Kashmir Reader

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said Jammu and Kashmir is ready to rebuild its historic relationship with the film industry, asserting that the inaugural International Film Festival of Jammu and Kashmir (IFFJK) will help restore the Valley as a preferred filmmaking destination and position it once again on the global cinema map. Launching []

Beerwah: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday visited the residence of cop, who was killed in the Anantnag terror attack, in Lolipora area of Beerwah and expressed condolences with the bereaved family, assuring them of all possible support from the administration. LG assured the family that the Jammu and Kashmir administration stands firmly with them []

Srinagar: Water levels in the River Jhelum continued to recede at key gauge stations, including Sangam, Pampore and Ram Munshi Bagh, on Friday morning, even as the river remained above the flood declaration mark at Ram Munshi Bagh. According to the latest gauge reading of the Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) Department, the water level []

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of US trading partners just as the clock runs out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court. The United States will slap taxes of 10 per cent to 12.5 per cent on imports from 60 []

NEW DELHI: Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his indefinite hunger strike after the government assured him that his demands would be met. He announced the end of his fast after Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram around Thursday midnight and conveyed the governments assurances. Just now in []

CAIRO: The US military announced Thursday that it is conducting the 13th night of strikes against Iran as clashes escalate over shipping routes. Earlier Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the Iran war as international oil topped USD 100 a barrel. US Central Command []

Chairs high-level security review meeting Reviews logistics, weather-response arrangements for Amarnath Yatra Calls for maintaining seamless coordination, ensuring safety of pilgrims Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday chaired a high-level security review meeting with senior officials from the Army, J&K Police, Civil Administration, CAPFs, and key security agencies. He directed officials to remain highly []

Srinagar: Authorities demolished the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants in Anantnag, hours after a policeman was shot dead in the south Kashmir district, officials said here on Thursday. Houses of Adil Thokar and Haroon Rashid Ganaie, both active militants, were razed to the ground during the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, the officials []

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday cautioned against wanton retributive action in the wake of a terror attack in Anantnag that killed a policeman on Wednesday, saying violence cannot be brought to an end without carrying the people along. I understand the anger of the police, but the Supreme Court has []

Addresses ASCEND 2026 Startup Summit at SKICC Distributes 5 lakh seed fund cheques to seven startups Launches new innovation initiatives, startup publications Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reaffirmed the governments unwavering commitment to strengthening Jammu and Kashmirs startup ecosystem, assuring young entrepreneurs of sustained support to transform innovative ideas into successful enterprises. Addressing []

Officials ordered to report for flood duty South Kashmir tributaries on rise Public urged stay away from rivers, streams Srinagar: Authorities in Kashmir on Thursday directed officials to report to their respective flood duty locations immediately as the levels in several water bodies increased after rains over the past few days. The order came in []

Fight to safeguard democracy New Delhi: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday expressed her support for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstrating against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations, and described the agitation as a fight to safeguard the Constitution and democracy. Addressing the protesters at the Jantar Mantar, Mehbooba praised the []

Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Centre cannot ignore protests by a large number of youth in Delhi over the paper leak issue and should address the resentment among them by having a dialogue. At some point, there has to be dialogue with them. You cannot ignore such a []

Srinagar: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo on Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress made on the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in governance in Jammu and Kashmir and the establishment of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence here The meeting besides the concerned []

JAMMU: The death toll in the recent rain-triggered flash floods and landslides across Jammu region rose to 26 on Thursday with the recovery of the body of a 25-year-old woman from Poonch district, officials said. The body of Khalida Kouser, wife of Yasar Iqbal of Murrah village, was recovered near the Fazalabad footbridge in Surankote []

Srinagar: A 59-year-old woman died after being hit by an unidentified vehicle near JVC Hospital in the Bemina area of Srinagar on Thursday, officials said. An official said that the accident took place near JVC Hospital, where an unidentified vehicle struck the woman. He said she was rushed to JVC Hospital in a critical condition, []

Srinagar: Amid the continued closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway due to heavy rainfall, landslides and shooting stones, the Northern Railway on Thursday introduced a special train between Srinagar and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra to facilitate stranded passengers. According to an official communication, the special train was introduced following a request from Commercial Control, []

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Centre cannot ignore protests by a large number of youth in Delhi over the paper leak issue and should address the resentment among them by having a dialogue. At some point, there has to be dialogue with them. You cannot ignore such a []

