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By JULHAS ALAM Dhaka (AP): At least 250 people, including Rohingya refugees and Bangladeshi nationals, were missing after a boat capsized in the Andaman Sea recently on the way to Malaysia, according to the United Nations' refugee and migration agencies. While details remained sketchy, Bangladesh Coast Guard spokesperson Lt. Com. Sabbir Alam Suzan told The Associated Press on Wednesday that nine people, including three Rohingya and six Bangladeshis, were rescued on April 9. Suzan said the Bangladesh flag carrier M.T. Meghna Pride rescued the nine people when the crew found them floating at sea after the capsize. When the boat sank and the status of any search Wednesday were unclear. The UN high commissioner for refugees and the International Organisation for Migration in a joint statement said Tuesday that the trawler departed from Teknaf in the southern Bangladeshi district of Cox's Bazar carrying a large number of passengers to Malaysia. Overcrowding, strong winds and rough seas caused the vessel to lose control and sink, the agencies said. Shari Nijman, a UNCHR communication officer in Cox's Bazar, said Wednesday that the agency had no other updates. Another coast guard media official told the AP by phone Wednesday that the rescued people, eight men and one woman, were all safe after being handed over to the coast guard, who brought them to the police in Teknaf. The official said the rescue was not part of any official search operation as it is outside Bangladesh territory, and that the crew of the M.T. Meghna Pride saved the people while it was on its way to Indonesia from Bangladesh's Chittagong. The official spoke by phone on condition of anonymity in line with official policy. UNHCR and IOM said the disappearance reflected the protracted displacement of Rohingya people and the absence of durable solutions. They said ongoing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state has made the Rohingya's safe return to Myanmar uncertain, while limited humanitarian assistance, as well as restricted access to education and employment in refugee camps, continue to push vulnerable Rohingya refugees to choose risky sea journeys, often based on false promises of higher wages and better opportunities abroad. UNHCR and IOM urged the international community to strengthen funding and solidarity to ensure lifesaving assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, which has sheltered more than 1 million Rohingya from Myanmar.

By The Slate Bureau Washington: The United States and Iran have shifted focus to contol over the Strait of Hormuz even as both sides agreed to go for a second round of talks which could restore peace in the West Asian region. "Iran’s Navy is laying at the bottom of the sea, completely obliterated - 158 ships. What we have not hit are their small number of, what they , “fast attcallack ships” because we did not consider them much of a threat.," US President Donald J Trump posted on the social media.  Iran, on the other hand, threatened to strike targets across the region after Trump wrote on social media that any Iranian warships nearing the blockade would be destroyed in a “quick and brutal” strike. Trump stressed small ships which had been spared could be eliminated with ease. "If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal," Trump said.  While the standoff continues, both sides have indicated possibility of a second round of peace talks this week. With perception playing a key role in the conflict, Trump attacked a mediahouse for its report indicating Iran was holding forte as fake news. "For those people that still read The Failing New York Times and, despite the fact that Iran has been totally OBLITERATED, Militarily, and otherwise, you would think that Iran is actually winning or, at the very least, doing quite well — But that’s not true, and The New York Times knows that it’s FAKE NEWS!," he said. Soon after US-Iran peace talks failed with Tehran refusing to call off its nuclear programme, President Donald Trump had threatened to “finish up the little that is left of Iran” and block entry and exit of any ship in the Strait of Hormuz. “We are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!,” Trump said, while stating that the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will immediately begin the process of “BLOCKADING” any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. In what should worry nations banking on Iran for crude oil requirements, Trump said he had instructed US Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran”. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas, he added. Though the first round of talks had failed, both sides exuded confidence over possibility of another attempt at making peace. While US said the offer was open, the Iranians had reciprocated saying diplomacy never ends. Trump reacted sharply after the talks failed. He played down resistence by Iran. “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!,” Trump said. “Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition,” he said.

