Tiger kills woman in M.P.'s Bandhavgarh reserve area; angry locals assault forest staff
Villagers accused forest officials of failing to respond promptly despite repeated calls for help and claimed the tiger was still roaming nearby
Ambitious Ahmedabad eyes sporting history
Ahmedabad is not waiting to change its landscape and burnish its credentials as the sporting destination of the country
A delegation comprising apparel industry representatives and exporters met Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan and several Union Ministers recently and sought the removal of the duty
Is a heatwave really a wave of heat?
A heatwave, often misconceived as a wave of heat sweeping across the atmosphere, is actually a prolonged period of elevated temperatures caused by stable high-pressure systems.
FIFA World Cup 2026: Groups, full schedule and stadiums
This is first time that a FIFA World Cup is to be hosted by three nations and also for the first time fans can witness 48 teams participating in the mega event
Indian-origin cancer specialist struck off U.K. medical register over conviction
He was convicted last November at Carlisle Crown Court of two counts of controlling/coercive behaviour and one count of cruelty to a person under the age of 16 relating to two unnamed females
Central University of Rajasthan launches research promotion scheme for scholars
Under the scheme, the research scholars will receive an additional financial support of 5,000 per month over and above the existing non-NET fellowship of the UGC. An additional contingency grant of 10,000 will also be provided to support research-related expenses
Beyond the shelf | Indian bookshops are now third spaces
Love of books is not the only thing its patrons share; bookstores are now points of community and engagement
3,000 women committees formed, 81 houses demolished in anti-drug campaign in J&K: Manoj Sinha
The Lieutenant Governor said while 59 traffickers have been arrested under PITNDPS provisions, 81 narcotic palaces built with the traffickers black money have been demolished
Dead Body of Missing Old Girl Found in Budgam Field
Budgam, May 24: A 12-year-old girl who had reportedly gone missing from Galwanpora village in central Kashmirs Budgam district was found dead in a nearby field on Sunday morning, officials said. According to officials, the minor had gone missing on Saturday, following which family members and local residents began a search operation in the area. The girls body was later recovered from a field close to the village, sending shockwaves across the locality and plunging the area into mourning. Meanwhile, police have reached the spot and taken cognizance of the incident. Legal proceedings have been initiated and further investigation is underway.
U.P. pushes to strengthen sewerage system, prevent river pollution with multi-pronged approach
Untreated sewage from U.P. cities will no longer flow directly into rivers. Under the Namami Gange Mission Phase-2, sewerage infrastructure is being significantly strengthened, Additional Chief Secretary, Namami Ganga and Rural Drinking Water Supply Department, UP
Iran rejects Trumps claim on Strait of Hormuz, says Tehran will retain control
Tehran [Iran], May 24 : Iran on Sunday rejected US President Donald Trumps claim that the Strait of Hormuz would return to its previous status under a proposed agreement, with Irans semi-official Fars News Agency stating that Tehran would continue to maintain control. According to the report, Iran has agreed only to allow the number of passing ships to return to pre-war levels, but this in no way means a return to free passage as it existed before the conflict. Fars News Agency stated that the management of the Strait of Hormuz, including shipping routes, timing of passage and permits, would remain exclusively under the authority of Iran. Even as Trump had previously declared negotiations over Irans nuclear program as one of the main and indispensable conditions for any agreement, no commitment has been made by Iran, and the nuclear file has not been discussed at all, the report stated. Fars News Agency stated that American officials have acknowledged in multiple messages to Iran that Trumps tweets are primarily for promotional purposes and media consumption within the United States, and they have recommended that no attention be paid to these statements. Trump has said the United States is engaged in discussions with leaders from several countries regarding efforts linked to peace and stability in the Gulf region, including issues concerning Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. I am in the Oval Office at the White House where we just had a very good call with President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, of The United Arab Emirates, Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Minister Ali al-Thawadi, of Qatar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah, of Pakistan, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of Turkiye, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, of Egypt, King Abdullah II, of Jordan, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, of Bahrain, concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all things related to a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE, he said in a post on Truth Social. He further stated that an agreement had been largely negotiated, subject to finalisation between the United States, Iran and the countries involved in the discussions. An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed. Separately, I had a call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, which, likewise, went very well. Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly. In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened, he added. (ANI)
ITBP officials meet Kanpur top cop seeking action in medical negligence case of jawans mother
The ITBP personnel accused doctors at a private hospital of negligence that allegedly led to the amputation of his mothers right hand; he demanded a fair investigation and strict action against the hospital administration and the doctors involved.
When they named their association as Poonga View RWA, residents of TP Scheme Road in Mandaveli had a different picture in mind: serenity, ample walking space and a scenic setting. But their everyday view consists of open urination, garbage dumping and unauthorised parking
19 feared trapped after collapse at Philippines construction site
Initial reports suggested 24 people had been rescued from the rubble, as well as two from an apartment-style hotel that was hit when the building came down, says the city government
J&K Sports Council to organise Cyclothon in Sgr on World Bicycle Day
Registrations open, cyclists, sports enthusiasts, fitness lovers invited to participate Srinagar, May 23: The Jammu & Kashmir Sports Council is set to organise Cyclothon 2026 in Srinagar on June 3, 2026, to mark World Bicycle Day, with the theme Ride for the Next Generation. The event is being organised under the FIT India movement with the objective of promoting fitness, healthy living, and awareness about the benefits of cycling among youth and the general public. The cyclothon aims to encourage people to adopt cycling as a healthy lifestyle activity while spreading awareness about its role in fighting obesity, improving heart health, boosting fitness, and building immunity. The J&K Sports Council has invited cyclists, sportsenthusiasts,fitness lovers to participate in the event in large numbers and make it a mass movement for health and wellness. Registration for the event hasbeenopened, and participants can register through the QR code provided in the official promotional poster available onJ&KSports Councils Facebook handle.
Anil Kumar Singh visits Golpattan under Vibrant Village Programme
Jammu, May 23: Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), PWD(R&B), Anil Kumar Singh on Saturday visited Village GolPattanunder the Vibrant Village Programme. The visit aimed to assess the on-ground requirements and interact with the locals to accelerate inclusive development in the border village. On the occasion, MLA Marh, Surinder Kumar Bhagat; Deputy Commissioner Jammu Dr. Rakesh Minhas, Engineer-in-Chief, Chief Engineer, Director Finance(R&B)and other district officers of Jammu were also present. Speaking on the occasion, Anil Kumar Singh said that the Vibrant Village Programme is a flagship initiative of the Government of India to ensure comprehensive development of border villages. He stated that the scheme aims to saturate the selected villages with essential infrastructure, road connectivity, telecom connectivity, television access, electricity and livelihood generation opportunities. The ACS emphasized that the programme seeks to reverse outmigration by creating employment avenues, promoting tourism and cultural heritage besidesstrengthening thebasic amenities like health, education and skill development. The goal is to transform the border villages into vibrant economic hubs while ensuring national security through strong local participation. Every plan will be made keeping the people at the center, he added. Anil Kumar Singh directed the district administration to prepare village-specific action plans in mission mode and ensure convergence of all schemes for maximum impact. MLA Marh appreciated the Agriculture Department for timely providing the farmmachinery includingcombine harvester and other critical inputs to the farmers of the area. He said such interventions arereducing the input costs and helping thefarmers increase productivity. The MLA further assured the residents that an Animal Ambulance will be provided for the area out of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to strengthen veterinary care and support livestock owners in emergencies. He reiterated his commitment to work for the holistic development of border villages. The Deputy Commissioner highlighted the broader contours of the Vibrant Village Programme and assured that the plan under the scheme will be finalized in consultation with the local representatives and citizens of the area to ensure that developmental works are aligned with the actual needs and aspirations of the people. During the interaction, the ACS sought feedback from the locals regarding key issues and developmental gaps. The visiting officers also reviewed the ongoing works and directed the concerned departments to expedite project formulation under the Vibrant Village Programme in a time-bound manner.
Horticulture Dept issues advisory for hail-hit orchards in Bpora
Bandipora, May 23: In view of the recent hailstorm that affected several areas ofdistrict Bandipora,Department of Horticulture has issued an advisory for orchardists regarding preventive and management measures for fruit crops to minimize post-hailstorm losses. According to the advisory, orchardists cultivating apple and pear crops have been advised to spray any of the recommended fungicides including Trifloxystrobin + Tebuconazole 75 WG @ 40g per 100 litres of water, Zineb (68%) + Hexaconazole (4%) 72 WP @ 125g per 100 litres of water, Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% (75% WP) @ 250g per 100 litres of water, Propineb 70% WP @ 300g per 100 litres of water, Mancozeb 75% WP @ 300g per 100 litres of water, or Zineb 75% WP @ 300g per 100 litres of water. The advisory further stated that after a gap of three days, orchardists may spray Urea @ 0.2% (200g per 100 litres of water) or spray NPK @ 2g per litre of water after 35 days to support recovery and improve plant health. Similarly, growers of cherry, apricot, plum and peach crops have been advised to spray Carbendazim 50 WP @ 50g per 100 litres of water, Carbendazim 12% + Mancozeb 63% (75% WP) @ 250g per 100 litres of water, or Thiophanate Methyl 70 WP @ 50g per 100 litres of water. The Department also urged orchardists to remove fallen leaves and ensure proper drainage in orchards to avoid water stagnation and secondary infections.The advisory has been issued for the welfare of fruit growers across the district.