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the welfare of the countrys youth is the top priority of his government and asserted that anyone trying to harm their future will not be spared. Modis outreach to the youth came three days after thousands of students led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) took []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Jammu and Kashmir government is committed to building a robust startup ecosystem and will support innovative ideas, asserting that young entrepreneurs should never fear failure but should instead fear not trying. Addressing the inaugural session of ASCEND J&K 2026 Startup Ecosystem Summit at the Sher-i-Kashmir []

Jammu: Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma on Thursday alleged that the Omar Abdullah-led government rewarded the main accused in the 2012 MBBS entrance paper leak scam by granting him an extension and a post-retirement appointment, claiming the government remained silent on the case until the High Court intervened. In a statement issued, a spokesperson []

Shopian: A six-year-old girl was injured after a leopard entered a residential house in the forest area of Laitri Wali Behak in the Keller area of south Kashmirs Shopian district on Thursday. An official said that the leopard entered the residential house in Keller and attacked the minor girl, leaving her injured. He said the []

NEW DELHI:Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Thursday took note of the SCBAs plea that several metro stations have been closed making it difficult for lawyers and litigants to come to court and said he will intervene if the matter is not resolved by lunch time. Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh []

Srinagar: A security high alert has been issued in Kashmir following the killing of a policeman in a terror attack in Anantnags Lal Chowk area on Wednesday afternoon, sources said. Sources said that security across Kashmir has been put on a high alert, with forces intensifying surveillance, strengthening checkpoints and launching search operations. Meanwhile, in []

Says all depts mobilized; restoration of damaged infrastructure in full swing BUDGAM: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan on Wednesday visited the Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) at Magam and Beerwah to review healthcare facilities and ensure uninterrupted medical services in the wake of the recent inclement weather. During the visit, the DC inspected hospital wards, []

BJPs A, B & C teams stand fully exposed after refusal to join Jantar Mantar protest SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Provincial President Showkat Ahmad Mir Wednesday said the restoration of Jammu & Kashmirs statehood is a constitutional obligation whose continued delay has deepened public disappointment and strengthened the resolve of the people []

Building violations, unauthorised construction around grand mosque flagged SRINAGAR: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and President Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, Dr. Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq, chaired an important meeting of the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar and took stock of the ongoing restoration and conservation work at the historic Jama Masjid. During the meeting, the progress of the restoration []

Srinagar: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet against four accused persons in connection with an alleged multi-crore shawl cheating case involving fraudulent transactions worth over 2.50 crore. In a handout,a spokesperson said that the chargesheet in FIR No. 55/2022, registered under Sections 420, 120-B and 201 []

VANCOUVER: The US threat of 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods will have a ripple effect on the countrys economy but also could be a negotiation tactic by the US administration, experts say. The new tariffs, announced by US President Donald Trump on Monday, are scheduled to come into effect Aug 19. They cover []

Anantnag: Authorities on Thursday demolished the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists in south Kashmirs Anantnag district, officials said. Officials said that the action came a day after terrorists shot dead a police personnel in a firing incident at Lal Chowk in Anantnag on Wednesday. They said the demolished houses belonged to Aadil Thokar, a []

Our elders married their children with a golden heart, not gold. They kept Shadi simple, affordable, and free of unnecessary customs. Their rule was kam kharch, zyada izzatless expense, more respect. Even the wazwan was simple. Not 30 dishes, just 6 that were enough. Because whats the point of a grand feast, if the marriage []

Humanity has not completely disappeared. There are still many people who dedicate their lives to helping others. Doctors serve with devotion, teachers guide with sincerity, volunteers support those affected by difficulties, and countless ordinary people quietly perform acts of kindness. Such individuals prove that humanity is still alive and inspire hope for a better future. []

A successful AI strategy for Jammu and Kashmir must focus on strengthening digital infrastructure in underserved areas, training teachers in responsible AI use, developing clear guidelines on academic integrity and privacy, and teaching students AI literacy. Technology must be adapted to local realitieswith digital resources in regional languages and integration of local history and culture. []

When used wisely, AI can be an excellent learning companion. However, its excessive and careless use is raising serious concerns about the future of students creativity. Instead of thinking independently, students simply ask AI to provide complete answers. The human brain becomes stronger through use. If AI always solves every problem, the brain receives fewer []

