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Jul262025 by News DeskNo Comments

Ahead of polls, Bihar CM announces ₹15,000 pension for journalists

INDIA, OTHERS

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced a significant hike in the monthly pension for journalists in the state, raising it from Rs 6,000 to Rs 15,000 under the Bihar Patrakaar Samman Pension Scheme. The announcement was made on July 26, just weeks ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections expected later this year. The move is widely seen as part of a broader welfare push by the ruling JD(U)-BJP alliance to strengthen its position before voters head to the polls. In addition to the increase for retired journalists, Kumar also declared that in case of a pensioner’s death, their dependent spouse would receive a lifelong monthly pension of Rs 10,000, up from the earlier Rs 3,000. Describing journalists as the "fourth pillar of democracy," the Chief Minister said their ...

Jul262025 by News DeskNo Comments

Injured in road accident, Budgam cricketer succumbs to injuries after 20 days

SPORTS

A 17-year-old budding cricketer from the Mazhama area of central Kashmir’s Budgam, Muzamil Ahmad Hajam, passed away after battling for life for nearly three weeks following a road accident. Muzamil, son of Muhammad Yousuf Hajam, had met with a serious bike accident on the Mazhama Road around 20 days ago. Despite being under intensive treatment at the hospital, he succumbed to his injuries, leaving his family, friends, and the local cricketing community in deep mourning. Widely known for his talent and passion for the sport, Muzamil was considered a rising star in local cricket circles. His untimely demise has sent shockwaves across the area, with residents describing it as an irreplaceable loss. Local voices have called upon the youth to exercise greater caution while driving, par...

Jul262025 by News DeskNo Comments

Staff protest as Accounts Manager reinstated amid ongoing corruption probe in Kulgam hospital

REGIONAL

Danishwar Hameed Doctors and paramedical staff at District Hospital Kulgam are up in arms after the National Health Mission (NHM) issued an order reinstating Ms. Umaira Jan, the hospital’s former Accounts Manager, to her previous post, despite serious allegations of embezzlement, financial fraud, and ongoing investigations by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). A formal protest letter, signed by a group of staffers and addressed to the Health and Medical Education Department, accuses Umaira Jan of misappropriating Ayushman Bharat funds and creating a fake bank account under a misleading name to siphon off public money. The complaint, backed by audit findings and transaction records, claims that between April and September 2022, lakhs of rupees were fraudulently transferred to an acc...

Jul262025 by News DeskNo Comments

‘Why was operation theatre shut’: Government orders probe into GMC Srinagar closure of OT, emergency services

OTHERS

The Jammu Kashmir Government has appointed a senior officer to conduct an enquiry into the recent law and order incident at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, which resulted in the abrupt closure of Operation Theatres (OTs) on July 23. According to Government Order No. 506-JK(HME) of 2025, issued on July 25, Shri Baseer ul Haq Chaudhary (IAS), who serves as Mission Director, National Health Mission J-K, has been named the Enquiry Officer to lead the investigation. The move comes amid mounting concern over disruptions to medical services and allegations of mismanagement at one of Kashmir's premier medical institutions. The order directs the Enquiry Officer to conduct an “objective and comprehensive examination” of the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident. Thi...

Jul252025 by News DeskNo Comments

‘I had tears in my eyes’: Canadian pilgrim recounts emotional experience at Amarnath cave

REGIONAL

Nine foreign nationals from six countries, including the United States, Germany, and Canada, have undertaken the annual Amarnath Yatra this year, reveal the figures available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “I am experiencing some beautiful geology and nature in Kashmir, and the immense energy of the holy cave,” said Ross Norman Leach, a Canadian pilgrim, after visiting the cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 metres. Leach said his group had been preparing for the yatra for the past four to five years. “I had tears coming out of my eyes at the cave and a deep silence inside. The whole world is connected in these energies. Meeting Mahadev here — in deep silence, meeting consciousness — is very, very special,” he said. Calling it a “very special experience,” ...

