Opinion

Euphemisms: The endless evolution of words we use to avoid offence

As society progresses, the need for language that reflects our values becomes evident. Euphemisms provide a way to discuss sensitive topics while minimizing offense. Terms once deemed acceptable often change, highlighting the ongoing evolution of communication. Whether used by individuals or organizations, the conscious choice of words reflects an awareness of cultural shifts and fosters a more inclusive dialogue in our interactions.

Two cloudbursts trigger flash floods in Anantnag's Shangus, Pahalgam

The greatest World Cup goal that never was

A football match saw a goal scored by Egypt against Argentina. This goal was later disallowed after a lengthy VAR review. The referee reversed his decision following consultation with the video assistant. This event highlights how technology can alter the course of a game. The author uses this to explore the nature of time and history.

With courage and conviction, you may yet conquer FOMO by sheer FOECTSTDU

'The Voice of Hind Rajab' is a docudrama that depicts the tragic events surrounding a young Palestinian girl. The film's screening saw a silent, moved audience in attendance. Choosing to watch certain films is presented as a political act. This conscious decision resists marketing tactics and supports meaningful cinema.

Govt places 539 Masters as Incharge Headmasters

Srinagar, July 11: In a significant step aimed at strengthening the administrative and academic framework of government schools, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has placed 539 Masters of School Education department as in-charge Headmasters and posted them in various schools across length and breadth of Jammu and Kashmir. The decision marks a major initiative towards ensuring effective school leadership, addressing administrative requirements and enhancing the overall quality of education in government schools. Speaking on this landmark development, Minister for Education, Social Welfare, Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo said that this significant decision reflects the Governments unwavering commitment to improving educational standards and ensuring better academic outcomes for students across Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister said that strong institutional leadership plays a pivotal role in improving teaching-learning processes, enhancing accountability and creating a conducive environment for quality education. She expressed confidence that the placement of 539 Masters as Incharge Headmasters will significantly strengthen school administration and contribute to improved educational performance at the grassroots level. Sakeena Itoo reiterated that the present Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, remains committed to upgrading educational institutions by ensuring adequate human resources, improving infrastructure and implementing progressive reforms across the education sector. She further said that the Government is taking a series of measures to modernise the school education system, bridge existing gaps and provide students with access to quality education in a vibrant academic environment. The Minister also said that the Government has also recruited 595 Lecturers in various disciplines and posted them across different Higher Secondary schools, thereby boosting the educational scenario here. She also underscored the Governments resolve to continue undertaking policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the education sector and creating a robust, inclusive and future-ready schooling system across Jammu and Kashmir. The Minister also extended best wishes to the headmasters who have been entrusted with their new responsibilities and expressed hope that they would discharge their duties with dedication, professionalism and a strong sense of responsibility towards the welfare and academic progress of students.

A Cathedral cat & opinion of the masses

A visit to Southwark Cathedral introduced the author to Hodge, the resident cat. The author then encountered a discussion about a controversial AI-generated image. This image depicted a woman as a beast of burden, sparking debate. The author faced criticism for offering historical context and differing opinions. Ultimately, the author found solace in the unchanging Thames river.

15 Indian tourists killed in Vietnam boat capsize

Hanoi, Jul 11: Fifteen Indian tourists were killed after the speedboat they were travelling in capsized off Vietnams Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said. There were 36 people on board, including 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members, of which 21 were rescued. Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is a major tourist destination, known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping excursions. The tourists in this case were reportedly returning from an island trip. The speedboat capsized about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai, an island in the An Thoi archipelago off the coast of Phu Quoc, Vietnamese news portal VN Express International reported. The report said nearby tourist boats rushed to pull passengers from the water before the border guards, the navy, the coast guard and other forces joined the search-and-rescue operation. It also quoted eyewitnesses saying some of the passengers were trapped inside the overturned boat, which made rescue difficult. The bodies of all the deceased tourists have been recovered, according to local media reports. Of the 15 victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three were from Andhra Pradesh and two were from Kerala. Two of the deceased were women, according to a list shared by the Indian Embassy on X. A big wave hit us, 20 people came out of it, and the balance members got stuck, Nirmal Kumar, a survivor, told PTI Videos. It's a closed boat. Since we were on the front, we (Kumar and a friend) managed to survive. Others who were behind, got stuck. The boat authorities maintained proper safety measures, he said. Television footage aired by Vietnamese media showed rough seas and strong winds as rescue teams threw life buoys to people in the water, AP news agency reported. Jet skis were used to ferry survivors to the shore, where bystanders administered first aid to some of the victims, it said. The exact cause of the incident is yet to be ascertained. According to AP, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident and directed authorities to hold those responsible accountable. He also asked officials to review waterway and maritime safety measures in the area of the accident and other similar locations, the news agency reported. The Indian Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam are providing all possible assistance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X. Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam, PM Modi said. My sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. My prayers for the early recovery of the injured survivors. Our Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities, he added.

Despite global challenges, India's pace of development 'unprecedented': PM Modi

Auckland, Jul 11: India's pace of development is unprecedented despite global challenges, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, emphasising that the country is giving the world new models of development. Speaking at an Indian community event titled 'Kia Ora Modi in Auckland, also attended by his Kiwi counterpart Christopher Luxon, Modi said that the relationship between India and New Zealand is built on cherished memories, enduring friendship, shared values and a mutual commitment. Amidst global challenges, the speed at which India is developing is unprecedented. Today, India is the world's fastest-growing major economy, Modi said, amid cheers and applause from the audience. Prime Minister Modi said India is giving the world new models of development. Today in India, billions of digital transactions are happening every month through UPI. India is touching new heights in drone technology and the space economy, he said, amid cheers and chants of 'Modi Modi'. Stating that the future of India and New Zealand is intertwined, Modi said the bilateral trade agreement will accelerate India's journey towards a developed nation. Modi said that the space sector itself demonstrates the immense potential of the economic partnership between India and New Zealand. The same spirit is reflected in our trade agreement. This agreement will accelerate our journey towards a developed India. It will create new opportunities for businesses in both India and New Zealand, he told the more than 10,000-strong gathering of the Indian diaspora. This is the picture of the new India, showing how India is maintaining a balance in both ecology and economy, just like New Zealand, he added. Modi, who arrived in Auckland on Friday on the final leg of his three-nation tour, said that there is another important similarity between the two nations. It is our shared commitment to celebrating and preserving our indigenous cultures, he added. Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit New Zealand in 40 years, showed a muffler to the crowd and said he received it as a gift along with a cap and glove when he visited New Zealand around 25-30 years ago, before entering public life. He said that the relationship between India and New Zealand is built on cherished memories, enduring friendship, shared values and a mutual commitment. A beautiful expression from New Zealand's culture captures the essence of this relationship -- Waka. For centuries, this word has symbolised bringing people together. A Waka is not merely a boat. It is a symbol of a shared journey. Today, the IndiaNew Zealand Waka is ready to embark on a new voyage together, he said. A vast ocean of opportunities lies before India and New Zealand, he said. Modi thanked his Kiwi counterpart Luxon, government officials and the members of the Labour Party, saying that their presence reflects the strong bipartisan support for the IndiaNew Zealand relationship. It is also a testament to the remarkable achievements of the Kiwi-Indian community, he said. Modi said the local people have embraced the Indian community in New Zealand as he mentioned a few achievers like Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravi Shankar, Governor-General Anand Satyananda and cricketer Rachin Ravindra. New Zealand is the place where Indian cities have been respected even on the streets, he added. In every era, India has transformed itself... and the reason is that India is always willing to learn from others. For us, it is not the size of a country's population that matters, but its commitment to the welfare of its people, and therefore, we have learnt a lot from New Zealand and are still learning from it, he said. Today, we see that women are contributing on a massive scale in New Zealand's society. India, too, is today opening new doors of opportunity for women with the mantra of women-led development, he said. Modi said that just as India places great importance on its economy and ecology, it attaches equal importance to its heritage. A testament to this commitment is the manner in which India safeguarded the sacred Saroop of the Guru Granth Sahib. When Afghanistan faced a crisis, we brought the sacred Saroop of the Guru Granth Sahib to India with the utmost respect and reverence, he said. Modi urged the Indian community to continue serving as a bridge of friendship, trust and cooperation between India and New Zealand, helping to realise the full potential of the Strategic Partnership for the benefit of both nations. Noting that 2026 marks 100 years of sporting collaboration, Modi said that both countries are keen to further deepen their sporting ties. Speaking on the occasion, New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon thanked PM Modi for his historic first and said, It feels like a family reunion that's been waiting 40 years in the making. He recalled that his first visit to India occurred in his mid-twenties as a young executive at Unilever. He said New Zealand signed a free trade agreement with India, opening a market of 1.4 billion people. India is not just a country we trade with, it is a country that we grow with, and most importantly, it is a country we trust, he said.

Ashok Koul addresses workers' convention at Uri, calls for stronger organisational coordination

Baramulla, July 11: BJP General Secretary (Organisation), J&K, Ashok Koul addressed a Workers' Convention at Town Hall, Lagama, Uri, where he interacted with dedicated party workers and reviewed the party's organisational activities in the region. During the convention, Ashok Koul emphasized the importance of a strong and disciplined organisational structure, urging party workers to remain actively connected with the people and work with commitment to strengthen the BJP at the grassroots level. He highlighted the significance of effective coordination among karyakartas to ensure the successful implementation of the party's programmes and initiatives. The meeting focused on various organisational matters, upcoming party programmes, and strategies to enhance coordination and outreach. Koul appreciated the dedication and tireless efforts of the party workers and encouraged them to continue serving the public with sincerity while taking the party's vision and policies to every household. The convention witnessed enthusiastic participation from party workers, who reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the organisation and ensuring the success of the BJP's future programmes. Among those present on the occasion were BJP J&K Secretary Mudasir Wani, District Prabhari Baramulla Bilal Parray, & District President Baramulla Ghulam Hussain Dar, along with senior party leaders and karyakartas.

NC was elected to restore Article 370, not fight for statehood: Aga Ruhullah

SIA Kashmir secures Interpol Red Corner notice against Hizbul terrorist in 2013 terror case

Srinagar, July 11: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of Jammu and Kashmir has secured an Interpol Red Corner notice against designated Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo in a 2013 terror case, officials said on Saturday. The officials said that in a major breakthrough in its sustained counter-terrorism eorts, the State Investigation Agency (SIA), Kashmir has secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) against designated Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo alias Fayaz alias Sajad, marking a significant milestone in the investigation of the 2013 Tarzoo (Hygam) terrorist attack case. They said the issuance of the Red Corner Notice is a testament to the painstaking and professional investigation carried out by SIA Kashmir, reflecting the Agencys commitment to ensuring that terrorists involved in heinous acts of violence are brought to justice irrespective of their location. The notice will facilitate international law enforcement agencies in locating, detaining, and initiating legal proceedings for the extradition of the accused to India to face trial. The case pertains to the terrorist ambush on 26 April 2013 at Peer Mohalla, Hygam, Sopore, where terrorists armed with automatic weapons attacked a police party, resulting in the martyrdom of four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel in one of the most serious terrorist strikes against security forces during that period. The case was initially registered at Police Station Tarzoo, Sopore, and it was transferred to SIA Kashmir in 2024 for a comprehensive investigation. Following an extensive investigation involving meticulous collection and analysis of evidence, examination of witnesses, and reconstruction of the conspiracy, SIA Kashmir successfully completed the investigation, added more oences on the basis of fresh evidence and filed a comprehensive chargesheet before the competent trial court in July 2024 against six accused persons. During the course of investigation and subsequent operations, two accusedTariq Ahmad Mir of Kalamabad, Handwara and Qayoom Najar of Batapora, Soporewere eliminated in encounters with security forces, while Javid Ahmad Mattoo of Sopore, Rouf Najar of Sopore, and Ahmadullah Malla of Dalal Mohalla, Srinagar have been arrested and are facing trial. The sixth and the main accused, Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, is absconding and is believed to have exfiltrated to Pakistan, officials said. A resident of Kraltang, Sopore, Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo has been an active member and commander of the proscribed terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen since 2010. Owing to his sustained involvement in terrorist activities, he was notified as a Designated Individual Terrorist by Government of India in October, 2022, they added. The investigation conducted by SIA Kashmir conclusively established Kandoos active and main role in the Hygam terrorist attack and uncovered his involvement in a wider network of terrorist activities. Besides the present case, he is wanted in at least ten more terror-related cases involving terrorist attacks, targeted killings resulting in the deaths of more than 15 persons, arms and ammunition smuggling, and narco- terror financing. Despite sustained eorts by law enforcement agencies, he had continued to evade arrest. The successful issuance of the Interpol Red Corner Notice against such terrorist is a significant operational and investigative achievement for SIA Kashmir. It underscores the Agencys growing capability in conducting complex terror investigations, bringing long-pending cases to logical conclusion, pursuing fugitives across international jurisdictions, and leveraging global policing mechanisms to ensure that perpetrators of terrorism are held accountable. SIA Kashmir remains steadfast in its resolve to dismantle terrorist ecosystems, pursue absconding terrorists and their support networks, and ensure that those responsible for acts of terror are brought to justice through all available legal and international mechanisms, officials noted.

Cop dismissed over unauthorised absence for two-and-a-half years in Kathua

Kathua, July 11: A police constable has been dismissed from service in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district for remaining absent from duty for more than two-and-a-half years without obtaining requisite authorisation, police said on Saturday. Senior Superintendent of Police Kathua, Mohita Sharma has ordered the dismissal of Selection Grade Constable Bachan Sharma, No. 469/K, PID No. EXJ-111259, R/O Dhaloti, Tehsil Marheen, District Kathua, posted at DPL Kathua. The official was appointed as Constable in J&K Police Department in the year 2011. During his posting at DPL Kathua, he was marked absent w.e.f. 10-11-2023.Despite repeated notices, wireless messages, and summons issued through Police Station Rajbagh, and opportunities provided through Show Cause Notices and publication in leading newspapers, he did not report back for duty, police said. A departmental enquiry was conducted which found him guilty of willful and prolonged unauthorized absence of more than two-and-a-half years and gross disregard for departmental discipline. Taking a serious view of the matter, the delinquent official has been dismissed from J&K Police Service with effect from 10-11-2023, the date from which he was marked absent. The dismissed cop has been directed to deposit all government items and obtain NDC from the department failing which he is liable to be booked under law.

OGW held through facial recognition software alert at Nunwan Anantnag: Police

Srinagar, July 11: As part of the robust security arrangements for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, the Facial Recognition System (FRS) deployed by Anantnag Police generated a timely alert at the X-Ray Point, Nunwan Base Camp, leading to the detention of one Over Ground Worker (OGW). Officials said the individual was identified as Mohd Iqbal Wani, son of Ali Mohd Wani, resident of Hajin, Bandipora. Acting swiftly on the FRS alert, police personnel intercepted and verified the individual, during which he was confirmed to be an Over Ground Worker (OGW). The individual has been detained for further legal proceedings and investigation, they said. The successful interception highlights the effectiveness of advanced technology integrated into the multi-layered security grid established by Anantnag Police for the safe and secure conduct of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The deployment of the Facial Recognition System continues to strengthen real-time surveillance, enhance access control, and enable prompt response to potential security threats, officials added. They held that police remain committed to leveraging modern technology and maintaining a vigilant security framework to ensure a safe, peaceful, and incident-free pilgrimage.

Is Mirwaiz not citizen of J&K? asks DyCM, defends NCs invite for statehood protest at Jantar Mantar

Jammu, July 11: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday robustly defended the National Conferences invite to the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq for participation in its proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in the union capital on July 20, to seek early restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir - with a counter question to those objecting to it. Choudhary asked if Mirwaiz was not a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. How come - BJP was questioning itJust go and check Mirwaiz pictures with its (BJPs) leaders. As far as BJP is concerned, it has included even the surrendered militants in its fold in Kashmir. Why do you not question the BJP on this account? Is Mirwaiz not a legible voter-card, Aadhar card holder? Is he not a citizen of Jammu and Kashmir? His political ideology may be - altogether a different matter yet this (NCs protest) is about statehood an issue that resonates with us all. Therefore, we have invited all, including BJP. We hope that if BJP is really sympathetic to J&Ks cause and its people, it will join the NC protest on July 20 at Jantar Mantar, Deputy Chief Minister pointed out, while responding to media queries on the issue. Choudhary, accompanied by the NC provincial president Jammu rattan Lal Gupta, was interacting with the media after reviewing the arrangements at Hari Singh park the venue of NCs proposed rally, to be addressed by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on July 12 to mobilise public support for the partys July 20 Jantar Mantar rally in support of statehood. Deputy Chief Minister dismissed the BJPs objection regarding NC invite to the Mirwaiz, with another poser. Does BJP not talk to the Mirwaiz? The BJPs objection is nothing but an attempt to play to the gallery, he alleged. With regard to his review visit, Choudhary said, We came here at Hari Singh Park to take stock of arrangements as on July 12, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah will address a massive rally of National Conference to remind the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister of their promise to restore the statehood to J&K at the earliest. Eighteen months have passed but the promise has not been fulfilled. In the rally, CM will also explain the problems being faced by the elected government, in the absence of statehood and will mobilise public support for NCs Jantar Mantar rally. On July 11, a similar big rally, coinciding with the Madre Meharbans death anniversary, will be organised in Kashmir. He stated that more and more Jammuites should attend the NC rally on July 12 to dissipate the notion that only people in Kashmir were seeking statehood. In fact, Jammu needed statehood desperately as it is suffering more in its absence than Kashmir on account of loss of jobs and land, the Deputy Chief Minister said. Responding to questions about yesterdays alleged security breach during the National Conference function addressed by him, in Hiranagar of Kathua district, he reiterated his demand for action against the Police officials. Yesterday there were two scheduled party tours to Hiranagar in Kathua district and in Samba district to mobilise public support for NCs July 20 Jantar Mantar protest to seek statehood restoration. I was there along with the NC provincial president Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta. My question is why the hall was not sanitised as the district administration and the Police were already intimated about my political party tour and public function, he asked. He alleged that the person, who protested, was planted by a political party. He is a BJP worker. You may check his profile on social media. The incident raises a question mark not just about the youth but also about the Police. This is purely a security lapse by the Police. Earlier also, there was a security lapse at Greater Kailash. Im the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on a tour-programme. This breach (protest) happened with the knowledge of the concerned DySP and SHO. They (protesters) were deliberately sent here to disrupt my programme, Choudhary reiterated his charge. He was referring to a protest by an advocate, who briefly disrupted DyCMs party (NC) function to register protest against, what he (protester) alleged, the non-fulfillment of promise by the Chief Minister to announce National Law University (NLU) in Jammu as well. The Deputy Chief Minister asserted that if the youth had a genuine demand, he could take it up with him (DyCM) later. NC is not anti-Jammu as it is dubbed. The NC-government led by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saved the sagging economy of Jammu by restoring Darbar Move -a move taken by the BJP government. I led the movement for setting up Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences, Jammu (SKUAST-J) in the mid-nineties, he recalled. Describing the incident as a big security lapse due to dereliction of duty by the concerned Police officials, Choudhary reiterated, Ill request the DGP and LG Sahib to initiate action against the SHO Hiranagar and the DySP concerned as that youth tried to jump on the stage with an intention to attack me. Had my PSOs not been there, he (youth) would have succeeded.

