Russia-Ukraine war updates: NATO will ‘respond’ if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine, says Biden – The Economic Times

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US President Joe Biden said Thursday that NATO would “respond” if Russian President Vladimir Putin used a chemical weapon in his war on Ukraine. “We will respond if he uses it. The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use,” Biden said after a NATO summit in Brussels.

Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges citizens around the world to take to the streets in protest as Russia’s invasion of his country reaches the one-month mark.

“Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life,” Zelensky says in a video address in English. “Come to your squares, to your streets, make yourselves visible and heard.”

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says leaders of NATO members will agree at a summit in Brussels to “major increases of forces” on the alliance’s eastern borders, including four new battle groups in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

Zelensky is expected to appeal for a tougher NATO response to Russia’s invasion and more weapons in a video address to the gathering.

Stoltenberg says Russian President Vladimir Putin made a “big mistake” by invading Ukraine.

“He has underestimated the strength of the Ukrainian people, the bravery of the Ukrainian people and their armed forces,” Stoltenberg says.

At least four people were killed, including two children, and six wounded from overnight strikes in eastern Ukraine, the governor of the Lugansk region says.

The governor accuses Russia of using phosphorus bombs. AFP is unable to verify the claim.

The Moscow Stock Exchange resumed partially reopens after a nearly month-long suspension imposed to try limit the damage caused by massive Western sanctions.

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Wrap Up: All you need to know

  • Russian space chief says rocket launches for Europe will be replaced
  • NATO to help Ukraine prepare for chemical attack
  • U.S. to pledge $1 billion in Ukraine aid, take 100,000 refugees
  • Russian ally Belarus warns of World War III
  • Ukraine says Moscow is forcibly taking civilians to Russia
  • G7 leaders tell Russia not to use biological, chemical, nuclear weapons
  • UK finance minister Rishi Sunak questioned over Infosys presence in Moscow
  • Germany boosts humanitarian aid for Ukraine to prevent famine
  • Biden says he thinks Russia should be removed from G20
  • India abstains in UN General Assembly on resolution by Ukraine, allies on humanitarian crisis
  • UN General Assembly approves resolution blaming Russia for humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and urges immediate cease-fire
  • Donald Trump sues Hillary Clinton, others, claiming they tried to rig 2016 US presidential election, and falsely accused him of colluding with Russia

NATO will ‘respond’ if Russia uses chemical weapons in Ukraine: Biden

Russian space chief says rocket launches for Europe will be replaced

The head of Russia’s space agency said on Thursday that rockets that were supposed to launch European spacecraft into orbit would now be used instead for satellite launches by Russian companies or countries friendly to Russia, Tass news agency said. It quoted Dmitry Rogozin, head of Roscosmos, as saying this would apply to about 10 rockets.

Biden says he thinks Russia should be removed from G20

Biden said he made no threats to Xi but pointed out the number of American and foreign companies that had left Russia.

Donald Trump sues Hillary Clinton, others, claiming they tried to rig 2016 US presidential election, and falsely accused him of colluding with Russia

Russian ally Belarus warns of World War III

Belarus’ authoritarian leader has warned that a Polish proposal to deploy a Western peacekeeping force in Ukraine could trigger World War III. President Alexander Lukashenko, who has allowed his ally Russia to use Belarus’ territory to launch an invasion of Ukraine, pointed Thursday at Poland’s offer of a peacekeeping mission made last week, saying “it will mean World War III.”

Germany: Russia may try to destabilise Balkans

Germany’s foreign minister says Europe needs to beware of Russian efforts to destabilise the Western Balkans against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine. Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters in Berlin on Thursday that such moves preceded Russia’s military engagement in Ukraine, despite Moscow’s continued denial that it was preparing an attack.

Germany boosts humanitarian aid for Ukraine to prevent famine

Germany will boost humanitarian aid to Ukraine and neighbouring states to more than 370 million euros ($407 million) and will offer a further 430 million euros to fight a potential hunger crisis, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Thursday. He called on other countries to offer more aid, speaking at a news conference after meeting other G7 and NATO leaders.

Indian Oil to raise petrol, diesel prices from Friday

Indian Oil Corp, the country’s top fuel retailer, will raise prices of a litre of petrol and diesel by 0.80 rupees from Friday, its third such increase this week, a notification sent to fuel dealers showed.