Jul252025 by News DeskNo Comments

Budgam youth alleges vehicle damaged during mining crackdown; Officials deny claims

REGIONAL

Amid intensified operations to curb illegal mining across Jammu Kashmir, a controversy has erupted in Budgam after a local youth accused officials from the Department of Geology and Mining of damaging his vehicle during an enforcement drive. The youth alleged that his tripper, used for transporting minerals, was mishandled by the officials, resulting in financial loss. However, District Mineral Officer (DMO) Budgam has categorically denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and misleading.” While talking to the media, the officer clarified that the department’s enforcement team is strictly following legal protocols in its efforts to control the unlawful extraction and transportation of minerals in the district. “All enforcement actions are taken in accordance with the rules l...

Jul252025 by News DeskNo Comments

Omar Abdullah govt meets Google officials to entrepreneurship in Jammu Kashmir

REGIONAL

Jammu Kashmir's Minister Satish Sharma met senior Google India officials on Thursday to discuss digital partnerships aimed at youth empowerment and skill development. In talks with Ashish Wattal, Country Director, and Sanjay Dewan, Head for North States, Sharma proposed joint initiatives focused on digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and tech-driven education in rural areas. “J&K’s youth have immense potential. Collaborating with global tech leaders like Google can unlock new opportunities,” Sharma said. Google expressed interest in launching region-specific training programmes and digital certification courses. The minister has asked the IT Department to draft an action plan, including pilots in cloud computing, AI, and innovation labs.

Jul252025 by News DeskNo Comments

‘High scores, no selection’: General category candidates question fairness in recruitment process

FEATURED

A recent recruitment examination in Jammu Kashmir has left hundreds of general category aspirants disillusioned, as data reveals that despite scoring high marks, many were unable to secure a place due to the shrinking availability of seats under open merit. The exam, held for 176 government posts, saw only 71 positions earmarked for open merit (OM), roughly 40 percent of the total. What has triggered widespread concern is that even these 71 seats were not entirely accessible to general category candidates. According to official figures, only 55 OM posts went to general category aspirants, while the remaining 16 were filled by candidates from other categories qualifying through the open merit list. “This means the actual opportunity for unreserved candidates was far smaller than adver...

Jul252025 by News DeskNo Comments

Operation Sindoor still ongoing, military alertness must remain high: CDS

REGIONAL

Asserting that Operation Sindoor "still continues", Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on Friday said the country's military preparedness must remain at a "very high" level, round-the-clock and throughout the year. In his address at a defence seminar hosted at Subroto Park here, he also said the military in future will also need "information warriors, technology warriors and scholar warriors." And, in a merging landscape of warfare, a future soldier will need to be a mix of all three "info, tech and scholar warriors," the CDS said. The seminar on 'Aerospace Power: Preserving India's Sovereignty and Furthering National Interests' was held under the aegis of the 'No.4 Warfare and Aerospace Strategy Programme'. The CDS said there are no runners-up in a war, and any military mus...

Jul252025 by News DeskNo Comments

Three months after wedding youth shot dead in Jammu; Police say crossfire, family calls it murder

WRITE-UPS

Mohammad Parvez, a 21-year-old Gujjar youth from Nikki Tawi in Jammu, was shot dead on Thursday evening in what the police described as crossfire during a chase involving suspected drug peddlers. But his family has strongly rejected the police narrative, calling it a "cold-blooded murder." Parvez, a daily-wage labourer who had been married just three months ago, had left home around 3 p.m. with his brother-in-law to buy medicine for a sick family member. According to his family, they were passing through Surre Chak in the Phallian Mandal area when a group of men in plainclothes approached them. Mistaking them for cow vigilantes, the two grew scared and ran. Moments later, Parvez was shot. “My brother ran for his life, thinking he was being attacked. He didn’t even look back,” said Mo...