India and Brazil inked a critical minerals agreement and set a $30 billion trade target by 2030, aiming to build resilient supply chains and reduce dependence on China. Leaders also discussed UN reforms and technology cooperation, emphasizing Global South solidarity and shared progress.
Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi's Australia visit from Feb 16-19 focused on enhancing army-to-army cooperation. Discussions with senior defence leaders reviewed joint exercises, professional education exchanges, and interoperability, deepening strategic alignment. The visit also emphasized strengthening the bilateral Army Exercise AUSTRAHIND.
Speaking in the assembly, Omar urged legislators “not to politicise every issue” and clarified that the Feb 18 order was issued by the Kishtwar deputy commissioner (DC) after consulting religious leaders as a safety measure to check donation deceptions. “We shouldn’t mix religion with politics. Some matters require dialogue and understanding at the local level rather than political confrontation,” Omar said.
Chowdhury said most political parties had now realised the importance of Hindus in electoral politics, noting that their support was crucial in at least 80 of the total 297 constituencies in National Parliament.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asserted his commitment against media censorship and using government advertisements for influence. He pledged to rationalize the advertisement policy for transparency, basing allocations on objective criteria like circulation and readership. Abdullah also highlighted efforts to fill thousands of vacant government posts and stressed the urgency of climate change response for the region.
A new report reveals significant hurdles for persons with disabilities in accessing India's justice system. Inaccessible police stations, a lack of trained personnel like sign language interpreters, and inadequate legal aid are major concerns. Many PwDs remain unaware of their rights, facing infrastructural and attitudinal barriers when seeking help from law enforcement.
Authorities are intensifying their search for local gangster Karanjit Singh, also known as Gugga, who escaped a Jammu juvenile home with two Pakistani inmates. The Pakistani nationals were apprehended in Ambala and handed over to Jammu and Kashmir Police. Gugga, believed to be the escape's architect, remains at large, with his mother also missing.