Live: 60 feared dead in Ukraine school bombed by Russia, governor says

Live news updates: Group of Seven leaders plan to discuss potential new penalties against Russia on Sunday.

11:04 PM

Sri Lanka PM likely to resign this week

Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is likely to resign this week so that the new cabinet can take over, local media reported.

Prime Minister Rajapaksa will brief the local council members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and then, later on, he will announce his resignation, Colombo Gazette reported.

This report came after President Gotbaya Rajapaksa in a special meeting on Friday requested Prime Minister to step down from power as a solution to the ongoing political crisis in the country.

Once the Prime Minister resigns, the President is expected to invite all the political parties in Parliament to form an all-party Cabinet, reported Colombo Gazette.

Earlier, the opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) confirmed that its leader Sajith Premadasa will not accept the PM's post in an interim government.

This comes at a significant juncture as Sri Lankan PM Mahinda Rajapaksa is learned to have responded positively to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's request to quit in the face of the deepening economic crisis.

SJB National Organizer Tissa Attsnayake, while speaking with the Sri Lankan media outlet, said, "Premadasa will not accept premiership of an interim government but SJB will give conditional support for an interim government."

11:02 PM

Beleaguered Sri Lanka PM Mahinda Rajapaksa seeks divine help to stay in power

Sri Lanka's embattled Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday sought divine help to remain in office by praying at an iconic Buddhist temple, amidst mounting pressure on the veteran politician to step down over the worsening economic crisis facing the island nation, according to media reports.

In his first public outing since the outbreak of anti-government protests last month, the 76-year-old the patriarch of the powerful Rajapaksa clan, travelled to the sacred city of Anuradhapura where hostile crowds booed and jeered him and asked him to step down, the reports said.

The Prime Minister took a vow before the sacred Sri Maha Bodi, the ECONOMYNEXT, a financial and political news service, quoted a source close to the prime minister as saying.

He wants to stay in office and that is why he climbed the steps to the upper terrace to touch the sacred Bo tree, the source said.

The top most portion of the temple complex is not open to the public and access is allowed only for visiting heads of state and Sri Lanka's top politicians.

The Prime Minister's Media Unit said that Mahinda Rajapaksa was engaged in religious observances in Anuradhapura, visited the Ruwanweli Seya and received blessings from the monks.

He also prayed at the Mirisawetiya Temple and received blessings from the priests at the shrine, News First news portal reported.

Apart from seeking divine help to remain in office, the Mahinda Rajapakasa is also taking action to muster support from his constituents by inviting large numbers to visit him at his Temple Trees residence on Monday, the source said.

11:00 PM

47 more test Covid-19 positive in Tamil Nadu, active infections reach 478

The Covid-19 aggregate in Tamil Nadu touched 34.54 lakh on Sunday with 47 more people testing positive for the virus.

As many as eight districts recorded fresh infections with Chennai adding 23, Chengalpet 10, Coimbatore 5, Tiruchirappalli 3, Salem 2 while Cuddalore, Kancheepuram, Namakkal, Tiruvallur logged one case each.

The toll in the state stood at 38,025 as no fatality was recorded in the last 24 hours, a medical bulletin said.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease rose to 34,15,850 as 68 more people were discharged in the last 24 hours, leaving 478 active cases.

The state capital leads among districts with 265 active infections and overall 7,51,943 coronavirus cases. A total of 16,881 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of tests so far to 6.62 crore, it said.

 

9:40 PM

Covid: 23 more cases in Punjab, no deaths

Punjab reported 23 fresh Covid cases on Sunday that took the infection tally to 7,59,905, according to a medical bulletin.

No covid-related death was reported in the past 24-hours and the death toll stands at 17,751, it said.

Of the new cases, Mohali registered 10 followed by seven in Ludhiana and two each in Fazilka and Patiala, it said.

There were 284 active cases in the state, it said.

Twenty-three patients recovered from the infection, taking the overall recoveries to 7,41,870, the bulletin said.

Chandigarh reported 11 new Covid cases, taking the total count to 92,147, the bulletin said, adding that the number of active cases was 78.

No covid-related death was reported in the city. The death toll stands at 1,165.

9:12 PM

Covid-19: Delhi logs 1,422 fresh cases, zero fatality

Delhi reported 1,422 fresh COVID-19 cases and zero fatality due to the viral disease on Sunday, while the positivity rate was recorded ta 5.34 per cent, according to data shared by the city health department.

A total of 26,647 Covid tests were conducted in the national capital on Saturday, it showed.

With the new cases, Delhi's COVID-19 infection tally rises to 18,94,254, while the death toll stands at 26,179, according to the bulletin.

The city reported 1,407 Covid cases with a positivity rate of 4.72 per cent and two deaths on Saturday.

It had on Friday logged 1,656 COVID-19 cases, the highest since February 4, while the positivity rate stood at 5.39 per cent.

8:59 PM

Bihar Public Service Commission cancels exam following question paper leak

The Bihar Public Services Commission on Sunday cancelled the examination for Civil Services (preliminary) held earlier in the day, hours after allegations of question paper leak led to a massive outcry.

Screenshots of a set of question papers had gone viral on social media minutes before the exams commenced at noon.

