News Highlights: Three officials of shipping firm arrested in barge P-305 sinking case

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Several Delhi malls, hotels declared 'single-use plastic free'

Several plush malls and hotels in south Delhi were on Saturday declared “single-use plastic free” as part of the area's civic body’s efforts to curb use of such items, officials said.

These include City mall, DLF Avenue, MGF, Ambience, ITC Sheraton, and Hyatt – in Saket; and DLF Promenade, the Grand hotel and DLF Emporio – in Vasant Kunj; and Eros hotel in Nehru Place, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) said in a statement.

Switzerland's Roger Federer slips over during his third round match against Britain's Cameron Norrie.

Credit: Reuters Photo

Kejriwal reviews power supply in Delhi, says successful in meeting growing demand

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday reviewed the power supply situation in Delhi as the peak demand for electricity rose sharply due to hot and humid weather in the past few days.

An official statement said that the Delhi government is preparing to meet over 8,500 MW peak demand for electricity next year.

At a review meeting, the chief minister assured the discoms of the government's assistance in addressing problems they face in fixing transformers due to lack of space and directed that the electric wires be either insulated put underground.

Kejriwal said the growing power demand is being successfully met and all residents of Delhi are getting electricity supply round the clock.

Sweltering heat in Rajasthan

Scorching heat conditions prevailed in parts of Rajasthan, where a maximum temperature of 42.1 degrees was recorded in Karauli, according to the Meteorological (MeT) Department here.

Sriganganagar, Pilani, Phalodi recorded 41.7, 41.3 and 41.2 degrees Celsius respectively, it said.

Dholpur and Dabok also received 0.5 and 0.2 mm rains on Saturday while the weather in the rest of the areas remained dry.

UP district panchayat chief polls: Party-backed candidates won 67 of 75 seats, claims BJP

The Uttar Pradesh BJP has claimed that the party-backed candidates won 67 of 75 seats of the district panchayat chief, the voting for which was held on Saturday.

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Industry seeks deadline extension for comments on draft e-commerce rules

Industry associations have requested the government for an extension of the July 6 deadline for sending in comments on draft rules for e-commerce players, according to sources.

In a consultation between industry associations and Department of Consumer Affairs, industry representatives sought extension beyond the July 6 deadline.

According to sources, some representatives were of the view that the proposed guidelines will not help consumers, and that lack of parity between online and offline sellers will hurt interest of consumers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Indian Navy ship completes safety study near Colombo Port; submits report to Lankan authorities

The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka on Saturday said Indian naval ship, INS Sarvekshak, has surveyed 800 miles of the sea near the Colombo Port and a findings report has been sent to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Fisheries to resume safe navigation and commercial fishing.

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Three officials of shipping firm arrested in barge P-305 sinking case

Three officials including a director of a shipping firm have been arrested in connection with the sinking of the barge P-305 off the Mumbai coast during cyclone Tauktae, city police said on Saturday.

Prasad Ganpat Rane (43), Nitinkumar Singh (32) and Akhileshwar Tiwari (49) of Papa Shipping Pvt Ltd were arrested on Friday, said a police official. Rane is a manager, Singh a director and Tiwari works as a technical superintendent, he said.

Barge P-305, provided by the company to a contractor engaged by the ONGC for maintenance of its offshore gas and oil fields, sank on May 17 as cyclone Tauktae barreled towards Gujarat past the Maharashtra coast.

Industry bodies urge Odisha govt to restore pre-emption right of iron ore

Faced with soaring prices of iron ore and its shortage in Odisha, several industry associations have urged the government to reactivate the pre- emption right of the commodity produced in the state to ensure adequate availability of the raw material, officials said.

The scarcity and the surge in prices are mainly on account of interstate exports of iron ore, Confederation of Indian Industry said.

50% men feel work stress taking toll on personal lives: Survey

With work from home becoming a norm due to Covid-19, a survey has revealed that 59 per cent men interviewed admitted that work-related stress is affecting their personal lives.

With the pandemic going on and the third wave of Covid-19 approaching, the importance of mental wellbeing along with physical wellbeing has been increasing, according to a survey by job site SCIKEY Market Network.

