Health & Fitness

Search underway for Indonesian passenger ship carrying 240 people after it loses contact

Jakarta, Sep 13: Indonesian rescuers launched a search operation Sunday after a passenger ship carrying 240 people lost contact in the Java Sea while travelling from East Java to South Kalimantan on Borneo island, officials said. The Search and Rescue Office in Banjarmasin, the capital city of South Kalimantan province, said they received a report the Virgo Transport 8 had experienced a communication failure while en route to the city from Surabaya, Indonesia's second largest city in East Java province. Initial information indicated the vessel's last known position was in the Java Sea, about 148 kilometres from a pier in Banjarmasin. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

CIK raids multiple locations in South Kashmir

Kulgam, Sept 13: The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on Sunday conducted search raids at multiple locations across South Kashmir in connection with a terror-related case, officials said. An official said that searches were carried out at several locations in Shopian and Kulgam districts as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged subversive activities. He said the raids were conducted by CIK teams with the assistance of other security agencies. Further investigation is underway and cognizance has been taken up, he said.(KNO)

India needs to launch the space act it keeps scrubbing

Saudi Arabia has few options as it faces mounting threats from Iran, allies

Dubai, Sep 13: A lightning advance by Houthi rebels threatens a crucial Red Sea shipping route. Drone attacks blamed on Iraqi militias have forced the closure of a major pipeline, and Iran is still disrupting the Strait of Hormuz. It is a nightmare scenario for Saudi Arabia, and it has sent jitters through global markets. The Saudis' most essential ally, the United States, has been unpredictable and sometimes unreliable. US President Donald Trump seems reluctant to widen an already unpopular and stalemated Mideast war ahead of congressional elections. For Iran, the rebels' advance and closure of the pipeline ramp up global economic pressure as its grip over the Strait of Hormuz has been loosened. Michael Ratney, a former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said the latest developments are incredibly frustrating for the kingdom. Despite their antipathy for the Iranians, this is a war they never asked for, they had great trepidation about. And once it started, all of their worst-case scenarios started coming true. The Saudi government did not respond to a request for comment. But a Saudi official, who was not authorised to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the kingdom would defend itself and work with partners, including the United States, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. Saudi hopes for a new Mideast have gone up in smoke Saudi Arabia's crown prince and de facto ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, has spent years trying to build a very different Middle East, with wide-ranging social and economic changes aimed at transforming the ultra-conservative kingdom into a global business hub in a more prosperous and integrated region. Those efforts suffered major setbacks after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered one war after another. When the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, it responded with missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, and effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, bottling up their oil and gas exports and jolting the world economy. Saudi Arabia escaped some of the worst effects by piping its oil across the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea, where it could be exported to Europe via Egypt's SUMED pipeline and the Suez Canal, or to Asia via a route running through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and toward the Indian Ocean. But tensions reignited with the Houthis in July, leading the rebels to declare a blockade of Saudi shipping and resume large-scale attacks for the first time in four years. Over the last two days, the Houthis have seized the port city of Mokha and a Red Sea island from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces, enhancing the rebels' ability to block Saudi shipments through the Bab el-Mandeb. On Friday, Saudi Arabia said it shut down the pipeline leading from major oil fields in the east to the Red Sea in the west because of drone attacks originating in Iraq, where Iran supports powerful militias. Regional officials recently told The Associated Press that the Houthis have helped the Iraqi militias carry out attacks. Houthi attacks have already caused a plunge in Saudi oil exports to Asia, from around 3.4 million barrels a day in June to 1,28,000 in August, though they have recovered somewhat this month to 7,00,000, according to figures compiled by Kpler, a global trade monitor. Saudis have few options Saudi Arabia fought against the Houthis for years beginning in 2015, but its allies made little progress on the ground. The conflict killed an estimated 1,50,000 people and at times pushed Yemen to the brink of famine before a 2022 ceasefire. Saudi Arabia has spent several years trying to move beyond the Yemen conflict and focus on economic transformation and regional stability, said Neil Quilliam, a Middle East expert at Chatham House. Recent Houthi gains increase pressure on Riyadh to respond, but every available option carries significant costs and uncertain outcomes. The Saudis could step up their military response and try to dislodge the Houthis, but that would prolong the conflict and lead to even heavier Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, said Sherwan Hindreen Ali, Middle East research manager at ACLED, a conflict monitoring group. The kingdom already faced this in the past, but Houthi weaponry is more sophisticated now than it was back then, and the Saudis likely have less interceptor missiles available as a result of the US-Iran conflict, he said. The Saudis could also seek a diplomatic solution with either the Houthis or their patrons in Tehran. But the Houthis have demanded the lifting of a Saudi-led blockade, which would allow them to grow much stronger over the long term, and Iran has little interest in stabilising the region without securing major US concessions. US help may not be forthcoming For decades, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have relied on US security guarantees. Those have eroded under Trump, who did not respond during his first term when a 2019 attack claimed by the Houthis temporarily knocked out half of Saudi Arabia's oil supply. In February, the US joined Israel in attacking Iran without consulting its Gulf allies, and since then it has struggled to defend them from Iranian attacks. The US started airstrikes against the Houthis in January 2024 under the Biden administration, and the attacks continued until January 2025. Trump launched an air campaign against the rebels in March last year in response to earlier attacks on Red Sea shipping linked to the war in Gaza. But this time, US forces are heavily deployed around the Strait of Hormuz, where they are blockading Iran and trying to prevent attacks on shipping there. The fighting has visibly strained the US military and drawn down supplies of sophisticated interceptors. The war is also deeply unpopular and has eroded Trump's support after he had promised to keep the US out of Mideast wars. Launching another military campaign in Yemen could compound the struggles of fellow Republicans in tight House and Senate races. Trump on Saturday said that Iran was probably behind the Saudi pipeline attack. Asked about a recent call with Saudi Arabia's crown prince, he said: He's a good friend of mine, and I can just say everything's going to work out fine and dandy. The White House did not respond to a request for comment on whether it plans to intervene in Yemen. Speaking about the war with Iran on Thursday, Trump dismissed the idea of increasing military pressure, as some US hawks have suggested. Maybe I don't do that because of the election, he told the Fox News show The Ingraham Angle. Ratney, the former US ambassador, said it would be difficult for the Saudis to achieve their objectives without consistent US support, which they had at previous times while fighting the Houthis. My understanding at this point is the White House is not enthusiastic about getting involved, he said.

Loneliness among elderly emerging as silent epidemic taking toll on health: Doctors

Loneliness among the elderly is emerging as a serious but often overlooked concern, doctors have warned. Older adults can feel isolated even while living with their families, and prolonged social disconnection can take a toll on both their mental and physical health, they say. According to Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti, a senior consultant of geriatric medicine at Sitaram Bhartia Hospital, loneliness is not simply about living alone but an emotional state in which a person feels disconnected, neglected or deprived of meaningful relationships. An elderly person can live with their family and still feel lonely, while someone living alone may remain socially active and well connected. Loneliness, therefore, cannot be assessed simply by looking at whether a person lives alone or with others, said Dr Bhatti. Changing family structures, urbanisation, migration of younger people for education and employment and the growing prevalence of nuclear families have further complicated the problem, he said. Older adults who have lost a spouse, live alone, have disabilities or suffer from chronic illnesses can be particularly vulnerable, while retirement and children moving to other cities or countries may further reduce social interaction, Dr Bhatti said. Dr Avinash Chakrawarty, Professor of Geriatric Medicine at National Centre for Ageing (NCA), Delhi AIIMS, said loneliness should be viewed as a health issue rather than a consequence of ageing. Social connection is an important component of healthy ageing, and when it erodes, it can affect sleep, appetite, physical activity, mood and even treatment adherence in an elderly person, he said. Many seniors gradually withdraw from social activities because of mobility problems, hearing difficulties or a feeling that they are no longer needed, Dr Chakrawarty said. This can create a cycle in which isolation leads to poorer mental and physical health, which in turn makes the person less willing or able to engage with others. Families need to recognise subtle changes such as loss of interest in routine activities, reduced communication or spending most of the day alone. Regular conversations, shared meals, outings and involving seniors in family decisions can help restore a sense of belonging and purpose, Dr Chakrawarty said. Dr Anup Singh, Founder Head of the Department of Geriatric Medicine, IMS-BHU, and nodal officer/Chief of the upcoming National Centre of Ageing at BHU, said prolonged loneliness has been linked with several physical and cognitive health concerns. Persistent stress associated with loneliness may contribute to sleep disturbances, high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk, while reduced physical and social activity can worsen existing chronic conditions, he said. There is also growing evidence linking social isolation and loneliness with depression, anxiety and cognitive decline. In older adults, therefore, assessing social connectedness should be part of a broader health evaluation, he added. Doctors must ask about who the patient interacts with, how often they participate in activities and whether they feel supported, rather than limiting consultations to medicines and laboratory reports, Dr Singh said. The problem is not restricted to cities, doctors insist. While busy urban lifestyles and limited neighbourhood interaction can leave seniors isolated, migration of younger generations for employment can similarly leave older adults in rural areas without regular companionship, Dr Singh said. Technology can help bridge geographical distances through phone calls, video calls and social media, though, he stated. Dr Bhatti said tackling loneliness does not necessarily require major interventions. Regular conversations, sharing meals, involving older family members in everyday activities and genuinely listening to them can go a long way. They need to feel that they continue to be an important part of the family, he said. Senior citizen clubs, community centres, volunteering opportunities, cultural programmes and intergenerational activities can also help older adults remain socially engaged. As Indias elderly population continues to grow, doctors said addressing loneliness will become increasingly important to ensure that longer life also translates into healthier and more fulfilling ageing.

PM Modi wishes Israeli PM Netanyahu on Jewish new year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday greeted their Israeli counterparts and the Jewish community on their new year. Modi conveyed his wishes to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a post on X. Shana Tova! Wishing a very happy Rosh Hashanah to Prime Minister Netanyahu, the people of Israel and Jewish communities across the globe. May the new year be filled with peace, hope, good health and continued progress for all, he said. Murmu extended her greetings to Israeli President Isaac Herzog. May the new year usher in peace, prosperity, good health and renewed hope for all, she said in a post on X. Excellency @Isaac_Herzog, On behalf of the people of India, I convey heartfelt #RoshHashanah greetings to you and the Jewish community across Israel and the world, Murmu said in the post, tagging the Israeli president.

Aqua Kashmir Avengers, Athwas Hyundai XI play out goalless draw in KSL 2

Aqua Kashmir Avengers FC and Athwas Hyundai XI FC played out a goalless draw in the Kashmir Super League (KSL) Season 2 on Saturday, with neither side able to find the back of the net despite a competitive encounter. Both teams, as per a statement, created opportunities during the match but failed to convert them into goals. The defensive units of both sides remained firm throughout, ensuring that the scoreline stayed 0-0 at the final whistle. The KSL action will continue on Sunday, with United Elegant FC taking on New JK United FC in the next fixture.

Sakeena Itoo lays foundation stone for Rs 1 Cr volleyball academy in Kulgam

Minister for Social Welfare, Education, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Saturday, visited Nehama and laid the foundation stone for a volleyball academy being established at an estimated cost of Rs 1.00 crore. The proposed Volleyball Academy is aimed at strengthening the sports infrastructure in the area and providing local youth with modern and better facilities to hone their sporting skills. The initiative is expected to encourage greater participation of young people in sports and promote a healthy and active lifestyle. During her visit, the Minister, as per an official statement, interacted with the local residents and listened to their grievances, developmental concerns and demands. People from Nehama and adjoining villages projected various issues related to development and sought timely intervention for their resolution. Sakeena Itoo assured the people that their genuine concerns would be examined and taken up with the concerned departments for appropriate action. Emphasising the need for quality and timely execution of developmental works, the Minister directed the engineering and concerned departments to maintain strict focus on the quality of works and ensure their completion within the stipulated timelines. Sakeena Itoo stressed that every rupee allocated by the government for public welfare is valuable and must be utilized judiciously, transparently and effectively. The Minister also called upon the Youth Services and Sports Department to ensure proper upkeep and systematic development of all playgrounds and sports facilities in the district. She emphasized the need for adequate fencing and other essential infrastructure so that playgrounds remain functional, safe and accessible to young people. Sakeena Itoo underscored the importance of providing youth with adequate opportunities and facilities to participate in sports. She stated that investment in sports infrastructure contributes not only to sporting excellence but also to the overall physical and social development of the younger generation. On the occasion, the Minister also distributed appointment orders among newly selected Anganwadi Workers, appreciating role of frontline staff in strengthening the community-based services and women and child welfare initiatives.

Director Sericulture unveils Silk Kash quarterly journal

Director Sericulture J&K Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, unveiled the second issue of *Silk Kash*, the departments Quarterly Journal 2026, aimed at strengthening information dissemination and outreach among stakeholders in the sericulture sector. The journal was unveiled in the presence of senior officers and departmental staff. Speaking on the occasion, Bhat highlighted the potential of sericulture as a cost-effective and remunerative livelihood activity, particularly for rural households. He called for an intensive and result-oriented awareness campaign to disseminate information about silkworm rearing, its benefits and the opportunities available to stakeholders. He said Silk Kash has been conceived as a dedicated knowledge and outreach platform to showcase best practices, document the achievements and success stories of progressive silkworm rearers and create greater awareness about Centrally Sponsored Schemes and flagship initiatives being implemented by the department. Bhat highlighted the implementation of programmes including Silk Samagra-2 and the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), saying these initiatives are aimed at strengthening the sericulture sector and extending the benefits of government interventions to stakeholders at the grassroots level. He stressed that an informed stakeholder community is essential for effective implementation of schemes and maximising their impact. The Director said the journal would also seek to bridge the information gap among silkworm rearers, farmers, silk reeling and weaving unit holders, educated youth, women and tribal communities by providing information on schemes, subsidies, training programmes, departmental facilities and technical support. He further underscored the importance of capacity building and continuous skill development for the sustainable growth and modernisation of sericulture in Jammu and Kashmir. He said the department is undertaking skill-upgradation programmes for field functionaries, exposure visits for silkworm rearers and farmers, and targeted awareness camps for educated youth, women and tribal communities. Bhat expressed hope that Silk Kash would evolve into an effective platform for knowledge sharing and dissemination, providing stakeholders with practical information and technological insights while giving wider visibility to the departments initiatives and achievements. The unveiling of the journal marks an effort by the department to strengthen communication and stakeholder engagement with the broader objective of promoting sericulture as a productive and sustainable livelihood avenue across Jammu and Kashmir.

ATMs to issue RuPay cards, UPI QR codes for merchants

ATMs could soon evolve beyond cash withdrawals and deposits, with new technology unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest (GFF) 2026 enabling instant issuance of personalised RuPay cards and UPI QR codes for merchants. Secretary, Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Sanjay Lohiya, launched the innovations at GFF 2026 in the presence of UIDAI CEO Saurabh Vijay. The open-source Android-based ATM solution will allow customers to receive personalised RuPay debit, credit and NCMC cards directly from machines through a self-service process. Merchants will also be able to generate UPI QR codes instantly to accept digital payments. The machines are designed to offer additional banking services, including cheque deposits, account opening and loan applications. The team demonstrated the technology at the GFF venue. The initiative aims to transform ATMs into intelligent banking access points, reducing dependence on branches and courier-based card delivery. Banks are also exploring their deployment as Digital Banking Units in semi-urban and rural areas, as well as at airports, transit hubs, educational campuses and corporate parks. Nine banks, including SBI, Bank of Baroda, Union Bank of India, PNB and Airtel Payments Bank, are currently engaging with NPCI and ATM manufacturers to assess the solution.

New Pulsar 150 launched in Srinagar with major upgrades

The all-new Pulsar 150 was formally launched at Paris Bajaj in Srinagar at a special event attended by Kamran, ASM, Bajaj Auto, marking its entry into the Jammu and Kashmir market. The updated motorcycle comes with several mechanical and technological upgrades, including a new chassis, monoshock rear suspension and an updated 150cc engine. The engine develops 14 PS at 8,500 rpm and 14.1 Nm of peak torque, with revised transmission calibration aimed at improving the riding experience. The new Pulsar 150 also introduces three riding modesRain, Road and Sportbringing features previously associated with higher segments to the 150cc motorcycle category. Higher-spec variants come equipped with an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) and a 5-inch TFT display with Google Maps integration. The Single Disc variant gets a colour LCD instrument console. With prices starting at Rs 1.15 lakh (ex-showroom), the new Pulsar 150 retains the models familiar styling while receiving upgrades in performance, technology and riding dynamics. The launch event was organised with the support of Paris Automobiles Managing Director Hashim and General Manager Syed Mushtaq.