By The Slate Bureau New Delhi: The Supreme Court has reserved the post of Secretary, Joint Treasurer and two executive members of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) for women. A bench presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant on April 13 exercised overarching powers of the court under Article 142 of the Constitution to carve out quota for women lawyers while allowing a petition by a woman advocate seeking reservation for women in the executive committee of SCAORA which is presently an all-male body. The order came after a brief hearing during which SCAORA did not oppose the petition. SCAORA has already announced fresh elections for 12-member executive body for the 2026-2028 term to be held on 29.4.2026. The election will be as per the schedule already announced. Advocate Vivya Nagpal, an AOR, had rushed to court after SCAORA issued election notice on 08.04.2026 without paying heed to her demand for amending relevant rules and provisions to provide for reservation to women before proceeding with the election of office bearers for the two-year term. The petitioner had pointed out that all state bar councils, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and several other association of lawyers had reserved seats for fair representation of women. Many of these decisions were on the directions of the Supreme Court. “Permitting this notified election process to proceed under the unamended rules will irreversibly violate the fundamental rights of women Advocates-on-Record as a class under Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution, sealing their exclusion from institutional leadership for another full term,” the petitioner submitted in her petition. It had been pointed out that the last elections for the Executive Committee of SCAORA returned the current all- male Office Bearer committee, reflecting the continuing exclusion of women from top leadership positions. SCAORA is an association comprising approximately 3,000 AORs who hold the exclusive statutory authority to file matters and act on behalf of litigants before this Hon'ble Court under Order IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013. The Petitioner had pointed out that the Supreme Court had intervened in similar cases in the past. The Court in Supreme Court Bar Association v. B.D. Kaushik (2024) mandated a minimum 33% reservation for women in the SCBA Executive Committee. Subsequently, in Yogamaya M.G. v. Union of India (2025), a mandatory 30% reservation was ensured in statutory State Bar Councils across the country. And in Deeksha N. Amrutesh v. State of Karnataka, the Court invoked Article 142 to enforce a 30% reservation in the Advocates' Association, Bengaluru.

New Delhi (PTI): In a setback to Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to quash a CBI FIR in the land-for-jobs case involving the RJD chief and his family members. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh, however, granted exemption to the 77-year-old former Bihar chief minister from appearance before the trial court during the proceedings. "We do not say anything about the issue pertaining to the application of Section 17A (of the Prevention of Corruption Act) on whether it is prospective or retrospective. Taking into consideration the facts and the circumstances, liberty is granted to the petitioner to raise the legal issue at the time of the trial," the bench said. The top court allowed Yadav to raise the issue of the applicability of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act in the case during trial of the case. Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act provides that no enquiry, inquiry or investigation shall be conducted by a police officer into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under the law without prior approval from the appropriate authority. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), argued that Section 17A of the Act would be invoked only if the accused was a decision-making authority. Raju argued that prior approval against Yadav under Section 17A was not required as he was neither the person who took the decision nor the recommending authority. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Yadav, opposed the submission and said that there cannot be any investigation until the authorities get the sanction. Sibal said the CBI has woken up after nine years to file another chargesheet on the same ground on which the case had been closed. "At least a final order may not be passed. Other matters are pending on the same issue and we don't get any relief. This is not fair," he said when the bench declined the relief. The Delhi High Court had on March 24 refused to quash a CBI FIR in the case involving Yadav and his family members, rejecting the RJD chief's contention that the agency's action was legally unsustainable in the absence of prior sanction under Section 17A. The land-for-jobs