Health

Govt committed to offer 200 units free electricity: CM Omar Abdullah

JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that Jammu and Kashmir aims to achieve self-sufficiency in power generation in next two years, ensuring a reliable electricity supply, and that the government was committed to offering 200 units of free electricity. He said Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation was prioritizing the development of hydroelectric…

Govt committed to offer 200 units free electricity: CM Omar Abdullah
Health Jammu and Kashmir National
Grenade attack on police station in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, no casualties: Officials
header Health Jammu and Kashmir National

Grenade attack on police station in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, no casualties: Officials

BARAMULLA: A suspected grenade attack took place at a police station in north Kashmir's Baramulla district late last night, police said today. "During the night intervening March 4-5, at approximately 2120 hrs, a blast-like sound was heard from the backside of Police Post Old Town, Baramulla, causing concern among the general public. No casualty or…

Fire Breaks Out At MLA Hostel In Srinagar

SRINAGAR, Dec 10: A fire broke out in the Member Legislative Assembly Hostel (MLA) in Srinagar on Tuesday, officials said. There was no report of any casualty in the incident. The Fire and Emergency officials said that fire broke out at around noon in the first floor of the MLA hostel quarter situated at the…

Fire Breaks Out At MLA Hostel In Srinagar
Health Jammu and Kashmir National
10 infants dead after massive fire erupts at Jhansi Medical College
Health National

10 infants dead after massive fire erupts at Jhansi Medical College

JHANSI: At least 10 infants were killed after a massive fire broke out at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Jhansi Medical College in Uttar Pradesh late Friday evening, officials said. According to hospital officials, there were 54 infants admitted to the NICU ward and several infants trapped have been rescued. The dousing, as…

Business

UPI Payment Services Launched In Sri Lanka, Mauritius; PM Modi Describes It As ‘Special Day’

NEW DELHI, Feb 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services, which connect traditional relationships with contemporary digital technology, were launched in Mauritius and Sri Lanka on Monday. Along with Prime Minister Modi, President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka, and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth attended the virtual event launching India's RuPay card services in Mauritius. In his speech, Modi expressed his optimism that the two countries will benefit from the new fintech services and stated that the UPI is taking on "new responsibilities of uniting partners with India.""We are connecting our historical connections with contemporary digital technology today, making it a unique day for the three friendly nations of the Indian Ocean Region," he remarked. "I think the UPI system will be beneficial for Mauritius and Sri Lanka," Modi declared. According to the prime minister, India has undergone a dramatic transformation thanks to digital public infrastructure. Additionally, he emphasised India's emphasis on its "neighbourhood first policy." "India has been the first responder, and will continue to be so, whether it is a natural disaster, health-related issue, economic issue, or assistance on the international stage," the speaker declared.With New Delhi's bilateral commercial relations to Sri Lanka and Mauritius growing, Indian services were introduced in both nations. With this change, Indian nationals flying to Sri Lanka and Mauritius as well as Mauritius nationals travelling to India can now access UPI settlement services. UPI is an instantaneous real-time payment system designed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to make interbank mobile transactions easier. India's RuPay is a widely accepted global card payment network that may be found online, in stores, and at ATMs. [caption id="attachment_10783" align="alignnone" width="300"] UPI Payment Services Launched In Sri Lanka, Mauritius; PM Modi Describes It As ‘Special Day’[/caption]    …

Qatar releases 8 Indian Navy men jailed on espionage charges, 7 back in India

NEW DELHI: Eight former members of the Indian Navy who had been held in the Gulf nation on suspicion of espionage have been freed, marking a significant diplomatic win for India. In a statement issued early on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) hailed the development and stated that seven of the eight former members of the Indian Navy who were employed by the private company Al Dahra Global Company had returned to India from Qatar. "The release of eight Indian citizens who were arrested in Qatar while employed for Dahra Global Company is welcomed by the Indian government. Of the eight, seven have gone back to India. The MEA stated in a statement, "We are grateful for the Emir of the State of Qatar's decision to facilitate these citizens' release and return home. Eight Indian Navy personnel who were detained in the Al Dahra Global case had their death sentences overturned by a Qatari court in December of last year. The death penalty was lowered to prison time. The change occurred after the Indian government's appeal against the Navy veterans' death sentences was granted by Qatar's Court of First Instance. Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh are the eight members of the Indian Navy that were taken into custody in Qatar.The veterans of the Indian Navy came back to Delhi and expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking up the cause. "Without PM Modi's intervention, we would not be able to be standing here. One of the veterans of the Navy added, "And it also happened because of the ongoing efforts of the Government of India." Similar thoughts were expressed by his colleague, who stated, "We waited about eighteen months to return to India. We are deeply appreciative of the Prime Minister. Without his personal intervention and his arrangement with Qatar, it would not have been feasible." [caption id="attachment_10762" align="alignnone" width="300"] Qatar releases 8 Indian Navy men jailed on espionage charges, 7 back in India[/caption]  …