Ukraine says Moscow is forcibly taking civilians to Russia

Ukraine accused Moscow on Friday of forcibly taking thousands of civilians from the shattered port city of Mariupol to Russia so that they can be used as “hostages” to pressure Kyiv to give up.

G7 leaders tell Russia not to use biological, chemical, nuclear weapons

Leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized nations warned Russia not to use biological, chemical or nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine, they said in statement released after talks in Brussels on Thursday. “We warn against any threat of the use of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons or related material,” said the leaders in a joint statement released by Germany.

Europe won’t pay for energy supplies in Russian roubles – Slovenia PM

Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Jansa said on Thursday that Europe would not pay Russia in roubles after Moscow demanded that “unfriendly” countries settle oil and gas bills in its currency. “I don’t think anybody in Europe knows what roubles look like, nobody will pay in roubles,” Jansa told reporters on his arrival to a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.

UK finance minister Rishi Sunak questioned over Infosys presence in Moscow

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on Thursday faced questions about the Russian presence of Infosys, the Indian software services company in which his wife Akshata Murty has a share. With reference to stringent sanctions being imposed on Russia, the Indian-origin finance minister who is the son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy was asked on air if his advice to businesses was not being followed within his own home. The minister stressed that the operations of individual companies was a matter for them.

UN General Assembly approves resolution blaming Russia for humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and urges immediate cease-fire

India abstains in UN General Assembly on resolution by Ukraine, allies on humanitarian crisis

Ireland is open to more sanctions but current ones must be enforced – PM

Ireland would be open to imposing further sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine but the measures already agreed to punish Moscow should be enforced first, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Thursday. “We are very open to more sanctions but we want to make sure the current sanctions are implemented,” Martin told reporters on his arrival to a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.

First refugee flight from Moldova to Germany on Friday

The first flight bringing Ukrainian refugees from Moldova to Germany will leave on Friday, said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. In a statement in Berlin on Thursday, Baerbock added that the flight, which would land in Frankfurt, was the first of many that would bringing people fleeing the war in Ukraine from Moldova to countries across Europe as well as across the Atlantic.

Yogi Adityanath meets Governor Anandiben Patel to stake claim to form government in Uttar Pradesh

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in India

He is likely to meet NSA Ajit Doval and EAM Dr S Jaishankar tomorrow.

Russia’s RusHydro transfers coupon payment on rouble Eurobond

Russian hydroelectric power generation firm RusHydro said on Thursday it had transferred a coupon payment of 812.5 million roubles on its rouble Eurobond to an agent. The payment on 2022 Eurobond is planned for March 28, RusHydro said.

NATO to help Ukraine prepare for chemical attack

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance is stepping up its defenses against chemical and nuclear weapons as concern mounts that Russia might use such weapons in Ukraine. Stoltenberg says that NATO leaders agreed at their summit Thursday to send equipment to Ukraine to help protect it against a chemical weapons attack.

Poland refuses to pay for Russian gas in rubles

Poland’s state energy company on Thursday said it would not pay for Russian gas in rubles, becoming the latest to reject Kremlin demands amid unprecedented sanctions on Moscow over its war in Ukraine. “We don’t see how we could,” PAP news agency quoted Pawel Majewski, head of state oil and gas company PGNiG, as saying.

Russia to restart limited trading in more stocks, bonds and Eurobonds on Friday

Moscow Exchange will continue stock trading on Friday and restart limited trading in shares that are not included in the IMOEX benchmark stock index as well as in corporate bonds and Eurobonds, the central bank said on Thursday. Energy and metals firms led a jump in Russian stocks on Thursday as trading resumed after a month’s suspension, reflecting soaring global prices for oil, gas and other commodities on fears the Ukraine crisis will threaten supply.

G7 calls for international organisations to review ties with Russia

The G7 group of advanced economies is calling for international organisations to review their ties with Russia, a senior US official said on Thursday. “We in the G7, we’re joined together in saying that international organisations and multilateral fora should no longer conduct their activities with Russia in a business-as-usual manner,” the official told journalists in Brussels as US President Joe Biden attended NATO, G7 and EU summits in the Belgian capital.

