Domestic Politics
Violence in Northeast Delhi has resulted in the deaths of 35 people. The Delhi Police said that 106 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the violence and 18 FIRs have been registered. [India Today]
Students in Kashmir returned to school on Monday. Schools in the region have remained shut since August last year following the abrogation of Article 370. The government made several attempts last year to re-open schools in a phased manner; however, parents were reluctant to send their children to school due to apprehensions about their safety. [The Indian Express]
International Relations
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed its concern over the violence in Delhi and urged the Government of India to ensure the safety of all citizens, regardless of their faith. The spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar, responded to the statement, saying that the comments made by the USCIRF are factually inaccurate and misleading, and appear to be aimed at politicizing the issue. [The New Indian Express]
The Maldives hired prominent British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Clooney to represent the persecuted Rohingya at the International Court of Justice. Rohingyan leaders welcomed the move. [Al Jazeera]
Environment
According to a Swiss-based group that gathers global air-quality data, New Delhi was the world’s most polluted capital city for the second consecutive year in 2019. In 2019, 21 Indian cities were listed in the world’s 30 most polluted cities. [Al Jazeera]
Economy
India’s Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said, “since the price of onions has stabilized and there is a bumper onion crop, the government has decided to lift the ban on onion exports.” India is the world’s biggest onion exporter and banned exports in September last year. [Reuters]
Health
Pakistani Health Minister Zafar Mirza confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus. Both patients had recently travelled to Iran, where 19 people have died and around 139 people have been infected by the virus in Iran. Pakistan closed its border with Iran on Sunday following the outbreak. [Reuters]
Image Source: Al Jazeera
