In a high-stakes IPL 2025 clash, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and chose to bowl first against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC welcomed Faf du Plessis back into the playing XI, while Jacob Bethell debuted for RCB, replacing Phil Salt, who is down with a fever. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar noted the pitch looked good for chasing. Both teams are eyeing the top spot on the points table, adding extra intensity to the encounter. Impact players were also announced, with notable names like Devdutt Padikkal and Ashutosh Sharma on standby. (PC: India Today)

A high-level meeting was held today between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan in Delhi following the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address, vowed the "harshest response" to the attack, blaming it on terrorists and their patrons aiming to destabilize Kashmir’s growing peace. The attack at Baisaran meadow has triggered sharp escalation in India-Pakistan tensions. PM Modi emphasized that India's progress will not be derailed by cowardly acts of terror. Investigations and strategic countermeasures are currently in progress. (PC: PTI)

At least 28 people were killed and 800 injured after a massive explosion rocked Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port near Bandar Abbas on Saturday. The blast, reportedly triggered by improperly stored solid rocket fuel, devastated the country’s largest commercial port. Aerial footage showed widespread fires, destroyed buildings, and debris across highways. Six people remain missing. Officials had previously warned about unsafe chemical storage practices. President Masoud Pezeshkian has ordered an investigation. The incident occurred amid sensitive US-Iran nuclear negotiations. Authorities confirmed that oil infrastructure was unaffected, despite the port’s strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz. (PC: EPA, Reuters)

A tragic incident struck Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day festival when a car plowed into crowds, killing nine and injuring several. The crash, which occurred Sunday evening in the Sunset on Fraser neighborhood, has been ruled out as terrorism by police. A 30-year-old local man, known to authorities, was arrested at the scene. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed condolences to victims and the Filipino-Canadian community. Footage showed a black SUV with a damaged hood amid debris and chaos. The festival, honoring Filipino hero Lapu Lapu, had featured a parade, concert, and cultural events before the devastating rampage. (PC: Reuters)

Google Maps captured a bizarre sight in Musashino, Tokyo—eight individuals wearing giant pigeon masks. These "pigeon people" were actually writers from a Japanese blog, who staged this scene after learning Google's Street View camera would pass by. Wearing coordinated outfits and oversized pigeon heads, they waited for a Google worker carrying a camera. The photo quickly went viral, sparking wild online speculation and reactions ranging from amusement to fear. The scene, resembling something from a fictional movie, is now a legendary example of how Google Street View often captures strange, frozen moments across the world. Similar oddities have also surfaced elsewhere, like in Norway’s forests. (PC: Times of India)

Hamas has expressed willingness to negotiate a five-year ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the one-time release of all remaining hostages, an official told AFP. The move comes as Hamas leaders prepare to meet mediators in Cairo. Previously, Hamas rejected a partial Israeli proposal offering a 45-day truce for 10 hostages. The group demands a complete Israeli withdrawal, prisoner swaps, and urgent humanitarian aid access. Israel insists on hostage returns and Hamas's disarmament. The ongoing war, sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack, has claimed over 51,000 Palestinian lives and left 58 hostages still held in Gaza.

Amid rising tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) after the Pahalgam terror attack, residents in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district are restoring underground 'Modi bunkers' for safety. Villagers in Salotri and Karmarha, near Pakistani military posts, are clearing and stocking shelters built under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Once forgotten during calm periods, these bunkers are now vital again. Locals expressed strong support for the Indian army and condemned the terror attack, pledging readiness to assist the forces. Security forces remain on high alert, with authorities urging civilians to stay vigilant and prepared for any escalation. (PC: Hindustan Times)

A senior Pakistan Army officer in London, Colonel Taimur Rahat, sparked outrage after being caught on video making a threatening throat-slit gesture towards protesters outside the Pakistan High Commission. Over 500 Indian and Jewish community members gathered peacefully to condemn the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Protesters accused Pakistan of supporting terror groups and demanded UK government action. Organisers called the gesture "provocation" and slammed the High Commission for playing celebratory music during the protest. Indo-Jewish groups also expressed solidarity with India, linking the Pahalgam attack to global Islamist radicalisation threats.

A massive blast rocked Iran’s Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas on Saturday, killing four and injuring at least 516 people, state media reported. The explosion coincided with the third round of US-Iran nuclear negotiations in Oman. Authorities said several containers at the port exploded, but the exact cause remains unclear. Social media showed smoke clouds, damaged buildings, and chaos. The Israel Defense Forces denied involvement despite the port’s proximity to an IRGC naval base. Officials confirmed the blast did not affect nearby oil facilities. Rescue efforts are ongoing as talks between Iran and the US continue.

Russia has said it is ready to hold peace talks with Ukraine without any preconditions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Saturday. President Vladimir Putin conveyed the message to US envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting in Moscow on Friday. However, US President Donald Trump, after earlier expressing hope for a peace deal, later voiced doubts about Putin’s intentions. Posting on Truth Social, Trump said recent missile attacks on civilian areas made him question if Russia truly wanted peace, hinting at possible new sanctions. "Too many people are dying!" Trump wrote, urging tougher action if needed. (PC: Reuters)