LIVE: PM Modi congratulates new Pak PM, says 'India desires peace'

Congratulations to H. E. Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, tweets PM Modi

10:18 PM

Congratulations to Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on his election as Pakistan Prime Minister: PM Modi

10:07 PM

Shehbaz Sharif sworn-in as new Prime Minister of Pakistan

Shehbaz Sharif was sworn-in as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan on Monday, bringing to an end the political uncertainty that had gripped the country since a no-confidence motion was introduced against his predecessor Imran Khan on March 8.

 

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered oath of office to 70-year-old Shehbaz in President Dr Arif Alvi's absence, who went on 'sick' leave ahead of the PML-N leader's inauguration.

9:34 PM

US, India to continue consultation on how to manage 'destabilising effects' of Russian war in Ukraine: Biden

President Joe Biden said on Monday that the US and India will "continue our close consultation" on how to manage the "destabilising effects" of the Russian war in Ukraine as he held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further deepen ties between the two countries.

 

"I'm looking forward to our discussions today. Mr Prime Minister (Modi), our continued consultation and dialogue are key to ensuring the US and India relationship continues to go deeper and stronger...," Biden said in his opening remarks.

 

The meeting comes at a time when the crisis in Ukraine has worsened and a White House statement on Sunday said that President Biden will continue "our close consultations on the consequences of Russia's brutal war against Ukraine and mitigating its destabilising impact on global food supply and commodity markets."

9:21 PM

Modi hopes for peaceful solution in Ukraine during virtual meet with Biden

9:08 PM

I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak to you virtually today: Biden tells Modi

9:00 PM

Virtual meeting between PM Modi and US President Joe Biden begins

8:04 PM

Russia scolds Google after alleged 'dead Russians' translation option

Russia on Monday demanded Google take immediate steps to remove "threats" against Russians after it said Google Translate had offered some users the option to translate the phrase "dead Russians" instead of "dear Russians".

 

Russia's communications regulator said it had demanded Google "immediately take measures to exclude statements of threats against Russian users".

 

The regulator said that when "dear Russians" was typed into Google's translator, it had also offered the variant "dead Russians" under the "Did you mean" section.

 

The regulator, known as Roskomnadzor, said it did not offer such variants for the phrase with other nationalities. Google did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

 

Google Translate did not appear to be suggesting such a variant when Reuters tried out the translator.

 

Russia's regulator "demanded that the American company take comprehensive measures to prevent such situations against Russian users, as well as to inform the agency about the reasons for the appearance of such messages."

7:22 PM

TRAI recommends auction of all available spectrum in specified existing, new bands, including 5G frequencies

7:09 PM

Pakistan PM-elect Sharif promises to speed up China-funded projects

Pakistan's prime minister-elect Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday that his government will speed up Beijing-backed projects in the country.

 

The projects are being carried out under the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - a part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.

 

In a speech in parliament, Sharif also stressed the need for better relations with the United States as well as nuclear armed-rival India.

6:56 PM

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J Austin III welcomes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh

6:48 PM

Pakistan's new PM says he wants good relations with India

6:23 PM

Pakistan PM-elect Sharif says country heading for historical budget, trade deficits

Pakistan's prime minister-elect Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said the country was on the way to posting the largest budget deficit in its history as well as historical trade and current account deficits.

 

Sharif, in his speech after winning a parliamentary vote to elect a new prime minister, said that the outgoing government of Imran Khan had mismanaged the economy, and his new government was faced with a huge challenge to bring it back on track.

5:38 PM

PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif elected as new Prime Minister of Pakistan

Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president, was elected unopposed as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan by Parliament on Monday after rival candidate Shah Mahmood Qureshi announced that his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party will boycott the voting and staged a walkout.

 

Shehbaz, 70, was the only candidate left in the race after Qureshi's boycott of the election in the National Assembly.

 

In the House of 342, the winning candidate should get support of at least 172 lawmakers.

 

Shehbaz, the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, received 174 votes - two more than the simple majority of 172.

5:20 PM

Ukraine's Zelenskiy seeks military aid from S.Korea

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday asked Seoul for any military aid it could provide as he said Russia could only be forced to make peace.

 

Speaking in a video address to South Korean lawmakers, Zelenskiy said his country needed more help, including weapons, if it is to survive the war.

 

"You have something that can be indispensable for us ... armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons," he said.

 

Zelenskiy said South Korea had many weapons that could not only help save the lives of ordinary Ukrainians but help prevent Russia from attacking other nations.

 

5:02 PM

Lavrov says Russia will not pause its military operation in Ukraine before talks

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Moscow will not pause its military operation in Ukraine before the next round of peace talks.