Morning Digest: Pope Francis’ funeral to be held today, President Murmu and other leaders in Rome to attend; Pakistan won’t get a drop of water, says Jal Shakti Minister Patil, and more

Here is a select list of stories to start the day

India will not allow single drop of water from Indus River into Pakistan: Union Minister Paatil

The government is working on a strategy to ensure that not a single drop of water flows from India into Pakistan, Jal Shakti Minister C. R. Paatil asserted on Friday following a high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah.

President Murmu in Rome to attend Pope Francis’ funeral

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Rome on Friday (April 25, 2025) to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. Francis, who was the first non-European Pope in nearly 1,300 years, died on Monday. He was 88.

Pahalgam terror attack: Baisaran meadow open to tourists for years, police permit never sought, says J&K Government official

A day after officials from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed an all-party meeting that police permission was not sought for opening the Baisaran meadow where 26 people were killed by terrorists on April 22, a senior J&K Government official told The Hindu that police authorisation has never been sought for the tourist spot, which is open throughout the year barring snowy months.

Pakistan doing West’s dirty work for decades: Pakistan Defence Minister

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has admitted the country’s history of supporting, training and funding terrorist organisations as “dirty work” for the West, a mistake for which he said Pakistan had suffered.

Urban Affairs Ministry vision for Viksit Bharat focuses on providing ‘drink from tap’ facilities

Aligning with the Centre’s “Viksit Bharat” vision, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry has created a blueprint for achieving comprehensive water security and sustainability across the country, with a focus on shifting to “drink from tap” facilities.

India, France to finalise ₹63,000-crore deal for 26 Rafale-M jets on April 28

India and France are set to formally announce the conclusion of the around ₹63,000-crore deal for 26 Rafale-M fighter jets on Monday (April 28, 2025), official sources confirmed. With the earlier planned visit of French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu to India for the signing deferred due to personal reasons, the government-to-government (G-to-G) deal is now being inked by the two Ministers remotely, sources in the know said.

Trump says ‘Crimea will stay with Russia’ as he seeks end to war in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that “Crimea will stay with Russia," the latest example of the U.S. leader pressuring Ukraine to make concessions to end the war while it remains under siege.

NIA searches 18 locations in Pakistan-backed arms & drugs smuggling case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has carried out searches at 18 locations in five States and one Union Territory in a case linked to Pakistan-backed smuggling of arms and narcotics by “Khalistani” operatives.

191 Pakistani nationals return home through Attari-Wagah border in Punjab

A total of 191 Pakistani nationals visiting India returned home through the Attari-Wagah land route in Punjab's Amritsar on Friday, after the Centre set a 48-hour deadline for them to leave the country in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said.

Govt. revokes 14 categories of visas given to Pakistani nationals

The government has revoked 14 categories of visas, including business, conference, visitor and pilgrim, given to Pakistani nationals, following the terror attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in which 26 people were killed, the Union Home Ministry said on Friday.

Kasturirangan tapped space for the benefit of common man

Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, the former ISRO Chairman, is no more. Starting as an X-ray astronomer, he grew up in positions, and his scholastic services as well as accomplishments in the fields of science, technology and education have left an indelible mark.

Will support India as it hunts for those responsible for Pahalgam attack’: DNI Tulsi Gabbard

U.S. Director of National IntelligenceTulsi Gabbard on Friday (April 25, 2025) said America stands with India as it hunts down those responsible for the heinous Pahalgam attack.

India’s decision on Indus casts shadow on renewal of Indo-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty: Bangladesh water expert

India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan ‘in abeyance’ has proved that India will not hesitate to use water as a “weapon” in case political relations with common riparian neighbours nosedive, a leading water expert of Bangladesh has remarked.

IPL 2025 CSK vs SRH | Harshal, Kishan and Mendis star as SRH breaks Chepauk jinx

Sometimes when it rains, it pours. Chennai Super Kings once took pride in making the MAC Stadium a fortress. Opponents had struggled for years to breach the hallowed turf. However, 2025 has been an annus horribilis for Super Kings. Royal Challengers Bengaluru won a game here after 17 years, while Delhi Capitals (formerly Delhi Daredevils) won here for the first time after 2010. On Friday, it was the turn of Sunrisers Hyderabad to taste its first-ever victory against CSK in Chennai, when it beat the five-time champion by five wickets and effectively ended the home team’s IPL campaign.

Published - April 26, 2025 06:52 am IST