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Wed, 02 March 2022
India abstains on UNGA resolution against Russia
Timeline Refresh
23:54 Panchayat member shot dead by terrorists in J&K's Kulgam
Terrorists shot dead an independent panchayat member in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said in Srinagar.
Mohammad Yaqub Dar was shot at and critically injured by the ultras at his residence in the Srandoo area of Kulgam, they said.
The officials said Dar was shifted to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Political parties condemned the killing of Dar.
"While the government trumpets the policy of 'enforced peace' in Kashmir, a panch named Mohd Yaqoob Dar is shot dead. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this hour of grief," the People's Democratic Party said in a tweet. -- PTI
23:33 Vasundhra Raje's car hit by another vehicle, ex-CM not hurt: Police
The car of former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje met with a minor accident on Wednesday evening in the Vidyadhar Nagar area of Jaipur.
Raje was sitting in her vehicle when the accident took place, the police said.
No one, however, was injured in the incident, they said.
Raje was not hurt and is safe, the SHO of Vidhyadhar Nagar police station Virendra Kumar said.
He said Raje's car was hit by another vehicle at a turn due to which a door of her car got damaged.
He said it was hit by a car being driven by another woman.
"The girl apologised to Raje who asked her to drive properly. No complaint was lodged by either side, so no case was registered," the SHO added. -- PTI
23:16 PM photo row: HC refuses to quash proceedings against WhatsApp group admin
The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking quashing of criminal proceedings against the admin of a WhatsApp group in which a morphed picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was allegedly posted.
The petitioner's contention was that the message was not sent by him and he was only the group 'admin'.
"No case against him was made out and the proceeding was liable to be quashed," argued the petitioner's counsel.
Justice Mohammad Aslam rejected the petition filed by Mohammad Imran Malik who was managing the WhatsAapp group.
The Uttar Pradesh government counsel opposed the petition and said that liability of the sender of the message and that of the 'group admin' is co-extensive and it cannot be said no offence under Section 66 (computer related offences) of the IT Act was made out against the petitioner.
The court, while dismissing the petition, observed, "From the perusal of the record it appears that the applicant was a 'group admin' and he is also a co-extensive member of the group. In view of the above, I do not find any cogent reason to interfere." -- PTI
23:10 India abstains on UNGA resolution against Russia
India on Wednesday abstained on a UN General Assembly resolution that strongly deplored Russia's aggression against Ukraine, the third abstention in less than a week by the country in the world body on resolutions on the escalating crisis between Moscow and Kyiv.
The 193-member General Assembly Wednesday voted to reaffirm its commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders and "deplores in the strongest terms' Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
The resolution was adopted with 141 votes in favour, five Member States voting against and 35 abstentions.
The General Assembly broke into an applause as the resolution was adopted.
The resolution required a 2/3 majority to be adopted in the General Assembly.
The resolution also condemned Russia's decision to increase the readiness of its nuclear forces and deplores the involvement of Belarus in this "unlawful use' of force against Ukraine, and calls upon it to abide by its international obligations.
The resolution urges the immediate peaceful resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine through political dialogue, negotiations, mediation and other peaceful means.
Nearly 100 UN Member States co-sponsored the resolution titled 'Aggression Against Ukraine', including Afghanistan, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Kuwait, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. -- PTI
22:42 SC to consider hearing PIL against promises of freebies by parties
The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to consider listing for an urgent hearing a plea seeking direction to register FIRs against political parties for allegedly inducing voters by offering freebies.
A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana took note of the submissions of lawyer Barun Kumar Sinha that the plea filed by Hindu Sena vice president Surjit Singh Yadav on the issue needed hearing in view of the fact that assembly polls in five states are getting over.
"We will list it," said the bench which also comprised justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli. Yadav, in the PIL, has said he was aggrieved by the offer and promises made by the Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP and Aam Aadmi Party in the assembly election being held in five states.
"Such an offer or promise by a political party, its leader, candidates set up in the elections, may be declared to be indulging in corrupt practices and bribery in terms of provisions of Section 123 (1)(b) of the Representations of People Act, 1951 and the candidates set up by such political parties may be declared disqualified from contesting the election in that state.
"This is important for free and fair voting of the candidates of elector choice. Further to maintain the purity of the election process, corrupt practices adopted by the political parties, their agents, candidates and leaders must be deprecated at the threshold," said the plea filed through advocate Barun Kumar Sinha.
The petition requested that the Election Commission be directed to evolve a mechanism for candidates to declare during filing of their nomination that their parties have not made any offer and promise of freebies at the cost of public money.
"If such declarations by the candidates are found wrong, such candidates must be declared disqualified from contesting the election and if elected, such election may be declared void," the plea said. -- PTI
22:26 Modi-Putin discuss safe passage for Indians
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on the phone today with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The two leaders reviewed the situation in Ukraine, especially in Kharkiv where many Indian students are stuck.
They also discussed the safe evacuation of Indian nationals from the conflict areas.
This is the second time in the last one week that the two leaders have spoken to each other.
Wednesday's phone call from Modi followed a high level meeting he chaired on the Ukraine situation. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and senior officers were part of the meeting.
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22:21 NDRF sends relief material to war-hit Ukraine
The National Disaster Response Force has sent relief material, including blankets and sleeping mats, to Ukraine facing an intense Russian military offensive.
The move came following the government's decision to send humanitarian aid and medical supplies to Ukraine after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high level meeting.
The relief material was sent in two consignments -- through a flight that left for Poland this morning and another on an Indian Air Force aircraft that left for Romania on Wednesday afternoon.
The NDRF has provided relief materials, including blankets, sleeping mats, and solar study lamps among others, for the people of Ukraine, an official statement said. -- PTI
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22:13 15 flights in next 24 hours under Op Ganga
A total of 17,000 Indian nationals have left Ukraine since the advisories were issued and flights under Operation Ganga have been increased to facilitate the evacuation of remaining students stranded in Ukraine.
he students who left Ukraine also included some Indians who had not registered with the Embassy of India in Kyiv previously.
Flights under Operation Ganga have been increased.
During the last 24 hours, six flights under Operation Ganga have landed in India, taking the total number of flights to 15.
Out of these, 8 flights were from Bucharest, 5 from Budapest and 2 from Rzeszow.
The total number of Indians who have returned onboard these flights is 3,352.