Eid-ul-Adha: Food safety inspections intensified in Anantnag
Anantnag, May 23: Intensifying the food safety drive ahead of Eid-ul-Adha 2026, a joint teamcomprising of officials ofFood Safety Department Anantnag, Veterinary Officer and others conducted extensive market checking and inspections of various food business establishments in the district. The aim of the sustained drive is toensureavailability of safe and hygienic food items to consumers especially during the festive days. The inspection drive covered bakeries, restaurants, sweet shops, meat and poultry outlets, milk establishments, provisional stores, and street food vendors. The team checked hygiene standards, food quality, storage conditions, and compliance with food safety regulations. Food Business Operators were directed to maintain cleanliness,avoidsale of expired food products, and strictly adhere to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Authorities warned that strict action would be taken against violators and stated that such drives will continue across the district to safeguard public health.
200 visually impaired persons receive Saarthi Smart Canes in Srinagar
Srinagar, May 23: Voluntary Medicare Society on Saturday organized a large-scale distribution and training program of Saarthi Smart Canes and smart mobility devices for more than 200 visually impaired persons from across Jammu & Kashmir at its Head Office, Bemina, Srinagar. The initiative aimed to promote independent mobility, safety, dignity, and inclusion for persons with visual impairment through the use of innovative assistive technology. The event was graced by Chief Guest Akramullah Tak, Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, Prof. (Dr.) Mir Mohammad Maqbool President/Founder,VMS, Amit ,Zonal Relationship Manager (North) from Hyundai India Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd., Dr. Farooq Ahmad Kaloo, Prof. Masooda Yaseen, Dinesh form Torchit, Ayoub Bhat, Administrator VMS, Javid Ahamd Tak, Chairman, Humity Welfare Organisation Helpline, Abdul Rashid, JK Handicapped Association, Mumazil, Chairman Caring People Welfare Foundation Trust, other representatives from Hundai also graced the occasion with their presence Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Farooq Ahmad Kaloo stated that this is one of the largest initiatives of its kind in the region focused on distributing smart mobility devices to visually impaired persons. He expressed gratitude to Hyundai India Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd. for supporting the initiative and emphasized the importance of assistive technology in enhancing independence, confidence, and quality of life for persons with visual impairment. Amit, Zonal Relationship Manager (North), Hyundai India Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd., expressed happiness in partnering with VMS for the initiative. He highlighted the companys commitment towards social responsibility and inclusion and said that empowering visually impaired individuals with smart assistive technology can significantly improve their mobility, confidence, and independence in daily life. Prof. Masooda Yaseen, while addressing the gathering, appreciated the role of VMS in creating opportunities and accessible support systems for visually impaired persons across Jammu & Kashmir. She emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between institutions, civil society organizations, and corporate partners to build a more inclusive and compassionate society for persons with disabilities. Dinesh K. Bahl from Torchit Electronics, supported by VMS, conducted a detailed hands-on training session for the beneficiaries regarding the use and functionality of Saarthi Smart Canes and smart mobility devices. The beneficiaries expressed gratitude towards Voluntary Medicare Society and supporting organizations for bringing advanced assistive technologies to Jammu & Kashmir and enabling greater confidence and independent mobility among visually impaired individuals. Chief Guest Akramullah Tak appreciated the efforts of Voluntary Medicare Society in empowering persons with disabilities through technology-driven interventions. He stated that such initiatives play a vital role in strengthening inclusion, accessibility, and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society. He also assured continued support for programs promoting empowerment and rehabilitation. The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Farooq Ahmad Kaloo, who reaffirmed the organizations commitment towards inclusion, accessibility, rehabilitation, and empowerment of persons with disabilities across the region. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to Hyundai India Insurance Broking Pvt. Ltd., Torchit Electronics, and all individuals and organizations who supported and contributed towards the successful conduct of the event.
Armed man shot by U.S. Secret Service near White House
The shooting near the National Mall occurred shortly after a motorcade carrying Vice-President J.D. Vance had passed by the area, U.S. Secret Service Deputy Director Matthew Quinn said
Kulgams anti-drug campaign becomes peoples movement
Kulgam, May23: What began as a determined call for collective action against drug abusehas on Saturday evolved into a district-wide peoples movement in Kulgam. Under the ongoing 100-Day Intensive Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan launched from April 11, District Kulgam has witnessed unprecedented public participation, strong grassroots mobilization, youth engagement, institutional convergence, and firm enforcement action against drug trafficking networks. Driven by the vision of building a Nasha Mukt Kulgam, the campaign has transformed from a conventional awareness initiative into a community-led social movement involving youth, parents, schools, Panchayats, religious institutions, women groups, sports organizations, health institutions, and law enforcement agencies. More than 35,535 awareness programmes have been conducted across tehsils, villages, panchayats, schools, colleges, public spaces, and institutions throughout the district. These programmes have collectively reached and engaged people from 100% Panchayats and Wards reflecting the extraordinary level of Jan Bhagidari achieved under the campaign. At the grassroots level, all 178 Panchayats of the district have been actively integrated into the movement. To institutionalize community participation, 178 Panchayat Mahila Samities and 178 Youth Clubs have been activated to serve as local anti-drug ambassadors and community support structures. Recognizing that positive engagement is one of the strongest tools against substance abuse, Kulgam has strongly focused on youth empowerment through sports and recreation. As part of the campaign, 125 Panchayat-level playfields have been made functional, while work on 35 new playgrounds and stadiums has been initiated under MGNREGA for development. Simultaneously, the district organized 423 sports events and leaguesacrossvariety of sports like Cricket, Football, Basketball, Volleyball and Badminton, witnessing participation of more than 37,586 youth and students, thereby channelizing youth energy towards healthy and constructive activities. Religious institutions have also emerged as strong partners in the campaign. Anti-drug sermons and awareness activities were conducted in 1,472 mosques and religious institutions, while 706 religious leaders actively participated in spreading the message of social responsibility, moral guidance, and collective resistance against drug abuse. A total of 91 counselling and assistance calls were received under the campaign, reflecting growing public trust and willingness to seek help. Additionally, 25 IPD beds have been earmarked in the district for treatment and rehabilitation of drug victims, ensuring that the campaign remains not only enforcement-oriented but also compassionate and rehabilitative in approach. While awareness and rehabilitation form one pillar of the campaign, the district has adopted an equally uncompromising stance against drug peddling and illicit trafficking. Authorities identified 11 major drug hotspots across the district and developed 184 rogue galleries at police stations and police posts for close monitoring of habitual offenders and peddlers. Strong enforcement action has led to the registration of 67 FIRs and arrest of 76 drug peddlers during the campaign period. In addition, the administration has initiated stringent administrativeandfinancial actions against individuals involved in narcotics-related activities. As part of the crackdown, 36 driving licenses and 18 vehicle registration certificates were suspended, 557 Aadhaar cards were recommended forsuspension,11 red entries were recorded in revenue records against individuals linked with narcotics activities. Besides, 6 immovable properties were seized and 3 properties attached under legal provisions. Attached and seized properties are estimated to be worth nearly 2 crore. 8 illegal or drug-linked structures/properties have been demolished, valued at approximately 1.90 crore. Authorities also seized/attached 9 vehicles and 387 bank accounts, with movable assets valued at around 50 lakh. The district administration has also intensified regulation and monitoring of pharmaceutical establishments to curb misuse of prescription drugs. Out of 695 drug stores in the district, 145 stores have been inspected. All medical shops have now been equipped with CCTV cameras and computerized billing systems to strengthen transparency and accountability. The campaign has demonstrated that combating drug abuse requires not only strict enforcement, but also sustained awareness, youth engagement, community ownership, and rehabilitation support. The coordinated efforts of civil administration, police, health institutions, educational institutions, Panchayati Raj Institutions, religious leaders, and the general public have together created a strong social resistance against drug abuse in the district. District Administration Kulgam reiterated its commitment to continue the movement with greater intensity and appealed to citizens to actively participate in safeguarding society from the menace of drugs.
What did the Supreme Court say about bail under UAPA?
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Venezuela's Machado vows another run for presidency, eyes return from exile by end of 2026
She told reporters in Panama City that she and the other gathered opposition leaders remain committed to a democratic transition through free and fair presidential elections, where all Venezuelans inside and outside the country vote.
Missile strikes pound Kyiv after Russia vows retaliation
Ukrainian authorities and the U.S. Embassy had earlier warned of a possible significant attack on the capital after Russia said it would punish those responsible for deadly strikes in a part of eastern Ukraine under its control
In Nanmangalam, where a lake and a reserve forest are located cheek by jowl, the view may not be picture-perfect, being marred by garbage dumping and sewage inflow. But the picture is eye-catching as well, thanks to peoples participation in improving conditions and its wildlife. Around International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22), a close look at the ecosystem
News in Frames | The drying naulas of Uttarakhand
Many of the naulas and dharas, the water springs which represent a union of nature and human ingenuity, are drying up in signs of a deepening environmental crisis across Uttarakhand
Mr. Nabin was in Patna on May 23, 2026, and welcomed a few party leaders at his residence who had come to wish him on his 46th birthday
Security stepped up at Jhalmuri stall which PM visited during WB election campaign
Bikram Kumar Sau, the Jhalmuri vendor, lodged a written complaint at the Jhargram police station, alleging that he had been receiving threatening phone calls and messages from people threatening to kill him.
Suspect dead after approaching White House checkpoint with weapon, says U.S. Secret Service
The U.S. Secret Service said in a statement that, according to a preliminary investigation, the person approached a checkpoint shortly after 6 p.m. ET, removed a weapon from his bag and began firing at posted officers.
