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'

7:14 AM

Repair work begins at Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear plant, says IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Friday that Ukraine authorities have reported that the technicians have started repairing the damaged power lines in an attempt to restore electricity supply in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) that was entirely cut earlier in the week.

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities have reported that the repairing work began on the evening of March 10 and they had also repaired one section but off-site electrical power was still down, indicating there was still damage in other places. The repair efforts would continue despite the difficult situation outside the NPP site.

7:13 AM

Ukraine conflict would affect food supply in Europe, Africa, says French president

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed concern that the conflict in Ukraine would affect food supply in Europe and Africa.

He was speaking at a news conference in Versailles on Friday, American broadcaster CNN reported on Friday [local time].

Macron said that the war has already destabilized Europe and it could be worse in 12 to 18 months.

7:12 AM

UN chief says 11 years of 'brutal fighting' in Syria must end

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday called for a ceasefire in Syria in a statement marking 11 years of "brutal fighting" in the conflict-torn nation.

"We cannot fail the Syrian people. The conflict must cease. International humanitarian law must be respected," said the UN chief.

"I call on all parties to meaningfully engage in the UN-facilitated political process and appeal for further support to scale up the humanitarian response. We must choose peace," the secretary-general added.

7:11 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.

7:10 AM

Interpol: Russia's direct input restricted

Interpol is restricting Russia's ability to input information directly into the global police organisation's vast network, deciding that communications must first be checked by the general secretariat in Lyon, France.

The French Foreign Ministry said Friday that the beefed-up surveillance measures follow multiple suspicions of attempted fraudulent use of the Interpol system in recent days, but it did not elaborate.

7:10 AM

UN says it has credible reports of Russian use of cluster bombs in Ukraine

The UN human rights office has said that it had received "credible reports" of several cases of Russian forces using cluster bombs in Ukraine, adding that indiscriminate use of such weapons might amount to war crimes.

"We have also received credible reports of several cases of Russian forces using cluster munitions, including in populated areas. On 24 February, a cluster munition exploded at the Central City Hospital in Vuhledar, in government-controlled Donetsk, killing four civilians, injuring 10 others, and damaging ambulances, civilian vehicles and the hospital itself. There were other cluster munition attacks in several districts of Kharkiv, in which nine civilians were killed and 37 injured," the UN spokesperson Liz Throssell said in a statement in Geneva.

7:09 AM

Sri Lanka to start talks with IMF as economic crisis worsens: Reports

Sri Lanka will begin talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) next month on a plan to help the crisis-hit country, where a foreign exchange shortage has squeezed essential imports amid looming debt payments, three sources said on Friday.

 

Sri Lanka is facing its worst financial crisis in years. With foreign exchange reserves standing at a paltry $2.31 billion, the country is struggling to pay for critical imports including fuel, food and medicines.

7:07 AM

As Russia, West clash on bio-weapon allegations, India calls for 'consultation, cooperation'

As Russia and the West clashed at the UN Security Council over Moscow's allegations about biological warfare plants in Ukraine, India on Friday called for "consultation and cooperation" to deal with the issue.

"Any matters relating to obligations under the BTWC (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention) should be addressed as per the provisions of the Convention, and through consultation and cooperation between the parties concerned," India's Permanent Representative to UN, T.S. Tirumurti, said at a Council meeting convened at the request of Russia to consider its allegations that biological weapons were being made in Ukraine.