Morning Digest: Senthilbalaji, Ponmudy resign as Tamil Nadu Ministers; Skirmishes continue at LoC as India weighs response to Pahalgam attack, and more

The Hindu Morning Digest gives a select list of stories to start the day. Read the top news today on April 28, 2025

Tamil Nadu Forest Minister K. Ponmudy and Electricity, Prohibition and Excise Minister V. Senthilbalaji resigned on Sunday (April 27, 2025) night. A Raj Bhavan release said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has recommended Governor R.N. Ravi to accept their resignation. The Chief Minister also recommended the induction of former Minister Mano Thangaraj into the Cabinet. The swearing-in will be held on April 28 at the Raj Bhavan.

Ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops continued along the Line of Control (LoC) for the third night in a row on Saturday (April 26, 2025), while the Indian Navy and the Air Force held exercises on Sunday (April 27, 2025) as tensions run high after the Pahalgam terror attack. Pakistan began massive mobilisation of equipment close to the LoC, while the Indian Navy carried out multiple anti-ship firings for long-range precision “offensive strike.”

The Opposition parties are mulling on whether they should issue a joint appeal asking the government to convene a special session of Parliament in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 persons were killed on April 22. Independent Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal reiterated his appeal to all political parties to urge the government to convene a special session. The Congress is reaching out to other allies in the INDIA bloc to frame a consensus. “It is under consideration,” a senior Congress leader said.

Pakistan and China on Sunday reiterated their firm resolve to uphold regional peace and stability, promote mutual respect and understanding, and jointly oppose unilateralism and hegemonic policies. The understanding was reached during a telephone conversation between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, reported Radio Pakistan. During the conversation, Mr. Dar, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, briefed the Chinese foreign minister on the current regional situation in the region after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday in which 26 people were killed.

Before Sunday (April 27, 2025), Krunal Pandya had batted in just four of nine matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this year’s IPL and scored 24 runs off 28 balls. He made up for his lack of runs and batting opportunities in the earlier matches by coming to the fore against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Chasing 163, the all-rounder’s unbeaten 73 off 47 balls delivered a critical six-wicket win for the visitor. It stretches RCB’s perfect away record this year to six wins out of six.

The government has authorised Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) to share and receive information from the Enforcement Directorate under the anti-money laundering law, a move aimed at detecting money trail and combating cyber frauds. In a notification dated April 25, the Revenue Department under the Finance Ministry included I4C under Section 66 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Sunday for the complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme, insisting that any deal with Tehran must also address its ballistic missile capabilities. “You have to dismantle their nuclear infrastructure and that means ... they will not have the capacity to enrich uranium,” he said in a speech in Jerusalem, adding that any deal should also “bring in the prevention of ballistic missiles”.