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Pakistan vows retaliation after India launches air strikes

By in News, World News

Pakistan has promised to retaliate after India launched military strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, fuelling fears of a broader confrontation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Pakistan’s government on Wednesday pledged to respond “at a time, place and manner of its choosing to avenge the loss of innocent Pakistani lives and blatant violation of its sovereignty”.

Pakistan’s military said at least 31 civilians were killed and 46 others injured in the Indian attacks and ensuing cross-border shelling, describing the strikes as having “ignited an inferno in the region”.

In New Delhi, Indian officials briefed more than a dozen foreign envoys, telling them: “If Pakistan responds, India will respond”.

It comes amid spiralling tensions following a deadly attack last month on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, which India blamed on Pakistan-based fighters. Islamabad has denied any involvement.

Cross-border shelling

India’s government said its forces targeted nine sites it described as “terrorist infrastructure”, including facilities allegedly linked to the fighters who killed 25 tourists and one local in last month’s Kashmir attack.

However, in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, residents said Indian missiles struck a mosque-seminary in the city centre.

Indian security force personnel stand guard near the site of a fighter jet crash in Wuyan in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pulwama district, May 7, 2025]Sharafat Ali/Reuters]

The building, which included residential quarters, was left in ruins, with five missiles reportedly killing three people inside the two-storey structure.

Meanwhile, heavy cross-border shelling and gunfire continued along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border dividing Kashmir. Officials said 13 civilians were killed and 43 wounded on the Indian side, while at least six civilians were killed on the Pakistani side.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s Office claimed that five Indian fighter jets and drones were shot down during the escalation. The Indian embassy in Beijing dismissed reports of downed aircraft as “disinformation”.

Sharif promises response

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar told TRT World that there had been communication between the national security advisers of the two countries, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged that Pakistan would respond decisively.

“For the blatant mistake that India made last night, it will now have to pay the price”, Sharif said on state broadcaster PTV. “Perhaps they thought that we would retreat, but they forgot that … this is a nation of brave people”.

Al Jazeera’s Osama Bin Javaid, reporting from Islamabad, said that retaliation from Pakistan was widely anticipated.

“Pakistan is expected to retaliate within the next 24 to 48 hours, and that’s something we’ve been hearing from politicians across the board”, he said.

“They’re citing Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which says that a country has the right to respond to an unprovoked act of aggression”.

India defended its actions, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh claiming its “targets we had set were destroyed with exactness according to a well-planned strategy”.

“We have shown sensitivity by ensuring that no civilian population was affected in the slightest”, he added.

Islamabad claims six sites targeted by India were not linked to armed groups.

A paramilitary soldier stands guard outside a government complex after Indian missile attacks in Muridke
A paramilitary soldier stands guard outside the Government Health and Educational complex after Indian strikes in Muridke, about 30 kilometres, or 20 miles, from Lahore, on May 7, 2025]Arif Ali/AFP]

‘ I want to see it stop ‘

The Pakistani military said 57 commercial aircraft from multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Thailand, South Korea and China, were in Pakistan’s airspace at the time of India’s attack, putting thousands of passengers at risk.

India has since ordered the closure of at least 21 civilian airports in the northern and western parts of the country for passenger flights until May 10, The Hindu reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Prime Minister Sharif and expressed Ankara’s support. According to the Turkish presidency, Erdogan praised Pakistan’s “calm and restrained policies” during the crisis.

In Washington, United States President Donald Trump said he hoped to help de-escalate the situation. “I want to see it stop. And if I can do anything to help, I will be there”, he told reporters at the White House. “We want to see them work it out”.

Alison Hammond shares weight loss secrets and fitness programme after 11 stone drop

By in Entertainment News, News

Alison Hammond has revealed how she has lost an impressive 11 stone in weight as she opened up on her new routine with her ‘amazing’ personal trainer

Alison Hammond in 2022(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Alison Hammond has shared a sneak peek into her new lifestyle change after an impressive 11 stone weight loss journey. The presenter, 50, revealed her drop came without the use of weight-loss jabs.

Instead, Alison has focused on an exercise plan with a personal trainer. Her decision to lose weight came after the death of her mother Maria, who had previously shared her concerns regarding her daughter’s pre-diabetic diagnosis.

At her heaviest, Alison weighed in at 28 stone. She admits her new routine sees her “amazing” personal trainer train her when Alison is available. “If I’m working, I don’t train, I’ll go for a walk,” Alison revealed.

