News Analysis India

Tag: Russia-Ukraine war

  • Top Russian ballerina Olga Smirnova quits Bolshoi ballet over Ukraine war

    By AFP

    PARIS: Prima ballerina Olga Smirnova has quit the Bolshoi in Moscow to join the Dutch National Ballet, it was announced Wednesday, becoming the biggest star to leave Russia over the war in Ukraine.

    The 30-year-old’s departure from Russia’s most prestigious cultural institution carries echoes of defections during the Cold War. 

    Smirnova, considered one of the greatest dancers of her generation, had already expressed her opposition to the war on messaging app Telegram earlier this month, saying she “cannot remain indifferent to this global catastrophe”. 

    The Dutch National Ballet confirmed the departure in a statement, saying: “Smirnova was outspoken in her recent denouncement of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which is making it untenable for her to work in her native country.”

    In her Telegram post, Smirnova had said: “I am against war with all the fibres of my soul.

    “It is not only about every other Russian perhaps having relatives or friends living in Ukraine, or about my grandfather being Ukrainian… It is that we continue to live as if this were the 20th century.”

    Several foreign performers have quit their positions in Russia since the invasion, but Smirnova is by far the biggest local star to leave. 

    “I never thought I would be ashamed of Russia, I have always been proud of talented Russian people, of our cultural and athletic achievements. But now I feel that a line has been drawn that separates the before and the after,” she wrote on Telegram.

    At the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union suffered a number of embarrassing defections by high-profile performers, most notably the legendary dancer Rudolph Nureyev who claimed asylum during a visit by the Kirov ballet to Paris in 1961.

    Many current stars of the Russian stage have refused to criticise the invasion of Ukraine, including star conductor Valery Gergiev and soprano Anna Netrebko, and have been stripped of their jobs in the West or had tours cancelled. 

    Smirnova said the Dutch National Ballet would be “a good fit” and that she had been considering a move even before the conflict. 

    “It is a privilege to have her dance with our company in the Netherlands — even if the circumstances that drove this move are incredibly sad,” said its director Ted Brandsen in the statement. 

    Brazilian dancer Victor Caixeta, 22, who had spent five years at the Mariinsky Ballet in St Petersburg, is also joining the Amsterdam-based company. 

  • Benedict Cumberbatch voices his support for Ukraine

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Hollywood star Benedict Cumberbatch says it’s impossible to ignore the war in Ukraine.

    Speaking before the BAFTA event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, he shared: “We have brothers and sisters who are suffering. It is a really shocking time to be a European, two-and-a-half hours’ flight away from Ukraine. It’s something that hangs over us.”

    Cumberbatch is keen to do everything he can to support the people of Ukraine, following the Russian invasion of the country, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

    The actor said he would even like to be part of a programme to take in Ukrainian refugees.

    He told Sky News: “Everyone needs to do as much as they can. I think already today the news has broken that there’s been a record number of people volunteering to take people into their homes, and I hope to be part of that myself.”

    Stephen Graham has also voiced his support for the people of Ukraine.

    The 48-year-old actor insisted the war in eastern Europe cannot be ignored.

    Speaking on the red carpet, he said: “It’s lovely to be here with my family but at the same time it’s important for me to acknowledge in public what is happening over there.”

    Meanwhile, Sir Kenneth Branagh has spoken out about the war, saying he hopes it ends “very soon”.

    The acclaimed filmmaker can see tragic parallels with the conflict in Ukraine and his BAFTA-nominated movie ‘Belfast’, which is set amid The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

    He reflected: “The situations are utterly different but the human costs are the same. It is painful and tragic to see – I hope it ends very soon.”

  • Sony Pictures Entertainment halts all business operations in Russia

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: In a move similar to that of Disney, Sony Pictures Entertainment has also announced that it will suspend all of its business operations in Russia, following the country’s military operation in Ukraine.

    According to Deadline, this suspension by these companies will go beyond the standard theatrical releases which both studios had earlier halted.

    An email was sent to staff by Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra. This boycott of Russia from Sony includes Crunchyroll stopping its anime streaming service in the country as well as home entertainment releases and future TV distribution deals.

    ALSO READ | Sony up for another ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy with Tom Holland and Marvel, says producer

    “Two weeks ago, we paused the upcoming theatrical release of Morbius in Russia. Since then, we have also halted our planned home entertainment releases, including Spider-Man: No Way Home, and any future television distribution deals. And just this morning, Crunchyroll suspended its anime streaming service in Russia,” Vinciquerra wrote in the email.

