NewsBytes
India, Pak DGMOs hold crucial talks
The Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan deliberated on various aspects of the May 10 understanding reached between the two sides on cessation of hostilities. The talks over the hotline were previously scheduled at 12 noon. However, they started at around 5 PM. "The DGMO-level talks have concluded. Further details are awaited and will be shared in due course," the Indian Army said. The understanding on cessation of hostilities was announced following talks between the two DGMOs on Saturday. Though there were cases of violation of the understanding by the Pakistani military on Saturday night, there were no such incidents on Sunday night. Hours ahead of the DGMO talks, senior officials of the Indian military addressed a media briefing, highlighting various aspects of the Operation Sindoor.
PSX hits 26-year high, soars over 9 pc amid India-Pak understanding to halt military
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) recorded its sharpest single-day gain in 26 years on Monday, gaining an over 9 per cent increase in trading amid an understanding between India and Pakistan to halt all military actions. With the geopolitical situation limping back to normalcy, the KSE-100 index scored high during intraday trading. The index opened with a gain of 9,929.48 points, or 9.26 per cent, to stand at 117,104.11 points from the previous close of 107,174.63. Due to the massive gains, the PSX was suspended for an hour after opening to control excessive volatility. Mid afternoon, the benchmark index stood at 116,857.00 points, with a gain of 9,682.37 points (9.03 per cent). Quoting Topline Securities, a Pakistani brokerage house, Geo News said that the market witnessed a historic day with the benchmark index rising by 9.45 per cent in a single day, the highest rise after 26 years.
US and China reach deal to temporarily slash tariffs, easing slump fears
The United States and China reached a better-than-expected deal to temporarily slash tariffs, sending stocks and the US dollar sharply higher, as the world's two biggest economies seek to end a damaging trade war that has stoked fears of recession.
The US will cut extra tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports in April this year to 30% from 145% and Chinese duties on US imports will fall to 10% from 125% for the next 90 days, the two sides said on Monday.
The accord does not include the "de minimis" exemptions for low-value e-commerce shipments from China and Hong Kong, which the Trump administration terminated on May 2, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The duties are also still higher than before
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a raft of tariffs on April 2.
Virat Kohli bids farewell to Test cricket
India's star batsman Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on Monday, marking an end to an illustrious 14-year-old career which saw him dominate a variety of conditions, regions, and opponents in whites, both as a batter and captain. Kohli took to his Instagram handle and announced his decision to retire from the longest format of the game.
"It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It's tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life. There's something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever," Kohli wrote on Instagram.
In his Test career, the 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).
He made his Test debut in June 2011 against West Indies. His rise as a Test player started with his maiden ton against Australia at Adelaide in 2012, when he made 116 in 213 balls. In a tour where no other could touch 300 runs for India and giants like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, and Virender Sehwag looked a shadow of their dominant selves, Virat top-scored for India with 300 runs in four Tests, including a century and fifty. Between 2011 to 2015, he made 2,994 runs in 41 Tests at an average of 44.03, with 11 centuries and 12 fifties in 72 innings.
Between 2016 to 2019, Virat had one of the strongest batting primes ever for a Test cricketer, piling up 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, with 16 centuries and 10 fifties in 69 innings and best score of 254*. This also included seven double centuries, most by a captain in Test cricket history.
Delhi to conduct cloud-seeding trials with each flight lastingfor 1.5 hours
Cloud-seeding, also known as artificial rain, is a technique to induce rainfall by dispersing specific substances into clouds, which eventually leads to rain if other weather conditions are favourable.
