Latest LIVE: Delhi reports 678 new Covid-19 cases, positivity rate at 3.98%

Live news updates: Active cases at 3,410, Positivity rate at 3.98 per cent

10:23 AM

SpiceJet flight return back to Delhi airport soon after smoke detected

A Jabalpur-bound SpiceJet flight returned to the Delhi airport on Saturday morning after passengers claimed smoke in the plane.

According to SpiceJet Spokesperson, smoke was detected inside the plane when the aircraft was passing 5000 ft.

The SG-2862 flight which took off from Delhi at 6:15 am for Jabalpur, landed back at 7:00 am at the Delhi airport. The flight landed safely and deboarded all passengers.

10:17 AM

India logs 17,092 new Covid cases, 29 deaths

India logged 17,092 new coronavirus infections, raising the tally to 43,486,326, while the active cases have increased to 109,568, the Union Health Ministry said on Saturday.

The death toll has climbed to 525,168 with 29 new fatalities, data updated by the ministry at 8 am stated.

The active cases comprise 0.25 per cent of the total infections.

The national COVID-19 recovery rate was 98.54 per cent, the health ministry said.

An increase of 2,379 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 case count in a span of 24 hours.

9:54 AM

Financial services an exciting aspect of UK-India FTA, says Rishi Sunak

The financial services sector holds out an exciting prospect of closer exchange between India and the UK with a free trade agreement (FTA) being negotiated between the two countries, according to British Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

In an interaction with reporters ahead of India Global Forum's UK-India Awards celebrating Indian diaspora success within the UK-India corridor on Friday, the senior British Indian Cabinet minister said he sees enormous opportunity for both countries in areas such as fintech and welcomed the opening up of the Indian insurance market.

The minister also expressed his confidence over the Diwali timeframe for an FTA draft to be ready.

9:53 AM

Udaipur court transfers Kanhaiya Lal murder case to NIA

A district court in Udaipur has transferred the murder case of tailor Kanhaiya Lal to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as the latter had applied for it earlier.

Following the transfer, the NIA will get custody of the killers, Ghaus Mohammad and Riyaz Jabbar, and then start their interrogation.

Meanwhile, the accused have been shifted from Udaipur to Ajmer's High Security Jail.

9:35 AM

BSF hands back 3-yr-old Pak boy who accidentally reached border

A three-year-old Pakistani boy, who inadvertently reached the International Border (IB) in Punjab, has been handed over to his family by the BSF, officials said on Saturday.

The incident was reported in Ferozepur sector of the state at around 7 pm on Friday when the Border Security Force troops noticed a child who stood crying near the IB fence.

9:12 AM

NZ’s Ardern Doubles Down on Warning of China’s Pacific Ambitions

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has again raised concerns about China’s ambitions in the Pacific, repeating her comment that Beijing “has become increasingly assertive in our region.”

 

“In recent times, there has been growing interest in the Pacific,” Ardern said in a speech at Chatham House in London on Friday. “The foreign policy position of some of the significant members of our region has changed. The order that has brought the region prosperity over the past 80 years is contested.”

 

9:08 AM

Biden vows to protect women travelling for abortions

US President Joe Biden said that women travelling for abortions across the country will be protected by the federal government as millions of women have lost their constitutional reproductive right after the Supreme Court overturned its 50-year-old Roe v Wade decision.

Addressing a virtual meet of Democratic Governors on Friday, the President said that his administration will also "ensure access to pills that caused abortion in states where it was prohibited", reports the BBC.

He also expressed his opinion that some states would attempt to arrest women who crossed state lines for abortion access.

8:57 AM

Over 11,000 pilgrims perform Amarnath Yatra, another batch of 6,113 leaves for valley

More than 11,000 pilgrims have performed this year's Amarnath Yatra so far, as another batch of 6,113 worshippers on Saturday moved from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu towards the valley.

"Over 11,000 yatris had darshan inside the holy cave shrine so far, while 23,214 others have moved towards the valley since the pilgrimage started on Thursday," officials here said.

Saturday's batch moved in two escorted convoys towards Baltal and Pahalgam base camps.

8:56 AM

No race for CM face, Congress to go for Karnataka polls with collective leadership

After long deliberations and discussions with the Karnataka leaders in Delhi, the Congress party is all set to move with the collective efforts to win the upcoming Karnataka assembly polls.

 

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and Congress legislative party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held meetings along with other leaders with the top leadership of the party at the residence of Rahul Gandhi for two days to chalk out future strategies for the upcoming polls. AICC Karnataka in charge Randeep Surjewala was also present in the meeting.

 

According to sources, one of the factions of state leadership wants the party should not declare face for the Chief Ministerial candidate and should go with the collective leadership in the upcoming polls.

8:31 AM

Steve Jobs to get posthumous Medal of Freedom

The co-founder and former CEO of tech giant Apple Steve Jobs will get the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously on July 7 at the White House by US President Joe Biden.

Biden named 17 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the late tech honcho in one of them.

"These 17 Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation -- hard work, perseverance, and faith," the White House said in a statement.

8:22 AM

12 US lawmakers urge Biden to hold India accountable in WTO for its 'trade-distorting practices'

A group of US lawmakers has urged President Joe Biden to file a formal request for consultations with India at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over its "dangerous trade-distorting practices".

The 12 Congressmen, in a letter to Biden, stated that current WTO rules allow governments to subsidise up to 10 per cent of the value of commodity production.

However, the Indian government continues to subsidise more than half of the value of production for several commodities, including rice and wheat, they said.

8:15 AM

BJP's mega show in Hyderabad, national executive meeting to start today

The two-day Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Executive meeting will start in Hyderabad today.

 

The meeting will be attended by BJP national president JP Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Ministers of 19 states and other BJP senior leaders at Hyderabad International Convention Centre.

 

The entire city of Hyderabad has donned a saffron hue with the BJP flags and banners ahead of the party's mega show. The posters showcase the achievement of the central government. Every nook and cranny of the city is decked up with big cutouts and banners of top BJP leaders.

 

 

8:15 AM

Japan to provide continuous support to Sri Lanka: Envoy Hideaki

Japanese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mizukoshi Hideaki on Friday said that Japan is ready to support Sri Lanka for its economic programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and for the development activities of the country.

 

In a statement, the President's Media Division said that during the discussion between the Japanese Ambassador and Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Hideaki said that continuous efforts will be made to further strengthen the economic, social and cultural relations with island nations, Daily Mirror Online reported.

 

Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa during the discussion expressed his deep appreciation to Japan for its support to Sri Lanka.

8:14 AM

Congressmen urge Biden to hold India liable for trade distorting practices

A group of US lawmakers have urged President Joe Biden to file a formal request for consultations with India at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over its "dangerous trade-distorting practices".

The 12 Congressmen, in a letter to Biden, stated that current WTO rules allow governments to subsidise up to 10 per cent of the value of commodity production.

However, the Indian government continues to subsidise more than half of the value of production for several commodities, including rice and wheat, they said.

8:10 AM

US announces $820M in Ukraine aid, including missile systems amid war

The US announced on Friday that it will provide Ukraine with $820 million in new military aid, including new surface-to-air missile systems and counter-artillery radars to respond to Russia's heavily reliance on long-range strikes in the war.

Russia in recent days has launched dozens of missiles across Ukraine and pinned down Ukrainian forces with continuous fire for sometimes hours at a time. Ukraine's leaders have publicly called on Western allies to quickly send more ammunition and advanced systems that will help them narrow the gap in equipment and manpower.