Jammu Kashmir HC Acquits Former BDO in 2009 Bribery Case, Sets Aside Conviction
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has acquitted Habibullah Kumar, a former In-charge Establishment Clerk at the Block Development Office (BDO), Larkipora Shahabad, Anantnag, in a 2009 bribery case, holding that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he had demanded or voluntarily accepted illegal gratification. Justice Sanjay Dhar set []
Jammu Kashmir HC Quashes PSA Detention, Says Bovine Transport Not Threat to Public Order
SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the preventive detention of a Rajouri man booked in three cases concerning transportation of bovine animals without permission, holding that such allegations, by themselves, were not sufficient to invoke the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act. The court also found that authorities had violated []
Anantnag witnesses grand Milad procession as devotees gather for Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations
Anantnag , August 26 : Anantnag witnessed a massive Milad procession as thousands of devotees gathered to mark Eid Milad-un-Nabi, commemorating the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad on Wednesday. The procession saw people from different parts of the district participating with religious fervour and devotion. Streets echoed with prayers and salutations as devotees marched peacefully, carrying religious flags and banners. The gathering reflected the deep faith and spiritual significance attached to the occasion, with participants offering prayers and expressing devotion to the Prophet. The Milad celebrations across Anantnag were marked by a strong sense of community, peace and religious harmony, as devotees came together to observe the auspicious occasion. A local, Ab Rasheed, told ANI, Thousands of people have gathered here with great devotion to mark Eid Milad-un-Nabi. The procession is a symbol of peace, unity and faith, and people from different areas have participated in it. We are happy to be part of this Milad procession. The occasion reminds us of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and promotes brotherhood, harmony and peace among people, another resident, Mohd Abbas, said. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday extended greetings to people on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, wishing for happiness, togetherness, prosperity and harmony across the country. Eid Mubarak! Greetings on Milad-un-Nabi. I hope this occasion furthers togetherness and joy all around us. May the spirit of kindness and giving back to society always guide us, PM Modi said. Milad-un-Nabi is observed to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. (ANI)
H1N1 Cases Rise, IMA Urges People to Stay Vigilant
SRINAGAR: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged people to remain vigilant amid a seasonal increase in Influenza A (H1N1) cases, while noting that most infections are mild and resolve on their own. The medical body advised people against self-medicating with antibiotics, stressing that H1N1 is caused by a virus and antibiotics do not treat []
IMA Advises Vigilance Amid Rise in H1N1 Cases
New Delhi, August 26: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has advised the public to maintain heightened vigilance amid a seasonal rise in Influenza A (H1N1) cases, while stressing that there is no cause for panic as most infections are mild and self-limiting. The association cautioned people against taking antibiotics without medical advice, noting that H1N1 [] The post IMA Advises Vigilance Amid Rise in H1N1 Cases appeared first on Northlines .
SRINAGAR: The High Court of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh has quashed the preventive detention of Mohd. Asgar alias Tola, holding that the criminal cases cited against him by the authorities were either too old to have a live and proximate link with the need for preventive detention or had subsequently been settled and quashed. The []
India Rejects UN Racial Discrimination Panel
NEW DELHI, Aug 26: India on Wednesday strongly rejected observations made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), describing references concerning the country as politically motivated and highly malicious. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had taken note of the remarks issued by CERD following Indias 11th periodic review [] The post India Rejects UN Racial Discrimination Panels Remarks as Politically Motivated, Malicious appeared first on Northlines .
Central Kashmir: Police Attach Two-Storey House Under NDPS Act
SRINAGAR: Police on Wednesday attached a two-storey residential house belonging to Noor Mohd Dar in Hapatnar, Charar-i-Shareif, Budgam district, under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The action was taken under Section 68-F(1) of the NDPS Act, a police spokesperson said. Dar is the son of Mohammad Ismail Dar. The []
Two Central Jail Srinagar Escapees Traced, Apprehended In Rajasthan
Srinagar, Aug 26: Two inmates who had escaped from Central Jail Srinagar have been successfully traced and apprehended in Rajasthan, police officials said on Wednesday. The two escapees have been identified as Farman Khan, a resident of Rajasthan, and Mukhtar Ahmad Gojar, a resident of Anantnag. According to officials, both inmates were traced to Rajgarh [] The post Two Central Jail Srinagar Escapees Traced, Apprehended In Rajasthan appeared first on Northlines .
MP Ruhullah says delayed cabinet expansion hurting governance in J&K
Srinagar, Aug 26 : National Conference MP Syed Aga Ruhullah Mehdi on Wednesday questioned the repeated delays in expansion of the Jammu and Kashmir Council of Ministers, saying governance was suffering as ministers were burdened with multiple portfolios. Ruhullah said assurances regarding cabinet expansion had been made several times but had not materialised. The expansion was first talked about before Jantar Mantar, then after Jantar Mantar, then before August 15 and then after August 15, he told KNS, questioning the repeated postponements. The Srinagar MP said ministers were currently handling four to five departments each, which, he claimed, was affecting the functioning of the administration. If a minister leaves the secretariat, five departments come to a halt. People coming for work in different departments end up suffering because of one minister, he said. Ruhullah called for greater decentralisation of responsibilities, saying the distribution of portfolios among more ministers would improve governance and benefit people. Functioning suffers, governance suffers. The more departments are spread out, the better it is for people, he said. He also alleged that the administration had struggled to take even routine decisions. It has been two years, and you can understand that everything is not right, Ruhullah said. His remarks come amid speculation over an expansion or reshuffle of the J&K Council of Ministers and reports of differences within the ruling National Conference. The Omar Abdullah-led government has been functioning with a limited number of ministers since taking office, with several key departments being handled by individual ministers.(KNS).
Jammu Kashmir: Govt Orders Retrospective Suspension of Executive Engineer
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered that the suspension of Er. Manzoor Ahmad Dar, an In-Charge Executive Engineer arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), be treated as effective from the date of his arrest on March 28, 2026. The decision was issued by the Public Works (R and B) Department through Government Order []
Advanced healthcare must reach smaller districts: LG Sinha
Srinagar, Aug 26: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday called for making advanced healthcare accessible beyond major cities and specialised institutions, saying the country must bridge the gap between what modern medicine can provide and what is actually available to people in smaller districts and remote areas. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the National Summit on Quaternary Healthcare: A National Strategy for Advanced Care at SKICC Srinagar, Sinha said the challenge of providing advanced healthcare is not confined to Jammu and Kashmir but was being faced across the country. Recalling his visit to a health centre near Akhnoor during the administrations Back to Village programme amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Sinha said a conversation with doctors there made him realise the difficulties faced by patients requiring diagnosis and treatment for complex diseases. He said one of the doctors had told him that families often brought sick children to the health centre hoping for proper diagnosis and treatment, but the absence of equipment for diagnosing complex diseases left doctors helpless. Sinha said the lack of specialised facilities often forced families from remote areas to undertake long journeys to Jammu, Chandigarh or Delhi in search of treatment. I feel that the patience of the mother and the patience of the father is not just in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, stressing that the issue was much wider and required a national approach. The Lieutenant Governor said India had made significant progress in healthcare over the past 1012 years, including expansion of health insurance coverage, vaccination programmes, medical education and healthcare infrastructure. He said the country had also witnessed a substantial expansion of medical infrastructure, with new AIIMS, medical colleges and MBBS seats being created across the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir. Sinha, however, said a significant gap continued to exist between the capabilities of modern medicine and their actual availability to people. There is a gap and there is a distance. Earlier, perhaps, we did not think in this manner because our resources were limited. But I feel now, as the doctors were saying, the country is thinking on a much larger scale, he said. He said the healthcare sector must now be viewed in the larger context of the vision of a Viksit Bharat, with greater emphasis on advanced care, research and specialised treatment. Referring to institutions such as AIIMS Delhi, PGI Chandigarh and SKIMS Srinagar, Sinha said these institutions represented the countrys specialised healthcare capabilities, but stressed that a comprehensive healthcare ecosystem still required sustained efforts. This programme is important because you have deep knowledge of this subject, he told healthcare experts, researchers, scientists and administrators attending the summit. Sinha emphasised that hospitals should not merely function as treatment centres but should also become centres of research and innovation. We should not only make hospitals. We should also make them centres of research initiatives, he said, adding that clinical treatment and research should go hand in hand. He stressed that advanced healthcare centres should have access to every facility made possible by modern science. Every possibility that science allows should be available in the quaternary care centre, he said. On healthcare infrastructure and funding, Sinha said the government was making provisions through annual budgets to strengthen and modernise the sector. He said the countrys growing economy was creating greater opportunities for healthcare and expressed satisfaction that doctors and specialists were increasingly becoming available across different levels of care. The Lieutenant Governor said institutions such as NITI Aayog could play an important role in developing strategies to strengthen advanced healthcare and integrate it with existing systems. He also called for greater use of telemedicine to connect healthcare facilities across the Union Territory and ensure access to specialised expertise in remote areas. Advanced care without advanced doctors is not possible, Sinha said. Calling for greater cooperation among Himalayan states, he said they could jointly plan biomedical research and identify selected areas for coordinated research to address region-specific healthcare challenges. The summit brought together healthcare researchers, scientists, medical professionals, administrators and representatives of various institutions to deliberate on advanced and quaternary healthcare, clinical care, research and strengthening the overall healthcare ecosystem. Sinha said the ultimate objective should be to ensure that advances in medical science translate into accessible and affordable treatment for ordinary citizens, particularly those living away from major urban healthcare centres.(KNO)
47-Year-Old Man Dies After Tractor Overturns in Central Kashmir
SRINAGAR: A 47-year-old man died after a tractor overturned at Checki Wanihama in the Beerwah area of Budgam district on Wednesday, officials said. The deceased was identified as Abdul Rashid Wani, a resident of Ohangam in Beerwah. Wani sustained critical injuries in the accident and was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him []
Jammu Kashmir: Education Department Revises Seniority of Senior Lecturers
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department has revised the seniority positions of two Senior Lecturers, Mohd Ayub and Bashir Ahmad Wani, in the final seniority list of +2 Senior Lecturers. The decision was issued through Government Order No. 337-JK(Edu) of 2026 by the Human Resource Management Section of the School Education Department. The []
NCB Busts Cross-Border Heroin Cartel in Jammu, 3 Held With 5.16 Kg Heroin
JAMMU, Aug 26: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Jammu has busted a major cross-border heroin trafficking cartel with the arrest of three persons, including the suspected mastermind, and seizure of 5.16 kg of heroin, officials said on Wednesday. Acting on specific intelligence, the NCB intercepted a vehicle at Panjtirthi in Jammu on Saturday and recovered [] The post NCB Busts Cross-Border Heroin Cartel in Jammu, 3 Held With 5.16 Kg Heroin appeared first on Northlines .