Alison Hammond in 2015
Alison Hammond in 2015

Speaking to Heat, Alison continued: “But when I’m at home, I’ll go and have a session with her in the morning, just an hour. It might be four days a week.”

And she went on to admit her diet doesn’t see her cutting out some of her favourite foods completely. Instead, she focuses on her intake being in “moderation”.

Article continues below

Her insight comes after she previously explained why weight-loss jobs weren’t something she would consider. She admitted she had heard too many “scary” stories regarding using them.

In a chat with Good Housekeeping in December, she confessed: “‘I think that, for people who need to use them, they’re a good thing – but for me, as soon as I hear any scare story, I get frightened.

“So I haven’t wanted to use them, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t in the future, and I certainly wouldn’t look down on anyone who did.”

Writing in her memoir last year, Alison opened up on her mother and revealed how her behaviour and actions helped her become the woman she is today. The This Morning presenter explained that her mother “used to sing,” and that the “house would be filled with laughter. People would come over, she’d cook.”

Alison Hammond in April 2025
Alison Hammond in April 2025(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Alison confessed she learned a lot from those who came to the house, writing: “in the sense of strong women looking after women, women teaching women”.

Article continues below

Two years ago, the This Morning star spoke to the Loose Women panel about her grief, revealing that the death of Queen Elizabeth II brought back painful memories of losing her mum. At the time, she said: “I thought I had grieved but when the Queen died it all came down on me. It hit me like a thunderbolt and I had to go to the cemetery.”

READ MORE: Amazon slashes prices of dentist-approved DrDent Teeth Whitening Strips to 90p per treatment

Alison Hammond shares weight loss secrets and fitness programme after 11 stone drop

By in Entertainment News, News

Alison Hammond has revealed how she has lost an impressive 11 stone in weight as she opened up on her new routine with her ‘amazing’ personal trainer

Alison Hammond in 2022(Image: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Alison Hammond has shared a sneak peek into her new lifestyle change after an impressive 11 stone weight loss journey. The presenter, 50, revealed her drop came without the use of weight-loss jabs.

Instead, Alison has focused on an exercise plan with a personal trainer. Her decision to lose weight came after the death of her mother Maria, who had previously shared her concerns regarding her daughter’s pre-diabetic diagnosis.

At her heaviest, Alison weighed in at 28 stone. She admits her new routine sees her “amazing” personal trainer train her when Alison is available. “If I’m working, I don’t train, I’ll go for a walk,” Alison revealed.

Alison Hammond in 2015
Alison Hammond in 2015

Speaking to Heat, Alison continued: “But when I’m at home, I’ll go and have a session with her in the morning, just an hour. It might be four days a week.”

And she went on to admit her diet doesn’t see her cutting out some of her favourite foods completely. Instead, she focuses on her intake being in “moderation”.

Article continues below

Her insight comes after she previously explained why weight-loss jobs weren’t something she would consider. She admitted she had heard too many “scary” stories regarding using them.

In a chat with Good Housekeeping in December, she confessed: “‘I think that, for people who need to use them, they’re a good thing – but for me, as soon as I hear any scare story, I get frightened.

“So I haven’t wanted to use them, but that’s not to say I wouldn’t in the future, and I certainly wouldn’t look down on anyone who did.”

Writing in her memoir last year, Alison opened up on her mother and revealed how her behaviour and actions helped her become the woman she is today. The This Morning presenter explained that her mother “used to sing,” and that the “house would be filled with laughter. People would come over, she’d cook.”

Alison Hammond in April 2025
Alison Hammond in April 2025(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Alison confessed she learned a lot from those who came to the house, writing: “in the sense of strong women looking after women, women teaching women”.

Article continues below

Two years ago, the This Morning star spoke to the Loose Women panel about her grief, revealing that the death of Queen Elizabeth II brought back painful memories of losing her mum. At the time, she said: “I thought I had grieved but when the Queen died it all came down on me. It hit me like a thunderbolt and I had to go to the cemetery.”

READ MORE: Amazon slashes prices of dentist-approved DrDent Teeth Whitening Strips to 90p per treatment

Raducanu & Norrie claim Rome wins as Boulter beaten

By in News, Sports News
Getty Images
Lorraine McKenna
BBC Sport journalist

Britain’s Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie won their first-round matches at the Italian Open as Katie Boulter failed to progress in Rome.

