Maharashtra reports 4,004 new Covid-19 cases, active tally at 23,746

As many as 1,934 more people tested positive for Covid-19 across Delhi in the last 24 hours, taking the cumulative tally to 19,27,394, said the state health department on Thursday. The positivity rate in the city has now reached 8.10%.

NEW YORK - The Supreme Court has ruled that New York's concealed carry statute that requires an individual to establish "proper cause" in order to obtain a license violates the Constitution by preventing law-abiding citizens with ordinary self-defense needs from exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms in public for self-defense.New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen had been a long-term case against NY's handgun-licensing law.New York courts defined "proper cause" to require applicants to show a "special need" to defend themselves and not just wanted to protect themselves.The plaintiffs claimed that the Second Amendment gives people the right to bear arms."Thus, the nation is split, with the Second Amendment alive and well in the vast middle of the nation, and those same rights disregarded near the coasts," Clement wrote on behalf of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, or NYSRPA, and two residents.This was the court's first case on gun rights since Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the bench in October, making it a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who chaired a high-level COVID review meeting on Thursday, directed state governments to focus on districts reporting high case positivity and undertake adequate testing with a higher proportion of RTPCR tests. The meeting was called owing to the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases.  He further instructed the officials to continue to focus on surveillance and on Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to scan for any possible mutation along with increasing the pace of vaccination.  The meeting was attended by the core team of experts including Dr Randip Guleria, ICMR Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava and NCDC director Sujeet Singh.

NEW DELHI : In the wake of rising covid cases across the country, the union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday directed the states/UTs to focus on surveillance, genome sequencing to scan for any possible mutation and monitor hospitalization of covid cases.  Mandaviya chaired a high-level meeting to review covid status across the country ordered the officials to ramp up covid testing and accelerate covid-19 vaccination for all eligible population.  Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, made a detailed presentation on the global scenario of surge in COVID cases and status of COVID in the country. This included presentation and analysis of trend of covid-19 cases, daily & active cases, positivity and deaths; testing status along with state-wise weekly tests per million, RT-PCR share in weekly tests; genome sequencing; and vaccination status.  The union health minister stressed on the need to focus on districts reporting high case positivity, undertake adequate testing (with higher proportion of RT-PCR) and effective covid-19 surveillance to assess and control the spread of infection in a timely manner, stated the government release.  He exhorted to increase pace of vaccination including booster doses in districts reporting high cases.

Maharashtra reports 5,218 new coronavirus infections on Thursday including 2,479 in Mumbai, the health department notified. Today's numbers were about 60% higher than yesterday's tally. On Wednesday, the state had reported 3,260 cases.

A retired headteacher who was receiving treatment for Covid-19 in hospital tragically died after an oxygen tube became disconnected from his mask, an inquest has heard. James Johnson, 83, was admitted to hospital with the virus on January 3, 2021.

CNN.  Thirteen of his close contacts have been identified and contact tracing is underway, the ministry said.  A South Korean citizen, who recently traveled to Germany, was found to be infected with monkeypox. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said that the patient is now being treated at a facility in Seoul.

Cooking oil cools Retail prices of cooking oils are finally set to ease as companies are passing on the gains from import duty reductions announced by the government and cooling prices in the global markets. For the past two years, high cooking oil prices have been burning a hole in the pockets of consumers and worsening retail inflation. Now, several companies including Adani Wilmar and Emami Agrotech have announced a cut in prices by up to ₹15 per litre, which should bring much-needed relief.

The Austrian government has said it will scrap the country's controversial policy of mandatory vaccination against the coronavirus, just months after it became law.

A child walks amidst the rubble of damaged houses following an earthquake in Bernal district, Paktika province, on June 23, 2022. (Photo by AHMAD SAHEL ARMAN/AFP via Getty Images) GAYAN, Afghanistan - Villagers rushed to bury the dead Thursday and dug by hand through the rubble of their homes in search of survivors of a powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan that killed at least 1,000 people.

