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

4:11 PM

EU holds emergency talks after Russia decides to shut off gas supplies

European Union officials are holding emergency gas talks after Russia decided to shut off gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria. The announcement to shut off gas supply made by Gazprom is et another attempt by Russia to use gas as an instrument of blackmail, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said.

Von der Leyen lashed out at what she described as an unjustified and unacceptable move underlining the unreliability of Russia as a gas supplier. Read more

4:00 PM

Kerala brings back mask mandate as Covid cases surge

In the wake of the surge in Covid-19 cases, the Kerala government brought back the face masks mandate in the state.

The state government also said that any violation would be punishable under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act and other relevant laws.

3:55 PM

'Namo ghat' to emerge as tourist attraction in Varanasi, says official

'Namo Ghat', which was earlier known as 'Khidkiya Ghat', will soon emerge as a major tourist attraction in Varanasi, an official said. He added that PM Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the renovated ghat soon. 

The Rs 34-crore project which is nearing completion, will become the 85th ghat in Varanasi.

3:50 PM

Maryam Nawaz withdraws plea from Lahore HC for return of passport

Maryam Nawaz, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Vice President, withdrew her petition in the Lahore High Court for the return of her passport so that she could travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah pilgrimage.

Daughter of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, Maryam had submitted her passport in the LHC to secure bail in a corruption case in 2019 after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) feared she could flee the country.

3:47 PM

Rajasthan CM urges people to follow Covid protocols amid rise in cases

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot urges people to start following health protocols in the wake of during Covid-19 cases.

This comes after PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a review meeting today with chief ministers, lieutenant governors, and administrators of union territories to review the Covid-19 situation in the nation.

He tweeted in Hindi, "Covid cases are increasing continuously in all countries including UK, Germany, and China. There has also been an increase in infections in some parts of the country. In view of its seriousness, I participated in the meeting of all the Chief Ministers being chaired by the Prime Minister on the Corona situation."

3:41 PM

Details of over 10.69 lakh sexual offenders available with MHA

The union home ministry has details of over 10.69 lakh sexual offenders in the nation, an annual report of the ministry of 2020-21 said, adding that their profiles are available within the law-enforcement agencies on a real-time basis to probe new offences.

The data available with the National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) will allow investigating officers to track habitual sex offenders, besides initiating preventive measures against sexual offences.

3:33 PM

Russia says will shut off gas supply to 2 EU nations in war escalation

Russia announces to shut off gas to two European Union nations that staunchly back Ukraine, amid an escalation in a conflict that is increasingly becoming a wider battle with the West. The announcement said it had cut natural gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria because they refused to pay in Russian rubles, as President Vladimir Putin had demanded. 

 

2:50 PM

Vaccination coverage for children a priority: PM Modi

Vaccination coverage for children a priority, says PM Modi after Covid-19 review meeting

2:40 PM

Focus should be on stopping fighting: Jaishankar on Ukraine

The best way to deal with the conflict in Ukraine would be to focus on "stopping the fighting and getting the talking" to move forward, and India's position on the crisis is best placed to advance such an approach, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday.

His comments came in response to a question at an interactive session at the Raisina Dialogue, India's premier foreign policy and geo-economics conference.

2:14 PM

India not part of greenhouse gas problem: Environment minister

India is not a part of the greenhouse gas emissions problem but it will be a big part of the solution to climate change, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Wednesday.

He claimed that the developed nations were not fulfilling their promises of climate finance and technology transfer.

Participating in the Raisina Dialogue 2022, which entered its third day, Yadav asserted that India was determined to achieve economic prosperity and enhance its renewable energy capacity.

1:54 PM

S Jaishankar to visit Bangladesh, Bhutan between April 28-30: MEA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay an official visit to Bangladesh and Bhutan on 28-30 April 2022, according to Ministry of External Affairs

1:38 PM

PM Modi flags higher fuel rates in states like Maharashtra, Bengal, Telangana

1:33 PM

Get safety audits of all hospitals done on a priority basis amid rising temperature: PM Modi

PM Modi has urged all states to get safety audits of all hospitals done on a priority basis to prevent fire incidents which have been increasing amid heat wave.

 

"Our response time should also be minimal, " said Modi to all state CMs during meeting on Covid-19 situation in the country.

1:31 PM

Reduce VAT on fuels, transfer benefits to people: PM Modi to states

1:25 PM

Coordination between state and Centre is very important to tackle Covid-19: PM Modi

Coordination between state and Centre is very important, said PM Modi, adding Russia-Ukraine war has affected the supply chain which has posed many challenges.

 

Cooperative Federalism is important, scaling-up of manpower and medical infrastructure was also discussed in today's Covid review meeting, he said.