RUSSIA GAS SUPPLY CUTS 'BLACKMAIL', SAYS EU; PUTIN WARNS AGAINST FOREIGN INTERVENTION

Russia's decision to cut off gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria is an "instrument of blackmail", the EU says.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the move showed Russia's "unreliability" as a supplier.

But the Kremlin said Russia had been forced into the action by the "unfriendly steps" of Western nations.

Europe depends on Russia for more than a third of its gas needs and state energy giant Gazprom holds a monopoly on pipeline supplies in Russia.

While many European countries have taken steps to wean themselves of Russian oil imports since it invaded Ukraine, Russia has continued to supply large amount of gas to many European countries.

After Western powers placed financial sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that "unfriendly" countries would have to pay for gas in Russian currency.

Gazprom said this was why it had suspended supply to Bulgaria and Poland.

Poland said the move was in retaliation for Polish sanctions against Russian individuals and firms. Poland has also been a key transit country for weapons to Ukraine.

Bulgaria has historically had warm relations with Russia, but a new government took office last year which has denounced the invasion.

President Putin meanwhile warned that if Western forces intervene in Ukraine, they will face a "lightning-fast" military response.

In what is seen as a reference to ballistic missiles and nuclear arms, he told lawmakers in Moscow: "We have all the tools no-one can boast of... we will use them if necessary."

But there are signs that Russia's offensive in Ukraine is not going as smoothly as planned, with one official saying Russian forces are having difficulties overcoming a "staunch Ukrainian resistance" in their offensive in the east of the country.

In reaction to Gazprom's statement regarding the suspension of gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, Polish state gas company PGNiG confirmed that Gazprom's supplies to the country had been halted and warned that it reserved "the right to seek compensation".

Polish President Andrzej Duda said "appropriate legal steps" will be taken against Gazprom, while his deputy foreign minister, Marcin Przydacz, told the BBC that Russia was seeking to "foster divisions" between Western allies.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said the country was reviewing all of its contracts with Gazprom, including for transit of Russian gas to Serbia and Hungary, emphasising that "one-sided blackmail was not acceptable".

Bulgaria, which relies on Gazprom for more than 90% of its gas supply, said overnight it had taken steps to find alternative sources but no restrictions on gas consumption were currently required for Bulgarians.

Ms von der Leyen, speaking in Brussels, said Gazprom's move was "unjustified and unacceptable," but emphasised that the bloc was "prepared for this scenario".

CANADA LAWMAKERS VOTE UNANIMOUSLY TO CALL RUSSIA’S ATTACK IN UKRAINE AS GENOCIDE

Canadian lawmakers voted unanimously on Wednesday to call Russia's attacks in Ukraine a "genocide", with members of parliament saying there was "ample evidence of systemic and massive war crimes against humanity" being committed by Moscow.

The Canadian House of Commons' motion said war crimes by Russia include mass atrocities, systematic instances of willful killing of Ukrainian civilians, the desecration of corpses, forcible transfer of Ukrainian children, torture, physical harm, mental harm, and rape.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was "absolutely right" for more and more people to describe Russia's actions in Ukraine as genocide, supporting an accusation made by US President Joe Biden a day earlier.

Canada is among a number of countries to have imposed sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. On Wednesday, it imposed further sanctions on 203 individuals whom it says are complicit in Russia's attempted annexation of certain areas of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.

The government of Canada asked travelers to exercise a high degree of caution in Moldova and avoid all travel to Transnistria.

RUSSIA WITHDRAWS FROM UN TOURISM BODY: UNWTO

Russia is withdrawing from the United Nation's tourism body, the UNWTO said Wednesday ahead of a vote by its executive council to suspend Moscow's membership over its invasion of Ukraine.

"Russia has announced its intention to withdraw from UNWTO," the organisation said in a tweet, adding that Russia's suspension "is effective immediately".

BILAWAL BHUTTO-ZARDARI BECOMES YOUNGEST FOREIGN MINISTER OF PAKISTAN

Scion of Pakistan's leading political dynasty, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on Wednesday took oath as the foreign minister in the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a crucial juncture as he faces multiple challenges such as fixing strained ties with the US and finding a way to restart the peace process with neighbouring India.

President Arif Alvi administered the oath to 33-year-old Bilawal at a simple ceremony at the Aiwan-i-Sadr (President's House), where Prime Minister Shehbaz, former president Asif Ali Zardari and other officials as well as leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were present.