POCSO accused arrested 3 days after escaping from Srinagar jail
Srinagar: Two persons accused in separate POCSO cases, who had escaped from Srinagars Central Jail, were arrested by police after three days, officials said on Wednesday. A senior police official said that the accused had escaped from the jail on August 23, with police soon launching an operation to arrest them. The accused have been []
Massive Flood Sweeps Northern Nepal, Five Districts Put on High Alert
KATHMANDU, Aug 26: A sudden and massive flood swept through northern Nepal on Wednesday morning, causing extensive damage in border settlements of Rasuwa district and prompting authorities to place several downstream districts on high alert. The flood surged through the Bhote Koshi River at around 9 am local time, reportedly from the direction of Tibet. [] The post Massive Flood Sweeps Northern Nepal, Five Districts Put on High Alert appeared first on Northlines .
US Pauses Immigrant Visa Appointments Worldwide Amid Trump Administration Crackdown: Report
WASHINGTON, Aug 26: The Trump administration has paused immigrant visa appointments worldwide as the US State Department steps up scrutiny of applicants who could potentially become dependent on government-funded public benefits, according to a Financial Times report. The department has launched a global training programme for consular officers to ensure they assess visa applications more [] The post US Pauses Immigrant Visa Appointments Worldwide Amid Trump Administration Crackdown: Report appeared first on Northlines .
Fuel-Depleted Indian Harop Inadvertently Hit Pak
NEW DELHI, Aug 25: An Indian Harop loitering munition accidentally struck Pakistans Kirana Hills near Sargodha during Operation Sindoor after running critically low on fuel, former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan said on Tuesday, clarifying that India had not deliberately targeted Pakistans nuclear facilities. Speaking at the Vivekananda Centre in New Delhi, Chauhan [] The post Fuel-Depleted Indian Harop Inadvertently Hit Paks Kirana Hills During Op Sindoor: Ex-CDS Chauhan appeared first on Northlines .
India Enforce Follow-On After Bowling Sri Lanka Out for 290
COLOMBO, Aug 26: India enforced the follow-on after bowling Sri Lanka out for 290 on the third day of the second Test on Wednesday, taking a commanding 213-run first-innings lead as Sonal Dinusha hit his second successive Test century. India, who had declared their first innings at 503/9, now lead the two-match series 1-0 after [] The post India Enforce Follow-On After Bowling Sri Lanka Out for 290 appeared first on Northlines .
BEIJING, Aug 25: India and China have agreed to continue efforts towards a political settlement of their boundary dispute while stressing the need to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday. The understanding was reached during the 25th round of Special Representatives [] The post India-China Agree to Pursue Political Settlement of Boundary Issue: MEA appeared first on Northlines .
Lok Sabha Secretariat Notifies 20 Rebel TMC MPs, Seeks Replies in 7 Days
NEW DELHI, Aug 26: The Lok Sabha Secretariat has issued notices to 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs and sought their replies within seven days on disqualification petitions filed by TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee under the anti-defection law, sources said on Wednesday. The notices, dated August 25, include copies of Banerjees petition filed on June [] The post Lok Sabha Secretariat Notifies 20 Rebel TMC MPs, Seeks Replies in 7 Days appeared first on Northlines .
15 Infants Reportedly Killed in Fire at Islamabad Hospital
Islamabad, Aug 26: At least 15 infants were reportedly killed after a fire broke out in the gynaecology ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), a major public hospital in Pakistans capital, on Wednesday. The incident occurred at around 7 am, with the fire breaking out in a ward where 15 babies were [] The post 15 Infants Reportedly Killed in Fire at Islamabad Hospital appeared first on Northlines .
DRDO Successfully Tests Combat Parachute System at High-Altitude Ladakh
Ladakh, Aug 26: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully tested its Military Combat Parachute System (MCPS) at one of the worlds highest-altitude drop zones in Ladakh, demonstrating the systems capability to support high-altitude airborne operations under extreme conditions. The trial was conducted at Nyoma in south-eastern Ladakh, close to the Line of [] The post DRDO Successfully Tests Combat Parachute System at High-Altitude Ladakh appeared first on Northlines .
Lady dies after falling from hillside in Reasi
Reasi: A 29-year-old lady died after slipping from a hill while cutting grass in the Chassana area of Reasi district on Wednesday, officials said. An official said that the lady was cutting grass on a hillside when she slipped and fell around 200300 metres, resulting in her death on the spot. She was later identified []
Jammu Kashmir: Govt Grants Non-Functional Pay Scale to 35 Accounts Officers
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sanctioned the Non-Functional Pay Scale of Level 10-A (Rs 56,6001,79,800) for 35 Junior Scale Accounts Officers, including eight retired officers and one deceased officer. The Finance Department issued Government Order No. 6-F of 2026, dated August 25, following recommendations made by the Selection Committee at its meeting on []
Srinagar, Aug 26: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday Extended greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi(SAW). In a post on X, Office of LG wrote, Heartfelt greetings and best wishes to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Milad-un-Nabi. The life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (saws) remain an eternal beacon of peace, equality, and compassion for all humankind On this sacred day, let us pledge to live by his values of love, kindness, and universal brotherhood and work together to foster a more harmonious, inclusive and united society.Eid Mubarak!, the post reads.
LG Sinha, CM Omar Extend Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi Greetings to Jammu Kashmir People
SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday extended greetings to the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), calling for peace, harmony, compassion and mutual respect. In separate messages, both leaders highlighted the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), describing them as a source of guidance on []
IAS Officer Who Served as Jammu Kashmir LG Principal Secretary Gets Tenure Extension
SRINAGAR: The central deputation tenure of senior IAS officer Nitishwar Kumar, who previously served as Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, has been extended until his superannuation in August 2027. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the continuation of Kumars central deputation beyond September 30, 2026, up to August []
LG, Chief Minister Greet People On Eve Of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW)
Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday greeted the people on the eve of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW). In his message, the Lt Governor said, Heartfelt greetings and best wishes to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Milad-un-Nabi. The life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad remain an eternal beacon of peace, equality, []
Leaders, ministers, officials greet people on Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW)
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday extended warm and heartfelt greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW). Dr Farooq while conveying his greetings said that Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) is a sacred occasion to reflect upon the timeless message of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the profound []
Forest Rights Act catalyst for tribal welfare, livelihood enhancement: Minister Rana
Attends Tribal Convention on FRA at Pulwama; hints at dev of Sangerwani as model tribal tourism village; announces 2.75 cr for revamp of 14 water filtration plants in Rajpora PULWAMA: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, emphasized the importance of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, as []
States encouraged to designate SPOCs for WAVES, Create in India challenge SRINAGAR: The National Conference on media, broadcasting, and the creative economy was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, bringing together senior officials from the Centre and States/UTs. Pawan Singh Rathore, Special Secretary of Jammu & Kashmirs Information Department, represented the region, engaging in discussions []
MLA Bandipora reviews employment generation, livelihood promotion
BANDIPORA: Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Bandipora Constituency, Nizamuddin Bhat, chaired a departmental review meeting at the Conference Hall, Mini Secretariat Bandipora, to assess the progress of various departments and initiatives aimed at employment generation, entrepreneurship promotion and strengthening livelihood opportunities in the district. During the meeting, the MLA stressed the need to make []
SKUAST-K scientists secure national recognition for Kashmir pony as indigenous horse breed
SRINAGAR: In a landmark scientific achievement for Jammu & Kashmir, scientists of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) have secured official recognition and registration of the Kashmir Pony as a new indigenous horse breed by the ICARNational Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBAGR), Karnal. The recognition was accorded by the ICAR []
Youth-led initiatives can turn Viksit Bharat vision into action: Dir NIT Sgr
SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar on Tuesday organised a day-long programme under the Viksit Bharat Yuva Connect Programme, featuring a cleanliness drive and a distinguished lecture on waste management aimed at promoting environmental responsibility, sustainability, leadership, innovation and youth participation in nation-building. The cleanliness drive began from the Fountain Park of NIT []
DC Budgam reviews Classes of Joy (TaRL) implementation
Calls for activity-based learning BUDGAM: Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan on Tuesday reviewed implementation of Classes of Joy- Teaching at Right Level (TaRL) and focused on improving FLN learning outcomes during a meeting held at the Conference Hall, Budgam. The meeting was attended by the Chief Education Officer (CEO) Budgam, Principal DIET Beerwah, all []
DC Sgr reviews renovation works at Narayan Temple Bulbul Lanker
SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, on Tuesday visited the Narayan Temple at Bulbul Lanker in the Share-Khaas area of the District to inspect the renovation and upgradation works being taken under the Governments Heritage Conservation Scheme. During the visit, the DC was accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Mir Imtiyaz Ul Aziz, Joint Commissioner []
CUK participates in TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan awareness prog
GANDERBAL: Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir) on Tuesday participated (online) in the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening awareness, sensitisation and community participation towards achieving the goal of a TB-Free India. The programme was organised by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, in collaboration with the []
Healthcare summit begins in Srinagar, focuses on quaternary care
Srinagar, Aug 25: Doctors from Jammu and Kashmir showcased their latest clinical research and its implications for the local population on the opening day of the three-day Quaternary Healthcare and Research Summit at SKICC, Srinagar, being held under the aegis of NITI Aayog, Govt. of India. The event is expected to witness the participation of senior officials and heads of premier medical institutions, including Director AIIMS New Delhi, Director PGIMER Chandigarh, Executive Director AIIMS Awantipora and Executive Director AIIMS Jammu. Director SKIMS, Prof. M. Ashraf Ganie, inaugurated the summit at SKICC and said the event was an important initiative aimed at strengthening tertiary healthcare institutions and advancing them towards quaternary healthcare. Expressing gratitude to NITI Aayog for endorsing the initiative, Prof. Ganie said the summit would deliberate on how tertiary care hospitals across the country could improve their services and provide the next level of quaternary healthcare while strengthening clinical research. He said the three-day programme had been divided into three major components. On the first day, faculty members and doctors from SKIMS and other medical colleges of Jammu and Kashmir presented research conducted during the previous year, with discussions focusing on its implications for the local population. The director said the second day will feature deliberations on national-level research and quaternary healthcare, with national and international experts sharing their expertise and perspectives. On the third day, heads of institutions and senior faculty members from Jammu and Kashmir will deliberate on strengthening collaboration in research, training and teaching. The summit aims to create a platform for collaboration among leading healthcare institutions, promote advanced clinical research and develop a roadmap for strengthening quaternary healthcare in the country. The summit, being held under the theme Scaling Tertiary into Quaternary Healthcare: A National Strategy for Advanced Care, brings together public health scientists, doctors and experts of national and international repute to deliberate on advanced healthcare, clinical research and innovation. The three-day summit is being jointly organised by Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, J&K Science, Technology & Innovation Council, Department of Science & Technology, Government of J&K and Ladakh Research Consortium.
