Dr Shabir Hassan, a Kashmiri biotechnologist based in the United Arab Emirates, was recently honoured with the BRICS International Award 2025 in Moscow, recognising his contributions to scientific research and academic collaboration across international borders. The award was presented at a high-profile event at the World Trade Centre, attended by prominent diplomats, academics, and cultural leaders under the umbrella of the BRICS Culture Media Forum. The ceremony, which emphasised the role of cultural projects in uniting BRICS Plus nations, featured dignitaries from Russia, Bahrain, and several other member states. Dr Hassan stood out for his role in using science as a platform for global cooperation, particularly in the field of biotechnology. Currently serving as an Assistant P...

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit Jammu Kashmir on May 30, where he will address Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and meet families impacted by Pakistani shelling in Poonch district. During the visit, Shah is expected to distribute appointment letters to the next of kin of those killed in the shelling and visit religious sites damaged in the cross-border firing, as per Daily Excelsior. Shah will arrive in Jammu on the evening of May 29 and will chair a high-level security review meeting. The meeting will be attended by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, top officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Army, the paramilitary forces, JK Police, the intelligence agencies, and civil administration. Senior officers from the BSF, CRPF, Intelligence Bureau, NIA, and top Army com...

Kashmir currently has two active COVID-19 cases after two students, at Government Dental College (GDC) Srinagar, tested positive before five days. A senior health official told news agency JKNS that both students, originally from Kerala, had recently returned to the college after visiting their home state and began experiencing mild symptoms. “They were sent to GMC Srinagar for testing, where both tested positive for COVID-19,” the official said. He confirmed that both have been isolated inside the hostel, and separate washroom facilities have been arranged as a precautionary measure. “Their condition is stable, and there is no need for concern at this point,” the official added. The official further said the students will undergo retesting after two days as per COVID-19 protocol....

Police on Thursday said that two hybrid militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were arrested during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) launched at Baskuchan area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district by SOG Shopian in coordination with 44 RR and 178 Bn CRPF following specific input, officials said. They said the area was cordoned off and movement of terrorists was noticed in a nearby orchard. Swift and coordinated action by the joint teams led to the successful surrender and eventually arrest of the two terrorists—identified as Irfan Bashir and Uzair Salam—thereby averting a potential encounter and preventing a possible attack or targeted killing. Officials said arms and ammunition were recovered from their possession which include two AK-56 rifles, four magazines, 102 round...

Shabir Ali In Srinagar’s Dalal Mohalla, sorrow lingers in the narrow lanes as a family mourns the sudden loss of 14-year-old Numan Farooq Sofi — a quiet, artistic boy raised by his hearing-impaired father and elder siblings. His death earlier this week has shaken the neighbourhood and ignited a broader conversation about how schools handle discipline, self-expression, and the emotional well-being of their students. A resident said, “Numan did not commit suicide. He was driven to such an extreme by the school. For months, he was harassed over his tattoos. This was a private school, and many know the very un-Islamic things that happen there. It’s not an Islamic school where students get harassed for tattoos.” According to the family, Numan was initially expelled from school, but aft...

Umar Masoodi, a young lawyer from the Kashmir Valley, has been selected for the global beVisioneers Fellowship, an initiative by Mercedes-Benz that supports youth-led environmental innovation projects worldwide. Masoodi, a recent graduate from the University of Kashmir’s Law Department, currently practices at the Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh High Court. As part of the 2025 global cohort, he will receive full funding for travel, accommodation, and international training sessions. The fellowship also offers a €700 infrastructure grant, a monthly €120 stipend, and access to mentorship, leadership development, and a global community of sustainability innovators. The beVisioneers Fellowship focuses on specific environmental zones such as clean water and food waste. Under the programme, Masoodi pl...

In the wake of a patient’s death that has triggered widespread outrage in Srinagar, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Srinagar has ordered the suspension of several doctors and paramedical staff associated with Paras Hospital, terming the action as a measure pending the outcome of an ongoing inquiry. The order comes amid growing public anger and accusations that the hospital is functioning more as a "money minting enterprise" than a patient care facility. The deceased, identified as Waseem Ahmad Pathan, reportedly died under questionable circumstances inside the hospital, prompting his family and scores of local residents to protest outside the hospital premises. The protesters accused Paras Hospital of gross medical negligence and unethical profiteering at the cost of patient lives...

A large-scale civil defence mock drill is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, across four Indian states bordering Pakistan—Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Jammu Kashmir. The exercise, aimed at testing emergency preparedness, comes amid heightened security following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists on April 22. The Directorate of Civil Defence has issued directives for the mock drill, which is part of a broader strategy to enhance response capabilities in the event of wartime scenarios or cross-border hostilities. According to a Hindustan Times report, Haryana will also conduct its own extensive state-wide civil defence exercise, titled "Operation Shield", on the same day. This drill will be held across all 22 districts from 5 PM onwards, focusing on improving the state’s ab...