1. Elections 2024: The Invisible Hands: Was There Foreign Interference?
2. Ditch Maldives, head for Indian beaches, Israel tells citizens after entry ban
3. Two LeT militants killed in encounter at J&K’s Pulwama
4. Dalai Lama to visit US for knee treatment this month, his office says
5. Another Indian student mysteriously disappears in US, last seen in Los Angeles

What Else

• Pakistan: PM Shehbaz Sharif embarks on five-day visit to China
• South China Sea: Beijing warns neighbors of US ‘geopolitical self-interest’ in region

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Elections 2024: The Invisible Hands: Was There Foreign Interference?

• There was unusually high interest of French media in the elections, particularly highlighting the influential role of French political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot.
• French outlets such as Le Monde published numerous articles with narratives around Islamophobia, undemocratic tendencies, and caste issues in India.
• Jaffrelot’s work, especially on caste census, was prominently featured and widely cited, both in French and Indian media, raising concerns about biased and manipulated academic research. Jaffrelot’s influence on the caste census discourse in India.
• His work, coinciding with significant funding from the US-based Henry Luce Foundation for 3 years (2021-24), drove a substantial increase in discussions on caste issues, particularly during election seasons.
• Twitter data from 2010 to 2024 revealed spikes in tweets related to Jaffrelot and caste census, telling a coordinated effort to amplify this narrative with a sudden peak in 2021 coinciding with his report on caste census.
• The Trivedi Centre for Political Data at Ashoka University is a partnership between AU and the University of Michigan with seed funding worth Rs 15 crore.
• TCPD was co-founded by Gilles Verniers, a Belgian academic and mentee of Jaffrelot.
• The center, in collaboration with institutions like Sciences Po and CNRS, focused on political data analysis in India.
• Despite its significant contributions to political discourse, TCPD was dissolved in Sept 2023 after Verniers was forced to leave Ashoka University due to tenure issues.
• The financial and academic networks behind Jaffrelot’s work focused on funding from the US-based Henry Luce Foundation ().
• The HLF supports the Sciences Po American Foundation, which collaborated with Princeton and Columbia Universities on a project titled “Muslims in a Time of Hindu Majoritarianism” from 2021 to 2024.
• The HLF, established in New York City in 1936 by Henry Robinson Luce, co-founder of Time Inc. has significantly impacted journalism, higher education, and public policy.
• His connections extended into the CIA, where he used his platforms to support covert operations and anti-communist activities, including those in Italy and Cuba. (here)
• Section 144 imposed around Delhi airport; drones, laser beams banned: Delhi police have imposed prohibitory orders banning drone and laser beam activities in the funnel area falling within the approach path of flights to the IGI Airport.
• (Sources)- the prohibitory orders have been imposed due to VVIP’s movement at the airport because of political developments and the oath-taking ceremony of the PM.
• The order shall come into force with effect from Jun 1^st and shall remain in force up to July 30 (including both dates).
• The ATC of IGI Airport, New Delhi, has reported incidents of vision distraction of the pilots by laser beams, especially while landing, which is not only a source of a nuisance but may also cause danger to the safety and security of passengers, crew, and the aircraft
• It further reads that, at present, there are no rules and regulations to regulate the use of laser beams, especially in the open during night hours. (here)

Ditch Maldives, head for Indian beaches, Israel tells citizens after entry ban

• After the Maldives announced a ban on the entry of individuals holding Israeli passports into the country, the Israel Embassy in India has asked its citizens to visit India and explore Indian beaches.
• The embassy noted that Israeli tourists are warmly welcomed in India.
• The Israel Embassy in India also recommended some of the Indian places which include Goa, Andaman, and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and Kerala.
• The post included pictures of beaches.
• Israeli consul general in Mumbai, Kobbi Shoshani, even reacted to a Jan post by PM Modi where he praised the natural beauty of Lakshadweep.
• The statement comes after the Maldives on Sun announced its decision to impose a ban on the entry of individuals holding Israeli passports into the country. (here)