Raducanu, making her first appearance at the tournament after a three-year absence, had to dig deep to win 7-5 6-7 (1-7) 6-3 against Australian Maya Joint.

The British number two felt the level of the match was “really high” and said: “I’m really proud of myself as well because that was a great performance, I think, on all fronts.”

Norrie booked his second-round place with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win over Christopher O’Connell.

Meanwhile, 28-year-old Boulter lost 3-6 3-6 to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia.

After taking a tight first set, Raducanu was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second when a resurgent Joint fought back and was able to take the former US Open champion to a tie-break, which the 19-year-old breezed through 7-1.

Raducanu then had to regroup for the deciding set and raced into a 5-0 lead, only to be pegged back again by Joint who won the next three games. She finally closed out the set on serve after two hours and 44 minutes.

During a bathroom break after the second set, Raducanu used the thought of losing the match to fuel her motivation going into the decider.

“That was pretty powerful and strong,” added the 22-year-old.

Raducanu returned to action in April after taking a month-long break from competitive tennis. She made it through to the second round at the Madrid Open two weeks ago but fell to a straight-set defeat by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.

In the men’s competition, British number three Norrie was defeated by Serbian Dusan Lajovic in the qualifying round on Tuesday, but he received a spot in the main draw as a lucky loser.

The 29-year-old dropped just five games against O’Connell in a 76-minute match and told Sky Sports he channelled his anger into overcoming the Australian following his disappointing performance against Lajovic.

“I was sharp, I didn’t give him much and I played some physical tennis,” said Norrie. “I was just really happy I turned that energy around.”

Related topics

  • Tennis

Black smoke emerges as cardinals fail to elect new pope in first ballot

By in News, World News

Thick black smoke has emerged from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, signalling that the cardinals sealed off inside have failed to elect a new pope in their first conclave vote.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Vatican City’s St Peter’s Square to await the smoke, which came about three hours and 15 minutes after the 133 cardinals were sequestered.

Cardinals from about 70 countries were called back to Rome following Pope Francis’s death on April 21 after 12 years as head of the Catholic Church. As they were shut off from the outside world on Wednesday, their mobile phones were surrendered, and airwaves around the Vatican were jammed to prevent communications until a new pope is elected.

The cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday to vote again, and will continue to do so until one of them secures a two-thirds majority – 89 votes – to be elected pope.

The start of the conclave, with a solemn procession of cardinals and other clergy into the Sistine Chapel, was streamed live on large screens in front of St Peter’s Basilica.

Huge crowds waited in St Peter’s Square, watching screens that showed the chimney and the occasional seagull. While some left in frustration, those who stayed cheered when the smoke finally billowed out.

“It would be perfect, lovely to be here for a new pope,” said Irish tourist Catriona Hawe, 60.

“Francis was brilliant, progressive, a man of the people, though he didn’t move things forward as quickly as I would have liked,” she said.

“The Church won’t be doing itself any favours if it elects someone conservative.”

Reporting from Vatican City, Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid said the black smoke, signifying that a new pope had not been elected, was expected.

“In no living memory has there been a pope that was elected on the first day of the conclave,” she said.

“Usually this first vote is a way for the cardinals to understand how things are going and in which direction their fellow electors are thinking,” before they return to the guesthouse where they are staying for the election, said Abdel-Hamid.

Francis named 108 of the 133 “princes of the church,” choosing many pastors from countries including Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga that had never had a cardinal before.

His decision to surpass the usual limit of 120 cardinal electors has injected an extra degree of uncertainty in a process that is always full of suspense.

Many cardinals had not met until last week and lamented they needed more time to get to know one another, raising questions about how long it might take for one man to secure the votes necessary to become the 267th pope.

Both Francis and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, were elected within two days, but the longest papal election lasted 1,006 days, from 1268 to 1271.

Challenges facing the Church

There is no clear frontrunner to succeed Francis, with the cardinals representing a range of progressive and conservative traditions within the Church. More than a dozen names are circulating, from Italian Pierbattista Pizzaballa to Hungary’s Peter Erdo and Sri Lanka’s Malcolm Ranjith.

But there are numerous challenges facing the 2,000-year-old institution: falling priest numbers, the role of women, the Vatican’s troubled balance sheets, adapting the Church to the modern world, the continued fallout from the clerical child abuse scandal and – in the West – increasingly empty pews.