Starting small, growing strong: Abida builds livelihood through poultry

At a time when traditional household practices are gradually disappearing amid changing lifestyles, Abida Hameed of Shirpora in Pattan has revived an age-old Kashmiri practice and turned it into a source of livelihood. What began with just a few desi hens, primarily to ensure a supply of traditional eggs for her children, has now grown into a small poultry enterprise with more than 250 birds. Abida started the unit on her own, without any initial assistance, and gradually expanded it as demand for desi eggs and traditional poultry grew. For her, the venture was not initially about starting a business. It was born out of the difficulty of finding genuine desi eggs in the market. I started this mainly because I wanted to feed my children desi eggs. Keeping desi hens at home was once common, but that tradition is slowly disappearing. I found it increasingly difficult to get desi eggs, so I decided to keep hens myself, Abida said. She later approached the Animal Husbandry Department seeking assistance but encountered difficulties in setting up the infrastructure required for the poultry unit. I found it difficult to construct a concrete shed in the beginning. Instead of waiting, I decided to start on my own and built a wooden shed for the hens, she said. That modest beginning has since developed into a growing enterprise. Abida now keeps more than 250 hens and says she is receiving a good response from the local market, with demand for both desi eggs and traditional hens remaining strong. Today, I have more than 250 hens. There is good demand for desi eggs and hens, and I am satisfied with the response I am getting from this business, she said. Her journey also reflects a broader economic tradition in Kashmir, where poultry and small-scale household farming once formed an important part of rural livelihoods. Keeping desi hens at home was common, and eggs and poultry were often sold by families to meet everyday household expenses and purchase essential items. With changing lifestyles, however, such traditional practices have gradually declined. At the same time, demand for desi poultry has given the practice a renewed commercial value. Desi eggs are currently fetching around Rs 25 to Rs 30 a piece in the local market, while there is also steady demand for desi hens among consumers who prefer traditional poultry over commercially raised broilers. For women like Abida, the revival of such traditional livelihoods offers more than an additional source of income. It provides an avenue for economic independence while reconnecting rural households with practices that were once an integral part of Kashmirs economy. Her experience also demonstrates how a small household activity can gradually develop into an income-generating enterprise when linked with market demand. At a time when government employment opportunities remain limited, Abidas journey from keeping a few hens for her children to maintaining a flock of more than 250 birds shows how traditional skills and local resources can be turned into sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Dettol launches school hygiene education programme in Ladakh

Reckitt, under its flagship Dettol Banega Swasth India (BSI) campaign, launched the Dettol School Hygiene Education Programme in Ladakh on Saturday in collaboration with the Directorate of School Education, Ladakh. The programme was formally launched at Council Model School, Ayu Saboo, Leh, in the presence of Bhanu Prabha (IAS), Administrative Secretary, School Education Department, UT Ladakh. The initiative aims to provide structured hygiene education to schoolchildren across the Union Territory, focusing on strengthening hygiene awareness in remote and high-altitude communities. According to Reckitt, the programme will use age-appropriate and interactive learning modules covering five key hygiene themes: personal hygiene, hygiene at school, hygiene at home, hygiene during illness, and hygiene in neighbourhoods. The initiative seeks to promote healthy practices among children and encourage behaviour change within families and communities. Speaking at the launch, Bhanu Prabha said schools play an important role in shaping lifelong habits and children can help spread hygiene practices within their homes and communities. She said the programme combines classroom learning with practical demonstrations and interactive tools to encourage the adoption of healthy hygiene practices. Prof Ravi Bhatnagar, Director of Corporate Communications and Corporate Affairs, South Asia, MENARP and Africa at Reckitt, said the expansion of the Dettol Banega Swasth India programme to Ladakh reflects the company's effort to extend hygiene education to underserved and geographically remote regions. Jagran Pehel will implement the programme on the ground. It will provide students and teachers with hygiene education workbooks, teacher training manuals and curriculum-based classroom activities. The programme will also include animated educational content, child-friendly videos developed with Sesame Workshop, digital hygiene games, an interactive hygiene chatbot, hygiene-themed comic books, awareness posters and 3D do-it-yourself hygiene and sanitation kits. Schools participating in the programme will conduct live handwashing demonstrations to teach the correct handwashing technique and promote hand hygiene as a measure to prevent the spread of infections. Reckitt said the Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign has reached more than 30 million children through over 900,000 schools across India over the past decade and has enabled more than 43 billion handwashing occasions through its hygiene education initiatives.

Slow mobile internet irks Kupwaras Mawer residents

Residents of several villages in the Mawer area of Handwara sub-district expressed resentment over poor mobile internet speeds provided by private telecom operators Jio and Airtel, saying the inadequate connectivity has caused hardships in their daily lives. Residents said that while much of Kashmir has access to 5G services, people in Mawer continue to struggle with slow internet speeds. Villages including Umer Abad, Lam, Audoora, Warpora, Checki Audoora and Drugnsoo are among the worst affected, they said. The poor connectivity has affected online education, remote work, access to information and other digital services, residents said. Students in the area are suffering because of the low internet speed. Several job aspirants, including those preparing for civil services examinations, have repeatedly raised the issue but nothing has been done. Many have now shifted to relatives homes to continue their preparations, a local resident told Greater Kashmir . Residents said reliable high-speed internet has become essential for education, employment, communication and access to government and other online services. They alleged that despite repeatedly bringing the issue to the notice of the concerned telecom operators, their complaints had not been addressed. The residents sought the intervention of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Balasaheb, urging him to take up the matter with the telecom operators and ensure reliable mobile internet connectivity in the affected areas.

Ladakh Police gets 4 new tech-driven initiatives

Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday inaugurated four new initiatives aimed at modernising policing, strengthening tourist safety and improving emergency response across the Union Territory. The initiatives include Jullay 2.0, the Ladakh Police Tourist Assistance App; 20 e-Challan devices for the Traffic Wing; five new Rescue Beats under the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112; and Tourist Facilitation Centres-cum-Check Posts at North Pulu in Nubra and Serchu in Changthang. Jullay 2.0 brings tourist assistance, safety services, weather information and other essential facilities onto a single digital platform. Its live notification system will provide tourists with real-time alerts, advisories and updates, particularly important in Ladakh where weather and road conditions can change rapidly. The app also allows tourists and local residents to lodge complaints and report incidents directly to the Police, including through anonymous reporting. The app has been rolled out for Android devices on the Play Store, while its availability on the App Store is expected shortly. The introduction of 20 e-Challan devices will digitise traffic enforcement. The system is integrated with VAHAN, Sarathi and e-Challan, creating a digital trail from identification of a violation and verification of vehicle and licence details to challan generation and receipt. Centralised digital records will help monitor violations, identify repeat offenders and traffic-violation hotspots and support evidence-based traffic management. The larger objective is to improve road safety and protect human life. The ERSS 112 network has been expanded with five new Rescue Beats at Nimoo, Nyoma, Sankoo, Panamik and Tangtse, taking the total number of Rescue Points from 11 to 16. The network is supported by 16 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) of Ladakh Police, along with four additional ERVs of the Fire Department and UTDRF. The vehicles are equipped with GPS and Mobile Data Terminals. During July 2026, ERSS Ladakh received 3,375 calls and registered 117 events, with an average response time of around 20 minutes. The Tourist Facilitation Centre-cum-Check Post at North Pulu in Nubra has been established to strengthen police presence and tourist services in the remote area. The facility at Serchu in Changthang has been completed under the SDP through CPWD. Saxena commended the Ladakh Police for introducing measures tailored to the Union Territorys geography, climate, connectivity challenges, high-altitude terrain and growing tourist footfall. These initiatives demonstrate that Ladakh Police is not merely adopting technology for modernisation, but is using it to meet the specific needs of our people and visitors, the LG said. He said combining technology with infrastructure and trained manpower would make policing more responsive, transparent and accessible, particularly in remote and strategically important areas. The Lieutenant Governor called for continued modernisation and regular evaluation of such measures based on practical experience and public feedback. He said every technological intervention should ultimately translate into quicker response, greater transparency and better public service.

One-Time Exemption: Teachers urge Govt to extend cut-off date from March 2024 to September 2026

The teachers have urged the government to extend the eligibility cut-off date for acquiring higher qualifications under the One-Time Exemption provision from March 15, 2024, to September 30, 2026. The teachers appealed to the Minister for Education, Sakina Itoo saying their demand was not merely for extending the deadline for submission of documents, but for extending the eligibility cut-off date for acquiring higher qualifications. They said scores of teachers pursued and completed higher degrees through distance and online modes during their service, making considerable personal and financial efforts to upgrade their academic and professional qualifications. Such employees deserve an opportunity to have their qualifications considered under the One-Time Exemption mechanism, subject to verification and fulfilment of the prescribed conditions, the teachers said. Notably, J&K School Education Department (SED) earlier issued Government Order No. 188-JK(Edu) of 2024, dated March 15, 2024, providing a one-time exemption mechanism for eligible teaching and other staff who had acquired higher qualifications during service without obtaining prior permission. The teachers said the benefit of the mechanism should be made more inclusive and aligned with the contemporary educational policy framework, particularly the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which places significant emphasis on continuous professional development, lifelong learning and upgradation of teachers knowledge and competencies. The teachers who voluntarily pursued higher education through recognised distance or online programmes should not be placed at a disadvantage merely because their qualifications were acquired after the existing cut-off date, the teachers said. The teachers said extending the cut-off date would enable the department to examine such cases on their individual merits without compromising the prescribed rules and verification requirements. The teachers urged the Minister for Education to extend the cut-off date for acquiring higher qualifications from March 15, 2024, to September 30, 2026, so that teachers who completed their degrees during this period could be brought within the ambit of consideration. The teachers said such an extension would be a progressive, equitable and teacher-friendly measure consistent with the spirit of NEP 2020 and the broader objective of strengthening the professional capacity of the teaching workforce. Our demand is for a comprehensive extension of the eligibility cut-off date, and not an extension of the document-submission deadline, so that teachers who have invested in higher education and professional development are given a fair opportunity for consideration, the teachers said.

Budgam launches project to screen 1.67 lakh Govt School children

The Budgam district administration launched the Nayonika Child Vision initiative to ensure primary eye screening of around 1.67 lakh children across the district, with the project aiming to make Budgam the first district in India to undertake comprehensive eye screening of all government schoolchildren. As per a statement, Nayonika Child Vision an initiative of the Budgam District Administration and Nayonika Eye Care Charitable Trust with ReRoot Foundation aims to enrich Government school children and will benefit 1.67 lakh children from 917 Government schools. The project has been successfully implemented in the states of Karnataka and Pondicherry by Nayonika Eye Care Charitable Trust. The project will create mass eye health awareness with Vision Walls, support of good quality spectacles, and Alcon lenses for surgeries, if needed. Goal is to ensure each and every child is screened for eye problems( primary eye screening ) and September 11-2026 training for teachers launched by DC Athar Amir khan IAS. Next Phase followed by support of Free Spectacles for all Children. Project to be in perpetual mode so that services to needy is never stopped.

Remembering Dr Aziz Hajini: A legacy of language, literature, learning

The 5th death anniversary of the towering literary icon, former secretary of the J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) & eminent critic, writer and language activist Dr Aziz Hajini was observed on Saturday with profound reverence and enthusiasm. The commemorative event, as per a statement, was organised by the Wahab Cultural Society, (WCS) Hajin, in collaboration with the Department of School Education Bandipora. The solemn yet inspiring occasion brought together hundreds of school children, teachers, educationists & prominent members of civil society to pay glowing tributes to a visionary leader who dedicated his entire life to the preservation and promotion of the Kashmiri language and cultural heritage. Dr Hajinis legacy spans monumental contributions across diverse premier institutions, including his leadership as former president of Adbi Markaz Kamraz (Kashmirs largest literary amalgam), alongside his impactful associations with the J&K Board of School Education, the Directorate of School Education Kashmir, the University of Kashmir, and the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, among several other Union Territory and national-level organisations. The programme commenced with a warm and inspiring welcome address presented by Nazir Javed, Patron of the Wahab Cultural Society, Hajin. This was followed by a detailed and insightful keynote address by well-known writer and poet Shahbaz Haqbari, who eloquently highlighted Dr Hajini's exceptional contributions to education, literature and various other spheres of public life. The presidential chair was graced by Shakit Shafi, President of Halqa-e-Adab Sonawari Arshid Ahmad Lone, Senior JKAS Officer & Chief Accounts Officer of the Kashmir Power Development Corporation, honoured the event as the Chief Guest. The presidium also included the Chief Education Officer Bandipora and the Zonal Education Officer Hajin. Engineer Farhan Manzoor Shah, Provincial Secretary of JKEEGA & Additional Secretary NIT Alumni Association and Azhar Hajini son of the late literary icon, noted broadcaster, television presenter, and Media Secretary of Halqa-e-Adab Sonawari added special grace to the gathering by their distinguished presence.

Sadhotra hits back at Karra over Vande Mataram row

National Conference Additional General Secretary and Former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Saturday lashed out at Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hamid Karra for indulging in cheap politics over the issue of Vande Mataram, saying that abiding by the Constitution is an obligatory and sacred duty of every citizen. Sadhotra, as per a statement, was addressing a Women Wing meeting organised byAyesha Gupta Incharge of Women Wing of Jammu North Assembly Constituency, Babli Ji, Neelam Ji and Kanta Ji at Pakhian Mishriwala in Jammu North Assembly Constituency. Reacting to the statements made by the Congress President, NC leader made it clear that upholding constitutional values should not be confused with extending political support to any particular government or political dispensation. He said the Constitution belongs to every Indian citizen and cannot be selectively invoked for political convenience. Commitment of the India Block is to the Constitution, the people and the democratic values enshrined therein. It does not mean endorsing the policies or politics of the BJP led Central Government, he said. Sadhotra said the National Conference has its own distinct political identity, rooted in the aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir and its historic commitment to secularism, democracy and equitable development. We will continue to oppose policies that undermine the interests of Jammu and Kashmir and question the failures of those in power at the Centre, Sadhotra added. Sadhotra endorsed the views expressed by Jenab Omar Abdullah on the subject, saying that the Chief Minister had rightly emphasised the importance of constitutional values. He said that the Constitution guarantees both rights and duties to citizens, and its spirit demands mutual accommodation rather than political opportunism. The Constitution is supreme, and every citizen is bound to uphold its dignity and principles. Attempts to turn sensitive issues into political weapons serve no purpose other than creating confusion and division, he said.

PIB Srinagar organises media tour to Chennai for 13-member journalist delegation

The Press Information Bureau (PIB), Srinagar Region, is organising a media tour for journalists from Srinagar to Chennai from September 13 to 19, 2026 as part of its ongoing media outreach initiatives. A 13 member delegation, as per a PIB statement, comprising journalists from Srinagar and PIB officials will participate in the tour. Prior to the departure, Director, PIB Srinagar, Qazi Salman, briefed the delegation on the objectives of the visit and urged the participants to make meaningful use of the interactions during the tour. The delegation is being led by Shahid Lone, Field Publicity Officer, CBC Anantnag, serving as the Conducting Officer, with Ifham Ul Islam, Information Assistant, PIB Srinagar, accompanying the delegation. The tour is aimed at providing journalists with firsthand exposure to key Central Government institutions, projects and initiatives in Chennai and enhancing their understanding of national level policies and their implementation on the ground. During the visit, the delegation will visit various Central Government establishments and projects in Chennai and interact with senior officials to gain an understanding of their functioning and operations. Addressing the delegation, Qazi Salman congratulated the participants and expressed confidence that the visit would provide an opportunity for professional engagement and a better understanding of the functioning of Central Government institutions.