Sean Toomey, 15, died following a shooting outside of his home back in March. (Family Photo)PHILADELPHIA - Two suspects wanted in connection with the shooting death of 15-year-old Sean Toomey are in police custody, according to a law enforcement source. The teenager was struck once in the head by gunfire in March while he was unloading groceries from his father's car on the 6200 block of Mulberry Street in Wissinoming, authorities say. Police say he was taken to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital where he died the next day. At the time of the shooting, sources reported that investigators believed the teen was shot in an attempted carjacking. RELATED HEADLINESPolice have released photos of two suspects wanted in connection with the murder of Sean Toomey.

monkeypox, including one death, have been reported to WHO from 42 countries. But WHO's Europe office and the EU health agency conveyed that 2,746 cases had been recorded in Europe alone till Tuesday.  "The emergency committee will provide a recommendation to the director-general based on scientific principles, and an assessment of the risk to human health, the risk of international spread and the risk of interference with international traffic," the WHO said.

New Delhi: With India reporting a spike in covid-19 cases, union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya called a high-level meeting with the core team of experts on Thursday. The country reported 13,313 new covid cases and 38 deaths in the last 24 hours. India’s trajectory of total covid cases has risen to 4,33,44,958 with weekly positivity currently at 2.81% and daily positivity rate reported to be 2.03%.

Emmy Rossum shared a rare picture of her one-year-old daughter to Instagram this week, showing her getting inoculated for COVID-19.'An exciting day we’ve waited a long time for! Our daughter got her first covid vaccine!' wrote Emmy, who shares her little girl with her husband Sam Esmail.Her post came just four days after the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention recommended COVID-19 jabs for children as young as six months old. 'An exciting day':Emmy Rossum shared a rare picture of her one-year-old daughter to Instagram this week, showing her getting inoculated for COVID-19The CDC also announced last month that children five years and older can receive a booster shot of the coronavirus vaccine.

Emmy Rossum‘s daughter has received her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has called to chair a review meeting with the core team of experts today in view of increasing Covid-19 cases in the country. According to sources, it has also been confirmed that the meeting will be held in physical format in the afternoon today to discuss the rise in Covid-19 cases.

PHILADELPHIA - Authorities say 40 shots were fired Wednesday night in a triple shooting that erupted between at least two shooters. Officers from the Philadelphia Police Department were called to the 4200 block of Lancaster Avenue just before 9:30 p.m. for reports of a shooting. Police found a 36-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man both shot in the leg.

rise in Covid-19 cases. On June 13, Mandaviya had chaired a meeting through video conferencing with Health Ministers and senior officials of States and Union Territories (UTs) to review the progress of the vaccination exercise HarGharDastak 2.0 campaign.

Today we are reporting 5,285 community cases, 300 current hospitalisations, and 12 deaths.

Starting this week, you can go to https://t.co/EwdQ2dXioe and find information and appointments near you. pic.twitter.com/RRO6auk1j7 The United States has begun distributing COVID vaccines for children as young as six months around the country, and availability of the shots will improve in the coming days, according to White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha.

The Chemical Brothers have announced that they’ve had to postpone their show in Ireland tomorrow (June 23) due to members of the band and crew testing positive for COVID.The electronic duo – comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons – were scheduled to perform at Musgrave Park in Cork tomorrow night, but they’ve now rescheduled the gig to next year.“The Chemical Brothers are sorry to announce they have had to reschedule their show at Musgrave Park, Cork, Ireland on Thursday June 23rd, 2022, due to Covid in band and crew,” the Chemical Brothers wrote in a statement on Instagram.“The show will be rescheduled to 2023. A further announcement on rescheduled date will be made in due course.”A post shared by The Chemical Brothers (@thechemicalbrothers)The duo are scheduled to perform at Glastonbury on Friday night (June 24), delivering a DJ set from inside the iconic Arcadia spider between 11pm and 1am BST.

symptoms in children and infants, alongside quality of life, and absence from school or day care." "Our results reveal that, although children with a positive Covid-19 diagnosis are more likely to experience long-lasting symptoms than children with no previous Covid-19 diagnosis, the pandemic has affected every aspect of all young people's lives," Berg said. Additional research into the long-term consequences of the pandemic on all children will be important going forwards, the researcher said.

UFO Futuro-styled flying saucer in the United Kingdom. (Airbnb)Airbnb is giving out $10 million to create the craziest bookable properties around the world. As part of its OMG! Fund, the San Francisco-based share-home company plans to help 100 people finance their "craziest ideas" and turn them into actual Airbnb.The company announced Wednesday that it's seeking ideas from "existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers and makers from around the globe" who have unique ideas such as the boot, the UFO house or the 6-tonne potato. AIRBNB CEO PREDICTS GUESTS WILL STAY 'WEEKS, MONTHS, OR EVEN ENTIRE SEASONS AT A TIME'The company saw a surge in bookings over the pandemic as a swath of the country worked from home and gained flexibility on where they could live.

