Live: Sri Lanka has to 'get out of crisis', says new PM Wickremesinghe

Live news updates: From crisis in Sri Lanka and Ukraine, to the political developments back home and more, catch all the live updates on latest news here

2:40 PM

100% coverage of govt schemes ends discrimination and politics of appeasement: PM Modi

Achieving 100 per cent coverage of government schemes brings an end to discrimination as well as politics of appeasement as it leaves no scope for anyone to indulge in such things, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday.

Due to lack of information, the government schemes either remain on paper or ineligible people avail their benefits, he said, adding that although the process to reach out to each and every beneficiary was difficult, it was the "only way" to serve the people.

He was speaking via video link at 'Utkarsh Samaroh', an event held in Gujarat's Bharuch city by the district administration to mark 100 per cent saturation of four key schemes of the state government meant for providing financial assistance to widows, elderly and destitute citizens.

"Hundred per cent saturation of government schemes ends discrimination and need for a recommendation to get the benefits, because people are confident that they will eventually get the benefit. It also puts an end to appeasement politics because 100 per cent coverage leaves no space for it," he said.

2:32 PM

50% hospitalised Covid patients continue to suffer after 2 years: Lancet

Two years after infection with Covid-19, half of patients who were admitted to hospital still have at least one symptom, according to the study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

 

The study followed 1,192 participants in China infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first phase of the pandemic in 2020.

 

While physical and mental health generally improved over time, the analysis suggests that Covid-19 patients still tend to have poorer health and quality of life than the general population.

 

This is especially the case for participants with long Covid, who typically still have at least one symptom including fatigue, shortness of breath, and sleep difficulties two years after initially falling ill.

2:30 PM

Lanka's ex-PM Wickremesinghe, with 1 seat in Parliament, may return to premiership: Reports

Sri Lanka's former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has just one seat in the 225-member Parliament, could become the next premier, media reports said on Thursday, amidst the worst economic crisis in the debt-ridden island nation.

 

The 73-year-old United National Party (UNP) leader held talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday and is expected to meet him again on Thursday, the Colombo Page newspaper reported.

 

Wickremesinghe, who has served as the country's prime minister for four times, was in October 2018 fired from the post of prime minister by then President Maithripala Sirisena. However, he was reinstalled as the prime minister by Sirisena after two months.

2:23 PM

More oil, slower demand mean world can weather Russian losses: IEA

Lower output from Russia due to the fallout from its invasion of Ukraine will not leave the world short of oil, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday, as supply ramps up elsewhere and Chinese lockdowns tamp down demand.

"Over time, steadily rising volumes from Middle East OPEC+ and the U.S. along with a slowdown in demand growth is expected to fend off an acute supply deficit amid a worsening Russian supply disruption," the IEA said in its monthly oil report.

Slower products exports and falling domestic demand following sanctions means around a million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian oil was shut in last month - about half a million bpd less than the Paris-based agency forecast last month.

2:08 PM

We may consider preferential trade pact with Oman: Goyal

India may consider negotiating a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Oman to further boost economic ties between the countries, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

India is also under active discussions with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for a comprehensive trade agreement, the minister said.

GCC is a union of six countries in the Gulf region, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

"We may consider doing a preferential trade agreement with Oman to begin with because we are looking for a comprehensive agreement between the GCC region and India, (which is) under active discussion," Goyal said.

2:00 PM

Mamata bats for creation of more districts in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said there is a need to create more districts in the state for expediting development work, but it has been constrained by lack of manpower and infrastructure.

Speaking at a meeting with West Bengal Civil Service officers at the renovated Town Hall here, she said the area of the existing 23 districts in the state is vast, so there is a need to divide them and increase the number.

The state needs more manpower and infrastructure for this purpose.

"We need to divide the districts as these are very large. The state will have more districts. This will help expedite development work, she said.

12:59 PM

SC declines to grant interim relief in challenge to the LIC IPO

The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to grant interim relief to petitioners challenging the amendments to LIC Act by Finance Act of 2021, which facilitated the LIC IPO. A bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said: "We are of the view that no case of interim relief has been made out. No interim relief granted."

 

The top court declined to interfere with the LIC IPO process at this juncture. A bunch of policy holders had moved the apex court alleging violation of the LIC Act.

12:56 PM

ED carries out search operations at various offices & residential premises of Ex-MLA of Odisha

ED has carried out search operations at various offices & residential premises of Jitendra Nath Patnaik, Ex-MLA Champua, Odisha & related entities at Joda, Keonjhar District under PMLA & seized Rs 70 Lakh cash & Rs 133.17 Cr FD in illegal mining case, the agency said

 

12:25 PM

MoU signed between NSDC & UAE's DP World for the development of Skill India International Centre at Varanasi

Delhi | MoU signed between National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) & UAE's DP World for the development of Skill India International Centre at Varanasi, in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and UAE minister Dr. Ahmad Belhoul

 

11:44 AM

Section 144 back in riot-hit MP's Khargone

Section 144 has been re-imposed in the riot-hit Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh as a preventive measure.

 

A notification issued jointly by the district administration and the police on Wednesday stated that no rallies, processions, Jagarans and shobha yatras or political rallies will be allowed in the district till July 10.

 

It came a week after the administration had lifted curfew from the riot-hit area claiming that the situation had returned to normal in the district. Last time section 144 was imposed was on April 11, a day after communal violence broke out in the district during the Navratri festival.

11:26 AM

Reaching the saturation means that the government has penetrated all sections of the society: PM Modi

Reaching the saturation means that the government has reached the last mile and penetrated all sections of the society: PM Modi

11:24 AM

Saturation removes all discrimination and selfishness: PM Modi

Saturation removes all discrimination and selfishness: PM Modi

11:23 AM

I have come to power to serve the people: PM Modi

I have come to power to serve the people and make sure all schemes hit 100 per cent saturation: PM Modi

11:21 AM

As our government completes 8 years, we are moving ahead with renewed spirit and energy: PM Modi

As our government completes 8 years, we are moving ahead with renewed spirit and energy: PM Modi

10:48 AM

We were able to provide free vaccination to the people of Gujarat: CM Bhupendra Patel

We were able to provide healthcare facilities and free vaccination during Covid times to the people of Gujarat under the leadership and guidance of PM Modi: CM Bhupendra Patel