Apni Party leaders visit NHM protesters, express solidarity

Apni Party leaders, led by Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir, on Saturday visited the protesting National Health Mission (NHM) workers who are observing a sit-in and hunger strike at a park near the PHC in Bonpora Batamaloo, and expressed solidarity with their demands. Pertinently, NHM employees have been carrying out protests across Jammu and Kashmir for the past several days in support of their long-pending demands, including pay revision, job security, and retirement benefits. According to a press release issued here, Apni Party Provincial President Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Womens Wing President Dilshad Shaheen, Spokesperson Ishrat Bhat, Provincial Youth President Kashmir Jibran Dar, District President Srinagar and Constituency In-charge Central Shalteng Zaffar Habib, as per a party statement, along with other party leaders, visited the protesting NHM employees and expressed their unwavering solidarity with them.

MMF launches free Moul Mouj Dementia helpline across J&K

Responding to a growing and urgent demand for dementia support from families across Jammu and Kashmir, Moul Mouj Foundation (MMF) today launched a free dedicated Moul Mouj Dementia Helpline offering tele-consultation, counselling and caregiver support across Jammu and Kashmir, coinciding with World Alzheimers Month. The initiative comes amid growing concern over dementia in the region. A nationwide study published in Alzheimers & Dementia reported a dementia prevalence of 11.04% among people aged 60 and above in J&K, compared with a national estimate of 7.4%. The live helpline will operate Monday to Saturday, 8:009:00 PM, addressing the difficult evening hours when dementia-related confusion and agitation often worsen. A 24/7 WhatsApp service will also allow caregivers to seek guidance and receive tailored care and digital resources. All services are free. Caring for a loved one with dementia is an incredibly demanding journey, particularly during the evening when behavioural challenges often peak, said Dr Zubair Saleem, Founder of MMF and leading geriatrician. This helpline ensures that caregivers are never alone when they need support most. Beyond tele-consultation, MMF will provide customised caregiver digital kits, behavioural logs and home-safety checklists, based on the patients needs. Dementia affects the entire family, not just the patient, said Dr Shakeel ur Rehman, Secretary General, MMF. We aim to combine clinical advice with practical tools and counselling that can reduce caregiver stress and improve quality of life. Families can access the service by calling the helpline 1800-20-30-337 or 6005463346 on weekdays from 8:009:00 PM, or messaging the team on WhatsApp at 6005463346.

Landfilling near Brari Nambal for car parking raises questions

The demolition drive at Brari Nambal has raised questions over the monitoring of landfilling and alleged encroachments around the sensitive waterbody, after a portion of the site was reportedly filled over a period of nearly 15 days and subsequently allegedly occupied by car dealers. According to KNT, the occupation was demolished by authorities on Saturday, bringing renewed focus on how the alleged landfilling was allowed to continue before enforcement action was taken. According to residents, landfilling continued at the site for around 15 days before the filled-up area was allegedly taken over for parking and commercial use by car dealers. Residents questioned why action was not initiated when filling material was being dumped instead of after the site had allegedly been occupied. Speaking to the news agency Kashmir News Trust (KNT), locals also questioned the monitoring of the area, particularly as an office of the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) is located nearby. They asked how landfilling could allegedly continue for several days in the vicinity of an area monitored by agencies responsible for protecting Srinagar's water bodies. Residents said the issue goes beyond Saturday's demolition and concerns the circumstances that allegedly allowed the landfilling to take place in the first place. They sought clarification on whether any permission had been granted for the activity and which agency was responsible for monitoring the site. Brari Nambal, located in the heart of Srinagar, has faced recurring concerns over encroachment, dumping and unauthorised alterations to its surroundings. Residents said the latest incident highlights the continuing pressure on the city's remaining water bodies and wetlands. The alleged commercial use of land created through filling has further heightened concerns among locals, who said unchecked landfilling can make subsequent enforcement and restoration increasingly difficult. Residents have called on the authorities to explain how the reported 15-day landfilling activity went unchecked, identify those responsible and establish whether any official permission or clearance was obtained. They have also demanded restoration of the affected portion of the waterbody and measures to prevent further dumping, filling and construction at the site. Residents said protection of water bodies should focus on preventing encroachment at the outset rather than relying solely on demolition drives after unauthorised occupation has taken place.

Srinagar Ring Road: Land handover, demolition put on fast track

The clearance of land and structural bottlenecks for the Srinagar Ring Road (SRR) Phase-II and II-A has been put on a fast track, with authorities setting deadlines for handing over acquired land and removing private structures along the project alignment. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg chaired a meeting to review the impediments affecting the execution of the project and directed the concerned departments to ensure time-bound action to expedite its completion. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, SSP Traffic Rural, Project Director NHAI and officers from the Roads and Buildings (R&B), Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL). During the meeting, NHAI officials gave a detailed presentation on the status of the project and apprised the authorities of various bottlenecks, including land acquisition, disbursement of compensation, demolition of government and private structures, shifting or alteration of establishment structures, utility shifting, court cases and tree felling. Garg directed the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal to constitute a joint team comprising the Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Tehsildar, NHAI officials and the contractor to ensure that possession of the acquired land is handed over to the executing agency by Tuesday. He also directed NHAI to take possession of the available greenfield land parcels, where no impediments have been reported, so that work can proceed without further delay. Regarding private structures falling within the project alignment, the Divisional Commissioner directed that their documentation be completed and the structures demolished by Saturday to clear bottlenecks and remove identified black spots along the project. He further directed that felling of Chinar and Walnut trees falling within the road alignment be carried out in phases and strictly in accordance with the prescribed procedure. The meeting also took note of damage caused to existing roads in Ganderbal due to the movement of vehicles associated with the project. Garg directed NHAI officials to undertake immediate repairs and maintenance of the affected roads to ensure that the condition of existing road infrastructure does not deteriorate further due to project-related traffic.

PM Modis birthday to be celebrated with month long campaign: Ex DyCM

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch its month-long Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan on September 17, marking the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and commemorating his 25 years of dedicated public service, with 8.5 lakh diyas to be illuminated across J&K and blood donation camps organized across the Union Territory as the opening initiatives. The campaign, continuing till October 17, will take a series of service-oriented programmes to every section of society, with special emphasis on youth participation and grassroots outreach. Former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, accompanied by BJP J&K general secretary Baldev Singh Billawaria, BJP J&K general secretary and Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan Incharge Gopal Mahajan and media incharge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, stated this during a press conference at BJP headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, and outlined the extensive programme. Dr Nirmal Singh said that the Abhiyan reflected the spirit of 25 years of Narendra Modis public life, marked by uninterrupted dedication to the nation, first as Chief Minister of Gujarat and subsequently as Prime Minister of India. He said that under Modis leadership, India moved with confidence towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, adding that the objective of the campaign was not merely to commemorate a birthday but to connect people with the larger national development journey. He said that the ambitious programme would be taken from the national level right down to every booth, involving common citizens and particularly the youth. He highlighted that Aashirwad Ka Diya would reach households across J&K, with a target of 100 diyas at every booth, symbolising peoples participation in the journey of a developed India. Blood donation camps would simultaneously be organised by BJYM on September 17, while blood testing facilities would also be arranged for those who were unable to donate on the day. Giving an overview, Gopal Mahajan said that the BJP observed service programmes every year around the Prime Ministers birthday, but this year the party expanded the initiative into a month-long Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan from September 17 to October 17, with the purpose of making service a mass movement. He said the campaign would include Aashirwad Ka Diya, Seva ChitraSapno Ka Bharat, Namo SevaUnkahi Kahaniyan, Aangan Milan Sewa, Sewa Ke RangRashtra Ke Sang, Sewa Jyoti Yatra, Sewa Mera Yogdan, Sewa Setu Abhiyan and Jan Sewak Mahakumbh, among other programmes. Explaining the programmes, Dr Nirmal Singh said Sewa ChitraSapno Ka Bharat would engage the younger generation through drawing and speech competitions, taking the message of Indias history, present achievements and the vision of Viksit Bharat to students. Through Namo SevaUnkahi Kahaniyan, nukkad nataks would narrate stories of development and positive transformation taking place on the ground. Aangan Milan Sewa would highlight the contribution of Anganwadi centres and those working at the grassroots, while Sewa Ke RangRashtra Ke Sang will use traditional rangoli activities with organic materials to spread the message of national service.

ACB chargesheets ex Patwari, associate in Udhampur bribery case

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday produced a charge sheet against a former Patwari and another accused in a bribery case registered in 2023 before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Udhampur. The charge sheet has been filed in FIR No. 01/2023 registered at Police Station ACB Udhampur under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, against Darbinder Singh, the then Patwari of Patwar Halqa Rasli Gadheran, Basantgarh, Udhampur, and Nashar Ahmad, son of Mohd Iqbal, a resident of Basantgarh. According to the ACB, the case originated from a written complaint lodged by Bodh Raj, a resident of Rasli Gadheran, who alleged that he had applied for issuance of a fard (land record extract) in connection with the proposed sale of his land to one Madan Lal. The complainant alleged that after approaching the then Patwari, Darbinder Singh, for issuance of the fard, the official demanded a bribe from him. The complaint was subsequently verified by an officer of the ACB Udhampur-Reasi Branch. During verification, the allegations were found to be genuine, following which a formal case was registered, and a trap was laid by the anti-corruption agency. The ACB stated that during the trap operation, Darbinder Singh, the then Patwari, and Nashar Ahmad, who was driving the vehicle bearing registration number JK02BV-9048, were allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount from the complainant. During the investigation, the ACB collected documentary and other evidence and concluded that the offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, had been established against the accused persons. Accordingly, the charge sheet was presented before the Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Udhampur, on Saturday for further judicial proceedings. The filing of the charge sheet marks the culmination of the investigation conducted by the ACB in the bribery case, with the matter now before the competent court for further proceedings in accordance with law.

Ruhullah joins veterinary students strike, seeks stipend hike

Srinagar, Sep 12:Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday joined protesting veterinary interns at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology-Kashmir (SKUAST-K), Shuhama campus, and pressed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to urgently address their demand for an increase in the monthly stipend. The veterinary interns, protesting under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir Veterinary Students Association (JKVSA), have been holding a peaceful protest at the campus for the past six days. The students are demanding parity with veterinary interns in other parts of the country, pointing out that their monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 has remained unchanged for years. They are seeking an increase to Rs 20,00023,000. Expressing solidarity with the protesters, Ruhullah said veterinary professionals play an important role in public health and should be provided dignified stipends and safe working conditions. He questioned the rationale behind paying interns as little as Rs 6,000 a month, saying students who spend years pursuing professional education should not be expected to work for such a meagre amount. Ruhullah also raised broader concerns concerning medical interns and reservation, saying an elected government should listen to the grievances of those who elected it. He urged Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar to meet the protesting students and address their concerns. Ruhullah said he would wait for a day or two for the department or senior authorities to engage with the students. The Agriculture Minister is a good person. I know him and he has been my friend. I am sure he will connect with the students, Ruhullah said. He warned that if no engagement takes place, he would involve more people and amplify the issue. The MP assured the students that he would continue to advocate for their concerns and raise their grievances with the administration if the matter was not resolved promptly.

Jammu Chamber concerned over demolition of shops in Satwari-Nai Basti

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, president Arun Gupta has expressed serious concern over the demolition of shops in the Satwari-Nai Basti area of Jammu city in connection with the ongoing highway expansion and infrastructure development works. Gupta stated that the concerns emerged as the demolition was done without providing any kind of financial help to the affected shopkeepers and also written assurance to these shopkeepers by the concerned authorities. On September 10 and 11, the Jammu Municipal Corporation demolished over 30 shops, kiosks for the road widening project. The demolition drive has caused immense hardship and distress among the business community. The affected shopkeepers have been displaced overnight and are facing severe financial hardship as most of the shopkeepers have taken loans from the banks and other financial institutions to run their business smoothly, Jammu Chamber president said. He maintained that while the Chamber understood the importance of infrastructure development and highway expansion, the interests and livelihoods of the business community could not be overlooked in the process. The demolition of these shops has completely disrupted the livelihood of several families. These are not merely structures; they are the source of income and sustenance for families who have been carrying on their businesses for decades. The manner in which the exercise has been carried out has sent a wrong message among the business community, Arun Gupta pointed out. We are not aware whether the earmarked land for rehabilitation and resettlement of affected shopkeepers has been transferred to JMC or whether it will take some more time to complete the process. In case any formalities are pending, the same should be completed without any further delay so that the construction of the said complex is started and completed at the earliest, he asserted. Reference was to the rehabilitation and resettlement scheme approved by the Union Territory (UT) cabinet for the shopkeepers and kiosk owners affected by road widening in Nai Basti and Satwari Chowk. CCI Jammu president, on behalf of the Chamber, requested the government to provide the suitable financial help to the affected shopkeepers to feed their families till they were allotted fresh shop sites and fully rehabilitated. He appealed to the UT administration to immediately ensure that the affected shopkeepers were provided proper rehabilitation and an alternative means of carrying out their businesses.

NC could have chosen CM outside Abdullah family, but couldnt resist temptation: Aga Ruhullah

Srinagar, Sep 12: Srinagar Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi on Saturday said his political course beyond November 3 would be decided collectively with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the youth, while leaving open the possibility of forming a new political party. Ruhullah, who has already announced that he will resign as Srinagar MP and from the National Conference on November 3, made the remarks while speaking to media persons after joining the protest by veterinary students at SKUAST-K. His decision to resign on November 3, the death anniversary of his father Aga Syed Mehdi, was announced last month following his escalating differences with the NC leadership. Asked about his future political plans, Ruhullah said November 3 would first mark his freedom from what he described as political chains. First let me free myself from some chains on 3rd November. I will break those chains, I will free myself, I will cut the rope, he said. He made it clear that he was not announcing a new political party at this stage, saying any such decision would be taken after consultations across Jammu and Kashmir. Whether to make a party or not, what to do, it will be a collective decision, with the people of the whole of Jammu and Kashmir, sitting together, and especially with the youths, he said. Ruhullah also stepped up his criticism of the National Conference leadership over its decision to retain the Chief Ministers position within the Abdullah family following the 2024 Assembly elections. He said the party could have chosen a Chief Minister from outside the family. If they wanted, they could have done a leadership role; they could have made a Chief Minister outside the family; they could have made someone else, he said. Taking a further swipe at the party leadership, Ruhullah said, Chief Minister is a temptation; we could not resist that temptation. Leadership is the name of principle stand. Leadership is the name of conviction, he added. Ruhullahs remarks come amid a widening political rift with the NC leadership. His differences have centred on the partys post-2019 political position and its approach towards issues including the restoration of Jammu and Kashmirs special status. He had earlier accepted NC president Farooq Abdullahs challenge to resign and seek a fresh mandate. Responding to comments by NC MP Mian Altaf Ahmad on the functioning of the government, Ruhullah said he did not want to interpret his colleagues remarks. I respect him. He should interpret his own words, he said, adding that Mian Altaf should explain himself if he had any complaint against the government. On Farooq Abdullahs challenge, Ruhullah said he would respond politically at an appropriate time. God willing, it is being arranged. We will play this match politically, in the coming time, he said.

Kashmirs future is bright, filmmakers should focus on its beauty, peace: A R Rahman

Srinagar, Sep 12:Oscar-winning music composer A R Rahman on Saturday said Kashmir is beautiful, uncluttered, and an inspiring place, and urged filmmakers to celebrate the regions peace and natural beauty rather than violence and conflict. Rahman, who was in the Union Territory to shoot an advertisement, called for cinema to help reshape the narrative around Kashmir. When asked about Bollywoods role in promoting the Valleys picturesque locales and rich culture, the music maestro said the focus should be on showing harmony rather than the past strife. I think that is what should happen from now. They should bring the beauty and the peace, what you see in nature, as a positive thing, than taking anything about violence or the past. The past was past, the future is bright, Rahman told reporters. He believes J&K provides rare creative clarity for creators. As artists, we seek inspiration. And when we come here, it is uncluttered, beautiful, and it inspires us, he added. Describing Kashmir as a beautiful and blessed place, Rahman said it was commendable that the union territory hosted its first-ever International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir. Everybody can see the beauty of Kashmir and the vibration of Kashmir. I wish this film festival becomes really famous and a lot of people come here and enjoy the hospitality of the Kashmiri people, he said. This is a great idea. And I wish it will grow and grow, and become beautiful, and become such a great experience. Like we go to, Amsterdam, and we go to London Film Festival, or all those places, Sundance. I wish Kashmir becomes the best festival of India, he added. The internationally-acclaimed composer said he enjoyed shooting for the ad in J-K and hopes to perform in the valley soon. We have some plans and we are talking. Hopefully, I want to come and perform here, he said. He also welcomed the suggestion of greater collaboration between Bollywood and folk musicians from J&K. I would love to because I came here for Rockstar and I recorded ladies singing folk songs, and we used it in Rockstar. And we want to come and do more things here, he said.

