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1. Former Union Minister Jitin Prasada, once part of Rahul Gandhi's inner circle, crosses over to the BJP in a huge blow to the Congress ahead of the Uttar Pradesh election next year. 2. India reports 92,596 new COVID-19 cases and 2,219 deaths in the last 24 hours. Daily positivity rate is at 4.67 per cent. The positivity rate is below 5 per cent for the second consecutive day in a row. 3. Forty-four crore doses of Covid vaccines has been ordered which will be available from August, the government has said amid a raging shortage that has forced a closure of vaccine centres in many states. These doses will be delivered between August and December 2021. 4. The price of vaccines at private hospitals is fixed after a change in vaccine policy. The price of Covishield has been fixed at Rs 780 a dose, Russian vaccine Sputnik V at Rs 1,145 a dose and indigenously made Covaxin at a steep Rs 1,410 a dose. 5. The southwest monsoon reached Mumbai and parts of Maharashtra a day ahead of schedule - with heavy rainfall over the state capital and nearby suburban areas leading to flooded roads and subways, and some disruption in traffic and local train services. 6. U.S. top medical expert Anthony Fauci urges more Americans to get vaccinated and warns about the Delta variant that has spread in the UK. 7. President Joe Biden says that the Delta variant is spreading among youngsters and a delay in vaccination could cost them. 8. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris defends herself from republican critics who criticise her for making her first international trip to Mexico and Guatemala. 9. The U.S. senate approves a bill that aims to boost U.S. semiconductor production and the development of artificial intelligence and other technology.