Briefly

INDIA

Modi breaks silence on farm protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday protesters who stormed New Delhi's Red Fort had caused "insult" to the country, his first public comments on a monthslong farmers' agitation that turned violent last week. One died and hundreds were injured during a tractor parade last week, which later turned violent as protesters clashed with police and broke into the Red Fort complex in the capital. "The country was saddened by the insult to the Tricolor (Indian flag) on the 26th of January in Delhi," Modi said in a radio address on Sunday. Farm leaders say they were not responsible for violence caused by a minority of those on the parade, and the government has left open the possibility that talks between the two sides will resume.

UNITED STATES

Trump, impeachment lawyers part ways

Former US president Donald Trump abruptly parted ways on Saturday with the two lead lawyers working on his defense for his Senate impeachment trial, a source familiar with the situation said, leaving Trump's legal strategy in disarray. Butch Bowers and Deborah Barberi, two South Carolina lawyers, are no longer on Trump's team, the source said. The source described the move as a "mutual decision". Three other lawyers associated with the team also parted ways with Trump, another source said. It leaves Trump's defense team in turmoil as he prepares for the impeachment trial starting on Feb 9.It was unclear who would now represent the former president at the trial.

Agencies via Xinhua