Kashmir Valley to South China Sea: Top five headlines this morning

Here are the top five headlines on Hindustan Times at 10am on Wednesday, July 13.

From the CM of Jammu and Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti appealing to keep peace in the Valley to how Beijing reacted to the South China Sea verdict by the UN-backed international court, and who will lead Indian hockey team in the Rio Games next month, here are the top five headlines on Hindustan Times on Wednesday:

(Left to right) Xi Jinping lead Beijing to snub South China Sea verdict; PR Sreejesh - the new Team India Hockey skipper; Raj Babbar - the Congress commander for UP elections, and J-K CM Mehbooba Mufti appeals for peace in Kashmir. (Agencies)

Mehbooba tries to calm the Valley

Blaming “vested interests” for the unrest in Kashmir, chief minister Mehbooba Mufti appealed on Tuesday to the parents not to allow anybody to play with the future of their children as she asserted that violence does not achieve anything but only results in bloodshed.

Read the full report here

Beijing snubs South China Sea verdict

A ship of the Chinese Coast Guard is seen near a ship of the Vietnam Marine Guard in the South China Sea, about 210 km off shore of Vietnam in this May 14, 2014 photo. (Reuters file photo)

UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration on Tuesday ruled that China never had historic rights over islands in the South China Sea (SCS). The verdict said China had violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights by exploring for resources in the region. Beijing, which had always rejected the validity of the court’s jurisdiction over the issue, upped the offensive with President Xi Jinping leading the charge.

Read the full story here

Najma, Siddeshwara axed from Modi Cabinet

As part his last week’s cabinet rejig, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dropped two more ministers from his council, promoted one and changed the portfolio of a junior minister. Minority affairs minister Najma Heptulla and minister of state for heavy industries and public enterprise, GM Siddeshwara, were axed on Tuesday.

Read the full report here

New role for Raj Babbar

Raj Babbar will lead the Congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh that goes to polls early next year. Babbar, a Rajya Sabha MP from Uttarakhand, replaces Nirmal Khatri who was named as the chairman of the screening committee that will shortlist the party candidates for the upcoming polls.

Read more here

Indian Hockey team gets new skipper

BJP president Amit Shah and sports minister Vijay Goel with captain of Indian men's hockey team PR Sreejesh (right) and vice-captain SV Sunil after the announcement of men's hockey squad for the upcoming Rio Olympics, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

Just a month ahead of the Rio Games, Hockey India sprang in a surprise by ending the eight-year reign of Sardar Singh as the men’s team captain, and passing the baton to his long-time deputy PR Sreejesh, who led India to the historic Champions Trophy silver last month.

Read more here

Follow uninterrupted news coverage on Twitter @htTweets and Facebook