It is for the first time when Bilawal has been given a key post in the government and assigned the key portfolio of foreign minister of the country. He was first elected to the National Assembly in 2018.

He became the head of the ministry of foreign affairs at a crucial juncture when Pakistan needed a stable hand to steer the foreign policy through the choppy waters.

Among the main challenges, Bilawal needs to fix strained ties with the US in the wake of conspiracy allegations by former premier Imran Khan and find a way to restart the stalled peace process with neighbouring India.

Bilawal took the oath nearly a week after he met Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif in London last week during which they discussed the "overall political situation" in Pakistan and vowed to work together on issues pertaining to politics and national interest.

SRI LANKA’S BIG BUSINESSES MOUNT PRESSURE ON GOVT.

It is not just Sri Lanka’s angry citizens and political Opposition who are challenging the Rajapaksa adminis- tration’s “failed” response to the country’s dire economic condition.  Increasingly, prominent capitalists and big businesses are shedding their habitual caution and openly criticising the political impasse that is further threatening the country’s crashing economy.

MAS Holdings, among the biggest names in the apparel industry in the region, issued a statement last week “unconditionally supporting” protesters’ call for change and good governance, and urging leaders “to heed the voice of the people and act on it”.

As the largest private sector employer and exporter in Sri Lanka — garment exports are crucial to the island’s foreign revenue — MAS reiterated “the need for immediate and decisive action to resolve the current economic and social crisis, in a peaceful and sustainable manner”.

For more than a fortnight now, citizens have been protesting near Colombo’s seafront, amplifying a demand that earlier emerged in spontaneous, scattered public protests across the country.

The widespread resentment has prompted even big businesses that rarely confront the government to speak up. The private sector leaders are explicitly backing the ongoing anti-government protests, while seeking a swift and critical response from those in power.

Sri Lanka’s largest listed company John Keells Holdings has expressed solidarity with the “peaceful protesters”.  Calling for “decisive action” from the leadership, the company cautioned authorities that “social unrest” could continue if there is no “sustainable solution” in response to the growing calls for change and good governance.

Apart from large-scale manufacturers and multinational corporations, traditional business houses are also weighing in. Sri Lanka’s pioneer biscuit manufacturer Maliban said it extends its “fullest support” to the “peaceful and respectful social movement calling for change”.

CHINA URGES PAK. TO CRACK DOWN ON TERROR OUTFITS

China on Wednesday called on Pakistan to “resolutely crack down” on terror outfits in the wake of a suicide attack in Karachi on Tuesday that killed three Chinese teachers and one Pakistani national.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement said China “strongly condemns and expresses great indignation over this major terrorist attack, conveys deep condolences to the victims and sympathies to the injured and bereaved families”, State media reported, adding that the Chinese Foreign Ministry and missions in Pakistan “will continue to urge relevant Pakistani departments to deal with the aftermath, treat the injured and resolutely crack down on the terrorist organisations involved”.

“The blood of the Chinese people should not be shed in vain and those behind this incident will pay the price,” the Foreign Ministry said.

China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao also “made an urgent phone call to the Pakistani Ambassador to China to express grave concerns”, State media said, adding that “he demanded that the Pakistani side should immediately make thorough investigation of the incident, apprehend and punish the perpetrators to the full extent of the law, and take all possible measures to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens in Pakistan and prevent such incidents from happening again”.

CHINA REPORTS FIRST HUMAN CASE OF H3N8 BIRD FLU

China has recorded its first human infection with the H3N8 strain of bird flu, but the risk of its spread among people is low, the health authority said.

The variant was found in a four-year-old boy from Henan. The boy showed fever and other symptoms on April 5, the National Health Commission said in a statement on Tuesday. The child had been in contact with chickens and crows raised at his home, it added in a statement.

The H3N8 variant is common in horses and dogs and has even been found in seals. No human cases of H3N8 have been reported.

Whole genome sequence analyses indicate that the H3N8 virus in this human case is a reassortant, with genes from viruses that have been detected previously in poultry and wild birds,said Nicola Lewis, an influenza expert at the Royal Veterinary College in Britain.

The virus warrants expanded surveillance, said Erik Karlsson, deputy head of the virology unit at the Institut Pasteur in Cambodia.