "UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE." Iran protests continued blockade ------------------------------------ A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the blockade was a violation of last week's ceasefire agreement between Iran and the US. In comments published by Iranian state media, Esmail Baghaei said the strait is still under the supervision of Iran, which is serious about its commitments. But if the US violates its own commitments, then Iran "will take the necessary reciprocal measures." "No leniency will be shown in this regard," Baghaei said. Trump also said Iran, with help from the US, is working to remove all mines from the strait. Trump imposed the blockade earlier this week after Iran restricted traffic through the strait due to fighting in Lebanon, which Iran claimed was a breach of the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire. The president's decision to continue the blockade despite Iran's announcement appeared aimed at sustaining pressure on Tehran as the fate of the two-week ceasefire reached last week remained uncertain. The ceasefire paused almost seven weeks of war between Israel, the US and Iran. Direct talks between the US and Iran last weekend were inconclusive, as the two nations could not agree about Iran's nuclear programme and other points. Trump says new talks could happen soon --------------------------------------------- Trump suggested a second round of talks could happen this weekend. "The Iranians want to meet," he said in a brief telephone interview with the news outlet Axios. "They want to make a deal. I think a meeting will probably take place over the weekend." Oil prices fell Friday on hopes the US and Iran were drawing closer to an agreement . The head of the International Energy Agency had warned that the energy crisis could get worse if the strait did not reopen. Two Iranian semiofficial news agencies seemed to challenge Araghchi's announcement about the strait. Considered close with Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, the Fars news agency issued a series of posts on X criticising what it said was a lack of clarity over the decision to reopen the waterway and a "strange silence from the Supreme National Security Council and the negotiating team." Iran's Supreme National Security Council has recently acted as the country's de facto top decision-making body, amid doubts over the status of the new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who was reportedly wounded early in the war. The Mehr news agency also said the decision to reopen the strait needed "clarification" and required the supreme leader's approval. Truce in Lebanon could help US-Iran peace efforts ------------------------------------------------------ The ceasefire in Lebanon could clear one major obstacle to an agreement between Iran, the United States and Israel to end the war. But it was unclear to what extent Hezbollah would abide by a deal it did not play a role in negotiating and which will leave Israeli troops occupying a stretch of southern Lebanon. Trump said in another post that Israel is "prohibited" by the US from further strikes on Lebanon and that "enough is enough" in the Israel-Hezbollah war. The State Department said the prohibition applies only to offensive attacks and not to actions taken in self-defence. Shortly before Trump's post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel agreed to the ceasefire in Lebanon "at the request of my friend President Trump," but that the campaign against Hezbollah is not complete. He claimed Israel had destroyed about 90 per cent of Hezbollah's missile and rocket stockpiles and added that Israeli forces "have not finished yet" with the dismantling of the group. Celebrations in Beirut ----------------------- In Beirut, celebratory gunshots rang out at the start of the truce. Displaced families began moving toward southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs despite warnings by officials not to return to their homes until it became clear whether the ceasefire would hold. The Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon had reported sporadic artillery shelling in some parts of southern Lebanon in the hours after the ceasefire took effect. An Israeli strike in the area of Kounine hit a car and a motorcycle, killing one person and wounding three, including a Syrian citizen, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Friday. It was the first airstrike and first fatality reported since the truce took effect. There was no immediate response from the Israeli army or Hezbollah. An end to Israel's war with Hezbollah was a key demand of Iranian negotiators, who previously accused Israel of breaking last week's ceasefire with strikes on Lebanon. Israel had said that deal did not cover Lebanon. The fighting has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, more than 2,290 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Thirteen US service members have also been killed. Israel says it will keep troops in Lebanon -------------------------------------------- Israel's hardline Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue to hold all the places where it is currently stationed, including a buffer zone extending 10 kilometres into southern Lebanon. He said many homes in the area would be destroyed and Lebanese residents will not return. Hezbollah has said Lebanese people have "the right to resist" Israeli occupation and that their actions "will be determined based on how developments unfold." Israel and Hezbollah have fought several wars and have been fighting on and off since the day after the start of the Gaza war. Israel and Lebanon reached a deal to end the earlier fighting in November 2024, but Israel has kept up near-daily strikes in what it says is an effort to prevent the Iran-backed militant group from regrouping. That escalated into another invasion after Hezbollah again began firing missiles at Israel in response to its war on Iran. Mediators seek compromise on three points ----------------------------------------------- In the Iran war, mediators are pushing for compromise on three main points: Iran's nuclear programme, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages, according to a regional official involved in the mediation efforts. Trump on Friday suggested Iran has agreed to hand over its enriched uranium. "The U.S.A. will get all Nuclear Dust, created by our great B2 Bombers -- No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form," he said in a post. Nuclear dust is the shorthand Trump frequently uses to refer to the highly enriched uranium that is believed buried under nuclear sites the US bombed during last year's 12-day war between Israel and Iran. If true, it would be a major concession from Iran and would lock in a key demand of the US to end the conflict. Neither Iran nor countries acting as intermediaries in the conflict have said Tehran has made such an agreement.

