Author: Agencies
JAMMU: A four-day Sports Activity Camp concluded on a high note at Mount Litera Zee School, Trikuta Nagar Extension, Jammu, where students showcased enthusiasm and sporting talent across a range of activities. The camp, held from March 18 to 21, was organised in collaboration with the Raffa Boules India Federation and culminated in a vibrant closing ceremony attended by distinguished guests. Principal Manikarnika Sharma welcomed the gathering and expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest Kaushal Kumar, SP and Dy Commandant 1IRP 18 Battalion, Gandhi Nagar, Jammu, and Guest of Honour Bhushan Kumar, Director Academics, Zee Learn Ltd, for gracing the…
JAMMU: A delegation of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress on Saturday met Manoj Sinha and strongly pressed for the early restoration of statehood, while highlighting several pressing issues affecting the Union Territory. The delegation, led by working president Raman Bhalla, called on the Lieutenant Governor at Raj Bhawan in Jammu. During the meeting, Congress leaders raised concerns over the ongoing LPG shortage, demand for restoration of statehood, and the need for a comprehensive rehabilitation package for refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971. They also sought Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for these refugees. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Bhalla said the…
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) will lift temporary caps on domestic airfares from March 23, following the stabilisation of flight operations and restoration of capacity, sources said. The fare restrictions were introduced in December 2025 after widespread flight cancellations by IndiGo triggered a severe capacity crunch, leading to a sharp surge in ticket prices across major domestic routes. With operations now returning to normal, the government has decided to revert to a market-driven pricing mechanism. However, the ministry has cautioned airlines against imposing unreasonable fares and stressed the need for transparency in pricing. The Directorate General of…
KATRA: The pilgrimage to the revered cave shrine of Vaishno Devi Temple was temporarily suspended on Saturday following an overwhelming surge of devotees during the ongoing Chaitra Navratri. Officials said the yatra was halted around 4 pm due to heavy congestion at the Bhawan area, where over 39,000 pilgrims had already offered prayers by late afternoon. The footfall has risen sharply since the beginning of Navratri on March 19, with thousands more devotees expected in the coming days. “The yatra has been suspended temporarily due to heavy rush at Bhawan,” a shrine board official said, adding that announcements were made…
JAMMU: A special campaign was launched by the Indian Railways in the Jammu division on Friday to ensure a safe and smooth यात्रा for devotees visiting the shrine of Vaishno Devi Temple during the ongoing Chaitra Navratri. The drive, held at Jammu and Katra railway stations, was conducted under the supervision of Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal. Special arrangements were made to manage the surge in passenger traffic during the festive period. Personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF), ticket-checking staff, and volunteers from the Bharat Scouts and Guides were deployed to assist passengers and maintain order. Volunteers guided…
KATHMANDU: Glaciers across the Hindu Kush Himalaya are melting at an alarming pace, with ice loss rates doubling since 2000 and total glacier area shrinking by 12 per cent between 1990 and 2020, according to two new reports released on Saturday. The findings were published by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to coincide with World Day for Glaciers, providing one of the most comprehensive assessments of glacier change in the region. The reports—Changing Dynamics of Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region (1990–2020) and HKH Glacier Outlook 2026—highlight a dramatic loss of up to 27 metres of…
NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that India is steadily emerging as a robust pharma economy, which will not only accelerate future growth but also emerge as a significant contributor to the country’s overall GDP. The minister emphasised that the growing strength of India’s pharmaceutical, medtech and manufacturing ecosystem is positioning the country as a key global manufacturing hub, particularly in high-quality, affordable healthcare solutions. Delivering keynote address to a distinguished gathering at the “Healthcare Summit” organised by a leading English…
NEW DELHI: An Air India flight bound for Vancouver was forced to return to Delhi after remaining airborne for more than seven hours, following an operational issue linked to aircraft approval requirements. The flight, AI185, departed from Indira Gandhi International Airport on Thursday and was operated using a Boeing 777-200LR. According to flight tracking data from Flightradar24, the aircraft turned back while flying over Chinese airspace. Sources familiar with the matter indicated that the aircraft deployed for the service had not received the necessary approvals to operate flights to Vancouver. The disruption has been attributed to a lapse in updating…
US President Donald Trump has said that the United States is “very close” to achieving its objectives in the conflict with Iran, hinting at a possible reduction in military operations while urging other nations to take greater responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on Truth Social, Trump highlighted what he described as significant military progress against Iran. He claimed that US forces had substantially weakened Iran’s missile capabilities, damaged its defense infrastructure, and neutralized key elements of its naval and air power. He also reiterated that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons remains a top priority.…
Donald Trump has sharply criticised American allies, calling them “cowards” for not backing a US-led military effort against Iran to secure the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said, “Without the U.S.A., NATO is a paper tiger,” accusing allies of failing to support efforts to counter what he described as a nuclear threat from Iran. He added, “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” The US President expressed frustration that while partner nations complain about rising oil prices, they have been reluctant to participate in military operations to reopen the crucial maritime…