LIVE: Rebel leader Eknath Shinde gets enough MLAs to split Sena Sena

From Assam floods to coronavirus rising cases in India to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here

4:16 PM

Tapan Kumar Deka made IB chief

Senior IPS officer Tapan Kumar Deka was on Friday appointed Intelligence Bureau chief, replacing Arvind Kumar whose extended tenure ends on June 30. The tenure of Samant Goel, who has been heading the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), has been extended by one more year, said the personnel ministry.

3:33 PM

Tourists are welcome: Assam CM denies BJP role in Maharashtra crisis

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday sought to downplay the camping of Maharashtra's rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in his state saying all "tourists" are welcome. Sarma said he has nothing to do with the politics of Maharashtra where the survival of the Uddhav Thackeray-led government is at stake after 38 of his party's MLAs rebelled and are currently camping at a hotel in Guwahati after being flown there in several flights, PTI reported.

3:24 PM

BJP using its resources to oust Thackeray: Congress's Adhir Chowdhury

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury blames the BJP for the political crisis in Maharashtra. “From the day Uddhav Thackeray took over as Maharashtra CM, the BJP is using all its resources and muscle power to oust him... MVA govt is gradually earning the trust of the common people,” said Chowdhury, referring to the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

 

3:19 PM

One more Shiv Sena MLA joins Eknath Shinde's camp

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena suffered yet another setback as one more party MLA has joined the camp of rebel legislators headed by minister Eknath Shinde in Assam. A video of MLA Dilip Lande entering the luxury hotel in Guwahati, where the party rebels have been camping for the past few days, was shared by Shinde's office in Mumbai on Friday, PTI reported.

2:39 PM

Maharashtra Dy Speaker makes Ajay Chaudhary Shiv Sena's legislative leader

2:30 PM

Shiv Sena MLA Dilip Lande joins other rebel MLAs in Guwahati

12:45 PM

NDA's Presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu files her nomination

11:26 AM

Z category security cover for Yashwant Sinha

The Centre has extended a Z category cover of armed CRPF commandos to the opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha, officials said on Friday. The squad has taken over the task after the Union home ministry directed the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) VIP security wing to ensure protection to the 84-year-old Sinha. The armed personnel, about eight to ten working in shifts, will escort Sinha whenever he moves across the country, they said.

 

 

10:36 AM

Gujarat 2002 riots: Supreme Court dismisses plea filed by Zakia Jafri

Supreme Court dismisses plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to the then state CM Narendra Modi and several others in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

 

10:09 AM

Process underway to disqualify 12 MLAs of Eknath Shinde faction: Sanjay Raut

Process underway to disqualify 12 MLAs (of Eknath Shinde faction), their numbers are only on the papers. Shiv Sena is a big ocean such waves come and go: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

 

10:08 AM

We are taking action to disqualify the rebel MLAs: Sanjay Raut

Threats are being given to Sharad Pawar ji by a Central minister. Do such threats have the support of Modi Ji and Amit Shah Ji?...We are taking action to disqualify the (rebel) MLAs: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

 

10:07 AM

Whether or not the MVA govt survives, use of such language for Pawar is not acceptable: Sanjay Raut

"A central minister of the BJP has said that if attempts are made to save MVA govt, then Sharad Pawar will not be allowed to go home. Whether or not the MVA govt survives, use of such language for Sharad Pawar is not acceptable," tweets Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

 

10:06 AM

We are real Shiv Sena, who are you trying to scare: Party rebel Eknath Shinde on disqualification demand

With the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seeking cancellation of membership of several rebel MLAs, minister Eknath Shinde, who has spearheaded the revolt against the party, has claimed that the group led by him is the "real Shiv Sena", and also hit back saying he and his supporters will not be intimidated by the disqualification threats.

 

In a series of tweets posted late Thursday night, Shinde who is camping in Guwahati along with 37 Sena legislators and 10 independents, said as per the 10th Schedule of the Constitution, a party whip is issued for the legislature proceedings and not for attending a meeting.

9:43 AM

Rupee opens at 78.20 against US dollar, up 12 paise

Rupee opens at 78.20 against US dollar, up 12 paise from its previous all-time low closing of 78.32

 

9:24 AM

SC to pronounce verdict on a plea filed by Zakia Jafri in 2002 Gujarat riots

Supreme Court to pronounce today its verdict on a plea filed by Zakia Jafri, widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, challenging the clean chit given by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to Narendra Modi, then Gujarat CM and now PM and several others in 2002 Gujarat riots.