Centre forms panel for Sea Buckthorn research centre in Ladakh
Leh, August 25: The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has constituted a High-Level Committee to examine the proposal for establishing a dedicated National Sanjeevani Research Centre for Sea Buckthorn in Nubra Valley, following a request by Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The committee has been tasked with assessing the scope of research, development, scientific cultivation, value addition, processing and commercialisation of Sea Buckthorn, a high-value Himalayan crop with significant medicinal, nutritional and livelihood potential. The development comes after L-G Saxena wrote to Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on August 14, 2026, proposing the establishment of the National Sanjeevani Research Centre in Nubra Valley, which is among the major Sea Buckthorn-producing areas of Ladakh. Responding to the proposal, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) constituted the High-Level Committee on August 21 to examine the feasibility of the proposed centre and recommend an appropriate institutional and operational framework. The committee, headed by Dr V.B. Patel, Additional Director General (F&PC), Horticultural Science Division, ICAR, includes Dr Maheshwar Singh, Dean (Agriculture), University of Ladakh, Leh; Dr Tsering Stobdan, Scientist-F, DRDO, Leh; and Tsewang Punchok, Director (Horticulture), Administration of UT Ladakh, among its members. The committee undertook its first field visit to Ladakh on August 24 and held interactions with stakeholders and officials to assess the existing status of Sea Buckthorn cultivation, research, processing and utilisation in the region. The proposal for the dedicated research centre followed L-G Saxenas recent visit to Nubra Valley and interactions with farmers across Ladakh, during which several stakeholders sought greater support for scientific cultivation, processing and marketing of Sea Buckthorn. A naturally occurring Himalayan plant, Sea Buckthorn has applications across agriculture, food products, nutraceuticals and processing. Its cultivation and value addition also have the potential to create livelihood opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperatives and local communities. The proposed centre is aimed at developing Ladakh as a hub for Sea Buckthorn research, innovation, value addition and sustainable commercialisation, while strengthening scientific support for farmers and local enterprises.
Urs of Hazrat Baba Daryadin (R.A.) observed with religious fervour in Ganderbal
Ganderbal: The annual Urs Mubarak of Hazrat Baba Daryadin (R.A.) was observed with religious fervour and devotion at Baba Daryadin Nagbal area of central Kashmirs Ganderbal district, with a large number of devotees from Ganderbal and adjoining areas participating in the religious gathering. The annual Urs is observed every year at the revered shrine, where devotees gather to offer prayers and seek blessings. The occasion also witnessed night-long prayers and religious programmes, with the shrine witnessing a steady flow of devotees throughout the observance. Men, women, children and elderly devotees from different parts of Ganderbal district and neighbouring areas participated in the congregation. The gathering reflected the deep religious and spiritual significance attached to the shrine and the legacy of Hazrat Baba Daryadin (R.A.) among the local people. As part of the arrangements, free Langar was organised for the devotees attending the Urs. The facility provided meals to visitors and participants during the religious gathering. Ulema and Imams who addressed the gathering spoke at length about the life and teachings of Hazrat Baba Daryadin (R.A.), highlighting his religious services, spiritual contribution and dedication towards the preaching and service of Islam. The speakers urged devotees to follow the teachings of the revered Sufi saint and emphasised the importance of faith, brotherhood, compassion and service to humanity. The J&K Waqf Board made arrangements for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the annual Urs. Necessary facilities were put in place for devotees visiting the shrine, while arrangements were maintained to ensure that the religious congregation was conducted without inconvenience. The annual Urs concluded with prayers for peace, prosperity and well-being, as devotees from different areas continued to visit the shrine to pay their respects and participate in the religious observances.
Ganderbal admin bans bathing, swimming in Nallah Sindh
Ganderbal, August 25: In view of the risks associated with bathing and swimming in Nallah Sindh and other water bodies across the district, the Ganderbal administration has issued a public advisory urging residents, particularly parents and guardians, to remain vigilant and prevent children from entering unsafe water bodies. The advisory, issued by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal comes amid concerns over the safety of people, especially children, who venture into rivers, streams and other water bodies for bathing or swimming. The administration has specifically advised parents and guardians to strictly prevent children from entering or bathing in Nallah Sindh and other nallahs and water bodies. They have also been asked to keep children under close supervision, particularly during holidays and leisure hours when they may be more likely to visit such locations. The advisory cautions that deep, fast-flowing and unpredictable water bodies can pose serious risks. Parents have been urged to explain these dangers to children and discourage them from swimming or bathing at unprotected and unsafe locations. The administration further stressed that children should not be allowed to go near water bodies without responsible adult supervision. The advisory has been circulated to various departments and authorities, including the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal, SDM Kangan, Tehsildars, District Information Officer, Municipal Council Ganderbal and the District Control Room, for information and necessary action. The administration has also directed the concerned authorities to ensure wide publicity of the advisory so that the message reaches residents, particularly families living in areas close to Nallah Sindh and other water bodies. The move comes as a precautionary measure to prevent accidents and ensure that residents, especially children, remain cautious while visiting water bodies across Ganderbal district.
J&K Rehabilitation Council rolls out aid for specially-abled
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council plans to distribute 1,800 motorised tricycles scooties among eligible persons with disabilities across Jammu and Kashmir. An official of the J&K Rehabilitation Council told Rising Kashmir that a total of 6,102 motorised tricycle scooties have been provided to persons with disabilities since the financial year 2014-15. The beneficiaries have a disability level of 40 per cent or above, subject to the prescribed eligibility criteria. According to official figures, 50 motorised tricycle scooties were distributed during 2014-15, followed by 209 in 2015-16, 208 in 2016-17 and 500 in 2017-18. The council distributed 300 motorised tricycle scooties in 2019-20, 340 in 2020-21, 1,002 in 2021-22, 2,832 in 2022-23 and 664 in 2023-24. We are going to provide 1,800 motorised tricycle scooties to specially-abled persons across Jammu and Kashmir. In the near future, the Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council also has plans to provide automatic wheelchairs to eligible beneficiaries having 40 per cent or more disability, the official said. He said eligible beneficiaries can apply for the schemes through the JanSugam portal, where they are required to submit the necessary details and supporting documents online. The official added that only holders of AAY, BPL and PHH ration cards are eligible for the motorised tricycle scooties and automatic wheelchairs schemes and can apply through the online mode. Officials informed that nearly 6,000 beneficiaries are receiving monthly financial assistance of Rs 1,000 through the J&K Rehabilitation Council. The assistance is being provided to civilian beneficiaries who were affected by militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Rehabilitation Council provides pension assistance to civilians, old-age parents and persons with disabilities, besides marriage assistance to eligible civilian beneficiaries affected by militancy, the official said. The council is also providing students from Jammu and Kashmir an opportunity to visit other parts of the country under its Youth Exchange Programme Watan Ko Jano. The official said students studying in government schools across the Union Territory participate in the programme, with preference given to students affected by militancy. Students from different government schools are participating in the Youth Exchange Programme. Preference is given to those students who have been affected by militancy, he said. He added that the programme provides students an opportunity to visit different states and interact with senior dignitaries of the Government of India, besides gaining exposure to the countrys diverse culture and social environment.