The House of People of Indian Parliament defeats Constitution Amendment mooted by the Narendra Modi government for early operationalization of 33 per cent quota for women in legislature By The Slate Bureau New Delhi: The Women's Reservation Act, 2023 mandating 33 per cent quota for women in Lok Sabha and state legislatures to be operationalized after a delimitation exercise came into force on Thursday. But its implementation fell into a limbo with the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill, aimed at operationalizing quota for women at the earliest by permitting delimitation of constituencies based on the 2011 census, being defeated in the Lok Sabha a day later on Friday. The Opposition bulldozed the Bill by a clear margin with 230 MPs voting against the Bill which required support of 352 of the 528 MPs present in the House for a two-third majority required for passing a Constitution Amendment Bill. The amendment was supported by 298 MPs only. Though the Women's Reservation Act has come into force, it can be implemented only after a delimitation exercise after the new census in terms of the Act. The quota for women can be provided only after the increase of seats in Lok Sabha pursuant to the delimitation exercise based on the 2027 census. With the implementation being tied to increase in seats, the Narendra Modi government had sought to hasten the process by introducing the amendment to increase the seats in Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 following a delimitation exercise based on the 2011 census to operationalise the women's reservation law before the 2029 parliamentary polls. With the Lok Sabha defeating the amendment, the quota for women in Lok Sabha and state legislatures now cannot see the light of the day before the 2034 elections. Though notified on Thursday, Parliament had passed the 'Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam', commonly known as the Women's Reservation Act  in September 2023. With the defeat of the amendment, the reservation would not become enforceable before 2034, as it was tied to the completion of the delimitation exercise post 2027 Census. The reservation introduced for women by Parliament in 2023 was to "come into effect after an exercise of delimitation is undertaken for this purpose" after the relevant figures for the first census taken thereafer.  This had necessitated the 131st Constitution amendment providing for delimitation based on 2011 census. Justifying the need for amendment, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Act stipulated that reservation for women will be ensured in the delimitation exercise to be carried out after the Census conducted post-2026. "When the new Parliament building was inaugurated, the Nari Shakti Vandan Act was the first Bill to be passed unanimously, and it was also passed in the Rajya Sabha. He said that when it came to implementing it, the opposition has once again started opposing it, which the women of the country will never forget," he added.