U.S. to pledge $1 billion in Ukraine aid, take 100,000 refugees

The United States will announce $1 billion in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and a plan to accept up to 100,000 Ukraine refugees, a senior administration official said. The United States is also launching the ‘European Democratic Resilience Initiative’ with $320 million in funding to support media freedom, social resistance, and human rights in Ukraine and nearby countries, the official said.

G7 restricts Russian bank’s use of gold

Group of Seven leaders have announced they are restricting the Russian Central Bank’s use of gold in transactions, while the U.S. announced a new round of sanctions targeting more than 400 elites and members of the Russian State Duma.

In Odessa, Russia’s war redistributes the roles

Andriy Kharlamov, a baritone at Odessa’s famed opera house, fills sandbags and is learning how to handle weapons, while Inga Kordynovska, a lawyer, supervises the distribution of aid to thousands of people in a converted food court. They are just two examples of how Russia’s war in Ukraine is upending lives and forcing people and places to take on dramatically different tasks and roles. One month into the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Moscow’s forces are struggling to reach the strategic port city of Odessa, known as Ukraine’s “Pearl of the Black Sea”, where residents are busy preparing for a possible attack by naval forces.

Festivals can now be celebrated in UP in peaceful manner: Adityanath

Prime minister’s mantra of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ made impact despite opposition propaganda: CM-designate Adityanath

Moscow stock market partially reopens after month-long closure

The Moscow Stock Exchange resumed trading of some shares on Thursday, the second stage in a phased re-opening after being suspended for a month due to Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. Trading renewed for only 33 of the largest companies that make up the ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index, which saw gains of 10 percent at opening but closed at 4.4 percent. The RTS Index, which is calculated in US dollars, was down 9.0 percent as markets closed. The companies trading on Thursday include Russian energy giants Gazprom and Rosneft, and the country’s largest banks Sberbank and VTB, which are under US sanctions.

MEA on OIC meet in Pakistan

References made to India based on falsehoods and misrepresentation: MEA on statements and resolutions at OIC meet in Pakistan

No privatisation of Railways: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says in Rajya Sabha

Ukraine pleads for arms from NATO to help beat Russia

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded on Thursday with NATO leaders to send weapons “without restrictions” as the alliance sought to bolster Kyiv and strengthen its eastern flank in the face of Russia’s war. The United States said allies were discussing sending anti-ship missiles to Ukraine as President Joe Biden sought to up the price for the Kremlin at a day-long string of summit in Brussels. “To save people and our cities, Ukraine needs military assistance without restrictions,” Zelensky told NATO leaders in a video address as the war entered its second month.

Nearly 600 civilians killed in Mali in 2021: UN

Jihadists, armed militias and the armed forces in Mali killed close to 600 civilians in 2021, the UN said on Thursday, with casualty numbers rising towards the end of the year. In the last six months of 2021, civilian killings rose 16 percent, according to a report by the United Nation’s peacekeeping mission in the troubled Sahel state, known as Minusma. Mali, an impoverished nation of 21 million people, has over the past decade been wracked by a jihadist insurgency. Vast swathes of the country are in thrall to myriad rebel groups and militias.

Germany bets on tax relief, cheaper trains to combat energy crisis

Germany’s government unveiled a slew of measures on Thursday to ease the burden of soaring petrol and heating bills, from a 300-euro ($330) energy subsidy to the “cheapest ever” public transport for 90 days. The relief package for households — agreed after days of wrangling in the coalition between Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats, the ecologist Greens and the liberal FDP — comes as Germany tries to reduce its reliance on Russian energy following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Finance Minister Christian Lindner said citizens and companies were struggling to cope with soaring energy costs.

‘Unprecedented’ cash flows from China may be related to Russia’s status -IIF

Russia’s pariah status in the international investor community after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine may be behind “unprecedented” cash flows out of China, the Institute of International Finance said on Thursday. Many emerging market and global investors are faced with steep write-downs of their Russian holdings due to sanctions across the world that were triggered by last month’s invasion, which made Russia “uninvestable” for some.

