News brief: Big stories of the day

Israel today launched missiles on Syria early on Thursday, the Israeli Army said. Syria's news agency SANA said its anti-aircraft air defence intercepted Israeli missiles.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has won a historc victory making him the olderst as well as the longest serving Prime Minister in Malaysia.

Dressed in a black shimmer saree by designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee, Kangana Ranaut brought back old-world charm on her first day at the Cannes Film Festival. The actress is attending the film festival as a face of a brand and this is her first time at Cannes. 

The high-voltage campaigning for the crucial Karnataka Assembly polls will come to an end on Thursday at 5 pm. The political parties, eyeing to sweep the polls, will hold multiple rallies today in their last attempt to woo the voter in their favour.

Oil prices rose about 3 percent on Wednesday and hit fresh 3-1/2 year highs after a bigger-than-expected drawdown in U.S. oil inventories extended gains from the United States' decision to quit a nuclear deal with Iran.