Out of these, 1796 were evacuated through Romania, 430 through Poland and 1126 through Hungary.
As many as 15 flights are scheduled over the next 24 hours, many of which are already en route.
IAF has joined Operation Ganga, and the first C-17 flight from Bucharest is expected to return to Delhi from Bucharest later on Wednesday night.
Three more IAF flights will be undertaken today, from Budapest, Rzeszow and Bucharest. Humanitarian aid in form of medicines, medical equipment, tents, blankets, solar lamps and other materials is being sent to Ukraine in tranches.
The first tranche weighing 2 tons comprising medicines was sent on March 1 through Poland and 3 more tranches (tents, blankets, sleeping mats etc - 16 x 2 tons) were sent on March 2 (1 by IAF flight) through Romania and Poland. -- ANI
21:12 Mani Ratnam's 'Ponniyin Selvan - I' to release on Sept 30
The first part of acclaimed filmmaker Mani Ratnam's Tamil film franchise Ponniyin Selvan is set to arrive hit theatres on September 30, the makers announced on Wednesday.
The historical-drama is based on Kalki Krishnamurthy's 1955 Tamil novel of the same name, which chronicles the story of the early days of Arulmozhivarman, one of the most powerful kings in the south, who went on to become the great Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I.
Backed by Ratnam's production house Madras Talkies and Allirajah Subaskaran's banner Lyca Productions, Ponniyin Selvan - I boasts a star-studded cast of Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi, Trisha Krishnan, Prakash Raj, Jayaram, Jayam Ravi and Aishwarya Lekshmi, among others.
The makers took to Twitter to announce the release date of the film on the occasion of Subaskaran's birthday.
The tweet from Lyca Productions read, "Wishing our Chairman Allirajah Subaskaran a very happy birthday! The Golden Era comes to the big screens on Sept 30th! #PS1 #PS1FirstLooks @MadrasTalkies."
The banner also released the first look posters of Vikram, Rai Bachchan, Ravi and Krishnan in a series of tweets.
Ratnam has also served as co-writer on the screenplay with Elango Kumaravel, while B Jeyamohan has been credited as the dialogue writer.
The film's music has been scored by Ratnam's frequent collaborator AR Rahman.
Last July, it was announced that Ponniyin Selvan - I will be released in 2022 but no date was mentioned. -- PTI
21:02 Modi chairs high-level meet on Ukraine crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a high-level meeting on Wednesday night on the Ukraine crisis as India steps up its efforts to evacuate its citizens, mostly students, from the country under attack from Russia.
Modi has held a series of meetings since Sunday to spearhead India's efforts to safely bring back its nationals, asserting that this is his government's top priority.
Earlier in the day, the Indian embassy in Ukraine asked all Indian nationals to leave Kharkiv immediately to safe zones or further westwards.
The external affairs ministry has assured that every Indian citizen will be brought back from Ukraine.
20:18 Mamata leaves for Varanasi to campaign for SP
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday left for Uttar Pradesh on a two-day visit to campaign for Samajwadi Party in Varanasi in the ongoing assembly polls in that state.
Banerjee left for Varanasi in the evening after the result of the election to 108 municipal bodies were declared.
Her party, the Trinamool Congress pounded the opposition in 102 municipalities.
The TMC sources said she will hold a joint rally with Akhilesh Yadav in Varanasi, which is the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday and return to Kolkata on Friday evening.
"I am going to Varanasi to campaign for Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav. I will also visit the Vishwanath Mandir Ghat and light a Diya there,' she said in Kolkata.
According to reports, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary will join Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and Banerjee, who is the TMC supremo, for Thursday's joint poll rally in Varanasi.
Banerjee had visited Uttar Pradesh on February 7-8 and held a joint press conference with Yadav in Lucknow where she predicted SP's victory against the BJP, like her party in West Bengal state poll last year. -- PTI
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19:56 Soldier held for molesting foreign national on train in Maha 3 yrs ago
The railway police in Maharashtra's Kalyan arrested an Army jawan wanted for allegedly molesting a foreign national on an express train three years ago, an official said on Wednesday.
Based on a tip-off, Army jawan Sateesh T was arrested from a house in Kalyan town of Maharashtra's Thane district, senior inspector Shardul Walmiki of Kalyan Railway police said.
According to the police, the accused had allegedly molested a Portuguese woman travelling in Goa-Nizamuddin Express train between Kalyan and Kasara stations on February 14, 2019.
The accused, a native of Kerala, was travelling in the same compartment as the victim.
The woman lodged a complaint with the Indian Embassy, which was then forwarded to the Kalyan Railway police station for probe, the official said.
Based on the CCTV footage and details provided by the woman, the police zeroed in on the jawan, he said.
Once the accused got a hint that the police were on a lookout for him, he applied for a pre-arrest bail in the Kalyan sessions court, which was dismissed, and he later moved the high court, which also rejected his plea. -- PTI
19:21 22-yr-old Indian student dies of stroke in Ukraine
A 22-year-old student from Punjab's Barnala district who had suffered an Ischemia stroke and was undergoing treatment for about a month died Wednesday in the war-hit Ukraine.
Chandan Jindal was admitted at the Emergency Hospital Vinnytsia in Ukraine, official sources in Chandigarh said. His family has requested the government to bring back his mortal remains.
Jindal was studying at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia.
Jindal's uncle Krishan Gopal told reporters in Barnala that they had received information about his poor health on February 3 and the authorities in Ukraine had sought the family's approval for performing an operation.
Gopal said he and Chandan's father Shishan Kumar went to Ukraine on February 7. Krishan later returned while Shishan remained in Ukraine with his son.
Barnala deputy commissioner of police wrote to the state's principal secretary, home, for providing assistance to the distressed family.
According to the letter, Chandan "fell ill and was admitted in Emergency Hospital Vinnytsia (Kyivska street 68) ICU suffering from Ischemia stroke in brain (reduced blood supply to brain). The youngster breathed his last today."
Chandan's father has sought the government's help in bringing his son's body to India through an air ambulance from Siret border, Romania.
On Monday, an Indian student was killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine's second largest city of Kharkiv.
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19:15 51-yr-old Kerala man suffers broken limbs in DYFI attack over FB post
A 51-year-old man was beaten up and his left leg and arm broken allegedly by some members of CPI-M youth wing DYFI at Karimannoor area of Idukki district in Kerala over an alleged derogatory post by him on Facebook against an area committee secretary of the party.
