ISIL-backed rebels killed at least 52 people in eastern DR Congo, UN says
At least 52 civilians have been killed this month in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo in attacks by the ISIL-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), the United Nations mission MONUSCO reported.
The assaults in North Kivu’s Beni and Lubero territories involved mass killings, kidnappings, and looting, with MONUSCO warning the toll could rise, Al Jazeera reported.
The violence comes as Congolese forces and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels trade accusations of violating a US-brokered ceasefire.
Heavy rainfall continues to lash Mumbai; flights delayed, schools closed
Mumbai continued to face heavy rainfall for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday, leading to waterlogging in some low-lying areas. The city received 177 mm of rainfall within six to eight hours on Monday, Business Standard reported.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged citizens to take precautions as more showers are expected along with high tides. Vikhroli recorded the highest rainfall at 139.5 mm, followed by Santacruz (129.1 mm), Juhu (128.5 mm), and Chembur (125 mm).
Mumbai weather forecast
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy showers at isolated locations in Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad until Tuesday. Ratnagiri was placed under a red alert, while Palghar, Sindhudurg, Aurangabad, Hingoli, Jalgaon, Jalna, Nanded, and Parbhani remained under orange alert, according to Business Standard.
US spy chief Gabbard says UK agreed to drop 'backdoor' mandate for Apple
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Monday the UK had agreed to drop its mandate for iPhone maker Apple to provide a "backdoor" that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens, Reuters reported.
Gabbard issued the statement on X, opens new tab, saying she had worked for months with Britain, along with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to arrive at a deal.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was in Washington on Monday along with other European leaders to meet Trump and discuss Russia's war in Ukraine.
The UK government and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Gabbard's statement, according to Reuters.
India’s Modi to meet China’s top diplomat as Asian powers rebuild ties
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet with China’s top diplomat on Tuesday in a sign of easing tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors after a yearslong standoff between the Asian powers, Associated Press reported.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who arrived in India on Monday, is scheduled to hold talks with Modi and other leaders, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, about the disputed border in the Himalayan mountains. Reducing the number of troops on the border, and resuming some trade there, is expected to be on the agenda.
The rebuilding of ties coincides with friction between New Delhi and Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on India, a longtime ally seen as a counterbalance against China’s influence in Asia. India is part of the Quad security alliancewith the U.S. along with Australia and Japan, according to Associated Press.