Mehbooba Mufti welcomes BRICS condemnation of Pahalgam attack, seeks equal standards on Gaza, Iran

Srinagar, Sep 12:Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has welcomed the BRICS condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack, while questioning why India, as the current chair of the grouping, did not use the opportunity to push for a stronger and more comprehensive position against violence and civilian suffering across the world. The 18th BRICS Summit, hosted by India in New Delhi, adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which strongly condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, reaffirmed a policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and called for concerted action against terrorism in all its forms, including terrorist financing and safe havens. Welcoming the condemnation, Mufti said India, as the chair of BRICS, should also have demonstrated courage and true leadership by ensuring that the collective statement unequivocally addressed the devastation in Gaza and the US-Israeli military action against Iran. Terrorism cannot be condemned selectively. Civilian blood has no nationality, and international justice cannot have double standards, Mufti said. She stressed that the principle of condemning attacks on civilians must remain universal and should not depend on the nationality, religion or geopolitical alignment of those affected. The BRICS declaration expressed deep concern over the continuing escalation in West Asia, called for maximum restraint and urged that disputes be resolved through dialogue, consultation and diplomacy. It also emphasised the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and raised concerns over attacks involving peaceful nuclear facilities. Mufti said these commitments should be applied consistently. If the international community is serious about ending terrorism and protecting civilians, there can be no hierarchy of victims and no selective outrage, she said. She also welcomed the BRICS call for humanitarian assistance to Gaza, while asserting that humanitarian relief alone cannot substitute for accountability and an end to the violence. The declaration supports humanitarian assistance to Gaza, while its broader language on West Asia calls for restraint, civilian protection and adherence to the UN Charter. The suffering of civilians in Pahalgam, Gaza or Iran cannot be viewed through different moral or political lenses. The same standard must apply to every human life. The credibility of multilateral institutions depends on their ability to uphold this principle without fear or favour, Mufti said. She added that Indias leadership of BRICS offered an important opportunity to strengthen the voice of the Global South by advocating a consistent, rules-based international order in which terrorism, attacks on civilians and violations of international law are condemned irrespective of who commits them. India should lead by example. If civilian blood has no nationality, then justice cannot have double standards either, Mufti said.

Dad, Durood, Dua and Dua-e-Subuh

The greatest treasure, that Dad left behind is his memory. The memory of him gets rewound every time I look at something he loved, he touched or he owned. His collection of books and pamphlets, his newspaper cuttings, preserved rare magazines, and most importantly his hand-written notes and his small diaries with naats , manqabats, couplets from Iqbal and Rumi and many beautiful quotes are my precious assets. The mornings of Downtown Srinagar were different-they still are, I believe. The air reverberates with the echoing sound of mosques, some calling out the Lord with humility and some passionately building up the stamina to engage in the melody of Durood u Salaam to Prophet Muhammad (peace upon him). Kashmiri couplets of longing, love, and a desire to be under his (peace upon him) banner, blend immiscibly with Durood. The storms are created within desperate hearts, uneasy minds sail to peace and springs erupt from the turbulent eyes. I have grown up with this all when naats, hymns and bhajans coalesced in the air and played softly on our eardrums, not creating noise, but an aura of spiritual awakening and bliss.. We would wake up to these unique mornings where prayers of thankfulness and repentance directed towards Heavens blended with poetic cries of love and longing directed towards Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). I do not remember when I learnt to wake up early, but I remember waking up to the aura of Dua-e-subuits prayers, its poetry, and its yearning filling the mornings of our home. We all kids would enjoy the warmth and sensitivity of these mornings and would follow our parents in reciting Subhan-Allah Wabi Hamdihi. Dad would gently move his head with each repetition, his eyes lowered towards his chest. His voice would alternate between a soft hum and an audible recitation, lingering at one moment over Subhan-Allah and at another over Astaghfirullah, implying that each word carried its own emotion and weight. We would watch the beads of his rosary slipping through his fingers. Their movement would be slow and measured, or quick and restless, seeming to mirror whatever state of mind he happened to be in. Dua-e-subu had an aura of its own. Who would not want to be a part of that aura? Who would not want to swim into that channel of love opening inward? In an era where Bollywood songs had conquered minds and tickled hearts, this chant mesmerised, enthralled and gave a purpose to the mornings. We absorbed the nectar of these exquisite mornings with this unique remembrance of the Lord. These were not quiet ritualsthe whispered prayers, the rhythmic beads, and Dad's gentle movementsremain among the most tender memories of our childhood in Downtown Srinagar. They stirred something within us even before we were old enough to understand it. This profound remembrance was followed by a deep reckoning with ourselvesregret for our failings, repentance for our wrongs, and remorse for the sins we carried within. Fearful of meeting our Lord burdened by our shortcomings, we would renew each day our resolve to be good, to do good, and to seek out every opportunity to do good. Kyah Jawab Dimi Rozemaeshar Tohe Nishay Khalqan Andar, Taan Myaen tatey Din Gawahi Ya Illahi Afoo Kar. As Dad would proceed to the mosque, his prayer would merge with the prayers from other mosques carrying the emotion of Kashmirs pain and agony. Fountains of tears would sprout as he would say, Estade Roozith Arz Kar, Koshur Gareeba Pyov Pathar, Bay Chari Bay Kas Bay Hunar, Bay Yar Yawar Bay Nava---- It would be a collective prayer for the alleviation of a collective pain in a collective rhythm. As Dad would join the congregational prayers-our mother would lightly pat our backs and ask us to raise our hands and pray for all. Many times we would follow Dad to Makhdoom Sahib shrine braving the chill of winter or enjoying the breeze of an early dawn. We had been assured that our prayers would be answered ; so putting our wishes in a queue ,we would beg our Lord for each one of them -knowing for sure that they would be granted. As Dad would return from the mosque he would loudly recite Aurad-e-fatiha, our mother would join him reciting Aurad from heart - no household chores prevented her from getting absorbed in reciting Aurad. These expressions of gratitude, humility and love of Lord would remind us that God is greater than any problem or worry around. Subhan-Allah, Alhamdulilah, Allah-o-Akbar- recited finite number of times connected us to the infinite. No pleasure matched the pleasure of reciting 99 names of Allah. They flowed smoothly, one after the other reminding us about the great attributes of Allah, His command and control over us and His unparalleled love for us. I remember the names of Allah in the sequence as they appear in Aurad. At times Dad would pause watching the curious look on our faces and explaining to us the meaning of His names. Durood Shareiff is a momin's guard, it tags his soul to the Messenger (pbuh) and is a ladder to reach Allah. Dad loved Durood, he loved Kashmiri naats that would blend with Durood and salam, Yus parey Durood Mahbat saan,Sui mari paez paeth Baiman Zinde paai Daeshi Suy Aasarwar, Muhammad Mustufa Chu Paigambar These soul stirring lyrics connected us to prophet Muhammad (SAW). I remember how much we would enjoy saying this one in a chorus, Sayid Madeenuk, Sardar Deenuk, Mulke, Yakeenuk Chi Haz Shahanshah It would energize us, galvanize us and hypnotize us.Dad would pen these verses ,memorise them , recite and rehearse them every morning. Sheikh Saadis and Maulana Jamis famous naats too would adore his personal diaries. The ever famous Ya Rasool e Hashmi Ya Sahibe Jamali were his favourites. As I remember my father on his sixth death anniversary-I look back at what he left for us a lesson as to how we can enrich ourselves and a memory worth recounting and revisiting .I do not know why we couldnt recreate the same mornings for our kids? Dr Rumana Makhdoomi, Professor, Dept of Pathology SKIMS, Srinagar.

The question of political consistency

The political debate in Jammu and Kashmir has once again turned towards New Delhi. But beneath the familiar arguments over who meets whom in Delhi lies a more important question: what does political engagement with the Centre actually produce for the people of Jammu and Kashmir? The question has gained renewed attention following an article published in Greater Kashmir under the headline Delhi was good enough for Bukhari. Why not Omar?, authored by Shreya Handoo, who is associated with the National Conference. The article questions Altaf Bukharis political engagement with New Delhi while drawing a comparison with Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs visits and meetings in Delhi. The comparison, however, raises a larger question of political consistency. If engagement with the Union leadership is legitimate and necessary for one political leader, why should the same engagement be treated as politically questionable when undertaken by another? Political circumstances may change, but the basic democratic standard should remain the same. The debate should therefore move beyond personalities, photographs and political labels. The important question is not simply who travelled to Delhi, who met the Prime Minister or which political party appears closer to the Centre. The real question is what a political leader takes to Delhi, what issues are placed before the Union Government, what is discussed and negotiated, and what ultimately comes back to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. This is particularly relevant when examining Altaf Bukharis approach towards New Delhi. For years, Bukhari has faced criticism for maintaining direct communication with the Union leadership. His meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Union Ministers were used by political opponents to portray him as being excessively close to the BJP. In some political rhetoric, he was even described as the BJPs B-team in Jammu and Kashmir. But political labels rarely tell the whole story. A regional political leader can disagree with the Centre on important issues and still believe that direct engagement with New Delhi is necessary. Meeting the Prime Minister does not automatically mean endorsing every decision of his government. Dialogue does not necessarily mean agreement, and engagement does not necessarily mean political surrender. The real question is what is placed on the table. Bukharis political approach became particularly visible in March 2020, when he and leaders of his party met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Issues concerning land, employment and the political future of Jammu and Kashmir were among the concerns raised during that period. The timing of those meetings was significant. They came after the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, when uncertainty over land, employment, political representation and the future constitutional framework was deeply felt across Jammu and Kashmir. At that point, the questions of land and employment were not merely administrative matters. For many people, they were connected with economic security, political rights and concerns about possible demographic change. Any political effort aimed at addressing these concerns therefore deserved to be examined seriously. Bukhari and his political camp have maintained that their engagement with New Delhi contributed to protections relating to local employment and land. The continuation of local eligibility in recruitment, including positions from Class IV to higher services such as JKAS and JKPS, has been cited as part of that political effort. Such claims should naturally be examined against government records and actual policy decisions. Political claims should never replace evidence. At the same time, an initiative should not be dismissed simply because it was pursued by a political leader from another party. The public interest should come before political ownership. Land and employment were among the most sensitive concerns in Jammu and Kashmir after 2019. If political intervention helped protect the interests of local people, that deserves recognition. If it did not, then the political leadership should be questioned. Either way, the assessment should be based on facts and outcomes rather than party labels. This brings us to the question of political consistency. Before the elections, the National Conference often presented political distance from Delhi as an important part of its political positioning. The rhetoric sometimes suggested that the Centre was not merely an authority with which Jammu and Kashmir had to deal, but a political adversary from which distance itself carried political value. Leaders who travelled to Delhi and met the Union leadership were often criticised for being too close to the Centre or for failing to adequately represent the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. But after the elections, the political situation changed. Once the National Conference came to power, engagement with New Delhi became an important part of governance. Meetings with the Prime Minister, Union Ministers and senior officials became necessary for issues including statehood, development, finances, administration and other matters concerning Jammu and Kashmir. There is nothing wrong with such engagement. In fact, it is necessary. A government must speak to the institutions that possess the authority to make decisions affecting its people. No responsible government can simply refuse to engage with the Union Government because doing so might appear politically inconvenient. But if engagement with Delhi is necessary today, it was not inherently illegitimate when Bukhari pursued it earlier. That is the central question of political consistency. Political positions can evolve. Circumstances can change. A party in opposition may behave differently from a party in government. But the standards used to judge political opponents should not change simply because political power has changed hands. There is an important distinction between political engagement and political allegiance. A leader can engage with the Centre without becoming an extension of the Centre. A regional political party can negotiate with the Union Government while disagreeing with it on major issues. A political leader can meet the Prime Minister to put forward demands rather than to endorse every policy of his government. That is part of democratic politics. Indeed, dialogue becomes even more important when there are disagreements. The purpose of a political meeting is not necessarily to agree on everything. It is to place demands before those who have the authority to act and to keep pursuing those demands through political and constitutional means. For Jammu and Kashmir, this distinction is particularly important because several major issues ultimately require engagement with New Delhi. Restoration of statehood is perhaps the clearest example. The National Conference government has itself pursued the restoration of statehood and adopted a Cabinet resolution seeking it. There is nothing wrong with that demand. Statehood remains an important political issue for Jammu and Kashmir. But the political reality is equally clear: the Union Government has a decisive role in the restoration of statehood. Therefore, engagement with New Delhi cannot be described as politically wrong merely because it is engagement with New Delhi. If Omar Abdullah travels to Delhi to pursue statehood, there is nothing objectionable about it. But by the same democratic standard, Altaf Bukharis meetings with the Union leadership cannot automatically be described as political weakness simply because he was not in government at the time. The questions should be the same in both cases: What was demanded? What was discussed? What was negotiated? What was achieved? And, most importantly, what did the people of Jammu and Kashmir gain? That is a much healthier way of conducting political debate. For ordinary people, the political identity of the person sitting across the table matters less than the result of the conversation. A young person looking for employment wants to know whether jobs are being created and whether local opportunities are protected. A farmer wants to know whether his land and livelihood are secure. A trader wants better infrastructure and economic opportunities. A student wants better education and employment prospects. Families facing the pressure of rising prices want to know whether governments are capable of providing economic relief. These are the questions that should dominate political discourse. The people of Jammu and Kashmir do not need political theatre in place of political results. They need representation, negotiation, accountability and, above all, outcomes. That is why Bukharis Delhi engagement should not be reduced to photographs of meetings with the Prime Minister or the Home Minister. The photograph is secondary. The substance is primary. If land rights were discussed, that matters. If local employment was protected, that matters. If statehood was raised, that matters. If development, infrastructure, investment, tourism, education and the concerns of young people were placed before the Centre, those issues matter. The B-team label, therefore, does not answer the central question. What was Bukhari actually doing in Delhi? If he was using his access to the Union leadership to place the concerns of Jammu and Kashmir before the highest decision-makers, then those meetings should be judged according to their purpose and results. This does not mean Bukharis political strategy should be beyond criticism. It should not be. Every political strategy must remain open to public scrutiny. If negotiations fail, he should be questioned. If the results are inadequate, the public has every right to demand more. If promises remain unfulfilled, political leaders must answer. But there is a difference between criticising a strategy and declaring the strategy itself illegitimate. Some people may believe that protest is more effective than dialogue. Others may believe that sustained negotiation can produce better results. Both positions are legitimate in a democracy. What is difficult to justify is applying one standard to an opposition leader and another to a government leader. If Omar Abdullahs meetings in Delhi are part of his responsibilities as Chief Minister, then Bukharis meetings with the Union leadership should also be judged by the same democratic principle. Likewise, if Bukhari is criticised simply for maintaining contact with New Delhi, the same criticism should apply whenever another political leader engages with the Centre. The principle cannot change according to political convenience. Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory, and many important matters affecting its people remain closely connected with decisions taken by the Union Government. Employment, development, infrastructure, investment, tourism, major administrative issues and the restoration of statehood all require interaction with New Delhi. That is a political reality. The wiser debate, therefore, is not whether Jammu and Kashmir should talk to Delhi. The real debate is how Jammu and Kashmir should talk to Delhi, what it should demand and how effectively its interests are being represented. This is where Bukharis political approach deserves a serious assessment. His position has broadly favoured keeping communication channels open with the Centre and using those channels to pursue the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. Whether that approach has delivered enough is a legitimate question. Indeed, it is a question that must be asked. But the answer should come from facts, government records and measurable outcomes not from political slogans. The same principle should apply to the National Conference government. If the government meets the Prime Minister, people have the right to know what was discussed. If it seeks statehood, people have the right to know what progress has been made. If it seeks financial or administrative support, people have the right to judge what was secured. And if those efforts fail, the government should be questioned. That is democratic accountability. Unfortunately, political debate in Jammu and Kashmir often gets trapped in whataboutery. Instead of answering questions about unemployment, development, governance and representation, political actors sometimes redirect the conversation towards what another party did in the past. That does little for the public. A government should be judged by its own record. An opposition party should be judged by its own record. And every political leader should be judged by his commitments, actions and results. The people should not have to choose between competing narratives. Political parties should compete through performance. There is another reason this debate deserves attention. The political language surrounding New Delhi has changed significantly over the years. There was a time when distance from Delhi was presented as a sign of political independence. Today, engagement with Delhi is increasingly recognised as necessary for pursuing statehood, development and administrative interests. There is nothing wrong with recognising political realities. What is difficult to justify is pretending that those realities did not exist earlier. Bukharis argument has remained relatively simple: if decisions concerning Jammu and Kashmir are being taken in New Delhi, then the political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir must be willing to go there, present its case and negotiate for its people. One may disagree with this approach. But the approach itself is neither mysterious nor inherently undemocratic. Across India, Chief Ministers, opposition leaders and regional parties regularly travel to Delhi to seek funds, policy changes, infrastructure projects, special packages and political assurances. Engagement with the Centre is a normal feature of federal politics. The problem is not dialogue. The problem begins when dialogue becomes an end in itselfwhen meetings produce photographs but no progress, when promises remain unclear or when political engagement is used for publicity rather than public interest. That is why the people must ask difficult questions.What was discussed?What was promised?What was delivered?What remains pending?And who is responsible? These questions should be asked of Omar Abdullah, Altaf Bukhari and every other political leader without exception. Jammu and Kashmir cannot build its political future around a permanent suspicion of dialogue. At the same time, it cannot afford blind faith in dialogue either. Engagement must have a purpose. Negotiations must have a strategy. Representation must be persistent. And results must ultimately be measurable. This is especially important in relation to land and employment, where public concerns are deeply connected with economic security, identity and fears of demographic change. If political intervention and engagement helped secure meaningful protections for local land and employment, that should be recognised as part of the political record. If those protections remain inadequate, political leaders should explain why. Either way, the answer must come from facts and policy records. The same principle applies to statehood. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have every right to demand restoration of statehood. They also have the right to ask what political strategy is being used to achieve it and what progress has resulted from that strategy. New Delhi should neither be glorified nor demonised. It should be engaged with where engagement serves the interests of the people, challenged where necessary, negotiated with where possible and held accountable where commitments are not fulfilled. That is what serious regional politics should look like. Ultimately, the question is not whether a political leader goes to Delhi. It is what he carries with him; It is what he asks for; It is what he negotiates;And, most importantly, it is what he brings back. If Omar Abdullah goes to Delhi, let us examine what he demanded. If Altaf Bukhari goes to Delhi, let us examine what he demanded. If either succeeds, the people should acknowledge it. If either fails, the people should question it. That is not partisan politics. That is democratic accountability. Jammu and Kashmir needs leaders who can speak for its people wherever important decisions are being madewhether in Srinagar, Jammu, Poonch or New Delhi. It needs leaders who can negotiate without surrendering their political position, engage without abandoning their principles and disagree without closing the doors of communication. In the end, New Delhi is neither a place Jammu and Kashmir must fear nor a place it should blindly trust. It is a centre of political and administrative power with which the region must engage in pursuit of its interests. The responsibility of political leadership is to ensure that this engagement serves the people ;that is the real measure of representation. And perhaps that is the question Jammu and Kashmir needs to ask today not who went to Delhi, but who went there for Jammu and Kashmir, what they asked for, what they secured, and what they brought back for its people. Author, a practicing advocate at Srinagar wing of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, is District President Budgam and Media Panelist of JK Apni Party

