Greater Kashmir

United Nations, Aug 26: India has called on the international community to work collectively to safeguard critical sea lanes, emphasising that secure and predictable maritime trade routes are indispensable for uninterrupted movement of food, fertilisers and fuel. Food insecurity remains one of the gravest humanitarian consequences of armed conflict. Todays conflicts increasingly generate ripple effects far beyond the immediate theatre of hostilities, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Amb

New Delhi, Aug 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 53rd meeting of PRAGATI, the ICT-enabled, multi-modal platform for Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation, at Seva Teerth earlier today. During the meeting, Prime Minister reviewed six key infrastructure projects across the Railway, Road and Power sectors, spanning nine States with a cumulative cost of more than 30,000 crore. The projects, significant for strengthening connectivity, supporting industrial and economic activity a

Jammu, Aug 25: Former Chief Minister of J&K, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has strongly condemned the horrific rape and murder of a minor girl from the ST community in Chatroo, Kishtwar, describing the incident as absolutely horrifying and shameful. Azad appreciated the police for swiftly arresting the culprit and said that the accused must face exemplary punishment for the heinous crime. He said, The rape & murder of a minor girl from the ST community in Chatroo, Kishtwar, is absolutely horrifying and sham

New Delhi, Aug 25: President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday greeted citizens on the eve of harvest festival Onam and Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). In a message, she said Onam is an occasion to express gratitude to nature on arrival of the new harvest. Onam celebrates our rich culture and spirit of brotherhood. It promotes unity in diversity. Boat races, folk dances, music and sports are important traditions associated with this festival. They showcase the culture and va

New Delhi, Aug 25: A novel smartphone-enabled platform employing afluorescence-responsive tiny molecule as a probe offers a simple, cost-effective, and accessible approach for the detection of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker amyloid- (A). Upon interaction with A, the tiny molecule called TZ-48undergoes changes in fluorescence intensity, which are captured and quantified using a dedicated smartphone application. This enables rapid and user-friendly detection, with potential applications in

New Delhi, Aug 25: One of the largest and most geographically diverse investigations has found that South Asian gut microbiomes are distinct from those reported in other parts of the world and are shaped by local culture, diet, geography, and lifestyle. The findings provide an important scientific foundation for developing microbiome-based diagnostics, personalized nutrition, and precision healthcare for South Asian populations, specifically for lifestyle disorders. South Asia is undergoing rapi

New Delhi, Aug 25: On completion of a decade of the Unified Payments Interface, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed it as a major turning point in India's digital payment journey and said its sheer scale is something every Indian must be proud of. The UPI was launched on August 25, 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under the regulatory oversight of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The UPI has emerged as the backbone of India's digital payments ecosystem and a c

Tangmarg, Aug 25: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday defended his governments decision to increase electricity tariffs, saying the hike was made out of compulsion rather than choice, while assuring people that his government would not raise power prices any further during its tenure. Addressing a gathering at Tangmarg, Abdullah also hit out at opposition parties for criticising his government over the tariff increase and questioned their record in government, particularly

New Delhi, Aug 25: The civil aviation ministry is looking at the possibility of carrying out psychoactive substance tests for all commercial pilots round the year on a random basis. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is holding discussions with stakeholders on further strengthening the drug-testing standards of pilots. Right now, the rules say 10 per cent (drug tests) across the overall pilot network, but just like I said, DG

Srinagar, Aug 25: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said teachers cannot be made solely responsible for determining the future of the Union Territory, arguing that the government must first improve their working conditions, school infrastructure and staffing before expecting them to shoulder greater responsibility for children's futures. Addressing a gathering of teachers and office-bearers of the J&K Teachers Forum, Omar said teachers already faced an expanding list of responsi

Jammu, Aug 25: The Jammu Municipal Corporation on Tuesday sealed 46 shops at the vegetable market in Indira Chowk for failing to pay rent for more than four years, officials said. A JMC team pasted notices and put locks and seals on the shops after they failed to clear their outstanding dues despite repeated notices, including a final notice, they said. The shopowners subsequently approached Deputy Commissioner (North), JMC, Sanjay Badyal, and assured the corporation that they would pay the rent