PHILADELPHIA - A stretch of the Schuylkill Expressway closed Wednesday evening as authorities investigated a shooting on the busy highway. PennDOT said a white Toyota Prius came under on the eastbound side of the highway around 7 p.m. No one was hit and no injuries were reported, according to the transportation authority. Traffic cameras captured the Prius pulled over with a Pennsylvania State Trooper parked close by. The eastbound side of the Schuylkill Expressway between the Lincoln/Kelly Drive exit and Girard Avenue remains closed. Redirected volume near the Schuylkill Expressway is also causing major delays. 

PHILADELPHIA - A 15-year-old is being accused of stealing the car of an off-duty Philadelphia officer after threatening him with a handgun.Police responded to several calls for a carjacking, shots fired and a crash on the 5600 block of Pentridge Street on June 17.The officer told police he was parking his car when an armed suspect stopped him, took keys from his pocket and stole his car.Officials say the teen suspect, who was reportedly working with an adult, held the officer at gunpoint and removed him from the car.The officer then fired seven shots into his car as the teen suspect fled, according to officials. He suffered a gunshot wound to the hand, and sought treatment at a local hospital.Hours later, the stolen car was found engulfed in flames near the 5900 block of Delancey Street.

COVID-19 in wastewater.The government says the data can provide early warning of new pandemic waves or the emergence of new variants. Some Quebec adults could get 4th or 5th COVID-19 shots this fall: vaccine committee Quebec has been screening wastewater for COVID-19 in Quebec City and the Montreal area since late March but only began releasing the data Wednesday.The seven-day average of wastewater collections suggests a decline in the concentration of COVID-19 in wastewater in Quebec City, while in Montreal, the data suggests a stable concentration.Dominic Frigon, a McGill University civil engineering professor who helped develop Quebec’s wastewater screening program, says the data can be useful for detecting trends but adds that COVID-19 levels in wastewater don’t directly correlate to case counts.

Image from SkyFOX shows first responders in Pico Rivera where a lightning strike reportedly killed a woman and two dogs. (FOX 11) LOS ANGELES - A woman and her two dogs were killed Wednesday by an apparent lightning strike in Southern California, authorities confirmed to FOX 11.Video from SkyFOX showed a large police presence near Mines and Rimbank avenues in Pico Rivera, which is approximately 11 miles southeast of Los Angeles.Pico Rivera city manager Steve Carmona told FOX 11 that the woman was walking with her two dogs on the San Gabriel River bike path when it appeared that all three were struck by lightning and killed.The strike caused an indentation on the pavement.To keep residents safe, the city has shut down all outdoor activities.(FOX 11) "We canceled our farmer's market and also some of our summer camps for our kids that are playing outside just as a precaution," Carmona said.He advised residents, "Be cautious, be careful.

TRENTON - New Jersey would change the age for purchasing rifles and shotguns from 18 to 21 under legislation an Assembly committee has advanced. The Assembly Judiciary Committee passed bills Wednesday aimed at tightening the state’s already strict gun laws. The measure comes after fatal shootings in Texas and New York in which authorities identified the shooters as 18-year-olds. The fate of the age bill is uncertain because the state Senate has not so far taken up the measure. Under current law, New Jersey requires residents to be 21 to purchase a handgun. The new measure would raise the age threshold to 21 for those seeking to purchase rifles and shotguns.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 02: CEO of Kynetic, co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team and the New Jersey Devils hockey team Michael G. Rubin is seen during REFORM Alliance campaign for criminal justice reform to introduce House Bill 1925 on PHILADELPHIA - Fanatics founder Michael Rubin is selling his stake in the company that owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.Rubin, worth an estimated $8 billion according to Forbes, said on social media posts he was "shifting from part-owner " of the teams run by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and "back to life-long fan."Rubin was part of the ownership group when it purchased the 76ers in 2011 for $290 million.

PHILADELPHIA - Investigators with the Philadelphia Police Department are looking into a case involving a woman who was reportedly lit on fire in Kensington. According to Chief Inspector Frank Vanore, police were made aware of the incident over the weekend. Authorities say they received a video and sent investigators to search for answers. According to Vanore, police believe the victim, an unidentified woman, was in a park with a man on the 1800 block of E Tioga when they got into an argument with another woman. Police say witnesses reported that the woman poured a liquid on the victim and the man before lighting it on fire. The man, who catches fire, runs from the scene, according to police.

