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February 18, 2025 4:35 PM

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Midday News

THE HEADLINES

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

  • India and Qatar sign important agreements to enhance strategic partnership.

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a review meeting on implementation of new Criminal Laws in Jammu and Kashmir.

  • Government releases Digital Brand Identity Manual to bring uniformity across government websites and digital platforms.

  • Talks between US and Russia aimed at ending Ukraine war underway in Riyadh.

  • In Women’s Premier League Cricket, Gujarat Giants to take on Mumbai Indians in Vadodara today.

  • In FIH Pro League hockey, Indian Men’s Team to take on Germany and Women’s Team to face Spain in Bhubaneswar this evening.

     

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India and Qatar have signed and exchanged two Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in New Delhi today. These MoUs are related to fostering strategic partnership between the two nations and avoidance of double taxes and prevention of physical evasion of taxes on income. The MoUs were exchanged in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani after delegation level talks.

External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and other senior officials were present from the Indian side. A high-level delegation including Ministers and senior officials of Qatar were also present in the meeting.

Earlier, in the morning, the Amir was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan this morning. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Modi and several Union Ministers were present on the occasion. The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim reached New Delhi yesterday on a two day official visit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Sheikh Tamim at the airport.

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On the sidelines of the visit of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to India, the two nations signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance business and investment collaboration. The MoUs were signed in the presence of Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani, in New Delhi today. Mr Goyal said, the agreements were exchanged between the Qatari Businessmen Association and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), as well as between Invest Qatar and Invest India.

Addressing the India-Qatar Business Forum, Mr. Goyal highlighted that India-Qatar future partnership will rest on the pillars of sustainability, technology and entrepreneurship and energy. The Minister added that the nature of trade and business is witnessing transformative changes, evolving from energy trade to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet of things, quantum computing and semiconductors.

Speaking at the event Minister of Commerce and Industry of Qatar Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani invited Indian investors and entrepreneurs to explore the full potential of Qatar’s economy.

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Union Home Minister Amit Shah today chaired a review meeting in New Delhi on the implementation of new criminal laws in Jammu and Kashmir. Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and senior officials attended the meeting. The implementation and current status of various new provisions related to police, prisons, prosecution and forensics in Jammu and Kashmir were reviewed.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said efforts will be made to raise awareness among the people of Jammu and Kashmir about these new laws.

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The government today released the Digital Brand Identity Manual to bring uniformity across government websites and digital platforms. Minister of State for Electronics, and Information Technology Jitin Prasada launched the Digital Brand Identity Manual in New Delhi.

On the occasion, Mr. Prasada said, India is emerging as an IT superpower under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He expressed confidence that this ambitious initiative will strengthen the country’s digital ecosystem and promote technological innovation.

The Digital Brand Identity Manual is a comprehensive guide tailored to meet the unique needs of the government in establishing a harmonious visual identity across its digital platforms.

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Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has completed nine years today. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, the scheme aims to provide financial support to farmers suffering crop loss and damage arising out of natural calamities.

This scheme has played a crucial role in stabilizing farmer’s income while promoting the adoption of innovative agricultural practices. After Recognizing the success and potential of the scheme, the Union Cabinet had approved the continuation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and Restructured the Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme till 2025-26 with a total budget of over 69 thousand 515 crore rupees.

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The Supreme Court has granted interim protection from arrest to YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia in connection with multiple FIRs lodged over his controversial comments on a YouTube show. He had made the comments during a guest appearance on a TV show that sparked a massive uproar. The court’s order is subject to his cooperation with the ongoing investigations.

Expressing strong disapproval of the comments, the court restrained Allahabadia and his associates from airing any further episodes of the show until further orders. Additionally, it directed him to deposit his passport at the Thane police station and prohibited him from leaving the country without prior permission.

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The Odisha Police have registered a case in connection with the reported suicide of a Nepalese girl student at a private university in Bhubaneswar and have arrested a student from the university in this regard.

Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, has expressed concern over the incident, and noted in a social media post, that the Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi has dispatched two officers to counsel Nepalese students affected by the incident in Odisha.

The incident which occurred on Sunday, triggered tension in the university campus, with students and student organizations demanding justice for the deceased student.

