LIVE: Qatar, Kuwait summon India envoy over BJP leaders' remarks

Nupur Sharma had made some controversial remarks about Prophet Muhammad

9:28 PM

Delhi records 343 fresh COVID-19 cases, positivity rate 1.91 pc

Delhi on Sunday logged 343 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 1.91 per cent while no new death was reported due to the viral disease, according to data shared by the city health department.

With this, the national capital's COVID-19 case tally increased to 19,08,730 while the death toll stood at 26,212.

A total of 17,917 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Delhi the previous day, the department said in its latest bulletin.

On Saturday, the capital had logged 405 fresh COVID-19 cases with a positivity rate of 2.07 per cent while no new death was reported.

Delhi on Friday had logged 345 Covid cases and zero death while the positivity rate was 1.88 per cent. On Thursday, 373 cases with a positivity rate of 1.85 per cent and two new deaths were reported.

The number of daily Covid cases in Delhi had touched the record high of 28,867 on January 13 this year during the third wave of the pandemic.

The city had recorded a positivity rate of 30.6 per cent on January 14, the highest during the third wave of the pandemic.

The number of active COVID-19 cases in Delhi dropped to 1,422 from 1,467 on Saturday, the bulletin said.

 

9:18 PM

State secretariat & assembly will be made plastic free: Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday said the state secretariat and assembly will be made plastic-free and the campaign will continue unabated.

After planting a tree on the Cantt Road near his residence here on the occasion of World Environment Day, the Chief Minister directed to run a cleanliness drive in all the cities of the state.

In this regard, he said the drive should be started from Dehradun first and after that cleanliness campaigns should be conducted in other cities also.

Dhami asked the district magistrates to identify and renovate 75 wetlands in each district. He also told the need for special attention towards rain water harvesting, solar energy, eco-tourism.

Describing Uttarakhand as a boon of nature and a state full of biodiversity, Dhami said that environmental protection is the collective responsibility of all of us.

He said that for the coming generations to get pure water, air, soil and environment, everyone will have to pay special attention to environmental protection and plantation.

9:17 PM

TN BJP alleges Rs 77 cr loss in scheme for pregnant women, govt denies wrongdoing

The Tamil Nadu BJP unit on Sunday alleged a loss of Rs 77 crore to the state exchequer in connection with provision of nutrition kits to pregnant women by involving a private firm.

State BJP president K Annamalai claimed the said firm provided a health mix and iron supplement, given as part of the Amma Maternity nutrition kit to the pregnant women, at higher costs compared to state-run agencies. The scheme was launched in the previous AIADMK regime and named after late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

However, the government issued a clarification regarding the health mix and iron supplement, insisting it suffered no loss on account of procuring the existing components, and even claimed that it saved on account of differential between the procurement and market rates.

Addressing reporters here, Annamalai said while a technical committee concerned had earlier decided to remove the health mix provided by the private firm and replace it with that of state-run Aavin, as part of cost-cutting measures, the decision was later "reversed at the behest" of certain individuals.

"This caused the government a loss of Rs 45 crore," as the cost of the health mix provided by the firm was higher than that of Aavin by about 60 per cent, he alleged.

8:54 PM

UP village sets up 'roti bank' to feed stray cows

A village here in the district has resolved to donate one roti' (bread) from each household to feed the stray cows lodged in its cowshed.

Rudragarh Nausi village of Gonda took the decision after it was proposed by a district official.

Sadar Tehsildar Rajiv Mohan Saxena had come forward with the proposal Saturday during a visit to the village to inspect the gaushala', said Mansoor Ali, the husband of the village pradhan, Nazia Fatima.

Saxena had proposed to the people to contribute one 'roti' from each house of the village.

The villagers found the proposal appropriate and adopted it unanimously later in a panchayat meeting, Ali said.

The gaushala in Rudragarh Nausi village was started in 2018 and is operational since then.

