Amid border tensions with India, China throws open Pangong Tso Lake for international tourists

After facing pushback from the Indian army at the Line of Actual Control, China has now resorted to newer strategies to make their side stronger. China has now thrown open the Pangong Tso Lake to international tourists and domestic tourists as well. The move comes just days after India asked China not to escalate matters at the Line of Actual Control. A recent meeting took place wherein India’s Defence Minister met Chinese counterpart in Moscow, to discuss the India-China border standoff. The videos of opening Pangong Tso Lake to the…

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J&K performs poorly in BARP ranking, secures 21st rank Andhra tops ‘Ease of doing Business’

Andhra Pradesh for the third time in a row has topped in the ease of doing annual business ranking of states and Union Territories by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). The ranking is based on the implementation of the business reform action plan 2019 by states and UTs, according to a report released by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday. The exercise is aimed at promoting competition among states with a view to improving the business climate to attract domestic as well as foreign investments.…

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Kashmir Issue to remain on UN agenda until resolution

The Foreign Office Saturday said it would ensure that Kashmir remained on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) agenda until its resolution. “Pakistan will ensure that the India-Pakistan question remains on the agenda of the UN Security Council until resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions,” Foreign Office spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, told Arab News. Earlier this week, India was striving to convince the world body to permanently remove the Jammu and Kashmir issue from the council agenda, describing it as an outdated item since…

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Experts warn China-India standoff risks unintentional war

Aijaz Hussain As a monthslong military standoff between India and China along their disputed mountain border protracts, experts warn that the nuclear-armed countries — which already have engaged in their bloodiest clash in decades — could unintentionally slide into war. For 45 years, a series of agreements, written and unwritten, maintained an uneasy truce along the border on the eastern edge of the Himalayan region of Kashmir. But moves and clashes over the past few months have made the situation unpredictable, raising the risk that a miscalculation from either side…

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OIC Reiterates ‘Unstinting Support’ to Kashmiri’s right to Self-Determination

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s Secretary General Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen on Tuesday met Pakistan’s permanent representative to the OIC Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh in Jeddah and reiterated the organisation’s continuing support for the people of Kashmir in their right to self-determination, reported foreign media. Pakistan’s OIC mission said in a tweet the permanent representative briefed the secretary general on the worsening human rights abuses in the part of Kashmir administered by India. The disputed Himalayan valley is claimed in full by Pakistan and India, both of whom rule parts of…

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PDP holding first meet post revocation of Article 370

The authorities did not allow the first-ever meeting of the People’s Democratic Party post August 5 last year without assigning any reasons, according to a senior party functionary who had convened the meeting on Thursday morning to discuss the political situation as a consequence of abrogation of Article 370. The PDP had sought permission for holding a meeting at its office in Srinagar, but without assigning any reason, the meeting was not allowed, according to PDP general secretary Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura. The meeting was scheduled for 11 am on…

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Nine years on and missing several deadlines, Qazigund-Banihal tunnel yet to complete

Even as its construction was started nine years ago, the new Qazigund-Banihal tunnel is yet to complete despite missing several deadlines. The project was envisaged to avoid frequent closure of Jawahar tunnel that leaves Kashmir Valley cut off from rest of the country. Initially set to be completed by June 2016, the work on the Rs 2100 crore ambitious project has seen hiccups since its inception in 2011 due both to financial constraints and the concessionaire’s lethargic approach. In 2011, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) commissioned construction of…

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Impact of smart phones on children

Aadil Ahmad Bhat When you see a nine-year child locking her or himself in a room for a couple of days in the company of a phone only what will you do? When you see a nine-year-old child watching pornographic material what will you do? Well, these are among the adverse effects of mobile on present children. In the world today, it has become the norm for children to have smart phones. Kids can maneuver their way around the applications and settings in no time. Having phones has however rendered…

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Sheikh Abdullah’s fears came true on 5th August 2019, when BJP abrogated Article 370 and striped special status of J&K

Arun Sharma This Government has been quick to act on altering public perception about Sheikh Abdullah’s contribution to the union of Jammu and Kashmir with India. Accordingly, the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir vide Govt. order No. 251-JK(GAD) of 27.12.2019 excluded Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday (5th December) from the list of Public Holidays in the UT for the calendar year 2020. In a complete Orwellian nightmare, The Lion of Kashmir who was in the forefront of efforts to ensure that Kashmir went with India instead of with Pakistan in those…

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Drug Addiction has taken Epidemic form in J&K: Govt

As Jammu and Kashmir government has made the draft drug de-addiction policy public, the document has revealed that drug addiction is widespread, fast-rising and is quickly taking the form of an epidemic in the restive State. The studies conducted in recent years have shown an alarming shift in the pattern of substance use in terms of rise in the number of female users and decreasing age at first-use. The draft policy has laid down broad guidelines including classroom programmes delivered by teachers or peer leaders focusing on life and social…

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