Morning Digest: PM Modi to meet J&K leaders today; China raising new militia near borders with India, and more

A select list of stories to read before you start your day

Coronavirus | Thiruvananthapuram bucks excess deaths trend

Unlike other cities in India which registered an excess of deaths during the first and second COVID-19 waves in the country, Kerala’s capital city Thiruvananthapuram recorded a decrease in overall deaths in 2020 and 1,196 “excess deaths” in 2021 (till May 2021), according to the Civil Registration System data accessed by The Hindu via Right to Information.

Coronavirus | Government taking steps for jabs for those with no ID proof

The Union Health Ministry has said that ownership of a mobile phone is not a prerequisite for COVID-19 vaccination and production of address proof for availing vaccination is not mandatory.

China raising new militia near borders with India

China is raising new militia units comprising local Tibetan youth for high-altitude warfare near Eastern Ladakh, the site of the recent border tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), as well as near its borders with Sikkim and Bhutan, intelligence intercepts have revealed.

Deputy Election Commissioner pushes delimitation exercise in J&K

In a bid to speed up the process of delineation of the Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies in J&K, Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bushan Kumar held virtual meetings with 20 Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of the Union Territory on Wednesday.

At House panel meeting, BJP MPs oppose discussion on COVID-19 vaccines, variants

A meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on science and technology on Wednesday to discuss “vaccine development for COVID-19” and “genetic sequencing of coronavirus and its variants” saw high drama with the BJP members objecting to deliberations on these subjects, claiming that any investigation into it could demoralise the scientific community.

Study finds loss in grey matter after coronavirus infection

The loss of smell and taste, which is among the most common symptoms associated with coronavirus infection, is writ large in the brain, says a study that scanned brain images from a group of volunteers to compare changes before and after COVID-19.

Centre using brute force against Bandyopadhyay, says Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday described the Centre’s proposed move to start major penalty proceedings against the former State Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay as highly irresponsible behaviour.

BJP got 76% of donations to parties by electoral trusts: ADR

Over 76% of donations made by electoral trusts that submitted their annual reports for 2019-2020 to the Election Commission and declared to have received funding went to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report said on Wednesday.

Delhi High Court seeks info on release of movie ‘based on Sushant Singh Rajput’s life’

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought to know if a movie titled ‘Nyay: The Justice’, based on the late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s life has been released on June 11.

WTC final | New Zealand beats India by 8 wickets to win World Test Championship title

A tenacious New Zealand lifted the inaugural World Test Championship title with a comfortable eight-wicket win over India on the sixth and final day of the marquee final in Southampton on June 24.

Source: Read Full Article