Kovind on African safari
Ram Nath Kovind is scheduled to undertake a three-day visit to Djibouti and Ethiopia from Tuesday, his maiden trip abroad as President. Kovind was sworn in as India’s 14th President on July 25. Djibouti, on the Red Sea, is of strategic importance. It is also the site of China’s first overseas naval base. However, Beijing describes it as a logistics facility. Djibouti also hosts French and US military bases. China has increased its influence in the African continent, and India is trying to catch up.
The blood connection
In a surprise move on Thursday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh