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Spain FM’s visit to increase cooperation in Defence sector

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Spain Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares paid his first official visit to India on Wednesday and held bilateral talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Both of them reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relationship in the meeting.

The two Ministers committed to add new depth and content to the relationship. There were detailed discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the key priority areas of trade and investments, people-to-people relationship, climate cooperation, green energy, science & technology, innovation and defence & security.

They stressed on the need for regular meetings of bilateral institutional mechanisms and early finalization of MoUs/ Agreements under negotiation in various sectors. During the meeting, the Ministers signed the Joint Declaration of Intent on Cooperation in Cultural and Academic fields.

Airbus Spain will supply 56 C295 aircraft, 40 of which would be made in India, and both the ministers agreed to further deepen defence and security cooperation. They reiterated their commitment to closely work in countering common challenges related to terrorism, violent extremism and cyber crime.

They noted with satisfaction that the bilateral trade has resurged beyond pre-Covid levels and there is significant potential to grow even further. They agreed that there are more opportunities in sectors like IT, Pharma and renewables and there are new and unexplored emerging areas like green hydrogen, electric mobility, advanced materials, deep sea exploration where the two countries can collaborate further.

The Ministers also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues of mutual interest and noted the mutual understanding and support in addressing common challenges like climate change, global health, sustainable development and counter-terrorism.

They welcomed the restart of India-EU FTA negotiations later this month. On Ukraine, the two ministers expressed their concern on the ongoing humanitarian crisis and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. On Afghanistan, both sides highlighted the need for Afghanistan to have unhindered access to humanitarian assistance and that Afghan territory is not used by terror outfits for destabilising the region.

They emphasised the need to retain strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific region and to promote collaborative efforts among like-minded nations.

They also agreed to explore collaboration in development partnership and economic activities in the LAC region and in this context discussed the Ibero-American Conference. Both Ministers appreciated the cooperation between India and Spain in the UN and other multilateral bodies.

National News

After DU, JNU advises students to avoid Jantar Mantar amid CJP protest

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New Delhi, July 24: After the University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has also issued an advisory asking students and other stakeholders to refrain from visiting Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janta Party is holding a protest over the NEET paper leak and other issues.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the university urged members of its academic community to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety.

“All stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi,” the advisory stated.

The university also cautioned students about their conduct on social media, warning that violations could attract legal and disciplinary action.

“Please exercise responsibility on social media. Violations may invite legal consequences under applicable laws as well as disciplinary action under the University’s code of conduct,” the statement said.

It further urged students and staff to uphold the principles of responsible citizenship, saying, “You are also encouraged to uphold the values of academic responsibility and responsible citizenship.”

The advisory came a day after Delhi University issued a similar appeal to its students and faculty members, urging them to stay away from demonstrations at Jantar Mantar due to potential safety and legal consequences.

In its statement on Thursday, DU said that the safety and well-being of students remained its foremost priority and warned against participation in unlawful assemblies or demonstrations.

“Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us,” the advisory said, adding that gatherings at Jantar Mantar are subject to regulations and restrictions laid down under directions of the Supreme Court of India.

The advisories from the two central universities came amid continued protests at Jantar Mantar over the demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day fast.

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National News

Female student injured during Jantar Mantar protest conscious, responding to commands: RML Hospital

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New Delhi, July 24: The 21-year-old woman who sustained critical injuries during a protest-related incident at Jantar Mantar earlier this week is now conscious, breathing on her own, and responding appropriately to commands, according to a statement by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Friday.

The hospital said the patient has shown significant clinical improvement since being admitted in a critical condition following the incident.

“She is showing clinical improvement. She was successfully extubated (removed from the ventilator) almost 48 hours back and is breathing on her own. She is conscious and responding appropriately to commands,” the hospital said in a statement.

The woman has been undergoing intensive treatment at the hospital since she was brought in from the protest site with severe injuries.

Doctors said her condition has stabilised, although she continues to require close monitoring and advanced medical care.