case is related to Group D appointments made in the West Central Zone of the Indian Railways in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, during Yadav's tenure as the railways minister between 2004 and 2009, allegedly in return for land parcels gifted or transferred by the recruits in the name of his family members or associates, officials said. Yadav had contended that the inquiry, FIR, as well as the investigation and subsequent chargesheets in the matter, were legally unsustainable in the absence of prior sanction under Section 17A. In his order, Justice Ravinder Dudeja of the Delhi High Court had said the section was introduced in 2018 with prospective effect, whereas the allegations date back to 2004-2009, and the court was "persuaded" by the agency's stand that permitting a belated challenge on a technical plea relating to prior approval would defeat the "orderly administration of criminal justice". Justice Dudeja dismissed Yadav's petition, which also sought quashing of the three chargesheets filed in 2022, 2023 and 2024, and the subsequent orders of cognisance in the matter. The high court had said that Section 17A, which was introduced in 2018, was prospective in operation and, therefore, has no application to the present offences, which were alleged to have been committed between 2004 and 2009. It thus held that the absence of prior approval did not vitiate the preliminary inquiry, registration of the FIR, investigation, or the cognisance orders. The court had also said that the provision did not apply to this case as the alleged act was not related to any recommendations or decisions Yadav made while discharging his official functions or duties as the railway minister. The scope of Section 17A is confined to acts involving recommendations made or decisions taken by a public servant in discharge of official functions. In this case, however, the petitioner was not in a position to make decisions about appointment, but could only influence, the court had said. It had observed that the subsequent grant of sanction in the case undermined Yadav's plea of prejudice, and the matter has progressed to an advanced stage. The CBI had opposed the petition, saying it was filed belatedly, at the stage of framing of charges. It was also contended that Section 17A did not apply to the petitioner. The case was registered on May 18, 2022, against Yadav and others, including his wife, two daughters, unidentified public officials and private persons. Yadav and the other accused are currently out on bail. Yadav's petition challenging the framing of corruption charges in the case is pending in the high court. On January 9, the trial court had ordered framing of charges against Yadav, his family members and others. On February 16, it formally framed charges against them under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Yadav has pleaded not guilty.

By The Slate Bureau Washington: Soon after US-Iran peace talks failed with Tehran refusing to call off its nuclear programme, President Donald Trump threatened to “finish up the little that is left of Iran” and block entry and exit of any ship in the Strait of Hormuz. “We are fully “LOCKED AND LOADED,” and our Military will finish up the little that is left of Iran!,” Trump said, while stating that the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will immediately begin the process of “BLOCKADING” any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz. In what should worry nations banking on Iran for crude oil requirements, Trump said he had instructed US Navy to “seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran”. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas, he added. “THIS IS WORLD EXTORTION, and Leaders of Countries, especially the United States of America, will never be extorted,” he said. Trump played down resistence by Iran. “Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!,” Trump said. “Iran knows, better than anyone, how to END this situation which has already devastated their Country. Their Navy is gone, their Air Force is gone, their Anti Aircraft and Radar are useless, Khomeini, and most of their “Leaders,” are dead, all because of their Nuclear ambition,” he said. Trump decided to create a blockade to ensure that Iran did not take advantage of its control over Hormuz. “Iran will not be allowed to profit off this Illegal Act of EXTORTION. They want money and, more importantly, they want Nuclear,” he said. Though peace talks have failed, it may not be the end of the world for US and Iran. In fact, both sides exuded confidence after the peace talks. Trump, while dealing with the present conflict, also dwelt upon India's Operation Sindoor which had brought India and Pakistan on the brink of a war. He said Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan always thanked him for “for saving 30 to 50 million lives in what would have been a horrendous War with India”.

