Latest news LIVE: Rajya Sabha elections underway, tough fights in 4 states

From Rajya Sabha elections to rising coronavirus cases, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here

3:47 PM

No cross voting by Congress in Haryana: Party affairs leader

Vivek Bansal, Congress party affairs in-charge, said no cross voting took place in Congress. “The manner and discipline with which Congress MLAs voted in this election is an example Congress leaders across the states should take inspiration from. We are comfortably ahead of the required votes,” Indian Express quoted him as saying.

3:27 PM

Asaduddin Owaisi's party to vote for Congress in Rajya Sabha polls

The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has decided to vote in favour of the Congress candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls from Maharashtra. The announcement was made by AIMIM Lok Sabha member from Aurangabad Imtiaz Jaleel hours before polling began at 9am.

 

3:25 PM

BJP MLA's vote creates controversy in Rajasthan

A BJP MLA's vote in the tense Rajya Sabha race in Rajasthan triggered a controversy as media baron Subhash Chandra demanded that it be declared "invalid", alleging that a BJP poll observer had held the vote slip. Shobha Rani Kushwaha, the BJP candidate from Dholpur, was voting when her party's poll observer Rajendra Rathore took her vote slip, which is against the rules, said NDTV.com.

 

 

2:05 PM

NADA to collect dope samples from all medals winners at athletics Nationals

The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) will collect samples from all medal winners at the ongoing National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships instead of taking random samples for testing. There are 43 medal events in the championships but there might be athletes who win more than one medal. "We will take samples of gold, silver and bronze winners in each event, both men and women. We are not collecting random samples," a member of the dope testing team told PTI.

2:00 PM

We have emphasised on a holistic approach to improving the health sector of the country: PM

During the last 8 years, we have emphasised on a holistic approach to improving the health sector of the country. We have tried to modernise the treatment facilities and also focussed on topics related to better nutrition, clean lifestyle and preventive health: PM Modi

 

1:59 PM

PM inaugurates AM Naik Healthcare Complex and Nirali Multi Speciality Hospital at Navsari

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated AM Naik Healthcare Complex and Nirali Multi Speciality Hospital at Navsari

1:53 PM

For us power is an opportunity to serve people: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that for the BJP coming to power was an opportunity to do social service. He said this while addressing a huge gathering at Khudvel in Navsari district as part of the Gujarat Gaurav Abhiyan.

 

Modi inaugurated projects worth over Rs 3,000 crore. He said, "It is an honour that I have worked as the Chief Minister for so many years, but never before has there been such a big event in the tribal area...Today, the duo of Bhupendra Bhai and CR (Gujarat BJP chief C.R. Patil), which inspires confidence in the people with enthusiasm, has resulted in more than 5 lakh people appearing in front of me today. What I couldn't do, my colleagues have done."

1:38 PM

Maharashtra: 260 MLAs have cast their votes till 1pm in the Rajya Sabha election

Maharashtra: 260 MLAs have cast their votes till 1pm in the Rajya Sabha election

12:03 PM

Alembic gets USFDA nod for cancer treatment drug

Alembic Pharmaceuticals on Friday said it has received approval from the US health regulator to market Dasatinib tablets, used to treat certain types of cancers, in the American market.

 

The company has received tentative approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for Dasatinib tablets in strengths of 20 mg, 50 mg, 70 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg, and 140 mg, Alembic Pharmaceuticals said in a statement.

11:54 AM

30 arrested after protest outside police station over FIR against AIMIM chief

Thirty people have been arrested after their protest outside Parliament Street police station here over FIR against party chief Asaddudin Owaisi for allegedly posting and sharing messages on social media inciting people on divisive lines, officials said on Friday.

 

The protest was held on Thursday. A total of 33 protesters, including women, were detained and an FIR was registered for disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant.

 

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Amrutha Guguloth on Friday said 30 protesters have been arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

11:28 AM

Delhi Court order on interim bail plea of Sharjeel Imam adjourned for 7 July

Delhi Court order on the interim bail plea of Sharjeel Imam, in the 2019 sedition case against him adjourned for 7 July. Courts are now on vacation from today, therefore the matter is adjourned.

 

10:51 AM

Israel reports 4th monkeypox case

Israel's Ministry of Health has reported the country's fourth case of monkeypox. The infected is a 28-year-old man who recently returned from abroad and arrived at the Sheba Medical Centre in central Israel with symptoms of the viral disease, according to the Ministry. A clinical sample was later tested at the Israel Institute for Biological Research, where the suspicion of monkeypox was verified, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

10:35 AM

Thailand becomes first Asian country to decriminalize cannabis

Thailand on Thursday decriminalized cannabis, becoming the first Asian country to remove the ban on the drug. However, Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed that tough penalties will still apply to those who use the drug to get high and warned against smoking joints, reported CNN. Charnvirakul said he expected legal cannabis production to boost the economy but cautioned that recreational use of the drug remains illegal.

