LEAD

A mysterious explosion was reported behind the Israel embassy in central Delhi on Tuesday evening, leaving the intelligence agencies and city police in a tizzy. There were no casualties but a letter addressed to the Israeli ambassador was seized from the spot threatening retaliation and revenge. "It had phrases like resistance to Zionists and references to Palestine and Gaza," said a senior cop.

An embassy spokesperson said: "We can confirm that there was a blast at close proximity to the embassy this evening. The Delhi police and the security team are investigating."

A Delhi Police statement said: "The forensic experts have examined the spot, lifted exhibits that may have evidentiary relevance and they have been sent for examination."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praise on the Christian community on Monday for its role in giving direction to the society and sense of service, and said the country proudly acknowledges its contribution.

In an interaction with the members of the community at his residence here on Christmas, Modi recalled his old, intimate and warm relations with Christians since his days as the Gujarat chief minister and said they have always been at the forefront in serving the poor and deprived.

Many thinkers and leaders from the community were part of the country's freedom struggle, he said, adding that educational and healthcare institutions run by the community continue to make a big contribution across India.

The space given to terrorists and extremists remains India's core issue with Canada, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday. This comes a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asserted that New Delhi's ties with Ottawa may have undergone a "tonal shift" after the US indictment of an Indian national in an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist (Gurpatwant Singh Pannun).

The lower house of the Indian Parliament passed three criminal laws on Wednesday (Dec 20), namely the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita will replace the Indian Penal Code-1860, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita will replace the CrPC of 1973 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill will replace the Indian Evidence Act of 1872.

Prime minister Narendra Modi and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday discussed the growing concerns around maritime security in the wake of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels on vessels in the Red sea, according to an official statement from Israel.

The leaders also discussed moving forward on a proposal to send labourers from India to Israel as the country has witnessed a decline in the number of Thai and other foreign workers since the war that erupted on October 7.