The WEEK morning briefing: News you should know today

AAP MLA to join BJP, Venkiah Naidu to visit Baltic nations and other important news

kashmir_naidu

AAP MLA to join BJP, Venkiah Naidu to visit Baltic nations and other important news.

Former AAP MLA Kapil Mishra to join BJP on Saturday

Kapil Mishra, a former minister in Arvind Kejriwal's government, announced on Friday that he will be joining the BJP.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel earlier this month had disqualified Mishra under the anti-defection law after he campaigned for the BJP during Lok Sabha elections in May.

PM Modi's visit to Bhutan

Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering on Thursday extended greetings on India's 73rd Independence Day and praised his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi as a man who has "good intentions" to take his nation forward.

His remarks came ahead of Modi's two-day visit to Bhutan on August 17-18 during which the two strategic allies will explore ways to further strengthen and diversify bilateral partnership.

"I see new chapters of friendship unfold for the two countries. But for today, I wish the people of India a happy Independence day. We pray for a peaceful and prosperous India," Tshering wrote in a Facebook post.

Venkaiah Naidu to visit Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia from August 17-21

The Vice President Venkiah Naidu will visit Estonia from August 20-21, where he will meet President Kersti Kaljulaid, Prime Minister Juri Ratas and the President of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), Henn Polluaas.

As a special privilege, Naidu will also address the Estonian Head of Mission's conference on India's role in the Indo-Pacific region and address an India-Estonia business forum led by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) from the Indian side. He will also meet with members of the Indian community in Estonia, Sarma said.

Reactions to UNSC meeting on Kashmir

India on Friday said the revoking of Jammu and Kashmir's special status was "entirely an internal matter" with "no external ramifications" and firmly told Pakistan that it has to stop terrorism to start talks, as the UN Security Council held a rare closed door meeting on the Kashmir issue.

Briefing the media following the conclusion of the informal meeting requested by China and Pakistan, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said India's position was and remains that matters related to the Article 370 of the Constitution are entirely an internal matter of India and these have no external ramifications.