By The Slate Bureau Islamabad: The marathon 21-hour-long peace talks between United States and Iran came to a naught with delegations from both the countries leaving Pakistan without arriving at any agreement which could have ended the West Asia conflict. With this, the ongoing two-week ceasefire could only be the lull before the storm as US Vice President JD Vance emphasized that failure to ensure a permanent truce was a “bad news” for Iran. “We’ve been at it now for 21 hours. We’ve had a number of discussions with the Iranians, that’s the good news. The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it is bad news for the United States of America,” Vance said, addressing media persons. The talks failed over US seeking a commitment from Iran over abandoning its nuclear programme. “We need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon and they will not seek the tools that would enable them to quickly achieve a nuclear weapon,” Vance said. Vance said that the US delegation in Pakistan was in touch with President Donald Trump and was clear about the red line. “We go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We’ve made it very clear what our red lines are, what we are willing to accommodate them on and what things we are not willing to accommodate them on. We’ve made that as clear as we possibly could, and they’ve chosen not to accept our terms,” Vance said. Vance made a brief appearance along with special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner to address the media before leaving for the US. On the Iranian nuclear programme, Vance claimed that the enrichment facilities that Iran had before, had been destroyed. And the US wanted a commitment on not developing a nuclear weapon. The stalemate between US and Iran may have an impact on the ceasefire with markets already reacting to the news. However, it may be too early to consider the failure to arrive at an agreement as the end of efforts to restore peace. While the negotiations have failed, both sides are still hopeful. News Agency PTI quoted Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei as saying “diplomacy never ends”. Vance also left with a positive note. “We were constantly in communication with the team because we were negotiating in good faith. We leave here with a very simple proposal: A method of understanding that is our final and best offer. We will see if the Iranians accept it,” he said, while talking to mediapersons.

Mumbai (PTI): Asha Bhosle, who not only survived in the shadow of her sister's greatness but stepped out of it with a genre-defying voice to create her own universe in Hindi playback singing, died on Sunday. She was 92. Asha, one half of the Mangeshkar sisters whose versatility was unmatched even by her sister, was admitted to Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday evening due to chest infection and exhaustion, her granddaughter Zanai Bhosle said. Asha, who got married to Ganpatrao Bhosle in 1949 when she was 16 and later in life married collaborator and composer R D Burman, is survived by her son Anand and her grandchildren. "She passed way due to multi organ failure a few minutes ago," Dr Pratit Samdani told PTI. Asha, who got listeners jiving to “Aaja, Aaja” just as skilfully as she got them mourn lost love in “Chain Se Ham Ko Kabhi”, and her sister Lata ruled the Hindi playback singing world for seven decades with virtually every movie song recorded in Bollywood for female leads using their voices. Asha herself sang for more than eight decades, recording an incredible 12,000 songs. Her first song was in 1943 at the age of 10 for the Marathi film “Majha Bal”. She continued to sing until the late 2010s and beyond, making her the longest performing singers in global music history. Unlike Lata, her voice remained steady and its timbre fresh, even when she was singing at the age of 80. Lata died in February 2022 also at the age of 92. While Lata was the go-to choice for music director Madan Mohan, the master of melody and ghazals, Asha was equally accomplished in that genre, and is still remembered for her ghazals in “Umrao Jaan”. She won a National Film award for the movie. But she also established her own identity, partnering first with O P Nayyar for his rhythmic, peppy songs and later with R D Burman for songs inspired by cabarets, romance, lament and every other emotive tonality. Still, there was never any hint of rivalry between the two sisters who occupied almost an equally high seat in the pantheon of India's singing gods. Among Asha's most popular songs are “Abhi Na Jao Chhod Kar”, “In Ankhon Ki Masti”, “Dil Cheez Kya Hai”, “Piya Tu Ab to Aaja', Duniya Mein Logon Ko', and Zaara Se Jhoom Loon Main', among others. She was the voice for many leading ladies, from Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Zeenat Aman to Kajol, Urmila Matondkar and also South actors like Padmini and Vyjayanthimala. In 2023, she performed at a special concert, ASHA@90: Live in concert', in Dubai to celebrate her 90th birthday. Born on September 8, 1935 in Sangli (Maharashtra), she was initiated into music by her father Dinanath Mangeshkar just like her sister was. Music was perhaps in her destiny. Of the four sisters, Lata, Usha and Asha were playback singers while Meena is a music composer. As is their brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar. The much awarded Asha, who was also was also a successful entrepreneur and ran the popular restaurant Asha in Dubai and the UK, won multiple awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke, Padma Vibhushan, National Awards and other music honours.

