LIVE: Ukraine says Russian forces kill seven civilians in evacuation convoy

The Ukrainian intelligence service said the seven, including one child, were killed as they fled the village of Peremoha and that ''the occupiers forced the remnants of the column to turn back'

8:53 AM

Direct conflict between Nato and Russia would be World War III: Biden

US President Joe Biden stressed that the United States and Nato allies would not fight Russia in Ukraine, describing such a scenario as "World War III". He added that, however, "we will defend every inch of Nato territory."

 

"We're going to continue to stand together with our allies in Europe and send an unmistakable message. We will defend every single inch of Nato territory with the full might of the united and galvanized Nato," Biden said after announcing additional sanctions on Russia.

 

"We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine. Direct conflict between Nato and Russia is World War III, something we must strive to prevent," he added.

 

When asked whether the use of chemical weapons by Russia would trigger a US military response, Biden said that Moscow will pay a severe price for the use of chemical weapons.

8:39 AM

Russia-Ukraine war LIVE: US Senate gives final approval to Ukraine aid, huge budget bill

A $13.6 billion emergency package of military and humanitarian aid for besieged Ukraine and its European allies easily won final congressional approval, hitching a ride on a government-wide spending bill that's five months late but loaded with political prizes for both parties.

 

With Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion killing thousands and forcing over 2 million others to flee, the Senate approved the $1.5 trillion overall legislation by a 68-31 bipartisan margin late Thursday.

 

Democrats and Republicans have battled this election year over rising inflation, energy policy and lingering pandemic restrictions, but they've rallied behind sending aid to Ukraine, whose stubborn resilience against brutal force has been inspirational for many voters.

 

"We promised the Ukrainian people they would not go at it alone in their fight against Putin," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said just before the vote. "And once we pass this funding in a short while, we will keep that promise."

 

8:38 AM

Kyiv regime is destroying evidence of biological weapons: Russia

Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow confirmed facts revealed during the military operation that prove the Kyiv regime is destroying evidence of military biological programmes.

 

"We confirm facts revealed during the special military operation in Ukraine, which prove that the Kyiv regime has been destroying the evidence of military biological programmes Kyiv was implementing. They were funded by @DeptofDefense," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

8:22 AM

Moved 12,000 US troops along borders with Russia but not fighting WWIII in Ukraine, says Biden

US President Joe Biden said he has moved 12,000 troops along the borders with Russia, such as Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania while asserting that Vladimir Putin will not be victorious in the war he has waged against Ukraine.

Addressing members of the House Democratic Caucus on Friday, Biden stressed over "not fighting a third World War in Ukraine" but avowed sending an "unmistakable message that we will defend every inch of NATO territory".

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a group of 30 North American and European nations. According to NATO, its purpose "is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means."

8:18 AM

4 terrorists killed, 1 held in separate encounters in J&K: Police

Four terrorists were killed and one was arrested in three separate encounters with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Saturday.

The encounters took place in Pulwama, Ganderbal and Kupwara districts of the Kashmir valley, a police official said.

He said two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists, including a Pakistani national, were killed in an overnight encounter in the Chewaklan area of Pulwama in south Kashmir.

8:17 AM

Russia's bioweapon conspiracy theory finds support in US

Russia's baseless claims about secret American biological warfare labs in Ukraine are taking root in the US too, uniting COVID-19 conspiracy theorists, QAnon adherents and some supporters of ex-President Donald Trump.

 

Despite rebuttals from independent scientists, Ukrainian leaders and officials at the White House and Pentagon, the online popularity of the claims suggests some Americans are willing to trust Kremlin propaganda over the U.S. media and government.

 

Like any effective conspiracy theory, the Russian claim relies on some truths: Ukraine does maintain a network of biological labs dedicated to research into pathogens, and those labs have received funding and research support from the U.S.

8:03 AM

US imposes ban on export of luxury goods to Russia, Belarus

US Department of Commerce has imposed new controls on the exports of their luxury goods to Russia and Belarus.

 

"We have also imposed an import ban on Russian alcohol, seafood and non-industrial diamonds," Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said.