Srinagar, Aug 25: Security forces have arrested eight overground workers in three separate operations across Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday. On a tip off, police and army personnel launched a joint operation in an orchard at Imamsahib in Shopian district. During the search operation, security forces recovered one grenade, two AK magazines, four mobile phones and posters of a banned terror outfit from the orchard belonging to Nazir Ahmad Wani. The three suspected overground workers (OGWs) wer

Srinagar, Aug 25 : A day after National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah asked Srinagar MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi to resign from the Lok Sabha and seek a fresh mandate, the MP on Tuesday indicated that he would respond to the veteran leaders demand in the coming days, while stressing his deep respect for Abdullah. Speaking to reporters, Ruhullah was asked about Farooq Abdullahs call for his resignation. He did not directly say whether he would accept the challenge, but his response sugge

Srinagar, Aug 25: Security forces recovered arms and ammunition during a search operation in south Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday. Officials said that during a search operation at Narwani area, jointly conducted by 34 RR and SOG Imam Sahib, arms and ammunition including a grenade, four mobile phones, two magazines of AK-47 rifle and four posters of HM organisation were recovered from an orchard belonging to Nazir Ahmad Wani son of Ghulam Mohammad Wani resident of Narwani. Meanwhile, three

Srinagar, Aug 25: A fire incident was reported at the Corporate Headquarters of J&K Police Housing Corporation in Peerbagh area of Srinagar on Monday, resulting in damage to three rooms. Officials said that flames broke out on the fourth floor of the building housing the corporation's headquarters. Soon after, teams of Fire and Emergency Services department rushed to the spot and doused the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to other floors. Three rooms on the fourth floor suffered damag

Islamabad, Aug 25: Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has held comprehensive discussions with the Iranian leadership in Tehran, focusing on measures to prevent further escalation of the West Asia conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the army's media wing said on Tuesday. The army chief, who was accompanied by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, concluded a day-long visit to Iran as part of Islamabads diplomatic efforts to break the deadlock in the ongoing US-Iran conflict, t

Palembang, Aug 25: Authorities in Indonesia's South Sumatra, the province with the highest number of wildfire hot spots, turned to spiritual measures on Tuesday as huge blazes in central and western regions scorched wide areas of forests and peatland, creating a choking haze that blanketed some cities in the world's most populous Muslim-majority country. The prayer gathering initiative comes as the province faces prolonged dry weather that has heightened the risk of forest and peatland fires. Th

Washington, Aug 25: 15 pc decline in Indian students seeking admission to undergraduate courses in US: Report A report, representing over 1,100 institutions, released by the Common App, shows that although application volume for undergraduate admission in the upcoming 2026-27 academic year rose overall, the number of international applicants through March 1 fell 10 per cent, the steepest decline on record. The report by a non-profit organisation recorded a 15 per cent decrease in applicants from

Srinagar, Aug 25: Two persons were apprehended along with arms and ammunition during a search operation in Pulwama district. Officials said that during the intervening night of August 24 and 25, a Search and Destroy Operation (SADO) was launched by joint teams of Police Pulwama, Army 44RR and 183 Bn CRPF in general Yarwan forest area of village CB Nath Rajpora. During the search, two individuals who were coming from the forest area towards CB Nath village in a suspicious manner were apprehended

Toronto, Aug 25: Canada will announce retaliatory tariffs against the United States on Tuesday, an official familiar with the plans told The Associated Press, escalating a trade fight that has sharply worsened since negotiations with the Trump administration collapsed. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the plans publicly. Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday that Canada may need to move away from matching US tariffs dollar for dollar and i

President Droupadi Murmu will confer the National Awards to Teachers (NAT) 2026 on 21 teachers and faculty members from higher education institutions (HEIs) and polytechnics at Vigyan Bhawan here on September 5, the Ministry of Education said. The awardees include 12 teachers from central higher education institutions, five from state universities and colleges, including three government and two private institutions, and four faculty members from polytechnics, equally divided between government

