REGIONAL

Senior political leader Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has reaffirmed his commitment to stand with citizens demanding a fair reservation policy. In a social media post, Mehdi reminded people of his earlier promise to address the issue if the government failed to resolve it by December 22. "December 22 ends tonight," he wrote, expressing disappointment over the government's approach. "To those who believe this issue remains unresolved, I stand by my word." He announced plans to join a peaceful protest on December 23 outside the Chief Minister's residence at Gupkar Road. Calling for civility, Mehdi said, "I request all those voluntarily coming to maintain civility and focus on raising genuine demands for a rational reservation policy." Mehdi also took a dig at those politicizing the issue...

Danishwar Hameed  In a shocking incident, more than apple trees have been stolen from an orchard in the Chanser area of Kulgam district. According to locals, the orchard belongs which belongs to Abdul Khali Itoo, a resident of Chanser was attacked by unknown individuals who uprooted valuable trees, causing significant financial loss to the owner. Itoo speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that the theft occurred under the cover of darkness, and the criminals left no trace of their involvement. Local authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter, though no arrests have been made as of yet. Itoo has expressed his deep concern over the growing instances of orchard thefts in the region, which threaten the agricultural community's livelihood.

The government on Saturday announced change in working and duty timings in Government Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir An order signed by Secretary to the Government Health and Medical Education Department, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah reads, in partial modification to Government order no. 272-JK (HME) of 2024 dated 03.4.24, it is hereby ordered that working days and duty timings from 1st December to 28th/29th February in Government medical Colleges and government Dental colleges of J&K shall be Monday to Saturday 10:00am to 4:30 pm. (GNS)

The Peoples’ Democratic Party on Friday said the cancellation of more than 1.27 lakh ration cards in Jammu and Kashmir was “unwarranted and cruel” and asked the government to revisit the move. In a post on X, party leader Iltija Mufti said the ration card holders were people living below the poverty line and the cancellation would cause “great distress” to several families. “The newly elected J&K government’s decision to cancel 1.27 lakh ration cards of below poverty line families is unwarranted & cruel. Hope they revisit this ill timed order which has put people in great distress,” Mufti said. The Centre cancelled 1,27,872 fake and duplicate ration cards in the Union Territory since 2013, while 702 ration cards have been cancelled in Ladakh, the Rajya Sabha was informed. ...

Customers in the Kashmir are expressing frustration over recurring technical glitches in Jammu and Kashmir Bank's ATMs, which have been causing inconvenience to users. Several customers have reported instances where money was debited from their accounts without cash being dispensed, leaving them in distressing situations. These technical errors create challenges for customers who rely on the ATMs for urgent needs. A local shared his ordeal after attempting to withdraw Rs 10,000 from a JK Bank ATM in Lal Chowk Srinagar. The amount was debited from his account, but no cash was dispensed. “I needed the money to purchase medicine for my ailing mother. Due to the bank’s technological error, I couldn’t access the funds when I needed them most,” Mudasir Ahmed told the news agency Kashmir...

The residents of Malshahibagh in Ganderbal district have expressed concerns over the recent overflow of the local filtration plant, which they claim has caused significant damage to the nearby paddy fields and orchards. Locals report that the overflow, which occurred unexpectedly, has resulted in extensive waterlogging, affecting agricultural productivity in the area. The flooding has particularly impacted paddy fields and orchards, leading to substantial financial losses for farmers and residents. According to the affected residents, the employees at the filtration plant appeared indifferent to the situation, leaving the community to deal with the aftermath. “We have been left to suffer while the authorities do nothing. Our crops are ruined, and no one is taking responsibility...

The ongoing cold wave across Kashmir and Ladakh has resulted in plummeting temperatures, with many areas recording severe sub-zero minimums. The arrival of Chillai-Kalan— the harshest 40-day winter period — has intensified the freezing conditions, leaving residents struggling to cope with the extreme cold. Srinagar experienced a minimum temperature of -8.5°C, marking the coldest night since 1974 when it dropped to -10.3°C. The record for the lowest temperature in the city remains -12.8°C, set on December 13, 1964. Today’s reading stands as the third-lowest December temperature in Srinagar since 1891. Anantnag registered the lowest temperature in the valley at -10.5°C, followed by Shopian at -10.4°C and Pulwama at -10.3°C. Kupwara shivered at -7.2°C, while Bandipora and Gande...

The Income Tax Department conducted raids on the KCI Emporium Group, a prominent business entity in Kashmir, as part of a broader investigation into illegal financial activities linked to Dubai property investments. The operation, carried out on Wednesday, simultaneously targeted premises in Srinagar, Mumbai, and Delhi. Preliminary findings revealed that certain individuals from Kashmir had been involved in hawala cash transactions to fund investments in Dubai-based properties. Among the evidence seized were records indicating property deals within the Kashmir Valley amounting to over Rs 50 crores, with a significant portion involving large cash components. Additionally, more than Rs 1 crore in cash was confiscated during the searches. The raids uncovered a larger nexus connect...

The Government of India has banned 156 fixed-dose combination (FDC) medicines, including widely used antibiotics, painkillers, and multivitamins, citing safety and efficacy concerns.   The ban, which took effect in August 2024, aims to protect public health from potentially harmful drug combinations lacking therapeutic justification. In response to a Lok Sabha query, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers confirmed that the ban was implemented under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. This law enables authorities to regulate or prohibit the manufacture and sale of drugs deemed risky for human or animal health. An expert committee led by Professor C.K. Kokate reviewed the safety and effectiveness of these FDCs, identifying many as irrational or unlicensed, prompting the p...

Jammu Kashmir is grappling with a significant rainfall deficit of 78% over the past two and a half months, with no major weather activity expected until the end of December. South Kashmir’s Shopian district tops the list with a staggering 96% deficiency recorded between October 1 and December 18, 2024. The persistent dry spell has exacerbated the deficit, coinciding with a cold wave gripping the region. Data reveals a 75% shortfall in precipitation across Jammu and Kashmir from October 1 to December 19, with only 21mm of rainfall recorded against the normal 97.1mm. After Shopian, Poonch reported a 95% deficit, followed by Kulgam and Budgam at 94% and 90%, respectively. Srinagar recorded an 87% deficit, while Samba stood out as the sole location with above-normal precipitation, ...