 

Price said that the US will remain committed to Ukraine and also ensured that no relief on sanctions will be given to Russia. He said, "We are and we will remain committed to and united with Ukraine. There will be no relief from sanctions or other costs we have and will continue to impose on Russia until Putin reverses course and relents in his brutal aggression."

7:45 AM

Russia controls 70% of Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine, says Governor

Russia controls 70 per cent of Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine, Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai said, adding that the entire region is under heavy fire.

 

CNN reported that heavy shelling by Russian forces has erupted around the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Friday evening.

 

Social media videos showed fires in the area, and Vitaliy Kim, head of Mykolaiv Region Administration, said that there were "active hostilities near Guryivka," to the north of the city.

 

7:37 AM

Ukraine's banking system still functional despite military operations

Ukraine's banking system remains operational despite challenging conditions in Ukraine.

The national bank of Ukraine has also reported that all the systems are operating despite the war situation in Ukraine.

NBU further informed that all the obligations were met as the Ukrainian government made all the preparation ahead of Russia's military operation in Ukraine.

7:29 AM

G7 nations vow to further cut reliance on Russian energy: Joint statement

Leaders of the Group of Seven nations have promised to continue reducing their reliance on Russian energy, "while ensuring that we do so in an orderly fashion and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative and sustainable supplies," according to a joint statement on Friday (local time).

 

The leaders -- representing the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan -- said they "remain resolved to isolate Russia further from our economies and the international financial system."

 

To stand with the people of Ukraine, Group of Seven partners are committed to taking more action that will financially isolate Russia, put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and his enablers, the statement read.

7:28 AM

Congress G-23 leaders meet at Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence

Senior leaders of the Congress party who are part of Group 23 met at Ghulam Nabi Azad's residence and raised concerns over the successive defeats of the party in Assembly and Parliamentary elections.

 

The meeting came after the Congress party witnessed humiliating defeat in the recently-concluded elections in five states.

 

Sources, who attended the meeting, said that during the meeting a few leaders suggested that they should skip the upcoming Congress Working Committee because in the meeting, the CMs, Youth Congress leaders and presidents of frontal organisations only praise the Gandhi family and do not discuss any serious issues.

7:25 AM

Poland's Warsaw, Krakow can no longer accept refugees from Ukraine

Ukraine's border guard service has said that Poland's Warsaw and Krakow can no longer accept refugees from Ukraine.

 

Since Russia's military operation began in Ukraine, thousands and thousands of people of Ukraine are fleeing to different countries. Most of the border-sharing countries have warmly accepted refugees from Ukraine.

 

Over the course of two weeks, about 100,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Krakow, and 200,000 in Warsaw. But now, both of the cities are not able to accept refugees.

 

7:15 AM

US sanctions Russians over support for North Korean missile programme

The United States has announced sanctions against two Russian individuals and three entities over their support for North Korea's weapons programme.

"The DPRK continues to launch ballistic missiles in blatant violation of international law, posing a grave threat to global security," Brian Nelson, under-secretary of the treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, was quoted as saying, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported.

"Today's actions respond to this threat by targeting a network of Russia-based individuals and entities complicit in helping the DPRK procure components for its unlawful ballistic missile systems," he added, according to the treasury department.

7:15 AM

Ex student protest leader becomes Chile's youngest president

Left-leaning former student leader Gabriel Boric was sworn in as Chile's new president on Friday, vowing to oversee a political and economic renovation of a nation shaken by repeated massive protests over inequality in recent years despite a relatively vibrant economy.

At 36, Boric is the youngest president in the history of the South American nation one who was only 4 years old when democracy returned following a 17-year military dictatorship that both bloodied and set the groundwork for modern Chile.

Boric has vowed that his young, inclusive government will attack nagging poverty and inequality that he said are the unacceptable underbelly of a free market model imposed decades ago by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, who ruled from 1973 to 1990.

7:14 AM

Heavy Russian shelling erupts in Ukraine's Mykolaiv

Heavy shelling by Russian forces has erupted around the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv on Friday evening, according to a CNN report.

Social media videos showed fires in the area, and Vitaliy Kim, head of Mykolaiv Region Administration, said that there were "active hostilities near Guryivka," to the north of the city.

"We're trying to push them further," Kim said on his Telegram channel, according to CNN.