GS-II

‘Avoid meetings with foreign colleagues’ Foreign spies keen to get their hands on Russian research are monitoring Russian scientists around the clock, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, after experts denounced a new security decree as a Soviet throwback. The Kremlin’s comments came after scientists criticised a Ministry directive calling on …

Ranil, Sajith Premadasa and Karu Jayasuriya are in the fray Days after former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa named his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa as opposition presidential candidate, the battle over candidacy within the United National Party (UNP) has intensified, with no indication of a decision yet. While UNP legislators point …

India and Pakistan should bilaterally resolve the Kashmir issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday. The statement came during a phone call that Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi made to his Russian counterpart. “The Russian side emphasised the need for deescalation of tensions, and that there is …

“But people have taken advantage. Like, for instance, they view certain countries — like China, India, many countries — for a long time, they viewed them as ‘they’re growing’,” Mr. Trump said, adding that these countries had now grown and had “tremendous advantages”. “But we’re not letting that happen anymore, …

Pak. is keeping a sinister eye on Jammu & Kashmir, he says India carried out air strikes on a terrorist training camp at Balakot in Pakistan before it could plan another Pulwama-like attack, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday.“Our neighbour is continuously keeping a sinister eye on Jammu and …

This will avoid a dip in iron production The Union Environment Ministry plans to provide “temporary” forest clearances to prospective bidders for mines whose leases are set to expire in March 2020. The bulk of such mines are located in Odisha and Karnataka. Officials said that the Environment Ministry would …

ODF+ phase will focus on waste management In a nascent effort to look beyond toilets and kick off its ODF+ phase — that is, Open Defecation Free Plus — focussing on solid and liquid waste management, the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) has included the prevalence of plastic litter and water-logging …

The Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel who were part of the February 26 Balakot air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror training camp in Pakistan and the air engagement a day after have been awarded gallantry medals on the eve of Independence Day. Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been awarded Vir …

‘Articles 370 and 35A were likechains that kept people tied’ Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that he wanted to assure the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh that these areas would develop as per their wishes. “For years, intimidation ruled the roost. Let us now give development …

‘People can enjoy progressive laws’ President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said the recent changes to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh will bring “immense benefits” to the people by allowing them to enjoy the same rights and privileges as citizens in the rest of the country, including progressive laws …