BSF Shoots Down Another China-Made Drone Near India-Pak Border In Punjab

New Delhi, Feb 10: In Gurdaspur, Punjab, close to the India-Pakistan International Border, the Border Security Force (BSF) shot down another drone manufactured in China, the force reported on Saturday. The BSF troops fired down the quadcopter drone that was trying to cross into Indian territory from Pakistan during its movement on the border close to Rossey village in the Gurdaspur district on Friday night. According to the BSF, the soldiers intercepted the drone and fired at it quickly enough to shoot it down. The damaged drone crashed onto a rural field after losing control. The BSF, which is tasked with policing the 3,323-kilometer border between India and Pakistan, stated that the potential dropping spot was promptly blocked off by its soldiers.After conducting a thorough search, the BSF soldiers were able to locate one small drone that was partially damaged at around 10:18 p.m. According to the BSF, the recovery happened in a farming field close to Rossey hamlet in the Gurdaspur district. A quadcopter (Model: DJI Mavic 3 Classic, manufactured in China) is the drone that was found. The force said, "The BSF troops' astute observation, prompt reaction, and flawless shooting abilities put yet another dent in the adversaries' malicious plans to cause mayhem in the border area by drone intrusion." [caption id="attachment_10646" align="alignnone" width="300"] BSF Shoots Down Another China-Made Drone Near India-Pak Border In Punjab[/caption]    

Jailed Former Pak PM Imran Khan Gets Bail In Military Installations Attack Cases

Islamabad, Feb 10: Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, was granted bail on Saturday by an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in connection with twelve counts pertaining to the attacks on military sites on May 9. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party founder Khan was granted bail by ATC Judge Malik Ejaz Asif after he paid a surety bond of Rs 0.1 million in all 12 charges, including the attack on the Army Museum and General Headquarters (Pakistan Army), according to The Express Tribune Pakistan. The court ruled that since all of the defendants in the instances from May 9 were free on bond, there was no reason to keep Khan, 71, under arrest. Khan will stay behind bars since he is found guilty in numerous other cases. The ruling by the court was issued the day after Khan's party-backed independents secured around 100 seats in the National Assembly.In thirteen instances within the same case, bail was also granted to Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the former foreign minister. On February 6, Khan and legendary Qureshi were indicted in the counts. When the two appeared in court, the former prime minister told the judge that he had been forcibly detained on May 9 from the grounds of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). After his detention in an alleged corruption case, Khan was charged in several charges pertaining to the May 9 violence. The assault on the General Headquarters (GHQ) gate, rioting in the office of a sensitive institution, and other incidents were among the cases that were reported to Rawalpindi.The claims made in the initial information reports (FIRs) about the instances had been refuted by Khan. Prior to his release from Adiala Prison, Qureshi was escorted out of jail by Punjab police in relation to a case involving the attack on the GHQ. [caption id="attachment_10640" align="alignnone" width="300"] Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan, was granted bail on Saturday by an anti-terrorism court[/caption]    

Prof Amitabh Mattoo appointed as Dean of SIS in JNU

JAMMU: The esteemed School of International Studies (SIS) of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, has named Dr. Amitabh Mattoo, a professor of international relations and foreign policy and a former vice-chancellor of Jammu University, as its new dean. One of the biggest and most established universities devoted to the study of international relations, security, diplomacy, and foreign policy is SIS. This school produced Ministers of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar. Dr. Amitabh Mattoo was the Chair and Professor of the SIS Centre for International Politics, Organisation, and Disarmament before to his appointment as Dean.In addition, he held the positions of Deputy Chair of the German Institute of Global & Area Studies and Honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne, where he founded the Australia Institute and served as its CEO. In addition, Prof. Mattoo serves as the Indian Association of International Studies President.   [caption id="attachment_10556" align="alignnone" width="197"] Prof Amitabh Mattoo appointed as Dean of SIS in JNU[/caption]

