Seventy people barred from first repatriation flight – as it happened

Around 70 people due to be evacuated from New Dehli have either tested positive for Covid or are close contacts of cases; PM talks about deeply sensitive' Middle East situation. This blog is now closed

• More than 70 out of 150 Australians in India unable to fly on first repatriation flight
• NSW MP Gareth Ward steps down as minister over sexual violence allegations which he denies
• Anthony Albanese pledges $10bn social housing fund in Labor's federal budget reply

9.06am BST

OK, and with that we shall wrap up the blog for the day and for the week. Here are today's main developments:

8.45am BST

I just want to break up the news a little with this lovely photo gallery of Muslims celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan:

Related: Eid al-Fitr celebrations around the world - in pictures