1. The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 2,26,770 on Friday morning after 9,851 more people tested positive for the infection in 24 hours. This is the biggest single-day rise in the number of cases and the second consecutive day of an increase of over 9,000 cases. The country’s toll rose by 273 to 6,348.
  2. The Supreme Court suggested that the Centre and states should transport migrants workers, who are stranded in various parts of the country, to their native places within 15 days. The top court said it will pass the final order on migrant workers on June 9.
  3. The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra crossed the 80,000-mark, after the state recorded 2,436 cases in the last 24 hours, and the toll rose to 2,849. Delhi reported 1,330 new Covid-19 cases in a day, taking the total tally to 26,334. The toll due to the outbreak is 708. Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, cases rose to 28,694 after the state recorded 1,438 new infections. The toll rose to 232.
  4. The Ministry of Finance said it will put on hold all new schemes till March 31, 2021 to restrict spending amid India’s fight against the coronavirus crisis. The government added that spending will only be allowed in the Prime Minister’s Garib Kalyan Yojana and the announcements made under the Atmanirbhar Bharat policy.
  5. In a separate hearing, the top court directed the Centre to respond to petition seeking a cap on fees charged by private hospitals for coronavirus treatment. The court will hear the matter next week.
  6. Medical journal Lancet retracted a study that showed anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine increased the risk of death among coronavirus patients. The study, published on May 22, was withdrawn over data concerns. The findings had led the World Health Organization to temporarily suspend clinical trials of the drug as a potential treatment for the coronavirus.
  7. The Centre told the Supreme Court that there was no need for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the Tablighi Jamaat event held in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area in March. The gathering later emerged as a coronavirus hotspot.
  8. The central g released Rs 36,400 crore as devolution of Goods and Services Tax to states amid their fight against the escalating coronavirus crisis.
  9. The Bharatiya Janata Party hit back at industrialist Rajiv Bajaj for his criticism of the nationwide lockdown, saying that he was not an expert on the pandemic. Bajaj, who is the Chairman of the Bajaj Group, had told Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that the government’s “draconian lockdown” to contain the spread of the coronavirus had ended up decimating the economy.
  10. Globally, the coronavirus has infected more than 66.64 lakh people and claimed over 3.91 lakh lives so far, according to the Johns Hopkins University. As many as 28.92 lakh people have recovered.