New York (PTI): The first-ever life-size statue of Swami Vivekananda in the US was unveiled in Seattle, honouring the renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader. The life-size bronze statue, installed at the busy Westlake Square in downtown Seattle, is the first such installation hosted by a city government anywhere in the US, officials said. Sculpted by Indian artist Naresh Kumar Kumawat, it was jointly unveiled on Saturday by Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson and Consul General of India in Seattle Prakash Gupta. "From Chicago 1893 to Seattle 2026! Seattle's skyline has a new Indian icon: Swami Vivekananda! City of Seattle becomes the first city government to host the Swami Vivekananda Monument in the heart of downtown Seattle," the Consulate General of India in Seattle said in a social media post. Addressing the event, Wilson said the monument reflects Seattle's inclusive spirit and strengthens cultural ties between India and the diverse metropolitan tech hub in the US Pacific Northwest. The statue has been gifted by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) to the City of Seattle in recognition of its "in recognition of the city’s rich multicultural character and spirit of inclusivity", the Indian mission in Seattle said in a statement. The unveiling of the statue was held on the occasion of the celebration of ICCR Day and is part of India's broader cultural diplomacy initiatives aimed at strengthening people-to-people ties between India and the US Pacific Northwest, the Consulate said. Located at the bustling Westlake Square, which sees over 400,000 visitors daily, the monument stands near prominent landmarks including the Amazon headquarters ‘Spheres’, the Seattle Convention Centre and the Seattle Centre Monorail. The unveiling ceremony was attended by several local leaders, including mayors from cities in the Greater Seattle area, community representatives and members of the Indian-American diaspora. Swami Vivekananda had delivered his historic address at the World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893, introducing Hindu philosophy to a global audience.

Dhaka (PTI): A Muslim spiritual leader was hacked to death for allegedly insulting Islam while shops and households owned by Hindus were vandalised in two separate mob attacks in western Kushtia and northwestern Rangpur in Bangladesh on Saturday. An irate mob attacked several Hindu households and businesses in pre-dawn hours over the death of a Muslim youth in their neighbourhood in Rangpur, about 300-odd kms northwest of Dhaka. A “third party” carried out the vandalism to divert the case and police's attention from the overnight murder of a person named Rakib Hassan, police claimed. Prothom Alo newspaper said more than a hundred members of the Hindu community live in the Daspara market area where Hassan was murdered allegedly by drug peddler Mohammad Momin over a previous dispute. Reporters found Momin’s house vacant as he went into hiding while his family members feared retaliatory attacks, the newspaper said. Police said the attack took place even when the deceased youth's family said the Hindu community had nothing to do with his murder. “We have no issues with them (Hindus),” Hassan’s mother Nur Jahan Begum told the local reporters. “But we are tracking down the real killers. We have also identified who have vandalised the Hindu households and shops,” Rangpur’s police commissioner Mohammad Majid Ali told reporters. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council had on April 9 said there have been 133 incidents of communal violence between January 1 and March 31 this year. In the second incident, police and media reports said a group of assailants killed school teacher and spiritual figure Shamim Reza Jahangir and critically wounded at least seven of his followers and set on fire his sanctuary or 'darbar' over allegations of insulting Islam in Kushtia, about 200 kms west of Dhaka. “The local miscreants killed Jahangir. His body is being sent to Kushtia General Hospital morgue for an autopsy,” officer-in-charge of Kushtia’s Daulatpur police station Arifur Rahman told reporters. The media reports said the mob also set fire to Jahangir's darbar. Officials said armed police and elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) forces were sent to the scene to prevent further violence. Local journalists said police in May 2021 had arrested Jahangir responding to hard-line Islamists' allegations that he was carrying out “controversial activities” but was released on a court order after a brief detention. Police did not elaborate on what the activities were.

