Evening news brief: India condoles Khamenei’s death; Nitish Kumar files Rajya Sabha nomination and more | India News
- India has officially mourned the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as New Delhi steps up diplomatic outreach amid rising regional tensions across the Gulf.
- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has filed nominations for the Rajya Sabha, signaling his exit from state politics and paving the way for a leadership change in the state’s NDA government.
- Indian stock markets recovered sharply with the Sensex rising 900 points and the Nifty closing above 24,750 as easing global sentiment linked to developments in the Middle East lifted investor confidence.
- The United States confirmed the first combat use of its new precision strike missile during Operation Epic Fury in Iran, marking the operational debut of the long-range weapon system.
- A second Iranian warship approached Sri Lanka after a US submarine sank an Iranian frigate in the Indian Ocean, intensifying maritime tensions linked to the wider Middle East conflict.
Here are the top 5 stories of the day
India mourned Khamenei’s death as Prime Minister Modi interacted with Gulf leaders
After India officially mourned the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited the Iranian embassy in New Delhi to sign a condolence book on behalf of the government. At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to leaders of several Gulf countries and Israel as tensions between the US-Israeli bloc and Iran escalated, with talks on regional stability and the security of the large Indian diaspora across the region. Read the full story
Nitish Kumar files Rajya Sabha nomination, signaling a change in leadership in Bihar
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar submitted his nomination for the Rajya Sabha on Thursday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah following his decision to resign from the state’s top post. The move comes months after the NDA’s electoral victory in Bihar and is seen as a move that could allow the BJP to appoint its own chief minister in the state, marking a significant shift in the alliance’s political system. Read the full story
Sensex jumps 900 points, Nifty closes above 24,750 amid upbeat global sentiment
Indian equity markets recovered strongly on Thursday after two sessions of losses linked to the Middle East crisis, with the Sensex rising 900 points and the Nifty closing above the 24,750 mark. The rebound was supported by reports that Iran may consider giving up its nuclear program under certain conditions, along with gains in global markets, assurances of oil supply routes and strength in heavyweight stocks such as Reliance Industries. Read the full story
The US confirmed the first combat use of the precision strike missile in Operation Epic Fury
The United States military has confirmed the first operational use of Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike missile during Operation Epic Fury in Iran. Centcom said the long-range missile launched from the HIMARS platform provides deep-strike capabilities and represents a new generation of surface-to-surface weapons designed to replace the aging ATACMS system and exceed the US military’s strike range of 499 kilometers.Read the full story
Second Iranian warship approaches Sri Lanka after sinking US submarine frigate
Sri Lanka is evaluating Iran’s request to allow a second warship to enter its waters after a US submarine destroyed the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean near the island nation. More than 100 crew members are said to be on board the approaching vessel, as Sri Lankan authorities continue rescue operations and treat injured sailors after the attack that killed at least 87 Iranian workers south of Gale. Read the full story