“Her clinical condition is currently stable. However, she needs and continues to receive comprehensive critical care under the close supervision of the multidisciplinary treating team,” the statement added.

The student was injured during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. According to reports, she suffered serious injuries after allegedly colliding with a police barricade during a crackdown on demonstrators attempting to march towards Parliament.

The incident occurred amid chaotic scenes during the CJP’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, which began at Jantar Mantar and aimed to proceed towards Parliament. Protesters were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging irregularities in various competitive examinations, including the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG paper leak.

Meanwhile, Cockroach Janta Party has said that its protest at Jantar Mantar will continue even after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day fast on Thursday and reiterated that the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains its primary demand.

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Crime

NCB crackdown forces Myanmar drug cartels into forests and river routes

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New Delhi, July 23: The Guwahati and Imphal zonal units of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) have stepped up operations against narcotics cartels operating out of Myanmar.

India is battling narcotics smuggling on multiple fronts, with drug cartels operating out of Myanmar emerging as a major security concern. While the Guwahati and Imphal zonal units of the NCB have made several major seizures in 2025 and 2026, enforcement agencies have observed a shift in the smuggling methods and operational patterns adopted by these networks.

As law enforcement agencies tighten the noose around drug cartels operating between Myanmar and India, the traditional routes used to smuggle narcotics have begun to change.

An official said the cartels primarily smuggle heroin and methamphetamine into India. “Earlier, when surveillance and scrutiny were less stringent, traffickers used conventional routes and operated with relative ease. However, they have now shifted to dense forests and riverine stretches to evade detection,” the official said.

While enforcement agencies are working to dismantle these smuggling routes, the task remains challenging because of the difficult terrain along the India-Myanmar border. According to officials, traffickers typically move consignments under the cover of darkness, making detection far more difficult. They also exploit adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain, knowing that surveillance and movement by security personnel are often affected during such periods, an official said.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the supply chain is a complex one. Multiple layers are involved, which makes detection and investigation tricky. These Myanmar-based cartels have their supply chains leading to Assam and Manipur.

After the drugs originate from Myanmar, they get passed on to the cross-border couriers. “These traffickers are assisted by the transport coordinators, following which it reaches the local facilitators, who then get in touch with the receivers of the consignment, who then supply it into the market,” the IB official said.

Further, there is another chain which involves the finances. Those who handle the illicit finances are random people who are not usually under the radar of any agency. Their job is to collect the money from the consignment receivers and then route it back to the cartels using several illicit channels.

“As compared to the narcotic smuggling that one witnesses along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, this one is a much more complex one,” said an official.

In Punjab, Pakistan-based smugglers now rely largely on drones to drop contraband across the border, reflecting a more technology-driven method of trafficking. In contrast, drug cartels operating out of Myanmar continue to depend primarily on human couriers and traditional smuggling networks, with comparatively limited use of technology.

Another official said that the use of such complex terrains and networks makes the job of the agencies much harder. Multiple layers need to be monitored, and since it is a well-oiled mechanism, it would take some time before a complete crackdown takes place, the official also explained.

The recent arrest of Nengzatuan, alias Tuanpi, a resident of Haichin in Myanmar’s Chin State, has given a significant boost to the NCB’s operations. Wanted in multiple narcotics cases, Tuanpi was arrested in Manipur. Investigators believe his interrogation will provide valuable insights into the logistics network used by Myanmar-based drug cartels and help agencies dismantle their supply chain.

The arrested person is not a small-time operative, and he was one of the main international suppliers, who was operating out of Chin State. His questioning is crucial, and the details he would provide to the NCB will help the agency break down the supply chains from Myanmar into India better.

An official said Tuanpi is expected to provide crucial information on the smuggling routes and logistics network used by the cartels. The intelligence gathered from his interrogation is likely to strengthen efforts to curb the flow of narcotics into India and also shed light on how drugs trafficked into the country are subsequently routed to international markets, the official added.

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