10:10 AM

RS polls: Voting underway in Karnataka, tight contest for 4th seat

Voting is underway in the Rajya Sabha polls for four seats from Karnataka on Friday, as suspense continues over the outcome of the fourth seat, for which all three political parties are contenders, despite none of them having adequate number of votes to win it. Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) are voters in this election. The voting that began at 9 AM will go on till 4 PM and counting of votes will take place at 5 PM, after the polling hours. Six candidates are in the fray in the Rajya Sabha elections from the state, necessitating a contest for the fourth seat.

10:09 AM

Polling for 2 RS seats in Haryana begins

Polling for the two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana was underway here on Friday with Congress MLAs, who were lodged in a resort in Chattisgarh's Raipur due to fear of poaching, on their way to Chandigarh. The polling for the two seats will be held from 9 am to 4 pm and counting of votes will be taken up soon after, officials said.

 

While the BJP with 40 MLAs in the 90-member Haryana Assembly has nine more than the 31 first preference votes required for a straight win, the contest has become keen for the second seat with the entry of media baron Kartikeya Sharma, an Independent.

10:02 AM

Voting for Rajya Sabha elections begins in 4 states

Voting for Rajya Sabha elections begins in 4 states. Polling being held for 16 seats.

9:22 AM

India logs 7,584 new cases in 24 hours

India logged 7,584 new cases in last 24 hours. Active cases stand at 36,267.

8:10 AM

Sri Lanka: UN appeals for $47 million for life-saving aid to 1.7 million people

The United Nations team in Sri Lanka and non-governmental organisations has launched a joint Humanitarian Needs and Priorities (HNP) Plan calling for USD 47.2 million to provide life-saving assistance to 1.7 million people worst-hit by the economic crisis over a four-month period, from June to September.

 

The HNP plan was launched on Thursday..

 

This directly responds to the Government of Sri Lanka's request for a United Nations-backed multi-sector international assistance to respond to the most urgent needs arising from the recent crisis, particularly focusing on health care and essential medicines, food and agriculture.

 

7:57 AM

Brazil confirms first monkeypox case

Brazil on Thursday confirmed the country's first case of Monkeypox in the city of Sao Paulo, according to local health authorities. The virus was detected in a 41-year-old man who recently travelled to Spain and Portugal, the city's health secretariat said in a statement. The patient is currently in isolation at the Emilio Ribas Public Hospital, while his recent contacts are being monitored. Another suspected monkeypox case being investigated in Sao Paulo involves a 26-year-old woman, who is now hospitalized, said the secretariat.

7:29 AM

3 dead, 1 injured after shooting in US state of Maryland

Three people died and another was critically injured after a shooting broke out in Smithsburg, US state of Maryland, police said. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon, Xinhua news agency reported. Officers responded to the Columbia Machine Inc. at around 2:30 p.m, where they found the four victims, the Washington County Sheriff's Office wrote in the latest press release. The suspect fled the scene prior to law enforcement's arrival. The suspect's vehicle was later encountered by Maryland State Police.

7:28 AM

6.0-magnitude quake hits China's Sichuan province

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Maerkang city of Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan province, at 1:28 a.m. on Friday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). The epicentre, with a depth of 13 km, was monitored at 32.25 degrees north latitude and 101.82 degrees east longitude, the CENC said. A 5.8-magnitude earthquake was monitored earlier on Friday in the city, Xinhua news agency reported.

7:27 AM

UP Police beefs up security for Friday prayers

The Uttar Pradesh Police have issued an alert to all district police chiefs to intensify security around mosques for Friday prayers. The directive comes after the violence in Kanpur on June 3. According to the official spokesman, Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been imposed in Kanpur and Lucknow to prevent public gathering on roads and public places.

7:27 AM

Zelensky to attend NATO summit in Madrid

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Deputy Secretary-General Mircea Joane has confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been invited to the alliance's summit in Madrid. The summit is set to take place in Madrid, Spain on June 28 and June 29 respectively, The Kyiv Independent reported. The summit would be attended for the first time by NATO partners from the Pacific - Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, Joane said in an official statement.

7:26 AM

PM Modi to visit Gujarat today to launch projects worth Rs 3,050 cr

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gujarat today to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects worth Rs 3,050 crores.

 

At around 10:15 am, Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives during 'Gujarat Gaurav Abhiyan' in Navsari. At around 12:15 pm, he will inaugurate AM Naik Healthcare Complex and Nirali Multi Speciality Hospital in Navsari, as per the Prime Minister's Office.

 

Thereafter, at around 3:45 pm, he will inaugurate the headquarters of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) at Bopal, Ahmedabad.