Health & Fitness

PM Modi, Putin push ties towards USD 100-billion trade

New Delhi, Sep 11:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held wide-ranging talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on enhancing annual bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030 and ramping up existing cooperation in areas such as defence, energy, critical minerals, and fertiliser supplies. The meeting took place hours after Putin landed in New Delhi on a three-day visit to participate in the high-stakes BRICS summit. Following the talks, the two leaders travelled in the same car inside the Bharat Mandapam complex to reach the venue of a business forum. It is understood that during the talks, Putin briefed Modi on the overall situation regarding the Ukraine war and ongoing peace initiatives, while Modi reiterated India's position on resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. Modi and Putin previously met last week on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek, where the prime minister called for an immediate end to the conflict and urged the Russian leader to shift from an endless war towards the end of war. The two leaders also deliberated on ongoing cooperation in trade and investment, energy, and fertiliser security, among other areas. Ways to boost trade and investment ties dominated the talks, with the Indian side pitching for greater market access for Indian exporters in Russia to address the ballooning trade deficit in Moscow's favour, it is learnt. The two sides also deliberated on strategies to reach the ambitious bilateral trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030. The current annual trade volume stands at around USD 65 billion. In addition, the two sides delved into expanding their already strong defence cooperation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said both sides are exploring BrahMos missile upgrades, adding that Moscow remains committed to fulfilling its remaining S-400 system deliveries and discussing the proposed supply of Su-57 fighter jets. In the energy sector, the two sides reviewed the overall scenario and agreed to further ramp up cooperation in civil nuclear energy. Expanding industrial cooperation, collaboration in the rail and tunnelling sectors, developing the steel value chain, and broadening access to the Russian market for Indian exporters also figured in the talks, it is learnt. Increasing the mobility of skilled Indian labourers to Russia and cooperation in critical minerals were also understood to have been discussed.

Rules every businesses must know

In Goods & Services Tax (GST) regime, Input Tax Credit stands as one of the most significant reforms aimed at eliminating the cascading effect of taxes. Introduced in July 2017, Input Tax Credit (ITC) is one of the foundational pillars of Indias Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. It enables registered businesses to offset the GST paid on their purchases (inputs, input services, and capital goods) against the GST liability on their outward supplies (sales). This mechanism ensures that tax is levied only on the value added at each stage of the supply chain, eliminating the cascading effect of taxes (tax on taxes) that existed under the earlier indirect tax system VAT & Service Tax. In simple terms, when a registered taxpayer pays GST on inward supplies used for business purposes, that tax amount can be claimed as credit in the electronic credit ledger. The net GST payable becomes Output Tax minus eligible ITC. This seamless flow of credit across the supply chain is central to GSTs design as a multi-stage, destination based value-added tax on each stage of the supply chain, with input tax credit (ITC) available to offset prior-stage taxes, ensuring only the final consumer bears the burden & cascading is avoided. Section 16(1) of the CGST Act, 2017 provides that every registered person is entitled to take credit of input tax charged on any supply of goods or services (or both) used or intended to be used in the course or furtherance of business. The credit is credited to the electronic credit ledger. Composition scheme dealers under Section 10 are not eligible for ITC. The supply must have a clear business nexus, personal or non-business use does not qualify for ITC claim. Mandatory Conditions under Section 16(2): Section 16(2) lays down cumulative conditions. All of them must be satisfied & failure on even one disallows the credit for that invoice. Businesses must know that there are six conditions for claiming the Input Tax Credit (ITC) and no registered person shall be entitled to the credit of any input tax in respect of any supply of goods or services or both to him/her unless:- (a) He is in possession of a tax invoice or a debit note issued by a supplier registered under GST Act 2017 or such other tax paying documents (Rule 36 to Rule 45); (b) The details of the invoice or debit note has been furnished by the registered supplier in the statement of outward supplies and such details have been communicated to the recipient of such invoice or debit note; (c) He has physically received the goods or services or both; (d) The details of input tax credit (ITC) in respect of the said supply communicated to such registered person under section 38 has not been restricted; (e) Subject to the provisions of section 41 , the tax charged in respect of such supply has been actually paid to the Government, either in cash or through utilization of input tax credit admissible in respect of the said supply; and (f) He has furnished the valid return under section 39. Possession of a valid tax document [Section 16(2)(a)], the recipient must hold a tax invoice, debit note, or other prescribed document (such as a bill of entry for imports or a self-invoice under reverse charge) issued by a registered supplier. The document must contain the prescribed particulars under the invoice rules, including GSTIN of supplier and recipient, description, value, tax amount, and place of supply where relevant invoice details furnished and communicated to recipient [Section 16(2)(aa)],effective from 1,January 2022, the supplier must have reported the invoice or debit note in their GSTR-1 (or IFF), and the details must appear in the recipients GSTR-2B. This matching requirement is critical & ITC is generally restricted to the amount reflected in GSTR-2B. Receipt of goods or services [Section 16(2)(b)], the Goods or services must have been received. For goods delivered in lots or installments, credit is available only upon receipt of the last lot. Bill-to-ship-to model transactions are covered through a deeming provision, delivery to a third party on the direction of the registered person is treated as receipt of the supply by that registered person for purpose of claiming ITC. As per section 16(2)(ba), the details of input tax credit (ITC) in respect of the said supply communicated to such registered person under section 38 has not been restricted. The tax charged in respect of such supply must has been actually paid to the Government by the supplier, either in cash or through utilization of admissible ITC [Section 16(2)(c)] in respect of the said supply. Recent judicial pronouncements have upheld the strict application of this condition. Even honest buyers can face denial of credit, if the supplier defaults, though mechanisms exist to re-avail credit once the supplier pays. The supplier must have filed the valid return under section 39 to facilitate the recipient for seamless flow of ITC. [Section 16(2)(d). Additional provisions also apply, if the recipient fails to pay the supplier the value of supply plus tax within 180 days from the invoice date (except reverse charge supplies), the claimed ITC must be reversed with interest. Credit can be reclaimed upon subsequent payment. There is also a time limit under Section 16(4), ITC cannot be claimed after the 30th day of November following the end of the financial year to which the invoice pertains, or the date of filing the relevant annual return, whichever is earlier. Restrictions and Blocked Credits: Even when the above conditions are met, section 17 imposes restrictions. ITC is not available (or is restricted) on certain goods and services listed in Section 17(5), such as motor vehicles (with exceptions for specific uses), food and beverages in many cases, membership of clubs, works contract services for construction of immovable property (except plant and machinery), goods or services used for personal consumption, and goods lost, stolen, destroyed, or given as gifts/free samples. When inputs or capital goods are used partly for taxable supplies and partly for exempt or non-business purposes, then the proportionate reversal is required under Rules 42 and 43. Practical Compliance: Businesses must regularly reconcile purchase registers with GSTR-2B/2A before claiming ITC in GSTR-3B. Supplier compliance has become a shared responsibility. Maintaining proper documentation, tracking the 180-day payment window, and ensuring timely returns are essential. Newer systems such as the Invoice Management System (IMS) further tighten the linkage between supplier reporting and recipient credit. In summary, ITC under GST is a powerful tool that reduces the cost of doing business and promotes seamless credit flow of ITC. However, it is strictly conditional & registered taxpayers must satisfy every requirement of Section 16 and remain vigilant about blocked credits and reversals. Understanding and complying with these conditions is indispensable for accurate GST compliance and optimizing tax costs. The key compliance rules are non-negotiable & businesses must meet these conditions or lose the credit. Author, designated as All India Master Trainer in GST, works as State Taxes officer in Srinagar.

Big Budgets, Zero Responsibility?

We spend huge money on our weddings, but when it comes to waste, that is thrown in rivers, streams or on roadside by people in Kashmir? Last week my friend from Harwan Srinagar sent me a video of a huge trash thrown on the Srinagar-Harwan road. This was waste from a wedding feast, probably from a nearby area. The organisers of the event didnt even bother to hand over this trash to the sanitation staff of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), who collect waste from the area in small vehicles every morning. I immediately uploaded the video on social media and requested the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) and local police to identify the culprits so they could be booked under the law. But even after almost eight days or more no action has been taken? This is not the case of Harwan area alone but I have been witnessing this wedding waste dumping around public places for the last many years. In villages the waste is dumped in forest areas, village common land (kahcharai) or waterbodies like streams, canals or small lakes. Jhelum and Dal, dumping site for wedding waste In Srinagar and other towns many families carry the waste to be thrown into Jhelum, Dal Lake, or around roadsides? In fact, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) provides a service to carry this waste but people are adamant about dumping waste unscientifically and unethically. Ironically, people sensitive about this also make the mistake of not segregating the waste after the wedding function is over. The leftover food mostly rice and bones, is mixed with plastic trash which municipal vehicles carry to landfill sites. In Srinagar this waste is carried by municipal trucks and small lorries to the Achan Syedpora landfill site which has become the most ridiculed area of Kashmir now due to official apathy. This site is choked with around 11.50 lakh metric tons of waste as per official figures while as unofficially this is more than 15 lakhs MTs. This author took this case to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) two years ago, which imposed huge penalties on the SMC and now Rs 361 crore have been sanctioned to restore the huge legacy waste through biomining. SMC has sought 2 years from NGT to clear the waste. Sustainable Weddings As our weddings have turned into waste generation events, many environmentally conscious people across the world are opting for eco-friendly and green weddings where very less use of plastic and non biodegradable material is made. In India as well, these types of weddings have many takers and this shift shows love and care of many environmentally conscious people. Managing waste isnt a big challenge in the plains of India where there is enough land to create scientific landfill sites, but in a place like Kashmir valley which is itself a kind of massive wetland surrounded by huge mountains, managing waste is indeed a challenging task. In such a situation people of Kashmir should be more conscious about waste and its safe disposal. We cannot afford to generate huge plastic waste, food waste which will finally get dumped into the Jhelum, Dal Lake , Wullar Lake or inside other small wetlands, streams, canals, and forests. What can we do? Kashmiri weddings are incomplete if we dont use items made of plastic or other non- biodegradable material. In fact, some items have been replaced with wooden, paper, or cardboard products, but we still use dangerous plastic products that are not disposed of properly, allowing them to enter our land, forests or waterbodies. Even the ceremonial dining spread commonly known as Dastarkhan which was essentially made of white cloth in the past, has also been replaced with plastic material. We can again use white cloth as the Dastarkhan. The yogurt that used to be served in clay vessels 15 to 20 years back has been replaced by plastic curd bowls. One clay vessel with half litre of curd can replace these plastic curd bowls. This use of plastic glasses and packed water bottles can be replaced by reusable glass, copper or steel glasses. In addition to it two to three filtered water cans can be made available in the hall / tent to serve the water. The most dangerous among all these items is the thick plastic pouch bag with aluminium coating used to pack the leftover mutton dishes. This item takes at least 1000 years to degrade. This item is the most harmful used in our weddings; placing hot wazwan dishes in this bag makes it more dangerous. It can be replaced with a thick butter paper bag. This paper bag / pouch can be carried in a thin cardboard type carry bag which is already available in the basket served during the wazwan feast. Only thing is that we have to handle the butter paper with care and allow the dishes to cool down on a plate (trami). Only cotton towels should be served during the weddings and let us avoid using wet tissues, etc., because their packaging is a highly non-biodegradable item and one has to struggle a lot to open it as well. No wet tissues, manage leftover rice To clean hands let wet soap and hot water be used. The wet tissues has a hard plastic cover which is a dangerous waste. The leftover rice should either be carried by people or the host must make sure the tramis with leftover rice are cleared in a separate tub, which would then be disposed of inside a deep pit somewhere. That is why we need a proper planning for waste management a month before the wedding function. The plastic waste like bottles can be collected and given to ragpickers. Rest of the dry waste can go to material collection centre -MRC in a dry form where it can be shredded to be used to make lots of things. Even the non-recyclable plastic is shredded and converted into useful products like flower vases, roof sheets and much more. This is only possible when we segregate the waste and send it for processing Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is Chairman J&K Climate Action Group.

Posts from a President

President Donald Trumps posts on social media and comments to the mainstream media are, to put it mildly, often difficult to interpret. If that were to be stated straightforwardly they can be bizarre, completely contrary to what is expected of the holder of the worlds most powerful office. But even by his own standards he excelled himself when on September 7, in a post on Truth Social, he placed the US flag over a large part of the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Greenland and Iceland. In the Caribbean the post covered British, French and Dutch territories too. Reactions to the post varied. The government of Iceland was enraged. It summoned the US ambassador to protest against what it considered as an affront to its sovereignty. Its Prime Minister Kristrum Frostadottir said There is nothing funny or normal about making fun, especially today, when sovereignty cannot be taken for granted. Clearly, being in Europe but not part of the European Unionindeed, recently the people of Iceland decided against joining the EUFrostadottirs reference was to the Ukraine war. The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that the people of Greenland had repeatedly made it clear that they do not want to be part of the US. Greenland is an autonomous part of Denmark. Its autonomy is increasing but the Danish connection is there; hence, Frederiksen had the right to comment on Trumps post. Mexicos President, Claudia Shaunbaum, was also not amused by Trumps post. She forthrightly said Mexico will never be a protectorate or a colony. The Mexicans are sometimes treated disrespectfully by the American administrations but in contemporary times never has any US president spoken so derisively about them. The Canadians do not seem to have reacted. This post has been part of a series of provocations which began with Trump asserting that Canada would be better off if it became a constituent state of the US. The two countries are in the midst of great tensions on trade. Both are taking action through imposing increasing tariffs against the other. Also, Trump has renamed Lake Ontario as Lake America. Canadian Prime Minister, Mike Carney, is dealing with Trumps statements and actions through increasing the countrys contacts with other states to reduce its dependence on the US. He has also maintained dignity in his responses to Trump. The Caribbean states and the Dutch, British and the French seem to be brushing off Trumps comment. Perhaps that is not a bad way of dealing with it because it is puerile but is unlikely that the people of various states which are sensitive on issues of sovereignty consider it so. This is because sovereignty is always connected with a peoples pride and self-esteem. Trump should understand this but does not. Trumps latest tweet raises the issue of how countries should react to Trumps provocative comments. The respected US daily The New York Times in its report on the matter stated that Icelands Foreign Minister Katrin Gunnarsdottir told reporters ...Trump administration officials had repeatedly offered her advice about their boss: We should perhaps not take the current U.S. president literally, but we should take him seriously, she said she was told. During Trumps first term he tweeted erratically in the early hours of the morning. US officials spent the day attempting to clarify US policies and positions amidst the confusion and even turmoil which the tweets caused. From that to saying that Trumps words and posts should be taken seriously but not literally is making confusion worse. For, if they are not taken literally then how he be taken seriously? The fact is that while leaders may not be dour and drab and like ordinary people laugh and crack jokes on domestic and foreign policy matters they do not have the luxury of creating confusion or wounding the honour of other peoples. Certainly, this has to be avoided, especially by the leaders of great powers, because their words can wreak havoc nationally and internationally in the security, financial and diplomatic sectors, among others. That is why in the pre social media age leaders seldom spoke off the cuff. When they spoke each word was carefully chosen because they represented the distilled decisions of their countries. These decisions were not easily or often changed. In the realm of foreign relations the official positions of states were left to be stated, in the normal course, by official spokespersons of the Foreign Ministries. The top professional diplomats of the Foreign Ministries also briefed the media on important issues. On very major issues the Foreign Ministers spoke and sometimes on issues of vital importance Heads of Governments articulated their views. Now this structure remains but alongside social media is also used by political leaders and Foreign Ministries. Thus, in India the Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministries uses social media platforms but not the professional diplomats. However, the External Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister have social media handles and invariably post comments on their meetings with other world leaders. More often than not these are of an innocuous nature and consist of good words. It seems that political leaders all across the world feel the need to be on social media, if for nothing else, than to be in touch with their followers. Certainly, Modi has millions of them. While all political leaders tread warily on global issues and do not give offence in their choice of words on social media platforms Trump is a case apart. He will not change and the world will have to deal with his ways. Different leaders are seeking to do so in different ways.

