Covid LIVE: Centre writes to UP, Delhi, 3 other states over rising TPR

India recorded 1,247 new Covid infections on Monday; number of active cases rose to 11,860

11:19 PM

Russia eases FX controls for some export-focused companies

The Russian central bank said on Tuesday it had decided to ease forex currency control measures for Russian export-focused companies outside the commodities and energy sectors.

 

The mandatory sales of foreign currency earned by these companies remains in place, however the currency they receive after April 19 can now be sold within 60 days instead of the previous three days, the central bank said.

 

This rule currently lasts until Sept. 1 but can be extended if needed, the regulator added in its statement.

11:16 PM

Elon Musk to invest up to $15 bn of his own money to buy Twitter: Report

Elon Musk is willing to invest between $10 billion and $15 billion of his own money to take Twitter Inc private and is planning to launch a tender offer in about 10 days, the New York Post reported on Tuesday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.

 

The billionaire has tapped Morgan Stanley to raise another $10 billion in debt, according to the report.

The social media company adopted a "poison pill" last week to protect itself from its second-biggest shareholder's $43 billion buyout offer.

 

Twitter and Tesla did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

11:08 PM

Naresh Kumar, a 1987-batch IAS officer, has been appointed chief secretary of Delhi

11:04 PM

Biden, allies consult on Ukraine including aid

US President Joe Biden and allied leaders discussed ongoing efforts on Ukraine on Tuesday including the need to provide economic and humanitarian aid, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

 

Psaki, briefing reporters as Biden flew to New Hampshire on a day trip, said Biden and the allies also discussed efforts to hold Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine.

10:37 PM

IAF successfully test-fires BrahMos missile from Su30-MkI fighter jet

9:45 PM

Russian companies must revoke foreign listings by May 5, central bank says

Companies that are registered in Russia and have depositary receipts traded on foreign bourses must revoke them by May 5, the central bank said on Tuesday.

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed into law a bill requiring Russian companies to delist their depositary receipts from international bourses and convert them into local securities in a bid to reduce foreigners' control over these firms.

 

"Russian issuers are required to take actions by May 5, 2022, to terminate the agreements in accordance with which the placement of securities under foreign law was carried out, as well as to terminate the depositary receipts programmes," the central bank said.

9:38 PM

Biden, allies hold video call on Ukraine amid Russia assault

US President Joe Biden consulted with U.S. allies on Tuesday on the latest developments in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the White House said on Tuesday as Moscow launched an all-out assault on eastern Ukraine.

 

The purpose of the call was "to discuss our continued support for Ukraine and efforts to hold Russia accountable as part of our close coordination," the White House said.

 

Russia seized its first town in eastern Ukraine as part of a fresh all-out assault that Ukraine has described as the Battle of the Donbas aimed at taking two provinces.

9:34 PM

Russian operations in Ukraine 'prelude' to bigger offensive

The United States sees ongoing Russian activity in eastern Ukraine as a prelude to a much larger offensive in the country, a senior U.S. defense official said on Tuesday.

 

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Russia was still adding to its military capabilities to prepare for the new offensive, introducing an additional two battalion tactical groups (BTG) in the past 24 hours to bring to the total number of Russian BTGs in the country to 78.

9:23 PM

Uber, Lyft end mask mandates for riders, drivers as Covid cases fall

Uber Technologies and Lyft Inc have scrapped face mask mandates for their riders and drivers in the United States, the ride-hailing companies said on Tuesday, as COVID cases have fallen sharply from their Januray peak.

 

Lyft, which also ended requirements for the vehicle windows to be kept open and for the front seat to empty, said health safety reasons will no longer appear under cancellation options on its app.

 

Uber, which introduced mask mandates for its drivers, riders and delivery workers around the world in May 2020, said that riders will have the option to cancel their trip if they feel uncomfortable with revocation of the mask mandate.

 

9:10 PM

Union Health Secretary writes to 5 states on increasing Covid positivity rate

8:54 PM

Jahangirpuri violence: National Security Act imposed against 5 culprits

8:27 PM

632 new cases in Delhi

8:10 PM

Russia launches 'Battle of Donbas' all-out assault on east Ukraine

Russia launched its long-awaited all-out assault on east Ukraine on Tuesday, seizing its first town after unleashing thousands of troops in what Ukraine has described as the Battle of the Donbas, a campaign to take two provinces.

 

Ukrainian officials insisted their troops would withstand the new assault, which they said began overnight with massive Russian artillery and rocket barrages and attempts to advance across almost the entire stretch of the eastern front.

7:58 PM

1 dead, 12 injured in Sri Lanka as police open fire at anti-govt protesters

At least one person was killed and 12 others injured on Tuesday when police opened fire to disperse anti-government protestors in Sri Lanka's southwestern region of Rambukkana.

 

The residents were protesting the latest fuel price hike when they clashed with the police.

 

Police said the protesters had blocked the railway track at Rambukkana and started pelting stones at them.

7:52 PM

Covid-19: Karnataka reports 62 new cases, zero fatality in last 24 hours

Karnataka on Tuesday reported 62 fresh Covid-19 cases and zero fatalities, taking the total infection to 39,46,484 till date, the State Health Department said

 

The death toll stood at 40,057.

 

Of the total infections, Bengaluru urban district saw 57 while two each in Shivamogga and Dakshina Kannada and one in Mysuru.

7:45 PM

Russia hit over 1,200 Ukrainian targets with missiles, airstrikes and artillery

Russia has claimed that it has hit more than 1,200 Ukrainian targets with missiles, airstrikes and artillery, and street battles have broken out as President Vladimir Putin's troops launched their new offensive in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, Daily Mail reported.

 

Russian troops managed to take control of the eastern city of Kreminna after hours of relentless bombing, as gunfights between Putin's men and battling Ukrainian forces continue.

 

"Control over the city of Kreminna is lost, street fights are taking place," Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Haidai said, as Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has begun the "battle for the Donbas".

 

Downing Street has been warned that the battle could take 'months', with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson telling a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that Ukraine's situation is 'perilous' with Putin intent on victory "regardless of the human cost".

 

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that high-precision air-based missiles had struck 13 Ukrainian positions in parts of the Donbas region, including the city of Slavyansk, while airstrikes had hit 60 military targets.

 

7:22 PM

British official predicts attrition war next in Ukraine

British officials say the next phase of the war in Ukraine is likely to be an attritional conflict that could last several months.

 

A senior UK national security official briefed the Cabinet on Tuesday, as Russia ratcheted up its battle for control of the eastern Donbas region.

 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesman said the official told ministers that Russia's greater number of troops was unlikely to be decisive on its own against fierce Ukrainian resistance.

7:15 PM

Shanghai reports 7 more covid deaths as situation remains grim

Shanghai reported seven more deaths due to Covid-19 as the Chinese financial hub grapples with a record outbreak, taking the death toll in the country to 4,648 with over 21,400 new cases, most of them from the city.

 

Seven new deaths from Covid-19 were reported on Monday in Shanghai in addition to the three a day earlier, the first in the recent outbreak, taking the total death toll in the country due to coronavirus since it emerged in Wuhan in 2019 to 4,648, according to figures released by China's National Health Commission on Tuesday.

 

Those who died were from the age group of 60 to 101, the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission said.

7:06 PM

GCTM can establish a holistic treatment protocol for specific diseases: PM Modi

6:46 PM

IMF slashes global growth forecast to 3.6% this year, down 0.8% from January