The exams have been cancelled. Other announcements will be made in due course, BPSC Examination Controller Amarendra Kumar told PTI over phone.

BPSC Secretary Jiut Singh said a three-member committee has also been set up to inquire into the whole matter and asked to submit a report in three days.

 

8:37 PM

Union minister Shekhawat demands CBI probe into communal clashes in Jodhpur, Karauli

Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Sunday demanded a CBI probe into the communal clashes in Jodhpur and Karauli in Rajasthan.

Alleging that the administration and the police were working under pressure, he warned that if justice was not ensured in the matter, they would take to the streets.

"A CBI probe will show that there must have been some connections between the two incidents," he told reporters.

Referring to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's allegations against the BJP over these clashes, the Union minister said a CBI probe would make it clear who were behind these incidents.

"What happened in Jodhpur on Monday night and Tuesday were very unfortunate and some people deprived the rest of the festive spirit. Now the question is who were these persons who robbed the city of peace and harmony?" Shekhawat said.

Tension broke out in Chief Minister Gehlot's constituency Jodhpur on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, over the installation of Islamic flags on the Jalori gate circle, a roundabout alongside the statue of freedom fighter Balmukund Bissa, as members of the other community alleged that a saffron flag, which they had put up there ahead of Parshuram Jayanti, had gone missing.

The issue snowballed into stone-pelting and clashes.

In relief to the citizens, internet services were resumed in Jodhpur at 4 pm on Sunday.

8:36 PM

Gyanvapi-Shringar Gauri case: 4 petitioners reject report they plan to withdraw plea

Four of the five petitioners in the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri temple case Sunday dismissed reports that they plan to withdraw the plea.

The four women -- Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, Rekha Pathak and Laxmi Devi told a press conference here they will fight the case till the end.

This comes after chief of Vishwa Vaidik Sanatan Sangh Jitendra Singh Bisen said his NGO, which backed the original plea filed by the five women, has now sought the withdrawal of the petition that demanded permission for daily worship and performing Hindu rituals at Shringar Gauri temple,

One of the four women petitioners told the presser, "If any type of decision (regarding the withdrawal of the case) is taken, we are against it. We will fight the case to the last breath. We will continue our fight for our Gods and Goddesses.

However, the fifth petitioner in the case Rakhi Singh was not present at the press conference.

Rekha Pathak said, "A couple of days ago, I had spoken to Rakhi Singh, but there was no discussion regarding withdrawal of the case."

When contacted, Jitendra Singh Bisen refused to comment on the matter.

The petitioners have sought the permission to perform daily worship of deities Shringar Gauri, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman and Nandi whose idols are on the outer wall of the Gyanvapi mosque.

8:00 PM

No alliances with parties, want to partner 1.3 bn Indians, says Kejriwal at Lokmat event

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said his party would not enter into an alliance with other outfits as it intended to partner with 1.3 billion people of this country.

Speaking on 'AAP and its role in 2024 Lok Sabha elections' as part of a lecture series organised to mark the golden jubilee of the Nagpur edition of Lokmat, Kejriwal also said he didn't want to defeat anyone in politics but sought to make India the number one country in the world.

"Many people ask me with whom will we do a national alliance. I do not know how to do politics. I don't understand alliances of 10 and 20 parties to defeat anyone. I don't want to defeat anyone, I want the country to win. I will only enter into an alliance with 130 crore (1.3 billion) people of the country to make India number one in the world, " he said.

Without naming the BJP, the Delhi chief minister said a "huge party" at present was vociferously supporting hooliganism, engineering riots, taking out welcome processions for rapists.

"The country cannot progress with this type of hooliganism. If you want hooliganism and riots you can go with them, but if you want progress, schools and hospitals you can come with me. Let us make an alliance of 130 crore common people," he asserted.

Kejriwal said his party's focus was not on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls but on working for the country, adding that people like him had come after leaving their careers to serve the country.

India must become the number one country in the world as soon as possible, Kejriwal said, adding that he wanted to play an important role in this quest.

 

7:51 PM

Covid-19: Maha reports 224 new cases, one death; active count now 1,304

Maharashtra on Sunday reported 224 new coronavirus positive cases, taking the state's infection tally to 78,79,278, while one death raised the toll to 1,47,847, the health department said.

A total of 196 patients recuperated during the day, taking the cumulative recovery count to 77,30,127. There are 1,304 active cases in the state now.

On Sunday, 24,349 tests were done, pushing the state's overall test count to 8,03,79,421.

The COVID-19 recovery rate of the state is 98.11 per cent, while the fatality rate is 1.87 per cent.

Mumbai reported 123 new cases and zero death, which raised its infection tally to 10,59,807. Its death toll is 19,563. Mumbai division, which comprises the city and its satellite townships, saw 156 cases during the day. Its infection count now stands at 22,34,945 and fatality figure at 39,830.

Nashik division reported five new cases, Pune division 47 cases, Kolhapur division two cases, Aurangabad division seven cases, Akola division two cases and Nagpur division five cases. Latur division did not report any case. One death was reported in Amravati city.

The coronavirus figures of Maharashtra are as follows: Positive cases 78,79,278, new cases 224, death toll 1,47,847, recoveries 77,30,127, active cases 1,304, total tests 8,03,79,42.