Crunchyroll Anime Awards 2026: My Hero Academia wins Anime of the Year at milestone 10th ceremony
The 10th annual Crunchyroll Anime Awards celebrated the very best of anime with star-studded presenters, orchestral tributes and major wins for My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Gachiakuta and The Apothecary Diaries
The Uttar Pradesh government increased its minimum wage after 12 years by 2,377 last month. While workers are marginally relieved, those inNoidasSEZsay the amount still barely sustains them, and there is little left to save.ShrimansiKaushikfinds that workers spaces and aspirations have shrunk over time
China to send astronaut on year-long space mission as it eyes 2030 moon landing
Payload specialist Li Jiaying, a former Hong Kong police inspector, will be the first astronaut from the city to take part in a Chinese space mission
Rajasthan introduces austerity measures for fuel conservation amid West Asia conflict
The circular stated that all dignitaries entitled to convoys must further cut non-essential vehicles
Trump says agreement with Iran 'largely negotiated,' includes opening strait
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei noted what he called a trend towards rapprochement, but said, it does not necessarily mean that we and the United States will reach an agreement on the important issues
Fiorentina draws with Atalanta in dreary end to season for both
It was also a disappointing season from Atalanta, whose top-four finishes in the last two seasons guaranteed it Champions League football
West Bengalgained infamy due to recruitment scams, new recruitment policy in next Budget session: CM
The allegation of corruption in government jobs came to hurt the Trinamool Congress and the party lost the recently concluded assembly elections to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
350 crore investment to generate 2,300 employment opportunities in Bihar
Industries Minister Shreyasi Singh said that the newly approved industrial projects are set to provide fresh momentum to Bihars industrial and technological development
CM reviews projects to curb air pollution
RTA suspends permits of 28 private buses
Frequent disruption of ro-ro services give harrowing time to commuters
Owing to the delay in inducting the third ro-ro ferry, demand is rife that the Kochi Corporation impose curbs on transporting goods carriers on the Fort Kochi-Vypeen stretch during peak hours
Govt. to soon bring in an AI policy to transform Bihar: CM
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Melting Glaciers Part 14 :Vehicle, biomass soot melting Kashmir glaciers
Pollution no longer just urban health crisis but direct threat to mountain ecosystems Abid Bashir Srinagar, May 23: A dangerous layer of climate soot drifting through the skies of Kashmir is rapidly destroying the Valleys glaciers, with scientists warning that black carbon pollution is accelerating the melting of Himalayan ice at an alarming pace. A major study conducted by researchers from University of Kashmir (KU) has found that black carbon a highly heat-absorbing pollutant produced from diesel exhaust, fossil fuel burning, industrial smoke, brick kilns and biomass combustion is significantly contributing to glacier recession across the Kashmir Himalayas. The research, led by noted glaciologist Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, studied nine glaciers over a 28-year period from 1992 to 2020 using satellite imagery, field observations and atmospheric trajectory modelling. The findings revealed severe glacier retreat across the region, with glaciers losing an average of more than 20 per cent of their area and glacier snouts receding by nearly 14 meters every year. Scientists say the most alarming discovery was the unusually high concentration of black carbon deposited over glacier surfaces. Often referred to internationally as climate soot, black carbon consists of microscopic particles released duringthe incomplete combustion of fuels and organic matter. Once airborne, these particles travel long distances before settling on snow-covered mountains and glaciers. Researchers explain that fresh snow naturally reflects most incoming sunlight back into the atmosphere. But when soot particles coat the snow, the bright white surface darkens, reducing its reflectivity a phenomenon known as albedo reduction. As a result, glaciers absorb more solar radiation, heat up faster and melt at accelerated rates. The KU study recorded black carbon concentrations ranging between 500 and 1364 nanograms per cubic meter at glacier sites levels considered exceptionally high compared to many other parts of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. The study suggests that even glaciers located at high altitudes are no longer insulated from pollution generated far below in urban centres and industrial zones. Using HYSPLIT atmospheric trajectory models, the researchers traced the movement of polluted air masses over Kashmir and found that the glaciers are being impacted not only by local emissions but also by transboundary pollution transported through atmospheric circulation. Environmental experts say emissions from increasing vehicular traffic, diesel generators, domestic heating systems, brick kilns, agricultural residue burning, and industrial activities are likely contributing heavily to the black carbon load over the Valley. Scientists involved in the research warned that the melting of Kashmirs glaciers could have devastating implications for the regions ecological and economic future. The glaciers of the Kashmir Himalayas act as natural freshwater reservoirs, feeding rivers, streams and springs that sustain agriculture, horticulture, hydropower projects and drinking water supplies. Rapid glacier retreat could disrupt river flow patterns, intensify seasonal water shortages and increase the risk of climate-related disasters. Experts also fear that continued warming combined with accelerated ice melt may contribute to the formation of unstable glacial lakes, raising the threat of flash floods and glacial lake outburst floods in vulnerable mountain regions. The study noted that Kashmirs glaciers are receding faster than many other glaciers across the broader Himalayan arc, highlighting the growing environmental vulnerability of the region. Researchers stressed that tackling black carbon emissions could produce faster climate benefits compared to many long-term greenhouse gas reduction strategies because black carbon remains in the atmosphere for a relatively shorter duration. Climate experts say reducing diesel dependence, improving public transport, regulating industrial emissions and promoting cleaner energy sources could play a critical role in slowing glacier degradation in the Himalayas. The study adds to mounting scientific evidence that pollution is no longer just an urban health crisis but a direct threat to the survival of Kashmirs mountain ecosystems. For researchers, the message is stark: every plume of smoke rising from traffic congestion, generators, factories, or biomass burning may ultimately be settling on the Himalayas silently darkening the ice that sustains millions of lives downstream.
Nasha Mukt J&K campaign:Drug traffickers properties worth Rs 5 crore attached in Sgr
RK News Service Srinagar, May 23: Continuing their intensified crackdown against narcotics networks under the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu & Kashmir Abhiyan-100 Days Campaign, Srinagar Policehaveattached multiple immovable properties worth approximatelyRs 5 crore belonging to individuals involved in drug trafficking and related unlawful activities across Srinagar and adjoining districts, officials said. Police attached two residential propertiesa single-storey and a double-storey housebelonging to Bilal Ahmad Sheikh (son of Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh) and Aneek Ahmad Sheikh (son of Nazir Ahmad Sheikh), both residents of Larbal Beerwah,Budgam,involved in FIR No. 37/2024 under Section8/20NDPS Act at Police Station Saddar Srinagar. The properties, valued at approximatelyRs 30 lakh andRs 50 lakh respectively, were attached under Section 68(F) of the NDPS Act, a police spokesperson said in a statement issued here. Hesaida double-storeyed residential house belonging to Suhaib Farooq Khan (son of Farooq Ahmad Khan), a resident of Mini Colony, Chanapora, involved in FIR No. 15/2023 under Section 8/21 NDPS Act at Police StationChanapora, was also attached.The property, he added,valued at approximatelyRs 1 crore, was attached under Section 68-F(1) of the NDPS Act. A three-storeyed residentialhouse withattic belonging to Mohsin Ibrahim Naqash (son of Mohammad Ibrahim Naqash), a resident of Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar, involved in FIR No. 42/2026 under Sections 8/21 and 29 NDPS Act at Police Station Saddar Srinagar, was attached with an estimated value of approximatelyRs 1 crore, the spokesperson said. Police also attached a three-storeyed residential house belonging to Farhan Manzoor Pandit (son of Manzoor Pandit), a resident of Kursoo, Rajbagh, involved in FIR No. 18/2026 under Section 8/21 NDPS Act at Police Station Rajbagh, valued at approximatelyRs 50 lakh. Police Station Karan Nagar attached a double-storeyed residential house belonging to Fayaz Ahmad Rather (son of Farooq Ahmad Rather), a resident of Patoo Mohalla Ajas, Bandipora, involved in FIR No. 01/2025 under Sections 8/21 and 29 NDPS Act and Section 111 BNS. In a separate action, police attached a double-storeyed residential house at Bakshiabad, Bemina, belonging to Abid Hassan Dar (son of Gh. Hassan Dar), involved in FIR No. 18/2022 of Police Station Batamaloo under Sections 8/21, 29, 27-A NDPS Act and Sections 468, 471, 473 IPC. The property, valued at approximatelyRs 1.7 crore, was attached under Sections 68-F(1) and 68-E of the NDPS Act. Investigations have revealed that the attached properties were acquired through proceeds generated from illicit drug trafficking. All attachment proceedings were conducted in the presence of concerned Tehsildars, Executive Magistrates, and respectable locals, ensuring transparency and due legal process, the spokesperson said.These actions reflect the firm resolve and unwavering commitment of J&K Policetowardseradicating the drug menace and safeguarding the youth from the harmful effects of narcotics. Police reiterated that any individual found involved in drug peddling or related unlawful activities shall face strict legal action, including attachment and forfeiture of illegally acquired properties under the NDPS Act. The general public has been urged to cooperate with police by sharing any information related to drug peddling or substance abuse with the nearest police establishment, with the identity of informants to be kept strictly confidential, the spokesperson said.
