Author: Agencies

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State, PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today held a joint round table with StartUps and Investors, and also launched BIO-NIVESH, a strategic platform aimed at strengthening engagement between biotechnology innovators and the investment community and catalysing the flow of private capital into promising biotechnology innovations for scale-up and commercialisation. Dr. Jitendra Singh said innovation is incomplete without investment, while investment will not sustain itself without innovation, making closer engagement between innovators, investors, industry and…

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has terminated the services of Dr Mohammad Himayun, Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, SKIMS Medical College Hospital, Bemina, on grounds of wilful and continuous unauthorised absence from duty for more than nine years. According to Government Order No. 673-JK (HME) of 2026, dated September 3, the termination has been given effect from March 1, 2017, the date from which the officer had remained absent without authorisation. The order states that Dr Himayun was initially appointed as Lecturer in Pediatrics at SKIMS Medical College in 2009 and was later promoted as Assistant Professor in 2013.…

JAMMU: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Thursday ordered the transfer of three IAS officers of the AGMUT cadre from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh with immediate effect. According to the order, Mohd Aijaz, IAS (AGMUT:2012), Harvinder Singh, IAS (AGMUT:2019), and Shishir Gupta, IAS (AGMUT:2020) have been posted from the Jammu and Kashmir segment to Arunachal Pradesh. The transfers have been ordered with the approval of the competent authority and will remain in force until further orders. The MHA has directed that all three officers be relieved within 15 days from the date of issuance of the order.

REASI: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi Mukund Tibrewal, IPS, on Thursday chaired a comprehensive review meeting with 2024-batch Probationary Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) at the Conference Hall of District Police Lines (DPL), Reasi. The meeting was attended by all DySPs and SHOs of District Reasi. Reviewing the performance and progress of the probationary officers, the SSP underlined that integrity, honesty, discipline and professionalism are the cornerstones of effective policing. He called upon the young officers to uphold the dignity and honour of the police uniform and maintain the highest standards of conduct while discharging their duties. Tibrewal also stressed that policing…

JAMMU: A Pakistani intruder was apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) along the International Border in the Kanachak sector of Jammu on Thursday morning, officials said. According to officials, personnel of the 44 BSF Battalion intercepted the man near Border Out Post (BOP) Sohan during the morning hours. Following his apprehension, the intruder was taken into BSF custody, while senior officers reached the spot and reviewed the situation. Officials said the man is being questioned to ascertain his identity, purpose of crossing the border and other relevant details. Further investigation is underway.

KATHMANDU: The death toll from the devastating flash floods in Nepal rose to 1,252 on Thursday, as rescue teams recovered more bodies from affected areas while 4,875 people remain missing, police said. According to data released by Nepal Police, 355 bodies were recovered from Chitawan district, 218 from Nawalparasi East, 208 from Nawalparasi West and 177 from Nuwakot. Of the bodies counted in Nawalparasi West, 18 were recovered from India and later handed over to authorities in the district, police said. The other recoveries include 127 bodies from Rasuwa, 69 from Gorkha, 60 from Dhading and 38 from Tahanu. Joint…

JAMMU: The Railway Board has approved an experimental stoppage at Anantnag for the 26401/26402 Jammu Tawi–Srinagar Vande Bharat Express. According to the Railway Board communication, the stoppage will be introduced from an early convenient date, subject to the necessary security clearance. The order also directs railway authorities to keep a close watch on ticket sales at Anantnag for review and to give wide publicity to the new stoppage. The move is expected to improve access to the Vande Bharat service for passengers from Anantnag and adjoining areas.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has successfully conducted the drop trial of the indigenously designed and developed Khagantak-243 long-range glide bomb, marking a significant milestone in India’s defence manufacturing and precision-strike capability. Announcing the development on X, the IAF said the trials met all designated objectives. “Precision. Power. Pride,” the IAF said, adding that the successful drop represented a significant achievement for both the force and Indian industry under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The Khagantak-243 is a 300-kg-class airborne, long-range stand-off precision-guided glide bomb designed to be released from fighter aircraft and glide towards its target using aerodynamic…

NEW DELHI: Former Indian Air Force Group Captain and Vir Chakra awardee Abhinandan Varthaman, who shot down a Pakistani F-16 during the 2019 aerial combat following the Balakot air strike, has joined private airline FLY91 as a pilot, according to sources. Varthaman, 43, retired from the Indian Air Force in March this year and joined the airline last month, the sources said. There were no immediate details regarding his specific role or flying responsibilities. A FLY91 spokesperson declined to comment, saying personal information concerning employees was private. Varthaman had emerged as one of the most prominent faces of the 2019…

BUDGAM: The Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, today chaired a key coordination meeting to review operation of parcel train service for seamless apple transportation at Railway Station Budgam. The meeting focused on facilitating and optimizing parcel train services for the efficient transportation of locally produced apples to markets across the country. During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the importance of establishing a seamless supply chain mechanism for fruit growers in the district, ensuring their produce reaches nationwide markets swiftly, cost-effectively, and with minimal transit damage. At the outset, the Deputy Commissioner said this train service would give a…