The Israeli Embassy has advised citizens to avoid traveling to the Maldives and consider leaving the island nation after it banned Israelis in response to the Gaza conflict. Instead, the embassy is promoting Indian beach destinations like Goa and Kerala as alternative options. The embassy's social media page is featuring stunning photographs of Indian beaches, highlighting the warm welcome and hospitality Israeli tourists can expect in India. This move comes as tensions rise between Israel and the Maldives, with the embassy encouraging citizens to choose India for their beach vacations.

The Election Commission rejected Congress leader Jairam Ramesh's request for more time to detail his allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Ramesh claimed Shah had called 150 district magistrates nationwide after voting ended for the Lok Sabha elections, which he described as intimidation. The Commission directed Ramesh to respond by 7 pm on Monday. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar criticized Ramesh for spreading rumors and doubting officials. He urged Ramesh to provide specific details for investigation, emphasizing that no district magistrate reported undue influence. The poll panel had earlier sought more information from Ramesh regarding his claims against Shah.

Claudia Sheinbaum clinched victory in Mexico's presidential race by a wide margin, becoming the nation's first female president. Celebrations erupted across Mexico City as Sheinbaum, a scientist and former mayor, secured approximately 58-60% of the vote, surpassing her closest rival by over 30 percentage points. Amid concerns over violence and femicides, voters embraced the historic moment, hoping for transformative change. Sheinbaum's win, attributed partly to her mentor President Lopez Obrador's support, marks a significant milestone in Mexican politics. Her vow to address gender-based violence and advance women's rights resonates in a country marred by daily atrocities against women.

As exit polls project a comfortable win for the NDA in the Lok Sabha elections, doubts arise over their accuracy due to inconsistencies and gaffes. Blatant errors in predicting seat allocations, particularly in states like Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha, have fueled skepticism. Opposition leaders, including Congress's Supriya Shrinate and Ajay Maken, criticize the polls as biased and unscientific, vowing confidence in their own alliance's performance. Former journalist and TMC MP Sagarika Ghosh highlights past exit poll inaccuracies, cautioning against relying solely on speculative predictions.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar dismissed viral memes referring to the election commissioners as 'Laapataa Gentlemen', reaffirming their continuous and active presence throughout the electoral process. Addressing the media prior to the announcement of Lok Sabha election results, Kumar highlighted India's achievement of a world record 64.2 crore voters. He emphasized the extensive monitoring and security measures undertaken, alongside the EC's commitment to ensuring future elections conclude in a timely manner. Kumar debunked "fake narratives" surrounding voter lists and turnout data, underscoring the EC's transparency and resilience.

Indian stock markets surged to record highs as exit poll predictions of political stability propelled the Sensex and Nifty indices. Sensex soared over 2,000 points and Nifty recorded its largest jump in four years, adding ₹12.48 lakh crore to BSE stocks' market cap. Adani Ports, Adani Enterprises, and others led the rally. The optimism was fueled by India's robust Q4FY24 GDP growth of 7.8%, surpassing expectations. However, analysts caution about market volatility ahead of the Lok Sabha election results, despite exit polls projecting a return to power for the BJP-led NDA alliance.              

India has set a world record with 642 million voters in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar announced. At a press conference ahead of the election results, Kumar highlighted that over 31 crore women participated, marking a significant milestone. He noted that India's voter turnout is 1.5 times that of all G7 countries combined and 2.5 times that of the 27 EU countries. This press briefing is the first of its kind by the Election Commission, held post-election and pre-results, celebrating the historic voter engagement.

Following the Maldives government's decision to ban Israelis from entering the country amid tensions over the Gaza War, the Israeli embassy in India suggests Indian beaches as an alternative destination. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's move to prohibit Israeli passport holders prompted the recommendation. Israel's foreign ministry advised citizens to avoid travel to Maldives, citing difficulties in providing assistance if needed. The ban comes after a significant decline in Israeli tourist visits to Maldives. Despite historical ties, relations between Tel Aviv and Male have fluctuated over the years, with past instances of cooperation and discord.

Bengaluru witnessed a record-breaking downpour on Sunday evening, receiving 111mm of rainfall until midnight, making it the wettest day in June in 133 years. The intense thundershowers and heavy rain broke the previous record of 101.6mm set on June 16, 1891. Surprisingly, the city has already met its monthly rainfall quota, with an average of 110.3mm for June. The heavy rain was uniform across the city, causing a record spell of rain. According to IMD officials, this unusual rainfall is a result of the Southwest Monsoon setting over the Karnataka coast. The city is expected to receive more rainfall in the coming days.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rebuffed exit poll predictions, labeling them as "manufactured" and detached from reality. Banerjee asserted that her rallies' response contradicted the polls, alleging the BJP's use of polarization and misinformation. Dismissing the BJP's alleged gains, she highlighted the support for regional parties like the INDIA bloc. In contrast, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar expressed confidence in securing over 25 seats. Meanwhile, CPIM central committee member Sujan Chakraborty cast doubt on the exit polls' reliability, citing public discontent against the Trinamool Congress.