 

9:14 AM

India logs 17,336 new cases in 24 hours

India logged 17,336 cases in 24 hours. 13 new deaths have been reported.

9:08 AM

Congress, NCP trying to eliminate Shiv Sena in Maharashtra: Rebel MLA Sanjay Shirsat

Amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Shirsat on Thursday claimed that both Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are trying to eliminate Shiv Sena politically from Maharashtra and the MLAs made several attempts to inform Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about the malafide intentions of alliance partners.

 

In a video message, Shirsat said Sanjay Shirsath said, "Yesterday, we all watched the video conference address by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. We listened to his opinions and thoughts. We felt bad. We had never imagined that Uddhav Saheb will become so emotional in such a situation. But, there are reasons behind what has happened. This has not happened overnight. This is not a miracle that happened within a day. Many times in the past, all these MLAs informed Uddhav Saheb that whether it is Congress or NCP, both are trying to eliminate Shiv Sena."

8:52 AM

NDA's presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu to file nomination today

The presidential candidate nominated by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA, Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to file her nomination papers on Friday.

 

The sources also informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be proposing her name for the nomination on June 24, which will be seconded by the party's national president JP Nadda.

 

The sources also informed ANI that the BJP has invited all of their allies to join in the nomination ceremony including the chief ministers of NDA-ruled states of the country.

8:30 AM

Fauci says he's ''example'' for COVID-19 vaccinations

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says his COVID-19 recovery is an example for the nation on the protection offered by vaccines and boosters.

 

Speaking during a White House briefing, Fauci, 81, said he began experiencing virus symptoms on June 14 and tested positive a day later. He was prescribed the anti-viral drug paxlovid, which has proven to be highly effective at preventing serious illness and death from COVID-19, on June 15.

8:29 AM

Prez polls: Andhra CM backs NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday extended support to NDA presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu, who will be the first tribal woman to hold the position if she wins.

 

CM Jagan believes that it falls in line with the emphasis he has always given to the representation of the SC, ST, BC, and minority communities, according to an official statement by the state government.

 

In the last three years, Jagan has given great importance to the upliftment of these communities and even ensured they were represented well in the cabinet, with them being the lion's share of 70 percent.

7:57 AM

12 dead after clash between police, armed civilians in Mexico's Jalisco state

At least 12 people were killed in a confrontation between police and armed civilians in the town of El Salto, in west Mexico's Jalisco state, state Governor Enrique Alfaro confirmed. Four police officers were among the fatal victims, Alfaro said on Thursday through Twitter.

 

"El Salto police and state police shot down eight criminals yesterday and left three seriously injured, after responding to a report of a safe house where there were hidden weapons," he added.

7:51 AM

Ahead of G7 Summit UNICEF calls for funding of USD 1.2 bln to tackle lethal child malnutrition

As leaders prepare to meet at the G7 summit, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is calling for USD 1.2 billion to prevent and treat severe wasting -- a lethal form of child malnutrition, said the Fund in its press release.

 

Almost 8 million children under 5 in 15 crisis-hit countries are at risk of death from severe wasting unless they receive immediate therapeutic food and care - with the number rising by the minute, UNICEF warned.

7:50 AM

G-7 invitation not intended to "splinter" countries from Russia

The US has dismissed suggestions that the invitation to India and other countries to the upcoming G-7 summit in Germany was intended to splinter them from Russia.

 

India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal, Argentina and Ukraine have been invited to the summit as guests at certain sessions.

 

India has been attending these summits at the invitation of the host countries for years now, going back to the G-8 summit in Gleneagles in Scotland in 2005. Russia was the eighth member; it was thrown out of the group after it attacked Ukraine in 2014 and annexed Crimea.

7:50 AM

India says ready to provide assistance, support to Afghan people following devastating quake

India said it is ready to provide assistance and support to the people of Afghanistan in their hour of need as a devastating earthquake killed nearly 1000 people, destroyed houses and displaced several.

 

"At the outset, I express our deepest condolences to the victims and their families, and to all those impacted by the devastating earthquake in Afghanistan. India shares the grief of the people of Afghanistan and is ready to provide assistance and support in this hour of need, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said at a Security Council briefing and consultations on Afghanistan Thursday.