BENSALEM, Pa. - Police say they are investigating a death in Bucks County Wednesday afternoon.The death was reported on the 3300 block of Reading Avenue in Bensalem.SkyFOX chopper was live at the scene where a trash can appeared to be burned inside a home's garage.Police say the scene is currently active as they investigate the incident.This is a developing story.

PHILADELPHIA - A New York man who was captured on Ring doorbell camera violently punching three women on a sidewalk in Philadelphia will now face charges, according to authorities. The Philadelphia District Attorney tells FOX 29's Steve Keeley that Malcolm White, 36, will face charges connected to the attack. According to police, the attack happened on the 2900 block of Morris Street around 11 p.m. on June 15. Authorities say as White walked beside a group of three women, he punched one of them in the face and punched the others as they intervened. Authorities are searching for a man captured on doorbell camera attacking three women who were walking down a Philadelphia street.The attack left one woman with a broken nose and two other women with swelling and facial lacerations. PREVIOUS: Police: Man arrested in Montgomery County may be linked to Philadelphia attacks on womenAbout 20 minutes later, White allegedly knocked a woman in her 30s unconscious while sitting outside a property on the 1900 block of South 13th Street. MORE LOCAL HEADLINESWhite is also a suspect in a violent carjacking case out of Montgomery County and a sexual assault in Philadelphia, officials say. He was arrested last Thursday in Whitpain Township after police say a woman was pulled from her car by her hair and punched in the face in the parking lot of Henkels and McCoy on Jolly Road where the victim worked. The victim told police her attacker choked her, causing her to lose consciousness, according to an affidavit.

New figures show that Covid-19 cases in Scotland have risen by almost a third in a single week.

COVID-19.Heather Stefanson said Wednesday morning on social media that she has “minor symptoms” and is self-isolating while working from home.I am self-isolating after testing positive for COVID-19.My office has informed organizations and individuals I came into contact with over the last few days.I have minor symptoms, and am working remotely from home.1/2— Heather Stefanson

WASHINGTON - A House committee plans on issuing a subpoena for Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder to appear as the investigation into the team’s alleged hostile workplace environment continues.House committee chairwoman Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., made the announcement Wednesday during the House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing as National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell testified remotely.Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and WeatherSnyder declined an invitation by the committee to testify Wednesday.Ahead of the hearing, a House committee released a memo they say details findings of Snyder’s role in creating a hostile workplace environment and his efforts to sabotage an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and abuse.  In the 29-page memo, the committee says Snyder launched a shadow investigation to influence the NFL’s internal investigation into the team’s workplace misconduct.SUBSCRIBE TO FOX 5 DC ON YOUTUBEAccording to the memo, private investigators were hired in an attempt to intimidate witnesses and used an overseas lawsuit as a pretext to obtain their phone records and emails.According to a statement, a spokesman for Snyder described the report and the hearing as "a politically charged show trial" and said Congress should not be investigating "an issue a football team addressed years ago."Last year, the NFL fined the Commanders $10 million and Snyder stepped away from his handling of day-to-day operations following an investigation of the team.The league did not release a written report on the investigation’s findings.

HUMMELSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 17: A vote sign is seen at Lower Dauphin High School on May 17, 2022 in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanians are voting in the primary elections to select candidates from each party for a new governor, lieutenant HARRISBURG, Pa. - Proposals to hold Pennsylvania's presidential primaries in March rather than April and to permit poll watchers to operate outside the counties where they live were advanced Wednesday by a divided House State Government Committee.Both bills had already passed the state Senate and were approved for consideration by the full House.The state's primary during presidential election years would be moved from the fourth Tuesday in April to the third Tuesday in March.

VENICE, Fla. - The family of Gabby Petito, the young woman who is suspected of having been murdered last year by her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, will be in Florida court on Wednesday, when a judge will hear arguments from both sides over whether their lawsuit should go to a jury trial. The Petito-Schmidt families and their attorney will appear before Judge Hunter W. Carroll in a Sarasota County Circuit Court for the 1:30 p.m.