Be architects of Viksit Bharat: PM to J&K youth
Addresses Rozgar Mela in Jammu 229 candidates get appointment letters for govt services RK News Service Jammu, May 23: Today is a day to infuse new energy into the resolve of the youth and the resolve of a Developed India. The transparent transformation in government services is laying a strong foundation for New India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday as he addressed newly recruited youth across the country through video conferencing during a grand Rozgar Mela organised at the Convention Centre here under the Government of Indias nationwide employment generation campaign. Following the Prime Ministers address, 229 selected candidates received their appointment letters for various government services at the Jammu Convention Centre, marking a major milestone in their professional journeys. Divisional Railway Manager, Jammu, Vivek Kumar attended the programme as the Chief Guest, while Chairman, Railway Recruitment Board Jammu, Sanjay Tyagi was also present on the dais. The Prime Minister urged the newly appointed youth to work with dedication and integrity in the service of the nation during the Amrit Kaal period. Following the address, appointment letters were digitally distributed to thousands of selected candidates across the country, while 229 youths at the Jammu Convention Centre received their appointment letters from the dignitaries present on the occasion. The selected candidateshavesecured positions in banks, railways, armed forces, medical services and various departments of the Jammu and Kashmir administration. Addressing the gathering, DRM Jammu Vivek Kumar said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir possess immense talent and potential, and programmes like Rozgar Mela are helping channel their energy towards constructive nation-building. Indian Railways remains committed to providing world-class opportunities to the youth of this region and contributing towards public welfare and inclusive growth, he said. Oneof the selected candidatesdescribed the moment as life-changing, saying: This is not just a job, but a matter of pride and honour for my family. It is a turning point in my life. Officials stated that the initiative aligns with the broader vision of Viksit Bharat @2047 and aims to empower young citizens by providing them meaningful opportunities to contribute to nation-building.
J&K Govt orders austerity measures
Puts spending on tight leash Ovaise Gul J&K Government Imposes Austerity Measures for 2026-27: Ban on New Posts, Vehicle Purchases Discouraged, No Meetings in Private Hotels Srinagar, May 23: The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered a series of austerity and expenditure rationalisation measures for the financial year 2026-27, imposing restrictions on official spending,purchase of vehicles,travel, conferences, and hospitality functions. Ithasdirected that no new posts shall be created. According to an order issued by Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary), Finance Department, Shailendra Kumar,utmost economy shall be observed in organising conferences, seminars, workshops, and training programmes. Such activities should be undertaken only where absolutelynecessary,and after exploring virtual alternatives,itadded. The governmenthas strongly discouraged holding exhibitions, fairs, seminars, and conferences outside Jammu and Kashmir, andimposed a complete ban on holding meetings and conferences in private hotels and commercial venues, directing departments to utilise government buildings and conference halls instead. Expenditure on ceremonial events, souvenir printing, promotional material, and non-essential publicity activitiesshallbeminimised, and departmentsshould prioritise digital dissemination over printed publicity material. Purchase of new vehicles has been strictly discouraged. Exceptional cases involving critical operational requirements would require concurrence of the Finance Department and replacement against condemned vehicles with a 20 percent reduction in fleet strength. Departments have also been directed to auction condemned vehicles and deposit the proceeds as miscellaneous revenue before seeking replacement proposals. On official travel, the government said international travel shall not be permitted without specific approval from the Finance Department. Officers have been directed to travel only by economy class within the country irrespective of entitlement, and the use of video conferencing and virtual platforms has been encouraged to reduce travel expenditure. The order also called for strict fuel and energy conservation measures, including avoiding unnecessary use of official vehicles, generators, air-conditioning systems, and lighting equipment. The government further banned official dinners, lunches, receptions, and similar hospitality functions except those hosted by the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister. The Finance Department said no new posts shall be created, and engagement of consultants, outsourcing agencies, and contractual support services would be allowed only after careful assessment of functional necessity. No fresh financial commitments shall be made on schemes or proposals not provided for in the approved Budget Estimates for FY 2026-27. The order said Administrative Secretaries shall be personally responsible for ensuring strict compliance with the austerity measures, while Director(s) Finance and Financial Advisors shall submit periodic compliance reports to the Finance Department. The measures have been implemented with immediate effect across all departments and government institutions in the Union Territory.
Anti-drug crackdown has shaken smugglers: LG
856 FIRs, 946 arrests in 43 days Younus Rashid Shopian, May 23: Lieutenant Governor ManojSinha on Saturday saidauthorities had intensified action against narco networks across Jammu and Kashmir, leading to hundreds of arrests, seizures andattachment of propertiesduring the last 43 days. Addressing a gathering in Shopian, LG Sinha said the campaign was being carried out with a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach under a strict zero-tolerance policy against drugs. He said 856 FIRs had been registered and 946 drug smugglers arrested during the ongoing crackdown.All the accused, he said,had been detained under the PIT NDPS Act. Sinhasaid more than 81 narco palaces built using proceeds of the drug trade had been demolished,while 101 such properties had been attached.Assets worth crores generated through the drug trade have also been seized, he said. The LG said recommendations had been madefor cancellation ofpassports of 116 drug smugglers, while 457 driving licences had already been suspended. He added that registration cancellation process of more than 606 vehicles linked with narcotics trade was also underway. The Lieutenant Governor furthersaid large quantities of drugs had been seized during the operation while5,641 medical shops across Jammu and Kashmir were inspected.Licences of 260 medical shops have been suspended, and FIRs have also been registered against six medical stores, he added. Sinha said the crackdown had shaken drug smugglers completely and asserted that authorities would continue taking strict action against all those involved in the narcotics trade.
Nasha Mukt J&K campaign:Drug money fuelling terror to shed Kashmiri blood: LG Sinha
Says smugglers will be driven out by people themselves; leads padyatra in Shopian Younus Rashid Shopian, May 23: Declaring an all-out war against narco-terrorism, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said drug smugglers and their handlers would be driven out by the people themselves, asserting that there would be no safe place left for drugs and drug traffickers in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lieutenant Governor was addressing a gathering in Shopian in connection with the ongoing Nasha Mukt Jammu and Kashmir campaign, where he later led a padyatra despite inclement weather. Calling narco-terrorism a deliberate and calculated attack on the identity and future of Jammu and Kashmir, LG Sinha said the drug trade was not an ordinary crime but a larger conspiracy that was destroying youth and funding terrorism. We will work with full dedication to uproot narco-terrorism from its roots and destroy its entire ecosystem. We will not rest until drug smugglers and their handlers are driven out by the people themselves, he said. Sinhasaid money generated through drugs was being used to purchase weapons by terror groupswhile innocent Kashmiris continued to suffer.The poison of drugs is diverting our youth away from progress. Terror groups are buying weapons with money earned from drugs, and those very weapons have been used to shed the blood of innocent Kashmiris, he said. The LG said the anti-drug campaign, launched on April 11 from Jammu, had now turned into a mass movement across Jammu and Kashmir.Every family and every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir is now connected to this mission. From every lane, a collective voice is rising that not a single drug smuggler should escape, he added. The Lieutenant Governor said people had now realised that the menace was not someone elses problem but a direct threat to every household.This is a challenge knocking at our own doors andone thatwe mustconfronttogether with determination, he said. Referring to the role of women in the campaign, the LG said over 7,000 womens committees had already been formed across Jammu and Kashmir to monitor drug-related activities and help make villages and towns drug-free.The stronger we make these womens committees, the more successful this movement will become, he added. LG Sinha also issued a stern warning to anyone supporting drug networks.Whoever is found linked with drug networks whether in administration, politics or public life will be completely exposed and dealt with strictly. Anyone defending them will also face legal action, he said. He assured people that innocent persons would not be harassed during the campaign.If any innocent person faces wrongful action, report it directly to us. Those responsible for wrongful action will also be punished, he said. At the same time, the LG defended the ongoing crackdown against smugglers and peddlers.I have always said that criminals will face strict punishment, but innocent people will never be oppressed. Where there are criminals, there will be no mercy; where there are innocents, there will be no injustice, he added. The Lieutenant Governor said rehabilitation of drug victims remained a major focus of theadministration, and efforts wereunderway to identify youth undergoing treatment in rehabilitation centres so theycouldbe reintegrated into society and provided livelihood opportunities.A young person trapped in addiction is the responsibility of both the administration and society. They will be rehabilitated with full sensitivity and compassion, he said. Urging people to intensify awareness efforts, LG Sinha appealed to schools, colleges, religious leaders, social organisations and political workers to take the campaign to every household.We must unite against the cruelty of narco-terrorism. Whatever strict action is necessary to save our youth, we will take it, he said. Later, the Lieutenant Governor led a padyatra in Shopian as part of the anti-drug campaign and thanked people for participating in large numbers despite bad weather.
Half marathon in Bengaluru on May 24
Three-special drives conducted to apprehend rowdy elements: DGP Sandeep Rai Rathore
Neuberg Diagnostics founder honoured by Super Chennai
3 held in connection with two murders
World Turtle Day Meetup and workshop on May 24
68% of flyover on Anna Salai completed despite delays due to war, labour shortage
IPL 2026 | Shreyas keeps PBKS alive, puts the ball in RRs courtdv vd
While Inglis brought up his half-century by smashing 17 of the 19 runs in Arshdeeps 12th over, Pant, who was dropped by Shreyas, eventually fell to Marco Jansen
Special drive against history-sheeters, persons with criminal backgrounds conducted in Chennai
Revaluation process proves to be a hassle for Class 12 CBSE students
Students have taken to social media to air their grievances with many noting the blurry images of their scanned copies, the half marks awarded to MCQ questions and the notification of blank pages on a written answer sheet
Vellore man arrested in cyber slavery trafficking case linked to Cambodia
The police said that the victim was trafficked to a cyber scam compound in Cambodia, where Indian nationals were allegedly forced to engage in online financial fraud and cyber scam activities under coercive conditions amounting to cyber slavery
Cariappa school gets a new lease of life with modern facilities
Power cuts caused by load issues, not shortage, says Minister R. Nirmalkumar
He says the Electricity Department has constituted seven rapid response teams of engineers in Chennai, and they have been provided vehicles to swiftly reach spots and rectify complaints
Chennai airport builds suite rooms for international transit passengers
AAI officials have held discussions with some of the top hotels in city to explore how the rooms can be leased
Discussion on inclusivity for persons with schizophrenia held
Right, Wrong, and the Age of Excuses..!
