Our traditions say that a wise person is one who doesn’t bully anyone and doesn’t tolerate being bullied: PM Modi
10:11 PM
I bow in front of all Sikh gurus: PM Modi
Red Fort has seen the martyrdom of Sikh guru Tegh Bahadur. I bow in front of all Sikh gurus, says PM Modi.
10:06 PM
India following ideals of Sikh gurus: Modi
India is following ideals of all Sikh gurus. It is a land of great traditions, says PM Modi.
10:02 PM
PM Modi begins speech on Sikh guru
8:08 PM
US announces $800 mn in new military assistance for Ukraine
President Joe Biden on Thursday announced an additional USD 800 million in military aid to help Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion, but he also warned Congress will need to approve additional assistance. The new military assistance package includes much needed heavy artillery, 144,000 rounds of ammunition, and drones for Ukrainian forces, the AP reported.
6:35 PM
UK has raised Ukraine war issue with Modi: British PM Johnson
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday said his country has already raised the Ukraine war issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a diplomatic level, and added that everybody understands that India and Russia shared "very different relationships historically". Johnson's visit to India comes at a time when India has taken a neutral stand on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and amid the criticism by western countries, especially the US, that India was not taking a clear stance against Russia, PTI reported.
5:24 PM
Pakistan Finance Minister leaves for Washington to IMF leaders
Pakistan's new Finance Minister Miftah Ismail on Thursday left for Washington to meet top IMF officials to renegotiate a USD 6 billion bailout package that was stalled by the previous Imran Khan regime. Under the agreement signed in 2019, Pakistan would receive USD 6 billion for a period of 39 months.
5:00 PM
Series of explosions kill 10 people in Afghanistan
A series of explosions across Afghanistan on Thursday killed at least 10 people and wounded scores more, according to police and hospital officials. No one immediately took responsibility for the deadly explosions, but they mostly targeted the country's minority Shiite Muslims and had all the hallmarks of a deadly Islamic State affiliate known as Islamic State in Khorasan Province, or IS-K, the AP reported.
4:03 PM
UK sets out 26 new sanctions against Russia
Britain on Thursday added 26 new designations to its list of sanctions against Russia over the Ukrainian war, including on military figures and defence companies, Reuters reported. Britain, which has sought to play a key role in the West's response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, has already set out hundreds of sanctions, such as asset freezes and travel bans on prominent Russian billionaires and politicians including President Vladimir Putin.
3:36 PM
Boris Johnson meets billionaire Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday meting with industrialist Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad as part of his appointments during a two-day visit to India. The two men talked about energy transition, climate action, aerospace and defence collaboration, PTI reported quoting sources.
3:22 PM
UK's Johnson hopes to clinch Indian free trade deal by year-end
Britain hopes to complete a free trade deal with India by the end of this year, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday as he emphasised the need to reduce reliance on foreign oil and gas due to the conflict in Ukraine. "India and Russia have, historically, a very different relationship, perhaps than Russia and the UK have had over the last couple of decades. We have to reflect that reality but clearly I'll be talking about it to Narendra Modi," Johnson said.
2:58 PM
Wear face mask at crowded places: Punjab govt advisory
The Punjab government on Thursday advised people to wear face masks at crowded places amid a surge in coronavirus cases in some of the states.
Punjab on Wednesday had reported 30 fresh cases, taking its coronavirus tally to 7,59,334.
According to the advisory issued by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, wearing of masks should be ensured in closed environments such as in buses, trains, aircrafts, cinema halls, shopping malls, departmental stores, offices and classrooms.
2:34 PM
Govt may revisit BPCL privatisation, including revising the terms of sale
The government may take a fresh look at BPCL privatisation, including revising the terms of sale, an official said.
"We need to go back to the drawing board on BPCL. There are issues in terms of consortium formation, geopolitical situation and energy transition aspects," an official said.
The government is selling its entire 52.98 per cent stake in BPCL for which three expressions of interest (EoIs), including one from billionaire Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Group, have been received.
Financial bids are yet to be invited.
2:07 PM
Israel offers to host Russia's Putin and Ukraine's Zelensky to end war
Israel has offered to host talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, at a time when Moscow is making crucial military gains in the strategic Donbas region.
Russia's Tass news agency is reporting that Israeli Ambassador to Russia, Alexander Ben Zvi has confirmed in an interview that Tel Aviv is keen to host the dialogue.
'Certainly,' Ben Zvi said when asked about Israel's readiness to mediate an end to the conflict at the highest level. 'However, they (Putin and Zelensky) need to make a decision,' the envoy added.
Israel, he said, would consider it 'a great honour' to host possible talks between the Russian and Ukrainian heads of state.
1:44 PM
British PM Johnson signals visa flexibility with India to win trade deal
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated he was ready to offer more visas to India in return for this year clinching a free-trade deal that could boost annual bilateral trade by billions of pounds.
Speaking on the plane on his way to the world's second-most populous country, Johnson signalled he was ready to be more accommodating on an issue that could have stalled the talks.
"I have always been in favour of talented people coming to this country," Johnson told reporters. "We are short to the tune of hundreds of thousands of people in our economy and we need to have a progressive approach and we will."
Live news updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday evening at the Red Fort in Delhi, joining celebrations for the 400th birth anniversary of Sikh guru Tegh Bahadur.
India is following the ideals of Sikh gurus, he said.
Modi’s office said earlier the programme is being organised by the central government in collaboration with the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.
The programme is focussed on highlighting the teachings of the ninth Sikh guru who sacrificed his life to protect religion and human values, ideals and principles in world history, said the Prime Minister’s Office, adding that he was executed for supporting the religious freedom of Kashmiri Pandits on the orders of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb.
Modi is speaking on a day when Supreme Court extended its stay on demolition of shops in New Delhi’s Jahangirpuri where clashes broke out between Muslims and Hindus over the weekend near a mosque and temple in which several people, including police officers, were injured.
 "Live: India following ideals of Sikh gurus, says Modi at Red Fort event")
