IBTimes

Nearly 300 tourists were stranded mid-air after a technical fault halted the Gulmarg Gondola service in north Kashmir. The Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, SDRF, and civil administration launched a large-scale rescue operation, while Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah closely monitored evacuation efforts.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah urged over 40 foreign diplomats to treat narcotics as a global security threat requiring coordinated international action. He warned that drug cartels exploit differences in national laws and called for uniform drug regulations.

Actor Ranveer Singh has been banned by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees in India following Farhan Akhtar's complaint in the Don 3 row. FWICE issued a non-cooperation directive against the actor following his abrupt exit from the film. Ranveer has responded to ban.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticised naysayers for spreading fear and called for giving confidence to people. She also highlighted the Rs 8.1 lakh crore MSME payment delay issue.

A 12-year-old girl from Galwanpora village in Budgam, central Kashmir, was found raped and murdered near her home on Sunday morning, triggering widespread public outrage across J&K.

RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said the rupee is likely to appreciate once tensions in West Asia ease. The rupee has weakened due to external shocks, but remains fundamentally stable in both nominal and real effective exchange rate (REER) terms.

Donald Trump said a peace deal with Iran is largely negotiated as diplomatic efforts intensify to end the ongoing conflict. Talks are currently focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing oil export restrictions and securing a broader ceasefire framework. P

LIC of India posted India's highest Q4 FY26 profit in the financial sector at Rs 23,420 crore, beating State Bank of India and HDFC Bank in quarterly earnings. LIC shares rose nearly 5% after the results, while its AUM climbed to Rs 57.29 lakh crore.

Actor Ram Charan realised his mistake and later took to social media to apologise to cricketer Jasprit Bumrah, describing it as a genuine human error.

Pritam reacted after the Cocktail 2 song Mashooqa, featuring Kriti Sanon and Shahid Kapoor, was accused of copying the Italian track Se So Arrubate A Nonna. Pritam hit back at self-appointed music detectives and called the allegations imaginary similarities.

Over one crore citizens participate in awareness programmes; 850 NDPS cases registered, 942 arrests made, and thousands receive counselling, treatment, and rehabilitation support under the comprehensive anti-drug campaign.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attended L'Oral Paris' Lights on Women's Worth awards with Aaradhya Bachchan in coordinated cape-style looks. Pictures of the two from the event have surfaced online.

Virat Kohli and Travis Head were involved in a heated exchange during the IPL 2026 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Kohli, who scored just 15 runs, exchanged words with Head on the field before being dismissed.

Raghav Chadha has been appointed Chairman of the Rajya Sabha's Committee on Petitions after the panel was reconstituted on May 20 by Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan. The committee includes members such as Jebi Mather Hisham, Harsh Mahajan, Gulam Ali and others.

The case relates to allegations that Abdullah obtained two PAN cards with different dates of birth to become eligible for contesting elections. The prosecution argued that forged documents were used for electoral and income tax purposes. The case was filed in 2019 on a complaint by BJP leader Akash Kumar Saxena.

Rashmika Mandanna attended the Anime Awards 2026 as a presenter alongside Winston Duke. The actress turned heads in a custom Prabal Gurung gown while proudly representing Indian cinema on the international stage.

Drishyam 3 has grossed 76.18 crore worldwide in just its first two days following its May 21, 2026 theatrical release. The film marks Mohanlal's return as Georgekutty, goes against all odds to protect his daughter from his past. Planning to watch the film? Read what netizens have to say.

Anne Hathaway revealed she was legally blind in her left eye for nearly 10 years due to an early-onset cataract. The actress said her vision improved only after surgery, making her realise how severely the condition had affected her.

David Dhawan got emotional at the trailer launch of Hai Jawaani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, while praising son Varun Dhawan. This comes a day later after producer Vashu Bhagnani's allegations over the unauthorised use of Chunari Chunari in this film. The controversy follows Bhagnani's claims that Varun distanced himself after Coolie No. 1 suffered losses.

A political controversy has erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after the BJP launched a social media campaign alleging that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been missing for the past ten days amid growing public concerns over power cuts and water shortages. The opposition party shared missing posters and threatened to lodge a missing report with police.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan stunned at Cannes 2026 in a sapphire-blue mermaid gown, and international paparazzi eagerly clicked her pictures. Her appearance also reignited comparisons with Alia Bhatt over the recent Cannes embarrassment, where netizens alleged she was ignored by international paps at the red carpet.

The proposed framework envisages a Union Territory with a legislature, executive and financial powers for elected representatives, and constitutional protections on the lines of Article 371 provisions applicable in Nagaland, Sikkim and Mizoram.

State Bank of India has advised customers to use digital banking services ahead of a two-day strike by the All India State Bank of India Staff Federation (AISBISF) on May 25 and 26, 2026. While SBI said essential branch services will continue, some disruptions may occur.

A pall of grief has descended on Reasi district after the body of 21-year-old MBBS student Gourav Singh, who had gone missing in Russia in December 2025, was recovered nearly five months later.

Jammu and Kashmir Police has issued a strong advisory urging people to exercise caution while sharing personal photographs, videos, and sensitive information on social media. The police warned that cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence, deepfake technology, and morphing tools to create fake identities, extort victims, and damage reputations.

Indian-American business leaders have welcomed the closure of the US case involving the Adani Group, arguing that there was no concrete evidence of bribery and that the matter fell outside US jurisdiction.

