As the coronavirus cases in India continue to spread rapidly, India has now become the fourth worst-affected nation from the virus and also the biggest epicentre of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Asia.

With over 12,000 new cases reported in the last 24 hours, India's COVID-19 count on Thursday crossed the 3.66 lakh-mark, while the death toll has crossed the 12,000-mark as well.

The Department of Telecom (DOT) has asked state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) to not use any Chinese telecom equipment during its 4G upgradation in view of the ongoing border dispute between India and China at the Line of Control (LAC).

Sources close to Zee News stated that the telecom department has conveyed the message that the tender process regarding the matter needs to be reworked.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has been given temporary additional charge of the health ministry and other departments allocated to Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain after he tested positive for coronavirus.

Satyendra Jain tested positive for coronavirus on Wednesday. He is currently hospitalised. He will remain Minister without portfolio until he returns to work.

A terrorist has been gunned down in an ongoing operation of security forces in the Meej Pampore area of Anwatipora of Pulwama district.

A top police official said, Last night, the Awantipur Police launched an operation at village Meez Pampore, along with the Indian Army and other security forces. The target was a house adjoining a big mosque. After an initial exchange of fire, a grenade was thrown outside while the cordon was being laid. The terrorists then seemed to have shifted to the mosque.

As tensions between India and China reached boiling point after the clashes in Eastern Ladakh, the White House on Wednesday (June 17) said it had no formal plans to mediate between the two countries.

There are no formal plans on that, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said.

On Wednesday night, India was elected unopposed to secure a comfortable victory in the United Nations Security Council elections to join the powerful 15-nation body as a non-permanent member for the 2021-22 term.

With 184 votes out of the total 192 polled, India which won the UN non-permanent seat for the eighth time has emerged as the single-endorsed candidate from the Asian Pacific regional group, amid the larger push for the country to be made a permanent member of the five-nation apex grouping, currently comprising the US, UK, Russia, China, and France.

The talks between Major Generals of India and China in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh were inconclusive, reports said.

Citing sources, ANI reported that the talks were concluded late on Wednesday evening but remained inconclusive.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said there is a need to fight rumours of lockdown and plan phase 2 of Unlock even as the number of coronavirus cases rises rapidly in the country.

The Prime Minister held the second part of two-day interaction with chief ministers of various states and Union territories via video conferencing to discuss the situation post Unlock 1.0 and plan for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday told his Chinese counterpart that the Chinese side took pre-meditated and planned action in Galwan Valley that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and death of at least 20 Indian soldiers.

In a telephonic conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jaishankar explained the sequence of events that led to violent face-off in Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Three BJP MLAs in Manipur quit the party on Wednesday and joined the opposition Congress, bringing the N Biren Singh government in minority.

BJP ally National People's Party (NPP) also withdrew its support with four of its MLAs resigning from ministerial posts.

Subhashchandra Singh, TT Haokip and Samuel Jendai resigned as BJP MLAs and joined Congress on Wednesday.

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