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The phone conversation came amid efforts by India’s strategic partners to reduce tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
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David Lammy speaks to S Jaishankar amid India-Pakistan conflict
May 09, 2025
INDIA’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar spoke with British foreign secretary David Lammy on Friday and said there must be “zero-tolerance” to terrorism.
The phone conversation came amid efforts by India’s strategic partners to reduce tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad.
“Our discussions centred around countering terrorism, for which there must be zero-tolerance,” Jaishankar said in a post on social media.
On Thursday, Jaishankar also held phone talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Italian deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani, and European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
ALSO READ: JD Vance says US won't intervene in India-Pakistan conflict
Tensions between India and Pakistan have risen following India’s Operation Sindoor early on Wednesday and Pakistan’s subsequent unsuccessful attempt to attack 15 Indian cities.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Rubio stressed the need for immediate de-escalation.
“He expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications,” she said.
“The secretary reiterated his condolences for the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism,” Bruce added.
ALSO READ: India's response to Pahalgam attack was limited to terror targets: Vikram Doraiswami
On his phone call with Kallas, Jaishankar said: “Discussed ongoing developments with EU HRVP @kajakallas.”
“India has been measured in its actions. However, any escalation will get a firm response,” he added.
The European Union said it is “monitoring closely and with great concern the growing tensions in the region and the ensuing consequences, including the possible loss of more lives.”
“The EU calls on both parties to exercise restraint, to de-escalate tensions and desist from further attacks to safeguard civilian lives on both sides,” it said.
“The EU urges both sides to engage in dialogue. It is vital that India and Pakistan also live up to their obligations under international law and take all measures possible to protect civilian lives,” it added.
ALSO READ: What is Operation Sindoor, India's strikes in Pakistan?
The EU said it will work with all parties to de-escalate the situation.
The UK foreign secretary on Wednesday also said the current tensions were a serious concern.
“The UK government is urging India and Pakistan to show restraint and engage in direct dialogue to find a swift, diplomatic path forward,” he said.
“The UK was clear in its condemnation of the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam last month. We need all sides to work urgently to see regional stability restored and ensure protection of civilians,” he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
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The suite is being funded entirely through charitable donations
London North West Healthcare Charity
LNWH Charity launches appeal to fund bereavement suite for parents
May 09, 2025
London North West Healthcare Charity has launched a fundraising appeal to create a dedicated bereavement suite at Northwick Park Hospital to support parents who have lost a baby.
Named the Myrtle Suite, the facility will be a private, self-contained area within the labour ward, offering grieving families space and privacy during an immensely difficult time. The suite will include a family room, kitchenette, double bedroom and ensuite bathroom, allowing parents to spend time with their baby in a peaceful and comfortable environment.
The charity aims to raise £150,000 to fund the project, with individual funding packages available to support elements such as new flooring (£4,800), fixtures for the kitchenette (£3,200), decorating (£2,700), calming wall murals (£2,300), and furnishings for family areas (£1,300).
The campaign was inspired by parents like Priya, whose son Shayen was born sleeping in 2017. She described the distress of being in a clinical room near others celebrating new births and emphasised the need for a more compassionate space. “Those first moments and hours after losing your baby are the most important,” she said. “The surroundings a loss parent is in can impact their healing journey.”
The suite is being funded entirely through charitable donations. Supporters can contribute via the LNWH Charity website or by contacting the fundraising team directly.
To donate, click here.
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'Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict,' Vance said on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)
JD Vance says US won't intervene in India-Pakistan conflict
May 09, 2025
US VICE PRESIDENT JD Vance said on Thursday that the United States wants India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions but will not get involved if a conflict breaks out between the two countries.
"We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can't control these countries, though," Vance said during an interview on Fox News' The Story with Martha MacCallum.
"What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we're not going to get involved in the middle of war that's fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America's ability to control it," he said.
ALSO READ: India says it repelled Pakistan drone, artillery attacks as tensions continue
India is a key partner for the United States in its strategy to counter China's growing influence, while Pakistan continues to be a US ally despite its reduced strategic role after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Analysts and some former officials have said that with Washington currently focused on diplomatic efforts related to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the US may allow India and Pakistan to manage the situation themselves in the early stages without strong intervention.
India and Pakistan have blamed each other for drone attacks, and Pakistan's defence minister said further retaliation was "increasingly certain" on Thursday, the second day of heavy clashes. Nearly four dozen people have been killed over two days of fighting.
ALSO READ: India's response to Pahalgam attack was limited to terror targets: Vikram Doraiswami
The latest round of tensions began on 22 April when terrorists killed 26 people in India-administered Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for the attack. Pakistan denied the accusation and called for a neutral investigation.
"Our hope and our expectation is that this is not going to spiral into a broader regional war or, God forbid, a nuclear conflict," Vance said on Thursday.
The US has been in contact with both countries, including on Thursday when secretary of state Marco Rubio spoke with Pakistan's prime minister and India’s foreign minister to urge de-escalation and direct dialogue.
ALSO READ: What is Operation Sindoor, India's strikes in Pakistan?
US president Donald Trump called the rise in tensions a shame. On Wednesday, he said he hoped the two countries would stop after going "tit-for-tat." The State Department also urged both sides to work towards what it described as a "responsible solution."
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Gates explained that his new approach to giving accelerates his previous plan
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Bill Gates to give away most of his wealth by 2045
May 09, 2025
Microsoft founder Bill Gates has announced his intention to give away 99% of his wealth by 2045, pledging to accelerate his charitable giving through his foundation.
In a blog post published on Thursday, 8 May 2025, Gates, 69, shared his plan to use the next two decades to distribute most of his vast fortune. He intends to wind down the operations of his foundation by 2045, a decision that marks an acceleration of his previous philanthropic goals.
Gates stated, "People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that 'he died rich' will not be one of them." His comments come as he outlines his commitment to giving away the vast majority of his wealth during his lifetime, following the philosophy of Andrew Carnegie, the late steel tycoon who argued that the wealthy had a duty to return their fortunes to society. Gates quoted Carnegie’s famous line: "The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced."
Since its inception, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has already contributed over $100 billion (£75 billion) towards global health and development projects. Gates revealed that the foundation plans to donate another $200 billion over the next two decades, depending on inflation and market conditions. These contributions will focus on areas such as health, poverty alleviation, and education.
Gates explained that his new approach to giving accelerates his previous plan, which involved continuing the foundation’s operations for several decades after his death. He told the BBC’s Newshour that he believes that in 20 years, there will be other wealthy individuals better positioned to address future global challenges. “It’s really about the urgency,” he explained. "We can spend a lot more if we're not trying to be perpetual, and I know that the spending will be in line with my values."
While giving away 99% of his wealth would still leave Gates with a substantial fortune, Bloomberg estimates his current net worth at $108 billion, making him the fifth-richest person in the world. Gates included a hand-drawn timeline in his blog post, showing his wealth gradually declining to close to zero by 2045. He also outlined that the foundation would draw on its endowment to distribute an additional $200 billion.
Co-founder of Microsoft alongside Paul Allen in 1975, Gates played a crucial role in the company’s dominance in the tech industry. Although he stepped down as CEO in 2000 and as chairman in 2014, his influence on the company and the technology sector remains significant. Over the years, Gates has become known for his philanthropic work, inspired by investor Warren Buffett and other wealthy philanthropists.
Despite praise for his charitable work, Gates' foundation has faced criticism from some quarters. Detractors argue that the foundation uses its charitable status to avoid tax and wields disproportionate influence over the global health system. Nonetheless, Gates has maintained that the foundation’s work is aimed at addressing the world’s most pressing issues.
In his blog post, Gates outlined three key goals for the foundation's future efforts: eliminating preventable diseases that affect mothers and children, eradicating infectious diseases such as malaria and measles, and reducing poverty for millions of people. Gates also criticised the recent cuts in foreign aid by the US, UK, and France, calling these reductions a setback for the world’s poorest people. He emphasised that the foundation would continue to support global efforts to alleviate poverty, regardless of political changes.
In a more pointed interview with the BBC, Gates responded to questions about his previous comments regarding tech billionaire Elon Musk. Gates had accused Musk of exacerbating global harm through cuts to US aid, specifically pointing to reductions in funding for programmes aimed at helping children. “These cuts will kill not just children, but millions of children,” Gates stated. “You wouldn't have expected the world's richest person to do it.”
Additionally, Gates raised concerns over cancelled grants to a hospital in Gaza Province, Mozambique, which had been linked to a false claim by former US president Donald Trump about funding for condoms for Hamas. Gates commented that Musk's cost-cutting measures had contributed to children in the region being infected with HIV, an outcome he described as tragic.
The BBC has reached out to Elon Musk for comment, but as of now, there has been no response.
The Gates Foundation continues to be one of the world’s leading philanthropic organisations, with a broad mandate to tackle global health issues and poverty. Despite the criticism, its efforts have contributed to significant improvements in healthcare, education, and poverty alleviation worldwide.
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Doraiswami gave interviews to several British media outlets on Thursday to outline India’s position on the current tensions with Pakistan.
ANI
India's response to Pahalgam attack was limited to terror targets: Vikram Doraiswami
May 09, 2025
INDIAs high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, said India’s response to last month’s terrorist attacks in Pahalgam was limited, targeted and aimed only at terror infrastructure. He said Pakistan has instead chosen to escalate the situation rather than take an “off-ramp” to end the crisis.
Doraiswami gave interviews to several British media outlets on Thursday to outline India’s position on the current tensions with Pakistan. Speaking to Sky News, he said the international community should urge Pakistan to take the opportunity to de-escalate.
He also showed an image on air of US-designated terrorist Abdur Rauf leading prayers for those killed in India’s Operation Sindoor. This image was also shared during a briefing by India's foreign secretary Vikram Mistry in New Delhi.
ALSO READ: India says it repelled Pakistan drone, artillery attacks as tensions continue
“Everybody knows that for the last 30 years, Pakistan has used this (terrorism) as a means of sub-critical warfare against India,” Doraiswami said.
“If the international community really wants to be able to look at this and worry about it, the simple solution is to tell Pakistan it has an opportunity for an off-ramp. These are things that the world should have compelled Pakistan to do 30 years ago, and to compel them to implement their promises about taking down this infrastructure. It has not done so,” he said.
Asked whether India fears a further escalation in the region, Doraiswami said the “original escalation” came from Pakistan-backed terror groups who attacked and shot civilians in Pahalgam on April 22.
ALSO READ: India-Pakistan conflict: British parliament appeals for de-escalation
“Our response thereafter was precise, targeted, reasonable and moderate. It was focused principally and solely on terrorist infrastructure. We did not strike the Pakistani military establishment. We did not strike national infrastructure, and we made it abundantly clear… that the object of this exercise was clearly to avoid military escalation – a fact actually acknowledged in a left-handed way, of course, by the Pakistani side in terms of their own official statements which said that the airspace hadn't been violated,” he said.
“The logical solution would be, as we've said repeatedly, for Pakistan to take the opportunity of an off-ramp, which we have made abundantly clear, including this morning, that if Pakistan stops attacking our military facilities, the matter ends there, but it is for them to decide,” he said.
ALSO READ: What is Operation Sindoor, India's strikes in Pakistan?
The high commissioner was also asked about reports of Indian jets allegedly being shot down, which remain unverified.
“If it satisfies Pakistan's ego to say that they've done something, they could have used that as an off-ramp to move on. But clearly they chose not to and they've continued to escalate the matter,” he added.
(With inputs from agencies)
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