DUBAI: Indian batting trio of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill all made up ground in the ICC Mens ODI batting rankings after their performances in the recently concluded series against England. Gill managed 188 runs across the three matches to close within one rating point of Daryl Mitchell (802 Rating Points) at the []

LONDON: The Australian Mens Mixed Disability team will tour England for a T20I series in 2027, marking the first-ever Mixed Disability Ashes. The dates for the series are yet to be confirmed. The two Mixed Disability sides will be taking each other on for the first time. The series will be part of the 2027 []

Srinagar: In the aftermath of the todays terrorist attack in Anantnag, security forces have launched an extensive crackdown across the Kashmir Valley, with over 2500 suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs) detained for questioning and verification. The coordinated district-wide operations were carried out in Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian, Ganderbal and other districts on the basis []

Srinagar: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday visited the flood-affected areas of Beerwah in central Kashmirs Budgam district to assess the damage caused by the recent heavy rains. Speaking to reporters during the visit, CM Omar, said he met the owners and tenants of the affected shops and directed them to submit all documents related []

Srinagar: The University of Kashmir on Wednesday postponed all examinations scheduled to be held on July 23 in view of the prevailing inclement weather conditions. According to a notice issued by the Office of the Controller of Examinations, all University examinations slated for July 23, 2026, have been postponed. The notice stated that the revised []

Srinagar : Security forces have picked up over 1,000 Over Ground Workers (OGWs) from across the Kashmir Valley after a cop was killed in a terror attack in south Kashmirs Anantnag district, officials said. A top official said that following the attack security forces along with Jammu and Kashmir police launched Valley-wide raids. He said []

Bandipora: A 14-year-old boy was found dead in a nallah in the Guzarbal area of Bandipora district on Wednesday, officials said. Officials said that the body was recovered from the nallah and shifted to District Hospital Bandipora for medico-legal formalities. The deceased was identified as Amir Khatana (14), son of late Mehboob Khatana and a []

Srinagar: Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir and President Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid, Dr. Moulvi Mohammad Umar Farooq, chaired an important meeting of the Anjuman Auqaf Jama Masjid Srinagar and took stock of the ongoing restoration and conservation work at the historic Jama Masjid. During the meeting, the progress of the restoration work was reviewed, and the need to ensure []

Srinagar: Anantnag Police on Wednesday cautioned the public against sharing unauthorised photographs, videos and unverified information related to the terror incident in Lal Chowk area, warning that violators will face legal action. A senior police officer said that several social media users and platforms were circulating fake photographs, edited videos and unverified content linked to []

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday condemned the terror attack in Anantnag that claimed the life of a police personnel and said those responsible will be brought to justice. In a post on X, the LG said he spoke with DGP Shri Nalin Prabhat to review the situation following the attack. I strongly condemn []

Ramban: Several passengers were injured after a shooting stone hit a tempo on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Ramsoo in Ramban district on Wednesday, officials said. Officials said that the shooting stone struck the passenger vehicle amid continuous rainfall, leaving several occupants injured. They said one of the injured sustained critical injuries and was shifted []

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said the ruling National Conference (NC) is normalising the constitutional changes of August 5, 2019 by reducing Jammu and Kashmirs political discourse to the demand for statehood alone. She said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should have convened an all-party meeting before approaching the Centre on []

Anantnag:A police personnel was critically injured in a firing incident on the Kokernag side road in Anantnag district on Wednesday. The injured cop was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. His condition is said to be critical, official sources said. Soon after the attack, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a []

NEW DELHI: Wearing black clothes, leaders of several Opposition parties on Wednesday staged a protest outside Parliament to express solidarity with students protesting against the NEET paper leak issue. The opposition MPs raised slogans against the government and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the police action []

Jammu: Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad on Wednesday escaped unhurt after a landslide hit his official vehicle while he was inspecting rain and landslide-affected areas along the Jammu-Poonch National Highway, officials said. Officials said that rocks and debris suddenly rolled down from a hill and struck the MPs vehicle during the inspection. However, Mian []

Ramban: Vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was suspended from both ends on Wednesday following heavy rainfall along the entire stretch, which triggered multiple incidents of shooting stones and mudslides at several locations in Udhampur and Ramban districts. Officials said that traffic was suspended from both the Jammu and Srinagar sides as a precautionary []