SRINAGAR, Jul 8: Amid a backlash over revised school timings, Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Tuesday said the decision is not final and can be reviewed. The education department on Monday changed the timings of all schools in Kashmir and the winter zone of the Jammu division. The schools, which were closed for summer vacations due to a prolonged heatwave, reopened on Tuesday. According to an education department order, the timings for schools falling within the municipal []

SRINAGAR, July 8 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha On Tuesday said that the Centre is committed to executing new initiatives in the Union Territory with utmost vigour, emphasising that security forces are well-established and have significantly contributed to good transformations. During an address at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC), the LG said despite attempts by Pakistan to incite turmoil, Jammu and Kashmir continues to thrive. He noted that in the

CHANDIGARH, July 8: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday deferred till July 29 hearing on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithias plea against his arrest and subsequent remand in a disproportionate assets case. As the matter came up for hearing, Majithias counsels sought three weeks to file an amended plea following which the court granted time and fixed the next date of hearing. Majithia had earlier filed a plea against his arrest and subsequent remand in the [] The post High

NEW DELHI, July 8: The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a plea of an MBBS student challenging the termination of his admission in an Odisha-based medical college without prior notice. A partial working day (PWD) bench comprising Justices Rajesh Bindal and R Mahadevan asked the students counsel Harshit Agrawal to move the high court with his grievances. The plea is dismissed as withdrawn, the bench said. Agrawal approached the apex court seeking re-admission to the MBBS course [] T

KATHMANDU, July 8: At least 18 people went missing early today in floods triggered by incessant rainfalls in the northern area of Nepal, local police said. The police have received reports that at least 18 people have gone missing in floods that occurred at Rasuwagadhi border point, Inspector Krishna Dhital from Rasuwa district police told Xinhua. The majority of them were working at a dry port close to the border, he said. A bridge at the border point was washed [] The post 18 people missing in

ISLAMABAD, July 8: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed the chief justices to the four high courts, including Justice Sarfraz Dogar as the new chief justice of the Islamabad High Court after controversy over his appointment. The appointments were made on Monday following the judgment by the Supreme Court last month, which decided pleas on the issue of the transfer of three judges to the Islamabad High Court (IHC), including Justice Dogar. In a highly controversial move last year, []

Srinagar, Jul 8: Jammu and Kashmir Secretary Tourism, Yasha Mudgal, on Tuesday said that the Union Territory is on a strong path of revival in tourism and is once again becoming a top-choice destination for travelers from across the country. Speaking on the sidelines of the Tourism Secretaries Conference being held in Srinagar, Mudgal said that all states and Union Territories have come together for a major brainstorming session aimed at enhancing Indias tourism sector. The Tourism Secretaries C

Mumbai, Jul 8: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said permission had been granted for a rally in neighbouring Mira Bhayander in which MNS leaders planned to participate but the party insisted on a specific route which posed law and order challenges. Police detained Maharashtra Navnirman Senas Thane and Palghar head Avinash Jadhav and several other party activists on Tuesday ahead of the rally planned in Thanes Mira Bhayander area to counter a protest staged earlier by trade

Manchester, Jul 8: India will hope that skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and hard-hitting opener Shafali Verma will return to run-making ways in their quest to clinch the womens T20I series during the fourth match here on Wednesday. India are leading 2-1 in the five-match series but England exposed a few chinks in the visitors ranks in the third game at the Oval last week during a five-run win. Shafali looked in prime touch during a 25-ball 47 and Harmanpreet made [] The post 4th T20I: India look for r

New Delhi, July 8: Global terror financing watchdog FATF on Tuesday cited the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack, which killed 40 CRPF personnel, and the 2022 Gorakhnath Temple incident to say that e-commerce platforms and online payment services are being misused for terror financing. In its Comprehensive Update on Terrorist Financing Risks, the FATF also flagged state sponsorship of terrorism and said a variety of publicly available sources of information and delegations inputs to this repo

