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

8:09 AM

At least 21 killed in missile strikes on residential area in Ukraine's Odessa region

At least 21 people were killed and dozens injured when the Russian missile on Friday struck a residential tower and a recreational centre in the southern Ukrainian region of Odessa.

 

One of the missiles hit the nine-storey residential tower in Serhiivka, killing at least 16 and injuring 38 people, according to The New York Times citing Ukraine's state emergency service.

 

And then another missile hit a recreational centre, where five people died and one was injured, emergency officials said on Telegram.

8:09 AM

Brazil assumes rotating presidency of UN Security Council for July

Brazil has assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council for July.

 

During the month, Brazil would aim to foster greater cooperation between the Security Council and other UN bodies, especially the Peacebuilding Commission, as it can make a comprehensive contribution to discussions on renewal of peacekeeping and political missions, Ronaldo Costa Filho, Brazil's permanent representative to the UN and President of the Security Council for July, told a press briefing on Friday.

 

In July, the Security Council will focus on issues, including the crises in Ukraine and Syria, with meeting on food security and consultations on the chemical weapons file on Syria, as well as renewal of a raft of peacekeeping or special political missions and sanctions regimes, he said.

8:05 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.

 

Meetings of the national general secretaries and national office bearers followed by the national executive meeting will be held on July 2 and a public meeting will be held at the Parade Ground on July 3 with the address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

According to a senior BJP leader, the expansion of the party will be the key agenda of the meeting. They will also discuss areas where there is a need to induct more party workers.

8:04 AM

Iran's FM says durable guarantees key to conclusion of nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that the negotiations to revive the Iranian nuclear deal can succeed if the US provides durable guarantees for Tehran's economic benefits.

 

"America's realism and obtaining stable guarantees for Iran's full economic benefit from the agreement can make the outcome of the negotiations fruitful," he tweeted on Friday.

 

Amir-Abdollahian added that Ali Bagheri Kani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, in full coordination with him, "seriously continues to negotiate logically, reasonably and actively for the lifting of sanctions".

8:04 AM

New York overhauls handgun rules in effort to preserve some limits

New York's legislature approved a sweeping overhaul Friday of the state's handgun licensing rules, seeking to preserve some limits on firearms after the Supreme Court ruled that most people have a right to carry a handgun for personal protection.

 

The bill, which Gov. Kathy Hochul said she intended to sign, is almost sure to draw more legal challenges from gun-rights advocates who say the state is still putting too many restrictions on who can get a gun and where they can carry it.

 

Backers said the new law strikes the right balance between complying with the Supreme Court's ruling and keeping weapons out of the hands of people likely to use them recklessly or with criminal intent.

8:04 AM

UNESCO launches new State of the Ocean Report

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has published a flagship report on the state of the world's oceans.

 

The first edition of UNESCO's "State of the Ocean Report" (StOR) was launched during the 2022 United Nations Ocean Conference, held in Lisbon, Portugal, from June 27 to July 1.

 

"The Report will help to efficiently monitor the progress of the UN Ocean Decade, and, in time, can become an eagerly anticipated worldwide publication that will contribute significantly to mobilising global society to act towards "ocean we need for the future we want"," said Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of UNESCO's Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC-UNESCO).

8:03 AM

Ukraine needs 'hard work, determination' to join EU, says von der Leyen

Ukraine's bid to join the European Union (EU) is "within reach" but requires "hard work, determination and above all unity of purpose," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.

 

Addressing the Ukrainian parliament through a video link, she added on Friday that the path towards EU membership required reforms in many areas, including tackling corruption. She also took note of the steps Ukraine had already taken in this direction.

 

"You have created an impressive anti-corruption machine. But now these institutions need teeth, and the right people in senior posts," she said.

8:03 AM

After 2-yr hiatus, Bengal celebrates Rath Yatra with usual fervour

Thousands descended on streets in different places across West Bengal on the occasion of the Rath Yatra festival on Friday as chariots were pulled out after two years of muted celebration due to covid-19 pandemic.

 

Leaders of various political parties, including the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP, separately joined the celebrations.

 

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee separately wished the people of the state on the occasion of Rath Yatra.