Two LeT militants killed in encounter at J&K’s Pulwama

• The slain militants were identified as Riyaz Ahmad Dar and Rayees – both residents of Kakapora village in Pulwama.
• A day ahead of the counting, 2 militants affiliated with LeT outfit were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Nihama, S Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Mon
• A joint team comprising J&K police, the Army, and paramilitary forces cordoned off Nihama village after “specific” inputs.
• As the joint team zeroed in on its target, the hiding militants opened fire and tried to break the security cordon, the joint team then fired back, leading to a gunfight.
• While the intermittent exchange of fire continued for some time, two houses caught fire as the security forces used heavy weapons to target the militant hideout.
• The slain militants were identified as Riyaz Ahmad Dar and Rayees – both residents of Kakapora village in Pulwama. (here)

Dalai Lama to visit US for knee treatment this month, his office says

• Tibetans’ spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will travel to the US this month to undergo medical treatment for his knees and will not hold his usual public engagements from Jun 20, his office said on Mon.
• The 88-year-old was advised against any travel last Oct following a bout of flu, but after recovery, he visited Bodhgaya, one of the holiest Buddhist sites in eastern India, in Jan.
• It did not mention when he would return to Dharamsala, a town in the northern Indian Himalayas where he lives in a compound next to a temple ringed by green hills and snow-capped mountains. (here)

Another Indian student mysteriously disappears in US, last seen in Los Angeles

• A 23-year-old Indian student went missing in California, United States last week and now the public’s help is being sought by the police to find her.
• This is another case of an Indian student missing in the US, days after a string of such incidents, which involve Indian-origin students have emerged.
• According to the police, Nitheesha Kandula – who is a California State University San Bernardino student – has been missing since May 28.
• It is most likely that the girl was driving a 2021 Toyota Corolla which had a California license plate, the color of which is not known.
• Are Indian students safe in the US? So far this year only, 7 students of Indian origin have been found dead under mysterious circumstances in various cities, including DC (here)
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 [Neighborhood]

Pakistan: PM Shehbaz Sharif embarks on five-day visit to China

• PM Shehbaz Sharif Tue embarked on his 1^st official 5-day visit to China since assuming the top office in Mar this year, as Islamabad aims to advance bilateral trade and economic ties with Beijing and attract investors towards Pakistan via B2B projects.
• The premier’s visit comes after receiving an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
• Apart from Beijing, the prime minister is set to visit two more Chinese cities Xi’an and Shenzhen during the three-segment trip.
• Among the high-level meetings, PM Shehbaz is set to meet President Xi Jinping and conduct delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang in the Chinese capital.
• The premier’s visit comes more than a month after Pakistan arrested 4 terrorists for their involvement in the deadly explosion targeting a car carrying Chinese citizens
• During his visit, the premier will also with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji, and heads of key govt departments. (here)

South China Sea: Beijing warns neighbours of US ‘geopolitical self-interest’ in region

• China urged countries around the South China Sea to be wary of Washington’s “geopolitical self-interest” and maintain autonomy to keep the region stable.
• The warning from China’s FM on Mon was in response to claims by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s of “illegal coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions” in the contested waters – an apparent reference to Beijing and its territorial disputes with Manila.
• Marcos made the comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday.
• The Chinese foreign ministry said the Philippines was “solely responsible” for the recent escalation in the South China Sea.
• It also aimed at the US, saying the country had played “an extremely dishonorable role” by supporting Manila.
• The US, out of geopolitical self-interest, has played an extremely dishonorable role by supporting and cooperating with the Philippine side’s abusive acts and using the South China Sea issue to provoke tensions between China and regional countries.
• “At present, it is crystal clear who the Philippine foreign policy and its maritime operations serve … Regional countries should remain highly vigilant in this regard and firmly hold the leading role of regional peace and stability in their own hands.” (here)