NEW DELHI, Jul 8: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) has written to the environment ministry clarifying that wildlife clearance is not automatically required for constructing essential public facilities such as schools, anganwadis and roads on forest land under the Forest Rights Act (FRA)- 2006, provided they are recommended by the Gram Sabha. In an office memorandum issued on July 2, MoTA offered a detailed clarification on Section 3(2) of the FRA, which allows diversion of forest land for

SRINAGAR, July 8: Police today arrested a contractor and a JCB driver for allegedly carrying out unauthorised excavation activity inside a graveyard in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. According to police, the incident occurred late on the night of July 7, around 11:50 PM, when local residents reported suspicious excavation at Shiapora village in Delina. using a JCB machine within the graveyard premises. Police responded swiftly, seized the JCB involved, and brought the situation und

LONDON, July 8: French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Britain on Tuesday for a state visit mixing royal pageantry with thorny political talks about stopping migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also try to advance plans for a post-ceasefire security force for Ukraine, despite apparent US indifference to the idea and Russias refusal to halt the onslaught on its neighbor. Macrons three-day visit, at the invitation of King Cha

NEW DELHI, July 8: Adani Power Ltd on Tuesday announced the completion of its acquisition of the 600 megawatt (MW) Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd through the insolvency route for an aggregate consideration of Rs 4,000 crore. On June 18, 2025, the Mumbai Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved its resolution plan for Vidarbha Industries Power Ltd (VIPL), Adani Power Ltd (APL) said in a statement. Subsequently, the plan was successfully implemented on July 7, 2025, taking [] The

NEW DELHI, July 8: Mumbai-based non-banking financial company (NBFC) Credit Wise Capital (CWC) on Tuesday said it has raised Rs 120 crore in funding from Trident Growth Partners. CWC will use the capital to scale its technology-led two-wheeler and other secured lending solutions across Tier 2 to Tier 4 cities, the company said in a statement. This fresh capital will be used to significantly grow its assets under management over the next 3 years, expand into other secured lending [] The post Cre

NEW DELHI, July 7:Jindal Steel Duqm, a part of Naveen Jindal Group, aims to start operations at its upcoming 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) hydrogen-enabled green steel complex at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZAD) in Oman by 2028, a company executive said. The plant is being developed in two phases at a total investment of approximately USD 3 billion (around Rs 25,000 crore), the official said. Designed to be one of the worlds most advanced hydrogen-ready [] The post Jindal Steel Duq

PATNA, Jul 8: A key suspect in the murder of industrialist Gopal Khemka was killed in a gunfight with the police in Patnas Damaria Ghat area in the early hours of Tuesday, officials said. Vikas alias Raja (29), the suspect, was wanted in several other criminal cases as well, they said. Acting on a tip-off, the team of officers probing the murder case reached Damaria Ghat around 2.25 am in search of Vikas, an official said. On spotting the police [] The post Key suspect in industrialist Gopal Khe

Srinagar, Jul 8: Schools in Jammu and Kashmir reopened on Tuesday after two weeks of summer vacation as heavy rains on Monday ended the prolonged heatwave in the valley. The schools opened amidst criticism of the governments decision to advance to the school timing to 7.30 am. The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday decided against extending the summer vacations despite no signs of heatwave abating in the valley. However, within couple of hours of the announcement, heavy rains lashed [] The p

New Delhi, Jul 8: The Congress on Tuesday said US President Donald Trump has for at least the 21st time repeated his claims on bringing about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and asked when will Prime Minister Narendra Modi break his silence on this issue. In his remarks on Monday, Trump repeated the claim that he stopped the war between India and Pakistan by telling the two neighbours that Washington would not do trade with them if they continued [] The post When Will PM Break His Silenc

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 7: Based on the traditional Ayurvedic technique, Patanjali launched a new product called Dant Kanti Gandush Oil Pulling in a function held here today. Gandush or oil pulling is considered an essential part of daily routine (Dinacharya) in Ayurveda. The grand launch was conducted by Swami Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishna and senior members of the Indian Dental Association (IDA), Uttarakhand Chapter, pesident Dr Rajeev Bansal, secretary Dr Vishwajit Walia and treasure