(Reuters) More than 30 asset managers holding Sri Lanka’s international bonds announced on Tuesday the formal launch of a creditor group to start debt restructuring talks with the island nation, according to a statement from legal adviser White & Case LLC.Amundi Asset Management, BlackRock, HBK Capital Management, Morgan Stanley Investment Management and T.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Hamilton Reserve Bank Ltd has filed legal action against Sri Lanka over the country’s alleged default on a $1 billion sovereign bond maturing next month.Plaintiff Hamilton Reserve Bank Ltd. alleges a breach of contract action arising from Defendant the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’s default on its US$1 Billion 5.875% International Sovereign Bonds due July 25, 2022.According to court documents seen by News 1st, the Plaintiff notes that under the Bonds’ terms, the Sri Lanka owes the Plaintiff a total of US$257,539,331.25, comprised of US$250,190,000 in principal and US$7,349,331.25 in interest.The case document notes that Sri Lanka has failed to pay the amount it owes Plaintiff, in breach of its obligations under the Bonds, even though the full principal amount and the accrued interest on Plaintiff’s Bonds are immediately due and payable.It adds that Sri Lanka’s default is a matter of choice, as Sri Lanka is capable of paying Plaintiff’s Bonds in full. The complaint notes that Sri Lanka’s default is being orchestrated by officials at the highest levels of its government.“This includes the ruling Rajapaksa clan, whose members currently serve as President of Sri Lanka and in numerous other senior government positions.

Inequality, emergencies, war and climate change threaten global mental health, says WHO’s newly released World Mental Health Report. Above: outside the Afghan Japan Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, 2022. ©WHO

Gujarat on Wednesday clocked 407 fresh Covid-19 cases, the highest daily count in four months, that raised the tally of infections to 12,28,493. Gujarat had last reported more than 400 daily Covid-19 cases on 19 February with 486 infections.  The count of recoveries rose to 12,15,806, after 190 Covid-19 patients recovered from the infection during the day, while the toll remained unchanged at 10,946.  Now, Gujarat has 1,741 active Covid-19 cases, with four patients on ventilator support.  Of the latest cases, Ahmedabad saw 210 infections, the highest in the state, followed by Surat with 57, Vadodara 41 and Rajkot 20 cases, among others.  As many as 11.10 crore coronavirus vaccine shots have been administered in Gujarat till now, with 55,138 patients getting the jab today.  Meanwhile, India reported 12,249 new coronavirus infections and 13 deaths, while active cases went up by over 2,300 in a 24-hour span.

Pandemic restrictions have lifted for most of us but the selfless heroes working in our health and social care services are working as hard as ever. Their every day acts of caring and healing have saved countless lives and helped ease the pain and suffering and meet the needs of the most vulnerable among us.

(With inputs from agencies) 

Chris Stapleton postponed three shows of his "All-American Road Show" tour after testing positive for COVID-19.  Stapleton announced his coronavirus diagnosis via Instagram. "To all my friends in Salt Lake City and Denver, I am very sorry to let you all know that I have tested positive for Covid and will be unable to perform this weekend's shows," the country music star said.

Coronavirus has been branded ‘concerning’ again in Manchester amid soaring case numbers ‘across all ages’, according to public health chiefs. The rise comes as there has been a significant ‘dropoff’ of eligible people coming forward to get spring Covid-19 vaccination booster jabs.

vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer. Meanwhile last week, World Health Organization (WHO) said that the modified coronavirus vaccine can be administered as a booster dose to broaden immunity The variant-adapted vaccine may benefit those who have already received the primary series of shots, the agency's panel on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition said, it added.

Police say a woman and a man were stabbed in West Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA - A man and woman suffered multiple injuries after police say they were both stabbed in West Philadelphia Tuesday night.Police responded to the reported stabbing on the 200 block of North 60th Street around 9:50 p.m.A 34-year-old man and 24-year-old woman were both found at the scene.Police say the man was stabbed multiple times to his right hand, but refused medical treatment.

RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. - The man who was fired for mistakenly selling gas at 69 cents a gallon in Rancho Cordova said the company is declining thousands of dollars raised to repay for the error. John Szczecina, the ex-manager who was fired for the gaffe, told KCRA that the GoFundMe was created to repay the station for around $16,000 lost during the mixup that lasted a little under three hours. The fundraiser, which has since been closed, has raised more than $24,000 so far."I’ve just been awestruck, I’m still in shock, you know. It just makes me feel like there’s good in this world and it’s worth fighting for," Szczecina told KCRA. GoFundMe told KCRA that if the gas station declines the money, the funds will be returned to donors. While the mix-up cost Szczecina his job, others couldn't help but rejoice and rush to the station before the gas prices went back to normal."I was just excited.