There are 1,500 houses in the village panchayat, and if one roti is contributed from each house, it will "forge a new bond between the villagers and the stray cattle, Ali said.

8:51 PM

15 feared dead after bus falls into gorge in Uttarakhand

At least 15 people are feared dead after a bus carrying pilgrims fell into a gorge here on Sunday, officials said.

The bus was carrying over 30 passengers to Yamunotri, they said.

Senior officials, including Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela, have rushed to the spot.

The officials said 15 of the passengers are feared dead.

Further information is awaited.

Yamunotri along with the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri are commonly known as Char Dham.

8:47 PM

'Reduce, reuse, and recycle' are concepts woven into our life: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that "reduce, reuse, and recycle" are the concepts woven into our life and the circular economy has been an integral part of our culture and lifestyle.

The Prime Minister was speaking after virtually launching a global initiative 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement'. The launch will initiate 'LiFE Global Call for Papers' inviting ideas and suggestions from academics, universities, and research institutions to influence and persuade individuals, communities and organisations across the world to adopt an environment-conscious lifestyle.

Addressing the gathering, he said that today is an apt day for the launch of the global initiative 'Lifestyle for the Environment - LiFE Movement' as he stressed the need of the hour to solve the challenge faced by our planet using human-centric, collective efforts and robust action that further sustainable development.

The Prime Minister reminded the gathering that this global initiative was proposed by him at COP-26 last year. "The vision of LiFE is to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it. And those who live such a lifestyle are called 'Pro-Planet People'. Mission LiFE borrows from the past, operates in the present, and focuses on the future. Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the concepts woven into our life. The Circular Economy has been an integral part of our culture and lifestyle," he said.

He noted that thanks to 1.3 billion Indians in the country, he was able to do many good things for the environment in our country.

8:45 PM

Gujarat reports 68 COVID-19 cases, no death; active tally now 340

Gujarat on Sunday reported 68 COVID-19 cases, which took its tally to 12,25,462, while the death toll stood unchanged at 10,944, an official said.

The recovery count increased by 21 to touch 12,14,178, leaving the state with an active caseload of 340, he added.

Ahmedabad accounted for 42 of the new cases, followed by 11 in Vadodara, four in Rajkot, two in Surat, among other districts, he informed.

The number of COVID-19 vaccination doses administered in the state rose to 11.02 crore, including 55,714 on Sunday, a government release said.

The Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu continued to be coronavirus-free, a local official said.

Gujarat's COVID-19 figures are as follows: Positive cases 12,25,462, new cases 68, death toll 10,944, discharged 12,14,178, active cases 340, people tested so far - figures not released.

8:44 PM

Hapur factory explosion: Unit operator arrested, toll rises to 13

The operator of a factory here was arrested on Sunday, a day after an explosion at the unit claimed 13 lives while 20 people sustained injuries, police said.

Wasim had fled the factory premises after the explosion. He sustained burn injuries on his hands and there were stitches on his head as well, a senior police official said, adding he received first-aid after the incident and took off.

"The operator was arrested on Sunday afternoon from the Hapur-Meerut bypass," Superintendent of Police Deepak Bhuker told PTI. "We are providing medical treatment to him," he said.

An FIR has been registered against the owner and the operator of the factory, police said.

The explosion took place on Saturday at Ruhi Industries in the Dhaulana area.

"So far, 13 people have been killed, while 20 are injured. The injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Meerut," Bhuker said.

He added that 11 out of the 13 deceased have been identified, and they are from Bahraich (Uttar Pradesh) and Bihar.

Inspector General of Police Praveen Kumar said the factory was licensed to manufacture only electronic goods, and an investigation is underway to ascertain how explosives reached there.

 

8:40 PM

Maharashtra logs 1,494 Covid-19 cases, 137 more than day before; one fatality

Maharashtra on Sunday reported 1,494 fresh COVID-19 cases, including 961 in Mumbai, and one fatality due to the infection, taking the tally of infections to 78,93,197 and the toll to 1,47,866, the state health department said.

