India News Updates: PM Modi celebrates 50 years of Aryabhata satellite, says India is a global space power

"Saddened by the loss of lives in an accident in Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000: PM ," posts PMO India

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a fugitive linked to a 2024 motorcycle blast case involving the transport of illegal explosives. Amarjeet Verma, a resident of Dhanbad district in Jharkhand, was apprehended this afternoon in the Dumdum area near Kolkata airport following a credible tip-off. He was later officially arrested by the NIA’s branch office.

President Emmanuel Macron declared on Sunday that racism and hatred have no place in France, following the brutal stabbing death of a Muslim man at a mosque in the southern part of the country. Macron shared his views on X, condemning religious-based racism and hate, stating that freedom of worship should never be violated. He also expressed his support for France's Muslim community in the wake of the tragic incident.

Manoj Singh, DIG of the Ratlam range, stated, "According to the information, it has been confirmed that 13 people were in the vehicle. The rescue operation is ongoing. One body is still trapped inside the well and will be recovered soon." A van, speeding through the area, crashed into a water-filled well after colliding with a motorcycle in Mandsaur district, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday.

In Vancouver, Canada, a man drove his vehicle into a crowd at a Filipino heritage festival, killing at least nine people and injuring several others. The incident took place at 8:14 p.m. on Saturday during the Lapu Lapu Day festival. The Vancouver Police Department confirmed the attack through a social media post. While the exact number of casualties remains unclear, numerous people were injured. A 30-year-old Vancouver resident was arrested at the scene, and the Major Crime Section is overseeing the investigation.

The Russian embassy in Iran announced that Moscow will provide urgent humanitarian assistance in response to the recent explosion at an Iranian port.

Security checks were intensified at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Sunday after officials received a bomb threat via email. Bomb squads are conducting detailed inspections across all terminals to ensure safety.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commemorated the 50th anniversary of Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, by recalling the country’s remarkable progress in space exploration. He emphasized that the launch of Aryabhata in April 1975, despite limited resources, marked the beginning of India’s space journey. Through dedication, hard work, and passion, India has transformed into a global space power, achieving milestones such as the record-setting launch of 104 satellites in one mission.

"Today, when we look back and remember this journey of 50 years, we realise how far we have come. This flight of India's dreams in space once commenced with just conviction. Some young scientists with the passion to do something for the nation ... they neither had the modern resources like today, nor the access to world technology as such. If at all, they had anything, it was talent, dedication, hard work and the passion to do something for the country," PM Modi said during the 121st episode of 'Mann Ki Baat'.

"You must have seen pictures of our scientists carrying critical equipment themselves on bullock carts and bicycles. It is the result of that very dedication and spirit of service to the nation that so much has changed today. Today, India has become a Global Space Power. We have created a record by launching 104 Satellites simultaneously," PM Modi added.

Vancouver Police have confirmed that nine people have died after a man drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu festival last night.

Vancouver authorities have clarified that the fatal incident in which a vehicle drove into a street party on Saturday is not considered an act of terrorism. In a statement posted on X early Sunday, police expressed confidence that the event was not terror-related, though the investigation remains ongoing.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an offer of assistance to Iran following a devastating explosion at the port of Bandar Abbas, according to Russia's RIA news agency. Putin also conveyed his condolences for the lives lost in the incident. Iranian state media reported that the blast, believed to have been triggered by chemical materials, claimed at least 18 lives and left over 700 people injured on Saturday at the country’s largest port.

India News Live Updates: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport receives bomb threat

Four persons were injured and several houses gutted after an electricity fault caused a fire on farms, which spread to four villages in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior district, an official said on Sunday.

The blaze occurred under the Bhitarwar and Chinor tehsils of the district on Saturday night, he said.

Bhitarwar's sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Sanjeev Jain, said the fire spread to Bhauri, Raraua, Chinor and Gandhi villages.

A man was allegedly stabbed to death by his friend near Pala, in this central Kerala district, on Sunday morning, police said.

The deceased has been identified as P J Baby, a resident of Vallachira, police said.

The accused, A L Philipose, also a native of the same place, is currently absconding.

"Global leaders have called me, written letters, sent messages. Everyone has strongly condemned this heinous terrorist attack. The entire world stands with the 1.4 billion Indians in our fight against terrorism. Once again, I assure the victims' families that they will get justice. The conspirators and perpetrators of this attack will face the harshest response," said PM Modi during Mann ki Baat.

"This attack in Pahalgam reflects the frustration of those who patronise terrorism. At a time when peace was returning to Kashmir, enemies of the nation and J&K did not like it. Terrorists and their masters want Kashmir to be destroyed once again. That is why such a big conspiracy was hatched. In this war against terrorism, the unity of the nation is our biggest strength. We must strengthen our resolve to face this challenge," said PM Modi in the 121st Episode of Mann Ki Baat.

The teams, overseen by an IG, a DIG and an SP from the anti-terror agency, are examining the eyewitnesses who had seen the horrifying attack unfold before their eyes at the peaceful and picturesque Baisaran valley. The eyewitnesses are being questioned in minute detail to piece together the sequence of events that led to one of the worst terror attacks in Kashmir: NIA

The entry and exit points are being closely scrutinised by the investigating NIA teams for clues to the modus operandi of the terrorists. The teams, aided by forensic and other experts, are checking the entire area thoroughly for evidence to expose the terror conspiracy that led to the horrendous attack that has shocked the nation.

