THE HEADLINES:
- Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni, it’s Defence minister and Chief of army staff killed in US-Israel air strikes; Iran retaliates with bombings in gulf countries.
- US President Donald Trump warns Tehran of harder strikes if it goes ahead with its actions.
- India calls for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.
- Pakistan launches airstrikes on Afghan capital Kabul.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates various development projects worth two thousand 700 crore rupees in Puducherry; Says government is taking Puducherry to greater heights.
- 17 killed after a massive explosion in a factory at Nagpur; Prime Minister expresses grief over loss of lives.
- And in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India to face West Indies in final Super Eight clash at Eden Gardens in Kolkata this evening.
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Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israel airstrikes, Iranian state media confirmed earlier today. His death occurred after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and government sites. A 40-day state mourning has been declared in Iran. Iran’s chief of army staff and defense minister were also killed in an airstrike targeting a meeting of the country’s defense council as reported by Iranian state television. General Abdol Rahim Mousavi and Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh were killed at the meeting alongside the head of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and security adviser Ali Shamkhani. The Iranian state media announced the deaths of military leaders today. Iranian state media reported at least 200 are dead and more than 700 injured. Reports suggest that around 40 Iranian officials were also killed in the strikes. In response, Iran launched attacks across West Asia. Apparent Iranian strikes have been reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait, places with US military bases or that are allied to the US. US President Donald Trump, in a social media post, said Khamenei’s death is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country. The US President added that heavy and pinpoint bombing will continue through the week or longer. Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region amid stalled nuclear talks.
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US President Donald Trump has warned Tehran that America will hit them harder. He wrote in a post on Truth Social that Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. He said they better not do that, however, because if they do, US will hit them with a force that has never been seen before. Trump’s remarks came after Iran vowed to avenge the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and launched fresh attacks on US and Israel bases.
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Thousands of people in Tehran, Isfahan, and Mashhad have gathered to mourn their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
His death is being portrayed by state media as the Martyrdom of the Guardian, framing his end not as a defeat, but as a final sacrifice for the sovereignty of the nation. Citizens paid tribute at holy sites, and protested the attacks, as Iran braces for a leadership transition and heightened national security.
In the central Iranian city of Isfahan, residents gathered at Imam Square to protest the strikes and to mourn the death of Ayatollah Khamenei. In the northeastern city of Mashhad, mourners gathered at the holy shrine of Imam Reza to pay respect to their late leader.
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External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar held talks with his counterparts from several Gulf countries amid rising tensions in the region, stressing the need for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy. Dr S Jaishankar discussed the evolving situation in the Gulf with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. Dr. Jaishankar also spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, discussing the ongoing situation in the Gulf. The External Affairs Minister also called Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
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Indian Embassies in West Asia have urged its nationals to follow advisories issued in view of the prevailing regional situation due to US-Israeli air strikes in Iran. The Embassies also advised Indian nationals to exercise utmost caution, follow official advisories and to avoid unnecessary movement. The Embassies also issued 24×7 helpline numbers and email IDs in time to facilitate timely assistance during the time of emergency. The toll free number of Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi is 800-46342, the WhatsApp number is +971543090571, People can also reach on email, pbsk.dubai@mea.gov.in and ca.abudhabi@mea.gov.in.
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China has urged for an immediate ceasefire after the US, Israel strikes in Iran. China’s ministry of foreign affairs expressed concern over the strikes and urged all sides to avoid escalation and to resume dialogue and negotiation. In a statement, the ministry said Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected. China’s state-run news agency called Washington’s use of military coercion a flagrant violation of the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and a departure from fundamental norms of international relations.
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Russia has criticised U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel for embarking on a dangerously irresponsible attack on Iran which Moscow said was plunging the entire Middle East into the abyss. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Washington and Tel Aviv have once again embarked on a dangerous adventure that is rapidly bringing the region closer to a humanitarian, economic, and possibly radiological catastrophe. He said by plunging the West Asia into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation, they are actually encouraging countries around the world, primarily in the region, to acquire more and more serious means against emerging threats.