The state had recorded 1,357 new coronavirus infections and one pandemic-related death the day before.

Sunday is the fourth consecutive day when the state reported more than 1,000 cases.

The state has 6,767 active cases now, the department said in a statement.

A total of 25,994 samples were tested on Sunday, taking the cumulative number of tests conducted so far in Maharashtra to 8,10,61,270.

With the discharge of 614 patients after COVID-19 treatment, the state's count of recoveries mounted to 77,38,564.

Mumbai saw 961 fresh cases and one COVID-19 fatality, raising the tally to 10,68,936 and the death toll to 19,569.

The Mumbai division reported 1,362 new infections, taking the total number of cases to 22,46,796. The overall COVID-19 death toll in the Mumbai region is 39,840.

8:38 PM

Heatwave conditions in Rajasthan, Sriganganagar sizzles at 46.7 deg C

Normal life was affected in parts of Rajasthan due to excessive heat on Sunday, a MeT department spokesperson said.

At 46.7 degrees Celsius, Sriganganagar was the hottest place in the state.

According to the meteorological department, there is no likely relief from the heat for a few days.

The mercury touched 46.4 degrees Celsius in Dholpur, 45.1 degrees Celsius in Alwar and Sangaria, 45 degrees Celsius in Karauli and Churu, 44.9 degrees Celsius in Pilani, 44.4 degrees Celsius in Kota and 43.7 degrees Celsius in Bikaner.

State capital Jaipur recorded a maximum temperature of 42.6 degrees Celsius.

No significant change in the temperatures is expected in the next 48 hours, a spokesperson of the meteorological department said.

He said the effect of dry westerly winds will continue over most parts of the state during the next one week and the weather will remain dry at most places.

Pre-monsoon activities are likely to start in some parts of the state after June 14-15. However, for the next three days, relatively strong dusty winds with a speed of 25-35 kilometres per hour are likely in the districts of Jodhpur and Bikaner divisions.

8:37 PM

Inspired by India's efforts to curb carbon emissions: Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Sunday said he is inspired by India's leadership and efforts to curb carbon emissions.

He said collective global action to address climate change is needed more than ever and India's role and leadership are crucial in ensuring that "we reach our climate goals".

Speaking at the launch of 'Lifestyle for the Environment (LiFE) Movement', a global initiative, Gates stressed the need for innovative technologies and participation from all to eliminate greenhouse gases.

"Ensuring that these innovative technologies are widely adopted will not only require large investments and partnerships between private and public sectors but also demands from individuals. Individual actions will send market signals that will encourage governments and businesses to invest in these innovations and create the breakthroughs we need," he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the LiFE Movement and asserted that its vision is to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it.

"Those who live such a lifestyle are called pro-planet people," he said in a video address, and added that "Mission LiFE' borrows from the past, operates in the present and focuses on the future.

Gates congratulated Prime Minister Modi for taking a lead on the global initiative of citizen action to promote pro-climate behaviours. "Together, we can build a green industrial revolution," he added.

Several other dignitaries attended the programme.

8:36 PM

Biden scrambles to avoid Americas Summit flop in Los Angeles

When leaders gather this week in Los Angeles at the Summit of the Americas, the focus is likely to veer from common policy changes migration, climate change and galloping inflation and instead shift to something Hollywood thrives on: the drama of the red carpet.

With Mexican President Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador topping a list of leaders threatening to stay home to protest the US' exclusion of authoritarian leaders from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, experts say the event could turn into a embarrassment for US President Joe Biden.

Even some progressive Democrats have criticized the administration for bowing to pressure from exiles in the swing state of Florida and barring communist Cuba, which attended the last two summits.

The real question is why the Biden administration didn't do its homework, said Jorge Castaeda, a former Mexican foreign minister who now teaches at New York University.

