IBTimes

National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah has vowed to intensify the struggle for the restoration of Article 370 and statehood for J&K, accusing the Central Government of failing to honour its promises. Addressing party workers in Baramulla, he called for unity, questioned the questioning of Kashmiris' patriotism, criticised the BJP and the PDP, and urged youth to rise above religious and sectarian differences.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested six people, including four women, for their alleged involvement in a suspected terror-financing and separatist propaganda network in Bandipora district. The investigation has reportedly uncovered links with a Pakistan-based handler, alleged cross-border funding, and the involvement of a cleric and two suspected couriers who remain at large.

The latest Koffee With Karan 9 promo teases a candid conversation between Karan Johar, Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan. Varun reveals that Karan had stopped talking to both actors, while the filmmaker admits to feeling hurt.

He has criticised the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, calling it a loodless political genocide of citizenship and expressing concern that eligible voters could lose their voting rights. The People Against SIR alliance is demanding that the exercise be scrapped and deleted voters' names be restored.

Sonia Gandhi recalls meeting former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Cambridge's Varsity Restaurant in England, where a mutual friend introduced them during their student days. In a preview of her upcoming memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love, she shares how his gentle personality attracted her instantly.

The warning follows US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack's statement that American strikes could take place as early as this weekend. Trump initially said he was unaware of any immediate strike plan before warning of another little Epic Fury at a campaign rally in Florida.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Daler Mehndi on Friday following the controversy involving minister Subodh Uniyal at a cultural event. Dhami said the state respects artists and wants to move forward with harmony and positivity.

The statement followed ITBP chief Shatrujeet Singh Kapur's remarks about ongoing face-offs with Chinese troops at multiple locations in Arunachal Pradesh. MEA stressed that both countries continue diplomatic and military engagement to resolve outstanding issues and maintain peace along the LAC

An FIR has been registered against unidentified persons after two posters questioning the government's performance and featuring a QR code were found inside a Delhi Metro train on the Airport Express Line. Police seized the posters, and the special cell has joined the investigation.

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli appealed to Mumbai Police over alleged drug use and sales at the Carter Road skateboard park in Bandra. He claimed people were creating a mess and sometimes sleeping without clothes at the spot, where children gather every morning.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has expressed support for her son, photographer Raihan Vadra, after more than 70 photographs were reportedly removed from his exhibition, No Idea Is Final, at Delhi's Bikaner House. Raihan alleged that the photographs were removed despite his cooperation and without a clear explanation.

US President Donald Trump has claimed Google CEO Sundar Pichai rejected his idea of renaming the Atlantic Ocean, citing its international nature. Trump said he planned to rename the Atlantic Ocean after himself or America.

Sonia Gandhi made her Instagram debut on Thursday, unveiling the first look of her upcoming memoir, Belonging. Her first post featured a video of her receiving copies of the book and sharing sweets with her daughter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Published globally by Alfred

Noted economist Parakala Prabhakar will share the stage with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and actor-activist Prakash Raj in a nationwide protest against the SIR exercise on October 23.

Shooters accused in the Tiger Shroff firing case allegedly conducted a recce of Ranbir Kapoor's Krishna Raj bungalow in Mumbai, raising concerns about the safety of Bollywood celebrities.

While the Constitution permits reasonable restrictions to maintain public order, relocating demonstrations farther from Parliament and other centres of power could weaken citizens' ability to hold elected representatives accountable.

While currency interventions can stabilise markets in the short term, a lasting solution requires stronger foreign investment, export competitiveness, affordable currency hedging and reduced dependence on imported energy.

Das and Ranka have approached the Delhi High Court challenging the rejection of their sureties and the extension of their custody. They have questioned the grounds for their continued detention and argued that the decision infringes their fundamental right to personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Hours after their release, CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka shared a video of themselves holding the Indian national flag and raising the slogan Gyaanu Must Go. They reiterated their demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation.

Mumbai's air quality has deteriorated in October, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 166, placing it among the world's most polluted cities, according to an IQAir ranking reported on October 21, 2026. Delhi, meanwhile, recorded an AQI of 208 on IQAir at 10:30 am the same day.