According to police, the incident occurred around 9.30 pm on Tuesday and police were informed only after the victim was admitted to the hospital.
The official said two persons were arrested on Wednesday and investigation was on to ascertain whether anyone else was involved in the incident as the victim has claimed that a group of around 20 people had beaten him up.
After the victim was beaten up, a complaint was received on behalf of the CPI-M area committee secretary alleging derogatory comments against his father by the man on Facebook.
The comments in the Facebook were of a derogatory nature, they said.
There was an enmity between the two sides ever since the victim's son was removed from DYFI.
The official also said that the victim was drunk at the time and according to witnesses there was a verbal altercation between the man and his assailants before some of them hit him with iron pipes breaking his left leg and arm. -- PTI
18:58 China won't join banking sanctions against Russia
Amid the ongoing military operations in Ukraine, China restrained itself from putting sanctions against Russia, and will continue to maintain financial cooperation with all parties, media reported citing bank official on Wednesday.
Guo Shuqing, the head of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Committee, said: "We will not join such sanctions, and we will continue to maintain normal trade, economic and financial ties with the relevant parties," reported Sputnik News Agency.
Meanwhile, Russia's largest lender, Sberbank is leaving almost all European markets, in a major move that comes amid pressure from Western sanctions levelled against Russia's largest lender in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The European Union is now moving to cut off seven Russian banks from SWIFT, including VTB, Rossiya, Otkritie, Novikombank, Promsvyazbank, Sovcombank, and VEB.RF, Sputnik reported. -- ANI
18:31 148 IAF aircraft to demonstrate capabilities at exercise Vayu Shakti on Mar 7
A total of 148 aircraft of the Indian Air Force will demonstrate their capabilities at exercise Vayu Shakti that will take place at Pokharan range in Jaisalmer on March 7, a senior official said on Wednesday.
The Rafale aircraft will participate in this exercise for the first time and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest, the IAF official noted.
The IAF conducts Exercise Vayu Shakti at Pokharan range every three years to demonstrate its readiness to conduct full spectrum operations.
The last one took place in 2019.
Out of the 148 aircraft participating in the exercise this year, 109 will be fighter jets, the IAF official said.
The official added that 24 helicopters, seven transport aircraft and four remotely-piloted aircraft will also take part in the exercise on March 7.
IAF's fighter jets such as Jaguar, Sukhoi-30, MiG-29, Tejas, Rafale and Mirage-2000 will participate in this exercise, the official noted.
The event will begin with 17 Jaguar aircraft flying in a "75 formation", the official said.
It will end with three jets -- Rafale, Tejas and Sukhoi-30 -- conducting "transformer aerobatic display", the official noted.
IAF's helicopters such as Apache, Chinook, Mi17V5, Mi35, ALH MkIV and LCH will also take part in the March 7 exercise, the official said, adding that the event will begin at 10.30 am and end at 12.30 pm. -- PTI
Naveen Gyanagoudar's father breaks down on the phone
18:02 Killed K'taka student's friend was just 50m away
It was a providential escape for 25-year-old medical student Assoiun Hussain who was just 50 metres away when his batchmate Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar was killed in shelling in war-torn Ukraine's Kharkiv town.
Hussain's family in Kerala are thankful he escaped but also know that many perils lie ahead.
Assoiun along with others is on his way to western Ukraine from Kharkiv to escape the fierce Russian assault, his brother Afsal Hussain said.
"Naveen's death came as a shocker. My mother, who was concerned and stressed, collapsed as the news broke out. She is now admitted at a hospital. It is testing times for us, who are thousands of kilometres away," he said.
The Russian attack began last week and heavy shelling has been reported from several areas of Ukraine, including capital Kyiv and Kharkiv.
"My brother had taken shelter in an underground metro rail station, which was 50 metres from the place Naveen died. He was his batchmate," Afsal Hussain said as he and others in Kerala's Kannaur city scan social media platforms for updates.
Gyanagoudar, who hailed from Chalageri in Haveri district of Karnataka, was a fourth-year medical student like Assoiun Hussain at the Kharkiv National Medical University.
Several students, who are holed up in bunkers in Ukrainian cities, are unable to escape because of the continuous shelling, say parents, who have also flagged their concern over the Indian embassy's advisory asking students to reach Ukraine's borders for evacuation.
"They are children and not matured enough to reach borders by themselves. Some sort of support should be provided to them," said R Vasudevan, whose 21-year-old son Girish is stranded in Kharkiv.
Vasudevan said he and his family are just praying for Girish's safe return. "Not just my son but many students are stuck there," he said.
"The death of a student is worrying for us. I know evacuating people from Ukraine's borders is a tedious task, but people who are stuck in the cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv should also be brought back," Vasudevan said.
Open sesame
17:47 100% capacity at cinemas, eateries allowed in Maha
The Maharashtra government eases Covid-19 restrictions. Restaurants, cinema halls and theatres to function at 100 per cent capacity in 14 districts including Mumbai. Swimming pools, religious places, entertainment parks allowed to function with 100 per cent capacity.
17:41 VK Singh at Ukraine-Poland border
Union Minister VK Singh tweets: Met Indian students in Budomierz at the Poland Ukraine border. Interacted with them and distributed food supplies to them for their journey. The bunch was exhausted, but relieved that the Govt. of India is going all out to bring them back to their motherland."
A straightforward, earnest tweet, sullied by the reek of PR.
17:38 Covid numbers across states
Kerala and Maharashtra retain the top two positions, but Mizoram is the surprise entrant in the third slot, replacing Tamil Nadu.
17:37 Ukraine playing for time at behest of US: Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow is preparing for the second round of talks with Kyiv but the Ukrainian side is dragging its feet at the behest of Washington.
"We are ready for the second round of the negotiations, but the Ukrainian side is playing for time on the US' orders", Lavrov told Al Jazeera.
Amid Russia's military action in Ukraine, the second round of talks between the Russia and Ukraine delegation is scheduled to be held on Wednesday in Belarus.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the Russian delegation will wait for the Ukrainian negotiators at the site of the talks late in the evening on Wednesday, Sputnik reported. -- ANI
17:25 Leave Kharkiv immediately: India advises citizens
The Indian embassy in Ukraine has issued an advisory written in all caps for its citizens in Kharkiv.
