Live: Ukraine says troops hold on in eastern city, advance in south

From Russia-Ukraine war to a sudden spike in coronavirus cases in India, catch all the latest developments from across the globe here

5:33 PM

Assam chief minister expands cabinet; 2 new ministers take oath

BJP lawmkers Jayanta Malla Baruah and Nandita Gorlosa on Thursday took oath as new ministers in Assam as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma embarked expanded his cabinet for the first time after completing more than a year in office. Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two first-time ministers

4:34 PM

Russia's blockade of Ukraine ports will cause food crisis: Zelenskyy

Millions of people could starve because of Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, adding that the world was on the brink of a "terrible food crisis" with Ukraine unable to export large amounts of wheat, corn and oil. Russia has blamed the crisis on Ukrainian mines laid at sea and international sanctions against Moscow, said Reuters.

4:29 PM

Ukraine says forces won back some territory from Russia in south

The Ukrainian Defence Ministry said its forces had won back some territory from Russian forces in a counter-offensive in the Kherson area of southern Ukraine, Reuters said. Ukrainian forces still hold the industrial zone and adjacent areas in Sievierodonetsk and the situation is "difficult but manageable", but evacuating 10,000 remaining civilians is now impossible, Mayor Oleksandr Stryuk said.

4:18 PM

Russia says no agreement reached with Turkey on Ukrainian grain exports

The Kremlin said on Thursday that no agreement had been reached with Turkey on exporting Ukrainian grain shipments across the Black Sea. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that work was continuing.

3:28 PM

4,809 electors will vote in the Presidential elections.

As many as 4,809 electors will vote in the Presidential elections. No political party can issue a whip to its members, says Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar.

3:00 PM

Mamata condemns remarks on Prophet Mohammad, demands arrest of accused BJP leaders

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condemned the remarks by two BJP functionaries on Prophet Mohammad, terming it "hate speech", and demanded that the accused leaders be immediately arrested so that the country's unity is not disturbed.

 

Noting that such remarks not only cause violence but also lead to societal division, she called upon people from all religions, castes and communities to maintain peace despite provocation.

 

"I condemn the recent heinous and atrocious hate speech remarks by a few disastrous BJP leaders, resulting in not only spread of violence, but also division of the fabric of the country, leading to disturbance of peace and amity," Banerjee said in a series of tweets.

 

"I strongly seek that the accused leaders of BJP be arrested immediately so that the unity of the country is not disturbed and people at large do not face mental agony," she said.

2:54 PM

University of Glasgow opens Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre

The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre at the University of Glasgow was officially opened by the Nobel prize winning Chemist, Professor Sir David MacMillan, on Wednesday.

 

A flagship research facility, it will be the creative and collaborative heart of cross-disciplinary research at the University of Glasgow.

 

"The Mazumdar-Shaw ARC will provide a unique environment for delivering world changing research; it is designed to promote collaboration and pioneer new ways of working," a University of Glasgow statement said.

 

It will also act as a catalyst for strengthening relationships between the University of Glasgow and its stakeholders including funders, industry, civic bodies, and the public, it was stated.

2:47 PM

India considers curbing fridge imports to boost local industry: Report

 India is considering restricting imports of refrigerators to promote local manufacturing, two industry sources told Reuters on Thursday, potentially freezing out shipments from Samsung Electronics Co and LG Electronics Inc in the $5 billion market.

The sources, who declined to be named as the talks were private, said the government was considering mandating that importers seek a licence from the authorities, replacing the existing free-import regime.

That could be followed by a ban on imports of refrigerators with refrigerant already added, to create opportunities for value-added operations in India, said one of the sources, who has direct knowledge of the government's discussions.

2:32 PM

SC reserves order on pleas seeking special stray round of counselling for NEET-PG

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a batch of petitions seeking a special stray round of counselling to fill the 1,456 seats in NEET-PG-21 which have remained vacant after the conduct of a stray round of counselling for All India Quota.

A bench of Justices M R Shah and Aniruddha Bose said it would pronounce its order on Friday after the counsel for the parties completed their arguments.

Additional Solicitor General Balbir Singh, appearing for the Centre, submitted that classes have already started in February and now holding classes for another six to eight months is not feasible.

He said the NEET 2022 teaching will also be compromised if further rounds of counselling are conducted.

2:23 PM

Businesses should avoid aggressive short-term reward-seeking culture: RBI Governor Das

The Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said businesses should avoid having an aggressive short-term reward-seeking culture without considering the build-up of excessive risks in their balance sheets.

 

Das said doing business involves risk taking. But before taking the risk, the upside and downside will have to be carefully considered.

 

"Businesses should avoid aggressive short-term reward-seeking culture without regard for the build-up of excessive risk in the balance sheet," Das said while delivering a speech at the Iconic Week celebrations, as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', to mark the 75th anniversary of Independence.