We condemn corruption in public, but justify it in private at what cost to our collective soul? SAAD ASLAM In our hurried, hyper-connected world, we like to believe that we are more advanced than any generation before us. We carry the sum of human knowledge in our pockets, speak across continents at the touch of a button, and watch events unfold in real time from anywhere on the globe. Yet, despite all this progress, a nagging question haunts our public and private lives: have we grown in ethics and morality, or merely in cleverness and convenience? Across our social and political landscape, we see a disquieting pattern. Corruption is condemned loudly in speeches but normalised quietly in daily dealings. We criticise dishonesty in leaders but tolerate it in ourselves, calling it adjustment or practicality. We demand accountability from the powerful yet turn a blind eye when small acts of dishonesty benefit us or our own. The language of values remains on our lips, but rarely governs our choices. Ethics and morality are often used interchangeably, but they are not quite the same. Morality speaks to our inner sense of right and wrong the voice of conscience that tugs at us in solitude. Ethics, on the other hand, is how we translate that inner voice into rules, norms, and principles for life in society. A morally aware person may feel guilt in private; an ethical society ensures that this guilt is strengthened by accountability, law, and collective disapproval of wrongdoing. The crisis we face today is not simply that individuals sometimes do wrong, that has always been part of the human story. The real crisis lies in the quiet erosion of our shared standards. Wrongdoing no longer shocks us as it once did; it merely trends for a day on social media before being buried under the next outrage. When scandal follows scandal, when injustice becomes routine, people gradually stop expecting better. Cynicism replaces moral outrage, and that cynicism is far more dangerous than any single act of corruption. The roots of this erosion lie in the culture of convenience we have built. We often choose what is easier over what is right. It is easier to stay silent in the face of injustice than to risk our comfort. It is easier to forward an unverified message than to check its truth. It is easier to blame the system than to ask how we, too, participate in its failures. Little by little, a thousand small compromises weaken our moral spine. This culture touches all spheres of life. In politics, we rationalise unethical conduct as the cost of winning. In business, we celebrate success without asking how it was achieved. In education, we reward marks more than integrity, cleverness more than character. Even in our homes, children too often see that the rules we preach are not the rules we practice. What lesson does a young mind learn when it sees adults cutting corners, justifying lies, and shrugging off responsibility as long as they are not caught? Yet it would be wrong to claim that our society has lost all sense of right and wrong. In every crisis, we also see extraordinary acts of courage, honesty, and compassion. We see ordinary citizens returning lost valuables, standing up for victims, or refusing to be part of unjust practices. These are not isolated miracles; they are reminders that the moral core of our people is not dead, only overshadowed. The challenge before us is to bring this moral core back to the centre of our public life. That begins with an uncomfortable acknowledgement: ethics and morality cannot be outsourced to religious leaders, courts, or governments. They must be lived in our own choices. No law can compel a person to act with integrity who has decided that only personal gain matters. No sermon, however eloquent, can substitute for the daily discipline of doing the right thing when nobody is watching. The first step, therefore, is introspection. We must ask, not in abstraction but in specifics: where do I compromise? Where do I justify what I know is wrong because it is convenient, profitable, or socially accepted? It is easier to condemn the failings of the powerful than to confront the small moral failures within our reach. But without that inner work, our calls for clean governance, fair institutions, and just policies will ring hollow. The second step is to rebuild social norms that reward integrity and stigmatise wrongdoing, regardless of who commits it. When we admire only wealth and power, we send a clear message that the means do not matter. When we celebrate honesty, fairness, and courage in our families, schools, and workplaces, we restore the social respect that ethical conduct deserves. The stories we tell our children, the role models we highlight, and the behaviour we tolerate all of these shape the moral climate around us. Ultimately, ethics and morality are not about abstract philosophy but about everyday choices. They are about the decision to speak the truth when a lie would be safer, to stand with the weak when silence would be easier, to follow rules when breaking them would bring quick benefit. A society that treats such choices as optional cannot long remain just or stable. In an age that worships speed and convenience, it may seem old-fashioned to speak of conscience, duty, and moral courage. Yet it is precisely these old virtues that can help us navigate the storms of our time. Technologies will change, systems will rise and fall, but the question at the heart of every age remains the same: what kind of human beings do we choose to be? If we ignore that question, we risk building a future rich in gadgets but poor in goodness. If we face it honestly, we may yet rediscover that the true measure of progress is not what we possess, but how we live. ( The Author is a columnist and teacher by profession)
Shifting Weather Patterns are Reshaping Kashmirs Present and Future
The weather has changed. Whether we change with wisdom or merely with regret is now up to us ZAHID MUJTABA The seasons in Kashmir once followed a script everyone knew by heart. Autumns burnished chinars gave way to crisp November mornings, December announced itself with snow on the mountains, and by January the Valley would be wrapped in a thick white quilt. Spring came on time, gentle and gradual; summers were brief, mild, and welcome. Today, that script is being rewritten before our eyesand often, to our alarm. Over the past few years, the people of Kashmir have begun to speak of winter the way they once spoke of politics: with uncertainty, frustration, and a sense that something fundamental has gone wrong. Snow arrives late or in violent bursts. November feels like October, and January sometimes feels like March. Summers are not just warmer, they are harsher, drier, and longer. Rains come when they should not, and stay away when they are most needed. The changing weather patterns in the Kashmir Valley are no longer an abstract debate for conferences and climate reports. They are lived realityin our orchards and fields, in our markets and homes, and in the anxious conversations of ordinary people who sense that the Valley they inherited will not be the same one they leave to their children. Winters that no longer feel like winters Kashmirs identity is intertwined with its winters. The three months of chilay kalan have long been seen as both a test of endurance and a time of quiet beauty. But in recent years, snow has often arrived late, fallen unevenly, or melted too quickly. There have been winters with almost no significant snowfall in the plains, followed suddenly by intense spells that disrupt life instead of sustaining it. These shifts are not cosmetic. Reduced and erratic snowfall means reduced snowpack in the mountainsthe natural reservoir that feeds our rivers and streams through the year. When the snow does not accumulate properly, or when it melts all at once during sudden warm periods, the entire water cycle is thrown off balance. Springs that once flowed reliably in villages across the Valley are weakening or drying. Farmers who planned sowing, irrigation, and harvesting around predictable patterns now find themselves guessing rather than knowing. For an economy and culture built around the rhythm of the seasons, this uncertainty is deeply destabilising. Orchards under stress If one wants to measure climate anxiety in Kashmir, one needs only speak to an orchardist. Apple, the backbone of the Valleys horticulture, is acutely sensitive to both temperature and timing. It needs a certain number of cold hours in winter, followed by a steady, predictable shift to spring. Increasingly, the Valley is witnessing warmer winters, sudden spells of extreme cold, and early or uneven flowering. Unseasonal snowfall in late autumn has damaged trees and fruits right before harvest. Untimely rains during flowering and fruit-setting affect yields and quality. Episodes of intense heat in summer cause sunburn on apples, reduce their size, and disrupt traditional grading standards in the market. Small growers, already squeezed by rising costs and fluctuating prices, now face the added burden of a climate that no longer cooperates. The story is similar for other crops. Saffron cultivation in Pampore has been affected by erratic rains and changes in soil moisture. Paddy farmers worry about irrigation water in critical months. Even everyday vegetables face unpredictable pest attacks as warmer temperatures alter the lifecycle of insects and diseases. From floods to droughts: a cycle of extremes Kashmir has always known floods, but what worries scientists and citizens alike is the increasing tendency of the weather to swing between extremes. Years of deficient snowfall and scant rain are followed by cloudbursts, sudden downpours, or intense snowfall events that overwhelm infrastructure and preparedness. On one hand, there is the fear of drought: receding glaciers, shrinking snowfields, and thirsty fields during the growing season. On the other hand, there is the fear of another catastrophic flood, like the one in 2014, when swollen rivers and poor planning combined to devastate the Valley. The same climate disruptions that reduce water availability overall can also increase the frequency of such extreme events. Kashmir now lives with a double insecurity: not knowing whether the coming months will bring too little water or too much, and whether the state is equipped to handle either. A social and psychological toll Climate change discussions often focus on statisticsrising temperatures, reduced snowfall, and changing rainfall patterns. But in Kashmir, the impact is also emotional and cultural. The older generation speaks nostalgically of winters when snow would reach the windowsill, when children skated on frozen ponds, when the first snowfall was a community event. Todays children may grow up knowing snow more as a disruption than a delightshutting schools abruptly, snapping power lines, or arriving so late that Harud (autumn) and winter seem almost to collide. There is also a quiet but growing anxiety in rural households. When your livelihood depends on the orchard, the paddy field, or the saffron karewa, every unpredictable spell of rain or sunshine becomes a source of stress. Farmers speak of sleepless nights before a forecasted storm, of watching the sky as if it were a capricious employer whose mood can ruin a years labour. What must be donebeyond rhetoric Acknowledging the problem is no longer enough. The Valley needs a clear, practical response to changing weather patternsone that combines science, governance, and local wisdom. First, there must be a serious investment in climate-resilient agriculture and horticulture. This means: Second, water management has to move from ad-hoc reactions to long-term planning. Protecting wetlands, restoring traditional water bodies, regulating construction along riverbanks, and upgrading drainage and flood control systems are no longer optionalthey are essential to survival in a climate-uncertain future. Third, the Valley urgently needs reliable, localised data. Weather forecasting, early warning systems, and village-level climate advisories can help farmers and residents make informed decisions. Decisions about sowing, harvesting, or even travel should
Over 2,700 citizens attend GBAs second e-khata drive
Walkability: The Missing Backbone of Future-Ready Indian Cities