10th batch of Amarnath Yatra: Over 9,100 pilgrims leave Jammu under tight security

Banihal, Jul 11: The 10th batch of pilgrims undertaking the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu during the early hours of Saturday amid elaborate security arrangements. A total of 9,182 pilgrims departed for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in a convoy of 333 vehicles, officials said. According to the Joint Police Control Room at Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp, the Baltal-bound convoy, carrying 3,305 pilgrims, left Jammu at 2:43 a.m., while the Pahalgam-bound convoy, comprising 5,877 pilgrims, departed at 3:31 a.m. The batch includes 6,455 male pilgrims, 2,389 female pilgrims, 31 children, 256 sadhus, 46 sadhvis, and five transgender pilgrims. No foreign pilgrims were part of the 10th batch, the official figures showed. Officials said the pilgrims were travelling in 196 buses, 43 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 91 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and three two-wheelers, taking the total number of pilgrims who have departed from Jammu since the beginning of this year's pilgrimage to 70,794. The convoy was escorted by personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and other security agencies, with senior officers supervising the movement to ensure the safe passage of pilgrims along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine in the Himalayas is continuing smoothly under a multi-tier security grid, with authorities maintaining round-the-clock monitoring and comprehensive arrangements for the safety, health and convenience of the pilgrims.

10 killed after small plane crashes in Bahamas

San Juan, Jul 11: A small plane crashed in the Bahamas on Friday, killing 10 people and prompting the government to temporarily ground Flamingo Air flights. The deadly incident happened in North Andros, located in waters just west of Nassau, the archipelago's capital. Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis had initially said that one person survived, but he later confirmed in a press conference that the person died from their injuries. The victims have not been publicly identified. We gather beneath a cloud of great sorrow, he said, noting that people were celebrating the Bahamas' 53rd independence anniversary. It has become a day of mourning. ... To every family that has received the devastating news, that someone they love will not be coming home, we offer our deepest condolences. The Bahamian Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority said in a statement that the plane had departed Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau and was headed to San Andros when it crashed. It identified the plane as a Cessna 402 aircraft registered in the Bahamas. The Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Aviation said in a statement that the suspension of Flamingo Air's air operator certificate is only a precautionary safety measure as officials investigate the cause of the crash. The ministry said the suspension is a result of two safety incidents that happened Friday. During the press conference, Energy, Utilities and Aviation Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis said the first incident occurred earlier Friday involving a Flamingo Air plane. She said it was en route to Mayaguana when the pilot reported a concern and turned back to Nassau. After the plane landed and the passengers deboarded, the plane caught fire, she said. That incident also is under investigation. (AP)

Poor cellular signal irks Jumgund residents in Kupwara

Last year when mobile tower was installed at Jumgund a remote area close to Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara, people were happy to witness the development. However, the weak signal is giving the subscribers a tough time. The residents said that though the mobile tower was made operational following its installation, the signal has been confined to 100 meters only due to which people suffer a lot. Last year when the mobile tower was made operational, we could hear our mobiles ringing. We were so happy regarding this development but as soon as we reached home, our happiness turned into gloom as we were unable to make calls due to non-availability of network on our mobiles, a student from the area said. What is the fun of installing a tower when it does not work. Whenever we call anyone, the call instantly drops. Till the signal is not upgraded to whole area, it is of no use., he added. The residents also complained about the non-availability of mobile internet service which has especially shattered the student community of Jumgund. After the mobile connectivity was restored here, we were much optimistic about the mobile internet service but to our surprise, we have not been given the privilege of using the internet, another student said. Due to lack of mobile connectivity in Jumgund we are forced to stay in rented rooms in Kupwara to avail the facility of internet. After the partial mobile connectivity was restored in Jumgund, we were optimistic about the launch of internet also so that we could stay back and take online classes in Jumgund but dont know when our woes will end, he said.

Habba Kadal facing severe water crisis; Arif Laigroo seeks intervention

PDP Senior Leader and Constituency Incharge Habba Kadal, Arif Laigroo has expressed concern over the acute water crisis affecting several localities across the constituency. Areas including Chattabal, Dalsanyar, Islam Yarbal, Jamalatta, Naid Kadal, Nawa Bazar, Syed Ali Akbar, Basant Bagh, and Fateh Kadal have been facing an acute shortage of drinking water, causing immense hardship to residents, said a press release issued here. Laigroo said that people, especially women, children, and the elderly, are suffering due to the inadequate water supply during the peak summer season. He urged the Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti Department, to intervene immediately and ensure the restoration of regular drinking water supply to all affected areas. He appealed to the authorities to treat the issue on priority and take urgent measures to provide relief to the residents of Habba Kadal, who have been struggling with the ongoing water crisis.

Er Rasheed to observe hunger strike on July 13 in honour of 1931 martyrs

Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) Chief Spokesperson Inam Un Nabi Friday announced that incarcerated Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Engineer Rasheed, will observe a token hunger strike as a mark of respect to the martyrs of July 13, 1931 and in protest against what the party described as the continued disregard shown by both the Union Government and the Jammu & Kashmir Government towards their legacy. Inam Un Nabi said that the sacrifice of the 13th July 1931 martyrs occupies a defining place in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir. He said the 22 martyrs laid down their lives while raising their voice against autocratic rule and demanding justice, civil liberties, representative governance and democratic rights for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Their supreme sacrifice, he said, became a turning point in the region's political awakening and inspired the struggle for constitutional and democratic rights. He stated that it was during the PDP-BJP coalition government in 2015 that official observances associated with 13th July were discontinued and according to the party, a different official narrative regarding the day began to emerge. He further alleged that since then, people have been prevented from freely visiting the martyrs' graveyard to pay their respects. The token hunger strike by Engineer Rasheed is intended to remind people that history cannot be erased or rewritten through administrative decisions. Attempts to distort historical facts or diminish the sacrifices of those who laid down their lives for the democratic and political rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir will never succeed. Their sacrifices remain an inseparable part of our collective memory and political consciousness, Inam Un Nabi said. He added that despite being incarcerated, Engineer Rasheed remains steadfast in raising issues concerning the political rights, identity and historical legacy of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The AIP spokesperson said the party believes that historical events should be remembered with respect and that no government can erase or rewrite the sacrifices that shaped the democratic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Representatives of Baramulla MP raise road issues with PMGSY CE

A delegation representing Member of Parliament from Baramulla, Er Rashid, on Friday met the Chief Engineer of PMGSY and raised several road infrastructure issues affecting different parts of the Baramulla parliamentary constituency. The delegation, led by Firdous Baba, PA/PS to the MP, urged the department to expedite the execution and completion of various road projects of public importance. During the meeting, the delegation particularly highlighted the long-pending Tangmarg-Sheikhpora Road project, stating that its delay has caused inconvenience to thousands of commuters and local residents. The Chief Engineer assured the delegation that all under-construction projects, including the remaining portion of the Tangmarg-Sheikhpora Road, would be taken up immediately after the Charchol issues get resolved. He also reiterated the department's commitment to completing the project at the earliest in accordance with the prescribed procedures. The delegation thanked the Chief Engineer for his assurance and said that MP Er Rashid remains committed to pursuing developmental works and raising public issues before the concerned authorities. It also said that the MP's office would continue to monitor the progress of the project until its completion.

NC using statehood to hide governance failures: Sat Sharma

J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma on Friday criticised the National Conference-led government for, what he alleged, using the issue of statehood as a political distraction to divert attention from its failure to deliver on governance and public welfare. He was addressing a meeting of the BJP Scheduled Caste (SC) Morcha, Jammu and Kashmir at the party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu. The meeting was organised to discuss the prevailing political situation, strengthen the Morcha's organisational activities and chalk out future programmes. Sat Sharma was accompanied by vice president Bharat Bhushan and SC Morcha Prabhari, general secretary Baldev Singh Billawaria and SC Morcha President Dharminder Kumar. J&K BJP president said that the BJP consistently maintained its commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time, as assured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the floor of Parliament. He said the National Conference, instead of fulfilling its promises on employment, infrastructure, power, water supply, and public services, reduced the statehood issue to a political slogan. The people voted for better governance, not excuses. Statehood is a commitment of the Government of India, but the National Conference is using it as a shield to hide its administrative failures and betrayal of the mandate received in the 2024 Assembly elections. The BJP remains fully committed to restoring statehood while simultaneously ensuring peace, development, and good governance in Jammu & Kashmir, he said.

NC remembers Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah on her 26th death anniversary

National Conference Saturday paid rich tributes to Madar-e-Meharban Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah on her 26th Youm-e-Wisal (death anniversary) remembering her as a woman of extraordinary courage, unwavering conviction, profound spirituality, and an indomitable spirit whose life became inseparable from the political and social awakening of Jammu and Kashmir. A press release said party rank-and-file across Jammu and Kashmir united in homage to Begum Akbar Jehan, recalling her as the steadfast companion of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah during the most turbulent phases of his political struggle against autocratic rule. They described her as a symbol of resilience and quiet resistance, a woman who bore immense personal hardship with remarkable dignity while enduring prolonged periods of separation, surveillance, and political persecution. The party leaders said that while history celebrates Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah's towering leadership, it is impossible to understand that struggle without acknowledging the immeasurable sacrifices and moral strength of Begum Akbar Jehan. During the Sheikh's repeated incarcerations and years of enforced isolation, she became the pillar that held together both his family and the movement, refusing to yield before intimidation or adversity. Many would have been broken by the deprivation, loneliness, and uncertainty that accompanied those long years. Begum Akbar Jehan, however, never faltered. She transformed suffering into strength and steadfastness into hope, embodying the spirit of a people determined to preserve their dignity and aspirations, they said. The leaders noted that Begum Akbar Jehan occupies a seminal place in Kashmir's socio-political history. At a time when women were largely confined to the private sphere, she emerged as a pioneering public figure whose courage inspired generations of Kashmiri women to participate in public life with confidence and purpose. Her life demonstrated that compassion and conviction could coexist with exceptional political resolve. Remembering her enduring legacy, the party leaders said Begum Akbar Jehan's life remains a timeless testament to sacrifice, compassion, courage, and unwavering faith. Her remarkable journey continues to inspire generations, reminding the people of Jammu and Kashmir that the greatest struggles are sustained not merely by charismatic leadership, but by the silent strength, resilience, and unshakeable conviction of those who stand steadfastly behind great causes,they said.

LoP Sunil Sharma meets BJP president Nitin Nabin in New Delhi, discusses J&Ks political scenario

Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin in New Delhi on Thursday and held an extensive discussion on the prevailing political situation in Jammu and Kashmir. They also deliberated over organisational matters of the party, issues of public importance and the concerns and aspirations of the people. During the meeting, Sunil Sharma briefed the BJP national president about the current scenario in Jammu and Kashmir and apprised him of various challenges and issues being faced by the people. He highlighted the concerns of citizens, particularly the youth, regarding employment opportunities and raised the issue of the recent outsourcing of jobs by the NC-led government, which created apprehensions among job aspirants across the region. The leaders also discussed various organisational matters, including strengthening the party structure, enhancing coordination among party workers, further expanding the BJPs outreach among the people and ensuring that the organisation remained closely connected with grassroots-level concerns. Emphasis was laid on strengthening the role of dedicated workers and making collective efforts to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir effectively. Sharma stressed the importance of ensuring fairness, transparency and accountability in government decisions, especially those related to employment and the future of Jammu and Kashmirs youth. He emphasised that the aspirations of the people must be given the highest priority and that every effort should be made to build confidence among citizens through responsive and responsible governance. The discussions also covered the broader path ahead for Jammu and Kashmir, with focus on maintaining peace, accelerating development, ensuring justice, strengthening stability and promoting inclusive growth so that every section of society could get benefits from the regions progress. Sunil Sharma reiterated his commitment to continuously raise the voice of the people and work with dedication for their welfare, dignity and a brighter future. He stated that Jammu and Kashmirs journey towards peace, prosperity and development remained a shared priority. The meeting, he said, reflected a continued commitment towards addressing the concerns of the people, strengthening the organisation and working for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.

COAS Gen Seth wraps up security review visit to Northern Command

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Dhiraj Seth visited Northern Command from July 7 to 9, 2026 to review the prevailing security situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and in the hinterland. He visited Chinar Corps, White Knight Corps, their formations and forward areas, where he reviewed counter-terrorism operations, security arrangements for the ongoing Shri Amarnath Yatra and the overall operational readiness. The COAS was briefed on the evolving security environment, operational deployments, inter-agency coordination, infrastructure development and initiatives to strengthen combat capability. General Seth also reviewed indigenous innovations and community outreach programmes undertaken by the formations to foster peace, stability and development in the region. Commending all ranks of the Indian Army and personnel of the CAPFs for their professionalism, operational excellence and unwavering commitment, the COAS exhorted them to remain operationally agile and continue striving for excellence, the Army stated.

Decline in admissions force colleges to launch door-to-door outreach; new institutions worst hit

The Higher Education Department (HED) has issued instructions to the Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) to launch aggressive outreach campaigns to attract students following the decline in the admissions in the newly established Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) this year. The move comes despite the claims of the J&K government that HED witnessed a 12 per cent increase in overall college admissions this year. An official said the overall increase in admissions is mostly due to the overwhelming response of the students to the existing (old) colleges while the newly established colleges are witnessing lukewarm response from the students. In the wake of the steady decline in admissions in the newly established Colleges, the institutions across J&K have constituted teams of faculty members to visit villages, interact with students, parents, civil society members and local stakeholders, and create awareness about undergraduate admission opportunities. The outreach initiatives include door-to-door campaigns, community meetings and on-the-spot admission facilitation in an attempt to arrest the declining enrolment trend that has emerged as a major challenge for the Higher Education Department, particularly in colleges established in recent years. One such campaign was recently undertaken by a Government Degree College in the Kund area of Kulgam district, where faculty members visited several localities to facilitate walk-in admissions for B.A. Semester-I students for the 2026-27 academic session. The team also met civil society representatives to publicise available seats and subject combinations. An official said the local students were also being encouraged to act as ambassadors by motivating eligible candidates in their respective areas to pursue higher education and take advantage of walk-in admissions. The official further said that similar outreach efforts undertaken by several colleges have yielded little improvement in admissions. Among the worst-affected institutions is one of the colleges in Baramulla district, which is struggling with persistently low enrolment for the past several years. The college, which had recently come under scrutiny over administrative and academic issues, has managed to secure only 29 admissions during the current admission cycle despite extensive awareness campaigns. The institution had earlier figured in official discussions over its long-term viability, with some officials reportedly questioning the feasibility of continuing colleges with extremely low student strength and suggesting closure of the institution. In an effort to revive admissions, the college has intensified community engagement programmes and mobilised National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers to assist faculty teams in reaching out to prospective students at the grassroots level. Meanwhile, an official told Greater Kashmir that despite repeated interactions with civil society groups, non-governmental organisations and community leaders, the campaigns have so far failed to substantially improve enrolment or restore students confidence in government degree colleges. The declining admissions in newly established colleges are contrary to the government claims that overall admissions in higher education institutions have increased by 12 per cent this year compared to the previous academic session. The move has raised questions about the uneven distribution of enrolment and the future sustainability of several government colleges with dwindling student strength. As already reported by this newspaper, the newly established colleges have failed to attract students for the admissions. As per the official figures assessed by the Greater Kashmir , 100 out of 142 degree colleges registered less than 100 admissions each after two rounds of admissions. As per the official figures produced during a high-level review meeting of the Higher Education Department (HED) chaired by the minister for education Sakina Itoo few weeks ago, the admission trends had thrown up a major challenge for the government. In the wake of the challenging situation, the government decided to constitute a committee to seek feedback and suggestions for improving admissions in the newly established colleges.

Centre tightens rules for alcohol-based medicines to curb misuse

The Centre has tightened regulations governing medicinal formulations containing high levels of ethyl alcohol by withdrawing the licensing exemption for products containing more than 12 per cent alcohol by volume (v/v) in quantities exceeding 30 ml, in a move aimed at preventing their misuse for intoxication. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the amendment removes the exemption available under Schedule K of the Drugs Rules, 1945, for such formulations, including certain tinctures and aromatic preparations that contain up to 80-90 per cent ethyl alcohol. The decision follows concerns raised by several state governments over the misuse of these products. Under the revised rules, the affected formulations will require licences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and will also be brought under Schedule H1, making them available only on the prescription of a registered medical practitioner with stricter record-keeping requirements.

