Paris awarded 2024 Olympics, Los Angeles gets 2028 Games: IOC

The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday awarded the 2024 summer Olympic Games to Paris and the 2028 edition to Los Angeles following a vote in the Peruvian capital. Paris, which has hosted two previous Olympics, will stage the event 100 years after its last Games in 1924 while Los Angeles will also organise its third Games after 1932 and 1984. The IOC decided in July to award both Games at the same time, following the withdrawal of four of the six cities bidding for the 2024 Olympics, amid concerns about…

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Kashmir issue result of “Nehruvian blunders”: Jitendra Singh

Blaming Jawaharlal Nehru for the Kashmir problem, Union minister Jitendra Singh said today the history of Jammu and Kashmir has been a “tale of mistakes” beginning from “Nehruvian blunders”. Singh, Minister of State in the prime minister’s office, said there should not have been any issue like “Kashmir issue” as it was like any other state. “There was no issue like Kashmir issue…Kashmir merged with India through instrument of accession, similar to what other (princely) states did. “The history of Kashmir in last 60-70 years has been a tale of…

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Authorities direct for closure of 51 Brick kilns around Srinagar Airport

Acting on the directions of High Court regarding relocation of Brick Kiln located around Srinagar Airport, authorities today directed for closure of 51 brick kilns around it. “In adhering the Court’s direction regarding relocation of Brick Kiln located around the Airport, so that the visibility particularly during October and November could be increased, the deputy commissioner Budgam in exercise of the powers vested under him in terms of Section 26 of J&K Brick Kiln (Regulation) Act.2010 has ordered the close down of kiln activities of 51 brick kiln owners, 34…

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The demon called Ikhwan

Writhing in pain he shouted for help but none dared to turn up Brothers form a close knit bond. Brothers share unrequited affection. Brothers love beyond imagination. I lost my brother. We struggle to live and ultimately die. The grief pooling after the natural death dies down. But the separation by the bloody gun prolongs the trauma. Gun rattling is a routine in this besieged paradise. It digests humans. Gun has turned Kashmir a graveyard. Gun does not discriminate. Gun knows no relation. It is devoid of human feelings. Ajas…

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India & Pakistan should give UN investigators access to JK territories

Kashmiri human rights defenders from both sides of Kashmir urged India and Pakistan to open the territory to international investigators. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein had made UN history of some sorts when he broke international silence a year ago and included Kashmir in the top annual human rights agenda of United Nations. But in the four sessions of UN Human Rights Council since September 2016 and until September 2017, the High Commissioner has complained that New Delhi and Islamabad have not given access to UN…

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Migrant Kashmiri Pandits demand concrete rehabilitation plan

A day after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, displaced Kashmiri Pandits have demanded a concrete action plan for the rehabilitation of 3.50 lakh Hindus, living as refugees in their own country. The All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference and the Panun Kashmir, which were part of the delegation which met the Home Minister, said the Centre had failed to fulfil the promises made to the community. “The settlement of Pandits is a serious issue and it must draw an honest concern from both Central and state…

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Trauma, Memory loss, Anxiety; Inside the ‘Dark World’ of pellet victims, Amnesty calls for immediate ban

For them, the world is dark. It’s been almost a year since they lost their vision to deadly pellets fired ‘indiscriminately’ by government forces during the 2016 uprising in Kashmir. Aged between nine to 20 years, the pellet victims are in the midst of a dangerous conundrum: fast losing their memory due to psychological trauma they have gone through in the past more than a year. The victims, including girls, have remained confined to the four walls of their homes since the pellets snatched their eyesight. They say they only…

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Pak troops violate ceasefire along LoC, IB in Poonch 2 Jawans among 5 injured

Five persons, including two BSF jawans, were injured in firing and shelling by Pakistani troops in violation of ceasefire along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting forces here to retaliate. The Pakistan Rangers today resorted to small arms firing on Brahman Bella and Raipur Border out Posts (BoPs) along the IB in Pargwal sector of Akhnoor belt in Jammu district from 1515 hours today, a police officer said. They fired mortar shells along the IB, forcing…

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BJP, NC, Congress on same page over autonomy to Jammu Region

Say move to ensure equitable development in all three regions of the state As discrimination with the Jammu region was the main issue for the majority of the delegations which met with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his two-day stay at the winter capital of the state, a consensus is emerging among political parties about having regional autonomy to ensure equitable and balanced development in all three regions of J&K. Not only the ruling BJP, but even opposition parties like the Congress, Panthers Party and the Kashmir-centric National Conference…

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