LIVE: Putin says Russia will enforce rouble payments for gas from Friday

Russian President said on Thursday that he had signed a decree saying foreign buyers must pay in roubles for Russian gas from April 1

4:19 PM

Putin said timing premature for Ukraine ceasefire: Draghi

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi that conditions were not mature yet for a ceasefire in Ukraine, Draghi told a news conference on Thursday when asked about a telephone call with Putin the previous day.

 

Draghi also said that Putin told him that current gas contracts remained in force and that European firms will continue to pay in euros and dollars.

 

"What I understood, but I may be wrong, is that the conversion of the payment.... is an internal matter of the Russian Federation," Draghi said.

4:19 PM

Norway prime minister spoke with Russia's Putin on Thursday

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere had an hour-long conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in which the two discussed the invasion of Ukraine, the Norwegian prime minister's office said in a statement.

 

"I asked the president urgently to end the war in Ukraine, pull out Russian troops and secure humanitarian access," Stoere said.

 

Norway, a NATO member, shares a border with Russia in the Arctic.

4:13 PM

Kremlin says foreign gas customers to buy roubles for currency set in contracts

Customers from "unfriendly" countries will have to buy roubles for the currency stipulated in their contracts for subsequent Russian gas purchases, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

 

Peskov said Gazprombank could be involved in the gas-for-roubles buying scheme, adding that the details of the scheme could be disclosed later on Thursday.

4:09 PM

Two killed in rocket attack on military unit and fuel depot in east Ukraine: Governor

Russian rockets struck a military unit and a fuel depot in the Dnipro region of eastern Ukraine on Thursday, killing two people, the regional governor said.

 

Governor Valentyn Reznychenko said five people were also wounded in the strike.

3:39 PM

Russia to ban sunflower seed exports from Friday, farms ministry says

Russia will ban exports of sunflower seeds starting on Friday and impose an export quota of 1.5 million tonnes of sunflower oil between April 15 and Aug. 31, the Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday.

 

Russia has already taken steps to safeguard its food market in light of Western sanctions imposed over Ukraine.

3:29 PM

NCB gets 60 more days to file charge sheet in drugs case involving Aryan Khan

3:25 PM

Moscow would not refuse Russia-Ukraine meeting, talks must be substantive: Report

Moscow would not refuse a meeting between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba but any talks between them would need to be substantive, RIA news agency cited the Russian foreign ministry as saying on Thursday.

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier on Thursday that Turkey was working to bring together the Ukrainian and Russian foreign ministers for further talks after hosting peace negotiations in Istanbul this week. Cavusoglu said the meeting could happen within two weeks.

 

3:15 PM

Govt to reduce disturbed areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur: Amit Shah

3:12 PM

Pak Parliament to meet on Thursday to debate no-trust motion against PM Imran Khan

2:55 PM

India supports release of oil from reserves to cool prices: Minit

As oil prices dived, Union Petroleum Minister Rameswar Teli said India supports the initiative to let out from the strategic stockpile to cool rising rates. 
Oil prices plunged on news that the US was considering releasing up to 180 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserve (SPR).
"Government of India (GoI) is closely monitoring global energy markets situation in the backdrop of evolving geopolitical events," Teli said. Read more

2:41 PM

Reliance defends its takeover of Future Retail stores in a letter

Reliance Group in a company letter has defended an abrupt takeover of the stores of debt-laden rival Future Retail, saying mounting dues of $634 million compelled it to act beyond expectations, reports Reuters. Read more

2:22 PM

Ukraine preparing for new Russian assault in southeast: Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said that his forces are preparing for new Russian attacks in the southeast region, where Moscow's guns are now trained after Russia's assault on the capital Kyiv was repelled. Read more

2:08 PM

Centre inks deal with HUL for procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters

Union Defence Ministry inks two separate contracts with Hindustan Aeronautical Limited for Indian Air Force and Army worth Rs 3,887 crores for procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters, reports ANI.

1:51 PM

One-third of world's population yet to receive first Covid jab: WHO chief

One-third of the world's population is yet to receive a single dose even as some high-income countries have rolled out fourth and fifth Covid vaccine doses, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Read more

1:27 PM

If world's largest party does such 'goondagardi...,' Kejriwal's dig on BJP

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, talking about the ruckus created at his residence on Wednesday over his remark on 'The Kashmir Files' movie, said, "If the world's largest and ruling party does such 'goondagardi' in Delhi, then what message will it send to the youth of the country?" quotes ANI.
He adds, "The country can't progress like this."