It is time for India to build cities that respect the dignity of the pedestrian. Our future mobility depends on it S UMAR BHAT For decades, the Indian urban dream has been paved with asphalt, designed for the internal combustion engine, and measured by the speed of vehicular flow. We have built flyovers that bypass our neighbourhoods and highways that cleave through our social fabric. But as we stand in 2026, amidst a global landscape scarred by energy volatility, soaring inflation, and a deepening climate crisis, it is time to admit a hard truth: our obsession with the vehicle has left our citizens stranded. Walkability is not a boutique urban design concept or a luxury for the elite. It is the fundamental infrastructure of survival and the primary metric of a truly civil society. In a world where crude oil prices fluctuate unpredictably and economic pressures squeeze the common man, the humble footpath is our most resilient asset. Our streets must serve life, not just engines. The Paradigm of Active Travel To reclaim our cities, we must pivot toward a framework of Active Travel. Active Travel focuses on promoting walking, cycling, and other non-motorised modes of transport as key elements of sustainable urban mobility. By encouraging the development of safer streets, accessible infrastructure, integrated transport systems, and healthier urban environments, Active Travel directly contributes to reduced congestion, improved public health, enhanced road safety, and environmentally sustainable cities. It is the foundation upon which future-ready transit must be built. I. The Economic Imperative: From Oil Dependency to Pedestrian Independence The recent global instability has exposed the fragility of a transport system tethered strictly to fossil fuels. As nations grapple with energy security, the private vehicle lifestyle is becoming an unsustainable economic burden for the Indian middle class. Inflation is not just a market phenomenon; it is a spatial one. When a city is designed so that a citizen must drive or take a motorised taxi just to buy a loaf of bread, that city layout has failed its people. Minimising the Cost of Living: Walkable cities act as a natural hedge against inflation. By providing safe, high-quality pedestrian infrastructure, cities allow residents to eliminate forced transportation costs. In Indian commercial hubs, well-designed sidewalks do more than just facilitate movement; they foster street vibrancy and local micro-economies that remain resilient to global economic shocks. Decarbonising the Last Mile: Indias commitment to Net Zero pathways requires a radical modal shift. Walking is the most energy-efficient, zero-emission form of transport in existence. By prioritising the pedestrian within an integrated Active Travel network, we reduce the national drain on foreign exchange reserves spent on crude oil and move steadily toward a truly Viksit Bharat. II. Inclusive Design: A Moral Necessity A city that is not safe for a five-year-old child or an eighty-year-old grandmother is a city that is fundamentally broken. For too long, urban planning has socially segregated those with functional diversity by designing streets that operate as obstacle courses rather than accessible pathways. Safety for the Vulnerable: While walkable neighbourhoods paradoxically see higher pedestrian density, they are associated with lower overall traffic fatality rates when designed correctly. We must move away from rigid, car-centric engineering standards and embrace universal design that inherently considers the user journey of the disabled, children, and the elderly. The Social Public Space: Streets should not be mere movement corridors. They are the living rooms of our citiesplaces where people sit, talk, and watch over their neighbourhoods. Inclusive design restores the unique vibrancy of Indian streets, turning a mundane daily commute into a meaningful social interaction. III. Climate Resilience: The Shaded Footpath as Infrastructure As urban heat islands intensify, walking in an Indian city can frequently feel like a feat of endurance. The widespread use of high-thermal mass materials in roads and pavements traps heat, raising local air temperatures by several critical degrees. Comprehensive pedestrian infrastructure must double as climate infrastructure. Climate-Resilient Strategies: Walkable Urban Cool Spots (WUCS): By integrating dedicated shading, urban vegetation, and cool-surface materials, planners can create localised cool spots that actively protect pedestrians from extreme heat. Green Infrastructure: Strategically allocated green cover can achieve up to a 2C cooling objective in dense urban environments, provided it is seamlessly integrated directly into the pedestrian and cycling networks. The Canopy Effect: Shaded footpaths are not a luxury; they are a public health necessity. Natural tree shade reduces surface temperatures by up to 13C, making the choice to walk viable even in the height of summer. IV. The Path Forward: Making the Choice A safer, more walkable city is a choice we must make collectively. We have struggled for decades to secure even the most basic footpaths, a reality caused by urban planning frameworks that routinely ignore pedestrian infrastructure, leaving conditions both unsafe and inconvenient. This is no longer acceptable. To achieve a sustainable urban future, we must demand: Mandatory Accessibility Standards: Following the progressive models of cities like Varanasi, we need updated city bylaws that hold planners and contractors legally accountable for building inclusive, unobstructed infrastructure. A Shift in Budgetary Priority: Municipal and state funding must pivot away from building car-centric flyovers and look toward funding expansive, interconnected people-centric networks. Cultural Transformation: We must reject the unsustainable lifestyle of unnecessary vehicle consumption and return to a simpler, more grounded way of living where the street is recognised as a shared, democratic resource. Walking is a universal, affordable activity that directly supports both mental and physical well-being. It is time for India to build cities that respect the dignity of the pedestrian. Our future mobility depends on it. (The author is a renowned social reformer/activist with over two decades of experience in community advocacy and mobility reforms. For feedback, email: umarbhat07@gmail.com)
In an anxious, distracted age, a young poet who died in 1821 offers lessons in patience, beauty, and doubt MUBASHIR JEELANI John Keats never saw his thirtieth year. He did not live to witness the age of machines, let alone the age of algorithms. Yet as we scroll through endless feeds, chase productivity targets, and measure our worth in notifications, it is the fragile, fading voice of this Romantic poet that returns with unexpected urgency. In a world that worships speed and utility, Keats insists on slowness and beauty. In an era of data, he defends mystery. At a time of relentless distraction, he asks for stillness. The modern world prides itself on having solved problems that tormented Keatss generation: disease, distance, even death, we are told, can be delayed if not defeated. But behind this confidence lies a quiet, unspoken exhaustion. Anxiety disorders soar, loneliness spreads, and young people inhabit a climate of economic and ecological uncertainty. It is here that Keats becomes our contemporary. For beneath the rich music of his verse lies a simple, unsettling question: how do we live meaningfully when everything we love is doomed to pass away? Keatss own life was a struggle against time. Tuberculosis haunted his family and finally claimed him at twenty-five. Knowing his days were numbered, he did not turn away from the world; instead, he looked at it more intensely. Flowers, autumn light, the movement of clouds across the skythese appear in his poems with an almost painful clarity, as if he were trying to hold them in language before they vanished. The modern culture of the instant, which devours images and throws them away, might learn from this posture of attentive wonder. Today, we are urged to be efficient rather than reflective, employable rather than imaginative. Education becomes a training ground for the market; even leisure is colonised by metrics and performance. Keats offers a quiet but firm dissent. He famously wrote of negative capabilitythe capacity to remain with doubts and uncertainties without rushing to premature answers. In a digital environment that rewards instant opinions and shrill certainties, such a virtue feels almost radical. Democracy itself may depend on recovering this patience with ambiguity, this willingness to listen before we speak. There is, too, a moral dimension to Keatss aesthetics. For him, beauty was not a decorative luxury but a way of honouring existence. When he declares that a thing of beauty is a joy for ever, he is not promising escape from reality, but a deeper form of engagement with it. The beauty he praises is never sterile. It is touched by decay, shadowed by mortality. In the modern world, where we curate filtered versions of ourselves and turn our faces into brands, Keatss celebration of vulnerable, imperfect beauty is a necessary correction. He reminds us that what moves us most is not the flawless image, but the honest one. Keats speaks powerfully, too, to societies on the margins of global power, including our own. He belonged neither to the aristocracy nor to established literary circles. He was dismissed by influential critics of his day, branded as a member of the cockney school of poetry. Yet he continued to write with a stubborn faith that truth could arise from the overlooked and the ordinary. For regions that have historically been misrepresented or silenced, Keatss career is a reminder that the centre does not have a monopoly on beauty or insight. In our conflict-ridden world, where violence and loss are daily realities, Keatss intense awareness of suffering acquires a special resonance. His poems do not deny pain; they dwell in it, seeking some fragile meaning within it. This is not resignation but a form of resistancea refusal to let brutality have the last word. When he writes of half in love with easeful Death, it is not a romantic invitation to oblivion, but an honest admission of despair that nevertheless continues to sing. The very act of creating beauty from grief is a way of asserting that human life, however threatened, still matters. To return to Keats, then, is not to retreat into nostalgia. It is to arm ourselves with a different imaginationone that values depth over display, contemplation over noise, tenderness over cynicism. The modern world will not slow down for us. But we can choose, at least for a moment, to slow down within it: to look at a tree, to listen to a friend, to read a poem with our full attention. In doing so, we stand with Keats in quiet defiance of a culture that measures everything and cherishes little. Nearly two centuries after his death, John Keats remains a companion for our age of fractures and fears. He does not offer solutions in the technocratic sense. What he offers is more demanding: an invitation to feel more deeply, to think more slowly, and to recognise, in the fleeting and the fragile, the only permanence we are likely to know. (The author is a research scholar and columnist)
Remembering Ibn Khaldun and His Enduring Wisdom
His timeless wisdom calls us to conscious action rebuilding social cohesion for a stronger, more resilient future DR HARJEET SINGH Ibn Khaldun (13321406), born in Tunis on 27 May 1332, stands among historys most profound thinkers. A judge, diplomat, statesman, and scholar, he lived through intense political turmoil, plagues, and the repeated rise and fall of dynasties across North Africa and Muslim Spain. These firsthand experiences sharpened his analytical mind. He understood that history is not driven by random chance or blind fate. Instead, it follows clear, observable patterns rooted in human nature, environment, and social forces. He is rightly celebrated as a pioneering historian, a brilliant philosopher of history, and a true forerunner of sociology and modern social sciences. Ibn Khaldun as Historian and Philosopher Traditional historians before him mainly produced simple chronicles. They listed events in sequence, praised rulers, or repeated unexamined stories without critical scrutiny. Ibn Khaldun firmly rejected this superficial method. He insisted that genuine history must explain why events occur by carefully investigating underlying causes. These include social dynamics, economic conditions, environmental factors, psychological elements and geographical influences. In his masterpiece, the Muqaddimah (Introduction to his larger historical work Kitab al-Ibar), he treated societies as living organisms that naturally pass through cycles of growth, maturity, and decline. This scientific and philosophical outlook was revolutionary in the 14th century. He emphasized critical evaluation of sources, avoidance of exaggeration and bias, and the search for universal patterns in human civilization, which he called umran. His groundbreaking ideas laid strong foundations for modern social analysis centuries before Western thinkers such as Montesquieu, Marx, Durkheim, or Comte developed similar concepts. Contributions to Historiography through the Muqaddimah and Asabiyyah The Muqaddimah is far more than a mere introduction. It offers a