    He added, “And as you saw last week, Sony Group Corporation announced a USD 2 million donation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the international NGO Save the Children in order to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Ukraine.”

    As per Deadline, Disney’s business stoppage in Russia includes content and product licensing, Disney Cruise Line activities, National Geographic magazine and tours, local content productions and linear channels. 

  • Kitchens feel the heat of Ukraine war as cooking oil prices soar

    Express News Service

    The impact of the Russia-Ukraine war is already being felt in India. While our students studying there faced problems, now our kitchens too are facing the heat as prices of cooking oil have started soaring since the outbreak of the war.

    People are busy storing cooking oil, worrying that they may have to face a cooking oil shortage in near future. A reality check conducted across the stores of Davangere and Chitradurga showed that there is a severe scarcity of sunflower oil that is widely used in Indian Kitchens and cuisine.

    The price of sunflower oil that stood at Rs 141 on February 23 – the day war broke out – now stands at Rs 186 in wholesale market and Rs195 in retail market. Except for the oil packed by the co-operative oil major Karnataka Oil Federation, no other brand of sunflower oil is available in the market. Groundnut oil that was selling at Rs 60 per litre on Feb 23 is now being sold at Rs184 per litre. However, there is no change in the prices of the Palmolein oil, coconut oil, olive oil and other cooking oils.

    Experts in the field of oil repacking units told TNIE that if the war continues even after two or three days, there are chances of severe scarcity of oil in the market and the real trouble will start then. This will lead to an increase in the import of the palmolein oil that is imported from South East Asian countries.

    Speaking to TNIE, commercial officer of Karnataka Oil Federation Mahanandi said: “There is a sharp increase in the prices of cooking oil, especially sunflower oil that is being imported from Ukraine in large quantity. The refineries that were supplying us the oil have informed us that there is no supply of oil and once the contract is over, the supply will be stopped.”

    He also said that in the last 15 days, there is a sudden jump in prices of the Sunflower oil by Rs 50. The prices, which were standing at Rs 141 on Feb 23 are now being sold at Rs 186 in wholesale and Rs 195 in retail.

    Replying to a question on the shortfall in supply, he said the shortage of sunflower oil supply has led to this surge. People are also purchasing large quantities of oil, fearing scarcity in future.

    “If there is a shortage of sunflower oil, palmolein oil can be used as an alternative and it is on standby at Karnataka Oil Federation. People need not worry about the supply of cooking oil in future,” he said, allaying fears.

    “Except one litre, two litre and five litre cans supplied by Karnataka Oil Federation, 15 litre tins are not available. We are selling oil at Rs 95 per litre while having MRP of Rs 210 on it. During Shivaratri, we sold oil at Rs 140 per litre but now suddenly the prices have skyrocketed,” said Govind, owner of Sangameshwara Store in Chitradurga.

    “We are getting only Sun Gold oil from KOF and all other brands are out of stock. As sunflower oil is mostly used in South Indian kitchens, people are rushing to store as much oil as possible anticipating shortage,” he added.

    Oil stock withdrawn

    A cooking oil expert, on condition of anonymity said major oil suppliers in the country have withdrawn oil from the market anticipating hike in prices, because of which there is a shortage of supply.

    Joint director food and civil supplies Manteswamy agreed on the fact that the price of the sunflower oil has escalated during last nine days and the department, along with department of legal metrology is keeping a close watch on oil sales in the market. “In case of any complaints about hoarding, black marketing and selling the product above the market price, we will be initiating legal proceedings. We will ensure smooth sales of the oil in the market,” he said.

    Mid-day meals get affected

    Manteswamy also said that the mid-day meals programme will also get derailed if there is no availability of the sunflower oil from Karnataka Oil Federation and said that they have placed sufficient indent to the co-operative for supply of oil till the closure of the academic year

  • Ukraine crisis may hit edible oil imports: Nirmala Sitharaman

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the Russia-Ukraine war will impact edible oil imports to some extent and India is already looking at other alternatives to import it.“Sunflower oil is imported to India from Ukraine, which is a large producer of sunflower oil. So edible oil supply will be affected to some extent,” the minister told the media in Bengaluru.

    Stating that the Union Government is already looking at other alternatives to import edible oil, the minister said they are looking at various other places from where any other edible oil, if not sunflower oil, that can be used in India and can be imported. “Edible oil is also going to be an area in which we may have challenges and see how we can address it,” she elaborated.

    In the long run, to reduce India’s dependence on other countries for importing edible oil, the Centre is encouraging the cultivation of palm, groundnut and sesame. Sitharaman said they are supporting farmers taking up palm cultivation in the north east. However, the problem with palm cultivation is that it will take six years to bear fruit and farmers will have to be supported through that period.

    On the impact of Ukraine crisis on crude oil prices, the Finance Minister said they are watching the developments post the full-blown war. “Global oil supplies and other indicators are going much higher than what was expected, but we have to see and also identify if there are ways in which we will be able to procure additional quantities. We have to see how it goes and how we can handle it,” she added.

    ‘GST relief cess extended to repay loans’Bengaluru: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the Goods & Services Tax (GST) compensation cess has been extended up to March 2026 to repay loans taken for the states to overcome the shortfall in GST compensation during 2020-2021. “The GST council has extended the compensation cess to up to March 2026 for paying the loans which were taken for all the states in 2020 for the compensation which could not be paid that year and somewhat paid in 2021,” she said responding to a question on Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s request to extend the GST compensation to the states at least for another three years. The GST council had decided that the Centre would borrow back-to-back and pay compensations to the states. The loan together with the interest itself required that the compensation cess be extended till March 2026, she explained. Many states, including Karnataka, are demanding an extension of GST compensation as the window ends in June 2022. 

  • Indian students can study in our country: Hungary PM Viktor Orban tells PM Narendra Modi

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over the phone with the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.

    The two leaders discussed the ongoing situation in Ukraine and agreed on the need to ensure an immediate ceasefire and a return to diplomacy and dialogue.

    PM Modi also conveyed his thanks to PM Orban and to the Hungarian government for facilitating the evacuation of more than 6000 Indian citizens through the Ukraine-Hungary border.

    PM Orban conveyed his best wishes to the Indian students who were evacuated from Ukraine and said that they could continue their studies in Hungary if they wanted to.

    PM Modi expressed his thanks on this kind offer.

    Both the leaders agreed to remain in touch, specially during the ongoing conflict as both of them wanted to work diplomatically and through dialogue to bring this conflict to an end.

    To facilitate the transfer of Indians from Hungary, the Indian Embassy in Hungary had on February 26th had issued an advisory saying that those stranded in Ukraine could cross into Hungary through the Zahony-Uzhhorod border crossing.

    “For this, a liaison unit from the Embassy of India had been stationed at Zahony and it was coordinating with the Consulate General of Hungary in Uzzhorod,” the advisory read. It also said that walk-ins were not permitted and those wanting to cross into Hungary had to do so via a bus or van.

  • Centre may intervene to tackle fuel price rise: Nirmala Sitharaman

    By Express News Service

    BENGALURU: The Union Government, which is concerned about the rising crude oil prices in the international market owing to the Russia-Ukraine war, may make use of budgetary provisions to tackle the situation. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said that since the spike in crude oil prices will have a bearing on fuel prices in the country, the government will look at ways to cushion the impact.

    “Since we import over 85-90 per cent of crude oil, the rise in price is a matter of concern, but alternative sources will also be considered. We are watching the situation closely as to how it pans out. I am conscious about it,” she told a select audience during an interactive session on ‘Atma Nirbhar Indian Economy’, organised by the BJP. The minister hinted at compensating Indian oil companies for the price hike to ensure that consumers do not feel the pinch.

    On the Ukraine crisis, Nirmala Sitharaman, while observing that it has posed a lot of challenges, also felt that it has thrown opportunities for countries like India which had seen an increase in wheat export. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the country, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the opportunity to push the ‘Atma Nirbhar’ mantra, as over five crore PPE kits were manufactured, one vaccine was developed indigenously and put at the disposal of the world. “The CoWin application was also a contribution to the world, which means the PM’s Atma Nirbhar is not just for me and you, but for global welfare”, she remarked. 

    ‘Customs duty hike to boost Atma Nirbhar’

    Defending the hike in Customs duty on certain imports, Nirmala Sitharaman said that it is to bolster the Atma Nirbhar initiative and is not applicable to intermediary raw materials used by start-ups in the semiconductor sector. India, which had an edge in the past in export of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients used in the pharma sector, lost out due to predatory pricing by other exporting nations.

