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The Omicron variant of coronavirus and its sub-types are driving the surge in Delhi, government sources said on Thursday, April 21. Samples have shown the presence of BA.2.12.1 and eight other subtypes of Omicron. The findings were arrived at after studying genome sequencing of samples.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in February had said that the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron is more transmissible than the BA.1 strain. However, there was no cause for alarm as it was no more severe than the original strain, it said.

So far, the World Health Organisation has put five subtypes of Omicron on its watch list - BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.4, BA.5.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to arrive in India on Thursday for a two-day visit to deepen the long-term partnership for peace and prosperity with a fellow leading democracy.

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, reported a news agency.

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.

PM Narendra Modi is a leader who does things that are different from the rest of the league. Usually, the Prime Minister of the country used to address the country from the ramparts of the Red Fort only on the occasion of Independence Day. In contrast, this is the second time in PM Modi's regime that an event of national importance is being organized in the Red Fort apart from Independence Day.

On April 21, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation from the Red Fort on the occasion of the 400th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Tegh Bahadur. The PM will also release a coin and a postage stamp in honour of the Prakash Parv of the 9th Guru of the Sikh community. Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy said that 400 ‘Ragi Shabad Kirtans’ will be performed at the Red Fort on the occasion.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday held a with the party leadership at her residence in Janpath 10 to discuss the party's roadmap ahead, especially political expert Prashant Kishor's entry into the party.

The meeting was attended by senior Congress leaders including Mukul Wasnik, Randeep Singh Surjewala, KC Venugopal, and Ambika Soni.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present in the meeting. It was Congress's second meeting in three days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a three-day visit to Gujarat beginning today, where he will dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects. During the visit, PM Modi will attend programmes in Gandhinagar, Banaskantha, Jamnagar and Dahod.

"These programmes will cover different sectors and will boost 'Ease of Living' for people," he said in a series of tweets on Sunday.

Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, will also be present during the three-day visit. He will participate in a few events alongside PM Modi.