Greater Kashmir

Srinagar, May 23: Fresh snowfall was recorded at Razdan Pass and other higher reaches of north Kashmir on Saturday, while rain and hailstorm lashed several plains areas across the Valley, officials said. According to details, fresh snowfall was reported from Razdan Pass and upper reaches of Tulail Valley following a fresh spell of weather activity triggered by an active western disturbance affecting Jammu and Kashmir. Rainfall was also recorded in several plains districts of the Valley during th

Kolkata, May 23: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday for his four-day diplomatic tour to India, with the city marking the opening leg of a visit that carries considerable political and historical resonance. His arrival in the eastern metropolis ended a 14-year hiatus since an American secretary of state last visited the city, coming only weeks after West Bengal witnessed a landmark political transition with a BJP-led government assuming office. In a post on X, US Amb

Beijing, May 23: A gas explosion at a coal mine in China's northern province of Shanxi killed at least eight people and trapped 38 underground, state media reported Saturday. The accident at Changzhi city's Liushenyu coal mine happened Friday evening, according to official news agency Xinhua, which reported around 247 workers were underground at the time. As of early Saturday, 201 had been brought safely to the surface. The cause of the explosion was under investigation, Xinhua reported. Chinese

Washington, May 23: US President Donald Trump is seriously considering launching fresh strikes against Iran if last-minute negotiations do not result in a peace deal, US media outlet Axios reported on Friday. It said that Trump met with a senior national security team in the morning to discuss the war on Iran even as Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir visited Tehran and was joined by a delegation from Qatar in a last-minute bid to hammer out a deal. President Trump convened a meeting with his senior

Peoples Conference Chief Spokesperson and former MLA Kupwara Bashir Ahmad Dar Friday accused the National Conference of resorting to undemocratic practice and destroying the Constitution after the name of MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone was omitted from the inauguration plaque of the newly inaugurated Drugmulla Bridge. Talking to reporters at the newly inaugurated bridge in Drugmulla area of Kupwara, Dar said that excluding the name of an elected representative from a public development project was

An anti-encroachment drive launched by the Forest Department in Kandi Khas on Friday triggered protests after MLA Langate rushed to the spot and resisted the demolition and eviction attempt, accusing authorities of targeting a particular community in the name of encroachment removal. According to locals, information regarding the drive immediately reached MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, who despite condolence gatherings continuing at his residence following the recent demise of his father late Haj

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has resolved to launch an intensive month-long campaign to highlight the achievements of the Narendra Modi government as the Prime Minister completes 12 years in office on June 7, 2026. The decision was taken during a crucial meeting of UT Office Bearers held at the BJP headquarters in Jammu, presided over by J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma (CA). Senior leaders, including State General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok K

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) National Convenor Nasir Khuehami on Friday met Sanjay Raut, Member of Rajya Sabha and Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, and submitted a detailed representation highlighting the pressing concerns of students, youth, tribal communities, aspirants, and marginalised sections of Jammu & Kashmir. During the meeting, Khuehami extensively briefed Raut on a range of critical socio-economic, educational, and humanitarian issue

Every year, World HAE Day is observed globally on May 16 not only to show solidarity with patients suffering from this condition, but also to raise awareness among the general public and healthcare professionals. The theme for this year is Awareness Through Education Campaign. Globally, community activities are carried out under the campaign Be Active 4 HAE by encouraging participation in physical well-being activities from 1st April to 31st May every year. These campaigns aim to encourage commu

Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr. Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq, while speaking at the Friday congregation at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar, said: Today, as we gather at this historic pulpit of Jama Masjid, our hearts are filled with pain and disappointment that we were once again not allowed to visit Mazar e shuhuda Eidgah to pay tribute to our beloved leaders and the martyrs. Thirty-six years have passed since the martyrdom of Shaheed-e-Millat Mirwaiz Molvi Muhammad Farooq (RA) and the Hawal massacre o

By Indu Sunil Dang Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Ministers Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy, and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, attended the Dedication of UMMID Network to the Nation at the ceremony held in Prithvi Bhawan, New Delhi, on Thursday. The event marked a significant step in strengthening Indias healthcare and scientific research infrastructure through the UMMID Netwo

A grand yoga session was conducted at the scenic Patnitop main meadow, here on Friday. The event was organised in commemoration of the ongoing Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan, aiming to leverage the power of yoga and mindfulness to steer the youth away from the menace of substance abuse. The programme was organised by the Patnitop Development Authority (PDA) in close collaboration with the district administration Udhampur, Department of AYUSH and the Hotel Association Patnitop.