New Delhi (PTI): Exports posted the steepest fall in five months, declining by 7.44 per cent in March to USD 38.92 billion due to trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, with shipments to West Asia contracting by more than 50 per cent in the month, according to official data released on Wednesday. The trade deficit, however, narrowed to a nine-month low of USD 20.67 billion in March on account of lower imports. Imports dipped by 6.51 per cent to USD 59.59 billion in March, driven by a significant decline in inbound shipments of crude oil and gold, the data showed. For the full 2025-26 fiscal year, exports grew 0.93 per cent to an all-time high of USD 441.78 billion, while imports rose 7.45 per cent to USD 775 billion. The trade deficit ballooned to USD 333.2 billion due to a jump in gold and silver imports during the last fiscal. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal told reporters that the country's goods and services exports increased by an estimated 4.22 per cent to an all-time high of USD 860.09 billion in 2025-26 against USD 825.26 billion in 2024-25. He said that despite global challenges, Indian exporters are showing resilience and are registering positive growth. "We are hopeful that 2026-27 will be a much better year," he said. The secretary said that India's exports to the Middle East region fell by 57.95 per cent in March, while imports from the Gulf nations fell by 51.64 per cent. "Our exports to the Middle East in March dipped by 3.5 billion dollars (USD) and it has impacted (overall) exports," Agrawal told reporters. Agrawal said that April could also be a tough month for exports due to the conflict, which is hampering ship movements in international waters. Crude oil imports in March dipped 35.91 per cent to USD 12.18 billion, while in 2025-26, it declined 6.37 per cent to USD 174 billion. Gold imports in March dipped 31.63 per cent to USD 3.06 billion, while in 2025-26, these rose by 24 per cent to USD 71.97 billion. The war in the Middle East has disrupted the flow of oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up freight and insurance costs for exporters. "We hope the challenges that we face today will not sustain for long, and we may have smoother trades across the world in months to come," the secretary said. Services exports, the secretary said, have remained robust. Meanwhile, China has overtaken the US to emerge as India's largest trading partner in 2025-26, with bilateral trade reaching USD 151.1 billion, while the country's trade deficit with Beijing widened to USD 112.16 billion during the period, government data showed. The US was India's largest trading partner for the four consecutive year till 2024-25. The country's outbound shipments to the US grew marginally 0.92 per cent to USD 87.3 billion during the last fiscal, while imports increased 15.95 per cent to USD 52.9 billion. The trade surplus declined to USD 34.4 billion in 2025-26 from USD 40.89 billion in 2024-25. The secretary said that energy imports from the US, including LPG, have gone up. He added that despite global challenges, India's exports have remained in positive territory in 2025-26. Free trade agreements that India will implement this year will provide opportunities for domestic exporters. While the India-UK trade pact is expected to come into force from May, the trade deal with Oman may be implemented in June.

By The Slate Bureau Patna : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar passed on the batton after being at the helm for two decades to BJP leader Samrat Choudhary who was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state on April 15. The smooth change of guard with the JD(U) supremo moving to central politics after being elected to the Rajya Sabha gave Bihar the first BJP Chief Minister. Crowning of Samrat Choudhary also marks a generational shift in the political landscape of Bihar. Samrat Choudhary was sworn in as the Chief Minister along with JD(U) leaders Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav who have been designated as deputy chief ministers.   The oath of office was administered by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain at Lok Bhavan. The ceremony was attended by form er Bihar chief Nitish Kumar, Union minister and former BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda and Union minister Chirag Paswan, who heads LJP(RV) which is a constituent of the ruling NDA in Bihar. The swearing in of Samrat Choudhary put an end to speculations over his successor after Nitish Kumar expressed his desire to move to the central stage as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Samrat Choudhary. In a post on X, Modi wrote: " Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to Shri Samrat Chaudhary on taking oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar! His energy, dedication to public service, and grassroots experience will prove extremely beneficial for the state. I am fully confident that under his capable leadership, while fulfilling the aspirations of the people, Bihar will touch new heights of all-round development.” Talking to mediapersons, Choudhary said he would "get down to work starting today" and follow the model of governance developed by Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar.            According to the notification, the Chief Minister has retained the Home ministry along with about 30 other crucial departments, including health, agriculture, industry and vigilance. As Deputy Chief Minister under Nitish Kumar, he had the state home ministry was with him.

Videos 09:01 PM, New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court administration has asked the city police to take steps for removing from social media unauthorised recordings of the court proceedings related to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's plea in the liquor policy matter, even as a complaint sought action against the party leaders who shared the clips. Advocate Vaibhav Singh, while submitting his complaint to the registrar general against Kejriwal and others for unauthorised recording and circulation of the clips, was informed on Wednesday that the high court has already taken note of the videos and directed law enforcement agencies to take steps to take down the content. Kejriwal had appeared on Monday before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma and submitted his arguments on his plea for her recusal from hearing the CBI appeal against the trial court order discharging him and other accused in the excise policy case. Besides Kejriwal, Singh also sought action against AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bhardwaj, Sanjay Singh, Sanjeev Jha, Mukesh Ahlawat and others, as well as Congress leader Digvijay Singh for sharing the clips of the court proceedings on social media. Another lawyer also mentioned his petition for an urgent hearing before a bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Anish Dayal regarding the circulation of court videos. Chief Justice Upadhyaya, however, declined the urgent listing, saying, "You have filed, it will be listed. What is the urgency?" Vaibhav Singh, in his complaint, said sharing video/audio of judicial proceedings was prohibited under the high court rules and alleged that the politicians' conduct was an act to "create pressure on the judge". The conduct of the political leaders, the complaint alleged, "reflects some conspiracy to mislead the general public of the country and malign the image of the noble institution". "The post in regard to this audio/video recording of the Court Proceedings was circulated on X erstwhile Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and various new channels. "The circumstances in which the audio/video recording of the Court Proceedings was done and shared, Retweeted and posted by various political leaders and the way it went viral smells deep conspiracy by Arvind Kejriwal and various leaders of Aam Admi Party to malign the image of this noble institution and also to mislead the common people of this nation...," the complaint alleged.