JK Bank Diary at 25: A Retrospective
EXCERPTS RK: JK Bank Diary has completed 25 years and more than 1,300 episodes. What, in your view, explains its unusual longevity when most institutional radio programmes do not survive this long? Abid: I believe its longevity lies primarily in its ability to remain connected with the people while serving the communication needs of the Bank. Institutional programmes often become repetitive because they treat communication as publicity. JK Bank Diary , at its best, treated it as a conversation with the society. Another important factor has been consistency. Twenty-five years and more than 1,300 episodes represent an enormous institutional memory. Generations of listeners have grown up with the programme, and many have developed a sense of familiarity and trust with its voice. Its survival also owes much to the fact that it has adapted to changing times. The programme has never been entirely static. Its subjects, presentation, language, treatment and formats have evolved with the Bank, the economy and the media environment. RK: When the programme was launched in 2001, what gap in the Banks communication with people was it meant to fill? Abid: In 2001, radio was perhaps the most effective medium for reaching people across Jammu & Kashmir, particularly those who were outside the reach of newspapers, television or emerging digital media. The programme was conceived to take the Bank closer to ordinary peopleto explain its products and services, communicate important information and create a direct communication channel between the institution and its customers. But I think its larger significance was that it humanised an institution. A bank can otherwise appear to people as counters, forms, procedures and officials. A radio programme could give the institution a voice, personality and sense of accessibility. RK: Over these 25 years, Kashmirs economy, banking habits and media landscape have changed dramatically. How has JK Bank Diary changed with them? Abid: The change has been enormous. Banking itself has moved from traditional branch-based transactions towards ATMs, digital banking, mobile applications, online payments and increasingly cashless transactions. The communication style therefore had to change as well. The programme could no longer simply announce products or read out institutional information. It needed to explain things in simpler language, use more engaging formats and address issues that mattered to contemporary customers. I also believe the programme gradually moved from being predominantly product-oriented towards being more customer-oriented. That shift is important because today's banking customer wants to know not only what the Bank offers , but also how it affects him or her . RK: The programme has continued through the 2005 earthquake, the 2014 floods and the Covid pandemic. Was there ever a crisis when you genuinely feared it might not continue? Abid: There have certainly been periods when the continuation of any regular production activity could have been questioned because of circumstances beyond our control. The Covid pandemic was perhaps the clearest example, when normal production, movement and interaction became extremely difficult. But the remarkable thing about a long-running programme is that it develops institutional resilience. When circumstances change, the format and method of production can change, but the communication objective remains. In that sense, I never regarded a disruption as necessarily the end of the programme. I regarded it as a test of our ability to adapt. I was Incharge of the Programme those days and would ensure to present myself in the office on Thursday and Friday to make the programme. We were not allowed to record the programme in Radio Kashmir Srinagar (Now All India Radio Srinagar) because of Covid-19 but then necessity became the mother invention and we recorded in the programme either in Conference Hall or in the Auditorium of the Bank. My editing skills came into effect and nobody ever noticed those glitches in the rough recordings. RK: The programme has often been described as more than a publicity exercise. What tangible difference has it made to financial literacy or banking access in J&K? Can you give a concrete example? Abid: Its most important contribution, in my view, has been in making banking information understandable to ordinary people. Financial literacy is not always about complicated financial concepts. Sometimes it is simply explaining a product, a facility, a digital service, a procedure or a customer's rights in language that a person can understand. A good radio programme can reach a listener in a remote area who may never attend a formal financial-literacy workshop. When such a listener learns through the programme how to use a banking facility or understands a new service, the programme has performed a meaningful public-service function. The real measure of such communication is therefore not applause or ratings alone, but whether the information helps somebody make better use of the banking system. RK: You have headed the programme at a crucial stage of its evolution. What is one significant change you personally introduced that you believe made JK Bank Diary better or more relevant? Abid: One of the most important things I tried to do was to make the programmeless like a conventional institutional broadcast and more like a professionally produced radio programme. I introduced and encouraged formats that gave the programme greater variety and a human dimension. Among these was Dil Se , a segment built around conversations and experiences involving customers of the Bank. Introduced our own capable staff instead of paid outside artists. Because from the day-one I believe the Bank has very talented staff and they can prove their mettle whenever given a chance. I also worked on the scripting and presentation and introduced small skits around banking products and services, because I believe people remember a situation or a story much better than a dry description of a product. I also assured that every programme goes on our official website and Banks Intranet site. And from that period, I think every episode is now available on digital platforms of the Bank. Another change I am particularly fond of was refreshing the signature tune with new music and lyrics. Talha Jehangir wrote those beautiful lyrics which Raja Bilal and Shahi Mumtaz sung with thrilling music. The opening credit was also pre-recorded in the remarkable voice of Bashir Arif, the former Deputy Director General of All India Radio. These may appear small changes, but collectively they gave the programme a more contemporary identity. RK: When you had a long standing in writing and broadcasting, why you were not the part of the programme prior to 2018? Abid: That is an interesting question. My association with broadcasting and writing actually predates my involvement with JK Bank Diary. I had been associated with radio and television as a broadcaster, writer, poet and scriptwriter on a casual basis before I joined the Bank. However, when I joined the concerned Press Relations Cell (Now Corporate Communication Deptt), the JK Bank Diary programme had just started and unfortunately the higher Bank management didnt gave me any chance in the programme despite that I was an approved casual Announcer of Radio Kashmir Srinagar those days doing live programmes like Aap Ki Farmayish, Aaj Ki Surkhiyan, Payame subh, Sports programmes etc. There was, therefore, a gap between my professional background and my opportunity to contribute to the programme. Interestingly, during that period I continued to write and translate for the Bank through outside assignments. In fact, there was an irony in the situation: work involving my writing and translation skills was sometimes being commissioned from me externally, even though those skills were not being utilised within the Bank's own communication setup. Yes, my real opportunity came in 2018, when a restructuring brought me back to what had by then become the Corporate Communications Department. I saw it as a first and foremost opportunity to do what I had wanted to do for years. I was able to bring my broadcasting experience, writing skills and creative ideas into the programme. So, I would say I was not absent from the world of broadcasting during those years; I was simply not given the opportunity to bring that experience to JK Bank Diary until much later. RK: What did you find was not working when you took charge, and what was the first thing you changed? Abid: I felt that some aspects of the programme had become unnecessarily conventional and predictable. For example, long film songs were being used during the programme. In a programme for which the Bank was purchasing valuable broadcast time, I felt that four or five minutes of an unrelated film song was not the best use of that time. I replaced this with the relevant crux or stanza of a song wherever music was required. I also felt that excessive personalisation of the programmerepeatedly identifying the names of narrators and ending with elaborate credits such as Scripted, Presented and Directed by...could sometimes shift attention from the JK Bank to the individuals producing it.My philosophy was simple: the programme should promote the Bank and serve its listeners, not promote the people making the programme. RK: Can you recall one decision or experiment you took a risk on that initially faced resistance but eventually worked? Abid: The introduction of small dramatic skits around banking products and services was one such experiment. Institutional communication naturally tends to favour straightforward narration because it appears safe and controlled. I believed, however, that a short, well-written situation could communicate a banking concept more effectively than several paragraphs of narration. Similarly, introducing customer voices recorded via Call recording throughthe segment Dil Se brought an element of authenticity that conventional institutional presentation sometimes lacks. These ideas required a change in mindset: from simplytelling people about the Banktoshowing them how banking relates to their lives. RK: How much editorial freedom does JK Bank Diary actually have? Can the programme raise uncomfortable questions or discuss customer grievances even when they involve the Bank itself? Abid: Yes, it always had. Thanks to the top management of the Bank, who trust its employees. There is necessarily a balance between editorial responsibility and the programme's institutional character. It is, after all, a programme of the Bank and cannot operate as an entirely independent investigative platform. However, that does not mean communication should be one-sided. Customer concerns, difficulties and grievances are important because they provide the institution with a picture of how its policies and services are experienced on the ground. I believe the right approach is constructive independence within an institutional frameworkraising genuine issues responsibly, seeking clarification and giving customers a voice without turning the programme into an adversarial platform. The credibility of an institutional programme ultimately depends on how honestly it treats its audience. RK: Has the programme ever influenced a decision, policy or practice within J&K Bank because of feedback from listeners? Abid: Not influenced any decision, but yes questions, responses and difficulties communicated through the programme provide an informal but important feedback mechanism. For me, one of the most satisfying aspects of such feedback is when a listener's question exposes a communication gap. Sometimes the problem is not that a facility does not exist, but that people do not know about it or do not understand how to access it. That itself is something the programme can help correct. RK: In 2001, radio was a mass medium. Today people consume information through YouTube, Instagram, podcasts and short videos. Why does JK Bank Diary still need radio in 2026? Abid: Because radio still has something that digital media often struggles to replicate:intimacy and accessibility. A person can listen to radio while travelling, working, driving or carrying out daily activities. It does not require the same level of visual attention as a video platform. More importantly, radio continues to have tremendous relevance in a geographically and socially diverse region like Jammu & Kashmir. That said, I would not argue that the programme should remain confined to radio. In 2026, the wiser approach is to make radio the original communication platform and extend its content through digital platformsshort videos, podcasts, social media clips and other formats. The future is not radioversusdigital. It is radioplusdigital . RK: Do you think the programme has sometimes become too institutional or promotional? What is the biggest criticism you would accept about it? Abid: Yes, that is a criticism I would accept. Any programme owned and sponsored by