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The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has also condemned the US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran and called for an immediate return to negotiations to pull the region and the world back from the brink of a wider war. Mr Guterres said the US and Israeli airstrikes violated international law, including the UN Charter.
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Protests turned violent near the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road in Pakistan’s Karachi today following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Police resorted to tear gas shelling and fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd and restore order.
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Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, was attacked by Pakistani air power this morning. This has triggered a series of explosions and the Afghan air defence forces’ fire response against aerial targets. These round of airstrikes lasted for about 20 minutes. The Afghan authorities have accused Pakistan of killing civilians in multiple attacks.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, the Army troops opened fire to bring down a Pakistani drone after it entered into the Indian side from across the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district early today. Akashvani Jammu Correspondent reports that the drone returned to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after hovering briefly in Digwar area of Poonch district. This was the second time in three days that troops opened fire after picking up drone movement from across the border. However, the drone escaped the gunshots and immediately returned.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the Nation and laid foundation stone for development projects worth over 2,700 crore rupees in Puducherry. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that with Investments in Spiritual tourism, eco-tourism and health tourism, the government is taking Puducherry to greater heights. Highlighting Puducherry’s rise in per capita income and its achievement of the highest social index score in the country,The Prime Minister said that double engine government will add more momentum to the union territory’s growth.
He expressed confidence that Puducherry can emerge as a medical tourism hub.
Nineteen projects worth 1,142.23 crore rupees were inaugurated at the function.
These included rollout of e-Buses under the PM e-Bus Seva Initiative, the Integrated Command and Control Centre under the Smart City Mission, tenements for the economically weaker sections under the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain initiative, and major sewerage and water supply projects of the Puducherry Government.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and dedicate several national projects worth 4400 crore rupees in Tamil Nadu. More from our Correspondent:
Temple city of Madurai is decked up to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Security has been tightened in and around the city. PM will lay foundation stone for four-laning of Marakanam Puducherry sections and Paramakudi Ramanathapuram section of National highway. This will be a boon to public as it will reduce traffic congestion. PM will inaugurate 8 Amrit Bharat stations including Manaparai, Tiruvarur, Pollachi and Karaikudi. He will also dedicate to nation fourth line between Chennai Beach and Egmore. PM will then visit and pray at Tiruparankundram temple first among the six abodes of Lord Muruga. PM will address the public in NDA rally at Madurai. NDA alliance partner leaders and Union ministers are attending the meeting. This is K Devi Padmanabhan with R Chidambaranathan from Madurai for Akashwani news chennai.
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Seventeen people have died in a massive explosion at SBL Energy Limited in Raoulgaon in Nagpur. The information was shared on social media by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Eighteen workers have been injured in the incident, and a major fire broke out following the blast. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have reached the spot, and rescue operations are underway at full speed.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the explosion at a factory in Nagpur in Maharashtra. Extending his condolences to the families of the deceased, Mr Modi also prayed for the speedy recovery of a injured. He also announced an ex-gratia of two lakh rupees from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of each deceased. The injured will be given 50 thousand rupees.
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In the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, India will face West Indies in their final Super Eight clash at Eden Gardens, in Kolkata this evening. The match will start at 7 PM. The winner of the match will qualify for the semi finals.
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HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN
- Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni, it’s Defence minister and Chief of army staff killed in US-Israel air strikes; Iran retaliates with bombings in gulf countries.
- US President Donald Trump warns Tehran of harder strikes if it goes ahead with its actions.
- India calls for de-escalation through dialogue and diplomacy.
- Pakistan launches airstrikes on Afghan capital Kabul.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates various development projects worth two thousand 700 crore rupees in Puducherry; Says government is taking Puducherry to greater heights.
- 17 killed after a massive explosion in a factory at Nagpur; Prime Minister expresses grief over loss of lives.
- And in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India to face West Indies in final Super Eight clash at Eden Gardens in Kolkata this evening.
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