While the Biden administration insists the president in Los Angeles will outline his vision for a "sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for the hemisphere, Castaeda said it's clear from the last-minute wrangling over the guest list that Latin America is not a priority for the US president.

This ambitious agenda, no one knows exactly what it is, other than a series of bromides," he said.

The US is hosting the summit for the first time since its launch in 1994, in Miami, as part of an effort to galvanize support for a free trade agreement stretching from Alaska to Patagonia.

 

8:30 PM

Kanpur violence: 5 more held, SIT set up for further probe

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday arrested five more people in connection with the Kanpur violence, taking the number of total arrests to 29, and set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

The arrested persons, including prime accused Hayat Zafar Hashmi, were produced before the special remand magistrate court which sent them to judicial custody for 14 days, a senior police official said.

The violence broke out in Pared, Nai Sadak and Yateemkhana areas of the city on Friday when some people tried to force shopkeepers to down shutters over allegedly insulting remarks made by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Mohammed during a TV debate, according to police.

With five more arrests on Sunday, the number of arrested accused has gone up to 29. The identities of over 100 more accused have been established, Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Pramod Kumar said.

He said it has been decided to move an application before the court on Monday seeking 14-day police custody of the accused.

Kanpur Police Commissioner Vijay Singh Meena said an SIT has been set up to probe the incident properly.

The SIT has been asked to identify those who instigated the communal tension, he said.

8:27 PM

In presence of Left leaders, Tejashwi presents report card on NDA misrule'

The opposition Grand Alliance in Bihar on Sunday charged the BJP-led NDA, which rules the Centre as well as the state, with imposing an undeclared emergency on the country wherein dissent is being stamped out by misuse of probe agencies and smear campaigns are launched against those critical of the regime.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, the leader of the opposition in the state, besides CPI and CPI(ML) secretaries general D Raja and Dipankar Bhattacharya respectively, were among those who addressed a mammoth gathering here.

The meeting was organised on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the call given by Jayaprakash Narayan for sampoorna Kranti (total revolution) on this date at the historic Gandhi Maidan in the city.

The occasion was also marked by Yadav presenting a report card on the alleged misrule of the Nitish Kumar government which has been ruling the state since 2005 except for a period of less than two years during which Yadav's party allied with the JD(U) and he served as the deputy chief minister.

Yadav said his report card sought to underscore that the government in the state, though headed by Kumar, a socialist, was being run as per the agenda of Nagpur, an allusion to the headquarters of the RSS, the apex body of the Sangh Parivar of which the BJP is the political offshoot.

He lambasted the NDA for achieving power through backdoor, an obvious reference to the BJP and Kumar's sudden realignment in 2017 after nearly four years of acrimony, and alleged misuse of administrative machinery in the 2020 assembly elections wherein the Grand Alliance stopped short of winning a majority.

8:24 PM

India delivers consignments of medical supplies to Sri Lanka: Official

India on Sunday delivered consignments of essential medicines to a hospital in Sri Lanka to bridge the shortage of medical supplies in the island nation amidst the country's ongoing economic crisis, according to the Indian High Commission here.

India has been providing medical supplies along with other basic essentials to Sri Lanka as it is going through its worst economic crisis.

A crippling shortage of foreign reserves has led to long queues for fuel, cooking gas, and other essentials while power cuts and soaring food prices heaped misery on the people.

On Sunday, the new consignments of medicines were supplied to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Indian aid to Jaffna Teaching Hospital. Two truck loads of life saving drugs and medical equipment were handed over by Consul General Raakesh Natraj to Director Jaffna Hospital Nanthakumar today, a tweet from the Indian High Commission said.

During the visit by the external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar early this year his attention was brought on the dire medical supplies situation in the island.

The Government Medical Officers' Association, which is the doctor's trade union, also opened up a portal seeking donations of medicines and consumables as part of their initiative to bring at least a temporary relief to the medicine shortage in such a time.