Jamaat in Electoral Avatar

For decades, the political story of Kashmir was shaped as much by those who participated in elections as by those who rejected them. Boycotts, separatist politics, militancy and distrust of democratic institutions repeatedly influenced electoral behaviour in the Valley. Against this historical background, the re-emergence of elements associated with Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir in electoral politics represents a development of considerable political significance. The change became dramatically visible during the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Jamaat itself remained banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and therefore could not contest as a recognised organisation. Nevertheless, individuals associated with it entered the electoral arena as Independents, ending an absence from electoral competition stretching back to the 1987 Assembly election. The immediate electoral results were modest. None of the Jamaat-backed Independent candidates won. Yet judging the development merely by seats won would miss its larger significance. The real story was not victory.The real story was participation. From Boycott to Ballot Few transformations in Kashmir politics are more symbolically important than the movement from questioning elections to seeking legitimacy through them. Jamaat has a complicated political history. It participated in electoral politics in earlier decades but subsequently became associated with separatist politics during the turbulent period that followed the 1987 elections. Its return to the electoral field after more than three decades therefore represent a major change in its political position towards mainstream electoral politics. During the 2024 elections, Jamaat-backed candidates campaigned publicly, addressed voters and sought support through precisely the democratic mechanism that Kashmirs separatist ecosystem had spent years discouraging. That transition carries a message far greater than the performance of individual candidates. The ballot box was acquiring legitimacy even among sections of society historically sceptical of it. The 1987 Shadow The significance becomes clearer when viewed against the background of 1987. That election occupies a deeply controversial place in Kashmirs political history. Allegations of widespread manipulation surrounding the election contributed to political alienation, and the period that followed witnessed the emergence of militancy and a dramatic deterioration in Kashmirs security environment. Jamaat had participated in that election as part of the Muslim United Front. It did not subsequently contest any Assembly election for more than three decades. The return of Jamaat-associated individuals to elections in 2024 therefore represented, in a sense, the closing of a historical circle. The generation that had witnessed politics moving from the ballot towards confrontation was now seeing sections of the same ideological ecosystem travelling in the opposite directionfrom confrontation towards the ballot.That is why the development deserves attention beyond partisan politics. Democracy as the New Battlefield There is another important consequence. Once a political or ideological organisation enters democratic competition, the nature of its accountability changes fundamentally. A boycott requires no manifesto. A protest movement does not necessarily have to explain how electricity will be supplied, roads constructed, schools improved or employment generated. An elected representative does. The moment political actors ask people for votes, citizens acquire the right to ask uncomfortable questions. What is your economic programme? How will you create employment? What is your position on education, tourism, infrastructure and investment? How will you improve local administration? How will you represent women and young people? How will you reconcile religious ideology with the constitutional rights of every citizen? How will return of Kashmiri Pandits be assured with honour and dignity? Electoral politics therefore has a moderating potential that confrontation does not possess. It forces ideology to encounter governance.And governance is ultimately about solving ordinary peoples problems. Electoral Defeat, Political Signal The Jamaat-supported candidates did not achieve an electoral breakthrough in 2024 with none of its ten backed independents winning. Yet some candidates demonstrated pockets of significant support. In Kulgam, Sayar Ahmad Reshi secured 25,796 votes before losing to veteran CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, while Jamaat-backed Aijaz Ahmad Mir finished second in Zainapora with 15,018 votes. These numbers are politically relevant. They suggest that while Jamaat cannot automatically convert its historical organisational influence into electoral victories, neither can its potential constituency simply be ignored.There is a crucial difference between possessing a disciplined ideological network and building a broad electoral coalition. Elections require support extending beyond committed cadres. Candidates need women, youth, first-time voters, government employees, traders, farmers, professionals and citizens whose primary concerns may be economic rather than ideological.That transition will determine whether Jamaats electoral avatar becomes a lasting political phenomenon or remains confined to limited pockets. The Emergence of JDF The story did not end with the 2024 Assembly election. Former Jamaat-linked figures subsequently organised themselves through the Justice and Development Front (JDF). In 2025, a Jamaat faction represented through the JDF joined Sajad Lones Peoples Conference and Hakeem Mohammad Yasins Peoples Democratic Front in an alliance called the Peoples Alliance for Change. This potentially takes the transformation to another level. Supporting Independents can be dismissed as tactical participation. Creating an organised political platform operating within the constitutional system suggests something more durable. If this process continues, Kashmir may be witnessing the gradual institutionalisation of a constituency that previously existed partly outside mainstream electoral politics. Challenge for NC and PDP The development also creates an interesting challenge for the traditional Valley parties, particularly the National Conference and PDP. For years, Kashmirs electoral competition was fought largely within a familiar political space. The emergence of new formations fragments that space. A politically active Jamaat-derived constituency could be particularly relevant in parts of South Kashmir where the organisation historically possessed organisational and social influence.It does not necessarily have to win many seats to influence results. In closely fought constituencies, even a candidate securing several thousand votes can change the outcome by dividing an established partys traditional support base. Jamaats electoral avatar therefore adds another variable to an already fragmented Kashmir political landscape. A Victory for the Democratic Process There is, however, a larger perspective that should transcend calculations about which party gains or loses.If individuals who once belonged to political traditions sceptical of Indian electoral democracy increasingly seek change through elections, it strengthens the democratic process itself. Indias response should therefore distinguish clearly between unlawful activity, which must remain subject to law, and peaceful constitutional political participation, which democracy should encourage. The test for any emerging political formation must be straightforward: acceptance of the Constitution, rejection of violence, respect for Indias sovereignty and democratic institutions, and an unequivocal commitment to pursuing political objectives exclusively through peaceful and lawful means. Within those boundaries, political disagreements should be fought through speeches, manifestos and votes rather than stones, guns or intimidation.That would represent genuine progress for Kashmir. Kashmirs Changing Political Vocabulary Perhaps the most remarkable transformation occurring in Kashmir is not about any particular political party.It is about political vocabulary. Words such as boycott, hartal and shutdown, which once exercised enormous influence over public life, are increasingly competing with the vocabulary of votes, candidates, constituencies, development and governance. The change cannot be declared irreversible, nor should the complicated history of the region be forgotten. But it should certainly be recognised.Jamaats electoral avatar is one manifestation of this larger transition.and political situation emerging because of impact of 5th Aug 2019 decision on politics of the region Whether its candidates ultimately win five seats, one seat or none is secondary to the deeper political message. An organisation or constituency that seeks public support must eventually face public judgment.That is democracys greatest strength. For Kashmir, therefore, the transformation from ideological isolation towards electoral engagement offers an opportunity. Political grievances do not disappear because people vote. Differences over history and identity do not vanish overnight. But democracy provides a mechanism through which disagreement can exist without violence.The people become the arbiters.The journey from boycott to ballot may prove more consequential for Kashmirs future than the result of any single election. And if the gun finally gives way to the vote, and confrontation to democratic competition, the ultimate winner will neither be Jamaat nor any of its political rivals. The winner will be Kashmirand Indian democracy itself. Author is an advocate and Chief Spokesperson of BJP in J&K

Chinar, autumn and us

There was a time when autumn in Kashmir did not need an announcement. You felt it. It arrived slowly, in the crispness of the morning air, the lengthening shadows, the first chinar leaf turning from green to rust. The sunlight changed its colour. The evenings suddenly asked for another layer of clothing. Somewhere, someone began preparing for winter. Autumn was not merely a season in Kashmir. It was a mood. And lately, I find myself asking a strangely simple question: Where has the autumn gone? Perhaps it is still here. The chinars will change colour. Leaves will carpet the roads. Photographers will arrive. Social media will fill with spectacular reds and golds, and once again we will tell the world how beautiful Kashmir is in autumn. However, I am not speaking about the autumn we can photograph. I am speaking about the autumn we used to feel. Our seasons themselves seem less certain now. Summer overstays. Rain arrives when memory tells us it should not. Winter hesitates, then suddenly asserts itself. Familiar rhythms no longer feel quite so familiar. Scientists explain this through changing temperatures and precipitation patterns. But ordinary people understand climate change differently. They simply say: It wasnt like this before. Ask an elderly farmer about snowfall. An orchardist about flowering. Someone who has lived beside a stream about its water. Their answers may not contain graphs or degrees Celsius, but they contain something equally valuable: memory accumulated over a lifetime. Yet autumn may have disappeared for another reason. Maybe we have stopped noticing seasons. Once, our lives moved with them. Food changed. Clothes changed. Work changed. Winter preparation was almost a family ritual. Today, our homes maintain similar temperatures throughout the year. Departmental stores offer food irrespective of season. Cars carry us from enclosed homes to enclosed workplaces. And phones occupy the few minutes in which we might once have looked out of a window. We know autumn has arrived because someone posts a photograph of a chinar. That may be the greater loss. Not that autumn has disappeared, but that attention has! We photograph the leaf before we look at it. We record the sunset before experiencing it. We travel to extraordinary places and immediately search for the angle from which we can prove to others that we were there. Somewhere along the way, experience became content. And Kashmir suffers from this paradox as well. Never has its beauty been photographed so much. Perhaps never have we been in such danger of actually seeing it so little. There was another autumn too. The autumn of childhood. Long afternoons. The crunch of dry leaves beneath our feet. The smell of smoke somewhere in the distance. School mornings becoming colder. Grandparents predicting the weather with mysterious confidence. We did not call it mindfulness. We simply lived it. Then adulthood arrived. Calendars replaced seasons. September became deadlines, October meetings, and November just another month to get through. And one day, we looked up and realised that the chinar had changed colour without us noticing. Perhaps that is what makes autumn different. Spring is about beginnings. Autumn is about change and finding beauty in it. We celebrate youth, achievement and new beginnings, but struggle with ageing. We hide the grey hair, worry about wrinkles and often mistake slowing down for losing relevance. Yet the chinar teaches us otherwise. Its leaves do not become less beautiful because they are old. Sometimes, their final colours are their most beautiful. Maybe we need to look at our elders the same way. They carry memories of Kashmir that no book can fully preserve. When an elderly person leaves us, a small library disappears. And there are no backups. So, this autumn, when the first chinar turns crimson, dont photograph it immediately. Look at it. Sit with an elderly parent. Ask what autumn was like when they were young. Let children play among the fallen leaves. Walk without headphones. Notice the evening becoming colder. Because what we are losing is not merely a season. We are losing the ability to experience it. And the question was never: Where has the autumn gone? The more uncomfortable question is: Where have we gone?

