LIVE: Civilian killings in Bucha deeply disturbing, says India at UN

India reiterates its call for immediate cessation of violence and end to hostilities, says India's Ambassador to UN on Ukraine conflict

2:37 PM

US sought to punish disobedient Imran Khan: Russia

Russia has lambasted "another attempt of shameless interference" by the US in the internal affairs of Pakistan, adding that it sought to punish a "disobedient" Imran Khan, a media report said.

Spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova said Russia had noted that Pakistani President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday on Khan's advice as well as the events preceding it, reports Dawn news.

2:36 PM

US lawmakers want India to restrict sale of Russian-origin diamonds

A bipartisan group of American lawmakers has sought the help of the Biden administration in restricting the international trade and sale of Russian-origin diamonds, in view of the massive sanctions that the US and its European allies have imposed on Moscow.

In a letter to Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the lawmakers expressed concern that the sanctions issued by the Treasury Department to target Russia's diamond industry will have a minimal impact on Alrosa and its CEO Sergei Ivanov's ability to freely operate globally.

Alrosa is the world's largest diamond mining company.

2:34 PM

World Bank projects East Asia Pacific to grow 5% in 2022

The developing East Asia and Pacific countries is projected to grow by 5 per cent in 2022 amid the resurgence of Covid-19 pandemic, tighter financial conditions and the Russia-Ukraine war, the World Bank said.

"Shocks emanating from the war in Ukraine and the sanctions on Russia are disrupting the supply of commodities, increasing financial stress, and dampening global growth,"Xinhua news agency quoted the global lender as saying in its newly released East Asia and Pacific Economic Update.

"Just as the economies of East Asia and the Pacific were recovering from the pandemic-induced shock, the war in Ukraine is weighing on growth momentum," said World Bank Vice President for East Asia and Pacific Manuela V. Ferro.

2:21 PM

Sanjay Raut terms Sri Lanka's situation 'worrisome', warns India on same path

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday called Sri Lanka's situation "worrisome" and cautioned that India would be on the same path if the rising inflation is not tackled.

Speaking to ANI, Raut said, "Sri Lanka's condition is very worrisome. India is on that path. We have to handle it otherwise our condition will be worse than Sri Lanka."

The island nation is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. Amid rising public anger against the government, 26 Sri Lankan Cabinet Ministers have resigned en masse from their positions.

2:20 PM

Sri Lanka’s finance minister quits after just one day, as economic crisis worsens

Sri Lanka said Ali Sabry resigned as finance minister, a day after being named to the post as part of a ministerial revamp aimed at helping steer the South Asian economy out of a crisis. 

 

Sudewa Hettiarachchi, director general of the president’s media division, confirmed the resignation. He didn’t immediately give reasons for the decision.

2:18 PM

World No. 2 Medvedev could be banned from playing in Wimbledon this year: Report

Wimbledon could ban Russian tennis player and current world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev from competing in the tournament this year over fears that a win could "boost (President) Vladimir Putin's regime amid the invasion of Ukraine," according to a report in mirror.co.uk.

While Russian players are allowed to compete without flags or anthems in the wake of Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the report said that the All England Club could likely impose stricter measures on Russian tennis players, including Medvedev.

The report added that the All England Club had been advised that its independent tournament status means it "could implement a ban on Russian players that fail to condemn the actions of Putin -- and not face legal repercussions".

2:08 PM

ED attaches more properties of Saradha Group in PMLA case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said that they have attached additional movable and immovable properties worth Rs 35 crore in its ongoing investigation into the Saradha Group of Companies under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

A senior ED official said that the attached assets are in the form of vehicles, buildings, flats and bungalows in Bishnupur, plot of lands in South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri.

"These properties were either owned by Saradha Group or Proceeds of Crime were invested in such properties (Saradha Group having paid full advance to vendors)," the official said.

1:46 PM

Ukraine says Russia preparing offensive in southeast

Russian forces on Tuesday were preparing for an offensive in Ukraine's southeast, the Ukrainian military said, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepared to talk to the U.N. Security Council amid outrage over evidence Moscow's soldiers deliberately killed civilians.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's government is pouring soldiers into Ukraine's east to gain control of the industrial heartland known as the Donbas. That follows a Russian withdrawal from towns around the capital, Kyiv, which led to the discovery of corpses, prompting accusations of war crimes and demands for tougher sanctions on Moscow.