Ratna Singh, legal head of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), sparked dating rumors with co-convener Saurav Das after posting a photo calling him their Badshah boy. Singh praised Saurav, recently released from a seven-day judicial custody, for his commitment to India. Neither has confirmed the rumors.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday withdrew a Bill seeking amendments to the salaries and allowances of legislators after strong opposition from BJP MLAs in the Assembly. The BJP members demanded that the government should first regularise daily wagers, while Omar said he had decided to withdraw the Bill if even one member opposed it.

The J&K Horticulture Department has established 1,103.79 hectares under high-density apple plantations across Kashmir, benefiting around 4,428 farmers, with Gala and Red Delicious strains accounting for nearly 90 per cent of the area.

On the first anniversary of the September 24, 2025 violence in Leh, climate activist and LAB leader Sonam Wangchuk demanded that the findings of the judicial inquiry headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice B. S. Chauhan be made public. He also questioned the police firing, sought dignified compensation for victims' families and raised concerns over his nearly six-month detention under the NSA.

Climate activist and Leh Apex Body leader Sonam Wangchuk defended his comparison between the situation in Ladakh and China's treatment of Tibetans, saying he was referring only to the Leh violence of September 24 and not to the decades-long suffering of Tibetans. He also apologised to Tibetan friends who were hurt by his remarks. The Central Tibetan Administration criticised the comparison as misplaced and inaccurate.

The J&K Legislative Assembly witnessed a major uproar after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved a resolution seeking immediate restoration of full statehood, with the BJP strongly opposing the reference to the 2000 autonomy resolution. BJP MLAs stormed the Well, tore copies of the resolution and raised slogans, prompting Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn the House until Monday.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police has widened its investigation into the R.S. Pura Observation Home escape case to probe alleged links between local gangsters and Dubai-based gangster-turned-terror operative Shahzad Bhatti.

APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has questioned the Jammu and Kashmir Government's removal of 4,249 books from college and higher educational institution libraries, calling for disclosure of the titles and reasons for their withdrawal. The government said the books were removed after screening for objectionable content, including material allegedly glorifying terrorists and anti-national elements.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has challenged the BJP to introduce the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in Parliament if it has the numbers to pass it, questioning the move to implement the legislation through individual states. His remarks came after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said BJP-led NDA governments in 21 states would introduce the UCC before 2029.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board is set to replace manual counting of devotees' cash offerings with cash recycler machines at the shrine in Katra. Two machines have already been installed, with six more being added, and manual counting is expected to end within 15 days to improve transparency, security and efficiency.

Ladakh is planning to build the world's highest-altitude cricket stadium at Ranbirpur near Thiksey in Leh at an elevation of around 11,800 feet. The proposed Rs 100-crore project is expected to boost sports tourism, provide better facilities for local athletes and take cricket to a record altitude, surpassing Dharamshala's HPCA Stadium.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said issues concerning the Union Territory must be resolved by New Delhi and not Washington during his meeting with US Ambassador Sergio Gor. Meanwhile, former CM Mehbooba Mufti urged Gor to review and withdraw the US travel advisory for Kashmir, saying it was hurting tourism and the livelihoods of thousands of families.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the implementation roadmap of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it will generate up to 212 MW of electricity, irrigate nearly 90,000 hectares across J&K and Punjab, supply drinking water to Kathua, and strengthen water security, agriculture and border management.

Thousands of residents reportedly boycotted the first phase of PoJK Assembly elections as JAAC-led protests intensified, with demonstrators calling the polls a sham and demanding political rights.

The Centre informed the Rajya Sabha that 35 workers lost their lives and three others suffered serious injuries at NHPC and CVPPL hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district over the past five years. It also stated that compensation has been paid in most cases, safety audits are being conducted regularly, and there is no evidence that project-related blasting or tunnelling has caused damage to nearby houses or structures.

Mehbooba Mufti's remarks at Jantar Mantar on Kashmir protests have triggered a political storm, with the NC, Apni Party and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah demanding a public apology.

