Highlights: Delhi records 424 fresh Covid cases, six more than yesterday; positivity rate at 1.89%

Delhi reports 424 fresh Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, and four fatalities, according to the health bulletin data. Case positivity rate of the national capital stands at 1.89 per cent, and the active caseload at 1,762. 

Three bombs tore through minibuses in Afghanistan's northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday, killing at least nine people, AFP reported citing police. Read more.

A  woman was shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district today. The woman's nephew was also injured in the attack.

A special PMLA court on Wednesday sent Pooja Singhal, the suspended IAS officer from Jharkhand, to judicial custody till June 8 in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds, said a lawyer of the Enforcement Directorate which is investigating it. The bureaucrat was in the ED custody for 14 days, PTI reported.

India will continue to buy "cheap oil" from Russia but has not finalised terms of the discount, a senior government official familiar with the matter said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

Bypolls for parliamentary and assembly seats in Punjab, UP, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and Jharkhand on June 23, results on June 26.

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 470 new Covid-19 cases, which pushed the caseload to 78,83,818. No fresh deaths were seen, according to city health department data.

A fire broke out at a printing press godown in Delhi's Alipur area following which nine fire tenders were rushed to the spot, ANI reported.

A Delhi court on Wednesday sentenced separatist leader and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik, 56, to life imprisonment a week after he pleaded guilty and was convicted of terror funding, spreading terrorism, and secessionist activities in the Valley in 2017.

Yasin Malik produced in the courtroom in NIA court, Delhi, ahead of the sentencing order.

Hearing on the bail application of the main accused Ashish Mishra in the Lakhimpur violence case will now be held on May 30 in Lucknow, ANI reported.

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the authorities to provide an alternate place to the supporters of ousted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party for their "Azadi March" protest so that they can demonstrate and then go home, PTI reported.

The National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Wednesday sought death penalty for convicted Kashmiri separatist and chief of banned Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) leader Yasin Malik in a terror funding case, news agency PTI reported. Read more

PDP youth wing leader Waheed Parra, who was arrested in 2020 for alleged militant links was granted bail on Wednesday.

Varanasi civil court transfers plea seeking permission to worship Shivling claimed to be found in Gyanvapi mosque to fast track court.

The Southwest Monsoon is likely to advance over several parts during the next 48 hours and will cause light to moderate rainfall in Bihar, Jharkhand, Bengal and parts of other states in the adjoining area. Heavy rainfall will continue to lash flood-battered parts of northeast India till May 29, the weather department has predicted in its forecast.

Kapil Sibal said Tuesday he had 'tendered my resignation from the Congress on May 16', shortly after he filed nomination papers for a Rajya Sabha seat as an independent candidate with support from Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. "It is important to be an independent voice. While staying in the opposition, we want to create an alliance so that we can oppose the Modi government," he told reporters after filing his papers.

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Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal files nomination for Rajya Sabha on Samajwadi Party ticket. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and the SP national general secretary Ramgopal Yadav accompanied Sibal at the nomination process.

The third edition of the Indian Navy – Bangladesh Navy Bilateral Exercise ‘Bongosagar’ commenced at Port Mongla, Bangladesh today. The Harbour Phase of exercise is scheduled from 24-25 May which will be followed by a Sea Phase in the Northern Bay of Bengal from 26-27 May.

3 Pakistani terrorists killed in encounter in J&K's Baramulla, 1 police personnel dies in action, says IGP Kashmir.

Two people died allegedly after consuming spurious liquor in Aurangabad district on Tuesday. As per the preliminary information received, the liquor was brought to the state from Jharkhand. A total of 70 persons have been arrested so far in this connection.

Sri Lanka’s newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will double up as finance minister leading bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund, Bloomberg reported citing people with knowledge of the matter.

Certain SpiceJet systems faced an attempted ransomware attack last night that impacted and slowed down morning flight departures today. Our IT team has contained and rectified the situation and flights are operating normally now: SpiceJet Spokesperson

India’s daily coronavirus tally crossed the 2,000-mark again as 2,124 fresh infections were reported in the last 24 hours. 

While it is being reported that the national capital is likely to see less impact of the strike, states like Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh may see some disruptions. Closure of shops and public transport is expected, due to which the general public may have to face trouble.

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