News highlights: PM Modi participates in business meeting in Cyprus to boost bilateral relations

Israel-Iran conflict: Israel and Iran traded fresh strikes over the weekend, fuelling fears of a wider regional conflict, catch all the LIVE updates here

11:22 PM

Sonia Gandhi hospitalised for stomach-related issues in Delhi

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi on Sunday with stomach-related issues.

11:08 PM

PM participates in business meeting in Cyprus to boost bilateral relations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took part in a business roundtable with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, emphasising the need to boost bilateral ties in trade, investment, and defence. Earlier in the day, the prime minister arrived in Cyprus and addressed business leaders from both countries during the meeting.

10:58 PM

Strong border areas protect country's core, act as a first line of defence: J-K LG

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday said the administration has focused on major infrastructure development in border areas over the past five years, emphasising that strong border regions serve as the country's first line of defence. He added that the inclusive development plan was implemented effectively, benefiting people across all regions and sections of the Union Territory.

9:33 PM

Heavy rainfall predicted in Guwahati in next 2-3 days

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast cloudy conditions in Guwahati for the next two to three days, with the possibility of heavy to very heavy rainfall in several areas, according to an official release on Sunday. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) stated that there is a 75 per cent chance of thunderstorms, along with heavy to very heavy rain, in isolated parts of the city during this period.

8:32 PM

Amit Shah dials Maha CM on Indrayani river bridge collapse

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday spoke with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to assess the situation after an iron bridge collapsed over the Indrayani river. Shah stated that NDRF teams stationed nearby promptly participated in the rescue efforts.

7:55 PM

Maharashtra sees 40 COVID-19 cases; takes tally to 2007

Maharashtra reported 40 new COVID-19 cases and one death in the past 24 hours on Sunday, according to a health department official. Since January 1, the total number of cases in the state has reached 2,007, with 28 deaths recorded so far. Of these, 27 had comorbid conditions. The latest fatality was a 47-year-old man from Wardha district, the official added.

6:33 PM

Ahmedabad plane crash: DNA tests identify 47 victims; 24 bodies handed over to kin

Three days after a London-bound Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad, officials said on Sunday that 47 victims have been identified through DNA testing. According to the official, the bodies of 24 victims have been handed over to their families.

6:20 PM

Eight killed in latest shooting near aid site in Gaza

At least eight Palestinians were killed and dozens injured on Sunday in a shooting incident near food distribution points in the Gaza Strip, according to local health officials. The aid centres are reportedly supported by both Israel and the United States.

5:31 PM

Andhra CM urges Centre to support tobacco farmers, reconsider import duties on palm oil

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday discussed key issues affecting the state's agriculture, trade and export sectors. Naidu sought Rs 150 crore support through the Tobacco Board for HD Burley procurement, as the state is spending Rs 300 crore due to falling tobacco prices.

4:57 PM

U'khand govt suspends helicopter services on Char Dham route for 2 days after fatal crash

Following the crash of a private helicopter returning from Kedarnath on Sunday morning, the Uttarakhand government has suspended all helicopter services along the Char Dham Yatra route for two days and initiated a high-level investigation into the incident. The helicopter, operated by Aryan Aviation Pvt Ltd, went down near Guptkashi, resulting in the deaths of all seven people on board, including the pilot.

4:43 PM

Over 100 killed in gunmen attack in Nigeri

Gunmen have killed at least 100 people in Yelewata village, located in Nigeria’s Benue state, according to Amnesty International. The organisation noted that ongoing clashes between herders and farmers have driven widespread violence, resulting in hundreds of deaths and the displacement of millions since 2019. Many people remain missing.

3:30 PM

Eight killed as heavy rains lash parts of Maharashtra

At least eight people were killed, mostly due to lightning strikes, as heavy rains pummelled parts of Maharashtra, officials said. The weather department issued a red alert for the coastal districts of Ratnagiri and Raigad and an orange alert for Palghar, Thane, and Sindhudurg, and ghat areas of Pune, Satara and Kolhapur.

