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At least four people were killed and dozens injured in India's Himalayan region of Ladakh on Wednesday as protesters demanding statehood for the federal territory and job quotas for local residents clashed with police, two sources told Reuters.The enclave lost its autonomy in 2019 when it was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir state by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government and placed under the direct administration of New Delhi.Protesters, led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, also want Ladakh to be given special status that would allow the creation of elected local bodies to protect its tribal areas.Late on Wednesday, India's ministry of home affairs said that the protests were triggered by "provocative" speeches by Wangchuk, who had been on hunger strike since Sept. 10.A mob attacked a political party office, set fire to the Leh chief executive councillor's office and torched a police vehicle, the ministry said in a statement.More than 30 police and personnel were injured during the incident, it said."In self-defence, police had to resort to firing in which unfortunately some casualties are reported," the statement added.The ministry added that the situation had been "brought under control by 4 p.m., barring the unfortunate incidents earlier in the day.""During this (Wednesday's) violence, 2-3 of our youth have died for our cause... I want to reassure the people of Ladakh that we will not let the sacrifices of these youth go to waste... We will keep trying to get our demands fulfilled," said Thupstan Tswang, Chairman of Leh Apex Body.The office of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party in the main city of Leh was among the buildings vandalised and set on fire, said news agency ANI, in which Reuters has a minority stake.ANI visuals showed black smoke emanating from behind the office complex's boundary wall and elsewhere, hundreds of people chanted slogans.Indian TV channels showed an abandoned police vehicle with flames emanating from its front. Local media reports said some young protesters pelted stones at police and tear gas was used to disperse them.More than 50 people, including 20 police personnel, were injured, a police source said. "It was the frustration of the youth...that brought them to the streets...I appeal to the youth...don't walk on this path of violence," said Wangchuk, who called off his fortnight-long hunger strike after the violence."This is not a solution to Ladakh's problem... If our youth have sorrow and pain that we are on hunger strike, then we are breaking our hunger strike from today."Kavinder Gupta, Ladakh's lieutenant governor, appealed for an end to violence and restoration of peace in a video message circulated by his office. Demonstrations, public gatherings and inflammatory speech were being banned to maintain peace, district administrator Romil Singh Donk said in a public notice.Ladakh shares a long border with China and is a strategic territory for India.India's home ministry has been in talks with Ladakh's leaders since 2023 and has said it is looking into their demands.The next round of discussions is scheduled for October 6.

Qatar Chamber held a meeting Monday with a business delegation from India to discuss trade and economic relations and ways to enhance them, as well as opportunities for private sector collaboration and partnerships and promising sectors for Qatari investment in India.The delegation was led by Sanjay Beswal, co-chair of the International Affairs Committee at PHDCCI India, while Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Mahdi al-Ahbabi headed the Qatari side.Addressing the meeting, al-Ahbabi highlighted the strong co-operation between Qatar and India at all levels, particularly in trade and economic relations. He noted that India is one of Qatar’s most important trading partners, with bilateral trade reaching QR48bn last year. He added that the Indian business community plays an active role in supporting Qatar’s economic development through the presence of numerous Indian companies operating across various sectors in the Qatari market.Al-Ahbabi also emphasised Qatar Chamber’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and co-operation between Qatari and Indian companies through joint investments and projects across diverse sectors, including energy, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, and food security.He invited Indian companies to explore the investment opportunities available in Qatar, highlighting the country’s advanced infrastructure and progressive legislation, which pave the way for deeper collaboration between the Qatari and Indian business communities.For his part, Beswal noted that PHDCCI is one of India’s oldest chambers, established over 128 years ago, and includes a wide range of leading companies, including SMEs across all sectors.He expressed his keenness to enhance co-operation with Qatar Chamber to develop stronger partnerships between the business sectors of both countries, especially given the shared desire to expand trade and economic co-operation. He highlighted the strong economic and commercial ties between the two countries, noting that India is one of Qatar’s leading exporters.Beswal said many Indian companies are keen to invest in Qatar and collaborate with Qatari counterparts across all sectors, inviting Qatari investors to explore India’s promising investment opportunities in infrastructure, education, healthcare, services, renewable energy, technology, and innovation, supported by legislative reforms, incentives, and a pro-business environment.He also invited Qatari businessmen and investors to visit India to explore available opportunities and meet their Indian counterparts to discuss co-operation and joint ventures.The meeting also included a presentation highlighting investment opportunities in India across sectors, such as energy, infrastructure, transport, smart cities, technology and innovation, food security, agriculture, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and fintech.Also present at the meeting were Deepak Pundir, commercial attaché at the Indian Embassy in Qatar, along with a number of Qatari businessmen and their Indian counterparts.

India, which exported agarwood worth $4.25mn globally in 2024-25, has showcased before key stakeholders in Qatar, its premium quality domestic agarwood, particularly from the North-Eastern region.In this regard, the Embassy of India in Doha, in coordination with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER), Government of India, and the Indian Business and Professionals Council (IBPC), organised a hybrid buyer–seller meet on agarwood and its derivatives.Around 150 participants from India and Qatar, including 46 exporters from India and nearly 35 perfume importers, hypermarkets, and supermarkets from Qatar, joined the event.Leading buyers from Qatar expressed "strong interest" in exploring opportunities for collaboration in perfumery, retail, and hospitality sectors, where agarwood and its derivatives enjoy deep cultural, and economic significance."There is a growing demand for agarwood products in Qatar and the wider GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) region," said an official of the organisers.The meet showcased the federal government's initiatives to enhance sustainable cultivation, streamline exports, and ensure global competitiveness.Angshuman Dey, Joint Secretary, MoDoNER, delivered a keynote address highlighting the significance of the Indian agarwood industry.He emphasised the unique heritage and premium quality of Indian agarwood, particularly from the North-Eastern region, as well as the Government of India’s initiatives to enhance sustainable cultivation.The meet saw participation from representatives of Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya — the key North-Eastern states where agarwood is traditionally cultivated and processed.India’s agarwood industry today offers a wide portfolio of products — from agarwood chips, oils, incense, and attars to perfumes, wellness items, and even innovative products like agarwood tea. Globally, India exported agarwood worth $4.25mn (86,173kg) in 2024–25. Recognizing the rising international demand, the federal government has substantially expanded export quotas.For 2024–27, export quotas for agarwood chips have been increased from 25,000 kg to more than 151,000 kg, and for agarwood oil from 1,500 kg to more than 7,000 kg.In parallel, digital licensing systems and national quality standards are being introduced to ensure sustainability, transparency, and compliance with CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) regulations.The event showcased the power of collaboration by connecting India’s exporters with Qatar’s leading buyers, opening new avenues for trade, innovation, and partnerships in the fragrant world of Oud.

Flooding across northern India killed at least five people Wednesday, officials said, with more thunderstorms expected and local media reporting that 10,000 people have been evacuated from the river banks in capital Delhi.The monsoon season in India has been particularly intense this year, killing at least 130 people in August alone in north India, wiping out villages and destroying infrastructure.The latest round of flooding has hit northern Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Punjab, where the Chenab and Tawi rivers have risen above the danger mark at several spots.The swollen rivers have triggered landslides and damaged many roads, disconnecting parts of the mountainous regions of Jammu and Himachal from the rest of India. At least five people were killed Wednesday after landslides battered Rajouri and Mandi districts in Jammu and Himachal Pradesh respectively, officials said.The India Meteorological Department warned of heavy to very heavy rain in the region with more downpours expected in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.The Central Water Commission said the swollen Yamuna had breached its danger mark on Tuesday in Delhi.Local media reported that nearly 10,000 people had been evacuated to relief camps set up by the government along the main highways as a precautionary measure for those living in low-lying areas. Residents living along the Yamuna in Delhi were evacuated in 2023 as well after floodwaters entered their homes and the river hit its highest level in 45 years.Many tourist spots in Himachal Pradesh have been hit by landslides in recent weeks, as raging rivers damaged infrastructure.Educational institutions were ordered shut, authorities said, asking people to remain indoors due to flood warnings.In neighbouring Punjab, the government said 30 people have been killed and nearly 20,000 evacuated since August 1.Water gushing through the plains in India's breadbasket Punjab state has destroyed 150,000 hectares of crops, the government said on Tuesday. Continuous rain prompted authorities to release water from dams, which has caused flooding in plains in India and Pakistan in recent days.

The Indian expatriate community in Qatar celebrated their homeland's 79th Independence Day on a grand scale Friday.The official ceremony at the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) in the morning saw ambassador, Vipul offering floral tributes to the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and hoisting the national flag amidst the rendering of the national anthem.Other diplomats from the embassy as well as several leaders of the community along with a large number of community members joined the envoy on the occasion in a great display of patriotic pomp and fervour.Following by the flag hoisting, ambassador Vipul read out excerpts from the address of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu to the nation delivered on the eve of Independence Day.Addressing the nation, Murmu said: “Our Constitution contains four values as the four pillars upholding our democracy. They are - justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. These are our civilisational principles that we re-discovered during the Freedom Struggle.”“At the heart of them all, I believe, is the notion of human dignity. Every human being is equal, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity. Everyone should have equal access to healthcare and education. Everyone should have equal opportunity. Those who had been traditionally at a disadvantage needed to be given a helping hand,” President Murmu, highlighted in her speech.Speaking at the ICC event, ambassador Vipul highlighted the deepening of the diplomatic ties between India and Qatar and stressed the establishment of strategic partnership between the two countries during the highly successful visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to India in February this year.“There were some very significant decisions taken during His Highness's visit including declaring our bilateral relations as strategic partnership. Two agreements and several MoUs were signed during the visit which should take forward our relations in several areas such as trade, investment, business networks, technology, energy, culture and sports,” he said.“I would request all members of our community, especially those in influential positions, to do their best to take forward our relations to newer heights as envisaged by our leaderships. In particular, I would request all businessmen to look into how we can further enhance trade between our two countries. We also need to promote more cultural and tourism exchanges between India and Qatar,” continued the ambassador.The Indian envoy expressed gratitude to His Highness the Amir and the Government Qatar for their continued support and patronage to the Indian community. Applauding the role and contributions of the Indian community, ambassador said, " Indians in Qatar play a pivotal role in India's development and growing ties with the world.” He also commended the various Indian community organisations for their unwavering support in advancing community welfare and progress.The formal function was also marked by several cultural performances including patriotic songs and dances presented by various Indian organisations in Qatar. The ceremony came to a conclusion as the ambassador along with leaders of the apex bodies under the embassy cut a cake to celebrate the occasion.ICC president A P Manikantan welcomed the gathering and general secretary Abraham K Joseph proposed a vote of thanks.