The survey revealed that 59 per cent men interviewed admitted to work stress affecting their personal lives in comparison to 56 per cent women.

With the work from home norm and increased workload, employees are facing challenges with their jobs, which is taking a toll on their mental health and personal lives, the survey has revealed.

Army pays tributes to jawan killed during encounter with militants

The Army on Saturday paid tributes to Havildar Kashiray Bammanalli who was killed during an encounter with militants in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"In a solemn ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment, Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen D P Pandey and all ranks paid homage to the gallant soldier on behalf of the proud nation," an Army official said.

He said Havildar Bammanalli, 37, was part of the anti-militancy operation at Hanjan in south Kashmir. Militants fired indiscriminately upon the forces when they were conducting searches in the area.

Syria government shelling kills 8, mostly children, in Idlib

Artillery fire from government-controlled territory Saturday killed at least eight civilians in Syria's last rebel enclave, most of them children, rescue workers and a war monitor said.

The shelling in Ibleen, a village in southern Idlib province, hit the home of Subhi al-Assi, killing him, his wife and three of his children in their sleep, according to the rescue service known as White Helmets and Idlib's Health Directorate. Al-Assi was an administrator in a local health center.

Boxing Federation of India (BFI) recommends Gaurav Solanki, Sonia, and Simranjeet Kaur Baath for Arjuna Award, according to BFI sources quoted by ANI.

Pushkar Singh Dhami set to be new CM of Uttarakhand

First-term MLA Pushkar Singh Dhami is set to be the new chief minister of Uttarakhand, a day after Tirath Singh Rawat resigned in a little less than four months since assuming charge.

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Tomar and other BJP leaders reach State Headquarters in Dehradun for the Legislative Party meet to elect new CM

UP govt sets up panel to review cases filed under UAPA

The Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a panel to conduct independent reviews before giving sanction of prosecution to cases being probed by the state police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), a senior official said here Saturday.

"The UP government has formed a two-member authority to review cases, including the evidence, filed in the state under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967," Home Secretary B D Paulson told PTI.

France begins judicial probe into Rafale deal with India: French media

A French judge has been appointed to lead a "highly sensitive" judicial investigation into alleged "corruption and favouritism" in the Rs 59,000 crore Rafale fighter jet deal with India, French investigative website Mediapart reported.

Following the development, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come forward and order a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Rafale deal. (PTI)

"Congress is synonymous with lies and myths. Today, they lied about Rafale dealagain. If a country's (France) NGO (Sherpa) complains against a charge and its financial prosecution body orders a probe accordingly, it should not be seen as corruption,"Sambit Patra, BJP, told ANI.

We'll be vulnerable against emerging supergiants India: Aus women's team coach

The lack of match practice ahead of the upcoming multi-format home series against "emerging supergiants" India will make the Australian women's team "vulnerable", according to head coach Matthew Mott.

The two sides are slated to play a full series, comprising three ODIs, as many T20Is, and an one-off Test, from September 19 to October 11 in Australia.

"(India) are an emerging supergiant in the game, they have a lot of great players and they will be tough opposition," Mott was quoted as saying by 'cricket.com.au'. (PTI)

Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs from Tamil Nadu met Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. Party leader L Murugan told ANI, "We discussed Tamil Nadu state-related schemes with the PM Modi during our meeting today."

Hong Kong Exchange's Aguzin makes first major management changes

The new chief executive of Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Ltd, Nicolas Aguzin has made his first management changes since joining the company in late May, a spokesman confirmed on Saturday.

The HKEX's management committee will be split into two groups, with eight senior managers reporting directly to Aguzin and the rest to chief operating officer Calvin Tai, the official said.

A new markets unit will be overseen by Wilfred Yiu and Glenda So and an operations unit headed by Tai, he added. (Reuters)

R-Day violence: Court extends interim protection given to Lakha Sidhana

Saying it would “not intervene in things where fundamental rights are involved”, a Delhi court on Saturday extended the interim protection given to alleged gangster-turned-activist Lakha Sidhana in connection with the violence in Red Fort on Republic Day.

Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau directed Delhi Police to not arrest Sidhana till July 20. The court also said it does not want a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan” to start.

Sidhana, who was earlier granted protection till July 3, has been directed to join the probe. (PTI)

Agriculture Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Singh Tomar has reached Dehradun. Tomar will be the central observer at the BJP legislature party meeting to elect the next CM of Uttarakhand.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has been summoned for the 3rd time by ED in the money laundering case,sources told News18.

Mumai: Elderly woman murdered by robber

A 65-year-old woman was allegedly murdered at her residence in south Mumbai by an unidentified man, who later decamped with her valuables, police said on Saturday. The incident took place during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday in Diamond Cutter building located on J J Marg, they said. (PTI)

BJP Uttarakhand president Madan Kaushik has said that the supervisor and in-charge will reach Dehradun around 10:30 am. "In the legislature meet at 3 pm, we will elect the leader (CM). Post that, we will meet the Governor for government formation. It's possible that CM will be among the MLAs," he said. (ANI)

JUST IN | At least 20 people go missing in landslides in Atami city in central Japan.

AirAsia Indonesia to stop flights for a month from July 6

The Indonesian unit of AirAsia Group Bhd will temporarily stop all flights for a month from July 6 to support the government's effort to limit a spike in Covid-19 cases, the company said on Saturday.

In a statement on Twitter, the budget airline advised passengers to reschedule, turn their tickets into credits or apply for a refund. (Reuters)

Biden says teachers deserve ''a raise, not just praise''

Speaking to the nation's largest teachers union, President Joe Biden said Friday that the pandemic has given America's parents the "ultimate education" on the challenges of the teaching profession. But even more, he said, the last year has proved that teachers across the USdeserve higher pay.

"You deserve a raise, not just praise," Biden said in remarks at the National Education Association's annual meeting in Washington. "Every parent in this country who spent the last year educating their children at home understands that you deserve a raise." (PTI)

Fire breaks out in Delhi's Budh Vihar

At 6 this morning, a fire broke out at a house in Delhi's Budh Vihar area. About 3-4 people were hospitalised with burn injuries including fire personnel. Five fire tenders are at the spot, the Delhi Fire Service said. (ANI)

Under 156(3) section of CrPc on the direction of the court, Uttarakhand Police registered a case against BJPJwalapur MLA Suresh Rathore under various sections (376, 504, 506) of IPC,Haridwar SSP Abudai Krishnaraj informed ANI on rape allegations against the MLA.

"My life is in danger. I have said this before. People who went to jail for extortion are creating a conspiracy against me and haveregistered a fake case against me. I appeal to the police to investigate and reveal the truth," theMLA said.

Death toll from Northwest heat wave expected to keep rising

Each day, more deaths are being linked to the heat wave that struck the Pacific Northwest this past week, with medical staff who treated people overwhelmed by temperatures well above 38 Celsiussaying the toll from the extreme weather will keep creeping up.

Hundreds of deaths were being investigated as heat related in Oregon, Washington state and British Columbia. The dangerous heat began June 25 and only began to subside in some areas on Tuesday.

Bharat Biotech has concludedfinal analysis for Covaxin efficacy as part of phase 3 clinical trials, after evaluation of 130 confirmed cases. Covaxin's efficacy is demonstrated at 77.8 per centagainst symptomatic Covid-19 patients. (ANI)

Maharashtra Custom department seizes 290 kg heroin worth Rs 300 crore at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Navi Mumbai

Custom department has handed over the matter to Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). DRI is interrogating 2 people in this matter. Investigation is underway.

(ANI)

Djokovic grabs 75th Wimbledon win as beaten Murray asks 'Is it worth it?'

World number one Novak Djokovic clinched his 75th Wimbledon match win on Friday as Andy Murray slipped to his earliest exit since 2005, casting doubts over his future by pleading: "Is it worth it?"

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Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat resigns

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat quit late Friday night, barely four months after a controversial tenure, and amid uncertainty over his election to the state assembly within stipulated six months.

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