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‘Uski fitrat hai mukar jaane ki’: Shashi Tharoor’s poetic swipe at Pakistan after ceasefire violation – Times of India
Posting on X, Tharoor shared the Hindi couplet, “Uski fitrat hai mukar jaane ki, uske vaade pe yakeen kaise karu,” which roughly translates to, “It’s their nature to go back on their word, how can I trust their promises?” He ended the post with the hashtag #ceasefireviolated.
Tharoor’s comment came after loud explosions were reported across Srinagar and nearby border districts following the entry of Pakistani drones into Indian territory, mere hours after both nations formally agreed to de-escalate military activity.
As a precaution, several districts across Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan were plunged into complete darkness.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri urged Islamabad to respond responsibly. “We call upon Pakistan to take appropriate steps to address these violations and handle the situation with seriousness and responsibility. The Armed Forces are maintaining a strong vigil on the situation and have been given strict instructions to respond firmly to any repetition of border violations along the International Border and the LoC,” he said.
Prior to the ceasefire agreement, India had made its stance clear — any act of terrorism on its soil would be considered an “act of war” and would invite a corresponding response.
Vikram Misri further stated, that the Indian Armed Forces remain on high alert and are fully prepared to retaliate decisively in the event of any further provocations.
Tensions escalated after a sentry at the Nagrota military base detected suspicious movement and opened fire, sustaining minor injuries in the process.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah noted military activity resuming in the heart of Srinagar. “This is no ceasefire. The air defence units in the middle of Srinagar just opened up,” he said.
In Srinagar, multiple explosions were reported, leading to the immediate activation of air defence systems.
Pakistani drones were also detected and neutralised over Udhampur, with residents recalling red streaks in the sky and loud explosions during the interception.
In Gujarat’s Kutch district, similar drone sightings prompted a complete blackout. “Several drones have been spotted in the Kutch district.”
US negotiators to head to Pakistan and Iranian cargo ship seized – a recappublished at 00:37 BST 20 April
Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday
Here’s a recap of the latest developments.
US negotiators will head to Pakistan on Monday with the intention of holding further talks on ending the war, Trump says – but Iranian state media cites unnamed officials as saying Tehran has “no plans for now to participate”.
The prospect of further high-level negotiations – a White House official says Vice-President JD Vance will attend – comes amid reports of fresh attacks on commercial vessels.
Trump says the navy intercepted and took “custody” of an Iranian tanker attempting to pass through the US blockade, “blowing a hole” in the ship’s engine room in the process.
Earlier, in the same post announcing his representatives would travel for more talks, Trump renewed his threat to destroy Iranian energy sites and bridges if no deal is reached.
Reports in Iranian media over the weekend suggest Iran is continuing to work on plans to potentially apply a toll to ships passing through the strait – although it’s unclear if such a move will be implemented.
Iranian state TV cites unnamed officials as saying that “continuation of the so-called naval blockade, violation of the ceasefire and threatening US rhetoric” are slowing progress in reaching an agreement.
Trump also accused Iran of violating the ceasefire, saying more commercial ships have been attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.
A UK maritime agency reported two commercial ships came under fire in the strait on Saturday.
Iran’s foreign minister had said on Friday that the strait would be opened – which was shortly followed by Trump saying the US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a deal is reached. Iran has since said the strait is closed again.
new video loaded: 8 Children Killed in Louisiana Shooting, Police Say
By Christina Kelso
April 19, 2026
An aerial view shows damage from a tornado, on Saturday in Lena, Ill.
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Communities across the Upper Midwest are cleaning up after tornadoes and severe weather impacted the region over the weekend, damaging and destroying dozens of homes and knocking out power for tens of thousands.
“Numerous” severe storms were tracked across parts of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. At least 66 tornado reports were submitted in multiple states including Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa, the NWS Quad Cities IA/IL office said Sunday.
No deaths have been reported from the severe weather and tornado outbreak.
In Marion Township in Minnesota, about 30 homes were damaged and a dozen have significant damage because of a tornado, according to the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. The tornado also damaged at least 20 homes in Stewartville and there is a temporary shelter in Rochester for people displaced by the storms, according to MPR News.
“Tornado disaster recovery continues to occur at full speed,” the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office said on Saturday.
In Illinois, McClean County officials declared a disaster emergency because of severe storms in Bloomington. “At this time, no injuries have been reported, and emergency response agencies remain actively engaged to ensure public safety and continuity of essential services,” officials said in a statement.
But further north in the village of Lena, an EF-2 tornado caused the “most significant damage” where “many homes and outbuildings were damaged, trees uprooted, and power lines downed,” the NWS said. Numerous roads have also been blocked by debris, the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office also said.
People continue to clean up following a tornado, on Saturday in Lena, Ill.
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There have been no fatalities and no reports of serious injuries associated with the storm, Chief Deputy Andy Schroeder from the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office told NPR on Sunday.
More than 43,000 customers lost power in Illinois but power was restored to almost all of them by Saturday night, according to electric utility ComEd.
Several tornadoes also occurred across Wisconsin, according to the NWS office in La Crosse. Twenty-six tornado warnings were issued by the office on Friday, the most in one day since the weather service office was built in 1995.
In one Marathon County town, 75 homes were destroyed by a tornado, according to Ringle Fire Chief Chris Kielman.
“It took out a whole residential area,” Kielman said, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
The American Red Cross of Wisconsin said volunteers are helping those impacted by the storm with meals, shelter and support.
Parts of the state are still dealing with multiple rounds of severe weather and tornadoes from earlier in the week that brought flooding to some communities.
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