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 7: State Bank of India (SBI) today handed over a cheque of Rs 1.10 crore as part of the Personal Accident Insurance (PAI) claim under the Defence Salary Package (DSP) to the family of martyr rifleman Sunil Kumar, who laid down his life during Operation Sindoor. The cheque was formally presented by Ajay Singh Kamdi, Regional Manager, RBO-2, State Bank of India. Speaking on the occasion, Kamdi said, SBI stands shoulder to shoulder with the Indian [] The post SBI

Excelsior Sports Correspondent REASI, July 7: In a proud moment for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sports Complex, three of its judokasVarun Sharma, Rajat Singh Chib, and Akshay Sharmahave been selected to represent India in upcoming prestigious international judo tournaments governed by the International Judo Federation. Varun Sharma will participate in the 81 kg category at the World University Games to be held in Berlin, Germany, from July 1627, 2025. Meanwhile, Rajat Singh Chib (90 kg) and Aksha

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jul 7: The review of the ASEAN-India FTA figured during Prime Minister Narendra Modis talks with his Malaysian counterpart Anwar bin Ibrahim on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. The two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations, including in areas of trade and investment, defence, education, healthcare, tourism and people-to-people contacts, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Sunday after the meeting. Modi congratulated Malaysia for its successf

BEIJING, Jul 7 : China on Monday sought to downplay Indian Armys Deputy Chief Lt Gen Rahul R Singhs assertion that Beijing provided active military support to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor using the conflict as a live lab to test various weapon systems. I am not familiar with the specifics you mentioned. Let me say that China and Pakistan are close neighbours enjoying traditional friendship. Defence and security cooperation is part of the normal cooperation between the two countries and [] T

KATHMANDU, July 7 : Fifteen children and 200 adults were killed in traffic accidents across Nepal between May 15 and June 14, the police said today. A total of 4,240 others were injured in 2,911 accidents involving 4,416 vehicles, with 580 of them in serious conditions, Nepal Police said in a report. Motorcycles were involved in most of the mishaps, followed by cars, noted the report. Overspeed, drunk driving and jaywalking are the major causes of accidents, the report said, [] The post Traffic

LAHORE, Jul 7 : The owners of a pet lion that escaped from a farmhouse and injured a woman and her two children have been arrested in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, authorities said Sunday. The arrest comes after dramatic video footage surfaced showing the lion leaping over a wall before attacking the victims in a residential area. The woman and her 5- and 7-year-old children sustained injuries to their faces and arms on Wednesday night when the lion [] The post Lion owners arrested after

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 7: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat to review the healthcare infrastructure and other facilities across Baramulla district. MLA Baramulla, Javid Hassan Beigh; MD NHM; Director Health Services Kashmir; Director Finance, Health and Medical Education Department; Director Coordination New GMCs; Principal GMC Baramulla; CMO and BMO Baramulla besides other concerned

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 7: In a high-level meeting convened today, Advisor to Prime Minister, Tarun Kapoor, undertook a comprehensive review of development trajectory of Jammu and Kashmir, spanning energy, health, infrastructure, urban renewal, connectivity and governance reforms. Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, along with other senior officers were present in the meeting. The meeting brought together Administrative Secretaries of the UT Government and senior officials from various

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 7: BRO Chief Engineer, Brigadier R K Mishra, today called on Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary and apprised him regarding the road projects being executed under Border Road Organisation (BRO) in Jammu Province. The meeting was aimed to ensure that the road infrastructure development in Jammu province progresses efficiently, contributing to improved connectivity, economic growth and overall development of the region. The CE provided key updates on va

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, July 7: A two-week Judo Coaching Camp, organized under the aegis of the Judo Association of Jammu & Kashmir, concluded at CRPF Bantalab, Jammu. The camp was conducted by Judo Instructor Manish Chatwal, who provided technical and physical training to aspiring judokas. Over 50 young judokas, including Vertika, Shilpa, Monika, Ikshita Maddata, Akshita, Suhan, Ridhi, Shreya, Rudra, Rashi, Yogitha, Aranoy, Aditya, Ansh, Joy, Ritika, Ifra, Vishali, Jaydeep, Hardik

