Live: India following ideals of Sikh gurus, says Modi at Red Fort event

Live news updates: Speech comes after communal clashes near a mosque in Delhi locality.

9:34 AM

India reports 2,380 new coronavirus infections, 56 deaths in 24 hours

 With 2,380 new coronavirus infections being reported in a day, India's total tally of COVID-19 cases rose to 43,049,974, while the active cases increased to 13,433, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday.

 

The death toll climbed to 522,062 with 56 fresh fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated.

 

The active cases comprise 0.03 per cent of the total infections, while the national COVID-19 recovery rate remained at 98.76 per cent, the ministry said.

 

An increase of 1,093 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours.

 

9:24 AM

UK PM Boris Johnson arrives in India for two-day visit

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday landed in Gujarat's Ahmedabad for a two-day visit to India with focus on stepping up cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, giving momentum to negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries as well as enhancing defence ties.

Johnson started his visit from Ahmedabad where he is scheduled to meet with leading business group leaders and discuss the UK and India's thriving commercial, trade, and people's links. This will be the first time a UK Prime Minister will visit Gujarat, India's fifth-largest state and the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian population in the UK.

On Friday morning, Johnson will attend a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan and later a wreath-laying at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

9:16 AM

Russia now controls 80% of Luhansk region

The Luhansk governor said Russian forces now control 80% of the region, which is one of two regions that make up the Donbas in eastern Ukraine.

One of Russia's stated goals is to expand the territory in the Donbas under the control of Moscow-backed separatists.

Before Russia invaded on Feb. 24, the Kyiv government controlled 60% of the Luhansk region.

9:14 AM

Global Covid caseload tops 507 mn, deaths surge to more than 6.20 mn

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 507 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 6.20 million and vaccinations to over 11.20 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Thursday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 507,015,168 and 6,207,545, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered increased to 11,202,915,650.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 80,801,505 and 990,206, respectively, according to the CSSE.

9:13 AM

Biden set to announce new military assistance for Ukraine

President Joe Biden is set to announce plans on Thursday to send additional military aid to help Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion, according to a US official.

The official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Biden will deliver a Thursday morning address at the White House detailing his plans to build on the roughly USD 2.6 billion in military assistance the administration has already approved for Ukraine.

The new package is expected to be similar in size to the USD 800 million package Biden announced last week.

It includes much needed heavy artillery and ammunition for Ukrainian forces in the escalating battle for the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

9:12 AM

With surge in fresh infections, China logs 2,830 new COVID-19 cases

Witnessing a surge in new COVID-19 cases, China on Wednesday reported 2,830 locally transmitted confirmed cases, the National Health Commission said on Thursday.

Of these new locally transmitted cases, China's economic hub Shanghai reported 2,634 cases and 15,861 local asymptomatic infections, Xinhua reported.

Across China, cities are locking down their residents, supply lines are rupturing, and officials are scrambling to secure the movement of basic goods, with its largest-ever recorded outbreak of COVID-19 threatening to spiral into a national crisis of the government's own making.

9:00 AM

China inducts three warships into PLA Navy ahead of its founding anniversary

China has inducted three new warships into its People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ahead of its 73rd founding anniversary on Saturday.

The Chinese PLA Navy displayed three of its latest warships that have recently entered service -- two Type 055 10,000 ton-class large destroyers and a Type 052D destroyer -- prior to its 73rd founding anniversary on Saturday, Global Times reported.

Citing analysts on Wednesday, the media outlet said that more new vessels commissioned into the PLA Navy are expected to be revealed soon, and the rapidly growing fleet reflects the Navy's fast growing capabilities to safeguard China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests.

8:10 AM

PM Modi announces new initiatives, special mark for Ayush products

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday announced a special Ayush mark for Ayush products among many new initiatives for Ayush sector, on the occasion of Global Ayush Investment & Innovation Summit 2022.

The Prime Minister on Wednesday inaugurated the three-day Global Ayush Investment & Innovation Summit 2022 at Gandhinagar in the presence of the Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and others.

8:07 AM

India visit will deepen strategic ties, says British PM Boris Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that his long-delayed visit to India will deepen the strategic trade, defence and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Ahead of Johnson's two-day visit, Downing Street has stressed that the UK would not look to "lecture" India over its neutral stance in the United Nations or its decision to hike Russian oil imports. The UK has been trying to persuade India to reduce its reliance on Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.

Addressing the House of Commons for his weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs), Johnson said the trip to Ahmedabad and New Delhi will build on India being invited as a guest country for the G7 Summit hosted by the UK in Cornwall in June last year.

8:03 AM

India's March domestic air passenger traffic increases over 36% YoY

Lower base effect as well as easing Covid travel restrictions accelerated India's domestic air passenger traffic growth by over 36 per cent in March on a year-on-year basis.

Pent-up demand and accelerated economic recovery also pushed the air passenger numbers higher during the month under review.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the country's scheduled domestic flight operations ferried 1.06 crore passengers last month. In March 2021, the traffic numbers stood at 78.22 lakh.

8:02 AM

Pentagon says Ukraine did not receive fixed-wing aircraft from US, allies

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby told reporters he mistakenly said in a previous briefing that the allies provided Ukraine with whole aircraft, the Defense Department said.

"Kirby said Ukraine has not been given any fixed-wing aircraft by the US or other allies and partners," the Defense Department said in a report on Wednesday (local time).

Kirby clarified that Ukraine was given spare parts that enabled them to fix aircraft that previously were not operable.

8:01 AM

India in better place to face Ukrainian crisis due to successful macroeconomic mgmt of pandemic: IMF official

The successful macroeconomic management of the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in a strong recovery of India's economy because of which the country is in a better position to face the economic fallout of the current Ukrainian crisis, a top official from the International Monetary Fund has said.

Observing that India represents about seven per cent of the total world economy in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms and is one of the countries that are growing rapidly, IMF's Mission Chief for India Nada Choueiri told PTI that India's growth is lifting the global economy and is very important for a well-functioning global economy.

8:00 AM

Sitharaman calls for 'proactive collective efforts' by G-20

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has called for "proactive collective efforts" by the G-20 group of the world's top economies to deal with the current slowdown in the growth momentum of the global economy.

Addressing fellow ministers and central bank heads of the G-20 member countries, the minister attributed the slowdown to "prolonged inflation, supply chain disruption, volatility in energy markets and investor uncertainty", according to a series of Twitter posts by the Ministry of Finance.

Sitharaman, who is in Washington DC for the Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group (which includes the International Monetary Fund), said G-20 "is well placed to catalyse international policy coordination to deal with macroeconomic consequences and called for proactive collective efforts towards protecting economies", according to the Finance Ministry.

7:58 AM

UK PM Boris Johnson to begin two-day India trip with roadshow in Gujarat

Beginning his two-day India trip from Gujarat on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is likely to take out a roadshow from the airport to his hotel in the morning sans Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

 

While the order of events could not be confirmed, sources stated that Johnson, the first British PM to visit Modi's home state, might be meeting Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and might also host a private dinner later in the day for the who's who of Gujarat industry before heading for Delhi.

 

7:57 AM

German defence ministry cuts weapons supply list for Ukraine by half: Reports

The German Defense Ministry has cut by half the list of weaponry that can be supplied to Ukraine drafted by the German defense industry, striking off all heavy weapons, the German newspaper BILD reported on Wednesday, citing a copy of the final document.

The changes were initiated by the Office of the German Chancellor, the outlet said. The German defense industry had previously expressed readiness to supply many of now canceled weaponry in short- or mid-term perspective.