Russia Ukraine Updates: US ends normal trade ties with Russia over Ukraine invasion – Economic Times

Ukraine on Thursday accused its neighbour, Kremlin-ally Hungary, of appeasing Russian aggression and disrupting EU unity following a telephone call between the Hungarian and Russian leaders. “Apparently, after the elections, Budapest moved on to the next step — helping (Russian President Vladimir) Putin continue his aggression against Ukraine,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement.

Kremlin concedes ‘significant’ Russian troop losses in Ukraine

Russian troops have suffered “significant losses” in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, while rejecting allegations of a massacre in the town of Bucha as “a well-staged insinuation”. In an interview with Britain’s Sky News, he said the military casualties were “a huge tragedy for us” but did not specify a toll. Russia in late March said it had lost 1,351 soldiers with another 3,825 wounded

Russia says it would have to ‘rebalance’ if Finland and Sweden join NATO

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that if Finland and Sweden joined NATO then Russia would have to “rebalance the situation” with its own measures. Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, which it says aims among other things to degrade Ukraine’s military potential and prevent it becoming a bridgehead for a NATO attack, has prompted the two Nordic countries to consider joining the U.S.-led alliance.

Mayor of Ukraine’s Balakliia fled to Russia, says Kharkiv Oblast governor

As the Russia-Ukraine war intensifies, Mayor of Balakliia city in Ukraine, Ivan Stolbovyi along with his family, fled to Russia, says Kharkiv Oblast governor, Oleh Synehubov. “Oleh Synehubov told TV channel ICTV that the mayor of Balakliia, Ivan Stolbovyi, had fled to Russia together with his family,” reported The Kyiv Independent. According to Ukraine’s media outlet, Synehubov said that the mayor is under investigation. He earlier accused Stolbovyi of collaborating with the Russian forces.

German intelligence service has radio intercepts on Bucha killings: report

German intelligence services have intercepted radio traffic of Russian soldiers discussing the killings of civilians in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, Spiegel reported Thursday, in what would be new evidence linking Moscow troops to the deaths. Some of the audio material collected appears to relate to victims found dead along a main street in Bucha, the magazine said, citing a closed-door parliamentary briefing given by Germany’s foreign intelligence service BND.

Blinken says Russia must decide to engage meaningfully in diplomacy

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday said Russia must decide if it wants to engage in meaningful diplomacy with Ukraine. Blinken, speaking to reporters at NATO, said the reported killings of civilians in Ukraine’s Bucha are not a major factor in the peace talks but that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s calculus is

United Nations suspends Russia from human rights body over Ukraine

The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday suspended Russia from the U.N. Human Rights Council over reports of “gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights” by invading Russian troops in Ukraine. The U.S.-led push garnered 93 votes in favor, while 24 countries voted no and 58 countries abstained. A two-thirds majority of voting members – abstentions do not count – was needed to suspend Russia from the 47-member council. Suspensions are rare. Libya was suspended in 2011 because of violence against protesters by forces loyal to then-leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Pak issues 2,200 visas to India’s Sikh pilgrims for Baisakhi celebrations

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi has issued over 2,200 visas to Sikh pilgrims from India to participate in the annual Baisakhi celebrations, Express Tribune reported. The issuance of visas is covered under the framework of the Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines of 1974, through which a large number of Sikh pilgrims travel from India to Pakistan to observe various religious festivals.

Meta: Russian invasion driving more disinformation online

Hackers aligned with Russia broke into the social media accounts of dozens of Ukrainian military officers and were working to upload videos of defeated and surrendering Ukrainian soldiers when the plot was disrupted, according to a report Thursday from Meta that details a troubling increase in social media disinformation this year. The report from the owner of Facebook and Instagram found a surge in content linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as well as new cases of domestic disinformation and propaganda in countries around the world, suggesting that tactics pioneered by foreign intelligence agencies are now being used more widely.

Citigroup allows clients to cancel depositary receipts in Russian companies – sources

Citigroup has started to allow holders of depositary receipts in Russian companies to cancel them, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Citi’s move follows steps taken by banks such as BNY Mellon and JPMorgan & Chase in the last two weeks. After cancelling a depositary receipt, which are certificates issued by a bank representing shares in a foreign company traded on a local stock exchange, clients receive the underlying share in the Russian company.