comprehensive philosophy of history and society. Ibn Khaldun examined economics, education, politics, geography, and social bonds as key forces shaping civilizations. At the core of his theory stands Asabiyyah group solidarity, social cohesion, or collective feeling that binds people together. It usually begins with kinship ties and shared hardship in difficult environments but can be strengthened by religion, common purpose, or alliances. According to Ibn Khaldun, strong Asabiyyah emerges among tough, nomadic or rural groups facing constant adversity. This powerful cohesion enables them to conquer territories, build states, and establish dynasties. Yet success brings its own dangers. Luxury, urbanization, comfort, and sedentary life gradually erode the bond. Rulers grow isolated, indulge in pleasures, depend on mercenaries, and lose touch with their people. Over generations, moral decay spreads widely. Selfishness replaces self-sacrifice, corruption increases, honesty declines, and internal divisions multiply. Eventually, a new group with fresher and stronger Asabiyyah overthrows the weakened dynasty. This cyclical theory of rise through unity, peak of power, and decline through decadence forms Ibn Khalduns most important contribution to historiography. He warned that luxury is particularly destructive because it shifts priorities from the collective good to personal pleasure. This change breeds moral degeneration, widespread corruption, and loss of courage. Religion, he observed, can powerfully reinforce Asabiyyah by creating larger unity beyond blood ties. However, when religious and moral values weaken, societies quickly fragment. Asabiyyah, Moral Degeneration, and the Crisis of Modernity Ibn Khalduns insights feel strikingly relevant in contemporary societies facing fragmentation and moral decline. Many communities today still possess resilient cultural and communal bonds, yet the concept of Asabiyyah clearly reveals both their strengths and growing vulnerabilities. Traditional solidarity rooted in shared values, culture, faith, and collective memory has historically helped societies endure hardships. However, modern realities closely mirror the luxury-induced decay Ibn Khaldun described centuries ago. Rising consumerism, easy money, and general complacency act as dangerous accelerators of moral and social degeneration. These forces fracture families, destroy the potential of young people, and steadily erode trust within communities. What begins as personal comfort soon becomes a broader societal crisis that weakens the mutual support and shared purpose at the heart of Asabiyyah. Luxury in its various forms promotes extreme individualism, hedonism, and moral laxity. As Ibn Khaldun warned, when personal comfort overrides collective responsibility, societies lose their inner resilience and invite decline through internal collapse or external pressures. The results are visible in broken families, diminished social cohesion, and a generation of youth trapped in cycles of despair. Asabiyyah as a Cure and Ibn Khalduns Lasting Legacy Thankfully, Ibn Khalduns theory also points toward renewal and hope. Reviving healthy Asabiyyah not narrow tribalism but positive, inclusive social cohesion grounded in shared values, justice, ethical leadership, education, and genuine mutual support can act as a powerful cure. Families, communities, and leaders must actively rebuild bonds of trust and responsibility. Faith and cultural heritage, when practiced with wisdom and inclusivity, can transcend divisions and restore deeper purpose, exactly as Ibn Khaldun observed about religions unifying role. Education plays a vital part. Teaching the young their rich heritage while equipping them with practical skills and moral strength helps counter moral decay and modern distractions. Community initiatives such as ethical governance programs and collective development projects can rebuild lost resilience. By nurturing Asabiyyah with justice and Tawhid-inspired unity (oneness of purpose beyond narrow interests), societies can interrupt destructive cycles. Ibn Khalduns legacy endures because his ideas speak honestly to universal human nature. On his birthday, we remember a thinker who saw civilizations as dynamic realities shaped by social bonds. His concept of Asabiyyah provide both a mirror to our weaknesses and a practical guide for renewal. Unity builds greatness while fragmentation and moral decay invite decline. For societies worldwide, the message is clear and urgent: strengthen human connections with wisdom, purpose, and ethics, or watch the historical cycle turn against us. His timeless wisdom calls us to conscious action rebuilding social cohesion for a stronger, more resilient future. (The Author is an independent researcher and writes on Sikh Empire, Historiography, Social, Philosophical and Cultural Issues and hails from Tral. He can be reached at:aishxing@gmail.com)
Parenting, AI, and the Weight of Modern Expectations
Between fear, convenience, and the child, we might be forgetting DR SAJAD QAZI In the Kashmir valley and far beyond, a quiet negotiation is underway. On one side are parents, exhausted by long working hours, economic anxiety, and the constant buzz of digital life. On the other side are children growing up in a world where screens are not a luxury but a landscape, and now, where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a new, unseen presence in their education, entertainment, and even emotional lives. Between them lies a powerful, unsettling question: What does good parenting mean in an age when an app may know more about our childrens preferences than we do and when algorithms begin to shape their thoughts before we can? This is no longer a distant, science-fiction worry. AI now quietly powers the videos our children watch, the games they play, the learning apps they use, and the social media feeds they will soon join. It can correct their essays, simplify their homework, translate their doubts into polished answers, and offer suggestions before they can form their own. To some, this is a miracle of convenience. For others, it is a creeping fear: Are we outsourcing what it means to be a parent to a machine? The new pressure cooker of parenting Modern parenting was already under strain long before AI entered the nursery. Parents today are expected to be everything at once: caretakers, income earners, emotional counsellors, career planners, tutors, and moral guides. In our own context, where political upheavals, economic constraints, and social expectations weigh heavily, these pressures multiply. Into this pressure cooker steps AI, promising relief. AI tutors offer personalised learning paths. Language models help children write essays or complete assignments. Recommendation systems promise the right content at the right time. Tired parents can easily be forgiven for seeing AI as a helping hand in an exhausting race. Yet the same technology that lightens the load also raises the bar. If your neighbours child is using AI for exam prep, are you failing your own child by not doing the same? If online platforms boast of AI-enhanced learning outcomes, does a parent who relies only on old-fashioned books suddenly feel inadequate? A new form of competition is emerging: not just Which school? but Which app? Which AI tool? Which subscription? In societies like ours, already sensitive to comparison and social status, this digital race risks deepening inequality between those who can pay for premium AI-driven tools and those who cannot. Children growing up in the algorithmic cradle For todays children, AI is not a separate technology; it is part of the air they breathe. Their cartoons are auto-played, their games are adaptive, and their search results are tailored. Long before they understand what an algorithm is, they live inside one. This has deep implications. Attention and imagination: AI-powered platforms are designed to maximise engagement, not necessarily growth. The more a child watches, scrolls, or plays, the more data is collected and the more accurate the predictions become. The result is a cycle where the machine learns to serve exactly what holds the childs attentioneven if that means content that is shallow, hyper-stimulating, or addictive. Imagination, which once grew out of boredom and unstructured time, now competes with the instant gratification of machine-curated entertainment. Learning and effort: AI tools can summarise chapters, solve maths problems, or even write essays. Used wisely, they can be powerful aids for understanding. Used lazily, they can erode a childs relationship with effort. If the answer is always a click away, the habit of struggling through a difficult conceptso crucial for building resiliencemay quietly fade. Identity and self-worth: As children grow older, AI-driven social media platforms play a decisive role in shaping how they see themselves. Algorithms amplify what gets attention and silence what does not. A teenagers sense of worth becomes entangled with likes, shares, and viewsmetrics optimised by machines, not guided by human compassion. In such a world, parenting cannot remain a passive act. If AI is always present, then so must be the parents conscience, curiosity, and courage. Between fear and dependence Public discourse around AI and children often swings between two extremes. On one side, there is an alarm: AI as a threat to jobs, privacy, mental health, and even democracy. On the other hand, there is enthusiasm: AI as the great equaliser, bringing high-quality education, translation, and information to every home, even in remote regions like ours. Parents are caught in between, trying to balance fear and dependence. They do not want to deprive their children of tools that might help them compete in a globalised, tech-driven world. At the same time, they sense that something intimate may be slipping away: the slow, human process through which a child discovers who they are, not just what the world expects them to be. The essential question, then, is not whether children should use AIthat debate is already settled by reality. The question is how they should use it, and under whose guidance. Rethinking what we expect from children, and from ourselves Modern expectations from children have quietly expanded. We want them to excel academically, speak global languages, master technology, be emotionally intelligent, physically active, socially aware, and morally uprightall while navigating a digital world more complex than anything their parents ever knew. AI often enters the picture as a tool to meet these expectations faster: faster learning, faster homework completion, faster exposure to information. But in this rush, we risk turning childhood into a project, not a journey. What if our expectations themselves are part of the problem? What if, rather than asking, How can AI help my child achieve more?, we began asking, How can AIand Ihelp my child become more human? That shift in question changes everything. Instead of measuring success only in grades and achievements, we begin to value qualities that no algorithm can automate: empathy, patience, ethical judgment, the ability to listen, to doubt, to create something original even when it
Ahead of Eid, Consumers Seek Uninterrupted LPG Supply
Idrees Bukhtiyar Srinagar, May 23: Ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, residents across Kashmir have appealed to LPG gas agencies and authorities to ensure uninterrupted supply and timely delivery of cooking gas cylinders to avoid inconvenience during the festive days. People from several areas of the valley told Rising Kashmir that any disruption in LPG supply ahead of Eid causes significant hardship, particularly for families preparing for the celebrations and hosting guests. Residents expressed concern over possible delays in home deliveries due to the increased demand during the festive season. They urged gas agencies to make advance arrangements and streamline distribution so that consumers do not face shortages at the last moment. We appeal to the authorities and gas agencies to ensure smooth and timely cylinder deliveries before Eid. Cooking gas is an essential requirement during the festival and any delay creates unnecessary problems for families, a resident from Srinagar said. Locals also said that many consumers face long waiting periods during festive occasions and requested the agencies to deploy additional staff and delivery vehicles to meet the rush in demand. Consumers further urged the administration to monitor the supply process and ensure that black marketing or overcharging does not take place during the Eid rush. Meanwhile, residents hoped that the concerned departments would take proactive measures to maintain adequate stock and hassle-free distribution across the valley in the coming days. However, many parts of the valley have complained about the irregular supply of LPG.