"An urgent advisory to all Indian nationals in Kharkiv. For their safety and security they must leave Kharkiv immediately.
Proceed to Pesochin, Babaye and Bezlyudovka as soon as possible.
Under all circumstances they must reach these settlements by 1800 HRS (Ukranian time) today."
The cluster bombing of Kharkiv residential localities by Russian military aircraft has heightened the concerns of the Narendra Modi government as nearly 2500 Indian students are trapped in the warzone of Ukraine's second largest city.
Russian forces have enough firepower to decimate Kyviv and Kharkiv, but the Red Army is being bogged down by stiff Ukrainian resistance with urban guerilla warfare breaking out on streets of Ukraine cities.
Naveen Shekharappa Gyanagoudar, a student from Haveri in Karnataka was killed in a bomb blast in Kharkiv on Tuesday morning.
Image: A Ukrainian law enforcement officer holds a weapon while approaching a vehicle in a street in Kharkiv. Reuters/Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy
17:24 The big losers at the Sensex today
The Indian stock markets benchmark index Sensex slumped 778 points and crude oil price soared to USD 113 a barrel on Wednesday as Russia intensified bombardments in Ukrainian cities.
17:23 Comparing the Manipur polls in 2017
Remember the five-state polls in India? Here's the demographic in Manipur.
16:55 How Modi is trying to turn Putins invasion into an election issue in UP
The crisis in Ukraine has provided another plank for the Bharatiya Janata Party to seek votes in the Uttar Pradesh elections now underway. At elections rallies over the past few days, BJP leaders have made unverified claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being consulted by world leaders about how to resolve the conflict. Read the column here.
16:52 Not a favour, govt's job to evacuate: Congress
Congress MP, Manish Tewari, on the Centre's PR photo-ops with Indians evacuated from Ukraine. "Behaviour of some of these ministers is absolutely absurd and laughable... clamoring on to aircraft in order to do their own political public relations and propaganda. The government is not doing anybody a favour, it's their job."
Aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for instance met Indian passengers returning from Ukraine and said, "I know you all have been through a very, very difficult time, a very, very trying time. But know this that the PM is with you at every step, the Indian government is with you at every step, and 130 crore Indians are with you at every step."
Union ministers Smriti Irani, Piyush Goyal, Gajendra Shekhawat, Jitendra Singh (pictured alongside) made a beeline to the aircrafts of returning Indians and praised the efforts of PM Narendra Modi in evacuating them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that it is because of India's "rising strength" that the government was able to evacuate the Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine amid conflict with Russia.
Addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Robertsganj, PM Modi said, "It is due to India's rising strength that we are able to safely evacuate our nationals stuck in Ukraine, for which we are running Operation Ganga."
"We're making all efforts to evacuate people stuck in Ukraine under Operation Ganga. Thousands of citizens were brought back to India. To accelerate this mission, India has sent its four ministers there, and the government will leave no stone unturned for the safe evacuation of Indians," he added.
The Ukranian national flag with its blue and yellow strips are a familiar sight world over now
16:41 Ukrainian flag removed from embassy in Moscow
The Ukrainian flag was removed from the flagpole of the Ukrainian embassy in Russia amid the ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kyiv, state media reported on Wednesday. According to Sputnik News Agency, a sign, indicating that this is the building of a diplomatic mission, was also dismantled. The entrance doors have also been sealed. Earlier in the day, the Consulate General of Ukraine in Russia's St Petersburg stopped its work.
Screenshot from the video on Facebook
16:21 Nuke plant workers block access to Russian forces
Hundreds of Ukranians, mostly workers of a nuclear plant, have blocked an access road to a nuclear power plant near the town of Enerhodar, as Russian forces advance in the area. Videos posted to the Facebook page of the local authority showed a large crowd carrying Ukrainian flags blocking the road Wednesday morning. Garbage trucks were also being used to block the thoroughfare. Zaporizhzhya NPP, the largest power plant in Europe, located in Energodar.
Minister Smriti Irani welcomes evacuees
16:02 Cong slams minister's remarks on Indians studying medicine abroad
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday criticised union minister Pralhad Joshi's reported comments about Indians studying in Ukraine, and termed them as "insensitive and atrocious".
He also alleged that Joshi is trying to cover up for the government's failures. "Shockingly insensitive and atrocious statement by Minister Pralhad Joshi to cover up the Modi Government's failures and its preoccupation with PR exercises. NaMo's only mantra is NATO 'No Action Tamasha Only'!" he said on Twitter.
Joshi had reportedly said in a statement that 90 percent of those studying medicine abroad fail to clear qualifying exams in India.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also criticised the minister, saying, "The Modi Government has abandoned our young. Pralhad Joshi decries and insults our students in Ukraine. Only photo-op, no action."
Party spokesperson Ragini Nayak had also hit out at the minister for displaying "insensitivity", and sought an apology from him. An estimated 20,000 Indian nationals, a majority of them medical students, were living in Ukraine. -- PTI
15:55 WWIII will be nuclear & disastrous, warns Russia
Third World War would be nuclear and disastrous, says Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov says: Russian media Sputnik.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed his defence minister and chief of the military's general staff to put nuclear deterrent forces in a "special regime of combat duty", escalating the tensions manifold.
Image: A billboard with the inscription "Russian soldier, go to f*** yourself" is seen in central Kyiv. Pic: Reuters/Gleb Garanich
A pram left behind at a border crossing at Poland. Pic: Reuters/Kai Pfaffenbach
15:43 6.6 lakh people have fled Ukraine: UN
Roughly 660,000 people have fled Ukraine, and countless others have taken shelter underground. Refugees from Ukraine do not need to go through the asylum procedure, and will receive immediate protection for up to three years in the European Union, German Minister of the Interior, Building and Community Nancy Faeser said on Wednesday.
"We provide help quickly and without bureaucracy. Refugees from Ukraine do not need to go through the asylum procedure. They receive immediate protection in the EU for up to three years," Faeser tweeted.
The minister went on to say that the refugees are provided with immediate access to health insurance and the labor market.
15:29 PM reviewing Ukraine situation twice a day: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on repatriation of the body of Naveen Shekharappa, an MBBS student who died in shelling in Ukraine. "Our MEA, PM working on it. Given the situation in Ukraine, there is no airstrip... even a plane can't land there.
"PM is reviewing the situation in Ukraine twice a day. Evacuation continues. Now we've also deployed an IAF plane. About 2,500 people have been evacuated till this morning and they are being sent to neighbouring nations and being brought back from there."
15:12 Russia trying to erase our history: Zelenskyy
In a world short of heroes, Ukranian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stands tall. Zelenskyy poses after an interview with Reuters in Kyiv.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern that Russian attacks could threaten holy religious sites and said Russian troops are trying to erase Ukranian history.
In a speech posted on Facebook, Zelenskyy on Wednesday denounced a Russian strike that hit Holocaust memorial site Babi Yar in Kyiv.
He said: "This is beyond humanity. Such missile strike means that for many Russians our Kyiv is absolute foreign. They know nothing about our capital, about our history. They have orders to erase our history, our country and all of us. What will be next if even Babi Yar (is hit), what other military' objects, NATO bases' are threatening Russia? St. Sophia's Cathedral, Lavra, Andrew's Church?" he asked, referring to sites in Kyiv held sacred by Ukrainian and Russian Orthodox believers around the world.
Pic: Reuters/Umit Bektas
14:54 World admires you, Zelenskyy tells Ukranians
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Ukrainians:
"I admire each of you. The whole world admires you - from Hollywood stars to politicians.
"Today you, Ukrainians, are the symbol of invincibility. The symbol that people in any country can become the best people on earth at any moment.
"Think of this number: Almost 6,000 Russians died.
To get what? Get Ukraine? It is impossible.
This is not to be changed by missiles, bombs, tanks, any strikes. We are in our native land. And for the war against us there will be an International Tribunal for them."
14:47 Milan university bans Dostoevsky books
Journalist @alessabocchi tweets, "Italy's main University in Milan just banned teaching Fyodor Dostoevsky because he's a Russian writer. Dostoevsky was sent to a Siberian labour camp for reading banned books in Tsarist Russia. We are reaching levels of hatred and stupidity that I thought were never possible."
14:41 It's a 10-hour wait at Hungary border
Latest waiting time at borders according to Nitesh Singh who heads TeamSOSIndia which has been doing stellar work giving out information for evacuation.
Poland: Budomierz -- very quick
Romania: Siret -- 5 to 6 hours
Slovakia: Nemecke -- 3hrs
Hungary: Zohany -- over 10 hours
14:26 Evacuation due to India's rising strength: PM
PM Modi at a rally in Robertsganj, UP: "It is due to India's rising strength that we are able to safely evacuate our nationals stuck in Ukraine, for which we are running Operation Ganga. We're making all efforts to evacuate people stuck in Ukraine under Operation Ganga. Thousands of citizens have been brought back to India. To accelerate this mission, India has sent four ministers there. We will leave no stone unturned for the safe passage of Indians."
While on Operation Ganga, the Hindi saying, 'Beheti Ganga mein haath dhona' comes to mind.
14:11 6,000 Russians killed in 6 days of war: Zelenskyy
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says almost 6000 Russians killed in 6 days of war.
Alongside is Russia's losses as of March 2, according to the indicative estimates by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Courtesy: @KyivIndependent.
Naveen Gyanagouda died in Russian shelling in Kharkiv
13:52 Photo of Ukraine student's body sent to MEA for ID
Ukraine updates: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai: "Naveen's friends have sent a photo of his body, sending it to MEA to confirm the same...We're in touch with the Indian embassy so that at least the body is secured. Trying everything possible to bring back the body. Family will be compensated."
-- Consultative Committee of Parliament on External Affairs to meet tomorrow. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is likely to brief the Committee members in the meeting tomorrow.
-- Denis Alipov, Russian Ambassador-designate to India: "We are in touch with the Indian authorities for Indians stranded in Kharkiv, and other areas of eastern Ukraine. We have received India's requests for emergency evacuation of all those stuck there via Russain territory. We are strategic allies with India. We are grateful to India for its balanced position displayed at the UN. India understands the depth of this crisis. Don't foresee any obstacles as far as S-400 supply to India is concerned. We have routes to continue with this deal unobstructed. Sanctions - old or new, do not interfere in any way."
Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sandeep Singh
13:19 'US sanctions on Russia won't affect IAF'
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will not be significantly impacted by the US's sanctions on Russia and India's relations with both the countries are strong, Vice Chief Air Marshal Sandeep Singh said on Wednesday.
"We know the geopolitical situation is difficult (currently). Our relations with Russia will continue," Singh said at a press briefing in New Delhi.
Russia started its military offensive against Ukraine on February 24. Western nations including the US have imposed major economic and other sanctions on Russia following the offensive.
Three aircraft have departed to evacuate stranded citizens, the Indian Air Force vice chief said.
"We can operate four aircraft per day to evacuate Indians," he said.
The IAF vice chief said the evacuation operations will run round the clock till all Indians are brought back.
An evacuation flight from Bucharest
13:14 14,000 Indians still to be evacuated: Govt
Of the 20,000 Indians who were stranded in war-torn Ukraine, 6,000 have been brought back to the country so far and the Centre is making all efforts for the safe return of the remaining ones, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Wednesday.
He was speaking to reporters in Pune on the sidelines of an event.
"There were around 20,000 students/citizens who were stranded in Ukraine. Of them, 4,000 were brought back to India before February 24. Additional 2,000 students were brought back to India till Tuesday and efforts are on to evacuate the remaining Indians stuck there," he said.
Since the number of stranded persons is big, defence aircraft are being used to bring them back to India, Muraleedharan said.
With the help of Ukraine's neighbouring countries Romania, Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, the students are being evacuated to India, he said.
The Union government has initiated 'Operation Ganga' to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. When asked about Shiv Sena's allegation that the name Operation Ganga is being used keeping the Uttar Pradesh elections is mind, he said, "It is not a political issue. It is national issue. It is pertaining to the safety of Indian citizens. There should not be any objection to the name."
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
12:50 TMC decimates opposition in Bengal civic polls
In poll-going West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress on Wednesday steamrolled the entire opposition in the civic elections, bagging 93 of 107 municipalities, an SEC official said.
The TMC bagged Kanthi Municipality, the bastion of Leader of Opposition and Nandigram's BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, while Hamro Party, a new entrant in hill politics, trounced TMC, GJM and BJP to win Darjeeling Municipality. The CPI (M)-led Left Front won Taherpur Municipality in Nadia district. The BJP and the Congress are yet to win a civic body, although the parties have won a few wards in some towns.
12:42 The Modi govt and its penchant for PR
Sagarika Ghose makes a point: "The great Kuwait Airlift of 1990. When India evacuated over 170,000 from Kuwait, in an operation without a codename or noisy fanfare, but with quiet efficiency."
The Modi government has been ensuring there is a face to its evacuation efforts from Ukraine -- every flight that lands in India from the war-torn nation -- has a minister to welcome the evacuees. Here is Union Minister Virendra Kumar welcoming Indians from Ukraine.
Indians going to Romania via Moldova
12:36 31 flights in 7 days will evacuate 6,300 Indians
At least 31 evacuation flights will be operated to neighbouring countries of crisis-hit Ukraine and will bring back more than 6,300 Indians stranded in the eastern European nation, according to official sources.
Under 'Operation Ganga', the flights will be operated by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Indian Air Force.
From March 2, 21 evacuation flights will be operated to bring back Indians from Bucharest in Romania, while 4 will be from Budapest in Hungary, the sources said.
Further, 4 flights will be operated to bring back people from Rzeszow in Poland and 1 flight from Kocise in Slovakia. Indian Air Force will be bringing back Indians from Bucharest.
Together, the planned 31 flights -- from March 2 till March 8 -- will be coming back with more than 6,300 people.
The sources on Wednesday said Air India Express and SpiceJet planes have a capacity for around 180 people while Air India and IndiGo can carry up to 250 and 216 passengers, respectively.
While Air India Express will be operating a total of 7 flights, SpiceJet will press 4 flights into service. Air India will operate 7 flights and IndiGo will fly back people in 12 flights.
Air India Express and Air India will be flying in people from Bucharest while IndiGo has planned 4 flights each from Bucharest, Budapest and Rzeszow.
SpiceJet will operate 2 flights from Bucharest, 1 from Budapest and 1 from Kocise in Slovakia.
Nine evacuation flights have brought back Indians stranded in Ukraine since February 26, and around 5-6 flights are "underway". External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that six flights under 'Operation Ganga' have departed for India in the last 24 hours.
12:29 BharatPe removes Ashneer Grover from all positions
Fintech firm BharatPe on Wednesday said it has removed Co-Founder Ashneer Grover from all positions at the company.
BharatPe has also found the involvement of the Grover family and relatives in extensive misappropriation of the company's funds.
"The board will not allow the deplorable conduct of the Grover family to tarnish BharatPe' s reputation or that of its hard-working employees and world-class technology. As a result of his misdeeds, Grover is no longer an employee, a founder, or a director of the company," BharatePe said in a statement on Wednesday.
Grover resigned from the post of Managing Director on Tuesday. -- PTI
12:24 Russian rocket hits police HQ in Kharkiv
From the Kyiv Independent: "A Russian rocket has hit police headquarters in Kharkiv. The building is nearly destroyed and firefighters are still working to put out the fire.
"Russian shelling in Sumy and currently street fights in the city. Ukraine's military administration has advised residents not to go outside.
"As of 6 am today, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces says Russian forces are trying to advance in all directions, but are resisted by Ukraine's military everywhere and are suffering losses.
"Unsuccessful in advancing its forces, Russian forces continue to launch missile and bomb strikes in order to intimidate the civilian population, their message reads."
Image: Rescuers at a building, which city officials said was damaged by a missile, in central Kharkiv.
12:09 Explosions in Kharkiv
Sounds of powerful explosions in Kharkiv, Ukraine, says The Kyiv Independent
12:05 Time to go to our motherland: Pilot to evacuees
"It's time to go back to our motherland, our home... It's time to meet your families," says the pilot of a special SpiceJet flight carrying Indians stranded in Ukraine. The flight will take nine hours to reach Delhi from Budapest.
Private carriers such as SpiceJet, IndiGo and Air India Express, apart from Air India, have sent their planes for the evacuation of Indians as the Ukraine airspace is closed.
The evacuation flights are taking off from the Romanian capital Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to Delhi.
11:59 Kerala CM asks Malayalis in Ukraine to register with Norka Roots
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday urged Malayalis stranded in war-torn Ukraine, who are yet to enlist with the government's Non-Resident Keralites welfare agency Norka Roots, to get registered at the earliest.
He said the state government was ensuring that all Keralites repatriated from the eastern European country, which is facing Russian offensive, get to reach safely back to the southern state.
As many as 180 students will reach Kochi from Delhi in a chartered flight this evening, he said.
"180 students will be flown down from Delhi to Kochi in an @AirAsiaIndia chartered flight at 4 pm, by the Govt. of Kerala. We are ensuring that all Keralites repatriated from #Ukraine, reach back safe and sound. Those who are yet to register should do so with @Norka_Roots," Vijayan tweeted.
The Chief Minister on Tuesday requested the stranded Keralites in Ukraine to follow the advisory of the Indian Embassy which urged all Indians to leave the city of Kyiv urgently by any means.
The advisory came amid increasing fighting between Russian forces and Ukrainian troops around Kyiv.
"Alert: All Keralites in Kyiv take note of this advisory and safely leave the city as per the instructions given. #IndiansInUkraine," the CM had tweeted. PTI
11:52 China extremely concerned over civilian casualties
China is deeply grieved to see the outbreak of conflict between Ukraine and Russia and "extremely concerned" over the damage done to civilians, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.
China also called on Kyiv and Moscow to resolve the raging crisis through negotiations.
The two ministers spoke for the first time on the phone on Tuesday since violence broke out in Ukraine following an attack from Russia.
Wang said that the situation in Ukraine has changed rapidly and that China laments the outbreak of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and is "extremely concerned" with the harm to civilians, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Wang, however, was careful not to blame Russia, whose President Vladimir Putin has launched special military operation against Ukraine.
"China is deeply grieved to see the conflict between Ukraine and Russia and highly concerned about the damage done to civilians," the press release said.
China is a close ally of Russia and is walking a fine line by airing its concerns but not condemning Moscow's military offensive.
On Tuesday, outlining China's stand, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a media briefing that Moscow's "legitimate security demands" ought to be taken seriously and properly addressed for a political settlement to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.