10 Policemen Killed, 6 Injured As Terrorists Ambush Police Station In Northwest Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Feb 5: Prior to the country's general elections on February 8, heavily armed militants attacked a police station in northwest Pakistan on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least ten police officers and the injuries of six more. According to a senior police official in Dera Ismail Khan division, the event happened at the Chodwan police station in Daraban tehsil in the Dera Ismail Khan region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. As of yet, no group has taken ownership of the assault. District Police Officer Nasir Mehmood stated, "We lost ten of our jawans, while six others were injured in the ambush carried out by heavily armed terrorists."With grenades and heavy gunfire, the terrorists stormed the police station from all sides. According to police, the terrorists were able to flee despite the police's retaliatory actions. The quick response force has arrived with extra force, they claimed, and the forces have sealed off the area and begun a search operation. The attack raised additional security concerns for the general elections in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, which have already seen terror attacks and violence during polling. Arshad Hussain, the caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,meanwhile, denounced the attack on the police station and offered his sympathies to the victims' families. Such cowardice cannot weaken the commitment of law enforcement to combat terrorists, he said. [caption id="attachment_10338" align="alignnone" width="300"] 10 Policemen Killed, 6 Injured As Terrorists Ambush Police Station In Northwest Pakistan[/caption]    

3 Nationals Of Myanmar Charge-Sheeted By NIA In Human Trafficking Case

New Delhi, Feb 4: According to an official on Sunday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against three Burmese nationals in connection with the unlawful infiltration and trafficking of foreign persons into India over the border between Bangladesh and India, mostly of Rohingya origin. A federal agency spokeswoman identified the accused as Rabi Islam, also known as "Rabiul Islam," Shafi Alam, also known as "Sofi Alom," alias "Sayedul Islam," and Mohammad Usman. All three are long-term residents of Maungdaw district in Myanmar. The NIA said that they had entered India unlawfully, working with touts and traffickers without proper documentation, and that they had also assisted in the unauthorised and illegal crossing of many other foreign nationals.According to the official, they were part of a well-organized network of touts and traffickers engaging in a variety of illicit operations, including enticing weak Rohingya women who had sought safety in Bangladesh into India under the false pretence of marrying Rohingya men. According to the NIA, these women were subsequently bought and sold for forced marriages in a number of Indian states, including Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, and Haryana. The inquiry conducted by the NIA revealed instances and proof of document forgeries, concluding that Rabi Islam and Mohammad Usman had got Aadhaar cards through illegal means.The spokesperson claimed that in order to further hide their genuine identities, the pair had also opened bank accounts and obtained more SIM cards using these cards. The official stated that the NIA, which began investigating the case on November 7 of last year, has made a substantial progress in locating and destroying a large-scale global human trafficking network with the release of this charge sheet.   [caption id="attachment_10283" align="alignnone" width="300"] 3 Nationals Of Myanmar Charge-Sheeted By NIA In Human Trafficking Case[/caption]    

UP ATS Arrests Pak ISI Agent Working At Indian Embassy In Moscow From Meerut

Lucknow, Feb 4: An official statement released here on Sunday stated that the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police had detained an employee of the Indian Embassy in Moscow for his alleged involvement in anti-national activities with the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and for having given them critical, confidential information about the strategic operations of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian military establishments. According to the statement, the ATS has detained Satendra Siwal, the son of Jaiveer Singh, who lives in Shahmahiuddinpur village in the Hapur district police station area. According to the statement, Siwal is currently assigned to the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, and works for the Ministry of External Affairs.The statement said that the ATS was receiving intelligence from a number of confidential sources indicating that the handlers of the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI, were using certain individuals to entice Ministry of External Affairs employees with money in order to obtain strategically significant information about the Indian Army. This information is likely to pose a serious threat to both India's internal and external security. In its investigation using electronic and physical surveillance, the ATS discovered that Siwal was engaged in anti-Indian activities with the network of ISI handlers and that he was giving them crucial, secret information about the strategic undertakings of the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Indian military establishments in exchange for money.According to the statement, Siwal was invited to the ATS field unit in Meerut and subjected to a legal interrogation. During the interview, he confessed to his wrongdoing because he was unable to provide adequate explanations. Under Section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country) and the Official Secrets Act of 1923, a FIR has been filed against Siwal, who is employed as the India Based Security Assistant (IBSA) in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, as of 2021, at the ATS police station in Lucknow, according to the statement. [caption id="attachment_10256" align="alignnone" width="294"] UP ATS Arrests Pak ISI Agent Working At Indian Embassy In Moscow From Meerut[/caption]