The Morning Filter: Awaiting Congress response

Welcome to The Morning Filter, your guide to the busy news day ahead. We hope you are staying safe. Here are the latest updates and the big news stories to follow today:

1) Coronavirus | Latest numbers and developments

The number of positive coronavirus case reported from India now stands at 10,40,527 at the time of publishing this newsletter. The toll from the disease stands at 26,295.

2) Rajasthan political crisis | HC Bench tells Congress chief to respond to Sachin Pilot camp plea by Saturday

The Bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta asked Congress chief whip Mahesh Joshi, who had filed the complaint before the Speaker, to respond to the dissidents' petition by Saturday.

3) LAC standoff | Chinese troops are yet to fully move out, says official

No guarantee to what extent issue with China will be resolved, says Rajnath; Day 2 of his visit to J&K.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during his visit to Ladakh to carry out a comprehensive review of the security scenario in the wake of the border standoff with China.

4) International flights from India to France to start

5) Central team visits Ahmedabad, Surat, praises Gujarat government

It will review coronavirus situation in other districts in the State on Saturday before leaving for Delhi.

6) Complete lockdown in Uttarakhand this Saturday, Sunday.

The Uttarakhand government on Friday decided to impose a complete lockdown in the State this weekend in view of a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases.

7) COVID-19 testing camp to be organised at JNU

A COVID-19 testing camp will be organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for three days starting on Saturday by the district administration, the varsity said.

8) Ram temple construction likely to start next month, PM invited: spokesperson

A tentative programme for the construction of the temple is likely to be decided at the meeting of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in Ayodhya on Saturday, he said.

9) Sanskrit news weekly on AIR FM to feature Union Minister, schoolchildren

The third edition of weekly news magazine 'Sanskrit Saptahiki' will air on All India Radio FM News channel on Saturday, featuring glimpses of verses from Panchatantra, Geeta and a rendition of popular folklore in Sanskrit by schoolchildren.

10) U.K. to mark first South Asia Heritage Month in July-August

The Mayor of London's office on Friday announced the launch of the first South Asia Heritage Month, starting on Saturday and set to run until August 17, to celebrate the contributions of the South Asian community to British life.

11) Nepal's ruling communist party calls key meet on Saturday to end Oli-Prachanda infighting

The decision to hold a meeting of the 9-member Central Secretariat was taken hours after the party postponed for the fifth time the Standing Committee meeting till Sunday to give more time to Oli and the rival faction led by Prachanda, the executive chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) to have more talks.

Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.

12) Mandela biggest influence for Africa's youth, survey says

The United Nations Secretary-General will give the annual Mandela lecture on Saturday, the Nobel Peace Prize winner's birthday.

Morning Filter will return tomorrow. Follow up on the day's biggest stories and get concise analysis by The Hindu with the Evening Wrap newsletter. Click here to get it in your inbox.