an institution carries the inherent danger of becoming overly promotional. There is always a temptation to talk about the institution rather than talk to the people. The biggest criticism I would accept is that, at times, the programme could have been more conversational, more questioning and more focused on the listener's perspective. But that is also precisely why I tried, during my tenure, to introduce more human voices, creative scripting, customer interactions and dramatized formats. An institutional programme earns credibility when the audience feels that it is being spoken with , rather than spoken at . RK: If someone wanted to understand Kashmirs economic and banking journey over the last 25 years, how much of that story is preserved in the programmes recordings, scripts and listener interactions? Abid: A considerable amount. The programme has effectively been an audio chronicle of the region's changing relationship with banking. Across more than 1,300 episodes, one can trace the movement from traditional banking towards ATMs, electronic banking, digital transactions, financial inclusion and modern banking services. The value is not confined to the scripted content. Listener interactions, questions and reactions also reflect what ordinary people were concerned about at different points in time. I believe the archive of JK Bank Diary therefore has potential historical value. Properly catalogued and preserved, it could become an interesting oral and institutional record of J&K's economic and banking transformation over the last quarter century. RK: After 1,300-plus episodes, what do you think JK Bank Diary has failed to do and what would you change if you were launching it today? Abid: If I were launching it today, I would design it as amulti-platform communication property from day one, rather than primarily as a radio programme. The core radio programme would remain, but every episode would be conceived with multiple outputs: a podcast version, short social-media clips, customer stories, explainers, visual snippets and perhaps interactive digital segments. I would also give greater space to ordinary customers, entrepreneurs, young people, farmers, students and small businesses. Their experiences can tell the story of banking much more powerfully than institutional narration alone. And I would place even greater emphasis on financial literacy, digital safety, responsible borrowing and understanding modern financial services. The programme's next 25 years should be less about simply producing more episodes and more about creating more meaningful conversations . RK: If you had to identify one moment, one episode or one intervention from your own tenure that best represents what JK Bank Diary has achieved, what would it be and why? Abid: I would find it difficult to identify a single episode because what I value most was the transformation in the way the programme was conceived and presented. If I had to choose one intervention, however, I would choose the introduction of Dil Se the idea of bringing the customer's voice into the programme. Those dramatic skits of our services and Products and of course my own couplets mostly loved by the listeners. For me, that represented the philosophy I wanted to bring to JK Bank Diary : The Bank should not always be the only voice speaking. Its customers should also be heard. Alongside that, the refreshed signature tune, the new opening credit, the sharper scripting, the use of short skits and the removal of unnecessary programme filler were all part of the same effortto make the programme sound fresher, more professional and more relevant. Perhaps the most satisfying part of the journey was that a programme which had started as an institutional communication initiative could also become a creative platformone that combined banking information with storytelling, music, customer experiences and the human voice. That, to me, is the real achievement of JK Bank Diary : 25 years later, it is not merely a record of what the Bank wanted to say; it is also a record of how the Bank and the people of J&K communicated with each other through changing times. RK: Thank you for having us Abid: Thank You
Artificial intelligence is fast becoming part of childhood. It is in the apps children use, the homework they complete, the videos they watch and the tools they turn to for answers. For the next generation, AI will not be an optional technology sitting at the edge of life. It will be part of the environment in which they learn, play, communicate and eventually work. That makes the conversation around children and AI far more important than a passing debate about gadgets or trends. The promise is obvious. AI can make learning more accessible, more personalised and, in some cases, more engaging. A child struggling in mathematics may benefit from adaptive tools that explain the same concept in different ways. A student in a remote area may gain access to knowledge that once required expensive coaching or physical libraries. For children with special needs, AI-driven tools can open doors that traditional systems often fail to unlock. Used wisely, it can become a great equaliser. But the risks are equally real. A child who grows up asking machines for answers may slowly lose the habit of asking deeper questions. The danger is not simply overuse, but underthinking. If AI becomes a shortcut for every task, children may learn efficiency without reflection, speed without judgement and convenience without effort. That is a serious loss in an age where human intelligence must not be reduced to prompting a machine. There is also the issue of content, safety and values. Children are vulnerable users. They do not always know how to distinguish fact from approximation, truth from prediction or advice from manipulation. AI systems can make mistakes, reflect hidden bias or feed children material that is not age-appropriate. In such a landscape, digital literacy is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity. Children must be taught not only how to use AI, but how to question it. Parents, teachers and policymakers therefore have a shared responsibility. Schools cannot treat AI as a substitute for learning; they must integrate it as a tool while protecting critical thinking, creativity and writing skills. Parents must remain present, not merely as monitors of screen time, but as guides in shaping judgment. Policymakers must ensure that AI use in education is governed by clear safeguards, privacy protections and child-centred standards. The future will not belong to children who simply know how to use AI. It will belong to those who can use it without surrendering their own intelligence. That is the balance we must aim for. If AI is to serve the next generation, it must strengthen human curiosity rather than flatten it. Children should grow up with machines, yes but not under their spell.
Beyond the Classrooms of OTC: Memory, Camaraderie, and the Lessons of Jaipur (1998)
Looking back at a photograph from May 1998 brings me straight to the Rajasthan Institute of Public Administration (RIPA)formerly known as the Officers Training College (OTC) in Jaipur. With its sprawling campus and fine accommodation, it closely mirrored our own IMPA back home in Jammu & Kashmir. Our delegation had gathered for specialised training in satellite imagery for land records and modern surveying, transitioning away from traditional manual mapping. We were also trained in Disaster Managementa subject rendered unforgettable by Prof. Hassan, the Head of Department, whose mesmerising lectures left an enduring mark. Over the years, Prof. Hassan became a dear family friend. I remain deeply indebted to his immense kindness in 2014 when, upon my request, he and a team of notable Jaipur business figures personally travelled to Kashmir during the devastating floods to distribute relief items across parts of Dal Lake and beyond. Beyond the formal curriculum, in-service training programs serve an irreplaceable purpose. They grant mid-career professionals a vital interlude to refresh their technical skill set while fostering cross-cultural exposure through regional exploration. We learned directly from distinguished officers of the Rajasthan cadreincluding Commissioners and District Collectorsand spent a remarkable day engaging with the late Professor Dhawan, former ISRO Chairman. Our field studies split us into small teams across Collector offices and record centers. To our surprise, much of Rajasthans historical land settlement record was preserved in Urdu, almost identical to our J&K records save for a few regional designations. However, during our visit to the Jaipur District record room, the registers were so thick with dust that we had to abandon our study of the Jamabandi (record of rights). Deeply embarrassed by the inconvenience caused to visiting officers, the young IAS Deputy Commissionerhimself a native of Kashmirsuspended the record keeper on the spot. Then came the sweltering May heat, an overwhelming shock to those of us accustomed to the cooler Valley breeze. Four of us were sharing an air-conditioned hut. One morning, my colleague Mr. Maqbool Wani (then Assistant Commissioner) caught me in a rather ridiculous struggle: attempting to shave with my body inside the air-conditioned bedroom and my face leaning into the sweltering washroom, whose exhaust fan had broken down. Taking pity on me, Mr. Wani went to the local market, bought a small handheld mirror, and solved our daily dilemma. That trip also bore witness to a quiet personal triumph inside our shared hut. Our colleague Mr. Hafiz was a heavy smoker, and during the early hours of the morning, the closed AC room would fill with thick smoke, leaving a stale air that made me feel deeply nauseous. Realising the intense discomfort it caused us, Hafiz Sahaba true gentlemandecided then and there, on my insistence, to give up smoking entirely. He made a solemn promise that morning, and remarkably, that truce holds to this very day. Our weekends offered rich cultural excursions across Rajasthans heritage landscape. We embarked on a full-day trip to Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the celebrated 13th-century shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Renowned for its breathtaking Indo-Islamic architecture, grand deg-chi (cauldrons) for community feasts, and spiritual serenity, the shrine attracts millions seeking peace. As we gathered for Friday Jumu'ah prayers, I was momentarily startled by the sudden, sharp boom of a cannon shota traditional local custom fired to notify devotees that prayer is commencing. Unfamiliar with this practice, I stood numb for a second until my colleague, Mr. Hafiz Bakhshi, clarified the source of the bang. From Ajmer, we proceeded to the serene shores of Pushkar Lake and visited the sacred Brahma Templeone of the extremely rare shrines in the world dedicated to Lord Brahma. Other holidays were spent exploring Jaipurs majestic hill forts, the iconic facade of the Hawa Mahal, and the legendary Raj Mandir Cinemaa movie palace world-famous for its opulent, meringue-style interior architecturewhere we enjoyed Dilip Kumars film Qila. We also visited Jaipurs famed Albert Hall Museum, a masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic design opened in 1887. Housing rare Persian carpets, intricate metalware, and ancient stone sculptures, its grand halls provided us with a vivid window into Indias rich artistic history. The trip yielded curious memories tooincluding a colleague who purchased a massive, monolithic marble replica of the Taj Mahal and arranged for its transport back home to Jammu. Looking at the photograph today brings both warmth and a touch of sadness. Time has claimed several dear colleagues pictured there: Mr. Hafiz-ur-Rehman (retired Assistant Commissioner), a gentleman par excellence; Mr. Katoch and Sardar Mohan Singh Wazir, both retired Tehsildars; and Dr. Kavida, the then-Director of RIPA. May their souls rest in eternal peace. None of these transformative experiences would have been possible without the vision of our then Financial Commissioner, Madam Sushma Choudharythe first lady IAS officer of the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir state. She was instrumental in arranging multiple specialised training programs for young revenue officers of our batch, continually pushing us toward modern administrative excellence. We remain deeply grateful to her for her foresight and leadership. May her legacy live on. Decades later, that Rajasthan journey stands as a testament to the fact that while professional courses sharpen our careers, it is the shared laughter, unexpected discoveries, and enduring camaraderie that truly stand the test of time. (The author is a former civil servant. He can be reached at: nisargilani57748@gmail.com )
