HIGHLIGHTS

Following are the top stories: DEL5 VIRUS-LD CASES Record 6,767 new COVID-19 cases in India in last 24 hours; death toll climbs to 3,867 New Delhi: COVID-19 cases in India saw the biggest spike for the third consecutive day on Sunday with 6,767 new infections reported in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 1,31,868, while the death toll due to the disease rose to 3,867 after 147 more fatalities, according to the Union Health Ministry. DEL64 LD EID Subdued Eid celebrations in India in shadow of coronavirus pandemic New Delhi/Srinagar/Thiruvananthapuram: Celebrations on Eid-ul-Fitr were subdued in Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday with no major congregational prayers and community feasts due to the coronavirus lockdown.

DEL20 IMD-HEATWAVE Heatwave: IMD issues 'red alert' for several parts of north India New Delhi: With temperatures surpassing the 45 degrees Celsius-mark across several parts in north India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a "red" warning for Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Rajasthan for the next two days. CAL3 WB-CYCLONE-SITUATION Army, NDRF teams start restoration work in cyclone-hit Bengal Kolkata: Army and NDRF teams on Sunday helped forest department and civic agencies to get cyclone-ravaged West Bengal back on its feet.

DEL56 MHA-SOP-RETURN MHA issues SOP for stranded Indians who wish to return New Delhi: The government on Sunday issued a Standard Operating Protocol (SOP) for the return of Indians stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown, saying it will be a paid service and preference will be given to those who are in distress, who have lost their jobs or to pregnant women. DEL60 LOCKDOWN-ADITYANATH-MIGRANTS If states want UP migrant workers back they have to seek our permission: UP CM Adityanath New Delhi: Any state which wants migrant workers of Uttar Pradesh back, has to seek permission from the state government and need to ensure their socio-legal-monetary rights, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday.

DEL37 DEF-INDOFRENCH-LD RAFALE There will be no delay in supply of Rafale jets to India: France New Delhi: There will be no delay in delivery of 36 Rafale jets to India as the timeline finalised for the supply of the fighter jets will be strictly respected, French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain has said. DEL61 AVI-AIRPORTS-FLIGHTS Mumbai airport to deal with 50 domestic flights from Monday, Kolkata & Bagdogra airports from May 28 New Delhi: The Mumbai airport will deal with only 50 domestic flights per day from Monday while the Kolkata and Bagdogra airports in West Bengal will handle domestic services from May 28, senior government officials said on Sunday. DEL66 MEA-AFGHAN-CEASEFIRE India welcomes 3-day ceasefire in Afghanistan; hopes it will be extended further New Delhi: India on Sunday welcomed the announcement of a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan by the Taliban and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on the occasion of Eid, and hoped that it will be extended further to pave the way for durable peace and stability in the country.

Foreign: FGN30 NEPAL-INDIA-BORDER I am confident that Kalapani issue will be resolved through talks: Nepal FM Kathmandu: Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has said that Nepal has unique and close relations with India and he was confident that the Kalapani issue between the two neighbours will be resolved through talks. By Shirish B Pradhan FGN28 VIRUS-CHINA-US China accuses US of pushing bilateral ties to brink of 'new Cold War' Beijing: China on Sunday accused the US of pushing the bilateral ties to the brink of a "new Cold War" by spreading "lies" about the coronavirus and said it was open to international efforts to identify the source of the deadly virus. By K J M Varma FGN10 LANKA-INDIA-RAJAPAKSA-AID Lanka seeks USD 1.1 bn currency swap facility from India amidst depleting forex reserves Colombo: Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has requested India to provide a special USD 1.1 billion currency swap facility to boost the country's draining foreign exchange reserves in view of the economic slowdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. FGN27 ISRAEL-2NDLD NETANYAHU Israeli PM Netanyahu attacks justice system as court begins corruption trial Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday lashed out at the country's justice system, rejecting the charges against him as "ludicrous", as his long-awaited corruption trial got underway, making him the first sitting premier of the country to go on trial for corruption. By Harinder Mishra FGN15 PAK-PIA-PROBE 'Preliminary report of PIA plane crash raises new questions' Karachi: A preliminary report on the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane crash, in which 97 people were killed, has raised serious questions about the pilot's handling of the aircraft and what prevented the crew in the cockpit from informing the air traffic controllers about the troubles.