12 killed in Spain wildfire amid Europe heatwave

At least 12 people were killed and six others injured in a devastating wildfire in Los Gallardos in Spains southeastern province of Almera as a prolonged heatwave continued to fuel blazes across southern Europe, according to international media reports. The Andalusian regional government said the death toll rose after six more bodies were recovered. Several victims were found inside vehicles engulfed by flames, reports BBC. Witnesses said the blaze may have been triggered by a fallen power line, although authorities have not confirmed the cause. Around 150 firefighters, backed by Spains Military Emergency Unit, were deployed to battle the fire, while nearly 1,000 residents were evacuated and several roads were closed. Among the injured were people suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. International media reported that Spain, France and Portugal are battling multiple wildfires as temperatures hover around 40 degrees Celsius. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Snchez had earlier announced the countrys largest-ever summer wildfire response amid warnings of an intense fire season. Experts have linked the worsening wildfire season in southern Europe to climate change, with Europe warming at nearly twice the global average. Last year was the European Unions worst wildfire season on record, with more than one million hectares of land destroyed by fires, according to international reports.

Navy to commission indigenous stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri on July 11

The Indian Navy will commission INS Mahendragiri (F38), the sixth Project 17A indigenous stealth frigate, into its Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam on July 11, in a ceremony to be presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Designed by the Indian Navys Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited, Mumbai, INS Mahendragiri is equipped with advanced stealth features, modern weapons, sensors and electronic warfare systems, enabling it to undertake anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, besides maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, the warship is a major milestone in Indias drive for defence self-reliance under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Its construction involved a large number of Indian industries, including MSMEs, strengthening the domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. Named after the Mahendragiri mountain range in the Eastern Ghats, the frigate is the first Indian naval warship to bear the name. The Navy said its induction would significantly enhance the forces combat capability and reinforce Indias growing status as an indigenous warship-building nation while supporting maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region and the wider Indo-Pacific.

Amit Shah reviews port security plan, calls for CISF-trained personnel

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday reviewed the progress of the proposed Bureau of Port Security (BoPS) and directed that only licensed private security agencies with CISF-trained personnel should be entrusted with security at ports. At a high-level meeting attended by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and senior officials, Amit Shah also called for early operationalisation of the Port Security Training Institute, creation of a database of security personnel, and installation of container-scanning facilities at all ports covered under the BoPS framework. Reaffirming the governments commitment to strengthening maritime security, Amit Shah said the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is determined to make Indias coastal security unbreachable. He also directed measures to enhance security at fishing harbours and fish landing centres, including wider use of ISROs Nabhmitra app by fishermen.

Nissan unveils all-new TEKTON C-SUV in India

Nissan Motor India Pvt. Ltd. unveiled the all-new Nissan TEKTON, marking its global premiere in India, with introductory prices starting at Rs 10.49 lakh for the T160 variant and Rs 14.99 lakh for the T280 range (ex-showroom). Positioned in the premium C-SUV segment, the TEKTON features an all-turbocharged engine lineup and offers segment-leading specifications, including 280 Nm of torque, Google Built-in connectivity and a 700-litre boot space. Manufactured at Nissans Chennai plant, the TEKTON has been developed under the companys One Car, One World philosophy. Besides catering to the domestic market, the SUV will also be exported to several international markets, reinforcing Indias role in Nissans global manufacturing network. Speaking at the launch, Guillaume Cartier, Chief Performance Officer, Nissan, said the TEKTON reflects the companys strategy of strengthening its SUV portfolio while combining global product standards with local market relevance.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor signs MoU with Mizoram to empower visually impaired

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Social Welfare Department, Government of Mizoram, to improve mobility, access to education and employment opportunities for visually impaired persons in the state. A statement said that the MoU was exchanged in the presence of Mizoram Health and Social Welfare Minister Lalrinpuii and Commissioner-cum-Secretary Lalzarmawii, IAS, in Aizawl. Toyota Kirloskar Motor was represented by Vice Presidents Ramesh Rao and Sachin Sharma. According to official figures, Mizoram has 2,035 visually impaired persons, with less than one per cent currently employed. Difficult terrain, inadequate mobility support and limited access to modern learning resources have emerged as major barriers to education, skill development and employment. Under the partnership, the initiative will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, 250 Navinaut assistive mobility devices will be distributed as part of a pilot project. The Special Blind School at Durtlang, Aizawl, will also receive a Braille computer, Braille printer and an AI-powered scanner to improve access to educational material. Based on the pilots outcome, an additional 930 assistive devices will be distributed in the second phase. The initiative aims to provide safer and more independent mobility for visually impaired individuals while equipping students with modern assistive technologies to support self-learning, competitive examination preparation and skill development. The programme is also expected to improve employability and promote greater social and economic inclusion for the visually impaired community in Mizoram.

AIC receives impact leadership award for agricultural insurance excellence

Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited (AIC), the countrys specialised agriculture insurer, has been conferred the Impact Leadership Award at the 17th Agriculture Leadership Awards 2026 in recognition of its contribution to strengthening agricultural resilience through inclusive, technology-driven and farmer-centric insurance solutions. The award was presented by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to AIC Chairman-cum-Managing Director Dr Lavanya R. Mundayur at a ceremony held in New Delhi. According to the company, the honour recognises AICs role in providing risk protection to millions of farmers across the country through flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS). In addition to crop insurance, AIC has expanded its portfolio to provide insurance coverage for livestock, aquaculture, poultry, shrimp farming and other allied agricultural sectors, broadening risk protection for farmers and rural enterprises. The company said it has increasingly adopted advanced technologies, including satellite imagery, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, geospatial tools and data analytics, to improve transparency, expedite claim settlements and enhance service delivery. The recognition, AIC said, reaffirms its commitment to innovation, operational excellence and the use of technology to strengthen Indias agricultural insurance ecosystem while supporting farmers against production and climate-related risks.

J&K Bank holds pensioners awareness camp at Chanapora

J&K Bank on Friday organised a pensioners awareness camp at its Business Unit Chanapora to strengthen its engagement with senior citizens and address their banking-related concerns while creating awareness about the range of services and facilities available to pensioners. The programme saw a large number of pensioners, who were briefed on the Banks latest products, deposit schemes, loan facilities, doorstep banking services, digital payment options, and other customer-centric initiatives for senior citizens. Welcoming the participants, Branch Head Masarat Khan thanked the pensioners for their continued trust and association with J&K Bank. She reiterated the Banks commitment to fostering a stronger relationship with its valued pensioners by ensuring accessible, efficient and customer-friendly banking services. The Bank remains committed to strengthening its relationship with its valued pensioners by providing prompt, courteous and quality banking services while continuously enhancing facilities tailored to their needs, Khan said. She highlighted the special banking services introduced for senior citizens, including priority service counters at branches, doorstep banking facilities for customers aged 70 years and above, simplified submission of annual life certificates for uninterrupted pension processing, and dedicated customer assistance. Khan also sensitised the participants about the growing threat of cyber fraud and advised them to remain vigilant while using digital banking platforms. Pensioners should never share their OTPs or banking credentials with anyone, avoid clicking on suspicious links and remain cautious of fraudulent phone calls. In case of any cyber fraud, they should immediately report the incident by calling the National Cyber Helpline at 1930 or by lodging a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, she said. An interactive session was also held during the programme, during which pensioners shared their feedback, suggestions and grievances regarding various banking services. Bank officials responded to their queries and assured them that they would forward genuine suggestions, particularly those concerning additional concessions and customer-friendly facilities for senior citizens, to the relevant authorities for consideration. Among those present was a delegation from Ahata Waqar comprising Javid Ahmad Baigh, Ghulam Hassan Rather, Mushtaq Shah Mehram, Ghulam Qadir Bhat and Qazi Abdul Rashid. The delegation appreciated the initiative taken by the Business Unit Chanapora in organising the awareness programme and emphasised the need for such outreach activities to be held regularly for the benefit of senior citizens. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Qazi Abdul Rashid invited the Bank to organise its next awareness programme at Ahata Waqar to enable a larger number of senior citizens and pensioners to benefit from the initiative. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, with Bank officials reaffirming their commitment to delivering responsive, inclusive and quality banking services to pensioners and senior citizens.

POP manufacturers seek CMs intervention over gypsum shortage

A delegation of the Industrial POP Association, Kashmir, called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar to highlight the difficulties faced by plaster of Paris (POP) manufacturing units due to the non-availability of gypsum, the key raw material required for production. The meeting was held at the Chief Ministers residence on Gupkar Road , during which the delegation apprised him of the challenges confronting the industry, stating that the continued shortage of gypsum had brought manufacturing activities to a standstill across several units. According to the Association, the prolonged disruption in the supply of gypsum has severely affected the functioning of POP manufacturing units, leaving many industrial establishments unable to continue operations and impacting the livelihoods of workers associated with the sector. The delegation thanked the Chief Minister for granting them an opportunity to present their concerns and sought urgent intervention to restore the supply of gypsum to local industries. The representatives pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir possesses abundant gypsum reserves, estimated at nearly 150 million tonnes, yet local POP manufacturers continue to face an acute shortage of the mineral. They urged the government to formulate a mechanism that would ensure regular and uninterrupted availability of gypsum to local industries, enabling them to resume production. The Association said the Chief Minister gave a patient hearing to the delegation and responded positively to their concerns. According to the delegation, Omar Abdullah assured them that the matter would be resolved within the next few days and that necessary steps would be taken to facilitate the supply of gypsum so that POP manufacturing units could restart operations. The Association expressed optimism following the meeting and hoped that the governments intervention would help revive the struggling industry and protect the livelihoods dependent on it.

Natures Hidden Treasure: Poshnar seeks spot on Kashmir tourism map

Tucked away around seven kilometres from Handwara in the scenic Rajwar-Magam forest range, Poshnar Doodipora is fast emerging as one of north Kashmirs most picturesque yet unexplored tourist destinations. Surrounded by dense deodar and alpine forests, the area is home to a tranquil lake and sprawling meadows, offering visitors a pristine natural retreat. Known mainly for its sheep-rearing activities, Poshnar Doodipora hosts one of the regions major sheep husbandry operations. Despite its rich natural beauty and tourism potential, the destination remains largely unexplored and has yet to find a place on the Valleys tourism map. Recently, a group of young travellers from Baramulla camped overnight at the picturesque site in mobile tents, describing the experience as unforgettable. I had heard about this beautiful place from a friend, and after visiting, I found it truly mesmerising, said Bilal Ahmad of Old Town Baramulla. However, reaching the destination was a bit difficult as it is not listed on Google Maps, nor has it been officially promoted as a tourist destination. Residents have urged the district administration to recognise Poshnar Doodipora as an official tourist destination and develop the necessary infrastructure to attract visitors. They said the area requires basic amenities such as drinking water facilities, public washrooms, tourist huts and improved access to make it more visitor-friendly. According to locals, developing tourism infrastructure would not only enhance the experience of visitors but also generate employment opportunities and strengthen the local economy. Zahoor Ahmad, a local resident, said two tourist huts had been approved by the Rural Development Department (RDD), but construction work had yet to begin. Although the tourist huts have been sanctioned, work has not started so far, which has disappointed the local population, he said. Visitors also highlighted the lack of mobile connectivity in the area as a major concern. Sheikh Jamsheed, a tourist from Magam, Handwara, said poor mobile network coverage creates inconvenience, particularly for visitors staying overnight. Besides providing basic tourist facilities, the administration should also ensure mobile connectivity in the area so that tourists can remain connected during their visit, he said. With its lush forests, pristine landscape and peaceful surroundings, locals believe Poshnar Doodipora has the potential to emerge as a major eco-tourism destination in north Kashmir if supported by adequate infrastructure and official promotion.

Skyrocketing chicken prices burn hole in consumers' pockets

Srinagar, Jul 10: Consumers in Srinagar are grappling with an unprecedented surge in chicken prices, with poultry being sold between Rs 180 and Rs 200 per kg in several city markets. Consumers said chicken, considered an affordable source of protein for middle and lower income families, has become increasingly expensive over the past few weeks, putting additional financial strain on households already struggling with rising living costs. Consumers from Downtown Srinagar, Hazratbal and other city areas alleged that there was no uniform pricing mechanism in place, allowing retailers to sell chicken at varying rates without any regulation. Chicken was always the budget friendly option whenever mutton became expensive. But now even chicken has gone beyond the reach of common people. We are paying Rs 180 to Rs 200 per kg depending on the shop, and nobody is asking why, said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Nowhatta. He said Kashmiris largely depend on non vegetarian food and chicken remains the primary source of protein for many families. Summer vacations are on and relatives frequently visit each other. Whenever guests arrive, serving chicken has become expensive. Even patients recovering from illness are often advised to consume chicken soup, but many families now think twice before buying it, he said. The sharp rise in poultry prices comes in the backdrop of a recent disruption in mutton supplies after Kashmiri meat traders alleged that Punjab authorities had imposed an illegal levy on livestock entering the state. The disruption had led many consumers to shift towards chicken, resulting in a sharp increase in demand. We expected poultry prices to come down once mutton supply resumed, but even after a week nothing has changed. The rates are still soaring, said Shabir Ahmed, a consumer. A poultry seller at Hazratbal said retailers were also facing higher procurement costs. The wholesalers are supplying chicken to us at higher rates. We also have to keep some margin to run our business. Demand increased sharply over the past few weeks when mutton supply was affected, and the prices have remained high, the vendor said. Residents also expressed concern over the absence of price regulation, saying the Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs is not empowered to regulate poultry prices. Earlier there used to be rate lists and there was some accountability. Today every shop is charging according to its own will and whim. There is no mechanism to keep prices under check, leaving consumers at the mercy of the market, said Mohammad Yousuf, a resident of Khanyar.

Speaker Legislative Assembly inaugurates renovated facilities, new lifts at MLA Hostel Srinagar

Srinagar, Jul 10:Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, today inaugurated the newly installed lifts and other upgradation/renovation works executed at new hostel block of MLA Hostel, Srinagar. The inauguration marks a significant step towards upgrading the infrastructure and improving the facilities available to Members of the Legislative Assembly. The renovation works have been undertaken with the objective of enhancing convenience, accessibility and overall comfort for the occupants. Speaking on the occasion, the Speaker emphasized the importance of maintaining and modernising public infrastructure to ensure efficient service delivery and better amenities. He stated that the MLA Hostel serves as an important facility for the legislators and, therefore, its upkeep and modernization must receive due attention. The Speaker expressed satisfaction over the completion of the works and said that the installation of modern lifts and execution of renovation works would greatly benefit the legislators and other stakeholders by providing a safer, more comfortable and user-friendly environment. He underscored the need for regular maintenance of government infrastructure and directed the concerned authorities to ensure that all facilities at the MLA Hostel are maintained in a proper and efficient manner. He also stressed the importance of timely execution of developmental and renovation works so that public assets continue to serve their intended purpose effectively. The Speaker reiterated the commitment to improve the infrastructure and public facilities and said that such initiatives contribute significantly towards enhancing the working environment and convenience of public representatives. Secretary JKLA Manoj Kumar Pandit, Chief Engineer PWD (R&B) Central Kashmir, Chief Engineer M&HE Srinagar besides Executive Engineers and other officials were present on the occasion.

NMC approves increase of 50 MBBS seats at GMC Srinagar

Srinagar, Jul 10: In a significant development aimed at strengthening the medical education and healthcare delivery system in the Union Territory, the Health and Medical Education Department today announced that the National Medical Commission (NMC) has granted permission to increase the annual MBBS intake capacity at Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC has issued the Letter of Permission (LoP) under Section 28(3) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, approving an increase of 50 MBBS seats. With this approval, the total annual intake capacity of GMC Srinagar will rise from 200 to 250 seats, effective from the upcoming Academic Year 2026-27. It is pertinent to mention that last year for the academic session 2025-26, the GMC Srinagar has got approval of additional 20 seats, increasing the total number of seats from 180 to 200. The approval follows a rigorous evaluation by MARB under the provisions of the Undergraduate Medical Education Standards Regulations (UGMSR), 2023. Expressing satisfaction over this landmark achievement, the Health and Medical Department has stated that this expansion reflects the governments unwavering commitment to augmenting medical infrastructure and providing more opportunities for aspiring doctors across the Union Territory. The increase in the seats has further strengthened GMC Srinagars position as one of the premier medical colleges in the country.

6 children among 7 of family hospitalised after suspected wild mushroom poisoning in Rajouri

Rajouri, Jul 10:Seven members of a family, including six children and a woman, were hospitalised after allegedly consuming poisonous wild mushroom in Gadyog village near Badhal in Kotranka subdivision of Rajouri district. Officials said the family developed severe gastroenteritis and diarrhoea late on Thursday evening following the suspected consumption of a naturally growing wild mushroom. As the condition of the affected persons deteriorated, locals raised an SOS, prompting the Health Department to rush a medical team along with two ambulances to the village, said Chief Medical Officer Rajouri Dr Manohar Lal Rana. All the patients were shifted to Community Health Centre (CHC) Kandi, where they were provided initial treatment before being referred to Government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospital, Rajouri and they reached the hospital during the early hours of Friday, said Chief Medical Officer. Medical Superintendent of GMC Associated Hospital Rajouri, Dr Shamim Ahmed said that all seven patients are undergoing treatment. While six of them are reported to be out of danger, one child remains under close observation as his condition is stated to be unstable. Dr Shamim Ahmed further said. The Medical Superintendent also said that patients are being monitored round the clock and are receiving the best possible medical care. Preliminary investigation by the Police and the Health Department indicates that the family had consumed a wild mushroom collected from the area, which is suspected to be poisonous. The patients have been identified as Mohammad Zahir (12), son of Mohammad Javid; Mohammad Saleem (13), son of Mohammad Mushtaq; Zabeer Ahmed (3), son of Zakir Hussain; Safeena Begum (3), daughter of Sajar Hussain; Waqar Ali (11), son of Mohammad Shareef; Sultan Khan (5), son of Sajar Hussain; and Shaheen Akhter (25), wife of Sajar Hussain.

