Morning Digest | Putin recognises separatist eastern Ukrainian regions; SC to examine plea to enforce fundamental duties, and more
The Hindu
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Russian President Vladimir Putin will recognise the independence of eastern Ukraine’s separatist republics, the Kremlin said in a statement Monday, adding that he had informed the French and German leaders of his decision.
Amid escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, India was on Monday given an update on the developments by Ukraine, according to diplomatic sources.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and States to respond to a petition to enforce the fundamental duties of citizens, including patriotism and unity of the nation, through “comprehensive, well-defined laws”.
The Supreme Court has listed for hearing on Wednesday a clutch of petitions based on which it set up a technical committee monitored by former apex court judge R.V. Raveendran in October last to examine allegations of the government using the Israeli military grade software to spy on citizens.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s planned three-day sojourn in his parliamentary constituency of Varanasi between March 2 and 5, coinciding with the sixth and seventh phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh, is being seen by the BJP as a trip that could make a critical difference to the party’s fortunes in the 111 seats of Eastern Uttar Pradesh in the fray.
The BJP has claimed that is has no strong rival in Manipur, except its “ally”, the National People’s Party (NPP), headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday again questioned Rishi Kamlesh Agarwal, former chairman and managing director of ABG Shipyard Limited, in connection with the ₹22,842-crore bank fraud case.