J&K Bank, a New Industrial Dawn and Renewed Trust

Jammu and Kashmir is again standing at the threshold of an industrial promise. The New Central Sector Scheme of 2021, with an outlay of Rs 28,400 crore, was presented as the beginning of a new era of investment, employment and manufacturing. Five years later, the J&K Government is preparing a new industrial policy which is expected to address a question the central scheme largely left behind: what happens to thousands of existing enterprises carrying the legacy stress of more than three exceptionally difficult decades? The forthcoming policy reportedly acknowledges this accumulated distress and envisages revival, rehabilitation and capacity-building support capable of reaching more than 20,000 existing industrial units. Alongside it, the J&K Startup Policy 2024-27 aims to nurture 2,000 startups, backed by incubation, seed support and a proposed Rs 250-crore venture fund. Other entrepreneurship and self-employment programmes are also encouraging a new generation to enter business. Together, these initiatives can create a continuum from startup to established enterprise and from stressed unit to renewed production. But fiscal incentives and rehabilitation orders cannot restart factories by themselves. Revived units will require working capital, modernisation finance, enhanced limits and long-term credit; startups will require patient finance suited to their early stage. This creates both an opportunity and a historic responsibility for J&K Bank. No financial institution is better placed to become the banking partner of this renewal. Incorporated in 1938, J&K Banks defining period began after 1989, when turmoil disrupted commerce and many other banks reduced their exposure or became largely inactive in the Valley. J&K Bank continued to serve its customers. People responded by shifting their savings and confidence towards it. The deposit windfall of the 1990s gave the Bank near-monopoly status across much of J&K for almost three decades. It was a compact forged in adversity: the Bank supported the economy, while local households and businesses provided the loyal deposit base upon which it expanded. That historic bond now faces a changed banking market. Public and private banks are approaching established J&K Bank customers with lower rates, loan takeovers, concessions, quicker decisions and customised service. In my Greater Kashmir article of 14 May 2026, I had cautioned that emotional attachment cannot retain customers indefinitely unless supported by competitive terms, respect and responsiveness. Competition cannot be wished away through sentiment; it has to be met through better banking. This is why the proposed revival offers J&K Bank a defining opening. Thousands of enterprises moving towards rehabilitation and capacity-building would have substantial appetite for fresh credit, while startups will become tomorrows established customers. By financing viable units and new ventures, the Bank can expand sound local lending, strengthen employment and renew its relationship with the business community that stood by it for decades. The recent interaction between FCIK and the Banks top management created genuine hope. I joined the delegation led by the FCIK President and comprising Presidents of industrial estates and district associations across Kashmir. Managing Director and CEO Amitava Chatterjee was accompanied by the Executive Director and a full team of Chief General Managers, General Managers, Deputy General Managers and other officers. FCIK shared its memorandum only hours before the meeting, yet the officers arrived prepared to respond. The discussion was candid: shortcomings were acknowledged, several matters addressed on the spot and corrective directions issued. This reflected the professionalism at the top for which the Bank had long been craving. Even more encouraging was what followed. The agenda quickly percolated to zonal and district offices and then to branches. Controlling heads began meeting representatives of industrial estates and districts to identify genuine problems and solutions. This transformed a meeting into an institutional response, conveying that the Bank understands its industrial customers and will assist wherever a lawful and commercially viable solution exists. The FCIK memorandum sought competitive rates, proportionate collateral, greater use of CGTMSE and other government-backed guarantees, timely renewal and enhancement of limits, and prompt restoration of regularized accounts. It proposed an empowered MSME Facilitation and Resolution Cell for finance, restructuring, revival and settlement. These measures can prepare the Bank for the credit demand that serious industrial revival will generate. The central obstacle remains legacy debt. J&K enterprises endured turmoil, shutdowns, the 2014 floods, the disturbances of 2016, post-2019 disruption and Covid-19. Liabilities accumulated while businesses could not operate normally. Repeated restructuring often deferred the problem without final closure, sometimes converting unpaid liabilities into further debt. Borrowers cannot take a new flight while chained to an unserviceable past. The Reserve Bank of India has not so far provided J&K borrowers a region-specific and respectable closure. National norms governing CIBIL scores, ratings, restructuring and risk appraisal do not adequately reflect an economy that lost thousands of working days to circumstances beyond entrepreneurs control. Applying identical standards to unequal circumstances produces neither fairness nor sound revival. The J&K Government must therefore take the matter beyond its industrial policy. It should approach the Union Finance Ministry and RBI, and seek the intervention of the Prime Minister and Home Minister, for a ten-year region-sensitive banking dispensation. This should ease CIBIL and rating conditions in genuine legacy-stress cases, facilitate restructuring and fresh funding, expand guarantee cover, rationalise collateral and provide concessions that make rehabilitated enterprises bankable. Relaxation must be transparent and protected against fraud or willful diversion. One-Time Settlement is an essential part of that larger framework. FCIK demanded that J&K Bank introduce a similar OTS as SBI OTS-20, the uniform settlement opportunity extended by Indias largest public-sector bank to eligible borrowers across the country. The Managing Director did not commit to copying SBI OTS-20 or disclose the contours of the Banks proposed scheme. He did, however, assure the delegation that the Bank was contemplating a good and attractive OTS for local borrowers which will be unveiled with new Industrial policy. A credible non-discretionary and non-discriminatory OTS, with clear eligibility and uniform calculations, could provide honorable closure where existing debt cannot be revived. It would improve recovery, reduce enforcement costs, release locked assets and allow entrepreneurs to return to productive activity. Fresh finance must follow for viable enterprises; settlement without a route back to economic participation solves only half the problem. Some political leaders have raised issues concerning the Banks constitutional and ownership structure, regional deployment of credit and greater representation of local professionals on its Board. While some of these concerns may merit serious consideration, they largely fall beyond the operational domain of the management. The J&K Government, as the majority shareholder, certainly has an important role in addressing them in consultation with the Banks Board, RBI and other competent authorities. The business community including FCIK has consistently maintained that the Bank should remain insulated from political interference from every side. Governments and political organisations should not dictate individual lending, recruitment, posting and other such decisions. However, such autonomy cannot mean freedom from accountability. The Government must remain a vigilant shareholder and advocate for the regional economy, while the Board and management must preserve professional credit discipline. The present management has demonstrated encouraging professionalism. The Bank has improved priority-sector lending, its credit-deposit ratio, profitability and asset quality. More importantly, its leadership listened, acknowledged lapses and transmitted decisions down the hierarchy with unusual speed. The next test is measurable resolution: competitive credit, an effective MSME facilitation mechanism and early introduction of a fair OTS. The new industrial policy and J&K Bank can thus become partners in a common project. Government support can revive and rehabilitate enterprises; the Union Government and RBI can create enabling credit conditions; the Board can provide region-specific concessions; and a professionally managed J&K Bank can supply the fresh finance that turns policy into production. If these institutions act together, the promised new dawn of industrial development need not remain another announcement. It can revive thousands of enterprises, generate employment, expand the Banks sound local credit portfolio and restore the historic compact between J&K Bank and its people. With professionalism inside the Bank and purposeful advocacy outside it, J&K Bank can renew its historic bond with the business community and rebuild the trust needed to become the financial anchor of J&Ks industrial future. Shakeel Qalander, prominent business leader and a civil society animator

AI, trauma, bionics: Indias top institutes join forces to develop medical care for soldiers

Top Indian health institutions are partnering with the Armed Forces Medical Services. These collaborations focus on developing advanced medical solutions for soldiers. Research areas include trauma care, infectious diseases, and digital health technologies. This initiative aims to address India's specific climatic and battlefield conditions. The government is expanding defense-oriented medical research for operational needs.

Imported dialysis solution fails endotoxin test in Himachal; lab flags nine regulatory violations

A Himachal Pradesh government drug laboratory has declared two batches of an imported peritoneal dialysis solution Not of Standard Quality after they failed bacterial endotoxin tests. The report also flagged nine regulatory violations, including use of non-Indian pharmacopoeial standards, labelling deficiencies, missing safety warnings and inadequate importer details.

Iran will not surrender to bullies: President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 11: Iran will not surrender to ullying and arrogance and will stand firm to protect its national interests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Friday in a direct message to the US and Israel amid a sudden spike in West Asian hostilities. In an address at a gathering of religious leaders, intellectuals, academicians and business figures, Pezeshkian outlined Tehran's vision for the Gulf region, emphasising a commitment to peaceful coexistence while vowing to defeat foreign forces seeking to sow the seeds of discord within Iranian society. We will not surrender to oppression. Iran is standing up to Israel and the US because we will not be bullied, and if they push us, we will push them back, the Iranian president said. He labelled the US and Israeli forces as eal militants, pointing to a US strike near a primary school in southern Iran that left 168 children dead. They should take on our soldiers instead of targeting hospitals, infrastructure and livelihoods. They think people will surrender because of the lack of supplies but the people of Iran will not surrender, he said. Pezeshkian's remarks came amid escalating tensions in West Asia in view of fresh US airstrikes on Iranian targets as well as Washington's attempts to inflict economic strain on Tehran through crippling sanctions. The Iranian president said the United States and Israel are making errors like someone riding a wild horse without reining it in. That will lead them to doom and the fires of hell. God created Iranians, Chinese, Indians and others, and we have to live with each other. We will not surrender to oppression, we will keep supporting the oppressed, the Iranian leader said. The event was attended among others by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Kashmiri separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Patanjali Ayurved co-founder and managing director Acharya Balkrishna and ORF Director General Sujan R Chinoy. Pezeshkian arrived in New Delhi on Friday morning on a three-day visit primarily to attend the BRICS summit. Ahead of the event, the Iranian president held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that mainly focused on the overall situation in West Asia as well as bilateral ties. The Iranian president said he had ice talks with Modi that will pave the way for cooperation and development of relations in trade, technology and culture. With its vast reserves and strategic location, Iran is ready to play the role of a strategic partner in supplying energy and food in the region, he said. Earlier, speaking at the BRICS Business Forum, Pezeshkian called for a stronger shift towards local currencies in BRICS trade, while pitching Iran's geography, energy resources and transport links as a strategic bridge for the bloc's economic connectivity. The BRICS must move beyond its economic potential and build a more integrated network of trade, investment and joint financing, he said. Separately, speaking to reporters, Araghchi said Iran considers India as a great emerging country, which is helming the BRICS as its current chair. The BRICS is a very important institution and is playing a very important role. I am sure that India is able to lead the BRICS and the countries that are members of this group in an excellent way, he said. Inside the BRICS, there are different opinions, but all members of the group believe that national currencies should be strengthened and trade between the member states should be conducted through national currencies, he said. Araghchi said having a single currency for trade among the BRICS nations is still under consideration.

Crayfish invaded Crater Lake 100+ years ago; newt now vanishing from 95% shore

PM Modi calls for safeguarding freedom of navigation in talks with Iranian President Pezeshkian

New Delhi, Sep 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday pressed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to resolve the West Asia conflict through dialogue and diplomacy while highlighting the vital need for safe navigation and safety of seafarers. Meeting for the second time in under two weeks, the two leaders discussed India-Iran relations, with the overall situation in West Asia taking centre stage. The talks took place hours after the Iranian leader arrived in the national capital to attend the BRICS summit. This is Pezeshkian's first visit to India as the president. His visit assumes significance as it comes amid sudden spike in overall tensions in West Asia following fresh hostilities and the US slapping new punitive economic measures against Iran. Shortly after the meeting, Modi described Pezeshkian's trip to India as more special because it is his first visit to the country. We talked about the India-Iran friendship. We believe that we should move forward with a long-term and win-win strategy, Modi said on social media. The prevailing situation in the region was also discussed. India remains steadfast in its commitment to the pursuit of enduring peace, he said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the wo leaders exchanged views on recent developments in West Asia. The Prime Minister reiterated India's consistent position that all issues must be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, it added. Modi also underscored the need for continued efforts to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region, safeguarding freedom of navigation and commerce, and the safety and well-being of seafarers, it said in a statement. Following the West Asia conflict that began in late February, India had to strike a delicate balance between maintaining its historic ties with Iran and extending solidarity with Arab states which were targeted by Tehran for housing US military bases. At the same time, India has been critical of Iranian attacks on merchant vessels near the Strait of Hormuz that have killed and injured Indian seafarers. Ten Indian seafarers are among the 16 Indians killed so far in the West Asia conflict. The MEA said Modi and Pezeshkian discussed various aspects of the bilateral relationship and that the Prime Minister thanked Iran for its regular, high-level participation in BRICS-related meetings despite the challenging circumstances. He noted the potential for BRICS in building the spirit of resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainability among countries in the Global South, it said. The MEA said Modi appreciated the continued cooperation between the two sides on issues of mutual interest in multilateral organisation, including BRICS. Modi had met the Iranian leader on the sidelines of SCO summit in Bishkek on August 31 and conveyed that India supports all efforts toward ending the conflict. Pezeshkian, on his part, had urged Modi to use India's extensive contacts with various parties to help them move away from the path of war and bloodshed and return to the path of dialogue and agreement. In the talks this evening, the Indian side is learnt to have again underlined the importance of free flow of shipping. Global oil supplies have suffered severe disruptions following Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz -- considered the world's most critical energy chokepoint, through which roughly 20 per cent of global petroleum flows.

PM Modi meets UN chief ahead of BRICS Summit; discusses ongoing conflicts, freedom of navigation

New Delhi, Sep 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ahead of the BRICS Summit, as both leaders held discussions on various issues, including ongoing conflicts and freedom of navigation, sustainable development, human-centric AI and global food security. Both leaders also underscored the significance of multipolarity and the need to reform multilateral institutions, including the UNSC, to eflect contemporary realities, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13. Prime Minister Modi met with the UN Secretary-General on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit here, it said. UNSG Guterres congratulated PM Modi for India's chairship of the BRICS for the fourth time. Both leaders underscored the significance of multipolarity and the need to reform multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council, to reflect contemporary realities, it said in a statement. They also held discussions on various issues, including ongoing conflicts and freedom of navigation, sustainable development, human-centric AI, progress in renewable energy and global food security, the MEA said. PM Modi also wished UNSG Guterres the very best for the remainder of his tenure. In a post on X, he wrote, Had a wonderful meeting with UN Secretary-General Mr. Antnio Guterres. Discussed multiple subjects including the ground covered in Indias BRICS Presidency, Indias commitment to strengthening multilateralism and the urgent need for UN reforms. @antonioguterres @UN @BricsIndia2026. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and several other leaders arrived in Delhi on Friday to attend the two-day BRICS summit that gets underway from Saturday. President of New Development Bank Dilma Rousseff and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Chief Zou Jiayi have also reached the capital for the summit.