The Breach at Lal Chowk

The political spectacle witnessed on September 2 at Srinagars historic Lal Chowk was neither an administrative anomaly nor a fleeting theatrical performance. By mobilizing cadres directly in front of Ghanta Ghar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crossed a psychological and spatial threshold that traditional Kashmiri politics long presumed impassable. For decades, this geographic focal point stood as the sanctum sanctorum of Kashmiri regional pride and political resistance. The BJPs unhindered gathering and vocal projection of strength there signals an aggressive transition from governing the Valley through administrative decree to contesting its political soul from within. This breach carries profound and far-reaching implications for the political existence, cultural autonomy, and long-term agency of the Kashmiri populace, particularly Kashmiri Muslims. Yet, to understand how the ruling national party managed to plant its banner in Srinagar, one must look beyond New Delhis calculated ambitions and confront the rot within Kashmirs traditional political citadels. The primary catalyst for this shift is a monumental demographic and cognitive transition. For over seven decades, mainstream Kashmiri politics was constructed around the towering memory and populist mythos of late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. That edifice, however, is crumbling. The generation that lived under that emotional spell is practically extinct. During its protracted eras in power, the National Conference (NC) sustained its electoral hegemony not merely through ideology, but through a deeply entrenched system of institutional patronage. By systematically absorbing the children of its hardcore followers into governmental and bureaucratic jobs, the party cultivated a loyal, self-perpetuating cadre at the grassroots level. For generations, this state-funded network reliably turned out to guarantee victories at the hustings. Today, that captive cadre has been reduced to a structural minority. Kashmir is experiencing an intellectual and demographic awakening parallel to global shifts. Endowed with acute political consciousness, high native intellect, and access to an interconnected world, the emerging generation of KashmirisGen Z and young millennialsrefuses to be swayed by outdated feudal narratives. The inherited loyalty that once shielded the political class has dissolved, replaced by a searing critique of the very structures that governed their parents. Fuelling this awakening is a catastrophic youth unemployment crisis. A generation of educated, articulate young people finds itself trapped in an economic desert, staring at dim horizons while the traditional elite continues to hoard power and privilege. The angst among these youth is palpable and precarious. It is directed with equal ferocity at the ruling class in Srinagar and New Delhi, and increasingly toward their own elders, whose political docility and historic compromises are seen as having mortgaged the future. When daily survival and dignity are denied, appeals to inherited historical legacies ring utterly hollow. Instead of reading the room and embracing structural reform, the ruling NC has doubled down on blatant nepotism and favouritism. At every conceivable turn, government dispensations, privileges, and political proximity are brazenly awarded to familial cliques and loyalist coteries. This unashamed display of entitlement has generated immense friction, not just among the wider electorate, but deep within the ranks of the partys own cadre and elected representatives. This growing internal revolt was articulated with searing clarity by Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, the sitting Member of Parliament for Srinagar. In public interventions and unvarnished social media addresses, Mehdi voiced the acute disgust simmering on the ground, calling out the entrenched leadership for turning public service into a private enterprise. The subsequent rupture between Mehdi and the Abdullah establishmentculminating in his planned resignation from the Lok Sabha and departure from the partyexposes the utter incapacity of the old guard to tolerate principled internal dissent. While Mehdi argued that trading the restoration of constitutional identity for petty administrative concessions was a historic surrender, the party leadership chose to close ranks, preferring compliant courtiers over leaders with genuine public resonance. This stubborn refusal to cultivate a credible second-rung leadership is the fatal flaw shared by both of Kashmirs traditional dynastic formations, the NC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Both parties operate as familial fiefdoms surrounded by insular coteries. In the PDP, the rapid, stage-managed elevation of proteges illustrates this pathology well. She is positioned front and centrecourting arrest, staging dharnas, and delivering party pronouncementswhile senior leaders and grounded grassroots workers are systematically sidelined or reduced to stage props. The NC mirrors this exact behaviour, confining strategic influence to a tight circle of privileged legislators drawn from traditional ruling enclaves around Srinagar, many of whom carry tainted public images and possess zero appeal among the wider, disaffected populace. By effectively blocking any capable, self-made political figure from rising through the ranks, these parties have hollowed themselves out from within. It is precisely this dynastic petrification that handed the BJP its greatest tactical advantage. Since August 2019, while regional leaders indulged in petulant territorial battles, the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) quietly, methodically wove an expansive political and social web across the Valley. Operating below the radar of mainstream media, they actively recruited women, aspirational youth, and disaffected political outliers who had long been locked out of the traditional parties patronage systems. Through economic incentives, job facilitation, institutional access, and targeted social outreach, they systematically assembled a loyal base. The Lal Chowk rally was not an overnight miracle; it was the visible dividend of five years of silent, well-resourced grassroots consolidation. The tragedy is that this vulnerability was entirely preventable. In the aftermath of August 2019, the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) emerged as a historic opportunity. It offered an institutional platform for continuous consultation, ensuring convergence and complementarity among Kashmirs mainstream parties. By setting aside sterile internal rivalries, the alliance could have built a united front capable of articulating collective aspirations and safeguarding regional dignity through active cooperation. That rare historic opening was torpedoed by narrow electoral opportunism. Sensing a momentary tactical edge in the recent elections, the NC leadership chose to sacrifice collective regional unity on the altar of immediate legislative numbers. In doing so, they fractured the fragile common front, dissipated the Valleys collective political leverage, and left Kashmirs strategic flanks wide open. The rally at Lal Chowk was the direct, predictable result of that strategic blunderan ambush enabled by regional short-sightedness. In his classic essay Helens Exile, Albert Camus issued an enduring warning on the perils of overreach and unprincipled arrogance, reminding us that Nemesis is vigilant, the goddess of balance, not of vengeance. For decades, Kashmirs dynastic elites governed with an absolute certainty that their monopoly on political legitimacy was permanent. They believed they could dispense favours to their coteries, ignore the rising desperation of their youth, and trade historical principles for transitory administrative titles without ever having to balance the ledger. But history invariably restores equilibrium. The loss of public trust, the rising contempt among Gen Z, and the humiliating spectacle of a national rival dictating terms from Ghanta Ghar represent the arrival of that inexorable balance. If the regional leadership remains mired in mutual attrition and dynastic entitlement, its complete obsolescence is only a matter of time. The poetic warning of Allama Iqbal captures with chilling accuracy the precipice upon which Kashmirs political society now stands: Watan ki fikr kar nadan, museebat aane wali hai Teri barbadiyon ke mashware hain asmanon mein. (Take heed of your homeland, you naive soul, for disaster looms The counsel for your ruin is being held in the heavens). The breach at Lal Chowk was a warning shot across the bow of Kashmirs political history. If the regional establishment fails to dismantle its feudal coteries, embrace authentic internal democracy, and answer the urgent economic cries of an awakened generation, the political existence and culture of Kashmiris will be redefined entirely by outside hands. Nemesis is keeping watch, and the time for self-delusion has run out. (The writer is a former Indian Army officer. He writes on issues pertaining to Jammu & Kashmir)

Dr Abdul Majid elected as National Vice President IAGMH

Srinagar, Sep 12:Dr Abdul Majid, Prof and HOD Psychiatry and Sub-Dean SKIMS Medical College Bemina Srinagar was elected unanimously as Vice President-cum-President Elect of Indian Association of Geriatric Mental Health during the annual general body meeting held during GERON 2026. The annual conference of IAGMH was held at Mumbai. This is one of the largest associations in India with more than 750 members across India and abroad with main focus on advocacy, education, research, policy making, and community services for betterment of mental health care for elderly along with special emphasis on caregivers and the family burden.

PD&SJ Pulwama inaugurates 3rd National Lok Adalat 2026

Pulwama, Sep 12: Under the aegis of NALSA and the Jammu and Kashmir Legal Services Authority, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Pulwama successfully organized the 3rd National Lok Adalat at the District Court Complex (DLSA) Pulwama as well as in the Taluka Courts across the district. Shabir Ahmad Malik, Principal District and Sessions Judge (Chairman District Legal Services Authority), Pulwama, inaugurated the 3rd National Lok Adalat along with the Judicial Officers posted at district headquarter. For smooth disposal, cases were pre-identified by the respective courts and placed before six dedicated benches constituted by DLSA Pulwama for settlement. First Bench was headed over by Shabir Ahmad Malik, Principal District and Sessions Judge (Presiding Officer), and Mahraj Ud Din, Chief LADC as Member. Second Bench was headed by Muzamil Ahmad Wani, Chief Judicial Magistrate (Presiding Officer) amd Fakhur un Nissa Principal Magistrate JJB Pulwama as Member. Third Bench was headed by Fariqa Nazir, Special District Mobile Magistrate (Presiding Officer) and Danishta shafi, Munsiff/JMIC as Member, whike fourth Bench was headed by Uzma Amin, Sub-Judge) (Presiding Officer) and Advocate Aijaz Ahmad Khan as Member. Fifth Bench was headed by Muneer Ahmad Bhat, Additional Special Mobile Magistrate (Presiding Officer) and Advocate Marroofa jan as Member. The cases taken up for settlement included a wide range of matters such as civil disputes, compoundable criminal cases, cheque bounce cases, bank recovery matters, MACT claims, land compensation cases, matrimonial disputes, pre-litigation cases, social welfare disputes, labour cases, revenue disputes, BSNL-related issues, municipal cases, and other matters related to government schemes. 653 cases were taken up before the benches, out of which 191 cases were amicably settled. A total settlement amount of Rs 4959155 was awarded/realized as compensation and recovery during the Lok Adalat.

Kashmir scientist sheds new light on fatty liver-cancer link

Srinagar, Sep 12:A fresh scientific review published this week in the leading journal Gut elucidates how a dangerous cascade turns common metabolic liver disease into cancer. The researchers led by Kashmirs noted endocrinologist Muhammad Shafi Kuchay highlight how genetic risks and metabolic stress make liver cells vulnerable to a form of iron-driven cell death called ferroptosis. The team, that included Francisco Javier Cubero and Bruno Ramos-Molina led by Dr Kuchay demonstrated how the dying liver cells spark a self-reinforcing wave of inflammation that drives fibrosis (scarring). It raises the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common liver cancer. Speaking to Greater Kashmir , Dr Kuchay said for decades, doctors and scientists had watched a quiet trend sweep across the world: the rise of fatty liver disease, driven by modern diets, lack of movement, and diabetes. He said millions of people live with simple fat buildup in their livers, a significant number of individuals cross a dangerous line into a severe, inflamed condition known as MASH. This advanced stage can lead to permanent scarring, long-term liver failure, and even cancer, yet the exact spark that sets off this destructive fire has remained a puzzle. Not anymore, he said. Dr Kuchay said when too much fat and iron build up inside the liver, they interact with specific fats in cell walls to create a destructive chain reaction. This reaction damages the outer shell of liver cells, he said. Taking one more layer off the condition, he said, Normally, the body has natural chemical shields and antioxidants that clean up this kind of damage. Under chronic stress, however, these defense systems completely wear out and collapse. The work arrives as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD, formerly NAFLD) and its progressive form metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly NASH) continue to rise and compromise life and health of millions. Driven by obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, MASH is already a major cause of cirrhosis. Dr Kuchay said to understand the process better, one can think of liver cells as factories processing fats and sugars. In people with genetic predispositions plus excess metabolic stress, these cells become overloaded with bad fats and labile iron. This triggers a kind of rusting of cell membranes, and these membranes tend to rupture. When these membranes tear, they spill danger signals and toxic lipid byproducts. Now, these signals activate resident liver immune cells (Kupffer cells) and recruit more inflammatory macrophages. The immune response pumps out cytokines that further weaken the cells antioxidant defenses. A vicious cycle of more cell death sets off, leading to more inflammation. Over time, this chronic injury activates hepatic stellate cells and cause progressive scarring (fibrosis), Dr Kuchay said. These changes increase the chance of mutations that can lead to liver cancer. The new paper breaks the process into three major stages - upstream genetic and transcriptomic priming, a core self-amplifying ferroptosisimmune crosstalk loop, and downstream fibrosis plus oncogenic priming. These culminate in HCC. Lifestyle measures that improve metabolic health (weight loss, better blood sugar control, reduced alcohol) remain foundational for prevention. These reduce the upstream stress that primes cells for ferroptosis. MASH often develops silently for years, and gets discovered in advanced disease stage when cirrhosis or cancer appears. No ferroptosis-specific drug is yet approved for MASH. The Gut study has been lauded by medical and research fraternity globally. Dr Kuchay and his team has received applause for the breakthrough findings from scientists from various medical universities.

Pahalgam echoes through BRICS

New Delhi, Sep 12:The BRICS grouping strongly condemned the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in its 'New Delhi Declaration' adopted on Saturday and called for zero tolerance towards cross-border terrorism, while demanding that all perpetrators and their sponsors be brought to justice. The comprehensive 45-page document, titled 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', marked a unified stance by the bloc against global terror, illegal financial flows, cyber fraud and emerging cross-border scam networks. Leading the security outcomes of the declaration, member nations condemned the April 22, 2025 terror strike in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, mainly tourists, and left scores injured. We express strong condemnation of any acts of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed, the BRICS declaration said, while explicitly citing the deadly attack at Baisaran meadows in Kashmir's Pahalgam area last year. Reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the member states called for tackling the cross-border movement of terrorists, terrorism financing, and safe havens. We reiterate that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group and that all those involved in terrorist activities and their support must be held accountable and brought to justice in accordance with relevant national and international law, the joint statement said. Demanding an unyielding stance against terror networks, the declaration said, We urge to ensure zero tolerance for terrorism and reject double standards in countering terrorism. We emphasise the primary responsibility of States in combating terrorism. The ruling BJP said the Delhi Declaration represents a significant diplomatic win for India. No ambiguity. No double standards. On Pahalgam, BRICS is on the same page. Under PM Narendra Modi ji, India has turned its fight against terrorism into a global diplomatic consensus, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said. Big diplomatic win for India. BRICS stands united against terrorism, he said on X. The BRICS leaders also pressed for the expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework and called for concerted actions against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities. The declaration welcomed the activities of the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) and its five Subgroups based upon the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the BRICS Counter-Terrorism Action Plan and the CTWG Position Paper. We look forward to further deepening counter-terrorism cooperation. We call for an expeditious finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the UN framework. We call for concerted actions against all UN-designated terrorists and terrorist entities, it said. The bloc further stressed the need to counter extremism and radicalisation, especially among the younger generations, through shared best practices. We also emphasise the importance of countering extremism and radicalisation especially among the younger generations and further stress the need to enhance cooperation among the BRICS countries and their competent authorities, including through sharing of best practices, it said. Beyond counter-terrorism, the declaration expressed serious concern over illicit financial flows, drug trafficking proceeds, money laundering, and the criminal misuse of virtual assets. The member states took strong note of modern financial security threats, saying we express serious concerns over the proliferation of organised scam networks, including cross-border fraud operations and so-called scam compounds, which exploit digital technologies, payment systems and individuals in vulnerable situations. Underlining the need for joint enforcement, the declaration said: We underline the importance of coordinated international action to dismantle these illegal networks, trace and recover criminal proceeds, protect victims, and prevent the misuse of financial institutions and emerging payment methods for large-scale fraud. To curb economic crimes, the leaders urged enhanced cross-border cooperation among financial intelligence units, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, tax authorities, telecom providers and technology platforms using data analytics and information sharing to effectively disrupt complex money laundering schemes.pti