Paris summons Russian envoy over Bucha tweet

France has summoned Russia’s ambassador over his tweet suggesting that images of civilians killed in Ukraine’s town of Bucha were staged. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the tweet “indecent.” Thursday’s tweet, which was later removed but had already been reprinted by numerous French media, showed a street in Bucha with a knocked-out tank and numerous journalists, under the caption “film set.”

All AP ministers resign ahead of reconstitution of state cabinet

All 24 Ministers of the Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Thursday submitted their resignation to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy ahead of the proposed reorganisation of the Council of Ministers. The incumbent Ministers put-in their papers at the meeting of the Cabinet, which was their last, official sources said.

Russia facing most difficult situation in three decades, PM says

Russia is facing its most difficult situation in three decades due to unprecedented Western sanctions, but foreign attempts to isolate it from the global economy will fail, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Thursday. He also said the situation provided room for new business opportunities as foreign companies leaving Russia would make space for others.

Russia will not have surplus this year, revenues to be spent -TASS quotes PM

Russia will not have a budget surplus this year as all revenues will be spent, TASS news agency quoted Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin as saying on Thursday. Before the recent western sanctions, Russia planned to run a budget surplus of 1.3 trillion roubles ($17 billion) this year, equal to 1% of gross domestic product.

Rupee falls 11 paise to settle at 75.95 against US dollar

The rupee declined 11 paise to close at 75.95 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday as the hawkish stance of the US Federal Reserve affected investor sentiments in global markets and bolstered the American currency. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened lower at 75.88 against the US dollar, then slipped further to quote 75.99. It finally settled at 75.95, down 11 paise over its previous close. On Wednesday, the rupee tanked 55 paise, its steepest single-day fall in a month, to close at a one-week low of 75.84 against the US dollar. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.04 per cent higher at 99.64.

SC to pronounce order on Mullaperiyar Dam issue tomorrow

The Supreme Court will pronounce its order on Friday in the matter related to a longstanding dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu on the Mullaperiyar Dam. A bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar said that the bench will pronounce its order tomorrow. However, the Court indicated that decision of the supervisory committee of the Mullaperiyar Dam will be final. During the hearing, the Court was irked by lawyers interrupting in between when the bench was trying to dictate the order. The Supreme Court, in the last hearing, suggested that the supervisory committee of the Mullaperiyar Dam can carry out all the statutory functions until a regular authority is established.

Sensex tanks 575 points; Nifty skids below 17,700

Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 575 points on Thursday, tracking heavy losses in index-heavyweights HDFC twins, TCS and Reliance Industries amid a weak trend in global markets. Declining for the third straight day, the 30-share Sensex slumped 575.46 points or 0.97 per cent to settle at 59,034.95. During the day, it tanked 633.06 points or 1.06 per cent to 58,977.35. The broader Nifty-50 also declined 168.10 points or 0.94 per cent to close at 17,639.55. From the 30-share pack, Titan, HDFC, HDFC Bank, Wipro, TCS, Reliance Industries Limited, and Power Grid were the major laggards.

Delhi, cab, auto drivers threaten strike against CNG price hike, demand fare revision

With a sharp hike in CNG prices, auto, cab, and taxi drivers in the city have threatened to go on an “indefinite strike” from April 18 if the government doesn’t provide subsidy on the fuel or increase the fare. Associations of auto, cab and taxi drivers will hold protests against the Centre as well as the city government at Jantar Mantar on Friday and at the Delhi Secretariat on April 11 against rise in CNG prices. Sarvodaya Drivers Welfare Association Ravi Rathor, who claims to have around 4 lakh drivers as members in Delhi-NCR, said that his association will go on an “indefinite strike” if their demands to reduce CNG prices or increase in fare are not fulfilled.

Chandigarh Municipal Corporation calls special House to discuss UT status

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation held a special House on Thursday to discuss the status of the Union Territory–Chandigarh. The House convened after the Punjab and Haryana Assemblies passed resolutions claiming their right on Chandigarh. The BJP councillors in Chandigarh had stated that the UT is an independent entity and none has individual rights over it. Harpreet Kaur Babla, BJP councillor said that the party won’t let Chandigarh be a part of either of the states.

Foreign envoys express concern over Russia-Ukraine war at ‘Yog Utsav’

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die a day before the schedule, marking the culmination of the Budget Session 2022 during which the two Houses passed key legislations, including the Bill to unify the municipal corporations in the national capital. “Venezuela is a country that practices diplomacy of peace. We always call for a solution for all disputes through peace and dialogue,” said Coromoto Godoy Calderon, Venezuela’s Ambassador to India. The Russia and Ukraine conflict started on February 24. Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will vote today on the suspension of Russia from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) over the Ukraine invasion.

LS, RS adjourn sine die, clocking 129, 99.80% productivity respectively

Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die a day before the schedule, marking the culmination of the Budget Session 2022 during which the two Houses passed key legislations, including the Bill to unify the municipal corporations in the national capital. The second part of the Budget Session began on March 14 while the sittings were to conclude on April 8. Key Bills were passed in the Parliament during the second part of the session, including the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022, Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 among others.

Delhi minorities panel issues show-cause notice to mayors of 3 corporations on meat ban issue

The Delhi Minorities Commission has issued a show-cause notice to mayors and commissioners of three municipal corporations in the city seeking an explanation on what basis have they decided to ban or shut meat shops during Navratri. The Delhi Minorities Commission has sought a detailed report within 24 hours and asked the mayors to appear before it on Friday. A copy of the notice has been marked to commissioners of three civic bodies. The south and east Delhi mayors had on Tuesday asked meat shops in their jurisdictions to remain shut during Navratri, saying “most people do not consume non-vegetarian food” for these nine days, even though there was no official order issued by the civic bodies.

Kyiv accuses Hungary of ‘helping Putin’ in Ukraine war

Ukraine on Thursday accused its neighbour, Kremlin-ally Hungary, of appeasing Russian aggression and disrupting EU unity following a telephone call between the Hungarian and Russian leaders. “Apparently, after the elections, Budapest moved on to the next step — helping (Russian President Vladimir) Putin continue his aggression against Ukraine,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement. Putin congratulated Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after his party won a fourth term in general elections last week. The two leaders spoke again Wednesday and Orban told Putin that would Hungary would be prepared to pay Russia in rubles for gas imports.

More mechanical road sweeping machines needed to tackle dust pollution: Air quality panel

Centre’s air quality commission on Thursday directed various road construction and maintenance agencies in Delhi and NCR to procure more mechanical road sweeping machines to tackle the menace of air pollution arising from road dust. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas, also asked the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to carry out a study on the efficacy of dust-suppressants and apprise the panel by the May end this year. The CAQM reviewed the progress of action taken by road construction/ maintenance agencies and Dust Control and Management Cells (DCMCs), set up in 2021 to monitor the progress of dust control measures, and was informed that out of Delhi’s total road length of around 18,540 km, nearly 5,000 km has been identified for mechanical sweeping.

EU monitoring human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan

The European Union on Wednesday (local time) said that it is monitoring the human rights violations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. Replying to Jamil Maqsood’s letter of February 22, Central Secretary, Committee on Foreign Affairs, United Kashmir People’s National Party (UKPNP), Deren Derya, Deputy Head of Division European Union said that the EU is following the situation closely. Maqsood had expressed his concerns regarding the human rights situation in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and in Gilgit Baltistan.

Bandhan consortium to buy IDFC Mutual Fund for Rs 4,500 crore

A consortium consisting of Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited, GIC, and ChrysCapital is set to buy IDFC Asset Management Company and IDFC AMC Trustee Company for Rs 4,500 crore. IDFC Limited said in a statement on Thursday that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the consortium for the deal. The Bandhan consortium was selected through a highly competitive divestment process which witnessed strong participation from strategic players and financial investors. This is a highly tracked acquisition and will be the largest deal in the Indian asset management industry to date, it said.

India to boost arms output, fearing shortfall from Russia

India on Thursday said it would ramp up its production of military equipment, including helicopters, tank engines, missiles and airborne early warning systems, to offset any potential shortfall from its main supplier Russia.India depends on Russia for nearly 60% of its defense equipment, and the war in Ukraine has added to doubts about future supplies.Defense Ministry officials say India, with the world’s second-largest army, fourth-largest air force and seventh-largest navy, can’t sustain itself through imports.