ICRC chief, Russia discuss need to protect Ukraine civilians

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday said he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had discussed the need to protect civilians during Moscow’s operations in Ukraine. “We certainly also discussed the international humanitarian law and provisions of the Geneva Convention in regard to conduct of hostilities… that civilians must be protected,” Peter Maurer said at a joint press conference with Lavrov.

West Bengal is in a state of anarchy: Kailash Vijayvargiya

After the Assembly elections in 2021, BJP workers’ houses were set ablaze. These killings (Birbhum violence) are happening under the aegis of govt. People are living in an atmosphere of terror: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya

Bulgaria ends ‘golden passports’ scheme

Bulgaria on Thursday abolished its controversial “golden passports” scheme offering citizenship of the EU member state in return for substantial investment, which had been criticised by Brussels. The scheme made it possible for foreigners to acquire residency when they invested a minimum of 500,000 euros ($570,000) in Bulgaria, and citizenship when they invested one million euros.

IOC, BPCL, HPCL lost USD 2.25 bn in revenue due to fuel price freeze: Moody’s

India’s top fuel retailers IOC, BPCL and HPCL have together lost around USD 2.25 billion (Rs 19,000 crore) in revenue between November and March by keeping petrol and diesel prices unchanged despite a sharp rise in crude oil prices, Moody’s Investors Service said on Thursday.

Zelensky calls for unrestricted NATO military aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO on Thursday to provide Kyiv with unrestricted military aid, one month into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “To save people and our cities, Ukraine needs military assistance without restrictions. In the same way that Russia is using its full arsenal without restrictions against us,” the Ukrainian leader told NATO representatives via video-link.

Bulgaria to recall its Russian ambassador

Bulgaria will recall its ambassador to Russia for consultations in response to “undiplomatic, sharp and rude” comments from the Russian ambassador to Bulgaria, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said on Thursday. “We will call back our ambassador from Russia for consultations back to Bulgaria … Usually when one country calls back its ambassador for consultations, the other should follow and do the same,” Petkov said.

Param Bir Singh probe transferred to CBI by SC

The Supreme Court Thursday transferred to CBI the investigation against former police commissioner Param Bir Singh over the allegations of misconduct and corruption. A very murky affair is going on amid echelons of power on who should investigate the matter, a bench of Justices S K Kaul and M M Sundresh said. The apex court said a thorough investigation is required to regain faith of people in the state police.

Prices rise after Russia requires gas payment in roubles

British and Dutch wholesale gas prices extended gains on Thursday morning on concerns that Russia’s President Putin’s move to seek payment in roubles for gas sold to “unfriendly” countries would exacerbate the region’s energy crunch. The British gas price for day-ahead delivery rose by 24 pence to 270 pence per therm by 0954 GMT, while the within-day contract was up 10.5 pence at 262.5 p/therm.

Fire at Delhi pandal doused

A fire broke out at a wedding venue in northwest Delhi’s Rohini area on Thursday afternoon, officials said. The fire department received information regarding the blaze at 1.48 pm following which 12 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, they said. The fire inside the ‘pandal’ was doused around 3.30 pm. One person, who received a minor injury, was given first aid, officials said.

Massive fire at Delhi wedding pandal

12 fire engines are currently at the location, dealing with the flames

NATO aims to up ‘costs’ for Russia to halt Ukraine war

NATO leaders pushed Thursday to raise the cost for Russian President Vladimir Putin over his invasion of Ukraine by bolstering weapons supplies to Kyiv and strengthening the alliance’s eastern flank. US President Joe Biden is looking to boost unity and ramp up sanctions on Moscow at a day-long string of summits in Brussels as the West responds to the Kremlin’s bid to upend the post-Cold War balance.

Russian ambassador says Poland has blocked embassy’s bank accounts

Russia’s ambassador to Warsaw said on Thursday that Poland had blocked the embassy’s bank accounts for allegedly financing “terrorist activity”, RIA news agency reported. Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.

MS Dhoni steps down as Chennai Super Kings captain

Ravindra Jadeja is set to succeed him as the team’s skipper; he will be only the third captain in CSK history, after Dhoni and Raina.

North Korea tests long-range missile

North Korea fired a suspected long-range missile toward the sea Thursday in what would be its first such test since 2017, according to its neighbors’ militaries, raising the ante in a pressure campaign aimed at forcing the United States and other rivals to accept it as a nuclear power and remove crippling sanctions. The launch, which extended North Korea’s barrage of weapons tests this year, came after the U.S. and South Korean militaries said the country was preparing a flight of its biggest-yet intercontinental ballistic missile.