India clinches consensus on UN reform

New Delhi, Sep 12:Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a major diplomatic triumph on Saturday as leaders of the expanded BRICS bloc unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration, enshrining support for Indias bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, pushing back against Western trade barriers, and initiating concrete moves toward financial clearing mechanisms that bypass the US dollar. The 140-point joint declaration, agreed on the opening day of the two-day summit at the Bharat Mandapam convention centre, marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the grouping. The document capped months of extensive negotiations led by New Delhi across more than 400 meetings in 30 Indian cities, framing India as the central bridge between an increasingly polarized West and a demanding Global South. Convening under the Indian presidencys theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability, the heads of state of the newly expanded bloc issued their most forceful challenge yet to the post-World War II global order. The communiqu declared that current multilateral architectures are fundamentally misaligned with contemporary multipolar realities and called for structural decentralisation across international politics and finance. In a direct endorsement of Indias core strategic goal, permanent Security Council members China and Russia explicitly reiterated their backing for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations, including permanent membership on the Security Council. The declaration similarly endorsed the legitimate aspirations of African states under the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration, demanding that council reform amplify developing voices. The summit took aim at executive appointments across international bodies, highlighting that in the ongoing selection of the next UN Secretary-General, no woman has ever been elected, while only two nationals from Asia, two from Africa, and one from Latin America have ever held the role. Invoking Article 101 of the UN Charter, leaders demanded an end to national monopolies over senior executive posts and deplored efforts by certain states to undermine multilateral bodies by deliberately withholding assessed budgetary dues. Addressing historical injustices, the summit welcomed UN General Assembly Resolution 80/250 declaring the trafficking and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as humanity's gravest crime, urged the complete eradication of colonialism under Resolution 79/115, and backed a proposal by South Africa and Brazil to establish an international panel on inequality under Sustainable Development Goal 10. New Delhi also steered an aggressive critique of international financial architecture. Reaffirming the BRICS Rio de Janeiro Vision and the Diriyah Guiding Principles, the leaders demanded the immediate implementation of the IMFs 16th General Review of Quotas and swift realignment under the 17th review. The declaration insisted that emerging market quota increases must match their true economic weight, without coming at the expense of poorer nations, and warned that voluntary financial contributions must never dictate quota allocation or governance representation. It also called for open, merit-based leadership selection at the IMF and World Bank to dismantle historical Western appointments. On trade, the leaders hit out at unilateral protectionism and unilateral carbon border adjustment measures (CBAM), characterizing them as discriminatory distortions violating World Trade Organisation principles. The bloc demanded the immediate restoration of the WTOs paralysed dispute-settlement Appellate Body, welcomed the accession procedures of Iran and Ethiopia, and commended Chinas zero-tariff programme for 53 African nations. Extraterritorial sanctions and secondary coercive economic measures drew unanimous condemnation, with leaders warning that such restrictions violate international law, sever critical supply chains, and infringe on fundamental human rights to development. To shield member states from unilateral financial sanctions, India helped steer tangible economic deliverables aimed at reducing reliance on Western financial plumbing. The BRICS Payment Task Force was mandated to broaden local currency settlements and test technical interoperability between member states domestic interbank messaging networks and central bank payment rails. Progress was registered on creating a BRICS Insurance Resilience Centre, alongside a review of an Indian proposal to locate an open-access BRICS Risk Lab inside the GIFT City International Financial Services Centre in Gujarat. Members also advanced structural revisions to strengthen liquidity responsiveness under the Contingent Reserve Arrangement Treaty ahead of its ninth operational test run, expanded pilot operations under the BRICS Multilateral Guarantees facility, and drafted steps for a member-driven New Investment Platform. Catering to Indias substantial small-business sector, the leaders agreed to examine an Indian-championed cross-border Invoice Discounting Mechanism under the Jaipur Consensus to provide liquidity for micro, small, and medium-sized exporters. The summit endorsed operationalising the BRICS Grain Exchange to protect against global food and fertiliser price shocks, and advanced feasibility work on an autonomous, high-speed submarine telecommunications cable network linking members directly. The New Development Bank, marking its 10th year of operations, was directed to expand local-currency loan disbursements. On foreign policy and international security, the summit expressed profound alarm over military escalation across the Middle East. The declaration condemned attacks on civilians, civilian infrastructure, and IAEA-inspected nuclear installations, while demanding immediate compliance with UNSC Resolution 2803 following violations of the October 2025 Gaza ceasefire agreement. The leaders rejected any demographic alterations or forced displacement of Palestinians, insisted on full humanitarian access via UNRWA, and called for the admission of the State of Palestine as a full U.N. member based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. The communiqu also condemned breaches of Lebanese sovereignty under UNSC Resolution 1701, demanding complete Israeli military withdrawal, and strongly condemned strikes against the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) that resulted in the deaths of four Indonesian peacekeepers. BRICS called for the total withdrawal of unauthorised foreign forces occupying Syrian territory under UNSC Resolution 2254, urged an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Sudan under the principle of African solutions to African problems, and called for the prompt termination of unilateral economic embargoes against Cuba. On security, Indian negotiators secured unified language unequivocally condemning terrorism in all forms, specifically citing the April 2025 terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir. The declaration demanded zero tolerance, rejected double standards, urged coordinated crackdowns on UN-designated terrorist outfits, and pressed for the adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. The summit also pledged intelligence-sharing between financial intelligence units to combat cyber scam syndicates, illicit virtual asset exploitation, and international arms trafficking. The document codified wide-ranging operational initiatives across technical sectors, approving an Integrated Early Warning System for Mass Infectious Diseases, pharmaceutical regulatory integration under the BRICS GXP White Paper, and a mental health network anchored by India's National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS). Marking the 65th anniversary of Yuri Gagarins space flight, the bloc amended its Remote Sensing Satellite Constellation framework to integrate new member space agencies, drafted Terms of Reference for a BRICS Space Council, and reiterated calls for a binding treaty prohibiting outer-space weapons. Leaders approved a joint declaration on the global governance of artificial intelligence, created the BRICS Incubator Network, and began reviews for a shared startup innovation fund. The declaration codified the Strategy for BRICS Economic Partnership 2030, establishing unified norms for green hydrogen certification, smart grids, and gig-worker social protections through the newly established BRICS CONNECT initiative. Following the conclusion of the New Delhi summit, India will formally hand over the rotating BRICS chairship to China, which will host the 19th summit in 2027.

PM Modi Pitches New World Order

New Delhi, Sep 12:The Global South must become a ule shaper and the existing pyramid of privilege structure in global governance must give way to a platform of partnership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday while opening the two-day annual BRICS summit as trade friction and geopolitical instability trigger growing economic headwinds. The prime minister also unveiled a 10-point roadmap for global governance reform under the BRICS framework while advocating for a 'Seafarers' Emergency Support Network' to safeguard sailors facing heightened risks from ongoing global and regional crises. Modi made the remarks in the presence of a galaxy of world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. In his remarks, Modi hailed BRICS for emerging as a key global body and called for a ew and ambitious agenda for the grouping for the next 20 years so that it can effectively handle pressing global challenges. The summit in New Delhi assumed greater significance as it is taking place amid a global economy facing the adverse impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asia crisis, especially the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration's trade and tariff policies. As the BRICS chair, India has placed the Global South at the heart of its agenda by seeking actionable solutions for food, energy, and supply chain security primarily to insulate developing nations from the economic consequences of conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. The current structure of global governance resembles a pyramid: power and decision-making are concentrated at the top, while the lower tiers consist of nations that are affected by these decisions but unable to shape them, Modi said. Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of decision-making. We must transform this 'pyramid of privilege' into a 'platform of partnership' -- one where every nation has a voice, every member has a stake, and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every effort, he said. To this end, the prime minister proposed that the BRICS jointly formulate a 10-point roadmap for global governance reform under the broader framework of the grouping's reform roadmap. Modi said the roadmap should be finalised by the time of the next summit. In formulating this roadmap, we must focus on three key aspects: representation, responsiveness, and rule-making. Elaborating on epresentation, Modi said the reform of the UN Security Council can no longer be postponed and that negotiations on it must be brought under a definite timeframe and clear outcomes. Similarly, voting power, leadership positions and policy priorities within financial institutions must align with today's economic realities. Countries that drive global economic growth should also play an appropriate role in shaping global economic governance, he said. Explaining his third point, the prime minister said ensuring equal participation in defining future global rules is crucial. Domains such as artificial intelligence, cyberspace, outer space, biotechnology, and critical technologies are not only shaping future opportunities but also defining future rules. We must strive to transform the Global South from a 'rule-follower' into a 'rule-shaper', he said. The prime minister also highlighted the critical role being played by the seafarers community in the flow of global trade and said their safety should be a matter of priority. Seafarers make a massive contribution to global trade, yet they often find themselves lacking support during difficult times. I propose that we establish a 'Seafarers' Emergency Support Network', he said. This would connect the maritime authorities and diplomatic missions of relevant countries, facilitating assistance with distress alerts, medical aid, family notifications, and evacuations, he said. After the West Asia conflict began in February, India has been critical of Iranian attacks on merchant vessels near the Strait of Hormuz that have killed and injured Indian seafarers. Ten Indian seafarers are among the 16 Indians killed so far in the West Asia conflict. However, the main focus of Modi's address was his call for reform of the global governance structure as well as to find ways to make BRICS much stronger. This year's BRICS summit marks a historic milestone. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of BRICS. In human life, the age of 20 marks the beginning of a new phase of maturity and responsibility, he said. Modi said BRICS, too, has reached a moment of coming of age and has established a distinct identity on the global stage. We respect each other's perspectives and move forward through consensus. We strive to advance not by opposing anyone, but by taking everyone along. Now is the time for us to translate our unity and consensus within BRICS into tangible results on the global stage, he said. We need to work on a new and ambitious agenda for the next 20 years. We must begin this process with our own internal working systems. While the BRICS presidency rotates annually, this should not disrupt our institutional momentum, he said. Modi also called for establishing a BRICS continuity and implementation mechanism. This would enable the follow-up of all initiatives and outcomes through the 'Troika' arrangement. We could also create a secure digital repository to record the nodal point, timeframe, and implementation status associated with every decision, he said. In his remarks at the concluding session, Modi said the discussions made it evident that the changing world cannot be steered by outdated institutions and reforms are essential in epresentation, responsiveness, and rule-making. We also emphasised that the Global South must have equal participation in the development of future technologies and the rules governing them. The prime minister said the gap between decisions and their outcomes must be bridged through partnership and collective action. The New Delhi Declaration adopted today provides a clear direction for our shared resolve. It is now our responsibility to translate these resolutions into tangible results, he said at the 18th BRICS summit.

J&K Bank bags top national honour for Best CSR Overall Practices

Srinagar, Sep 12: Reaffirming the growing reach and measurable impact of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, J&K Bank was honoured with the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Overall Practices award at the 13th National CSR Leadership Congress & Awards. The recognition acknowledges the Banks institution-wide commitment to sustainable social development through structured, need-based and impact-oriented interventions. Zonal Head (Bengaluru) Shadab Mehboob received the award on behalf of the Bank at an impressive function held on Friday at Taj MG Road, Bengaluru. The ceremony was part of a day-long CSR conference featuring eminent experts and deliberations on emerging trends and contemporary issues shaping the CSR landscape in the country. Expressing delight over the recognition, MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee said, For J&K Bank, CSR is not a peripheral obligation but an extension of our institutional purpose. This award validates our approach of taking meaningful, need-based interventions to underserved communities, particularly across J&K and Ladakh, while ensuring that every initiative creates measurable and lasting value. Our CSR programme is steadily evolving into a structured platform for inclusive and sustainable development, with healthcare, education, livelihood generation, disability inclusion, environmental sustainability and grassroots sports at its core. Our interventions also cover rural development, women empowerment and gender equality, promotion of art and culture, and support for armed forces veterans and their dependents. Guided by strong governance and strategic partnerships, we shall continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact in alignment with national development priorities, he added. The recognition is a reflection of the Banks sustained commitment to creating meaningful and measurable social impact through a wide range of CSR initiatives. Its interventions span critical areas including healthcare, environmental sustainability, community welfare, skill development and livelihood generation. In healthcare, the Bank has supported cardiac and breast-cancer screening programmes in underserved areas, enabling access to essential preventive healthcare for vulnerable communities. Its environmental initiatives, including solar-powered sanitation facilities, plantation drives and waste-management interventions, demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable development. The Bank has also undertaken community-focused initiatives such as providing affordable meals to attendants of patients at hospitals, while promoting skill development and livelihood opportunities to strengthen economic empowerment at the grassroots level. Collectively, these initiatives underline the Banks philosophy of going beyond conventional philanthropy to create sustainable and inclusive value for communities, while contributing meaningfully to the social and environmental well-being of the region. The National Awards for Excellence in CSR & Sustainability recognise organisations that have embedded social responsibility and sustainability into their institutional strategies and created demonstrable benefits for communities and the environment.

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Border peace essential for India-China ties: PM Modi to Xi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, September 12, conveyed to Chinese President Xi Jinping that peace and tranquillity along the frontier remain essential for the development of India-China relations, even as the two leaders welcomed steady progress in the bilateral ties. In their talks on the sidelines of the BRICS summit, the two Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

DGP Nalin Prabhat reviews security scenario, action against narco-terror modules in Jammu

Jammu, Sep 12: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting here to review the prevailing security situation and assess the action being taken against narco-terror networks and their support modules, officials said. Inspector General of Police, Jammu Range, Tejinder Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jammu-Samba-Kathua range, Shridhar Patil and other senior police and intelligence officers attended the meeting, the officials said. The DGP reviewed the security scenario and action against narco-terror modules, with all officers of Jammu Police, Jammu Zone police said in a post on X. The officials said the meeting focused on the emerging security challenges, particularly attempts by terror-linked networks to use narcotics as a means of generating funds and facilitating anti-national activities. The DGP took stock of the measures being undertaken by the police to identify, investigate and dismantle such networks operating in the Jammu region, they said. A police spokesperson said the meeting also reviewed the crime situation and laid emphasis on strengthening coordination, proactive policing and ensuring effective response to emerging security and law and order challenges.

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PM Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders at Bharat Mandapam.

Northern Army commander reviews counter-terrorism grid in south Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 12: Northern Command GOC Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma on Saturday visited south Kashmir to review the counter-terrorism grid in the region. He also took stock of prevailing security scenario and operational preparedness. The Army commander emphasised on adaptability, precision, sustained vigilance and synergy, the key enablers for successful and intelligence-driven operations and rapid response to any emerging challenges. During his interaction with the troops, the Army commander appreciated their indomitable spirit and dedication towards keeping the region free of terror and ensuring peace and stability.

Leaders of BRICS countries call for stronger cooperation in health, endorse initiatives on tuberculosis

BRICS leaders agreed to strengthen health cooperation and share best practices. They endorsed initiatives focusing on tuberculosis and digital healthcare systems. Leaders also supported efforts for healthy lifestyles and mental well-being programs. Pandemic preparedness and response capacities were emphasized by the group. Cooperation on traditional medicine and health workforce development was also highlighted.

PM Modi, BRICS leaders participate in tree plantation at Bharat Mandapam lawns

Brics nations push joint disease surveillance, medical product regulation

Grouping eyes more collaboration on treatment TB, NCD and mental health

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Chinese President calls on BRICS countries to play 'due role' in bringing peace in West Asia

Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed BRICS as an influential cooperation platform. He urged the grouping to play a role in West Asian peace. Xi also called for strengthened cooperation in AI and global governance. BRICS countries should lead in innovative development and maintaining stability. The bloc aims to steer the international order toward greater justice and equity.

LG Saxena launches four police initiatives to strengthen policing, emergency response in Ladakh

Leh, Sep 12: Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Saturday inaugurated four new initiatives of the local Police aimed at strengthening public safety, emergency response, tourist assistance and technology-enabled policing in the Union Territory. The initiatives include the launch of Jullay 2.0 - Ladakh Police Tourist Assistance App; introduction of 20 e-Challan devices by the Traffic Wing; expansion of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) 112 network through five new Rescue Beats; and opening of Tourist Facilitation Centres-cum-Check Posts at North Pulu in Nubra and Serchu in Changthang, a Lok Bhavan spokesperson said. The lieutenant governor commended the Ladakh Police for introducing initiatives that are tailored to the Union Territorys unique geography, climate, connectivity challenges, high-altitude terrain and growing tourist footfall. These initiatives demonstrate that Ladakh Police is not merely adopting technology for modernisation, but is using it to meet the specific needs of our people and visitors. By combining technology with infrastructure and trained manpower, these measures will make policing more responsive, transparent and accessible, particularly in our remote and strategically important areas, Saxena said. Saxena called for continued modernisation and regular evaluation of such measures based on practical experience and public feedback, with every technological intervention ultimately translating into quicker response, greater transparency and better public service. Talking about the initiatives, the spokesperson said Jullay 2.0 brings tourist assistance, safety services, weather information and other essential facilities onto a single digital platform. Its live notification system will provide tourists with real-time alerts, advisories and updates, particularly important in Ladakh where weather and road conditions can change rapidly, he said. He said the app also enables tourists and local residents to lodge complaints and report incidents directly to the Police, including through anonymous reporting. The app has been rolled out for Android devices on the Play Store, with its availability on the App Store expected shortly. The introduction of 20 e-Challan devices marks a significant step towards digitising traffic enforcement, the spokesperson said. Integrated with VAHAN, Sarathi and the e-Challan system, the initiative will create a digital trail from identification of a violation and verification of vehicle and licence details to challan generation and receipt. Centralised digital records will also help monitor violations, identify repeat offenders and traffic-violation hotspots, and enable more evidence-based traffic management, he said, adding the larger objective is to improve road safety and protect human life. The ERSS 112 network has been expanded with five new Rescue Beats at Nimoo, Nyoma, Sankoo, Panamik and Tangtse, increasing the number of Rescue Points from 11 to 16. The network is supported by 16 Emergency Response Vehicles of Ladakh Police, along with four additional ERVs of the Fire Department and UTDRF, equipped with GPS and Mobile Data Terminals, the spokesperson said. During July 2026, he said ERSS Ladakh received 3,375 calls and recorded 117 registered events, with an average response time of approximately 20 minutes. The new Tourist Facilitation Centre-cum-Check Post at North Pulu, Nubra, has been established to strengthen police presence and tourist services in the remote area. Similarly, the Tourist Facilitation Centre-cum-Check Post at Serchu, Changthang, has been completed, he said. Taken together, the initiatives mark a significant advancement towards technology-driven, responsive and people-focused policing in Ladakh, the spokesperson said.

Man drowns in River Jhelum in Sopore, body recovered

Sopore, Sep 12: A tragic incident occurred at Vijibal Doabgah area of Sopore in north Kashmir after a man drowned in the River Jhelum while reportedly trying to drag his boat towards the riverbank for repair on Saturday. According to reports, the man was engaged in taking the boat towards the bank when he accidentally fell into the river. The incident caused panic in the area, following which locals immediately rushed to the spot and informed the concerned authorities about the mishap. Soon after receiving the information, a joint rescue operation was launched by personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and local residents. The rescuers began searching the river in an effort to trace the man, while locals also extended their assistance during the operation. After sustained efforts and an extensive search, the rescue teams managed to retrieve the body of the man from the River Jhelum. The deceased was identified as Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Sumji (60), S/o Sonaullah Sumji, a resident of Sher Colony, Sopore. Following the recovery, police took the body into custody and completed the required medico-legal formalities. After completion of the formalities, the body was handed over to the bereaved family for the last rites. The incident has left the family and residents of Sher Colony in deep shock and grief. Local residents appreciated the timely efforts of the SDRF, police personnel and those who participated in the rescue operation.