Over 5.7 Lakh Stakeholders Participate in Mass PTMs Across Kashmir
RK News Service SRINAGAR, May 23: The Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on Friday said that over 5.7 lakh stakeholders participated in the third round of Mass Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) conducted across schools in the Kashmir Valley. According to DSEK, a total of 6,892 PTM events were organised simultaneously across Kashmir in line with the academic calendar for the 2026 session. The meetings witnessed participation from 3,32,173 students, 1,64,365 parents and 73,479 teachers and school heads. Director School Education Kashmir Naseer Ahmad Wani expressed gratitude to parents and the community for their overwhelming participation and termed the response a reflection of growing trust between schools and society. The meetings focused on students academic performance, behavioural development and overall well-being. Schools also held awareness sessions on the ongoing anti-drug campaign in Jammu and Kashmir to sensitise parents and students about the dangers of substance abuse. Senior education officials, including Chief Education Officers (CEOs), attended the meetings and interacted with parents to address their concerns. DSEK said the successful conduct of the PTMs reaffirmed the departments commitment towards transparency, inclusivity and community participation in the education sector.
Staff Shortage, Medicine Scarcity Hit Health Services In Sopore
Mansoor Peer Srinagar, May 23: Healthcare services in north Kashmirs Sopore town have been severely affected due to persistent neglect of three major health institutions, with residents raising concerns over inadequate staffing, shortage of medicines, and non-functional facilities. Locals said that serious deficiencies at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Sopore, PHC Tarzoo, and PHC Maharajpora have been causing immense hardship to patients and affecting the delivery of essential healthcare services. Recently, a public delegation from Sopore met the Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department and sought urgent intervention to address the issues confronting the three healthcare facilities. The lack of basic healthcare facilities at SDH Sopore, PHC Tarzoo and PHC Maharajpora is causing immense hardship to the people of the area, said Hakim Rizwan Illahi, a resident of Sopore. He alleged that SDH Sopore is facing a shortage of experienced staff during night hours, resulting in difficulties for emergency patients. He further claimed that essential medicines are often unavailable and that inadequate staffing at ticket counters leads to long waiting times for patients. There is also a need for a female employee or operator for ultrasonography (USG) services to facilitate female patients, he said. The healthcare services at PHC Tarzoo are in deplorable condition, causing significant inconvenience to patients. According to residents, the facilitys X-ray room remains locked and non-functional, depriving people of a basic diagnostic service. Furthermore, out of the 17 medical tests that should be available at the centre, only one is currently being conducted, severely limiting its diagnostic capabilities. The situation is further aggravated by the shortage of essential medicines, including commonly prescribed drugs such as Pantoprazole and antibiotics. Residents also said that the wards at the health centre remain closed, preventing patients from accessing admission and inpatient care facilities. They expressed concern that these deficiencies are adversely affecting healthcare delivery and forcing many patients to seek treatment elsewhere. At PHC Maharajpora, locals alleged that an acute shortage of staff has severely affected healthcare services. They said the lack of adequate medical and support personnel is hampering patient care and limiting the centres ability to cater to the healthcare needs of the local population. Residents urged the Health and Medical Education Department to ensure proper staffing, availability of medicines, functional diagnostic facilities and overall improvement in healthcare services at the three institutions. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Baramulla, Dr. A.G. Raina, refuted the allegations regarding the shortage of medicines, stating that adequate stocks are available in government health institutions. He said that medicines are available in large quantities and that additional supplies are procured at BMO level whenever required to ensure uninterrupted patient care. SDH Sopore caters to nearly 2,500 patients and all of them are provided medicines free of cost, Dr. Raina said. Responding to concerns about the non-functional X-ray facility at PHC Tarzoo, he said that he would look into the matter and verify its status. He also assured that necessary steps would be taken to ensure that all prescribed diagnostic tests are conducted at the health centre.
UPDATED: Petrol, diesel prices hiked again in Bengaluru; transport sector warns of ripple effect
Oil companies had earlier revised prices upward by around 3 per litre on May 15, followed by another 90 paise increase on May 19.
J&K House Chanakyapuri Gets VVIP Makeover
RK NEWS Service New Delhi, MAY 23: Jammu and Kashmir House at Chanakyapuri unveiled its newly redeveloped VVIP accommodation facilities on Friday, adding critical capacity to the Union Territorys hospitality infrastructure for the dignitaries visiting the national capital. Resident Commissioner, J&K, Ramesh Kumar, inaugurated the modernized 4th floor of C-Block in presence of Additional Resident Commissioner Anil Kumar Sharma and senior officers of the Resident Commission. The upgrade has come after the reorganization of the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, when A and B Blocks were transferred to the Union Territory of Ladakh. That left J&K with only the ageing C-Block, sharply cutting accommodation for the visiting Ministers, MPs, senior civil and police officers, judicial officers and official delegations. To address the gap, the administration undertook a comprehensive revamp of the 4th floor. The redesigned level now houses three suites including Pashmina, Hangul and Chinar and two VVIP rooms named Trikuta and Saffron. These all have been built on contemporary hospitality standards for comfort, security and a professional environment.
Vellore Corporation to float tenders for complete overhaul of Amma Canteens
As per estimates, cost of renovation of each canteen will vary between 5 lakh and 10 lakh
Speakers at leadership summit emphasise on sustained deliberation on role of AI in critical sectors
Pro Chancellor of KLE Technological University Prof. Ashok Shettar has emphasised the need for a sustained deliberation on the role of Artificial Intelligence and its implications across critical sectors such as education, banking, defence, and healthcare
Hubballi Dharwad Central MLA tells officials to facilitate export of mangoes grown in region
Emphasising the need for facilitating export of the mangoes grown by the farmers of the region, Hubballi Dharwad Central MLA Mahesh Tenginakai has said the officials should provide requisite information and handhold the farmers initially
Centre committed to ensuring transparent, corruption-free recruitmentm says Union Minister Joshi
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi has said that the union government was committed to ensuring transparent and corruption-free recruitment processes.
`Quality seeds and scientific sowing fair on May 26 in Ballari
Cricket betting racket busted, four arrested
Police recover 36,000 in cash and eight mobile phones from the possession of the accused
KSRTC driver suspended over defamatory post against Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan
Transport corporation initiates departmental disciplinary action against the driver attached to the KSRTC Nedumkandam unit in Idukki
Divis Labs Q4 net up 13% to 751 cr., declares 30 dividend
Central Bank plans new businesses to improve profitability
MD & CEO Kalyan Kumar confident of exceeding FY27 guidance.
Supreme Court registerssuo motucase over death of Twisha Sharma
A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi is scheduled to hear the matter on Monday (May 25)
Ukrainian strike on college in Russian-occupied town kills 18: officials
The strike has drawn a strong reaction from top Russian officials, with President Vladimir Putin ordering the Army to prepare a response
Back-to-back murders near deserted tanks in Coimbatore district raise safety concerns