Russian forces are focused on seizing the cities of Popasna and Rubizhne in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and the Black Sea port of Mariupol, the General Staff said on its Facebook page.

1:34 PM

Pak Supreme Court resumes hearing on dismissal of no-trust vote against PM, dissolution of Parliament

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday resumed the hearing on the dismissal of a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan and the dissolution of Parliament by the President on the advice of the embattled premier, a day after adjourning the proceedings after promising to give a "reasonable order" in the high-profile case.

The apex court had taken a suo motu cognizance of the current political situation in the country.

President Arif Alvi had dissolved the National Assembly (NA) on the advice of Prime Minister Khan, minutes after Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri rejected a no-confidence motion against the premier, who had effectively lost the majority in the 342-member lower house of Parliament on Sunday.

1:03 PM

Sri Lankan ruling party loses majority in Parliament

President Goatabya Rajapaksa's ruling party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) on Tuesday lost its majority in Parliament as 42 MPs announced they would sit independently.

Among the 42 MPs, 14 are from Sri Lanka Freedom Party, 10 belong to constituent parties of the government, and 12 are SLPP MPs, among others, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ruling SLPP-led alliance won 146 seats in the 225-member Parliament in the 2020 general election.

Tuesday's development comes amid an ongoing turmoil in the island nation due to the country's worst ever economic crisis, triggering widespread anti-government protests.

1:00 PM

Ukraine reports Russian military regrouping

Ukraine's General Staff reports Tuesday morning that Russia is regrouping its troops and preparing for an offensive in Donbas.

The goal is to establish full control over the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the update posted on the General Staff's Facebook page says.

In the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the Russian military are focusing their efforts on taking control of Popasna and Rubizhne cities, as well as establishing full control over Mariupol, the General Staff said. Other towns and settlements in the two regions are subject to continued shelling.

The Russian troops also continue to block Kharkiv, according to the General Staff.

12:51 PM

'Imran Khan playing US card to build up his support base'

Lisa Curtis, a regional expert who served under under the former American administrations, has said that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is trying to play a "US card" to build up his support base.

"It's highly unlikely that any US official would get involved in Pakistan's internal politics. I think Imran Khan is trying to play the 'US card' to build up support from his base," The Express Tribune quoted Curtis as saying in an interview with Voice of America.

Curtis went on to say that Khan's narrative could whip up anti-American sentiments in Pakistan.

"Imran Khan is trying to drag the US into (internal politics) and get them (supporters) interested in backing him by raising this conspiracy theory that the US seeking regime change in Pakistan."

12:32 PM

Anarock buys 75 pc stake in coworking marketplace myHQ for Rs 125 cr

Real estate consultant Anarock has acquired 75 per cent stake in myHQ, a booking platform for co-working spaces, in a cash and stock deal of around Rs 125 crore, as it seeks to tap the growing demand of flexible workspaces amid the COVID pandemic.

myHQ, which is headquartered in Delhi-NCR, currently has over 50,000 subscribed members across 700+ spaces in seven cities.

"We have acquired 75 per cent equity stake in myHQ in a cash and stock deal size of around Rs 125 crore. The amount also includes the fund infused by us for the growth of myHQ," Anarock Chairman Anuj Puri told PTI.

12:19 PM

Ukraine's president Zelenskyy to address UN Security Council on war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the U.N. Security Council for the first time Tuesday at a meeting that is certain to focus on what appear to be widespread deliberate killings of civilians by Russian troops.

 

The dead were discovered after the withdrawal of Russian forces from a town on the outskirts of the capital, Kyiv, and have sparked global outrage and vehement denials from the Russian government that it was responsible.

 

The United Kingdom, which holds the council presidency this month, announced late Monday that Zelenskyy would speak at the open meeting called for Tuesday to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

12:17 PM

PM Modi pays tribute to freedom fighter Babu Jagjivan Ram on his 115 th birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday paid tributes to freedom fighter Babu Jagjivan Ram on his 115 th birth anniversary and said that the nation will always remember the remarkable contribution of the veteran leader who was admired for his administrative skills and concern for the poor.

 

"Tributes to Babu Jagjivan Ram Ji on his birth anniversary. Our nation will always remember his remarkable contribution be it during the freedom movement or after Independence. He was widely admired for his administrative skills and concern for the poor," PM Modi tweeted.

 

Popularly known as Babuji, Jagjivan Ram was one of India's greatest Dalit icons, who fought for the rights of the underprivileged.