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.