Climate Justice is Disability Justice

Dear readers, I am coming to you a little less upbeat than usual. The news has been heavy and so has the work of making sense of it. I am writing this piece from a sweltering Kuala Lumpur. In a typical Kashmiri, dam chu sahi ( it is too humid). Extreme weather events like cloudbursts, heatwaves, flash floods and this years super elnino killed hundreds in the sub-continent in the past few weeks. I am invited to be part of the workshop, convened under Chatham House Rules, discussing climate resilience. I am representing Indias 27 million Persons with Disabilities. Kashmir lives on a Powder Keg Kashmir has always known rain. What it did not know was humidity that clings to the skin, flash floods that erase roads overnight or summers that feel less Himalayan and more tropical. Growing up in the Valley, summer evenings carried a familiar coolness. Ceiling fans gathered dust, and the idea of oppressive humidity belonged to distant cities on Indias coast. Today, the air feels heavier. The seasons no longer arrive when they should, nor do they leave when expected. Climate change, once something I reported on through statistics and scientific studies, has become something I can feel on my own skin. Every few minutes, my phone vibrates with another news alert. A cloudburst in Chenab and landslides in Pir Panjal range. Roads swallowed by flash floods in the Central part of Kashmir. Rivers overflowing down south. Families searching for missing relatives. Rescue teams racing against time. Every notification carries a question that rarely appears in newspaper headlines. Who cares for PwDs? When disasters strike, we measure rainfall, wind speed, heavy snowfall, damaged roads and economic losses. Television cameras focus on helicopters hovering above flooded towns or rescue workers carrying children to safety. These stories matter. But they often miss another story- the telling tale of PwDs who are not considered stakeholders in the first place because they are forgotten when policy makers write the disaster response plans. The wheelchair user whose home has become inaccessible long before floodwater reaches the front door. The deaf woman who never hears the evacuation siren. The blind commuter is stranded because public transport has stopped functioning. The person with epilepsy who watches their medication run out while roads remain blocked for days. The child living with severe ADHD whose parents cannot carry both their child and the assistive devices that make everyday life possible. Climate disasters do not create these vulnerabilities. They expose barriers that already existed. For persons with disabilities, climate change is not simply another environmental challenge layered onto ordinary life. It magnifies inequalities that society has long ignored. Every broken footpath, every government building without a ramp, every disaster warning available only in one format becomes more dangerous as temperatures rise and extreme weather becomes more frequent. Climate change does not affect everyone equally because society has never treated everyone equally. Does SDRF Kashmir possess the latest data of PwDs? What is their progress report? How do they rescue PwDs when any natural calamity strikes Srinagar? Persons with disabilities are up to four times more likely to die during natural disasters than people without disabilities. Healthy people on a sick planet? Indias Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 requires district disaster management authorities to maintain records of persons with disabilities within their jurisdictions. The idea is simple but profoundly important: before a flood, cyclone or landslide occurs, authorities should already know who may require additional assistance, where they live and what support they might need during an emergency. In practice, however, this remains one of the weakest links in disaster preparedness. In many districts, disability data is incomplete, outdated or simply unavailable. When flash floods wash away roads or cloudbursts isolate villages, local officials often do not know how many disabled residents remain trapped, let alone whether they need wheelchairs, oxygen support or sign language interpretation. Rescue operations become exercises in improvisation rather than preparedness. You cannot rescue people whom the system has never bothered to count. When disability is invisible in government records, it becomes invisible in disaster planning. When it is absent from planning, it disappears from budgets, emergency drills and evacuation protocols. Eventually, it disappears from public memory itself. What remains visible are the collapsed bridges, submerged houses and damaged highways. What remains invisible are the disabled people who spent hours waiting for someone to remember that they existed. Climate change exposes many inequalities, but perhaps none more starkly than the difference between those whom the state anticipates and those whom it remembers only after tragedy has struck. The toxic air we breathe Much of the conversation around climate change begins with dramatic images rivers bursting their banks, forests consumed by fire, murky waters entering our lanes and eventually our homes. But for many disabled people, climate change begins much earlier. It begins with the air we breathe. Air pollution is an invisible passenger. It enters through our lungs but travels throughout the body, damaging nearly every organ. It knows no borders. Five years ago, while researching at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), an environmental think-tank based in New Delhi, I learned that air pollution was responsible for an estimated 8.1 million premature deaths in 2021, making it the second-leading global risk factor for death. Yet its toll often goes unrecognized. Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, a nine-year-old girl from London, became the first person whose death certificate officially identified air pollution as a cause of death. Her death might have been prevented had her family understood the risks posed by the toxic air. When pollution remains invisible in public discourse, it becomes even deadlier. Now imagine breathing that same polluted air while living with a disability. A person with muscular dystrophy often has reduced respiratory capacity. Someone living with cerebral palsy may already struggle with recurrent respiratory infections. People with compromised immune systems, neurological conditions or chronic heart disease frequently have far less room to absorb additional environmental stress before their health deteriorates. Yet despite growing research on climate and public health, disability remains remarkably absent from the conversation. Disabled people, however, frequently disappear into statistical silence. We know polluted air harms everyone. We know disabled people often experience poorer health outcomes. What we rarely know is how these two realities intersect because disability is so often omitted from environmental research itself. That absence of knowledge has consequences. If governments do not understand how pollution uniquely affects disabled communities, they cannot design public health interventions that protect them. What goes unmeasured rarely becomes a political priority. Earth feels feverish Heatwaves are double-whammy for disabled population. During the record-breaking summer of 2024, Delhi crossed 49 degrees Celsius. Newspapers reported record-breaking temperatures, overloaded hospitals and soaring electricity demand. What received far less attention was what extreme heat meant inside the homes of disabled people. Imagine depending on an electric wheelchair during prolonged power cuts. Imagine medication that must remain refrigerated when refrigerators stop working. Imagine living alone on the third floor of a building without an elevator, unable to relocate to a cooling centre because simply leaving home requires assistance. You can beat the heat by jumping into your village canal, what option is left for your peer with a wheelchair? Heat hurts. I have reported from some Adivasi belts. I know some people with disabilities do not move an inch on their own in this unforgiving heat. Last year in Jharkhand, I saw women and children with disabilities living in abject poverty spending entire afternoons beneath tin roofs that trapped heat well after sunset. Elderly residents were unable to sleep because indoor temperatures remained dangerously high. Families who never appeared in official heat-related statistics because no one was looking inside their houses. For someone with limited mobility, home is not always a sanctuary. During a prolonged heatwave, it can become a prison. Public discussions often present air conditioning as the obvious solution. But adaptation cannot depend upon appliances that millions cannot afford. Persons with disabilities in India continue to experience significantly lower employment rates and greater economic insecurity than the general population. Cooling technologies remain financially inaccessible for many households already struggling to meet healthcare expenses. Even where air conditioning is available, widespread dependence on energy-intensive cooling creates another paradox. Individual homes become cooler while cities themselves become hotter. The solution for some cannot deepen vulnerability for everyone else. Climate adaptation that ignores economic inequality merely redistributes comfort rather than creating resilience. Natural disasters and mental health Climate calamities have made the life of PwDs extremely difficult sans proper disaster preparedness plans. Everyday life already involves negotiating inaccessible infrastructure, discrimination and bureaucratic indifference. Climate change layers another uncertainty onto that experience. It transforms ordinary anxieties into persistent fears. Have we ever paused to reflect on something nobody cares to notice: mental health of PwDs in natural disasters. It doesnt feature in disaster recovery. Recovery is measured by rebuilt roads, restored electricity and compensation packages. Nobody measures what it did to someone who cant speak his pain out. Eco-ableism As climate anxiety grows, we are increasingly encouraged to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles: cycle instead of driving, walk instead of using vehicles, avoid air conditioning, and consume differently. Many of these changes are valuable. But they often assume that everyone has the same body. A wheelchair user cannot simply choose to cycle. A visually impaired commuter cannot always depend on inaccessible public transport. Someone living with chronic illness may require diets that do not fit neatly into popular sustainability campaigns. When environmental conversations ignore these realities, they unintentionally create a hierarchy of good citizens based upon physical ability. In trying to build a greener future, we risk reproducing the same exclusions that disabled people have spent decades fighting. Disability inclusion cannot become an afterthought within climate activism. It has to shape the movement itself. After all, accessibility is sustainability. Universal design is not merely a disability issue. It is climate adaptation. Climate justice must include disability justice India ranked 176th out of 177 countries in the environmental performance index 2026, placing it among the lowest performing nations globally. We deserve a thundering applause for this achievement. No? Truth be told, we have harmed earth beyond measure but there are reasons for cautious optimism. The Apex court has increasingly recognised extreme heat as a question of constitutional rights rather than seasonal inconvenience. In Beat the Heatwave and Climate Change vs Union of India, it directed governments to strengthen heat action plans, establish cooling spaces and prioritise vulnerable populations. The National Human Rights Commission has similarly urged states to improve preparedness before heatwaves claim more lives. These are encouraging developments. But meaningful change will not come only from courtrooms. Disabled people should not be consulted only after climate policies have already been drafted. They should help design those policies from the beginning. That means early warning systems available through text, audio, visual alerts and sign language. It means relief camps with accessible toilets, ramps and adequate lighting. It means district disaster authorities maintain accurate disability data before emergencies occur rather than searching for vulnerable residents after disaster strikes. It means ensuring uninterrupted access to medicines, electricity and assistive devices during extreme weather. Most importantly, it means recognising disabled people not as beneficiaries of climate policy but as experts in resilience. Outro The climate crisis is forcing us to rethink how we build cities, design transport, organise healthcare and prepare for disasters. It also demands that we rethink something more fundamental: whose lives are imagined when the future is planned. The floods will return. The heat will become more intense. The rains will grow more unpredictable. Nature will continue to test our resilience. Whether disabled people are once again left waiting, however, is no longer a question of nature. It is a question of political will. Of public imagination. And ultimately, of whether we believe every life is equally worth protecting before the storm arrives. Over 1.3 billion PwDs are among the most vulnerable to climate impacts yet remain the least represented in climate solutions and policy decisions. Climate justice cannot be achieved without disability justice. Inclusion is not optional. It is a necessity. Nothing About Us, Without Us. Note: This work is supported by the Center for Planetary Health, Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The author was invited by Sunway University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

DGP Nalin Prabhat reviews border protection grid along Jammu region

Jammu, Sep 11: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Nalin Prabhat on Friday chaired a high-level security meeting here to review the border protection grid along the International Border and Line of Control in the Jammu region, officials said. The meeting reviewed the security arrangements and coordination among the forces deployed along the border to prevent infiltration of terrorists from across the border, they said. The Border Protection Grid comprises the Army, BSF, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police, while the anti-infiltration obstacle system along the International Border and Line of Control forms a key component of the security arrangements. DGP reviewed the Border Protection Grid, with the concerned formations of BSF, CRPF and JKP, the Jammu and Kashmir Police Media Centre said in a post on X. The meeting was attended by the inspector general of police (Jammu Zone), senior officers of the BSF and CRPF, DIGs of police ranges and SSPs of the border districts, it said.

White Knight Corps commander reviews security grid, operational preparedness in Kishtwar

Jammu, Sep 11: The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Armys White Knight Corps, Lieutenant General P K Mishra, on Friday visited general areas of Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district and reviewed the security situation, counter-terrorism grid and operational preparedness of the troops. The Corps Commander assessed the security architecture, contingency preparedness and infrastructure, and directed the troops to take further measures to enhance operational effectiveness, safety and support in the hinterland, the White Knight Corps said in a post on X. The GOC Mishra urged all ranks to remain vigilant and mission-ready at all times, it said.

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System's rot exposed when sports icons have to move court to represent India: Mehbooba

Srinagar, Sep 11: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday hit out at the Jammu and Kashmir administration over bureaucratic hurdles faced by international water sports coach Bilquis Mir, saying that having to fight in the Supreme Court to represent the country exposes the rot in the system. The comments of the former chief minister came a day after the apex court set aside a Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court order and directed the Union territory's administration to issue a no-objection certificate (NOC) and a relieving order to Mir on or before September 15 to travel abroad. The ruling paved the way for Mir, a physical education teacher in the J&K Youth Services Department, to join the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team as the chief coach for the Asian Games in Japan beginning September 19. When a sports icon like Bilquis Mir, who broke barriers for women in water sports, is forced to fight in the Supreme Court just to represent India, it exposes the rot in the system here, Mehbooba said in a post on X. She said an internationally acclaimed sportsperson should have received full institutional backing instead of being met with bureaucratic hurdles and obstruction. If a legend needs a judicial order to compete, what about the countless young athletes who don't have the means, influence or resources to fight the bureaucracy? Sporting slogans ring hollow, the PDP chief added. A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi had allowed the appeal filed by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association and Mir against the high court's August 11 order. The high court order had said that Mir continued to be a government employee and that merely because she had been selected by the Kayaking Association for a national sporting assignment, no enforceable right arose to compel the employer to issue an NOC, relieving order or foreign travel permission. The top court also quashed the J&K government's June 19 order denying Mir permission to travel, citing pending departmental inquiries and service conditions, and said that sports administration operates on strict timelines that cannot await ordinary administrative processes. Mir, who was selected by the association in February to prepare the national team, had earlier missed an international assignment in Hungary due to procedural delays. The top court's decision came weeks after it dismissed a separate petition by the J&K administration challenging the quashing of an Anti-Corruption Bureau FIR against Mir, who also served as India's first female judge for kayaking and canoeing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Freedom of navigation, seafarers' safety important for promoting global trade: PM Modi

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Ahead of Modi-Xi meeting, Beijing says India and China should handle differences properly

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NHM employees association extends ongoing strike for further 72 hours in support of long-pending demands

Srinagar, Sep 11: The Jammu & Kashmir National Health Mission Employees Association (JKNHMEA) UT-Level Coordination Committee has decided to extend its ongoing strike for a further 72 hours, commencing from 12 September 2026, in support of the long-pending, genuine and legitimate demands of NHM employees across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. In a statement issued, the Association reiterated that the issues being raised by NHM employees are neither new nor unjustified. It said these demands have already been acknowledged/admitted by the Government at different levels, yet no concrete, time-bound and satisfactory action has been taken towards their final resolution. For nearly 18 years, thousands of NHM employees have continued to serve the public health system under contractual arrangements, often performing duties similar to their regular counterparts while remaining exposed to prolonged uncertainty regarding their future, remuneration and retirement security, the Association said. Reiterating its core demands, the Association said the ongoing agitation primarily concerns over revision and enhancement of salaries/remuneration, in line with the legitimate expectations of employees and the changing service conditions; retirement benefits and social security, including a dignified and workable Golden Handshake/retirement benefit policy for NHM employees who complete their service; social security and welfare measures for the NHM workforce; resolution of other long-pending service-related issues through a clear, transparent and time-bound mechanism. The Association maintained that NHM employees are an integral part of the healthcare delivery system of Jammu & Kashmir. They have worked in hospitals, health centres and field-level institutions, particularly during difficult circumstances and public-health emergencies, and have consistently contributed to keeping essential healthcare services functional. The Association held that despite repeated representations, meetings, assurances and continuous dialogue with the concerned authorities, the employees are still awaiting a concrete policy decision and an official roadmap for resolution of their demands. The UT-Level Coordination Committee therefore considered it necessary to continue the democratic and peaceful agitation until the Government initiates a meaningful process leading towards a definite and time-bound resolution. The JKNHMEA UT-Level Coordination Committee appealed to all categories of NHM employees across Jammu & Kashmir to remain united, disciplined and peaceful during the extended 72-hour strike and to participate in the programme with full solidarity. The Association also made it clear that the agitation is not against the public or the healthcare system. It is a collective struggle for justice, dignity, job security and a sustainable future for thousands of employees who have served the health sector for years. The Committee remains committed to dialogue and urged the Government to take the matter seriously and convene a high-level meeting with the representatives of NHM employees at the earliest, so that the present situation can be brought to a meaningful conclusion through a concrete decision rather than further assurances. JKNHMEA appealed to the government to convert the already acknowledged concerns into actual policy action and provide a clear, time-bound resolution to the long-pending demands of NHM employees.