Sakti, Chhattisgard (PTI): The death toll in a blast at the Vedanta power plant in Chhattisgarh's Sakti district has mounted to 20 with seven more workers succumbing to injuries, while 16 others are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, officials said on Wednesday. The deceased include six labourers from West Bengal, five from Chhattisgarh, three each from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, two from Bihar, and one from Madhya Pradesh. The opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident. The explosion occurred on Tuesday afternoon in a steel tube carrying high-pressure steam from the boiler to the turbine at the Vedanta Ltd power plant located in Singhitarai village, leaving several workers with severe burn injuries. According to officials, four workers died on the spot, while nine others succumbed to injuries soon after the incident. Seven more workers have died in hospitals, raising the toll to 20, Sakti Collector Amrit Vikas Topno told PTI on Wednesday. He said that a total of 36 workers were affected in the blast, and 20 of them died. "Of the 16 injured workers, five are undergoing treatment in hospitals in Raipur, while 11 others are in hospitals of Raigarh, the neighbouring district of Sakti," he added. Topno added that every possible effort was being made to provide the best medical treatment to the injured. The deceased were identified, and their family members are being contacted. Arrangements have been made to transport the mortal remains to their native villages via ambulance following the postmortem examination and to provide immediate financial assistance, he said. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the families of each deceased worker and Rs 50,000 for those injured. Vedanta Power has also announced a Rs 35 lakh compensation for the family of each deceased worker, along with employment support. The company will also provide Rs 15 lakh to each injured person, ensure salary continuation until recovery, and offer counselling support, a statement from the plant management said. The chief minister has ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of the Bilaspur division, assuring strict action against the guilty. He directed officials to ensure free and proper medical treatment for all injured and emphasised that no negligence in their care would be tolerated. The district administration has also ordered a separate magisterial probe, while the company has initiated its own internal investigation. Collector Topno has appointed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Dabhra to conduct the magisterial inquiry. The SDM has been asked to submit a report within 30 days covering key aspects, including the cause of the accident, whether it was due to technical or human error, and details of safety inspections carried out at the plant. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has demanded registration of an FIR against the plant management and a judicial inquiry into the incident. State Congress communication wing head Sushil Anand Shukla on Wednesday alleged negligence on the plant management's part and accused the government of attempting to shield those responsible. He also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of the deceased and Rs 50 lakh for the injured. The construction of a 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power project (two units of 600 MW each) in Singhitarai, originally owned by Athena Chhattisgarh Power Ltd, started in 2009, but remained stalled between 2016 and 2022. Vedanta acquired the plant in 2022, after which a 600 MW unit was completed and commissioned in August last year, while the second unit is still under construction. The deceased have been identified as Amrit Lal Patel, Thanda Ram Lahre, Udhab Singh Yadav, Rameshwar Mahilange, and Nadeem Ansari (all from Chhattisgarh); Susanta Jana, Sheikh Saifuddin, Manas Giri, Kailash Mahto, Shibnath Murmu, and Dipankar Singh (West Bengal), Tarun Kumar Ojha, Abdul Karim and Ashok Parhiya (Jharkhand), Raju Ram, Pappu Kumar and Brijesh Kumar (Uttar Pradesh), Aakib Khan and Ritesh Kumar (Bihar), and Chitranjan Dhulai of Madhya Pradesh, officials said.