FUTURECRAFT For most of last year the Reserve Bank ran what was effectively a national literacy campaign built around a single sentence. If the address does not end in .bank.in, it is not your bank. A circular dated 22 April 2025 gave every commercial and cooperative bank until 31 October to migrate, with IDRBT named as the only registrar. The thinking was sound: take the address bar, which people already squint at, and make it carry proof. Then last week Reuters reported that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre had directed Google to shut hundreds of accounts on Firebase, the platform Google gives developers for building apps and hosting websites. Three notices in August covered at least 57 sites and databases. Seven of them imitated SBI, ICICI and Axis. Others sat quietly collecting card numbers and one time passwords. What matters is where those pages were living. They were not squatting on a misspelt domain bought from some registrar abroad. They were sitting inside Googles own, on the free subdomain the platform hands out with every new project. India built a list of addresses worth trusting. The fraudsters stopped trying to get onto it. The list is still half empty By February this year more than 400 banks had completed the move, and the major public and private lenders were done, some of them after the October deadline had passed. That reads like progress until you look at the denominator. India had 1,457 urban cooperative banks at the end of March 2025, along with 34 state cooperative banks and 351 district central cooperative banks. The circular covered all of them. So the rule a customer is being taught holds for her HDFC login and does not yet hold for the district cooperative bank her father has used for thirty years. Handing a population a check that is right most of the time is an odd way to fight fraud. What a free subdomain buys you Firebase itself is ordinary infrastructure and there is nothing sinister about it. A student in Srinagar can open a project this afternoon, get a working database and a live website on a Google subdomain, and pay nothing at all. It sits inside a Google cloud business that made close to $25 billion last quarter. That free tier is also the whole trick. The page arrives with a working padlock because the certificate is genuine. It resolves through Googles infrastructure, so nothing in the path looks wrong to a browser or a corporate filter. The fraudster borrows credibility that already exists, for free, in about the time it takes to make tea. The governments own assessment, as reported by Reuters, is that scam operators have been shifting to Firebase from other free tools since last year, drawn by the generous free plan and better database features. He is not forging a padlock. He is borrowing one that is already real, from a company that gives it away for nothing. The payload has changed with it. An I4C notice dated 17 August described Android malware dressed up as banking services, aimed at credit card users through offers of new cards and higher limits. One campaign built itself around PM-KISAN, promising small farmers help in collecting their instalment if they installed an app. The app then fed the phones contents into a Firebase database the scammers controlled and opened the door to everything else on the device. Researchers have a name for that level of access. They call it Android God Mode. None of this is abstract in the Valley. J&K Police reported finding 7,200 mule accounts active in Kashmir since January 2025, the plumbing through which stolen money moves. In February a Ganderbal complaint opened an investigation into a transnational investment scam of more than 209 crore, which investigators said could climb past 400 crore. Up the ladder, one rung at a time Enforcement has been climbing steadily: individual scam URLs, then apps, now accounts on a development platform. The rung above that already has a recent precedent. On 24 February this year the government ordered internet providers to block Supabase, the open source alternative to Firebase, under Section 69A of the IT Act. No public reason was given, and none is required. Roughly 120,000 Indian developers were estimated to be affected across a week of patchy access. Production apps stopped authenticating users, and nobody was told why. Firebase has had its own version of this. Googles status page records that from 13 October 2024, Firebase Hosting sites became unreachable on some Indian ISPs. Googles engineers reported that the services were healthy and that the problem appeared to be localised to India. Most ISPs could reach the sites again only on 21 October. Google never said what caused it. The clock has tightened meanwhile. Under the IT Amendment Rules notified on 10 February 2026, an intermediary has three hours to act on a government takedown notice, down from thirty six, with safe harbour at risk if it misses. In July the Supreme Court stayed four High Court challenges to the takedown regime and the Sahyog portal these notices travel through, leaving the legality of the mechanism unsettled while its use expands. The case for the crackdown I4C is not being unreasonable. When the payload is full device takeover, three hours is defensible, and a leisurely review window has a cost measured in emptied savings accounts. The Home Ministry says its financial fraud reporting system had saved more than 11,158 crore across 32.80 lakh complaints as of 30 June 2026. Going after the hosting rather than the individual page is the right instinct, since an account level takedown kills more of an operation than a URL level one. The difficulty is arithmetic. A notice takes an investigator hours to prepare and Google minutes to action. A fresh Firebase project takes a scammer four minutes and costs nothing. Enforcement can win every individual case and still lose on throughput. Bottom Line The .bank.in project was a good attempt at building a small piece of Indian trust infrastructure. What Firebase exposes is that a whitelist only works when the attacker needs to be on a list at all. So long as a foreign platforms free tier confers instant credibility, Indias financial security runs through a policy team in Mountain View, and the only lever reaching it also switches off Indian developers. Finishing the .bank.in migration is a cheaper place to start than blocking another platform. (The Author studies Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA. He is interested in emerging technologies and innovation, and can be reached on LinkedIn at @arssh-kumar14)
Man chargesheeted for cheating cancer patient
Srinagar, Aug 25:The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) Kashmir of Crime Branch J&K on Tuesday said it has chargesheeted a man for allegedly cheating a family by promising to provide cheaper medicines for a cancer patient. In a statement issued, a Spokesperson said the Crime Branch J&K has filed a chargesheet before the Court of Sub-Judge, [] The post Man chargesheeted for cheating cancer patient appeared first on Northlines .
Koul reviews BJP Organisation in Rajpora, calls for stronger booth-level presence
Kangan, Aug 25: BJP General Secretary (Organization), J&K, Ashok Koul, on Tuesday chaired a Constituency Review Meeting of the Rajpora Assembly Constituency at Kangan in Pulwama district, calling for intensified grassroots activities and stronger booth-level organisation. The meeting was attended by the constituency team, Booth Presidents, Shakti Kendra teams and senior party functionaries. Addressing the gathering, Koul said a strong booth-level organisation remains the foundation of the BJPs political strength and its direct connection with the people. In a statement, Koul urged party workers to ensure that every booth functions as an active centre of organisational activity and public outreach. He called upon workers to move beyond routine organisational programmes and work with greater commitment, discipline and coordination to strengthen the BJPs presence across Rajpora. He said the partys strength lies in its dedicated cadre and continuous engagement with the public. Booth Presidents and Shakti Kendra teams, he added, have an important responsibility to understand local issues, communicate the partys policies and achievements, and build public confidence in the BJP. During the meeting, Koul sought detailed feedback from constituency functionaries on the functioning of booths and Shakti Kendras. He directed the teams to maintain close coordination and regular communication while adopting a result-oriented approach. He also stressed the need to identify and address organisational gaps promptly and make grassroots engagement more consistent and effective. Koul called upon party workers to function as a coordinated team, saying that the BJPs organisational expansion in Kashmir would depend on dedicated workers, disciplined teamwork and sustained engagement with the people. J&K BJP General Secretary Kisan Morcha Arshad Bhat, Rajpora Constituency President Junaid Ahmad and other senior leaders and party functionaries were present at the meeting. Later, Koul distributed certificates and awards to talented paper Machie artisans at Town Hall, Pulwama, at an event organised by Noora Foundation Trust. The artisans were recognised for their exceptional craftsmanship and contribution to preserving Kashmirs traditional art and cultural heritage. Arshad Bhat and other senior leaders were also present on the occasion. Appreciating the artisans for keeping the traditional paper Machie craft alive, Koul emphasised the need to encourage and promote indigenous skills, describing them as an important part of Kashmirs cultural identity and heritage.
Dr Farooq, Omar greets people on Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi
Srinagar, Aug 25: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday extended warm greetings to people on the auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW). In his message, Dr Farooq Abdullah said the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the timeless message and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the values he embodied. He said the life of the Holy Prophet (SAW) remained a beacon of mercy, compassion, justice and equality for humanity, transcending distinctions of colour, creed, status and race. Dr Farooq urged people to renew their commitment to brotherhood, peace, tolerance and service to humanity and work towards building a society based on justice, dignity and mutual respect. Omar Abdullah, in his message, said Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW) offers an opportunity to draw inspiration from the exemplary life and teachings of the Holy Prophet and reaffirm the values of compassion, equality and justice. He said the Prophets life remains an eternal example of compassion towards the vulnerable, fairness towards all and respect for the dignity of every individual. Omar called upon people to imbibe these values in their daily lives, rise above divisions and collectively work towards a society where equality, justice, peace and harmony prevail. Both leaders prayed for peace, prosperity and well-being of the people and expressed hope that the sacred occasion would bring happiness, harmony and renewed faith to every household. The National Conference rank and file also extended warm greetings to the people on the auspicious occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW).
Dy CM visits Sain Miran Ziyarat, hails Poonchs spirit of communal harmony
Poonch, Aug 25: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday visited the revered Sain Miran Ziyarat near the Line of Control in Poonch and paid obeisance at the historic shrine. During his visit, Choudhary said he had earlier visited Budha Amarnath Chattani and Nangali Sahib Gurudwara before proceeding to Sain Miran Shrine, underscoring the regions diverse spiritual traditions. Describing Poonch as a true reflection of Mini India, the Deputy Chief Minister highlighted its longstanding tradition of communal harmony, spiritual diversity and peaceful coexistence. Choudhary said it was his first visit to the Sain Miran Shrine and expressed appreciation for the work being carried out by the Sain Miran Baba Darvesh Ghulam Qadir Trust to maintain the shrine and preserve its spiritual and cultural significance. He particularly praised the Trust Management for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene at the shrine and for undertaking educational and community-oriented initiatives aimed at the welfare and empowerment of local residents. I am short of words to express my appreciation for the work being done by the Trust Management, Choudhary said, commending the trustees for their dedication and commitment to public service. The visit underscored Poonchs enduring traditions of peace, brotherhood, inclusivity and shared heritage, with the Sain Miran Ziyarat continuing to serve as an important symbol of the regions composite cultural ethos. The Trust Management thanked the Deputy Chief Minister for visiting the shrine and acknowledging its efforts towards the development and upkeep of the religious site, as well as its initiatives in cleanliness, education and community welfare.