Pakistani intruder arrested along international border in Kathua

Jammu, Sep 11: A Pakistani intruder was arrested by security forces in a forward area along the International Border in Kathua district on Friday, officials said. They said the intruder was caught near the fencing in the Bobiya area of Hiranagar sector. According to reliable sources, the arrested person is a Pakistani national aged around 60-65 years. Sources said the intruder was taken into custody for questioning, while further details regarding his identity, circumstances of border crossing and the purpose of his presence in the area are awaited.

PM Modi holds bilateral talks with Russian President Putin

New Delhi, Sep 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Russian President Vladimir Putin for wide-ranging talks that are likely to focus on enhancing annual bilateral trade to USD 100 billion by 2030 and further strengthening cooperation in defence, energy and critical minerals. Putin landed in New Delhi this morning on a three-day visit to participate in the BRICS summit. The two leaders are also expected to delve into expanding the already strong defence cooperation. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said both sides are also exploring BrahMos missile upgrades, and that Moscow remains committed to fulfilling its remaining S-400 system deliveries and discussing the proposed supply of Su-57 fighter jets. The Russian official said the energy ties between the two countries remained robust and that both sides are looking at holding negotiations for India's plan to set up new civil nuclear reactors. Modi and Putin previously met on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek last week, where the prime minister called for an immediate end to the conflict and urged the Russian leader to shift from an endless war towards the end of war. The Ukraine conflict and roadmap to peace are expected to feature prominently in their upcoming talks. There have been renewed efforts, including by the Trump administration in the last few days, to find a way to resolve the conflict. Ahead of the Modi-Putin talks, sources said the two sides will also focus on reaching the ambitious trade target of USD 100 billion by 2030. Expanding Industrial cooperation with Russia, collaboration in the rail sector and tunnelling, developing the steel value chain and broadening access to the Russian market for Indian exporters are also set to figure in the talks, they said. The two leaders are also expected to deliberate on strengthening civil nuclear cooperation, including fuel cycle and life cycle support. Increasing mobility of Indian skilled labourers to Russia and cooperation in critical minerals are also set to be discussed, the sources said.

608th Urs of Hazrat Syed Janbaz Wali (RA) held at Khanpora Baramulla

Baramulla, Sep 11: The 608th Urs Mubarak of the revered Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Muhammad Janbaz Wali (RA) was observed with religious fervour and devotion at Khanpora, Baramulla. Thousands of devotees from Baramulla and adjoining areas participated in the Urs Mubarak and paid their respects at the revered shrine. The occasion witnessed the participation of people from different walks of life, who gathered to offer prayers and participate in various religious activities associated with the Urs. Mutawalli Dargah, Khursheed Ahmad Shah, expressed his gratitude to the people of Baramulla for attending the Urs in large numbers and making the occasion peaceful and spiritually meaningful. He also conveyed his appreciation to the J&K Waqf Board and the Baramulla administration for making proper arrangements and taking necessary measures for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the Urs Mubarak. Khursheed Ahmad Shah said that the overwhelming participation of devotees reflects the deep spiritual and cultural significance of Hazrat Syed Muhammad Janbaz Wali (RA) among the people of the region. He prayed for peace, prosperity and communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir.

HPV vaccination drive crosses 8 mn doses as India targets cervical cancer

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Brihat Harishankar Ras

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List of world leaders attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi

India will host Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and other BRICS leaders in New Delhi on September 12-13 for the groupings 18th summit. The gathering brings together leaders representing economies that account for about 40% of global GDP, with several bilateral meetings with PM Narendra Modi also planned.

Mirwaiz to attend interaction with Iranian President in New Delhi

Srinagar, Sep 11: Kashmir's chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq left for New Delhi on Friday to attend an interaction with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is visiting the Indian capital to participate in the BRICS Summit. According to a statement, Mirwaiz was invited by the Iranian Ambassador to India, Dr Mohammad Fathali, to participate in the interaction, which will bring together religious leaders, intellectuals and other dignitaries. The interaction is scheduled to be held in New Delhi later on Friday and will be followed by a dinner reception hosted by the Iranian Embassy. Pezeshkian is in New Delhi for the BRICS Leaders Summit, scheduled to be held on September 12 and 13. His visit marks his first trip to India as Iranian president.

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Saudi airstrikes hit rebel-held Mokha airport in Yemen, Houthi broadcaster says

Cairo, Sep 11: Saudi airstrikes hit the rebel-held Mokha airport in Yemen on Friday, an Iranian-backed Houthi broadcaster reported, a day after the Houthis entered the key port city on the Red Sea, bringing them closer to the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Their advance further threatens commercial shipping on an important alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier Friday, Iran's government called for an end to Saudi Arabia's blockade of Yemen, throwing its support behind its ally, the Houthis. In its first statement since the rebels entered the port, Iran's Foreign Ministry also called for a return to negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. The rebels' capture of Mokha, overlooking tanker routes out of the Red Sea, could boost Iran's strategy of driving up world oil and gas prices to pressure the United States, experts say. It also raises concerns of a new front opening after more than six months of war in the region -- one in which Saudi Arabia is forced to respond. Experts say the developments in Yemen could give Tehran more leverage in any negotiations with the United States. On Wednesday, the spokesperson for Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard called for any negotiated settlement with the US to include Yemen, the first explicit reference to that front. Events threaten a key Strait of Hormuz alternative The Houthis' entry into Mokha on Thursday was their biggest territorial gain in years against their Saudi-backed Yemeni opponents. It brought them within 80 kilometres of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an important alternative for global shipping as Iran targets vessels on the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis have already hiked up attacks on Saudi shipping in Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea since declaring a blockade there in July, as well as oil infrastructure inside Saudi Arabia. The Houthis said the move was in response to the kingdom's blockade of Houthi-held parts of Yemen, in place for years. Disruption to the waterway could mean trouble for all shipping and for the price of crude oil, which has now soared again. Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb to export its crude since Iran has been targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. About 12 per cent of the world's goods are typically shipped through the strait. Shipping through the Bab al-Mandeb had fallen by about 60 per cent since the Houthis began attacking some ships there in late 2023 while expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Shipping increased this year as Saudi Arabia sought alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, but renewed Houthi threats have curtailed that activity, according to Lloyd's List Intelligence. Saudi Arabia, which earlier this week said it had always offered opportunities for negotiation, also has said it has the right to defend itself in response to the Houthis' blockade. The foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia spoke Thursday about diplomatic efforts to restore stability to the region, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media. The fighting risks a return to civil war In a statement released Friday, the National Defence Council of Yemen's Saudi-backed and internationally recognized government on Thursday strongly condemned the Houthis' renewed attacks on Saudi Arabia. The council also acknowledged that Yemen's government is on the front line of freedom of navigation, and called for international support as the Houthis swept along the Red Sea coast toward the Bab el-Mandeb. The escalating fighting threatens to end a fragile truce that had largely halted Yemen's civil war since 2022. At stake are the 40 million people in the Arab world's poorest country who fear a return to the conflict that killed 150,000 and brought many others to the brink of famine. The Houthis have been at war with Yemen's government since 2014, when the rebels swept from their mountainous heartland and seized much of northern and central Yemen. Saudi Arabia entered the war the following year on behalf of the government.

CM Omar Abdullah congratulates Para Archer Sheetal Devi on World Archery Para Series Gold

Srinagar, Sep 11: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has congratulated Indian para-archer Ms Sheetal Devi on winning the Gold Medal in the Womens Compound Individual Event at the World Archery Para Series 2026, Stage III, held in Ahmedabad. The Chief Minister said Sheetals remarkable achievement, which also includes a Bronze Medal in the Compound Mixed Team Event, is a proud moment for the entire nation. He wished her continued success and greater laurels in all her future endeavours. The 19-year-old World Champion defeated Kazakhstans Aizada Seidan in a shoot-off after the gold medal contest ended in a 144-144 draw. Sheetal shot a 10 with her shoot-off arrow, while Seidan managed a 9, securing the title for the Indian archer at the Sabarmati Riverfront.

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Dry weather, brief spells of rain at scattered places likely in J&K till Sep 21: MeT

Srinagar, Sep 11: Jammu and Kashmir is likely to experience generally dry weather till September 21, with brief spells of rain at scattered places, the Meteorological Centre Srinagar said in a weather forecast issued on Friday. According to the forecast, farmers across the Union Territory have been advised to continue with their farming operations, including the harvesting of apples and paddy. On the weather conditions in J&K, the forecast said that from September 11 to 13, the weather will remain generally dry, with the possibility of brief spells of rain. The first half of the next week, from September 14 to 16, will possibly see brief spells of rain and thundershowers at scattered places during the early morning and afternoon hours, it said. During the latter half of the next week, from September 17 to 21, the weather will remain generally dry, accompanied by brief spells of rain at a few places, the forecast said. Continue harvesting of Apple & Paddy, the MeT advised farmers.

Islam poses no serious danger to Europe, but Islamism and anti-Muslim fear do: report

Srinagar, Sep 11 : Europe is witnessing growing anxiety over Islam and Muslims, but fears of an Islamic takeover of the continent are unfounded, according to a report published in The Economist, which says the real dangers lie in Islamist extremism and growing right-wing fear of Islam. The report, titled The truth and the lies about Islam in Europe and published on September 10, said panic about Islam was spreading across several European countries, with large sections of the population increasingly viewing Islam as incompatible with Western values. It cited recent political developments in Germany, France and Britain as examples of the growing influence of anti-Muslim rhetoric. However, the report said some of the most alarming claims about Islams presence in Europe were not supported by evidence. Europe faces no Islamic takeover, no mass radicalisation of Muslims and no erasure of its culture, the report said. It added that Europe does not have no-go zones, sharia is not becoming part of national law and there is no demographic great replacement under way. The report noted that Muslims currently account for about 6% of Europes population of more than 500 million. While migrants from Muslim-majority countries generally have more children than native-born populations, fertility rates tend to converge within two generations, it said. It also said most Muslim immigrants were seeking to build lives in their adopted countries rather than impose the societies they had left behind. Their children, according to the report, often perform better educationally than their parents. In Britain, it cited figures showing that 67% of Bangladeshis who sat standard tests in 2021 were enrolled in university by age 19, compared with 38% of white Britons. The report nevertheless acknowledged socially conservative views among some Muslims. Its polling found that 52% of British Muslims considered homosexuality wrong. It stressed that socially conservative views do not automatically make Muslims a security threat, while distinguishing Islam from Islamism. Islam isnt a problem; Islamism can be, the report said, describing Islamism as a political ideology seeking to promote Islamic principles through the state. At the same time, the report warned that anti-Muslim policies could deepen divisions. Mass deportations, segregation and dress bans, it said, could frighten Muslims, inhibit integration and potentially push some towards extremists. The report concluded that Europes Muslims are increasingly integrating into their societies, drawing parallels with earlier migrant communities. Muslims will, tooif division and paranoia are not allowed to get in the way, it said.

Four MBBS Seats Reserved Under Central Pool For Kin Of Terror Victims; JK BOPEE Invites Applications

JAMMU, Sep 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE) has invited offline applications for allocation of MBBS seats from Central Pool for spouse and children of terrorist victims for the academic year 2026-27.Geographic Reference According to notification issued, a total of four seats have been earmarked one seat at [] The post Four MBBS Seats Reserved Under Central Pool For Kin Of Terror Victims; JK BOPEE Invites Applications appeared first on Northlines .

J&K unemployment rate nearly 38%, government has hands up: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Sep 11: Jammu and Kashmirs unemployment rate is nearly 38 per cent and the government has hands up in the face of the crisis, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said on Thursday, accusing the administration of failing to address growing economic distress and frustration among the people. Today unemployment is so high that in Jammu and Kashmir the unemployment rate is nearly 38 per cent, Mehbooba said while speaking at a party joining programme. She said the government had failed to create adequate employment opportunities and was instead relying on outsourcing and temporary arrangements. Government has put its hands up, she said, alleging that people were being recruited through backdoor arrangements and that daily-wage workers were being engaged instead of being provided permanent jobs. Mehbooba said doctors, engineers and other sections of the workforce were facing uncertainty, while protests had become increasingly common across Jammu and Kashmir. People are protesting everywhere, she said, referring to protests involving doctors, interns, veterinary staff, nursing staff and anganwadi workers. She also linked the growing public frustration to inflation and inadequate salaries and stipends. On one hand, inflation has increased so much, and on the other, peoples salaries and their stipends are such that people are distressed, she said. Especially the youth are distressed; there is suffocation. Mehbooba said the overall situation had left the administrative system in disarray. That is why the entire system is in disarray, she said. She argued that the PDP needed to strengthen itself to confront what she described as the growing challenges facing Jammu and Kashmir, saying the issue was not merely about returning to power. It is not just about power, Mehbooba said. Given the situation at this time, if there is any party in Jammu and Kashmir that can confront these circumstances, if there is any party that raises its voice or can raise it to change the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, I think it is the PDP. Mehbooba also invoked the political legacy of PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, recalling the party's role in the early 2000s. She said the changes associated with the PDP during that period extended beyond Jammu and Kashmir and influenced thinking in both New Delhi and Islamabad. When the PDP came, a change came here. The system changed, and that change had not only come in Jammu and Kashmir; it also came in the thinking in Delhi and Islamabad, because of which the process of dialogue began, routes opened and development took place, she said. Welcoming the new entrants into the party, including members who had travelled from Jammu, Mehbooba said their joining would help strengthen the PDP across the Union Territory. Many storms came, but we remained steadfast and continued to face the challenges, she said. I hope that with todays joining, our party will become stronger throughout Jammu and Kashmir, she added.

Confident Brics Summit will see positive talks on various issues: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday exuded confidence that there will be positive and meaningful discussions at the BRICS Summit on various issues with a shared wish for global welfare. India is hosting the BRICS Summit from September 12 to 13 here. The summit will be attended by leaders of 11 member countries and 10 partner countries besides some international organisations. Over the next few days, leaders from around the world will gather for the BRICS Summit. I am fully confident that there will be positive and meaningful discussions on various issues with a shared wish for global welfare, Modi said in a post on X. Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian are among those attending the summit.

India crosses 80 lakh HPV vaccinations in nationwide cervical cancer prevention drive

India has now administered over 80 lakh HPV vaccinations to girls. This significant milestone strengthens preventive healthcare and protection against HPV infection. The nationwide campaign, launched in February, targets fourteen-year-old girls for free vaccination. The Gardasil-4 vaccine is available at government health facilities across the country. Parental consent is mandatory for this voluntary immunization program.

Dont force us to stop water supply: Casual workers forum warns govt

Trump promises $500 Obamacare rebate checks for 1M enrollees in 30 states

The Trump administration is promising $500 rebate checks to about 1 million ACA enrollees across 30 states

Lindsay Clancys lawyer asks the judge to spare her a second trial for killing her children

Lindsay Clancys attorney is asking a Massachusetts judge to acquit her of charges that she killed her three young children

Japan court dismisses IHH subsidiary Northern TK Venture's damage claims against Daiichi Sankyo

NTK, a subsidiary of IHH Healthcare Berhad had earlier filed a claim at the Tokyo District Court seeking damages from Daiichi Sankyo, alleging that the Japanese firm had obstructed NTK's efforts to complete its open offers to acquire shares in Fortis Healthcare Limited and its step-down subsidiary, Fortis Malar Hospitals Limited.

Marengo Asia Hospitals raises Rs 400 crore from LeapFrog Investments

Marengo Asia Hospitals has secured Rs. 400 crore funding from LeapFrog Investments. This capital will fuel expansion into tier one and two Indian cities. The company plans to double its hospital bed capacity to 4,000 beds. Marengo Asia Hospitals aims to consolidate its leadership and enter new geographies. This investment reinforces LeapFrog's commitment to healthcare platforms across Asia.

Trump rejects Saudi request to strike Houthis as group advances towards Red Sea chokepoint

Srinagar, Sep 11: US President Donald Trump rejected a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to order strikes against Yemens Iran-backed Houthis, Axios reported, citing two US officials. MBS called Trump twice on Thursday, urging US military action as Houthi forces advanced towards the strategic Bab el-Mandeb shipping chokepoint, the report said. US officials said the Trump administration currently has no plans to intervene directly against the Houthis. The development comes as the US-Iran conflict intensifies across the Red Sea, Yemen and the Strait of Hormuz, with attacks on shipping increasing and oil prices rising above $100 a barrel. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would impose sanctions on a major, unnamed bank early next week as part of its economic pressure campaign against Iran.

US marks 25 years since the September 11 attacks, 'moments that divide time'

New York, Sep 11: Americans are commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, remembering the shock, the dead and the sweeping consequences of the al-Qaida attacks on symbols of US might and prosperity. Friday's milestone anniversary will bring memorial rituals -- wreath-laying, flag-flying, moments of silence, vigils and readings of victims' names -- and volunteer projects in tribute to a day that about half of US adults remember as the most historic event of their lifetime, according to a new poll. For others it's an occasion for private reflection -- or, in many schools, education -- about the attack that unfolded in a single morning but left nearly 3,000 dead and a decades-long trail of aftermath, from personal grief to far-flung wars. Police Officer Casey Kloepfer plans to spend time Friday at the Brooklyn station house where his father, Officer Ronald Kloepfer, reported to work that day before being called to the World Trade Centre. He didn't make it home. Casey Kloepfer was only 4, but he grew up hearing about his father's affinity for helping people and for a job that enabled him to do so. He became an officer this past June. It's big footsteps to fill, but it's definitely something that I take very seriously and want to continue to honour him and be the best police officer I can, he said by phone this week. The 29-year-old wears his father's badge number and even has joined the New York Police Department lacrosse team, which his dad founded. Trump to attend Pentagon observance On September 11, 2001, al-Qaida extremists hijacked four commercial jets and crashed them into New York's World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The impacts brought down the World Trade Centre's twin towers -- icons of US economic power, and among the tallest buildings on Earth -- and blew a hole in the Pentagon, the US military's fortresslike headquarters near Washington. The fourth plane also was headed for the nation's capital, officials concluded, but the aircraft went down in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew members stormed the cockpit and fought the hijackers. In the course of history, there are a few moments that divide time into, really, what came before and after, President Donald Trump said at a 9/11 remembrance in Washington this week. The Republican, who was in his native New York on September 11 and has often recounted his memories, plans to attend the Pentagon's anniversary ceremony Friday. Vice President JD Vance is expected at the observance at the National September 11 Memorial in New York, while other administration officials are headed to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania. Planned remembrances extend far beyond the attack sites, from beams of light projecting from New Hampshire's Mount Washington to a stair climb at Mississippi State University's football stadium to a ceremony at Honolulu's 9/11 memorial. At ground zero, a new tribute to those who fell ill Traditionally, there are no political speeches at the New York commemoration, where relatives read all the victims' names, punctuated with moments of silence at key points in the attack timeline. For the first time, this year's ceremony will add a silent moment to honour people who were exposed to the clouds of toxic dust released by the twin towers' fiery collapse and have since died of cancer and other illnesses. Questions remain about how many people developed health problems linked to the dust. It's a reminder of how the attacks' long shadow has reached into many corners of life in the US and beyond. The US-led global war on terrorism included invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan -- the latter Washington's longest war -- and detentions and harsh interrogation of terror suspects in an international network of secret CIA prisons. The US military found and killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011, but accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed still awaits a trial 23 years after his capture. The attacks changed US air travel, prompted new federal surveillance and intelligence-gathering powers and banking regulations, and generated ongoing debate over the balance between security and freedom. The Department of Homeland Security, many state anti-terrorism laws and billions of dollars in state and local counterterrorism funding all are post-9/11 creations. So, too, is the culture of individual vigilance summed up by the slogan if you see something, say something. Unity, mistrust and scrutiny of New York's mayor September 11 generated a wave of patriotism that propelled some Americans to join the military, fire departments, police forces or other public agencies. But amid the national unity that many remember, the attacks also fanned mistrust, prejudice and hate crimes directed at Muslims. In the quarter-century since, Muslim Americans have played a growing role in public life from statehouses to Congress to New York City Hall, where Zohran Mamdani is the city's first Muslim mayor. Yet he is facing some criticism for planning to attend the anniversary ceremony at ground zero, something his predecessors have done for years. Some complaints came from Republican ex-Governor George Pataki and 9/11 victims' relatives, who cited among other things past remarks that some of Mamdani's political associates have made about the attacks. Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a Republican, also inveighed against Mamdani attending. Mamdani, a Democrat, responded this week that he loves the city and country and wants the anniversary to focus on victims' families, first responders and New Yorkers who helped one another after the attacks, which he called a horrific act of terror. The 34-year-old mayor was an elementary school student in New York on 9/11. September 11 isn't a federal holiday, but Congress has designated it both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance. One appropriate way to remember is by serving, says Jay Winuk, who lost his brother Glenn Winuk and then co-founded the volunteer organization 9/11 Day with friend David Paine. The group helps people find meal-packing and other volunteer opportunities and this year arranged for dozens of Times Square billboards to pause their advertising at 9:11 am Friday. Instead, they will simply display the time.

New Restaurants Launched In India In September-October 2026, And Why You Must Visit Them

Ready to explore the freshest culinary destinations this season? Here are the new restaurants you need to visit in Sept-Oct 2026.

Rain halts England charge with Pakistan 52-2 and 268 behind in Edgbaston cricket test

Birmingham, Sep 11: Rain prevented England from putting Pakistan in a deeper hole than 52-2 and 268 runs behind on day two of the Edgbaston cricket test on Thursday. Pakistan walked out after tea 320 runs behind to begin its second innings in gloomy, lights-on conditions perfectly suited for England's four-man pace attack which has dominated the series. Pakistan has yet to crack a 200 total, and Ollie Robinson was the man of the moment again. Robinson got Saim Ayub to nick to the slips off the first ball and became only the fifth bowler in test history to twice take a wicket with the first ball of an innings in a series. The last person was Zaheer Khan for India against Bangladesh in 2007. Bill Voce was the only previous Englishman in 1937 against Australia. Ayub was playing Twenty20s in the Caribbean 10 days ago but was summoned in mid-series in a panic call by the Pakistan Cricket Board to play his first test in 20 months. He bagged a pair. Robinson struck again with his fourth ball, nicking off Abdullah Shafique. That made Pakistan start 0-2 for the sixth time ever in tests and the second time against England. The other was at the same ground in 1982. The bowler was Ian Botham. From 0-2, Azan Awais and Shan Masood dug out Pakistan to 52-2 in 12 overs. Awais had 29 and Masood 21 after being dropped on 13 by Ben Duckett off the luckless Gus Atkinson. Wet weather came sooner than forecast and guaranteed Pakistan lived to fight at least one more day in a three-test series already lost. England, up 2-0, should complete the sweep on Saturday with no test going the distance. Fifties and no hundreds again England began the day already in front with a lead of 23 at 156-4. In two sessions, 50 overs, they added 297 runs at a pacy 5.9, its fastest rate on any day all summer. Three more batters scored fifties to add to Emilio Gay's gritty 60 and Harry Brook's unbeaten 52 on Wednesday but the effort looked nothing like Bazball. However, Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith and less so Robinson would have thought a century was at their mercy. The former trio spent more than two hours at the crease, three hours in Brook's case, but all fell tamely and showed obvious frustration to miss out on a century on a fair pitch against a popgun attack. Brook ran himself out on 75, Lawrence dragged on on 65, and Smith chipped back to fast bowler Razaullah Khan on 69. Robinson's breezy 50 from 47 balls highlighted the merciless contribution from the tailenders of 116 runs and 15 boundaries. Brook resumed on a restrained 52 and Dan Lawrence on 5, and in sunny conditions they plundered seven runs per over in the first hour. Brook then mistakenly took on Shan Masood at midwicket and has now been involved in five run outs in tests only Virat Kohli (6) has been in more. Brook has gone 11 tests without a century but was still averaging more than 40. Lawrence, filling Ben Stokes' old spot, had in hand his third fifty in three tests when he chopped on. He gave up an agonizing No and Mohammad Imran's first test wicket. Bitterly disappointed to get out in the 60s, Lawrence said. Something I've prided myself on this season is kicking on. I really wanted a big hundred today. Pakistan still went to lunch with an air of resignation as Smith collected an unbeaten 47 of the 143 runs in the session. Smith got his third 50 of the summer straight after lunch by crashing Razaullah through the covers, but Razaullah got him caught and bowled on 69. No. 9 batter Robinson greeted the new ball by lofting Mohammad Abbas for six over cow corner and got his second 50 of the season from 46 balls. The entertainment was ended by a good catch from Masood in the covers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin begins 3-day India visit

It will be his first in-person participation at a BRICS summit outside Russia since the war in Ukraine began in February 2022

UP: Jauhar University case hearing postponed to Sep 25

Amroha, Sep 11: The hearing in the Jauhar University case before the divisional commissioner's court in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad could not take place on Thursday, with the court posting the matter to September 25. The case relates to an appeal filed by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust against a notice issued by the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) on July 15, declaring 38 of the 40 buildings on the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University campus illegal and ordering their demolition. The appeal was filed before the divisional commissioner's court on July 20. The hearing on the application for admission of the appeal and a stay was initially fixed for July 28. However, due to a lawyers' strike on July 28, the then divisional commissioner heard the matter a day earlier, on July 27, and granted a stay till the appeal was admitted. The next hearing was fixed for August 3. On August 3, the court directed the university to submit relevant documents and fixed August 10 for the next hearing. On August 10, the trust sought the master plan, the zonal development plan, building bye-laws, regulations and other relevant rules from the RDA. The matter was then listed for August 13. The RDA, however, did not produce the documents sought by the trust, which subsequently submitted that the building maps are available with the Public Works Department and the Rampur district magistrate's office and have already been verified. It stated that 14 campus buildings were constructed by 2008 and another 13 in 2009. The divisional commissioner accepted the application and fixed August 25 for the next hearing. In the meantime, the then divisional commissioner of Moradabad was transferred, and Sangeeta Singh was appointed to the position. No hearing took place on August 25 either. The court subsequently fixed September 10, but the matter could not be heard on Thursday as well. Jauhar Trust counsel Junaid Ejaz said there has been no lapse on their part in the legal process and that everything has been done in accordance with rules. We have complete faith in the Constitution and believe that we will get justice, Ejaz said. The university, located in Rampur, is managed by the trust, which is headed by Nikhat Aflak, sister of jailed former Uttar Pradesh minister and Samajwadi Party veteran Azam Khan, who was previously its chairperson. Azam Khan's elder son, Mohammad Adeeb Azam, is the trust's secretary, while his wife, Tazeen Fatma, is among its trustees.

Deadlock over SinghporaVailoo tunnel project ends, Rs 3,567-cr project set to move ahead

Srinagar, Sep 11: The long-pending SinghporaVailoo twin-tube tunnel project under Sinthan Pass is set to move ahead, with the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) inviting bids for its construction along the KishtwarVailooKhanabal section of National Highway-244. The project, estimated to cost Rs 3,567.51 crore, is aimed at providing an all-weather connectivity link between Kishtwar in the Chenab Valley and Anantnag in south Kashmir, offering an alternative to the treacherous Sinthan Top route that frequently remains closed during winter due to heavy snowfall. According to a Notice Inviting Bid issued by NHIDCL, the 38.611-km highway package will be executed in Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode. The package includes construction of a 10.331-km left tunnel tube and a 10.363-km right tunnel tube, along with approach roads and other associated infrastructure. The stipulated construction period is 60 months, followed by a 120-month maintenance period. The project will connect Chhatroo in Kishtwar district with Vailoo in Anantnag district. The eastern approach from Chhatroo to the tunnel portal will cover 17.088 km, while the western approach towards Vailoo will extend for 11.160 km, including the portal section. The eastern portal, proposed near Singhpora in Kishtwar district, will be located at an elevation of around 2,243 metres, while the western portal at Gadole will be at approximately 2,404 metres. The tunnel will have a nine-metre carriageway, footpaths and dedicated emergency facilities. The two tubes will be interconnected through cross-passages at intervals of about 500 metres to facilitate pedestrian movement and emergency evacuation. As per the project documents, 20 cross-passages, each 6.1 metres wide and 18.5 metres long, have been proposed. The tunnel will be equipped with semi-transverse ventilation, fire detection and firefighting systems, CCTV surveillance, emergency communication facilities, traffic-control systems, lighting, drainage and waterproofing arrangements. Fire hydrants will be installed at intervals of 250 metres, besides hose connections and fire extinguishers at shorter intervals. The project package also includes construction of approach roads, bridges, viaducts, culverts, drainage systems, safety installations and other ancillary works. A total of 21 major and minor bridges, viaducts and viaduct-cum-bridge structures have been proposed, with the longest being a 1,345-metre viaduct at design chainage 139+660. The approach roads will be developed as two-lane highways with paved shoulders. The project also provides for roadside and catch drains extending over 26 km and 28 km, respectively. The tunnel has been proposed to comply with relevant Indian and international standards, including applicable IRC guidelines for road tunnels, CIE standards for tunnel lighting and NFPA provisions relating to fire safety. The VailooSinghpora tunnel project, approved in 2017 and reaffirmed in 2021, has faced repeated delays over the years. Once completed, the tunnel is expected to provide a reliable all-weather alternative to the Sinthan Top route, improve connectivity between Kashmir and the Chenab Valley, reduce travel time and facilitate greater movement of people and goods. The project is also expected to give a boost to tourism, trade and economic activity in both regions while strengthening strategic and inter-regional connectivity along NH-244.(KNO)

Wisconsin restored old farmland into prairie and rare bumblebees began returning

HP Governor Kavinder Gupta meets former President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi

Governor of Himachal Pradesh Kavinder Gupta Thursday called on former President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi. During the meeting, Kavinder Gupta conveyed his warm regards to Shri Ram Nath Kovind and expressed his deep respect for his distinguished journey in public life and his invaluable contribution to the nation in various constitutional capacities. The two leaders exchanged views on matters of national importance, with particular emphasis on constitutional values, strengthening democratic institutions, education and the role of youth in nation-building. Kavinder Gupta also shared his perspective on the priorities and initiatives being pursued in Himachal Pradesh, particularly in the areas of quality and value-based education, youth empowerment, preservation of the States rich cultural heritage and promoting its spiritual and cultural potential. The meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, reflecting the shared commitment to the ideals of public service, constitutional values and the continued progress and development of the nation.