Prominent cricketers from J&K on Friday welcomed the newly elected body of the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA), which formally assumed office at the associations headquarters in Sonwar in Srinagar here after the Supreme Court disposed of a petition challenging the elections and vacated the stay on declaration of results. Scores of cricketers visited the JKCA office to congratulate the newly elected office-bearers, including president Javid Ahmad Kitab, vice-president Desh Ratan, treasurer Rajan S

People from Rajouri have urged the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the J&K Government and the Government of India to appoint young boxer Mohammad Yasir as ambassador of the Khelo India initiative and the Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyaan. Mohammad Yasir, a resident of Rajouri, recently brought laurels to the country by winning the Asian Boxing Championship in the U-15 category held in Uzbekistan. Locals said that Yasirs life story itself serves as an inspiration for the younger generation. They stated that desp

Asian Boxing Champion Mohammad Yasir received a warm and enthusiastic welcome in Rajouri on Friday after returning home for the first time following his victory at the Asian Boxing Championship held in Uzbekistan in the U-15 category. A large number of people, particularly youth, gathered in the town market to welcome the young boxer. Celebrations marked the occasion as people danced to the beats of drums and congratulated Yasir on his remarkable achievement. Yasir, who belongs to a financially

Indias consumer spending patterns are becoming increasingly digital and lifestyle-driven, with online transactions accounting for a major share of credit card usage, according to insights released by SBI Card. The company said Indias evolving consumption landscape is being shaped by rising incomes, urbanisation and a growing aspirational middle class, leading to higher spending on lifestyle and experience-based categories alongside essentials. India currently has around 118.6 million credit card

In a significant push towards improving credit access for small businesses in Kashmir, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with the Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE), organised a large-scale awareness session on collateral-free financing for MSMEs at Amar Singh Club in Srinagar. The session, titled CGTMSE Strengthening MSME Access to Finance, brought together senior banking officials, industrial stakeholders and entrepreneurs from across

Life Insurance Corporation of India reported a 19.25 percent rise in net profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, driven by growth in premium income and steady expansion across individual and group businesses. The state-run insurance giant posted a Profit After Tax (PAT) of Rs 57,419 crore for FY26, compared to Rs 48,151 crore in the previous financial year. The Board of Directors also recommended a final dividend of Rs 10 per equity share for FY26, subject to shareholders approval at

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) today strongly stressed the need for proper and effective implementation of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for MSMEs in J&K so that entrepreneurs can avail collateral-free and guarantee fee-backed loans to start and grow their businesses, generating much-needed employment across the region. KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga, accompanied by Executive Committee Member Ashiq Hussain Shangloo, presented a detailed memorandum to Mr Tiruchi Siva, Chairpe

Valleys apex industrial body, the Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK), has urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Industry to recommend a single, comprehensive and adequately funded industrial policy framework for J&K to ensure parity in incentives for all categories of enterprises. FCIK expressed serious concern over the growing imbalance created after closure of registrations under the New Central Sector Scheme (NCSS-2021), under which units already registered will conti

Srinagar, May 22: MLA Ahsan Pardesi has said that the augmentation of drinking water facilities to Gujar Basti, Check Sangri, Khanmoh by way of exploration of borewell including pipe network, pumping station and electro-mechanical works will start at a cost of Rs 95.00 lakh. Stating that this scheme marks the fulfillment of a major commitment towards improving basic infrastructure in the area and that the work on the project will commence shortly, he said. The people of Chak Khanmoh have been st

Srinagar, May 22:Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) held across government schools in Kashmir on Friday have emerged as an important bridge to revive public confidence in government schools while strengthening coordination between parents and teachers for the academic and social development of students. On May 22 of 2026, all the government schools organised Parent Teacher Meetings (PTMs) across Kashmir, which saw encouraging participation of parents of the students. Earlier, the PTMs, as per the DS

Srinagar, May 22:The Jammu and Kashmir administration has initiated action against more than 39,000 habitual traffic violators as part of an aggressive traffic management and decongestion strategy being rolled out across Srinagar and Jammu cities. The crackdown, which includes suspension and cancellation of driving licences and registration certificates besides seizure and blacklisting of vehicles, figured prominently during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on F

Handwara, May 22: People's Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone on Friday dared the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to act against powerful figures instead of confining its action to lower-rung officials, and alleged that a minister in the current dispensation was involved in corruption. Speaking to reporters in Handwara after visiting Mawer to offer condolences to the family of jailed MP Engineer Rashid on the death of his father, Lone said it was the ACB's moral responsibility to seek details and

