Morning Digest | Netanyahu makes comeback as Israel’s PM; no other country has locus standi to speak about Kashmir, says MEA, and more

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Netanyahu makes comeback as Israel’s PM, Lapid concedes defeat

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won this week’s Israeli election, final results showed Thursday, clearing the way for him to return to power. Mr. Netanyahu expected to form the country’s most right-wing government in history when he takes power, likely in the coming weeks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu for his success in the Israeli general elections and said he looks forward to continuing their joint efforts to deepen the India-Israel strategic partnership.

No other country has locus standi to speak about Kashmir: India

Issuing a detailed response to the China-Pakistan joint statement that was issued during Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Beijing on Wednesday, New Delhi said on Thursday that references to Jammu & Kashmir were “unwarranted” and criticised plans to build more projects in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). After the Sharif-Li talks, the joint statement issued in Beijing on Wednesday, also called for “sincere dialogue” to resolve the Jammu & Kashmir dispute, and said that the resolution should be based on “the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements”.

Assembly bypolls held in six States; heavy turnout in Telangana’s Munugode

By-elections to seven Assembly constituencies in six States, including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, were held on Thursday with Andheri (East) registering 31.74% polling and Telangana’s Munugode recording a heavy turnout. The polls were held in Mokama and Gopalganj constituencies in Bihar, Andheri (East) in Maharashtra, Adampur in Haryana, Munugode in Telangana, Gola Gokarannath in Uttar Pradesh, and Dhamnagar in Odisha.

Attempt to poach TRS MLAs had blessings of Shah and Nadda, alleges Chandrasekhar Rao