Omar govt betraying people with power tariff hike: BJP
Jammu, Aug 25: J&K BJP Spokesperson Dr. Abhijeet Singh Jasrotia on Tuesday accused the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government of betraying the people of Jammu and Kashmir by increasing electricity tariffs instead of fulfilling its election promise of providing 200 units of free power. Addressing a press conference at the J&K BJP headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, along with J&K BJP Media Incharge Dr. Pardeep Mahotra, Jasrotia said the tariff hike would put an additional burden on the common people, particularly poor and middle-class families already struggling to manage their monthly household expenses. Displaying a light bulb before the media, Jasrotia said several villages, including Karen, Dooru in Anantnag and areas of Reasi, had received electricity only decades after the invention of the electric bulb. He questioned the governments decision to increase tariffs when people in many areas had struggled for years to access basic electricity facilities. Jasrotia also displayed the NC's 2024 Assembly election manifesto and alleged that the party had misled voters by making promises that it failed to implement after coming to power. He particularly highlighted the manifesto commitment of 200 units of free electricity, saying that instead of providing relief to households, the government had imposed an additional financial burden through the tariff hike. He further alleged that the NC government had failed to deliver on other commitments, including employment generation, ration distribution and LPG cylinder-related promises. Referring to assistance being provided by the Centre for strengthening the power sector and upgrading infrastructure, Jasrotia questioned why the government was passing the burden of its alleged losses on to consumers instead of improving efficiency and recovering losses. Taking a swipe at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's recent guldasta remark concerning media persons, Jasrotia also made a sarcastic reference to the statement during the press conference. Jasrotia demanded that the Omar Abdullah government immediately withdraw the electricity tariff hike and fulfil the commitments made in the NC's election manifesto.
Rana pushes for Forest Rights Act implementation in J&K
Pulwama:Aug 25: Minister Javaid Rana on Tuesday called for strict implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, in Jammu and Kashmir and questioned the Centres delay in restoring statehood to the Union Territory. Rana was addressing a tribal convention on the implementation of the FRA at Sangerwani village in south Kashmirs Pulwama district. Rana said the Forest Rights Act was enacted by the Parliament of India and expressed concern over what he described as the legislation being taken lightly. Sometimes I am really surprised why this Act has been taken lightly. Is it because it deals with tribal and Pahari people that we take it lightly? he said, asserting that the government would ensure its implementation in Jammu and Kashmir. He also thanked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for accepting in the Cabinet a proposal submitted regarding implementation of the legislation. The minister warned that the Forest Department would not be permitted to take action against people without following the prescribed legal procedure. He said officials found violating due process would face strict action. Any violation found anywhere will invite strong action against the officials concerned, Rana said. Rana also strongly questioned the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying promises made by the Centre to the people of the Union Territory remained unfulfilled. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis earlier remarks about reducing the Delhi se Doori, Dil se Doori, Rana said the distance between the Centre and the people of Jammu and Kashmir was instead increasing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had spoken about reducing the distance between Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, but the distances are increasing, he said. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Rana also responded to concerns over the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), saying the first instalment for a single-village project had been received and funds released. He said the process would now be streamlined. Rana said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had been visiting New Delhi and meeting Union ministers over various issues, while some new schemes had also been introduced. On statehood, Rana said the demand should not be confined to the National Conference and urged all political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to come together on the issue.
Iraq Tests anew security formula for Saudi-Iran rivalry
Proposal seen as Baghdads bid for self-preservation Arjavi Indraneesh Iraqs proposal for a joint security council bringing Saudi Arabia and Iran into a formal mechanism is more than another attempt at regional mediation. It reflects Baghdads growing conviction that diplomatic contact between the two powers, while valuable, is no longer sufficient to prevent security [] The post Iraq Tests anew security formula for Saudi-Iran rivalry appeared first on Northlines .
Jammu Kashmir Clears Rs 664.54 Cr Disaster Recovery Package, 8,804 Houses To Be Rebuilt
SRINAGAR: The State Executive Committee (SEC) of the Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (DMRR&R) on Tuesday approved a Rs 664.54 crore disaster recovery package for Jammu and Kashmir, including the reconstruction of 8,804 fully and severely damaged houses and 1,227 infrastructure works. The decision was taken at the third meeting of the []
Vande Mataram: A National Symbol Should Rise Above Politics
Political Controversy Over the National Song Is Unnecessary and Disturbing Omkar Dattatray It is ironic, unfortunate and disturbing that the countrys National Song, which inspired generations during the freedom struggle and continues to evoke national consciousness and unity, has once again become the subject of political controversy. In a democracy as vast and diverse as [] The post Vande Mataram: A National Symbol Should Rise Above Politics appeared first on Northlines .
Dr Farooq, Omar Greet People On Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday greeted people on the occasion of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), calling for a renewed commitment to peace, compassion, equality and justice. In separate messages, the two leaders said the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the []
Over 800 Devotees Participate In Annual Kousar Nag Yatra
SRINAGAR: The annual Kousar Nag Yatra-2026 concluded on Monday after more than 800 devotees from different parts of Reasi district participated in the three-day pilgrimage, with the administration maintaining elaborate arrangements along the challenging mountainous route. The yatra commenced from Reasi on August 21 and passed through Arnas, Dharmari, Mahore, Sungri, Chassana and Sarsote before []
SRINAGAR: Artificial intelligence chatbots may not merely become the subject of delusional beliefs but could actively co-construct and intensify them through prolonged interaction, according to a new review by researchers from Germany and the UK. The paper proposes an amplification spiral in which three characteristics of large language models, linguistic alignment, hyper-personalised generation and sycophancy, []
NCST Seeks Report On Rape, Death Of Minor Gujjar Girl In Kishtwar
SRINAGAR: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has sought an action-taken report from Jammu and Kashmir authorities within five days over the alleged sexual assault and subsequent death of a minor Gujjar girl in Kishtwar, while raising questions over the non-invocation of provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act []
KPDCL Announces Power Shutdown in Kashmir Parts
SRINAGAR: Several areas across north and central Kashmir will face scheduled power shutdowns on August 27, 29 and 31 due to maintenance and related works on various transmission lines and grid stations, according to the Kashmir Power Distribution Corporation Limited (KPDCL). KPDCL said power supply to a large number of areas in Baramulla, Sopore, Gurez, []
DGP Reviews Security Preparedness For Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Other Events
SRINAGAR: Director General of Police J&K Nalin Prabhat on Tuesday reviewed security arrangements for Eid Milad-un-Nabi and other forthcoming events across Jammu and Kashmir, directing officers to ensure foolproof security, effective traffic management and heightened vigilance. The DGP chaired a security review meeting at Police Control Room Kashmir, which was attended by Spl DGP Coordination []
Ghulam Nabi Azad extends Milad-un-Nabi greetings to people
Srinagar, Aug 25: Senior political leader, former Union Minister and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Tuesday extended greetings to the people of the country, particularly those in Jammu and Kashmir, on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi (). In his message, Azad said the birth of Prophet Muhammad () brought a message of mercy and blessings for humanity and his teachings continued to guide people towards peace, love, justice, tolerance and brotherhood. On this blessed day, as we celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (), I extend my heartfelt greetings to everyone on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi, Azad said. He said the Prophets teachings emphasised truthfulness, honesty and service to humanity as the real measures of success. Azad prayed that Allah grants people the strength to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (), deepen their love for him and guide the country and its people towards peace, prosperity and unity. Milad-un-Nabi Mubarak, he said.
