BIG Headlines at this hour | 8 March 2022

With the conflict between Russia and Ukraine worsening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky. This is the third conversation between the two heads of state on the Ukraine crisis. PM Modi had a 50-minute long conversation with President Putin. On the other hand, the Russian military declared a ceasefire in Ukraine and opened six humanitarian corridors for the safety and welfare of civilians. According to a report by Sputnik, Russia took this decision after its President Vladimir Putin spoke to the French President Emmanuel Macron over the phone on Sunday. According to IST, the humanitarian corridors have been opened at 12:30 pm. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Monday that more than 17,400 Indians had been brought back from war-ravaged Ukraine and its neighboring countries through special flights since February 22 under Operation Ganga.