Passage 1
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to the Maratha empire founder Shivaji on his birth anniversary on February 1, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as well as Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar paid tribute Shivneri Fort.
“Tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on his Jayanti. A visionary leader, fearless warrior, protector of culture and embodiment of good governance, his life inspires generations,” Mr. Modi said on X.
Mr. Modi has often lauded Shivaji for his military and administrative genius and had invoked the much-admired Maratha king in his speech at the BJP convention on Sunday as well.
Source – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/
Passage 2
The European Union has launched a naval mission to help protect cargo ships in the Red Sea on February 19 as attacks by Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to threaten maritime traffic, hamper trade and drive up prices.
The Iranian-backed Houthis have waged a persistent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships over Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas which began in October. However, the Yemen-based rebels have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperilling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia and Europe.
In response, U.S. and British forces have bombed multiple targets used by the Houthis. However, the EU mission will not take part in any military strikes and will only operate at sea.
Source- https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/