Ukraine War Live: US to Revoke Russia's 'Most Favoured Nation' Trade Status
Catch all the live updates on the Russia-Ukraine war here.
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US President Joe Biden announced on Friday, 11 March, that the United States will revoke Russia's 'permanent normal trade relations' status.
He also said in his speech that direct confrontation between NATO and Russia would trigger World War 3.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved bringing ‘’volunteer’’ fighters from the Middle East for Russia's war on Ukraine.
Russia’s energy ministry said on Thursday that Belarusian specialists had restored power supply to the Chernobyl nuclear plant.
Three people, including a child, were killed by a Russian air strike on a Mariupol children’s hospital
Facebook has eased rules regarding violent speech to allow statements like "death to Russian invaders"
The US has warned that Russia may use chemical weapons in Ukraine
2.5 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's inasion, the United Nations has said
The UAE to encourage OPEC members to increase oil production in light of US ban on Russia oil imports
The UK has announced that it will send anti-tank missiles to Ukraine
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Facebook Eases Violent Speech Rules
Facebook on Friday announced that it has temporarily eased its rules regarding violent speech to allow statements like "death to Russian invaders," but not credible threats against civilians, news agency AFP reported.
242 Indian Citizens Arrive in Delhi From Poland
A special flight, carrying 242 Indian citizens who were stranded in Ukraine, arrived in Delhi from Poland.
Sony Music Suspends Operations in Russia
Sony Music has said that it is suspending operations in Russia.
'Two Days of Hell': Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko
Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko has said that nearly 4,00,000 people were trapped in the port city which has gone through “two days of hell”.
Boychenko said in an online post, “Every 30 minutes planes arrived over the city of Mariupol and worked on residential areas, killing civilians – the elderly, women, children."
Petro Andrushenko, an adviser to the mayor, said the Russians wanted to “delete our people...They want to stop any evacuation."
Ukraine War: US Spending Bill Includes $13.6 Bn in Aid to Ukraine
The US Congress passed the 2022 spending bill including $13.6 billion in humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine.
Later, the White House welcomed the Senate’s passage of legislation providing $1.5 trillion to keep the federal government operating beyond this week and $13.6 billion to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said that President Joe Biden is looking forward to sign the legislation, and its “historic support for the Ukrainian people as they defend their country and democracy”, Al Jazeera reported.
Stop Meta’s ‘Extremist Activities’, Demands Russia
Russia’s embassy in the United States has demanded Washington to stop the “extremist activities” of Facebook owner Meta Platforms, which has temporarily lifted a ban on calls for violence against the Russian military and leadership.
The Russian embassy said in a statement:
“The company’s actions are yet another evidence of the information war without rules declared on our country.”
The embassy added that it wanted the US to “stop the extremist activities of Meta and take measures to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
This comes after Facebook eased its rules regarding violent speech to allow statements like "death to Russian invaders," but not credible threats against civilians, news agency AFP reported.
Assam CM Welcomes Students From Ukraine’s Sumy State University
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, welcomed 16 students who were studying at Ukraine's Sumy State University.
Sharing a photo with the students, Sarma said, "We welcome 16 of our students studying at Sumy State University, Ukraine after being evacuated by MEA. They were received at Delhi by Assam Bhawan officials. They will be staying at Assam House, New Delhi till their travel to Guwahati is arranged by us."
One Killed in First Direct Attack on Dnipro
In what appears to be the first direct attack on the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, civilians have come under Russian shelling, while one person has died, as per emergency services say quoted by AFP.
10 Crore Earmarked To Help Students Who Have From Returned From Ukraine: Kerala
The Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal announced on Friday that Rs 10 crore have been earmarked in the State Budget to "help students who have returned to the state in wake of Russia Ukraine Crisis, to continue their studies."
He added, "3,123 people have returned safely through various flights, including 15 chartered flights amid the crisis," news agency ANI reported.
Balagopal added, "State government to provide necessary assistance to recover lost certificates and other valuable documents and to help them continue their education. Special intervention by the Central Government is required to facilitate the resumption of studies of students who've returned home."
213 Indian Students Arrive at Hindan Airbase in Ghaziabad
Indian Air Force aircraft, carrying 213 Indian students who were stranded in Ukraine, arrived at Hindan airbase in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh on Friday.
(Photo: PTI)
People in Budapest Create a Peace Sign For Demonstration for Ukraine
People create a Peace sign with lights, as a demonstration for Ukraine, at Heroes Square in Budapest, Hungary organised by Greenpeace, Wednesday, 9 March.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
In Photos: The Russia Ukraine War
People at a makeshift camp wait to board a train heading for Krakow, after fleeing from Ukraine, at the border crossing in Medyka, Poland, Thursday, 10 March.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
Cars drive past a destroyed Russian tank as a convoy of vehicles evacuating civilians leaves Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, 9 March.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
A military priest tries to comfort a crying woman who was evacuated from Irpin, at a triage point in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, 9 March.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
A boy who fled the war from neighbouring Ukraine waves as he looks out with other refugees from a train that goes to Warsaw, at the Przemysl train station, Poland, on Thursday, 10 March.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
EAM Jaishankar To Speak on Operation Ganga in Second Part of Budget Session
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be making a statement in the upcoming second part of the Budget Session of Parliament on 'Operation Ganga' and Ukraine, as per top sources quoted by ANI.
