1. PM Modi greets Amir of Qatar at the airport with a warm hug
2. KIIT Nepali Student Suicide: Nepal PM Intervenes, Police Say Engineering Student Harassed Victim
3. Gyanesh Kumar Appointed New Chief Election Commissioner
4. Railways to remove Kumbh ads from stations to bring down crowds
5. ‘Manipur Crisis Driven By Those Pursuing Separate Administration’: Meitei Body In Memorandum To Governor

What Else

1. EAM Jaishankar meets former UK PM Sunak, deputy foreign minster of Italy in Delhi
2. PoGB: Diamer-Bhasha Dam protest continues, demonstrators call for agreements to be fulfilled
3. Maulana Kashif Ali, Head of LeT’s Political Wing, Shot dead in Pakistan’s KP: Reports
4. Over 13,000 police personnel to be deployed for ICC Champions Trophy
5. Pakistan urges UN action on Kashmir and Palestine, reaffirms OIC support
6. Pakistan: KP plans fresh op after Kurram convoy attacks
7. China’s Xi urges entrepreneurs to ‘show their talents’ in sign of support for private business

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PM Modi greets Amir of Qatar at the airport with a warm hug

• PM Modi warmly welcomed the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad AL Thani, at Palam Technical Airport in New Delhi on Mon.
• The two leaders shared a hug, with PM Modi describing the Qatar Amir as his “brother” and wishing him a fruitful stay in India.
• The Amir’s 2-day state visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Qatar.
• Key areas of discussion will include trade, investment, energy, technology, culture, and people-to-people ties.
• Some notable aspects of India-Qatar relations include:
• Trade: India’s bilateral trade with Qatar stood at $18.77 billion in 2022-23, with Qatar being one of India’s largest trade partners in the Gulf region.
• Energy Cooperation: Qatar is a significant supplier of LNG and LPG to India.
• Defence Cooperation: India and Qatar have robust defense cooperation, with India offering training slots to Qatari defense personnel and participating in the biennial Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX).
• Indian Community in Qatar: The Indian community in Qatar is the largest expatriate community in the country, contributing significantly to Qatar’s progress and development. (more)

KIIT Nepali Student Suicide: Nepal PM Intervenes, Police Say Engineering Student Harassed Victim

• A 20-year-old Nepalese student, Prakriti Lamsal, died by suicide in her hostel room at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Alleged harassment by a fellow student, Advik Srivastava, may have contributed to her death.
• Following the incident, police arrested Advik and are investigating the matter.
• KIIT closed its campus for international students from Nepal and suspended classes temporarily, sparking protests from students demanding justice.
• The Nepal govt intervened, with PM K P Sharma Oli sending officials to support Nepali students.
• The govt cited concerns over student safety, alleged harassment, and potential systemic failures in university policies and procedures.
• The embassy added it was coordinating with Indian authorities, including the Odisha chief minister’s office, regarding the incident.
• Approximately 700 Nepali students are studying at KIIT and roughly 30-50k in India.
• Nepal Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba confirmed that diplomatic steps were being taken in response to the incident.
• A group of Nepalese students staged a protest outside the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, demanding an investigation into the incident.
• The Indian Embassy expressed deep sorrow over Lamsal’s death and extended condolences to her family. (more)
• [There might be more to the story that hasn’t been reported or shared. There may be underlying factors or circumstances that contributed to the incident, yet to be public]

Gyanesh Kumar Appointed New Chief Election Commissioner

• Gyanesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner, succeeding Rajiv Kumar.
• Kumar will oversee elections in 5 states, including Opposition-ruled Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, as well as NDA-ruled Bihar and Assam.
• Kumar, a 1988-batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre, has had a distinguished career, serving in various roles, including Secretary to the Kerala govt and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Defence.
• He was also part of the Union Home Ministry and helped draft the bill that scrapped Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
• Kumar’s tenure will last until Jan 26, 2029, during which he will steer the Commission through 20 Assembly elections, elections for President and Vice-President in 2027, and preparations for the 2029 Lok Sabha election.
• The appointment has been met with some controversy, with Congress objecting to the selection process, citing concerns over the gov’s control of the Election Commission.
• However, the govt has stated that it did not want to postpone the selection process, as it would leave a vacancy in the poll commission. (more)

Railways to remove Kumbh ads from stations to bring down crowds

• The Indian Railways has decided to remove advertisements related to the Kumbh Mela from railway stations.
• The move aims to reduce crowds at the event and promote social distancing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage, typically attracts millions of devotees. However, due to the pandemic, the government is taking measures to prevent large gatherings.
• By removing the advertisements, the Railways hopes to discourage people from attending the event in large numbers.
• This decision is part of the government’s efforts to balance public health concerns with religious and cultural traditions. (more)

EAM Jaishankar meets former UK PM Sunak, deputy foreign minster of Italy in Delhi

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had a busy day in Delhi, meeting with two prominent international figures.
• He met with former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Maria Tripodi, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy
• These meetings are part of India’s efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties with key nations.
• Jaishankar’s discussions with Sunak and Tripodi likely focused on bilateral relations, trade, and global issues.
• It’s worth noting that Jaishankar has been actively engaging with international leaders, including a recent visit to Italy where he attended the G7 FMs’ meeting. (more)

‘Manipur Crisis Driven By Those Pursuing Separate Administration’: Meitei Body In Memorandum To Governor

