New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) Following are the top stories at 1.20 pm: NATION DEL30 UKRAINE-INDO-FRENCH-LEADERS Ukraine crisis: Modi, Macron agree on need to reach ceasefire as soon as possible New Delhi: In their phone conversation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron focused on the "Russian aggression" against Ukraine and agreed on the importance of reaching a ceasefire as soon as possible. DEL29 DEF-IAF-UKRAINE US sanctions on Russia won"t affect IAF significantly: IAF Vice Chief New Delhi, Mar 2 (PTI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) will not be significantly impacted by the US"s sanctions on Russia and India"s relations with both the countries are strong, Vice Chief Air Marshal Sandeep Singh said on Wednesday. DEL17 PM-TECHNOLOGY PM bats for self-reliance in technology sector New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday made a strong pitch for self-reliance in technology-related sectors, which play a key role in last-mile delivery of services and have immense potential for job creation. DEL27 AVI-UKRAINE-FLIGHTS Ukraine crisis: 31 evacuation flights to bring back over 6,300 Indians in coming days New Delhi: As many as 31 evacuation flights will be operated to neighbouring countries of crisis-hit Ukraine and will bring back more than 6,300 Indians stranded in the eastern European nation, according to official sources. DEL15 UKRAINE-INDIA AID IAF aircraft leaves for Romania to bring back stranded Indians New Delhi: A C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force left for Romania on Wednesday morning carrying humanitarian aid to Ukraine. DEL9 UKRAINE-INDIANS POLAND ADVISORY Travel to Budomierz check-point for quick entry into Poland: Indian embassy to stranded nationals New Delhi: The Indian embassy in Polish capital Warsaw on Wednesday advised Indians stuck in Lviv and Ternopil and other places in western Ukraine to travel at the earliest to the Budomierz border check-point for a relatively quick entry into Poland. DEL5 UKRAINE-EVACUATION-JAISHANKAR 6 flights departed for India in last 24 hours under "Op Ganga": EAM Jaishankar New Delhi: Six flights under India"s evacuation mission "Operation Ganga" have departed for India in the last 24 hours, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Wednesday. CAL5 WB-CIVIC POLLS-2NDLD-RESULTS TMC decimates opposition in Bengal civic polls, wins 93 of 107 municipalities Kolkata: Ten months after its landslide victory in the West Bengal assembly polls, the ruling Trinamool Congress on Wednesday steamrolled the entire opposition in the civic elections, bagging 93 of 107 municipalities, an SEC official said. DEL7 VIRUS-LD CASES Active COVID-19 cases in India dip to 85,680 New Delhi: India logged 7,554 new coronavirus infections, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases to 4,29,38,599, while the active cases dipped to 85,680, according to the Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. LEGAL LGD2 DL-HC-BAIL-GEHLOT Delhi HC dismisses bail plea by Ambience group promoter in money laundering case New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Monday dismissed bail plea by Ambience group promoter Raj Singh Gehlot in a money laundering case linked to an alleged bank loan fraud of Rs 800 crore. BUSINESS DEL22 BIZ-SEBI-NSE Didn"t dilute NSE orders, acted as per Sebi"s remit, understanding: Tyagi Mumbai: Outgoing Sebi chief Ajay Tyagi on Wednesday said the capital markets regulator acted as per its remit and understanding on the NSE case, and denied any "dilution" of orders in the matter. DCM10 BIZ-BHARATPE BharatPe removes Ashneer Grover from all positions at company New Delhi: Fintech firm BharatPe on Wednesday said it has removed Co-Founder Ashneer Grover from all positions at the company. DEL18 BIZ-PMI-MANUFACTURING India"s mfg activities expand in Feb as output, new orders rise amid favourable demand: PMI New Delhi: India"s manufacturing sector activities expanded in February as output and new orders grew at accelerated rates, supported by favourable demand conditions, a monthly survey said on Wednesday. FOREIGN FGN30 BIDEN-SOTU-RUSSIA-AIRSPACE Biden bans Russian planes from American airspace Washington, Mar 2 (PTI) President Joe Biden has announced that the United States is closing its airspace to Russian planes, asserting that this along with other punitive measures would weaken Russia. By Lalit K Jha FGN33 BIDEN-SOTU-LD PUTIN Putin was wrong, US is ready: Biden in first State of the Union Address Washington: Accusing his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of waging a "premeditated and unprovoked" war against Ukraine, President Joe Biden in his maiden State of the Union Address said the United States is ready to tackle the challenge posed by him. By Lalit K Jha FGN20 RUSSIA-UKRAINE-2NDLD OFFENSIVE Russian forces escalate attacks on Ukraine"s civilian areas Kyiv: Russian forces escalated their attacks on crowded urban areas Tuesday, bombarding the central square in Ukraine"s second-biggest city and Kyiv"s main TV tower in what the country"s president called a blatant campaign of terror. FGN37 BIDEN-SOTU-OIL-PRICES Biden announces release of 30 mn barrels of oil to maintain global oil prices Washington: US President Joe Biden announced that his administration has worked with 30 other countries to release millions of barrels of oil from American strategic reserves to maintain the global oil prices in the midst of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. By Lalit K Jha. PTI CK