Riyadh, May 13 (IANS) US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as he began a four-day visit to the Middle East which would also take him to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), later this week.As he reached Riyadh, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, welcomed Trump at the King Khalid International Airport. Trump was greeted with a 21-gun salute and trumpet fanfare upon his arrival. The Crown Prince and US President then engaged in cordial talks over Saudi coffee at the airport’s VIP lounge.Later, the Crown Prince received President Trump at the Royal Court in Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh.”We are thrilled to welcome President Trump to Riyadh for a visit that marks another milestone in our strategic partnership. Together, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United States of America stand as a force for good, advancing peace, security, and prosperity across the world,” Reema Bandar Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the US posted on X.The trip comes at a crucial time as US–Iran concluded the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman on Sunday.President Trump on Monday said that the Iranians were being “very reasonable” and “talking very intelligently” in negotiations with Washington over Tehran’s nuclear programme.”Soon I’m heading over to the Middle East, and we’ll see what we’ll do in regards to Iran. I think you have some very good things happening there,” Trump said, speaking to reporters before departing for Riyadh.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt touted Trump’s trip as a “historic return to the Middle East”.”Eight years later, President Trump will return to re-emphasise his continued vision for a proud, prosperous, and successful Middle East, where the United States and Middle Eastern nations are in cooperative relationships, and where extremism is defeated in place of commerce and cultural exchanges,” the Press Secretary said.Accompanying Trump on the four-day tour is US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the United States looks to strengthen ties with the Gulf partners.”Secretary Rubio’s engagements with senior officials will advance solutions to global and regional challenges, expand bilateral trade and investment, and reaffirm our strategic partnerships,” said the US Department of State.The United States has come under widespread regional criticism for backing Israel’s military escalation and proposing the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. Regional analysts hope that Washington could play a meaningful role during Trump’s visit by promoting a ceasefire and easing tensions, Xinhua news agency reported.With many issues in the Middle East “unsolved,” the need for the United States to coordinate with regional countries appears to be “more pressing than ever,” said Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Centre.Saudi Arabia marks Trump’s first major official overseas visit of his second term. On his inauguration day in January, Trump said that he would choose Saudi Arabia as his first destination “if Saudi Arabia wanted to buy another 450, or 500 billion (dollars’ worth of US products)”.–IANSint/scor/as

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Actor, singer and politician Babul Supriyo is remembering the late Bengali cinema legend Uttam Kumar.
On Tuesday, Babul took to his Instagram, and shared a monochromatic clip from a film starring Uttam Kumar. In the video, the actor can be seen in a dialogue exchange as he treats a patient, who has suffered a bullet injury. He then goes on to tell the patient that the bullet is not lodged inside his body before he asks him to run away.He says, “The bullet has not hit you, it has grazed through your stomach. There’s no risk. If you want to save yourself you take the back door. Get up. There is no other way”.Babul, who is the Cabinet Minister of Information Technology and Electronics in West Bengal, penned a long note in the caption.He wrote, “Uttam Kumar, a legendary figure in Bengali cinema, continues to inspire us with his remarkable acting prowess and enduring legacy. His captivating screen presence, nuanced performances, and versatility have set a high standard for actors. Through his iconic films, he has touched hearts, evoking emotions and sparking imagination”.“Uttam Kumar’s dedication to his craft and his ability to connect with audiences on a deep level serve as a timeless source of inspiration for artists, fans, and anyone passionate about the power of storytelling”, he added.Uttam Kumar was an Indian film actor, producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and playback singer, who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema. He was known as Mahanayak. His career spanned three decades, from the late 1940s until his death in 1980. He is regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema and also the most popular and successful film star in West Bengal.–IANSaa/

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Technology conglomerate Siemens Ltd on Tuesday reported over 37 per cent decline in its net profit at Rs 408 crore in January-March quarter, from Rs 649 crore in the year-ago period.Revenue remained flat due to the ongoing normalisation of demand in digital industries and due to normal project delivery schedules in the Mobility business, the company said in its stock exchange filing.The decline in profit from operations was due to under absorption and higher cost of material in the Digital Industries business.Additionally, the profit was impacted by an extraordinary gain of Rs 192 crore from the sale of property in Q2 FY 2024 and demerger expenses of Rs 63 crore in the current quarter, informed the company.The company follows an October-September cycle, which makes the January-March period its second quarter (Q2).“In spite of the challenging macro environment, our Order Income grew by 44 per cent driven by our mobility and smart infrastructure businesses where we see continued public Capex spending on infrastructure,” said Sunil Mathur, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Limited.The company, a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure and mobility, said that the short cycle ‘Digital Industries’ business, however, continues to be impacted by muted private Capex spending.“As private Capex picks up locally and globally, the demand for automation and digitalisation solutions will also increase, as technology has proven to be key to sustainable growth for industry and infrastructure,” said Mathur.In the March quarter, new orders rose 44 per cent to Rs 5,305 crore and order backlog grew by 7 per cent.In its earlier quarter (Q1), Siemens had reported a 21.5 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit at Rs 614.6 crore, compared to Rs 505.7 crore in the same period in FY24.–IANSna/

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) Adani Defence has hailed the Indian armed forces for their outstanding execution of ‘Operation Sindoor’ which reinforced the country’s resolve to safeguard its citizens and national values.Ashish Rajvanshi, CEO of Adani Defence and Aerospace, said on LinkedIn social media platform that “we remain steadfast in our purpose — serving those who serve India. With respect. With resolve.”“With deep sense of pride and gratitude, we salute the Indian Armed Forces for their outstanding execution of ‘Operation Sindoor’. Your bravery and selflessness have not only showcased your unwavering commitment but have also renewed our collective sense of unity and strength,” Rajvanshi posted in his post.He further stated that their “commitment to the tri-services is rooted in our core philosophy of nation-building. We carry this responsibility not just as a slogan, but as our purpose”.“Today, more than ever, we stand united as one nation, guided by an unwavering belief that the country comes first. To every courageous man and woman in uniform, and to their families who stand steadfastly behind them, we stand with you,” he noted.India used drones and missiles in ‘Operation Sindoor’ to wipe out as many as nine terrorist camps in Pakistan’s Punjab and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and killed more than 100 terrorists to avenge the massacre of 26 tourists in Pahalgam.This was followed up by attacks on major airbases across the border in retaliation to Pakistan drone and missile attacks on Indian civilian areas and military installations which were thwarted by India’s air defence systems.Pakistani drones and missiles were intercepted and neutralised by India’s air defence systems, showcasing the preparedness and effectiveness of the Indian armed forces.The operation has sent a clear message to terrorist organisations and their backers — that any attack on India or its citizens would be met with decisive and powerful retribution.–IANSna/

London, May 13 (IANS) England Cricket is ready to usher in a new era under new skipper Harry Brook who assumed duty across all formats after a string of poor performances across ICC tournaments.
After hosting Zimbabwe for a one-off Test match starting May 22 at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, England will contest three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20I’s against the West Indies. The ODI series gets underway with the opening match on Wednesday 29 May at Edgbaston.Across both the T20 and ODI squads, England have selected five players who were supposed to be playing for their respective franchises in the Indian Premier League 2025 which begins on Saturday, May 17. Jos Buttler (Gujarat Titans), Jofra Archer (Rajasthan Royals), Will Jacks (Mumbai Indians) Jacob Bethell (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) are included in both squads.Phil Salt (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) won’t be playing the 50-over game but will report for the T20 series starting on June 6. With the final scheduled to be played on June 3, his participation could be possible.Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson returns to the T20I squad for the first time since September 2022. The left-arm spinner, known for his versatility, will be looking to add to his 11 T20 caps.Nottinghamshire left-arm seamer Luke Wood also returns to the England T20 set-up, having last featured in September 2023. Lancashire spinner Tom Hartley has been included in the ODI squad. He last represented England in this format against Ireland in September 2023.Surrey batting all-rounder Jacks has been named in both squads, marking a return to the England set-up.ODI Squad:Harry Brook (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood. Matthew Potts, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie SmithT20 Squad:Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Potts, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood–IANSaaa/

Mumbai, May 13 (IANS) Aditya Birla Capital on Tuesday reported a sharp decline in its net profit for the fourth quarter (Q4) of FY25, as rising expenses offset the company’s healthy revenue growth. The company’s consolidated net profit fell by about 31.29 per cent to Rs 885.61 crore in Q4 FY25, compared to Rs 1,288.11 crore in the same quarter last fiscal (Q4 FY24), according to its stock exchange filing.This decline came despite a 13.3 per cent increase in revenue from operations, which rose to Rs 12,214.04 crore from Rs 10,779.71 crore in the same period last fiscal.Total income also grew by 13.29 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 12,238.92 crore.However, the gains were overshadowed by a steeper rise in total expenses, which surged 18.34 per cent to Rs 11,072.29 crore during the quarter from Rs 9,356.05 crore a year ago.Shares of Aditya Birla Capital reacted negatively to the results, closing 1.47 per cent lower at Rs 202.51 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).On the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the shares closed at Rs 204.35, down by Rs 1.20 or 0.58 per cent.In its regulatory filing, the company emphasised the strength of its digital and physical distribution strategy.“Aditya Birla Capital’s direct-to-customer (D2C) platform, ABCD, now offers over 25 financial products and services, and has attracted 5.5 million customers to date,” as per its exchange filing.Its business-focused platform, Udyog Plus, continues to gain traction in the MSME sector, with over 2.2 million registrations and a loan portfolio exceeding Rs 3,500 crore as of March 31.The company also highlighted its expanding physical footprint, with 1,623 branches across the country aimed at deepening its reach into tier 3 and tier 4 towns.–IANSpk/rvt/