PM Narendra Modi addresses International Space Summit in Paris, France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday addressed the International Space Summit held in Paris, France, via Video conference. The Prime Minister thanked President Emmanuel Macron for taking a timely initiative and extending a gracious invitation. He expressed delight in participating in this landmark gathering. I am happy to be a part of the first International Space Summit, remarked Shri Modi. Reflecting on humanitys enduring fascination with the cosmos, the Prime Minister observed that space has inspired human imagination for centuries. He highlighted that this frontier now shapes everyday life on Earth, from climate and crops to oceans and communities. The promise of space is infinite, and our responsibility is collective, noted Shri Modi. Addressing the growing complexity of the cosmic environment, the Prime Minister emphasized that orbits are becoming more crowded, technologies more powerful, and actors more numerous. He stressed that global partnerships must prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term gains. Our choices must be clear: cooperation over confrontation, sustainability over short-term gain, and inclusion over exclusion, PM Modi said. He connected Indias philosophical worldview to outer space and pointed out that the nations approach is firmly rooted in the ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, meaning One Earth, One Family, One Future. He advocated for this unifying spirit to travel beyond our planet to ensure a secure domain. We support a safe, secure, peaceful and sustainable space domain, anchored in international law, dialogue and multilateral cooperation, he said . Highlighting the importance of transparent research, Prime Minister stressed that Indias cosmic journey perfectly reflects the philosophy of universal welfare. He said that the ethical sharing of information is paramount for global progress. Scientific data must serve the common good, with openness and integrity, PM Modi said. Tracing the remarkable trajectory of the nations aerospace enterprise, the Prime Minister highlighted the practical benefits of satellite technology for weather forecasting, disaster management, and navigation. He said that these advanced capabilities directly serve grassroots communities, including farmers and fishermen. ISRO, which stands at the heart of this journey, has earned global admiration for its excellence and cost-effective missions, PM Modi added. Detailing Indias collaborative international footprint in launch services, the Prime Minister highlighted the successful deployment of more than 430 payloads from 34 countries aboard domestic rockets. He emphasized the broad global utility of these cooperative scientific endeavors. ISROs technologies and partnerships serve not only India, but the wider world, noted Shri Modi. Ascribing this institutional success to the relentless human capital of the nation, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the dedication and hard work of generations of Indian scientists, engineers, and technicians. He commended how their tireless efforts have secured a place of pride among spacefaring nations. Working day and night, they have built ISROs global reputation mission by mission, success by success, he added. Recalling monumental milestones in planetary science, the Prime Minister cited that Aditya-L1 is currently unlocking the secrets of the Sun, while an Indian astronaut visited the International Space Station last year. He proudly recounted the historic lunar touchdown that set a new global benchmark. Chandrayaan-3 made India the first nation to land near the lunar south pole, he said. Outlining ambitious futuristic targets for the national roadmap, the Prime Minister announced plans to establish an indigenous space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. He maintained that these long-term efforts are driven by a singular, overarching purpose. In all these efforts, our guiding principle has been clear: their benefits must reach all humanity, PM Modi said. Describing the rapid evolution of the domestic commercial ecosystem, the Prime Minister observed that Indias private space sector is surging in a big way alongside institutional agencies. He acknowledged the dynamic synergy forming between emerging startups and established organizations. The energy of enterprise is joining the excellence of ISRO, remarked Shri Modi. Valuing long-standing bilateral relations, the Prime Minister recalled that France has been a trusted partner since the inception of the Indian space program at Thumba in the 1960s. He emphasized that current joint initiatives successfully merge high-level research with tangible societal benefits. Today, our cooperation spans Earth observation and advanced technologies, uniting scientific excellence with human purpose, he said. Extending an open invitation to international stakeholders, the Prime Minister called upon the global community to participate in upcoming exploratory missions. He welcomed worldwide partners to join hands in pioneering the next wave of cosmic discovery. We invite France and the world to be co-travellers in Indias next space frontier, the Prime Minister said. He conveyed his best wishes to all the participants of the summit and urged the international community to safeguard the celestial environment through collaborative exploration and innovation. Let the Space Summit in Paris send a clear message: we will explore together, innovate together and protect space together, for all humanity, and for generations to come, PM Modi added.

Supreme Court clears Bilquis Mir as chief coach for Indian kayaking team, quashes JK HC order

In a relief for international water sports coach Bilquis Mir, the Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh order and directed the J&K administration to issue her a no objection certificate and relieving order on or before September 15. The ruling paves the way for Mir, a physical education teacher in the J&K Youth Services Department, to join as chief coach and assist the Indian National Kayaking and Canoeing Team for the Asian Games in Japan beginning September 19. A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Vipul M Pancholi allowed the appeal filed by the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association against the high courts August 11 judgment. The apex court quashed the Jammu and Kashmir governments order dated June 19, 2026, which had denied her permission citing pending departmental inquiries and service conditions. Emphasising the importance of time management in competitive athletics, the bench said sports administration necessarily involves strict timelines. Selection, training camps, qualifying events and international competitions operate upon fixed schedules which cannot be postponed to await completion of ordinary administrative processes. Mir was represented by advocate Khowaja Siddiqui while the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association was represented by senior advocate Najmi Wazziri during the hearing. Addressing the limits of executive power, the top court said, The absence of an absolute right to obtain a favourable administrative decision cannot be equated with the absence of a right to fair, reasonable, non-arbitrary and timely consideration of a request, which in our considered opinion are two distinct propositions. Under the apex courts directions, the J&K administration must issue all requisite permissions by September 15, 2026, to enable Mir to join the national coaching camp and accompany the team to the Asian Games. The court directed that the period of her absence for the national sporting assignment will not be treated as unauthorised absence. The top court clarified that the judgment does not recognise any general right in a government employee to claim deputation or foreign travel, nor does it interfere with the states power to independently proceed with disciplinary inquiries against her in accordance with law. In its 16-page judgement, the bench highlighted the consequences of bureaucratic delay and said in a time-sensitive matter, delay may itself defeat the very purpose for which administrative power is required to be exercised. A decision rendered after the relevant opportunity has substantially or wholly passed cannot invariably cure an earlier failure to act... Mir was selected by the association in February 2026 to prepare the national team. However, procedural delays by the state government resulted in her missing an earlier international assignment as Chief Finish Line Judge at the World Cup in Hungary in May. Holding that a remand back to the authority at this late stage would amount to a denial of effective relief, the apex court granted direct relief to ensure her participation in the upcoming games. It, however, left undisturbed the high courts direction asking the Centre to frame an enforceable statutory framework for government employees who are outstanding sportspersons or coaches. The top court noted that the high court misdirected itself by treating the arrangement as an ordinary service matter while failing to recognise the urgent, time-sensitive nature of a national sports assignment. The error in the impugned judgment lies in holding that the subsequent administrative order dated 19.06.2026 rendered the earlier delay inconsequential, the bench said. The top court also expressed firm disapproval of the Union Territory administrations decision to issue a rejection order on June 19 while an interim court direction passed on May 6 was actively operating in favour of Mir. An order of a constitutional court, for so long as it remains operative, binds the parties to the proceeding, the bench observed. An executive authority cannot, during the subsistence of a judicial direction, render that direction ineffective merely by taking an administrative decision inconsistent with it.

4 Srinagar climbers open new route on Koh e Noor South-West

A team of four climbers from Srinagar has opened a new route on Kohenoor South-West, the highest peak of the Kohenoor massif in the Marwah valley of Kishtwar district, climbing it from a side of the mountain that no recorded expedition had attempted before. As per a statement, the climbers claim that it is the first ascent of the peak in nearly fifty years. The team recorded an elevation of 5,146 m on the summit. Earlier records list the peak at 5,136 m. Muzakir Khan, Yasir Khan, Faik Aijaz Pattoo and Saqib Shafi, all aged between 20 and 30, summited at 1:15 p.m. on 6 September after a climb of close to nine hours from their base camp. They believe it is the first time an all-Kashmiri team has stood on the summit. The peak was last climbed in August 1976, by a Japanese team. The team left Srinagar on 4 September for Sukhnai village (2,800 m), intending to push through to Kohenoor Lake the same day. They stayed the night in the village instead. At 5 a.m. on 5 September they set out with a plan to bypass a conventional base camp altogether and place an advanced camp directly on the Sheeshnag glacier, above the col separating Kohenoor South-West from Kohenoor Central. The trail climbed steeply out of the valley floor, and by 10:30 a.m. they had reached Kohenoor Lake at 4,060 m. By 1:30 p.m., at the snout of the glacier, the weather turned. Hail gave way to snow and then to a complete whiteout. The climbers built a small bivouac under a rock, pulled a tarp over themselves and their gear, and waited. With no improvement, they abandoned the advanced camp entirely and descended some 400 metres to a doka roughly 200 metres below the lake, reaching it at 4 p.m. That shepherds hut, at 3,860 m, became their base camp. The retreat forced a change of strategy. Rather than carry heavy loads to an advanced camp and climb from there, the team decided to strip down and attempt the summit directly from base camp, moving as fast as the terrain allowed. Nine hours to the summit They left at 4:30 a.m. on 6 September. Within two hours they had regained the ground lost the previous day. Moving up and across the glacier, they reached the col between Kohenoor South-West and Kohenoor Central at 4,750 m by 8:10 a.m. There they roped up, fitted crampons and crossed the Sheeshnag glacier, negotiating crevasses and the bergschrund before reaching the north-east face of Kohenoor South-West. From this point the route was unknown ground. The team had plotted a line on the map beforehand and followed it, scrambling a steep wall that took two hours to yield 200 metres of height. The summit arte above proved harder still: narrow, exposed, and interrupted by pinnacles that had to be traversed one by one. They reached the top at 1:15 p.m. The summit gave a full circle of the ranges Thajiwas, Kolahoi, Amarnath, Nanga Parbat, Nichheng, Katsal, Kallatip, Brammah, Flat Top, Sickle Moon, Nun Kun, the Zanskar range, and the peaks above Warwan and Kishtwar. The climbers left a rock piton as their summit marker. Judging the north-east face unsuitable for a descent, the team came down the south-west side instead, through steep gullies and along traversing ridge lines in what proved to be a heavy rockfall zone. Rocks came down around them through the afternoon. They reached base camp at 7 p.m. and walked out to Sukhnai the following morning. The route has been named One Day Boys Up & Down. The climb was made in alpine style. Porters carried loads only as far as base camp; above it the team used no fixed ropes, no supplementary oxygen and no high camps. The three summits of the Kohenoor massif South-West, which is the high point of the group and is recorded at 5,136 m, the middle peak Kunyirhayan or Kohenoor Central (5,036 m), and North-East (4,966 m) carry an unusually long climbing history for a Kashmir massif. In September 1898, the British mountaineer C.G. Bruce climbed the north-eastern summit while Karbir, the Gorkha climber accompanying him, took the south-western and highest top. The middle peak followed in 1911, climbed by Captain J.B. Corry, Lt. R.D. Squires, men of the Sherwood Foresters and Dr. Ernest Neve. In 1972, an American-Kashmir expedition led by Mohammad Ashraf, the former Director General of Tourism, climbed all three summits with a team that included Nazir Ahmad, Vijay Kumar and Mohammad Aslam alongside American climbers. A Japanese team repeated the trio in August 1976. Nothing has been recorded on the massif since. Climbers have gone in from the Sheeshnag side in the decades that followed, but according to the team, none of those attempts reached a summit. That approach is the other thing that sets this months climb apart. Every recorded expedition to the Kohenoor peaks, successful or not, has gone in from Sheeshnag and up the glacier from there. The four climbers came instead from the opposite side of the mountain, walking in from Sukhnai in the Marwah valley and climbing directly to the col between the central and south-west summits ground that, until this month, no one had taken to the top. The climb is one of the more significant in an ongoing series of route openings the team is undertaking in the valley. We are opening new routes in Kashmir so that fellow climbers can come and climb them, and so we can revive and promote alpinism and mountaineering in the valley, the team said.

KCCI welcomes 2-year extension of LTC scheme for J&K

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has welcomed the Central Governments decision to extend by another two years the Leave Travel Concession (LTC) facility for its employees to visit Jammu and Kashmir. The Chamber said the extension is a positive and timely decision that will provide a further impetus to the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly by encouraging government employees and their families to visit the region. KCCI had taken up the matter with the Central Government, seeking continuation of the LTC facility for Jammu and Kashmir, keeping in view its importance for the tourism industry and the wider local economy. The Chamber thanks the Government for considering the issue and for the favourable decision. The KCCI said the tourism sector has a significant multiplier effect on Jammu and Kashmirs economy, supporting hotels, houseboats, restaurants, transporters, travel agencies, guides, handicraft, and other allied businesses. Increased tourist movement through the LTC scheme will, therefore, benefit a wide range of stakeholders across the UT. The Chamber expressed hope that the extended LTC provision will contribute to sustained tourist arrivals and help strengthen confidence in Jammu and Kashmir as a preferred travel destination. KCCI further urged the Central and UT Governments to continue taking measures that facilitate travel, improve connectivity and promote Jammu and Kashmir as a safe, attractive and accessible destination for domestic tourists.

Jamkash Vehicleades launches all-new Baleno

Jamkash Vehicleades (Kashmir) Pvt. Ltd., a Maruti Suzuki dealership, today launched the all-new Baleno 2026 at an event in Srinagar. The launch ceremony was attended by Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Srinagar, Qazi Irfan, who was the chief guest, along with Irfan Ahmad, Managing Director, Jamkash Vehicleades; Amber Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer; A R Bhat, CGM; senior company officials, customers and representatives of J&K Bank, SBI, Mahindra Finance and HDFC Bank. Speaking on the occasion, Qazi Irfan congratulated Jamkash Vehicleades on the launch and said the Baleno had established itself as one of Indias leading premium hatchbacks. He expressed confidence that the new model, with its updated design, technology and safety features, would further strengthen its appeal among customers. Waseem Ahmad, Sales Manager, NEXA, said the new Baleno 2026 introduces several features aimed at raising the benchmark in the premium hatchback segment. According to the company, the vehicle comes with first-in-segment Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), a new design, Z12E engine, six airbags as standard, SmartPlay Pro+ infotainment system, 360-degree camera, Head-Up Display (HUD), ventilated front seats, Clarion premium sound system, wireless phone charging with active cooling and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). The company said the launch reinforces Jamkash Vehicleades focus on bringing new products and technology to customers in Jammu and Kashmir while strengthening its presence in the regions automotive market.

ReT Teachers Forum elects three office-bearers unopposed

The Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) Teachers Forum on Thursday declared three senior office-bearers elected unopposed after scrutiny of nomination papers for the organisation's UT-level elections. The announcement was made at a press conference in Handwara by Election Commissioner Ghulam Mohammad Dar. Dar said September 9 was the last date for filing nominations, while scrutiny was completed on September 10. He said elections for the posts of Chairman, Senior Vice Chairman and General Secretary were scheduled for September 20. However, only one nomination was received for each post and none of the candidates withdrew, leaving all three posts uncontested. Jahangir Alam Khan was elected Chairman, Zahoor Ud Din Beigh Senior Vice Chairman, and Khalid Rafiq Bhat General Secretary of the J&K Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum. Dar said the candidates had the unanimous support of all district presidents and UT executive members of the Forum, making polling unnecessary. He congratulated the newly elected office-bearers and expressed hope they would work for the unity, welfare and legitimate interests of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers across Jammu and Kashmir.