Cantabil Retail India Ltd., an apparel manufacturer and retailer, has expanded its retail presence in J&K with the opening of a new store in Pulwama. Spread across 1,185 square feet, the new outlet is located at Shop Nos. 3, 4 and 5, Muzamil Mini Mall, New Colony Road, Pulwama. The store offers a range of mens casual, party and formal wear, along with accessories, catering to customers seeking contemporary and mid-premium fashion. Commenting on the launch, Director of Cantabil Retail India Ltd.

The Federation of Chambers of Industries Kashmir (FCIK) has urged Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo to seek review and reconsideration of the recent electricity tariff order before the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), J&K, besides seeking interim relief against its implementation pending such review. A delegation of FCIK led by Head of its Advisory Committee Shahid Kamili called on the Chief Secretary and discussed at length the impact of the tariff increases on an already stressed indu

Minister for Education, Health & Medical Education and Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo today addressed the Foundation Day celebrations of Maple Grove Education Institute Rawalpora here. Addressing the gathering, the Minister said that education remains the most important sector for the overall progress and development of society, adding that no amount of discussion on the subject can be considered enough given its far-reaching impact on individuals and communities. She underscored the pivotal role

A one-day Convention of pensioners, senior citizens and members of civil society was held today at Kings Palace, Kulgam under the chairmanship of Shri Lenin Sampat, State President. The District President of Kulgam, Abdu Hamid Mir, and District General Secretary, G. M. Parwana, extended a warm and cordial welcome to the State President, State General Secretary Gh. Mohi-ud-din Bhat, senior trade union leaders, and pensioners from across District Kulgam. Chief Patron of the Central Body, Nisar Ali

Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for implementation of the Phase-I Pilot of the Rehabilitation & Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026, being coordinated by the Social Welfare Department. The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary, Home; Commissioner Secretary, H&ME; Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; DC, Srinagar; Head, IMHANS, Srinagar; Director, Health, Jammu/Kashmir and other concer

The current rise in influenza cases across parts of India is a routine seasonal uptick rather than the emergence of a novel or more dangerous virus, former Director ICMR Dr. Soumya Swaminathan has said. Speaking to media, Dr Swaminathan said that India is recording a seasonal influenza uptick, and this happens every year. The doctors feel that this year it has started a little earlier, but normally in India, we do have a monsoon seasonal increase in influenza cases, and then it continues into wi

Apni Party leaders and workers on Monday gathered at Press Colony, Srinagar, and staged a massive protest against the governments recent decision to approve an average 6.83 percent hike in power tariffs for 202627. The protest was led by the partys Provincial President, Mohammad Ashraf Mir. On the occasion, police stopped the protesters from proceeding out of Press Colony in the form of a procession. The protesters raised slogans against the government, denouncing its decision to increase power

J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra has strongly opposed the recent hike in electricity tariffs announced by the J&K Government, terming it unjustified and an additional burden on consumers. Karra said the decision came at a time when households were already facing rising prices and mounting economic pressures, and argued that the government should have provided relief to consumers instead of increasing their electricity bills. People of J&K were expecting the gover

Senior leaders and workers of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Party General Secretary Mohammad Khursheed Alam, on Monday staged a protest against the 6.83 per cent electricity tariff hike, describing it as an additional burden on consumers. The protest was attended by former minister Asiya Naqash, Anjum Fazili, Iqbal Tramboo, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, Qayoom Bhat, Syed Tajamul, Shokia Qureshi, Arif Laigroo, Altaf Tambakoo, Bashir Beigh, Sheikh Sabah, Khalid Mir, Umar Dar

General Officer Commanding (GOC), White Knight Corps, Lt Gen PK Mishra on Monday reviewed the operational preparedness and evolving security dynamics during his visit of forward locations of Line of Control (LoC) in areas of Poonch sector. He was accompanied by General Officer Commanding (GOC) Ace of Spades Division, Maj Gen Manoj Raran. Lt Gen PK Mishra visited forward areas in the Poonch sector to review operational preparedness and the evolving security dynamics. The Corps Commander during th

