The highest civilian honor in Cyprus was bestowed by PM Modi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus’s highest civilian honour, by President Nikos Christodoulides. In his remarks, PM Modi said, “I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations. This honour reflects the cultural harmony of our nation and the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family).” He further emphasized the award as a symbol of India’s commitment to peace, security, sovereignty, and regional integrity, expressing confidence that the partnership between India and Cyprus would reach new heights in the future. This decoration marks the 23rd international award conferred on Prime Minister Modi by a foreign nation.

In Pune, a bridge over the Indrayani River collapses, leaving over ten people thought dead.

A tragic incident occurred in Pune’s Maval taluka on Sunday when an old bridge over the Indrayani River at Kundamala collapsed while crowded with weekend tourists. The collapse, which took place around 3:30 PM, sent 25 to 30 people plunging into the swollen river as heavy rains had raised water levels and may have weakened the bridge’s structure. So far, 5 to 6 individuals have been rescued, but 10 to 15 remain feared trapped or missing, according to Pimpri Chinchwad Police. Rescue operations are ongoing with local police, fire brigade, and NDRF teams deployed to the site. Further updates are awaited as efforts to locate all victims continue.

Ahmedabad plane tragedy: An Air India plane crash is said to have killed over 40 people.

At least 40 people have reportedly died after an Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, carrying over 242 passengers and crew, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The London-bound flight (AI-171) slammed into a building near the airport perimeter, resulting in a tragic loss of life and injuries. Authorities have recovered 35 bodies so far, while emergency response teams and government officials are coordinating rescue and support efforts. Air India has set up a dedicated hotline for information, and flight operations at the airport have been temporarily suspended as investigations continue.

Until terror issues are resolved, India will not negotiate the Indus Waters Treaty.

India has reiterated that it will not resume talks with Pakistan on the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) unless Islamabad addresses New Delhi’s concerns over cross-border terrorism and agrees to a comprehensive restructuring of the water-sharing pact. Despite repeated outreach from Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary, Indian officials have maintained silence, insisting that dialogue is off the table following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The suspension marks a significant shift in India’s approach to the 1960 treaty, which governs the distribution of the Indus River and its tributaries. India is now conducting a comprehensive study to maximize its use of the eastern rivers allocated under the IWT, highlighting the increasing linkage between water diplomacy and regional security concerns.

India’s new digital address system, “DIGIPIN,” is introduced by the Postal Department.

The Department of Posts has introduced DIGIPIN, a new digital address system that assigns every location in India a unique 10-character alphanumeric code based on its exact latitude and longitude. Unlike traditional PIN codes that cover broad areas, DIGIPIN divides the country into 4m x 4m grids, allowing for highly accurate location identification. This system is designed to streamline deliveries, support emergency services, and enhance e-commerce logistics. Users can easily find their DIGIPIN by pinpointing their address on the official website, ensuring privacy as no personal data is collected. Developed in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and ISRO’s NRSC, DIGIPIN marks a major step towards digitalising India’s physical addresses.

In Jammu & Kashmir, PM Modi opens the tallest rail bridge in the world across the Chenab River.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the Chenab Rail Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, the world’s highest railway arch bridge, standing 359 metres above the Chenab River. Spanning 1,315 metres and built to withstand severe seismic and wind conditions, the bridge is a crucial part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project, connecting the Kashmir Valley to the rest of India by rail and reducing travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by up to three hours. PM Modi also inaugurated India’s first cable-stayed rail bridge over the Anji River and flagged off Vande Bharat Express trains between Katra and Srinagar, further enhancing regional connectivity. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence in Katra, marking a major boost to healthcare infrastructure in the region.

Northeast Investors Summit on the Rise: Mukesh Ambani promises Rs 75,000 crore.

Reliance Industries Ltd, led by Mukesh Ambani, has announced a Rs 75,000 crore investment in Northeast India, focusing on biogas plants, telecom expansion, retail growth, and clean energy projects. The initiative aims to create 2.5 million jobs, establish a 150-bed cancer hospital in Manipur, and support Jio’s 5G expansion across the region. Reliance Retail will boost local procurement, while Reliance Foundation will set up Olympic Training Centres to nurture sports talent. The plan underscores economic growth, healthcare innovation, and sustainability in Northeast India.

In a significant battle in Chhattisgarh, 27 Naxalites were slain.

Security forces killed 27 Naxalites in a major gunfight in Abhujmad, Chhattisgarh, at the tri-junction of Narayanpur, Bijapur, and Dantewada districts. One District Reserve Guard (DRG) member was killed, and several personnel sustained injuries but are stable.
Sources suggest that Nambala Keshava Rao (Basavaraju), CPI (Maoist) general secretary, was among the dead, though official confirmation is awaited. The operation, involving DRG teams from four districts, was based on specific intelligence regarding Maoist leadership presence.
This marks one of the most significant anti-Naxal actions in recent years, bringing the total Naxal casualties in Chhattisgarh this year to 200, including 183 in Bastar. Search operations in the dense forest are ongoing.

The Supreme Court invalidates environmental approvals that were granted after the fact.

The Supreme Court has ruled against the Central government’s practice of granting retrospective environmental clearances, striking down previous notifications that permitted post-facto approvals for mining and industrial projects. The verdict emphasizes strict compliance with the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, reinforcing the necessity of prior approval for operations.
The bench, led by Justices Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, declared ex-post facto environmental clearances unlawful, preventing future regularization of projects initiated without mandatory approvals. The ruling marks a significant shift in environmental governance, ensuring accountability and safeguarding the right to a pollution-free environment.