TOP Afternoon headlines at this hour | 8 March 2022

 For a second consecutive day, Russia has declared a ceasefire in Ukraine and is ready to provide humanitarian corridors. According to the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, it has declared a ceasefire from 12:30 pm IST and has agreed to the evacuation of civilians from five cities in Ukraine. Russia has agreed to provide humanitarian corridors in five cities Kyiv, Chernigov, Sumy, Kharkov, Mariupol. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti reiterated the urgent demand for the safe and uninterrupted passage for all civilians, including Indian nationals stranded in the crisis-laden country. He also said that India is "deeply concerned that despite our repeated urgings" to both Russia and Ukraine the "safe corridor for our students stranded in Sumy did not materialise."Russia's declaration of a ceasefire in Sumy comes as a sigh of relief as around 700 Indian nationals are stuck in the city and are waiting for a safe passage to return to their homes.