1:36 PM

Congress condemns Israel's recent bombings, targeted assassinations on Iranian soil

The Congress on Sunday unequivocally condemned Israel's recent "bombings and targeted assassinations" on Iranian soil and said this attack on Iran's sovereignty and encroachment of its rights only deepens instability as well as sows the seeds of further conflict.
 

The opposition party asserted that India must speak clearly, act responsibly, and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue.
 

"The Indian National Congress unequivocally condemns Israel's recent bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil, which represent a dangerous escalation with grave regional and global consequences," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X.
 

"This attack on Iran's sovereignty and encroachment of its rights, whether through aerial strikes or covert killings, only deepens instability and sows the seeds of further conflict," he said.

1:11 PM

Israeli, Saudi stocks fall as West Asian conflict worsens: Report

Israeli stocks dropped on their first day of trading after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government began airstrikes against Iran, Bloomberg reported. Saudi Arabia’s equity benchmark slid as concerns of a wider conflict gripped the region.
 

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange 35 Index fell 1.5 per cent at the open on Sunday, extending last week’s 1.5 per cent decline. The Tadawul All Share Index slid 2.5 per cent. Egypt’s EGX 30 Index sank 7.7 per cent, the most in more than a year on a closing basis. The markets were closed on Friday.

The latest selloff came as Israel and Iran continued to attack each other’s territories for a third day. On Friday, when the hostilities erupted, the shekel tumbled the most in 11 months, while oil prices surged 7 per cent. The worsening conflict also sent shock waves across financial markets, fueling a rush into traditional havens such as gold and dollar.

12:49 PM

Israel, Iran trade strikes for third day as nuclear talks are called off

Israel unleashed airstrikes across Iran for a third day on Sunday and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to strike buildings in the heart of the country. Planned talks on Iran's nuclear programme, which could provide an off-ramp, were called off.

 

The region braced for a protracted conflict after Israel's surprise bombardment of Iran's nuclear and military sites on Friday killed several top generals and nuclear scientists, and neither side showed any sign of backing down. Israel reportedly targeted a gas installation, raising the prospect of a broader assault on Iran's heavily sanctioned energy industry that could affect global markets.

 

US President Donald Trump has expressed full support for Israel's actions while warning Iran that it can only avoid further destruction by agreeing to a new nuclear deal.

 

New explosions echoed across Tehran and were reported elsewhere in the country early Sunday, but there was no update to a death toll put out the day before by Iran's UN ambassador, who said 78 people had been killed and more than 320 wounded.

12:49 PM

Israel's military warns Iranians to evacuate arms-making facilities, signalling possible new strikes

The Israeli military warned Iranians on Sunday to immediately evacuate military weapons production factories, likely signalling new strikes are coming.

 

Col Avichay Adraee, a military spokesperson, posted the warning on the social platform X in Iran's Farsi language.

 

Adraee in the past has signalled other strikes in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Yemen amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

 

His warning came just after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signaled Tehran would stop its attacks on Israel if Israel stopped its strikes.

12:45 PM

Iran's top diplomat says that if Israeli attacks stop, 'our responses will also stop'

Iran's top diplomat said Sunday that if Israeli attacks on his country stop, "our responses will also stop".

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the comment before diplomats in Tehran, his first public appearance since the Israeli strikes began on Friday.

If the aggression stops, our responses will also stop, Araghchi said.

There was no immediate reaction from Israel, which had been continuing strikes Sunday across Iran.

Araghchi's appearance came on a day he was initially scheduled to be negotiating with the United States in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program. But the negotiations fell apart amid the Israeli attacks.

12:38 PM

Israel military says it downed 7 drones apparently launched from Iran

Seven drones launched at Israel were intercepted by the Israeli Air Force and Israeli Navy, the country's military said on Sunday.

As per official news agency TPS, the Israel Defence Forces said that the country's Air Force and Israel Navy intercepted seven unmanned aerial vehicles - drones - launched towards Israeli territory in the past hour this morning.

The drones were all apparently launched from Iran, it said

The Times of Israel reported that the IDF released footage showing one of the interceptions by a Navy missile boat.

The Israeli Air Force identified and struck several ballistic missile launchers in Iran, the military said, attaching footage of the strikes.

Tensions continued to escalate between Israel and Iran for the third straight day on Sunday, as the two sides launched attacks on each other overnight.

12:31 PM

Trump says US not involved in Israel’s strikes on Iran, warns Tehran against retaliation

US President Donald Trump said that the US had no role to play in Israel's overnight attacks on Iran. He further warned Iran against any retaliation on US assets, saying, "If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the US armed forces will come down on you at levels never seen before."

12:26 PM

Germany, France and UK offer to hold talks with Iran on its nuclear program

Germany, France and Britain are ready to hold immediate talks with Iran over its nuclear program in a bid to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says.

 

     

12:04 PM

British F-35 fighter jet makes emergency landing in Kerala

An F-35 fighter jet of the UK Navy made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport due to low fuel, reposts ANI. The aircraft is still there. More details awaited.

11:57 AM

Yemen's Houthis target Israel with ballistic missiles in coordination with Iran

10:40 AM

Pakistan stands in solidarity with Iran amid attacks by Israel: PM Sharif to Iranian prez

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, expressing Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with Iran after Israel's attacks, which he described as "blatant provocations".

 

Israel launched attacks on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on Friday. The strikes killed several senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran later launched retaliatory strikes.

 

In the telephonic conversation with Pezeshkian on Saturday, Sharif strongly condemned Israeli attacks against Iran that he said violated its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and were in complete defiance of the UN Charter and international law.

 

"Spoke with President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran today to express Pakistan's unwavering solidarity with the brotherly people of Iran in the face of Israel's unprovoked aggression," SHrif posted on X.

10:36 AM

Iran claims it attacked Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed its missiles targeted fuel production facilities used by Israeli fighter jets, though Israel has not confirmed this, according to the Associated Press.

10:36 AM

US and Israeli officials say conflict with Iran will take ‘weeks, not days’

American and Israeli officials have indicated that the conflict with Iran is expected to last “weeks, not days,” according to CNN. The operation reportedly has the implicit approval of the White House, with an Israeli official stating that the US president supports the projected weeks-long timeframe.

 

A US official added that “The Trump administration firmly believes this can be solved by continuing negotiations with the US,” noting that the duration of the conflict will depend on Iran’s actions.

10:35 AM

Tehran’s Shahran oil depot on fire after Israeli strikes

The Shahran oil depot in Tehran was targeted in an Israeli attack, Iran said, but added the situation was under control. A fire had erupted after an Israeli attack on an oil refinery near the capital while Israeli strikes also targeted Iran's defence ministry building, causing minor damage, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said on Sunday.

9:05 AM

Israel-Iran war: Pope Leo XIV urges peace, calls for nuclear-free world

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday expressed concern over the Israel-Iran war and continued armed exchanges between the two sides over the next 24 hours.

 

He appealed for "responsibility and reason and commitment to build a safer world, free from nuclear threats."

 

In a post on X, he said on Saturday, "The situation in Iran and Israel has deteriorated drastically. I renew my appeal to responsibility and reason. The commitment to build a safer world, free from nuclear threats, must be pursued through mutual respect and sincere dialogue, in order to build lasting peace founded on justice, fraternity, and the common good. No one should ever threaten the existence of another. It is the duty of all countries to support the cause of peace, initiating paths of reconciliation and promoting solutions that ensure security and dignity for all!"

8:04 AM

Missing Kedarnath-bound chopper crashes near Gaurikund; 6 onboard

"The helicopter that went missing in Gaurikund has crashed. There were six people on board the crashed helicopter. More details awaited," said Uttarakhand ADG Law and Order, Dr V Murugeshan.

7:59 AM

Helicopter goes missing en route to Kedarnath

A helicopter going from Dehradun to Kedarnath has gone missing in Gaurikund. "The helicopter went missing between Trijuginarayan and Gaurikund," said Uttarakhand ADG Law and Order, Dr V Murugeshan, according to the news agency ANI.

7:55 AM

Sirens sound near Egyptian border amid suspected drone infiltration

Sirens sound in Ezuz, a small town in the south near the border with Egypt, warning of a possible drone infiltration. A number of sirens sounded earlier tonight in the Eilat area as well as in the Jordan Valley area amid drone infiltrations.