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS) The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced that the National Selection Trials 3 and 4 in Rifle and Pistol events for Group ‘A’ shooters will be held from June 24 to 30 at the Trishul Shooting Range at the Maharana Pratap Sports College in Dehradun.These trials will help in shaping the Indian team for the 16th Asian Shooting Championships 2025 in Kazakhstan in August and ISSF World Cup in China and Egypt later in the year.The country’s elite rifle and pistol shooters come into this selection phase following an encouraging run in the double-legged South American ISSF World Cup tour, which marked the beginning of the new international calendar. Across both legs in Argentina and Peru, Indian shooters reached 32 finals, including mixed-team medal rounds, and brought home a total of 15 medals, six of them gold.As per the selection Criteria, only eligible shooters in Group “A” will be allowed to participate. The National Selection Trials 3 & 4 will cover all Olympic Rifle and Pistol events and will be limited to a select group of top-ranked shooters. This includes 50 slots each for 10m Air Rifle (Men & Women) and 10m Air Pistol (Men & Women), 30 slots each for 50m Rifle 3 Positions (Men & Women), 20 slots for 25m Rapid Fire Pistol (Men), and 30 slots for 25m Sport Pistol (Women).The first day of the trials, on June 25, will see the qualifying round and finals of 10 M Air Rifle Men, 25 M Pistol Women and 50 M 3-P Women of T3, which will be followed by the T4 qualifying and finals of the same events the next day.Earlier, NRAI announced a 22-member (rpt 22-member) squad for the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup stage for Rifle/Pistol in Munich, Germany, scheduled in the first week of June, with Paris Olympic bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale and reigning Asian Games champion Palak back in the mix.–IANSbc/bsk/

Incheon, May 13 (IANS) Diksha Dagar continues to be in the Top-10 of the Ladies European Tour’s Order of Merit, at the end of the Aramco Korea Championships.
The 24-year-old, who is now in her sixth year as a professional, has twice won on the Ladies European Tour, and multiple times on her home Tour, the Women’s Pro Golf Tour. Barring once in 2020, Diksha has always been in the Top-60 of the LET, with the best two finishes being 14th place in 2019, the year she won her maiden LET title, and third place in 2023, the year she had her second LET success.After a modest 2024, when she was 29th in the LET list, Diksha began in style with a runner-up finish, losing a play-off in the season-opener in Morocco. Of the eight events this season, one was cancelled in Australia, due to weather and Diksha has played all others.Other than the second place at Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco, Diksha was also T-11th at NSW Open in Australia, T-8 in Joburg Open and T-9 in Women’s South African Open.Pranavi Urs has also managed to keep her play at a good level. After being the top Indian in her rookie season in 2024 at T-17 with five Top-10s, she is 38th this year and right behind her rookie Avani Prashanth, who has also given a good account of herself in her first full season outside India.Other Indians on the LET have been Aditi Ashok, who plays mostly on the LPGA but makes occasional appearances on LET and Tvesa Malik. Hitaashee Bakshi, Sneha Singh and Amandeep Drall have conditional status with limited starts available to them on the Tour.The next event for the Indian women professionals will be the Dutch Ladies Open, where seven Indians will tee up as the Tour moves to Europe.–IANSbc/

Quetta, May 13 (IANS) The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has severely condemned the latest extrajudicial…

Patna, May 13 (IANS) Shourya Ambure is just 15 but already knows a thing or two about the right amount of effort to exert in competition. In a reflection of her maturity in accepting coach Ajit Kulkarni’s recommendation of not stretching herself in the quest of a Khelo India Youth Games record, she did enough to win 100m Hurdles gold on Monday.At the end of what has been a long season for Shourya Ambure, she scored a facile victory in the final on the opening day of Athletics competitions in Khelo India Youth Games 2025 Bihar. She loved returning to the Patliputra Sports Complex where she had first drawn national attention by winning the crown in the National Youth Championships in March.“At that time, my Board exams were on, and I skipped two papers to take part in the Nationals because it was a qualification event for the Asian Championship. I hadn’t done much training back then, but I believed I could do better,” she recalled of her last visit to Patna when she won gold in a time of 14.55 seconds.Between the two signposts that she marked in Patna in the span of two months, 15-year-old Shourya made the nation proud at the Asian Youth Championship in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where she clocked a personal best time of 13.80 seconds and won a bronze medal. She did not push herself in search of another personal best on Monday.Making her Khelo India Youth Games debut, she recorded a time of 14.33 seconds in the heats. Having felt a tightening of the hamstring and got a massage before the final, she secured gold in 14.11 seconds, well clear of Sonali Das (West Bengal) and Vishnu Shree NS (Kerala).“I wanted to do better but I’m happy with my performance. I clocked a decent time tonight. I’m only 15 and have a lot of time in the U18 to break the National Youth Record,” she said referring to the 13.70-second mark set by Tamil Nadu’s PM Thabitha back in 2019. “My coach, who has been guiding me for 10 years, told me to just run and enjoy the race.”Shourya Ambure is the product of a long-term vision that coach Ajit Kulkarni and her parents Rupali and Avinash Ambure, IPS officers holding high ranks in Maharashtra Police, have shared. “I started competing in the 80m hurdles in U14 category and continued the same until under-16. I was used to running 80-meter hurdle races. This was only my fourth race in the 100m Hurdles.”“Now, my goal is to win medals at the Youth Commonwealth Games and Youth Asian Games,” Shourya Ambure said.–IANSbc/ab