LIVE: Russia says first phase of Ukraine operation mostly complete

Russia said that it would focus on completely 'liberating' eastern Ukraine's Donbass region

4:26 PM

Yogi Adityanath takes oath as UP CM for record second term

4:10 PM

UP CM-designate Yogi Adityanath arrives at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium

3:57 PM

Kremlin says 'nothing terrible will happen' if Russia is expelled from G20

The Kremlin said on Friday that nothing terrible will happen if the United States and its allies succeed in expelling Russia from the Group of Twenty (G20) major economies because many of the G20's members are at economic war with Moscow anyway.

 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was commenting on remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden who said he favoured Russia being pushed out of the G20 after it sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine.

 

"The G20 format is important, but in the current circumstances, when most of the participants are in a state of economic war with us, nothing terrible will happen," Peskov told reporters, when responding to a question about Russia's possible expulsion.

3:55 PM

Amit Shah arrives in Lucknow

3:44 PM

PM Modi arrives in Lucknow for the swearing-in ceremony of UP CM-designate Yogi Adityanath

3:38 PM

300 dead in Russian airstrike on theatre in Mariupol, say officials

The government of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol says 300 people died in a Russian airstrike on March 16 on a theatre being used as a bomb shelter.

 

The post Friday on the city government Telegram channel cited eyewitnesses for the toll of “about 300.” It was not immediately clear whether emergency workers had finished excavating the site or how the eyewitnesses arrived at the horrific death toll.

 

When the theater was struck, an enormous inscription reading “CHILDREN” was posted outside in Russian, intended to be visible from the skies above.

 

Soon after the airstrike, Ludmyla Denisova, the Ukrainian Parliament's human rights commissioner, said more than 1,300 people had been sheltering in the building.

3:20 PM

'Current situation a work in progress,' says EAM on India-China talks

2:59 PM

Jaishankar holds talks with China minister, seeks 'normalcy in border areas'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar says in talks with Chinese counterpart he was "honest in conveying" in India’s "sentiment" about border standoff. “"Restoration of normal ties will require restoration of normalcy in border areas,”  said Jaishankar after talks with Wang Yi.

2:42 PM

Beijing to give information about Foreign Minister's India visit later

The Foreign Ministry in Beijing said on Friday information about Minister Wang Yi’s visit to Delhi will be released later, PTI reported. Wang Wang and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday held extensive talks covering the eastern Ladakh row and the geopolitical turmoil triggered by the crisis in Ukraine, official sources in New Delhi said.

2:31 PM

HC asks Chidambaram, son to respond to ED's plea in INX Media case

The Delhi High Court Friday sought response of former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti on a plea by the Enforcement Directorate challenging a trial court's order directing it to provide them various documents in relation to the INX Media money laundering case. The court issued notice to the two men and listed the matter for further hearing on April 20, PTI reported.

2:21 PM

Uraine retaken towns east of Kyiv, UK says

Ukraine has retaken towns and defensive positions up to 35 km east of Kyiv, helped by Russian forces falling back on overextended supply lines, Britain's defence ministry said on Friday.

2:10 PM

Bill in Lok Sabha seeks to merge Delhi municipal corporations

A bill to merge the three municipal corporations in the national capital into a single entity was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Friday amid opposition claims that the move was beyond the legislative competence of Parliament. Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022, dismissing the protests by the opposition.

1:13 PM

Delhi third nationwide in per capita income: Economic Survey

Delhi's per capita income is three times higher than national average. The national capital is third nationwide in terms of per capita income, behind Sikkim and Goa, said the annual economic survey.

12:46 PM

SC refuses to consider plea on PM-CARES Fund

The Supreme Court Friday refused to entertain a plea asking the Centre to disclose accounts, activity and expenditure details of the PM-CARES Fund and make it open for audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. The court asked the petitioner to approach the Allahabad high court and file a review petition, reported PTI.

12:17 PM

Jaishankar meets Chinese foreign minister in Delhi