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The toppers from prestigious exams like UPSC, IIT-JEE, CBSE and ICSE today shared their success stories in the 8th and final episode of Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025. The board exam toppers said that during the exams, the students cannot retain all the information in their minds, so it is helpful to focus on specific topics that are frequently asked in exams. They also asked the students to revise previous years’ question papers.

Radhika Singhal, CBSE topper 2022-23, said, extracurricular activities are also important because it builds up the confidence.

Our correspondent reports that over the years, Pariksha Pe Charcha has evolved into an opportunity aimed at transforming exam-related stress into positive energy.


“When exams come closer, many questions arise in the student’s mind about their performance. Due to this, they feel stress and anxiety. To overcome this pressure, a unique initiative Pariksha Pe Charcha was initiated in the year 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which helped the students in an immense way to effectively deal with the stress and anxiety. By addressing real questions and offering actionable solutions, Prime Minister Modi has bridged the gap between policy and practice, empowering students to thrive under pressure. With each passing year, Pariksha Pe Charcha reinforces the message that exams are not the end but a beginning.”

 

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And now news from Mahakumbh 2025 underway in Prayagraj.

A 20-member team of senior officials from Nashik in Maharashtra will study the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj to prepare for the upcoming Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh in 2027. The team arrived in Prayagraj yesterday and will observe the management and various arrangements done by the Uttar Pradesh government in Mahakumbh. Our correspondents report that the lessons learnt will be implemented for the organisation of the Nashik Kumbh: 

 

 

“The team is led by the Nashik Divisional Commissioner, Praveen Gedam, accompanied by the Nashik Collector and District Magistrate, Jalaj Sharma along with Nashik Range Special IGP, Dattatraya Karale. This team will visit various sites in Mahakumbh today and tomorrow, to study the initiatives taken by the State government. Notably – crowd control and emergency response, traffic and transport, ghats and river water management, and health and medical arrangements. The team will also study – tent city and housing, sanitation and garbage management, drinking water and toilet facilities, protocol and security, as well as coordination with akhadas and mahants. Mr Gedam said that the management of Maha Kumbh 2025 is unique and exemplary.

 

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In Gujarat, counting of votes is underway for the local elections for Junagadh Municipal Corporation, 66 municipalities, and 3 Taluka Panchayat, and for midterm and by-elections for various local bodies.

Our correspondent reports that BJP is leading over 40 seats out of 60 in Junagadh Municipal Corporation and in 37 seats in 66 Municipalities. Out of the 2178 seats across 170 local bodies, as many as 213 seats have already gone uncontested in these polls. The fate of the 5084 candidates is at stake and the picture will be clear by evening.

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Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav has emphasised the need to promote reuse and recycling of products. He was addressing the 18th Conclave on Waste Recycling and Climate Change 2025 in New Delhi today.

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The talks between the US and Russia have started in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, and senior Putin aide Yuri Ushakov are holding discussions with US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and West Asia Envoy Steve Witkoff. The talks aim to pave the way for the first exchanges on a potential peace deal to end the Ukraine war. However, Ukraine and European leaders have been excluded, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine cannot agree to anything without it’s participation.

Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Turkey today to discuss the conflict with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and will then head to Saudi Arabia a day later.

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In the Hockey FIH Pro League, the Indian Men’s Team will take on Germany, while the Women’s Team will face Spain at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium at Bhubaneswar in Odisha this evening. Harmanpreet Singh led men’s team currently sit at the eighth place in the standings and will be looking to climb higher, by winning the match against Germany.

In Women’s Premier League Cricket, Gujarat Giants will play against Mumbai Indians at Vadodara this evening.

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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

  • India and Qatar sign important agreements to enhance strategic partnership.

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a review meeting on implementation of new Criminal Laws in Jammu and Kashmir.

  • Government releases Digital Brand Identity Manual to bring uniformity across government websites and digital platforms.

  • Talks between US and Russia aimed at ending Ukraine war underway in Riyadh.

  • In Women’s Premier League Cricket, Gujarat Giants to take on Mumbai Indians in Vadodara today.

  • In FIH Pro League hockey, Indian Men’s Team to take on Germany and Women’s Team to face Spain in Bhubaneswar this evening.