Refusing to criticise Russia's military action, which has entered a decisive phase with thousands of Russian troops massed on the outskirts of Ukraine's capital Kyiv, Wang Wenbin called for a political settlement that accommodates both sides' legitimate security concerns, achieves common security in Europe and promotes Europe's lasting peace and stability.
"The Cold War mentality should be discarded completely. The legitimate security concerns of all countries should be respected. Given NATO's five consecutive rounds of eastward expansion, Russia's legitimate security demands ought to be taken seriously and properly addressed," Wang Wenbin said.
China is also in the process of evacuating over 6,000 of its students and nationals from Ukraine as the Russian offensive intensified. -- PTI
Image: A charred military vehicle near the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region. REUTERS/Maksim Levin.
11:45 One for the camera
Ministerial photo-ops with Indians evacuated from Ukraine continues. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar says, "It is satisfying to welcome our nationals back home. It's a complex operation in the background of a conflict. Our mission is to bring Indians back home safely. Thankful to IAF and private airlines for their support."
11:42 Ukranians learn to use Molotov cocktails
Civilians in Zhytomyr, Ukraine train to throw Molotov cocktails to defend the city, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues. Viacheslav Ratynskyi/Reuters.
A Molotov cocktail, also known as a petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, bottle bomb, poor man's grenade, fire bomb (not to be confused with an actual fire bomb), fire bottle or just Molotov, sometimes shortened as Molly, is a generic name used for a variety of bottle-based improvised incendiary weapons.
The name was coined by the Finns during the Winter War, called Molotovin koktaili in Finnish. The name was a pejorative reference to Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov, who was one of the architects of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact signed in late August 1939.
11:31 There will be no US troops in Ukraine: Biden
US President Joe Biden has reiterated that his country will not deploy troops in Ukraine against the Russian forces.
Biden's remarks came during the first State of Union address delivered by him to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on Tuesday (local time). Condemning Russia's "premeditated attack" in Ukraine, Biden said that Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundation of the free world.
He further said that the NATO alliance was created to secure peace and stability in Europe after World War II and the US stands with Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.
However, Biden added that the US will not have boots on the ground in the ongoing war.
"Let me be clear -- our forces are not engaged and will not engage in the conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine," he said.
Biden clarified that the US troops were deployed to Europe not to fight in Ukraine, "but to defend our NATO allies in the event that Putin decides to keep moving west."
"For that purpose, we have mobilized American ground forces, air squadrons, ship deployments to protect NATO countries, including Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia," he added. -- ANI
Image: A destroyed bridge near the town of Bucha in the Kyiv region. REUTERS/Maksim Levin
11:24 Australian PM tests positive for Covid
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he tested positive for COVID-19 but will continue his official duties while isolating. "I am experiencing flu-like symptoms and will be recovering over the next week," Morrison said in a statement.
He said he would continue working as prime minister, focusing on the government's responses to the Ukraine war and devastating floods on Australia's east coast. He is isolating in his official Sydney residence after testing positive on Tuesday.
11:12 What's happening in Kyiv
The Ukrainian capital came under rocket fire on Tuesday, with a Holocaust memorial and a maternity clinic hit hours after the Russian military warned of "high-precision strikes" and told civilians nearby to flee. Rockets also took out broadcasting hardware, raising fears that Russia is attempting to knock out the city's communications infrastructure.
Image: A blast is seen at the TV tower in Kyiv. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Inside the C-17
11:09 The IAF mega aircraft sent to Ukraine
The Indian Air Force's military transport aircraft C-17 Globemaster left for Romania at 4 am Wednesday to bring back Indian citizens from Ukraine under the Centre's Operation Ganga programme.
The American C-17 Globemaster is one of the most capable aircraft for flying long distances with close to 400 on board. The C-17 transport aircraft helped evacuate citizens and officials from Kabul when the Taliban captured Afghanistan in August last year.
11:07 What Russia did in Chechnya
If you still believe that Russia president Vladimir Putin will spare civilians and the number of civilian deaths will remain low, think again.
Bruno Stevens, Belgian photojournalist tweets this image, writing, "I was one of very few journos inside Chechnya during the Dec.'99 war. Putin was directly in charge, the brutality of the attacks was unbelievable. The Russians had NO concern whatsoever for the civilians trapped in the city. Barbaric. My picture of Grozny central market."
The UN said at least 136 people, including 13 children, have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began, though the true toll is likely much higher. Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported higher figures on Sunday, saying 352 civilians had died and 1,684 had been injured since the Russian invasion.
10:56 Born in Kochi, lives in Kyiv, the story of Chapati
Chapati, a rescued dog from the streets of Kochi, now lives with his parents in Kyiv. He has travelled to 40 countries and has his own Instagram handle, travelingchapati. His handle is replete with loved up pictures with his human parents doing ordinary things and not so ordinary ones well. Check out his handle if you are on Instagram.
The doggo writes, "5 years ago, right at this time, I met my new forever family (heart emojis)
And this is our biggest feast, even though we now have to live in the constant fear of the foreign invasion to my new homeland 🇺🇦
F*** aggressors and war! Today we celebrate love and humanity."
The IAF planes will fly to Poland, Hungary and Romania
10:49 3 more IAF planes to fly to Ukraine borders
Three more Indian Air Force aircraft are scheduled to fly to Poland, Hungary and Romania today to ramp up the Centre's efforts to evacuate Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine, informed IAF officials.
The Indian Air Force aircraft are carrying tents, blankets and other humanitarian aid and are to take off from Hindon airbase shortly.
Notably, one C-17 Globemaster took off at 4 am earlier today for Romania under 'Operation Ganga'.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review the efforts to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine and asked the Indian Air Force to join the evacuation efforts under 'Operation Ganga'.
Sources said that leveraging the capacities of the Air Force will ensure that more people can be evacuated in a shorter time frame and it will also help to deliver humanitarian aid more efficiently. -- ANI
10:33 Pak students use tricolour to cross Ukraine border
India's national tricolour came to the rescue of not only stranded Indians but also those hailing from Pakistan and Turkey to cross into the neighbouring countries of Ukraine.
The Indian students who arrived in the city of Bucharest in Romania from Ukraine said that the national flag helped them as well as some Pakistani and Turkish students in safely crossing the various checkpoints in the war-torn country.