Residents protest over water shortage in Pulwama village

Pulwama, Jul 10:Scores of residents staged a protest in Sanziwatoora village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Friday, alleging that they have been grappling with an acute shortage of drinking water for the past four years. Carrying empty utensils, the protesters took to the streets and accused the Jal Shakti Department of disconnecting the village's piped water supply four years ago, leaving many households without access to potable water. The department disconnected our water supply four years ago after it had served the village for nearly four decades, said Abdul Aziz Bhat, a resident. Bhat said the villagers had repeatedly approached the authorities seeking restoration of the water supply, but their pleas had gone unheard. He also criticised the local MLA, alleging that the legislator had promised to restore the water supply during the election campaign but failed to fulfil the assurance after being elected. He came to the village seeking votes and promised to restore the water supply. After winning the election, nothing was done, Bhat alleged. The protesters demanded the immediate restoration of the drinking water supply, saying they had been forced to rely on alternative sources for the past four years. Javed Ahmad, another resident, said the village is barely 2 km from the district headquarters but continues to be deprived of the basic amenity of piped drinking water. Every year, the government lays new pipelines, but they are never connected to the water supply, Ahmad alleged. He said that while the government has made tall claims about providing tap water to even the remotest areas, residents of his village were yet to receive the facility despite living close to the district headquarters. We were left with no option but to hit the streets because our genuine issue has remained unresolved despite several requests, Ahmad added. An official from the Jal Shakti Department said that he would visit the area and try to resolve the issue. Residents, however, said they would continue to press for immediate relief until a dependable water supply is restored.

LG directs officials for best possible treatment to injured yatris

Srinagar, Jul 10:Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has taken immediate cognizance of the road accident near Toldi Nallah in Udhampur in which six Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims sustained injuries. The Lieutenant Governor spoke to the senior administrative and medical officials, and directed them to ensure all necessary and best possible treatment for the swift recovery of those injured, said an official press release. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor has said: Received the report of a road accident near ToldiNallah in Udhampur involving 6 Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. The devotees were traveling to Pahalgam base camp for holy cave darshan when their vehicle skidded off the road. One pilgrim is seriously injured, while the other five are in stable condition and currently receiving care at GMC Udhampur. The critically injured pilgrim has been shifted to GMC Jammu. I have directed the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, the Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur and medical officials at GMC Jammu and Udhampur to ensure they receive the best possible treatment. I pray to Lord Shiva for their swift recovery.

5 AmarnathYatra pilgrims from MP injured in Udhampur road accident

Ramban, Jul 10:Five pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh undertaking the annual Amarnath Yatra were injured after their vehicle skidded off the road and crashed into a roadside protection wall on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) in Udhampur district on Friday, official sources said. The accident took place near ToldiNallah in the Samroli area between Chenani and Udhampur when the pilgrims were travelling in a Maruti Ertiga (registration number MP 13 ZV 2836). The vehicle was part of a convoy proceeding from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu to the Pahalgam base camp for the pilgrimage. According to officials, the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and collide with the highway's protection wall. Six pilgrims from Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh were travelling in the vehicle. A woman, identified as Sema Gupta, sustained critical injuries and was referred to the Government Medical College (GMC) Hospital, Jammu, for specialised treatment. The remaining injured pilgrims are undergoing treatment at the associated Government Medical College Hospital in Udhampur and are reported to be in stable condition. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said he had spoken to Udhampur Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa after receiving information about the accident. He confirmed that the critically injured woman was immediately referred to GMC Jammu and assured that all possible assistance was being extended to the victims. My office is in constant touch, and every possible assistance is being provided, the minister said. Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the accident.

J&K Sports Council announces open selection trials for Sub-Junior Girls Football Team

Srinagar, Jul 10: The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council has announced to conduct the open selection trials for the formation of the J&K Sub-Junior Girls Football Team, which will represent the Union Territory in the forthcoming Sub-Junior Girls National Football Championship 2026 to be conducted under the aegis of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The Sports Council, as per a statement, has invited talented, eligible female footballers from across Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the trials. As per the notified schedule, selection trials for players from the Jammu Division will be held on July 13 and 14, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Mini Stadium Synthetic Turf, Parade Ground, Jammu. Simultaneously, trials for players from the Kashmir Division will take place on July 13 and 14, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Synthetic Turf Football Stadium, TRC, Srinagar. Players shortlisted from both divisions will participate in the final selection trials, scheduled for July 16 and 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Synthetic Turf Football Stadium, TRC, Srinagar. To be eligible, players must be girls born between January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014, and must be permanent residents of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. Participants are required to bring original documents along with two self-attested photocopies of each for verification. The mandatory documents include an original birth certificate issued by the Municipal Corporation or competent authority, an Aadhaar Card updated with a recent photograph, and two passport-size photographs. The Sports Council has advised all participants to report at the venue in complete playing kit comprising jersey, shorts, stockings, shin guards and football boots/studs. No travel allowance or daily allowance will be provided to players attending the trials. The Council has further stated that the decisions of the selection committee will be final and binding. Players selected during the trials will also be required to undergo Bone Age Verification Tests in accordance with AIFF guidelines before the final team is constituted. For any further information regarding the selection trials, interested players may contact Javed Ahmad Sofi at 7006037351 or Ricky Kumar at 9149887665.

PM Modi highlights role of sports in bringing people together in Australia

New Delhi, Jul 10:Prime Minister NarendraModi on Friday visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground accompanied by the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Anthony Albanese and the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. Jacinta Allan, for an event celebrating India-Australia sporting ties. Several Australian sporting legends, including Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, were present at the event. The visit underscored the growing importance of sports, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties as pillars of the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. At the event, the two Prime Ministers, as per a PIB statement, jointly released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap which would promote cooperation in the fields of sports training and capacity building, sports science and technology, and sports industry and investment. It also aims to organise an India-Australia Youth Sports Festival. The two leaders welcomed the growing collaboration between India and Australia in the field of sports. Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the unique role of sports in bringing people together and noted that the Roadmap will enable the two countries to diversify their sporting partnership. He congratulated Australia for winning the womens cricket World Cup. Prime Minister Modi noted that India and Australia were together entering a significant decade in international sports, with India hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030 and Australia hosting the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. He emphasised that these developments create natural opportunities for closer bilateral cooperation in sports and associated industries. During the visit, the leaders interacted with young athletes participating in Kabbadi, Australian Football and Cricket exhibition games.The visit showcased the vibrant sporting and people-to-people connections between India and Australia.

Capturing the woman she was

Political history often remembers the voices that spoke the loudest. It remembers the speeches, the rallies, and the men who stood at the centre of defining moments. Yet every once in a while there emerges a leader whose influence cannot be measured merely through offices held or elections won. Her legacy survives because it became part of the moral imagination of the people. Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah, affectionately remembered across Jammu and Kashmir as Madre Meherban, was one such leader. For many outside Kashmir, she is introduced as the wife of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. That description, while factually correct, does not come close to capturing the woman she was. She was a political personality in her own right, a parliamentarian, a social reformer, an advocate for women, and above all, a figure who transformed compassion into public service. Born in 1916, Begum Akbar Jehan entered public life at a time when politics was almost exclusively a male domain. The expectations placed upon women were limited to the private sphere. She quietly but firmly challenged those expectations, not by seeking attention, but by accepting responsibility. Throughout some of the most turbulent decades in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, she stood beside the people with remarkable resilience. During times when Sheikh Abdullah spent years in prison or political exile, she became much more than a supportive spouse. She became the emotional bridge between the National Conference and its workers, between political leadership and ordinary families, and between hope and uncertainty. Her calm presence reassured people during moments when fear could easily have prevailed. Her politics was rooted in empathy. Long before the vocabulary of women empowerment entered policy documents, Begum Abdullah was already practising it through action. She encouraged women to step beyond traditional boundaries and participate in public life with dignity and confidence. She worked with welfare organisations, led initiatives connected with the Red Cross, the All India Womens Conference, family welfare programmes, and social development, always believing that the progress of society could never be separated from the progress of its women. She also championed education as one of the strongest instruments of social transformation. Throughout her public life, she consistently advocated for greater educational opportunities, particularly for women and children, recognising that lasting empowerment begins in the classroom. Her commitment reflected the larger vision of the National Conference leadership, under which the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, adopted in 1957, made a remarkable commitment to provide free education up to the university level and compulsory education for children up to the age of fourteen, decades before education became a Fundamental Right in the rest of India through Article 21A of the Constitution. While this constitutional provision was part of the broader vision of Sheikh Abdullahs government and the J&K Constituent Assembly, Begum Abdullahs remained one of its strongest social ambassadors, encouraging families to educate their daughters and helping foster a culture that viewed education as the foundation of a just and progressive society. What made her remarkable was that she never viewed women as beneficiaries of politics. She viewed them as equal stakeholders in shaping society. That distinction remains profoundly relevant even today. Her electoral journey reflected the extraordinary trust she enjoyed among the people. In the landmark 1977 general election, following the restoration of democratic politics in Jammu and Kashmir, she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Srinagar with an emphatic mandate. Years later, in 1984, she entered Parliament once again, this time representing Anantnag. Winning from two of the Valleys most politically significant constituencies demonstrated that her appeal transcended geography. It rested upon credibility, compassion, and public confidence rather than rhetoric alone. Her parliamentary career, however, tells only part of the story. The larger story was her ability to humanise politics. Constituents remembered not merely an elected representative, but someone who listened. They saw a woman whose doors remained open, whose politics retained its humanity, and whose authority came from service rather than distance. Perhaps that is why generations across Kashmir came to know her simply as Madre Meherban. Such titles cannot be claimed. They are bestowed by people whose lives have been touched. For me, Begum Abdullah has never been merely a historical figure. She belongs to that rare generation of leaders whose stories travelled through conversations long before I encountered them in books or archives. My grandfather, Pandit Piyare Lal Handoo, had the privilege of succeeding her as the Member of Parliament from the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency after the 1989 election. Growing up, I often heard him speak about her with unmistakable respect. He never described her only in terms of politics or electoral victories. He spoke of her grace under pressure, her accessibility, her kindness towards ordinary people, and the quiet strength with which she carried immense responsibility. Those recollections revealed something that official biographies rarely can. They revealed character. Those stories shaped my understanding of public life long before I understood ideology or constitutional law. They taught me that leadership is not measured solely by legislative achievements or political strategy. It is equally measured by the ability to make people feel heard, respected, and valued. In an age when public discourse increasingly rewards confrontation, Begum Abdullah reminds us that compassion is not a weakness in politics. It is one of its greatest strengths. Her life also offers an important lesson for women in public life today. Representation cannot simply mean occupying seats once reserved for men. It must mean bringing new values into governance. It must mean expanding the meaning of leadership itself. Begum Abdullah demonstrated that authority and empathy are not competing qualities. They strengthen one another. The history of Jammu and Kashmir has been shaped by many towering personalities. Yet among them stands a woman whose influence extended beyond electoral boundaries and political office. She nurtured institutions, strengthened social welfare, championed education, inspired women to participate in public life, and reminded society that politics could still possess warmth and humanity. As conversations about womens leadership continue across India, the life of Begum Akbar Jehan Abdullah deserves renewed attention. Not because she belonged to a famous political family, but because she proved that women could lead with courage without surrendering compassion, and exercise power without losing humility. That is perhaps why history remembers her not merely as Begum Abdullah, nor simply as the wife of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. It remembers her as Madre Meherban. Some leaders govern through authority. A rare few continue to guide generations through affection. She belonged to the latter. Adv Shriya Handoo, Research Head, Spokesperson, JKNC

Legally away we go

I am sitting in the Kashmir University cafe overlooking the Shehjar Lawn. It is a warm, sunlit morning. The campus lies almost deserted, and I am hunched over my computer. The cafe staff are still sweeping away yesterdays dust and discarded wrappers. It hardly bothers me. I have abandoned my long-standing routine of spending early mornings in the library and instead begun turning up at the Shehjar cafe as soon as it opens to write before the first class begins. Unlike the chaos that swamps the cafe later in the day, it is comparatively still at this hour. But this is slowly fleeting. As the first bus pulls up a few metres away and students spill out, rushing towards their departments, I find myself overcome by recollections. After spending my entire first semester in near seclusion, moving between the Universitys libraries and remaining largely disconnected from my classmates within the Journalism department, my first interaction with my peers only began with a drive initiated to reopen one of the oldest cafes in the campus that had been temporarily shut on hygienic grounds. I had known Bashir Sahab as a humble and pious soul who always welcomed me with a smile and let me use his cafe kitchen whenever I wanted to brew a cup of black tea to jolt my brain back to life. I bought chart papers, sketches and pencils and initiated a signature campaign together with a few of my classmates who shared my hatred for the locked gates of Bashir Sahabs cafe and believed in his rejuvenation as he sat home battling stress and anxiety with an uncertain future dangling above him after losing his only source of income. Over a hundred students and staff members added their names and we pasted it on his cafe wall. Within days, as the campaign caught the administrations attention, Bashir Sahab was back in business, this time with more rigour and humility. On one wintry morning, as I drove to the University, I was denied permission to park my vehicle inside the campus. As a policy, parking passes are issued only in the second year, and I was still a first-year student. This frustrated me, but I was impassive to expand my social circle by befriending the guards. Instead, a friend huddled me into the architecturally grand and imposing office of one of the Universitys senior officials. As he served us tea, my friend explained my predicament and requested a parking pass on my behalf. The official replied that if he granted me one, the entire University would descend upon his office in protest; there was even a chance, he added with mock seriousness, that they might launch a hunger strike and bring the University to a standstill. At the mention of a hunger strike, I burst into laughter, embarrassing my friend and startling the official. We left his office with him visibly irritated. Befriending the guards became my only refuge and I have never been stopped since. Ironically, the official also became a good acquaintance and often invited me for tea at the University guest house. I could be bitten by a dog while walking to the gate at midnight, I had dramatically argued in my defence. He still remembers the remark and quotes it every now and then. By now, the University had come full circle. Most of us had settled into campus life, strengthening bonds with our professors and spending extended evenings listening to poetry, stories of prominent poets, accounts of literary giants, and discussions on momentous political events. I was particularly drawn to the life of quintessential Faiz Ahmad Faiz, especially the story of how he fell in love with Alys George (later Alys Faiz or Ms. Faiz), and the remarkable manner in which their destinies intertwined. Of fragrance and colour, beauty and goodness; the metaphors all began and ended in you, my professor would often recite while speaking of Faizs verses for Alys. Such evenings routinely stretched into midnight, whether on the University campus or in the hostel building, over endless rounds of tea. I would often drive home past midnight only to return at sunrise. Today, as I sit in Shehjar Cafe with only a few weeks of University life remaining, writing and reflecting upon a period I neither anticipated nor prepared for, a fresh batch of morning e-papers arrives in my inbox. As I flick through them, I am reminded of the e-paper I read on my very first day at the University. The headline, published in September 2024, declared: Stage set for intense election battle in Srinagar. Today, that election has long passed, a government has been formed, and the political contest has faded. Yet another stage has been set in Hazratbal. It is the looming transition from academia into professional life that remains as uncertain and consequential as any election battle. Sheikh Saqib is a graduate student at MERC, Kashmir University.

Queuespitals, not Hospitals

It feels as though we are cursed. Nothing and nobody will lift this curse, not even the unseen forces. It seems to have arrived for a permanent stay, a formidable force, sharp enough to freeze anything in its embrace. Should anyone proclaim its going to fade in its intensity any day now, theres no response but to laugh out loud. Laugh at our helplessness. Uncertainty. And finally, disorder of the worst kind. I often visit hospitals. They are my second home. They have nurtured me. I remember their walls. I kiss their floor. White coats and injections are holy to me. I can gauge, from the way a person speaks or walks, what emergency they are facing or whats going on in their mind. I am well-acquainted with every aspect. I know when people are at their best and when they are at their lowest. I am familiar with everything. Dont you trust me? Meet me. I will show you a mountain of prescriptions, a heap of test reports, and a mound of medicine wrappers. I will substantiate it with the stories I witnessed. With exhaustion, I felt around me. With unnecessary hardships I have seen people subjected to it. I have witnessed fistfights, verbal abuse, and screams throughout all these years. I can also tell you the source of their pain. I can also shed light on the unfortunate state of our hospitals, where theres little to no supervision by those in authority, no way out, only suffering and endless trauma. Bear with me. I am not a liar. I wont receive a localised Nobel Prize for championing a public cause. Neither do I seek one. What we need is relief. Order, not chaos. What we need is supervision, calculation, analysis, implementation, and a way forward. Followed by supervision again. Not just one-time batting of an eyelid, but constant evaluation. Some patients come to hospitals alone. Some arrive with their attendants. The queue system at SMHS is among the worst in Kashmir. Believe me, if you happen to visit SMHS anywhere between 10 am and 11 am, be prepared to spend nearly two hours waiting in a queue before youre handed a prescription. The queue resembles a snake with three bends, enclosed with a prison-like structure of iron railings. Nearly a hundred people await their turn. Pushes, nudges, and warnings echo through the chamber, as though a murder had occurred in broad daylight. A case in point: an ophthalmologist refers you back to obtain a fresh prescription simply because the one already in your hand doesnt have sufficient space. You wait for two hours, obtain a new prescription, and the doctor dashes off a single sentence, the very line that could have been written on the previous prescription easily. Isnt that an abuse?Ask the gatekeeper about it, and with a raised eyebrow he shoots words across your face that feels like a verdict on your self-worth. Hospitals are like that; go get a prescription. No hesitation. No empathy. No resembling, we are sorry for the inconvenience; please wait for your turn. A few words of courtesy would at least make people feel respected while bearing the brunt of this chaos.I understand theyre pressurized by the crowd. But what else do we have in our hands? I often wonder why the higher officials cant see this. Or perhaps they could, had there been someone observing the people at their most vulnerable while they stand in queues. Had there been someone asking where things go wrong, how they can be improved, how the crowd can be managed, or how the digital platforms could be used to reduce unnecessary waiting. Anything that could nip this rot in the bud and restore some dignity to our hospitals. Leaving the queue-induced crowd-like scenarios aside, there are queues at each step. You spend two hours waiting for a prescription, then reach the respective wing of the hospital only to encounter another queue. Finally, outside the doctors chamber, yet another queue awaits. Our hospitals should be renamed Queues-pitals, where dignity is stolen and every passing second delivers another shocking verdict on ones worth. Its truly unfortunate that we continue to suffer from problems that many countries like Singapore resolved with utmost dedication. Most unfortunate still is the absence of a dedicated body of officials to study these issues and devise practical solutions. You know why? Many of those responsible dont bring their own patients to government hospitals, let alone wait in a queue. Even if they do, there are separate places reserved for them. Or they seek treatment in some star-studded, sofa-defined private hospitals, where queues scarcely exist. Bottom-line: Now, do not dismiss this as another complaint. Dont backlash me with allegations. Swallow the bitter pill and do something. For the sake of the people. Civilised societies do not fear reality, they confront it.