Excelsior Correspondent Srinagar, July 7: Commissioner Secretary of Tourism, Yasha Mudgal today said that tourist destinations still shut following the Pahalgam attack will be reopened in a phased manner once they are assessed by multiple agencies. Click here to watch video Speaking on the sidelines of the two-day National Conference of State Tourism Secretaries at SKICC Srinagar, Mudgal said that while a few destinations have already reopened, the rest will be gradually made accessible. Some de

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 7: More than a hundred prominent activists and youth from across the Kashmir Valley joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Monday. The joining ceremony was held at Church Lane, here, in the presence of partys general secretary (Organisation), Ashok Koul, Waqf Board Chairperson, Dr Darakhshan Andrabi, former MLC, Charanjeet Singh Khalsa and other BJP state team. Click here to watch video While welcoming new members into the party, BJP general secret

Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, July 7: Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari today accused the Government of failing to deliver on promises made before the elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the sidelines of a function in south Kashmirs Pulwama district, Bukhari said, The Government did not even give 1% of what it promised to the people. They had assured 200 units of free electricity per household, but even that has only partially reached the AAY population and It has not [] The post Go

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 7: BJP spokesperson, Dr. Abhijeet Jasrotia, today criticized the National Conference (NC) for fuelling an unnecessary controversy around the Urdu language in the context of Naib Tehsildar recruitment. Accompanied by media incharge, Dr. Pardeep Mahotra and Dr. Makson Tikoo, Dr. Jasrotia termed the issue as politically motivated and aimed at misleading the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Urdu is a sister language of Hindi and both have deep roots in Bharat. The atte

BULAWAYO, July 7: South Africas Wiaan Mulder passed up the chance to set an individual record score in mens test cricket Monday by declaring 33 runs short of Brian Laras 400 set in 2004. The South Africa captain was on 367 not out in the second test against Zimbabwe and within sight of Laras longstanding benchmark. But with his team on 626-5, Mulder declared after lunch. Mulders total puts him at No. 5 on the all-time list of individual test [] The post Mulder passes up chance to break Laras tes

PUNE, July 7: Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse inaugurated the fourth season of the ABC Pro Basketball League here and said the event perfectly resonates with the governments Khelo India initiative. According to the organisers, the league garnered a turnout of over 5,000 young aspirants participating in trials from across Maharashtra. Following a rigorous selection process, 1,000 players were shortlisted through an auction process, and 310 players were ultimately selected to join the l

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 7: J&K BJP vice president, Aseem Gupta here today flagged off the revered Chitto Mata Yatra from Digiana. The spiritually significant journey will lead devotees to the sacred shrine of Chitto Mata in Paddar, Kishtwar. The Yatra saw participation of over 1500 devotees. The event was graced by the presence of SP South, Ajay Sharma, Tarun Sharma, former District president, Sat Pal Choudhary, Rajesh Sharma and Ashwini Khajuria. J&K police and civil administration

Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI, July 7: The RajouriThannamandi road, a vital lifeline for thousands of residents in the Thannamandi Sub-Division, has deteriorated into a state of utter disrepair, sparking widespread public anger and frustration. The stretch, which connects numerous remote villages and supports daily commutes, trade, emergency travel and essential services, is riddled with deep potholes and dangerous craters, making it virtually unmotorable and posing serious safety risks. Despi

Excelsior Correspondent DODA, July 7: Police here today rescued six bovines in Koti area and arrested a smuggler involved in the crime. Official sources said that information was received from reliable sources at Police Station Doda that some unknown person was smuggling six bovines without any permission by foot in a cruel manner from Koti via Bagla Bharat towards Kashmir. On this information a case in FIR number 162/2025 U/S 223 BNS, 11 PC Act was registered at Police Station [] The post Smugg

MAINPAT (Chhattisgarh), Jul 7 : The Bharatiya Janata Party is not just a political organisation but a dedicated movement of ideas, values and service, party president JP Nadda said on Monday. Addressing BJP MPs and MLAs from Chhattisgarh after inaugurating a three-day training session for them in Kamleshwarpur village in Surguja districts Mainpat tehsil, Nadda advised them to work at the grassroots level by having more coordination with the organisation. The BJP is not just a political organizat