Ganderbal, May 22:The Health Department in Ganderbal has sounded a district-wide alert after a cluster of Viral Meningitis cases surfaced across several areas, particularly in Kangan block and its adjoining villages, prompting authorities to mobilise rapid response teams and put all schools on notice. According to an official communication issued by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Ganderbal under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), multiple confirmed cases have be

Srinagar, May 22:In a major push towards decentralised mental healthcare and de-addiction services, five psychiatrists have been recruited under the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) for five districts of Kashmir this month. The move is part of measures initiated under the Narcotics Coordination (NCORD) mechanism to strengthen the de-addiction network across Jammu and Kashmir. The psychiatrists have been appointed under the National Health Mission (NHM), with recruitment carried out on a d

Srinagar, May 22:On the occasion of World Biodiversity Conservation Day, JKLCMA organised an awareness programme at Hadura village on city outskirts to promote the conservation of biodiversity and encourage sustainable farming practices. Speaking on the occasion, the Vice Chairman, JKLCMA, Khurshid Ahmad Shah emphasised the urgent need to protect the planets rich biodiversity and adopt eco-friendly agricultural practices for the wellbeing of future generations. He urged farmers to move towards o

Among the greatest spiritual personalities to have shaped the religious, intellectual, and cultural destiny of Kashmir stands the luminous figure of Mir Syed Ali Hamdani, reverently remembered across the Valley as Shah-i-Hamdan and Amir-i-Kabir. His arrival in Kashmir during the fourteenth century was not merely the visit of a saint or scholar; it marked the beginning of a civilizational transformation whose influence continues to define Kashmiri society more than six centuries later. In Javid N

The Code on Social Security, 2020 (Code) consolidates various social welfare laws into a unified framework for workers and employees in India. Along with substantive benefits, the miscellaneous provisions play an important role in ensuring effective implementation, compliance, and administration of the Code. These provisions deal with matters such as penalties, recovery, powers of authorities, exemptions, and rule making, thereby supporting the smooth functioning of the social security system. W

I remember as a kid we would wait for the whole year for Eid ul Adha as it was very important for everyone. Eid ul Adha also called Baed Eid in Kashmiri or Bakr Eid in Urdu had a great significance as we would take care of sacrificial animals for an entire year or at least several months. I remember after the Eid Prayers (Namaz), our local Jamia Masjid Imam Molvi Nazir Ahmad Attar sahib would come to our home and make special prayers and after that the butcher would sacrifice the sheep. During m

The rapid spread of the Ebola virus of the Bundibugyo strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is causing great global concern. This is a deadly disease which has the potential of going out of these African countries to other parts of Africa and beyond. Naturally, in governments and some health experts memories of the covid 19 pandemic have surfaced. While doctors and health professionals believe that there is no immediate danger of a covid 19 pandemic like situation no risks can be

The rise of artificial intelligence has produced a mixture of excitement, fear, and philosophical uncertainty unlike any previous technological revolution. In only a few decades, AI has evolved from a narrow academic idea into a system capable of writing essays, generating images, solving equations, driving vehicles, discovering proteins, assisting scientific research and what not. Because of this rapid progress, many people now ask a profound question; if AI will eventually take over everything

Srinagar, May 22:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has declined to quash criminal proceedings against representatives of a Gujarat-based milk producers cooperative over an allegedly unsafe milk sample, observing that contaminated milk products can have serious and irreversible consequences on human health, particularly children. In response to a plea by representatives of M/s Banaskantha District Cooperative Milk Producers Union Ltd, Gujarat, a bench of Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal held that the pu

Srinagar, May 22:The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has held that making adhoc and temporary appointments by a pick-and-choose method without issuing advertisement notifications or conducting competitive examinations, and then introducing a policy of regularisation amounts to a fraud on the constitution. Dismissing a batch of petitions by three junior engineers engaged by the University of Kashmir on a contractual hire and fire basis, a Division Bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Kumar and justice S

Srinagar, May 22:A political storm erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after the BJP circulated online Omar Abdullah missing posters in a bid to mock the chief minister. The BJPs J&K unit shared the missing posters on its social media handles, seeking information about Abullah and claiming that he has been missing for the last ten days. The saffron partys criticism comes amid reports that the chief minister is outside Jammu and Kashmir on a personal visit. Reacting to the posters, National Conference p

Shopian, May 22:An intense hailstorm in the wee hours of Friday lashed several villages of south Kashmir's Shopian district, causing damage to hundreds of apple orchards and raising fresh concerns among growers already grappling with erratic weather conditions this season. The hailstorm struck several apple-producing villages in the plains of the district, including Pinjora, Largam, Gagren, Kanipora, and parts of the Zainapora block. Farmers told Greater Kashmir that the hailstorm lasted for 10

Baramulla, May 22:A fresh spell of hailstorm swept through several parts of north Kashmirs Baramulla district on Friday, leaving behind a trail of destruction in orchards. The latest hailstorm, the third to hit the district in recent days and the second consecutive spell in Rafiabad caused widespread damage to apple orchards, dealing a severe blow to fruit growers already reeling under earlier losses. Locals said the hailstorm struck several villages in Rafiabad on Friday afternoon, including Wa

Srinagar, May 22:Residents of several villages in Tral area of south Kashmirs Pulwama district woke up before dawn Friday to hailstones pounding rooftops, orchards, paddy and vegetable fields as another spell of rain damaged crops at a crucial stage. The hailstorm affected Nagbal, Zaradihar, Machama, Chankitaar, Mandoora, Panner Jageer, and adjoining villages during the pre-dawn hours, damaging apple blossoms and standing crops, including vegetables. The storm damaged orchards and vegetable fiel

Srinagar, May 22: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has expressed concern over the registration of an FIR against Kashmiri Pandit activists protesting against the implementation of the NFSA in relation to relief and ration benefits for the displaced migrant families. In a statement here, Mehbooba said the concerns being raised by the Kashmiri Pandit community stem from genuine anxieties about their distinct identity and status as displaced migrants, something that has been acknowledged by successive

Srinagar, May 22: In a significant development, The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) on Friday said they have reached an in-principle understanding with the Union Government on restoring democracy in Ladakh and providing constitutional safeguards on the lines of Articles 371A, 371F, and 371G, as applied to Nagaland, Sikkim, and Mizoram. The understanding emerged during a meeting between the sub-committee of LAB and KDA representatives and officials of the Ministry of Home

New Delhi, May 22: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the government will launch a tech-enabled smart border project by the next year to make the 6,000-km fronts with Pakistan and Bangladesh impenetrable and ensure that the conspiracy to change the demography of the country is defeated. Delivering the annual Rustamji Memorial lecture hosted by the Border Security Force (BSF) here, the minister also reiterated that the government will find each and every infiltrator and send them out of

Jammu May 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education (J&K BOSE) has notified the schedule for submission of permission cum examination forms for Class 11 Annual(Private)/Bi-Annual 2026 session. The schedule applies to all eligible candidates across the UTs of J&K and Ladakh, including both winter and summer zone areas. As per the notification, candidates can submit their forms through both online and offline modes, depending on their eligibility category from May 25 to June 02 on paymen

Srinagar, May 22: Delhi Public School, Srinagar takes immense pride in celebrating the historic academic milestone of its alumna, Seerat Parvaiz, who has secured a coveted admission to the prestigious Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Harvard Business School. The daughter of Peerzada Parvaiz Ahmad Shah and Masrat Jabeen, originally hailing from Konan, Bandipora, Seerat has carved out an extraordinary trajectory of academic resilience and global ambition, setting a definitive ben

Srinagar, May 22: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone V. K. Birdi reviewed security and logistical arrangements during a meeting held at PCR Kashmir to assess preparedness for upcoming festivals and the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY). The meeting was attended by DIsG of IR Kashmir, CKR Srinagar, Traffic Kashmir, SKR Anantnag, Armed Kashmir, all district SSsP of Kashmir Zone (including PDs), SO to IGP Kashmir, SSP PCR Kashmir, SSsP of Traffic Rural Kashmir, Special Crime Wing Ka

New Delhi, May 22: Head of the main opposition -The Republican People Party (CHP) Ozgur Ozel has been removed from the party post. It is seen a big blow to challengers of President Erdogan. The ruling, issued by an appeals court in Ankara on Thursday, annulled a 2023 leadership contest within the Republican Peoples party, deposing the partys leader, zgr zel.He has become the face of Turkeys opposition, seen as responsible for the rejuvenation of the party. The court ordered that zel be replaced

Srinagar, May 22: A minor boy lost his life after a tractor overturned in Saimoh area of Tral in south Kashmirs Pulwama district on Friday. An official told news agencyKashmir News Observer (KNO) that the minor boy was sitting on a tractor parked on a slope near a school and while attempting to start or move the vehicle, it overturned. He said the child sustained critical injuries and died on the spot. He was later identified as Salim Ahmad Ganie (11), son of Abdul Salam Ganie, resident of Saimo

Srinagar , May 22: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the transfer of Director General of Police (DGP), Ladakh, Mukesh Singh, to Manipur on inter-cadre deputation for a period of three years. As per an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the decision follows a proposal received from the Ministry of Home Affairs dated May 15, 2026. The approval has been accorded as a special ca