The Union Territory of Ladakh will host India's first-ever Global Black-necked Crane Festival from August 10 to 14 across Leh, Tso Kar and Hanle to promote wildlife conservation, sustainable tourism and community participation. Dedicated to the Black-necked Crane, Ladakh's state bird and the world's only alpine crane, the festival aims to showcase the ecological and cultural significance of the Changthang wetlands.

The NIA Special Court in Jammu rejected the 20-day interim bail plea of former DySP Davinder Singh, accused in a high-profile terror-linked case, but granted him five days of custody parole on humanitarian grounds to attend his late father's religious rituals in Srinagar. The court held that with his regular bail already rejected and an appeal pending in the High Court, there was no ground for interim bail.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the first International Film Festival of Jammu & Kashmir (IFFJK) would herald a new era in the Union Territory's partnership with the film industry and help restore Kashmir's historic status as a preferred filmmaking destination. Speaking at the curtain-raiser event, he outlined the government's vision to create a filmmaker-friendly ecosystem, promote local talent, and position IFFJK as a globally recognised annual film festival.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the family of martyred Jammu and Kashmir Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi of the government's full support after speaking to his son over the phone. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the bereaved family in Budgam, paid tributes to the fallen policeman, promised continued assistance, and reaffirmed the administration's commitment to dismantling the terror ecosystem and eliminating terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir.

A political controversy erupted in J&K after security forces demolished the houses of two Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists following the targeted killing of Police Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in Anantnag. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti criticised the action as unconstitutional and counterproductive, while security agencies intensified anti-terror operations and detained thousands of suspects across the Kashmir Valley.

At Hyatt Centric Sector 17, a hidden speakeasy, destination-led dining and immersive heritage walks make a compelling case for Chandigarh as more than a stopover

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti joined protesting students at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, backing their demands while reviving the debate over the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A. Calling the August 5, 2019 decision unconstitutional, she accused the Centre of undermining democracy, demanded the resignation of the minister concerned, and said India's youth would play a decisive role in safeguarding the Constitution.

A Jammu and Kashmir Police head constable, Ashiq Hussain, was martyred after terrorists opened fire on security forces during a cordon and search operation in Anantnag district on Tuesday. The operation, launched on specific intelligence inputs, remains underway as security forces have intensified the cordon to prevent the terrorists from escaping. Unconfirmed reports suggest that The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A devastating cloudburst in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district reduced Mohammad Latief's home to rubble within minutes after he stepped out to move his car. Eight members of his family were killed or remain buried under debris, while nearby villages also suffered heavy casualties and widespread destruction in the flash floods.

The National Conference and Congress staged a protest in New Delhi, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood after being prevented from reaching Jantar Mantar. Omar Abdullah accused the Centre of reneging on its promise, while Farooq Abdullah urged the Union Government to honour its commitment.

Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir remain divided over the National Conference's July 20 Jantar Mantar protest for statehood restoration. While Congress has extended support, the PDP has demanded inclusion of Article 370 restoration and the release of political prisoners, and the JKPC and Apni Party have declined to participate.

The Jammu and Kashmir Congress has announced its participation in the National Conference's July 20 Jantar Mantar protest demanding restoration of statehood, while organising its own march in Jammu on July 19. JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra said Congress has been leading the statehood movement since October 2024 and will intensify its agitation if the Centre delays restoring full statehood.

Former J&K Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah received major relief after a Srinagar court issued a NoC or the renewal of his passport in the alleged JKCA funds misappropriation case. While allowing the passport to be renewed for one year, the court directed that Abdullah cannot travel outside Jammu and Kashmir or abroad without prior permission from the trial court, citing the pending criminal proceedings against him.

In a significant cultural milestone for Jammu and Kashmir, Rajouri's historic Bhairav Yatra has been included in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of India. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha hailed the recognition as a proud moment for the Union Territory, saying it would help preserve and promote the region's rich spiritual and cultural legacy. The centuries-old tradition, known for its deep religious significance and message of communal harmony, is only the second cult