Govt, Parents, Teachers Must Share Responsibility For Children
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the responsibility of shaping the future of children cannot be left to teachers alone, stressing that the government, parents and teachers must work together to prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Addressing a one-day education conference organised by the J&K Teachers Forum at the Sher-i-Kashmir International []
Noora Hospital Performs Advanced Penile Prosthesis Implantation In Srinagar
SRINAGAR: Noora Hospital, Srinagar, has successfully performed the implantation of an advanced inflatable penile prosthesis, marking a significant development in specialised urological and andrological care in Jammu and Kashmir. The procedure was performed by Consultant Urologist, Andrologist and Renal Transplant Surgeon Dr Yasir Iqbal Lone along with his surgical team at the hospital. Penile prosthesis []
Six JKAS Officers Recalled From Ladakh, 19 Deputed To UT
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has recalled six Junior Scale JKAS officers from the Union Territory of Ladakh and placed 19 other JKAS officers at the disposal of Ladakh on deputation for two years or until further orders. The orders were issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) on August 25 under Government Order []
DGP Reviews Security Preparedness ahead of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Raksha Bandhan
Srinagar, August 25: Director General of Police (DGP) J&K Nalin Prabhat, IPS, chaired a high-level security review meeting at Police Control Room (PCR) Kashmir to assess and strengthen security arrangements for the upcoming Eid Milad-un-Nabi (), Raksha Bandhan and other major events across Jammu & Kashmir. The meeting reviewed security deployment, crowd management, surveillance, traffic regulation and emergency response mechanisms, with senior police officers directed to ensure heightened vigilance and proactive policing ahead of the events. The meeting was attended by Spl DGP Coordination J&K, IGP Kashmir Zone, IGP Jammu Zone, Range DIGs, district SSPs/PDs, SSP PCR Kashmir, AIG (Ct & Int) PHQ and other senior officers. The DGP reviewed the preparedness of field formations and stressed the need for foolproof security arrangements at major shrines, mosques and other religious places, particularly Dargah Hazratbal and other prominent sites where large congregations and nightlong prayers are expected. He directed officers to strengthen surveillance at sensitive and vulnerable locations and ensure adequate deployment at strategic points and high-footfall areas. Officers were also instructed to maintain close coordination among field formations so that any emerging situation could be identified and addressed promptly. Traffic regulation and route management plans were another key focus of the meeting. The DGP directed officers to make comprehensive arrangements around major religious places and along procession routes to ensure smooth and safe movement of devotees and the general public. Security arrangements for Raksha Bandhan were also reviewed, with officers asked to make advance preparations at markets, temples and other prominent religious places expected to witness increased public movement. Nalin Prabhat emphasized that all field formations must remain alert, coordinated and responsive throughout the events, with adequate contingency measures in place to deal with any unforeseen situation. The DGP directed that all security, traffic and crowd-management arrangements be completed well in advance to ensure the peaceful, safe and secure conduct of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Raksha Bandhan and other forthcoming events across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
Did Cricketers Know They Were Having Non-Veg Tea?: Bombay HC To MCA Over Kitchen Roaches
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had suspended the licenses of five restaurants operating at the cricket body's premises in the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) over serious food safety and hygiene violations
4 Killed in Snakebites in Odisha in a Day, Experts Urge Caution During Monsoon
The victims were rushed to Bonai hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead.
No further power tariff hike during my tenure: CM Omar
Tangmarg: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday assured people that the government would not increase electricity tariffs any further, while promising to fulfil all commitments made to the people within the next three-and-a-half years. Addressing a gathering in Tangmarg, Omar Abdullah, said the present government had imposed only a limited burden on consumers through the []
Japanese stocks recover as tech shares rebound
Investors are also looking ahead to Nvidias earnings later this week for fresh signs of demand for AI-related products. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warshs speech at the Jackson Hole symposium on Friday will also be closely watched for clues on the US interest-rate outlook.
Chinese stocks mixed as tech shares weigh
Investors continued to reduce their exposure to technology stocks ahead of Nvidias earnings on Wednesday, which could test confidence in the ongoing AI-driven rally. Eoptolink Technology fell 2.70% despite reporting strong growth in revenue and profit. Hua Hong Semiconductor, Zhongji Innolight and NAURA Technology also declined.
Better Half Becomes Bitter Half If Marital Issues Remain Unresolved: Delhi HC
The high court said one of the most beautiful relationships of humans, that of a husband and wife, becomes one of the most terrible when things go wrong in a matrimonial alliance
Land Records goes Digital, Farmer Services gets Smarter
J&K advances AgriStack frame work under DILRMP SRINAGAR, AUGUST 25: In a major step towards modernising land administration and creating a more transparent, citizen-centric system of Revenue and Agricultural services, Jammu and Kashmir has accelerated the digitisation and updation of land records while simultaneously preparing the verified land database for integration with the AgriStack framework [] The post Land Records goes Digital, Farmer Services gets Smarter appeared first on Northlines .
The National Capital Region, including Delhi, is currently experiencing overcast skies. Commuters should remain vigilant due to possible waterlogging and traffic issues. Unstable weather conditions with ongoing rain events and thunderstorms are anticipated for the upcoming days. Residents are encouraged to carry umbrellas and stay updated on weather forecasts.
CID To Investigate Hanur Shoot-out, Tamil Organisation To File Writ Petition
Various cases have been registered at Ramapura police station, Hanur and Kollegala Rural police station. At Hanur and Kollegala Rural police stations, cases have been registered pertaining to the Prevention of Damages to Public Property Act, 1984
We Will Not Increase Electricity Rates Any Further: CM Omar
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday assured people that his government would not raise electricity tariffs further during its current tenure, saying efforts would instead focus on improving basic services and infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a gathering in north Kashmir, Abdullah said the recent tariff revision had been kept limited to minimise []
A 25-year-old man allegedly used an AI-generated nude image to blackmail a Delhi woman who was a minor when the alleged harassment began. Police said he extorted around Rs 1.2 lakh from her over more than two years and later threatened her family. The accused, Ajay Dubey, was arrested in Delhi while attending a court hearing.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday, August 25, directed journalist Tarun Tejpal to surrender within two weeks to undergo the sentence in a 2013 rape case in which he was convicted and handed down 10 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Bombay High Court. A bench of Justice Alok Aradhe dismissed Tejpals plea seeking Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Alpine Texworld Shares Plummet Nearly 47% in First Month Post-IPO
Mumbai, August 25: Alpine Texworlds shares have dropped nearly 47% in their first month of trading and continue to face significant pressure. The companys shares debuted flat on July 21 at the initial public offering (IPO) price of 105. On the very first day of trading, a 5% lower circuit was triggered. Following this, the ... Read more Alpine Texworld Shares Plummet Nearly 47% in First Month Post-IPO
'It must stop!': Vance calls Maine US fraud capital; rips Dem leadership over sanctuary policies
Urban Spiral: When Cities Begin to Turn Inward
Some cities rise, and there are cities that simply expand. The difference is not merely architectural. It is moral. A rising city gives its people room to breathe, to move, to hope. An expanding city may gain buildings, flyovers, and shopping districts, yet still leave its residents trapped in noise, haste, and exhaustion. That is the nature of an urban spiral: the gradual tightening of civic life until the city begins to consume the very energy that once sustained it. Urban spiral is not a dramatic event. It is a slow one. It begins with a road left unrepaired, a drain left blocked, a footpath taken over, a bus delayed, a public space neglected, and a policy announced without follow-through. One inconvenience is endured, then another, until the ordinary act of living in a city becomes an act of negotiation. People begin budgeting not only time and money, but patience. They leave earlier, return later, expect less. In this way, the city changes not just physically but psychologically. The danger lies in how normal such decline becomes. Residents adjust. They stop demanding efficiency because they no longer believe it is possible. They stop expecting order because disorder has been normalized. A city then enters a spiral not only of infrastructure failure, but of civic resignation. Once that happens, governance becomes reactive rather than responsible, and public life shrinks into a routine of damage control. This is why urban spiral is not merely a planning issue; it is a political and social one. A city that cannot manage waste, traffic, drainage, housing, and mobility begins to send its people a damaging message: that their daily inconvenience is acceptable. Over time, this weakens trust. And when trust weakens, the city becomes harder to reform because the public has already lowered its expectations. Yet the spiral can be reversed. Cities are not condemned to decline. But reversal requires more than cosmetic fixes and periodic campaigns. It requires seriousness. It requires municipal bodies that function, officials who are accountable, and leadership that understands that civic order is not a luxury but a necessity. Urban life must be designed for dignity, not just display. A road is not complete when it is paved; it is complete when it is usable. A city is not modern because it is busy; it is modern when its citizens can move through it without constant friction. The real measure of an urban future is whether people still feel ownership of the place they live in. If they begin to feel like strangers in their own city, the spiral has already begun. If, however, public space remains usable, services reliable, and governance responsive, then the city can still become what it ought to be: a place where ambition is not constantly interrupted by inconvenience. In the end, the urban spiral is not inevitable. It is the result of choices, and therefore it can be undone by better ones. What is needed is not only development, but discipline; not only growth, but governance; not only construction, but care. For a city that keeps turning inward eventually loses sight of its people. And a city that loses sight of its people has already lost its future
Onion, sugar prices soaring: Here's how Delhi government plans to keep prices in check
At a time when the prices of sugar and onion are skyrocketing in the country, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday said the Delhi government has just held a meeting regarding onions and sugar....
IMD Issues Heavy Rainfall Alert for Odisha in Next 3 Hours
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow nowcast warning for Bhubaneswar and seven districts of Odisha, forecasting light to moderate rain accompanied by thunder and lightning over the next three hours. According to the Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, the warning was issued at 4:10 pm on Tuesday. Weather conditions are likely to affect isolated [] The post IMD Issues Heavy Rainfall Alert for Odisha in Next 3 Hours appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .
Gunnebo Safe Storage Launches Steelage Mahotsav 2026 for India's Jewellers
Gunnebo Safe Storage Launches Steelage Mahotsav for Indias Jewellers
Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Union Bank of India, made significant moves in the international debt markets on Monday and Tuesday
IND vs SL: Prabath Reprimanded, Handed 1 Demerit Point For Breaching Code Of Conduct
Jayasuriya, who was adjudged out leg-before off India spinner Manav Suthar on the final ball of the second day's play, hit the boundary wedges with his bat while walking back to the dressing room
Political Hunger of the Cockroach Peoples Party Grows: Ram Kripal Yadav
Patna, August 25: The Cockroach Peoples Party (CJP) is set to hold a protest in New Delhi on September 5. The CJP claims that the government has failed to fulfill promises made during the protests in July. Bihar government minister Ram Kripal Yadav remarked that the political hunger of the Cockroach Peoples Party has increased. ... Read more Political Hunger of the Cockroach Peoples Party Grows: Ram Kripal Yadav
Delhi HC abates Sajjan Kumars appeal against conviction in 1984 riots case following his death
Sajjan Kumar, who was serving two life sentences in Tihar jail in connection with the 1984 riots, died on August 20