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Show of unity: Modi, Putin, Xi hand-in-hand at 18th BRICS Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a notable moment with leaders at the BRICS Summit. He was pictured holding hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Other leaders including Iran's President and South Africa's President also joined them. Modi engaged in discussions with leaders from Russia, China, and Indonesia. India hosted the BRICS Summit for member and partner countries.

BRICS condemns Pahalgam terror attack

New Delhi, Sep 12: In a major diplomatic outcome for India, BRICS condemned the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in its New Delhi Declaration adopted on Saturday and called for zero tolerance towards state-sponsored cross-border terrorism. The comprehensive declaration, titled 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', marked a unified stance by the bloc against global terror, illegal financial flows, cyber fraud, and emerging cross-border scam networks. Leading the security outcomes of the declaration, member nations condemned the April 22, 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives and left scores injured. The declaration explicitly noted that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomsoever committed. Reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the BRICS leaders emphasised the urgent need to stop the cross-border movement of terrorists, disrupt terror financing networks and dismantle safe havens. The member states reiterated that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation, or ethnic group, while asserting that all those involved in terror activities must be held accountable under national and international law.

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Can You Have Fatty Liver Even If You Are Thin?

It is a myth that skinny people cannot have fatty liver. It is a chronic liver disease with no direct association with body weight. To learn more, read this article.

Packaged Foods May Soon Carry Warning Labels For High Sugar, Salt And Fat Contents

FSSAI plans to introduce front-of-package labels warning about high sugar, fat, and salt on packaged foods, as stated in a Supreme Court affidavit.

MP Aga Ruhullah joins protesting veterinary interns at SKUAST-K, urges govt action

Food and water stations for wild birds can increase deadly parasite risk

BRICS adopts New Delhi Declaration with consensus: Full text here

New Delhi, Sep 12: In a significant diplomatic breakthrough for India, the BRICS grouping on Saturday adopted a joint declaration with consensus, overcoming sharp divisions between Iran and the UAE over the West Asia conflict following a series of back-channel negotiations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the declaration at the end of the opening day's deliberations at the two-day India-hosted summit. The negotiations on the text of the declaration went down to the wire as both Iran and the UAE had hardened their positions initially. BRICS is a consensus-based grouping, meaning any single member can block a final joint declaration. Prime Minister Modi was seen shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the conclusion of the inaugural session at the summit. Today's discussion makes it evident that the changing world cannot be steered by outdated institutions; reforms are essential in representation, responsiveness and rule-making, Modi said in his concluding remarks. We also emphasised that the Global South must have equal participation in the development of future technologies and the rules governing them. The prime minister said the gap between decisions and their outcomes must be bridged through partnership and collective action. The New Delhi Declaration adopted today provides a clear direction for our shared resolve. It is now our responsibility to translate these resolutions into tangible results, he said.

Conflicts be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy: President Murmu in meeting with Iran's Pezeshkian

New Delhi, Sep 12: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday met her Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian during which she reiterated India's commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace in the region and called for conflicts to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. President Murmu's remarks came amid escalating tensions in West Asia in view of fresh US airstrikes on Iranian targets as well as Washington's attempts to inflict economic strain on Tehran through crippling sanctions. Welcoming President Pezeshkian on his first visit to India, the president expressed appreciation for the support extended by Iran during India's BRICS presidency. The two leaders discussed the long-standing bonds of friendship between Iran and India, including their strong cultural and people-to-people ties, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. The president reiterated India's commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace in the region and called for conflicts to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, it said. The West Asia conflict began in late February this year. Pezeshkian, who is here to participate in the BRICS Summit, called on President Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

AstraZeneca's breast cancer drug fails in late-stage trial

AstraZeneca's breast cancer drug Etcamah did not meet its main goal in a late-stage trial. The drug showed only a numerical improvement when combined with palbociclib. This marks a setback for the recently approved treatment, which received accelerated approval. U.S.-listed shares of AstraZeneca experienced a decline in aftermarket trading. Trial data will be shared by the company in due course.

NIA searches 10 locations across J&K in LeT-linked terror case

Srinagar, Sept 12 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted searches at 10 locations across Kupwara, Kulgam, Bandipora, Baramulla and Sopore in connection with a cross-border terror conspiracy involving Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handlers and their alleged network of local Over Ground Workers (OGWs). In a statement issued to the news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO), an NIA spokesperson said the searches were conducted to unearth further evidence related to the conspiracy and ascertain the roles of individuals providing logistical and other support to infiltrated terrorists. The spokesperson said the case, initially registered as FIR No. 0024/2026 at Police Station Zakoora, Srinagar, was subsequently re-registered by the NIA as RC-02/2026/NIA/JMU under Section 23 of the UA(P) Act, 1967, Sections 7 and 25 of the Arms Act, 1959, and Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908. He said the investigation commenced following the arrest of an OGW associated with LeT during the late-night hours of March 31, 2026, at a naka point, from whose possession a hand grenade and live ammunition were recovered. Further investigation subsequently led to the arrest of Pakistani nationals linked to the conspiracy and revealed the identities and suspected roles of members of the local support network, he said. The spokesperson said the investigation had so far revealed linkages between Pakistan-based LeT handlers and their local associates, who were allegedly being used for communication, movement and concealment of infiltrated terrorists, provision of shelter, reconnaissance and other logistical support. NIA is also examining the financial trail, communication channels, movement of the accused, and the source and supply chain of arms and explosives, with a view to establishing the complete network and uncovering the extent of its activities, he said. He said the searches were part of the NIAs continuing investigation into the larger conspiracy and the support mechanism facilitating cross-border terrorism. During the searches, further incriminating material relevant to the case was seized and secured, which is being examined and corroborated with other evidence collected during the investigation, he said. The spokesperson said the NIA continues its investigation to identify all persons involved in the conspiracy and establish their respective roles. Further legal action, including arrests and recoveries, may follow subject to the outcome of the investigation.(KNO)

PM Modi's opening remarks during the BRICS Session on Inclusive Global Governance and Strengthening Multilateralism.

Russian Prez Putin welcomed by PM Modi at BRICS Summit venue

Chinese Prez Xi welcomed by PM Modi at BRICS summit

BRICS Summit begins: PM Modi welcomes world leaders

New Delhi, Sep 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed world leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to India on Saturday to kick off a two-day BRICS summit aimed at protecting developing economies from the global impact of wars in Ukraine and West Asia. The other leaders attending the summit in New Delhi are Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, New Development Bank (NDB) President Dilma Rousseff and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Chief Zou Jiayi are also attending the BRICS summit. The theme of India's BRICS presidency is Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. The summit at New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam assumed greater significance as it is taking place against the backdrop of a global economy facing the adverse impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, the West Asia crisis, especially the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration's trade and tariff policies. Global trade can move forward only when sea lanes are secure, supply routes remain open, and seafarers are safe. That is why India is a staunch advocate of freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers, Modi said at the BRICS Business Forum on Friday, indicating India's concerns over the escalating situation in West Asia. India's chairship of the grouping centred on the four pillars: resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability. Under the resilience pillar, India has been focusing on strengthening collective cooperation in areas such as health, agriculture, food, energy, disaster risk reduction and supply chains, officials said. Enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and high technology will also be high on the agenda of the summit, they said. New Delhi has also been pressing the grouping for deploying new and emerging technologies such as digital public infrastructure, fintech, artificial intelligence and knowledge sharing to enable effective service delivery and future-ready growth. In addition to these areas, the leaders will exchange views on strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation on common priorities and share perspectives on global and regional matters of mutual importance, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. BRICS, originally comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, expanded in 2024 to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with Indonesia joining in 2025. Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan and Vietnam became BRICS partner countries last year. BRICS emerged as an influential grouping as it brings together 11 major emerging economies of the world, representing around 49.5 per cent of the global population, around 40 per cent of the global GDP and around 26 per cent of the global trade.

PM Modi holds bilateral talks with leaders of UAE, Malaysia, Vietnam and Ethiopia

New Delhi, Sep 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held separate bilateral meetings with leaders from Malaysia, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia, focusing on critical minerals, energy, and food security to shield trade and supply chains from rising global tensions. The meetings took place on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. In talks with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Modi discussed with him the overall situation in West Asia and ways to take forward the India-UAE strategic partnership. Discussed taking our strategic partnership forward across defence, AI, space, critical minerals, energy, food security and connectivity, Modi said in a social media post. At a time of uncertainty in West Asia, a strong India-UAE is a symbol of stability, prosperity and peace, he added. In their meeting, Modi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy and fintech. Ibrahim conveyed to Modi Malaysia's concurrence to the establishment of an Indian consulate general's office in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Prime Minister Modi appreciated Malaysia's continued support in strengthening ASEAN-India relations. The leaders exchanged views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The two leaders expressed their continued commitment to advancing the India-Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, it said. The meeting between Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung largely focused on bilateral trade and investment ties. The meeting provided an opportunity for both leaders to review the progress made in bilateral ties, which were elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the MEA said. It said both leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual importance, and reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthening their partnership. India and Vietnam share a time-tested friendship rooted in shared civilisational heritage, mutual trust and understanding. Vietnam is a key pillar of India's Act East Policy and an important partner in India's broader engagement with Southeast Asia, the MEA said. Modi's talks with his Ethiopian counterpart Abiy Ahmed Ali too centred around ways to further expand two-way relations in areas of defence and trade. The two leaders held discussions aimed at further strengthening the bilateral strategic partnership. They reviewed progress across key sectors, including economic cooperation, defence and security partnership, and capacity building, the MEA said. The meeting built on Modi's visit to Addis Ababa in December last year. The two leaders also exchanged perspectives on regional and international developments of mutual interest. They reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation in multilateral fora, the MEA noted.

Nalli Nihari To Lotus-Inspired Mithais, This Is What BRICS Delegates Will Eat In Delhi

The 18th BRICS Summit features an India Friendship Menu highlighting diverse Indian cuisines.

Sakina Itoo urges NHM employees to end strike, says government examining their demands

Sakina Itoo says NHM staff demands sent to Centre, urges end to strike

Srinagar, Sep 17: Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Saturday appealed to striking National Health Mission (NHM) employees to return to duty, saying their work is sensitive and that the government is examining their demands, including issues related to remuneration, leave salary and pensionary benefits. Itoo said she had met the protesting employees several times and had tried to persuade them to call off the strike. I have never stopped them. Whenever they came to meet me, I spoke to them. Even before this protest, I spoke to them. I tried to convince them, she said. The minister said the government had already taken up with the Centre the issue of low remuneration paid to NHM employees. There are some issues, such as the issue of leave salary and other pensionary benefits. Our government is examining these, she said. Itoo said she had personally raised the issue of NHM employees' remuneration during a recent conference in Delhi attended by the Union Health Minister. If there was any point I raised and discussed, it was about these NHM employees. I told them that the honorarium they receive is very low. Inflation is very high these days, she said. According to Itoo, the Centre had acknowledged the concern and a proposal had already been submitted. They have also accepted it and our proposal has gone for it. I have once again told them that I will give them a reminder in Delhi so that it can somehow help them, she said. However, she said healthcare workers, including doctors, female multipurpose health workers and pharmacists, perform sensitive duty and should not remain away from work for prolonged periods. Doctors or their other staff, FMPHWs or pharmacists or others are performing a sensitive duty. Their going on protest is not justified, Itoo said. She warned that continued protests could eventually leave the government with fewer options. If they go on protest like this, I don't think it is right. Then somewhere the government also becomes compelled to take steps steps that we do not want to take because they are our own people, she said. Describing the protesting employees as our own children and our brothers and sisters, Itoo appealed to them to resume work while the government pursues their grievances. My request to them again today from here is: come back. The issues they have are already being examined by the government, she said. Itoo also questioned political leaders supporting the NHM employees' protest, asking what the BJP-led government at the Centre had done for the employees since 2019. People come and use you today, and I want to ask those people who go and sit in their protest. Tell me, who has been running the government here since 2019? The BJP has been running the government, she said. If their role is running the government here, directly, the BJP government, what have they done for these employees from 2019 till today? she asked. Itoo said the funding for the NHM scheme ultimately comes from the Centre and argued that political parties supporting the employees should direct their questions to the Union government. She also criticised BJP leaders who, she said, were promising to go to Delhi to secure statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. I was listening to a leader the other day who was saying, I will go to Delhi, I will bring an order. I know you are the BJP's daughter; please go to Delhi and bring statehood for us, she said. She accused the BJP of having caused so much destruction and devastation in Jammu and Kashmir and said political leaders who had been in power at the Centre were not in a position to question the current government over the issue. Statehood was taken away, and you have caused so much destruction and devastation in Jammu and Kashmir. Nothing is on track today, and then you will question us, she said. Itoo, however, reiterated that the government's position towards the NHM employees remained conciliatory. I want to assure the employees that they are our own people, our brothers and sisters. They work in a profession where they take care of people's health, she said. Patient care is becoming difficult, so my request to them is to return to duty. Their issues are already being examined by the government and, God willing, wherever it is possible, we will definitely help them.

12,000 NHM employees continue strike across J&K for third day

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meets President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Searches conducted at five locations in Poonch and Udhampur Districts: SIA Jammu

Jammu, Sep 12: The State Investigation Agency (SIA), Jammu, today conducted searches at five locations in the Mandi and Surankote areas of District Poonch and Ramnagar area of District Udhampur in connection with an ongoing investigation into a case involving alleged propagation of secessionist narratives and radicalisation activities through online and offline communication channels, including social media platforms from across the border. According to an official spokesperson, During the course of investigation, certain individuals were found to be allegedly communicating with suspicious persons located across the Line of Control (LoC)/border. The search operations commenced in the morning and are presently underway. The searches are aimed at collecting and verifying relevant material and evidence in furtherance of the ongoing investigation, he said. Further details, if any, will be shared upon completion of the search operations and assessment of the material recovered, an SIA spokesperson said.

China's Xi arrives in New Delhi, India for BRICS summit

Are Sprouts Safe to Eat Every Day? What You Should Know

Sprouts are considered one of the healthiest food options, especially if you follow a clean, healthy lifestyle. However, you must consult an expert on whether you should eat them daily.

Scientists turned coconut waste into a water-cleaning material

Chinese President Xi lands in Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 12: Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in the national capital on Saturday for a two-day trip to attend the BRICS Summit, marking his first visit to India in seven years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host him for bilateral talks on Saturday evening with a focus on boosting trade and investment ties. President Xi's visit to New Delhi follows a series of recent high-level exchanges, including the Special Representative dialogue in Beijing between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, even as concerns linger over aggressive Chinese military posturing along the Arunachal Pradesh sector. The Chinese leader is accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising government officials and top business leaders. Both sides have rolled out a series of confidence-building measures over the past year to repair ties frayed by the more than four-and-a-half-year military standoff in eastern Ladakh.

Food Prices At Kerala Multiplexes Face Government Checks After Complaints, 25 Violations Detected

Officials found 25 violations during the inspections, including differences in the actual weight of food products, poor quality of food being served and more.

PM Modi holds talks with Malaysian counterpart

New Delhi, Sep 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim, focusing on boosting bilateral cooperation in sectors such as energy, defence, trade and investment. Anwar is in New Delhi to attend the BRICS summit. Building on Prime Minister Modi's visit to Malaysia in February 2026, the leaders reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation across a range of areas, including trade and investment, defence and security, semiconductors, infrastructure, digital economy, energy, fintech, education, tourism and people-to-people ties, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media. The leaders exchanged views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest, he said.

Terror Probe: NIA Raids Multiple Locations Across Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Sep 12: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted searches at multiple locations across Kashmir as part of its ongoing probe into a terror-related case, officials said. The raids were carried out at several locations in Kulgam and Bandipora districts and in the Sopore area of Baramulla district, they said. NIA teams carried [] The post Terror Probe: NIA Raids Multiple Locations Across Kashmir appeared first on Northlines .