• The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), a Meitei body, recently submitted a memorandum to the Governor, highlighting the need to address the root causes of the crisis
• The Manipur crisis is a complex issue, driven by various factors, including the demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by the Meitei community and the pursuit of separate administration by some groups.
• The conflict has its roots in the state’s history, with the Meitei community, which dominates the Imphal Valley, seeking ST status, while the Kuki-Zo tribal community, which inhabits the surrounding hills, opposes this demand.
• The issue has led to violence, displacement, and loss of life, with over 221 people killed and 60,000 displaced, according to government figures
• The crisis has also been fueled by issues such as land rights, with the Meitei community seeking to expand its territory, and the Kuki-Zo community resisting this move.
• The situation has been further complicated by the involvement of militant groups and the influx of refugees from Myanmar.
• To address the crisis, the government has deployed security forces, imposed curfews, and attempted to facilitate dialogue between the different communities.
• However, a lasting solution remains elusive, and the situation remains volatile. (more)

[Neighborhood]

PoGB: Diamer-Bhasha Dam protest continues, demonstrators call for agreements to be fulfilled

• Protesters in Diamer, PoGB, continue their sit-in protest for the second day, demanding the implementation of their 31-point charter.
• They’ve set a deadline of 3 PM today for the Diamer admin to address their concerns.
• The protesters want agreements signed with WAPDA in 2010 and the Diamer Graduate Alliance in 2021 to be fulfilled. Their key demands include:
• Reassessment of lands: Ensure compensation is paid according to Gilgit-Baltistan government rates for lands acquired for the Diamer Bhasha Dam project.
• Green Cards and Health Cards: Provide these for those affected by the project.
• Agricultural land: Fulfill the 2010 agreement promise of six kanals of agricultural land for each affected family.
• Household Resettlement Package: Declare every married couple eligible for this package.
• Compensation for new constructions: Provide compensation for affected people who carried out new constructions from 2015 to 2025 due to the project’s impacts.
• Protest leaders warn that if their concerns aren’t addressed, they’ll announce their next course of action, increasing pressure on the authorities to meet their demands and avoid further escalation. (more)

Maulana Kashif Ali, Head of LeT’s Political Wing, Shot dead in Pakistan’s KP: Reports

• Maulana Kashif Ali’s killing is a significant development, especially considering his role as the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) political wing, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League
• LeT, founded in 1990, is a Pakistani Islamist organization that aims to merge Kashmir with Pakistan
• LeT has been designated a terrorist group by numerous countries, including the United States, India, and Australia.
• The organization is known for its militant activities, particularly in the Kashmir region.
• In 2008, LeT was implicated in the Mumbai attacks, which resulted in the deaths of over 160 people.
• The Pakistani govt has faced international pressure to crack down on LeT, but the organization’s connections to the Pakistani military and intelligence have made it difficult to take decisive action.
• Despite this, Pakistan has banned LeT and its affiliates, including JuD, on several occasions
• The organization’s goals extend beyond Kashmir, with ambitions to establish a global Islamic caliphate (more)

Over 13,000 police personnel to be deployed for ICC Champions Trophy

• Over 12,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure security during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan.
• The Punjab Police will mobilize 12,564 officers and personnel to safeguard the high-profile matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi
• Here’s the breakdown of the security personnel deployment:
• Lahore: 7,618 officers will be on duty
• Rawalpindi: 4,535 personnel will manage security
• Special Branch: 411 officers will enhance security operations
• The security personnel will work alongside the Pakistan Army and Rangers to conduct aerial monitoring and ensure route security
• All participating players will receive state guest status, with their safety being a top priority. (more)

Pakistan urges UN action on Kashmir and Palestine, reaffirms OIC support

• Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has been quite active in international diplomacy lately.
• He’s currently in Beijing, where he’ll be meeting top Chinese leaders to discuss bilateral relations, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project
• Dar has also been advocating for the rights of the Kashmiri and Palestinian people, emphasizing the need for self-determination and a peaceful resolution to the conflicts
• He’s been quite vocal about these issues, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the OIC’s goals and advocating for a two-state solution in Palestine.
• It’s worth noting that Dar’s visit to Beijing is part of a 4-day official visit, during which he’ll co-chair the 5^th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi (more)

China’s Xi urges entrepreneurs to ‘show their talents’ in sign of support for private business

• Chinese President Xi Jinping urged entrepreneurs to “show their talents” in a “new era” for the nation’s businesses, during a rare closed-door symposium with prominent entrepreneurs.
• He emphasized the need to promote scientific and technological innovation and to strengthen confidence in development
• Xi’s speech comes amid concerns over the impact of the Beijing administration on Chinese businesses and their relative autonomy.
• The government has been instrumental in supporting growth in recent months, but investors have stayed out of the country despite stimulus measures.
• The meeting was seen as a significant event, with attendees including Alibaba’s Jack Ma, Huawei’s Ren Zhengfei, and Xiaomi’s Lei Jun.
• Analysts believe that Xi’s presence at the symposium sends a “very clear signal of top-level support” to entrepreneurs, which could reignite confidence and optimism about growth momentum in China. (more)

Pakistan: KP plans fresh op after Kurram convoy attacks

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities are planning a fresh operation after a devastating attack on a government convoy in Kurram, which resulted in the loss of 44 lives, including eight women and five children
• The convoy was traveling between Peshawar and Parachinar when armed terrorists opened fire on the vehicles in Lower Kurram’s Bagan and Uchit areas.
• The attack has sparked widespread grief and outrage, with funeral prayers held for the victims before they were laid to rest in their ancestral graveyards.
• The KP government is under pressure to take decisive action against the perpetrators and prevent such incidents in the future. (more)