Stoltenberg to extend NATO term by one year amid Ukraine war

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is set to extend his term as head of the alliance by another year due to the war in Ukraine, Norwegian broadcaster TV2 and daily Dagens Naeringsliv reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources. Stoltenberg’s current term expires on Oct. 1 and he had been due to take up a post as central bank governor of his native Norway by the end of 2022. When asked on Wednesday whether he would stay on at NATO, Stoltenberg said any such decision was up to member-countries to make.

Ukraine urges West to take ‘serious steps’ in trio of summits

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged Western nations gathering in Brussels on Thursday to take “serious steps” to help Kyiv fight Russia’s invasion, as an unprecedented one-day trio of NATO, G7 and EU summits got underway. The hectic day of summitry, aimed at maintaining Western unity, kicks off at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where the transatlantic defence alliance’s leaders will agree to ramp up military forces on Europe’s eastern flank. But, while leaders promised to step up support for Ukraine, EU diplomats played down expectations of major new sanctions on Russia, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg repeated that the alliance will not send troops or planes to Ukraine.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann meets PM Modi. He is expected to call on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal post his meeting with the PM.

Petroleum Minister defends govt over fuel price hike

Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the prices of LNG in the international market has gone up by “more than 37 per cent” if compared from April 2021 to February 2022, because of “an unsettled condition and military action in one part of the world following the Covid crisis”. “Whereas, our increase at the bunk has been only five per cent,” he told the House during Question Hour in Lok Sabha. As far as the LPG price, which are based on Saudi CP (Contract Price), is concerned, it has has gone up by 285 per cent from April 2020 to March 2022, and the hike has been 37 percent the the last six months alone, he said. “So, I just want to place these facts before the members and this August House, so that they understand what the international situation today is,” he said. In spite of all that, the government is making “every effort to make sure that the consumer at the point of consumption get fuel at an affordable price”, he added.

Ruckus is Delhi assembly, BJP members marshalled out

A war of words erupted between AAP and BJP members in the Delhi assembly on Thursday after a legislator of the ruling party, Somnath Bharti, alleged that the BJP and the RSS were opposing the installation of a high-mast tricolour in his constituency.Opposition BJP also called legislators of the AAP part of the “tukde tukde gang” as members of both parties entered the Well of the House. Speaker Ram Niwas Goel directed that BJP MLAs Vijender Gupta and Jitendra Mahajan be marshalled out of the House.

Strikes kill 4 near Lugansk: Ukrainian official

At least four people were killed, including two children, and six wounded from overnight strikes in eastern Ukraine, the governor of the Lugansk region said Thursday. Sergiy Gayday said “unfortunately, the number of victims could be considerably higher,” accusing Russian forces of using phosphorus bombs. Other officials in the region have made similar claims in recent days, which AFP has been unable to immediately verify.

Maruti Suzuki India re-designates Hisashi Takeuchi as MD and CEO

Ukraine Live: 87 residential buildings damaged in Kyiv since Feb 24

As per Kyiv City State Admin, Russian attacks have also damaged 10 private houses, 12 schools, & 6 kindergartens in the Ukrainian capital since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

West Bengal CM meets kin of Birbhum violence victims

No Mandi tax on wheat exports from Madhya Pradesh: CM

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told ANI that mandi tax will not be imposed on wheat exported from the state. He further said that the state govt will provide all possible facilities to the exporters. “Exporters can buy wheat from mandis or farmers directly. Railway board has assured to provide racks for wheat export”.

Ukraine Live: UK PM says pressure could be applied to Putin’s gold reserves

Britain and its western allies will increase the economic pressure on Russia and are looking to see if more can be done to prevent President Vladimir Putin from accessing his gold reserves, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday. Ahead of a NATO meeting in Brussels, Johnson told LBC Radio that Putin had already crossed a red line and that he should appear before the International Criminal Court. “We need to do more,” he said. “And so we need to do more economically. Can we do more to stop him using his gold reserves for instance, in addition to his cash reserves?”



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