India's Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the northeast region, barring one or two states, may be free of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act by next year. This comes as violent incidents in the region have decreased by 80%, and the area under AFSPA has also shrunk by 80%.
A 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck Assam's Cachar district on Thursday night, with tremors felt across the Northeast, including Meghalaya. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 39 km, and no damage or casualties were reported.
India faces extreme weather contrasts as heavy rainfall lashes Northeast India (Assam, Nagaland) while an intensifying heatwave grips North and Central regions (Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh). Thunderstorms with wind speeds up to 83 kmph and hailstorms affect Marathwada, Odisha, Madhya Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh. Temperatures reach 45°C in Maharashtra's Wardha and Akola. The IMD has issued warnings for flooding, landslides, crop damage, and health risks, advising residents to follow safety measures.