Fire guts 21 shops in Kupwaras Warnow Lolab, traders suffer heavy losses

At least 21 shops were gutted in a major fire in Warnow area of Lolab in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Thursday, causing extensive damage and heavy financial losses to local traders. Officials said the blaze engulfed three commercial buildings, destroying shops, stock and other property. The first building had 16 rooms, including eight shops on the ground floor, an agriculture laboratory and two hotel units. Five other rooms were being used as grocery shops, while the eight rooms on the first floor were vacant. The second building housed a single-storey grocery shop, while the third building contained a grocery shop, a mobile phone shop, a photostat shop and a fertiliser shop. A total of 21 shops and one motorcycle were damaged in the fire. The blaze reduced commercial establishments and merchandise to ashes, leaving traders with substantial losses. Tehsildar Lalpora Dr Masroor Gayaas told Greater Kashmir that the administration had begun assessing the damage and would provide assistance to the affected traders under the applicable provisions. The cause of the fire and the exact extent of the losses are being assessed, he said. National Conference district president Kupwara and Lolab MLA Qaiser Jamsheed Lone visited the affected area and urged the district administration to provide immediate relief and financial assistance to the shopkeepers. He called for a prompt assessment of losses and timely support to help the traders recover. Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone also expressed grief over the incident and appealed to the government to take immediate steps for rehabilitation of the affected shopkeepers.

Childrens safety at risk as stray dogs invade Gulmarg Childrens Park

Gulmargs popular Childrens Park has become a growing safety concern, with stray dogs roaming freely inside the facility as large groups of schoolchildren continue to visit during the peak picnic season. The park is a popular attraction for visitors, particularly schoolchildren who arrive in groups for picnics and spend hours playing and relaxing. However, the unchecked presence of stray dogs inside the recreational facility has raised concerns among visitors over the safety of children. Basharat Ahmad, a resident of Pattan, Baramulla, said it was disturbing to see stray dogs roaming in a park meant for children. The presence of so many stray dogs is frightening. It is extremely risky to leave a child unattended here. The dogs are constantly roaming around and surrounding visitors, he said. Visitors said there appeared to be no effective mechanism to keep stray dogs out of the park or prevent them from coming into close contact with children and families. The concern is particularly serious during the school-picnic season, when the park witnesses a heavy influx of students. Visitors also questioned the collection of a Rs 50 entry fee, saying authorities should ensure basic safety within a facility specifically designed for children. Despite collecting an entry fee, authorities are charging visitors to enter a designated childrens recreational space. Who is responsible for ensuring that the premises are reasonably safe? said another visitor, Bilal Ahmad. Visitors said any bite or attack involving a child could have serious consequences, turning a routine picnic into an emergency. For parents and teachers accompanying school groups, they said, the responsibility for managing the risk posed by stray dogs should not be left entirely to them after paying to enter the facility. The situation has also raised questions about Gulmargs image as a premier family tourist destination, with visitors saying the condition of a childrens facility reflects a gap between tourism promotion and on-ground management. The Rs 50 entry ticket may provide access to the park, but it cannot become a price parents pay for heightened anxiety over their childrens safety, said Fayaz Ahmad.

Machils quiet transformation: From border valley to emerging tourism destination

Soon after crossing Kalaroose, the mountainous road winding through dense forests and open landscapes leads to Machil Valley in north Kashmirs Kupwara district. Located 47 kilometres from the district headquarters, the remote valley has long been known for its proximity to the Line of Control and relative isolation. That is slowly changing. Tourists are beginning to arrive in Machil for its meadows, streams, mountains and peaceful surroundings, offering locals a new source of hope and livelihood. Several families have converted parts of their homes into homestays, providing basic facilities and locally prepared food to visitors. Locals see tourism as a potential economic lifeline. Shopkeepers and transporters are hoping for more business, while young people see opportunities to work as guides and in other tourism-related services without leaving the area. Tourism has given people a new hope. The district administration and, most importantly, the Indian Army have helped promote the area and encouraged us to participate in tourism-related activities, said former Machil sarpanch Habibullah, who has converted his house into a homestay. From families opening homestays to young people working as guides and transport providers, tourism can gradually create an economic chain across the Machil sector, he said. Visitors are also being drawn to Naaz-e-Hind and Zulu Cafe at Z-Gali. The roadside cafe set up by the Indian Army serves a variety of fast food and has added to the visitor experience in an area where tourism infrastructure remains limited. Abdul Jabbar, a resident of Pushwari, said Machils tourism potential extends beyond the places currently attracting visitors. Ring Bala, Ring Payeen, Katwara, Pushwari, Dappal and Misri Behak have their own beauty. With better infrastructure and connectivity, tourists could spend more time exploring the valley instead of simply passing through, he said. For many families, homestays offer a direct way to benefit from the emerging tourism economy. Homestays can be a great prospect for locals to earn their livelihood. We generally charge Rs 2,000 for a room, including locally cooked food, said Shabir Ahmad, another resident. Visitors say the valleys natural surroundings are its biggest attraction. The pristine atmosphere and cool breeze throughout the day soothed us. I would certainly like to visit again. Machil has considerable potential to emerge as a border tourism destination, said Nasir Ahmad of Lalpora, who was visiting the valley for the first time. Machils appeal is not limited to its landscape. The valley also has a distinct agricultural identity, with locals primarily cultivating potatoes, rajma and maize. Paddy cultivation is not feasible in much of the area, residents said. Locally grown rajma, known for its taste and organic cultivation, is particularly valued. Much of the produce is stored for winter, when heavy snowfall can disrupt supplies to local shops. People love our rajma because of its taste and protein value. It also provides good revenue to farmers, but much of the crop is kept for winter because heavy snowfall can leave local shops short of essential food items, Shabir Ahmad said. As tourism takes its first steps in Machil, locals hope that better connectivity and planned infrastructure will allow the valleys natural beauty, homestays and agricultural products to become part of a sustainable local economy.

Shopian residents demand staff, equipment at district hospital, threaten hunger strike

On Thursday morning, members of civil society and local residents gathered outside District Hospital Shopian, demanding adequate manpower, specialist doctors and essential equipment at the facility. The protesters warned that they would intensify their agitation, including by going on a hunger strike, if the authorities failed to address what they described as persistent deficiencies at the hospital. The hospital was established in 1977 as a Sub-District Hospital (SDH) and was upgraded to a District Hospital after Shopian was granted district status in 2007. Despite catering to a population of more than 2.5 lakh, residents said the hospital continues to face shortages of specialist doctors, technical staff and diagnostic facilities, forcing patients to seek treatment outside the district. We will go for a hunger strike if the hospital is not provided with all the facilities a district hospital deserves, said Mitha Gatoo, a civil society member. Gatoo said the hospital was functioning without several crucial specialists, including a urologist and cardiologist, while other categories of staff were also inadequate. He said the shortage was particularly affecting patients requiring diagnostic services. The USG facility shuts at 4 pm. Afterwards, the patients have to either visit private diagnostic centres or are referred to Srinagar, Gatoo said. He said patients from Shopian were being forced to travel outside the district even for services that, in their view, should be available at a district-level hospital. The protesters also raised questions over the utilisation of equipment already available at the hospital. While the facility lacks key diagnostic services such as an MRI, some of the available equipment remains unused because of a shortage of trained personnel, they said. An ECHO machine is gathering dust because there are no technicians available in the hospital to operate it, Gatoo said. He said the absence of specialists and technical staff was undermining the purpose of having a district hospital in the area. Magray Mansoor, another civil society member, also joined the demand for strengthening the hospital and said the authorities needed to take immediate steps to address the shortage of staff and facilities. The residents said the problem was not limited to one particular department but involved several areas of healthcare, affecting patients who depended on the government hospital for affordable treatment. Ashok Kumar Bali, a resident and former councillor, said he would also join the proposed hunger strike if the authorities failed to address their demands. Bali said the hospital served a large population and should be equipped with the doctors, paramedical staff and diagnostic facilities required of a district hospital. The protesters called on the health authorities and the administration to assess the hospital's requirements and fill vacant posts besides ensuring that existing equipment was put to use. They said people in Shopian should not have to travel to Srinagar or rely on private facilities for basic and specialised healthcare services that should be available at the district hospital. The civil society members said they would wait for the authorities to respond to their demands but warned that failure to act would leave them with no option but to intensify their agitation.

Annual IIPA Debate-2026: KU, FDA plan major food-safety awareness push in J&K

In a significant development, Kashmir University (KU) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), J&K are set to intensify efforts to combat food adulteration. The varsity administration and FDA are planning a major consumer-awareness campaign alongside capacity-building programmes for food business operators. Talking to Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of the Annual IIPA Debate 2026, organised by the Department of Students Welfare, University of Kashmir, in collaboration with the IIPA J&K Regional Branch, Vice Chancellor Kashmir University (KU) Prof. Nilofer Khan said the varsity was ready to collaborate with the government by leveraging its scientific expertise, infrastructure and student strength. If there is any need to make a change, it is the youth who can make it possible, Prof Khan said. She added that the recommendations emerging from the debate would be compiled and explored for implementation. The annual IIPA Inter College, Department, University Debate-2026 was organised on the topic Food Adulteration: The Biggest Public Health Challenge Facing J&K. VC KU said the university scientists have worked on food-adulteration projects at the national level and possess state-of-the-art infrastructure in its Food Science and Technology Department. We can utilise their expertise and infrastructure. The students from Food Science and Technology, Social Work, Sociology, Home Science and other related departments could be taken to rural areas, schools and colleges to create awareness about food safety, she added. Prof Khan said the university could also undertake awareness programmes and research projects and help integrate its students with government initiatives. There is a huge amount of data present in the university, which can be the base, she said, adding that the university would work with the Food and Drug Administration on ways to involve students in its activities. Commissioner Food & Drug Administration J&K Khalid Jahangir earlier in his address said that consumer awareness would be the first line of defence against food adulteration amid the growing complexity and scale of the food industry. He said food products that were earlier largely sourced locally are now transported across the country and even from outside India, making production, storage and transportation a major challenge for food safety. The first and foremost bulwark against adulteration is an informed citizen. The first line of defence is awareness among consumers, Jahangir said. He stressed the need for consumers to develop the habit of reading food labels before purchasing packaged products. Jahangir said tampering with labels had emerged as a new challenge, saying that the FDA had recently scrutinised around 400 labels, of which more than 10 percent were found to have been tampered with. A label must inform. It should not mislead, he said. The Commissioner FDA said the department would soon launch a comprehensive awareness campaign covering digital and social media platforms, print and electronic media and other communication channels, including WhatsApp broadcasts. He said the government had supported the initiative and the department was hiring a creative agency to develop the campaign. The campaign will cover issues including milk adulteration, pesticide residues and scrutiny of food labels, with the aim of reaching at least 10 lakh consumers during the current financial year. Jahangir also briefed about the provisions empowering consumers under Section 40 of the food safety law, saying a consumer suspecting that a food product was unsafe or non-conforming could get it analysed independently. He said consumers could approach food safety authorities with the test results and, in specified circumstances, the cost of testing would be reimbursed if the product was found unsafe or non-conforming to prescribed standards. Consumers cannot be passive recipients. He or she has to be an equal partner and stakeholder in the food safety governance system, he said. The Commissioner said the department was also working on guidelines for traditional foods specific to Jammu and Kashmir, including local dishes and breads, in consultation with food safety experts. He said the proposed guidelines would be placed in the public domain for suggestions before being notified. Jahangir said J&Ks tourism-based economy had added another dimension to the food-safety challenge, with the influx of tourists contributing to the growth of food joints and eateries. He said the department would conduct regular inspections of food establishments, particularly with regard to hygiene and other prescribed standards. The FDA is also planning capacity-building programmes for 10,000 food business operators during the current financial year, covering different categories such as restaurants, street vendors and milk vendors. These programmes will be organised across all districts of J&K. The department plans to expand the target next year, he added. Jahangir said the administrations broader objective was to have informed consumers, responsible food business operators and a responsive regulatory system. The debate was organised by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), J&K Regional Branch Srinagar, in collaboration with the English Debate Club of the Department of Students Welfare, University of Kashmir.

Walnut harvest turns deadly for Kashmir's poor labourers

For Kashmirs poorest labourers, the walnut harvest has become a deadly gamble. At least seven workers have died in walnut-tree falls since harvesting began in late August, a period of just over two weeks. Several others have suffered serious injuries, including spinal damage that has left them paralysed for life. Most victims were breadwinners who climbed tall walnut trees without helmets, harnesses or other protective gear to earn seasonal income. Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, 46, of Damjan, Qazigund, died Aug. 30 after falling while harvesting. He left behind his wife, Meena Jan, a daughter pursuing graduation and a son in Class 12. I don't know who will take care of my two children now. He used to sustain our family and was everything for us, his wife said. Abdul Hamid Wani, 55, of Kund, Kulgam, fell on Sept. 4 while harvesting in his orchard. He was taken to GMC Anantnag, referred to SKIMS Soura and died the next day. We own only a few walnut trees. My father harvested them to support the family. We are already struggling to survive, said his son, Gowhar Wani, a pharmacist. Wani is survived by his wife, two sons and four daughters. Ghulam Mohammad Ganai, 50, of Laribal, Tral, was a seasonal labourer who earned Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 1,500 for every eight large bags of walnuts he harvested. He fell while threshing walnuts Sept. 1 and later died at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar. The businessman earns well, but it is always the labourer's life on the line. My husband worked hard, yet his life was not valued, his wife said. Mohammad Ashraf, 33, of Khaipora Khag in Beerwah, Budgam, died Sept. 5 after falling from a walnut tree. He lived in abject poverty. He was a hardworking man, and his death leaves a void impossible to fill, a neighbour said. Hilal Ahmad Mir, 33, of Puchal, Pulwama, died Sept. 2 after suffering serious injuries in a fall. He is survived by his wife and two young children. Ashiq Hussain, 35, of Pawadan village in Uri, Baramulla, died earlier in August after falling while threshing walnuts. As this report was being written on Sept. 10, Mukhtar Ahmad Najr, 46, of Jiabal-Lamer in Kulgam district died after falling from a walnut tree while plucking the fruit. He was shifted to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The deaths have renewed concern over a harvest that still relies on dangerous manual methods. Plucking walnuts requires workers to climb 20- to 30-foot trees with slippery bark, balance on branches and strike them with long sticks called Laanz. Helmets, harnesses and safety nets are rarely used. Wet weather can make the work even more dangerous by leaving bark and branches slippery. People think this is simple work, said Farooq Ahmad, chairperson of Help Poor Voluntary Trust, which supports victims of walnut-tree falls. But one slip can be catastrophic. These men risk their lives because they have no other livelihood. The trust provides medicines and hospital care to injured workers and is trying to provide safety gear to poor seasonal labourers. Revenue and law enforcement agencies must ensure labourers are fully protected before they climb, said Muhamad Ali Lone of the trust. No one should be allowed to risk life for a bag. Medical research shows the wider toll. A Srinagar Bone and Joint Hospital study, 'Walnut Tree Falls as a Cause of Musculoskeletal Injury' - A Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Kashmir, by Dr. Asif Nazir Baba and others, found that falls can cause fatal head injuries, spinal damage leading to lifelong paralysis and fractures that can leave victims dependent on others. In 2025 alone, eight men died, dozens suffered spinal injuries and hundreds were treated for fractures and other serious injuries in hospitals across Kashmir. Most victims are young men, the sole earners for their families. The burden on hospitals is tremendous, and these injuries are largely preventable, said Baba, professor of orthopaedics. A separate 2025 study, 'From Injury to Economic Strain: Assessing the Unseen Costs of Labour Risks in Kashmir's Walnut Harvesting Industry,' examined 150 labourers in Kupwara and Ganderbal and records of 95 workers treated at SKIMS Soura. It found falls from height were the main occupational hazard, with injuries including spinal trauma, head injuries, internal bleeding and lung damage. Of the 95 hospital cases, 12 workers were brought dead and 13 died within 24 to 72 hours of admission. Workers typically spend 7.5 to 8.5 hours a day harvesting, often using long bamboo or wooden sticks from considerable heights. The study cited the lack of helmets, harnesses and fall-arrest systems and recommended mechanical harvesting and pruning equipment, mandatory safety kits, worker training, health insurance and compensation for injured workers and families of those killed. Farmers and safety advocates are calling for helmets, harnesses, safety nets and non-slip boots, along with pre-season training and the mapping and controlled removal of high-risk trees. They also want ageing trees replaced with shorter hybrid varieties. Old trees need to be replaced as many of them have low yields, while decomposed branches also pose a serious risk to workers, said Muhamad Ashraf, a walnut farmer from Salia, Anantnag. He called for free distribution of hybrid walnut plants. The danger is not new. Every walnut harvest in Kashmir brings similar risks. In 2025, eight people died and several sustained severe injuries- including spinal damage. Among the victims was a 38-year-old Noor Muhammad of Lankreshipora, Bandipora, who died after being struck by a walnut branch. Our father left behind five children and my mother. He worked every day to provide for us. Now we are struggling to survive. Our relatives support us, but life has changed forever, said his elder son, Umar, 17. Neighbour Farooq Ahmad Reshi said Muhammad lived in abject poverty and had built a small house only months before his death. Walnut cultivation covers about 95,601 hectares in Jammu and Kashmir, more than 85% of India's walnut cultivation area, according to departmental data. Kashmir accounts for about 56,721 hectares, with Anantnag, Budgam, Pulwama and Kupwara among the major producing districts. Jammu and Kashmir produces about 2.66 lakh metric tonnes of walnuts annually, while growers face growing competition from imported walnuts, particularly from China, Chile and California. For labourers who depend on the harvest for seasonal income, one fall can take a breadwinner's life and leave a family struggling for years.