New Delhi (PTI): Standing at a narrow, congested stairwell leading to swanky restaurants at Delhi's Khan Market -- eulogised by the Delhi High Court as the "shaan" (pride) of the capital and the haunt of its socialites -- a young man welcomed the court relief to these establishments as a "business-friendly" decision. In a relief to several restaurants in the upscale marketplace, the Delhi High Court on Friday said establishments shall not be denied of operating solely on account of absence of a fire no-objection certificate (NOC), provided they maintain occupancy below 50 guests at any given time. The court was dealing with a batch of pleas by several Khan Market eateries seeking renewal of their health licences and other approvals for running the businesses without authorities insisting on a fire NOC as a pre-condition. Calling the area the "shaan of Delhi", Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav on Friday took on record an undertaking by restaurants that they would adhere to alternative safety mechanisms as may be directed by civic authorities. The tightly-packed buildings with single entry and exit points, where even a slight surge in footfall can quickly clog movement, and the steep, dimly-lit stairwells funnelling customers to upper floors, are synonymous with the Khan Market 'vibe'. The narrow lanes lined with shops leave little room to manoeuvre, while overhead wires hang low above sparkling signboards, and electrical boxes jut out from walls -- the fire risk undeniable. Restauranteurs welcomed the order, calling it a pro-business and empowering decision that acknowledges these structural realities. They said several fire safety measures have been put in place over the years, even as reconstructing older buildings with modern systems remains a challenge due to space constraints. "We have installed fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems, and ensured rooftops are accessible as an additional escape route in case of emergencies," a restaurant owner said, adding that these measures have been adapted to fit within the limited layouts of the existing buildings. They further said mechanisms are being introduced to regulate footfall in real time. "Managers and staff will monitor the number of customers hourly, through manual logs or digital systems, to ensure the occupancy limit is not breached," an owner said, adding that close monitoring becomes critical in compact interiors where tables are tightly arranged. Kabir Suri, owner of Mamagoto and former president of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), said, "We welcome the high court's order as it is pro-business and empowering," highlighting that establishments in the market have long complied with fire safety norms. He said the primary challenge has been the narrow staircases, embedded in the original design of the heritage marketplace, which cannot be altered without reconstruction. Restaurant workers, however, pointed to minor operational challenges. Jitendra from Yum Yum Cha said the market continues to attract both domestic and foreign visitors, with queues often spilling into already cramped lanes. "We are grateful for the court's order as it supports businesses like ours," he said, adding that enforcing the 50-person cap can sometimes be tricky as customers often arrive separately. "We cannot turn people away midway, so there are few logistical challenges we will have to manage," he said, pointing at the constant inflow of people through the narrow entry, where even a brief pause by couple of persons can hold up movement for everyone behind, especially during peak hours. Workers and vendors said the court order largely reflects existing practices but flagged safety concerns amid heavy footfall, particularly during winters and weekends, when the market sees long queues ahead of restaurants, leaving little space on the crowded walkways. A staff member at Perch said the restaurant already maintains strict seating limits. "We keep a tab on the number of customers at all times, and our seating capacity is about 50, so we don't expect major issues. We welcome the order," he said, pointing to a logsheet used to track occupancy in the tightly-packed dining area. Outside, customers waited in patient queues for their turn to dine, delivery riders rushed back and forth along tight walkways, and local vendors touted their wares on the Friday afternoon. "There is always a crowd, and people often wait outside, but restaurants are not overcrowded inside as seating is limited," a street vendor selling mobile covers said, adding that the upscale market draws a steady stream of foreign visitors and affluent customers even on weekdays, keeping the narrow lanes consistently busy. Another vendor, who sells rip-off branded watches along the lane, pointed to the movement constraints. "The entries and staircases are very narrow and steep. Going up and down itself is a task. One just hopes people remain careful," he said, referring to the difficulty of navigating spaces where even a slight rush can cause congestion. The Khan Market Traders' Association welcomed the court relief but cautioned that implementation would be key, especially during peak seasons when footfall surges and the space becomes even more constrained. "Entry and exit points remain a major issue, particularly in buildings with narrow access," said Sanjiv Mehra, president of the association, adding that even small crowd build-ups at these points can disrupt movement, especially during emergencies. "Each person is to be allocated 1.5 feet of space, but how will that be measured or enforced? There is a lot of grey area," he said, noting that the concerns have surfaced as the market approaches its diamond jubilee year. Industry representatives said similar relaxations should be extended to other heritage markets, including Connaught Place, which face comparable structural challenges. Manpreet Singh, owner of Zen restaurants in Delhi and honorary treasurer of the NRAI, said, "Connaught Place is also a heritage market with comparable constraints and deserves the same regulatory approach." Echoing the demand, Atul Bhargava of the New Delhi Traders Association said, "If Khan Market has been given this relaxation, then Connaught Place and other heritage markets should receive similar treatment, especially where buildings have single entry and exit points," adding that a uniform approach would help businesses while acknowledging on-ground realities.

