LIVE: Kremlin warns of cutting off gas supplies to more EU nations

Live news updates: Russia on Wednesday said that it is shutting off gas to two European Union nations, which have staunchly backed Ukraine

7:55 PM

Maharashtra records 186 Covid-19 cases, zero deaths in 24 hrs

Maharashtra records 186 new coronavirus infections, including 112 in the state capital Mumbai, and zero pandemic-related deaths.

The state's Covid-19 caseload rise to 78,77,264 and the death toll remained unchanged at 1,47,838. Read more

7:37 PM

Oil prices dip as Europe turns away from Russian oil

Oil prices dipped as a soaring dollar made barrels more expensive and Europe's biggest economy Germany was speeding up plans to wean itself off Russian oil. 

Brent crude futures dipped 54 cents, or 0.5%, to $104.45 a barrel by 1259 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped 79 cents, or 0.8%, to $100.91 a barrel.

 

7:25 PM

Moscow bans 287 UK lawmakers from Russia, PM Johnson reacts

Russia banned 287 British members of parliament from entering the country and accused them of fuelling "Russophobic hysteria" in Britain, drawing a defiant response from UK PM Boris Johnson.

"All those 287 should regard it as a badge of honour," Johnson, who was himself banned from Russia on April 16, said. Read more

7:20 PM

Europe decries 'blackmail' as Russia shuts off gas supplies to two EU nations

The European Commission accused Russia of blackmail after Gazprom halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria on Wednesday over their failure to pay in roubles, cranking up an economic war with Europe in response to Western sanctions. The EU, however, added that the bloc's gas buyers can engage with Russia's rouble-for-gas gambit provided certain conditions are met. Read more

7:10 PM

EU estimates up to 80% of its population by now has had Covid

The European Commission said that between 60% and 80% of the EU population was estimated to have been infected with COVID-19, as the bloc enters a post-emergency phase in which mass reporting of cases was no longer necessary. Read more

 

6:59 PM

Russia releases US Marine vet as part of prisoner exchange

Russia and the United States carried out a prisoner exchange today, trading a Marine veteran jailed in Moscow for a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a long prison sentence in America, a senior US official said. Read more

6:57 PM

Gap between 2nd Covid jab, booster shot to be reduced to 6 months

The government is likely to reduce the gap between the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and the precaution dose from the current nine months to six months, news agency PTI reports quoting official sources. 

The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI)  is likely to recommend lessening the gap in a meeting due to be held on April 29, reports PTI. Read more

6:44 PM

Cabinet clears Rs 2,426 cr to upgrade 2G mobile sites to 4G in naxal areas

The Union Cabinet approved upgradation of 2G mobile sites to 4G in naxal-hit areas at a cost of Rs 2,426 crore, Anurag Thakur said. He added that the project is spread across Naxal-affected areas in 10 states and the task has been assigned to the state-owned telecom firm BSNL. Read more

6:16 PM

As cases surge, traders' associations across Delhi resume Covid-19 protocols

Amid rising Covid-19 cases in Delhi, traders' associations across the national capital resumed regular sanitisation, put up posters of dos and don'ts, and are ensuring proper masking in the markets.

Delhi has currently 4,168 active cases of Covid-19 as the national capital has been witnessing an uptick in coronavirus infections over the past few days. Read more

5:59 PM

Former IL&FS chairman Ravi Parthasarathy dies from prolonged illness

Former non-executive chairman of IL&FS Ravi Parthasarathy died at age 70 in Mumbai on Wednesday morning after a prolonged illness, said media reports.

He was suffering from cancer and had been hospitalised in Mumbai since last November. Read more

 

5:51 PM

HUL Q4 standalone net up 8.6% to Rs 2,327 crore, net sales rise by 10%

Hindustan Unilever posted standalone net profit rose 8.6 per cent to Rs 2,327 crore for the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2022. The company had posted net profit of Rs 2,143 crore in the year ago period.

HUL's net sales grew 10 per cent to Rs 13,190 crore for the period. Read more

5:44 PM

Siddaramaiah urges Centre for GST exemption on newsprint

Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah requets Centre to exempt printing paper of newspapers from the purview of GST. He said many regulatory policies have affected their operations and finances. Read more

5:13 PM

Kyiv should take 'responsibility' for Ukrainian servicemen: Putin

Kyiv should take "political responsibility" for the Ukrainian servicemen and "militants of the nationalist battalions" blocked on the territory of the Azovstal plant in Ukraine's Mariupol, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

He told Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call that Mariupol has been liberated and there were no military operations there. Read more

4:51 PM

Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre, says 'Hate-in-India and Make-in-India can't coexist'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacks the Centre over reports of exit of automobile companies from India and alleged that the government is driving out business. In a tweet, he said, "The ease of driving business out of India. 7 Global Brands, 9 Factories, 649 Dealerships, 84,000 Jobs Modi ji, Hate-in-India and Make-in-India can't coexist! Time to focus on India's devastating unemployment crisis instead."

This came after Japanese auto maufacturer Nissan announced that it is halting the production of its Datsun vehicles in India. Read more

4:37 PM

Euro below $1.06 for first time in 5 years amid Ukraine war, China lockdown woes

The euro falls below $1.06 for the first time in five years against the US dolla amid rising concerns around energy safety and growth slowdown in China and Europe.

The euro slipped to a five-year low of $1.05860 after Russia announced that it would cut gas supply to Poland and Bulgaria, as the crisis in Ukraine deepened. It was 0.35% lower at $1.0601 at 1020 GMT. 

The single currency has fallen more than 4% so far in April and is heading for its worst monthly loss in more than seven years amid uncertainty around the Ukraine war and China's Covid lockdown measures. Read more