Putin Approves Bringing ‘’Volunteer’’ Fighters From the Middle East for Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, approved bringing ''volunteer'' fighters from the Middle East and elsewhere to join Russia's war in Ukraine.
Moscow said the fighters would include those who fought the Islamic State group, a clear reference to the war in Syria, AP reported.
Russia Shelled Kharkiv Residential Areas 89 Times in 1 Day
Russian forces shelled residential areas of Kharkiv 89 times in one day, the local governor Oleh Synegubov said, as per a report by The Guardian.
EU to Double Military Support to Ukraine
The European Union (EU) will double the amount it is spending on providing military support to Ukraine to €1billion.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, stated that the agreement among the 27 leaders had not been difficult to secure.
"Everyone was completely aware that we have to increase our military support to Ukraine to increase the pressure on Russia," Borrell said.
One Million People Are Without Electricity in Ukraine
Around one million people are without electricity supply in Ukraine, energy firm Energoatom has said, as per a report by Reuters.
UK Urges British Veterans to Not Join Ukraine War
The UK government has urged British veterans not to travel to Ukraine to fight.
Leo Docherty, the Veterans Minister, called on ex-servicemen to not join the war in Ukraine and instead help Ukrainians from home through charity and volunteering.
This comes amid reports of veterans from Britain and other countries travelling to Ukraine to fight.
More than 100,000 Refugees Have Fled to Germany
A spokesperson for the German interior ministry said that around 109,000 refugees from Ukraine had been registered in Germany so far.
48 Schools Destroyed in Kharkiv
A total of 48 schools have been destroyed in Kharkiv, the city's mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a televised address.
US to Strip Russia of MFN Trade Status
US President Joe Biden will announce on Friday that he wants to strip Russia of its "most favored nation" trade status, according to a source familiar with the matter - a move that would pave the way for tariff hikes.
UK Freezes Assets of 386 Russian Parliamentarians
Britain has announced it is freezing assets of and banning travel for 386 members of the Russian Duma who voted for the independence of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
The new sanctions “will ban those listed from travelling to the UK, accessing assets held within the UK and doing business here," the foreign office said in a statement.
Indian Embassy in Russia Issues Guidelines For Students
The Embassy of India in Russia has issued guidelines for Indian students studying in Russia.
"Reassure all students that at present we see no security reasons for them to leave," it says.
Talks With Ukraine Positive: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin said there was some progress in Moscow’s talks with Kyiv, but provided no further details.
Putin also said that talks between the two countries were continuing “practically on a daily basis”.
Russia Sues Facebook's Parent Company Meta
Russia says it is opening a criminal case against Meta for "calling for the murder" of Russians, saying that the parent company of Facebook and Instagram had relaxed its rules regarding violent messages aimed at the Russian army and its leaders.
Switzerland Urges its Citizens to Leave Russia
Switzerland has advised its citizens to leave Russia, the Swiss foreign ministry said.
"The foreign ministry recommends that Swiss nationals whose presence in Russia is not urgently required leave the country temporarily and by their own means," the ministry stated in its travel advisory.
No War Between NATO and Russia, Stoltenberg Says
NATO must not allow Russia's invasion of Ukraine to spill over into a war between the alliance and Moscow, its chief Jens Stoltenberg said.
Russian Media Regulator Restricts Instagram Access
Russian media regulator, Roskomnadzor, said that it has restricted access to Instagram in the country, AFP reported.
Earlier, the regulator had called Facebook an 'extremist organisation' and reportedly opened a criminal case against Meta.
'Situation in Mariupol is Critical': Ukraine Govt
The interior ministry in Ukrainian has warned that the situation in Mariupol is critical, saying that it's unclear if humanitarian aid will reach the besieged city.
As per Reuters, a government advisor, Vadym Denysenko has expressed uncertainty regarding the eight trucks carrying aid.
Ukraine War to 'Deeply Destabilise' Food Supply in Europe, Africa: Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron indicated that the Ukraine war will 'deeply destabilise' food supply in Europe and Africa, news agency AFP reported.
Earlier in the day, UN's food agency, the the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had also warned of an imminent rise in food prices around the world, saying that they could surge by around 20 per cent.
"International food and feed prices could rise by between 8% and 20% as a result of the war, triggering a jump in global malnourishment," the agency stated, The Guardian reported.
The warnings have come amidst concerns about Ukraine being unable to harvest crops during an armed conflict, and uncertainty surrounding Russian food exports.
Russia to Lose 'Most Favoured Nation' Trade Status
President Joe Biden announced on Friday that along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the US will revoke “most favoured nation” trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Biden said that the US will downgrade Russian trade status and ban imports of Russian alcohol, seafood and diamonds, reported AP.
Putin an Aggressor, Must Pay the Price: Biden
In an address on Friday, Biden called Putin an aggressor and said that he must pay the price for his invasion of Ukraine.
He also said that Russia would pay a 'severe price' if it uses chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Direct Confrontation Between NATO, Russia Would Trigger WW3: Biden
US President Joe Biden on Friday underlined that US forces would not fight in Ukraine, despite the desperate pleas of many Ukrainians.
"We will not fight a war against Russia in Ukraine. Direct confrontation between NATO and Russia is World War III -- something we must strive to prevent," Biden said.