Washington (AP): The US president posted on social media that Iran's military has been destroyed and that America is beginning to open up the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway chokepoint used by Iran to restrict the shipping of 20 per cent of the world's oil supplies. It was unclear from the post if Trump was referring to the possible use of mines in the Strait of Hormuz or Iran's broader ability to control the area. “We're now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz as a favour to Countries all over the World, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others,” Trump posted. “Incredibly, they don't have the Courage or Will to do this work themselves.” Meanwhile, PTI reported from Islamabad that direct negotiations between the United States and Iran have officially commenced in Islamabad to find a lasting solution to the West Asia conflict. "After Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with delegations from the United States and Iran, formal round of direct negotiations between Iran and the United States has officially begun on Saturday evening," a senior official of the Shehbaz administration told PTI. "Iran and the United States sit at one table -- landmark peace negotiations between Iran and the United States have begun in Islamabad, where both sides are sitting face-to-face for the first time after heightened tensions," Pakistan TV said. It further said the arrival of high-level delegations, Pakistan’s effective diplomacy, and positive statements from global leaders have strengthened hopes for a ceasefire and lasting peace in the region, while the world watches closely for the outcome of these crucial talks." The official said the Foreign Office is likely to issue a statement after the conclusion of the first round of direct talks between the two warring parties. The US delegation is led by Vice President JD Vance, who is accompanied by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The Iranian delegation is led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and also includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with other leaders. Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that Pakistan desires to achieve “durable peace" in West Asia. Appreciating Iran’s engagement in the Islamabad Talks, the prime minister affirmed Pakistan’s sincere resolve to continue playing its role as a mediator to help build momentum towards achieving meaningful results in the interest of regional and global peace and stability, the Prime Minister's Office said. Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi attended the meeting from the Pakistani side with Iranian and US delegates. The PMO shared a video from the exchange, showing PM Shehbaz greeting Ghalibaf and Araghchi by hugging them and shaking hands. The talks are taking place during a two-week halt in the US-Israeli war against Iran, which began with US-Israeli attacks on February 28. The conflict, which spread across West Asia and sent shockwaves through global economies, paused after Pakistan brokered a temporary ceasefire on April 8.

Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday called for time-bound action to position the state as the country's "deep-tech capital" under the vision "Innovate in UP, Scale for the World". According to a press statement, at a high-level meeting, Adityanath emphasised growth in sectors, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, green hydrogen, cyber security and med-tech, while stressing stronger industry-research coordination to scale innovation and generate employment. A presentation by Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal highlighted ongoing work in med-tech, including a proposed institute under the Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, the construction of which is expected to begin in November. The chief minister directed for expediting green-hydrogen initiatives and discussed setting up a first-of-its-kind institutional centre for clinical validation in ayurveda to promote scientific research and global acceptance. He also stressed developing Uttar Pradesh as a hub of indigenous drone manufacturing and advancing quantum research. The proposed "UP Deep-Tech Hub" in Noida will serve as a central platform for startups, research and industry, with a focus on "research at IIT-Kanpur and deployment from Noida", the statement said. Adityanath directed officials to ensure a swift implementation of all projects to establish the state as a leader in deep-tech innovation