JAIPUR, Jul 7 : Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday said the central government has undertaken significant reforms over the past 11 years to propel the mining sector while ensuring development, public welfare and environmental protection. Addressing a felicitation ceremony for seven-star and five-star rated mines here organised by Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), Reddy said the government policies have not only boosted the mining sector but have also safeguarded the interests of

PATNA, Jul 7: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said Rs 10,000 crore has been sanctioned in this years Union Budget for strengthening rail infrastructure in Bihar. Speaking at the bhoomi pujan ceremony for a new level crossing gate near Karpoori Gram railway station in Samastipur district, the minister also inaugurated several upgraded passenger amenities at the station. The NDA government at the Centre, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned Rs 10,000 cro

NEW DELHI, Jul 7: The four-day India Energy Storage Week (IESW 2025) beginning on Tuesday will be the launchpad for over 300 unique product innovations in electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, solar, green hydrogen, batteries and renewable energy sector. Industry body India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) is organizing IESW 2025 here from July 8-11, 2025, a statement said. To further strengthen the transition towards a resilient energy system that aligns with the vision of net zero emission

CHANDIGARH, Jul 7: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while paying rich tributes to Baba Lakhi Shah Banjara, announced that the state government will beautify Baba Lakhi Shah Bawdi located in Kurukshetras Ishargarh village. A community centre will also be constructed in his name in the village. He also announced that, with the consent of the community, a chowk (roundabout) and a road in the state will be named after Baba Lakhi Shah Banjara, a devout Sikh who lived during [] The post Harya

CHANDIGARH, July 7: In a path-breaking initiative, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Aam Aadmi Partys National Convener Arvind Kejriwal today dedicated an ultra-modern Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a capacity of 15 MGD (Million Gallons per Day) and costing Rs 145.26 crore, to the people of the state. Interacting with the media after the inauguration, Chief Minister Mann said that the latest technology has been used in the construction of the plant, and similar projects will soon

BALDEV SINGH CHIB We often talk about rights granted by the Indian Constitution and our much discourse centers on rights. These rights are (i) Natural Rights, (ii) Fundamental Rights, (iii) Constitutional Rights and (iv) Legal Rights. Just the way we enjoy these rights, the society expects the citizens to do certain things which are collectively known as duties. Fundamental duties are an integral part of the constitutions of countries such as erstwhile USSR and Japan. These duties remind the []

Mohammad Hanief In the last few decades, the world has undergone a profound transformation. The proliferation of the internet, smartphones, social media platforms, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality has reshaped almost every aspect of our lives. From how we communicate to how we work, shop, learn, and entertain ourselves, the digital revolution has brought with it both immense opportunities and significant challenges. As we continue to weave technology mor

CHENNAI, July 7: Lakhs of devotees from across Tamil Nadu and abroad witnessed theconsecration (Maha Kumbabhishekham) of Tiruchenru Lord Murugan Temple today. The temple, located on the seashore in the southern Thoothukudi district, is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga. The consecration was held after a gap of 18 years. Vedic hymns were recited as part of the consecration and the temple priests poured the holy water in the temple tower kalasams to mark the occasion. Later, the [] The post Lak

Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, July 7: Jammu regions first multiple pregnancy fetal reduction procedure-a sophisticated and delicate intervention that was previously unavailable within the local healthcare system, was performed successfully at Dr Rounaqs Fetal Medicine & Genetic Clinic, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. Fetal reduction is a highly specialized procedure performed in cases of high-order multiple gestations to enhance pregnancy outcomes. It significantly reduces the risk of complications such a

Srinagar, Jul 7: Nearly 24,000 pilgrims on Monday paid obeisance to Lord Shiva at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, taking the total number of pilgrims this year to 93,000 in just five days, officials said here. The officials said 23,800 pilgrims paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine on the Himalayas in south Kashmir on Monday. The pilgrims comprised around 17,000 men, 4,000 women, several hundred security forces personnel and dozens of Sadhus [] The