    Hence, Production Linked Incentives have been implemented to make the pharmaceutical sector Atma Nirbhar and to generate jobs, she explained. Sitharaman pointed out that the sex ratio has also improved to 1,026 females for every 1,000 males between 2014 and 2019, which was previously 970 females for every 1,000 males in 104 gender-sensitive districts across India.  The representation of women in panchayats, which was 36 per cent in 2014, has increased to 46 per cent and many states followed the Gujarat model of increasing women’s reservation to 50 per cent, she said.

    ‘The middle class is everywhere’Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted that her budget had addressed the concerns of the ‘middle class in every sector’. When a participant at an interactive session asked what her budget meant for the middle class, especially as there was no difference in the taxation slabs, she replied, “People will never be happy with what I say, because they want ‘a particular answer’ and I don’t give that. I see the middle class in farmers, those in informal jobs, doing their own business and taking loans from banks, those who want to send their children to study abroad and send money. I also see the middle class in startups looking at the government to support them. So, I will see the middle class everywhere,” evoking a huge round of applause.

  • Have been able to move out all Indian students from Ukraine’s Sumy: MEA

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: All Indian students stranded in the war-torn Ukrainian city of Sumy have been moved out and flights under Operation Ganga are being prepared to bring them back home, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

    In a tweet, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “Happy to inform that we have been able to move out all Indian students from Sumy. They are currently en route to Poltava, from where they will board trains to western Ukraine.”

    “Flights under Operation Ganga are being prepared to bring them home,” he added.

    Happy to inform that we have been able to move out all Indian students from Sumy.They are currently en route to Poltava, from where they will board trains to western Ukraine.Flights under #OperationGanga are being prepared to bring them home. pic.twitter.com/s60dyYt9U6
    — Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) March 8, 2022
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday on ways to start the stalled evacuation process of the Indian students from Sumy, which is being pummelled by the Russian forces.

  • Unhelpful Modi govt has no moral authority to raise fuel prices, says NCP amid Russia-Ukraine war

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Narendra Modi government did not give relief to the people of the country when global oil prices were at its lowest, and, hence, it does not have the moral authority to hike fuel rates in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, the NCP said on Tuesday.

    NCP’s Maharashtra unit chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase alleged that with the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh and four other states over, the Centre seems to be contemplating an “imminent rise” in the retail price of fuel.

    He noted that the global crude oil price has soared to $140 per barrel in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.

    “When the international price of crude was at its lowest, the Modi government didn’t give any relief to the citizens by lowering the retail prices of petrol and diesel. Hence, the Modi government should not cry about price rise of crude oil and has no moral authority to even think of any price hike in retail petroleum prices in the days to come,” Tapase said in a statement.

    The NCP leader said people had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown and any hike in fuel prices would severely impact them.

    “The Union government should absorb the burden and relieve the citizens from any upward revision of prices of petroleum products,” he said.

    The NCP leader also said the country was seemingly going through a phase of stagflation in which growth rate is reversing and inflation is on the rise.

  • 700-km road journey for injured Indian student before boarding flight; embassy hails driver

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Harjot Singh, the Indian student who sustained bullet injuries in Kyiv, was taken by road from the Ukranian capital to a border transit point 700 kilometres away under challenging circumstances so that he can board an evacuation flight to return home.

    Singh (31) landed at the Hindon Air Force station near Delhi on Monday evening on board a C-17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force that also brought back several other Indians from Poland.

    The Indian Embassy in Ukraine put out a series of tweets giving a sense of the challenging situation in which Singh was taken out of Kyiv.

    “Bringing Harjot Home. Indian student Harjot Singh who sustained bullet injuries at Kyiv was successfully transferred over more than 700km in the face of war zone constraints of bombing /shelling. Evacuated through Poland by IAF C17 Ac,” it tweeted.

    In another post, the embassy hailed the driver who transported Singh from Kyiv to the Bodomierz border point.

    “Kudos to Indian Embassy driver who successfully transferred Harjot over 700 km from Kyiv to Bodomierz border under dangers of shelling and constraints of fuel shortage, roadblocks, detours and traffic jams,” it said.

    India has been bringing back its nationals from Romania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Moldova after they crossed over to these countries from Ukraine through land border transit points.

    Ukraine closed its airspace for civilian aircraft after Russia began its military operation.

    India has brought back over 17,100 of its nationals in 83 flights under “Operation Ganga”, which was launched on February 26 following Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine.