President Ram Nath Kovind Sunday praised the farmers of Haryana for adopting new methods to manage stubble and crop residue as he honoured some of them with 'Kisaan Ratna' and 'Krishi Ratna' awards.

Stubble burning by farmers in many states has been one of the major causes for air pollution for years, prompting the governments to ban the practice and encourage the growers to adopt alternative ways to manage crop residue.

President Kovind, addressing the closing ceremony of the 4th Agri Leadership Summit organised by the Haryana government in Sonipat's Ganaur, condemned the Pulwama terrorist attack in which 40 CRPF soldiers were killed.

"Three days ago, some of our brave jawans lost their lives in a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Along with every Indian, I condemn this heinous crime. The entire country is in mourning with the bereaved families. On behalf of the country, I express gratitude towards our brave soldiers and security personnel," he said.

In Boxing, Indian pugilists have assured themselves of five medals in the 70th Strandja Memorial tournament at Sofia in Bulgaria. In the 49 kg category, Asian Games gold medallist Amit Panghal defeated Ukraine's Nazar Kurotchyn, 3-2 to enter the semifinals and assure a Bronze medal.

Earlier in the day, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gaurav Solanki in 52 kgs and Naman Tanwar in 91 kgs both advanced to the quarter-finals. Besides Panghal, four medals were guaranteed by Indian women pugilists at the end of the third day yesterday.

Lovlina Borgohain in 69 kgs, Manju Rani in 48 kgs, Nikhat Zareen in 51 kgs and Neeraj in 60 kgs stormed into the semi-finals with superb victories. However, 2016 World Championship silver winner Sonia Lather lost to American Ramirez Yarisel, 1-4 in the 57 kgs quarterfinals. India's best medal haul at this European event was last year. It had bagged a total of 11 medals, including two Gold.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has decided to add new security features to its convoy movement in Jammu and Kashmir making its passage more safe and secured. 

Talking to reporters in New Delhi, CRPF Director General RR Bhatnagar said, the new features in the Standard Operative Procedure for the movement of the Force will soon be added. He said, apart from traffic control, the timing of the convoy movement and their midway halts and other procedures will be added and some of them will be recalibrated. 

Mr Bhatnagar said, the movement of civilian vehicles during the movement of the force has been totally stopped in the state. The decision follows a terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama on Thursday that claimed the lives of 40 personnel.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold talks with Argentinian President Mauricio Macri in New Delhi today. Mr Macri arrived in India yesterday morning on a three-day visit. He landed in Agra and visited the Taj Mahal before reaching New Delhi. 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore received him at the airport in the national capital. Mr Macri's visit comes at a time when India and Argentina are celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations.

Battling with one branch of government and opening a new confrontation with another, President Donald Trump announced on Friday he was declaring a national emergency to fulfill his pledge to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border.

Bypassing Congress, which approved far less money for his proposed wall than he had sought, Trump said he would use executive action to siphon billions of dollars from federal military construction and counterdrug efforts for the wall, aides said. 

The move is already drawing bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill and expected to face rounds of legal challenges.

Trump made the announcement from the Rose Garden, as he claimed illegal immigration was "an invasion of our country." 

Former President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday released the book containing selected speeches of Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu at a function in New Delhi. 

The book is a compilation of 92 speeches of Mr Naidu. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mukherjee said the speeches reflect the wide experience of Mr Naidu in public affairs. 

 Mr. Mukherjee paid homage to the martyrs of Pulwama terror attack. He said, in the hour of grief, the country must stand together to fight against terrorism. 

Mr Mukherjee said, the response of the international community in condemning the terror attack in one voice will strengthen India's resolve to fight the scourge of terrorism. 

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said, the country must be united in its resolve to make every inch of the country safer but the neighbouring country is aiding and abetting terrorism. 

Sushil Chandra has assumed charge as the new Election Commissioner of India in New Delhi on Friday. He is an Indian Revenue Service officer of 1980 batch. 

The poll body now has Sunil Arora as Chief Election Commissioner and Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra as Election commissioners. 
 

Union Minister Arun Jaitley has assumed charge as Finance Minister on February 15.

Jaitley attended a Cabinet Committee meeting on Security at 9.15 am. The Cabinet discussed the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir's Pulwama that left nearly 40 jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) dead and over 18 critically injured.

"Attack on CRPF in Pulwama, J&K is cowardice & a condemnable act of terrorists. Nation salutes martyred soldiers and we all stand united with families of martyrs. We pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. Terrorists will be given unforgettable lesson for their heinous act," Jaitley said in a tweet.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Friday said it has attached assets worth Rs 4.62 crore of a firm linked to Robert Vadra, Congress president Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law, in connection with the Bikaner land scam case.

"The attached assets include movable assets amounting to Rs 18,59,500 pertaining to four individuals and one immovable property situated at 268, Sukhdev Vihar in New Delhi to the extent of Rs 4,43,36,550 owned by Robert Vadra's company Ms Sky Light Hospitality (P) Ltd (now LLP)," the agency said.

The ED had registered a criminal case in connection with the deal in 2015, taking cognisance of a clutch of FIRs and charge sheets filed by Rajasthan Police after the tehsildar of Bikaner complained about alleged forgery in the allotment of land in the area, considered sensitive due to its proximity to the Indo-Pak border.

The United States has told India that it supports New Delhi's right to self-defense, and offered full co-operation in confronting terrorism. US National Security Adviser John Bolton telephoned his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and said US has been very clear to Pakistan on ending support to terror safe havens on their soil. 

Talking to news agency PTI in Washington, Mr Bolton said, he expressed his condolences for the Pulwama terror attack.

Earlier, the White House and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a stern message to Pakistan asked Islamabad to immediately end 
its support to all terror groups and not to provide safe haven to them.