A British radio station accidentally declared King Charles III dead live on air. Radio Caroline suddenly announced that the king had died, played God Save the King, and then disappeared from the air for 15 minutes.

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has inspired social service through the Art of Living Foundation. The spiritual teacher has brought together millions across the world through initiatives focused on compassion, unity, and human connection, leaving behind a global legacy of community-building and service.

US President Donald Trump said he hopes to attend his eldest son Donald Trump Jr's wedding this weekend, but admitted the timing was difficult amid the ongoing Iran war. Don Jr, 48, is set to marry Bettina Anderson in the Bahamas.

ClickUp has laid off 22 per cent of its workforce, with the company's CEO taking responsibility for the decision amid continued pressure on the global tech industry. Meanwhile, India recorded strong growth with employment rising to 15.17 crore in the January-March 2026 quarter,

Swiggy failed to secure the required shareholder approval to amend its Articles of Association in a bid to qualify as IOCC under FEMA regulations. The proposal received 72.36 per cent of votes, falling short of the required threshold.

Under the new rules, the medicine can now be sold only on a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner. Retailers will also be required to maintain detailed records of prescriptions and sales, while manufacturers must display a mandatory Schedule H1 warning label on packaging.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has proposed amendments to India's anti-doping laws to introduce stricter action against organised doping networks while protecting athletes from criminal prosecution for regular anti-doping violations.

Adani Power will acquire a 24 per cent stake in Jaiprakash Power Ventures along with the 180 MW Churk thermal power plant in Uttar Pradesh.

The Indian rupee fell to a record low of 96.90 against the US dollar amid a stronger dollar, elevated crude oil prices, FII outflows, and rising geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran. Meanwhile, global crude oil prices eased nearly 1 per cent.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has formally invited representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) for a Sub-Committee meeting in New Delhi on May 22, reviving the stalled dialogue process on Ladakh's key demands.

Jammu Police have launched an extensive investigation into a suspected international trafficking and prostitution syndicate after the arrest of two Thai women and a special police officer (SPO), allegedly linked to a flesh trade racket operating under the guise of spa and massage services.

Just days before the next round of talks between Ladakh leaders and the High-Powered Committee of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, serious differences have emerged within the Leh Apex Body (LAB). Veteran Ladakhi leader Thupstan Chhewang has questioned the functioning of the organisation, challenged the manner in which his resignation as chairman was accepted.

A major anti-encroachment drive in Samba district has exposed how influential drug lords had illegally occupied State land transferred to the J&K State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd. (SIDCO) for industrial development in Bari Brahmana.

J&K Police on Saturday conducted extensive searches at more than 15 locations across Sopore in north Kashmir in connection with a UAPA case linked to the banned JeI. Acting on warrants issued by the designated UAPA court, police seized incriminating material, including literature associated with the proscribed organisation.

Aay after J&K Police chief Nalin Prabhat warned Dubai-based Pakistani gangster-turned-terrorist Shahzad Bhatti, security agencies launched surveillance of several notorious gangsters in Jammu. The move follows the arrest of a Jammu resident in Punjab for allegedly assisting Bhatti's network involved in narcotics smuggling, arms procurement and terror financing.

Jammu Police busted an alleged prostitution racket operating from the rented house of a Special Police Officer (SPO) in the Kunjwani area on the outskirts of Jammu city. Five persons, including two women from Thailand, were arrested during a late-night raid conducted by Gangyal Police Station following intelligence inputs.

In a major breakthrough under J&K's Nasha Mukti Abhiyan, Kulgam Police busted an inter-state narcotics network allegedly run by a Delhi-based couple and arrested a notorious female drug peddler along with her associates.

Fear has returned to Jammu and Kashmir's border town of Poonch after the Army foiled the first infiltration attempt by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists since Operation Sindoor. One infiltrator was killed in the Krishna Ghati Sector, prompting heightened security and renewed concern among local residents.

One month after Manoj Sinha launched the 100-day Nasha Mukti Abhiyan, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have arrested nearly 700 drug traffickers and peddlers, treated over 44,000 patients, organised 2.35 lakh awareness events, and seized properties worth crores linked to drug cartels

A latest report by NITI Aayog has revealed serious inefficiencies in Jammu and Kashmir's school education system, with 146 government schools functioning without a single student while 61 teachers continue to be posted there. The report also highlights that 1,371 schools are being run by a single teacher, affecting over 32,000 students.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched a sharp and sarcastic attack on the People's Democratic Party, saying its leadership appears unable to understand either English or Urdu and may need an explanation in French to distinguish between outsourcing and backdoor appointments.

As the J&K administration intensifies its 100-day mission to make the Union Territory drug-free, the widespread illegal cultivation of opium poppy in several districts of the Kashmir Valley has emerged as a major obstacle. Police, Excise, Revenue, and Agriculture departments have destroyed poppy crops spread over hundreds of kanals and registered multiple cases under the NDPS Act.

Jammu and Kashmir is facing an unprecedented drug crisis, with more than 13.5 lakh people addicted to narcotics and other substances, including over 1.68 lakh children aged 10 to 17. Nearly 95,000 minors are dependent on opioids, exposing the alarming spread of addiction into schools and homes across the Union Territory.

Nearly 492 crore remains unclaimed in banks across Jammu and Kashmir despite a nationwide campaign launched by the Central Government to help people recover dormant deposits and forgotten accounts. J&K Bank alone accounts for 331 crore in unclaimed funds, followed by SBI and Punjab National Bank.