Highlights: 10 people died in last 24 hours due to rain-related incidents in Nagpur

As many as 10 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours due to incessant rain in Nagpur, Maharashtra, news agency ANI reported on Wednesday citing the district administration. The IMD has predicted more torrential rains in the next three days. “[A total of] 20 died, 19 injured in various incidents from June 1 to July 13 due to the rains. 88 animals were also killed & 293 houses were damaged,” the administration added.

Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that he will “certainly propose” to the Centre for conducting an all-party meeting so that they can discuss the current situation in Sri Lanka and the possible refugee influx in India, ANI reported.

Former India vice president Hamid Ansari on Wednesday junked all claims of Pakistani journalist Nusrat Mirza, who accused him of spying during his tenure as an ambassador to Iran. He said that the Indian government and the external affairs ministry knew all his appointments and his conferences, and can back up the false nature of all these claims.

Telangana government on Wednesday extended holidays for all educational institutions (govt, aided and private) from the earlier July 14 to July 16 in wake of the continuing incessant rain. Educational institutions will now reopen starting July 18.

Starting July 15, the central government will, for 75 days, provide free Covid-19 vaccine booster jabs to all aged above 18, I&B minister Anurag Thakur announced on Wednesday. The facility will be available at all government vaccination centres.

India and China are likely to hold 16th round of Corps Commander level talks on July17. The Indian side will be represented by Fire & Fury Corps Commander Lt Gen A Sengupta. The meeting will focus on discussing disengagement from friction points along LAC in eastern Ladakh.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has declared a state of emergency as the acting president after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to the Maldives on Wednesday, leading to more protests amid an economic crisis.

"The prime minister as acting president has declared a state of emergency (countrywide) and imposed a curfew in the western province," Wickremesinghe's media secretary, Dinouk Colombage, told Reuters.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on July 26 the plea of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy seeking a direction to the Centre to declare the 'Ram Sethu' as a national heritage monument.

Military personnel use tear gas shells to disperse protestors who scaled the wall to enter Sri Lankan PM's residence in Colombo.

Sidhu Moose Wala murder case: Mansa court grants four-day more police remand of four accused including two shooters Priyavart Fauji and Kashish to Punjab police. They were produced in court after their 7-day police remand ended, the court sent them in further police custody till July 17.

Sri Lanka declares state of emergency after President Gotabaya flees to Maldives, reports AFP citing PM's office.

Supreme Court agrees to list the petitions in Hijab row in Karnataka next week. Advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned before the CJI the petitions filed against the Karnataka HC judgement.

“Next week, it will come,” said CJI.

The Supreme Court will hear on July 15 petitions challenging the Centre’s Agnipath scheme for short-term recruitment into the armed forces. A bench of justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna will consider the matter.

We haven't received Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation yet, but we hope to get it in a day, Speaker of Sri Lanka’s Parliament tells news agency ANI. 

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India records 16,906 fresh Covid infections in the last 24 hours, a 24% jump from yesterday; 45 deaths today.

Sri Lankan President, the first lady along with 2 bodyguards were subjected to full approval by Ministry of Defense for immigration, customs & other laws to fly to Maldives. Air Force aircraft was provided to them in early morning of July 13: Sri Lankan Air Force Media Director

Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office confirms that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left the country, said Sri Lankan Prime Minister's Media Division

State-run utility Mahanagar Gas on Tuesday announced yet another increase in the retail price of compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) in the megapolis to the tune of ₹4/kg and ₹3/SCM respectively, effective from midnight.

The distributor attributed the continuing price increases to rising input gas cost and the fall in the rupee.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday started the distribution and dispatch of designated ballot boxes, ballot papers, special pens and other sealed election materials to the State Legislative Assembly Secretariats including in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and UT of Puducherry for the conduct of Presidential Election 2022 scheduled on July 18.

An air ticket has been booked in the name of "Mr Ballot Box" to meet the timelines for presidential elections. Mr Ballot box has a prominent role in the process of Presidential elections. It is no ordinary box as it is to hold the fate of the highest office of the largest democracy on the planet.