The Indian students arrived in the Romanian city to catch the special evacuation flights being operated under 'Operation Ganga' from the neighbouring countries of Ukraine.
Air India, SpiceJet and Indigo are flying special evacuation flights.
"We were told in Ukraine that being Indians and carrying Indian flag, we won't have any problems," said a medical student who arrived from Odesa in Southern Ukraine.
The students narrated how they bought spray paints from the markets to prepare Indian flags.
"I ran to the market, bought some colour sprays and a curtain. I then cut the curtain and spray-painted it to make the Indian tricolour," said a student.
They added that even some Pakistani and Turkish students passed checkpoints using the Indian flag.
"The Turkish and Pakistani students were also using the Indian flag," a student said.
The students from Odessa moved from Molodova to Romania.
"We booked the bus from Odesa and came to the Molodova border. The Moldovan citizens were very nice. They provided us with free accommodation and taxis and buses to get to Romania," a student said. He said they did not face much problems in Molodova as the Indian embassy had already made the arrangements.
Image: A local resident stands next to her house that caught fire after recent shelling, in the separatist-controlled city of Donetsk. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko
10:19 Smriti Irani welcomes evacuees
Union Minister Smriti Irani welcomes Indians back home by speaking in regional languages on their return from war-torn Ukraine. Several union ministers including Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Piyush Goyal have grabbed their moment in the sun with evacuated Indians.
10:14 US stands with Ukraine
The United States of America stands with the Ukrainian people, literally. That's the standing ovation for Ukraine during the US President Biden's state of the union speech.
10:13 Biden calls Ukranians as Iranians in speech
US President Joe Biden while calling for supporting Ukraine against a Russian invasion had a slip-of-the-tongue moment when he mistakenly referred to the Ukrainians as "Iranian people".
"Putin may circle Kyiv with tanks, but he'll never gain the hearts and souls of the Iranian people," Biden said in his State of the Union speech that was an emotional appeal for putting up a united front against the Russian aggression.
The awkward moment immediately began trending on Twitter and other social media with the word "Iranian".
This is not the first time that the 79-year-old Biden, has tripped over words. As a child he had problems with his speech and had to work to overcome a stutter and it has been widely reported that he used to spend long hours reciting works of Yeats and Emerson to overcome his speech condition.
Last year social media had pounced on his gaffe when he mistakenly called his Vice President Kamala Harris as "President Harris". -- ANI
10:06 Sensex slumps over 900 points
Equity benchmark Sensex tumbled over 900 points in the opening session on Wednesday following a selloff in global equity markets amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine. Besides, surging international crude prices and unabated foreign capital outflows weighed on investor sentiment.
The Nifty fell to 16,556 with ICICI Bank the top loser in the Sensex pack, shedding 3.46 per cent, followed by Asian Paints, Maruti, HDFC twins, Kotak Bank and Ultratech Cement. On the other hand, Tata Steel, M&M, Reliance Industries, PowerGrid, NTPC and Tech Mahindra were the gainers.
09:52 Ukraine: 1,377 stranded Indians leave in 24 hrs
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday said that six flights carrying 1,377 Indian nationals stranded in Ukraine have departed for India in the last 24 hours under 'Operation Ganga'.
'Operation Ganga developments. Six flights have now departed for India in the last 24 hours. Includes the first flights from Poland. Carried back 1377 more Indian nationals from Ukraine,' Jaishankar tweeted.
Meanwhile, the government has deployed 'special envoys' to four neighbouring countries bordering Ukraine to coordinate and oversee the evacuation process of Indian nationals.
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri will oversee evacuation efforts in Hungary, Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju in Slovakia, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Romania while Gen (Retd) V K Singh in Poland.
The Union Government has been ramping up its efforts to evacuate Indians from Ukraine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the efforts to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine.
The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and senior officials.
The prime minister had on Monday chaired two meetings to review the ongoing efforts under 'Operation Ganga' for the return of Indians from Ukraine amid military operations by Russia.
Another meeting was held on Sunday. The Cabinet Committee on Security had met on February 24 in the wake of Russian military actions in Ukraine.
The union government has launched 'Operation Ganga' to bring back stranded students and Indian citizens from the conflict-torn Ukraine.
Special flights are being operated by Air India under 'Operation Ganga'. -- ANI
IMAGE: Ninth flight under Operation Ganga with 218 Indian nationals, evacuated from Ukraine, departs from Bucharest to New Delhi on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo
09:08 India sends first tranche of humanitarian aid to Ukraine
India on Tuesday sent the first tranche of humanitarian assistance comprising medicines and other relief materials to Ukraine via Poland.
At a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said another flight will carry the second consignment of aid to the east European country on Wednesday.
"A flight left this morning carrying the first tranche of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine through Poland," he said.
India on Monday decided to send the relief supplies to Ukraine to help it deal with the humanitarian situation along its border areas that has arisen out of tens of thousands of people attempting to flee the Russian invasion.
"The prime minister noted that the first consignment of relief supplies to Ukraine to deal with the humanitarian situation on Ukraine's borders would be despatched tomorrow," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday.
Ukrainian envoy Igor Polikha thanked India for sending humanitarian aid to his country. -- PTI
08:47 Another student from Karnataka injured in Ukraine
IMAGE: Candles being lit during a candle march of Indian Youth Congress to pay homage to Naveen Shekharappa, an Indian medical student who died due to Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv, in New Delhi, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo
One student from Karnataka was injured in shelling in Kharkiv in Ukraine, that left a medical student from the state dead, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Tuesday.
He had accompanied Naveen Shekarappa Gyanagoudar, who died in the shelling.
"Two more students from Chalageri village in Ranebennur Taluk in Haveri district were also there. One is injured while the other is safe," Bommai told reporters.
He added that he spoke to Naveen father's Shekarappa Gyanagouda and expressed his grief.
Bommai said his concern is to bring Naveen's body to India.
"We have not yet receive any information what the condition of the body is...I have spoken to the PMO and made a request. I have also sent a message to the Prime Minister to bring the body from Ukraine. Our officials are in touch with the Embassy officials in Ukraine," the Chief Minister said. -- PTI
IMAGE: Candles being lit during a candle march of Indian Youth Congress to pay homage to Naveen Shekharappa, an Indian medical student who died due to Russian shelling in Ukraine's Kharkiv, in New Delhi, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo
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