LIVE: PM Modi puts emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy in Quad meeting

'We have started talking to Russia's representatives,' said Mykhailo Podolyak on Twitter

11:52 AM

Push to end Russia's status as permanent UNSC member gains steam

The US State Department may try to find a way to boot Russia from its permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC), shaking up the international bodys balance of power amid outrage over the war in Ukraine, RT reported.

 

Washington is "investigating the prospects" of expelling Russia as one of the five permanent Security Council members, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told American lawmakers on Wednesday.

 

No decision has been made on whether to try to achieve such an outcome, which would likely require changes to the UN's charter.

11:47 AM

Push to end Russia's status as permanent UNSC member gains steam

The US State Department may try to find a way to boot Russia from its permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC), shaking up the international bodys balance of power amid outrage over the war in Ukraine, RT reported.

 

Washington is "investigating the prospects" of expelling Russia as one of the five permanent Security Council members, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told American lawmakers on Wednesday.

 

No decision has been made on whether to try to achieve such an outcome, which would likely require changes to the UN's charter.

 

Sherman's comments came after the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia for last week's invasion of Ukraine and demand that Moscow withdraw its forces from the country immediately.

11:43 AM

Euro pinned down as Russia-Ukraine war stokes stagflation fears

The euro was pinned near a 21-month low on Thursday by worries that Russia's invasion of Ukraine will hurt European growth, while commodity currencies hit multi-week highs as export prices surged.
 

The euro was last at $1.1097 in the Asia session, only a little above its overnight trough of $1.1058, its lowest since May 2020. It is down 1.5% for the week so far and is heading for a fourth consecutive weekly loss against the US dollar.
 

The Australian dollar was holding firm at $0.7300, just off Wednesday's seven-week high of $0.7306, as prices for Australian exports such as coal, gas and grains soar on signs that sanctions against Russia are severely disrupting global supplies. Read on...

11:17 AM

PM Modi to attend Quad leaders’ virtual meet today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be joining the virtual meeting of the Quad leaders on Thursday, a year after they first met in March 2021.

 

The meeting comes at a time when Russia has invaded Ukraine and India is in a diplomatic tight spot since it has strategic partners on both side.

11:08 AM

There is 'evolution' in some of India's public positions on Russia says US official

There has been an "evolution" in some of India's public positions on Russia, a senior Biden administration official has told US lawmakers, hoping that New Delhi would further distance itself from Moscow after its invasion of Ukraine.

 

On February 24, Russian forces unleashed an attack on Ukraine on President Vladimir Putin's orders. Russia and Ukraine said Wednesday that they were prepared to hold talks for the second time since the Russian invasion of its neighbour.

 

We can already see an evolution in some of India's public positions, Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism during a hearing on Wednesday on US-India relationship.

11:02 AM

UNSC holds meeting on Afghanistan amid humanitarian, economic crises

The UN Security Council (UNSC) held a conference to discuss the situation in Afghanistan as the country is continuing its struggle with the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis.

 

Addressing the meeting on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General's special envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said that perhaps the worst fears over the humanitarian crisis were averted but any gains were short-term, and "only to buy a little time", TOLO News reported

 

She told the Council that assisting the Afghan people will not be possible without working with the Taliban authorities and acknowledged this will be difficult for some, but it is essential.

10:53 AM

Opening up of coal, mining and defence sectors have opened up huge opportunities: PM Modi

Opening up of coal, mining and defence sectors have opened up huge opportunities: PM Modi

10:46 AM

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi & Virendra Kumar welcome Indians on their return from war-torn Ukraine via Budapest

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi & Virendra Kumar welcome Indians on their return from war-torn Ukraine via Budapest

10:46 AM

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi & Virendra Kumar welcome Indians on their return from war-torn Ukraine via Budapest

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi & Virendra Kumar welcome Indians on their return from war-torn Ukraine via Budapest

10:19 AM

US oil soars to highest since 2011 amid Russia-Ukraine conflict

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for April delivery added $7.19, or 7 per cent, to settle at $110.60 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the highest finish since 2011.

 

Also on Wednesday, brent crude for May delivery increased $7.96, or 7.6 per cent, to close at $112.93 a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange, the highest level since 2014, reports Xinhua news agency.

 

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, announced on Wednesday that it would stick to existing plans for a modest oil output increase of 400,000 barrels per day in April.

9:35 AM

US accuses Russia of blocking independent news groups

The United States accused Russia on Wednesday of launching a "full war on media freedom and the truth" by blocking independent news outlets and preventing Russians from hearing news of the invasion of Ukraine. "Russia's government is also throttling Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram platforms that tens of millions of Russia's citizens rely on to access independent information and opinions," the State Department said in a statement.

9:20 AM

No report of Indians being held hostage in Ukraine: MEA spokesperson

India’s government on Thursday denied reports of Indian students being held as "hostages" in Ukraine, asserting it was in touch with Indian nationals in the war-torn country. The clarification came after the Russian government claimed that Ukrainian forces are keeping a large group of Indian students as "hostages" in in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which is virtually under Russian control, NDTV.com reported.

9:05 AM

Restrictions imposed on Russian cats in response to Moscow's military operation in Ukraine

Federation Internationale Feline (FIFe), an international cat fancier society, has imposed restrictions on cats bred in Russia in response to Moscow's military operation in Ukraine.

 

The NGO, FIFe Executive Board, in a statement, said that it is "shocked and horrified" that the army of the "Russian Federation invaded the Republic of Ukraine and started a war."

 

"Many innocent people died, many more are wounded and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are forced to flee their homes to save their lives. We can all witness the destruction and chaos caused by this unprecedented act of aggression," the FIFe said in a statement.

8:57 AM

Russians start feeling the heat from sanctions over Ukraine invasion

In the days since the West imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, ordinary Russians are feeling the painful effects from payment systems that won't operate and problems withdrawing cash to not being able to purchase certain items.

 

Apple Pay hasn't been working since yesterday. It was impossible to pay with it anywhere in a bus, in a cafe, Moscow resident Tatyana Usmanova told The Associated Press.

 

Plus, in one supermarket they limited the amount of essential goods one person could buy.

 

Apple announced that it would stopped selling its iPhone and other popular products in Russia along with limiting services like Apple Pay as part of a larger corporate backlash to protest the invasion.

 

Dozens of foreign and international companies have pulled their business out of Russia. Read on...

8:39 AM

Ukrainian officials confirm Russia's capture of southern city Kherson

Ukrainian officials confirm Russia's capture of southern city Kherson, reports AFP