Security forces arrested 10 militants belonging to different proscribed outfits from Imphal East and Imphal West districts of Manipur, police said on Sunday.

Four cadres of the banned United National Liberation Front (Pambei) and an associate were apprehended from Wangkhei Thangapat Mapan in Imphal East on Saturday, they said.

The arrested militants were “involved in extortion activities in the Imphal Valley and intimidation of locals”, a police officer said. Read more

The Bihar government has said that all Pakistani nationals, who had been to the state in the recent past, have left well ahead of the April 27 deadline.

A total of 19 Pakistani nationals, who came to different districts of Bihar on visit visas and tourist visas left the state on April 25 or before that, as per data provided by the state government. The details pertain to those Pakistani nationals who visited the state after January 2025. Read more

The police have detained a minor boy in connection with the death of a 12-year-old girl in Navi Mumbai, an official said on Sunday.

The girl was found in a severely injured state at the base of a hill late on Friday night and was rushed to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead, senior inspector Abasaheb Patil of the Turbhe police station said.

He said the girl's family had reported her missing from their home in the Shiravane MIDC area earlier in the day, and the police registered a case of kidnapping and launched a probe.

India News Live Updates: NIA takes over April 22 Pahalgam terror attack case

Pakistani troops once again violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a swift and sharp response from Indian Army personnel, officials said on Sunday.

According to official sources, Pakistani forces opened unprovoked small arms fire late on the intervening night of April 26 and 27, targeting Indian positions opposite the Tutmari Gali and Rampur sectors.

This marks the third consecutive night of ceasefire violations by Pakistan along the sensitive border. Read more

"A woman named Dadhichi Dimple alias Dimple Baruah from Golaghat district of Assam was detained by the Crime Branch from Guwahati for making controversial and anti-national comments on the  Pahalgam Terror Attack. She was later handed over to the Golaghat police. The Golaghat police arrested her and brought her to the Golaghat police station," Golaghat Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh said.

A major fire broke out in the wee hours of Sunday at the Kaiser-I-Hind building in south Mumbai's Ballard Estate area, which houses the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office, civic officials said.

According to the Mumbai Fire Department, they received a call about the blaze around 2:31 am.

Fire brigade teams were immediately rushed to the site near the Grand Hotel on Currimbhoy Road. Around 3:30 am, the fire was upgraded to Level-II, and later, at 4:21 am, to Level-III, marking it a major fire incident. Read more

On the night of 26th-27th April 2025, Pakistan Army posts initiated unprovoked small arms fire across the Line of Control in the areas opposite Tutmari Gali and Rampur Sectors. Our troops responded effectively with appropriate small arms fire: Indian Army

Uttar Pradesh Police have received directives to step up checking along the international border with Nepal and all inter-state borders in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, officials said on Saturday.

The DGP said proper security arrangements should be ensured for Kashmiri students, tourists and business vendors in the state so that no untoward incident happens with them, UP's Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said in the statement.

There have been several reports of harassment of Kashmiri students in various parts of the country following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that killed 26 people, mostly tourists.

Days after an 18-year-old student was allegedly shot dead in a private school here, a delegation of the Samajwadi Party on Saturday met the victim's family and expressed their condolences.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon when Hemant Singh appeared in the class 12th examination from Gyandeep Public School located in Khushalnagar of Shivpur police station area. He was shot dead in the parking compound of the school, DCP Varuna Zone Pramod Kumar had said earlier.

According to the SP delegation, Singh's family claim that out of the three attackers, only one was arrested and two others are roaming freely.

Former vice chief of the Army Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman has died, with the force recalling him as "a soldier at heart and a leader in spirit". He died at the age of 78.

Paying tribute to the officer in a post on X, the Army said he passed away on Saturday.

"#GeneralUpendraDwivedi, #COAS and all ranks of the #IndianArmy express deepest condolences on the sad demise of Lieutenant General S Pattabhiraman, former #VCOAS and extend heartfelt condolences to his family & loved ones," it said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday reviewed flood prevention preparations in Lakhimpur Kheri and directed that all projects be completed by June 12 with a nodal officer supervising it.

During the review meeting, Adityanath issued key instructions to local, forest, and tourism officials, directing them to prepare development plans. He also reviewed the progress of development initiatives and law and order situation in the district, a statement by the government said.

The UP CM also directed officials to boost tourism and sought year-wise tourist footfall data for Dudhwa. He also reviewed the tourism department's plans and suggested improving connectivity and quality of hotels and engaging locals as tourist guides.

A major fire broke out at the ED office building in south Mumbai's Ballard Estate area early on Sunday, civic officials said and added there were no reports of any injuries.

The fire brigade received a call about the blaze at the multistorey Kaiser-I-Hind building, which houses the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office, near the Grand Hotel on Currimbhoy Road around 2:31 am, the officials said.

Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot and began firefighting operations. Around 3:30 am, the fire was upgraded to Level-II, which is generally considered a major fire, the fire brigade control room confirmed.

A civic official said the fire was confined to the fourth floor of the five-storey building.