A Timely Visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Indonesia on July 6-8 as part of a three country trip was timely. Indonesia is the largest ASEAN country and is also the largest Muslim state in the world. It should have been natural for India and Indonesia to develop close, cooperative and multifaceted relations. However, that has not been so. As both countries emerged from colonialism in the 1940s there was a period when the leaders of the two countriesJawaharlal Nehru and Sukarnowere in collaborative contact but the promise of the bilateral relationship was never realised. Indonesian sympathies for Pakistan in the 1965 war and its lukewarm approach towards Indian difficulties in 1971 created a distance between the two countries. On its part, Indonesia strongly resented Indias support to Malaysia when the two states were in conflict. Later, the international priorities of India and Indonesia and differing approaches to domestic challenges, including developmental, led to the two peoples no longer occupying any great space in each others consciousness. This was despite many Indians knowing the strong cultural and religious contacts between India and Indonesia in the ancient past. Before the Indonesian people embraced Islam they were Hindu and Buddhist. Large numbers among them continue to be proud of their cultural traditions derived from their interaction with India in olden times. For many Indonesians, the Ramayana in their own version, is an inspirational cultural text. Hence, it was appropriate that during Modis visit the two countries decided that India will collaborate with Indonesia in restoring the Prambanan temple compound. It is on UNESCOs world heritage site list. The 58 paragraph Joint Statement issued at the conclusion of Modis visit shows the two countries commitment to comprehensively take their bilateral ties to a higher level in political engagement, defence and security cooperation, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, digital economy, science and technology, space, critical minerals, energy, agriculture, health, pharma, education, culture, tourism, youth exchanges and people-to-people ties. This is a very ambitious programme of cooperation and will require the bureaucracies as well as the industrial and business sectors to act purposefully to identify concrete areas where ambitions can be translated into realities. This is never an easy task but can be accomplished if there is will, drive and initiative. Otherwise, large sections of such documents are not translated into action. A principal yardstick to judge the seriousness of engagement between two states is their desire to cooperate in the defense and security sectors. By this criterion India and Indonesia are showing great intent. The Joint Statement notes that the leaders agreed to further strengthen cooperation and enhance engagements in both traditional and emerging areas of defence cooperation, including regular defence dialogue, joint exercises, staff talks, joint research and co-production of new defence technologies, port calls, peacekeeping activities, information sharing, hydrography, capacity building, cadet training and exchanges, and defence industrial cooperation. They welcomed the elevation of defence cooperation, including through cooperation on BrahMos Missile System, and the Air-to-Air Missile Cooperation Agreement. As maritime neighbours Indonesia is a country consisting of islands, large and small. It is natural that the two countries should have a great interest in cooperation in the maritime domain. It is important for them to ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains one of peace and stability. Hence, naval cooperation is a significant area for them. However, it is clear that they wish to venture into other defence sectors too. These include defence industrial production. As defence industries are mostly present in the advanced countries India and Indonesia will have to make special efforts to embark on joint defence industries. Their success in this field, if it occurs, will enthuse the Global South. The proposed cooperation in BrahMos missile systems and in Air-to-Air Missile cooperation deserves a special word. When asked about prospects of cooperation in BrahMos systems Secretary East Rudrendra Tandon rightly said in his media briefing after Modis discussions with President Prabowo Subianto, It is an important part of the industry-to-industry collaboration that the two leaders are trying to develop, taking our defense cooperation relationship to the next level. However, you know, commercial agreements are not really discussed at the highest level. Those are left for the companies to sort out, but I can tell you that it is an important area of collaboration and there were extensive discussions on that. It can only be hoped that company to company negotiations reach a positive conclusion. Modi and Subianto naturally discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and the Iran war. On the latter there was an obvious meeting of minds. This is important. Just as a great deal of maritime traffic goes through the Strait of Hormuz so it does through the Malacca Strait; Indonesia is one of the principal littoral states along this Strait. The Joint Statement notes, They also share the same view to respect freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce and the implementation of transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law including the provisions of UNCLOS. If Indonesia wished to act in a manner in which Iran is doing regarding the Strait of Hormuz it would never have agreed to such a formulation. A last point: Clearly, Indonesia, like other Indo-Pacific countries, does not wish to offend China. Hence, there is nothing in the Joint Statement on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. There is an anodyne formulation regarding adherence to the laws of the seas but this would not offend China. This is how countries send signals through the words used in Joint Statements.

Amar Singh College survey has policy relevance

A research survey on digital addiction conducted by the Department of Political Science, Amar Singh College, Srinagar (ASC), has significant policy relevance for all institutions. It is a laudable academic endeavour by faculty members to implement the principles of the New Education Policy. The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled in Parliament, has flagged digital addiction as a rising challenge for Indias youth in an increasingly online digital environment. It is noteworthy that 68 countries have already banned mobile phones in schools. In March 2026, Parliament was informed that approximately 20,000 children die by suicide every year as a consequence of this addiction. Digital Addiction The Economic Survey defines digital addiction as addictive behaviour linked to digital devices, including smartphones, the internet, gaming, and social media. It further describes it as a behaviour pattern of excessive or compulsive engagement that leads to distress and functional impairment, characterized by persistent, excessive, or obsessive computer and online use. Various studies show that children and youth spend up to eight hours a day on screens and mobile phones, amounting to more than 100 days every year. Excessive use of digital devices disrupts sleep patterns and increases the risk of depression and mood swings. The use of screens we are told causes a dopamine spikethe brain receives a rapid reward signal, which reinforces the behaviour and produces what is known as digital addiction. Scope of ASC Study The Amar Singh College study, titled Digital Distress and Development Minds, reveals that a staggering 75 percent of school-going adolescents in Kashmir spend more than four hours every day glued to their smartphone screens. Consequently, they suffer from severe concentration deficits, chronic morning fatigue, and an alarming spike in cyber safety concerns among youth. The study was conducted across four districts of the Kashmir Valley, namely Srinagar, Anantnag, Kulgam, and Shopian, covering 400 students. The findings are striking: heavy screen users struggle five times more with concentration; over half say stress and digital distractions disrupt their studies; nearly 72 percent report that screen time reduces outdoor play and physical activity; and half wake up feeling tired, indicating poor sleep and late-night screen use. The study rightly recommends that technology itself is not the problem; rather, its excessive and unregulated use requires policy attention. Many studies conducted in various countries have yielded similar results. There is a need for a whole of society approach to find equilibrium between technology, tradition, and education. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the digital ecosystem surrounding our students and the larger society. Digital Economy As already noted, any policy framework will advocate for a balancing act between the digital world and human interactions. According to the State of Indias Digital Economy Report 2024, India is the third-largest digitalized country in the world in terms of economy-wide digitalization and ranks 12th among the G20 countries in the level of individual users. The Economic Survey 2025-26 notes that the digital economy contributed 11.74 percent to national income in FY 2023, with projections of 13.42 percent in FY 2025. In India, the number of internet connections grew from 251.5 million in 2014 to 969.6 million in 2024, driven by the rollout of 5G and Bharat Net Fiber reaching 218,000 Gram panchayats. By 2025, 85.5 percent of households are expected to own at least one smartphone, making digital access nearly universal. Internet usage is also very high; in 2024, 48 percent of internet users watched videos online, 43 percent used social media, 40 percent accessed email or music, and 26 percent made digital payments. In absolute numbers, this translates to about 400 million users for over-the-top (OTT) video and food delivery and nearly 50 million users for social media. With the expansion of digital access, it is estimated that the digital economy will constitute one-fifth of national income by 2029-30. Therefore, the digital economy has become an integral part of our daily lives, with the main issue being digital exhibitionism. Digital Narcissus Madras High Court Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, in a thought-provoking article in The Hindu on December 25, 2025, explored how the misuse or overuse of digital devices is going to pose significant challenges for us. He stated that the real doomsday will not arrive with machines taking over human labor or governance. It will arrive when human beings stop thinking, when they cease to hear alternative voices, and when truth becomes a casualty of comfort. A good machine should dare to disagree, to ask for evidence, and to reveal bias. It should mirror our potential for honesty. Educators have been warning us about these issues surrounding digital addiction and how critical and analytical thinking is becoming a casualty, particularly as students and youth turn increasingly unquestioning and complacent. The digital love affair traps students and young people in echo chambers that hinder intellectual and societal growth. This is why there is an urgent need around the globe to regulate the overuse of devices, ensuring there is a proper alignment between thoughtful reflection and the impact of digital engagement. Global Best Practices As previously noted, 68 countries have banned the use of smartphones in classrooms for students. The World Health Organization has recognized Gaming Disorder as a mental health condition under the International Classification of Diseases. Australia has banned social media accounts for children under the age of sixteen. China limits online gaming time for minors through real-name systems. Singapore focuses on media literacy and cyber wellness. The United Kingdom has established a Digital Resilience Framework for schools and platforms. In India, responses have included the CBSE guidelines on safe internet use. The Pragyata guidelines for digital education, issued by the Ministry of Education, recommend capped daily screen times to safeguard students health. Developed by NCERT, the Pragyata framework outlines key steps for digital learning. The Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across Statesthe national mental health helpline launched in 2022has received over 3.2 million calls over time. The Online Gaming Regulation Act of 2025 banned online money games involving wagering and restricted related advertising. Likewise, some state governments within the Union of India have implemented safeguards for school-going children. Conclusion and Recommendations The Amar Singh College survey recommends: turn off phones, take your children outside, teach them to read and sketch, and travel as families again. It advocates for digital diets and a need for cybersecurity. There are lessons to be learned from other states as well. For instance, Kerala has launched the D-DAD (Digital De-addiction Centre) project, which focuses on combating excessive social media and gaming addiction among children through free counselling therapy and expert guidance. In my previous column, I recommended that the J&K government adopt the Finnish model of school education, which has many benefits for us. In Finland, every child feels seen, heard, and valued by teachers. School is not just about marks, uniforms, and grades; it emphasizes curiosity, creativity, and a love of books. Students are free to explore, and teachers are there to support them. In many ways, we feel compelled to argue that the old is gold. Professor Gull Wani is a Kashmir-based Political Scientist

Twin comical plays draw applause at GDC Bemina

Srinagar, Jul 10:The auditorium of Abdul Ahad Azad Memorial Degree College (GDC) Bemina resonated with laughter and applause as two acclaimed comical plays, Dastar and Local Taxes Extra, were staged under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India's Guru-Shishya Parampara programme. The theatrical performances, held in collaboration with the College Cultural Committee and the Media and Publicity Cell, were presented by Kalidas Theatre Srinagar and attracted an enthusiastic audience. The event was inaugurated by Principal Prof Muzaffar Ahmad Bhat, who underscored the importance of theatre in nurturing creativity, communication skills and cultural awareness among students. Theatre is an underrated pillar of college life which teaches a masterclass in communication and inculcates a level of confidence not learnt in a classroom or by reading a textbook, he said, while expressing hope that such cultural initiatives would continue to enrich the college's academic environment. Directed by Javaid Ahmad Khan, both productions entertained the audience with witty dialogues, engaging performances and sharp comic timing.The plays also blended humour with subtle social commentary, earning repeated applause from the audience.A number of theatre artists and members of the production team were present during the two-day programme. The event concluded with a vote of thanks to Kalidas Theatre Srinagar and all those who contributed to the successful organisation of the cultural programme.

Cheque bounce settlement cant be executed after compliant disposal: HC

Srinagar, Jul 10:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has ruled that once a criminal court records a compromise, disposes of the complaint and acquits the accused, it ceases to have jurisdiction over the proceedings unless a specific statutory provision permits further action.A bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal said this while allowing one Gulzar Ahmad Ganaies plea whereby he had sought to quash execution proceedings initiated by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM), Budgam, to enforce a compromise reached in a cheque dishonour case. In his plea, Ganaie had assailed the CJM's orders dated November 17, 2025, and May 6, 2026, with the contention that the Magistrate lacked jurisdiction to entertain execution proceedings after the complaint had already been decided and he had been acquitted.The dispute arose from a complaint under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act. During the pendency of the case, the parties entered into a compromise on July 26, 2024, under which Ganaie agreed to pay Rs 6.60 lakh to the complainant, while the complainant agreed to provide a patch of land to Ganaie. Acting on the settlement, the CJM dismissed the complaint and acquitted the accused. Subsequently, alleging that the terms of the compromise had been violated, the complainant-initiated execution proceedings before the CJM. The CJM entertained the application and subsequently directed the complainant to furnish details of the petitioner's properties for attachment.Assailing the proceedings before the High Court, the petitioner argued that once the complaint had been disposed of and the accused acquitted, the criminal court had exhausted its jurisdiction and could not revive the matter by executing the settlement. Before the High Court the question for consideration was whether, after recording the compromise between the parties and dismissing the complaint, the CJM retained jurisdiction to subsequently entertain execution proceedings and direct attachment of the petitioner's property on the allegation that the terms of the settlement had not been complied with. Once parties voluntarily settle their dispute and place such settlement before the criminal court, it is open to the court to record the compromise and dispose of the complaint accordingly. Upon acceptance of the compromise and passing of a final order disposing of the complaint, the criminal proceedings attain finality, the bench noted. The court observed that the criminal proceedings stood concluded and the Magistrate became functus officio. Thereafter, the criminal court ceased to possess any continuing jurisdiction over the complaint, it observed.The bench further noted that although the compromise had been recorded, the final order neither incorporated the terms of the settlement into its operative portion nor directed that the agreed amount would be recoverable under Sections 421 and 431 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. It held that coercive recovery mechanisms available under criminal procedure can be invoked only when there is an executable judicial direction and not merely because parties have entered into a private settlement.The bench observed that while a settlement creates independent contractual rights and obligations between the parties, any breach gives rise to a fresh cause of action and cannot be enforced through execution proceedings before a criminal court after the complaint has attained finality.

This time from Africa? Economic lessons from the beautiful game, especially the African model

High-income nations dominate football, while lower-income countries show potential. African football academies demonstrate successful development models for emerging economies. These academies operate independently, attracting private investment and player transfer fees. This model fosters local talent and creates economic opportunities within Africa. The success of these institutions offers valuable lessons for global development strategies.

Not a risk worth taking: Solar geoengineering could put India's monsoon at risk

Global heatwaves prompt discussions on solar radiation modification technologies. This approach involves significant logistical challenges and potential ecological risks. SRM does not address root causes of climate change and may weaken emission reduction incentives. Its impacts on rainfall and monsoons create considerable scientific uncertainty and geopolitical risks. Developing nations and scholars advocate for restraint and equitable governance of this technology.

Engage in the solar geoengineering debate: Why India must shape the rules before the sun goes dim

Solar radiation modification offers potential climate solutions but demands careful governance. This technology could cool the planet while shifting rainfall patterns globally. Developing nations like India must actively shape research and governance standards. India possesses the scientific and institutional capacity to lead these crucial discussions. A legitimate approach prioritizes transparency and accountability in parallel with scientific advancement.

Govt notifies framework for evaluation of books, academic material in educational institutions

Srinagar, July 10: In view of recent concerns regarding books available in institutional libraries and the procurement of educational material, the School Education Department and Higher Education Department of Jammu and Kashmir have issued comprehensive circulars. The action has been taken in pursuance of the directions of the government. The circulars prescribe a structured institutional framework for the academic evaluation, content verification and periodic review of books and other academic resources across all schools, colleges and universities in the Union Territory. The framework is aimed at strengthening the institutional mechanisms governing the evaluation, recommendation, circulation, retention and periodic review of educational material. It seeks to ensure that the academic resources available in educational institutions possess established academic merit, factual authenticity, pedagogical relevance and educational value, while remaining consistent with the Constitution of India, the laws in force, the National Education Policy, the applicable regulatory framework and the curricular standards prescribed by the competent authorities. Under the framework, all the government and recognised private schools and universities functioning under the administrative jurisdiction of the respective departments and public libraries have been directed to undertake a comprehensive Academic and Content Audit of books, reference material, journals, research publications, dissertations, theses, digital repositories and other educational resources available in their libraries and academic units, irrespective of the year of procurement, adoption or inclusion. The circulars further provide that no publication or academic material containing factually inaccurate, misleading, distorted, inflammatory, unlawful or otherwise objectionable content, including material that directly or indirectly promotes, glorifies, legitimises or justifies terrorism, violent extremism, secessionism, radicalisation or any activity prejudicial to the sovereignty, unity, integrity and security of the Nation, shall be procured, prescribed, recommended, retained. circulated, published, hosted or otherwise made available in educational institutions. To ensure effective implementation, the government has institutionalised multi-tier academic and content scrutiny mechanisms across the school and higher education sectors. These mechanisms provide for systematic academic evaluation, content verification, quality assurance, periodic review and institutional oversight through committees constituted at the institutional, district, directorate, university and administrative department levels while respecting the statutory and academic autonomy of universities within the framework of the applicable laws and University Grants Commission regulations. The circulars also assign clearly defined responsibilities to the Vice Chancellors, Principals of Colleges, Chief Education Officers, Zonal Education officers and Heads of Institutions (Hols), librarians, School Managements and other academic authorities entrusted with the academic governance to ensure meticulous implementation of the prescribed framework within the stipulated timelines. Institutional heads shall be responsible for ensuring compliance within their respective jurisdictions, and any omission, negligence or deviation from the prescribed procedures shall be viewed with utmost seriousness. The initiative is intended to reinforce the academic standards, strengthen institutional accountability, preserve the integrity of the educational ecosystem and establish a transparent, objective and uniform framework for the periodic academic and content review of educational resources across schools, colleges and universities in the Union Territory.

NC awaiting nod for J&K statehood protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20: Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, Jul 10: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said his National Conference (NC) party is seeking permission for a protest at Jantar Mantar, but alleged that some people were trying to sabotage their plan. The NC had announced a sit-in protest in the national capital on July 20, the opening day of Parliament's Monsoon Session, to press the Centre to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood. The party has also invited 52 leaders of political and religious outfits across the country to join its protest. Speaking to reporters here on the sidelines of an event, the CM said the party is yet to get permission for the protest. On the 20th (of July), a programme is to take place, if we get permission for it. We are trying to get the permission, he said. Referring to permission granted to the Cockroach Janta Party for the protest, the chief minister said that while the digital outfit received approval within 24 hours, the National Conference had been waiting for the past 4-5 days. Abdullah also alleged that some people were trying to sabotage the NC plan. We have been trying for four-five days. Some people are engaged in sabotaging our programme. They have changed their dates and matched them with our dates, he said, without naming anyone. To a question about the suspension of four teachers in Ganderbal district over irregularities in Amarnath Yatra duty, the CM said the issue is up to the Shrine Board, asserting the elected government does not interfere in the management of the annual Yatra. There might be interference in our work occasionally, but we do not interfere in the management of the yatra. Our role is to support. And every department has to play a role in yatra management and yatra support, that we have to fulfill, he said. Abdullah said most of the responsibility lies with the Tourism Department as it is the parent department for the yatra. The funds that are released happen through tourism; the coordination happens through tourism. So, from our side, our complete effort is that the Shrine Board should continue to receive the cooperation it should get from the government, he said. On the scope of religious tourism in J-K, Abdullah said there is no lack of potential for the sector in the region. There is something for every religion. We have shrines, mosques, gurudwaras, temples, churches, and stupas. Amarnath Yatra is underway, and you can see that the number of people on pilgrimage is much more than those who have registered. It is becoming difficult for the Shrine Board to adhere to the Supreme Court orders, which put a ceiling on the number of yatris. So, that is a part of religious tourism, he said. He also said that this year, more people came for the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela than last year. Last year, I think not more than 5-6 thousand people came. This time, 10,000 stayed there for the night. The number during the day was more than 30,000. Similarly, in other places, religious tourism is going on, whether it is in Jammu or in Kashmir, he said. Abdullah added that wherever shrines need to be repaired or renovated, or where access needs to be made easier, the government approves such projects wherever they come to it. On the issue of climate change, Abdullah said it is a global problem and not a local one. If it were a problem of Srinagar or Kashmir, we would fix it. But this is a global problem. This problem has been created by those countries which made a lot of progress while creating the problem. When we fell behind, these countries went ahead like the G7 and G8, and became the most developed countries. They ruined the environment for their progress, the chief minister said. Now that they have achieved progress, they are telling other countries to save the environment. Saving the environment is our responsibility; we have to do it. But no one can do it alone, he said. The CM said people need to acknowledge that climate change is a reality. Some people are not even ready to believe that. Even today, many people are absolutely not ready to accept this thing that there is climate change. Global warming is a thing, he said. He pointed out that mountains used to be adorned with snow even in summers, but now nothing of that remains. There was a time when the (Amarnath) Shivling would remain for 15, 20, 25 days for the pilgrims. Today, it hasn't even been a week (it has melted). And this is something you cannot create artificially. You might remember a governor tried to make a fake one. What happened to that? You cannot do anything fake in this. It is made by the Almighty. It comes and goes. If we fix climate change, maybe it will last a little longer, he said. Abdullah also expressed hope that the tourism destinations closed in the wake of last year's Pahalgam terror attack would be reopened soon. He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured him during his visit to Jammu earlier this year that those places would be reopened in summer. He had assured that it would happen in the summer months this year. I hope that when the Yatra ends and the forces that have been deployed for the yatra are redeployed, then these closed places will be reopened, he added.

Amarnath Yatra crosses two-lakh pilgrim mark in 8 days: Lieutenant Governor

Srinagar, July 10: The annual Amarnath Yatra crossed the two-lakh mark on Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said. He said that with the pilgrimage running smoothly on both routes, the spiritual celebration is set to welcome a steady arrival of devotees in the coming weeks. Taking to micro-blogging site X, Sinha said: In a remarkable testament to faith, the holy Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has crossed the 2 lakh pilgrim mark in just 8 days. With the pilgrimage running smoothly on both the routes, the spiritual celebration is set to welcome a steady arrival of devotees in the coming weeks. Notably, the annual Amarnath Yatra began from the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam on July 3 and will culminate on August 28.

CM Omar Abdullah unveils official merchandise for Kashmir Marathon 2026, launches promotional campaign for the event

SRINAGAR, JULY 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today launched the official merchandise for the Kashmir Marathon 2026, organised by the Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Department, at the Royal Springs Golf Course (RSGC), Srinagar. The official merchandise, comprising the marathon cap, finishers medal and racing kit specially designed for participants, was unveiled at a brief function [] The post CM Omar Abdullah unveils official merchandise for Kashmir Marathon 2026, launches promotional campaign for the event appeared first on Kashmir Media Watch .

Awaiting permission for Delhi protest; some people trying to sabotage it: CM Omar

Omar Abdullah unveils Kashmir Marathon 2026 merchandise, hopes to make it a national sporting event

Congress Pawan Khera reiterates demand for SC-monitored probe into Ram temple donation row

Jammu, July 10: All India Congress Committee (AICC) Media and Publicity Department chairman and MP Pawan Khera on Friday reiterated the demand for Supreme Court-monitored high-level probe into Ayodhya Ram temple donation row. Taking exception to, what he alleged, the silence by the Prime Minister on this issue, he also demanded the dissolution of existing temple Trust and its reconstitution with the inclusion of Shankaracharyas, saints and other religious heads. Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan today, Khera, joined by JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla, chief spokesperson Ravider Sharma and other senior leaders, expressed concern over great resentment amongst people over, what he said, big financial fraud vis--vis donations at holy Ram temple, hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus in the country. Prime Minister should break his silence and seek apology from the country for this theft in the temple. We want a high level impartial, independent probe headed by a sitting or retired High Court judge monitored by the Supreme Court as the people had no faith in the existing SIT. Besides, the Trust should be handed over to committees (samitis) of religious, spiritual heads, Shankaracharyas, he sought. Khera accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of being complicit in the temple donation theft.

Ladakh gets its first EV charging stations; LG says move crucial for UT's ecology

Leh, Jul 10: Ladakh LG Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday inaugurated the first EV charging stations in the Union territory and described the initiative as a major step towards the Union territory's goal of becoming carbon neutral. He also urged people to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) for a cleaner and sustainable future. The five charging stations have been set up at the main bus stand in Leh, Tia Rong, Solar Colony, Chuchot Shamma and Khaltsi. A sixth charging station near Magnetic Hill in Leh is in the final stages of completion, officials said. The network of stations aims to promote electric mobility by providing convenient charging infrastructure for residents and tourists travelling across the high-altitude region, they said. Each charging station is equipped with two fast-charging guns capable of charging electric vehicles up to 80 per cent within 30 minutes to one hour. The facilities also feature advanced fire safety measures and emergency shutdown systems, they added. Speaking at the inauguration, Saxena termed the launch of the charging stations a historic milestone in Ladakh's transition towards clean energy and sustainable transportation. He said the initiative was in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making Ladakh a carbon-neutral region through greater use of clean energy while preserving its fragile Himalayan ecosystem and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The inauguration of these EV charging stations reflects our unwavering commitment to clean energy, sustainable mobility and environmentally responsible development. Ladakh's fragile ecology demands that we adopt technologies that minimise pollution and reduce carbon emissions, the LG said. Appealing to the people of Ladakh to embrace electric mobility, Saxena urged citizens to gradually replace conventional petrol and diesel vehicles with electric vehicles, saying such a transition would help reduce pollution and protect the Union territory's unique ecological heritage.

Jammu Film Festival sees overwhelming global response, draws 180 entries from 35 countries

Jammu, Jul 10: The fifth edition of the Jammu Film Festival has received an overwhelming response from filmmakers worldwide, with 180 entries from 35 countries submitted ahead of the July 31 deadline, the organisers said on Friday. The submissions include 130 short films, 35 documentaries and 17 feature films representing diverse cultures, languages and cinematic traditions from across the world, the organisers said, adding more entries are expected before the close of submissions later this month. The milestone 5th edition of the Jammu film festival is scheduled to be held on 2829 September 2026 in Jammu. The festival has received an overwhelming response from filmmakers across the globe. The festival continues its remarkable journey of connecting Jammu with the global film community and has emerged as one of North India's leading international film festivals, jury head Kapil Mattoo told reporters here. Mattoo said the quality, diversity and international spread of the entries reflected the festival's increasing recognition within the independent film ecosystem. The festival has received an overwhelming response from filmmakers across the globe, with 180 film submissions from 35 countries already received well ahead of the submission deadline of 31 July 2026, he said. Jointly presented by Vomedh and Koshurwood Studio, the festival is expected to bring together filmmakers, delegates, artists and cinema enthusiasts from India and abroad. He said delegates from several countries, including the United States, have expressed interest in attending the event, while discussions are underway with performers from Singapore for the festival's cultural programme. Festival directors Rakesh Roshan Bhat and Rohit Bhat said the festival was conceived with the vision of creating a cultural institution that would connect Jammu with the world through cinema. Sanjeev Kak of Koshurwood Studio said the organisation was proud to partner with a festival that has evolved into an important cultural bridge between Jammu and the global filmmaking community. He said the steady growth of the festival over five editions reflected the commitment of its organisers and the increasing appetite for meaningful cinema and cultural engagement in the region. Meanwhile, the organising committee announced a three-tier jury system for the 2026 edition to ensure a transparent and merit-based selection process. The screening committee comprises festival directors Rakesh Roshan Bhat and Rohit Bhat as well as Kamal Razdan, Suman Pandita, Ifra Kak and Manzoor Mir. The review committee includes Rahul Sharma, Kusum Tickoo, Rani Bhan, J R Sagar, Dr Kuldeep Raina Sudeshi and Shadab Khan. The final jury will be headed by filmmaker Kapil Mattoo and includes actors Vipin Sharma, Ashwath Bhatt and Tanvir Dar. The organisers said the first four editions of the festival had witnessed the participation of several noted personalities from the Indian film industry, including M K Raina, Rahul Roy, Yashpal Sharma, Kashmera Shah, Deepika Singh, Ayub Khan, Lalit Parimoo, Mushtaq Kak, Mir Sarwar and Ayaz Khan.

Udhampur road accident: LG directs officials to ensure best possible treatment to injured Amarnath pilgrims

Srinagar, July 10: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has taken immediate cognizance of the road accident near Toldi Nallah in Udhampur in which six Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims sustained injuries. The Lieutenant Governor spoke to the senior administrative and medical officials, and directed them to ensure all necessary and best possible treatment for the swift recovery of those injured. In a post on X, the Lieutenant Governor has said: Received the report of a road accident near Toldi Nallah in Udhampur involving 6 Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra pilgrims from Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. The devotees were traveling to Pahalgam base camp for holy cave darshan when their vehicle skidded off the road. One pilgrim is seriously injured, while the other five are in stable condition and currently receiving care at GMC Udhampur. The critically injured pilgrim has been shifted to GMC Jammu. I have directed the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu, the Deputy Commissioner of Udhampur and medical officials at GMC Jammu and Udhampur to ensure they receive the best possible treatment. I pray to Lord Shiva for their swift recovery.

Mirwaiz pays tribute to July 13 martyrs in his Friday sermon

Srinagar, July 10: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq on Friday paid tributes to the July 13, 1931 martyrs, saying their sacrifice remains etched in our collective memory and that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will always honour them for their struggle for rights and dignity. Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar ahead of the 95th anniversary of the killings, Mirwaiz recalled that 21 Kashmiris were shot while demanding basic rights, describing the incident as the beginning of the people's long struggle for human rights and dignity. 13th July is upon us, a day when we recount the sacrifice of 21 innocent Kashmiris who were shot dead on this day 95 years ago in 1931 for demanding basic rights, and laid the foundation for the long struggle of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for human rights and dignity, he said. Mirwaiz said the historic Jamia Masjid had witnessed the funeral prayers of the slain protesters, led by Muhajir-e-Millat Mirwaiz Moulana Muhammad Yusuf Shah and attended by tens of thousands of people. He said that since the time of Mirwaiz Moulvi Muhammad Farooq, it had been a tradition to take out a peaceful procession to the Martyrs' Graveyard to pay homage to the July 13 martyrs and renew the people's commitment to peacefully pursue the ideals for which they laid down their lives. Mirwaiz said that if the authorities permit, people would follow the longstanding tradition this year by visiting the Martyrs' Graveyard at Naqshband Sahib after Zuhr prayers on July 13 to offer Fatiha and pay tributes. Turning to the National Conference's proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, Mirwaiz said he had received an invitation from party president Farooq Abdullah to participate. He welcomed efforts aimed at restoring the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, saying such initiatives were necessary if pursued with sincerity. He also said the National Conference government had a responsibility to fulfil its electoral promise of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's pre-2019 constitutional position, including statehood and Articles 370 and 35A.

170,000 pilgrims complete Amarnath Yatra in 8 days, says LG Manoj Sinha

Amarnath Yatra boosting J&K economy as 1.7 Lakh pilgrims visit shrine: LG

Srinagar, Jul 10: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said nearly 170,000 pilgrims have offered prayers at the Amarnath cave shrine during the first eight days of the annual pilgrimage, while praising the coordinated efforts of the administration and security agencies in ensuring a safe and smooth Yatra. The seven-day phase of the Yatra has been completed and today is the eighth day. So far, approximately 170,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance, Sinha told reporters after reviewing arrangements along the pilgrimage route. He said all departments of the Jammu and Kashmir administration, along with the J&K Police, the Army and other security forces, had worked together to ensure the pilgrimage remained safe and pleasant. Sinha noted that the administration had successfully managed a significantly higher number of unregistered pilgrims than last year by patiently counselling them and facilitating their journey. Every effort is being made to ensure that pilgrims leave with a pleasant experience, he said, expressing hope that devotees arriving from across the country would continue to have a positive experience. Highlighting the pilgrimage's economic impact, the Lieutenant Governor said the annual Yatra benefits a wide cross-section of the local population. While the Yatra has immense religious significance, I believe it also makes a substantial contribution to Jammu and Kashmir's economy, he said, noting that pilgrims purchase local products and generate business for hotels, transport operators and people engaged in providing tents, ponies and other services. Reviewing facilities for pilgrims, Sinha said he had personally inspected the accommodation tents and found the arrangements satisfactory. I personally inspected the tents. Officers on duty are continuously monitoring the facilities. Special attention has been paid to safety, and fire extinguishers have been placed in every tent, he said. On healthcare facilities, Sinha said two 100-bed hospitals at Baltal and Chandanwari have been operational for the past three years and are playing a crucial role during the pilgrimage. Doctors informed me that around 1,300 to 1,400 patients are treated daily in the outpatient departments. When I visited, only nine patients were admitted. Some were suffering from mountain sickness, while others had vomiting, he said, adding that the hospitals were providing valuable medical support to both pilgrims and personnel deployed for the Yatra. Appealing to devotees to adhere to official guidelines, Sinha urged them to seek assistance from designated officials whenever required and warned them against being misled by touts. There are always some unscrupulous middlemen who try to mislead people. Pilgrims should remain cautious, he said. He also warned service providers against overcharging pilgrims. Charges for every service have been fixed. If anyone demands more than the prescribed rates, they should immediately report the matter to the Camp Director or the police, and strict action will be taken, the Lieutenant Governor said.

Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary accuses BJP of disrupting NC event, urges Centre to restore statehood

Surinder Choudhary says Hiranagar protest was politically motivated, renews push for statehood

Srinagar, Jul 10: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday accused the BJP of planting a protester to disrupt a National Conference programme in Hiranagar, demanded action against police officers over alleged security lapses, and appealed to people to join the party's renewed campaign for restoration of statehood. Addressing reporters in Jammu, Choudhary said the National Conference's tour of Samba and Kathua districts was successful except for one incident in Hiranagar, where, he alleged, a BJP worker created a disturbance. He claimed the individual's social media profile reflected his political affiliation and said that if he was not linked to the BJP, the party should itself seek registration of an FIR against him. Calling the disruption undemocratic, Choudhary said political parties should not send workers to disrupt rival programmes. He also questioned the security arrangements, alleging the protester attempted to climb onto the stage before being stopped by his Personal Security Officers, and demanded action against the local SHO and DSP. Referring to an earlier attack on National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, Choudhary said security agencies must also be held accountable for such incidents. He added that every citizen, not just political leaders, deserved adequate security. On the controversy surrounding the proposed National Law University, Choudhary said the issue had effectively been resolved after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured students that their concerns would be addressed. He rejected suggestions that the Hiranagar protest was linked to the university and dismissed allegations that the government was discriminating against Jammu, saying he had consistently fought for the region's interests. Choudhary also urged people to attend the National Conference's statehood rally at Hari Singh Park in Jammu on July 12 and announced a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20 during Parliament's Monsoon Session. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised to restore Jammu and Kashmir's statehood after the Assembly elections, but the commitment remained unfulfilled. Stressing that the campaign was being held in both Jammu and Kashmir, Choudhary said the demand for statehood belonged to the entire Union Territory and was essential for better governance, development and employment.

Attempt to divert attention from real issues: LoP Sharma on NCs statehood protest

'One nation, one election' mechanism may be ready for rollout by 2029: Joint panel chief

Panaji, Jul 10: The joint committee of Parliament examining the bills on simultaneous elections is working to create a mechanism that could make the 'One Nation, One Election' reform fully operational by the 2029 general elections, its chairperson said on Friday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the panel's two-day meeting in Goa, PP Chaudhary claimed that nearly 99 per cent of civil society stakeholders consulted so far have backed the proposal, which aims to curb an estimated Rs 7 lakh crore economic loss caused by frequent polls. The committee began its deliberations in Goa on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, with an interaction with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and members of his cabinet, seeking their views on the challenges involved in implementing simultaneous elections and ways to address them. We had an informal interaction with the chief minister and cabinet ministers, who represent the people of Goa. We discussed how 'One Nation, One Election' can be implemented, what challenges exist and how they can be mitigated while maintaining a fine balance acceptable to all, Chaudhary said. He said that the committee has visited several states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, where it interacted with constitutional experts, civil society organisations, educationists and other stakeholders. An overwhelming majority of those consulted have supported the idea of simultaneous elections, said the BJP MP from Pali in Rajasthan. We have found that almost 99 per cent of stakeholders, particularly from civil society and various organisations, favour simultaneous elections. The effort now is to evolve a mechanism that is acceptable to all political parties, he said. Asked about the timeline for implementation, he said the committee was examining various options, indicating that the reform could become operational by the time the next general elections are due in 2029. He said there is also a possibility of bringing some states into alignment before that if political parties and the chief ministers voluntarily agree to synchronise their electoral cycles. Highlighting the economic rationale behind the proposal, Chaudhary cited findings placed before the high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. He said that an economic study submitted to the Kovind committee estimated that holding elections separately across the country results in an economic loss of nearly Rs 7 lakh crore, while synchronised elections could generate equivalent gains for the national economy. Elections are now not confined to one state. If elections are held anywhere in the country, they have an impact on other states because the economy is interconnected, Chaudhary said. Using Goa as an example, he said that elections in any major state affect tourist arrivals in Goa, while elections in the coastal state itself impact its tourism industry. The economy today is globalised. An adverse impact in one state affects other states as well. Frequent elections have economic consequences beyond state boundaries, he said. The BJP MP also argued that repeated elections disrupt governance and adversely affect education, as teachers are routinely deployed for election-related duties, including preparation of electoral rolls, training and polling work. As a result, teaching in government schools suffers. The worst affected are children from economically weaker sections who depend on government schools. This is a serious concern if the situation continues over the coming decades, he said. Chaudhary described simultaneous elections as a major electoral reform envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it would help the country achieve its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047. The details will emerge with time. The objective is to build a broad consensus and evolve a practical mechanism acceptable to all, Choudhari said.

Don't hide governance failures behind statehood demand: Altaf Bukhari to Omar Abdullah

Srinagar, July 10: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Friday accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of bringing development works in Kashmir to a standstill and using the demand for restoration of statehood to mask its governance failures. He also demanded a white paper on the utilisation of government funds, alleging that nearly 7,000 crore lapsed last year due to the administration's inability to execute projects. Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Bukhari said more than half of Kashmir's limited working season had already passed without significant progress on development works. In Kashmir, the working season lasts only from April till the end of September. More than 50 per cent of this period has already lapsed, yet hardly any developmental work is taking place. Roads are in a terrible condition, projects have come to a standstill, and contractors are on strike. The government has not even initiated talks with them, he said. Bukhari alleged that the slowdown in development appeared to be a well-planned conspiracy against Kashmir and claimed that local contractors were being systematically discriminated against. He alleged that essential construction materials such as boulders, crushed stone and sand had been leased to outside contractors, who were selling them to local contractors at inflated prices. On one hand, local contractors are denied legal access to raw material, while on the other hand contractors executing Central Government projects are being allowed to extract soil and construction material from rivers, streams and mountains with extraordinary concessions. They are allotted multiple extraction sites and pay only nominal royalty, whereas local contractors are burdened with restrictions, he alleged. According to Bukhari, local contractors are allowed to procure raw material only from two designated locations, resulting in transportation costs that are nearly 50 per cent higher than those incurred by outside contractors. He further alleged that the administration was imposing conditions for clearing contractors' bills while simultaneously denying them access to legal sources of construction material. Every day, a new order is issued saying bills will only be cleared after royalty receipts are produced. But how can local contractors produce royalty receipts when the government itself is not providing them legal sources for raw material? The facilities available to outside contractors are not extended to local contractors, he said. Referring to the rise in bitumen prices following the Iran-US conflict earlier this year, Bukhari said the cost had increased from around 50,000 to over 1 lakh, making road construction significantly more expensive. When the government is asked why developmental works are not progressing, it blames contractors for not participating in tenders. But how can contractors come forward when they have not been paid for works executed over the years? Contractors have been financially crippled, he said. Bukhari alleged that payments for several works executed since 2016 were still pending and said the government's failure to clear dues had discouraged contractors from taking up fresh projects. He also accused the government of compromising construction quality by removing the earlier requirement that contractors undertaking road construction must own plants and machinery. There was a time when only contractors possessing proper plants and machinery were eligible for road works. That clause was removed merely to accommodate favoured people. We fully support quality construction, but quality can only be ensured when contractors have the necessary infrastructure. If a contractor does not even own a plant, how can quality be maintained? he asked. Launching a direct attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Bukhari said the government should stop attributing every administrative failure to the delay in restoration of statehood. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, don't hide your failures under the garb of statehood. Statehood has nothing to do with stopping development in Kashmir. You are the Chief Minister and it is your responsibility to deliver. Whatever powers are presently available with your government should be utilised instead of allowing development to come to a halt, he said. Bukhari further alleged that the government was deliberately allowing funds to lapse so that it could later claim it lacked sufficient powers to execute projects. It appears that funds are being allowed to lapse deliberately so that later the government can claim it wanted to undertake development but had no powers. If you already have administrative authority, why are you not using it? he asked. He said tourism alone could not address the economic needs of the people unless basic infrastructure was strengthened. Tourism is important and we fully recognise its importance, but tourism alone will not fill our stomachs. Tourists will come only when infrastructure improves. Our patients can receive proper healthcare only when hospitals are adequately developed. Roads, hospitals and civic infrastructure are equally important, Bukhari said. Questioning the government's repeated announcements regarding financial assistance from the Centre, Bukhari demanded complete transparency over the utilisation of funds. Every few months the government thanks the Prime Minister for sanctioning 5,000 crore or 8,000 crore. A white paper should now be issued detailing how much money has been received since this government assumed office, how much has been spent and how much has lapsed. According to the information available to me, nearly 7,000 crore lapsed last year. The government must answer for this, he said. Bukhari said the public discourse had become excessively focused on statehood while issues of governance and development were being ignored. Everyone is talking only about statehood. But if development itself has stopped, how can we talk about progress? Wherever there are vested interests, permissions are granted overnight and work is completed immediately. But projects that benefit ordinary people continue to remain neglected, he alleged. Claiming that poor roads and civic infrastructure were visible across Srinagar as well as Baramulla, Sopore, Anantnag, Shopian and several other parts of the Valley, Bukhari urged the government to immediately resume stalled projects and make development its highest priority. People witness every day the condition of roads and traffic management. Developmental works are neither properly planned nor executed. My appeal to the government is to treat development as the highest priority and immediately resume stalled projects, he said.

'Only tourism won't fill our stomach': Altaf Bukhari targets Government

Srinagar, jul 10: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari on Friday accused the Jammu and Kashmir government of prioritising tourism at the expense of basic infrastructure, alleging that development across the Kashmir Valley had virtually come to a standstill. Only tourism will not fill our stomach. It is important, but it is not the only important thing, Bukhari said at a press conference, stressing that roads, hospitals and other public infrastructure required equal attention. Claiming that more than half of Kashmir's six-month construction season had already passed without significant work, Bukhari alleged there was a well-thought-out conspiracy to stall development in the Valley. He said roads were in poor condition and criticised the government for failing to engage with striking contractors. He also alleged that construction raw materials had been leased to outside firms, forcing local contractors to buy them at inflated prices while enjoying fewer concessions. Bukhari said soaring bitumen prices and pending payments for works executed since 2016 had crippled local contractors, making it difficult for them to participate in fresh tenders. He further alleged that the government had diluted quality standards by removing mandatory requirements for contractors to own construction plants and machinery. Urging the administration not to blame every governance failure on the delay in restoration of statehood, Bukhari said the government should fully utilise the powers it already possesses. Addressing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, he said, You are the Chief Minister. It is your responsibility to deliver. Bukhari also demanded a White Paper on the utilisation of development funds, claiming that 7,000 crore had lapsed last year. He alleged that projects moved quickly only in select areas while roads and public infrastructure in Srinagar, Baramulla, Sopore, Anantnag and Shopian remained neglected. He urged the government to immediately resume development works, saying deteriorating roads, worsening traffic congestion and stalled infrastructure projects reflected a lack of planning and execution.

Altaf Bukhari demands white paper, claims 7,000 crore development funds lapsed

Indonesian plantation worker rides cargo drone home, video goes viral

An Indonesian plantation worker has become an internet sensation after a video showed him flying home on a heavy-lift agricultural drone, turning a routine commute into a viral spectacle. The video, posted by TikTok user Mbahkurahon, features plantation worker Daeman perched on a large cargo drone as it lifts him above a banana and melon plantation in Jombang Regency, East Java. The drone, typically used to carry up to 100 kilograms of fertilizer or spray crops, transports him over fields that would otherwise require a walk of more than a mile. According to the plantation's director, the drone ride was filmed just for content, but it also highlighted a practical challenge faced by workers in the sprawling plantation, where poor road access makes commuting difficult. Plantation workers in Indonesia are using a farming drone to transport themselves from the field to their vehicles about a mile away. The flights are reportedly taking place in Jombang Regency, East Java. According to CNN, the drone costs about $20,000. Looks fun. pic.twitter.com/KGkzKFel97 Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 8, 2026 The footage quickly amassed millions of views across social media, with users expressing a mix of amazement, amusement and envy. Many joked that drone rides could replace carpools, while others remarked that such a stunt would be impossible under stricter aviation regulations in many countries. The incident has also sparked debate over safety. Heavy-lift agricultural drones, including models manufactured by DJI and other companies, are designed exclusively for carrying cargo or spraying crops and are not equipped with passenger safety features such as harnesses, emergency systems or certified seating. Aviation experts caution that using such drones to transport people poses significant risks. Agricultural drones have become increasingly common across Asia, where they are used to spray pesticides, distribute fertilizer and carry supplies across difficult terrain. However, using them to transport people remains highly unconventional and is generally outside their intended purpose. While the viral video was meant as a light-hearted social media stunt, it has also drawn attention to the logistical challenges faced by agricultural workers in remote plantations and to the growing capabilities of heavy-lift drones that are reshaping modern farming.

Govt assures E20 fuel safe for older vehicles, dismisses engine damage fears

New Delhi, Jul 10: Amid growing concerns over the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Friday sought to allay fears over its impact on older vehicles, asserting that the fuel is safe, scientifically validated and does not damage engines or significantly reduce vehicle life. In a detailed set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), the ministry said reports circulating on social media about E20 causing engine failures, corrosion of rubber components or fuel system damage were misinformation not supported by scientific evidence or real-world experience. The ministry said the transition to 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol followed years of testing and consultations involving automobile manufacturers, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), oil companies and technical institutions. Addressing concerns over vehicles labelled E10 compatible, the ministry said such labels merely reflected the fuel standards prevailing when the vehicles were certified and did not imply that they were unsafe to use with E20 after extensive testing and regulatory approval. It cited field data from Maruti Suzuki, which serviced nearly 2.84 crore vehicles during 2025-26, including around 1.5 crore older vehicles not originally certified for E20, and reported no E20-related corrosion, abnormal wear or component-life damage. Hero MotoCorp has also reported similar findings, it said. The ministry acknowledged that some vehicles may experience a 3-5 per cent reduction in fuel economy but said E20 offers higher octane, smoother engine performance, lower emissions and reduced dependence on imported crude oil, making it a cleaner and more efficient fuel. Responding to demands for the continued sale of pure petrol or E10 alongside E20, the ministry said maintaining multiple grades of petrol across India's nationwide fuel distribution network would be logistically difficult and economically inefficient. It added that substantial investments had already been made in ethanol production infrastructure as part of the country's long-term energy security strategy. The ministry advised consumers not to be misled by rumours or unverified claims, maintaining that E20 has been extensively tested, validated by automobile manufacturers and is fully backed by regulatory authorities.

Three Kashmir Valley DEMU trains to remain cancelled from July 11 to 25 for track maintenance

Banihal, Jul 10: Northern Railway has cancelled three DEMU train services on the BanihalBaramulla section from July 11 to July 25, 2026, to facilitate critical track maintenance work aimed at ensuring the safety and reliability of railway operations in the Kashmir Valley. According to an official train handling plan issued by railway authorities, the cancellations are linked to the high-temperature pre-BCM destressing of Long Welded Rail (LWR) before the commencement of BCM (Ballast Cleaning Machine) deep screening works in the BanihalBaramulla section under the jurisdiction of the Assistant Divisional Engineer (ADEN), Budgam. The trains to remain cancelled during the block period are:Train No. 74615: BanihalBaramulla, train No. 74632 BaramullaBudgam and train No. 74628 Budgam Banihal. The railway document states that the maintenance work is being undertaken as part of a planned engineering exercise to improve track stability during high temperatures and to prepare the line for deep ballast cleaning. The proposal has been approved by the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Jammu. The cancellation is expected to affect hundreds of daily commuters, including students, office-goers, traders and other passengers who rely on these services for travel across the Kashmir Valley. Railway authorities have advised passengers to plan their journeys accordingly and use alternative train services operating on the route during the maintenance period.

Fact check: Shopian Police arrest two, debunk fake news

Shopian, Jul 10: Shopian Police on Friday termed the information being circulated on social media regarding two persons as false and misleading. The police urged people to rely only on official sources for information. In a post on X, police said both individuals, along with their associate, have been arrested in connection with FIR No. 55/2026 registered at Police Station Heerpora and are in lawful custody. The public is advised not to believe or circulate unverified information. Strict legal action shall be initiated against anyone found spreading false rumours or misinformation, Shopian Police wrote.

DyCM seeks action against officers for breach of security in Kathua public function

Jammu, Jul 10: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Thursday demanded action against the officials responsible for, what he alleged, security breach during the National Conference function addressed by him, in Hiranagar of Kathua district. This is purely a security lapse by the Police. Earlier also, there was a security lapse at Greater Kailash. Im the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on a tour-programme. This breach (protest) happened with the knowledge of the concerned DySP and SHO. They (protesters) were deliberately sent here to disrupt my programme, Choudhary said, speaking to the media after his scheduled programme in Hiranagar. Reference was to a protest by an advocate, who briefly disrupted DyCMs party (NC) function to register protest against, what he alleged, the non-fulfillment of promise by the Chief Minister to announce National Law University (NLU) in Jammu as well. The public function (rally), addressed by Choudhary along with NC provincial president Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta, was organised in connection with the partys ongoing campaign to mobilise support for its movement for early restoration of statehood to J&K. NC has already announced to hold a protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20- the opening day of the Monsoon session of Parliament. The Deputy Chief Minister asserted that if the group of protesters had a genuine demand, they could take it up with the Chief Minister. I believe that Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) does not want the J&K government or its ministers to move anywhere. Ill request the DGP and LG Sahib to initiate action against the SHO Hiranagar and the DySP concerned, Choudhary said. Describing the incident as a big security lapse due to dereliction of duty by the concerned Police officials, the Deputy Chief Minister alleged, You (Police) cannot allow a security breach in case of a protectee. This particular youth tried to jump on the stage with the intention to attack. Ill ask the DC Sahib to take notice of this incident and a letter should be dispatched to the DGP from the DC office also as it is related to Police failure, Choudhary said. The protester, who was whisked away by the Police from the rally venue after his brief altercation with the Deputy Chief Minister, later protested with a group of youth along the road, outside the venue. After the NC function was over, the Deputy Chief Minister had a brief verbal confrontation with the youth and his associates outside the venue as well. The CM had promised to address the issue in 15 days. Now four months have lapsed and the promise has not been met. We were not here to disrupt DyCMs function, we came here only to remind him of the CMs promise to Jammu youth, the protesting youth told the media. The Deputy Chief Minister, however, accused the Police of facilitating the protest. With regard to the public function, Choudhary, while responding to queries of media persons, said that it was aimed at requesting the Prime Minister and the Union Minister to restore statehood at the earliest. This is an effort to remind them of their promise. We are mobilising support of all sections of society in J&K for the NC protest at Jantar Mantar to rake up this demand forcefully. We want all political parties, including J&K BJP which too had promised statehood as an electoral promise, to join us. This is not just the responsibility of NC only. We have taken initiative and have invited all Bar, transporters, civil society, Chamber etc., to join us. Lets see who joins us there to prove their commitment to J&K people, he said. In response to a question about the Leader of Opposition in J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharmas repeated prophecies about the imminent fall of NC government, Choudhary dared, Let him (Sunil) or his party buy those MLAs, who are saleable and form the government, if they can. NCs red flag delineates a history of sacrifices. One cannot bully us with such hollow threats. NC has formed the government by winning peoples trust while BJP can come to power only through deceitful means. Let them do it if they have the courage. Were not afraid.

Narcotics worth Rs 2.32 Cr destroyed in Kathua

Jammu, Jul 09: District Police Kathua on Thursday destroyed a consignment of approximately 174.981 kg narcotic drugs and 1,945 capsules, tablets (narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances) valuing over Rs 2.32 Cr, through incineration at the approved facility in Samba district. The destroyed narcotics, with an estimated value of Rs 2,32,86,490, includes 2.05 kg of heroin; 1,036 capsules; 909 tablets; 7.68 kg of Ganja; 162.649 kg of poppy straw; 2.126 kg of charas and 482 grams of opium, the Police said. The destruction was carried out by a police team led by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Mohita Sharma, with the approval of the competent authority, in the presence of the committee members, following the prescribed legal procedure for incineration. The seized narcotics pertained to 43 different NDPS cases registered by J&K Police in Kathua and had been stored in various police malkhanas. The destruction was carried out through incineration at the approved facility of M/s Anmol Healthcare, Rara under the jurisdiction of Police Station Ramgarh in district Samba, after fulfilling all legal formalities as prescribed under law, Police said. Speaking on the occasion, SSP Kathua reiterated the commitment of J&K Police Kathua towards its anti-drug campaign and stated that the district police would continue to take stringent action against drug traffickers and ensure the timely disposal of seized narcotics in accordance with the law.

Over 8,700 pilgrims leave Jammu in ninth batch of Amarnath Yatra; 33 foreign male pilgrims among them

Banihal, Jul 10: A total of 8,796 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in the ninth batch of the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 during the early hours of Friday under tight security arrangements. According to officials, the convoy was divided between the two routes leading to the holy cave shrine. While 3,450 pilgrims departed for the Baltal axis, 5,346 pilgrims were bound for the Pahalgam axis. The Baltal-bound convoy left Jammu at 2:42 a.m., while the Pahalgam-bound convoy departed at 3:24 a.m. The batch comprised 6,426 male pilgrims, 2,042 female pilgrims, 228 sadhus, 56 sadhvis, 10 children, 33 foreign male pilgrims, and one transgender pilgrim. A total of 354 vehicles were deployed for the convoy, including 175 buses, 70 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 106 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and three two-wheelers. Of these, 173 vehicles were assigned to the Baltal route and 181 vehicles to the Pahalgam route. With the departure of the ninth batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left the Jammu base camp for the annual pilgrimage has reached 61,612. The yatra convoys have reached Ramban district, where pilgrims are halting separately for breakfast at Chanderkote Yatri Niwas in Ramban and the Lamber Yatri Ground in Banihal, before proceeding towards the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam). It may be mentioned that the entire district administration, led by Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Arun Gupta and SSP Traffic National Highway Raja Adil Hameed, along with the sub-divisional administration headed by SDM Banihal Mohammad Naseeb, remains actively engaged in receiving and facilitating the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra convoys as they enter Ramban district, ensuring smooth movement and all necessary arrangements for the pilgrims.

France beats Morocco 2-0 in World Cup quarterfinals

Foxborough, Jul 10: Kylian Mbapp spread his arms out wide and spun around after scoring his eighth goal of this year's World Cup. He later gave the jubilant France fans dotted around the stadium a wave when he left the game because of an injury scare. Les Bleus, with a star striker who said he's fine despite a right ankle issue, are headed back to the semifinals for the third straight World Cup tournament. Mbapp had a goal and an assist after missing a first-half penalty kick, Ousmane Dembl also scored, and two-time champion France beat Morocco 2-0 Thursday in the quarterfinals. There's only one way to relax, and that's by winning. Until we've done that, we don't let up, Mbapp said. We're in the semifinals and we're very happy, but there's still a long way to go. Mbapp's goal in the 60th minute was the 20th of his World Cup career and came in his 20th match at the tournament, moving him one behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi. Dembl scored his fifth goal of the tournament in the 66th. Mbapp went down to the ground in the 76th minute, about 13 minutes after being hit hard by a Moroccan defender, and was taken off for a substitute a minute later. He was then shown sitting on the bench with an ice pack on his right ankle. After the match and with both shoes on, Mbapp ran and jumped in celebration with his teammates. I took a knock to the ankle, but I'm fine, Mbapp said. At that point, JP (Jean-Philippe Mateta) was in better shape than I was to play the final minutes. France will face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals in Dallas on Tuesday. France beat Morocco by the same score in the semifinals of the 2022 tournament in Qatar when the Atlas Lions became the first African team to make it that far. France now remains on track to become only the third nation to play in the final of three consecutive World Cups. It is a confirmation of how we've played so far, said France coach Didier Deschamps, who added there is a reason for his team's success in recent World Cups. Having great players. Excellent players. My credit goes to the players. But maybe I do my job well, he said. The only truth is the one on the pitch. Mbapp got his goal with a perfectly placed shot just inside the far post after Morocco failed to clear the ball. He received the ball just outside the area, took a couple steps forward and then sent his shot sailing into the net. He extended both arms and ran to the sideline to celebrate with his teammates. France's second goal came after Mbapp took a pass and tapped it back for Dembl. Mbapp kept running forward and took defenders with him, opening space for Dembl's shot. Dembl said he wasn't surprised with how Mbapp stepped up after his penalty miss in the first half. He's our captain and he has an incredible mentality, Dembl said. We're expecting even more goals from him. France held a 21-4 advantage in shots on goal and 8-1 edge in shots on target for the game. We are very disappointed. We wanted to go on, Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said. When we had ball possession, our transitions were not great and we had to run a little more. Their players were in their comfort zone. Mbapp also had the first shot on goal of the game, just missing wide right in the fourth minute. Then, in the 25th, he was running up the left side when he was chopped down in the box by Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui. Referee Facundo Tello quickly pointed to the penalty spot. Mbapp lined up waiting for his attempt but was held up by a lengthy video review. He was finally cleared to shoot in the 28th minute, but after a hesitation, Mbapp's shot toward the right corner was corralled by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who guessed the direction of the shot correctly. Deschamps said the long review also included a review for another foul. Mbapp made his only other penalty attempt at this year's World Cup in France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16. Still, France was by far the more active team offensively in the first half, holding a 13-1 advantage in shots on goal. Morocco's best opportunity came just before the halftime whistle when Achraf Hakimi sent a free kick from just outside the box past the right post. France now has a chance to emulate Brazil and West Germany in reaching three straight World Cup finals. We realise that what lies ahead is even tougher than what we've been through, Mbapp said, ut we're ready to face anything.

Ayatollah Khamenei laid to rest as seven-day funeral attracts over 15 million people

Iran has concluded a seven-day state funeral for its late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with authorities claiming that more than 15 million mourners participated in ceremonies held across Iran and Iraq. Khamenei, who led Iran for nearly 37 years, was laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad, bringing to an end one of the largest funeral processions in the country's modern history. The funeral began last Saturday and passed through several major cities, including Tehran, Qom, Najaf and Karbala, before concluding in Mashhad. The funeral procession began at around 3:00 pm on Imam Reza Street and concluded late in the evening at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS), where funeral prayers were led by Khamenei's eldest son, Hojjatoleslam Seyyed Mostafa Hosseini Khamenei. The procession also honoured members of Khamenei's family who were killed alongside him, reports IRNA news agency. Huge crowds lined the procession route, surrounding the vehicle carrying the remains of the late leader and his family members. Mourners waved Iranian national flags and red flags symbolizing vengeance, while chants of Death to America and Death to Israel echoed through the streets. The week-long ceremonies saw millions of mourners gather along procession routes, at mosques and major Shiite shrines. Iranian state media described the turnout as a demonstration of national unity and regional solidarity, while the funeral also drew large crowds in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. Authorities imposed extensive security measures throughout the funeral period, including road closures, flight restrictions and heightened deployment of security personnel to manage the massive crowds. Khamenei became only the second ruler in Iran's history to be buried in Mashhad, following Nader Shah, who was laid to rest there in 1747. The funeral unfolded amid continued regional tensions following the conflict that claimed Khamenei's life. Despite the ongoing geopolitical developments, the week-long mourning ceremonies remained the central focus across Iran, with millions paying their final respects to the country's longest-serving Supreme Leader. Iranian officials described the funeral as one of the largest public gatherings in the country's history, with participation spanning seven days and two countries. However, the funeral concluded under the shadow of renewed military escalation in the Middle East. The United States launched fresh airstrikes across Iran early Thursday, targeting about 90 sites that Washington said were linked to Tehran's military capabilities and threats to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said the operation was intended to further weaken Iran's ability to disrupt international shipping. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones towards several US-allied countries in the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan. Air defence systems intercepted most of the incoming projectiles, although Kuwait reported one person injured by falling debris. Iran's Health Ministry said the latest wave of US strikes killed at least 14 people and injured 78 others, most of them members of the armed forces. Iranian officials also accused the United States of carrying out strikes near the country's only nuclear power plant at Bushehr, although US Central Command did not confirm targeting the facility. The renewed exchange of attacks has raised fears that the fragile ceasefire announced last month could collapse completely. US President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and warned of a stronger military response if such incidents continued. This is in retribution for yesterday's bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse, Trump said on social media. Iran rejected the accusations and maintained that it would respond to any military action targeting the country. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said, If you strike, you'll get hit, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held consultations with regional leaders, including counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Oman, in an apparent effort to reduce tensions. Despite the renewed violence, diplomatic efforts to negotiate a permanent ceasefire are expected to resume following the completion of Khamenei's funeral. The talks are expected to focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing regional tensions and addressing Iran's nuclear programme.

NC betrayed people's mandate: Sat Sharma

J&K Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma on Thursday accused the National Conference (NC) of betraying peoples mandate and asserted that the BJP would robustly fight for citizens rights by exposing its (NCs) failure. He was chairing a meeting of senior party leaders at the party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, to review the organisational and prevailing socio-political situation in Jammu and Kashmir and finalise the party's strategy to intensify public outreach and safeguard the interests of the people. The meeting was attended by J&K BJP general secretaries Sanjita Dogra, Baldev Singh Billawaria and Gopal Mahajan; MLA Sham Lal Sharma, along with other senior party leaders. Sat Sharma alleged that the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government utterly failed to fulfill the promises it made in its 2024 election manifesto. He said the NC secured votes by making unrealistic assurances, but after assuming office it abandoned the very people who trusted it. The government has failed on every major front, including unemployment, inflation, erratic power and water supply, poor civic amenities, delayed development works, deteriorating road infrastructure, and effective grievance redressal. Instead of providing accountable governance, the NC leadership is busy misleading the people through political rhetoric and diversionary tactics, he maintained. He said that the people voted with hope, but the NC government repaid their trust with betrayal. The gulf between its promises and performance continues to widen. Rather than solving public problems, the government is trying to distract people from its failures, Sat Sharma said.

PDP holds review meetings for Shopian, Pulwama

J&K People's Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday held important organisational meetings for its Shopian and Pulwama units at the party headquarters in Srinagar, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the organisation and expanding its grassroots presence across South Kashmir. The meetings were chaired by PDP General Secretary (Organisation) Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura and attended by senior party leaders and district functionaries, said a press release. Deliberations centred on reinforcing the party's organisational structure, widening grassroots outreach and enhancing public engagement across the district. Leaders reviewed the party's organisational framework and discussed measures to improve coordination, strengthen grassroots networks and intensify public outreach across Pulwama. The PDP leadership emphasised the importance of a strong organisational structure and sustained engagement with the public, reiterating the party's resolve to consolidate its presence at the grassroots level throughout South Kashmir.

Ashok Koul calls for booth-level expansion of BJP in Karnah

J&K BJP General Secretary (Organization) Ashok Koul chaired an organisational meeting with the office bearers of Karnah Constituency at Dak Bungalow, Tangdhar, to review the party's organizational activities and discuss the roadmap for strengthening the BJP at the grassroots level in the border constituency. Koul, while addressing the meeting, emphasised that a strong organization is the greatest strength of the BJP and asked the party workers to further expand the party's reach by actively engaging with the people at every booth. He stressed that every office bearer must remain in regular contact with booth committees and ensure that the organizational structure is strengthened down to the grassroots level. As per a press release, Koul said that booth-level workers are the backbone of the BJP and their dedication determines the party's success. He directed the office bearers to regularly organize party programmes, public outreach activities, and awareness campaigns at the booth level so that the policies and welfare initiatives of the Narendra Modi-led government reach every household. He also called for enrolling more dedicated workers, and identifying emerging local leadership to make the party stronger and more effective in Karnah, which will help to strengthen the partys base in Kashmir.

HinduMuslimSikh unity defines J&Ks true strength, identity: Dr Farooq

National Conference Minority Cell (Kashmir Province) held a special meeting at the party headquarters, Nawa-e-Subha Complex, under the chairmanship of Party President Dr Farooq Abdullah. Dr Farooq said that NC was founded on the enduring principles of equality, justice, secularism, and communal harmony. He said the party's Constitution and the historic Naya Kashmir manifesto place the protection of minority rights, equal opportunities, adequate representation, and the preservation of the religious, social, educational, and cultural identity of all communities at the centre of its vision, said a party press release. Recalling the leadership of Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Dr Farooq said that the people of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh were brought into the mainstream of governance and development without discrimination. He added that the National Conference has faithfully carried forward this legacy and has never indulged in politics based on religion, caste, or community. Dr Farooq emphasised that Sher-e-Kashmir historic slogan of Hindu, Muslim, Sikh Unity remains the ideological cornerstone of the National Conference and continues to embody the true strength, character, and identity of Jammu and Kashmir. A separate press release issued here said that a meeting of representatives of the Sikh community from across Jammu and Kashmir was held at the Nawa-i-Subh. The meeting was presided over by Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah. The representatives highlighted the issues and hardships faced by the Sikh community over the past decades. They reiterated their long-pending demand for granting minority status to the Sikh community in Jammu and Kashmir, sought the protection and preservation of the community's historical and religious sites and urged intervention to safeguard historic Gurdwara lands from commercial exploitation.

Agriculture minister Chouhan meets Taliban agriculture minister, discuss agricultural cooperation

In another sign of the expanding engagement between India and Afghanistans Taliban administration, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held wide-ranging talks with Afghanistans Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock Minister Mawlawi Ataullah Omari to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, irrigation, livestock, research, education, capacity building and agri-trade. The meeting, attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), reviewed the existing agricultural partnership and explored new avenues of collaboration. Welcoming the Afghan delegation, Minister Shivraj Chouhan said India and Afghanistan shared centuries-old civilizational ties founded on trust, friendship and strong people-to-people relations. Reaffirming New Delhis commitment to strengthening agricultural cooperation, he said India was ready to share its scientific expertise, technological innovations and institutional experience to support Afghanistans food security, agricultural productivity and farmers prosperity. Food security and seed development emerged as key areas of discussion, with the Afghan side seeking Indias assistance in improving wheat productivity through advanced seed technologies and research collaboration. Chouhan assured Indias support through the supply of quality wheat, maize and potato seeds, climate-resilient and biofortified crop varieties, as well as technical expertise from ICAR institutions. The two sides also discussed water management and climate-resilient agriculture, with the Afghan delegation highlighting challenges posed by water scarcity and climate change. Chouhan shared Indias experience in micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting, watershed development and efficient water-use technologies, and expressed willingness to support Afghanistan in developing sustainable irrigation systems. The ministers also explored cooperation in agricultural research, education and capacity building. India proposed enhanced collaboration between ICAR and Afghan agricultural institutions through joint research, faculty and student exchanges, laboratory support and training programmes for scientists, veterinarians and extension personnel. Discussions also covered horticulture, dairy, livestock, poultry, fisheries, animal health, post-harvest management, digital agriculture and soil health. Omari thanked India for its continued support to Afghanistans agriculture sector and sought deeper cooperation in improving wheat productivity, irrigation, livestock development, agricultural research, education, technology transfer and agri-business. Both sides also discussed expanding bilateral agricultural trade, strengthening agricultural value chains and promoting business-to-business engagement. The two countries agreed to work towards establishing a Joint Working Group to prepare a long-term roadmap for cooperation in agriculture and livestock and to facilitate regular institutional engagement. The meeting comes amid steadily growing engagement between New Delhi and the Taliban administration. New Delhi over the past two years, has maintained regular diplomatic contacts with Kabul while continuing humanitarian assistance and development cooperation. The visit also follows a series of high-level engagements between the two sides. Earlier this year, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with Afghanistans acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, reaffirming Indias support for the Afghan people and discussing ways to expand bilateral cooperation. Taliban delegations have also travelled to New Delhi in recent years for discussions with Indian officials on political, trade, humanitarian and development issues, reflecting a gradual normalization of contacts since India reopened its technical mission in Kabul in 2022 and upgraded it to fully operational embassy in October 2025. Thursdays meeting is being seen as another step in deepening practical cooperation between the two countries, particularly in sectors such as agriculture and food security, where India has traditionally played an important developmental role in Afghanistan.

CM Yogi targets SP, Congress over Ram Mandir; launches Rs 710-crore projects in Banda

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress of opposing the development of religious sites, saying those who love graveyards are the ones opposing the Ram Mandir. Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of 229 development projects worth over Rs 710 crore in Banda and Baberu Assembly constituencies, Adityanath alleged that previous SP governments spent public money on constructing graveyard boundary walls instead of developing temples and pilgrimage centres. The Chief Minister highlighted the transformation of Bundelkhand over the past nine years, citing improved connectivity, irrigation, law and order and employment opportunities. He also criticised the SP MLA from Baberu, alleging that he was interested in harassing the poor rather than promoting development, while appealing to people to reject negative and anti-development politics.

PM Narendra Modi addresses Indian diaspora in Melbourne

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed a large gathering of the Indian community at Melbournes Marvel Stadium, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joining the event in a special gesture reflecting the close ties between the two countries. PM Modi thanked the diaspora for the warm welcome and praised its contribution to strengthening India-Australia relations, describing the community as a living bridge between the two nations. He highlighted the growing partnership in education, noting the large number of Indian students in Australia and the increasing presence of Australian universities in India. The Prime Minister also spoke about Indias rapid economic growth, digital transformation, infrastructure development and advances in sectors such as semiconductors, electronics and defence manufacturing. He urged the diaspora to contribute ideas and expertise towards the goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Australia is home to nearly one million people of Indian origin.