PM Modi arrives in South Korea on two-day visit to bolster strategic ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Seoul Thursday on a two-day visit to strengthen India’s strategic ties with South Korea and seek to enhance bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, including trade and investment. Ahead of his visit, the Prime Minister described South Korea as an important partner for India’s key initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, and said as fellow democracies the two countries share values and vision for regional and global peace.
Why grand welcome to Salman, asks Congress
The Congress on Wednesday questioned the “grand welcome” accorded to Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had praised Pakistan’s anti-terror effort just a day after the Pulwama terror attack. The party asked if this was how Prime Minister Narendra Modi remembered the Pulwama martyrs.
Kashmiri students are safe, no one harassed: Javadekar
Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that Kashmiri students had not been harassed or assaulted in other parts of the country in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. “There is a tremendous reaction of anger in the country about the Pulwama incident; but what they are saying, the harassment of Kashmiri students, nothing like that has happened,” Mr. Javadekar told presspersons here. “We have been in contact with the institutes, these incidents did not take place,” he added, when asked about the safety of Kashmiri students.
Interview | Crucial for India, Pakistan to work closely together to go after terrorists: Adel Al-Jubeir
After visiting Pakistan and India in quick succession, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir, in an interview, called for a “de-escalation” of tensions between the two countries in the wake of the Pulwama attack.
Pakistan has no case against Jadhav, India argues at ICJ
The judicial review process available to Kulbhushan Jadhav in Pakistan was “hopelessly insufficient,” while Islamabad was basing its case entirely on claims around a passport and an “extracted confession,” India’s counsel Harish Salve told the International Court of Justice on Wednesday.
J&K police raise alarm over ‘reprisal attacks’ on non-locals
“There were two minor incidents of intimidation at a sweets shop in Srinagar and workers in Bandipora. Some bike-borne youth tried to intimidate non-local workers. However, locals intervened and doused the situation,” said the police officer. The police said it fears that viral videos of alleged violence emerging from across the country against Kashmiri students and traders are “fuelling tension and anxiety in Kashmir Valley.”
Putin threatens West with new missiles
Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to deploy new missiles against Western capitals as he delivered a state of the nation address on Wednesday aimed at boosting falling approval ratings. But while he took a combative tone with the West, he reached out to Russians with promises of improved living conditions.
ICC Women’s Championship | Harmanpreet out of ODI series
Ahead of the crucial three match ICC Women’s Championship series against England at the Wankhede Stadium, starting on Friday, India’s powerful middle order batsman Harmanpreet Kaur was ruled out because a left ankle injury. She has been replaced by Himachal Pradesh’s Harleen Deol. The ODI team vice-captain, Harmanpreet felt uncomfortable while taking part in the training and practice sessions on Tuesday, but an MRI scan confirmed damage to her left ankle.
Pr o Volleyball | Spartans roar back to beat Blue Spikers
Crowd support can do wonders to a team and Chennai Spartans proved this in ample measure as it defeated Kochi Blue Spikers 3-2 (16-14, 9-15, 10-15, 15-8, 15-13) in the semifinals of the RuPay Pro Volleyball League at the Nehru Indoor stadium on Wednesday. Spartans will meet Calicut Heroes in the summit clash on Friday. Down two sets to one, Spartans were staring down the barrel when it won two points after long rallies, thanks to spikes from Naveen Raja Jacob and Rudy Verhoeff.
Editorial | With reservations: quota for Gujjars?
Gujjar leaders have held various rounds of protests over the last decade and a half, demanding reservations in educational institutions and employment in a separate backward category that is apart from the existing 21% set aside for Other Backward Classes in the State. Despite governments bringing in legislation towards this end, they have been struck down on the grounds that the additional quota would take the quantum of reservation above the 50% limit set by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney judgment.