Secretary I&B reviews functioning of media units in Srinagar

Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Chanchal Kumar, IAS, today reviewed the functioning of various media units of the Ministry at Doordarshan Kendra (DDK) Srinagar. Representatives and officials of Doordarshan, Akashvani, Press Information Bureau (PIB) and Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) participated in the review meeting. The Secretary reviewed the news and programme content of Akashvani and Doordarshan and the campaigns and outreach activities undertaken by PIB and CBC. He expressed satisfaction over the overall functioning of the media units. Emphasising stronger digital outreach, the Secretary stressed the need to strengthen social media presence and audience engagement, particularly on Instagram, and called for the creation of engaging, audience-friendly video content on digital platforms. The media units were advised to undertake aggressive and sustained campaigning under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan and strengthen Swachhata campaigns through news, programmes, social media and outreach activities. The Secretary also stressed better coordination and synchronisation among all media units for effective dissemination and greater public outreach. The meeting was attended by heads and senior officials of Doordarshan, Akashvani, PIB and CBC Srinagar, besides other officers and employees associated with the media units of the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

El Nio health warning puts J&K on alert

A strengthening El Nio event has put India among countries facing high or very high health risks. According to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) assessment, there are increased concerns over heat-related illnesses, vector-borne diseases and water insecurity. The warning has particular relevance for J&K. Kashmir has experienced an unusually warm start to September. Temperatures at several stations are running above normal. Srinagar recorded a maximum of around 32C during the recent spell. India Meteorological Department has reported maximum temperatures 25C above normal at more than one place in Kashmir. Director Meteorology, IMD J&K, Mukhtar Ahmed said that September temperatures have been above normal. He, however, said the deviation has not been alarming. The beginning has been hotter than what we anticipate for September, he said. For Srinagar, IMDs 19912020 climatological normal shows average September temperatures of 13.1C for the minimum and 27.6C for the maximum. The month is usually cooler than the peak summer period. This September, however, has started considerably warmer. From September 18, Srinagars daily mean temperatures averaged about 25C, around 3C above normal. The maximum temperatures reached 32.5C on September 3 and 31.8C on September 8. The persistence of daytime temperatures around 3032C is therefore a notable departure from the usual September pattern. In Jammu, the IMD 19912020 September normal is substantially warmer, at about 23.2C minimum and 32.8C maximum. Jammu is experiencing a warmer-than-usual start to September, although the departure is much less striking than in Kashmir. On September 5, WHO released its Global Public Health Situation Analysis El Nio 2026. It identifies India among countries at high or very high health risk as El Nio alters weather patterns in many South Asian countries including India. This part of the earth is experiencing drier-than-normal conditions, along with above-normal heat during August-October. For J&K, especially Jammu division, the concern is not limited to heat, as rainfall patterns getting erratic have an impact on vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria. WHO, however, has cautioned that the current rise in such diseases cannot automatically be attributed to El Nio. The phenomenon acts as a risk modifier. The effects depend on local weather and population vulnerability. The Union Health Ministry's National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control maintains J&K among the areas monitored for dengue. WHO has also warned that higher temperatures can increase the risk of impact on cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney and metabolic conditions. Pregnant women and newborns are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. Changes in rainfall and water availability also affect food production and nutrition. The warning comes as India's weather outlook itself points to a warmer September. The IMD has forecast below-normal rainfall for the month. The average maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to remain above normal. The agency has also said the strengthening El Nio is contributing to the changing monsoon pattern in India. The developing El Nio is expected to remain a concern beyond the monsoon, as the event could persist until February 2027.

Drug trafficking accused escaped from NCB Jammu custody arrested in Punjab

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), in close coordination with Jammu and Kashmir Police and Punjab Police, on Thursday traced and apprehended Aqib Bashir, a notorious drug trafficker who had fled from NCB custody in Jammu. The operation is a strong example of three-day sustained search and tracking operation across J&K and Punjab and prompt coordination and intelligence sharing between J&K Police, Punjab Police and NCB besides the valuable support of the media fraternity in disseminating the alert, said an NCB Jammu spokesperson. It also reflected strong coordination between Central and state and UT agencies, spokesperson said. After fleeing from Jammu, the accused, according to the spokesperson, reached Jalandhar via the Pathankot route. He initially attempted to evade detection by taking shelter under the cover of darkness and hiding in a forest area near Narwal Fruit Mandi, Jammu. To conceal his identity, he clean-shaved, changed his clothes and altered his appearance. He subsequently used his contacts in Jalandhar to seek shelter and evade the search teams. Continuous intelligence inputs and coordinated field efforts enabled the agencies to track and narrow down his location. The NCB (Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh)Punjab Police team apprehended him when he was reportedly preparing to move towards Delhi or another state, spokesperson said, adding that the successful operation reflected the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination, real-time information sharing, sustained efforts and public cooperation.

Timelines, designated officer notified under PSGA

J&K Government has notified the timelines and designated officer or appellate authorities for the service of No Objection Certificate (NOC) for issuing solvent order license of Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. The timelines and designated officer or appellate authorities have been notified by the government in exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 read with section 8 of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Services Guarantee Act, 2011 (Act No. IX of 2011). As per the notification, the stipulated time frame for providing service will be 30 days and the designated officer will be the Director concerned of Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. Special Secretary, Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs will be the first appellate authority while Administrative Secretary, Department of Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs will be the second appellate authority.

White Knight Corps GoC visits Poonch LoC

General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight Corps, Lt Gen PK Mishra on Thursday visited forward locations on Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and took stock of overall security scenario. Army said that GOC White Knight Corps visited these forward posts along the LoC to review operational preparedness and assess the prevailing security situation. The Corps Commander was briefed on the security environment, counter-infiltration measures, surveillance grid and initiatives to further enhance operational effectiveness, said army. Commending the troops for their high state of readiness, vigilance and commitment, the GOC exhorted all ranks to remain steadfast. He also asked troops to maintain the highest standards of operational preparedness and responsiveness, the army said.

DGP reviews operational preparedness at joint TOB

Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Thursday visited a Joint Temporary Operating Base (TOB), manned by Special Operations Group (SOG), Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Doda, Kathua and Udhampur tri-junction area. He was accompanied by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu zone, DIG DKR Range, DIG UR Range and SSP Doda. They reviewed the security scenario and also assessed the operational preparedness and counter terror measures being undertaken by the joint forces. They also deliberated on the measures to be taken to further bolster the inter-agency coordination, area domination and surveillance in the area. DGP also interacted with the troops deployed there and lauded their dedication and professional commitment.

Hailstorm, heavy rain damage maize, paddy crops in Rajouri

Several areas of Rajouri district received heavy hailstorm accompanied by intense rainfall, causing concern among farmers as maize and paddy crops are nearing the harvesting stage. Reports reaching from different parts of the district said that areas including Khawas, Kotranka and Peeri witnessed heavy hailstorm along with rainfall on Thursday, with farmers fearing damage to standing crops. The sudden weather event has come at a crucial time when farmers are preparing to begin harvesting maize and paddy in the coming weeks. The hailstorm could potentially damage mature maize cobs and paddy crops, affecting grain quality and overall production. Farmers have expressed concern over the unexpected weather conditions and sought assessment of the crop damage by the concerned authorities.

Jammu custodial death: BPP incharge, constable placed under suspension

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu Joginder Singh has placed in-charge Border Police Post (BPP) PSI Vikram Choudhary and Constable Rinku Kumar under suspension in case of death of a youth on September 9, in Police custody in R S Pura area. Pending enquiry into inquest proceeding initiated vide DDR No 35 dated September 9, 2026 at Police Station R S Pura relating to death of deceased Uttam Chand, son of Darshan Lal, resident of Rakh Chakroi, these officers/officials of BPP Chakroi are hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect, read an order issued by SSP Jammu. As per order, they will report to DPL Jammu and deposit uniform articles in DPL Store. However, they are entitled to draw subsistence allowances as admissible under rules, the order specified. SP Rural, Jammu has been directed to hold departmental enquiry against them and submit findings into the matter to DPO Jammu at the earliest for further course of action. Enquiry officer has also been directed to conduct a preliminary enquiry against SPOs Rajesh Choudhary, Ashwani Kumar and SPO Manpreet Singh for their conduct in connection with the incident. The three SPOs have been attached from BPP Chakroi to DPL Jammu with immediate effect.

Sawalkot HEP moves ahead with opening of Rs 5,129 Cr technical bid: NHPC

The ambitious Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project, being developed as one of the largest hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir, has moved a step closer to implementation with the opening of the technical bid for its main construction works estimated at Rs 5,129 Cr. The technical bid was opened on September 9, marking a significant milestone in the execution of the long-awaited project, according to an NHPC press release. Head of Project (HOP), Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project (HEP), Satnam Singh, met NHPC Director (Personnel) Paresh Rasiklal Ranpara at the NHPC Regional Office in Jammu on Thursday and apprised him of the latest developments and progress achieved in connection with the project. During the meeting, Singh briefed the NHPC Director on key developments and various aspects of the project and also highlighted issues requiring the consideration and priority intervention of the NHPC management to ensure smooth progress. Ranpara assured the project authorities of full support and cooperation from the higher management and emphasised the need to facilitate the timely progress of the flagship project. The meeting was followed by a one-on-one interaction between the two officials, during which they discussed broader issues concerning the power and energy sector as well as matters specifically related to the Sawalkot project. As a gesture of appreciation, Singh, on behalf of the Sawalkot project, presented Ranpara with a specially designed project memento and invited him to visit the project headquarters. Ranpara, who concluded his three-day visit to the Jammu region on Thursday, also reviewed various projects being executed by NHPC independently as well as through the NHPC-led joint venture, Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL). The opening of the technical bid for the main construction package is expected to give further impetus to the implementation of the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project and strengthen the region's hydropower infrastructure. The project is being closely watched for its potential to contribute significantly to Jammu and Kashmir's power generation capacity and to provide a major boost to infrastructure and economic activity in the Chenab valley.

Will not allow public concerns to be reduced to political rhetoric: LoP Sunil Sharma

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma on Thursday asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not allow the concerns of the people to be pushed aside or reduced to political rhetoric. He reaffirmed it, while leading an extensive public outreach programme at the Jammu Convention Centre along with MLAs Sham Lal Sharma, Vikram Randhawa, Yudhvir Sethi, Arvind Gupta, Dr Rajeev Bhagat, Mohan Lal Bhagat and Surinder Bhagat. A large number of delegations representing different sections of society apprised the Leader of Opposition and BJP MLAs of their grievances, pending demands and issues concerning their livelihoods, employment, business, infrastructure and welfare. The delegations included representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Traders Federation, NHM employees, Daily Wagers, OBC Samaj, Transporters, Industries Federation, Junior Pharmacists, Farmers, Sports Associations, PoJK Refugees, Citizen Cooperative Bank and many other organizations and sections of society. Sunil Sharma and the BJP MLAs gave a patient hearing to the delegations. He also directed the concerned departments to take immediate remedial measures. He also assured them that every genuine issue would be raised forcefully during the Assembly Session. Sharma said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had voted with great expectations for change, development, employment and better governance, but the NC government increasingly failed to live up to those expectations. Instead of addressing pressing public issues, he said, the government appeared more focused on excuses, political distractions and rhetoric while genuine concerns of employees, traders, farmers, youth, refugees, transporters and other sections continued to remain unresolved. LoP said, The BJP stands firmly with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and will remain their strongest voice inside and outside the Legislative Assembly. BJP will not sit quietly while the aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir are compromised by the failures and misgovernance of the NC government. Sunil Sharma said the BJPs public outreach was aimed at ensuring that the voice of every section reached the highest forums of governance. He added that BJP MLAs would continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people and fight for their legitimate rights, dignity, development and a better future for Jammu and Kashmir.

Online waste bin booking service launched in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sep 10: Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Faz Lul Haseeb, along with Joint Commissioner SMC, Suhail Ul Islam, today launched the Online Waste Bin Booking Service, a digital facility aimed at making the process of requesting waste bins simpler, faster and more accessible for citizens. The service enables residents to submit their requests online without physically visiting SMC offices. The initiative is part of SMCs efforts to expand digital services and make civic service delivery more transparent, efficient and citizen-friendly. The system will also help the Corporation maintain a structured digital record of requests, monitor their status and facilitate better deployment of resources and field staff. Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner said the initiative reflects SMCs commitment to citizen-centric governance and technology-driven service delivery. Our focus is to bring municipal services closer to citizens through technology. The Online Waste Bin Booking Service is a simple yet significant step towards ensuring that residents can access essential civic services conveniently, while SMC is able to respond to their requirements in a more efficient, transparent and accountable manner. Citizens can submit their waste bin requirements along with necessary details, including their location and contact information, through the official SMC website: smcsrinagar.jk.gov.in The Commissioner directed the concerned officers and field functionaries to ensure the timely and efficient implementation of the service. He also stressed the need for wider public awareness so that residents can make full use of the digital facility. The initiative is part of SMCs ongoing efforts to strengthen sanitation and solid waste management through digital services, transparency, accountability and greater citizen participation, with the broader objective of building a cleaner, smarter and more responsive Srinagar.