The annual Kounsarnag Vishnu Sarovar Yatra has concluded peacefully after hundreds of devotees completed the arduous pilgrimage to the high-altitude sacred lake, with pilgrims now making their way back towards Reasi under tight security and comprehensive arrangements. The annual Shoba Yatra commenced on August 21, with devotees from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir participating in the pilgrimage. The yatra witnessed the participation of around 590 pilgrims, including 466 males, including Sa

Protests demanding justice for a minor schoolgirl from Chatroo in Kishtwar district continued for the fourth consecutive day on Monday, spreading across parts of the Chenab Valley as students, tribal community members, traders, political workers and civil society groups stepped up demands for a transparent, time-bound investigation and the strictest punishment permissible under law for anyone found guilty. The protests were triggered by the death of the minor girl, who allegedly suffered sexual

Srinagar, Aug 24:Lok Bhavan Jammu and Kashmir on Monday hosted a special Raksha Bandhan celebration for students of Delhi Public School (DPS), Baramulla, in Srinagar. As part of the celebration, the students tied Rakhis to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and exchanged greetings with him. The Lieutenant Governor urged the students to carry forward the true spirit of Raksha Bandhan and encouraged them to spread the message of peace, love, unity and harmony. With Raksha Bandhan scheduled to be cele

Srinagar, Aug 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday directed the School Education Department to complete its inquiry into the incident involving a schoolgirl in Kishtwar within one month, stressing the need for a thorough and time-bound investigation. The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure that the inquiry is completed expeditiously and all necessary steps are taken to bring the matter to its logical conclusion. He stressed that the matter must be dealt with firmly

Day 2 of the 5th Canon C.E. Tyndale-Biscoe Invitational Football Tournament, sponsored by Genius Career Consultancy, witnessed some outstanding football, remarkable goal-scoring displays and intense competition among the participating school teams. The day, as per a statement, began with an emphatic performance by Iqbal Memorial Institute, who registered a convincing 60 victory over Linton Hall School. The winners displayed excellent attacking football, with Mueen emerging as the standout perfor

Al Muqeet Football Club produced a dominant second-half performance to defeat ARCO FC 71 in an entertaining Srinagar Premier League encounter at the TRC Ground, Srinagar, on Monday. The match, as per a DFA statement, began with both teams showing attacking intent, setting the tone for what would become a high-scoring contest. Al Muqeet FC opened the scoring in the first half, putting ARCO FC under early pressure. However, ARCO responded strongly and found the equaliser before the interval to ens

Srinagar, Aug 24:Employees recruited under the Prime Ministers Rehabilitation Package have sought enhanced security and protection following the circulation of another online threat targeting Kashmiri Pandits. In a letter addressed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Monday, the All PM Package Employees Forum sought a comprehensive review of security arrangements at their workplaces, residences and transit routes. The Forum said a fresh threat poster, purportedly issued by a mili

Srinagar Indoor Taekwondo Academy clinched the second runner-up trophy at the Chenab Open Taekwondo Championship after its athletes won 17 medals, including eight gold, four silver and five bronze. As per a statement issued, the gold medal winners included Suvaid Ahmad, Abbas Khursheed, Aleena Nisar, Hafida Rafiq, Ajiya Nasir, Aayat Jan, Mehreen Jan, Seerat Ayub and Zain Nazir. Zaheeb Javaid, Essa Bin Sajid, Aiman Bashir and Suvaid Ahmad secured silver medals, while Mohammed Musineen, Mohammed E

Srinagar, Aug 24:Ahead of the observance of auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) and the Friday following, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo today conducted an on-site review of the arrangements at Hazratbal Shrine and took stock of the facilities being put in place for devotees. During the visit, the DC reviewed the arrangements related to availability of drinking water, uninterrupted power supply, sanitation and cleanliness measures, traffic management, parking, tran